A Ni/MgO catalyst was prepared via novel dielectric-barrier discharge (DBD) plasma decomposition method. The combined characterization of Brunauer-Emmett-Teller measurement, X-ray diffraction, hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction and transmission electron microscopy shows that DBD plasma treatment enhances the support-metal interaction of Ni/MgO catalyst and facilitates the formation of smaller Ni particles. Sphere-like Ni particles form on plasma treated Ni/MgO catalysts. The plasma treated Ni/MgO catalyst shows a significantly improved low temperature activity and good stability for CO₂ reforming of methane to syngas.

Venting is the common safety measure to protect plant equipment against excessive overpressure. So far, scenarios in which particles were part of the system and should have been accounted for did ignore their presence; the scenarios were treated like a two-phase system. Current research shows that particles can have a major influence on the venting behaviour. Experimental results indicate that particles affect level swell and relief flow especially of foamy systems. Based on those results four different layers of influence of the particle have been identified and are presented in a first model. Based on this model recommendations for the development of new and more complex models are given.

Titanium silicalite-1 (TS-1) has been hydrothermally synthesized with tetrapropylammonium hydroxide (TPAOH) as the template in the presence of various amounts of Na⁺, characterized by inductively coupled plasma, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ultro-violet-visible spectroscopy and studied in cyclohexanone ammoximation. The characterization results show that with the increase of Na⁺ concentration in the synthesis, both the crystal sizes of TS-1and extra framework Ti increase but framework Ti decreases. The addition of Na⁺ below 3 mol-% of TPAOH in the synthesis does not influence the catalytic properties with above 98% conversion of cyclohexanone and 99.5% selectivity to cyclohexanone oxime. However, at the concentrations of Na⁺≥3 mol-% of TPAOH in the synthesis, the catalysts are deactivated faster with the increase of Na⁺ addition, which can be attributed to more high molecular weight byproducts deposited in the large TS-1 particles and the loss of the frame-work titanium. The results of this work are of great importance for the industry.

In this work, Mg²⁺ doped hydroxyapatite (Mg-HAP) nanoparticles were produced by a reaction-precipitation process by using a spinning disc reactor (SDR) at high rotational speed. The production process of these nanoparticles consisted of the neutralization reaction between two aqueous solutions of calcium chloride and ammonia orthophosphate at room temperature. By operating at pH= 10, a high purity Mg-HAP nanoparticles were obtained. In particular, they were 51 nm in average size when the two reagents were fed over the disc symmetrically at 3 cm from the disc center and a rotational speed of the disc reactor equal to 1400 r/min was adopted.

Nitric acid functionalized steam activated carbon (NAFSAC) was prepared from waste fluid petroleum coke (FPC) and used as a support material for the synthesis of a NiMo catalyst (2.5 wt-% Ni and 13 wt-% Mo). The catalyst was then used for the hydrotreatment of light gas oil. The support and catalysts were characterized by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) gas adsorption method, X-ray diffraction, H₂-temperature programmed reduction, NH₃-temperature programmed desorption, CO-chemisorption, mass spetrography, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Boehm titration, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The SEM results showed that the carbon material retained a needle like structure after functionalization with HNO₃. The Boehm titration, FTIR, and BET results confirmed that the HNO₃ functionalized material had moderate acidity, surface functional groups, and mesoporosity respectively. The produced NAFSAC had an inert nature, exhibited the sink effect and few metal support interactions, and contained functional groups. All of which make it a suitable support material for the preparation of a NiMo hydrotreating catalyst. Hydrotreating activity studies of the NiMo/NAFSAC catalyst were carried out under industrial operating conditions in a laboratory trickle bed reactor using coker light gas oil as the feedstock. A parallel study was performed on the hydrotreating activity of NiMo/γ-Al₂O₃ as a reference catalyst. The hydrodesulfurization and hydrodenitrogenation activities of the NiMo/NAFSAC catalyst were 62% and 30%, respectively.

