Phase behaviour of heavy petroleum fractions in pure propane and n-butane and with methanol as co-solvent

This work reports phase equilibrium experimental results for heavy petroleum fractions in pure propane and n-butane as primary solvents and using methanol as co-solvent. Three kinds of oils were investigated from Marlim petroleum: a relatively light fraction coming from the first distillation of crude petroleum at atmospheric pressure (GOP – heavy gas oil of petroleum), the residue of such distillation (RAT) and the crude petroleum sample. Phase equilibrium measurements were performed in a high-pressure, variable-volume view cell, following the static synthetic method, over the temperature range of 323 K to 393 K, pressures up to 10 MPa and overall compositions of heavy component varying from 1 wt% to 40 wt%. Transition pressures for low methanol and oil concentrations were very close for GOP, RAT, and crude Marlim when using propane as the primary solvent. Close to propane critical temperature, two and three-phase transitions were observed for GOP and Marlim when methanol was increased. When n-butane was used as primary solvent, all transitions observed were of (vapour + liquid) type with transition pressure values smaller than those obtained for propane.     

Application of Box–Behnken design in the optimisation of an on-line pre-concentration system using knotted reactor for cadmium determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

The present paper proposes an on-line pre-concentration system for cadmium determination in drinking water using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Cadmium(II) ions are retained as 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) complex at the walls of a knotted reactor, followed of elution using hydrochloric acid solution. The optimization was performed in two steps using factorial design for preliminary evaluation and a Box–Behnken design for determination of the critical experimental conditions. The variables involved were: sampling flow-rate, reagent concentration, pH and buffer concentration, and as response the analytical signal (absorbance). The validation process was performed considering the parameters: linearity and other characteristics of the calibration curve, analytical features of on-line pre-concentration system, precision, effect of other ions in the pre-concentration system and accuracy. Using the optimized experimental conditions, the procedure allows cadmium determination with a detection limit (3 σ / S) of 0.10 μg L^− 1, a quantification limit (10 σ / S) of 0.33 μg L⁻¹, and a precision, calculated as relative standard deviation (RSD) of 2.7% (n = 7) and 2.4% (n = 7) for cadmium concentrations of 5 and 25 μg L^− 1, respectively. A pre-concentration factor of 18 and a sampling frequency of 48 h⁻¹ were obtained. The recovery for cadmium in the presence of several ions demonstrated that this procedure could be applied for the analysis of water samples. The method was applied for cadmium determination in drinking water samples collected in Salvador City, Brazil. The cadmium concentrations found in five samples were lower than the maximum permissible levels established by the World Health Organization.     

Viscosities and refractive indices of binary mixtures of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate and 1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate with water at 298 K

Viscosities and refractive indices have been determined for (water + 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate) and (water + 1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate) mixtures at 298.15 K, over the whole composition range. The refractive indices were compared with the predictions of the Lorentz–Lorenz, Wiener, and Gladstone–Dale equations. Viscosity deviations (Δη) and refractive index deviations (Δn_D) have been calculated and fitted to the Redlich–Kister polynomial equations. Δn_D are positive whereas Δη are negative over the entire mixture composition for the two salts. The influence of the structure of imidazolium cation on the above physicochemical properties was discussed.     

Photochemical vapor generation of carbonyl for ultrasensitive atomic fluorescence spectrometric determination of cobalt

UV photochemical vapor generation (photo-CVG) as sample introduction was first adapted for determination of ultratrace cobalt by atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS). Cobalt volatile species can be generated when the buffer system of formic acid and formate containing Co (II) is exposed to UV radiation. The generated gaseous products were separated from liquid phase within a gas–liquid separator and then transported to AFS for determination of cobalt. Factors affecting the efficiency of photo-CVG were investigated in detail, including type and concentration of low molecular weight (LMW) organic acid, buffer system, UV irradiation time, reaction temperature, carrier gas flow rate and hydrogen flow rate. With 4% (v/v) HCOOH and 0.4 mol L^− 1 HCOONa buffer solution, 150 s irradiation time and 15 W low pressure mercury lamp, a generation efficiency of 23–25% was achieved. A limit of detection (LOD) of 0.08 ng mL^− 1 without any pre-concentration procedure and a precision of 2.2% (RSD, n = 11) at 20 ng mL^− 1 were obtained under the optimized conditions. The proposed method was successfully applied in the analysis of several simple matrix real water samples.     

