Determination of aromatic sulfonic acids in industrial waste water by ion-pair chromatography

A method for the identification and quantification of aromatic sulfonic acids in industrial waste water has been developed. The preparation of the samples comprises a clean-up step and an enrichment step, utilizing i) reversed-phase extraction and ii) ion-pair solid phase extraction. The aromatic sulfonic acids are separated by ion-pair chromatography with diode-array detection. An advantage of the developed ion-pair chromatographic method is the separation of linear alkylbenzenesulfonic acids (LAS), lignosulfonic acids and aromatic sulfonic acids in one chromatographic run. Also described is an optimized clean-up procedure for collected fractions of a preparative chromatographic run to identify monosulfonic acids with GC/MS after methylation. The detection limits for aromatic sulfonic acids in industrial waste waters are at the g/l level.     

Extension of conjugation leading to bathochromic or hypsochromic effects in OPV series

Four OPV series 1-4 (a-d) with a terminal dialkylamino group as electron donor were prepared by Wittig-Horner reactions. To study the influence of the push-pull effect on the long-wavelength absorption, three of the four series contained terminal acceptor groups (CN, CHO, NO(2)). The length of the chromophores strongly affects the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT)-an effect which superimposes upon the extension of the conjugation. Increasing numbers n of repeat units cause an overall bathochromic shift for the purely donor-substituted series 1 a-4 a and the series 1 b-4 b with CN as weak acceptor. The two effects annihilate each other in the series 1 c-4 c with terminal CHO groups, so that the absorption maxima are almost independent of the length of the chromophore. A hypsochromic shift is observed for the series 1 d-4 d, which contains the strong acceptor group NO(2). This anomaly disappears on protonation of the dialkylamino group because the push-pull effect disappears in the ammonium salts. The results can be explained by semiempirical quantum mechanics (AM1, INDO/S). The HOMO-LUMO transition, which is mainly responsible for the ICT, becomes less important in the electron transitions S(0)-->S(1) when the distance between donor and acceptor is increased. The commonly used VB model, which contains an electroneutral and a zwitterionic resonance structure, is contrasted with a MO model with dipole segments at both ends of the OPV chains. The latter model turned out to be more appropriate-at least for donor-acceptor-substituted OPVs with n >/= 2.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of [C10N2H10]2[P2Mo5O21(OH)2]·2H2O

The crystal structure of [C₁₀N₂H₁₀]₂[P₂Mo₅O₂₁(OH)₂] · 2H₂O, contains the heteropolyanion, [P₂Mo₅O₂₁(OH)₂]^4—, together with diprotonated 4, 4′‐bipyridine. The heteropolyanion is built up from five MoO₆ octahedra sharing four common edges and one common corner, capped by two PO₃(OH) tetrahedra. The structure is stabilized by hydrogen bonds involving the hydrogen atoms of the 4, 4′‐bipyridine, water molecules and the oxygen atoms of the pentamolybdatobisphosphate. This is the first example that this kind of cluster could be isolated in the presence of a poly‐functional aromatic molecule ion. Crystal data: triclinic, P1¯ (No. 2), a = 9.983(2)Å, b = 11.269(2)Å, c = 17.604(4)Å, α = 73.50(3)°, β = 84.07(3)°, γ = 67.96(3)°; V = 1760.0(6)ų; Z = 2; R₁ = 0.037 and wR₂ = 0.081, for 9138 reflections [I > 2σ(I)].     

Structural Patterns and Dimensionality in Magnesium Borophosphates: The Crystal Structures of Mg2(H2O)[BP3O9(OH)4] and Mg(H2O)2[B2P2O8(OH)2]·H2O

Hydrothermal investigations in the system MgO/B₂O₃/P₂O₅(/H₂O) yielded two new magnesium borophosphates, Mg₂(H₂O)[BP₃O₉(OH)₄] and Mg(H₂O)₂[B₂P₂O₈(OH)₂]·H₂O. The crystal structures were solved by means of single crystal X‐ray diffraction. While the acentric crystal structure of Mg₂(H₂O)[BP₃O₉(OH)₄] (orthorhombic, P2₁2₁2₁ (No. 19), a = 709.44(5) pm, b = 859.70(4) pm, c = 1635.1(1) pm, V = 997.3(3) × 10⁶ pm³, Z = 4) contains 1D infinite chains of magnesium coordination octahedra interconnected by a borophosphate tetramer, Mg(H₂O)₂[B₂P₂O₈(OH)₂]·H₂O (monoclinic, P2₁/c (No. 14), a = 776.04(5) pm, b = 1464.26(9) pm, c = 824.10(4) pm, β = 90.25(1)°, V = 936.44(9) × 10⁶ pm³,Z = 4) represents the first layered borophosphate with 6³ net topology. The structures are discussed and classified in terms of structural systematics.     

Knowledge-Based Design of a Biosensor to Quantify Localized ERK Activation in Living Cells

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Avoiding Pitfalls in Comparison of Activity and Selectivity of Solid Catalysts for Electrochemical HMF Oxidation

Electrocatalytic oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) offers a renewable approach to produce the value-added platform chemical 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA). The key for the economic viability of this approach is to develop active and selective electrocatalysts. Nevertheless, a reliable catalyst evaluation protocol is still missing, leading to elusive conclusions on criteria for a high-performing catalyst. Herein, we demonstrate that besides the catalyst identity, secondary parameters such as materials of conductive substrates for the working electrode, concentration of the supporting electrolyte, and electrolyzer configurations have profound impact on the catalyst performance and thus need to be optimized before assessing the true activity of a catalyst. Moreover, we highlight the importance of those secondary parameters in suppressing side reactions, which has long been overlooked. The protocol is validated by evaluating the performance of free-standing Cu-foam, and CuCoO modified with NaPO₂H₂ and Ni, which were immobilized on boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes. Recommended practices and figure of merits in carefully evaluating the catalyst performance are proposed.