Physicochemical characterization of ion-exchange membranes in water-methanol mixtures

A complete physicochemical characterization of two ion-exchange membranes—CM2 and Nafion^®117—used in electrodialysis and in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) has been carried out. For each membrane, in different methanol-water mixtures—0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%—and at different temperatures (25.0; 40.0 et 55.0 °C), we have measured the variations of the geometrical dimensions, the proton electrical conductivity, the swelling rate and the amount of methanol in the membrane. The FTIR analysis of Nafion^®117 was performed at different methanol contents of the external solution.The results show that the CM2 membrane presents the best geometrical stability, and the lowest conductivity at any methanol content. At high methanol contents, Nafion^®117 is 10 times more conductive than the CM2 membrane. It was found that the methanol is absorbed more by Nafion^®117, and its effect is more noticeable on the microstructure of this membrane, under standard conditions. The high methanol permeability of these membranes, particularly of the Nafion^®117, induces bad cell efficiencies and lifetimes.     

以方沸石负载Ni(II)催化剂修饰的电极电氧化甲醇Seyed Naser Azizi,Shahram Ghasemi,Neda Salek Gilani简

There is a high overvoltage in the oxidation of methanol in fuel cells, and so modified electrodes are used to decrease it. A modified electrode that used Ni(Ⅱ) loaded analcime zeolite to catalyze the electrooxidation of methanol in alkaline solution was proposed. Analcime zeolite was synthesized by hydrothermal synthesis, and Ni(Ⅱ) ions were incorporated into the analcime structure, which was then mixed with carbon paste to prepare modified electrode. The electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol on the surface of the modified electrode in alkaline solution was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The effects of the scan rate of the potential, concentration of methanol, and amount of zeolite were investigated. The rate constant for the catalytic reaction of methanol was 6×10³ cm³ mol^-1 s^-1 from measurements using chronoamperometry. The proposed electrode significantly improved the electron transfer rate and decreased the overpotential for methanol oxidation.     

Investigation of Electrochemical Oxidation of Methanol at a Carbon Paste Electrode Modified with Ni(II)‐BS Complex and Reduced Graphene Oxide Nano Sheets

In the present research, the electro oxidation of methanol was investigated by different electrochemical methods at a carbon paste electrode (CPE) modified with bis(salicylaldehyde)‐nickel(II)‐dihydrate complex (Ni(II)‐BS) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) (which named Ni(II)‐BS/RGO/CPE) in an alkaline solution. This modified electrode showed very efficient activity for oxidation of methanol. It was found that methanol was oxidized by NiOOH groups generated by further electrochemical oxidation of nickel (II) hydroxide on the surface of the modified electrode. The rate constant and electron transfer coefficient were calculated to be 2.18 s^?1 and 0.4, respectively. The anodic peak currents revealed a linear dependency with the square root of scan rate. This behaviour is the characteristic of a diffusion controlled process, so the diffusion coefficient of methanol was found to be 1.16×10^?5 cm² s^?1 and the number of transferred electron was calculated to be 1. Moreover, differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) investigations showed that the peak current values were proportional to the concentration of methanol in two linear ranges. The obtained linear ranges were from 0.5 to 100.0 µM (R²=0.991) and 400.0 to 1300.0 µM (R²=0.992), and the detection limit was found to be 0.19 µM for methanol determination. Generally, the Ni(II)‐BS/RGO/CPE sensor was used for determination of methanol in an industrial ethanol solution containing 4.0 % methanol.     

Trace determination of some aromatic molecules by laser two-photon ionization

A simplified yet sensitiive system is described for the detection of the two-photon ionization signal in solution. The photo-ionization cell consists of a quartz cuvette and a pair of stainless steel electrodes. Several aromatic compounds, including quinones, can be detected in the ng l^?1–mg l^?1 range both in hexane and in methanol; detection limits of pyrene in hexane and in methanol are 0.02 μg l^?1 and 4 μg l^?1, respectively. The detectability in hexane is much better than that in methanol. The detection limits and the molar absorptivities at the excitation wavelength are shown to be correlated.     

