Configuration of MFI-type zeolite interacting with the probe molecule P(CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript> – a theoretical study

With P(CH₃)₃ as the probe molecule adsorbed on titanium silicalite (TS-1) zeolite, the special and important role of T12 site in MFI-type zeolite was clearly elucidated. There are altogether three active sites present in TS-1 zeolite with Ti at the T12 site. Owing to the preferential adsorption of probe molecules on the first Brönsted acidic site, the Ti12 center will probably fail to show Lewis acidity. The ionic [HP(CH₃)₃]⁺ species can be stabilized by the first or second Brönsted acidic site, with the former energetically favored. The latter was formed through the transfer of the ionic [HP(CH₃)₃]⁺ species from the first to the second Brönsted acidic site.     

Seasonal variation and activity size distribution of <Superscript>7</Superscript>Be in ambient air

The seasonal variation of the ⁷Be activities in air and the size distribution of the ⁷Be aerosols were studied by using a continuous air sampler and a five stage cascade impactor. The mean monthly activity level of ⁷Be at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) site varied from 0.5 to 4.8 Bq·m⁻³ and revealed a seasonal variation, in which the ⁷Be activity levels were high in winter and low in summer. The mass size distribution showed a bi-modal distribution with a higher peak around 0.49 μm and a smaller peak between 3 μm and 7.2 μm. The activity median aerodynamic diameter (AMAD) decreased with increasing ambient ⁷Be concentrations. The mean residence times by using a mean growth rate of 0.004 μm·h⁻¹ were estimated to be 2.5–6.4 days. The AMAD has an increasing tendency with higher relative humidity. It seemed that the high humidity condition facilitated the growth of the aerosol, resulting in increased deposition rates of the aerosols and the low ⁷Be content in the surface air. The AMAD of the ⁷Be aerosols increased with an increasing temperature, but the temperature dependency of AMAD should be explained with geological and meteorological conditions.     

A Novel Uranyl Complex with Dimeric Lacunary Polyoxoanion: [(A-α-SiW<Subscript>9</Subscript>O<Subscript>33</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>K{UO<Subscript>2</Subscript>(H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O)}<Subscript>2</Subscript>]<Superscript>11−</Superscript>

A novel uranyl complex with dimeric lacunary polyoxoanion like open-mouthed clam, Na₅[(A-α-SiW₉O₃₃H₃)₂K{UO₂(H₂O)}₂], was prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction. In the anion, two A-α-SiW₉O₃₄¹⁰⁻ groups share two terminal oxygen atoms O_d′ derived from removal of three corner-shared W atoms from saturated α-Keggin anion, forming a dimeric anion with an open mouth in which potassium ion and uranyl ions are coordinated. Uranium atom adopts a pentagonal bipyramidal geometry. The coordinating anions are linked by sodium ions via coordination of terminal or bridging oxygen atoms, forming two-dimensional layer arrangement. Between the layers are the hydrogen bonds from which a supramolecular architecture is created. UV–VIS spectrum gives W–O and U–O charge transfer transitions at 230–265 and 432 nm, showing the change of geometry of the polyanion and weakening of the U–O bonds of the uranyl cation. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article () contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Study of a fluorescence quenching mechanism of enoxacin and its determination in human serum and urine samples

The maximum emission wavelength of dopamine is 317 nm with excitation at 290 nm. The relative fluorescence intensity of dopamine decreased in the presence of enoxacin, which showed that fluorescence quenching occurred. The Stern-Volmer (S-V) plot showed a nonlinear relationship between the relative fluorescence intensity of dopamine and the concentration of enoxain. The quenching mechanism was studied and the results suggested that both dynamic and static quenching processes were responsible for the observed positive deviation in the S-V plot. When the S-V plot was modified by logarithm, the linear relationship was obtained between logF ₀/F and C in the range of 0.10 to 13.0 μg/mL (where F ₀ is the relative fluorescence intensity of dopamine, F is the relative fluorescence intensity of dopamine in the presence of enoxacin, and C is the concentration of enoxacin). The fluorescence quenching method for the determination of enoxacin was developed. The linear regression equation of the calibration graph of enoxacin was C = 13.70 (logF ₀/F) − 0.5836, with the correlation coefficient 0.9984. The detection limit was 2.0 ng/mL and the relative standard deviation was 2.52%. The effects of pH, the stability of dopamine in the presence of enoxacin, and foreign ions on the determination of enoxacin have been examined. The recovery of enoxacin was from 94.9 to 103.0% in a human serum sample and from 94.9 to 108.0% in a urine sample. The method is simple, rapid, and can be used for the determination of enoxacin in human serum and urine samples with satisfactory results. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

