Thermal analysis of hexadecyltrimethylammonium-montmorillonites

Na-montmorillonite (Na-MONT) was loaded with hexadecyltrimethylammonium cations (HDTMA) by replacing 41 and 90% of the exchangeable Na with HDTMA. The organoclays were labeled OC-41 and OC-90, respectively. Freeze-dried Na-MONT, OC-41, and OC-90 were heated in air at 150, 250, 360, 420, 550, 700, and 900 °C. The thermally treated samples were suspended in water, air-dried, and desiccated over silica during 40 days. All samples were diffracted by X-ray and fitting calculations were performed on each diffractogram. These calculations gave information on basal spacings, relative concentrations, and homogeneity of the different tactoids obtained at each temperature, before and after suspending and desiccating. HDTMA-MONT tactoids with spacing ≥1.41 nm appeared between 25 and 250 °C. OC-41 or OC-90 intercalated monolayers or bilayers of HDTMA, respectively. At 250 °C OC-41 was air-oxidized to a smaller extent than OC-90, resulting in charcoal-MONT tactoids. With further heating the organic matter was gradually oxidized and at 700 °C both clays were collapsed. During the thermo-XRD-analysis of both organoclays three types of charcoal-MONT complexes appeared: (1) LTSC-MONT tactoids with a basal spacing 1.32–1.39 nm, between 250 and 420 °C in both clays; (2) HTSC-α-MONT tactoids with spacing 1.22–1.28 nm, between 360 or 250 and 500 or 550 °C in OC-41 or OC-90, respectively; (3) HTSC-β-MONT with spacing 1.12–1.18 nm, between 360 and 550 °C in both clays, where LTSC and HTSC are low- and high-temperature stable charcoal, respectively. HTSC-β-MONT differs from HTSC-α-MONT by having carbon atoms keying into the ditrigonal holes of the clay-O-planes.     

Mild pre-heating of organic cation-exchanged clays enhances their interactions with nitrobenzene in aqueous environment

Aqueous sorption kinetics and equilibrium isotherms of nitrobenzene were studied on two series of sorbents that were prepared by (i) replacing inorganic exchangeable cations in Wyoming bentonite with tetraethylammonium (TEA) and benzyltrimethylammonium (BTMA) and (ii) heating synthesized complexes in air at different temperatures (between 150 and 420°C). The aim of this work was to examine recently observed enhancement of aqueous sorption of a probe organic sorbate on organoclays after mild thermal pre-treatment of sorbents. Thermal pre-treatment of TEA- and BTMA-clays at 150°C results in the maximal enhancement of nitrobenzene–sorbent interactions as compared with treatment of original bentonite and its exchange complexes formed with long-chain quaternary ammonium (n-hexadecyltrimethylammonium, HDTMA). Based on C, N content data and FTIR spectra of TEA- and BTMA-clay complexes, no indications of decomposition of organic matter were found in organoclays heated at 250°C (and below this temperature). Suppressed hydration of pre-heated sorbents resulting in a lessening of water–organic sorbate competition for sorption sites is considered to be responsible for thermally induced enhancement of nitrobenzene–sorbent interactions. In the HDTMA-based organoclays, the long-chain aliphatic groups of the quaternary ammonium can additionally interact with clay surface thus competing with organic sorbate–sorbent surface interactions and, in this way, mitigating the enhancement of nitrobenzene sorption on thermally treated sorbents.     

