ACT3: a high-speed, high-precision electrical impedance tomograph

Presents the design, implementation, and performance of Rensselaer's third-generation adaptive current tomograph, ACT3. This system uses 32 current sources and 32 phase-sensitive voltmeters to make a 32-electrode system that is capable of applying arbitrary spatial patterns of current. The instrumentation provides 16 b precision on both the current values and the real and reactive voltage readings and can collect the data for a single image in 133 ms. Additionally, the instrument is able to automatically calibrate its voltmeters and current sources and adjust the current source output impedance under computer control. The major system components are discussed in detail and performance results are given. Images obtained using stationary agar targets and a moving pendulum in a phantom as well as in vivo resistivity profiles showing human respiration are shown     

Séparation de traces de fluorure des sels d'aluminium(III) par échangeurs d'ions

A method is proposed for the separation of aluminium(III) fluoride by chromatographie by means of an anion exchanger in alkaline medium, The methode is applicable to a minimum of 100 p.p.m. of fluoride in the aluminium.     

Improvement of the spinning electrophorometer for zeta potential measurements

In this study, bubbles are held by centripetal force at the center of a rotating cylinder filled with an aqueous solution. Their velocities along the axe of rotation, after application of an electrophoretic force, are used for the calculation of the so-called electrokinetic potential. But this process necessitates the elimination of the electro-osmosis which occurs on the interior sides of the glass cylinder by superposing a concurrent force on the bubble. Efficiency of DEAE-Dextran reticulated with 1,4 Butanediol Diglycidyl Ether can be tested by the observation of a cloud of latex microspheres injected in the interior of the tube and allowed to move in respect with the application of an electric field. The experimental control of these velocity profiles proves the adequacy of the polymer for many cases such as surfactant solutions, presence of electrolytes, utilization with moderate pH.The dynamic interpretation of the electrophoretic motion of bubbles is possible by considering that small ones behave like rigid spheres moving in a rotating fluid. In the second part of this paper and in a previous publication, we have experimentally proved that the use of the theoretical expressions of the forces involved for rigid spheres is justified for small bubbles. So, the electrokinetic potential can be expressed versus the velocity, leading to possible interpretations of the adsorption on gas-water interfaces.     

Regioselective ortho lithiation of halopyridines

Regioselective ortho lithiation of 2-, 3-, and 4-halopyridines is achieved with lithium diisopropylamide (?78°, tetrahydrofuran) to afford, upon quenching with electrophilic reagents, 2,3- and 3,4-disubstituted pyridines in good to excellent yield.     

Random Copolymers of 1,5-Dioxepan-2-one

ABSTRACT

Copolymers of 1,5-dioxepan-2-one (DXO) and e-caprolactone (?-CL), δ-valerolactone (δ-VL) or L-lactide (LLA) have been synthesized and characterized. High molecular weight copolymers were obtained using stannous-2-ethyl hexanoate as catalyst in bulk. Reactivity ratios for the copolymerization of DXO and δ-VL were determined at 110°C as r_VL=0.5 and r_DXO=2.3. At high conversion, depolymerization of δ-VL occurred, resulting in lower molecular weight and variations in the copolymer composition.

Physical properties, such as crystallinity and melting temperature of the DXO-copolymers proved to be strongly dependent on the choice of comonomer and on the molar composition of the copolymers. DXO appears to be incorporated into the poly-?-caprolactone (PCL) crystals and to some extent into the poly-δ-valerolactone (PVL) crystals, resulting in a more gradual decrease in crystallinity with increasing amount of DXO.     

Miniaturised enzymatic conductometric biosensor with Nafion membrane for the direct determination of formaldehyde in water samples

A new conductometric enzyme-based biosensor was developed for the determination of formaldehyde (FA) in aqueous solutions. The biosensor was prepared by cross-linking formaldehyde dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas putida with bovine serum albumin in saturated glutaraldehyde vapours (GA) at the surface of interdigitated gold microelectrodes. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide cofactor (NAD⁺) was added in solution at each measurement to maintain enzyme activity. Addition of a Nafion layer over the enzyme modified electrode resulted in a significant increase of biosensor signal due to enhanced accumulation of protons generated by enzymatic reaction at the electrode surface. Different parameters affecting enzyme activity or playing a role in ionic transfer through the Nafion membrane were optimised. In optimal conditions (0.045 mg enzyme, 30 min exposure to GA, 0.3 μL of a 1 % (v/v) Nafion solution deposit, measurement in 5 mM phosphate buffer pH 7 containing 20 μM NAD⁺), the biosensor signal was linear up to 10 mM FA, and the detection limit was 18 μM. Relative standard deviations calculated from five consecutive replicates of FA solutions were lower than 5 % in the 1–10 mM range. The biosensor was successfully applied to the determination of FA in spiked water samples (tap water and Rhone river water), with recoveries in the 95–110 % range.