CO electrooxidation on a polycrystalline Pt electrode: A wall-jet EQCN study

Pre-adsorbed and bulk (continuous) CO oxidation on a polycrystalline Pt electrode were examined in a wall-jet electrochemical quartz crystal nanobalance (EQCN) setup, using both differential and integral evaluation of the EQCN data, to get further insights into the kinetics and mechanism of this important fuel-cell related electrocatalytic reaction. The hydrogen underpotential adsorption–desorption features in the base cyclic voltammogram of a Pt film are accompanied by significant changes in the electrode mass due H-upd induced desorption–adsorption of anion. In the double-layer region small capacitive currents are accompanied by comparatively large reversible mass changes indicating anion adsorption/desorption (96.5 g mol⁻¹ assigned to bisulfate). OH and oxygen electrosorption from water at potentials more positive of 1.0 V result in relatively small variations in the electrode mass (16 g mol⁻¹ for PtOH and ca. 9 g mol⁻¹ for PtO formation, respectively). The CO-adlayer stripping first leads to the electrode mass decrease in the “pre-peak” region, followed by a fast mass increase within the main stripping peak due to re-adsorption of bisulfate anion (91 g mol⁻¹). A mass-transport limited current for bulk CO oxidation under continuous flow of CO-saturated electrolyte leads to negligible mass changes (0–1 g mol⁻¹) in the PtO region, suggesting that bulk CO oxidation is mediated by electroformed PtO.     

Synthesis and kinetic study on the thermal degradation of triblock copolymer of polycaprolactone‐poly (glycidyl nitrate)‐polycaprolactone (PCL‐PGN‐PCL) as an energetic binder

In this study, an energetic binder is synthesized via ring opening copolymerization of ε‐caprolactone with poly (glycidyl nitrate) (PGN) of low molecular weight (M_n = 1350 g mol^?1) as a macroinitiator to form triblock copolymer polycaprolactone‐PGN‐polycaprolactone (PCL‐PGN‐PCL) (M_n = 4128 g mol^?1). The effects of catalyst type and its concentration, reaction time, and solvent are investigated in this polymerization reaction. The resulting triblock copolymer is characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The DSC result shows that the glass transition temperature of triblock copolymer (T_g = ?50°C) is lower than PGN (T_g = ?35°C). Also, the decomposition kinetics of this energetic binder is studied by DSC, TGA, and its derivative (DTG). An advanced isoconversional method is applied for kinetic analysis. Activation energy is calculated by Flynn‐Wall‐Ozawa (FWO) and Kissinger methods. The resulting activation energy from Kissinger method for the first and the second steps are 42.98 and 74.56 kJ mol^?1, respectively. Also, it is found from FWO results that the activation energy for the copolymer increases with degradation degree (α).     

Calorimetric measurements of sodium chloride dihydrate (hydrohalite)

Calorimetric measurements of sodium chloride dihydrate NaCl·2H₂O (mineral name hydrohalite) were carried out with using DSC. Heat capacity from 190 to 250 K was measured and found to increase from 109 to 137 J mol^?1 K^?1. The enthalpy of formation of hydrohalite from solid ice and halite at 273.15 K was derived from the thermal effect of melting/decomposition in DSC measurements and found to be close to ??1.8 kJ mol^?1. The same DSC results show clearly that the upper temperature limit for the existence of hydrohalite is several degrees greater than the current value of 273.15 K accepted for the peritectic decomposition of hydrohalite. The phase diagram of the NaCl–H₂O system needs correction.

