The effect of synthesis conditions on the physicochemical properties of magnesium aluminate materials

Magnesium aluminate-based materials were prepared by applying different methods: (i) mechanochemical milling of the initial mixture of magnesium and aluminium nitrate powders (in appropriate stoichiometric amounts) followed by heat treatment at temperatures of 650 °C and 850 °C and (ii) melting of the mixture of nitrate precursors at 240 °C followed by thermal treatment at 650 °C, 750 °C and 850 °C. The effect of synthesis method on the structure and morphology of the obtained solids was studied by using various techniques such as: nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms, powder XRD, IR spectroscopy and SEM. It was shown that the mechanochemical milling performed before calcination procedure leads to obtaining of nanocrystalline magnesium aluminate spinel phase at lower temperature of 650 °C in comparison with the method using thermal treatment only (at 750 °C). The obtained nanomaterials exhibit mesoporous structure.     

Life cycle of hydroprocessing catalysts and total catalyst management

Hydroprocessing catalysts based on Ni, Co, Mo and W are used in various refinery processing applications where several deactivation mechanisms become of importance (coke formation, active phase sintering, metals deposition, poisoning) in the catalyst's life cycle. The life cycle of commercial hydroprocessing catalysts is very complex and includes the catalyst production, sulfidation, use, oxidative regeneration followed by re-sulfidation and reuse or, if reuse is not possible, recycling or disposal. To understand the changes in catalyst properties taking place during a life cycle, the catalyst quality in the different stages can be best monitored by using advanced analytical techniques. The catalyst's life cycle is further complicated by numerous technical, environmental and organizational issues involved. In principle, different companies can be involved in each of the life cycle steps. Leading catalyst manufacturers, together with specialized firms, offer refineries a total catalyst management concept, starting with the purchase of the fresh catalyst and ending with its final recycling or disposal. Total catalyst management includes a broad range of services, ensuring optimal timing during the change-out process, reliable, smooth and safe operations, minimal downtime and maximum catalyst and unit performance.     

Method to Characterize the Air Flow and Water Removal Characteristics During Vacuum Dewatering. Part II—Analysis and Characterization

This is part II of a study reported earlier on a method to characterize the air flow and water removal characteristics during vacuum dewatering. This article presents experimental data and analysis of results from the use of a cyclically actuated vacuum dewatering device for removing moisture from wetted porous materials such as paper with the intermittent application of vacuum and accompanying air flow though the material. Results presented include sheet moisture content as a function of residence time and hence water removal rate under a variety of process conditions. Also, experimental results on air flow through the wet porous structure and hence the role and importance of air flow during vacuum dewatering are presented. Vacuum dewatering process conditions include exit solids content between 11 and 20% solid under applied vacuum conditions of 13.5 to 67.7 kPa (4 to 20 in. Hg). Regression analysis indicated that the exit sheet moisture content exhibited a nonlinear relationship with residence time with exit solids reaching a plateau after a certain residence time. Final moisture content correlated linearly with the average overall flow rate of air through the paper sample and the basis weight of the material.     

An investigation into physicochemical characteristics of ash produced from combustion of oil palm biomass wastein a boiler

Ash derived from combustion of Malaysian oil palm biomass (empty fruit bunches consisting of fibers) was physically and chemically characterized in order to provide a comprehensive understanding of its specific properties in terms of toxicity, compositions and reusability. Principal analyses conducted include particle size distribution, scanning electron microscopy, elemental dispersive X-ray, elemental analysis, toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) as well as thermogravimetric, X-ray diffractometry and Fourier-transform infrared analyses. TCLP result indicated that the oil palm ash (OPA) should not be classified as toxic wastes in terms of heavy metal leachability since leachable copper, cadmium, lead and nickel concentrations were detected below the stipulated leachability limits. It was determined that the OPA contained high amount of potassium as well as presence of silica which implied its suitability to be reused as crude fertilizer or cement replacement material.     

