Use of the ionic liquid trioctylmethyl ammonium dodecanedioate as a corrosion inhibitor of steel in production water

The properties of trioctylmethyl ammonium dodecanedioate (TAD) as a corrosion inhibitor (CI) of API 5L X52 steel in production water (PW) were evaluated in steady state using weight loss and polarization techniques within a Reynolds number (N _Re ) interval ranging from 500 to 40,000. The highest obtained IE was 87 % at 100 ppm with N _Re  = 2500, whereas the lowest IE was 15 % at 10 ppm with N _Re  = 4000. TAD was classified as a mixed-type CI of API 5L X52 steel in PW. The \(\Delta G_{\text{ads}}^{^\circ }\) data established a relationship between the N _Re and the adsorption process, confirming the occurrence of physical adsorption phenomena.     

Vanadium separation with activated carbon and iron/activated carbon nanocomposites in fixed bed column: experimental and modelling study

In this work, iron nanoparticles were impregnated onto a commercial activated carbon surface to produce a novel adsorbent called iron-activated carbon nanocomposite (I-AC). Commercial activated carbon (CAC) and I-AC were used for vanadium separation in a fixed-bed column. The effects of various operating parameters such as inlet vanadium ion concentration, adsorbent dose and volumetric flow rate on vanadium separation performance of CAC were investigated. The performance of both adsorbents was compared in three adsorption/desorption cycles. The experimental breakthrough curves of vanadium ions in the fixed-bed column were modeled using the film-pore-surface diffusion model (FPSDM). The four mass transfer parameters characterizing this model, namely the external mass-transfer coefficient (k _f ), pore and surface diffusion coefficients (D _p and D _s ), and axial dispersion coefficient (D _L ) were evaluated through the model. Modelling and experimental results showed that the I-AC nanocomposite has a better performance for vanadium separation in comparison to AC. Sensitivity analysis on the FPSDM showed that the pore and surface diffusion, external mass transfer and axial dispersion play a significant role in vanadium separation using the I-AC. On the other hand, surface diffusion resulted to be relatively less important when CAC was used.     

Experimental and CFD-PBM Study of Oxygen Mass Transfer Coefficient in Different Impeller Configurations and Operational Conditions of a Two-Phase Partitioning Bioreactor

In this work, gas dispersion in a two-phase partitioning bioreactor is analyzed by calculating volumetric oxygen mass transfer coefficient which is modeled using a commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD), code FLUENT 6.2. Dispersed oxygen bubbles dynamics is based on standard “k-ε” Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) model. This paper describes a three-dimensional CFD model coupled with population balance equations (PBE) in order to get more confirming results of experimental measurements. Values of k _L a are obtained using dynamic gassing-out method. Using the CFD simulation, the volumetric mass transfer coefficient is calculated based on Higbie’s penetration theory. Characteristics of mass transfer coefficient are investigated for five configurations of impeller and three different aeration flow rates. The pitched six blade type, due to the creation of downward flow direction, leads to higher dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations, thereby, higher values of k _L a compared with other impeller compositions. The magnitude of dissolved oxygen percentage in the aqueous phase has direct correlation with impeller speed and any increase of the aeration magnitude leads to faster saturation in shorter periods of time. Agitation speeds of 300 to 800 rpm are found to be the most effective rotational speeds for the mass transfer of oxygen in two-phase partitioning bioreactors (TPPB).     

Crystal structures of <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis>-[Re<Subscript>6</Subscript>S<Subscript>8</Subscript>(CN)<Subscript>2</Subscript>L<Subscript>4</Subscript>] complexes,L = pyridine or 4-methylpyridine

