Fast depletion of oil reserves necessitates the development of novel alternative motor vehicle fuels. Global warming problems also initiated new research to develop new fuels creating less CO2 emission. Nowadays, dimethyl ether (DME) and diethyl ether (DEE) are considered as important alternative clean energy sources. These valuable ethers are produced by the dehydration reaction of methanol and ethanol, respectively, in the presence of acidic catalysts. Besides DEE, ethylene which is very important in petrochemical industry, can also be produced by ethanol dehydration reaction. In the first part of this study, the catalytic activity of tungstophosphoric acid (TPA), silicotungstic acid (STA) and molybdophosphoric acid (MPA), which are well-known heteropolyacids were tested in ethanol dehydration reaction. The activities of other solid acid catalysts, such as Nafion and mesoporous aluminosilicate, were also tested in the dehydration reaction of ethanol. In the case of DME production by dehydration of methanol, activities of STA, TPA and aluminosilicate catalysts were tested. Among the heteropolyacid catalysts, STA showed the highest activity in both ethanol and methanol dehydration reactions. With an increase of temperature from 180oC to 250oC, Ethylene selectivities increased while DEE selectivities decreased. Ethylene yield values over 0.70 were obtained at 250oC. The presence of water in the feed stream caused some reduction in the activity of TPA catalyst. Very high DME yields were obtained using mesoporous aluminosilicate catalyst at about 450oC. The surface area of heteropolyacids are very low and they are soluble in polar solvents such as water and alcohols. Considering these drawbacks of heteropolyacid catalysts, novel mesoporous STA based high surface area catalysts were synthesized following a hydrothermal synthesis route. These novel catalysts were highly stable and they did not dissolve in polar solvents. The catalysts containing W/Si ratios of 0.19 (STA62(550)) and 0.34 (STA82(550)) have BJH surface area values of 481 m2/g and 210 m2/g, respectively, with pore size distributions ranging in between 2-15 nm. These catalysts were characterized by XRD, EDS, SEM, TGA, DTA, DSC, FTIR and Nitrogen Adsorption techniques and their activities were tested in ethanol dehydration reaction. Calcination temperature of the catalysts was shown to be a very important parameter for the activities of these catalysts. Considering the partial decomposition and proton lost of the catalysts over 375oC, they are calcined at 350oC and 550oC before testing them in ethanol dehydration reaction. The catalysts calcined at 350oC showed much higher activity at temperature as low as 180oC. However, the catalysts calcined at 550oC showed activity over 280oC. Ethylene yield values approaching to 0.90 were obtained at about 350oC with catalysts calcined at 350oC. DEE yield past through a maximum with an increase in temperature indicating its decomposition to Ethylene at higher temperatures. However, at lower temperatures (&lt / 300oC) Ethylene and DEE were concluded to be formed through parallel routes. Formation of some acetaldehyde at lower temperatures indicated a possible reaction path through acetaldehyde in the formation of DEE. DRIFTS results also proved the presence of ethoxy, acetate and ethyl like species in addition to adsorbed ethanol molecules on the catalyst surface and gave additional information related to the mechanism.

This thesis deals with the stopping of hydration of alkali activated slag by organic solvents and investigates to what extent the selected organic solvent affects the results of the analyses. The solvents used were acetone, diethyl ether, ethanol, isopropanol and methanol, and this is because these are the most commonly used organic solvents in practice. Thermogravimetric analysis along with differential thermal analysis was used to assess the degree of influence of organic solvents on the alkali activated slag and Portland cement samples. Methanol and acetone affected the samples the most and the longer the sample was stored in the solvent, the more it reacted with the organic solvent. The adverse interaction of organic solvent was greatest for the Portland cement samples. Samples that were rinsed with diethyl ether prior to analysis had lower mass losses than samples that were not rinsed. In the case of alkali activated slag, it was found that the way in which the thermogravimetric results were affected by organic solvents was highly dependent on the activator used, with the smallest effect observed for Na2CO3 activation, while the largest effect was observed for NaOH activation at temperatures below 600 °C, and for higher temperatures for water glass activation.

