Kinetic modelling of cadmium removal from phosphoric acid by non-dispersive solvent extraction

In this work it is reported that the kinetic modelling of the separation of cadmium from phosphoric acid by non-dispersive solvent extraction. Using Cyanex 302 as selective extractant, the extraction step was carried out in a hollow fibre module containing polypropylene fibres, whereas the concentration step required a ceramic module with tubular channels due to the high acidity of the backextraction agent. Application of the methodology previously reported by the authors led to the development of a kinetic model with three design parameters, i.e., equilibrium constant of the extraction reaction (K'_e = 6 × 10³ mol⁻²/l⁻²), membrane mass transport coefficient of the extraction module K_me=8.33×10⁻⁸ m/s) and of the backextraction module (K_ms=3.33×10⁻⁸ m/s), that described satisfactorily the behaviour of the separation-concentration system. Thus, in this work a new application of the non-dispersive solvent extraction technology is presented, characterising at the same time the behaviour and parameters of a new type of contactor, i.e., a tubular ceramic module.     

Experimental and theoretical studies of Diels-Alder dimerization of 1,2,3,4,5-pentachlorocyclopentadiene and of Diels-Alder cycloaddition of polychlorinated cyclopentadienes to norbornadiene

Diels-Alder cyclodimerization of 1,2,3,4,5-pentachlorocyclopentadiene (1) affords 2a as the exclusive reaction product. Diels-Alder cycloaddition of 1 to norbornadiene also proceeds stereoselectively to produce a single [4+2] cycloadduct, 4c. The structures of 2a and 4c were established unequivocally via application of single crystal X-ray crystallographic techniques. The origins of the observed diastereofacial selectivity in each of these cycloaddition processes have been investigated by application of semiempirical (AM1 Hamiltonian) and ab initio (Hartree-Fock 3-21G*) calculations. The computational results thereby obtained, which are based upon consideration of the kinetically favored transition state for each of the two cycloaddition reactions studied, are consistent with experiment. These semiempirical and ab initio methods also have been used to investigate the mechanisms of the Diels-Alder reactions that have been used to prepare aldrin and isodrin (7 and 8, respectively). The results thereby obtained suggest that isodrin formation via Diels-Alder cycloaddition of cyclopentadiene to 1,2,3,4,7,7-hexachloronorbornadiene proceeds with kinetic control of product stereochemistry.     

The application of the concept of reaction layer to the study of electrode processes coupled with the second-order chemical reactions at microelectrodes under steady-state conditions

Under steady-state conditions, the current equations of the second-order EC, ECE and DISPI reactions at microdisk, microspherical and microring electrodes are derived with the aid of the concept of the reaction layer. The conditions under which these equations would be valid are also discussed. Using these equations, methods to determine the kinetic parameters for the second-order EC, ECE and DISPI reactions are presented. The reduction of 2,6-diphenyl-pyrylium cation and oxidation of triphenylamine were investigated as examples of the second-order EC and ECE reactions.     

Analytical assays based on detecting conformational changes of single molecules.

One common strategy for the detection of biomolecules is labeling either the target itself or an antibody that binds to it. Herein, a different approach, based on detecting the conformational change of a probe molecule induced by binding of the target is discussed. That is, what is being detected is not the presence of the target or the probe, but the conformational change of the probe. Recently, a single-molecule sensor has been developed that exploits this mechanism to detect hybridization of a single DNA oligomer to a DNA probe, as well as specific binding of a single protein to a DNA probe. Biomolecular recognition often involves large conformational changes of the molecules involved, and therefore this strategy may be applicable to other assays.     

X-Ray Powder Diffraction Studies of Polyhydrates of Cross-Linked Tetraisoamylammonium Polyacrylates

X-ray powder diffraction studies were performed of the polyhydrates, formed at positive temperature in swelled grains of carboxylic cation-exchange resins in the form of tetraisoamylammonium (cross-linked tetraisoamylammonium polyacrylates, differing in the degree of cross-linking: 1, 2 and 3%). It was shown that the polyhydrates exist as the crystalline phase under specific conditions, determined earlier by DTA technique. Diffraction patterns of the samples, recorded at the temperature +3 ± 1 °C, indicate that the polyhydrates crystallize in hexagonal symmetry, the unit cell parameters are close to a=12.25 Å, c=12.72 Å and do not depend significantly upon the degree of cross-linking. The suppositions were made concerning the size of hydrate crystallites, formed in the swelled grains of the studied resins.This revised version was published online in July 2005 with a corrected issue number.     

