Ultrasonic study on molecular interactions in binary mixtures of formamide with 1-propanol or 2-propanol

Ultrasonic speeds have been measured at 298.15 K and 308.15 K for mixtures of formamide+1-propanol or 2-propanol. For an equimolar mixture, excess molar compressibility follows the sequence of 1-propanol N 2-propanol. The ultrasonic speed data are correlated by various correlations such as Nomoto's relation, van Dael's mixing relation and impedance dependence relation, and analyzed in terms of Jacobson's free length theory and Schaaff's collision factor theory. Excess isentropic compressibility is calculated from ex-perimental ultrasonic speed data and previously reported excess volume data. The excess molar ultrasonic speed and isentropic compressibility values are fitted to Redlich–Kister polynomial equation. Other proper-ties such as molecular association, avallable volume, free volume, and intermolecular free length are also calculated. The excess isentropic compressibility data are also interpreted in terms of graph theoretical ap-proach. The calculated isentropic compressibility values are well consistent with the experimental data. It is found that the interaction between formamide and propanol increases when hydroxyl group attached to a carbon atom has more–CH3 groups.     

A novel fluorescent bisazomethine dye derived from 3-hydroxyquinoxaline-2-carboxaldehyde and 2,3-diaminomaleonitrile

A novel bisazomethine Schiff base was synthesised by the condensation of 3-hydroxyquinoxaline-2-carboxaldehyde and 2,3-diaminomaleonitrile. ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, HPLC and FT-IR studies revealed that the compound exists in two major tautomeric forms. The Schiff base exhibits positive absorption and fluorescent solvatochromism and displays dual fluorescence with large stoke shifts. Cyclic voltammetric analysis of the compound in 1:1 methanol–THF was influenced by scan rate. Thermal analysis of the compound was undertaken using TG–DTA and DSC.     

Thermal model for dc characteristics of algan/gan hemts including self-heating effect and non-linear polarization

A thermal model based on the polynomial relationship of n_s and E_F is presented. The effect of temperature rise due to self-heating is studied on various parameters viz. polarization, electron mobility, velocity saturation, low-field mobility and thermal conductivity of substrate. Parasitic resistances and channel length modulation were also taken into consideration. The relationship between self-heating effect and device parameters was studied. The model is based on closed-form expressions and does not require elaborate computation. After including self-heating effect in calculations of current–voltage characteristics, our results agreed well with published experimental data.     

Spectrophotometric determination of some chemotherapeutic agents using acetyl acetone

Acetyl acetone is introduced as a new coupling agent for the spectrophotometric determination of some chemotherapeutic agents, such as metoclopramide, dapsone, p-aminobenzoic acid, and cisapride in both pure and dosage forms. The method is based on the diazo-coupling reaction of these chemotherapeutic agents with a new coupling agent, acetyl acetone, in an alkaline medium. The optimum reaction conditions and other analytical parameters are evaluated. The influence of the substrates commonly employed as excipients with these chemotherapeutic agents has been studied. The method is simple, rapid, and sensitive. The results obtained compare favorably with those obtained with other reference methods.     

A Review of Standby Redundant Systems

This article critically reviews the existing literature on standby redundant systems. Concepts related to standby systems have been defined. Parameters in which system designers and engineers may be interested have been discussed. Some of these parameters are mean-time-to-system failure, s-expected number of visits to a state, steady-state availability, and s-expected profit rate of the system. The types of systems discussed in literature and various methods employed by different workers in the analysis have been reviewed. Existing literature has been classified with respect to above listed features of standby systems. An up-to-date bibliography is presented systematically.     

Growth and characterization of Hg1-xCdxTe epitaxial films by isothermal vapour phase epitaxy (ISOVPE)

Growth of Hg_1-xCd_xTe epitaxial films by a new technique called asymmetric vapour phase epitaxy (ASVPE) has been carried out on CdTe and CZT substrates. The critical problems faced in normal vapour phase epitaxy technique like poor surface morphology, composition gradient and dislocation multiplication have been successfully solved. The epitaxial films have been electrically characterized by using the Hall effect and capacitance-voltage (C-V) measurements.     

