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Abstract: The deinking of various types of newspapers has been necessitated by governmental regulations as well as increasing public interest in recycling paper taken from our natural environment. The increasing volume of newspaper makes it an important class of paper available for deinking. In this study, the effect of number of carbon atoms in alkyl chain of a simple deinking agent using different alcohols was developed. Four-step process involving pulping, washing, froth flotation, and another washing with a number of alcohols in pulping and flotation stages was employed. Conventional laboratory-scale flotation cell was used to study ink removal from pulp slurries obtained from water-based flexographic newsprint. Hydrodynamics conditions were constant and other chemicals dosages were chosen the same as optimum values cited in literatures. We report the brightness and intensity of ink spot of handsheets formed of deinked fibers as deinking efficiencies. Application of alcohols with any alkyl chain instead of hydrogen peroxide in flotation stage gives higher brightness. The highest brightness was achieved in the case of totally hydrogen peroxide free using alcohol in pulping and flotation stages. The brightness of final pulp increases with the number of carbon atoms in alkyl chain (C1–C7). Low concentration of deinking agent makes this combination of chemicals economical and environmental friendly. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper reports the performance of a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) fed directly with liquid fuels referenced against results with hydrogen fuel in experiments conducted by the research team. Alcohols have greater energy density than pure hydrogen in normal conditions and, if presented as biofuels, the MCFC can be deemed a renewable energy source. For evaluation purposes various alcohols occurring in standard conditions in the liquid state were used for electricity generation in the MCFC: methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol and glycerol. Since these alcohols can be subjected to steam reforming when mixed with water in specific ratios, they can be delivered directly in the liquid state to the fuel cell, where hydrogen is released and used to produce electricity and heat. The alcohols were mixed with water in ratios of 1:2, 1:3, 1:4. The results were compared to the MCFC fed with pure hydrogen as a fuel. In terms of power referenced to hydrogen (100%), the maximums achieved were 78% for butanol, 80% for glycerol, 83% for propanol, 86% for ethanol and 93% for methanol in comparison to the same amount of hydrogen delivered to the fuel cell in ideal steam reforming situation. Threats such as carbon deposition on the fuel cell surface were also evaluated. • MCFC fed directly with various mixtures of alcohols and water have been studied. • The steam reforming of mixtures of alcohols and water generates energy. • Temperature and anode material provide the necessary conditions for steam reforming. • Maximum power compared to hydrogen fuel for various fuels ranges between 78 and 93%. • Carbon deposition in the anode channel of commercial units can be a problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogenation of aldehydes with heterogeneous manganese catalysts is an appealing approach for producing alcohols. In this paper, we report a novel and robust MnO/PN-800 catalyst for the hydrogenation of versatile biomass-derived platform molecules in the presence of molecular hydrogen as a reductant. The effect of catalyst concentration, the operating hydrogen pressure, and the reaction temperature on the catalyst activity was investigated in detail. Under the mild reaction conditions, the full conversion of furfuraldehyde, 5-Methyl-2-furaldehyde, and 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (5-HMF) to their corresponding alcohols was achieved without any by-product formation. Additionally, other aromatic aldehydes bearing fluoro, chloro, and nitro moieties were also tolerated. The fresh and spent MnO/PN-800 catalyst was thoroughly characterized using XPS, powder-XRD, HR-TEM, N 2 adsorption-desorption, and Raman spectroscopy. Noteworthy, the MnO/PN-800 catalyst can be recovered by centrifugation and then reused directly in the subsequent hydrogenation reactions. Importantly the synthetic utility of this protocol up to ∼5 g-scale is realized. Finally, our novel MnO/PN-800 nanocatalyst was successfully employed for the direct synthesis of furfuryl alcohol in high yields from raw sugarcane bagasse. We believe that these findings will help to advance the manganese-catalyzed hydrogenation reactions. [Display omitted] • Waste biomass as a carbon support. • MnO/PN-800 as an efficient catalyst for hydrogenation of bio-based aldehydes. • Hydrogenation of FA, 5-MFA, and 5-HMF to their corresponding alcohols. • Synthesis of furfuryl alcohol from raw sugarcane biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A total of 26 volatile components were detected, divided into eight types. • Citronellyl acetate and phenylethyl alcohol were characteristic aroma components. • All eight volatile component types were detected in G-'YLH,' covered all types. • The ground-planted had more types of aroma compounds than the vase-inserted. In this paper, we explore the release of volatile components in different flowering stages between ground-planted and vase-inserted herbaceous peony. A dynamic headspace sampling technique combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was used to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze the volatile components of ground-planted and vase-inserted flowers of Paeonia lactiflora 'Yulinhong,' Paeonia lactiflora 'Yingmohong,' Paeonia lactiflora 'Zhaocaixia,' Paeonia lactiflora 'Taohua Feixue,' Paeonia lactiflora 'Fenchi Jinyu,' and Paeonia lactiflora 'Lanju.' A total of 26 volatile components were detected in the four flowering stages of the herbaceous peony of the following eight types: alcohols; esters; aldehydes; ethers; hydrocarbons; phenols; ketones; terpenes. Among these, citronellyl acetate and phenylethyl alcohol were observed to have the highest content and were determined as characteristic aroma components of the six cultivars. All eight volatile component types were detected in G-'YLH,' covered all types; G-'LJ' contained five types, second only to G-'YLH,' G-'THFX' and V-'THFX' contained three and four types, respectively, and only two types were observed for V-'YMH' and V-'FCJY.' Comparisons of the volatile composition at different periods under ground-planted and vase-inserted conditions revealed G-'YLH' to exhibit the highest number of volatile components for both conditions, with seven and five types detected, respectively, followed by G-'YMH,' G-'ZCX,' G-'FCJY,' and G-'LJ.' This work provides a theoretical basis for further molecular biology research on new herbaceous peony scent cultivars and the development and application of herbaceous peony floral products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Effects of three- and four-carbon alcohols and esters on soot emissions were investigated. • Soot morphology and nanostructure properties were affected by oxyfuel type. • Oxyfuels reduced particle diameter by up to 24.16 % using 9.2 % n-butanol blend. • At low blending volumes, oxygenated fuels have minimal effect on fringe length and spacing. • Fringe tortuosity decreased when blends were used compared to pure diesel. Research has shown that diesel-powered engines will continue to dominate many sectors that require heavy machinery. Therefore, issues such as surging global energy demand, declining fuel reserves, and emissions must be addressed. Oxygenated fuels are not only alternative fuel sources but could also reduce the amount of soot emitted by diesel engines. This paper investigates the physicochemical