A model for methanol transport through Nafion membrane in diffusion cell

The transport of methanol through Nafion^® membrane in diffusion cell is investigated using the open circuit potential method at different initial methanol concentration solutions. A simple mathematical model based on quasi-steady-state diffusion for the transport of methanol across the membrane in a diffusion cell is developed to simulate the experimental data in order to measure the methanol permeability. The influence of the diffusion cell parameters and thickness of the membrane on the methanol permeability measurement has been evaluated and analyzed. By means of Maclaurin expansion technique, this model can be used to predict the deviation of methanol permeability determined by steady-state diffusion model.     

Self-assembled polyelectrolyte multilayered films on Nafion with lowered methanol cross-over for DMFC applications

The paper is concerned with the deposition of self-assembled polyelectrolyte multilayer on Nafion membrane by layer-by-layer (LbL) technique with lowered methanol cross-over for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) applications. The formation of self-assembled multilayered film on Nafion was characterized by UV–vis spectroscopy and it was found that the polyelectrolyte layers growth on the Nafion surface regularly. Furthermore, the proton conductivity and methanol cross-over measurements were carried out for characterization of the LbL self-assembled composite membranes. The results showed that the concentration and pH of the polyelectrolytes significantly affect the proton conductivity and methanol barrier properties of the composite membranes. 10⁻¹ monomol polyelectrolyte concentration and pH 1.8 was found to be optimum deposition conditions considering proton conductivity and methanol permeation properties of the LbL self-assembled composite membranes. The methanol permeability of the 10 bi-layers of PAH1.8/PSS1.8 deposited LbL self-assembly composite membrane was significantly suppressed and found to be 4.41 × 10⁻⁷ cm²/s while the proton conductivity value is in acceptable range for fuel cell applications.     

原位ATR红外光谱研究超临界条件下酯交换反应过程与机理

在温度15℃~300℃和压力0.1MPa~25MPa下,采用原位ATR(Attenuated Total Reflectance)红外光谱技术研究高温高压条件下甲醇、乙醇和丙醇的分子间氢键和分子内化学键随温度和压力的变化及亚/超临界甲醇条件下醇油的混合与酯交换反应过程与机理。纯物质的红外光谱研究表明,在压力高于14MPa时,随温度由15℃升高到250℃,甲醇、乙醇和丙醇的分子间氢键减弱,减弱程度最大的温度为75℃~225℃;但温度升高对甲基的振动没有影响,当温度超过225℃后,甲醇的羟基振动峰发生明显分峰,而乙醇和丙醇的羟基振动峰未发现分峰变化;在整个温度和压力范围内,三油酸甘油酯的红外光谱图未发生明显变化。醇油混合与酯交换反应过程的红外研究表明,在14MPa时,当温度超过185℃后甲醇与三油酸甘油酯完全互溶,两者形成均相;当混合体系温度超过220℃时,甲醇与三油酸甘油酯开始发生酯交换反应。因此,超临界甲醇条件下的酯交换是均相反应,而且氢键变化不是导致酯交换反应的主要原因,高温高压条件下C－OH键振动形式的变化,即出现C⁺…O^-…H⁺振动使小分子醇的亲电性和亲核性均增强是导致超临界无催化酯交换反应快速进行的主要原因。     

Volatile organic solvent-induced signal enhancements in inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry: a case study of methanol and acetone

Methanol and acetone were used to study effects of organic matrix on signal intensities of elements from ⁷Li to ²³⁸U and oxide yields in inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Enhancement or suppression of analyte signals in the presence of methanol or acetone depends on the volatility and concentration of the compound and mass and ionization potential of elements concerned as well as ICP-MS operating conditions. Presence of a low concentration of methanol or acetone enhances the intensities of elements in order of decreasing mass. This is attributed to the spatial shift of the zone of maximum ion density, which, in turn, affects the extraction of ions from the plasma to the sampling cone. The possible effect of liquid methanol or acetone on nebulization and/or transport efficiency was avoided by using carry-over effect experiment. More volatile acetone more readily suppresses signals of all the elements under investigation. A higher concentration of methanol also suppresses intensities of the elements due to resultant cooling of the plasma. The enhancement effect of methanol and acetone appears to be more related to the amount of carbon present in the plasma than the difference between the functional groups of organic solvents. The oxide yield decreases in the presence of methanol, the magnitude of which depends on the nebulizer gas flow rate used. However, the reduced oxide yield is insufficient to account for the signal enhancement. Our results for ⁷⁵As and ⁷⁸Se agree with the C⁺-species–analyte atom charge transfer reaction hypothesis.     

