Cloud-point measurement for (sulphate salts + polyethylene glycol 15000 + water) systems by the particle counting method

The phase separation of (water + salt + polyethylene glycol 15000) systems was studied by cloud-point measurements using the particle counting method. The effect of three kinds of sulphate salt (Na₂SO₄, K₂SO₄, (NH₄)₂SO₄) concentration, polyethylene glycol 15000 concentration, mass ratio of polymer to salt on the cloud-point temperature of these systems have been investigated. The results obtained indicate that the cloud-point temperatures decrease linearly with increase in polyethylene glycol concentrations for different salts. Also, the cloud points decrease with an increase in mass ratio of salt to polymer.     

Study on electrochemical performance of activated carbon in aqueous Li2SO4, Na2SO4 and K2SO4 electrolytes

The electrochemical performances of activated carbon (AC) in 0.5 mol/l Li₂SO₄, Na₂SO₄ and K₂SO₄ aqueous electrolytes were investigated. The cyclic voltammetric results at different scan rates show that the rate behaviors of AC in the three electrolytes improve in the order of Li₂SO₄ < Na₂SO₄ < K₂SO₄. This improvement can be mainly ascribed to the following two reasons: (1) the decreasing equivalent series resistance in the order of Li₂SO₄ > Na₂SO₄ > K₂SO₄, which is the main factor influencing the maximum output power, and (2) the increasing migration speed of hydrated ions in the bulk electrolyte and in the inner pores of AC electrode in the order of Li⁺ < Na⁺ < K⁺. Their cycling behaviors do not show any differences in capacitive fading. The above results provide valuable information to explore new hybrid supercapacitors.     

A symmetric carbon/carbon supercapacitor operating at 1.6 V by using a neutral aqueous solution

A high voltage symmetric carbon/carbon supercapacitor was built using a Na₂SO₄ aqueous solution. This system exhibits an excellent cycle life during thousands of cycles up to voltage values as high as 1.6 V. Three-electrode investigations show a particularly high potential window, ΔE = 2 V, for the considered activated carbon in Na₂SO₄. However, in a two-electrode cell, when the voltage is higher than 1.6 V, the potential of the positive electrode is beyond the oxidation potential of water, and AC is oxidized. These results demonstrate the potentialities of Na₂SO₄ for developing high energy density systems.     

Thermodynamic evaluation and optimization of the (NaNO3 + KNO3 + Na2SO4 + K2SO4) system

A complete critical evaluation of all available phase diagram and thermodynamic data has been performed for all condensed phases of the (NaNO₃ + KNO₃ + Na₂SO₄ + K₂SO₄) ternary reciprocal system, and optimised model parameters have been found. The model parameters obtained for the four binary common-ion subsystems (i.e. (NaNO₃ + Na₂SO₄), (KNO₃ + K₂SO₄), (NaNO₃ + KNO₃) and (Na₂SO₄ + K₂SO₄)) are used to predict thermodynamic properties and phase equilibria for the entire system. The Modified Quasichemical Model in the Quadruplet Approximation for short-range ordering was used for the molten salt phase, and the Compound Energy Formalism was used for the various solid solutions.     

Sodium carbonate as phase promoter in aqueous solutions of imidazolium and pyridinium ionic liquids

Several methylsulfate and chloride anion-based ionic liquids, such as 1-alkyl-3-methyl imidazolium methyl sulfate, C_nMIM CH₃SO₄ (n = 1, 2, and 4), 1-benzyl-3-methyl imidazolium methyl sulfate, BzMIM CH₃SO₄, 1-benzyl, or hexyl-3-methyl imidazolium chloride, XMIM Cl (X = Bz and Hx), and methylpyridinium methylsulfate, Mpy CH₃SO₄, with sodium carbonate, Na₂CO₃, as phase forming salt, have been investigated and discussed for their potential use in separations based on aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS). Phase diagrams have been experimentally ascertained at T = 298.15 K, and Merchuck equation and a variation of this model have been used for correlating the binodal data. The alkyl chain length in the cation and the type of anion and cation have been explored and discussed due to their decisive influence in the ATPS behavior. The consistence of tie-line data was ascertained by applying the Othmer–Tobias and Bancroft equations.     