properties of soot emitted from a modern diesel engine fueled by pure diesel (D100) and its blends with various oxyfuels containing three-carbon and four-carbon atoms. Fuels are carefully selected to enable the investigation of various fuel parameters such as carbon chain length, oxygen content, blending ratio, and oxyfuel type. Two experiments were conducted, one at an equal blending volume of 4 % and the other at an equal oxygen content of 1.94 % by mass. All the blends reduced mean soot particle diameter compared to D100 (27.65 nm), with Bu9.2 (9.2 % n-butanol) showing the highest reduction of about 24.16 %. The fringe tortuosity decreased when the fuel blends were compared to D100, while the fringe length and spacing did not significantly change. The addition of oxygenated fuels, therefore, has an influence on the soot formation process, especially on the sizes of developed soot particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A solvatochromic dye monomer with an allyl group (ASCD) was polymerized together with methyl methacrylate (MMA) or styrene (St) to obtain hydrophobic fluorescent polymers. The wettability of the polymers to alcohols was examined by monitoring the fluorescence (FL) changes over time. On the one hand, when the ASCD-incorporated poly MMA (PMMA) film was exposed to liquid alcohols, a remarkable red-shift occurred instantly in the FL emission spectra for light alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, and propanol whereas for heavier alcohols, a blue-shift occurred first and subsequently a red-shift occurred gradually. On the other hand, the ASCD-incorporated poly St (PSt) film exhibited less significant FL change upon contact with the light alcohols owing to the relatively higher hydrophobicity. In contrast to the case of alcohols, the polymer films exhibited no FL response to water even after prolonged exposure. Particularly, the ASCD-incorporated PSt film showed a reversible and reproducible FL change during the repeated methanol and water contact cycle, indicating a high potential for use as a sensor to discriminate between light alcohol and water. Moreover, when the ASCD-incorporated PMMA was ground mechanically and added to the alcohols, the nanoparticle powder was dispersed very well in the alcohols. When the colloidal solution was deposited onto a paper as an ink, high-resolution FL images were obtained on the surface of the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tall oil is a waste energy source that can be called as the extract of trees that emerge in paper mills. Fusel oil is a sugar molasses process waste which is a waste alcohol combination of high molecular alcohols. In this study, tall oil acids were mixed with 20% by volume of diesel fuel and alcohol (ethanol, methanol, isopropyl, n-butanol and fusel oil) were added to the same ratio and their effects on combustion, fuel line pressure, engine performance and emissions were investigated. The mixtures were tested by using a single-cylinder engine with compression-ignition, direct injection at constant engine speed (1800 rpm) and 2 Nm, 4 Nm, 6 Nm, 8 Nm engine torques. With the use of fuel mixtures, in-cylinder pressure values decreased in all conditions compared to D100 fuel. The highest drop in in-cylinder pressure values is 7.1% with DT20M20 fuel mixture. Fuel mixtures were found to be sprayed earlier than the injector compared to diesel fuel. BSCF the highest rate of increase was seen with the DT20M20 fuel mixture at 9%. All fuel mixtures have been found to produce reduction in CO and smoke opacity emissions and an increase in HC and NOx emissions. With D100 fuel, emission values measured at (CO) 0.35 ppm and (is) 46%, respectively, decreased to (CO) 0.24 ppm and (is) 33% with the DT20I20 fuel mixture under the same conditions. The highest NOx emission was 14.8% with DT20I20. HC emission using the DT20M20 fuel mixture was determined to be 83 ppm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternative transportation fuels, preferably from renewable sources, include alcohols with up to five or even more carbon atoms. They are considered promising because they can be derived from biological matter via established and new processes. In addition, many of their physical-chemical properties are compatible with the requirements of modern engines, which make them attractive either as replacements for fossil fuels or as fuel additives. Indeed, alcohol fuels have been used since the early years of automobile production, particularly in Brazil, where ethanol has a long history of use as an automobile fuel. Recently, increasing attention has been paid to the use of non-petroleum-based fuels made from biological sources, including alcohols (predominantly ethanol), as important liquid biofuels. Today, the ethanol fuel that is offered in the market is mainly made from sugar cane or corn. Its production as a first-generation biofuel, especially in North America, has been associated with publicly discussed drawbacks, such as reduction in the food supply, need for fertilization, extensive water usage, and other ecological concerns. More environmentally friendly processes are being considered to produce alcohols from inedible plants or plant parts on wasteland. While biofuel production and its use (especially ethanol and biodiesel) in internal combustion engines have been the focus of several recent reviews, a dedicated overview and summary of research on alcohol combustion chemistry is still lacking. Besides ethanol, many linear and branched members of the alcohol family, from methanol to hexanols, have been studied, with a particular emphasis on butanols. These fuels and their combustion properties, including their ignition, flame propagation, and extinction characteristics, their pyrolysis and oxidation reactions, and their potential to produce pollutant emissions have been intensively investigated in dedicated experiments on the laboratory and the engine scale, also emphasizing advanced engine concepts. Research results addressing combustion reaction mechanisms have been reported based on results from pyrolysis and oxidation reactors, shock tubes, rapid compression machines, and research engines. This work is complemented by the development of detailed combustion models with the support of chemical kinetics and quantum chemistry. This paper seeks to provide an introduction to and overview of recent results on alcohol combustion by highlighting pertinent aspects of this rich and rapidly increasing body of information. As such, this paper provides an initial source of references and guidance regarding the present status of combustion experiments on alcohols and models of alcohol combustion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The hydrogenation of FFR to FFA via APR of CH 3 OH using Pt@MT-450 catalyst. • Perfect conversion, selectivity, and recyclability of the catalyst. • The safe, mild condition without external hydrogen gas. It is a promising pathway to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels and obtain the bio-fuels or chemicals production from biomass derivatives. The conversion from furfural (FFR) to furfuryl alcohol (FFA) is an important industrial technology using the liquid-phase hydrogenation method with external hydrogen gas. However, the natural environment is threatened by the security of external hydrogen gas, toxicant catalyst, and the high energy consumption. Recently, in-situ hydrogenation is a novel method to converse FFR to FFA at mild reaction conditions to replace the dangerous external hydrogen gas. In this paper, we reported an efficient in-situ hydrogenation method via aqueous-phase reforming of methanol using Pt loading MgTiO 3 (perovskite-type material) at mild conditions. Pt nanoparticles were high dispersion on the nano-MgTiO 3 -450 surface, and CH 3 OH and H 2 O were reformed to produce hydrogen gas on the catalyst surface through