Combination of ultrasonic extraction and stripping analysis: an effective and reliable way for the determination of Cu and Pb in lubricating oils

The determination of metals in lubricating oil has been used as an important way to prevent components failures, to provide environmental information and in some cases, to identify adulteration. In this work, an effective and simple procedure is proposed for Cu and Pb determination in lubricating oils. An ultrasonic bath was employed for extraction of these elements from oil samples in a mixture 1:1 (v/v) of concentrated HCl and H₂O₂. A very efficient extraction of Cu and Pb (∼100%) was attained after 30 min of ultrasound, allowing the simultaneous determination of both metals using square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry at thin-film gold electrodes. The extraction procedure was performed in 4 mL polypropylene closed vessels and dozens of samples could be treated simultaneously in the same ultrasonic bath. The regions of the ultrasonic bath, where the maximum efficiency of extraction was attained were evaluated. Over the optimized region, 30 samples can be treated simultaneously. Used lubricating oils from automotive engines were analyzed by using the optimized extraction procedure.     

Determination of aluminum by electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy in lubricating oils emulsified in a sequential injection analysis system

The sequential injection (SIA) technique was applied for the on-line preparation of an “oil in water” microemulsion and for the determination of aluminum in new and used lubricating oils by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET AAS) with Zeeman-effect background correction. Respectively, 1.0, 0.5 and 1.0 ml of surfactants mixture, sample and co-surfactant (sec-butanol) solutions were sequentially aspirated to a holding coil. The sonication and repetitive change of the flowing direction improved the stability of the different emulsion types (oil in water, water in oil and microemulsion). The emulsified zone was pumped to fill the sampling arm of the spectrometer with a sub-sample of 200 μl. Then, 10 μl of this sample solution were introduced by means of air displacement in the graphite tube atomizer. This sequence was timed to synchronize with the previous introduction of 15 μg of Mg(NO₃)₂ (in a 10 μl) by the spectrometer autosampler. The entire SIA system was controlled by a computer, independent of the spectrometer. The furnace program was carried out by employing a heating cycle in four steps: drying (two steps at 110 and 130 °C), pyrolisis (at 1500 °C), atomization (at 2400 °C) and cleaning (at 2400 °C). The calibration graph was linear from 7.7 to 120 μg Al l⁻¹. The characteristic mass (mo) was 33.2 pg/0.0044 s and the detection limit was 2.3 μg Al l⁻¹. The relative standard (RSD) of the method, evaluated by replicate analyses of different lubricating oil samples varied in all cases between 1.5 and 1.7%, and the recovery values found in the analysis of spiked samples ranged from 97.2 to 100.4%. The agreement between the observed and reference values obtained from two NIST Standard Certified Materials was good. The method was simple and satisfactory for determining aluminum in new and used lubricating oils.     

Polymethacrylates: Pour point depressants in diesel oil

A variety of techniques have been employed in order to reduce problems caused by the crystallization of paraffin during the production and/or transportation of paraffin oils and derivatives. Methacrylate copolymers are known as additives which reduce the pour point of these oils. This paper describes the synthesis, characterization and performance evaluation of these copolymers, having as an initial step the synthesis of the alkyl methacrylate monomers by transesterification of methyl methacrylate (MMA) with C₁₄, C₁₆ and C₁₈ fatty alcohols. The copolymerization of these monomers with MMA was then performed, with molar ratios of 30:70, 50:50 and 70:30 for alkyl methacrylate:methyl methacrylate. All products were characterized by FTIR, ¹H NMR and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). All the methacrylic copolymers lead to a large reduction in the pour point of samples of Brazilian diesel oil. Oil samples containing 50 ppm of the polymeric additive with ca. 70% octadecyl methacrylate units showed a 22 °C reduction in their pour points, thus establishing the large efficiency of the products synthesized in this work.     

