Phase behavior of dodecane–tridecane mixtures confined in SBA-15

Phase behavior of dodecane–tridecane (n-C₁₂H₂₆–C₁₃H₂₈, C₁₂–C₁₃) mixtures in bulk and confined in SBA-15 have been investigated using differential scanning calorimetry. Bulk C₁₂–C₁₃ system has a complicated behavior due to special rotator phase. It has been found that phase diagram of C₁₂–C₁₃/SBA-15 (3.8 nm) system is a straight line, C₁₂–C₁₃/SBA-15 (7.8 nm) a curve, and C₁₂–C₁₃/SBA-15 (8.9, and 17.2 nm) a loop line. The growth of the phase diagram shows size effect on phase behavior of C₁₂–C₁₃ mixtures. Moreover, in the range of 3.8–17.2 nm melting temperatures of pure C₁₂ and mixtures at mole fractions x _C13 = 0.1–0.5 have linear relation with inverse pore diameter, while C₁₃ and mixtures at x _C13 = 0.6–0.9 present curved lines. The confined mixtures show a similar melting behavior with pure C₁₂, C₁₃.     

Phase behavior of dodecane–hexadecane mixtures in bulk and confined in SBA-15

Phase behaviors of dodecane–hexadecane (n-C₁₂H₂₆–C₁₆H₃₄, C₁₂–C₁₆) binary mixtures in bulk and confined in SBA-15 (pore diameters 3.8, 9.5, and 17.2 nm) are investigated using differential scanning calorimetry. According to the thermal analysis, the bulk mixtures belong to a system of partial miscibility with two solid solutions and a eutectoid in the range of mole fraction $ x_{{{\text{C}}_{ 1 6} }} $  = 0.1–0.8. Under confinement, phase behavior of C₁₂–C₁₆ mixtures is distinct from the bulk. Inside pores of SBA-15 (3.8 nm), the solid mixtures has only a melting boundary. In the pores larger than 9.5 nm, phase behaviors of the mixtures show some resemblance to the bulk system. The growth of the phase diagram with the pore diameter clearly shows the size effect on the phase behavior of the confined mixtures. In comparison with those of chain length difference of pure components of two carbon atoms or less, C₁₂–C₁₆ mixtures exhibit different phase behaviors not only in the bulk but also in the confined state.     

Phase behavior of tetradecane–hexadecane mixtures confined in SBA-15

Phase behavior of tetradecane–hexadecane mixtures (n-C₁₄H₃₀–C₁₆H₃₄, C₁₄–C₁₆) confined in SBA-15 (pore diameters 3.8, 7.8, and 17.2 nm) has been studied by differential scanning calorimetry. Phase diagram of the confined C₁₄–C₁₆ mixtures is greatly influenced by the pore size, which is simple compared with that for the bulk. Melting points of C₁₄ and C₁₆ confined in SBA-15 display a linear relation with pore size. Meanwhile, the C₁₄–C₁₆ mixtures have shown a similar melting behavior as pure C₁₄ and C₁₆. Melting temperatures of three C₁₄–C₁₆/SBA-15 systems have been fitted as a function of mole fraction x _C16.     

Phase behavior of binary system of bromobenzene–chlorobenzene confined in SBA-15 and MCM-41

Phase behavior of binary system of bromobenzene-chlorobenzene（C6H₅Br-C₆H₅Cl） confined in SBA-15 and MCM-41（pore diameter 8 nm,3.8 nm,respectively） has been investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry（DSC）.Phase diagram of C₆H₅Br-C₆H₅Cl system confined in SBA-15 is a type of the complete miscible both in liquid and solid state,the same phase behavior as the bulk system.However,the phase diagram comprises only one boundary line,which is shifted down 22-36 K with respect to the bulk system.C₆H₅Br,C₆H₅Cl or the mixture within nanopores of MCM-41 is nonfreezing.The different phase behavior of the system confined in SBA-15 and MCM-41 is thought mainly due to the relative size of pore to molecule.     