the action of Pt nanoparticles. A part of active hydrogen could be involved in the reduction of Pt2+ to Pt0, resulting in the perfect recyclability of the Pt@MT-450 catalyst. The other part of active hydrogen were participated in the hydrogenation of FFR conversion to FFA under the interaction of Pt and Mg elements. The in-situ hydrogenation of FFR to FFA using Pt@MT-450 is an effectively pathway to reduce the reaction conditions than that with external hydrogen gas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Abstract The establishment of a miscible phase between CO 2 and crude oil can significantly improve CO 2 flooding efficiency. However, the minimum miscibility pressure (MMP) between CO 2 and crude oil is usually higher than the fracture pressure of the formation, how to reduce the MMP between CO 2 and crude oil is very important, and there are fewer related studies. Our inspiration for reducing MMP comes from the unique dispersion characteristics of CO 2 in alcohol, the intermolecular force of crude oil may decrease due to the existence of alcohols. In this paper, the CO 2 solubility and the oil volume expansion with adding a variety of alcohols (1-butanol, 1-pentanol and 1-hexanol) were measured by a visible high temperature and high pressure cell from 7 MPa to 20 MPa at 343.15 K. The MMP between CO 2 and crude oil is predicted by measuring the interfacial tension (IFT) between CO 2 and crude oil from 2 MPa to 43.3 MPa at 343.15 K. The results showed that the CO 2 solubility in crude oil and the oil volume expansion were greatly improved due to the addition of alcohols. Especially 1-butanol, 1-pentanol and 1-hexanol were mixed by 8:1:1(volume ratio), 5% (volume ratio) alcohols mixture was added to the crude oil, the CO 2 solubility in crude oil increased by 28.74% at 345.15 K and 19 MPa, and the volume expansion coefficient of crude oil also increased by 4.45% at 345.15 K and 14 MPa. It is encouraging to note that the MMP between CO 2 and crude oil decreases by 9.21% after adding 5% alcohols mixture into crude oil. This article is able to provide a new technique for reducing the MMP between CO 2 and crude oil in the field of enhanced oil recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • The organic matter was from terrestrial and marine sources in SW sub-basin of SCS. • TOC, total n-alkanes, TFA decreased from the margins to the center of the sub-basin. • Correlation of TOC and TFA shows a balance of ocean production and deposition rates. Abstract Information about ocean evolution and material-energy exchange between the ocean and surrounding continents can be preserved in marine sediments. The Southwest Sub-basin, located among the Xisha Islands, the Zhongsha Islands, and the Nansha Islands, is an ideal tectonic unit to analyze the sedimentary environments of the South China Sea. In this paper, the distribution patterns of lipid biomarkers and their compound-specific stable carbon isotopes in surface sediments from the Southwest Sub-basin of the South China Sea were analyzed. Lipid biomarkers are composed of different proportions of aliphatic hydrocarbons, carboxylic acids, alcohols and series of sterols, indicating that the organic matter of the Southwest Sub-basin was derived from marine bacteria, algae and terrestrial higher plants. The average concentration of total organic carbon (TOC) in the study samples was 0.5 ± 0.16%. TOC, total n -alkanes, and total carboxylic acids (TFA) decreased gradually from the margins to the center of the sub-basin, whereas the content of total n- alkanols increased. The spatial distribution trends resulted from varying water depths and the contribution of terrestrial organic matter. The concentration of TFA and the TFA/TOC revealed that the accumulation of organic matter in this area was generally low. The strong correlation between TOC and TFA of surface sediments in the study area may be related to a balance between the ocean production and ocean deposition rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halogen bond (XB)-driven enantioseparations involve halogen-centred regions of electronic charge depletion (σ-hole) as electrophilic recognition sites. The knowledge in this field is still in its infancy. Indeed, although the influence of halogens on enantioseparation have been often considered, only recently the function of electrophilic halogens (Cl, Br, I) as enantioseparations ‘drivers’ has been demonstrated by our groups. Further to these studies, in this paper we focus on some unexplored issues. First, as XB-driven chiral recognition mechanisms are at an early stage of comprehension, a theoretical investigation based on a series of 32 molecular dynamic (MD) simulations was performed by using polyhalogenated 4,4′-bipyridines and polysaccharide-based polymers as ligands and receptors, respectively. Enantiomer elution orders (EEOs) were derived from calculations and the theoretical model accounted for some analyte- and chiral stationary phase (CSP)-dependent experimental EEO inversions. Then, the function of halogen-centred σ-holes in competitive systems, presenting also hydrogen bond (HB) centres as recognition sites, was considered. In this regard, Pirkle’s enantioseparations of halogenated compounds performed on Whelk-O1 were theoretically re-examined and electrostatic potentials (EPs) associated with both σ-holes on halogens and HB centres were computed and compared. Then, the enantioseparation of halogenated 2-nitro-1-arylethanols was performed on cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) (CDMPC) and the influence of halogen substituents on the chromatographic results was evaluated by correlating theoretical and experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Low-cost NaA zeolite membrane was prepared on flat pozzolan support. • Hight-quality NaA zeolite was hydrothermally prepared by in situ crystallization. • The prepared membrane was applied for alcohols dehydration via pervaporation. • The membrane shows excellent performance in terms of flux and separation factor. Abstract In this paper, inexpensive NaA zeolite membrane was hydrothermally prepared by in situ crystallization on flat pozzolan support at low temperature, and applied for dehydration of ethanol and isopropanol solutions through pervaporation process. The thin zeolite layer was grown on seeded support via secondary growth method using molar composition of synthesis batch of Al 2 O 3 : 2 SiO 2 : 15 Na 2 O: 800 H 2 O.The effect of operating parameters such as synthesis temperature and crystallization time on NaA zeolite membrane was investigated. X ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope analysis have confirmed, on the one hand, that zeolite synthesized at 60 °C is pure and has the typical NaA zeolite morphology (cubic form), and have shown on the other hand that the zeolite membrane is homogeneous and free from defects. Optimized membrane (prepared at 60 °C during 24 h) was studied in dewatering of ethanol and isopropanol aqueous solutions varying water content from 10 to 50 wt.% by pervaporation 75 °C. At 10 wt.% of water content, experimental results showed that separation performance of the membrane is excellent in terms of separation factor (11,100 and 14,400 respectively for ethanol and isopropanol) and permeate flux (9.5 and 10.1 kg/h.m2 respectively for ethanol and isopropanol). The findings of this research suggest that the prepared NaA zeolite membrane could be useful for high separation performance of alcohol/water mixtures at low cost (using cheaper pozzolan support as well as NaA zeolite crystallization at low temperature). