Local order in depolymerized silicate lattices

In glycerol, near 200 degrees C, the silicate networks of mesoporous silicates and zeolites undergo a deep depolymerization process. In a few hours, depending on the initial concentration of the solid in glycerol and on the temperature, amorphous gels are obtained. In these gels, a fraction of the Si-O-Si bonds are transformed into Si-O-C. The constitutional aluminum remains bound to the silica network in the gel. The short range ordering is maintained to some extent: the size of the smallest structural unit in gels obtained from zeolites is in the range of the cubic nanometer, nm3.     

Synthetic zeolites A and X as stationary phases in thin-layer chromatography

Summary The possibility of using synthetic zeolites A and X as stationary phases in thin-layer chromatography has been investigated and the method of preparing layers from crystalline zeolites and their gels determined, as was the possibility of separating certain mixtures on the layers obtained. Experiments were performed simultaneously on layers from zeolites A and X dried at room temperature and on layers activated at 120°C, and also on layers from amorphous forms but in this case only on those dried at room temperature. Dyes and inorganic cations were used as test substances. On the basis of the results obtained it has been established that only the crystalline compounds can be successfully used as thin layers for the separation of organic compounds.     

Effect of amorphous seeds on the crystallization kinetics of Na-A zeolite

The formation of crystal nuclei occurs when alkaline aluminosilicate gels are treated at temperatures below the crystallization temperature or during crystallization of gels rather than during precipitation of the gels. The linear growth rate of the crystals of Na-A zeolites yielded by alkaline aluminosilicate gels in the presence of amorphous seeds is a function of the product of the concentrations of the silicate and aluminate ions in the intermicellar liquid.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 799–804, May, 1994.     

Synthesis of aluminium borate-boron oxide and binary titanium-boron and zirconium-boron oxides from metal alkoxides and (MeO)3B3O3 in non-aqueous solvents

The reaction of metal alkoxides M(OR)4 (M = Ti, Zr; R = organyl) with (MeO)3B3O3 (1 : 0.67) in dry propan-2-one at room temperature led to gels which when dried and calcined in air for 24 h at 500-1000 degrees C afforded bi-phased mixed-oxide materials formulated as 4TiO2 x 3B2O3 and ZrO2 x B2O3 in high ceramic yields and purity; the B2O3 phases of these materials were amorphous. The materials remained amorphous upon calcination at lower temperatures. The TiO2 phase of the 4TiO2 x 3B2O3 was crystalline when calcined at higher temperatures with either anatase (600 degrees C) or rutile (>800 degrees C) being obtained. The ZrO2 phase of the ZrO2 x B2O3 was crystalline when calcined at higher temperatures and was obtained as a metastable tetragonal phase (<700 degrees C) or baddeleylite (>800 degrees C). In a similar reaction, Al(O(i)Pr)3 (2 : 1) gave a bi-phased aluminium borate-boron oxide (Al18B4O(33).7B2O3) after calcination at >700 degrees C. The dried gels and oxide materials were all characterized by elemental analysis, TGA-DSC, and powder XRD.     

Physico-Chemical Stability of Warfarin in Ground Mixtures with β-Cyclodextrin or Microcrystalline Cellulose under Storage Conditions

The effects of grinding and the excipients used on the solid state stability of warfarin in ground mixtures with β-cyclodextrin or microcrystalline cellulose have been investigated by using x-ray powder diffractometry, IR spectrophotometry and differential scanning calorimetry. The grinding process did not result in warfarin-excipient interaction, but caused a crystalline form of warfarin to transfer to an amorphous state in the presence of β-cyclodextrin. The stability of this amorphous state of warfarin in tablets made from the ground mixtures stored at 37°C and 75% RH (relative humidity) was also studied. There was only a small amount of amorphous warfarin in tablets that recrystallized under storage conditions. The recrystallization of amorphous warfarin might be due to moisture adsorption. β-cyclodextrin possesses an ability to prevent the recrystallization of large amounts of amorphous warfarin in tablets stored at 37°C and 75% RH.     

