Synthesis of cationic flocculants by the inverse microemulsion copolymerization of acrylamide with 60% 2‐acryloxyethyltrimethyl ammonium chloride in the monomer feed. II. Influence of the formulation composition,hydrophilic‐lipophilic balance,starting polymerization temperature,and reaction time

Acrylamide/2‐acryloxyethyltrimethylammonium chloride copolymers in inverse microemulsions, with 60% 2‐acryloxyethyltrimethyl ammonium chloride in the monomer feed and a concentration of active matter of 30% (w/w) as flocculants, were obtained by inverse microemulsion copolymerization. Inverse microemulsion formulations of comonomers, interesting from both technical and economical viewpoints, were polymerized by semicontinuous free‐radical copolymerization with sodium disulfite as the initiator. The influence of the formulation composition, hydrophilic‐lipophilic balance (HLB), starting polymerization temperature, and reaction time on the polymerization and final properties of the products as flocculants was studied. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103:186–197, 2007     

Identification of the origin of commercial enological tannins by the analysis of monosaccharides and polyalcohols

The monosaccharide and polyalcohol composition of 28-samples of different commercial tannins, including oak wood, grape seed and skin, plant gall, chestnut, quebracho and gambier, has been evaluated by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry after derivatization into their trimethylsilyl ethers. Quercitol was found to be characteristic of oak tannins, whereas gall plant tannins could be differentiated by their content of pinitol. Myo-inositol and arabitol were detected in tannins from quebracho. These polyalcohols, together with muco-inositol and chiro-inositol, were found in tannins from chestnut while bornesitol was found to be characteristic of tannins from gambier. Monosaccharide composition also helped to distinguish among tannin origins: arabinose, xylose, fructose and glucose were quantified in oak, quebracho and chestnut tannins, whereas only fructose and glucose were detected in plant gall and grape tannins. These results imply that the qualitative study of monosaccharides and polyalcohols could help to determine and control the authenticity of enological tannins.     

Photovoltaic potential induced by 10 μm laser radiation in Siphotodiodes

Photon drag and photovoltaic response observed in p⁺/n and n⁺/p silicon junctions excited by moderated-power-density 10-μm radiation are discussed. A multistep multiphotonic process through intermediate states located within the energy gap is proposed as the mechanism responsible for the photovoltaic potential     

Incorporation of Galvanic Waste (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb) in a Soda–Lime–Borosilicate Glass

In the present investigation, a glassing process for galvanic waste (GW) incorporation with a high chemical stability is presented. Glasses with up to 50 wt% of galvanic solid waste by modifications in the basic composition of soda–lime–borosilicate glasses were prepared. After fusing at temperatures up to 1300°C, the glasses were characterized by inductively coupled plasma, scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, high-temperature microscopy, transmission and reflected light microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction methods. The chemical stability was evaluated by hydrolytic attack assays. Glasses containing up to 40 wt% of GW with a very high chemical stability, similar to bottle glasses, were obtained.     

Development of enzyme biosensor based on trypsin and conductometric thin-film electrodes for protein and artificial substrates determination

ULTRA was established on the 1st April 1990, to consider applications made by registered medical practitioners seeking approval to transplant an organ between 2 living unrelated persons in the United Kingdom.     

Image representation by sign information

Image representation by sign data in its most general context is considered for the case when f is a two-dimensional signal. The authors study conditions under which f is determined by its sign or, in other words, by its quantization to 1 bit of information. This study is carried out in two different directions. First, theoretical results are presented that set an algebraic condition under which real zero-crossings uniquely specify a band-limited image. An interesting paradigm arising in theoretical computer vision is then posed: are the zero-crossing of f convolved with a Laplacian-of-a-Gaussian at a single channel enough for unambiguously representing f? Second, the problem of the completeness of the representation when the position of the zero-crossings is known only approximately is addressed. It is shown that when sign(f) is sampled, significant ambiguities are introduced in the representation. Experimental results are presented which were obtained from an iterative algorithm devised to reconstruct real images from multiscale sign information     

Theoretical considerations on the adsorption isotherm for ionic systems at electrode interphases

The Guggenheim model of the interphase has been used to study ionic adsorption at electrode interphases from constant ionic strength solutions. Starting with an experimental adsorption isotherm, we deduce the electric equation of state and this equation can help to know what kind of systems respond to the adsorption isotherm. Interphase electrochemical potentials are also obtianed and the stardard state guage is comented. Results can be transferred to understand some trends of ionic adsorption at varying ionic strength solutions.     

PM10 speciation and determination of air quality target levels. A case study in a highly industrialized area of Spain

The paper shows how PM speciation studies allow the evaluation of the strategies to be followed to diminish PM pollution in highly industrialized areas with a large number of potential pollution sources. Evolution of levels and speciation of PM10 in the ceramic producing area of Castelló (East Spain) was studied from April 2002 until December 2005. PM10 levels were measured at one rural (Borriana-rural), two suburban (Almassora and Onda) and three urban (Borriana-urban, L'Alcora and Vila-real) sites, all influenced by the ceramics industry. Average PM10 levels varied between 27 and 36 microg/m3 for the study period. Evaluation of 1996-2005 PM data from Onda shows a clear decrease of PM levels since the beginning of 2002. Summer peak levels and winter minima occurred at both rural and suburban sites, whereas urban sites had no clear seasonal trend, with high PM10 episodes being due variously to local, regional, and African dust intrusion events. PM10 chemical analysis at four of the sites showed the dominant constituent to be mineral matter, exceeding by 5-12 microg/m3 the usual ranges of annual mineral loadings in PM10 at comparable Spanish urban or regional background sites with no industrial influence. Given current PM10 loadings, we recommend a lowering target of 3-5 microg/m3 of the annual mean at the urban sites, which should be achievable given available emission abatement techniques.     

Antibacterial activity of Lactobacillus sake isolated from dry fermented sausages

Lactic acid bacteria isolated from Spanish dry fermented sausages were screened for antagonistic activities under conditions that eliminated the effects of low pH and hydrogen peroxide. From 720 isolates tested 119 were inhibitory to Lactobacillus fermentum CECT285. The isolates showing the largest inhibitory activity exhibited an antagonistic effect against several other lactobacilli and the selected foodborne pathogens Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes. Comparison of the antimicrobial spectra of the supernatants suggested that the inhibitory compounds were not identical. The isolates were tentatively characterized as Lactobacillus sake. One of the isolates, L. sake 148 was chosen for further study. The compound excreted by L. sake 148 was active against various lactobacilli and several Gram-positive foodborne bacteria, but not against the Gram-negative bacteria tested. The antagonistic effects were almost eliminated by treatment with proteases, whereas they were heat resistant and bacteriostatic rather than bacteriocidal.