Chemical reaction kinetics dataset of Cs-I-B-Mo-O-H system for evaluation of fission product chemistry under LWR severe accident conditions

In order to improve LWR source term under severe accident conditions, the first version of a fission product chemistry database named ‘ECUME’ was developed. The ECUME is intended to include several datasets of major chemical reactions and their effective kinetic constants for representative severe accident sequences. It is expected that the ECUME can serve as a fundamental basis from which fission product chemical models can be elaborated for use in the severe accident analysis codes. The implemented chemical reactions in the first version were those for representative gas species in Cs-I-B-Mo-O-H system from 300 to 3000 K. The chemical reaction kinetic constants were evaluated from either literature data or calculated values using ab-initio calculations. The sample chemical reaction calculation using the presently constructed dataset showed meaningful kinetics effects at 1000 K. Comparison of the chemical equilibrium compositions by using the dataset with those by chemical equilibrium calculations has shown rather good consistency for the representative Cs-I-B-Mo-O-H species. From these results, it was concluded that the present dataset should be useful to evaluate fission product chemistry in Cs-I-B-Mo-O-H system under LWR severe accident conditions, where kinetics effects should be considered.     

The effects of washing a collagen sample prior to TEM examination

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is an important analysis technique to visualize (bio)macromolecules and their assemblies, including collagen fibers. Many protocols for TEM sample preparation of collagen involve one or more washing steps to remove excess salts from the dispersion that could hamper analysis when dried on a TEM grid. Such protocols are not standardized and washing times as well as washing solvents vary from procedure to procedure, with each research group typically having their own protocol. Here, we investigate the influence of washing with water, ethanol, but also methanol and 2-propanol, for both mineralized and unmineralized collagen samples via a protocol based on centrifugation. Washing with water maintains the hydrated collagen structure and the characteristic banding pattern can be clearly observed. Conversely, washing with ethanol results in dehydration of the fibrils, often leading to aggregation of the fibers and a less obvious banding pattern, already within 1 min of ethanol exposure. As we show, this process is fully reversible. Similar observations were made for methanol and propanol. Based on these results, a standardized washing protocol for collagenous samples is proposed.     

Combining molybdenum carbide with ceria overlayers to boost Mo/CeO2 catalyzed ammonia synthesis

The design of an efficient non-noble metal catalyst is of burgeoning interest for ammonia synthesis. Herein, we report a Mo₂C/CeO₂ catalyst that is superior in ammonia synthesis activity. In this catalyst, molybdenum carbide coexisted with the ceria overlayers which is from the ceria support as the strong metal–support interaction. There is a high proportion of low-valent Mo species, as well as high concentration of Ce³⁺ and surface oxygen species. The presence of Mo₂C and CeO₂ overlayers not only leads to enhancement of hydrogen and nitrogen adsorption, but also facilitates the desorption and exchange of adsorbed species with the gaseous reagents. Compared with the Mo/CeO₂ catalyst prepared without carbonization, the Mo₂C/CeO₂ catalyst is more than sevenfold higher in ammonia synthesis rate. This work not only presents an explicit example of designing Mo-based catalyst that is highly efficient for ammonia synthesis by tuning the adsorption and desorption properties of the reactant gases, but opens a perspective for other elements in ammonia synthesis.     

Molybdenum Dioxide in Carbon Nanoreactors as a Catalytic Nanosponge for the Efficient Desulfurization of Liquid Fuels

The principle of a “catalytic nanosponge” that combines the catalysis of organosulfur oxidation and sequestration of the products from reaction mixtures is demonstrated. Group VI metal oxide nanoparticles (CrO_x, MoO_x, WO_x) are embedded within hollow graphitized carbon nanofibers (GNFs), which act as nanoscale reaction vessels for oxidation reactions used in the decontamination of fuel. When immersed in a model liquid alkane fuel contaminated with organosulfur compounds (benzothiophene, dibenzothiophene, dimethyldibenzothiophene), it is found that MoO₂@GNF nanoreactors, comprising 30 nm molybdenum dioxide nanoparticles grown within the channel of GNFs, show superior abilities toward oxidative desulfurization (ODS), affording over 98% sulfur removal at only 5.9 mol% catalyst loading. The role of the carbon nanoreactor in MoO₂@GNF is to enhance the activity and stability of catalytic centers over at least 5 cycles. Surprisingly, the nanotube cavity can selectively absorb and remove the ODS products (sulfoxides and sulfones) from several model fuel systems. This effect is related to an adsorptive desulfurization (ADS) mechanism, which in combination with ODS within the same material, yields a “catalytic nanosponge” MoO₂@GNF. This innovative ODS and ADS synergistic functionality negates the need for a solvent extraction step in fuel desulfurization and produces ultralow sulfur fuel.     

