Catalytic Active Site for NO Decomposition Elucidated by Surface Science and Real Catalyst

Comprehensive studies combining surface science and real catalyst were performed to get further insight into catalytic active site and reaction mechanism for NO decomposition over supported palladium and cobalt oxide-based catalysts. On palladium single-crystal model catalysts, adsorption, dissociation and desorption behavior of NO was found to be closely related to the surface structures, the stepped surface palladium being active for dissociation of NO. In accordance with this result, the activity of powder Pd/Al₂O₃ catalysts for NO decomposition was directly related to the number of step sites exposed on the surface, suggesting that the step sites act as the catalytic active site for NO decomposition on Pd/Al₂O₃. NO decomposition over cobalt oxide was found to be significantly promoted by addition of alkali metals. Surface science study and catalyst characterization led to the same conclusion that the interface between the alkali metal and Co₃O₄ serves as the catalytic active site. From the results of in situ Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and isotopic transient kinetic analysis, a reaction mechanism was proposed in which the reaction is initiated by NO adsorption onto alkali metals to form NO₂⁻ species and then NO₂⁻ species react with the adsorbed NO species to form N₂ over the interface between the alkali metal and Co₃O₄.     

Thermal transitions and fat droplet stability in ice-cream mixmodel systems

We studied thermal transitions and physical stability of oil-in-water emulsions containing different milk fat compositions, arising from anhydrous milk fat alone (AMF) or in mixture (2:1 mass ratio) with a high melting temperature (AMF–HMT) or a low melting temperature (AMF–LMT) fraction. Changes in thermal transitions in bulk fat and emulsion samples were monitored by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) under controlled cooling and reheating cycles performed between 50 and –45°C (5°C min^–1). Comparison between bulk fat samples and emulsions indicated similar values of melting completion temperature, whereas initial temperature of fat crystallization (T_onset) seemed to be differently affected by storage temperature depending on triacylglycerols (TAG) composition. After storage at 4°C, T_onset values were very similar for emulsified and non-emulsified AMF–HMT blend, whereas they were lower (by approx. 6°C) for emulsions containing AMF or mixture of AMF–LMT fraction. After storage at –30°C, T_onset values of re-crystallization were higher in emulsion samples than in bulk fat blends, whatever the TAG fat composition. Light scattering measurements and fluorescence microscopic observations indicated differences in fat droplet aggregation-coalescence under freeze-thaw procedure, depending on emulsion fat composition. It appeared that under quiescent freezing, emulsion containing AMF–LMT fraction was much less resistant to fat droplet aggregation-coalescence than emulsions containing AMF or AMF–HMT fraction. Our results indicated the role of fat droplet liquid-solid content on emulsion stability.     

Determination of selenium in human milk by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry and chemical modification

A method was developed for the determination of selenium in human milk using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The use of chemical modifiers as well as their implications during the pyrolysis step was examined. The chemical modifiers that were studied were Zr, Ir as well as the mixed modifier Zr-Ir. The Ir modifier stabilized selenium at 1000 °C, Zr at 800 °C, while the mixed modifier at 1200 °C. The effect of modifier mass was studied and was found that better results are achieved with addition of 2 μg Zr and 2 μg Ir. The characteristic masses of selenium in the presence of Zr, Ir and the mixed modifier were found to be 73.3, 18.0 and 14.7 pg, respectively, while the corresponding limits of detection were found 2.0, 0.50 and 0.41 μg l⁻¹. Consequently better results were obtained with the mixed modifier. The developed method was applied for the determination of selenium in human milk, which was digested with a HNO₃ + H₂O₂ mixture in a microwave oven. The limit of detection of the method was 1.37 μg l⁻¹, the characteristic mass, m₀, was 48.8 pg and the repeatability was less than 5% as R.S.D.(%). Matrix matched calibration was used. Recoveries were estimated to be 93-105%. The method was applied to breast milk of Greek women (n = 9) and the Se content was found to be in the range 16.7-42.6 μg l⁻¹ with mean value 27.4 ± 5.5 μg l⁻¹.     

