Homogeneous catalysts for ethylene polymerization based on bis(imino)pyridine complexes of iron, cobalt, vanadium and chromium

Results of a comparative study of ethylene polymerization activity and the structure of polyethylene (PE) produced over homogeneous catalysts based on bis(imino)pyridine complexes with close ligand frameworks and different transition metal centers (Fe(II), Co(II), Cr(III) and V(III)) are reported. The effects of the activator nature and polymerization conditions on the activity of these complexes and the resulting PE structure (molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, content of methyl and vinyl groups) have been studied. The experimental data obtained under comparable conditions demonstrate a pronounced effect of transition metal center on the catalytic properties of bis(imino)pyridine complexes (polymerization activity, copolymerization reactivity, thermal stability, PE structure, composition of optimal activator, formation of single-site or multiple-site catalytic system).     

含钴废渣硫酸化焙砂浸出液中钴、铁、锰分离研究

对某锌厂含钴废渣硫酸化焙砂浸出液进行了钴与铁、锰分离工艺研究。研究表明 ,焙砂用水浸出时延长时间为 3.5h,可使大量铁以黄铁矾的形式除去 ,再控制溶液 p H3～ 3.5,温度 1 0 0°C,时间 1 h的条件下 ,采用针铁矿法除铁 ,铁的去除率可达 99.5% ,然后控制溶液 p H4～ 4.5,温度1 0 0°C,用 1 0 % ( NH4 ) 2 S2 O8溶液氧化 Mn2 + 为沉淀而除去 ,锰的去除率为 99.8% ,同时还可氧化Fe2 +达到深度除铁的目的 ,铁的总去除率达 99.9%。在此过程中 ,钴的损失率仅为 2 .5% ,取得了令人满意的结果     

Study of the Oxygen Diffusion on Three-Way Catalysts: A Kinetic Model

A computer model was developed to take into account all the phenomena that can occur in ¹⁸O/¹⁶O isotopic exchange over Pt/CeZrO _x materials: adsorption/desorption on the metal, surface and bulk O diffusion. Discriminating each step of the exchange process is no longer necessary: kinetic parameters and O diffusivity can be calculated in a single experiment.     

Experimental and modeling analysis of the formation of cuprous intermediate species formed during the copper deposition on a rotating disk electrode

Two comprehensive kinetic models reported in the literature for the copper deposition in sulfate media are modeled and compared with experimental data (linear sweep voltammetry) in order to disclose the role and phase of the cuprous species as intermediates. Differences in the phase of these species are considered for each model, i.e. Cu(I)_ads and Cu⁺. Modeling considers the formation of copper in two mono-electronic steps and account for mass transport by diffusion and convection in a RDE. Reasonable fits were obtained for both models at different experimental conditions (e.g. Cu²⁺ bulk concentration, rotation rate). It was found that this behavior is possible due to the low concentrations of cuprous species and their rapid consumption to form metallic copper, i.e. not rate-controlling step. Further insights of the kinetic and mass transport contributions of this system were obtained for both models by computing some variables that cannot be experimentally measured (i.e. surface concentrations). The first reaction in the mechanism was found to be the rate-determining step. A set of optimum kinetic parameters and constants obtained from the analysis of the models are also reported in this study.     

PET Probes for Preclinical Imaging of GRPR-Positive Prostate Cancer: Comparative Preclinical Study of [68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-AMBA and [44Sc]Sc-NODAGA-AMBA

