Screening heterogeneous catalysts for the pyrolysis of lignin

The pyrolytic conversion of pure lignin at 600 °C in flowing helium over five catalysts is described and compared to the control bed material, sand. Product distribution as char, liquid, and gas are described as well as the composition of the liquid and gas fractions. The catalysts examined were HZSM-5, KZSM-5, Al-MCM-41, solid phosphoric acid, and a hydrotreating catalyst, (Co/Mo/Al₂O₃). The sand yielded a liquid phase that was 97% oxygenated aromatics and a gas phase that was CO (18 vol%), CO₂ (16 vol%), and CH₄ (12 vol%). HZSM-5 was the best catalyst for producing a deoxygenated liquid fraction yielded almost equal amounts of simple aromatics (46.7%) and naphthalenic ring compounds (46.2%). The gas phase over this catalyst consisted of CO (22 vol%), CO₂ (14 vol%), H₂ (12 vol%), and CH₄ (10 vol%). The Co/Mo/Al₂O₃ hydrotreating catalyst yielded a liquid consisting of 21% aromatics, 4% naphthalenics, and 75% oxygenated aromatics and a gas phase that was rich in hydrogen: H₂ (18 vol%), CO₂ (16 vol%), CO (12 vol%), and CH₄ (8 vol%).     

Solid/liquid- and vapor-phase interactions between cellulose- and lignin-derived pyrolysis products

Solid/liquid- and vapor-phase interactions between cellulose- and lignin (Japanese cedar milled wood lignin)-derived pyrolysis products were studied under the conditions of N₂/600 °C/40–80 s. A dual-space closed ampoule reactor was used to eliminate the solid/liquid-phase interactions, and careful comparison of the resulting data with those of the pyrolysis of the mixed samples gave some insights into the solid/liquid- and vapor-phase interactions separately. With the solid/liquid-phase interactions, the tar yields from both cellulose and lignin increased with the decreasing yields of the char fractions in a short pyrolysis time of 40 s (primary pyrolysis stage). Most of the identified tar components from cellulose and lignin increased in their yields. The vapor-phase interactions were significant at a longer pyrolysis time of 80 s (secondary reaction stage) when the methoxyl groups of the lignin-derived volatiles were cleaved homolytically. The vapor-phase interactions accelerated the gas formation from the cellulose-derived volatiles with suppressing the vapor-phase char formation of the lignin-derived volatiles. The yields of methane and catechols from lignin also increased greatly instead of the formation of o-cresols. Most of these influences are explained with a proposed interaction mechanism, in which the cellulose-derived volatiles act as H-donors while the lignin-derived volatiles (radicals) act as H-acceptors.     

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of aminoacetylenic isoindoline-1,3-dione derivatives as anti-inflammatory agents

Aminoacetylenic isoindoline-1,3-dione derivatives were synthesized from the reaction of potassium phthalimide with propargyl bromide to generate 2-(prop-2-yn-1-yl)isoindoline-1,3-dione (ZM1). Treatment of 2-(prop-2-yn-1-yl)isoindoline-1,3-dione with appropriate cyclic amines through Mannich reaction yielded five desired aminoacetylenic isoindoline-1,3-diones called, ZM2–ZM6. The IR, NMR and elemental analysis were consistent with the assigned structures. These synthetic compounds, except ZM6, produced significant (p < 0.05–0.01) dose-related inhibition of carrageenan-induced edema in rats following 3 and 5 h post-oral administration of 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg doses. The percent inhibition of edema varied between the compounds at 10 mg/kg dose being ZM3 > ZM5 > ZM4 > ZM2. These percent inhibitions for ZM3 and ZM5 were not significantly different than those of induced by Ibuprofen, Diclofenac and Celecoxib. At 20 mg/kg dose, ZM4 produced a statistically significant reduction of inflammation (p < 0.01) 1 h following administration and persisted for 5 h. Furthermore, all the compounds showed inhibition of COX-1 and COX-2 with maximum inhibition at 5 μM. However, the inhibition values were less than Diclofenac and Celecoxib. The best response was by ZM4 for COX-2 inhibition ranging from 28%, 91%, and 44%, for 2, 5, and 10 μM, respectively. Other ZM compounds such as ZM2, ZM3, and ZM5 exhibited inhibitory responses for COX-2 more than COX-1 at 5 μM. These results indicate that these ZM compounds have the potential to become anti-inflammatory drugs following further pharmacological and toxicological evaluations.     

