Reaction pathways and selectivity in the chemo-catalytic conversion of cellulose and its derivatives to ethylene glycol:A review

Biomass-to-ethylene glycol is an effective means to achieve high-value utilisation of cellulose but is hindered by low conversion efficiency and poor catalyst activity and stability.Glucose and cellobiose are derivatives of cellulose conversion to ethylene glycol,and it is found that studying the reaction process of both can help to understand the reaction mechanism of cellulose.It is desirable to develop a reusable,highly active catalyst to convert cellulose into ethylene glycol.This ideal catalyst might have one or more active sites described the conversion steps above.Here,we discuss the catalyst development of celluloseto-ethylene glycol,including tungsten,tin,lanthanide,and other transition metal catalysts,and special attention is given to the reaction mechanism and kinetics for preparing ethylene glycol from cellulose,and the economic advantages of biomass-to-ethylene glycol are briefly introduced.The insights given in this review will facilitate further development of efficient catalysts,for addressing the global energy crisis and climate change related to the use of fossil fuels.

Enhanced Ethylene Production from Electrocatalytic Acetylene Semi-hydrogenation Over Porous Carbon-Supported Cu Nanoparticles

Electrocatalytic semi-hydrogenation of acetylene(C_(2)H_(2))over copper nanoparticles(Cu NPs)offers a promising non-petroleum alternative for the green production of ethylene(C2H4).However,server hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)competition in this process prominently decreases C2H4 selectivity,thereby hindering its practical application.Herein,a Cu-based composite catalyst,wherein porous carbon with nanoscale pores was used as a support,is constructed to gather the C_(2)H_(2) feedstocks for suppressing the undesirable HER.As a result,the as-prepared catalyst exhibited C_(2)H_(2) conversion of 27.1%and C_(2)H_(4) selectivity of 88.4%at a C2H4 partial current density of 0.25 A/cm^(2) under optimal−1.0 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode(RHE)under the simulated coal-derived C_(2)H_(2) atmosphere,significantly outperforming the single Cu NPs counterparts.In addition,a series of in situ and ex situ experimental results show that not only the porous nature of the carbon support but also the stabilized Cu^(0)–Cu^(+) dual active sites through the strong metal–support interactions enhance the adsorption capacity of C_(2)H_(2),leading to high C_(2)H_(2) partial pressure,restraining the HER and thus improving the C2H4 selectivity.

Sn nucleation and growth from Sn(II)dissolved in ethylene glycol:Electrochemical behavior and temperature effect

Thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of Sn nucleation and growth processes onto a glassy carbon electrode from SnCl2·2H2O dissolved in ethylene glycol solutions were studied.Typical reduction and oxidation peaks observed in voltammograms have demonstrated the capability of ethylene glycol solutions to electrodeposit Sn.The temperature-dependence of diffusion coefficient values derived from potentiodynamic and potentiostatic studies helped to determine and validate estimations of the activation energy for Sn(II)bulk diffusion.Chronoamperometric results have identified that,the suitable model to describe the early stage of Sn electrodeposition could be composed of Sn three-dimensional nucleation and diffusion-controlled growth and water reduction contributions,which was duly validated by theoretical and experimental approaches.From the model,typical kinetic parameters such as the nucleation frequency of Sn(A),number density of Sn nuclei(N_(0)),and diffusion coefficient of Sn(II)ions(D),were determined.The presence of Sn nuclei with excellent quality and their structures were verified using SEM,EDX,and XRD techniques.

