Using of Modified Plastic Waste Based on Poly(ethylene‐co‐acrylic acid) Grafts to Solve Transportation Problem of Petroleum Crude Oil

Polyethylene acrylic acid copolymer (PEAA) was modified with different types of alkanols and hydroxybenzoic acids to produce three types of esterified grafts. The molecular structures of the synthesized dispersants were performed using ¹H NMR analysis. The molecular weights of the synthesized dispersants were determined by GPC technique. The activity of PEAA derivatives as asphaltene stabilizer in the crude oil was evaluated by means of flocculation measurements. The effect of asphaltenes on the rheological behavior of highly asphaltenic crude oils was studied to evaluate the transportation parameters of crude oils. The rheological properties were measured at different temperature ranges of 5°C to 25°C in presence and absence of PEAA additives. It was observed that the PEAA having side chain lengths below C₁₆ show non‐Newtonian pseudoplastic relationships at temperatures from 25°C to 5°C. While, PEAA additives having side chain lengths equal or above C₁₆ show Newtonian relationship even at low temperature (5°C) for all tested crude oils.     

Thermal Characterization and Physico-Chemical Properties of Fe2O3−Mn2O3/Al2O3 Systems

The effect of ferric and manganese oxides dopants on thermal and physicochemical properties of Mn-oxide/Al₂O₃ and Fe₂O₃/Al₂O₃ systems has been studied separately. The pure and doped mixed solids were thermally treated at 400–1000°C. Pyrolysis of pure and doped mixed solids was investigated via thermal analysis (TG-DTG) techniques. The thermal products were characterized using XRD-analysis. The results revealed that pure ferric nitrate decomposes into Fe₂O₃ at 350°C and shows thermal stability up to1000°C. Crystalline Fe₃O₄ and Mn₃O₄phases were detected for some doped solids precalcined at 1000°C. Crystalline γ-Al₂O₃ phase was detected for all solids preheated up to 800°C. Ferric and manganese oxides enhanced the formation of α-Al₂O₃ phase at1000°C. Crystalline MnAl₂O₄ and MnFe₂O₄ phases were formed at 1000°C as a result of solid–solid interaction processes. The catalytic behavior of the thermal products was tested using the decomposition of H₂O₂ reaction. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Enzymatic epoxidation of soybean oil in the presence of perbutyric acid

Enzymatic epoxidation of vegetable oils using a long chain fatty acid as an active oxygen carrier could produce a desirable epoxy oxygen group content (EOC); however, the acid value (AV) of final epoxidized oil is too high. The present study was to investigate the effect of different fatty acids with varying length of carbon chain on EOC and AV of the final epoxidized soybean oil (ESO); finding butyric acid was the choice of active oxygen carrier when hydrogen peroxide was used as an oxygen donor in the presence of lipase Novozyme 435. And in situ IR was used to monitor the epoxidation process, which revealed that the formation of perbutyric acid was the key step in the whole reaction. The epoxidation process was optimized as follows: molar ratio of butyric acid/C=C bonds of 0.19:1, 8% of immobilized lipase Novozyme 435 load (relative to the weight of soybean oil) and molar ratio of H₂O₂/C=C bonds of 3.5:1, reaction time of 4 h and reaction temperature of 45 °C. Under these conditions, ESO with a high EOC (7.62 ± 0.20%) and a lower AV value (8.53 ± 0.18 mgKOH/g) was obtained. The oxriane conversion degree was up to 97.94%.     

Mechanochemical Activation of Aluminum: 3. Kinetics of Interaction between Aluminum and Water

Two regimes of oxidation by water are revealed for nanocrystalline aluminum prepared by the mechanical activation of its mixture with graphite and distributed in the matrix of amorphous carbon. At the temperatures 50°C < T < 90°C, nanosized aluminum particles interact with water under quasi-isothermal conditions. The main products are hydrogen and pseudoboehmite AlOOH; a low content of bayerite Al(OH)₃ is also formed. After the induction period, the kinetics of interaction can be satisfactorily described by the law of a diminishing sphere. The effective activation energy of the reaction is equal to 61 ± 10 kJ/mol and is identical for the samples of submicron aluminum prepared by different procedures. At temperatures above 90–95°C, the oxidation of mechanically activated aluminum by water is transformed into a thermally self-accelerated explosion process. Under these conditions, the oxidation of aluminum to α-Al₂O₃ is accompanied by an exothermal reaction between the metal and the carbon matrix during which aluminum carbide Al₄C₃ is formed.     

