Construction,calibration and testing of a micro-combustion calorimeter

An isoperibolic micro-combustion calorimeter was designed, built and set up in our laboratory, taking as base a 1107 Parr combustion bomb of 22 cm³ of volume. Taken into account the geometrical form of the bomb, it was designed and constructed a vessel and a submarine chamber in brass. All of the pieces of the calorimeter were chromium-plated to reduce heat loss by radiation. The calorimeter was calibrated by using pellets of standard benzoic acid (mass approximate of 40 mg) leading to the energy equivalent of ε(calor) = (1283.8 ± 0.6) J · K⁻¹. In order to test the calorimeter, combustion experiments of salicylic acid were performed leading to a value of combustion energy of Δ_cu^∘ = −(21,888.8 ± 10.9) J · g⁻¹, which agrees with the reported literature values. The combustion of piperonylic acid was carried out as a further test leading to a value of combustion energy of Δ_cu^∘ = −(20,215.9 ± 10.4) J · g⁻¹ in accordance with the reported literature value. The uncertainty of the calibration and the combustion of salicylic acid and piperonylic acid was 0.05%.     

Far-infrared studies on Nafion and perfluoroimide acid (PFIA) and their alkali salts

The terahertz/far-infrared spectra (<300 cm⁻¹) of perfluorinated sulfonic acid (Nafion NR211 polymer) and perfluoroimide acid (PFIA polymer) and their alkali (M⁺) salts have been analyzed and the results are presented. Pronounced features in the spectra of these ionomers that correlate systematically with the corresponding cation mass are reported and from their spectral position the force constants are derived. The average vibrational force constants for Nafion/M⁺ and PFIA/M⁺ are found to be 54 ± 7 and 39 ± 4 N/m, respectively. Such terahertz/far-infrared signatures probe the detailed structure of the Nafion/M⁺ and PFIA/M⁺ ionic clusters and, in turn, provide benchmarks for elucidating the ionomer “water channels” or water molecules located in the ionomer–water interface upon hydration. Qualitative trends in the vibrational energies of Nafion and PFIA can be explained by consideration of electronic and/or structural (ionic domain-size) effects.     

Standard Gibbs energy of formation of platinic acid H2Pt(OH) 6in the crystalline state

Heat capacity of platinic acid, hydrogen hexahydroxyplatinate(IV)H₂Pt(OH)₆ , was measured from T =  7 K toT =  310 K by means of adiabatic calorimetry. The standard entropy and the standard Gibbs energy of formation of platinic acid in the crystalline state were determined to be 176.5  ±  3.6 J · K ^− 1· mol ^− 1and  − 988.8  ±  3.8 kJ · mol ^− 1, respectively.     

An isoperibol micro-bomb calorimeter for measurement of the enthalpy of combustion of organic compounds. Application to the study of succinic acid and acetanilide

A micro static-bomb combustion calorimeter, developed from a 1107 Parr semi-micro bomb, has been provided with a new micro-bomb and calorimetric bucket. In the best conditions of operation, the energy equivalent of this calorimetric arrangement is just ε(calor)=(731.82 ± 0.22) J · K⁻¹, which means an uncertainty of 0.03 per cent for the calibration with benzoic acid NIST 39j. This combustion calorimeter has been used in the measurement of the enthalpy of combustion of the succinic acid and acetanilide, giving −(1489.3 ± 1.6) kJ · mol⁻¹ and −(4222.5 ± 1.1) kJ · mol⁻¹, respectively, for these substances.     

High-precision micro-combustion calorimetry of anthracene

A high-precision micro-combustion calorimeter was developed. Details of the calorimeter are described. The energy equivalent of the calorimeter and the standard deviation of the mean were determined to be (67.8330  ±  0.0024)J · K ^− 1after calibration with thermochemical standard benzoic acid (five experiments). The standard enthalpy of combustion of anthracene was determined to be  − (7065.0  ±  1.1)kJmol ^− 1.     

