Pd/C promoted by Au for 2-propanol electrooxidation in alkaline media

Pd/C catalysts promoted by Au are investigated as electrocatalysts for the direct 2-propanol fuel cells in alkaline media. The results show that Pd is a good electrocatalyst for 2-propanol oxidation and the activity for 2-propanol electrooxidation is higher than that for methanol electrooxidation on the Pd/C electrocatalysts in alkaline media. Addition of Au can significantly increase the palladium catalytic activity and stability for the 2-propanol oxidation. PdAu4:1/C has higher electrocatalytic activity and better stability for the electrooxidation of 2-propanol than Pd/C and E-TEK Pt/C electrocatalysts. The present study shows the promising properties of Au promoted Pd/C as effective electrocatalysts for 2-propanol fuel based direct alcohol fuel cells.     

Electrocatalytic oxidation of alcohols by a carbon-supported Rh porphyrin

A Rh porphyrin on carbon black was shown to catalyze the electro-oxidation of several aliphatic alcohols (ethanol, 1-propanol, and 2-propanol) and benzyl alcohols. The overpotentials for alcohol oxidation were very low. The reaction mechanism and substrate specificity are discussed.     

氧化锌分散体光反应产生的自由基中间体

溶液中光诱导的电子转移反应已进行了大量的研究。而半导体粉末在水相或非水溶剂中的光化学研究也与自俱增^[1-3]。这种光化学与成像体系、太阳能转换以及光催化或污物的光降解有关。因此,越来越引起人们的重视。     

Higher-alcohols biorefinery

The concept of a biorefinery for higher-alcohol production is to integrate ethanol and methanol formation via fermentation and biomass gasification, respectively, with, conversion of these simple alcohol intermediates into higher alcohols via the Guerbet reaction. 1-Butanol results from the selfcondensation of ethanol in this multistep reaction occurring on a single catalytic bed. Combining methanol with ethanol gives a mixture of propanol, isobutanol, and 2-methyl-1-butanol. All of these higher alcohols are usefulas solvents, chemical intermediates, and fuel additives and, consequently, have higher market values than the simple alcohol intermediates. Several new catalysts for the condensation of ethanol and alcohol mixtures to higher alcohols were designed and tested under a variety of conditions. Reactions of methanol ethanol mixtures gave as high as 100% conversion of the ethanol to form high yields of isobutanol with smaller amounts of 1-propanol, the amounts in the mixture depending on the starting mixture. The most successful catalysts are multifunctional with basic and hydrogen transfer components.     

One-electron oxidation of alcohols by the 1,3,5-trimethoxybenzene radical cation in the excited state during two-color two-laser flash photolysis

One-electron oxidation of alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, and 2-propanol by 1,3,5-trimethoxybenzene radical cation (TMB*+) in the excited state (TMB*+*) was observed during the two-color two-laser flash photolysis. TMB*+ was formed by the photoinduced bimolecular electron-transfer reaction from TMB to 2,3,5,6-tetrachlorobenzoquinone (TCQ) in the triplet excited-state during the first 355-nm laser flash photolysis. Then, TMB*+* was generated from the selective excitation of TMB*+ during the second 532 nm laser flash photolysis. Hole transfer rate constants from TMB*+* to methanol, ethanol, and 2-propanol were calculated to be (5.2 +/- 0.5) x 10(10), (1.4 +/- 0.3) x 10(11), and (3.2 +/- 0.6) x 10(11) M-1 s-1, respectively. The order of the hole transfer rate constants is consistent with oxidation potentials of alcohol. Formation of TCQH radical (TCQH*) with a characteristic absorption peak at 435 nm was observed in the microsecond time scale, suggesting that deprotonation of the alcohol radical cation occurs after the hole transfer and that TCQ radical anion (TCQ*-), generated together with TMB*+ by the photoinduced electron-transfer reaction, reacts with H+ to give TCQH*.     

