Adsorption of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons on Graphene Oxides and Reduced Graphene Oxides

Graphene has attracted increasing attention in multidisciplinary studies because of its unique physical and chemical properties. Herein, the adsorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), such as naphthalene (NAP), anthracene (ANT), and pyrene (PYR), on reduced graphene oxides (rGOs) and graphene oxides (GOs) as a function of pH, humic acid (HA), and temperature were elucidated by means of a batch technique. For comparison, nonpolar and nonporous graphite were also employed in this study. The increasing of pH from 2 to 11 did not influence the adsorption of PAHs on rGOs, whereas the suppressed adsorption of NAP on rGOs was observed both in the presence of HA and under high‐temperature conditions. Adsorption isotherms of PAHs on rGOs were in accordance with the Polanyi–Dubinin–Ashtahhov (PDA) model, providing evidence that pore filling and flat surface adsorption were involved. The saturated adsorbed capacities (in mmol g^?1) of rGOs for PAHs calculated from the PDA model significantly decreased in the order of NAP>PYR>ANT, which was comparable to the results of theoretical calculations. The pore‐filling mechanism dominates the adsorption of NAP on rGOs, but the adsorption mechanisms of ANT and PYR on rGOs are flat surface adsorption.     

Surface and Antimicrobial Properties of N-Palmitoyl Amino Acid–Based Surfactants

Synthesized sodium N-pamitoyl amino acids were evaluated for surface and antimicrobial properties and compared with sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). Emulsion stability of the amino acid surfactants and calcium tolerance of the sodium N-palmitoyl isoleucine were better as compared to SLS. Wetting ability and foaming properties of the palmitic acid-based surfactants were inferior to SLS. N-Acyl amino acids exhibited better antibacterial activity compared to sodium salts of N-acyl amino acids and standard compounds against Staphylococcus aureus MLS-16 and Bacillus subtilis. These studies revealed that the palmitoyl amino acid surfactants can be exploited in household, skin care formulations, and industrial applications.     

Adsorption of Nonionic Surfactant from Its Aqueous Solution onto Commercial Rubber

Adsorption of Ethoxylated Nonyl Phenol (ENP) surfactant from its aqueous solution onto a commercial tire cutting from different sites. Outer Peristalitic (O.P.), Outer Smouth (O.S.), and Internal Tire (I.T.) is studied after different immersion times, 24, 48, 72, and 144 hrs at 30° C. The adsorption isotherms are determined by a surface tension method. A two stepped L-type isotherm is characteristic below the CMC of ENP; above this concentration the isotherm deviates from the L-type and the slope of the isotherm increases sharply. A Langmuir fit has been found below the CMC of ENP. From the maximum amounts adsorbed at pseudo-plateau (T_max of the tested samples it was found that the efficiency of adsorption onto the rubber surface decreases in the order, O.P. > O.S. > I.T.     

Surface-Modified Sb2S3 Nanoparticles and Their Tribological Behaviors in Liquid Paraffin

Sb₂S₃ nanoparticles surface-modified with S-tetradecyl N, N-dihydroxyethyl dithiocarbamate (C₁₄DTC-Sb₂S₃) have been synthesized via extraction of Sb₂S₃ colloidal particles from ethylene glycol into toluene in the presence of C₁₄DTC. The obtained products were characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) and Fourier transformation infrared (FTIR), and their tribological behaviors as an additive in liquid paraffin were investigated using a four-ball tribometer. The results show that C₁₄DTC-Sb₂S₃ nanoparticles can significantly improve the friction reduction, anti-wear, and load-carrying properties of base oils. The preliminary lubrication mechanism was discussed based on the SEM and XPS investigation of the rubbed surfaces.     

Exploiting Aggregation To Achieve Phase Separation in Macrocyclization

The aggregation properties of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) can be exploited in organic synthesis to control dilution effects. Through the use of solvent mixtures containing PEG₄₀₀/MeOH, macrocyclization by Glaser–Hay coupling can be conducted at high concentrations. The origin of the selectivity has been studied by using surface tension measurements, UV spectroscopy, and chemical tagging and demonstrates the dependence of the yield and selectivity on the aggregation of PEG₄₀₀ and its ability to preferentially solubilize organic substrates, resulting in a phase separation from the catalyst system.     