Copper removal from aqueous solution using biochar: Effect of chemical activation

The main aim of this study was to test the efficiency of biochar for Cu removal from synthetic and soil solutions, respectively.The biochar was produced from brewers draff via pyrolysis. Additionally, the prepared biochar was also activated using 2 M KOH to enhance its sorption efficiency to remove Cu from both solutions. Two different aqueous solutions were prepared for these experiments: (i) a synthetic using Cu-nitrate salt with 0.01 M NaNO₃ and (ii) soil solution obtained from a Cu-contaminated soil using 0.01 M CaCl₂ leaching procedure. Batch sorption and column experiments were used to evaluate the efficiency of both biochar (BC) and activated biochar (BC_act) to remove Cu from the solutions.Results showed that both biochar samples are pure amorphous carbon and the Cu sorption is thus mainly a result of physical sorption on the biochar surface. Next, chemical activation, using 2 M KOH, significantly increased the total volume of all pores in biochar (from 0.01 ± 0.002 to 8.74 ± 0.18 mL g⁻¹). On the other hand, the BET surface area was similar for both sorbents (BC = 9.80 ± 0.62 m² g⁻¹ and BC_act = 11.6 ± 0.4 m² g⁻¹). Results also demonstrate enhanced sorption efficiency of the BC_act (10.3 mg g⁻¹) in comparison with the BC (8.77 mg g⁻¹). Additionally, enhanced Cu removal during column retention test was observed for the BC_act in both synthetic and soil solutions, respectively.In summary, the results showed that biochar prepared from brewers draff was able to remove Cu from both aqueous solutions.     

Determination of the energies of combustion and enthalpies of formation of nitrobenzenesulfonamides by rotating-bomb combustion calorimetry

The energies of combustion for 2-nitrobenzenesulfonamide (cr), 3-nitrobenzenesulfonamide (cr), and 4-nitrobenzenesulfonamide (cr) were determined using a recently described rotating-bomb combustion calorimeter. The condensed phase molar energies of combustion obtained were ?(3479.2 ± 1.0) kJ · mol^?1 for 2-nitrobenzenesulfonamide (cr), ?(3454.2 ± 1.1) kJ · mol^-1 for 3-nitrobenzenesulfonamide (cr), and ?(3450.1 ± 1.9) kJ · mol^-1 for 4-nitrobenzenesulfonamide (cr). From these combustion energy values, the standard molar enthalpies of formation in the condensed phase were obtained as: ?(341.3 ± 1.3) kJ · mol^?1, ?(366.3 ± 1.3) kJ · mol^?1, and ?(370.4 ± 2.1) kJ · mol^?1, respectively. Polyethene bags were used as an auxiliary material in the combustion experiments. The heat capacities and purities of the compounds were determined using a differential scanning calorimeter.     

Transformation of South African coal fly ash into ZSM-5 zeolite and its application as an MTO catalyst

This study presents a way of using South African coal fly ash by extracting metals such as Al and Fe with concentrated sulphuric acid, and then using the solid residue as a feedstock for the synthesis of ZSM-5 zeolite. The percentage of aluminium and iron oxides decreased from 28.0 ± 0.2% and 5.0 ± 0.1% in coal fly ash to 24.6 ± 0.1% and 1.6 ± 0.01% in the acid treated coal fly ash respectively. The fly ash-based zeolite ZSM-5 sample synthesised from the solid residue after extraction of Al and Fe, contained 62% of ZSM-5 zeolite pure phase with a number of Brønsted acid site density of 0.61 mmol per g_zeolite.By properly treating the as-prepared coal fly ash-based ZSM-5 zeolite, an active and selective methanol-to-olefins acid catalyst could be designed, leading to full methanol conversion during 15 h on stream. The optimised catalyst exhibited a cumulative methanol conversion capacity of 71 g(MeOH_converted)/g(catalyst) and a light olefin productivity of 21 g(C₂₌–C₄₌)/g(catalyst).     

1,2,4-Triazole as a reference material for combustion calorimetry of N-containing compounds

A micro-bomb combustion calorimeter recently designed for samples of mass  ≈ 80 mg has been improved and tested with m -methoxybenzoic acid in order to verify the chemistry of the combustion process and the accuracy of the energy corrections involved in the analysis of results. From measurements in this calorimeter, the standard massic energy of combustion of 1,2,4-triazole was determined to beΔ_cu^o =  − (19200.3  ±  3.4)J · g ^− 1. Some new measurements with our macro combustion calorimeter confirm an earlier result from this laboratory of  − (19203.1  ±  1.2)J · g ^− 1. Determination of the purity by d.s.c. of 1,2,4-triazole purified some 10 years ago reveals that samples of this compound remained unchanged and suggest that 1,2,4-triazole be used as a possible reference material for organic compounds with a high content of nitrogen. From the experimental results with the micro-bomb combustion calorimeter, the actual and earlier results from macro-bomb combustion calorimetry, and those obtained in other laboratories, the standard massic energy of combustion of 1,2,4-triazole was deduced to beΔ_cu^o =  − (19202.5  ±  1.7)J · g ^− 1.     

