Preparation and characterization of the first coordination compounds of tetrazol-2-ylacetic acid

Tetrazol-2-ylacetic acid (2-TzaH) was found to react with CuCl₂, PdCl₂, and K₂PtCl₄ in water giving Cu(2-Tza)₂, PdCl₂(2-TzaH)₂·2H₂O and PtCl₂(2-TzaH)₂, correspondingly. Obtained complexes, being the first reported examples of coordination compounds derived from 2-TzaH, have been characterized by IR spectroscopy, thermal and X-ray diffraction methods. 2-TzaH was found to act as a monodentate ligand coordinated to the metal ion via N4 atom of heteroring in palladium complex and as tridentate bridging ligand coordinated via N4 atom and two oxygen atoms in copper complex. Cu(2-Tza)₂ presents 2D coordination polymer, whereas PdCl₂(2-TzaH)₂·2H₂O is molecular complex.     

Diffusion‐controlled radiochemical oxidation of bisphenol A polysulfone

The radiochemical degradation of bisphenol A polysulfone was investigated under a γ‐ray dose rate of 24 kGy h^?1 up to 30.7 MGy total absorbed dose at 60 °C using gel permeation chromatography, sol–gel analysis, glass transition and rheometry measurements, and oxidation profile measurements by microscopy coupled with Fourier transform infrared analysis in attenuated total reflectance mode. Thin (200 µm) and thick (2 mm) samples were compared. Thin samples undergo mainly chain scissions whereas thick ones undergo mainly crosslinking. The thickness of oxidized layers and, radiochemical yields for chain scissions, crosslinking, oxygen absorption and radical formation were tentatively determined from experimental data in order to determine the influence of oxidative processes on radiochemical ageing and to establish the nature of the crosslinking reactions. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Heterogeneity of active sites of Ziegler‐Natta catalysts: The effect of catalyst composition on the MWD of polyethylene

Experimental data on the molecular weight distribution (MWD) of polyethylene (PE) produced over a broad number of Ziegler‐Natta catalysts differing in composition and preparation procedure are presented. These catalysts include nonsupported TiCl₃ catalyst, four types of supported titanium‐magnesium catalysts (TMC) differing in the content of titanium and the presence of various modifiers in the composition of the support, and a supported catalyst containing VCl₄ as an active component instead of TiCl₄. The studied catalysts produce PE with different molecular weights within a broad range of polydispersity (M_w/M_n = 2.8–16) under the same polymerization conditions. The heterogeneity of active sites of these catalysts was studied by deconvolution of experimental MWD curves into Flory components assuming a correlation between the number of Flory components and the number of active site types. Five Flory components were found for PE produced over nonsupported TiCl₃ catalysts (M_w/M_n = 6.8), and three–four Flory components were found for PE produced over TMC of different composition. A minimal number of Flory components (three) was found for PE samples (M_w/M_n values from 2.8 to 3.3) produced over TMC with a very low titanium content (0.07 wt %) and TMC modified with dibutylphtalate. It was shown that five Flory components are sufficient to fit the experimental MWD curve for bimodal PE (M_w/M_n = 16) produced over VMC. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Effect of polystyrene stars with fullerene C60 cores on pervaporation properties of poly(phenylene oxide) membrane

Star‐shaped macromolecules with six arms of polystyrene grafted onto a fullerene C₆₀ core, or fullerene‐containing polystyrene (FPS), were used for the modification of poly(phenylene oxide) (PPO) and the preparation of a dense thin‐film membrane. The membrane structure was studied using scanning electron microscopy. The effect of FPS modifier on membrane density and mass transfer of methanol and ethylene glycol through the membrane was studied. Sorption and pervaporation tests were used to determine degree of sorption, diffusion coefficients, flux through the membrane and separation factor. In the pervaporation of a methanol–ethylene glycol mixture over the concentration range of 10–30 wt% methanol in the feed, all membranes showed high affinity to methanol. The separation factor reached a maximum at 5 wt% FPS in the membrane. The PPO/FPS membranes exhibit the best separation properties when the feed is enriched with ethylene glycol. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry     

Formation and Growth of Micelles in Dilute Aqueous CTAB Solutions in the Presence of NaNO<Subscript>3</Subscript> and NaClO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Self-assembly of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) in aqueous solution, in the presence of two inorganic salts viz, NaNO₃ and NaClO₃ was investigated by steady-state fluorescence, electrical conductance, surface tension, viscosity, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and cryogenic transmission microscopy (cryo-TEM). The counterions located at short enough distances to CTA⁺ micellar surface experience a very strong electrostatic attraction and thus become condensed. This counterion condensation plays a significant role in deciding the effective charge on the micelle, their screening interaction and structural transition of the micelles. In the present work, the probable mechanism of the salts' action in aqueous solution of CTAB is explained. The critical micelle concentration (CMC), area per molecule (Ų), micelle hydrodynamic diameter (D _h ), and aggregation number (N _agg) of CTAB micelles in the absence and presence of the salts are reported. The addition of both salts followed the lyotropic series and showed a remarkable decrease in CMC. A detailed investigation of the structural transitions from spherical to rod or even to entangled wormlike structures is presented from cryoTEM.     

