Impact of defects on the decomposition of chemical warfare agent simulants in Zr-based metal organic frameworks

Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) containing zirconium secondary building units (SBUs) in UiO-67 and related MOFs, are highly active for neutralizing both the chemical warfare agents and simulants, such as dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP). However, two recent publications gave conflicting reports of DMMP reaction with UiO-67 under ultra high vacuum (UHV) conditions, with one reporting chemisorption and reaction (Wang et al., J Phys Chem C, 2017, 121, 11261–11272) and the other reporting only physisorption and reversible desorption (Ruffley et al., J Phys Chem C, 2019, 123, 19748–19758) from very similar temperature programmed desorption experiments. We show that the discrepancy between these experiments may be explained by different levels of missing linker defects in the UiO-67 samples. We present density functional theory calculations showing that SBU sites having two-adjacent missing linkers exhibit reaction barriers that are about 30 kJ/mol lower than SBU sites having a single missing linker. We also show that topology of the undercoordinated sites plays an important role in the reaction barrier under UHV conditions.     

Hydraulic reactivity and cement formation of baghdadite

In this study, the hydraulic reactivity and cement formation of baghdadite (Ca₃ZrSi₂O₉) was investigated. The material was synthesized by sintering a mixture of CaCO₃, SiO₂, and ZrO₂ and then mechanically activated using a planetary mill. This leads to a decrease in particle and crystallite size and a partial amorphization of baghdadite as shown by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and laser diffraction measurements. Baghdadite cements were formed by the addition of water at a powder to liquid ratio of 2.0 g/ml. Maximum compressive strengths were found to be ~2 MPa after 3-day setting for a 24-h ground material. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) measurements showed an incongruent dissolution profile of set cements with a preferred dissolution of calcium and only marginal release of zirconium ions. Cement formation occurs under alkaline conditions, whereas the unground raw powder leads to a pH of 11.9 during setting, while prolonged grinding increased pH values to approximately 12.3.     

Characteristics of reaction and product microstructure during light calcination of magnesite in transport bed

A gas-heating laboratory transport bed was adopted to simulate the industrial transportbed reactor for flash calcination of magnesite, and a method based on TG analysis of a reacted sample was further developed to calculate the decomposition rate or conversion of its containing MgCO₃. The study investigated how the conversion and product reactivity as well as microstructure vary with reaction conditions including temperature, particle size and times of re-calcination for powder magnesite. Magnesite powder (<150 μm) calcination is a quick reaction that reaches 98% decomposition of its containing MgCO₃ in 1—2 s,corroborating the feasibility of magnesite flash-calcination in transport bed reactors. The coloration time given by the citric acid chromogenic method was 17—55 s and 294 s for the obtained products from transport and fixed beds, respectively. This proves the obviously higher activity and thus improved microstructure of the product from transport bed. During the calcination process, the MgO grain size of the product gradually increases, and the surface structure changes from loose and porous to dense and smooth. This structural change can be completed within a few seconds.     

Chemical Bonding by the Chemical Orthogonal Space of Reactivity

The fashionable Parr–Pearson (PP) atoms-in-molecule/bonding (AIM/AIB) approach for determining the exchanged charge necessary for acquiring an equalized electronegativity within a chemical bond is refined and generalized here by introducing the concepts of chemical power within the chemical orthogonal space (COS) in terms of electronegativity and chemical hardness. Electronegativity and chemical hardness are conceptually orthogonal, since there are opposite tendencies in bonding, i.e., reactivity vs. stability or the HOMO-LUMO middy level vs. the HOMO-LUMO interval (gap). Thus, atoms-in-molecule/bond electronegativity and chemical hardness are provided for in orthogonal space (COS), along with a generalized analytical expression of the exchanged electrons in bonding. Moreover, the present formalism surpasses the earlier Parr–Pearson limitation to the context of hetero-bonding molecules so as to also include the important case of covalent homo-bonding. The connections of the present COS analysis with PP formalism is analytically revealed, while a numerical illustration regarding the patterning and fragmentation of chemical benchmarking bondings is also presented and fundamental open questions are critically discussed.     

Hydrogen enriched syngas production via gasification of biofuels pellets/powders blended from olive mill solid wastes and pine sawdust under different water steam/nitrogen atmospheres

In this work, we study the gasification of pellets produced, after densification, by blending olive mill solid wastes, impregnated or not by olive mill waste water, and pine sawdust under different steam/nitrogen atmospheres. The charcoals necessary for the gasification tests were prepared by pyrolysis using a fixed bed reactor. The gasification technique using steam was chosen in order to produce a hydrogen-enriched syngas. Gasification tests were performed using macro-thermogravimetric equipment. Tests were carried out at different temperatures (750 °C, 800 °C, 820 °C, 850 °C and 900 °C), and at different atmospheres composed by nitrogen and steam at different percentages (10%, 20% and 30%). Results show that the mass variation profiles is similar to the usual lingo-cellulosic gasification process. Moreover, the increase of temperatures or water steam partial pressures affects positively the rate of conversion and the char reactivity by accelerating the gasification process. The increase of the gasification yields demonstrates the promise of using olive mill by-products as alternative biofuels (H₂ enriched syngas).     

