The world energy supply and demand, together with limited available resources have resulted in the need to develop alternative energy sources to ensure sustainable and expanding economies. Hydrogen is being considered a viable option with particular application to fuel cells. The Hybrid Sulphur cycle has been identified as a process to produce clean hydrogen (carbon free process) and can have economic benefits when coupled to nuclear reactors (High Temperature Gas Reactor) or solar heaters for the supply of the required process energy. The sulphur trioxide decomposition reactor producing sulphur dioxide for the electrolytic cells in a closed loop system has been examined, but it is clear that development with respect to a more durable active catalyst in a reactor operating under severe conditions needs to be investigated. A suitable sulphur trioxide reactor needs to operate at a high temperature with efficient heating in view of the endothermic reaction, and has to consist of special materials of construction to handle the very corrosive reactants and products. This investigation was undertaken to address (1) the synthesis, characterisation, reactivity and stability of a suitable catalyst (2), determination the reaction rate of the chosen catalyst with a suitable micro reactor (3) construction and evaluation of a packed bed reactor for the required reaction, and (4) the development and validation of a reactor model using computational fluid dynamics with associated chemical reactions. A supported catalyst consisting of 0.5 wt% platinum and 0.5 wt% palladium on rutile (TiO2, titania) was prepared by the sintering of an anatase/rutile supported catalyst with the same noble metal composition, synthesized according to an incipient impregnation procedure using cylindrical porous pellets (±1.7 mm diameter and ±5 mm long). Characterization involving: surface area, porosity, metal composition, - dispersion, - particle size, support phase and sulphur content was carried out and it was found from reactivity determinations that the sintered catalyst, which was very different from the synthesized catalyst, had an acceptable activity and stability which was suitable for further evaluation. A micro pellet reactor was constructed and operated and consisted of a small number of pellets (five) placed apart from each other in a two-stage quartz reactor with sulphur trioxide generated from sulphuric acid in the first stage and the conversion of sulphur trioxide in the second stage, respectively. Attention was only confined to the second stage involving the conversion of sulphur trioxide with the supported catalyst. The overall reaction kinetics of the pellets involving momentum, heat and mass transfer and chemical reaction was evaluated and validated with constants obtained from literature and with an unknown reaction rate equation for which constants were obtained by regression. As result of the complexity of the flow, mass and heat transfer fields in the micro pellet reactor it was necessary to use a CFD model with chemical reactions which was accomplished with a commercial code COMSOL MultiPhysics® 4.3b. A reversible reaction rate equation was used and a least squares regression procedure was used to evaluate the activation energy and pre-exponential factor. The activation energy obtained for the first order forward reaction was higher than values obtained from literature for a first order reaction rate (irreversible reaction) for the platinum group metals on titania catalysts. Detailed analyses of the velocity, temperature and concentration profile revealed the importance of using a complex model for determination of the reaction parameters. A fixed bed reactor system consisting of a sulphuric acid vaporizer, a single reactor tube (1 m length, 25 mm OD) heated with a surrounding electrical furnace followed, by a series of condensers for the analysis of the products was constructed and operated. Three process variables were investigated, which included the inlet temperature, the weight hourly velocity and the residence time in order to assess the performance of the reactor and generate results for developing a model. The results obtained included the wall and reactor centreline temperature profiles together with average conversion. As a result of the complexity of the chemistry and the phases present containing the products from the reactor a detailed calculation was done using vapour/liquid equilibrium with the accompanying mass balance (Aspen-Plus®) to determine the distribution of sulphur trioxide, sulphur dioxide, oxygen and steam. A mass balance was successfully completed with analyses including SO2 with a GC, O2 with a paramagnetic cell analyser, acid/base titrations with sodium hydroxide, SO2 titrations with iodine and measurement of condensables (mass and volume). The results obtained showed that a steady state (constant conversion) was obtained after approximately six hours and that it was possible to obtain sulphur trioxide conversion approaching equilibrium conditions for bed lengths of 100 mm with very low weight hourly space velocities. A heterogeneous 2D model consisting of the relevant continuity, momentum, heat transfer and mass transfer and the reaction rate equation determined in this investigation was developed and solved with the use of the commercial code COMSOL MultiPhysics® 4.3b with an appropriate mesh structure. The geometry of the packed bed (geometry) was accomplished by generating a randomly packed bed with a commercial package DigiPac™. The model predicted results that agreed with experimental results with conversions up to 56%, obtained over the following ranges: weight hourly space velocity equal to 15 h-1, temperatures between 903 K and 1053 K and residence times between 0.1 and 0.07 seconds. The post-processing results were most useful for assessing the effect of the controlling mechanisms and associated parameters. / PhD (Chemical Engineering), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