Catalytic fast pyrolysis of jatropha wastes

In this work, the decomposition behaviors of jatropha wastes (husk, seed shell and branch) have been examined in order to get desired liquid organic compounds, but not undesired inorganic compounds such as CO, CO₂, water and coke. The jatropha wastes exhibit a stepwise degradation pathway which has a slight difference in between samples before and after milling. In the preliminary pyrolysis using quartz reactor and H-ZSM-5(30) catalyst, the liquid products selectivity was seed shell > blanch > husk > seed shell (no catalyst). In the absence of catalyst, the Py-GC/MS analyses for pyrolysis of jatropha wastes show a range of aromatic hydrocarbons, phenols, alcohols and ketones, acids and esters, ethers and aldehydes. Aromatics are predominantly formed above 90% of area percentage by use of catalyst. Of aromatic compounds, xylenes, naphthalenes and toluene are mainly produced. The product selectivity is dependent on both the size of the catalyst pores and the nature of the active sites and one candidate is H-ZSM-5 and the other candidate is β-zeolite. The reaction pathway involves dehydrogenation and dehydroaromatization of aliphatic oxygenates such as alkylcyclohexanol and higher carboxylic acids to form phenol derivatives, which undergo hydrodeoxygenation into toluene and xylenes, followed by dehydroaromatization to give naphthalenes.     

Evaluation of Schiff bases of 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole as photostabilizer for poly(methyl methacrylate)

The photostabilization of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) films by Schiff bases of 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole compounds was investigated. The PMMA films containing concentration of complexes 0.5% by weight were produced by the casting method from chloroform solvent. The photostabilization activities of these compounds were determined by monitoring the hydroxyl index with irradiation time. The changes in viscosity average molecular weight of PMMA with irradiation time were also tracked (using benzene as a solvent). The quantum yield of the chain scission (Φ_cs) of these complexes in PMMA films was evaluated and found to range between 4.19 × 10^?5 and 8.75 × 10^?5. Results obtained showed that the rate of photostabilization of PMMA in the presence of the additive followed the trend:[1] > [2] > [3] > [4] > [5].According to the experimental results obtained, several mechanisms were suggested depending on the structure of the additive. Among them, UV absorption, peroxide decomposer, and radical scavenger for photostabilizer mechanisms were suggested.     

The effect of storage duration on bio-oil properties

Bio-oil produced by fluidized fast pyrolysis of yellow poplar wood (Liriodendron tulipifera) was stored in sealed glass bottles at 23 °C for 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 weeks to investigate the effect of storage time on bio-oil properties. Bio-oil viscosity increased with increasing storage duration, while pH, water content and heating value remained unchanged. Thirty-three components were identified in the bio-oils and were classified into five sub-groups: aldehydes and ketones from carbohydrates, aliphatic phenols, phenolic aldehydes, and phenolic ketones from lignin. The concentrations of the sub-groups, especially the carbohydrate-derived ketones and lignin-derived compounds, gradually decreased with prolonged storage. In contrast, the yield of pyrolytic lignin extracted from bio-oils increased with storage duration from 13.2 wt% (fresh bio-oil; control) to 24.3 wt% (10 weeks). The average molecular weight of pyrolytic lignin also increased from 872 (control) to 1161 g mol⁻¹ (10 weeks). The amounts of phenolic hydroxyl and methoxyl groups decreased from 11.2 wt% (control) to 8.0 wt% (10 weeks) and 11.9 wt% (control) to 8.6 wt% (10 weeks), respectively. The observations strongly indicate that the low molecular weight components could participate in the re-polymerization with pyrolytic lignin, and the plausible polymerization reactions could be predicted to esterification, oxidation, hemiacetal/acetal formation and olefinic condensation.     

Antiviral potential of natural compounds against influenza virus hemagglutinin

Influenza virus of different subtypes H1N1, H2N2, H3N2 and H5N1 cause many human pandemic deaths and threatening the people worldwide. The Hemagglutinin (HA) protein mediates viral attachment to host receptors act as an attractive target. The sixteen natural compounds have been chosen to target the HA protein. Molecular docking studies have been performed to find binding affinity of the compounds. Out of the sixteen, three compounds CI, CII and CIII found to posses a higher binding affinity. The molecular dynamics (MD) simulation has been performed to study the structural, dynamical properties for the nine different complexes CI, CII, CIII bound with H1, H2, H3 proteins and the results were compared. The molecular mechanics Poission-Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA) method is used to compare the binding free energy, its different energy components and per residue binding contribution. The H1 subtype shows higher binding preference for all the curcumin derivatives than H2 and H3. The binding capability of protein subtypes with curcumin derivatives and the binding affinity of curcumin compounds are in the order H1 > H2 > H3 and CI > CII > CIII respectively. The two -O-CH3- groups present in the CI compound help to have strong binding with HA protein than CII and CIII. The van der Waals interaction energy plays a significant role for binding in all the complexes. The hydrogen bonding interactions were monitored throughout the MD simulation. The conserved region (153–155) and the helix region (193–194) of H1, H2, H3 protein subtypes are found to possess higher binding susceptibility for binding of the curcumin derivatives.     

