Ag and Cu loaded on TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/graphite as a catalyst for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis>-contaminated water disinfection

TiO₂ film was synthesized by means of the chemical bath deposition (CBD) method from TiCl₄ as a precursor and surfactant cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) as a linking and assembling agent of the titanium hydroxide network on a graphite substrate. Ag and Cu were loaded on the TiO₂ film by means of electrodeposition at various applied currents. Photoelectrochemical testing on the composite of Ag-TiO₂/G and Cu-TiO₂/G was used to define the composite for Escherichia coli-contaminated water disinfection. Disinfection efficiency and the rate of disinfection of E. coli-contaminated water with Ag-TiO₂/G as a catalyst was higher than that observed for Cu-TiO₂/G in all disinfection methods including photocatalysis (PC), electrocatalysis (EC), and photoelectrocatalysis (PEC). The highest rate constant was achieved by the PEC method using Ag-TiO₂/G, k was 6.49 × 10⁻² CFU mL⁻¹ min⁻¹. Effective disinfection times of 24 h (EDT₂₄) and 48 h (EDT₄₈) were achieved in all methods except the EC method using Cu-TiO₂/G.     

Electrochemical Oxidation Behavior of Nitrogen Dioxide for Gas Detection Using Boron Doped Diamond Electrodes

The electrochemical oxidation reaction of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) using boron doped diamond (BDD) electrodes is presented. Cyclic voltammetry of NO₂ in a 0.1 M KClO₄ solution exhibits oxidation peaks at +1.1 V and +1.5 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) which are attributable to oxidation of HONO and NO₂⁻, respectively. Moreover, the pH and scan rate dependences were investigated to study the oxidation mechanism. A linear calibration curve was observed in the concentration range of ∼1 to 5 mM (R²=0.99) with a detection limit of 11.1 ppb (S/B=3) for HONO and 58.6 ppb (S/B=3) for NO₂⁻. In addition, the analytical performance was compared with those using glassy carbon, platinum and stainless steel as the working electrode.     

Novel cyclic β-aminophosphonate derivatives as efficient organocatalysts for the asymmetric Michael addition reactions of ketones to nitrostyrenes

Three novel catalysts based upon cyclic β-aminophosphonate derivatives 1–3 were designed to catalyze the asymmetric Michael addition reactions of ketones to β-nitrostyrenes. Among the catalysts that have been prepared in this study, cyclic β-aminophosphonic acid monoethylester 3 showed the highest catalytic ability, giving the corresponding Michael adduct in good yields, high enantioselectivities (up to 92% ee), and high diastereoselectivities (syn:anti up to 95:5).     

Structural phase transitions at high-temperature in double perovskite Sr2GdRuO6

The crystal structure evolution of the Sr₂GdRuO₆ complex perovskite at high-temperature has been investigated over a wide temperature range between 298 K≤T≤1273 K. Powder X-ray diffraction measurements at room temperature and Rietveld analysis show that this compounds crystallizes in a monoclinic perovskite-type structure with P2₁/n (#14) space group and the 1:1 ordered arrangement of Ru⁵⁺ and Gd³⁺ cations over the six-coordinate M sites, with lattice parameters a=5.81032(8) Å, b=5.82341(4) Å, c=8.21939(7) Å, V=278.11(6) Å³ and angle β=90.311(2)^o. The high-temperature analysis shows that this material suffers two-phase transitions. At 373 K it adopts a monoclinic perovskite structure with I2/m space group, and lattice parameters a=5.81383(2) Å, b=5.82526(4) Å, c=8.22486(1) Å, V=278.56(2) Å³ and angle β=90.28(2)^o. Above of 773 K, it suffers a phase transition from monoclinic I2/m to tetragonal I4/m, with lattice parameters a=5.84779(1) Å, c=8.27261(1) Å, V=282.89(5) Å³ and angle β=90.02(9)^o. The high-temperature phase transition from monoclinic I2/m to tetragonal I4/m is characterized by strongly anisotropic displacements of the anions.