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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 109 records · Page 6
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2015

The Formation of N- and O-Heterocycles from the Irradiation of Benzene and Naphthalene in H2O/NH3- Containing Ices

Aromatic hydrocarbons are an important class of molecules for both astrochemistry and astrobiology (Fig. 1). Within this class of molecules, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are known to be ubiquitous in many astrophysical environments, and are likely present in interstellar clouds and protostellar disks. In dense clouds, PAHs are expected to condense onto grains as part of mixed molecular ice mantles dominated by small molecules like H2O,CH3OH, NH3, CO, and CO2. These ices are exposed to ionizing radiation in the form of cosmic rays and ambient high-energy X-ray and UV photons.

Ice Irradiation↗
NASA NTRS2015

The Formation of N- and O-Heterocycles from the Irradiation of Benzene and Naphthalene in H2O- and NH3-Containing Ices

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous in many astrophysical environments, and are likely present in interstellar clouds and protostellar disks [1]. In dense molecular clouds,PAHs and other gas-phase species are expected tocondense onto grains to form mixed molecular ice mantles dominated by small molecules like H2O, CH3OH, NH3, CO, and CO2 [2]. These icy mantleslikely undergo energetic processing from ionizing radiation in the form of cosmic rays and high-energy photons.

Materese, C. K.↗
NASA NTRS1986

The high-temperature oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons

Chemical mechanisms of the atmospheric pressure, high-temperature (875-1500 K) gas-phase oxidation of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and propylbenzene are described and discussed. Oxidation trends evident from turbulent flow reactor experiments serve as the basis for the mechanisms of the oxidation of benzene and alkylated aromatics. The potential effects of very high temperatures and pressures on the chemistry of oxidation of aromatics are described. The oxidation of benzene and phenyl radical has been found to proceed in a stepwise C6-C5-C4 sequence. Species profiles obtained from flow-reactor experiments suggest that the oxidation of benzene and phenyl radical follows the generalized route via phenoxy, cyclopentadienyl and butadienyl radical. The oxidation of the C4 species branches into multiple pathways that yield copious amounts of ethylene and acetylene. Certain major trends are evident: the alkylated aromatics on initial attack either form styrene, benzyl radical or benzene. The styrene reacts further to produce a benzyl radical or benzene. The oxidation of an alkylated aromatic hydrocarbon appears eventually to reduce to the oxidation of either phenyl radical or benzene.

Brezinsky, K.↗
DOE OSTI2024

M IV /Co –I (M = Zr, Hf) Bis(phosphinoamide) Complexes with η 6 - and η 4 -Arenes

Despite their relevance to catalysis, low-/subvalent cobalt complexes are difficult to synthesize and isolate. Consequently, very few “cobaltate” complexes are known and there is a lack of architectural diversity in this field. Lewis acidic d 0 group IV metals have been demonstrated to stabilize Co –I centers via metal–metal bonds. Herein, we report the synthesis of bis(phosphinoamide) heterobimetallic M IV /Co –I arene complexes (M = Zr, Hf). The driving force to maintain the aromaticity of the arenes dictates the hapticity of the Co-bound arene ligands and influences the binding arrangement of the phosphinoamide ligands. Benzene and toluene were observed to bind η 6 to the Co –I center, forcing dissociation of one of the phosphinoamide ligands, whereas η 4 -coordination of anthracene allows both phosphinoamide ligands to remain bound to the Co center. The identity of both the arene and the group IV metal ion starkly influence the lability of the arene. For instance, the Co-bound benzene ligand in the Zr IV /Co –I benzene complex rapidly exchanges with C 6 D 6 in solution, whereas toluene/C 6 D 6 exchange is much slower and appreciable C 6 H 6 /C 6 D 6 exchange is not observed for the Hf analogue. The Zr IV /Co –I benzene complex loses benzene upon repeated exposure to vacuum to form an arene-free tetrametallic dimer.

aromatic compounds↗
DOE OSTI2026

Quantifying the Impact of Metal Population Distribution in MFI-Supported Mo Catalysts for Methane Dehydroaromatization

