Digitization of Adsorption Isotherms from "The Thermodynamics and Hysteresis of Adsorption''

Sorption isotherms collected from tables in the seminal dissertation, “The Thermodynamics and Hysteresis of Adsorption” by A. J. Brown, have been digitized and made publicly available, along with supporting software scripts that facilitates usage of the data. The isotherms include laboratory measurements of xenon, krypton, and carbon dioxide adsorption (and, when possible, desorption) isotherms on a single sample of Vycor glass1, at various temperatures including subcritical conditions for xenon and krypton. The highlight of this dataset is the collection of “scanning” isotherms for xenon on Vycor at 131 K. The scanning isotherms examine numerous trajectories through the adsorption-desorption hysteresis region, such as primary adsorption and desorption scanning isotherms that terminate at the hysteresis boundary, secondary scanning isotherms made by selective reversals that return to the boundary, and closed scanning loops. This dataset was originally used to test the independent domain theory of adsorption and continues to support successor theories of adsorption/desorption scanning hysteresis including more recent theories based on percolation models. Through digital preservation and release of the tables from Brown’s dissertation, these data are now more easily accessible and can continue to find use in developing models of adsorption for fundamental and practical applications.

Synthesis of Ce/MgO Catalysts for Direct Oxidation of Hibiscus cannabinus Stalks to Vanillin

One possible method of producing vanillin from biomass is through controlled oxidation of lignin. Direct oxidation of kenaf stalks was chosen without having to separate the cellulose and hemicellulose components from the lignocellulosic biomass. This makes the process greener, as well as saving time. In this paper, Ce/MgO catalysts were developed for oxidation of kenaf stalks and kenaf lignin under microwave irradiation. The catalysts were characterized for their physicochemical properties using XRD and N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms. The synthesized MgO showed the presence of diffraction peaks assigned to cubic MgO while the 30Ce/MgO catalysts showed the presence of cubic fluorite of CeO2. N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms showed that all catalysts possess Type III isotherm according to IUPAC classification, indicating a nonporous structure. All catalysts were tested for direct oxidation of kenaf stalks under 300 W of microwave irradiation using H2O2 as the oxidizing agent at pH 11.5 and temperatures between 160 and 180 °C for 10–30 min with 5–15% catalyst loading. The highest vanillin yields of 3.70% and 2.90% for extracted lignin and direct biomass oxidation were achieved using 30Ce/MgO-48. In comparison, 7.80% and 4.45% were obtained using 2N of NaOH homogeneous catalyst for extracted lignin and direct biomass, respectively, at 170 °C for 20 min. The reusability test shows that 30Ce/MgO can be used up to three cycles without significant loss in catalytic activity. Other compounds detected were 4-vinylguaiacol, syringol and syringaldehyde.

Experimental Determination and Modeling of the Moisture-Sorption Isotherms and Isosteric Heat of Tobacco Leaves

During a forced convection sun drying and storage operation, the equilibrium water content of a product to be dried is critical. These figures are frequently derived using isothermal sorption curves. The calculation of isotherms is a necessary step in determining the distribution and intensity of water connections in products. for that this paper concentrates on the experimental determination of the adsorption-desorption isotherms for various temperatures (40, 50, and 60℃) of the Nicotiana Tabacum L plants. From which we had established the relationship between the water activity and the water content in the product. However, the aforementioned determination was carried out by the static gravimetric method. Eight saturated salt solutions have been utilized in applications such as (KOH, KCl, MgCl2, MgNO3, K2CO3, BaCl2, K2SO4, and NaCl). Hygroscopic equilibrium was completed after 13 days for temperature 40℃, 11 days for 50℃, and 9 days for 60℃. The overall experimental sorption curves are summarized by six models (HENDERSON, modified HALSEY, OSWIN, GAB, modified BET, and PELEG). The sorption isotherms built using the Clausius–Clapeyron equation were used to determine the net isosteric temperatures of desorption and adsorption of Nicotiana Tabacum L. The results for the adsorption-desorption isotherms found are type III according to IUAPC. Following the smoothing of the experimental results by different used models, it was found that the models of GAB and Peleg allow having the lowest mean relative errors and correlation coefficient.

Manganese Oxide Aerogels Obtained in a One-Step Process Directly in Supercritical CO2 at Different Temperatures

The work presents a study of the formation of manganese oxide aerogels in the process of thermal decomposition of manganese carbonyls in oxygen-enriched supercritical CO2 at different temperatures. The morphology of the aerogels was studied by means of electron microscopy; the porous structure was investigated through the analysis of low-temperature nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms. The process was observed in an optical high-pressure view-cell.

An Overview of the Challenges and Progress of Synthesis, Characterization and Applications of Plugged SBA-15 Materials for Heterogeneous Catalysis

A new generation of SBA-15, plugged SBA-15, was initially synthesized in 2002 using extra silica precursors (Si/organic template molar ratios ≈ 80–140) in the gel mixture. The plugged SBA-15 materials possess short cylinders (length ≈ 20–100 nm), which are connected to neighbors by constricted entrances (windows) through the central axis. The gas adsorption–desorption isotherms of plugged SBA-15 materials present unique hysteresis loop Type H5 classification identified by IUPAC in 2015, which is related to certain pore structures containing open and plugged mesopores. The plugged SBA-15 has been used to support various types of catalysts, including metal complexes, metal nanocatalysts, and active metals by the incorporation in their framework demonstrating excellent (enantio)selectivity, stability against coke, and thermal stability. The plugged SBA-15 materials bear the other unique properties of the ship-in-the-bottle synthesis of, e.g., metal complexes that confine homogeneous catalysts, which is not possible by conventional SBA-15 due to leaching. In this mini-review, the challenges and progress of the synthesis in controlling the plugging and incorporation of metals and organic moiety in their framework, characterizing the short mesochannel dimensions (window and length sizes) by several advanced techniques and applying plugged SBA-15 materials in heterogeneous catalysis for challenging reactions, has been discussed.

Al-Si@Al(OH)3 Nanosheets Composite for Enhanced Efficient Strategy to Synthesize Al-Si@Al2O3 Core-shell Structure

Owing to the combined advantages of Al-Si alloy and Al2O3, Al-Si@Al2O3 is widely utilized as a heat storage material, catalyst carrier and what adsorption host. Hence, the preparation of Al-Si@Al2O3 and corresponding precursors is of utmost significance. Herein, Al-Si@Al(OH)3 precursor is investigated and Al(OH)3 nanosheets are in-situ formed on the surface of Al-xSi alloy (x = 10, 20 and 30) in the presence of water. The influence of Si content, diameter of Al-Si particles and heating parameters on morphology and thickness of Al(OH)3 nanosheets is systematically explored using X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms. The growth mechanism of Al(OH)3 nanosheets is revealed and a pathway to obtain Al-Si@Al2O3 nanosheets with desired structure and thickness is demonstrated.