X-ray spectral investigation by synchrotron radiation of supported Re/SiO2 and (Re+Pt)/SiO2 catalysts prepared via triethoxyrhenium

Using synchrotron radiation L_III absorption spectra of rhenium in Re/SiO₂ and (Re+Pt)/SiO₂ catalysts prepared via triethoxyrhenium have been studied. The conclusion has been drawn that reduced catalysts contain lowvalent rhenium ions and their composition is more uniform than that of the previously examined catalysts Re/Al₂O₃ and (Re+Pt)/Al₂O₃ prepared by a conventional impregnation technique.

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L_III- Re/SiO₂ (Re+Pt)/SiO₂, . , , Re/Al₂O₃ (Re+Pt)/Al₂O₃, .

     

The transitional isoelectric focusing process

The transitional isoelectric focusing (IEF) process (the course of pH gradient formation by carrier ampholytes (CAs) and the correlation of the focusing time with CA concentration) were investigated using a whole-column detection capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF) system. The transitional double-peak phenomenon in IEF was explained as a result of migration of protons from the anodic end and hydroxyl ions from the cathodic end into the separation channel and the higher electric field at both acidic and basic sides of the separation channel. It was observed that focusing times increase logarithmically with CA concentration under a constant applied voltage. The correlation of focusing time with CA concentration was explained by the dependence of the charge-transfer rate on the amount of charged CAs within the separation channel during focusing.     

Preparation and Characterisation of Nano-Structured WO<Subscript>3</Subscript>-TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Layers for Photoelectrochromic Devices

Nano-structured WO₃-TiO₂ layers were prepared by the sol-gel route. To obtain transparent, porous and crack free layers up to 0.8 μ m with a single dipping cycle a templating strategy was used. As a template three-dimensionally network based on organically modified silane was introduced to the WO₃ and TiO₂ sols. The WO₃ layers were dip-coated onto the conductive glass substrate (TCO) and the TiO₂ layers on the top of the WO₃ layer. The morphology and the structure of the layers were determined by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDXS), Auger and Infrared spectroscopy. SEM image of the WO₃-TiO₂ layer confirmed the nano-porosity of the layers and give the size of the particles of about 10 nm for TiO₂ and 30 nm for WO₃ layer. Further analysis indicated that the titanium sol penetrates the WO₃ layer. Particles in the WO₃ layer consist of a crystalline monoclinic WO₃ core surrounded by a 5–10 nm amorphous phase consisting of WO₃, TiO₂ and SiO₂. The WO₃-TiO₂ layers were used to assemble all solid state photoelectrochromic (PE) devices. Under 1 sun irradiation (1000 W/m²) the visible transmittance of the PE device changes from 62% to 1.6%. The colouring and bleaching processes last about 10 minutes.     

Oxygen transport in La<Subscript>0.6</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.4</Subscript>Co<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">y</Emphasis></Subscript>Fe<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">y</Emphasis></Subscript>O<Subscript>3−δ</Subscript>

The surface exchange coefficient and chemical diffusion coefficient of oxygen for the perovskites La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_1–yFe_yO_3– (y=0.2, 0.5 and 0.8) were measured using the conductivity relaxation technique. Measurements were performed between 600 and 800 °C in an oxygen partial pressure range between 10^–4 and 1 bar. Both transport coefficients decrease markedly with decreasing oxygen partial pressure below about 10^–2 bar at all temperatures. This is attributed to ordering of oxygen vacancies. Implications for using La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_1–yFe_yO_3– as an oxygen separation membrane are discussed.Presented at the OSSEP Workshop Ionic and Mixed Conductors: Methods and Processes, Aveiro, Portugal, 10-12 April 2003     

Electrostatic interactions between amphoteric latex particles and proteins

The electrostatic interactions between amphoteric polymethyl methacrylate latex particles and proteins with different pI values were investigated. These latex particles possess a net positive charge at low pH, but they become negatively charged at high pH. The nature and degree of interactions between these polymer particles and proteins are primarily controlled by the electrostatic characteristics of the particles and proteins under the experimental conditions. The self-promoting adsorption process from the charge neutralization of latex particles by the proteins, which have the opposite net charge to that of the particles, leads to a rapid reduction in the zeta potential of the particles (in other words colloidal stability), and so strong flocculation occurs. On the other hand, the electrostatic repulsion forces between similarly charged latex particles and the proteins retard the adsorption of protein molecules onto the surfaces of the particles. Therefore, latex particles exhibit excellent colloidal stability over a wide range of protein concentrations. A transition from net negative charge to net positive charge, and vice versa (charge reversal), was observed when the particle surface charge density was not high enough to be predominant in the protein adsorption process.     