Bearing ratio and leachate analysis of pond ash stabilized with lime and lime sludge

Recycling of industrial waste is one of the effective ways to overcome their disposal problem. Ash produced by thermal power plants and lime sludge produced by paper mills require huge disposal land and may create environmental problems such as dusting and leaching of harmful heavy metals. Stabilization of the ash can improve its engineering properties and address the environmental problems. This paper reports the laboratory test results of a Class F pond ash stabilized with lime (2%, 4%, 6% and 8% by weight) alone and in combination with lime sludge (5%, 10% and 15% by weight). The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron micrograph (SEM) tests were also performed to identify the possible formation of crystalline phases after stabilization. The effects of lime sludge on the unsoaked and soaked bearing ratios of pond ash with different lime contents, after 7 d, 28 d and 45 d of curing, were observed. Test results indicated that the bearing ratio increased considerably up to a 4% lime content which can be taken as the optimum lime content. Further increase in lime content increased bearing ratio gradually but at a slower rate. The effect of lime sludge was more pronounced at the optimum lime content, particularly at a low curing period. Lime sludge improved the bearing ratio in soaked condition significantly. Leachate analysis of stabilized ash was performed using toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP-1311) method. The concentrations of toxic elements Zn, Cu, Cd, Ni and Cr in the stabilized mixes were lower than those in the unstabilized waste. The results indicated that the pond ash-lime-lime sludge mixes have potential application as road subbase material.     

Fabrication of an electrochemical biosensor with ZnO nanoflakes interface for methylglyoxal quantification in food samples

Increased consumption of fried foods such as grilled chicken contains elevated levels of methylglyoxal (MG), which is associated with diabetes mellitus. Hence, in this work, glyoxalase 1(GLO 1) based, zinc oxide (ZnO) flakes interfaced mediator free electrochemical biosensor was developed to detect MG in grilled chicken. ZnO flakes were synthesized by direct precipitation method. X-ray diffractometer and field emission scanning electron microscope were used to study the structural and morphological characteristics of ZnO flakes. The immobilization of GLO 1 on Pt/ZnO flakes modified electrode was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Cyclic voltammetric and amperometric studies were carried out using Pt/ZnO flakes/GLO 1 working electrode. The developed biosensor exhibited linear range of 0.6–2.0 µM, sensitivity of 0.281 µA µM^?1, LOD of 9 nM with a response time of <4 s and shelf life of 18 days (89%).     

Stochastic behaviour of a repairable system operating under fluctuating weather

A repairable system which operates under fluctuating weather conditions is considered. There are 3 types of weathers: normal, abnormal 1 and abnormal 2. Weather changes from normal to abnormal 1 and abnormal 2 at exponential rates. Failure time distribution of the system from normal weather is exponential whereas it is general from abnormal states. Repair time distributions are different and general. The model is analysed by the help of SMP technique and reliability parameters viz MTSF, steady-state availability, absorption probabilities etc. are obtained.     

Cycloaddition of carbon dioxide to epichlorohydrin using ionic liquid as a catalyst

The cycloaddition of carbon dioxide to epichlorohydrin was performed without any solvent in the presence of ionic liquid as catalyst. 1-Alkyl-3-methyl imidazolium salts of different alkyl group (C₂, C₄, C₆, C₈) and anions (Cl⁻, BF₄⁻, Br⁻, PF₆⁻) were used for this reaction carried out in a batch autoclave reactor. The conversion of epichlorohydrin was affected by the structure of the imidazolium salt ionic liquid; the one with the cation of longer alkyl chain length and with more nucleophilic anion showed better reactivity. The conversion of epichlorohydrin increased as the temperature increased from 60°C to 140°C. It also increased with increasing carbon dioxide pressure probably due to the increase of the absorption of carbon dioxide into the mixture of epichlorohydrin and the ionic liquid. Zinc bromide was also tested for its use as a cocatalyst in this reaction. This work was presented at the 6 ^th Korea-China Workshop on Clean Energy Technology held at Busan, Korea, July 4–7, 2006.