Spectrometric studies on the cloud points of Triton X-405

The effect of various chemicals on the cloud point (CP) of nonionic surfactant Triton X-405 (TX-405) in aqueous solutions has been investigated. In the measurements of cloud point temperatures, UV–visible spectrophotometer was used instead of visual observation. The values of CP for Triton X-405 could not be measured directly because TX-405 had an average number of oxyethylene units per molecule, p ≈ 35 and a CP > 100 °C. To avoid additional measurements under pressure, TX-405 had their CP lowered below the normal boiling point of their solutions by adding the salting-out, CP-lowering salts at various concentrations, measuring the depressed CP values and extrapolating them to zero salt concentration. The CP values decrease linearly with increasing concentration of salts at studied concentrations. The results showed that the addition of the simple salts and nonionic surfactant Triton X-114 (TX-114) which are infinitely miscible with water decreased the cloud point of the TX-405. In this study, the real CP values of TX-405 which are merely listed as >100 °C in the literature was found as 116 ± 1 °C in various samples. In the lyotropic series, it is expected that the effect of F⁻ > Cl⁻ > Br⁻ will be on the decrease in CP, because the ionic sizes increase along the group consequently decreasing the formal charge density on anion, thus lowering the attraction on anion and thereby lowering the attraction of water. The order of CP depression for the other anions is as follows: PO₄³⁻ > SO₄²⁻ > NO₃⁻ > Br⁻. This means that electrolyte containing trivalent anions is more effective at salting-out the PEO chain than those containing divalent anions and monovalent anions. Cations effectiveness is present in the following order for change: Na⁺ > K⁺ > NH₄⁺ because of their effect on water structure and their hydrophilicity. Overall the electrolytes and nonelectrolytes have a large amount of effect on CP of nonionic surfactant, because of their effect on water structure and their hydrophilicity.     

Thermal decomposition of syngenite, K2Ca(SO4)2·H2O

The thermal decomposition of syngenite, K₂Ca(SO₄)₂·H₂O, formed during the treatment of liquid manure has been studied by thermal gravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, high temperature X-ray diffraction (XRD) and infrared emission spectroscopy (IES). Gypsum was found as a minor impurity resulting in a minor weight loss due to dehydration around 100 °C. The main endothermic dehydration and decomposition stage of syngenite to crystalline K₂Ca₂(SO₄)₃ and amorphous K₂SO₄ is observed around 200 °C. The reaction involves a solid-state re-crystallisation, while water and the K₂SO₄ diffuse out of the existing lattice. The additional weight loss steps around 250 and 350 °C are probably due to presence of larger syngenite particles, which exhibit slower decomposition due to the slower diffusion of water and K₂SO₄ out of the crystal lattice. A minor endothermic sulphate loss around 450 °C is not due to the decomposition of syngenite or its products or of the gypsum impurity. The origin of this sulphate is not clear.     

Ash properties of Pinus halepensis needles treated with diammonium phosphate

The ash properties of Pinus halepensis (Aleppo pine) needles before and after treatment with diammonium phosphate (NH₄)₂HPO₄ (DAP) have been investigated, using thermogravimetric analysis (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA), titrimetry, inductively coupled plasma-emission spectrometry (ICP-ES), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). DAP is extensively used as active component in wildland fire retardants.The following crystalline compounds have been identified in ashes prepared at 600 °C before treatment with DAP: KCl, Ca(OH)₂, MgO, (CaMg)CO₃, K₂CO₃·CaCO₃, K₂CO₃, K₂SO₄, CaO and CaCO₃, whereas CaO, MgO, K₂SO₄, K₂CO₃, CaCO₃, KCl and CaO, MgO, K₂SO₄ and K₂CO₃ at 800 and 1000 °C, respectively. The presence of DAP alters the composition of ashes converting, almost completely at high temperatures, the metallic oxides into phosphate salts. Thus, decreasing their alkalinity. The micrographs obtained by SEM indicate that pine needles ashes contain large porous particles of carbon compounds and several inorganic particles of irregular shape <1.0 mm, whereas after treating the needles with DAP an amorphous rigid structure was formed.To facilitate our investigation model mixtures of CaCO₃ + DAP, MgCO₃ + DAP, K₂CO₃ + DAP were heat treated under the same conditions used for preparing the ashes. The chemical transformations taken place during heating were studied by analysing the reaction products using thermal analysis and XRD.The physical, mineralogical and chemical forest ash properties determined could be used to evaluate the environmental risk of the use of fire retardants on soils, plants and aquatic systems as well as to investigate the mechanism of combustion of forest fuels in the presence of DAP.     

