Partial oxidation of methane to synthesis gas

Partial oxidation of methane to synthesis gas has been carried out over a number of transition metal catalysts under a range of conditions. It is found that the metals Ni, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir and Pt, either supported on alumina or present in mixed metal oxide precursors, will bring the system to equilibrium. The yield of CO and H2 improves with increasing temperature in the range 650–1050 K, and decreases with increasing pressure between 1 and 20 atm. An excellent yield (92%) is obtained with a 421 N₂CH₄O₂ ratio at 1050 K and atmospheric pressure, with a space velocity of 4×10⁴ hour^–1.     

Phase transitions and dimensional and morphological changes in an “Aluminum Hydroxide-Alumina” system under a shock-wave action

A method is proposed to study the sequence of phase transitions in powdered materials under a shock-wave action. It is shown that the aluminum hydroxide-alumina system has the following sequence of phase transformations under a shock-wave action: bayerite boehmite -Al₂O₃ -Al₂O₃. It is found that there are no transitional high-temperature modifications of alumina. A method is developed for obtaining a submicron alumina powder, which allows obtaining materials with a controlled phase composition, including a thermodynamically stable -modification of Al₂O₃. The specific features of the morphological structure and the phase and structural characteristics of powders after a shock-wave action are considered.Translated from Fizika Goreniya i Vzryva, Vol. 41, No. 1, pp. 110–119, January–February, 2005.     

Additional male mediterranean fruitfly (Ceratitis capitata wied.) Attractants from Angelica seed oil (Angelica archangelica L.)

Two sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, -copaene and -ylangene, were isolated from bioactive fractions of angelica seed oil and were shown by field bioassays to be attractive to the male Mediterranean fruit fly. Their relative attractiveness, compared with the(+)-and (–)--copaene enantiomers, are: (+)--copaene>angelica -copaene>angelica -ylangene>(–)--copaene. The enantiomer ratios for the two compounds are: -copaene, 61.4% (+), 38.6% (–); -ylangene, 91.9% (+), 8.1% (–).trans--Bergamotene was also isolated from the same fractions, but in sufficient quantity for bioassay [enantiomer ratio: 95.7% (+), 4.3% (–)].     

Continuous oxidation of benzyl alcohol in “supercritical” carbon dioxide

Supercritical (dense) carbon dioxide has been applied as solvent for the partial oxidation of benzyl alcohol with molecular oxygen in a fixed-bed reactor. High rate and good selectivity to benzaldehyde (93–97%) has been achieved with 0.5 wt% Pd/alumina or 0.5 wt% Pd/C, at around 100C and 100 bar, using only moderate excess of oxygen. The by-product benzoic acid has an autocatalytic effect on the hydration of benzaldehyde, and the subsequent oxidative dehydrogenation leads to benzoic acid, and benzyl benzoate by esterification. Promotion of Pd by Pb improves the selectivity. No catalyst deactivation or metal leaching has been observed. The method provides reasonable yields at much lower temperature than that applied in conventional gas phase oxidation, showing a potential for the synthesis of thermolabile, water-insoluble aromatic aldehydes.     

Response of the European elm bark beetle,Scolytus multistriatus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), to isomers and components of its pheromone

Laboratory bioassays (two methods) and field tests demonstrated synergistic action of the three components [(–)-4-methyl-3-heptanol (I); (–)-2,4-dimethyl-5-ethyl-6,8-dioxabicylo[3.2.1]octane (-multistriatin) (II); and (–)--cubebene (III)] of the pheromone bouquet ofScolytus multistriatus. Individually and in pairs the components were slightly attractive; I+II was clearly the most active doublet. Indirect evidence indicates that only one of the four enantiomers of I is active. Of the , , and isomers of II, only the is active. With the addition of compound I, slightly attractive extract from mated females became nearly as active as extract from virgin females.     

Experimental Study of Ignition of a Gasoline–Air Mixture in a Constant‐Volume Combustion Chamber

The characteristics of flamekernel development in a premixed gasoline–air mixture in a cylindrical constantvolume combustion chamber are measured. The experiments are performed with an initial temperature of 393 K, pressure of 6 bar, and equivalence ratio = 0.8 with the use of various ignition systems and spark plugs. The schlieren pictures of the process are presented, and the measured results for flame velocity, heatrelease rate, and mass fraction of the burnt fuel are analyzed.     

