Zirconium-based intermetallics as heterogeneous catalysts for the fischer-tropsch reaction: I. Zr-Ni-Co catalysts

Alloys of the general formula Zr₅₀Ni_xCO_50-x, where 0 ≦x≧ 50, have been prepared and used in the temperature range 300–400°C, in the pressure range 1–9 barg in a microtubular reactor for the reaction of hydrogen with carbon monoxide to give hydrocarbons. The alloys or intermetallic materials were prepared by argon arc melting, powdered by hydrogen decrepitation and characterised by means of optical microscopy (metallography), scanning electron microscopy with surface analysis and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The selectivity towards higher hydrocarbons increased with (i) increase in the total pressure and (ii) decrease in hydrogen content of the feed gases. The kinetics were found to be of the form: where m = 1.0 ± 0.2 and n = 0. The apparent energy of activation (E_a) lay in the range of 80–130 kJ mole^?1 and there appeared to be a compensation effect between E_a and the pre-exponential factor A. The turnover numbers for the reaction exhibited an activity maximum for alloys of composition around Zr₅₀Ni₄₀Co₂₀ and Zr₅₀Ni₃₀Co₂₀. Magnetic susceptibility measurements indicated that alloys changed their nature from moderately paramagnetic to strongly paramagnetic or even ferromagnetic after use and this is attributed to the conversion of zirconium to zirconium oxide during reaction with the attendant production of free 3d-transition metals. Derived catalysts prepared by air treatment of the hydrogen-decrepitated intermetallics behaved almost identically to the latter materials and gave similar magnetic susceptibility values to used hydrided materials.     

Roundup: extractors. Eight manufacturers of extractors provide details about their systems

Choosing an extractor for a specific set of plant conditions can be complicated and costly, if you make the wrong purchasing decision. Extractors come in two types: centrifugal and compression, but there are numerous models of each. Here, eight manufacturers of extractors provide details about their systems.     

Lithotripsy pulse measurement errors due to nonideal hydrophone and amplifier frequency responses

When using miniature ultrasonic hydrophones to probe the focal region of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy devices, the frequency response of the measurement hydrophone and any associated amplifier must be broad enough to minimize pulse distortion. To study the potential effects of the bandwidth-limited behavior, a mathematical model was used. Several parameters of a simulated lithotripsy pulse were compared before and after being filtered by hydrophone and amplifier response functions. Errors were computed for the peak positive and negative pressures, risetime, pulse duration, and pulse intensity integral as functions of hydrophone and amplifier bandwidths. Although most of the energy in a shock wave pulse lies at frequencies below a few megahertz, it is found that significant errors can occur unless measurement bandwidths are much wider.     

Discrete logarithms inGF(p)

Several related algorithms are presented for computing logarithms in fieldsGF(p),p a prime. Heuristic arguments predict a running time of exp((1+o(1)) ) for the initial precomputation phase that is needed for eachp, and much shorter running times for computing individual logarithms once the precomputation is done. The running time of the precomputation is roughly the same as that of the fastest known algorithms for factoring integers of size aboutp. The algorithms use the well known basic scheme of obtaining linear equations for logarithms of small primes and then solving them to obtain a database to be used for the computation of individual logarithms. The novel ingredients are new ways of obtaining linear equations and new methods of solving these linear equations by adaptations of sparse matrix methods from numerical analysis to the case of finite rings. While some of the new logarithm algorithms are adaptations of known integer factorization algorithms, others are new and can be adapted to yield integer factorization algorithms.     

聚丙烯固相法接枝改性

聚丙烯固相法接枝不饱和单体是一种简便易行的本体法技术。与其它接枝方法相比，具有成本低、接枝率高、时间短、无溶剂回收、不妨害接枝物的进一步应用等优点。本文介绍了聚丙烯固相法接枝不饱和单体的进展，并较详细地讨论了影响接枝反应的各种因素。     

Removal of mineral material from solvent-refined coal by solvent extractions

Solvent refined coal (SRC), a coal extract which is highly polyaromatic in character and relatively high in N, O and S content, is derived from the direct liquefaction of coal. SRC contains mineral matter in the form of soluble organometallic compounds which can not be removed by filtration. These soluble species can be detrimental to the hydrocracking catalyst used in the upgrading of the SRC to high-value liquid fuels. These species, however, can be separated from the SRC by extraction with benzene or tetralin as solvents so that the mineral matter is mainly concentrated in the solvent-insoluble fraction, the other fraction are then readily hydrocracked, as demonstrated in this work.     

Structural and transport effects of doping perfluorosulfonic acid polymers with the heteropoly acids, H3PW12O40 or H4SiW12O40

A perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) polymer with pendant side chain -O(CF₂)₄SO₃H was doped with the heteropoly acids (HPAs), H₃PW₁₂O₄₀ and H₄SiW₁₂O₄₀. Infrared spectroscopy revealed a strong interaction between the HPA and the PFSA ionomer. Modes associated with the peripheral bonds of the HPA were shifted to lower wave numbers when doped into PFSA membranes. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements showed the presence of large crystallites of HPA in the membrane with d spacings of ca. 10 Å, close to the lattice spacing observed in bulk HPA crystals. Under wet conditions the HPA was more dispersed and constrained the size of the sulfonic acid clusters to 20 Å at a 5 wt% HPA doping level, the same as in the vacuum treated ionomer samples. Under conditions of minimum hydration the HPA decreased the E_a for the self-diffusion of water from 27 to 15 kJ mol⁻¹. The reverse trend was seen under 100% RH conditions. Proton conductivity measurements showed improved proton conductivity of the HPA doped PFSAs at a constant dew point of 80 °C for all temperatures up to 120 °C and at all relative hummidities up to 80%. The activation energy for proton conduction generally was lower than for the undoped materials at RH ≤80%. Significantly the E_a was 1/2 that of the undoped material at RHs of 40 and 60%. A practical proton conductivity of 113 mS cm⁻¹ was observed at 100 °C and 80% RH.