Synthesis of linear and hyperbranched poly(etherketone)s containing flexible oxyethylene spacers

As an alternative to strong acid reaction media for the Friedel–Crafts acylation for a polymer‐forming reaction, a mild polyphosphoric acid (PPA) with optimized amount of phosphorous pentoxide (P₂O₅) has been tested for the polymerization of AB monomers 4‐(2‐phenoxyethoxy)benzoic acid and 3‐(2‐phenoxyethoxy)benzoic acid, and an AB₂ monomer 3,5‐bis(2‐phenoxyethoxy)benzoic acid. The reaction progress of AB₂ monomer was conveniently traced by FTIR spectroscopy monitoring aromatic ketone (C?O) stretching bands arisen from carboxylic acid groups at the chain ends and carbonyl groups in the backbone as a function of reaction time at 110 °C. The resultant linear and hyperbranched polymers containing flexible oxyethylene spacers, which were prone to be hydrolyzed in strong acids at elevated temperature, displayed high intrinsic viscosities. Thus, the reaction medium PPA/P₂O₅ mixture as an electrophilic substitution reaction was indeed benign not to depolymerize growing polymer molecules but strong enough for the direct generation of carbonium ion from carboxylic acid to promote efficient polymerization. The resultant hyperbranched poly(etherketone) (PEK) displayed the best solubility among samples. All PEKs showed good thermal stability; glass transition temperatures were in the range of 90–117 °C; 5% weight loss generally occurred at greater than 345 °C in air. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5112–5122, 2007     

Thermal synthesis of Barium and barium-strontium metaniobates by using a coprecipitation method

The paper presents a new, non-traditional method for the synthesis of barium metaniobate, BaNb₂O₆, and of a mixed barium-strontium metaniobate, Ba_0.29Sr_0.71Nb₂O₆, through the thermal decomposition of coprecipitation products. The conditions of quantitative precipitation of the metals as niobic acid and barium or barium-strontium oxalate were established. The mechanism of thermal decomposition of the coprecipitate was deduced from differential thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction date. Barium metaniobate forms at 470°C, below the temperature required in the synthesis based upon the solid-state reaction between Nb₂O₅ and BaCO₃ (1100°C). The mixed barium-strontium compound is formed at 700°C, below the 1100°C used in the reaction between Nb₂O₅, BaCO₃ and SrCO₃.     

Synthesis of Surfactants from Alkali Lignin for Enhanced Oil Recovery

With the cheap and abundant resource of alkali lignin as feedstock, surfactants for enhanced oil recovery were synthesized by amination and alkylation reaction of lignosulfonate. The effects of amination conditions, including the ratio of raw materials, amination reagent, temperature, and reaction time, on nitrogen contents and surface tension of the surfactants were investigated. The results showed that ethylenediamine was more suitable for amination, and the molar ratio of alkali lignin, ethylenediamine, and formaldehyde was 1:2:1.5 at 80°C for 5 hours. The structure of synthesized products was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. The HLB value of synthesized product was 10. The interfacial tension between Daqing crude oil and synthetic water could be decreased to 10^?2 mN/m with synthesized surfactant and NaOH at 45°C. Moreover, the effects of molecular weight of surfactants on interfacial tension were also studied. The synthesized surfactant (M_w > 10,000) showed a better interfacial activity on Daqing crude oil.     

Die Tetracyanoborsäuren H[B(CN)4]·n H2O,n = 0, 1, 2

The Tetracyanoboronic Acids H[B(CN)₄]·n H₂O, n = 0, 1, 2 Treatment of an aqueous solution of Na[B(CN)₄] with an acidic cation exchange resin leads to a solution of the strong tetracyanoboronic acid. Evaporation of the solution at room temperature yields colourless single crystals of [H₅O₂][B(CN)₄] ( , a = 9.5830(2) Å, c = 14.25440(3) Å, Z = 1). Further drying of [H₅O₂][B(CN)₄] (mp. 115 °C) in vacuum at 50 °C gives polycrystalline [H₃O][B(CN)₄] (P6₃mc, a = 8.704(1) Å, c = 6.152(1) Å, Z = 2), which is thermally stable up to 145 °C. The anhydrous polycrystalline acid H[B(CN)₄] is formed quantitatively by reacting Me₃SiNCB(CN)₃ with gaseous HCl. This acid starts to decompose at 190 °C with loss of HCN. All three acids were further characterized by vibrational spectroscopy, and elemental analysis.     

