Two sample applications of a classical isoperimetric problem of the calculus of variations to fluid mechanical problems in fluidization and spouting

This paper is devoted to outlining precisely the basic mathematics of a classical isoperimetric problem of the calculus of variations and showing how significant fluid mechanical problems in fluidization and spouting can be addressed using this approach.     

Synthesis of thermosensitive guar‐based hydrogels with tunable physico‐chemical properties by click chemistry

Thermosensitive guar‐based hydrogels are obtained in water solutions by copper‐catalyzed 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition between alkyne‐functionalized guars and α,ω‐diazido‐poly[(ethylene glycol)‐co‐(propylene glycol)]. Characterization by TGA, HR‐MAS ¹H NMR, and rheology have shown that hydrogels with tunable physico‐chemical properties, such as crosslinking density, viscoelasticity, swelling ratio, and so forth, could be obtained by varying the guar molar mass, the degree of alkyne functionality, the guar/crosslinker weight ratio, and the reaction temperature. Based on swelling measurements, it has been shown that the thermal sensitiveness of guar‐based hydrogels is fast, reversible, and intimately related to the weight fraction of the thermosensitive crosslinker in the network. Finally, the monitoring of doxorubicin hydrochloride release has demonstrated the potential of these hydrogels as temperature‐dependent drug release devices. The robust, efficient, and orthogonal approach described herein represents a general approach towards the development of well‐controlled guar‐based hydrogels using α,ω‐diazido crosslinkers. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2733–2742, 2010     

Evaluation of novel ZnO–Ag cathode for CO2 electroreduction in solid oxide electrolyser

CO₂ and steam/CO₂ electroreduction to CO and methane in solid oxide electrolytic cells (SOEC) has gained major attention in the past few years. This work evaluates, for the very first time, the performance of two different ZnO–Ag cathodes: one where ZnO nanopowder was mixed with Ag powder for preparing the cathode ink (ZnO_mix–Ag cathode) and the other one where Ag cathode was infiltrated with a zinc nitrate solution (ZnO_inf –Ag cathode). ZnO_mix–Ag cathode had a better distribution of ZnO particles throughout the cathode, resulting in almost double CO generation while electrolysing both dry CO₂ and H₂/CO₂ (4:1 v/v). A maximum overall CO₂ conversion of 48% (in H₂/CO₂) at 1.7 V and 700 °C clearly indicated that as low as 5 wt% zinc loading is capable of CO₂ electroreduction. It was further revealed that for ZnO_inf –Ag cathode, most of CO generation took place through RWGS reaction, but for ZnO_mix–Ag cathode, it was the synergistic effect of both RWGS reaction and CO₂ electrolysis. Although ZnO_inf –Ag cathode produced trace amount of methane at higher voltages, with ZnO_mix–Ag cathode, there was absolutely no methane. This seems to be due to strong electronic interaction between Zn and Ag that might have suppressed the catalytic activity of the cathode towards methanation.

     

Hydrothermal processing of waste pine wood into industrially useful products

An ongoing major outbreak of mountain pine beetle in Western Canada has provided a clear opportunity to utilize waste pinewood as a source of renewable energy. Therefore hydrothermal processing of waste pinewood as a feedstock for bio-oil and biochar production using subcritical and supercritical water technology was carried out in semi-batch mode to investigate the effect of pressure (200–400 bar) and temperature (300–400 °C) on the yield and composition of bio-oil. The pinewood samples have very high cellulose and hemicellulose content but low ash content and are thus a formidable feedstock for bioenergy production. The optimum conditions for the hydrothermal processing of the pinewood in a tubular reactor were found to be 400 °C and 250 bars with respect to biochar and bio-oil yield based on the highest calorific value analysis. Detailed characterization of bio-oil and biochar was performed using GCMS, NMR, SEM, calorific value, and elemental analysis, respectively. The critical components of bio-oil were found to be phenols, methoxyphenols, hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF), and vanillin, whereas as compared to the raw pine wood, the biochar was considerably lower H:C and O:C ratios than those of the unprocessed pinewood. The analyses of bio-oil by means of GCMS and ¹H NMR showed that it was mainly composed of heterocyclic compounds, phenols, aldehydes and acids.     

