High surface area nickel aluminate spinels prepared by a sol–gel method

The oxide spinel NiAl₂O₄ and spinel-type solid solutions Al₂O₃–NiAl₂O₄ (at Ni/Al=1:4, and Ni/Al=1:8) were prepared by controlled hydrolysis of mixed metal alkoxides, followed by calcination of the resulting gels. Powder X-ray diffraction showed that all samples prepared were single phase cubic materials having the spinel-type structure. The cubic lattice parameter, a_o, was found to decrease gradually with increasing aluminium content of the mixed metal oxides. The specific surface area (determined by nitrogen adsorption at 77 K) was found to be in the range of 200–300 m² g⁻¹. The materials were found to be basically mesoporous, the most frequent pore radius being in the range 3.2–6.4 nm. IR spectroscopy of CO adsorbed at liquid nitrogen temperature gave a main band at 2186–2195 cm⁻¹, which was assigned to the C---O stretching vibration of surface Al³⁺CO adducts where coordinatively unsaturated Al³⁺ ions act as Lewis acid centres.     

Ion chromatographic investigations of leachates from a hazardous-waste landfill

Leachates from different areas of a modern hazardous-waste landfill were investigated. In addition, samples of the waste to be buried were taken, and leachability tests in accordance with German standards were performed. The composition of the leachates from the landfill and the leachates produced by the leachability tests varied over a wide range, depending on the kind and volume of hazardous waste buried and the weather conditions. High concentrations of some anions were often found in combination with low concentrations of other anions. In the leachates the following concentration ranges were found: Cl⁻, 30–6000 mg/l; NO₂⁻, 0–150 mg/l; NO₂⁻, 0–150 mg/l; SO₂ ²⁻, 100–6000 mg/l. Therefore, several dilutions of one sample often had to be measured. The complex matrix often also requires several sample preparation steps for the elimination of interfering effects. Experience to date has shown that ion chromatography in this application field is efficient.     

有序介孔Ru-MgZr复合氧化物合成及催化亚油酸异构化性能

筛选高效、高选择性多相催化剂异构化亚油酸是共轭亚油酸(CLA)研究的重点。 本文采用溶剂挥发自组装改进的溶胶-凝胶法,合成有序介孔Ru掺杂的MgO-ZrO₂固体碱催化剂。 考察了催化剂中不同Mg物质的量对催化剂孔径、比表面积和表面碱性以及Ru等的结构和性能对催化性能的影响。 对比了催化剂的形貌、表面碱性及Ru组分对催化性能的影响程度。 结果表明,n(Zr)∶n(Mg)=3∶1时,Ru掺杂的MgO-ZrO₂固体碱催化剂具有高度有序的介孔结构和高的比表面积。 而n(Zr)∶n(Mg)=1∶1时, MgO-ZrO₂固体碱催化剂合成CLA产率较高,反应时间4 h,产率达到85%,催化效率为0.099 g(CLA)·L^-1(solvent)·min^-1,并且催化产物主要为具有生物活性的3种共轭亚油酸异构体。 催化剂的强碱性位点和晶格Ru是催化异构化反应的两个活性位点,强碱性位点是提高催化性能的关键。 固体碱复合氧化物催化效率高、制备方法简单、反应产物生物活性高等优点,具有较好的应用前景。     

超薄骨架有序介孔CdS/NiS的制备及光催化产氢性能

采用有序介孔氧化硅为硬模板, 通过纳米浇筑法制备了由螺旋骨架构建的有序介孔硫化镉(CdS)光 催化材料. 该光催化材料具有约5 nm厚的超薄骨架和大的比表面积(238 m²/g), 能有效缩短光催化反应中 光生电荷迁移到表面进行反应的距离并同时提供更多的反应活性位点, 从而增强光催化性能. 通过原位化学沉积法将不同量的助催化剂硫化镍(NiS)沉积到有序介孔CdS表面, 得到了一系列超薄骨架有序介孔CdS/NiS复合光催化材料. 可见光照射下的光催化产氢活性测试结果表明, 负载适量NiS的有序介孔CdS具有显著增强的光催化产氢活性(3.84 mmol?h^-1?g^-1), 约为负载相同量NiS的普通商业化CdS材料(0.22 mmol?h^-1?g^-1)的17.5倍.     

