Surface Area Study of High Area Cobalt Aluminate Particles Prepared by the Sol-Gel Method

Cobalt aluminate particles were prepared by the sol-gel method, starting from aluminum sec-butoxide and cobalt salts with a Co:Al ratio of 1:3. Samples with the same composition were also prepared by the citrate-gel method from cobalt and aluminum nitrates and citric acid. The particles were calcined to temperatures between 400 and 1000°C, for the formation of the mixed oxide having spinel structure. The surface properties of the different samples (BET surface area and pore size distribution) were measured. The highest BET surface area obtained (about 339 m²/g) corresponds to a sample prepared by cobalt acetate and aluminum sec-butoxide, calcined at 400°C. The surface area of the sample is reduced progressively as the sample is calcined to higher temperatures (to about 65 m²/g at 1000°C). Narrow pore size distributions were observed with average pore radius ranging from 17–20 Å, for samples heated to 400°C, to about 55–65 Å, for samples heated to 1000°C. The different surface areas and porosities obtained for particles prepared by different methods, different precursors or calcination temperatures, are discussed.     

Development of an acetylene black–dihexadecyl hydrogen phosphate composite-modified glassy-carbon electrode,and its application in the determination of lovastatin in dosage drug forms

An electrochemical method has been established for the determination of lovastatin (LV). It is based on the enhanced oxidation of lovastatin at a novel acetylene black–dihexadecyl hydrogen phosphate composite-modified glassy-carbon electrode (AB–DHP/GCE) in the presence of Triton X-100. This electrode was prepared by dispersion of acetylene black particles in an aqueous suspension of DHP and the formation of a stable film of the resulting AB–DHP composite on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). As a result of modification of the AB–DHP composite, the electrochemical response of lovastatin at GCE was apparently enhanced; this was apparent as amplification of the oxidation current and the negative shift of the oxidation potential. The oxidation current can be further increased in the presence of a trace amount of Triton X-100. The enhanced oxidation of lovastatin at AB–DHP/GCE was due to enlargement of the effective electrode area, catalysis of lovastatin oxidation by AB, and accumulation of lovastatin at the hydrophobic surface of the DHP layer, which would be enhanced by the coherence with Triton X-100. The effects of some working conditions on the oxidation current of lovastatin were tested and the calibration plot was examined. The result showed that the oxidation current was a linear function of lovastatin concentration in the range 2.5×10^–8–1.0×10^–6 mol L^–1 and a low detection limit of 4.0×10^–9 mol L^–1 was obtained under optimum conditions. This electrode system was applied to the determination of lovastatin in dosage drug forms and the results were in accordance with the ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy method.     

The influence of calcination on the size of nanocrystals, porous structure and acid–base properties of mesoporous anatase used as catalytic support

Mesoporous anatase was prepared following sol–gel and using urea as template. The influence of calcination temperature on the phase stability, nanocrystal/aggregate size, pore size distribution and specific surface area as well as on the acid–base behavior in aqueous solutions was studied using X-ray diffraction, laser-Raman and diffuse reflectance spectroscopies, scanning electron microscopy and laser scattering as well as N₂ adsorption–desorption isotherms and potentiometric mass titrations.The crystal structure was kept constant upon calcination over the whole temperature range, 200–500 °C. In this range anatase is constituted from primary nanocrystals. These are assembled into larger, rather spherical, clusters of about 30–40 nm and then into aggregates of various sizes (0.2–0.3 μm and 2–100 μm) with a distribution centered at about 12 μm. Increase of the calcination temperature caused an increase in the size of the primary nanocrystals from 8.1 nm at 200 °C to 17.1 nm at 500 °C, whereas calcination does not influence the morphology at micro-scale. Moreover, increase of the calcination temperature from 200 °C to 500 °C brings about a shift in the mean pore diameter from 47 nm to 91 nm accompanied by a decrease in the specific surface area and pore volume. The above effects were related with the aforementioned increase in the size of the primary nanocrystals. The value of pzc and the values of surface charge determined at various pH do not practically depend on the calcination temperature. The absence of pore space confinement effects was explained in terms of the structure and size of the interface development between the anatase surface and the electrolytic solution.     

Numerical modeling of polymolecular adsorption of argon on a model amorphous oxide

Using the Monte Carlo method for the grand canonical ensemble, we have calculated the Ar adsorption isotherms in the range 77–107 K on an inhomogeneous surface with random close packing of spheres (the Bemal model), representing oxygen ions in a model oxide. The isotherm at 77 K is very close to the standard Ar adsorption isotherm on nonporous silica. The difference involves the weak step character of the calculated isotherm. The adsorbate on the model oxide at 77 K has a layered structure, reminiscent of the structure of Ar on the basal face of graphite, but significantly more extended. The atomic area of Ar depends on the method for determination of the capacity of the monolayer and lies within the range 0.1–0.13 nm².Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 2007–2011, September, 1990.     

