Preparation of superacid of ruthenium-sulfated zirconia for reaction of butane to isobutane

A highly active superacid of 2–4 wt.% Ru-sulfated ZrO₂ for the isomerization of butane to isobutane was obtained by exposing RuO_x/ZrO₂ to 1 N H₂SO₄ followed by calcining in air at 550°C. The RuO_x/ZrO₂ was prepared by impregnating zirconium hydroxide with a solution of RuCl₃ followed by drying at 300°C. The catalyst was much more active than the superacid of sulfated zirconia, the temperature difference to show the same conversion between both catalysts being more than 145°C.     

Thermodynamic functions of buthylderivatives of ferrocene

The heat capacity of isobuthanoylferrocene, C₅H₅FeC₅H₄-COCH(CH₃)₂, was measured by low-temperature adiabatic calorimetry. The purity, temperature, and enthalpy of fusion were obtained. The ideal gas thermodynamic functions were derived at T = 298.15 K. The purity and thermodynamic functions of fusion of isobuthylferrocene, C₅H₅FeC₅H₄-CH₂CH(CH₃)₂, were obtained by differential scanning calorimetry. The sample was synthesized by the reduction of isobuthanoylferrocene obtained by the direct acylation of ferrocene.     

Computer-assisted study of characteristics of water clusters in the presence of nitrogen dioxide

The interaction of IR radiation with water clusters that have absorbed NO₂ molecules is studied by the molecular dynamics method in terms of the polarizable model. Induced dipole moments of H₂O and NO₂ molecules diminish during the addition of one to six NO₂ molecules to (H₂O)₅₀ cluster. The integral intensity of IR absorption by a system consisting of (NO₂) _i (H₂O)₅₀ heteroclusters with 1 ≤ i ≤ 6 decreases, whereas the power of heat emission rises as compared with an (H₂O) _n system. The decrease in the IR absorption and the increase in the IR emission by water clusters with the capture of NO₂ molecules are nonmonotonic. The absorption of NO₂ molecules by water clusters causes a noticeable reduction in the intensity of the first peak and the confluence of the fourth and fifth peaks in the Raman spectrum.     

Kinetics of decomposition of alkylammonium salts

The thermogravimetric curves of di-n-propylammonium, di-iso-propylammonium, di-n-butylammonium and di-iso-butylammonium chlorides showed similar profiles, characterized by mass loss in only one stage, corresponding to decomposition of compounds. The following thermal stability order was obtained: [Bu₂ ⁿNH₂]Cl>[Pr₂ ⁿNH₂]Cl>[Pr₂ ⁱNH₂]Cl>[Bu₂ ⁱNH₂]Cl. The values of activation energy for non-isothermal data obtained by Ozawa and Coats-Redfern integral methods were in agreement and stability order obtained by thermogravimetry were reproduced in both methods. The decomposition reactions of [Pr₂ ⁿNH₂]Cl, [Pr₂ ⁱNH₂]Cl and [Bu₂ ⁱNH₂]Cl were better described by A3 model and [Bu₂ ⁿNH₂]Cl by A2 model. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The influence of different additives and the mode of their addition on the sintering behavior and the properties of semiconducting barium titanate ceramics

The influence of different additives (TiO₂, TiO₂/SiO₂, CaO/TiO₂/SiO₂, 2BaO/TiO₂/2SiO₂) and the mode of their incorporation (spray drying: series 1; mixed-oxide method: series 2) on the sintering behavior and the microstructural and electrical properties of n-doped BaTiO₃ ceramics has been investigated. The incorporation of the additives from their aqueous solution by spray drying produces a homogeneous distribution of the additive in the BaTiO₃ matrix powder by coating the BaTiO₃ particles. This homogeneous distribution significantly lowers the activation energy for the densification process compared with that of the powders of series 2. Dynamic and isothermal dilatometric measurements revealed that the sintering process is considered as a classical solid phase sintering followed by recrystallization of the BaTiO₃ matrix particles by a eutectic melt. The densification process is dominated by sliding processes. These sliding processes are caused by the amorphous layer of the additive and by the defect-rich grain boundary layers of the BaTiO₃ grains generated intermediately by diffusion processes and reactions of the matrix material with the additive forming the secondary phases Ba₂TiSi₂O₈ and Ba₄Ti₁₃O₃₀, respectively. In series 1, ceramics with a homogeneous microstructure and useful electrical properties (e.g. low resistivity at room temperature) were already produced at a sintering temperature of 1280°C (with SiO₂-containing additives) due to the homogeneous distribution of the additive. The ceramics of series 2 sintered at the same temperature could only be obtained in poor quality. At higher sintering temperatures the differences between the two series vanished.     

