High quality potassium phosphate production through step-by-step glycerol purification: a strategy to economize biodiesel production.

The cost of biodiesel production can be reduced by a number of strategies such as utilization of waste cooking oils and non-edible plant oils as well as implementation of improved separation technologies. In addition, processes dealing with the glycerol by-product can have economic benefits. In the present study, acidification of crude glycerol with phosphoric acid to pH 9.67 followed by acidification to 4.67 was implemented to produce high quality potassium phosphate during glycerol purification. KH(2)PO(4), K(2)HPO(4), glycerol and free fatty acids (FFAs) with a purity of 98%, 98.05%, 96.08% and 99.58% were obtained, respectively.

Potassium-encapsulated arsenic-dithiolato compounds: synthesis, structural calculation, and biological relevance.

This study based on the synthesis, characterization, and structural calculation of small molecular potassium-encapsulated arsenic-dithiolato compounds will provide fundamental knowledge about arsenic metabolism behavior in biological system. Two novel air-stable potassium-encapsulated arsenic-dithiolato compounds, [K@As(2)(L1)(3)](BF(4)) (1) and [K@As(2)(L2)(3)](BF(4)) (2), were prepared using deprotonated 2,6-bis(mercaptomethyl)pyridine (L1H(2)) and 1,3-dimercapto-m-xylene (L2H(2)) to react with AsCl(3) in the presence of potassium cation. Compounds 1 and 2 have been characterized by electrospray ionization-mass spectra, nuclear magnetic resonance spectra, and elemental microanalysis. Density functional theory calculation also supports the formation and binding properties of the potassium-encapsulated arsenic-dithiolato compounds.

Palladium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions of enantiomerically enriched potassium ß-trifluoroboratoamides with various aryl- and hetaryl chlorides.

Enantiomerically enriched potassium ß-trifluoroboratoamides were synthesized as air-stable solids in greater than 95:5 dr using pseudoephedrine as the chiral auxiliary. With these chiral nucleophiles, Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions were carried out with various aryl- and hetaryl chlorides in good to excellent yields. Moreover, the diastereoselectivities were preserved throughout the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions.

Facile synthesis of highly functionalized ethyltrifluoroborates.

Organotrifluoroborates are generating increased interest because of their ease of preparation and purification and indefinite shelf life. Herein we report the preparation of organotrifluoroborates bearing functional groups that can be manipulated at different stages of the synthetic route, exploiting the inertness of their carbon-boron bonds. The alkylation of 2,2-dicyanoethyltrifluoroborate with a variety of electrophiles and of (EWG)2CH2 with potassium iodomethyltrifluoroborate resulted in di- and trisubstituted ethyltrifluoroborates in good to excellent yields.

Synthesis, characterization, thermal and explosive properties of potassium salts of trinitrophloroglucinol.

Three different substituted potassium salts of trinitrophloroglucinol (H(3)TNPG) were prepared and characterized. The salts are all hydrates, and thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and elemental analysis confirmed that these salts contain crystal H2O and that the amount crystal H2O in potassium salts of H3TNPG is 1.0 hydrate for mono-substituted potassium salts of H3TNPG [K(H2TNPG)] and di-substituted potassium salt of H3TNPG [K2(HTNPG)], and 2.0 hydrate for tri-substituted potassium salt of H3TNPG [K3(TNPG)]. Their thermal decomposition mechanisms and kinetic parameters from 50 to 500 degrees C were studied under a linear heating rate by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Their thermal decomposition mechanisms undergo dehydration stage and intensive exothermic decomposition stage. FT-IR and TG studies verify that their final residua of decomposition are potassium cyanide or potassium carbonate. According to the onset temperature of the first exothermic decomposition process of dehydrated salts, the order of the thermal stability from low to high is from K(H2TNPG) and K2(HTNPG) to K3(TNPG), which is conform to the results of apparent activation energy calculated by Kissinger's and Ozawa-Doyle's method. Sensitivity test results showed that potassium salts of H3TNPG demonstrated higher sensitivity properties and had greater explosive probabilities.

Synthesis of the bis-potassium salts of 5-hydroxy-3-oxopent-4-enoic acids and their use for the efficient preparation of 4-hydroxy-2H-pyran-2-ones and other heterocycles.

5-Hydroxy-3-oxopent-4-enoic acid esters can be efficiently transformed into the stable bis-potassium salts of the corresponding 5-hydroxy-3-oxopent-4-enoic acids, from which the sensitive acids are released in situ, the latter being converted into substituted 4-hydroxy-2H-pyran-2-ones, pyrazoles and isoxazoles under mild conditions; the efficiency of this method is demonstrated by the first synthesis of two naturally occurring pyrones.

Production of fluoridated salt.

Sodium and potassium fluoride are used for the fluoridation of household salt. Addition of fluoride is carried out either by the wet or the dry process. Qualitatively good fluoridated salt can be produced by using either method. In the wet process, a solution of potassium fluoride is mixed homogeneously with the salt. For the dry mixture, only sodium fluoride with a small granule size is suitable. Apart from the mixing methods used by the larger salt manufacturers, there are low-cost solutions for very small producers.

A study of the preparation and reactivity of potassium ferrate.

In the context of water treatment, the ferrate ([FeO(4)](2-)) ion has long been known for its strong oxidizing power and for producing a coagulant from its reduced form (i.e. Fe(III)). However, it has not been studied extensively owing to difficulties with its preparation and its instability in water. This paper describes an improved procedure for preparing solid phase potassium ferrate of high purity (99%) and with a high yield (50-70%). The characteristics of solid potassium ferrate were investigated and from XRD spectra it was found that samples of the solid have a tetrahedral structure with a space group of D(2h) (Pnma) and a=7.705A, b=5.863A, and c=10.36A. The aqueous stability of potassium ferrate at various pH values and different concentrations was investigated. It was found that potassium ferrate solution had a maximum stability at pH 9-10 and that ferrate solution at low concentration (0.25 mM) was more stable than at high concentration (0.51 mM). The aqueous reaction of ferrate with bisphenol A (BPA), a known endocrine disrupter compound, was also investigated with a molar ratio of Fe(VI):BPA in the range of 1:1-5:1. The optimal pH for BPA degradation was 9.4, and at this pH and a Fe(VI):BPA molar ratio of 5:1, approximately 90% of the BPA was degraded after 60s.

Structural characterization of the first hydroxo-bridged plutonium compound, (PuO(2))(2)(IO(3))(mu(2)-OH)(3).

The hydrothermal reaction of a (239)Pu(IV) stock solution in the presence of iodic acid and 1 M KOH produces reddish-brown single crystals of (PuO(2))(2)(IO(3))(OH)(3). The structure consists of two-dimensional layers forming in the ac plane and is the first single-crystal structure of plutonium(VI) connected through hydroxide anions. The additional linkage of plutonium centers is completed through iodate ligands.