B-COPNA resin formation from ethylene tar light fractions:Process development and mechanical exploration by molecular simulation

An efficient utilization strategy of ethylene tar(ET),the main by-product of the ethylene cracking unit,is urgently required to meet demands for modern petrochemical industry.On the other hand,condensed polynuclear aromatic resin of moderate condensation degree(B-COPNA)is a widely used carbon material due to its superb processability,the production of which is,however,seriously limited by the high cost of raw materials.Under such context,an interesting strategy was proposed in this study for producing B-COPNA resin using crosslinked light fractions of ethylene tar(ETLF,boiling point<260℃)facilitated by molecular simulation.1,4-Benzenedimethanol(PXG)was first selected as the crosslinking agent according to the findings of molecular simulation.The effects of operating conditions,including reactions temperature,crosslinking agent,and catalyst content on the softening point and yield of B-COPNA resin products were then investigated to optimize the process.The reaction mechanism of resin production was studied by analyzing the molecular structure and transition state of ETLF and crosslinking agents.It was shown that PXG exhibited a superior capacity of withdrawing electrons and a higher electrophilic reactivity than other crosslinking agents.In addition to the highest yield and greatest heat properties,PXG-prepared resin contained the most condensed aromatics.The corresponding optimized conditions of resin preparation were 180℃,1:1.9(PXG:ETLF),and 3%(mass)of catalyst content with a resin yield of 78.57%.It was the electrophilic substitution reaction that occurred between the ETLF and crosslinking agent molecules that were responsible for the resin formation,according to the experimental characterization and molecular simulation.Hence,it was confirmed that the proposed strategy and demonstrated process can achieve a clean and high value-added utilization of ETLF via B-COPNA resin preparation,bringing huge economic value to the current petrochemical industry.

Mn-doped SrCoO_(3-δ) Perovskite Oxides for Ethylene Production via Chemical Looping Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Ethane

Chemical looping oxidative dehydrogenation (CL-ODH) is an economically promising method for convertingethane into higher value-added ethylene utilizing lattice oxygen in redox catalysts, also known as oxygen carriers. Inthis study, perovskite-type oxide SrCoO_(3-δ) and B-site Mn ion-doped oxygen carriers (SrCo_(1-x)MnxO_(3-δ), x=0.1, 0.2, 0.3)were prepared and tested for the CL-ODH of ethane. The oxygen-deficient perovskite SrCoO_(3-δ) exhibited high ethyleneselectivity of up to 96.7% due to its unique oxygen vacancies and lattice oxygen migration rates. However, its low ethyleneyield limits its application in the CL-ODH of ethane. Mn doping promoted the reducibility of SrCoO_(3-δ) oxygen carriers,thereby improving ethane conversion and ethylene yield, as demonstrated by characterization and evaluation experiments.X-ray diffraction results confirmed the doping of Mn into the lattice of SrCoO_(3-δ), while X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) indicated an increase in lattice oxygen ratio upon incorporation of Mn into the SrCoO_(3-δ) lattice. Additionally, H2temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR) tests revealed more peaks at lower temperature reduction zones and a declinein peak positions at higher temperatures. Among the four tested oxygen carriers, SrCo0.8Mn0.2O_(3-δ) exhibited satisfactoryperformance with an ethylene yield of 50% at 710 °C and good stability over 20 redox cycles. The synergistic effect of Mnplays a key role in increasing ethylene yields of SrCoO_(3-δ) oxygen carriers. Accordingly, SrCo0.8Mn0.2O_(3-δ) shows promisingpotential for the efficient production of ethylene from ethane via CL-ODH.

Boosting kinetic separation of ethylene and ethane on microporous materials via crystal size control

The adsorptive separation of C_(2)H_(4)and C_(2)H_(6),as an alternative to distillation units consuming high energy,is a promising yet challenging research.The great similarity in the molecular size of C_(2)H_(4)and C_(2)H_(6)brings challenges to the regulation of adsorbents to realize efficient dynamic separation.Herein,we reported the enhancement of the kinetic separation of C_(2)H_(4)/C_(2)H_(6)by controlling the crystal size of ZnAtzPO_(4)(Atz=3-amino-1,2,4-triazole)to amplify the diffusion difference of C_(2)H_(4)and C_(2)H_(6).Through adjusting the synthesis temperature,reactant concentration,and ligands/metal ions molar ratio,ZnAtzPO4 crystals with different sizes were obtained.Both single-component kinetic adsorption tests and binary-component dynamic breakthrough experiments confirmed the enhancement of the dynamic separation of C_(2)H_(4)/C_(2)H_(6)with the increase in the crystal size of ZnAtzPO_(4).The separation selectivity of C_(2)H_(4)/C_(2)H_(6)increased from 1.3 to 98.5 with the increase in the crystal size of ZnAtzPO_(4).This work demonstrated the role of morphology and size control of adsorbent crystals in the improvement of the C_(2)H_(4)/C_(2)H_(6)kinetic separation performance.

