Catalytic hydrogenation of benzene to cyclohexene on Ru(0 0 0 1) from density functional theory investigations

The catalytic hydrogenation of benzene on transition metal surfaces is of fundamental importance in petroleum industry. With the aim to improve its efficiency and particularly the selectivity to cyclohexene, in this contribution we perform periodic density functional theory calculations to determine the potential energy surface in the hydrogenation of benzene on Ru(0 0 0 1). By following the Horiuti–Polanyi mechanism with a step-wise addition of hydrogen adatoms, we investigate the adsorption of all the possible reaction intermediates and identify the most favored adsorption configuration for each intermediate. In particular, the most stable isomer for the same C₆H_n (n = 8, 9, 10) species are revealed as the most conjugated isomers, which are consistent with those in the gas phase. The elementary hydrogenation reactions of the most stable intermediates are then investigated under different H coverage conditions: the reaction barriers are calculated to be 0.68–0.97 eV at the low H coverage and 0.32–1.14 eV at the high H coverage. The high H coverage reduces significantly the overall barrier height of hydrogenation. With the determined pathway, we propose that the hydrogenation of benzene on Ru(0 0 0 1) follows the mechanism with the step-wise hydrogenation of neighboring C atoms in the ring, i.e., 1–2–3… hydrogenation. The selectivity to cyclohexene on Ru is also discussed, which highlights the importance of the π mode adsorption of benzene and also the adverse effect of secondary reaction process involving the readsorption and hydrogenation of cyclohexene.     

Numerical models for reactions catalysed by homogeneous mediators: the case of Fenton's reagent

A numerical model has been developed to describe the behaviour of a batch reactor in which Fenton's reagent is used for hydroxylating aromatic hydrocarbons under conditions of electrochemical regeneration. The test reaction considered is the conversion of benzene into phenol. Comparison is made with previously published experimental results.Nomenclature A electrode area, m² - a ₁ parameter defined by Equation 21 - C _i concentration of species, i, in the bulk solution, mol m^–3 - c _i local concentration of species, i, in the diffusion layer, mol m^–3 - K _i effective mass-transfer coefficient, m s^–1 - k _j rate constant of reaction j - R _j rate of reaction j, mol m^–3 s^–1 - r _i rate of change of concentration of species i due to chemical reaction, mol m^–3 s^–1 - t time, s - V reactor volume, m³ - x distance from the cathode surface, m - x ^* maximum thickness of the diffusion layer, m - period of diffusion layer renewal, s Subscrpts 1 oxygen - 2 Fe³⁺ - 3 hydrogen peroxide - 4 Fe²⁺ - 5 benzene - 6 phenol - 7 biphenyl This paper was presented at the meeting on Electroorganic Process Engineering held in Perpignan, France, 19–20 September 1985.     

Hydrogen diffusion in quasicrystalline and amorphous ZrCuNiAl

We report on the direct determination of the hydrogen self-diffusion constant D in the hydrogen-storage Zr_69.5Cu₁₂Ni₁₁Al_7.5 alloy, prepared in both the icosahedral quasicrystalline and the bulk metallic glass phases, using the technique of NMR diffusion in a static fringe field of a superconducting magnet. The diffusion constant exhibits strong dependence on temperature and hydrogen concentration. D was found to obey classical Arrhenius thermally activated over-barrier hopping form, whereas the significant decrease of D with increasing hydrogen-to-metal concentration ratio H/M is a result of two effects – the increase of the activation energy for hydrogen jumps between interstitial sites due to lattice expansion upon hydrogenation and the decreasing number of available empty interstitials due to site blocking and creation of defects in the lattice during hydrogen loading. The actual alloy structure – the icosahedral, approximant or metallic glass – appears to be less important for the hydrogen diffusivity.     

