Polymer-filler interaction and control of structure in barium sulphate-filled blends of polypropylene

The structure of barium sulphate-filled immiscible blends with a polypropylene (PP) matrix can be controlled with respect to the occlusion of the filler with the aid of maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MAH) through the formation of an interlayer around the filler particles. Here we analyze the interlayer and the mechanism of interlayer formation in a blend with a poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) dispersed phase and compare the results with previous studies, which concerned PP blends with polystyrene (PS) and poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) (SAN) minority phases. The main analytical tools were scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The filler is occluded in the PMMA polymer in the PP/PMMA/BaSO₄ (60/20/20 vol.%) blend, but is occluded in the PP phase at the addition of a sufficient amount of PPg-MAH. The reason for the formation of the latter structure is a PP-g-MAH layer surrounding the filler particles, and the most likely mechanism behind this phenomenon is judged to be specific weak interactions between carbonyl groups in the graft copolymer and Ba²⁺ ions at the filler surface.     

An improved method for assay of vitamin C in fish feed and tissues

Summary A method was devised to assay four forms of vitamin C: L-ascorbic acid (AA), dehydroascorbic acid (DHA), ascorbate-2-mono- and polyphosphate (AMP, APP), as well as ascorbate-2-monosulphate (AMS), in sample series of different fish tissues and feed. Direct and indirect detection were combined. Sample extractions were carried out with 0.2 mol L⁻¹ sodium acetate buffer (pH 4.8) and extracts were deproteinized after different chemical or enzymatic reactions, with perchloric acid. The DHA was reduced to AA with dithioerythritol (DTE). Ascorbate oxidase enzyme was used for the detection of background and an acidic phosphatase enzyme for the hydrolysis of different phosphate esters. Ascorbate-2-sulphate was detected directly with help of coinjection of the compound. Chromatographic analysis was carried out with a single column isocratic reverse phase method. The mobile phase was an aqueous buffer of 0.04 M sodium-acetate, 0.05 mM EDTA, 0.5 mM tetrabutylammonium dihydrogen phosphate (TBA) adjusted to pH 3.76 with 85% H₃PO₄ and with 24 mL methanol added to 1000 mL. C-18 columns were used with 0.6 mL min⁻¹ flow rate at 23°C. The vitamin C forms were detected by UV absorption at 250 nm. The determination limit was 1.0–5.0 μg g⁻¹ in AA equivalent. The standard deviations were between 1–6% and depended on the concentrations of vitamin C forms and tissues. Recoveries were between 90–96% in samples. Presented at: Balaton Symposium on High-Performance Separation Methods, Siófok, Hungary, September 3–5, 1997     

Miniaturized Salinity Gradient Energy Harvesting Devices

Harvesting salinity gradient energy, also known as “osmotic energy” or “blue energy”, generated from the free energy mixing of seawater and fresh river water provides a renewable and sustainable alternative for circumventing the recent upsurge in global energy consumption. The osmotic pressure resulting from mixing water streams with different salinities can be converted into electrical energy driven by a potential difference or ionic gradients. Reversed-electrodialysis (RED) has become more prominent among the conventional membrane-based separation methodologies due to its higher energy efficiency and lesser susceptibility to membrane fouling than pressure-retarded osmosis (PRO). However, the ion-exchange membranes used for RED systems often encounter limitations while adapting to a real-world system due to their limited pore sizes and internal resistance. The worldwide demand for clean energy production has reinvigorated the interest in salinity gradient energy conversion. In addition to the large energy conversion devices, the miniaturized devices used for powering a portable or wearable micro-device have attracted much attention. This review provides insights into developing miniaturized salinity gradient energy harvesting devices and recent advances in the membranes designed for optimized osmotic power extraction. Furthermore, we present various applications utilizing the salinity gradient energy conversion.     

Porous framework of T2[Fe(CN)6]·xH2O with T=Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, and H2 storage

The materials under study were prepared from aqueous solutions of ferrocyanic acid and salts of the involved transition metals and their crystal structure solved and refined from X-ray powder diffraction data. Complementary information from thermogravimetric, infrared and Mössbauer data was also used for the structural study. Three different crystal structures were found: hexagonal (P-3) for Zn with the zinc atom coordinated to three N ends of CN groups plus a water molecule, cubic (Pm-3m) for Ni and Cu, and monoclinic (P2₁/m) for Co. For Ni and Cu the obtained solids have an open channel framework related to 50% of vacancies for the building unit, [Fe(CN)₆]. In the as-synthesized material the framework free volume is occupied by coordinated and hydrogen-bonded water molecules. These of hexacyanoferrates (II) have received certain attention as prototype of materials for the hydrogen storage. In the anhydrous phase of Ni and Cu, 50% of the metal (T) coordination sites, located at the cavities surface, will be available to interact with the hydrogen molecule. However, when the crystal waters are removed the porous frameworks collapse as it is suggested by H₂ and CO₂ adsorption data. For Co, a structure of stacked layers was found where the cobalt atoms have both tetrahedral and octahedral coordination. The layers remain together through a network of hydrogen-bonding interactions between coordinated and weakly bonded water molecules. No H₂ adsorption was observed in the anhydrous phase of Co. For Zn, the porous framework remains stable on the water removal but with a system of narrow channels and a small available volume, also inaccessible to H₂.     

