Thermal decomposition of poly(1,4-dioxan-2-one)

To evaluate the feasibility of poly(1,4-dioxan-2-one) (PPDO) as a feed stock recycling material, the pyrolysis kinetics of PPDO were investigated. The pyrolysis of PPDO exclusively resulted in the distillation of 1,4-dioxan-2-one (PDO). From thermogravimetric measurements conducted at different heating rates, the kinetic parameters of the pyrolysis: activation energy, E_a=127 kJ mol⁻¹; order of reaction, n=0; and pre-exponential factor, A=2.3×10⁹ s⁻¹, were estimated by plural analytical methods. The estimates show that the decomposition of PPDO proceeds by unzipping depolymerization as main reaction and random degradation process with lower E_a and A values. Equivalent isothermal degradation curves calculated from the thermogravimetric curves were supported by experimental isothermal degradation data. The calculation that PPDO is converted smoothly into PDO at 270°C agrees with the reported ceiling temperature of PPDO.     

A simultaneous TG–DTA study of the thermal decomposition of 2-hydroxybenzoic acid, 2-carboxyphenyl ester (salsalate)

Simultaneous thermogravimetry–differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA) and gas and liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry detection have been used to study the kinetics and decomposition of 2-hydroxybenzoic acid, 2-carboxyphenyl ester, commercially known as salsalate. Samples of salsalate were heated in the TG–DTA apparatus in an inert atmosphere (100 ml min⁻¹ nitrogen) in the temperature range 30–500 °C. The data indicated that the decomposition of salsalate is a two-stage process. The first decomposition stage (150–250 °C) had a best fit with second-order kinetics with E_a=191–198 kJ/mol. The second decomposition stage (300–400 °C) is described as a zero-order process with E_a=72–80 kJ/mol. The products of the decomposition were investigated in two ways:

(a)Salsalate was heated in a gas chromatograph at various isothermal temperatures in the range 150–280 °C, and the exit gas stream analyzed by mass spectrometry (GC–MS). This approach suggested that salsalate decomposes with the formation of salicylic acid, phenol, phenyl salicylate, and cyclic oligomers of salicylic acid di- and tri-salicylides.

(b)One gram samples of salsalate were heated in a vessel under nitrogen to 150 °C, and the residues were analyzed by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS). The major compound detected was a linear tetrameric salicylate ester.

     

Study of initiation reactivity of some plastic explosives by vacuum stability test and non-isothermal differential thermal analysis

On the basis of measurements of 18 high explosives by means of the Czech Vacuum Stability Test (VST) STABIL, a relationship has been specified between the results of this test and those of Russian manometric method. The said relationship was used to predict the Arrhenius parameters (E_a and log A values) of four plastic explosives based on RDX and one high explosive based on PETN (Semtex). The slopes E_aR⁻¹ of Kissinger's equation were specified by means of non-isothermal differential thermal analysis (DTA) and evaluation of the measurement results by means of the Kissinger method. The role played by binders and plasticizers in thermal decomposition of nitramines was pointed out on the basis of relationship between the E_a values obtained from VST and the E_aR⁻¹ values obtained from DTA, both for plastic explosives, eight nitramines, Composition B and PETN. The relationships between the E_aR⁻¹ values and thermostability threshold was specified for the given group of explosives. The relationship classify some of the studied plastic explosives as belonging to nitramines with steric hindrance in the molecule (CPX, TNAZ and HNIW). The relationship between E_aR⁻¹ values and drop energies, E_dr, sharply differentiates between plastic explosives and individual nitramines. From the relationship between the E_dr and D² values it was found that the increasing performance of the studied nitramines and plastic explosives is connected with the decrease in their impact sensitivity. Also specified are the approximate linear dependences between the peak temperatures of exothermic decomposition of all the explosives studied and their ignition temperatures, T_ig, or critical temperatures, T_c; these dependences were applied to prediction of T_ig and T_c of both the studied plastic explosives and some of the nitramines.     