Dibenzodioxin adsorption on inorganic materials

Dibenzodioxin adsorption/desorption on solid surfaces is an important issue associated with the formation, adsorption, and emission of dioxins. Dibenzodioxin adsorption/desorption behaviors on inorganic materials (amorphous/mesoporous silica, metal oxides, and zeolites) were investigated using in situ FT-IR spectroscopy and thermogravimetric (TG) analysis. Desorption temperatures of adsorbed dibenzodioxin are very different for different kinds of inorganic materials: approximately 200 degrees C for amorphous/mesoporous silica, approximately 230 degrees C for metal oxides, and approximately 450 degrees C for NaY and mordenite zeolites. The adsorption of dibenzodioxin can be grouped into three categories according to the red shifts of the IR band at 1496 cm(-1) of the aromatic ring for the adsorbed dibenzodioxin: a shift of 6 cm(-1) for amorphous/mesoporous silica, a shift of 10 cm(-1) for metal oxides, and a shift of 14 cm(-1) for NaY and mordenite, suggesting that the IR shifts are proposed to associated with the strength of the interaction between adsorbed dibenzodioxin and the inorganic materials. It is proposed that the dibenzodioxin adsorption is mainly via the following three interactions: hydrogen bonding with the surface hydroxyl groups on amorphous/mesoporous silica, complexation with Lewis acid sites on metal oxides, and confinement effect of pores of mordenite and NaY with pore size close to the molecular size of dibenzodioxin.     

Thermal behavior of the composite xerogels of zirconium oxyhydroxide and silicic acid

Gels were prepared via sol?Cgel method by addition of zirconium oxychloride solution into sodium metasilicate (SZ) and sodium metasilicate solution into zirconium oxychloride (ZS) at varying final pH. Si/Zr molar ratio equaled 1/1. Synthesized gels were dried with calcium chloride until they reached a constant mass. SEM and nitrogen adsorption analysis have shown that SZ gels have surface area 175?C200?m^2?g^?1, consist of 20?C30?nm grains. ZS samples have surface area about 1?m^2?g^?1, consist of grains smaller than 10?nm. Thermal and X-ray phase analysis have shown that transition of amorphous ZrO₂ to crystalline form shifts from 430 to 850?C870?°C for SZ gels. Unlike zirconia gels phase transitions that proceed in order: ??amorphous (430?°C)??tetragonal (800?°C)??monoclinic (1,000?°C) phases??, the monoclinic phase in ZS gels appears immediately after transition from amorphous to crystalline state; the tetragonal phase in SZ samples is stable until 1,000?°C.     

Silica Gels and Gel Glasses Containing Silver and Platinum Metal Particles

Silica gels containing between 0.05 and 20.0 mol% Ag2O and between 0.1 and 1.0 mol% PtO2 have been synthesized using TEOS, C2H5OH, H2O, HNO3, HCl, AgNO3 and PtCl4 as precursors. The gels obtained with Ag2O are colorless, while the gels containing PtO2 are yellow. The gels have been heat treated in the 25–1000°C temperature range. The processes of structural evolution of gels have been studied by means of IR-spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and transmission electron microdiffraction (TEMD). It has been established that the temperature of gel to gel-glass transition decreases when the Ag2O content of the gels increases. The same tendency was established for the gel to gel-glass transition in the SiO2-PtO2 system.Special attention was paid to the formation of silver and platinum metallic particles in amorphous materials. The microstructure of the gels has been observed and the sizes of the metal particles were determined to be from 3 to 25 nm.The crystallization processes in the gels heat treated at 1000–1200°C have been examined and besides the silver and platinum particles -cristobalite was formed.It has been shown that nanocomposite materials containing ultrafine silver and platinum particles in SiO2 amorphous or polycrystalline matrixes can be obtained.     

