Separation of Indium from Acid Sulfate-Containing Solutions by Ion Exchange with Impregnated Resins

Indium separation using ion exchange resins from acidic polymetallic and very diluted solutions are investigated. Since the selectivity of commercial ion exchange resins have proven to be too low for an effective separation from solutions with high content of other metals, Lewatit® TP 208 was impregnated with common extractants to enhance its properties. By resin impregnation with D2EHPA and Cyanex 272, not only the selective indium recovery was reached but also the resin capacity was increased approx. two times. The best loading and elution performance were shown by Cyanex 272-impregnated Lewatit® TP 208, increasing the indium purity in the eluate from 0.75 % to 85 %.     

Temperature‐Dependent Exciton and Trap‐Related Photoluminescence of CdTe Quantum Dots Embedded in a NaCl Matrix: Implication in Thermometry

Temperature‐dependent optical studies of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are fundamentally important for a variety of sensing and imaging applications. The steady‐state and time‐resolved photoluminescence properties of CdTe QDs in the size range from 2.3 to 3.1 nm embedded into a protective matrix of NaCl are studied as a function of temperature from 80 to 360 K. The temperature coefficient is found to be strongly dependent on QD size, with the highest sensitivity obtained for the smallest size of QDs. The emission from solid‐state CdTe QD‐based powders is maintained with high color purity over a wide range of temperatures. Photoluminescence lifetime data suggest that temperature dependence of the intrinsic radiative lifetime in CdTe QDs is rather weak, and it is mostly the temperature‐dependent nonradiative decay of CdTe QDs which is responsible for the thermal quenching of photoluminescence intensity. By virtue of the temperature‐dependent photoluminescence behavior, high color purity, photostability, and high photoluminescence quantum yield (26%–37% in the solid state), CdTe QDs embedded in NaCl matrices are useful solid‐state probes for thermal imaging and sensing over a wide range of temperatures within a number of detection schemes and outstanding sensitivity, such as luminescence thermochromic imaging, ratiometric luminescence, and luminescence lifetime thermal sensing.     

Flüssig/Flüssig‐Extraktion von Indium aus sauren Lösungen

The extraction of indium from a synthetic sulfate‐containing solution using commercial reagents (Cyanex 272, DEHPA, and Cyanex 923) is evaluated on a comparative basis. The extraction profiles of indium (III) were examined with regard to the reagent concentration, the pH value of the aqueous solution, and the indium concentration in a low phase ratio of 1:10. DEHPA and Cyanex 272 are, in contrast to Cyanex 923, very well suited for the extraction of indium. Re‐extraction with HCl and H₂SO₄ is compared.     

Failure Resistance of the Historic Stone Bridge Structure of Charles Bridge. I: Susceptibility to Nonstress Effects

The monitoring of deformations of the stone structure of Charles Bridge in Prague proved the gravity and relevance of nonstress effects (temperature, moisture content) on cyclic deformations and permanent strain accompanied by a gradual disintegration of its stone masonry, growing tilt of the breast walls, and development of cracks in the masonry of the stone bridge structure. Each deformation cycle is accompanied by a gradual growth in permanent deformations. The “unmanifested” primary deformation due to, e.g., a temperature change causes a mechanical state of tension, and it is mainly the tensile stresses thus arising that contribute to the development of tensile cracks in the stone masonry.     

Comprehensive study on surfactant role on silver nanoparticles (NPs) prepared via modified Tollens process

Surfactants represent not only commonly used wetting agents but also substances that can be used as growth modifiers in the process of solid nanoparticle (NP) preparation. In this study we report influential character of different types of surfactants – i.e. ionic (SDS, CTAC) and non-ionic (Tween 80) – on fundamental characteristics of silver NPs, which were prepared by a modified Tollens process. The influential character of surfactants was evaluated throughout a reasonable improvement of the polydispersity (in the case of the tested non-ionic surfactants from 8.5% even down to 2.5%) and in the case of ionic surfactant, SDS and CTAC, also significant change of zeta potential (from −20 to −50 mV for the highest tested concentration of SDS). A slight influence of the tested surfactants was observed on the sizes of the prepared silver NPs. Therefore the obtained results from the performed surfactant-assisted syntheses revealed a possibility how to tailor silver NPs by means of their polydispersity and zeta potential according to the application demands.     