     

Experimental investigation of first and second laws in a direct absorption solar collector using hybrid Fe3O4/SiO2 nanofluid

In this study, energy and entropy analysis of a residential-type direct absorption solar collector using hybrid Fe₃O₄/SiO₂ nanofluid is evaluated experimentally. The hybrid nanofluid samples are prepared in the different volume ratios of Fe₃O₄/SiO₂ (25:75, 50:50 and 75:25) and different volume fractions (500 ppm, 1000 ppm and 2000 ppm). The appropriate nanofluid samples for using as the working fluid of the collector are chosen based on the results of stability and optical properties of nanofluid. Then, outdoor thermal performance of collector is investigated using the experimental setup based on EN12975-2. Measurement of nanofluid optical properties using the spectrophotometry method shows that the extinction coefficient of 2000 ppm hybrid Fe₃O₄/SiO₂ nanofluid is on average 10 cm^?1 higher than that of the base fluid. Results of energy analysis display that the collector efficiency is increased by mass flow rate and volume fraction of nanofluid asymptotically. The asymptotic value is about 83% for 2000 ppm hybrid Fe₃O₄/SiO₂ nanofluid. The findings indicate that the variation of exergy efficiency of a direct absorption solar collector with the volume fraction and mass flow rate is similar to energy efficiency. The enhancement of exergy efficiency is 66.4% for mass flow rates of 0.0225 kg s^?1 by increasing the volume fraction from 0 to 2000 ppm. It is also observed that dimensionless entropy generation number is decreased by nanofluid volume fraction and by mass flow rate. The lowest entropy generation number is obtained in the mass flow rate of 0.0225 kg s^?1 and the volume fraction of 2000 ppm. The variation of Bejan number by volume fraction shows that the contribution of pressure drop in entropy generation is insignificant.

     

Volumetric Study of Aqueous Solutions of Polyethylene Glycol as a Function of the Polymer Molar Mass in the Temperature Range 283.15 to 313.15 K and 0.1 MPa

Density measurements were made for binary aqueous solutions of polyethylene glycol at seven temperatures: 283.15, 288.15, 293.15, 298.15, 303.15, 308.15, and 313.15 K. Polyethylene glycol samples with nominal average molar masses of 3000 g⋅mol⁻¹ (PEG 3000), 6000 g⋅mol⁻¹ (PEG 6000), 10000 g⋅mol⁻¹ (PEG 10000) and 20000 g⋅mol⁻¹ (PEG 20000) were used. These results were used to determine the specific volumes of solutions with solute-to-solvent mass ratios (mass of the solute/mass of the solvent) in the range 0.0546 to 1.4932 for PEG 3000, from 0.0553 to 1.4986 for PEG 6000, from 0.0552 to 1.2241 for PEG 10000, and from 0.0530 to 1.2264 for PEG 20000. The differences between the specific volume of a solution and the specific volume of the pure solvent, at a given temperature, were represented by a virial-type equation in terms of solute concentration. The first-order coefficient of the expansion is the partial specific volume of the solute at infinite dilution. The higher-order coefficients are related to the contribution of pairs, triplets, and higher-order solute aggregates, according to the Constant-Pressure Solution Theory. The functional dependence of the virial coefficients upon temperature is discussed in terms of solute-solute and solute-solvent interactions. The effect of the PEG molar mass on the partial specific volume of solute at infinite dilution, as well as the contributions of pairs of solute molecules to the solution volume, are also investigated. The apparent specific volume, apparent specific expansibility, apparent specific expansibility at infinite dilution and virial coefficients of the apparent specific expansibility are also presented.     

Comparative studies of oxygenated fuel synthesis with diesel from the measurements of density,speed of sound and refractive index

