Influence of aluminium precursor on physico-chemical properties of aluminium hydroxides and oxides Part II. Al(ClO4)3·9H2O

Aluminium hydroxide was precipitated during a hydrolysis of aluminium perchlorate in ammonia medium. The materials were studied with the following methods: thermal analysis, IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, low-temperature nitrogen adsorption and adsorption–desorption of benzene vapours. Freshly precipitated boehmite had a high value of S_BET=211 m² g^–1 determined from nitrogen adsorption, good sorption capacity for benzene vapours, developed mesoporous structure and hydrophobic character. After prolonged refluxing at elevated temperature its crystallinity increased which was accompanied by an increase of specific surface determined from nitrogen adsorption up to 262m²g^–1 , decrease of sorption capacity for benzene vapours and stronger hydrophobic character. The calcinations of all boehmites at temperature up to 1200°C resulted in formation of à-Al₂O₃ via transition form of γ-, δ- and θ-Al₂O₃. The samples of aluminium oxides obtained after calcination at 550 and 900°C were characterised with high values of specific surface area of 205–220 and 138–153 m² g^–1 , respectively. The SBET values calculated for the oxide samples derived from aged hydroxides and calcined at 1200°C are higher than for the analogous sample prepared without the ageing step. It was concluded that the process of ageing at elevated temperature developed thermal stability of aluminium oxides.     

Thermal Characterization and Physico-Chemical Properties of Fe2O3−Mn2O3/Al2O3 Systems

The effect of ferric and manganese oxides dopants on thermal and physicochemical properties of Mn-oxide/Al₂O₃ and Fe₂O₃/Al₂O₃ systems has been studied separately. The pure and doped mixed solids were thermally treated at 400–1000°C. Pyrolysis of pure and doped mixed solids was investigated via thermal analysis (TG-DTG) techniques. The thermal products were characterized using XRD-analysis. The results revealed that pure ferric nitrate decomposes into Fe₂O₃ at 350°C and shows thermal stability up to1000°C. Crystalline Fe₃O₄ and Mn₃O₄phases were detected for some doped solids precalcined at 1000°C. Crystalline γ-Al₂O₃ phase was detected for all solids preheated up to 800°C. Ferric and manganese oxides enhanced the formation of α-Al₂O₃ phase at1000°C. Crystalline MnAl₂O₄ and MnFe₂O₄ phases were formed at 1000°C as a result of solid–solid interaction processes. The catalytic behavior of the thermal products was tested using the decomposition of H₂O₂ reaction. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Low-temperature emission of singlet oxygen from the surface of transition metal oxides

Low-temperature emission of the singlet form of dioxygen ¹O₂ from the surface of the individual and mixed V and Mo oxides was detected by thermal desorption at 20–350°C. The amount of the desorbing ¹O₂ and the temperature range of ¹O₂ emission were found to depend on the composition of the catalyst; the low-temperature ¹O₂ form can be regenerated after its contact with oxygen.     

Influence of oxides of the rare earth elements (La2O3, CeO2) on the thermal stability of highly dispersed aluminum oxide

It has been established that addition of oxides of the rare earth elements (La₂O₃, CeO₂, and their mixtures) increases the thermal stability of the porous structure of highly dispersed aluminum oxide-a secondary carrier of structured catalysts. The greatest stabilizing effect was noted with La₂O₃. The reason for this effect is the formation of a solid solution of La₂O₃ in Al₂O₃ which prevents the diffusion of aluminum ions and slows the transition of low temperature modifications of Al₂O₃ into high temperature α-Al₂O₃. __________ Translated from Teoreticheskaya i éksperimental’naya Khimiya, Vol. 42, No. 5, pp. 318–323, September–October, 2006.     

Thermal analysis of pigments based on Bi2O3

The synthesis of new pigments based on Bi₂O₃ is investigated because they give interesting orange hues and can substitute the pigments problematic from the environmental point of view. Chemical compounds of the Bi_2–xZr_3x/4O₃ type were synthesized. The host lattice of these pigments is Bi₂O₃ that is doped by Zr⁴⁺ ions. The area of ZrO₂ solubility in Bi₂O₃ at 800°C forming solid solution of both oxides was studied. The incorporation of doped ions provides interesting colours and contributes to a growth of the thermal stability of these compounds. The simultaneous TG-DTA measurements were used for determination of the temperature region of the pigment formation and thermal stability of pigments.     

