Micro construction of poly(epsilon-caprolactone)/poly(L-lactic acid) blend film by solution casting under microwave irradiation

The micro construction of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) blend films fabricated by solution casting under microwave irradiation was investigated by selective enzymatic degradation and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results were totally different from the blends obtained by conventional methods. The blend was more homogeneous and the PCL continuous phase more compact as no spherulites and tiny zone separation were observed from the film surface and no PCL network was observed inside the film, and the degradation of a PCL plank by Pseudomonas lipase was significantly retarded. The distributed PLLA micro spheres were enlarged and amorphous. The thermal behavior of the blend by microwave heating revealed that PCL and PLLA underwent a melting process, which induced the variations of the PCL phase and PLLA spheres. The weight loss caused by degradation of the PCL/PLLA blend obtained by conventional methods (B50c) is greater than that of the blend obtained by microwave methods (B50m), which reflects the change in morphology from a loose PCL network (B50c) to a dense PCL plank (B50m).     

Cyclic ketones and substituted α-keto acids as alternative substrates for novel Biginelli-like scaffold syntheses

The reactions of benzocyclic ketones and α-ketoacids as carbonyl components in the Biginelli reaction were investigated. These unusual Biginelli substrates furnished novel drug-like dihydropyrimidinone scaffolds suitable for further elaboration.     

Dissolution of ionisable groups and lignocellulosic components during low-temperature kraft pulping of pinus radiata

A wide range of kraft pulps from radiata pine produced by low-temperature kraft pulping in flow-through reactors was assessed for carboxyl and hexenuronic acid (HexA) contents using the conductometric titrations and UV spectrophotometer, respectively. The Kappa number of pulps varied from 20.8 to 84.7 when using a cooking liquor of 1 M effective alkali as Na₂O, 25% sulfidity, and cooking time of 100–250 min. The experimental results showed that the carboxyl groups (including HexA) and HexA groups dissolved and their residual values in the pulp samples correlate linearly with Kappa number and pulp yield. The dissolving rate of all carboxyl groups is much faster than the loss of HexA. The HexA/lignin ratio decreased non-linearly with Kappa number.     

长链氨羧络合剂萃取稀土饵

研究了长链氨羧络合剂N,N′-二(十二烷基)乙二胺二乙酸钠(Na2R2Y)的氯仿溶液萃取稀土饵的行为;考察了溶液酸度、络合剂浓度、相比和温度对萃取率的影响.用摩尔比法测定了Na2R2Y与Er3+的络合摩尔比为1∶1;结果表明,Na2R2Y的氯仿溶液对饵的萃取率随络合剂浓度的增大而增大,随温度的升高而降低.     

A new method for the synthesis ofN-methylmorpholinium 4-aryl-5-cyano-2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridine-6-thiolates and their properties

N-Methylmorpholinium 4-aryl-5-cyano-2-oxo-2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridine-6-thiolates were obtained by the condensation of aromatic aldehydes, cyanothioacetamide, and Meldrum's acid in the presence ofN-methylmorpholine. They were then used in the syntheses of substituted 6-alkylthio-3,4-dihydropyridin-2(1H)-ones and 4,5-dihydrothieno[2,3-b]pyridin-6(7H)-ones. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 1852–1856, October, 1997.     

Production of multi-hollow polymer particles by the stepwise acid/alkali method

 Recently, we reported that multi-hollow polymer particles can be prepared from carboxylated polymer particles by the stepwise alkali/acid method. In this article, an attempt was made to prepare similar particles from acid-swellable polymer particles by the stepwise treatment with acid and alkali, which was named the stepwise acid/alkali method. The acid-swellable particles were produced by emulsion terpolymerization of styrene, butyl acrylate, and dimethyl 2-amino ethyl methacrylate. The effects of initial pH value, temperature, and time in the acid and alkali treatment processes on the multi-hollow structure were examined. Received: 18 December 1996 Accepted: 11 March 1997     

The calorimetric investigation of phosphoric acid-N,N-dimethylformamide system

Solution and mixing enthalpies for the orthophosphoric acid (H₃PO₄)-N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) system were measured over the whole concentration range at 25 °C. The standard value of solution enthalpy of phosphoric acid in DMF and the standard transference enthalpy of H₃PO₄ from water to DMF were calculated. The mixing enthalpy concentration dependence permitted making assumptions on complex formation in the system under investigation.     

The Adsorption and Photocatalytic Decomposition of Citric Acid on Pt/TiO_2

The adsorption and photocatalutic decomposition of citric acid on both Pt/TiO2 powder and n-TiO2 single crystal electrode were studied in aqueous solutions of various pH. It was found that citrate ions were chemisorbed on TiO2, which could increase the interfacial capacity and the filling factor of photocurrent-potential curves. The quantity of adsorption, slope of mott-Shottky plot and the rate of photocatalytic decomposition of citric acid were found to depend strongly on pH of solution. The phot ocatalytic decomposition of citric acid was discussed in light of its adsorption on TiO2.     

Determination of particulate fatty acids as P-bromophenacyl- or phenylphenacylesters using HPLC

Summary A method for the determination of fatty acids of the molecular weight range of propionic to erucic acid is reported. The acids are converted to either p-bromophenacyl-or p-phenylphenacylesters and the esters are separated by HPLC and detected by UV-absorption. Twentytwo esters, including saturated, monoolefinic and polyunsaturated ones were separated within one HPLC-run. The detection limit is about 5 pmol per fatty acid. The application of the method to particulate material is described.     

Norvancomycin-capped silver nanoparticles: Synthesis and antibacterial activities against E. coli

The synthesis of norvancomycin (NVan)-capped silver nanoparticles (Ag@NVan) and their notable in vitro antibacterial activities against E. coli, a Gram-negative bacterial strain (GNB), are reported here. Mercaptoacetic acid-stabilized spherical silver nanoparticles with a diameter of 16±4 nm are prepared by a simple chemical reaction. The formation process of the silver nanoparticles is investigated by UV-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). NVan is then grafted to the terminal carboxyl of the mercaptoacetic acid in the presence of N-(3-Dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDAC). The TEM images of single bacteria treated with Ag@NVan show that plenty of Ag@NVan aggregate in the cell wall of E. coli. A possible antibacterial mechanism is proposed that silver nanoparticles may help destroy the stability of the outer membrane of E. coli, which makes NVan easier to bind to the nether part of the peptidoglycan structure. The antibacterial activities of silver nanoparticles on their own, together with the rigid polyvalent interaction between Ag@NVan and cell wall, enables Ag@NVan to be an effective inhibitor of GNB. This kind of bionanocomposites might be used as novel bactericidal materials and we also provide an effective synthesis method for preparing functional bioconjugated nanoparticles here. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 50373036) and Fok Ying Tung Education Foundation (Grant No. J20040212)