Syngas production from ethanol dry reforming over Rh/CeO2 catalyst

Carbon dioxide reforming of ethanol over Rh/CeO₂ catalyst was deeply investigated at different reaction temperatures of 450–700 °C and reactant ratios (CO₂/ethanol from 1 to 3) under atmospheric pressure. The obtained results indicated that Rh/CeO₂ catalyst presented a promising activity and stability for syngas production from renewable bio-ethanol instead of conventional methane. Typically, CO₂-rich conditions (CO₂/ethanol = 3) were favorable for reaction process and dynamic coke cleaning, which led to remarkably stable performance over 65 h on stream. The strong redox capacity of CeO₂ support might also accelerate CO₂ activation and prevent the carbon accumulation over the catalyst surface. Additionally, tunable H₂/CO ratios were available by changing the CO₂/ethanol ratios. The results from characterization of samples before and after catalytic tests allowed to establish the relationship between textural properties and catalytic performance.     

An organoantimony complex with intramolecular N → Sb coordination as effective and recyclable catalyst for the allylation of aldehydes with tetraallyltin

An air-stable hypervalent organoantimony (III) triflate complex (PhN(CH₂C₆H₄)₂SbOSO₂CF₃) having intramolecular N → Sb coordination was synthesized and characterized by techniques such as ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, TG-DSC, X-ray diffraction and elemental analysis. The complex shows relatively strong Lewis acidity (0.8 < H_o ≤ 3.3). It exhibits excellent catalytic performance towards the allylation of aldehydes with tetraallyltin at room temperature, and shows good thermal stability and recyclability. The catalytic system enables convenient and efficient synthesis of homoallylic alcohols.     

Active carbon supported S-promoted Bi catalysts for acetylene hydrochlorination reaction

We synthesized a S doped Bi/AC catalyst for acetylene hydrochlorination. The addition of H₂SO₄ changes the structure of the Bi atoms in the catalyst, resulting in the improvement of the specific surface areas and catalytic efficiency of the Bi-based catalyst under reaction conditions.     

Preparation and properties of zirconia nanotube-supported 12-tungstophosphoric acid catalyst

Zirconia nanotube-supported H₃PW₁₂O₄0 (HPW) catalysts exhibit high catalytic activities in the synthesis of fatty acid ethyl ester.     

A Eu/Gd-mixed metal-organic framework for ultrasensitive physiological temperature sensing

A stable and biocompatible MOF-based thermometer utilizing back energy transfer has been developed, which exhibits ultrasensitive temperature sensing performance in the physiological temperature range.     

Ternary non-noble metal chalcogenide (W–Co–Se) as electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction

In this study, a catalyst based on a novel ternary non-noble metal chalcogenide, W–Co–Se, was synthesized for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in acidic medium. The non-noble metal chalcogenide catalyst was electrochemically stable in the potential range of 0.05–0.8 V versus NHE in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ aqueous solution. This catalyst demonstrated significant catalytic activity towards the ORR, showing the ORR onset potential at 0.755 V versus NHE in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ at 25 °C. Such high activity might be attributed to the electronic structure of non-noble metals modified by chalcogen.     

Synthesis,spectroscopic, structural and thermal characterizations of [(C7H6NO4)2TeBr6·4H2O]

Tellurium (IV) complexes with pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate ligand were synthesized by slow evaporation from aqueous solutions yielding a new compound: [(C₇H₆NO₄)₂TeBr₆·4H₂O]. The structure of this compound was solved and refined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The compound is centrosymmetric P2₁/c (N°: 14) with the parameters a = 8.875(5) Å, b = 15.174(5) Å, c = 10.199(5) Å, β = 94.271° (5) and Z = 2. The structure consists of isolated H₂O, isolated [TeBr₆]^2? octahedral anions and (pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate) [C₇H₆NO₄]⁺ cations. The stability of the structure was ensured by ionic and hydrogen bonding contacts (N–H?Br and O–H?Br) and Van-Der Walls interaction. The thermal decomposition of the compound was studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The FTIR and Raman spectroscopy at different temperatures confirm the existence of vibrational modes that correspond to the organic, inorganic and water molecular groups. Additionally, the UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectrum was recorded in order to investigate the band gap nature. The measurements show that this compound exhibits a semiconducting behavior with an optical band gap of 2.66 eV.     

An efficient and facile procedure for synthesis of octyl polyglucoside

Nonionic surfactant alkyl polyglucoside (APG) was prepared by direct glycosidation of alkyl alcohol with glucose in the presence of sulfate acid-silica gel (H_2SO_4/SiO_2) as solid acidic catalyst.The quantity of catalyst was only of 1 wt%,based on the glucose,and the conversion of glucose was close to 100% at 110℃in 1.5h.The product was characterized by FT-IR,mass and ~1H NMR spectra.The degree of polymerization (DP) of the glucose in the product was 1.37,and critical micelle concentration (CMC) of product was only 0.0104 wt%.     

