Structural properties and state of the surface layer of zirconium dioxide modified by tungstate anions

A tetragonal metastable phase of zirconium dioxide formed after the addition of tungstate anions (>13 mol %) to the hydroxide precursor by different methods with heating (600–700°C), as revealed by X-ray diffraction analysis and X-ray photoelectron and IR spectroscopy. The W⁶⁺ and W⁵⁺ cations formed a solid solution with ZrO₂. On the surface of the solid solution, the tungsten cations formed tungstate clusters (?WO _x ?)n. The formation of the WO₃ phase was observed at concentrations of tungstate anions higher than 17.6 mol % or at temperatures of 850–870°C.     

Synthesis of yttrium orthoborate powders

Yttrium orthoborate YBO₃ is synthesized by calcining precursors precipitated with aqueous ammonium hydroxide from yttrium nitrate or yttrium chloride solutions (with concentrations ranging from 4.8 × 10^?3 to 0.0165 mol/L) and with a more than tenfold excess of boric acid. Single-phase YBO₃ is obtained at pH 5–6. Higher pHs result in the formation of mixtures of yttrium orthoborate and yttrium hydroxide phases. Dehydration occurs up to 288°C as shown by differential thermal analysis. Further heating induces crystallization. Addition of surfactants (polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) or ammonium polyacrylate (APA)) to the starting solution in an amount of 1 wt % of the yttrium salt affects the sizes and shapes of the precipitated particles. YBO₃ platelets with nanometer thicknesses are obtained. The temperature of the low-temperature ? high-temperature vaterite phase transition in YBO₃ is 977°C upon heating and 640°C upon cooling.     

A Stability-Indicating LC Assay and Degradation Behavior of Temozolomide Drug Substances

This study deals with a stability indicating HPLC reverse phase method for quantitative determination of temozolomide. A chromatographic separation was achieved on an Inertsil ODS 3V, 250 × 4.6 mm ID, 5 μm column using mobile phase A (buffer 5 mL glacial acetic acid in 1,000 mL of Milli Q water ) and mobile phase B (methanol). Forced degradation studies were performed on bulk sample of temozolomide using acid (0.5 N hydrochloric acid), base (0.5 N sodium hydroxide), oxidation (10% v/v hydrogen peroxide), heat (60 °C) and UV light (254 nm). Degradation of the drug substance was observed in base hydrolysis and oxidation. Degradation product formed under these conditions was found to be Imp-A. When the stress samples were assayed, the mass balance was close to 99.5%. The sample solution was stable up to 48 h at 5 °C and mobile phase was found to be stable up to 48 h at 25 °C. The developed method was validated with respect to linearity, accuracy, precision, robustness and forced degradation studies prove the stability indicating power of the method.     

Hydrate formation in a tetrapropylammonium hydroxide-water system

The phase diagram of a tetrapropylammonium hydrate-water binary system was studied by differential thermal analysis. Five tetrapropylammonium hydroxide hydrates were found; two of these are stable and have compositions of 1: 4 (salt: water, mp 0.0°C) and 1: 11 (mp −17°C) and three are metastable and have compositions of 1: 5 (mp −3.5°C), 1: 6 (mp −71.0°C), and 1: 16 (mp −44.5°C).     

The study of thermal,microstructural and magnetic properties of manganese–zinc ferrite prepared by co-precipitation method using different precipitants

Mn–Zn ferrite was prepared from the solution after acid leaching of spent batteries by co-precipitation method using ammonia oxalate, sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide as precipitating agents. The co-precipitation process was performed at temperature of over 50 °C by continuous magnetic stirring. The precipitates were pre-sintered at 850 °C in air. Dilatometric study has revealed that lowest shrinkage (only 5.6%) showed a material obtained from an oxalate precipitant. After pressing and high-temperature sintering at 1325 °C, it showed both insufficient density and the presence of pores, which contribute to the deterioration in the magnetic properties of the ferrites: the low magnetic permeability value and high magnetic losses. Ferrite prepared from hydroxide and carbonate precipitant showed a much higher shrinkage, sintered density and much higher magnetic permeability compared with the ferrite prepared from oxalate precursor.     