Accelerated aging and lifetime prediction: Review of non-Arrhenius behaviour due to two competing processes

Lifetime prediction of polymeric materials often requires extrapolation of accelerated aging data with the suitability and confidence in such approaches being subject to ongoing discussions. This paper reviews the evidence of non-Arrhenius behaviour (curvature) instead of linear extrapolations in polymer degradation studies. Several studies have emphasized mechanistic variations in the degradation mechanism and demonstrated changes in activation energies but often data have not been fully quantified. To improve predictive capabilities a simple approach for dealing with curvature in Arrhenius plots is examined on a basis of two competing reactions. This allows for excellent fitting of experimental data as shown for some elastomers, does not require complex kinetic modelling, and individual activation energies are easily determined. Reviewing literature data for the thermal degradation of polypropylene a crossover temperature (temperature at which the two processes equally contribute) of 83 °C was determined, with the high temperature process having a considerably higher activation energy (107–156 kJ/mol) than the low temperature process (35–50 kJ/mol). Since low activation energy processes can dominate at low temperatures and longer extrapolations result in larger uncertainties in lifetime predictions, experiments focused on estimating E_a values at the lowest possible temperature instead of assuming straight line extrapolations will lead to more confident lifetime estimates.     

Surface and catalytic properties of Cu–Ce–O composite oxides prepared by combustion method

Surface and catalytic properties of Cu–Ce–O composite materials prepared by solution combustion method have been investigated. The materials are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature programmed reduction (TPR) and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR). The results of EPR and TPR show finely dispersed Cu²⁺ species on ceria matrix with low copper content. The Cu²⁺ species exists in the form of dimers and clusters which are not evident in XRD. In addition CuO is also present as small clusters which grow to larger size at higher Cu content. There is no evidence of CuO forming a solid solution with fluorite CeO₂ in combustion method. The Cu²⁺ species mostly appear on surface rather than in the bulk. Hydrogen peroxide decomposition kinetics has been carried out on Cu–Ce–O composite materials to investigate the effect of crystalline and well-dispersed copper oxide phases on CeO₂. From kinetic results, the catalyst materials can be grouped into highly dispersed as well as crystalline CuO phases present on CeO₂ matrix. Two parallel compensating lines for dispersed and crystalline CuO phases on CeO₂ are observed in ln A versus E_a plot indicating the compensation effect in H₂O₂ decomposition. This observation is consistent with XRD and EPR results.     

Investigation of relaxations in polystyrene–polyoxyethylene copolymer by thermally stimulated current

The diblock copolymer containing 43.5 wt.% of polystyrene (PS) (M_w=15 000) and polyoxyethylene (POE) (M_w=19 500) was investigated by integral and by partial thermally stimulated depolarization current (TSDC) measurements in the temperature range of 173–293 K. The first peak P₁, widely distributed from 183 to 213 K, was a dipolar peak attributed to the initial stage of glass transition in POE. The second peak P₂, with a maximum at 273 K, was due to glass transition. The third peak P₃, with a maximum at about 263 K, was caused by the space charge relaxation localized at the interfaces between the ordered and nonordered phases in POE, Maxwell–Wagner relaxation, representing a precursor in melting of POE crystals. The results were supported by determination of activation energy E_a of the partial peaks, which covered the whole range of investigation, and by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements. The E_a(T) distribution showed a maximum in entropy change at 219±4 K. Some runs with samples containing different amounts of the PS component were considered. All the relaxations were coming from the POE block. The current due to PS slightly overlapped the total spectra without interaction. The influence of the repeated runs was observed and discussed.     

Correlation between hydration and deprotonation in hexaaqua metal complexes

The hydration energy of metallic cations determined with density functional calculations using a double-numerical plus p-polarization basis set, related to the acidity constants of hexaaqua metal complexes, was investigated in the present study. From the results calculated by Vosko-Wilk-Nusair (VWN), Becke-Perdew (BP) and Becke-Lee-Yang-Parr (BLYP) density functionals, a global linear correlation with the observed acidity constants in both main group [Mg(II), Ca(II) and Al(III)] and (post-)transition group [Mn(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Sc(III), Cr(III), Fe(III), Ga(III) and In(III)] hexaaqua metal complexes has been established:

VWN density functional: pK_a = 16.5760 + 0.0173E_hydr kcal mol⁻¹

BP density functional: pK_a = 15.7329 + 0.0182E_hydr kcal mol⁻¹

BLYP density functional: pK_a = 15.9448 + 0.0185E_hydr kcal mol⁻¹     

Effects of inorganic components on the structure and thermo-oxidative degradation of PMMA modified metal alkoxide–EAA complex

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) modified titanium and zirconium n-butoxide–ethyl acetoacetate (EAA) complex [M5-Ti(OBuⁿ)₂(EAA)₂ and M5-Zr(OBuⁿ)₂(EAA)₂] were obtained from trialkoxysilane-functional PMMA and EAA modified titanium and zirconium alkoxide via the sol–gel method. Infrared (IR), ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to analyze the structures and properties of the hybrids with various proportions of metal oxide species. The effect of the complex of metal oxides and EAA ligands on structure and thermo-oxidative degradation of the M5-Ti(OBuⁿ)₂(EAA)₂ and M5-Zr(OBuⁿ)₂(EAA)₂ hybrids were investigated in this study. The ¹H spin–diffusion path length of the hybrids was in a nanometer scale as estimated from the spin–lattice relaxation time in a rotating frame (T_1ρ^H). The apparent activation energies (E_a), evaluated by van Krevelen’s method, for random scission of PMMA segments in hybrids decreased with increasing metal oxide content.     

