SORPTION OF ERYTHROSINE ONTO SILICA GEL MODIFIED BY CETYLPYRIDINIUM BROMIDE

In the current paper, adsorbent based on silica gel L 40/100 modified with cetylpyridinium bromide was obtained. The presence of cetylpyridinium cations on the silica gel surface was confirmed by the diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transform spectroscopy method. The sorption conditions of erythrosine from dilute aqueous solutions with the proposed sorbent were studied and optimized. It is shown that the use of modified silica gel allows efficient (>95%) extraction of erythrosine from aqueous solutions. Under optimal sorption conditions (pH 7, sorbent dosage 0.1 g and sorption time is 15 min), the sorption capacity of modified erythrosine sorbents was determined. It is shown that, with increasing temperature, a change in the isotherm type from the H‑type to the L‑type is observed. This change can be explained by the aggregation of erythrosin in solution, which is a competitive sorption process. It was shown that adsorption isotherms were well described by the Langmuir equation. Thermodynamic studies have made it possible to establish the spontaneous sorption. The desorption of erythrosine from the surface of silica gel modified with cetylpyridinium bromide was studied. It is shown that when using solutions of sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide and distilled water, desorption does not occur. It was shown that the most effective eluent is solution of sodium dodecylsulfate in alkaline medium, and desorption of erythrosine occurs due to the destruction of ion pairs of dye anions with cetylpyridinium cations fixed on the surface. The data obtained can then be used to develop a test system for determination of erythrosine via corresponding colorimetric scales or for quantitative solid phase extraction and adsorption-spectroscopic quantification of erythrosine in some real samples.

The improvement of physicomechanical, flame retardant, and thermal properties of lignocellulosic material filled polymer composites

In this study, the effects of alkali and silane coupling agents and coir fiber (CF) loading on the fundamental properties of the CF-filled polypropylene (PP) composites were investigated. Mechanical properties of the PP/CF composites, such as tensile strength, tensile modulus, impact strength, and water absorption were increased by the increase of the CF loading. The inclusion of 3-aminopropyl trimethoxy silane (ATS) and tetramethoxy orthosilicate (TOS) after the alkali pretreatment for the CF increased all the mechanical properties and water desorption of the resulting composites. This trend was more evident with the increase in CF loading. The best results were obtained for PP/TOS composites as compared to other composites. SEM images of fractured samples show improved adhesion between CF and PP matrix after treatment with ATS and TOS. The horizontal rate of combustion is significantly reduced with the inclusion of Mg(OH)2 in PP/ATS and PP/TOS composites. DSC results show improved crystallization temperature, melting temperature, and melting enthalpy as compared with virgin PP. The addition of ATS and TOS after the alkali pretreatment improved the thermal stability of the resultant composites. TOS-modified CF composites showed better resistance than ATS-modified CF composites in water medium.

Neighboring Pd single atoms surpass isolated single atoms for selective hydrodehalogenation catalysis

Single atom catalysts have been found to exhibit superior selectivity over nanoparticulate catalysts for catalytic reactions such as hydrogenation due to their single-site nature. However, improved selectively is often accompanied by loss of activity and slow kinetics. Here we demonstrate that neighboring Pd single atom catalysts retain the high selectivity merit of sparsely isolated single atom catalysts, while the cooperative interactions between neighboring atoms greatly enhance the activity for hydrogenation of carbon-halogen bonds. Experimental results and computational calculations suggest that neighboring Pd atoms work in synergy to lower the energy of key meta-stable reactions steps, i.e., initial water desorption and final hydrogenated product desorption. The placement of neighboring Pd atoms also contribute to nearly exclusive hydrogenation of carbon-chlorine bond without altering any other bonds in organohalogens. The promising hydrogenation performance achieved by neighboring single atoms sheds light on a new approach for manipulating the activity and selectivity of single atom catalysts that are increasingly studied in multiple applications.

