Role of copper chloride on the surface of activated carbon in adsorption of methyl mercaptan

In this paper, adsorption characteristics of methyl mercaptan on virgin activated carbon and copper chloride impregnated activated carbons were studied by using a dynamic adsorption method in a fixed bed. The activated carbons were characterized by nitrogen adsorption, XRD, TGA and solubility tests. The impregnation of copper chloride on the activated carbon significantly enhanced the adsorption capacity of methyl mercaptan, despite a notable decrease in microporosity. It is likely that copper chloride may act as adsorption site for methyl mercaptan. Copper chloride on the activated carbon in a range of 3-20 wt% Cu content was present mostly in the amorphous form of CuCl(2), according to the results of the solubility, XRD and TGA tests. Starting at 10 wt% in Cu loading, the adsorption capacity for methyl mercaptan decreases gradually. It is likely that a decrease in the degree of copper chloride dispersion and an accessibility of small pores may lead to the decrease in the adsorption capacity of the activated carbon for methyl mercaptan.     

Platinum-free tungsten carbides as an efficient counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells

Mesoporous tungsten carbides displayed an excellent solar conversion efficiency (7.01%) as a counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells under 100 mW cm(-2), AM 1.5G illumination, which corresponded to ca. 85% of the efficiency of the conventional platinum electrode.     

Synthesis of tetrasubstituted pyrazines and pyrazine N-oxides

An efficient synthesis of tetrasubstituted unsymmetrical pyrazines and their related pyrazine N-oxides has been developed from commercially available 2-chloro-3-methylpyrazine. The procedure and scope of these synthesis routes are described.     

Effects of alumina phases on CO2 sorption and regeneration properties of potassium-based alumina sorbents

A range of potassium-based alumina sorbents were fabricated by impregnation of alumina with K₂CO₃ to examine the effects of the structural and textural properties of alumina on the CO₂ sorption and regeneration properties. Alumina materials, which were used as supports, were prepared by calcining alumina at various temperatures (300, 600, 950, and 1,200 °C). The CO₂ sorption and regeneration properties of these sorbents were examined during multiple tests in a fixed-bed reactor in the presence of 1 vol% CO₂ and 9 vol% H₂O. The regeneration capacities of the potassium-based alumina sorbents increased with increasing calcination temperature of alumina. The formation of KHCO₃ increased with increasing calcination temperature during CO₂ sorption, whereas the formation of KAl(CO₃)(OH)₂, which is an inactive material, decreased. These results is due to the fact that the structure of alumina by the calcination temperature is related directly to the formation of the by-product [KAl(CO₃)(OH)₂]. The structure of alumina plays an important role in enhancing the regeneration capacity of the potassium-based alumina sorbent. Based on these results, a new potassium-based sorbent using δ-Al₂O₃ as a support was developed for post-combustion CO₂ capture. This sorbent maintained a high CO₂ capture capacity of 88 mg CO₂/g sorbent after two cycles. In particular, it showed a faster sorption rate than the other potassium-based alumina sorbents examined.     

Thermal characterization and compatibility studies of perovskite-type Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3−δ (BSCF) oxide with Cr2O3 at high temperature

The chemical compatibility of perovskite-type Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3?δ (BSCF) oxides with Cr₂O₃ has been examined between room temperature and 1,100 °C. Differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetric analysis were used to analyze the thermal behavior of BSCF–Cr₂O₃ binary mixtures in all composition ranges (0–100 mass% BSCF). The reaction products were identified by X-ray analysis after heating at 700–1,100 °C. As we expected, it was found that perovskite-type BSCF oxide had a poor chemical compatibility with the Cr₂O₃ oxide. In particular, the decomposition process of the BSCF–Cr₂O₃ binary mixture is quite complex and it starts at about 700–750 °C. The mixtures of BSCF and Cr₂O₃ oxides reacted forming mixed complex oxides based on (Ba/Sr)FeO₃, (Co/Fe)CrO₄, and (Ba/Sr)CrO₄ mixtures.     

Preparation and performance of potassium-based sorbent using SnO<Subscript>2</Subscript> for post-combustion CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> capture

Potassium-based sorbents using γ-Al₂O₃ or TiO₂ as a support or an additive material have disadvantages in terms of their thermal stability and cyclic CO₂ capture. To overcome the shortcomings of these sorbents, a novel potassium-based sorbent (KSnI30) using SnO₂ was developed in this study. The KSnI30 sorbent formed only K₂CO₃ and SnO₂ phases without any inactive alloy species even after calcination at high temperatures (500–700 °C), indicating the good thermal stability of the KSnI30 sorbent regardless of the calcination temperature. Furthermore, the KSnI30 sorbent has an excellent regeneration property (above 98 %), as well as high CO₂ capture capacities (89–94 mg CO₂/g sorbent). Its excellent regeneration property is due to the formation of a KHCO₃ phase without by-products during CO₂ sorption. These results of the present study demonstrate that the SnO₂ shows promise as a new support or an additive material to replace TiO₂ and γ-Al₂O₃ in the preparation of a regenerable potassium-based sorbent for post-combustion CO₂ capture with good thermal stability and excellent regeneration property.     

