Role of rhenium in bimetallic reforming catalysts

The influence of rhenium on the behavior of a Pt/Al₂O₃ catalyst was studied in n-hexane reaction by means of dilution of the catalyst bed with Re/Al₂O₃. Parallel to activity, selectivity and ageing data obtained in slug pulse and continuous flow reactors, the amount of the surface carbon formed during the reaction was determined and its reactivity in hydrogen atmosphere was also studied. It is suggested that in the presence of rhenium due to the increase in the amount of hydrogen available for hydrogen consuming reactions including hydrodepolymerization of the carbonaceous surface overlayer, the routes of ageing processes are changed, resulting in lower carbon content on the catalyst and less pronounced catalyst deactivation.

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Pt/Al₂O₃ -, Re/Al₂O₃. , , , , . , , , , , , , .

     

über Katalysatoren- und Fermentmodelle (1)

Ohne Zusammenfassung Die Arbeit wurde aus Mitteln des Marshall-Planes (ERP-Mittel) und mit Spenden aus dem „Fonds Chemie“ ausgeführt. Wir sprechen den zust?ndigen Stellen für die Gew?hrung der Beihilfe unseren verbindlichsten Dank aus. Der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft danken wir für die überlassung einer Ultrazentrifuge, den Behring-Werken für die uns zur Verfügung gestellten Serumalbumin- und -globulin-Pr?parate.     

Zur kritischen Lösungstemperatur einiger Systeme mit zweibasischen organischen Säuren

Zusammenfassung Fischers Methode der Mikrountersuchung der kritischen Mischungs-temperatur hat grundsätzlich neue Wege in der Analyse binärer und ternärer Flüssigkeitsgemische eröffnet.In dieser Arbeit wurde versucht, für die homologe Reihe: Oxalsäure-Malonsäure-Bernsteinsäure durch Ermittlung der Mischungslückendiagramme Zusammenhänge zwischen den beim sogenannten 'Makroversuch und den bei der Mikrobestimmung auf dem Kofler-Heiztisch herrschenden Verhältnissen aufzuzeigen und gleichzeitig eine brauchbare Schnellmethode für die Bestimmung wässeriger Lösungen der untersuchten Säuren zu finden.Weiters wurden die Unterschiede, die sich zwischen den Maximalwerten der Mischungslückendiagramme, ihren volumgleichen Temperaturwerten und den Werten der auf dem Heiztisch gefundenen Mikroeichkurve experimentell erfaßt und diskutiert.Es sei besonders im Falle der Oxalsäure auf die obgenannten Unterschiede hingewiesen. Im Schaubild sieht man die Eichkurve nachFischer als Gerade, um die herum sich die Werte der Maxima und die volumgleichen Werte sozusagen als 'periodische Funktionen legen. Diese Werte sind also nicht immer eindeutige Funktionen der Konzentration der betreffenden Lösung. Die Temperaturwerte des Mischungsverhältnisses 50 50 (die ja für die Aufstellung analytisch brauchbarer Eichkurven überhaupt als einzige in Betracht kämen) wurden übrigens bei der Anilinpunktbestimmung zur Prüfung von Kraftstoffen praktisch verwertet¹³. Die Mikrobestimmung in der Kapillare ist wegen der an anderer Stelle besprochenen Vorzüge jedem Makroverfahren überlegen.

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Summary Fischer's method of micro investigation of the critical mixing temperature has revealed completely new ways in the analysis of binary and ternary mixtures of liquids.By determining the miscibility gap diagram, attempts were made to discover the connections between the so-called macro-trial and the microdetermination using the Kofler heating stage, and at the same time to discover a rapid method for determining aqueous solutions of the acids under investigation, which belonged to the homologous series: oxalic, malonic, succinic acids.Furthermore, the differences which were found between the maximal values of the miscibility gap diagram, their volume-equal temperature values, and the values of the micro calibration curve found on the heated stage were discussed.Special emphasis is given to these differences in the case of oxalic acid. In the diagram, the calibration curve afterFischer appears as a straight line about which are situated the values of the maxima and the volume-equal values so-to-say as periodic functions. These values are not always therefore unequivocal functions of the concentration of the solution in question. The temperature values of the miscibility ratios (5050), which in fact are the only ones that could be considered in the construction of analytically usable calibration curves, were also evaluated in practice in the determination of the aniline point for testing motor fuels¹³. Because of the advantages discussed elsewhere, the micro determination in a capillary is superior to any macro method.

