Computer calculations for thermal behavior of Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>CO<Subscript>3</Subscript>-Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>CO<Subscript>3</Subscript> melt

The thermal behavior of Na₂CO₃+Li₂CO₃ melt is studied by the method of thermodynamic simulation. The equilibrium compositions of the gas and salt phases are calculated at different temperatures in the initial argon atmosphere. Basic trends of the variation in the compositions of the melts and the gas phase above the melts in the presence of carbon are determined. The obtained results characterizing the stability of carbonate components in the melt are analyzed.     

Properties of powders produced by evaporating CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/Gd<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> targets exposed to pulsed-periodic radiation of a CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> laser

The characteristics (phase composition, grain shape, grain size distribution, and specific surface area) of Ce_0.78Gd_0.22O_2-δ nanopowders produced by exposing the target to pulsed CO₂ laser radiation are reported. Reasons for a threefold increase in the output of the experimental powder-preparation unit (up to 60 g/h) with the characteristic grain size (≈10 nm) remaining unchanged are discussed.     

Accuracy in determination of the temperature and partial pressure of CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> in CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>:N<Subscript>2</Subscript>:H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O:NO<Subscript>2</Subscript> mixtures by multiple-frequency laser probing

We present the results of analysis of the errors introduced by hot-band transitions 11¹0-01¹1, 03¹0-01¹1, 12⁰0-12⁰1 of the CO₂ molecule and the absorption lines of the H₂O and NO₂ molecules in determination of the temperature and partial pressure of CO₂, included in the gas mixture CO₂: N₂:H₂O: NO₂ at atmospheric pressure, by multiple-frequency laser probing using a CO₂ laser tunable over the lines of the 00⁰1-[10⁰0,02⁰0]_I,II ground-state laser transitions. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 74, No. 6, pp. 810–815, November–December, 2007.     

Measurement of the <Superscript>13</Superscript>CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/<Superscript>12</Superscript>CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> concentration ratio in exhaled air by diode laser spectroscopy

A method for determining the relative concentration of ¹³C/₁₂C isotopes by the vibrational-rotational spectrum of CO₂ molecule absorption in the range near 2 μm was proposed. The use of the entire region of the diode laser tuning (∼7 cm⁻¹) and multivariate linear regression for spectrum approximation allow measurements at atmospheric pressure. The laser frequency is additionally stabilized by injection current variation. The ultimate sensitivity of the setup, determined by the plot of the squared Alan variance, is 0.03% for 2-min signal acquisition. The system does not contain elements cooled by liquid nitrogen and can be used in medical diagnostics.     

High-power high beam-quality multi-waveguide CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> amplifiers

The results from modeling the energy characteristics of a multi-waveguide power amplifier are presented. The optical schemes and calculations for the most promising circuits of multichannel waveguide CO₂ amplifiers are given. The amplifying system itself removes the problem of phase locking in individual channels of multichannel systems. The experimental results from the synchronization of arrays of multichannel waveguide CO₂ lasers allow the production of high-power (up to 15 kW) high beam-quality multibeam lasers. Technological lasers with such properties have yet to be produced anywhere in the world.     

Graphite gasification in high-temperature gas flows containing H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O and CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The rates of graphite gasification in interaction with high-temperature gas flows were compared. Carbon dioxide and a mixture of water vapor and argon taken in a 1:1 molar ratio were used as reagents. The reactor was a tube furnace; its temperature was varied from 1250 to 1400 K. The rates of graphite gasification in CO₂ and water vapor-argon mixture flows were approximately equal at 1250–1300 K, whereas, at 1350–1400 K, the water vapor-argon mixture exhibited higher reactivity than CO₂. The data obtained were approximated by Arrhenius dependences; the activation energy was found to be 153 kJ/mol for CO₂ and 248 kJ/mol for H₂O-Ar.     

A 300 Hz TEA CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Laser

We present a design and construction of a high pulse repetition rate (PRR) transversely excited atmospheric (TEA) CO₂ laser with ultraviolet preionization. We use a new combination of spark and corona preionizations. Under semi-sealed off condition, we obtained 220 W at 300 Hz with 7.7% efficiency in a 735 mJ/pulse. The best results we have obtained in different experiments are a 1.07 J/pulse, 320 Hz PRR, 11 MW peak power, and 10.6% efficiency.     

