Thermodynamic investigation of several natural polyols (II)

The low-temperature heat capacity C _p,m of sorbitol was precisely measured in the temperature range from 80 to 390 K by means of a small sample automated adiabatic calorimeter. A solid-liquid phase transition was found at T=369.157 K from the experimental C _p-T curve. The dependence of heat capacity on the temperature was fitted to the following polynomial equations with least square method. In the temperature range of 80 to 355 K, C _p,m/J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹=170.17+157.75x+128.03x ²-146.44x ³-335.66x ⁴+177.71x ⁵+306.15x ⁶, x= [(T/K)−217.5]/137.5. In the temperature range of 375 to 390 K, C _p,m/J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹=518.13+3.2819x, x=[(T/K)-382.5]/7.5. The molar enthalpy and entropy of this transition were determined to be 30.35±0.15 kJ mol⁻¹ and 82.22±0.41 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ respectively. The thermodynamic functions [H _T-H _298.15] and [S _T-S 298.15], were derived from the heat capacity data in the temperature range of 80 to 390 K with an interval of 5 K. DSC and TG measurements were performed to study the thermostability of the compound. The results were in agreement with those obtained from heat capacity measurements.     

Application of the “Tg-Δ rule” to the local structural study of ferrate glasses

A linear relationship exists between the glass transition temperature (T _g) and the quadrupole splitting (Δ) of Fe(III). The linear relationship, termed ‘T _g-Δ rule’, has been verified in 60CaO·(40-x)Al₂O₃·xFe₂O₃, 60CaO·10BaO·(30-x) Al₂O₃·xFe₂O₃, 60CaO·(40-x)Ga₂O₃·xFe₂O₃, and 50CaO·(50-x)Ga₂O₃·xFe₂O₃ glasses. In these glasses, both theT _g and Δ decrease linearly with an increasing content of Fe₂O₃ (≈40 mol%). The slope of the straight line, obtained from the plot of theT _g vs. Δ, was calculated to be 670≈700, °C/(mm·s⁻¹), revealing that the Fe(III) constitutes the skeleton of aluminoferrate and galloferrate glasses.     

Thermal behaviour and fragility of Sb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-containing zinc borophosphate glasses

Thermal behaviour of the glass series (100-x)[50ZnO-10B₂O₃-40P₂O₅]·xSb₂O₃ (x=0-42 mol%) and (100-y)[60ZnO-10B₂O₃-30P₂O₅]·ySb₂O₃ (y=0-28 mol%) was investigated by DSC and TMA. The addition of Sb₂O₃ results in a decrease of the glass transition temperature and crystallization temperature in both compositional series. All glasses crystallize on heating in the temperature range of 522–632°C. Thermal expansion coefficient of the glasses monotonously increases with increasing Sb₂O₃ content in both series and varies within the range of 6.6–11.7 ppm °C⁻¹. From changes of thermal capacity within the glass transition region it was concluded that with increasing Sb₂O₃ content the ‘fragility’ of the studied glasses increases.     

Baseline assessment of doses and risk due to natural radionuclides in edible biota of Domiasiat,Meghalaya, India

Radiation dose-risk assessment was carried out for cereal species Brassica compestris var. dichotoma, Oryza sativa var. Shalum1, Zea mays, Lactuca indica, Cumunis sativum, and Clocasia esculanta due to naturally available radionuclides ⁴⁰K, ²³⁸U and ²³²Th in Domiasiat area. The activity in biota and corresponding soil was measured by precipitation method using NaI(TI) detector. Transfer factor (TF) was for Oryza spp. (1.00E−01-⁴⁰K, 8.76E−05-²³²Th, and 9.11E−05-²³⁸U), for Brassica spp. (5.39E−01-⁴⁰K, 8.17E−04-²³²Th and 2.96E−04-²³⁸U) and for Zea spp. (3.41E−01-⁴⁰K, 5.84E−05-²³²Th, 8.87E−05-²³⁸U) etc., respectively. A detailed physio-morphological study of the biota and extensive investigation of ecosystem was carried out for assessment. The data was modeled using FASSET for dose estimation and obtained total dose was 1.58E−04  \upmu Gy h^-1 \upmu \hbox{Gy}\,h^{-1} in Oryza spp., 2.87E−04  \upmu Gy h^-1 \upmu \hbox{Gy}\,h^{-1} Brassica spp. and 6.90E−03  \upmu Gy h^-1 \upmu \hbox{Gy}\,h^{-1} in Zea spp. etc. The dose was compared with the UNSCEAR dataset for screening level dose for biota. Zea spp. was more susceptible for the chronic radiation exposure.     

