A Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for OER and ORR based on a Cobalt(II) Triazole Pyridine Bis-[Cobalt(III) Corrole] Complex

As alternative energy sources are essential to reach a climate-neutral economy, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) as futuristic energy carrier gains enormous awareness. However, seeking for stable and electrochemically selective H₂O₂ ORR electrocatalyst is yet a challenge, making the design of—ideally—bifunctional catalysts extremely important and outmost of interest. In this study, we explore the application of a trimetallic cobalt(II) triazole pyridine bis-[cobalt(III) corrole] complex Co^IITP[Co^IIIC]₂ 3 in OER and ORR catalysis due to its remarkable physicochemical properties, fast charge transfer kinetics, electrochemical reversibility, and durability. With nearly 100 % selective catalytic activity towards the two-electron transfer generated H₂O₂, an ORR onset potential of 0.8 V vs RHE and a cycling stability of 50 000 cycles are detected. Similarly, promising results are obtained when applied in OER catalysis. A relatively low overpotential at 10 mA cm⁻² of 412 mV, Faraday efficiency 98 % for oxygen, an outstanding Tafel slope of 64 mV dec⁻¹ combined with superior stability.     

Production and properties of a biosurfactant obtained from a member of the Bacillus subtilis group (PTCC 1696)

The production and properties of a biosurfactant, synthesized by a member of the Bacillus subtilis group (PTCC 1696) which was isolated from an Iranian oil field, have been investigated. The biosurfactant, which was produced as a primary metabolite associated with the growth of PTCC 1696, was able to reduce the surface and interfacial tension of media to 26.7 and 0.1 mN/m, respectively. Crude biosurfactant and acid precipitated biosurfactant have critical micelle concentrations of 10 and 100 mug/ml, respectively. The stability of the biosurfactant at different salinities, pH and temperature and also its emulsifying activity have been investigated. It is an effective surfactant at very low concentrations over a wide range of temperatures, pHs and salt concentrations and also has the ability to emulsify oil, which is essential for enhanced oil recovery.     

Cold-induced aggregation microextraction: a novel sample preparation technique based on ionic liquids

In this research, a novel microextraction technique based on ionic liquids (ILs) termed cold-induced aggregation microextraction (CIAME) is developed. In this method, very small amounts of 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [Hmim][PF₆] and 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis (trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide [Hmim][Tf₂N] (as extractant solvents) were dissolved in a sample solution containing Triton X-114 (as an anti-sticking agent). Afterwards, the solution was cooled in the ice bath and a cloudy solution was formed. After centrifuging, the fine droplets of extractant phase were settled to the bottom of the conical-bottom glass centrifuge tube.CIAME is a simple and rapid method for extraction and preconcentration of metal ions from water samples and can be applied for the sample solutions containing high concentration of salt and water miscible organic solvents. Furthermore, this technique is much safer in comparison with the organic solvent extraction.Performance of the technique was evaluated by determination of the trace amounts of mercury as a test analyte in several real water samples. Michler thioketone (TMK) was chosen as a complexing agent. Analysis was carried out using spectrophotometric detection method. Type and amount of IL and the surfactant, temperature and the other parameters were optimized. Under the optimum conditions, the limit of detection (LOD) of the method was 0.3 ng mL⁻¹ and the relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) was 1.32% for 30 ng mL⁻¹ mercury.     

Immobilized different amines on modified magnetic nanoparticles as catalyst for biodiesel production from soybean oil

Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were modified with tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and (3-chloropropyl)trimethoxysilane (CPTMS) followed by immobilization with different amines such as guanine, piperazine, methylamine, morpholine, aniline, ethylenediamine, 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, and melamine, designated as Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@CPTMS@amine (nanocatalyst). The prepared nanocatalysts were characterized by means of FTIR, XRD, VSM, SEM, and TEM. Trans-esterification reactions of soybean oil with methanol were then carried out in the presence of the Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@CPTMS@amine as a nanocatalyst. Optimization of the reaction parameters revealed that the fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs or biodiesel) is obtained in 6–96% yields by using methanol to oil molar ratio of 36 in the presence of 6% of nanocatalysts containing melamine and guanine, respectively, at 160 °C within 3 h. The stability and reusability of the catalyst as well as the effect of reaction parameters on the FAME yield are described in this paper.     