煌焦油蓝-溴酸钠体系催化动力学光度法测定痕量甲醛

基于H2SO4介质中甲醛催化NaBrO3氧化煌焦油蓝的褪色反应,建立了测定痕量甲醛的催化动力学分析方法。探讨了该方法的反应机理,对其反应条件进行了研究。测定线性范围为0．16～2．00μg／mL,检出限为8ng／mL。方法已应用于海产品水发液中痕量甲醛的测定。     

四电子还原态α-Keggin型磷钼酸基有机/无机杂化超分子化合物的合成、 晶体结构及性质

在铜离子诱导效应下, 采用水热方法, 以α-Keggin型磷钼酸和1,6-己二胺为原料首次成功合成了四电子还原态α-Keggin型磷钼酸基有机/无机杂化超分子化合物, 并利用X射线单晶结构解析、元素分析、IR、UV-Vis、TG/DTA、XPS、磁化率测量以及CV等方法对标题化合物进行了详尽的结构和光谱研究.     

气相色谱法研究配位化合物的热稳定性——ⅩⅢ.普鲁士蓝化合物的热分解及其加氢反应研究

普鲁士蓝化合物的热分解过程,可分为三个阶段:(1)脱水;(2)Fe³⁺还原至Fe²⁺;(3)C≡N^-键的断裂。H₂气中的热分解由于发生了一系列的加氢反应,分解产物及所对应的分解温度都不同于He气中的情况,其产物的种类增加,C≡N^-键的断裂温度降低。普鲁士蓝化合物中,CN^-呈典型的双端基配位,可看作是一种双金属配位的活化模型,与CN^-呈单端基配位的K₃[Fe(CN)₆]相比,C≡N^-键的活化程度增加,不仅断裂温度降低,且能发生更深度的加氢反应。     

Novel electrochemical biosensor based on functional composite nanofibers for sensitive detection of p53 tumor suppressor gene

A novel electrochemical biosensor based on functional composite nanofibers for sensitive hybridization detection of p53 tumor suppressor using methylene blue (MB) as an electrochemical indicator is developed. The carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) doped nylon 6 (PA6) composite nanofibers (MWNTs–PA6) was prepared using electrospinning, which served as the nanosized backbone for pyrrole (Py) electropolymerization. The functional composite nanofibers (MWNTs–PA6–PPy) used as supporting scaffolds for ssDNA immobilization can dramatically increase the amount of DNA attachment and the hybridization sensitivity. The biosensor displayed good sensitivity and specificity. The target wild type p53 sequence (wtp53) can be detected as low as 50 fM and the discrimination is up to 57.5% between the wtp53 and the mutant type p53 sequence (mtp53). It holds promise for the early diagnosis of cancer development and monitoring of patient therapy.     

胶体化学综合性实验:纳米普鲁士蓝的合成与性质研究

在创新教育背景下,将前沿科学研究成果引入低年级工科大学无机化学或物理化学实验教学课堂中,设计纳米普鲁士蓝胶体合成与性质的教学实验。通过本实验学习,学生可以掌握共沉淀法制备纳米普鲁士蓝胶体,熟悉胶体的分散性质以及稳定性的调控方法,了解纳米普鲁士蓝胶体催化过氧化氢分解的性质,还可进一步开拓生物分析检测、染料废水降解等应用领域知识。     

亚甲蓝在分子有序组合体中的聚集行为

研究了生物染色剂亚甲蓝(MB)在分子有序组合体(胶束、O/W微乳液和层状液晶)介质中的聚集行为。根据MB特征峰处的吸收光谱值,计算了MB的二聚平衡常数和相应单体、二聚体的摩尔消光系数。并用稳态荧光法和无外加探针的循环伏安法进一步论证了计算结果。研究发现,当MB总浓度一定时,在胶束体系中MB单体量较少,在层状液晶体系中单体量较多,在O/W微乳液体系中则介于胶束和层状液晶之间。表明层状液晶体系是获取更多MB单体的理想介质。