An experimental investigation on the feasibility and relevance of the tri fuel blends of ethanol and dibutyl ether with diesel was studied to replace pure diesel. The solubility of the ethanol and dibutyl ether with a percentage of 25% and 75% resulted with no phase separation, found miscible and stable with diesel at any percentage. However, the properties such as densities and refractive index experimentally verified for different blend ratios. A density of test samples with various compositions was tested. High precise equipment is engaged to analyze the density, speed of sound, refractive index for various fuel compositions. The temperature ranges between 298 K and 343 K show a greater impact on variation in the fuel properties. Density, speed of sound, refractive indices measured as a function of the temperature with an accuracy of?±?0.001 and?±?0.0001. Further, the validation of experimental method has been tested using Lorentz–Lorenz (L–L) analysis with a deviation of 0.4%. The uncertainty for fluid velocity is?±?0.3 m s^?1, and the experimental estimated excess molar volume uncertainty is 2?×?10^?3 cm³ mol^?1. The substantiation of intermolecular interactions between the liquids is found to be significant in both experimental and prediction analysis of each sample. The exergy destruction specifies with 46% which includes the air flow and chemical heat energy transfer losses.

     

Thermomechanical properties of cured isophtalic polyester resin modified with poly(ε-caprolactone)

The effect of a low profile additive, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), on the thermal and mechanical properties of unsaturated polyester resins (UP) was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), and tensile tests. The morphology of the systems has been studied by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). Two PCL molecular mass were selected (PCL2: M _n = 2000 g mol⁻¹ and PCL50: M _n = 50000 g mol⁻¹) to analyze the influence of the molecular mass and the content of PCL on the UP resins and to establish the relation between thermomechanical behavior and morphology. DSC and DMTA glass transition temperatures (T _g) of the UP cured samples containing PCL indicate that PCL2 is miscible with UP whereas for UP + PCL50 system, T _g values are very close to the ones corresponding to neat UP. Besides in UP + PCL2 systems, one phase morphology is observed in which PCL2 would act as solvent of the reacting mixture along curing process; however, UP + PCL50 systems present phase-separated morphology. The presence of PCL2 and PCL50 in UP resin leads to a decrease of the tensile strength and the Young′s modulus as much notorious as the PCL concentration increases. For UP + PCL2 system the elongation at fracture increases in relation to neat UP, increasing as well with the PCL content.     

A variable temperature 1H NMR and DFT study of procyanidin B2 conformational interchange

Two procyanidin B2 conformers were identified in a relative abundance ratio of approximately 3:1 at 298 K by ¹H NMR experiments in acetonitrile. The conformational interchange reactions between these two conformers are 1st order in both reactions, with ?G^? for forward and reverse of 57.12?±?5.62 and 54.56?±?5.48 kJ mol^?1, respectively. The experimentally obtained standard thermodynamic energies for this reaction are ΔH⁰_rxn (3.67?±?0.22 kJ mol^?1), ΔS⁰_rxn (4.05?±?1.57 kJ mol^?1 K^?1), and ΔH⁰_rxn (2.96?±?0.33 kJ.mol^?1). Conformational search results at the DFT (PBE, PBE-D2, and B3LYP with 6-311++g**) level of theory yielded four novel conformations, named fully compact (FC), partially compact (PC), partially extended (PE), and fully extended (FE). Although the FC conformer is electronically the most stable of the four as a result of extensive intramolecular non-covalent interactions, the PC and FE conformers are thermodynamically favored in a 5:1 ratio (B3LYP), with the FC and PE conformers present in negligible amounts at equilibrium. The DFT computed standard reaction energies using the B3LYP functional for the PC_major to FE_minor conformational interchange reaction compare exceptionally well with experimental data at 298 K: ?G⁰_rxn (3.86 kJ mol^?1), ΔH⁰_rxn (5.34 kJ mol^?1), and ?S⁰_rxn (4.97 kJ mol^?1 K^?1). It was found that inclusion of solvation energies is crucial to obtain accurate thermodynamic energies. The secondary equilibria found in chromatographic separations are predicted to be highly dependent on solvent polarity and temperature. Similar conformational diversity and hierarchies should exist for all non-rigid procyanidin oligomers and the unique chromatographic behavior of these compounds may be a result of conformational interchange.