Ethylene accelerates maize leaf senescence in response to nitrogen deficiency by regulating chlorophyll metabolism and autophagy

Leaf senescence is an orderly and highly coordinated process,and finely regulated by ethylene and nitrogen(N),ultimately affecting grain yield and nitrogen-use efficiency(NUE).However,the underlying regulatory mechanisms on the crosstalk between ethylene-and N-regulated leaf senescence remain a mystery in maize.In this study,ethylene biosynthesis gene ZmACS7 overexpressing(OE-ZmACS7)plants were used to study the role of ethylene regulating leaf senescence in response to N deficiency,and they exhibited the premature leaf senescence accompanied by increased ethylene release,decreased chlorophyll content and F_v/F_m ratio,and accelerated chloroplast degradation.Then,we investigated the dynamics changes of transcriptome reprogramming underlying ethylene-accelerated leaf senescence in response to N deficiency.The differentially expressed genes(DEGs)involved in chlorophyll biosynthesis were significantly down-regulated,while DEGs involved in chlorophyll degradation and autophagy processes were significantly up-regulated,especially in OE-ZmACS7 plants in response to N deficiency.A gene regulatory network(GRN)was predicted during ethylene-accelerated leaf senescence in response to N deficiency.Three transcription factors(TFs)ZmHSF4,Zmb HLH106,and ZmEREB147 were identified as the key regulatory genes,which targeted chlorophyll biosynthesis gene ZmLES22,chlorophyll degradation gene ZmNYC1,and autophagy-related gene ZmATG5,respectively.Furthermore,ethylene signaling key genes might be located upstream of these TFs,generating the signaling cascade networks during ethylene-accelerated leaf senescence in response to N deficiency.Collectively,these findings improve our molecular knowledge of ethylene-accelerated maize leaf senescence in response to N deficiency,which is promising to improve NUE by manipulating the progress of leaf senescence in maize.

Ethane Chemical Looping Oxidative Dehydrogenation to Ethylene over Co_(2)O_(3)(Fe_(2)O_(3),NiO)/LaCoO_(3) Oxygen Carriers

Ethane chemical looping oxidative dehydrogenation(CL-ODH)to ethylene is a new technology for converting ethane to ethylene.In the current study MeO/LaCoO_(3)(MeO=Fe_(2)O_(3),NiO or Co_(2)O_(3))composite metal oxides were prepared via citrate gel and impregnation methods,and used as oxygen carriers for CL-ODH.X-ray diffraction results indicated that all oxygen carriers had a perovskite structure even after eight redox cycles.Under a reaction temperature of 650°C,a reaction pressure of 0.1 MPa,and a weight hourly space velocity(WHSV)of 7500 mL/(g·h),ethane conversion over Co_(2)O_(3)/LaCoO_(3) reached 100%and ethylene selectivity reached 60%,both of which were better than corresponding values attained over Fe_(2)O_(3)/LaCoO_(3) and NiO/LaCoO_(3).Ethylene selectivity remained stable for 80 cycles over Co_(2)O_(3)/LaCoO_(3),then decreased gradually after 80 cycles.X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results and evaluation results indicated that lattice oxygen and O_(2)2-had a direct relationship with ethane conversion and ethylene selectivity.Co_(2)O_(3)/LaCoO_(3) exhibited a strong capacity to release and absorb oxygen,mainly due to interaction between Co_(2)O_(3) and LaCoO_(3).

