In situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy as an efficient tool for determination of reaction kinetics

The performance of new FTIR-based monitoring technology to representatively determine reaction kinetics has been demonstrated on an example of homogeneously catalyzed liquid-phase sucrose hydrolysis to fructose and glucose. The reaction kinetics were investigated by using the ReactIR 1000 reaction analysis system, which enables determination of the component concentration from its characteristic FTIR spectrum. During the sucrose inversion, the ReactIR 1000 instrument connected to a computer controlled standard glass batch reactor provided the required operating conditions and information about the component concentration in real-time. We have studied the influence of hydrogen ion concentration, temperature and initial concentration of sucrose on the sucrose disappearance rate. It was found out that the inversion of sucrose is an irreversible reaction, which is not affected by the formation of fructose and glucose in the liquid-phase. Then, the parameters of the kinetic model (i.e., reaction rate constant and activation energy) were calculated. A comparison of the model output and the measured data showed that the kinetics of the sucrose inversion could be well described by means of the pseudo first-order kinetic model. Finally, the method of determining the kinetic model by FTIR spectroscopy was verified by comparing the results obtained in the batch reactor with the results obtained in the continuously stirred tank reactor.     

Present state and future development of instrumental techniques for solution thermochemical (thermometric) analysis

A review of instruments for thermochemical (thermometric) solution analysis is given, including new types of isoperibol reaction of bomb calorimeters, the design of which can influence the future development of thermochemical measuring techniques. The new type of Dithermanal (Vaskut-EMG, Hungary, and Herrmann- Morris, France) controls the individual steps of the thermochemical analysis, adding memory and computing capabilities. Similar programming units with microprocessors for bomb and/or reaction calorimetry have been developed by Parr Comp. and Leco Comp. (USA). The latest modification of the Technicon flow analyzer permits on-line analysis of solid samples. For thermochemical titrations, the Sanda titrator (USA) and Vaskut automatic titrator (Hungary) are available. In the USA, the Tronac isothermal or isoperibol calorimeters are widely used. At the Technical University of Brno, ?SSR, smaller table instruments with a water-bath are applied for different modes of solution thermochemical analysis, and also for the reactions of solid samples in liquids. For the measurement of very small temperature differences, PTC thermistors are used. The possibilities of the future development of measuring techniques are outlined.     

Author index

The thermal decomposition of N₂H₅Nd(SO₄)₂·H₂O has been studied by simultaneous TG and DSC and by isothermal weight change determination. The final product and the intermediate phases have been identified by chemical analysis, X-ray powder patterns and infrared spectroscopy. The solid phases in the decomposition sequence are: N₂H₅Nd(SO₄)₂· H₂O → N₂H₅Nd(SO₄)₂ → NH₄Nd(SO₄)₂ → Nd₂(SO₄)₃. The reactions overlap under dynamicconditions, isothermally, however, NH₄Nd(SO₄)₂ can be obtained by 200°C.     

Strukturelle Untersuchungen einiger neutraler Komplexe des zweiwertigen Molybdäns

Unit cell parameters have been calculated from x-ray powder diffraction data of Mo₂Br₄ Py ₄ (A), Mo₂I₄ Py ₄ (B), Mo₂I₄ Pic ₄ (C), Mo₂(SCN)₄ Py ₄ (D) and Mo₂(SCN)₄ Pic ₄ (E), A, B and C crystallize tetragonal. A witha=9,4₂,c=15,O₂ Å; B witha=9,4₆,c=14,9₈ Å and C witha=9,6₆ andc=15,7₂ Å D and E crystallize orthorhombic. D witha=10,0₉,b=9,1₄,c=15,0₈ Å; E witha=10,2₂,b=9,4₁ andc=15,1₅ Å.Py=pyridine,Pic=4-methylpyridine.

     

Determination of cadmium in mixtures with metal ions

A method for the determination of cadmium microamounts in mixtures with metallic ions withE _1/2 near toE _1/2 of cadmium is discussed. For higher selectivity cadmium was extracted in the form of the pyridin-thiocyanate complexes prior to polarography.