Gastrin-releasing peptide receptors (GRPR) are overexpressed in prostate cancer (PCa). Since bombesin analogue aminobenzoic-acid (AMBA) binds to GRPR with high affinity, scandium-44 conjugated AMBA is a promising radiotracer in the PET diagnostics of GRPR positive tumors. Herein, the GRPR specificity of the newly synthetized [⁴⁴Sc]Sc-NODAGA-AMBA was investigated in vitro and in vivo applying PCa PC-3 xenograft. After the in-vitro assessment of receptor binding, PC-3 tumor-bearing mice were injected with [⁴⁴Sc]Sc/[⁶⁸Ga]Ga-NODAGA-AMBA (in blocking studies with bombesin) and in-vivo PET examinations were performed to determine the radiotracer uptake in standardized uptake values (SUV). ⁴⁴Sc/⁶⁸Ga-labelled NODAGA-AMBA was produced with high molar activity (approx. 20 GBq/µmoL) and excellent radiochemical purity. The in-vitro accumulation of [⁴⁴Sc]Sc-NODAGA-AMBA in PC-3 cells was approximately 25-fold higher than that of the control HaCaT cells. Relatively higher uptake was found in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo in the same tumor with the ⁴⁴Sc-labelled probe compared to [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-NODAGA-AMBA. The GRPR specificity of [⁴⁴Sc]Sc-NODAGA-AMBA was confirmed by significantly (p ≤ 0.01) decreased %ID and SUV values in PC-3 tumors after bombesin pretreatment. The outstanding binding properties of the novel [⁴⁴Sc]Sc-NODAGA-AMBA to GRPR outlines its potential to be a valuable radiotracer in the imaging of GRPR-positive PCa.     

Characterization in Effective Stimulation on the Magnitude,Gating, Frequency Dependence,and Hysteresis of INa Exerted by Picaridin (or Icaridin), a Known Insect Repellent

Picaridin (icaridin), a member of the piperidine chemical family, is a broad-spectrum arthropod repellent. Its actions have been largely thought to be due to its interaction with odorant receptor proteins. However, to our knowledge, to what extent the presence of picaridin can modify the magnitude, gating, and/or the strength of voltage-dependent hysteresis (Hys_(V)) of plasmalemmal ionic currents, such as, voltage-gated Na⁺ current [I_Na], has not been entirely explored. In GH₃ pituitary tumor cells, we demonstrated that with exposure to picaridin the transient (I_Na(T)) and late (I_Na(L)) components of voltage-gated Na⁺ current (I_Na) were differentially stimulated with effective EC₅₀’s of 32.7 and 2.8 μM, respectively. Upon cell exposure to it, the steady-state current versus voltage relationship I_Na(T) was shifted to more hyperpolarized potentials. Moreover, its presence caused a rightward shift in the midpoint for the steady-state inactivate curve of the current. The cumulative inhibition of I_Na(T) induced during repetitive stimuli became retarded during its exposure. The recovery time course from the I_Na block elicited, following the conditioning pulse stimulation, was satisfactorily fitted by two exponential processes. Moreover, the fast and slow time constants of recovery from the I_Na block by the same conditioning protocol were noticeably increased in the presence of picaridin. However, the fraction in fast or slow component of recovery time course was, respectively, increased or decreased with an increase in picaridin concentrations. The Hys_(V)’s strength of persistent I_Na (I_Na(P)), responding to triangular ramp voltage, was also enhanced during cell exposure to picaridin. The magnitude of resurgent I_Na (I_Na(R)) was raised in its presence. Picaritin-induced increases of I_Na(P) or I_Na(R) intrinsically in GH₃ cells could be attenuated by further addition of ranolazine. The predictions of molecular docking also disclosed that there are possible interactions of the picaridin molecule with the hNa_V1.7 channel. Taken literally, the stimulation of I_Na exerted by the exposure to picaridin is expected to exert impacts on the functional activities residing in electrically excitable cells.     

The Effect of Bromide Ion on the Formation of Organohalogen Disinfection By-products During Ozonation

Ozonation of water containing bromide ion (Br^?) leads to the formation of brominated disinfection byproducts (DBPs). The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of bromide ion upon the distribution and variation of organohalogen DBPs. Bromide ion concentration had a negative effect on chloroform formation as opposed to increased formation of brominated trihalomethanes (THMs). The results of factor analysis lead clearly to the interpretation that the bromide ion was strongly correlated with brominated THMs and less strongly with brominated HANs (haloacetonitriles). Compared to THMs and HANs, brominated HAAs (haloacetic acids) demonstrated a relatively weak correlation to bromide ion concentration. The addition of alkalinity enhanced the formation of chloroform when ozonation time was 10 to 30 minutes, while concentrations of other bromide ion-containing THMs decreased with increasing alkalinity.     