Separation of fatty acid methyl esters by comprehensive two-dimensional supercritical fluid chromatography with packed columns and programming of sampling duration

Fatty acid methyl esters from various fats and oils were separated by comprehensive two-dimensional supercritical fluid chromatography with conventional packed columns and FID detection. The first dimension was a silica gel column and the second dimension was an ODS column. This combination was largely orthogonal for the separation of fatty acid methyl esters. The first dimension separations were primarily based on the number of double bonds while the second dimension separations were based on the chain length. The highly-ordered chromatograms and improved resolution allowed the easy detection and identification of minor components. Although the first dimension separations were performed under isobaric conditions where the peak width increased in proportion to the retention, the programming of the sampling duration allowed us to maintain the optimum re-injection frequency (3–4 times) per peak into the second dimension and so to minimize the total analysis time without deteriorating the resolution.     

Application of a retention database to the identification of individual polychlorinated biphenyl congeners in Aroclors mixture using selected polychlorinated biphenyls as a reference series

The database of the relative retention times (RRTs) of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) reported in literature was used to calculate the retention indices (RIs) of all 209 PCB congeners on temperature programmed capillary column Rtx-5. Calculation of retention indices was based on reference series of seven congeners (PCB IUPAC Nos. 18, 52, 101, 143, 185, 203 and 206) that exhibit linear relative retention time behaviour as a function of chlorine number. The calculated indices were compared to those determined in our laboratory as well as to those obtained by other authors. The proposed indices system was applied for identification individual congeners in mixture of Aroclors 1242:1254:1260, using only reference series of PCBs.     

Continuous solid-phase extraction and preconcentration of bisphenol A in aqueous samples using molecularly imprinted columns

A bisphenol A (BPA) molecularly imprinted polymer, the composition of which was optimised using a chemometric approach, has been applied to the selective preconcentration of the template from aqueous samples. The selectivity of the polymer toward BPA and related compounds was evaluated chromatographically. The BPA-imprinted polymer was packed in a column and used for continuous on-column solid-phase extraction (MISPE) of aqueous samples followed by subsequent analysis by HPLC with fluorescence detection of the eluted fractions. The composition of the washing solvent applied in the MISPE procedure was optimised to favour the specific interactions of the MIP with BPA and to remove the non-selectively bound matrix components. The MISPE method has proven to be effective for selective preconcentration of BPA in aqueous samples (recoveries >84% obtained in the eluate for 10–100 mL sample volumes) enabling detection and quantification limits of 1.0 and 3.3 ng mL^–1, respectively (based on 25 mL sample size). Analytical recoveries were between 92 and 101% for river water samples spiked with known amounts of BPA (30, 60, and 80 ng mL^–1); relative standard deviations (RSD) were lower than 5.0%.     

16, 18O induced transfer reactions on122, 120Sn

The reactions¹²⁰Sn+72 MeV¹⁸O and¹²²Sn+74 MeV¹⁶O were investigated with time of-flightE-E-telescopes. Data are presented for all quasi-elastic reaction channels. The two neutron stripping and pickup reactions (¹⁸O,¹⁶O), (¹⁸O,²⁰O) and (¹⁶O,¹⁸O) are analyzed in detail. It is shown that these heavy ion induced two neutron transfer reactions proceed with essentially the same type of selectivity as the corresponding light ion induced reactions. The differential cross sections for transfer reactions leaving the^{120, 122}Sn nuclei in their 2⁺ first excited states are shown to be influenced by interference effects due to additional inelastic excitations.     

Inner-shell ionization ofZ=25–32 elements by 5-48 MeV32S ions

TheK-shell ionization cross sections of Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn and Ge under³²S bombardment have been measured in the energy range from 5 to 48 MeV. The cross sections are compared with available theories based on a direct Coulomb ionization mechanism and with the predictions of theK-vacancy sharing process. This last process can reasonably account for the measured cross sections at high bombarding energies. The energy shifts of theK - andK -lines and theK /K -intensity ratios have also been measured. This information is used to deduce the defect configuration of the atoms. The mechanisms responsible for the multiple vacancy production are discussed.