No description available.

Foi estudada a dissociação multifotônica do éter dietílico induzida por absorção de luz infravermelha, proveniente de um laser de CO2, tipo TEA.Na irradiação com a linha P(20) da banda 0001-0200 (1046 cm -1 ), os produtos observados por análise espectroscópica infravermelha e cromatografia em fase gasosa foram:H2,CO,CH4,C2H2,C2H4, C2H6, CH3CHO e C2H5OH.A eficiência de dissociação foi proporcional às pressões iniciais de éter a uma potência fixa e crescente em função da potência do laser a uma pressão fixa. A eficiência com relação ao comprimento de onda do laser seguiu aproximadamente o espectro de absorção I.V. do éter, sugerindo que a dissociação seja iniciada por um processo de absorção multifotônica ressonante. 0 estudo da variação do rendimento individual dos produtos em função da potência apresentou um comportamento crescente para todos os produtos, enquanto que a variação do rendimento individual dos mesmos em função da pressão inicial de éter para CO e CH4 foram crescentes e para C2H6, CH3CHO e C2H5OH foram decrescentes; o comportamento do C2H4 foi linear e quase constante, o que sugere que ele se forme por dissociação unimolecular do éter, enquanto que a formação de CO, CH4 e C2H6deve envolver processos colisionais. Na irradiação de misturas de éter com argônio, neônio, hidrogênio, hélio e N20, os rendimentos individuais absolutos cairam, possivelmente porque tais gases agem como desativadores de moléculas de éter excitadas pelo laser, por transferência de energia V-T. Adicionando-se ao éter um captador de radicais, no caso NO, foi verificado apenas um pequeno aumento no rendimento relativo de CH4 em detrimento do C2H6. Na irradiação o do sistema éter/oxigênio foi observada a quebra dielétrica do sistema, tratando-se este fenômeno de uma verdadeira combustão, uma vez que o processo todo é desencadeado com apenas um pulso do laser para pressões acima de 40,0 Torr de 02,sendo CO2o produto principal. Entretanto, abaixo do limiar de quebra dielétrica o rendimento individual dos produtos foi crescente com o aumento do número de pulsos e também em função do aumento da pressão de 02, exceto o etanol que neste último estudo decresceu. Neste caso, os produtos observados foram os mesmos que no éter puro, exceto pequena quantidade de CO2. Em síntese, o C2H4 e C2H5OH devem se formar da dissociação unimolecular do éter, ao passo que H2 , CO, CH4 , C2H2 , C2H6 e CH3CHO são obtidos, em sua maior parte, através de reações que envolvem processos colisionais, radicalares ou não. / The photodissociation of diethyl ether induced by infrared multiphoton absorption from focused radiation of a TEA CO2 laser was investigated. After irradiating with the P(20) line of the 0001-0200 band (1046 cm-1) the decomposition products were analyzed by IR spectroscopy and gas chromatography. Hydrogen, carbon monoxide, methane, ethylene, acetylene, ethane, acetaldehyde and ethanol were detected. The overall decomposition efficiency was proportional to the initial pressure for a fixed irradiation energy, and increases with pulse energy at constant sample pressure. The decomposition efficiency was also observed to be wavelength dependent and followed, roughly, the IR absorption spectrum profile suggesting a resonant multiphoton absorption initiated reaction. Individual product yields were found to increase by increasing pulse energies. The variation of the initial ether pressure showed increasing yields for CO and CH4, and decreasing yields for C2H6, CH3 CHO and C2H5OH. The C2H4 yield was almost constant with sample pressure, suggesting that it is formed through unimolecular decomposition, while the formation of CO, CH4 and C2H6 must involve collisional processes. The use of argon, helium, neon, hydrogen, and nitrous oxide as buffer gases decreases the absolute product yields, probably due to the deactivation of excited molecules via collisional V-T energy transfer. The use of a free radical scavenger, nitric oxide,indicated a small increase for CH4 yield and a decrease for C2H6. When irradiating ether/oxygen mixtures, a strong reaction initiated by dielectric breakdown was observed. This phenomenon occurs with one laser pulse when the oxygen pressure is above 40 Torr, and is practically a true combustion, resulting in the formation of CO2 as the major product and traces of CO. However, under the threshold for dielectric breakdown the products yields increase when increasing the number of pulses and 02 pressure. In this case the products are the same as in neat ether, except for small quantities of CO2.