     

Silica aerogel-filled PMMA by in situ reverse atom transfer radical polymerization: kinetics and thermal studies

Hydrophobically modified silica aerogel nanoparticles (H-SiANp) were used for in situ polymerization of methyl methacrylate by reverse atom transfer radical polymerization to synthesize well-defined PMMA nanocomposites. Inherent characteristics of the prepared H-SiANp were evaluated by nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms, SEM, and TEM. Conversion and molecular weight determinations were carried out using GC and SEC, respectively. Addition of 3 mass% of the H-SiANp leads to decrement of conversion from 92 to 74%. Molecular weight of poly (methyl methacrylate) chains also decreases from 19,737 to 15,662 g mol^?1 by addition of only 3 mass% H-SiANp; however, PDI values increase from 1.36 to 1.82. Linear increase of ln(M₀/M) with time for all the samples shows that polymerization proceeds in a living manner. In addition, suitable agreement between theoretical and experimental molecular weight in combination with low PDI values can appropriately demonstrate the living nature of the polymerization. TG results indicate that by increasing H-SiANp content, improvements in thermal stability of the nanocomposites were obtained. DSC results show a decrease in glass transition temperature from 87.4 to 80.9 °C by addition of 3 mass% H-SiANp.

     

Study of pyrolysis kinetic of green corn husk

In this paper, it was suggested the use of green corn husk, which is a biomass from agro-industry, as an alternative source of energy through its pyrolysis. Green corn husk characterization was done through immediate and elemental analysis of its components: cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin. It was also measured its higher calorific value. The pyrolysis study of green corn husk was done by the isoconversion and the Master plots method. Thermogravimetric plots were obtained at heating rates of 5, 10, 15, and 20 °C min^?1. The pyrolysis kinetics parameters were studied through the Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO), Kissinger, and Friedman models. The Master plots method was used to determine the pyrolysis reaction order. The results of the reaction energy activation were found to be in the range 105.21–157.46 kJ mol^?1 by the FWO method, 150.50 kJ mol^?1 by the Kissinger method, and ranged 120.66–163.81 kJ mol^?1 by the Friedman method. The Master plots method showed a three-way-transport diffusional kinetics for the biomass de-volatilization process. The higher calorific value found for green corn husk was 16.14 MJ kg^?1. The simulation showed correlation between the experimental data and the proposed model for conversion values up to 0.8.

     

Preparation and characterization of nitrogen-rich bis-1-methylimidazole1H,1′H-5,5′-bistetrazole-1,1′-diolate energetic salt

A new nitrogen-rich energetic salt of bis-1-methylimidazole 1H,1′H-5,5′-bistetrazole-1,1′-diolate salt, (1-M)₂BTO, was synthesized and characterized (FT-IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, elemental analysis, and X-ray single-crystal diffraction). Results indicated that (1-M)₂BTO crystallizes in the triclinic space group P-1. The thermal decomposition behavior of (1-M)₂BTO was determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric tandem infrared spectroscopy. The decomposition peak temperature of (1-M)₂BTO was 530 K, which suggested that the salt is strong heat resistance. The apparent activation energies were 130.56 kJ mol^?1 (Kissinger’s method) and 132.50 kJ mol^?1 (Ozawa’s method), respectively. The enthalpy of formation for the salt was calculated as 917.3 kJ mol^?1. The detonation velocity and detonation pressure of (1-M)₂BTO were 7448 m s^?1 and 20.7 GPa, respectively, using the Kamlet-Jacobs equation. Furthermore, the sensitivity test results showed that its impact sensitivity is greater than 50 J and friction sensitivity is 180 N, indicating that it has a lower sensitivity.