Precise evaluation of intrinsic kinetic behavior in Mo/MFI catalysts for methane dehydroaromatization (MDA) is confounded by variations in Mo dispersion and speciation, which are influenced by metal loading and zeolite acidity. This work advances the utility of H 2 -temperature programmed reduction (H 2 -TPR) for characterizing Mo/MFI catalysts by enabling quantitative comparison of MoO x populations distinguished by reduction behavior and linked to initial catalytic performance. A comprehensive H 2 reduction pathway is established through systematic H 2 - TPR studies varying catalyst composition (1–10 wt % Mo, Si/Al = 15, 40, ∞), supplemented by UV-Raman spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, N 2 physisorption, NH 3 -TPD, and advanced spectroscopic analysis (in situ XAS with principal component analysis/multivariate curve resolution—alternating least squares). Two low-temperature H 2 -TPR regions capture distinct Mo populations undergoing initial Mo(VI)→Mo(IV) reduction: a lower-temperature population (Mo-RI) associated primarily with highly dispersed, anchored MoO x species expected to predominantly reside within MFI channels, and a higher-temperature population (Mo-RII) corresponding to a broader set of MoO x species that becomes increasingly bulk-like/extrazeolitic at higher Mo loading. Quantification of these populations provides practical, kinetically relevant descriptors for comparing initial MDA rates across catalysts with varying Mo loading, Si/Al ratio, and MoO x heterogeneity. Application of lower-temperature Mo-RI estimates to kinetic measurements reveals a minimum threshold of ∼0.12 × 10 –3 mol Mo-RI/g cat , above which initial forward benzene rates normalized to this population converge despite differences in metal loading and zeolite Brønsted acidity. This threshold coincides with a transition toward a common C 2 -mediated benzene-forming regime, as indicated by approach-to-equilibrium analysis of methane-to-ethane, ethane-to-ethylene, and ethylene-to-benzene reaction steps. Above this threshold, normalized initial benzene rates are nearly invariant with increasing Mo-RII/Mo-RI population ratio, indicating that excess Mo-RII populations, including bulk-like/extrazeolitic MoO x domains present at higher loading, do not measurably suppress benzene formation associated with anchored and mostly channel-confined Mo population under the initial-rate conditions examined.

Mo/MFI↗
NASA NTRS1974

Development of polyphenylquinoxaline graphite composites

This exploratory program was divided into four basic tasks. The initial phase was devoted toward investigating processing variables associated with previously developed PPO resins. These polymers were derived from p-bis(phenyl glyoxalyl)benzene reacted with 3,3'-diamino benzidine and/or 3,3',4,4'-tetramino benzophenone. Four new phenyl quinoxaline polymers were synthesized and characterized in Tasks 2 and 3. These consisted of a hydroxyl group containing PPQ synthesized from 3,3'-diamino benzidine (DAB), m-bis(phenyl glyoxal)benzene and m-bis(p'-hydroxy phenyl glyoxalyl) benzene; a cyano group containing PPQ from the reaction of DAB and p-bis(p'-cyano phenoxy phenyl glyoxalyl)benzene; an end-capped block copolymer; and a polymer from the reaction of 3,3',4,4'-tetraamino benzo phenone and m-bis(phenyl glyoxalyl)benzene. The latter two polymers were chosen for composite studies in the latter two tasks of the program. Mechanical properties of the graphite reinforced PPQ composites were determined over the temperature range of +21 C to 316 C. Flexural strengths of the HMS graphite fiber composites were in excess of 8.97 X 10 to the 8th power N/sq m (130,000 psi) at +21 C (70 F) with over 50% strength retention at +316 C.

Hoggatt, J. T.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Intermediates in the Formation of Aromatics in Hydrocarbon Combustion