Visible-Light Switching of Metallosupramolecular Assemblies**

A photoswitchable ligand and palladium(II) ions form a dynamic mixture of self-assembled metallosupramolecular structures. The photoswitching ligand is an ortho-fluoroazobenzene with appended pyridyl groups. Combining the E-isomer with palladium(II) salts affords a double-walled triangle with composition [Pd₃L₆]⁶⁺ and a distorted tetrahedron [Pd₄L₈]⁸⁺ (1 : 2 ratio at 298 K). Irradiation with 410 nm light generates a photostationary state with approximately 80 % of the E-isomer of the ligand and results in the selective disassembly of the tetrahedron, the more thermodynamically stable structure, and the formation of the triangle, the more kinetically inert product. The triangle is then slowly transformed back into the tetrahedron over 2 days at 333 K. The Z-isomer of the ligand does not form any well-defined structures and has a thermal half-life of 25 days at 298 K. This approach shows how a thermodynamically preferred self-assembled structure can be reversibly pumped to a kinetic trap by small perturbations of the isomer distribution using non-destructive visible light.     

Catalytic Nitrene Transfer by an FeIV-Imido Complex Generated by a Comproportionation Process

Nitrene transfer reactions have emerged as one of the most powerful and versatile ways to insert an amine function to various kinds of hydrocarbon substrates. However, the mechanisms of nitrene generation have not been studied in depth albeit their formation is taken for granted in most cases without definitive evidence of their occurrence. In the present work, we compare the generation of tosylimido iron species and NTs transfer from Fe^II and Fe^III precursors where the metal is embedded in a tetracarbene macrocycle. Catalytic nitrene transfer to reference substrates (thioanisole, styrene, ethylbenzene and cyclohexane) revealed that the same active species was at play, irrespective of the ferrous versus ferric nature of the precursor. Through combination of spectroscopic (UV-visible, Mössbauer), ESI-MS and DFT studies, an Fe^IV tosylimido species was identified as the catalytically active species and was characterized spectroscopically and computationally. Whereas its formation from the Fe^II precursor was expected by a two-electron oxidative addition, its formation from an Fe^III precursor was unprecedented. Thanks to a combination of spectroscopic (UV-visible, EPR, Hyscore and Mössbauer), ESI-MS and DFT studies, we found that, when starting from the Fe^III precursor, an Fe^III tosyliodinane adduct was formed and decomposed into an Fe^V tosylimido species which generated the catalytically active Fe^IV tosylimide through a comproportionation process with the Fe^III precursor.     

Dicyanobiphenyl polysioloxane stationary phases for capillary column gas chromatography

Summary The chromatographic performance of newly developed dicyanobiphenyl polysiloxane stationary phases were evaluated and compared with the performance of other polar stationary phases, including the previously reported monocyanobiphenyl polysiloxanes. Due to the unique combination of polarizable biphenyl and polar cyano functionalities in the side chains of the flexible polysiloxane backbone, and by virtue of their mild liquid crystalline properties, the new stationary phases provide excellent resolution of a wide variety of analytes, both polar and nonpolar, in both GC and SFC. They can be easily coated and cross-linked in open tubular columns, and the resultant columns demonstrate excellent efficiency and performance at temperatures up to 280–300°C. The new stationary phases exhibit enhanced selectivities for various types of isomeric compounds.     

Evolved gas analysis (EGA) of brick clays

Using a system based on non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) detectors, evolved gas analysis (EGA) was able to identify and quantify the principal volatiles produced by heating powdered samples of UK brick clays. From these results, atmospheric emissions likely to result from brick production can be predicted. In addition, EGA results for extruded brick clay test pieces are significantly different from those of powdered samples. Within an extruded brick clay body, evolved gases are contained within a pore system and evolved gas-solid phase reactions also occur. This EGA study provides further evidence on the nature of firing reactions within brick clay bodies. The qualitative and quantitative influence of heating rate — a key process condition in brick manufacture — on gas release is also outlined.Dedicated to Dr. Robert Mackenzie on the occasion of his 75th birthday