Effect of substituent on the enantioselectivity for lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of glycerol derivatives

The lipase-catalyzed transesterifications of various substituted diphenyl 1,2-ketals of glycerol have been investigated. Efficient modification of the substrate structure with bis(4-bromophenyl) ketal was found to enhance the enantioselectivity up to E=57 at 0 °C.     

Studies in werner clathrates. Part 2. Structures of bis (isothiocyanato) tetra (4-phenylpyridine) nickel (II)· 4-dimethylsulphoxide,bis (isothiocyanato) tetra (3-methylpyridine) nickel (II)· chloroform and bis (isothiocyanato) tetra (3,5-dimethylpyridine) nickel (II)

The structures of Ni(NCS)₂(4-PhPy)₄·4DMSO and Ni(NCS)₂(3-MePy)₄·CHCl₃ have been elucidated. Movement of guest molecules through channels in the host structure was simulated by potential energy calculations. Ni(NCS)₂(3,5-diMePy)₄ does not form inclusion compounds. An intra-molecular potential energy study shows that theortho-hydrogens on the 3,5-dimethylpyridine ligands control the conformation of the molecule. The same result is obtained with the 4-methylpyridine ligand, which suggests that the extent of rotation of substituted pyridines about the Ni–N bounds is not a factor governing clathrate formation. Supplementary Data relating to this article are deposited with the British Library as Supplementary Publication No. SUP 82030 (43 pages).     

Preparation of La0.75Sr0.25MnO3 Nano-Phase Powders and Films from Alkoxide Precursors

The first purely alkoxide-based sol-gel route to nano-phase powders and thin films of perovskite La_0.75Sr_0.25MnO₃ is described. The phase and microstructure evolution on heat treatment of free gel films to form the target nano-phase oxide were investigated by TGA, IR spectroscopy, powder XRD, SEM and TEM-EDS. The xerogel consisted of a hydrated oxo-carbonate, without remaining alkoxo groups or solvent. Heating at 5°C·min^–1 decomposed the carbonate groups and yielded the pure perovskite La_0.75Sr_0.25MnO₃ at 760°C. The cell dimensions were virtually unchanged from the first observation of perovskite at 680°C, to 1000°C, 4 h. The monoclinic cell of La_0.75Sr_0.25MnO₃ obtained at 1000°C, 4 h, had the dimensions a = 5.475(1), b = 5.504(2), c = 7.771(1) Å, = 90.50(2), fitting the literature data quite well. Crack-free, homogenous, 150 nm thick La_0.75Sr_0.25MnO₃ films were prepared by spin-coating Si/SiO₂/TiO₂/Pt and polycrystalline -Al₂O₃ substrates with a 0.6 M alkoxide solution, followed by heating at 5°C·min^–1 to 800°C, 30 min.     

A study of the thermal decarboxylation of three perfluoropolyether salts

The thermal decarboxylation of three dicarboxylic perfluoropolyether potassium salts of relatively short chain length has been investigated and the products and kinetics of the main reactions have been defined. From the rate constants and Arrhenius parameters data, the second decarboxylation appears to be quantitatively rather close to the first.     

Nanocrystallization of anatase in amorphous TiO2

The kinetics of nanocrystallization in amorphous TiO₂ has been studied in non-isothermal conditions by DSC. It was found that this process could be well described by standard Johnson-Mehl-Avrami-Kolmogorov (JMA) model with kinetic exponent m≅1. The kinetic parameters were calculated by simultaneous analysis of experimental data taken at different heating rates. These parameters were used as a basis for prediction of crystallization kinetics in isothermal conditions. The agreement between the JMA model prediction and experimental data depends on the method of preparation of amorphous TiO₂.