Selective dissolution of TiO2 crystalline phases: Physicochemical characterization and photocatalytic activity

In this study, different commercially available TiO₂ powders (Degussa P25, pure anatase, and rutile) were submitted to selective dissolution treatments, with H₂O₂/NH₄OH and 10% HF, known to remove rutile and anatase from physical mixtures. The aim was to check whether a particular separation method designed to remove a specific crystalline phase influences the properties of the other phase from the mixture or not. More precisely, we have studied how the HF dissolution method designed to selectively remove the anatase affected the physicochemical and photocatalytic properties of rutile. In a similar way, the changes in the anatase properties were studied, after the H₂O₂/NH₄OH treatment, initially used to remove rutile from the mixture. All the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption–desorption, transmission electron microscopy, diffuse reflectance (DR) ultraviolet–visible, and Raman spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of these powders was tested in the oxidation of p-chlorophenol from water. The selective treatment methods not only dissolved the target phase but also changed some physicochemical and the photocatalytic performances of the other TiO₂ crystalline phase in a considerable manner. These aspects should be taken into account in the studies regarding the synergistic effects of anatase and rutile, especially in reconstructed TiO₂ photocatalysts.     

A priori estimates for the vector p-Laplacian with potential boundary conditions

This paper deals with the solvability of the boundary value problem

Projection-Iterative Methods for a Class of Difference Equations

We develop a theoretical framework for projection-iterative methods to solve operator equations of the form Au + Bu = f, where A is a Toeplitz operator in a Banach space , B is considered as a perturbation (of general form) of A, and f is a given element in this space. The methods are adopted for application to general situations, in particular, to the equations in which A need not be a Fredholm operator. The idea to involve iteration procedures and the technique which we apply allow to obtain conditions on perturbations for convergence and effective error estimates in terms of some weighted spaces (without any restrictions on the norms for perturbations). Based on established evaluations we derive further information about decaying properties of the solutions. The obtained results are illustrated by considering concrete classes of equations as, for instance, equations corresponding to Jacobi type operators.      

Iterative Approaches to Solving Equilibrium Problems and Fixed Point Problems of Infinitely Many Nonexpansive Mappings

Recently, O’Hara, Pillay and Xu (Nonlinear Anal. 54, 1417–1426, 2003) considered an iterative approach to finding a nearest common fixed point of infinitely many nonexpansive mappings in a Hilbert space. Very recently, Takahashi and Takahashi (J. Math. Anal. Appl. 331, 506–515, 2007) introduced an iterative scheme by the viscosity approximation method for finding a common element of the set of solutions of an equilibrium problem and the set of fixed points of a nonexpansive mapping in a Hilbert space. In this paper, motivated by these authors’ iterative schemes, we introduce a new iterative approach to finding a common element of the set of solutions of an equilibrium problem and the set of common fixed points of infinitely many nonexpansive mappings in a Hilbert space. The main result of this work is a strong convergence theorem which improves and extends results from the above mentioned papers.     

The effect of copper ions addition on structural and optical properties of zinc borate glasses

Glasses in the ternary system xCuO?(100 ? x)[55B₂O₃·45ZnO] (0 ≤ x ≤ 20 mol%) have been prepared by melting at 1200 °C and rapidly cooling at room temperature. The effect of copper ions addition in 55B₂O₃·45ZnO glass matrix together with the matrix effect on paramagentic behavior has been investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, differential thermal analysis (DTA), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), ultraviolet–visible (UV–VIS) spectroscopy and density measurements. The increase of the number of non-bridging oxygen (NBO) atoms as a function of CuO content in these glasses leads to the decrease of glass polymerization which reduces the stability of the glasses and favors the association of copper ions in clusters. This leads to the major changes of structural and optical properties of the studied glasses as can be seen from the data obtained by FTIR and EPR spectroscopies.     

XRD and EPR structural investigation of some zinc borate glasses doped with iron ions

Glasses in the system xFe₂O₃·(100?x) [45ZnO·55B₂O₃] (0≤x≤10 mol%) have been prepared by melting at 1200 °C and rapidly cooling at room temperature. The obtained samples were submitted to an additional thermal treatment at 570 °C for 12 h in order to relax the glass structure as well as to improve the local order. The as cast and heat treated samples were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements. The XRD patterns of all the studied samples show their vitreous nature. Structural modifications occurring in the heat treated samples compared to the untreated ones have been pointed out. EPR spectra of untreated and heat treated samples revealed resonance absorptions centered at g≈2.0, g≈4.3 and g≈6.4. The compositional variation of the line intensity and linewidth of the absorptions from g≈4.3 and g≈2.0 have been interpreted in terms of the variation in the concentration of the Fe³⁺ ions and the interaction between the iron ions. The EPR spectra of the untreated samples containing 5 mol% Fe₂O₃ have been studied at different temperatures (110–290 K). The line intensity of the resonance signals decreases with increase in temperature whereas the linewidth is found to be independent of temperature. It was also found that the temperature variation of reciprocal line intensity obeys the Boltzmann law.     

Stereospecific Synthesis of D-Glycero-D-ido-oct-2-ulose

Summary.  D-Glycero-D-gulo-heptose reacted with 2,2-dimethoxypropane to give its 2,3:6,7-di-O-isopropylidene derivative. Its base-catalyzed addition to formaldehyde resulted in the formation of 2,3:6,7-di-O-isopropylidene-2-C-(hydroxymethyl)-D-glycero-D-gulo-heptofuranose. After acid hydrolysis of this aldolization product, a new branched-chain aldose, 2-C-(hydroxymethyl)-D-glycero-D-gulo-heptose, was obtained, which was stereospecifically rearranged under the catalytic action of molybdic acid to D-glycero-D-ido-oct-2-ulose. Received October 17, 2000. Accepted December 4, 2000     

An Alternative Demonstration of Chemical Waves: A Video Clip of a One-Dimensional Wave in the Iodate–Arsenite System

A chemical wave was initiated in a system (glass tube or graduated cylinder) containing a water solution of potassium iodate, potassium hydrogen sulfate, starch, and an excess of potassium arsenite. A large number of photos (329) were taken with a digital camera (one snapshot every 30 seconds). These photos were linked to give a unique video clip. This video clip may be used as a time-saving alternative to the classical demonstration. Similar clips may be made for other long-lasting processes.     

Crystal Structure of 2-Cyclohexylethyl α-d-Mannopyranoside

Abstract  

The crystal structure of 2-cyclohexylethyl α-d-mannopyranoside (C₁₄H₂₆O₆, Mr = 290.35) has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system with space group C2 and unit cell parameters: a = 14.2420(2), b = 6.0320(1), c = 17.8065(3) ?, β = 102.131(2)° and Z = 4. The final reliability index is 0.0256 for 2,654 observed reflections. The one molecule of 2-cyclohexylethyl α-d-mannopyranoside is localized in independent part of unit cell. The molecules of 2-cyclohexylethyl α-d-mannopyranoside are linked through O–H···O hydrogen bond into bilayer.