Oxygen ionic transport in Bi2O3-based oxides: The solid solutions Bi2O3–Nb2O5

The minimum concentration of niobium to stabilize the fluorite-type f.c.c. phase in the Bi₂O₃–Nb₂O₅ oxide system at temperatures below 996 K was ascertained to be about 10 mol%. Thermal expansion, electrical conductivity and crystal lattice parameters of the Bi(Nb)O_1.5+δ solid solutions decrease with increasing niobium content. Thermal expansion coefficients were calculated from the dilatometric data to be (10.314.5)×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ at temperatures in the range 300–700 K and (17.526.0)×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ at 700–1100 K. The conductivity of the Bi_{1− x} Nb _x O_1.5+δ ceramics is predominantly ionic. The p-type electronic transference numbers of the Bi(Nb)O_1.5+δ solid solutions in air were determined to be less than 0.1. Annealing at temperatures below 900 K results in a sharp decrease in conductivity of the Bi_{1− x} Nb _x O_1.5+δ ceramics. Received: 18 August 1997 / Accepted: 20 October 1997     

Binary α-Fe2O3–Co3O4 nanostructures for advanced oxidation process: Role of synergy for enhanced catalysis

Iron and its binary oxides are meticulously exploited for environmental remediations. However, only limited studies have been carried out on the degradation of industrial organics by advanced oxidation process. In this study, iron oxide, cobalt oxide, and iron–cobalt binary oxides were synthesized by a modified hydrothermal method as heterogeneous Fenton-like catalysts for the removal of methylene blue (MB) from wastewaters. The oxide nanostructures were characterized by different analytical techniques. Studying the effects of various parameters such as catalyst dose, MB concentration, and H₂O₂ concentration, the reaction conditions were optimized to enhance the removal of MB dye. The results revealed that α-Fe₂O₃–Co₃O₄ shows much higher activity than both Co₃O₄ and α-Fe₂O₃ for the degradation of MB at room temperature and beyond. The binary α-Fe₂O₃–Co₃O₄ shows degradation efficiency of 96.4% at 65 °C within 60 min. Furthermore, the binary α-Fe₂O₃–Co₃O₄ catalyst retains its activity for up to four successive cycles. A probable mechanism is also proposed, involving the generation of ‧OH radical as well as Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ or Co²⁺/Co³⁺ redox couple of the binary α-Fe₂O₃–Co₃O₄ catalyst.     

Role of rare-earth element oxides in catalysts for the oxidative conversion of methane based on Ni/Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>

It has been established that oxides of the rare-earth elements with moderate redox potentials (La₂O₃, CeO₂) increased the activity and working stability of Ni-Al₂O₃/cordierite catalysts in the reactions of deep and partial oxidation of methane. In the presence of the (NiO + La₂O₃ + Al₂O₃)/cordierite catalyst the process of carbon dioxide conversion of methane can be intensified by introduction of oxygen into the reaction gas mixture which decreases the temperature to achieve high conversion to 75–100 °C and has practically no effect on selectivity with respect to H₂. Translated from Teoreticheskaya i éksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 44, No. 6, pp. 359–364, November–December, 2008.     

一步水热合成Y-Co3O4复合氧化物催化剂及催化分解N2O

用一步水热、分步水热、浸渍等方法分别制备Y-Co₃O₄复合氧化物,用于催化分解N₂O的反应,其中,一步水热法制备的催化剂活性较高。再用一步水热法制备了不同Y/Co物质的量比的Y-Co₃O₄复合氧化物,在优化出的催化剂（0.03Y-Co₃O₄）表面浸渍K₂CO₃溶液,制备K改性催化剂（0.02K/0.03Y-Co₃O₄）。用X射线衍射（XRD）、N₂物理吸附、H₂程序升温还原（H₂-TPR）、O₂程序升温脱附（O₂-TPD）、扫描电镜（SEM）、X射线光电子谱（XPS）等技术表征催化剂结构。研究发现,Co₃O₄和Y-Co₃O₄同为尖晶石结构,但Y-Co₃O₄的催化活性显著高于Co₃O₄。K改性增加了催化剂表面的活性位（Co²⁺）,还有利于吸附氧的脱除,从而提高了催化剂活性。在无氧无水、有氧无水、有氧有水气氛中,K改性催化剂上的N₂O全分解温度分别为325、350、375 ℃,催化剂活性较高。有氧有水气氛350 ℃连续反应50 h,K改性催化剂上N₂O分解率保持90%以上,稳定性较高。研究发现,Y-Co₃O₄及K改性催化剂上N₂O分解反应的E_a和lnA之间存在动力学补偿效应。     