Foi estudada a dissociação multifotônica do éter dietílico induzida por absorção de luz infravermelha, proveniente de um laser de CO2, tipo TEA.Na irradiação com a linha P(20) da banda 0001-0200 (1046 cm -1 ), os produtos observados por análise espectroscópica infravermelha e cromatografia em fase gasosa foram:H2,CO,CH4,C2H2,C2H4, C2H6, CH3CHO e C2H5OH.A eficiência de dissociação foi proporcional às pressões iniciais de éter a uma potência fixa e crescente em função da potência do laser a uma pressão fixa. A eficiência com relação ao comprimento de onda do laser seguiu aproximadamente o espectro de absorção I.V. do éter, sugerindo que a dissociação seja iniciada por um processo de absorção multifotônica ressonante. 0 estudo da variação do rendimento individual dos produtos em função da potência apresentou um comportamento crescente para todos os produtos, enquanto que a variação do rendimento individual dos mesmos em função da pressão inicial de éter para CO e CH4 foram crescentes e para C2H6, CH3CHO e C2H5OH foram decrescentes; o comportamento do C2H4 foi linear e quase constante, o que sugere que ele se forme por dissociação unimolecular do éter, enquanto que a formação de CO, CH4 e C2H6deve envolver processos colisionais. Na irradiação de misturas de éter com argônio, neônio, hidrogênio, hélio e N20, os rendimentos individuais absolutos cairam, possivelmente porque tais gases agem como desativadores de moléculas de éter excitadas pelo laser, por transferência de energia V-T. Adicionando-se ao éter um captador de radicais, no caso NO, foi verificado apenas um pequeno aumento no rendimento relativo de CH4 em detrimento do C2H6. Na irradiação o do sistema éter/oxigênio foi observada a quebra dielétrica do sistema, tratando-se este fenômeno de uma verdadeira combustão, uma vez que o processo todo é desencadeado com apenas um pulso do laser para pressões acima de 40,0 Torr de 02,sendo CO2o produto principal. Entretanto, abaixo do limiar de quebra dielétrica o rendimento individual dos produtos foi crescente com o aumento do número de pulsos e também em função do aumento da pressão de 02, exceto o etanol que neste último estudo decresceu. Neste caso, os produtos observados foram os mesmos que no éter puro, exceto pequena quantidade de CO2. Em síntese, o C2H4 e C2H5OH devem se formar da dissociação unimolecular do éter, ao passo que H2 , CO, CH4 , C2H2 , C2H6 e CH3CHO são obtidos, em sua maior parte, através de reações que envolvem processos colisionais, radicalares ou não. / The photodissociation of diethyl ether induced by infrared multiphoton absorption from focused radiation of a TEA CO2 laser was investigated. After irradiating with the P(20) line of the 0001-0200 band (1046 cm-1) the decomposition products were analyzed by IR spectroscopy and gas chromatography. Hydrogen, carbon monoxide, methane, ethylene, acetylene, ethane, acetaldehyde and ethanol were detected. The overall decomposition efficiency was proportional to the initial pressure for a fixed irradiation energy, and increases with pulse energy at constant sample pressure. The decomposition efficiency was also observed to be wavelength dependent and followed, roughly, the IR absorption spectrum profile suggesting a resonant multiphoton absorption initiated reaction. Individual product yields were found to increase by increasing pulse energies. The variation of the initial ether pressure showed increasing yields for CO and CH4, and decreasing yields for C2H6, CH3 CHO and C2H5OH. The C2H4 yield was almost constant with sample pressure, suggesting that it is formed through unimolecular decomposition, while the formation of CO, CH4 and C2H6 must involve collisional processes. The use of argon, helium, neon, hydrogen, and nitrous oxide as buffer gases decreases the absolute product yields, probably due to the deactivation of excited molecules via collisional V-T energy transfer. The use of a free radical scavenger, nitric oxide,indicated a small increase for CH4 yield and a decrease for C2H6. When irradiating ether/oxygen mixtures, a strong reaction initiated by dielectric breakdown was observed. This phenomenon occurs with one laser pulse when the oxygen pressure is above 40 Torr, and is practically a true combustion, resulting in the formation of CO2 as the major product and traces of CO. However, under the threshold for dielectric breakdown the products yields increase when increasing the number of pulses and 02 pressure. In this case the products are the same as in neat ether, except for small quantities of CO2.