Determination of hydrogen sulfide and volatile thiols in air samples by mercury probe derivatization coupled with liquid chromatography-atomic fluorescence spectrometry

A new procedure is proposed for the sampling and storage of hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) and volatile thiols (methanethiol or methyl mercaptan, ethanethiol and propanethiol) for their determination by liquid chromatography. The sampling procedure is based on the trapping/pre-concentration of the analytes in alkaline aqueous solution containing an organic mercurial probe p-hydroxymercurybenzoate, HO-Hg-C₆H₄-COO⁻ (PHMB), where they are derivatized to stable PHMB complexes based on mercury-sulfur covalent bonds. PHMB complexes are separated on a C₁₈ reverse phase column, allowing their determination by liquid chromatography coupled with sequential non-selective UV-vis (DAD) and mercury specific (chemical vapor generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry, CVGAFS) on-line detectors. PHMB complexes, S(PHMB)₂CH₃S-PHMB, C₂H₅S-PHMB and C₃H₇S-PHMB, are stable alt least for 12 h at room temperature and for 3 months if stored frozen (−20 °C).The best analytical figures of merits in the optimized conditions were obtained by CVGAFS detection, with detection limits (LODc) of 9.7 μg L⁻¹ for H₂S, 13.7 μg L⁻¹ for CH₃SH, 17.7 μg L⁻¹ for C₂H₅SH and 21.7 μg L⁻¹ for C₃H₇SH in the trapping solution in form of RS-PHMB complexes, the relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) ranging between 1.0 and 1.5%, and a linear dynamic range (LDR) between 10 and 9700 μg L⁻¹. Conventional UV absorbance detectors tuned at 254 nm can be employed as well with comparable R.S.D. and LDR, but with LODc one order of magnitude higher than AFS detector and lower specificity. The sampling procedure followed by LC-DAD-CVGAFS analysis has been validated, as example, for H₂S determination by a certified gas permeation tube as a source of 3.071 ± 0.154 μg min⁻¹ of H₂S, giving a recovery of 99.8 ± 7% and it has been applied to the determination of sulfur compounds in real gas samples (biogas and the air of a plant for fractional distillation of crude oil).     

Diorgano-gallium and -indium complexes with N-heterocyclic carboxylic acids: Synthesis, characterization and structures of [Me2M(O2C-C5H4N)]2, M = Ga or In

The reaction of triorgano-gallium and -indium etherate with heterocyclic carboxylic acids in benzene at room temperature yields complexes of the type [R₂M(L)]_n(M = Ga or In; R = Me or Et; L = 2-(C₅H₄N)CO₂, 2-(C₄H₃N₂)CO₂ or 2-(C₉H₆N)CO₂). These complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-vis, NMR (¹H and ¹³C{¹H}) and mass spectral data. Complexes with L = (C₅H₄N)CO₂- and (C₉H₆N)CO₂- showed photoluminescence on excitation with ∼250 or ∼310 nm radiation, respectively. Single crystal X-ray structural analysis of [Me₂M(O₂C-C₅H₄N-2)]₂ (M = Ga or In), revealed a dimeric structure with five-coordinate metal atoms arising from the presence of two tridentate bridging picolinate ligands.     

Thermodynamics of 2D polymerized tetragonal phase of fullerene C60 in the range from T→0 to 650 K at standard pressure

By dynamic calorimetry the temperature dependence of heat capacity for two-dimensional (2D) polymerized tetragonal phase of C₆₀ has been determined over the 300-650 K range at standard pressure mainly with an uncertainty ±1.5%. In the range 490-550 K, an irreversible endothermic transition of the phase, caused by the depolymerization of the polymer, has been found and characterized. Based on the experimental data obtained and literature information, the thermodynamic functions of 2D polymerized tetragonal phase of C₆₀, namely, the heat capacity C°_p(T), enthalpy H°(T)−H°(0), entropy S°(T), and Gibbs function G°(T)−H°(0), have been calculated over the range from T→0 to 490 K. From 150 to 330 K in an adiabatic vacuum calorimeter and between 330 and 650 K in a dynamic calorimeter the thermodynamic properties of the depolymerization products have been examined and compared with the corresponding data for the monomeric phase C₆₀.     