Synthesis of highly active nanostructured PtRu electrocatalyst with three-dimensional mesoporous silica template

Nanostructured PtRu material has been successively synthesized via chemical co-reduction of hexachloroplatinic acid and ruthenium trichloride using three-dimensional (3D) hexagonal mesoporous SBA-12 silica as a solid template, and has been studied as an electrocatalyst toward methanol electro-oxidation. The ordered nanostructure of the PtRu particles has been disclosed by transmission electron micrographs and is characterized by regular pores of ca. 3.0 ± 0.3 nm in diameter separated by walls of ca. 3.0 ± 0.3 nm thick. X-ray diffraction and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscope studies indicate that the PtRu material comprises of complicated phases rather than a single alloy phase of Pt and Ru. The specific electrochemical surface area of the nanostructured powder measured using both CO and underpotential deposited Cu stripping techniques is 74–78 m² g^–1, higher than that of unsupported precious metal catalysts prepared using standard techniques. The combination of high surface area and periodic nanostructure of the templated PtRu makes it an interesting promising fuel cell electrocatalyst. This has been demonstrated by the high activity of the templated PtRu towards the methanol electrooxidation. Therefore the solid template route based on 3D mesoporous silica with controlled pore size and high pore interconnectivity provides an interesting alternative to produce promising high-surface-area electrode materials.     

Enthalpy of formation of zinc acetate dihydrate

The enthalpy of formation of zinc acetate dihydrate (Zn(CH₃COO)₂ · 2H₂O) was measured with respect to crystalline zinc oxide (ZnO), glacial acetic acid (CH₃COOH) and liquid water by room temperature solution calorimetry. The enthalpy of formation was verified by utilizing two independent thermodynamic cycles, using enthalpy of solution measurements in 5 mol · L^?1 sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and in 5 mol · L^?1 hydrochloric acid (HCl) solutions. The enthalpy of the reaction ZnO (cr) + 2CH₃COOH (l) + H₂O (l) to form Zn(CH₃COO)₂ · 2H₂O (cr) is –(65.78 ± 0.36) kJ · mol^?1 for measurements in 5 mol · L^?1 NaOH and –(66.25 ± 0.17) kJ · mol^?1 for measurements in 5 mol · L^?1 HCl. The standard enthalpy of formation of Zn(CH₃COO)₂ · 2H₂O from the elements is –(1669.35 ± 1.30) kJ · mol^?1. This work provides the first calorimetric measurement of the enthalpy of formation of Zn(CH₃COO)₂ · 2H₂O.     

Thermodynamic properties of soddyite from solubility and calorimetry measurements

The release of uranium from geologic nuclear waste repositories under oxidizing conditions can only be modeled if the thermodynamic properties of the secondary uranyl minerals that form in the repository setting are known. Toward this end, we synthesized soddyite ((UO₂)₂(SiO₄)(H₂O)₂), and performed solubility measurements from both undersaturation and supersaturation. The solubility measurements rigorously constrain the value of the solubility product of synthetic soddyite, and consequently its standard-state Gibbs free energy of formation. The log solubility product (lg K_sp) with its error (1σ) is (6.43 + 0.20/−0.37), and the standard-state Gibbs free energy of formation is (−3652.2 ± 4.2 (2σ)) kJ mol⁻¹. High-temperature drop solution calorimetry was conducted, yielding a calculated standard-state enthalpy of formation of soddyite of (−4045.4 ± 4.9 (2σ)) kJ · mol⁻¹. The standard-state Gibbs free energy and enthalpy of formation yield a calculated standard-state entropy of formation of soddyite of (−1318.7 ± 21.7 (2σ)) J · mol⁻¹ · K⁻¹. The measurements and associated thermodynamic calculations not only describe the T = 298 K stability and solubility of soddyite, but they also can be used in predictions of repository performance through extrapolation of these properties to repository temperatures.     

Novel electrocatalysts for generating oxygen from alkaline water electrolysis

We have obtained spinel-type Co₃O₄ and La-doped Co₃O₄ in the form of thin film on Ni, using microwave-assisted synthesis, which dramatically exhibit very low overpotentials for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Investigations have shown that at the apparent current density of 100 mA cm⁻² in 1 mol dm⁻³ KOH at 25 °C, the new electrodes, Co₃O₄ (oxide loading = 3.4 ± 0.3 mg cm⁻²) and La-doped Co₃O₄ (oxide loading = 2.8 ± 0.4 mg cm⁻²), produce overpotentials, 235 ± 7 and 224 ± 8 mV, respectively. Such low overpotentials for the OER, to our knowledge, have not been found on any mixed oxide electrode material reported in literature till today. Small La addition improved the BET surface area and porosity of the oxide catalyst powder and reduced the charge transfer resistance for the OER on the electrode made of oxide powder.     

