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Isothermal kinetics of the exchange of absorbed water in a silica hydrogel (SH) with ethanol was examined. The isothermal kinetic curves of absorbed water exchange with ethanol were measured at the temperatures: T = = 297, 306 and 316 K. The rate of the exchange was analysed as a function of time. The possibility of mathematical description of the kinetics of exchange by the Brouers and Sotolongo-Costa’s (BS) fractal’s kinetics model was examined. Parameter values (n, τ, β) of the model and their changes with temperature were calculated. By applying the method of Ozao, it was determined that the rate limiting step of the process of exchange was the rate of exchange of the absorbed water with ethanol. Values of the fractal dimension of the SH-ethanol interphase were calculated. The dependences of the effective time-dependent rate coefficient, activation energy and pre-exponential factor on time and degree of exchange were calculated and discussed. The proposed model of the mechanism of the exchange of absorbed water with ethanol was discussed.

Fluorapatite nanopowders with different amounts of fluoride ions were prepared using the surfactant-assisted microwave method under isothermal conditions. Microwave irradiation was applied for the rapid formation of crystals. A micellar solution of polyoxyethylene (23) lauryl ether was used as a regulator of nucleation and crystal growth. Characterization studies from X-ray diffraction, field-emission scaning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectra showed that crystals have an apatite structure and particles of all samples are nano size, with an average length of 50 nm and about 15-25 nm in diameter. Antimicrobial studies have demonstrated that synthesized fluorapatite nanopowders exhibit activity against tested pathogens: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Activity increased with the amount of fluoride ions. The synthesized fluorapatite nanomaterials are promising as materials in environmental protection and medicine for orthopedics and dental restorations. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. III 43009]

The isothermal kinetics of the exchange of absorbed water in calcium alginate hydrogels with ethanol was investigated. The isothermal kinetic curves were measured within the temperature range from 297 to 316 K. By the application of differential isoconversional methods, it was found that the process of exchange of water absorbed in calcium alginate hydrogel with ethanol has a unique rate determining step (a single step process). Using the model fitting method, it was determined that the kinetics of the exchange can be mathematically described with the kinetic model of the first-order chemical reaction. The values of the kinetic parameters of water exchange: the rate constants (km), energy of activation (Ea = 18.0 kJ∙mol–1), and the pre-exponential factor (ln[A/min–1] = 4.0) were calculated. By using Eyring's equation, the values of thermodynamics parameters: standard enthalpy of activation (ΔH*), standard entropy of activation (ΔS*), and Gibbs energy of activation (ΔG*) were calculated. It was found that the rate of rearrangements of the bound water around hydrophilic groups of a polymeric network has a dominant effect on the kinetics of the exchange of the absorbed water with ethanol. The mechanism of the exchange of adsorbed water with ethanol was suggested. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. 172015]