Reversible methane storage in porous hydrogel supported clathrates

Methane gas hydrates are a promising alternative for storage and transport of natural gas. In this paper, porous poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) and poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid) (PHEMA-co-MAA) hydrogel microspheres were synthesised and examined for their application as a reusable scaffold for methane storage in their hydrated form. The hydration kinetics, methane storage capacity of the hydrogel microspheres, and a mixed colloidal system made of hydrogel particles and dry-water droplets were investigated in a 300cm3 steel vessel at 273.2K and varying pressures. Hydration of methane in the mixed colloidal system is high in capacity and exceedingly reversible. Higher pressure and smaller size of hydrogel microspheres result in improved capacity and kinetics, however reduce the recyclability of hydration. The porous hydrogel particles alone are too soft for reuse and need to be improved for practical application. Porous hydrogel microspheres were synthesised and mixed with dry-water, forming a colloidal system. Formation of methane gas hydrates in the colloidal system was fast, and high in hydration capacity. The system is reusable for methane storage

Are Eco-Friendly Cars More Favorable? An exploratory study of attitude toward eco-friendliness among multiethnic consumers in the U.S.

Between technological developments in the car industry and increasing interest in eco friendly products among consumers, eco-friendly cars are gradually entering consumers\u27 sights. This study examines the factors that influence consumers’ attitudes toward the adoption of eco-friendly cars. This study conducted an online survey with a sample (N = 3,191) collected through a national panel (Dynata). The results demonstrate that consumers’ concern about environmental sustainability and attitude towards environmentally friendly products impact consumers’ attitudes toward eco-friendly cars. It was also found that consumer’s level of collectivism positively influence their attitude toward environmentally friendly products. Further, the results showed consumers’ attitudes toward ecofriendly products differs across ethnicities; Asian Americans were found to have the most positive attitude towards eco-friendly cars, followed by Hispanics. Finally, it was found that ecofriendly consumers tend to also think that fuel mileage productivity, car design, and high technology are important cars’ features

Synthesis and characterisation of silica-polymer hybrid core-shell and hollow spheres for drug delivery applications

Silica-polymer hybrid core-shell structures and nano-hollow spheres with chemically immobilized hydrophobic, hydrophilic, and thermal sensitive functional groups on the surfaces were prepared through a simple synthetic approach for possible applications as a drug carrier. Both the core–shell and hollow structures of these particles were identified by a high resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Sizes and their distributions of both the core-shell structures and the hollow spheres were investigated using a dynamic light scattering size analyzer and further confirmed by the atomic force microscopy (AFM). The method can easily be adapted for the fabrication of similar nano structures that contain biological macro-molecules for the delivery of biotherapeutics

Synthesis of Effective Kinetic Inhibitors for Natural Gas Hydrates

Six novel polymer-based kinetic hydrate inhibitors (KHIs) were synthesized and characterized. Their performance in inhibiting both tetrahydrofuran (THF) hydrate and the synthetic gas hydrate formation was examined using two different instruments: a ball-stop apparatus and a high-pressure automatic lag time apparatus (HP-ALTA). Performance was benchmarked against two commercially available KHIs, Gaffix VC-713 and Luvicap EG, under the same working conditions. The test results from the ball-stop rig demonstrated that the new KHIs were as effective as Gaffix VC-713 and Luvicap EG in preventing the formation of THF hydrates in 3.5 wt % NaCl solutions. For the synthetic gases, most new polymers outperformed the reference KHIs at a concentration of 0.05 wt %. Polymers containing a pendant THF functional group in the side chains showed a substantial 12-16 °C decrease in the hydrate formation temperature of the gas water mixtures relative to those containing the same amount of Gaffix VC-713 or Luvicap EG. The trend of the inhibition performance of the polymers was different in THF from that measured for gas mixtures. Small amounts of ethanol added to the hydrate formation mixtures were also shown to have an effect. Investigation of the inhibition mechanism associated with these new polymers is under way

Synthesis of Ruthena-polycyclic Complexes by Ruthenium-Vinylcarbene Complex

National Basic Research Program of China [2012CB821600]; National Natural Science Foundation of China [20925208, 21174115, 21272193]; Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in UniversityTreatment of ruthenium-vinylcarbene complex [Ru(CHC(PPh3)CH(2-Py))Cl2PPh3]BF4 (1) and PPh3 with nucleophilic reagents 1120, CH3OH, NH2Ph, or 2-mercaptopyridine led to the ruthena-polycyclic complexes [Ru(CHC(PPh3)CHR(2-Py))Cl(PPh3)BF4 [R = OH (2), R = OCH3 (3), R = NHPh (4)] or [Ru(CHC(PPh3)CH(S(2-P3))(2-Py))PPh3(S(2-Py)](3)BF4 (5). They are stable under air at solid state. CH3OH in the reaction is not only the reagent but also the solvent and the reaction must be heated at 60 *0 for 6 h. All the other reactions were carried out at room temperature in CH2C12. The crystals of 4 and 5 were grown from CH2C12 and CHC13 solutions layered with diethyl ether, respectively. The structures 4 and 5 were determined by X-ray crystallography. The crystal size of 4 is alpha=1.29145(3) nm, beta=1.37687(5) nm, c=1.86914(4) nm, a=92.114(2), beta= 106.271(2), gamma=96.333(3) and the size of 5 is a= 1.15333(18) nm, b= 1.20072(19) rim, c=1.9081(3) nm, a=88.466(3), /3=87.918(3), y=79.521(3). In addition, refluxing 1 with PPh3 in CHCl3 for 6 h to produce red solid [Ru(CHC(PPh3)CH(2-Py))Cl-2(PPh3)(2)]BF4 (6). The reaction of complex 6 with MEI at room temperature for 3 h afforded the (mu-Cl)(3)-bridged bisruthenium-vinylcarbene complex [{Ru(CHC(PPh3)CH(2-Py))PPh3}(2)(mu-Cl)(3)](BF4)(3) (7) in 87% yield. The crystal of 6 was grown from CH3COCH3 solution layered with diethyl ether, and the crystal of 7 was grown from CHCl3 solution layered with diethyl ether. The structures of 6 and 7 were also determined by X-ray crystallography. The crystal size of 6 and 7 are alpha=1.13777(3) nm, beta= 1.56466(7) nm, c= 1.79541(7) nm, alpha=75.822(3), beta=79.502(2), y= 79.259(3), a=1.68830(3) nm, beta=2.33421(4) nm, c=2.48603(4) nm, alpha=90, beta=96.5530(10), gamma=90 degrees, respectively. The CCDC number for 3, 5, 6, and 7 are 945539 (3), 945538 (5), 945541 (6), and 945542 (7). All these complexes were fully characterized by elemental analysis and NMR spectroscopy