Novel mesophases in fluorine substituted banana-shaped mesogens

A new homologous series of achiral banana-shaped mesogens ('Dn') has been synthesized and studied by the classical techniques (optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, miscibility studies and electro-optic investigations). The short homologues (D6-D8) exhibit a two-dimensional phase 'B1_x' different from a B1 phase with a rectangular lattice. The longer homologues (D9-D14) present a mesophase which displays the defects of the B7 phase of the PIMB-NO₂ compounds. Nevertheless the D9-D14 mesophase is not miscible with the B7 phase, and contrary to B7, exhibits a bistable behaviour ('ferroelectric' type) suggesting at least a B7 variant.     

Cleansing contaminated seawaters using marine cyanobacteria: evaluation of trace metal removal from the medium

The use of microbial biomass in biosorption is already being studied as a potential alternative to (or combined with) conventional processes, where several algae and microorganisms have already shown promising ability to uptake metals. Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) are widespread organisms, with specific properties, such as high nutrient removal capacity and tolerance to highly variable conditions which make them well-suited for wastewater and remediation purposes. The main aim of this work was to evaluate the use of a marine cyanobacterium LEANCYA 21 (Synechocystis sp.), collected from the Portuguese southern border, for the removal of selected trace metals when in natural seawater culture medium. It was observed, for the first time, that this particular strain is capable of uptaking Pb, Ni and Zn (at nM levels) from seawater solutions using small amounts of biomass. Uptake values for Pb were up to 90% (0.75 mg g^?1 biomass) in 6 h. The specific biosorption curves of Ni and Zn showed that these metals follow a first order kinetics biosorption in batch conditions. Solutions containing multimetals have revealed that Ni uptake is affected by the presence of Pb and Zn. The calculated specific absorption values were high enough to predict a possible application in aquaculture where such low levels of metals may inhibit microalgae growth.     

Study and Modeling of Metal Oxide Solubilization in (w/o) Microemulsions

Water-in-oil (w/o) microemulsions are very appealing reaction media due to their ability to provide huge surface of contact between water-soluble and oil-soluble reactants. Their application as reaction media, including the preparation of nanoparticles, is, however, limited to water soluble precursors. In this study, we present a first step scheme in a two-step process for the preparation of metal oxide nanoparticles starting from their water-insoluble metal oxide bulk powder. This step involves solubilizing the metal oxide in the water pools of the microemulsion with the aid of a solubilizing agent. The variables affecting the solubilizing capacity of iron and copper oxides, as examples of important metal oxides, in single HCl-containing AOT/water/isooctane microemulsions were investigated. The effect of the following variables on the solubilization capacity is reported, namely, mixing time, surfactant concentration, water to surfactant mole ratio (R), and the nominal concentration of HCl in the water pool. At 300-rpm, time-invariant concentration of the metals in the microemulsions was achieved in about 6 hours. These values were quoted as the solubilization capacity of the metal oxide at the corresponding conditions. Solubilization capacity increased linearly with the surfactant concentration and R, and portrait a power function with the nominal concentration of HCl in the water pool. A mathematical model previously derived to describe nanoparticle uptake by single microemulsion accurately accounted for the effect of the aforementioned variables on the solubilization capacity.     

Comparative Study of Biosorption of Heavy Metals Using Living Green Algae Scenedesmus quadricauda and Neochloris pseudoalveolaris: Equilibrium and Kinetics

The biosorption of several heavy metals such as cobalt(II), chromium(III), lead(II), cadmium(II), nickel(II), and manganese(II) from aqueous systems on living microalgae cultures, Scenedesmus quadricauda and Neochloris pseudoalveolaris were studied under laboratories conditions. The kinetic and statistical parameters were calculated by using the data obtained from batch cultivation and well fitted a pseudo-first-order rate equation. The initial metal concentrations in solution were about 5–40 mg · L^?1. According to the pseudo-second-order model, the biosorption capacities of Scenedesmus quadricauda for Co(II), Cr(III), Pb(II), Cd(II), Ni(II), and Mn(II) ions were found in the ranges of 2.14–52.48, 1.98–81.98, 8.05–4.26, 7.81–24.96, 2.17–55.71, and 3.54–75.20 mg g^?1, respectively. Kinetic studies revealed that the metal uptake capacity of each living green algae was rather fast. It was also observed that the biosorption kinetic rate decreased with increasing concentration for both microalgae. The application of diffusion-controlled models to the experimental results indicated that the contribution of intraparticle diffusion to the overall sorption kinetics was not very important. Results showed that Co(II), Cr(III), Pb(II), Cd(II), Ni(II), and Mn(II) ions could effectively be absorbed by using living microalga cultures from aqueous solutions.     

Effects of different alkali metal ions on the cationization of poly(ethylene glycol)s in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry: a new selectivity parameter

The cationization of poly(ethylene glycol)s, PEG 4000 and PEG 6000, under matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization conditions was studied by using different concentration ratios of the sodium ion, as the reference ion, and another alkali metal ion (Li(+), K(+), Rb(+), Cs(+)). A linear correlation was found between the intensity ratio of the sodiated PEGs and PEGs cationized with alkali metal ions versus the initial concentration ratio of sodium and alkali metal ions. The slopes of these straight lines are proposed as a novel selectivity ratio for the ionization process. The intensity distribution of the cationized PEGs was also investigated. It was found that the cationized oligomers follow Poisson statistics. The M(n) and M(w) values were also evaluated. An explanation for the observed effects is given.     