Cobalt‐catalyzed amination of 1,3‐cyclohexanediol and 2,4‐pentanediol in supercritical ammonia

The onestep procedure of amination of bifunctional secondary alcohols to diamines has been investigated in a continuous fixedbed reactor. Application of supercritical NH₃ as a solvent and reactant suppressed catalyst deactivation and improved selectivities to amino alcohol intermediates, whereas selectivities to diamines remained poor (8–10%). The main reason for the low diamine selectivity of 1,3dihydroxy compounds is water elimination leading to undesired monofunctional products via ,unsaturated alcohol, ketone or amine intermediates. This side reaction does not occur with 1,4dihydroxy compounds which afford high aminol and diamine selectivities under similar conditions. Amination of secondary diols with ammonia was found to be faster, but less selective than that of the corresponding primary 1,3propanediol.     

Synthesis and Redox Properties of a π-Conjugated Cyclobutadienecobalt Polymer Containing Ferrocenyl Groups

The reaction of CpCo(PPh₃)₂, in which Cp= ⁵-cyclopentadienyl, with a -conjugated diacetylene, FcCC–o-C₆H₄–CCFc, in which Fc=ferrocenyl, was found to give a cyclobutadienecobalt mononuclear complex, { ⁴-C₄Fc₂(o-FcC₆H₄)₂}CoCp (1), the crystal structure of which was determined by X-ray crystallography. In contrast, the reaction of CpCo(PPh₃)₂ with FcCC–p-C₆H₄–CCFc affords a cyclobutadienecobalt polymer, [p-C₆H₄( ⁴-C₄Fc₂)CoCp] _n (2). The monocobalt complex 1 shows reversible 1e^– and 3e^– redox waves at E ⁰=0.116 and 0.350 V vs Ag/Ag⁺, and the polymer complex 2 shows two chemically reversible redox waves at E ⁰=0.143 and 0.219 V for the oxidation of the ferrocenyl moieties in the cyclic voltammogram. Crystal data are as follows: (1, C₆₅H₄₉CoFe₄), triclinic, space group P\={1} (No. 2), a=13.547(4), b=16.197(4), c=11.763(4) Å, =106.79(2), =97.93(3), =97.12(3), V=2410(1) ų, Z=2.     

Residual effects of growing mungbean and uridbean on the yield and nitrogen uptake of a succeeding wheat crop

A two year field experiment was carried out at the Indian Agricutural Research Institute, New Delhi - 110012, India to assess the effect of mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) and uridbean (Vigna mungo L.) residues on the yield and N uptake of a succeeding wheat crop as compared to sorghum fodder. Sorghum produced 3.5–7.5 times more dry matter and removed 2–3 times more nitrogen than mungbean or uridbean during same duration (80 ± 10 days) of their growth. Without N application the grain yield of wheat following mungbean and uridbean (without residue incorporation) was 0.45 and 0.48 t ha^–1 more than the yield of wheat following sorghum fodder. These yields were equivalent to that predicted when 36 and 38 kg urea-N ha^–1, respectively, was directly applied to wheat. The residual effects of these grain legumes were higher when succeeding wheat was fertilized with 60 kg urea-N ha^–1; at this level mungbean and uridbean spared 52 and 43 kg urea-N ha^–1, respectively, in succeeding wheat. The residual effect of mungbean and uridbean further increased when their residue was incorporated in soil; with this practice they spared 94 and 115 kg urea-N ha^–1, respectively, without N application to wheat and 74 and 82 kg urea-N ha^–1, respectively, with an application of 60 kg urea-N ha^–1 to wheat.Mungbean and uridbean, without residue incorporation, increased aboveground plant-N uptake of succeeding wheat by 11.5–34.9 and 10.8–34.0 kg N ha^–1, respectively; whereas with residue incorporation, they increased aboveground plant-N content of succeeding wheat by 26.1–45.8 and 32.7–47.7 kg N ha^–1, respectively.The results of the present study indicate that there is both an indirect sparing effect and a direct residual effect of mungbean and uridbean on the nitrogen needs of succeeding wheat, more so when their residues are incorporated in soil.     

Interaction of a High‐Velocity Steel Projectile with a High‐Porous Copper–Duralumin Two‐Layer Bumper

The impact of a steel sphere 2 mm in diameter flying with a velocity of 2–7.3 km/sec on a twolayer bumper is considered. The first layer of the bumper is made of finely disperse copper powder with a density of 2.8 g/cm³, and the second layer is made of Duralumin. For identical impact velocities of 3–5 km/sec and identical thicknesses and areal densities of the bumpers, the twolayer bumper leads to better failure of the steel projectile than the Duralumin bumper. In the case of the twolayer bumper used, the maximum penetration depth of fragments into the witness plate and the number of the largest craters are smaller. The order of the bumper layers does not exert any noticeable effect on projectile failure. With the impact velocity increased to 7 km/sec, the difference in shielding properties of the bumpers almost vanishes.     

