The effect of N2O on the isotopic composition of air-CO2 samples

The ionisation efficiencies of N2O vs. CO2 as well as their ratios were measured in detail introducing clean N2O and CO2 into the electron impact ion source of an isotope ratio mass spectrometer. Changes in the ionisation efficiency ratio (IER) were found for different electron energy settings and compared with the ratios of literature ionisation cross-section values for pure N2O and CO2. To establish the influence of mixtures of N2O and CO2 in a mass spectrometer, artificial air mixtures were prepared by mixing different amounts of N2O and CO2 from well-calibrated spike cylinders with CO2-free air. The mixing ratios varied from 8-512 ppb for N2O and from 328-744 ppm for CO2. With these mixtures the effects of varying N2O concentrations on apparent CO2 isotope ratios in air samples were determined. After applying a mass balance correction the delta13C results were consistent within small error margins. The data seemed almost independent from a particular choice for the IER of N2O vs. CO2 in the correction algorithm. For delta18O a small effect of the ionisation efficiency ratio of N2O vs. CO2 was found. Several sets of calculations were made varying the IER between 0.88 and 0.62. The dependence of delta18O was the smallest with an adopted IER of 0.68-0.72 in the mass balance correction equation for isotopic analysis of CO2 in air. For high-precision measurements of the CO2 stable isotope ratios in air samples a careful assessment of the mass spectrometer performance is necessary. Different ion sources, even different ion source settings, alter the IER of N2O vs. CO2 which is used in the N2O correction algorithm. Preferably, the specific mass spectrometric behaviour should be established with clean N2O/CO2 mixtures or with air mixtures covering a larger range of N2O concentrations.     

Mobile, outdoor continuous-flow isotope-ratio mass spectrometer system for automated high-frequency 13C- and 18O-CO2 analysis for Keeling plot applications

A continuous-flow isotope-ratio mass spectrometer (CF-IRMS, custom-made GasBenchII and Delta(plus)Advantage, ThermoFinnigan) was installed on a grassland site and interfaced with a closed-path infrared gas analyser (IRGA). The CF-IRMS and IRGA were housed in an air-conditioned travel van. Air was sampled at 1.5 m above the 0.07-m tall grassland canopy, drawn through a 17-m long PTFE tube at a rate of 0.25 L s(-1), and fed to the IRGA and CF-IRMS in series. The IRMS was interfaced with the IRGA via a stainless steel capillary inserted 0.5 m into the sample air outlet tube of the IRGA (forming an open split), a gas-tight pump, and a sample loop attached to the eight-port Valco valve of the continuous-flow interface. Air was pumped through the 0.25-mL sample loop at 10 mL s(-1) (a flushing frequency of 40 Hz). Air samples were analysed at intervals of approx. 2.8 min. Whole system precision was tested in the field using air mixed from pure CO2 and CO2-free air by means of mass flow controllers. The standard deviation of repeated single measurements was 0.21-0.07 per thousand for delta13C and 0.34-0.14 per thousand for delta18O of CO2 in air with mixing ratios ranging between 200-800 micromol mol(-1). The CO2 peak area measured by the IRMS was proportional to the CO2 mixing ratio (r2 = 1.00), allowing estimation of sample air CO2 mixing ratio from IRMS data. A 1-day long measurement cycle of CO2, delta13C and delta18O of air sampled above the grassland canopy was used to test the system for Keeling plot applications. Delta18O exhibited a clear diurnal cycle (4 per thousand range), but short-term (1-h interval) variability was small (average SD 0.38 per thousand). Yet, the correlation between delta18O and CO2 mixing ratio was relatively weak, and this was true for both the whole data set and 1-h subsets. Conversely, the delta13C of all 541 samples measured during the 25.2-h interval fitted well the Keeling regression (r2 = 0.99), yielding an intercept of -27.40 per thousand (+/-0.07 per thousand SE). Useful Keeling regressions (r2 > 0.9, average r2 = 0.96) also resulted from data collected over 1-h intervals of the 12-h long twilight and dark period. These indicated that 13C content of ecosystem respiration was approx. constant near -27.6 per thousand. The precision of the present system is similar to that of current techniques used in ecosystem studies which employ flask sampling and a laboratory-based CF-IRMS. Sampling (and measurement) frequency is greatly increased relative to systems based on flask sampling, and sampling time (0.025 s per sample) is decreased. These features increase the probability for sampling the entire CO2 range which occurs in a given time window. The system obviates sample storage problems, greatly minimises handling needs, and allows extended campaigns of high frequency sampling and analysis with minimal attendance.     