Numerical Simulation of the Effect of Solvent Viscosity on the Motions of a β‐Peptide Heptamer

This report examines the effect of a decrease in solvent viscosity on the simulated folding behaviour of a β‐peptide heptamer in methanol. Simulations of the molecular dynamics of the heptamer H‐β³‐HVal‐β³‐HAla‐β³‐HLeu‐(S,S)‐β³‐HAla(αMe)‐β³‐HVal‐β³‐HAla‐β³‐HLeu‐OH in methanol, with an explicit representation of the methanol molecules, were performed for 80 ns at various solvent viscosities. The simulations indicate that at a solvent viscosity of one third of that of methanol, only the dynamic aspects of the folding process are altered, and that the rate of folding is increased. At a viscosity of one tenth of that of methanol, insufficient statistics are obtained within the 80 ns period. We suggest that 80 ns is an insufficient time to reach conformational equilibrium at very low viscosity because the dependence of the folding rate of a β‐peptide on solvent viscosity has two regimes; a result that was observed in another computational study for α‐peptides.     

On the reasons for the discrepancies in the data on methanol adsorption on platinum

In the voluminous and valuable information obtained by the radioactive tracers method on the adsorption of organic substances, some data are at variance with the results of the electrochemical methods. The most typical in this respect are the data on methanol adsorption on platinum.A comparative study of methanol adsorption by the radioactive tracers method with the use of ¹⁴C and by the electrochemical methods has shown that the reason of the discrepancies in these data is the presence of impurities containing ¹⁴C in labeled methanol samples. It is suggested that these impurities are autoradiolysis products.     

Biosynthesis of methanol from methane by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Methylosinus trichosporium</Emphasis> OB3b

Methanol has recently attracted significant interest in the energetic field. Current technology for the conversion of methane to methanol is based on energy intensive endothermic steam reforming followed by catalytic conversion into methanol. The one-step method performed at very low temperatures (35°C) is methane oxidation to methanol via bacteria. The aim of this work was to examine the role of copper in the one-step methane oxidation to methanol by utilizing whole cells of Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b bacteria. From the results obtained it was found that copper concentration in the medium influences the rate of bacterial biomass growth or methanol production during the process of methane oxidation to methanol. The presented results indicate that the process of methane oxidation to methanol by Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b bacteria is most efficient when the mineral medium contains 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ mol dm⁻³ of copper. Under these conditions, a satisfactory growth of biomass was also achieved. Presented at the 35th International Conference of the Slovak Society of Chemical Engineering, Tatranské Matliare, 26–30 May 2008.     

A Novel Visible Spectrophotometric Method for the Determination of Methanol Using Sodium Nitroprusside as Spectroscopic Probe

A novel, rapid and reliable method has been established for the determination of methanol using sodium nitroprusside as a spectroscopic probe. This method indicates that the sodium nitroprusside can react with the methanol to form a colored product in the basic solution. The absorbance of the product is measured at the maximal absorption wavelength of 481 nm, and the amount of methanol can be calculated based on this absorbance. A good linear relationship of the concentration of methanol versus absorbance is observed with a linear range of 0.02‐6.0 mg mL^?1. The linear regression equation is A = 0.02484 + 0.29457C (mg mL^?1), with a correlation coefficient of 0.9991. The detection limit (3σ/k) is 0.012 mg mL^?1, while its R.S.D. is 1.5% and the recovery rate is 97.5‐102.5%. The parameters with regard to determination are optimized, and the reaction mechanism is discussed. This method has been successfully applied to determine methanol in variety of samples. Analytical results obtained by this new method were very gratifying.     