Phase behavior of dodecane—tetradecane binary system confined in SBA-15

Phase behavior of dodecane?Ctetradecane (n-C₁₂H₂₆?CC₁₄H₃₀, n-C₁₂?CC₁₄) binary system in bulk and confined in SBA-15 (pore diameters 8?nm; 15.9?nm) has been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and transmission electron microscopy. The bulk system possesses some special phases relating to the rotator phase in normal alkanes. Dodecane?Ctetradecane mixtures confined in SBA-15 (8?nm) are a system miscible both in solid and liquid states with a phase diagram of a smooth curve. Dodecane?Ctetradecane system confined in SBA-15 (15.9?nm) exhibits not only solid?Cliquid (s?Cl) in all compositions but solid?Csolid transition in mole fractions of tetradecane 0.1?C0.6, which forms a phase diagram of ??loop line?? shape. Melting temperatures of n-C₁₂?CC₁₄/SBA-15 (8?nm) are lower than those of n-C₁₂?CC₁₄/SBA-15 (15.9?nm) in all mole fractions. The evolution of the phase diagram of n-C₁₂?CC₁₄ confined in 8?nm, 15.9?nm pore sizes of SBA-15 and in bulk, respectively, shows a dramatic effect of confinement on phase behavior of normal alkane mixtures. The s?Cl phase boundary lines of n-C₁₂?CC₁₄/SBA-15 (8, 15.9?nm) are fitted as $ T_{\text{m,r}}^{x} $ being [ $ xT_{{\text{m} ,r}}^{A} + \left( {1 - x} \right)T_{\text{m,r}}^{B} - D $ ], where D is a polynomial ?? a _i x ⁱ , i?=?1, 2,···, n (A?=?C₁₄, B?=?C₁₂).     

Isothermal phase equilibria for the (xenon + cyclopropane) mixed-gas hydrate system

Isothermal three-phase equilibria of gas, aqueous, and hydrate phases for the {xenon (Xe) + cyclopropane (c-C₃H₆)} mixed-gas hydrate system were measured at two different temperatures (279.15 and 289.15) K. The structural phase transitions from structure-I to structure-II and back to structure-I, depending on the mole fraction of guest mixtures, occur in the (Xe + c-C₃H₆) mixed-gas hydrate system. The isothermal pressure–composition relations have two local pressure minima. The most important characteristic in the (Xe + c-C₃H₆) mixed-gas hydrate system is that the equilibrium pressure–composition relations exhibit the complex phase behavior involving two structural phase transitions and two homogeneous negative azeotropes. One of two structural phase transitions exhibits the heterogeneous azeotropic-like behavior.     

Phase behavior of undecane-tetradecane mixtures confined in SBA-15

Phase behavior of undecane-tetradecane (n-C11H24-C14H30, C11-C14) mixtures in bulk and confined in SBA-15 have been studied using differential scanning calorimetry. The bulk C11-C14 system shows multiple phase regions due to rotator phase. Confined in the pores of SBA-15 (pore diameters 3.8-7.8 nm), the mixtures only show a melting boundary of a straight line and a curve, respectively. In SBA-15 (17.2 nm), phase behavior of themixtures has some similarity to that of the bulk. Under confinement, the phase diagrams of the mixtures vary with the pore size, temperature, and compositions.     

Determination of resveratrol in red wine by solid phase extraction-flow injection chemiluminescence method

A sensitive flow injection chemiluminescence method has been developed for the detection of resveratrol in red wine based on the fact that resveratrol can greatly enhance chemiluminescence reaction between KMnO_4 and HCHO in sulfuric acid medium. Analytes were pre-concentrated on solid sorbents (C_(18) solid-phase extraction cartridges).Under the optimum conditions,the proposed method allows the measurement of resveratrol over the range of 1.32×10~(-8) to 1.32×10~(-5) mol/L with a detection limit of 3.30×10~(-9) mol/L,and the relative standard deviation for 1.32×10~(-5) mol/L resveratrol (n=11) is 3.8%.This method has been successfully applied for the determination of the resveratrol in red wine.Furthermore,the possible reaction mechanism was also discussed.     

The partition coefficients of ethylene between vapor and hydrate phase for methane + ethylene + THF + water systems

The vapor-hydrate equilibria were studied experimentally in detail for CH₄ + C₂H₄ + tetrahydrofuran (THF) + water systems in the temperature range of 273.15–282.15 K, pressure range of 2.0–4.5 MPa, the initial gas–liquid volume ratio range of 45–170 standard volumes of gas per volume of liquid and THF concentration range of 4–12 mol%. The results demonstrated that, because of the presence of THF, ethylene was remarkably enriched in vapor phase instead of being enriched in hydrate phase for CH₄ + C₂H₄ + water system. This conclusion is of industrial significance; it implies that it is feasible to enrich ethylene from gas mixture, e.g., various kinds of refinery gases or cracking gases in ethylene plant, by forming hydrate.     