O(3P) + CO2 collisions at hyperthermal energies: dynamics of nonreactive scattering, oxygen isotope exchange, and oxygen-atom abstraction

The dynamics of O((3)P) + CO(2) collisions at hyperthermal energies were investigated experimentally and theoretically. Crossed-molecular-beams experiments at = 98.8 kcal mol(-1) were performed with isotopically labeled (12)C(18)O(2) to distinguish products of nonreactive scattering from those of reactive scattering. The following product channels were observed: elastic and inelastic scattering ((16)O((3)P) + (12)C(18)O(2)), isotope exchange ((18)O + (16)O(12)C(18)O), and oxygen-atom abstraction ((18)O(16)O + (12)C(18)O). Stationary points on the two lowest triplet potential energy surfaces of the O((3)P) + CO(2) system were characterized at the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory and by means of W4 theory, which represents an approximation to the relativistic basis set limit, full-configuration-interaction (FCI) energy. The calculations predict a planar CO(3)(C(2v), (3)A') intermediate that lies 16.3 kcal mol(-1) (W4 FCI excluding zero point energy) above reactants and is approached by a C(2v) transition state with energy 24.08 kcal mol(-1). Quasi-classical trajectory (QCT) calculations with collision energies in the range 23-150 kcal mol(-1) were performed at the B3LYP/6-311G(d) and BMK/6-311G(d) levels. Both reactive channels observed in the experiment were predicted by these calculations. In the isotope exchange reaction, the experimental center-of-mass (c.m.) angular distribution, T(θ(c.m.)), of the (16)O(12)C(18)O products peaked along the initial CO(2) direction (backward relative to the direction of the reagent O atoms), with a smaller isotropic component. The product translational energy distribution, P(E(T)), had a relatively low average of = 35 kcal mol(-1), indicating that the (16)O(12)C(18)O products were formed with substantial internal energy. The QCT calculations give c.m. P(E(T)) and T(θ(c.m.)) distributions and a relative product yield that agree qualitatively with the experimental results, and the trajectories indicate that exchange occurs through a short-lived CO(3)* intermediate. A low yield for the abstraction reaction was seen in both the experiment and the theory. Experimentally, a fast and weak (16)O(18)O product signal from an abstraction reaction was observed, which could only be detected in the forward direction. A small number of QCT trajectories leading to abstraction were observed to occur primarily via a transient CO(3) intermediate, albeit only at high collision energies (149 kcal mol(-1)). The oxygen isotope exchange mechanism for CO(2) in collisions with ground state O atoms is a newly discovered pathway through which oxygen isotopes may be cycled in the upper atmosphere, where O((3)P) atoms with hyperthermal translational energies can be generated by photodissociation of O(3) and O(2).     

A field and laboratory method for monitoring the concentration and isotopic composition of soil CO2