Nature,distribution and reactivity of copper species in over-exchanged Cu-ZSM-5 catalysts: an XPS/XAES study

Cu-ZSM-5 catalysts prepared by over-exchange (degree of exchange = 130%) and by impregnation have been studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray excited Auger spectroscopy (XAES). In both preparations, the external surface region of the catalysts is highly enriched in copper. In the over-exchanged zeolite, the observation of high XPS binding energies and unexpectedly low Auger kinetic energies shows that copper is present as isolated ions or small clusters. In the impregnated material large aggregates of metallic copper at the external zeolite surface are produced by reduction in hydrogen, which are not dispersed by treatment in oxygen or NO. In the exchanged materials, the copper becomes more evenly distributed across the zeolite crystal as a result of calcination or reductive treatment. Changing the composition of the atmosphere to which the exchanged Cu-ZSM-5 is exposed shows that there is ready conversion between Cu(II) and Cu(I). Copper is predominantly in the +2 oxidation state under conditions relevant to selective catalytic reduction of NO in lean-burn engine exhaust gas purification.     

Effect of lime nitrogen on the efficiency of urea and other ammonium nitrogen fertilizers

Five pot experiments were conducted with wheat and rice in a net house to study the effect of lime nitrogen (LN, contains about 55% calcium cyanamide) amendment rates on the efficiency of urea, the recovery urea-¹⁵N, the efficiency of the three nitrogen fertilizers(NF), on the efficiency of urea in the three soils, and on NO ₃ ^- -N leaching from a flooded soil. A rate of LN-N of 5–8% of applied fertilizer N increased the recovery of labeled urea-N by 9.42%. The effect of LN on the efficiency of NF was urea > ammonium sulfate > ammonium chloride. Under flooded conditions, LN decreased NO ₃ ^- formation and leaching.Responses of several crops to LN amended fertilizers were also studied in field experiments. At equal NPK applications, the efficiency of basal applications to rice, wheat, corn, potatoes, soybean, peanut, grapes, peaches, melon and watermelon were bette r with LN than without. Efficiency with a basal fertilizer for rice or wheat with LN were the same as with the same fertilizer without LN applied in split applications.     

Ru(III)-catalyzed oxidation of N-acetyl-L-cysteine by methylene blue in absence and in presence of Cu(II) in acidic medium: influence of solvent and morphology

N-acetyl l-cysteine (NAC), the substrate used presently has got diverse medicinal applications and is widely used as a mucolytic agent. The oxidation of bioactive molecules, in general, involves metal ion catalysis facilitated by the participation of metal nanoparticles. In view of this, the oxidation of NAC by a phenothiazine dye methylene blue (MB), a model electron receptor, catalyzed by Ru(III) in the absence and in the presence of Cu(II) has been investigated in acidic medium. The concentration order in MB is zero, while the order in NAC is one and two in Ru(III)-catalyzed and Ru(III)-Cu(II)-catalyzed reactions, respectively. Hydrogen ions retard the rate in Ru(III)-Cu(II)-catalyzed reaction, whereas the rate increases linearly with increasing [Ru(III)] in both the systems. The rate increases with increasing [Cu(II)] and attains a limiting value. The addition of the reaction products does not affect the rate of reaction. The reaction is characterized by a large negative entropy of activation. The kinetic deviations of the reaction, explained by presuming the participation of a reactive form of the NAC molecule or its new conformational polymorph reported recently, indicate the regulatory influence of the morphology of nanoparticles.     

