Binary Systems Research Articles

Enhanced removal of toxic Disperse Blue 35 dye through cloud point extraction: influence of parameters and solvent regeneration

Abstract The release of the dye Disperse Blue 35 (DB35) into water has serious environmental and health consequences, due to its toxicity and resistance to degradation. This paper investigates the effectiveness of cloud point extraction (CPE) to remove this industrial dye from aqueous solution by Lutensol AO7 and Triton X-114, two environmentally friendly nonionic surfactants. First, the partial phase diagrams of the water–surfactant binary systems are constructed. Then, the effects of pollutants, sodium sulfate and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide on the cloud point temperature (T c) are determined. The experimental results are expressed by four responses: Extraction efficiency (E), residual concentrations of solute and surfactant in the dilute phase (X s,w and X t,w, respectively) and the volume fraction of coacervate (Ф c). An empirical smoothing method was applied. For each parameter, the results obtained were modeled using the response surface methodology (RSM) and represented on three-dimensional diagrams. The results show that the efficiency of dye extraction with Lutensol AO7 and Triton X-114 at a concentration of 6 wt% is about 95 % and 82 %, respectively. The influence of salt and ionic surfactant on the effectiveness of CPE for the removal of DB 35 dye was determined. The regeneration of surfactant was only achieved by pH adjustment.

Constraints on Einstein-dilation-Gauss-Bonnet gravity and the electric charge of compact binary systems from GW230529

Constraints on Einstein-dilation-Gauss-Bonnet gravity and the electric charge of compact binary systems from GW230529

Enthalpies of Mixing in Al−Ce−Co Liquid Alloys

AbstractThe enthalpies of mixing in liquid alloys of the ternary Al−Ce−Co system were determined along four sections (with a constant mole fraction ratio xCe/xCo=0.77/0.23 and xCe/xCo=0.35/0.65 up to xAl=0.2 at 1700 K; with xAl/xCo=0.76/0.24 up to xCe=0.3 and xAl/xCe=0.30/0.70 up to xCo=0.23 at 1823 K) via isoperibolic calorimetry. The enthalpies of mixing in the liquid Al−Ce−Co alloys are large exothermic values. A comparison of the experimentally obtained results for the enthalpies of mixing of liquid alloys and those calculated by the regular Redlich‐Kister‐Muggianu model, taking into account only the data for binary constituent systems, indicates the specific exothermic ‘ternary’ contribution to the energy of formation of Al−Ce−Co ternary alloys. Data on the partial enthalpy of mixing of cobalt at infinite dilution indicate the involvement of cerium 4 f‐electron in the process of alloy formation.

Epigenetics, Microbiome and Personalized Medicine: Focus on Kidney Disease.

Personalized medicine, which involves modifying treatment strategies/drug dosages based on massive laboratory/imaging data, faces large statistical and study design problems. The authors believe that the use of continuous multidimensional data, such as those regarding gut microbiota, or binary multidimensional systems properly transformed into a continuous variable, such as the epigenetic clock, offer an advantageous scenario for the design of trials of personalized medicine. We will discuss examples focusing on kidney diseases, specifically on IgA nephropathy. While gut dysbiosis can provide a treatment strategy to restore the standard gut microbiota using probiotics, transforming epigenetic omics data into epigenetic clocks offers a promising tool for personalized acute and chronic kidney disease care. Epigenetic clocks involve a complex transformation of DNA methylome data into estimated biological age. These clocks can identify people at high risk of developing kidney problems even before symptoms appear. Some of the effects of both the epigenetic clock and microbiota on kidney diseases seem to be mediated by endothelial dysfunction. These "big data" (epigenetic clocks and microbiota) can help tailor treatment plans by pinpointing patients likely to experience rapid declines or those who might not need overly aggressive therapies.