The stable isotope composition of nmol size gas samples can be determined accurately and precisely using continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). We have developed a technique that exploits this capability in order to measure delta13C and delta18O values and, simultaneously, the concentration of CO2 in sub-mL volume soil air samples. A sampling strategy designed for monitoring CO2 profiles at particular locations of interest is also described. This combined field and laboratory technique provides several advantages over those previously reported: (1) the small sample size required allows soil air to be sampled at a high spatial resolution, (2) the field setup minimizes sampling times and does not require powered equipment, (3) the analytical method avoids the introduction of air (including O2) into the mass spectrometer thereby extending filament life, and (4) pCO2, delta13C and delta18O are determined simultaneously. The reproducibility of measurements of CO2 in synthetic tank air using this technique is: +/-0.08 per thousand (delta13C), +/-0.10 per thousand (delta18O), and +/-0.7% (pCO2) at 5550 ppm. The reproducibility for CO2 in soil air is estimated as: +/-0.06 per thousand (delta13C), +/-0.06 per thousand (delta18O), and +/-1.6% (pCO2). Monitoring soil CO2 using this technique is applicable to studies concerning soil respiration and ecosystem gas exchange, the effect of elevated atmospheric CO2 (e.g. free air carbon dioxide enrichment) on soil processes, soil water budgets including partitioning evaporation from transpiration, pedogenesis and weathering, diffuse solid-earth degassing, and the calibration of speleothem and pedogenic carbonate delta13C values as paleoenvironmental proxies.     

Structural and kinetic studies on uranyl(V) carbonate complex using 13C NMR spectroscopy

We have measured 13C NMR spectra of uranyl(V) carbonate complex in D2O solution containing 1.003 M Na2(13)CO3 at various temperatures. Two singlet signals corresponding to free and coordinated CO3(2-) were observed at 169.13 and 106.70 ppm, respectively. From the peak area ratio, the structure of the uranyl(V) carbonate complex was determined as [U(V)O2(CO3)3]5-. Furthermore, kinetic analyses of the exchange reaction of free and coordinated CO3(2-) in [U(V)O2(CO3)3]5- were carried out using 13C NMR line-broadening. As a result, the first-order rate constant at 298 K and the activation parameters for CO3(2-) exchange reaction in [U(V)O2(CO3)3]5- were evaluated as 1.13 x 10(3) s(-1) and deltaH(double dagger) = 62.0 +/- 0.7 kJ x mol(-1), deltaS(double dagger) = 22 +/- 3 J x mol(-1) x K(-1), respectively. We suggest that the exchange follows a dissociative mechanism as in the corresponding [U(VI)O2(CO3)3]4- complex.     

Evaluation of the impact of H2O, O2, and SO2 on postcombustion CO2 capture in metal-organic frameworks

Molecular modeling methods are used to estimate the influence of impurity species: water, O(2), and SO(2) in flue gas mixtures present in postcombustion CO(2) capture using a metal organic framework, HKUST-1, as a model sorbent material. Coordinated and uncoordinated water effects on CO(2) capture are analyzed. Increase of CO(2) adsorption is observed for both cases, which can be attributed to the enhanced binding energy between CO(2) and HKUST-1 due to the introduction of a small amount of water. Density functional theory calculations indicate that the binding energy between CO(2) and HKUST-1 with coordinated water is ~1 kcal/mol higher than that without coordinated water. It is found that the improvement of CO(2)/N(2) selectivity induced by coordinated water may mainly be attributed to the increased CO(2) adsorption on the hydrated HKUST-1. On the other hand, the enhanced selectivity induced by uncoordinated water in the flue gas mixture can be explained on the basis of the competition of adsorption sites between water and CO(2) (N(2)). At low pressures, a significant CO(2)/N(2) selectivity increase is due to the increase of CO(2) adsorption and decrease of N(2) adsorption as a consequence of competition of adsorption sites between water and N(2). However, with more water molecules adsorbed at higher pressures, the competition between water and CO(2) leads to the decrease of CO(2) adsorption capacity. Therefore, high pressure operation should be avoided in HKUST-1 sorbents for CO(2) capture. In addition, the effects of O(2) and SO(2) on CO(2) capture in HKUST-1 are investigated: The CO(2)/N(2) selectivity does not change much even with relatively high concentrations of O(2) in the flue gas (up to 8%). A slightly lower CO(2)/N(2) selectivity of a CO(2)/N(2)/H(2)O/SO(2) mixture is observed compared with that in a CO(2)/N(2)/H(2)O mixture, especially at high pressures, due to the strong SO(2) binding with HKUST-1.     