Immobilized different amines on modified magnetic nanoparticles as catalyst for biodiesel production from soybean oil

Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were modified with tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and (3-chloropropyl)trimethoxysilane (CPTMS) followed by immobilization with different amines such as guanine, piperazine, methylamine, morpholine, aniline, ethylenediamine, 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, and melamine, designated as Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@CPTMS@amine (nanocatalyst). The prepared nanocatalysts were characterized by means of FTIR, XRD, VSM, SEM, and TEM. Trans-esterification reactions of soybean oil with methanol were then carried out in the presence of the Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@CPTMS@amine as a nanocatalyst. Optimization of the reaction parameters revealed that the fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs or biodiesel) is obtained in 6–96% yields by using methanol to oil molar ratio of 36 in the presence of 6% of nanocatalysts containing melamine and guanine, respectively, at 160 °C within 3 h. The stability and reusability of the catalyst as well as the effect of reaction parameters on the FAME yield are described in this paper.     

Zur Chemie und Konstitution borsaurer Salze. XXI über einige neue Borate des Aluminiums

On the Chemistry and Constitution of Borate Salts. XXI. On some New Borates of Aluminium In the System Al(OH)₃–B(OH)₃ under hydrothermal conditions there are formed independently from the ratio B/Al in the reaction mixture three compounds: at 150–160°C Al₂O₃ · 3 B₂O₃ · 7 H₂O (I)at 200–300°C Al₂O₃ · 2 B₂O₃ · 2,7 H₂O(II) and at 450°C 3 Al₂O₃ · 2 B₂O₃. They are thermally decomposed–I and II via so-called “Metaphases”–to 2 Al₂O₃ · B₂O₃. It is tried to find out analogies with the system Al(OH)₃–SiO₂.     

The thermal behavior of some polymeric precursors used in CaAl12O19 synthesis

CaAl₁₂O₁₉ was synthesised using three different precursors: (a) a polyesteric type precursor resulted from the traditional Pechini method; (b) a polyesteric type precursor resulted from the reaction between citric acid and calcium and aluminum nitrates; and (c) a polymeric type precursor resulted from the reaction between acrylic acid and calcium an aluminum nitrates. The thermal behavior of the three precursors used in the CaAl₁₂O₁₉ synthesis was monitored to underline the thermal effects associated to the CaAl₁₂O₁₉ formation. Thermal analyses performed on precursors do not reveal clear differences regarding the thermal effects assigned to calcium aluminates formation, at temperatures over 800?°C. In contrast, thermal analysis of samples pre-fired at 200?°C, and especially at 600?°C, show clear differences between samples obtained in different ways. It is noted that in samples obtained from acrylic acid and nitrates, and citric acid and nitrates, CA₆ is practically single phase after calcination at 1,200?°C. However, in the sample obtained from citric acid, ethylene glycol, and nitrates, calcined at 1,200?°C, CA₆ is present along with CA₂ and ??-Al₂O₃.     

Calcium peroxosilicates

Calcium peroxosilicates CaO·nSiO₂·xH₂O·yH₂O₂ (n = 1, 2) were synthesized by three methods: (1) the reaction of CaSiO₃·nH₂O (～7% CaSiO₃ suspension in water) with 50.7, 73.4, and 92% H₂O₂ at 0–5°C produced compositions CaSiO₃·6H₂O·2H₂O₂, CaSiO₃·2H₂O·4H₂O₂, and CaSiO₃·3H₂O·8H₂O₂, respectively; (2) the reaction of CaSiO₃·17H₂O with 50.7 and 73.4% H₂O₂ at 0–5°C produced the solvate CaO·2SiO₂·4H₂O·0.15H₂O₂; and (3) the reaction of CaSiO₃·3H₂O with H₂O₂ vapor at 5°C in the absence of anhydrone produced the solvate CaSiO₃·3.5H₂O·0.5H₂O₂. The products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, thermogravimetry, and IR spectroscopy.     

Characterization of complex assemblages of organic acids in geological samples by negative electrospray ionization mass spectrometry using a double‐focusing magnetic sector field mass spectrometer

Four different geological sample types (a crude oil, a crude oil asphaltene, a reservoir core extract and a reservoir core asphaltene) have been characterized by negative ionization electrospray mass spectrometry at low and high mass resolution using a double‐focusing magnetic sector field mass spectrometer. The mass range, shape of the spectra and the signal distribution of the acidic constituents as well as the average molecular weights, the total ion abundance and signal intensity in the spectra were compared for the different sample types. Nominal mass classes have been evaluated and Kendrick mass plots were generated in order to identify homologous series. For the crude oil sample, accurate mass assignments were made by high‐resolution double‐focusing magnetic sector field mass spectrometry (DFMSFMS) and were compared with those obtained by negative ion electrospray ionization (ESI) Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICRMS). With both instrument types, compounds with the molecular composition C_nH_2n+zO₂, among which carboxylic acids predominated, were the main acidic compound class detectable in negative ESI mass spectra. Good agreement was achieved for the double bond class distribution and the carbon number distribution of the O₂ class. In addition, minor compound classes could be identified using FTICRMS. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of formation factors on light crude oil oxidation via TG-FTIR

