Fluorocarbons in the global environment: a review of the important interactions with atmospheric chemistry and physics

Fluorocarbon impact on ozone depletion is reviewed together with the efficacy of the Montreal Protocol in acting to correct the imbalance between stratospheric ozone production and destruction. The Protocol is also helping to reduce global warming: CFCs are shown to be currently the largest fluorocarbon contributors to climate change. Relative contributions to climate change from CFCs and their HFC substitutes are discussed, together with the consequences of control of minor greenhouse gases on an environmental impact which is dominated by carbon dioxide emissions. Both the potencies of the materials for environmental change and their concentrations in the atmosphere are important and are considered here.Trifluoroacetic acid, a minor product of atmospheric decomposition of some HCFCs and HFCs and of the pyrolysis of fluoropolymers, has been shown to be uniformly distributed in seawater to a depth of over 4000 m and so is natural, although the actual source has yet to be identified.The Montreal Protocol is only one example of action to reduce undesirable impact from fluorocarbons. Other, less universal, actions include abatement of fluoroform greenhouse gas emissions from HCFC manufacturing, process changes to eliminate trifluoromethylsulfur pentafluoride emissions from electrochemical fluorination and ceasing manufacture of perfluorooctanyl sulfonate compounds due to their persistence in human tissue.     

Thermodynamic modeling for clathrate hydrates of ozone

We report a theoretical study to predict the phase-equilibrium properties of ozone-containing clathrate hydrates based on the statistical thermodynamics model developed by van der Waals and Platteeuw. The Patel–Teja–Valderrama equation of state is employed for an accurate estimation of the properties of gas phase ozone. We determined the three parameters of the Kihara intermolecular potential for ozone as a = 6.815 · 10⁻² nm, σ = 2.9909 · 10⁻¹ nm, and ε · k_B⁻¹ = 184.00 K. An infinite set of ε–σ parameters for ozone were determined, reproducing the experimental phase equilibrium pressure–temperature data of the (O₃ + O₂ + CO₂) clathrate hydrate. A unique parameter pair was chosen based on the experimental ozone storage capacity data for the (O₃ + O₂ + CCl₄) hydrate that we reported previously. The prediction with the developed model showed good agreement with the experimental phase equilibrium data within ±2% of the average deviation of the pressure. The Kihara parameters of ozone showed slightly better suitability for the structure-I hydrate than CO₂, which was used as a help guest. Our model suggests the possibility of increasing the ozone storage capacity of clathrate hydrates (∼7% on a mass basis) from the previously reported experimental capacity (∼1%).     

Ozone monitoring in a Mediterranean forest using diffusive and continuous sampling

Ambient ozone was measured in a forest in Castelporziano (Italy) characterised by the prevailing presence of Holm-oak trees (Quercus ilex L.) from June to November 2003. Two methods for measuring ozone were used: long-term monitoring using diffusive samplers at three heights within the canopy, and continuous monitoring at two heights using the UV method. Results for one week mean ozone levels above and below the canopy from the diffusive samplers were compared to those obtained using the automatic analyser at the same levels. A good correlation between the two sampling techniques was found. Continuous monitoring showed a daily cycle with a midday maximum and a nocturnal minimum. While the forest floor consistently had the lowest ozone concentration, there were no differences during most daytime hours. The midday maximum is clearly due to downward mixing with O₃-rich air from above. The night-time ozone decay within the canopy is the result of dry deposition of O₃ and most likely due to reaction with biogenically produced NO. AOT40 within and above the canopy mostly exceeded the critical levels.     

Air sampling of aromatic hydrocarbons in the presence of ozone by solid-phase microextraction

Effects of ozone on air sampling of standard gas mixtures of aromatic hydrocarbons were tested using solid-phase microextraction (SPME). Standard concentrations of ozone ranging from 10 ppb (v/v) to 6400 ppm (v/v) were generated using an in-house built ozone generator based on corona discharge. Effects of temperature, discharge voltage, and oxygen flow on the ozone generation were tested. The working dc voltage had the greatest effect on generated ozone concentration and was proportional to the ozone concentration. Generation temperature and oxygen flow rate were inversely proportional to ozone concentrations. Produced ozone was mixed with standard benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) gas at less than 100 ppb (v/v). Air samples were collected with poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) 100 microm SPME fibers and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC)-flame ionization detection (FID) and GC-MS. Significant reductions of BTEX concentrations were observed. In addition, some products of BTEX-ozone-oxygen reactions were identified. SPME worked well as a rapid sampler for BTEX and BTEX-ozone-oxygen reaction products. No significant deterioration of the PDMS coating and no significant reduction of absorption capacity were observed after repeated exposure to ozone.     