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Résumé La méthode deFischer de microdéterminations de la température critique de mélange a ouvert de nouvelles voies fondamentales à l'analyse des mélanges liquides binaires et ternaires.Dans le travail présenté l'auteur cherche à montrer, pour la série homologue acide oxalique, acide malonique, acide succinique, par l'établissement des diagrammes de discontinuité des mélanges, les relations existant entre les conditions de la «macrodétermination» et celles de le microdétermination avec le banc chauffant de Kofler; simultanément il s'efforce de mettre au point une méthode rapide de dosage des solutions aqueuses des acides considérés.Par ailleurs il a mis en évidence et discuté les différences qui se manifestent expérimentalement entre, d'une part, les valeurs maxima des diagrammes de discontinuité des mélanges et les valeurs des températures à volume constant et d'autre part les valeurs trouvées pour la courbe de micro étalonnage sur banc chauffant.L'auteur a particulièrement étudié ces différences dans le cas de l'acide oxalique. Sur la figure on voit que la courbe d'étalonnage d'aprèsFischer est une droite tandis que les valeurs des maxima et les valeurs des températures à volume constant se présentent comme des fonctions «périodiques». Il en résulte que ces valeurs ne sont pas toujours des fonctions univoques de la concentration de la solution considérée. Les valeurs de la température pour le rapport de mélange 50/50 (qui pour l'établissement de courbes d'étalonnage utilisables en analyse doivent être exclusivement frites en considération) ont été en outre pratiquement utilisées pour le contrôle de la détermination du point d'aniline de carburants¹³. La microdétermination en capillaire, du fait d'avantages qui sont décrits dans une autre publication, est supérieure à toute macro-technique.

     

N(SCl)2 ⊕[MoCl5(NSCl)]⊖, ein Chlorthionitrenokomplex von Molybdän(VI)

N(SCl)₂^⊕ [MoCl₅(NSCl)]^?, a Chlorothionitrene Complex of Molybdenum (VI) . The title compound is formed together with MoCl₃(N₃S₂) by the reaction of MoCl₄ or MoCl₅ with (NSCl)₃ in CH₂Cl₂. The black, crystalline compound was characterized by its i.r. spectrum and an X-ray crystal structure determination. N(SCl)₂^⊕[MoCl₅(NSCl)]^? crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n with four formula units per unit cell. The lattice constants are a = 716.3, b = 1627.4, c = 1178.9 pm and β = 100.90°. The [MoCl₅(NSCl)]^? ion posseses an almost linear Mo = N = S grouping with bond lengths that can be interpreted as double bonds. Crystal data for AsPh₄[MoCl₅(NSCl)] are reported.     

Reduced number of steps for the synthesis of dense and highly functionalized dendrimers

A series of densely functionalized dendrimers is synthesized using two branched monomers of type AB₂ and CD₂, in which the A function (NH₂) reacts with D (CHO) and the B function (Cl) reacts with C (OH). The reaction has been carried out up to the fourth generation possessing 96 end groups and has been obtained in only four steps.     

Protein secondary structure and stability determined by combining exoproteolysis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

In the post-genomic era, several projects focused on the massive experimental resolution of the three-dimensional structures of all the proteins of different organisms have been initiated. Simultaneously, significant progress has been made in the ab initio prediction of protein three-dimensional structure. One of the keys to the success of such a prediction is the use of local information (i.e. secondary structure). Here we describe a new limited proteolysis methodology, based on the use of unspecific exoproteases coupled with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), to map quickly secondary structure elements of a protein from both ends, the N- and C-termini. We show that the proteolytic patterns (mass spectra series) obtained can be interpreted in the light of the conformation and local stability of the analyzed proteins, a direct correlation being observed between the predicted and the experimentally derived protein secondary structure. Further, this methodology can be easily applied to check rapidly the folding state of a protein and characterize mutational effects on protein conformation and stability. Moreover, given global stability information, this methodology allows one to locate the protein regions of increased or decreased conformational stability. All of this can be done with a small fraction of the amount of protein required by most of the other methods for conformational analysis. Thus limited exoproteolysis, together with MALDI-TOF MS, can be a useful tool to achieve quickly the elucidation of protein structure and stability.     

Mechanism for large first hyperpolarizabilities of phosphonic acid stilbene derivatives

This paper presents calculations of dipole moments (mu), static polarizabilities (alpha), and first hyperpolarizabilities (beta) of phosphonic acid stilbene derivatives calculated in the framework of density functional theory. These calculations were performed using a finite field approach implemented in the density functional program ALLCHEM and were of an all-electron type using local exchange-correlation functional and specially designed basis sets. The molecular structures have been fully optimized using the semiempirical program MSINDO. Some of the investigated stilbenes have been synthesized very recently while others are described for the first time. Donor and acceptor groups of these analogues have been modified and the influence of these changes on the first hyperpolarizabilities has been investigated. This work demonstrates that the nonlinear optical response beta of these compounds increases dramatically when the acceptor moiety is displaced by analogues containing alkali metal groups. A general mechanism for the design of novel nonlinear optical materials with large first hyperpolarizabilities is described.     

