Relationship between temperature-programmed reduction profile and activity of modified ferrite-based catalysts for WGS reaction

A series of modified ferrites were prepared by doping iron oxide with various transition/non-transition/inner-transition metal ions [M = Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and Ce] in situ during synthesis. All the modified ferrites thus obtained exhibit remarkably high surface areas, greater than that of pure iron oxide (Fe₂O₃) sample. The efficacy of the dopant ions in modifying the resultant specific surface area, could be directly related to variations in the rate of crystal growth. The nature and concentration of the foreign cations present in the system govern this variation. Interestingly all the modified ferrites, exhibit a narrow pore size distribution in the range of 4.9–25 nm. XRD analysis revealed the existence of hematite (Fe₂O₃) phase in all the as-prepared samples. The X-ray diffraction experiments performed on activated catalysts, confirmed the existence of magnetite (Fe₃O₄) phase with a nominal composition of Fe_2.73M_0.27O₄. These inverse or mixed spinels with general formula A_(1−δ)B_δ[A_δB_(2−δ)]O₄, possess highly facile Fe³⁺  Fe²⁺ redox couple, the degree of facileness depends on the extent of synergistic interaction between iron and the other substitutent metal ion. The rapid electron hopping between Fe³⁺  Fe²⁺ in the Fe₃O₄ lattice system is essential to catalyze WGS reaction. From TPR it was observed that, incorporation of metal cations into the hematite (-Fe₂O₃) crystal structure alters the reducibility of the hematite particles, which in turn depends on the nature of the incorporated metal cation. A plausible explanation for the WGS activity over various modified ferrites has been attempted with the help of TPR analysis.     

Modeling the interplay of inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonding in conformational polymorphs

The predicted stability differences of the conformational polymorphs of oxalyl dihydrazide and ortho-acetamidobenzamide are unrealistically large when the modeling of intermolecular energies is solely based on the isolated-molecule charge density, neglecting charge density polarization. Ab initio calculated crystal electron densities showed qualitative differences depending on the spatial arrangement of molecules in the lattice with the greatest variations observed for polymorphs that differ in the extent of inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonding. We show that accounting for induction dramatically alters the calculated stability order of the polymorphs and reduces their predicted stability differences to be in better agreement with experiment. Given the challenges in modeling conformational polymorphs with marked differences in hydrogen bonding geometries, we performed an extensive periodic density functional study with a range of exchange-correlation functionals using both atomic and plane wave basis sets. Although such electronic structure methods model the electrostatic and polarization contributions well, the underestimation of dispersion interactions by current exchange-correlation functionals limits their applicability. The use of an empirical dispersion-corrected density functional method consistently reduces the structural deviations between the experimental and energy minimized crystal structures and achieves plausible stability differences. Thus, we have established which types of models may give worthwhile relative energies for crystal structures and other condensed phases of flexible molecules with intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonding capabilities, advancing the possibility of simulation studies on polymorphic pharmaceuticals.     

Synthesis of caffeic acid and p-hydroxybenzoic acid molecularly imprinted polymers and their application for the selective extraction of polyphenols from olive mill waste waters

Using caffeic acid and p-hydroxybenzoic acid as templates, two molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were prepared that were used for isolation of polyphenols from olive mill waste water samples (OMWWs) without previous pre-treatment. For the preparation of the caffeic acid MIPs 4-vinylpyridine, allylurea, allylaniline and methacrylic acid were tested as functional monomers, ethylene glycol dimethylacrylate (EDMA), pentaerythritol trimethylacrylate (PETRA) and divinylbenzene 80 (DVB80) as cross-linkers and tetrahydrofuran as porogen. For p-hydroxybenzoic acid 4-vinylpyridine, allylurea and allylaniline were tested as functional monomers, EDMA and PETRA as cross-linkers and acetonitrile as porogen. The performance of the synthesized polymers was evaluated against seven structurally related compounds by means of polymer-based HPLC. The two polymers that presented the most interesting properties were further evaluated by batch rebinding and from the derived isotherms their capacity and binding strength were determined. Using solid-phase extraction (SPE), their ability to recognize and bind the template molecule from an aqueous solution as well as the pH dependence of the binding strength were explored. After establishing the best SPE protocol, an aqueous model mixture of compounds and a raw OMWWs sample were loaded on the two best polymers. The result of the consecutive use of the two polymers on the same sample was explored. It was concluded that acidic conditions favour the recognition abilities of both polymers and that they can be used for a quick and efficient isolation of the polyphenol fraction directly from raw OMWW.     

A classification of isometry groups of homogeneous 3‐manifolds

We classify pairs where M is a 3‐dimensional simply connected smooth manifold and G a Lie group acting on M transitively, effectively with compact isotropy group.     

