Effect of modifying agents on the hydrophobicity and yield of zinc borate synthesized by zinc oxide

The aim of this study was to synthesize zinc borate using zinc oxide, reference boric acid, and reference zinc borate （reference ZB） as the seed, and to investigate the effects of modifying agents and reaction parameters on the hydrophobicity and yield, respectively. The reaction parameters include reaction time （1-5 h）, reactant ratio （H3BO3/ZnO by mass： 2-5）, seed ratio （seed crystal/（H3BO3＋ZnO） by mass： 0-2wt%）, reaction temperature （50-120~C）, cooling temperature （10-80~C）, and stirring rate （400-700 r/min）; the modifying agents involve propylene glycol （PG, 0-6wt%）, kerosene （lwt%-6wt%）, and oleic acid （OA, lwt%-6wt%） with solvents （isopropyl alcohol （IPA）, ethanol, and methanol）. The results of reaction yield obtained from either magnetically or mechanically stirred systems were compared. Zinc borate produced was characterized by X-ray diffraction （XRD）, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy （FT-IR）, and contact angle tests to identify the hydrophobicity. In conclusion, zinc borate is synthesized successfully under the optimized reaction conditions, and the different modifying agents with various solvents affect the hydrophobicity of zinc borate.

Comparative evaluation of boron distribution from ulexite,colemanite and DOT rods in Scots pine wood

This study evaluated boron diff usion from rods made of raw boron minerals,ulexite and colemanite with low water solubility,in comparison with di-sodium octaborate tetrahydrate(DOT).Scots pine(Pinus sylvestris L.)sapwood and heartwood blocks were conditioned to target moisture contents of 30%,60%,and 90%.The rods were inserted into the blocks through treatment holes and boron diff usion was observed at three assay zones across the blocks after 7,30,60 and 90-day-incubation at room temperature.Ethylene glycol was also inserted into the holes to improve boron diff usion.Boron levels increased with increased wood moisture content.With some exceptions,boron in the assay zones did not tend to follow consistent amount gradients with distance from the treatment hole.Boron levels from ulexite rods were higher than those from colemanite rods,with DOT rods with the highest diff usion rates as a result of higher water solubility of DOT than ulexite and colemanite.The results suggest that ulexite-based rods may be useful inthe presence of ethylene glycol in sapwood when wood is at high moisture content for extended periods.

Production and characterization of hydrophobic zinc borate by using palm oil

Zinc borate （ZB） was synthesized using zinc oxide, boric acid synthesized from colemanite, and reference ZB as seed. The effects of reaction parameters such as reaction time, reactant ratio, and seed ratio on its yield were examined. Then, the effects of palm oil with solvents （isopropyl alcohol （IPA）, ethanol, and methanol） added to the reaction on its hydrophobicity were explored. Reactions were carried out under determined reaction conditions with magnetically and mechanically stirred systems. The produced ZB was characterized by X-ray diffraction （XRD）, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy （FT-IR）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, and measurements of contact angle identified hydrophobicity. The results showed that hydrophobic ZB was successfully produced under determined reaction conditions. The change of process parameters influenced its yield and the usage of palm oil provided hydrophobicity.

Characterization and modification of waste magnesium chip utilized as an Mg-rich intermetallic composite

In this study,the characterization and modification of waste magnesium chips（WMCs）,which were produced by plastic molding in a gold manufacturing factory and are used as Mg-rich intermetallic composites in storing hydrogen,were discussed in detail.WMCs were analyzed using X-ray diffraction（XRD）,X-ray fluorescence（XRF） spectroscopy,differential scanning calorimetry（DSC）,scanning electron microscopy（SEM）,and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller（BET） analysis to characterize the materials’ structural properties.Mechanical milling,organic treatment,and inorganic salt addition were carried out to modify the WMCs’ surface to prepare Mg-rich intermetallic composites for storing hydrogen.The modified samples were analyzed using high-pressure volumetric analyses to calculate their hydrogen storage capacity.The authors conclude that modified WMC was promising as an Mg-rich intermetallic composite that was suitable for use in hydrogen storage with a 4.59 wt%capacity at 320 C under a hydrogen pressure of 60 bar.