Influence of the Texture of Woven Materials on Their Etching Rate in Oxygen Plasma

The oxygen glow-discharge plasma treatment of a poly(ethylene terephthalate) film and fabric differing in their specific surface area was studied. The rates of mass loss, oxygen uptake, and gas evolution were measured over the discharge current and pressure ranges 20–110 mA and 50–200 Pa, respectively, at a sample temperature of 357 K. The specific etching and product formation rates calculated with accounting for the total surface area of fabric samples were shown to be not affected by the texture of studied materials.     

Influence of the magnitude of the surface area of a catalyst on its specific activity in the heterogeneous-homogeneous reaction of oxidative coupling of methane

A mechanism for the heterogeneous-homogeneous reaction of oxidative coupling of methane on metal-like catalysts has been proposed to explain the dependence of the specific reaction rate on the magnitude of the total surface area of catalysts, including catalysts of the same chemical composition but different specific surface area.Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Éksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 30, No. 3, pp. 158–162, May–June, 1994.The author is grateful to Yu. T. Pytnitskii for a very useful discussion of this work.     

Development of the specific surface areas of natural coal in the course of thermolysis in the presence of potassium hydroxide

The development of the surface of natural coal from Donets field in the course of thermolysis with KOH was studied. The dependences of the specific surface area of coal containing 90% carbon on the activation time, temperature (400–800°C), and KOH/coal ratio (0.75–4.5 g g^–1) were determined. The effect exerted on the development of the porous coal structure by low-temperature (20±2°C) oxidative modification causing formation of oxygen functional groups and reorganization of the coal three-dimensional structure was studied.Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Khimii, Vol. 77, No. 9, 2004, pp. 1452–1455.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Tamarkina, Kucherenko, Shendrik.     

Physical Properties of Silica Aerogels Prepared with Polyethoxydisiloxanes

Silica aerogels were made by sol-gel techniques using industrial silicon derivatives (polyethoxydisiloxanes, E-40), followed by supercritical drying with ethanol. The morphology and microstructure of the silica aerogels were investigated by using specific surface area, S_BET, SEM, TEM and the pore size distribution techniques. The thermal conductivity was also measured as a function of air pressure. The results show that the diameter of the silica particles is about 13 nm and the pore size of the silica aerogels is 20–80 nm. The specific surface area of the silica aerogel is about 470 m²/g and the thermal conductivity of the silica aerogel prepared with E-40 is 0.014 w m^–1 K^–1 at room temperature and 1 atm.     

Mass spectrometric diagnosis of the surface nitriding mechanism in a d.c. glow discharge

Reactive constituents have been investigated in a molecular beam generated in the cathode surface glow area and surface boundary layer. Mixtures of nitrogen and hydrogen form NH_x(x=0–4) compounds, which are of relevance in heterogeneous, plasma vs. metal nitriding reactions. Ammonia decomposition leads to NH_x(x=2–4). Strong cataphoretic enrichment of hydrogen has been observed in the cathode glow area. Heterogeneous reactions of NH_x with iron lead to the formation of iron nitrides via intermediates such as FeNH_2–3. In a pulsed d.c. glow discharge, increased sputtering and decreased hydrogen enrichment have been observed.     

Effect of preparation pH on pore structure of silica gels

Surface characterization of silica gels prepared at different gelation pH from water glass and sulphuric acid were made by argon adsorption at 77 K using continuous volumetric method. While microporous silica gels prepared in the pH range of 1–3 had BET surface areas of 504–571 m² g^–1, total pore volumes of 0.26–0.31 cm³ g^–1 and micropore volumes of 0.16–0.23 cm³ g^–1, mesoporous silica gels prepared in the pH range of 3.36–0.65 had BET surface areas of 374–530 m² g^–1 and pore volumes of 0.61–0.79 cm³ g^–1.     

Surface characterization and heats of adsorption of chromatographic alumina gel

The porous nature of chromatographic alumina gel has been investigated by adsorption/condensation processes and electron microscopy. Having 63% porosity, the gel is very porous. Total pore volume as determined by the fluid-displacement method is 0.497 cm³ g^–1. Its specific surface area, as determined by water vapor adsorption, is 225 m² g^–1. Micropore volume, as determined by utilizing Gurwitsch's rule, turns out to be 0.262 cm³ g^–1. The greater portion of the surface area and pore volume occurs in small and transitional pores, with average pore radii (hydraulic) less than 2.1 nm.Organic vapors, such as methyl ethyl ketone, acetone, methyl acetate, and methyl alcohol, were adsorbed on the gel between 0 and 36°C under vacuum, and the data were recorded on a Cahn-1000 electrobalance device. Isosteric heats of adsorption were calculated by applying the Clausius Clapeyron equation to the adsorption isosters at different surface coverages. Two types of adsorption processes, one with low activation energy and other with high activation energy can be distinguished. The increase in values ofq _st indicates that increasing temperature changes physical adsorption into chemisorption.     

