Magnetite nanoparticle mediated catalytic aquathermolysis of Omani heavy crude oil

The worldwide demand for energy continues to grow and the production of heavy crude is escalating due to shortage of conventional light crude. The transportation of heavy crude oil from the head-well to the refinery is a challenging task due to its high viscosity and low API gravity. Catalytic aquathermolysis is one of the most significant and cost-effective viscosity reduction techniques employed in the up gradation of the crude oil at elevated temperatures and hence to enhance oil extraction process. In this study, catalytic aquathermolysis of Omani heavy crude oil was performed using magnetite nanoparticles (NPs). The NPs were synthesised by reverse co-precipitation method using iron salts in alkaline medium. The synthesised NPs were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-Ray Powder Diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X- Ray analysis (EDX) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The XRD results exhibited a characteristic peak confirming the high purity of iron oxide nanoparticles. The FTIR spectral analysis designated two well-defined peaks corresponding to wave numbers of 500 ?cm^?1 and 630 ?cm^?1, endorses the presence of Fe–O. The catalytic aquathermolysis experiments were carried out in a Parr high temperature-high pressure batch reactor at different experimental conditions. The processing parameters in temperature range of 250 ?°C - 300 ?°C, 0.1% to 0.3% catalyst loading, water to oil ratio of 1:7 to 3:7 with 24–72 ?h of reaction time. The initial pressure in the reactor was maintained at 32 ?bars and the optimization was performed using the Taguchi method to maximize the level of heavy oil. An orthogonal array was employed to analyse the effects of mean response and mean signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) to upgrade the heavy oil. The regression analysis was used to establish a relationship between the viscosity and experimental parameters. The experimental outcomes indicates that the maximum reduction in viscosity occurred at a processing temperature of 300 ?°C, 1:7 ?W/O ratio, 0.1 ?wt% of catalyst concentration and 48 ?h of reaction time. Similarly, the optimum conditions for the reduction in API gravity were obtained at 280 ?°C temperature, 3:7 ?W/O ratio, 0.2 ?wt% of catalyst concentration and a reaction time of 24 ?h.     

Physicochemical properties of new cellulosic fibers from the bark of Acacia arabica

With the growing environmental consciousness toward carbon emissions, natural fibers are the best alternative and act as a substitute for synthetic fibers due to their potential properties. New cellulosic fibers were identified from Acacia arabica bark. This study aimed at understanding the characteristics of Acacia arabica fibers (AAFs) extracted from the bark of the A. arabica, and its physicochemical properties were examined by thermal stability analyses, X-ray diffraction, chemical constitutions, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis. Cellulose content (68.1 wt%), density (1028 kg m^?3), and crystallinity index (51.72%) properties were identified.     

The identification by Raman microscopy and X-ray diffraction of iron-oxide pigments and of the red pigments found on Italian pottery fragments

The technique of Raman microscopy has been used to identify and characterise the pigments used in red shards of medieval and earlier items of pottery which have been found in various archaeological sites in the South of Italy. The research has led to the identification, on the basis of their characteristic Raman/resonance Raman spectra, of the red pigments as iron(III) oxide (e.g. Indian Red, Red Ochre or Venetian Red) and the yellow pigments as hydrated iron(III) oxyhydroxide (e.g. Yellow Ochre and Mars Yellow). X-ray powder diffraction experiments confirm the conclusions drawn above.     

Analysis of pigments from Roman wall paintings found in Vicenza

The analysis of about 60 samples of wall paintings was carried out using different chemicophysical techniques: optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with an EDS microanalysis detector, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The identified pigments were cinnabar, hematite, red ochre, celadonite, cuprorivaite (Egyptian blue), yellow ochre, goethite and carbon. Only in one case some lead white was found instead. In general, the mortar preparation did not correspond to the complex structure suggested by Vitruvius (De Architectura), but it generally showed a porous layer, with crushed grains under the pigment layer. In certain cases two superposed pigment layers were found: yellow superimposed on both red and pink, black on pink, green on black.     