Adsorption and migration behaviors of heavy metals (As, Cd, and Cr) in single and binary systems in typical Chinese soils

In this study, the competitive adsorption and migration behaviors of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr) in typical Chinese soils were investigated. It was observed that Hainan, Shanxi, and Zhejiang Mengjiadai soils exhibited the highest adsorption capacities for As (563 μg/g), Cd (653 μg/g), and Cr (383 μg/g), respectively. Heavy metals (HMs) adsorption capacities were predicted by Extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) models, and the Shapley additive explanation (SHAP) was employed to elucidate the effect of soil physicochemical properties on target values. Due to redox and complexation reaction, the primary factor affecting adsorption has changed from free state manganese (Mn) in single As system to antimony (Sb) in As/Cd and As/Cr systems. Furthermore, the maximum adsorption capacity (Qm) of As increased by 49.4 % with the addition of Cd into Heilongjiang soil. Finally, the migration process of HMs in Heilongjiang, Hebei, and Hainan soils was simulated by column experiments. With a relatively large dispersion coefficient (D = 29.630 cm2/h) and small retardation factor (Rh = 0.030), Cr penetrated fastest in Heilongjiang soil. This research demonstrates that both the types and coexistence of HMs may affect the HMs behaviors in soil.

Novel approach for green synthesis of stable gold nanoparticles with dried turmeric root extract: investigations on sensor and catalytic applications.

In this study, we present the synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using a completely green synthesis method without the use of any additional functionalizing agent, except dried turmeric root extract. The significant synthesis parameters were optimized, and the applicability of AuNPs was investigated in areas such as plasmonic and fluorescent sensing of aluminum (Al3⁺) and chromium (Cr3⁺) ions, reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), and degradation of methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) dyes. Characterization studies were performed using UV-Vis spectroscopy, TEM, FTIR, and XRD, revealing that the AuNPs predominantly had a spherical morphology and a very small particle size of 8.5 nm, with stability maintained up to 120 days. The developed AuNP-based plasmonic sensors relied on aggregation-induced decreases in absorption, along with a red shift in the spectra. Fluorescence sensing demonstrated a linear increase in intensity with increasing concentrations of Al3⁺ and Cr3⁺, with detection limits of 0.83 and 1.19 nM, respectively. The catalytic activities of AuNPs were tested in reducing 4-NP and degradations of MB and MO dyes (binary system) in tap water and wastewater, with the reactions following pseudo-first-order kinetics. This study highlights the potential of AuNPs synthesized from turmeric roots for various environmental and sensing applications.

Thermodynamic Studies of Complexes in Cu(II)/Uridine-5'-Diphosphoglucuronic Acid System.

A binary system of uridine-5'-diphosphoglucuronic acid with copper (II) ions was studied. Potentiometric studies in aqueous solutions using computer data analysis were carried out. The pH of dominance, the overall stability constants (logβ), and the equilibrium constants of the formation reaction (logKe) were determined for each complex compound formed in the studied system. Spectroscopic studies were carried out to determine the mode of coordination in the compounds studied. Cytotoxicity and metabolic activity tests of the compounds obtained showed an increase in the biological activity of the complexes tested against the free ligand. The current research may contribute to the knowledge of complex compounds of biomolecules found in the human body and may also contribute to the characterization of a group of complex compounds with potential anticancer properties.

The effect of vanadium on the magnetic and mechanical properties of B2 FeCo alloy: a DFT approach

FeCo alloys play an important role in soft magnetic materials with a wide range of technological applications due to their high saturation magnetization and Curie temperature. However, these alloys have low ductility at room temperature. The ductility can be improved by the ternary addition of elements such as V. A density functional theory supercell approach was used to generate B2 Fe50Co50-xVx (0 < x < 50) structures and the properties were evaluated at different atomic percentage compositions to determine the ductility at room temperature. The structures were fully optimized to obtain better equilibrium ground-state properties such as lattice parameters and thermodynamic properties for both binary and ternary systems. The stability of Fe50Co50-xVx was evaluated from the heats of formation, elastic properties, and phonon dispersion curves. Furthermore, magnetic strength was evaluated from magnetic moments. It was found that all structures are thermodynamically stable due to the negative heats of formation. The calculated Pugh's ratio and Poisson's ratio confirm that alloying with V effectively improved the ductility. It was also found that Fe50Co50-xVx showed a positive shear modulus for the entire concentration range investigated, in agreement with phonon dispersion curves. The ternary addition of V to the FeCo system resulted in reduced magnetic strength due to a decrease in magnetic moments. These findings reveal that B2 FeCo-V alloys can be used as components and actuators for the automotive industry.