     

Development of magnetic dispersive microsolid-phase extraction using lanthanum phosphate nanoparticles doped on magnetic graphene oxide as a highly selective adsorbent for pesticide residues analysis in water and fruit samples

Magnetic graphene oxide/lanthanum phosphate nanocomposite (MGO@LaP) was synthesized and used as an efficient adsorbent for magnetic dispersive microsolid-phase extraction (MD-µ-SPE) of pesticides before gas chromatography–electron capture detector (GC–ECD) analysis. The adsorbent was thoroughly characterized with scanning electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Optimized extraction conditions were investigated concerning extraction time, adsorbent amount, sample pH, and salt amount as well as desorption conditions (type and volume of desorption solvent and desorption time). Under the optimal conditions, the method demonstrated good linearity (3–1500 µg L^?1) with satisfactory determination coefficients of >?0.997 and low detection limits for both chlorpyrifos (0.67 µg L^?1) and hexaconazole (0.89 µg L^?1). Finally, the method showed high analyte relative recoveries in the range of 78–120% for the determination of the selected pesticides in water and fruit juice samples.

     

Non-isothermal pyrolysis of used lubricating oil and the catalytic effect of carbon-based nanomaterials on the process performance

Pyrolysis is a commonly used method for the recovery of used lubricating oil (ULO), which should be kinetically improved by a catalyst, due to its high level of energy consumption. In this research, the catalytic effects of carbon nanotube (CNT) and graphene nanoplatelets on the pyrolysis of ULO were studied through thermogravimetric analysis. First, the kinetic parameters of ULO pyrolysis including activation energy were calculated to be 170.12 and 167.01 kJ mol^?1 by FWO and KAS methods, respectively. Then, the catalytic effects of CNT and graphene nanoplatelets on pyrolysis kinetics were studied. While CNT had a negligible effect on the pyrolysis process, graphene nanoplatelets significantly reduced the temperature of maximum conversion during pyrolysis from 400 to 350 °C, due to high thermal conductivity and homogenous heat transfer in the pyrolysis process. On the other hand, graphene nanoplatelets maximized the rate of conversion of highly volatile components at lower temperatures (<?100 °C), which was mainly due to the high affinity of these components toward graphene nanoplatelets and also the effect of nanoplatelets’ edges which have free tails and can bond with other molecules. Moreover, graphene nanoplatelets decreased the activation energy of the conversion to 154.48 and 152.13 kJ mol^?1 by FWO and KAS methods, respectively.

     

The influence of reagents solvation on enthalpy change of glycine-ion protonation and silver(I) glycine-ion complexation in aqueous-dimethylsulfoxide solutions

The thermal decomposition process and non-isothermal decomposition kinetic of glyphosate were studied by the Differential thermal analysis (DTA) and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results showed that the thermal decomposition temperature of glyphosate was above 198?°C. And the decomposition process was divided into three stages: The zero stage is the decomposition of impurities, and the mass loss in the first and second stage may be methylene and carbonyl, respectively. The mechanism function and kinetic parameters of non-isothermal decomposition of glyphosate were obtained from the analysis of DTA?CTG curves by the methods of Kissinger, Flynn?CWall?COzawa, Distributed activation energy model, Doyle and ?atava-?esták, respectively. In the first stage, the kinetic equation of glyphosate decomposition obtained showed that the decomposition reaction is a Valensi equation of which is two-dimensional diffusion, 2D. Its activation energy and pre-exponential factor were obtained to be 201.10?kJ?mol^?1 and 1.15?×?10¹⁹?s^?1, respectively. In the second stage, the kinetic equation of glyphosate decomposition obtained showed that the decomposition reaction is a Avrami?CErofeev equation of which is nucleation and growth, and whose reaction order (n) is 4. Its activation energy and pre-exponential factor were obtained to be 251.11?kJ?mol^?1 and 1.48?×?10²¹?s^?1, respectively. Moreover, the results of thermodynamical analysis showed that enthalpy change of ??H ^??, entropy change of ??S ^?? and the change of Gibbs free energy of ??G ^?? were, respectively, 196.80?kJ?mol^?1,107.03?J?mol^?1?K^?1, and 141.77?kJ?mol^?1 in the first stage of the process of thermal decomposition; and 246.26?kJ?mol^?1,146.43?J?mol^?1?K^?1, and 160.82?kJ?mol^?1 in the second stage.     