钼蓝分光光度法联合测定铁矿石中磷和二氧化硅

以往铁矿石中磷和二氧化硅含量的测定需要分别采用钼蓝分光光度法。在使用磷钼蓝分光光度法时,常会因钒、砷等的干扰使得磷测定结果不准确,需要将样品再处理后才能测定。实验采用石墨垫底铁坩埚,碳酸钠和硼酸混合熔剂高温熔融铁矿石,使铁矿石样品分解彻底,再分别采用铋磷钼蓝和硅钼蓝分光光度法测定磷和二氧化硅含量,从而实现了采用钼蓝分光光度法联合测定铁矿石中磷和二氧化硅。干扰试验表明,在高温熔融时,石墨可将钒(V)还原为钒(III),使样品中钒不干扰磷的测定;显色液中加入15mg硫代硫酸钠溶液可将砷(V)还原为砷(III),继而消除砷对磷测定的干扰。磷的质量浓度在0~3μg/mL范围内遵守比尔定律,校准曲线的线性相关系数为0.9999,表观摩尔吸光系数为2.242×10⁴ L·mol^-1·cm^-1;二氧化硅的质量浓度在0~5μg/mL范围内遵守比尔定律,校准曲线的线性相关系数为0.9995,表观摩尔吸光系数为9.342×10³ L·mol^-1·cm^-1。方法中磷和二氧化硅的检出限分别为0.0026μg/mL和0.0081μg/mL。按照实验方法测定6个铁矿石标准样品中磷和二氧化硅,磷测定结果的相对标准偏差(n=8)小于5%,相对误差小于2%;二氧化硅测定结果的相对标准偏差(n=8)小于2%,相对误差小于1.5%。按照实验方法测定5个铁矿石样品中磷和二氧化硅,磷测定结果的相对标准偏差(RSD,n=8)小于7%,二氧化硅测定结果的相对标准偏差(n=8)小于1%;磷和二氧化硅的测定值均与电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱法的测定值相一致。     

基质囊泡及其在骨矿化过程中的作用

基质囊泡(Matrix vesicles,MVs)是骨矿物初始形核生长的场所。骨矿化过程中,钙、磷酸根等离子经通道蛋白跨膜运输进入MVs内,当局部浓度达到一定值时,磷酸钙晶体开始沉积。磷酸钙的存在形态包括无定形磷酸钙、磷酸八钙及羟基磷灰石等。MVs可以调节细胞内外基质中的钙和磷酸根离子的稳态及无机磷酸盐/无机焦磷酸盐的比值,提供磷酸钙晶体成核位点,在骨矿化的初始启动过程中发挥重要作用。本文概述了MVs的生物来源、分子组分、提取方法,MVs介导的骨矿化过程,以及近年来利用囊泡作为体外矿化模型模拟MVs矿化过程的研究进展。     

Effect of Mo on corrosion behavior of Ni20Cr–xMo alloys in air with NaCl–KCl–CaCl2 vapor at 570°C

The effect of Mo on the corrosion behavior of Ni20Cr–xMo alloys in an oxidizing chlorine-containing atmosphere using air mixed with the salt-vapor mixture of NaCl–KCl–CaCl₂ at 570°C was investigated. The results revealed that the corrosion performance of the Ni20Cr alloys in the oxidizing chlorine atmosphere was improved by Mo addition of up to 3 wt%. The Mo-free alloy formed a potassium chromate during corrosion as a result of the reaction between the Cr₂O₃ scale and KCl vapor. The chromate formation increased the chlorine potential at the scale surface and induced the breakdown of the protective Cr₂O₃ scale, resulting in internal chromium chloride precipitates and a Cr-depleted zone. In contrast, the presence of Mo resulted in the formation of a NiO scale, which did not react with the salt vapors and, therefore, prevented the formation of chromates. The beneficial effect of Mo on the high-temperature chlorination of Ni–Cr alloys in salt-vapor-containing atmospheres was ascribed to the suppression of chlorine generation due to NiO scale formation.     

Amorphous-crystalline cobalt-molybdenum bimetallic phosphide heterostructured nanosheets as Janus electrocatalyst for efficient water splitting

Efficient and sustainable Janus catalysts toward hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are highly desirable for future hydrogen production via water electrolysis. Herein we report an active Janus electrocatalyst of amorphous-crystalline cobalt-molybdenum bimetallic phosphide heterostructured nanosheets on nickel foam (CoMoP/CoP/NF) for efficient electrolysis of alkaline water. As-reported CoMoP/CoP/NF consists of amorphous bimetal phosphide nanosheets doped with crystalline CoMoP/CoP heterostructured nanoparticles on NF. It can efficiently catalyze both HER (η = 127 mV@100 mA cm^?2) and OER (η = 308 mV@100 mA cm^?2) in alkaline electrolyte with long-term durability. Serving as anode and cathode of water electrolyzer, CoMoP/CoP/NF generates electrolytic current of 10, 50 and 100 mA cm^?2 at low voltage of 1.50, 1.59, and 1.67 V, respectively.