Bi-supported Ziegler–Natta TiCl4/MCM-41/MgCl2 (ethoxide type) catalyst preparation and comprehensive investigations of produced polyethylene characteristics

Bi-supported Ziegler–Natta catalysts (TiCl₄/MCM-41/MgCl₂ (ethoxide type)) were synthesized to improve the morphology and the properties of polyethylene. The morphology control is a crucial issue in polymerization process, while tailoring the properties of polymers is needed for specific applications. The catalysts were synthesized in different ratios of two supports with impregnation method. The polymerization process was carried out in atmospheric slurry reactor. The catalysts were characterized with scanning electron microscopy - energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDX), inductively coupled plasma, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) methods. The polymers were analyzed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry, FTIR, and tensile-strength analyses. Ubbelohde viscometer and frequency sweep measurements showed that the synthesized polymers are ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene. Mechanical properties of polymers showed higher Young's modulus in samples containing MCM-41, having higher thermal stability supported by TGA analysis. SEM images of bi-supported catalyst showed a controlled spherical morphology with uniform size distribution. SEM analysis support that the polymers replicate their morphology from catalyst, improving their morphology comparing to MgCl₂-supported catalyst. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48553.     

Highly efficient synthesis of benzopyranopyridines via ZrP2O7 nanoparticles catalyzed multicomponent reactions of salicylaldehydes with malononitrile and thiols

ZrP₂O₇ nanoparticles as an efficient catalyst have been used for the preparation of benzopyrano[2,3-b]pyridines from the four-component condensation reaction of salicylalde-hydes, thiols, and 2 equiv. of malononitrile under reflux conditions in ethanol in excellent yields and short reaction times.     

Highly efficient[C8mim][Cl] ionic liquid accompanied with magnetite nanoparticles and different salts for interfacial tension reduction

The 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, [C_8 mim][Cl] ionic liquid(IL) was used as a novel surfactant in n-heptane/water system. The interfacial tensions(IFT) were measured and corresponding variations were investigated. An IFT reduction of 80.8% was appropriate under the IL CMC of about 0.1 mol·L~(-1) and stronger effects were achieved when magnetite nanoparticles and salts were present profoundly under alkaline p Hs.The equilibrium IFT data were accurately simulated with the Frumkin adsorption model. Hereafter, the saturated surface concentration, equilibrium constant and interaction parameter were obtained and their variations were demonstrated. Further, emulsion stability and contact angle of oil/water interface over quartz surface were studied. The oil/water emulsion stability was hardly changed with nanoparticles; however, the stability of oil/water + IL emulsions was significantly improved. It was also revealed that the presence of sodium and calcium chloride electrolytes fortifies the IL impact, whereas sodium sulfate weakens. From dynamic IFT data and fitting with kinetic models, it was found that the IL migration toward interface follows the mixed diffusion–kinetic control model. Consequently, the IL diffusion coefficient and the appropriate activation energy were determined.     

Preparation and characterization of a novel calcium-conducting polymer inclusion membrane: Part I

The preparation and characterization of a novel type of castor oil-based polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) was investigated, focusing on its flux and selective recovery of Ca²⁺ over competitive ions such as K⁺, Na⁺, and Mg²⁺. The PIM contains a cross-linked high-molecular-weight green polyol (GPO) as a polymer base, benzene-18-crown-6 as a carrier, and an ionic liquid called 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride as a plasticizer. GPO was first synthesized by a reaction between an epoxidized castor oil and a cellulose acetate, thereafter, cross-linked by isophorene isocyanate. The base polymer and the prepared PIM were characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The FTIR results indicate that oxirane groups in the epoxidized castor oil molecules reacted with the primary hydroxyl groups of cellulose acetate chains. The contact angle measurement hints at the hydrophobic characteristics of the prepared membrane. Compared to the PVC-, CA-, and PVDF-based polymer inclusion membrane, the cured GPO-based PIM, showed higher selectivity and flux of calcium ions with the same composition. The greater stability and significantly higher surface roughness are further favorable features of the novel PIM.     