Effect of Angiotensin II on Chondrocyte Degeneration and Protection via Differential Usage of Angiotensin II Receptors

The renin–angiotensin system (RAS) controls not only systemic functions, such as blood pressure, but also local tissue-specific events. Previous studies have shown that angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT₁R) and type 2 (AT₂R), two RAS components, are expressed in chondrocytes. However, the angiotensin II (ANG II) effects exerted through these receptors on chondrocyte metabolism are not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of ANG II and AT₁R blockade on chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation. Firstly, we observed that ANG II significantly suppressed cell proliferation and glycosaminoglycan content in rat chondrocytic RCS cells. Additionally, ANG II decreased CCN2, which is an anabolic factor for chondrocytes, via increased MMP9. In Agtr1a-deficient RCS cells generated by the CRISPR-Cas9 system, Ccn2 and Aggrecan (Acan) expression increased. Losartan, an AT₁R antagonist, blocked the ANG II-induced decrease in CCN2 production and Acan expression in RCS cells. These findings suggest that AT₁R blockade reduces ANG II-induced chondrocyte degeneration. Interestingly, AT₁R-positive cells, which were localized on the surface of the articular cartilage of 7-month-old mice expanded throughout the articular cartilage with aging. These findings suggest that ANG II regulates age-related cartilage degeneration through the ANG II–AT₁R axis.     

HIV-Tat Exacerbates the Actions of Atazanavir,Efavirenz, and Ritonavir on Cardiac Ryanodine Receptor (RyR2)

The incidence of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in people living with HIV infection (PLWH), especially those with inadequate viral suppression, is high and the reasons for this remain incompletely characterized. The timely opening and closing of type 2 ryanodine receptor (RyR2) is critical for ensuring rhythmic cardiac contraction–relaxation cycles, and the disruption of these processes can elicit Ca²⁺ waves, ventricular arrhythmias, and SCD. Herein, we show that the HIV protein Tat (HIV-Tat: 0–52 ng/mL) and therapeutic levels of the antiretroviral drugs atazanavir (ATV: 0–25,344 ng/mL), efavirenz (EFV: 0–11,376 ng/mL), and ritonavir (RTV: 0–25,956 ng/mL) bind to and modulate the opening and closing of RyR2. Abacavir (0–14,315 ng/mL), bictegravir (0–22,469 ng/mL), Rilpivirine (0–14,360 ng/mL), and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (0–18,321 ng/mL) did not alter [³H]ryanodine binding to RyR2. Pretreating RyR2 with low HIV-Tat (14 ng/mL) potentiated the abilities of ATV and RTV to bind to open RyR2 and enhanced their ability to bind to EFV to close RyR2. In silico molecular docking using a Schrodinger Prime protein–protein docking algorithm identified three thermodynamically favored interacting sites for HIV-Tat on RyR2. The most favored site resides between amino acids (AA) 1702–1963; the second favored site resides between AA 467–1465, and the third site resides between AA 201–1816. Collectively, these new data show that HIV-Tat, ATV, EFV, and RTV can bind to and modulate the activity of RyR2 and that HIV-Tat can exacerbate the actions of ATV, EFV, and RTV on RyR2. Whether the modulation of RyR2 by these agents increases the risk of arrhythmias and SCD remains to be explored.     

Study on the effect of EDTA on the photocatalytic reduction of mercury onto nanocrystalline titania using quartz crystal microbalance and differential pulse voltammetry

In-situ technique quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were employed to investigate the effect of disodium ethylenediamine tetraacetate (EDTA) on photocatalytic reduction of mercury onto nanocrystalline titania (TiO₂). Effects of EDTA on adsorption of Hg(II) and its photocatalytic reduction process at the surface of TiO₂ in different pH solutions had been studied in detail. From the in-situ response to the adsorption of Hg(II) onto TiO₂, the reaction rate and saturation adsorption amount were estimated about 4.71 × 10⁻⁶ g mol⁻¹ min⁻¹ and 46.36 (mg Hg(II)/g TiO₂) via the model of pseudo-second-order kinetics respectively. The photocatalytic reduction of Hg at the surface of TiO₂ was influenced by pH and the mole ratio of Hg(II) to EDTA. When the ratio of Hg(II) to EDTA 1:1, it was most favorable for the photocatalytic reduction of mercury. In addition, the effects of HCOOH and EDTA on the reduction of Hg(II) was comparatively investigated and the mechanism on the photocatlytic reduction of mercury was illustrated. Therefore, it could be concluded that QCM, DPV and CV were effective methods for the investigation of photocatalytic reduction of complex heavy metal ions onto the surface of nanocrystalline TiO₂.     