Relevance of the ligand exchange rate and mechanism of fac-[(CO)3M(H2O)3]+ (M = Mn, Tc, Re) complexes for new radiopharmaceuticals

The water exchange process on fac-[(CO)3Mn(H2O)3]+ and fac-[(CO)3Tc(H2O)3]+ was kinetically investigated by 17O NMR as a function of the acidity, temperature, and pressure. Up to pH 6.3 and 4.4, respectively, the exchange rate is not affected by the acidity, thus demonstrating that the contribution of the monohydroxo species fac-[(CO)3M(OH)(H2O)2] is not significant, which correlates well with a higher pKa for these complexes compared to the homologue fac-[(CO)3Re(H2O)3]+ complex. The water exchange rate K298ex/s(-1) (DeltaHex double dagger/kJ mol(-1); DeltaSex double dagger/J mol(-1) K(-1); DeltaV double dagger/cm3 mol-1) decreases down group 7 from Mn to Tc and Re: 23 (72.5; +24.4; +7.1) > 0.49 (78.3; +11.7; +3.8) > 5.4 x 10(-3) (90.3; +14.5; -). For the Mn complex only, an O exchange on the carbonyl ligand could be measured (K338co = 4.3 x 10(-6) s(-1)), which is several orders of magnitude slower than the water exchange. In the case of the Tc complex, the coupling between 17O (I = 5/2) and 99Tc (I = 9/2) nuclear spins has been observed (1J99Tc,17O = 80 +/- 5 Hz). The substitution of water in fac-[(CO)3M(H2O)3]+ by dimethyl sulfide (DMS) is slightly faster than that by CH3CN: 3 times faster for Mn, 1.5 times faster for Tc, and 1.2 times faster for Re. The pressure dependence behavior is different for Mn and Re. For Mn, the change in volume to reach the transition state is always clearly positive (water exchange, CH3CN, DMS), indicating an Id mechanism. In the case of Re, an Id/Ia changeover is assigned on the basis of reaction profiles with a strong volume maximum for pyrazine and a minimum for DMS as the entering ligand.     

Electrochemical Properties of a Porphyrin-Cobalt (II) Adsorbed on Silica-Titania-Phosphate Composite Surface Prepared by the Sol-Gel Method

SiO(2)/TiO(2)/phosphate was obtained by the sol-gel processing method, having the following characteristics: specific surface area S(BET)=800 m(2) g(-1), Ti=14.8 wt% and P=1.5 wt%, and ion exchange capacity of 0.58 mmol g(-1). The tetrakis(1-methyl-4-pyridyl) porphyrin ion, H(2)TmPyP(4+), was immobilized on the matrix surface by an ion exchange reaction and then metallated in situ with Co(II), resulting in SiO(2)/TiO(2)/phosphate/CoTmPyP material. The amount of CoTmPyP incorporated to the matrix was 35.0 μmol g(-1). Cyclic voltammetry studies and rotating disk electrode experiments using a carbon paste electrode made with the material were carried out. The immobilized complex catalyzed O(2) reduction to H(2)O at -0.22 V in 1 mol L(-1) KCl solution at pH 6.8. The cathodic current intensities plotted against O(2) concentrations, between 1 and 11 ppm, showed a linear correlation. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Stable isotope compositions of CO(2) in background air and at polluted sites in Hungary

CO(2) samples were collected from air at three sites in Hungary for comparison of polluted and background areas. In order to reduce the uncertainties caused by the varying amount of N(2)O, a gas chromatography (GC)-based vacuum separation was applied. The reliability of the procedure was demonstrated by careful standardization and comparison with global network data. The stable isotope data show complex diurnal and seasonal variations that can be explained by fractionations during photosynthesis and respiration. The isotopic characteristics of pollution-derived (anthropogenic) and biogenic CO(2) appear to be indistinguishable at the study sites. However, the sites at unpolluted areas reveal a seasonal variation in the carbon isotope composition of biogenic CO(2) that may be related to changes in soil biogenic activities. The atmospheric background CO(2) shows constant delta(13)C in the region. Finally, the study demonstrates the need for careful standardization of sampling in order to make the data obtained from different sampling systems comparable.     