Conductivities and silver electrode polarization resistance of solid electrolyte ceramics from ZrO2-Y2O3 powder synthesized in air plasma

Ceramic specimens have been obtained from the powder of ZrO₂-7.5 mol% Y₂O₃ having a specific surface area of 30 m²/g synthesized in air plasma. The novelty of this research lies in the fact that the plasma process makes it possible to prepare so-called nanopowders with a particle size less than 100 nm, possessing specific physical, chemical and technological properties. The sintered density of the specimens was 94–96% of the theoretical value, 6.001 g/cm³. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the specimens corresponded to a face-centered cubic lattice. Impedance in the frequency range of 100 Hz–15 MHz and d.c. polarization curves in a potential range of −10 to 10 mV were measured in the temperature range 200–850 °C in heating and cooling cycles. The intragrain, the grain boundary and the total bulk conductivities, the electrode polarization resistance and their activation energies were determined. The thermal stability of the studied system was proved in three measurement series up to 600–850 °C in heating and cooling cycles. The results obtained have shown that the conductivity of ZrO₂-7.5 mol% Y₂O₃ ceramics is not solely a function of temperature, but also depends on the previous thermal state of the ceramics. Received: 16 October 1997 / Accepted: 19 January 1998     

Infrared absorption spectra of Er3+-doped Al2O3 nanopowders by the sol-gel method

The Er³⁺-doped Al₂O₃ nanopowders have been prepared by the sol-gel method, using the aluminium isopropoxide [Al(OC₃H₇)₃]-derived γ-AlOOH sols with addition of the erbium nitrate [Er(NO₃)₃·5H₂O]. The five phases of γ-(Al,Er)₂O₃, θ-(Al,Er)₂O₃, α-(Al,Er)₂O₃, ErAlO₃, and Al₁₀Er₆O₂₄ were detected with the 0–20 mol% Er³⁺-doped Al₂O₃ nanopowders at the different sintering temperature of 600–1200°C. The average grain size was increased from about 5 to 62 nm for phase transformation of undoped γ-Al₂O₃→α-Al₂O₃ at the sintering temperature from 600 to 1200°C. At the same sintering temperature, average grain size was decreased with increase of the Er³⁺ doping concentration. Infrared absorption spectra of γ-Al₂O₃ and θ-Al₂O₃ nanopowders showed the two broad bands of 830–870 and 550–600 cm⁻¹, the three broad bands of 830–870, 750–760, and 550–600 cm⁻¹, respectively. The infrared absorption spectra for the α-Al₂O₃ nanopowder showed three characteristic bands, 640, 602, and 453 cm⁻¹. The two characteristic bands of 669 and 418 cm⁻¹ for Er₂O₃ clusters were observed for the Er³⁺-doped Al₂O₃ nanopowders when Er³⁺ doping concentration was increased up to 2 mol%. The 796, 788, 725, 692, 688, 669, 586, 509, 459, and 418 cm⁻¹ are the characteristic bands of Al₁₀Er₆O₂₄ phase.     