Evaluation of phase transformation behaviors of zeolite and antibacterial properties against Gram-positive and -negative bacteria

This study deals with the synthesis of zeolite from natural kaolinite using hydrothermal treatment and evaluation of its phase transformation behaviors. The synthesized zeolites were modified with silver ion by using the ion exchange method for the enhancement of antibacterial properties. The characterizations were performed by using X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray. Disk diffusion technique (DDT) was used for the evaluation of the antibacterial property of the modified zeolites. This study observed the transformation of kaolinite into amorphous metakaolin after calcination treatment at 900°C and the successful reconstruction of amorphous metakaolin into synthesized crystal zeolite in the presence of sodium hydroxide as an activating agent. It was also found that the zeolite type A was produced at 100°C, while sodalites were produced at 120 and 140°C. DDT analysis revealed that the modified zeolites showed significant antibacterial capability against Escherichia coli ATCC 11229 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538. In general, the present study has proven that the zeolites can be synthesized from natural material and can be modified with silver ion to enhance their antibacterial activity.     

On the potential of positron lifetime spectroscopy for the study of early stages of zeolites formation from their amorphous precursors

The applicability of positron lifetime (LT) spectroscopy to the study of progress of formation of Secondary Building Units (SBU) in gels yielding in FAU and LTA type zeolites was investigated. Samples were prepared from aluminosilicate gels with various degrees of local structural order. LT measurements were performed at room temperature in air and in vacuum. Coexistence of annihilation modi with long lifetime components was shown; a correlation with precursors of nucleation and type of exchanged ions was also indicated.     

Time-resolving analysis of cryotropic gelation of water/poly(vinyl alcohol) solutions via small-angle neutron scattering

The structural transformations occurring in initially homogeneous aqueous solutions of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) through application of freezing (-13 degrees C) and thawing (20 degrees C) cycles is investigated by time resolving small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). These measurements indicate that formation of gels of complex hierarchical structure arises from occurrence of different elementary processes, involving different length and time scales. The fastest process that could be detected by our measurements during the first cryotropic treatment consists of the crystallization of the solvent. However, solvent crystallization is incomplete, and an unfrozen liquid microphase more concentrated in PVA than the initial solution is also formed. Crystallization of PVA takes place inside the unfrozen liquid microphase and is slowed down because of formation of a microgel fraction. Water crystallization takes place in the early 10 min of the treatment of the solution at subzero temperatures, and although below 0 degrees C the PVA solutions used for preparation of cryogels should be below the spinodal curve, occurrence of liquid-liquid phase separation could not be detected in our experiments. Upon thawing, ice crystals melt, and transparent gels are obtained that become opaque in approximately 200 min, due to a slow and progressive increase of the size of microheterogeneities (dilute and dense regions) imprinted during the fast freezing by the crystallization of water. During the permanence of these gels at room temperature (for hours), the presence of a high content of water (higher than 85% by mass) prevents further crystallization of PVA. Crystallization of PVA, in turn, is resumed by freezing the gels at subzero temperatures, after water crystallization and consequent formation of an unfrozen microphase. The kinetic parameters of PVA crystallization during the permanence of these gels at subzero temperatures are the same shown by PVA during the first freezing step of the solutions.     

Synthesis of silicalite-1 from organo-silicic gels

Well crystallized silicalite-1 has been obtained from three sources of amorphous silica, namely, rice hull ashes, commercial Davisil, and a fume silica from Aldrich. The silicas were first dissolved in glycerol according to a recently described reaction. This reaction transforms rapidly and efficiently large surface area silicates into poly-alkoxide gels. It can be schematized as an etherification of an alcohol function of glycerol by the weakly acid surface silanol groups. The facile hydrolysis of the alkoxide permits the preparation of relatively pure and reactive silica, keeping the mesoporous character of the parent starting material. We insist on the mesoporous character of the solids obtained upon hydrolyzing the organo-silicic gel because we believe the gel plays a role of template in the secondary synthesis of mesoporous structures. The hydrolysis is carried out in presence of a structure directing agent, namely tetra-propylammonium hydroxide, TPAOH. After aging, the residue is dried and calcined. The first advantage of using the organo-silicic gel is probably related to the high degree of depolymerization of silica, witness by the C/Si ratio. The second one, more subtle to define, is to provide an intermediate silica with hydrophilic a hydrophobic regions, interfering differently with the surfactant. After calcination at 500 degrees C, well crystallized silicalite-1 is obtained. The texture of the starting silica influences the textural characteristics of the final silicalite-1.     