Studies on recrystallised aluminium trihydroxide precipitates: The energetics of dissolution by sodium hydroxide solutions

Summary Aluminium hydroxide gels were recrystallised in high pH solution for 2–1000 hr to give a series of gibbsite powders of different surface areas, 1`11/2, P11/8, P11/48, P11/360 and P11/X; their average platelet lengths were 30, 60, 130, 260 and 450 nm. The dissolution equilibria of these powders in sodium hydroxide solutions of C=1-8 M were studied at 20° to 80°C.The equilibrium constants (for formation of diaquo-tetrahydroxoaluminate anion) increased with temperature and with increasing surface area; the K value for P11/2 was about four times that of P 11/X at 20 °C and about three times (that for P 11/X) at 80 °C. The dissolutions were endothermic; however, the value over this temperature range increased from –29.5 kJ mol<sup>–1</sup> (for P11/X) to –24.7 kJ (for P 11/2). This increase was related to the appreciable surface energies of the high surface-area materials.The (– G°) values increased with increasing temperature and in turn with increasing surface area; the (– G°) values for 1`11/2 dissolution at any temperature were about 4 kJ mol^–1 higher than those for P11/X dissolution.With 1 figure and 1 table     

Synthesis of high surface area potassium hexatitanate powders by sol-gel method

Potassium hexatitanate (K₂Ti₆O₁₃) powders were synthesized by sol-gel method using supercritical drying to produce ion-exchangeable fine powders with high surface area. The effects of titanium alkoxides and mole ratios of K/Ti were investigated. By using sol-gel method, potassium hexatitanate powders were obtained at 630°C which is 350°C lower than that by melting method. The surface area of this sample was about 30–40 m²/g which was higher than that of melting method sample. Addition of H₂O and decrease in mole ratios of K/Ti increased surface area of powders.This work was partially supported by the IAEA (Research Program on Waste Treatment Immobilization Technologies Involving Inorganic Sorbent) contract. Many thanks to the IAEA's support.     

Effect of Enzyme Modification of Corn Grits on their Properties as an Adsorbent in a Skarstrom Pressure Swing Cycle Dryer

Corn grits have been tested as a desiccant in a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system to produce dry air. Two sizes of unmodified corn grits were tested in the PSA system: 2.16 and 0.978 mm in diameter, which dried moist air to dew points of –42°C and –69°C, respectively. A modification technology has been developed for the corn grits that gives an increase in the operational adsorptive capacity in a pressure swing adsorption system, so that they remove as much moisture from air as molecular sieves at the same conditions. After modification, 2.16 mm corn grits dry moist air to a –56°C dew point and the 0.978 mm corn grits dry air to a –80°C dew point. The modification process creates surface modifications on the corn grits apparently making more adsorption sites easily available. The modification procedure increases the specific surface area of the grits and possibly decreases the crystallinity, which would make more hydroxyl groups available for adsorption of water. Possible applications of using corn grits in the pressure swing adsorption system include industrial gas dryers, sorptive cooling air conditioners, and recycling equipment for industrial solvents.     

Indirect determination of chloride and sulfate ions in alcohol fuel by capillary electrophoresis

A capillary zone electrophoresis method using indirect UV detection for the analysis of chloride and sulfate in alcohol fuel samples was developed. The anions were analyzed in less than 3 min using an electrolyte containing 10 mmol l^–1 chromate and 0.75 mmol l^–1 hexamethonium bromide (HMB) as electroosmotic flow modifier. Coefficients of variation were better than 0.6% for migration time (n=10) and between 2.05 and 2.82% for peak area repeatabilities. Analytical curves of peak area versus concentration in the range of 0.065–0.65 mg kg^–1 for chloride and 0.25–4.0 mg kg^–1 for sulfate were linear with coefficients of correlation higher than 0.9996. The limits of detection for sulfate and chloride were 0.033 and 0.041 mg kg^–1, respectively. Recovery values ranged from 85 to 103%. The method was successfully applied for the quantification of sulfate and chloride in five alcohol fuel samples. The concentration of sulfate varied from 0.45 to 3.12 mg kg^–1. Chloride concentrations were below the methods LOD.     