Thermal analyis of hexadecyltrimethylammonium–montmorillonites

Na-montmorillonite (Na-MONT) was loaded with hexadecyltrimethylammonium cations (HDTMA) by replacing 41 and 90% of the exchangeable Na with HDTMA, labeled OC-41 and OC-90, respectively. Na-MONT, OC-41, and OC-90 were heated in air up to 900 °C. Unheated and thermally treated organoclays heated at 150, 250, 360, and 420 °C are used in our laboratory as sorbents of different hazardous organic compounds from waste water. In order to get a better knowledge about the composition and nature of the thermally treated organoclays Na-MONT and the two organo-clays were studied by thermogravimetry (TG) in air and under nitrogen. Carbon and hydrogen contents in each of the thermal treated sample were determined and their infrared spectra were recorded. The present results showed that at 150 °C both organoclays lost water but not intercalated HDTMA cations. At 250 °C, many HDTMA cations persisted in OC-41, but in OC-90 significant part of the cations were air-oxidized into H₂O and CO₂ and the residual carbon formed charcoal. After heating both samples at 360 °C charcoal was present in both organo clays. This charcoal persisted at 420 °C but was gradually oxidized by air with further rise in temperature. TG runs under nitrogen showed stepwise degradation corresponding to interlayer water desorption followed by decomposition of the organic compound, volatilization of small fragments and condensation of non-volatile fragments into quasi-charcoal. After dehydroxylation of the clay the last stages of organic matter pyrolysis and volatilization occurred.     

Thermal analysis of tributylammonium montmorillonite and laponite

Montmorillonite and Laponite loaded with different amounts of tributylammonium cations (TBAH⁺), up to 40 and 30 mmol, respectively, per 100 g clay, were studied by thermo-XRD-analysis. TBAH-smectites heated at 300 and 420°C exhibited basal spacings of 1.30 and 1.24 nm, attributed to smectite tactoids with low- and high-temperature-stable monolayer charcoals, respectively in the interlayers. DTA-EGA and TG of the TBAH-smectites showed four stages of mass loss labeled A, B, C and D. Stage A below 250°C, accompanied by an endothermic DTA peak, resulted from the dehydration of the clay. Mass loss stages B, C and D, at 250–380, 380–605°C and above 605°C, respectively, accompanied by exothermic DTA peaks, were due to three oxidation steps of the organic matter. In mass loss stage B (first oxidation step) mainly organic hydrogen was oxidized to H2O whereas carbon and nitrogen formed low- and high-temperature-stable charcoals. In stages C and D (second and third oxidation steps) low- and high-temperature- stable charcoals were oxidized, respectively. Dehydroxylation of the smectites occurred together with the second and third oxidation steps. Thermal mass loss at each step was calculated from the TG curves showing that in montmorillonite the percentage of high-temperature-stable charcoal from total charcoal decreased with higher TBAH⁺ loadings of the clay whereas in Laponite this percentage increased with higher loadings of the clay.     

Thermo-XRD-analysis of Co-, Ni- and Cu-montmorillonite treated with anionic alizarinate

Co- and Ni-montmorillonites adsorb in aqueous suspensions up to 13 mmol alizarinate per 100 g clay, onto the broken-bonds whereas Cu-clay adsorbs up to 25 mmol dye per 100 g clay into the interlayer space. Unloaded Co-, Ni- and Cu-clays and samples loaded with increasing amounts of alizarinate, were gradually heated in air to 360°C and analyzed by X-ray diffraction. All diffractograms were curve-fitted. Fitted diffractograms of non-heated samples, showed two peak components labeled C and D, at<span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>?1.22 and<span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>?1.32 nm, characterizing tactoids with mono- and non-complete bilayers of water, respectively. After heating at 120°C component D decreased or disappeared and two new components A and B appeared at<span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol; mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>?0.99 and<span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>?1.08 nm, representing collapsed tactoids and tactoids with interlamellar oxy-cations, respectively. At 250°C, C and D decreased or disappeared but A and B appeared in all fitted diffractograms. Co- and Ni-clay after heating at 360°C did not show C and D. Components A and B proved that these clays collapsed indicating that initially there was no alizarinate in the interlayers. At 360°C, C and D persisted in the fitted-diffractograms of Cu-clay, representing tactoids with interlamellar charcoal formed from the partial oxidation of adsorbed dye initially located in the interlayers.     

Thermal stability of organoclays with mono- and di-alkyl cationic surfactants

In this study, mono- and di-alkyl cationic surfactants were used to prepare organoclays through ion exchange and the prepared organoclays were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TG). Larger basal spacings were observed in the interlayer of the organoclays intercalated with DDDMA than organoclays intercalated with DDTMA. The DTG curves identify the thermal stability of organoclays intercalated with two different types of surfactants (DDTMA and DDDMA) and the different arrangements of the surfactant molecules intercalated in the montmorillonite. Both organoclays intercalated with organic surfactant molecules proved to be thermally stable at high temperature. This study provides an understanding of the structure and properties of organoclays, which will enhance the potential applications of organoclays in environmental remediation.     

