Clusters,metastability, and nucleation: Kinetics of first-order phase transitions

We describe and interpret computer simulations of the time evolution of a binary alloy on a cubic lattice, with nearest neighbor interactions favoring like pairs of atoms. Initially the atoms are arranged at random; the time evolution proceeds by random interchanges of nearest neighbor pairs, using probabilities compatible with the equilibrium Gibbs distribution at temperatureT. For temperatures 0.59T_c, 0.81 T_c, and 0.89T _c, with density of A atoms equal to that in the B-rich phase at coexistence, the density C₁ of clusters ofl A atoms approximately satisfies the following empirical formulas: C₁ w(1 –)³ andC ₁, (1 –)⁴Q₁w¹ (2 l 10). Herew is a parameter and we defineQ _l = _K e ^–E(K) , where the sum goes over all translationally nonequivalentl-particle clusters andE(K) is the energy of formation of the clusterK. Forl > 10,Q ₁ is not known exactly; so we use an extrapolation formulaQ _l Aw _s ^–l l ^– exp(–bl ), wherew _s is the value ofw at coexistence. The same formula (withw > w _s) also fits the observed values of C, (for small values ofl) at densities greater than the coexistence density (forT=0.59T_c): When the supersaturation is small, the simulations show apparently metastable states, a theoretical estimate of whose lifetime is compatible with the observations. For higher supersaturation the system is observed to undergo a slow process of segregation into two coexisting phases (andw therefore changes slowly with time). These results may be interpreted as a more quantitative formulation (and confirmation) of ideas used in standard nucleation theory. No evidence for a spinodal transition is found.Supported by AFOSR Grant No. 73-2430D and by ERDA Contract No. EY-76-C-02-3077*000.     

A complementary and synergistic effect of Fe-Zn binary metal oxide in the process of high-temperature fuel gas desulfurization

57Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy was used to investigate the evolution of Fe-Zn binary metal oxide sorbent in the process of high-temperature fuel gas desulfurization. The results of phase analyses show that Fe-Zn binary metal oxide sorbent is rapidly reduced in hot fuel gas and decomposed to new phases of highly dispersed microcrystalline elemental iron and zinc oxide, both of which become the active desulfurization constituents. A complementary and synergistic effect between active iron acting as a high sulfur capacity constituent and active zinc oxide acting as a deep refining desulfurization constituent exists in this type of sorbent for hot fuel gas desulfurization.     

Special Mixing Behavior of Chelate-based Ionic Liquid with Methanol

Compared to the general ionic liquids (ILs), a significant deviation of the binary mixtures of 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium tri(hexafluoroacetylaceto)-copper(II) ([C₁₀mim][Cu(hfacac)₃]) with methanol was found, indicating the way methanol interacts with ILs might be governed by the special structure of the chelating anion. IR results showed that the (C2-H) of 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluoroacetylacetonate ([C₁₀mim][hfacac]) blue-shifted more significantly than that of [C₁₀mim][Cu(hfacac)₃], meanwhile the (C=O) red-shifted in [C₁₀mim][Cu(hfacac)₃], which is contrast with that in [C₁₀mim][hfacac]. Two-dimensional correlation analysis of the FTIR spectra indicated that the chelating cavity has little effect on the sequence of the ILs sites that interact with methanol. Combined with small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) results, the picture of mixing processes in these two systems were proposed. Methanol interacts directly with the anion followed by the cation in [C₁₀mim][hfacac], while methanol preferentially enters the chelating cavity and enhances the packing effect in the [C₁₀mim][Cu(hfacac)₃] system.     

Adsorption of the Ternary Liquid Mixture Ethanol/n-Octane/n-Hexadecane onto Activated Carbon: I. The Adsorption Excess of the Ternary Mixture and of Its Binary Combinations

The adsorption isotherms of the binary mixtures of ethanol/n-Octane, ethanol/n-hexadecane and n-octane/n-hexadecane onto the activated carbon TA 95 were measured at 278 K, 288 K, 298 K and 308 K and described with mathematical functions. About 300 experimental values of the adsorption excess of the ternary mixture ethanol/n-octane/n-hexadecane onto activated carbon TA 95 at 298 K were measured by gas chromatography inside the ternary triangle. The ternary miscibility gap was determined at three temperatures. A good representation of the ternary data and the calculated activity coefficients (using the UNIFAC model) in three-dimensional space was possible with the help of transformation of coordinates. It was possible, too, by utilization of the conception of the quasi two-component representation of the mole fractions with and without miscibility gap. Several influencing factors on ternary adsorption isotherms were discussed for the system ethanol/n-octane/n-hexadecane/TA 95.     

