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At least 559 records · Page 31

Iron oxidation kinetics for H-2 and CO production via chemical looping

Solar driven production of fuels by means of an intermediate reactive metal for species splitting has provided a practical and potentially efficient pathway for disassociating molecules at significantly lower thermal energies. The fuels of interest are of or derive from the separation of oxygen from H2O and CO2 to form hydrogen and carbon monoxide, respectively. The following study focuses on iron oxidation through water and CO2 splitting to explore the fundamental reaction kinetics and kinetic rates that are relevant to these processes. In order to properly characterize the reactive metal potential and to optimize a scaled-up solar reactor system, a monolith-based laboratory reactor was implemented to investigate reaction temperatures over a range from 990 to 1400 K. The presence of a single, solid monolith as a reacting surface allowed for a limitation in mass transport effects in order to monitor kinetically driven reaction steps. The formation of oxide layers on the iron monoliths followed Cabrera-Mott models for oxidation of metals with kinetic rates being measured using real-time mass spectrometry to calculate kinetic constants and estimate oxide layer thicknesses. Activation energies of 47.3 kJ/mol and 32.8 kJ/mol were found for water-splitting and CO2 splitting, respectively, and the conclusions of the independent oxidation reactions where applied to experimental results for syngas (H-2-CO) production to explore ideal process characteristics. Copyright (C) 2014, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Stehle, RC↗

Pilot production & commercialization of LAPPD ™

We present a progress update on plans to establish pilot production and commercialization of Large Area (400 cm2) Picosecond Photodetector (LAPPD™). Steps being taken to commercialize this MCP and LAPPD™ technology and begin tile pilot production are presented including (1) the manufacture of 203 mm×203 mm borosilicate glass capillary arrays (GCAs), (2) optimization of MCP performance and creation of an ALD coating facility to manufacture MCPs and (3) design, construction and commissioning of UHV tile integration and sealing facility to produce LAPPDs. Taken together these plans provide a “pathway toward commercialization”.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Λ c + production in Pb–Pb collisions at s NN = 5.02 TeV

A measurement of the production of prompt $\Lambda^+_c$ baryons in Pb–Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 5.02$ TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC is reported. The $\Lambda^+_c$ and $\Lambda^-_c$ were reconstructed at midrapidity ($\mid{y}\mid < 0.5$) via the hadronic decay channel $\Lambda^+_c$ $\rightarrow {pK^0_s}$ (and charge conjugate) in the transverse momentum and centrality intervals GeV/c and 0–80%. The ratio, which is sensitive to the charm quark hadronisation mechanisms in the medium, is measured and found to be larger than the ratio measured in minimum-bias pp collisions at TeV and in p–Pb collisions at TeV. In particular, the values in p–Pb and Pb–Pb collisions differ by about two standard deviations of the combined statistical and systematic uncertainties in the common interval covered by the measurements in the two collision systems. The ratio is also compared with model calculations including different implementations of charm quark hadronisation. The measured ratio is reproduced by models implementing a pure coalescence scenario, while adding a fragmentation contribution leads to an underestimation. The nuclear modification factor, , is also presented. The measured values of the of , and non-strange D mesons are compatible within the combined statistical and systematic uncertainties. They show, however, a hint of a hierarchy , conceivable with a contribution from coalescence mechanisms to charm hadron formation in the medium.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Waste form evaluation for RECl 3 and REO x fission products separated from used electrochemical salt

The work presented here is based off the concept that the rare earth chloride (RECl3) fission products mixture within the used electrorefiner (ER) salt can be selectively removed as RECl3 (not yet demonstrated) or precipitated out as REOCl through oxygen sparging (has been demonstrated). This paper presents data showing the feasibility of immobilizing a mixture of RECl3’s at 10 mass% into a TeO2-PbO glass and it shows that this same mixture of RECl3’s can be oxidized to REOCl at 300°C and then to REOx by 1200°C. When the REOx mixture is heated at temperatures >1200°C, the ratios of REOx’s change. The mixture of REOx was then immobilized in a LABS glass at a high loading of 60 mass%. Both the TeO2-PbO glass and LABS glass systems show good chemical durability. The advantages and disadvantages of tellurite and LABS glasses are compared.