Influence of the kind of the Alcoholic Modifier on Chiral Separation of 4-Substituted-Pyrrolidin-2-Ones Using Amylose Based Chiral Stationary Phase

ABSTRACT

The enantioselective separation of 4-substituted-pyrrolidin-2-ones was investigated on a silica-based amylose tris (3, 5-dimetliylphenylcarbamate) (Chiralpak AD) using, normal phase methodology with a mobile phase consisting of H-hexane-alcohol (ethanol, 1-propanol or 2-propanol) in various percentage. Effects of variation of concentration of alcohol and the nature of aliphatic alcohols in the mobile phase were studied. In a general manner, for the ten compounds analysed, the retention times increased and the separations factors were improved on changing the alcohol modifier from 2-propanol to ethanol. The effects of substitution were analysed. Baseline separation was easily obtained in many cases with a maximum resolution factor of 11.     

Effect of cyclopropane treatment of Methylosinzis trichosporium (OB3b) for lower alkane oxidation

Alcohol formation was studied by the hydroxylation of alkanes with Methylosinus trichosporium (OB3b). When M. trichosporium was treated with cyclopropane, accumulation of primary alcohol (methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol) was observed from the respective lower alkane (methane, ethane, propane, n-butane). It was found that cyclopropane was a selective inhibitor for the alcohol dehydrogenase contained in the same bacterium, and that alcohol oxidation with this enzyme was inhibited. The inhibition mechanism is also discussed.     

Selectivity of amylose tris(3,5-dimethylphenyl-carbamate) chiral stationary phase as a function of its structure altered by changing concentration of ethanol or 2-propanol mobile-phase modifier

In a previous publication, solid-state NMR data showed that the structure of Chiralpak AD chiral stationary phase (CSP) was altered by changing the concentration of ethanol or 2-propanol modifier in the chromatographic mobile phase. This present paper reports the effect of the CSP structural change on chiral selectivity alpha. The enantiomers of a series of compounds were chromatographed using ethanol or 2-propanol in various concentrations as mobile-phase modifier and the alpha values were determined. Changes of alpha were observed for some enantiomeric pairs when ethanol and 2-propanol concentrations were varied. These data correlate with previous findings on the structural changes of the CSP. Not every enantiomeric pair showed changes in alpha as the alcohol concentration was varied, indicating that the chiral selectivity depends not only on the CSP's structure, but also on the structures of the analytes.     

Studies on the oxidation reaction of tyrosine (Tyr) with H2O2 catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in alcohol-water medium by spectrofluorimetry and differential spectrophotometry

An oxidation reaction of tyrosine (Tyr) with H(2)O(2) catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was studied by spectrofluorimetry and differential spectrophotometry in the alcohol(methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol and isopropanol)-water mutual solubility system. Compared with the enzymatic-catalyzed reaction in the water medium, the fluorescence intensities of the product weakened, even extinguished. Because the addition of alcohols made the conformation of HRP change, the catalytic reaction shifted to the side of polymerization and the polymer (A(n)H(2), n>or=3) exhibited no fluorescence. The four alcohols cannot deactivate HRP. Moreover isopropanol activated HRP remarkably.     

Production of methyl ester fuel from microalgae

Microalgae are unique photosynthetic organisms that are known to accumulate storage lipids in large quantitites and thrive in saline waters. Before these storage lipids can be used, they must be extracted from the microalgae and converted into usable fuel. Transesterification of lipids produces fatty acid methyl esters that can be used as a diesel fuel substitute. Three solvents, 1-butanol, ethanol, and hexane/2-propanol, were evaluated for extraction efficiency of microalgal lipids. Type of catalyst, concentration of catalyst, time of reaction, temperature of reaction, and quality of lipid were examined as variables for transesterification. The most efficient solvent of the three for extraction was 1-butanol (90% efficiency), followed by hexane/2-propanol and ethanol. Optimal yield of fatty acid methyl esters was obtained using 0.6N hydrochloric acid in methanol for 0.1 h at 70°C.     

Aggregation kinetics of latex microspheres in alcohol-water media

We report zeta potential and aggregation kinetics data on colloidal latex particles immersed in water-alcohol media. Zeta potential values show absolute maxima for volume fractions of alcohol of 0.10 and 0.05 for ethanol and 1-propanol, respectively. For methanol, no maximum of the absolute value of the zeta potential was found. Aggregation kinetics was studied by means of a single-cluster optical sizing equipment and for alcohol volume fractions ranging from 0 to 0.1. The aggregation processes are induced by adding different potassium bromide concentrations to the samples. We expected to find a slowdown of the overall aggregation kinetics for ethanol and 1-propanol, and no significant effect for methanol, as compared with pure water data. That is, we expected the zeta potential to govern the overall aggregation rate. However, we obtained a general enhancement of the aggregation kinetics for methanol and 1-propanol and a general slowdown of the aggregation rate for ethanol. In addition, aggregation data under ethanol show a slower kinetics for large electrolyte concentration than that obtained for intermediate electrolyte concentration. We think that these anomalous behaviors are linked to layering, changes in hydrophobicity of particle surfaces due to alcohol adsorption, complex ion-water-alcohol-surface structuring, and competition between alcohol-surface adsorption and alcohol-alcohol clustering.     

