Catalytic reduction of dinitrogen to ammonia by molybdenum: theory versus experiment

Molybdenum complexes that contain the triamidoamine ligand [(RNCH(2)CH(2))(3)N](3-) (R = 3,5-(2,4,6-iPr(3)C(6)H(2))(2)C(6)H(3)) catalyze the reduction of dinitrogen to ammonia at 22 degrees C and 1 atm with protons from 2,6-dimethylpyridinium and electrons from decamethylchromocene. Several theoretical studies have been published that bear on the proposed intermediates in the catalytic dinitrogen reduction reaction and their reaction characteristics, including DFT calculations on [(HIPTNCH(2)CH(2))(3)N]Mo species (HIPT =hexaisopropylterphenyl = 3,5-(2,4,6-iPr(3)C(6)H(2))(2)C(6)H(3)), which contain the actual triamidoamine ligand that is present in catalytic intermediates. Recent theoretical findings are compared with experimental findings for each proposed step in the catalytic reaction.     

Matrix IR-spectroscopic and quantum-chemical study of difluorostannylene complexation with dinitrogen

Complexes of difluorostannylene with dinitrogen of composition 1∶1 and 1∶2 were stabilized in Ar matrix (12 K) and characterized by IR spectra. The bands at 588, 565, and 583, 557 cm⁻¹, respectively, were assigned to these complexes. Potential energy surfaces of the systems SnF₂+N₂ and SnF₂+2N₂ were studied by theab initio MP2/3-21G(d2)//HF/3-21G(d2) method using the basis set including polarization functions at Sn, F, and N atoms. Equilibrium structures of the complexes haveC _s andC _2v symmetry and correspond to coordination of lone electron pairs of nitrogen molecules with vacant p-AO of the carbenic center. The calculated complexation energies are equal to 4.6 and 8.9 kcal mol⁻¹, respectively. Based on results of quantum-chemical calculations an interpretation of the IR spectra of the complexes was given and it was shown that cycloaddition of SnF₂ to a triple N≡N bond with formation ofcyclo-SnF₂N₂ is energetically unfavorable. The absorption band belonging to SiF₄·N₂ complex in Ar matrix was detected and assigned. Dedicated to the memory of Academician M. E. Vol'pin timed to his 75th birthday. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1087–1093, June, 1998.     

Recent advances in wireless photofixation of dinitrogen to ammonia under the ambient condition: A review

Ammonia is the most necessitate and second largely produces chemical reagent worldwide to address the need of the fertilizer industry, as a precursor for many value-added chemicals and a competing source (17.6 wt% H₂) for the blooming hydrogen economy. Although N₂ constitutes 78.09 % of the earth's atmosphere, however, its conversion to ammonia is strenuous because of its non-polar and triple bond character. To address the burgeoning demand, ammonia is typically synthesized via the conventional energy and capital intensive Haber-Bosch technique utilizing natural gas and releasing tons of (CO₂) to the environment. On this basis, cost-effective photon-driven dinitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) is aroused thriving attention as a sustainable and eco-friendly process for ammonia production under ambient conditions. Yet, the photocatalytic ammonia production is not up to the mark for industrial application due to low conversion rate, less catalytic selectivity, ambiguous mechanism, and limited faradic or solar-to-chemical efficiency. Further, the NRR activity of a catalyst essentially depends upon its electronic and surface texture; hence the fabrication of advanced materials is of paramount interest to enhance the performance. The present review covers the underlying mechanism of N₂ photoreduction, prevailing theories, different catalytic engineering techniques, various detection methods, and critical challenges encountered in the theme of photofixation of dinitrogen to ammonia. Additionally, the overarching goal of this review is to bestow an outline of recent research articles in earmarking high-caliber photocatalytic systems and hence planting a strong foundation to ensure the succeeding improvement in this promising and hastily stretching field of dinitrogen photofixation research.     

Optimisation of the extraction of olive (Olea europaea) leaf phenolics using water/ethanol-based solvent systems and response surface methodology

An experimental setup based on a 2³ full-factorial, central-composite design was implemented with the aim of optimising the recovery of polyphenols from olive leaves by employing reusable and nontoxic solutions composed of water/ethanol/citric acid as extracting media. The factors considered were (i) the pH of the medium, (ii) the extraction time and (iii) the ethanol concentration. The model obtained produced a satisfactory fit to the data with regard to total polyphenol extraction (R ² = 0.91, p = 0.0139), but not for the antiradical activity of the extracts (R ² = 0.67, p = 0.3734). The second-order polynomial equation obtained after analysing the experimental data indicated that ethanol concentration and time mostly affected the extraction yield, but that increased pH values were unfavourable in this regard. The maximum theoretical yield was calculated to be 250.2 ± 76.8 mg gallic acid equivalent per g of dry, chlorophyll-free tissue under optimal conditions (60% EtOH, pH 2 and 5 h). Liquid chromatography–electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry of the optimally obtained extract revealed that the principal phytochemicals recovered were luteolin 7-O-glucoside, apigenin 7-O-rutinoside and oleuropein, accompanied by smaller amounts of luteolin 3′,7-O-diglucoside, quercetin 3-O-rutinoside (rutin), luteolin 7-O-rutinoside and luteolin 3′-O-glucoside. Simple linear regression analysis between the total polyphenol and antiradical activity values gave a low and statistically insignificant correlation (R ² = 0.273, p > 0.05), suggesting that it is not the sheer amount of polyphenols that provides high antioxidant potency; instead, this potency is probably achieved through interactions among the various phenolic constituents.     