Theoretical investigation of changes in the thermodynamic properties of water in the region near an electrode upon the discharge of an hydroxonium ion

A method for investigating solutions in the region near an electrode has been developed in the framework of the Monte Carlo method. The energies of the reorganization of water upon the transfer of an electron to a hydroxonium ion from the unpolarized surface of an absolutely solid charged electrode in the range of surface charge densities from +0.056 to –0.640 C/m² and upon the reverse process have been calculated. The hydration energies of an H₃O⁺ cation and an H₃O^– radical in the region near an electrode have been calculated. The effective interactions of an ion and a nonpolar molecule with an electrode in a solution have been analyzed.Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Éksperimental/naya Khimiya, Vol. 26, No. 5, pp. 596–600, September–October, 1990.     

Spectroscopic and voltammetric studies of Pefloxacin bound to calf thymus double-stranded DNA

Spectral and electrochemical studies have been carried out on the interaction of pefloxacin with calf thymus double-stranded dsDNA. The voltammetric behavior of pefloxacin was investigated at glassy carbon, carbon paste and dsDNA-modified carbon paste electrodes using cyclic voltammetry. Pefloxacin was oxidized, yielding one irreversible oxidation peak. The modification of the carbon paste surface with dsDNA allowed an accumulation process to take place for pefloxacin such that higher sensitivity was achieved compared with the bare surface. The response was characterized with respect to ionic strength, accumulation time, pefloxacin concentration, and other variables. The stripping differential pulse voltammetric response showed a linear calibration curve in the range 1.0×10^–7–1.0×10^–5 mol l^–1 with a detection limit of 5.0×10^–8 mol l^–1 at the dsDNA modified electrode. The method was applied to the direct determination of pefloxacin in diluted urine samples.     

Adsorption of Carbon Dioxide on Chemically Modified High Surface Area Carbon-Based Adsorbents at High Temperature

The adsorption capacity of carbon dioxide on high surface area carbon-based adsorbents before and after chemical modification at 28°C and 300°C have been studied. The high adsorption capacity adsorbents for carbon dioxide at high temperature have been developed by introducing MgO and S–CaO–MgO on carbon-based adsorbents. Their adsorption capacities for carbon dioxide were 0.28 and 0.22 m mol/g at 300°C, 1 Bar, respectively.     

Microporous Silica Particles Prepared by the Salt-Catalytic Sol-Gel Process with Extremely Low Content of Water

Microporous silica was synthesized by the salt catalytic sol-gel process with extremely low content of water to tetramethoxysilane. Silica particles were precipitated even when the extent of hydrolysis was very low, since ammonium carbonate as a salt catalyst made the polycondensation faster than an acid catalyst. Microporous silica with a high surface area (680 m² g^–1) was obtained by combustion of methoxy groups at 450°C. The methoxy groups can be removed by the post-hydrolysis before heating. A high specific surface area (>750 m²g^–1) of microporous silica was obtained with pore diameter between 1.2 and 2.0 nm.     

A sensitive and specific HPLC-MS method for the determination of sophoridine,sophocarpine and matrine in rabbit plasma

A sensitive and specific method was developed for the determination of sophoridine (SRI), sophocarpine (SC) and matrine (MT) in rabbit plasma by HPLC-MS. After an administration of Kuhuang by injection, blood samples were collected and extracted with methanol. The extract solutions were analysed by HPLC-MS method. The separation was performed on a ZORBAX Extend-C18 column using methanol/water/diethylamine (50:50:0.07, v/v/v) as mobile phase. The quinolizidine alkaloids were detected by using mass spectrometry in the SIM mode. There was a good linear relationship between peak area and concentration of analytes over the concentration range of 13.2–995.0 ng mL^–1 for SRI, 7.0–530.0 ng mL^–1 for SC and 8.8–655.0 ng mL^–1 for MT, respectively. The absolute recovery of this method was more than 57% for SRI, 87% for SC and 91% for MT. The accuracy of assay was more than 90%. The limits of detection (LODs) were 6.8 ng mL^–1 for SRI, 3.5 ng mL^–1 for SC and 4.2 ng mL^–1 for MT, respectively. The limits of quantitation (LOQs) were 13.2 ng mL^–1 for SRI, 7.0 ng mL^–1 for SC and 8.8 ng mL^–1 for MT, respectively. The intra-day and inter-day coefficients of variation (RSDs) were less than 10.1, 6.3 and 5.8% for SRI, SC and MT, respectively. The developed method was applied to determine the concentration–time profiles of SRI, SC and MT in rabbit plasma after injection of Kuhuang.