Copolymerization of ethylene and 1-butene using a Cr—silica catalyst in a slurry reactor

A novel slurry reactor was used to investigate the copolymerization behavior of ethylene and 1-butene in the presence of 1 wt % Cr on Davison silica (Phillips-type) catalyst over the temperature range of 0–50°C, space velocity of about 0.0051 [m³ (STP)]/(g of catalyst) h, and a fixed ethylene to 1-butene feed mole ratio of 95 : 5. The effect of varying the ethylene to 1-butene feed ratios, 100 : 0, 96.5 : 3.5, 95 : 5, 93 : 7, 90 : 10, 80 : 20, and 0 : 100 mol/mol at 50°C was also studied. The addition of 1-butene to ethylene typically increased both copolymerization rates and yields relative to ethylene homopolymerization with the same catalyst, reaching a maximum yield for an ethylene: 1-butene feed ratio of 95 : 5 at 50°C. The incorporation of 1-butene within the copolymer in all cases was less than 5 mol %. The average activation energy for the apparent reaction rate constant, k_a, based on total comonomer mole fraction in the slurry liquid for the ethylene to 1-butene feed mole ratio of 95 : 5 in the temperature range of 50–30°C measured 54.2 kJ/mol. The behavior for temperatures between 30 to 0°C differed with an activation energy of 98.2 kJ/mol; thus, some diffusion limitation likely influences the copolymerization rates at temperatures above 30°C. A kinetics analysis of the experimental data at 50°C for different ethylene to 1-butene feed ratios gave the values of the reactivity ratios, r₁ = 27.3 ± 3.6 and r₂ ≅ 0, for ethylene and 1-butene, respectively. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Thermogravimetric analysis of cellulose insulation and determination of activation energy of its thermo‐oxidation using non‐isothermal,model‐free methods

The aim of the work was to determine the effect of heating rate on initial decomposition temperature and phases of thermal decomposition of cellulose insulation. The activation energy of thermo‐oxidation of insulation was also determined. Individual samples were heated in the air flow in the thermal range of 100°C to 500°C at rates from 1.9°C min^?1 to 20.1°C min^?1. The initial temperatures of thermal decomposition ranged from 220°C to 320°C, depending on the heating rate. Three regions of thermal decomposition were observed. The maximum rates of mass loss were measured at the temperatures between 288°C and 362°C. The activation energies, which achieved average values between 75 and 80.7 kJ mol^?1, were calculated from the obtained results by non‐isothermal, model‐free methods. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of particle size on pyrolysis characteristics of Elbistan lignite

In this study, the relationship between particle size and pyrolysis characteristics of Elbistan lignite was examined by using the thermogravimetric (TG/DTG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) techniques. Lignite samples were separated into different size fractions. Experiments were conducted at non-isothermal conditions with a heating rate of 10°C min⁻¹ under nitrogen atmosphere up to 900°C. Pyrolysis regions, maximum pyrolysis rates and characteristic peak temperatures were determined from TG/DTG curves. Thermogravimetric data were analyzed by a reaction rate model assuming first-order kinetics. Apparent activation energy (E) and Arrhenius constant (A _r) of pyrolysis reaction of each particle size fraction were evaluated by applying Arrhenius kinetic model. The apparent activation energies in the essential pyrolysis region were calculated as 27.36 and 28.81 kJ mol⁻¹ for the largest (−2360+2000 μm) and finest (−38 μm) particle sizes, respectively.     

Kinetic Studies of Melphalan Thermodegradation by HPLC

Abstract

The kinetics of degradation of the antineoplastic alkylating agent, Melphalan, have been studied in the temperature range from 30°C to 55°C in different media conditions such as water, MEM Alpha, MEM Alpha + 10% fetal bovine serum and in PBS containing varying amounts of bovine serum albumin. The analysis was performed in 3 min by direct quantitation of Melphalan with a HPLC system equipped with a 3 μm C₁₈ column and detected by a UV spectrophotometer at 256 nm. The degradation of Melphalan was faster in water and MEM Alpha (with or without fetal bovine serum) than in PBS as demonstrated by rate constants for the decay and half-life constants. The rate of Melphalan degradation increased with increasing temperature from 30°C to 55°C. Melphalan degradation followed first order decay kinetics and gave a linear relationship in agreement with the Arrhenius theory for all the incubation media studied. The activation energies for melphalan degradation in the different media conditions ranged from 88 to 91 kJ M^?1.     