Mechanism of the primary stages of decomposition of aliphatic nitro- and fluoronitronitramines

The primary stage of the decomposition of compounds RN(NO₂)CH₂C(NO₂)₂X is the homolytic cleavage of the C?NO₂ bond, at X=NO₂ and N?NO₂ bond at X=F. The inductive effect of substituents decreases the dissociation energies of the C?N and N?N bonds by 1–2 kcal mol^?1. Kinetic effects caused by the spatial interaction of groups and by stepwise decomposition of polyfunctional compounds are described.     

Polymerization of acrylonitrile by catalytic systems consisting of triphenylphosphine and a lewis acid

Polymerization of acrylonitrile in the presence of systems that consisted of triphenylphosphine (PPh₃) and a Lewis acid R_mMX_n (ZnCl₂, Me₃Al, Et₃Al, Et₂AlCl, EtAlCl₂, AlCl₃) was studied. The systems that contained Me₃Al and Et₃Al (i.e., Lewis acid of moderate acidity) were the most efficient catalysts. Conductometric measurements carried out in the polymerization systems showed the presence of ions. The presence of phosphonium cation in the polyacrylonitrile chain formed by the PPh₃–R_mMX_n catalytic systems was determined by IR, ¹H-NMR, and ³¹P-NMR spectroscopy. The average molecular weight measurements and kinetic chain lengths of polyacrylonitrile formed within the reaction time in the presence of PPh₃–Et₃Al showed that transfer reactions occur. According to the results obtained, the polymerization reaction of acrylonitrile by PPh₃–R_mMX_n involved a zwitterion formed by the attack of PPh₃ on acrylonitrile complexed by Lewis acid [Ph₃P^⊕? CH₂? C^?H? C?N → MR_mX_n] and the anion [CH₂?C^?? C?N] formed by the proton abstraction from the monomer.     

Reaction pathway and kinetics of the thermal decomposition of synthetic brochantite

The reaction pathway of the thermal decomposition of synthetic brochantite, Cu₄(OH)₆SO₄, to copper(II) oxide was investigated through the detailed kinetic characterization of the thermal dehydration and desulferation processes. The dehydration process was characterized by dividing into two overlapped kinetic processes with a possible formation of an intermediate compound, Cu₄O(OH)₄SO₄. The dehydrated sample, Cu₄O₃SO₄, was found first to be amorphous by means of XRD, followed by the crystallization to a mixture of CuO and CuO-CuSO₄ at around 776 K. The specific surface area and the crystallization behaviour of the amorphous dehydrated compound depend largely on the dehydration conditions. The thermal desulferation process is influenced by the gross diffusion of the gaseous product SO₃, which is governed by the advancement of the overall reaction interface from the top surface of the sample particle assemblage to the bottom.     

CaF2对硅酸三钙的制备及其生物活性的影响

采用固相反应制备不同CaF掺量的生物活性硅酸三钙(3CaO·SiO22,C3S),并研究CaF2对C3S的制备及生物活性的影响.化学滴定、TGA/DTA、XRD、SEM和FTIR的分析结果表明,在煅烧过程中,CaF2有效的促进CaCO3的分解,并能形成低共熔化合物,促进C3S的形成;存急冷过程中,CaF2抑制CS晶型转变和分解,CaF2有效提高固相反应制备C§的纯度;模拟体液(SBD浸泡实验结果表明掺与小掺CaF2的C3s表面分别在1 d和3 d内诱导形成诱导磷厌石,这表明掺CaF2可以提高C3S的生物活性.     

