Internal standardization combined with dilute-and-shoot preparation of distilled alcoholic beverages for Cu determination by high-resolution continuum source flame atomic absorption spectrometry

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

External polyacrylate-coating as alternative material for preparation of photopolymerized sol-gel monolithic column

Photopolymerized sol-gel monolithic columns for use in capillary electrochromatography were prepared in 125 mu m i.d. polyacrylate-coated fused-silica capillaries. The polyacrylate-coating, unlike the polyimide one, is transparent to the radiation used (approximate to 370 nm), and thus, no coating removal is necessary. This is a very important particularity since intrinsic capillary column characteristics, such as flexibility and mechanical resistance, are unchanged. A mixture containing metacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS) as the polymeric precursor, hydrochloric acid as the catalyst, toluene as the porogen and bis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)-phenylphosphine oxide (Irgacure 819) as the photoinitiator was irradiated at 370 nm for 20 min inside the capillaries to prepare the columns through sol-gel approach. The versatility and viability of the use of polyacrilate as a new capillary external coating were shown through preparation of two columns under different conditions, which were tested in electrochromatography for separation of standard mixture containing thiourea (marker compound), propylbenzene, phenanthrene and pyrene. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Preparation of silica with controlled pore sizes for enzyme immobilization

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Preparation of SnO2 supported membranes with ultrafine pores

The colloidal route of the sol-gel process was used to prepare supported SnO2 membranes. The influence of the sol and monoelectrolyte concentrations on the formation of the gel layer by sol-casting on the top of macroporous alpha-Al2O3 support was described. The stability of the colloidal suspension as a function of the concentrations was analyzed from creep-recovery measurements. The calcined supported membranes were characterized by nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms and scanning electron microscopy. The set of results show that homogeneous membrane layers containing the smallest quantity of cracks are formed in a critical interval of sol (1.01 less than or equal to[SnO2]less than or equal to 1.4 M) and electrolyte (2.O less than or equal to[Cl-]less than or equal to 4.0 mM) concentrations. The samples prepared from concentrated suspensions present a lot of interconnected cracks which favors the peeling of the coated layer. The membranes have pores of average diameter of about 1 nm.

An infection control protocol: effectiveness of immersion solutions to reduce the microbial growth on dental prostheses

This investigation evaluated the effectiveness of an infection control protocol for cleansing and disinfecting removable dental prostheses. Sixty-four dentures were rubbed with sterile cotton swab immediately after they had been taken from patients' mouths. Samples were individually placed in the culture medium and immediately incubated at 37 +/- 2 degreesC. The dentures were scrubbed for 1 min with 4% chlorhexidine, rinsed for 1 min in sterile water and placed for 10 min in one of the following immersion solutions: 4% chlorhexidine gluconate, 1% sodium hypochlorite, Biocide (iodophors) and Amosan (alkaline peroxide). After the disinfection procedures, the dentures were immersed in sterile water for 3 min, reswabbed and the samples were incubated. All samples obtained in the initial culture were contaminated with micro-organisms. All the lower dentures immersed in Biocide showed positive growth, and the upper dentures were positive for growth in six of eight dentures. The 4% chlorhexidine gluconate, 1% sodium hypochlorite and Amosan solutions have been proved effective to reduce the growth of the micro-organisms in the 10 min immersion period. The protocol evaluated in this study seems to be a viable method to prevent cross-contamination between dental personnel and patients.

Preparation of composite retentive areas for removable partial denture retainers

A method is presented in which light-polymerized composite material is used to obtain retention for a removable partial denture when usable natural tooth undercuts are unavailable. The desired contour is waxed on a diagnostic cast with the use of a surveyor, captured in a light-polymerizing temporary restorative material, and reproduced in composite resin on the abutment teeth.

