Recycling of e-waste power cables using microwave-induced pyrolysis - process characteristics and facile recovery of copper metal.

This article reports on recycling e-wastes using a VVF power cable as a model through a rapid pyrolytic process following exposure to microwave radiation. This occurred three possible pathways: (i) discharges at the copper wire on exposure to microwaves, with heat produced causing the thermal decomposition of the covering material - a relationship exists between the length of the copper wire and the wavelength of the microwaves; (ii) microwave heating softened the wire's covering material and ultimately led to its decomposition - in addition, the coating material carbonized by the discharge is rapidly heated by microwaves; (iii) the carbonaceous component present in the covering material absorbed the microwaves, causing the thermal decomposition. On the other hand, for VVF cables longer than 12 cm canceled the wavelength-dependent process, and the longer the VVF cable was, the more efficient was the microwave-induced pyrolysis, therefore eliminating the need to pre-cut the waste VVF cable into smaller pieces.

Isotope-dilution LC-MS/MS analysis of the elastin crosslinkers desmosine and isodesmosine in acute cerebral stroke patients.

Utilizing chemically synthesized an isotopically labeled internal standard, isodesmosine-C,N, an isotope-dilution LC-MS/MS method was established. Concentrations of desmosine and isodesmosine in plasma of acute cerebral stroke patients and healthy controls were determined. The concentration of desmosines was markedly higher in plasma from acute stroke patients compared with healthy controls.

The effect of inosine on the spectroscopic properties and crystal structure of a NIR-emitting DNA-stabilized silver nanocluster.

The effect of replacing guanosines with inosines in the two stabilizing strands (5'-CACCTAGCGA-3') of the NIR emissive DNA-AgNC was investigated. The spectroscopic behavior of the inosine mutants is position-dependent: when the guanosine in position 7 was exchanged, the nanosecond fluorescence decay time shortened, while having the inosine in position 9 made the decay time longer. Thanks to structural information gained from single crystal X-ray diffraction measurements, it was possible to propose a mechanistic origin for the observed changes.

A simple supramolecular complex of boronic acid-appended β-cyclodextrin and a fluorescent boronic acid-based probe with excellent selectivity for d-glucose in water.

Various diboronic acid-based chemosensors for d-glucose have been developed for use in diabetes diagnostic systems. However, most of these chemosensors have limitations, such as poor water solubility, difficulties in synthesis, and inability to selectively detect d-glucose from among other saccharides. We report a simple chemosensor based on a supramolecular complex of fluorophenylboronic acid-appended β-cyclodextrin (FPB-βCyD) and an anthracene-based probe having a boronic acid moiety (1).

Microwave-driven hydrogen production (MDHP) from water and activated carbons (ACs). Application to wastewaters and seawater.

This article reports on low-temperature steam reforming and water-gas shift processes to generate hydrogen efficiently when water is passed through microwave-heated activated carbon (AC) particulates, in contrast to conventional steam reforming that is not particularly efficient at temperatures around 600 °C. The microwave-driven method performed efficiently at this temperature producing hydrogen with yields of 70% or more, as a result of the microscopic local microwave heating of the AC particulates. To the extent that the activated carbon is produced from plant biomass-related raw materials, the carbon dioxide produced is carbon neutral.

N-C bond formation between two anilines coordinated to a ruthenium center in -form affording a 3,5-cyclohexadiene-1,2-diimine moiety.

Ruthenium complexes containing two anilines or its derivatives, -[Ru(NHCH)(bpy)] ([1]) and -[Ru(NHCH(4-CH))(bpy)] ([2]), were oxidized by four molar equivalents of (NH)[Ce(SO)]·2HO to give -phenylcyclohexa-3,5-diene-1,2-diimineruthenium(ii) complexes, -[Ru(HCH CH)(bpy)] ([4]) and -[Ru(HCH(4-CH)CH(4-CH))(bpy)] ([5]), respectively, through an N-C bond formation between two aniline ligands -coordinated to the ruthenium center.

Ratiometric fluorescence sensing of d-allulose using an inclusion complex of γ-cyclodextrin with a benzoxaborole-based probe.

Because d-allulose has been attracting attention as a zero-calorie sugar, the selective sensing of d-allulose is desired to investigate its health benefits. We report herein a novel fluorescence chemosensor that is based on an inclusion complex of γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CyD) with a benzoxaborole-based probe. Two inclusion complexes, 1/γCyD and 2/γCyD, were prepared by mixing γ-CyD with their corresponding probes in a water-rich solvent, where γ-CyD encapsulates two molecules of the probes inside its cavity to form a pyrene dimer.

A novel green chemistry gelation method for polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and dimethylpolysiloxane (silicone): microwave-induced in-liquid-plasma.