Lecithin organogels used as bioactive compounds carriers. A microdomain properties investigation

Organogels were obtained by adding small amounts of water to a solution of lecithin in organic solvents. Either isooctane or isopropyl palmitate and isopropyl myristate were used as the continuous organic phase of the gels. EPR spectroscopy using both DSA membrane-sensitive and lipophilic spin probes was applied to define the dynamic structure of the surfactant monolayer and the continuous oil phase of lecithin organogels. It was found that by increasing the water quantity, an increase of the polar head area per lecithin molecule was induced, and as a consequence the total interface expanded. It was found that the use of esters as organic solvents induced a decrease of the size of the dispersed structures. The interconnection of the aqueous microdomains and their dynamics were monitored by both static and time-resolved fluorescence quenching spectroscopy using Ru(bipy)32+ as fluorophore and Fe(CN)63- as quencher. It was found that the rates of inter- and/or intra-micellar exchange of water molecules were very slow because they appeared quite immobilized close to the lecithin polar heads. According to the results of the dynamic studies, appropriate organogels were formulated and used to incorporate model bioactive compounds with medicinal or cosmetic interest such as caffeine and theophylline. When these systems were tested for trans-membrane diffusion, they showed a 24 h permeation of 20% and 35%, respectively.     

Targeting SARS-CoV-2 Polymerase with New Nucleoside Analogues

Despite the fact that COVID-19 vaccines are already available on the market, there have not been any effective FDA-approved drugs to treat this disease. There are several already known drugs that through drug repositioning have shown an inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. These drugs are included in the family of nucleoside analogues. In our efforts, we synthesized a group of new nucleoside analogues, which are modified at the sugar moiety that is replaced by a quinazoline entity. Different nucleobase derivatives are used in order to increase the inhibition. Five new nucleoside analogues were evaluated with in vitro assays for targeting polymerase of SARS-CoV-2.     

Methodological Fallacies in the Determination of Serum/Plasma Glutathione Limit Its Translational Potential in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

This study aimed to review and critically appraise the current methodological issues undermining the suitability of the measurement of serum/plasma glutathione, both in the total and reduced form, as a measure of systemic oxidative stress in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Fourteen relevant articles published between 2001 and 2020, in 2003 subjects, 1111 COPD patients, and 892 controls, were reviewed. Nine studies, in 902 COPD patients and 660 controls, measured glutathione (GSH) in the reduced form (rGSH), while the remaining five, in 209 COPD patients and 232 controls, measured total GSH (tGSH). In the control group, tGSH ranged between 5.7 and 7.5 µmol/L, whilst in COPD patients, it ranged between 4.5 and 7.4 µmol/L. The mean tGSH was 6.6 ± 0.9 µmol/L in controls and 5.9 ± 1.4 µmol/L in patients. The concentrations of rGSH in the control group showed a wide range, between 0.47 and 415 µmol/L, and a mean value of 71.9 ± 143.1 µmol/L. Similarly, the concentrations of rGSH in COPD patients ranged between 0.49 and 279 µmol/L, with a mean value of 49.9 ± 95.9 µmol/L. Pooled tGSH concentrations were not significantly different between patients and controls (standard mean difference (SMD) = −1.92, 95% CI −1582 to 0.0219; p = 0.057). Depending on whether the mean concentrations of rGSH in controls were within the accepted normal range of 0.5–5.0 µmol/L, pooled rGSH concentrations showed either a significant (SMD = −3.8, 95% CI −2.266 to −0.709; p < 0.0001) or nonsignificant (SMD = −0.712, 95% CI −0.627 to 0.293; p = 0.48) difference. These results illustrate the existing and largely unaddressed methodological issues in the interpretation of the serum/plasma concentrations of tGSH and rGSH in COPD.     

分级骨架和多层的Pt-Ni纳米晶体用于高效氧还原和甲醇氧化反应

燃料电池是电动汽车和电子设备最有前途的清洁能源之一.Pt催化剂在氧还原反应(ORR)和甲醇氧化反应(MOR)中的电催化性能对电池系统的能源效率和电池的价格起着至关重要的作用,因此设计高效的电催化剂以最大限度地提高铂的利用率,从而增强电催化效果、降低成本,已经成为燃料电池发展的一个重要方向.早期的研究表明,铂基催化剂可以有效地提高电催化性能,并且它们的组成和形貌被认为是影响催化剂活性的两个关键因素.至今,已合成出各种各样的Pt基催化剂,如Pt-Pb/Pt核壳纳米盘、Pt3Co凹面立方体、Pt-Cu-Rh纳米笼、Pt-Pd纳米枝晶等,其中纳米枝晶结构的催化剂表现出很好的氧还原性能,其高效的催化活性被认为是暴露出的较高的比表面积促进了电子转移以及拥有较多的Pt活性位点.本文采用简单的溶剂热法合成了具有大比表面积的Pt-Ni分层骨架结构(Pt-Ni HSNs)催化剂,为了验证反应物所起的作用,通过收集不同反应时间下的产物和控制单一变量,我们发现在合成配方中加入H2SO4是此类Pt-Ni纳米晶体成功生长的关键触发因素.在H2SO4的诱导下,Pt和Ni原子倾向于沉积在(111)面,促使Pt-Ni合金沿晶面方向生长为八面体结构,在此过程中发生了粒子自组装成长以及相分离过程,最后我们用酸蚀法制造了Pt-Ni HSNs,并通过TEM,XRD和XPS表征其微观结构及组成,证实了Pt-Ni HSNs已经形成合金结构.在酸性条件下,Pt-Ni HSNs在ORR反应中展示出比商业Pt/C更好的活性.在0.9 V时的质量活性为1.25 A mgpt–1,是商业Pt/C质量活性的8.9倍,并且在10000圈的耐久性测试中,Pt-Ni HSNs的质量活性仅仅损失了21.6％,远低于Pt/C损失的活性比例.Tafel曲线和旋转环盘测试结果表明,Pt-Ni HSNs在ORR反应中发生的是4电子过程,证实了它的高活性.另外,在酸性溶液中,Pt-Ni HSNs表现出了比商业Pt/C更好的MOR催化活性,且抗CO中毒能力更强.这可归因于两点:(1)Pt-Ni HSNs是由多个小颗粒组装而成,大大提高了与电解液的接触面积;(2)它独特的骨架结构减少了颗粒间团聚的可能性,有利于质子的转移.本文为设计先进的铂基电催化剂提供了一种新的自组装方法.     

