Role of the shape of various bacteria in their separation by Microthermal Field-Flow Fractionation

The steady-state movement of the spherical and non-spherical particles, such as prolate or oblate rotational ellipsoids, cylinders, or parallelepipeds, suspended in a liquid and exposed to a unidirectional temperature gradient, is analyzed theoretically. The differences in the ratios of the rotational to translational diffusion coefficients of the non-spherical to spherical particles, the heterogeneity of thermal conductivity of the particle body, and the heterogeneity in surface chemical nature make possible to separate the particles according to differences in shape. Preliminary experimental separations of Gram-positive and Gram-negative, nearly spherical and rod-shaped bacteria performed by Microthermal Field-Flow Fractionation confirmed that the fractionation of the cells according to differences in shape is possible.     

Carbon-assisted morphological manipulation of CdS nanostructures and their cathodoluminescence properties

CdS nanostructures with different morphologies and sizes were successfully fabricated through a facile and effective carbon-assisted thermal evaporation method. Through simply changing the positions of silicon substrates, the temperatures and the effects of carbon in different zones were modified, and thus the morphologies of CdS nanostructures were varied from multipods to nanobrushes to nanocups. These nanostructures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. Cathodoluminescence (CL) measurement shows that the as-grown CdS nanostructures display different luminescent properties. CdS multipods and nanocups show mainly green emission centered at 496 nm. However, nanobrushes exhibit predominant red emission band peaking at 711 nm. These interesting results show that carbon not only affected the growth process but also influenced the properties of CdS nanostructures.     

Kinetic analysis of thermal degradation of recycled polycarbonate/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene mixtures from waste electric and electronic equipment

The study of properties in waste polymeric materials is important for a further recycling and eventual reuse. The determination of thermal properties of PC-ABS mixtures obtained from waste electric and electronic equipment (WEEE) by using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) has been carried out in this work. Kinetic parameters, such as apparent activation energies, have been calculated by using the autocatalytic model, which has shown a good correlation with experimental data. A good agreement between calculated and experimental results was observed for PC-based mixtures. This is an indication that the addition of a high amount of ABS permits the creation of a network formed by elastomeric domains which leads to a general increase in heterogeneity of the mixture.     

Solubilities of lanthanum oxide in fluoride melts: Part I. Solubility in M3AlF6 (M = Li, Na, K)

Solubility of lanthanum oxide was measured by thermal analysis. The solubility in alkali cryolites is rather high, because of chemical reactions between lanthanum oxide and cryolites. In Li₃AlF₆-La₂O₃, alumina precipitates, in the other systems the mixed oxide LaAlO₃ is formed. In La₂O₃-Li₃AlF₆ the eutectic point is at 9.5 mol% La₂O₃ and 755 °C. The eutectic points in La₂O₃-Na₃AlF₆ and La₂O₃-K₃AlF₆ are at 11.5 mol% La₂O₃, and at 937 and 934 °C, respectively.     

Physico-chemical aspects of polyethylene processing in an open mixer. Part 23: Mechanisms and kinetics of trans-vinylene group consumption

There are many potential reactions for trans-vinylene groups in oxidizing polyethylene melts. The main possibilities are reactions with peroxy radicals, molecular oxygen, hydroperoxides and peracids. These different reactions can all contribute to the removal of trans-vinylene groups to some extent. This is especially so, for the reactions with hydroperoxides that have been found to be the dominant reactions with vinylidene and vinyl groups in the low temperature range. The reaction with peroxy radicals is thought to be as important relatively as with vinylidene groups. Therefore, the importance of the reaction is decreasing with increasing temperature. However, the most characteristic reaction for trans-vinylene groups can be detected without any doubt only in the advanced stages of processing. It is mechanical stress induced oxygen addition to the double bond. The discussion shows that the reaction should be important from the beginning of processing. The reaction cannot operate with vinyl and vinylidene groups, which are not part of the polyethylene main chain. After oxygen addition to the trans-vinylene group, the “ene” reaction yields an allylic hydroperoxide so that the double bond is not immediately removed. It is acid catalyzed hydroperoxide decomposition that leads to chain scission with aldehyde formation at the new chain ends.     

Thermal degradation of poly(vinyl chloride)

This paper presents an initial attempt at describing poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) thermal degradation through a semi-detailed and lumped kinetic model. A mechanism of 40 species and pseudocomponents (molecules and radicals) involved in about 250 reactions permits quite a good reproduction of the main characteristics of PVC degradation and volatilization. The presence of the two step mechanism—the first step of which corresponds to dehydrochlorination and the second to the tar release and residue char formation—are correctly predicted both in quantitative terms and in the temperature ranges. The model was validated by comparison with several thermo gravimetric analyses, both dynamic at different heating rates, and isothermal. When compared with the typical one step global apparent degradation models, the approach proposed here spans quite large operative ranges, especially when it comes to predicting product distributions. The initial results of these product predictions, even though quite preliminary, are encouraging and confirm the validity of the model.     