Preparation ofN-nitrohydroxylamines by substitutive nitration

Interaction of Na- or K-salts ofN-acetyl-N-methylhydroxylamines with aryl or aryl halides results in correspondingO-substitutedN-acetyl-N-methylhydroxylamines. Nitration of these compounds by nitronium salts or dinitrogen pentoxide results inO-substitutedN-methyl-N-nitrohydroxylamines.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 239–241, January, 1996.     

Uptake of ammonia by saccharomyces cerevisiae carrying the plasmid pCYG4 related with ammonia assimilation

Batch culture experiments involving ammonia uptake in Saccharomyces cerevisiae BC55 pCYG4 have been carried out. This strain carries the plasmid pCYG4 that directs substantial overproduction of NADP-GDH, conferring an 11-fold increase in activity. The wild type cells had a specific growth rate greater than BC55 pCYG4. The ammonia uptake was practically the same until 15 h of growth. However, the amount of ammonia hydroxide added during growth (60 h) was two and half times greater in the BC55 pCYG4 than wild type cells. The results suggest that the presence of the plasmid pCYG4 can increase the amount of ammonia taken by the cells, but not the amount of biomass.     

Efficiency assessment of wastewater treatment plant based on SPMD sampling

The efficiency of treatment processes forboth municipal and industrial wastewater (treatment plant-Ostrava, Czech Republic) focused on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) was assessed. Semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) as a sampling system were applied. Exposed SPMDs were analyzed both for chemical contaminants of POPs and toxicity response. The chemical analyses of PAHs were made by HPLC-FLD, PCDD/Fs and PCBs were analysed by GC/MS/MS on GCQ or PolarisQ (Thermoquest). Ecotoxicity data on chlorococcal alga Desmodesmus subspicatus (Scenedesmus subspicatus) and luminescent bacteria Vibrio fischeri are presented here. All toxicity data as effective volume Vtox are expressed. The results show good treatment ability of the treatment plant and proved used system as an appropriate tool for efficiency assessment of treatment and/or decontamination processes.     

13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy for determining the different components of epicuticular waxes of olive fruit (Olea europaea) Dritta cultivar

¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) was applied to determine the different components of apolar and polar fractions which were isolated by column chromatography from the crude chloroform-soluble waxes of olive fruits (Olea europaea) Dritta cultivar.¹³C NMR enabled the determination in the wax apolar fraction, of aliphatic aldehydes, and of benzyl, alkyl and glyceryl esters. In particular, the fatty acid composition of alkyl esters, comprising saturated and unsaturated oleic and linoleic acids, was determined. Acyl chain composition and the chain composition of 1,3- and 2-glycerol positions were also determined for triacylglycerols of olive fruit waxes.Oleanolic and maslinic acids were confirmed to be the major components of wax polar fraction. Complete assignments of ¹³C NMR chemical shifts of oleanolic and maslinic acids as a mixture were achieved by using homonuclear correlation spectroscopy with gradient (g-COSY), attached proton test (APT), inverse-detected heteronuclear single-quantum coherence with gradient (g-HSQC), high-resolution heteronuclear correlation spectroscopy (HETCOR) for C-H directly attached pairs and C-H long-range-coupled experiments.     

Pyrazoles as molecular probes to study the properties of co-crystals by solid state NMR spectroscopy

Equimolar mixtures of 3,5-dimethylpyrazole (1) with four NH-imidazoles (2–5) have been studied by¹³C and ¹⁵N CPMAS NMR and by DSC. In three cases, the solid mixture behaves as the sum of the individual components [imidazole (2), 2-methylimidazole (3) and 2,4(5)-dimethylimidazole (5)]. In one case [4,5-dimethylimidazole (4)], the mixture corresponds to a new species in which the dynamic behavior of1 no longer exists.     