Low-temperature heat capacities and thermodynamic properties of 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol

The molar heat capacities C _p,m of 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol were measured in the temperature range from 78 to 410 K by means of a small sample automated adiabatic calorimeter. A solid-solid and a solid-liquid phase transitions were found at T-314.304 and 402.402 K, respectively, from the experimental C _p-T curve. The molar enthalpies and entropies of these transitions were determined to be 14.78 kJ mol⁻¹, 47.01 J K⁻¹ mol⁻ for the solid-solid transition and 7.518 kJ mol⁻¹, 18.68 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ for the solid-liquid transition, respectively. The dependence of heat capacity on the temperature was fitted to the following polynomial equations with least square method. In the temperature range of 80 to 310 K, C _p,m/(J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹)=117.72+58.8022x+3.0964x ²+6.87363x ³−13.922x ⁴+9.8889x ⁵+16.195x ⁶; x=[(T/K)−195]/115. In the temperature range of 325 to 395 K, C _p,m/(J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹)=290.74+22.767x−0.6247x ²−0.8716x ³−4.0159x ⁴−0.2878x ⁵+1.7244x ⁶; x=[(T/K)−360]/35. The thermodynamic functions H _T−H _298.15 and S _T−S _298.15, were derived from the heat capacity data in the temperature range of 80 to 410 K with an interval of 5 K. The thermostability of the compound was further tested by DSC and TG measurements. The results were in agreement with those obtained by adiabatic calorimetry.     

On the sol–gel preparation of different tungstates and molybdates

The preparation and characterization of the M′–M′′–O nitrate–tartrate (M′ = Ca, Ba, Gd and M′ = W, Mo) precursor gels synthesized by simple, inexpensive, and environmentally benign aqueous sol–gel method is reported. The obtained gels were studied by thermal (TG/DSC) analysis. TG/DSC measurements revealed the possible decomposition pathway of synthesized M′–M′′–O nitrate–tartrate gels. For the synthesis of different metal tungstates and molybdates, the precursor gels were calcined at different temperatures (650, 800, and 900 °C). According to the X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis data, the crystalline compounds CaMo_1-x W _x O₄ doped with Ce³⁺ ions, BaMo_1-x W _x O₄ doped with Eu³⁺ ions and Gd₂Mo₃O₁₂ were obtained from nitrate–tartrate gels annealed at 650–900 °C temperatures. The XRD data confirmed that the fully crystalline single-phase powellite, scheelite, or Gd₂(MoO₄)₃ structures were formed already at 650 °C. Therefore, the suggested sol–gel method based on the complexation of metal ions with tartaric acid is suitable for the preparation of mixed tungstates–molybdates at relatively low temperature in comparison with solid-state synthesis.     

Differential scanning calorimetric examination of the degenerated human palmar aponeurosis in dupuytren disease

The Dupuytren contracture - degenerative shortening of the palmar aponeurosis - is a common disease of the hand in Europe. The aetiology of the degenerative changes in the collagen structures is still not clear. To describe the clinical manifestation of the disease we use an international classification according to Iselin. Our hypothesis was that in Dupuytren disease there is a clear pathological abnormality in the tissue elements building up the palmar aponeurosis, which is responsible for the disease, and could be monitored besides the classical histological methods by differential scanning calorimetry. The thermal denaturation of different parts of human samples was monitored by a SETARAM Micro DSC-II calorimeter. All the experiments were performed between 0 and 100°C. The heating rate was 0.3 K min⁻¹. DSC scans clearly demonstrated significant differences between the different types and conditions of samples (control: T _m=63°C and ΔH _cal=4.1 J g⁻¹, stage I.: T _m= 63°C and ΔH _cal=5.1 J g⁻¹, stage II.: T _m=64°C and ΔH _cal=5.2 J g⁻¹, stage III.: T _m=60°C and ΔH _cal=5.2 J g⁻¹, stage IV.: T _m=60.2°C and ΔH _cal=5.3 J g⁻¹). The heat capacity change between native and denatured states of aponeurosis samples increased with the degree of structural alterations indicating significant water loosing. These observations could be explained with the structural alterations caused by the biochemical processes. With our investigations we could demonstrate that DSC is a useful and well applicable method for the investigation of collagen tissue of the human aponeurosis. Our results may be of clinical relevance in the future i.e. in the choice of the optimal time of surgical therapy of different clinical level Dupuytren contractures.     