Influence of aluminium precursor on physico-chemical properties of aluminium hydroxides and oxides

An attempt to obtain aluminium hydroxide that could give aluminium oxides of increased thermal stability was made. Aluminium hydroxide was precipitated during a hydrolysis of aluminium chloride in ammonia medium. The influence of preparative conditions, such as a dosing rate of aluminium precursor, pH, duration of the precipitate refluxing and temperature of calcination, on the properties of obtained hydroxides and oxides was investigated. The materials were studied with the following methods: thermal analysis, IR spectroscopy, low-temperature nitrogen adsorption and adsorption–desorption of benzene vapours. Precipitated boehmites had high values of S _BET determined from nitrogen adsorption (220–300 m²g^–1), good sorption capacity for benzene vapours, developed mesoporous structure and hydrophilic character. It has been proved that a high pH value during the precipitation of aluminium hydroxide favoured better crystallisation of boehmite structure, higher temperature of its dehydroxylation into γ-Al₂O₃, and delayed transformation of γ phase into α-Al₂O₃. Aluminium oxides derived from the hydroxides precipitated at a high pH were the most stable at high temperatures, and were characterised with the best surface properties. The online version of the original article can be found at     

Non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of V2O5-MoO3-Bi2O3 glasses

Characteristic temperatures, such as T _g (glass transition), T _x (crystallization temperature) and T _l (liquidus temperature) of glasses from the V₂O₅-MoO₃-Bi₂O₃ system were determined by means of differential thermal analysis (DTA). The higher content of MoO₃ improved the thermal stability of the glasses as well as the glass forming ability. The non-isothermal crystallization was investigated and following energies of the crystal growth were obtained: glass #1 (80V₂O₅·20Bi₂O₃) E _G=280 kJ mol^-1, glass #2 (40V₂O₅·30MoO₃·30Bi₂O₃) E _G=422 kJ mol^-1 and glass #3 (80MoO₃·10V₂O₅·10Bi₂O₃) E _G=305 kJ mol^-1. The crystallization mechanism of glass #1 (n=3) is bulk, of glass #3 (n=1) is surface. Bulk and surface crystallization was supposed in glass #2. The presence of high content of a vanadium oxide acts as a nucleation agent and facilitates bulk crystallization. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Low Temperature WGS Catalysts for Hydrogen Station and Fuel Processor Applications

Generally, water gas shift (WGS) reaction is a very important step in the industrial production of hydrogen, ammonia and other bulk chemicals utilizing synthesis gases. In this paper, we are reporting WGS reaction carried out in our research group for the application of hydrogen station and fuel processor. We prepared various Mo₂C, Pt–Ni-based and Cu-based catalysts for low temperature WGS reaction. The characteristics of the prepared catalyst were analyzed by N₂ physisorption, CO chemisorptions, XRD, SEM and TEM technologies, and compared with that of commercial Cu-Zn/Al₂O₃ catalyst. It was found that prepared catalysts displayed reasonably good activity and thermal cycling stability than commercial LTS (Cu–Zn/Al₂O₃) catalyst. It was found that the deactivation of commercial LTS catalyst during the thermal cycling run at 250 °C was caused by the sintering of active metal even though it shows high activity at less than 250 °C. The deactivation of Mo₂C catalyst during the thermal cycling run was caused by the transition of Mo^δ+, Mo^IV and Mo₂C on the surface of Mo₂C catalyst to Mo^VI(MoO₃) with the reaction of H₂O in reactants. However, they showed higher stability than the commercial LTS catalyst during thermal cycling test. The Pt–Ni/CeO₂ catalyst after the thermal cycling shows slightly deactivation due to the sintering of Ni metal. Among Cu-based catalysts, it was found that Cu–Mo/Ce_0.5Zr_0.5O₂ catalyst has higher WGS activity and stability over commercial LTS catalyst. The results suggested that Pt–Ni/CeO₂ and Cu–Mo/Ce_0.5Zr_0.5O₂ catalysts are desirable candidates for application in hydrogen station and fuel processor system even though all other catalysts deactivated slowly during the thermal cycling run.     

Effect of formation conditions on the structure, morphology and magnetic properties of nanosized MIIFe 2III O4 ferrites (M = Mn, Co, Ni) and Fe2O3

A study was carried out on the conditions of formation of highly crystalline, superparamagnetic, nanosized oxides, M^II Fe ₂ ^III O₄ and γ-Fe₂O₃ (4.9–11.7 nm) by the thermal decomposition of complexes [MFe₂O(CH₃CO₂)₆(H₂O)₃] (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni) in tetraethylene glycol. The presence of surfactants leads to a decrease in the size and size distribution of the nanoparticles formed, while the use of microwave radiation significantly reduces the time for formation of the nanocrystalline oxides. The magnetic measurements showed ferrimagnetic ordering in the nanoparticles studied and their superparamagnetic behavior. __________ Translated from Teoreticheskaya i éksperimental’naya Khimiya, Vol. 43, No. 5, pp. 323–329, September–October, 2007.     