The effect of high pressure on the ion pair equilibrium constant of alkali metal fluorides: A spectrophotometric study

Bromophenol blue indicator was used in UV-visible spectrophotometric measurements to study ion association constants of alkali metal fluorides. The equilibrium constants for the ion pair formation of the alkali metal fluorides were determined as a function of ionic strength at one atmosphere pressure and 25°C. The effect of pressure on these association constants was measured at a constant total ionic strength of 1.0 mol-kg^–1 over a pressure range of 1 to 2000 atmospheres at 25°C. The pressure dependences of the stoichiometric association constants of the alkali metal fluorides are given by: lnK _LiF ^* =0.77–2.47×10^–4P–2.12×10^–8P²; lnK _NaF ^* =0.53–1.08×10^–4P–1.66×10^–8P²; lnK _KF ^* =0.24–4.41×10^–5P–7.15×10^–8P²; lnK _RbF ^* =–0.17–8.65×10^–5P–4.51×10^–8P²; and lnK _CsF ^* = –0.37–1.14×10^–4P–6.82×10^–8P², where P is the pressure in atmospheres. The stoichiometric molar volume and compressibility changes for ion pair formation of the alkali metal fluorides were evaluated from the pressure dependence of K _MF ^* data. The thermodynamic association constants were also calculated making use of activity coefficient data from the Pitzer equations. The partial molal volume and compressibility changes for ion pair formation of each alkali metal fluoride are reported.     

Cluster synthesis. 42. The synthesis and crystal and molecular structures of the sulfur-bridged platinum-ruthenium carbonyl cluster compounds PtRu3(CO)9 L(PPh3)(μ3-S)2 (L=CO,PPh3) and PtRu4(CO)12(PPh3)(μ4-S)2

Two new mixed metal cluster complexes PtRu₃(CO)₁₀(PPh₃)(₃-S)₂,3 14% yield and PtRu₃(CO)₉(PPh₃)₂(₃-S)₂,4 23% yield were obtained from the reaction of Ru₃(CO)₉(₃-S)₂,1 with Pt(PPh₃)₂(C₂H₄) at 0°C. The cluster of4 consists of a spiked triangle of four metal atoms with two triply bridging sulfido ligands. The reaction of Ru₄(CO)₁₁(₄-S)₂,2 with Pt(PPh₃)₂(C₂H₄) yielded the expanded mixed-metal cluster complex PtRu₄(CO)₁₂(PPh₃)(₄-S)₂,5 in 12% yield. The structure of the cluster5 can be described as a pentagonal bipyramid of five metal atoms and two sulfido ligands with one metal-metal bond missing. Compounds4 and5 were characterized by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses.     

Inexpensive and accurate predictions of optical excitations in transition-metal complexes: the TDDFT/PBE0 route

Time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) is applied to calculate vertical excitation energies of three representative transition metal complexes. The computational model (PBE0) is obtained by combining the Perdew-Burke-Erzenrhof (PBE) generalized gradient functional with a predetermined amount of exact exchange. Our results show that the TDDFT/PBE0 model represents a cheap and reliable tool for the computation of optical excitations for transition metal complexes. Received: 8 August 2000 / Accepted: 7 September 2000 / Published online: 23 November 2000     

褐藻酸铜配合物膜催化VAc自由基聚合

以褐藻酸钠膜浸渍在15%CuCl2*2H2O水溶液中48 h的方法,于室温制备了疏水性的褐藻酸铜(Ⅱ)配位聚合物膜,并通过ESR、 UV-Vis、 IR、 XPS和电导率等手段,研究此配位催化剂褐藻酸铜(Ⅱ)配位聚合物膜表面的组成、配位结构和性质,得知1个Cu2+ 是以dsp2杂化空轨道与褐藻酸2个链节单元的2个羧羟基氧及其2个脱质子带负电荷氧的孤对电子发生配位作用,形成低自旋构型的褐藻酸铜(Ⅱ)配位聚合物,中心Cu2+ 的配位数为4,这对于低分子配合物而言,其空间构型一般是正方形,但在褐藻酸铜(Ⅱ)配位聚合物中,由于褐藻酸分子链的缠绕和卷曲,使上述的空间构型被扭曲,甚至有些配位体没有到位,导致该配位聚合物的中心Cu2+ 存在一些空位中心而具有配位催化活性,因此,HSO3-能按配位催化机理产生初级自由基氢,使醋酸乙烯酯(VAc)按自由基加聚反应历程进行聚合,这有别于CuCl2-Na2SO3-H2O氧化还原引发聚合体系。测定VAc在本体系和室温、pH=7条件下聚合的诱导期为90 s,反应时间24 h。聚醋酸乙烯酯(PVAc)得率82%, mw=1.02×106, mn=2.27×105, mw/mn=4.49。