Electrorheological behavior of urea-doped mesoporous TiO2 suspensions

A type of anhydrous electrorheological (ER) material of urea-doped mesoporous TiO₂ is synthesized by in micelle-assisted incorporation urea molecules during mesoporous TiO₂ synthesis. TEM, XRD demonstrate that the material had mesoporous structure, while the FT-IR spectra and the nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms show urea molecules have been fixed in the channel of the mesoporous TiO₂. The ER behavior of the suspensions of urea-doped mesoporous TiO₂ in silicone oil with the different volume fractions was investigated under an applied electric field. It is found that the suspensions show visible electrorheological behavior which are compared with that of pure TiO₂. The dopants of urea molecules change the conductivity of the particles, and produce a proper conductivity of 10⁻⁷ S m⁻¹ with the molar ratio of urea/Ti = 0.2. Dielectric spectra of the ER fluid was measured to examine the peak of ″ should appear in the frequency range of 10²–10⁵ Hz and have a large Δ′ in this frequency range. The interfacial particle polarization model can exactly explain the ER behavior of this material.     

Organosilicon backbone containing pyridyl/quinolyl ligands: Synthesis, complexation reactions and single crystal structures of metallamacrocyclic Pd(II) and Cu(II) complexes

Organosilicon backbone containing ligands 1,2-bis(dimethyl(2-pyridyl)silyl)ethane (L¹) and 1,2-bis(dimethyl(3-quinolyl)silyl) ethane (L²) have been synthesized by treating 2-bromopyridine and 3-bromoquinoline with n-butyllithium and reacting the resulting lithiated products with 1,2-bis(chlorodimethylsilyl)ethane. The ligation of L¹ and L² with Pd(II), Ag(I) and Cu(II) has been investigated. The single crystal structures of L², [Pd(L¹)Cl₂] (1), [Cu(L¹)Br₂] (3) and [PdCl₂(L²)]₂ (4) have been solved. All the three complexes are metallamacrocyclic in nature. The last one is 22-membered and the first example which has ligands containing organosilicon backbone. The geometry of Pd as well as Cu is very close to square planar. The Pd–N, Pd–Cl, Cu–N and Cu–Br bond distances (2.010(1)–2.027(3), 2.3063(10)–2.3114(4), 2.004(4)–2.018(5) and 2.4137(10)–2.4172(10) Å) are very close to sum of covalent radii, indicating strong ligation of L¹ and L² with the metal ions.     

Simultaneous determination of sugars and organic acids in aged vinegars and chemometric data analysis

Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale of Modena (ABTM) is a typical product (PDO denomination) of the province of Modena produced by cooked grape must which undergoes a long ageing period (at least 12 years) in series of wooden casks (batterie). The study of the transformations of this product during ageing is extremely relevant in order to control the authenticity of ABTM towards succedaneous products and mislabelling of age.

This paper presents the results of the investigation of sugars and fixed organic acids in ABTM samples of different ages, coming from different batterie. The analytes were simultaneously determined by a gas chromatographic method optimised for this peculiar matrix.

The method shows good separation and resolution of the investigated chemical species and allows their determination in the concentration ranges reported in brackets: malic (7.6–15.5 g kg⁻¹), tartaric (4.0–9.7 g kg⁻¹), citric (0.6–1.5 g kg⁻¹) and succinic (0.36–0.62 g kg⁻¹) acid and glucose (153–294 g kg⁻¹), fructose (131–279 g kg⁻¹), xylose (011–0.39 g kg⁻¹), ribose (0.078–0.429 g kg⁻¹), rhamnose (0.061–0.195 g kg⁻¹), galactose (0.136–0.388 g kg⁻¹), mannose (0.41–1.46 g kg⁻¹), arabinose (0.33–1.00 g kg⁻¹) and sucrose (0.46–6.84 g kg⁻¹), with mean associated errors ranging from 5 to 19% depending on the analytes.

Moreover, the recovery values are always satisfactory, being close to one for most of the analytes.

Furthermore, in order to assess the degree of variability of the different analytes content with vinegar ageing and the similarity/dissimilarity among series of casks a three-way data analysis method (Tucker3) is proposed. The chemometric technique applied on the data set shows differences between the samples on the bases of their different ageing period, and between the batterie, which traditionally have an own peculiar production procedure.     