Kinetics and Mechanism of Copolymerization of α-terpineol with Methylmethacrylate in Presence of Azobisisobutyronitrile as an Initiator

The radical copolymerization of -terpineol with methyl-methacrylate in xylene at 80±0.1C for 50 minutes in the presence of azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) follows ideal kinetics and results in the formation of a functional and random copolymer. The activation energy is 33 KJ/mole. The IR spectrum and NMR spectra of the copolymer(s) shows the bands at 1750 and 3400 cm^–1 for ester group of methylmethacrylate and alcoholic group of -terpineol and peaks at 3 to 4 for methoxy group and at 6.5 to 7.5 due to alcoholic group of methylmethacrylate and -terpineol repectively. The values of reactivity ratios, calculated by Kelen–Tüdos method, are r ₁ (MMA) = 0.18 and r ₂ (-terpineol) = 0.046. The Alfrey-Price; Q–e parameters for -terpineol has been calculated as 0.149 and 2.486. The mechanism of copolymerization has been elucidated and it is concluded that the double bond present in the monocyclic ring of -terpineol is an active site for copolymerization and the alcoholic group of -terpineol remain to give functional copolymer.     

Polyimides based on “multiring” flexible diamines

The five benzene rings-containing (hereafter for convenience, referred to as five-ringrd) diamines ad-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]-1,4 (or 1,3)-diisopropylbenzene (p- or m-3) were prepared by a nucleophilic substitution of ,-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1, 4 (or 1,3)-diisopropylbenzene (p- or m-1) with p-chloronitrobenzene in the presence of K₂CO₃ and then hydro-reduced. The polyimides were synthesized from diamine 3 and various aromatic dianhydrides via the two-stage procedure that include ring-opening polyaddition in DMAc to give poly(amic acid)s, followed by thermal conversion to polyimides. The poly(amic acid)s had inherent viscosities of 0.63–1.54 dL/g depending on the dianhydrides used. Almost all the poly(amic acid)s could be solution-cast and thermally converted into transparent, flexible, and tough polyimide films. These polyimides have glass transition temperatures in the range of 186–290°C and almost no weight loss up to 500°C in air or nitrogen atmosphere. The polyimide obtained from pyromellitic dianhydride and diamine m-3 showed two endothermic peaks of 270 and 300°C on the diagram of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the other polyimides showed no endotherms on their DSC traces.     

Mechanisms of Iron Activation on Fe-Containing Zeolites and the Charge of α-Oxygen

According to previous Mössbauer data [1] -sites formation at the activation of Fe-containing zeolites is accompanied by irreversible self-reduction of the iron, proceeding without participation of an external reducing agent. Reduced Fe²⁺ ions are inert to O₂ but are reversibly oxidized to Fe³⁺ by N₂O, generating the -oxygen species, O, which provide selective oxidation of hydrocarbons.In this work, the mechanism of -sites formation was studied via quantitative measurement of the dioxygen amount desorbed into the gas phase at the step of self-reduction. A prominent role of the zeolite matrix chemical composition has been revealed. For example, with zeolites of Al–Si composition (FeZSM-5 and Fe-), heating to 900 °C in a closed vacuum space leads to irreversible evolution of O₂, which is accompanied by the immediate formation of -sites. Similar heating of B–Si and Ti–Si zeolites also leads to dioxygen evolution; however, this evolution is reversible and is not accompanied by formation of -sites. Activation of these zeolites occurs only in the presence of water vapor. Stoichiometric measurements showed that in terms of charge one regular O^2- ion, removed at the activation, is equivalent to two -oxygen atoms. So, -oxygen is identified as an ion-radical species O ^-., whose unique oxidation properties still distinguish it from the generally observed O^-. radicals.The mechanism of -sites formation is proposed, in which the process of strong chemical stabilization of reduced Fe²⁺ atoms in the zeolite structure is a key step, making impossible the reoxidation of the iron with O₂.     

Surface of a Titanium Target After Interaction with Shaped‐Charge Jet Particles

Coatings containing WC_1-x and W₂C_1-x tungsten carbides were produced on titanium targets by a shapedcharge explosion. The experiment used conical liners with a cone angle of 30° manufactured from a mixture of fine powders of tungsten, graphite, and ammonium nitrate. A comparative quantitative xray analysis of the top and bottom layers of the coating was performed. For the phase WC_1-x in the bottom layer, the value of the cubic unit cell parameter falls outside the range known in the literature. Microhardness in different segments of the target was studied.     