Heat capacity and enthalpy of fusion of pyrimethanil laurate (C24H37N3O2)

Low-temperature heat capacities of pyrimethanil laurate (C₂₄H₃₇N₃O₂) were precisely measured with an automated adiabatic calorimeter over the temperature range between T = 78 K and T = 340 K. The sample was observed to melt at (321.52 ± 0.04) K. The molar enthalpy and entropy of fusion as well as the chemical purity of the compound were determined to be (67244 ± 11) J · mol⁻¹, (209.28 ± 0.02) J · mol⁻¹ · K⁻¹, (0.9943 ± 0.0004) mass fraction, respectively. The extrapolated melting temperature for the absolutely pure compound obtained from fractional melting experiments was (322.264 ± 0.006) K.     

Simultaneous determination of ascorbic acid,epinephrine, and uric acid by differential pulse voltammetry using poly(p-xylenolsulfonephthalein) modified glassy carbon electrode

A novel poly(p-xylenolsulfonephthalein) modified glassy carbon electrode was prepared for the simultaneous determination of ascorbic acid (AA), epinephrine (EP) and uric acid (UA). Cyclic voltammetric, chronoamperometric, and differential pulse voltammetric methods were used to investigate the modified electrode for the electrocatalytic oxidation of EP, AA, and UA in aqueous solutions. The separation of the oxidation peak potentials for AA–EP and EP–UA was about 200 and 130 mV, respectively. The calibration curves obtained for AA, EP, and UA were in the ranges of 10–1343, 2–390, and 0.1–560 μmol L⁻¹, respectively. The detection limits (S/N = 3) were 4, 0.1, and 0.08 μmol L⁻¹ for AA, EP and UA, respectively. The diffusion coefficient and the catalytic rate constant for the oxidation of EP at the modified electrode were calculated as 1.40(±0.10) × 10⁻⁴ cm² s⁻¹ and 1.06 × 10³ mol⁻¹ L s⁻¹, respectively. The present method was applied to the determination of EP in pharmaceutical and urine samples, AA in commercially available vitamin C tablet, and EP plus UA in urine samples.     

Internal standardization in graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry: Comparative use of As and Ge to minimize matrix effects on Se determination in milk

Arsenic and germanium have been evaluated as internal standards to minimize matrix effects on the direct determination of selenium in milk by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) using tubes with integrated platform, pre-treated with W together with Pd as chemical modifier. The efficiency of As and Ge as internal standards for 25 μg L^− 1 Se plus 500 μg L^− 1 As or Ge in diluted (1 + 9 v/v) milk plus 1.0% (v/v) HNO₃ was evaluated by means of correlation graphs plotted from the normalized absorbance signals (n = 20) of internal standard (axis y) versus analyte (axis x). The equations that describe the linear regression were: A^As = − 0.004 ± 0.019 + 1.02 ± 0.019 A^Se (r = 0.9967 ± 0.005); A^Ge = − 0.017 ± 0.015 + 1.01 ± 0.015 A^Se (r = 0.9978 ± 0.004). Samples and reference solutions were automatically spiked with 500 μg L^− 1 Ge or As and 1.0% (v/v) HNO₃ by the autosampler. For 20 μL of aqueous standard solutions, analytical curves in the 5.00–40.0 μg L^− 1 Se range were established using the ratio of Se absorbance to internal standard absorbance (A^Se / A^IS) versus analyte concentration, and good linear correlations were obtained. The characteristic mass was 40 pg Se. Limits of detection were 0.55 and 0.40 μg L^− 1 with As and Ge as the internal standard, respectively. Relative standard deviations (RSD) for a sample containing 25 μg L^− 1 Se were 1.2% and 1.0% (n = 12) using As and Ge, respectively. The RSD without internal standardization was about 6%. The accuracy of the proposed method was evaluated by an addition-recovery experiment and all recovered values were in the 99–105% range with IS and in the 70–80% range without IS. Using Ge as the internal standard, results of analysis of standard reference materials were in agreement with certified values at a 95% confidence level. The selenium concentration for 10 analyzed milk samples varied from 5.0 to 20 μg L^− 1.     