In situ FTIR spectra of pyridine adsorbed on SiO2–Al2O3, TiO2, ZrO2 and CeO2: general considerations for the identification of acid sites on surfaces of finely divided metal oxides

Exposure of strong Lewis (coordinatively unsaturated metal atoms) and Bronsted (proton donor OH-groups) acid sites on solid surfaces is a prime demand for potential adsorptive and catalytic applications. In situ FTIR spectroscopy of small adsorbed base molecules, often NH₃, pyridine, CH₃CN, NO or CO molecules, has been well established as a powerful surface analytical technique for characterization of nature, strength and concentration of acid sites. Pyridine (Py) has been preferred as an IR probe molecule of finely divided metal oxide surfaces at room (RT) and higher temperature regimes, since it is (i) more selective and stable than NH₃; (ii) much more strongly adsorbed than CO and CH₃CN; and (iii) relatively more sensitive to the strength of Lewis acid sites than NO. In the present work, in situ IR spectra of Py adsorbed at ≥RT on characterized alumina, silica, silica–alumina, titania, zirconia and ceria were measured, and compared with RT-spectra of liquid and gas phase Py obtained under identical spectroscopic conditions, in order to characterize spectral consequences of mutual Py–Py interactions in the adsorbed phase. It has been concluded that the availability of Lewis acid sites can be unequivocally monitored by formation of coordinated Py molecules giving rise to IR-absorption(s) due to the ν_8a mode of νCCN vibrations at 1630–1600 cm⁻¹, where the higher the frequency assumed, the stronger the acidity of the site. Formation of pyridinium surface species (PyH⁺) is identifiable by (i) an ν_8a-absorption at ≥1630 cm⁻¹; (ii) an ν_19b-absorption at 1550–1530 cm⁻¹; as well as (iii) νN⁺---H and δN⁺---H absorptions occurring, respectively, near 2450 and 1580 cm⁻¹, and, thus, the availability of Bronsted acid sites. Moreover, products and IR-characteristics of Py surface reactions at >RT have been identified, and used to imply nature of surface base sites (OH⁻and O²⁻) involved in formation of acid–base site pairs.     

Amberlite XAD-2 functionalized with o-aminophenol: synthesis and applications as extractant for copper(II), cobalt(II), cadmium(II), nickel(II), zinc(II) and lead(II)

A stable chelating resin matrix was synthesized by covalently linking o-aminophenol (o-AP) with the benzene ring of the polystyrene–divinylbenzene resin, Amberlite XAD-2, through a –N=N– group. Elemental analyses, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and infrared spectra have characterized the resulting chelating resin. It has been used to preconcentrate Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Pb²⁺, prior to their determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The optimum pH values for quantitative sorption of Cu, Cd, Co, Ni, Zn and Pb are 6.2–7.4, 5.6–7.2, 5.6–9.0, 6.0–9.0, 5.7–7.0 and 5.0–6.0, respectively. These metals are desorbed (recovery 91–98%) with 4 mol dm⁻³ HNO₃. The sorption capacity of the resin is 3.37, 3.42, 3.29, 3.24, 2.94 and 3.32 mg of metal g⁻¹ of resin, respectively, for Cu, Cd, Co, Ni, Zn and Pb. The effect of NaF, NaCl, NaNO₃, Na₂SO₄, and Na₃PO₄ on the sorption of these metal ions has been investigated. These electrolytes are tolerable up to 0.01 mol dm⁻³ in case of all the metal ions, except Cl⁻ which is tolerable even up to 0.1 mol dm⁻³ for Zn and 1.0 mol dm⁻³ for Pb. The preconcentration factor for Cu, Cd, Co, Ni, Zn and Pb are 50, 50, 100, 65, 40 and 40 (concentration level 10–25 μg dm⁻³) respectively. Simultaneous enrichment of the six metals is possible. The method has been applied to determine Cu, Cd, Co, Ni, Zn and Pb content in well water samples (RSD≤8%).     

Ab initio calculations of minimum-energy pathways of the nucleophilic addition of the H anion, LiH molecule and Li/H ion pair to acetylene and methylacetylene

Ab initio calculations were performed for special points of the minimal energy pathways (MEP) of the nucleophilic addition reactions of the isolated H⁻ anion, LiH molecule and Li⁺/H⁻ ion pair to acetylene (A) and methylacetylene (MA) molecules, proceeding in accordance (M) and against (aM) the Markovnikov's rule. All structural parameters were optimized using the restricted Hartree–Fock (RHF) method. For the addition of H⁻, the 6-31++G^* basis set was used and for the reactions of LiH and Li⁺/H⁻ the 6-31G^* basis set with the subsequent recalculation of single point energies, taking into account of electron correlation energy by means of the second-order Möller–Plesset perturbation theory at the MP2/6-31++G^** level. The results of calculations demonstrate, that the energy characteristics of both M- and aM-additions with H⁻ do not differ sufficiently (0.1–1.2 kcal/mol for the activation energies (ΔE_a) and the reaction heats (ΔQ)). The substitution of the H atom by the CH₃ group in A molecule results in practically the same values of ΔQ and ΔE_a. On the contrary, for the LiH molecule and Li⁺/H⁻ ionic pair, the M-addition is favorable (charge control). It is found that the presence of electrophile decreases the activation energy by 3–5 kcal/mol as compared with the addition of the isolated hydride ion H⁻.     

