Temperature programmed oxidation of Cu/ZnO catalysts with N2O: an attempt for characterization of copper catalysts

For characterization of the surface structure of metallic copper formed on the support, temperature programmed oxidation (TPO) with N₂O was carried out over various Cu/ZnO catalysts. Four peaks of the N₂ formation (, , and ) were observed at 223, 400, 545 and 600 K in the TPO runs. The average copper crystallite size estimated from the sum of the amount of - and -peaks agreed fairly with those determined by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. It was concluded that - and -peaks resulted from the oxidation of metallic copper atoms on the steps, corners and/ or defect sites, and on the flat sites of the surface of copper crystallites, respectively, while - and -peaks resulted from the bulk oxidation of copper.     

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.     

Prediction of Reverse Relaxation and Deformation—Recovery Processes in Synthetic Fibres

Use of force and geometric deformation variants of the nonlinear-hereditary viscoelasticity equation for prediction of complex processes by calculation is examined on the example of deformation-recovery and reverse relaxation processes in Lavsan synthetic fibres. A comparison of the calculated and measured values allows recommending the method of calculated prediction in which an elementary function — the normalized arctangent of the logarithm of the reduced time serves as the normalized relaxation or creep function.     

The effect of cobalt on the reactants adsorption and activity of fused iron catalyst for ammonia synthesis

Modern adsorption study facilities as well as scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Mössbauer spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy were used to investigate the effect of cobalt on the adsorption of nitrogen, hydrogen and ammonia on the surface of cobalt modified iron fused catalysts. Adsorption studies were carried out at the temperature range specific for ammonia synthesis (385C). Activity tests were carried out under 10 MPa in the 350–450 C temperature range. Investigations were performed on the traditional multipromoted iron catalyst and on the series of catalysts prepared with addition of cobalt. Introduction of cobalt changed considerably the sample behaviour during activation and ammonia synthesis. Addition of cobalt promoted the iron catalyst for ammonia synthesis. The most active sample was that containing approximately 5.5 wt% Co. Cobalt changed the adsorption behaviour of the catalyst. Chemisorption of nitrogen is much higher for cobalt catalysts. Growth of nitrogen chemisorption and decrease of ammonia adsorption resulted in the growth of catalytic activity of cobalt catalysts in ammonia synthesis.     

Heterogeneous asymmetric reactions. 23. Enantioselective hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate over cinchonine- and α-isocinchonine-modified platinum catalysts

The enantioselective hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate to (S)-ethyl lactate over cinchonine- and -isocinchonine-modified Pt/Al₂O₃ catalysts was studied as a function of modifier concentration and reaction temperature. The maximum enantioselectivities obtained under the applied mild conditions were 89% ee using cinchonine (0.014 mmoldm^–3, 1 bar H₂, 23°C, 6% AcOH in toluene), and 76% ee in the case of -isocinchonine (0.14 mmoldm^–3, 1 bar H₂, –10°C, 6% AcOH in toluene). Since -isocinchonine of rigid structure exists only in anti-open conformation these data provide additional experimental evidence to support the former suggestion concerning the dominating role of anti-open conformation in these cinchona-modified enantioselective hydrogenations.     

Lean NOx catalysis over alumina‐supported catalysts

aluminasupported catalysts show promise as lean NO_x catalysts. The role of alumina in influencing the structural and chemical properties of the active phase supported on it is discussed using some effective aluminabased lean NO_x catalysts. These include Ag/Al₂O₃, CoO_x/Al₂O₃ and SnO₂/Al₂O₃. Alumina plays an important role in stabilizing Ag in the oxidic phase and cobalt in the 2+ oxidation state. For SnO₂/Al₂O₃, alumina increases the SnO₂ surface area. On both Ag/Al₂O₃ and SnO₂/Al₂O₃, alumina also participates actively in the NO_x reduction reaction. An active organic intermediate is formed on Ag or Sn oxide which reacts with NO_x subsequently on alumina to form N₂.     