Conversion of hydrogen sulfide to elemental sulfur byChlorobium thiosulfatophilum in a CSTR with a sulfur-settling separator

Chlorobium thiosulfatophilum may be used for the bioconversion of hydrogen sulfide to elemental sulfur or sulfate. Sulfur is the preferred product because of problems in the disposal of sulfate. A CSTR with a sulfur-settling separator has been used to preferentially produce and recover elemental sulfur. The simple nutritional requirements of the bacterium and differences in densities and average cell and sulfur particle sizes make a CSTR with a sulfur-settling separator attractive. A bench-scale study has been carried out to determine the optimum process conditions to maximize H₂S conversion, cell growth, elemental sulfur production, and to minimize sulfate production. The liquid effluent typically contained about 425–550 mg/L elemental sulfur. The sulfate concentration was maintained at levels below 100 mg/L. It was possible to remove up to 57 Μmol min⁻¹ L⁻¹ of H₂S from the gas stream. An experiment over a period of 392 h showed stable performance. For Presentation at the Fifteenth Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals, Colorado Springs, CO.     

EPR study of the dinitrogen tetroxide dissociation in organic solvents

The dinitrogen tetroxide homolytical dissociation constants K _DIS are determined in organic solvents. The values are the highest in non-donor and the lowest in n-donor solvents. The variations of K _DIS with solvent are interpreted in terms of electron donor-acceptor interactions between dinitrogen tetroxide and electron donor molecules.     

Conversion of food industrial wastes into bioplastics

The usage of plastics in packaging and disposable products, and the generation of plastic waste, have been increasing drastically. Broader usage of biodegradable plastics in packaging and disposable products as a solution to environmental problems would heavily depend on further reduction of costs and the discovery of novel biodegradable plastics with improved properties. In the authors’ laboratories, various carbohydrates in the growth media, including sucrose, lactic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, and various combinations of butyric and valeric acids, were utilized as the carbon (c) sources for the production of bioplastics byAlcaligenes eutrophus. As the first step in pursuit of eventual usage of industrial food wastewater as nutrients for microorganisms to synthesize bioplastics, the authors investigated the usage of malt wastes from a beer brewery plant as the C sources for the production of bioplastics by microorganisms. Specific polymer production yield by A. Latus DSM 1124 increased to 70% polymer/cell (g/g) and 32g/L cell dry wt, using malt wastes as the C source. The results of these experiments indicated that, with the use of different types of food wastes as the C source, different polyhydroxyal-kanoate copolymers could be produced with distinct polymer properties.     

A synergetic effect in nitrous acid formation by sonolysis of nitric acid in the presence of nitrous oxide

A synergetic effect is found in the sonochemical formation of HNO₂ in HNO₃ solution in the presence of an N₂O–Ar gaseous mixture. The maximum rate of HNO₂ formation is observed at an N₂O : Ar ratio of 15 : 85 (v/v). During the sonolysis of 4 M HNO₃ solutions, the rate of HNO₂ formation increases multifold due to the synergetic effect. The rate of sonochemical hydrazine decomposition in nitrate solutions also increases considerably in the presence of N₂O.     

Measuring ‘hydrophobicity’ of filamentous bacteria found in wastewater treatment plants

Attempts to measure the hydrophobicity of the cell surfaces of Gordonia amarae and Rhodococcus erythropolis, filamentous bacteria found in wastewater treatment plants, by several methods—microbial adhesion to hydrocarbons (MATH) or bacterial adhesion to hydrocarbons (BATH), contact angle, and micro-sphere adhesion to cells (MAC)—were unsuccessful. The results were erratic and inconsistent. This was in part because of the filamentous growth habit of G. amarae, but it was also a consequence of the fact that the ‘hydrophobicity’ of bacterial cells is not a clearly defined quantity. A technique is introduced in which bacteria are suspended in solutions of synthetic surfactants (non-ionic, cationic and anionic), and the suspensions aerated under defined conditions. The partitioning of bacterial cells between the foam and liquid phases was reproducible. The method was tested in model systems in which the bacteria were replaced by silica particles with defined surface modifications. Although this technique is not a direct measure of ‘hydrophobicity’, the partitioning of cells depends in part upon their surface hydrophobicity. In addition, qualitative information is gained about ionic interactions between the bacteria and the bubble surface. The results are pertinent to the problem of foaming in wastewater treatment plants.     

Conversion of industrial food wastes by Alcaligenes latus into polyhydroxyalkanoates

Broader usage of biodegradable plastics in packaging and disposable products as a solution to environmental problems would heavily depend on further reduction of costs and the discovery of novel biodegradable plastics with improved properties. As the first step in our pursuit of eventual usage of industrial food wastewater as nutrients for microorganisms to synthesise environmental-friendly bioplastics, we investigated the usage of soya wastes from a soya milk dairy, and malt wastes from a beer brewery plant as the carbon sources for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) by selected strain of microorganism. Bench experiments showed that Alcaligenes latus DSM 1124 used the nutrients from malt and soya wastes to biosynthesise PHAs. The final dried cell mass and specific polymer production of A. latus DSM 1124 were 32g/L and 70% polymer/cells (g/g), 18.42 g/L and 32.57% polymer/cell (g/g), and 28 g/L and 36% polymer/cells (g/g), from malt waste, soya waste, and from sucrose, responctively. These results suggest that many types of food wastes might be used as the carbon source for the production of PHA.     