Direct determination of trace rare earth elements in ancient porcelain samples with slurry sampling electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

A method for the direct determination of trace rare earth elements in ancient porcelain samples by slurry sampling fluorinating electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was developed with the use of polytetrafluoroethylene as fluorinating reagent. It was found that Si, as a main matrix element in ancient porcelain sample, could be mostly removed at the ashing temperature of 1200 °C without considerable losses of the analytes. However, the chemical composition of ancient porcelain sample is very complicated, which makes the influences resulting from other matrix elements not be ignored. Therefore, the matrix effect of ancient porcelain sample was also investigated, and it was found that the matrix effect is obvious when the matrix concentration was larger than 0.8 g l^− 1. The study results of particle size effect indicated that when the sample particle size was less than 0.057 mm, the particle size effect is negligible. Under the optimized operation conditions, the detection limits for rare earth elements by fluorinating electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry were 0.7 ng g^− 1 (Eu)–33.3 ng g^− 1(Nd) with the precisions of 4.1% (Yb)–10% (La) (c = 1 μg l^− 1, n = 9). The proposed method was used to directly determine the trace rare earth elements in ancient porcelain samples produced in different dynasty (Sui, Ming and Qing), and the analytical results are satisfactory.     

Internal pressure and solubility parameter as a function of pressure

The main goal of this work was to measure the solubility parameter of a complex mixture, such as a crude oil, especially as a function of pressure. Thus, its definition is explained, as well as the main approximations generally used in literature. Then, the internal pressure is investigated, since it is presented as an alternative of the solubility parameter. In this work, the assumption that internal pressure is a measure of the physical solubility parameter was made, i.e. representing the dispersion and polar forces. As for the pressure influence, it was seen that internal pressure reaches a maximum contrary to solubility parameter.An indirect method was chosen to estimate internal pressure, using thermal expansivities (determined by microcalorimetry) and isothermal compressibilities (determined by density measurements). The uncertainty is within 2% for the expansivity and 0.1% for the density. Five pure compounds (four hydrocarbons and 1 alcohol) were investigated at 303.15 K and up to 30 MPa, as well as a dead crude oil. The “physical” solubility parameter is slightly increasing with pressure (up to 0.8 MPa^1/2 for cyclohexane) and, at 0.1 MPa, the difference with literature data is less than 1 MPa^1/2 for hydrocarbons. On the contrary, the difference reaches 9 MPa^1/2 for ethanol as expected, due to the presence of hydrogen bonding. A dead crude oil was also studied and its solubility parameter is within the expected range.Two cubic equations of states (Peng–Robinson and Soave–Redlich–Kwong) were able to approximate the “physical” solubility parameter of n-heptane (within 0.2 MPa^1/2), providing that the volumes were measured and used as input. The Peng–Robinson equation gave somewhat better results.     

Ecballium elaterium (L.) A. Rich. seed oil: Chemical composition and antiproliferative effect on human colonic adenocarcinoma and fibrosarcoma cancer cell lines

In this work the physicochemical characteristics including fatty acids, tocopherols and sterols composition of Ecballium elaterium (L.) A. Rich seed oil was determined. Results showed that linoleic acid (48.64%) and punicic acid (22.38%) were the major polyunsaturated fatty acids. Among the phytosterols, β-sitosterol was the most abundant (396.25 mg/100 g), while the major tocopherol form was γ-tocopherol (44.23 mg/100 g). In addition, we evaluated for the first time the effect of E. elaterium seed oil on the growth of human colonic adenocarcinoma (HT29) and fibrosarcoma (HT1080) cell lines. The original finding was its potent antiproliferative effect on both tumour cell lines. This effect was dose-dependent, with half-maximal inhibition values of IC₅₀ = 4.86 μg/ml and 4.16 μg/ml respectively. This pilot study opens the way for further investigation about the potential use of E. elaterium as an anticancer agent.     

