Mineralization of Para-Chlorobenzoic Acid in Water by Cobalt-Incorporated MCM-41 Catalyzed Ozonation

Cobalt-incorporated MCM-41(Co-MCM-41) was used as a heterogeneous catalyst for the ozonation of para-chlorobenzoic acid (p-CBA) in aqueous solution. Cobalt oxide supported on MCM-41(Co/MCM-41) was synthesized for comparison. Their textural properties were elucidated by various characterization techniques to understand the relationship between surface texture and catalytic activity. TOC removal at 60 min reached 91% with Co-MCM-41, 83% with Co/MCM-41 and only 52% with ozone alone, respectively. Observations from diffuse reflection spectroscopy demonstrated that different metal phases were formed in these cobalt-modified molecular sieves samples. Radical scavenger experiments indicated the formation of hydroxyl radicals that were responsible for the effective degradation of p-CBA. An integrated approach to the catalytic mechanism was proposed by considering the variation of pH in the course of ozonation as well as its subsequent influence on the dissociation of targeted compounds and surface charge of the catalyst. In the reusability experiments, the reused Co-MCM-41 was able to regain the same catalytic capability as the fresh one within 5 cycles. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results indicated that a part of Co²⁺ was oxidized to Co³⁺ after oxidation reaction.     

A simple approach for fabrication of interconnected graphitized macroporous carbon foam with uniform mesopore walls by using hydrothermal method

Three-dimensional (3D) highly interconnected graphitized macroporous carbon foam with uniform mesopore walls has been successfully fabricated by a simple and efficient hydrothermal approach using resorcinol and formaldehyde as carbon precursors. The commercially available cheap polyurethane (PU) foam and Pluronic F127 were used as a sacrificial polymer and mesoporous structure-directing templates, respectively. The graphitic structure of carbon foam was obtained by catalytic graphitization method using iron as catalyst. Three different carbon foams such as graphitized macro-mesoporous carbon (GMMC) foam, amorphous macro-mesoporous carbon (AMMC) foam and graphitized macroporous carbon (GMC) foam were fabricated and their physicochemical and mechanical properties were systematically measured and compared. It was found that GMMC possess well interconnected macroporous structure with uniform mesopores located in the macroporous skeletal walls of continuous framework. Besides, GMMC foam possesses a well-defined graphitic framework with high surface area (445 m²/g), high pore volume (0.35 cm³/g), uniform mesopores (3.87 nm), high open porosity (90%), low density (0.30 g/cm³) with good mechanical strength (1.25 MPa) and high electrical conductivity (11 S/cm) which makes it a promising material for many potential applications.     

A size-dependent thermodynamic model for coke crystallites: The carbon–hydrogen system up to 2500 K

The development is presented of a model of the thermodynamic functions of enthalpy, entropy and Gibbs energy for the elements carbon and hydrogen in coke crystallites. It is applicable to varying degrees of graphitization, described by the crystallite length L_a and the crystallite height L_c. The model parameters are derived from known properties such as bond enthalpies and entropies of formation. Good agreement has been obtained between the predicted thermal dehydrogenation of petroleum cokes and experimental data. The removal of hydrogen from idealized coke crystallites is predicted to occur mostly between 1100 and 1300 K. Agreement has also been found in the comparison of the predicted thermodynamic stability of coke relative to graphite, in a previous experimental study. This stability has been determined as at ≈900 J g⁻¹ at temperatures between 950 and 1250 K and for L_a = 10 nm. The current predictive capacity of the present model is valid for temperatures up to 2500 K.     

A novel Zn6Co3 cluster-based heterometallic coordination polymer with PMG3 − linker formed via in situ decarboxylation from H4PMIDA

A novel Zn₆Co₃ cluster-based heterometallic coordination polymer, [Zn₆Co₃(PMG)₆(H₂O)₄]·12H₂O (1), has been hydrothermally synthesized, in which the PMG^3 − (N-(phosphonomethyl)glycinate) as a multifunctional ligand was firstly formed via in situ decarboxylation from original ligand N-(phosphonomethyl)imino-diacetic acid during the hydrothermal reaction. The complex was characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, powder X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. Its structure features a 2D framework constructed by [Zn₆Co₃(PMG)₆(H₂O)₄] pinwheel-like heteronuclear clusters, which contains rings with two tropisms. Through extensive O–H⋯O hydrogen bondings, the adjacent 2D layered structure further extends into a 3D supramolecular network. Moreover, the solid-state fluorescence property of this complex has also been investigated at room temperature, which exhibits a good fluorescent emission.     