The structures of three novel octahedral rhenium cluster compounds [Re₆S₈(CN)₂(py)₄]·H₂O (1), [Re₆S₈(CN)₂(4-Mepy)₄] (2), [Re₆S₈(CN)₂(4-Mepy)₄]·4-Mepy (3) (py = pyridine, 4-Mepy = 4-methylpyridine) are determined by X-ray crystallography. Crystal data are: C2/m space group, a = 14.813(1) Å, b = 14.772(1) Å, c = 9.2122(6) Å, β = 119.085(2)°, V = 1761.7(2) ų, d _x = 3.318 g/cm³, R = 0.0585 (1); I4₁/amd space group, a = 16.0018(3) Å, c = 14.7186(5) Å, V = 3768.81(16) ų, d _x = 3.169 g/cm³, R = 0.0489 (2); P2₁/c space group, a = 9.0452(4) Å, b = 15.8065(7) Å, c = 15.2951(6) Å, β = 103.700(2)°, V = 2124.57(16) ų, d _x = 2.957 g/cm³, R = 0.0245 (3). Molecular cluster complexes interact via π-π stacking affording 3D frameworks in 1 and 2 and chains in 3.     

Diffusion and Relaxation Dynamics of Supercooled Polymer Melts

The dynamic properties of polymer melts are investigated in the range of normal liquid regime to the supercooled liquid regime. The polymer is modeled as a coarse-grained bead-spring model with chain length ranging from 5 to 160. The mean squared displacement and non-Gaussian parameter are used to describe the self diffusion of polymer beads. We find slow dynamics with decreasing temperature and increasing chain length. The time evolution of non-Gaussian parameters shows two peaks(or one peak one shoulder) in the α-relaxation time, τα, regime and sub-diffusion time regime, respectively, where the first primary peak indicates the dynamic heterogeneity stemmed from the motion of beads, and the secondary peak is the result of correlated motion along a polymer chain. Moreover, the relaxation of polymer beads shows clear two-step decay in supercooled melts and the dynamics shows growing heterogeneity with decreasing temperature. As chain length is increased, a peak of the dynamic susceptibility occurs, and the peak height,χ*4, increases and then reaches a plateau. The curves of the height of the first peak of α_2, α _2~*, versus τ and the curves of χ_4~*α versus τα follow two master curves for different chain lengths. Our results indicate the similarity of dynamic heterogeneity dominated by the motion of single bead even the chain length is different. It is interesting to find that the Stokes-Einstein(SE) relation between τα and diffusion coefficient D, D~τ-1 q, is highly length-scale dependent. The SE relation breaks down in both normal melts regime and supercooled regime at large magnitude of wave vectors, attributed to the non-Brownian motion arising from the chain connectivity and growing heterogeneity due to supercooling. However, the SE relation is reconstructed when the probing length scale is large(at small magnitude of wave vectors). Our results show a hierarchical physical picture of the supercooled polymeric dynamics.     

Synthesis,structure, and properties of the thermolysis products of [Os(NH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>5</Subscript>Cl][ReCl<Subscript>6</Subscript>]

The crystal structure of [Os(NH₃)₅Cl][ReCl₆] has been refined by X-ray powder analysis: a = 11.645(3) Å, b = 8.3788(2) Å, c = 15.277(4) Å, β = 91.029(6)°, V = 1490(1) ų, d _x = 3.163 g/cm³, space group P2₁/m, Z = 4. The thermolysis product of the salt in a hydrogen atmosphere is a solid substitution solution Os_0.5Re_0.5: a = 2.753(2) Å, c = 4.366(3) Å, space group P6₃/mmc; coherent scattering region (CSR) is ～230 Å.     

Extensional rheology of cellulose/NaOH/urea/H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O solutions

The extensional flow behaviors of cellulose/NaOH/urea/H₂O solution were investigated by using capillary breakup extensional rheometry (CaBER). The effects of temperature, storage time and cellulose concentrations on both the storage modulus G′ and the loss modulus G″ were also analyzed. For 2 wt% cellulose solution, the G′, G″ and filament lifetime remained unchanged after long storage time. While, for 4 wt% cellulose solution, physical gels could form at either higher temperature or for longer storage time, and the filament lifetime, the relaxation time (λ _e ) and the initial extensional viscosity (η _e0) first increased and then decreased with increase of the storage time. The transition points of the filament lifetime shifted to lower storage time with the increase of the temperature. The η _e0 is proportional to λ _e . The results presented suggest that the extensional properties of the cellulose/NaOH/urea/H₂O solution first increase and then decrease during the gelation process, and the spinning time, which decreases linearly with the increase in the storage temperature, must be controlled below the time that η _e0 starts to decrease.     

