A Nano-Hybrid of Molybdenum Oxide Intercalated by Dithiocarbamate as an Oxidation Catalyst

A novel nano-layered material based on molybdenum oxide has been synthesized by hydrothermal method using dithiocarbamate. On the basis of the X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thermal analysis and infrared spectroscopy results, a possible arrangement of organic ligands in the interlayer space of molybdenum oxide has been proposed. Moreover, the catalytic activity of the synthesized nanohybrid of molybdenum oxide was investigated in oxygen transfer reactions. This reagent can oxidize alkenes, alcohols, sulfides, and amines in the presence of hydrogen peroxide with high yield and selectivity.     

A Hybrid Fuzzy-Based Multi-Objective PSO Algorithm for Conjunctive Water Use and Optimal Multi-Crop Pattern Planning

This paper focuses on extracting an optimal multi-crop pattern plan through multi-objective conjunctive surface-ground water use management. Minimizing shortages in meeting irrigation demands, maximizing groundwater resources sustainability and maximizing agricultural net benefits are the three main goals of the multi-objective optimization problem solved in this paper. A new robust fuzzy-based multi-objective PSO algorithm called f-MOPSO is adopted and modified to solve a three-objective real-world conjunctive use management problem presented in this paper after testing on standard test problems revealed f-MOPSO superiority as compared to the well-known multi-swarm vector evaluated PSO (VEPSO) algorithm. The f-MOPSO benefits from a well-organized Sugeno fuzzy inference system (SFIS) designed for handling multi-objective nature of the optimization problems. The unique performance of f-MOPSO is not only presenting the better final solutions, but also aggregating the capabilities for measurement of dominance and diversity of the solutions in one stage by one index named comprehensive dominance index, in contrast to a wide range of multi-objective algorithms that evaluate dominance and diversity in two separate stages resulting in excessive computational burden. The optimization model is carried out on a 10-year long-term simulation period, resulting in increasing irrigation efficiency i.e. decreasing water losses, decreasing water consumption per unit cultivated area and increasing water productivity compared to those similar criteria observed in actual operation in the study area. The wheat and rice crops were identified as the dominant crops, while the optimization model was the least interested to onion cultivation, assigning the least average cultivation area to this crop over the whole planning period.     

Preparation of cubic and spherical hollow silica structures by polystyrene-poly diallyldimethylammonium chloride and polystyrene-poly ethyleneimine hard templates

In this study, hollow silica structures were synthesized by sol-gel/template technique using two types of hard templates: polystyrene-poly diallyldimethylammonium chloride (PS@PDADMAC) and polystyrene-polyethyleneimine (PS@PEI). The obtained templates were evaluated by zeta potential analysis, FTIR, SEM and EDX techniques. The obtained structures were then assessed by the TEM method. By controlling the ratio of the precursors, two morphologies were obtained: hollow spherical and hollow cubic. The results indicated the successful synthesis of two types of hollow silica spheres with the approximated diameters of 63 and 19 nm as well as two types of hollow cubic silica with approximated dimensions of 830 and 58 nm. SEM, XRD, and BET were used to further study morphology, phase composition, and porosity of the hollow silica spheres prepared by PS@PEI templates.     

Host (nanocavity of zeolite-Y)/guest (Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes of pentadendate Schiff-base ligand) nanocomposite materials (HGNM): application in the heterogeneous oxidation of cyclohexene

Transition metal (M = Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II)) complexes with pentadendate Schiff-base ligand; N,N′-bis(salicylidene)-2,6-pyridinediaminato, H₂[sal-2,6-py]; was entrapped in the nanocavity of zeolite-Y by a two-step process in the liquid phase: (i) adsorption of bis(salicylaldiminato)metal(II); [M(sal)₂]-NaY; in the supercages of the zeolite, and (ii) in situ Schiff condensation of the metal(II) precursor complex with the corresponding 2,6-pyridinediamine; [M(sal-2,6-py)]-NaY. The new materials were characterised by several techniques: chemical analysis, spectroscopic methods (DRS, BET, FTIR and UV/Vis), conductometric and magnetic measurements. Analysis of the data indicates that the M(II) complexes are encapsulated in the nanodimensional pores of zeolite-Y and exhibit different from those of the free complexes, which can arise from distortions caused by steric effects due to the presence of sodium cations, or from interactions with the zeolite matrix. The Host–Guest Nanocomposite Materials (HGNM); [M(sal-2,6-py)]-NaY; catalyzes the oxidation of cyclohexene with tert-butylhydroperoxide (TBHP). Oxidation of cyclohexene with HGNM gave 2-cyclohexene-1-one, 2-cyclohexene-1-ol and 1-(tert-butylperoxy)-2-cyclohexene. [Mn(sal-2,6-py)]-NaY shows significantly higher catalytic activity than other catalysts.