H(2)O Outgassing Properties of Fumed and Precipitated Silica Particles by Temperature-Programmed Desorption

Temperature-programmed desorption was performed at temperatures up to 850 K on as-received fumed and precipitated silica particles. Physisorbed water molecules on both types of silica had activation energies in the range of 38–61 kJ/mol. However, the activation energies of desorption for chemisorbed water varied from 80 to >247 kJ/mol for fumed silica, Cab-O-Sil-M-7D, and 96 to 155 kJ/mol for precipitated silica, Hi-Sil-233. Our results suggest that physisorbed water can be effectively pumped away at room temperature (or preferably at 320 K) in a matter of hours. Chemisorbed water with high activation energies of desorption (>126 kJ/mol) will not escape silica surfaces in 100 years even at 320 K, while a significant amount of the chemisorbed water with medium activation energies (80–109 kJ/mol) will leave the silica surfaces in that time span. Most of the chemisorbed water with activation energies <126 kJ/mol can be pumped away in a matter of days in a good vacuum environment at 500 K. We had previously measured about 0.1–0.4 wt% of water in silica-reinforced polysiloxane formulations containing 21% Cab-O-Sil-M-7D and 4% Hi-Sil-233. Comparing present results with these formulations, we conclude that the adsorbed H₂O and the Si–OH bonds on the silica surfaces are the major contributors to water outgassing from these types of silica-filled polymers.     

Reactivity of bis(trimethylsilyl) sulfate with respect to the surface of silica

It was established by IR spectroscopy and chemical analysis that bis(trimethylsilyl) sulfate reacts chemically with isolated silanol groups of silica even at room temperature, and is quantitatively chemisorbed at 373 K. Sulfidation of the silica does not occur. Chemisorption of [(CH₃)₃Si]₂SO₄ on the surface of silicon(IV) oxide is not complicated by side processes.Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Éksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 25, No. 3, pp. 377–380, May–June, 1989.     

Adsorption of Cu(II) and Co(II) complexes on a silica gel surface chemically modified with 2-mercaptoimidazole

The isotherms of adsorption of MeX₂ (Me = Cu²⁺, Co²⁺; X = Cl^–, Br^–, ClO ₄ ^– ) by silica gel chemically modified with 2-mercaptoimidazole (SiMI) were studied in acetone and ethanol solutions, at 25 °C. Covalently attached 2-mercaptoimidazole molecule to silica gel surface adsorbs MeX₂ from solvent by forming a surface complex. The metal is bonded to the surface through the nitrogen atom of attached 2-mercaptoimidazole. At low loading, the electronic and ESR spectral parameters indicated that the Cu²⁺ complexes are in a distorted-tetragonal symmetry field. The d-d electronic transition spectra showed that for Cu(ClO₄)₂ complex, the peak of absorption did not change for any degree of metal loading and for Cl^– and Br^– complexes, the peak maxima shifted to higher energy with lower metal loading. The CoX₂(X = Cl^–, Br^–, ClO ₄ ^– ) analogues possess a distorted-tetrahedral field.     

Sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone)-based silica nanocomposite membranes for direct ethanol fuel cells

This paper reports on the preparation and characterization of sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (sPEEK)-based mixed matrix membranes. The inorganic matrix consisted of silica: Aerosil^®380, tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) or a combination of both to obtain an interconnected silica network. The behavior of these membranes in ethanol–water systems was studied for application in a direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFC). Uptake measurements showed that the converted TEOS content had a strong influence on the hydrophilicity of the membranes. Proton conductivity was strongly related to the water content in the membrane, but the proton diffusion coefficients of membranes with various Aerosil^®380–TEOS combinations were similar. Dynamic measurements in liquid–liquid (L–L) and liquid–gas (L–G) systems were performed to study the ethanol transport through the membrane. No reduction in ethanol permeability was obtained in the L–L system, but a remarkable reduction was obtained in the L–G system when 2 M ethanol was applied. The reinforcing characteristic of the combined Aerosil^®380–TEOS-system were best observed at 40 °C with 4 M ethanol. The fuel cell performance prediction based on the selectivity of proton diffusion coefficient to ethanol permeability coefficient showed for nearly all composite membranes an improvement with respect to the polymeric reference. The presence of an inorganic phase led to relatively constant proton diffusion coefficients and lower ethanol permeability coefficients in comparison with the polymeric reference.     

