Optimization of the process variables for the synthesis of cardanol-based novolac-type phenolic resin using response surface methodology

Models capable of predicting the maximum extent of conversion (p) of cardanol-based novolac-type phenolic resin, have been developed using response surface methodology to determine the optimum reaction conditions. Three-dimensional response surface and their contour plot were drawn. The maximum extent of conversion (98.93%) was predicted when the cardanol was condensed with formaldehyde (molar ratio 1:0.652) at 119.84 °C for a time period of 3 h with the catalyst (e.g., citric acid) concentration of 1.988% of total volume of cardanol and formaldehyde. The pH of the reaction mixture was maintained at 3.0. These predicted values for optimum process conditions were in good agreement with experimental data.     

Structure and properties of the Nafion—polyaniline—palladium composite electrodes

Effect of conditions of deposition of palladium onto a composite polymeric film Nafion—polyaniline on the properties of the system thus obtained is studied. It is shown that the effect of the said conditions on the character of distribution of palladium in a polymer may be used when estimating electrocatalytic potentialities of such composites.Translated from Elektrokhimiya, Vol. 41, No. 2, 2005, pp. 213–218.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Andreev, Zolotarevskii.This revised version was published online in April 2005 with corrections to the article note and article title and cover date.     

四苯硼钠-甲苯胺蓝缔合物纳米微粒体系减色效应研究

在PH4.0醋酸-醋酸钠介质中，甲苯胺蓝在600nm处有一个吸收峰，随着四苯硼钠浓度的增大甲苯胺蓝在600nm处吸收峰降低，颜色减弱，这是由于甲苯胺蓝-四苯硼钠缔合物分子间存在较强的疏水作用及分子间作用力，聚集形成纳米微粒所致，甲苯胺蓝-四苯硼钠纳米微粒体系亦在600mm处有1个吸收峰，在400mm、470mm和580mm处产生3共振散射峰，其中400mm和580mm为甲苯胺蓝-四苯硼钠复合纳米微粒产生的特征共振散射峰，这也表明有纳米微粒存在，丙酮浓度的影响实验结果等表明，纳米微粒的形成是产生其减色效应的原因。     

LSGMC5含量对于二甲醚燃料电池复合Ni-Fe阳极性能的影响

用浸渍法制备了掺杂不同质量分数的La0.8Sr0.2Ga0.8Mg0.15Co0.05O3-δ (LSGMC5)粉末的Ni8-Fe2-LSGMC5复合阳极, 并采用交流阻抗和直流极化技术考察了以氢气和二甲醚为燃气时该复合阳极的电化学性能及相应电池的功率输出特性. 结果表明, 在电极中掺入LSGMC5 粉末, 能显著地改善电极的形貌和电极/电解质界面结构, 减小欧姆电阻和极化电阻. 电极中LSGMC5 粉末含量对于氢气及二甲醚电化学氧化性能的影响显著不同. 以二甲醚为燃气时, 电极极化电阻随LSGMC5 粉末含量的增加而减小, 其中LSGMC5 掺杂量为30%的复合阳极具有最高的电化学性能, 相应电池在1073、1023、973 K 时的输出功率分别为1.00、0.61、0.40 W·cm-2; 以氢气为燃气时, LSGMC5 掺杂量为20%的复合阳极具有最好的电化学性能, 随着LSGMC5 掺杂量的进一步增加, 电极极化电阻显著增大.     

Isoperichoric focusing field-flow fractionation and thin layer isoperichoric focusing based on coupling of gradient generated by primary field with secondary field action: general principles and performances

The primary field forces can generate spatially oriented gradient of the effective property of a continuum or pseudo-continuum fluid (carrier liquid). When this gradient is coupled with the action of a secondary field of identical or different nature the isoperichoric focused zones of the dispersed species can appear. Consequently, they can be separated according to differences responding to the property gradient of the carrier liquid. This concept can be applied under static (non-flow) conditions in thin layer focusing as well as under dynamic conditions with the elution due to the carrier liquid flow in focusing field-flow fractionation. The gradient established by the action of the primary field and the concentration distribution of the isoperichoric focused zone formed by the coupled effect of the gradient and of the primary or secondary field are described theoretically. The rigorous relationship describing the shape of the focused zone is compared with the approximate solutions. The performances of the proposed principle were evaluated by model calculations. Potential experimental configurations considering the implementation of the static and dynamic conditions are discussed. The generalized isoperichoric focusing theory can be applied to describe the particular processes operating in analytical and preparative focusing separations of the particles of various, but especially of biological origin.     

