Dual-Mode Sorption of Inorganic Acids in Polybenzimidazole (PBI) Membrane

The sorption behaviors of sulfuric, perchloric, and phosphoric acids in polybenzimidazole membranes have been investigated. The results of sorption isotherms are consistent with the general form of a dual-mode sorption isotherm. The dual-mode sorption parameters were found using a least-squares program by fitting experimental data to a dual-mode equation. Results indicate a correlation between permeant properties like acidity, size, and the affinity constant in Langmuir-mode sorption species. Moreover, the results show that the size of the permeants has the dominant effect on Henry's constant. The obtained results for , site saturation constant, in Langmuir-mode sorption in the case of perchloric and phosphoric acids, reveals that the two acid molecules interact with two N?H basic groups in the polybenzimidazole repeat units. But in the case of sulfuric acid, it is shown that sulfuric acid neutralizes some of the basic groups in the polymer by its strong second hydrogen and the obtained value for was 1.25.     

Short time synthesis of high quality carbon nanotubes with high rates by CVD of methane on continuously emerged iron nanoparticles

We report the variation of yield and quality of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of methane on iron oxide-MgO at 900-1000 °C for 1-60 min. The catalyst was prepared by impregnation of MgO powder with iron nitrate, dried, and calcined at 300 °C. As calcined and unreduced catalyst in quartz reactor was brought to the synthesis temperature in helium flow in a few minutes, and then the flow was switched to methane. The iron oxide was reduced to iron nanoparticles in methane, while the CNTs were growing.TEM micrographs, in accordance with Raman RBM peaks, indicate the formation of mostly single wall carbon nanotubes of about 1.0 nm size. High quality CNTs with I_G/I_D Raman peak ratio of 14.5 are formed in the first minute of CNTs synthesis with the highest rate. Both the rate and quality of CNTs degrades with increasing CNTs synthesis time. Also CNTs quality sharply declines with temperature in the range of 900-1000 °C, while the CNTs yield passes through a maximum at 950 °C. About the same CNTs lengths are formed for the whole range of the synthesis times. A model of continuous emergence of iron nanoparticle seeds for CNTs synthesis may explain the data. The data can also provide information for continuous production of CNTs in a fluidized bed reactor.     

Sonochemical Synthesis and Photocatalytic Properties of Metal Hydroxide and Carbonate (M:Mg, Ca, Sr or Ba) Nanoparticles

In this work Mg(OH)₂, Ca(OH)₂, CaCO₃, SrCO₃ and BaCO₃ nanoparticles were synthesized via a simple sonochemical reaction at room temperature. Nanoparticles were synthesized via a surfactant-free reaction solvent water. Nanostructures materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The photocatalytic behavior of nanoparticles was evaluated using the degradation of a methyl orange aqueous solution under ultraviolet light irradiation. The results show that metal hydroxide and metal carbonate nanoparticles are promising materials with excellent performance in photocatalytic applications.     

OXIDATIVE DEPROTECTION OF TRIMETHYLSILYL ETHERS WITH HEXAMETHYLENETETRAMINEBROMINE SUPPORTED ONTO SILICA GEL UNDER MICROWAVE IRRADIATION IN SOLVENTLESS SYSTEM

Hexamethylenetetramine-bromine supported onto[3pc] silica gel rapidly converts trimethylsilyl ethers to their corresponding carbonyl compounds under microwave irradiation in solventless system.