Non‐Oxidative Methane Conversion Using Lead‐ and Iron‐Modified Albite Catalysts in Fixed‐Bed Reactor

Raw and modified albite catalysts, including Pb/Albite and Fe/Albite catalysts, have been investigated for methane conversion to C₂ hydrocarbons under non‐oxidative conditions. Introduction of Pb to albite improved the activity and selectivity to non‐coke products. Based on characterization, it was found that Pb entered into the alkali and alkaline‐earth metal sites of albite, while partial Fe doped in the tetrahedron sites and the other loaded on the surface of albite. At the reaction temperature of 1073 K, methane gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 2 L·gcat^–1·h^–1, catalyst dosage of 0.25 g (300 mesh), the methane conversion catalyzed by raw albite in the fixed‐bed micro reactor exhibited a methane conversion of 3.32%. Notably, introducing a Pb content of 3.4 wt% into albite greatly enhanced the conversion of methane up to 8.19%, and the selectivity of C₂ hydrocarbons reached 99% without any coke under the same reaction conditions. While Fe‐doping could weakly heighten the methane conversion to 3.97%, and coke was formed. Thus, a comparison of Pb/Albite and Fe/Albite catalysts demonstrates that the catalytic activity of albite is mainly decided by alkali and alkaline‐earth metal sites, and lead‐modification can effectively improve the catalytic activity of albite.     

Intermediate detection in real time using reactive surface desorption dielectric‐barrier discharge ionization mass spectrometry

Reactive intermediates play key roles for reaction mechanism elucidation. A suitable tool for identifying the key intermediates is crucial and highly desirable. In this study, surface desorption dielectric‐barrier discharge ionization (reactive SDDBDI) was developed for characterization of the reactive intermediates. In reactive SDDBDI, the plasma is doped with a reagent before the plasma ions are directed at a cover slip surface bearing another analyte. Different from SDDBDI, reactive SDDBDI can be used both as an ambient ionization source and as a means to produce reagent ions for ambient ion/molecule reactions. The online derivation of 4‐aminophenol with trifluoroacetic anhydride demonstrated that reactive SDDBDI can be used for chemical analysis where improved specificity or sensitivity is required. The utility of this approach for real‐time detection of reactive intermediate was demonstrated by the Schiff‐base and Eberlin reactions. The formed intermediates and products could be readily detected and identified by tandem mass spectrometry. These results indicate that reactive SDDBDI can be used to generate reagent ions that undergo ion/molecule reactions in the open air with an analyte at condensed phase on a surface. Reactive SDDBDI has high‐efficiency ion transmission and high MS sensitivity. It is thus a potential tool to perform ambient ion/molecule reactions and detect reactive intermediates.     

纳米氧化锰负载钛基电催化膜制备及处理含酚废水性能研究

以多孔钛膜为基膜,醋酸锰为锰源,采用溶胶凝胶法制备出负载纳米氧化锰的钛基电催化膜（nano-MnO_x/Ti膜）. 运用X射线衍射(XRD)、 X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、场发射扫描电子显微镜(FESEM)、循环伏安法(CV)、交流阻抗法（EIS）和计时电流法(CA)等测试手段,对MnO_x/Ti膜电极的微观形貌、晶型、电化学性能等进行表征. 结果表明：所得催化剂是由直径为50 nm的γ-MnO₂和Mn₂O₃纳米棒所组成,且均匀分布于Ti膜上,负载催化剂后钛膜电极电化学性能和催化性能明显提高,催化剂与基体之间键合的形成提高其稳定性. 以棒状nano-MnO_x/Ti膜电极为阳极构建电催化膜反应器(ECMR)处理含酚废水,当苯酚溶液浓度为10mmol·L^-1,电流密度为0.25mA·cm^-2、停留时间为15 min时,COD去除率可达95.1%.     