First examples of cyano-bridged complexes based on a novel cluster anion [Re<Subscript>12</Subscript>C<Subscript>17</Subscript>(CN)<Subscript>6</Subscript>]<Superscript>6−</Superscript>

Two cyano-bridged compounds of novel dodecanuclear cluster anion [Re₁₂CS₁₇(CN)₆] with Ni²⁺ cations were synthesized, namely, one-dimensional polymer of the composition [{Ni(NH₃)₄} {Ni(NH₃)₅}₂Re₁₂CS₁₇(CN)₆] · 7H₂O (I) with a chain structure and [Ni(NH₃)₆]₃[{Ni(NH₃)₄}₃ {Re₁₂CS₁₇(CN)₆}₂] · 21H₂O (II), containing the anionic dimeric complex [{Ni(NH₃)₄}₃ {Re₁₂CS₁₇(CN)₆}₂]^6?. The structures of both compounds were established by X-ray diffraction analysis. Crystals I are monoclinic, space group P2/n, a = 15.321(3), b = 12.635(2), c = 15.448(3) Å, β = 100.242(3)°, V = 2942.8(8) ų, Z = 2. Crystals II are trigonal, space group R3, a = b = 19.7987(14), c = 28.8642(18) Å, V = 9798.6(12) ų, Z = 3.     

[{Cu(trien)}<Subscript>2</Subscript>Re<Subscript>4</Subscript>Te<Subscript>4</Subscript>(CN)<Subscript>12</Subscript>]·3.5H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O: Synthesis and crystal structure

The crystals of a cluster complex of rhenium [{Cu(trien)}₂Re₄Te₄(CN)₁₂]· 3.5H₂O were synthesized by the reaction of aqueous K₄[Re₄Te₄(CN)₁₂] with an aqueous ammonia solution of copper chloride in the presence of a polydentate ligand triethylenetetraamine (trien). The structure of the compound was established by X-ray single crystal analysis (a = 14.2617(11) Å, b = 15.7220(7) Å, c = 21.8554(16) Å, β = 98.554(2)°, V = 4846.0(6) ų, Z = 4, space group P2₁/n, R = 0.0436). Two copper cations in the complex are coordinated to one cluster anion [Re₄Te₄(CN)₁₂]^4?. The copper atoms have typical five-coordinated surroundings formed by the nitrogen atom of the bridging cyanide ligand and four amino groups of the tetradentate trien.     

Why is ‘amount of substance’ so poorly understood? The mysterious Avogadro constant is the culprit!

The base quantity ‘amount of substance’ is poorly understood and the name and symbol usually avoided. This is because of its formal interpretation as the number of entities multiplied by the reciprocal of the mysterious Avogadro constant, N _A. If X signifies the kind of entities involved, the number of entities in a sample, N(X), is easily comprehended, and if m _av(X) is the sample-average entity mass, the total mass, m(X) = N(X)m _av(X)—an aggregate of N(X) average entity masses—is also conceptually straightforward. However, the corresponding amount of substance, n(X) = N(X)(1/N _A)—an aggregate of N(X) ‘reciprocal Avogadro constants’—is incomprehensible unless some physical meaning can be attached to 1/N _A. By contrast, the base unit, mole, is thought of by chemists as an aggregate of a particular number of entities: mol = \( {\mathcal N}_{\rm{Avo}} \) ent, where \( {\mathcal N}_{\rm{Avo}} \) is the Avogadro number (equal to g/Da) and ent represents one entity. It makes sense, therefore, to interpret amount of substance as an aggregate of a general number of entities: n(X) = N(X) ent—an easily grasped concept. A ‘reciprocal Avogadro constant’ is thus seen to actually be exactly one entity. One mole then corresponds to setting N(X) = \( {\mathcal N}_{\rm{Avo}} \), for which the total mass is the relative entity mass in grams—conforming to the original mole concept.     

