Synthesis and electrochemistry of vanadium(IV) Schiff base complexes

The electrochemical properties of vanadyl(IV) derivatives, namely salen Schiff base complexes of the type [VO(Salen)] (5-BrSalen, 5-NO₂Salen, 5-MeOSalen, salpn (bis(salicylaldehyde)-1,3-propanediamine, 5-BrSalpn, 5-NO₂Salpn, 5-MeOSalpn, Me₂Salen, Salophen, 5-BrSalophen, and 5-MeOSalophen) were investigated. The equatorial Schiff base ligands affect the oxidation potentials via interaction with the d-orbitals of the vanadyl metal ion. The cathodic peak potential (E_pc) becomes less negative according to the sequence MeO- < H- < Br- < NO_2?.     

Addition Reaction Between Trimethyl Phosphite and Dibenzoylacetylene in the Presence of SH- or NH-Acids

The reactive 1:1 intermediate produced in the addition reaction between trimethyl-phosphite and dibenzoylacetylene was trapped by SH- or NH-acids such as 4-nitroimidazole, 4-methyl-5-nitroimidazole, succinimide, or mercaptoacetic acid to produce 2-substituted 1,4-diphenylbutane-1,4-diones.     

Application of artificial neural networks for formulation and modeling of dye adsorption onto multiwalled carbon nanotubes

In this study, an artificial neural network (ANN) has been developed to predict the adsorption amount of dye (methylene blue) onto multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Batch experiments have been carried out to obtain experimental data. Important parameters in the adsorption system such as initial dye concentration, adsorbent dosage, temperature, pH and contact time have been used as the inputs of the network, while the output is the final concentration of dye in aqueous solution after adsorption. The neural network structure has been optimized by testing various training algorithms and different number of neurons in a hidden layer. An empirical equation for determination of final dye concentration in aqueous solutions after adsorption has been developed by using the weights of the optimized network. The results of the optimized ANN have been compared with conventional models in equilibrium and kinetic fields. According to error analysis and determination coefficient, the ANN was found to be the most appropriate model to describe this adsorption process. Sensitivity analysis showed that initial dye concentration, pH and contact time are the most effective parameters in this process. The influence percentages of these parameters on the output were 28, 24 and 24 %, respectively.     

Evaluation of the corrosion inhibition effect of micro/nanocapsulated polymeric coatings: a comparative study by use of EIS and Tafel experiments and the area under the Bode plot

In this paper we propose an approach for ranking self-healing polymeric coatings containing micro/nanocapsules in order of corrosion-protection effectiveness on exposure to 3.5 % (w/w) NaCl solution. The results indicated that development of electrochemical cells was inhibited by the active components of the ruptured embedded inhibitor micro/nanocapsules which were released into a scratch inflicted in the polymeric coating on steel surface. Undamaged surface film of test and control specimens exposed to the solution had excellent corrosion-inhibition performance, as reflected by results from both electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and polarization tests. Moreover, three coatings containing capsules synthesized at three different agitation rates with the same thickness were compared to determine the optimum rate. For the optimum rate the optimum thickness was then determined. The areas under Bode plots were determined and used as useful values for evaluation and ranking the coatings. It was found that the area under the Bode plot is a good criterion for evaluating polymeric coating degradation during immersion. There was good agreement between the results of this work and those from electrochemical tests.     

A three‐phase solvent extraction system combined with deep eutectic solvent‐based dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for extraction of some organochlorine pesticides in cocoa samples prior to gas chromatography with electron capture detection

A sample pretreatment method based on the combination of a three‐phase solvent extraction system and deep eutectic solvent‐based dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction has been introduced for the extraction of four organochlorine pesticides in cocoa samples before their determination by gas chromatography‐electron capture detection. A mixture of sodium chloride, acetonitrile, and potassium hydroxide solution is added to cocoa bean or powder. After vortexing and centrifugation of the mixture, the collected upper phase (acetonitrile) is removed and mixed with a few microliters of N,N‐diethanol ammonium chloride: pivalic acid deep eutectic solvent. Then it is rapidly injected into deionized water and a cloudy solution is obtained. Under optimum conditions, the limits of detection and quantification were found to be 0.011‐0.031 and 0.036‐0.104 ng/g, respectively. The obtained extraction recoveries varied between 74 and 92%. Also, intra‐ (n = 6) and interday (n = 4) precisions were less than or equal to 7.1% for the studied pesticides at a concentration of 0.3 ng/g of each analyte. The suggested method was applied to determine the studied organochlorine pesticide residues in various cocoa powders and beans gathered from groceries in Tabriz city (Iran) and aldrin and dichlobenil were found in some of them.     