Improved activity of SnO for the photocatalytic oxygen evolution

SnO prepared by soft chemistry exhibits a black color and semiconducting properties. The X-ray diffraction indicates a tetragonal symmetry (SG: P4/nmm) with nano crystallites of an average size of 85 nm. The forbidden band, determined from the diffuse reflectance is found to be 1.46 eV. The electrical conductivity occurs by polaron hopping and follows an Arrhenius type law with activation energy of 0.21 eV, the change in the slope at 526 K is attributed to the oxidation to SnO₂. The photo-electrochemical study shows n type conduction with a flat band potential of ?0.45 V, close to the photocurrent onset potential (?0.40 V). The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy shows the bulk contribution of SnO (R_b = 1.7 kΩ cm²) and decreases down to 1.89 kΩ cm² under illumination. The photocatalytic properties have been evaluated for the first time for to the oxygen evolution. The valence band, deriving from Sn²⁺: 5p orbital with a potential (?0.80 V_SCE/5.55 eV), is suitably positioned with respect to O₂/H₂O level (～0.6 V_SCE), leading to water oxidation under visible light. The best performance occurs at pH ～ 7 with an oxygen liberation rate of 23 µmol mL h^?1 (mg catalyst)^?1 and a quantum efficiency of 1.2%. An improvement of ～13% is observed on the system SnO/clay.     

Phase transfer catalysis: Synthesis of monodispersed FePt nanoparticles and its electrocatalytic activity

Using dibenzo-24-crown-8-ether (DB24C8) as phase transfer catalyst, the monodispersed iron–platinum (FePt) alloy nanoparticles with size of ∼17 nm were synthesized by reduction of H₂PtCl₆·6H₂O and FeCl₂·4H₂O in the solvothermal system. The structure, magnetic property and electrocatalytic activity of FePt nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction system (XRD), vibration sample magnetometer (VSM) and CHI 820 electrochemical analyser (three electrodes system, the reference electrode is saturated calomel electrode (SCE), the counter electrode is platinum electrode and the glassy carbon electrode is used as working electrode (GCE)), respectively. The results show that the as-synthesized FePt nanoparticles have a chemically disordered fcc structure and can be transformed into chemically ordered fct structure after annealing treatment above 400 °C, simultaneously accompanying with the coercivity changed from 5 to 2400 Oe. CVs of 0.5 M H₂SO₄/0.5 M CH₃OH on GCE modified with FePt nanoparticles monolayer illustrate that the as-synthesized FePt nanoparticles have strong electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of CH₃OH in aqueous solution.     

Syngas production from pyrolysis–catalytic steam reforming of waste biomass in a continuous screw kiln reactor

A two-stage continuous screw-kiln reactor was investigated for the production of synthesis gas (syngas) from the pyrolysis of biomass in the form of waste wood and subsequent catalytic steam reforming of the pyrolysis oils and gases. Four nickel based catalysts; NiO/Al₂O₃, NiO/CeO₂/Al₂O₃, NiO/SiO₂ (prepared by an incipient wetness method) and another NiO/SiO₂ (prepared by a sol–gel method), were synthesized and used in the catalytic steam reforming process. Pyrolysis of the biomass at a rapid heating rate of approximately 40 °C/s, was carried out at a pyrolysis temperature of 500 °C and the second stage reforming of the evolved pyrolysis gases was carried out with a catalytic bed kept at a temperature of 760 °C. Gases were analysed using gas chromatography while the fresh and reacted catalyst was analysed by scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, transmission electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The reactor design was shown to be effective for the pyrolysis and catalytic steam reforming of biomass with a maximum syngas yield of 54.0 wt.% produced when the sol–gel prepared NiO/SiO₂ catalyst was used, which had the highest surface area of 765 m² g⁻¹. The maximum H₂ production of 44.4 vol.% was obtained when the NiO/Al₂O₃ catalyst was used.     

Ultrafine molybdenum carbide nanoparticles supported on nitrogen doped carbon nanosheets for hydrogen evolution reaction

Nitrogen doped carbon nanosheets supported molybdenum carbides nanoparticles (Mo_xC/NCS) have been synthesized by tuning the mass ratio of melamine and ammonia molybdate. The Mo₂C/NCS-10 exhibits superior electrocatalytic performance and stability for HER, which was attributed to N-doped carbon nanosheets, small particle size, mesoporous structure, and large electrochemical active surface area.     

Sulfonate group modified Ni catalyst for highly efficient liquid-phase selective hydrogenation of bio-derived furfural

A simple and highly efficient Ni catalyst was synthesized and showed excellent catalytic performance for selectively liquid-phase hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol or tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol.     

Study of photoanode kinetics at metal-free phthalocyanine in an organic p/n bilayer with respect to the pH conditions employed

Using an organic p/n bilayer comprised of 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxyl-bisbenzimidazole (PTCBI, an n-type semiconductor) and 29H,31H-phthalocyanine (H₂Pc, a p-type semiconductor) as a photoanode in the presence of Fe^II(CN)₆^4? (an electron donor), the oxidation kinetics on the H₂Pc surface was investigated with respect to the pHs employed (i.e. pH = 4, 7, and 10). The kinetic analysis of the rate-limiting charge transfer between H₂Pc and Fe^II(CN)₆^4? was conducted by assuming the Langmuir adsorption equilibrium at the H₂Pc/water interface. In addition to a demonstration of the PTCBI/H₂Pc photoanode under the weakly acidic–alkaline conditions, the present work evidently shows that the photoanodic reaction is kinetically independent of the pH conditions employed.     

