Constraint Molecular Dynamics and results on isotopic distributions produced in heavy ion collision — The Sn + Ni systems

The Constraint Molecular Dynamics approach is illustrated together with calculation on different heavy ion collisions. In particular the charge-mass distribution produced in the collision ¹²⁴Sn + ⁶⁴Ni and ¹¹²Sn + ⁵⁸Ni at 35 MeV/nucleon is discussed. By comparing the Y = (N ? Z)/A distributions for fragments produced in central collisions it results that this observable can be sensitive to the dynamic effects induced on the two systems by the different charge/mass ratio.     

Modelling of composting of food waste in a column reactor

The composting of organic solid waste, the mixture of fruit and vegetable leftovers enriched with night soil, was investigated in a closed thermally insulated reactor. It was found that 80.9 % of the original substrate biodegraded after 14 days. A mathematical model of the column reactor was proposed where the biodegradation rate of the organic solid waste was described using simple n-thorder kinetics. A good prediction of process performance was obtained using the proposed kinetics and experimentally obtained reaction heat. Presented at the 33rd International Conference of the Slovak Society of Chemical Engineering, Tatranské Matliare, 22–26 May 2006.     

Influence of samarium on the electrocatalytic activity of platinum electrodes for the hydrogenation of benzene

The hydrogenation of benzene on platinum electrodes in 0.5 M sulfuric acid as supporting electrolyte has been studied in the presence and the absence of samarium in solution. The hydrogenation overpotential of preadsorbed benzene was diminished to 90 mV with samarium in the solution and the hydrogenation current was significatively increased. These results are interpreted in terms of a synergic effect of samarium on hydrogen adsorption and, consequently, on the electrocatalytic activity of the platinum electrode for the hydrogenation of benzene.     

Solid-state electrode with a Cu(I)-based membrane hydrophobised by PTFE for the measurement of Cu2+ and I?

The preparation of CuI + Ag₂S and Cu₂[HgI₄] + Ag₂S membranes hydrophobised by PTFE is described. The pressed membranes mounted in a multi-purpose all-solid-state electrode body have been examined as electrochemical sensors for Cu²⁺ and I^– ions. For the electrode with (CuI + Ag₂S + PTFE)-membrane experimental slopes of 29 mV(pCu)^–1 and 62 mV(pI)^–1 were obtained, in good agreement with the theoretical values. For practical measurement in solutions where both Cu²⁺ and I^– can be present, the investigated electrode offers certain advantages in comparison with a commercial Cu-ISE.     

Effect of the roughness factor on the surface oxidation of ruthenium catalysts

The surface oxidation of ruthenium catalysts with different roughness factor values has been analyzed. It is shown that electro formation of oxidized species on the exposed surface of ruthenium is strongly affected by the rougher characteristics of the surface. This effect has been explained through the addition and removal of protons to and from the oxidized species.

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Pure and doped lanthanum cobaltites obtained by combustion method

We report the synthesis of La_1−xSr_xCoO₃ nanopowders by solution combustion method using metal nitrates and -alanine (alanine method) or urea (urea method) as fuel. The influence of metal nitrates/organic substance molar ratio and the type of fuel was investigated. The isolated complex precursors were characterized by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), FT-IR spectra and DTA–TG analysis. The La_1−xSr_xCoO₃ (x = 0–0.3) powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM–EDX), as well as by specific surface area measurements. XRD patterns indicate the formation of single-phase LaCoO₃ (rhombohedral) when as-synthesized powders were calcined at 873 K, 3 h in the case of the alanine method and at 1073 K, 3 h for urea-based system. Also, strontium doped lanthanum cobaltites obtained by both methods at 1273 K are single phase with rhombohedral perovskite-like structure as XRD data have proved. SEM investigation of pure and doped lanthanum cobaltites reveal that the samples prepared by both methods have fine particles with tendency of agglomerates formation with different shapes, spongy aspect and high porosity. La_1−xSr_xCoO₃ nanopowders obtained by alanine method have larger specific surface area values than those prepared by urea method.     

Solid-state electrode with a Cu(I)-based membrane hydrophobised by PTFE for the measurement of Cu2+ and I−

The preparation of CuI + Ag₂S and Cu₂[HgI₄] + Ag₂S membranes hydrophobised by PTFE is described. The pressed membranes mounted in a multi-purpose “all-solid-state” electrode body have been examined as electrochemical sensors for Cu²⁺ and I^? ions. For the electrode with (CuI + Ag₂S + PTFE)-membrane experimental slopes of 29 mV(pCu)^?1 and 62 mV(pI)^?1 were obtained, in good agreement with the theoretical values. For practical measurement in solutions where both Cu²⁺ and I^? can be present, the investigated electrode offers certain advantages in comparison with a commercial Cu-ISE.