Infrared dichroism of polyethylene crystallized by orientation and pressure in a capillary viscometer

Polarized infrared absorption spectra have been obtained by Fourier-transform spectroscopy for several crystalline and noncrystalline absorption bands of polyethylene crystallized by orientation and pressure in capillary viscometer. An analysis of data obtained at room temperature yielded degrees of crystallinity which are in good accord with values obtained from calorimetry and density measurements. The dichroism of the infrared absorption bands for the crystalline region revealed an extreme degree of orientation consistent with previous x-ray studies and also demonstrated that the degree of orientation is a good or better than that obtained from drawn polyethylene films with extension ratios of 20. Dichroism of bands from the amorphous phases revealed that the noncrystalline chain segments are in a comparatively relaxed state compared with results for drawn films having extension ratios of about 2 to 7. This is 1/10 to 1/3 the extension ratio of drawn polyethylene which shows maximum crystalline orientation. The results also indicated that the ratio of the GTG′ to GG segment conformations in the amorphous regions is larger than that of amorphous portions in unoriented polyethylene. The vinyl endgroups were shown to be highly oriented, while the main bulk of the amorphous polymer was fairly relaxed, i.e., of low orientation. It is concluded that the amorphous polyethylene state is strongly dependent on the nature of the crystalline–amorphous interface.     

Synthesis of Hierarchical MOR-Type Zeolites with Improved Catalytic Properties

Hierarchical MOR-type zeolites were synthesized in the presence of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a porogen agent. XRD proved that the concentration of CTAB in the synthesis medium plays an essential role in forming pure hierarchical MOR-type material. Above a CTAB concentration of 0.04 mol·L⁻¹, amorphous materials are observed. These hierarchical mordenite possess a higher porous volume compared to its counterpart conventional micrometer crystals. Nitrogen sorption showed the presence of mesoporosity for all mordenite samples synthesized in the presence of CTAB. The creation of mesopores due to the presence of CTAB in the synthesis medium does not occur at the expense of zeolite micropores. In addition, mesoporous volume and BET surface seem to increase upon the increase of CTAB concentration in the synthesis medium. The Si/Al ratio of the zeolite framework can be increased from 5.5 to 9.1 by halving the aluminum content present in the synthesis gel. These synthesized hierarchical MOR-type zeolites possess an improved catalytic activity for n-hexane cracking compared to large zeolite crystals obtained in the absence of CTAB.     

可降解光交联聚(醚-酐)凝胶用于难溶性药物增溶的研究

将水难溶性药物吲哚美辛包埋于可降解聚(醚-酐)三维光交联网络凝胶中, 使该凝胶具有较好的溶胀性能. X射线衍射测定结果表明, 药物能以分子或无定形态分布, 贮存2个月后药物仍无形态改变, 溶出实验结果表明, 包载在凝胶中的药物比原料药物具有更快的溶出速率和累积溶出量. 采用该法能提高制剂中药物的物理稳定性, 阻延药物析晶, 有效地用于药物增溶.     

Electron paramagnetic resonance, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersion X-ray spectrometry, X-ray powder diffraction, and NMR characterization of iron-rich fired clays

The aim of this study is to clarify the structure of an iron-rich clay and the structural changes involved in the firing process as a preliminary step to get information on ancient ceramic technology. To this purpose, illite-rich clay samples fired at different temperatures were characterized using a multitechnique approach, i.e., by electron paramagnetic resonance, scanning electron microscopy with electron dispersion X-ray spectrometry, X-ray powder diffraction, magic angle spinning and multiple quantum magic angle spinning NMR. During firing, four main reaction processes occur: dehydration, dehydroxylation, structural breakdown, and recrystallization. When the results are combined from all characterization methods, the following conclusions could be obtained. Interlayer H2O is located close to aluminum in octahedral sites and is driven off at temperatures lower than 600 degrees C. Between 600 and 700 degrees C dehydroxylation occurs whereas, between 800 and 900 degrees C, the aluminum in octahedral sites disappears, due to the breakdown of the illite structure, and all iron present is oxidized to Fe3+. In samples fired at 1000 and 1100 degrees C iron clustering was observed as well as large single crystals of iron with the occurrence of ferro- or ferrimagnetic effects. Below 900 degrees C the aluminum in octahedral sites presents a continuous distribution of chemical shift, suggesting the presence of slightly distorted sites. Finally, over the whole temperature range, the presence of at least two tetrahedral aluminum sites was revealed, characterized by different values of the quadrupolar coupling constant.     