Reversed phase partition chromatographic separation of antimony (III) with bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid

A new method is proposed for the extractive Chromatographic separation of antimony. Antimony is extracted from 0.001–0.5M hydrochloric acid by a silica gel column coated with bis (2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid stripped with 2–8M hydrochloric, nitric or sulphuric acid, and determined spectrophotometrically at 555 nm as its complex with phenylfluorone. Antimony can thus be separated from a large number of elements, including iron, manganese, copper and thallium. Arsenic, antimony, bismuth and tin can be sequentially separated.     

Homogeneous and heterogeneous olefin epoxidation catalyzed by a binuclear Mn(II)Mn(III) complex

The synthesis and characterization of a binuclear carboxylated bridged manganese complex containing the heptadentate ligand N,N′-bis(2-hydroxybenzyl)-N,N′-bis(2-methylpyridyl)-2-ol-1,3-propanediamine (H₃bbppnol) is reported. This complex was characterized by elemental analysis; infrared, electronic (UV–vis) and EPR spectroscopy; and conductivity measurements. The complex was immobilized on silica by either adsorption or entrapment via a sol–gel route. The obtained solids were characterized by thermogravimetric analyses (TG and DSC), UV–vis and infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The catalytic performance of the binuclear manganese complex in epoxidation reactions was evaluated for both homogeneous and heterogeneous systems. The catalytic investigation revealed that the complex performs well as an epoxidation catalyst for the substrates cyclohexene (26–39%) and cyclooctene (29–74%). The solids containing the immobilized complex can be recovered from the reaction medium and reused, maintaining good catalytic activity.     

Synthesis, Characterization and Selective Metal Binding Properties of Physically Adsorbed 2-Thiouracil on the Surface of Porous Silica and Alumina

The physical adsorption of 2-hydroxy-2-mercaptopyrimidine (2-thiouracil) on the surface of porous silica gel and basic alumina is studied and described. Four silica and alumina materials were identified on the basis of surface coverage determination by thermal desorption method. Modified aluminas were found to be physically adsorbed with 2-thiouracil by 0.14, 0.54, and 0.43–1.63mmolg^–1. Modified silica materials (I–IV) were identified by adsorption of 2-thiouracil (0.344–0.446mmolg^–1). The metal sorption, binding and selectivity properties of these modified alumina and silica materials were studied and evaluated by a series of di- and trivalent metal ions. Aluminas (II–IV) were found to have high capacity in selective extraction of cadmium (II) from aqueous solutions compared to other tested metal ions. The highest metal capacity (1.0mmolg^–1) was found for cadmium (II) on modified aluminas (IV). Potential application of the modified aluminas (I–IV) for selective removal and extraction of 1.0ngmL^–1 of cadmium (II) from natural seawater samples was performed and compared with the modified silicas (I–IV). The modified aluminas (II–IV) showed a significantly higher capacity than the modified silicas for cadmium (II) with an average percentage recovery value of 97.8±0.4%. The matrix effect of seawater was found to play an insignificant role in the atomic absorption spectrophotometric analysis of cadmium (II).     

Electrokinetic control of fluid in plastified laser-printed poly(ethylene terephthalate)-toner microchips

The application of plastified laser-printed poly(ethylene terephthalate)(PET)-toner microchips to capillary electrophoresis was investigated. Electroosmotic flow was observed in the direction of the cathode for the buffer system studied (phosphate, pH 3–10). Average electroosmotic mobilities of 1.71×10^–4 to 4.35×10^–4 cm² V^–1 s^–1 were observed from pH 3 to 10. This variation suggests that silica fillers in the toner and on the surface of the polymer dominate the zeta potential of the material, which is also confirmed by XPS measurements. Dopamine and catechol were used as model analytes for microchip electrophoresis in combination with electrochemical detection. Results show that these two analytes can be efficiently separated and detected electrochemically with the plastified laser-printed PET-toner microchips.     

