Dynamics studies on thermoresponsive poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel in tetrahydrofuran/water mixtures

The properties of thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) hydrogel in tetrahydrofuran/H₂O mixtures were studied. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images demonstrate that the hydrogel changes from homogeneous to heterogeneous microstructure upon the addition of tetrahydrofuran to water. This heterogeneous PNIPAAm hydrogel in the mixture solvent exhibits a very slow response rate at temperatures above its lower critical solution temperature. The decreased response rate is attributed to the formation of special ternary complexes including the polymer and the two solvents in the tetrahydrofuran/H₂O mixture. Factors controlling the thermoresponse rate are discussed further and several suggestions are provided for designing and developing fast-response PNIPAAm hydrogels in the future.     

Mineral–water interfacial structures revealed by synchrotron X-ray scattering

Chemical reactions occurring at the mineral–water interface are controlled by an interfacial layer, nanometers thick, whose properties may deviate from those of the respective bulk mineral and water phases. The molecular-scale structure of this interfacial layer, however, is poorly constrained, and correlations between macroscopic phenomena and molecular-scale processes remain speculative. The application of high-resolution X-ray scattering techniques has begun to provide substantial new insights into the molecular-scale structure of the mineral–water interface. In this review, we describe the characteristics of synchrotron-based X-ray scattering techniques that make them uniquely powerful probes of mineral–water interfacial structures and discuss the new insights that have been derived from their application. In particular, we focus on efforts to understand the structure and distribution of interfacial water as well as their dependence on substrate properties for major mineral classes including oxides, carbonates, sulfates, phosphates, silicates, halides and chromates. We compare these X-ray scattering results with those from other structural and spectroscopic techniques and integrate these to provide a conceptual framework upon which to base an understanding of the systematic variation of mineral–water interfacial structures.     

Sorption of water vapor on cation-substituted vermiculite

Deformations of Na, Ca, and Ba vermiculites upon sorption of water vapor have been determined by a dilatometric method. Sequential stages in the hydration of interlayer exchange cations have been identified. The experimental results have been compared with data obtained in studies using adsorptive, calorimetric, and x-ray methods.Institute of Physical Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117915 Moscow. Institute of Colloid Chemistry and the Chemistry of Water, Academy of Sciences of the Ukraine, Kiev. Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 34–39, January, 1992.     

利用压电频移法测定水中的痕量亚硝酸盐

提出了利用压电频移法测定亚硝酸盐的方法。方法以碘离子与亚硝酸根之间的氧化还原反应为依据，通过测定由反应生成的碘所引起的压电晶体频率的变化，在被萃取水相中亚硝酸盐浓度为０．００９￣２．３ｍｇ／Ｌ范围内，频移值与浓度成正比：ΔＦ＝５．８＋２．５×１０＾３Ｃ（ｍｇ／Ｌ），ｒ＝０．９９０１。方法简便，用于天然水中亚硝酸盐的测定，结果令人满意。     

The ion product of H2O,dissociation constants of H2CO3 and pitzer parameters in the system Na+/H+/OH−/HCO 3 − /CO 3 2- /ClO 4 − /H2O at 25°C

The ion product of water and the dissociation constants of carbonic acid have been determined in 0.1, 1.0, 3.0, and 5.0M NaClO₄ at 25°C. The ion product of water K _w ^' has been evaluated by emf measurements with a combined glass electrode in NaClO₄ solutions containing 0.001–0.1M HCLO₄ or NaOH. The product K _H ^' K _l ^' K ₂ ^' of the Henry constant for CO₂ and the dissociation constants for H₂CO₃ have been determined by titration of carbonate solutions equilibrated with pCO₂ =10^–3.52 atm, and K ₂ ^' has been evaluated by potentiometric titration and by measuring the H⁺ concentration at fixed HCO ₃ ^– and CO ₃ ^2- concentrations. The ion interaction (Pitzer) equations are applied to describe the constants K _w ^' , K ₂ ^' and K _H ^' H ₁ ^' K ₂ ^' as a function of the NaClO₄ concentration. The experimental data are used to evaluate the mixing parameters _{i/ClO 4} and _{i/ClO 4} ^-/Na⁺ fori = OH ^-,HCO ₃ ^- andCO ₃ ^2-     

