Thiophene adsorption and activation on MoP(001), gamma-Mo2N(100), and Ni2P(001): density functional theory studies

The adsorption and dissociation of thiophene on the MoP(001), gamma-Mo(2)N(100), and Ni(2)P(001) surfaces have been computed by using the density functional theory method. It is found that thiophene adsorbs dissociatively on MoP(001), while nondissociatively on gamma-Mo(2)N(100) and Ni(2)P(001). On MoP(001), the dissociation of the C-S bonds is favored both thermodynamically and kinetically, while the break of the first C-S bond on gamma-Mo(2)N(100) has an energy barrier of 1.58 eV and is endothermic by 0.73 eV. On Ni(2)P(001) there are Ni(3)P(2)- and Ni(3)P-terminated surfaces. On the Ni(3)P(2)-terminated surface, the dissociation of the C-S bonds of adsorbed thiophene is endothermic, while it is exothermic on the Ni(3)P-terminated surface.     

Evaluation of Se(IV) removal from aqueous solution by GMZ Na-bentonite: batch experiment and modeling studies

Bentonite has been studied extensively because of its strong sorption and complexation ability. In this work, the sorption of Se(IV) on purified GMZ bentonite was investigated under ambient temperature as functions of contact time, pH, Se(IV) concentration and co-existing ion Eu(III) using batch techniques. Sorption kinetics of Se(IV) was successfully described by the pseudo-second-order rate equation. The sorption amount of Se(IV) was strongly dependent on the solution pH, and a positive effect was observed on Se(IV) and Eu(III) co-sorption when these two elements existed in the same system under high surface coverage of sorbent. Double layer model was set up and used to quantitatively interpret the sorption experimental data collected in binary and ternary sorption systems. From the experimental results, one can conclude that GMZ bentonite may have good potentialities for immobilizing selenium in nuclear wastes.     

Two new cyano-bridged Cu(II)-Fe(II) complexes: Synthesis and crystal structures

Two new cyano-bridged Cu(II)-Fe(II) binuclear complexes, [Cu(L¹)Fe(CN)₅(NO)] (I) [L¹ = 1,3,6,8,11,14-hexaazatricyclo[12.2.1.1^8,11]octadecane and [Cu(L²)Fe(CN)₅(NO)] · 2H₂O (II) L² = 1,3,6,9,11,14-hexaazatricyclo[12.2.1.1^6,9]octadecane, have been assembled and structurally characterized by spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. Complex I crystallizes in the monoclinic crystalline system of space group P2₁/c, while complex II crystallizes in the monoclinic crystalline system of space group P2₁/n. These two complexes assume a binuclear structure in which the Fe²⁺ ion is in an octahedron environment and the Cu²⁺ ion is in a square-prism geometry environment.     

Crystal structures and electrochemical properties of two Mn(II) 2-sulfoterephthalate complexes with N-donor ligands

Two Mn(II) sulfoterephthalate complexes, [Mn(HStp)(o-Phen)₂] (I) and [Mn(HStp)(2,2′-Bipy)₂] (II) (H₃Stp = 2-sulfoterephthalic acid, o-Phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, 2,2′-Bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine), were synthesized under hydrothermal condition. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses reveal that complexes I and II possess similar structure, in which the center Mn²⁺ ions are hexa-coordinated with one Hstpanion and two N-donor ligands. For both of them, the formation of 3D supramolecular structures are based on both H-bonds and π...π/C-H...π stacking interactions. Electrochemical properties of complexes I and II have been investigated by means of cyclic voltmetry, which shows that electron transfer between Mn(III) and Mn(II) in electrolysis is quasi-reversible process.     

Switchable dielectric permittivity with temperature and Dc-bias in a semifluorinated azobenzene derivative

The thermodynamic, optical, structural, and dynamic properties of the semifluorinated (E)-1-(4-octylphenyl)-2-(4-(perfluorooctyl)phenyl)diazene (4) and the corresponding (E)-1,2-bis(4-octylphenyl)diazene (5) have been studied with differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and dielectric spectroscopy. 4 combines the azobenzene properties with the fluorophobic effect and gives rise to a responsive material with a temperature and dc-bias-driven switchable dielectric permittivity within the narrower nematic phase. This is caused by the nematic potential that inevitably brings some fluorocarbon chains in proximity to the hydrocarbon chains from adjacent molecules. Frustration is alleviated by reducing the nematic-to-isotropic transition temperature and by increasing the crystalline-to-nematic transition temperature, thus limiting the stability of the nematic phase. Unlike the normal isotropic phase of compound 5, the isotropic phase of compound 4 contains dipoles with short-range orientation correlations. Optimizing the type of interactions may result in materials with applications as molecular switches and electrooptic devices.     

稀土吸附剂城市污水深度除磷

采用以分子筛为载体、负载镧制成复合吸附剂对城市污水进行深度除磷.实验结果表明:研制的稀土吸附剂适于处理弱酸性废水.对于城市污水含磷浓度为1.0 mg·L-1,当pH值3～7,吸附剂的投加量在0.06 g·L-1,吸附3 h时,磷的去除率可达99.5%,出水pH值在6.0～8.5之间.     

The Application of TD/GC/NICI–MS with an Al2O3-PLOT-S Column for the Determination of Perfluoroalkylcycloalkanes in the Atmosphere

A modified method for the quantitative determination of atmospheric perfluoroalkylcycloalkanes (PFCs) using thermal desorption coupled with gas chromatography and detection by negative ion chemical ionization–mass spectrometry was developed. Using an optimized analytical system, a commercially available Al₂O₃ porous layer open tubular (PLOT) capillary column (30 m × 0.25 mm) deactivated with Na₂SO₄ was used for separation of PFCs. Improvements in the separation of PFCs, the corresponding identification and the limit of detection of PFCs using this method and column are presented. The method was successfully applied to determine the atmospheric background concentrations of a range of PFCs from a number of samples collected at a rural site in Germany. The results of this study suggest that the method outlined using the Al₂O₃-PLOT-S capillary column has good sensitivity and selectivity, and that it can be deployed in a routine laboratory process for the analysis of PFCs in the future research work. In addition, the ability of this column to separate the isomers of one of the lower boiling PFCs (perfluorodimethylcyclobutane) and its ability to resolve perfluoroethylcyclohexane offer the opportunity for single-column analysis for multiple PFCs.     

Cellulosic nanocomposite membranes from hydroxypropyl cellulose reinforced by cellulose nanocrystals

Cellulosic nanocomposite membranes were prepared by incorporation of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) into a hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) matrix using a mixing/evaporation technique. CNCs were obtained from filter paper using the sulfuric acid hydrolysis method with the aid of ultrasonication. The relationship between the microstructure and mechanical properties of the CNCs/HPC nanocomposite membranes was studied. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the CNCs were well dispersed in the HPC matrix, and the fracture surface demonstrated a fibrous characteristic. With increasing CNCs content, the tensile strength and Young’s modulus of the CNCs/HPC nanocomposite membranes gradually increased. At 5 wt% content of CNCs, the strength was increased by 525 % and the Young’s modulus by 124 % compared with pure HPC membrane. Moreover, the effect of the phase change of HPC on the mechanical properties of the CNCs_5wt%/HPC nanocomposite membranes and the corresponding mechanism were also studied.