Spectrophotometric Studies of Entrapped Thymol Phtalein pH Indicator into Sol‐Gel Matrix

This research involves the behavior of thymol phtalein pH indicator entrapped into the sol‐gel derived inorganic matrix. The method is based on the physical entrapment of the reagent molecules in the sol‐gel matrix. The immobilized thymol phthalein pH indicator shows behavior similar to its solution counterpart. The UV/vis spectra indicate that the thymol phthalein retains its structure during the sol‐gel reactions in terms of response to pH. Thymol phthalein can be regarded as uniformly distributed in the sol‐gel matrix. This observation has been confirmed using polarized microscopy. This research shows that thymol phtalein can be immobilized in sol‐gel glasses and used as a solid pH sensor.     

Dynamic and Equilibrium Studies on Adsorption of Cu(II) Ions onto Biopolymeric Cross-Linked Pectin and Alginate Beads

Binary biopolymeric beads of alginate and pectin were prepared and characterized by FTIR spectra. On to the surfaces of the prepared beads were performed static and dynamic adsorption studies of Cu(II) ions at fixed pH and ionic strength of the aqueous metal ion solutions. The adsorption data were applied to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm equations and various adsorption parameters were calculated. The influence of various experimental parameters such as effect of time, pH, temperature, solid to liquid ratio, and the presence of salts were investigated on the adsorption of copper ions.     

Entrapment of pH Universal Indicator into Sol‐Gel Matrix

This study involves the behavior of universal indicator entrapped into the sol‐gel matrix. The encapsulation of universal indicator has been prepared by acid catalyzed sol‐gel reaction of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) in the presence of universal indicator to produce transparent monolithic silica doping with universal indicator. The immobilized universal indicator pH‐indicator shows behavior similar to its solution counterpart. The UV/VIS spectra indicate that the universal indicator retains its structure during the sol‐gel reactions in terms of response to pH. The universal indicator can be regarded as uniformly distributed in the sol‐gel matrix. The use of SDS surfactant has positive effects on the immobilized universal indicator monolithic disk due to homogenizing the polymerizing system. This observation has been confirmed using polarized microscopy.     

Ammonium Determination in Water Samples by Using Opa-Nac Reagent: A Comparative Study with Nessler and Ammonium Selective Electrode Methods

A selective and sensitive method based on the ammonium derivatisation with o -phthaldialdehyde (OPA) and N -acetyl-cysteine (NAC) has been developed for ammonium determination in real water samples. The proposed procedure has been compared with ammonium reference methods such as Nessler reagent method and ammonium selective electrode. All procedures have been chemometrically tested and compared in terms of the main analytical properties. These procedures have been used to determine ammonium in unknown water samples. The OPA-NAC reagent method does not present any systematic error (proportional or constant), while Nessler reagent presents both of them for some samples assayed. The ammonium selective electrode is free of corrigible systematic errors, however presents amine interference. The OPA-NAC ammonium method is able to achieve a detection limit (LOD) of 0.07 mg/L in the sample, with a linear dynamic range up to 1.4 mg/L of ammonium.     

On Resin Modification of Monosaccharides

Ellman's dihydropyran resin was used for selective protection of monosaccharide thioglycosides and glycosides. Following on‐resin acylation and subsequent cleavage of the polymer‐bound intermediates, product components having selectively unblocked hydroxyl functions could be obtained.      

Engineering of Supported Nanomaterials

This brief review analyzes the parameters that can be used to guide the generation of hierarchic systems that include inorganic and/or biological nanoscale objects. Importance of interface effects and geometrical factors are underlined. The mutual influence between the substrate and the deposited material is an important factor to determine the most appropriate set of parameters for the synthesis of nanomaterials with desirable properties for industrial applications.     

海水电解面临的挑战与机遇：含氯电化学中先进材料研究进展

氢气是一种清洁高效的能源载体,通过海水电解规模化制备氢气能够为应对全球能源挑战提供新的机遇。然而,缺乏高活性、高选择性和高稳定性的理想电极材料是在腐蚀性海水中连续电解过程的一个巨大挑战。为了缓解这一困境,需要从基础理论和实际应用两方面对材料进行深入研究。近年来,人们围绕电极材料的催化活性、选择性和耐腐蚀性进行了大量的探索。本文重点总结了高选择性和强耐腐蚀性材料的设计合成与作用机制。其中详细介绍了多种电极材料(如多金属氧化物、Ni/Fe/Co基复合材料、氧化锰包覆异质结构等)对氧气生成选择性的研究进展;系统论述了各种材料的抗腐蚀工程研究成果,主要讨论了本征抗腐蚀材料、外防护涂层和原位产生抗腐蚀物种三种情况。此外,提出了海水电解过程中存在的挑战和潜在的机遇。先进纳米材料的设计有望为解决海水电解中的氯化学问题提供新思路。     

Immobilization of Eversa® Transform via CLEA Technology Converts It in a Suitable Biocatalyst for Biolubricant Production Using Waste Cooking Oil