Improved direct electron transfer and electrocatalytic activity of horseradish peroxidase immobilized on gemini surfactant–polyvinyl alcohol composite film

The voltammetric and electrocatalytic behavior of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) immobilized on a cationic gemini surfactant (i.e. C₁₂H₂₅N(CH₃)₂–C₁₂H₂₄–N(CH₃)₂C₁₂H₂₅Br₂, C₁₂–C₁₂–C₁₂)–polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite film-coated glassy carbon electrode (GCE) has been studied. It is found that on the novel composite film HRP presents excellent electroactivity and can exhibit a pair of well-defined voltammetric peaks in 0.10 M pH 7.0 phosphate buffer solution (PBS). The immobilized HRP also presents good bioelectrocatalytic activity, and it can catalyze the reduction of oxygen (O₂), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), nitrite ion (NO₂^?) and trichloroacetic acid (TCA). For H₂O₂ the catalytic current is linear to its concentration in the range of 0.195–97.5 μM, and the detection limit is down to 6.5 × 10^?8 M. The response shows Michaelis–Menten feature and the apparent Michaelis–Menten constant is estimated to be 110.5 μM. Similarly, the electrode can sense NO₂^? and TCA. In addition, it is observed that the spacer group of gemini surfactant affects the electroactivity of HRP significantly. A spacer group with higher flexibility and hydrophility is favorable to the electron transfer of HRP. UV–vis spectrum indicates that the structure of HRP in the PVA–C₁₂–C₁₂–C₁₂ film is similar to that of native HRP. Thus the C₁₂–C₁₂–C₁₂–PVA composite possesses good biocompatibility and has promising application in fabricating biosensor and bioelectronics.     

Author index

The triplet potential energy surface for the reaction of ethylene with molecular oxygen in the ground state has been calculated at the QCISD(T, full)/6-311++G(3df,2p)//MP2(full)/6-311G(d,p) level of theory. Four intermediates and 17 transition states are located along the minimum energy reaction path. Six major radical product channels are revealed, namely, C₂H₃ + HO₂, O(³P) + C₂H₄O, H + C₂H₃O₂, OH + C₂H₃O, OH + CH₃CO, and O(³P) + CH₃CHO. In view of reaction barrier heights, the dominant channels are predicted to be C₂H₃ + HO₂, O(³P) + C₂H₄O, H + C₂H₃O₂, and C₂H₄O₂(³A″). The calculated rate constants for the abstraction reaction path are in good agreement with the available experimental data. The implication of the current results in the initiation of the combustion of ethylene is discussed.     

Synthesis and properties of polyfluorene copolymers bearing thiophene and porphyrin

To search for more wider absorption and higher charge carriers mobilities materials of polymer solar cell, a series of soluble alternating polyfluorene copolymers were synthesized by palladium-catalyzed Suzuki coupling reaction. Their structures were determined by 1H NMR, IR and UV-vis. And their UV-vis absorption spectra indicated that they had strong absorption over 600 nm spectral range and nearly cover 400-700 nm visible region. The band gaps of copolymers calculated according to cyclic voltammetry （CV） were between 1.96 and 2.03 eV. Polymer：TiO2 bulk-heterojunction films were made from mixtures of polymer and titanium isopropoxide, a precursor for TiO2, via hydrolysis in air overnight. The photoluminescence at 380-800 nm of the blend film of PT-TPP20 （5 mg/mL）：Ti（OC3H7）4 （80 μL/mL） （20% volume fraction） was significantly quenched in the 50% Ti（OC3H7）4 blend film, indicating that rapid and efficient separation of photoinduced electron-hole pairs.     

