Mechanisms for sonochemical oxidation of nitrogen.

N2O, and mixtures of N2 and O2, dissolved in water-both in the presence and absence of added noble gases-have been subjected to ultrasonication with quantification of nitrite and nitrate products. Significant increase in product formation upon adding noble gas for both reactant systems is observed, with the reactivity order Ne < Ar < Kr < Xe. These observations lend support to the idea that extraordinarily high electronic and vibrational temperatures arise under these conditions. This is based on recent observations of sonoluminescence in the presence of noble gases and is inconsistent with the classical picture of adiabatic bubble collapse upon acoustic cavitation. The reaction mechanisms of the first few reaction steps necessary for the critical formation of NO are discussed, illustrated by quantum chemical calculations. The role of intermediate N2O in this series of elementary steps is also discussed to better understand the difference between the two reactant sources (N2O and 2 : 1 N2 : O2; same stoichiometry).

Enhanced activity of catalysts on substrates with surface protonic current in an electrical field - a review.

It has over the last few years been reported that the application of a DC electric field and resulting current over a bed of certain catalyst-support systems enhances catalytic activity for several reactions involving hydrogen-containing reactants, and the effect has been attributed to surface protonic conductivity on the porous ceramic support (typically ZrO2, CeO2, SrZrO3). Models for the nature of the interaction between the protonic current, the catalyst particle (typically Ru, Ni, Co, Fe), and adsorbed reactants such as NH3 and CH4 have developed as experimental evidence has emerged. Here, we summarize the electrical enhancement and how it enhances yield and lowers reaction temperatures of industrially important chemical processes. We also review the nature of the relevant catalysts, support materials, as well as essentials and recent progress in surface protonics. It is easily suspected that the effect is merely an increase in local vs. nominal set temperature due to the ohmic heating of the electrical field and current. We address this and add data from recent studies of ours that indicate that the heating effect is minor, and that the novel catalytic effect of a surface protonic current must have additional causes.