Determination of chlorine in silicate rocks by neutron activation analysis

A simple radiochemical neutron activation analysis scheme has been developed for the determination of chlorine in silicate rocks. The method involves a 15-min thermal neutron irradiation of rock powder followed by a quick separation of ³⁸Cl as AgCl, and Ge(Li) spectrometry. Chemical yield, normally ranging between 95% and 100%, is monitored gravimetrically through the recovery of AgCl. The procedure has been tested on several geochemical standards to assess its accuracy and precision. The values obtained for standard rocks agree with the literature values. At the 100-ppm level, the analytical precision for chlorine is within ±5% (2σ).     

In situ XPS investigation of Pt(Sn)/Mg(Al)O catalysts during ethane dehydrogenation experiments

Calcined hydrotalcite with or without added metal (Mg(Al)O, Pt/Mg(Al)O and Pt,Sn/Mg(Al)O) have been investigated with in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) during ethane dehydrogenation experiments. The temperature in the analysis chamber was 450 °C and the gas pressure was in the range 0.3-1 mbar. Depth profiling of calcined hydrotalcite and platinum catalysts under reaction, oxidation and in hydrogen-water mixture was performed by varying the photon energy, covering an analysis depth of 10-21 Å. It was observed that the Mg/Al ratio in the Mg(Al)O crystallites does not vary significantly in the analysis depth range studied. This result indicates that Mg and Al are homogeneously distributed in the Mg(Al)O crystallites. Catalytic tests have shown that the initial activity of a Pt,Sn/Mg(Al)O catalyst increases during an activation period consisting of several cycles of reduction-dehydrogenation-oxidation. The Sn/Mg ratio in a Pt,Sn/Mg(Al)O catalyst was followed during several such cycles, and was found to increase during the activation period, probably due to a process where tin spreads over the carrier material and covers an increasing fraction of the Mg(Al)O surface. The results further indicate that spreading of tin occurs under reduction conditions.A PtSn₂ alloy was studied separately. The surface of the alloy was enriched in Sn during reduction and reaction conditions at 450 °C. Binding energies were determined and indicated that Sn on the particle surface is predominantly in an oxidised state under reaction conditions, while Pt and a fraction of Sn is present as a reduced Pt-Sn alloy.     

Line profile study of transitions in the 30012 ← 00001 and 30013 ← 00001 bands of carbon dioxide perturbed by air

In this work we present a line profile study for air-broadened carbon dioxide transitions in the 30012 ← 00001 and 30013 ← 00001 vibrational bands. The room temperature spectra were recorded at a resolution of 0.008 cm⁻¹ using a Fourier Transform spectrometer. The air-broadening, air-shift, and air-line mixing coefficients were derived from a simultaneous fitting of spectra using the Voigt model and a Speed-Dependent Voigt lineshape model. The results obtained are consistent with other studies in addition to the theoretically calculated values. Exponential Power Gap (EPG) and Energy Corrected Sudden (ECS) scaling laws were used to calculate the relaxation matrix elements.     

Methylation of alkenes and methylbenzenes by dimethyl ether or methanol on acidic zeolites

The methylation of propene and toluene with dimethyl ether has been studied using both experimental and theoretical methods, and the results are compared with results obtained for methylation with methanol. The results indicate that the nature of the methylation reaction mechanisms is very similar for both methylation agents. Both experiment and theory show that dimethyl ether is a slightly more reactive methylating agent than methanol.     

Europium complex of a tridentate ligand: synthesis and spectroscopic properties

A new europium complex containing the chelate tridentate ligand and imidazole terpyridine (itpy), was synthesized. The complex was characterized by elemental analysis, mass, FT-IR and photoluminescence spectroscopic techniques. The europium complex in solution showed characteristic luminescence properties. The room temperature photoluminescence spectrum of this complex was composed of typical Eu³⁺ red emission assigned to ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂ transition. The metal-centered red emission seemed to be promoted by the ligand-assisted energy transfer, namely antenna effect.     

Compact standing wave thermoacoustic generator for power conversion applications

In the past decade, a variety of thermoacoustic engines (TAEs) were devised to convert thermal energy to acoustic power. In this paper, we optimized the design of a standing wave thermoacoustic generator that can provide high intensity acoustic pressure and convert it into electrical power output using a low cost alternator. Three prototypes of standing wave thermoacoustic generator (TAG) were designed to optimize the overall efficiency. The first prototype of standing wave TAG could produce an acoustic pressure of 0.9 kPa (153 dB) with an input thermal power of 210 W. Further, the maximum heat to electrical conversion efficiency was 0.045% with an input thermal power of 250 W. However, the performance of this system was not fully optimized. The performance of TAE depends upon various parameters including stack position, stack length and resonator length. Hence, a new second prototype of tunable TAG was developed to tune these critical parameters in order to improve the overall efficiency. A compact third prototype of TAG was successfully built with optimized parameters and has been tested. In the improved design, high intensity acoustic pressure of 2.9 kPa (163.5 dB) was observed for the same 210 W input thermal power. The maximum heat to electrical energy conversion efficiency was 0.084% with an input of 250 W which is 87% higher as compared to the first prototype. The major reason for the lower conversion efficiency is due to the low efficiency of the alternator. In future, high efficiency alternator designs can be employed along with careful impedance matching to obtain higher conversion efficiencies. The results described in this paper demonstrate the potential of developing compact portable acoustic power and electricity generators for decentralized power applications.     