Cálculos usando métodos de estrutura eletrônica (Hartree-Fock, Mõller-Plesset de segunda ordem e DFT, B3LYP) foram efetuados pelo programa Gaussian98 em microcomputadores e estações de trabalho, com o objetivo de elucidar os canais de decomposição unimolecular de éter dietílico em fase gasosa e foram comparados com valores obtidos através de aproximações baseadas na mecânica estatística pela metodologia de Benson. O éter dietílico vem sendo usado como um aditivo para o óleo diesel e combustível alternativo e o conhecimento de suas vias vias de decomposição é fundamental nestas investigações. Dezesseis modos primários, do qual, quatro ocorrem através de cisão de ligações simples C-O, C-C,C(1)-H e C(2)-H e doze ocorrendo através de estados de transição cíclicos, os quais eliminam produtos como hidrogênio etano, acetaldeído, etano, álcool etílico, metil etil éter, metano, alguns carbenos e também di-radicais, foram considerados para a determinação das barreiras de ativação, entalpias de reação, entropias de reação e energia livre de Gibbs de reação. Vias primárias ocorrendo através de cisão de ligação, não reproduziram os valores experimentais para as barreiras de ativação, mas reproduziram de modo significante, valores da entalpia da reação. Eliminação de eteno e álcool etílico, ocorrendo através de um estado de transição de quatro centros, apresentou a barreira de ativação mais baixa. Acetaldeído e eliminação de etano, ocorrendo através de quatro centros, apresentou barreira significativamente alta, mas por outro lado, a menor entalpia, ligeiramente exotérmica por -0,8 kcal.mol-1. Eliminações 1,2 de metano e carbeno ocorrendo através de três centros, junto com a eliminação 1, 1 de hidrogênio e carbeno por três centros, eliminação 2,2 hidrogênio e carbeno por três centros e eliminação 1,4 de hidrogênio, acetaldeído e eteno por seis centros, apresentaram barreiras de ativação relativamente próximas mostrando que elas são competitivas entre si. Os valores computados dos canais que ocorrem por estados de transição cíclicos foram comparados com os resultados experimentais disponíveis e discutida a validade desta abordagem computacional para o estudo de reações unimoleculares de multi-canais. Determinação de parâmetros termoquímicos, como calor de formação para espécies radicalares dos canais de decomposição primário e alguns radicais alcóxidos, junto com a estimativa de afinidade eletrônica e protônica (com a abordagem ab initio Gaussian 2 a qual estima energias eletrônicas muito precisas) foram efetuados e seus resultados foram comparados com os valores experimentais disponíveis e valores obtidos através de energias de ligação e da regra de aditividade de Benson. / Calculations using methods of electronic structure(Hartree-Fock, second order Moller-Plesset and DFT: B3LYP) had been effected through the Gaussian98 program in microcomputers and workstations, with the objective to elucidate the unimolecular decomposition channels of diethyl ether in gaseous phase. These results also had been compared to those obtained by the methodology based in statistical mechanics through Benson\'s approach. Sixteen primary ways, which, four occur through the break of simple bonds C-O, C-C,C(1)-H, C(2)-H, and twelve occur through cyclical transistion states, which eliminate products as hydrogen, ethene, acetaldehyde, ethane, ethyl alcohol, methyl ethyl ether, methane, some carbenes and also diradicals. These products had been considered to the determination of the activation barriers, enthalpies of reaction, entropies of reaction and free energy of Gibbs of reaction. Primary ways occurring through the break of bonds, had not reproduced experimental values for the activation barriers, however they had reproduced in a significant way, values of the enthalpy of the reaction. Elimination of ethene and ethyl alcohol, occurring by a transition state of four centers, presented the lowest activation barrier. Acetaldehyde and ethane elimination occurring through four centers, presented a high significantly barrier, but on the other hand it presented the smallest enthalpy, lightly exothermic above -0,8 kcal.mol-1. Eliminations 1,2 of methane and carbene