Formation of quasi-free and bubble positronium states in water and aqueous solutions

It is shown that in aqueous solutions a positronium atom is first formed in the quasi-free state, and, after 50-100 ps, becomes localized in a nanobubble. Analysis of the annihilation spectra of NaNO3 aqueous solutions shows that the hydrated electron is not involved in the positronium (Ps) formation

Dielectric relaxation of DNA aqueous solutions

We report on a detailed characterization of complex dielectric response of Na-DNA aqueous solutions by means of low-frequency dielectric spectroscopy (40 Hz - 110 MHz). Results reveal two broad relaxation modes of strength 20<\Delta\epsilon_LF<100 and 5<\Delta\epsilon_HF<20, centered at 0.5 kHz<\nu_LF<70 kHz and 0.1 MHz<\nu_HF<15 MHz. The characteristic length scale of the LF process, 50<L_LF<750nm, scales with DNA concentration as c_DNA^{-0.29\pm0.04} and is independent of the ionic strength in the low added salt regime. Conversely, the measured length scale of the LF process does not vary with DNA concentration but depends on the ionic strength of the added salt as I_s^{-1} in the high added salt regime. On the other hand, the characteristic length scale of the HF process, 3<L_HF<50 nm, varyes with DNA concentration as c_DNA^{-0.5} for intermediate and large DNA concentrations. At low DNA concentrations and in the low added salt limit the characteristic length scale of the HF process scales as c_DNA^{-0.33}. We put these results in perspective regarding the integrity of the double stranded form of DNA at low salt conditions as well as regarding the role of different types of counterions in different regimes of dielectric dispersion. We argue that the free DNA counterions are primarily active in the HF relaxation, while the condensed counterions play a role only in the LF relaxation. We also suggest theoretical interpretations for all these length scales in the whole regime of DNA and salt concentrations and discuss their ramifications and limitations.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figure

Supramolecular Complexation of \u3cem\u3eN\u3c/em\u3e-Alkyl- and \u3cem\u3eN\u3c/em\u3e,\u3cem\u3eN\u3c/em\u3e′-Dialkylpiperazines with Cucurbit[6]uril in Aqueous Solution and in the Solid State

Water seeds: Complex stoichiometry/composition and degree of oligomerization (oligomeric supramolecular complex formation) of cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6]) with N-alkyl- and N,N′-dialkylpiperazine were investigated in aqueous solutions by means of isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), ESI-MS, NMR and light scattering measurements. Complex stoichiometry/composition and degree of oligomerization (oligomeric supramolecular complex formation) of cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6]) with N-alkyl- and N,N′-dialkylpiperazine were investigated in aqueous solutions by means of isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), ESI-MS, NMR and light scattering measurements. It was found that the complex stability and the degree of oligomerization increase with elongating the alkyl chain attached to the piperazine core. X-ray crystallographic studies revealed a clear correlation between the structure of CB[6]–alkylpiperazine crystals obtained from aqueous solutions and the molecular weight/properties of host–guest oligomers existed in the solution as supramolecular “seeds” of crystal formation

Dyes adsorption from aqueous solutions by Chitosan

In this study the ability of chitosan to remove acid, basic, reactive and direct dyestuffs by adsorption was studied. The effect of several factors influencing dye adsorption such as dye concentration, grain size, pH and temperature were investigated. Desorption of dyes at different pH was also examined. It was shown that the adsorption capacities of chitosan were comparatively high for acid and direct dyes and that the adsorption was controlled by the acidity of the solution. The kinetics of adsorption were found to be of pseudo second order. Batch isotherm studies showed that adsorption of dyes from aqueous solution by chitosan was described by the Langmuir equation