Low-temperature synthesis of K2NbO3F powders by an alternative approach of solid-state reaction

K₂NbO₃F powders were directly synthesized by an alternative solid-state method at low temperature. Stoichiometric ammonium niobium oxalate, K₂C₂O₄ and KF were mixed with small amounts of water and then dried at room temperature. X-ray diffraction results show that layered perovskite K₂NbO₃F powders can be obtained by calcining the mixture in temperature range from 550 to 700 °C for 3 h. The elemental composition, powder morphology and particle size of calcination products were analyzed by scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). The SEM images suggest that the particles of the powders obtained at 550 °C are irregular platelets with a diameter of 0.5-1 μm and a thickness of 100-200 nm. The platelets are 3-5 μm in diameter and 1-2 μm in thickness when the calcination temperature reaches 700 °C. K₂NbO₃F decomposes to K₅(NbO₃)₄F and KF when the temperature reaches 800 °C.     

Thermosensitive properties of a novel poly(methyl 2-acetamidoacrylate-co-methyl acrylate)

Copolymerizations of methyl 2-acetamidoacrylate (MAA) with methyl acrylate (MA) were carried out at 60 °C in chloroform. MAA-rich copolymers are soluble in water and MAA-poor copolymers insoluble. Among water-soluble copolymers obtained, only one (HP-77) which contains 77% of MAA units was thermosensitive. Thermal properties of HP-77 were investigated in the presence or absence of inorganic salts. The cloud point of aqueous HP-77 solution depended on polymer concentration: The cloud point decreased exponentially with an increasing concentration of the polymer. The cloud point of HP-77 was also affected significantly by the type and concentration of salts. The effectiveness of salts to reduce the cloud point is NaBr≈KBr<NaCl≈KCl<Na₂SO₄≈K₂SO₄. The salting-out coefficients were evaluated as 2.45 l/mol for sodium chloride and 14.56 l/mol for sodium sulfate, respectively, from the relationship (Setschenow's equation) between logarithm of the solubility of HP-77 and salt concentration. The salting-out coefficient of sodium sulfate is larger than that of sodium chloride.     

Cloud points and phase separation of aqueous poly(N-vinylacetamide) solutions in the presence of salts

Aqueous poly(N-vinylacetamide) (PNVA) solution was found to exhibit the cloud point in the presence of salt. This cloud point was shown to correspond to a liquid-liquid phase separation, as confirmed when the PNVA-salt solutions were maintained at a temperature above the cloud point. The upper layer had a higher polymer concentration and a lower salt concentration than those in the lower layer. Thus interaction between PNVA and salts are repulsive. The lower critical solution temperatures were estimated to be 18±1°C for 1.25 molal (NH₄)₂SO₄ and 25±1°C for 0.76 molal Na₂SO₄. Divalent anions such as SO _2– ⁴ , SO _2– ³ , HPO _2– ⁴ and CO _2– ³ were effective in causing turbidity when examined at 25°C. Dependence of the effect on the cationic species was similar to but significantly different from that for acetyltetraglycine ethylester. The cloud points of PNVA decreased linearly with the increase of the polymer concentration at a fixed salt concentration or with the increase of the salt concentration at a fixed polymer concentration. A parameter analogous to the salting-out constant was empirically derived from the dependencies of the cloud points on the concentrations of polymer and salt.     

Easy, inexpensive and effective oxidative iodination of deactivated arenes in sulfuric acid

Two ‘model’ deactivated arenes, benzoic acid and nitrobenzene, were effectively monoiodinated within 1 h at 25-30 °C, with strongly electrophilic I⁺ reagents, prior prepared from diiodine and various oxidants (CrO₃, KMnO₄, active MnO₂, HIO₃, NaIO₃, or NaIO₄) in 90% (v/v) concd sulfuric acid (ca. 75 mol% H₂SO₄). Next, an I₂/NaIO₃/90% (v/v) concd H₂SO₄ exemplary system was used to effectively mono- or diiodinate a number of deactivated arenes. All former papers dealing with the direct iodination of deactivated arenes are briefly reviewed.     