(Solid + liquid) metastable equilibria in quaternary system (Li2SO4 + K2SO4 + Li2B4O7 + K2B4O7 + H2O) at T = 288 K

Metastable equilibrium solubilities and properties such as densities, conductivity, pH, refractive index, and viscosity of the solution were determined experimentally. According to the experimental data, the metastable equilibrium phase diagram was plotted. In the phase diagram, there are three invariant points, seven univariant curves, five fields of crystallization: Li₂SO₄ · H₂O, K₂SO₄, Li₂B₄O₇ · 3H₂O, K₂B₄O₇ · 4H₂O, and K₂SO₄ · Li₂SO₄. The double salt K₂SO₄ · Li₂SO₄ was found in the quaternary system metastable equilibria. Lithium sulfate (Li₂SO₄) has the highest concentration and strong salting-out effects on other salts.Also, the relationship diagram between the properties and the ion concentration of solution was constructed. It can be seen from the relationship diagram that the equilibrium solution density values, viscosity values, and refractive index values are increased apparently with the rise of sulfate ion concentration, reaching the maximum values at eutonic point F3. Electrical conductivity values and pH values, however, fall down with the rise of ion concentration on the whole.     

Viscosity of aqueous Na2SO4 solutions at temperatures from 298 to 573 K and at pressures up to 40 MPa

Viscosities of nine (1.5, 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 23, and 26) mass% of aqueous Na₂SO₄ solutions have been measured in the liquid phase with a capillary flow technique. Measurements were made at five isobars 0.1, 10, 20, 30, and 40 MPa. The range of temperatures was from 298.15 to 573.5 K. The total uncertainty of viscosity, pressure, temperature, and concentration measurements was estimated to be less than 1.5%, 0.05%, 15 mK, and 0.015%, respectively. The reliability and accuracy of the experimental method was confirmed with measurements on pure water for four selected isobars 5, 10, 20, and 40 MPa and at temperatures between 296.7 and 573.7 K. The experimental and calculated values from IAPWS (International Association for the Properties of Water and Steam) formulation for the viscosity of pure water show excellent agreement within their experimental uncertainty (AAD = 0.41%). The temperature, pressure, and concentration dependences of the relative viscosity (η/η₀) where η₀ is the viscosity of pure water are studied. The values of the viscosity A-, B-, and D-coefficients of the extended Jones–Dole equation for the relative viscosity (η/η₀) of aqueous Na₂SO₄ solutions as a function of temperature are studied. The maximum of the B-coefficient near the 323 K isotherm has been found. The behavior of the concentration dependence of the relative viscosity of aqueous Na₂SO₄ solutions is discussed in terms of the modern theory of transport phenomena in electrolyte solutions. The derived values of the viscosity A- and B-coefficients were compared with the results predicted by Falkenhagen–Dole theory of electrolyte solutions and calculated with the ionic B-coefficient data. Different theoretical models for the viscosity of electrolyte solutions were stringently tested with new accurate measurements on aqueous Na₂SO₄. The quality and predictive capability of the various models was studied. The measured values of viscosity were directly compared with the data reported in the literature by other authors.     

The effect of concentration of surfactant and electrolyte on the pit and droplet sizes nanoemulsions of <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-dodecane in water

Nanoemulsions are transparent or semi-transparent systems mostly covering the size range of 50–200 nm. In the research, the production of nanoemulsion of n-dodecane in water was studied by phase inversion temperature method (PIT), and the effect of the changes in NaCl and surfactant concentration on PIT and droplet size of n-dodecane was studied. The changes in conductivity with temperature were measured for emulsions containing 20 wt % dodecane, 4 and 8 wt % Brij30, and NaCl of various concentrations in aqueous phase. The results showed a decrease in PIT with a rise in concentration of NaCl and also Brij30. There was a linear model fitted to the data. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) shows that, the significance value (p-value) is less than 0.05, and the effect of the changes in concentration of surfactant Brij30 on the decrease in PIT and droplet size was the more than that in concentration of NaCl in aqueous phase. The lowest mean droplet diameters were in the range of 8.6–14 nm.     