Transfer assessment of fipronil residues from feed to cow milk

Fipronil, a phenylpyrazole insecticide introduced for pest control on a broad range of crops, can also affect non-target insects such as honeybees. More widely, non-target environment such as milk produced by dairy cows fed with maize silage from treated seeds (=silage T) can be affected. To assess the potential transfer of fipronil residues (sulfone, sulfide, fipronil, desulfinyl and amide), a methodology including gas chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) analysis was developed and validated according to the 2002/657/EC decision, in order to reach a level of quantification below 0.1 μg L⁻¹ in milk and 0.1 μg kg⁻¹ in plants. Twelve dairy cows were fed with silage T during 4 months. Concentration of fipronil in treated seeds was estimated at 1 g kg⁻¹, whereas silage from these seeds contained 0.30 ± 0.05 μg kg⁻¹ of dry material of fipronil, 0.13 ± 0.03 μg kg⁻¹ of dry material of sulfone. Sulfide residues were below the limit of quantification. Silage from untreated seeds (=silage U) presented traces of fipronil and sulfone, respectively at 0.04 ± 0.06 and 0.02 ± 0.03 μg kg⁻¹ of dry material. Contribution of fipronil residues from supplies was insignificant. During administration of silage T, only sulfone residues were quantified in milk. The average concentration was 0.14 ± 0.05 μg L⁻¹. Before and after administration, sulfone residues were detected but not quantifiable (<0.025 μg L⁻¹). Our results suggest a transfer of fipronil from feed to milk under its sulfone form. Moreover, traces of fipronil residues in maize U, soya, wheat and straw show a diffuse contamination of this pesticide in the environment.     

The Crystal Structure of Trimethyl Borate by Neutron and X‐ray Powder Diffraction

The crystal structure of one of the simplest organoboron compounds, trimethyl borate does not appear to have been determined hitherto. The compound is of interest for the study of π‐donor ligands and their interaction with the π‐acceptor behavior of trigonal boron and the consequences of such interactions on molecular structure. We used powder neutron (with isotopically labeled material) and X‐ray diffraction to determine the crystal structure of trimethyl borate at 15 K and 200 K (neutron) and 200 K (X‐ray). The material is hexagonal (Z = 2) with a = b = 6.950(8) Å and c = 6.501(3) Å at 15 K. The unit cell volume is 272.00(1) ų. The space group is P6₃/m (SG 176) at 15 K and 200 K. This is the first crystal structure solved on the Neutron Powder Diffractometer (NPDF) at the Lujan Center.     

Comparative study of the instrumental couplings of high performance liquid chromatography with microwave-assisted digestion hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for chiral speciation of selenomethionine in breast and formula milk

A comparison of chiral separation and analysis of selenomethionine in breast and formula milk, using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on a glycopeptide teicoplanin-based chiral stationary phase (Chirobiotic T), coupled to atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) MS detectors has been performed. The coupling HPLC-microwave-assisted digestion hydride generation requires on-line post-column analytes treatment, and a severe sample clean-up for fat and proteins elimination using centrifugation and ultrafiltration. Underivatized -selenomethionine enantiomers were completely resolved in 10 min using unbuffered water mobile phase at 1 ml min⁻¹ flow. Good selectivity and sensitivities (detection limits 3.1 and 3.5 ng ml⁻¹ as Se for - and -selenomethionine, respectively) were obtained, and method robustness and simplicity, together to the low cost of AFS detector, makes it suitable for infant milk routine analysis. HPLC–ICP-MS coupling exhibits very low detection limits (0.9 ng ml⁻¹, as Se) for each -selenomethionine enantiomers, but the method suffers from matrix influence, that produces a poor S/N ratio and low reliability.