The formation of the first benzene ring is believed to be the rate limiting step in soot formation. Two different mechanisms have been proposed for formation of cyclic C6 species. The first involves the reaction of two acetylenes to give CH2CHCCH (vinyl acetylene), the loss of a H to give CHCHCCH (n-C41-13) or CH2CCCH (iso-C4H3), and addition of another acetylene to n-C4H3, followed by ring closure to give phenyl radical. Miller and Melius argue that only n-C4H3 leads to phenyl radical and since iso-C4H3 is more stable than n-C4H3 this mechanism is unlikely. An alternative mechanism proposed by them is formation of benzene from the dimerization of two CH2CCH (propargyl) radicals (formed by the reaction of singlet methylene with C2H2). We report reaction pathways and accurate energetics (from CASSCF/internally contracted CI calculations) for the reactions of CH(pi-2) and CH2-1 with acetylene, the reaction of vinylidene with acetylene, and the reaction of n-C4H3 and iso-C4H3 with acetylene. These calculations identify two new reactive intermediates CHCHCH ( a A"-2 ground state in Cs symmetry; spin coupling is a doublet from three singly occupied orbitals) and CHCCH (B-3 ground state in C2 symmetry) from the reaction of CH with acetylene. These species dimerize with no barrier to form benzene and para-benzyne, respectively. CHCCH is proposed as a reactive intermediate which can add to benzene to give higher polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons or fullerenes. The addition of a C3H2 unit releases two C-C bond energies and thus the resulting addition product contains sufficient energy to break several CH bonds leading to a reduction in the H to C ratio as the cluster size increases. It is found that iso-C4H3 adds to acetylene to initially give a fulvene radical but that this species rearranges to phenyl radical. Thus, the reaction of acetylene with iso-C4H3 does lead to phenyl radical and the cyclization pathway may also contribute to formation of the initial benzene ring.

Walch, Stephen P.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Potential Precursor Compounds for Chlorohydrocarbons Detected in Gale Crater, Mars, by the SAM Instrument Suite on the Curiosity Rover

The detection of chlorinated organic compounds in near-surface sedimentary rocks by the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite aboard the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover represents an important step toward characterizing habitable environments on Mars. However, this discovery also raises questions about the identity and source of their precursor compounds and the processes by which they become chlorinated. Here we present the results of analog experiments, conducted under conditions similar to SAM gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses, in which we pyrolyzed potential precursor compounds in the presence of various Cl salts and Fe oxides that have been identified in Martian sediments. While chloromethanes could not be unambiguously identified, 1,2-dichloropropane (1,2-DCP), which is one of the chlorinated compounds identified in SAM data, is formed from the chlorination of aliphatic precursors. Additionally, propanol produced more 1,2-DCP than nonfunctionalized aliphatics such as propane or hexanes. Chlorinated benzenes ranging from chlorobenzene to hexachlorobenzene were identified in experiments with benzene carboxylic acids but not with benzene or toluene. Lastly, the distribution of chlorinated benzenes depended on both the substrate species and the nature and concentration of the Cl salt. Ca and Mg perchlorate, both of which release O2 in addition to Cl2 and HCl upon pyrolysis, formed less chlorobenzene relative to the sum of all chlorinated benzenes than in experiments with ferric chloride. FeCl3, a Lewis acid, catalyzes chlorination but does not aid combustion. Accordingly, both the precursor chemistry and sample mineralogy exert important controls on the distribution of chlorinated organics.

Miller, Kristen E.↗
NASA NTRS1950

Foaming of mixtures of pure hydrocarbons

Mixtures of pure liquid hydrocarbons are capable of foaming. Nine hydrocarbons were mixed in pairs, in all possible combinations, and four proportions of each combination. These mixtures were sealed in glass tubes, and the foaming was tested by shaking. Mixtures of aliphatic with other aliphatic hydrocarbons, or of alkyl benzenes with other alkyl benzenes, did not foam. Mixtures of aliphatic hydrocarbons with alkyl benzenes did foam. The proportions of the mixtures greatly affected the foaming, the maximum foaming of 12 of 20 pairs being at the composition 20 percent aliphatic hydrocarbon, 80 percent alkyl benzene. Six seconds was the maximum foam lifetime of any of these mixtures. Aeroshell 120 lubricating oil was fractionated into 52 fractions and a residue by extraction with acetone in a fractionating extractor. The index of refraction, foam lifetime, color, and viscosity of these fractions were measured. Low viscosity and high index fractions were extracted first. The viscosity of the fractions extracted rose and the index decreased as fractionation proceeded. Foam lifetimes and color were lowest in the middle fractions. Significance is attached to the observation that none of the foam lifetimes of the fractions or residue is as high as the foam lifetime of the original Aeroshell, indicating that the foaming is not due to a particular foaming constituent, but rather to the entire mixture.