Catalytic conversions in green aqueous media: Part 4. Selective hydrogenation of polyunsaturated methyl esters of vegetable oils for upgrading biodiesel

This study deals with the influence of operating parameters on the selective hydrogenation of crude polyunsaturated methyl esters of linseed, sunflower and soybean oils in order to achieve high selectivities up to 79.8 mol% of monounsaturated (C18:1) fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) which is 1st generation biodiesel of increased oxidative stability, energy and environmental performance at a low pour point employing water-soluble Rh/TPPTS catalytic complexes [TPPTS = P(C₆H₄-m-SO₃Na)₃] in green aqueous/organic two-phase systems. This study also discloses the great potential of biphasic selective catalytic hydrogenation to produce 2nd generation biodiesel from polyunsaturated FAME of alternative, non-food oil feedstocks which are originally not suitable for biodiesel production or give poor quality biodiesel but combine the advantage that they would not affect food production. Because the mixture of methyl esters of linseed oil mainly consists of C18:3 FAME it constitutes a good model to investigate the effects of parameters on the whole spectrum of the stepwise hydrogenation: C18:3 (linolenates) → C18:2 (linoleates) → C18:1 (oleates)  C18:0 (stearate) and to obtain first information on the selective hydrogenation of alternative, non-food oils with a high C18:3 FAME content to make them suitable for 2nd generation biodiesel formulations.     

Identification and determination of carboxylic acids in food samples using 2-(2-(anthracen-10-yl)-1H-phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazol-1-yl)ethyl 4-methylbenzenesulfonate (APIETS) as labeling reagent by HPLC with FLD and APCI/MS

A new labeling reagent for carboxylic acids, 2-(2-(anthracen-10-yl)-1H-phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazol-1-yl)ethyl 4-methylbenzenesulfonate (APIETS) has been designed and synthesized. It was used to label eight fatty acids (lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, arachidic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid and linolenic acid) and four hydroxy pentacyclic triterpene acids (oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, betulinic acid and maslinic acid), successfully. APIETS could easily and quickly label carboxylic acids in the presence of K₂CO₃ catalyst at 85 °C for 35 min in N,N-dimethylformamide solvent. The carboxylic acids derivatives were separated on a C₈ reversed-phase column with gradient elution and fluorescence detection at λ_ex/λ_em = 315/435 nm. Identification of these derivatives was carried out by online mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization in positive ion mode. The detection limits obtained were 13.37-30.26 fmol (signal-to-noise ratio of 3). The proposed method has been applied to the quantification of carboxylic acids in sultana raisin (Thompson seedless), hawthorn flake (Crataegus pinnatifida Bge.), Lycium barbarum seed oil and Microula sikkimensis seed oil with recoveries over 95.3%. It has been demonstrated that APIETS is a prominent labeling reagent for determining carboxylic acids with high performance liquid chromatography.     

Ethylene polymerization by 3-oxa-pentamethylene bridged dinuclear metallocene (Ti, Zr)/MAO systems

Two hetero-atom containing bridged dinuclear metallocene complexes, (CpMCl₂)₂(C₅H₄CH₂CH₂OCH₂CH₂C₅H₄) [M = Ti (1), Zr (2)], have been synthesized by treating the disodium salt of the corresponding ligand (C₅H₅CH₂CH₂)₂O with two equivalents of CpTiCl₃ and CpZrCl₃ · DME, respectively, in THF at 0 °C and characterized by ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR, MS and IR spectroscopy. Homogenous ethylene polymerization by those complexes has been conducted systematically in the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO). The influences of reaction parameters, such as [MAO]/[Cat] molar ratio, catalyst concentration, ethylene pressure, temperature and time, have been studied in detail. The catalytic activities of the dinuclear complexes 1 and 2 were higher than those of (MeCpTiCl₂)₂(C₅H₄CH₂C₆H₄CH₂C₅H₄) (3), (CpZrCl₂)₂(C₅H₄CH₂C₆H₄CH₂C₅H₄) (4) and the mononuclear metallocenes Cp₂TiCl₂ and Cp₂ZrCl₂, respectively. Complex 2 showed high catalytic activity at high temperature (50-100 °C) and high pressure (6 bar). The molecular weight distributions of polyethylene produced by 1 and 2 (MWD = 2.49 and 5.90) were broader than those using the corresponding mononuclear metallocenes (MWD = 2.05 and 2.15). The melting points of the polyethylene produced ranged from 129 to 133 °C, indicating a high linearity and a high crystallinity.     