Numerical Analysis of Low-Enthalpy Deep Geothermal Energy Extraction Using a Novel Gravity Heat Pipe Design

Geothermal energy, derived from the Earth’s internal heat, can be harnessed due to the geothermal gradient between the Earth’s interior and its surface. This heat, sustained by radiogenic decay, varies across regions, and is highest near volcanic areas. In 2020, 108 countries utilised geothermal energy, with an installed capacity of 15,950 MWe for electricity and 107,727 MWt for direct use in 2019. Low-enthalpy sources require binary systems for power production. Open-loop systems face issues like scaling, difficult water treatment, and potential seismicity, while closed-loop systems, using abandoned petroleum or gas wells, reduce costs and environmental impacts greatly. The novel geothermal gravity heat pipe (GGHP) design eliminates parasitic power consumption by using hydrostatic pressure for fluid circulation. Implemented in an abandoned well in north-east (NE) Slovenia, the GGHP uses a numerical finite difference method to model heat flow. The system vaporises the working fluid in the borehole, condenses it at the surface, and uses gravitational flow for circulation, maintaining efficient heat extraction. The model predicts that continuous maximum capacity extraction depletes usable heat rapidly. Future work will explore sustainable heat extraction and potential discontinuous operation for improved efficiency.

Experimental determination and theoretical modeling of isobaric vapor–liquid equilibria, liquid mass density, surface tension and dynamic viscosity for the methyl butyrate and tert-butanol binary mixture

The purpose of this work is to provide consistent experimental measurements on the vapor–liquid equilibria (VLE) at the isobaric conditions of 50.00, 75.00 and 94.00kPa, as well as experimental determinations of the liquid mass densities, the surface tensions and the dynamic viscosities at 298.15K and 101.3kPa of the methyl butyrate + tert-butanol binary system within the whole composition range. For these goals, a Gillespie-type cell is used to carry out the VLE measurements, whereas an oscillating densimeter, a maximum differential bubble pressure tensiometer, and a rotating viscometer are used to quantify the remaining physical properties. The thermodynamical quality of the reported VLE data is validated by Fredenslund’s consistency test. Based on the VLE results, this zeotropic binary mixture exhibits a positive deviation from Raoult’s law. Furthermore, the validated data are correlated with three activity coefficient models (i.e., Wilson, NRTL, and UNIQUAC), with the Wilson equation being the most accurate one. Excess volumes, surface tensions, and liquid viscosities data are correlated by Redlich–Kister-type expansions, and the Grunberg–Nissan equation is also applied to viscosity modeling. The calculated excess volumes display a positive deviation from the ideal solution model. Regarding surface tensions, this system showcases both negative and positive deviation, althouhg slight, from the linear behavior while exhibiting the linear trend at a molar fraction of methyl butyrate of 0.758. In addition, this bimodal deviation is adequately predicted by the Chunxi model with the Wilson parameters determined from the VLE data. Finally, the dynamic viscosities data obey a strictly monotonic mole dependence predicted by Eyring’s theory, although without high accuracy. These results also reflect some interesting phenomena related to competitive association effects, which are discussed.

Binary and Halide-free Catalyst Systems Based on Al/Ga/In Aminopyridylbisphenolate Complexes for the Cycloaddition of Epoxides and CO2.

Group 13 complexes bearing an aminopyridylbisphenol ligand have been prepared [ML-X; L = ligand, M = Al (X = Cl and Br), Ga (X = Cl, Br, and I), or In (X = Cl)]. The structures of the complexes containing the chloride ligand (ML-Cl; M = Al, Ga, and In) have been directly compared through an X-ray crystallography study, with differences in the monomeric or dimeric nature of their structures observed. All of the complexes obtained have been studied as potential catalysts for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from epoxides and CO2. It has been found that the indium complex, as part of a traditional binary catalyst system (catalyst + tetra-butylammonium halide cocatalyst), displays the highest catalytic activity and is active under rather mild reaction conditions (balloon pressure of CO2). Meanwhile, it has been found that the GaL-I complex is a competent single-component catalyst (no need for addition of a cocatalyst) at more elevated reaction temperatures and pressures. A full substrate scope has been performed with both developed catalyst systems to demonstrate their applicability. In addition to the experimental results, a density functional theory study was performed on both catalyst systems. These results explain both why the indium catalyst is the most active under binary catalyst system conditions and how the gallium catalyst with an iodide (GaL-I) is able to act as a single-component catalyst in contrast to the indium-based complex.