New transition metal sulfates templated by 1,4-butanediamine, (C4H14N2)[MII(H2O)6](SO4)2·4H2O (MII: Co,Ni): Structure,reactivity and thermal decomposition

Two new hybrid materials, (C₄H₁₄N₂)[M^II(H₂O)₆](SO₄)₂·4H₂O (M^II: Co (I), Ni (II)), have been synthesised by slow evaporation method at room temperature and crystallographically characterized. They crystallise isotypically in the monoclinic system, space group P2₁/n, with the following unit-cell parameters a = 9.2285(3), b = 11.3333(4), c = 10.6693(4) Å, β = 109.004(2)°, Z = 2 and V = 1055.07(6) Å³ for I and a = 9.2127(2), b = 11.3182(2), c = 10.6434(2) Å, β = 109.094(1)°, Z = 2 and V = 1048.74(4) Å³ for II. The structure of the two supramolecular compounds consists of metallic cation octahedrally coordinated to six water molecules, sulfate anions, 1,4-butanediammonium cation and water molecules linked together via two types of hydrogen bonds, O–H?O and N–H?O. The two compounds are not stable at room temperature and their partial dehydration depends on the humidity of the environment. The thermal decomposition of precursors, studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and temperature-dependent X-ray diffraction (TDXD), shows successive intermediate hydrates and crystalline anhydrous compounds upon dehydration.     

Modification of egg shell and its application in biodiesel production

Egg shells were subjected to calcination–hydration–dehydration treatment to obtain CaO with high activity. The performance of CaO obtained from the calcination–hydration–dehydration treatment of egg shell and commercial CaO was tested for its catalytic activity via transesterification of waste frying oil (WFO). The results showed that the methyl ester conversion was 67.57% for commercial CaO and it was 94.52% for CaO obtained from the calcination–hydration–dehydration treatment of egg shell at a 5 wt% catalyst (based on oil weight), a methanol to oil ratio of 12:1, a reaction temperature of 65 °C and a reaction time of 1 h. The biodiesel conversion was determined by ¹H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (¹H NMR).     

Diels-Alder reaction with cyclopentadiene and electronic structures of (η5-cyclopentadienyl)M(CO)x(η1-N-maleimidato) (M = Fe,Mo, W,x = 2 or 3)

Diels-Alder reaction of (η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)M(CO)_x(η¹-N-maleimidato) complexes (M = Fe, Mo, W, x = 2 or 3) with cyclopentadiene has been studied. The observed order of reactivity was: N-ethylmaleimide > W complex > Mo complex > Fe complex. The X-ray structures of the adducts have been determined for M = W and Fe. DFT calculations on the starting complexes have been performed to explain the observed reactivity order.     

Evaluation of some functionalized imidazoles and 1,2,4-triazoles as antioxidant additives for industrial lubricating oils and correlating the results with the structures of additives using empirical AM1 calculations

Functionalized 4,5-diphenyl-imidazoles, 4,5-diphenyl-1,2,4-triazoles and 5-(o-hydroxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazoles at the 2-position with thiol, thiomethyl and thiobenzyl groups, have been tested as antioxidant additives for lubricating oils. Whereas the thiomethyl groups in such compounds increased the antioxidant property than the thiol group, the corresponding thiobenzyl groups did the reverse. The results can be explained, based on correlating the electron donating and withdrawing abilities of the substituents with the oxidation stability. The triazoles carrying a phenolic hydroxyl group have more antioxidant power than those without such a group. The imidazoles gave the oils more oxidation stabilities than the two types of triazoles with the same functionalities. The 4,5-diphenyl-2-thiomethyl-imidazole (2), as an additive, has the highest antioxidant property, reaching the level of standard one when its concentration is 1.0% wt. instead of the 0.8% wt. of the standard. The correlation of the antioxidant character of the heterocyclic additives with their structures has been investigated using the semiempirical gas phase AM1 calculations for the studied heterocycles. The relative stability of the imidazoles 1 and 3 compared to 2 were in the order 2 > 1 > 3. Similarly, the relative stability of the triazoles are in the same order where 5 > 4 > 6 and 8 > 7 > 9.     

