Measurement techniques for mercury species in ambient air

This review critically evaluates the measurement methodologies most commonly employed for the analysis of the various forms of mercury (Hg) in air. Emphasis is given to the three most common forms of mercury in air [i.e. gaseous elemental mercury (GEM, Hg⁰), reactive gaseous mercury (RGM), and particle-bound mercury (Hg_p)]. Moreover, we also briefly describe methods dealing with gas-phase analysis of organic mercury species (e.g., mostly methyl mercury), as they are also reported to be present in air on rare occasions. To begin with, we describe the approaches to sampling airborne mercury species and associated sample-treatment strategies. We evaluate both conventional and emerging alternative detection techniques for different mercury forms with respect to their applicability in airborne mercury analysis. We also discuss the artifacts and the biases associated with analysis of different mercury species. Finally, the review summarizes current methodological developments for the determination of mercury in air and highlights future prospects for improvements.     

Metabolite identification by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Metabolite identification (Met ID) is important during the early stages of drug discovery and development, as the metabolic products may be pharmacologically active or toxic in nature. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) has a towering role in metabolism research.This review discusses current approaches and recent advances in using LC-MS for Met ID. We critically assess and compare various mass spectrometers, highlighting their strengths and limitations. Citing appropriate examples, we cover recent LC and ion sources, isotopic-pattern matching, hydrogen/deuterium-exchange MS, data dependent analyses, MS^E, mass defect filter, 2D and 3D approaches for the elucidation of molecular formula, polarity switching, and background-subtraction and noise-reduction algorithms. A flow chart outlines a comprehensive strategy for Met ID, including a focus on reactive metabolites.     

Compatible blends of biorelated polyesters through catalytic transesterification in the melt

The transesterification during the melt blending of polylactide (PLA) and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) was investigated in presence of Ti(OBu)₄ as a catalyst. Both the effect of catalyst concentration and reaction duration was considered. The process was studied by analyzing the molecular weight of the polyesters by size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The rheological, thermal and morphological properties of the blends were investigated by melt flow rate, DSC and SEM analyses, respectively. Evidences about the formation of PBAT-PLA copolymers were obtained and discussed. The tensile properties of compression moulded films were also determined and correlated to the structure and phase morphology development of the blends. In particular, the use of Ti(OBu)₄ resulted in the improvement of compatibility. Moreover, the decrease in stiffness and the increase in elongation at break with the increase of mixing time was observed, in good agreement with the improved compatibility of the modified blend.     

Sorption and desorption properties of a CaH2/MgB2/CaF2 reactive hydride composite as potential hydrogen storage material

The hydrogenation behavior of 3CaH₂+4MgB₂+CaF₂ composite was studied by manometric measurements, powder X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy. The maximum observed quantity of hydrogen loaded in the composite was 7.0 wt%. X-ray diffraction showed the formation of Ca(BH₄)₂ and MgH₂ after hydrogenation. The activation energy for the dehydrogenation reaction was evaluated by DSC measurements and turns out to be 162±15 kJ mol⁻¹ H₂. This value decreases due to cycling to 116±5 kJ mol⁻¹ H₂ for the third dehydrogenation step. A decrease of ca. 25–50 °C in dehydrogenation temperature was observed with cycling. Due to its high capacity and reversibility, this composite is a promising candidate as a potential hydrogen storage material.     

Selective chemiluminescence method for monitoring of vitamin K homologues in rheumatoid arthritis patients

Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin involved in blood coagulation and bone metabolism. The detection and monitoring of vitamin K homologues in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients is a challenging problem due to the smaller concentrations of vitamin K and the presence of several interfering medications. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a new highly sensitive and selective chemiluminescence (CL) method designated to quantify vitamin K homologues in plasma of RA patients including phylloquinone (PK, vitamin K₁), menaquinone-4 (MK-4, vitamin K₂) and menaquinone-7 (MK-7, vitamin K₂). The method was based on the unique photochemical properties of vitamin K homologues that were exploited for selective luminol CL reaction. The correlation coefficients of 0.998 or more were obtained in the concentration ranges of 0.1-100 ng mL⁻¹ vitamin K homologues. The detection limits were 0.03-0.1 ng mL⁻¹ in human plasma for vitamin K homologues. The developed HPLC-CL system was successfully applied for selective determination of vitamin K homologues in plasma of RA patients. The developed method may provide a useful tool for monitoring vitamin K homologues in different clinical studies such as RA, osteoporosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in which vitamin K is intervented.     