This thesis describes the development of the [RuCl₂(P N N)L] catalytic system for asymmetric hydrogenation. It has been demonstrated that the current system is efficient in preparing a range of bulky chiral alcohols in good enantioselectivity, many of which are likely to be inaccessible using the more classic [RuCl₂(P P)N N)] system developed by Noyori and coworkers. It has been shown that the current system is tolerant of a range of substrate electronic effects as well as the presence of heteroaromatic functionality, thus showing its applicability in synthesis. This has been extended to prepare a number of bulky derivatives of synthetically important molecules. The demonstration of this is significant as in drug design, for example, studies that aim to extend lipophilicity or steric bulk make the ability to prepare alcohols across the full range of steric properties important. We have shown that chiral alcohols with adjacent gem-dimethyl groups can be prepared in high enantioselectivity and their conversion into other valuable molecules, such as chiral lactones has been demonstrated. Detailed mechanistic studies have been undertaken for the present system in order to aid rational design of new, more active and selective catalysts. A number of achiral variants of the original system have been prepared and the key features of ligand structure for efficient catalysis have been identified. This was accomplished by rigorous kinetic analysis of each complex, using specialist gas-uptake monitoring equipment. The key features of catalyst structure and optimal reaction conditions for efficient asymmetric hydrogenation have been identified. Our greater understanding of the present system allowed us to rationally design new catalysts of for enantioselective hydrogenation. Our aim was to be able to tune the catalyst structure to carry out hydrogenation of a greater variety of ketone substrate with high activity and selectivity. We have successfully prepared second generation catalysts that show enhanced enantioselectivity for a variety of substrates, many of which were problematic with the Noyori system.

An environmental friendly and simple approach to synthesis of Platinum (Pt), Palladium (Pd), Rhodium (Rh) and Osmium (Os) nanoparticles via gamma radiolysis is demonstrated. Herein, we report on the effect of gamma rays radiation on Platinum (Pt), Osmium (Os), Rhodium (Rh) and Palladium (Pd) salts solutions for synthesis of nanoparticles. Pt, Os, Rh and Pd salts solutions of different concentrations were exposed to intense gamma rays irradiation with doses varying from 70 to 120 kGy. The metal ion salt solutions were easily converted into metal nanoparticles (MNP) using radiolysis method. The radiolytic conversion effect produced MNP suspended in the solution. For Pt, Pd and Rh a metal coating on the edges of the polypropylene tube used as a container, was unexpectedly observed but not for the Os solution. Physical/chemical properties of γ-ray produced nanoparticles were reported. UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) analyses confirmed that both the coating and the MNP correspond to the pure metal coming from the reduction of the initial salt. HRTEM analysis shows the particles size and particle distribution of the produced nanoparticles. Quantitative analysis of the XRD patterns shows information about the size and stress of the converted metals. The functional groups in the solvent are analysed by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The production of a metal coating on polypropylene plastic tubes by gamma-rays irradiation is presenting an interesting alternative to conventional techniques of metal deposition especially for coating the inner part of a tube. / Physics / D. Lit. et Phil. (Physics)

