High-Temperature Electrochemical Refining of Secondary Lead

The present chapter is devoted to the analysis of the obtained data on the high-temperature electrolytic production of high-purity lead from secondary lead in chloride melts. Kinetic parameters of electrode reactions were calculated, and the sequences of the metal dissolution from the double lead-antimony (Pb-Sb), lead-bismuth (Pb-Bi), and antimony-bismuth (Sb-Bi) alloys were determined. A long-term electrolysis of the antimony (battery scrap), bismuth (lead-bismuth), and lead-containing raw materials in the electrolytic cell of original construction with a porous ceramic diaphragm impregnated with the eutectic KCl-PbCl2 chloride electrolyte was performed. The anode lead alloy, containing 57.0 wt% of antimony and 36.0 wt% of bismuth, and cathode grade lead were obtained as a result of the electrolysis. The values of lead, antimony, and bismuth separation coefficients were calculated according to the values of the equilibrium potentials of the Pb-Sb, Pb-Bi, and Sb-Bi alloys. The values of separation coefficients were found to be 6.5·106–1.5·108 for a single stage at the lead extraction from the Pb-Sb and Pb-Bi alloys, which proves the possibility of a highly effective lead extraction. The value of Sb-Bi alloy separation coefficient ranges from 5.5 to 6.5, which testifies the complexity and low effectiveness of the separation process. An electrolytic refining of lead-bismuth and secondary lead, obtained from the battery scrap, was performed

Assessment of the effect of borides on the thermodynamic characteristics of heterogeneous systems

The possibility of creating high-energy materials with increased ecological purity of combustion products based on a mixed oxidizer (ammonium nitrate, ammonium perchlorate), and inorganic fuel (boron, diboride or aluminum polyboride) is shown

Design and baseline characteristics of the finerenone in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in diabetic kidney disease trial

Background: Among people with diabetes, those with kidney disease have exceptionally high rates of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality and progression of their underlying kidney disease. Finerenone is a novel, nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that has shown to reduce albuminuria in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) while revealing only a low risk of hyperkalemia. However, the effect of finerenone on CV and renal outcomes has not yet been investigated in long-term trials. Patients and Methods: The Finerenone in Reducing CV Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease (FIGARO-DKD) trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of finerenone compared to placebo at reducing clinically important CV and renal outcomes in T2D patients with CKD. FIGARO-DKD is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, event-driven trial running in 47 countries with an expected duration of approximately 6 years. FIGARO-DKD randomized 7,437 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate >= 25 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and albuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio >= 30 to <= 5,000 mg/g). The study has at least 90% power to detect a 20% reduction in the risk of the primary outcome (overall two-sided significance level alpha = 0.05), the composite of time to first occurrence of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure. Conclusions: FIGARO-DKD will determine whether an optimally treated cohort of T2D patients with CKD at high risk of CV and renal events will experience cardiorenal benefits with the addition of finerenone to their treatment regimen. Trial Registration: EudraCT number: 2015-000950-39; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02545049

Interaction between Iron Fluoride and Molten FLiBe

The equilibrium potentials of iron in a LiF-BeF2-FeF2 melt were measured using the EMF method and were dependent upon the temperature and iron fluoride concentrations. The empirical equations for the isotherms and equilibrium polytherms of the iron fluoride concentration were obtained. The cathode polarization of iron fluoride in the molten mixture of lithium and beryllium fluoride was measured using the current switch off method from the stationary state. It was found that in the studied temperature and concentration ranges of iron fluoride in the LiF-BeF2 electrolyte, the valence state of iron in the melt is mainly +2. According to the experimental values of the equilibrium potentials of the iron electrode in the LiF-BeF2-FeF2 melt, the conditional standard potentials of iron were calculated relative to the fluoride reference electrode in the molten mixture of lithium and beryllium fluoride. The conditional standard values of the Gibbs energy change were calculated at the formation of iron difluoride from the element in the form of dilute solutions, as were the thermodynamic values (enthalpy and entropy) when iron difluoride was mixed with LiF-BeF2

Assessment of the effect of borides on the thermodynamic characteristics of heterogeneous systems

The possibility of creating high-energy materials with increased ecological purity of combustion products based on a mixed oxidizer (ammonium nitrate, ammonium perchlorate), and inorganic fuel (boron, diboride or aluminum polyboride) is shown

Controlling photophysics of styrylnaphthalimides through TICT, fluorescence and E,Z-photoisomerization interplay