Raman spectroscopy and structural properties of InxBi40−xSe60 system

In_xBi_40−xSe₆₀ (x = 1.6, 4.4, 7, 10 and 13.2) alloys were synthesized by melt-quenching technique. The X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy investigations confirm that the materials are in single phase. Archimedes method and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) have been used for density and chemical characterization of the obtained materials. Indium content dependences of different parameters such as the density (D), the compactness (δ), and the average coordination number (Z) have been investigated and discussed in light of chemical order network and topological models.     

Investigations on poly(methyl methacrylate)-poly(ethylene oxide) hybrid polymer electrolytes with dioctyl phthalate, dimethyl phthalate and diethyl phthalate as plasticizers

Plasticizers can be used to change the mechanical and electrical properties of polymer electrolytes by reducing the degree of crystallinity and lowering the glass transition temperature. The transport properties of gel-type ionic conducting membranes consisting of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), LiClO₄ and dioctyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate or dimethyl phthalate (DMP) are studied. The polymer films are characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared and impedance spectroscopic studies. It is found that the addition of DMP as the plasticizer in the PEO-PMMA-LiClO₄ polymer complex favours an enhancement in ionic conductivity. The maximum conductivity value obtained for the solid polymer electrolyte film at 305 K is 3.529×10^{– 4} S cm^–1. Electronic Publication     

Investigation of inherent degradation in cellulose nitrate museum artefacts

Cellulose nitrate was one of the first semi-synthetic plastics to be commercially exploited and as such many museums contain a large number of artefacts illustrating the versatility of this plastic for the creation of a wide variety of functional and aesthetic artefacts. Conservators find themselves faced with the challenge of preserving these ageing artefacts which are showing evidence of significant degradation. The challenge is enhanced by artefacts of similar age and type exhibiting different degrees of degradation. This paper reports the analytical study of selected historical artefacts to explore the origins of these differences. A connection between the durability of the artefacts and the quality of the original synthetic process is identified, indicating the influence of inherent chemical factors on stability. The major contributory factors determining degradation appear to be the sulphate content remaining from the stabilization process and the rate of loss of the camphor plasticizer. A simple swab test is proposed to aid the identification of artefacts which are potentially susceptible to degradation. The test involves analysis of swab extracts by ion chromatography to reveal the presence of oxalate, which is indicative of cellulose nitrate chain scission.     

Ionic conductivity, structural and thermal properties of pure and Sr doped Y2Ti2O7 pyrochlores for SOFC

In the present study, SrO doped Yttrium titanate pyrochlore was synthesized using solid state reaction technique. The sintering characteristics, crystal structure, thermal and conductivity behavior of doped and undoped pyrochlores have been studied to find their suitability in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). The as-prepared samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-Transform-Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermal-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and ac conductivity up to 900 °C. The results are discussed in light of oxygen vacancy formation and structural disordering. Undoped and doped yttrium titanate with SrO (x = 0.1) exhibits single Y₂Ti₂O₇ phase with relative density of 94%. It was observed that further doping of SrO (x = 0.2–0.4) leads to formation of Y₂Ti₂O₇ phase along with SrTiO₃ phase. Excessive SrO (x = 0.4) results in increase in ionic conductivity to 1.50 × 10⁻¹ S cm⁻¹ whereas it impedes the densification process with relative density of 85%.     

Optical characteristics of europium and terbium doped strontium orthogermanate phosphors

In this work, europium and terbium activated Sr₂GeO₄ phosphors were successfully developed by traditional solid state method. Powders XRD, FESEM, EDS, FTIR, DRS and PL techniques have been used to probe the as prepared phosphors. Powder XRD patterns of the phosphors are indexed. The elemental composition of phosphors was obtained from their EDS. FTIR spectra are employed to detect different vibrational groups in phosphor compositions. The DRS profiles of both pristine and Eu³⁺ (Tb³⁺) substituted samples exhibit broad and strong band in the 230–370 ​nm region. The photoluminescence studies of europium and terbium doped phosphors exhibited optimistic red emission at 617 ​nm (⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂ of Eu³⁺ ions) and intense green emission at 543 ​nm (⁵D₄ → ⁷F₅ of Tb³⁺ ions) upon ultraviolet (UV) excitations respectively. The CIE chromaticity co-ordinates are produced in deep red and green regions. Therefore, these materials may become potential alternatives for red and green phosphors in the display devices and in lamp industry.     

