Preparative isolation of (+)-beta-eudesmol fromAmyris balsamifera

Summary Optically pure (+)-beta-eudesmol is a possible starting material for the synthesis of several termite defense compounds. A two step procedure for the isolation of gram quantities of (+)-beta-eudesmol from commercially availableAmyris balsamifera oil (syn. West Indian sandalwood oil), containing 8% beta-eudesmol, was developed. Step one consisted of an efficient vacuum distillation of the total oil. Step two was a medium pressure LC separation with an AgNO₃ impregnated silica gel stationary phase. Several other separation procedures failed due to the presence of many closely related sesquiterpene alcohols (75% of the oil).     

ESR of Mo5+ in YVO4: A substitutional off-center ion

The electron spin resonance of MoO^3?₄ in YVO₄ was studied at 4.2K. The Mo⁵⁺ has a d_xy ground state and is shown to move off the V⁵⁺ substitutional site of D_2d symmetry to one of four crystallographically equivalent off-center sites of C₂ symmetry, located in the 〈110〉 direction. The Mo⁵⁺ spectrum is compared to Cr⁵⁺ in YVO₄ and YPO₄ and V⁴⁺ in ZrSiO₄ and other zircon-like crystals which show dynamic effects that we interpret as tunneling or thermally activated hopping between off-center sites.     

Coupling asymmetric flow-field flow fractionation and fluorescence parallel factor analysis reveals stratification of dissolved organic matter in a drinking water reservoir

Using asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) and fluorescence parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC), we showed physicochemical properties of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in the Beaver Lake Reservoir (Lowell, AR) were stratified by depth. Sampling was performed at a drinking water intake structure from May to July 2010 at three depths (3-, 10-, and 18-m) below the water surface. AF4-fractograms showed that the CDOM had diffusion coefficient peak maximums between 3.5 and 2.8 × 10⁻⁶ cm² s⁻¹, which corresponded to a molecular weight range of 680–1950 Da and a size of 1.6–2.5 nm. Fluorescence excitation–emission matrices of whole water samples and AF4-generated fractions were decomposed with a PARAFAC model into five principal components. For the whole water samples, the average total maximum fluorescence was highest for the 10-m depth samples and lowest (about 40% less) for 18-m depth samples. While humic-like fluorophores comprised the majority of the total fluorescence at each depth, a protein-like fluorophore was in the least abundance at the 10-m depth, indicating stratification of both total fluorescence and the type of fluorophores. The results present a powerful approach to investigate CDOM properties and can be extended to investigate CDOM reactivity, with particular applications in areas such as disinfection byproduct formation and control and evaluating changes in drinking water source quality driven by climate change.     

Chemical Recycling of Plastics to Useful Organic Compounds by Oxidative Degradation

The degradation of plastic waste can be facilitated by a process in which polymers react with nitrogen oxides and dioxygen under relatively mild conditions. Polystyrene generates a mixture of benzoic and nitrobenzoic acids. Both high- and low-density polyethylene produce mixtures of short-chain α,ω-diacids (including adipic acid) in good yields. A mixture of acids is also formed from nylon-6,6. Other polymers that are degraded to oligomeric materials include polypropylene, polymethyl methacrylate, and polyacrylic acid.     

K1±(892) Production in π−N interactions at 200 GeV/c

K^1±(892) production is studied in the reaction π^?N → K_S⁰K_S⁰ + X where X includes up to five observed charged particles. An excess of K^1? over K¹⁺ is observed for Feynman-x > 0.1. The ratio of K¹⁺ to K^1? decreases with x as predicted by QCD counting rules. K_S⁰ and K¹ production are compared to recent D and D¹ data from other experiments.     

Investigations into beam monitors at the AEg ̄ IS experiment

Detailed diagnostic of antiproton beams at low energies is required for essentially all experiments at the Antiproton Decelerator (AD), but will be particularly important for the future Extra Low ENergy Antiproton ring (ELENA) and its keV beam lines to the different experiments. Many monitors have been successfully developed and operated at the AD, but in particular beam profile monitoring remains a challenge. A dedicated beam instrumentation and detector test stand has recently been setup at the AE \(\bar {g}\) IS experiment (Antimatter Experiment: Gravity, Interferometry, Spectroscopy). Located behind the actual experiment, it allows for parasitic use of the antiproton beam at different energies for testing and calibration. With the aim to explore and validate different candidate technologies for future low energy beam lines, as well as the downstream antihydrogen detector in AE \(\bar {g}\) IS, measurements have been carried out using Silicon strip and pixel detectors, a purpose-built secondary emission monitor and emulsions. Here, results from measurements and characterization of the different detector types with regard to their future use at the AD complex are presented.