Studies on the interactions of metal oxides and Na2 SO4 at 1100 and 1200 K in oxygen

The interaction of different metal oxides such as Co₃O₄, NiO, Al₂O₃, Cr₂O₃, Fe₂O₃ and SiO₂ with Na₂SO₄ at a temperature of 1100 and 1200 K in flowing oxygen has been studied. The thermogravimetric studies for each system were carried out as a function of Na₂SO₄ in the mixture. The presence of different constituents in the reaction products were identified by X-ray diffraction analysis and the morphologies of the reaction products were characterized using metallography and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The formation of products was also investigated by thermodynamic computation of free energies of the reactions and the study of relevant equilibrium phase diagrams. The soluble species in the aqueous solutions of the reaction products were determined quantitatively using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The high temperature interaction products usually contain a 3-phase structure namely, Na₂O·M₂O _x , M₂O _x and metal sulphide and/or metal sulphate. The formation of Na₂O·M₂O _x depends upon the solid state solubility of metal oxide in the molten salt at high temperatures. Under limited solubility conditions Na₂O·M₂O _x is invariably formed, but as soon as this condition is relaxed the oxide. M₂O _x , precipitates and forms a separate phase.     

APPLICATION OF THE POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION TO THE RAPID ANALYSIS OF BREWERY YEAST STRAINS

The rapid discrimination of closely-related Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains can pose a significant problem to breweries, in particular where closely related strains are being used simultaneously to manufacture different products. In this study, two PCR approaches have been examined to assess their usefulness for the discrimination of brewery ale and lager yeast strains. PCR using arbitrary primers (RAPD PCR) was found unsuitable for such an application since the DNA profiles generated from brewery strains were generally found to be identical, due presumably to the close genetic relatedness of these yeasts. In contrast, PCR using δ sequence primers could rapidly differentiate between many ale and lager strains and characteristic profiles for these were generated. This method could also be applied directly to yeasts isolated from brewery worts or from active dried yeast preparations. Results of such analyses were available within the working day.     

酸催化二甘醇脱水环化反应研究

以硫酸、磷钨酸、ZRP-5分子筛为催化剂,研究了二甘醇(DEG)脱水环化的反应规律。结果表明,DEG发生分子内脱水环化反应,生成1,4-二氧六环(DOX),DEG分子间脱水不仅可以生成四甘醇、六甘醇等,同时可生成三甘醇、五甘醇等一系列的多甘醇(PEG)。不仅DEG可以脱水环化生成DOX,在反应中生成的PEG也同样可以进行生成DOX的反应。对于二甘醇(DEG)脱水环化反应,硫酸是性能优良的催化剂,反应可以在较低的温度下进行,馏出产物中DOX选择性大于95％。     

Nature and Growth of Interaction Layers Formed during the Reaction between Solid Ni and Liquid Al

The nature and growth of the interaction layers between solid Nb and liquid Al has been studied by carrying out the tests on Nb(s)-Al(l)and Nb(s)-Al(l)-Ni(s) reaction couples isothermally reacted between 700℃and 900℃for different time intervals.It has been found that the interaction layer between Nb and Al contains two parts:a thin continuous layer of NbAl3 adjacent to the Nb surface and a two-phase zone constituted of NbAl3 particles dispersed in an Al matrix.Although the nature and growth of interaction layers follows the sour-stage mechanism,a typical cruciform pattern does not occur in Nb(s)-Al(l) reaction couples.However,a cruciform pattern was observed in Nb(s)-Al(l)-Ni(s)reaction couples.The movement of NbAl3 particles is important to the production of cruciform pattern in the reaction couples.     

Thermal Expansion Behavior of La1—xSrxMn1—yCoyO3—δ Perovskites

The thermal expansion behavior of La1-xSrxMn1-yCoyO3-δ (x=0.2-0.4, y=0.1-0.3) perovskites in air has been investigated. The average linear thermal expansion coefficients increased with increasing Sr content up to 40 mole fraction or Co content up to 30 mole fraction. The expansion is generally attributed to an increase in the average cation radius as some of the cations in the perovskite are reduced in valence when oxygen ions are removed from the structure.     