Effective synthesis of 6-substituted 7H-tetrazolo[5,1-b][1,3,4]thiadiazines via a one-pot condensation/nitrosation/azide-tetrazole tautomerism reaction sequence

A new, simple, and general method for the synthesis of 6-R-7H-tetrazolo[5,1-b][1,3,4]thiadiazines (R = Ar, Het, Alk) has been developed. The described method is based on the one-pot condensation of α-haloketones with thiocarbohydrazide, nitrosation of the formed hydrazinylthiadiazine using NaNO₂/HCl, and intramolecular cyclization of the nitrosation product via azide-tetrazole tautomerism. Spectroscopic and structural investigations revealed that the azide-tetrazole equilibrium is completely shifted to the tetrazole form both in solution and the solid state.     

A highly selective HBT-based “turn-on” fluorescent probe for hydrazine detection and its application

As one of the important industrial chemicals, hydrazine (N₂H₄) can be inhaled through the skin, leading to many serious health issues. In this paper, we constructed a novel turn-on fluorescent probe HBTM for N₂H₄ detection based on ESIPT and ICT mechanism by incorporating the methyl dicyanvinyl group to 2-(2′-hydroxylphenyl) benzothiazole (HBT) fluorophore. The probe showed the following advantages: high sensitivity with detection limit of 2.9 × 10^?7 M, high selectivity over other related interfering species, wide linear range of 0–140 μM and pH value adaptation. Moreover, the probe could detect N₂H₄ on paper strips and image N₂H₄ in living cells.     

Syngas Production from Lignite Coal Using K2CO3 Catalytic Steam Gasification with Controlled Heating Rate in Pyrolysis Step

Gasification uses steam increases H2 content in the syngas. Kinetics of gasification process can be improved by using K₂CO₃ catalyst. Controlled heating rate in pyrolysis step determines the pore size of charcoal that affects yield gas and H₂ and CO content in the syngas. In previous research, pyrolisis step was performed without considering heating rate in pyrolysis step. This experiment was performed by catalytic steam gasification using lignite char from pyrolysis with controlled heating rate intended to produce maximum yield of syngas with mole ratio of H₂/CO ≈ 2. Slow heating rate (3 °C/min) until 850 °C in the pyrolysis step has resulted in largest surface area of char. This study was performed by feeding Indonesian lignite char particles and K₂CO₃ catalyst into a fixed bed reactor with variation of steam/char mole ratio (2.2; 2.9; 4.0) and gasification temperature (750 °C, 825 °C, and 900 °C). Highest ratio of H₂/CO (1.682) was obtained at 750 °C and steam/char ratio 2.2. Largest gas yield obtained from this study was 0.504 mol/g of char at 900 °C and steam/char ratio 2.9. Optimum condition for syngas production was at 750 °C and steam/char mole ratio 2.2 with gas yield 0.353 mol/g of char and H₂/CO ratio 1.682.     

Recyclable Fenton-like catalyst based on zeolite Y supported ultrafine,highly-dispersed Fe2O3 nanoparticles for removal of organics under mild conditions

The active Fenton-like catalyst, obtained by highly dispersed Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles in size of 5 nm on the surface of zeolite Y, shows the excellent degradation efficiency to phenol higher than 90% under the mild conditions of room temperature and neutral solution, and the catalyst can be easily recovered with stable catalytic activity for 8 cycles.     

Ag NPs decked GO composite as a competent and reusable catalyst for ‘ON WATER’ chemoselective synthesis of pyrano[2,3-c:6,5-c′]dipyrazol]-2-ones

We have synthesized and characterized Ag NPs decked GO composite and studied its role as reusable catalyst for the ‘ON WATER’ chemoselective synthesis of pyranodipyrazolones via the reaction of different carbonyl compounds with 3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5(4H)-one. This method illustrates significant selectivity for pyranodipyrazolones over arylmethylene bispyrazolols and arylmethylenepyrazolones. Synergistic effect of heterogenic nature of water with reactants and Ag NPs/GO had profuse outcome on reaction as indicated by high TOF (18.03 × 10^?5 mol g^?1 min^?1). Furthermore, catalyst was recycled for 7-times without significant loss of activity.     

Nickel-catalyzed decarboxylative coupling of an alkynyl carboxylic acid with aryl iodides

A decarboxylative coupling reaction with an alkynyl carboxylic acid and aryl iodides in the presence of a nickel catalyst was developed. When the reaction was conducted with NiCl₂ (10 mol%), Xantphos (15 mol%), Mn (1.0 equiv), and Cs₂CO₃ (1.5 equiv), the desired diaryl alkynes were formed in moderated to good yields. Furthermore, this method does not produce the diyne, which is formed in the homocoupling of alkynyl carboxylic acids.