The key elements of traceability in chemical measurement: agreed or still under debate?

 Talking about "traceability" means talking about a "property of the result of a measurement", about "the value of a standard", about "stated references" and about an "unbroken chain of comparisons". It describes by which comparison, and to which other value, the result of a measurement has been obtained, i.e. is "traceable to". It is about the underlying structure of the measurement process of the result of a measurement and therefore about the authority of the result. Since values carried by (certified) reference materials have also been obtained by measurement, the definition of traceability equally applies. Traceability in the context of reference materials is also about the authority of the values carried by the (certified) reference materials and is, therefore, of key importance for the authority of the reference materials themselves. Hence, values of results of measurements constitute part of the traceability chain and their uncertainties are an intrinsic accompanying phenomenon. Uncertainties need a traceability chain against which they can be evaluated, and a traceability chain is an a priori requirement for evaluating the uncertainty budget of a measurement result. An attempt has been made to exemplify "traceability" chains in some types of chemical measurement and to identify the degree of international agreement on the key elements of "traceability". It is concluded that there is less than universal agreement on this issue. The debate should continue in order to arrive at the international understanding and agreement needed, as "traceability" is now being incorporated in the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Laboratory Accreditation Co-operation (ILAC) and in other "guiding" or regulatory documents. It is also the reason why the Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM) has taken up the study of the concept in its core programme on Metrology in Chemistry, and why it sponsored the Workshop in Bratislava.

     

Optimization of culture medium and conditions for penicillin acylase production by Streptomyces lavendulae ATCC 13664

The culture medium for Streptomyces lavendulae ATCC 13664 was optimized on a shake-flask scale by using a statistical factorial design for enhanced production of penicillin acylase. This extracellular enzyme recently has been reported to be a penicillin K acylase, presenting also high hydrolytic activity against penicillin V and other natural aliphatic penicillins such as penicillin K, penicillin F, and penicillin dihydroF. The factorial design indicated that the main factors that positively affect penicillin acylase production by S. lavendulae were the concentration of yeast extract and the presence of oligoelements in the fermentation medium, whereas the presence of olive oil in the medium had no effect on enzyme production. An initial concentration of 2.5% (w/v) yeast extract and 3 microg/mL of CuSO4 x 5H2O was found to be best for acylase production. In such optimized culture medium, fermentation of the microorganism yielded 289 IU/L of enzyme in 72 h when employing a volume medium/volume flask ratio of 0.4 and a 300-rpm shaking speed. The presence of copper, alone and in combination with other metals, stimulated biomass as well as penicillin acylase production. The time course of penicillin acylase production was also studied in the optimized medium and conditions. Enzyme production showed catabolite repression by different carbon sources such as glucose, lactose, citrate, glycerol, and glycine.     

Dynamics and energetics of the self-assembly of a hydrophobically modified polyelectrolyte: Naphthalene-labeled poly(acrylic acid)

Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence studies were performed on aqueous solutions of poly(acrylic acid) hydrophobically modified with two very different levels of naphthalene (Np). It is demonstrated that unique information on association phenomena involving hydrophobe-modifed polymers can be obtained from an extended fluorescence study by using data for a less-modified polymer as a reference. For the more highly modified polymer, the presence of excited-state (as well as ground-state) dimers in addition to monomer emission due to locally excited naphthalene gives evidence for hydrophobic association between naphthalene groups. This association becomes, as expected, much less important at higher pH due to the electrostatic repulsion between different chain segments. However, it is noted that even at high pH there is a significant self-association. The coexistence of static and dynamic quenching phenomena of the Np monomer label was also revealed in the time-resolved fluorescence data. The data are compatible with the existence of two types of monomers and one excimer and suggest that the essential contribution to the monomer emission comes from isolated chromophores, whereas excimer formation arises from both a dynamic route (excited Np chromophores able to produce a dynamic excimer) and a static route (excitation of ground-state Np dimers). At room temperature, the dissociative reaction, excimer-to-monomer, can be neglected, and thus the rate constant for excimer formation and decay could be obtained with and without considering the influence of preformed dimers. Temperature has shown to induce different behavior in the polymer photophysics. In the case of the less-labeled polymer, the decays were found to be single-exponential with the fluorescence lifetime decreasing with increasing temperature. From the temperature dependence of the steady-state fluorescence data, the activation energy for excimer formation and the binding energy of the excimer were evaluated at different pH values, through the Stevens-Ban-type plots of the excimer-to-monomer intensity ratio. With the time-resolved data, measured in the temperature range of 5-60 degrees C, it was possible to extract the intrinsic activation energies for excimer formation. The thermodynamic driving force for the intrapolymeric association was found to be dependent on a balance between hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions, which are dependent on the pH, temperature, and hydrophobic content of the polymer.