Synthesis of Dimethyl Carbonate from CO2 , Methanol, and Epoxides Using Re（CO） 5 Cl/K2 CO3 as Catalyst System

IntroductionOver the past few years, dimethyl carbonate(DMC) has been proven to be an efficientmethylating,methoxylating, and methoxycarbonylating agent inorganic syntheses, in which DMC is used to replace thetoxic methyl halides, dimethyl sulfate or carb     

Inhibition of the reduction of Cr(VI) at the magnetite–water interface by calcium carbonate coatings

The effect of calcium carbonate coatings on the reduction of aqueous chromate on the magnetite(1 1 1) surface has been investigated using a combination of synchrotron based X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (PES) and X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy, along with laboratory-based powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). CaCO₃ coatings (dominantly calcite with minor quantities of aragonite and vaterite) of thicknesses ranging from 10 Å to 20 m were grown on magnetite(1 1 1) surfaces by exposure to supersaturated aqueous solutions followed by evaporation of the solution—a process that mimics pore-water evaporation in vadose zones leading to the formation of caliche and calcium carbonate coatings on mineral grains. Coating thicknesses were determined from attenuation of the Fe 2p photoemission signal by the carbonate coating. For coatings less than 15 Å thick, Cr 2p photoemission and Cr L_II, L_III-edge XANES spectra show that chromate is reduced by the underlying magnetite surface; however, as the minimum coating thickness increases beyond 15 Å, the magnetite surface becomes passivated and further chromate reduction ceases. Our findings suggest that carbonate coatings on natural magnetite grains can significantly reduce or eliminate their ability to reduce Cr(VI), which is a toxic and highly mobile environmental contaminant.     

Nickel Aqueous Speciation and Solubility at Ambient Conditions: A Thermodynamic Elegy

Summary.  This review reveals that, in contrast to the general opinion, the aqueous speciation of nickel is poorly known. Besides the fairly well established first hydrolysis constant, data are scarce and only poor estimates can be derived for higher Ni hydrolysis constants from a few solubility studies. The situation is even worse in the case of aqueous carbonate complexes. No reliable experimental study has been published so far and almost all numbers reported in thermodynamic databases are unacceptable estimates. In this review we scrutinise all these published estimates and propose expectation ranges of nickel carbonate complex stability through correlation with other known thermodynamic constants. Solubility constants for a few simple nickel solids are known or have been estimated from thermochemical data. However, none of these simple solids is of geochemical relevance at ambient conditions. Based on field evidence, classes of solids are identified which potentially govern nickel concentrations in ground and surface waters. Recent spectroscopic data indicate that magnesium clay minerals and layered double hydroxides are the most prominent candidates for nickel-bearing solids at ambient conditions. Corresponding author. E-mail: wolfgang.hummel@psi.ch Dedicated to the memory of Prof. Rolf Grauer Received January 14, 2003; accepted January 24, 2003 Published online May 15, 2003     

Chromium(III) Hydroxide Solubility in the Aqueous K+-H+-OH?-CO2-HCO 3? -CO 32? -H2O System: A?Thermodynamic Model

Chromium(III)-carbonate reactions are expected to be important in managing high-level radioactive wastes. Extensive studies on the solubility of amorphous Cr(III) hydroxide solid in a wide range of pH (3–13) at two different fixed partial pressures of CO₂(g) (0.003 or 0.03 atm.), and as functions of K₂CO₃ concentrations (0.01 to 5.8 mol⋅kg⁻¹) in the presence of 0.01 mol⋅dm⁻³ KOH and KHCO₃ concentrations (0.001 to 0.826 mol⋅kg⁻¹) at room temperature (22±2 °C) were carried out to obtain reliable thermodynamic data for important Cr(III)-carbonate reactions. A combination of techniques (XRD, XANES, EXAFS, UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy, thermodynamic analyses of solubility data, and quantum mechanical calculations) was used to characterize the solid and aqueous species. The Pitzer ion-interaction approach was used to interpret the solubility data. Only two aqueous species [Cr(OH)(CO₃)₂²⁻ and Cr(OH)₄CO₃³⁻] are required to explain Cr(III)-carbonate reactions in a wide range of pH, CO₂(g) partial pressures, and bicarbonate and carbonate concentrations. Calculations based on density functional theory support the existence of these species. The log ₁₀ K° values of reactions involving these species [{Cr(OH)₃(am) + 2CO₂(g)⇌Cr(OH)(CO₃)₂²⁻+2H⁺} and {Cr(OH)₃(am) + OH⁻+CO₃²⁻ ⇌Cr(OH)₄CO₃³⁻}] were found to be −(19.07±0.41) and −(4.19±0.19), respectively. No other data on any Cr(III)-carbonato complexes are available for comparisons.     

