The adsorption of acidic gaseous pollutants on metal and nonmetallic surface studied by first-principles calculation: A review

The acidic gases such as SO₂, NO_x, H₂S and CO₂ are typical harmful pollutants and greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which are also the main sources of PM_2.5. The most widely used method of treating these gas molecules is to capture them with different adsorption materials, i.e., metal and nonmetallic materials such as MnO₂, MoS₂ and carbon-based materials. And doping transition metal atoms in adsorption materials are beneficial to the gas adsorption process. The first-principles calculation is a powerful tool for studying the adsorption properties of contaminant molecules on different materials at the molecular and atomic levels to understand surface adsorption reactions, adsorption reactivity, and structure-activity relationships which can provide theoretical guidance for laboratory researches and industrial applications. This review introduces the adsorption models and surface properties of these gas molecules on metal and nonmetallic surfaces by first-principles calculation in recent years. The purpose of this review is to provide the theoretical guidance for experimental research and industrial application, and to inspire scientists to benefit from first-principles calculation for applying similar methods in future work.     

胶体金修饰电极测定鱼样中组胺的方法研究

基于胶体金修饰的玻碳电极,利用电流～时间曲线法建立了一种简便、灵敏的组胺检测方法。优化了底液的pH值和组胺的电化学测试方法及条件,考察了修饰电极的电化学性能。结果表明,组胺在胶体金修饰电极上的响应电流(-I,μA)与其浓度(c,μmol/L)在0. 1～64μmol/L范围内呈良好的线性关系,检出限为0. 033μmol/L,在带鱼和黄花鱼样品中的加标回收率分别为94. 4%～106%、91. 8%～106%,相对标准偏差分别为3. 2%、2. 5%。该法操作简单、检测速度快、成本低,适用于带鱼和黄花鱼等鱼样中组胺的测定。     

Treatment of anionic dye aqueous solution using Ti,HDTMA and Al/Fe pillared bentonite. Essay to regenerate the adsorbent

In this study, the adsorption removal of an anionic dye (Congo red) by a local bentonite before and after modification was studied. The modification of the bentonite was made by organophilisation using surfactant (HDTMA) and by pillaring process to obtain a bentonite with Ti pillars and with mixed pillars of Fe/Al. The various synthesized materials are characterized by different techniques such as DRX, MET, N₂ adsorption-desorption, Zeta potential measurement. Results show the development of the texture and the structure of the bentonite after modification. The various adsorbents synthesized show an increase in the adsorption capacity of Congo Red compared to the initial bentonite. Adsorption isotherms are described by the Langmuir model in all cases except that for Ti pillared bentonite, the Freundlich model is more suitable. Pseudo-second order is better for describing the adsorption process. Also, regeneration of the adsorbent is approached in this study by photochemical way and the results show a total regeneration of the adsorbent.     

Effect of the alkyl chain of quaternary ammonium cationic surfactants on corrosion inhibition in hydrochloric acid solution

In this study, the effect of the alkyl chain of quaternary ammonium cationic surfactants on corrosion inhibition in hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution was investigated by using dodecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (DTAC), tetradecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (TTAC), cetyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (CTAC), and octadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (OTAC) as corrosion inhibitors to uncover their structure–efficiency relationships. The effect of the alkyl chain of quaternary ammonium cationic surfactants on corrosion inhibition in HCl solution was studied under different conditions, such as corrosion inhibitor concentration, temperature, and acidity, and this was done using the weightlessness method. The results obtained show that these inhibitors have high corrosion inhibition effect on A₃ steel, and the corrosion inhibition efficiency is dependent on the length of the alkyl chain. At the same concentration, the longer the alkyl chain, the weaker the corrosion inhibition effect. When the temperature was 50 °C and the concentration of corrosion inhibitor was 70 mg/L, the corrosion inhibition efficiency order of the four cationic surfactants was DTAC > TTAC > CTAC > OTAC. Besides, the experimental results obtained show that the adsorption of the inhibitor on the A₃ steel surface conforms to the Langmuir type isotherm, and then the corresponding adsorption thermodynamic parameters were obtained according to these parameters. It was observed that ΔH, ΔS, and E_a increased with increase in the length of the alkyl chain. The adsorption of the inhibitor on the steel surface is an exothermic, spontaneous, entropy process.     