Unraveling the incompatibility mechanism of ethylene carbonate-based electrolytes in sodium metal anodes

Ethylene carbonate(EC)is widely used in lithium-ion batteries due to its optimal overall performance with satisfactory conductivity,relatively stable solid electrolyte interphase(SEI),and wide electrochemical window.EC is also the most widely used electrolyte solvent in sodium ion batteries.However,compared to lithium metal,sodium metal(Na)shows higher activity and reacts violently with EC-based electrolyte(NaPF_(6)as solute),which leads to the failure of sodium metal batteries(SMBs).Herein,we reveal the electrochemical instability mechanism of EC on sodium metal battery,and find that the com-bination of EC and NaPF_(6) is electrically reduced in sodium metal anode during charging,resulting in the reduction of the first coulombic efficiency,and the continuous consumption of electrolyte leads to the cell failure.To address the above issues,an additive modified linear carbonate-based electrolyte is provided as a substitute for EC based electrolytes.Specifically,ethyl methyl carbonate(EMC)and dimethyl carbon-ate(DMC)as solvents and fluoroethylene carbonate(FEC)as SEI-forming additive have been identified as the optimal solvent for NaFP_(6)based electrolyte and used in Na_(4)Fe_(3)(PO_(4))_(2)(P_(2)O_(7))/Na batteries.The batter-ies exhibit excellent capacity retention rate of about 80%over 1000 cycles at a cut-off voltage of 4.3 V.

Ca_(2)MnO_(4)-layered perovskite modified by NaNO_(3)for chemical-looping oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane to ethylene

Chemical-looping oxidative dehydrogenation(CL-ODH)is a process designed for the conversion of alkanes into olefins through cyclic redox reactions,eliminating the need for gaseous O_(2).In this work,we investigated the use of Ca_(2)MnO_(4)-layered perovskites modified with NaNO_(3) dopants,serving as redox catalysts(also known as oxygen carriers),for the CL-ODH of ethane within a temperature range of 700-780℃.Our findings revealed that the incorporation of NaNO_(3) as a modifier significantly-nhanced the selectivity for-thylene generation from Ca_(2)MnO_(4).At 750℃and a gas hourly space velocity of 1300 h^(-1),we achieved an-thane conversion up to 68.17%,accompanied by a corresponding-thylene yield of 57.39%.X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis unveiled that the doping NaNO_(3) onto Ca_(2)MnO_(4) not only played a role in reducing the oxidation state of Mn ions but also increased the lattice oxygen content of the redox catalyst.Furthermore,formation of NaNO_(3) shell on the surface of Ca_(2)MnO_(4) led to a reduction in the concentration of manganese sites and modulated the oxygen-releasing behavior in a step-wise manner.This modulation contributed significantly to the enhanced selectivity for ethylene of the NaNO_(3)-doped Ca_(2)MnO_(4) catalyst.These findings provide compelling evidence for the potential of Ca_(2)MnO_(4)-layered perovskites as promising redox catalysts in the context of CL-ODH reactions.

Synthesis of Branched Polyethylene via Bulky α-Diimine Nickel(II)-Catalyzed Ethylene Chain-Walking Polymerization

The catalysis of olefin polymerization through the chain-walking process is a subject of great interest. In this contribution, the successful synthesis of a Brookhart-type unsymmetrical α-diimine nickel catalyst Ni, which contains both dibenzhydryl and phenyl groups, was determined by X-ray crystallography. The compound has a pseudo-tetrahedral geometry at the Ni center, showing pseudo-C2-symmetry. Upon activation with modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO), Ni1 exhibits high catalytic activity up to 1.02 × 107 g PE (mol Ni h)−1 toward ethylene polymerization, enabling the synthesis of high molecular weight branched polyethylene. The molecular weights and branching densities could be tuned over a very wide range. The polymerization results indicated the possibility of precise microstructure control, depending on the polymerization temperature. The branching densities were decreased with increasing the polymerization temperature.