Comparative in Vivo Assessment of Some Adverse Bioeffects of Equidimensional Gold and Silver Nanoparticles and the Attenuation of Nanosilver’s Effects with a Complex of Innocuous Bioprotectors

Stable suspensions of nanogold (NG) and nanosilver (NS) with mean particle diameter 50 and 49 nm, respectively, were prepared by laser ablation of metals in water. To assess rat’s pulmonary phagocytosis response to a single intratracheal instillation of these suspensions, we used optical, transmission electron, and semi-contact atomic force microscopy. NG and NS were also repeatedly injected intraperitoneally into rats at a dose of 10 mg/kg (0.5 mg per mL of deionized water) three times a week, up to 20 injections. A group of rats was thus injected with NS after oral administration of a “bioprotective complex” (BPC) comprised of pectin, multivitamins, some amino acids, calcium, selenium, and omega-3 PUFA. After the termination of the injections, many functional and biochemical indices and histopathological features of the spleen, kidneys and liver were evaluated for signs of toxicity, and accumulation of NG or NS in these organs was measured. From the same rats, we obtained cell suspensions of different tissues for performing the RAPD test. It was demonstrated that, although both nanometals were adversely bioactive in all respects considered in this study, NS was more noxious as compared with NG, and that the BPC tested by us attenuated both the toxicity and genotoxicity of NS.     

Sorption of organic compounds of varying hydrophobicities from water and industrial wastewater by long- and short-chain organoclays

It is generally assumed that short-chain organoclays are better sorbents for non-ionic organic compounds than are the long-chain organoclays. We believe that the above statement is correct only for relatively hydrophilic or slightly hydrophobic compounds and that the opposite should be true for highly hydrophobic compounds, namely, that long-chain organoclays are expected to be superior to the short-chain analogs for sorption of highly hydrophobic materials.To verify our hypothesis, the sorption of six compounds with a range of log K_ow values from 2.5 to 6 was studied on tetramethyltriammonium-(TMA) and octadecyltrimethylammonium-(ODTMA) bentonite, representing short- and long-chain organoclays, respectively. Compounds with low or medium hydrophobicities (log K_ow 2.5–3.8) were more strongly sorbed on the short-chain organoclay, whereas the more hydrophobic compounds (log K_ow 5.2–6.1) were better sorbed on the long-chain organoclay, in agreement with our hypothesis.The efficacy of organoclays in removing organic pollutants from the effluent of a pesticide producing plant was evaluated. Pesticide sorption from the wastewater was studied on both types of organoclays. It was found that both organoclays were able to remove organic pollutants from industrial wastewater, but solute uptake by short-chain organoclays was strongly depressed by competition, while long-chain organoclays were only slightly affected, if at all, by the presence of competing solutes in the industrial wastewater.     

Redistribution of elements of metals in plant tissues under treatment by non-ionic colloidal solution of biogenic metal nanoparticles

The content of metal elements in plant tissues of 10-day wheat seedlings after seed pre-treatment and foliar treatment with non-ionic colloidal solution of metal nanoparticles (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn) was determined by an atomic absorption spectrometer. It was shown that metal nanoparticles due to their physical properties (nanoscale and uncharged state) were capable of penetrating rapidly into plant cells and optimizing plant metabolic processes at the early stages of growth and development.     

Influence of ZrO2 and WO3 doping additives on the thermal properties of porous mullite ceramics

Porous mullite-corundum refractory ceramics were produced by a patented slurry slip casting method from compositions based on commercially available α-Al₂O₃ and γ-Al₂O₃, fused SiO₂ and kaolin. Pores were formed as a result of a chemical reaction of aluminium with water. The influence of usage of raw materials and doping additives such as micro-size ZrO₂ and WO₃ on the sintering temperature, formation of crystalline phases, linear thermal expansion, thermal conductivity and thermal shock resistance of mullite-corundum ceramic was studied. The best thermal shock resistance and, simultaneously, lower thermal conductivity was achieved for the samples doped with WO₃. This was due to the influence of micro-sized WO₃ on the change in γ-Al₂O₃ modification to α-Al₂O₃ and on the structure of mullite ceramics.     

Movement as a Positive Modulator of Aging

The aging of human populations, including those in Europe, is an indisputable fact. The challenge for the future is not simply prolonging human life at any cost or by any means but rather extending self-sufficiency and quality of life. Even in the most advanced societies, the eternal questions remain. Who will take care of the older generations? Will adult children’s own circumstances be sufficient to support family members as they age? For a range of complex reasons, including socioeconomic conditions, adult children are often unable or unwilling to assume responsibility for the care of older family members. For this reason, it is imperative that aging adults maintain their independence and self-care for as long as possible. Movement is an important part of self-sufficiency. Moreover, movement has been shown to improve patients’ clinical status. At a time when the coronavirus pandemic is disrupting the world, older people are among the most vulnerable. Our paper explores current knowledge and offers insights into the significant benefits of movement for the elderly, including improved immunity. We discuss the biochemical processes of aging and the counteractive effects of exercise and endogenous substances, such as vitamin D.