Contact angle of surfactant solutions on precipitated surfactant surfaces

In this study, the contact angle of a saturated aqueous surfactant solution onto the surface of a precipitate of that surfactant is investigated. Those precipitates include fatty acids (C₁₀, C₁₂, C₁₄, C₁₆, and C₁₈), sodium salts of fatty acids (C₁₄, C₁₆, and C₁₈), calcium salts of fatty acids (C₈, C₁₀, C₁₂, C₁₄, C₁₆, and C₁₈). On virgin surfaces, free fatty acids and calcium salts of fatty acids have advancing contact angles (θ_A) between 77 and 92°, with little dependence on alkyl chain length for C₁₂ and higher alkyl chains. The sodium salt of a fatty acid has a lower θ_A than the free fatty or the calcium salt of the soap. The calcium salt of dodecyl sulfate has a lower θ_A than the calcium salt of dodecanoic acid (θ_A = 46 vs. 82°), but the calcium salt of the 18-carbon hydrophobes showed nearly the same contact angle for the soap and the alkyl sulfate. Greasiness, or slipperyness, or a scummy feel of a precipitated surfactant does not necessarily correspond to a hydrophobic surface.     

Nanostructured TiO2-based mixed metal oxides prepared using microemulsions for carbon monoxide detection

Nanostructured powders of Nb-doped TiO₂ (TN) and SnO₂ mixed with Nb-doped TiO₂ in two different atomic ratios—10 to 1 (TSN 101) and 1 to 1 (TSN 11)—were synthesized using the reverse micelle microemulsion of a nonionic surfactant (brine solution/1-hexanol/Triton X-100/cyclohexane). The powders were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Thick films were fabricated for gas sensors and characterized by XRD analysis and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The effects of the film morphology and firing temperature in the range 650–850 °C on CO sensitivity were studied. The best gas response, expressed as the ratio between the resistance in air and the resistance under gas exposure (R _air/R _gas), was measured for TSN 11 at 11 for 1,000 ppm CO exposure. All types of sensors showed good thermal stability. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements were performed in different gas atmospheres (air, O₂, CO and NO₂) to better understand the electrical properties of the nanostructured mixed metal oxides.     

Determination of ergosterol in paddy rice using solid phase extraction

Ergosterol, the predominant sterol found in most fungi, is considered as an indicator of fungal invasion in grain. An extraction method based on solid phase extraction (SPE) has been developed for determination of ergosterol in unmilled rice, generally called paddy. The samples obtained by extraction through SPE have been analysed by HPLC. The method has been validated in experiments with paddy subjected to different drying treatments and recoveries above 85% have been obtained. SPE appeared to be simple, quick, reliable and consistent for ergosterol analysis. The ergosterol levels obtained in the paddy samples were found to be within the expected range and were comparable with those found using conventional methods. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Sorption and transport of acetaminophen, 17alpha-ethynyl estradiol, nalidixic acid with low organic content aquifer sand

The sorption and transport of three pharmaceutical compounds (acetaminophen, an analgesic; nalidixic acid, an antibiotic; and 17α-ethynyl estradiol, a synthetic hormone) were examined by batch sorption experiments and solute displacement in columns of silica, alumina, and low organic carbon aquifer sand at neutral pH. Silica and alumina were used to represent negatively-charged and positively-charged fractions of subsurface media. Column transport experiments were also conducted at pH values of 4.3, 6.2, and 8.2 for the ionizable nalidixic acid. The computer program UFBTC was used to fit the breakthrough data under equilibrium and nonequilibrium conditions with linear/nonlinear sorption. Good agreement was observed between the retardation factors derived from column model studies and estimated from equilibrium batch sorption studies. The sorption and transport of nalidixic acid was observed to be highly pH dependent, especially when the pH was near the pK_a of nalidixic acid (5.95). Thus, near a compound's pK_a it is especially important that the batch studies be performed at the same pH as the column experiment. While for ionic pharmaceuticals, ion exchange to oppositely-charged surfaces, appears to be the dominant adsorption mechanism, for neutral pharmaceuticals (i.e., acetaminophen, 17α-ethynyl estradiol) the sorption correlated well with the K_ow of the pharmaceuticals, suggesting hydrophobically motivated sorption as the dominant mechanism.     

Monoclonal antibody-based ELISA for the detection of circulating Entamoeba histolytica antigen in hepatic amebiasis in hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus)

Circulating amebic antigens were determined by using a sandwich ELISA with specific monoclonal antibody in the sera of 35 group I hamsters, 7 of which were sacrificed at intervals after hepatic inoculation with 500,000 axenically grown HM:1:IMSS strain of E. histolytica trophozoites, 7 group II infected hamsters in which metronidazole treatment was given and 18 group III uninfected controls. Amebic antigenemia was demonstrated in 5 of 7 (71.4%), 6 of 7 (85.7%), 7 of 7 (100%), 7 of 7 (100%) and 7 of 7 (100%) of group I hamsters on days 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 of infections respectively, whereas 6 of 7 (85.7%) of group II hamsters were weakly positive, one was negative and all 18 group III hamsters were negative. The sensitivity of the assay was 100% after the animals were infected 15 days onwards. The level of antigenemia in hamsters of group I with abscess was significantly higher than those of the same group without abscess (p < 0.05). Absence or reduction of antigenemia after treatment could be interpreted to mean a positive test of cure and favorable therapeutic response. The MAb-PAb-based ELISA for the detection of circulating E. histolytica represents a simple and sensitive diagnostic test for invasive amebiasis in hamsters. Application of this test in amebic liver abscess patients should be of diagnostic value for indication of present infection or test of cure after successful treatment.     

