Properties of Activated Carbons from Sugarcane Leaves and Rice Straw Derived Charcoals by Activation at Low Temperature via KMnO_(4)Pre-Oxidation-Hydrolysis

Activated carbon preparation from sugarcane leaves and rice straw by carbonization(250℃–400℃)and activation at 500℃were studied.The effects of pre-oxidation,hydrolysis of derived charcoals by boiled KMnO4 aqueous solution were evaluated.The derived charcoals products were pretreated using oxidation-hydrolysis with 1–5 wt.%KMnO4 at 100℃and then activated at 500℃.The derived charcoal and activated carbon products were characterized by FTIR,XRD,SEM-EDS and BET.Iodine number and methylene blue number of derived products were also used for the analysis of the products.It was found that fabricated charcoal materials made at 350℃–400℃possess good characteristics with low content of surface functional groups and high carbon content.After pre-oxidation-hydrolysis and activation at 500℃,the resulting derived activated carbon materials from charcoals with 400℃carbonization temperature have high content of oxygen containing surface functional groups such as Mn-O,Si-O,Si-O-Si,C-O,or O-H.In addition,MnO_(2) accumulated on the surface of the derived activated carbon products.The surface area and pore volume of the activated carbon products have also increased with increasing of KMnO_(4) concentration from 1 to 3 wt.%and then decreased with 5 wt.%used during activation.Therefore,activated carbon products made by pre-oxidation-hydrolysis with 3 wt.%KMnO_(4) were used for Fe(Ⅲ)adsorption experiments.It was found that Fe(Ⅲ)adsorption on the activated carbon materials can be fitted with both the Freundlich and the Langmuir models.The calculated maximum Fe(Ⅲ)adsorption capacities of sugarcane leaves derived activated carbon and rice straw derived activated carbon products were 50.00 and 39.37 mg/g,respectively.It was shown that the effect of pre-oxidation-hydrolysis by KMnO_(4) and activation at 500℃are beneficial for activated carbon preparation with environmentally friendly and low-cost simplified operation.

Preparation of Palladium Supported on Ferric Oxide Nano-catalysts for Carbon Monoxide Oxidation in Low Temperature

Catalytic property of Pd/Fe2O3 catalysts on carbon monoxide(CO) oxidation at low temperature were investigated in this paper. Both the as-prepared and H2-pretreated Pd/Fe2O3 catalysts show catalytic performances on CO oxidation. The CO was completely converted at 333 K for the as-prepared sample,whereas at 313 K for H2-pretreated Pd/Fe2O3-573 catalyst. The catalytic performance of the Pd/Fe2O3 catalyst decreases with increased calcination temperature. This may be due to the increased crystallinity of the support and decreased metal-support interaction. Progressive deactivation of the catalysts during long-time reaction was associated with the formation of carbonates on the catalyst surface that inhibits CO activation or intermediate transformation.

Fretting Wear Behavior of Medium Carbon Steel Modified by Low Temperature Gas Multi-component Thermo-chemical Treatment