Dynamic proton magnetic resonance studies on complex spin systems. Non-mutual three-spin exchange in N-(trideuteriomethyl)-2-cyanoaziridine

At room temperature and below, the proton NMR spectrum of N-(trideuteriomethyl)-2-cyanoaziridine consists of two superimposed ABC patterns assignable to two N-invertomers; a single time-averaged ABC pattern is observed at 158.9°C. The static parameters extracted from the spectra in the temperature range from –40.3 to 23.2°C and from the high-temperature spectrum permit the calculation of the thermodynamic quantities ΔH⁰ = ?475±20 cal mol^?1 (?1.987 ± 0.084 kJ mol^?1) and ΔS⁰ = 0.43±0.08 cal mol^?1 K^?1 (1.80±0.33 J mol^?1 K^?1) for the cis ? trans equilibrium. Bandshape analysis of the spectra broadened by non-mutual three-spin exchange in the temperature range from 39.4–137.8°C yields the activation parameters ΔH_tc^≠ = 17.52±0.18 kcal mol^?1 (73.30±0.75 kJ mol^?1), ΔS_tc^≠ = ?2.08±0.50 cal mol^?1 K^?1 (?8.70±2.09 J mol^?1 K^?1) and ΔG_tc^≠ (300 K) = 18.14±0.03 kcal mol^?1 (75.90±0.13 kJ mol^?1) for the trans → cis isomerization. An attempt is made to rationalize the observed entropy data in terms of the principles of statistical thermodynamics.     

Investigation of the bioenergy potential of microalgae Scenedesmus acuminatus by physicochemical characterization and kinetic analysis of pyrolysis

In this work, the bioenergy potential of green microalgae Scenedesmus acuminatus was evaluated through the psychochemical characteristics and kinetic study of pyrolysis, where the results indicate a good candidate for application in the thermochemical process due to its low moisture and ash content and high calorific value. Its thermal behavior under a heating rate of 10 °C min^?1 and inert atmosphere shows that decomposition occurs in two stages. Stage I (125–309 °C) involves the pyrolysis of carbohydrates and protein and stage II (309–501 °C) the pyrolysis of lipids. The Starink isoconversional method showed a better application for simulation curves, compared with methods of FWO and KAS. The average values of activated energy were 107.1 and 132.6 kJ mol^?1 for stages I and II, respectively, which indicates that pyrolysis occurs more easily in stage I than in stage II. The conversion rate curves show that the calculated kinetic parameters are satisfactory for the evaluation of the thermochemical systems.

     

Charge-transfer complexes of 4-nitrocatechol with some amino alcohols

Charge-transfer (CT) complexes formed from the reactions of 4-nitropyrocatechol (4-nCat) as an electron acceptor with four amino alcohols: 2-aminoethanol, 1-amino-2-propanol, 4-aminobutanol and N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1,3-diaminopropane (NHEDAP) as electron donors, have been studied spectrophotometrically in H₂O and H₂O/EtOH at 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 °C. The calculated values of the oscillator strength and transition moment confirm the formation of CT-complexes. The thermodynamic and spectroscopic parameters were also evaluated for the formation of CT-complexes. The equilibrium constants ranged from 9.00 to 2.20 l mol^?1 (M^?1). These interactions are exothermic and have relatively large standard enthalpy and entropy changes (ΔH values ranged from ?15.58 to ?3.10 kJ mol^?1; ΔS ranged from 26.81 to ?3.25 J K^?1 mol^?1). The solid CT-complexes have been synthesized and characterized by IR, NMR, mass spectrometry and thermal analysis. The photometric titration curves and other spectrometric data for the reactions indicated that the data obtained refer to the formation of 1:1 charge-transfer complex of [(4-nCat) (NHEDAP)] and 1:2 charge-transfer complexes of other amino alcohols [(4-nCat) (amino alcohol)₂]. The effect of alkali and alkaline earth metals on increasing the equilibrium constant of the CT-complexation was also investigated.     