Molecular Simulation of H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O,CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>, and CH<Subscript>4</Subscript> Adsorption in Coal Micropores

Based on the chemical model of coal, slit micropores with different pore sizes are established and structures are optimized in the software of materials studio. As the temperature rises, absolute adsorption capacities of H₂O are slightly affected, while absolute adsorption capacities of CO₂ and CH₄ gradually decrease. As the fugacity rises, excess adsorption curves of CO₂ experience increase-decrease-gentle three stages, while the curves of CH₄ gradually decrease. With the increase of pore size, adsorption capacities of H₂O increase, while adsorption capacities of CO₂ and CH₄ gradually decrease. H₂O firstly adsorbs on the oxygen-containing functional group, so the walls of pore are the preferential area for H₂O, while CO₂ and CH₄ choose to adsorb on–C–C–, therefore the walls are the primary area for CO₂ and CH₄. Strong potential in micropores and hydrogen bond among water molecules will promote the water adsorption, while the adsorptions of CO₂ and CH₄ are only induced by the Van der Waals interaction, but the difference between adsorption density and bulk density of CO₂ and CH₄ decides the change of excess adsorption capacity.     

Thermal conductivity of Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>W<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript> crystal

The thermal conductivity of Na₂W₂O₇ single crystal has been studied along the main crystallographic directions at temperatures of 50–573 K. A low thermal conductivity is found to correlate with a significant difference in the cation weight.     

Self-modulation lasing regimes in a fast-flow CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> laser

Numerical simulation of self-modulation lasing regimes has been carried out for a CO₂ laser with transverse flow of the active medium through an unstable resonator with inhomogeneous internal pumping. Two types of steady-state self-modulation oscillation differing in the feedback mechanism were observed. The type of lasing regime and the conditions of its realization depend both upon the pumping profile and upon the composition and pressure of the working mixture, which makes it generally possible to control temporal characteristics of lasing.     

Spherical shape BaO-ZnO-B<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> glass powders prepared by spray pyrolysis

Fine-sized BaO-ZnO-B₂O₃-SiO₂ (BZBS) glass powders were directly prepared by high temperature spray pyrolysis. The hollow glass powders prepared at low preparation temperature of 1000 °C had a low density of 2.65 g/cm³. However, the densities of the BZBS powders obtained at preparation temperatures of 1200 and 1400 °C were each 3.92 and 4.13 g/cm³. The mean size of the BZBS glass powders prepared by spray pyrolysis at preparation temperature of 1400 °C was 0.98 μm. The glass transition temperature (T_g) of the prepared BZBS glass powders was 518.9 °C. The dielectric layers formed from the prepared BZBS glass powders with a dense structure had a clean surface and a dense inner structure without voids at the firing temperature of 580 °C. The transparencies of the dielectric layers formed from the prepared BZBS glass powders were higher than 90% within the visible range. PACS 42.70.Ce; 85.60.Pg; 71.55.Jv     

Single enzyme nanoparticle for biomimetic CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> sequestration

Nanoparticle technology is being increasingly used in environmental sciences. We prepared single enzyme nanoparticle (SEN) by modifying the surface of carbonic anhydrase (CA) with a thin layer of organic/inorganic hybrid polymer. SEN-CA appears to be improving the stability of free enzyme. CA, as ubiquitously found enzyme, is involved in gaseous CO₂ sequestration and is being looked as a promising candidate for combating global warming. We report here physical characterization of SEN-CA using transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared analysis (FTIR), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). Average size of SEN-CA particles appears to be in the range of 70–80 nm. We also report the effect of SEN formation on the kinetic parameters of free CA such as Michaelis–Menten constant (K _m), maximum reaction velocity (V _max), and storage stability of free CA and SEN-CA. The V _max of SEN-CA (0.02857 mmol/min/mg) and free enzyme (0.02029 mmol/min/mg) is almost similar. K _m has decreased from 6.143 mM for SEN-CA to 1.252 mM for free CA. The stabilization of CA by SEN formation results in improved the half-life period (up to 100 days). The formation of carbonate was substantiated by using gas chromatography (GC). The conversion of CO₂ to carbonate was 61 mg of CaCO₃/mg of CA and 20.8 mg of CaCO₃/mg of CA using SEN-CA and free CA, respectively.     