Flow Cytometry Analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">G</Emphasis><Subscript>0</Subscript>/<Emphasis Type="Italic">G</Emphasis><Subscript>1</Subscript> Diploid Cell Fraction in Ovarian Cancer Tissue

The proportion of diploid cells in the G₀/G₁ cell cycle phases was estimated by flow cytometry in 60 samples of stage III serous ovarian cancer tissue. The tumor tissue shows considerable heterogeneity with regard to the content of this tissue fraction, which ranged from 27 to 95% with a median of 73%. Statistically significant differences in the size of this fraction were identified by comparing tumor subgroups sensitive and resistant to first-line platinum-taxane chemotherapy. Predictive significance of the G₀/G₁ fraction was concluded and quantitative evaluation of this fraction is recommended for clinical use.     

Investigation of pentaamminechloroplatinum(IV) perrhenate dihydrate

The crystal structure of the [Pt(NH₃)₅Cl](ReO₄)₃·2H₂O salt is determined. Crystallographic data: a = 10.3476(2) Å, b = 12.8955(2) Å, c = 14.3536(3) Å, β = 105.241(10)°, V = 1847.94(6) ų, space group P ₂1/n, Z = 4, d _x = 3.962 g/cm³. Thermal decomposition of the compound is studied in a helium and hydrogen atmosphere. A two-phase product arises in the former case, in the latter a substitution Re_0.75Pt_0.25 solid solution with unit cell parameters: a = 2.767(2) Å, c = 4.441(3) Å, space group P6₃/mmc.     

The response electron–electron repulsion energy and energy component analysis in CC/MBPT methods

Molecular properties are computed as responses to perturbations (energy derivatives) in coupled-cluster (CC)/many-body perturbation theory (MBPT) models. Here, the CC/MBPT energy derivative with respect to a general two-electron (2-e) perturbation is assembled from gradient theory for 2-e property evaluation, including the electron repulsion energy. The correlation energy (?E) is shown to be the sum of response kinetic (?T), electron–nuclear attraction (?V), and electron repulsion (?V _ee ) energies. Thus, evaluation of total V _ee for energy component analysis is simple: For total energy (E), total 1-e responses T and V, and nuclear–nuclear repulsion energy (V _NN ), V _ee  = E ? V _NN  ? T ? V is the true 2-e response value. Component energy analysis is illustrated in an assessment of steric repulsion in ethane’s rotational barrier. Earlier SCF-based results (Bader et al. in J Am Chem Soc 112:6530, 1990) are corroborated: The higher-energy eclipsed geometry is favored versus staggered in the two repulsion energies (V _NN and V _ee ), while decisively disfavored in electron–nuclear attraction energy (V). Our best quality calculations (CCSD/cc-pVQZ) attain practical Virial Theorem compliance (i.e., agreement among the kinetic energy, potential energy, and total energy representations) in assigning 2.70 ± 0.06 to the barrier height; ?195.80 kcal/mol is assigned to the drop in “steric” repulsion upon going to the eclipsed geometry. Steric repulsion is not responsible for any fraction of the ~3 kcal/mol barrier.     

Synthesis,crystal structure,and properties of [Rh(NH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>5</Subscript>Cl][ReBr<Subscript>6</Subscript>]

A binary complex salt [Rh(NH₃)₅Cl][ReBr₆] has been synthesized and investigated by X-ray diffraction analysis. Crystal data: a = 8.541(5) Å, b = 12.015(6) Å, c = 16.496(9) Å; α = 73.695(10)°, β = 89.746(9)°, γ = 89.676(9)°, V = 1624.7 ų, space group \(P\overline 1 \), Z = 4, D _x = 3.635 g/cm³, R = 0.12. It is shown that the product of thermolysis of the salt in the atmosphere of hydrogen and helium is a solid solution Rh_0.5Re_0.5 with hcp cell parameters a = 2.731(5) Å and c = 4.368(7) Å.     