LUBRICATING OILS - DISTILLATION↗
DOE OSTI2025

Flow Reactor Study of the Soot Precursors of Novel Cycloalkanes as Synthetic Jet Fuel Compounds: Octahydroindene, p -Menthane, and 1,4-Dimethylcyclooctane

Sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) or Synthetic aviation turbine fuels (SATFs) derived from nonpetroleum sources are essential for energy security and a strong rural and agricultural economy. Airplanes operating on SAF can have lower particle emissions compared to those of conventional jet fuel, reducing air quality impacts near airports. Processing biobased isoprene or wood and agricultural waste can produce cycloalkane-rich fuels with properties meeting ASTM International’s SATF requirements. The unique structures of these cycloalkanes yield lower soot emissions because of their lack of aromatic rings. We measured the soot formation tendency as yield sooting index (YSI) and used laminar flow reactor experiments to evaluate soot precursors formed for isoprene-derived compounds p-menthane and 1,4-dimethylcyclooctane (DMCO), and octahydroindene (OHI)─ produced from woody biomass via catalytic fast pyrolysis. The combustion chemistry of the OHI and DMCO has not been previously studied. Experiments were conducted at 10 bar from 800 to 1200 K, equivalence ratios of 1.0 and 3.0, and residence times of 1.0 and 0.6 s, respectively. Experimentally detected species were used to elucidate the mechanisms of soot precursor formation. OHI exhibited the highest YSI (94.5) and formed a high concentration of benzene primarily by direct dehydrogenation of the six-membered ring. p-Menthane (YSI 92.0) and DMCO (YSI 85.0) oxidation products included fewer aromatic components but higher benzene precursors, including 1,3-butadiene, propyne, and allene. This suggests that the ring-opening pathway is dominant over the dehydrogenation pathway in the benzene formation for these compounds. This experimental speciation provides insight into the influence of the cycloalkane structure on the sooting tendencies of potential SAF blend components, thereby aiding in fuel design processes.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Kinetic Study of Polyvinyl Chloride Pyrolysis with Characterization of Dehydrochlorinated PVC

In this paper, we study the kinetics of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) decomposition using a combination of experimental and computational approaches. Here, we develop a simplified kinetic model that contains only two steps: dehydrochlorination of PVC and further decomposition of the PVC residue. The model is consistent with density functional theory (DFT) calculations and experimental data. Dehydrochlorination is an autocatalytic reaction that starts with a tertiary chloride (Cl) and generates hydrogen chloride (HCl) and benzene as the main products. Benzene and HCl formation rates showed similar trends, indicating that HCl likely catalyzes a homolytic carbon-carbon (C-C) bond cleavage, which gives rise to benzene and an aliphatic fragment. We characterized the structure of dehydrochlorinated PVC (PVC residue) by using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). FTIR and NMR results indicate that the PVC residue contains 20% quaternary carbon content, indicating a high concentration of cross-linked molecules. We predict that the most probable structure in the cross-linked centers of the PVC residue is cyclohexadiene, which is supported by DFT calculations, FTIR, and NMR.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2026

Torsional Flexibility Tuning of Hexa-Carboxylate Ligands to Unlock Distinct Topological Access to Zirconium Metal–Organic Frameworks

Zirconium-based metal–organic frameworks (Zr-MOFs) exhibit remarkable structural diversity and functionality. However, uncovering new topological types within this family remains a considerable challenge today. Herein, we report two new hexa-topic ligands designed through the introduction of torsional flexibility, which enable the construction of two Zr-MOFs featuring rare network topologies. The (4,4′,4″,4‴,4‴′,4‴′′-((2-carboxybenzene-1,3,5-triyl)tris(9H-carbazole-9,3,6-triyl))hexabenzoic acid ligand (BTCH)) was obtained by replacing the rigid triptycene core in the H6PET-1 ligand (4,4′,4″,4‴,4‴′,4‴′′-(9,10-dihydro-9,10-[1,2]benzenoanthracene-2,3,6,7,14,15-hexayl)hexabenzoic acid) with a benzene-tricarbazole unit. Owing to its torsionally flexible core that allows rotational freedom to the arms, this ligand directs the construction of NU-2620 (NU represents Northwestern University), a Zr-MOF with 8-connected Zr6 clusters and the rare nuh topology. Further flexibilization of the carbazole units to benzene rings yielded the even more torsionally flexible 5′,5‴-bis(4-carboxyphenyl)-5″-(4,4″-dicarboxy-[1,1′:3′,1″-terphenyl]-5′-yl)-[1,1′:3′,1″:3″,1‴:3‴,1‴′-quinquephenyl]-4,4‴′-dicarboxylic acid ligand (CCTT), which forms NU-2630 featuring 6-connected clusters and the pcu topology. Both frameworks exhibit good chemical stability, prompting evaluation of their performance in CO2 photoreduction catalysis. Under low-concentration CO2 conditions, NU-2620 displays markedly higher catalytic activity than its benzene-based analogue, NU-2630, thanks to the abundance of photoactive carbazole units within its structure. These results demonstrate that introducing torsional flexibility in high-connected linkers can unlock access to new topologies and accelerates the reticular expansion of Zr-MOFs.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