A polyacrylamide hydrogel for application at high temperature and salinity tolerance in temporary well plugging

In addition to conventional approach to ensure the successful application of polymer hydrogels in maintaining temporary well plugging, exact analysis of gel formation and gel strength properties in wellbore are necessary. In this work, bottles and rheology tests are used to investigate the polymer hydrogel gelation time and cross-linking kinetics of sol–gel systems which consist of polyacrylamide and chromium acetate hydroxide as a cross-linker. The effects of temperature of 90 °C and pressure of 3000 psi (typical Iranian oil well condition) were studied in relation to gelation time, strength and the mechanical properties of the hydrogel. The average molecular weight of the polymer chains between cross-link ties was evaluated using an oil-well laboratory system and compressive strength test. Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) analysis of dried gel and the effect of temperature on the kinetics of the gel swelling in different solutions such as distilled water, tap water, formation water and oil were studied. The results showed that the number of tie points between each entanglement has not much reduced under pressure. Therefore, the prepared hydrogel can maintain its chemical structure under the Iranian oil well pressure and can be proposed to field studies. The degree of sol–gel reaction of prepared hydrogel and the activation energy based on the Arrhenius equation were calculated to be 1.5 and 274 kJ/mol, respectively.     

Measurement of Consumed Energy Due to the Two-Phase Pressure Drop in a Pulsed Semi-Industrial Column: Effect of Geometry

This article deals with the evaluation of pressure drop and consumption of energy for a steady-state solvent extraction in a horizontal pulsed sieve-plate column, which are important for the design and optimization of the periodic-flow processes for industrial applications. In this study, the pressure drop and the position of loading points are investigated. Moreover, a mathematical evaluation on the energy consumption in the case of a pulsed flow is conducted, and besides the influence of pulsation intensity, the effect of geometrical parameters including the plate spacing and plate-free area is investigated as well. The results of this study are helpful for optimization of column geometry targeted to higher performance and lower energy consumption.     

Numerical study of n-heptane/benzene separation by thermal diffusion column

In this article,numerical simulations are performed to investigate the performance of the thermal diffusion column for the separation of n-heptane/benzene mixture.The present work tried to optimize column by analyzing significant parameters such as feed flow rate,temperature and cut.In order to obtain the hydrodynamic and temperature and mass distribution inside thermal diffusion column,computational fluid dynamic(CFD) method is applied to solve the Navier-Stocks equations.Numerical simulations are conducted to study the main parameters in both stationary and time-dependent conditions.By using the separation work unit as a function of cut,the optimal cut for maximum SWU occurs within a limited range of 0.47-0.5 for feed rate between 0.5 and 4 g min-1.Our findings reveal that the optimum feed rate in the range of optimum cut is about 1 g min~(-1).In transient study,results show that the best cut for reaching to steady-state condition is θ=0.5.     

Chemical vapor deposition of poly(3‐alkylthiophene) nanoparticles on fabric: Chemical and electrochemical characterization

Chemical vapor deposition of poly(3‐methylthiophene) and poly (3‐hexylthiophene) as conductive polymers on the surface of polyester fabrics was successfully obtained. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the formation of polymers on surface of fabrics (the fingerprint of polythiophenes, υ 600–1500 cm^?1). The uniformity of deposition and nanoparticles (average size of 60 nm) were proved with scanning electron microscopy. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed that P3HT‐coated samples offer higher conductivity in compared to P3MT‐coated samples. The impedance modulus of P3HT‐coated samples was lowered nine times to that of row materials and reached to c8000 Ω. The samples have also shown electrochromic properties under electrical current, changing its color from yellowish green at 0 V to dark green at +12 V for poly (3‐hexylthiophene) samples and from brown at 0 V to red at +12 V for poly(3‐methylthiophene)‐coated fabrics (V = 0 V, λ = 450 nm; V = 12 V, λ = 650 nm). © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40673.