The use of thermo-XRD-analysis in the study of organo-smectite complexes

Summary Thermo-XRD-analysis is applied to identify whether or not the adsorbed organic species penetrates into the interlayer space of the smectites mineral. In this technique an oriented smectite sample is gradually heated to temperatures above the irreversible dehydration of the clay, and after each thermal treatment is diffracted by X-ray at ambient conditions. In the thermal treatment of organo-clays, under air atmosphere at temperatures above 250°C, the organic matter is in part oxidized and charcoal is formed from the organic carbon. In inert atmosphere e.g. under vacuum above 250°C the organic matter is pyrolyzed and besides small molecules, charcoal is formed. If the adsorbed organic compound is located in the interlayer space, the charcoal is formed in that space, preventing the collapse of the clay. A basal spacing of above 1.12 nm suggests that during the adsorption the organic compound penetrated into the interlayer space. Thermo-XRD-analyses of montmorillonite complexes with anilines, fatty acids, alizarinate, protonated Congo red and of complexes of other smectites with acridine orange are described. To obtain information about spacings of the different tactoids that comprise the clay mixture, curve-fitting calculations on the X-ray diffractograms were adapted.     

Thermo-XRD-analysis of montmorillonite treated with 1,4-diaminoanthraquinone

Charcoals formed during the thermo-XRD-analysis of montmorillonite (MONT) complexes with the dye 1,4-diaminoanthraquinone (DAAQ) were investigated by using curve-fitting calculations. Five saturated dye solutions were prepared (i) in distilled water and (ii–v) in 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 molar HCl. Two series of dye-clay complexes were prepared by using clay suspensions of 0.6 %and of 0.006 % labeled first and second series, respectively. Five dye-clay complexes were prepared of each series by adding 25 mL of dye solution to 25 mL of clay suspension. There is no free dye in complexes of the first series, but those of the second series, which were synthesized with a high ratio between dye and clay, contain non-adsorbed dye even after five washings. Complexes of the first series are loaded with very small amounts of molecular and protonated DAAQ (5–24 mmol DAAQ per 100 g clay), and their spacings are 1.25–1.54 nm suggesting the presence of tactoids with protonated or molecular DAAQ lying parallel to the clay layers. No carbon analyses were performed to the second series complexes. In addition to tactoids with spacing of 1.32 nm, they contain tactoids with spacings of 1.81–1.96 nm, suggesting that intercalated DAAQ are lying perpendicular to the clay layers. Three types of intercalated charcoal are identified in both series during the thermal analysis, one type with a low thermal stability and two types with high thermal stabilities. Charcoals of the second series complexes preserve the geometry of the original complexes up to high temperatures.     

Mechanical properties and crystallization behavior of polypropylene with cyclodextrin derivative as ��-nucleating agent

It was found that lanthanum complex of cyclodextrin derivative (??-CD?CMAH?CLa) was a highly active ??-nucleating agent for isotactic polypropylene (iPP) in this study. The influence of the nucleating agent on mechanical properties and isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization behavior of iPP has been investigated. Results showed that ??-CD?CMAH?CLa was efficient in inducing the crystallization of iPP into ??-modification (??-iPP), with K _?? value of 0.84, while the content of nucleating agent was 0.8?wt.%. ??-iPP could form extensively in the isothermal crystallization temperature range from 110?°C to 140?°C, and the highest amount of ??-crystal content was formed at 130?°C. Besides, it can be known that the addition of ??-CD?CMAH?CLa can obviously facilitate the overall crystallization process of iPP. Under nonisothermal condition, ??-iPP formed at the suitable cooling rates, ranging from 5?°C to 10?°C/min. Furthermore, the nucleation mechanism of ??-CD?CMAH?CLa for iPP was correlated to the special configuration of ??-CD?CMAH?CLa.     