High-temperature thermal behaviour of Cr-Doped LiMn<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> spinels synthesized by the sucrose-aided combustion method

Chromium doped spinels LiCr_YMn_2−YO₄ (0.2≤Y≤0.8) has been synthesized by the sucrose-aided combustion procedure. The thermal behaviour, phase homogeneity and structural characteristics of the samples were studied by thermal analysis, coupled mass spectrometry, and room-and high-temperature X-ray diffraction methods. It was found that the ‘as prepared’ samples contained residual organic impurities undetectable for X-ray diffraction, that burn out completely at 400°C. Samples treated between 400 and 750°C are single phase spinels, whose crystallites size increase from 10 to 50 nm on increasing the temperature. Cr-doping enhances the thermal stability of the spinels, which augments on increasing the Cr content Y. The enhanced thermal stability of the spinels has been accounted for based on the high excess stabilization energy of Cr³⁺ in octahedral ligand field.     

Interactions between synthetic and indigenous naphthenic acids and divalent cations across oil–water interfaces: effects of addition of oil-soluble non-ionic surfactants

Interactions between naphthenic acids and divalent metal cations across model oil–alkaline water interfaces were investigated by correlating changes in dynamic interfacial tension (IFT), to plausible reaction mechanisms. The measurements were carried out by using a CAM 200 optical instrument, which is based on the pendant drop technique. The naphthenic acids used were synthesised model compounds as well as commercial acid mixtures from crude distillation and extracted acid fractions from a North Sea crude oil. The divalent cations involved Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Sr²⁺, and Ba²⁺, which are all common in co-produced formation water and naphthenate deposits. The results show that the dynamic IFT strongly depends on naphthenic acid structure, type of divalent cation, and the concentration of the compounds as well as the pH of the aqueous phase. Introducing divalent cations to systems involving saturated naphthenic acids caused mostly a permanent lowering of the IFT. The decline in IFT is due to electrostatic attraction forces across the interface between the cations in the aqueous phase and the carboxylic-groups at the o/w interface, which cause a higher interfacial density of naphthenic acid monomers. The permanent lowering in IFT is likely due to formation of positively charged monoacid complexes, which possess high interfacial activity. On the other hand, in the case of the aromatic model compounds, the cations affected the IFT differently. This is mainly discussed in light of degree of cation hydration and steric conditions. Various oil-soluble non-ionic surfactant mixtures were also introduced to systems involving a model naphthenic acid and Ca²⁺ in order to investigate how the interfacial competition affected the local interactions. Based on the behaviour of dynamic IFT, probable inhibition mechanisms are discussed.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at     

Theoretical analysis of the performance of a model supercapacitor consisting of metal oxide nano-particles

The factors influencing the electrochemical behaviour of a supercapacitor have been partly examined in this work. The effects of so-called intrinsic parameters, i.e. exchange current density, unit cell length and double layer (DL) capacitance; as well as the so-called application parameters, i.e. cell current, on the cell potential discharge time have been considered. The contributions of each type of capacitors, DL capacitor and faradaic supercapacitor under various states of operation and material have been analyzed, and the competing (compensating) effects of the two types of capacitors as regards to the discharge and power characteristics manifested by current–potential and energy–power (Ragone plots) are elucidated.     

Capillary electrophoresis with wavelength-resolved laser-induced fluorescence detection

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) enables rapid separations with high separation efficiency and compatibility with small sample volumes. Laser-induced fluorescence detection can result in extremely low limits of detection in CE. Single-channel fluorescence detection, however, furnishes little qualitative information about a species being detected, except for its CE migration time. Use of multidimensional information often enables unambiguous identification of analytes. Combination of CE with information-rich wavelength-resolved fluorescence detection is analogous with ultraviolet-visible diode-array detection and furnishes both qualitative and quantitative chemical information about target species. This review discusses recent advances in wavelength-resolved laser-induced fluorescence detection coupled with CE, with an emphasis on instrument design.     

Preparation and characterization of nitrogen-doped titanium dioxides

A type of high visible-light active titanium oxinitride(TiO2-xNx) powder was prepared by a simple proc-ess:the calcination of the hydrated titanium dioxide at the atmosphere of ammonia-argon using a tu-bular electric furnace at high temperatures. The hydrated titanium dioxide was synthesized as the precursor of TiO2-xNx using titanic acid as raw material,which came from sulfate technique of produc-ing titanium white. The effects of temperature and reaction time on the nitrogen content,grain size and crystal structure were studied. The visible-light activity and photocatalysis capability of the powder were also investigated.