Computing the Abel map

We present the next step in an ongoing research program to allow for the black-box computation of the so-called finite-genus solutions of integrable differential equations. This next step consists of the black-box computation of the Abel map from a Riemann surface to its Jacobian. Using a plane algebraic curve representation of the Riemann surface, we provide an algorithm for the numerical computation of this Abel map. Since our plane algebraic curves are of arbitrary degree and may have arbitrary singularities, the Abel map of any connected compact Riemann surface may be obtained in this way. This generality is necessary in order for these algorithms to be relevant for the computation of the finite-genus solutions of any integrable equation.     

FTIR-ATR investigations of an α-helix to β-sheet conformational transition in poly(l-lysine)

A promising application of the multivariate curve resolution based on alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) method is reported for the analysis of the temperature-dependent conformational changes in poly(l-lysine) (PLL). The MCR-ALS approach has enabled detection of three structural components developed during the melting experiment. Most important is an infrared signature of the intermediate component described as a mixture of native α-helical conformation and its extended forms.     

Wettability modification of pitch-based spherical activated carbon by air oxidation and its effects on phenol adsorption

The surface chemistry of pitch-based spherical activated carbon (PSAC) was modified by air oxidation to enhance its wettability as well as adsorption properties. Changes of PSAC after modification in texture, surface chemistry and wettability were studied by different techniques including N₂ adsorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and dynamic contact angle analyzer (DCA). Phenol adsorption characteristics in different solvents on PSAC were also investigated. When PSAC was modified under an atmosphere with 20 vol.% oxygen at 400 and 450 °C for 5 h, surface acidic groups increased from 0.11 to 1.22 and 1.60 meq/g, while basic groups decreased from 0.52 to 0.03 and 0.02 meq/g, respectively. After PSAC was modified, the increase of the oxygen-containing groups, especially carboxylic and phenolic ones, is responsible for the increasing of the surface acidity and the significant improvement of the wettability of PSAC. PSAC with a relatively high oxygen content provided a low adsorption capacity to phenol in aqueous solution, and the adsorption isotherms change from Langmuir class (L) to the S-shaped curve; while the solvent is changed into cyclohexane, all adsorption isotherms are type L, and the adsorption capacity to phenol increases with increasing oxygen-containing groups. Possible reasons, including the solvent effect, π-π dispersion and donor-acceptor interactions are discussed.     

基于无约束非线性优化算法的光强自相关函数拟合

在光子相关光谱(PCS)颗粒测量技术中非线性累积反演方法是一种重要的算法。采用无约束非线性优化算法对反演过程中相关曲线的拟合问题进行了分析和研究, 实现了从任意初始值开始获取最优非线性拟合解, 并给出了算法的实现步骤。采用此方法对50 nm, 100 nm, 200 nm和500 nm的标准聚苯乙烯乳胶颗粒的实测光强自相关函数数据进行了拟合, 并反演了颗粒粒径, 与其他曲线拟合算法相比, 本算法不但对初始值的依赖性小, 而且得到的颗粒粒径更接近乳胶颗粒的标称直径, 测量误差更小。     

Initial oxidation of polycrystalline Permalloy surface

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and work-function measurements were used in combination to investigate the initial steps of Permalloy (Ni₈₀Fe₂₀) oxidation at room temperature. They showed that, after oxygen saturation, the surface is covered by nickel oxide (NiO), nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH)₂) and iron oxides (Fe_xO_y), and there is no preferential oxidation. Iron oxidation proceeds through the formation of FeO (Fe²⁺) followed with Fe₂O₃ growth (Fe³⁺). The oxidation is governed by a dissociative Langmuir-type oxidation: the sticking coefficient is decreasing over oxygen exposure. Oxidation continues by oxygen dissolution into the first layers to form a nano-oxide of about 8 Å in thickness.