Characterization of new natural cellulosic fiber from the Ipomoea staphylina plant

Natural fibers extracted from plants play a major role as reinforcement in polymer composite materials due to their superior properties. This work aims to comprehensively characterize the physical and chemical properties of Ipomoea staphylina fibers (ISFs), which are extracted from the stem of the Ipomoea staphylina plant. The ISFs show cellulose content (72.76 wt%), hemicelluloses content (13.6 wt%), density (1401 kg cm^?3), and tensile strength of 173–658 MPa with a strain rate of 2.03–6.63%. The thermal stability of ISFs illustrate that the fibers are stable up to a temperature of 311°C with kinetic activation energy of 99.82 kJ mol^?1.     

唐代彩绘陶俑中无机颜料的化学组成

采用X射线粉末衍射（XRD）、X射线荧光光谱（XRF）和扫描电子显微镜-能谱（SEM-EDS）等测试技术对西安西曹M16唐墓出土的2尊唐代彩绘陶俑颜料进行了化学组成分析。结果表明,陶俑中含有丰富的无机颜料,其中红色颜料的显色成分为铅丹（Pb₃O₄）;白色颜料的显色成分为铅白（PbCO₃）和石灰石（CaCO₃）;粉色颜料的主要显色成分为铅丹和铅白的混合物;青色颜料为铜绿（Cu₂（OH）₂CO₃）和青石（Cu₃（OH）₂（CO₃）₂）混合物。     

Analytical and multivariate study of roman age architectural terracotta from northeast of Spain

Roman culture employed architectural terracotta made from baked clay as original material to manufacture ceramic pieces. It was often used as a basis for construction of functional and/or decorative elements in roofs, such as plane and curve tiles as well as antefixes with their corresponding “imbrexes”. Some of them are conserved nowadays. They were collected in Roman quarries discovered in old cities and villages sited in the Hispania Citerior (northeast of Spain in Roman age). A study of the origin and manufacturing process (moulding, baking, touching up and painting) of these terracotta pieces has been made on the basis of the data obtained from a physicochemical characterization of samples. The used techniques were mainly flame absorption and emission spectrometry for the elemental analysis (major and minor elements), dilatometry for the study of thermal behaviour, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for observation of thin layers and X-ray diffraction spectrometry (XRD) for mineralogical composition. In addition, a supervised pattern recognition programme was applied to the results for a selected group of 85 samples and five variables (chromium, copper, lead, nickel and zinc contents). Dilatometry and SEM results showed baking temperatures of these materials below 900 °C and the existence of zones with very different porosity in the same ceramic piece. Results obtained from multielemental analysis and multivariate statistical study by linear discriminant analysis lead us to the following conclusions: (i) the high content of lead found in a large number of antefixes demonstrates the use of lead oxide as an additive in the lime grout treatment, (ii) different contents of Cu, Zn, Cr, and Ni were indicative of the use of varied clay types in the manufacture process (even in the same production centre) as well as of the existence of a pigmentation process, although this last affirmation is not corroborated by the presence of remains of evident painting in the ceramic pieces, (iii) samples can be classified according to the places where these pieces came from and (iv) more variety in their composition was found in Roman age terracotta production centres.     