The introduction of surface engineering is expected to be an effective strategy against fretting damage. A large number of studies show that the low gas multi-component （such as carbon, nitrogen, sulphur and oxygen, etc） thermo-chemical treatment（LTGMTT） can overcome the brittleness of nitriding process, and upgrade the surface hardness and improve the wear resistance and fatigue properties of the work-pieces significantly. However, there are few reports on the anti-fretting properties of the LTGMTT modified layer up to now, which limits the applications of fretting. So this paper discusses the fretting wear behavior of modified layer on the surface of LZ50 （0.48%C） steel prepared by low temperature gas multi-component thermo-chemical treatment （LTGMTT） technology. The fretting wear tests of the modified layer flat specimens and its substrate （LZ50 steel） against 52100 steel balls with diameter of 40 mm are carried out under normal load of 150 N and displacement amplitudes varied from 2 μm to 40 μm. Characterization of the modified layer and dynamic analyses in combination with microscopic examinations were performed through the means of scanning electron microscope（SEM）, optical microscope（OM）, X-ray diffraction（XRD） and surface profilometer. The experimental results showed that the modified layer with a total thickness of 60 μm was consisted of three parts, i.e., loose layer, compound layer and diffusion layer. Compared with the substrate, the range of the mixed fretting regime（MFR） of the LTGMTT modified layer diminished, and the slip regime（SR） of the modified layer shifted to the direction of smaller displacement amplitude. The coefficient of friction（COF） of the modified layer was lower than that of the substrate in the initial stage. For the modified layer, the damage in partial slip regime（PSR） was very slight. The fretting wear mechanism of the modified layer both in MFR and SR was abrasive wear and delamination. The modified layer presented better wear resistance than the substrate in PSR and MFR; however, in SR, the wear resistance of the modified layer decreased with the increase of the displacement amplitudes. The experimental results can provide some experimental bases for promoting industrial application of LTGMTT modified layer in anti-fretting wear.

Effect of austenitization temperature on microstructure and mechanical properties of low-carbon-equivalent carbidic austempered ductile iron

The wear resistances of austempered ductile iron （ADI） were improved through intxoduction of a new phase （carbide） into the ma- txix by addition of chromium. In the present investigation, low-caxbon-equivalent ductile iron （LCEDI） （CE = 3.06%, and CE represents cax- bon-equivalent） with 2.42% chromium was selected. LCEDI was austeintized at two difl＇erent temperatures （900 and 975~C） a^ld soaked for 1 h and then quenched in a salt bath at 325~C for 0 to 10 h. Samples were analyzed using optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Wear tests were carded out on a pin-on-disk-type machine. The efl＇ect of austenization temperature on the wear resistance, impact strength, and the mi- crostructure was evaluated. A stxucture-property correlation based on the observations is established.

Boosting energy-storage capability in carbon-based supercapacitors using low-temperature water-in-salt electrolytes

Supercapacitors(SCs) are high-power energy storage devices with ultra-fast charge/discharge properties.SCs using concentrated aqueous-based electrolytes can work at low temperatures due to their intrinsic properties, such as higher freezing point depression(FPD) and robustness. Besides the traditional organic-and aqueous-based(salt-in-water) electrolytes used in SCs, water-in-salt(WISE) sodium perchlorate electrolytes offer high FPD, non-flammability, and low-toxicity conditions, allowing the fabrication of safer, environmentally friendly, and more robust devices. For the first time, this work reports a comprehensive study regarding WISE system’s charge-storage capabilities and physicochemical properties under low-temperature conditions(T < 0 ℃) using mesoporous carbon-based electrodes. The effect of temperature reduction on the electrolyte viscosity and electrical properties was investigated using different techniques and the in-situ(or operando) Raman spectroscopy under dynamic polarization conditions.The cell voltage, equivalent series resistance, and specific capacitance were investigated as a function of the temperature. The cell voltage(U) increased ~ 50%, while the specific capacitance decreased ~20%when the temperature was reduced from 25 ℃ to -10 ℃. As a result, the maximum specific energy(E = CU^(2)/2) increased ~ 100%. Therefore, low-temperature WISEs are promising candidates to improve the energy-storage characteristics in SCs.

Preparation of ultrafine α-Al_2O_3 powders by catalytic sintering of ammonium aluminum carbonate hydroxide at low temperature

The precursor of ammonium aluminum carbonate hydroxide was synthesized by using aluminum sulfate（Al2（SO4）3） and ammonium carbonate（（NH4）2CO3）. The effects of α-Al2O3 seeds and mixture composed of α-Al2O3 and ammonium nitrate, as well as multiplex catalysts （AT） on phase transformation of alumina in sintering process were investigated respectively. The results show that the α-Al2O3 seeds and the mixture of α-Al2O3 and ammonium nitrate can lower the phase transformation temperature of α-Al2O3 to different extents while the particles obtained agglomerate heavily. AT has great potential synergistic effects on the phase transformation of alumina and reduces the phase transformation temperature of α-Al2O3 and the trends of necking-formation between particles. Therefore the dispersion of powder particles is improved significantly.

