Sulfur Concentration in Nanoporous Alumina Membrane

Nanoporous alumina membrane prepared by anodic oxidation using sulfuric acid electrolyte was subjected to TG-DTA and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS or ESCA) to further study the distribution of sulfur. In XPS study, Ar⁺ ion bombardment was performed on the sample to etch the surface at a rate of 3 nm min^-1. As a result, sulfur was found to be concentrated within a depth of 3nm from the surface. The S content of the surface was found to be 2.7±0.5 wt%, and that at a depth of ca. 3 nm and ca. 10 nm was found to be as low as about 0.6±0.11 wt% (5.37±1.0 wt%→ 1.26±0.2wt% SO₂). In TG-DTA, the mass loss of 7.3% was in fair agreement with that calculated on XPS results (7.1±1.2%). This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Monitoring hydration state conversion by TG-DTA

Characterization of the solid-state form (hydrate or polymorph) of a pharmaceutical active is a key scientific and regulatory requirement during development of and prior to seeking approval for marketing of the drug product. A variety of analytical methods are available to perform this task. By nature of the fundamental information it provides, TG-DTA offers advantages over other methods in regards to monitoring and quantitation of hydration state changes. In a single experiment with only a few milligrams of sample, TG-DTA perceives minor changes in phase, quantitates total water content and percent conversion, and illustrates hydrate type. All of this is accomplished without the necessity of generating time-consuming standard curves representing the differing ratios of hydrated to anhydrous forms. This study describes the use of TG-DTA to monitor and quantitate humidity induced solid–solid phase conversion of nitrofurantoin and risedronate. Percent conversion was qualitatively observed by both TG and DTA signals and quantitated by the TG.     

SAPO－5，－11和－34分子筛模板剂的脱除及其结构的热致变化

用水热法合成了ＳＡＰＯ－５，－１１和－３４硅磷酸铝类分子筛。并对经不同温度焙烧处理的样品进行表征，结果表明：分子筛中模块剂的热分解过程与其结构和孔大小有较大的关系。在ＳＡＰＯ－５和ＳＡＰＯ－３４分子筛中，外部联接的Ｔ－Ｏ－Ｔ键的反对称伸缩振动峰（１２４０ｃｍ~（－１）－１０３８ｃｍ~（－１））和其对称伸缩振动（７３４ｃｍ~（－１）－６００ｃｍ~（－１））及双环的变形振动（６００－５００ｃｍ~（－１））的吸收峰对样品的结晶度比较敏感。但在ＳＡＰＯ－１１中，分子筛骨架中Ｔ－Ｏ－Ｔ反对称伸缩振动（１２２５ｃｍ~（－１）和１０３８ｃｍ~（－１））随结晶度的下降而基本保持不变，但内四面体（ＴＯ_４）的对称伸缩振动，反对称伸缩振动峰及Ｔ－Ｏ弯曲振动峰随样品焙烧温度的升高而减弱并分裂。红外吸收带向低频方向移动。ＳＥＭ－ＥＤＡＸ结果表明：随样品焙烧温度的升高，结晶度下降，分子筛晶形变得不规则，晶面越来越粗糙，但结晶度的下降并非由于其中ＰＯ_４四面体的热分解所引起，而是由外部联结的Ｔ－Ｏ－Ｔ键的断裂，双环被破坏及骨架元素间的重排所引起。     

Synthesis and characterization of metal polycarboxylates constructed from lanthanides(iii) and 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic acid

The complexes of yttrium(III) and lanthanides(III) with 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic acid were prepared as crystalline solids of the general formula Ln₄(C₁₀H₂O₈)₃⋅14H₂O. They are insoluble in water. On heating in air or inert gas atmosphere all compounds lose water molecules; next anhydrous compounds decompose to oxides. The yttrium complex and heavy lanthanide (from Ho to Lu) ones crystallize in monoclinic crystal system. The dehydration does not change the crystal structure of the compounds.     

Compositional changes in lime-based mortars exposed to different environments

Specimens of aerial and hydraulic lime-based mortars to be used in restoration works were prepared, hardened and subjected to different environments to study their compositional changes during setting, hardening and exposure to environment. Outside exposure, weathering cycles in a climatic chamber, SO₂-rich environment and indoor exposure (as control group) were selected to expose the mortars. XRD, FT-IR and TG-DTA analyses were performed at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days to determine the chemical and mineralogical composition, as well as the formation of the degradation products. Outside and SO₂-chamber exposures and increasing the relative humidity allowed faster carbonation (enhancing CO_2(g) dissolution) and hydration of hydraulic compounds. In SO₂-chamber, sulfate attack appears as a surface phenomenon, giving: gypsum in aerial specimens and gypsum and syngenite in hydraulic specimens.     