Ozone etching of a highly asymmetric triblock copolymer with a majority polydiene component

The ozone etching of thin films of a commercial polystyrene-polyisoprene-polystyrene (PS-PI-PS) triblock copolymer (Vector 4111) was studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and ellipsometry. The major phase of the copolymer consists of PI (82 wt.%) and the copolymer forms a cylindrical structure upon annealing. Moderate ozone doses (1.4% wt/wt) were used to etch the copolymer. This revealed two stages of the ozonation: rapid etching of the PI fragments followed by slow compacting of the remaining PS cylinders. Under certain conditions ozone treatment results in the formation of nanosized grooves in a PS matrix which is suitable for lithographic processes.     

TiO_2/Mn-ZSM-5复合催化剂的光催化-臭氧耦合降解乙醛

采用离子交换法制备了Mn-ZSM-5系列催化剂,并利用浸渍法制备了TiO2/Mn-ZSM-5系列复合催化剂.通过Uv-Vis、BET、X射线衍射等手段对催化剂进行了表征,考察了臭氧存在下乙醛的降解性能.结果表明:臭氧能显著促进乙醛的光催化降解,在所制备的催化剂中TiO2/Mn-ZSM-5(1:2)对乙醛降解具有最好的活性,这归功于这种复合催化剂对臭氧和乙醛的吸附和催化协同效应.     

Effects of ozone in surface modification and thermal stability of SEBS block copolymers

SEBS block copolymers were treated under mild conditions in an ozone atmosphere, producing very slightly chemically-modified surfaces. The thermal stability was analysed by chemiluminescence and related to morphological changes observed by AFM. The intrinsic thermal stability was diminished by ozone exposure, but the oxidation induction times were delayed which indicates an enhancement of thermal stability under oxidative conditions. Also, chemiluminescence analysis showed the presence of a typical order-disorder transition at temperatures around 120 °C. Two different sets of samples which showed different morphological patterns were imaged by AFM. The effects of micro-domain separation and inter-domain structure on thermal properties are discussed and explained by a coarsening of the internal interface induced by ozone. A detailed 2D Fourier transformed analysis of AFM images allowed us to identify a regular wrinkled nano-pattern induced by uniaxial strain combined with ozone treatment, offering new opportunities in applications ranging from organic electronics to bio-patterning.     

MnO2/ZSM-5上臭氧协同催化去除甲醛的性能研究

采用浸渍法制备了不同MnO2负载量的催化剂,用BET分析、X射线衍射等手段对其进行了分析,并考察了在MnO2/ZSM-5催化剂上臭氧协同催化去除甲醛的性能.结果显示:相对于单一的MnO2和ZSM-5,MnO2/ZSM-5复合催化剂具有更高的催化活性,其中10%MnO2/ZSM-5性能最佳,一次性去除效率可达到47%左右,制备所得到的催化剂有较强的稳定性,连续工作120h去除效率基本不变.     

Improving thermal and ozone stability of skim natural rubber by diimide reduction

The physical, chemical and thermal properties of diene-based polymers are improved by a chemical modification method such as hydrogenation. Skim natural rubber (SNR) which is mainly comprised of cis-1,4-polyisoprene was hydrogenated by diimide reduction in latex form, using hydrazine and hydrogen peroxide with copper sulfate as catalyst. The effect of various parameters on the level of hydrogenation calculated from proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H NMR) was investigated. The kinetic results indicated that the diimide hydrogenation of skim natural rubber latex (SNRL) exhibited a first order behavior with respect to the CC concentration. The apparent activation energy of the catalytic and non-catalytic hydrogenation of SNRL was calculated as 9.5 and 21.1 kJ/mol, respectively. From the TEM micrograph of hydrogenated SNRL particles, non-hydrogenated rubber core and hydrogenated rubber layer were observed according to a layer model. The results from thermal analysis confirmed that thermal stability of hydrogenated SNR was improved compared with the starting SNR. In addition, the thermal aging and ozone resistance of vulcanized hydrogenated SNR blends were also investigated.