Thermal study of an aged dredged sludge

A dredged sludge was studied to investigate the influence of ageing and of pretreatment on its drying rate, water sorption/retention, thermal mass loss, XRD and microstructure (SEM).Ageing caused change in particle thickness and specific surface, a gradual aggregation to form units of the size 10–50 m, formation of macropores of similar size, unhomogeneity and fissures between aggregates and super-aggregates. Macropores were detectable by the initial drying rate especially at 45°C. They indicated a tendency of collapsing at a lower drying rate at 30°C. This is consistent with SEM observations. With ageing the aggregates were more compact and less sensitive to drying.The aggregated system indicated a higher initial drying rate (higher permeability), whereas stirring induced a lower drying rate, favouring the formation of compact laminar structure.XRD peak intensity was lowered with ageing due to decrease in crystallinity (stacking faults and/or decrease in crystallite size). The content of amorphous material was lowered as well, reducing water sorption/desorption, which indicated that the specific surface is lower.From the suitable microstructure induced by ageing some new phases may form (feldspar, zeolites), preferably in the coarser fraction of the sludge. This is disturbed by stirring which operation expels also carbonates from the particle edges and this may reduce the structural strength of the sludge. In aged bentonite suspension a similar tendency was observed of formation of specific microstructures capable of phase transformation, e.g. to feldspar.     

Thermal study of complex formation of triamterene with β-cyclodextrin by spray-drying and co-grinding

The formation of crystalline inclusion complex of triamterene with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) was studied, evaluating the thermal behaviour and dispersion state of this drug in different types of binary systems. Spray-drying and co-grinding (oscillating mill) mixtures of triameterene with β-CD were prepared in 1∶1 molar ratio. The changes of crystalline properties of original (untreated) triamterene, β-CD, and composites obtained by co-grinding and spray-drying were investigated in comparison with those produced in simple physical mixtures. The thermal behaviour of the different samples was investigated using DTA. X-ray diffraction was applied as a complementary technique. The results have been explained by formation of amorphous drug particles on spray-drying samples and co-grinding or alternatively by means of a solid dispersion formation or a combination of these two. A contamination effect by grinding media was also observed as increasing grinding time.     

Thermal and spectroscopic characterization of several derivatives containing a new organic ring system

Several derivatives containing a new organic ring system, the tropane-6-spiro-5-hydantoin structure (namely 8-alkyl-8-azabicyclo [3.2.1.] octane-6-spiro-5-imidazoline-2,4-diones) have been characterized by thermal (DSC and simultaneous DTA-TG-DTG) and spectroscopic techniques (IR,¹ H-NMR,¹³ C-NMR). X-ray powder diffraction and elemental analysis were applied for structural and molecular characterization. All the compounds melt in the range 160–250°C and undergo decomposition with progressive mass loss after the solid-liquid thermal transition with molecular degradation. It was found that tropane-6-spiro-5-hydantoin derivatives with the hydantoin ring in position are thermally less stable than those containing this ring in position.One of the authors (Dr. M.V.) thanks partial financial support from CICYT through research project PA 86-0317. Thanks are extended to Ms. A. García and Mr. J. C. Rivero for artwork.     

Thermal evolution of a slate

The thermal evolution of a slate rock sample (Berja, Almería, Spain) has been studied. The phase minerals identified in this sample were mica (illite), chlorite (clinochlore) and quartz as major components, with minor microcline, iron oxide and a mixed-layer or interstratified phase (montmorillonite-chlorite). This slate is highly silico-aluminous (48.33 mass% silica, 22.04 mass% alumina), and ca. 20 mass% of other elements, mainly Fe₂O₃ (8.35 mass%), alkaline-earths and alkaline oxides. Two main endothermic DTA effects, centered at 640 and 730°C, were observed. The more important contribution of total mass loss (7.15 mass%) was found between 500–900°C, with two DTG peaks detected at 630 and 725°C. All these effects were associated to the dehydroxylation of structural OH groups of 2:1 layered silicates mixed in the slate. The dehydroxylation of the layered silicates evidenced by dilatometry, produced a rapid increase of expansion between 600–800°C. The thermal evolution of the slate upper 800°C indicated the first sintering effects associated to shrinkage, which is also favoured by its low particle size (average 23 μm) and the presence of a liquid or vitreous phase as increasing the heating temperature. The application of thermal diffractometry to the slate sample allowed to study the formation of dehydroxylated crystalline phases from the layered silicates after heating. At 1000°C, β-quartz, dehydroxylated illite, iron oxide, relicts of microcline and the vitreous phase were present in the sample. All these results are interesting to know the thermal behaviour of a complex mineral mixture as identified in the slate.     

Effect of Molecular Mass on the Melting Temperature,Enthalpy and Entropy of Hydroxy-Terminated PEO

This paper studies the effect of molecular mass on the melting temperature, enthalpy and entropy of hydroxy-terminated poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). It aims to correlate the thermal behaviour of PEO polymers and their variation of molecular mass (MW). Samples ranging from 1500 to 200,000 isothermally treated at 373 K during 10 min, were investigated using DSC and Hot Stage Microscopy (HSM). On the basis of DSC and HSM results, melting temperatures were determined, and melting enthalpies and entropies were calculated. Considering the melting temperatures, it was found that the maximum or critical value of MW was found around 4000, and then these remain almost constant. This behaviour was interpreted assuming that lower MW fractions (MW<4000) crystallize in the form of extended chains and higher MW fractions (MW>4000), as folded chains. The melting enthalpies showed a scattering effect at least up to MW 35,000. It was difficult to obtain any relationship between melting enthalpies in J g^–1 and MW. These variations seem to be of statistical nature. Corrected enthalpy data on a molar basis (kJ mol^–1) exhibited a linear relationship with MW. Considering the solid—liquid equilibrium, the melting entropies (in kJ mol^–1) were calculated. These values were more negative as compared with molar enthalpy increases. It was explained because the changes in melting temperatures are much smaller than those observed in the enthalpy values. Linear relationship between enthalpies andentropies as a function of MW was deduced.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Thermal characterization of polyethylene glycols applied in the pharmaceutical technology using differential scanning calorimetry and hot stage microscopy

In the present study, the effect of the molecular weight and thermal treatments on commercial polyethylene glycols (PEG) samples used in the pharmaceutical processing technology, has been analyzed using DSC and HSM. The molecular weight of these polymers range from 1500 to 200000. Thermal investigations on the melting behavior of original PEG samples (as received from the manufacturer) showed only one single melting DSC endotherm effect before 373 K. This fact was associated to the presence of only one type of polymeric chain. Using standard conditions, PEG samples were solidified from the melt at 373 K, either by flash cooling (using liquid nitrogen and an ice bath) and by slow cooling, soaked and by slow cooling at room temperature. They were further studied by DSC. It was found that after cooling, PEG with molecular weight 1500 and 15000 showed DSC thermograms with a single endothermic peak. However, thermograms for PEG 4000 and 6000 produced a splitted melting endotherm. This fact was attributed to the presence of two types of chains, that are the folded and extended chains.Ageing time influences also the shape of the DSC endothermal effects. It was concluded that the endotherms obtained after heating these PEG indicate that the thermal history determine the structure (extended or folded chain type forms) and the degree of crystallinity, as evidenced by changes in heat of fusion values, melting points and structures after crystallization. The relationships between melting enthalpies and melting points, as deduced from DSC diagrams, with molecular weight of the polymers are also presented.