Durable Electrocatalytic Reduction of Nitrate to Ammonia over Defective Pseudobrookite Fe2TiO5 Nanofibers with Abundant Oxygen Vacancies

We propose the pseudobrookite Fe₂TiO₅ nanofiber with abundant oxygen vacancies as a new electrocatalyst to ambiently reduce nitrate to ammonia. Such catalyst achieves a large NH₃ yield of 0.73 mmol h⁻¹ mg⁻¹_cat. and a high Faradaic Efficiency (FE) of 87.6 % in phosphate buffer saline solution with 0.1 M NaNO₃, which is lifted to 1.36 mmol h⁻¹ mg⁻¹_cat. and 96.06 % at −0.9 V vs. RHE for nitrite conversion to ammonia in 0.1 M NaNO₂. It also shows excellent electrochemical durability and structural stability. Theoretical calculation reveals the enhanced conductivity of this catalyst and an extremely low free energy of −0.28 eV for nitrate adsorption at the presence of vacant oxygen.     

Catalytic Activity of Molybdenum Complexes Bearing PNP-Type Pincer Ligand toward Ammonia Formation

We newly designed and prepared a novel molybdenum complex bearing a 4-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]pyridine-based PNP-type pincer ligand, based on the bond dissociation free energies (BDFEs) of the N−H bonds in molybdenum-imide complexes bearing various substituted pyridine-based PNP-type pincer ligands. The complex worked as an excellent catalyst toward ammonia formation from the reaction of an atmospheric pressure of dinitrogen with samarium diiodide as a reductant and water as a proton source under ambient reaction conditions, where up to 3580 equivalents of ammonia were formed based on the molybdenum atom of the catalyst. The catalytic activity was significantly improved by one order of magnitude larger than that observed when using the complex before modification.     

Electrocatalytic Reduction of Nitrogen to Ammonia Using Tiara-like Phenylethanethiolated Nickel Cluster

The fixing of N₂ to NH₃ is challenging due to the inertness of the N≡N bond. Commercially, ammonia production depends on the energy-consuming Haber-Bosch (H−B) process, which emits CO₂ while using fossil fuels as the sources of hydrogen and energy. An alternative method for NH₃ production is the electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) process as it is powered by renewable energy sources. Here, we report a tiara-like nickel-thiolate cluster, [Ni₆(PET)₁₂] (where, PET=2-phenylethanethiol)] as an efficient electro-catalyst for the electrochemical NRR at ambient conditions. Ammonia (NH₃: 16.2±0.8 μg h⁻¹ cm⁻²) was the only nitrogenous product over the potential of −2.3 V vs. F_c⁺/F_c with a Faradaic efficiency of 25%±1.7. Based on theoretical calculations, NRR by [Ni₆(PET)₁₂] proceeds through both the distal and alternating pathways with an onset potential of −1.84 V vs. RHE (i.e., −2.46 V vs. F_c⁺/F_c) which corroborates with the experimental findings.     

Catalytic Mechanisms of Transfer Hydrogenation of Azobenzene with Ammonia Borane by Pincer Bismuth Complex: Crucial Role of C=N Functional Group on the Pincer Ligand

Transfer hydrogenation of azobenzene with ammonia borane mediated by pincer bismuth complex 1 was systematically investigated through density functional theory calculations. An unusual metal-ligand cooperation mechanism was disclosed, in which the saturation/regeneration of the C=N functional group on the pincer ligand plays an essential role. The reaction is initiated by the hydrogenation of the C=N bond (saturation) with ammonia borane to afford 3^CN , which is the rate-determining step with Gibbs energy barrier (ΔG^≠) and Gibbs reaction energy (ΔG) of 25.6 and −7.3 kcal/mol, respectively. 3^CN is then converted to a Bi−H intermediate through a water-bridged pathway, which is followed up with the transfer hydrogenation of azobenzene to produce the final product N,N′-diphenylhydrazine and regenerate the catalyst. Finally, the catalyst could be improved by substituting the phenyl group for the tert-butyl group on the pincer ligand, where the ΔG^≠ value (rate-determining step) decreases to 24.0 kcal/mol.     

