Abstract: Composite films comprising an organic salt (or GUMBOS) such as 1-n-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate and a polymer such as cellulose acetate are prepared. These films are useful in detecting vapors of volatile organic compounds, and in determining their molecular weights. A quartz crystal microbalance-based sensor was designed by depositing a thin film of this composite material on the gold electrode surface of a quartz crystal resonator. The sensor exhibited rapid response toward a variety of volatile organic compounds, and complete regeneration, high sensitivity, low detection limits, and wide dynamic ranges. The ratio of the change in frequency to the change in motional resistance is a concentration-independent quantity that is proportional to the molecular weight of the absorbed chemical species. These properties facilitate the easy identification and molecular weight determination of a broad range of organic vapors.

Abstract: Composite films comprising an organic salt (or GUMBOS) such as 1-n-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium hexafluoro-phosphate and a polymer such as cellulose acetate are prepared. These films are useful in detecting vapors of volatile organic compounds, and in determining their molecular weights. A quartz crystal microbalance-based sensor was designed by depositing a thin film of this composite material on the gold electrode surface of a quartz crystal resonator. The sensor exhibited rapid response toward a variety of volatile organic compounds, and complete regeneration, high sensitivity, low detection limits, and wide dynamic ranges. The ratio of the change in frequency to the change in motional resistance is a concentration-independent quantity that is proportional to the molecular weight of the absorbed chemical species. These properties facilitate the easy identification and molecular weight determination of a broad range of organic vapors.

Abstract: Xanthene compounds are disclosed having fluorescence at multiple wavelengths. Also disclosed are methods for their synthesis and use. Some of the compounds fluoresce at three wavelengths, emitting white light. Uses include the imaging of biological tissues, illumination, and display technologies. Many of the compounds have large Stokes shifts, and are resistant to photobleaching. The fluorescence may be readily distinguished from that of endogenous fluorophores, and from that of most existing, commercially-available fluorescent probes. The compounds are well suited for use in “multiplexing” techniques. They exhibit clear isosbestic and isoemissive points, and have broad absorption and emission ranges.

Abstract: “Frozen ionic liquid” microparticles and nanoparticles are disclosed, as are alternative methods of making the particles. The particles may be monodisperse or polydisperse, with spherical or other shapes. The particles may be prepared without specialized equipment, and without harsh conditions. The microparticles and nanoparticles have uses in biomedical, materials, analytical, and other fields.

Abstract: A group of water-soluble salophene-lanthanide complexes and other salophene-metal complexes are useful for purposes including: (i) detecting neutral carbohydrates at physiologically-relevant pH, (ii) the selective detection of gangliosides, and (iii) the selective detection of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) in the presence of phosphatidic acid. The selective detection of LPA is useful in diagnosing ovarian and other cancers.

Abstract: Xanthene compounds are disclosed having fluorescence at multiple wavelengths. Also disclosed are methods for their synthesis and use. Some of the compounds fluoresce at three wavelengths, emitting white light. Uses include the imaging of biological tissues, illumination, and display technologies. Many of the compounds have large Stokes shifts, and are resistant to photobleaching. The fluorescence may be readily distinguished from that of endogenous fluorophores, and from that of most existing, commercially-available fluorescent probes. The compounds are well suited for use in “multiplexing” techniques. They exhibit clear isosbestic and isoemissive points, and have broad absorption and emission ranges.

Abstract: Polymeric surfactants (molecular micelles) are disclosed for use in open tubular capillary electrochromatography or in high performance liquid chromatography. For example, fused silica capillaries are coated with thin films of charged polymers in a polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM). A PEM coating may be formed in situ by alternate rinses with positive and negative polyelectrolytes. At least the innermost of the negatively charged polymer layers is a molecular micelle. Prototype embodiments have successfully separated seven benzodiazepines from one another. The run-to-run, day-to-day, week-to-week and capillary-to-capillary reproducibilities were very good, with relative standard deviation values less than 0.01. The PEM-coated capillary was very robust over at least 200 runs. Stability against high and low pH values was also observed. Using chiral polymerized micelles, chiral separations may be achieved, as was demonstrated with a separation of the enantiomers of 1,1?-binaphthyl-2,2?-dihydrogenphosphate.