Cytotoxic effects of cleansing solutions recommended for chemical lavage of pulp exposures

Purpose: To evaluate the in vitro cytotoxic effects of three cleansing solutions used for chemical lavage of pulp exposures. Materials and Methods: the immortalized odontoblast cell line (MDPC-23) was plated (30,000 cells/cm(2)) and incubated for 72 hrs in 24-well dishes. After counting the cell number under inverted light microscopy, 20 mul of the experimental and control solutions were added to 980 mul of fresh culture medium. Then, hydrogen peroxide (3%, H2O2), sodium hypochlorite (6%, NaOCl) or calcium hydroxide-saline solution (5g of Ca(OH)(2) in 10 mi of sterile distilled water) were added to wells for experimental Groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The positive and negative control groups received Syntac Sprint bonding agent (SS) and phosphate buffered saline (PBS), respectively. Following incubation for 120 min the cell number was counted again, the cell morphology was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the cell metabolism was determined by the methyltetrazolium (MTT) assay. The scores obtained from cell counting and MTT assay were analyzed with an ANOVA followed by Fisher's PLSD tests. Results: H2O2 NaOCl solutions, and SS bonding agent were more cytotoxic than Ca(OH)2 or PBS. In the groups with H2O2 Or SS, only a few cells remained attached to the bottom of wells. The difference between these two groups was not statistically significant. H2O2, NaOCl and SS depressed the mitochondrial enzyme response by 97.7%, 97.3%, and 95.0%, respectively. on the other hand, Ca(OH)2 depressed the metabolic activity of cells by only 5%. While H2O2, NaOCl and SS caused extreme changes on the cell morphology, neither Ca(OH)2 nor PBS promoted dramatic changes in the cell morphology.

Preparation of zinc sodium polyphosphates glasses from coacervates precursors. Characterisation of the obtained glasses, and their applications

A soft chemistry route is described to obtain glasses in the P2O5-Na2O-ZnO-H2O. It is based on the addition of zinc salts to coacervates prepared from sodium polyphosphate. The processing of these coacervates leads to polyphosphate glasses with the same properties as those of glasses prepared in the classical way. So far, little work has been implemented in this system using 'coacervate route'. However, it makes an attractive method for coating and joining processes on the industrial scale. As the anion associated to zinc may take part in the adhesion mechanism, coacervate formation has been studied using zinc chloride, nitrate and sulphate as starting materials. The physical properties of the glasses obtained by this method are reported and potential applications of zinc and silver coacervate are described. (C) 2002 Academie des sciences / Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.

Preparation of Pb(Zr,Ti)O-3 thin films by soft chemical route

Lead zirconate titanate, Pb(Zr0.3Ti0.7)O-3 (PZT) thin films were prepared with success by the polymeric precursor method. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Micro-Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to investigate the formation of the PZT perovskite phase. X-ray diffraction revealed that the film showed good crystallinity and no presence of secondary phases was identified. This indicates that the PZT thin films were crystallized in a single phase. PZT thin films showed a well-developed dense grain structure with uniform distribution, without the presence of rosette structure. The Raman spectra undoubtedly revealed these thin films in the tetragonal phase. For the thin films annealed at the 500-700 degreesC range, the vibration modes of the oxygen sublattice of the PZT perovskite phase were confirmed by FT-IR. The room temperature dielectric constant and dielectric loss of the PZT films, measured at 1 kHz were 646 and 0.090, respectively, for thin film with 365 nm thickness annealed at 700 degreesC for 2 h. A typical P-E hysteresis loop was observed and the measured values of P-s, P-r and E-c were 68 muC/cm(2), 44 muC/cm(2) and 123 kV/cm, respectively. The leakage current density was about 4.8 x 10(-7) A/cm(2) at 1.5 V. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Use of reduced concentrations of tetrazolium solutions for the evaluation of the viability of peanut seed lots

The possibility of reducing the concentration of the working solution used in the tetrazolium test for peanut seeds (Arachis hypogaea L.) with or without seedcoats was studied. Tetrazolium solutions of different concentrations (0.05%, 0.075% and 0.1%) were tested at the temperatures of 35 and 40 degrees C, for determining the time needed for the seeds to reach proper staining. The efficiency of the selected treatments in evaluating the viability potential of the seeds was determined by comparing the results of the tetrazolium tests with those obtained by standard germination (using sand and rolled paper towel as substrata) and seedling emergence in the field tests. Staining the seeds without seedcoat in 0.05% tetrazolium solution for three hours at 40 degrees C yielded efficient results. on the other hand, reduced concentrations can be employed in the staining process of seeds with seedcoat; however, this method requires a higher consumption of tetrazolium salt, longer staining time as well as a higher ability and availability of time for embryo evaluation, since the cross-cutting of seeds is much more difficult in the presence of the seedcoat and the occurrence of damage to the outer surface of the cotyledons cannot be determined.