Intermetallic Pt2Si：magnetron-sputtering preparation and electrocatalysis toward ethanol oxidation

Although most transition metals have been tested as the promoter to Pt for electrocatalysis toward fuel cell reactions,semi-conductor elements,such as Si,have hitherto not been examined.Here we report a simple synthesis of intermetallic Pt2Si electrode using magnetron sputtering and the electrocatalysis toward ethanol oxidation reaction（EOR）.In comparison to Pt,the intermetallic Pt2Si surface turns out to be much more active in catalyzing the EOR：the onset potential shifts negatively by 150 mV,and the current density at 0.6 V increases by a magnitude of one order.Such an enormous enhancement in EOR catalysis is ascribed to the promotion effects of Si,which can not only provide active surface oxygenated species to accelerate the removal of COads,but also strongly alter the electronic property of Pt,as clearly indicated by the core-level shift in XPS spectrum.     

Real‐Time Measurement of the Size Distribution of Diesel Exhaust Particles using a Portable 4‐stage Electrical Low Pressure Impactor

For this study, a 4 stage electrical low pressure impactor was designed to measure the real‐time size distribution of diesel particulate matter (DPM). For the performance evaluation, sodium chloride (NaCl) particles and dioctyl sebacate (DOS) particles were used. After evaluating the collection efficiency of each stage of the impactor, the size distributions of test particles were estimated using electrical current data and their inversion algorithm, and this was found to agree with the results obtained by a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS). For measurement of DPM, a common‐rail direct injection (CRDI) diesel engine, for engine speeds of 1,200 rpm and 1,500 rpm at 2.7 kgf·m, was used. Therefore, it was found that the size distribution of the DPM could be easily obtained, with the currents measured by the impactor and the data inversion algorithm, in less than 5 seconds. Furthermore, the effective density of the DPM could be obtained using the calculated results and the SMPS data.     

顶空气相色谱法测定瑞替加滨原料药中残留溶剂

建立了测定瑞替加滨原料药中残留溶剂乙醇、正己烷、四氢呋喃、三乙胺的顶空气相色谱方法。采用氢火焰离子化检测器,以N,N-二甲基甲酰胺为样品溶剂,通过对色谱条件优化,建立了以DB-624为分析柱、110℃为平衡温度、15 min为平衡时间的残留溶剂测定方法。经方法学验证,上述4种溶剂的方法检出限依次为0.007 5%、0.000 48%、0.002 4%、0.01%;峰面积的相对标准偏差均小于2.1%;平均回收率为100%～102%;4种溶剂的线性系数均大于0.995。结果表明,该方法的检测灵敏度高、精密度好、准确度高、线性关系良好,能够满足对瑞替加滨质量的控制要求。将该方法应用于3批瑞替加滨原料药的残留溶剂检测,均只检出乙醇和正己烷,且乙醇和正己烷的最高残留量分别为0.149%和0.022%,均未超出限量规定。     

Trifluoroethanol as a Metal-Free,Homogeneous, and Recyclable Medium for the Efficient One-Pot Synthesis of Dihydropyrimidones

Trifluoroethanol is an efficient and recyclable medium in promoting one-pot, three-component condensation reactions of β-ketoesters, aldehydes, and urea (or thiourea) to afford the corresponding dihydropyrimidones in good yields. This protocol does not require the use of an acid or base catalyst.     

The electrocatalytic behavior of electrodeposited Ni–Mo–P alloy films towards ethanol electrooxidation

Ternary Ni–Mo–P thin films have been electrodeposited from citrate‐based electrolyte onto graphite substrates for application as anode catalysts for ethanol electrooxidation. The operating deposition parameters were optimized to produce Ni–Mo–P alloy films of outstanding catalytic activity. The phase structure of the deposits was evaluated employing X‐ray diffraction technique. Morphology and chemical composition of the deposited alloy films were studied using scanning electron microscopy and energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis, respectively. The results demonstrated that the rate of Ni–Mo–P deposition increases with increasing the ammonium molybdate concentration in the plating electrolyte up to 10 g l^?1. Also, the amount of Mo in the deposits increases with increasing the ammonium molybdate concentration up to 7.5 g l^?1, and the maximum Mo content in the film was 9.1 at.%. The catalytic activity of Ni–Mo–P/C alloy films has been evaluated towards electrooxidation of ethanol in 1.0 M NaOH solution by using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The catalytic performance of the prepared anodes as a function of the amount of Mo was studied. The results showed an increase in the oxidation peak current density of ethanol with increasing the Mo at.% in the deposited alloy films. Additionally, Ni–Mo–P/C electrodes displayed significantly improved catalytic activity and stability towards electrooxidation of ethanol compared with that of Ni–P/C electrode. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Biofuels–Renewable Energy Sources: A Review