This research aimed at the investigation of the effect of formation factors on the light crude oil during the high temperature air injection process. For this purpose, thermogravimetric and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy techniques were combined to investigate the light crude oil and oil mixed with formation water and sand at 58, 250, and 450 °C, respectively. The results showed that at different temperature range, the mass drop rate presented different trend and the formation water and sand increased the activation energy of the oxidation reaction. The formation sand exhibited the excellent catalytic effect at relative low temperature. The oxygen addition reaction massively was trigged at 250 °C, and the bond scission reaction dominated at 450 °C. With different additives at different temperature range, the type, concentration, and produced timing of the products presented different tendency.     

Preparation of γ-Alumina Membranes From Sulphuric Electrolyte Anodic Alumina and Its Transition to α-Alumina

Gamma-alumina membrane was prepared from anodic (amorphous) alumina (AA) obtained in a sulphuric acid electrolyte. The transformation scheme, i.e., the crystallization to form metastable alumina polymorphs and the final transition to α-Al₂O₃ with heating was studied by TG-DTA and X-ray diffraction (XRD) using fixed time (FT) method. When heating at a constant rate, the crystallization occurred at 900°C or higher and the final formation of α-Al₂O₃ occurred at 1250°C or higher, which temperatures were higher than the case of using anodic (amorphous) alumina prepared from oxalic acid electrolyte. Relative content of S of the products was obtained by transmission electron microscope (TEM)-energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The proposed thermal change of anodic alumina membrane prepared from sulphuric acid is as follows: 1. At temperatures lower than ca 910°C: Formation of a quasi-crystalline phase or a polycrystalline phase (γ-, δ- and θ-Al₂O₃); 2. 910–960°C: Progressive crystallization by the migration of S toward the surface within the amorphous or the quasi-crystalline phase, forming S-rich region near the surface; 3. 960°C: Change of membrane morphology and the quasi-crystalline phase due to the rapid discharge of gaseous SO₂; 4. 960–1240°C: Crystallization of γ-Al₂O₃ accompanying δ-Al₂O₃; and 5. 1240°C: Transition from γ-Al₂O₃ (+tr. δ-Al₂O₃) into the stable α-Al₂O₃. The amorphization which occurs by the exothermic and the subsequent endothermic reaction suggests the incorporation of SO₃ groups in the quasi-crystalline structure. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

NH<Subscript>4</Subscript>V<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript>: Synthesis,morphology, and optical properties

The effect of the method used for the synthesis of NH₄V₃O₇ on its morphology, textural parameters, and optical properties was studied. Ammonium vanadate NH₄V₃O₇ was prepared by treating NH₄VO₃ in the presence of citric acid under hydrothermal (4.0 ≤ pH ≤ 5.5, T = 180–200°C, 48 h) and microwave–hydrothermal (3.5 ≤ pH ≤ 5.0, T = 180–220°C, 20 min) conditions. Self-assembled NH₄V₃O₇ microcrystals crystallizing in monoclinic system with unit cell parameters a = 12.247(5) Å, b = 3.4233(1) Å, c = 13.899(4) Å, β = 89.72(3)°, and V = 582.3(4) ų (space group P2₁) were shown to be formed independently of the method used to treat the reaction mixture. The morphology of NH₄V₃O₇ particles was shown to depend on рН of the reaction mass and the method of synthesis. The structural features of NH₄V₃O₇ were studied by IR, UV, and Vis spectroscopy, and the optical bandgap was determined.     

Microbial Lipid Production from Enzymatic Hydrolysate of Pecan Nutshell Pretreated by Combined Pretreatment

Biodiesel is a fuel composed of monoalkyl esters of long-chain fatty acids derived from renewable biomass sources. In this study, biomass waste pecan nutshell (PS) was attempted to be converted into microbial oil. For effective utilization of PS, sequential pretreatment with ethylene glycol–H₂SO₄–water (78:2:20, wt:wt:wt) at 130 °C for 30 min and aqueous ammonia (25 wt%) at 50 °C for 24 h was used to enhance its enzymatic saccharification. Significant linear correlation was obtained about delignification-saccharification (R ² = 0.9507). SEM and FTIR results indicated that combination pretreatment could effectively remove lignin and xylan in PS for promoting its enzymatic saccharification. After 72 h, the reducing sugars from the hydrolysis of 50 g/L pretreated PS by combination pretreatment could be obtained at 73.6% yield. Using the recovered PS hydrolysates containing 20 g/L glucose as carbon source, microbial lipids produced from the PS hydrolysates by Rhodococcus opacus ACCC41043. Four fatty acids including palmitic acid (C16:0; 23.1%), palmitoleic acid (C16:1; 22.4%), stearic acid (C18:0; 15.3%), and oleic acid (C18:1; 23.9%) were distributed in total fatty acids. In conclusion, this strategy has potential application in the future.     