Preparation of sulfonated poly(phthalazinone ether sulfone ketone) composite nanofiltration membrane

Thin film composite (TFC) membranes were prepared from sulfonated poly(phthalazinone ether sulfone ketone) (SPPESK) as a top layer coated onto poly(phthalazinone ether sulfone ketone) (PPESK) ultrafiltration (UF) support membranes. The effects of different preparation conditions such as the SPPESK concentration, organic additives, solvent, degree of substitution (DS) of SPPEK and curing treatment temperature and time on the membrane performance were studied. The SPPESK concentration in the coating solution was the dominant factor for the rejection and permeation flux. The TFC membranes prepared from glycerol as an organic additive show better performance then those prepared from other additives. The rejection increased and the flux decreased with increasing curing treatment temperatures. The salt rejections of the TFC nanofiltration (NF) membranes increased in the order MgCl₂ < MgSO₄ < NaCl < Na₂SO₄. TFC membranes showed high water flux at low pressure. SPPESK composite membranes rejections for a 1000 mg L⁻¹ Na₂SO₄ feed solution was 82%, and solution flux was 68 L m⁻² h⁻¹ at 0.25 MPa pressure.     

(Solid + liquid) isothermal evaporation phase equilibria in the aqueous ternary system (Li2SO4 + MgSO4 + H2O) at T = 308.15 K

The solubility and the density in the aqueous ternary system (Li₂SO₄ + MgSO₄ + H₂O) at T = 308.15 K were determined by the isothermal evaporation. Our experimental results permitted the construction of the phase diagram and the plot of density against composition. It was found that there is one eutectic point for (Li₂SO₄ · H₂O + MgSO₄ · 7H₂O), two univariant curves, and two crystallization regions corresponding to lithium sulphate monohydrate (Li₂SO₄ · H₂O) and epsomite (MgSO₄ · 7H₂O). The system belongs to a simple co-saturated type, and neither double salts nor solid solution was found. Based on the Pitzer ion-interaction model and its extended HW models of aqueous electrolyte solution, the solubility of the ternary system at T = 308.15 K has been calculated. The predicted solubility agrees well with the experimental values.     

Simple analyzer for continuous monitoring of sulfur dioxide in gas streams

The construction, optimization and use of simple and inexpensive gas analyzer for real time measurement of sulfur dioxide in gas streams are described. The analyzer consisted of three main components (i) a custom fabricated hollow fiber membrane (HFM) gas contactor, (ii) carrier solution which absorbs SO₂ molecules from the gas stream in the HFM gas contactor and (iii) a flow-through detector placed downstream which continuously measures the changes occurred to the carrier solution upon absorption of SO₂ molecules. The significant acidic properties of the produced sulfurous acid suggested pH and conductivity detectors to monitor the decrease in pH or the increase in the conductivity which constituted the basis for quantification of SO₂ in the gas line. Aqueous potassium oxalate (10^? 1 mol/L) and hydrogen peroxide (10^? 3 mol/L) were used as carrier solutions in combination with pH and conductivity detectors, respectively. The analyzer equipped with pH detector provided linear potentiometric response to SO₂ concentration up to 1000 ppm with Nernstian slop of 61 mV/log[SO₂]. Excellent SO₂ recoveries (97–108%) were obtained in the presence of several folds of potentially interfering acidic gases, i.e., CO₂ and H₂S. The conductivity detector provided linear response up to 2500 ppm. Under optimized conditions, both detectors offered several favorable performance characteristics such as (i) fast response and recovery times, (ii) excellent signal stability and reproducibility (RSD = 0.5%), (iii) intrinsic high selectivity to most common neutral gases, e.g., CH₄, N₂, O₂, CO, etc. The suggested analyzer was applied successfully in monitoring the removal of SO₂ from SO₂–N₂ gas mixtures with hollow fiber membrane contactor using distilled water or aqueous sodium hydroxide as stripping solvents.     

Sodium salt effect on aqueous solutions containing Tween 20 and Triton X-102

The effect of six different high charge density sodium inorganic salts, such as Na₂CO₃, Na₂SO₄, Na₂S₂O₃, Na₂SO₃, Na₂HPO₄ and NaCH₃COO, in aqueous solutions of two anionic surfactants Tween 20 and Triton X-102 was investigated at T = 298.15 K and atmospheric pressure. The results were qualitatively analyzed in the light of the Hofmeister series. Also, a quantitative thermodynamic analysis in terms of molar Gibbs free energy of hydration (Δ_hydG) was carried out. The Merchuck equation was used to correlate the solubility curves and the tie line data were modelled by applying the Othmer–Tobias and Bancroft equations.     