Reactions of nitrogen oxides (NO,N2O) with the surface of a copper-chromium oxide catalyst

Weight-space and IR spectroscopic methods have been used to investigate the reaction of NO and N₂O with the surface of a copper-chromium oxide catalyst in the form of copper chromite with a 20% excess of Cr₂O₃. Comparisons have been made between the relative reactivities of the different oxides (NO, N₂O, O₂) in oxidation of the Cu⁺ and Cu^o surface centers. The role of these centers in oxidation of CO by oxygen and by nitrogen oxides is discussed.Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Éksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 338–343, May–June, 1985.     

Correlation between structure and catalytic activity of manganese oxides in liquid-phase oxidation of 1-octene

We have studied the correlation between the crystal structure and the catalytic activity of manganese oxides MnO, MnO₂, Mn₃O₄, and Mn₂O₃ in liquid-phase oxidation of 1-octene by molecular oxygen. The catalytic activity decreases in the series of oxides with octahedral coordination environment for the manganese atoms MnO−Mn₂O₃−MnO₂. The oxide Mn₃O₄ (with mixed tetrahedral and octahedral environment for the Mn atoms) catalyzes the process according to a different mechanism. L'vov Polytechnic State University, 12 S. Bandery ul., L'vov-13 290646, Ukraine. Translated from Teoreticheskaya i éksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 34, No. 5, pp. 324–327, September–October, 1998.     

Another Approach to the Modified Zhuravlev Equation on the Basis of the Oxidation of V2O4 and V6O13

It has been found that the modified Zhuravlev equation, [(1−α)^−1/3−1]²=ktⁿ, which describes the kinetics of oxidation of V₂O₄ and V₆O₁₃ in the temperature range 820–900 K and in the oxygen pressure range 1.0–20 kPa, can be derived via the assumption that the changes in the observed activation energy result from the changing contributions of the two diffusion processes controlling the reaction rate. The values of the observed activation energy are in the range 160–175 kJ mol⁻¹ for V₂O₄ and 188–201 kJ mol⁻¹ for V₆O₁₃ in the scope of the experimental oxygen pressures and temperatures and conversion degrees of 0.1–0.9. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Investigation of Solid-Solid Interactions between Pure and Li2O-Doped Magnesium and Ferric Oxides

The results obtained showed that the addition of small amounts of LiNO₃ to the reacting mixed solids, consisting of equimolar proportion of Fe₂O₃ and basic MgCO₃ much enhanced the thermal decomposition of magnesium carbonate. The addition of 12 mol% LiNO₃ (6 mol% Li₂O) decreased the decomposition temperature of MgCO₃ from 525.5 to362°C. MgO underwent solid–solid interaction with Fe2O3 at temperatures starting from800°C yielding MgFe₂O₄. The amount of ferrite produced increased by increasing the precalcination temperature of the mixed solids. However, the completion of this reaction required prolonged heating at elevated temperature above 1100°C. Doping with Li₂O much enhanced the solid–solid interaction between the mixed oxides leading to the formation of MgFe₂O₄ phase at temperatures starting from 700°C. The addition of 6 mol% Li₂O to the mixed solids followed by precalcination at 1050°C for 4 h resulted in complete conversion of the reacting oxides into magnesium ferrite. The heat treatment of pure and doped solids at 900–1050°C effected the disappearance of most of IR transmission bands of the free oxides with subsequent appearance of new bands characteristic for MgFe₂O₄ structure. The promotion effect of Li2O towards the ferrite formation was attributed to an effective increase in the mobility of the various reacting cations. The activation energy of formation (ΔE) of magnesium ferrite was determined for pure and variously doped solids and the values obtained were 203, 126, 95 and 61 kJ mol⁻¹ for pure mixed solids and those treated with 1.5, 3.0 and 6.0 mol% Li₂O, respectively. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.