Synthesis of Dimethyl Carbonate by Transesterification of Propylene Carbonate with Methanol on CeO-LaO Oxides Prepared by the Soft Template Method.

In this study, CeO, LaO, and CeO-LaO mixed oxide catalysts with different Ce/La molar ratios were prepared by the soft template method and characterized by different techniques, including inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, N physisorption, thermogravimetric analysis, and Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopies. NH and CO adsorption microcalorimetry was also used for assessing the acid and base surface properties, respectively. The behavior of the oxides as catalysts for the dimethyl carbonate synthesis by the transesterification of propylene carbonate with methanol, at 160 °C under autogenic pressure, was studied in a stainless-steel batch reactor.

Oscillatory Behaviour of Ni Supported on ZrO in the Catalytic Partial Oxidation of Methane as Determined by Activation Procedure.

Ni/ZrO catalysts, active and selective for the catalytic partial oxidation of methane to syngas (CH-CPO), were prepared by the dry impregnation of zirconium oxyhydroxide (Z) or monoclinic ZrO (Z), calcination at 1173 K and activation by different procedures: oxidation-reduction () or direct reduction (). The characterization included XRD, FESEM, in situ FTIR and Raman spectroscopies, TPR, and specific surface area measurements. Catalytic activity experiments were carried out in a flow apparatus with a mixture of CH:O = 2:1 in a short contact time.

Catalytic hydrogenation of nitrate in water: improvement of the activity and selectivity to N by using Rh(III)-hexamolybdate supported on ZrO-AlO.

Catalysts prepared on ZrO, AlO and ZrO-AlO (ZrAl-10) supported with Anderson heteropolyanion (RhMo) as active phase were investigated for the elimination of NO from water. Raman characterization of pure and supported RhMo phase showed the presence of polymolybdic species of different degrees of complexity when RhMo was supported. The temperature-programmed reduction study revealed the synergic effect between Rh and Mo species, through which the reducibility of Mo was promoted by Rh, and different phase/support interactions were verified.

High temperature stability of onion-like carbon vs highly oriented pyrolytic graphite.

The thermodynamic stability of onion-like carbon (OLC) nanostructures with respect to highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) was determined in the interval 765-1030 K by the electromotive force (emf) measurements of solid electrolyte galvanic cell: (Low) Pt|Cr3C2,CrF2,OLC|CaF2s.c.|Cr3C2,CrF2,HOPG|Pt (High).

Preparation and Characterization of Nanocomposite Polymer Membranes Containing Functionalized SnO2 Additives.

In the research of new nanocomposite proton-conducting membranes, SnO2 ceramic powders with surface functionalization have been synthesized and adopted as additives in Nafion-based polymer systems. Different synthetic routes have been explored to obtain suitable, nanometer-sized sulphated tin oxide particles. Structural and morphological characteristics, as well as surface and bulk properties of the obtained oxide powders, have been determined by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopies, N2 adsorption, and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA).

Characterization of carbon nanotube dispersions in solutions of bile salts and derivatives containing aromatic substituents.

Bile salts (BS) are known to solubilize high weight fractions of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in aqueous solutions. Here, the efficiency of derivatives of bile salts (BSDs) containing aromatic substituents in dispersing single-wall CNTs (SWCNTs) has been investigated in order to check whether the presence of aromatic residues, because of their affinity toward carbon nanotube surfaces, determines improvements of the BS dispersion efficiency (DE). Electric arc and CoMoCAT SWCNTs were analyzed.

Lysozyme binds onto functionalized carbon nanotubes.

Single walled carbon nanotubes have singular physicochemical properties making them attractive in a wide range of applications. Studies on carbon nanotubes and biological macromolecules exist in literature. However, ad hoc investigations are helpful to better understand the interaction mechanisms.

Modifications induced by pretreatments on Au/SBA-15 and their influence on the catalytic activity for low temperature CO oxidation.

SBA-15 functionalization with mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane has been used to prepare supported gold catalysts for the low temperature CO oxidation reaction. Supports and catalysts have been characterized by chemical analysis, CHS analysis, XRD, TGA, nitrogen adsorption-desorption at 77 K, TEM, CPMAS NMR, XPS and EPR. Catalytic runs have been carried out at atmospheric pressure and 313-623 K and the influence of diverse thermal treatments of the samples prior to reaction has been investigated.