Detection mass bias in atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry

A previously uncharacterized source of detection mass bias is shown to be associated with atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry (APIMS), and is attributed to a mass dependence in the sampling of ions from the supersonic free jet expansion of gas emerging from the ion source. The halide ions Cl ^?, Br^?, and I^? are shown to be transported from the ion source aperture to a quadrupole mass filter with efficiencies that increase linearly with increasing mass of the ion. While the polyatomic anions SF ₆ ^- and C₇F ₁₄ ^- are detected with even greater efficiencies than would be expected for monatomic anions of the same mass, this additional sensitivity to the polyatomic anions is thought to be related to ion loss processes occurring within the ion source. The experimental conditions under which these mass bias effects can be minimized or enhanced in APIMS are described.     

Crystallization kinetics of isotactic polypropylene nucleated with octamethylenedicarboxylic dibenzoylhydrazide under isothermal and non-isothermal conditions

Octamethylenedicarboxylic dibenzoylhydrazide (TMC-300) was used as a nucleating agent for isotactic polypropylene (iPP) for the first time. The Avrami method and the Caze method were used to analyze the isothermal and non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of iPP incorporated with TMC-300, respectively. During isothermal crystallization, the half crystallization time at 130 °C reduces from 130 s of virgin iPP to 44 s after addition of TMC-300, which reflects that TMC-300 increased the crystallization rate of iPP obviously. The crystallization activation energy decreases from 382.5 kJ mol^?1 of virgin iPP to 275.3 kJ mol^?1 of iPP/TMC-300. During non-isothermal crystallization, the crystallization peak temperature of iPP nucleated with TMC-300 was increased by 5.1 °C when compared to that of virgin iPP at the cooling rate of 20 °C min^?1, and both the reduction of half crystallization time and the increase in peak crystallization temperature also justified that the addition of TMC-300 accelerated the crystallization of iPP.

     

Optimization and mass transfer simulation of remazol brilliant blue R dye adsorption onto meranti wood based activated carbon

Remazol brilliant blue R dye (RBBR) brings toxicity to living organisms once it enters the environment. This study utilized response surface methodology (RSM) and Polymath software for optimization and mass transfer simulation purposes, respectively. RSM revealed that the optimum preparation conditions of meranti wood-based activated carbon (MWAC) were 441 W, 5.76 min, and 1.35 g/g for radiation power, radiation time, and KOH:char impregnation ratio (IR), respectively, which translated into 86.39 mg/g of RBBR uptakes and 31.94 % of MWAC’s yield. The simulation study predicted the mass transfer rate, r_m to be 112.20 to 1007.50 s^?1 and the adsorption rate, k₁ to be 3.96 to 4.34 h^?1. The developed model predicted the adsorption surface area, a_m to be 790.04 m²/g and this value is highly accurate as compared to the actual mesopores surface area of 825.58 m²/g. Mechanism analysis divulged that the interaction that occurred between RBBR molecules and MWAC’s surface were hydrogen bond (methylene and alkyne), dipole–dipole force (alkyl carbonate, terminal alkyne, and methoxy), and ion–dipole force (primary amine). The isotherm and kinetic studies found that the adsorption data obeyed the Freundlich model and pseudo-first-order (PFO) model the best, respectively. The Langmuir maximum adsorption capacity, Q_m was computed to be 327.33 mg/g. Thermodynamic parameters were calculated to be ?4.06 kJ mol^?1, 0.06 kJ mol^?1 K^?1, –22.69 kJ mol^?1, and 16.03 kJ mol^?1 for ΔH°, ΔS°, ΔG°, and E_a, respectively, which signified the adsorption process studied was exothermic, spontaneous and governed by physisorption.