Simulation of the thermal degradation and curing kinetics of fly ash reinforced diglycidyl ether bisphenol A composite

Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) is concluding expanding applicability in determination of the thermal stability and degradation nature of materials. The present study investigates the thermal degradation behavior and the kinetics of degradation of epoxy mixed with varying percentages of 0, 2.5, 5, and 7.5 ​wt% fly ash. Thermal stability and degradation behavior of fly ash modified epoxy cast were determined by thermogravimetric analysis. The kinetic parameters of the EF composites were calculated by using Coats–Redfern, Broido and Horowitz–Metzger models under best-fit analysis and further proved by linear regression analysis. The kinetics of thermal degradation was calculated from data scanned at a heating rate of 10 ​°C/min. The obtained results reveal that kinetic parameters and thermal behavior of EF composites were improved with the reinforcement of fly ash. The cure kinetics of the varying content of fly ash reinforced epoxy cast were also studied by using a nonisothermal differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) technique at four different heating rates 5 ​°C/min, 10 ​°C/min, 15 ​°C/min and 20 ​°C/min. The curing kinetics of the EF composite was derived from the nonisothermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) data with the three Kissinger, Ozawa, and Flynn–Wall–Ozawa models, respectively.     

Kinetic study of uranium residue dissolution in ammonium carbonate media

The purpose of this study was to determine the kinetics of the dissolution of a uranium residue in ammonium carbonate media. The residue is generated in the production of medical isotopes. The effects of parameters, such as varying peroxide and carbonate concentrations, dissolution time as well as temperature on the extraction rate have been separately studied. Results indicate complete dissolution of the residue at 60 °C, after 30 min, in ammonium carbonate solution enriched with hydrogen peroxide. The yield and rate of uranium extraction were found to increase as a function of both temperature, in the range of 25–60 °C, and hydrogen peroxide concentration. The extraction process was governed by chemical reaction as the activation energy was found to be 45.5 kJ/mol. The order of reaction with respect to uranium concentration was found to be approximately first order.     

Gamma radiation-induced bulk polymerization of some methyl aryloxymethacrylates

The kinetics of γ-radiation-induced bulk polymerization of methyl phenoxymethacrylate and methyl paracresoxymethacrylate was studied at dose rates of 0.3 and 0.075 Mrad/h and at temperatures of 0 and 30°C. The polymerization was first order with respect to the monomers and the rate of polymerization had a direct dependence on dose rate. The activation energy value for the polymerization of methyl phenoxymethacrylate was 1.2 and 0.7 kcal/mol for methyl paracresoxymethacrylate. The polymerization proceeded predominantly by an ionic mechanism.     

Kinetics of the carnallite synthesis

The kinetics of the carnallite synthesis from crystalline KCl and a MgCl₂ solution at temperatures from 20 up to 100°C was studied. The temperature dependence of the conversion degree was determined. The activation energy and the rate constant of the carnallite synthesis in the temperature range of 30–60°C were determined.     

Study on the kinetics and reactivity at the ignition temperature of Jurassic coal in North Shaanxi

Thermal analysis of seven Jurassic coal samples from North Shaanxi in West China and three permo-carboniferous coal samples from East China was studied to identify ignition temperatures in the process of the oxidation and spontaneous combustion. The experiments were carried out under non-isothermal heating conditions up to 700 °C at the heating rates of 5, 10, 15, and 20 °C min^?1 in an air atmosphere. Through the FTIR spectrometer experiments, the absorbance peaks of functional groups of coal samples were analyzed at the ignition temperatures, pre-ignition of the 10 °C, post-ignition of the 10 °C at the heating rate of 10 °C min^?1. By the differential spectrum method, the changes of functional groups were discussed with the aim to determine characteristics and reactivity of the ignition temperature around. The results showed that ignition temperatures of experimental coal samples increased with the rising heating rates, and ignition temperatures of Jurassic coals were lower than that of the permo-carboniferous coal samples at the same heating rate. Apparent activation energy of experimental Jurassic coals at the ignition temperatures was calculated by Ozawa method based on the non-isothermal and differential heating rates, ranging from 80 to 105 kJ mol^?1, which were lower than that of the eastern permo-carboniferous samples. On the basis of Pearson correlation coefficient method which can signify the degree of correlations ranging from ?1 to 1, the correlation analyses were conducted between activation energy and functional groups variation within 10 °C before and after ignition temperature. It was concluded that the key functional groups of Jurassic coals in the oxidation and ignition reaction were methyl and alkyl ether within 10 °C before ignition temperature, and carboxyl and carbonyl within 10 °C after ignition temperature.     