Cu determination in crude oil distillation products by atomic absorption and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry after analyte transfer to aqueous solution

Cu was determined in a wide range of petroleum products from crude oil distillation using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Different procedures of sample preparation were evaluated: (i) mineralization with sulfuric acid in an open system, (ii) mineralization in a closed microwave system, (iii) combustion in hydrogen–oxygen flame in the Wickbold's apparatus, (iv) matrix evaporation followed by acid dissolution, and (v) acidic extraction. All the above procedures led to the transfer of the analyte into an aqueous solution for the analytical measurement step. It was found that application of FAAS was limited to the analysis of the heaviest petroleum products of high Cu content. In ICP-MS, the use of internal reference method (with Rh or In as internal reference element) was required to eliminate the matrix effects in the analysis of extracts and the concentrated solutions of mineralized heavy petroleum products. The detection limits (in original samples) were equal to, respectively, 10, 86, 3.3, 0.9 and 0.4 ng g^− 1 in procedures i–v with ETAAS detection and 10, 78, 1.1 and 0.5 ng g^− 1 in procedures i–iii and v with ICP-MS detection. The procedures recommended here were validated by recovery experiments, certified reference materials analysis and comparison of results, obtained for a given sample, in different ways. The Cu content in the analyzed samples was: 50–110 ng g^− 1 in crude oil, < 0.4–6 ng g^− 1 in gasoline, < 0.5–2 ng g^− 1 in atmospheric oil, < 6–100 ng g^− 1 in heavy vacuum oil and 140–300 ng g^− 1 in distillation residue.     

Solubility of hyperbranched polymer,Boltorn W-3000, in alcohols,ethers and hydrocarbons

(Solid/liquid + liquid) phase diagrams at ambient pressure have been determined for the hyperbranched polymer, Boltorn W3000 with alcohols (methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 1-hexanol, 1-decanol), or with ethers (tert-butyl methyl ether, tert-butyl ethyl ether), or with hydrocarbons (n-hexane, n-heptane, benzene, toluene) by a dynamic method from T = 240 K to the boiling temperature of the solvent. (Solid + liquid) phase equilibria with immiscibility in the liquid phase were detected for B-W3000 with the alcohols and aliphatic hydrocarbons. The upper critical solution temperatures, UCSTs, were measured for (B-W3000 + 1-hexanol and 1-decanol) systems. The experimental results of (solid + liquid) phase equilibria have been correlated using NRTL equation.     

Ion-pairing and reversed phase liquid chromatography for the determination of three different quinolones: Enrofloxacin,lomefloxacin and ofloxacin

Two simple and sensitive high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) methods have been developed for the simultaneous determination of three different quinolones: enrofloxacin, lomefloxacin and ofloxacin in their pure and dosage forms, one with reversed phase HPLC and the other with ion-pair HPLC. In reversed phase HPLC, method (A), the mobile phase consists of 2.18% aqueous solution of KH₂PO₄ with pH adjusted to 2.4 ± 0.2 with acetonitrile (80:20; v/v), the mobile phase pumped at flow rate of 1.2 ml min^?1. A Neucleosil C₁₈ column (10 μm, 100 Å), 250 mm length × 4.6 mm diameter was utilized as stationary phase. Detection was affected spectrophotometrically at 294 nm. While in ion-pair HPLC, method (B), the mobile phase was aqueous solution of 0.65% sodium perchlorate and 0.31% ammonium acetate adjusted to pH 2.2 ± 0.2 with orthophosphoric acid: acetonitrile (81:19; v/v), the mobile phase pumped at flow rate of 1.5 ml min^?1. A μ bondapack C₁₈ column (10 μm, 100 Å), 250 mm length × 4.6 mm diameter was utilized as stationary phase. Detection was affected spectrophotometrically at 294 nm. Linearity ranges for enrofloxacin, lomefloxacin and ofloxacin were 4.0–108, 7.0–112 and 8.0–113 μg ml^?1, respectively using method A and 8.0–112, 7.0–112 and 5.0–105 μg ml^?1, respectively applying method B. Minimum detection limits obtained were 0.013, 0.023 and 0.035 μg ml^?1 for enrofloxacin, lomefloxacin and ofloxacin, respectively using method A, and 0.028, 0.023 and 0.011 μg ml^?1 using method B. The proposed methods were further applied to the analysis of enrofloxacin in injection and tablets containing the ofloxacin and lomefloxacin drugs, and the results were satisfied.     