Electrical characterization of phosphorus-doped n-type homoepitaxial diamond layers

Electrical properties of phosphorus (P)-related donors have been investigated for P-doped homoepitaxial diamond layers grown by microwave plasma CVD. Temperature-dependent current–voltage (I–V), capacitance–voltage (C–V) measurements and frequency-dependent C–V measurements have been carried out with lateral dot-and-plane (with ring-shaped gap) Schottky barrier diodes. N-type Schottky junction properties were obtained. The ideality factor and the rectification ratio of the Schottky junction were obtained to be 1.9 and 1.7×10⁵ at ±10 V and 473 K, respectively. Frequency-dependent measurements on these Schottky barrier diodes have shown that the capacitance is reduced at high frequency, most likely due to the inability of deep centers to maintain an equilibrium ionization state under a high-frequency modulation. C–V measurements deduced that the net donor concentration was 6.2×10¹⁷ cm⁻³ and the corresponding built-in potential was 4.0 eV, when the P concentration was 8.3×10¹⁷ cm⁻³. Phosphorus electrical activity was 0.75 in the P-doped diamond layer. The carrier thermal activation energy (the donor level) was evaluated to be 0.6 eV from the relation between the net donor concentration and the carrier concentration.     

Identification and Field Evaluation of Components of Female Sex Pheromone of Millet Stem Borer, Coniesta ignefusalis

Five active compounds were detected during analyses of ovipositor washings and effluvia from virgin female Coniesta ignefusalis moths by gas chromatography (GC) linked to electroantennographic (EAG) recording from a male moth. These were identified as (Z)-7-dodecen-1-ol (Z7–12:OH), (Z)-5-decen-1-ol (Z5–10:OH), (Z)-7-dodecenal (Z7–12:Ald), (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate (Z7–12:Ac), and (Z)-9-tetradecen-1-ol (Z9–14:OH) by comparison of their GC retention times, mass spectra, and EAG activities with those of synthetic standards. Laboratory tests of dispensers for these compounds showed that release rates from polyethylene vials increased to relatively uniform values after three to four days, but release from septa was very rapid and nonuniform and decreased to low levels after two to three days. Trapping tests in Niger showed that the major component, Z7–12:OH, and two of the minor components, Z5–10:OH and Z7–12:Ald, were essential for attraction of male C. ignefusalis moths. The most attractive blend contained these three components in a 100:5:3.3 ratio in a polyethylene vial, which emitted the components in similar proportions to those produced by the female C. ignefusalis moth. Water traps baited with this blend containing 1 mg of Z7–12:OH caught more male C. ignefusalis moths than traps baited with newly emerged female moths. Addition of up to 10% of the corresponding E isomers of the pheromone components had no effect on catches, but addition of the other two minor components detected, Z7–12:Ac and/or Z9–14:OH, to the attractive blend at naturally occurring levels caused significant reductions in trap catch.     

Diffusion pathways of benzene, toluene and p-xylene in MFI

The diffusion of alkyl-substituted aromatic molecules in H-ZSM-5 was investigated by means of the frequency response method decoupling particle size effects and intracrystalline diffusion. For zeolite crystals above 5 μm average diameter, the transport in the zeolite pores exerts a significant effect on the overall transport causing anisotropic diffusion as the aspect ratio of the aromatic molecules increases. Diffusion of benzene is nearly isotropic, while p-xylene shows marked differences between the diffusive processes in the straight and sinusoidal channel system of ZSM-5. The isotropic diffusion of benzene is rationalized on the basis of its ability to reorient between the two channel systems without major hindrances. For p-xylene, switching between the channels is only possible by energetically unfavorable rotational motions leading to a low probability for changing between both channel systems.     

Beyond classical theory: Predicting the free energy barrier of bubble nucleation in polymer foaming

Based on the Gibbs‐Tolman‐Koenig formalism, we considered the Tolman correction to the free energy barrier of bubble nucleation in polymer‐gas binary mixtures. For this class of systems, the correction may be estimated with a reasonable accuracy using experimentally accessible macroscopic thermodynamic quantities only. Although the Tolman correction is applicable only in the low supersaturation regime, a simple ansatz regarding the supersaturation dependence of the Tolman length can be made to extend the usefulness of this approach and to yield the free energy barrier that vanishes at the mean‐field spinodal as demanded by thermodynamic considerations. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 3042–3053, 2013     