A comparative study of the thermal stability and reactions of CH2, CH3 and C2H5 species on the Pd(100) surface

Adsorbed CH₂, CH₂ and C₂H₅ moieties were produced on Pd(100) at 90 K by photoinduced dissociation of the corresponding iodo compounds, and their thermal reactions were established.This laboratory is a part of the Center of Catalysis, Surface and Material Science at the University of Szeged.     

Self-assembled nano-arrays of single-walled carbon nanotube-octa(hydroxyethylthio)phthalocyaninatoiron(II) on gold surfaces: Impacts of SWCNT and solution pH on electron transfer kinetics

The construction by sequential self-assembly process of reproducible, highly stable and pH-responsive redox-active nanostructured arrays of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) integrated with octa(hydroxyethylthio)phthalocyaninatoiron(II) (FeOHETPc) via ester bonds on a gold surface (Au-Cys-SWCNT-FeOHETPc) is investigated and discussed. The successful construction of this electrode is confirmed using atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy as well as from the distinct cyclic voltammetric and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic profiles. The Au-Cys-SWCNT-FeOHETPc electrode exhibited strong dependence on the reaction of the head groups and the pH of the working electrolytes, the surface pK_a is estimated as 7.3. The high electron transfer capability of the Au-Cys-SWCNT-FeOHETPc electrode over other electrodes (Au-Cys-SWCNT or the Au-Cys-FeOHETPc or the Au-FeOHETPc) suggests that SWCNT greatly improves the electronic communication between FeOHETPc and the bare gold electrode. The electron transfer rate constant (k_app) of Au-Cys-SWCNT-FeOHETPc in pH 4.8 conditions (∼1.7 × 10⁻² cm⁻² s⁻¹) over that of the electrode obtained from SWCNT integrated with tetraaminophthalocyninatocobalt(II) (Au-Cys-SWCNT-CoTAPc) (5.1 × 10⁻³ cm⁻² s⁻¹) is attributed to the possible effect of the central metal on the phthalocyanine core and substituents on the peripheral positions of the phthalocyanine rings. We also prove that aligned SWCNT arrays exhibit much faster electron transfer kinetics to redox-active species in solutions compared to the randomly dispersed (drop-dried) SWCNTs.     

The Valence Band Structure of the [Ni(Salen)] Complex: An Ultraviolet,Soft X-ray and Resonant Photoemission Spectroscopy Study

The valence band photoemission (VB PE) spectra of the [Ni(Salen)] molecular complex were measured by ultraviolet, soft X-ray and resonant photoemission (ResPE) using photons with energies ranging from 21.2 eV to 860 eV. It was found that the Ni 3d atomic orbitals’ (AOs) contributions are most significant for molecular orbitals (MOs), which are responsible for the low-energy PE band at a binding energy of 3.8 eV in the VB PE spectra. In turn, the PE bands in the binding energies range of 8–16 eV are due to the photoionization of the MOs of the [Ni(Salen)] complex with dominant contributions from C 2p AOs. A detailed consideration was made for the ResPE spectra obtained using photons with absorption resonance energies in the Ni 2p_3/2, N 1s, and O 1s Near-Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (NEXAFS) spectra. A strong increase in the intensity of the PE band ab was found when using photons with an energy 854.4 eV in the Ni 2p_3/2 NEXAFS spectrum. This finding is due to the high probability of the participator-Auger decay of the Ni 2p_3/2⁻¹3d⁹ excitation and confirms the relationship between the PE band ab with the Ni 3d-derived MOs.     