Influence of surface properties on the interfacial adhesion in carbon fiber/epoxy composites

A polyacrylonitrile‐based carbon fiber was electrochemically oxidized in an aqueous ammonium bicarbonate solution with current density of up to 2.76 A/m² at room temperature. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that the oxygen content increased with increasing current density before approaching saturation. The increase can be divided into two regions, the rapid increase region (0–1.78 A/m²) and a plateau region (1.78–2.76 A/m²). The surface chemistry analysis showed that the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) value of the carbon fiber/epoxy composite could be improved by 24.7%. The carbon structure was examined using Raman spectroscopy in terms of order/disorder in the graphite structure and the results indicated that the relative percentage of graphite carbon in the form of sp² hybridization increased above a current density of 1.39 A/m². The increasing non‐polar graphite carbon on the carbon fiber surface decreased the surface energy. As a result, both the surface free energy () and its polar component () decreased when current density increased above 1.78 A/m². The ILSS value had no direct relationship with the nature and surface density of the oxygen‐containing functional groups nor with the carbon structure. It is the surface free energy (), especially the polar component (), which played a critical role in affecting the interfacial adhesion of carbon fiber/epoxy composites. The ILSS value changed with increasing current density and could be divided into three distinct regions, as chemical interaction region (I), anchor force region (II) and matrix damage region (III). Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

CO Oxidation Catalytic Effects of Intrinsic Surface Defects in Rhombohedral LaMnO3

There is an ongoing effort to replace rare and expensive noble-element catalysts with more abundant and less expensive transition metal oxides. With this goal in mind, the intrinsic defects of a rhombohedral perovskite-like structure of LaMnO₃ and their implications on CO catalytic properties were studied. Surface thermodynamic stability as a function of pressure (P) and temperature (T) were calculated to find the most stable surface under reaction conditions (P=0.2 atm, T=323 K to 673 K). Crystallographic planes (100), (111), (110), and (211) were evaluated and it was found that (110) with MnO₂ termination was the most stable under reaction conditions. Adsorption energies of O₂ and CO on (110) as well as the effect of intrinsic defects such as Mn and O vacancies were also calculated. It was found that O vacancies favor the interaction of CO on the surface, whereas Mn vacancies can favor the formation of carbonate species.     

Prediction of thermodynamic and surface properties of Pb−Hg liquid alloys at different temperatures

The thermodynamic properties, such as free energy of mixing, heat of mixing, activity and structural properties, such as concentration fluctuation in long wavelength limit, short-range order parameter of Pb–Hg liquid alloy at 600 K have been calculated using theoretical modelling. It has then been correlated with modified Butler model to compute the surface tension of the alloys at different temperatures. The Pb–Hg system at 600 K is found to be ordering at higher concentration of Pb.     

α-Al_2O_3比表面积标准物质的研制

选择市售α-Al2O3粉体作为比表面积标准物质候选材料,采用交叉缩分方法对标准物质样品进行分装。检验结果表明α-Al2O3标准物质样品具有良好的均匀性和稳定性(18个月)。采用国际公认的氮气物理吸附BET方法,联合测量能力经过确认的8家实验室对α-Al2O3标准物质样品进行定值,标准值比表面积为5.47 m2/g,不确定度为0.22 m2/g(k=2)。     

Modeling and optimizing toughness and rigidity of PA6/SBR: Using compatibilizer and response surface methodology

The improvement of miscibility between toughened Polyamide-6 (PA6) and Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (SBR) was carried out using grafted Glycidyl Methacrylate (SBR-g-GMA). At first, the compatibilizers were prepared using different comonomers, Styrene, and N-vinyl pyrrolidone. Central composited design (CCD) was distinctly applied to study the influence of Glycidyl Methacrylate (GMA) content and comonomer/GMA on the process of compatibilizer preparation. Four models were developed for Gel content and Degree of grafting for both comonomers using Design-expert software. The models were used to calculate the optimum operating conditions and according to the Flory-Huggins parameter and obtained results, SBR-co-NVP-g-GMA was chosen as an effective compatibilizer. Afterward, another CCD was employed to scrutinize the effect of various amounts and grafting degree of compatibilizer on morphology and mechanical properties of PA6/SBR. The Interparticle distance and polydispersity were studied using a Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and also the Izod impact test inspected in order to evaluate the mechanical properties. Finally, modulus and impact strength were optimized to minimize the former and maximize the latter. Also, the most practical terms in the fitted model are statistically specified using F-value. The root causes for the improvement of blend properties were attributed to a chemical reaction between epoxy groups in SBR-g-GMA and both the carboxylic and amine groups in PA6. Impact strength (539.8 J/m) and modulus (2017.2 N/mm²) of the optimum blend indicate an excellent agreement with the amounts predicted by the models.