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents interactions between quercetin (3,3′,4′,5,7-pentahydroxyflavone) and its glycoside, rutin with short chain alcohols, methanol, ethanol and 1-propanol studied by the surface tension measurements. An attempt was made to investigate the effect of flavonoid and alcohol concentrations as well as temperature on the thermodynamic parameters of alcohols adsorption at the water-air interface that is the standard free enthalpy, enthalpy and entropy of adsorption as well as the infinite dilution activity coefficient. The obtained results show that the mixtures of quercetin with methanol and rutin with ethanol are characterized by the best adsorption properties but all studied systems become less structured after adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transfer hydrogenation using inexpensive and safe hydrogen sources of alcohols and formic acid has been studied thoroughly over the decades. In particular, the asymmetric version offers the state-of-the-art methods to obtain optically active alcohols and amines, which are valuable synthetic intermediates in the field of pharmaceutical and agrochemical industry. This digest paper highlights the recent notable advances in homogeneous transfer hydrogenation using transition metal complexes, especially in direction to establish practical greener processes by upgrading the catalyst performance or by expanding the scope of reducible functional groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co/Al 2 O 3 nanocatalyst is introduced as an efficient and recyclable catalyst for the aerobic oxidation of alcoholes in a water media at reflux condition. The catalyst was prepared by co-precipitation and characterized by XRD, BET surface area, atomic absorption spectroscopy, SEM, TEM and EDS analysis. [Display omitted] • Preparation and characterization of Co/Al 2 O 3 nanocatalyst. • Efficient procedure for the aerobic oxidation of alcoholes in the presence Co/Al 2 O 3 nanocatalyst. • Aqueous conditions. In this paper the catalytic performance of a Co/Al 2 O 3 nanocatalyst is investigated on aerobic oxidation of alcohols in a water media at reflux condition. The catalyst was synthesized via a co-precipitation method and characterized by XRD, BET surface area, atomic absorption spectroscopy, SEM, TEM and EDS analysis. The catalyst exhibited a high efficiency on the oxidation of various alcohols into their corresponding carbonyl compounds at relatively short reaction time. Also the results exhibit a consistant activity after several consecutive runs of reaction and regeneration that demonstrates the stability and recyclability of the Co/Al 2 O 3 nanocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rapid growth in biodiesel production has naturally led to a surplus of crude glycerol generated. Due to the impurities present in the crude glycerol, expensive refining processes are often necessary in order for the crude glycerol to be used in the same applications as pure glycerol. As a result, the demand for crude glycerol is quite low, and biodiesel producers must find ways to dispose it. Disposal can be costly, detrimental to the environment, and wasteful. Exploration of crude glycerol utilization is of significance for not only reducing the negative impact on the environment but also for increasing the economic benefits of biodiesel production. This paper reviewed a number of valuable and practical applications of crude glycerol in the sector of renewable energy generation through processes such as fermentation, digestion, gasification, pyrolysis, liquefaction, combustion, and steam reforming. Studies indicated that an integration of crude glycerol to other systems for energy production is a promising option despite the impurities in crude glycerol, and some processes even benefit from their presence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mandelates and their derivatives are widely used in organic synthesis, drug discovery, biodegradable polymers and other related fields. Therefore, the effective and simple synthesis of these compounds has attracted much attention. In this paper, a nickel(II)-catalyzed esterification of mandelic acids with different alcohols was realized for the synthesis of mandelic acid esters. This transformation was conducted under mild reaction conditions with yields up to 95%, and was successfully utilized in the gram-scale synthesis of medicine cyclandelate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oils, pure alcohols and alcohols mixtures have a complicated dielectric behavior. The strong electric field of the ions affects intensively the molecular interaction of solvents. Microwave heating resides in the characterization of dielectric properties. Classified as biodiesel precursors, advances in microwave technology of alcohols have a significant potential in improving the biodiesel production. In this context, this review provides basic knowledge on the dielectric properties theory and the heating phenomenon in the microwave fields. The main goal of the paper is to provide an organized summary of the main chemical and physical properties of alcohols and links them to their corresponding research studies dealing with dielectric properties measurements. The review covers the dielectric constant and loss factor variations observed with temperature and frequency, the relaxation time and the tangent loss of various mixtures found in the literature. Moreover, the review provides an updated database for organic solvents and alcohols to account for their abilities to couple in microwave radiation. The aim of the work is building a rigid bridge between chemico-physical and dielectric properties so it can make an essential step towards improving biofuels production. This review opens new perspectives for further investigation of dielectric properties that are interesting for microwave heating studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a detailed study on the sensitivity and selectivity of α-Fe 2 O 3 thin films produced by deposition of Fe and post-deposition annealed at two temperatures of 600 °C and 800 °C with flow of oxygen for application as a sensor for toxic gases including CO, H 2 S, NH 3 and NO 2 and alcohols such as C 3 H 7 OH, CH 3 OH, and C 2 H 5 OH. The crystallographic structure of the samples was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) method while an atomic force microscope (AFM) was employed for surface morphology investigation. The electrical response of the films was measured while they were exposed to various toxic gases and alcohols in the temperature range of 50–300 °C. The sample annealed at higher temperature showed higher response for different gases and alcohols tested in this work which can be due to the higher resistance of this sample. Results also indicated that the α-Fe 2 O 3 thin films show higher selectivity to NO 2 gas relative to the other gases and alcohols while the best sensitivity is obtained at 200 °C. The α-Fe 2 O 3 thin film post-deposition annealed at 800 °C also showed a good stability and reproducibility and a detection limit of 10 ppm for NO 2 gas at the operating temperature of 200 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In mineral flotation, frothers are used to produce fine bubbles, reduce bubble rise velocity, and stabilize the froth, three properties that enhance the flotation process. These properties depend on the frother structure and this paper is part of an investigation into the frother structure-property relationship. The property here is bubble rise velocity and the structural variation is alkyl chain length of two frother families, alcohols and polyglycols. Single bubble rise velocity profiles were determined in a 350 cm column. Velocity at 300 cm as a function of concentration is determined and as a measure of the impact of structure on reduction in bubble rise velocity the concentration at minimum velocity (CMV) is estimated. The effect of increasing alkyl chain length is to decrease CMV by about ca. 90% in alcohols and ca. 70% in polyglycols for every one carbon addition. Taking log CMV as a function of the number of carbons in the alkyl chain gives a series