Thermal evolution of ferromagnetic metallic glasses

A traditional TG apparatus was modified by placing two permanent magnets producing a controlled magnetic field (TG(M): Magneto Thermogravimetry). This technique proved to be useful to study both structural relaxation and crystallisation of ferromagnetic metallic glasses. Results obtained for the amorphous alloys Fe₄₀Ni₄₀P₁₄B₆ and Fe_62.5Co₆Ni_7.5Zr₆Nb₂Cu₁B₁₅, are reported in this paper. Structural relaxation can be evaluated by measuring changes in Curie temperature induced by thermal treatments. Crystallisation in TG(M) is detected through a change in the measured apparent mass (difference between the sample mass and magnetic force driving it upward). These results were confirmed by DSC analysis. Whether the obtained crystalline phase is ferromagnetic, it can be identified through its Curie temperature, measured by TG(M). In fact the value of 770°C measured as Curie temperature of crystallised Fe_62.5Co₆Ni_7.5Zr₆Nb₂Cu₁B₁₅led to conclude that the only ferromagnetic crystalline phase is a-Fe. These hypothesis was confirmed by XRD analysis, showing that the first crystallisation yields to a-Fe nanocrystals. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Mechanism of formation of cyclic species in cationic ring-opening polymerization of cyclodimethylsiloxanes

A general feature of the cationic polymerization of all cyclodimethylsiloxanes is the formation of various cyclic products (cyclics) together with that of a linear high polymer. However, the types of cyclics as well as their rate of formation may vary considerably according to the number x of D units ((CH₃)₂SiO units) in the monomer. The case of initiation by trifluoromethanesulfonic (triflic) acid in methylene chloride solution at 20°C has been particularly studied. With D₄, D₅, D₆ and D₇, for which the polymerization rate increases with the size of the ring, all types of cycles D_x are formed in relative amount decreasing with their size ([D₇] < [D₆] < [D₅] < [D₄]). The high polymer final concentration and molecular weight are independent from triflic acid concentration. This may result from a polymerization-depolymerization reaction, involving all the cyclics formed by back-biting reactions occurring with silyl triflates activated by the acid, and leading finally to an equilibrium. The situation with D₃ is completely different. The high polymer (HP) and the cyclics (D_3x multiples of D₃ like D₆, D₉, …) are formed simultaneously under kinetic control. The yields of the various cyclics (formed in amount often larger than that of the HP) are proportional to that of the linear HP. The latter is formed from the beginning of the reaction with a molecular weight proportional to HP yield and inversely proportional to the acid concentration. The opposite role of added water on the polymerization is discussed: an activating effect for D₃, and a desactivating one for D₄, D₅ and D₆. “Copolymerization” experiments between D₃ (or D₄) and tetramethyldisiloxane diol confirmed the effect of water and gave new informations about the occurrence - or absence - of condensation reactions in the mechanism of the growth of the polymer chains. A discussion leads to the conclusion that while the cationic polymerization of D₄ by triflic acid is propagated by activated triflic esters, that of D₃ may also involve the monomer activated by the higher hydrates of the acid and linear oligomeric silanol esters. The latter, formed continuously, may also give the D_3x cyclics by intramolecular heterocondensation.     

Stages of thermal decomposition of sodium oxo-salts of sulphur

Thermal behaviour of sodium oxo-salts of sulphur: Na₂SO₄, Na₂S₂O₇, Na₂S₂O₆, Na₂SO₃, Na₂S₂O₅, Na₂S₂O₄, Na₂S₂O₃, Na₂S₃O₆ and of sulphides Na₂S and Na₂S₂ was studied on heating up to 1000°C. The experiments were performed with anhydrous compounds obtained from commercial products by recrystallisation and dehydration. The stage mechanisms of decomposition of anionic sub-lattices of the salts have been proposed basing on the Górski’s morphological classification of simple species. The thermal stability and the stage decomposition mechanisms were correlated with the structure and the potential chemical properties of the salt anions. The thermal decomposition processes were studied by means of thermal analysis, and the decomposition products were identified by means of X-ray phase analysis.     