Mesoporous cadmium bismuth niobate (CdBi_2Nb_2O_9) nanospheres for hydrogen generation under visible light

Herein, we report visible light active mesoporous cadmium bismuth niobate(CBN) nanospheres as a photocatalyst for hydrogen(H_2) generation from copious hydrogen sulfide(H_2S). CBN has been synthesized by solid state reaction(SSR) and also using combustion method(CM) at relatively lower temperatures.The as-synthesized materials were characterized using different techniques. X-ray diffraction analysis shows the formation of single phase orthorhombic CBN. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and high resolution-transmission electron microscopy showed the particle size in the range of ~0.5–1 μm for CBN obtained by SSR and 50–70 nm size nanospheres using CM, respectively. Interestingly, nanospheres of size 50–70 nm self assembled with 5–7 nm nanoparticles were observed in case of CBN prepared by CM.The optical properties were studied using UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and showed band gap around ~3.0 eV for SSR and 3.1 eV for CM. The slight shift in band gap of CM is due to nanocrystalline nature of material. Considering the band gap in visible region, the photocatalytic activity of CBN for hydrogen production from H_2S has been performed under visible light. CBN prepared by CM has shown utmost hydrogen evolution i.e. 6912 μmol/h/0.5 g which is much higher than CBN prepared using SSR.The enhanced photocatalytic property can be attributed to the smaller particle size, crystalline nature,high surface area and mesoporous structure of CBN prepared by combustion method. The catalyst was found to be stable, active and can be utilized for water splitting.     

Investigation of Mg modified mesoporous silicas and their CO2 adsorption capacities

CO₂ adsorption properties on Mg modified silica mesoporous materials were investigated. By using the methods of co-condensation, dispersion and ion-exchange, Mg²⁺ was introduced into SBA-15 and MCM-41, and transformed into MgO in the calcination process. The basic MgO can provide active sites to enhance the acidic CO₂ adsorption capacity. To improve the amount and the dispersion state of the loading MgO, the optimized modification conditions were also investigated. The XRD and TEM characteristic results, as well as the CO₂ adsorption performance showed that the CO₂ adsorption capacity not only depended on the pore structures of MCM-41 and SBA-15, but also on the improvement of the dispersion state of MgO by modification. Among various Mg modified silica mesoporous materials, the CO₂ adsorption capacity increased from 0.42 mmol g⁻¹ of pure silica SBA-15 to 1.35 mmol g⁻¹ of Mg–Al–SBA-15-I1 by the ion-exchange method enhanced with Al³⁺ synergism. Moreover, it also increased from 0.67 mmol g⁻¹ of pure silica MCM-41 to 1.32 mmol g⁻¹ of Mg–EDA–MCM-41-D10 by the dispersion method enhanced with the incorporation of ethane diamine. The stability test by 10 CO₂ adsorption/desorption cycles showed Mg–urea–MCM-41-D10 possessed quite good recyclability.     

New α,ω-dicarboxylate coordination polymers with 4,4′-bipyridine: Cu(bpy)(C5H6O4), Zn(bpy)(C5H6O4), Zn(bpy)(C6H8O4) and Mn(bpy)(C8H12O4) · H2O

Four 4,4′-bipyridine α,ω-dicarboxylate coordination polymers Cu(bpy)(C₅H₆O₄) (1), Zn(bpy)(C₅H₆O₄) (2), Zn(bpy)(C₆H₈O₄) (3) and Mn(bpy)(C₈H₁₂O₄) · H₂O (4) have been synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction methods (bpy = 4,4-bipyridine, (C₅H₆O₄)²⁻ = glutarate anion, (C₆H₈O₄)²⁻ = adipate anion, (C₈H₁₂O₄)²⁻ = suberate anion). Their crystal structures are featured by dimeric metal units, which are co-bridged by 4,4′-bipyridine ligands and dicarboxylate anions such as glutarate, adipate and suberate anions to generate 2D layers with a (4,4) topology in 1, 2 and 4 as well as to form 3D frameworks in 3. Two 3D frameworks in 3 interpenetrate with each other to form a topology identical to the well-known Nb₆F₁₅ cluster compound. Over 5–300 K, the paramagnetic behavior of 4 follows the Curie–Weiss law χ_m(T − Θ) = 4.265(5) cm³ mol⁻¹ with the Weiss constant Θ = −6.3(2) K. Furthermore, the thermal behavior of 3 and 4 is also discussed.     

