Gas phase oxidation of benzene to phenol using Pd-Cu composite catalysts. Effect of temperature,feeding gas and catalyst composition

Catalytic oxidation of benzene in the gas phase has been studied as a function of the catalyst composition, reaction temperature and the feed conditions of reactant gases, hydrogen, oxygen, benzene as well as diluting inert gas. The catalyst tested is composed of Pd and Cu(I) ions, both of which are supported on silica gel. If one of the two metal species is lacked from the catalyst, no catalytic activity appears. The product is almost exclusively phenol and some accompanying benzoquinone, in particular at lower temperatures, as minor byproduct.On leave from Hua-Dong Institute of Technology, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.     

In situ FTIR spectra at the Cu electrode/propylene carbonate solution interface

In situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra measurements were obtained for a Cu electrode/solution of lithium perchlorate in propylene carbonate (PC). The dependence of potential on the concentration of PC in the vicinity of the electrode was investigated. The bands due to free PC and PC solvated to lithium ions in the solution were distinguished by the single reflection attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectra. In the FTIR spectra, the reversible change in the concentration of free PC and solvated PC in the diffuse double layer was observed to be accompanied by a change in potential. As the potential decreased, the free PC concentration increased, while the concentration of the PC solvated to lithium ions decreased. Thus, it can be concluded that the equilibrium shifts from Li⁺(PC)₄ to Li⁺(PC)₃ + PC as the potential decreases. Furthermore, Li⁺(PC)₃ orientates itself so that it is parallel to the electrode surface.     

The complex aerodynamic footprint of desert locusts revealed by large-volume tomographic particle image velocimetry

Particle image velocimetry has been the preferred experimental technique with which to study the aerodynamics of animal flight for over a decade. In that time, hardware has become more accessible and the software has progressed from the acquisition of planes through the flow field to the reconstruction of small volumetric measurements. Until now, it has not been possible to capture large volumes that incorporate the full wavelength of the aerodynamic track left behind during a complete wingbeat cycle. Here, we use a unique apparatus to acquire the first instantaneous wake volume of a flying animal''s entire wingbeat. We confirm the presence of wake deformation behind desert locusts and quantify the effect of that deformation on estimates of aerodynamic force and the efficiency of lift generation. We present previously undescribed vortex wake phenomena, including entrainment around the wing-tip vortices of a set of secondary vortices borne of Kelvin–Helmholtz instability in the shear layer behind the flapping wings.     

高温流化床的流化特性及结焦非流化行为

在 8 0 mm× 30 mm和 80 mm× 10 mm石英流化床中 ,以低温粘结的高密度聚乙烯和聚丙烯 ,高温粘结的玻璃珠为实验物料 ,研究了高温流化床的流化特性及高温下物料结焦产生的非流化行为。结果表明 ,在本文实验条件下 ,Geldart A、B类高温表面粘结物料 ,床层温度小于其最小粘结温度时 ,床层温度增大 ,颗粒的最小流化速度减小 ;Geldart D类高温表面粘结物料的最小流化速度随温度增加而增大。得出了不同温度下颗粒最小流化速度预测式。床层温度大于最小粘结温度时 ,流化床需在较高的表观气速下才能保持流化 ,床层温度愈高床层流化所需的表观气速越大。研究同时发现 ,颗粒物料的粒径减小 ,流化颗粒的最小粘结温度减小。     

Development of confocal laser microscope system for examination of microscopic characteristics of radiophotoluminescence glass dosemeters

A confocal laser microscope system was developed for the measurement of radiophotoluminescence (RPL) photons emitted from a minute alpha-ray-irradiated area in an RPL glass dosemeter. The system was composed mainly of an inverted-type microscope, an ultraviolet laser, an XY movable stage and photon-counting circuits. The photon-counting circuits were effective in the reduction of the background noise level in the measurement of RPL photons. The performance of this microscope system was examined by the observation of standard RPL glass samples irradiated using (241)Am alpha rays. The spatial resolution of this system was ～ 3 μm, and with regard to the sensitivity of this system, a hit of more than four to five alpha rays in unit area produced enough amount of RPL photons to construct the image.     

Family M42 aminopeptidase from the syntrophic bacterium Symbiobacterium thermophilum: characterization using recombinant protein

The chromosomal DNA of the syntrophic thermophile Symbiobacterium thermophilum contains open reading frames of the genes encoding family M42 aminopeptidases, Pep1079, Pep1080, and Pep1081. To characterize these peptidases, the genes were cloned into Escherichia coli and overexpressed. Our experiments using the recombinant proteins confirmed that Pep1079, Pep1080, and Pep1081 are components of arginyl or lysinyl aminopeptidases that require Co2+ for enzymatic activity. Coexistence of Pep1079 and Pep1080 is necessary for expressing high peptidase activity. Pep1081 enhances the activity of Pep1079 and Pep1080.     

Thin films of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 and ordered vacancy compound prepared by thermal crystallization and their photovoltaic applications

Thin films of Cu–In–Ga–Se alloy system with various composition were prepared by thermal crystallization from In/CuInGaSe/In precursor. Electron probe microanalysis and X-ray diffraction study revealed that these samples were assigned to chalcopyrite Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ or ordered vacancy compound Cu(In,Ga)₂Se_3.5. Solar cell with ZnO:Al/i–ZnO/CdS/Cu(In,Ga)Se₂/Mo/soda-lime glass substrate structure was fabricated by using thermal crystallization technique, and demonstrated a 9.58% efficiency without AR-coating.     

Detection of enzymatically generated hydrogen peroxide by metal-based fluorescent probe

We developed a metal-based fluorescent probe for H(2)O(2) called MBFh1, which has an iron complex as a reaction site for H(2)O(2) and a 3,7-dihydroxyphenoxazine derivative as the fluorescent reporter unit. The iron complex reacts quickly with H(2)O(2) to form oxidants, and then the oxidants convert the closely appended nonfluorescent 3,7-dihydroxyphenoxazine moiety to resorufin in an intramolecular fashion. The quick response to H(2)O(2) allows us to plot the enzymatic evolution of H(2)O(2). A combination of N-acetyl-3,7-dihydroxyphenoxazine and horseradish peroxidase has been frequently used to detect enzymatically generated H(2)O(2), but this method has interference with phenol derivatives. The use of MBFh1 overcomes this drawback.