The photophysical properties of naphthalimide dyes NI1-3 with electron releasing 4-methoxy- (NI1), 3,4-dimethoxystyryl- (NI2) and dimethylaminostyryl (NI3) groups are examined in a variety of protic and aprotic solvents. All compounds demonstrate positive solvatochromism in the steady-state absorption and fluorescence spectra. The analysis of the dependence of the Stokes shift on the polarity of the solvent using the Lippert-Mataga equation allowed us to determine the change in the dipole moment upon excitation. The obtained data correspond to the formation of highly polar charge transfer states. Based on the transient absorption spectra and time-resolved fluorescence measurements, the presence of two different emissive states was definitely proved. The primarily formed planar Local Excited (LE) state dominates in non-polar solvents like cyclohexane and toluene where it relaxes mostly through fluorescence and E,Z-isomerisation pathways. In polar solvents, an alternative relaxation channel emerges that consists of twisting around single bond between styryl and naphthalimide fragments, which leads to the formation of a Twisted Intramolecular Charge Transfer (TICT) state. The factors affecting the fluorescence of TICT states are discussed. The observed spectral effects are rationalized using quantum-chemical calculations, X-ray data and NMR spectroscopy

Controlling photophysics of styrylnaphthalimides through TICT, fluorescence and E,Z-photoisomerization interplay

The photophysical properties of naphthalimide dyes NI1-3 with electron releasing 4-methoxy- (NI1), 3,4-dimethoxystyryl- (NI2) and dimethylaminostyryl (NI3) groups are examined in a variety of protic and aprotic solvents. All compounds demonstrate positive solvatochromism in the steady-state absorption and fluorescence spectra. The analysis of the dependence of the Stokes shift on the polarity of the solvent using the Lippert-Mataga equation allowed us to determine the change in the dipole moment upon excitation. The obtained data correspond to the formation of highly polar charge transfer states. Based on the transient absorption spectra and time-resolved fluorescence measurements, the presence of two different emissive states was definitely proved. The primarily formed planar Local Excited (LE) state dominates in non-polar solvents like cyclohexane and toluene where it relaxes mostly through fluorescence and E,Z-isomerisation pathways. In polar solvents, an alternative relaxation channel emerges that consists of twisting around single bond between styryl and naphthalimide fragments, which leads to the formation of a Twisted Intramolecular Charge Transfer (TICT) state. The factors affecting the fluorescence of TICT states are discussed. The observed spectral effects are rationalized using quantum-chemical calculations, X-ray data and NMR spectroscopy

Field-induced electron emission from nanoporous carbon of various types

The influence of fabrication technology on field electron emission properties of nanoporous carbon (NPC) has been investigated. Samples of NPC derived from different carbides via chlorination at different temperatures demonstrated similar low-field emission ability with the threshold electric field strength of 2–3 V/μm. This property correlated with the presence of nanopores with the characteristic size of 0.5–1.2 nm determining high values of specific surface area (more than 800 m2/g) of the material. In most cases, voltage–current characteristics of emission were approximately linear in Fowler–Nordheim (FN) coordinates (excluding the low-current part near the emission threshold), but the plot slope angles were in notable disagreement with the known material morphology and electronic properties, and this could not be explained within the frames of FN emission theory. We suggest that the actual emission mechanism for NPC involves hot electrons generated at internal boundaries, and that emission centers may be associated with relatively large (20–100 nm) onion-like particles observed in many microscopy images

Electron spectrometer for studying field-induced emission from nanostructured objects

A novel electron spectrometer has been designed to study low-voltage field-induced emission of nanostructures such as nanoporous carbon, nanotubes, nanodiamond and other carbon structures. The estimated high resolving power of the device is mainly achieved by using an original energy analyzer of high energy dispersion and by retarding the electron beam by the factor of tens and hundreds in terms of energy. The analyzer pass energy governs the absolute energy resolution ΔЕ of the spectrometer; ΔЕ value varies approximately in the range of 10meV<ΔЕ< 300meV. There are three different working modes adapted for emission of widely variable current. The minimal emission current at which energy analysis is still possible is approximately 0.1nA. The spectrometer working modes were tested experimentally using a thermoemitter as the test object. The study then proved that the recorded spectra reflected physical phenomena taking place on the emitter surface

Cytokinin Perception in Ancient Plants beyond Angiospermae

Cytokinins (CKs) control many plant developmental processes and responses to environmental cues. Although the CK signaling is well understood, we are only beginning to decipher its evolution. Here, we investigated the CK perception apparatus in early-divergent plant species such as bryophyte Physcomitrium patens, lycophyte Selaginella moellendorffii, and gymnosperm Picea abies. Of the eight CHASE-domain containing histidine kinases (CHKs) examined, two CHKs, PpCHK3 and PpCHK4, did not bind CKs. All other CHK receptors showed high-affinity CK binding (KD of nM range), with a strong preference for isopentenyladenine over other CK nucleobases in the moss and for trans-zeatin over cis-zeatin in the gymnosperm. The pH dependences of CK binding for these six CHKs showed a wide range, which may indicate different subcellular localization of these receptors at either the plasma- or endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Thus, the properties of the whole CK perception apparatuses in early-divergent lineages were demonstrated. Data show that during land plant evolution there was a diversification of the ligand specificity of various CHKs, in particular, the rise in preference for trans-zeatin over cis-zeatin, which indicates a steadily increasing specialization of receptors to various CKs. Finally, this distinct preference of individual receptors to different CK versions culminated in vascular plants, especially angiosperms