Crystallization,crystal-structure refinement,and IR spectroscopy of a synthetic hexahydroborite analog

The crystal structure of the hexahydroborite analog Ca[B(OH)₄]₂ · 2H₂O (a = 7.9941(3) Å, b = 6.6321(2) Å, c = 7.9871(3) Å, β = 104.166(4)°, V = 410.58(3) ų, sp. gr. P2/c, Z = 2, ρ_calc = 1.891 g/cm³; Xcalibur S CCD automated diffractometer, 1196 reflections with I > 2σ(I), λMoK _α), which was synthesized by the hydrothermal method via the recrystallization of calciborite CaB₂O₄ (M) in the M ? B₂O₃ ? H₂O system (t = 250°C and P = 70–80 atm), was refined by the least-squares method with anisotropic displacement parameters (H atoms were located; R ₁ = 0.0260). The structure of synthetic hexahydroborite consists of infinite columns running along the c axis. The columns are formed by Ca polyhedra linked together and to [B(OH)₄] orthotetrahedra by sharing edges. Along the two other axes, the translationally equivalent columns are linked only by hydrogen bonds. The presence of a stronger bond between the discrete (Ca-B-O) columns along the shortest (b = 6.6 Å) axis accounts for the possibility of the shift of the columns by 1/2T _b and the formation of the second modification of Ca[B(OH)₄]₂ · 2H₂O. The crystals of synthetic hexahydroborite were studied by IR spectroscopy. A crystal-chemical analysis was performed for a series of natural metaborates with the general formula CaB₂O₄ · nH₂O (CaO: B₂O₃ = 1: 1, n = 0–6), including calciborite CaB₂O₄ and hexahydroborite CaB₂O₄ · 6H₂O as the end members.     

Crystal structure of Rb-elpasolite Rb2NaAlF6

Single crystals of Rb₂NaAlF₆, the Rb analogue of the mineral elpasolite, are obtained in the NaF-Rb₂CO₃-Al₂O₃-Rb₃PO₄-H₂O system under hydrothermal conditions, and their structure is determined by X-ray diffraction (R = 0.0188): a = 8.3087(1) Å, space group $Fm\bar 3m$ , Z = 4, and ρ_calcd = 3.88 g/cm³. The hypothesis that Rb elpasolite exists in nature in late associations of pegmatites enriched in rubidium is proposed.     

Quantum - Chemical Study of the Relation Between Electronic Structure and IR Spectra of Neutral Molecules,Anion - Radicals,and Dianions of Aromatic Nitriles

The relation between the IR data and the quantum-chemical indices. calculated by the CNDO/2 method has been studied. The linear relationship between the experimentally measured °C≡N and the corresponding Wiberg bond index (W_C≡N) has been found for the series of conjugated nitriles including neutral molecules. anion - radicals and dianions.

The changes in the intensity of the stretching C≡N vibration on transition from a neutral molecule into anion - radical and dianion have been investigated by the CNDO/2 method. The calculated values for δμ/δQ_CN show that in the order: neutral molecule, anion - radical and dianion the IR intensity of the stretching C≡N vibration significantly increases.     

Poly(propylene imine) dendrimer complexes as catalysts for oxidation of alkenes

Complexes of poly(propylene imine) dendrimers D8[DAB-dendr-(NH₂)₈] and D32 [DAB-dendr-(NH₂)₃₂] were prepared by interaction of the dendrimers with transition metal salts such as FeCl₃.6H₂O; CoCl₂.6H₂O; CuCl₂.2H₂O; VOSO₄.5H₂O; Na₂MoO₄.2H₂O and Na₂WO₄.2H₂O at room temperature in aqueous solutions. The content of metal ions in the complexes was found to be from 8.2 to 69.6 mg metal ion/g polymer carrier. The complexes were characterized by using IR, UV-VIS, Moessbauer spectroscopy and EPR. The anticipated co-ordination structure of the compounds was suggested. It was found that the order of the catalytic activity of the complexes of poly(propylene imine) dendrimers D8 and D32 in the reaction of epoxidation of cyclohexene with organic hydroperoxides such as tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP), ethylbenzene hydroperoxide (EBHP) and cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) was as follows: D32-MoО₂²⁺>D32-VО²⁺>D32-WО₂²⁺ > D32-Co²⁺ > D32-Cu²⁺>D32-Fe³⁺. The order of reactivity of organic hydroperoxides in the reaction studied was: t-BHP > EBHP > CHP.     