Composites of poly(L‐lactide‐trimethylene carbonate‐glycolide) and surface modified SBA‐15 as bone repair material

This work aims to develop novel composites from a poly(L ‐lactide‐co‐trimethylene carbonate‐co‐glycolide) (PLTG) terpolymer and mesoporous silica (SBA‐15) nanofillers surface modified by post‐synthetic functionalization. SBA‐15 first reacts with a silane coupling agent, γ‐aminopropyl‐trimethoxysilane to introduce ammonium group. PLLA chains were then grafted on the surface of SBA‐15 through ammonium initiated ring‐opening polymerization of L ‐lactide. Composites were prepared via solution mixing of PLTG terpolymer and surface modified SBA‐15. The structures and properties of pure SBA‐15, γ‐aminopropyl‐trimethoxysilane modified SBA‐15 (H₂N‐SBA‐15), PLLA modified SBA‐15 (PLLA‐NH‐SBA‐15), and PLTG/PLLA‐NH‐SBA‐15 composites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, N₂ adsorption‐desorption, differential scanning calorimetry, contact angle measurement, and mechanical testing. The results demonstrated that PLLA chains were successfully grafted onto the surface of SBA‐15 with grafting amounts up to 16 wt.%. The PLTG/PLLA‐NH‐SBA‐15 composites exhibit good mechanical properties. The tensile strength, Young's modulus, and elongation at break of the composite containing 5 wt.% of PLLA‐NH‐SBA‐15 were 39.9 MPa, 1.3 GPa, and 273.6%, respectively, which were all higher than those of neat PLTG or of the composite containing 5 wt.% of pure SBA‐15. Cytocompatibility tests showed that the composites present very low cytotoxicity.     

Fabrication,characterization, and performance evaluation of polyethersulfone/TiO2 nanocomposite ultrafiltration membranes for produced water treatment

In the present work, development of neat and nanocomposite polyethersulfone membranes composed of TiO₂ nanoparticles is presented. Membranes are fabricated using nonsolvent phase inversion process with the objective of improving antifouling, hydrophilicity, and mechanical properties for real and synthetic produced water treatment. Membranes are characterized using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier‐transform infrared, contact angle, porosity measurement, compaction factor, nanoparticles stability, and mechanical strength. The performance of prepared membranes was also characterized using flux measurement and oil rejection. Fourier‐transform infrared spectra indicated that noncovalence bond formed between Ti and polyethersulfone chains. The contact angle results confirmed the improved hydrophilicity of nanocomposite membranes upon addition of TiO₂ nanoparticles owing to the strong interactions between fillers and water molecules. The increased water flux for nanocomposite membranes in comparison with neat ones can be due to coupling effects of improved surface hydrophilicity, higher porosity, and formation of macrovoids in the membrane structure. The membrane containing 7 wt% of TiO₂ nanoparticles was the best nanocomposite membrane because of its high oil rejection, water flux, antifouling properties, and mechanical stability. The pure water flux for this membrane was twice greater than that of neat membrane without any loss in oil rejection. The hydrophilicity and antifouling resistance against oil nominates developed nanocomposite membranes for real and synthetic produced water treatment applications with high performance and extended life span.     

Optoeletronic properties of poly(N‐alkenyl‐carbazole)s driven by polymer stereoregularity

Stereoregular polymers like isotactic poly(N‐butenyl‐carbazole) (i‐PBK), isotactic and syndiotactic poly(N‐pentenyl‐carbazole) (i‐PPK and s‐PPK), and poly(N‐hexenyl‐carbazole) (i‐PHK and s‐PHK) are synthesized using the stereospecific homogeneous “single site” Ziegler‐Natta (Z‐N) catalysts: rac‐dimethylsilylbis(1‐indenyl)zirconium dichloride ( 1 )/methylaluminoxane (MAO) and diphenylmethylidene(cyclopentadienyl)‐(9‐fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride ( 2 )/MAO. Catalytic activity is rationalized by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. All synthesized polymers are fully characterized by NMR, thermal, wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis. Fluorescence measurements on isotactic and syndiotactic polymer films indicate that all polymers give rise to excimers, both “sandwich‐like” and “partially overlapping.” Excimer formation is essentially driven by the polymer tacticity. Isotactic polymers generate both sandwich‐like and partially overlapping excimers, while syndiotactic polymers give rise especially to partially overlapping ones. A theoretical combined molecular dynamics–time dependent DFT approach is also used to support the experimental results. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 242–251     

Facile preparation of superhydrophobic and oleophobic surfaces via the combination of Cu(0)‐mediated reversible‐deactivation radical polymerization and click chemistry