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Bestimmung von Cadmium(II) neben anderen Metallionen

Zusammenfassung Es wird eine polarographische Methode zur Bestimmung von Cd(II) neben anderen Metallionen mitE _1/2 naheE _1/2(Cd) diskutiert. Zur Erhöhung der Selektivität und Genauigkeit wird eine Pyridin-Thiocyanat-Extraktion vorgeschalten.

     

Global Forcing Number of Benzenoid Graphs

A global forcing set in a simple connected graph G with a perfect matching is any subset S of E(G) such that the restriction of the characteristic function of perfect matchings of G on S is an injection. The number of edges in a global forcing set of the smallest cardinality is called the global forcing number of G. In this paper we prove several results concerning global forcing sets and numbers of benzenoid graphs. In particular, we prove that all catacondensed benzenoids and catafused coronoids with n hexagons have the global forcing number equal to n, and that for pericondensed benzenoids the global forcing number is always strictly smaller than the number of hexagons.     

Investigation of the Declared Value of Selenium in Food Supplements by HG-AFS

The method of hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG-AFS) was optimised for determination of selenium in food supplements. Due to the high and varied content of Cu, Mg and Zn in the samples, the standard addition method was found to be the most appropriate. The reliability of the method was checked by the independent method of radiochemical neutron activation analysis, and good agreement was found between the two methods. HG-AFS is simple and rapid for Se determination in food supplements based on minerals. Agreement between the selenium values found and declared was worse than 10% in 9 out of 13 supplements. Furthermore, 2 of the 14 supplements did not comply with the recommendations stated in the 27^th edition of the U.S. Pharmacopoeia, which states that minerals and vitamins in food supplements should be in the range of 90 and 200% of the declared value.     

Forms of vibrations and structural changes in liquid state

Summary The forms of vibrations and displacements of particles in amorphous structures have been investigated. The particles, moving on highly non-linear amplitude, are responsible for the creation of disordered structures of amorphous bodies. The non-linear oscillators, even if 'few' in concentration, are characterized by unpredictable trajectories in phase space. The non-linear oscillators are fully developed in the liquid state above the crossover temperature T_cr and between T_cr and T_g their number decreases. Under T_g they completely disappear. The interconnection between the linear oscillators in blocks plays the most important role in the characteristic time spectra in liquid state. Using the additive properties of elements polarizibilities, the number of acoustical units in individual blocks at T_cr is estimated to be about 600 units. The diameter of blocks at T_cr was estimated to be about 1.8 nm. Even if the non-linear high amplitude motions disappear at solidification, the remnants of structural irregularity remain and the disordered structure of glass is formed.     

Synthesis and fluorescent properties of some new unsymmetricbis-benzothiazolyl furans and thiophenes

Summary Some newmono- andbis-benzothiazolyl compounds with furan or thiophene nuclei were synthesized by multistep reactions from the corresponding furan and thiophene aldehydes. The data obtained from emission spectra show a large influence of the benzothiazole rings on the relative quantum efficiency of the compounds under investigation.

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Synthese und Fluoreszenzeigenschaften von neuen unsymmetrischenbis-Benzothiazolylfuranen und thiophenen

Zusammenfassung Einige neuebis-Benzothiazolylverbindungen mit einem Furan- bzw. Thiophenenring wurden in einer mehrstufigen Reaktion dargestellt. Die Fluoreszenzdaten der untersuchten Verbindungen zeigen einen großen Einfluß der Benzothiazolringe auf die relative Fluoreszenzquantenausbeute.

     

Photocatalytic TiO2 Coatings: Effect of Substrate and Template

Summary. Transparent TiO₂ films with a high photodegradation activity towards an azo dye in aqueous solution were prepared by sol–gel processing. Films on soda–lime glass supports protected with a thin silica barrier layer exhibited better crystallization and monodisperse nanoparticles, higher absorption of light below 370 nm, and higher photocatalytic activity than those films deposited on bare glass supports proving the detrimental effect of interdiffused sodium ions on the development of the anatase nanostructure. The effect of substrate was more pronounced in thinner films (300 nm) than in thicker ones (1200 nm), which were achieved by adding a template (i.e. Pluronic F127) to the sol.