Product analysis and mechanism of toluene degradation by low temperature plasma with single dielectric barrier discharge

A single dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) low-temperature plasma reactor was set up, and toluene was selected as the representative substance for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), to study the reaction products and degradation mechanism of VOCs degradation by low-temperature plasma. Different parameters effect on the concentration of O₃ and NO_x during the degradation of toluene were studied. The exhaust in the process of toluene degradation was continuously detected and analyzed, and the degradation mechanism of toluene was explored. The results showed that the concentration of O₃ increased with the increase of the power density and discharge voltage of the plasma device. However, as the initial concentration of toluene increased, the concentration of O₃ basically keep steady. The concentration of NO_x in the by-products increased with the discharge voltage, power density, and initial concentration of toluene in the plasma device, and the concentration of NO₂ was much higher than the concentration of NO. The degradation process of toluene was detected and analyzed. The results showed that the degradation mechanism of toluene by plasma includes high energy electron bombardment reaction, active radical reaction and ion molecule reaction. Among them, the effect of high-energy electrons on toluene degradation is the largest, followed by the effect of free radicals, in which oxygen radicals participated in the reaction mainly through the formation of C–O bond, CO bond, (CO)–O– bond and –OH radical, while nitrogen radicals participate in the reaction mainly through the formation of C–NH₂, (CNH)- bond, CN bond and C–NO₂ bond. The results can provide some data supports for the study of low-temperature plasma degradation of VOCs.     

Analysis of phosphorus herbicides by ion-pairing reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with octapole reaction cell

A reversed phase ion-pairing high performance liquid chromatographic (RPIP-HPLC) method is developed for the separation of two phosphorus herbicides, Glufosinate and Glyphosate as well as Aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), the major metabolite of Glyphosate. Tetrabutylammonium hydroxide is used as the ion-pairing reagent in conjunction with an ammonium acetate/acetic acid buffering system at pH 4.7. An inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) is coupled to the chromatographic system to detect the herbicides at m/z = 31P. Historically, phosphorus has been recognized as one of the elements difficult to analyze in argon plasma. This is due to its relatively high ionization potential (10.5 eV) as well as the inherent presence of the polyatomic interferences 14N16O1H+ and 15N16O+ overlapping its only isotope at m/z = 31. An octapole reaction cell is utilized to minimize the isobaric polyatomic interferences and to obtain the highest signal-to-background ratio. Detection limits were found to be in the low ppt range (25-32 ng/l). The developed method is successfully applied to the analysis of water samples collected from the Ohio River and spiked with a standard compounds at a level of 20 microg/l.     

Direct Electrochemistry of Multi‐Copper Oxidases at Carbon Nanotubes Noncovalently Functionalized with Cellulose Derivatives

This study describes the direct electron transfer of multi‐copper oxidases, i.e., laccase (from Trametes versicolor) and bilirubin oxidase (BOD, from Myrothecium verrucaria) at multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) noncovalently functionalized with biopolymers of cellulose derivatives, i.e., hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), methyl cellulose (MC), and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). The functionalization of the MWNTs with the cellulose derivatives is found to substantially solubilize the MWNTs into aqueous media and to avoid their aggregation on electrode surface. Under anaerobic conditions, the redox properties of laccase and BOD are difficult to be defined with cyclic voltammetry at either laccase/MWNT‐modified or BOD/MWNT‐modified electrodes. The direct electron transfer properties of laccase and BOD are thus studied in terms of the bioelectrocatalytic activities of the laccase/MWNT‐modified and BOD/MWNT‐modified electrodes toward the reduction of oxygen and found to be facilitated at the functionalized MWNTs. The possible application of the laccase‐catalyzed O₂ reduction at the laccase/MWNT‐modified electrode is illustrated by constructing a CNT‐based ascorbate/O₂ biofuel cell with the MWNT‐modified electrode as the anode for the oxidation of ascorbate biofuel.     

Synthesis and characterization of P2O5–SiO2–X (X = phosphotungstic acid) glasses as electrolyte for low temperature H2/O2 fuel cell application

A new class of proton conducting glass membranes for hydrogen fuel cell applications are being developed using phosphotungstic acid. These glasses are being design to yield high proton conductivities could be potential substitutes for electrolytes in H₂/O₂ fuel cell. P₂O₅–SiO₂–PWA glasses have been non-crystalline phases confirmed by structural studies. The glass materials showed good mechanical and thermal stability, and also found a maximum proton conductivity of 9.1 × 10⁻² S/cm at 90 °C and 30% RH. The average pore size less than 5 nm was determined by Barrett–Joyner–Halenda (BJH) desorption method. The electrochemical activity was investigated by polarization curves and current–voltage profiles. A maximum power density value of 10.2 mW/cm² was obtained using 0.15 mg/cm² of Pt/C loaded on electrode and 5P₂O₅–87SiO₂–8PWA glasses at 30 °C and 30% humidity.     

SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF SULFONATED POLY（ARYLENE ETHER） CONTAINING TRIPHENYL METHANE MOIETIES FROM ISOCYNATE MASKED BISPHENOL

A novel sulfonated poly（arylene ether） containing triphenylmethane moieties was synthesized by the sulfonation of a designed parent polymer using chlorosulfonic acid as sulfonation agent. The sulfonation took place at the para position of the pendant phenyl rings because of the specially designed parent polymer. The position and degree of sulfonation were characterized by ^1H-NMR and elemental analysis. The sulfonated polymers are highly soluble in common organic solvents, such as dimethylsulfoxide, N,N＇-dimethylacetamide, dimethylformamide, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, and can be readily cast into tough and smooth films from solutions. The films showed good thermal and hydrolysis stabilities. Moreover, Fenton＇s reagent test revealed that the films exhibited superior stability to oxidation. The proton conductivities of the films were comparable with Nation 117 under same conditions. The membrane electrode assembly （MEA） prepared with the asmade film （706 EW, 100 μm dry thickness） shows better cell performance than Nation 115-MEA in the whole current density range.     

染料敏化太阳能电池中大孔TiO2薄膜电极的制备及应用

采用溶胶-凝胶水热法制备了TiO₂纳晶薄膜电极，晶型为锐钛矿型。为了提高电极的光电性能，利用聚苯乙烯小球做造孔剂，制备了含有大孔隙的TiO₂纳晶薄膜电极，孔径约为200 nm，该电极具有较好的光漫反射性能，更重要的是球形大孔的存在，提高了凝胶电解质在TiO₂薄膜电极中的渗透和I₃^-离子的扩散性能，与不含大孔的TiO₂电极相比，电池的短路光电流提高约2 mA·cm^-2，光电转换效率提高0.6%。     

CSE-MECC two-dimensional capillary electrophoresis analysis of proteins in the mouse tumor cell (AtT-20) homogenate

Two-dimensional capillary electrophoresis was used for the separation of proteins and biogenic amines from the mouse AtT-20 cell line. The first-dimension capillary contained a TRIS–CHES–SDS–dextran buffer to perform capillary sieving electrophoresis, which is based on molecular weight of proteins. The second-dimension capillary contained a TRIS–CHES–SDS buffer for micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography. After a 61-s preliminary separation, fractions from the first-dimension capillary were successively transferred to the second-dimension capillary, where they further separated by MECC. The two-dimensional separation required 60 min.     

New Amphiphilic Polypyridyl Ruthenium（Ⅱ） Sensitizer and Its Application in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Amphiphilic polypyridyl mthenium（Ⅱ） complex cis-di（isothiocyanato）（4,4＇-di-tert-butyl-2,2＇-bipyridyl）（4,4＇- dicarboxy-2,2＇-bipyridyl）ruthenium（Ⅱ）（K005） has been synthesized and characterized by cyclic voltammetry, ^1H NMR, UV-Vis, and FT-IR spectroscopies. The sensitizer sensitizes TiO2 over a notably broad spectral range due to its intense metal-to-ligand charge-transfer （MLCT） bands at 537 and 418 nm. The photophysical and photochemical studies of K005 were contrasted with those of cis-Ru（dcbpy）2（NCS）2, known as the N3 dye, and the amphiphilic ruthenium（Ⅱ） dye Z907. A reversible couple at E1/2=0.725 V vs. saturated calomel electrode （SCE） with a separation of 0.08 V between the anodic and cathodic peaks, was observed due to the Ru^Ⅱ/Ⅲ couple by cyclic voltammetry. Furthermore, this amphiphilic ruthenium complex was successfully used as sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells with the efficiency of 3.72% at the 100 mW·cm^-2 irradiance of air mass 1.5 simulated sunlight without optimization of TiO2 films and the electrolyte.     

Continuous determination of carbon dioxide evolved during thermal decomposition reactions

A simple device suitable for continuous monitoring of carbon dioxide evolved during thermal decomposition reactions is described. Carbon dioxide is transported by a carrier gas through the device connected to thermoanalytical equipment and absorbed by soda lime reagent. The reaction heat released is linearly proportional to the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed.     

Sensitive Voltammetric Response of p‐Nitroaniline on Single‐Wall Carbon Nanotube‐Ionic Liquid Gel Modified Glassy Carbon Electrodes

An ionic liquid (i.e., 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, BMIMPF₆)‐single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) gel modified glassy carbon electrode (BMIMPF₆‐SWNT/GCE) is fabricated. At it the voltammetric behavior and determination of p‐nitroaniline (PNA) is explored. PNA can exhibit a sensitive cathodic peak at ?0.70 V (vs. SCE) in pH 7.0 phosphate buffer solution on the electrode, resulting from the irreversible reduction of PNA. Under the optimized conditions, the peak current is linear to PNA concentration over the range of 1.0×10^?8–7.0×10^?6 M, and the detection limit is 8.0×10^?9 M. The electrode can be regenerated by successive potential scan in a blank solution for about 5 times and exhibits good reproducibility. Meanwhile, the feasibility to determine other nitroaromatic compounds (NACs) with the modified electrode is also tested. It is found that the NACs studied (i.e., p‐nitroaniline, p‐nitrophenol, o‐nitrophenol, m‐nitrophenol, p‐nitrobenzoic acid, and nitrobenzene) can all cause sensitive cathodic peaks under the conditions, but their peak potentials and peak currents are different to some extent. Their peak currents and concentrations show linear relationships in concentration ranges with about 3 orders of magnitude. The detection limits are 8.0×10^?9 M for p‐nitroaniline, 2.0×10^?9 M for p‐nitrophenol, 5.0×10^?9 M for o‐nitrophenol, 5.0×10^?9 M for m‐nitrophenol, 2.0×10^?8 M for p‐nitrobenzoic acid and 8.0×10^?9 M for nitrobenzene respectively. The BMIMPF₆‐SWNT/GCE is applied to the determination of NACs in lake water.