Recent progress in CO oxidation over Pt-group-metal catalysts at low temperatures

CO oxidation is probably the most studied reaction in heterogeneous catalysis.This reaction has become a hot topic with the discovery of nanogold catalysts,which are active at low temperatures（at or below room temperature）.Au catalysts are the benchmark for judging the activities of other metals in CO oxidation.Pt-group metals（PGMs） that give comparable performances are of particular interest.In this mini-review,we summarize the advances in various PGM（Pt,Pd,Ir,Rh,Ru）catalysts that have high catalytic activities in low-temperature CO oxidation arising from reducible supports or the presence of OH species.The effects of the size of the metal species and the importance of the interface between the metal and the reducible support are covered and discussed in terms of their promotional role in CO oxidation at low temperatures.

Low-temperature phase transformation from nanotube to sp^3 superhard carbon phase

Numerous new carbon allotropes have been uncovered by compressing carbon nanotubes based on our computational investigation. The volume compression calculations suggest that these new phases have a very high anti-compressibility with a large bulk modulus （B0）. The predicted B0 of new phases is larger than that of c-BN （373 GPa） and smaller than that of diamond （453 GPa）. All of the predicted structures are superhard transparent materials with a larger band gap and possess the covalent characteristics with sp3-hybridized electronic states. The simulated results will help us better understand the structural phase transition of cold-compressed carbon nanotubes.

Layer Structure Analysis of Low-Carbon Steel Containing Rare Earth by High-Temperature Carburizing of Liquid Cast-Iron

The layer structure of low-carbon steel containing RE by high-temperature (T>1200 ℃) carburizing of liquid cast-iron was studied and the diffusion activation energy of carbon was calculated by metallographic microscpe, chemical analysis etc. The result shows that the technology of carburizing in liquid cast-iron can expedite caburization distinctly and changes the carburizing layer structure. The carburizing rate is 60～80 times of that of the traditional technology, and there is about 43% decrease in the activation energy compared with gas-carburization. In outer structure layer, cementite is formed simultaneously both on the crystal boundary reticularly and inside the crystal grains stripedly. In inner carburizing layer, there is undissolved blocky ferrite in reticular cementite. Besides, rare earth element can expedite carburization process.

Study on Carburizing Kinetics of Low-carbon Steel at High-temperature and Short-term

In this paper, the carburizing kinetics of low-carbon steel at high-temperature and short-term in liquid cast-iron were studied by metallographic microscope, chemical analysis and so on, and the microstructure of carburized layer was also analyzed. The results show that the carburizing rate of low-carbon steel at high-temperature and short-term is so fast, and the microstructure of carburized layer possess higher carbon content, and cementite, pearlite and ferrite exist in carburized layer structure simultaneously. Besides, the kinetic equations of permeating layer forming have been presented, and the carburizing mechanism was preliminary discussed also.

Microstructure of Surface Layer Formed at Low Temperature and High Carbon Concentration Carburizing with Rare Earth Element

A suitable carburized microstructure with fine granular dispersed carbides in hypereutectoid zone,ultra fine martensite in matrix and recrystallized austenite to be refined to the grain size of 12～14 has been obtained by a new process,which is a high carbon concentration carburizing with rare earth element at low temperature(860～880℃)in a discontinuous gas carburization furnace.There was not much difference for the microstructure in eutectic zone between this and conventional process.Forming mechanism of granular carbides has been also studied in this paper.