An isothermal (30 °C) study of heterogeneous equilibria in the sucrose (C12H22O11)-calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2)-water system

Solid-liquid equilibria in the C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁-Ca(OH)₂-H₂O system have been determined at 30 °C. Two phases C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁·3Ca(OH)₂ and C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁·2Ca (OH)₂ have been evidenced, and solubility (liquidus) curves have been determined. It is thus shown that these ternary phases exhibit incongruent solubilities at 30 °C. These solid phases were characterized using Infrared Spectroscopy (IR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES).     

Synthetic Polyester from Algae Oil

Current efforts to technically use microalgae focus on the generation of fuels with a molecular structure identical to crude oil based products. Here we suggest a different approach for the utilization of algae by translating the unique molecular structures of algae oil fatty acids into higher value chemical intermediates and materials. A crude extract from a microalga, the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum, was obtained as a multicomponent mixture containing amongst others unsaturated fatty acid (16:1, 18:1, and 20:5) phosphocholine triglycerides. Exposure of this crude algae oil to CO and methanol with the known catalyst precursor [{1,2‐(tBu₂PCH₂)₂C₆H₄}Pd(OTf)](OTf) resulted in isomerization/methoxycarbonylation of the unsaturated fatty acids into a mixture of linear 1,17‐ and 1,19‐diesters in high purity (>99 %). Polycondensation with a mixture of the corresponding diols yielded a novel mixed polyester‐17/19.17/19 with an advantageously high melting and crystallization temperature.     

Catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide by a flow-through self-regulating platinum black heater

A flow-through reactor where a fine platinized platinum wire (Pt black wire) runs through the entire length of the PTFE tube was fabricated for the rapid decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) at concentrations up to 1 M. Since the Pt black wire is directly electrically heated and the exterior of the tubular reactor is well insulated, the energy efficiency of this heater reactor is excellent. The temperature coefficient of resistance of the wire is significant (3280±40 ppm/°C). This provides a means to ascertain the mean temperature by measuring the resistance of the wire. The concentration of residual H₂O₂ was determined by the hematin-catalyzed oxidation of nonfluorescent thiamine to fluorescent thiochrome by H₂O₂. Essentially, quantitative (99.997%) decomposition of 1 M H₂O₂ could be achieved at a mean reactor temperature of 108 °C from a neutral aqueous solution with a mean residence time of ∼270 s.     

Synthesis and Tribological Characteristics of Oligoorganosiloxanes with Higher n-Alkyl Substituents

A procedure was developed for hydrosilylation of -olefins with oligohydrosiloxanes, and a series of comb-shaped organosiloxanes of the general formula R₃SiO(R₂SiO)_m(RR'SiO)_nSiR₃ (where R is CH₃, C₂H₅; R' is n-alkyl C₈-C₁₈) with random distribution of dimethylsiloxane (or diethylsiloxane) and methylalkylsiloxane (or ethylalkylsiloxane) units were obtained. The physicochemical characteristics of these oligomers were studied, with particular attention given to their lubricating properties (diameter of the wear spot and critical jamming load), which were compared to those of lubricating oils based on organosilicon compounds (PMS-100, KhS-2-1) and hydrocarbon-based MS-20 oil.     

Determination of mercury species by the diffusive gradient in thin film technique and liquid chromatography – atomic fluorescence spectrometry after microwave extraction