Determination of compounding formulation of cured rubber by reverse engineering

The present work deals with reverse engineering on four rubber formulations. Information about the material composition of the compounding formulations was obtained by using techniques such as acetone extract, thermogravimetric analysis, energy dispersive X‐ray fluorescence studies, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy in attenuated total reflection mode. The reverse engineered formulations were compared on a qualitative and quantitative basis with the initial formulations. The aim was to ascertain the validity of the methodology, which may be used as reverse engineering of rubber compounds to quantitatively analyze unknown ground tire rubber in future. The state of the art was based on a fractional mass transfer from acetone extract to the rubbers detected in TGA. Through this new approach, the formulations calculated were very consistent with the formulations employed, thus establishing the validity of the methodology used. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:1450–1458, 2015. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Efficient Metal‐Free Aerobic Photooxidation of Sulfides to Sulfoxides Mediated by a Vitamin B2 Derivative and Visible Light

We have developed a metal‐free process for the aerobic photooxygenation of sulfides to sulfoxides mediated by riboflavin tetraacetate or riboflavin (vitamin B₂) photocatalysts and visible light (450 nm) in an acetonitrile‐water (85:15 v/v) mixture. The optimised solvent system leads to both singlet‐oxygen and electron‐transfer pathways in photooxygenation, thus allowing oxidation of electron‐poor and electron‐rich thioanisoles, dialkyl sulfides and sterically hindered sulfides. Besides having a broad substrate scope, the method has very short reaction times and requires low catalyst loading (down to 0.1 mol%). These properties are due to the high photocatalyst stability and the extremely high quantum yields (1.3 for thioanisole oxygenation). Moreover, the method is chemoselective, producing only sulfoxides without overoxidation to sulfones. Taking into account the broad substrate scope, high selectivity and high efficiency, this method distinguishes itself from those previously reported. Other advantages include easy work‐up of the reaction mixture, the availability and biodegradability of the photocatalysts and mild reaction conditions. We demonstrated, on a preparative scale, its practical application in the synthesis of the psychostimulant modafinil, in the selective oxidation of methionine derivatives, and in the detoxification of mustard gas.

     

Magnetically Controllable Silver Nanocomposite with Multifunctional Phosphotriazine Matrix and High Antimicrobial Activity

A recently developed multi‐functional phosphotriazine‐based polymer is used as a matrix for embedding γ‐Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles as well as a suitable chemical template for surface modification with silver nanoparticles. For the primary magnetic modification, maghemite nanoparticles are surface modified with oleic acid in order to render them organophilic and to prevent the aggregation of the nanoparticles. This aggregation could occur as the polymer synthesis, based on reaction of phosphonitrilic chlorine and 1,4‐phenylenediamine, takes place in toluene. The surface active amine units of the polymer structure enable the reduction of silver cations to silver nanoparticles, which are well attached and finely dispersed on its surface. The developed nanocomposite represents one of the few magnetically controllable antibacterial agents based on silver nanoparticles. Magnetic measurements reveal the completely suppressed interactions among maghemite nanoparticles because of their perfect surface coating with an organic surfactant and fine dispersion inside the polymer matrix. This magnetic nanocomposite exhibits a high antibacterial and antifungal activity as proven by tests with nine bacterial strains and four candida (yeast genus) species. For the majority of the tested species, the minimum‐inhibition concentrations are below 100 mg L^?1, which is comparable to their equivalent minimum‐inhibition concentrations in colloidal silver systems.