Synthesis of anodic silicon oxide films in water-organic solutions containing orthophosphoric acid

Variations in electrophysical properties of anodic silicon oxide at the surface of semiconductor silicon are studied as a function of the composition of electrolytic solutions containing orthophosphoric acid and the conditions of reaching the final formation potential. The optimum conditions for the formation of anodic SiO₂ coatings that include phosphorus-containing admixtures are determined, the coatings being intended for application as diffusates in nanoelectronics.     

Copper Solid Amalgam Electrodes

This work describes the behavior of copper solid amalgam electrodes (CuSAE). The applied potential range has been compared with that of the silver solid amalgam electrode (AgSAE) and the hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE). In 0.05 M tetraborate buffer the applicable potential range of CuSAE is+0.945 V to ?1.75 V excluding ?0.2 V to ?0.5 V, where the anodic oxidation of copper occurs. CuSAE does not need other than electrochemical pre‐treatment, which has been documented by the evaluated repeatability of eleven voltammetric curves of Cd²⁺ (0.1 ppm), Pb²⁺ (0.1 ppm) and Mn²⁺ (0.5 ppm). The obtained results showed that CuSAE could substitute the solid copper, amalgamed copper or liquid copper amalgam electrodes, and can be applied for the study of systems needing an addition of Cu²⁺ ions into the measured solution.     

Investigation on the Interaction of Bendazac with β-, Hydroxypropyl-β-, and γ-, yclodextrins

The interactions of Bendazac, a topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, with-cyclodextrin, hydroxypropyl--cyclodextrin and -cyclodextrinwere investigated to evaluate possibilities to improve the drug's poor water solubilityand eventually to enhance the topical delivery of Bendazac. Phase solubility studiesdemonstrated the ability of the selected cyclodextrins to complex with Bendazac andincrease drug solubility. The amount of solubilized Bendazac increased linearly withthe addition of each cyclodextrin according toA_L type plots. ¹³C-NMR studiesshowed that the Bendazac A-ring was included in the cavity of the three cyclodextrins.The -cyclodextrin was also able to include the B-ring of Bendazac, forminga complex where one drug molecule fitted into two cyclodextrin molecules. Equimolarsolid systems of the drug with each cyclodextrin carrier were prepared using varioustechniques (physical mixing, spray-drying and freeze-drying). The results of differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier transform infrared analysis, performed on the solid systems, demonstrated that freeze-dried and spray-dried products had a high degree of amorphization and agreed with the hypothesis of the existence of drug–cyclodextrin interaction in the solid state. The cyclodextrins tested were able to improve the dissolution of Bendazac. The dissolution profile of the drug was also affected by the physico-chemical properties of each solid system, the freeze-dried products being the most rapidly dissolving forms.     

Preparation and reactivity of metal-containing monomers

The thermal decomposition of iron (III) acrylate, [Fe₃O(CH₂=CHCOO)₆ · 3H₂O]OH (FeAcr), a monomer with a complex cluster cation, has been studied at 200–370 °C. Thermal transformations of FeAcr occur in two temperature regions. The rates of gas evolution in the low temperature region (200–300 °C) and the high temperature region (300–370 °C) are described by first-order equations withk=4.2 · 10²¹exp[−59000/(RT)] s⁻¹ andk=1.3 · 10⁶exp[−30500/(RT)] s⁻¹, respectively. A study of the qualitative and quantitative composition of the products of FeAcr thermolysis was carried out. The thermal transformation of FeAcr is a complex process of dehydration, degradation, and polymerization in the solid phase followed by decarboxylation of the metal-carboxyl groups of the polymer. for part 33 see Ref. 1. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 1743–1750, October, 1993.     

Application of a sequential extraction procedure to study the release of elements from municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash

The release of five elements (Cr, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn) from a municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash (BA) under different extraction conditions has been investigated by performing the three-step sequential extraction procedure proposed by the Standards, Measurements and Testing Program of the European Union. A fourth step (strong acid attack) has been added in order to calculate the mass balance. The results of this study provide information on the potential mobility of the studied elements. Almost all of the Cr and part of the Mn are extracted with strong acid which indicates low potential mobility in the environment. Most of the Cu is extracted under oxidizing conditions. Pb and Zn are released under acidic condition, indicating the possibility of their mobilization by changes in pH. The reproducibility of the sequential extraction procedure is also discussed.     

