Clustering prevails in water-soluble polymers and biological macromolecules. It has also been observed in polar solvent mixtures. The possible causes of clustering are discussed. A systematic investigation of clustering in poly(ethylene oxide)/d-water solutions has been undertaken using the small-angle neutron scattering method. The poly(ethylene oxide) monomer is formed of an oxygen atom and a...

Pluronic poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(propylene oxide)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) block copolymers are grafted with poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) by free radical polymerization of vinyl pyrrolidone with simultaneous chain transfer to the Pluronic in dioxane. This modified polymer has both thermal responsiveness and remarkable capacity to interact with a wide variety of hydrophilic and hydrop...

The levels of formaldehyde remaining in various articles have been estimated immediately after a low-temperature steam and formaldehyde sterilizing process and after various periods of aeration. These levels have been compared with the levels of ethylene oxide remaining after exposure to an ethylene oxide sterilizing process. In rubber and polythene and a plastic, formaldehyde levels are low an...

A MOF-derived cobalt oxide/nitrogen-doped carbon composite is prepared and it exhibits remarkable performance for chlorine-assisted ethylene oxide production.

Synthetic routes towards new conjugates of hydrophilic zinc(II) phthalocyanine (ZnPc) with poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(propylene oxide)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (Pluronic P123) and poly(L-lactide) (PLLA), are described. The main semiproduct ZnPc was obtained by heating 4-nitrophthalimide with urea and zinc chloride, followed by the reduction step. Steglich esterification was used to synthesize tw...

On the basis of high DNA-DNA reassociation values and confirmatory automated RiboPrint analysis, two aerobic spore-forming strains hitherto allocated to Bacillus subtilis and used as bioindicators (DSM 675, hot-air sterilization control; DSM 2277, ethylene oxide sterilization control) are reclassified as Bacillus atrophaeus.

The resistance of bacterial spores to lethal agents has long been studied not only as an aspect of applied microbiology but also as part of the general problem of the mechanism of resistance. An important consideration in the analysis of mechanisms is the sensitivity of measurement techniques with respect to variable factors. The usual methods for measuring the resistance of spores to a lethal ...

AIMS To obtain further information about the risks of cancer associated with occupational exposure to ethylene oxide METHODS Follow up was extended by 13 years for a cohort of 2876 men and women with definite or potential exposure to ethylene oxide in the chemical industry or in hospital sterilising units. Subjects were traced through National Health Service and social security records, and t...

Ethylene gas is a naturally occurring gas that has an influence on the shelf life of fruit during their transportation in cargo ships. An unintentional exposure of ethylene gas during transportation results in a loss of fruit. A gas chromatographic system is presented here for the detection of ethylene gas. The gas chromatographic system was assembled using a preconcentrator, a printed 3D print...

Linear and cyclic amphiphilic block copolymers consisting of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) as the hydrophilic segment and poly(methyl acrylate) or poly(ethyl acrylate) as the hydrophobic segments were synthesized and self-assembled to form flower-like micelles. The micelles from linear (methyl acrylate)12(ethylene oxide)73(methyl acrylate)12 (Mn = 1000-3200-1000, l-MOM) showed a cloud point (Tc) a...