Kinetics and mechanism of ligand interchange in the [RuIII(edta)L] complexes; L=Cysteine and related thiolates

Complexes of the [RuIII(edta)SR]n series, with SR–= deprotonated cysteine, N- acetylcysteine, 2–mercaptoethanol, glutathione and penicilamine, were prepared from [Ru(edta)H2O]– and the corresponding RSH thiols, at pH=5.5. The complexes exhibit intense visible absorption bands at ca. 520nm (3500M–1 cm–1), associated with LMCT from the sulfur ligands bound to RuIII. The kinetics of the formation reactions were first order in [RuIII(edta)H2O]– and thiol reactants, with k1 values ca. 1–5×102 M–1s–1 (25°C) for all the sulfur ligands except penicilamine, which reacted slower by a factor of 10. Activation parameters suggest an associative mechanism, as for the coordination of other S- and N-bound ligands to [RuIII(edta)H2O]–. A reactivity decrease is apparent at low and high pH's (ranges 1–3 and 8–10, respectively), associated with acid-base equilibria involving the less reactive [RuIII(Hedta)H2O] and [RuIII(edta)OH]2– species. A significant rate increase was found for cysteine and penicilamine at ca. pH=8.0, because the thiol reactants deprotonate. The equilibrium constants for all the ligands showed that robust complexes were formed, with K=ca. 1×105 M–1 (25°C). The dissociation rate constants, k–1, were in the 10–3–10–4 s–1 range. The influence of nucleophilic and steric effects increasing and decreasing the formation rates, respectively, is discussed for the thiolate ligands, with adequate comparisons with other L species bound to [RuIII(edta)H2O]–.     

Kinetics and Mechanism of the oxygenation of triphenylphosphine by bis(ethyl-L-cysteinato)dioxomolybdenum(VI)

Summary The kinetics of oxygen-transfer from [MoO₂(Et-L-cys)₂] to PPh₃ and the reaction between [Mo₂O₃(Et-L-cys)₄] and O₂ in benzene solution have been investigated using spectrophotometric techniques between 25 and 40°. The rate laws-d[Mo⁶⁺]/dt = k₁[Mo⁶⁺][PPh₃] with k₁ (at 35°) = 2.95×10^–4dm³mol^–1s^–1 and -d[Mo⁵⁺]/dt = 2k₃[Mo⁵⁺][O₂] with k₃ (at 35°) = 6.3×10^–2 dm³mol^–1s^–1 account for the kinetic data obtained with activation parameters (at 35°) of H = 46 kJ mol^–1, S = –153 JK^–1mol^–1, and H = 50.8 kJ mol^–1, S = –95 JK^–1 mol^–1 respectively.     

Effect of Surfactants on the Immobilization of 4-(2-Pyridylazo)resorcinol on Silochroms

The effect of cationic surfactants (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, cetylpyridinium bromide, and tetrabutylammonium perchlorate) and a nonionic surfactant (OP-7) on the conditions of the immobilization of 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol (PAR) on three types of silica gel (Silochrom S-120 (200–350 m), Silochrom S-120 (315–500 m), and Silochrom S-80 (200–350 m)) was studied. It was found that OP-7 does not affect the adsorption of surfactants. The effect of cationic surfactants increases in the order tetrabutylammonium perchlorate < cetyltrimethylammonium bromide < cetylpyridinium bromide. The adsorption activity of silica gels increases in the order Silochrom S-120 (315–500 m) < Silochrom S-80 (200–350 m) < Silochrom S-120 (200–350 m). Cetylpyridinium bromide provides full immobilization of PAR on silica gel Silochrom S-120 (200–350 m) in the pH range 2–9.     

Mössbauer study of thermal decomposition of the [FeCp(SPh)CO]2 complex and its reaction with the surface of activated silica gel

Thermal decomposition of the [FeCp(SPh)CO]₂ complex and its reaction with the surface of activated silica gel were investigated by Mössbauer spectroscopy. A small amount of a complex with properties similar to ferrocene is separated in the first stage of thermal decomposition (120–130°C). The starting carbonyl complex totally disappears in the second stage (165–210°C), and two compounds are present among the products: a derivative of ferrocene and the final product, an x-ray amorphous, iron-containing structure with an ionic-covalent type of chemical bond (CB) and a 25 and 5 wt. % concentration of oxygen and sulfur, respectively. The Mössbauer parameters of this product and the compound formed in the reaction of [FeCp(SPh)CO]₂ with the surface of activated silica gel at 4.2–300 K are identical. The analysis of the data suggested that both structures are highly disperse clusters of iron oxide with the structure of an inverted spinel with superparamagnetic properties.Deceased.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 771–778, April, 1991.We would like to thank Yu. B. Kopylovskii for assistance in processing the spectra with the MESLIN program.     