Contact angle of surfactant solutions on precipitated surfactant surfaces. III. Effects of subsaturated anionic and nonionic surfactants and NaCl

The contact angles of saturated calcium dodecanoate (CaC₁₂) solutions containing a second subsaturated surfactant on a precipitated CaC₁₂ surface were measured by using the drop shape analysis technique. The subsaturated surfactants used were anionic sodium dodecylsulfate (NaDS), anionic sodium octanoate (NaC₈), and nonionic nonylphenol polyethoxylate (NPE). Comparing at the critical micelle concentration (CMC) for each surfactant, NaC₈ was the best wetting agent, followed by NaDS, with NPE as the poorest wetter (contact angles of 32⁰, 42⁰, and 62⁰, respectively). Surface tension at the CMC increased in the order NaC₈<NPE<NaDS, and subsaturated surfactant adsorption increased in the order NPE≪NaDS (1.4 vs. 84 μmole/g); adsorption of the NaC₈ was not measurable. Interfacial tension (IFT) reduction at the solid-liquid interface due to subsaturated surfactant adsorption is an important contribution to contact angle reduction, in addition to surface tension reduction at the air-water interface. Surfactant adsorption onto the soap scum solid is crucial to solid-liquid IFT reduction and to good wetting. The fatty acid was the best wetting agent of the three surfactants studied, probably because calcium bridging with the carboxylate group synergizes surfactant adsorption onto the solid of the higher molecular weight soap. NaCl added to NaDS surfactant results in depressed CMC, lower surface tension at the CMC, decreased NaDS adsorption onto the solid, and decreased reduction in solid-liquid IFT. The contact angle is not dependent on the NaCl concentration for NaDS. The NaCl causes an increased tendency to form monolayers, which decrease air-water surface tension, but a decreased tendency to form adsorbed aggregates on the solid; the two trends offset each other, so wettability is not affected by added salt. The Zisman equation does not describe the wetting data for these systems well except for NaDS, further emphasizing the danger of ignoring solid-liquid IFT reduction in interpreting wetting data in these systems.     

Ecological dyeing of silk fabric with lac dye by using padding techniques

This research focuses on silk fabrics exhibiting different colour values and fastness properties. The samples were prepared by dyeing with lac as a natural colourant. Two padding techniques were used in the process, namely, the pad-batch and pad-dry techniques, under different conditions. Aluminium potassium sulphate, ferrous sulphate, copper sulphate and stannous chloride were used as mordants. The effects of differing dye concentrations added to the silk fabrics using a pre- and post-mordant method were studied and recorded. The colour fastness to washing, light, rubbing, water and perspiration of the dyed samples was performed according to the present ISO standard. Silk fabric dyed without mordant showed a pink shade, while those samples mordanted with stannous chloride and aluminium potassium sulphate displayed noticeably brighter red coloured shades. With the additional use of copper sulphate, the colour shade produced was violet, while darker grey shades were obtained by adding ferrous sulphate mordant. The test results regarding fastness properties ranged from fair to very good, while wash fastness ranged from very poor to poor.     

Precipitation in solutions containing mixtures of synthetic anionic surfactant and soap. I. Effect of sodium octanoate on hardness tolerance of sodium dodecyl sulfate

The effect of sodium octanoate (SO) and pH on the precipitation of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) with calcium (hardness tolerance) in water was investigated. SO can exist as octanoate anion (O⁻) or as the protonated nonionic fatty acid (HO) with the HO/O⁻ ratio increasing with decreasing pH. At intermediate pH levels, SO or SO/SDS systems are composed of mixtures of anionic and nonionic surfactants, resulting in enhancement of micelle formation due to nonideal mixed micelle formation. Above the critical micelle concentration (CMC), the highest hardness tolerance at each pH level occurs at a mole ratio of 80∶20 SDS/SO due to synergism in the SDS/SO mixtures. This synergism also results in an increase in hardness tolerance of SDS with decreasing pH above the CMC.     

Determination of the Sensory Characteristics of Rose Apples Cultivated In Thailand

ABSTRACT:  Rose apple, an economic fruit in Southeast Asia, has potential as an export to western countries where its special attributes are better known to consumers. This research studied sensory characteristics of 8 rose apple varieties using highly trained panels and a defined sensory lexicon. A total of 9 sensory attributes including rose apple identity (ID), fruity, overall sweet, overall sour, bitter, firmness, cohesiveness of mass, astringent, and pulpy residue were present in all rose apple samples, but at different intensities for each variety. Only 5 attributes (floral/perfumy, green, spongy, initial crispness, and sustained crispness) were found in most samples, and were absent in a few samples; and "characteristic" attributes (rose, peel like, spicy, woody, earthy, starchy, and mealy) were detected in only 1 or a few samples. Based on their sensory characteristics, the rose apples being examined were categorized into 3 clusters. Rose apples in this study that are popularly cultivated and consumed including Pet-Num-Ping, Toon-Klao, Tub-Tim-Jun, Pet-Sai-Rung, and Pet-Sam-Pran, all of which were grouped together in cluster 3. They all had a crispy texture, but were very bland in flavor. Ma-Meow (cluster 1) and Num-Dok-Mai and Sa-Rak (cluster 2), which are not as popular, did not have a crispy texture; however, they did have the characteristic flavors of floral/perfumy and rose. The rose apples in cluster 3 might become better accepted if they had the flavor notes similar to those in cluster 1 and 2.