Disodium Phthalate Research Articles

Molecular Engineering Enabling High Initial Coulombic Efficiency and Rubost Solid Electrolyte Interphase for Hard Carbon in Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Hard carbon (HC) as a potential candidate anode for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) suffers from unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and low initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE), which limits its commercial applications and urgently requires the emergence of a new strategy. Herein, an organic molecule with two sodium ions, disodium phthalate (DP), was successfully engineered on the HC surface (DP-HC) to replenish the sodium loss from solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation. A stabilized and ultrathin (≈7.4 nm) SEI was constructed on the DP-HC surface, which proved to be simultaneously suitable in both ester and ether electrolytes. Compared to pure HC (60.8 %), the as-designed DP-HC exhibited a high ICE of >96.3 % in NaPF6 in diglyme (G2) electrolyte, and is capable of servicing consistently for >1600 cycles at 0.5 A g-1 . The Na3 V2 (PO4 )3 (NVP)|DP-HC full-cell with a 98.3 % exceptional ICE can be cycled stably for 450 cycles, demonstrating the tremendous practical application potential of DP-HC. This work provides a molecular design strategy to improve the ICE of HC, which will inspire more researchers to concentrate on the commercialization progress of HC.

Molecular Engineering Enabling High Initial Coulombic Efficiency and Rubost Solid Electrolyte Interphase for Hard Carbon in Sodium‐Ion Batteries

AbstractHard carbon (HC) as a potential candidate anode for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) suffers from unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and low initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE), which limits its commercial applications and urgently requires the emergence of a new strategy. Herein, an organic molecule with two sodium ions, disodium phthalate (DP), was successfully engineered on the HC surface (DP‐HC) to replenish the sodium loss from solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation. A stabilized and ultrathin (≈7.4 nm) SEI was constructed on the DP‐HC surface, which proved to be simultaneously suitable in both ester and ether electrolytes. Compared to pure HC (60.8 %), the as‐designed DP‐HC exhibited a high ICE of >96.3 % in NaPF6 in diglyme (G2) electrolyte, and is capable of servicing consistently for >1600 cycles at 0.5 A g−1. The Na3V2(PO4)3 (NVP)|DP‐HC full‐cell with a 98.3 % exceptional ICE can be cycled stably for 450 cycles, demonstrating the tremendous practical application potential of DP‐HC. This work provides a molecular design strategy to improve the ICE of HC, which will inspire more researchers to concentrate on the commercialization progress of HC.

Responsive wormlike micelle with pH-induced transition of hydrotrope based on dynamic covalent bond

Dynamic covalent bonds are widely used to construct nanosystems or self-healing materials with stimulus response. Here we developed a responsive wormlike micelles system based on pH-directed hydrophilic of hydrotrope, which was formed by mixing the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), 4-formylbenzoic acid (FA) and hexylamine (HA) at the molar ratio of 60:25:25 (CTAB/FA/HA). The rheological measurement, appearance observation, Cryo-TEM and 1H NMR were used to explore the characteristics of solution. With the pH increase from 6.01 to 12.07, the CTAB/FA/HA solution underwent transitions from a water-like fluid to viscoelastic fluid and finally converted to a gel-like solution, and the viscosity continuously increased from ~1.1 mPa·s to ~68,000 mPa·s. The drastic variation in rheological behaviour was attributed to the pH dependent combination of FA− and HA, which reduced the hydrophilicity of FA− and made hydrotrope transfer from the aqueous phase to the interior of the micelle. In contrast, the CTAB/p-phthalic acid/HA solution cannot achieve transition of hydrotrope due to the consistent hydrophilicity of disodium phthalate (p-DPA2−) and the viscoelasticity without any change by increasing pH. Besides, the viscoelasticity of CTAB/FA/HA solutions can be reversed over 3 cycles by adjusting the pH.