The focus of this article rests on our discovery that a water-soluble polymer could be cross-linked to form a gel using a novel Green Chemistry gelation method: the microwave-induced in-liquid-plasma (MILP) method that requires neither a cross-linking agent nor an initiator as are required in the conventional chemical method. For instance, the water-soluble polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) polymer was gelled by MILP plasma irradiation within a few minutes without using toxic cross-linking agents and initiators. As well, the hydrophobic dimethylpolysiloxane macromolecule was dispersed in aqueous media to a colloidal sol, which could then also be easily gelled under MILP irradiation conditions within a few minutes, in comparison to the conventional method that often requires several hours to days for gelation to occur in the presence of cross-linking agents and initiators.

Trends in happy life expectancy in Russia, 1994-2015.

Although the physical health status of the Russian population has improved over time, limited attention has been paid to the role of subjective well-being (SWB), and even less is known about its relationship with objective health conditions. Using the concept of health expectancy, this study estimates the number of years expected to be satisfied with life (happy life expectancy [LE]) for Russian men and women aged 50 years and older between 1994 and 2015. Data on age-specific prevalence rates of life satisfaction were obtained from the Russian Longitudinal Study of Higher School of Economics (RLMS-HSE), and the life tables were from the Human Life Table Database.

Role of alkan-1-ol solvents in the synthesis of yellow luminescent carbon quantum dots (CQDs): van der Waals force-caused aggregation and agglomeration.

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs; luminescent carbon nanoparticles, size < 10 nm) have attracted much attention with respect to their eco-friendliness and multi-functionality. The solvent-dependent photoluminescence of CQDs has been well investigated to optimize the synthesis process and homogeneous dispersion. Although some alkan-1-ol solvents, such as ethanol, have been well utilized empirically as good solvents when synthesizing highly photoluminescent CQDs, the role of alkan-1-ol solvents, particularly long-chain alkan-1-ols (, 1-nonanol, 1-decanol), has not yet been clarified.

Synthesis and investigation of sulfonated poly(-phenylene)-based ionomers with precisely controlled ion exchange capacity for use as polymer electrolyte membranes.

To achieve precise control of sulfonated polymer structures, a series of poly(-phenylene)-based ionomers with well-controlled ion exchange capacities (IECs) were synthesised a three-step technique: (1) preceding sulfonation of the monomer with a protecting group, (2) nickel(0) catalysed coupling polymerisation, and (3) cleavage of the protecting group of the polymers. 2,2-Dimethylpropyl-4-[4-(2,5-dichlorobenzoyl)phenoxy]benzenesulfonate (NS-DPBP) was synthesised as the preceding sulfonated monomer by treatment with chlorosulfuric acid and neopentyl alcohol. NS-DPBP was readily soluble in various organic solvents and stable during the nickel(0) catalysed coupling reaction.

Development of a novel cellulose solvent based on pyrrolidinium hydroxide and reliable solubility analysis.

Cellulose processing remains a challenge as it is insoluble in water and common organic solvents. Ionic liquids (ILs) are organic salts with a melting point below 100 °C and are known for their excellent solvent properties. Unlike common organic solvents, which can form toxic or flammable vapours due to their high volatility, ILs can be considered as more environmentally friendly due to their negligible vapour pressure and flame retardant properties.

Crystal structure of a DNA duplex cross-linked by 6-thioguanine-6-thioguanine disulfides: reversible formation and cleavage catalyzed by Cu(ii) ions and glutathione.

Herein, we determined the crystal structure of a DNA duplex containing consecutive 6-thioguanine-6-thioguanine disulfides. The disulfide bonds were reversibly formed and cleaved in the presence of Cu(ii) ions and glutathione. To our knowledge, this is the first reaction in which metal ions efficiently accelerated disulfide bond formation between thio-bases in duplexes.

Brønsted acidic ionic liquids for cellulose hydrolysis in an aqueous medium: structural effects on acidity and glucose yield.

The conversion of cellulose into valuable chemicals has attracted much attention, due to the concern about depletion of fossil fuels. The hydrolysis of cellulose is a key step in this conversion, for which Brønsted acidic ionic liquids (BAILs) have been considered promising acid catalysts. In this study, using BAILs with various structures, their acidic catalytic activity for cellulose hydrolysis assisted by microwave irradiation was assessed using the Hammett acidity function ( ) and theoretical calculations.

Nucleotide sequence of phospholipase A(2) gene expressed in snake pancreas reveals the molecular evolution of toxic phospholipase A(2) genes.

We have cloned two phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) DNA complementary to RNA that contained nucleotide sequences encoding pancreas loop by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction cloning procedure using messenger RNA isolated from Laticauda semifasciata pancreas. Additionally, a gene clone encoding PLA(2) with the pancreatic loop sequence was isolated from a L. semifasciata genomic library.