Europium(II) in glasses of the Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-MnO-Eu<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> system

Triply and doubly charged states of europium are revealed by ¹⁵¹Eu Mössbauer spectroscopy in the structure of glasses of the composition (mol %) 19.5Al₂O₃, 31.5SiO₂, 26.5MnO, and 22.5Eu₂O₃. The isomer shifts in the Mössbauer spectra of Eu³⁺ and Eu²⁺ ions in the structure of glasses differ from the isomer shifts in the spectra of the Eu₂O₃ and EuO compounds. This difference is explained by the fact that the electron density at ¹⁵¹Eu nuclei is affected by the manganese and aluminum atoms, which are not bound directly to the europium atoms. The broadening of the spectra of the Eu²⁺ ions in glasses is caused by the nonuniform isomer shift.     

Synthetic spinels of the system MgO-Cr<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Synthetic spinels of the system MgO-Cr₂O₃-Al₂O₃-Fe₂O₃ are considered and the desirability of organizing their production for the refractory industry is demonstrated. Translated from Novye Ogneupory, No. 6, pp. 32–35, June 2008.     

Synthesis and properties of the composite ceramics from nanocrystalline Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-30% Y<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>Zr<Subscript>0.9</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript> prepared from a water-alcohol solution

The hydrogel of the mixed oxide Al₂O₃-30% Y_0.1Zr_0.9O₂ was prepared by precipitation of ammonia from a water-alcohol mixture (1 : 5). The Al₂O₃-30% Y_0.1Zr_0.9O₂ compound thus synthesized was characterized using differential scanning calorimetry, transmission electron microscopy, and the BET adsorption method. The obtained sample consisted of spherical particles with an average size of 16–20 nm and a specific surface area of 167 m²/g. The Al₂O₃-30% Y_0.1Zr_0.9O₂ powder was pressed at 300 MPa and then calcinated at 1600°C for 2 h in air. The topographic and structural features of the prepared ceramics were determined using atomic force microscopy and X-ray electron probe microanalysis. The porosity, the Vickers microhardness, and the tensile strength were determined by mercury porometry.     

Effect of Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript> xerogel support on hydrogen production by steam reforming of LNG over Ni/Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript> catalyst

An Al₂O₃-ZrO₂ xerogel (AZ-SG) was prepared by a sol-gel method for use as a support for a nickel catalyst. The Ni/AZ-SG catalyst was then prepared by an impregnation method, and was applied to hydrogen production by steam reforming of LNG. A nickel catalyst supported on commercial alumina (A-C) was also prepared (Ni/A-C) for comparison. The hydroxyl-rich surface of the AZ-SG support increased the dispersion of nickel species on the support during the calcination step. The formation of a surface nickel aluminate-like phase in the Ni/AZ-SG catalyst greatly enhanced the reducibility of the Ni/AZ-SG catalyst. The ZrO₂ in the AZ-SG support increased the adsorption of steam onto the support and the subsequent spillover of steam from the support to the active nickel sites in the Ni/AZ-SG catalyst. Both the high surface area and the well-developed mesoporosity of the Ni/AZ-SG catalyst improved the gasification of adsorbed surface hydrocarbons in the reaction. In the steam reforming of LNG, the Ni/AZ-SG catalyst showed a better catalytic performance than the Ni/A-C catalyst. Moreover, the Ni/AZ-SG catalyst showed strong resistance toward catalyst deactivation.     

The Structure of Fusion-Cast High-Chrome Oxide Refractories in the Cr<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> - MgO - Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> System

The phase composition and structure of fusion-cast refractories composed of 57.0 – 84.2% Cr₂O₃, 4.3 – 36.1% MgO, 2.0 – 9.7% Al₂O₃, and 2.4 – 6.9% SiO₂ have been studied by petrographic and x-ray spectral microprobe analysis methods. Refractories high in MgO with modulus M = (Cr₂O₃ +Al₂O₃)/MgO = 1.64 – 3.1 are shown to consist of spinel phase Mg(Cr, Al)₂O₄ and silicate glass. Refractory materials (80.8 – 84.2% Cr₂O₃, 4.3 – 4.7% MgO, 2.0 – 9.7% Al₂O₃, and 2.7 – 6.9% SiO₂ with M = 18.7 – 20.2) are three-phase systems composed of spinel, escolaite, and glass phase. These materials, owing to their high corrosion resistance, have promising potentiality for practical applications.__________Translated from Novye Ogneupory, No. 12, pp. 69 – 74, December, 2004.     

