A comparative study of the sorption of benzene and phenol in silicalite, HAlZSM-5 and NaAlZSM-5 by computer simulation

The sorption of benzene and phenol in silicalite, HAlZSM-5 and NaAlZSM-5 has been studied comparatively with the Cerius² software from MSI using Monte Carlo simulations. As a test of the simulation method, the well-studied system of benzene–silicalite was simulated first. The results show that the Henry constant and the isosteric heat of adsorption of benzene in silicalite are in good agreement with experimental data from the literature obtained by different methods. The open force field “Burchart–Dreiding” is proved to be suitable for simulation of the adsorption of aromatics in ZSM-5 type zeolites. The Henry constants of the systems mentioned above between 273 and 673 K, the isotherms at temperatures of 473 and 673 K, the sorption sites as well as the interaction energies between the guest molecules and the host zeolite frameworks have been obtained. The differences in the adsorption behavior between benzene and phenol in silicalite, HAlZSM-5 and NaAlZSM-5 are attributed to the differences in Coulomb interactions.     

Crosslinking copolymerization of cyclic ketenacetals

The crosslinking copolymerization of two 9-substituted 4-methylene-3,5,8,10-tetraoxabicyclo[5.3.0]decanes ( 1 and 2 ) with 3,9-dimethylene-2,4,8,10-tetraoxa-spiro[5.5]undecane ( 3 ) or ethylene glycol dimethacrylate ( 4 ) was investigated. Dependent on the amount of bifunctional agent added, the material properties can be controlled and change from highly viscous to mechanically hard, as the extent of crosslinking increases. Combined with bicyclic monomers, the influence of the crosslinkers on the polymerization shrinkage is low.     

Investigations on the synthesis of polyimides with coronand structure via tandem Diels-Alder addition polymerization

The tandem Diels-Alder polymerization of 11 bismaleimides with 4,4'-dimethyl-6,6'-(octamethylene)di-2-pyrone was investigated. Polymers with coronand structure were formed only in case of bismaleimides possessing flexible spacer groups; rigid spacer groups led to network formation.     

Untersuchungen zur Naßvernetzung von Lyocell-Fasern

The high wet fibrillation tendency of Lyocell fibres forms the background to this investigation. The wet abrasion behaviour can be improved by crosslinking reactions. Substances containing sulfato ethyl sulfonyl groups but different bridging groups were synthesised and optimised regarding to their application. The wet fibrillation tendency can be reduced clearly with these selected substances. If the concentration of the crosslinking agent on the fibre is the basis of comparisons the different structures have a similar effect on the fibrillation tendency. So the swollen Lyocell fibre permits a crosslinking reaction with curing agents of different size.     

Petroleum hydrocarbon biodegradation under seasonal freeze-thaw soil temperature regimes in contaminated soils from a sub-Arctic site

Several studies have shown that biostimulation in ex situ systems such as landfarms and biopiles can facilitate remediation of petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated soils at sub-Arctic sites during summers when temperatures are above freezing. In this study, we examine the biodegradation of semivolatile (F2: C10-C16) and nonvolatile (F3: C16-C34) petroleum hydrocarbons and microbial respiration and population dynamics at post- and presummer temperatures ranging from -5 to 14 °C. The studies were conducted in pilot-scale tanks with soils obtained from a historically contaminated sub-Arctic site in Resolution Island (RI), Canada. In aerobic, nutrient-amended, unsaturated soils, the F2 hydrocarbons decreased by 32% during the seasonal freeze-thaw phase where soils were cooled from 2 to -5 °C at a freezing rate of -0.12 °C d(-1) and then thawed from -5 to 4 °C at a thawing rate of +0.16 °C d(-1). In the unamended (control) tank, the F2 fraction only decreased by 14% during the same period. Biodegradation of individual hydrocarbon compounds in the nutrient-amended soils was also confirmed by comparing their abundance over time to that of the conserved diesel biomarker, bicyclic sesquiterpanes (BS). During this period, microbial respiration was observed, even at subzero temperatures when unfrozen liquid water was detected during the freeze-thaw period. An increase in culturable heterotrophs and 16S rDNA copy numbers was noted during the freezing phase, and the (14)C-hexadecane mineralization in soil samples obtained from the nutrient-amended tank steadily increased. Hydrocarbon degrading bacterial populations identified as Corynebacterineae- and Alkanindiges-related strains emerged during the freezing and thawing phases, respectively, indicating there were temperature-based microbial community shifts.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of fine grained carbon-bonded Al2O3–C materials

Fine grained carbon-bonded Al₂O₃–C materials as used in ceramic filters have been manufactured by uniaxial and isostatic pressing, respectively. The variation in the microstructure over the cross section of the samples which in particular depends on the shaping technique plays an important role in the wetting of the material by liquid steel. Moreover, the amount and grain size of the binder has a decisive influence on the porosity and bulk density and therefore on the mechanical properties. For this, two different grain size distributions of Carbores^® P binder were used, and in addition the fraction of binder was varied from 5–30 wt%. Tests of the cold crushing strength and of the cold modulus of rupture were performed at room temperature. The adjusted bulk density, open porosity and shrinkage of the samples were determined and the microstructure was analyzed by means of scanning electron microscopy. For control of a homogeneous distribution of carbon in the samples, the residual carbon content was measured also within individual samples at different positions.     

Microstructural investigations on as-cast and annealed Al–Sc and Al–Sc–Zr alloys

Al–Sc and Al–Sc–Zr alloys containing 0.05, 0.1 and 0.5 wt.% Sc and 0.15 wt.% Zr were investigated using optical microscopy, electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The phase composition of the alloys and the morphology of precipitates that developed during solidification in the sand casting process and subsequent thermal treatment of the samples were studied. XRD analysis shows that the weight percentage of the Al₃Sc/Al₃(Sc, Zr) precipitates was significantly below 1% in all alloys except for the virgin Al0.5Sc0.15Zr alloy. In this alloy the precipitates were observed as primary dendritic particles. In the binary Al–Sc alloys, ageing at 470 °C for 24 h produced precipitates associated with dislocation networks, whereas the precipitates in the annealed Al–Sc–Zr alloys were free of interfacial dislocations except at the lowest content of Sc. Development of large incoherent precipitates during precipitation heat treatment reduced hardness of all the alloys studied. Growth of the Al₃Sc/Al₃(Sc, Zr) precipitates after heat treatment was less at low Sc content and in the presence of Zr. Increase in hardness was observed after heat treatment at 300 °C in all alloys. There is a small difference in hardness between binary and ternary alloys slow cooled after sand casting.