In situ disorder-order transformation in synthetic gallosilicate zeolites with the NAT topology

Here, we report that synthetic gallosilicate molecular sieves with the NAT topology and Si/Ga ratios close to but slightly higher than 1.50 undergo an in situ transformation under their crystallization conditions. The materials have been studied ex situ by using powder X-ray diffraction, elemental and thermal analyses, and multinuclear MAS NMR. The transformation is characterized by a change in the distribution of Si and Ga of the NAT framework, from a quite (but not completely) disordered phase to a very highly (but not completely) ordered one, accompanied by a change from tetragonal to orthorhombic symmetry. During most of the solution-mediated transformation, no noticeable signs of fresh precipitation, phase segregation, or changes in the chemical composition are detected. Intermediate materials show variations in the degree of Si-Ga ordering and orthorhombic distortion and are not physical mixtures of the disordered and ordered phases. Ab initio calculations strongly suggest a preferential siting of Si in the tetrahedral sites involved in a smaller number of 4-rings in the NAT topology (i.e., the low multiplicity site). The cost of violations of Loewenstein's rule has also been calculated. For this topology and chemical composition the preferential siting and Loewenstein's rule drive together the system to the ordered configuration. A Monte Carlo sampling procedure affords a reasonable model for the initial, mainly disordered state, which fits well within the experimental disorder-order series.     

Heavy metal analysis of rainwaters: A comparison of TXRF and ASV analytical capabilities

The aim of this work consisted on the implementation of sufficiently accurate and sensitive analytical procedure for the analysis of metal concentration in rainwater. Different sample preparation procedures were tested to achieve the required concentration prior to direct total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) analysis. TXRF and anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) were compared in regard to achieved detection limits, precision and accuracy.     

Molecular structures of edge-sharing square-planar dinuclear complexes with unsaturated bridges

The dinuclear complexes of transition metal ions of type [M(2)(mu,eta(1)-XY)(2)L(4)], where XY is an unsaturated ligand that can act as a four-electron or a two-electron donor through the X atom, appear in two molecular conformations depending on whether the coordination planes around the two metal atoms are coplanar or bent. In both structures the geometry of the X atom is planar, corresponding to an sp(2) hybridization. An ab initio theoretical study on 43 representative complexes, complemented with a structural database analysis, provides a rationale for the experimentally observed structures.     

Cluster beams from passivated nanocrystals

Stable, intense beams of large metal clusters (from 10² to 10³ Au or Ag atoms) can be produced by laser desorption of molecular films of passivated nanocrystals that have undergone fractionation by size and a separate structural characterization. The mass onset of the desorbed species corresponds directly to the dimensions of the nanocrystal core, indicating that only the surfactant shell is lost during desorption. Photofragmentation, photoionization, and photodetachment from beams of large metal clusters, generated in this way, have all been observed.     

Cationic copolymerization of tetrahydrofuran with propylene oxide. IV. Use of antimony pentachloride as catalyst

Propylene oxide and tetrahydrofuran were polymerized cationically by an in situ catalytic system composed of antimony pentachloride and 1,2-propanediol. The rates of polymerization were measured by vapor-phase chromatography in the temperature range from ?20°C to +20°C. The Arrhenius parameters pertaining to the reaction of each of the comonomers were evaluated and compared with data published earlier for other catalytic systems. The present catalyst system was incapable of initiating a homo-polymerization of tetrahydrofuran in the absence of propylene oxide, while the latter was readily homopolymerized. In a copolymerization system, the rates of consumption of both monomers were first-order in respect to the catalyst, but the reaction ceased when all of the propylene oxide had been consumed. The relative reactivity of the two monomers as characterized by the copolymerization parameters r₁ (PO) = 1.15 and r₂ (THF) = 0.70 suggests that in the copolymerization system, tetrahydrofuran is capable of a reaction with its own active center. This is discussed in terms of a possible mechanism involving the effects of penultimate units and extensive chain transfer. The latter is well evident from the molecular weights of resulting copolyethers, which do not exceed one thousand.     

Predictive models to describe VLE in ternary mixtures water + ethanol + congener for wine distillation

The modeling of liquid–vapor equilibrium in ternary mixtures that include substances found in alcoholic distillation processes of wine and musts is analyzed. In particular, vapor–liquid equilibrium in ternary mixtures containing water + ethanol + cogener has been modeled using parameters obtained from binary mixture data only. The congeners are substances that although present in very low concentrations, of the order of part per million, 10⁻⁶ to 10⁻⁴ mg/L, are important enological parameters [1] and [2]. In this work two predictive models, the PSRK equation of state and the UNIFAC liquid phase model and two semipredictive activity coefficient models: NRTL and UNIQUAC have been used. The results given by these different models have been compared with literature data and conclusions about the accuracy of the models studied are drawn, recommending the best models for correlating and predicting the phase equilibrium in this type of mixtures.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Monomeric Aryloxo Palladium Complexes of the Type [Pd(N–N)(OAr)(C6F5)]. Crystal Structure of [Pd(tmeda)(C6F5)(OC6H4NO2‐p)]

Mononuclear palladium‐hydroxo complexes of the type [Pd(N–N)(C₆F₅)(OH)][(N–N) = 2,2′‐bipyridine (bipy), 4,4′‐dimethyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine (Me₂bipy), 1,10‐phenantroline (phen) or N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethylethylenediamine (tmeda) react with phenols ArOH in tetrahydrofuran giving the corresponding aryloxo complexes [Pd(N–N)(C₆F₅)(OAr)]. Elemental analyses and spectroscopic (IR, ¹H and ¹⁹F) methods have been used to characterize the new complexes. The X‐ray crystal structure of [Pd(tmeda)(C₆F₅)(OC₆H₄NO₂‐p)] has been determined. In the crystal packing the planes defined by two C₆H₄ rings show a parallel orientation. There are also intermolecular C–H···F and C‐H···O hydrogen bonds.     

Rapid estmation of technetium in99Mo−99mTc generators

A nomogram is presented to estimate the radiooctivity of^99mTc in⁹⁹Mo−^99mTc generators, based on equations of radioactive equilibrium. Since the parent element decays through two isomeric states of the daughter, the ratio of the total mass of technetium per millicurie of^99mTc is a function of the time elapsed between two consecutive elutions. Values of the amount of^99mTc expressed as a mole fraction or in moles or grams of total technetium per millicurie of^99mTc^m are also presented.     

The complexation of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) with flavones in micellar media and its use for the spectrophotometric determination of chromium

The complexation of chromium by different flavonoid dyes in micellar media has been studied, in particular the reaction between chromium and quercetin. Micellar effects, the reaction pathway proposed and the application of the method to the determination of Cr(VI) and Cr(VI) + Cr(III) mixtures are discussed.