A diffusive gradient in thin films technique (DGT) was combined with liquid chromatography (LC) and cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry (CV-AFS) for the simultaneous quantification of four mercury species (Hg²⁺, CH₃Hg⁺, C₂H₅Hg⁺, and C₆H₅Hg⁺). After diffusion through an agarose diffusive layer, the mercury species were accumulated in resin gels containing thiol-functionalized ion-exchange resins (Duolite GT73, and Ambersep GT74). A microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) in the presence of 6 M HCl and 5 M HCl (55 °C, 15 min) was used for isolation of mercury species from Ambersep and Duolite resin gels, respectively. The extraction efficiency was higher than 95.0% (RSD 3.5%). The mercury species were separated with a mobile phase containing 6.2% methanol + 0.05% 2-mercaptoethanol + 0.02 M ammonium acetate with a stepwise increase of methanol content up to 80% in the 16th min on a Zorbax C18 reverse phase column. The LODs of DGT–MAE–LC–CV-AFS method were 38 ng L⁻¹ for CH₃Hg⁺, 13 ng L⁻¹ for Hg²⁺, 34 ng L⁻¹ for C₂H₅Hg⁺ and 30 ng L⁻¹ for C₆H₅Hg⁺ for 24 h DGT accumulation at 25 °C.     

Dehalogenative aromatization of perchlorofluoroalicyclic compounds C6Cl6F6, C10Cl8F8 and C5Cl4F5N in the vapour phase or in solution

Dehalogenation of perhalogenated cyclohexanes C₆Cl₆F₆, 1-azacyclohexenes C₅Cl₄F₅N and bicyclo[4.4.0]dec-1(6)-enes C₁₀Cl₈F₈ in the vapour phase over iron filings at 350-500 °C and in solution with Zn and additivities (Cu, NiCl₂·6H₂O + bpy) at 80 °C (heterogeneous reaction) or with P(NEt₂)₃ at 20 °C (homogeneous reaction) was studied. In all cases, perfluoroarenes, chloroperfluoroarenes and dichloroperfluoroarenes (benzenes, naphthalenes and pyridines) were obtained in good overall yield.     

Dehydrogenation of N-ethyl perhydrocarbazole catalyzed by PCP pincer iridium complexes: Evaluation of a homogenous hydrogen storage system

The iridium complexes IrH₂{C₆H₃-2,6-(CH₂PBu^t₂)₂ (1), IrH₂{C₆H₃-2,6-(CH₂PPrⁱ₂)₂ (2), and IrHCl{C₆H₃-2,6-(OPBu^t₂)₂ (3) have been found to be highly active catalysts for the dehydrogenation of N-ethyl perhydrocarbazole at 200 °C. However, dehydrogenation to the fully unsaturated ethyl carbazole does not occur in most instances. Complex 3 is the most active catalyst and shows reasonable activity even at 150 °C. No signs of dehydrogenation were found in experiments conducted at 100 °C. This apparently reflects the thermodynamic constraints imposed by the high enthalpy of dehydrogenation of the substrate.     

Segregated aromatic π-π stacking interactions involving fluorinated and non-fluorinated benzene rings: Cu(py)2(pfb)2 and Cu(py)2(pfb)2(H2O) (py = pyridine and pfb = pentafluorobenzoate)

The syntheses, physical characterization and crystal structures of two new molecular copper(II) complexes of composition [Cu(C₅H₅N)₂(C₇F₅O₂)₂] (1) and [Cu(C₅H₅N)₂(C₇F₅O₂)₂(H₂O)] (2) (C₅H₅N = py = pyridine and C₇F₅O₂⁻ = pfb = pentafluorobenzoate) are reported. Single-crystal X-ray structure determinations revealed that in 1, the Cu²⁺ ion, which lies on a crystallographic inversion centre, is coordinated to two py molecules and two oxygen atoms from two monodentate pfb anions, resulting in a trans-CuN₂O₂ square planar geometry. In 2, the Cu²⁺ ion is also coordinated to two py and two pfb species in addition to a water molecule in the apical site of a distorted CuN₂O₃ square pyramid. In the crystal packing, both 1 and 2 show segregated aromatic π-π stacking interactions in which (py + py) and (pfb + pfb) ring-pairings are seen, but no (py + pfb) pairings occur. Crystal data: 1: C₂₄H₁₀CuF₁₀N₂O₄, M_r = 643.88, space group , a = 8.0777 (3) Å, b = 8.0937 (3) Å, c = 10.5045 (5) Å, α = 90.916 (3)°, β = 93.189 (2)°, γ = 118.245 (3)°, V = 603.36 (4) Å³, Z = 1. 2: C₂₄H₁₂CuF₁₀N₂O₅, M_r = 661.90, space group , a = 7.5913 (5) Å, b = 15.6517 (6) Å, c = 21.1820 (14) Å, α = 95.697 (4)°, β = 94.506 (2)°, γ = 91.492 (4)°, V = 2495.2 (3) Å³, Z = 4.     