Synthesis, structure, texture, and CO sensing behavior of nanocrystalline tin oxide doped with scandia

Weakly agglomerated nanocrystalline scandia doped tin oxide powders with high surface area (170-220 m(2)/g) and uniform size (3-4 nm) were synthesized for the first time by a two-step hydrothermal process in the presence of urea, followed by the calcination between 500 and 1200 degrees C. The structure and texture of the binary oxide system were characterized by thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller-specific surface area analysis, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A metastable scandium tin oxide solid solution in tetragonal structure was formed for the scandia content lower than 6 mol % as the samples were calcined at 800 degrees C, and the excess Sc atoms were dispersed at the surface of the crystallites above this limit. The solid solution was metastable, so scandium migrated toward the surface region of the crystallites and produced a second phase of Sc(4)Sn(3)O(12) during calcining at high temperatures over 1000-1200 degrees C. In the case of the samples with higher dopant concentration (>15 mol %), the calcination at the temperature between 500 and 800 degrees C caused the precipitation of Sc(2)O(3), and the calcination over 1000-1200 degrees C led to the formation of more Sc(4)Sn(3)O(12). Textural analysis showed that doping an appropriate amount of Sc(2)O(3) into nanosized SnO(2) could effectively inhibit the grain growth and stabilize the surface area against high-temperature calcinations below 1000 degrees C. CO gas-sensing property measurements revealed that the dispersion of Sc at the surfaces of the SnO(2) nanocrystallites could improve the CO sensitivity significantly, and the pellet sample with scandia content of 10 mol % sintered at 800 degrees C showed the best CO gas-sensing property in the operation temperature range of 300-400 degrees C. On the basis of the structural and textural analysis, the correlation between the structure/texture and the sensitivity to CO for the as-calcined (SnO(2))(1-x)(Sc(2)O(3))(x) nanocrystallites has been established and explained.     

Effect of O_2 and H_2O on the tri-reforming of the simulated biogas to syngas over Ni-based SBA-15 catalysts

A series of Ni/SBA-15 catalysts with Ni contents from 7.5 wt% to 15 wt% were prepared by impregnation method.The effect of O2 and H2O on the combined reforming of the simulated biogas to syngas was investigated in a continuous flow fixed-bed micro-reactor.The stability of the catalyst was tested at 800 ?C.The results indicated that 10wt%Ni/SBA-15 catalyst exhibited the highest catalytic activities for the combined reforming of the simulated biogas to syngas.Under the reaction conditions of the feed gas molar ratios CH4/CO2/O2/H2O = 2/1/0.6/0.6,GHSV = 24000 ml gc?a1t h?1 and the reaction temperature T = 800 ?C,the conversions of CH4 and CO2 were 92.8% and 76.3%,respectively,and the yields of CO and H2 were 99.0% and 82.0%,respectively.The catalytic activities of the catalyst did not decrease obviously after 100 h reaction time on stream.     

Reactions of Nb2 and Nb3 with CO, D2, N2, and O2: reconciling experimental kinetics with density functional theory-calculated reaction profiles

Calculated energy profiles for the reactions of neutral Nb(2) and Nb(3) metal clusters with CO, D(2), N(2), and O(2) are presented. In each reaction path, both a physisorption energy minimum, where the reactant remains intact, and a chemisorption energy minimum, where the reactant has dissociated, are calculated and linked by saddle points. We calculate branching ratios for the forward (dissociative) and reverse reactions which we compare with the experimental kinetic data. It is found that a combination of average thermal energies and barrier heights leads to wide variation in branching ratios which compares favourably to previously determined experimental reaction rates.     