分级骨架和多层的Pt-Ni纳米晶体用于高效氧还原和甲醇氧化反应

燃料电池是电动汽车和电子设备最有前途的清洁能源之一.Pt催化剂在氧还原反应(ORR)和甲醇氧化反应(MOR)中的电催化性能对电池系统的能源效率和电池的价格起着至关重要的作用,因此设计高效的电催化剂以最大限度地提高铂的利用率,从而增强电催化效果、降低成本,已经成为燃料电池发展的一个重要方向.早期的研究表明,铂基催化剂可以有效地提高电催化性能,并且它们的组成和形貌被认为是影响催化剂活性的两个关键因素.至今,已合成出各种各样的Pt基催化剂,如Pt-Pb/Pt核壳纳米盘、Pt3Co凹面立方体、Pt-Cu-Rh纳米笼、Pt-Pd纳米枝晶等,其中纳米枝晶结构的催化剂表现出很好的氧还原性能,其高效的催化活性被认为是暴露出的较高的比表面积促进了电子转移以及拥有较多的Pt活性位点.本文采用简单的溶剂热法合成了具有大比表面积的Pt-Ni分层骨架结构(Pt-Ni HSNs)催化剂,为了验证反应物所起的作用,通过收集不同反应时间下的产物和控制单一变量,我们发现在合成配方中加入H2SO4是此类Pt-Ni纳米晶体成功生长的关键触发因素.在H2SO4的诱导下,Pt和Ni原子倾向于沉积在(111)面,促使Pt-Ni合金沿晶面方向生长为八面体结构,在此过程中发生了粒子自组装成长以及相分离过程,最后我们用酸蚀法制造了Pt-Ni HSNs,并通过TEM,XRD和XPS表征其微观结构及组成,证实了Pt-Ni HSNs已经形成合金结构.在酸性条件下,Pt-Ni HSNs在ORR反应中展示出比商业Pt/C更好的活性.在0.9 V时的质量活性为1.25 A mgpt–1,是商业Pt/C质量活性的8.9倍,并且在10000圈的耐久性测试中,Pt-Ni HSNs的质量活性仅仅损失了21.6％,远低于Pt/C损失的活性比例.Tafel曲线和旋转环盘测试结果表明,Pt-Ni HSNs在ORR反应中发生的是4电子过程,证实了它的高活性.另外,在酸性溶液中,Pt-Ni HSNs表现出了比商业Pt/C更好的MOR催化活性,且抗CO中毒能力更强.这可归因于两点:(1)Pt-Ni HSNs是由多个小颗粒组装而成,大大提高了与电解液的接触面积;(2)它独特的骨架结构减少了颗粒间团聚的可能性,有利于质子的转移.本文为设计先进的铂基电催化剂提供了一种新的自组装方法.     

An empirical model for stagnation pressure gain in rotating detonation combustors

This work investigates the stagnation pressure gain in rotating detonation combustors (RDC) and its dependency on the geometry and mass flux of the combustor. Using a Kiel probe to directly measure stagnation pressure in the high-enthalpy exhaust stream, results are presented for a systematic variation of these parameters. The best-performing configuration achieved a pressure gain of ?8%. A comparison with thrust-based equivalent available pressure data from literature shows that the Kiel probe measurements are in good agreement. It is observed that pressure gain increases with increasing air injector area, decreasing outlet throat area, increasing combustor mass flux, and is seen to be dependent on the operating mode. The data are then used to obtain an empirical model that describes pressure gain as a function of the three variables of injector area ratio, outlet area ratio, and combustor mass flux. The model is compared with measurements in this combustor and others, and is used to predict the pressure gain boundaries and to assess design corridors that potentially achieve positive pressure gain.