Regularities of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis in the solid 8-hydroxyquinoline—chloramine B system

The regularities of chemical reactions in solid 8-hydroxyquinoline—chloramine B mixtures were studied under conditions of organic self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS), isothermal reaction, and thermal explosion in the 20–220 °C temperature range. Comprehensive physicochemical analysis and microstructural study of the reaction products were carried out. The temperature of SHS initiation (58 °C), the heat of the reaction (129±9 kJ mol⁻¹), the stoichiometric coefficient (1), the maximum temperature (T _max=98–140 °C), and the velocity of SHS wave propagation (u=0.15–0.55 mm s⁻¹) were determined. Depending on the ratio of the reactants (n), a low-temperature non-degeerate stable gasless mode (n≤1,T _max=115 °C,E _a=42 kcal mol⁻¹) and a high-temperature mode (n>1,T _max=140 °C,E _a=0.4 kcal mol⁻¹) are possible for SHS. The SHS affords monohydroxy and monochloro derivatives of 8-hydroxyquinoline, benzenesulfonamide, NaCl, NaOH, and H₂O. The mechanism of the solid-phase reaction at temperatures below 58 °C includes surface, solid-phase, and gas-phase diffusion; that for SHS is capillary spreading of the hydroxyquinoline melt. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2271–2284, December, 1999.     

Synthesis and characterization of mesoporous Mn–Ni oxides for supercapacitors

Mesoporous Mn–Ni oxides with the chemical compositions of Mn_1-x Ni _x O _δ (x = 0, 0.2, and 0.4) were prepared by a solid-state reaction route, using manganese sulfate, nickel chloride, and potassium hydroxide as starting materials. The obtained Mn–Ni oxides, mainly consisting of the phases of α- and γ-MnO₂, presented irregular mesoporous agglomerates built from ultra-fine particles. Specific surface area of Mn_1–x Ni _x O _δ was 42.8, 59.6, and 84.5 m² g⁻¹ for x = 0, 0.2, and 0.4, respectively. Electrochemical properties were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge/discharge in 6 mol L⁻¹ KOH electrolyte. Specific capacitances of Mn_1-x Ni _x O _δ were 343, 528, and 411 F g⁻¹ at a scan rate of 2 mV s⁻¹ for x = 0, 0.2, and 0.4, respectively, and decreased to 157, 183, and 130 F g⁻¹ with increasing scan rate to 100 mV s⁻¹, respectively. After 500 cycles at a current density of 1.24 A g⁻¹, the symmetrical Mn_1–x Ni _x O _δ capacitors delivered specific capacitances of 160, 250, and 132 F g⁻¹ for x = 0, 0.2, and 0.4, respectively, retaining about 82%, 89%, and 75% of their respective initial capacitances. The Mn_0.8Ni_0.2O _δ material showed better supercapacitive performance, which was promising for supercapacitor applications.     

Thermodynamic investigation of several natural polyols

The low-temperature heat capacity C _p,m of erythritol (C₄H₁₀O₄, CAS 149-32-6) was precisely measured in the temperature range from 80 to 410 K by means of a small sample automated adiabatic calorimeter. A solid-liquid phase transition was found at T=390.254 K from the experimental C _p-T curve. The molar enthalpy and entropy of this transition were determined to be 37.92±0.19 kJ mol⁻¹ and 97.17±0.49 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, respectively. The thermodynamic functions [H _T-H _298.15] and [S _T-S _298.15], were derived from the heat capacity data in the temperature range of 80 to 410 K with an interval of 5 K. The standard molar enthalpy of combustion and the standard molar enthalpy of formation of the compound have been determined: Δ_c H _m⁰(C₄H₁₀O₄, cr)= −2102.90±1.56 kJ mol⁻¹ and Δ_f H _m⁰(C₄H₁₀O₄, cr)= − 900.29±0.84 kJ mol⁻¹, by means of a precision oxygen-bomb combustion calorimeter at T=298.15 K. DSC and TG measurements were performed to study the thermostability of the compound. The results were in agreement with those obtained from heat capacity measurements.     