Reaction kinetics and pathway of hydrothermal decomposition of aspartic acid

The kinetics and pathway of hydrothermal decomposition of aspartic acid were studied using a continuous‐flow tubular reactor. The reaction was carried out in the temperature range of 200–260°C and at a pressure of 20 MPa. Deamination was the primary reaction, indicated by the presence of significant amount of ammonia, fumaric acid, or maleic acid in the products. Other reaction products were pyruvic acid, malic acid, and traces of succinic and lactic acid. Traces of alanine were also detected, showing the possibility of decomposing high‐molecular weight amino acids to obtain simple amino acids such as glycine or alanine. Results on the effect of reaction parameters demonstrated that decomposition of aspartic acid is highly temperature dependent under hydrothermal conditions. For a slight temperature difference of 60°C (from 200 to 260°C), the first‐order reaction rate constants of 0.003 significantly increased to 0.231 s^?1. The activation energy was 144 kJ/mol, as calculated by the Arrhenius equation. No significant effect was exhibited by other reaction parameters such as pH and pressure. The results are useful in controlling the hydrolysis of proteinaceous materials toward high yield of aspartic acid under hydrothermal conditions. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 39: 175–180, 2007     

The rate of the disproportionation reaction of iodous acid at different acidity values in aqueous sulfuric acid solution

The dependence of disproportionation reaction kinetics of iodous acid, HOIO, in aqueous solutions of sulfuric acid on the solution acidity is examined. The rate constants of the disproportionation reaction are determined at temperatures of 18, 25 and 30 °C, based on kinetic data obtained under stationary conditions. The average value of the activation energy is determined to be 42 kJ/mol.     

Surface oxidation kinetics of SiC powders in wet and dry air studied by x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and bremsstrahlung‐excited Auger electron spectroscopy

Silicon carbide powder samples were heated at temperatures between 600 °C and 850 °C in wet and dry air to investigate the effect of moisture on the oxidation kinetics. Equations were derived to calculate the surface oxide thickness from both the Si 2p XPS spectra and from the Si KLL bremsstrahlung‐excited Auger spectra. The oxide film growth rates are shown to be parabolic. The film thickness formed during oxidation in wet air was larger than that in dry air for the same temperature and heating time. The activation energy for wet oxidation was found to be significantly lower than that for dry oxidation within this temperature range. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Pressure dependence of free radical decay in irradiated isotactic polypropylene

Free radicals were generated in isotactic polypropylene by gamma-irradiation. The samples were annealed at pressures between 1 and 8000 atm and temperatures between 60 and 110°. The concentration of free radicals was estimated by the ESR method. The rate constants of free radical decay were determined for various pressures and temperatures. The rate constant of free radical decay decreases with increasing pressure while the activation energy increases. The relationship between the kinetics of molecular motion and the kinetics of free radical decay is discussed.     

Kinetics and mechanism of isatin ring opening in aqueous binary mixtures of methanol and acetonitrile cosolvents

Solvent effects on the kinetics of hydrolysis of isatin by sodium hydroxide have been investigated within the temperature range (30–55°C) in methanol-water and acetonitrile-water media of varying solvent compositions up to 70% (v/v) of the organic solvent component. The thermodynamic activation parameters were calculated and discussed in terms of solvation effects. The determined isokinetic temperatures, in both systems, revealed the existence of compensation effect arising from strong solute-solvent interactions; log k was correlated with both log [H₂O] and the reciprocal of the dielectric constant. The first correlation was observed to be linear while the second was nonlinear. Finally a mechanism for the isatin ring opening was proposed, which accounts for the role and the effect of the solvent on the reaction rate. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet: 30: 463–469, 1998     

On the decarboxylation of oxalic acid in solutions

The first-order kinetics and hydrogen kinetic isotope effect of the decarboxylation of oxalic acid in acetophenone were studied in the temperature range of 109.6°–150.0°C. The rate constants, activation parameters, and hydrogen kinetic isotope effect were calculated. Detailed comparison and discussion of the results were made with the data reported in the literature. Kinetic isotope effects and solvent effects on rates should be considered similar in mechanistic and/or theoretical studies in the sense that kinetic isotope effects result from a small perturbation of the reaction coordinate, while the solvent effect causes a general overall variation on the potential energy surface (thereby resulting in a change in the reaction coordinate).     