To improve the dispersibility of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), poly(vinylferrocene-co-styrene) (poly(Vf-co-St)), was grafted onto the surface of CNTs by a ligand-exchange reaction. Poly(Vf-co-St) was obtained by a radical copolymerization reaction using styrene and vinylferrocene as the monomers. The vinylferrocene was synthesized from ferrocene via a Friedel-Crafts acylation. The molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, and amount of Vf in the poly(Vf-co-St) were 1.32 × 10⁴, 1.69 and 17.6% respectively. The degree of grafting of the copolymer onto the CNTs surface was calculated from thermogravimetric analysis and varied from 27.1% to 79.7%. The addition of the poly(Vf-co-St) greatly promoted the dispersibility of the modified CNTs in anhydrous alcohol. The electrical conductivity of composites prepared from the polymer-grafted CNTs and copolymer (acrylonitrile, 1,3-butadiene and styrene, ABS) strongly depended on the degree of grafting. These results show that the amount of polymer grafted onto the surface of CNTs can be controlled and that the electrical properties of composites prepared with these grafted polymers can be tuned.

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous and hazardous gas and sensitive sensor devices are needed to prevent humans from being poisoned by this gas. A CO gas sensor has been prepared from WO₃ synthesized by a sol-gel method. The sensor chip was prepared by a spin-coating technique which deposited a thin film of WO₃ on an alumina substrate. The chip samples were then calcined at 300, 400, 500 or 600 °C for 1 h. The sensitivities of the different sensor chips for CO gas were determined by comparing the changes in electrical resistance in the absence and presence of 50 ppm of CO gas at 200 °C. The WO₃ calcined at 500 °C had the highest sensitivity. The sensitivity of this sensor was also measured at CO concentrations of 100 ppm and 200 ppm and at operating temperatures of 30 and 100 °C. Thermogravimetric analysis of the WO₃ calcined at 500 °C indicated that this sample had the highest gas adsorption capacity. This preliminary research has shown that WO₃ can serve as a CO gas sensor and that is should be further explored and developed.

Poly(ethylene glycol) monoacrylate (PEGMA) is grafted onto polycarbonateurethane (PCU) surface via ultraviolet initiated photopolymerization. The hydroxyl groups of poly(PEGMA) on the surface react with one NCO group of isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and another NCO group of IPDI is then hydrolyzed to form amino terminal group, which is further grafted with phosphorylcholine glyceraldehyde to establish a biocompatible hydrophilic structure on the surface. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirm the successful grafting of both PEG and phosphorylcholine functional groups on the surface. The decrease of the water contact angle for the modified film is caused by synergic effect of PEG and phosphorylcholine, which both have the high hydrophilicity. Furthermore, the number of platelets adhered is relative low on the synergetically modified PCU film compared with the PCU film modified only by poly(PEGMA). Our synergic modification method using both PEG and phosphorylcholine may be applied in surface modification of blood-contacting biomaterials and some relevant devices.

The photocatalytic hydrogen production from aqueous methanol solution using titanium dioxide (TiO₂) was investigated in the addition of metal particles including copper, lead, tin, and zinc. The results show that only the addition of copper particles enhances the hydrogen production. The copper usage and reaction temperature were further optimized for TiO₂/Cu photocatalyts. Under the optimal conditions, the hydrogen production using TiO₂/Cu as photocatalysts is approximately 68 times higher than that obtained with only TiO₂.

ZSM-5/SBA-15 composite molecular sieves were synthesized using post-synthesis method and characterized by X-ray diffraction and N₂ adsorption-desorption. The oxidative-extration desulfurization of model oil was investigated by using hydrogen peroxide as the oxidant, tetrabutyl ammonium bromide as phase transfer catalyst, dimethyl sulfoxide as extractant, and Zr-ZSM-5/SBA-15, Ag-ZSM-5/SBA-15, Ce-ZSM-5/SBA-15 as catalyst. Under the optimal conditions, the desulfurization rate decreases in the order: Zr-ZSM-5/SBA-15>Ce-ZSM-5/SBA-15>Ag-ZSM-5/SBA-15. The highest desulfurization rate is 84.53% under the catalysis of Zr-ZSM-5/SBA-15. Kinetics analysis shows that the reaction is pseudo-first-order with the activation energy of 44.23 kJ/mol.