Biodiesel is biodegradable and nontoxic, and it significantly reduces toxic and other emissions when burned as a fuel. The advantages of biodiesel as diesel fuel are its portability, ready availability, renewability, higher combustion efficiency, non-toxicity, higher flash point, and lower sulfur and aromatic content, higher cetane number, and higher biodegradability. The major disadvantages of biodiesel are its higher viscosity, lower energy content, higher cloud point and pour point, higher nitrogen oxide (NO_x) emissions, lower engine speed and power, injector coking, engine compatibility, high price, and greater engine wear. The technical disadvantages of biodiesel/fossil diesel blends include problems with fuel freezing in cold weather, reduced energy density, and degradation of fuel under storage for prolonged periods. The sources of biodiesel are vegetable oils and fats. The direct use of vegetable oils and/or oil blends is generally considered to be unsatisfactory and impractical for both direct injection and indirect type diesel engines because of their high viscosities and low volatilities injector coking and trumpet formation on the injectors, higher level of carbon deposits, oil ring sticking, and thickening and gelling of the engine lubricant oil, acid composition. Biodiesel is obtained by transesterifying triglycerides with methanol. A popular variation of the batch transesterification process which needs high alcohol/acid ratio (several separation problems and high corrosivity and toxicity) is the use of continuous stirred tank reactors in series. This continuous process is heterogeneous and is based on reactive distillation. The key factor is the selection of the right and effective solid catalyst which leads to reduction of energy consumption and investments at all.     

Phase Behavior of Bicontinuous and Water/Diesel Fuel Microemulsions Using Nonionic Surfactants Combined with Hydrophilic Alcohol Ethoxylates

Bicontinuous and water-in-diesel microemulsions were formulated using single nonionic alkyl poly glycol ethers combined with hydrophilic alcohol ethoxylates. The phase behavior at temperatures ranging from 0°C to 50°C was investigated. Visual inspection as well as cross-polarizers were used to detect anisotropy. The fish phase diagrams were determined. The presence of the hydrophilic alcohol ethoxylates was necessary to initiate both types of microemulsions. Increasing the hydrophobic chain length of the surfactant led to a wider range of temperature stability at lower surfactant concentration. Meanwhile, increasing the ethylene oxide units in the headgroup by two units led to a phase diagram that is dominated by lyotropic liquid crystal. The formulated water in diesel microemulsions were tested experimentally in a 4-cylinder diesel engine. From this it is observed that the emissions of NO_x, soot, and CO₂ were reduced substantially compared to neat diesel, while for the CO the reduction occurs just at low load.      

Dispersed Structure of Ethanol‐Gasoline Fuel According to Dynamic Light Scattering Method

The dispersed structures of mixtures of five different gasolines with anhydrous ethanol were investigated by the dynamic light scattering (DLS) method. The aim of the work was to find whether these blends are colloid systems. Influence of different parameters was investigated to verify the results of this research. Ethanol‐gasoline blends were found to be colloid systems with the drop size of 20–150 nm.     

Naphthalene and benzene levels in microenvironments associated with potential exposure: new and old apartments with moth repellents,and cabins of passenger cars

A lesser degree of information is available with respect to microenvironments associated with potential exposure to naphthalene, in comparison with other volatile organic compounds. The current study investigated the levels of benzene as well as naphthalene, both in the indoor and outdoor air of apartments and in the cabins of passenger cars. Two groups of 20 apartment buildings (20 new and 20 old) were chosen on the basis of the selection criteria (apartment location and size). In addition, 10 actual commuters were recruited for this study. The equal number of drivers was recruited for the study for comparison of two types of fuels for vehicles (five drivers of gasoline-fuelled and five drivers of diesel-fuelled passenger cars). Indoor naphthalene concentrations were similar between old and new apartments, while the benzene concentrations in new apartments were significantly higher than those of old apartments. The naphthalene concentrations in bedrooms, where wardrobes with moth repellent (MRs) were placed, were significantly higher than those for living rooms where no MRs were present. In turn, these indoor concentrations were significantly higher than outdoor levels. It is noteworthy that the mean and median values of naphthalene measured in the bedrooms exceeded the USEPA RfC (inhalation reference concentration) of 3?µg?m^?3, and the living room values were close to the RfC, while the residential benzene levels exceeded the European benzene limit of 5?µg?m^?3. In contrast, the maximum outdoor levels were well below that of the RfC. The use of passenger cars appeared to be a significant daily activity for both naphthalene and benzene exposure. The naphthalene-to-benzene ratios varied with the type of microenvironments. Both the indoor naphthalene and benzene concentrations in the present study were much higher than those of other studies.     

扫帚状氧化铈制备及其对Pt基阳极催化剂催化性能的影响

采用水热合成法,合成了比表面积为175 m²·g^-1,孔径在2~4nm范围内的扫帚状CeO₂。通过微波辅助乙二醇还原氯铂酸法制备了Pt-CeO₂/RGO催化剂,探究扫帚状CeO₂的添加对Pt基催化剂电催化性能的影响。利用X射线衍射仪（XRD）、扫描电镜（SEM）、N₂吸附-脱附、X射线光电子能谱（XPS）对所制备的CeO₂及催化剂进行表征。利用电化学工作站对催化剂进行电化学性能测试。结果表明,催化剂中CeO₂保持原有扫帚状,Pt纳米粒子均匀分布于石墨烯载体表面;当m_RGO∶m_CeO2=1∶2时,添加了扫帚状CeO₂的Pt-CeO₂/RGO催化剂的电催化性能最优,电化学活性表面积为102.83 m²·g^-1,对乙醇氧化的峰值电流密度为757.17 A·g^-1,1 000 s的稳态电流密度为108.17 A·g^-1,对乙醇催化氧化反应的电荷转移电阻最小,活化能最低。