Onboard calibration igneous targets for the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover and the Chemistry Camera laser induced breakdown spectroscopy instrument

Accurate characterization of the Chemistry Camera (ChemCam) laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) on-board composition targets is of prime importance for the ChemCam instrument. The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) science and operations teams expect ChemCam to provide the first compositional results at remote distances (1.5–7 m) during the in situ analyses of the Martian surface starting in 2012. Thus, establishing LIBS reference spectra from appropriate calibration standards must be undertaken diligently. Considering the global mineralogy of the Martian surface, and the possible landing sites, three specific compositions of igneous targets have been determined. Picritic, noritic, and shergottic glasses have been produced, along with a Macusanite natural glass. A sample of each target will fly on the MSL Curiosity rover deck, 1.56 m from the ChemCam instrument, and duplicates are available on the ground. Duplicates are considered to be identical, as the relative standard deviation (RSD) of the composition dispersion is around 8%. Electronic microprobe and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA ICP-MS) analyses give evidence that the chemical composition of the four silicate targets is very homogeneous at microscopic scales larger than the instrument spot size, with RSD < 5% for concentration variations > 0.1 wt.% using electronic microprobe, and < 10% for concentration variations > 0.01 wt.% using LA ICP-MS. The LIBS campaign on the igneous targets performed under flight-like Mars conditions establishes reference spectra for the entire mission. The LIBS spectra between 240 and 900 nm are extremely rich, hundreds of lines with high signal-to-noise, and a dynamical range sufficient to identify unambiguously major, minor and trace elements. For instance, a first LIBS calibration curve has been established for strontium from [Sr] = 284 ppm to [Sr] = 1480 ppm, showing the potential for the future calibrations for other major or minor elements.     

(Solid + liquid) equilibria of (naphthalene + isomeric dichlorobenzenes)

(Solid + liquid) equilibria (SLE) have been measured for naphthalene + o-dichlorobenzene, + m-dichlorobenzene, and + p-dichlorobenzene using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) over the whole concentration range. It was found that the phase diagram of (naphthalene + m-dichlorobenzene) is of a simple eutectic type with the eutectic point at 244.85 K and 0.058 mole fraction of naphthalene, the phase diagram of (naphthalene + p-dichlorobenzene) is of a simple eutectic type with the eutectic point at 302.85 K and 0.390 mole fraction of naphthalene and in the system of (naphthalene + o-dichlorobenzene), a 1:1 incongruently melting compound is formed and that the phase diagram show a eutectic and a peritectic, the eutectic point is at 232.55 K and 0.130 mole fraction of naphthalene, the peritectic point at 250.15 K and 0.077 mole fraction of naphthalene. Furthermore, the activity coefficients of components in mixtures of (naphthalene + m-dichlorobenzene) and (naphthalene + p-dichlorobenzene) have been correlated by the Scatchard–Hildebrand solubility parameter expression. This approach offers a useful procedure for estimating with good accuracy.     

Isobaric (vapour + liquid) equilibria of binary systems containing butyl acetate for the separation of methoxy aromatic compounds (anisole and guaiacol) from biomass fast pyrolysis oil

