Speciation analysis for mercury in gas condensates by capillary gas chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric detection

A method allowing species-selective determination of atomic mercury, non-polar dialkylated mercury compounds,polar monoalkylated species and inorganic mercury complexes in natural gas condensates was developed. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was employed as a detection method for capillary gas chromatography and compared with microwave induced plasma atomic emission detection for the analysis of hydrocarbon-rich matrices. The method was based on two consecutive injections allowing comprehensive speciation analysis. First a sample aliquot was diluted with toluene and analysed for Hg0 and individual dialkylmercury compounds. Then, another aliquot was butylated with a Grignard reagent for the species specific determination of Hg(II) and monoalkylated mercury species. The detection limits were down to 0.08 pg level.     

Identification of compounds and specific functional groups in the wavelength region 168-330 nm using gas chromatography with UV detection

A GC-UV instrumental set up with two different GC units has been used for determination of specific functional groups and compounds in complex mixtures. Separations have been made using a micro gas chromatograph built into a gas flow cell and by means of an external capillary gas chromatograph linked to the same gas flow cell. Four various applications (cigarette smoke, petroleum, dust, flavour) have been performed in order to demonstrate the potential of the GC-UV method. Gas phase UV spectra have been recorded in the region of 168-330 nm. Based on a gas phase spectrum reference library the identification of unknowns as well as the determination of specific functional groups have been achieved. A table showing the spectral shapes and positions of the absorption bands for 50 specific functional groups is presented. The advantage of using derivative spectra in order to amplify spectral details and improve selectivity is discussed. Regarding sensitivity, it has been found that identifications can be made in the mid-pg range and limit of detection for naphthalenes are at a level of 0.5-3 pg/s.     

Wave solutions for variants of the KdV–Burger and the K(n,n)–Burger equations by the generalized G′/G‐expansion method

An application of the ‐expansion method to search for exact solutions of nonlinear partial differential equations is analyzed. This method is used for variants of the Korteweg–de Vries–Burger and the K(n,n)–Burger equations. The generalized ‐expansion method was used to construct periodic wave and solitary wave solutions of nonlinear evolution equations. This method is developed for searching exact traveling wave solutions of nonlinear partial differential equations. It is shown that the generalized ‐expansion method, with the help of symbolic computation, provides a straightforward and powerful mathematical tool for solving nonlinear problems. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Design,Synthesis and In-Vitro Biological Evaluation of Antofine and Tylophorine Prodrugs as Hypoxia-Targeted Anticancer Agents

Phenanthroindolizidines, such as antofine and tylophorine, are a family of natural alkaloids isolated from different species of Asclepiadaceas. They are characterized by interesting biological activities, such as pronounced cytotoxicity against different human cancerous cell lines, including multidrug-resistant examples. Nonetheless, these derivatives are associated with severe neurotoxicity and loss of in vivo activity due to the highly lipophilic nature of the alkaloids. Here, we describe the development of highly polar prodrugs of antofine and tylophorine as hypoxia-targeted prodrugs. The developed quaternary ammonium salts of phenanthroindolizidines showed high chemical and metabolic stability and are predicted to have no penetration through the blood–brain barrier. The designed prodrugs displayed decreased cytotoxicity when tested under normoxic conditions. However, their cytotoxic activity considerably increased when tested under hypoxic conditions.     

Activity-Based Models to Predict Kinetics of Levulinic Acid Esterification

The solvent is of prime importance in biomass conversion as it influences dissolution, reaction kinetics, catalyst activity and thermodynamic equilibrium of the reaction system. So far, activity-based models were developed to predict kinetics and equilibria, but the influence of the catalyst on kinetics has not been succesfully predicted by thermodynamic models. In this work, the thermodynamic model ePC-SAFT advanced was used to predict the activities of the reactants and of the catalyst at various conditions (temperature, reactant concentrations, γ-valerolactone GVL cosolvent addition, catalyst concentration) for the homogeneously acid-catalyzed esterification of levulinic acid (LA) with ethanol. Different kinetic models were applied, and it was found that the catalyst influence on kinetics could be predicted correctly by simultaneously solving the dissociation equilibrium of H₂SO₄ catalyst along the reaction coordinate and by relating reaction kinetics to proton activity. ePC-SAFT advanced model parameters were only fitted to reaction-independent phase equilibrium data. The key reaction properties were determined by applying ePC-SAFT advanced to one experimental kinetic curve for a set of temperatures, yielding the reaction enthalpy at standard state , activation energy and the intrinsic reaction rate constant k=0.011 s⁻¹ at 323 K, which is independent of catalyst concentration. The new procedure allowed an a-priori identification of the effects of catalyst, solvent and reactant concentration on LA esterification.