Space‐ and Time‐Resolved In‐situ Spectroscopy on the Coke Formation in Molecular Sieves: Methanol‐to‐Olefin Conversion over H‐ZSM‐5 and H‐SAPO‐34

Formation of coke in large H‐ZSM‐5 and H‐SAPO‐34 crystals during the methanol‐to‐olefin (MTO) reaction has been studied in a space‐ and time‐resolved manner. This has been made possible by applying a high‐temperature in‐situ cell in combination with micro‐spectroscopic techniques. The buildup of optically active carbonaceous species allows detection with UV/Vis microscopy, while a confocal fluorescence microscope in an upright configuration visualises the formation of coke molecules and their precursors inside the catalyst grains. In H‐ZSM‐5, coke is initially formed at the triangular crystal edges, in which straight channel openings reach directly the external crystal surface. At reaction temperatures ranging from 530 to 745 K, two absorption bands at around 415 and 550 nm were detected due to coke or its precursors. Confocal fluorescence microscopy reveals fluorescent carbonaceous species that initially form in the near‐surface area and gradually diffuse inwards the crystal in which internal intergrowth boundaries hinder a facile penetration for the more bulky aromatic compounds. In the case of H‐SAPO‐34 crystals, an absorption band at around 400 nm arises during the reaction. This band grows in intensity with time and then decreases if the reaction is carried out between 530 and 575 K, whereas at higher temperatures its intensity remains steady with time on stream. Formation of the fluorescent species during the course of the reaction is limited to the near‐surface region of the H‐SAPO‐34 crystals, thereby creating diffusion limitations for the coke front moving towards the middle of the crystal during the MTO reaction. The two applied micro‐spectroscopic techniques introduced allow us to distinguish between graphite‐like coke deposited on the external crystal surface and aromatic species formed inside the zeolite channels. The use of the methods can be extended to a wide variety of catalytic reactions and materials in which carbonaceous deposits are formed.     

Titanium Nanorods Loaded PCL Meshes with Enhanced Blood Vessel Formation and Cell Migration for Wound Dressing Applications

Proper management of nonhealing wounds is an imperative clinical challenge. For the effective healing of chronic wounds, suitable wound coverage materials with the capability to accelerate cell migration, cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and wound healing are required to protect the healing wound bed. Biodegradable polymeric meshes are utilized as effective wound coverage materials to protect the wounds from the external environment and prevent infections. Among them, electrospun biopolymeric meshes have got much attention due to their extracellular matrix mimicking morphology, ability to support cell adhesion, and cell proliferation. Herein, electrospun nanocomposite meshes based on polycaprolactone (PCL) and titanium dioxide nanorods (TNR) are developed. TNR incorporated PCL meshes are fabricated by electrospinning technique and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, and X‐Ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. In vitro cell culture studies, in ovo angiogenesis assay, in vivo implantation study, and in vivo wound healing study are performed. Interestingly, obtained in vitro and in vivo results demonstrated that the presence of TNR in the PCL meshes greatly improved the cell migration, proliferation, angiogenesis, and wound healing. Owing to the above superior properties, they can be used as excellent biomaterials in wound healing and tissue regeneration applications.     

封装Fe(Ⅲ),Ni(Ⅱ)和Cu(Ⅱ)的N,N'-双邻羟苯亚甲基-1,2-苯二胺络合物的Y分子筛催化4-氯-3-甲基苯酚氧化反应

将Fe(Ⅲ),Ni(Ⅲ)和Cu(Ⅱ)与N,N'-双邻羟苯亚甲基-1,2-苯二胺配位的络合物封装在Y分子筛内,作为多相类Fenton的高级氧化过程的催化剂,用于降解4-氯-3-甲基苯酚(PCMC).采用粉末X射线衍射、热重、N2吸附-脱附、红外光谱、元素分析和扫描电镜对所制催化剂的物化性质进行了表征,并考察了H2O2的初始浓度、催化剂用量、温度和pH值等因素对模型有机污染物降解的影响.结果表明,在Fe(Ⅲ),Ni(Ⅲ)和Cu(Ⅱ)催化剂作用下,在较低的酸性pH值、催化剂用量0.1 g、H2O2的初始浓度0.35 mmol/L的条件下,于50℃反应120 min几乎可以完全去除PCMC.同时还考察了所制PCMC降解催化剂的重复使用性能,提出了可能的催化剂失活机理,也研究了PCMC氧化过程中可能的中间产物和动力学.