Developing value-added chemicals from pyrolysis oil has been gaining increasing attention. Thus effective separation and purification of the pyrolysis oil are important and the phase equilibrium data are essential for the design and simulation of the processes. In this study, isobaric vapour–liquid equilibrium (VLE) for the two binary mixtures (butyl acetate + anisole) and (butyl acetate + guaiacol) have been determined at 101.33 kPa, a knowledge of which is essential for the separation of methoxy aromatic compounds (anisole and guaiacol) from biomass fast pyrolysis oil using butyl acetate as a solvent. All the experimental values were confirmed to be thermodynamically consistent using the van Ness method. The NRTL, UNIQUAC, and Wilson activity coefficient models were applied to regress the experimental values. The calculated results agreed well with the measured values. Furthermore, the results were calculated by the UNIFAC (Do) method (modified UNIFAC model) in which aromatic methoxyl is treated as a group (ACOCH₃). The new interaction parameter (ACOCH₃–CH₃COO) was obtained and proved to be reliable. Based on the preceding results, a feasible separation process for the ternary mixture (butyl acetate + anisole + guaiacol) has been designed to obtain the required products.     

Ternary (liquid + liquid) equilibria of {trifluorotris(perfluoroethyl)phosphate based ionic liquids + thiophene + heptane}

Ternary (liquid + liquid) equilibria for three systems containing ionic liquids {(4-(2-methoxyethyl)-4-methylmorpholinium trifluorotris(perfluoroethyl)phosphate, 1-(2-methoxyethyl)-1-methylpiperidinium trifluorotris(perfluoroethyl)phosphate, 1-(2-methoxyethyl)-1-methylpyrrolidinium trifluorotris(perfluoroethyl)phosphate) + thiophene + heptane} have been determined at T = 298.15 K. All systems showed high solubility of thiophene in the ionic liquid and low solubility of heptane. The solute distribution coefficient and the selectivity were calculated for all systems. High values of selectivity were obtained. The experimental results have been correlated using NRTL model. The influence of ionic liquid structure on phase equilibria is discussed.     

Phase diagrams of binary systems containing n-alkanes,or cyclohexane,or 1-alkanols and 2,3-pentanedione at atmospheric and high pressure

Phase equilibria, for the binary systems {n-alkanes (tridecane, octadecane, or eicosane), or cyclohexane, or 1-alkanol (1-hexadecanol, or 1-octadecanol, or 1-eicosanol) + 2,3-pentanedione} have been determined using a cryometric dynamic method at atmospheric pressure. The influence of pressure on liquidus curve up to 800 MPa was determined for (tridecane, or cyclohexane + 2,3-pentanedione) systems. A thermostated apparatus for the measurements of transition pressures from the liquid to the solid state in two component isothermal solutions (pressometry) was used. The freezing and melting temperatures at a constant composition increase monotonously with pressure. The high-pressure experimental results obtained at isothermal conditions (p–x) were interpolated to well known T–x diagrams.Immiscibility in the liquid phase was observed only for the n-alkanes mixtures. The solubility decreases with an increase of the number of carbon atoms in the n-alkane, or 1-alkanol chain. The higher intermolecular solute–solvent interaction was observed for the 1-alkanols.Experimental solubility results are compared with values calculated by means of the NRTL equation (n-alkanes) and the NRTL and UNIQUAC ASM equations utilizing parameters derived from SLE and LLE results. The existence of a solid–solid first-order phase transition in tridecane, eicosane and 1-alkanols has been taken into consideration in the calculations. The correlation of the solubility data has been obtained with the average root-mean-square deviation of temperature σ < 1.0 K with both equations. The pressure–temperature–composition relation of the high-pressure (solid + liquid) phase equilibria, was satisfactorily presented by the polynomial.     

Dithizone–chloroform single drop microextraction system combined with electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry using Ir as permanent modifier for the determination of Cd in water and biological samples

A simple and sensitive method using dithizone–chloroform single drop microextraction has been developed for separation and preconcentration of trace Cd prior to its determination by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry with Ir as permanent modifier. Parameters, such as pyrolysis and atomization temperature, solvent type, pH, dithizone concentration, extraction time, organic drop volume, stirring rate and sample volume were investigated. Under the optimized conditions, a detection limit (3σ) of 0.7 ng/l and enrichment factor of 65 were achieved. The relative standard deviation was 7.4% (c = 0.2 μg/l, n = 5). The developed method has been applied to the determination of trace Cd in water samples and biological reference materials with satisfactory results.     