Solid–liquid phase equilibria in the system K2SO4–MnSO4–H2O at 298 K and 313 K

Phase equilibria studies of the system K₂SO₄–MnSO₄–H₂O published revealed discrepancies between the data presented in the literature regarding the solid phases formed at ambient temperatures. The solubility in the system at 298 K and 313 K was determined. At 298 K, the existence of the double salt K₂SO₄·3MnSO₄·5H₂O and of MnSO₄·H₂O was confirmed. The examinations at 313 K showed the formation of the stable solid phases MnSO₄·H₂O, K₂SO₄·2MnSO₄, K₂SO₄·MnSO₄·1.5H₂O, K₂SO₄ and the formation of a metastable phase K₂SO₄·MnSO₄·2H₂O.     

Solid–liquid phase equilibria in the system K2SO4–MgSO4–H2O at 318 K

The polythermal solubility diagram of the system K₂SO₄–MgSO₄–H₂O presents the formation of three double salts, picromerite, leonite, langbeinite appearing in this order with increasing temperature. In the temperature range between 314.15 K and 320.65 K, picromerite and leonite ought to coexist. The search in the literature revealed a lack of isothermal phase equilibrium data within this temperature range. Therefore, the solubility in the system K₂SO₄–MgSO₄–H₂O was determined in the whole concentration range at 318 K. The solid phases, epsomite, leonite, picromerite and arcanite occur with increasing potassium sulfate concentration. A two-salt point of leonite and picromerite is established at 0.618 molal K₂SO₄ and 3.030 molal MgSO₄ at the temperature of investigation.     

One-pot synthesis of 1,4-diarylsubstituted 1,3-diynes from the sequential coupling reactions of aryl iodides and propiolic acid

1,4-Disubstituted 1,3-dialkynes were obtained from the one-pot palladium/copper-catalyzed coupling reactions of aryl iodide and propiolic acid. The optimized catalytic system consisted of 5.0 mol % Pd(PPh₃)₂Cl₂, 10 mol % dppb, 10 mol % CuI, 2.4 equiv of DBU, and 1.2 equiv of K₂CO₃. The coupling reaction was carried out at 30 °C for 6 h and subsequently at 80 °C for 3 h.     

Thermal decomposition of potassium hexanitronickelate(II) hydrate

The thermal decomposition of the complex K₄[Ni(NO₂)₆]·H₂O has been investigated over the temperature range 25-600 °C by a combination of infrared spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, FAB-mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. The first stage of reaction is loss of water and isomerisation of one of the coordinated nitro groups to form the complex K₄[Ni(NO₂)₄(ONO)]·NO₂. At temperatures around 200 °C the remaining nitro groups within the complex isomerise to the chelating nitrite form and this process acts as a precursor to the loss of NO₂ gas at temperatures above 270 °C. The product, which is stable up to 600 °C, is the complex K₄[Ni(ONO)₄]·NO₂, where the nickel atom is formally in the +1 oxidation state.     

Thermodynamic Properties of Aqueous Potassium Sulfate under Superambient Conditions

Using the ion-interaction or virial coefficient approach developed by Pitzer, the pressure dependencies of the osmotic and activity coefficients for K₂SO₄(aq) up to 225°C and 0.65 mol-kg^–1 have been calculated from recent literature data on the apparent molar volumes of K₂SO₄(aq). These pressure dependencies were combined with the osmotic and activity coefficients at 1 bar or P _sat, obtained from the model of Holmes and Mesmer to yield a comprehensive set of thermodynamic properties of K₂SO₄(aq) at temperatures from 25 to 225°C, pressures 100, 200, and 300 bars, and molalities to 0.65 mol-kg^–1.On leave from the     

PVT properties of concentrated aqueous electrolytes. II. Compressibilities and apparent molar compressibilities of aqueous NaCl,Na2SO4, MgCl2, and MgSO4 from dilute solution to saturation and from 0 to 50°C

