Vibrational spectra of silsesquioxanes impregnated with the metallocene catalyst bis(eta(5)-cyclopentadienyl)zirconium(IV) dichloride

FT-IR photoacoustic and Raman spectroscopy have been used to study the interactions between the metallocene catalyst, Cp(2)ZrCl(2) (Cp=eta(5)-C(5)H(5)), and two polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) supports. The first silsesquioxane support, POSS(h), contains (beta-hydroxyl)-tertiary amine groups, while in the second one, POSS(u), these -OH groups have been converted into N-(p-toluyl) urethane groups. The vibrational spectra of the Cp(2)ZrCl(2):POSS(h) and Cp(2)ZrCl(2):POSS(u) samples show that the Cp(2)ZrCl(2) catalyst reacts with the C-OH groups of POSS(h) and also interacts with N-H and >CO groups of POSS(u). Furthermore, Cp(2)ZrCl(2) can react with the Si-OH groups of the POSS supports and also interact with the O atoms that are bonded to the benzene rings and the N atoms of the tertiary amines in both silsesquioxanes. As a result of the interactions between Cp(2)ZrCl(2) and the POSS supports, acidic species are generated. The Cp(2)ZrCl(2):POSS(h) mass ratio seems to be an important parameter in the formation of Zr-O bonds and the acidic species.     

Chromium speciation and preconcentration using zirconium(IV) and zirconium(IV) phosphate chemically immobilized onto silica gel surface using a flow system and F AAS

A procedure for chromium speciation by F AAS using a flow system has been proposed. In this system, Cr(III) and Cr(VI) ions were adsorbed sequentially onto a mini-column packed with silica gel modified with zirconium phosphate and a mini-column packed with silica gel modified with zirconium oxide, respectively. The elution of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) was made with, respectively, nitric acid solution and tris(hydroxymethyl)methylamine (THAM) solution in reverse mode and determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry without interference of the matrix. Chemical and flow variables as well as concomitant ions were studied in the developed procedure. The enrichment factor for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) was 20.8 and 24.9, respectively, using a preconcentration time of 3.75 min. The limit of detection for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) was 1.9, and 2.3 μg l⁻¹, respectively. The precision of the method, evaluated as the relative standard deviation in solutions containing 100 μg l⁻¹ of chromium species, by analyzing a series of seven replicates, was lower than 3.0%. The accuracy was assessed through recovery experiments of water samples and using another methodology.     

Thermal decomposition of iron(VI) oxides, K2FeO4 and BaFeO4, in an inert atmosphere

The thermal decomposition of solid samples of iron(VI) oxides, K₂FeO₄·0.088 H₂O (1) and BaFeO₄·0.25H₂O (2) in inert atmosphere has been examined using simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), in combination with in situ analysis of the evolved gases by online coupled mass spectrometer (EGA-MS). The final decomposition products were characterized by ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. Water molecules were released first, followed by a distinct decomposition step with endothermic DTA peak of 1 and 2 at 273 and 248 °C, respectively, corresponding to the evolution of molecular oxygen as confirmed by EGA-MS. The released amounts of O₂ were determined as 0.42 and 0.52 mol pro formula of 1 and 2, respectively. The decomposition product of K₂FeO₄ at 250 °C was determined as Fe(III) species in the form of KFeO₂. Formation of an amorphous mixture of superoxide, peroxide, and oxide of potassium may be other products of the thermal conversion of iron(VI) oxide 1 to account for less than expected released oxygen. The thermogravimetric and Mössbauer data suggest that barium iron perovskite with the intermediate valence state of iron (between III and IV) was the product of thermal decomposition of iron(VI) oxide 2.