Photolysis of methyl-parathion thin films: Products,kinetics and quantum yields under different atmospheric conditions

The present study focuses on the photodegradation of methyl-parathion thin films, an organophosphate insecticide, under different atmospheric conditions. The latter include nitrogenated, oxygenated and ozonated atmospheres, under low and high relative humidity conditions. Addition of oxygen to the atmospheric mixture did not seem to affect the reaction rates and quantum yields. Relative humidity affect was minor, with a small enhancement in reaction rate under 254 nm radiation. The addition of ozone (to either dry or humid atmosphere), at all concentrations tested, largely enhanced degradation rates. In the absence of ozone, the obtained quantum yields for photolysis of methyl-parathion thin films under 254 and 313 nm were 0.024 ± 0.007 and 0.012 ± 0.005, respectively. These values are higher than the values previously reported for solutions of methanol and water. Although the presence of molecular oxygen and water vapors did not seem to affect much the reaction rates, it did have a certain effect on the resulted products. More polar products were obtained under oxygenated and ozonated atmospheres, as well as dimers under ozone conditions. The reaction on thin films has yielded more toxic products than usually found in solutions, adding alkylphosphate esters in addition to the oxons formed normally.     

Candida antarctica lipase B-catalyzed ring opening of 4-arylalkyl-substituted β-lactams

The Lipolase-catalyzed ring opening of racemic 4-benzyl- 3 and 4-phenylethyl-2-azetidinone 4 was performed with 0.5 equiv of H₂O in diisopropyl ether at 45 °C. The resulting (S)-β-amino acid 5 or 6 (ee ⩾ 87%) and (R)-β-lactam 7 or 8 (ee >99%) enantiomers could easily be separated. The ring opening of enantiomeric β-lactams with 18% aqueous HCl afforded the corresponding enantiopure β-amino acid hydrochlorides 9 and 10 (ee >99%).     

Syntheses and structures of the MOF-type series of metal 1,4,5,8,-naphthalenetetracarboxylates M2(OH)2[C14O8H4] (Al,Ga, In) with infinite trans-connected M–OH–M chains (MIL-122)

Three new isostructural MOF-type compounds (named MIL-122) have been obtained from the hydrothermal reaction at 210 °C for 24 h of the 1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic acid with aluminum, gallium or indium source in water. The structures of the compounds M₂(OH)₂[C₁₄H₄O₈] (M = Al, Ga, In) have been solved ab initio from powder X-ray diffraction analysis using the synchrotron radiation (Soleil; station CRISTAL). The three-dimensional organic–inorganic framework exhibits infinite straight chains of metal-centered octahedra sharing trans corners linked to each other through the 1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylate ligand. The cations Al, Ga or In, are coordinated by four oxygen atoms coming from the carboxyl groups and two bridging hydroxyl groups μ₂-OH, located in trans position in the octahedral surrounding. The compounds characterized by thermogravimetric and thermodiffraction analyses are thermally stable up to 440, 460 and 380 °C, for Al, Ga and In, respectively. Crystal data: monoclinic cell; P2₁/c (n°14); for MIL-122 (Al): a = 9.5174(2), b = 10.0706(1), c = 6.6465(2) Å, β = 91.2614(5)°, V = 636.878(2) Å³, Z = 2; for MIL-122 (Ga): a = 9.6501(1), b = 10.0585(1), c = 6.75069(9) Å, β = 92.4786(9)°, V = 654.65(1) Å³, Z = 2; for MIL-122 (In): a = 9.92359(5), b = 10.19765(7), c = 7.19357(4) Å, β = 727.034(8)°, V = 727.034(8)ų, Z = 2.     

Effect of reaction conditions on hydrothermal degradation of cornstalk lignin

Cornstalk lignin was hydrothermally depolymerized at mild conditions in ethanol–water for producing value-added phenolics. The effects of residence time (from 30 min to 180 min), reaction temperature (from 498 K to 573 K) and concentration of ethanol (from 0% to 95% vol.) on yields of liquid products and phenolic compounds were studied in detail. The optimal conditions of 523 K, 90 min and 65% vol. ethanol–water resulted in the highest yield of liquid products (∼70 wt.%). The liquid products were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) to confirm the presence of primarily heterocycle (2,3-dihydrobenzofuran) and phenolics (such as ethylphenol, guaiacol, ethylguaiacol and syringol). Reaction conditions had significant effects on yield and composition of liquid products.     