A guide to high-efficiency chromium (III)-collagen cross-linking: Synchrotron SAXS and DSC study

The inefficiency of the chromium (III)-collagen cross-linking reaction during conventional leather processing results in severe environmental pollution from the waste chromium in the effluent. A mechanistic study using synchrotron-based small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) on ThruBlu tanned leather, revealed the effect of chromium sulphate and its pre-treatments on collagen structure and stability. By pre-treating with complexing agents such as sodium formate and disodium phthalate, as well as nanoclay (sodium montmorillonite), the uniformity through bovine hide collagen matrix were improved significantly. These pre-treatments effectively reduce the reactivity of chromium during its cross-linking reaction with collagen while retaining its bound water. However, collagen pre-treated with a covalent cross-linker (glutaraldehyde) results in a decrease in both chromium-collagen cross-linking and bound water while improving uniformity. These molecular-level insights can be developed into metrics to guide us towards a more sustainable future for the leather industry.

Negative effects of dissolved organic compounds on settling performance of goethite in Bayer red mud

Goethite, a typical iron-containing monomineral in red mud, was synthesized under the simulated Bayer digestion condition during the alumina production. The effects of dissolved organic compounds including sodium formate, sodium acetate, sodium oxalate, sodium salicylate and disodium phthalate on the settling performance of goethite slurries were studied. The settling performance of the slurries was also investigated with the addition of self-made hydroxamated polyacrylamide flocculant (HCPAM). The adsorption mechanism of dissolved organic compounds on the goethite surfaces was studied by FT-IR and XPS, respectively. The results show that the addition of organic compounds lowers the settling performance of the slurries and a deterioration in settling performance is observed in the order of sodium oxalate > sodium salicylate (∼ disodium phthalate) > sodium formate > sodium acetate. Moreover, HCPAM can efficiently eliminate the negative effects of sodium formate, sodium acetate and sodium oxalate on the settling performance of the goethite slurries, but it can only partially improve the settling performance of the goethite slurries containing sodium salicylate or disodium phthalate. FT-IR and XPS results show that these organic compounds are chemically adsorbed on the goethite surface.

Negative effect of dissolved organic compounds on settling behavior of synthetic monominerals in red mud

Hydration grossular and hematite monominerals were synthesized. The effects of dissolved organic compounds (including sodium formate, sodium acetate, sodium oxalate, sodium salicylate or disodium phthalate) on the settling performance of hydration grossular or hematite slurries were studied. The settling of the slurries was also investigated with the addition of sodium polyacrylate (PAAS) or hydroxamated polyacrylamide flocculant (HCPAM). The adsorption mechanism of organic compounds on monominerals surfaces was studied by FT-IR and XPS, respectively. A deterioration in settling is observed in order of disodium phthalate>sodium salicylate>sodium oxalate>sodium formate (or sodium acetate). Moreover, PAAS can efficiently eliminate the negative effects of organic compounds on the settling performance of the hydration grossular slurry. HCPAM can efficiently eliminate the negative effects of sodium formate, sodium acetate and sodium oxalate on the settling performance of the hematite slurry, but it only partially improves the settling performance of hematite slurry containing sodium salicylate or disodium phthalate. FT-IR and XPS results show that organic compounds are physically adsorbed on hydration grossular surface, and chemisorptions of organic compounds occur on hematite surface with a bidentate chelating complex.

Accelerating effect of salicylate and phthalate anions on silica particle formation

To study the effects of organic compounds on the formation of silica, the polymerization of silicic acid in sodium silicate solutions in the presence and absence of sodium salicylate and disodium phthalate was investigated. The monosilicic acid concentration showed minor differences among the three different solutions. However, the concentration of polysilicic acid particles larger than 0.45 μm varied significantly among the three solutions, suggesting that the two organic compounds accelerate the growth of polysilicic acid. In particular, the concentration of polysilicic acid particles larger than 0.45 μm increased sharply in accordance with phthalate concentration, which is further evidence that phthalate accelerates the growth of silica. SEM images and size distribution measurements revealed that phthalate accelerates the aggregate of small silica particles to form larger silica pieces. FT-IR spectra of the silica formed during the polymerization of silicic acid showed the presence/or adsorption of salicylate and phthalate in the silica particles/or on the silica surfaces. The bidentate adsorption of salicylate or phthalate to two different polysilicic acid particles may accelerate the P–P reaction to aggregate the individual silica particles and rapidly form large size of silica.