Coral reef-like polyanaline nanotubes prepared by a reactive template of manganese oxide for supercapacitor electrode

Coral reef-like PANI nanotubes composed of nanopaticles were successfully synthesized by a reactive template of manganese oxide.The structure was characterized by using SEM,TEM,and FT-IR,and the supercapacitive behaviors of these nanotubes were investigated with cyclic voltammetry（CV）,and charge-discharge tests,respectively.A maximum specific capacitance of 533 F/g could be achieved in 1mol/L aqueous H₂SO₄ with the potential range of -0.2 to 0.8 V（vs.the saturated calomel electrode） in a half-cell setup configuration for PANI electrode,suggesting its potential application in the electrode material for electrochemical capacitors.     

Reactive compatibilization of PA12/plasticized starch blends: Towards improved mechanical properties

Glycerol-plasticized starch (TPS)/polyamide 12 (PA12) blends were processed by melt mixing using two types of interfacial agent, i.e. diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A and a poly(ethylene-co-butyl acrylate-co-maleic anhydride) copolymer. Morphologies of the blends were tailored from the nature and amount of the interfacial agents. The average size of the dispersed phase was shown to decrease with the incorporation of the reactive agents and was proved to respect models, usually employed for conventional blends, for size predictions of the dispersed phase. By means of rheological experiments, it has been investigated whether the size reduction of the dispersed phase was coming from the compatibilization of the blend or from the viscosity changes due to chain extension in the matrix. The influence of the coupling agents on the viscoelastic behavior of the blend was characterized. Both interfacial agents led to increase the absolute complex viscosity but in the case of diepoxy reactive agent, the Newtonian flow behavior of complex viscosity totally disappeared in the low-frequency region. Mechanical properties of the TPS/PA12 blends were characterized and were proved to be strongly impacted by the use of interfacial agents. Elongation at break was enhanced as a consequence of a better adhesion between the matrix and the dispersed phase, whereas a decrease of the Young’s modulus was observed with increasing DGEBA content. Polyamide 12 crystallization in TPS/PA12 blends was found to be strongly dependent on DGEBA content while the introduction of maleic anhydride-grafted copolymer had no influence.     

Surface wave scattering by a material filled rectangular impedance groove in a reactive plane

The problem of TE-polarized surface wave scattering from a rectangular impedance groove located on an infinite reactive plane which is filled with dielectric material is considered for a rather general case where the impedances of the horizontal and vertical sides of the groove have different values. The multiple interactions up to the second order between the edges of the groove are obtained to yield diffracted field. The diffraction problem is first reduced into a modified Wiener-Hopf equation and then solved approximately. The solution contains branch-cut integrals and two infinite sets of constants satisfying two infinite systems of linear algebraic equations. The approximate analytical evaluations of the corresponding integrals as well as the numerical solutions of the linear algebraic equation systems are obtained for various values of the parameters such as the surface reactance of the guiding plane, the vertical and horizontal wall impedances of the groove, the permittivity of the material loading, the width and the height of the groove which permit one to study the effect of these parameters on the diffraction phenomenon.     

The wave and vibratory power transmission in a finite L-shaped Mindlin plate with two simply supported opposite edges

In this paper,wave and vibratory power transmission in a finite L-shaped Mindlin plate with two simply supported opposite edges are investigated using the wave approach.The dynamic responses,active and reactive power flow in the finite plate are calculated by the Mindlin plate theory (MPT) and classic plate theory (CPT).To satisfy the boundary conditions and continuous conditions at the coupled junction of the finite L-shaped plate,the near-field and far-field waves are entirely contained in the wave approach.The in-plane longitudinal and shear waves are also considered.The results indicate that the vibratory power flow based on the MPT is different from that based on the CPT not only at high frequencies but also at low and medium frequencies.The influence of the plate thickness on the vibrational power flow is investigated.From the results it is seen that the shear and rotary inertia correction of the MPT can influence the active and reactive power at the junction of the L-shaped plate not only at high frequencies but also at low and medium frequencies.Furthermore,the effects of structural damping on the active and reactive power flow at the junction are also analyzed.     

衍射光学元件的反应离子束蚀刻研究

本文提出了一种制作衍射光学元件的新方法——-反应离子束蚀刻法.对此技术研究的结果表明:反应离子束蚀刻法具有高蚀刻速率、蚀刻过程各向异性好、蚀刻参数控制灵活等特点,对于衍射光学元件和微光学元件的精细结构制作十分有利.本文详细总结了反应离子束蚀刻过程中各工艺参数对蚀刻速率的影响,并在红外材料上制作了Dammann分束光栅.