Electron diffraction and X-ray investigation of hydrothermally vitrified 5 A zeolite containing trapped gases

The mechanism of gas fixation by hydrothermal treatment of zeolite type 5 A in the presence of a densified gas has been examined by electron diffraction and X rays. It is shown that gas trapping occurs in an X-ray amorphous phase which is formed within a broad spectrum of fixation conditions. The amorphous matrix recrystallizes at 850°C regardless of the parameter combination selected for vitrification. The recrystallization product consists essentially of anorthite and nepheline phases. In addition some CaAl₂Si₂O₈ was found. Observations made by X rays and by electron diffraction correlate well with leak rate data.     

邻苯二酚在合成合硅方钠石分子筛大单晶中的螯合效应

通过对合成全硅方钠石（Si-SOD)溶胶的液体^29Si NMR、IR光谱、紫外可见光谱,及其晶化产物的^13C MAS CP NMR3和^29Si NMR的研究表明,邻苯二酚在的反应混合物中能和硅物 生反应而生成硅－本二酚螯合物,该螯合物在水热条件下是亚稳态的,它能缓慢释放出生成分子筛所需要的硅种,使反应体系中的晶核始终处于数量较少状态,从而有利于晶体的缓慢长大。     

Enhanced diastereoselectivity via confinement: diastereoselective photoisomerization of 2,3-diphenyl-1-benzoylcyclopropane derivatives within zeolites

Photochemistry of optically pure trans-2,3-diphenyl-1-benzoylcyclopropane has been examined in isotropic solution and within zeolites. Results suggest that it isomerizes by cleavage of either the C1-C2 or C1-C3 bond. From the perspective of chiral induction, photoisomerization of cis-2,3-diphenyl-1-benzoylcyclopropane derivatives with chiral auxiliaries placed at the meta and para positions of the benzoyl group have been examined both in isotropic solution and within zeolites. Whereas in isotropic solution the chiral auxiliaries placed at the meta position exhibit very little influence during the conversion of triplet cis-2,3-diphenyl-1-benzoylcyclopropane derivatives, they have significant influence within zeolites. For example, alpha-methyl benzylamine placed at the meta position of the benzoyl group (via an amide bond) yields the trans isomer with a diastereoselectivity (de) of 71% within NaY zeolite, whereas in solution no de is obtained. The chiral induction process within zeolites depends on the nature of the alkali ion and on the presence of water. Results suggest that the chiral auxiliary is able to control the bond being cleaved (C1-C2 vs. C1-C3 bond) within a zeolite, but it is unable to do so in an isotropic solution.     

Influence of plasticizer type on the properties of polymer electrolytes based on chitosan

Polymer electrolytes were obtained by the casting technique from a solution containing chitosan, hydrochloric acid, and plasticizer such as glycerol, ethylene glycol, and sorbitol. The transparent membranes with good ionic conductivity properties were characterized by impedance and UV-vis spectroscopies, thermal analysis (DSC), and X-ray diffraction. The best ionic conductivity values of 9.5 x 10(-4) S cm(-1) at room temperature and 2.5 x 10(-3) S cm(-1) at 80 degrees C were obtained for the sample containing 59 wt% of glycerol and an equimolar amount of HCl with respect to NH2 groups in chitosan. The temperature dependence of the ionic conductivity exhibits an Arrhenius behavior with activation energy of 16.6 kJ mol(-1). The thermal analysis indicates that both glass transition temperature (-87 degrees C) and crystallinity are low for this electrolyte. The samples with 13 wt% of LiCF3SO3 showed that the ionic conductivity values of 2.2 x 10(-5) S cm(-1) at room temperature and 4 x 10(-4) S cm(-1) at 80 degrees C are predominantly amorphous and showed a low glass transition temperature of about -73 degrees C.