Interactions of tetrakis(4-N-methylpyridyl)porphyrin with cyclodextrins and disodium phthalate in aqueous solution

In pH 7.3 buffers, the interactions of a cationic porphyrin, tetrakis(4-N-methylpyridyl)porphyrin (TMPyP), with cyclodextrins (CDs) and disodium phthalate (DSP) have been examined by means of absorption, fluorescence, and induced circular dichroism spectroscopy. α-CD, β-CD, and γ-CD form a 1:1 inclusion complex with a TMPyP monomer, which dimerizes in solution without CD. TMPyP also forms a 1:1 organic cation–organic anion complex with DSP. The 1:1 TMPyP–DSP complex forms a ternary CD–TMPyP–DSP inclusion complex with α-, β-, and γ-CD, in which a DSP molecule is not incorporated into the CD cavity. From the fluorescence intensity change, the␣equilibrium constants have been evaluated for the formation of the inclusion complexes and the organic cation–anion complexes.

An efficient way to improve the mechanical properties of polypropylene/short glass fiber composites

AbstractEnhancement of tensile strength, impact strength, and flexural strength of polypropylene/short glass fiber composites by treating the glass fibers with coupling agent, mixing with maleated polypropylene (MPP) for compatibilization and adhesion, and with nucleating agent for improvement of polypropylene crystallization was studied. The results showed that both the silane coupling agent and MPP enhance tensile strength, impact strength, and flexural strength. In the absence of MPP, the effect of silane coupling agent on the mechanical properties of the composites decreases in the following order: alkyl trimethoxy silane (WD‐10) > γ‐methacryloxypropyl trimethoxysilane (WD‐70) > N‐(β‐aminoethyl)‐γ‐aminopropyl trimethoxysilane (WD‐52), whereas in the presence of MPP, the order changes as follows: WD‐70 > WD‐10 > WD‐52. When the glass fibers were treated with WD‐52, 4,4‐diamino‐diphenylmethane bismaleimide (BMI) can further enhance the mechanical properties of the composite. The three kinds of strengths increase with MPP amount to maximum values at 5% MPP. As a nucleating agent, adipic acid is better than disodium phthalate in improving the mechanical properties, except for the notched impact strength. Wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction showed that the adipic acid is an α‐type nucleating agent, whereas disodium phthalate is a β‐type nucleating agent. Blending with styrene–butadiene rubber can somewhat improve the notched impact strength of the composites, but severely lowers the tensile strength and bending strength. Scanning electron micrographs of the broken surface of the composite showed greater interfacial adhesion between the glass fibers and polypropylene in the modified composite than that without modification. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 1414–1420, 2005

Effects of Organic Salts on the Rate of Alkaline Hydrolysis of Phthalimide in the Presence Ofcationic Micelles

Pseudo-first order rate constants (kobs) for alkaline hydrolysis of phthalimide (PTH), obtained at constant concentration of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTABr) and 35°C, vary with the concentration of organic salts ([MX]) according to the relationship: kobs = (k0 + θ K [MX])/(1 + K [MX]) where θ and K are empirical parameters. The values of K at 0.01 M CTABr are nearly 2 times larger than the corresponding K values at 0.02 M CTABr for sodium benzoate, disodium phthalate and disodium isophthalate.

Effects of inert organic and inorganic anions on the rates of intramolecular general base-catalyzed reactions of ionized phenyl salicylate (PS?) with piperidine in the presence of cationic micelles

Pseudo-first-order rate constants (k(obs)) for piperidinolysis of PS- follow the relationship k(obs) - k(0)= k(n)(obs) Pip(T) (Pip(T) = total concentration of Pip) at a constant CTABr(T) (total concentration of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide), MX (inert salt concentration) and 35 degreesC. The values of k(n)(obs) at different CTABrT (ranging from 0.005 to 0.02 M) and MX follow the relationship k(n)(obs) = (k(w)(n) + k(w)(n) Psi MX + KnsM K-N K-S(0)CTABr(T))/( 1 + Psi MX + K-S(0) CTABr(T)), where k(w)(n) = k(n)(obs) at CTABr(T) = MX = 0, Psi is an empirical parameter and K-S(0) is the CTABr micellar binding constant of PS- in the absence of MX. The magnitude of Psi is attributed to the ability of X- to expel PS- from micellar pseudophase to the aqueous pseudophase. The values of Psi vary in the order Psi (sodium cinnamate) >Psi (sodium 4-methoxybenzoate) >Psi (sodium 2-chlorobenzoate) >Psi (disodium isophthalate) >Psi (disodium phthalate) >Psi (sodium sulfate) >Psi (disodium fumarate). The values of k(M)(ns) K-N (k(M)(ns) = k(M)(n)/V-M, where k(M)(n) is the second-order rate constant for the reaction of Pip with PS- in the micellar pseudophase and V-M is the micellar molar volume in M-1 and K-N represents CTABr micellar binding constant of Pip) are not significantly affected by the presence of MX into the reaction mixtures.