Nanosized nickel oxide particles and modification with poly(methyl methacrylate)

In recent years, there is an increasing interest in the fabrication of inorganic–organic materials considering the remarkable change and improvement in properties. In this investigation, nanosized nickel oxide (NiO) particles were first prepared by calcination of nickel hydroxide precursor obtained by a simple liquid‐phase process. Mixed phases of NiO and nickel hydroxide were present as the calcination temperature was lower than 250°C. Non‐stoichiometric NiO was formed between 250°C and 350°C, and a pure NiO was obtained as the temperature reached 500°C. The surface characteristics of NiO particles were evaluated by measuring the adsorption behavior of anionic and cationic surfactants and some biomolecules. NiO/poly(methyl methacrylate) composite particles were then prepared using variable NiO/methyl methacrylate (MMA) ratio by seeded emulsion polymerization. The efficiency of NiO incorporation in the composite increased as the MMA content was increased in the recipe. The composite particles were colloidally stable, and the obtained particles were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and X‐ray photoelectron spectra. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermal and X-ray diffraction studies of the solid–solid interactions in CuO–MoO3/MgO system

The solid–solid interactions in pure and MoO₃-doped CuO/MgO system were investigated using TG, DTA and XRD. The composition of pure mixed solids were 0.1CuO/MgO, 0.2CuO/MgO and 0.3CuO/MgO and the concentrations of MoO₃ were 2.5 and 5 mol%. These solids were prepared by wet impregnation of finely powdered basic magnesium carbonate with solutions containing calculated amounts of copper nitrate and ammonium molybdate followed by heating at 400–1000°C. The results revealed that ammonium molybdate doping of the system investigated enhanced the thermal decomposition of copper nitrate and magnesium hydroxide which decomposed at temperatures lower than those observed in case of the undoped mixed solids by 70 and 100°C, respectively. A portion of CuO present dissolved in the lattice of MgO forming CuO–MgO solid solution with subsequent limited increase in its lattice parameter. The other portion interacted readily with a portion of MoO₃ at temperatures starting from 400°C yielding CuMoO₄ which remained stable up to 1000°C. The other portion of MoO₃ interacted with MgO producing MgMoO₄ at temperatures starting from 400°C and remained also stable at 1000°C. The diffraction peaks of Cu₂MgO₃ phase were detected in the diffractograms of pure and MoO₃-doped 0.3CuO/MgO precalcined at 1000°C. The formation of this phase was accompanied by an endothermic peak at 930°C.     

Ionic strength/temperature-induced gelation of aqueous poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-vinylimidazole) solution

A high molecular weight copolymer of N-isopropylacrylamide (NiPAAm) and vinyl imidazole (VI) was synthesized and its phase transition behavior in aqueous solutions (5 wt%) by simultaneous changes of ionic strength and temperature was investigated. At low ionic strengths, the copolymer solution showed two phases (clear and opaque solutions), which were freely mobile, as increasing temperatures up to 65°C due to repulsion interaction of positive charges developed by basic imidazole group on the polymer aggregates. However, at the physiological condition (I=0.15, T=37°C), four distinctive phases (clear solution, opaque solution, gel and shrunken gel) were observed because of charge shielding effect by added salts. The gel state was stable and maintained from 32°C to 55°C. In particular, the phase transition from opaque solution to gel rapidly occurred by the change in ionic strength (from ∼ 0 to 0.15) at 37°C. This characteristic can be utilized as a liquid embolic agent.     

Synthesis of aluminum oxides from the products of the rapid thermal decomposition of hydrargillite in a centrifugal flash reactor: III. Properties of aluminum hydroxides and oxides obtained via the mild rehydration of the products of the centrifugal thermal activation of hydrargillite

The interaction between the amorphous product of the centrifugal thermal activation of hydrargillite (CTA HG) and aqueous electrolytes (pH 5–11) under mild conditions (15–35°C, atmospheric pressure) has been investigated by a variety of physicochemical methods. This interaction causes material morphologic and phase changes in CTA HG, and the product composition is governed by the pH of the electrolyte and by the hydration temperature and time. The product that forms in a basic medium or water in <24 h contains up to 50% pseudoboehmite. Raising the pH or temperature or extending the hydration time results in the formation of bayerite as the major phase (～80%). An X-ray amorphous hydroxide forms in acid media. The heat treatment of this hydroxide at 550°C yields aluminum oxides differing from alumina prepared via hydroxide reprecipitation. Products with new, unusual properties can thus be obtained.     