Influence of sample deposition and coating with Zr and Pd on the atomization kinetics of germanium in graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

Atomization of germanium from zirconium-coated (ZrGT), palladium-coated (PdGT) and palladium-zirconium-coated graphite tubes (PZGT) by aqueous deposition of the analyte solution and/or the trapping of the gaseous hydride has been investigated. From the activation energies calculated based on Smets' method, it was found that both the mode of sample introduction and the nature of the atomizer surface have an effect on the atom formation of germanium. Activation energies E_a of 383.9 ± 17.1, 445.8 ± 19.8 and 557.9 ± 12.4 kJ mol⁻¹ were observed for germanium atomization from ZrGT, PZGT and PdGT, respectively. A much larger E_a value of 950.2 ± 13.1 kJ mol⁻¹ was obtained for Ge from PdGT by the trapping of GeH₄. XPS results do not give sufficient evidence for Pd-Ge compound formation.     

Nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of amorphous Te51.3As45.7Cu3

The structure and kinetics of the crystallization reaction of amorphous Te_51.3As_45.7Cu₃ were studied under nonisothermal conditions using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Two exothermic changes were reported. Five isoconversional methods, of Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS), Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO), Tang, Starink, and Vyazovkin, were used to determine the variation of the activation energy for crystallization with temperature, E(T). The results show that the activation energy for crystallization associated with the first peak first decreases with increasing temperature and then increases. Different behaviour was observed for the second peak, where an increase of E with temperature followed by a decrease. The effect of heating rate on the reaction model, g(), was also different for the two crystallization peaks.     

Polymerization process of the silane coupling agent 3-aminopropyltriethoxy silane – H NMR spectra and kinetics of ethanol release

In the 3-aminopropyltriethoxy silane–deuterated ethanol–H₂O system, the rate of release of ethanol from the ethoxy groups, a reaction which occurs during the condensation process, has been followed by use of ¹H NMR spectroscopy at different temperatures. Two separate reaction processes have been identified, and values of the reaction rate constants and thermodynamic parameters (E_a, ΔH^‡ and ΔS^‡) have been calculated.     

Photocatalytic degradation and kinetics of Orange G using nano-sized Sn(IV)/TiO2/AC photocatalyst

Sn(IV) doped and nano-sized TiO₂ immobilized on active carbon (AC) (Sn(IV)/TiO₂/AC) were prepared by the sol–gel and dip-calcination method. An azo dye, Orange G (OG), was used as a model compound to study its photocatalytic activity in a fluidized bed photoreactor. The addition of Sn(IV) on TiO₂ could greatly improve the activity of TiO₂, and the optimal amount of tin was 2.5 at.%. The effects of calcination temperature, pH value, the initial hydrogen peroxide concentration ([H₂O₂]₀), the catalyst amount ([TiO₂]), the initial OG concentration ([dye]₀) and co-existing negative ions on the photocatalytic activity of Sn(IV)/TiO₂/AC were studied. The optimal conditions were as follows: pH 2.00, [H₂O₂]₀ = 1.5mL/L, [dye]₀ = 50 mg/L, [TiO₂] = 12.5 g/L, when the 300 W high pressure mercury light was used as the light source. Under these conditions, the degradation efficiency of OG reached 99.1% after 60 min reaction. The kinetics of the OG degradation was also analyzed. The results showed that the kinetics of this reaction fit the Langmiur–Hinshelwood kinetics model well and the absorption of OG on the Sn(IV)/TiO₂/AC surface was the controlling step in the whole degradation process. In addition, the catalyst, liquid and gas were separated effectively, and the integrative process of reaction and separation was achieved during the experiment.     