New methods for assessing brick resistance to freeze-thaw cycles

The aim of this research is to analyse the reliability of the existing methods, and find new ones, for assessing brick resistance to freeze-thaw cycles. A series of bricks were tested against a range of properties; compressive strength ratios pre- to post-freezing and Maage’s factor, were calculated. Using a database created in this way, an analysis of existing classifiers was carried out and new ones were established based on which bricks could be classified into resistant and non-resistant to freeze-thaw cycles. The median pore radius, the ratio of compressive strengths pre- to post-freezing and the water desorption coefficient at 180-360 minutes proved to be good classifiers with a clearly specified cut-off for the distinction between resistant and non-resistant bricks with an acceptable risk of a wrong decision. The ratio of compressive strengths pre to post freezing and the water desorption coefficient at 180-360 minutes were described using the pore system in the brick.

An Adapted Weibull Function for Agricultural Applications

The Weibull function is applied extensively in the life sciences and engineering, but under-used in agriculture. The function was consequently adapted to include parameters and metrics that increase its utility for characterizing agricultural processes. The parameters included initial and final dependent variables (Y0 and YF, respectively), initial independent variable (x0), a scale constant (k), and a shape constant (c). The primary metrics included mode, integral average, domain, skewness and kurtosis. Nested within the Weibull function are the Mitscherlich and Rayleigh functions where c is fixed at 1 and 2, respectively. At least one of the three models provided an excellent fit to six example agricultural datasets, as evidenced by large adjusted coefficient of determination (RA2 ≥ 0.9266), small normalized mean bias error (MBEN ≤ 1.49 %), and small normalized standard error of regression (SERN ≤ 8.08 %). The Mitscherlich function provided the most probable (PX) representation of corn (Zea Mays L.) yield (PM = 87.2 %), Rayleigh was most probable for soil organic carbon depth profile (PR = 96.4 %), and Weibull was most probable for corn seedling emergence (PW = 100 %), nitrous oxide emissions (PW = 100 %), nitrogen mineralization (PW = 58.4 %), and soil water desorption (PW = 100 %). The Weibull fit to the desorption data was also equivalent to those of the well-established van Genuchten and Groenevelt-Grant desorption models. It was concluded that the adapted Weibull function has good potential for widespread and informative application to agricultural data and processes.

JUSTIFICATION OF THE POSSIBILITY OF USING THERMOMODIFIED VENEER IN AN ENVIRONMENT WITH HIGH HUMIDITY

Thermally modified wood is widely used in the woodworking industry, as it has increased resistance to environmental factors (humidity, temperature). The effect of high temperature on wood causes a decrease in water adsorption by reducing the available free hydroxyl groups of carbohydrates. The reduction in hygroscopicity contributes to the treated material size stability, as swelling and shrinkage are mainly associated with the phenomena of absorption and water desorption. The study of natural weathering always takes many years. Therefore, to study the resistance of thermodified wood to environmental influences, artificial weathering is used - modeling of external factors (cyclic change of UV light and moisture). The effectiveness of the thermodified veneer use as a material for lining the furniture facades which working in different temperature and humidity conditions was established. The values of moisture and water absorption on the samples of oak veneer, which have previously undergone the heat treatment process, have been determined. It was found that the samples of oak veneer gained the most moisture from the environment in the first two days. The weight of unmodified veneer increased by 0.06 g, similar results showed veneer modified at temperatures of 160 and 190 °C. Thermodified veneer at a temperature of 250 °C for the first two days gained twice less. By the end of the experiment (next 11 days), the samples of ordinary and modified veneer at all temperatures absorbed the same amount of moisture. Untreated veneer and thermodified at temperatures of 160 and 220 °C absorbed 50-66 % of its initial weight, and modified at 250 °C – 20-36 %. Control samples of veneer during the determination of water absorption gained 98 % of the initial weight. Samples modified at 160 °C – 10, 20, 30 min showed the best result – reducing the value to 94 %, 93 % and 91 %. There is a slight improvement in water absorption after exposure to temperature 220 °C for 10, 20, 30 min – 91 %, 91 % and 90 %. Values water absorption at the level of 90 %, 89 % and 86 % were recorded in veneer samples modified at 250 °C.