Effect of cost-free energy storage material and saline water depth on the performance of square pyramid solar still: a mathematical and experimental study

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Low productivity of single-slope solar still is the main barrier for its worldwide usability. An attempt has been conducted to enhance the distillate...     

Structural phase transition in substituted La2CuO4 and Pr2CuO4−y

The structural phase transition from orthorhombic (T) phase to tetragonal (T′) phase in substituted La_2−x R _x CuO₄ (R = Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu and Gd) and T′ to T-phase in Pr_2−x M _x CuO_4−y (M = Sr, Ca) has been studied by X-ray diffraction technique. The T-phase of La₂CuO₄ is transferred to T′ phase abruptly atx=0.8, 0.4, 0.4, 0.3 and 0.4 respectively for substitution of Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu and Gd for La in La₂CuO₄ without evidence of the T* phase. The T′ structure of Pr₂CuO₄ (x = 0.0) gets transformed to the T* structure at 30% Ca doping (x=0.6) and then to the T structure at 50% Ca doping (x=1.0), while for Sr-contentx=0.0, 0.4 and 1.0 it shows T′, T* and T structure respectively.     

Mesoporous electrode material from alumina-stabilized anatase TiO2 for lithium ion batteries

A mesoporous electrode material whose structure is composed of anatase nanocrystals stabilized by alumina is reported. Powder X-ray diffraction shows the anatase phase only, but micro-Raman spectroscopy shows that the materials have a core-shell morphology with grains of bulk anatase covered by a thin rutile layer on the surface. This structure is unique when compared to analogous materials stabilized by zirconia (PNNL-1). Nitrogen adsorption isotherms demonstrate a monotonous increase in surface area and mesopore volume with increasing Al content. Thin film electrodes from these materials were characterized by lithium insertion electrochemistry. Cyclic voltammograms exhibit significant differences in Li accommodation in Al-free and Al-stabilized materials.     

Aerobic oxidation of methyl p-tolyl sulfide catalyzed by a remarkably labile heteroscorpionate RuII-aqua complex,fac-[RuII(H2O)(dpp)(tppm)]2+

fac-[RuII(Cl)(dpp)(L3)]+ (L3 = tris(pyrid-2-yl)methoxymethane (tpmm) = [1A]+ and tris(pyrid-2-yl)pentoxymethane (tppm) = [1B]+ and dpp = di(pyrazol-1-yl)propane) rapidly undergo ligand substitution with water to form fac-[RuII(H2O)(dpp)(L3)]2+ (L3 = tpmm = [2A]2+ and tppm = [2B]2+). In the structure of [2A]2+, the distorted octahedral arrangement of ligands around Ru is evident by a long Ru(1)-O(40) of 2.172(3) A and a large angle O(40)-Ru(1)-N(51) of 96.95(14) degrees . The remarkably short distance between O(40) of H2O and H(45a) of dpp confirms the heteroscorpionate ligand effect of dpp on H2O. [2B]2+ aerobically catalyzes methyl p-tolyl sulfide to methyl p-tolyl sulfoxide in 1,2-dichlorobenzene at 25.0 +/- 0.1 degrees C under 11.4 psi of O2. Experimental facts in support of this aerobic sulfide oxidation are the absence of H2O2 and the oxidative reactivity of the putative Ru(IV)-oxo intermediate toward methyl p-tolyl sulfide, 2-propanol, and allyl alcohol. This study provides the first documented example of aerobic-sulfide oxidation catalyzed by the remarkably labile heteroscorpionate Ru(II)-aqua complex without the formation of a highly reactive peroxide as an intermediate.     

Electrochemical doping of chirality-resolved carbon nanotubes

Raman spectra of electrochemically charged single-wall carbon nanotubes (HiPco) were studied by five different laser photon energies between 1.56 and 1.92 eV. The bands of radial breathing modes (RBM) were assigned to defined chiralities by using the experimental Kataura plot. The particular (n,m) tubes exhibit different sensitivity to electrochemical doping, monitored as the attenuation of the RBM intensities. Tubes which are in good resonance with the exciting laser exhibit strong doping-induced drop of the RBM intensity. On the other hand, tubes whose optical transition energy is larger than the energy of an exciting photon show only small changes of their RBM intensities upon doping. This rule presents a tool for analysis of mixtures of single-walled carbon tubes of unknown chiralities. It also asks for a re-interpretation of some earlier results which were reported on the diameter-selectivity of doping. The radial breathing mode in strongly n- or p-doped nanotubes exhibited a blue-shift. A suggested interpretation follows from the charging-induced structural changes of SWCNTs bundles, which also includes a partial de-bundling of tube ropes.     