Insights into Designing an Efficient and Reliable Microwave-Assisted Methane Dehydroaromatization Process: Effect of Microwave Absorber on Catalyst Performance

Microwave-assisted methane dehydroaromatization has the potential to address challenges of traditional dehydroaromatization reactions. However, catalysts for microwave-enhanced reaction systems require effective coupling of fields with the catalyst to produce heat and reach reaction temperatures. Here, this work presents an in-depth understanding of the effect of the addition of silicon carbide as a microwave absorber on catalyst performance among other variables, the viability of the microwave reactor configuration, and insights into designing an effective and reliable microwave-based methane dehydroaromatization process. The effect of other parameters including temperature, weight hourly space velocity, role of microwave absorber, and methane concentration during microwave-assisted methane dehydroaromatization reaction are studied. Mo/ZSM-5 was found to suffer from low permittivity and nonuniform heating under microwave conditions. Mixing silicon carbide powder as a microwave absorber with the catalyst was found to provide more uniform heating. When assessing the catalytic performance of the mixture, it was found that higher methane partial pressures at 2000 cc/g cat .h and a temperature range of 500-600°C produced the highest amount of benzene. The formation of graphitic carbon on the spent catalyst increased with temperature, gas-solid contact period, and methane concentration, which resulted in higher methane conversion and benzene selectivity. The study indicates that under microwave heating the presence of localized carbon enhanced catalyst life by coupling with microwave energy, leading to localized heating, and improving benzene selectivity.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
NASA NTRS1976

Friction of iron lubricated with aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons and halogenated analogs

The influence of oxygen and various organic molecules on the reduction of the friction of an iron (011) single crystal surface was investigated. A comparison was made between aliphatic and aromatic structures, all of which contained six carbon atoms, and among various halogen atoms. Results of the investigation indicate that hexane and benzene give similar friction coefficients over a range of loads except at very light loads. At light loads, the friction decreased with an increase in the load where the halogens fluorine and chlorine are incorporated into the benzene molecular structure; however, over the same load range when bromine and iodine were present, the friction was relatively unchanged. The aliphatic compound chlorohexane exhibited lower friction coefficients than the aromatic structure chlorobenzene at very light loads. With the brominated benzene structures, however, friction was essentially the same. Oxygen was more effective in reducing friction than were the simple hydrocarbons.

Buckley, D. H.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Fire and heat resistant laminating resins based on malemeido and citraconimido substituted 1 -2,4- and -2,6- diaminobenzenes

A novel class of fire and heat resistant bisimide resins prepared by thermal polymerization of maleimido or citraconimido substituted 1-(dialkox phosphonyl) methyl-2-4 and -2,6-diamino benzenes was presented. The polymer precursors are prepared by reacting 1-(diorgano oxyphosphonyl) methyl-2-4- and -2,6-diamino benzenes with maliec anhydride or citraconic anhydride in a mole ratio 1:2. Chain extension of the monomers is achieved by reacting the mono-N-maleimido derivaties of 1 (diorgano oxyphosphonyl) methyl -2,4- and -2,6-diamino benzenes with aryl tetracarboxylic dianhydrides, such as benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride, or aryl diisocyanates, such as methylene bis(4-phenyl isocyanate), in a mole ratio 2:1. The polymerization of the monomers is studied by diferential scanning calorimetry and the thermal stability of the polymers is ascertained by thermogravimetric analysis.

Mikroyannidis, John A.↗