Enhancement of leaf gas exchange and primary metabolites under carbon dioxide enrichment up-regulates the production of secondary metabolites in Labisia pumila seedlings

A split plot 3 by 3 experiment was designed to investigate and distinguish the relationships among production of primary metabolites (soluble sugar and starch), secondary metabolites (total phenolics, TP; total flavonoids, TF) and leaf gas exchange of three varieties of the Malaysian medicinal herb Labisia pumila Blume, namely the varieties alata, pumila and lanceolata, under three levels of CO? enrichment (400, 800 and 1,200 μmol mol?1) for 15 weeks. The treatment effects were solely contributed by CO? enrichment levels; no varietal differences were observed. As CO? levels increased from 400 to 1,200 μmol mol?1, the production of carbohydrates also increased steadily, especially for starch more than soluble sugar (sucrose). TF and TP content, simultaneously, reached their peaks under 1,200 μmol exposure, followed by 800 and 400 μmol mol?1. Net photosynthesis (A) and quantum efficiency of photosystem II (f(v)/f(m)) were also enhanced as CO? increased from 400 to 1,200 μmol mol?1. Leaf gas exchange characteristics displayed a significant positive relationship with the production of secondary metabolites and carbohydrate contents. The increase in production of TP and TFs were manifested by high C/N ratio and low protein content in L. pumila seedlings, and accompanied by reduction in cholorophyll content that exhibited very significant negative relationships with total soluble sugar, starch and total non structural carbohydrate.     

Effect of moisture on the field dependence of mobility for gas-phase ions of organophosphorus compounds at atmospheric pressure with field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry

The electric field dependence of the mobilities of gas-phase protonated monomers [(MH+(H2O)n] and proton-bound dimers [M2H+(H2O)n] of organophosphorus compounds was determined at E/N values between 0 and 140 Td at ambient pressure in air with moisture between 0.1 and 15 000 ppm. Field dependence was described as alpha (E/N) and was obtained from the measurements of compensation voltage versus field amplitude in a planar high-field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometer. The alpha function for protonated monomers to 140 Td was constant from 0.1 to 10 ppm moisture in air with onset of effect at approximately 50 ppm. The value of alpha increased 2-fold from 100 to 1000 ppm at all E/N values. At moisture values between 1000 and 10 000 ppm, a 2-fold or more increase in alpha (E/N) was observed. In a model proposed here, field dependence for mobility through changes in collision cross sections is governed by the degree of solvation of the protonated molecule by neutral molecules. The process of ion declustering at high E/N values was consistent with the kinetics of ion-neutral collisional periods, and the duty cycle of the waveform applied to the drift tube. Water was the principal neutral above 50 ppm moisture in air, and nitrogen was proposed as the principal neutral below 50 ppm.     

Variations in the strength of the infrared forbidden 2328.2 cm-1 fundamental of solid N2 in binary mixtures.

We present the 2335-2325 cm-1 infrared spectra and band positions, profiles and strengths (A values) of solid nitrogen and binary mixtures of N2 with other molecules at 12 K. The data demonstrate that the strength of the infrared forbidden N2 fundamental near 2328 cm-1 is moderately enhanced in the presence of NH3, strongly enhanced in the presence of H2O and very strongly enhanced (by over a factor of 1000) in the presence of CO2, but is not significantly affected by CO, CH4, or O2. The mechanisms for the enhancements in N2-NH3 and N2-H2O mixtures are fundamentally different from those proposed for N2-CO2 mixtures. In the first case, interactions involving hydrogen-bonding are likely the cause. In the latter, a resonant exchange between the N2 stretching fundamental and the 18O = 12C asymmetric stretch of 18O12C16O is indicated. The implications of these results for several astrophysical issues are briefly discussed.     