Voltammetric determination of phytochelatins using copper solid amalgam electrode

Voltammetric determination of synthetically prepared phytochelatins (γ-Glu-Cys)₂Gly (PC₂) and (γ-Glu-Cys)₃Gly (PC₃) has been studied using new type of copper solid amalgam electrode. The determination, based on the formation of cuprous complexes in buffer pH 8.1, is suitable for concentrations of PC in the range 10–100 nmol l⁻¹. Reproducibility, employing electrochemical cleaning of the electrode surface, was statistically evaluated. The achieved limit of detection (2.1–2.6×10⁻⁹ mol l⁻¹ for DCV measurement) together with the robust character of the electrode offer its use for detection of PCs in separated extracts of real samples.     

EPR and UV–visible spectroscopic studies of alumina-supported chromium oxide catalysts

The oxidation state, the mobility and the molecular structure of chromium species present on CrO_x–Al₂O₃ catalysts have been studied by combined diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, EPR and reduction–extraction by ethane 1,2 diol. CrO₄²⁻ species exist on the alumina surface in the form of loosely-interacting species on hydrated surface (species A) and in the form of strongly bonded species on dehydrated Al₂O₃ surface (species B). The CrO₄²⁻ species show high mobility and are probably responsible for the formation of CrO_x clusters.     

Determination of physiological noble metals in human urine using liquid-liquid extraction and Zeeman electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

An extremely sensitive, reliable and simple procedure is described for the determination of physiological palladium, platinum and gold in human urine. The urine samples were adjusted to pH 4 (Pd, Au) or pH 5 (Pt), followed by conversion of the analytes to their pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate complexes. These complexes were separated from the matrix by liquid-liquid extraction into 4-methyl-2-pentanone resulting in a 25-fold enrichment. Determination was by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET-AAS) using longitudinal inverse alternating current Zeeman-effect background correction. The limits of detection calculated from three standard deviations of the blank values were 20 ng l⁻¹ for Pd and Au and 70 ng l⁻¹ Pt. Within-day precision (n = 10, 5 μg l⁻¹) ranged 5.2%–7.7%. The procedure is successfully applied to determine urinary palladium, platinum and gold in nine unexposed persons. Palladium levels in urine ranged < 20–80 ng l⁻¹ (arithmetical MEAN=38.7 ng l⁻¹), while gold levels ranged < 20–130 ng l⁻¹ (36.0 ng l⁻¹). Physiological platinum levels in urine were all < 70 ng l⁻¹. The accuracy of the procedure was checked by analyzing a series of urine samples by a second independent method (magnetic sector field inductively-coupled plasma-mass spectrometry) in combination with UV photolysis.     

The direct synthesis of dimethyl ether from syngas over hybrid catalysts with sulfate-modified γ-alumina as methanol dehydration components

A series of γ-Al₂O₃ samples modified with various contents of sulfate (0–15 wt.%) and calcined at different temperatures (350–750 °C) were prepared by an impregnation method and physically admixed with CuO–ZnO–Al₂O₃ methanol synthesis catalyst to form hybrid catalysts. The direct synthesis of dimethyl ether (DME) from syngas was carried out over the prepared hybrid catalysts under pressurized fixed-bed continuous flow conditions. The results revealed that the catalytic activity of SO₄²⁻/γ-Al₂O₃ for methanol dehydration increased significantly when the content of sulfate increased to 10 wt.%, resulting in the increase in both DME selectivity and CO conversion. However, when the content of sulfate of SO₄²⁻/γ-Al₂O₃ was further increased to 15 wt.%, the activity for methanol dehydration was increased, and the selectivity for DME decreased slightly as reflected in the increased formation of byproducts like hydrocarbons and CO₂. On the other hand, when the calcination temperature of SO₄²⁻/γ-Al₂O₃ increased from 350 °C to 550 °C, both the CO conversion and the DME selectivity increased gradually, accompanied with the decreased formation of CO₂. Nevertheless, a further increase in calcination temperature to 750 °C remarkably decreased the catalytic activity of SO₄²⁻/γ-Al₂O₃ for methanol dehydration, resulting in the significant decline in both DME selectivity and CO conversion. The hybrid catalyst containing the SO₄²⁻/γ-Al₂O₃ with 10 wt.% sulfate and calcined at 550 °C exhibited the highest selectivity and yield for the synthesis of DME.     