酸性介质中Pt-Ir-SnO2/C电催化氧化乙醇

采用改良的B(o)nnemann法合成了一系列新型炭载Pt-Ir-SnO2催化剂.电化学结果表明,在室温下新型电催化剂Pt-Iro.07-SnO2/C可有效断裂乙醇中C-C键,促进乙醇在低电位下完全氧化,其CO2生成量为Pt/C催化剂的2倍.另外,该三元催化剂显著增强乙醇的氧化反应,在室温下其电流密度为Pt/C的3倍.     

Synthesis and properties of a microtube photocatalyst with photoactive inner surface and inert outer surface

Synthesis of a photocatalyst with a novel particle form, its photoactivity, and the degradation of polyvinyl alcohol containing the photocatalyst were studied in detail. A microtube photocatalyst with titanium dioxide particles supported on the inner surface of the microtube was synthesized by adding fine titanium dioxide particles in the formation process of basic magnesium carbonate microtube. The photoactivity of the microtube photocatalyst was confirmed from the decomposition of 2-propanol under blacklight irradiation. Moreover, the microtube photocatalyst was found to cause no degradation of polyvinyl alcohol, whereas, it decomposed 2-propanol with its photoactivity when impregnated in a polyvinyl alcohol foam. This fact was considered to be derived from the unique structure of the microtube photocatalyst, which has a photoactive inner surface with titanium dioxide and an inert outer surface of basic magnesium carbonate.     

PHOTOVOLTAIC ACTION SPECTRA AND EFFICIENCIES OF CHLOROPHYLL a SPECIES ABSORBING NEAR 700 nm

Abstract— Alcohol vapors affect the photovoltaic properties of anhydrous chlorophyll a (Chi a). At 23°C, a photovoltaic cell of the type Allanhydrous Chi a|Ag has been successively submitted to non saturating vapors of methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, cyclopropyl carbinol, cyclopentanol, methyl cyclopropyl carbinol, 1-butanol, 1-pentanol and chloroethanol. The action spectrum of anhydrous Chi a has a maximum in the red at 672 nm. This maximum is shifted towards 700 nm under the influence of alcohol vapors. The most important changes occur for ethanol, 1-propanol and 2-propanol. In the same way, the conversion efficiencies of light energy into electrical energy, measured at the maximum in the red are, for the same alcohols, higher than the initial value 1.7 times 10^-2% obtained on the average for anhydrous Chi a. A maximum value of 6.3 times 10^-2% has been obtained after rehydration of Chi a solvated with 2-propanol. The influence of alcohol vapors has been interpreted in terms of microcapillarity of anhydrous Chi a and a mean microcavity radius of 11 ± 6 Å has been deduced from the photocurrent variation with the amount of alcohol vapor present in the measuring area. Furthermore, the action spectrum shift towards 700 nm has been interpreted by the formation, at 23°C, of Chi a special aggregates whose action spectrum has been obtained by difference. Infrared spectroscopy demonstrated that anhydrous Chi a obtained from electrodeposition is an assembly of Chi a dimers and that alcohol vapors, producing the special aggregates formation at 23°C, induce a decrease of the free C=O ketone band and an increase of the associated C=O ketone. The C=O esters band is not affected by the Chi a reorganization.     

Electro‐oxidation of Methanol and Ethanol Catalyzed by Pt/ZSM‐5/C

Direct alcohol fuel cells are a promising source of future energy generation for small and portable devices. Platinum is considered the best catalyst for electro‐oxidation of alcohols in fuel cells but the major hurdles with platinum catalysts are high cost of platinum as well as low selectivity, slow reaction kinetics and carbonaceous poisoning associated with platinum. This particular research reports electro‐oxidation of methanol and ethanol over platinum electrodeposited on ZSM‐5 without any carbon additive. From the cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry, linear sweep voltammetry, tafel plot and multiple scan analyses, it is found that Pt/ZSM‐5/C electrodes can catalyze electro‐oxidation of methanol and ethanol with higher efficiency. ZSM‐5 supports the formation of smaller sized platinum nanoparticles in a dispersed manner on the zeolite support and thus increases the active surface area of the metal for catalytic activity. It favors adsorption of alcohol molecules on the modified electrode surface and thus increases the diffusion process. It also stabilizes the modified electrodes.     

