Syngas cleaning with nano-structured micro-porous ion exchange polymers in biomass gasification using a novel downdraft gasifier

Sulphonated nano-structured micro-porous ion exchange polymers,known as sulphonated PolyHIPE Polymers(s-PHPs) were used in syngas cleaning to investigate their impact on tar composition,concentration and dew point depression during the gasification of fuel cane bagasse as a model biomass.The results showed that the s-PHPs used as a secondary syngas treatment system,was highly effective at adsorbing and reducing the concentration of all class of tars in syngas by 95%-80%which resulted in tar dew point depression from 90℃to 73℃.It was shown that tars underwent chemical reactions within s-PHPs,indicating that tar diffusion from syngas was driven by chemical potential.It was also observed that s-PHPs also captured ash forming elements from syngas.The use of s-PHPs in gasification as well as in an integrated thermochemical biorefinery technology is discussed since the tar loaded s-PHPs can be used as natural herbicides in the form of soil additives to enhance the biomass growth and crop yield.     

Flavonol Glycosides and Iridoids from Asperula lilaciflora

A new flavonol glycoside, quercetin 3‐O‐[6′′′‐O‐3,5‐dihydroxycinnamoyl‐β‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)]‐β‐galactopyranoside (named lilacifloroside; 1 ) and a new iridoid 2 (named asperulogenin), were isolated from the aerial parts of Asperula lilaciflora in addition to eight known secondary metabolites, i.e., quercetin, kaempferol, quercetin 3‐O‐β‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐β‐galactopyranoside, quercetin 3‐O‐β‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐arabinopyranoside, asperuloside, deacetylasperulosidic acid, asperulosidic acid methyl ester, and chlorogenic acid. The structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR experiments as well as MS data. Compound 1 contains the rare 3,5‐dihydroxycinnamoyl moiety in its structure. This work constitutes the first phytochemical study of the title plant.     

The collision-induced electric dipole moment of H(n=2) in H-He,Ne and Ar collisions

The collision-induced electric dipole moment of H(n=2) in H(1s)-Ne and H(1s)-Ar collisions was measured in an energy range of 1 to 25 keV. For these systems we observe a positive electric dipole moment which corresponds to an electron lagging behind the proton. This behaviour is in contrast to recent measurements for the H-He systems, where a negative dipole moment corresponding to an electron moving in front of the proton was observed. A simple explanation for this difference is given.     

Ceramic encapsulated latex composites

This work reports the encapsulation of latex particles in Al2O3-polystyrene (PS) composite films. These films were prepared from PS particles in Al2O3 dispersion at room temperature in various latex contents. Composite films were annealed at elevated temperatures in 10 min time interval above the glass transition temperature (Tg) of polystyrene. Transmitted photon intensities, I(tr) were monitored after each annealing step. AFM micrographs were also used to observe the physical changes of the composite films during annealing. It was observed that latex particles are encapsulated above a critical Al2O3 content of 33 wt% which corresponds to the critical occupation probability of p(c) = 0.33 at which the film obey the site-percolation model with a critical exponent of 0.45. Below p(c), it was seen that complete latex film formation process took place, where transparency of the film was increased by annealing.     

Synthesis and chemistry of unusual bicyclic endoperoxides containing the pyridazine ring

Inverse-Diels-Alder reaction of dimethyl 1,2,4,5-tetrazine-3,6-dicarboxylate with unsaturated bicyclic endoperoxides gave the bicyclic endoperoxides containing the pyridazine ring. The NEt(3) and CoTPP (TPP = tetraphenylporphyrin) catalyzed reaction of endoperoxide 8 resulted in the formation of hydroxy ketone 11 and cis-diol 9. Cleavage of the peroxide linkage in 8 with thiourea provided cis-diol 9. Oxidation of hydroxy ketone 11 and cis-diol 9 led to the phthalazine-5,8-dione 10. Furthermore, the various transformations of the other endoperoxides 19, 20, 22, 23, and 30 resulted in the formation of pyridazine derivatives.     

Unusual fragmentation of fulvene endoperoxides with phenyliodosyl bis(trifluoroacetate) (PIFA)

Reaction of unsaturated fulvene endoperoxides with dimethyl 1,2,4,5‐tetrazine‐3,6‐dicarboxylate gave saturated fulvene endoperoxides containing the 1,2‐dihydropyridazine ring. Treatment of dihydropyridazine endoperoxides with water followed by phenyliodosyl bis(trifluoroacetate) oxidation provided acrylic acid derivatives and dimethyl pyridazine‐3,6‐dicarboxylate.     

Assessment of the origin and geothermal potential of the thermal waters by hydro-isotope geochemistry: Eskisehir province,Turkey

The thermal fluids vented over Eskisehir province have been investigated for their origin and to estimate the geothermal potential of the area. Thermal waters as well as bubbling and dissolved gases were collected and analysed for their chemical and isotopic features. Their isotopic composition varies in the range from ?11.5 to ?7.7?‰ for δ¹⁸O, ?84 and ?57?‰ for δ²H, and 0–7.2 TU for tritium. The gases (bubbling and dissolved) are mostly N₂-dominated with a significant amount of CO₂. The helium isotopic ratios are in the range of 0.2–0.66?R/Rac, indicate remarkable mantle-He contribution ranging between 2 and 10?% in the whole study area. Considering the estimated geothermal gradient about three times higher than the normal gradient, and the reservoir temperatures estimated to be between 50 and 100?°C using quartz and chalcedony geothermometers, a circulation model was built where possible mixing with shallow waters cool down the uprising geothermal fluids.     

Derivation of the optical constants of spin coated CeO2-TiO2-ZrO2 thin films prepared by sol-gel route

Ternary thin films of cerium titanium zirconium mixed oxide were prepared by the sol-gel process and deposited by a spin coating technique at different spin speeds (1000-4000 rpm). Ceric ammonium nitrate, Ce(NO₃)₆(NH₄)₂, titanium butoxide, Ti[O(CH₂)₃CH₃]₄, and zirconium propoxide, Zr(OCH₂CH₂CH₃)₄, were used as starting materials. Differential calorimetric analysis (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were carried out on the CeO₂-TiO₂-ZrO₂ gel to study the decomposition and phase transition of the gel. For molecular, structural, elemental, and morphological characterization of the films, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectral analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were carried out. All the ternary oxide thin films were amorphous. The optical constants (refractive index, extinction coefficient, band gap) and thickness of the films were determined in the 350-1000 nm wavelength range by using an nkd spectrophotometer. The refractive index, extinction coefficient, and thickness of the films were changed by varying the spin speed. The oscillator and dispersion energies were obtained using the Wemple-DiDomenico dispersion relationship. The optical band gap is independent of the spin speed and has a value of about E_g≈2.82±0.04 eV for indirect transition.