Organic Positive Materials for Magnesium Batteries: A Review

Magnesium batteries, like lithium-ion batteries, with higher abundance and similar efficiency, have drawn great interest for large-scale applications such as electric vehicles, grid energy storage and many more. On the other hand, the use of organic electrode materials allows high energy-performance, metal-free, environmentally friendly, versatile, lightweight, and economically efficient magnesium storage devices. In particular, the structural diversity and the simple activity of organic molecules make redox properties, and hence battery efficiency, easy to monitor. While organic magnesium batteries still in their infancy, this field becomes more and more promising because significant results were reported. To summarize the achievements in studies on organic cathodes for magnesium systems, their synthesis is discussed, combined with electrode design to provide the basis for controlling the electrochemical properties. Moreover, the techniques to synthesize organic materials with high-yield are mentioned. Finally, potential problems and prospects are explored to further improve organic cathodes.     

Determination of phosphate in hydroponic nutrient solutions using flow injection potentiometry and a cobalt-wire phosphate ion-selective electrode

The direct flow injection potentiometric (FIP) analysis of phosphate in hydroponic nutrient solution has been carried out using a cobalt-wire ion-selective electrode (ISE). Synthetic hydroponic nutrient solution, commercial hydroponic nutrient solution and working hydroponic farm nutrient solution were analysed for phosphate using the FIP technique. It is shown that FIP results compare favourably to standard methods of analysis such as spectrophotometry and indirect photometric ion-pair chromatography. Reproducible FIP response curves with a slope of −(47.57±0.03) mV per decade and intercept of −(169.7±0.1) mV were obtained for four separate calibrations in the concentration range 5.0×10⁻⁴–1.0×10⁻² M H₂PO₄⁻. Anion corrections for interferences by Cl⁻, NO₃⁻ and SO₄²⁻ were applied to all samples using the selectivity coefficients determined independently using a fixed interference method. Nevertheless, it was found that anion corrections were not necessary, as the deviations fell within the bounds of experimental error for the cobalt-wire ISE technique (i.e.±2–5% R.S.D.). The proposed FIP method enables the direct determination of phosphate in hydroponic nutrient solutions.     

Automated capillary electrophoresis with on-line preconcentration by solid phase extraction using a sequential injection manifold and contactless conductivity detection

An extension of a capillary electrophoresis instrument coupled to a sequential injection analysis manifold was developed for automated measurements with on-line solid-phase extraction preconcentration. An in-house built capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detector was employed for sensitive detection with narrow capillaries of 25 μm internal diameter. The system was assembled into standardized 19 in. frames and racks for easy transport and mobile deployment. The system can be left running unattendedly without manual intervention with good operation stability. To demonstrate the application of the system, a method for the determination of four drugs, namely ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen and bezafibrate, was developed with enrichment factors of up to several hundreds. Detection of the drug residues down to the nM-scale was found possible and the method was found suitable for the detection of ibuprofen in the waste water of a hospital in Hanoi.     

Effects of Sludge Concentrations and Different Sponge Configurations on the Performance of a Sponge-Submerged Membrane Bioreactor

The performance of a novel sponge-submerged membrane bioreactor (SSMBR) was evaluated to treat primary treated sewage effluent at three different activated sludge concentrations. Polyurethane sponge cubes with size of 1?×?1?×?1?cm were used as attached growth media in the bioreactor. The results indicated the successful removal of organic carbon and phosphorous with the efficiency higher than 98% at all conditions. Acclimatised sponge MBR showed about 5% better ammonia nitrogen removal at 5 and 10?g/L sludge concentration as compared to the new sponge system. The respiration test revealed that the specific oxygen uptake rate was around 1.0?C3.5?mgO₂/gVSS.h and likely more stable at 10?g/L sludge concentration. The sludge volume index of less than 100?mL/g during the operation indicated the good settling property of the sludge. The low mixed liquor suspended solid increase indicated that SSMBR could control the sludge production. This SSMBR was also successful in reducing membrane fouling with significant lower transmembrane pressure (e.g. only 0.5?kPa/day) compared to the conventional MBR system. Further study will be conducted to optimise other operating conditions.     

Kinetics of the grignard reaction with silanes in diethyl ether and ether-toluene mixtures

Kinetics of the reactions of butylmagnesium chloride and phenylmagnesium bromide with tetraethoxysilane and methyltrichlorosilane was investigated in diethyl ether and diethyl ether-toluene mixtures. Replacement of ether by toluene significantly accelerates the reaction with alkoxysilanes, while no effect was found for the reaction with chlorosilanes. We established that the reaction with alkoxysilanes consists of replacement of a donor molecule at the magnesium center by the silane followed by subsequent rearrangement of the complex to products through a four-center transition state. Chlorosilanes react differently without solvent molecule replacement but also via a four-center transition state. Large negative activation entropies are consistent with formation of cyclic transition states. Small activation enthalpy values together with remarkable exothermicity point to early transition states of the reactions.     

Formation of (E) 1-alkoxy-1,3-butadienes from corresponding propargyl ethers; vicarious nucleophilic substitution in alkoxyallenes

Propargyl ethers treated with dimsyl anion in DMSO at 80-100°C undergo terminal methylenation to afford corresponding (E) 1-alkoxy-1,3-butadienes. The reaction proceeds via an alkoxy-allene.     

Regioselective synthesis of the bridged tricyclic core of Garcinia natural products via intramolecular aryl acrylate cycloadditions

[reaction: see text] Two different routes to the tricyclic core of Garcinia-derived natural products are described. The first approach is based on a tandem Claisen/Diels-Alder rearrangement and delivers the desired lactone 14. The second approach, employing a Wessely oxidation/Diels-Alder protocol, leads to the same caged heterocycle, albeit with modified constitution.     

Neosappanone A, a xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitory dimeric methanodibenzoxocinone with a new carbon skeleton from Caesalpinia sappan

A novel dimeric methanodibenzoxocinone, named neosappanone A (1), possessing a unique unprecedented novel carbon framework, has been isolated from the heartwood of Caesalpinia sappan L. of Vietnam, and its structure was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. Neosappanone A (1) competitively inhibited xanthine oxidase in a concentration-dependent manner (IC₅₀, 29.7 μM; K_i, 16.3 μM).     

Quantitative analysis of precious metals in automotive shredder residue/combustion residue via EDX fluorescence spectrometry

The recovery of precious metals from automotive shredder residue (ASR) dust/combustion residue is an option that is not usually considered due to the lack of available information. Therefore, before any disposal or recovery application can be considered, it is necessary to determine the significance of the levels and distribution of precious metal in ASR dust/ASR combustion residue. In the present study, quantitative analysis of precious metals (Pt, Pd, Au, Ag and Cu) in the ASR residue samples was performed using energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) fluorescence spectrometer. With the fundamental parameter (FP) method, the X-ray intensity is obtained and the quantitative analysis is performed using theoretical calculation. This method is very effective for quantitative analysis of unknown samples without standard samples. Further, in order to analyse the precious metal distribution within the ASR combustion residues, the microstructural characterisation and elemental mapping were also carried out with the aid of field emission scanning election microscopy combined with electron dispersive spectroscopy (FE-SEM EDS). Significant amount of Pt, Pd, Au, Ag and Cu element concentrations in the ASR residue were identified. Total precious (Pt, Pd, Au, Ag and Cu) metals obtainable values are representing about 12.23 wt% from its initial ASR dust/combustion residues. Considering their relevant concentrations, these metals should be properly recovered for recycling purposes before to dispose or landfill.