Determination of overall mass transport coefficients in gas diffusion electrodes

Gas diffusion electrodes are used for many purposes, for example in fuel cells, in synthesis and as anodes in electrodeposition processes. The behaviour of gas diffusion electrodes has been the subject of many studies. In this work the transport of gas in the gas diffusion electrode, characterized by the overall mass transport coefficient, has been investigated using hydrogen-nitrogen mixtures. A reactor model for the gas compartment of the gas diffusion electrode test cell is proposed to calculate the concentration of hydrogen in the gas compartment as a function of the input concentration of hydrogen and the total volumetric gas flow rate. The mass transport coefficient is found to be independent of variations in hydrogen concentration and volumetric gas flow rate. The temperature dependence of the mass transport coefficient has been determined. A maximum was found at 40°C.Notation Agd geometric electrode surface area (m²) - C _in concentration of reactive component at the inlet of the gas compartment (mol m^–3) - c _out concentration of reactive component at the outlet of the gas compartment (mol m^–3) - E potential (V) - E _e equilibrium potential (V) - E _t upper limit potential (V) - F _v volumetric flow rate (m^–3 s^–1) - F _v,H volumetric flow rate of hydrogen (m^–3 s^–1) - F _v,N volumetric flow rate of nitrogen (m^–3 s^–1) - F _vin volumetric flow rate at the inlet of the gas compartment (m^–3 s^–1) - F _v,out volumetric flow rate at the outlet of the gas compartment (in ^–3 s^–1) - F _v,reaction volumetric flow rate of reactive component into the gas diffusion electrode (m^–3 s^–1) - Faraday constant (A s mo^–1) - I _gd current for gas diffusion electrode (A) - i _gd current density for gas diffusion electrode (A m^–2) - I _gd,1 diffusion limited current for gas diffusion electrode (A) - i _gd,1 diffusion limited current density for gas diffusion electrode (A m^–2) - I _gd,1,calc calculated diffusion limited current for gas diffusion electrode (A) - i _gd,1,calc calculated diffusion limited current density for gas diffusion electrode (A m^–2) - I _hp current for hydrogen production (A) - k _s mass transport coefficient calculated from c _out (m s^–1) - n number of electrons involved in electrode reaction - T temperature (°C) - V _m molar volume of gas (m³ mol^–1) - overpotential (V)     

Temperature dependence of the Tafel slope for oxygen reduction on platinum in concentrated phosphoric acid

Oxygen reduction on bright platinum in concentrated H₃PO₄ has been investigated with the rotating disc electrochemical technique at temperatures from 25 to 250° C and oxygen pressures up to 1.77 MPa. Cyclic voltammetry has been employed to study the anodic film formed on platinum in concentrated H₃PO₄ and the possible electroreduction of H₃PO₄ on platinum. The apparent transfer coefficient for the oxygen reduction has been found to be approximately proportional to temperature rather than independent of temperature. Such behaviour is difficult to reconcile with accepted theories for the effect of electrode potential on the energy barriers for electrode processes. It is of importance to establish an understanding of this phenomenon. Possible factors which can contribute to the temperature dependence of the transfer coefficient but which would not necessarily result in a direct proportionality to temperature include potential dependent adsorption of solution phase species, restructuring of the solution in the compact layer, proton and electron tunnelling, a shift in rate-determining step, changes in the symmetry of the potential energy barrier, penetration of the electric field into the electrode phase, insufficient correction for ohmic losses, and impurity effects.Nomenclature transfer coefficient - symmetry factor - temperature independent component of - stoichiometric number - rotation rate (r.p.m.) - a,c constant and temperature coefficient in Equation 4 (no unit and K^–1, respectively) - B slope of Koutecky-Levich plot (mA cm^–2 (r.p.m.)^1/2) - b Tafel slope (V dec.^–1) - E potential (V) - F Faraday (C mol^–1) - i current density (A cm^–2) - i _L diffusion limiting current density (A cm^–2) - K temperature independent component of Tafel slope (V dec^–1.) - R gas constant (J mol^–1 K^–1) - T temperature (K) - n number of electrons - standard free energy of activation for forward process (J mol^–1) - standard enthalpy of activation for forward process (J mol^–1) - standard entropy of activation for forward process (J mol^–1 K^–1) This paper is dedicated to Professor Brian E. Conway on the occasion of his 65th birthday, and in recognition of his outstanding contribution to electrochemistry.     