occurring through three centers, together with the elimination 1,1 of hydrogen and carbene through three centers, elimination 2,2 of hydrogen and carbene through three centers and elimination 1,4 of hydrogen, acetaldehyde and ethene through six centers, had presented relatively next activation barriers, showing that they are competitive among themselves. The computed values of the channels that occur through cyclical transition states had been compared with the available experimental results and the trustworthiness of this computational boarding for the study of unimolecular reactions in multi-channel had been dicussed. Determination of thermochemical parameters, as heat of formation for radicalar species of the primary channel of decomposition and some alcoxyde radicais, together with the estimative of the electronic and protonic affinities,( with the ab initio Gaussian 2 boarding which estimate very precise eletronic energies ) and their results had been compared with the available experimental values and with values gotten through energies of bond and Benson\'s additivity rule.

Cálculos usando métodos de estrutura eletrônica (Hartree-Fock, Mõller-Plesset de segunda ordem e DFT, B3LYP) foram efetuados pelo programa Gaussian98 em microcomputadores e estações de trabalho, com o objetivo de elucidar os canais de decomposição unimolecular de éter dietílico em fase gasosa e foram comparados com valores obtidos através de aproximações baseadas na mecânica estatística pela metodologia de Benson. O éter dietílico vem sendo usado como um aditivo para o óleo diesel e combustível alternativo e o conhecimento de suas vias vias de decomposição é fundamental nestas investigações. Dezesseis modos primários, do qual, quatro ocorrem através de cisão de ligações simples C-O, C-C,C(1)-H e C(2)-H e doze ocorrendo através de estados de transição cíclicos, os quais eliminam produtos como hidrogênio etano, acetaldeído, etano, álcool etílico, metil etil éter, metano, alguns carbenos e também di-radicais, foram considerados para a determinação das barreiras de ativação, entalpias de reação, entropias de reação e energia livre de Gibbs de reação. Vias primárias ocorrendo através de cisão de ligação, não reproduziram os valores experimentais para as barreiras de ativação, mas reproduziram de modo significante, valores da entalpia da reação. Eliminação de eteno e álcool etílico, ocorrendo através de um estado de transição de quatro centros, apresentou a barreira de ativação mais baixa. Acetaldeído e eliminação de etano, ocorrendo através de quatro centros, apresentou barreira significativamente alta, mas por outro lado, a menor entalpia, ligeiramente exotérmica por -0,8 kcal.mol-1. Eliminações 1,2 de metano e carbeno ocorrendo através de três centros, junto com a eliminação 1, 1 de hidrogênio e carbeno por três centros, eliminação 2,2 hidrogênio e carbeno por três centros e eliminação 1,4 de hidrogênio, acetaldeído e eteno por seis centros, apresentaram barreiras de ativação relativamente próximas mostrando que elas são competitivas entre si. Os valores computados dos canais que ocorrem por estados de transição cíclicos foram comparados com os resultados experimentais disponíveis e discutida a validade desta abordagem computacional para o estudo de reações unimoleculares de multi-canais. Determinação de parâmetros termoquímicos, como calor de formação para espécies radicalares dos canais de decomposição primário e alguns radicais alcóxidos, junto com a estimativa de afinidade eletrônica e protônica (com a abordagem ab initio Gaussian 2 a qual estima energias eletrônicas muito precisas) foram efetuados e seus resultados foram comparados com os valores experimentais disponíveis e valores obtidos através de energias de ligação e da regra de aditividade de Benson. / Calculations using methods of electronic structure(Hartree-Fock, second order Moller-Plesset and DFT: B3LYP) had been effected through the Gaussian98 program in microcomputers and workstations, with the objective to elucidate the unimolecular decomposition channels of diethyl ether in gaseous phase. These results also had been compared to those obtained by the methodology based in