Propargyl silicon‐cyclopentadiene oligomeric resin with high temperature resistance

Multiple propargyl substituted cyclopentadiene was synthesized by phase transfer reaction between cyclopentadiene and propargyl bromide in an aqueous solution mediated by sodium hydroxide. It was found that propargylated cyclopentadiene (PCp) could be thermally cured with a mass loss of ca 28%, while the cured material showed a high char yield of ca 76% at 900°C. In order to overcome the processing problems of PCp, a condensation reaction between PCp di‐anion and dimethyldichlorosilane was performed to make a silicon‐PCp (SiPCp) oligomeric resin. SiPCp resin has an acceptable processability, attributed to its organosolubility, low viscosity, and broad processing window. SiPCp resin can readily undergo thermal cure via addition polymerization of ethynyl groups in the temperature range of 170–270°C with an exothermic maximum at ca 240°C, and the mass loss upon cure was less than 5%. Evidenced by the results of dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) in a nitrogen atmosphere, the cured SiPCp resin exhibited stable thermo‐mechanical properties up to 320°C, and possessed an anerobic char yield of ca 77% at 900°C. The results of TGA in air atmosphere revealed the higher oxidation resistance of SiPCp resin. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermal decomposition of nickel aluminium mixed hydroxides and formation of nickel aluminate spinel

Various nickel aluminium mixed hydroxide samples of different compositions were prepared by co-precipitation from their nitrate solutions using dilute NH₄OH. Additional samples were prepared by impregnation of hydrated Al₂O₃, preheated at 600 and 900°C, with nickel nitrate solution in an equimolar ratio. The thermal decomposition of different mixed solids was studied using DTA. The X-ray investigation of thermal products of the mixed solids was also studied.The results obtained revealed that the presence of NiO up to 33.3 mole % with aluminium oxide much enhanced the degree of crystallinity of the γ-Al₂O₃ phase. In contrast, the presence of Al₂O₃ much retarded the crystallization process of the NiO phase. With the exception of samples containing 20 mole% NiO, all the mixed hydroxide samples, when heated in air at 900°C, led to the formation of well-crystalline Ni Al₂O₄ spinel, alone, or together with either NiO or γ-Al₂O₃, depending on the composition of the mixed oxide samples. The solid containing 20% NiO and heated at 900°C was constituted of amorphous NiO dispersed in γ-Al₂O₃. Heating the nickel nitrate-impregnated Al₂O₃ in air at 800–1000°C led to the formation of Ni Al₂O₄ together with non-reacted NiO and γ-Al₂O₃. The degree of crystallinity of the spinel was found to increase by increasing the calcination temperature of the impregnated solids from 800 to 1000°C and by increasing the preheating temperature of the hydrated Al₂O₃ employed from 600 to 900°C.     

Synthesis of nanosized carbonated apatite by a modified Pechini method: hydroxyapatite nucleation from a polymeric matrix

Pechini method is a materials synthesis method based on the preparation of a polymeric matrix. The advantage of this method is the ability to obtain materials with different particle sizes depending on the synthesis condition with a homogeneous distribution. In this work, carbonated hydroxyapatite (c-OHAp) nanoparticles were obtained by a modified Pechini method. To obtain the polymeric precursor of the c-OHAp, the polymeric matrix was prepared through a polyesterification reaction between citric acid and ethylene-glycol. Adding calcium hydroxide and ortophosphoric acid in aqueous solutions, raising the temperature up to 140 °C/2 h and keeping constant the pH at 8. The polymeric matrix was calcinated at different ranges of temperature from 200 to 600 °C in order to obtain the c-OHAp powder. The results show the presence of c-OHAp a as unique phase. The thermal analysis indicates that the c-OHAp phase was obtained at 600 °C. The particle size of the obtained material was <50 nm.     