Preparation and characterisation of silica monoliths using a triblock copolymer (F68) as porogen

Silica-based monoliths with co-continuous structure were successfully prepared through a sol–gel process in the presence of a poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) (F68). The triblock copolymer was compared to the classical PEG, in the formation of silica monoliths and was demonstrated to lead to co-continuous structures in a wider composition range, presenting smaller through pores. Moreover, mesoporous structures templated at the sol–gel transition were assumed to occur at the surface of the silica skeleton while PEG exhibited no mesopore templating.     

Synthesis of polynitroalcohols by nucleophilic addition of butadiene-styrene nitrooligomer to acetaldehyde

Two types of secondary polynitroalcohols (PNA) were prepared by A_N-reaction of butadiene-styrene nitrooligomer (BSNO) and acetaldehyde. The corresponding yields were 58-64% and 25-33%. The reaction was conducted in water-ethanol solution in the presence of alkaline base as catalyst at temperatures from 40 to 60 °C, for 3.5-4 h. Introduction of hydroxyethyl groups by A_N-reaction of BSNO to acetaldehyde increased the polarity and thermal stability of PNA as compared to BSNO. By using IR spectroscopy and liquid absorption chromatography on silica gel, PNA were found to be polyfunctional compounds, that contained structurally and functionally heterogeneous fractions. The quantitative functional composition of the first PNA type as well as their main fractions were determined by evaluating the relative content of nitro-, carbonyl and hydroxyl groups in the products. PNA are considered to be starting materials for the preparation of polynitrourethanes and salts of N-containing sulphonic acids.     

A minimal hybridization chain reaction (HCR) system using peptide nucleic acids

The HCR represents a powerful tool for amplification in DNA-based circuitry and sensing applications, yet requires the use of long DNA sequences to grant hairpin metastability. Here we describe a minimal HCR system based on peptide nucleic acids (PNAs). A system comprising a 5-mer stem and 5-mer loop/toehold hairpins was found to be suitable to achieve rapid amplification. These hairpins were shown to yield >10-fold amplification in 2 h and be suitable for the detection of a cancer biomarker on live cells. The use of γ-peg-modified PNA was found to be beneficial.

A minimal peptide nucleic acid (PNA) HCR system based on a 5-mer stem and 5-mer loop/toehold hairpins was developed. The system was applied to the detection of a cancer biomarker on the surface of living cells.     

Effect of preparation pH on pore structure of silica gels

Surface characterization of silica gels prepared at different gelation pH from water glass and sulphuric acid were made by argon adsorption at 77 K using continuous volumetric method. While microporous silica gels prepared in the pH range of 1–3 had BET surface areas of 504–571 m² g^–1, total pore volumes of 0.26–0.31 cm³ g^–1 and micropore volumes of 0.16–0.23 cm³ g^–1, mesoporous silica gels prepared in the pH range of 3.36–0.65 had BET surface areas of 374–530 m² g^–1 and pore volumes of 0.61–0.79 cm³ g^–1.     

Mechanism of the grafting of organosilanes on mineral surfaces. IV. Phenylderivatives of sepiolite and poly (organosiloxanes)

Grafting reactions of phenyl groups on silica substrates using as reagents various phenylsilanes with variable distances between the silicon atoms and the aromatic ring by 0, 1, and 2 methylene groups [Si–(CH₂) _n –C₆H₅] were studied. Two different silicates have been selected as source of silica: sepiolite and tetraethyl-orthosilicate (TEOS). Sulfonic- and nitro-derivatives prepared from these phenyl compounds by electrophilic substitution reactions, have been obtained. The mechanism of these processes has been studied in relation to the number of methylene separating groups belonging to the starting reagents. The characterization of such systems has been achieved by XRD,²⁹Si and¹³C NMR/MAS, IR, and laser microprobe mass spectrometry.Parts I, II and III published in this Journal (1978) 256:135–139, (1979) 257:178–181 and (1985) 263:1025–1030     