Responsive Janus Cage Reactor

A Janus silica cage was synthesized by selectively grafting an ionic liquid (IL) and poly‐N‐isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAM) (lower critical solution temperature (LCST)≈32 °C) onto the exterior and interior sides of the mesoporous SiO₂ shell. The paramagnetic core inside the cavity is responsible for magnetic collection. The PW₁₂O₄₀^3? anion is further conjugated onto the IL side by anion exchange. The Janus cage acts as a thermal‐responsive reactor for catalytic oxidization of dibenzothiophene (DBT) in the presence of H₂O₂. The sulfide in the model oil can be completely decomposed at 25 °C, whilst the oxidative products are more dissoluble in water and preferentially captured inside the Janus cage. The Janus cage reactor could be regenerated at high temperature above 32 °C after releasing the products.     

A double-stage tube furnace—acid-trapping protocol for the pre-concentration of mercury from solid samples for isotopic analysis

High-precision mercury (Hg) stable isotopic analysis requires relatively large amounts of Hg (>10 ng). Consequently, the extraction of Hg from natural samples with low Hg concentrations (<1–20 ng/g) by wet chemistry is challenging. Combustion–trapping techniques have been shown to be an appropriate alternative [1]. Here, we detail a modified off-line Hg pre-concentration protocol that is based on combustion and trapping. Hg in solid samples is thermally reduced and volatilized in a pure O₂ stream using a temperature-programmed combustion furnace. A second furnace, kept at 1,000 °C, decomposes combustion products into H₂O, CO₂, SO₂, etc. The O₂ carrier gas, including combustion products and elemental Hg, is then purged into a 40 % (v/v) acid-trapping solution. The method was optimized by assessing the variations of Hg pre-concentration efficiency and Hg isotopic compositions as a function of acid ratio, gas flow rate, and temperature ramp rate for two certified reference materials of bituminous coals. Acid ratios of 2HNO₃/1HCl (v/v), 25 mL/min O₂ flow rate, and a dynamic temperature ramp rate (15 °C/min for 25–150 and 600–900 °C; 2.5 °C/min for 150–600 °C) were found to give optimal results. Hg step-release experiments indicated that significant Hg isotopic fractionation occurred during sample combustion. However, no systematic dependence of Hg isotopic compositions on Hg recovery (81–102 %) was observed. The tested 340 samples including coal, coal-associated rocks, fly ash, bottom ash, peat, and black shale sediments with Hg concentrations varying from <5 ng/g to 10 μg/g showed that most Hg recoveries were within the acceptable range of 80–120 %. This protocol has the advantages of a short sample processing time (～3.5 h) and limited transfer of residual sample matrix into the Hg trapping solution. This in turn limits matrix interferences on the Hg reduction efficiency of the cold vapor generator used for Hg isotopic analysis.     

Ionization of aqueous dimethylbenzoic acids: Conductance and thermodynamics

Precise conductance measurements are reported for four xylic acids, 2,3-2,5-2,6 and 3,5-dimethylbenzoics. Limiting molar conductances Λ_O and pK _a obtained from a Fuoss type analysis, are reported for each of these acids at five degree intervals covering the range from 0° to 100°C. The Λ_O values for each acid are described by a polynomial in the Celsius temperature. The pK _a were smoothed as a function of the Kelvin temperature T with an equation of the form: $$pK_{\text{a}} = A{\text{ }} + {\text{ }}B/T{\text{ }} + {\text{ }}C{\text{ }}logT{\text{ }} + {\text{ }}DT$$ where the term linear in T was required only for the 2,3-acid. Standard enthalpy, entropy, and heat capacity changes were calculated by suitable differentiation of this equation. Walden products were calculated for the four anions at each of the temperatures and are compared with earlier data for the toluate and the benzoate ions. Those acids with ortho groups undergo a large decrease in enthalpy on ionization and are substantially more acidic than benzoic acid. These effects are especially large for 2,6-dimethylbenzoic acid. A methyl group in the meta position lowers acidity slightly both in m-toluic and in 2,5-dimethylbenzoic acid. However, 2,3-dimethylbenzoic acid is more acidic than o-toluic.