LOW TEMPERATURE ALUMINUM FLOATING ELECTROLYSIS IN HEAVY ELECTROLYTE Na_3AlF_6-AlF_3-BaC1_2-NaCl BATH SYSTEM

Multiple regression equations of liquidus temperature, electrical conductivity and bath density of the Na_3AlF_6-AlF_3-BaC1_2-NaCl system were obtained from experiments by using orthogonal regression method. The experiments were carried out in 100A cell with low melting point electrolyte, the influences of cathodic current density, electrolytic temperature, density differences of bath and liquid aluminum on current efficiency (CE) were studied; when the electrolyte cryolite ratio was 2.5, w(BaC1_2) and w(NaCl) were 48% and 10%, respectively, CE reached 90% and specific energy consumption was 10.97k Wb/kg/kg. Because of the fact that aluminum metal obtained floated on the surface of molten electrolyte, this electrolysis method was then defined as low temperature aluminum floating electrolysis. The results showed that the new low temperature aluminum electrolysis process in the Na_3AlF_6-AlF_3-BaC1_2-NaCl bath system was practical and promising.

Al_(x)/HKUST-1 prepared by synthetic exchange as catalyst for reduction of NO by CO at low temperature

Al_(x)/HKUST-1(x=1/24,1/12,1/6,1/3),one of the bimetallic copper-based organic framework materials,was successfully prepared by the synthetic exchange method and characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),specific surface area(BET),thermogravimetric analysis(TG),infrared spectra(IR),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS),and H_(2)-temperature programmed reduction(H_(2)-TPR).The findings indicated that Al_(x)/HKUST-1 maintained the octahedral morphology of its precursor(HKUST-1).The thermal stability and catalytic reduction ability of HKUST-1 skeleton were improved by doping aluminum(Al^(3+)).Al_(1/12)/HKUST-1 showed the best performance among all samples,with a nitric oxide(NO)conversion rate of 100%at 210℃(50℃lower than that of HKUST-1).The valence kind of Al,Cu,and O in Al_(1/12)/HKUST-1 did not change after the catalytic reaction,but the contents of Al,Cu,and O in different forms changed significantly.The catalytic process of the Al_(x)/HKUST-1 followed a Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism.

CHARACTERISTIC TRANSITION TEMPERATURE OF BRITTLENESS OF LOW CARBON STEEL

On the basis of analysis of low carbon steel fracture macro-features and micro-processes at low temperature,the definition was given of the characteristic transition temperature of brittleness,T_(pm),and its physical meaning was expounded.Discussion was carried out of phys- ical characteristic of variation at T_(pm) in respect of the fracture toughness and property of crack arrest.In addition,research was made on the application of T_(pm),which can give infor- mation about the transition of the fracture toughness,the property of crack arrest and critical crack size,to estimation the brittleness of low carbon steel at low temperatures.

The Preparation of Mn-Fe/CNTs Catalyst at the Low-Temperature Selective Catalytic Reduction of NO with NH₃

The metal oxide catalyst was prepared by loading MnOx and FeOx on carbon nano-tubes (CNTs) with impregnation method. Then the catalyst was characterized by BET and XPS, and the effect of adding FeOx on MnOx/CNTs catalyst at the low-temperature selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3 was investigated. The results showed that the active components were loaded suc-cessfully and easily on the carriers by impregnation. The Mn-Fe/CNTs catalyst was chose 10% Fe(NO3)3 solution to impregnate Mn-Fe/CNTs. The species of active components loaded on the catalyst were Fe2O3. The different concentration of impregnant solution played an important role for NO conversion in SCR with NH3. With the increase of the concentration of impregnant solution, the NO conversion of catalysts was increasing initially then decreasing.

Synthesis of SAPO-34/graphite composites for low temperature heat adsorption pumps

Low temperature heat adsorption pumps represent the innovative cooling systems, where cold is generated through adsorption/desorption cycle of water by a suitable adsorbent with good adsorption and high thermal conductive properties. In this work, the hydrothermal synthesis of zeolite SAPO-34 on thermal conductive grapbitic supports, aiming at the development of highly pertbrming adsorbent materials, is reported. The synthesis was carried out using as-received and oxidized commercial carbon papers, and graphite plate. Composites were characterized by XRD, SEM and also by a thermogravimetric method, using a Cahn microbalance. The water adsorbing capacity showed typical S-shape trend and the maximum water loading was around 25 wt%, a value close to water adsorption capability of pure SAPO-34. These results are very promising for their application in heat adsorption pumps.