Effect of nature of support and impregnating agent on lipophilicity determination for nonionic surfactants by reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography

Summary The retention of 9 nonylphenyl ethylene oxide oligomers was determined in 15 reversed-phase chromatographic systems using silicone oils of various molecular mass as impregnating agents and silica, cellulose and alumina supports. The data were evaluated with principal component analysis carried out on the covariance and the correlation matrices. The R_M values did not follow the additivity rule and they did not change linearly with increasing length of the ethylene oxide chain. This is probably due to the folded state of the chain in the eluent. The molecular mass of the silicone oils had a negligible effect on the retention whereas the retention increased with increasing level of impregnation. The support considerably influenced the lipophilicity values of these nonionic surfactants and cellulose seemed to be the most appropriate support. Calculations proved that the application of a correlation matrix may cause data distortion; therefore, the use of a covariance matrix is strongly proposed.     

Determination of the Insect Repellent Bayrepel® in Pool and Lake Water by Gas Chromatography after Preconcentration with Solid-Phase Extraction and Stir-Bar-Sorptive Extraction

A method for the determination of the new insect repellent Bayrepel in bathing lakes and public pools is presented. Sample preconcentration is performed either by solid-phase extraction (SPE) or stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE). Analysis of the enriched analyte using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) led to almost identical limits of detection (LOD) of 25ngL^–1 for Bayrepel with both extraction methods. Because of the slightly reduced handling effort involved, the method based on preconcentration by SBSE was finally chosen for the analysis of real samples.     

Thermal transitions and fat droplet stability in ice-cream mixmodel systems

We studied thermal transitions and physical stability of oil-in-water emulsions containing different milk fat compositions, arising from anhydrous milk fat alone (AMF) or in mixture (2:1 mass ratio) with a high melting temperature (AMF–HMT) or a low melting temperature (AMF–LMT) fraction. Changes in thermal transitions in bulk fat and emulsion samples were monitored by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) under controlled cooling and reheating cycles performed between 50 and –45°C (5°C min^–1). Comparison between bulk fat samples and emulsions indicated similar values of melting completion temperature, whereas initial temperature of fat crystallization (T_onset) seemed to be differently affected by storage temperature depending on triacylglycerols (TAG) composition. After storage at 4°C, T_onset values were very similar for emulsified and non-emulsified AMF–HMT blend, whereas they were lower (by approx. 6°C) for emulsions containing AMF or mixture of AMF–LMT fraction. After storage at –30°C, T_onset values of re-crystallization were higher in emulsion samples than in bulk fat blends, whatever the TAG fat composition. Light scattering measurements and fluorescence microscopic observations indicated differences in fat droplet aggregation-coalescence under freeze-thaw procedure, depending on emulsion fat composition. It appeared that under quiescent freezing, emulsion containing AMF–LMT fraction was much less resistant to fat droplet aggregation-coalescence than emulsions containing AMF or AMF–HMT fraction. Our results indicated the role of fat droplet liquid-solid content on emulsion stability.     

Lattice Dynamics in LaTa2-2xNb2xVO9-δ (x=0–0.1) Solid Solutions

The oxygen nonstoichiometry (x) of LaTa_2-2xNb_2xVO₉- (x = 0–0.1) solid solutions was studied using Xray phase analysis, vibrational spectroscopy, and radiospectroscopy. A correlation was found between (x) and the unit cell volume V(x) of the solid solutions. It was shown that the infrared spectra of LaTa₂VO₉- change in passing from = 0 to 0. The structural position of the oxygen vacancy in LaTa_2-2xNb_2xVO₉- is discussed.     

Cooled internal reflection element for infrared chemical sensing of volatile to semi-volatile organic compounds in the headspace of aqueous solutions

In this study, the cooling effect was applied to an evanescent wave type infrared (IR) chemical sensing method to effectively trap volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which have been absorbed in the hydrophobic film coated around the internal reflection element (IRE). The detection of VOCs in aqueous solutions was taken in the headspace of the aqueous solution. This method eliminates the long-term instability of hydrophobic film soaked in an aqueous solution and the potential spectral interference caused by the matrix of the aqueous solution. Thermal energy has been applied to the aqueous solution to assist in the evaporation of VOCs out of the aqueous matrix. By applying a cooling system to the IRE, the excess thermal energy can be removed leading to more stable IR signals. After examination of organic compounds with vapour pressure (P_v) ranging from 0.017 to 150 Torr, significant differences were found between IR signals from cooled and un-cooled systems. Because the thermal conductivity of the IRE used in IR detection is typically low; the efficiency in removing the thermal energy is limited. By heating the aqueous solutions to different temperatures, the IR signals showed that the sample temperature was limited to around 80 °C. The IR signal determination results for five different volatility organic compounds indicated that the optimal heating temperature was not necessary to match with the volatilities of organic compounds in cooling system. The linear regression coefficient (R²) of the standard curve for sample concentrations in the range 5-200 μg ml⁻¹ was generally higher than 0.991 and the detection limit was around a few hundred ng ml⁻¹, which was two to three times lower than that of un-cooled system.