Magnetic Polymer Composite Particles Via In situ Inverse Miniemulsion Polymerization Process

We aimed at preparing magnetic iron oxide particles by the oxidation-precipitation method in order to encapsulate these particles in polymer matrices composed of poly(acrylamide-styrene sulfonic acid sodium salt). Nanocomposites were synthesized by the incorporation of surface treated magnetic nanoparticles in the synthesized polymers via in situ inverse mini-emulsion polymerization process. The study parameter was the ionic monomer content in the synthesized polymers. The structure and the morphology of the magnetic nanogels were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). FTIR and XRD showed that pure magnetite was formed and successfully encapsulated in the composite nanoparticles. The polymer encapsulation could reduce the susceptibility to leaching and could protect the magnetite particle surfaces from oxidation. The ionic monomer content had a great effect on the magnetization behavior. Magnetite prepared by the oxidation precipitation method, of 50 nm mean particle size, was embedded successfully into the polymer nanogels with a reasonable magnetic response, as proved by vibrating sample magnetometer measurement. Magnetic nanocomposites were proven to be super-ferromagnetic materials.     

Determination of levofloxacin in human urine by adsorptive square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry on a glassy carbon electrode

The adsorption behavior of levofloxacin on a glassy carbon electrode was explored by cyclic and square-wave voltammetry. The drug was accumulated on a glassy carbon electrode and a well-defined oxidation peak was obtained in acetate buffer pH 5.0. Using square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry and accumulation at +0.4 V versus Ag/AgCl (saturated KCl) for 300 s, linear calibration graph was obtained from 6.0x10(-9) to 5.0x10(-7) M levofloxacin. The detection limit was calculated to be 5.0x10(-9) M. The R.S.D. determined from ten determinations at the 1.0x10(-7) M level was 1.7%. The method was applied for the direct determination of levofloxacin in diluted urine samples. It was validated using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) as a reference method.     

Aspect-ratio dependent oscillatory thermocapillary convection in the floating half zone

The dependency of the critical Marangoni number on the geometrical aspect ratio of the floating half zone is essential to predict the onset of oscillatory thermocapillary convection.The experimental studies in the microgravity conditions on floating half zones of several centimeters in diameter have predicted that the critical Marangoni number increases with the increasing aspect ratio,and the terrestrial experimental studies have predicted the contradictory conclusion for floating half zones of several mil...     

Non-Gravitational Effects with Density-Matching in Evaluating the Influence of Sedimentation on Colloidal Coagulation

The method of density matching between the solid and liquid phases is often adopted to effectively eliminate the effect of sedimentation of suspensions in studies on dynamic behaviour of a colloidal system. However, the associated changes in the solvent composition may bring side effects to the properties investigated and therefore might lead to a faulty conclusion if the relevant correction is not made. To illustrate the importance of this side effect, we present an example of the sedimentation influence on the coagulation rate of suspensions of 2μm （diameter） polystyrene. The liquid mixtures, in the proper proportions of water （H2O）, deuterium oxide （D2O） and methanol （MeOH） as the liquid phase, density-matched and unmatched experiments are performed. Besides the influence of viscosity, the presence of methanol in solvent media, used to enhance the sedimentation effect, causes significant changes （reduction） in rapid coagulation rates compared to that in pure water. Without the relevant corrections for those non-gravitational factors it seems that gravitational sedimentation would retard the coagulation. The magnitude of the contribution from the non-gravitational factor is quantitatively determined, making the relevant correction possible. After necessary the influence of the sedimentation on coagulation rates at corrections for all factors, our experiments show that the initial stage of the coagulation is not observable.     

Mixed Ligand Complex Formation Reactions and Equilibrium Studies of Cu(II) with Bidentate Heterocyclic Alcohol (N,O) and Some Bio-Relevant Ligands

The formation equilibria of copper(II) complexes and the ternary complexes Cu(HMI)L (HMI=4-Hydroxymethyl-imidazole, L=amino acid, amides or DNA constituents) have been investigated. Ternary complexes are formed by a simultaneous mechanism. The results showed the formation of Cu(HMI)L and Cu(HMI,H₋₁)(L) complexes. The stability of ternary complexes was quantitatively compared with their corresponding binary complexes in terms of the parameters Δlog ₁₀ K and log ₁₀ X. The effect of the side chains of amino acid ligands (Δ_R) on complex formation was discussed. The concentration distributions of various species formed in solution were also evaluated as a function of pH. The thermodynamic parameters ΔH° and ΔS° calculated from the temperature dependence of the equilibrium constants are investigated. The effects of dioxane as a solvent, on the protonation constant of HMI and the formation constants of Cu^II–HMI complexes, were discussed.