Effect of Cu concentration on the reactions between Sn-Ag-Cu solders and Ni

The reaction between the Sn-Ag-Cu solders and Ni at 250°C for 10 min and 25 h was studied. Nine different Sn-Ag-Cu solders, with the Ag concentration fixed at 3.9 wt.% and Cu concentrations varied between 0.0–3.0 wt.%, were used. When the reaction time was 10 min, the reactions strongly depended on the Cu concentration. At low-Cu concentrations (≦0.2 wt.%), only a continuous (Ni_1−xCu_x)₃Sn₄ layer formed at the interface. When the Cu concentration increased to 0.4 wt.%, a continuous (Ni_1−xCu_x)₃Sn₄ layer and a small amount of discontinuous (Cu_1−yNi_y)₆Sn₅ particles formed at the interface. When the Cu concentration increased to 0.5 wt.%, the amount of (Cu_1−yNi_y)₆Sn₅ increased and (Cu_1−yNi₆)₆Sn₅ became a continuous layer. Beneath this (Cu_1−yNi_y)₆Sn₅ layer was a very thin but continuous layer of (Ni_1−xCu_x)₃Sn₄. At higher Cu concentrations (0.6–3.0 wt.%), (Ni_1−xCu_x)₃Sn₄ disappeared, and only (Cu_1−yNi_y)₆Sn₅ was present. The reactions at 25 h also depended strongly on the Cu concentration, proving that the strong concentration dependence was not a transient phenomenon limited to a short reaction time. The findings of this study were rationalized using the Cu-Ni-Sn isotherm. This study shows that precise control over the Cu concentration in solders is needed to produce consistent results.     

Al-Cu-Fe QUASICRYSTALLINE PHASE FORMATION BY MECHANICAL ALLOYING

Al-Cu-Fe alloys were prepared from elemental powders in a high-energy planetary ball mill. A sequence of solid state reactions resulting in quasicrystal (QC) phase formation takes place during heating of the as-milled powder. These reactions were studied by both differential scanning calorimetry and x-ray diffraction methods. Mechanically alloyed powders were consolidated by cold and hot pressing, as well as by explosive compaction. After annealing at sufficiently high temperatures, the consolidated samples are single-phase QC, except the ones consolidated by explosion. The high reactivity of the as-milled alloys causes the appearance of high porosity of the consolidated samples after the annealing.     

Thermodynamic Aspects of Aromatic Hydrogenation

Aromatic hydrogenation is one of the important classes of hydrotreating reactions and its thermodynamics play a significant role in achieving the product specifications. This article comprehensively reviews the available experimental thermodynamic data as well as the methods to estimate the data for aromatic hydrogenation. The data indicate that aromatic hydrogenation reactions are thermodynamically more favorable at about 200°C-250°C and moderate pressures (3-5 MPa). Industrially, however, these reactions are carried out at 300°C-375°C to have reasonable kinetics. Hence there is a need for highly active catalysts, which can facilitate significant kinetics of hydrotreating reactions at around 200°C-250°C.     

Pu(OH)4(am)与碳酸根的配位行为研究

为了解在惰气环境Pu(OH)_4(am)与碳酸盐溶液中HCO^-₃，CO^2-₃的配位行为，考察了放置时间对Pu总浓度的影响；同时也考察了pH值、碳酸根总浓度变化对碳酸盐溶液中Pu的主要存在形态及溶解总浓度的影响。实验结果表明，HCO^-₃离子与Pu(OH)_4(am)生成[Pu(OH)₄(HCO₃)₂]^2-（lg K=-2.61±0.18, lgβ=54.25±0.18）或[Pu(OH)₂(CO₃)₂]^2-（lgK=-2.61±0.18, lgβ=46.91±0.18）；CO^2-₃离子与Pu(OH)_4(am）生成[Pu(OH)₄(CO₃)₂]^4-（lgK=-3.52±0.11, lgβ=53.33±0.11）。可能的配位反应方程式为： Pu(OH)_4(am)+2HCO^-₃ = [Pu(OH)₄(HCO₃)₂]^2-, Pu(OH)_4(am)+2HCO^-₃ =[Pu(OH)₂(CO₃)₂]^2-+2H₂O, Pu(OH)_4(am)+2CO^2-₃=[Pu(OH)₄(CO₃)₂]^4-。     

溶液中微量甲基异丁基酮的分析方法

研究了微量甲异丁基酮在氟氧铌酸（H2NbOF5)及氟钽酸（H2TaF7)溶液中存在的形式，找到利用碘仿-硫代硫酸钠联合滴定的方法，来标定微量甲基异丁基酮在H2NbOF5及H2TaF7溶液中的含量，本方法在钽铌冶炼过程中操作简便易行且结果重现性好。