Role of Temperature in the Structure of Zn(II)-1,4,-BDC Metal-Organic Frameworks and their Adsorption and Diffusion Properties for Carbon Dioxide

The role of reaction temperature in the structure of Zn(II)-1,4,-Benzendicarboxylic-MOFs (Zn-BDC-MOFs) and subsequently their CO₂ adsorption properties were investigated. Crystal morphology and phase structure of the Zn-BDC-MOFs were characterized by SEM and PXRD. Stability and textual properties of the Zn-BDC-MOFs were analyzed by using accelerated surface area and porosimetry apparatus (ASAP) and thermogravimetric analysis (TG). Adsorption equilibrium and diffusion of CO₂ on these materials were experimentally studied by the gravimetric method in the pressure range up to 1 atm at room temperature. Results showed that reaction temperature changed the coordination mode of 1,4,-Benzendicarboxylic acid ligand and caused the different structures and pore texture of Zn-BDC-MOFs. High reaction temperature was good for the generation of the three-dimensional MOFs with a higher adsorption capacity for CO₂ but lower gas diffusivity. In contrast, low reaction temperature could cause the monodentate ligand in metal centers and form the low-dimensional MOFs with a lower adsorption capacity for CO₂ but higher gas diffusivity. The order of CO₂ adsorption uptake and diffusion time constant were given as MOF-130T > MOF-50T > MOF-100T > MOF-75T and MOF-50T > MOF-75T > MOF-100T > MOF-130T, respectively.     

Laser initiation of PETN

We studied experimentally the initiation ofPETN with a dispersity of 3700–22,000cm ²/kg and a density of 0.6–1.3g/cm ₃ by a laser (=1.06 µm and =40nsec). Data processing was based on dimensional analysis of the process and study of the phenomena accompanying initiation (crater formation and sudden change in optical characteristics). This made it possible to describe empirically the complex dependence of the threshold initiation energy ofPETN on its density and dispersity, the irradiation-zone diameter, and the acoustic impedance of a transparent base plate. The mechanism of laser initiation ofPETN is considered.Translated from Fizika Goreniya i Vzryva, Vol. 32, No. 4, pp. 113–119, July–August, 1996.     

Hydrogen adsorption on metal-organic framework (MOF-5) synthesized by DMF approach

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), especially MOF-5, are believed to be promising new porous materials for hydrogen adsorption. A comparative study of material synthesis, characterization and hydrogen adsorption was performed to examine the effects of different synthesis conditions on crystal structure, pore textural property and hydrogen adsorption performance of MOF-5 materials. Three MOF-5 samples synthesized with dimethyl formamide (DFM) as solvent and slightly different procedures have shown similar phase structure and chemical composition, diverse crystal structures, varying pore textural properties and different hydrogen adsorption performance. It was established from the experimental results that higher order of crystallinity in the MOF-5 materials generates better adsorbents with larger crystal size, higher specific surface area, uniform pore size distribution (PSD), larger hydrogen adsorption capacity and faster hydrogen diffusion rate in MOF-5 adsorbents. The best MOF-5 sample synthesized in this work (MOF-5(γ)) has a Langmuir specific surface area of 1157 m²/g; it can adsorb 0.5 wt.% of hydrogen at 77 K and 800 mmHg; and results in hydrogen diffusivity inside MOF-5 crystal of 2.3 × 10⁻⁹ cm²/s. The density functional theory reasonably predicts the presence of mesopores and macropores in all three MOF-5 samples synthesized in this work.     

