Thermochemical properties of MnNb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>6</Subscript>

Homogeneous manganocolumbite (MnNb₂O₆) was synthesized from Nb₂O₅ and MnO oxides. Powder sample was orthorhombic with unit cell parameters: α = 0.5766 nm, b = 1.4439 nm, c = 0.5085 nm and V = 0.4234 nm³. Heat capacity over the temperature range of 313–1253 K was measured in an inert atmosphere with combined thermogravimetry and calorimetry using NETZSCH STA 449C Jupiter thermoanalyzer. Melting point was 1767 ± 3 K, enthalpy of melting was 144 ± 4 kJ mol⁻¹. Experimental heat capacity of MnNb₂O₆ is fitted to polynomial C _pm = 221.46 + 3.03 · 10⁻³ T + −39.79 · 10⁵ T ⁻² + 40.59 · 10⁻⁶ T ².     

Synthesis,crystal structure,and thermal decomposition kinetics of complex [Nd(BA)<Subscript>3</Subscript>bipy]<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The complex of [Nd(BA)₃bipy]₂ (BA = benzoic acid; bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine) has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra, single crystal X-ray diffraction, and TG/DTG techniques. The crystal is monoclinic with space group P2(1)/n. The two–eight coordinated Nd³⁺ ions are linked together by four bridged BA ligands and each Nd³⁺ ion is further bonded to one chelated bidentate BA ligand and one 2,2′-bipyridine molecule. The thermal decomposition process of the title complex was discussed by TG/DTG and IR techniques. The non-isothermal kinetics was investigated by using double equal-double step method. The kinetic equation for the first stage can be expressed as dα/dt = A exp(−E/RT)(1 − α). The thermodynamic parameters (ΔH ^≠, ΔG ^≠, and ΔS ^≠) and kinetic parameters (activation energy E and pre-exponential factor A) were also calculated.     

PuPO<Subscript>4</Subscript>(cr,hyd.) Solubility Product and Pu<Superscript>3+</Superscript> Complexes with Phosphate and Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid

To determine the solubility product of PuPO₄(cr, hyd.) and the complexation constants of Pu(III) with phosphate and EDTA, the solubility of PuPO₄(cr, hyd.) was investigated as a function of: (1) time and pH (varied from 1.0 to 12.0), and at a fixed 0.00032 mol⋅L⁻¹ phosphate concentration; (2) NaH₂PO₄ concentrations varying from 0.0001 mol⋅L⁻¹ to 1.0 mol⋅L⁻¹ and at a fixed pH of 2.5; (3) time and pH (varied from 1.3 to 13.0) at fixed concentrations of 0.00032 mol⋅L⁻¹ phosphate and 0.0004 mol⋅L⁻¹ or 0.002 mol⋅L⁻¹ Na₂H₂EDTA; and (4) Na₂H₂EDTA concentrations varying from 0.00005 mol⋅L⁻¹ to 0.0256 mol⋅L⁻¹ at a fixed 0.00032 mol⋅L⁻¹ phosphate concentration and at pH values of approximately 3.5, 10.6, and 12.6. A combination of solvent extraction and spectrophotometric techniques confirmed that the use of hydroquinone and Na₂S₂O₄ helped maintain the Pu as Pu(III). The solubility data were interpreted using the Pitzer and SIT models, and both provided similar values for the solubility product of PuPO₄(cr, hyd.) and for the formation constant of PuEDTA⁻. The log ₁₀ of the solubility product of PuPO₄(cr, hyd.) [PuPO₄(cr, hyd.) \rightleftarrows\rightleftarrows Pu³⁺+PO₄^3-\mathrm{Pu}^{3+}+\mathrm{PO}_{4}^{3-}] was determined to be −(24.42±0.38). Pitzer modeling showed that phosphate interactions with Pu³⁺ were extremely weak and did not require any phosphate complexes [e.g., PuPO₄(aq), PuH₂PO₄²⁺\mathrm{PuH}_{2}\mathrm{PO}_{4}^{2+}, Pu(H₂PO₄)₂⁺\mathrm{Pu(H}_{2}\mathrm{PO}_{4})_{2}^{+}, Pu(H₂PO₄)₃(aq), and Pu(H₂PO₄)₄^-\mathrm{Pu(H}_{2}\mathrm{PO}_{4})_{4}^{-}] as proposed in existing literature, to explain the experimental solubility data. SIT modeling, however, required the inclusion of PuH₂PO₄²⁺\mathrm{PuH}_{2}\mathrm{PO}_{4}^{2+} to explain the data in high NaH₂PO₄ concentrations; this illustrates the differences one can expect when using these two different chemical models to interpret the data. Of the Pu(III)-EDTA species, only PuEDTA⁻ was needed to interpret the experimental data over a large range of pH values (1.3–12.9) and EDTA concentrations (0.00005–0.256 mol⋅L⁻¹). Calculations based on density functional theory support the existence of PuEDTA⁻ (with prospective stoichiometry as Pu(OH₂)₃EDTA⁻) as the chemically and structurally stable species. The log ₁₀ value of the complexation constant for the formation of PuEDTA⁻ [ Pu³⁺+EDTA^4-\rightleftarrows PuEDTA^-\mathrm{Pu}^{3+}+\mathrm{EDTA}^{4-}\rightleftarrows \mathrm{PuEDTA}^{-}] determined in this study is −20.15±0.59. The data also showed that PuHEDTA(aq), Pu(EDTA)₄^5-\mathrm{Pu(EDTA)}_{4}^{5-}, Pu(EDTA)(HEDTA)⁴⁻, Pu(EDTA)(H₂EDTA)³⁻, and Pu(EDTA)(H₃EDTA)²⁻, although reported in the literature, have no region of dominance in the experimental range of variables investigated in this study.     

Composition of the gas phase over Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> and the enthalpies of atomization of AlO,Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O,and Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The A1, O, AlO, A1₂O, Al₂O₂, WO₂, and WO₃, partial pressures in the vapor over Al₂O₃ in a tungsten Knudsen effusion cell between 2300 and 2600 K were derived from A1⁺, O⁺, AlO⁺, A1₂O⁺, Al₂O₂⁺, WO₂⁺, and WO₃⁺, ion intensities. The mass spectrometer was calibrated against the equilibrium constant of the WO₃(g) = WO₂(g) + O(g) reaction. Refined values of the ionization cross sections of AlO and A1₂O₂ were used in the partial pressure calculations. The enthalpies of atomization of aluminum suboxides were determined to be Δ_at H ^o(AlO, g, 0) = 510.7 ± 3.3 kJ mol⁻¹, Δ_at H ^o(Al₂O, g, 0) = 1067.2 ± 6.9 kJ mol⁻¹, and Δ_at H ^o(Al₂O₂, g, 0) = 1556.7 ± 9.9 kJ mol⁻¹.     

Preparation and electrochemical performance of nano-structured Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>4</Subscript>O<Subscript>9</Subscript> for supercapacitor

Nano-structured spinel Li₂Mn₄O₉ powder was prepared via a combustion method with hydrated lithium acetate (LiAc·2H₂O), manganese acetate (MnAc₂·4H₂O), and oxalic acid (C₂H₂O₄·2H₂O) as raw materials, followed by calcination of the precursor at 300 °C. The sample was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy techniques. Electrochemical performance of the nano-Li₂Mn₄O₉ material was studied using cyclic voltammetry, ac impedance, and galvanostatic charge/discharge methods in 2 mol L⁻¹ LiNO₃ aqueous electrolyte. The results indicated that the nano-Li₂Mn₄O₉ material exhibited excellent electrochemical performance in terms of specific capacity, cycle life, and charge/discharge stability, as evidenced by the charge/discharge results. For example, specific capacitance of the single Li₂Mn₄O₉ electrode reached 407 F g⁻¹ at the scan rates of 5 mV s⁻¹. The capacitor, which is composed of activated carbon negative electrode and Li₂Mn₄O₉ positive electrode, also exhibits an excellent cycling performance in potential range of 0–1.6 V and keeps over 98% of the maximum capacitance even after 4,000 cycles.     