DSC studies on the curing kinetics of chitosan–alanine using glutaraldehyde as crosslinker

The curing of chitosan–alanine with glutaraldehyde as curing agent in the presence of Chlorpheniramine Maleate (CPM) is carried out with the help of differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The effect of concentration of chitosan and percentage of crosslinker on the curing is studied at a rate of 5 °C/min. Cure kinetics are measured from 30 to 200 °C at four different heating rates (3, 5, 7 and 10 °C/min). It is observed that the crosslinking of chitosan–alanine is an exothermic process which results in a positive peak in the curves. An increase in activation energy (E _α) is observed with extent of conversion.     

Molecular distillation

Molecular distillation was studied for the separation of tocopherols from soya sludge, both experimentally and by simulation, under different operating conditions, with good agreement. Evaporator temperatures varied from 100°C to 160°C and feed flow rates ranged from 0.1 to 0.8 kg/h. The process pressure was maintained at 10⁻⁶ bar, the feed temperature at 50°C, the condenser temperature at 60°C, and the stirring at 350 rpm. For each process condition, samples of both streams (distillate and residue) were collected and stored at −18°C before tocopherols analyses. Owing to the differences between molecular weights and vapor pressures of free fatty acids and tocopherols, tocopherols preferentially remained in the residue at evaporator temperatures of 100°C and 120°C, whereas for higher temperatures (140°C and 160°C) and lower feed flow rate, tocopherols tended to migrate to the distillate stream.     

Kinetic Study of the Hydrolysis of Schiff Bases Derived from 2-Aminothiophenol

The kinetics of the hydrolysis of Schiff bases derived from 2-aminothiophenol have been studied in aqueous sodium hydroxide media containing 40?% (v/v) methanol in the temperature range 22?C45?°C. The Schiff base molecular structure-hydrolysis reactivity relationship has been investigated and discussed. Suitable reaction mechanisms have been suggested. From the effect of temperature on the rate constant, various activation parameters have been evaluated. The work has been extended to study the hydrolysis mechanism in buffer solutions of pH?=?2?C13 at 22?°C for Schiff base I (H). A rate profile diagram of pH-rate constant has been proposed.     

Environmental influences on diethyl phthalate biodegradation kinetics

The effects of temperature, dissolved oxygen level, and diethyl phthalate (DEP) concentration on the rates of DEP biodegradation have been investigated in shake flask and fermenter experiments, using aerobic and facultatively aerobic microorganisms. The aerobic strain followed Monod growth kinetics, and was negatively affected by temperatures lower than 25 °C and dissolved oxygen levels lower than 0.8 mg/L, whereas the specific DEP-degrading activity of the facultative strain was substrate inhibited under anaerobic conditions, higher at 15°C than 25°C under aerobic conditions, and unaffected by the dissolved oxygen level. Studies were also carried out in soil columns to identify additional factors that might be important for modeling DEP biodegradation.     

Characterization,crystallization kinetics,and melting behavior of poly(ethylene succinate) copolyester containing 10 mol % butylene succinate

Copolyester was synthesized and characterized as having 89.9 mol % ethylene succinate units and 10.1 mol % butylene succinate units in a random sequence, as revealed by NMR. Isothermal crystallization kinetics was studied in the temperature range (T_c) from 30 to 73 °C using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The melting behavior after isothermal crystallization was investigated using DSC by varying the T_c, the heating rate and the crystallization time. DSC curves showed triple melting peaks. The melting behavior indicates that the upper melting peaks are associated primarily with the melting of lamellar crystals with various stabilities. As the T_c increases, the contribution of recrystallization slowly decreases and finally disappears. A Hoffman‐Weeks linear plot gives an equilibrium melting temperature of 107.0 °C. The spherulite growth of this copolyester from 80 to 20 °C at a cooling rate of 2 or 4 °C/min was monitored and recorded using an optical microscope equipped with a CCD camera. Continuous growth rates between melting and glass transition temperatures can be obtained after curve‐fitting procedures. These data fit well with those data points measured in the isothermal experiments. These data were analyzed with the Hoffman and Lauritzen theory. A regime II → III transition was detected at around 52 °C. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 2431–2442, 2008