Effect of the presence of berberine/curcumin on the binding of limonin to human serum albumin and antitumor activity in vitro

The competition among drugs for binding to plasma proteins is regarded as a pharmacokinetic drug interaction. Competition between antitumor agents and other drugs for plasma protein binding can alter the free concentration of the drug, potentially impacting its efficacy and increasing the risk of toxic side effects. Through a range of spectroscopic techniques, this study examined the interaction between limonin and human serum albumin (HSA) in the context of berberine (Ber) and curcumin (Cur) under physiological conditions to clarify the binding mechanisms of binary and ternary systems at the molecular level. As demonstrated by fluorescence quenching experiments, Static quenching was identified as the mechanism of interaction between HSA and limonin. The results of site competition experiments indicated that the binding site between limonin and HSA was site I, a result further supported by molecular docking simulations. Through the use of thermodynamic data calculations, it was determined that limonin forms a stable complex with HSA by establishing hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, three-dimensional (3D) fluorescence spectroscopy, and synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy (SFS) employed to validate the notion that limonin perturbed the microenvironment of amino acids and induced conformational changes in HSA. What’s more, the presence of Ber or Cur was found to have further modified the alterations observed in the interaction between the original HSA-limonin binary system. In vitro cellular experiments showed that interaction with HSA reduced the antitumor activity of limonin. In contrast, adding Ber or Cur increased the inhibition rate of tumor cells. The coexistence of both Ber and Cur significantly diminished limonin’s binding affinity to HSA. The current investigation enhances comprehension regarding the binding characteristics and interaction mechanisms involving limonin, Ber, Cur, and HSA. It explores the potential of HSA as a versatile drug carrier and furnishes theoretical underpinnings for co-administrative strategies.

The Nd-Fe-Rh system: Phase relations determination at 600 ℃ and magnetic property measurement of related compounds

The isothermal section of the Nd-Fe-Rh system at 600 ℃ was constructed based on the phase identification and analysis results from annealed alloys using X-ray diffraction and Scanning electron microscopy equipped with Energy dispersive spectroscopy. Two previously reported binary compounds, Nd4Rh and Fe2Nd, could not be confirmed. No new ternary compounds were found in the isothermal section. In the present work, the homogeneity ranges of the Fe-Rh binary system were redefined using phase disappear method, which were determined to be about 70–100 Fe at%, 51–69 Fe at%, 0–45 Fe at% for the single-phase region α-Fe, FeRh and γ-(Rh, Fe), respectively. It was confirmed that the maximum solid solubility of Fe in NdRh2, Nd3Rh and Nd7Rh3 is about 15.6 at% Fe, 4.0 at% Fe and 3.1 at% Fe, respectively, while no appreciable solubility was observed for the other binary compounds in the Nd-Fe-Rh system. The isothermal section of the Nd-Fe-Rh ternary system at 600 ℃ consists of 13 single-phase regions, 23 two-phase regions, and 11 three-phase regions. It suggests the presence of predominant antiferromagnetic exchange interaction in the NdRh compound. For the 38Nd-8Fe-54Rh sample, two magnetic entropy change peaks originate from the combined contribution from two magnetic phase transitions, an antiferromagnetic-paramagnetic transition and a ferromagnetic-paramagnetic transition for NdRh and NdRh2 phase, respectively.