Selected ion flow tube study of the reactions between gas phase cations and CHCl2F, CHClF2, and CH2ClF

The branching ratios and rate coefficients have been measured at 298 K for the reactions between CHCl2F, CHClF2, and CH2ClF and the following cations (with recombination energies in the range 6.3-21.6 eV); H3O+, SFx+ (x = 1-5), CFy+ (y = 1-3), NO+, NO2+, O2+, Xe+, N2O+, O+, CO2+, Kr+, CO+, N+, N2+, Ar+, F+, and Ne+. The majority of the reactions proceed at the calculated collisional rate, but the reagent ions SF3+, NO+, NO2+, and SF2+ do not react. Surprisingly, although all of the observed product channels are calculated to be endothermic, H3O+ does react with CHCl2F. On thermochemical grounds, Xe+ appears to react with these molecules only when it is in its higher-energy 2P1/2 spin-orbit state. In general, most of the reactions form products by dissociative charge transfer, but some of the reactions of CH2ClF with the lower-energy cations produce the parent cation in significant abundance. The branching ratios produced in this study and by threshold photoelectron-photoion coincidence spectroscopy agree reasonably well over the energy range 11-22 eV. In about one-fifth of the large number of reactions studied, the branching ratios are in excellent agreement and appreciable energy resonance between an excited state and the ground state of the ionized neutral exists, suggesting that these reactions proceed exclusively by a long-range charge-transfer mechanism. Upper limits for the enthalpy of formation at 298 K of SF4Cl (-637 kJ mol-1), SClF (-28 kJ mol-1), and SHF (-7 kJ mol-1) are determined.     

Increased carbon dioxide concentration improves the antioxidative properties of the Malaysian herb kacip fatimah (Labisia pumila Blume)

A randomized complete randomized design (RCBD) 3 by 3 experiment was designed to investigate and distinguish the relationships among production of secondary metabolites (total phenolics, TP; total flavonoids, TF), gluthatione (GSH), oxidized gluthatione (GSSG), soluble carbohydrate and antioxidant activities of the Malaysian medicinal herb Labisia pumila Blume under three levels of CO? enrichment (400, 800 and 1,200 μmol mol?1) for 15 weeks. It was found that the treatment effects were solely contributed by interaction of CO? levels and secondary metabolites distribution in plant parts, GSH, GSHH and antioxidant activities (peroxyl radicals (ROO), superoxide radicals (O?), hydrogen peroxide (H?O?) and hydroxyl radicals (OH). The records of secondary metabolites, glutahione, oxidized gluthathione and antioxidant activities in a descending manner came from the leaf enriched with 1,200 μmol/mol CO? > leaf 800 μmol/mol CO? > leaf 400 μmol/mol CO? > stem 1,200 μmol/mol CO? > stem 800 μmol/mol CO? > stem 400 μmol/mol CO? > root 1,200 μmol/mol CO? > root 800 μmol/mol CO? > root 400 μmol/mol CO?. Correlation analyses revealed strong significant positive coefficients of antioxidant activities with total phenolics, flavonoids, GSH and GSHH indicating that an increase in antioxidative activity of L. pumila under elevated CO? might be up-regulated by the increase in production of total phenolics, total flavonoids, GSH, GSHH and soluble sugar. This study implied that the medicinal potential of herbal plant such as L. pumila can be enhanced under elevated CO?, which had simultaneously improved the antioxidative activity that indicated by the high oxygen radical absorbance activity against ROO, O?, H?O?, and OH radicals.     

Construction of sensitive and selective zirconia-based CO sensors using ZnCr2O(4)-based sensing electrodes

