Improved detectability with a polymer-based trapping device in rapid HPLC analysis for ultra-low levels of bisphenol A (BPA) in environmental samples.

A new high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method has been developed to detect ultra-low concentrations of bisphenol-A (BPA) (below 1 ng/L (ppt)) using column switching electrochemical detection (ECD). The results were superior to those obtained from manual pretreatment procedure with membrane stationary phase. BPA is inherently ubiquitous in the environment, including tools and solvents used for its analysis; to obtain meaningful results, therefore, the concentration of the overall BPA contamination must be below the detection limit for BPA using the analytical system. Therefore, purified water for preparing the standard BPA solution must be filtered with a hydrophobic membrane to suppress BPA background levels of contamination. In addition, we investigated methods for effectively preserving environmental water containing BPA. The addition of a small amount of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) provided good recovery even after overnight storage. By employing these precautionary measures and procedures to reduce BPA contamination from the analytical procedure, we could accurately determine l(-10) ppt of BPA in environmental water samples using a column switching HPLC system.     

Growth of NaBi（WO4）2 Dendrite and Mechanism

The solid-liquid interface motion of NaBi（WO4）2 （NBWO） melt crystal growth is observed in an in situ system, in which the whole processes of interface transition from fiat interface and cellular to dendrite are visualized. The spacing of the dendrite under smaller temperature gradient turns out to be larger than that under larger temperature gradient, which is found to be sensitive to the temperature distribution. The mechanism of dendrite growth of NBWO is studied based on the model of the growth units of anion coordination polyhedra. The { 001} face has two apex links, so it shows higher stability and has high growth rate and forms the arm of dendrite, whereas the {010} face has only one apex link, and thus shows relative slower growth rate and firstly forms the branches.     

A three-dimensional visualization technique applied to flow around a delta wing

The visualization of flows in two dimensions by using planar laser light sheets is a commonly used technique. We extend this technique to three dimensions by rapidly scanning the laser light sheet to obtain a set of slices of the flow around a full span delta wing. The leading edge vortices, which are marked with smoke, are unburst by tangential blowing around the leading edges at angles of attack in excess of 25°. Since the measurement period is on the order of the smallest convective time scale, we obtain a virtually instantaneous set of planar cross sections of the flow. Software based on the marching cubes algorithm is used to stack the slices and reconstruct a three-dimensional surface of the smoke-seeded fluid. This surface, which corresponds to the vortices, clearly shows the qualitative effects of blowing on the delta wing flow.     

Cyclopolycondensations

Fully aromatic polyquinazolinediones of high molecular weight were prepared by the cyclopolycondensation reaction of 4,4′-diamino-3,3′-biphenyldicarboxylic acid with aromatic diisocyanates. The poly(phosphoric acid) solution polymerization techniques yielded tractable poly(urea acid), which was converted to polyquinazolinediones by thermal cyclodehydration at 300–400°C. under reduced pressure. The polyquinazolinediones thus obtained have excellent thermal stability both in nitrogen and in air. The poly(urea acid) is soluble in dimethyl sulfoxide, and films can be cast from the polymer solution of poly(urea acid) (η_inh = 0.8 to 1.8). The films are made tough by being heated in nitrogen or under reduced pressure at 300–400°C. The polymerization mechanism of the cyclopolycondensation reaction was studied, and it was established that the polymerization proceeded through the formation of tractable poly(urea acid), Structure (I), of high molecular weight, followed by cyclodehydration, yielding poly(1,2-dihydro-2-imino-4H-3,1-benzoxazin-4-one), Structure (II). On subsequently being heated this undergoes intramolecular rearrangement along the polymer chain, giving the thermodynamically stable polyquinazolinedione, Structure (III).     

Salt effects in the base-catalyzed polymerization of unsaturated amide compounds. II. Polymerization of p-vinylbenzamide and acrylamide

In the presence of a variety of inorganic salts, p-vinylbenzamide underwent vinyl-type polymerization by anionic initiators to form the polystyrene derivative, whereas in dimethyl sulfoxide as solvent the aromatic polyamide was always obtained through a proton-transfer mechanism regardless of the presence of the salts. In the presence of of the salts, acrylamide is generally polymerized to the polyamide through a proton transfer reaction.     

Ultraweak Luminescence Generated by Sweet Potato and Fusarium oxysporum Interactions Associated with a Defense Response

Abstract— Ultraweak luminescence generated by sweet potato and nonpathogenic Fusarium oxysporum interactions associated with a defense response was detected by a photoncounting method using ultrahigh-sensitive photodetectors. The time-dependent intensity variation, the spectrum and the two-dimensional imaging of the ultraweak luminescence are indicative of the defense response of the sweet potato to F. oxysporum. The production of ipomeamarone as a phytoalexin means that F. oxysporum induced the defense response in the sweet potato.     

Cyclopolycondensations. VII. Preparation of aromatic poly(ureido acids) by the low-temperature solution polymerization and cyclodehydration to fully aromatic polyquinazolinediones

Fully aromatic polyquinazolinediones (IV) of high molecular weight were obtained by thermal cyclodehydration of aromatic poly(uredio acids) (III) prepared by the polyaddition reaction of 4,4′-diaminobiphenyl-3,3′-dicarboxylic acid (I) with aromatic diisocyanates (II). From the kinetic study of reactions of model systems (anthranilic acid with phenyl isocyanate) in the presence of a variety of basic catalysts, it was established that tertiary amines had the highest catalytic activity for the formation of ureido linkage. The optimum polymerization conditions were determined by the study of reaction variables such as monomer concentration, polymerization temperature, monomer ratio, and catalyst concentration. The effect of polarity and purity of organic solvents and reactants was also studied.     

Salt effect in the base-catalyzed polymerization of unsaturated amide compounds. III. Nature of the polymerization system

Coordination complexes of lithium chloride with polar solvents and monomers were isolated, and their physical properties were studied. The parallel between stabilities of isolated complexes and coordination function in the polymerization system is discussed. The increase of the Q and e values of p-vinylbenzamide (VBA) supports the mechanism of vinyl-type polymerization of VBA in the presence of the salt. The specific solvent effect of dimethyl sulfoxide was determined by measurement of electrical conductivity of a model system.     

Upgrade of the nuclear resonant scattering beamline, BL09XU in SPring-8

An Upgrade of the nuclear resonant scattering beamline, BL09XU in SPring-8 has been conducted. A liquid nitrogen cooled high-heat load monochromator was installed and a 2nd experimental hutch was constructed. The instruments installed in the hutch allow for a variety of sample conditions. Newly developed high-resolution monochromators with better stability including the back scattering geometry monochromator have opened up the easy access to more isotopes and more precise measurements.