On the phase behaviour of polyethoxylated sorbitan (Tween) surfactants in the presence of potassium inorganic salts

The salting out potential of potassium-based inorganic salts was assessed in aqueous solutions of two non-ionic surfactants from the Tween family. New solubility data of the systems {surfactant (Tween 20/Tween 80) + inorganic salt (K₃PO₄/K₂CO₃/K₂HPO₄/K₂S₂O₃/K₂SO₃) + H₂O} were experimentally ascertained at T = 298.15 K and these data were correlated by means of several three and four parameters empirical equations. Tie-line data were determined for the aqueous ternary systems and Ohtmer-Tobias and Bancroft equations have been proposed to correlate these data. The phase segregation effect of the proposed salts was investigated and compared with the sequence indicated by the Hofmeister series and the molar Gibbs energy of hydration (Δ_hydG) data.     

Salt effect on the (polyethylene glycol 8000 + sodium sulfate) aqueous two-phase system: Relative hydrophobicity of the equilibrium phases

The relative hydrophobicity of the phases of several {polyethylene glycol (PEG) 8000 + sodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄)} aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs), all containing 0.01 mol · L^?1 sodium phosphate buffer (NaPB, pH 7.4) and increasing concentration of a salt additive, NaCl or KCl, up to 1.0 mol · L^?1, was measured by the free energy of transfer of a methylene group between the phases, ΔG(CH₂). The ΔG(CH₂) of the systems was determined by partitioning of a homologous series of five sodium salts of dinitrophenylated (DNP) – amino acids with aliphatic side chains in three different tie-lines of each biphasic system. The relative hydrophobicity of the phases ranged from ?0.125 to ?0.183 kcal · mol^?1, being the NaCl salt the one to provide the more effective changes. The results show that, within each system, there is a linear relationship between the ΔG(CH₂) and the tie-line length (TLL), and biphasic systems with high salt additive concentration present the most negative ΔG(CH₂) values. Therefore, the feasibility of establishing a relationship between the relative hydrophobicity of the phases in a given TLL and the ionic strength of the salt additive was investigated and a satisfactory correlation was found for each salt.     

Subsolidus phase relations,crystal chemistry and cation-transport properties of sodium iron antimony oxides

Subsolidus phase relations in Na₂O–Fe₂O₃–Sb₂O_x system (excluding Na-rich and Sb-rich corners) were studied using powder X-ray diffraction. Samples were prepared by conventional solid-state reactions at 980–1030 °C followed by quenching. Sb substitution for Fe stabilizes the low-temperature rhombohedral α form of NaFeO₂ and enhances ionic conductivity: σ(300 °C) = 0.5 S/m, E_a = 0.38(3) eV, t_e < 0.01 for Na_0.8Fe_0.9Sb_0.1O₂ ceramics. Besides known orthorhombic Na₂Fe₃SbO₈, three new compounds have been identified: trigonal Na₄FeSbO₆, a superlattice of α-NaFeO₂ type, a = 5.4217(7) Å, c = 16.2715(1) Å, possible space group P3₁12; orthorhombic Na₂FeSbO₅, possibly related to brownmillerite, Pbcn, a = 10.8965(13) Å, b = 15.7178(13) Å, c = 5.3253(4) Å, and one more phase with empirical formula Na₄Fe₃SbO₉, whose pattern could not be indexed. Ion-exchange reactions lead to a delafossite-type superlattice Ag₃(NaFeSb)O₆ (a = 5.4503(12) Å, c = 18.7747(20) Å, possible space group P3₁12).     

Hydrothermal conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into high-value energy storage materials

Preparation of hierarchically porous, heteroatom-rich nanostructured carbons through green and scalable routes plays a key role for practical energy storage applications. In this work, naturally abundant lignocellulosic agricultural waste with high initial oxygen content, hazelnut shells, were hydrothermally carbonized and converted into nanostructured ‘hydrochar'. Environmentally benign ceramic/magnesium oxide(Mg O) templating was used to introduce porosity into the hydrochar. Electrochemical performance of the resulting material(HM700) was investigated in aqueous solutions of 1 M H_2SO_4, 6 M KOH and1 M Na_2SO_4, using a three-electrode cell. HM700 achieved a high specific capacitance of 323.2 F/g in 1 M H_2SO_4(at 1 A/g,-0.3 to 0.9 V vs. Ag/Ag Cl) due to the contributions of oxygen heteroatoms(13.5 wt%)to the total capacitance by pseudo-capacitive effect. Moreover, a maximum energy density of 11.1 Wh/kg and a maximum power density of 3686.2 W/kg were attained for the symmetric supercapacitor employing HM700 as electrode material(1 M Na_2SO_4, E = 2 V), making the device promising for green supercapacitor applications.     

