Asymmetric Polymer Particles with Anisotropic Curvatures by Annealing Polystyrene Microspheres on Poly(vinyl alcohol) Films

Anisotropic polymer particles such as Janus particles have attracted significant attention in recent years because of their unique properties and unusual self‐assembly behavior. Most anisotropic polymer particles synthesized so far, however, only have different chemical regions compartmentalized on the particles. It remains a great challenge to fabricate anisotropic polymer particles with different shapes within a single particle. A novel approach is developed to prepare anisotropic polymer particles that contain two hemispheres with different curvatures by annealing polystyrene microspheres on poly(vinyl alcohol) films. During the annealing process, the polymer microspheres gradually sink into the polymer films and transform to asymmetric polymer particles, driven by the surface and interfacial tensions of the polymers. Selective removal techniques are also used to confirm the morphologies of the asymmetric particles.

     

2-Adic complexity of binary sequences with interleaved structure

In this paper, 2-adic complexity of some binary sequences with interleaved structure is investigated. Firstly, 2-adic complexity of low correlation zone (LCZ) sequences constructed by Zhou et al. [23] is completely determined. We show that their 2-adic complexity could attain the maximum if suitable parameters are chosen. Secondly, we also determine 2-adic complexity of optimal autocorrelation sequences constructed by Tang and Ding [16]. Results show that they have the maximum 2-adic complexity.     

Positronium as a probe of structure and stability of solid phases in binary n-alkane mixtures

Annihilation of triplet ortho-positronium (o-Ps) in binary mixture of odd numbered n-alkanes was investigated. Sensitivity of o-Ps lifetime to the size of free volumes in the sample structure allows to distinguish not only the phases of solid but also some details of their structure. It was found that in the rigid phase o-Ps locates in the interlamellar gap. In mixed systems the o-Ps lifetime in that phase is longer than in neat compounds due to the change of molecular arrangements around the gap. In the case of n-tricosane + n-nonadecane mixture a transient structure appears when the n-tricosane content is between 3% and 10%. Directly after the increase of temperature to the range of 285–292 K the sample transforms to the rotator phase, but returns (at least partially) to the previous rigid structure with recovery time constant of many hours. Above 292 K the structure is stable.     

Vapor–liquid equilibria and density measurement for binary mixtures of toluene,benzene, o-xylene,m-xylene,sulfolane and nonane at 333.15 K and 353.15 K

Isothermal vapor–liquid equilibria at 333.15 K and 353.15 K for four binary mixtures of benzene + nonane, toluene + o-xylene, m-xylene + sulfolane and o-xylene + sulfolane have been obtained at pressures ranged from 0 to 101.3 kPa over the whole composition range. The Wilson, NRTL and UNIQUAC activity coefficient models have been employed to correlate experimental pressures and liquid mole fractions. The non-ideal behavior of the vapor phase has been considered by using the Peng–Robinson equation of state in calculating the vapor mole fraction. Liquid and vapor densities of these solutions were measured by using two vibrating tube densitometers. The excess molar volumes of the liquid phase were also determined. The P–x–y phase behavior indicates that mixtures of m-xylene + sulfolane, o-xylene + sulfolane and benzene + nonane present large positive deviations from the ideal solution and belong to endothermic mixings because their excess Gibbs energies are positive.     

Density,viscosity, vapour–liquid equilibrium,excess molar enthalpy,and their correlations of the binary system [1-pentanol + R-(+)-limonene] over the complete concentration range,at different temperatures

Density and viscosity measurements in the T = (293.15–373.15) K range of pure 1-pentanol, R-(+)-limonene, as well as of the binary system {x₁ 1-pentanol + (1 − x₁) limonene} over the whole concentration range were made. The experimental results were fitted to empirical equations, which permit the calculation of these properties in the studied temperature range. Calculated values are in agreement with the experimental ones. Data of the binary mixtures were further used to calculate the excess molar volume and viscosity deviations. Excess enthalpy at 303 K and vapour–liquid equilibrium measurements in the T = (328.15–343.15) K range were also obtained for the binary system. These last experimental results were used to calculate activity coefficients and the excess molar Gibbs energy. This binary system exhibits a maximum pressure azeotrope. Excess or deviation properties were fitted to the Redlich–Kister polynomial relation to obtain their coefficients and standard deviations. Vapour pressure of 1-pentanol over the P = (2.3–95.1) kPa range were also measured. Furthermore, functional relationships between the total pressure and the mole fraction of 1-pentanol with the temperature of the azeotropic point were also deduced. These equations are useful to calculate the azeotropic point coordinates in the temperature and pressure ranges studied in this work.     

