Oxidative coupling of methane over CaO-MgO mixed oxide

Mixed oxide catalyst prepared by co-precipitating magnesium oxide and calcium oxide showed an excellent activity for the oxidative coupling of methane. The high performances were presumed to arise from the high basicity of the mixed oxide.     

Fabrication of Nonadditive Mica Ceramics by Hot Isostatic Processing

Powder compacts of synthetic mica (fluorphlogopite) encapsulated in a boro–silicate glass tube were isostatically hot–pressed in a Roy–Tuttle–type pressure vessel. Synthetic mica was sintered to a density of 2.60 g/cm³ (91.2% of theoretical density) without additives under 98 MPa of water at 800°C for 45 min.     

A PRACTICAL METHOD FOR RECTIFYING INTERFACIAL TENSION DATA TO PREDICT THE SHAPE OF INTERFACES IN AN IMMISCIBLE LIQUID/LIQUID/GAS SYSTEM

The shape of interfaces formed by the contact of two liquid phases, immiscible with each other, and a gaseous phase can be predicted on the condition that the tension to work at each interface is known with a sufficient accuracy. In general, interfacial tension data available are not so accurate, however, as to be useful as they are in predicting the shape of interfaces, particularly when the spreading coefficient of either liquid (liquid 1) on the other (liquid 2) has a negative value of a small magnitude. Presented in this note is a simple method to rectify the interfacial tension data, with the aid of a measurement of the radius of a lens of liquid 1 of a known volume placed on the horizontal surface of liquid 2, and thereby make them usable for predicting interfacial geometries. The method is tested by applying it to benzene/water and n-pentane/water systems.     

Role of tungsten in promoting selective reduction of NO with CO over Ir/WO3–SiO2 catalysts

Catalytic hydrogenation of naphthalene to decalin was studied over a carbon-supported rhodium catalyst in supercritical carbon dioxide solvent at 333 K, and the results were compared with those in an organic solvent. cis-, trans-Decalin and tetralin were formed from the beginning of the reaction in supercritical carbon dioxide. Higher concentration of hydrogen in carbon dioxide solvent and on the active site, and also the suppression of desorption of partially hydrogenated tetralin molecules from the active site would be responsible for higher selectivity to cis-decalin in supercritical carbon dioxide than that in an organic solvent.     

Synthesis of well-defined poly(styrene)-b-poly(p-tert-butoxystyrene) multiblock copolymer from poly(alkoxyamine) macroinitiator

The stepwise insertion reaction of styrene (St) and p-tert-butoxystyrene (BOSt) into poly(alkoxyamine) macroinitiator was carried out to provide well-defined poly(St)-b-poly(BOSt) multiblock copolymers. Structural confirmation of the multiblock copolymers was accomplished by NMR and IR measurements. The model reaction also supported that the monomer insertion into the macroinitiator proceeded in accordance with a living fashion.     

Increased hepatic β-oxidation of docosahexaenoic acid, elongation of eicosapentaenoic acid, and acylation of lysophosphatidate in rats fed a docosahexaenoic acid-enriched diet

Rats were fed a diet supplemented with corn oil (n-3 deficient), soy oil, or a mixture containing 8% 22∶6n-3 ethyl ester for 6 wk. The hepatic capacities for the β-oxidation and synthesis of 22∶6n-3, in addition to the acylation of lysophosphatidate, were tested in vitro. In rats that were fed a 22∶6n-3-enriched diet, both the β-oxidation of 22∶6n-3 and elongation of 20∶5n-3 were enhanced compared to those in rats fed the other diets. Acylation of lysophosphatidate was also enhanced in rats fed a 22∶6n-3-enriched diet, while the rate of dephosphorylation of phosphatidate was not changed. The amount of 22∶6n-3 in the liver was much less than that consumed in a docosahexaenoic acid-enriched diet. These results suggest that a significant amount of dietary 22∶6n-3 was degraded via β-oxidation, and that a portion of the retroconverted 20∶5n-3 was recycled for the synthesis of 22∶6n-3. The recycling of 20∶5n-3 might contribute to the low level of 22∶6n-3 in rats fed an n-3-deficient diet.     

