Plasma surface modification of organic materials: comparison between polyethylene films and octadecyltrichlorosilane self-assembled monolayers

Low-pressure low-frequency NH3 plasmas have been used for the surface modification of bulk polyethylene films and of octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) self-assembled monolayers deposited on oxidized silicon wafers. The incorporation of nitrogen-containing groups by the plasma treatment has been followed by contact angle measurements and by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The surface degradation of the OTS monolayers due to plasma etching has been measured separately by optical ellipsometry with subnanometric accuracy. Our data show clear evidence for the existence of an optimum treatment time, yielding a high density of NH2 functional groups without significant variation of the structural features of the organic material. Self-assembled monolayers appear as excellent model systems to characterize the effects of plasma discharges on polyolefins. In particular, they allow testing the influence of molecular orientation, packing density, and crystallinity on the final results.     

Reactor design and energy concepts for a plasma process of acetylene black production

Acetylene black can be produced from methane decomposition in a plasma reactor. Different types of plasma reactor are designed for this purpose and a parametric analysis of the system is made. Carbon yield in the reactor seems to be dependent on methane flow rate and plasma power. The results obtained from various types of material analysis of the product obtained show that in some conditions carbon produced under plasma has qualities similar to acetylene black obtained by classical processes.     

Optimal correlation at low photon levels: study for astronomical images

We consider the problem of determining the unknown translation between two images. We analyze the performance of the optimal technique in presence of Poisson noise in comparison with the classical linear intercorrelation method, and we apply this approach to astronomical images.     

Simultaneous determination of monomethylmercury, monobutyltin, dibutyltin and tributyltin in environmental samples by multi-elemental-species-specific isotope dilution analysis using electron ionisation GC-MS

In this work, the simultaneous determination of four organometallic species (monomethylmercury, monobutyltin, dibutyltin and tributyltin) in environmental samples by using a GC-MS system with electron ionisation has been established. The measurement of isotope ratios in each species was accomplished by selecting the most adequate molecular cluster, and simple mathematical equations were applied to correct the contributions of 13C from the organic groups attached to the tin and mercury atoms. The influence of different parameters such as dwell time on the precision and accuracy of the measured isotope ratios in each target species has also been studied. The determination and the sample preparation procedures presented in this work were first individually validated by analysing several certified reference materials for butyltin compounds (mussel tissue CRM-477 and marine sediment SOPH-1) and for monomethylmercury (tuna fish CRM-464) using an innovative focused microwave technology for the extraction of the species from the solid samples. Additionally, the simultaneous determination of the four species was successfully validated by obtaining quantitative recoveries in spiked natural waters and by analysing the certified reference material BCR-710 (certified in tributyltin and monomethylmercury). The values obtained in such certified tissue were fully in agreement not only with the certified mass fractions but also with the proposed indicative values for mono- and dibutyltin.     

Synthesis,characterization, and catalytic activity in the <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-heptane conversion over Pt/In–Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> sol–gel prepared catalysts

Platinum catalysts supported on indium-doped alumina were prepared by the sol–gel method. The method allows the incorporation of In³⁺ in the alumina network. The indium-doped alumina supports showed narrow pore size distribution (5.4–4.0 nm) and high specific surface areas (258–280 m²/g). The ²⁷Al NMR-MAS spectroscopy identified aluminum in tetrahedral, pentahedral, and octahedral coordination; however, the intensity of the signal assigned to aluminum in pentahedral coordination diminishes with the increase of the content of indium. Total acidity determined by ammonia thermodesorption diminishes strongly in Pt/In–Al₂O₃ catalysts, suggesting a selective deposit of platinum over the acid sites of the support. The effect of the support in the platinum catalytic activity was evaluated in the n-heptane dehydrocyclization reaction. The selectivity patterns for such reaction were modified substantially in the doped Pt/In–Al₂O₃ catalysts, in comparison with the Pt-In/Al₂O₃–I coimpregnated reference catalyst. As an important result, the formation of benzene was suppressed totally over the indium-doped alumina sol–gel supports with a high content (3 wt%) of indium.     

Effets de sels dans la reaction de trialkylaluminium avec le benzaldehyde

Tetra-n-butylammonium halides and, to a lesser extent alkali fluorides, enhance the addition/reduction ratio in the reaction of trialkylaluminium with benzaldehyde in ether, and lower the reactivity of the organoaluminium compounds. These results are consistent with the existence of complexes between salts and organoaluminium compounds [MX•R₃ Al (1/1) and MX•2R₃ Al (1/2)]. The more stable the complex, the more important are the effects I⁻ Br⁻ Cl⁻ F⁻ and NaF KF Bu₄ NF. The 1/1 complexes are more stable and less reactive than their corresponding 1/2 complexes.     

Point and Multipoint to Plane Barrier Discharge Process for Removal of NOx from Engine Exhaust Gases: Understanding of the Reactional Mechanism by Isotopic Labeling

An experimental study on the removal of NO_x in a simulated vehicle exhaust gas has been carried out using point to plane and multipoint to plane DBD corona reactors. Hydrocarbon (C₃H₆) and NO_x by-products were systematically investigated with a Gas Chromatography coupled to a Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). NO_x (NO and NO₂) and CO output were also monitored with a gas analyzer in order to complete the mass balance. ¹⁸O tracer technique analyzes is applied to investigate the mechanism of propylene decomposition. From the plasma chemical reaction pathway proposed, it is apparent that the oxygen activation is one of the important steps for initiating the oxidation processes and the R-NO_x formation. We present data for the reaction of the (N₂/O₂/C₃H₆/CO₂NO/H₂O system in the corona discharge reactors mentioned above. This system has been shown to generate a significant amount of aldehyde. CH₃NO₂ and CH₃ONO₂ are the main R-NO_x compounds produced. Reactant composition and discharge energy densities (controlled by a numerical oscilloscope) were the operating parameters under study in wet and dry air mixture. Water vapors played an important role in NO_x removal (especially in NO₂ removal) via the reaction forming HNO₃. Therefore, in wet-gas mixture supplied reactors the highest removal rates of NO_x were as high as 30%, while in dry-gas only 15%. Different dielectric materials such as Al₂O₃/SiO₂ and TiO₂ on Al₂O₃/SiO₂ support have been used.