The wet synthesis and quantification of ligand-free sub-nanometric Au clusters in solid matrices.

© The Royal Society of Chemistry. The synthesis of ligand-free sub-nanometric metal clusters on a large scale suffers typically from very low yields (15% yields, as unambiguously determined using a very simple and extremely sensitive analytical reaction test.

A comparative study on Kθ evaluation from [η]-M data in single and mixed solvents through various excluded volume theories

Abstract By allowing for the dependence of B on molecular weight, through its relationship with A2, modified Flory-Fox-Schaefgen, Kurata-Stockmayer-Roig, Berry and Inagaki-Suzuki-Kurata equations are obtained, relating [η] to A2 and to Kθ. Through these equations, Kθ can be determined from data sets for [η]-A2. Because of the scarcity of these data sets, A2 values have been calculated from experimental data for [η] and trial Kθ values through two parameter theories, namely, through the Flory-Krigbaum-Orofino theory for Ψ. Iterative processes were followed until coincidence was obtained between trial Kθ values and those evaluated from the modified excluded volume equations. The method has be…

A procedure for predicting sorption equilibrium in ternary polymer systems from Flory–Huggins binary interaction parameters and the inversion point of preferential solvation

A procedure has been developed, based on the Flory–Huggins theory as generalized by Pouchlý, which permits the calculation of preferential (λ) and total (Y) sorption coefficients from previous information on the binary interaction parameters, χ, χ, and g12(ϕ10) and on the mixture composition at which the sign of λ inverts. The expressions obtained were applied to 10 cosolvent polymer systems for which experimental values of λ and Y are known. Practically in all the studied systems, the theoretical predictions are in fair accordance with the experimental data.

A Flory–Huggins thermodynamic approach for predicting sorption equilibrium in ternary polymer systems

The Flory–Huggins theory as modified by Pouchlý has been applied to calculate preferential (λ) and total (Y) sorption coefficients for a ternary polymer system. The ternary interaction function (ϕ1ϕ2ϕ3GT(u1, ϕ3)) is described as the product of three independent binary functions. This expression allows prediction of λ and Y from binary interaction parameters χ, χ, g, g, and g12(ϕ10). Three ternary polymer systems are used to check the validity of the expression. Moreover for polymer systems in which the parameters g and/or g are unknown, a procedure to evaluate them has been developed and verified on systems for which sufficient experimental information is available.

Exploiting the Redox Activity of MIL-100(Fe) Carrier Enables Prolonged Carvacrol Antimicrobial Activity

The design of efficient food contact materials that maintain optimal levels of food safety is of paramount relevance to reduce the increasing number of foodborne illnesses. In this work, we develop a smart composite metal-organic framework (MOF)-based material that fosters a unique prolonged antibacterial activity. The composite is obtained by entrapping a natural food preserving molecule, carvacrol, into a mesoporous MIL-100(Fe) material following a direct and biocompatible impregnation method, and obtaining particularly high payloads. By exploiting the intrinsic redox nature of the MIL-100(Fe) material, it is possible to achieve a prolonged activity against Escherichia coli and Listeria i…

Taking into account the dependency on molar mass of the viscometric interaction parameter B, the modified Stockmayer-Fixman-Burchard equation ([η]/M1/2) = KΘ + C″ · A2 · M1/2 is obtained. It relates the intrinsic viscosity, [η], to the second virial coefficient, A2, and to the unperturbed dimensions parameter, KΘ, with C″ being a constant. Hereupon, KΘ can be determined from [η] and A2 data of any binary (solvent/polymer) and/or ternary (solvent 1/solvent 2/polymer) system, BPS and/or TPS. Because of the scarcity of reliable sets of [η] and A2 values mostly for TPS, the application of the above equation to obtain KΘ coefficients rests limited. This limitation can be surmounted by an A2 eval…

Intrinsic viscosities, [η], second virial coefficients, A2, and interaction potentials, g12, for the ternary systems alcohol (1)/3-heptanone (2)/poly(1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (3), with the unbranched alcohols methanol, ethanol and 1-propanol, were determined at 25°C. Taking into account the dependence of the viscometric interaction parameter, B, with the molecular weight of the polymer, the unperturbed dimensions parameter, KΘ, of the polymer was unambiguously obtained. Relationships between ΔKΘ (defined as ΔKΘ = ΔK − KΘ) and excess Gibbs energies, GE, and between excess viscosity, Δ[η], and GE allow to obtain equations relating A2 to ΔKΘ or to Δ[η]. Therefore, A2 can be evaluated from experi…

Effect of high levels of CO 2 on the electrochemical behavior and the enzymatic and non‐enzymatic antioxidant systems in black and white table grapes stored at 0 °C

