Alpha decay of Cm

An enriched sample of ²⁴⁷Cm (99.4 %) has been used to investigate the -decay scheme of ²⁴⁷Cm. Seven -groups with energies and intensities 5.265 (13.8 %), 5.210 (5.7 %), 5.145 (1.2 %), 4.983 (2.0 %), 4.941 (1.6 %), 4.868 (71.0 %) and 4.818 (4.7 %) were observed. Gamma-singles and γ coincidence spectra showed the presence of 278.0, 287.5, 346.0 and 402.4 keV γ-rays. A two-parameter coincidence experiment established that the sources of the 402.4 and the 287.5 keV γ-rays were 4.868 and 4.983 MeV -groups, respectively. The multipolarity of the 287.5 keV transition was found to be M1. The K conversion coefficient of the 402.4 keV γ-ray indicates an E1 multipolarity for this transition. The levels at 287.5 and 402.4 keV have been assigned to the and Nilsson states, respectively. The half-life of ²⁴⁷Cm was found to be (1.56±0.05) ×10⁷ y from the pulse analysis and mass spectrometric analysis of the sample.     

Degradation of Sucrose and Nitrate Over Titania Coated Nano-hematite Photocatalysts

Photodegradation of sucrose and/or nitrate in aqueous solutions was studied over the titania coated nano-hematite photocatalysts under near-UV irradiation. The efficiency of the photocatalytic oxidation and reduction of these coated particles was compared to the prepared single phase TiO₂. It was found that in different environments (O₂ or N₂) the particles showed differences in the photocatalytic efficiency due to the different reaction mechanisms. Effect of nitrate on sucrose degradation was investigated. In aerobic conditions, sucrose was degraded effectively while nitrate reduction was insignificant due to the fast reoxidation of nitrite by O₂ in the dark and by OH^. in homogeneous reaction. Since nitrite competes with sucrose for hydroxyl radicals, it has an adverse effect when the aerobic system contains both substrates. Since reoxidation was suppressed in N₂ conditions, greater reduction of nitrate was observed. The result showed clearly that in the absence of O₂, CO₂ production from sucrose mineralisation was limited by the amount of oxygen produced from the nitrate decomposition. Partial photodissolution of Fe ions for the coated samples was also observed in both environments.     

Design,Synthesis, and X‐Ray Crystal Structure of a Fullerene‐Linked Metal–Organic Framework

Given the unique structural and electronic properties of C₆₀, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) containing C₆₀ linkers are expected to exhibit interesting characteristics. A new hexakisfullerene derivative possessing two pairs of phenyl pyridine groups attached to two methano‐carbon atoms located at the trans‐1 positions was designed and synthesized. The four pyridyl nitrogen atoms define a perfectly planar rectangle. This new C₆₀ derivative was used to assemble the first fullerene‐linked two‐dimensional MOF by coordination with Cd²⁺.     

Statistical optimization of biodiesel production from para rubber seed oil by SO3H-MCM-41 catalyst

The experimental parameters for biodiesel production from para rubber seed oil and methanol using a SO₃H-MCM-41 catalyst were optimized statistically. The SO₃H-MCM-41 catalyst was synthesized by co-condensation in the presence of tetraethyl orthosilicate, 3-mercaptopropyl (methyl) dimethoxysilane (MPMDS) and cetyl-trimethylammonium bromide. In the last step, the solid catalyst (SH-MCM41) was oxidized by H₂O₂ to SO₃H-MCM-41. The acid capacity of the obtained SO₃H-MCM-41 catalyst was quantified by back titration with 0.1 M sodium hydroxide. The physical and chemical properties of the SO₃H-MCM-41 were characterized by nitrogen adsorption/desorption, X-ray diffractometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The effect of varying the catalyst loading (wt.%), reaction time (h) and temperature (°C) and molar composition of MPMDS on the biodiesel yield were investigated using a 2^k factorial design. The optimal conditions to maximize the biodiesel yield, obtained from the response surface analysis using a Box–Behnken design, was a 14.5 wt.% catalyst loading, and a reaction time and temperature of 48 h and 129.6 °C. Under these conditions a fatty acid methyl ester (biodiesel) yield of 84% was predicted, and an 83.10 ± 0.39% yield experimentally obtained.     

Siloxymethylamines as Aminomethylation Reagents for Amines Leading to Labile Diaminomethanes That can be Trapped as Their [Mo(CO)4] Complexes

Compound Et₃SiOCH₂NMe₂ transfers Me₂NCH₂ to R₂NH (R₂=Et₂, PhMe, [Cr(η⁶‐C₆H₅)(CO)₃]Me, PhH) to form previously unknown diaminomethanes, Me₂NCH₂NR₂ and, in the case of R₂=PhH, the triamine Me₂NCH₂N(Ph)CH₂NMe₂. The diaminomethanes exhibit an unreported disproportionation to a mixture of (R₂N)₂CH₂, (Me₂N)₂CH₂, and Me₂NCH₂NR₂, which can be trapped as their [Mo(CO)₄(diamine)] complexes. Whereas PhMeNCH₂NMe₂ is a labile material, the metal‐substituted ([(η⁶‐C₆H₅)Cr(CO)₃]MeNCH₂NMe₂ is a stable material. The triamine Me₂NCH₂N(Ph)CH₂NMe₂ is unstable with respect to transformation to 1,3,5‐triphenyltriazine, but is readily trapped as the bidentate‐triamineMo(CO)₄. All metal complexes were characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction.     

On–off intermittency and coherent bursting in stochastically-driven coupled maps

On–off intermittency is a phase space mechanism for bursting in dynamical systems. Here we recall how the simple example of a logistic map with a time-dependent control parameter, considered as a dynamical variable of the system, gives rise to bursting or on–off behavior. We show that, for a given realization of the driver, a stochastically driven logistic map in the on–off intermittent regime always converges to the same temporal dynamics, independently of initial conditions. In that sense, the map is not chaotic. We then explore the behavior of two coupled on–off logistic maps, each driven by a separate random process, and show that, for a wide range of coupling strengths, bursting becomes at least partially coherent. The bursting coherence has a smooth dependence on the coupling parameter and no sharp transition from coherence to incoherence is detected. In the system of two coupled on–off maps studied here, coherent bursting is rooted in the behavior during off phases when the mapped coordinates take on extremely small values.