Thermo-X-ray-diffraction analysis of dimethylsulfoxide-kaolinite intercalation complexes

DMSO-kaolinite complexes of low- and high-defect Georgia kaolinite (KGa-1 and KGa-2, respectively) were investigated by thermo-XRD-analysis. X-ray patterns showed that DMSO was intercalated in both kaolinites with a d(001)-value of 1.11 nm (type I complex). The samples were gradually heated up to 170°C and diffracted by X-ray at room-temperature. With the rise in temperature, due to the thermal evolution of the guest molecules, the relative intensity of the 1.11 nm peak decreased and that of the 0.72 nm peak (neat kaolinite) increased indicating that the fraction of the non-intercalated tactoids increased. The 1.11 peak disappeared at 130–140°C. During the thermal treatment of both complexes two additional peaks appeared at 110 and 120°C, respectively, with d-values of 0.79–0.94 and 0.61–0.67 nm in DMSO-KGa-1 and 0.81–0.86 and 0.62–0.66 nm in DMSO-KGa-2, indicating the formation of a new phase (type II complex). The new complex was obtained by the dehydration of type I complex and was composed of intercalated DMSO molecules which did not escape. The new peaks disappeared at 150–160°C indicating the complete escape of DMSO.     

Thermal behavior of the composite xerogels of zirconium oxyhydroxide and silicic acid

Gels were prepared via sol?Cgel method by addition of zirconium oxychloride solution into sodium metasilicate (SZ) and sodium metasilicate solution into zirconium oxychloride (ZS) at varying final pH. Si/Zr molar ratio equaled 1/1. Synthesized gels were dried with calcium chloride until they reached a constant mass. SEM and nitrogen adsorption analysis have shown that SZ gels have surface area 175?C200?m^2?g^?1, consist of 20?C30?nm grains. ZS samples have surface area about 1?m^2?g^?1, consist of grains smaller than 10?nm. Thermal and X-ray phase analysis have shown that transition of amorphous ZrO₂ to crystalline form shifts from 430 to 850?C870?°C for SZ gels. Unlike zirconia gels phase transitions that proceed in order: ??amorphous (430?°C)??tetragonal (800?°C)??monoclinic (1,000?°C) phases??, the monoclinic phase in ZS gels appears immediately after transition from amorphous to crystalline state; the tetragonal phase in SZ samples is stable until 1,000?°C.     

Thermal stability of ketoprofen��active substance and tablets

Simultaneous thermoanalytical techniques were used for the characterization of the thermal decomposition of ketoprofen??active substance and tablets. DTA and DSC curves showed that ketoprofen melts before the decomposition. A kinetic study regarding the ketoprofen??active substance??s thermal decomposition was performed under non-isothermal conditions and in a nitrogen atmosphere at five heating rates: 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10 and 15 °C min^?1. The kinetic parameters of thermal decomposition process were obtained from TG/DTG curves using the following differential methods: Friedman isoconversional, Chang, respectively, integral methods: Flynn?CWall?COzawa, Kissinger?CAkahira?CSunose, Coats?CRedfern and Madhusudanan. The careful treatment of the kinetic parameters obtained in certain thermal conditions was confirmed to be necessary as well as a different strategy of experimental data processing.     

Volatiles Formation from Grape Must Fermentation Using a Cryophilic and Thermotolerant Yeast

Grape must fermentation performance and volatiles formation by simultaneously cryophilic and thermotolerant yeast (strain AXAZ-1), isolated from grapes in Greece, was evaluated in a wide temperature range (5?C40°C). Yeast strain was immobilized on brewer??s spent grains (BSG) and the formed biocatalyst was introduced into a Multi-Stage Fixed Bed Tower (MFBT) bioreactor. Almost complete sugar utilization from the aforementioned biocatalyst was observed in a wide temperature spectrum, ranging from 5?°C to 37?°C, while at 40?°C residual sugar was up to 29?g/l. Time to complete fermentation with the immobilized yeast ranged from 290?h at 5?°C and 120?h at 40?°C to 25?h at 33?°C. The daily ethanol productivity reached maximum (88.6?g/l) and minimum (5.6?g/l) levels at 33?°C and 5?°C, respectively. The aroma-related compounds?? profiles of immobilized cells at different fermentation temperatures were evaluated by using solid phase microextraction (SPME) gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Must fermentation resulted in a high-quality fermentation product due to the low concentrations of higher and amyl alcohols at all temperatures tested. AXAZ-1 is a very promising strain for quality wine production, as it is capable of performing fermentations of high ethanol concentration and productivities in both low and high temperatures.     