Molar heat capacities and standard molar enthalpy of formation of 2-amino-5-methylpyridine

The heat capacities (C _p,m) of 2-amino-5-methylpyridine (AMP) were measured by a precision automated adiabatic calorimeter over the temperature range from 80 to 398 K. A solid-liquid phase transition was found in the range from 336 to 351 K with the peak heat capacity at 350.426 K. The melting temperature (T _m), the molar enthalpy (Δ_fus H _m⁰), and the molar entropy (Δ_fus S _m⁰) of fusion were determined to be 350.431±0.018 K, 18.108 kJ mol⁻¹ and 51.676 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, respectively. The mole fraction purity of the sample used was determined to be 0.99734 through the Van’t Hoff equation. The thermodynamic functions (H _T-H _298.15 and S _T-S _298.15) were calculated. The molar energy of combustion and the standard molar enthalpy of combustion were determined, ΔU _c(C₆H₈N₂,cr)= −3500.15±1.51 kJ mol⁻¹ and Δ_c H _m⁰ (C₆H₈N₂,cr)= −3502.64±1.51 kJ mol⁻¹, by means of a precision oxygen-bomb combustion calorimeter at T=298.15 K. The standard molar enthalpy of formation of the crystalline compound was derived, Δ_r H _m⁰ (C₆H₈N₂,cr)= −1.74±0.57 kJ mol⁻¹.     

Molar heat capacity and thermodynamic properties of 1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic anhydride [C8H10O3]

The molar heat capacity C _p,m of 1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic anhydride was measured in the temperature range from T=80 to 390 K with a small sample automated adiabatic calorimeter. The melting point T _m, the molar enthalpy Δ_fus H _m and the entropy Δ_fus S _m of fusion for the compound were determined to be 303.80 K, 14.71 kJ mol⁻¹ and 48.43 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, respectively. The thermodynamic functions [H _T-H _273.15] and [S _T-S _273.15] were derived in the temperature range from T=80 to 385 K with temperature interval of 5 K. The thermal stability of the compound was investigated by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG), when the process of the mass-loss was due to the evaporation, instead of its thermal decomposition.     

Spinel-Mullite Composites with Optical Properties

The aim of this paper was to study the synthesis and characterization of spinel-containing mullite based materials, using sol-gel techniques. Several gels were prepared, with nominal compositions 3(Al_2−2xM_x Ti_xO₃)·2SiO₂ and 3(Al_2−xM_xO₃)·2SiO₂, with M=Ni⁺² or Co⁺² and 0.0≤x≤0.2, by hydrolysis and condensation of mixtures of aluminum, silicon and titanium alkoxides and nickel chloride. Dried gels were homogeneous and displayed a glass transition at around 750°C, which indicated that the system could be described as an amorphous silicoaluminate network. Crystallization pathway of gels were followed using differential thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction patterns of samples thermal treated at temperatures in the range between 800 and 1400°C. A two-phase aluminate spinel-mullite arrangement was detected at temperatures around 1200°C. The microstructure of the final product was interesting, because the minor secondary phase was homogeneously dispersed in the mullite matrix. Chemical and thermal resistance of diphasic materials were tested and the results indicate that these materials can be used as high temperature ceramic pigments.     

Ionic conduction of lithium for Perovskite-type compounds, Li x La(1− x )/3NbO3 and (Li0.25La0.25)1− x Sr0.5 x NbO3

Perovskite-type compounds, Li _x La_{(1− x )/3}NbO₃ and (Li_0.25La_0.25)_{1− x} Sr_{0.5 x} NbO₃ as lithium ionic conductors, were synthesized by a solid-state reaction. From powder X-ray diffraction, the solid solution ranges of the two compounds were determined to be 0≤x≤0.25 and 0≤x≤0.125, respectively. In the Li _x La_{(1− x )/3}NbO₃ system, the ionic conductivity of lithium at room temperature, σ₂₅, exhibited a maximum value of 4.7 × 10⁻⁵ S · cm⁻¹ at x = 0.10. However, because of the decrease in the lattice parameters with increasing Li concentration x˙, σ₂₅ of the samples decreased with increasing x from 0.10 to 0.25. Also, in the (Li_0.25La_0.25)_{1− x} Sr_{0.5 x} NbO₃ system, the lattice parameter increased with the increase of Sr concentration and the σ₂₅ achieved a maximum (7.3 × 10⁻⁵ S · cm⁻¹ at 25 °C) at x = 0.125. Received: 12 September 1997 / Accepted: 15 November 1997     