The relative sound velocities (U-U°) of aqueous NaCl, Na₂SO₄, MgCl₂, and MgSO₄ solutions were measured from 0.05m to saturation and from 0 to 45°C. The sound speeds were combined with our earlier work and fitted to a function of molality and temperature to standard deviations within 0.3 m-sec^–1. The adiabatic compressibilities, _s, were determined from the sound speeds and used to calculate adiabatic apparent molar compressibilities, K_,s, isothermal compressibilities, , and apparent molar compressibilities, K, were determined from the adiabatic values using literature data for expansibilities and heat capacities. The values of K have been extrapolated to infinite dilution using an extended limiting law. The resulting K⁰ at various temperatures are in reasonable agreement with literature values. The results of this study have been combined with our earlier results to derive a secant bulk modulus equation of state for NaCl, Na₂SO₄, MgCl₂, and MgSO₄ solutions valid from 0 to 50°C and 0 to 1000 bar.     

The PVT properties of concentrated aqueous electrolytes IX. The volume properties of KCl and K2SO4 and their mixtures with NaCl and Na2SO4 as a function of temperature

The densities of KCl and K₂SO₄ were measured from dilute solutions to saturation from 5 to 95°C. The data were combined with literature data to produce density and apparent molal volume, V_φ, equations from 0 to 100°C and to saturation. The standard deviations of the density equations were 30×10⁻⁶ g-cm⁻³ and 32×10⁻⁶ g-cm⁻³, respectively, for KCl and K₂SO₄. Pitzer equations were used to fit the V_φ data. The resulting infinite dilute partial molal volumes, V^o, were in reasonable agreement with literature data. The densities of the mixtures of the six combinations of the salts KCL, K₂SO₄ NaCl and Na₂SO₄ were measured at I=2.0 and t=5, 25, 55 and 95°C. The resulting volumes of mixing were fitted to equations of the form

Influence of sample pan on the thermal behaviour of KSCN measured with TG

In this study, the influence of the sample pan on the thermal behaviour of potassium thiocyanate (KSCN) was investigated. The measurements were performed with thermogravimetry (TG) and the two sample pans used were a platinum pan and a ceramic crucible. The samples were heated to 400-950 °C and the thermal products were identified by powder diffraction.The thermal behaviour of KSCN was found to be dependent on the sample pan used. With the platinum sample pan KSCN reacted in the first step into a mixture of K₂SO₄ and potassium tetracyanoplatinate (K₂Pt(CN)₄). In the second step, the mixture reacted further to pure K₂SO₄. In the ceramic sample crucible, however, the reaction in the first step resulted in a mixture of K₂SO₄ and KOCN. In the second step, the mixture reacted further to pure K₂SO₄.The results were verified with additional measurements of rubidium thiocyanate (RbSCN) and cesium thiocyanate (CsSCN). The reactions of these compounds proved to be similar to those of KSCN, thereby confirming that the thermal behaviour of the alkali metal thiocyanates mentioned in this study, depends on the sample pan used.     

Sol-gel synthesis and characterization of LiNO3-Al2O3 composite solid electrolyte

Composite solid electrolytes in the system (1 − x)LiNO₃-xAl₂O₃, with x = 0.0-0.5 were synthesized by sol-gel method. The synthesis carried out at low temperature resulted in voluminous and fluffy products. The obtained materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and AC impedance spectroscopy. Structural analysis of the samples showed base centred cell type of point lattice of LiNO₃ for the composite samples with x = 0.1-0.2 and body centred cell for the sample with x = 0.3. A trace amount of α-LiAlO₂ crystal phase was also present in these composite samples. The thermal analysis showed that the samples were in a stable phase between 48 °C and 230-260 °C. Morphological analysis indicated the presence of amorphous phase and particles with sizes ranging from micro to nanometre scale for the composite sample with x = 0.1. The conductivities of the composites were in the order of 10⁻³ and 10⁻² S cm⁻¹ at room temperature and 150 °C, respectively.     

