On the Potential of a Poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) Polymer Inclusion Membrane Containing Aliquat® 336 and Dibutyl Phthalate for V(V) Extraction from Sulfate Solutions

A polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) composed of 50 wt% base polymer poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene), 40 wt% extractant Aliquat® 336, and 10 wt% dibutyl phthalate as plasticizer/modifier provided the efficient extraction of vanadium(V) (initial concentration 50 mg L−1) from 0.1 M sulfate solutions (pH 2.5). The average mass and thickness of the PIMs (diameter 3.5 cm) were 0.057 g and 46 μm, respectively. It was suggested that V(V) was extracted as VO2SO4− via an anion exchange mechanism. The maximum PIM capacity was estimated to be ~56 mg of V(V)/g for the PIM. Quantitative back-extraction was achieved with a 50 mL solution of 6 M H2SO4/1 v/v% of H2O2. It was assumed that the back-extraction process involved the oxidation of VO2+ to VO(O2)+ by H2O2. The newly developed PIM, with the optimized composition mentioned above, exhibited an excellent selectivity for V(V) in the presence of metallic species present in digests of spent alumina hydrodesulfurization catalysts. Co-extraction of Mo(VI) with V(V) was eliminated by its selective extraction at pH 1.1. Characterization of the optimized PIM was performed by contact angle measurements, atomic-force microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis/derivatives thermogravimetric analysis and stress–strain measurements. Replacement of dibutyl phthalate with 2-nitrophenyloctyl ether improved the stability of the studied PIMs.

Star-Shaped Polydimethylsiloxanes with Organocyclotetrasilsesquioxane Branching-Out Centers: Synthesis and Properties

New non-crystallizable low-dispersity star-shaped polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMS) containing stereoregular cis-tetra(organo)(dimethylsiloxy)cyclotetrasiloxanes containing methyl-, tolyl- and phenyl-substituents at silicon atoms and the mixture of four stereoisomers of tetra[phenyl(dimethylsiloxy)]cyclotetrasiloxane as the cores were synthesized. Their thermal and viscous properties were studied. All synthesized compounds were characterized by a complex of physicochemical analysis methods: nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), FT-IR spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), viscometry in solution, rheometry, and Langmuir trough study.

One-pot synthesis of the new Hydroxamic acid and its complexes with metals

A one-pot conversion of 2-hydroxy-1-naphthoic aldehyde to hydroxamic acid was described. An efficient photoorganocatalytic method of synthesis was developed. The obtained hydroxamic acid was identified by various physicochemical methods such as IR, UV- and NMR-spectroscopy. Solid colored complexes of copper (II) and iron (II), respectively, green and brown colours with the obtained hydroxamic acid were synthesized in ethanol medium for the first time. The molar ratio of ligand and metal in the complex was 2:1. Their structures were established using IR, UV- spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis.

High Temperature Degradation Mechanism of Concrete with Plastering Layer

At present, the research on the high temperature degradation of concrete usually focuses on only the degradation of concrete itself without considering the effect of the plastering layer. It is necessary to take into account the influence of the plastering layer on the high temperature degradation of concrete. With an increase in the water/cement ratio, the explosion of concrete disappeared. Although increasing the water/cement ratio can alleviate the cracking of concrete due to lower pressure, it leads to a decrease in the mechanical properties of concrete after heating. It is proved that besides the water/cement ratio, the apparent phenomena and mechanical properties of concrete at high temperature can be affected by the plastering layer. The plastering layer can relieve the high temperature cracking of concrete, and even inhibit the high temperature explosion of concrete with 0.30 water/cement ratio. By means of an XRD test, scanning electron microscope test and thermogravimetric analysis, it is found that the plastering layer can promote the rehydration of unhydrated cement particles of 0.30 water/cement ratio concrete at high temperature and then promote the mechanical properties of concrete at 400 °C. However, the plastering layer accelerated the thermal decomposition of C-S-H gel of concrete with a water/cement ratio of 0.40 at high temperature, and finally accelerate the decline of mechanical property of concrete. To conclude, the low water/cement ratio and plastering layer can delay the deterioration of concrete at high temperature.

Self-Desiccation of a Vernacular CSA Binder

The fast precipitation of ettringite in conventional Calcium Sulfo Aluminate (CSA) cement causes rapid stiffening of the cement paste and is directly associated with short setting times and self-desiccation. To extend the time during which those types of cement remain workable, retarding admixtures can be used. However, retarders may affect the amounts and types of hydration products formed and as a consequence the ability of hydrated cement to chemically bind water. This work investigates the influence of two natural-based admixtures on the self-desiccation ability of a vernacular CSA ternary binder used as earth stabilization. Vicat measurements were used to study the efficiency of citric acid and sucrose as retarding admixtures on the setting time of stabilized earth. A quantitative study of the self-desiccation ability of the binder was performed on dried binder pastes using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Results show that both admixtures have a significant impact on the setting time of the binder. Furthermore, TGA showed that the self-desiccation ability of this vernacular CSA binder is significantly reduced when citric acid at high dosages is used, both at early hydration and after 14 days. On the contrary, the use of sucrose does not affect the water chemically bound at an early age but can maximize bound water after 14 days of hydration.

Molecular Characteristics and Antioxidant Activity of Spruce (Picea abies) Hemicelluloses Isolated by Catalytic Oxidative Delignification

Spruce (Piceaabies) wood hemicelluloses have been obtained by the noncatalytic and catalytic oxidative delignification in the acetic acid-water-hydrogen peroxide medium in a processing time of 3–4 h and temperatures of 90–100 °C. In the catalytic process, the H2SO4, MnSO4, TiO2, and (NH4)6Mo7O24 catalysts have been used. A polysaccharide yield of up to 11.7 wt% has been found. The hemicellulose composition and structure have been studied by a complex of physicochemical methods, including gas and gel permeation chromatography, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The galactose:mannose:glucose:arabinose:xylose monomeric units in a ratio of 5:3:2:1:1 have been identified in the hemicelluloses by gas chromatography. Using gel permeation chromatography, the weight average molar mass Mw of hemicelluloses has been found to attain 47,654 g/mol in noncatalytic delignification and up to 42,793 g/mol in catalytic delignification. Based on the same technique, a method for determining the α and k parameters of the Mark–Kuhn–Houwink equation for hemicelluloses has been developed; it has been established that these parameters change between 0.33–1.01 and 1.57–472.17, respectively, depending on the catalyst concentration and process temperature and time. Moreover, the FTIR spectra of the hemicellulose samples contain all the bands characteristic of heteropolysaccharides, specifically, 1069 cm−1 (C–O–C and C–O–H), 1738 cm−1 (ester C=O), 1375 cm−1 (–C–CH3), 1243 cm−1 (–C–O–), etc. It has been determined by the thermogravimetric analysis that the hemicelluloses isolated from spruce wood are resistant to heating to temperatures of up to ~100 °C and, upon further heating, start destructing at an increasing rate. The antioxidant activity of the hemicelluloses has been examined using the compounds simulating the 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radicals.