Analysis of the formation of Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> + Fe nanocomposites

The formation of Al₂O₃ + Fe nanocomposites (in the range 0–20 wt % Fe) in the course of three sequential processes, such as dispersion, compaction, and sintering at a temperature of 1573 K, is investigated. It is revealed that the sintering is accompanied by the formation of the spinel phase at interfaces. It is demonstrated that the composition of the sintered samples corresponds to an equilibrium composition at a temperature of approximately 1073 K and that the spinel phase serves as a barrier layer preventing oxidation of iron     

Physicochemical properties of nanocrystalline composites based on ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript>, Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>, and rare-earth oxides

Powder precursors have been prepared by means of the sol-gel technique and codeposition, and nanoceramics in the ZrO₂-Al₂O₃-rare-earth (RE) oxide system (RE = Ce, Sc, or Y) based on them have been obtained. Physicochemical properties of the resulting ceramic composites have been investigated. The energy model for oxygen-ionic transport processes in a solid solution based on ZrO₂, which relies on computer simulation procedure, has been proposed, and the structural, strength, and electrophysical characteristics of the solid solution have been calculated. The obtained materials are promising as high-melting electrochemical sensors in molten oxides.     

Effects of SiC and Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> particles on the electrodeposition of Zn,Co and ZnCo. I. Electrodeposition in the absence of SiC and Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Electrodeposition of Zn, Co and ZnCo from acid sulfate solutions onto steel was investigated in this first part of a study of the effects of SiC or Al₂O₃ particles on these processes and the formation of ZnCo–SiC and ZnCo–Al₂O₃ electrocomposites. Zn electrodeposition shows a well-defined pre-bulk region, where the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and Zn underpotential deposition (upd) compete. Zn bulk electrodeposition begins with primary nucleation and diffusion-controlled growth, strongly dependent on conditions favoring previous Zn upd against HER. It is assumed that this first bulk process takes place over the upd Zn. Zn bulk electrodeposition is followed by secondary nucleation and growth. Co electrodeposition begins with a slow reduction in parallel with HER, followed by a faster reduction. strongly hinders the initial reduction. The ZnCo and Zn electrodeposition curves are initially similar, retaining features of pre-bulk and bulk Zn electrodeposition.     

Properties of materials of the system Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-SiC-C after firing in a reducing atmosphere

A set of studies is presented for the physicomechanical properties of corundum-graphite carbide-containing refractories. The efficiency of introducing silicon carbide as an antioxidant addition to Al₂O₃-SiC2-C-materials is established. The structure and phase composition of corundum-graphite silicon carbide-containing refractories based on an ethyl silicate binder fired in a reducing atmosphere are studied. __________ Translated from Novye Ogneupory, No. 10, pp. 52–56, October 2007.     

Viscosity affected by nanoparticle aggregation in Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-water nanofluids

An investigation on viscosity was conducted 2 weeks after the Al₂O₃-water nanofluids having dispersants were prepared at the volume concentration of 1-5%. The shear stress was observed with a non-Newtonian behavior. On further ultrasonic agitation treatment, the nanofluids resumed as a Newtonian fluids. The relative viscosity increases as the volume concentrations increases. At 5% volume concentration, an increment was about 60% in the re-ultrasonication nanofluids in comparison with the base fluid. The microstructure analysis indicates that a higher nanoparticle aggregation had been observed in the nanofluids before re-ultrasonication.     

Phase equilibria in the Ho<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-SrAl<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> system

The phase formation is investigated and the phase diagram of the Ho₂O₃-SrAl₂O₄ system is constructed. A ternary compound, namely, Ho₂SrAl₂O₇, is revealed. It is established that this compound undergoes incongruent melting.     