Studies concerning charged nickel hydroxide electrodes I. Measurement of reversible potentials

Reversible potentials (E _R) have been measured for nickel hydroxide/oxyhydroxide couples over a range of KOH concentrations from 0·01–10 M. It is shown that the couples derived from the parent- and-Ni(OH)₂ systems can be distinguished by the relative change in KOH level on oxidation and reduction. In the case of couples derived from the-class of materials a dependence of 0·470 moles of KOH per 2e change is found compared with 0·102 moles of KOH per 2e change for the-class of materials. Couples derived from the- and-Ni(OH)₂ systems can be encountered in a series of activated and de-activated forms having a range of formal potentialsE ₀ . Activated. and de-activated-Ni(OH)₂/-NiOOH couples are found to lie in the range 0·443–0·470 V whilst-Ni(OH)₂/-NiOOH couples lie in the range 0·392–0·440 V w.r.t. Hg/HgO/KOH. It is demonstrated for de-activated,-Ni(OH)₂/-NiOOH couples thatE _R is independent of the degree of oxidation of the nickel cation between states of charge of 25% and 70%. SimilarlyE _R is constant for states of charge between 12% and 60% for activated-Ni(OH)₂/-NiOOH couples. The constant potential regions are considered to be derived from heterogeneous equilibria between pairs of co-existing phases both containing nickel in upper and lower states of oxidation. Differences inE ₀ between the activated and de-activated couples are considered to be related to the degree of order/disorder in the crystal lattice.     

Cooperative inclusion of sodium 1-pyrenesulfonate by γ-cyclodextrin

Summary The interaction of -cyclodextrin(-CD) with sodium 1-pyrenesulfonate(PS) was studied spectrophotometrically. -CD was found to cause much larger decrease in the absorption maxima of PS than -CD. The fluorescence spectra of PS in the presence of -CD showed excimer emission, while those of PS with -CD showed only monomer emission, indicating that -CD forms 12 (-CDPS) complexes in which two PS molecules are included in the -CD cavity in a face-to-face fashion. The binding isotherm showed a sigmoidal curve. The association constants were estimated by computer simulation of the binding curve. The 12 (CDPS) complex was found to be much more stable (K=10⁶ M^–1) than the 11 complex (K=1 M^–1). At high concentration of -CD another -CD cooperates in binding two PS molecules, resulting in the formation of a 22 complex.     

Molybdenum nitride for the direct decomposition of NO

The physico-chemical properties of passivated -Mo₂N have been investigated. The material showed high activities for NO direct decomposition: nearly 100% NO conversion and 95% N₂ selectivity were achieved at 450C. The amount of O₂ taken up by -Mo₂N increased with temperature rise and reached 3133.9 molg^–1 at 450C; we conclude that there formation of Mo₂O_xN_y occurred. This oxygen-saturated -Mo₂N material was catalytically active: NO conversion and N₂ selectivity were 89 and 92% at 450C. We found that by means of H₂ reduction at 450C, Mo₂O_xN_y could be reduced back to -Mo₂N and the oxidation/reduction cycle is repeatable; such a behaviour and the high oxygen capacity (3133.9 molg^–1) of -Mo₂N suggest that -Mo₂N is a promising catalytic material for automobile exhaust purification.     

Phase composition and structure of silver-antimony alloy deposits plated from ferrocyanide-thiocyanate electrolytes

The structure and phase composition of silver-antimony alloy deposits plated from ferrocyanide-thiocyanate electrolytes is investigated. It is shown that the co-deposition of antimony leads to an abrupt decrease of twinning and the formation of perfect orientation of the crystallites in the alloy along the axis 1 1 1. The co-deposition of antimony exerts a depolarization effect upon the plating process of the alloy. At higher antimony concentrations in the electrolyte and higher deposition current both -phase and -phase of the silver-antimony alloy may be formed as well as the pure antimony phase. The concentration regions of antimony in the alloy, within which the different phases are formed and exist, are in agreement with the requirements of the phase diagram. The separate antimony phase is formed at lower antimony concentrations in the alloy than indicated by the phase diagram. The co-deposition of antimony leads to an increase of the crystal lattice parameter of silver and a substantial augmentation of the hardness of the deposited layers.     

