Gasification of polyethylene using steam plasma generated by microwave discharge

Gasification of polyethylene (PE) pellet was studied using atmospheric argon-steam plasma generated by microwave discharge and the feasibility of the process was examined. The experimental results showed that additional steam to argon plasma promoted the weight decrease of PE and enhanced the production of H₂, CO, CO₂ and CH₄. The results confirmed that the treatment of plastics with the steam plasma was effective to obtain synthesis gas.     

Effect of the ACAT inhibitor, HL-004, on cholesterol metabolism in macrophages

The effects of a novel acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) inhibitor, HL-004, on cholesterol metabolism were examined in mice peritoneal macrophages. Cholesteryl ester-rich foam cells were induced by incubating macrophages with acetylated LDL. HL-004 prevented the accumulation of cholesteryl ester in the presence of the cholesterol acceptor, HDL. In the absence of HDL, HL-004 generated large amounts of free cholesterol in the cell. Moreover, HL-004 stimulated the efflux of cholesterol from preestablished foam cells in the presence of HDL. These results suggest that the inhibition of foam cell formation and the stimulation of foam cell regression by HL-004 are attributed to intracellular ACAT inhibition, and that HL-004 would be expected to exhibit an antiatherosclerotic effect through direct action on arterial wall.     

X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Investigation on the Low-Temperature Degradation of 2 mol% Y2O3-ZrO2 Ceramics

2 mol% Y₂O₃-ZrO₂ polycrystals were annealed in water and under vacuum to highlight the effect of the presence of H₂O on the low-temperature degradation transformation. The specimen surfaces with monoclinic phases transformed during annealing in the different environments were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy with special interest on the electron binding energy change of the constituent ions of the 2 mol% Y₂O₃-ZrO₂ ceramics after the degradation transformation. It was found that no change occurred for the electron-bonding energies of core levels of zirconium ions after the transformation, whereas Y-OH bonds were formed during annealing in water. This result suggested a possibility that the preferred hydration of yttrium took place at the surface of Y₂O₃-partially-stabilized ZrO₂, which is likely to be the reason for the low-temperature degradation accelerated by the presence of H₂O.     

An XPS study of passive films on Nickel and alloy 600 in acids

Compositions of surface films formed on nickel and Alloy 600 in I M HCI, 0.5 M H₂SO₄ and I/3 M H₃PO₁ solutions were investigated as a function of polarization potential. The main constituent of surface films formed on Ni in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ or 1/3 M H₃PO₄ solution was hydrated nickel oxyhydroxide, in which the ratio of O₂ to OH⁻ increased when passivation occurred. The surface films formed on Ni and Alloy 600 at lower potentials in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ solution contain S² ions other than SOP_4²⁻ ions, whereas S²⁻ ions were not incorporated in the passive film. Passivation of Alloy 600 took place by the formation of hydrated chromium oxyhydroxide. Pitting led to no substantial change in the average composition of the film.     

Importance of initial surface film in the degradation of stainless steels by atmospheric exposure

The surface compositions of stainless steels types 304, 316, 430, and 444 combined with four types of surface finishes, 2B finish, hairline polishing, mirror polishing, and bright annealing, were measured by ICP-AES, EPMA, and XPS before exposure. The surface finish that most enriched the chromic species in the surface film was mirror polishing, followed by bright annealing, 2B finish, and hairline polishing. The order of corrosion-resistance was type 444, type 316, type 304, and type 430. The surface compositions were correlated with the rating number and pitting depth after exposure to atmospheric environments. The rating number had a high positive correlation with the concentration of Cr in the surface film, and had a slight correlation with the near-surface composition measured by EPMA at 12 kV, but did not show any correlation with bulk composition within the composition range covered in the present work. This same trend was observed for pitting depth. It was concluded that the cationic concentration of Cr in the surface film before atmospheric exposure is the prime factor in controlling the resistance of stainless steels to atmospheric corrosion.     

Kinetic study on the first stage during thermal degradation of polystyrene

The kinetic parameters of the first stage of polystyrene degradation have been investigated to elucidate the reaction mechanisms using the flow reactor system. The decrease in molecular weight of polystyrene was recorded at minute intervals over the temperature range 310°–390°C. Generally, the first and second stages were observed by thermogravimetric analysis (t.g.a.), however in the early stage of the degradation volatile yields of at least 5% occurred. Therefore, using t.g.a. analysis it is difficult to detect this earlier stage. It became evident that the first stage in the earlier part of the reaction could be detected by g.p.c. analysis. We have observed the hidden kinetic parameters of the nature of the first stage of the polystyrene degradation. The results indicate that the main chains were degraded randomly with the small quantitative volatile groups in the first stage and the rates of decrease in molecular weight in the first stage against reaction temperatures were evaluated as log k_s = 12.0 ? 41300/RT.     

The surface film formed on amorphous Pd-Ti-P alloy by anodic polarization in 2 m NaCl solution

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to investigate the effect of the composition and thickness of surface film on the electrocatalytic properties for chlorine gas evolution on amorphous Pd-Ti-P alloy in NaCl solution. The amount of charge for gas evolution exhibited a wavy change with an increase in polarization potential. The gas evolution became active with an increase in palladium content of the surface film and slowed down with increases of titanium and phosphorus contents of the film. However, despite the fact that the formation of surface film consisting mainly of titanium as a cation in the potential region higher than 1.6 V (sce), the catalytic activity for gas evolution increased, suggesting the change in the gas evolution mechanism in the higher potential region.     

Anodic characteristics of amorphorous palladium-base alloys in sodium chloride solutions

The anodic characteristics of a variety of amorphous palladium-base alloys were examined with a view to their use for the production of sodium hypochlorite by electrolysis of dilute sodium chloride solutions at ambient temperature. The corrosion resistance of palladium-metalloid alloys was obtained by alloying with platinum group metals and/or valve metals. Among these alloys, rhodium-containing alloys showed high electrocatalytic activities for chlorine evolution. Surface activation treatment was, however, necessary to obtain sufficiently high activities for chlorine evolution at low overpotentials. Surface-activated amorphous alloys possessed considerably higher current efficiency for chlorine evolution in comparison with currently used anodes.     

A highly stable and efficient catalyst for direct synthesis of LPG from syngas

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fuel was directly synthesized from syngas over a hybrid catalyst which contained a methanol synthesis catalyst and zeolite. The new hybrid catalyst composed of (Pd–Ca/SiO₂) and β-zeolite, showed a high activity and selectivity for LPG production. X-ray diffraction (XRD) characterization of the catalyst was used to analyze the deactivation of (Pd–Ca/SiO₂)/β-zeolite.     

An X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic study of electrocatalytic activity of platinum group metals for chlorine evolution

A correlation of the catalytic activity for anodic chlorine evolution of platinum group metals to the nature of the surface film formed during chlorine evolution in a sodium chloride solution was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The change in the surface film with increasing potential was found on platinum, including an increase in the cationic valence. This seemed responsible for the decrease in the activity for chlorine evolution on platinum in the high potential region. Increasing potential did not result in the appreciable increase in the cationic valence in the surface film on the other platinum group metals. Replacement of hydroxyl ions in the surface film by chloride ions became easier in the order of rhodium, iridium and palladium, and the activity for anodic chlorine evolution increased in this order due possibly to an increase in the amount of chloride ions in the film which seemed to be one of the reactants in the rate determining electrochemical desorption of adsorbed chlorine atom. Chlorine molecules adsorbed on the surface film were also found. It was assumed that the activity for anodic chlorine evolution might be low when the metal surface was covered by a large amount of molecular chlorine which was the reaction product.