Thermodynamic evaluation and optimization of the (NaCl + Na2SO4 + Na2CO3 + KCl + K2SO4 + K2CO3) system

A complete, critical evaluation of all phase diagrams and thermodynamic data was performed for all condensed phases of the (NaCl + Na₂SO₄ + Na₂CO₃ + KCl + K₂SO₄ + K₂CO₃) system, and optimized parameters for the thermodynamic solution models were obtained. The Modified Quasichemical Model in the Quadruplet Approximation was used for modelling the liquid phase. The model evaluates first- and second-nearest-neighbour short-range order, where the cations (Na⁺ and K⁺) were assumed to mix on a cationic sublattice, while anions $({\text{CO}}_3^{2-}\text{,}{\text{SO}}_4^{2-}\text{,}\text{and}{\text{Cl}}^{-})$ were assumed to mix on an anionic sublattice. The thermodynamic properties of the solid solutions of (Na,K)₂(SO₄,CO₃) were modelled using the Compound Energy Formalism, and (Na,K)Cl was modelled using a substitutional model in previous studies. Phase transitions in the common-cation ternary systems (NaCl + Na₂SO₄ + Na₂CO₃) and (KCl + K₂SO₄ + K₂CO₃) were studied experimentally using d.s.c./t.g.a. The experimental results were used as input for evaluating the phase equilibrium in the common-cation ternary systems. The models can be used to predict the thermodynamic properties and phase equilibria in multicomponent heterogeneous systems. The experimental data from the literature are reproduced within experimental error limits.     

Aqueous biphasic systems involving alkylsulfate-based ionic liquids

The specific effects of K₃PO₄, K₂CO₃, Na₂CO₃, and (NH₄)₂SO₄, as high charge-density inorganic salts and thus inducers of the formation of aqueous biphasic systems (ABS) containing several ethyl-methylimidazolium alkylsulfate ionic liquids, C₂MIM C_nSO₄ (n = 2, 4, 6, or 8), have been assessed at T = 298.15 K. The results are analyzed in the light of the Hofmeister series. The influence of different alkyl chain lengths in the anion, together with the ability of the selected inorganic salts to induce the formation of ABS, is discussed. Phase diagrams have been determined through turbidimetry, including tie lines assignments from mass phase ratios according to the lever – arm rule. The Merchuck equation was satisfactorily used to correlate the solubility curve.     

Na4Mn9O18 as a positive electrode material for an aqueous electrolyte sodium-ion energy storage device

Here we demonstrate Na₄Mn₉O₁₈ as a sodium intercalation positive electrode material for an aqueous electrolyte energy storage device. A simple solid-state synthesis route was used to produce this material, which was then tested electrochemically in a 1 M Na₂SO₄ electrolyte against an activated carbon counter electrode using cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic cycling. Optimized Na₄Mn₉O₁₈ was documented as having a specific capacity of 45 mAh/g through a voltage range of 0.5 V, or an equivalent specific capacitance of over 300 F/g. With the proper negative:positive electrode mass ratio, energy storage cells capable of being charged to at least 1.7 V without significant water electrolysis are documented. Cycling data and rate studies indicate promising performance for this unexplored low-cost positive electrode material.     

Enhanced supercapacitive behaviors of birnessite

The birnessite type manganese dioxide electrode was prepared by the electrochemical stimulation as we recently described. It showed 190 F g⁻¹ in a Na₂SO₄ aqueous solution between −0.1 and 0.9 V versus Ag/AgCl at 1 A g⁻¹. The specific capacitance of birnessite was decreased by the manganese dissolution when the reduction and oxidation were repeated. By adding small amounts of Na₂HPO₄ or NaHCO₃ into the electrolyte, the capacitance increased to 200–230 F g⁻¹ and the manganese dissolution was successfully suppressed. Thanks to the additives, the birnessite demonstrated the much improved cycleability over >1800 cycles.