The methods were applied to breast and formula milk samples with recoveries of 80% of the total selenium presence, which is attributable to the existence of other unknown species. -Selenomethionine was the only isomer present in breast milk, but a 30% of -selenomethionine was also detected in formula milk.     

Synthesis of non-equilibrium PtxOs1−x Solid solutions. Crystal structure of [Pt(NH3)4][OsCl6]

Several non-equilibrium solid solutions belonging to the platinum-osmium systems Os_0.9Pt_0.1, Os_0.8Pt_0.2, Os_0.5Pt_0.5, Os_0.7Pt_0.3, Os_0.75Pt_0.25 are prepared and studied. The thermal decomposition of [Pt(NH₃)₄][OsCl₆] in the hydrogen and helium atmosphere is investigated. It is found that the Pt_0.5Os_0.5 solid solution develops through the formation of (NH₄)₂[OsCl₆] and a metallic phase based on Pt. The crystal structure of a double complex salt [Pt(NH₃)₄][OsCl₆] is studied (X8-APEX Bruker, 1508 independent reflections, R = 2.04%). Crystal data for PtOsN₄Cl₆H₁₂ are: a = 11.6216(5) Å, b = 11.0016(5) Å, c = 10.3819(5) Å, V = 1327.4(1) ų, space group Cmca, Z = 4, d _x = 3.333 g/cm₃. The coordination polyhedron around Os is octahedral: 〈Os-Cl〉 2.357 Å, ∠Cl-Os-Cl 89.5–90.5°, while around Pt it is square-planar: Pt-N 2.046 Å, ∠ N-Pt-N 89.59° and 90.41°.     

纳米级TiO2粉体的制备研究——Ⅱ.絮凝剂及其浓度的影响

采用溶胶-凝胶-超临界流体干燥(SCFD)法制备纳米级TiO₂超细粉，详细考察了不同絮凝剂及其浓度对TiO₂织构和结构性质的影响。结果表明，利用强碱溶液作为絮凝剂，浓度为5 mol·L^-1是制备大孔高比表面TiO₂超细粉较为适宜的条件。     

Untersuchungen im System LaI2/H2: Phasenverhältnisse und Fehlordnung

Investigation of the LaI₂/H₂ System: Phase Relations and Stacking Disorder Heating of LaI₂ under 1 bar hydrogen pressure to 650 °C leads to light gray LaI₂H_0.95(3), accompanied by a structural change from tetragonal to hexagonal. Sharp reflections in the XRD pattern can be indexed in P6₃/mmc with a = 4.2158(7)Å and c = 15.508(3)Å, however, diffuse reflections indicate the presence of stacking faults in the structure, which correspond to a polytypic intergrowth of MoS₂ and NbS₂ type structural fragments. Increasing the reaction temperature to 730 °C results in a better defined diffraction pattern with the peak positions close to those of the 2H‐NbS₂ structure type. An X‐ray powder study of the samples LaI₂H_n proved the miscibility gap between LaI₂ and LaI₂H_n (0 ≤ n ≤ 0.5) in agreement with previous results. With decreasing H‐content of the homogeneous phase the lattice parameters change in opposite direction, a increasing to 4.236(1)Å and c decreasing to 15.39(2)Å for the lower limit.     

固固相反应合成牛磺酸水杨醛钾与锑、铋的配合物

合成了牛磺酸水杨醛钾,并采用室温固固相反应法合成了牛磺酸水杨醛钾与三氯化锑和三氯化铋的配合物,其组成为:K2MC18H20O8N2S2 (M = Sb, Bi)。两种配合物的晶体结构均属于单斜晶系,锑配合物的晶胞参数为:a = 1.2869 nm, b = 1.7636 nm, c = 1.9917 nm, β= 93.79埃活榕浜衔锏木О问篴 = 1.4770 nm, b = 2.0334 nm, c = 2.0149 nm, β= 94.05。红外光谱表明N、Cl原子参与了配位,中心离子的配位数为5。