Abstract: Chiral separations can be enhanced through the use of polymerized dipeptide-surfactant or oligopeptide-surfactant chiral micelles. Because polymerized micelles eliminate much of the complex dynamic behavior associated with conventional micelles, polymerized chiral micelles have stronger chiral recognition properties than do otherwise-identical, “conventional” or non-polymerized chiral micelles. Recovery of chiral ligands from polymerized chiral micelles is often easier, as the chiral ligands may typically be recovered by simple extraction with an appropriate organic solvent. By contrast, recovering the solute from a conventional, non-polymerized micellar medium by extraction with an organic solvent frequently results in the formation of troublesome emulsion systems. Polymerized chiral micelle systems are therefore beneficial in both preparative-scale and process-scale separations.

Abstract: Polymeric surfactants (molecular micelles) are disclosed for use in open tubular capillary electrochromatography or in high performance liquid chromatography. For example, fused silica capillaries are coated with thin films of charged polymers in a polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM). A PEM coating may be formed in situ by alternate rinses with positive and negative polyelectrolytes. At least the innermost of the negatively charged polymer layers is a molecular micelle. Prototype embodiments have successfully separated seven benzodiazepines from one another. The run-to-run, day-to-day, week-to-week and capillary-to-capillary reproducibilities were very good, with relative standard deviation values less than 0.01. The PEM-coated capillary was very robust over at least 200 runs. Stability against high and low pH values was also observed.

Abstract: Chiral separations can be enhanced through the use of polymerized dipeptide-surfactant or oligopeptide-surfactant chiral micelles. Because polymerized micelles eliminate much of the complex dynamic behavior associated with conventional micelles, polymerized chiral micelles have stronger chiral recognition properties than do otherwise-identical, “conventional” or non-polymerized chiral micelles. Recovery of chiral ligands from polymerized chiral micelles is often easier, as the chiral ligands may typically be recovered by simple extraction with an appropriate organic solvent. By contrast, recovering the solute from a conventional, non-polymerized micellar medium by extraction with an organic solvent frequently results in the formation of troublesome emulsion systems. Polymerized chiral micelle systems are therefore beneficial in both preparative-scale and process-scale separations.

Abstract: Chiral separations can be enhanced through the use of polymerized dipeptide-surfactant or oligopeptide-surfactant chiral micelles. Because polymerized micelles eliminate much of the complex dynamic behavior associated with conventional micelles, polymerized chiral micelles have stronger chiral recognition properties than do otherwise-identical, “conventional” or non-polymerized chiral micelles. Recovery of chiral ligands from polymerized chiral micelles is often easier, as the chiral ligands may typically be recovered by simple extraction with an appropriate organic solvent. By contrast, recovering the solute from a conventional, non-polymerized micellar medium by extraction with an organic solvent frequently results in the formation of troublesome emulsion systems. Polymerized chiral micelle systems are therefore beneficial in both preparative-scale and process-scale separations.

Abstract: Polymers are disclosed that are useful in performing chiral separations. A synthetic scheme for producing the novel polymers is also disclosed. The alkyl side chains of poly(.gamma.-alkyl-.alpha.,L-glutamates) have been altered, allowing the facile substitution of the side chains with pendent functional groups. The compounds may be used as a stationary-phase or pseudo-stationary phase in separation techniques such as high performance liquid chromatography, or electrokinetic capillary chromatography. The novel compounds are water-soluble or water-swellable, and are particularly useful in separations of stereoisomers.

Abstract: Chiral separations can be enhanced through the use of polymerized chiral micelles. Because polymerized micelles eliminate much of the complex dynamic behavior associated with conventional micelles, polymerized chiral micelles have stronger chiral recognition properties than do otherwise-identical, "conventional" or non-polymerized chiral micelles. Recovery of chiral ligands from polymerized chiral micelles is often easier, as the chiral ligands may typically be recovered by simple extraction with an appropriate organic solvent. By contrast, recovering the solute from a conventional, non-polymerized micellar medium by extraction with an organic solvent frequently results in the formation of troublesome emulsion systems. Polymerized chiral micelle systems are therefore beneficial in both preparative-scale and process-scale separations.

Abstract: A system for stabilizing the arc in a DC arc lamp. An AC signal is superimposed on the DC power source of the lamp to cause small regular fluctuations in the arc. The small fluctuations prevent large fluctuations while the small regular fluctuations may be averaged to obtain a constant average value. The average is taken over 5 to 10 periods of the AC signal to produce a constant average signal with a very small standard deviation.

Abstract: A method for decreasing the oxygen content of a fluid, which comprises contacting the fluid with one side of an interface capable of passing oxygen and retarding the passage of the fluid wherein the contacting takes place in a container permeable to oxygen only through the interface and the second side of the interface is in contact with a chemically deoxygenating environment, is disclosed along with an apparatus useful for conducting the method.