Strain energy of phenanthrene

The strain energy of phenanthrene was derived to be (4.9 ± 2.8) kJ · mol⁻¹, on the basis of the latest standard enthalpies of formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. This strain energy agrees well with those estimated from a semi-empirical calculation and from the basicity in hydrogen fluoride solution. The calculation again confirmed the standard enthalpy of formation of phenanthrene, Δ_fH⁰(g)=(201.7±2.9) kJ · mol⁻¹ at T=298.15 K, which was determined by Nagano (J. Chem. Thermodyn. 34 (2002) 377–383). The coupling constant J_4,5 in ¹H-n.m.r. spectrum of phenanthrene in CDCl₃ solution was determined to be 0.55 Hz, which indicates no significant through-space coupling between the 4- and 5-hydrogens.     

On solubility of europium monoxide in melts of (NaBr + NaI) system at T = 973 K

Equilibria of EuO dissolution and dissociation in molten (NaBr + NaI) mixtures of 0.77:0.23 and 0.31:0.69 compositions at T = 973 K were studied by potentiometric titration method using Pt(O₂)|ZrO₂(Y₂O₃) indicator electrode. The solubility product indices of EuO are (7.81 ± 0.08) and (8.43 ± 0.16) in the melts of 0.77:0.23 and 0.31:0.69 compositions. The corresponding dissociation constant indices are (4.96 ± 0.04) and (5.54 ± 0.06), respectively (all the parameters are in molality). Non-dissociated EuO is the prevailing form in all the saturated solutions of europium monoxide. The decrease of the iodide ion concentration in the melts results in strengthening of EuO dissociation that is explained by introduction of harder Pearson’s base (Br⁻) in sodium iodide melt. In its turn this increases the fixation degree of Eu²⁺ in mixed halide complexes. The total solubility of EuO decreases going from NaI melt to the (bromide + iodide) mixtures that is caused by the decrease of ‘physical’ solubility of non-dissociated oxide which occupies hollow spaces of enough large size in the ionic solvents. The quantity of these hollow spaces diminishes at the sequential Br⁻ → I⁻ substitution.     

The distribution of dissolved thallium in the different water masses of the western sector of the Ross Sea (Antarctica) during the austral summer

Vertical profiles for total dissolved thallium were obtained at five sites in the western sector of the Ross Sea (Southern Ocean), Antarctica. Thallium is estimated to have a natural mean seawater concentration between 50 and 65 pmol L^− 1 with higher values in the North Pacific (65 ± 5 pmol L^− 1) and lower in the Bay of Biscay and Irish Sea (49 ± 3 pmol L^− 1). Our samples show a concentration varying from 22 to 55 pmol L^− 1 with a mean value of 46 pmol L^− 1, depending on depth, dissolved oxygen, salinity and local topographic characteristics. The analyses were performed using an ICP-SFMS that has enabled us to obtain reliable Tl concentration measurements with a relative standard deviation of better than 2.5% and a detection limit, calculated as three times the standard deviation of the “blank signal” of 0.69 pmol L^− 1 (1.60 pmol L^− 1, obtained analysing four blank solutions (n = 5) prepared with the same water and acid used for the dilution/acidification steps). Thallium appears to have a nearly conservative distribution in seawater as highlighted also from the comparison with the profiles of two seawater conservative elements: molybdenum and uranium; however it also highlights the presence of a reactive component of thallium, which is more influenced by the presence of particulate matter, oxygen content and fluorescence.     

Experimental and computational thermochemistry of 1,4-benzodioxan and its 2-R derivatives

The standard molar energies of combustion, at T = 298.15 K, of crystalline 1,4-benzodioxan-2-carboxylic acid and 1,4-benzodioxan-2-hydroxymethyl were measured by static bomb calorimetry in an oxygen atmosphere. The standard molar enthalpies of sublimation, at T = 298.15 K, were obtained by Calvet microcalorimetry. These values were used to derive the standard molar enthalpies of formation of the compounds in the gas phase at T = 298.15 K: 1,4-benzodioxan-2-carboxylic acid ?(547.7 ± 3.0) kJ · mol^?1 and 1,4-benzodioxan-2-hydroxymethyl ?(374.2 ± 2.3) kJ · mol^?1.In addition, density functional theory calculations using the B3LYP hybrid exchange–correlation energy functional with extended basis sets, 6-311G⁷ and cc-pVTZ, have been performed for the compounds studied. We have also tested two more accurate computational procedures involving multiple levels of electron structure theory in order to get reliable estimates of the thermochemical parameters of the compounds studied. The agreement between experiment and theory gives confidence to estimate the enthalpies of formation of other 2-R derivatives of 1,4-benzodioxan (R = –CH₂COOH, –OH, –COCH₃, –CHO, –CH₃, –CN, and –NO₂).