Cationic polyfluorene: Conformation and aggregation in a “good” solvent

The conjugated polyelectrolyte (CPE) poly{9,9′-bis[6″-(N,N,N-trimethylammonium)-hexylfluorene-alt-co-phenylene] dibromide} (PFPN⁺Br⁻) demonstrates a high solubility in methanol in comparison to other more hydrophilic or hydrophobic solvents. We have employed a combination of pulsed-field-gradient-NMR, photoluminescence (PL), and Raman spectroscopy to establish the conformation and aggregation behavior of PFPN⁺Br⁻ in methanol, with the aim to attain information on how to design CPEs with a high solubility in a preferred solvent. We find that the diffusion coefficient and PL spectrum of PFPN⁺Br⁻, as well as the Raman-active methyl rocking mode of methanol, all exhibit a strong dependence on PFPN⁺Br⁻ concentration. We rationalize our findings with a model in which PFPN⁺Br⁻ forms aggregates via π–π interactions between main-chain segments, while the ionic side chains are surrounded and electrostatically screened by the methanol solvent. Accordingly, the notably high solubility of PFPN⁺Br⁻ in methanol is rationalized by favorable interactions between the ionic side chains and the methanol molecules. We propose that an appropriate design of a high-solubility CPE should consider a matching of the mixed hydrophobic/hydrophilic character of the ionic side chain with that of the preferred solvent.     

The structure of water and methanol adsorbed on silica gel by FT-NIR spectroscopy

The NIR adsorption spectra were analyzed quantitatively on the fundamental, combination and first overtone region of OH vibrations of silanol groups, water and methanol adsorbed on mesoporous silica gels. Adsorbed methanol constitutes first layer of about 3 molecules/um^–2 and second layer, the structure of which is similar to that of bulk methanol liquid. Adsorbed water consists of a first layer of about 3 molecules/nm^–2, the second layer of about 9 molecules/nm^–2 and the third layer has a structure similar to the that of bulk water. The molecular configuration at the interface is discussed.     

Selective solid phase extraction of palladium by adsorption of its 5(p-dimethylaminobenzylidene)rhodanine complex on silica-PEG as a new adsorbent

The nickel(II) complex of a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA-Ni²⁺) was directly electrodeposited on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) to give a DNA-Ni/GCE electrode. It was investigated in terms of its capability of electro-oxidizing methanol in alkaline medium. It exhibits stable redox behavior of the Ni²⁺/Ni³⁺ couple by cyclic voltammetry. The DNA-Ni²⁺ membrane showed excellent electrocatalytic suitability for the electro-oxidation of methanol, is stable and responds reproducibly. The linear range for the detection of methanol in alkaline medium is from 8.0 µM to 2.4 mM, and the limit of detection is 2.0 µM (at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3).     

High efficiency direct methanol fuel cell based on poly(styrenesulfonic) acid (PSSA)-poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) composite membranes

semi-Interpenetrating polymer network (sIPN) composite membranes consisting of poly(styrenesuflonic) acid (PSSA) and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) have been prepared and evaluated as proton exchange membrane electrolytes in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). The membranes fabricated were evaluated in terms of their proton conductivity, methanol permeability, and their performance characteristics in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). PSSA-PVDF membranes demonstrated decreased methanol crossover during operation of direct methanol fuel cells compared to state-of-art Nafion^®-H membranes, yielding improved efficiency. PSSA-PVDF membranes have been demonstrated to operate efficiently in 1 in. × 1 in. and 2 in. × 2 in. direct methanol fuel cells. Fuel cells operating with PSSA-PVDF membranes were observed to have dramatically lower crossover rates compared to Nafion^® 117 systems. Greater than 95% reduction in crossover was observed in some cases. These properties of PSSA-PVDF membranes resulted in improved fuel performance and fuel cell efficiencies for direct methanol fuel cells. It was also observed that the PSSA-PVDF membranes behave quite differently compared with Nafion^®-based systems in terms water management characteristics at the cathode. The best performance with the new membranes was observed with very low oxygen or air flow rates at the cathode which is in contrast to Nafion^®-based systems, which generally require higher flow rates due to excessive water accumulation at the cathode, resulting in flooding.     

