Use of the quinhydrone electrode for the determination of stability constants of copper(II) complexes by continuous potentiometric measurement

The quinhydrone electrode was shown to be utilizable in automatic potentiometric determination of the stability constants of copper(II) complexes. The slow copper(II) ion-quinhydrone interaction reported by Pajdowski and Karwecka[8] did not interfere under controlled experimental conditions with the measurements. Experimental results were subjected to numerical data processing, stability constants being calculated by weighted least squares fitting. Copper(II) 2-, 3- and 4-hydroxybutyrate (a,b,c) and n-butyrate (d) complexes had the following values of logarithm of stability constants: (a) log β₁ = 2·63 ± 0·0.2, log β₂ = 4·31 ± 0·01, (b) log β₁ = 1·86 ± 0·02, log β₂ = 3·12 ± 0·01, (c) log β₁ = 1·80 ± 0·03, log β₂ = 2·63 ± 0·01, (d) log β₁ = 1·85 ± 0.·01, log β₂ = 2·49 ± 0·01.     

Development and In Vitro Characterization of Chitosan-based Microspheres for Nasal Delivery of Promethazine

ABSTRACT

Conventional and composed promethazine-loaded microspheres were prepared by spray drying of chitosan solution systems and double water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsion systems, respectively. Double emulsions were prepared in two different feed concentrations, with chitosan dissolved in both water phases, and ethylcellulose dissolved in oil phase. Swelling and bioadhesive properties of the microspheres depended on the chitosan content, type and the feed concentration of spray-dried system. Results obtained suggested that better ethylcellulose microcapsules with promethazine in the chitosan matrix were formed when less concentrated emulsion systems were spray-dried. Thus, in case of such a system, with ethylcellulose/chitosan weight ratio of 1:2, prolonged promethazine release was obtained.     

A low-voltage complementary metal-oxide semiconductor adapter circuit suitable for input rail-to-rail operation

In this article, a low-voltage complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) input signal adapter (ISA) suitable for input rail-to-rail operation of various types of analogue basic building blocks is presented. The adapter acts as a pre-stage with infinite input resistance and linear transfer characteristics. Its input signal is translated into the region fitting the operating range of the following stage. The generality of the proposed method is proven through the application of the ISA in different types of analogue basic building blocks designed in 0.5 μm CMOS technology. They are the following: below-negative-rail-to-above-positive-rail voltage-controlled transconductor, quasi rail-to-rail voltage-controlled resistor (VCR), rail-to-rail operational amplifier (OA) and quasi rail-to-rail second generation current conveyor. The proposed negative resistance quasi rail-to-rail VCR and rail-to-rail OA have been used in a Sallen and Key band-pass filter. All of these analogue basic building blocks and their applications in the form of the Sallen and Key band-pass filter operate from a single supply of 1.5 V. Simulation results confirm the predictions of the analysis performed.     

Single step recovery of lipase from Penicillium cyclopium by aqueous two-phase extraction

Recovery of lipase from Penicillium cyclopium by aqueous two-phase extraction was studied with maximal possible crude enzyme loads. In polyethylene glycol/dextran and polyethylene glycol/salt systems the influences of molecular weight and concentration of polyethylene glycol, phase-forming salt and phase volume ratio were evaluated. Lipase partition coefficient 9 followed by the top phase yield 95.7% and purification factor 3.4 were achieved in 15% (w w^?1) polyethylene glycol 4000/15% (w w^?1) KH₂PO₄/70% (w w^?1) crude enzyme. Efficient single-step recovery of lipase followed by partial enzyme purification indicated possible integration of production and primary bioseparation step by aqueous two-phase extraction. By varying phase volume ratio, the concentration of phosphate was reduced without decrease in lipase recovery.     

Composition,antimicrobial, antiradical and spasmolytic activity of Ferula heuffelii Griseb. ex Heuffel (Apiaceae) essential oil

The essential oil from underground parts of Ferula heuffelii from N.E. Serbia, was analysed using GC and GC–MS. The main compounds of the essential oil were elemicin (35.4%) and myristicin (20.6%). The essential oil exhibited the best antimicrobial activity against two strains of Candida albicans (MIC = 7.0 and 13.7 μg/ml), as well as against Micrococcus luteus (MIC = 13.7 μg/ml), Staphylococcus epidermidis (MIC = 17.6 μg/ml), Bacillus subtilis (MIC = 21.1 μg/ml) and Micrococcus flavus (MIC = 28.2 μg/ml). In the DPPH radical scavenging assay, essential oil showed substantial activity with SC₅₀ = 22.43 μl/ml. The essential oil was also tested for antispasmodic activity. It inhibited spontaneous contraction of isolated rat ileum dose-dependently, and at the concentration of 86.64 μg/ml exhibited 50% of the maximum effect of atropine. After incubation with 75.00 μg/ml of essential oil, acetylcholine did not induce contractions of ileum, and at 250.00 μg/ml, the essential oil almost completely abolished the spasmodic effect of potassium chloride (80 mM).     