Preparation of superacid of ruthenium-sulfated zirconia for reaction of butane to isobutane

A highly active superacid of 2–4 wt.% Ru-sulfated ZrO₂ for the isomerization of butane to isobutane was obtained by exposing RuO_x/ZrO₂ to 1 N H₂SO₄ followed by calcining in air at 550°C. The RuO_x/ZrO₂ was prepared by impregnating zirconium hydroxide with a solution of RuCl₃ followed by drying at 300°C. The catalyst was much more active than the superacid of sulfated zirconia, the temperature difference to show the same conversion between both catalysts being more than 145°C.     

Basic hydrolysis of glyceryl nitrate esters. III. Trinitroglycerin

Kinetics of the basic hydrolysis of glyceryl trinitrate (TNG) were investigated in CO₂-free aqueous calcium hydroxide solutions. The hydrolysis reactions were carried out in a temperature controlled reactor vessel with provision for continuous N₂ sparging of the reaction mixture. TNG hydrolyzed via second-order reaction at 25°C, 18°C, and 10°C. The activation energy of the hydrolysis reaction of TNG was calculated from the kinetic data and found to be equal to 27.53 kcal/mol. The major products of the hydrolysis of TNG in solution of calcium hydroxide were calcium nitrate and calcium nitrite, accounting for approximately 50% of the degradation products. The minor identified products such as calcium oxalate and nitrate esters amounted to approximatey 6% of the products. The remaining 30% of the isolated products was a mixture of calcium formate, a nitrate ester, and unidentified volatiles, polymerlike substances, and other organic residue.     

Chemical modification of cellulose extracted from sugarcane bagasse: Preparation of hydroxyethyl cellulose

Cellulose was extracted from sugarcane bagasse by alkaline extraction with sodium hydroxide followed by delignification/bleaching using sodium chlorite/hexamethylenetetramine system. Factors affecting extraction process, including sodium hydroxide concentration, hexamethylenetetramine concentration and temperature were studied and optimum conditions for alkaline extraction were found to be boiling finely ground bagasse under reflux in 1 N sodium hydroxide solution and then carrying out the delignification/bleaching treatment at 95 °C using 5 g/l sodium chlorite together with 0.02 g/l hexamethylenetetramine. The extracted cellulose was used in the preparation of hydroxyethyl cellulose through reaction with ethylene oxide in alkaline medium. Factors affecting the hydroxyethylation reaction, like sodium hydroxide concentration during the alkali formation step, ethylene oxide concentration, reaction temperature and reaction duration were studied. Optimum conditions for hydroxyethylation reaction were using 20% NaOH solution and 200% ethylene oxide (based on weight of cellulose), carrying out the reaction at 100 °C for 60 min.     

The kinetics of polycondensation of α,α′‐dichloro‐p‐xylene with 4,4′‐isopropylidenediphenol using benzyltriethylammonium chloride as a phase‐transfer catalyst

The phase‐transfer catalyzed polycondensation of α,α′‐dichloro‐p‐xylene with 4,4′‐isopropylidenediphenol was carried out using benzylethylammonium chloride in a two‐phase system of an aqueous alkaline solution and benzene at 60 °C under nitrogen atmosphere. The rate of polycondensation was expressed as the combined terms of quaternary onium cation and 4,4′‐isopropylidenediphenolate anion rather than the feed concentration of catalyst and 4,4′‐isopropylidenediphenol. The measured concentrations of hydroxide and chloride anion in the aqueous solution and α,α′‐dichloro‐p‐xylene in the organic phase were used to obtain the reaction rate constant with the integral method, and to analyze the polycondensation mechanism with a cyclic phase‐transfer initiation step in the heterogeneous liquid–liquid system. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3059–3066, 2000     

