Recovery of uranium from seawater. XII. Preparation and characterization of lightly crosslinked highly porous chelating resins containing amidoxime groups

A number of lightly cross-linked poly(acrylonitrile-co-divinylbenzene) beads (RN-5) have been synthesized by suspension polymerization. The use of solvating diluents such as chloroform, dichloroethane, and tetrachloroethane resulted in copolymer beads having highly porous structures. The chelating resins containing amidoxime as a functional group (RNH-5) have been prepared by the reaction of copolymer beads with 3% hydroxylamine in methanol. A detailed analysis is made of the pore structure of lightly cross-linked copolymers of acrylonitrile–divinylbenzene and their amidoxime derivatives in the anhydrous state including pore-size distribution, specific surface area, and pore structure in the aqueous media by means of gel permeation chromatography (GPC). A set of experiments have been performed to ascertain the potential of the resins for the adsorption of uranium from seawater. Because of their modified pore structures, the chelating resins exhibited a marked adsorption rate for uranium in seawater as high as 23 μg of U/cm³ of resin/day without alkaline treatment.     

Line edge roughness after development in a positive-tone chemically amplified resist of post-optical lithography investigated by Monte Carlo simulation and a dissolution model

Line edge roughness (LER) of patterned features in chemically amplified (CA) resists is formed in the acid generation stage and expected to be moderated by the acid diffusion and development process. It is essential to obtain information on the limit of LER in order to realize next-generation lithographies such as electron beam or extreme ultraviolet. Here, we report for the first time a process simulator based on physical and chemical reaction mechanisms. The LER of a positive-tone CA resist after development is investigated by Monte Carlo simulation and Mack's dissolution model. We found that the LER (high frequency) of less than 1.2?nm is achievable, although the process conditions and material design for achieving such a small LER are strict.     

Allylation of Carbon Pronucleophiles with Alkynes in the Presence of Palladium/Acetic Acid Catalyst

We have developed an efficient and eco‐chemical process for the allylation of carbon pronucleophiles with alkynes. The reaction of alkynes with various active methynes and methylenes in the presence of Pd(PPh₃)₄/acetic acid gave the corresponding allylated products in high yields and high regioselectivities. In the present catalytic system, the key is the use of carboxylic acid which dramatically enhances the rate of the reactions. One of the important features of this process is that neither a leaving group is liberated nor is a stoichiometric amount of base needed to generate the nucleophiles.     

Supersonic two-phase flow of CO2 through converging–diverging nozzles for the ejector refrigeration cycle

CO₂ is environmentally friendly, safe and more suitable to ejector refrigeration cycle than to vapor compression cycle. Supersonic two-phase flow of CO₂ in the diverging sections of rectangular converging–diverging nozzles was investigated. The divergence angles with significant variation of decompression were 0.076°, 0.153°, 0.306° and 0.612°. This paper presents experimental decompression phenomena which can be used in designing nozzles and an assessment of Isentropic Homogeneous Equilibrium (IHE). Inlet conditions around 6–9 MPa, 20–37 °C were used to resemble ejector nozzles of coolers and heat pumps. For inlet temperature around 37 °C, throat decompression boiling from the saturated liquid line, supersonic decompression and IHE solution were obtained for the two large divergence angles. For divergence angles larger than 0.306°, decompression curves for inlet temperature above 35 °C approached IHE curves. For divergence angles smaller than 0.306° or for nozzles with inlet temperature below 35 °C, IHE had no solution.     

New thermosetting resin from poly(p‐vinylphenol) based benzoxazine and epoxy resin

Poly(p‐vinylphenol) (VP) based benzoxazine was prepared from VP, formaline, and aniline. The curing behavior of the benzoxazine with the epoxy resin and the properties of the cured resin were investigated. Consequently, the curing reaction did not proceed at low temperatures, but it proceeded rapidly at higher temperatures without a curing accelerator. The reaction induction time or cure time of the molten mixture from VP based benzoxazine and epoxy resin was found to decrease, compared with those from conventional bisphenol A based benzoxazine and epoxy resin. The curing reaction rate of VP based benzoxazine and epoxy resin increased more than that of conventional bisphenol A based benzoxazine and epoxy resin. The properties of the cured resin from neat resins and from reinforced resins with fused silica were evaluated. The cured resins from VP based benzoxazine and epoxy resin showed good heat resistance, mechanical properties, electrical insulation, and water resistance compared to the cured resin from VP and epoxy resin using imidazole as the catalyst. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 79: 555–565, 2001     

Dynamic Analysis of Phorbol Esters in the Manufacturing Process of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Jatropha curcas</Emphasis> Seed Oil