The fabrication of novel hydrophobic, superhydrophobic, and oleophobic surfaces on glass using nanosilica particles modified with polymer brushes prepared via surface initiated Cu(0)‐mediated reversible‐deactivation radical polymerization was demonstrated. Monomers including n‐butyl acrylate, 2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl methacrylate, and 1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexafluoroisopropyl acrylate were used to synthesize a series of nanosilica–polymer organic/inorganic hybrid materials. Products were analyzed using infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The coated nanosilica showed core–shell structures that contains polymer brushes up to 67 wt %. The application of these particles for modifying surface wettability was examined by covalently attaching them to glass via a recently developed one‐pot “grafting to” methodology using “thio‐bromo click” chemistry. Atomic force microscopy topographic images show up to 25 times increase in roughness of the coated glass compared to blank glass sample. Contact angle measurements showed that nanosilica coated with PBA and PTFEM produced hydrophobic glass surfaces, while a superhydrophobic and oleophobic surface was generated using nanosilica functionalized with PHFIPA. This novel methodology can produce superhydrophobic and oleophobic surfaces in an easy and fast way without the need for tedious and time‐consuming processes, such as layer‐by‐layer deposition, high temperature calcination, and fluorinated oil infusion. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018     

Ultrafast study of inter‐ and intrachain energy transfer in a core–polymer

Interchain interactions can play a positive role in reaching amplified spontaneous emission in an interesting core–polymer system where the donor (side chains) and the acceptor (core) are chemically linked together. Different degree of interchain interactions modifies the photophysical characteristics of the polymer. By means of transient absorption spectroscopy we show that the stimulated emission from the core decreases passing from solid state to concentrated solution and it is almost absent in the diluted solution. The conformational rearrangements of the core–polymer chain in solution limits the efficiency of the intrachain Förster energy transfer mechanism. The free chain rotations decrease the exciton hopping along the conjugated chains, the ratio between donor and acceptor moieties in the polymer, and change the relative orientation of the transition dipoles of the donor and acceptor causing a strong decrease of energy transfer efficiency and subsequently of the gain. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2018 , 56, 965–969     

薄膜表面等离子体光催化剂Ag@AgBr/CNT/Ni的制备和性能

用复合电沉积技术制备了Ag@AgBr/CNT/Ni表面等离子体薄膜催化剂,以扫描电镜(SEM)、X射线衍射(XRD)、拉曼光谱(Raman Spectra)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)和紫外-可见漫反射光谱(UV-Vis DRS)对薄膜的表面形貌、晶体结构、化学组成和光谱特性进行了表征,在可见光照射下,用罗丹明B(RhB)作为模拟污染物对薄膜的光催化性质和稳定性进行测定,采用测定薄膜电化学阻抗谱(EIS)和向反应系统中加入活性物种捕获剂的方法对薄膜光催化机制进行探索。结果表明:最优工艺下制备的Ag@AgBr/CNT/Ni薄膜是由少量碳纳米管(CNT)和表面沉积纳米Ag粒子的AgBr晶体构成的复合薄膜。薄膜具有突出的表面等离子体共振效应、优异的光催化活性和良好的催化稳定性。光催化罗丹明B 20 min,Ag@AgBr/CNT/Ni薄膜的降解率是Ag@AgBr/Ni薄膜的1.32倍,是P25 TiO_2/ITO多孔薄膜的21.6倍。在保持光催化性能基本不变的前提下可循环使用5次。CNT的存在使薄膜电荷传导性能和光催化还原溶解氧的性能大幅增加,是所制薄膜相对于Ag@AgBr/Ni薄膜光催化性能提高的主要原因。提出了薄膜光催化罗丹明B的反应机理。     

A combination of dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction and surface plasmon resonance sensing of gold nanoparticles for the determination of ziram pesticide

We have developed a reliable, fast, and highly sensitive analytical method utilizing dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction and gold nanoparticles probes for ziram (zinc bis(dimethyldithiocarbamate)) determination. The method is based on the in situ formation of gold nanoparticles in carbon tetrachloride as an organic phase. It was found that the trace levels of ziram influenced the formation of gold nanoparticles, leading to absorbance change of a sedimented phase. The results of the colorimetric ziram determination were in the concentration range of 0.12–2.52 ng/mL with a limit of detection of 0.06 ng/mL. The formation of the stable and dispersed gold nanoparticles in the organic phase provides a good precision for dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction method, resulting in the relative standard deviation of 3.8 and 1.2% for 0.56 and 1.58 ng/mL of ziram, respectively. This method has been successfully used for the ziram determination in samples of well and river water, soil, potato, carrot, wheat, and paddy soil.