Effect of some additives on the reactions in fly ASH-Ca(OH)2 system

Differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetry were used to evaluate the effect of some additives, such as CaSO₄, CaCl₂ and silica fume amorphous silica from ferrosilicon synthesis on the mechanism and kinetics of reactions occurring in fly ash-Ca(OH)₂ system. The accelerating role of these additives was demonstrated from the data relating to Ca(OH)₂ consumption in hydrated pastes, determined by TG measurements. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Solid-state synthesis of a conducting polythiophene via an unprecedented heterocyclic coupling reaction

Prolonged storage ( approximately 2 years) or gentle heating (50-80 degrees C) of crystalline 2,5-dibromo-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (DBEDOT) affords a highly conducting, bromine-doped poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), as confirmed by solid-state NMR, FTIR, CV, and vis-NIR spectroscopies. The novel solid-state polymerization (SSP) does not occur for 2,5-dichloro-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (DCEDOT), and requires a much higher temperature (>130 degrees C) for 2,5-diiodo-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (DIEDOT). X-ray structural analysis of the above dihalothiophenes reveals short Hal.Hal distances between adjacent molecules in DBEDOT and DIEDOT, but not in DCEDOT. The polymerization may also occur in the melt but is significantly slower and leads to poorly conductive material. Detailed studies of the reaction were performed using ESR, DSC, microscopy, and gravimetric analyses. SSP starts on crystal defect sites; it is exothermic by 14 kcal/mol and requires activation energy of approximately 26 kcal/mol (for DBEDOT). The temperature dependence of the conductivity of SSP-PEDOT (sigma(rt) = 20-80 S/cm) reveals a slight thermal activation. It can be further increased by a factor of 2 by doping with iodine. Using this approach, thin films of PEDOT with conductivity as high as 20 S/cm were fabricated on insulating flexible plastic surfaces.     

Thermal characterisation of alumina supported chromium and platinum–chromium catalysts

This study presented results on reduction of alumina supported chromium and platinum–chromium catalysts using temperature programmed reduction method (TPR). It has been shown that catalysts after earlier oxidation step but without calcinations one undergo reduction in lower temperature in comparison to calcined only catalysts. Moreover, addition platinum to Cr/Al₂O₃ catalysts also caused decrease of reduction temperature. It has been observed that over the examined catalysts oxidation CO to CO₂ and reduction CO to CH₄ occurs. However, on Pt–Cr catalysts both reactions proceed at lower temperature compare to Cr catalysts.     

Determination of cadmium in urine by platform ET-AAS independent of matrix composition

Summary The optimization of the heating conditions, absorbance profiles, the influence of different matrix composition and the effect of delivering different volumes of urine samples were examined in order to evaluate the use of simple aqueous standards for the determination of cadmium in urine samples, using atomic absorption spectrometry with electrothermal atomization and the L'vov platform. Three reference materials were analysed for cadmium by the proposed method. The results indicate that a direct and accurate determination of urine cadmium is possible by using simple aqueous calibration standards, independently of the composition of the urine matrix.     

Comparative Mössbauer study of high Tc superconductors

¹⁵¹Eu,¹¹⁹Sn and⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy was used to study high T_c superconductors. Mössbauer spectra of Sn substituted EuBa₂Cu₃O_7–y, YBa₂Cu₃O_7–y and TlBaCaCuO_4.5+y as well as of Fe Substituted TlBaCaCuO_4.5+y were compared. The Sn and Fe ions replace the regular Cu positions in the YBa₂Cu₃O_7–y and in TlBaCaCuO_4.5+y materials, fespectively, while the localization of tin atoms in both the¹¹⁹Sn doped EuBa₂Cu₃O_7–y and TlBaCaCuO_4.5+y superconductors is different from that of previous cases. Up to our knowledge, this is the first publication on a Mössbauer study of a Tl-containing superconductor.     

Electroanalysis at modified carbon-paste electrodes containing natural ionic polysaccharides

The strong affinity of natural ionic polysaccharides for certain metal ions is exploited in the design of a new class of voltammetric sensing devices. In particular, carbon-paste electrodes containing pectic and alginic acids are used for the nonelectrolytic collection and subsequent voltammetric determination of copper and lead, respectively. Cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry are used to quantify the accumulated ions. The response is characterized with respect to modifier loading, preconcentration period, metal concentration, reproducibility, possible interferences and other variables. Titrimetric experiments illustrate the potential of polysaccharide electrodes for speciation work. Preliminary data are also given for analogous measurements of copper at heparin-modified electrodes. Detection limits are 1 mug/ml and the relative standard deviation is 4.8%.     

4-Oxo-3-oxa-6,7-diazabicyclo[3.3.0]oct-6-ene and its isomerization

A product of addition of diazomethane to the double bond of crotonolactone — ¹-pyrazolinolactone — was obtained, and its isomerization to ²-pyrazolino-lactone in dry chloroform in the presence of triethylamine was studied. The structures of the compounds were confirmed by elementary analysis and the IR, UV, and PMR spectra.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 12, pp. 1610–1612, December, 1977.     

A new photoionization detector for gas chromatography

Summary A new photoionization detector for gas chromatography is discribed. The source of vacuum ultra-violet (VUV) radiation is separated from the ionization chamber by a window and thus the ionization chamber may be run at atmospheric pressure using an intense source of ionizing radiation. The operation consequently is improved and considerably simplified. Except for a ten times reduction in linearity, the performance characteristics of the detector are comparable to those of the flame ionization detector. Filtration of the VUV radiation allows the selectivity to be varied without affecting the dynamic properties of the detector.Z. ternberg, N. Ostoji, Yug. Pat. Appl.     

Co-deposition of Copper and Tin from Acidic Sulfate Solutions Containing Polyether Laprol 2402C: The Effect of Halides

Voltammetry and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data show micromolar amounts of halides to noticeably affect co-deposition of copper and tin from acidic sulfate solutions containing polyether Laprol 2402C as the surface-active substance. The reduction of Cu(II) slows down and that of Sn(II) accelerates in the series Cl^– < Br^– < I^–. Compounds on the surface of bronze coatings are oxides of Cu(I) and Sn(II) and halides of Cu(I).     

Synthesis of macrocyclic aliphatic disulfide oligomers from dithiols by oxidative coupling with oxygen using a copper‐amine catalyst

A new effective method is provided for the synthesis of macrocyclic aliphatic disulfide oligomers by catalytic oxidation of aliphatic dithiols with oxygen in the presence of a copper‐amine catalyst. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.