Adhesion attenuation and enhancement in aqueous solutions

When two surfaces confine water layers between them at the nanoscale, the behaviour of these confined water molecules can deviate significantly from the behaviour of bulk water, and it could reflect on the adhesion of such surfaces. This study assesses the role of confined water layers on the adhesion of hydrophilic surfaces and how sensitive this adhesion is to the presence of contaminants. Our methodology used atomic force microscopy adhesion measurements, whereby an alumina-sputtered sphere-tipped cantilever was interacted versus a flat alumina single crystal. Testing was performed under immersed conditions using (i) water, (ii) water/dimethylformamide mixtures, (iii) water/ethanol mixtures, and (iv) water/formamide mixtures. These solutions were intended to assess the influence of dielectric constant, molecule size, and the number of hydrogen bonding opportunities available to molecules upon confinement between surfaces. It was found that dilute concentrations of ethanol and formamide decreased the adhesion. In contrast, the adhesion increased in the presence of dilute concentrations of dimethylformamide. The adhesion was attenuated by in excess of two orders of magnitude for high concentrations of the organic solutes

Diffusion-viscosity decoupling in supercooled glycerol aqueous solutions

The diffusion of ferrocene methanol in supercooled glycerol-water mixtures has been measured over a wide viscosity range, which allowed analyzing the composition dependence of the Stokes-Einstein breakdown (diffusion-viscosity decoupling). The observed decoupling exhibits a common behavior for all studied compositions (glycerol mass fractions between 0.7 and 0.9), determined by the reduced temperature (T/Tg) of the mixtures. This result differs from that reported previously for the diffusion of glycerol in its aqueous solutions, where the reduced temperature for the decoupling decreases with increasing water content. We conclude that the contradictory results are only apparent, and they can be explained by the use of inconsistent extrapolated values of the viscosity of the glycerol-water mixtures in the supercooled region. (Figure Presented).Fil: Trejo González, José Adolfo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía; ArgentinaFil: Longinotti, María Paula. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía; ArgentinaFil: Corti, Horacio Roberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía; Argentin

Solubility isotope effects in aqueous solutions of methane

The isotope effect on the Henry's law coefficients of methane in aqueous solution (H/D and C-12/C-13 substitution) are interpreted using the statistical mechanical theory of condensed phase isotope effects. The missing spectroscopic data needed for the implementation of the theory were obtained either experimentally (infrared measurements), by computer simulation (molecular dynamics technique), or estimated using the Wilson's GF matrix method. The order of magnitude and sign of both solute isotope effects can be predicted by the theory. Even a crude estimation based on data from previous vapor pressure isotope effect studies of pure methane at low temperature can explain the inverse effect found for the solubility of deuterated methane in water. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics

Electrochemical data. Part 12 - Electrolytic conductivity of aqueous solutions of the sodium halides

Electrolytic conductivity of aqueous solutions of sodium halide

Sonolysis of levodopa and paracetamol in aqueous solutions.

Pharmaceutical products are often present in wastewater treatment effluents, rivers, lakes and, more rarely, in groundwater. The advanced oxidation methods, like ultrasound, find a promising future in the area of wastewater treatment. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the influence of several parameters of the ultrasound process on the degradation of paracetamol, a widely used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory recalcitrant drug found in water and levodopa, the most frequently prescribed drug for the treatment of Parkinson disease. Experiments were carried out at 574, 860 and 1134 kHz of ultrasonic frequency with horn-type sonicator and actual power values of 9, 17, 22 and 32 W at 20 °C. Initial concentrations of 25, 50, 100 and 150 mg L−1 of both products were used. Treatment efficiency was assessed following changes in pharmaceuticals concentration and chemical oxygen demand. The sonochemical degradation of both products follows a pseudo-first-order reaction kinetics. Complete removal of pharmaceuticals was achieved in some cases but some dissolved organic carbon remains in solution showing that long lived intermediates were recalcitrant to ultrasound irradiation. Pollutants conversion and COD removal were found to decrease with increasing the initial solute concentration and decreasing power. The best results were obtained with 574 kHz frequency. Investigations using 1-butanol as radical scavenger and H2O2 as promoter revealed that pollutants degradation proceeds principally through radical reactions, although some differences were observed between both molecules. Addition of H2O2 had a positive effect on degradation rate, but the optimum concentration of hydrogen peroxide depends on the pollutant