Synthesis, characterization, and stability of Fe-MCM-41 for production of carbon nanotubes by acetylene pyrolysis

Fe-substituted MCM-41 molecular sieves with ca. 1, 2, and 3 wt % Fe were synthesized hydrothermally using different sources of colloidal silica (HiSil and Cab-O-Sil) and characterized by ICP, XRD, N2 physisorption, UV-vis, EPR, TPR, and X-ray absorption. Catalysts synthesized from Cab-O-Sil showed higher structural order and stability than those from HiSil. The local environment of Fe in the mesoporous material as studied by UV-vis reveals the dominance of framework Fe in all the as-synthesized Fe-MCM-41 samples. Dislodgement of some Fe species to extraframework location occurs upon calcination, and this effect is more severe for Fe-MCM-41 (2 wt %) and Fe-MCM-41 (3 wt %), as confirmed by EPR and X-ray absorption. These materials have been used as catalytic templates for the production of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by acetylene pyrolysis at atmospheric pressure. A relationship between the Fe loading in MCM-41 and the carbon species produced during this reaction has been established. Using our optimized conditions for this system, Fe-MCM-41 with ca. 2 wt % Fe showed the best results with particularly high selectivity for single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) production. This catalyst was selective for carbon nanotubes with a low amount of amorphous carbon for a narrow range of temperatures from 1073 to 1123 K. To account for the different selectivity of these catalysts for CNTs production, the local environment and chemical state of Fe in the used catalyst was further probed by X-band EPR.     

Near infrared electronic spectrum of TCNQ mono-valent anion

The high resolution near infrared electronic spectrum of TCNQ anion dissolved in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran glass at 77 K has been determined. The absorption bands are interpreted as simple progressions of two molecular vibrations in a single electronic excited state with ν₀₀ = 11661 cm^?1. The molecular vibrations (ω′₁ = 1264 ± 3 cm^?1, ω′₂ = 335 ± 3 cm^?1) of the vibrational progression agree well with observed Raman active transitions. The experimental data do not require the presence of two electronic transitions in the 1.3 to 2.1 eV region, contrary to what had been assumed previously on the basis of less well resolved room temperature spectra.     

Synthesen von isomeren Methyl- und 1,1′-Dimethylferrocencarbonsäuren

Zusammenfassung Die isomeren Methyl- und 1,1-Dimethylferrocencarbonsäuren — darunter die bisher nicht beschriebene -Methylferrocencarbonsäure — sind durch neue Synthesen in präparativen Mengen zugänglich geworden. Von drei untersuchten Wegen erwies sich dieVilsmeier-Formylierung von Methyl- bzw. Dimethylferrocen, Umwandlung der Gemische isomerer Aldehyde in die Säuren und deren Auftrennung über die Ester als ergiebigste. Ferner wurde zur Darstellung der Säuren (über die Alkohole und Aldehyde) die Aminomethylierung von Methyl- und Dimethylferrocen sowie die Acylierung mit Diphenylcarbamylchlorid herangezogen.

---

By new syntheses the isomeric methyl and 1.1-dimethylferrocene carboxylic acids (including the hitherto unknown -methylferrocene carboxylic acid) are now accessible in preparative quantities. Of the routes investigated,Vilsmeier formylation of methyl and dimethylferrocene, conversion of the mixtures of isomeric aldehydes into the carboxylic acids and separation of the lattervia the esters proved to be the most satisfactory. Further synthetic methods employed were the aminomethylation, and also acylation with diphenyl carbamylchloride of methyl and dimethylferrocene, resp.

---

---

Herrn Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c.F. Wessely in Verehrung zum 70. Geburtstag gewidmet.

---

32. Mitt.:K. Schlögl, H. Falk undG. Haller, Mh. Chem.98, 82 (1967).     

The MPE/UCB far-infrared imaging Fabry-Perot interferometer (FIFI)

FIFI is an imaging spectrometer with two or three Fabry-Perot interferometers (FPI) in series for airborne astronomical observations in the far-infrared range (=40...200m). It employs 5×5 arrays of photoconducting detectors and offers spectral resolutions as small as 2km/s. Resolution and bandwidth can be set over a wide range to match a variety of astronomical sources. Cryogenic optics minimizes thermal background radiation and provides for in-flight step tunable spatial resolution. At 158 m wavelength the background-limited NEP is 3 × 10^-15W/Hz at 40 km/s resolution and with two FPI's; with three FPI's the expected NEP is 10^-15WHz at 5 km/s resolution.The frequency-chopping mode of the high-resolution Fabry-Perot allows for line detection in extended objects. Absolute internal flux calibration ensures adequate flat fielding of the array elements.     

Quantification of veterinary antibiotics (sulfonamides and trimethoprim) in animal manure by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

A fast and cost effective method was developed to extract and quantify residues of veterinary antimicrobial agents (antibiotics) in animal manure by liquid-liquid extraction and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The compounds investigated include six sulfonamides, one metabolite, and trimethoprim. The method was performed without sample clean up. Recoveries from spiked manure slurry samples (spike level = 1 mg/kg) were as follows: sulfaguanidine (52%), sulfadiazine (47%), sulfathiazole (64%), sulfamethazine (89%), its metabolite N4-acetyl-sulfamethazine (88%), sulfamethoxazole (84%), sulfadimethoxine (51%), and trimethoprim (64%). Relative standard deviations of the recoveries were less than 5% within the same day and less than 20% between days. The limit of quantification was below 0.1 mg/kg liquid manure slurry for all compounds and calibration curves obtained from extracts of spiked samples were linear up to a level of 5 mg/kg liquid manure, except for trimethoprim (0.01-0.5 mg/kg). Analysis of six grab samples taken in Switzerland from manure pits on farms where medicinal feed had been applied revealed total sulfonamide concentrations of up to 20 mg/kg liquid manure.