Organoclays from alkaline-treated acid-activated clays

The cetyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (C16TMAOH) solution was proposed for the preparation of organoclays. Montmorillonite clay was acid activated at different acid/clay (a/c) (in mass) ratios, then treated with alkaline (sodium hydroxide) solution before being reacted with C16TMAOH solution. The acid activation caused a reduction in the number of cation exchange sites, and hence improved the exfoliation of the silicate sheets at higher pH values. The basal spacing increased significantly from 2.20 to 4.01 nm, and depended on the a/c ratios. The acid-activated clays with a/c ratios greater than 0.3 adsorbed significant amounts of C16TMA cations with a basal spacing of 4.01 nm compared with the non-acid-activated montmorillonite (2.51 nm). Meanwhile, the treatment of NaOH solution yielded clays with similar properties to that of the raw used clay. The XRF data, FT-IR, and ²⁹Si MAS-NMR techniques confirmed that the resulting amorphous silica during the acid activation was dissolved, and accompanied by a dramatical reduction in the surface areas. Similar amounts of C16TMA cations were adsorbed, i.e., close to 1 mmol g^?1, with a single basal spacing of 2.52 nm, independently of the treated acid-activated clays. The in-situ powder XRD studies revealed that an increase of the basal spacing to 4.20 nm was observed at intermediate temperatures ranging from 50 to 150 °C for organo-acid-activated clays with basal spacing of 4.01 nm, while a continuous decrease of the basal spacing was observed for organoclays with a basal spacing of 2.52 nm. At higher temperatures greater than 250 °C, the decomposition of the surfactant occurs, and the basal spacing decreases to a value of about 1.4 nm.     

Nanocrystalline TiO2/SnO2 composites for gas sensors

TiO₂/SnO₂ nanocomposites are studied as potential candidates for gas sensors. Commercial metal oxide nanopowders milled for 1?h in ethanol are used for preparing nanocomposites with varied composition from 100?mol% TiO₂ to 100?mol% SnO₂. Brunauer?CEmmett?CTeller (BET) adsorption isotherms served to determine specific surface area, SSA. The particle size distribution is established by means of Dynamic Light Scattering, DLS technique. Differential Thermal Analysis and Thermogravimetry, DTA/TG measurements within the temperature range of 20?C900?°C indicate better stability of nanomaterials composed of bigger particles or agglomerates. The total mass loss varies from 0.9 to 8.5% for 100?mol% SnO₂ and 100?mol% TiO₂, respectively. The only gaseous products of decomposition are water and carbon dioxide. X-ray diffraction analysis of nanocomposites indicates two separate phases of different crystallite size, i.e., smaller rutile TiO₂ (9?nm) and larger cassiterite SnO₂ (28?nm). Gas sensor dynamic responses at 400?°C to the reducing gas??ammonia (NH₃) are detected in the concentration range extending from 100?ppm to ?5000?ppm. Nanosensor of 50?mol% SnO₂/50?mol% TiO₂ is stable and sensitive to the interaction with NH₃ and gives the highest response at 400?°C.     

Sol–gel combustion synthesis and characterization of nanostructure copper chromite spinel

Nanocomposite copper chromite spinel was fabricated by sol–gel process using copper nitrate trihydrate, chromium nitrate nonahydrate, ethylene glycol, diethyl ether, and citric acid. The thermoanalytical measurements (TG–DTG), X-ray powder diffractometry (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and energy dispersive X-ray analysis were used to characterize the structural and the chemical features of the nanocomposites. TG–DTG results showed that the major mass loss for copper(II) nitrate, chromium(III) nitrate as precursors occur at 258 and 140 °C, respectively. The major mass loss for dried gel of copper chromite occurs at 310 °C. XRD data revealed the formation of pure copper chromite after thermal decomposition at 1,000 °C for 2 h. The observation of XRD patterns reveals the presence of single-phase tetragonal spinel CuCr₂O₄. FESEM analysis of calcined composite was found to be in the range of 20–30 nm.     