Effect of Heat Processing on IgE Reactivity and Cross‐Reactivity of Tropomyosin and Other Allergens of Asia‐Pacific Mollusc Species: Identification of Novel Sydney Rock Oyster Tropomyosin Sac g 1

1 Scope

Shellfish allergy is an increasing global health priority, frequently affecting adults. Molluscs are an important shellfish group causing food allergy but knowledge of their allergens and cross‐reactivity is limited. Optimal diagnosis of mollusc allergy enabling accurate advice on food avoidance is difficult. Allergens of four frequently ingested Asia‐Pacific molluscs are characterized: Sydney rock oyster (Saccostrea glomerata), blue mussel (Mytilus edulis), saucer scallop (Amusium balloti), and southern calamari (Sepioteuthis australis), examining cross‐reactivity between species and with blue swimmer crab tropomyosin, Por p 1.

2 Methods and results

IgE ELISA showed that cooking increased IgE reactivity of mollusc extracts and basophil activation confirmed biologically relevant IgE reactivity. Immunoblotting demonstrated strong IgE reactivity of several proteins including one corresponding to heat‐stable tropomyosin in all species (37–40 kDa). IgE‐reactive Sydney rock oyster proteins were identified by mass spectrometry, and the novel major oyster tropomyosin allergen was cloned, sequenced, and designated Sac g 1 by the IUIS. Oyster extracts showed highest IgE cross‐reactivity with other molluscs, while mussel cross‐reactivity was weakest. Inhibition immunoblotting demonstrated high cross‐reactivity between tropomyosins of mollusc and crustacean species.

3 Conclusion

These findings inform novel approaches for reliable diagnosis and improved management of mollusc allergy.     

木质素化学降解及其在聚合物材料中应用的研究进展

木质素是自然界储量丰富的可再生天然酚类高分子，可替代传统化石资源应用于聚合物材料合成。木质素分子结构中的大分子刚性骨架可赋予材料独特的力学性能和热稳定性。但木质素化学组成和分子结构复杂、反应活性低，限制了在聚合物材料领域的应用。化学降解是一种高效、高选择性且应用广泛的降解方法，经化学降解处理得到的木质素低聚物具有活性官能团多、反应活性高、溶解性好等优点，有利于拓展木质素在聚合物材料领域的高附加值应用。重点综述了近年来国内外有关木质素化学降解及其降解产物应用于聚合物材料的研究进展。     

酯交换法合成碳酸甲乙酯催化剂的研究进展

碳酸甲乙酯（EMC）是一种环境友好型的不对称碳酸酯，因其独特的结构性质被广泛用作溶剂或有机合成中间体，特别是随着锂离子电池的迅猛发展，其作为电池电解液主要成分市场需求量急增。文中简单介绍了光气法、氧化羰化法和酯交换法合成碳酸甲乙酯的研究进展。重点针对最具发展前景的酯交换法合成EMC工艺路线中所用催化剂进行了综述；讨论和分析了该路线所用催化剂的类型、结构、性质及性能，并对当前研究中存在的问题进行了归纳和分析总结。最后本文分析并展望了酯交换法合成EMC催化剂的研究方向及新型合成工艺发展趋势，提出研发经济、高效、稳定且制备工艺简单的非均相催化剂，并与反应精馏技术耦合是今后的主要发展趋势，期望为EMC的高效合成提供参考和借鉴。     

Safety analysis of reactivity insertion accidents in a heavy water nuclear research reactor core using coupled 3D neutron kinetics thermal-hydraulic system code technique

Nuclear power plant Safety analysis using coupled 3D neutron kinetics/thermal-hydraulic codes technique is increasingly used nowadays. Actually, the use of this technique allows getting less conservatism and more realistic simulations of the physical phenomena. The challenge today is oriented toward the application of this technique to the operating conditions of nuclear research reactors. In the current study, a three-Dimensional Neutron Kinetics and best estimate Thermal-Hydraulic model based upon the coupled PARCS/RELAP5 codes has been developed and applied for a heavy water research reactor. The objective is to perform safety analysis related to design accidents of this reactor types. In the current study two positive reactivity insertion transients are considered, SCRAM protected and self-limiting power excursion cases. The results of the steady state calculations were compared with results obtained from conventional diffusion codes, while transient calculations were assessed using the point kinetic model of the RELAP5 code. Through this study, the applicability and the suitability of using the coupled code technique with respect to the classical models are emphasized and discussed.