Copper corrosion in buffered and non-buffered synthetic seawater: a comparative study

The electrochemical behaviour of copper in neutral buffered and non-buffered synthetic seawater and in pure chloride solutions has been studied by cyclic voltammetry, weight loss measurements, open circuit potential and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Values of the repassivation potentials of Cu in non-buffered and buffered synthetic seawater, at 50 mV s^–1, were 0.12 and 0.46 V vs. SCE, respectively. The sharpness, heights and location of the different peaks as well as their charges were shown to be influenced by the composition of the solution, buffering conditions, deoxygenation, polarization potential and time. High chloride concentrations lead to higher oxidation charges. The anodic and the cathodic charges were shown to increase as the chloride concentration increases. The open circuit potential transients of copper in non-deoxygenated, non-buffered synthetic seawater indicate pitting from the beginning of the exposure, while in buffered solutions the pitting appeared only after a quite long exposure period, i.e. after 40 days. Corrosion rates of Cu samples after 3 months of immersion were higher in solutions of pure chloride (0.5 M) than in synthetic seawater. After six months the differences were even more noticeable. SEM images have showed a somewhat higher density of pits on copper samples immersed in the chloride solution (0.5 M), in comparison with those in synthetic seawater.     

Study of migration of active components of phosphorescent oxygen sensors for food packaging applications

A study of migration of the active components of oxygen sensors into food is presented. Six types of sensors, based on different oxygen sensitive dyes (two metalloporphyrins and one ruthenium dye), polymers (polystyrene and polysulfone) and support materials, were exposed to a number of standard ‘food simulants’ recommended by FDA/EU guidelines and then assayed for migration or sensor components and changes in oxygen calibration. Both metalloporphyrin sensor dyes leached only in olive oil and in 95% ethanol (used as a positive control), at maximum levels of 19.22 μg/dm² for PtOEPK and 113.96 μg/dm² for PtTFPP. The RuDPP dye showed maximum leaching in 95% ethanol (25.19 μg/dm²) while also migrating in an acidic aqueous simulant. Planar supports such as polyester tended to enhance the stability of the sensor. Migration of the styrene monomer from the polystyrene encapsulation medium was concluded to be low enough to be insignificant. Migration of sensor components was shown to correlate with the changes in sensor response to oxygen. Based on these results, sensor combinations were ranked on the basis of their resistance to leaching and their general stability, safety and suitability for use on a large scale in packaged foods and related food applications was proven.     

X-Ray Powder Diffraction Studies of Polyhydrates of Cross-Linked Tetraisoamylammonium Polyacrylates

X-ray powder diffraction studies were performed of the polyhydrates, formed at positive temperature in swelled grains of carboxylic cation-exchange resins in the form of tetraisoamylammonium (cross-linked tetraisoamylammonium polyacrylates, differing in the degree of cross-linking: 1, 2 and 3%). It was shown that the polyhydrates exist as the crystalline phase under specific conditions, determined earlier by DTA technique. Diffraction patterns of the samples, recorded at the temperature +3 ± 1 °C, indicate that the polyhydrates crystallize in hexagonal symmetry, the unit cell parameters are close to a=12.25 Å, c=12.72 Å and do not depend significantly upon the degree of cross-linking. The suppositions were made concerning the size of hydrate crystallites, formed in the swelled grains of the studied resins.This revised version was published online in July 2005 with a corrected issue number.     

Reactions of organocobaloximes with aryldisulfonyl chlorides

Photochemical reactions of benzyl, heteroaromaticmethyl and allylcobaloximes with aryldisulfonyl chlorides yield symmetrical disulfones. Allyl cobaloximes yield allyldisulfones as the major product whereas bibenzyl is the major product in benzylcobaloximes. A time dependent ¹H NMR studies show that bibenzyl is formed from O-benzyldimethylglyoxime - a predominant product in the initial stage of the reaction.     

Petrographic/geochemical studies of primary and alteration–weathering minerals in garnetiferous ultramafic xenoliths–basanite, Tartous Province, NW Syria