Production of collimated positronium by positron scattering from CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>, N<Subscript>2</Subscript> and Xe

The efficiency for collimated positronium production by charge-exchange in positron collisions with gaseous targets has been investigated in the range 20–396 eV. At 250 and 396 eV, CO₂ has been found to be approximately twice as efficient as N₂, the previous best neutralising gas at high energies. The efficiency from Xe, whilst lower at low energies, becomes comparable to that from H₂ at around 100–120 eV; at ∼250 eV, it is an order of magnitude lower.     

A study of the structure and properties of nanostructured ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-Y<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> composite powders

The correlation between temperature treatment conditions and the ratio of components in nanostructured fibrous powders with a composition of ZrO₂-Y₂O₃-Al₂O₃ and their porous crystal structure and physicochemical properties is studied. The dependences of the ratio between zirconia tetragonal and monoclynic phases on the treatment temperature and the alumina content are found to have a nonmonotonic character. The growth of zirconia crystallite size is suppressed by introduced nanocrystalline alumina in a temperature range of 600–1200°C, which is caused by the processes of ternary solid solution formation. The bulk and picnometric density values of materials are proportional to the temperature of heat treatment. The temperature dependence of the specific surface and the size of oxide grain particles has an inversely proportional character. With increasing alumina content in the powders, the specific surface increases, while the picnometric and bulk densities decrease.     

Reactions of molybdenum atoms with NO,O<Subscript>2</Subscript>, N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O,and CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> molecules behind shock waves

Experimental results on the interaction of Mo atoms with various oxygen-containing molecules (NO, O₂, N₂O, and CO₂) at high temperatures (>1200 K) are presented, which are in close agreement with measurements at moderate and low temperatures. It is demonstrated that the height of the activation barrier is additionally increased for spin-forbidden reactions and that an increase in the heat of reaction causes an increase in the rate constant for a given type of reaction. For the reactions of Mo atoms with O₂ and N₂O, interpolated temperature dependences of the rate constants, based on the high-temperature measurements conducted in the present work and the published low-temperature data, are proposed.     

Magnetism and optical properties of nanocrystalline Cu<Subscript>2</Subscript>O and TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> powders

The optical spectra of Cu₂O and TiO₂ nanopowders have been studied, which contain information about structural defects and are of interest in the search for optimum regimes providing the synthesis of ferromagnetic nanocrystals with Curie temperatures above room temperature.     

Oxidation of hydrogen sulfide and corrosion of stainless steel in gas mixtures containing H<Subscript>2</Subscript>S,O<Subscript>2</Subscript>, H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O,and CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The composition of volatile and solid products of oxidation of hydrogen sulfide and stainless steel in gas mixtures containing H₂S, O₂, H₂O, and CO₂ has been determined using mass spectrometry, x-ray diffraction analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. It has been shown that holding an H₂S–O₂ mixture at 301 K results in prevailing formation of elemental sulfur and iron sulfides in the form of porous hygroscopic crust on the reactor wall surface. Formation of gas-phase sulfur causes self-acceleration of the oxidation of hydrogen sulfide; the resulting water triggers corrosion of the reactor wall. Heating of the resulting sulfur-sulfide crust in O₂ medium is accompanied by formation of SO₂ and heat release at T > 508 K. After heating of the H₂S–CO₂ mixture to 615 K, H₂ and COS were found in the volatile reactants; no noticeable corrosion of the reactor wall has been detected. It has been established that addition of O₂ to the H₂S–CO₂ mixture and its heating to 673 K leads to formation of ferrous sulfates. The mechanisms of the observed processes are discussed.     

Thermal sensors based on Sb<Subscript>2</Subscript>Te<Subscript>3</Subscript> and (Sb<Subscript>2</Subscript>Te<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>70</Subscript>(Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>Te<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>30</Subscript> thin films

Thin films of Sb₂Te₃ and (Sb₂Te₃)₇₀(Bi₂Te₃)₃₀ alloy and have been deposited on precleaned glass substrate by thermal evaporation technique in a vacuum of 2?×?10^?6 Torr. The structural study was carried out by X-ray diffractometer, which shows that the films are polycrystalline in nature. The grain size, microstrain and dislocation density were determined. The Seebeck coefficient was determined as the ratio of the potential difference across the films to the temperature difference. The power factor for the (Sb₂Te₃)₇₀ (Bi₂Te₃)₃₀ and (Sb₂Te₃) is found to be 19.602 and 1.066 of the film of thickness 1,500 Å, respectively. The Van der-Pauw technique was used to measure the Hall coefficient at room temperature. The carrier concentration was calculated and the results were discussed.