Catalysis of Ruthenium-Metal Oxides Mechanically Mixed with Sulfated Zirconia for Reaction of Butane to Isobutane

A highly active catalyst for the skeletal isomerization of butane to isobutane was obtained by mechanically mixing SO₄/ZrO₂ and Ru/SnO₂; Ru/SO₂ was prepared by impregnating tin hydroxide with a solution of RuCl₃ followed by calcining at 450°C (0.5 wt.% Ru). The catalyst was much more active than Ru-SO₄/ZrO₂ prepared by co-impregnation of zirconia with the Ru and sulfate materials the temperature difference to show the same conversion between both catalysts being 57°C. The effect of mixing of Ru was observed with other metal oxides as supports, Fe₂O₃, Al₂O₃, ZrO₂, TiO₂, and SiO₂; the calcination temperature of the Ru-impregnated hydroxides was 250, 300, and 400°C for the latter three, respectively.     

Thermal decomposition of copper(II) and zinc carbonate hydroxides by means of TG-MS

Summary For the quantitative analyses of evolved CO₂and H₂O during the thermal decomposition of solids, calibration curves, i.e. the amounts of evolved gases vs. the corresponding peak areas of mass chromatograms measured by TG-MS, were plotted as referenced by the reaction stoichiometry of the thermal decomposition of sodium hydrogencarbonate NaHCO₃. The accuracy and reliability of the quantitative analyses of the evolved CO₂and H₂O based on the calibration curves were evaluated by applying the calibration curves to the mass chromatograms for the thermal decompositions of copper(II) and zinc carbonate hydroxides. It was indicated from the observed ratio of evolved CO₂and H₂O that the compositions of copper(II) and zinc carbonate hydroxides examined in this study correspond to mineral malachite, Cu₂CO₃(OH)₂, and hydrozincate, Zn₅(CO₃)₂(OH)₆, respectively. Reliability of the present analytical procedure was confirmed by the fairly good agreement of the mass fraction of the evolved gases calculated from the analytical values with the total mass-loss during the thermal decompositions measured by TG.     

Crystallization of niobium germanosilicate glasses

Niobium germanosilicate glasses are potential candidates for the fabrication of transparent glass ceramics with interesting non-linear optical properties. A series of glasses in the (Ge,Si)O₂-Nb₂O₅-K₂O system were prepared by melting and casting and their characteristic temperatures were determined by differential thermal analysis. Progressive replacement of GeO₂ by SiO₂ improved the thermal stability of the glasses. Depending on the composition and the crystallization heat-treatment, different nanocrystalline phases—KNbSi₂O₇, K₃Nb₃Si₂O₁₃ and K_3.8Nb₅Ge₃O_20.4 could be obtained. The identification and characterization of these phases were performed by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy.The 40 GeO₂-10 SiO₂-25 Nb₂O₅-25 K₂O (mol%) composition presented the higher ability for volume crystallization and its nucleation temperature was determined by the Marotta's method. An activation energy for crystal growth of ∼529 kJ/mol and a nucleation rate of 9.7×10¹⁸ m⁻³ s⁻¹ was obtained, for this composition. Transparent glass ceramics with a crystalline volume fraction of ∼57% were obtained after a 2 h heat-treatment at the nucleation temperature, with crystallite sizes of ∼20 nm as determined by transmission electron microscopy.     

Quantum Chemical Investigation of the Initial Steps of the Yttrium‐Mediated Polymerization of Ethene and Propene

The mechanistic details of the initial steps of the polymerization brought about by a dicyclopentadienyl yttriumhydrid catalyst have been computationally investigated using approximate density functional theory. In accord with the experimental information, the overall reaction sequence Cp₂YH + C₂H₄ → Cp₂Y–C₂H₅ and Cp₂YH + C₃H₆ → Cp₂Y–C₃H₇ is computed to be exothermic by ca. 22.2 and 20.8 kcal mol^–1, respectively. The reaction mechanism predicted by our calculations is in harmony with the available experimental information but provides additional information into the various elementary steps of this reaction, which could not be obtained by experimental means.     

Suppression of interferences in the determination of lead in natural and drinking waters by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

The problem of matrix interference encountered in the determination of lead in natural and drinking waters by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry is examined by looking at the individual effects of various constituent salts (NaCl, KCl, MgCl₂ and CaCl₂, Na₂SO₄, KH₂PO₄ and Mg(NO₃)₂), of which MgCl₂ and Na₂SO₄ interfered most severely. The use of the L'vov platform decreased the sulphate interference, but was not successful in removing the other interferences. The mixture of 0.05% (w/v) lanthanum (as LaCl₃) and 1% (v/v) nitric acid previously proposed for wall atomisation was found to be effective in controlling the interferences. Nitric acid alone removed almost completely the effects of MgCl₂ and CaCl₂, but had little effect on the interference of sulphate, which required the addition of lanthanum for suppression. The removal of interferences in real water samples by the lanthanum/nitric acid mixture is demonstrated by comparison of results obtained by this approach with those obtained by atomic fluorescence spectrometry and by flame atomic absorption spectrometry after preconcentration by evaporation.     