Kimberlitic–pyropic peridotite–xenolites, probably of Jurassic–Cretaceous age, were found mixed with a younger Upper Tertiary basanitic diabase, as flow texture of plagioclase laths and ilmenite rods around those xenoliths indicated. Mafic–ultramafic rocks were crushed, sheared, and cropped along a creek about 15–18 km NE of the town of Dreikeesh, NW Syria. ⁴⁰K–⁴⁰Ar isotopic dating of a pure fresh black cpx sample, collected from the peridotite xenoliths, yielded an age of about 70 Ma. This age is concurrent to the time when Africa, Eurasia, and America were part of the super continent Pangaea. It also suggests that kimberlite–pyropic peridotitic rocks were located within a cratonic pipe prior to their 2000-km eastward journey (starting from the Mid-Atlantic Rift). Sampled outcrops were located within a ring of about 40 km diameter, considered to be a dome consisting of one or more clusters of kimberlitic pipes. The dome structure, mostly covered with Upper Jurassic–Cretaceous carbonate beds, was tilted westward, and rifted and sheared along its eastern edge. Tilting and crushing were accomplished after the opening of the Red Sea in the Miocene, and the counterclockwise movements of the Arabian plate, which folded the carbonate beds to form the N–S-trending Alawite mountain range along the Syrian coast. Olivine, cpx, and pyrope were the major phases in peridotite. Pyrope, including its Cr–Ni-contents, was found to be the best indicator to decipher the temperature–pressure (T–P) conditions for the system. The inferred temperature was found to be about 1460 °C, at a pressure of 62 kb (around 207 km-depth). Petrographic studies revealed many zoned, resorbed, octahedral and non-metasomatized tiny grains, associated with partly to wholly metasomatized and iddingsitized olivines.     

A quantum chemical study on structure of 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphinoyl)ethane and phenol cocrystal

The cocrystal of 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphinoyl)ethane (DPPEO) with phenol (1:1) were studied theoretically with AM1, PM3, MNDO and MINDO/3 semi-empirical methods to elucidate its structure. The bond lengths and angles from theoretical studies of molecule DPPEO/phenol (1:1) were found to be as expected. Theoretical results, concerning with intermolecular van der Waals forces in cocrystal, were compared with the previously obtained experimental data and AM1 results were found to be the best fit for bond lengths and angles of DPPEO/phenol.     

A Novel Proton Transfer Self‐Associated Compound from Dipicolinic Acid and Guanidine and Its Cadmium(II) Complex: Synthesis,Characterization, Crystal Structure,and Solution Studies

A novel 1:2 proton transfer self‐associated compound LH₂ , (GH⁺)₂(pydc^2—), was synthesized from the reaction of dipicolinic acid, pydcH₂, (2, 6‐pyridinedicarboxylic acid), and guanidine hydrochloride, (GH⁺)(Cl^—). The characterization was performed using IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. LH₂ · H₂O crystallizes in the space group C2/c of the monoclinic system and contains eight molecules per unit cell. The unit cell dimensions are: a = 26.480(5)Å, b = 8.055(2)Å, c = 14.068(3)Å. The first coordination complex (GH)₂[Cd(pydc)₂] · 2H₂O, was prepared using LH₂ and cadmium(II) iodide, and characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray crystallography. The crystal system is triclinic with space group P1¯ with one molecule per unit cell. The unit cell dimensions are: a = 8.5125(7)Å, b = 11.0731(8)Å, c = 13.2404(10)Å. The cadmium(II) atom is six‐coordinated with a distorted octahedral geometry. The two pydc^2— units are almost perpendicular to each other. The protonation constants of the building blocks of the pydc‐guanidine adduct, the equilibrium constants for the reaction of pydc^2— with guanidine and the stoichiometry and stability of the Cd²⁺ complex with LH₂ in aqueous solution were accomplished by potentiometric pH titration. The solution studies strongly support a self‐association between pydc^2— and GH⁺ with a stoichiometry for the Cd^II complex similar to that observed for the isolated crystalline complex. In fact, the [Cd(pydc)₂]^2— complex was found as the most abundant species in solution (> 90 %) at a pH >5.     

Enhancement of Oral Bioavailability of Rofecoxib Using β-Cyclodextrin

The purpose of the present work was to investigate the effect ofcomplexation of rofecoxib with -cyclodextrin on its dissolutioncharacteristics and bioavailability. Inclusion complexes of rofecoxibwith -cyclodextrin were made by freeze-drying technique. Phasesolubility studies were conducted as suggested by Higuchi and Connors.The samples were characterized by performing dissolution studies, X-rayDiffraction studies and Differential Scanning Calorimetry. The complexeswere compressed into tablets and compared in-vitro with various marketedformulations. A single dose study on healthy human volunteers was performedin comparison with a marketed formulation of rofecoxib (without-cyclodextrin) to investigate the relative bioavailability.Phase solubility studies confirmed the formation of a 1 : 1complex in solution of rofecoxib with -cyclodextrin. Tablets ofsolid inclusion complexes of rofecoxib with -cyclodextrin preparedby freeze drying technique showed enhanced dissolution rate in distilledwater in comparison with all the marketed formulations analyzed. This isattributed to the increased solubility and wettability along with decreasedcrystallinity caused by complex formation, which is confirmed, by XRD and DSCstudies. The bioequivalence studies performed showed statistically significantenhancement in bioavailability as compared to the marketed formulation.Apparently, tablets containing complexes of rofecoxib with -cyclodextrinshows faster onset of action due to improved solubility, enhanced dissolutionand faster absorption of the molecule. The results of this investigation withrofecoxib in -cyclodextrin lend ample credence to its better oralbioavailability on complexation.