Synthesis of TiO2–SiO2/polymer core–shell microspheres with a microphase‐inversion method

A novel microphase‐inversion method was proposed for the preparation of TiO₂–SiO₂/poly(methyl methacrylate) core–shell nanocomposite particles. The inorganic–polymer nanocomposites were first synthesized via a free‐radical copolymerization in a tetrahydrofuran solution, and the poor solvent was added slowly to induce the microphase separation of the nanocomposite and result in the formation of nanoparticles. The average particle sizes of the microspheres ranged from 70 to 1000 nm, depending on the reaction conditions. Transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy indicated a core–shell morphology for the obtained microspheres. Thermogravimetric analysis and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements confirmed that the surface of the nanocomposite microspheres was polymer‐rich, and this was consistent with the core–shell morphology. The influence of the synthetic conditions, such as the inorganic composition and the content of the crosslinking monomer, on the particle properties was studied in detail. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 3911–3920, 2006     

Grafting of silica during the processing of silica‐filled SBR: Comparison between length and content of the silane

The treatment of nanoscopic silica grafted in the blend during the processing of silica‐filled styrene butadiene rubber was performed with silane, introduced at different concentrations, or at a constant concentration with a given length of alkyl chain. From swelling measurements in water and in solvent, the maximum silane content that can be grafted has been calculated as a function of the length of the silane alkyl chains as well as their efficiency to cover the silica surface. The found values are close to the values found in the literature for grafting in solution. Moreover, a direct correspondence between the length of the silane alkyl chains and their concentration has been deduced. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 143–152, 2006     

Mesoporous micelle templated silica with incorporated C<Subscript>8</Subscript> and C<Subscript>18</Subscript> phase

Mesoporous silica material of MCM-41 type was synthesized by co-condensation of highly concentrated octyltriethoxysilane (OTEOS), octadecyltriethoxysilane (ODTEOS) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). The obtained hybrid materials were characterized using XRD, TG-DSC and low temperature adsorption/desorption of nitrogen. It was shown that the applied method of synthesis allows to obtain silica of MCM-41 type with a high degree of hydrocarbon saturation.     

在涂层TiO2改性铜催化剂上甲醇脱氢制甲酸甲酯

在常压和２５０℃下，考察了涂层ＴｉＯ２改性铜催化剂上甲醇脱氢生成甲酸甲酯的活性和选择性以及催化剂的稳定性。结果表明，涂层ＴｉＯ２明显提高了铜催化剂的活性和稳定性。在所考察的铜催化剂中，以Ｃｕ／ＴｉＯ２／ＡｌＯ３的催化活性最高，甚至高于离子交换法制备的Ｃｕ（ｅｘ）／ＳｉＯ２催化剂。ＸＰＳ分析表明，Ｃｕ／ＴｉＯ２／ＡｌＯ３中存在着两种化学环境不同的ＣＵ（０），即负载在ｒ－ＡＬＯ３和ＴｉＯ２－Ａｌ２Ｏ３     

Prediction of the net retention volumes in gas chromatography using porous polymers coated with different stationary phases

Summary A new expression which permits the prediction of the net retention volumes in gas chromatography with column packings of coated porous polymers is reported. The porous polymers Chromosorb 101 and Chromosorb 102 were used as supports and squalane, Ethofat and Carbowax 20M as stationary phases at three different column temperatures of 80°C, 100°C and 150°C. Several organic compounds of various polarity were used as test compounds and the net retention volumes, V_Ntheor, have been calculated according to this new expression. The V_Ntheor values were compared with the experimental net retention volumes, V_Nexp, and it was found that the difference between these two values is dependent on the type of compound and column packing. Nevertheless, the elution order could be predicted in most cases.     