A new study of the enzymatic hydrolysis of carboxymethyl cellulose with a bulk acoustic wave sensor

A new bulk acoustic wave (BAW) cellulase sensing technique, which is based on the enzymatic hydrolysis process of sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) by cellulase, was established. The frequency shift curves of BAW sensor indicated that the viscosity of the tested solutions decreased during the hydrolysis process. The hydrolysis rate of CMC by cellulase was calculated from the frequency shift curves. The hydrolysis rate of CMC under different pH conditions at 30°C showed that cellulase had high hydrolysis ability approximately at pH 5.0. Kinetic parameters (the Michaelis constant K_m and the maximum rate V_max) of the process were estimated by using a linear method of Lineweaver–Burk plot. K_m is 1.95±0.25 mg ml⁻¹ and V_max is −(4.25±0.58)×10⁻³ g^1/2 cm^−3/2 cP^1/2 min⁻¹. Also the activation energy (E_a) of the enzymatic hydrolysis, with a value of 51.99±1.26 kJ mol⁻¹, was estimated in this work.     

Gelation of β-lactoglobulin in the presence of propylene glycol alginate: kinetics and gel properties

The role of the non-gelling polysaccharide, propyleneglycol alginate (PGA), on the dynamics of gelation and gel properties of β-lactoglobulin (β-lg) under conditions where the protein alone does not gel (6%) was analyzed. To this end, the kinetics of gelation, aggregation and denaturation of β-lg in the mixed systems (pH 7) were studied at different temperatures (64–88 °C). The presence of PGA increased thermal stability of β-lg. The rate of β-lg denaturation was decreased and the onset and peak denaturation temperatures increased by 2.2–2.4 °C. PGA promoted the formation of larger aggregates that continued to grow in time. An average aggregate diameter of approximately 300 nm is reached at the gel point in the mixed β-lg+PGA systems, irrespective of the heating temperature. Comparing the activation energies for the aggregation (193 kJ/mol), denaturation (422 kJ/mol) and formation of the primary gel structure (1/t_gel) (256 kJ/mol) processes in the mixed protein–polysaccharide system, it can be concluded that the rate determining step in the formation of the primary gel structure would be the aggregation of protein. E_a values for the processes after the gel point (solid phase gelation) suggest a diffusion limited process because of the high viscosity of the solid gelling matrix. The characteristics of the mixed β-lg+PGA gels in terms of rheological and textural parameters, water loss and microstructure were studied as a function of heating temperature and time. The extent of aggregation and the type of interactions involved, prior to denaturation seem to be very important in determining the gel structure and its properties.     

Ab initio calculations of minimum-energy pathways of the nucleophilic addition of the H anion, LiH molecule and Li/H ion pair to acetylene and methylacetylene

Ab initio calculations were performed for special points of the minimal energy pathways (MEP) of the nucleophilic addition reactions of the isolated H⁻ anion, LiH molecule and Li⁺/H⁻ ion pair to acetylene (A) and methylacetylene (MA) molecules, proceeding in accordance (M) and against (aM) the Markovnikov's rule. All structural parameters were optimized using the restricted Hartree–Fock (RHF) method. For the addition of H⁻, the 6-31++G^* basis set was used and for the reactions of LiH and Li⁺/H⁻ the 6-31G^* basis set with the subsequent recalculation of single point energies, taking into account of electron correlation energy by means of the second-order Möller–Plesset perturbation theory at the MP2/6-31++G^** level. The results of calculations demonstrate, that the energy characteristics of both M- and aM-additions with H⁻ do not differ sufficiently (0.1–1.2 kcal/mol for the activation energies (ΔE_a) and the reaction heats (ΔQ)). The substitution of the H atom by the CH₃ group in A molecule results in practically the same values of ΔQ and ΔE_a. On the contrary, for the LiH molecule and Li⁺/H⁻ ionic pair, the M-addition is favorable (charge control). It is found that the presence of electrophile decreases the activation energy by 3–5 kcal/mol as compared with the addition of the isolated hydride ion H⁻.     

Electrical conductivity and cation exchange kinetic studies on poly-o-toluidine Th(IV) phosphate nano-composite cation exchange material

An advanced organic–inorganic cation exchange material poly-o-toluidine Th(IV) phosphate nano-composite was synthesized by a modified sol–gel technique by incorporating Th(IV) phosphate precipitate with the matrix of poly-o-toluidine. The material showed good ion-exchange behavior and used successfully in separation of metal ions. The conductivity of the composite was found within the range of 10⁻² to 10⁻³ S/cm; measured by 4-in-line-probe dc electrical conductivity measuring technique. The conductivity is at the border of metallic and semiconductor region. Ion-exchange kinetics for few divalent metal ions was evaluated by particle diffusion-controlled ion-exchange phenomenon at four different temperatures. The particle diffusion mechanism is confirmed by the linear τ (dimensionless time parameter) versus t (time) plots. The exchange processes thus controlled by the diffusion within the exchanger particle for the systems studies herein. Some physical parameters like self-diffusion coefficient (D₀)_, energy of activation (E_a) and entropy of activation (ΔS⁰) have been evaluated under conditions favoring a particle diffusion-controlled mechanism.     