Stoichiometry and Stability Constant Values for Copper (II) Chelates with Ethylene Diamine in Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES) (Ethaline) Solutions

In this study we used the deep eutectic solvents (ionic liquids) to investigate the reaction between copper (II) with ethylene diamine (en). Two of the existing methods for analyzing spectrophotometric measurements have been applied for establishing, the stoichiometry and whenever possible, the stability constants of the chelates formed. The method of continuous variations was necessary to determine first whether, the metal ion and the ligand ethylene diamine form one or more than one chelate, when more than one chelate formed, the results obtained depend on the wavelength and for meaningful conclusions the wavelengths were carefully selected. The empirical formulae of the chelates were further substantiated by the molar ratio method. The effect of time and temperature on the formation and stability of these chelates in solution is also studied. The stability constants, K1 and K2 for the copper (II) chelates were calculated, though reliable, and are comparable to literature values.

Novel sandwich structured glass fiber Cloth/Poly(ethylene oxide)-MXene composite electrolyte

Recently,poly(ethylene oxide)(PEO)-based solid polymer electrolytes have been attracting great attention,and efforts are currently underway to develop PEO-based composite electrolytes for next generation high performance all-solid-state lithium metal batteries.In this article,a novel sandwich structured solid-state PEO composite electrolyte is developed for high performance all-solid-state lithium metal batteries.The PEO-based composite electrolyte is fabricated by hot-pressing PEO,LiTFSI and Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x) MXene nanosheets into glass fiber cloth(GFC).The as-prepared GFC@PEO-MXene electrolyte shows high mechanical properties,good electrochemical stability,and high lithium-ion migration number,which indicates an obvious synergistic effect from the microscale GFC and the nanoscale MXene.Such as,the GFC@PEO-1 wt%MXene electrolyte shows a high tensile strength of 43.43 MPa and an impressive Young's modulus of 496 MPa,which are increased by 1205%and 6048%over those of PEO.Meanwhile,the ionic conductivity of GFC@PEO-1 wt%MXene at 60℃ reaches 5.01×10^(-2) S m^(-1),which is increased by around 200%compared with that of GFC@PEO electrolyte.In addition,the Li/Li symmetric battery based on GFC@PEO-1 wt%MXene electrolyte shows an excellent cycling stability over 800 h(0.3 mA cm^(-2),0.3 mAh cm^(-2)),which is obviously longer than that based on PEO and GFC@PEO electrolytes due to the better compatibility of GFC@PEO-1 wt%MXene electrolyte with Li anode.Furthermore,the solid-state Li/LiFePO_(4) battery with GFC@PEO-1 wt%MXene as electrolyte demonstrates a high capacity of 110.2–166.1 mAh g^(-1) in a wide temperature range of 25–60C,and an excellent capacity retention rate.The developed sandwich structured GFC@PEO-1 wt%MXene electrolyte with the excellent overall performance is promising for next generation high performance all-solid-state lithium metal batteries.

Polyvinyl Acetate and Vinyl Acetate-Ethylene Hybrid Adhesive: Synthesis, Characterization, and Properties

The goal is to develop a hybrid IPN network of polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) and ethylene-vinyl acetate (VAE). In this research work, the vinyl acetate (VAc)/ VAE hybrid emulsion and polyvinyl acetate emulsion (PVAc) were effectively synthesized. Emulsions with various characteristics have been developed by adjusting the weight ratios between the vinyl acetate monomer and the VAE component. The impacts on the mechanical, thermal, and physical properties of the films were investigated using tests for pencil hardness, tensile shear strength, pH, contact angle measurement, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and viscosity. When 5.0 weight percent VAE was added, the tensile shear strength in dry conditions decreased by 18.75% after a 24-hour bonding period, the heat resistance decreased by 26.29% (as per WATT 91) and the tensile shear strength decreased by approximately 36.52% in wet conditions (per EN 204). The pristine sample’s results were also confirmed by the contact angle test. The interpenetrating network (IPN) formation in hybrid PVAc emulsion as primary bonds does not directly attach to PVAc and VAE chains. The addition of VAE reduced the mechanical properties (at dry conditions) and heat resistance as per WATT 91. Contact angle analysis demonstrated that PVAc adhesives containing VAE had increased water resistance when compared to conventional PVA stabilised PVAc homopolymer-based adhesives. When compared to virgin PVAc Homo, the water resistance of the PVAc emulsion polymerization was enhanced by the addition of VAE.