Study on Oleuropein Extraction from Olive Tree (Olea europaea) Leaves by means of SFE: Comparison of Water and Ethanol as Co-Solvent

The present study focuses on developing methods for olive leaf extraction and deals with obtaining extract, rich in oleuropein, which is the most abundant phenolic compound in olive leaves. Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) was applied to the dried and ground olive leaves by using CO₂ as supercritical (SC) fluid in the presence of water and ethanol as co-solvent. The influences of operating parameters by means of co-solvent content (0-1 mL/min), temperature (50 and 100°C) and pressure (100-300 bar) on both extract and oleuropein yields were investigated. Quantitative analysis was performed by using a liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) technique. The experimental results obtained by using SC-CO₂ alone were not satisfactory, and it was seen that addition of a polar modifier is necessary in order to improve yield and selectivity of the process. It was observed that CO₂ modified by water and ethanol showed nearly the same extract performance, where CO₂ modified by water is better for high oleuropein yield.     

The effect of surface chemistry and nanoclay loading on the microcellular structure of porous poly(d,l lactic acid) nanocomposites

Three series of polymer nanocomposites, based on poly(d,l lactic acid) (PDLLA) and organically modified montmorillonite, were prepared by the melt and the solution intercalation technique. The first series was prepared by extrusion using different clay loadings. The second series of nanohybrids was obtained using montmorillonite modified with different types of alkylammonium surfactants in terms of carbon-chain lengths (i.e., 4, 8, 12, 16 and 18). In the third series of nanocomposites, the organic cation concentration of the surfactant was varying. Microcellular porous materials were, afterwards, fabricated from these three series of nanocomposites. The porous structures of pure and nanocomposite PDLLA were prepared by isothermal pressure quench using supercritical CO₂ as foaming agent. The morphology of the produced porous materials was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Image processing of the samples revealed that the final cellular structure is strongly related to clay loading and, both, the type and the organic cation concentration of the alkylammonium used for the modification of the clay. The results suggest that the size of the pores decreases and the cell density and bulk foam density increase with the increase of clay loading or the surfactant's carbon chain length or the cation concentration in clay. Clay dispersion seems to be enhanced by the supercritical treatment upon foaming.     

Mechanistic study on Sn(Oct)<Subscript>2</Subscript>-catalyzed,ring-opening polymerization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-dioxanone by surface-initiated polymerization and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

Two mechanisms on Sn(Oct)₂-catalyzed, ring-opening polymerization of p-dioxanone (PDX) were mainly proposed: activated monomer mechanism and coordination-insertion mechanism. The activated monomer mechanism assumes that alcohol complexed with Sn(Oct)₂ reacts with monomer and forms a ternary complex. The initiation and chain growth then proceeds within the complex with liberation of the intact Sn(Oct) ₂. In contrast, the coordination-insertion mechanism hypothesizes that an actual initiator is the -Sn(OR) species and the polymerization proceeds on the -Sn-O-polymer. In this paper, to investigate the presence/absence of the Sn species in the PPDX chain, we used X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) of poly(p-dioxanone) (PPDX) grown from a gold surface using the grafting-from approach, and the XPS data supports the coordination-insertion mechanism. After the polymerization of PPDX from the surface, the peaks from Sn were observed at 153, 486, and 495 eV in XPS spectrum, and the peaks disappeared after quenching with 1N HCl.     

Aliphatic hyperbranched polyesters based on 2,2-bis(methylol)propionic acid—Determination of structure, solution and bulk properties

Due to their highly branched structure and the large number of functional groups hyperbranched polymers possess unique properties that make them interesting for uses in a wide variety of applications. Some of the most widely investigated hyperbranched polymers are the polyesters based on 2,2-bis(methylol)propionic acid. In this paper we present the results of characterization studies of hyperbranched polyesters based on 2,2-bis(methylol)propionic acid which show that they are very complex products with a multidimensional distribution of various properties. The influence of the synthesis conditions on the structure and molar-mass characteristics of hyperbranched polyesters as well as the findings that allow a thorough understanding of the structure-property relationships are reviewed in detail.