Effect of molecular oxygen on the variable-temperature 29Si MAS NMR spectra of zeolite-sorbate complexes

Structure determinations of siliceous zeolite-sorbate host-guest complexes by solid-state NMR require highly resolved 29Si MAS NMR spectra. As the temperature is lowered, the 29Si MAS NMR spectra of many zeolite-sorbate complexes become broadened such that the resolution of the individual 29Si peaks is lost, limiting the application of solid-state NMR for structure determination. It is shown that the 29Si peak widths are related to the 29Si T2 relaxation times and that the source of the 29Si relaxation and the line broadening is paramagnetic molecular oxygen in the channels of the zeolite. Removal of the oxygen by purging the sample with nitrogen gas leads to a dramatic increase in the resolution of the 29Si MAS NMR spectrum of the p-dibromobenzene/ZSM-5 complex. An analysis of the individual 29Si T1 relaxation times reveals that the oxygen molecules are localized mainly in the zigzag channels of ZSM-5, suggesting that the p-dibromobenzene molecules are located in the channel intersections.     

Surprises in the structural chemistry of zeolites

High-resolution electron microscopy, apart from strikingly confirming the correctness of the X-ray-based models for the skeletal structure of the aluminosilicate frameworks of zeolites, points to the existence of new families of ordered, crystalline microporous solids (e.g., with composition A_xB_xC_m?xO_2m · nH₂O, where A is an exchangeable monovalent cation, B is Al or Ga, C is Si or Ge, and x, m, n are integers.) It also reveals crystalline imperfections and unexpected superlattice structures in A-type and faujasitic zeolites, and the nature of the intergrowths in, for example, $\text{ZSM-5}\text{ZSM-11}$ materials. The short-range order of Si and Al within the aluminosilicate framework may be directly explored by magic-angle-spinning NMR (MASNMR) employing ²⁹Si and ²⁷Al nuclei. This technique probes the site symmetry and environment of these atoms. Al in tetrahedral as well as in octahedral sites may be readily identified and so may the populations of groups such as Si(OAl)₄, Si(OAl)₃, (OSi), etc., so that new information is obtained pertaining to Si, Al ordering in a variety of zeolitic solids.     

Measurements of hyperon semileptonic decays at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron

The charged hyperon beam at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) has been used to collect data on semileptonic decays ofΣ ^?,Ξ ^? andΛ. A magnetic channel selects 100 GeV/c negatively charged particles produced in the forward direction by interaction of the 200 GeV/c SPS proton beam on a BeO target. TheΣ ^? andΞ ^? hyperons are concurrently identified in a DISC ?erenkov counter, and their decay products are analysed by a magnetic spectrometer. Electron-hadron discrimination is achieved by the combined use of lead-glass and lead/scintillator counters, transition radiation detectors, and a ?erenkov counter. In this article we report results on the \(\Sigma ^ - \to \Lambda e^ - \bar v\) decay mode. Measurements of the Λ polarization and of the centre-of-mass distributions (baryon kinetic energy, electron-neutrino correlation, and Dalitz plot distributions) yield the vector to axialvector form factor ratiof ₁/g ₁=+0.034±0.080, in agreement with the value expected from the conserved vector current hypothesis (f ₁/g ₁=0). TheΣ ^?→Λe ^? v→ branching ratio measurement gives a value of (5.41±0.30)×10^?5. The effects of radiative corrections are not included in these results. They are discussed in the text. Results on the otherΞ ^?,Σ ^?, andΛ semileptonic decays are reported in separate articles.     

Effects of data analysis on accuracy and precision of GPC results

The effects of data imprecision and baseline uncertainties have been investigated by computer simulation of GPC data from a polymer sample with a truncated log-normal molecular weight distribution. If the data are very accurate, as few as five data points can be sampled without serious error in computed molecular weight averages. The number of data points required is much larger, however, if these are taken at equal increments of molecular weight rather than elution volume. The effects of noise can be counteracted by increasing the sampling frequency. Baseline uncertainties present a more serious problem, especially for broad-distribution samples. If the detected signal is too noisy to permit accurate location of the baseline, errors can be minimized by using a second, more sensitive detector to determine the peak start and end. It is very difficult to estimate M?_z and higher molecular weight averages accurately if the noise level is greater than 0.5%.     

Interaction of electron acceptors with bases—XVI Proton magnetic resonance spectra of Meisenheimer compounds

PMR spectra of several Meisenheimer compounds have been measured in various solvents. Evidence is given that in such products derived from 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene the alkoxy group is readily exchanged in solvolysis by the acetonyl group. Products formed in solution by various concentrations of methoxide on several different polynitroaromatics have also been studied.     

Aspect-ratio dependent oscillatory thermocapillary convection in the floating half zone

The dependency of the critical Marangoni number on the geometrical aspect ratio of the floating half zone is essential to predict the onset of oscillatory thermocapillary convection.The experimental studies in the microgravity conditions on floating half zones of several centimeters in diameter have predicted that the critical Marangoni number increases with the increasing aspect ratio,and the terrestrial experimental studies have predicted the contradictory conclusion for floating half zones of several mil...     

Non-Gravitational Effects with Density-Matching in Evaluating the Influence of Sedimentation on Colloidal Coagulation

The method of density matching between the solid and liquid phases is often adopted to effectively eliminate the effect of sedimentation of suspensions in studies on dynamic behaviour of a colloidal system. However, the associated changes in the solvent composition may bring side effects to the properties investigated and therefore might lead to a faulty conclusion if the relevant correction is not made. To illustrate the importance of this side effect, we present an example of the sedimentation influence on the coagulation rate of suspensions of 2μm （diameter） polystyrene. The liquid mixtures, in the proper proportions of water （H2O）, deuterium oxide （D2O） and methanol （MeOH） as the liquid phase, density-matched and unmatched experiments are performed. Besides the influence of viscosity, the presence of methanol in solvent media, used to enhance the sedimentation effect, causes significant changes （reduction） in rapid coagulation rates compared to that in pure water. Without the relevant corrections for those non-gravitational factors it seems that gravitational sedimentation would retard the coagulation. The magnitude of the contribution from the non-gravitational factor is quantitatively determined, making the relevant correction possible. After necessary the influence of the sedimentation on coagulation rates at corrections for all factors, our experiments show that the initial stage of the coagulation is not observable.