Microbial synthesis and characterization of physiochemical properties of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) produced by bacteria isolated from activated sludge obtained from the municipal wastewater works in Hong Kong

The first objective of this study was the measurement of physical properties of P(3HB-co-3HV) copolymers with different (hydroxybutyrate) HB to (hydroxyvalerate) HV ratios produced by Bacillus cereus (TRY2) isolated from activated sludge. The 3HV PHBV copolymers were 0.05, 22.6, 39.2, 54.1, and 69.1 mol%, respectively. The second objective was to study possible wastewater treatment and production of PHAs at the same time by B. cereus (TRY2) and Pseudomonas spp. (TOB17) (both were isolated from activated sludge), recombinant Bacillus DH5α, and a combination of the above three bacteria. The results were satisfactory; the maximum COD and TOC of the sewage sludge reduced were 53.5% and 67.5%, respectively.     

Analytical applications of electrode sensitive to labetalol in pharmaceuticals

The analytical properties of an ion-selective electrode sensitive to labetalol with a liquid membrane, based on ion-pair complexes with sodium tetraphenylborate (TPB-Na⁺) are described. The studied electrode can be used for the determination of labetalol hydrochloride as a protonated form of labetalol in pharmaceuticals. The calibration curve, e.g. EMF=f(pC _LabHCl ) is linear in the range from 10⁻⁵ to 10⁻² mol L⁻¹ with a correlation coefficient of 0.9992 and slope of 61.13 mV/decade, which is close to the Nernstian slope. The detection limit of the examined electrode is 7.20×10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹. The influence of pH of the tested solutions on the formulation of the electrode is not as considerable since the electrode works correctly in the pH range 3.0–8.0. The main attributes of the developed electrode are: stability, good reproducibility of EMF and short response time, close to 30 seconds depending on labetalol concentration in the solution. The electrode shows good selectivity for many inorganic ions. The selectivity for drug cations is weaker due to the structural similarity of the interfering cations to labetalol. The results of labetalol determination using direct potentiometry in drugs such as Pressocard (Polpharma) and Trandate (GlaxoWellcome) were compatible with the quantity of labetalol declared by the manufacturer, and with parallel UV spectrophotometric and HPLC determinations.     

Conversion of 6-phenylimino-2H-thiopyran-4-amines to 1-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-4(1H)-pyridinones

Summary 6-Phenylimino-3,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyran-4-amines (1) were converted to 1-phenyl-5,6-dihydropyridine-2(1H)-thiones (3). Those were akylated and hydrolyzed, thus yielding 6-methylthio-1-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-4(1H)-pyridinones (5). Finally, the methylthio group was removed withRaney nickel giving the title compounds6. The relative configurations of the formed diastereoisomeric dihydropyridinones have been investigated by NOE measurements.

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Umwandlung von 6-Phenylimino-2H-thiopyran-4-aminen zu 1-Phenyl-2,3-dihydro-4(1H)-pyridinonen

Zusammenfassung 6-Phenylimino-3,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyran-4-amine (1) wurden in 1-Phenyl-5,6-dihydropyridin-2(1H)-thione (3) umgewandelt. Diese wurden alkyliert und zu 6-Methylthio-1-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-4(1H)-pyridinonen (5) hydrolysiert. Zuletzt gelangte man durch selektives Entfernen der Methylthiogruppe mitRaney-Nickel zu den Titelverbindungen6. Die relativen Konfigurationen der gebildeten diastereomeren Dihydropyridinone wurden durch NOE-Messungen aufgeklärt.

     

Intermicellar material exchange in reverse micelles formed by ionic AOT and nonionic Igepal surfactants studied by means of pulse radiolysis. Influence of the temperature

The recombination of thiocyanate anion radicals, (SCN) ₂ ⁻ , formed pulse radiolytically within the water pools of reverse micelles stabilized with anionic AOT and nonionic Igepal surfactants, was proved as an indicator reaction to study intermicellar exchange. It was found that the exchange process is slower inIgepal than in AOT reverse micelles with the same water to surfactant ratio. The apparent activation enthalpy and entropy of the exchange process were determined in different alkanes. For the AOT and Igepal reverse micelles the activation parameters increase with the droplet size, but for the AOT systems they do not significantly change with the increase of droplet concentration. For non-percolated systems the activation parameters for Igepal reverse micelles approach those for AOT reverse micelles. This result supports existing suggestions that the mechanism of intermicellar exchange does not differ in principle between reverse micelles stabilized with ionic and nonionic surfactants.