A simple method for detection of enzyme activities involved in the initial step of phthalate degradation in microorganisms

We have developed a simple method for the detection of phthalate 4,5-dioxygenase and 4,5-dihydro-4,5-dihydroxyphthalate dehydrogenase activities in the initial step of phthalate degradation in bacteria. It was found that cells of a Pseudomonas putida strain adapted for phthalate could convert quinolinic acid to a hydroxylated product having λ max at 315 nm. The occurrence of this compound was visualized by reaction with diazotized p-nitroaniline with which a red compound having λ max at 512 nm was produced. In practice, if cells in colonies developed on an agar plate containing mineral salt medium supplemented with 0.4% of disodium phthalate and 0.1% of quinolinic acid are active with respect to the 4,5-dihydroxyphthalate pathway, then the colonies would be colored red immediately upon spraying with the diazotized p-nitroaniline reagent. The method was used to identify the phthalate degradative pathway for 27 phthalate-utilizing strains of the genera Pseudomonas (18 strains), Agrobacterium (3 strains), Alcaligenes (5 strains), and Micrococcus (1 strain). It was found that 24 of the 26 Gram-negative bacteria have the 4,5-dihydroxyphthalate pathway and that the remaining two strains of Pseudomonas sp. may metabolize via an unidentified pathway other than the dihydroxyphthalate pathways, and the Gram-positive strain of Micrococcus sp. metabolizes phthalate via the 3,4-dihydroxyphthalate pathway.

Determination of inorganic ions in aqueous infusions by photometric ion chromatography.

Determination of inorganic ions in aqueous infusions was studied by photometric ion chromatography(PIC) using a conventional HPLC system equipped with a UV monitor. Inorganic cations(Na+, K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+) could be separated on a strong cation exchange column, Oyobunko ASC-4000 column (4.6 mm i.d.×250 mm), with 1×10-4 M CuSO4 for Na+, K+ and 2×10-3 M CuSO4 for Mg2+, Ca2+ as eluents, and detected at 220 nm. Inorganic anions (Cl- PO43- and SO42-) could be separated on a strong anion exchange column, Oyobunko ASA-4000 column (4.6 mm i.d.×250 mm), with 1×10-3 M disodium phthalate (pH 10) as an eluent, and detected at 260 nm. A sample solution was simply diluted with distilled water, and could be analyzed by PIC. Relative standard deviations (n=5) for above ions in a commercial infusion were below 2.0%.

Simultaneous determination of carboxylic acids and inorganic anions by photometric ion chromatography application to liquid foods.

Simultaneous determination of carboxylic acids and inorganic anions was investigated by photometric ion chromatography with phthalate solution as an eluent. The retention time and the peak area of carboxylic acids changed remarkably with eluent pH. The optimum conditions at present were as follows : analytical column, OYOBUNKO ASA-4000 (4.6 mm i.d.×25 cm) ; eluent, 5×10-4 M disodium phthalate ; flow rate, 2 ml/min ; column temperature, 40°C ; detection wavelength, 240 nm ; injection volume, 100 μl. The detection limits for several carboxylic acids as 3 times noise were 0.05-0.07 mg/l in sample solution. Their calibration curves showed straight lines by the peak area method. The present method has an advantage to determine simultaneously not only carboxylic acids but also inorganic anions. Under the condition described above, both carboxylic acids and inorganic anions in several liquid foods were easily determined by direct injection of the sample prepared with only dilution.