The performance of the previously optimized magnetic cross-linked enzyme aggregate of Eversa (Eversa-mCLEA) in the enzymatic synthesis of biolubricants by transesterification of waste cooking oil (WCO) with different alcohols has been evaluated. Eversa-mCLEA showed good activities using these alcohols, reaching a transesterification activity with isoamyl alcohol around 10-fold higher than with methanol. Yields of isoamyl fatty acid ester synthesis were similar using WCO or refined oil, confirming that this biocatalyst could be utilized to transform this residue into a valuable product. The effects of WCO/isoamyl alcohol molar ratio and enzyme load on the synthesis of biolubricant were also investigated. A maximum yield of around 90 wt.% was reached after 72 h of reaction using an enzyme load of 12 esterification units/g oil and a WCO/alcohol molar ratio of 1:6 in a solvent-free system. At the same conditions, the liquid Eversa yielded a maximum ester yield of only 34%. This study demonstrated the great changes in the enzyme properties that can be derived from a proper immobilization system. Moreover, it also shows the potential of WCO as a feedstock for the production of isoamyl fatty acid esters, which are potential candidates as biolubricants.     

Biselective refocusing pulses and the SERF experiment

The SERF experiment is a variant of the homonuclear J-resolved experiment, in which a single coupling constant is measured. It consists of a single chemical shift selective excitation that is followed by a biselective spin echo. Recent articles mention the existence of artefacts in SERF spectra that are supposedly related to pulse imperfections. This article presents a detailed study of the biselective refocusing pulses. It also reports a method for predicting the position and amplitude of the expected and unexpected 2D spectral peaks in SERF spectra. Artefacts can be partially eliminated by phase cycling or by the introduction of static field gradient pulses in the acquisition sequence. A procedure to obtain of pure absorption peaks in SERF spectra is proposed.     

通过"双离子键"固载于季鏻盐聚合物的[Rh(CO)I3]2–物种在多相乙醇羰基化中的应用

贵金属物种(Rh或Ir络合物)在均相羰基化和氢甲酰化催化过程得到了广泛的应用,但始终存在分离繁琐等问题,其均相多相化可很大程度上简化分离操作,故一直广受重视.单位点催化剂因其具有可与均相相比拟的较高金属利用率和选择性而成为均相多相化的重要研究方向之一.研究发现,在碘物种存在的情况下用于固载金属物种的配位键容易断裂,进而导致金属物种的流失,而通过离子键固载的[Rh(CO)₂I₂]^–物种更加稳定,比如著名的甲醇羰基化“Acetica^TM”工艺中,[Rh(CO)₂I₂]^–负一价阴离子物种是以离子键的方式固定在带有阳离子骨架的甲基化聚乙烯吡啶树脂上.与甲醇羰基化过程类似的乙醇羰基化过程是生产重要化工中间体丙酸的主要途径之一,但该过程的均相多相化始终存在着稳定性差这一关键问题.为了解决这一问题,基于之前将固载于季鏻盐聚合物的[Rh(CO)I₃]^2–应用于甲醇羰基化的工作,我们将类似的季鏻盐聚合物固载Rh基催化剂Rh-TPISP用于多相乙醇羰基化过程,通过多种表征进一步证明了Rh物种和P物种结构,并提出了“双离子键”模型.P的K边XANES证明了聚合物TPISP的季鏻化阳离子骨架特征.HAADF-STEM测试表明Rh-TPISP中的Rh呈现单位点分散的状态.Rh的XPS和XANES结果证明了Rh-TPISP中Rh物种的价态介于0~+1.通过EXAFS的拟合解析给出了[Rh(CO)I₃]^2–活性中心结构.由于[Rh(CO)₂I₂]^–为经典的羰基化活性中心,为了进一步证明该结构的正确性,我们将Rh-TPISP的EXAFS和IR谱图与标样[PPh3Et]⁺[Rh(CO)₂I₂]^–对比发现:在EXAFS谱图中,Rh-TPISP中的Rh-C峰高低于[PPh3Et]+[Rh(CO)₂I₂]^–的Rh-C峰高,而Rh-TPISP中的Rh-I峰高高于[PPh3Et]+[Rh(CO)₂I₂]^–的Rh-I峰高,这就说明Rh-TPISP中Rh物种的Rh-C配位数小于2,而Rh-I配位数大于2;在IR谱图中,标样[PPh3Et]+[Rh(CO)₂I₂]^–中有两个羰基振动峰,与该物种的两个Rh-C配位键相符,而Rh-TPISP中的只有一个羰基振动峰,说明Rh-C配位数为1.因此,Rh-TPISP催化剂的季鏻盐骨架中的每个P物种带有一个正电荷,每个带有两个负电荷的[Rh(CO)I₃]^2–通过与两个[P]⁺的静电作用进行固载,形成“双离子键”结构.该催化剂在固定床乙醇羰基化过程中表现出优异的羰基化活性、选择性和稳定性.在3.5 MPa、195 oC反应近1000 h后,Rh-TPISP催化剂TOF保持在约350 h–1,丙酰基选择性为95%以上,高出所有文献报道的均相和多相乙醇羰基化活性.其较高的活性主要是因为[Rh(CO)I₃]^2–比传统Rh活性相[Rh(CO)₂I₂]^–具有更强的富电子性,而较高的稳定性主要是由于“双离子键”这种强静电作用比“AceticaTM”工艺中“单离子键”更有利于Rh物种的固载.故Rh-TPISP催化剂中的“双离子键”对其优异的催化性能具有极其重要的作用,对后续多相乙醇羰基化的发展具有重要意义.