PABA疏水缔合水溶性共聚物溶液的合成与性能研究

本文根据高分子的分子设计原理，合成了带苯基的疏水单体N－苯基对正丁基丙烯酰胺（BBAM）。采用自由基胶束共聚的方法制备了水溶性丙烯胺／N－苯基对正丁基丙烯酰胺（BBAM）疏水缔合型共聚物（PABA）。研究了共聚物溶液的性能及影响因素。结果表明，随共聚物溶液浓度的增加，在临界缔合浓度以上，分子间缔合大量形成，水溶液表现粘度迅速增加，表现出明显的疏水缔合行为，与HPAM相比有优异的抗盐性。     

Specific surface of two hydrated cements differing in strength

Specific surface, S, of CSH-gel particles of disordered layered structure, was studied by water sorption/retention in two cement pastes differing in strength, i.e. C-33 (weaker) and C-43 (stronger), w/c=0.4. Hydration time in liquid phase was t _h=1 and 6 months, followed by hydration in water vapour either on increasing stepwise the relative humidity, RH=0.5→0.95→1.0 (WS) or on its lowering in an inverse order (WR). Specific surface was estimated from evaporable (sorbed) water content, EV (110°C), assuming a bi- and three-molecular sorbed water layer at RH=0.5 or 0.95, respectively (WS). On WR it was three- and three- to four-molecular (50 to 75%), respectively, causing a hysteresis of sorption isotherm. At RH=0.5 the S increased with cement strength from 146 m² g^-1 (C-33, 1 m) to 166 m² g^-1 (C-43, 1 m) and with hydration time to 163 (C-33, 6 m) and to 204 m² g^-1 (C-43, 6 m). At RH=1.0 (and 0.95), higher S-value were measured but these differences were smaller: S amounted to 190-200 m² g^-1 in C-33 (1 and 6 m) and 198-210 m² g-1 in C-43 (1 and 6 m). Thus no collapse occurred on air drying of paste C-43 (6 m). This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

On the High Viscosity of Aqueous Solution of Lysozyme Induced by Some Organic Solvents

A remarkably high viscosity has been induced in protein aqueous solutions by the addition of certain structurally related organic solvents. The effect has been observed for lysozyme aqueous solutions containing tetramethylurea (TMU), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), dimethylformamide, and hexamethylphosphortriamide. The effect has also been induced in ferrocytochrome c aqueous solutions by TMU. Critical concentrations for both the protein and organic solvent were verified for the onset of the viscosity increase. A common feature of the solvents which were able to induce the effect is a dipolar moiety (C=O, S → O and P → O) and a nonpolar region represented by the methyl groups. The resulting fluids show an extremely restricted flow and a typical non-Newtonian, pseudoplastic behavior. Use was made of¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Raman spectroscopy to characterize protein structural modifications and of¹³C NMR to investigate changes in relaxation times and chemical shifts in the solvent/water solutions. A systematic rheological characterization of the systems was undertaken for some of the solvents, and unusual patterns of viscous effects were identified for the solvent/water systems both with and without protein. The process was found to be at least partially reversible, as concluded from the recovered original solution rheological characteristics and the original protein¹H NMR spectrum, after eliminating the organic solvent by ultrafiltration. The whole process was characterized as consisting of two mutually independent stages. The first involves an extensive conformational transition of the polypeptide backbone, from a predominantly α-helical to increased random coiled and β-sheet structures, with the occurrence of nonorthodox protein secondary structures at regions above the solvent critical point. The second stage consists of short-lived interchain contacts leading to an entanglement of the macromolecular system as a whole. A microphase reversion in the organic solvent/water mixture, supported by¹³C NMR and rheological results, is proposed as the driving force causing the observed behavior.     

Fluorescence study of the solubilization of benzo[a]pyrene: application to its detection in coal washing waters

The solubilization of benzo[a]pyrene by organic solvents (dioxane, toluene and dichloromethane) and a surfactant (Triton X-100) was investigated. These media were successfully used for the determination of benzo[a]pyrene using fluorescence detection, with excellent limits of detection and large linear analytical ranges. Benzo[a]pyrene was detected in coal washing waters using liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. The stability of this compound in dioxane was also examined.     

Preparation and properties of composites made from rice straw and poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)

Rice straw was employed for the preparation of lignocellulosic‐poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) composites. The effect of pretreatment of rice straw, concentration of PVC, pressure as well as pressing temperature on the mechanical properties and water absorption was studied. Also, the effect of lignin as coupling agent on the mechanical properties and water absorption of composite was studied. Composites of rice straw comprising both PVC and a coupling agent offer superior properties compared to those made from only rice straw and PVC. The extent of improvement in the mechanical properties and dimensional stability of composites depended not only on the pretreatment of rice straw, concentration of PVC and lignin but also on pressure and pressing temperature. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.