Effects of H3PO4 and KOH in carbonization of lignocellulosic material

Samples of lignocellulosic material, stem of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera), were carbonized at different temperatures (400–600 °C) to investigate the effects of their impregnation with aqueous solution of either phosphoric acid (85 wt%) or potassium hydroxide (3 wt%). The products were characterized using BET nitrogen adsorption, helium pycnometry, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and oil adsorption from oil–water emulsion (oil viscosity, 60 mPa s at 25 °C). True densities of the products generally increased with increase in carbonization temperature. Impregnated samples (acid/base) showed wider differences in densities at 400 (1.978/1.375 g/cm³) than at 600 °C (1.955/2.010 g/cm³). Without impregnation, the sample carbonized at 600 °C showed higher density of 2.190 g/cm³. This sample has impervious surface with BET surface area of 124 m²/g. Acid-impregnated sample carbonized at 500 °C has the highest surface area of 1100 m²/g and most regular pores as evidenced by SEM micrographs. The amounts of oil adsorbed decreased with increase in carbonization temperature. Without impregnation, sample carbonized at 400 °C exhibited equilibrium adsorption of 4 g/g which decreases to about a half for sample carbonized at 600 °C. Impregnation led to different adsorptive capacities. There are respective increase (48 wt%) and decrease (5 wt%) by the acid- or base-impregnated samples carbonized at 600 °C. This suggests higher occurrence of oil adsorption-enhancing surface functional groups such as carbonyl, carboxyl and phenolic in the former sample.     

Phase equilibria study of the (N-octylisoquinolinium thiocyanate ionic liquid + aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon,or thiophene) binary systems

Binary liquid + liquid phase equilibria for 8 systems containing N-octylisoquinolinium thiocyanate, [C₈iQuin][SCN] and aliphatic hydrocarbon (n-hexane, n-heptane), cyclohexane, aromatic hydrocarbon (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, n-propylbenzene) and thiophene have been determined using dynamic method. The experiment was carried out from room temperature to the boiling-point of the solvent at atmospheric pressure. For the tested binary systems the mutual immiscibility with an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) for {IL + aliphatic hydrocarbon, or thiophene} were observed. The immiscibility gap with lower critical solution temperature (LCST) for the {IL + aromatic hydrocarbon} were determined. The parameters of the LLE correlation equation for the tested binary systems have been derived using NRTL equation. The phase equilibria diagrams presented in this paper are compared with literature data for the corresponding ionic liquids with N-alkylisoquinolinium, or N-alkylquinolinium cation and with thiocyanate – based ionic liquids. The influence of the ionic liquid structure on mutual solubility with aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons and thiophene is discussed.     

Phase transitions on (liquid + liquid) equilibria for (water + 1-methylnaphthalene + light aromatic hydrocarbon) ternary systems at T = (563, 573, and 583) K

Phase transitions for (water + 1-methylnaphthalene + light aromatic hydrocarbon) ternary systems are observed at their (liquid + liquid) equilibria at T = (563, 573, and 583) K and (8.6 to 25.0) MPa. The phase transition pressures at T = (563, 573, and 583) K were measured for the five species of light aromatic hydrocarbons, o-, m-, p-xylenes, ethylbenzene, and mesitylene. The measurements of the phase transition pressures were carried out by changing the feed mole fraction of water and 1-methylnaphthalene in water free, respectively. Effects of the feed mole fraction of water on the phase transition pressures are very small. Increasing the feed mole fraction of 1-methylnaphthalene results in decreasing the phase transition pressures at constant temperature. The slopes depending on the feed mole fraction for 1-methylnaphthalene at the phase transition pressures are decreased with increasing temperature for (water + 1-methylnaphthalene + p-xylene), (water + 1-methylnaphthalene + o-xylene), and (water + 1-methylnaphthalene + mesitylene) systems. For xylene isomers, the highest and lowest of the phase transition pressures are obtained in the case of p- and o-xylenes, respectively. The phase transition pressures for ethylbenzene are lower than those in the case of p-xylene. The similar phase transition pressures are given for p-xylene and mesitylene.