Nickel foam-supported Fe,Ni-Polyporphyrin microparticles: Efficient bifunctional catalysts for overall water splitting in alkaline media

Developing highly active, stable and sustainable electrocatalysts for overall water splitting is of great importance to generate renewable H₂ for fuel cells. Herein, we report the synthesis of electrocatalytically active, nickel foam-supported, spherical core-shell Fe-poly(tetraphenylporphyrin)/Ni-poly(tetraphenylporphyrin) microparticles (FeTPP@NiTPP/NF). We also show that FeTPP@NiTPP/NF exhibits efficient bifunctional electrocatalytic properties toward both the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Electrochemical tests in KOH solution (1 M) reveal that FeTPP@NiTPP/NF electrocatalyzes the OER with 100 mA cm⁻² at an overpotential of 302 mV and the HER with 10 mA cm⁻² at an overpotential of 170 mV. Notably also, its catalytic performance for OER is better than that of RuO₂, the benchmark OER catalyst. Although its catalytic activity for HER is slightly lower than that of Pt/C (the benchmark HER electrocatalyst), it shows greater stability than the latter during the reaction. The material also exhibits electrocatalytic activity for overall water splitting reaction at a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² with a cell voltage of 1.58 V, along with a good recovery property. Additionally, the work demonstrates a new synthetic strategy to an efficient, noble metal-free-coordinated covalent organic framework (COF)-based, bifunctional electrocatalyst for water splitting.     

11B and 15N solid state NMR investigation of a boron nitride preceramic polymer prepared by ammonolysis of borazine

A poly(aminoborazine), precursor for hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) obtained by reaction of borazine B₃N₃H₆ with ammonia, and its pyrolysis derivatives have been extensively characterised by ¹⁵N and ¹¹B MAS NMR. The various B and N sites have been identified according to their first neighbouring atoms, as well as to the second ones in the case of ¹⁵N, and have also been quantified. This study demonstrates that a suitable choice of NMR techniques together with the use of isotopic enrichment can lead to a large improvement in spectral resolution, which allows a better understanding of such complex BN preceramic polymer structures and permits to follow the polymer-to-ceramic transformation.     

Improved electrochemical redox performance of 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole by poly(3-methoxythiophene)

High electrocatalytic activity of an electropolymerized film of poly(3-methoxythiophene) (PMOT) is reported toward the redox reaction of 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole (DMcT) as a promising cathode material for the lithium ion battery. Cyclic voltammetry showed improved electrochemical performance of DMcT on PMOT-coated Pt electrode, indicating accelerated redox kinetics. Moreover, charge-discharge tests exhibited higher discharge capacity and slower capacity fading of the PMOT-doped DMcT composite cathode compared with pure DMcT.     

An integrated wastewater treatment and reuse concept for the Olympic Park 2008, Beijing

In a Sino-German research project, a joined developed sustainable water reclamation concept was developed for different applications of municipal water reuse at the Olympic Green 2008. The concept combines advanced technological processes like membrane bioreactors, specific phosphorus (P) adsorption columns and ultrafiltration (UF) with nature-based treatment processes like wetland and bank filtration mechanisms. The project’s approach is not only to comply with the reclamation requests of the Olympic Green 2008, but also to give an example for better, adapted and energy efficient reuse applications throughout China. The study shows that fixed-bed granular ferric hydroxide (GFH) adsorbers after a membrane bioreactor (MBR) can maintain a total phosphorus (TP) concentration of <0.03 mg L⁻¹. A low P concentration will be necessary to control eutrophication in the artificial Olympic Lake filled with treated wastewater. With an adsorption capacity of approx. 20 mg g⁻¹ d.m. at a corresponding equilibrium concentration of 1 mg L⁻¹ P, GFH reaches long operation times and can be repeatedly regenerated by caustic solutions with an efficiency of 50%. Apart from scenic impoundments, treated wastewater will be used for irrigation and toilet flushing. The latter requires a superior quality that will be delivered by low pressure UF treatment after lake (bank) filtration. A crucial reduction of fouling potential for dead-end UF is expected.     

盐酸介质中异戊基苯并噻唑亚砜萃取Pd(Ⅱ)的机理

合成了异戊基苯并噻唑亚砜(ABSO),研究了盐酸介质中ABSO萃取Pd(Ⅱ)的机理。考察水相H 浓度和萃取剂浓度对钯萃取的影响,采用斜率法、红外光谱和核磁共振H谱法确定了萃合物的组成及萃取平衡的机理。结果表明:低酸度条件下,H 浓度对钯的分配比无影响,ABSO以中性配位萃取机理萃取Pd(Ⅱ),并通过苯并噻唑环上的氮原子与Pd(Ⅱ)配位形成萃合物PdCl2(ABSO)2。     

Insertion/removal kinetics of lithium ion in spinel LiCuxMn2-xO4

The insertion/removal processes of lithium ion in spinel lithium manganese oxide（LiMn204） and copper doped spinel lithium manganese oxide （LiCuxMn2-xO4） on a powder microelectrode were studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy（EIS）, cyclic voltammetry（CV） and X-ray diffractometry（XRD）. The insertion/removal process of lithium ion in the spinel oxides consists of three steps： charge transfer of lithium ion on the surface of the spinel oxides, diffusion and occupation of lithium ion in the lattice of the spinel oxide. Similar to chromium, the doping of copper in spinel lithium manganese oxide results in the increase of the charge transfer resistance and the double layer capacitance for lithium insertion or removal, and the decrease of the diffusion coefficient of lithium ion in the lattice of spinel oxide. However, the insertion capacitance, a parameter reflecting the occupation of lithium ion in the lattice of the spinel oxide, is hardly influenced by the doping of copper. The influence of the doped copper on the kinetic process of lithium insertion/removal in spinel lithium manganese oxide is related to the contraction of spinel lattice.