Energy flux and waveform of gravitational wave generated by coalescing slow-spinning binary system in effective one-body theory

Energy flux and waveform of gravitational wave generated by coalescing slow-spinning binary system in effective one-body theory

The largest metallicity difference in twin systems: High-precision abundance analysis of the benchmark pair Krios and Kronos

Aims. We conducted a high-precision differential abundance analysis of the remarkable binary system HD 240429/30 (Krios and Kronos, respectively), whose difference in metallicity is one of the highest detected to date in systems with similar components (~0.20 dex). A condensation temperature TC trend study was performed to search for possible chemical signatures of planet formation. In addition, other potential scenarios are proposed to explain this disparity. Methods. Fundamental atmospheric parameters (Teff, log g, [Fe/H], υturb) were calculated using the latest version of the FUNDPAR code in conjunction with ATLAS12 model atmospheres and the MOOG code, considering the Sun and then Kronos as references, employing high-resolution MAROON-X spectra. We applied a full line-by-line differential technique to measure the abundances of 26 elements in both stars with equivalent widths and spectral synthesis taking advantage of the non-solar-scaled opacities to achieve the highest precision. Results. We find a difference in metallicity of ~0.230 dex: Kronos is more metal rich than Krios. This result denotes a challenge for the chemical tagging method. The analysis encompassed the examination of the diffusion effect and primordial chemical differences, concluding that the observed chemical discrepancies in the binary system cannot be solely attributed to any of these processes. The results also show a noticeable excess of Li of approximately 0.56 dex in Kronos, and an enhancement of refractories with respect to Krios. A photometric study with TESS data was carried out, without finding any signal of possible transiting planets around the stars. Several potential planet formation scenarios were also explored to account for the observed excess in both metallicity and lithium in Kronos; none was definitively excluded. While planetary engulfment is a plausible explanation, considering the ingestion of an exceptionally high mass, approximately ~27.8 M⊕, no scenario is definitively ruled out. We emphasize the need for further investigations and refinements in modelling; indispensable for a comprehensive understanding of the intricate dynamics within the Krios and Kronos binary system.

Thermodynamic properties of β-HMX in binary mixed solvent systems and its microscopic mechanisms

Octogen (HMX) is the most powerful military explosive in current use. However, the unclear thermodynamic molecular mechanisms severely limit the development of its production process. In this paper, the solubility of β-HMX in three binary mixed solvent systems (acetone + ethanol, acetone + dichloromethane, acetone + toluene) was measured via a dynamic method at temperature ranging from 283.15 to 313.15 K under atmospheric pressure. The experimental results reveal that the solubility of β-HMX in these binary mixed solvent systems is positively correlated with acetone molar fraction and temperature, and the solvent composition has a greater impact on its solubility compared with the temperature. Moreover, the solubility of β-HMX is further correlated with the Van’t Hoff equation, modified Apelblat equation, CNIBS/R-K model, Jouyban-Acree-Van’t Hoff model, Jouyban-Acree-Apelblat model and NRTL model, and the modified Apelblat equation can give better fitting result (ARD = 8.101 × 10−3, RMSD = 1.065 × 10−5). Finally, the microscopic mechanism of the thermodynamic properties of β-HMX in binary mixed solvents is revealed by investigating the types, intensity and interaction sites of interactions based on density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamic (MD) simulation. The results demonstrate that both acetone molecules and ethanol molecules can form certain intermolecular interactions with β-HMX molecules, which are the main driving force of solubilization. In contrast, solvent–solvent interactions have an antagonistic effect on the solubility of β-HMX in mixed solvents. This work can further be informative for researchers in the field of energetic material for the solubility evaluations and provide a reference for the industrial production and performance enhancement of HMX in the future.

Preferential Solvation of Cyclosporin in Aqueous Mixtures of Some Polymeric Cosolvents

