Polytetrafluoroethylene Sputtered PES Membranes for Membrane Distillation: Influence of RF Magnetron Sputtering Conditions

Thin films of fluorocarbon were deposited on polyethersulfone membranes via argon plasma sputtering of a poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) target in an RF magnetron plasma reactor. The obtained deposited ultrathin coatings had nanoscale roughnesses and high degrees of fluorination. The intensity of fluorine atom in plasma environment during fluorocarbon deposition was investigated. Depending on the deposition conditions comprising working gas pressure, applied RF power, and distance between the target and the substrate, polymeric films with different chemical compositions and/or morphologies were obtained. The morphologies of the films were analyzed by means of SEM, XPS, and AFM. The results suggested that the sputtered film deposited at a higher pressure and longer target–substrate distance and moderate RF power had a surface composition and chemical structure closer to those of the PTFE film. The treated hydrophobic PES membranes with water contact angles as high as 115° were applied for the first time in an air gap membrane distillation setup for removal of benzene as a volatile organic compound from water. The results showed that the plasma-treated membranes have a comparable or superior performance to that of commercial PTFE used in membrane distillation with similar permeate flux and separation factor after 20 h long term performance.     

Density and viscosity of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium nitrate with ethanol, 1-propanol, or 1-butanol at several temperatures

Densities and viscosities of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium nitrate [Bmim][NO₃], and its binaries with alcohol (ethanol, 1-propanol, or 1-butanol) were measured at different temperatures. The densities and viscosities of pure ionic liquid were correlated successfully by empirical equations. The Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann equations can fit the experimental data of viscosities for pure IL. Excess molar volume and viscosity deviations were calculated for the binaries. The excess molar volumes have negative deviations from the ideal solution.     

Electrodeposition of Silver Vanadate Films: A Tale of Two Polymorphs

Two polymorphs of AgVO₃, namely the α- and β- forms, were prepared and their physical, structural, optical, electrochemical, and photoelectrochemical characteristics were compared using a battery of experimental and theoretical tools. A two-step method, previously developed in the our laboratory for the electrodeposition of inorganic semiconductor films, was applied to the electrosynthesis of silver vanadate (AgVO₃) films on transparent, conducting oxide surfaces. In the first step, silver was cathodically deposited from a non-aqueous bath containing silver nitrate. In the second step, the silver film was anodically stripped in an aqueous medium containing ammonium metavanadate. The anodically generated silver ions at the interface underwent a precipitation reaction with the vanadate species to generate the desired product in situ. Each of these steps were mechanistically corroborated via the use of electrochemical quartz crystal microgravimetry, used in conjunction with voltammetry and coulometry. As-deposited films were crystalline and showed p-type semiconductor behavior. Theoretical insights are provided for the electronic origin of the α→β phase transformation in AgVO₃ and the disparate optical band gaps of the two polymorphs. Finally, implications for the application of this material in solar cells are provided.     

Enantiospecific Desorption Triggered by Circularly Polarized Light

The interest in enantioseparation and enantiopurification of chiral molecules has been drastically increasing over the past decades, since these are important steps in various disciplines such as pharmaceutical industry, asymmetric catalysis, and chiral sensing. By exposing racemic samples of BINOL (1,1′‐bi‐2‐naphthol) coated onto achiral glass substrates to circularly polarized light, we unambiguously demonstrate that by controlling the handedness of circularly polarized light, preferential desorption of enantiomers can be achieved. There are currently no mechanisms known that would describe this phenomenon. Our observation together with a simplified phenomenological model suggests that the process of laser desorption needs to be further developed and the contribution of quantum mechanical processes should be revisited to account for these data. Asymmetric laser desorption provides us with a contamination‐free technique for the enantioenrichment of chiral compounds.     

A Comparison Between Full-COLD PCR/HRM and PCR Sequencing for Detection of Mutations in Exon 9 of PIK3CA in Breast Cancer Patients

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - One of the most common somatic mutations in breast cancer is found in PIK3CA with a prevalence rate of 18–45%. Different variants of this gene are...     

Density and viscosity of pyridinium-based ionic liquids and their binary mixtures with water at several temperatures

Densities and viscosities of two pyridinium-based ionic liquids, 1-butylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate [BuPy][BF₄] and 1-octylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate [OcPy][BF₄], and their binaries with water at atmospheric pressure and temperatures from (283.15 to 348.15) K were determined. The densities and viscosities of pure ionic liquids were correlated successfully by empirical equations. The Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann equations can fit the experimental viscosities for pure and binary of both IL systems. Excess molar volume and viscosity deviation were calculated for the binaries. The excess molar volumes have positive deviation from ideal solution while the viscosity deviations have negative values.     

Experimental Study of Vapor–Liquid Equilibrium Data for Acetone + Methanol + 1-Methyl-3-octylimidazolium Thiocyanate

An experimental study on the isobaric vapor–liquid equilibria for the ternary system of acetone?+?methanol?+?1-methyl-3-octylimidazolium thiocyanate ([Omim][SCN]) as well as the two acetone?+?ionic liquid (IL) and methanol?+?IL binary systems was performed at 100 kPa using a recirculating still (VLE 602 Fischer apparatus). A low IL mole fraction of 0.027 was found to be sufficient break the azeotrope due to the high and specific interactions with acetone and methanol. The nonrandom two-liquid model was used to represent the experimental data. The results are compared with those in the literature for the same mixed solvent system using other ILs.