The influence of nanosilica on styrene free radical polymerization kinetics

A series of nanocomposites were prepared by in situ polymerization of styrene with different silica content (1, 3, and 5 wt%) with an average particle size of 7 nm. The influence of nanosilica content on the kinetics of styrene free radical bulk polymerization was studied by isothermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) at different temperatures (70, 80, and 90°C). Using appropriate kinetic model, describing two reactions observed during styrene polymerization (the first‐order reaction and autoacceleration), it was found that silica presence does not affect the apparent activation energies of both processes. The adsorption of styrene on the silica surface caused the formation of interfacial layer in the structure of hybrid materials. Using suggested equation, the thickness of the interfacial layer was determined to investigate its influence on the glass transition temperature of polystyrene (T_g), which was found not to be affected by silica addition. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers     

多金属硫化精矿中铜、锌和铁的生物浸出(英文)

利用嗜温混合菌Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans,Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans和Leptospirillum ferrooxidans对低品位复杂Cu-Zn-Pb-Fe-Ag-Au硫化精矿在曝气生物浸出反应器中进行生物浸出。该菌种为从塞尔维亚Bor地下铜矿的酸性溶液中筛选出一种嗜热嗜酸菌。营养液为p H 1.6的9K营养液。87%的矿物粒度大于10μm,矿浆密度为8%(w/v)。在测试条件下,锌、铜和铁的浸出率分别达到89%、83%和68%。动力学分析表明,浸出过程与Spencer-Topley模型相符,受局部反应扩散控制。     

Experimental investigation of pyrolysis process of woody biomass mixture

This paper describes an experimental investigation of pyrolysis of woody biomass mixture. The mixture consists of oak, beech, fir, cherry, walnut and linden wood chips with equal mass fractions. During the experiment, the sample mass inside the reactor was 10 g with a particle diameter of 5-10 mm. The sample in the reactor was heated in the temperature range of 24-650℃. Average sample heating rates in the reactor were 21, 30 and 54 ℃/min. The sample mass before, during and after pyrolysis was determined using a digital scale. Experimental results of the sample mass change indicate that the highest yield of pyrolytic gas was achieved at the temperature slightly above 650℃ and ranged from 77 to 85%, while char yield ranged from 15 to 23%. Heating rate has sig- nificant influence on the pyrolytic gas and char yields. It was determined that higher pyrolysis temperatures and heating rates induce higher yields of pyrolytic gas, while the char mass reduces. Condensation of pyrolytic gas at the end of the pyrolysis process at 650℃ produced 2.4-2.72 g of liquid phase. The results obtained represent a starting basis for determining material and heat balance of pyrolysis process as well as woody biomass pyrolysis equipment.     

Hemocompatibility, swelling and thermal properties of hydrogels based on 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, itaconic acid and poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate

Two series of novel hydrogels, based on 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA), itaconic acid (IA), and two poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylates (PEGDMA), of different ethylene glycol chain lengths, were prepared by free radical crosslinking copolymerization. The influence of different ethylene glycol chain lengths and concentration in P(HEA/IA/PEGDMA) hydrogels on biocompatibility, swelling and thermal properties was investigated. All samples in contact with blood showed a mean hemolysis value <1.0 % in the direct contact assay, and even <0.5 % in the indirect contact assay, for in vitro testing conditions. Swelling studies, conducted in a physiological pH and temperature range, showed pH sensitivity and relatively small changes of equilibrium swelling with temperature, which varied with PEGDMA molecular weight. The glass transition temperatures (T _g) of P(HEA/IA/PEGDMA) networks were in the range 28.1–36.9 °C, respectively, and also dependent on copolymer composition. Due to good biocompatibility, favorable swelling, and thermal properties these hydrogels show good potential for biomedical uses.