Background: Cyclosporin is a cyclic peptide-drug used as immunosuppressant for the prophylaxisof transplant rejection whose physicochemical properties in mixed aqueous solvent systems isstill not well understood. The preferential solvation parameters of cyclosporin in aqueous binarymixtures of diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (DEGME), polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG 200) andpolyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400) were computed. Methods: Reported mole fraction solubilities of cyclosporin in DEGME-aqueous mixtures,PEG 200-aqueous mixtures, and PEG 400-aqueous mixtures were processed by following theinverse Kirkwood-Buff integrals (IKBI) method as suggested by Marcus and Ben-Naim using somethermodynamic parameters reported in the literature for these aqueous-polymeric mixtures at298.15 K. Results: It is observed that cyclosporin is sensitive to preferential solvation effects in theseaqueous-polymeric binary solvent systems. The preferential solvation parameter by DEGME (δx1,3)is negative in water-rich mixtures but positive in mixtures of 0.12<x1<1.00. It is conjecturablethat hydrophobic hydration around the non-polar methyl and methylene groups of this drug thatcould be present in water-rich mixtures can significantly impact the drug solvation. Otherwise,in mixtures of 0.12<x1<1.00 in DEGME-aqueous mixtures, as well as in almost all the mixtureswith PEGs, the preferential solvation by polymeric cosolvents could be due to the acidic behaviorof cyclosporin in front of ether and hydroxyl oxygen atoms of these polymeric cosolvents. Conclusion: Cyclosporin is preferentially solvated by the polymeric solvents in almost all thestudied mixtures of these aqueous-polymeric binary solvent systems.

Stellar Spin-down in Post-mass-transfer Binary Systems

Motivated by measurements of the rotation speed of accretor stars in post-mass-transfer (post-MT) systems, we investigate how magnetic braking affects the spin-down of individual stars during binary evolution with the MESAbinary module. Unlike the conventional assumption of tidal synchronization coupled with magnetic braking in binaries, we first calculate whether tides are strong enough to synchronize the orbit. Subsequently, this influences the spin-down of stars and the orbital separation. In this study, we apply four magnetic braking prescriptions to reduce the spin angular momentum of the two stars throughout the entire binary evolution simulation. Our findings reveal that despite magnetic braking causing continuous spin-down of the accretor, when the donor begins to transfer material onto the accretor, the accretor can rapidly spin up to its critical rotation rate. After MT, magnetic braking becomes more important in affecting the angular momentum evolution of the stars. Post-MT accretor stars thus serve as a valuable test bed for observing how the magnetic braking prescriptions operate in spinning down stars from their critical rotation, including the saturation regimes of the magnetic braking. The rotation rate of the accretor star, combined with its mass, could provide age information since the cessation of MT. By comparing the models against observations, the magnetic braking prescription by Garraffo et al. is found to better align with the rotation data of post-MT accretors.

Orbits and Dynamical Masses for Six Binary Systems in the Hyades Cluster

We report long-baseline interferometric observations with the CHARA Array that resolve six previously known double-lined spectroscopic binary systems in the Hyades cluster, with orbital periods ranging from 3 to 358 days: HD 27483, HD 283882, HD 26874, HD 27149, HD 30676, and HD 28545. We combine those observations with new and existing radial-velocity measurements, to infer the dynamical masses for the components as well as the orbital parallaxes. For most stars, the masses are determined to be better than 1%. Our work significantly increases the number of systems with mass determinations in the cluster. We find that, while current models of stellar evolution for the age and metallicity of the Hyades are able to reproduce the overall shape of the empirical mass–luminosity relation, they overestimate the V-band fluxes by about 0.1 mag between 0.5 and 1.4 M ⊙. The disagreement is smaller in H, and near zero in K, and depends somewhat on the model. We also make use of the TESS light curves to estimate rotation periods for our targets, and detect numerous flares in one of them (HD 283882), estimating an average flaring rate of 0.44 events per day.

Unified Rapid Mass Transfer

We present a method to obtain rapid mass-loss rates in binary systems, specifically at the onset of mass transfer (MT) episodes. The method unifies atmospheric (underflow) and L 1 stream (overflow) mass rates in a single continuous procedure. The method uses averaged 3D properties of the binaries, such as effective binary potential and effective binary acceleration, to both evolve the donor and obtain properties of the matter at the L 1 plane. In the case of underflow, we obtain atmospheric stratification. Our method can be used for binaries with an extensive range of mass ratios, 0.01 ≤ q ≤ 100, and can also be applied to hot donors. The considered examples show that the MT rates obtained with this revised formalism always differ from the optically thin and optically thick MT rates widely used during the computations of binary evolution.