Attenuation of ethylene signaling increases cotton resistance to a defoliating strain of Verticillium dahliae

The severity of Verticillium wilt on cotton caused by defoliating strains of Verticillium dahliae has gradually increased and threatens production worldwide. Identification of the molecular components of leaf defoliation may increase cotton tolerance to V. dahliae. Ethylene, a major player in plant physiological processes, is often associated with senescence and defoliation of plants. We investigated the cotton–V.dahliae interaction with a focus on the role of ethylene in defoliation and defense against V. dahliae.Cotton plants inoculated with V. dahliae isolate V991, a defoliating strain, accumulated more ethylene and showed increased disease symptoms than those inoculated with a non-defoliating strain. In cotton with a transiently silenced ethylene synthesis gene(GhACOs) and signaling gene(GhEINs) during cotton–V. dahliae interaction, ethylene produced was derived from cotton and more ethylene increased cotton susceptibility and defoliation rate. Overexpression of AtCTR1, a negative regulator in ethylene signaling, in cotton reduced sensitivity to ethylene and increased plant resistance to V. dahliae.Collectively, the results indicated precise regulation of ethylene synthesis or signaling pathways improve cotton resistant to Verticillium wilt.

Analysis of Ethylene Glycol Degumming Process and Characterization of Hemp Fibers

To overcome the shortcomings of traditional degumming process,an efficient and environmentally friendly ethylene glycol(EG) degumming process was adopted to degum hemp fibers.The surface morphology,chemical composition,chemical structures,and mechanical properties of the fiber samples were analyzed to explore the mechanism of the degumming process.It was found that the EG degumming process could be divided into the main degumming stage(heating) and the supplementary degumming stage(insulation).The removal rates of hemicellulose and lignin in the main degumming stage were 70.56% and 60.17%,respectively.In the supplementary degumming stage,9.95% hemicellulose and 25.39% lignin were removed.It is confirmed that EG can separate hemp fibers effectively with less damage,which holds great potential for the biomass fiber separation technology.

Laminar Composite Solid Electrolyte with Poly(Ethylene Oxide)-Threaded Metal-Organic Framework Nanosheets for High-Performance All-Solid-State Lithium Battery

Developing laminar composite solid electrolyte with ultrathin thickness and continuous conduction channels in vertical direction holds great promise for all-solid-state lithium batteries.Herein,a thin,laminar solid electrolyte is synthesized by filtrating–NH 2 functionalized metal-organic framework nanosheets and then being threaded with poly(ethylene oxide)chains induced by the hydrogen-bonding interaction from–NH_(2) groups.It is demonstrated that the threaded poly(ethylene oxide)chains lock the adjacent metal-organic framework nanosheets,giving highly enhanced structural stability(Young’s modulus,1.3 GPa)to 7.5-μm-thick laminar composite solid electrolyte.Importantly,these poly(ethylene oxide)chains with stretching structure serve as continuous conduction pathways along the chains in pores.It makes the non-conduction laminar metal-organic framework electrolyte highly conductive:3.97×10^(−5) S cm^(−1) at 25℃,which is even over 25 times higher than that of pure poly(ethylene oxide)electrolyte.The assembled lithium cell,thus,acquires superior cycling stability,initial discharge capacity(148 mAh g^(−1) at 0.5 C and 60℃),and retention(94% after 150 cycles).Besides,the pore size of nanosheet is tailored(24.5–40.9˚A)to evaluate the mechanisms of chain conformation and ion transport in confined space.It shows that the confined pore only with proper size could facilitate the stretching of poly(ethylene oxide)chains,and meanwhile inhibit their disorder degree.Specifically,the pore size of 33.8˚A shows optimized confinement effect with trans-poly(ethylene oxide)and cis-poly(ethylene oxide)conformation,which offers great significance in ion conduction.Our design of poly(ethylene oxide)-threaded architecture provides a platform and paves a way to the rational design of next-generation high-performance porous electrolytes.