Micro-pyrolysis of technical lignins in a new modular rig and product analysis by GC–MS/FID and GC × GC–TOFMS/FID

A new offline-pyrolysis rig has been designed to allow multifunctional experiments for preparative and analytical purposes. The system conditions can be set and monitored, e.g. temperature, its gradients and heat flux. Some special features include (1) high heating rates up to 120 °C/s with pyrolysis temperatures up to 850 °C at variable pyrolysis times and (2) the selection of different atmospheres during pyrolysis. A complete mass balance of products and reactants (gas, liquids and solids) by gravimetric methods and sequential chromatographic analyses was obtained.The pyrolytic behaviour and the decomposition products of lignin-related compounds were studied under different conditions: heating rates (from 2.6 °C/s up to 120 °C/s), pyrolysis temperatures at 500 °C and 800 °C in different atmospheres (N₂, H₂, and mixtures of N₂ and acetylene). Kraft lignin, soda lignin, organosolv lignin, pyrolytic lignin from pine bio-oil, residues from biomass hydrolysis and fermentation were studied.The obtained pyrolysis products were classified into three general groups: coke, liquid phase and gas phase (volatile organic compounds (VOC) and permanent gases). The liquid fraction was analysed by GC–MS/FID. In addition, comprehensive two-dimensional GC was applied to further characterise the liquid fraction. VOCs were semi-quantified by a modified headspace technique using GC–MS/FID analysis. The micro-pyrolysis rig proved to be an efficient and useful device for complex pyrolysis applications.     

Kinetic study of nucleophilic reactivity of heterocyclic amines with 4,6-dinitrobenzofuroxan in acetonitrile

The reaction kinetics of 4,6-dinitrobenzofuroxan with five heterocyclic amines was investigated spectrophotometrically (UV–Vis) in acetonitrile at 20 °C. It was observed that the rate constants of these reactions increased as follows: 2-aminopyrimidine > 2-aminothiazole > 2-aminobenzothiazole > 5-amino-3,4-dimethylisoxazole > 2-amino-5-trifluoromethyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole. Further, second-order rate constants (k₁) pertaining to the C–N and C–C bond forming step of these complexation processes fit to the three parameter equation log k (20 °C) = s_N (N + E), allowing the determination of the nucleophilicity parameters (N) of the five heterocyclic amines. The heterocyclic amines were subsequently ranked on the comprehensive nucleophilicity scale defined by Mayr et al. (2003), providing a direct comparison of n-, π-, and σ-nucleophiles.     

A new intersecting tunnel structure in the AIMIII[PO3(OH)]2 series for AI = Ag,MIII = In: Analysis of structural relationships

A new indium hydroxyphosphate containing silver, AgIn[PO₃(OH)]₂, has been synthesized using hydrothermal method. It crystallizes in the P2₁/c space group with the cell parameters a = 6.6400(2) Å, b = 14.6269(6) Å, c = 6.6616(4) Å, β = 95.681(5)°, V = 643.82(6) Å³, Z = 4. Its three-dimensional framework, built up of corner-sharing PO₃(OH) tetrahedra and InO₆ octahedra, presents intersecting tunnels running along <111> and [100] directions, in which the Ag⁺ cations are located. The presence of hydroxyl groups has been confirmed from IR spectroscopy studies and hydrogen atoms were located from the single crystal X-ray diffraction study. The structural relationships with the other compounds of general formula A^IM^III[PO₃(OH)]₂ are analyzed.     

Pyrolysis of the rejects of a waste packaging separation and classification plant

Plastic wastes coming from a waste packaging separation and classification plant have been pyrolysed in a semibatch nonstirred autoclave, swept by a continuous flow of N₂. The plastic waste contains 39.5% PE, 34.2% PP, 16.2% PS and EPS, and some other minor materials. Temperatures in the range 400–600 °C have been explored, and it has been found that over 460 °C total thermal decomposition of the waste plastics takes place. Three catalysts have been tested: HZSM-5, red mud and AlCl₃. Solid yields about 5–7%, liquid yields in the range 40–70% and gas yields in the range 12–24% were obtained. The liquid products were a mixture of C₅–C₂₀ compounds with a very high proportion of aromatics (>70%). Such liquids contain significant amounts of valuable chemicals such as styrene (20–40%), toluene (9–15%) and ethylbenzene (7–16%) and have rather high GCV (40–43 MJ kg⁻¹). Thermal pyrolysis oils were a wax-like product which solidified at room temperature, whereas the oils obtained with any of the catalysts were less viscous and maintained in liquid state at room temperature. HZSM-5 favoured gas production and, increased the aromaticity and decreased the carbon number of the oils. AlCl₃ did not modify pyrolysis yields but gave rise to lighter liquids. Red mud produced higher liquid yields and the liquids were less viscous, but it was not observed a clear effect on the carbon number of the oils.