Development of a stir bar sorptive extraction method coupled to solidification of floating droplets dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction based on deep eutectic solvents for the extraction of acidic pesticides from tomato samples

A stir bar sorptive extraction method coupled with deep eutectic solvent based solidification of floating organic droplets–dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction has been used for the simultaneous derivatization and extraction of some acidic pesticides in tomato samples. In this method, initially the analytes are adsorbed on a coated stir bar from tomato juice filled in a narrow tube. After extraction, the stir bar is removed and a water–miscible deep eutectic solvent is used to elute the analytes. Afterward, a derivatization agent and a water–immiscible deep eutectic solvent (as an extraction solvent) with melting point near to room temperature are added to the obtained eluant at µL–levels and the obtained mixture is rapidly injected into deionized water. Under the optimum conditions, the introduced method indicated high enhancement (1543–3353) and enrichment (2530–2999) factors, low limits of detection (7–14 ng/L) and quantification (23–47 ng/L), good linearity (r² ≥ 0.9982), and satisfactory repeatabilities (relative standard deviation ≤12% for intra– and inter–day precisions at a concentration of 100 ng/L of each analyte). Finally, the proposed method was applied in analysis of the analytes in tomato samples.     

Pore-Scale Monitoring of Wettability Alteration by Silica Nanoparticles During Polymer Flooding to Heavy Oil in a Five-Spot Glass Micromodel

It is well known that the oil recovery is affected by wettability of porous medium; however, the role of nanoparticles on wettability alteration of medium surfaces has remained a topic of debate in the literature. Furthermore, there is a little information of the way dispersed silica nanoparticles affect the oil recovery efficiency during polymer flooding, especially, when heavy oil is used. In this study, a series of injection experiments were performed in a five-spot glass micromodel after saturation with the heavy oil. Polyacrylamide solution and dispersed silica nanoparticles in polyacrylamide (DSNP) solution were used as injected fluids. The oil recovery as well as fluid distribution in the pores and throats was measured with analysis of continuously provided pictures during the experiments. Sessile drop method was used for measuring the contact angles of the glass surface at different states of wettability after coating by heavy oil, distilled water, dispersed silica nanoparticles in water (DSNW), polyacrylamide solution, and DSNP solution. The results showed that the silica nanoparticles caused enhanced oil recovery during polymer flooding by a factor of 10%. The distribution of DSNP solution during flooding tests in pores and throats showed strong water-wetting of the medium after flooding with this solution. The results of sessile drop experiments showed that coating with heavy oil, could make an oil-wet surface. Coating with distilled water and polymer solution could partially alter the wettability of surface to water-wet and coating with DSNW and DSNP could make a strongly water-wet surface.     

Synthesis and characterization of 2,8-diazaperylene-1,3,7,9-tetraone, a new anthracene diimide containing six-membered imide rings

A successful synthesis of novel diimides, namely anthracene diimide containing six-membered imide rings, with potential application in organic electronics is reported. The single crystal of 5a exhibits a close interplanar spacing of 3.45 ? between molecules in a stack.     

The impact of the natural sciences on archaeology

This article reviews some of the applications of physics to the solution of archaeological problems. The use of magnetic, resistivity and electromagnetic surveying techniques for the location of buried features is described. Various methods of age determination are outlined while the problems associated with radiocarbon dating of organic material and thermoluminescent dating of pottery are discussed in detail. The techniques, including petrological examination, chemical analysis and isotopic analysis, employed in the physical examination of archaeological artefacts are described. Examples of the application of these techniques in establishing the source of the raw materials used in pottery, metal and stone implements and in elucidating the techniques of manufacture of pottery and metal objects are also given.