The carbon monoxide (CO) sensitivity of a mixed-potential-type yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ)-based tubular-type sensor utilizing a ZnCr(2)O(4) sensing electrode (SE) was tuned by the addition of different precious metal nanoparticles (Ag, Au, Ir, Pd, Pt, Ru and Rh; 1 wt % each) into the sensing layer. After measuring the electromotive force (emf) response of the fabricated SEs to 100 ppm of CO against a Pt/air-reference electrode (RE), the ZnCr(2)O(4)-Au nanoparticle composite electrode (ZnCr(2)O(4)(+Au)-SE) was found to give the highest response to CO. A linear dependence on the logarithm of CO concentration in the range of 20-800 ppm at an operational temperature of 550 °C under humid conditions (5 vol % water vapor) was observed. From the characterization of the ZnCr(2)O(4)(+Au)-SE, we can conclude that the engineered high response toward CO originated from the specific properties of submicrometer sized Au particles, formed via the coalescence of nanosized Au particles located on ZnCr(2)O(4) grains, during the calcining process at 1100 °C for 2 h. These particles augmented the catalytic activities of the gas-phase CO oxidation reaction in the SE layer, as well as to the anodic reaction of CO at the interface; while suppressing the cathodic reaction of O(2) at the interface. In addition, the response of the ZnCr(2)O(4)(+Au)-SE sensor toward 100 ppm of CO gradually increased throughout the 10 days of operation, and plateaued for the remainder of the month that the sensor was examined. Correlations between SEM observations and the CO sensing characteristics of the present sensor were suggestive that the sensitivity was mostly affected by the morphology of the Au particles and their catalytic activities, which were in close proximity to the ZnCr(2)O(4) grains. Furthermore, by measuring the potential difference (emf) between the ZnCr(2)O(4)(+Au) and a ZnCr(2)O(4) electrode, sensitivities to typical exhaust component gases other than CO were found to be negligible at 550 °C.     

A new method to determine the 17O isotopic abundance in CO2 using oxygen isotope exchange with a solid oxide.

This paper discusses a simple method to determine 17O isotope excess or deficiency ('mass-independent isotopic composition') in CO2 gas. When applying conventional mass spectrometry of CO2 (m/z 44, 45 and 46) to determine the 17O/16O ratio, the 13C/12C ratio has to be established separately. This can be achieved by analysing an aliquot of sample CO2 before and after subjecting it to oxygen isotope exchange with a pool of oxygen with 'normal' 17O/16O ratio, i.e. with Delta17O approximately equal to delta17O-0.516 x delta18O = 0. Cerium oxide has been shown to be practically well suited for the exchange of CO2 oxygen; the reagent is safe and does not produce any contamination. The CO2-CeO2 exchange reaction has 99.8 +/- 0.7% recovery yield. At 650 degrees C this reaction reaches equilibrium in 30 min and, as tested, results in complete oxygen replacement. Delta17O determinations depend on accuracy of CO2 delta measurements: the repeatability of +/-0.015 per thousand (1sigma) in delta(45)R and delta(46)R determination relative to the working reference results in an error of Delta17O as small as +/-0.33 per thousand. Such a precision is sufficient for Delta17O determination in stratospheric CO2. The calculated Delta17O value systematically depends on absolute 17R and 13R ratios in isotopic reference materials, which are presently not yet known with certainty (the 17R value is most important), and may be inadequate for 17O-correction with a = 0.516. Within the present uncertainty, Delta17O determined in 17O-enriched CO2 agrees with the value directly measured in the enriched O2 from which this CO2 was produced. Besides Delta17O determination, investigated CO2-CeO2 equilibration may have several other implications. Fast, complete isotopic exchange of CO2 by reaction with CeO2 may also be employed to get reproducible 17O-correction and, hence, to better monitor small delta13C shifts and to isotopically equilibrate mixtures of CO2 gases.     

Effect of O2 and H2O on the tri-reforming of the simulated biogas to syngas over Ni-based SBA-15 catalysts

A series of Ni/SBA-15 catalysts with Ni contents from 7.5 wt% to 15 wt% were prepared by impregnation method. The effect of O2 and H2O on the combined reforming of the simulated biogas to syngas was investigated in a continuous flow fixed-bed micro-reactor. The stability of the catalyst was tested at 800 ℃. The results indicated that 10 wt%Ni/SBA-15 catalyst exhibited the highest catalytic activities for the combined reforming of the simulated biogas to syngas. Under the reaction conditions of the feed gas molar ratios CH4/CO2/O2/H2O = 2/1/0.6/0.6, GHSV = 24000 ml•g{cat}-1\cdoth-1 and the reaction temperatureT = 800 ℃, the conversions of CH4 and CO2 were 92.8% and 76.3%, respectively, and the yields of CO and H2 were 99.0% and 82.0%, respectively. The catalytic activities of the catalyst did not decrease obviously after 100 h reaction time on stream.