Grafting of functionalized silica particles with poly(acrylic acid)

Two different methods to graft silica particles with poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) were studied. In the first method PAA was reacted with 1,1′‐carbonyldiimidazole to give functionalized PAA. The resulting activated carbonyl group reacted easily with 3‐aminopropyl‐functionalized silica at low temperatures. In the second method 3‐glycidoxypropyl‐functionalized silica particles were reacted directly with PAA by using magnesium chloride as a catalyst. Different molecular weights of PAAs were used in order to investigate the effect of molecular weight on grafting yields in both methods. The grafting yields were determined with thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). All products were also investigated with IR. The results showed that the yields of reactions performed at ambient temperature by using 1,1′‐carbonyldiimidazole‐functionalized PAA were the same as with a direct reaction of unfunctionalized PAA and 3‐aminopropyl‐functionalized silica performed at 153°C. Also in reactions between 3‐glycidoxypropyl‐functionalized silica and PAA the yields were satisfactory. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Direct synthesis, characterization of Cu-SBA-15 and its high catalytic activity in hydroxylation of phenol by H2O2

Transition metal copper substituted mesoporous silica (Cu-SBA-15) was synthesized using triblock copolymers surfactant as template agent under acidic condition. The result Cu-SBA-15 was characterized with XRD, ICP-AES, FT-IR and N₂ adsorption–desorption measurements, which prove that Cu(II) was mainly incorporated into the framework of Cu-SBA-15. Its catalytic activity was studied for phenol hydroxylation using H₂O₂ (30%). The substituting element (Cu²⁺) is incorporated into the framework position forming a new type of active site which raises the phenol conversion to 62.4% and the diphenol (the mixture of catechol (CAT) and hydroquinone (HQ)) selectivity to 97%. The Cu-SBA-15 has very high selectivity for catechol (about 71% selectivity), which is completely different from that of the microporous titanium silicalite zeolites (47.1% phenol conversion and about 50% selectivity to CAT under same reaction conditions). The results obtained indicate that the selective oxidation of phenol with H₂O₂ by a radical substitution mechanism.     

End-functionalized polyethylene oxide coated silica particles for packed capillary column supercritical fluid chromatography

Summary Polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based polymers with hydroxy, methoxy, and aminopropoxy terminal groups were coated on diol functionalized and hexamethyldisilazane end-capped silica particles. Proton-donor and proton-acceptor test solutes, including carboxylic acids, hydroxy-containing compounds, arylamines, and alkylamines were used to evaluate the chromatographic performances of these polymer coated particles under SFC conditions with neat CO₂ as mobile phase. It was found that the particles coated with hydroxy-terminated PEO were suitable for the separation of proton-donor compounds such as hydroxy-containing compounds and carboxylic acids, and the particles coated with aminopropoxy-terminated PEO could be used for the separation of amines. That is, the proton-accepting stationary phase is suitable for the separation of proton accepting solutes, including strong basic alkylamines (pK_b4), using neat CO₂ as mobile phase, while the protondonating stationary phase is suitable for the separation of proton-donating compounds such as carboxylic acids (pK_a4). Hydrogen bond basicity was found to be a critical factor for the chromatography of basic amines. Low volatility acidic and basic drugs were chromatographed using the new stationary phases. The stability of the PEO coated particles was determined by measuring the loss of organic carbon under SFC conditions. It was found that approximately 18 % of the coating (average molecular weight of 15,000) was washed out of the particles by supercritical CO₂ after 7 h at 350 atm and 50°C     

The theoretical basis of column chromatography in multicomponent separations. Part 2: Peak capacity. Column systems with good selectivity

The selectivity of a column system, S, defined by equation 28, includes a variation coefficient (β) of plate number with capacity ratio which has a large influence on the peak capacity, as shown in Fig. 18. Some typical chromatograms are given. In order to predict S for a column system from Kovat's Index, equations 40 and 41 are given to calculate the constant of the carbon number rule for squalane at different temperatures or for different stationary phases. The specific retention value of heptane on squalane at different temperatures can be calculated from equation 42. The nonpolarity index, defined by equation 43, was used to calculate the retention value of heptane on various stationary phases. In liquid chromatography, the order of elution may be reversed by changing the composition of the eluent on the same chemically bonded silica (manufactured in China). The linear relations between the log retention values of different kinds of solutes or of a single solute on the silicas of different surface areas when using the same eluent are given.