Optimization of the chemoenzymatic mono-epoxidation of linoleic acid using D-optimal design

Mono-epoxied linoleic acid 9(12)-10(13)-monoepoxy 12(9)-octadecanoic acid (MEOA) was synthesized and optimized by immobilized Candida antarctica lipase (Novozym 435®) using D-optimal design. For optimizing the reaction, response surface methodology (RSM) was employed with four reaction variables such as the effect of amount of hydrogen peroxide (μL), amount of enzyme (w) and reaction time (h). At optimum conditions the experiment to obtain a higher yield% with a medium OOC% of MEOA was predicted at an amount of H₂O₂ μL of 15, Novozym 435® of 0.12 g and 7 h of reaction time. At this condition, the yield of MEOA was 82.14%, 4.91% of OOC and 66.65 mg/g of iodine value (IV). The observed value was reasonably close to the predicted value. Hydrogen peroxide was found to have the most significant effect on the degree of epoxidation OOC% and yield%. The epoxy ring opening (–C–O–C–) has been observed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) at 820 cm⁻¹ and the double band (–CC–) at 3009 cm⁻¹. ¹H NMR analyses confirmed that the oxirane ring (–CH–O–CH–) of MEOA at 2.92–3.12 ppm and four signals of methane (–CHCH–) was at 5.38–5.49 ppm while the ¹³C NMR showed the oxirane ring (–C–O–C–) at 54.59–57.29 ppm and the olefinic carbons at 124.02–132.89 ppm.     

Hydrodechlorination of CCl4 over carbon-supported palladium–gold catalysts prepared by the reverse “water-in-oil” microemulsion method

Two series of carbon-supported Pd–Au catalysts were prepared by the reverse “water-in-oil, W/O” method, characterized by various techniques and investigated in the reaction of tetrachloromethane with hydrogen at 423 K. The synthesized nanoparticles were reasonably monodispersed having an average diameter of 4–6 nm (Pd/C and Pd–Au/C) and 9 nm (Au/C). Monometallic palladium catalysts quickly deactivated during the hydrodehalogenation of CCl₄. Palladium–gold catalysts with molar ratio Pd:Au = 90:10 and 85:15 were stable and much more active than the monometallic palladium and Au-richer Pd–Au catalysts. The selectivity toward chlorine-free hydrocarbons (especially for C₂₊ hydrocarbons) was increased upon introducing small amounts of gold to palladium. Simultaneously, for the most active Pd–Au catalysts, the selectivity for undesired dimers C₂H_xCl_y, which are considered as coke precursors, was much lower than for monometallic Pd catalysts. Reasons for synergistic effects are discussed. During CCl₄ hydrodechlorination the Pd/C and Pd–Au/C catalysts were subjected to bulk carbiding.     

Thermodynamic aspects of solubility,solvation and partitioning processes of some sulfonamides

The thermodynamic aspects of sublimation processes of three sulfonamides with the general structures C₆H₅–SO₂NH–C₆H₄–R (R = 4-NO₂) and 4-NH₂–C₆H₄–SO₂NH–C₆H₄–R (R = 4-NO₂; 4-CN) were studied by investigating the temperature dependence of vapor pressure using the transpiration method. These data together with those obtained earlier for C₆H₅–SO₂NH–C₆H₄–R (R = 4-Cl) and 4-NH₂–C₆H₄–SO₂NH–C₆H₄–R (R = 4-Cl; 4-OMe; 4-C₂H₅) were analyzed and compared. A correlation was derived between sublimation Gibbs free energies and the sum of H-bond acceptor factors of the molecules. Solubility processes of the compounds in water, phosphate buffer with pH 7.4 and n-octanol (as phases modeling various drug delivery pathways) were investigated and corresponding thermodynamic functions were calculated as well. Thermodynamic characteristics of the sulfonamides solvation were evaluated. Also in this case a correlation between solubility/solvation Gibbs free energy values and the sum of H-bond acceptor factors was observed. For the sulfonamides with various substituents at para-position the processes of transfer from one solvent (water or buffer) to n-octanol were studied by a diagram method combined with analysis of enthalpic and entropic terms. Distinguishing between enthalpy and entropy, as is possible through the present approach, leads to the insight that the contribution of these terms is different for different molecules (entropy- or enthalpy-determined). Thus, in contrast to the interpretation of only the Gibbs free energy of transfer (extensively used for pharmaceuticals in the form of the partition coefficient, log P), the analysis of thermodynamic functions of the transfer process provides additional mechanistic information. This may be important for further evaluation of the physiological distribution of drug molecules and may provide a better understanding of biopharmaceutical properties of drugs.