Conduction and Transport Numbers in Metacomposites MeWO<Subscript>4</Subscript> ⋅ WO<Subscript>3</Subscript> (Me = Ca,Sr, Ba)

The conduction and transport numbers of charge carriers for composites in the systems MeWO₄-WO₃ (Me = Ca, Sr, Ba) are studied as a function of the temperature and the activity of oxygen in a gas phase. The transport numbers are determined by an emf method and are estimated from dependences of conductance on the activity of oxygen in a gas phase. The deficiencies of the given procedure as applied to investigation of properties of composite phases are analyzed. The materials under study are classified with a class of metacomposites. The concentration intervals of the ionic, mixed, and electronic conductions are determined. The conduction of composites of compositions (100 − x)MeWO₄ ⋅ xWO₃ is predominantly ionic at x ≤ 10 (Me = Ca), x ≤ 60 (Me = Sr), and x ≤ 45 (Me = Ba). The obtained data are explained in the framework of a model that represents a composite as a distributed matrix system where a film of surface phase MeW-s with a high mobility of oxygen ions plays the role of a connected matrix. It is presumed that the surface phase MeW-s possesses double-sided surface activity (α _MeW-s ≤ ) and a higher mobility with respect to MeWO₄ and WO₃. The discovered anomalies of dependences (T) and partial dependences , σ_el(T) are explained by a change in the stoichiometry, morphology, and the degree of connectedness of surface phase MeW-s caused by with a change in the temperature and composition of composites.__________Translated from Elektrokhimiya, Vol. 41, No. 6, 2005, pp. 680–693.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Neiman, Pestereva, Sharafutdinov, Kostikov.Published on the basis of a report delivered at the VII Meeting on Fundamental Problems in Solid-State Ionics (Chernogolovka-2004).     

Mimicking biological cation-transport based on sphere-surface supramolecular chemistry: simultaneous interaction of porous capsules with molecular plugs and passing cations

Spherical capsules of the type [{(Mo)Mo(5)}(12){Mo(2)(ligand)}(30)](n-) exhibiting 20 {Mo(9)O(9)} pores with crown ether functions allowed us to perform a sophisticated study of the title phenomenon based on synthetic work as well as NMR spectroscopy. The pores of the host system interact in solution specifically with guests that can be noncovalently bonded, such as formamidinium and acetamidinium cations, while having different affinities to the pores. The exchange between the guest species present in solution and in the pores was investigated, including, besides the extreme scenarios of complete pore closing and complete opening, that of stepwise pore plugging. Because of this option it was possible to model for the first time passive transmembrane cation transport based on gated pores/channels. These have the appropriate dimensions and can even adopt different structure flexibilities in response to different cations. The present investigation is based on related syntheses as well as on numerous detailed (7)Li NMR studies of Li(+) transport/exchange equilibria in dependence of the pore environment/guest situations. One compound containing capsules with sulfate ligands (2) could be obtained in which all the pores are plugged with formamidinium cations and another corresponding one was obtained with additionally encapsulated Ca(2+) ions (3); these were taken up after temporary release of some of the formamidinium plugs/guests upon short heating of the related solution.     

Koexistenzbeziehungen,Darstellung und Eigenschaften ternärer Phasen im System Cu/Mo/O

Coexistence Relations, Preparation and Properties of Ternary Compounds in the System Cu/Mo/O The phase diagram of the ternary system Cu/Mo/O is presented at 773 K. The compounds CuMoO₄, Cu₃Mo₂O₉, Cu₄Mo₅O₁₇, Cu₆Mo₅O₁₈, Cu_4–xMo₃O₁₂, and Cu_xMoO₃ are found to be thermodynamical stable. The homogeneity range of Cu_4–xMo₃O₁₂ runs to x = 0.1–0.2. Single crystals of CuMoO₄ and Cu₃Mo₂O₉ were grown by chemical transport reactions with TeCl₄, Cl₂, HCl, and Br₂ as transport agent. The results were compared with thermochemical calculations. The decomposition of CuMoO₄ and Cu₃Mo₂O₉ was investigated with thermal analysis and decompositon pressure measurements.     

Experimental choices for the determination of carbonyl compounds in air

The analysis of carbonyls in ambient air has received a great deal of scientific attention with the advancement of analytical techniques and increased demand for the build-up of its data base. In this review article, we have attempted to provide some insight into the relative performance of different instrumental approaches available for the analysis of ambient carbonyls with a major emphasis on high performance liquid chromatographic and gas chromatographic methods. Reported in several international standard procedures, derivatization of carbonyls with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (2,4-DNPH) with either an impinger or cartridges is the most commonly used method of HPLC detection. In this respect, a number of alternative hydrazine reagents have also been discussed for use with HPLC. In contrast, GC methods based on the combined application of adsorptive enrichment on solid sorbents and thermal desorption are examined with regard to their suitability for carbonyl analysis in air. Particular emphasis has been directed towards the advantages and drawbacks of these different instrumental techniques for ambient carbonyls. Based on this comparative approach, we discuss the suitability for each method for carbonyl analysis.