Cobalt ferrite nanoparticles prepared by microwave hydrothermal synthesis and adsorption efficiency for organic dyes: Isotherms,thermodynamics and kinetic studies

Magnetic nanoferrites (MFe₂O₄, M = Co, Ni) were successfully synthesised through microwave-hydrothermal route, characterised and used for adsorption of Eriochrome Black T (EBT) and Bromophenol Blue (BRB) dyes from their aqueous solution. The powder XRD patterns confirmed the formation of cubic spinel structure for both the ferrites. Under identical conditions, the adsorption efficiency of CoFe₂O₄ was found relatively higher than the corresponding NiFe₂O_4. Further characterisations revealed that CoFe₂O₄ sample was nearly spherical in size (8–9 nm) with narrow size distribution. The sample showed superparamagnetic behaviour with saturation magnetization (M_s) value (66.4 emu/g). BET surface area calculated for the synthesized cobalt ferrite as 70.9 m²/g. Batch adsorption experiments as a function of initial dye concentration, pH, contact time and adsorbent dose showed the adsorption of dyes depends on pH. Equilibrium adsorption data were well explained by both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacities (Q_o) were found to be 82.6 and 25.6 mg/g for EBT and BRB dyes, respectively. Kinetics of the adsorption was best described by pseudo-second-order model. Various thermodynamic parameters such as ΔG, ΔH and ΔS derived from adsorption data over the temperature range 20–50 °C, accounted for a favourable, spontaneous, endothermic physisorption process. The materials showed potential for repeated use without significant decrease in adsorption capacity after proper regeneration.     

β-环糊精修饰Ni/SFCC强化C9石油树脂催化加氢性能

以废弃的流化催化裂化催化剂（简称SFCC）为载体、β-环糊精为金属络合剂、硝酸镍为镍源，采用湿法浸渍法制备β-环糊精修饰的Ni/SFCC催化剂（简称Ni/SFCC-CD催化剂），考察其对C9石油树脂的催化加氢性能。通过BET比表面积测试、H2程序升温还原、X射线光电子能谱等手段对催化剂的物相结构进行表征，研究β-环糊精的作用机理及其对催化剂加氢性能的影响。研究结果表明：在反应温度为260 ℃、反应压力为7 MPa、反应时间为2.0 h的最优条件下，采用Ni/SFCC-CD催化C9石油树脂加氢，可制得溴值为1.45 gBr/（100 g）、色号（加纳德）小于1的水白色氢化C9石油树脂，催化剂循环使用4次后仍保持良好活性；β-环糊精的作用机理是：β-环糊精与硝酸镍产生络合作用，抑制硝酸镍的分解、控制NiO的结晶过程和增强活性组分Ni与载体之间的相互作用力，从而提高了Ni/SFCC-CD的催化活性和稳定性。     

耦合效应下压力型锚索锚固机理的近似理论分析

为了更加精确地研究压力型锚索的锚固机理,基于锚索预应力与岩土体蠕变的耦合效应推导了锚索预应力方程。在此基础上根据Mindlin问题解,推导了耦合效应作用下锚索砂浆体的压应力和剪应力近似解,并考虑锚索预应力与岩土体蠕变之间的耦合效应进行了案例分析。研究结果表明:锚索预应力和砂浆体受到的应力峰值均按反幂函数随时间逐渐衰减并稳定;承压板的长宽比与压应力峰值之间存在正相关关系,与剪应力峰值之间存在负相关关系;岩土体的泊松比与应力峰值之间存在正相关关系。该成果丰富了压力型锚索锚固机理的理论研究,可为边坡锚固设计提供一定的理论依据。     

Sequence-Dependent Nanofiber Structures of Phenylalanine and Isoleucine Tripeptides

The molecular design of short peptides to achieve a tailor-made functional architecture has attracted attention during the past decade but remains challenging as a result of insufficient understanding of the relationship between peptide sequence and assembled supramolecular structures. We report a hybrid-resolution model to computationally explore the sequence–structure relationship of self-assembly for tripeptides containing only phenylalanine and isoleucine. We found that all these tripeptides have a tendency to assemble into nanofibers composed of laterally associated filaments. Molecular arrangements within the assemblies are diverse and vary depending on the sequences. This structural diversity originates from (1) distinct conformations of peptide building blocks that lead to different surface geometries of the filaments and (2) unique sidechain arrangements at the filament interfaces for each sequence. Many conformations are available for tripeptides in solution, but only an extended β-strand and another resembling a right-handed turn are observed in assemblies. It was found that the sequence dependence of these conformations and the packing of resulting filaments are determined by multiple competing noncovalent forces, with hydrophobic interactions involving Phe being particularly important. The sequence pattern for each type of assembly conformation and packing has been identified. These results highlight the importance of the interplay between conformation, molecular packing, and sequences for determining detailed nanostructures of peptides and provide a detailed insight to support a more precise design of peptide-based nanomaterials.     