The first layer potassium–bismuth-nickel oxophosphate KBi<Subscript>4</Subscript>Ni<Subscript>2</Subscript>(PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>: Synthesis,crystal structure,and expected magnetic properties

The new potassium–bismuth–nickel oxophosphate obtained by hydrothermal synthesis in the Bi(OH)₃–NiCO₃–K₂CO₃–K₃PO₄ system is studied by X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. Parameters of the orthorhombic cell are as follows: a = 13.632(1) Å, b = 19.610(2) Å, and c = 5.4377(3) Å; V = 1452.64(2) ų; and space group Pnma. The structure is solved and refined to the final discrepancy factor R ₁ = 5.76% in the anisotropic approximation of atomic displacements using 3606 reflections with I > 2σ(I). The crystal-chemical formula (Z = 4) is KBi₄{Ni₂O₄(PO₄)₃}, where the composition of the layer nickel–phosphate polyanion is enclosed in braces. Theoretical calculations show that all exchange spin interactions between Ni²⁺ ions are antiferromagnetic and very weak (J < 0.1 cm^–1) because of the polyatomic character of bridging Ni–O–P–O–Ni and Ni–O–Bi–O–Ni groups. Thus, this compound is expected to be paramagnetic with very weak antiferromagnetic exchange interactions and appreciable energy of zero-field splitting of the spin levels of Ni²⁺ ions.     

Structure and nonlinear optical properties of the family of lead and barium nonaborates with a zeolite-like framework

The structures of new nonaborates, (Pb,Ba)₃(OH)[B₉O₁₆][B(OH)₃] (space group P31c) and Ba₃Na(OH)[B₉O₁₆][B(OH)₄] (space group P1), synthesized under hydrothermal conditions, have been investigated. These structures differ from the structure of the previously studied nonaborate Pb₃(OH)[B₉O₁₆][B(OH)₃] (space group P31c) in the occupation of the zeolite nonaframework, which, in the case of the (Ba,Na) borate, contains a larger number of cations and OH groups. Despite this difference, all the structures have a high trigonal or pseudotrigonal symmetry, which suggests the existence of the structure type or the family of nonaborates. The structural similarity is violated by the presence of B(OH)₄¹⁻ tetrahedra instead of neutral trigonal groups B(OH)₃ in channels of the (Ba,Na) borate. The latter polyhedra are characterized by a pseudomonoclinic arrangement that corresponds to the space group Cc with the true triclinic group P1. The ability of nonaborates to generate the optical second harmonic as a function of the specific features of their crystal structures is discussed.     

Archaeal and Bacterial Content in a Two-Stage Anaerobic System for Efficient Energy Production from Agricultural Wastes

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a microbially-driven process enabling energy production. Microorganisms are the core of anaerobic digesters and play an important role in the succession of hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis, and methanogenesis processes. The diversity of participating microbial communities can provide new information on digester performance for biomass valorization and biofuel production. In this study anaerobic systems were used, operating under mesophilic conditions that realized biodegradation processes of waste wheat straw pretreated with NaOH—a renewable source for hydrogen and methane production. These processes could be managed and optimized for hydrogen and methane separately but combining them in a two-stage system can lead to higher yields and a positive energy balance. The aim of the study was to depict a process of biohydrogen production from lignocellulosic waste followed by a second one leading to the production of biomethane. Archaeal and bacterial consortia in a two-stage system operating with wheat straw were identified for the first time and the role of the most important representatives was elucidated. The mixed cultures were identified by the molecular-biological methods of metagenomics. The results showed that biohydrogen generation is most probably due to the presence of Proteiniphilum saccharofermentans, which was 28.2% to 45.4% of the microbial community in the first and the second bioreactor, respectively. Archaeal representatives belonging to Methanobacterium formicicum (0.71% of the community), Methanosarcina spelaei (0.03%), Methanothrix soehngenii (0.012%), and Methanobacterium beijingense (0.01%) were proven in the methane-generating reactor. The correlation between substrate degradation and biogas accumulation was calculated, together with the profile of fatty acids as intermediates produced during the processes. The hydrogen concentration in the biogas reached 14.43%, and the Methane concentration was 69%. Calculations of the energy yield during the two-stage process showed 1195.89 kWh·t⁻¹ compared to a 361.62 kWh·t⁻¹ cumulative yield of energy carrier for a one-stage process.     

Use of a Hydrophobic Azo Dye for the Centrifuge-Less Cloud Point Extraction–Spectrophotometric Determination of Cobalt

The hydrophobic azo dye 6-hexyl-4-(2-thiazolylazo)resorcinol (HTAR, H₂L) was studied as part of a system for the centrifuge-less cloud point extraction (CL-CPE) and spectrophotometric determination of traces of cobalt. The extracted 1:2 (Co:HTAR) complex, [Co^III(HL⁻)(L²⁻)]⁰, shows an absorption maximum at 553 nm and contains HTAR in two different acid–base forms. Optimum conditions for its formation and CL-CPE were found as follows: 1 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ of HTAR, 1.64% of Triton X-114, pH of 7.8, incubation time of 20 min at ca. 50 °C, and cooling time of 30 min at ca. −20 °C. The linear range, limit of detection, and apparent molar absorptivity coefficient were 5.4–189 ng mL⁻¹, 1.64 ng mL⁻¹, and 2.63 × 10⁵ L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹, respectively. The developed procedure does not use any organic solvents and can be described as simple, cheap, sensitive, convenient, and environmentally friendly. It was successfully applied to the analysis of artificial mixtures and real samples, such as steel, dental alloy, rainwater, ampoules of vitamin B₁₂, and saline solution for intravenous infusion.