The synthesis, structure and ethene polymerization activity of octahedral heteroligated (salicylaldiminato)(β-enaminoketonato)titanium complexes: The X-ray crystal structure of {3-Bu-2-(O)C6H3CHN(Ph)}{(Ph)NC(Me)C(H)C(Me)O}TiCl2

Treatment of the mono(salicylaldiminato)titanium complexes {3-Bu^t-2-(O)C₆H₃CHN(Ar)}TiCl₃(THF) (Ar = C₆H₅, 2,4,6-Me₃C₆H₂ or C₆F₅) with the potassium β-enaminoketonates (C₆H₅)NC(CH₃)C(H)C(R)OK (R = CH₃, CF₃) yielded the first examples of heteroligated (salicylaldiminato) (β-enaminoketonato)titanium dichloride complexes. The complex {3-Bu^t-2-(O)C₆H₃CHN(C₆H₅)}{(C₆H₅)NC(CH₃)C(H)C(CH₃)O}TiCl₂ was structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction and has an orientation with trans-O,O,cis-Cl,Cl, cis-N,N distorted octahedral geometry. These complexes polymerize ethene when activated with MAO; the highest productivity, 5650 kg PE (mol metal)⁻¹ h⁻¹ atm⁻¹, was afforded by {3-Bu^t-2-(O)C₆H₃CHN(C₆F₅)}{(C₆H₅)NC(CH₃)C(H)C(CF₃)O}TiCl₂ at 60 °C.     

Synthesis of anilinonaphthoquinone-based nickel complexes and their application for olefin polymerization

A series of anilinonaphthoquinone-based nickel complexes, Ni(C₁₀H₅O₂NAr)(Ph)(PPh₃) (Ar = C₆H₃-2,6-Me (1c); Ar = C₆H₂-2,4,6-Me (2c); Ar = C₆H₃-2,6-Et (3c)), were synthesized and the structures of 1c-3c were confirmed by single crystal X-ray analyses. The anilinonaphthoquinone-ligated nickel complexes activated with B(C₆F₅)₃ showed high activities for ethylene polymerization at 40 °C under atmospheric pressure of ethylene and gave polyethylene with long chain branches and short chain branches. The activity of these systems was decreased by lowering polymerization temperature accompanied by increase in molecular weight. The number of the chain branches was also decreased with lowering polymerization temperature and increasing the bulkiness of the ligand.     

New binuclear vanadium(III) and (IV) squarate species: synthesis, structure and characterization of [V(OH)(H2O)2(C4O4)]2·2H2O and (NH4)[(VO)2(OH)(C4O4)2(H2O)3]·3H2O

Two new vanadium squarates have been synthesized, characterized by infrared and thermal behavior and their structures determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Both structures are made of discrete, binuclear vanadium entity but in 1, [V(OH)(H₂O)₂(C₄O₄)]₂·2H₂O the vanadium atom is trivalent and the entity is neutral while in 2, (NH₄)[(VO)₂(OH)(C₄O₄)₂(H₂O)₃]·3H₂O, the vanadium atom is tetravalent and the entity is negatively charged, balanced by the presence of one ammonium ion. Both molecular anions are bridged by two terminal μ₂ squarate ligands. 1 crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P-1, with lattice constants a=7.5112(10) Å, b=7.5603(8) Å, c=8.2185(8) Å, α=106.904(8)°, β=94.510(10)°, γ=113.984(9)° while 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group C2/c, with a=14.9340(15) Å, b=6.4900(9) Å, c=17.9590(19) Å and β=97.927(12)°. From the magnetic point of view, V(III) binuclear species show ferromagnetic interactions at low temperatures. However, no anomalies pointing to magnetic ordering are observed down to 2 K.