Comparative transcriptome analysis of the climacteric of apple fruit uncovers the involvement of transcription factors affecting ethylene biosynthesis

Apple(Malus domestica)fruit generally undergoes a climacteric.During its ripening process,there is a peak in ethylene release and its firmness simultaneously decreases.Although more in-depth research into the mechanism of climacteric-type fruit ripening is being carried out,some aspects remain unclear.In this study,we compared the transcriptomes of 0-Pre and 15-Post(pre-and post-climacteric fruit),and 15-Post and 15-MCP[fruit treated with 1-MCP(1-methylcyclopropene)].Various transcription factors,such as MADS-box,ERF,NAC,Dof and SHF were identified among the DEGs(differential gene expressions).Furthermore,these transcription factors were selected for further validation analysis by qRT-PCR.Moreover,yeast one hybrid(Y1H),β-glucuronidase(GUS)transactivation assay and dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that MdAGL30,MdAGL104,MdERF008,MdNAC71,MdDof1.2,MdHSFB2a and MdHSFB3 bound to MdACS1 promoter and directly regulated its transcription,thereby regulating ethylene biosynthesis in apple fruit.Our results provide useful information and new insights for research on apple fruit ripening.

Effects of Ethylene Tar-Based Pitch Coatings on the Electrochemical Properties of Graphite Anode Materials

To improve the electrochemical performance of graphite anode materials,pitches with various softening points(150℃,180℃,200℃,and 250℃)were prepared from ethylene tar and used to coat graphite through a liquid coating process.The effects of the softening point of the pitch and the coating amount on the microstructure and electrochemical properties of graphite were studied by methods including thermogravimetric analysis,X-ray diffraction,Raman spectroscopy,surface area analysis,scanning electron microscopy,transmission electron microscopy,and electrochemical testing.The graphite particles were coated uniformly by the pyrolytic carbon in the pitch.The coating changed the degree of graphitization,decreased the average specific surface area,and improved the electrochemical performance significantly.The best battery anode performance was obtained when the mass ratio of pitch to graphite was 10%,the heat treatment temperature was 1100℃,and the softening point of the pitch was 250℃.Under the optimum conditions,the irreversible capacity loss in the first cycle at 0.1 C was only 23 mAh/g,and the first Coulombic efficiency reached 94.2%.The capacity retention rate was 98.3%after 100 charge-discharge cycles at 0.1 C.

Kinetics measurement of ethylene-carbonate synthesis via a fast transesterification by microreactors

High-purity ethylene carbonate(EC)is widely used as battery electrolyte,polycarbonate monomer,organic intermediate,and so on.An economical and sustainable route to synthesize high-purity ethylene carbonate(EC)via the transesterification of dimethyl carbonate(DMC)with ethylene glycol(EG)is provided in this work.However,this reaction is so fast that the reaction kinetics,which is essential for the industrial design,is hard to get by the traditional measuring method.In this work,an easy-to-assemble microreactor was used to precisely determine the reaction kinetics for the fast transesterification of DMC with EG using sodium methoxide as catalyst.The effects of flow rate,microreactor diameter,catalyst concentration,reaction temperature,and reactant molar ratio were investigated.An activity-based pseudohomogeneous kinetic model,which considered the non-ideal properties of reaction system,was established to describe the transesterification of DMC with EG.Detailed kinetics data were collected in the first 5 min.Using these data,the parameters of the kinetic model were correlated with the maximum average error of 11.19%.Using this kinetic model,the kinetic data at different catalyst concentrations and reactant molar ratios were predicted with the maximum average error of 13.68%,suggesting its satisfactory prediction performance.