Estimation of the critical temperature of thermal explosion for azido-acetic-acid-2-(2-azido-acetoxy)-ethylester using non-isothermal DSC

A method for estimating the critical temperatures (T _b) of thermal explosion for energetic materials is derived from Semenov’s thermal explosion theory and the non-isothermal kinetic equation dα/dt=A ₀ T ^B f(α)e^−E/RT using reasonable hypotheses. The final formula of calculating the value of T _b is $ \left( {\frac{B} {{T_b }} + \frac{E} {{RT_b^2 }}} \right) $ \left( {\frac{B} {{T_b }} + \frac{E} {{RT_b^2 }}} \right) (T _b−T _e0=1. The data needed for the method, E and T _e0, can be obtained from analyses of the non-isothermal DSC curves. When B=0.5 the critical temperature (T _b) of thermal explosion of azido-acetic-acid-2-(2-azido-acetoxy)-ethylester (EGBAA) is determined as 475.65 K.     

Low-temperature thermodynamic properties of <Emphasis Type="Italic">L</Emphasis>-cysteine

Heat capacity C _p(T) of the orthorhombic polymorph of L-cysteine was measured in the temperature range 6–300 K by adiabatic calorimetry; thermodynamic functions were calculated based on these measurements. At 298.15 K the values of heat capacity, C _p; entropy, S _m⁰(T)-S _m⁰(0); difference in the enthalpy, H _m⁰(T)-H _m⁰(0), are equal, respectively, to 144.6±0.3 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, 169.0±0.4 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ and 24960±50 J mol⁻¹. An anomaly of heat capacity near 70 K was registered as a small, 3–5% height, diffuse ‘jump’ accompanied by the substantial increase in the thermal relaxation time. The shape of the anomaly is sensitive to thermal pre-history of the sample.     

Synthesis of electrospun BaSrTiO<Subscript>3</Subscript>/PVP nanofibers

Ba_1−x Sr _x TiO₃(x = 0–0.5, BST) nanofibers with diameters of 150–210 nm were prepared by using electrospun BST/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) composite fibers by calcination for 2 h at temperatures in the range of 650–800 °C in air. The morphology and crystal structure of calcined BST/PVP nanofibers were characterized as functions of calcination temperature and Sr content with an aid of XRD, FT-IR, and TEM. Although several unknown XRD peaks were detected when the fibers were calcined at temperatures less than 750 °C, they disappeared with increasing the temperature (above 750 °C) due to its thermal decomposition and complete reaction in the formation of BST. In addition, the FT-IR studies of BST/PVP fibers revealed that the intensities of the O–H stretching vibration bands (at 3430 and 1425 cm⁻¹) became weaker with increasing the calcination temperature and a broad band at 540 cm⁻¹, Ti–O vibration, appeared sharper and narrower after calcination above 750 °C due to the formation of metal oxide bonds. However, no effect of Sr content on the crystal structure of the composites was detected.     

New doped Li-M-Mn-O (M = Al, Fe, Ni) spinels as cathodes for rechargeable 3 V lithium batteries

The electrochemical behaviour of new doped Li-M-Mn-O (M = Al, Fe, Ni) spinel oxides in liquid electrolyte lithium cells was studied. The insertion electrode materials were obtained by heating stoichiometric amounts of thoroughly mixed LiOH and M _x Mn_{1− x} CO₃ (M = Fe, Ni; x = 0.08−0.15) or Al _x Mn_{1− x} (CO₃) (OH) _y , in the case of Al, at 380 °C in air for 20 h. The transition metal-doped samples, particularly those containing Ni or obtained at low temperatures, where the resulting spinel was cation-deficient and highly disordered, exhibited the best cycling performance in the potential window 3.3−2.3 V. Cell capacity was retained by 80% after 200 cycles. Capacity fading was observed on increasing the firing temperature, together with improved crystallinity and the disappearance of cation vacancies. This impaired electrochemical behaviour is ascribed to a Jahn-Teller effect, which induces an X-ray-detectable cubic-tetragonal phase transition upon lithium insertion. The phase transition was undetectable in the low-temperature samples. The influence of the Jahn-Teller distortion is thus seemingly lessened by a highly disordered structure. Received: 25 November 1997 / Accepted: 28 January 1998