汽车空调冷凝器腐蚀试验的表征与评价

介绍了汽车空调冷凝器的腐蚀试验程度及方法，对试验后的冷凝器进行了密封性检查，并用光学显微镜和扫描电镜检测和分析了材料的显微结构，焊接质量，腐蚀性质及其腐蚀深度等。通过对冷凝器的宏微观检查与表征，评价了冷凝器质量的优劣，提出了改进措施与建议。     

Synthesis of chemically and structurally modified dicalcium silicate

This paper describes the synthesis of cements, chemically and structurally related to Ca₂SiO₄. Silica was obtained from rice hull after heating at 600 °C. Calcium oxide and small amounts of barium chloride were mixed in order to obtain a final (Ca/Si) or (Ca+Ba)/Si ratio equal to 1.95, 1.90, and 1.80, which is lower than in the conventional cement. The solids were mixed and ultrasonically treated for 1 h with a water/solid ratio of about 20. After drying and grinding, the mixtures were heated up to 1100 °C. It was possible, in some cases, to obtain a cementitious material. These cements are structurally related to β-Ca₂SiO₄ and the lower (Ca+Ba)/Si ratio obtained was 1.95. The initial chemical compositions of these cements are: (Ca_1.83+Ba_0.12)SiO₄ and (Ca_1.79+Ba_0.16)SiO₄. A further lowering in the (Ca+Ba)/Si ratio changes the nature of the silicates.     

Structural modelling of coprecipitated VTiO catalysts

A statistical study of the particle shape and size of pure V₂O₅ and TiO₂, and samples of coprecipitated V₂O₅---TiO₂ catalysts with different V/Ti ratios, has been performed. They were also characterized by XRD, EDAX, SEM and XPS. The results showed that pure vanadium pentoxide is compose by large square or needle-shaped particles, while pure titanium dioxide has small and rounded ones. VTiO samples presented an area and shape, depending on the V/Ti ratio.

These results and the spectroscopical characterization conducted to a particle model of the catalysts. Those VOTi samples with high V/Ti ratio would have large V₂O₅ crystals acting as support of a V/TiO₂ solid solution. In contrast, those samples with a low V/Ti ratio, would have the solid solution supporting vanadium pentoxide crystals.     

Preparation and Characterization of Alpha Gel Formed by Fatty Alcohol and Amino Acid Surfactants

α-Gel, as a specific lamellar liquid crystal structure, presents unique parameters and attracts broad interest. However, conventional formation of α-gel involves surfactants that have a long alkyl chain (more than 14 carbons), resulted in limited application into personal care products due to their low Krafft temperature. In this study, a simple way to generate α-gel was developed using sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, an amino-acid-based surfactant containing an alkyl chain with less than 12 carbons. The desired structure was analyzed and discussed. The method, when extended to other amino acid-based surfactants, gave positive results.     

Physicochemical investigation of the decomposition products of ammonium metal carboxylates: ammonium ferric citrate hydrate

The thermal decomposition up to 400 °C of ammonium ferric citrate hydrate, of unknown structure and formula weight, was studied by thermogravimetry, differential thermal analysis, infrared (IR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffractometry. The possible identities of the formula weight and the intermediate products of calcination are discussed. The results revealed that the parent material is amorphous and contains two moles of water and two moles of ammonia. Decomposition takes place via six weight-loss processes, three endothermic (90–230 °C) and three exothermic (240–298 °C), leading eventually to the formation of Fe₂O₃. The intermediate solid products are mainly unstable amorphous oxycarbonates, as indicated by X-ray and IR spectroscopies. The gas-phase decomposition products identified by IR spectroscopy are NH₃, CO₂, CO, CH₃COCH₃, CH₄ and NH₄OH. Surface area measurement and scanning electron microscopy showed that Fe₂O₃, the final product at 400 °C, hada surface area of 40 m²/g and good crystalline and porous character.     

Synthesis, characterization of bimetallic Sn-Zn-MCM41 and its catalytic performance in the hydroxylation of phenol

A series of Sn-Zn modified-MCM41 has been synthesized by direct hydrothermal method and characterized using ICP, XRD, TG/DTA, FT-IR, HRTEM and N_2-adsorption techniques. Catalytic performances of the obtained materials were evaluated in the hydroxylation of phenol with H₂O₂. Results indicated that all the samples exhibited typical hexagonal arrangement of mesoporous structure with high surface area and the heteroatoms were probably incorporated into the framework of MCM41. Catalytic tests revealed that the bimetallic incorporated materials were effective catalysts in the hydroxylation of phenol. The conversion of phenol could be reach to 56.8% for the catalysts with Sn: Zn: Si = 2.69: 4.57: 100 (molar ratio) under the optimized reaction conditions. Moreover, the materials containing Sn and Zn exhibited higher catalytic activity than monometallic Sn and Zn modified MCM41.