Riley, Brian J. (ORCID:0000000277456730)↗

Stable-carbon isotope ratios for sourcing the nerve-agent precursor methylphosphonic dichloride and its products

The ability to connect a chemical threat agent to a specific batch of a synthetic precursor can provide a fingerprint to contribute to effective forensic investigations. Stable isotope analysis can leverage intrinsic, natural isotopic variability within the molecules of a threat agent to unlock embedded chemical fingerprints in the material. Methylphosphonic dichloride (DC) is a chemical precursor to the nerve agent sarin. It is converted to methylphosphonic difluoride (DF) as part of the sarin synthesis process. We used a suite of commercially available DC stocks to both evaluate the potential for δ13C analysis to be used as a fingerprinting tool in sarin-related investigations and to develop sample preparation techniques (using chemical hydrolysis) that can simplify isotopic analysis of DC and its synthetic products. We demonstrate that natural isotopic variability in DC results in at least three distinct, isotope-resolved clusters within the thirteen stocks we analyzed. Isotopic variability in the carbon feedstock (i.e., methanol) used for DC synthesis is likely inherited by the DC samples we measured. We demonstrate that the hydrolysis of DC and DF to methylphosphonic acid (MPA) can be used as a preparative step for isotopic analysis because the reaction does not impart a measureable isotopic fractionation. MPA is more chemically stable, less toxic, and easier to handle than DC or DF. Further, the hydrolysis method we demonstrated can be applied to a suite of other precursors or to sarin itself, thereby providing a potentially valuable forensic tool.

Moran, James J.↗

H Atom Production and Reaction in the Gamma Radiolysis of Thermally Modified Boehmite

The correlation between the formation of H atoms and H2 was observed in the radiolysis of thermally modified boehmite (?-AlOOH). Boehmite was pretreated by heating to 300, 400, and 550°C, loaded with adsorbed water, and irradiated with gamma rays. Long-lived H atoms trapped in the interstitial matrix was observed by electron paramagnetic resonance techniques and the amount of gaseous H2 by gas chromatography. Heating the boehmite to 400°C before radiolysis results in the collapse of the matrix with loss of trapped H atoms and a substantial increase in the production of H2. Samples without added water post-heating showed no production of H2 suggesting that it is formed by the diffusion of H atoms to the surface followed by an abstraction reaction with water. Boehmite heated to 550°C has completely converted to alumina and the radiolytic responses of each are similar. Post-irradiation heating of boehmite to 300°C results in a doubling of the H2 yield at pretreated temperatures below 300°C due to the release of trapped H atoms.

La Verne, Jay A.↗

Brønsted Acid Scaling Relationships Enable Control over Product Selectivity from O2 Reduction with a Mononuclear Cobalt Porphyrin Catalyst

The selective reduction of O2, typically with the goal of forming H2O, represents a long-standing challenge in the field of catalysis. Macrocyclic transition-metal complexes, and cobalt porphyrins in particular, have been the focus of extensive study as catalysts for this reaction. Here, we show that the mononuclear Co-tetraarylporphyrin complex, Co(porOMe) (porOMe = meso-tetra(4-methoxyphenyl)porphyrin), catalyzes either 2e-/2H+ or 4e-/4H+ reduction of O2 with high selectivity simply by changing the identity of the Bronsted acid in dimethylformamide (DMF). The thermodynamic potentials for O2 reduction to H2O2 or H2O in DMF are determined and exhibit a Nernstian dependence on the acid pKa, while the CoIII/II redox potential is independent of the acid pKa. The reaction product, H2O or H2O2, is defined by the relationship between the thermodynamic potential for O2 reduction to H2O2 and the CoIII/II redox potential: selective H2O2 formation is observed when the CoIII/II potential is below the O2/H2O2 potential, while H2O formation is observed when the CoIII/II potential is above the O2/H2O2 potential. Mechanistic studies reveal that the reactions generating H2O2 and H2O exhibit different rate laws and catalyst resting states, and these differences are manifested as different slopes in a linear free energy correlation between the log(rate) vs. effective overpotential for the reactions. This work shows how the manipulation of thermodynamic scaling relationships may be used to control product selectivity, and it provides a mechanistic basis for the pursuit of molecular catalysts that achieve low overpotential reduction of O2 to H2O.

Wang, Yu-Heng↗