Surface tension of dimethyl ether + propane from 243 to 333 K

The surface tension of the binary refrigerant mixture dimethyl ether (RE170)(1) + propane (R290)(2) at three mass fraction of w₁=0.3007,0.4975 ??and ??0.6949$w_1=\mathrm{0.3007,0.4975}\text{\hspace{0.17em}??}\text{and}\text{\hspace{0.17em}??}0.6949$ was measured in the temperature range from 243 to 333 K with a differential capillary rise method. The uncertainties of the measurement of the temperature and the surface tension were estimated to be within ±10 mK and ±0.2 mN m⁻¹, respectively. A correlation for the surface tension of the binary refrigerant mixture RE170 + R290 was developed as a function of the composition.     

磁性粒子在蛋白质分离纯化中的应用

磁性粒子与磁性分离技术结合用于生物分子和生物微粒的分离近年来受到了广泛关注。磁性粒子经过适当的表面修饰,可高度选择性地结合目标蛋白,在解决蛋白质的快速分离及高特异性的选择性分离方面具有优势。随着蛋白质组学研究的发展,磁性粒子用于蛋白质分离纯化的研究日渐增多。本文介绍了磁性粒子和磁性分离的基本特点,综述了近5年国内外有关磁性粒子在蛋白质分离纯化中的应用和发展现状。     

Trace elements in PM2.5 in Gothenburg,Sweden

Ambient aerosol particles smaller than 2.5 µm (PM_2.5) are getting more and more attention worldwide. While legal focus is mainly on sample mass, the composition of the particles is an important research field gaining increased interest. The interest is not only connected to possible health effects of the elemental content of the particles, but the elemental determination can also add valuable information for source apportionment. Samples were collected during 20 days in November 2007 at the campus of the Chemistry Department, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. The particles were collected using a cyclone that separates the PM_2.5 particles from the air stream and impacts them on polycarbonate filters. Filters were changed at early afternoon. The samples were analyzed for particulate mass, black carbon (BC) and the elements S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, As, Br, Cd and Pb. Several of the elements were above detection limit in only a few of the samples. Total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) spectrometer based on the Wobi TXRF module supplied by the International Atom Energy Agency (IAEA) has been used for the determination of most trace elements in the samples. A Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (GF-AAS) was used for complementary trace element analysis and a reflectometer was used to analyze black carbon. Before elemental analysis the filters were digested using a microwave digestion system with temperature and pressure control. The results showed a large variation in sample mass, BC and analyzed elemental concentrations. The variation of the different constituents did not show the same pattern. This added to the picture of different sources for different pollutants. The highest S concentration was noted on a day when the air masses were determined to come from the southeast, i.e. Poland and some other Eastern European countries. From the results it can be concluded that more work is needed on the TXRF spectrometer to optimize it for determination of the EU legally regulated elements As, Ni, Pb and Cd. Despite this the study shows that there is no problem in meeting the AAQS limits for Cd and Pb in Gothenburg.     

Physical properties and structure of fine core–shell particles used as packing materials for chromatography: Relationships between particle characteristics and column performance

The recent development of new brands of packing materials made of fine porous-shell particles, e.g., Halo and Kinetex, has brought great improvements in potential column efficiency, demanding considerable progress in the design of chromatographic instruments. Columns packed with Halo and Kinetex particles provide minimum values of their reduced plate heights of nearly 1.5 and 1.2, respectively. These packing materials have physical properties that set them apart from conventional porous particles. The kinetic performance of 4.6 mm I.D. columns packed with these two new materials is analyzed based on the results of a series of nine independent and complementary experiments: low-temperature nitrogen adsorption (LTNA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), inverse size-exclusion chromatography (ISEC), Coulter counter particle size distributions, pycnometry, height equivalent to a theoretical plate (HETP), peak parking method (PP), total pore blocking method (TPB), and local electrochemical detection across the column exit section (LED). The results of this work establish links between the physical properties of these superficially porous particles and the excellent kinetic performance of columns packed with them. It clarifies the fundamental origin of the difference in the chromatographic performances of the Halo and the Kinetex columns.     

Mass transfer mechanism in liquid chromatography columns packed with shell particles: Would there be an optimum shell structure?

The mass transfer mechanisms in columns packed with old (55 μm Zipax and 5 μm Poroshell) and recently commercialized shell particles (2.7 μm Halo-C(18) and Kinetex-C(18)) were investigated from a physico-chemical point of view. Combining a model of diffusion in heterogeneous packed beds (effective medium theory) with values of the heights equivalent to a theoretical plate (HETPs derived from the first and second central moments of the elution profiles) and of the peak variances provided by the peak parking method, we demonstrate that columns packed with current shell particles perform better than those packed with fully porous particles in resolving low molecular weight compounds because the eddy diffusion term of the van Deemter equation of the former is markedly smaller. The calculation of eddy diffusion in column beds suggests that the smaller A terms are due to smaller trans-column velocity bias in columns packed with shell particles. We also show that the mass transfer of large molecules (e.g., proteins) is faster when the internal volume accessible to the analyte increases. Therefore, it is suggested that shell particles made of concentric layers with average pore sizes increasing with increasing diameter would provide columns with higher efficiency.