Thermal degradation of the polymer obtained by oxidation of C60 fullerene by oleum

Degradation of (C₆₀) _n polymer and the C₁₂₀ and C₁₂₀O dimers at different temperatures was studied by IR and ESR spectroscopy. The formation of C₆₀ was revealed. The polymer stability was found to be higher than the stability of the dimers. Peculiar features of the IR spectra of three-dimensional hyper-crosslinked polymers obtained by liquid-phase polymerization of C₆₀ are discussed.     

Effect of high-voltage pulses on electrochemical properties of a molten magnesium electrolyte

Effects of high-voltage pulses on electrochemical properties of a molten magnesium electrolyte is studied experimentally. It is established that the electroconductivity of the melt subjected to the pulses and the electrolysis current at a constant voltage increase by up to 25%. The relaxation time of nonequilibrium melt reaches a few tens of minutes and under certain conditions its dynamics is oscillatory.     

Thermal behavior of Cu(II)-, Cd(II)-, and Hg(II)-exchanged montmorillonite complexedwith cysteine

The thermal behavior of montmorillonite and organically modified montmorillonite, both treated with heavy metal cations [Cu(II), Cd(II) and Hg(II)], was characterized via thermal analyses (TG, DTG and DTA) combined with evolved species gas mass spectrometry (MS-EGA), and X-ray diffraction at in situ controlled temperature (HTXRD). The reactions involving Cu(II)- and Cd(II)-montmorillonite samples are mostly related to H₂O and OH loss, unlike Hg(II)-montmorillonite, where effects associated to Hg(II) loss are also present. Finally reactions related to dehydration, dehydroxylation and to organic matter decomposition can be observed in montmorillonite samples treated with cysteine.     

Eco-friendly synthesis of high silica zeolite Y with choline as green and innocent structure-directing agent

Zeolite synthesis in contemporary chemical industries is predominantly conducted using organic structure-directing agents (OSDAs), which are chronically hazardous to humans and the environment. It is a growing trend to develop an eco-friendly and nuisanceless OSDA for zeolite synthesis. Herein, choline is employed as a non-toxic and green OSDA to synthesize high silica Y zeolite with SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratios of 6.5–6.8. The prepared Y zeolite samples exhibited outstanding (hydro)thermal stability at ultrahigh temperature owing to the higher SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratio. The XRF, SEM, ²⁹Si-NMR and ¹³Na+ results suggested that choline plays a structure-directing role in the synthesis of Y zeolite, while the feed molar fraction of Na⁺ is a crucial determinant for the framework SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratio and the crystal morphology.     

Effect of substituents (NH_2,OH,F) on structures and stability of lithofluorosilylenoids

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Determination of the Thermal Degradation Kinetic Parameters of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Epoxy Using TG

In this work, a kinetic study on the thermal degradation of carbon fibre reinforced epoxy is presented. The degradation is investigated by means of dynamic thermogravimetric analysis (TG) in air and inert atmosphere at heating rates from 0.5 to 20°C min⁻¹ . Curves obtained by TG in air are quite different from those obtained in nitrogen. A three-step loss is observed during dynamic TG in air while mass loss proceeded as a two step process in nitrogen at fast heating rate. To elucidate this difference, a kinetic analysis is carried on. A kinetic model described by the Kissinger method or by the Ozawa method gives the kinetic parameters of the composite decomposition. Apparent activation energy calculated by Kissinger method in oxidative atmosphere for each step is between 40–50 kJ mol⁻¹ upper than E _a calculated in inert atmosphere. The thermo-oxidative degradation illustrated by Ozawa method shows a stable apparent activation energy (E _a ≈130 kJ mol⁻¹ ) even though the thermal degradation in nitrogen flow presents a maximum E _a for 15% mass loss (E _a ≈60 kJ mol⁻¹ ). This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Novel anti-inflammatory and wound healing controlled released LDH-Curcumin nanocomposite via intramuscular implantation,in-vivo study