Solution Thermodynamics of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis><Superscript>/</Superscript>-Ethylenebis-(salicylideneiminato)-diaquochromium(III) Chloride in Aqueous Dimethylsulphoxide

The densities, viscosities and refractive indices of N,N ^/-ethylene-bis(salicylideneiminato)-diaquochromium(III) chloride, [Cr(salen)(H₂O)₂]Cl, in aqueous dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) with different mass fractions (w ₂ = 0.20, 0.40, 0.60, 0.80 and 1.00) of DMSO were determined at 298.15, 308.15 and 318.15 K under atmospheric pressure. From measured densities, viscosities and refractive indices the apparent molar volumes (V _φ ), standard partial molar volume (V _φ ⁰ ), the slope (S _V ^* ), standard isobaric partial molar expansibility (φ _E ⁰ ) and its temperature dependence (?φ _E ⁰ /?T) _p , the viscosity B-coefficient, its temperature dependence (?B/?T), solvation number (S _n ) and apparent molar refractivity (R _D ^φ ), etc., were calculated and discussed on the basis of ion–ion and ion–solvent interactions. These results revealed that the solutions are characterized by ion–solvent interactions rather than by ion–ion interactions and the complex behaves as a long range structure maker. Thermodynamics of viscous flow was discussed in terms of transition state theory.     

The scaling behavior of the second virial coefficient of linear and ring polymer

The scaling behavior of the second virial coefficient of ring polymers at the theta temperature of the corresponding linear polymer(θ_L) is investigated by off-lattice Monte Carlo simulations. The effects of the solvents are modeled by pairwise interaction between polymer monomers in this approach. Using the umbrella sampling, we calculate the effective potential U(r) between two ring polymers as well as the second virial coefficient A_2 of ring polymers at θ_L, which results from a combination of 3-body interactions and topological constraints. The trend in the strength of the effective potential with respect to chain length shows a non-monotonic behavior, differently from that caused only by topological constraints. Our simulation suggests that there are three regimes about the scaling behavior of A_2 of ring polymers at θ_L: 3-body interactions dominating regime, the crossover regime, and the topological constraints dominating regime.     

Syntheses and structures of 1d coordination polymers based on cluster anions [Re<Subscript>4</Subscript>Te<Subscript>4</Subscript>(CN)<Subscript>12</Subscript>]<Superscript>4–</Superscript> and cationic Ln<Superscript>3+</Superscript> (Ln = La,Gd) complexes with 1,10-phenanthroline

Two new porous coordination polymers based on cluster anions [Re₄Te₄(CN)₁₂]^4– and cationic Ln³⁺ (Ln = La, Gd) complexes with 1,10-phenanthroline (Рhen) are synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. The structures of the compounds are determined by X-ray diffraction analysis (CIF files CCDC 1437445 (I) and 1437446 (II)). Compound (РhenH)[{La(H₂O)₃(Рhen)₂}{Re₄Te₄(CN)₁₂}] · 1.5Рhen · 6H₂O (I) crystallizes in the space group \(P\bar 1\) (triclinic system): a = 13.322(3), b = 15.977(3), c = 18.576(4) Å, α = 71.34(3)°, β = 85.56(3)°, γ = 88.27(3)°, V = 3734.8(13) ų. Compound (PhenH)[{Gd(H₂O)₂(Phen)₂}{Re₄Te₄(CN)₁₂}] · 2Phen · 0.5H₂O (II) crystallizes in the space group C2/c (monoclinic crystal system): a = 18.146(1), b = 30.245(2), c = 13.455(2) Å, β = 97.858(2)°, V = 7315.4(1) ų. Structures I and II are based on polymer chains consisting of alternating fragments [Re₄Te₄(CN)₁₂]^4– and {Ln(H₂O) _n (Phen)₂}³⁺ (Ln = La, n = 3; Ln = Gd, n = 2) linked by the bridging CN ligands. The packings of the polymers contain extended channels due to the developed network of noncovalent interactions. The walls of the channels are formed by both hydrophilic (CN^–) and hydrophobic (Рhen) groups. The channels, whose volume is 25 and 15% for compounds I and II, respectively, are filled by disordered Phen molecules and PhenH⁺ cations, as well as by H₂O molecules.     