Steric effects on the singlet-triplet energy gaps of five-membered ring R<Subscript>2</Subscript>C<Subscript>4</Subscript>H<Subscript>2</Subscript>M

Thermal internal energy gaps, ΔE _s−t; enthalpy gaps, ΔH _s−t; Gibbs free energy gaps, ΔD _s−t, between singlet (s) and triplet (t) states of R₂C₄H₂M (M = C, Si, and Ge) were calculated at B3LYP/6-311++G** level of theory. The ΔG _s−t of R₂C₄H₂C was increased in the order (in kcal/mol): R = −CH₃ (−10.51) > −H (−9.59) > i-Pr (−9.51) > t-Bu (−8.98). While, the ΔG _s−t of R₂C₄H₂Si and R₂C₄H₂Ge were increased in the order (in kcal/mol): −CH₃ (17.01) > i-Pr (15.30) > −H (15.26) > t-Bu (14.35) and -H (22.79) > −CH₃ (22.69) > i-Pr (21.66) > t-Bu (21.01), respectively.     

Enthalpy of formation of talc Mg<Subscript>3</Subscript>[Si<Subscript>4</Subscript>O<Subscript>10</Subscript>](OH)<Subscript>2</Subscript> according to dissolution calorimetry

A thermochemical study of natural talc was performed by high-temperature melt dissolution calorimetry on a Tian-Calvet calorimeter. Based on the total values of the increment in enthalpy upon heating the sample from room temperature to 973 K, and of the dissolution enthalpy at 973 K measured in this work for talc and gibbsite (along with those determined for tremolite, brucite, and their corresponding oxides), the enthalpy of formation was calculated for talc composed of elements, Mg₃[Si₄O₁₀](OH)₂, at 298.15 K: Δ_f H _el^o(298.15 K) = −5900.6 ± 4.7 kJ/mol.     

Master sintering curve for Gd-doped CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> solid electrolytes

The sintering behavior of gadolinia-doped ceria powders was studied by the master sintering curve (MSC). Dilatometric analyses of powders produced by a soft chemical method were performed to provide the experimental data set for the construction of the MSC. The assumed model provided good fittings of the MSC and the activation energy for the sintering of Ce_1−x Gd _x O_3−δ, with x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 were found to be in the 218–325 KJ/mol range, depending on the dopant content. The results supported that both the nanometric size of the particles and the difference in ionic radii between Gd³⁺ and Ce⁴⁺ affects the sintering of Gd-doped CeO₂.     

Synthesis and crystallization kinetics of the novel ion exchanger Na<Subscript>4</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>4</Subscript>Si<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>10</Subscript> for cesium removal

Thermodynamics and crystallization kinetics of the hydrothermal synthesis of Na₄Ti₄Si₃O₁₀ (NaTS) were systemically studied by both experiments and model simulation. Experimental results showed that the curve of crystallinity with time was a characteristic signmoid in the shape that indicated the crystallization of Na₄Ti₄Si₃O₁₀ was a typical spontaneous nucleation process on the laboratory scale. Crystallization of NaTS belongs to the liquid-liquid transformation mechanism and the reaction is endothermic (ΔH = 15.3 kJ/mol). A mathematic model of crystallization kinetics was developed to simulate the synthesis of NaTS. Runge-Kutta and simplex methods were adopted to solve the partial differential equations. Model results fitted well with the experimental data and showed that the synthesis process belongs to spontaneous nucleation and crystal growth. Moreover, the very small crystal growth constant (5.6·10⁻⁷) and gel dissolution constant (7.0·10⁻⁷) indicate they are the rate-limiting steps of the whole synthesis process.     