Optimization of inoculum to substrate ratio for enhanced methane yield from leather fleshings in a batch study

One of the most significant issues of the last few decades has been tracing for renewable energy sources. Animal fleshing (ANFL) is the most common proteinaceous solid waste accured during the production of leather and it must be disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner. This paper is attempts to assess the biogas production from solid waste originating from the chrome based tannery. Anaerobic digestion of these wastes will be a viable option for waste stabilization and energy production in the form of biogas to be utilized in the industry. The bio-methane potential of the wastes were examined by mixing these wastes with various sources of inoculum and different inoculum to substrate (I/S) ratio considered. The batch experiments were carried out in 2.5 l glass reactors with a various source of inoculumviz., Cow Dung (CD), Elephant Dung (ED) and Bio-Digested Slurry (BDS) with varied inoculum to substrate (LFs) ratios for a retention time of 50 days with replications. The results obtained from the experiments showed that BDS:LF (25:75) had the highest gas production of 14505 ml (651.85 ml CH₄g^?1 VS) followed by CD:LF (50:50) produced 12072.5 ml (789.36 ml CH₄g^?1 VS) and ED:LF (75:25) produced 11252.5 ml (1492.08 ml CH₄g^?1 VS)with a methane content of 63.77, 61.92 and 62.72%, respectively.     

Electrochemical and gas-phase photocatalytic performance of nanostructured TiO2(B) prepared by novel synthetic route

Nanostructured phase pure TiO₂(B) with microfibrous morphology was synthesized by newly developed protocol employing amorphous TiO₂ as a precursor. Compared to traditional syntheses from K₂Ti₄O₉, the new product exhibited better electrochemical performance and stability. Cyclic voltammetry of Li-insertion into the TiO₂(B) evidences a pseudocapacitive faradaic process of Li accommodation which is basically different from the diffusion-controlled lithium storage in anatase or rutile. The presence of two pairs of peaks in cyclic voltammogram with formal potentials of ca. 1.5 and 1.6 V is specific for TiO₂(B). This enables to use cyclic voltammetry for identification of this phase in a broad palette of TiO₂ materials of various origin.

The photocatalytic activity of TiO₂(B) in a gas phase was evaluated using the total oxidation of propane with oxygen and the photocatalytic reduction of NO to N₂ in an oxygen rich gas mixture. For the total oxidation of propane in the gas mixture containing 300 ppm propane and 20% oxygen, the reaction rates per 1 m²/g of the BET surface area of the catalyst for TiO₂(B) prepared by our protocol and Hombifine N (anatase, S_BET = 300 m²/g) are comparable. For the photocatalytic NO reduction to N₂ in an atmosphere containing 20% oxygen the ratio of quantum yields for TiO₂(B) and Hombifine N was found to be 0.08, which is roughly equivalent to the ratio of their BET surface areas (0.09), despite different phase composition of both materials. In comparison with the standard catalyst our material exhibited higher selectivity in the reduction of NO to N₂.     

Perfluoro anion-exchange polymeric films on glassy carbon electrodes

Solutions of the perfluoro anion-exchange membrane TosHex® in a solvent mixture composed of methanol + isopropanol + water (1:1:1) were prepared and applied in coating glassy carbon electrodes. The evaporated films were used to accumulate the Fe(CN) ₆ redox couple on the electrode surface. The magnitude of the electrochemical response of the loaded films is comparable with that for Nafion® incorporated cationic redox species. The multicharged Fe(CN) ₆ couple accumulated in Tosflex® film causes an ion cross-linking of the polymeric backbone, thus decreasing ion transport in the film substantially.     

Beyond Biological Chelation: Coordination of f-Block Elements by Polyhydroxamate Ligands

The promise of polyhydroxamic acid ligands for the selective chelation of the f-block elements is becoming increasingly more apparent. The initial studies of polyhydroxamic acid siderophores showed the formation of highly stable complexes with Pu^IV, but a higher preference for Fe^III hindered effective applications. The development of synthetic routes toward highly pure and customizable ligands containing multiple hydroxamic acids allowed for the growth of new classes of compounds. Although the first round of these ligands focused on the incorporation of siderophore-like frameworks, the new synthetic strategies led to small molecules of various frameworks and even resins for applications in the field of f-block element separations and biological desorption. Unfortunately, a lack of consistent stability-constant data makes direct comparisons across this body of work difficult. More studies into the stability constants and separations of the f-block elements in a variety of pH ranges is necessary to truly realize the potential for polyhydroxamic acid ligands.     

Dynamics of an array formed by three neutrally buoyant cylindrical cantilevers subjected to tensile follower forces

The flexural-rotational coupled motion of three identical flexible cylindrical cantilevers joined symmetrically to a central head is investigated. Effects of the tensile follower forces and inertia parameters on the natural frequencies of the system are studied. The analysis suggests two types of inplane motion: one corresponding to the oscillation of the cantilevers without any rotation of the central body, while the other involves coupled motion of the array. The former corresponds to the repeated eigenvalues which are identical to those of a single cantilever having the same axial tension parameter, P. Three sets of eigenvalues govern the out-of-plane motion: (a) the central head remaining stationary with no rolling motion of the array; (b) vertical motion of the central body without any rolling motion of the array; and (c) rigid body rolling motion without any vertical motion of the central head. There is a possibility of dynamic instability for small inertia parameters and large axial tension.