The affinity of histamine to serum albumin: Capillary electrophoresis-frontal analysis and in-silico molecular docking approaches

Histamine is a biogenic amine found in various body tissues and responsible for many critical vital activities. It is also responsible for allergic reactions in the body. Ingestion of foods containing high amounts of histamine can cause fatal allergic reactions. Albumin in plasma controls drugs and free concentrations of bioactive constituents taken to the body with food. Hence, this study aimed to characterise the interactions of histamine with bovine serum albumin. Capillary electrophoresis in the frontal analysis mode was employed in this study as a practical approach for assessing histamine-bovine serum albumin affinity. The plateau-shaped free histamine peak was well separated from the bovine serum albumin (BSA)-histamine complex peak. The free histamine concentration was obtained by following the height of the free histamine peak. Whereas the bound histamine concentrations were obtained by calculating the difference between the height of total and free histamine peaks. Histamine bound to BSA at one independent site with a K_b value of 2.50 × 10³ L/mol. Moreover, an in-silico molecular docking method was performed, and it was revealed that the binding site of histamine was located closer to Lysine-131 in subdomain IIA of bovine serum albumin.     

流动注射法同时测定海水中氨氮和磷酸盐

采用流动注射法同时测定海水中氨氮和磷酸盐的含量。在优化的试验条件下,氨氮和磷酸盐的线性范围分别为0.25 mg·L-1和0.30 mg·L-1以内,检出限(3S/N)分别为0.42μg·L-1和0.56μg·L-1。氨氮和磷酸盐加标回收率分别在85.0%~103%和86.7%~103%之间,测定值的相对标准偏差(n=6)分别在0.43%~5.3%和0~4.1%之间。方法用于分析标准物质,测定结果与分光光度法的结果一致。     

离子色谱法测定电子烟烟液中氨的含量

建立了测定电子烟烟液中的氨含量离子色谱法。样品经10 mol·L-1盐酸溶液萃取10 min后,采用Dionex Ion Pac CS16A阳离子交换柱分离,以MSA为淋洗液进梯度洗脱,用电化学检测器检测。氨的质量浓度在0.05~1.0 mg·L-1范围内与峰面积呈线性关系,检出限(3S/N)为0.035μg·g-1,测定下限(10S/N)为0.12μg·g-1。方法用于12种市售品牌电子烟烟液中氨的测定,加标回收率在93.2%~106%之间,测定值的相对标准偏差(n=5)小于4%。     

流动注射-分光光度法测定河口水中氨氮的盐效应及校正

建立了流动注射-分光光度法测定河口水中氨氮的盐效应的校正办法。样品溶液中的钙离子、镁离子是造成盐效应的主要因素。低盐区域(盐度0~10)随盐度增加,校正系数迅速降低;高盐区域(盐度10~30)随盐度增加,校正系数缓慢增加。氨氮的线性范围为3.00~300μg·L-1,方法的检出限(3S/N)为1.97μg·L-1。对20.0μg·L-1氨氮标准溶液连续测定7次,测定值的相对标准偏差为4.5%。用标准加入法做方法的回收试验,测得回收率在80.7%~108%之间。     

SCR催化剂碱(土)金属中毒的研究进展

在选择性催化还原(SCR)烟气脱硝系统中,催化剂碱(土)金属中毒和再生受到广泛关注。本文综述了SCR脱硝催化剂碱(土)金属中毒的失活机理及基于分子水平上碱金属中毒的研究新思路,并根据催化剂的各种失活机理,有针对性地综述了提高催化剂抗碱金属中毒的途径及中毒催化剂的再生方法。     

Molybdenum-catalyzed reduction of molecular dinitrogen into ammonia under ambient reaction conditions

Synthesis of transition metal–dinitrogen complexes and stoichiometric transformations of their coordinated dinitrogen into ammonia and hydrazine have so far been well investigated in order to achieve a novel nitrogen fixation under ambient conditions. As an extension of our study, the dimolybdenum–dinitrogen complex bearing PNP pincer ligands has been found to work as an effective catalyst for the formation of ammonia from dinitrogen, where 52 equiv of ammonia are produced based on the catalyst (26 equiv of ammonia are produced based on the molybdenum atom of the catalyst). This is the most effective catalytic reaction system for the formation of ammonia from molecular dinitrogen catalyzed by transition metal–dinitrogen complexes as catalysts under ambient reaction conditions. Herein, we describe recent results concerning the catalytic reaction, including the proposed reaction pathway.