Preparation and application of zeolite beta with super-low SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> ratio

This paper presents the direct synthesis of super-low SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratio zeolite beta molecular sieve through a novel route, by which some of aluminium species are added during crystaling process. The IR results show that with the increase of aluminium content in the framework, the frequency of the band in the range of framework vibration (1060–1090 cm⁻¹) shifts to the lower wave-number; the BET surface-area decreases and the basicity of zeolite becomes stronger. In a second step, new adsorbents were obtained by solid-state ion exchanging zeolite beta with Cu(I), Ag(I) cations. The deep-desulfurization (sulfur levels of <1 ppmw) tests were performed using fixed-bed adsorption technique, the sulfur content of the treated and untreated gasoline was analyzed by microcoulometry. The experimental results show that the desulfurization performance of sorbents decreases in order: Cu(I)beta > Ag(I)beta > Na-beta. The best sorbent, Cu(I)beta, has breakthrough adsorption capacities of 0.236 mmolS/g of sorbent for model gasoline.     

Thermal conductivity and viscosity measurements of ethylene glycol-based Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanofluids

The dispersion and stability of nanofluids obtained by dispersing Al₂O₃ nanoparticles in ethylene glycol have been analyzed at several concentrations up to 25% in mass fraction. The thermal conductivity and viscosity were experimentally determined at temperatures ranging from 283.15 K to 323.15 K using an apparatus based on the hot-wire method and a rotational viscometer, respectively. It has been found that both thermal conductivity and viscosity increase with the concentration of nanoparticles, whereas when the temperature increases the viscosity diminishes and the thermal conductivity rises. Measured enhancements on thermal conductivity (up to 19%) compare well with literature values when available. New viscosity experimental data yield values more than twice larger than the base fluid. The influence of particle size on viscosity has been also studied, finding large differences that must be taken into account for any practical application. These experimental results were compared with some theoretical models, as those of Maxwell-Hamilton and Crosser for thermal conductivity and Krieger and Dougherty for viscosity.     

Interaction of O<Subscript>2</Subscript>, O<Subscript>3</Subscript>, and H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript> with an activated carbon

The results of the modification of AG-OV-1 activated carbon under various conditions (by atmospheric oxygen at elevated temperatures and by hydrogen peroxide or ozone) are given. The effect of the used modifier on changes in the porosity, surface state, and adsorption capacity of activated carbon is evaluated.     

Maximization of total surface area of Pt-SnO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> catalyst by the Taguchi method

The maximization of the total surface area of Pt-SnO₂/Al₂O₃ catalyst was studied by using the Taguchi method of experimental design. The catalysts were prepared by sol-gel method. The effects of HNO₃, H₂O and aluminum nitrate concentrations and the stirring rate on the total surface area were studied at three levels of each. L₉ orthogonal array leading nine experiments was used in the experimental design. The parameter levels that give maximum total surface area were determined and experimentally verified. In the range of conditions studied it was found that, medium levels of HNO₃ and H₂O concentration and lower levels of aluminum nitrate concentration and stirring rate maximize the total surface area.     

Influence of calcination temperature on the structure and properties of Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> as support for Pd catalyst

We investigated the influence of the calcination temperature on the structural properties of Al₂O₃ and how the resultant Al₂O₃ support affects the characteristics of Pd/Al₂O₃ catalysts. Al₂O₃ pretreated at different calcination temperatures ranging from 500 °C to 1,150 °C, was used as catalyst supports. The Pd/Al₂O₃ catalysts were prepared by a deposition-precipitation method using a pH 7.5 precursor solution. Characterization of the prepared Pd/Al₂O₃ catalysts was performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N₂-physisorption, CO₂-temperature programmed desorption (TPD), CO-chemisorption, and field emission-transmission electron microscopic (FE-TEM) analyses. The CO-chemisorption results showed that the Pd catalyst with the Al₂O₃ support calcined at 900 °C, Pd/Al₂O₃ (900), had the highest and most uniformly dispersed Pd particles, with a Pd dispersion of 29.8%. The results suggest that the particle size and distribution of Pd are related to the phase transition of Al₂O₃ and the ratio of isolated tetrahedral to condensed octahedral coordination sites (i.e., functional groups), where the tetrahedral sites coordinate more favorably with Pd.