Determination of polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles (PASH) in diesel fuel by high performance liquid chromatography and photodiode-array detection

An oxidation method (sulfone method) for the determination of polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles (PASH) in diesel fuel is presented. The aromatic fraction of a diesel fuel, isolated by solid phase extraction, is oxidized under controlled conditions with hydrogen peroxide. The oxidation products, mainly methylated dibenzosulfone, are determined and quantified directly, without further clean-up, by HPLC with photodiode-array detection.     

On the Proper Normalization Constraint

In the variational optimization of a trial function the proper functional to be varied is the Rayleigh quotient with the normalization constraint explicitly imposed. It will be shown that only under certain very rigorous conditions can one use the energy functional to replace the Rayleigh quotient and that, therefore, the normalization constraint is by no means a matter of no consequence.     

Synthesis and Electrochemical Studies of Spinel LiNi1−xMnxVO4

Spinel compound LiNi_1−xMn_xVO₄ (0≤x≤0.4) had been prepared by using the moist chemical method. X-ray diffraction spectra showed that the lattice constant increased with x in the LiNi_1−xMn_xVO₄, XPS spectra indicating that Li1s had a chemical shift towards lesser binding energy, and manganese in LiNi_1−xMn_xVO₄ existing as the mixed valence of Mn²⁺ and Mn³⁺. The electrochemical charge and discharge testing at a current density of 0.1 mA/cm² between the potentials of 4.0 and 3.0 V vs Li/Li⁺ in 1 mol/dm³ LiPF₆/EC+DEC (1:1 by volume) at 25°C showed that LiNi_1−xMn_xVO₄ cell has a better rechargeability, but a lower cell voltage of 4.0 V vs Li/Li⁺ than that without the doping sample, and the capacity and the cycle efficiency of the Li/LiNi_1−xMn_xVO₄ cells increased with x in the LiNi_1−xMn_xVO₄.     

Application of an Ion Beam Technique for the Design of Visible Light-Sensitive, Highly Efficient and Highly Selective Photocatalysts: Ion-Implantation and Ionized Cluster Beam Methods

As a new concept for the design of effective photocatalysts, an ion beam technology using accelerated metal ions, a metal ion implantation and an ionized cluster beam (ICB) method, have been applied to design unique photocatalysts. The metal ion implantation of TiO₂ and Ti-containing zeolites with highly accelerated metal ions (V⁺, Cr⁺, etc.) is useful in designing photocatalysts that can operate efficiently under visible light irradiation. Also, an ICB method with a low acceleration energy is useful in preparing transparent TiO₂ thin films on various types of substrates for the efficient photocatalytic degradation of pollutants diluted in water and air. The combination of the ICB method and metal ion implantation can develop the TiO₂ thin films that are able to operate not only under UV light but also under visible light irradiation.     

Comparison between adsorption isotherm determination techniques and overloaded band profiles on four batches of monolithic columns

The adsorption isotherms of 4-tert.-butyl phenol were measured on four different monolithic columns, using three different techniques, classical frontal analysis (FA), the perturbation on a plateau method (PP) and the recently introduced numerical procedure known as the inverse numerical method (IN). This last approach requires only the recording of a few overloaded profiles and has the potential advantage of affording a dramatic decrease of the amounts of compounds, solvent, and time needed to determine accurate estimates of the coefficients of the isotherm. The reproducibility of the adsorption data measured on the four columns is discussed with reference to the specific techniques used for obtaining these data and to the most suitable equation used for modeling them. The data obtained for the different columns were highly consistent. The inverse numerical approach was confirmed to provide a powerful, accurate, and economic method for measuring single component adsorption data.     

Preparation of Mullite Fibers by the Sol-Gel Method

Mullite fibers were synthesized from an aqueous solution of aluminum isopropoxide, aluminum nitrate and tetraethylorthosilicate by the Sol-Gel method. The starting solution was prepared by adding aluminum isopropoxide and tetraethylorthosilicate simultaneously to an aluminum nitrate aqueous solution. The spinnability of the starting solution was investigated by varying the molar ratio of aluminum isopropoxide/aluminum nitrate in the solution. Gel fibers were obtained from solutions in a composition range of aluminum isopropoxide/aluminum nitrate of 3 to 5. Gels obtained from spinnable solutions appeared to have high homogeneity in the mixing of the Al/Si components, leading to a sharp 980°C exothermic peak in the DTA curve and a mullitization temperature of 1000°C. However, in the case of gels obtained from unspinnable solutions, a small 980°C exothermic peak was detected, and the mullitization temperature was as high as 1200°C, probably due to greater heterogeneity in the mixing of the Al/Si components.     

Shortcut method for evaluation and design of a hybrid process for enantioseparations

Hybrid processes for enantioseparations have a considerable potential for reducing investment and operational costs. An example is the combination of simulated moving bed (SMB) chromatography and selective crystallisation. However, the design of integrated processes is a difficult task. A shortcut method is presented that can serve as a tool for design and estimation of the potential of such processes. The approach requires only limited experimental data and thus allows for systematic parameter studies. The method is based on the determination of the purity-performance characteristic of the SMB process and rigorous application of mass balances. The use of relative mass fluxes allows derivation of simple algebraic expressions for essential process parameters. The significant potential of combining SMB and crystallisation is demonstrated for the example of the separation of mandelic acid enantiomers.     

Investigations with the finite element method on the Cyber 205

We are trying to investigate systematically the application of the finite element method (FEM) for solving the Schrödinger equation. The present paper is devoted to the calculation of vibrational transition probabilities for the collinear reactive system A + BC (i.e. H+H₂ and their isotopes). The calculations are fully two-dimensional and the results are compared with earlier FEM calculations and conventional basis set expansion methods using the the R-matrix or S-matrix propagation.We made extensive analysis of FEM on the vector-computer Cyber 205 and developed a vector code for the efficient use in two dimensions, so that in the near future applications even in three dimensions will be possible.For the hydrogen exchange reactions we investigated the following isotope combinations: (a) H + H₂, b) H + DH, D + HD and H + MuH (symmetric reaction), (c) D + HH, H + DD and Mu + DD (asymmetric reaction). We calculated the transition probabilities for up to five open vibrational channels and found excellent agreement with known exact values.     

NixB/沸石催化剂的分散性和反应性

用晶内形成法制备了Ni_xB/沸石催化剂,用饱和氢化学吸附法结合TEM方法考察了负载金属的分散性,并研究了其己环烷脱氢反应性。结果表明,Ni_xB/沸石样品上负载金属的分散性高,金属粒径分布也相对集中;金属负载量、载体结构和性质以及Ni_xB的制备条件对负载金属的分散性有明显影响。Ni_xB/沸石样品呈现较好的环己烷脱氢反应性。