Preparation and characterization of SbCl<Subscript>5</Subscript> supported on coconut shell as nanocatalyst for the synthesis of novel 2-amino-3-phenylsulfonyl-4-aryl-4<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-benzo[<Emphasis Type="Italic">h</Emphasis>]chromens

Pentachlorid antimony supported on coconut shell as an efficient and novel catalyst for one-pot synthesis of 2-amino-3-phenylsulfonyl-4-aryl-4H-benzo[h]chromen through three-component condensation of \( \alpha \)- naphtol, arylaldehydes and phenylsulfonyl (acetonitrile). Nanocatalyst pentachloride antimony supported on coconut shell was manufactured and characterized by FT-IR, TGA/DTG, XRD, EDX, FESEM and TEM techniques. The present method has advantages such as high activity, high reaction rate, recoverability of nanocatalyst, a simple experimental procedure, without any using of hazardous organic solvents under green conditions.     

Reversible Dihydrogen Activation and Hydride Transfer by a Uranium Nitride Complex

Cleavage of dihydrogen is an important step in the industrial and enzymatic transformation of N₂ into ammonia. The reversible cleavage of dihydrogen was achieved under mild conditions (room temperature and 1 atmosphere of H₂) by the molecular uranium nitride complex, [Cs{U(OSi(O^tBu)₃)₃}₂(μ‐N)] 1, leading to a rare hydride–imide bridged diuranium(IV) complex, [Cs{U(OSi(O^tBu)₃)₃}₂(μ‐H)(μ‐NH)], 2 that slowly releases H₂ under vacuum. This complex is highly reactive and quickly transfers hydride to acetonitrile and carbon dioxide at room temperature, affording the ketimide‐ and formate‐bridged U^IV species [Cs{U(OSi(O^tBu)₃)₃}₂(μ‐NH)(μ‐CH₃CHN)], 3 and [Cs{U(OSi(O^tBu)₃)₃}₂(μ‐HCOO)(μ‐NHCOO)], 4 .     

Catalyst-free synthesis of 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted imidazoles from arylamins,benzonitriles, arylglyoxals,and Meldrum’s acid

An efficient and catalyst-free for the synthesis of 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted imidazoles has been developed using a one-pot, two-step reaction of arylamins, benzonitriles, arylglyoxals, and Meldrum’s acid. All the products were obtained in good to excellent yields and their structures were established from their spectroscopic data.     

Kinetic Spectrophotometric Method and Neural Network Model Application for the Quantitation of Epinephrine by Starch-capped AgNPs Sensor in Blood and Urine

Journal of Analytical Chemistry - In this study, a simple, accurate, precise, rapid, economical, and highly sensitive ultraviolet spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination...     

Graphitic carbon nitride embedded hydrogels for enhanced gel electrophoresis

Here, we show, for the first time, the use of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) nanosheets to improve the resolution and efficiency of protein separation in gel electrophoresis. By loading 0.04% (m/v) g-C₃N₄ nanosheets into the polyacrylamide gel at 25 °C, the thermal conductivity increased approximately 80% which resulted in 20% reduction in Joule heating and overall increase of separation efficiency. Also, polymerization of acrylamide occurred in the absence of tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED) when the polyacrylamide gel contained g-C₃N₄ nanosheets. Hence, the g-C₃N₄ act simultaneously as a polymerization catalyst as well as heat sinks to lower Joule heating effect on band broadening.     

CuFeO2/tetrabutylammonium bromide catalyzes selective synthesis of 1,4‐disubstituted 1,2,3‐triazoles in neat water at room temperature

A completely green medium including water as a solvent and antiviral CuFeO₂ as a catalyst is described for the synthesis of 1,4‐disubstituted 1,2,3‐triazoles. Excellent yields of products are obtained at room temperature. Cost effectiveness, high stability and high recyclability of CuFeO₂ along with antiviral properties of the catalyst make it a unique catalyst for cycloadditions of phenylacetylene with a wide variety of aryl halides. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.