Decoding gas-solid interaction effects on adsorption isotherm shape: II. Polar adsorptives

A unique set of 6 polar adsorptives of relatively large dipole moment and of increasing kinetic diameter were used to probe pore volumes available and their mechanism of adsorption on a well-characterized microporous carbon. Multiple adsorption isotherm measurements were made and repeatable results with relatively small standard deviations in amount adsorbed at low relative pressures were obtained. Inconsistencies were observed between calculated Gurvitsch volumes. Sources of these were analysed and identified as contributions from one or more of: (a) molecular sieve effects; (b) molecular packing effects, and; (c) 2D molecular structure formation due to hydrogen bonding. These inconsistencies were further studied by comparison with pore volumes derived via the Dubinin-Radushkevich (DR) equation. Qualitative analyses of the micropore filling processes were proposed, and substantiated by complementary DR analyses. Although most of the isotherms showed Type I character, recasting the relative pressure axis in logarithmic format highlighted clear differences as contributions from fluid-fluid and fluid-solid interactions during pore filling. Overall, the adsorptives were classified into three groups: (a) polar adsorptives with primarily specific interactions adsorbing as a condensation process over a relatively narrow relative pressure range in a medium and late pressure range (iso-PrOH, MeOH, 2-methyl, 2-butanol, H2O); (b) polar adsorptives with potential for non-specific interactions adsorbing as a condensation process over a relatively narrow pressure range in a medium pressure range (pyridine, iso-PrOH, 2-methyl, 2- butanol); and, (c) halogenated adsorptives adsorbing with an S-shaped uptake extending over a broad relative pressure (dichloromethane)

Nearly Space-Filling Fractal Networks of Carbon Nanopores

URL:http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.88.115502 DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.88.115502Small-angle x-ray scattering, nitrogen adsorption, and scanning tunneling microscopy show that a series of activated carbons host an extended fractal network of channels with dimension Dp = 2.8-3.0 (pore fractal), channel width 15-20Å (lower end of scaling), network diameter 3000-3400Å (upper end of scaling), and porosity of 0.3-0.6. We interpret the network as a stack of quasiplanar invasion percolation clusters, formed by oxidative removal of walls between closed voids of diameter of ∼10Å and held in registry by fibrils of the biological precursor, and point out unique applications.This work was supported by the Petroleum Research Fund, Grant No. 30602-AC9,5 (P. P.); the Department of Energy, Contracts No. W-7405-ENG-36 (P. P.) and No. DE-AC04-00A185000 (T. P. R.); and the Ceramic and Non-Metallic Materials Program at AFOSR (W. P. H.)

Unusual flexibility of mesophase pitch-derived carbon materials:an approach to the synthesis of graphene

Structural flexibility in a petroleum pitch-derived carbon material has been indirectly evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), immersion calorimetry and inelastic neutron scattering (INS) measurements. Exposure of the carbon material to an organic solvent (e.g., n-nonane) gives rise to a large internal rearrangement, associated with a drastic re-ordering of the graphitic microdomains. These structural changes are also associated with a high flexibility of the internal porous network, as observed by inelastic neutron scattering measurements. The internal rearrangement and the structural flexibility could be responsible for the excellent performance of this kind of activated carbons in a wide variety of adsorption processes. Last but not least, the structural characteristics of these carbon materials composed of graphitic microdomains has been used to synthesize graphene “egg-like” flakes following a simple procedure based on exfoliation with organic solvents

Unusual flexibility of mesophase pitch-derived carbon materials:an approach to the synthesis of graphene

Structural flexibility in a petroleum pitch-derived carbon material has been indirectly evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), immersion calorimetry and inelastic neutron scattering (INS) measurements. Exposure of the carbon material to an organic solvent (e.g., n-nonane) gives rise to a large internal rearrangement, associated with a drastic re-ordering of the graphitic microdomains. These structural changes are also associated with a high flexibility of the internal porous network, as observed by inelastic neutron scattering measurements. The internal rearrangement and the structural flexibility could be responsible for the excellent performance of this kind of activated carbons in a wide variety of adsorption processes. Last but not least, the structural characteristics of these carbon materials composed of graphitic microdomains has been used to synthesize graphene “egg-like” flakes following a simple procedure based on exfoliation with organic solvents

Infections after spine instrumentation: effectiveness of short antibiotic treatment in a large multicentre cohort

REIPI (Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Disease)/GEIO–SEIMC (Group for the Study of Osteoarticular Infections – Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology).[Background and objectives] Available information about infection after spine instrumentation (IASI) and its management are scarce. We aimed to analyse DAIR (debridement, antibiotics and implant retention) prognosis and evaluate effectiveness of short antibiotic courses on early forms.[Methods] Multicentre retrospective study of patients with IASI managed surgically (January 2010–December 2016). Risk factors for failure were analysed by multivariate Cox regression and differences between short and long antibiotic treatment were evaluated with a propensity score-matched analysis.[Results] Of the 411 IASI cases, 300 (73%) presented in the first month after surgery, 48 in the second month, 22 in the third and 41 thereafter. Infections within the first 2 months (early cases) occurred mainly to older patients, with local inflammatory signs and predominance of Enterobacteriaceae, unlike those in the later periods. When managed with DAIR, prognosis of early cases was better than later ones (failure rate 10.4% versus 26.1%, respectively; P = 0.02). Risk factors for DAIR failure in early cases were female sex, Charlson Score, large fusions (>6 levels) and polymicrobial infections (adjusted HRs of 2.4, 1.3, 2.6 and 2.26, respectively). Propensity score matching proved shorter courses of antibiotics (4–6 weeks) as effective as longer courses (failure rates 11.4% and 10.5%, respectively; P = 0.870).[Conclusions] IASIs within the first 2 months could be managed effectively with DAIR and shorter antibiotic courses. Clinicians should be cautious when faced with patients with comorbidities, large fusions and/or polymicrobial infections.E.B. was supported with a grant of the Instituto de Salud Carlos III – Ministry of Science and Innovation (FI 16/00397). This research was carried out as part of our routine work.Peer reviewe