Use of various spectroscopy techniques to investigate raw materials and define processes in the overpainting of Apulian red figured pottery (4th century BC) from southern Italy

Analytical investigations using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), with Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (EDS), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and High Resolution Magic Angle Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (CP-MAS NMR), were carried out on white, yellow and red overpaintings on Apulian red-figured pottery fragments (4th century BC) from Altamura, Monte Sannace and Canosa - among the most relevant archaeological sites in ancient Peucetia - in order to outline technological features and define the nature of pigments. The results obtained allow us to highlight that Apulian objects have an external appearance which is very similar to Attic objects, but that they are nevertheless different, as they were made using locally available raw materials employing similar but not identical production technology. Perhaps familiarity, rather than real and proper continuity with the Attic pottery tradition, would explain the analytical results.Moreover, this paper proves that solid state nuclear magnetic spectroscopy (CP-MAS NMR) is a useful analytical tool for the examination of ancient pottery, which is also suitable for the identification of its firing temperature.     

Synthesis and characterization of ambient temperature superionic solids in the composite system CuI–Ag<Subscript>2</Subscript>O–TeO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The present work deals with the composite system (CuI) _x –(Ag₂O–TeO₂)_{100– x} , where x=30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70 and 75 mol%, respectively, synthesized by a solid-state reaction route. Powder specimens were analysed using differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared techniques. These studies have revealed the formation of Cu₃TeO₆, AgI and/or other phases. The ambient temperature electrical conductivities obtained for the samples using a complex impedance method were found to lie in the range 10^–6–10^–4 Scm^–1, with low activation energies, thus indicating their superionic nature. The typical composition 35CuI–32.5Ag₂O–32.5TeO₂ was identified as the best conducting one, having an electrical conductivity of 6×10^–4 Scm^–1 at 296 K and an activation energy of 0.23 eV. Ion transport number measurements carried out using Wagner's polarization technique as well as by an electromotive force method suggested that silver ions were responsible for the observed transport features of the composite system. Electronic Publication     

Preparation of thin-sections of painting fragments: Classical and innovative strategies

For more than a century, the analyses of painting fragments have been carried out mainly through the preparation of thick resin-embedded cross-sections. Taking into account the development of innovative micro-analytical imaging techniques, alternatives to this standard preparation method are considered. Consequently, dedicated efforts are required to develop preparation protocols limiting the risks of chemical interferences (solubilisation, reduction/oxidation or other reactions) which modify the sample during its preparation, as well as the risks of analytical interferences (overlap of detected signals coming from the sample and from materials used in the preparation). This study focuses particularly on the preparation of thin-sections (1–20 μm) for single or combined fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray 2D micro-analysis. A few strategies specially developed for the μFTIR analysis of painting cross-sections have already been reported and their potential extrapolation to the preparation of thin-sections is discussed. In addition, we propose two new specific methods: (i) the first is based on a free-embedding approach, ensuring a complete chemical and analytical neutrality. It is illustrated through application on polymeric design objects corpus; (ii) the second is based on a barrier coating approach which strengthens the sample and avoids the penetration of the resin into the sample. The barrier coating investigated is a silver chloride salt, an infrared transparent material, which remains malleable and soft after pellet compression, enabling microtoming. This last method was successfully applied to the preparation of a fragment from a gilded Chinese sculpture (15th C.) and was used to unravel a unique complex stratigraphy when combining μFTIR and μXRF.     

基于曲线拟合的形态相似鹅膏菌的傅里叶变换红外光谱研究

利用傅里叶变换红外光谱仪测试了形态相似的灰疣鹅膏菌、灰绒鹅膏菌和灰褶鹅膏菌的光谱,结果显示,它们的傅里叶变换红外光谱主要由蛋白质和多糖的振动吸收带组成,其蛋白质的吸收频率略有差。选择酰胺I带(中心频率1647cm-1)进行傅里叶自去卷积和曲线拟合处理后3种鹅膏菌中蛋白质在酰胺I带的吸收峰都由12个子峰叠加而成,其中在无序(1650cm-1)、α螺旋(1658cm-1)和β转角结构(1666cm-1)的振动吸收峰上,灰褶鹅膏菌吸收峰的面积百分比分别是20.98%、4.47%和17.14%,明显地区别于其它两种鹅膏菌(灰疣鹅膏菌:10.26%、12.58%和7.71%;灰绒鹅膏菌:14.33%、9.76%和8.83%)。在1683cm-1处的β转角吸收峰上,灰绒鹅膏菌吸收峰的面积百分比是1.92%,明显小于其它两种鹅膏菌(灰疣鹅膏菌:8.03%;灰褶鹅膏菌:6.65%)。研究表明:傅里叶变换红外光谱技术能提供大型真菌所含蛋白质二级结构信息。     