Enthalpy of formation of BaCe<Subscript>0.9</Subscript>In<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>O<Subscript>3−δ</Subscript>(s)

Enthalpy of formation of the perovskite-related oxide BaCe_0.9In_0.1O_2.95 has been determined at 298.15 K by solution calorimetry. Solution enthalpies of barium cerate doped with indium and mixture of BaCl₂, CeCl₃, InCl₃ in ratio 1:0.9:0.1 have been measured in 1 M HCl with 0.1 M KI. The standard formation enthalpy of BaCe_0.9In_0.1O_2.95 has been calculated as −1611.7±2.6 kJ mol⁻¹. Room-temperature stability of this compound has been assessed in terms of parent binary oxides. The formation enthalpy of barium cerate doped by indium from the mixture of binary oxides is Δ_ox H ⁰ (298.15 K)=−36.2±3.4 kJ mol⁻¹.     

Synthesis and characterization of the [Ru<Subscript>3</Subscript>O(CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>COO)<Subscript>6</Subscript>(py)<Subscript>2</Subscript>(BPE)Ru(bpy)<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cl](PF<Subscript>6</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript> dimer

The polymetallic [Ru₃O(CH₃COO)₆(py)₂(BPE)Ru(bpy)₂Cl](PF₆)₂ complex (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine, BPE = trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridil)ethylene and py = pyridine) was assembled by the combination of an electroactive [Ru₃O] moiety with a [Ru(bpy)₂(BPE)Cl] photoactive centre, and its structure was determined using positive ion electrospray (ESI-MS) and tandem mass (ESI-MS/MS) spectrometry. The [Ru₃O(CH₃COO)₆(py)₂(BPE)Ru(bpy)₂Cl]²⁺ doubly charged ion of m/z 732 was mass-selected and subject to 15 eV collision-induced dissociation, leading to a specific dissociation pattern, diagnostic of the complex structure. The electronic spectra display broad bands at 409, 491 and 692 nm ascribed to the [Ru(bpy)₂(BPE)] charge-transfer bands and to the [Ru₃O] internal cluster transitions. The cyclic voltammetry shows five reversible waves at −1.07 V, 0.13 V, 1.17 V, 2.91 V and −1.29 V (vs SHE) assigned to the [Ru₃O]^{−1/0/+1/+2/+3} and to the bpy^0/−1 redox processes; also a wave is observed at 0.96 V, assigned to the Ru^+2/+3 pair. Despite the conjugated BPE bridge, the electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical results indicate only a weak coupling through the π-system, and preliminary photophysical essays showed the compound decomposes under visible light irradiation.     

Electrochemical study of Meldola's blue,methylene blue and toluidine blue immobilized on a SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/Sb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O3 binary oxide matrix obtained by the sol-gel processing method

SiO₂/Sb₂O₃ (SiSb), having a specific surface area, S _BET, of 788 m² g⁻¹, an average pore diameter of 1.9 nm and 4.7 wt% of Sb, was prepared by the sol-gel processing method. Meldola's blue (MeB), methylene blue (MB) and toluidine blue (TB) were immobilized on SiSb by an ion exchange reaction. The amounts of the dyes bonded to the substrate surface were 12.49, 14.26 and 22.78 μmol g⁻¹ for MeB, MB and TB, respectively. These materials were used to modify carbon paste electrodes. The midpoint potentials (E _m) of the immobilized dyes were −0.059, −0.17 and −0.18 V vs. SCE for SiSb/MeB, SiSb/MB and SiSb/TB modified carbon paste electrodes, respectively. A solution pH between 3 and 7 practically did not affect the midpoint potential of the immobilized dyes. The electrodes presented reproducible responses and were chemically stable under various oxidation-reduction cycles. Among the immobilized dyes, MeB was the most efficient to mediate the electron transfer for NADH oxidation in aqueous solution at pH 7. In this case, amperometric detection of NADH at an applied potential of 0 mV vs. SCE gives linear responses over the concentration range of 0.1–0.6 mmol L⁻¹, with a detection limit of 7 μmol L⁻¹.     

