Spectroscopic studies of the ionic liquid during the electrodeposition of Al-Ti alloy in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride melt

A new approach for the formation of Al-Ti alloy in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (EmimCl) was investigated. The dissolution of titanium electrodes in presence of EmimCl:AlCl₃ was performed at various potentials to understand the effect of voltage on the reaction rate. It was observed that at low potentials, the presence of titanium hinders the reaction and diminishes the formation of aluminum and aluminum-titanium alloy at the cathode. However, at higher potentials there was substantial formation of Al₃Ti alloy. To understand the reaction mechanism during the electrolysis, the electrolyte was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques. The material on the cathode was characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) techniques. From the above analysis it was found that titanium forms a complex with aluminum and also assists in formation of AlCl₄⁻ phase in the acidic ionic liquid.     

Toxicity characterization of urban stormwater with bioanalytical tools

Stormwater harvesting has become an attractive alternative strategy to address the rising demand for urban water supply due to limited water sources and population growth. Nevertheless, urban stormwater is also a major source of surface water pollution. Runoff from different urban catchments with source contributions from anthropogenic activities and various land uses causes variable contaminant profiles, thus posing a challenging task for environmental monitoring and risk assessment. A thorough understanding of raw stormwater quality is essential to develop appropriate treatment facilities for potential indirect potable reuse of stormwater. While some of the key chemical components have previously been characterized, only scarce data are available on stormwater toxicity. We benchmarked stormwater samples from urban, residential and industrial sites across various Australian capital cities against samples from the entire water cycle, from sewage to drinking water. Six biological endpoints, targeting groups of chemicals with modes of toxic action of particular relevance for human and environmental health, were investigated: non-specific toxicity (Microtox and combined algae test), the specific modes of action of phytotoxicity (combined algae test), dioxin-like activity (AhR-CAFLUX), and estrogenicity (E-SCREEN), as well as reactive toxicity encompassing genotoxicity (umuC) and oxidative stress (AREc32). Non-specific toxicity was highly variable across sites. The baseline toxicity equivalent concentrations of the most polluted samples were similar to secondary treated effluent from wastewater treatment plants. Phytotoxicity results correlated well with the measured herbicide concentrations at all sites. High estrogenicity was found in two sampling events and could be related to sewage overflow. Genotoxicity, dioxin-like activity, and oxidative stress response were evident in only three of the samples where the stormwater drain was beside a heavy traffic road, confirming that road runoff is the potential source of contaminants, while the bioanalytical equivalent concentrations (BEQ) of these samples were similar to those of raw sewage. This study demonstrates the benefit of bioanalytical tools for screening-level stormwater quality assessment, forming the basis for the evaluation of future stormwater treatment and reuse schemes.     

Collision-induced fragmentations of the (M-H)- parent anions of underivatized peptides: an aid to structure determination and some unusual negative ion cleavages

This article describes the fundamental cleavage reactions of (M-H)(-) anions of underivatized peptides that contain up to 25 amino acid residues. The experimental observations of these cleavages have been backed up by molecular modeling, generally at the AM1 level of theory. The basic cleavages are the ubiquitous alpha- and beta-backbone cleavage reactions, which provide information similar to that of the B and Y + 2 cleavages of MH(+) ions of peptides. The residues Asp and Asn also effect cleavages of the backbone (called delta- and gamma-cleavages), by reactions initiated from side chain enolate anions, causing elimination reactions that cleave the backbone between the Asp (Asn) N bond;C backbone bond. Glu and Gln also direct analogous delta- and gamma-cleavages of the backbone, but in this case the processes are initiated by attack of the side chain CO(2) (-) (CONH(-)) to form a lactone (lactam). Ser and Thr residues undergo characteristic fragmentations of the side chain. These processes, losses of CH(2)O (Ser) and MeCHO (Thr), convert these residues into Gly. In larger peptides, Ser and Thr can effect two backbone cleavage reactions, called gamma- and epsilon -processes. The C-terminal CO(2) (-) (or CONH(-)) forms a hydrogen bond with the side chain OH (of Ser or Thr), placing the C-terminal residue in a position where it may affect S(N) (2) attack at the electrophilic backbone CH of Ser, with concomitant cleavage of the backbone. All of the above negative ion cleavages require the peptide backbone to be conformationally flexible. However, there is a backbone cleavage that requires the peptide to have an alpha-helical conformation in order for the two reacting centers to approach. This cleavage is illustrated for the Glu 23-initiated backbone cleavage at Ile 21 for the (M-H)(-) anion of the antimicrobial peptide caerin 1.1.     

