Evaluation of PLE exhaustiveness for the extraction of PCBs from sediments and the influence of sediment characteristics

Pressurized liquid extractions were performed on eight sediments in order to investigate if a modified US EPA method (100 °C, 100 bar, n-heptane/acetone (1:1), 2 × 5 min) provided exhaustive extractions of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from sediment, and to study if the extractability of PCBs from the different sediments was affected by characteristics of the sediment. The recovery from the eight native sediments, contaminated in nature, was between 96.4% and 98.9%, as an average of the recoveries from 10 PCB congeners. Hundred percent recovery was defined as the sum of two consecutive extractions (2 × 5 min each) at the stated conditions. The recoveries of the individual congeners were above 94%, except for one congener in one sediment, which had a recovery of 92%. When the recoveries and different characteristics of the sediments were compared, no correlation appeared between recoveries and sediment PCB concentration, total organic carbon (TOC), soot carbon (SC) or amorphous carbon (AC). The fact that carbon did not influence the extractions was somewhat surprising, since previous experiments have indicated a connection. Instead, statistically significant (p < 0.05) correlations were observed for water content and carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio. The decrease in recoveries with decreased water content was attributed to less access of the solvent to the analytes due to less matrix swelling. The lowered recoveries with increased C/N ratio can indicate that a difference in structure of the organic matter exists, which influences the binding strength between the analytes and the matrix. The difference in structure can possibly be explained by different origin of the organic matter or by aging effects. Overall the method was found to be exhaustive and the excellent recoveries show that sediment characteristics do not influence the extractions markedly.     

Plunger measurements on highly stripped O-ions as tool for detecting electron polarization on emergence from thin ferromagnetic layers

From hyperfine interaction studles on free single electron¹⁶O(3⁻) ions. in a time differential mode using the recoil distance technique. It is shown that these ions are polarized when emerging from magnetized thin layers of Fe. The observed degree of polarization , however, is smaller than expected from transient field measurements.     

An integrated organic photoconductive detector for optoelectronics

In the system (poly-(N-vinyl carbazole) (PVK): trinitrofluorenone (TNF) a photoconductive complex is formed. Thin metal films are sputtered on BK7 glass substrates, forming two electrodes with 1 mm separation. The photoconductive complex is deposited from a solution in chlorobenzene/tetrahydrofurane on the glass substrate between the electrodes, forming a photoconductive detector. Photoconductivity of these planar detectors is studied using He-Ne laser light (=633 nm) as a function of electric field and for different TNF concentrations. An increase of photosensitivity is found for high TNF concentrations.Time resolution of the photoconductive PVK:TNF detector is investigated using a ruby pulse laser (=694 nm). The possible use of such detectors in combination with other polymer lightguides is demonstrated. Compared to most polymer waveguide materials PVK exhibits a rather high refractive index ofn=1.7. Thus the coupling of light into the photoconductive film is achieved directly. The planar structure allows further integration of polymeric components for optoelectronics.     

The search for a new model structure of β-Factor XIIa

We present the search for a new model of -factor XIIa, a blood coagulation enzyme, with an unknown experimental 3D-structure. We decided to build not one but three different models using different homologous proteins as well as different techniques and different modellers. Additional studies, including extensive molecular dynamics simulations on the solvated state, allowed us to draw several conclusions concerning homology modelling, in general, and -factor XIIa, in particular.     

Stress development during drying of calcium carbonate suspensions containing carboxymethylcellulose and latex particles

Stress development during drying of coatings produced from aqueous dispersions of calcium carbonate particles in the presence and absence of organic binders was studied using a controlled-environment stress apparatus that simultaneously monitored drying stress, weight loss, and relative humidity. Specifically, the influence of two organic binders on drying stress evolution was investigated: (1) carboxymethylcellulose, a water-soluble viscosifying aid, and (2) a styrene-butadiene latex emulsion of varying glass transition temperature. The stress histories exhibited three distinct regions. First, a period of stress rise was observed, which reflected the capillary tension exerted by the liquid on the particle network. Second, a maximum stress was observed. Third, it was followed by a period of either stress decay or rise depending on the organic species present. Significant differences in stress histories were observed between coatings containing soluble and nonsoluble binders. Maximum drying stresses (sigmamax) of 0.2-0.5 MPa were observed for coatings produced from pure calcium carbonate or calcium carbonate-latex suspensions, whereas coatings with carboxymethylcellulose exhibited substantially higher sigmamax values of 1-2 MPa. Upon drying, these coatings were quite hygroscopic, such that cyclic variations in relative humidity induced large cyclic changes in residual stress.     

On the two isomeric tris(perchlorothienyl)methyl radicals

The two isomeric tris(trichlorothienyl)carbinols have been synthesized. Upon treatment with acid the tris(trichlorothienyl)carbenium ions were formed, which upon reduction with iodide gave the tris(trichlorothienyl)methyl radicals, which were studied by epr-spectroscopy. The β-isomer, the tris(2,4,5-trichloro-3-thienyl)methyl radical, was much more stable than the α-isomer and showed great similarity to the perchlorotrityl radical.     

Particle-induced phase separation in mixed polymer solutions

The influence of added colloidal particles on the phase separation of mixed aqueous polymer solutions is investigated. Two types of particles (polystyrene latex or silica) and different combinations of segregating polymers (dextran of varying molar mass combined with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) of varying molar mass, or Ucon, a copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide) were used. All systems displayed particle-induced instability effects, but the extent of the effect varied strongly between the various combinations and with the amount of added salt. Very large instability effects were seen in certain mixtures. Two mechanisms, both relying on the adsorption of at least one of the polymers to the particle surface, seem to operate. Close to the cloud-point curve of the particle-free polymer1/polymer2/water mixture, adsorption of PEO or Ucon to the particles gives rise to a capillary-induced phase separation. Close to the dextran/water axis of the phase diagram, the adsorbing polymer gives rise to a surface modification of the particles, which then interacts repulsively with the surrounding dextran solution.