of self-similar linear plots. An argument relating bubble rise velocity to surfactant molecule packing on the bubble surface is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nature of alcohol and alcohol to oil molar ratio plays an important role on the method of biodiesel production. As a result, this paper examined different alcohols commonly used for the production of biodiesel fuel with more emphasis on methanol and ethanol. Further the different alcohol to oil molar ratios used for the production of biodiesel have been extensively discussed and reported. Also the effects of alcohol to molar ratios on biodiesel refining process and its physicochemical properties were investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an experimental study of the alcohols–gasoline and gasoline–alcohols dual-fuel spark ignition (DFSI) combustion for knock suppression and higher engine efficiency using a gasoline engine with high compression ratio. Alcohols–gasoline DFSI is organized using a port fuel injection (PFI) of high oxygenated, high latent heat of vaporization, and high octane alcohol fuel to suppress knock and a direct injection (DI) of high energy density and high volatility fuel to extend engine load, while gasoline–alcohols DFSI is organized by gasoline PFI and alcohol DI. Three different alcohols were studied, including methanol, ethanol, and hydro-ethanol. The engine was naturally aspirated and operated at stoichiometric condition. In each test, the percentage of alcohol injection was varied from 0 to 100%. The effects of these two combustion modes on knock-limit extension, fuel economy, and combustion characteristics were investigated. Both alcohols–gasoline DFSI and gasoline–alcohols DFSI are promising approaches of using alternative alcohol fuels in practical gasoline engines with significant improvement in engine efficiency and knock suppression. Gasoline–alcohols DFSI exhibits better anti-knock performance and achieves higher fuel efficiency than alcohols–gasoline DFSI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper describes the comparative performance, emissions, combustion characteristics and particulate size–number distribution of 10 and 20% methanol blends (M10 & M20) with gasoline in a medium duty spark ignition transportation engine, typically used in a mid-sized car vis-à-vis baseline gasoline. Brake thermal efficiency of methanol blends was higher than gasoline. Methanol–gasoline blends (gasohol) produced lower CO, NO and smoke emissions than gasoline. The combustion characteristics of gasohol blends were found to be almost identical to gasoline. Minor variations in cylinder pressure were observed for gasohol blends compared to gasoline. Heat release rate for gasoline begins to rise earlier than gasohol at the same engine load and also, peaks of heat release rate for gasohol were wider compared to gasoline. With increasing engine load, combustion duration decreased because at higher engine loads, combustion was relatively faster. Combustion duration of gasohol blends was higher than gasoline, suggesting slower heat release from gasohol. This study indicates that methanol and its blends can be a good replacement of gasoline for transportation engines without any hardware modification as well as any additional serious environmental impact. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper presents densities, ρ speeds of sound, u and viscosities η of the binary liquid mixtures containing diethylenetriamine with 1-hexanol, 1-octanol and 1-decanol at 293.15, 298.15, 303.15, 308.15 and 313.15K. From density and speed of sound data, excess molar volumes, V m E and deviations in isentropic compressibility, ∆κ S and speed of sound, ∆u have been evaluated. Viscosity data were used to compute deviations in viscosity and excess Gibbs energy of activation of viscous flow, ΔG ⁎ E at 298.15, 303.15 and 308.15K. A Redlich–Kister type equation was applied to fit the excess molar volumes and deviations in isentropic compressibility, speed of sound and viscosity data. The viscosity data have been correlated with the equations of Grunberg–Nissan, Tamura–Kurata, Heric–Brewer and of Hind et al. Furthermore, apparent molar volume, and partial molar volume, of amine in cosolvent alcohol in terms of mole fraction concentration unit have been calculated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Frothers are used in flotation to reduce bubble size and as a consequence increase gas holdup. For 1-alcohols, C 4 to C 7, and three commercial frothers, MIBC, DF250 and F150, it is shown that at equivalent Sauter mean bubble size gas holdup depends on frother type. The paper explains the gas holdup result by showing the effect of frother type on single bubble rise velocity profile, i.e., local velocity vs. distance (up to 350cm). For example, a 1.45mm bubble in 0.4mmol/L pentanol hardly slows relative to water only while in 0.4mmol/L hexanol it reaches minimum velocity. This corresponds to the higher gas holdup in 1-hexanol compared to 1-pentanol. To compare frothers we introduce velocity at 300cm vs. concentration and the concentration to reach minimum velocity, CMV. The CMV illustrates the strong frother effect: for example, CMV for the alcohols decreases by about one order of magnitude for every 1 C increase in chain length. The decrease in CMV with frother type correlates with the increase in gas holdup. It is shown that all frothers tested follow the same minimum velocity-size trend modeled reasonably by the relationship proposed by Karamanev for terminal velocity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, the osmotic and activity coefficients and vapor pressures of the binary mixtures containing the ionic liquids 1-ethyl-3-methylpyridinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, C2MpyNTf2, and 1-methyl-3-propylpyridinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, C3MpyNTf2, with 1-propanol, or 2-propanol and the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylpyridinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, C4MpyNTf2, with 1-propanol or 2-propanol or 1-butanol or 2-butanol were determined at T =323.15K using the vapor pressure osmometry technique. The influence of the structure of the alcohol and of the ionic liquid on both coefficients and vapor pressures is discussed and a comparison with literature data on binary mixtures containing ionic liquids with different cations and anion is also performed. Besides, the results have been interpreted in terms of solute–solvent and ion–ion interactions. The experimental osmotic coefficients were correlated using the Extended Pitzer model of Archer and the Modified Non-Random Two Liquids model obtaining standard deviations lower than 0.059 and 0.102 respectively, and the mean molal activity coefficients and the excess Gibbs free energy for the studied mixtures were calculated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper the steam reforming of bioalcohols over Ni and Pt catalysts supported on bare Al2O3 and La2O3 and CeO2-modified Al2O3 to produce H2 was studied. Catalytic activity results showed that the glycerine and the intermediate liquid products may hinder the ethanol adsorption on metal active sites of the catalysts, especially at temperatures below 773 K. In fact, ethanol conversion was lower than glycerine conversion in the steam reforming reaction at low temperatures. H2 chemisorption revealed that La2O3 doping of the Ni/Al2O3 catalyst improved the metal dispersion providing a better behaviour to the Ni/Al2O3-O2 catalyst towards H2 production. In the case of Pt catalysts, the good reducibility and the H2 spillover effect provided to the Pt/Al2O3-O1 catalyst the capacity to produce higher H2 yields. The comparison of Pt and Ni catalyst activities showed that the Pt catalysts produced lower H2 yields. This can be attributed to the lower Pt loading as compared to the metal content of the Ni based catalysts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper we present the design and fabrication of a fully flexible sensorial system, composed of three different sensor units implemented on an ultrathin polyimide substrate of 8μm thick. Each unit is composed by a capacitive chemical sensor integrated with readout electronics. The sensors are parallel plate capacitors with the top electrode properly patterned to allow analytes diffusion into the dielectric that acts as chemical interactive material. Three different polymers, poly(tetrafluoroethene) (PTFE), poly(methyl 2-methylpropenoate) (PMMA) and benzocyclobutene (BCB), were used as dielectrics. A ring oscillator circuit, implemented with polysilicon thin film transistors (PS-nTFT), was used to convert the capacitance variations into frequency shifts. The electronic tests show oscillating frequencies of about 211±2kHz and negligible frequency shifts under different bending radius conditions. Furthermore, system response to some alcohols concentrations (Methanol, ethanol, 1-butanol, and 1-propanol) is reported and data analysis proves that the system is able to discriminate methanol from ethanol. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The phase diagrams for binary systems of {1-propyl-1-methylpiperidinium bis{(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl}imide [PMPIP][NTf2]+an alcohol (butan-1-ol, pentan-1-ol hexan-1-ol, heptan-1-ol, octan-1-ol, decan-1-ol and undecan-1-ol} have been determined at atmospheric pressure using a dynamic method. The influence of an alcohol chain length is discussed for this ionic liquid (IL). A systematic decrease in the solubility is observed with an increase of the alkyl chain length of an alcohol. Liquid+liquid phase equilibrium (LLE) with an upper critical solution temperature was observed. The phase diagrams reported are compared to systems published earlier with the 1-alkyl-1-methylpiperidinium-based ionic liquid. The basic thermal properties of the pure IL, i.e. melting temperature and the enthalpy of fusion, the glass transition temperature and heat capacity at melting temperature have been measured using a differential scanning microcalorimetry technique. The density of [PMPIP][NTf2] as a function of temperature was measured. The results of the LLE correlation with two models viz. the lattice theory based on non-random hydrogen bonding (NRHB) and the Perturbed-Chain Polar Statistical Associating Fluid Theory (PCP-SAFT) are presented. Both models are capable of describing pure fluid properties of IL (densities and solubility parameters) by using one set of parameters and the LLE in binary systems. This is to our knowledge the first paper presenting the SAFT modelling of binary LLE in ionic liquid systems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, direct alcohol fuel cells’ thermodynamics parameters were calculated by means of analytical formulas using thermodynamic data. The effect of temperature on reversible efficiency, electromotive force and specific energy for fuel cells supplied with alcohols having from one to five carbons was studied in the range between 298.15 and 1300 K. All parameters were also compared with those of hydrogen fuel cell. It was found that reversible efficiency, electromotive force and specific energy are a function of the amount of carbon atoms in the fuel and a function of temperature. In addition, alcohol’s structure influences fuel cells’ parameters too. We have found that there is a competition between hydrogen, ethanol and methanol at standard conditions, while methanol, ethanol, propanol isomers, 2-methylpropan-1-ol and butan-2-ol, as classified, appear more indicated than hydrogen at more elevated temperature. Therefore, the approach presented here can be considered as sufficient enough for a primary choice of an alcohol that could be used in fuel cells in the future. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Acidic ionic liquid N-methyl-2-pyrrolidonium dihydrogen phosphate [NMP]H2PO4 was prepared and used as efficient catalyst and reaction medium to synthesize β-alkoxyketones by the oxa-Michael addition reactions for the first time. The effect of anions and cations, amount of ionic liquid on the reaction was investigated. Various alcohols and phenols proceeded smoothly and led to corresponding β-alkoxyketones with high yields under mild reaction conditions, O-selectivity addition of aminoethanols was also achieved in this paper. Compared with traditional imidazolium ionic liquids, [NMP]H2PO4 gave the better results. The ionic liquid was stable and could be reused at least five times with a slight loss of activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The hydrogen economy has been identified as an alternative to substitute the non-sustainable fossil fuel based economy. Ongoing research is underway to develop environmentally friendly and economical hydrogen production technologies that are essential for the hydrogen economy. One of the promising ways to produce hydrogen is to use aluminum or its alloys to reduce water or hydrocarbons to hydrogen. This paper gives an overview on these aluminum-based hydrogen production methods, their limitations and challenges for commercialization. Also, a newly developed concept for cogeneration of hydrogen and electrical energy is discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, we study the antifreeze activities of aqueous solutions of carbohydrates by Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) technique. The observed antifreeze activity of carbohydrates is correlated to the chemical structures of the carbohydrates. Based on the DSC results, we develop a simple molecular model aimed at explaining the antifreeze activity of carbohydrates. Our molecular model demonstrates that carbohydrates with unique chemical structures that possessing a certain spatial O–O distance of 4.2–4.5Å between the hydroxyl groups are essential for antifreeze activity. Additionally the structure–antifreeze activity relationship of the carbohydrates may be easily explained within the limits of the concept of their complementarity to the surface of the hexagonal ice. Overall our results provide new physical insights on the role of the complementary pattern of carbohydrates to ice surfaces and their antifreeze activity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Wastewater treatment is considered to be a part of mineralization processes of man-caused substance. The mineralization of substance, in turn, is an inclusion of vital functions products, waste and metabolites into the continual natural cycles of substance and energy exchange. Study of water-soluble organic substances adsorption in order to find effective and cheap adsorbents both natural and artificially created is an important problem of the XXI century. Due to the increasing use and global scale of production of surfactant detergents being pollutants of water bodies, grounds and soils, adsorption of both micelle forming surfactant detergents (anionic sodium dodecylsulfate SDS, cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide CTAB and non-ionic Triton X-100) and non-micelle forming surfactants—aliphatic alcohols (n-butanol, n-pentanol and n-hexanol) on aluminum oxide (of analytical grade) and natural mineral shungite was studied in this paper. Isotherms of adsorption were found according to the data of surface tension obtained. The Gibbs–Langmuir adsorption model constant values were determined for surfactants at both the air/water interface and at the water/adsorbent interface studied. Critical micellization concentrations of the solutions of surfactants also were determined by the tensiometric and the conductometric methods. The most effective hydrophilic and hydrophobic adsorbents are revealed for alcohols and micelle forming surfactants. The given results on surfactant adsorption, in particular, on aluminum oxide, are interpreted on the basis for Nechaev''s conceptions (1989) about the connection of adsorption ability of organic molecules with resonance potential of adsorbents. For thermodynamic estimation of adsorbents efficiency the standard Gibbs free energy change of adsorption and the standard Gibbs free energy change of micellization were calculated. Comparison of the Gibbs free energies values for micelle forming surfactants shows that wastewater treatment from cationic CTAB is effective using both powders of shungite and aluminum oxide. Another case is wastewater treatment from SDS and Triton X-100 for which aluminum oxide is non-effective while shungite is still efficient. Data obtained are considered to be a component part of colloido-chemical base of purification of sewage polluted with surfactants. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The quaternary ammonium reagent m-(trifluoromethyl)phenyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (TMTFTH) has gained widespread use for the derivatisation for GCMS analysis of organic materials found in artists’ materials, such as oils, plant resins and waxes. This paper discusses products formed from reactions of TMTFTH with alcohols – including fatty alcohols, hydroxyacids, terpenes and glycerol – that have diagnostic value in the analysis of samples from artworks. In addition to methyl ethers, (trifluoromethyl)phenyl ethers were formed to variable degrees from the different types of alcohol. The products were identified from their EI mass spectra. An understanding of these multiple reaction products is important for the interpretation of GCMS data from complex samples, especially in the case of polyfunctional alcohols such as glycerol, which forms a number of methyl, (trifluoromethyl)phenyl and mixed ethers. The significance of the reaction products, and the relative advantages of TMTFTH as compared to alternative ammonium and sulfonium methylating reagents, are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Ruthenium(IV) oxide (RuO2) nanoparticles supported by herringbone carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were synthesized by a homogenous-oxidation-precipitation (HOP) method with H2O2. The morphology and composition of the resulting composite were characterized by TEM, XPS, XRD, TG and TPR. CNTs exhibited the better ability to induce the formation of highly dispersed nanoparticles, compared with common used supports, such as γ-Al2O3 and activated carbon. Amorphous hydrous RuO2 nanoparticles uniformly dispersed on the surface of CNTs. The average size of RuO2 was significantly reduced to 1.35nm. This result leads to the high activity and excellent selectivity, which has been demonstrated in the aerobic oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes or ketones. The new preparation technique of CNT-supported oxide nanoparticles reported in this paper has great potential for various catalytic applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Lower aliphatic carbonyl compounds, esters and alcohols were found in open atmosphere, as well as in volatiles of microorganisms, living plants and leaf litter. Quantitative determination of their emissions into the gas phase with the aid of solid phase microextraction (SPME) requires the knowledge of their distribution coefficients K fg between fiber coating and gas phase. This paper reports the results of experimental determination of K fg values for 17 volatiles belonging to the above-mentioned classes of organic compounds. Mixed Carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane stationary phase, which proved to be effective during SPME determination of more volatile pollutants, was chosen as the fiber coating. Values K fg were determined at temperature range 15–30°C, which permitted the dependence between log K fg and T −1 to be determined. Distribution coefficients for 23 other compounds from the same homologue series were calculated using two-parameter empirical equation, where physico-chemical parameters of compounds (boiling temperature, linear temperature programmed retention index) served as descriptors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In heterogeneous catalytic processes, the relationship between bubble size and various process parameters is important in determining interfacial area, hence mass transfer rate. This paper presents the results of an experimental study of bubble sizes in air–alcohol dispersions with and without the presence of catalyst particles in a batch stirred reactor at different agitation speeds and mean specific energy dissipation rates. Factors investigated include catalyst type, particle size and concentration. It has been found that: [•] Since there are large differences in the viscosity of the various alcohols used, by dividing them into two groups based on the flow type (turbulent or transitional), a consistent correlation has been found for mean bubble size as a function of Weber number, We, for each region, though neither correlation agrees with the precise relationship suggested by Kolmogoroff''s theory of locally, homogeneous, isotropic turbulence. [•] At the same We number, the size is bigger in transitional flow than in turbulent. The functionality of the correlation of versus We is similar whether particles are present or not. [•] In fully developed turbulent flow, the bubble size is slightly reduced when catalyst particles are present, independent of catalyst size or type. [•] In transitional flow, the effect of catalyst particles on bubble size is much stronger, the size being reduced by approximately 30%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, the synthesis of bi- and trisubstituted indazoles was described. 4-Alkoxy-7-aminoprotected-indazole or 7-aminoprotected-indazole derivatives were prepared selectively using SnCl2 in alcohol or SnCl2 in ethyl acetate, respectively. The effects of the halogen atom in position 3 and of the N-alkylation in N-1 position of 7-nitroindazoles were investigated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper reports the results of experimental determination of distribution coefficients K fa for five terpene hydrocarbons and five aliphatic ketones between air and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coating for solid-phase microextraction. To estimate the values of K fa for compounds of the same classes, which did not undergo experiments, it is proposed to use an empirical two-parameter equation in which various physico-chemical and structural characteristics weakly correlated with each other are used as descriptors. It is also shown that for these purposes it is possible to use distribution coefficients of compounds in any other two-phase heterogeneous system, e.g. octanol–water or hexane–acetonitrile. This approach was applied to estimate K fa values of 92 volatile organic compounds. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper the degradation of gaseous alcohols (methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol and 1-butanol) has been studied in a continuous reaction system. Methanol and ethanol, but not 1-propanol and 1-butanol, have caused the catalyst bare-TiO2 to become deactivated. The catalyst containing activated carbon, AC-TiO2, has not shown almost deactivation in any experiment.To explain this behaviour variation, a thorough FTIR study concerning the interaction of gaseous alcohols with the catalyst surface and the effect of light on the process was performed. Thus, the interaction of the different catalysts with the selected alcohols, the formed species and the hydroxyl group evolution under irradiation was studied. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Following a previous publication, the present paper reports additional results on the effects of alcohol mobile-phase modifiers on the structure and chiral selectivity of amylose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) (Chiralpak AD) chiral stationary phase (CSP). Solid-state NMR (1H/13C CPMAS) was utilized to identify and compare structural differences in Chiralpak AD caused by the various alcohol mobile-phase modifiers, many of which were not studied in the previous publication. The influences of the various alcohol modifiers (in hexane-based mobile phase) on the structure and chiral selectivity of the CSP were studied and compared. CPMAS spectra of Chiralpak AD flushed with the mobile phases displayed clear evidence of solvent incorporation into the CSP. When alcohol modifiers with varying size and bulkiness were used in the mobile phase, differences in structure and chiral selectivity were observed on Chiralpak AD based on solid-state NMR and chromatographic data. The change of t-butanol concentration in the t-butanol/hexane mobile phase caused changes of structure and chiral selectivity of the Chiralpak AD. These data further support our belief that the different chiral selectivities of the CSP associated with the use of different alcohol modifiers are due to different alterations of the steric environment of the chiral cavities in the CSP by the different mobile-phase modifiers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper, a new sensing device based on a FET structure having a PoSi layer as sensing material, namely adsorption porous silicon-based FET (APSFET), is proposed. The sensing mechanism is based on an gas-induced conduction channel in the crystalline silicon under the sensing layer, a new approach with respect to previously reported PoSi sensors. The fabrication process is based on a standard silicon process. In this work, the fabrication process along with an electrical characterization of the device in presence of different organic vapors (alcohols and acids) is presented and discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper presents the impact of alkyl ethers and alcohols on the lubricity of automotive diesel. Seven ethers and five alcohols were used as lubricating additives on two low sulfur diesel fuels, at the concentration range of 50–2000 ppm. Tribological experiments carried out on the high frequency reciprocating rig showed that six of seven ethers used provide satisfactory mean wear scar diameter (WS 1.4) of less than 0.46 mm, at the concentration levels of 750–1500 ppm. Among the ethers of the same molecular type, those having the oxygen in the middle of the molecule appeared to have marginally better lubrication performance for some concentration ranges. In the case of alcohols, the effective concentration was 750 ppm or higher. Overall, alcohols appear to be better lubricants than ethers at high concentrations, maybe due to their more pronounced polar nature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper deals with the two-stage sorption of methanol, 1-propanol and 1-hexanol in a rubbery semicrystalline polyesteramide. This is the first time two-stage sorption is reported for a semicrystalline rubbery polymer. Mass uptake, specimen geometry and surface concentration were measured independently. The two-stage sorption curve describes two overlapping processes; a very rapid diffusion (mode 1) superimposed onto a normal s-shaped sorption curve (mode 2). Mode 1 swelling was uni-dimensional and mode 2 swelling was initially uni-dimensional and later three-dimensional. It was possible to model the sorption curves by assuming time-dependent solute-surface-concentration conditions, similar to those used to describe simple s-shaped sorption. The obtained time dependence, characterised by a single relaxation time, agreed with experimental values of the surface concentration obtained by infrared spectroscopy. The relaxation time increased exponentially with increasing size of the diffusing alcohol molecule. The solubility of the alcohols in the polymer increased with increasing hydroxyl-group density. The diffusivity of alcohol decreased nonlinearly with increasing length of the molecule, size effects being less important for larger solutes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The benefits of SOFCs are likely to be optimally realised using fuels other than pure hydrogen, which is best employed in PEMFCs. This paper examines a number of plausible fuels including pure alkanes such as methane and iso-octane. Other compounds such as ammonia, methanol and methanoic acid have been shown to react very cleanly when injected directly into the SOFC. More complex fuels, e.g. ethanol and ethanoic acid tend to produce carbon deposits unless the inlet stream is much diluted, e.g. with argon or carbon dioxide. More complex real fuels such as natural gas, landfill gas and gasoline are also mentioned. The experiments involved mixing the fuel with a carrier gas and passing the composition down a zirconia fuel cell tube to examine electrochemical output, while analysing the reaction products using mass spectroscopy. Any carbon deposited was measured by temperature programmed oxidation at the end of the experiment. Windows of operation were found for many of the fuels examined. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Advances and developments of the direct hydroxymethylation of unsaturated hydrocarbons using CO 2 as the carbonylation source. • New catalytic systems and reducing agents for one-pot hydroxymethylation of unsaturated C C bonds with CO 2. • The issues of the synthesis of hydroxymethyl-alcohols. • Insightful mechanistic discussions. The objective of this review is to summarize recent progress and advances in the synthesis of hydroxymethyl-alcohols through the direct hydroxymethylation of unsaturated hydrocarbons using CO 2 as the carbonyl source with insightful mechanistic discussions. Depending on the unsaturated substrates employed the paper is divided into three sections. The first section focuses exclusively on hydroxymethylation of alkenes. The second covers hydroxymethylation of allenes. The third section gives a brief overview of the hydroxymethylation of alkynes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Novel sea cucumber-like nanostrucrures have been synthesized by one-step method. • Sea cucumber-like nanostrucrures exhibit high response to straight-chain alcohols. • Carbon atom number and viscosity of target gases affect the sensing performance. Novel sea cucumber-like indium tungsten oxide is synthesized by a one-step solvothermal method without surfactant. Interestingly, sensors based on this kind of indium tungsten oxide achieve the detection of some target gases with certain characteristics, which has been rarely reported until now. In this paper, response of the sensor to 200 ppm of methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, n-butanol, n-pentanol and n-hexanol is 11.4, 20.5, 22.3, 23.7, 23.2 and 17.1, respectively, which is significantly higher than to other gases, indicating that the cucumber-like indium tungsten oxide is especially sensitive to straight-chain alcohols with -OH function group at the end of the chain. In addition, the response time is 2 s, 2 s, 2 s, 2 s, 2 s and 17 s, respectively, which facilitates rapid detection in real application. The sea cucumber-like nanostructures can be only formed under the condition that molar ratio of In(NO 3) 3 ·4.5H 2 O to Na 2 WO 4 ·2H 2 O is 2:1 and volume ratio of alcohol to deionized water is 3:2. The sea cucumber-like nanostructures possess nanothorns vertically distributed on the surface of the main nanoellipsoid. The long axis of the nanoellipsoid is about 800 nm, and the short axis is about 270 nm. This is a kind of non-stoichiometric ratio compound consisting of indium, tungsten and oxide elements speculated by XRD, XPS and EDX characterizations. The field emission scanning electron microscopy characterization reveals the growth process and the morphology evolution of the material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]