statistical mechanics through Benson\'s approach. Sixteen primary ways, which, four occur through the break of simple bonds C-O, C-C,C(1)-H, C(2)-H, and twelve occur through cyclical transistion states, which eliminate products as hydrogen, ethene, acetaldehyde, ethane, ethyl alcohol, methyl ethyl ether, methane, some carbenes and also diradicals. These products had been considered to the determination of the activation barriers, enthalpies of reaction, entropies of reaction and free energy of Gibbs of reaction. Primary ways occurring through the break of bonds, had not reproduced experimental values for the activation barriers, however they had reproduced in a significant way, values of the enthalpy of the reaction. Elimination of ethene and ethyl alcohol, occurring by a transition state of four centers, presented the lowest activation barrier. Acetaldehyde and ethane elimination occurring through four centers, presented a high significantly barrier, but on the other hand it presented the smallest enthalpy, lightly exothermic above -0,8 kcal.mol-1. Eliminations 1,2 of methane and carbene occurring through three centers, together with the elimination 1,1 of hydrogen and carbene through three centers, elimination 2,2 of hydrogen and carbene through three centers and elimination 1,4 of hydrogen, acetaldehyde and ethene through six centers, had presented relatively next activation barriers, showing that they are competitive among themselves. The computed values of the channels that occur through cyclical transition states had been compared with the available experimental results and the trustworthiness of this computational boarding for the study of unimolecular reactions in multi-channel had been dicussed. Determination of thermochemical parameters, as heat of formation for radicalar species of the primary channel of decomposition and some alcoxyde radicais, together with the estimative of the electronic and protonic affinities,( with the ab initio Gaussian 2 boarding which estimate very precise eletronic energies ) and their results had been compared with the available experimental values and with values gotten through energies of bond and Benson\'s additivity rule.

Photoelectron Photoion Coincidence (PEPICO) Spectroscopy studies on two small oxygenated species are presented here. Diethyl Ether (Et2O) and Acetic Anhydride (AcOAc) were chosen because of their and their fragments' relevance to combustion chemistry. The Imaging PEPICO (iPEPICO) experiment at the VUV beamline of the Swiss Light Source (SLS) was utilized to provide dissociative ionization data of the two molecules of interest. In this experiment, the unimolecular fragmentation pathways of energy selected ions can be studied with high energy resolution. The iPEPICO experimental setup also allows the measurement of the dissociation rates, which is indispensable to derive accurate thermochemical information on large ions. The experimental data on the fragmentation of ions of interest are then examined through modeling the experimental ion fractional abundances (breakdown curves, BDCs) and reaction rates, in a modeling framework based on the RRKM statistical theory. In our first project, diethyl ether was studied to provide the appearance energies of its daughter ions along with the dissociation pathways of the molecular ion, leading to thermochemical data (such as heats of formation) pertinent to combustion chemistry. A revised ionization energy (IE) differing from the reviewed National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) was also proposed. In the second project presented, AcOAc was also measured on the iPEPICO apparatus to understand its dissociative photoionization processes. The appearance of trace amounts of acetone in the ionization spectra, discrepancies in the statistical models of the branching ratios, and the quantum chemical calculations all point to the existence of a post-transition-state bifurcation, when a single TS separates multiple products, namely a methyl-loss fragment and acetone, as well. The acetyl cation, as well as the methyl cation at higher energies, appear to be formed by both parallel and sequential dissociation processes.