Influence in kinetic studies by competitive photocurrent methods of a post-competition link between parallel reactions chains: Part II. OH radical addition to phenol and aniline

The rate constants for the homogeneous reaction of OH radicals of O^? ions with phenol and aniline have been determined by a photoelectrochemical method involving studies of the suppressive effect of mixtures of aniline and of phenol with methanol on the nitrous oxide photocurrent at a DME. Fairly good agreement with absolute rate constants obtained by conventional radiation chemical methods is obtained if use is made of the theory developed in Part I of this paper which takes account of the possibility of interaction between the photocurrent reaction chains following competition between the two organic solutes for OH radicals. The present work points to a value of 1.75±0.6 10¹⁰M^?1 s^?1 for the capture of OH by phenol at pH 9.5. The reaction product, the cyclohexadienyl radical Φ (OH)₂, is able to extract H atoms from methanol with a rate constant of the order of 10⁷M^?1 s^?1, this reaction tending to lessen the suppressive effect of a phenol + methanol mixture on the nitrous oxide photocurrent. Similar complications are observed at higher pH, and also when using aniline + methanol mixtures.     

An experimental study of the stability of TiO2 particles in organic–water mixtures

The stability of TiO₂ (Anatase) particles in various organic-water mixtures is examined experimentally. The results obtained reveal that the addition of AlCl₃ to a methanol–water dispersion leads to charge reversal on particle surface. If the concentration of methanol is high, CaCl₂ also leads to charge reversal, but NaCl does not have this effect. This implies that if the concentration of methanol is low, the coagulation between TiO₂ particles is due to double-layer compression for Na⁺ and Ca²⁺, and due to charge adsorption and neutralization for Al³⁺. A methanol dispersion is unstable without the addition of electrolyte, and the addition of both CaCl₂ and AlCl₃ has the effect of stabilizing the dispersion; the addition of NaCl does not have this effect. The qualitative behaviors of an acetone–water dispersion are similar to those of a methanol–water dispersion. It is interesting to observe, however, that the absolute mobility of a pure acetone dispersion has a maximum as the concentrations of both CaCl₂ and AlCl₃ vary, but charge reversal does not occur. Among the dispersions without the addition of electrolyte, a 50% organic–water mixture is most stable. Also, a methanol–water dispersion is more stable than an acetone–water dispersion, which can be explained based on the degree of dissociation of an electrolyte.     

流动态甲醇气相光催化降解的机制研究

在253.7 nm紫外光作用下, 研究纳米TiO₂光催化氧化流动态甲醇的机制, 结果表明, 甲醇的光催化降解不受水汽的影响, 只受氧气含量的影响. 在不含氧气的情况下, 即使有足量的水汽, 甲醇都不会有明显的降解. TiO₂受光诱导生成空穴-电子对后, 空穴直接氧化甲醇, 生成的甲醇正离子在氧气作用下进一步被氧化, 形成各种氧化产物. 甲醇氧化过程是多通道反应, 宏观表现为准一级反应. 空气和氧气条件下甲醇的总降解速率常数分别为9.78×10^－3和1.79×10^－2 s^－1.     

Rapid determination of alcohols in human saliva by gas chromatography differential mobility spectrometry following selective membrane extraction

A fast quantitative assay for the selective and sensitive measurement of methanol and ethanol in human saliva has been developed. A hyphenated thermal desorption (TD) – gas chromatography (GC) – differential mobility spectrometry (DMS) technique was developed to characterise methanol in human saliva at concentrations between 25 mg dm⁻³ and 1000 mg dm⁻³, in the presence of elevated ethanol concentrations. A temperature-controlled polydimethylsilicone capillary membrane was used in the sampling procedure to extract methanol in the presence of elevated ethanol concentrations. A flow of nitrogen through the central channel of the membrane swept the volatile analytes into an adsorbent trap. TD-GC-DMS was used to isolate, detect and identify each compound with an analysis time of less than 3 min. The method was optimised using a 2 factor (temperature and dispersion field strength), 2 centroid point, central composite design, to enhance the resolution and sensitivity of DMS responses to methanol and ethanol. The optimum DMS cell temperature was found to be 80 °C with an optimum dispersion field strength of 24 kV cm⁻¹. A linear response was obtained for methanol over the range 25 to 500 mg dm⁻³ (R² = 0.998) The development of this method to provide point-of-care testing for ethanol and methanol exposure is discussed.