碱性直接醇燃料电池非铂阳极催化剂

以纳米Pd,Pd-Ru,Au和Au-Ru为碱性直接醇燃料电池非Pt阳极催化剂,考察了其对甲醇、乙醇和乙二醇的电氧化性能.结果表明,Pd在酸中对醇电氧化的催化活性很低,但在碱中表现出较高的催化活性,起波电势约为0.4V(vsRHE);引入Ru助催化剂后,起波电势负移约0.15V;Pd-Ru对乙醇的电氧化表现出很高的活性,在0.3～0.4V电势范围内其活性为Pt-Ru的4倍.Au在酸中几乎不催化醇类分子的电氧化,但在碱中表现出一定的催化活性,在高于0.6V(vsRHE)的电势范围内可观察到醇氧化阳极电流.Au-Ru的催化活性高于Au,但起波电势没有明显负移,这可能表明当电势不足够正时醇分子在Au表面的吸附脱氢步骤是速率控制步骤.     

Oxide supported platinum electrocatalysts for hydrogen and alcohol fuel cells

Efficient oxide supported electrocatalysts for hydrogen and alcohol fuel cells are developed. They are characterized by a low content of platinum, exhibit high activity in the oxidation of low-molecular alcohols and tolerance to the CO poisoning. It is shown that the application of catalysts developed (Pt/SnO₂-SbO _x ) enables one to raise the power of fuel cells operating on ethanol approximately by two times as compared with similar fuel cells with commercial PtRu/C catalysts.     

Solubility of benzilic acid in select organic solvents at 298.15 K

Experimental solubilities are reported for benzilic acid dissolved in ethanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol, 1-pentanol, 1-hexanol, 1-heptanol, 2-propanol, 2-butanol, 2-methyl-1-propanol, diethyl ether and methyl tert-butyl ether at 298.15?K. Results of these measurements reveal that the observed solubilities in the nine alcohol solvents fall within a fairly narrow mole fraction range of each other. Benzilic acid is also very soluble in the two ether solvents studied.     

1-丁基-3-甲基咪唑六氟磷酸盐+水+醇体系的相行为

在298.15 K, 常压下研究了1-丁基-3-甲基咪唑六氟磷酸盐([bmim][PF₆])+水+甲醇、[bmim][PF₆]+水+乙醇、[bmim][PF₆]+水+2-丙醇、[bmim][PF₆]+水+1-丙醇三元体系的相行为. 结果表明, 对于含甲醇、乙醇和2-丙醇的体系, 醇在水+醇溶液中摩尔分数分别为0.55-1.00、0.40-0.75 和0.35-0.50 时, 醇的水溶液与[bmim][PF₆]可以互溶. 而水+1-丙醇体系没有此类现象. 这说明, 这类三元系的相行为不但取决于醇分子的大小, 而且取决于其结构.     

Electrochemical characterization of MnO2 as electrocatalytic energy material for fuel cell electrode

 Development of inexpensive non Pt based high electrocatalytic energy materials is the need of the hour for fuel cell electrode to produce clean alternative green energy from synthesized bio alcohol using biomass. MnO₂, electro synthesized at different current density is found to be well performed electrocatalytic material, comparable to Pt, with higher current density, very low overvoltage for the electrochemical oxidation of methanol. From EIS study, the polarization resistance of the coated MnO₂ is found to be much low and electrical double layer capacitance is high, the effect increases with increase in current density of electro deposition. XRD, EDX and AAS analysis confirm the MnO₂ deposition. The morphology of SEM images exhibits an enhanced 3D effective substrate area, for electro oxidation of the fuel. A few nano structured grains of the deposited MnO₂ is also observed at higher current density. The fact supports that a high energetic inexpensive electro catalytic material has been found for fuel cell electrode to synthesis renewable energy from methanol fuel.