Direct Catalytic Asymmetric Mannich Reaction with Dithiomalonates as Excellent Mannich Donors: Organocatalytic Synthesis of (R)‐Sitagliptin

In this study, dithiomalonates (DTMs) were demonstrated to be exceptionally efficient Mannich donors in terms of reactivity and stereoselectivity in cinchona‐based‐squaramide‐catalyzed enantioselective Mannich reactions of diverse imines or α‐amidosulfones as imine surrogates. Owing to the superior reactivity of DTMs as compared to conventional malonates, the catalyst loading could be reduced to 0.1 mol % without the erosion of enantioselectivity (up to 99 % ee). Furthermore, by the use of a DTM, even some highly challenging primary alkyl α‐amidosulfones were smoothly converted into the desired adducts with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 97 % ee), whereas the use of a malonate or monothiomalonate resulted in no reaction under identical conditions. The synthetic utility of the chiral Mannich adducts obtained from primary alkyl substrates was highlighted by the organocatalytic, coupling‐reagent‐free synthesis of the antidiabetic drug (?)‐(R)‐sitagliptin.     

Modulation of Foreign Body Reaction against PDMS Implant by Grafting Topographically Different Poly(acrylic acid) Micropatterns

The surface of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) is grafted with poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) layers via surface‐initiated photopolymerization to suppress the capsular contracture resulting from a foreign body reaction. Owing to the nature of photo‐induced polymerization, various PAA micropatterns can be fabricated using photolithography. Hole and stripe micropatterns ≈100‐µm wide and 3‐µm thick are grafted onto the PDMS surface without delamination. The incorporation of PAA micropatterns provides not only chemical cues by hydrophilic PAA microdomains but also topographical cues by hole or stripe micropatterns. In vitro studies reveal that a PAA‐grafted PDMS surface has a lower proliferation of both macrophages (Raw 264.7) and fibroblasts (NIH 3T3) regardless of the pattern presence. However, PDMS with PAA micropatterns, especially stripe micropatterns, minimizes the aggregation of fibroblasts and their subsequent differentiation into myofibroblasts. An in vivo study also shows that PDMS samples with stripe micropatterns polarized macrophages into anti‐inflammatory M2 macrophages and most effectively inhibits capsular contracture, which is demonstrated by investigation of inflammation score, transforming‐growth‐factor‐β expression, number of macrophages, and myofibroblasts as well as the collagen density and capsule thickness.     

Association between the microbiomes of tonsil and saliva samples isolated from pediatric patients subjected to tonsillectomy for the treatment of tonsillar hyperplasia

Oral microbes have the capacity to spread throughout the gastrointestinal system and are strongly associated with multiple diseases. Given that tonsils are located between the oral cavity and the laryngopharynx at the gateway of the alimentary and respiratory tracts, tonsillar tissue may also be affected by microbiota from both the oral cavity (saliva) and the alimentary tract. Here, we analyzed the distribution and association of the microbial communities in the saliva and tonsils of Korean children subjected to tonsillectomy because of tonsil hyperplasia (n = 29). The microbiome profiles of saliva and tonsils were established via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Based on the alpha diversity indices, the microbial communities of the two groups showed high similarities. According to Spearman’s ranking correlation analysis, the distribution of Treponema, the causative bacterium of periodontitis, in saliva and tonsils was found to have a significant positive correlation. Two representative microbes, Prevotella in saliva and Alloprevotella in tonsils, were negatively correlated, while Treponema 2 showed a strong positive correlation between saliva and tonsils. Taken together, strong similarities in the microbial communities of the tonsils and saliva are evident in terms of diversity and composition. The saliva microbiome is expected to significantly affect the tonsil microbiome. Furthermore, we suggest that our study creates an opportunity for tonsillar microbiome research to facilitate the development of novel microbiome-based therapeutic strategies.Subject terms: Comparative genomics, Metagenomics     

Synthesis of 3-substituted-4-hydroxyquinoline N-oxides from the Baylis-Hillman adducts of o-nitrobenzaldehydes

The reaction of the Baylis-Hillman adducts 1b-f derived from o-nitrobenzaldehydes in trifluoroacetic acid in the presence of triflic acid (0.2 equiv.) afforded 3-substituted-4-hydroxyquinoline N-oxides 2b-e and 2a in good to moderate yields. The reaction mechanism was evidenced by the experiment with 1f, the Baylis-Hillman adduct of 2-nitrobenzaldehyde N-tosylimine, as the one involving N-hydroxyisoxazoline as the key intermediate.