Thermal and spectroscopic investigations of new lanthanide complexes with 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylic acid

The new 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylates of lanthanide(III) of the formula Ln(btc)·nH₂O, where btc is 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylate; Ln is La-Lu, and n=2 for Ce; n=3 for La, Yb, Lu; and n=4 for Pr-Tm were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectra and X-ray diffraction patterns. Polycrystalline complexes are isotructural in the two groups: La-Tm and Yb, Lu. IR spectra of the complexes show that all carboxylate groups from 1,2,4-benzentricarboxylate ligands are engaged in coordination of lanthanide atoms. The thermal analysis of the investigated complexes in air atmosphere was carried out by means of simultaneous TG-DTA technique. The complexes are stable up to about 30°C but further heating leads to stepwise dehydration. Next, anhydrous complexes decompose to corresponding oxides. The combined TG-FTIR technique was employed to study of decomposition pathway of the investigated complexes.     

Dehydration and crystallization process in sol-gel zirconia

Sol-gel zirconia was characterized using high-resolution thermogravimetry (Hi-Res TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and compared with X-ray diffraction, Raman scattering, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. ZrO_2-x(OH)_2x·yH₂O annealed below 400°C show typical behavior of amorphous material. As the annealing temperature is increased, the tetragonal and monoclinic phases crystallize. Typical Hi-Res TG curve shows that the samples are continuously dehydrated in a long temperature range, between room temperature and 600°C. The total mass loss relative to the initial mass is of about 29%. The DSC analysis coupled with TG and structural information, indicate that the exothermic processes about 355 and 447°C can be related to the nucleation process of the formation of tetragonal zirconia, with bulk crystallization at 447°C. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Spectrothermal investigation of the decomposition course of lanthanum acetate hydrate

Thermogravimetry, differential thermal, X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy analyses showed La(CH₃COO)₃·1.5H₂O to decompose completely at 700°C yielding La₂O₃. The results revealed that the compound dehydrates in two steps at 130 and 180°C, and recrystallizes at 210°C. Water thus produced hydrolyzes surface acetates (at 310°C), releasing acetic acid into the gas phase. At 334°C, the anhydrous acetate releases gas phase CH₃COCH₃ to give La₂(CO₃)₃ residue, which decomposes to La₂O₂(CO₃) via the intermediate La₂O(CO₃)₂. On further heating up to 700°C, La₂O₃ is formed. IR spectroscopy of the gaseous products indicated a chemical reactivity at gas/solid interfaces formed throughout the decomposition course. As a result, CH₃COCH₃ was involved in a surface-mediated, bimolecular reaction, releasing CH₄ and C₄H₈ (isobutene) into the gas phase. Non-isothermal kinetic parameters, the rate constantk, frequency factorA, and activation energy ΔE, were calculated on the basis of temperature shifts experienced in the thermal processes encountered, at various heating rates (2–20 deg·min^?1).     

Crystal structure and characterization of the bis(n-benzyl-benzotriazole-n3)-dichloro Co(II) complex: CoCl2(C6H4N3CH2Ph)2

The structure of [CoCl₂(C₆H₄N₃CH₂Ph)₂] has been determined by X-ray crystallography. It is also characterized by elemental analysis, IR and electronic spectroscopy, and by thermogravimetric differential thermal analysis. It crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group C2/c, with lattice parameters a = 16.133(3) , b = 11.355(2) , c = 15.637(3) , = 117.22(3)°, and Z = 8. The crystal structure of the title compound consists of monomeric molecules of [CoCl₂(C₆H₄N₃CH₂Ph)₂] with slightly distorted tetrahedron geometry for the CoCl₂N₂ chromophore. The thermal gravimetry (TG) data indicate that there are four decomposition steps with five endothermic peaks. The final product of the thermal decomposition is CoCl₂. Elemental analysis and the electronic and IR spectra are in agreement with the structural data.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by F. Jian, H. Wang, and H. XiaoTranslated from Zhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 45, No. 4, pp. 723–728, July–August, 2004.This revised version was published online in April 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

Thermal decomposition of novel rare-earth selenites

TG and DTA have been carried out on new anhydrous rare-earth selenites R₂Se_aO_3+2a (a=3.5,4) in order to establish their stability. Decomposition occurs in three steps attributed to successive losses of SeO₂. The first process gives rise to other new group of selenites of composition R₂Se₃O₉, which crystallize in two different forms depending on the rare-earth element. The second process leads to isomorphous compounds R₂SeO₅. The final product of thermal degradation is R₂O₃. All products were characterized by chemical analysis and X-ray powder diffraction methods.