Bending behavior of an electrically activated complex forming hydrogel

Summary The complex forming poly[(ethylene glycol-co-proplene glycol)-g-acrylamide]: polyacrylic acid interpenetrating polymer network hydrogel is able to bend under electric field stimuli. pH, ionic strength gradients and voltage can influence it's bending degree. So we may improve the sample' responsive speed through manipulating those factor in the further study in order to put it into the biomedical application.     

Convective Regime of Filtration Combustion of Energetic Materials in a Cocurrent Flow of Their Combustion Products

The convective regime of filtration combustion of energetic materials in a cocurrent flow of their combustion products is studied using a model with extremely simplified kinetics and heat transfer, which shows instability of the process. It is shown that the more accurate twotemperature model describes a steadystate regime. In this regime, the gas temperature on the hot boundary of the heating zone is well below the combustion temperature, and the solidphase temperature is well below the temperature proposed in recent studies on this topic. It is pointed out that the twotemperature approach is unjustified and intragranular nonisothermicity must be taken into account for convective regimes. It is shown that the threetemperature model, which takes into account this effect, does not give a stable steadystate solution.     

Note of the estimation of the Θ temperature and Ψ parameter from the critical temperature data

Summary Critical values of the polymer volume fraction _2,c and the interaction parameter _c have been computed for the case that the equation for the chemical potential of solvent contains terms _{c 2} ³ and _{c 2} ⁴ in addition to ₂ ² . For 0 _c 1/3, the limits for infinite chain length are _2,c = 0 and _c = 0.5. Quite different results are obtained for _c > 1/3, _2,c being finite and _c lower than 1/2. Conclusions for the estimation of the temperature and the entropy-of-dilution parameter are discussed.     

On the NiMoO4 oxidative dehydrogenation of propane to propene: some physical correlations with the catalytic activity

The - and -phases of NiMoO₄ have been investigated with different techniques (X-ray diffraction, electrical conductivity, IR spectroscopy) in order to tentatively rationalise the different catalytic activities observed in the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane to propene. XRD analyses have shown that at 595 ° C, the -phase is already present but a temperature of 700 ° C is required to obtain a full conversion into a pure -phase. Electrical conductivity showed the presence of anionic vacancies. It is proposed that propene is formed by the reaction of propane with surface O^2- anions. The -phase is almost twice more selective in propene formation than the -phase for comparable conversion at identical temperatures. This could derive from different oxygen environments on the active catalytic site.     

Textural and structural studies on nickel hydroxide electrodes. II. Turbostratic nickel (II) hydroxide submitted to electrochemical redox cycling

The textural and structural modifications involved in electrochemical redox cycling of turbostratic nickel (II) hydroxide has been investigated using X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy methods. It was found that during the first cycles, different phenomena compete: redox reactions which occur in the solid state, and ageing reactions via the solution. For the first galvanostatic charge performed at the C/5 rate in 4.5 N KOH, the direct oxidation of (II) to (III) and the ageing of (II) to (II) via the solution followed by the oxidation to (III) are in competition. The study of the discharge mechanism shows that the direct reduction (III)(II) is parallel to the reduction (III)(II) and the ageing of the turbostratic hydroxide via the solution. After the first cycle it was established that the alpha-generated (II) active phase consisted of a mixture of two kinds of particles, the oxidation of which follows two paths: (II)/(III) for the thicker particles and for the thinner (II)/(III), but these latter (II) particles aged via the solution by Oswald ripening and the (II)/(III) couples swung to (II)/(III).     