聚酰亚胺／聚N－乙烯吡咯烷酮分子复合物的合成和表征

由原位缩聚制备了刚性高分子聚酰亚胺（ＰＩ）和柔性基体聚Ｎ－乙烯吡咯烷附（ＰＶＰ）的分子复合物，并由实验证明了中间体聚酰胺酸（ＰＡ）和聚乙烯吡咯烷酮大分子之间存在的酸一碱相互作用．这种相互作用促进了混容性，使聚酰亚胺能以分子水平或接近分子水平分散在聚毗咯烷酮的基体之中．聚酰亚胺／聚Ｎ－乙烯吡咯烷团分子复合物的薄膜呈透明性，在整个组成范围内只有一个Ｔｇ，显示单相行为。当ＰＩ含量＜２０％时，ＳＥＭ相片呈现均相形貌，看不到ＰＩ微晶．广角Ｘ－ｒａｙ衍射图表明ＰＩ特征结晶峰消失，和无定形的ＰＶＰ完全混容．当ＰＩ含量＞４０％，ＳＥＭ显示有均匀分布的、棒状ＰＩ微晶存在．通过分子复合，即使ＰＩ含量为１０％，聚Ｎ－乙烯吡咯烷酮不再溶于乙醇，耐热性也有提高．     

LiNi0.8Co0.2O2 / MWNTs复合物超级电容器电极材料的研究

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were used as the conductive additive in the electrode materials. The electrochemical properties of supercapacitors based on LiNi_0.8Co_0.2O₂ / MWNTs composite and LiNi_0.8Co_0.2O₂/acetylene black composite and MWNTs in 1.0 mol·L^-1 LiClO₄ / EC+DEC [V(EC)∶V(DEC)=1∶1] electrolyte were investigated by means of constant charge/discharge current tests, respectively. The experimental results show that the LiNi_0.8Co_0.2O₂ / MWNTs composite has better performance than that of others, and the maximum specific capacitance of the supercapacitor can reach 271.6 F·g^-1, while the energy density is up to 339.5 Wh·kg^-1. Furthermore, it is remarkable that the performance of MWNTs is better than that of acetylene black as the conductive additive.     

Determination of degree of conversion as a function of depth of a photo-initiated dental restoration composite—III application to commercial Prodigy Condensable™

In this third work, we evaluated the degree of conversion (DC) versus depth of dental filling composite named Prodigy Condensable™ using infrared spectroscopy. Confirming previous results, there was a gradual reduction of DC with increasing depth but the composite exhibited extreme values of DC, an upper value (45.9%) on the surface and a lower one (6.1%) at a depth of 5 mm. The composite presented the worst performance among materials studied. The composite formulation was 80% of inorganic fillers and BisfenolA/dimethacrylate (BisGMA) (18%)/triethyleneglycoldimethacrylate (TEGDMA) (2.0%) as monomers. As stated before, type/ratio/viscosity of monomers and type, amount, size and size distribution of fillers all together had an important role in the cure reaction contributing to the final performance of the composite.     

Optimization of culture parameters for production of podophyllotoxin in suspension culture of Podophyllum hexandrum

The root explants of the germinated seedlings of Podophyllum hexandrum were grown in MS medium supplemented with indole acetic acid (IAA) (2 mg/L) and activated charcoal (0.5%), and healthy callus culture was obtained after incubation for 3 wk at 20°C. The cultivation of plant cells in shake flask was associated with problems such as clumping of cells and browning of media, which were solved by the addition of pectinase and polyvinylpyrrolidone. The effect of major media components and carbon source was studied on the growth and podophyllotoxin production in suspension culture. It was found that glucose was a better carbon source than sucrose and that NH₄ ⁺:NO₃ ⁻ ratio (total nitrogen concentration of 60 mM) and PO₄ ³⁻ did not have much effect on the growth and product formation. The relative effect of culture parameters (inoculum level, pH, IAA, glucose, NH₄ ⁺:NO₃ ⁻ ratio, and PO₄ ³⁻) on the overall growth and product response of the plant cell suspension culture was further investigated by Plackett-Burman design. This indicated that inoculum level, glucose, IAA, and pH had significant effects on growth and production of podophyllotoxin. To identify the exact optimum concentrations of these parameters on culture growth and podophyllotoxin production, central composite design experiments were formulated. The overall response equations with respect to growth and podophyllotoxin production as a function of these culture parameters were developed and used to determine the optimum concentrations of these parameters, which were pH 6.0, 1.25 mg/L of IAA, 72 g/L of glucose, and inoculum level of 8 g/L.