Gas diffusion-flow injection determination of total inorganic carbon in water using tungsten oxide electrode

A novel gas diffusion-flow injection method has been developed for the rapid and sensitive determination of total inorganic carbon (TIC) in water. The method is based on the diffusion of CO₂ across gas permeable membrane from a donor stream containing 0.1 M HCl to an acceptor stream of sodium acetate (10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹ and pH 10). The CO₂ trapped in the acceptor stream passes through an electrochemical flow cell contains a tungsten oxide wire and a silver/silver chloride electrode, where it was sensitively detected. The parameters affecting the sensitivity of the electrode such as buffer concentration, pH, flow rate and injected volume were studied in detail. The electrode response was linear in the concentration range from 5 to 100 μg ml⁻¹ CO₃²⁻ with a correlation coefficient (R²) of 0.998. Precision (R.S.D.) was 1.42% for 20 μg ml⁻¹ standard solution of CO₃²⁻ (n=10). The detection limit was 0.20 μg ml⁻¹ CO₃²⁻. The method was evaluated by the injection of real natural water samples and an average recovery of 100.1% was obtained. The sampling rate was 30 samples h⁻¹. The method is simple, feasible with satisfactory accuracy and precision and thus could be used for monitoring TIC in water.     

Location of type B carbonate ion in type A-B carbonate apatite synthesized at high pressure

The structure of a complex, disordered type A-B carbonate apatite (CAp) of approximate composition Ca₁₀(PO₄)_6−y(CO₃)_x+(3/2)y(OH)_2−2x, x-0.7, y-0.6, synthesized at 3 GPa, 1400°C has been determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction and FTIR spectroscopy at room temperature and pressure. Crystal data are: hexagonal, space group P6₃/m, Z=1; a=9.5143(3), c=6.8821(2) Å, V=539.5 Å³, and R=0.025. There are three structural locations for the carbonate ion. The channel carbonate is mainly in the closed vertical configuration of the structure, with two of its oxygen atoms close to the c-axis (A1 carbonate; IR bands at 1541 and 1449 cm⁻¹), but subordinate amounts are also located in an open vertical configuration (A2 carbonate; IR bands at 1563 and 1506 cm⁻¹). The type B carbonate ion is located close to the sloping faces of the PO₄ tetrahedron (IR bands at 1474 and 1406 cm⁻¹), confirming earlier inferences from polarized IR spectra.     

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy analysis of minerals: Carbonates and silicates

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) provides an alternative chemical analytical technique that obviates the issues of sample preparation and sample destruction common to most laboratory-based analytical methods. This contribution explores the capability of LIBS analysis to identify carbonate and silicate minerals rapidly and accurately. Fifty-two mineral samples (18 carbonates, 9 pyroxenes and pyroxenoids, 6 amphiboles, 8 phyllosilicates, and 11 feldspars) were analyzed by LIBS. Two composite broadband spectra (averages of 10 shots each) were calculated for each sample to produce two databases each containing the composite LIBS spectra for the same 52 mineral samples. By using correlation coefficients resulting from the regression of the intensities of pairs of LIBS spectra, all 52 minerals were correctly identified in the database. If the LIBS spectra of each sample were compared to a database containing the other 51 minerals, 65% were identified as a mineral of similar composition from the same mineral family. The remaining minerals were misidentified for two reasons: 1) the mineral had high concentrations of an element not present in the database; and 2) the mineral was identified as a mineral with similar elemental composition from a different family. For instance, the Ca–Mg carbonate dolomite was misidentified as the Ca–Mg silicate diopside. This pilot study suggests that LIBS has promise in mineral identification and in situ analysis of minerals that record geological processes.     

蟹,虾壳微观形貌与结构研究

用Ｘ射线衍射与扫描电镜研究了蟹壳，虾壳的形貌与微观结构，蟹壳中以方解石晶型存在的碳酸钙分布在网状结构的有机质中，网孔的尺寸约５～２５μｍ有机基质脱去蛋白后留下的甲壳质呈片层状结构，它的重复距离为０．９６ｎｍ。     

Spectroscopic characterization of alkaline earth uranyl carbonates

A series of alkaline uranyl carbonates, M[UO₂(CO₃)₃]·nH₂O (M=Mg₂, Ca₂, Sr₂, Ba₂, Na₂Ca, and CaMg) was synthesized and characterized by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) after nitric acid digestion, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and thermal analysis (TGA/DTA). The molecular structure of these compounds was characterized by extended X-ray absorption fine-structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Crystalline Ba₂[UO₂(CO₃)₃]·6H₂O was obtained for the first time. The EXAFS analysis showed that this compound consists of (UO₂)(CO₃)₃ clusters similar to the other alkaline earth uranyl carbonates. The average U-Ba distance is 3.90±0.02 Å.Fluorescence wavelengths and life times were measured using time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS). The U-O bond distances determined by EXAFS, TRLFS, XPS, and Raman spectroscopy agree within the experimental uncertainties. The spectroscopic signatures observed could be useful for identifying uranyl carbonate species adsorbed on mineral surfaces.     

Conversion of Thioamides into Their Corresponding Oxygen Analogues Using Silver Carbonate Supported on Celite

Silver carbonate supported on celite (Ag 2 CO 3 /Celite) is used as a mild heterogeneous reagent for conversion of a variety of thioamides into their corresponding amides in acetonitrile at room temperature.