Effects of Synthesis Conditions on the Formation of Si-Substituted Alpha Tricalcium Phosphates

Powders of α-TCP containing various amounts of silicon were synthesized by two different methods: Wet chemical precipitation and solid-state synthesis. The obtained powders were then physico–chemically studied using different methods: Scanning and transmission electron microscopy (TEM and SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), powder X-ray diffractometry (PXRD), infrared and Raman spectroscopies (FT-IR and R), and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR). The study showed that the method of synthesis affects the morphology of the obtained particles, the homogeneity of crystalline phase and the efficiency of Si substitution. Solid-state synthesis leads to particles with a low tendency to agglomerate compared to the precipitation method. However, the powders obtained by the solid-state method are less homogeneous and contain a significant amount of other crystalline phase, silicocarnotite (up to 7.33%). Moreover, the microcrystals from this method are more disordered. This might be caused by more efficient substitution of silicate ions: The silicon content of the samples obtained by the solid-state method is almost equal to the nominal values.     

Hot corrosion studies of a salt-coated Ni-based superalloy under flowing wet air and sulfur vapor ambient

Corrosion of a salt-coated Ni-superalloy has been studied at 900°C under a wet air and sulfur vapor ambient. The corrosion thickness, after an incubation of ~60 hr, linearly increases with the corrosion time t and the onset of surface spallation occurred at t ≈ 60 hr. The corroded layer consists of a corrosion front dominated by Cr₃S₄ scales and linear precipitate structures, an inner corrosion layer dominated by Ni₃S₂ and NiO, and an outer corrosion layer dominated by Al₂O₃ networks surrounding the Ni₃S₂ and/or NiO scale structures. The corrosion mechanism is discussed based on the coexistence of H₂O, sulfur, and oxygen.     

Proton conducting composite membranes from crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(styrene sulfonic acid)-functionalized silica nanoparticles

Proton conducting membranes based on crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly (styrene sulfonic acid)-functionalized silica particles (PSSA-Si) were reported. Two-step crosslinking process involving sulfosuccinic acid (SSA) and glutaraldehyde as crosslinking agents was conducted to provide additional proton source and to enhance hydrolytic and mechanical stabilities. PSSA-Si was synthesized from vinyltrimethoxysilane via Stöber method, followed by radical polymerization of sodium 4-vinylbenzenesulfonate on the silica particle. The obtained PSSA-Si was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The effects of PSSA-Si loading (0, 2.5, 5, and 10%) and PSSA content in PSSA-Si (2, 5, 8, and 12%) on membrane properties including surface morphology, water vapor absorption, water uptake, ion exchange capacity, mechanical and oxidative stabilities, and proton conductivity were investigated and discussed. Proton conductivities of these composite membranes were found to increase with PSSA-Si loading and PSSA content. Promising proton conductivities of ～0.072 S/cm were obtained from PVA-8%PSSA-Si-10 and PVA-12%PSSA-Si-10 membranes, having PSSA-Si loading of 10%, and PSSA contents of 8%, and 12%, respectively. In addition, these membranes showed good hydrolytic and oxidative stabilities with high storage moduli.     

The effect of traffic data source on deterioration rates of heavy-duty flexible pavements

The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of traffic data source (estimated vs. actual) on predicted progression rates of roughness and rutting for heavy-duty flexible pavements of rural freeways. Progression rates are predicted using calibrated HDM-4 models. The assessment is performed in terms of variations in maintenance intervention timing associated with the variations in progression rates. Time series pavement condition data (covering 3–5 years) have been collected for 7 sections of rural freeways for use in calibrating HDM-4 deterioration models. They range in length from 10 to 60.8 km and cover different traffic volumes, climate zones and subgrade soil types. For these sections, estimated annual average daily traffic (AADT), growth factors and assumed loading have been extracted from relevant database. Only six segments of these sections have Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) sites so relevant actual AADT, growth factors and axle load distributions have been extracted from WIM reports. The results of running the calibrated HDM-4 deterioration models using different traffic data show that actual traffic data from WIM sites result in higher rates of deterioration to that of estimated data for four sites, resulting in earlier intervention timing and higher present value agency cost. The other two sites have lower rates with actual data due to lower traffic loading than estimated.     

Effect of cerium oxide prepared under different hydrothermal time on electrocatalytic performance of Pt-based anode catalysts

In this paper,CeO_2 with a pore size of 2-4 nm was synthesized by hydrothermal method.The CeO_2 modified graphene-supported Pt catalyst was prepared by the microwave-assisted ethylene glycol reduction chloroplatinic acid method,and the effect of the addition of CeO_2 prepared by different hydrothermal reaction time on the catalytic performance of Pt-based catalysts was investigated.The microstructures of CeO_2 and catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS),specific surface area and pore size analyzer(BET),scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and electron spectroscopy(EDAX),transmission electron microscopy(TEM),and the catalysts electrochemical performance was tested by electrochemical workstation.The results show that the catalytic performance of the four catalysts with CeO_2 is better than that of the catalyst without CeO_2.Adding CeO_2 with a specific surface area of 120.15 m~2/g prepared by hydrothermal reaction time of 39 h to Pt/C synthesis catalyst,its electrocatalytic performance,stability and resistance to poisoning are the best.The electrochemical active surface area is 102.83 m~2/g,the peak current density of ethanol oxidation is 757.17 A/g and steady-state current density of 1100 s is 108.17 A/g which shows the lowest activation energy for ethanol oxidation reaction.When the cyclic voltammogram is scanned for 500 cycles,the oxidation peak current density retention rate is 87.74%.