Synthesis,structure, and electric properties of oxygen-deficient perovskites Ba<Subscript>3</Subscript>In<Subscript>2</Subscript>ZrO<Subscript>8</Subscript> and Ba<Subscript>4</Subscript>In<Subscript>2</Subscript>Zr<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>11</Subscript>

Perovskite phases Ba₃In₂ZrO₈ and Ba₄In₂Zr₂O₁₁ with the nominal concentration of structural oxygen vacancies 1/9 and 1/12, respectively, were synthesized by solid-phase and solution methods. X-ray diffraction showed cubic symmetry of both phases with the unit cell parameter a = 0.4193(2) and 0.4204(3) nm, respectively. The absence of superstructural lines resulted in the conclusion on statistical arrangement of oxygen vacancies. Thermogravimetry and mass spectrometry proved that both phases can reversibly absorb water from gas phase (pH₂O = 2 × 10⁻² atm) with observed correlation between the concentration of oxygen vacancies and amount of absorbed water. The total water amount was up to 0.9 mol per formula unit or, if recalculated for perovskite unit ABO₃, 0.3 and 0.23 mol H₂O, respectively. The temperature curves of coductivity in the atmosphere with various partial water vapor pressures (pH₂O = 3 × 10⁻⁵ and 2 × 10⁻² atm) showed significantly higher conductivity and lower activation energy (0.52 eV) in humid atmosphere due to proton transfer. The proton conductivity is up to 5 × 10⁻⁴ Ohm⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at 300°C for Ba₃In₂ZrO₈ specimen. IR spectrometry showed that protons in the structure exist primarily in OH-groups.     

Molecular modeling of hydration properties of hydrophobic ions Li<Superscript>+</Superscript>@C<Subscript>60</Subscript> and K<Superscript>+</Superscript>@C<Subscript>60</Subscript>

The Gibbs free energies of solvation (ΔG _s) and the electronic structures of endohedral metallofullerenes M⁺@C₆₀ (M⁺= Li⁺, K⁺) were calculated within the framework of the density functional theory and the polarizable continuum model. In water environment, the equilibrium position of K⁺ is at the center of the fullerene cavity whereas that of Li⁺ is shifted by 0.14 nm toward the fullerene cage. The Li⁺ cation is stabilized by interactions with both the fullerene and solvent. The equilibrium structures of both endohedral metallofullerenes are characterized by very close ΔG _s values. In particular, the calculated ΔG _s values for K⁺@C₆₀ are in the range from −124 to −149 kJ mol⁻¹ depending on the basis set and on the type of the density functional. Molecular dynamics simulations (TIP3P H₂O, OPLS force field, water sphere of radius 1.9 nm) showed that the radial distribution functions of water density around C₆₀ and M⁺@C₆₀ are very similar, whereas orientations of water dipoles around the endohedral metallofullerenes resemble the hydration pattern of isolated metal ions.     

Thermodynamic Protonation Parameters of some Sulfur-Containing Anions in NaCl<Subscript>aq</Subscript> and (CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>4</Subscript>NCl<Subscript>aq</Subscript> at <Emphasis Type="Italic">t</Emphasis>=25 °C

