Determination of ethanol in fuel ethanol and beverages by Fourier transform (FT)-near infrared and FT-Raman spectrometries

Fourier transform-near infrared (FT-NIR) and FT-Raman spectrometries have been used to design partial least squares (PLS) calibration models for the determination of the ethanol content of ethanol fuel and alcoholic beverages. In the FT-NIR measurements the spectra were obtained using air as reference, and the spectral region for PLS modeling were selected based on the spectral distribution of the relative standard deviation in concentration. In the FT-Raman measurements hexachloro-1,3-butadiene (HCBD) has been used as an external standard. In the PLS/FT-NIR modeling for ethanol fuel analysis 50 ethanol fuel standards (84.9-100% (w/w)) were used (25 in the calibration, 25 in the validation). In the PLS/FT-Raman modeling 25 standards were used (13 in the calibration, 12 in the validation). The PLS/FT-NIR and FT-Raman models for beverage analysis made use of 24 standards (0-100% (v/v)). Twelve of them contained sugars (1-5% (w/w)), one-half was used in the calibration and the other half in the validation. Different spectral pre-processing were used in the PLS modeling, depending on the type of sample investigated. In the ethanol fuel analysis the FT-NIR pre-processing was a 17 points smoothed first derivative and for beverages no spectral pre-processing was used. The FT-Raman spectra were pre-processed by vector normalization in the ethanol fuel analysis and by a second derivative (17 points smoothing) in the beverage analysis. The PLS models were used in the analysis of real ethanol fuel and beverage samples. A t-test has shown that the FT-NIR model has an accuracy equivalent to that of the reference method (ASTM D4052) in the analysis of ethanol fuel, while in the analysis of beverages, the FT-Raman model presents an accuracy equivalent to the reference method. The limits of detection for NIR and Raman calibration models were 0.05 and 0.2% (w/w), respectively. It has also been shown that both techniques, present better results than gas chromatography (GC) in evaluating the ethanol content of beverages.     

Calorimetric study of room temperature adsorption of N2O and CO on Cu(II)-exchanged ZSM5 zeolites

Copper ion-exchanged ZSM5 zeolites have been prepared with different cooper loadings from under- to over-exchanged levels. The adsorptions of N₂O and CO at 303 K have been studied using calorimetric method and infrared spectroscopy. The samples were additionally characterised by ammonia adsorption at 423 K. The active sites for both N₂O and CO are Cu(I) ions, which were formed as a result of pre-treatment in vacuum at 673 K.

Room temperature adsorption of nitrous oxide at low equilibrium pressures (up to 66.7 Pa) resulted in small amounts of chemisorbed N₂O (<0.2 molecule per one Cu ion). Differential heats of N₂O adsorption between 80 and 30 kJ/mol were obtained. Differential heats of CO adsorption between 140 and 40 kJ/mol were obtained. The obtained amounts of chemisorbed species in the investigated systems and the values of differential heats of both nitrous oxide and carbon monoxide demonstrate the dependence on the copper content.     

Determination of weight distribution ratios of Pa(V) and Np(V) with some extraction chromatography resins and the AG1-X8 resin

Literature data on distribution ratios (D_w) of Np(V) and Pa(V) for the AG1-X8 resin are scarce whereas those related on resin capacity factors (k′) values for TEVA, TRU and U/TEVA resins are absent. Therefore, batch extraction experiments for Pa(V) and Np(V) from HCl and HNO₃ media were realized, at tracer scale, with AG1-X8 and EIChroM resins (TEVA, TRU and U/TEVA). Based on the new D_w and k′ values obtained in this study, a new protocol for Pa/Np separation has been developed leading to a better separation factor of 10⁵ and a chemical yield of 97 ± 3% and 99 ± 1% for Pa and Np, respectively. A separation of ²³¹Pa from uranium matrix was successfully tested.     

Non-conventional oils for biodiesel production: a study of thermal and oxidative stability

Vegetable oils with variable proportions of oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids are more susceptible to oxidative processes. In this subject, this study evaluates the physical chemical properties and oxidative stability of non-conventional oils such as andiroba, babassu, sesame, oiticica, jatropha, and grape through accelerated oxidation techniques (pressurized differential scanning calorimetry, Rancimat and PetroOxy). It was verified that babassu and andiroba oil do not showed detectable induction period presenting high oxidative stability; moreover, it was observed that the enthalpic events occurred in 1.19, >10, 0.53, 0.49, 0.49, and 0.60 h for the andiroba oil, babassu oil, sesame seeds, jatropha, oiticica oils, and grapes, respectively, stimulating the conclusion of greater stability for the babassu oil.