Characterization of physical structure of silica nanoparticles encapsulated in polymeric structure of polyamide films

Polyamide nanocomposite films were prepared from nanometer sized silica particles and trimesoyl chloride–m-phenylene diamine based polyamides. The type of silica nanoparticles used is commercial LUDOX^® HS-40 and the particle size characterized by the radius of gyration (R_g) is about 66 Å. The immediately prepared films were easily broken into particles to form colloidal-like dilute suspension of the silica–polyamide composite particles in D₂O–H₂O solutions for SANS measurements, that in this dilute system SANS data the complication of scattering data from the interacting particles is minimized. At about 60% D₂O of the sample solution, the silica is contrasted out, therefore the SANS profiles are predominantly from the organic polyamide scattering. The SANS profile of the sample solutions measured at 90% D₂O clearly indicates scattering from both silica and polymer. The scattering heterogeneities for two-phase system were evident from the validity of the Debye–Bueche expression in case of the nanocomposite with high silica loading. At limited silica loading of the nanocomposite, interaction between the silica and polymer chains forming core–shell morphology was observed. The transport properties of the membranes made from the nanocomposite films were measured on a batch type test kit with an aqueous solution of 500 ppm dioxane concentration at pressures ranging from 50 to 200 psig, and correlated to their composite structure.     

An independent kinetic and mechanistic study of the secondary reactions in the substitution of [FeL(OH)](n−2)− (L= triethylenetetraaminehexaacetic acid) by cyanide ions

Summary The kinetics of reaction between [Fe(CN)₅OH]^3– and CN^– have been investigated spectrophotometrically at pH=11.00, I=0.25 M(NaClO₄) and temp.=25.0°C by disappearance of the absorption peak at 395 nm. The rate data for this reaction followed first order kinetics in both [Fe(CN)₅OH^3–] and [CN^–]. The second order rate constant (k_f) was found to be (3.44±0.08)×10^–3 M^–1 s^–1. The pH dependence of the reaction was also investigated in the range 9–12. The activation parameters were found to be H=36.4kJ mol^–1 and S=–168JK^–1 mol^–1.The reaction between [Fe(CN)₆]^3– and TTHA^6– (TTHA=triethylenetetraaminehexaacetic acid) has also been followed spectrophotometrically at 420 nm, pH=11.00, I=0.1M (NaClO₄) and temp.=25.0°C. This reaction also followed first order kinetics in both [Fe(CN) ₆ ^3– ] and [TTHA^6–]. The second order rate constant (k_f) was found to be (3.74±0.21)×10^–2 M^–1 s^–1. The rate of reaction was found to increase with pH in the range 9–11.5. The different reactive species of TTHA (L) are H₂L^4– HL^5– and L^6–. The rate constants for these species have been calculated and the pH profile is explained. The values of the activation parameters were found to be H= 30.9 kJmol^–1 and S=–167JK^–1 mol^–1. Electron transfer from [Fe(CN)₆]^3– to the substrate followed by decomposition of the latter is proposed. The oxidation products of TTHA have been investigated by g.l.c.     

Conductance of tris(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane hydrochloride (Tris·HCl) in water at 25 and 37°C

The conductances of aqueous solutions of tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane hydrochloride (Tris·HCl) at 25°C and 37°C have been measured. The concentration of salt varied from 4×10^–4 to 1.6×10^–2 mole-dm^–3. The data were analyzed by the full Pitts equation which yielded the following parameters: at 25°C, ° = 106.07 S-cm²-mole^–1, K_A=1.01; at 37°C, ° = 106.07 S-cm²-mole^–1, K_A=0.99. These values suggest that Tris·HCl is essentially completely dissociated in water. The mobility of the Tris·H⁺ ion was found to be considerably smaller than that of the alkali metal cations. This result is consistent with abnormal liquid-junction potentials for Tris buffer solutions at 25 and 37°C.