A extratibilidade de sais de fosfônio foi aproveitada para elaborar método de separação Ir-Rh, mediante a extração do sal de trifenil n-propil fosfônio do cloro-complexo de Ir(IV,) em clorofórmio. O coeficiente de extração de 99,2%, permite retirar o irídio do meio aquoso com grande eficiência. O irídio assim separado é determinado diretamente, por via espectrofotométrica, em 494 mµ, em faixa de concentração de 5,0 a 50,0 µg/ml. Pd(II), Pt(IV) e Os(IV) interferem e são eliminados previamente, assim como Au(III). Os ânions interferentes, I-, Br- e SCN- são também eliminados previamente. Muitos íons podem estar presentes, tais como Co(II),Cu(II), Mn(II), Fe(III), Ni(II), As(V), Sb(V), NO3-, ClO4- e SO4--. Após a separação do Ir (IV), o Rh(III) que permanece, na solução é complexado com íons azoteto e extraído em clorofórmio depois de precipitado com íons trifenil n-propil fosfônio, sendo o coeficiente de extração de 98,3%. A determinação ê também feita no próprio solvente, mediante medida espectrofotométrica em 404-408 mµ, para um intervalo de concentração de . 10,0 a 70,0 µg/ml. Uma separação envolvendo Os(IV), Pd(II)e Pt(IV) foi elaborada, eliminando-se Pd(II) e Pt(IV) por extração de ambos em metil n-butil cetona a partir de uma solução contendo SCN-. O Os(IV) é determinado na solução aquosa na forma de OsC16-- por medida espectrofotométrica em 370 mµ, válida para a faixa de concentração de 2,0 a 20,0 µg/m1. / Abstract not available.

In this study, the OMCVD method is demonstrated as a powerful, fast, economic and environmental friendly method to produce a set of PGMelectrocatalysts with different supports, metal content and metal alloys in one step and without the multiple processing stages of impregnation, washing, drying, calcinationsand activation.

<p>In this study, the OMCVD method is demonstrated as a powerful, fast, economic and environmental friendly method to produce a set of PGMelectrocatalysts with different supports, metal content and metal alloys in one step and without the multiple processing stages of impregnation, washing, drying, calcinationsand activation.</p>

Le massif de Tropoja est le plus septentrional des massifs de la ceinture orientale des ophiolites d'Albanie dont les caractères pétrologiques et métallogéniques s'apparentent aux produits magmatiques des arcs insulaires immatures. Quatre niveaux enrichis en chromite ont été définis d'après leur stratigraphie, leur structure et leur composition : trois dans le manteau et un dans les cumulats. D'importantes variations de la fugacité en oxygène ont accompagné la formation des chromitites et des minéralisations en élement du groupe du platine qui leur sont associées. Au Sud du massif, une forte fugacité en oxygène couplée à une faible fugacité en soufre seraient responsables de la précipitation, directement à partir du magma, d'alliages de fer et de platine, qui forment la minéralisation platinifère caractéristiques des cumulas de Tropoja. Cette minéralisation, rare dans les autres massifs ophiolitiques, est située dans un niveau bréchique, à l'interface de dunites basales et de pyroxénites. Les teneurs de platine, qui peuvent atteindre 11 grammes par tonne, sont corrélées positivement aux concentrations de chrome. Trois stades minéralisants y ont été définis, le dernier étant lié à des interactions entre minéraux et fluides tardifs. D'autres caractéristiques minéralogiques de cette minéralisation, importantes pour le traitement des minerais, ont été obtenues grâce à une étude statistique. Au Nord du massif, les minéralisations platinifères, localisées dans le manteau, sont associées à des sulfures de métaux de base.

<p>In this study, the OMCVD method is demonstrated as a powerful, fast, economic and environmental friendly method to produce a set of PGMelectrocatalysts with different supports, metal content and metal alloys in one step and without the multiple processing stages of impregnation, washing, drying, calcinationsand activation.</p>

In this study, the OMCVD method is demonstrated as a powerful, fast, economic and environmental friendly method to produce a set of PGMelectrocatalysts with different supports, metal content and metal alloys in one step and without the multiple processing stages of impregnation, washing, drying, calcinationsand activation.

No description available.