This paper presents an evaluation of the energy intensity and related greenhouse gas/CO₂ emissions of integrated oil sands crude upgrading processes. Two major oil sands crude upgrading schemes currently used in Canadian oil sands operations were investigated: coking-based and hydroconversion-based. The analysis, which was based on a robust process model of the entire process, was constructed in Aspen HYSYS and calibrated with representative data. Simulations were conducted for the two upgrading schemes in order to generate a detailed inventory of the required energy and utility inputs: process fuel, steam, hydrogen and power. It was concluded that while hydroconversion-based scheme yields considerably higher amount of synthetic crude oil (SCO) than the coker-based scheme (94 wt-% vs. 76 wt-%), it consumes more energy and is therefore more CO₂-intensive (413.2 kg CO₂/m³_SCO vs. 216.4 kg CO₂/m³_SCO). This substantial difference results from the large amount of hydrogen consumed in the ebullated-bed hydroconverter in the hydroconversion-based scheme, as hydrogen production through conventional methane steam reforming is highly energy-intensive and therefore the major source of CO₂ emission. Further simulations indicated that optimization of hydroconverter operating variables had only a minor effect on the overall CO₂ emission due to the complex trade-off effect between energy inputs.

Four 2,5-dialkoxylphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazoles are shown to be efficient organogelators. These compounds readily form stable gels in many organic solvents and their gelation property as well as supramolecular structures were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR), and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis). The results indicate that the gelator molecules self-assemble into gels with elongated fibrous networks and layer structures, and van der Waals interaction is the main driving force.

Semi-solid materials represent an important category of inactive ingredients (excipients) of pharmaceutical products. Here we review several common semi-solid polymers currently used in the controlled release formulations of many drugs. These polymers are selected based on their importance and broad scope of application in FDA-approved drug products and include several polysaccharides (cellulose, starch, chitosan, alginate) and carbomers, a group of mucoadhesive synthetic polymers. Glyceride-based polymers used in self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS) will also be discussed for its importance in formulating poorly water-soluble drugs. Unique features and advantages of each type of semi-solid materials are discussed and examples of their use in oral delivery of drugs are provided. Finally, future prospects of developing new and better semi-solid excipients are discussed with the objective of facilitating clinical translation.

Membrane separation technology is a possible breakthrough in post-combustion carbon dioxide capture process. This review first focuses on the requirements for CO₂ separation membrane, and then outlines the existing competitive materials, promising preparation methods and processes to achieve desirable CO₂ selectivity and permeability. A particular emphasis is addressed on polyimides, poly (ethylene oxide), mixed-matrix membrane, thermally-rearranged polymer, fixed site carrier membrane, ionic liquid membrane and electrodialysis process. The advantages and drawbacks of each of materials and methods are discussed. Research threads and methodology of CO₂ separation membrane and the key issue in this area are concluded

Molecular information gathering and processing — a young field of applied chemistry — is undergoing good growth. The progress is occurring both in terms of conceptual development and in terms of the strengthening of older concepts with new examples. This review critically surveys these two broad avenues. We consider some cases where molecules emulate one of the building blocks of electronic logic gates. We then examine molecular emulation of various Boolean logic gates carrying one, two or three inputs. Some single-input gates are popular information gathering devices. Special systems, such as ‘lab-on-a-molecule’ and molecular keypad locks, also receive attention. A situation deviating from the Boolean blueprint is also discussed. Some pointers are offered for maintaining the upward curve of the field.