Protonation constants of one thiocarboxylate (thioacetate) and four sulfur-containing carboxylates (2-methylthioacetate, thiolactate, thiomalate, 3-mercaptopropionate) were determined by potentiometric measurements in a wide ionic strength range [0≤I≤5 mol⋅L⁻¹ in NaCl and 0 ≤I≤3 mol⋅L⁻¹ in (CH₃)₄NCl] at t=25 °C. For two of these ligands (2-methylthioacetate and thiolactate), the protonation enthalpies were also determined by calorimetric measurements in NaCl ionic medium [0 ≤I≤5 mol⋅L⁻¹] at t=25 °C. Individual UV spectra of the protonated and unprotonated 3-mercaptopropionate species, together with values of the protonation constants, were obtained by spectrophotometric titrations. Results were analyzed in terms of their dependence on the ionic medium by using different thermodynamic models [Debye-Hückel type, SIT (Specific ion Interaction Theory) and Pitzer’s equations]. Differences among protonation constants obtained in different media were also interpreted in terms of weak complex formation.     

Determination of vitamin B<Subscript>1</Subscript> in seawater and microalgal fermentation media by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A highly sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method with fluorescence detection has been developed for determination of vitamin B₁. Vitamin B₁ was converted into a fluorescent compound by treatment with hydrogen peroxide–horseradish peroxidase and the derivative was subsequently analyzed by HPLC on a Waters Spherisorb ODS2 column (250 mm×4.6 mm ID, 5 μm) with 40:60 methanol–pH 8.5 acetate buffer solution as mobile phase and fluorescence detection at 440 nm (with excitation at 375 nm). The calibration graph was linear from 5.00×10⁻¹⁰ mol L⁻¹ to 5.00×10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ for vitamin B₁ with a correlation coefficient of 0.9991 (n=9). The detection limit was 1.0×10⁻¹⁰ mol L⁻¹. The method was successfully used for determination of vitamin B₁ at pg mL⁻¹ levels in microalgal fermentation media and seawater after solid-phase extraction. Recovery was from 89 to 110% and the relative standard deviation was in the range 1.1 to 4.3%.     

Thermodynamic properties of strontium metaniobate SrNb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>6</Subscript>

The heat capacity and the enthalpy increments of strontium metaniobate SrNb₂O₆ were measured by the relaxation method (2-276 K), micro DSC calorimetry (260-320 K) and drop calorimetry (723-1472 K). Temperature dependence of the molar heat capacity in the form C _pm=(200.47±5.51)+(0.02937±0.0760)T-(3.4728±0.3115)·10⁶/T ² J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ (298-1500 K) was derived by the least-squares method from the experimental data. Furthermore, the standard molar entropy at 298.15 K S _m⁰ (298.15 K)=173.88±0.39 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ was evaluated from the low temperature heat capacity measurements. The standard enthalpy of formation Δ_f H ⁰ (298.15 K)=-2826.78 kJ mol⁻¹ was derived from total energies obtained by full potential LAPW electronic structure calculations within density functional theory.     

Production and Stability of Protease from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Candida buinensis</Emphasis>

Cow raw milk from dairy cooperatives was examined for its microbial composition. Among the isolates identified, 17.6% were yeasts. The most frequent genus was Candida, although members belonging to the genera Brettanomyces, Dekkera, and Geotricum were also identified. Although qualitative and quantitative tests for extracellular proteolytic activity were positive for all the species isolated, Candida buinensis showed the highest response (23.5 U/mg); therefore, it was selected for subsequent investigation. The results of fermentations carried out at variable temperature, pH, and soybean flour concentration, according to a 2³ full factorial design, demonstrated that this yeast ensured the highest production of extracellular proteases (573 U/mL) when cultivated at 35 °C, pH 6.5, and using soybean flour concentrations in the range 0.1–0.5% (w/v). The cell-free supernatants showed the highest activity at 25 °C and pH 7.0, and satisfactory stability in the ranges 25–30 °C and pH 7–9. The first-order rate constants of protease inactivation in the cell-free supernatants were calculated at different temperatures from semi-log plots of the residual activity versus time and then used in Arrhenius and Eyring plots to estimate the main thermodynamic parameters of thermoinactivation (E* = 40.0 kJ/mol; ΔH* = 37.3 kJ/mol; ΔS* = −197.5 J/mol K; ΔG* = 101 kJ/mol).     