Correlation of Arrhenius parameters for UHMWPE synthesis with ethylene solubility characteristics in different polymerization media

The effect of different polymerization media like n‐hexane, cyclohexane, isooctane, n‐decane, toluene, varsol, and light normal paraffin (LNP) on the kinetics of the slurry polymerization of ethylene using a highly active Ziegler Natta (ZN) catalyst for synthesizing UHMWPE was studied. Attempts have been made to determine the solubility of ethylene in the above polymerization media in a very basic manner and to correlate same with the process activation energy based on the Arrhenius plots. The ethylene solubility seemed to depend on the number of carbon atoms in the media, besides other parameters like geometry, dipole moment, etc. It is obvious and well understood that the monomer (ethylene) concentration has a direct bearing on the polymerization kinetics, which influenced the activation energy (Ea) besides other parameters like catalyst/cocatalyst concentration, temperature, etc which were kept constant during the study. The role of the catalyst system in controlling the activation energy was also further exemplified by employing a different ZN catalyst system wherein higher activation energy was observed. This was ascribed to restricted activation pathways for the catalyst under the comparable experimental conditions employed. As soon as better activation pathways for the catalyst were enabled the activation energy dropped down remarkably. The Ea for the synthesis of ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) using traditional MgCl₂ supported Ti catalyst was found to be 5–12 kcal/mol which compared well with the values obtained by other researchers using other similar catalyst systems for different ethylene polymerization processes. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Alleviation of diabetic nephropathy by zinc oxide nanoparticles in streptozotocin‐induced type 1 diabetes in rats

This study examines the effect of nanoparticles with zinc oxides (ZnONPs) on diabetic nephropathy, which is the primary cause of mortality for diabetic patients with end‐stage renal disease. Diabetes in adult male rats was induced via intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. ZnONPs were intraperitoneally administered to diabetic rats daily for 7 weeks. Diabetes was associated with increases in blood glucose level, 24‐h urinary albumin excretion rate, glomerular basement membrane thickness, renal oxidative stress markers, and renal mRNA or protein expression of transforming growth factor‐β1, fibronectin, collagen‐IV, tumour necrosis factor‐α and vascular endothelial growth factor‐A. Moreover, the expression of nephrin and podocin, and the mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinase‐9 were decreased in the diabetic group. These changes were not detected in the control group and were significantly prevented by ZnONP treatment. These results provide evidence that ZnONPs ameliorate the renal damage induced in a diabetic rat model of nephropathy through improving renal functionality; inhibiting renal fibrosis, oxidative stress, inflammation and abnormal angiogenesis; and delaying the development of podocyte injury. The present findings may help design the clinical application of ZnONPs for protection against the development of diabetic nephropathy.     

Gas‐phase pinacol conversion on AlPO4, γ‐Al2O3 and SiO2 catalysts

Pinacol (2,3‐dimethyl‐2,3‐butanediol) conversion over AlPO₄ (Al/P = 1) and γ‐Al₂O₃ catalysts proceeded in two parallel reaction pathways with formation of 2,3‐dimethyl‐1,3‐butadiene (by 1,2‐elimination) and 3,3‐dimethyl‐2‐butanone (by rearrangement), the latter being the main reaction product. The activity was in accordance with the surface acidity data as measured versus cyclohexene skeletal isomerization reaction. Thus, AlPO₄ showed the highest activity (almost total conversion at 523 K). The 1,2‐elimination/rearrangement ratio depended on the type of catalyst used and diene formation increased with reaction temperature. Moreover, pinacolone was a reaction intermediate for diene production. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Preparation and characterization of carbon and titanium carbide coatings

Carbon and titanium carbide coatings were deposited onto 304 and 316 stainless steel, Monel 400, molybdenum and copper substrates by the d.c. diode sputtering method. The former were prepared using a graphite target in an argon atmosphere whereas the latter were deposited using a titanium target in an argon-methane gas mixture. The coatings were characterized using Auger electron spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques. The adhesion of the coatings to the substrates and the effect of annealing on their crystallinity were studied.     

Comparison of processing treatments on the composition and functional properties of rapeseed preparations (Brassica campestris L. var. toria)

Rapeseed preparations viz. rapeseed meal, concentrates and isolates were prepared using different processing treatments involving organic solvents, acids, alkali, steaming and boiling. Their antinutritional constituents and functional properties were studied in comparison to undefatted meal. Percent decrease in phytic acid and phenolic content was maximum in seeds boiled for 30 min and isolates, respectively. Isolate II prepared by sodium hexa-metaphosphate had minimum glucosinolates, maximum content of total proteins and much improved nitrogen solubility, emulsifying and foaming properties. Water absorption and fat absorption capacities were enhanced by boiling seeds prior to grinding and ammonia-methanol extraction, respectively. Viscosity decreased in all the treatments as compared to control.