Degradation of C.I. Acid Orange 7 by heterogeneous Fenton oxidation in combination with ultrasonic irradiation

BACKGROUND: A mesoporous alumina supported nanosized Fe₂O₃ was prepared through an original synthesis procedure and used as a heterogeneous catalyst for the Fenton process degradation of the model azo dye C.I. Acid Orange 7 enhanced by ultrasound irradiation (US/Fe₂O₃‐Al₂O₃‐meso/H₂O₂ system). The effect of various operating conditions was investigated, namely hydrogen peroxide concentration, initial pH, ultrasonic power and catalyst loading. RESULTS: The results indicated that the degradation of C.I. Acid Orange 7 followed a pseudo‐first‐order kinetic model. There exists an optimal hydrogen peroxide concentration, initial pH, ultrasonic power and catalyst loading for decolorization. The aggregate size of the spent catalyst was reduced after dispersion in water by ultrasonic irradiation. A very low level of iron leaching was observed ranging from < 0.1 to 0.23 mg L^?1. The intermediate products of C.I. Acid Orange 7 degradation were identified using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). CONCLUSION: The optimal conditions for efficient C.I. Acid Orange 7 degradation were pH close to 3, hydrogen peroxide concentration 4 mmol L^?1, catalyst loading 0.3 g L^?1, and ultrasonic power 80 W. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Utilisation of spontaneous emulsification to fabricate lutein‐loaded nanoemulsion‐based delivery systems: factors influencing particle size and colour

Factors influencing the formation and properties of lutein‐loaded nanoemulsions fabricated using spontaneous emulsification (SE) were investigated. Nanoemulsion formation depended on oil type: small droplets (diameter ≈ 200 nm) with a narrow monomodal particle size distribution (polydispersity index ≈ 0.23) could be formed using medium‐chain triglycerides (MCT), but not long‐chain triglycerides. Nanoemulsion formation also depended on surfactant type and concentration, with Tween 80 being the most effective surfactant. Optimisation of lutein‐loaded nanoemulsions formed by SE led to systems with a final composition of 10 wt% oil phase (0.12 wt% lutein + 9.88 wt% MCT), 10 wt% Tween 80, and 80 wt% aqueous phase. The nanoemulsions were stable to droplet aggregation when stored at ambient temperature for up to 1 month; however, some colour fading occurred due to lutein degradation. This study indicated the potential of nanoemulsion‐based delivery system fabricated using a low‐energy method for encapsulation and protection of lutein.     

Photocrosslinking of functionalized rubbers. X. Butadiene–acrylonitrile copolymers

The photocrosslinking of polyacrylonitrile‐block‐polybutadiene‐block‐polyacrylonitrile (ABA) was shown to proceed within seconds at ambient temperature upon UV exposure in the presence of an acylphosphine oxide photoinitiator. The curing process was followed by infrared spectroscopy, insolubilization, and hardness measurements. Complete insolubilization could not be achieved with the neat ABA rubber because of the poor reactivity of the 2‐butene double bond and the low vinyl content of the polybutadiene chain. The addition of multifunctional acrylate monomers (20 wt %) causes a substantial increase of both the reaction rate and the crosslink density of the polymer, which becomes completely insoluble in toluene in less than 1 s upon UV irradiation. An even greater effect was observed by using small amounts (1 wt %) of a trifunctional thiol crosslinker. Both the thiol and the photoinitiator concentrations were shown to affect the kinetics of the thiol–ene polymerization and the polymer network crosslink density. A direct relationship was found to exist between the swelling degree of the UV‐cured rubber and the interchain molecular weight of the network. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 82: 2204–2216, 2001     

Job stressors and the pursuit of sport activities: A day-level perspective.

This article addresses the relation between day-specific experiences of job stressors and the pursuit of off-job activities. Following the limited-resources model of self-regulation, the authors proposed that job stressors and long working hours are negatively related to pursuit of sport activities after work because, after stressful days, employees have no resources left for initiating and persisting in effortful behaviors such as sport. Routines for off-job activities were hypothesized to be positively related to the pursuit of sport activities after work. Seventy-eight police employees completed a daily survey over 5 working days and indicated that they perceive sport to be highly useful for recovery. Random coefficient modeling showed that job stressors (particularly situational constraints) encountered on a specific day were negatively related to self-regulatory resources and to the amount of time spent on sport activities after work, whereas the relation with low-effort activities was positive. Thus, after a stressful day when an effective recovery activity such as sport is highly needed, persons tend to engage less in such an activity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Surfactant Concentration,Antioxidants, and Chelators Influencing Oxidative Stability of Water‐in‐Walnut Oil Emulsions

Effects of surfactant concentration, antioxidants with different polarities, and chelator type on the oxidative stability of water‐in‐stripped walnut oil (W/O) emulsions stabilized by polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) were evaluated. The formation of primary oxidation products (lipid hydroperoxides) and secondary oxidation products (hexanal) decreased with increasing PGPR concentrations (0.3–1.0 wt% of emulsions). Excess surfactant might solubilize lipid hydroperoxides out of the oil–water interface, resulting in the decreased lipid oxidation rates in W/O emulsions. At concentrations of 10–1000 μM, the polar Trolox demonstrated concentration‐dependent antioxidant activity according to both hydroperoxide and hexanal formation. The antioxidant efficiency of the non‐polar α‐tocopherol was slightly reduced at the higher range of 500–1000 μM based on hydroperoxide formation. Both ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and deferoxamine (DFO) at concentrations of 5–100 μM reduced the rates of lipid oxidation at varying degrees, indicating that endogenous transition metals may promote lipid oxidation in W/O emulsions. EDTA was a stronger inhibitor of lipid oxidation than DFO. These results suggest that the oxidative stability of W/O emulsions could be improved by the appropriate choice of surfactant concentration, antioxidants, and chelators.     

Matter Timed

At best, the ageing of materials is regarded as lending a patina to historic buildings. In reality, however, materials often age disgracefully and unevenly, requiring a high level of maintenance and refurbishment. What if materials could be engineered and integrated into buildings not only to enhance but to heal? Martina Decker , Assistant Professor in the College of Architecture and Design at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), looks at pioneering research that is being undertaken into performative, time-dependent materials.     

Polymerelektrolytmembranen für Hoch‐ und Niedertemperatur‐Brennstoffzellen aus strahlungsinduzierter Pfropfcopolymerisation

Radiation‐induced graft copolymerization of hydroxyethyl methacrylate with hydroxyethyl acrylate, acrylic acid or glycidyl methacrylate on ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) films allow for tailor‐made synthesis of membranes for high and low temperature fuel cell applications. According to the operating temperatures proton conductivity may be achieved via doping with phosphoric acid or a two‐step sulfonation of the functional monomers. Fuel cell tests provide power densities and internal resistances, which indicate that the membranes are suitable for high and low temperature fuel cells.