海泡石制备HMS和AlSBA介孔分子筛的研究

通过酸浸和模板合成处理，海泡石直接合成有序介孔二氧化硅和含铝的介孔二氧化硅. 海泡石用盐酸处理后120 ℃下在NaOH溶液中处理72 h, 得到具有HMS结构特征的介孔分子筛；在含铝的碱性溶液中处理后得到具有AlSBA结构的介孔分子筛. 并用SAXRD、BET、TPD表征了介孔分子筛的物相结构、比表面积、孔径分布和表面酸性. 两种介孔分子筛的比表面积分别为508 m2•g^-1和946 m2•g^-1，孔径分别为3.4 nm和3.9 nm，且孔径分布窄. NH3-TPD结果表明分子筛表面都有两个酸中心，随着Al原子的引入，表面酸性增强.     

Vibrational properties and first hyperpolarizability of cyclopentadiene homologues C4H4XH2 (X=C, Si, Ge, Sn): ab initio HF and DFT investigation

IR and Raman spectra and static electronic and vibrational first hyperpolarisabilities, β, of the cyclopentadiene homologues C₄H₄XH₂ (X=C, Si, Ge, Sn) have been calculated by conventional ab initio and DFT-B3LYP methods using Sadlej POL and correlation consistent Dunning basis sets to investigate on the role of the heteroatom on the response property. The pure vibrational contribution to β has been evaluated within the double harmonic oscillator approximation. A clear heavy atom effect was found in the vibrational frequencies and intensities localised on the XH₂ and C–X–C fragments, which decrease and increase, respectively, as the size of the heteroatom increases. Both β^e and β^v show an increase along the series, the vibrational contribution to β being modest in cyclopentadiene, but substantial in metalloles, especially for silole, where it is about two times greater than the electronic counterpart. The β^v/β^e ratio is strongly dependent on the basis set, decreasing as the quality of the basis set increases. Both β^v and total β^e+β^v values of the cyclopentadiene homologues are higher than the corresponding ones in the furan series, except for stannole and tellurophene which have close total β^e+β^v values.     

A crossed-beam study of low energy Ar + H2O collisions: Charge transfer and chemical reaction

Dynamics of Ar⁺ + H₂O collisions, charge transfer (H₂O⁺ formation) and chemical reaction (ArH⁺ formation), was investigated in crossed-beam experiments in the collision energy range 1–3 eV. The charge transfer occurs both by a simple-electron-jump mechanism and in impulsive intimate collisions. The distributions of relative translational energy of the products show that, most probably, the collisions are only slightly superelastic (by about 0.1 eV), and thus the product H₂O⁺ is highly internally excited. Formation of a small amount of H₂O⁺(B²B₂) in very inelastic collisions was observed. The chemical reaction is a direct process with characteristics of the spectator stripping mechanism.     

Kinetics and mechanism of 2-pyridylacetic acid pyrolysis in the gas phase: A joint experimental and theoretical study

A combination of the experimental and theoretical study was carried out on the reaction mechanism associated with the pyrolysis of 2-pyridylacetic acid in the gas phase. Methylpyridine and carbon dioxide were analyzed as the products, using a static system over the pressure range of 18–55 torr and the temperature of 541.2–583.4 K. The experimental kinetic data show that the pyrolysis process is homogeneous, unimolecular and proceeds through a concerted mechanism. Theoretical studies at the B3LYP level using the 6-31G^* basis set confirmed an asynchronous concerted mechanism for the reaction. Computed kinetic and activation parameters are in good agreement with the experimental one.     

The H method: hydrogen atoms with a fictitious nuclear charge. A versatile theoretical tool for study of atom and group properties as substituents: electronegativity and partition of σ and π contributions

We present a preliminary work for a general method of computing the partition of σ and π electronic effects of a given atom A or substituent R on a given substrate. In this aim, the nuclear charge Z^* of a fictitious hydrogen atom H^* is fitted in order that the A–H^* (or R–H^*) bond be purely covalent, i.e. the Mulliken electron population be one electron on H^*. We obtain this way entities of the same electronegativity as A or R, thus having a comparable σ effect, without any π effect.

The values of Z^* obtained for A–H^* diatomic molecules (A=H–Br) exhibit a good linear correlation with the Allred–Rochow scale of electronegativity, as it could be expected on theoretical grounds. The method, applied to R–H^* molecules, allows a determination of the electronegativity of a variety of polyatomic R substituents, and provides H^*(R) having the same inductive effect as R. These results are discussed by comparison with some previous theoretical and experimental data.

As an example of application, the partition of σ and π contributions of R on the ¹³C chemical shifts in a series of monosubstituted benzenes RC₆H₅ has been computed.