Preparation and characterization of organoclays based on an amphoteric surfactant

The uptake of the amphoteric surfactant, cocamidopropyl betaine (CAB) by a sodium montmorillonite clay was studied with respect to concentration and pH. A series of organoclays was prepared in which the basal spacings were found to depend on both parameters. Adjusting the solution pH during preparation influenced the adoption of either 1.8 or 2.0 nm spacing, whereas the 3.9 nm spacing in the same sample was unaffected. The presence of the carboxyl group in the CAB molecule enabled dispersion of the clay at higher pH by which means pure organoclays of high spacing could be obtained, whereas, without dispersing the clay, mixed populations were obtained. The results indicate the optimum parameters for preparing organoclays of desired spacings for use in clay-reinforced nanocomposites.     

Biofuels

The article presents results of thermogravimetric measurements of the pyrolysis of dry biomass materials such as: grains and oats and triticale straw, energy plants called cukrosorgo. The initial phase of dry decomposition visible on the DTG curve is evaporation of moisture. The process of evaporation for the studied types of agro biomass occurred at temperatures of 65.9?°C (triticale straw) to 82?°C (oat grain). The next stage of the process concerned major transformations that for the studied cases were conducted in temperatures of 200?C400?°C, and the maximum speed of transformations (the second peak is visible in the DTG graph) refers to the temperature range from 299.1?°C (oat grain) to 323.9?°C (triticale straw). The last phase of the process is characterized by the absence of mass loss, which in the case of dry biomass distribution determines the conditions of carbonizate formation. The calorific values of formed process gases ranged from 4,884 to 6,302?kJ/Nm³. Gases of such calorific values are defined as low calorific, despite the fact they can be successfully used for energy purposes, this is for burning in boilers and gas turbines. Carbonizates are characterized with high-calorific values from 24,100 to 27,900?kJ/kg. This type of high-calorific fuels is recommended to be burnt in the boiler furnaces in a mix with fuels with a lower calorific value such as pulverized coal or wet biomass. In these processes, the combustible gas is obtained, which can be burned in power boilers and gas turbines.     

Characterization of fatty acid methyl esters by thermal analysis

The thermal stability of selected straight-chain (C₆-C₁₄) esters of fatty acids has been studied by TG-DTG and DTA analysis. In DTG, a peak is detected between 84° and 125° C followed by a main effect in the range 105°–215°C, whereas in DTA only an exothermic peak appears in the range of 126.5° to 187°C (onset temperatures). The temperatures of these effects have been related with ignition points, molecular weights and boiling points. The characteristics of melting and recrystallization of the above fatty acid methyl esters and those with carbon numbers between C₁₄ and C₂₄ have been established by DSC along the melting range between ?83° and 50°C. Polymorphism appears in caproic, heptanoic, palmitic and stearic acid methyl esters.     

Nano-crystalline Mn0.3Ni0.3Zn0.4Fe2O4 obtained by novel fumarato-hydrazinate precursor method

Carboxylate hydrazinate complex involving mixed metals have been synthesized and used as precursor for preparing the nanocrystalline Mn?CNi?CZn ferrite. Chemical composition of complex was fixed from chemical analysis results, infrared studies, thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetric analysis and isothermal weight loss studies. Nano-crystalline Mn?CNi?CZn ferrite particles obtained by thermal autocatalytic decomposition were characterized using X-ray diffraction studies, infrared spectral studies and TEM measurement. Two peaks in the region of 340?C420 and 550?C660?cm^?1 observed in the infrared spectrum of ??as synthesized?? oxide are characteristics of spinel ferrites. Average particle size of ??as synthesized?? Mn?CNi?CZn ferrite was found to be 10?nm. ??As synthesized?? Mn?CNi?CZn ferrite showed Curie point at 313?°C. Saturation magnetization (44.7?emu/g) observed for ??as synthesized?? Mn?CNi?CZn ferrite is lower than bulk material which is indicative of its nano-crystalline nature. Seebeck coefficient measurement has shown that the material exhibits n-type semiconducting behavior.