Elaboration and electrochemical characterization of LaZr2Cr4Ni5-based metal hydride alloys

The elaboration of LaZr₂Cr₄Ni₅-based intermetallic compound was performed by mechanical alloying from LaNi₅ and ZrCr₂ precursors and characterized as active materials of negative electrodes in nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries. The effect of the milling duration on the phase composition was investigated. The structural properties of the formed phases were determined by X-ray diffraction and quantified from the Rietveld refinement data. The increase of the milling time up to 40 h leads to the highest abundance of the LaZr₂Cr₄Ni₅ phase, estimated at a weight content of 60.6 %, and a complete elimination of the LaNi₅ intermetallic precursor. The chronopotentiometry, cyclic voltammetry, and chronoamperometry techniques were applied to characterize the electrochemical behavior of prepared LaZr₂Cr₄Ni₅-based compounds. The maximum discharge capacity was 152 mAh g⁻¹, and a high electrochemical stability was obtained in the alkaline solution. The value of the hydrogen diffusion coefficient is equal to 2.1 × 10⁻⁸ cm² s⁻¹, reflecting an appropriate electrochemical hydrogenation kinetic in the LaZr₂Cr₄Ni₅-based compounds.

     

Intensification of sonochemical decolorization of anthraquinonic dye Acid Blue 25 using carbon tetrachloride

In this work, the influence of CCl₄ on the sonochemical decolorization of anthraquinonic dye Acid Blue 25 (AB25) in aqueous medium was investigated using high frequency ultrasound (1700 kHz). This frequency, reputed ineffective, was tested in order to introduce the ultrasound waves with high frequency in the field of degradation or removal of dyes from wastewater, due to its limited use in this field, and to increase the application of high frequency ultrasound wave in the field of environmental protection. The effects of various parameters such as the concentration of CCl₄, frequency (22.5 and 1700 kHz), solution pH, temperature and tert-butyl alcohol adding on the decolorization rate of AB25 was studied. The obtained results clearly demonstrated the significant intensification of AB25 decolorization in the presence of CCl₄. The enhancement effect of CCl₄ increased by decreasing temperature and by increasing the CCl₄ concentration. The pH has a significant influence on the bleaching of dye both in the absence and presence of CCl₄. The three investigated dosimeter methods (KI oxidation, Fricke reaction and H₂O₂ production) well corroborate the improvement of the sonochemical effects in the presence of CCl₄. The best sonochemical decolorization rate of AB25 in aqueous solution both in the absence and presence of CCl₄ is observed to occur at 1700 kHz compared to 22.5 kHz. The sonochemical oxidation of CCl₄ generates oxidizing species in the liquid phase that are highly beneficial for oxidation of hydrophilic and non-volatile pollutant, such as dyes, because they are less susceptible to free radical attack due to lower stability of the generated free radicals.     

Nonlinear chromatography Recent theoretical and experimental results

The theory of nonlinear chromatography has been advanced by the incorporation of recent results obtained by the theory of partial differential equations. The system of equations of the ideal model has been solved analytically in the case of a single component for which the equilibrium isotherm between the mobile and the stationary phases is given by a Langmuir equation. A series of computer programs has been written which permits the calculation of numerical solutions of the semi-ideal model. The properties of the solutions obtained are described and discussed for a one-component system (profile of high concentration bands of a pure compound eluted by a pure solvent), several two-component systems (elution of a pure compound band by a binary mobile phase, separation of a binary mixture eluted by a pure mobile phase), and three-component systems (separation of a binary mixture eluted by a binary solvent, displacement and separation of a binary mixture). Experimental results are reported which validate the conclusions derived from the numerical integration of the model. The conclusions of the work apply to all high-performance chromatographic procedures, i.e., to those where the kinetics of mass transfer are fast enough for the mobile and stationary phases always to be near equilibrium. More specifically, the contribution from the kinetics of the retention mechanism to the mass transfer resistance must itself be negligible. This clearly excludes affinity chromatography.     

