Thermal Behavior and Degradation Kinetics of Compatibilized Metallocene-Linear Low Density Polyethylene/Nanoclay Nanocomposites

Morphology, thermal degradation and kinetics of metallocene-linear-low-density polyethylene (m-LLDPE)/m-LLDPE-graft-maleic anhydride (m-LLDPE-g-MA)/nanoclay nanocomposites were compared with m-LLDPE/nanoclay, m-LLDPE-g-MA/nanoclay and m-LLDPE/m-LLDPE-g-MA systems. X-ray diffraction measurements revealed intercalated and “highly intercalated” morphologies for the nanocomposites. Thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated that although thermal degradation of m-LLDPE systems were delayed upon the inclusion of nanoclay in air, an inverse effect was perceived for the nanoclay under inert atmosphere. This conclusion was supported by kinetic analysis in terms of reaction order and activation energy. The results obtained from kinetics models also put forward the contribution of m-LLDPE-g-MA, as a compatibilizer, to the thermal stability enhancement through inter-molecular cross-linking augmentation.     

Curing of polyfurfuryl alcohol resin catalyzed by a homologous series of dicarboxylic acid catalysts. II. Swelling behavior and thermal properties

Polyfurfuryl alcohol (PFA), as a bio‐based resin made from lignocellulosic materials, was crosslinked using a homologous series of dicarboxylic acid catalysts consisting of oxalic, succinic, and adipic acids, which are different in their dissociation constants. Swelling behavior, thermal stability, and non‐oxidative char residue of the resulting networks were characterized as a function of the acids strength and their concentration. Swelling of the networks were investigated at room temperature in eight solvents differing in molecular size and solubility parameter. Using acetonitrile as a solvent, the swelling mechanism was explored by applying kinetic models to the swelling data. Dynamic swelling studies during 16–30 days supported non‐Fickian and anomalous diffusion mechanism in highly crosslinked samples supporting PFA chain rigidity and high crosslinking density of the networks. Polymer–solvent interaction parameter, molecular weight between crosslinks and crosslinking densities were also determined. According to the results, the extent of PFA crosslinking and non‐Fickian behavior of the swelling solvent diffusion through the networks are strongly dependent on the concentration and dissociation characteristics of the catalysts used. Thermal stability studies showed no significant differences between the compositions, up to 900 °C. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 45770.     

Optimization of a Pilot‐Scale Amine Scrubber to Remove SO2: Higher Selectivity and Lower Solvent Consumption

A pilot‐scale study of flue gas desulfurization based on an amine‐based solvent using applicable industrial values was carried out for sulfur dioxide (SO₂) removal. The plant consisting of absorption and desorption columns was operated with different working parameters such as solvent flow rate, inlet concentration of SO₂, temperature of desorption column, and pH of absorption agent. The Taguchi method was utilized to obtain the best combination of working parameters for the most efficient reduction of SO₂ outlet concentration. The industrial gas‐to‐liquid ratio could be optimized by applying a defined SO₂ concentration, stripper temperature, and solvent pH value. The achieved efficiency is much better compared to our previous study while the gas‐to‐liquid ratio is higher in this work.     

Facile synthesis of Co3O4 nanoparticles from a novel tetranuclear cobalt(III) complex. Application as efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction in alkaline media

A tetranuclear cobalt complex [Co₄^III(L′)₆] was synthesized by the direct reaction of cobalt(II) acetate with a N₂S₂ Schiff base ligand H₂L containing a disulfide bond under aerobic conditions {H₂L = 2,2′-bis(2-hydroxynaphthyliminobenzyl)disulfide}. The X-ray crystal structure of [Co₄^III(L′)₆] indicates reductive disulfide bond scission of H₂L upon reaction with Co²⁺ to give [L^′]^2–. Furthermore, cobalt oxide nanoparticles of about 30 nm size were synthesized by thermal decomposition of [Co₄^III(L′)₆] as a precursor. The Co₃O₄ nanoparticles were characterized by XRD, FE-SEM, TEM, and FT-IR spectroscopy. The electrocatalytic activity of the resulting oxide was examined in oxygen evolution reaction (OER) by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) in 1.0 mol L^?1 KOH. The NPs displays efficient electrocatalytic activity for oxygen evolution reaction with a current density of 10.0 mA cm^?2 at 1.65 V, good onset potential of 1.52 V vs. RHE and small Tafel slope of 44 mV dec^?1.     

Porous nitrogen-doped graphene prepared through pyrolysis of ammonium acetate as an efficient ORR nanocatalyst

In the work presented here, a facile approach for the preparation of nitrogen-doped porous graphene was applied for the first time using ammonium acetate as a nitrogen rich precursor via pyrolysis at 900 °C for 2 h.The physicochemical properties of the prepared samples were determined using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) mapping, Raman spectroscopy and X–ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The prepared samples were further applied for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline solution, and the electrochemical performance was investigated and compared with porous graphene and Pt/C 20 wt.%. The results revealed that introducing nitrogen to the graphene structure leads to improvement in catalytic activity, enhanced catalytic current as well as more positive potential. Furthermore, N-doped graphene prepared using ammonium acetate exhibited excellent methanol tolerance and long-term stability. Finally, it was shown that the optimal pyrolysis temperature was obtained at 900 °C. Therefore, it is concluded that ammonium acetate could be used as an effective precursor for the ORR.