Video Microscopy for Fast Screening of Polymerization Catalysts

Video microscopy has been used as an effective tool for fast screening of six different metallocene/MAO supported catalyst samples. The different techniques employed for supporting the metallocene on silica gels can have an influence on the overall catalyst activity and on the activity of single catalyst particles. The kinetics of gas‐phase polymerization of ethylene with supported metallocene/MAO catalysts can be modeled by using a simple reaction scheme and neglecting mass and heat transport effects.     

Measuring resistivity of silicon nanowire using pseudo-random binary sequence injection

Nanostructures can show mechanical and electrical properties that differ from their bulk forms, and thus, precise experimental evaluation is needed when the structures are used in nanoelectronic devices or nanoelectromechanical systems. Ohm?s law does not apply for nanostructures due to the various effects of size. It has been shown that due to surface scattering, the resistivity of the wire increases when the size decreases. This paper extends the studies and investigates how the resistive characteristics vary as the wire is stretched. An electrostatic actuating tensile device is applied and the resistive characteristics are evaluated in the frequency domain by means of maximum-length pseudo-random binary sequence (MLBS). The results reveal unreported characteristics of the applied nanowire; the resistance is increased as a function of stretching force.     

Kinetic behaviour of HC-SCR over Ag/alumina catalyst using a model paraffinic second generation biodiesel compound

The effect of longer paraffins on the mechanism of the HC-SCR reaction over a 1.91 wt.% Ag/alumina catalyst was investigated by kinetic studies. Hexadecane (C₁₆H₃₄) was chosen as a model compound as it is also a representative molecule for a second generation biodiesel consisting of only long-chain paraffins. The kinetic behaviour of the catalytic reduction of NO_x was examined at steady-state conditions in the temperature range 250–550 °C (50 °C ramping) and by using the following gas concentrations: P_NO = 100, 250, 500, 750 or 1000 ppm, P_hexadecane = 31, 94, 188, 281 or 375 ppm and P_O2=1.5, 3, 4.5, 6 or 9 vol.%. Results showed that in the temperature range 250–425 °C high hexadecane concentration had an inhibiting effect on the NO reduction. At temperatures above 350 °C the apparent reaction orders for hexadecane with respect to hexadecane increased to close or above 1. Reaction orders towards NO were close to 0.55 indicating that NO adsorption on the catalyst surface is stronger than hexadecane adsorption. Based on the experimental data it is proposed that small clusters alone cannot be the active sites for HC-SCR over Ag/Al₂O₃ but the important requirement for high activity over the catalyst is the local concentrations of hydrocarbon and NO on the interface of silver and the support.     

Rapid complexing of oxoacylglycerols with amino acids peptides and aminophospholipids

We prepared model Schiff bases from 2-[9-oxo]nonanoyl glycerol (2-MAG-ALD) and various amino compounds. 2-MAG-ALD was obtained by pancreatic lipase hydrolysis of trioleoyl glycerol and reductive ozonolysis of the resulting 2-monooleoyl glycerol. The reaction products were purified by thin-layer chromatography. Schiff bases were synthesized in greater than 50% yield by reacting 2-MAG-ALD with twofold molar excess of valine, Nα-acetyl-l-lysine methyl ester and the tripeptides glycyl-glycyl-glycine, glycyl-glycyl-histidine, and glycyl-histidyl-lysine in aqueous methanol and with 1-palmitoyl-2-stearoyl glycerophosphoethanolamine (PE) in chloroform.methanol for 16 h at room temperature. Prior to analysis the bases were reduced with sodium cyanoborohydride in methanol for 30 min at 4°C. Reaction products were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI/MS). Reduced Schiff bases of 2-MAG-ALD with PF and amino acids were analyzed by normal-phase HPLC/ESI/MS and those with peptides by reversed-phase HPLC/ESI/MS. Single adducts were obtained in all cases and both the α-amino group of valine and the ε-amino group of Nα-acetyl-l-lysine methyl ester were reactive. Molecular ions of reaction products were the only detected ions in the negative ionization mode, whereas in the positive ion mode sodiated molecular ions were also detected. The present study suggests that 2-MAG-ALD may form Schiff base adducts with amino compounds in other aqueous media, such as the intestinal lumen and in the hydrophobic environment of cell membranes.     

Diet and lipoprotein oxidation: Analysis of oxidized triacylglycerols in pig lipoproteins

Oxidized lipoproteins have a recognized role in atherogenesis, but molecular-level research on oxidized lipids in lipoproteins and the effect of diet on these molecules have been limited. In the present study, the effects of three sunflower seed oil diets differing in oxidation levels (PV in oils 1, 84, and 223 mequiv O₂/kg) on lipoprotein lipid oxidation in growing pigs were investigated. The emphasis was on the investigation of oxidized TAG molecules found in chylomicrons and VLDL. A method based on RP-HPLC and electrospray ionization-MS was used for the analysis of oxidized TAG molecules. The baseline diene conjugation method was used for the estimation of in vivo levels of lipoprotein lipid oxidation. Several oxidized TAG structures were found in the samples. These products consisted of TAG molecules with a hydroxy, an epoxy, or a keto group attached to a FA, and of TAG molecules containing an aldehyde structure derived from a FA. The lipoprotein lipids and TAG were more oxidized in the pigs fed on the most oxidized oil compared with those fed on nonoxidized oil. Oxidation of dietary fat was reflected in the lipoprotein oxidation. New, detailed information on oxidized TAG molecules of chylomicrons and VLDL was obtained.     