Kinetics of phenol hydrogenation over supported palladium catalyst

Kinetics of vapor phase hydrogenation of phenol to cyclohexanone over Pd/MgO system has been studied in a flow microreactor under normal atmospheric pressure. The reaction rate is found to be negative order with respect to the partial pressure of phenol and has increased from −0.5 to 0.5 with increasing temperature (473 to 563 K). The apparent activation energy (E_a) of the process is found to be close to 65 kJ per mol. On the basis of kinetic results a surface mechanism is proposed.     

Electrochemical behaviour of triclosan at a screen-printed carbon electrode and its voltammetric determination in toothpaste and mouthrinse products

Cyclic voltammetry was used to investigate the electrochemical behaviour of triclosan (2,2,4′-trichloro-2′-hydroxydiphenyl ether) at a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE). It was found that a single anodic peak occurred over the pH range 6.0–12.0; this peak was considered to result from an irreversible oxidation reaction at the phenolic moiety. A plot of E_p versus pH was constructed and from the break point a pK_a value of 7.9 was obtained, thus agreeing with the literature value. Detailed voltammetric studies were performed at pH 10, where the analyte exists as an anion. It was demonstrated that, at an initial potential of 0 V, the anion underwent electrosorption prior to electrochemical oxidation. The oxidation reaction appeared to involve a one-electron transfer, as deduced from a calculated n_a value of 0.5; the same value was obtained at pH 7.0. In contrast to triclosan, triclosan monophosphate was found to be electrochemically inactive when subjected to voltammetry under the stated conditions.

The electrochemical oxidation of triclosan at a SPCE was exploited for its determination (0.3%) in commercial toothpaste and mouthrinse products using differential pulse voltammetry. The recovery and precision data indicated that this approach may have application in routine quality control analysis.     

Voltammetric behaviour of bromhexine and its determination in pharmaceuticals

A complete electrochemical study and a novel electroanalytical procedure for bromhexine quantitation are described. Bromhexine in methanol/0.1 mol L⁻¹ Britton–Robinson buffer solution (2.5/97.5) shows an anodic response on glassy carbon electrode between pH 2 and 7.5. By DPV and CV, both peak potential and current peak values were pH-dependent in all the pH range studied. A break at pH 5.5 in E_P versus pH plot revealing a protonation–deprotonation (pK_a) equilibrium of bromhexine was observed. Spectrophotometrically, an apparent pK_a value of 4.3 was also determined.

An electrodic mechanism involving the oxidation of bromhexine via two-electrons and two-protons was proposed. Controlled potential electrolysis followed by HPLC–UV and GC–MS permitted the identification of three oxidation products: N-methylcyclohexanamine, 2-amino-3,5-dibromobenzaldehyde and 2,4,8,10-tetrabromo dibenzo[b,f][1,5] diazocine.

DPV at pH 2 was selected as optimal pH for analytical purposes. Repeatability, reproducibility and selectivity parameters were adequate to quantify bromhexine in pharmaceutical forms. The recovery was 94.50 ± 2.03% and the detection and quantitation limits were 1.4 × 10⁻⁵ and 1.6 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹, respectively. Furthermore, the DPV method was applied successfully to individual tablet assay in order to verify the uniformity content of bromhexine. No special treatment of sample were required due to excipients do not interfered with the analytical signal. Finally the method was not time-consuming and less expensive than the HPLC one.     

Kinetic analysis of coupled transport of thiocyanate ions through liquid membranes at different temperatures

Non-steady-state kinetics of coupled transport of thiocyanate ions through liquid membrane (trichloromethane), containing hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride as a carrier, was examined at different temperatures. The kinetics of thiocyanate transport could be analyzed in the formalism of two, consecutive, irreversible first order reactions. The influence of temperature on the kinetic parameters (k_1d, k_2m, R_m^max, t_max, J_d^max, J_a^max) have been also investigated. The membrane entrance rate, k_1d, and the membrane exit rates, k_2m and k_2a, increase with temperature. For maximum membrane entrance and exit fluxes, J_d^max and J_a^max, the activation energies were found from the slopes of the two linear relationships: 7:75 and 8.30 kcal/mol, respectively. The values of the found activation energy indicate that the process is controlled by species difussion.