K2Mo4O13 phases prepared by hydrothermal synthesis

Hydrothermal synthesis in the K-Mo oxide system was investigated as a function of the pH of the reaction medium. Four compounds were formed, including two K₂Mo₄O₁₃ phases. One is a new low-temperature polymorph, which crystallizes in the orthorhombic, space group Pbca, with Z=8 and unit cell dimensions a=7.544(1) Å, b=15.394(2) Å, c=18.568(3) Å. The other is the known triclinic K₂Mo₄O₁₃, whose structure was re-determined from single crystal data; its cell parameters were determined as a=7.976(2) Å, b=8.345(2) Å, c=10.017(2) Å, α=107.104(3)°, β=102.885(3)°, γ=109.760(3)°, which are the standard settings of the crystal lattice. The orthorhombic phase converts endothermically into triclinic phase at ca. 730 K with a heat of transition of 8.31 kJ/mol.     

The hydrothermal decomposition of calcium monosulfoaluminate 14-hydrate to katoite hydrogarnet and β-anhydrite: An in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction study

We apply in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction to study the transformation of calcium monosulfoaluminate 14-hydrate Ca₄Al₂O₆(SO₄)·14H₂O [monosulfate-14] to hydrogarnet Ca₃Al₂(OH)₁₂ on the saturated water vapor pressure curve up to 250 °C. We use an aqueous slurry of synthetic ettringite Ca₆Al₂(SO₄)₃(OH)₁₂·26H₂O as the starting material; on heating, this decomposes at about 115 °C to form monosulfate-14 and bassanite CaSO₄·0.5H₂O. Above 170 °C monosulfate-14 diffraction peaks slowly diminish in intensity, perhaps as a result of loss of crystallinity and the formation of an X-ray amorphous meta-monosulfate. Hydrogarnet nucleates only at temperatures above 210 °C. Bassanite transforms to β-anhydrite (insoluble anhydrite) at about 230 °C and this transformation is accompanied by a second burst of hydrogarnet growth. The transformation pathway is more complex than previously thought. The mapping of the transformation pathway shows the value of rapid in-situ time-resolved synchrotron diffraction.     

Solid–liquid phase equilibria in the systems K2SO4–MSO4–H2O (M = Co,Ni, Cu) from ambient to enhanced temperatures

Reviewing the literature solubility isotherms in the ternary systems K₂SO₄–MSO₄–H₂O (M = Co, Ni, Cu, Zn) revealed a lack at ambient temperatures. The solid–liquid phase equilibria have been determined in the systems K₂SO₄–MSO₄–H₂O (M = Co, Ni, Cu) at T = 313 K. With increasing bivalent metal sulfate concentration, the solubility of potassium sulfate rises until the two-salt point is reached. Reciprocally, the solubility of the bivalent metal sulfate hydrates (CoSO₄·7H₂O, α-NiSO₄·6H₂O, CuSO₄·5H₂O) increases with rising potassium sulfate concentration. In all three systems the double salts of Tutton's type K₂SO₄·MSO₄·6H₂O (M = Co, Ni, Cu) are formed.     

Syntheses and crystal structures of straight or zigzag one-dimensional coordination polymers based on Cu(II) square pyramidal or Cu(I) tetrahedral coordination environments

Two coordination polymers containing copper ions, [Cu(SO₄)(pyz)(H₂O)]_n (1) and [Cu₂(SO₄)(pyz)₂(H₂O)₂]_n (2) (pyz = pyrazine), have been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray analyses. Compound 1 was synthesized by the reaction of Cu(SO₄) · 5H₂O with pyz (ratio = 1:2) in H₂O at room temperature. The structure of 1 consists of linear chains of [Cu(pyz)(H₂O)]²⁺, with coordinated sulfate ions bridging the chains. Compound 2 was obtained as dark red blocks from the reaction of Cu(SO₄) · 5H₂O and pyz (ratio = 1:2) in H₂O, after heating to 180 °C in a Teflon autoclave for 48 h. The structure of 2 consists of zigzag chains of [Cu(pyz)(H₂O)]⁺ with sulfate ions. Only the difference in the synthesis temperature, room temperature or 180 °C, determines whether Cu(II) or Cu(I) coordination polymers are formed, with the reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(I) being explained by the Gillard mechanism.