Synthesis and Characterization of a New Cyclotriphosphate [C8H 11 NH 3 ] 3 P 3 O 9 ·3H 2 O

Among the various categories of phosphates, the number of organic cation cyclotriphosphates remains limited. In this work, we report the chemical preparation, crystal structure, thermal analysis, and spectroscopic investigations of a new cyclotriphosphate [C₈H₁₁NH₃]₃P₃O₉·3H₂O. It is characterized by X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and thermal analysis. This compound is a triclinic P unit cell with the following parameters: a = 13.949(4), b = 9.867(3), c = 14.180(2) Å, α = 92.22(2), β = 119.27(2), γ = 85.10(10)°, V = 1696.1(8) Å ³ , and Z = 2. Its structure has been determined and refined to R = 0.041 and R_w = 0.062, using 4527 independent reflections. The atomic arrangement can be described by corrugated thick layers built by [P₃O₉]^3- anions, ammonium groups, and water molecules. The organic entities are located between these layers. H-bonds connecting the different species play an important role in the tridimensionnal network cohesion. This compound is also characterized by infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and thermal analysis.     

热解/红外光谱联用技术用于热解反应的快速检测

详细介绍了快速热解装置CDS2000／红外联用仪(Py／FTIR)的特点。带有样品的热解探头插入并固定在接口装置上，接口装置可直接置于FTIR的光路中，对热解产物进行直接、快速检测，并且可分析重质热解产物。CDS2000热丝裂解器具有极快的升温速度，升温速度从0．01℃／min到20000℃／s，可以有效避免热解过程中的二次反应，有助于推断结构和热解机理；另外，本文对CDS2000／FTIR热解／红外联用仪使用过程中的有关参数进行了分析，如分辨率的选择。本文应用CDS2000／FTIR联用仪对PVC、生物质和模型化合物进行了热解实验，取得了满意的结果。     

傅里叶变换红外光谱和傅里叶变换拉曼光谱法无损鉴别药材的真伪

利用傅里叶变换红外（FT-IR）和近红外傅里叶变换拉曼（NIR FT-aman）光谱法对大黄（西宁大黄）与伪品大黄（华北大黄、山大黄、水根大黄）进行了无损快速的鉴别。结果表明：尽管正品大黄与伪品大黄差别较小，有大部分的化学成分有很大的相同之处，但在红外、拉曼谱图中各自的特征峰较突出，根据谱峰的强度和位置可容易地将它们区别开来。红外和拉曼光谱法相互印证，相互补充，具有快速、准确、操作简单、重复性好、不需对样品进行分离提取，可直接鉴别等特点。     

Analysis of the Chemical Composition of Red Pigments and Inks for the Characterization and Differentiation of Contemporary Prints

Prints are one of the most popular artistic forms. They consist of an original matrix that is printed on a paper support. The stamps are part of a series, and each series is composed of a particular number of prints. Many contemporary prints are made using oil inks and synthetic pigments (reds and yellows). Inks are mainly composed of pigments (organic or inorganic) and a binding medium. The analysis of inks has the potential to facilitate and complement the identification of stamps of different origins.

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) are techniques that are typically available in museums and centers related to the study of works of art. Both can be classified as micro-destructive and provide complementary information about the organic and some inorganic compounds (FTIR), and the elemental composition (SEM-EDX). In this article, the two techniques were used to analyze the composition of red ink in prints. As a result of these analyses, it was possible to distinguish among nearly all of the pigments and inks, indicating that the composition of the red ink can be reliably used to differentiate between stamps of different origins in a series of prints.