Phase relations in the Zn<Subscript>2</Subscript>V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript>-Cu<Subscript>2</Subscript>V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript> system from room temperature to melting

Phase relations in the Zn₂V₂O₇-Cu₂V₂O₇ system were studied by high-temperature X-ray diffraction and differential thermal analysis. The major phase constituents of the system are solid solutions based on Zn₂V₂O₇ and Cu₂V₂O₇ polymorphs and their coexistence regions. The generation of α-Zn_{2 − 2x} Cu_2x V₂O₇ solid solution, where 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.30, leaves almost unchanged the stabilization temperature of the high-temperature zinc pyrovanadate phase. The α-Cu_{2 − 2x} Zn_2x V₂O₇ homogeneity range is 5 mol % Zn₂V₂O₇. In the range 0.050 ≤ x ≤ 0.09 from 20 to ∼ 620°C, there is the two-phase field of α-Cu₂V₂O₇ and β-Cu₂V₂O₇ base solid solutions. At still higher temperatures, β-Zn_{2 − 2x} Cu_2x V₂O₇ and α-Cu_{2 − 2x} Zn_2x V₂O₇ coexist in the mixed-phase region. β-Zn_{2 − 2x} Cu_2x V₂O₇ solid solution, where 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.30, exists above 610 ± 5°C. The extent of the β′-Cu₂V₂O₇-base solid solution is 9 to 65 mol % Zn₂V₂O₇ at 615 ± 5°C, expanding to 0 mol % Zn₂V₂O₇ with rising temperature. Original Russian Text ￠ T.I. Krasnenko, M.V. Rotermel’, S.A. Petrova, R.G. Zakharov, O.V. Sivtsova, A.N. Chvanova, 2008, published in Zhurnal Neorganicheskoi Khimii, 2008, Vol. 53, No. 10, pp. 1755–1762.     

Chromium(III) complexes with lutidinic acid: kinetic studies in HClO<Subscript>4</Subscript> and NaOH solutions

Chromium(III)-lutidinato complexes of general formula [Cr(lutH) _n (H₂O)_6−2n ]³⁻ⁿ (where lutH⁻ is N,O-bonded lutidinic acid anion) were obtained and characterized in solution. Acid-catalysed aquation of [Cr(lutH)₃]⁰ leads to only one ligand dissociation, whereas base hydrolysis produces chromates(III) as a result of subsequent ligand liberation steps. The kinetics of the first ligand dissociation were studied spectrophotometrically, within the 0.1–1.0 M HClO₄ and 0.4–1.0 M NaOH range. In acidic media, two reaction stages, the chelate-ring opening and the ligand dissociation, were characterized. The dependencies of pseudo-first-order rate constants on [H⁺] are as follows: k _obs1 = k ₁ + k ₋₁/K ₁[H⁺] and k _obs2 = k ₂ K ₂[H⁺]/(1 + K ₂[H⁺]), where k ₁ and k ₂ are the rate constants for the chelate-ring opening and the ligand dissociation, respectively, k ₋₁ is the rate constant for the chelate-ring closure, and K ₁ and K ₂ are the protonation constants of the pyridine nitrogen atom and coordinated 2-carboxylate group in the one-end bonded intermediate, respectively. In alkaline media, the rate constant for the first ligand dissociation depends on [OH⁻]: k _obs1 = k _OH(1) + k _O[OH⁻], where k _OH(1) and k _O are rate constants of the first ligand liberation from the hydroxo- and oxo-forms of the intermediate, respectively, and K ₂ is an equilibrium constant between these two protolytic forms. Kinetic parameters were determined and a mechanism for the first ligand dissociation is proposed. The kinetics of the ligand liberation from [Cr(lut)(OH)₄]³⁻ were also studied and the values of the pseudo-first-order rate constants are [OH⁻] independent.