One of the most common problems in wounds is delayed healing and complications such as infection. Therefore, the need for novel materials accelerates the healing of wounds especially abdominal wounds after surgery besides high efficiency and safety is mandatory. The rate of wound healing, anti-inflammatory and biocompatibility of Zn-Al LDH (Zn-Al layer double hydroxide) alone and loaded with Curcumin (Zn-Al LDH/Curcumin) was screened via in-vivo assays through intramuscular implantation in rat abdominal wall with intact peritoneum cavity. The implanted drugs were formed through Curcumin loaded into LDH of Zn-Al with drug release of 56.78 ± 1.51% within 24 h. The synthesized nanocomposite was characterized by (TGA/DTA) thermal analysis, (XRD) X-ray diffraction, (FESEM) Field emission scanning electron microscopy, (HRTEM) high resolution transmission electron microscope, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and low-temperature N₂ adsorption, pore volume and average pore size distribution. The integrity of blood circulation, inflammatory signs, wound healing rate, capacity of tissue integration, antigenicity and composite biocompatibility, auto fluorescence ability of collagen bundles and the tensile strength of the muscle were assessed histopathologically after 7 and 30 days’ post-implantation. Excellent wound healing ability was achieved with shortest length between the wound gap edges and higher tensile strength of the muscle. Besides emit florescence very well followed by good healing and tensile muscles strength in Curcumin while very low strength with scar formation in Zn-Al LDH/Curcumin in both acute and chronic wound. No signs of inflammation in Curcumin & Zn-Al LDH. No vessels obstruction or bleeding observed in both Zn-Al LDH and Curcumin more than Zn-Al LDH/Curcumin and control which examined through candling. Good healing & infiltrated immune cells in same groups through histopathological examination. This work supports the anti-inflammatory, wound healing and biocompatibility of both LDH and Curcumin with living matter, increasing their biomedical applications in this era with safety and increasing efficacy with prolonged drug release.     

A new GROMOS force field for hexopyranose-based carbohydrates

A new parameter set (referred to as 45A4) is developed for the explicit-solvent simulation of hexopyranose-based carbohydrates. This set is compatible with the most recent version of the GROMOS force field for proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids, and the SPC water model. The parametrization procedure relies on: (1) reassigning the atomic partial charges based on a fit to the quantum-mechanical electrostatic potential around a trisaccharide; (2) refining the torsional potential parameters associated with the rotations of the hydroxymethyl, hydroxyl, and anomeric alkoxy groups by fitting to corresponding quantum-mechanical profiles for hexopyranosides; (3) adapting the torsional potential parameters determining the ring conformation so as to stabilize the (experimentally predominant) (4)C(1) chair conformation. The other (van der Waals and nontorsional covalent) parameters and the rules for third and excluded neighbors are taken directly from the most recent version of the GROMOS force field (except for one additional exclusion). The new set is general enough to define parameters for any (unbranched) hexopyranose-based mono-, di-, oligo- or polysaccharide. In the present article, this force field is validated for a limited set of monosaccharides (alpha- and beta-D-glucose, alpha- and beta-D-galactose) and disaccharides (trehalose, maltose, and cellobiose) in solution, by comparing the results of simulations to available experimental data. More extensive validation will be the scope of a forthcoming article. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 26: 1400-1412, 2005.     

KINETICS OF SUSPENDED EMULSION POLYMERIZATION OF METHYL METHACRYLATE

The kinetics of suspended emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), in which water acted as the dispersed phase and the mixture of MMA and cyclohexane as the continuous phase, was investigated. It showed that the initial polymerization rate (Rp0) and steady-state polymerization rate (Rp) were proportional to the mass ratio between water and oil phase, and increased as the polymerization temperature, the potassium persulphate concentration ([I]) and the Tween20 emulsifier concentration ([S]) increased. The relationships between the polymerization rate and [I] and [S] were obtained as follows: Rp0 ∝ [I]0.73[S]0.32 and Rp ∝ [I]0.71[S]0.23. The above exponents were close to those obtained from normal MMA emulsion polymerization. It also showed that the average molecular weight of the resulting poly(methyl methacrylate) decreased as the polymerization temperature, [I] and [S] increased. Thus, MMA suspended emulsion polymerization could be considered as a combination of many miniature emulsion polymerizations proceeding in water drops and obeyed the classical kinetics of MMA emulsion polymerization.     

Time-resolved fluorescence analysis of the mobile flavin cofactor in p -hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase

Conformational heterogeneity of the FAD cofactor in p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase (PHBH) was investigated with time-resolved polarized flavin fluorescence. For binary enzyme/substrate (analogue) complexes of wild-type PHBH and Tyr222 mutants, crystallographic studies have revealed two distinct flavin conformations; the ‘in’ conformation with the isoalloxazine ring located in the active site, and the ‘out’ conformation with the isoalloxazine ring disposed towards the protein surface. Fluorescence-lifetime analysis of these complexes revealed similar lifetime distributions for the ‘in’ and ‘out’ conformations. The reason for this is twofold. First, the active site of PHBH contains various potential fluorescence-quenching sites close to the flavin. Fluorescence analysis of uncomplexed PHBH Y222V and Y222A showed that Tyr222 is responsible for picosecond fluorescence quenching free enzyme. In addition, other potential quenching sites, including a tryptophan and two tyrosines involved in substrate binding, are located nearby. Since the shortest distance between these quenching sites and the isoalloxazine ring differs only little on average, these aromatic residues are likely to contribute to fluorescence quenching. Second, the effect of flavin conformation on the fluorescence lifetime distribution is blurred by binding of the aromatic substrates: saturation with aromatic substrates induces highly efficient fluorescence quenching. The flavin conformation is therefore only reflected in the small relative contributions of the longer lifetimes.