Facile access to highly fluorescent nanofibers and microcrystals via reprecipitation of 2-phenyl-benzoxazole derivatives

2-Phenyl-benzoxazole and five derivatives bearing an alkyl or alkoxy substituent on the phenyl ring were used to prepare aqueous suspensions of particles via a solvent-exchange method. In these conditions, the methyl and methoxy derivatives spontaneously gave nanofibers, while the other compounds led to microcrystals. This shows that minor chemical changes are enough to direct the formation of a given type of particle. From a spectroscopic viewpoint, all compounds strongly emit blue light in the solid state, with spectra much broader than those registered in n-heptane and ethanol solutions. The photoluminescence quantum yields reached 38% and were slightly affected in aqueous suspension by the polarity of the environment. The molecular arrangement, deduced from X-ray analysis for the methyl and methoxy derivatives, was used to explain the fluorescence properties in the solid state. This work shows that 2-phenyl-benzoxazole derivatives are interesting candidates for applications as fluorescent nanomaterials, including in aqueous and biological media.     

Evaluating energy efficiency and economic effect of heat transfer in copper tube for small solar linear Fresnel reflector

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - An experimental and numerical investigation of a small linear Fresnel for water heating application has been carried out in Blida, Algeria. The...     

HREELS investigation of the surfaces of nanocrystalline diamond films oxidized by different processes

This article reports on the use of high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS) for the investigation of as-grown (hydrogen-terminated) and oxidized nanocrystalline diamond films (NCD) using chemical, physical, and electrochemical approaches. The results indicate that the nature and number of oxygen-related chemical groups generated on the NCD surface depend strongly on the oxidation process. A high concentration of C-O functions has been obtained on the NCD surface oxidized by rf (radio frequency) oxygen plasma, whereas the highest C═O/C-O ratio has been achieved by electrochemical oxidation. The NCD surface oxidized by rf plasma was totally free of C═O groups. Traces of surface hydroxyl groups (C-OH) have been detected upon annealing in air or through UV/ozone oxidation.     

Degradation of Acid Blue 25 in aqueous media using 1700 kHz ultrasonic irradiation: ultrasound/Fe(II) and ultrasound/H2O2 combinations

In this work, the sonolytic degradation of an anthraquinonic dye, C.I. Acid Blue 25 (AB25), in aqueous phase using high frequency ultrasound waves (1700 kHz) for an acoustic power of 14 W was investigated. The sonochemical efficiency of the reactor was evaluated by potassium iodide dosimeter, Fricke reaction and hydrogen peroxide production yield. The three investigated methods clearly show the production of oxidizing species during sonication and well reflect the sonochemical effects of high frequency ultrasonic irradiation. The effect of operational conditions such as the initial AB25 concentration, solution temperature and pH on the degradation of AB25 was studied. Additionally, the influence of addition of salts on the degradation of dye was examined. The rate of AB25 degradation was dependent on initial dye concentration, pH and temperature. Addition of salts increased the degradation of dye. Experiments conducted using distilled and natural waters demonstrated that the degradation was more efficient in the natural water compared to distilled water. To increase the efficiency of AB25 degradation, experiments combining ultrasound with Fe(II) or H₂O₂ were conducted. Fe(II) induced the dissociation of ultrasonically produced hydrogen peroxide, leading to additional OH radicals which enhance the degradation of dye. The combination of ultrasound with hydrogen peroxide looks to be a promising option to increase the generation of free radicals. The concentration of hydrogen peroxide plays a crucial role in deciding the extent of enhancement obtained for the combined process. The results of the present work indicate that ultrasound/H₂O₂ and ultrasound/Fe(II) processes are efficient for the degradation of AB25 in aqueous solutions by high frequency ultrasonic irradiation.     

The Snowmass Points and Slopes: benchmarks for SUSY searches

The ”Snowmass Points and Slopes” (SPS) are a set of benchmark points and parameter lines in the MSSM parameter space corresponding to different scenarios in the search for Supersymmetry at present and future experiments. This set of benchmarks was agreed upon at the 2001 ”Snowmass Workshop on the Future of Particle Physics” as a consensus based on different existing proposals. Received: 4 March 2002 / Published online: 26 July 2002