Modulator design for comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography: quantitative analysis of polyaromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls

A novel cryogenic modulator was constructed for comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC x GC). The modulator is based on two-step cryogenic trapping with CO2 and thermal desorption with electric heating. The GC x GC system included a nonpolar first-dimension column and two semipolar second-dimension columns, one connected to a flame ionization detector and the other one to a electron capture detector. A Matlab-based program, which allowed determination of peak heights and volumes, was written for the data analysis. The GC x GC system was applied for the analysis of polyaromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls. The functioning of the modulator and the quantitativity of the method were studied with both peak volumes and peak heights from a three-dimensional plot. The separate peak areas from the modulated chromatogram were calculated as a comparison. The quantitative results were compared with those obtained with the same system but without the thermal modulation. The method was found to be repeatable and linear with use of peak volumes as well as peak heights. There was also good agreement with the results obtained by integration of separate peak areas. The developed GC x GC method was applied to the analysis of a Soxhlet extract of a certified sediment sample. The results were compared with the certified values.     

Polarization conversion in conical diffraction by metallic and dielectric subwavelength gratings

Subwavelength metallic and dielectric diffraction gratings which rotate the linear polarization of incident light by 90 degrees are examined. Using rigorous diffraction theory in total-internal-reflection configuration, it is shown that full conversion from incident transverse electric field to transverse magnetic zero-order field can be achieved with both dielectric and metallic elements, but dielectric gratings provide higher efficiency and are thus preferable. The fabrication aspects and constraints are discussed in detail and the behavior of the gratings over broad wavelength bands is presented.     

Potentiometric sensing of chemical warfare agents: surface imprinted polymer integrated with an indium tin oxide electrode

Rapid and specific recognition of methylphosphonic acid (MPA), the degradation product of nerve agents sarin, soman, VX, etc., was achieved with potentiometric measurements using a chemical sensor fabricated by a surface imprinting technique coupled with a nanoscale transducer, indium tin oxide (ITO). An octadecylsiloxane thin layer was covalently bound to the ITO-coated glass surface in the presence of MPA. After extraction of MPA, potentiometric measurements showed selective detection of MPA. The selectivity of the sensor has been tested on other alkylphosphonic acids, such as ethylphosphonic acid and propylphosphonic acid, as well as tert-butylphosphonic acid. The viability of the sensor in the presence of other chemical analogues, such as organophosphorus pesticides and herbicides, was investigated.     

Gas Chromatographic headspace analysis of Chardonnay and Semillon wines after thermal processing

Volatile compounds of Chardonnay and Semillon wines were analysed using a dynamic headspace method based on selective capillary column trapping and gas chromatography with another column. The effect of thermal treatment on the volatile composition of the wines was studied. Some grape derived norisoprenoid compounds, important to the aroma of aged wine, were formed at 45°C by hydrolysis from the glycosidic precursors. The heat treatment increased the proportion of 1,1,6-Trimethy1-1,2-dihydronaphthalene (TDN) and vitispirane in Chardonnay and Semillon wines. Headspace volatiles of model wines, to which the glycosidic fraction of Chardonnay and Semillon juices was added, were also analysed.

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Gaschromatographische Kopfraum-Analyse der erhitzten Chardonnay- und Semillon-Weine

Zusammenfassung Flüchtige Verbindungen der Weine Chardonnay und Semillon wurden mittels der dynamischen Kopfraum-Methode untersucht. Die flüchtigen Substanzen wurden selektiv mit einer Capillarsäule abgefangen und gaschromatographisch mit einer anderen Säule behandelt. Der Effekt einer Hitzebehandlung auf die Zusammensetzung der flüchtigen Verbindungen der Weine wurde untersucht. Durch Hydrolyse bei 45 °C wurden aus glykosidischen Vorstufen einige Norisoprenoid-Verbindung gebildet, die für das Aroma länger gelagerter Weine wichtig sind. Durch die Hitzebehandlung wurden die Anteile von 1,1,6-Trimethyl-1,2-dihydronaphtalen (TDN) und Vitispirane der Chardonnay- und Semillon-Weine erhöht. Zusätzlich wurden die flüchtigen Verbindungen solcher Referenzweine analysiert, denen die glykosidische Fraktion der Chardonnay- und Semillon-Traubensäfte zugesetzt worden war.

     

The effects of gamma-irradiation on some pure aroma compounds of spices

Summary Chemical changes due to gamma-irradiation were investigated in 11 pure aroma compounds typically found in spices. Samples were irradiated with doses of 0, 10, and 50 kGy. The irradiation source was⁶⁰Co. Irradiated samples and unirradiated controls were analyzed by gas chromatography alone and coupled with mass spectrometry. Significant changes due to the irradiation occurred only in (±)-linalool and-terpineol, which are typical components of, for example, coriander and bay leaf. Their total amounts decreased by about 4–13% and some minor peaks increased as a result of irradiation. However, different results may be obtained when the spices themselves are irradiated.

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Auswirkungen der -Strahlung auf einige Gewürz-Aromastoffe

Zusammenfassung An elf gewürztypischen Aromastoffen wurden die von der-Strahlung verursachten Veränderungen untersucht. Die Proben wurden unter Verwendung von⁶⁰Co als Strahlungsquelle mit Dosen von 0, 10 und 50 kGy bestrahlt. Die bestrahlten und unbestrahlten Proben wurden gaschromatographisch (GC) und GC-massenspektrometrisch untersucht. Erhebliche Veränderungen zeigten sich nur beim (±)-Linalool und beim-Terpineol, die zum Beispiel für die ätherischen Öle von Koriander und Lorbeerblatt typisch sind. Die Peaks dieser Aromastoffe reduzierten sich um 4–13%, und dem entsprechend waren einige kleinere Peaks zu beobachten. Es kann dennoch zu unterschiedlichen Resultaten kommen, wenn Gewürze bestrahlt werden.