Catalytic behaviour and characterisation of CuO1−z(La2O3)z/2 based catalysts deposited on γ-Al2O3 and prepared in situ with 0.0 ⩽z⩽1.00, without and with addition of Pd

(CuO)_1–z(La₂O₃)_z/2 based catalysts with 0.0z1.0 supported on -Al₂O₃ have been prepared in situ and the phases formed have been identified by XRD, SEM and TEM/EDS studies. The catalyst with z=0.5 exhibited the best catalytic activity for oxidation of CO (T ₅₀=295 and 390C with degrees of conversions of 93 and 92% at 450C under rich and lean conditions, respectively) and C₃H₆ (291 and 414C; 93 and 83%) and reduction of NO (405C; 60 and 0%). This catalyst contained appreciable amounts of the perovskite phase LaAl_1–xCu_xO₃ and the enhanced catalytic properties are ascribed to the presence of this phase. Addition of Pd to this catalyst implied that the degree of conversion of NO increased and that the light-off temperatures for all involved gas species decreased. Ageing experiments revealed that LaAl_1–xCu_xO₃ decomposed and that Cu containing Pd particles were formed during this procedure which in turn deteriorated the catalytic properties of the catalyst.     

Ammonia synthesis over multi‐promoted iron catalysts obtained by high‐energy ball‐milling

The feasibility of producing ammonia synthesis catalysts from highenergy ballmilling of a simple mixture of the constituent oxides has been investigated. The effect of ballmilling the fused oxidic precursor of the industrial KM1 ammonia synthesis catalyst has also been studied. The results show that highenergy ballmilling offers some interesting possibilities for preparing novel catalytic materials. It is observed that ballmilling of the powder oxides mixture leads to formation of solid solutions and the catalytic activity is significantly higher than that of the starting material. Furthermore, ballmilling of fused oxidic KM1 precursor is seen to give rise to more homogeneous promoter distribution and slightly higher activity. The quite small activity increase observed in this case probably reflects the fact that the fusion process has already resulted in a close to optimal promoter distribution. The choice of atmosphere during ballmilling is also seen to offer possibilities for regulating the phase composition.     

Theoretical aspects of bonding in silicon compounds

Ab initio-calculated bond dissociation energies of Si=Si and C=C are discussed by means of atomic ionization energies and p-p() AO overlap. At the same time ring strain energies of C- as well as Si-rings are estimated by homodesmic reactions where, according to Baeyer, the two-membered rings C=C and Si=Si are chosen to be the first members of the respective series. Thus, a better understanding of the double bonds can be gained. In addition, the exceptional structural and spectroscopic behavior of the five-membered Si-ring is discussed. Finally, the strikingly different results obtained in computational studies of the initial step for polymerization of the systems O=C=O and O=Si=O are discussed.     

Formation and reactions of isocyanic acid during the catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides

Reactions which can produce and consume isocyanic acid (HNCO) over two types of catalysts active for the reduction of nitrogen oxides have been investigated. More than 1000 ppm HNCO can be produced by the reduction of 3000 ppm NO with H₂/CO mixtures over a Pt/SiO₂ catalyst. Complete hydrolysis of HNCO to ammonia and carbon dioxide occurs if even weakly catalytic materials, such as CeO₂/SiO₂ and BaO/SiO₂, are placed downstream. Isocyanic acid is also involved as an intermediate in the reaction of nitromethane over CoZSM5 and CuZSM5 under the conditions of hydrocarbon SCR. In the initial stages of reaction there is complete conversion through to N₂ with CuZSM5 but the process stops at ammonia with CoZSM5 at temperatures below 350°C. In both cases, but especially with CoZSM5, isocyanic acid becomes observable as the catalyst deactivates during continuous exposure at temperatures below about 290°C. In situ FTIR measurements indicate that deactivation is due to a reaction between isocyanic acid and ammonia which generates cyclic striazine compounds.     

On the nature of the active state of silver during catalytic oxidation of methanol

Under the applied high reaction temperatures (900 K) the Ag surface is restructured and a tightly held oxygen species is formed on the surface (O) apart from O atoms dissolved in the bulk (O). Methanol oxidation to formaldehyde proceeds through this O species as demonstrated by application of a variety of spectroscopic techniques.