Crystal Orientation Dependence of Macropore Formation in n-Si With Backside-Illumination in HF-Electrolyte

The formation of macropores on anodically biased n-type silicon with backside-illumination was investigated as a function of crystal orientation and bias voltage. Specimens were cut from bulk crystals with various orientations from {100} to {111}, polished and subjected to anodic etching in HF. The resulting pores were investigated on cleaved samples by SEM. All pores were found to grow in either a 100 direction or a 113 direction, depending on the misorientation angle. This finding applies also to the branching of a single pore. The results can be understood if the valence for the dissolution reaction is approximately 2.6 in 100 and approximately 4 in the 113 direction, and if all other directions are not allowed for the growth of pores in Si.     

Localization of Deformation in Copper Single Crystals During Explosive Collapse

It is established that highrate axisymmetric loading of single crystals by the method of explosive collapse of a hollow thickwalled cylinder causes deformation that involves all active closepacked slip systems. The spatial distribution of macroscopic sites of strain localization is determined by the crystallography of the active systems in singlecrystalline samples. The established correlation between the observed shear bands in the microstructure of copper single crystals and {111} active slip <110> systems of facecentered cubic (FCC) crystals and their symmetric arrangement show that deformation at a rate of 5 · 10⁴ sec^-1 occurs according to the crystalline structure of the materials.     

Analysis of the Thermal Explosion in Systems Porous Reagent–Active Gas–Solid Product

The specific features of dynamics of the thermal explosion in systems porous reagent–active gas–solid product under conditions where the heattransfer and masstransfer regions are separated from the ambient medium are considered. In addition to the competition of heat release and heat removal, the process of initiation of exothermal chemical interaction in these systems under normal pressures depends significantly on conditions of filtration transport of the gaseous reagent. The induction and postinduction periods of the thermal explosion are studied. The theoretical analysis of thermalexplosion issues is supplemented by an experimental study of the process for the porous titanium–nitrogen–titanium nitride system.     

Response of the Seven-spot Ladybird to an Aphid Alarm Pheromone and an Alarm Pheromone Inhibitor is Mediated by Paired Olfactory Cells

Electrophysiological responses of adult seven-spot ladybirds, Coccinella septempunctata, to (E)--farnesene, an aphid alarm pheromone, and (–)--caryophyllene, a plant-derived alarm pheromone inhibitor, were investigated by recording from single olfactory cells (neurons) on the antenna. Cells having high specificity for each of the two compounds were identified. Furthermore, these two cell types were frequently found in close proximity, with a larger amplitude consistently recorded for the cell responding specifically to (E)--farnesene. Preliminary behavioral studies in a two-way olfactometer showed that walking adults were significantly attracted to (E)--farnesene; this activity was inhibited with increasing proportions of (–)--caryophyllene. The possible ecological significance of colocation or pairing of olfactory cells for semiochemicals with different behavioral roles is discussed.     

Synthesis and properties of aromatic polyesters and brominated polyesters derived from α,α′-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,4(or 1,3)-diisopropylbenzene

The interfacial polycondensation technique was used for the preparation of polyarylates and brominated polyarylates. Polyarylates and brominated polyarylates were prepared by mixing a solution of diacid chloride such as terephthaloyl chloride, isophthaloyl chloride, or their mixture in dichloromethane with an aqueous alkaline solution of ,-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,4(or 1,3)-diisopropylbenzene or ,-bis(4-hydroxy-3,5-dibromophenyl)-1,4(or 1,3)-diisopropylbenzene using triethylbenzylammonium chloride as the phase transfer agent. Moderate to high molecular weight polyarylates with _inh up to 1.27 dL/g were obtained, and most of them could be cast into tough and flexible films depending on the polymer composition. In general, polymers containing more 1,3-isomer or isophthaloyl chloride moieties gave transparent and flexible films and had lower glass transition temperatures and higher solubility. Although these polymers have two isopropylidene linkages in their repeating units, they still exhibit moderately high thermal stability and show no obvious weight loss before 400 °C. The introduction of bromine on the polymer backbone caused a decrease of inherent viscosity, crystallinity, and thermal stability of the polyarylates, while causing an increase in glass transition temperature and a great enhancement of fire retardancy.     

Possibility of Initiation of Combustion of CH4–O2 (Air) Mixtures with Laser‐Induced Excitation of O2 Molecules

The possibility of initiation of combustion of CH₄–O₂ mixtures with excitation of O₂ molecules to the states a¹_g and b¹⁺ _g by laser radiation with wavelengths of 1.268 m and 762 nm is considered. It is shown that excitation of O₂ molecules significantly decreases the induction period and ignition temperature because of accelerated formation of active atoms and radicals and intensification of the chain mechanism of the process. Even if the specific energy of laser radiation absorbed by the gas is low ( 0.1 eV per molecule), the ignition temperature of the CH₄–O₂ mixture with a ratio of 1:2 can be reduced from 1000 to 300 K.