Electro-oxidation of benzene in a fixed bed reactor

A fixed bed electrochemical reactor was used in the laboratory to oxidize benzene to quinone. The reactor consisted of a 3 mm thick bed of 1 mm lead shot, 0.5 m long by 0.05 m wide, sandwiched between a lead feeder plate and an asbestos diaphragm which was compressed against a stainless steel cathode plate. A dispersion of benzene in aqueous sulphuric acid was passed through the reactor and the rates of production of quinone, hydroquinone, carbon dioxide, oxygen and hydrogen, together with the cell voltage and pressure drop, were obtained for a range of operating conditions.Concentrations of quinone in the benzene product varied from 0.04 to 0.31 M and current efficiencies for quinone were in the range 22 to 55%. In a single pass of 1 M acid and benzene through the reactor at 25° C the quinone efficiency fell from 53% to 39% as the average superficial current density increased from 0.4 to 2.0 kA m^–2. At an average superficial current density of 2.0 kA m^–2 the quinone efficiency decreased with an increase in process temperature (25 to 50° C), but increased with increases in acid concentration (1 to 4 M), acid flow (0.5 to 1.0 cm³ s^–1), benzene flow (0.05 to 10 cm³ s^–1) and co-current nitrogen gas flow (0 to 32 cm³ s^–1 at STP). Recycling the 4 M sulphuric acid at 25° C raised the concentration of quinone in the product benzene but decreased the net current efficiency for quinone. Corresponding changes were observed in the cell voltage and in the current efficiencies for hydroquinone, carbon dioxide and oxygen. The results are discussed in terms of the process stoichiometry, electrode kinetics and mass transfer for three-phase flow in a fixed bed reactor.Nomenclature A Acid flow - a ₁ Liquid/liquid specific interfacial area - a _s Liquid/solid specific interfacial area - B Benzene flow - d ₃₂ Sauter mean drop diameter - d _P Particle diameter - E Current efficiency - F Faraday number - I Total current - i _l Superficial transfer-limited current density - K Liquid/liquid distribution coefficient - k _c Liquid/liquid mass transfer coefficient in continuous phase - k _s Liquid/solid mass transfer coefficient - L _c Superficial liquid load — continuous phase - L _d Superficial liquid load — disperse phase - Q _A Quinone concentration in aqueous phase - V ⁰ Standard electrode potential - z Number of electrons per equivalent     

Identification of Female Sex Pheromone of the Rice Leaf Bug, Trigonotylus caelestialium

The female sex pheromone of the rice leaf bug, Trigonotylus caelestialium, was analyzed by GC-EAD and GC-MS. Ten EAD active compounds—n-hexyl n-hexanoate, (E)-2-hexenyl n-hexanoate, n-hexyl (E)-2-hexenoate, n-octyl n-butyrate, n-octyl n-hexanoate, (E)-2-octenyl n-hexanoate, n-pentyl n-hexanoate, n-hexyl n-butyrate, (E)-2-hexenyl n-butyrate, and n-hexyl (E)-2-butenoate—were detected in the ratio of 1000:414–491:trace–5:5–11:55–71:50–63:trace–3:225:90:32 from female body extracts, and in the ratio of 1000:271–342:10–43:1–3:58–78:14–19:trace:178:36:26 from male body extracts. Field trapping tests with these synthetic compounds indicated that n-hexyl n-hexanoate, (E)-2-hexenyl n-hexanoate, and n-octyl n-butyrate are pheromone components, and mixtures in ratios of 1000:400–500:10–100 were more attractive to males. Doses ranging from 4.29 g to 14.3 g of the three-component mixture in the ratio of 1000:400:30 loaded into glass capillary tubes were most attractive to males.     

Free volume model and diffusion of organic solvents in natural rubber

The concentration dependence of the diffusion coefficients and the equilibrium isotherms of benzene, o-xylene, ethylbenzene, and chloroform in natural rubber membranes at 303 K were experimentally determined. The data were used to critically test the predictive capability of the Vrentas–Duda free volume model. It was found that although the model works well for some polymer–solvent systems such as toluene-polystyrene, the use of some of the parameters from pure component properties yields unacceptably low diffusion rates for the rubber–solvent systems studied. The parameters D_o1 and ξ obtained from experimental zero-concentration diffusivity data, and parameter V?₁^* calculated from the solvent molecular geometries are needed to achieve good predictions. The diffusion coefficients described by the revised model can be used to predict quite well the breakthrough times of the rubber–solvent systems that were also experimentally measured by a permeation method. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Conversion of methane to benzene over Mo2C and Mo2C/ZSM-5 catalysts