Densities and Excess Molar Volumes of Binary and Ternary Mixtures of Aqueous Solutions of 2,2,2-Trifluoroethanol with Acetone and Alcohols at the Temperature of 298.15 K and Pressure of 101 kPa

Excess molar volumes V_m^E of the binary mixtures of (trifluoroethanol + 1-propanol), (trifluoroethanol + 2-propanol), (acetone + water), (methanol + water), (ethanol + water), (1-propanol + water), (2-propanol + water), and the ternary mixtures of (trifluoroethanol + methanol + water), (trifluoroethanol + ethanol + water), (trifluoroethanol~+ 1-propanol + water), (trifluoroethanol + 2-propanol + water) and (trifluoroethanol + acetone + water) were measured with a vibrating tube densimeter at the temperature of 298.15 K and the pressure 101 kPa. The extrema in V_m^E of trifluoroethanol mixtures occur at –0.690 cm³-mol^–1 for (trifluoroethanol + 1-propanol), at –0.990~cm³-mol^–1 for (trifluoroethanol + 2-propanol); at 0.562 and –0.973 cm³-mol^–1 for (trifluoroethanol + methanol + water), at 0.629 and –0.973 cm³-mol^–1 for (trifluoroethanol + ethanol + water), at 1.082 and –0.659 cm³-mol^–1 for (trifluoroethanol~+ 1-propanol + water), at 0.998 and –0.991 cm³-mol^–1 for (trifluoroethanol~+ 2-propanol + water), and at 0.515 and –1.472 cm³-mol^–1 for (trifluoroethanol + acetone + water). The experimental ternary V_m^E values were predicted by empirical expressions using binary solution data.     

Phase study of the system Li2Se-In2Se3

The binary system Li₂Se-In₂Se₃ was investigated in the range of 40 to 100 mol% In₂Se₃ by thermoanalytical and X-ray methods. The system is characterized by two eutectic points. Beside the two binary components and the known ternary compound LiInSe2 another ternary compound crystallizes in this binary system at 83.3 mol% In₂Se₃. This compound was identified as LiIn₅Se₈. In contrast to (Cu, Ag)^IB₅ ^IIIC₈ ^VI compounds such as CuIn₅S₈ [1] it does not crystallize in the spinel structure. LiIn₅Se₈ shows a stratified structure. The melting point was determined to be at 810°C. Starting from room temperature up to the melting point no phase transitions were observed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Adsorption from binary solvent mixtures onto silica gel by HPLC frontal analysis

Summary The chromatographic technique of frontal analysis is applied to measuring adsorption from binary liquid mixtures by silica gel. The complete adsorption isotherm of a solvent mixture is obtained by measuring the break-through curves for a series of small concentration steps of the mobile phase. This method offers a direct way to determine the composition of the stationary phase in liquid-solid chromatography with mixed mobile phases. The surface excess isotherms of all binary systems formed by benzene, cyclohexane, and 1,2-dichloroethane, at the solution-silica gel interface at 25 °C are presented. The data of the three systems are shown to be thermodynamically mutually consistent.     

Binary and Ternary Complexes Between Lauryl Hexaoxyethylene, Benzoate and Cyclodextrin. Part II. β-CD

The characterization of binary and ternary complexes of benzoate, lauryl hexaoxyethylene (C₁₂E₆) and -CD is presented. The complexation equilibrium was characterized by UV-Vis spectrophotometry, titration microcalorimetry, capillary electrophoresis, and 2D ROESY ¹H-NMR. Results suggested that -CD forms one complex with C₁₂E₆in the stoichiometric ratio of -CD : C₁₂E₆1.5 : 1, with a stability constant 1.3 × 10⁵ M^-1.5. The 2-D ROESY ¹H-NMR spectrum indicated that C₁₂E₆is included inside the -CD cavity. The primary binding site of C₁₂E₆ is on the lauryl subunit of this molecule. Analogous to a previously reported study of -CD, the combination of -CD and C₁₂E₆precipitated from the solution. Addition of benzoate seemed to dissolve the precipitate and nearly doubled the apparent stability constant of the complex. Results from the various techniques supported formation of ternary complexes between -CD, C₁₂E₆, and benzoate.     

Cleavage of a DNA fragment by a binary oligonucleotide reagent

The possibility of specific cleavage of a single-stranded DNA fragment due to cooperative action of two oligonucleotide derivatives bearing chemical groups (at the 3"-phosphate and 5"-thiophosphate ends, respectively) located close to each other in a complementary complex is demonstrated.     

Multilayer adsorption with variable thickness at solid-liquid interfaces

 The multilayer adsorption on the solid/liquid interface in binary mixtures was studied by adsorption space filling with constant and variable layer thickness. Adsorption from benzene/n-heptane mixtures was examined on hydrophilic and hydro-phobic surfaces. The free enthalpy of adsorption, Δ₂₁ G=f (x ₁), was calculated from the adsorption excess isotherm by integration of the Gibbs equation. Supposing that the free enthalpy is mainly due to adsorption in the first layer, the composition of this layer can be calculated from the Δ₂₁ G=f (x ₁) function. It was established that the adsorption layer thickness in benzene/heptane mixtures increases significantly with increasing benzene content. This statement was supported by X-ray diffraction on hydrophobic clay minerals. Received: 2 April 1997 Accepted: 10 June 1997