Adaptive Catalytic Systems for Chemical Energy Conversion

The rapidly growing importance of green hydrogen and renewable carbon resources as essential feedstocks for sustainable chemical value chains opens room for disruptive innovations regarding chemical production processes. The fluctuation and variability associated with non-fossil energy and raw material supply holds many challenges for catalysts to cope with the resulting dynamics. However, many new opportunities also arise once catalyst design starts to aim at performance that is “adaptive” rather than “task-specific”. In this Scientific Perspective, we propose to define adaptivity in catalysis on the basis of three essential properties that are reversibility, rapidity, and robustness (R³ rule). Promising design strategies and selected examples are described to substantiate the scientific concept and to highlight its potential for chemical energy conversion.     

Influence of acid treatment on structure of clinoptilolite tuff and its adsorption of methane

This study presents the results of the methane adsorption properties of clinoptilolite tuff from Bigadic, Turkey and that of acid treated forms at 273 and 293 K up to 100 kPa using volumetric apparatus. In order to assess changes in structural and gas adsorption properties of clinoptilolite, zeolite sample was treated with acid solutions of varying concentrations (0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 M) at 70 °C during 3 h. Structural and thermal characterization of natural and acid treated clinoptilolite samples were carried out using a combination of techniques such as X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, thermogravimetric, differential thermal analysis and nitrogen adsorption methods. At both temperatures, uptake of methane (CH₄) increased in the following order: CLN < CLN-H2 < CLN-H1 < CLN-H05 < CLN-H01. CH₄ adsorption capacities of the original and acid treated clinoptilolites were found in the range of 0.476–0.910 mmol/g and 0.398–0.691 mmol/g at 273 and 293 K, respectively.     

Paper conservation methods: a literature review

The main paper conservation methods are presented, classified in the following categories: preparation of the intervention, disinfestation and disinfection/sterilization, surface/dry cleaning, wet cleaning, chemical stabilization, paper repairs, consolidation and strengthening. Treatment documentation is also discussed. The targets, the historical aspects, the general principles, the materials and equipment, the acceptance and criticism pertaining to each method are briefly reviewed, and the most important research for their evaluation is presented. Several paper stabilization strategies, such as deacidification and iron gall ink stabilization, applicable to paper are elucidated. Specific consolidation and strengthening methods for paper, such as lamination and paper splitting are also discussed. The review mainly focuses on the established methods, but experimental, abandoned or insufficiently documented methods are also included. Shortcomings and limitations of several methods were found in the literature, concerning health issues, limited effectiveness, adverse side-effects on the treated artefacts and restricted applicability.     

Ambazone salt with p-aminobenzoic acid

In this study, we obtained a novel salt of ambazone (AMB) with p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) that exhibits improved solubility and antibacterial activity. The salt was produced by solvent-drop grinding and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The salt nature of the new form was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy based on the characteristic vibrational band of the protonated amino group. Based on the X-ray powder diffraction data, the compound crystallizes in the triclinic P_-1 space group with the following unit cell parameters: a = 14.294 Å, b = 9.162 Å, c = 8.777 Å, α = 95.90°, β = 100.63°, γ = 91.73°. Thermal analysis reveals the thermal events and different decomposition steps of this solid form as compared to the starting compounds. Powder dissolution measurements showed solubility improvement compared with pure ambazone of 2 and 3.3 times in water and phosphate buffer, respectively. Antibacterial tests showed higher activity of the salt to Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Salmonella bacteria as compared to AMB and PABA. The study demonstrates that the pharmaceutical salt of ambazone with p-aminobenzoic acid (AMB–PABA) can be a possible alternative to ambazone in the treatment of infections with Gram-negative bacteria.     

Spectroscopic and structural characterization of pure and FeCl<Subscript>3</Subscript>-containing tri-<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-butyl phosphate

The spectroscopic properties and liquid structure of pure tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) and FeCl₃/TBP solutions have been investigated by Uv–Vis and Raman spectroscopies, X-ray diffraction and conductometry. Uv–Vis and Raman spectra, supported by conductometric measurements, consistently indicate that the solubilized salt is present mostly as TBP _n [FeCl_3???n ] ⁿ⁺ and FeCl₄ ^? complex ions due to specific interaction with the TBP phosphate group. Thanks to this interaction, a high amount of salt (up to 13 % w/w) can be dissolved despite the relatively low dielectric constant of TBP. The X-ray diffractogram of pure TBP has been interpreted in terms of three main contributions which can be attributed to spatial pair correlations between atoms of interacting TBP molecules. In the presence of increasing FeCl₃ amounts, it has been observed a progressive structuring effect, exerted by the dissolved salt, on the layers of opportunely oriented TBP molecules due to the formation of the complex ionic species. By simple treatment with NaBH₄, the synthesis of Fe nanoparticles has been achieved. The absence of water, the easiness of preparation, the high amount of salt which can be suspended and the peculiar physico-chemical properties of such systems are all elements worth of note for the fields of nanoparticle synthesis and for specialized technological applications.     

Thermo- and pH-responsive fluorescence behaviors of sulfur-functionalized detonation nanodiamond-poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-isopropylacrylamide)

Detonation nanodiamonds (DNDs) are emerging as bioimaging platforms due to their biocompability, small primary particle size, reactive surface, and stable fluorescence after modification. In this paper, a heteroatom engineering method is provided to fabricate the fluorescent DNDs through pyrolysis of dibenzyl disulfide. The quantum yield of these sulfur (S)-functionalized DNDs (SDNDs) increases with sulfur percentage. The solubility and stability of SDNDs in aqueous solution are also significantly increased due to the formation of hydrophilic sulfur groups on DND. Furthermore, these SDNDs are used to conjugate the stimuli-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) through the ‘graft from’ method. The conjugation demonstrated both pH- and thermo-responsive fluorescence behaviors, which shows promise to be used in ratiometric fluorescence sensing for the detection of intracellular pH and temperature values.     

Mononuclear transition and non-transition complexes of amlodipine besylate as antihypertensive agent: synthesis,spectral, thermal,and antimicrobial studies

Mononuclear Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Mg(II), Sr(II), Ba(II), Ca(II), Pt(IV), Au(III), and Pd(II) complexes of the drug amlodipine besylate (HL) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopic technique (IR, UV–Vis, solid reflectance, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and ¹H-NMR) and magnetic measurements. The elemental analyses of the complexes are confirmed by the stoichiometry of the types [M(HL)(X)₂(H₂O)]·nH₂O [M = Mn(II), Co(II), Zn(II), Ni(II), Mg(II), Sr(II), Ba(II), and Ca(II); X = Cl^? or NO₃ ^?], [Cd(HL)(H₂O)]Cl₂, [Pd(HL)₂]Cl₂, [Pt(L)₂]Cl₂, and [Au(L)₂]Cl, respectively. Infrared data revealed that the amlodipine besylate drug ligand chelated as monobasic tridentate through NH₂, oxygen (ether), and OH of besylate groups in Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Mg(II), Sr(II), Ba(II), Ca(II), and Au(III) complexes, but in Pt(IV) and Pd(II) complexes, the amlodipine besylate coordinates via NH₂ and OH (besylate) groups. An octahedral geometry is proposed for all complexes except for the Cd(II), Pt(IV), and Pd(II) complexes. The amlodipine besylate free ligand and the transition and non-transition complexes showed antibacterial activity towards some Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and the fungi (Aspergillus flavus and Candida albicans).