Acidity of Alginate Aerogels Studied by FTIR Spectroscopy of Probe Molecules

Supercritical drying of alginate gels is an efficient way to prepare aerogels with high surface area (>300 m² · g⁻¹). FTIR spectroscopy allows to monitor the adsorption of NH₃ from the gas phase onto the acid sites of the alginate. Free carboxylic groups are effective Brønsted sites, whereas the divalent cations used in the ionotropic gelation present the properties of Lewis sites. The ratio between Brønsted and Lewis sites provides infomation on the role of pH in alginate gelation and suggests that non-buffered gelation by transition-metal cations is a mixed ionotropic-acid process.     

Effect of Filtrated Osmotic Solution Based on Concentrated Chokeberry Juice and Mint Extract on the Drying Kinetics,Energy Consumption and Physicochemical Properties of Dried Apples

Background: Filtration of osmotic solution affects selective penetration during osmotic dehydration (OD), and after drying is finished, this can influence the chemical composition of the material, which is also modified by OD. Methods: Osmotic dehydration was carried out in filtrated and non-filtrated concentrated chokeberry juice with the addition of mint infusion. Then, this underwent convective drying, vacuum-microwave drying and combined convective pre-drying, followed by vacuum-microwave finishing drying. Drying kinetics were presented and mathematical models were selected. The specific energy consumption for each drying method was calculated and the energy efficiency was determined. Results and Discussion: The study revealed that filtration of osmotic solution did not have significant effect on drying kinetics; however, it affected selective penetration during OD. The highest specific energy consumption was obtained for the samples treated by convective drying (CD) (around 170 kJ·g⁻¹ fresh weight (fw)) and the lowest for the samples treated by vacuum-microwave drying (VMD) (around 30 kJ·g⁻¹ fw), which is due to the differences in the time of drying and when these methods are applied. Conclusions: Filtration of the osmotic solution can be used to obtain the desired material after drying and the VMD method is the most appropriate considering both phenolic acid content and the energy aspect of drying.     

Effect of Precursor Drying Process on the Properties of LiFePO4/C Composite with Low Carbon Content

<正>Properties of two LiFePO_4/C composites with low carbon content synthesized from precursors dried by spray drying and blast drying are investigated by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and electrochemical measurements. The two samples have a different morphology and particle size, while the structure of LiFePO_4 is unaffected. The LiFePO_4/C composite prepared from the precursor dried by blast drying has a much lower surface resistance and a much better rate capability because the deposited carbon is more graphite-like and more conductive. The cycling performance is also much better for the LiFePO_4/C composite prepared from the precursor dried by blast drying because only a slight impedance growth is involved upon cycling. These results suggest that the precursor drying process has a significant impact on the properties of LiFePO_4/C composite, and its effect is highly dependent on the carbon content.     

超临界干燥法制备TiO2气凝胶

以钛酸四丁酯为原料,采用溶胶-凝胶过程及及超临界干燥法制备了TiO2气凝胶,并通过XRD,BET和TEM等方法对所得样品进行了表征.结果表明,该法制备的TiO2气凝胶具有很高的比表面积(488 m2/g),平均粒径为4.6nm,具有锐钛矿型晶体结构.经400℃煅烧2 h所得的纳米粉体,其锐钛矿型晶体结构更为明显,平均粒径6.7 nm,比表面积158 m2/g.     

Topologies of capillary condensation

Calculations are presented to illustrate the dependence of capillary adsorption upon the interactions present in model pores. The sequence of phase transitions at zero temperature is determined for a Lennard-Jones lattice gas in a pore consisting of 4 × 4 × sites. The dependence of the specific filling sequence upon the comparative strength of the gas-pore wall and the gas-gas interaction well-depths is determined. Grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations of sorption at finite temperature in the continuum version of the same model pore are also reported. Both the theory and the simulations were performed with variable gas-solid and gas-gas energy well-depths. At a temperature of 90 K, the gas-solid heterogeneity associated with atoms adsorbed in the corners, on the walls and in the interior pore volume gives rise to sequential adsorption similar to that observed in the lattice gas calculation at 0 K. A gradual approach to non-wetting behavior is observed as the gas-solid well-depth decreases. Values of the gas-solid well-depth needed to produce pore filling at saturation (i.e., pore-wetting) are discussed.     

Influence of 1-decanol on the surface tension and wetting power of a new anionic surfactant derived from sugar

We studied the adsorption behaviour at the liquid/air and liquid/solid interface of a new anionic surfactant derived from sugar, the sodium decyl galacturonate. The surface tension of aqueous solutions, measured in equilibrium and as a function of time, is particularly affected by the presence of decanol, synthesis residue, which amount ranges between about 0 and 13%. The surface tension lowering is accelerated in presence of decanol, owing to its rapid diffusion to the interface or/and because it affects the mobility and adsorption process of the anionic surfactant molecules. The wetting power of surfactant solutions were also investigated in relation with textile treatment applications. We measured the kinetics of absorption of surfactant solutions in a piece of standard cotton and compared it to the absorption of pure decanol, a completely wetting liquid and to the absorption of an alkylpolyglucoside. The time at which the fabric piece is saturated appears to be related to the adsorption of surface-active molecules on the fibers at the advancing liquid front/fabric contact line. Decanol was found to promote absorption and micellar life-time seem to reflect the differences observed at high concentration. This study shows the importance of controlling the amount of surface-active residues which may alter the kinetics of surfactant adsorption, particularly in industrial processes where equilibrium conditions are not reached.     

建模思想在化学原理教学中的运用

通过竞争反应与海水晒盐2个案例,阐述了在化学原理教学过程中运用建模思想,可以使复杂的过程变得简洁、抽象,从而明晰现象背后的原理、规律。     

块状TiO2气凝胶的制备及其表征

随着以溶胶-凝胶法和超临界干燥技术为基础的气凝胶制备方法的逐步完善,已不断制备出多种气凝胶[1～3].由于TiO2具有半导体特性,它常被作为光催化剂而受到重视,但是TiO2气凝胶的结构强度远比SiO2气凝胶小,在制备过程中极易碎裂粉化,所以至今未见制备块状TiO2气凝胶的报道.Dagan等[4]曾用异钛酸丁酯为母体制得TiO2气凝胶,并发现水杨酸在TiO2气凝胶存在下的光解速率是一般TiO2粉末的10倍,但获得的仅为TiO2气凝胶粉末.张敬畅等[5]以无机盐为原料,采用溶胶-凝胶法结合超临界干燥技术制备了纳米级TiO2气凝胶,也未能得到块状TiO2气凝胶材料. 本文报道以正钛酸丁酯为原料制备块状TiO2气凝胶的方法,并用TEM,SEM,XRD和IR等手段对所获得的气凝胶进行了结构表征.     

Morphological,mechanical, and in vitro cytocompatibility analysis of poly(vinyl alcohol)–silica glass hybrid scaffolds reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals

Cellulose nanocrystal-reinforced poly(vinyl alcohol)/silica glass hybrid scaffolds were fabricated using the freeze-drying method. In this study, we develop molecular-level-based hybrid scaffolds with possible bioactivity behavior by adding silica sol–gel. The results showed a highly porous structure and a significant improvement in mechanical performance (stiffness) of hybrid scaffolds with an increased content of cellulose nanocrystals followed by the addition of silica-based bioactive glass. In vitro cell study with MC3T3-E1 cells on hybrid scaffolds for 1 and 3 days revealed good cell adhesion and growth. Thus, the obtained hybrid scaffold may be a competitive candidate for bone tissue engineering applications.