Reactions of DI-η5-cyclopentadienyltricarbonyltriphenylphosphinediiron; an improved synthesis of the cyclopentadienylcarbonyliron tetramer

The compound (C₅H₅)₂Fe₂(CO)₃PPh₃, previously obtained by the photolysis of (C₅H₅)₂Fe₂(CO)₄ with PPh₃, may also be obtained by reflluxing these same reactants in benzene. The compound was isolated in pure form by means of low temperature column chromatography. It is unstable in solution in the absence of added PPh₃. Solid samples also are unstable over long periods of time. Decomposition in solution is complete within one hour at 80° yielding a mixture of (C₅H₅)₂Fe₂(CO)₄ and (C₅H₅)₄Fe₄(CO)₄. This reaction is suppressed by excess PPh₃. Heating a mixture of (C₅H₅)₂Fe₂(CO)₃PPh₃ and P(OEt)₃ gives a nearly quantitative yield of (C₅H₅)₂Fe₂(CO)₃P(OEt)₃. Refluxing a xylene solution of (C₅H₅)₂Fe₂(CO)₄ containing a slight molarr excess of PPh₃ for 7 h results in the isolation of (C₅H₅)₄Fe₄(CO)₄ in 56% yield, making this reaction by far the most convenient method for the preparation, in gram quantities, of this transition metal cluster.     

Study of kinetics of thermal decomposition of uranyl nitrate complexes with N-alkylcaprolactams by means of non-isothermal gravimetry

The kinetics of thermal decomposition of a series of uranyl nitrate complexes with N-alkylcaprolactams (alkyl=C₂H₅, C₄H₉, C₆H₁₃, C₈H₁₇, C₁₀H₂₁ or C₁₂H₂₅) was studied by means of non-isothermal gravimetry under a nitrogen atmosphere. From the TG-DTG curves, the kinetic parameters relating to the loss of two molecules of coordinated ligand were obtained by employing two groups of methods: (I) a group of conventional methods involving the Coast-Redfern, Freeman-Carroll, Horowitz-Metzger, Dharwadkar-Karkhanavala and Doyle (modified by Zsakó) equations; (II) a new method were suggested by J. Máleket al.. The results obtained using two types of methods were compared, and it emerged that the results of method II were much more meaningful and reasonable in this work. Additionally, the effects of the molecular structure of the ligands on the kinetic data and models were studied and are discussed.     

Preparation and photocatalytic activity of magnetic samarium-doped mesoporous titanium dioxide at the decomposition of methylene blue under visible light

Preparation of samarium-doped mesoporous titanium dioxide (Sm/MTiO₂) coated magnetite (Fe₃O₄) photocatalysts (Sm/MTiO₂/Fe₃O₄) and their activities under visible light were reported. The catalysts with Sm/MTiO₂ shell and a Fe₃O₄ core were prepared by coating photoactive Sm/MTiO₂ onto a magnetic Fe₃O₄ core through the hydrolysis of tetrabutyltitanate (Ti(OBu)₄, TBT) with precursors of Sm(NO₃)₃ and TBT in the presence of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. The morphological, structural and optical properties of the prepared samples were characterized by BET surface area, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. The effect of Sm ion content on the photocatalytic activity was studied. The photocatalytic activities of obtained photocatalysts under visible light were estimated by measuring the decomposition rate of methylene blue (MB, 50 mg/L) in an aqueous solution. The results showed that the prepared photocatalyst was activated by visible light and used as effective catalyst in photooxidation reactions. In addition, the possibility of cyclic usage of the prepared photocatalyst was also confirmed. Moreover, Sm/MTiO₂ was tightly bound to Fe₃O₄ and could be easily recovered from the medium by a simple magnetic process. It can therefore be potentially applied for the treatment of water contaminated by organic pollutants.