An absolute requirement of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate for the Lactobacillus caseiL-lactate dehydrogenase activity induced by a single amino acid substitution

Lactobacillus casei allosteric L-lactate dehydrogenase (L-LDH)absolutely requires fructose 1,6-bisphosphate [Fru(1,6)P2] forits catalytic activity under neutral conditions, but exhibitsmarked catalytic activity in the absence of Fru(1,6)P₂ underacidic conditions through the homotropic activation effect ofsubstrate pyruvate. In this enzyme, a single amino acid replacement,i.e. that of His205 conserved in the Fru(1,6)P₂-binding siteof certain allosteric L-LDHs of lactic acid bacteria with Thr,did not induce a marked loss of the activation effect of Fru(1,6)P₂or divalent metal ions, which are potent activators that improvethe activation function of Fru(1,6)P₂ under neutral conditions.However, this replacement induced a great loss of the Fru(1,6)P₂-independentactivation effect of pyruvate or pyruvate analogs under acidicconditions, consequently indicating an absolute Fru(1,6)P₂ requirementfor the enzyme activity. The replacement also induced a significantreduction in the pH-dependent sensitivity of the enzyme to Fru(1,6)P₂,through a slight decrease and increase of the Fru(1,6)P₂ sensitivityunder acidic and neutral conditions, respectively, indicatingthat His205 is also largely involved in the pH-dependent sensitivityof L.casei L-LDH to Fru(1,6)P₂. The role of His205 in the allostericregulation of the enzyme is discussed on the basis of the knowncrystal structures of L-LDHs.     

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.     

The study of polymers by high-temperature ATR spectroscopy

A new high-temperature attenuated total reflectance apparatus (HATR) was constructed and used at different temperatures for making infrared measurements on the same liquid or solid sample. It was found that this method was applicable to the continuous quantitative analysis of changes occurring during chemical reactions such as polymerization, isomerization, and crosslinking. In the bulk polymerization of styrene, the process of monomer consumption could be followed progressively. In the crosslinking reaction of high cis-polybutadiene by sulfur-accelerator or peroxide crosslinking systems, the decrease of cis content and its partial isomerization to trans structure was measured. Furthermore, in the crosslinking reaction of ethylene–propylene terpolymers (EPDM), the consumption of double bonds was observed over the course of the reaction with both sulfur-accelerator and peroxide crosslinking systems. The effect was greatest in the case of methylenenorbornene-type EPDM.     

Allelopathic Effects of Volatile Monoterpenoids Produced by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvia leucophylla</Emphasis>: Inhibition of Cell Proliferation and DNA Synthesis in the Root Apical Meristem of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica campestris</Emphasis> Seedlings

Salvia leucophylla, a shrub observed in coastal south California, produces several volatile monoterpenoids (camphor, 1,8-cineole, -pinene, -pinene, and camphene) that potentially act as allelochemicals. The effects of these were examined using Brassica campestris as the test plant. Camphor, 1,8-cineole, and -pinene inhibited germination of B. campestris seeds at high concentrations, whereas -pinene and camphene did not. Root growth was inhibited by all five monoterpenoids in a dose-dependent manner, but hypocotyl growth was largely unaffected. The monoterpenoids did not alter the sizes of matured cells in either hypocotyls or roots, indicating that cell expansion is relatively insensitive to these compounds. They did not decrease the mitotic index in the shoot apical region, but specifically lowered mitotic index in the root apical meristem. Moreover, morphological and biochemical analyses on the incorporation of 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine into DNA demonstrated that the monoterpenoids inhibit both cell-nuclear and organelle DNA synthesis in the root apical meristem. These results suggest that the monoterpenoids produced by S. leucophylla could interfere with the growth of other plants in its vicinity through inhibition of cell proliferation in the root apical meristem.