Chromatographic Separation of Bupivacaine Enantiomers by HPLC: Parameters Estimation of Equilibrium and Mass Transfer Under Linear Conditions

Bupivacaine is an amide type local anesthetic widely used in surgery and obstetrics because of its sustained peripheral and central nerve blockade. R-(+)-bupivacaine is more toxic to the central nervous and the cardiovascular systems than S-(?)-bupivacaine. To obtain S-(?)-bupivacaine with high degree of purity using a continuous simulated moving bed (SMB) unity, equilibrium and mass transfer parameters under dilute conditions were obtained by pulse experiments using 0,0′-bis[4-terc-butyl-benzoyl]-N,N′-diallyl-L-tartar diamide immobilized in silica (Kromasil^® CHI-TBB). The linear equilibrium constants were found to be 2.12 and 2.91 for R-(+)-and S-(?)-bupivacaine, respectively. Axial dispersion coefficients were found to be practically the same for both enantiomers. A fast kinetic of mass transfer was observed. The internal resistance to the mass transfer controls all the mass transfer process in this chiral column and the pore diffusion coefficients were of the order 10^?7cm²/s. The equilibrium and mass transfer parameters will be employed in future simulation and design of operating conditions of SMB unity.     

Study of the Re<Subscript>0.50</Subscript>Rh<Subscript>0.50</Subscript> products of thermobaric treatment

The products of thermobaric treatment of the metastable Re_0.50Rh_0.50 nanocrystalline phase (a= 2.733(2) Å, c = 4.364(4) Å, space group P6₃/mmc, CSR ～5 nm) in a high-pressure chamber were studied. Storage of the phase at 2000°C and 1.5 GPa for 3 min led to the formation of a fused particle (Ø～1 mm). The initial composition did not change, but the coherent scattering region (CSR) increased to 52 nm. An increase to 4 GPa in pressure also did not lead to a decomposition of the metastable Re_0.50Rh_0.50 phase, the unit cell parameters remained the same, and the size of the CSR increased by a factor of four.     

Crystallization Behaviors and Regime Kinetics Analysis of Poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">L</Emphasis>-lactide)-poly(butylene adipate)-poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">L</Emphasis>-lactide) Based Multiblock Thermoplastic Polyurethanes

Poly(L-lactide)-based (PLLA) poly(ester-urethane)s are particularly relevant and gain significant attention due to their environment-friendly degradability and elastomeric shape memory capability. The tensile properties, resilience and degradation are strongly affected by their crystallization. This work was to investigate crystallization behaviors of the poly(L-lactide)-poly(butylene adipate)-poly(L-lactide) (PLLA-PBAPLLA) based thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers (PLAEUs) we synthesized previously. Dynamic scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized optical microscopy (POM) in combination with Avrami, Jezioney and Hoffman-Weeks models were used to analyze the impact of the PLLA block length on the crystallization temperature T_c, degree of crystallinity X_c, nucleation and spherulite growth mode and crystallization regime kinetics of the PLAEUs. The results indicate the low melting point poly(butylene adipate) (PBA) block resides in the amorphous domains while the PLLA block resides in both crystalline and amorphous phases. The X_c of the PLAEUs increase with the increased length of the PLLA block (i.e. higher content of PLLA block). The analyses with Avrami and Jezioney models show the PLAEU copolymers follow a disc-like spherulite growth. The covalently bonded PBA block decreases both nucleation velocity and spherulite growth rate in the isothermal crystallization. Such an impact is lessened as PLLA block length increases. The PLLA homopolymers demonstrate crystallization regime transition from II to III at a certain T_c of isothermal crystallization, while the crystallization regime kinetics of PLLA block in the PLAEUs are explained by a single regime III at low molecular weights of PLLA and the transition is restored as the PLLA block length increases (i.e. regime II to III).