Pyrolysis Analysis and Kinetics of Crude Oils

This research presents the results of an experimental study on the determination of pyrolysis behaviour and kinetics of six crude oils by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG/DTG). Crude oil pyrolysis indicated two main temperature ranges where loss of mass was observed. The first region between ambient to 400°C was distillation. The second region between 400 and 600°C was visbreaking and thermal cracking. Arrhenius-type kinetic model is used to determine the kinetic parameters of crude oils studied. It was observed that as crude oils gets heavier (°API decreases) cracking activation energy increases. Activation energy of cracking also show a general trend with asphaltene content. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Cathodoluminescence Depth Profiling in SiO2:Ge Layers

 For investigation of the luminescent center profile cathodoluminescence measurements are used under variation of the primary electron energy E ₀ = 2…30 keV. Applying a constant incident power regime (E ₀·I ₀ = const), the depth profiles of luminescent centers are deduced from the range of the electron energy transfer profiles dE/dx. Thermally grown SiO₂ layers of thickness d = 500 nm have been implanted by Ge⁺-ions of energy 350 keV and doses (0.5–5)10¹⁶ ions/cm². Thus Ge profiles with a concentration maximum of (0.4 – 4) at% at the depth of d_m≅240 nm are expected. Afterwards the layers have been partially annealed up to T _a = 1100 °C for one hour in dry nitrogen. After thermal annealing, not only the typical violet luminescence (λ = 400 nm) of the Ge centers is strongly increased but also the luminescent center profiles are shifted from about 250 nm to 170 nm depth towards the surface. This process should be described by Ge diffusion processes, precipitation and finally Ge nanocluster formation. Additionally, a Ge surface layer is piled-up extending to a depth of roughly 25 nm.     

Hydrolysis of 1,2-disubstituted imidazolines in aqueous media

The kinetics of hydrolysis of 1,2-disubstituted imidazolines in aqueous media was studied (pH 2.0—12.5, T = 25—90 °C) by UV spectroscopy. The hydrolysis products were identified. The introduction of a branched substituent into position 2 of the imidazoline ring increases the hydrolytic stability of the compounds. The effect of the pH on the hydrolysis rate of imidazolines is discussed.     

A simultaneous TG–DTA study of the thermal decomposition of 2-hydroxybenzoic acid, 2-carboxyphenyl ester (salsalate)

Simultaneous thermogravimetry–differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA) and gas and liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry detection have been used to study the kinetics and decomposition of 2-hydroxybenzoic acid, 2-carboxyphenyl ester, commercially known as salsalate. Samples of salsalate were heated in the TG–DTA apparatus in an inert atmosphere (100 ml min⁻¹ nitrogen) in the temperature range 30–500 °C. The data indicated that the decomposition of salsalate is a two-stage process. The first decomposition stage (150–250 °C) had a best fit with second-order kinetics with E_a=191–198 kJ/mol. The second decomposition stage (300–400 °C) is described as a zero-order process with E_a=72–80 kJ/mol. The products of the decomposition were investigated in two ways:

(a)Salsalate was heated in a gas chromatograph at various isothermal temperatures in the range 150–280 °C, and the exit gas stream analyzed by mass spectrometry (GC–MS). This approach suggested that salsalate decomposes with the formation of salicylic acid, phenol, phenyl salicylate, and cyclic oligomers of salicylic acid di- and tri-salicylides.

(b)One gram samples of salsalate were heated in a vessel under nitrogen to 150 °C, and the residues were analyzed by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS). The major compound detected was a linear tetrameric salicylate ester.

     

Preparation and Characteristics of Porous Silica Films by a Modified Base-Catalyzed Sol-Gel Process Containing PVA: II. Film Preparation

Porous SiO₂ films were successfully deposited on silicon substrates by a modified base-catalyzed Sol-Gel process (MBCP) containing polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The process conditions, such as the gelation time, the synthesis temperature, the stabilizing agent of the precursor solution and the spin coating speed, the heat-treatment, the annealing temperature of the film on the microstructure and porosity of porous SiO₂ films were systematically investigated by SEM, XRD and ellipsometry techniques. This study provides a novel preparation technique for the porous SiO₂ film. Using this process, the resultant film can reach a thickness of 3.6 m for one layer, a porosity of 25–50%, a low thermal conductivity of 0.11 W/m·K. This film will be used as a low dielectric layer, an thermal-insulating layer and a low refractive index layer.     

Azocalixarenes: Synthesis, Characterization, Complexation, Extraction, Absorption Properties and Thermal Behaviours

Azocalixarenes, which have a conjugated chromophore azo (–N=N–) group in p-positions, are synthesized in “one-pot” procedures in satisfactory yields. Their structures in the solid and solution are elucidated by UV–vis, FT-IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic methods as well as elemental analysis techniques. Some of them are complexed with metal ions (alkali, alkaline-earth and transition metal ions) under neutral conditions. A wide variety of applications is expected by the functionalization of the side arms. The selective liquid–liquid extraction of various alkali, alkaline-earth and transition metal cations from the aqueous phase to the organic phase is carried out by using azocalixarenes. Furthermore, the synthesized azocalixarenes are utilized for selective extraction of Fe³⁺ cations from the aqueous phase to the organic phase. The effects of varying pH and solvent upon the absorption ability of azocalixarenes substituted with electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups at their o-, m-, p-positions are examined. The thermal behaviours of azocalixarenes containing upper rim functionalized groups are investigated by means of thermogravimetry (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and differential thermogravimetry (DTG).     

Thermal Decomposition of Bi(III), Cd(II), Pb(II) and Cu(II) Thiocyanates

Thermal decomposition of Bi(SCN)₃, Cd(SCN)₂, Pb(SCN)₂ and Cu(SCN)₂ has been studied. The thermal analysis curves and the diffraction patterns of the solid intermediate and final products of the pyrolysis are presented. The gaseous products of the decomposition (SO₂ and CO₂) were detected and quantitatively determined. Thermal, X-ray and chemical analyses have been used to establish the nature of the reactions occurring at each stage in the decomposition.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of medium on the rate constant of decomposition of di(tert-butyl)trioxide

It was found that the medium affects the rate constant of the thermal decomposition of di(tert-butyl)trioxide. In all solvents studied, the decomposition occurred according to the first-order law. The effect of the solvent on the rate constant was analyzed within the framework of the Koppel-Palm equation.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1167–1168, June, 1995.The authors are grateful to O. N. Makarova for help in this work.This study was financially supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Grant No. 93-03-5231).     

Thermal decomposition of ammonium fluoroferrates (NH4)xFeF2x (2≤x≤3)

Different ammonium fluoroferrates (NH₄)_xFeF_2x (2≤x≤3) have been investigated. The thermal decomposition of the compounds obtained can be interpreted by their identical crystal structures (cryolite type). The decomposition products of all ammonium fluoroferrates formed in initial stage are isostructural of NH₄FeF₄. The decomposition is accompanied by the partial reduction of Fe(III) to Fe(II) by ammonium isolated. The end product of the thermal decomposition is FeF₂ and FeF₃ mixture.     

Effect of substituents (NH_2,OH,F) on structures and stability of lithofluorosilylenoids

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