[Bakghround]: In this study, we analyzed the effect of the application of high levels of CO2 (20 kPa CO2  + 20 kPa O2  + 60 kPa N2 ) for 3 days at low temperature on a white table-grape cultivar (Superior Seedless) in comparison with a black one (cv. Autumn Royal) in terms of quality parameters. We also used a solid-state voltammetry methodology to analyze the effect of the 3-day gaseous treatment in berry tissues from both cultivars in the first stage of storage. We determined the role of the non-enzymatic (total phenols, total anthocyanins, and antioxidant activity) and the enzymatic antioxidant (catalase (GCAT), ascorbate peroxidase (VcAPX) gene expression) systems in the behaviors of bo…

Deviations in the determination of the unperturbed dimensions of polymers arising in ternary polymer systems (solvent (1)/solvent (2)/polymer) can be explained by the inaccurate use of an interaction parameter independent of polymer molecular weight. On this basis, a new formalism for the calculation of the second virial coefficient from intrinsic viscosity is proposed. This formalism was tested (and compared with well established formalisms) for all ternary polymer systems with simultaneous intrinsic viscosity and second virial coefficient data in the literature.

The unperturbed dimensions parameter KΘ is one of the most important characteristics of a polymer chain. For binary systems (polymer/solvent) and mostly for ternary systems (polymer/solvent(1)/solvent(2)) the KΘ values show large discrepancies with respect to those under thetaconditions in a single solvent. These discrepancies can be explained by considering that the interaction parameter χ (and consequently the coil dimensions or the number of intramolecular contacts between polymer segments) changes with molecular weight M. Assuming this dependency, a modified Stockmayer-Fixman equation is proposed from which a unique value of KΘ for a given polymer, independent of M, is obtained. The use…

Machine learning approach for predicting Fusarium culmorum and F. proliferatum growth and mycotoxin production in treatments with ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer films containing pure components of essential oils

Fusarium culmorum and F. proliferatum can grow and produce, respectively, zearalenone (ZEA) and fumonisins (FUM) in different points of the food chain. Application of antifungal chemicals to control these fungi and mycotoxins increases the risk of toxic residues in foods and feeds, and induces fungal resistances. In this study, a new and multidisciplinary approach based on the use of bioactive ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) films containing pure components of essential oils (EOCs) and machine learning (ML) methods is evaluated. Bioactive EVOH-EOC films were made incorporating cinnamaldehyde (CINHO), citral (CIT), isoeugenol (IEG) or linalool (LIN). Several ML methods (neural networ…

Exploiting redox activity of MIL-100(Fe) carrier enables carvacrol prolonged antimicrobial activity

The design of efficient food contact materials that maintain optimal levels of food safety is of paramount relevance to reduce the increasing foodborne illnesses. In this work, we develop a smart composite MOF-based material that fosters a unique prolonged antibacterial activity. The composite is obtained by entrapping a natural preserving food molecule, carvacrol, into the mesoporous MIL-100(Fe) material following a direct and biocompatible impregnation method and obtaining particularly high payloads. By exploiting the intrinsic redox nature of MIL-100(Fe) material it is possible to achieve a prolonged activity against E. coli bacteria due to a triggered two-step carvacrol release of films…

Photoactivated chlorophyllin-based gelatin films and coatings to prevent microbial contamination of food products

[EN] The aim of this work was to develop antimicrobial photosensitizer-containing edible films and coatings based on gelatin as the polymer matrix. incorporating sodium magnesium chlorophyllin (E-140) and sodium copper chlorophyllin (E-141). Chlorophyllins were incorporated into the gelatin film-forming solution and the inhibiting effect of the cast films was tested against Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes. The results demonstrated that water soluble sodium magnesium chlorophyllin and water soluble sodium copper chlorophyllin reduced the growth of S. aureus and L monocytogenes by 5 log and 4 log respectively. Subsequently, the activity of self-standing films and coatings con…

The intrinsic viscosities, [η], for the ternary systems alkane (1)/2-butanone (2)/poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)(3), with the alkanes decane, dodecane and hexadecane, are determined at 20,0°C. The constants a of the Mark-Houwink equation and the constant of the unperturbed dimensions, KΘ, of the polymer are evaluated over the whole composition range of the binary solvent mixture. [η] shows a pronounced maximum at intermediate compositions as found in cosolvent mixtures. In these cosolvent mixtures, the numerical values of KΘ are higher than in the single-component solvents, because the cosolvent mixtures correspond to a mixed solvent with an excess free energy, GE ≥ 0, the increase in KΘ bei…