Jatropha curcas seed oil, which is unsuitable as an edible oil but has received attention as a novel vegetable fat and oil resource, contains tumor-promoting phorbol esters. Currently, six types of derivatives of 12-deoxy-16-hydroxyphorbol (DHPEs) in J. curcas oil have been identified, and their toxicological safety for humans is being discussed. However, it is reported that most DHPEs disappear during the transesterification process. We investigated the dynamics of phorbol esters in the manufacturing process of fatty acid methyl esters from J. curcas seed oil. With the assumption that the precursor ion was the fragment ion (m/z = 311) from the frame unit of phorbol esters and their derivatives, we developed an LC–MS method for detecting the product ion (m/z = 165), which was obtained by cleavage of the fragment ion. The derivatives generated from the structural changes of the phorbol esters existed in fractions of glycerine–water in the manufacturing process; however, phorbol esters and their derivatives were not detected in the fatty acid methyl esters that were produced via a high-vacuum distillation process. Investigation into the dynamics of phorbol esters confirmed that the contents of phorbol esters, including DHPEs, in the fatty acid methyl esters were under detection limits.     

Temporary overvoltage duty of surge arresters in noneffectively grounded systems

Important characteristics of metal oxide surge arresters depend on the specified temporary overvoltage duty requirement due to the volt–ampere characteristics. However, there are few reports on the duty of surge arresters in noneffectively grounded systems. The temporary overvoltages of 1.43 pu proposed in effectively grounded systems is too low compared with nearly pu in a line‐to‐ground fault. The overvoltages due to a combination of a line‐to‐ground and load rejection, where not only the main power circuits but also control systems such as AVRs participate, is rare but probably the severest case. Here the overvoltage duty of surger arresters is clarified for various residual voltage levels and system conditions. The severest condition is that in a system including a cable line because of operation of the UEL of the AVR. © 1999 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 128(4): 38–46, 1999     

Preparation of polyamides containing para-linked dimethylbiphenylene moieties

A series of wholly aromatic polyamides containing 3,3′-dimethylbiphenyl-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid (P-DMBA) and 3,4′-dimethylbiphenyl-4,3′-dicarboxylic acid (Q-DMBA) was prepared by the direct polycondensation method using triphenylphosphite and pyridine. Most of the polymers are readily soluble in polar aprotic solvents such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), N,N′-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), pyridine (py), and m-cresol and could be cast into tough and flexible films. The solubilities of copolyamides containing P-DMBA and Q-DMBA as acid components were remarkably improved. These were characterized by inherent viscosity, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and dynamic mechanical spectrometry (DMS) measurements. The glass transition temperatures of these polymers were in the range of 200–300°C and the 5% weight loss temperatures were 430–470°C. Films prepared by casting from polymer solutions exhibited good tensile properties. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 68:847–853, 1998     

Preparation of polyimides derived from biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydrides and aromatic diamines bearing alkylene spacers

Four series of aromatic polyimides (PIs V–VIII) composed of biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydrides (BPDAs) and aromatic diamines bearing alkylene spacers were prepared by two methods. Most polymers could be readily prepared in a one‐step method for the combination of a‐BPDA with α,ω‐bis(3‐aminophenoxy)alkanes, a‐BPDA with α,ω‐bis(4‐aminophenoxy)alkanes, and s‐BPDA with α,ω‐bis(3‐aminophenoxy)alkanes. However, the polymerization of s‐BPDA with α,ω‐bis(4‐aminophenoxy)alkanes gave powders. On the other hand, all four monomer combinations afforded the desired polyamic acid solution in a two‐step method. These polymer solutions could be cast into tough and flexible films, which were characterized by their inherent viscosity, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and dynamic mechanical spectrometry measurements. The glass transition temperatures (T_gs) of the polymers were in the range of 110–240°C, but they were not clearly defined for PIs VIII and VI. The 5% weight loss temperatures were around 450°C for all prepared PIs. For PI VIII an “odd–even” behavior of the tensile properties of the films was detected, corresponding to the reported behavior of the melting temperatures. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 74: 2404–2413, 1999     

Experiment-Oriented Machine Learning of Polymer:Non-Fullerene Organic Solar Cells

Despite the capacity of conjugated materials for enhanced power conversion efficiency (PCE) of organic photovoltaics (OPV), a comprehensive survey of unexplored materials is beyond the reach of most researchers’ resources. In such instances, a data-driven approach using machine learning (ML) is an efficient alternative; however, bridging the gap between experimental observations and data science requires a number of refinements. In this investigation, using a random forest model based on an experimental dataset, a high correlation coefficient of 0.85 is achieved for the ML of polymer and non-fullerene small molecule acceptor OPVs and performed virtual screening of 200,932 conjugated polymers generated by the combinatorial coupling of donor and acceptor units. Further, to evaluate the effectiveness of the ML model, a series of conjugated polymers (based on benzodithiophene and thiazolothiazole) were designed, synthesized, and characterized with different alkyl chains. Among these, PBDTTzEH:IT-4F showed a PCE of 10.10%, which is in good correspondence with ML predictions with respect to the choice of alkyl chains. Thus, the current study demonstrates how ML can be utilized for developing OPVs using a relatively small number of experimental data points (566) and screening numerous molecular structures.