Organoclays from alkaline-treated acid-activated clays

The cetyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (C16TMAOH) solution was proposed for the preparation of organoclays. Montmorillonite clay was acid activated at different acid/clay (a/c) (in mass) ratios, then treated with alkaline (sodium hydroxide) solution before being reacted with C16TMAOH solution. The acid activation caused a reduction in the number of cation exchange sites, and hence improved the exfoliation of the silicate sheets at higher pH values. The basal spacing increased significantly from 2.20 to 4.01 nm, and depended on the a/c ratios. The acid-activated clays with a/c ratios greater than 0.3 adsorbed significant amounts of C16TMA cations with a basal spacing of 4.01 nm compared with the non-acid-activated montmorillonite (2.51 nm). Meanwhile, the treatment of NaOH solution yielded clays with similar properties to that of the raw used clay. The XRF data, FT-IR, and ²⁹Si MAS-NMR techniques confirmed that the resulting amorphous silica during the acid activation was dissolved, and accompanied by a dramatical reduction in the surface areas. Similar amounts of C16TMA cations were adsorbed, i.e., close to 1 mmol g^?1, with a single basal spacing of 2.52 nm, independently of the treated acid-activated clays. The in-situ powder XRD studies revealed that an increase of the basal spacing to 4.20 nm was observed at intermediate temperatures ranging from 50 to 150 °C for organo-acid-activated clays with basal spacing of 4.01 nm, while a continuous decrease of the basal spacing was observed for organoclays with a basal spacing of 2.52 nm. At higher temperatures greater than 250 °C, the decomposition of the surfactant occurs, and the basal spacing decreases to a value of about 1.4 nm.     

Pyrohydrolysis Coupled to Ion Chromatography for Sensitive Determination of Iodine in Food-Related Materials

For the determination of iodine in food-related materials, the biological sample was decomposed using a pyrohydrolytic procedure. A sample vessel made from mullite, in which an aliquot of sample was taken, was placed in a quartz tube, and heated at 100°C through 820°C step by step under wet oxygen flow. Iodine in the sample was separated by evaporation as hydrogen iodide and collected in a dilute sodium hydroxide solution. After the basic solution containing the analyte was neutralized by adding hydrochloric acid, iodine in the solution was determined by using ion chromatography with ultraviolet absorption detection. The operating conditions for the pyrohydrolytic decomposition procedure were examined. Under the optimized conditions, organic constituents in the sample were completely decomposed since the analyte species were converted to the iodide ion. The detection limit of 0.01 µg g^?1 iodine was established with a reproducibility of 1.2% when a sample of 500 mg was taken. This method was applied to the determination of iodine in various certified reference materials and food samples with satisfactory results.     

Intercalation studies of zinc hydroxide chloride: Ammonia and amino acids

Zinc hydroxide chloride (ZHC) is a layered hydroxide salt with formula Zn₅(OH)₈Cl₂·2H₂O. It was tested as intercalation matrix for the first time and results were compared with intercalation products of the well-known zinc hydroxide nitrate and a Zn/Al layered double hydroxide. Ammonia was intercalated into ZHC, while no significant intercalation occurred in ZHN. Aspartic acid intercalation was only achieved by co-precipitation at pH=10 with ZHC and pH=8 with zinc hydroxide nitrate. Higher pH resistance in ZHC favored total deprotonation of both carboxylic groups of the Asp molecule. ZHC conferred more thermal protection against Asp combustion presenting exothermic peaks even at 452 °C while the exothermic event in ZHN was 366 °C and in the LDH at 276 °C.     

Mechanism of the Water–Gas Shift Reaction Catalyzed by Efficient Ruthenium‐Based Catalysts: A Computational and Experimental Study

Supported ionic liquid phase (SILP) catalysis enables a highly efficient, Ru‐based, homogeneously catalyzed water‐gas shift reaction (WGSR) between 100 °C and 150 °C. The active Ru‐complexes have been found to exist in imidazolium chloride melts under operating conditions in a dynamic equilibrium, which is dominated by the [Ru(CO)₃Cl₃]^? complex. Herein we present state‐of‐the‐art theoretical calculations to elucidate the reaction mechanism in more detail. We show that the mechanism includes the intermediate formation and degradation of hydrogen chloride, which effectively reduces the high barrier for the formation of the requisite dihydrogen complex. The hypothesis that the rate‐limiting step involves water is supported by using D₂O in continuous catalytic WGSR experiments. The resulting mechanism constitutes a highly competitive alternative to earlier reported generic routes involving nucleophilic addition of hydroxide in the gas phase and in solution.