Carbonation Reaction of Lithium Hydroxide during Low Temperature Thermal Energy Storage Process

In order to apply lithium hydroxide(LiOH)as a low temperature chemical heat storage material,the carbonation reaction of LiOH and the prevention method are focused in this research.The carbonation of raw LiOH at storage and hydration condition is experimentally investigated.The results show that the carbonation reaction of LiOH with carbon dioxide(CO_(2))is confirmed during the hydration reaction.The carbonation of LiOH can be easily carried out with CO_(2) at room temperature and humidity.LiOH can be carbonated at a humidity range of 10%to 20%,a normal humidity region that air can easily be reached.Furthermore,the carbonation reaction rate has not nearly affected by the increase of reaction temperature.An improved storage method by storing LiOH at a low humidity less than 1.0%can be effectively prevented the carbonation of LiOH.The hydration reaction ratio of LiOH at the improved storage method shows a better result compared to the ordinary storage method.Therefore,the humidity should be carefully controlled during the storage of LiOH before hydration and dehydration reaction when apply LiOH as a low heat chemical storage material.

Synthesis of Carbon Nanotubes by MWPCVD at Low Temperature

Growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) at low temperature is very important to the ap- plications of nanotubes. In this paper, under the catalytic effect of cobalt nanoparticles supported by SiO2, CNTs were synthesized by microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition (MWPCVD) below 500°C. lt demonstrates that MWPCVD can be a very efficient process for the synthesis of CNTs at low temperature.

温度和湿度对P-CNT自感知混凝土压敏性的影响

为研究温度与湿度对自感知混凝土(SSC)感知性能的影响,通过低温等离子体改性处理技术对碳纳米管(CNT)进行官能团嫁接,使其在水性体系下获得较好的分散性,并将改性后的CNT(P-CNT)加入混凝土中制备P-CNT/SSC传感器,通过改变含水率与温度条件研究P-CNT/SSC传感器的极化效应与循环加载下的自感知性能。试验结果表明:过高或过低的含水率均不利于SSC的感知性能,其中变化最为明显的是饱水状态下的P-CNT/SSC传感器,其应力敏感系数下降89.8%,并且压敏曲线极不稳定;在变温试验中,P-CNT/SSC传感器的电阻率与温度之间呈现负相关性,高温和低温下的应力敏感系数相较于常温组试件,分别下降了约35.66%和44.53%,并且压敏曲线整体出现了上移或下滑的趋势;P-CNT/SSC传感器在工程应用中的最佳测试环境为常温、自然含水率。

Synthesis of Pd nanoparticles supported on CeO_2 nanotubes for CO oxidation at low temperatures

Developing efficient supported Pd catalysts and understanding their catalytic mechanism in CO oxidation are challenging research topics in recent years.This paper describes the synthesis of Pd nanoparticles supported on CeO2 nanotubes via an alcohol reduction method.The effect of the support morphology on the catalytic reaction was explored.Subsequently,the performance of the prepared catalysts was investigated toward CO oxidation reaction and characterized by Nitrogen sorption,X-ray diffraction,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,transmission electron microscopy,and CO-temperature-programmed desorption techniques.The results indicated that the catalyst of Pd on CeO2 nanotubes exhibits excellent activity in CO oxidation at low temperatures,due to its large surface area,the high dispersion of Pd species,the mesoporous and tubular structure of the CeO2-nanotube support,the abundant Ce3＋,formation of Pd–O–Ce bonding,and enhanced metal–support interaction on the catalyst surface.