The activation and dehydrogenation of CH₂ on Mo₂C and MO₂C/ZSM-5 have been investigated under non-oxidizing conditions. Unsupported Mo₂C exhibited very little activity towards methane decomposition at 973 K. The main reaction pathway was the decomposition of methane to give hydrogen and carbon with a trace amount of ethane. Mixing Mo₂C with ZSM-5 support somewhat enhanced its catalytic activity, but did not change the products of the reaction. A dramatic change in the product formation occurred on partially oxidized Mo2C/ZSM-5 catalyst; besides some hydrocarbons benzene was produced with a selectivity of 70–80% at a conversion of 5–7%. Carburization of highly dispersed MoO₃ on ZSM-5 also led to a very active catalyst: the conversion of methane at the steady state was 5–6% and the selectivity of benzene formation was 85%.This laboratory is a part of the Center for Catalysis, Surface and Material Science at the University of Szeged.     

Electrical conductivity and chemical diffusivity of NiAl2O4 spinel under internal reforming fuel cell conditions

NiAl₂O₄ spinel was formed by solid state reaction. Its electrical conductivity was measured in the temperature range of 680–940 °C and under various oxygen-rich environments, as well as under reducing conditions. From the temperature dependence of the conductivity, the activation energies for conduction increase for decreasing oxygen partial pressures. From the partial oxygen pressure dependence, the defect structure of the material was analysed. The conductivity change with respect to P _O2 can be attributed to singly and doubly ionized nickel vacancies. The chemical diffusivity of the oxide was determined by conductivity relaxation upon abrupt change in P _O2 in the surrounding atmosphere. The oxygen chemical diffusion coefficient is of the order of magnitude of 10^–4 cm² s^–1.     

Zinc passivation and the effect of mass transfer in flowing electrolyte

Passivation times,t _p, of a zinc sheet anode have been found to vary from 2 min to 2 h over the experimental range of electrolyte velocities (0.075 to 0.20 ms^–1), current densities (3,160 to 1,675 A m^–2) and electrolyte temperature (298 to 333 K). Fort _p longer than about 40 min there was a change in the nature of the experimental dependence oft _p on the electrolyte flow rate and the current density.A satisfactory theoretical model of the dissolving zinc anode involving the diffusion of the soluble species through a growing porous solid layer on the electrode surface and through the electrolyte diffusion layer has been formulated to explain the dependence oft _p on the experimental variables.     

Electrodeposition of titanium from chloride melts

The kinetics of the electrodeposition and electrocrystallisation of titanium were studied in alkali chloride melts. Voltammograms showed two distinct anodic peaks for the oxidation steps Ti/Ti(II) and Ti(II)/Ti(III) at 70 mV and 300 mV, respectively, referred to titanium. The cathodic reduction Ti(III)/Ti(II) was very irreversible, showing an extended cathodic wave and a shoulder on the Ti(II)/Ti reduction peak. The Ti(II)/Ti reduction was found to be quasi reversible. The rate constant at 450'C was 5 × 10^–3 cm s^–1 . The diffusion coefficient in KCl-LiCl eutectic was 1 × 10^–5 cm²s^–1 at 450° C rising to 3.5 × 10^–5 cm²s^–1 at 650° C. Potential step measurements gave curves indicating slow instantaneous nucleation and growth (I against t ^1/2) followed by slow diffusion control (I against t ^–1/2). During constant current steady state deposition the nature of the deposit depended on the composition of the melt, the temperature and the cd. In KCl-LiCl melts coherent deposits were obtained for cds of 60–120 mA cm² while higher current densities gave dendritic and spongy deposits.     

Diffusion coefficients of Cu(II) complexes with ligands used in alkaline electroless copper plating solutions

The diffusion coefficient values of the Cu(II) complex compounds with EDTA, DTPA, NTA, Quadrol, glycerol, saccharose, (+)- and (±)-tartaric acid, OH^– ions obtained by polarographic measurements in alkaline solutions lie in the range (1.2–5.7) × 10^–6 cm² s^–1 (at 20 C and J = 3) depending on the size of complex species, and are less than those of free (hydrated) Cu(II) ions and methanediol anion (H₂C(OH)O^–) determined under the same conditions which are 7.0 × 10^–6 and 10 × 10^–6 cm² s^–1, respectively. The linear dependence of the polarographically determined diffusion coefficient values on the inverse radius of Cu(II) complex species is observed.