Lignosulfonates, which are byproducts of the pulp and paper industry, can be used as promoters for the formation of methane hydrates with a high capacity up to 170 v/v and a high formation rate.

Acyclovir (ACV) has been commonly used as an antiviral for decades. Although the crystal structure of the commercial form, a 3:2 ACV/water solvate, has been known since 1980s, investigation into the structure of anhydrous ACV has been limited. Here, we report the characterization of four anhydrous forms of ACV and a new hydrate in addition to the known hydrate. Two of the anhydrous forms appear...

Strength and other mechanical properties of cement and concrete rely upon the formation of calcium-silicate-hydrates (C-S-H) during cement hydration. Controlling structure and properties of the C-S-H phase is a challenge, due to the complexity of this hydration product and of the mechanisms that drive its precipitation from the ionic solution upon dissolution of cement grains in water. Departin...

During cellulose dissolution in non-derivatizing solvents, the interand intramolecular hydrogen bonds of the polymer are deconstructed. This occurs either by hydrogen bond formation between one or more components of the solvent systems and the hydroxyl groups of the cellulose or by coordination bond formation between the metal ion present in the medium and the hydroxyl group of cellulose molecu...

We present a first-principles study of the UO(3)·n(H(2)O) uranyl oxide hydrates, namely, schoepite (n = 2.25), metaschoepite (n = 2) and dehydrated metaschoepite (n = 1.75), which appear as the alteration U(VI) products of aqueous corrosion of nuclear fuel. For these compounds, the calculated enthalpy of formation is in good agreement with calorimetry and solubility measurements. We discuss the...

Many drugs exist in crystalline solid form due to reasons of stability and ease of handling during the various stages of drug development. Crystalline solids can exist in the form of polymorphs, solvates or hydrates. Phase transitions such as polymorph inter-conversion, formation of hydrates, desolvation of solvates, and conversion of the crystalline to amorphous form may occur during various p...

We report the results of acoustic and positron annihilation measurements in aqueous solutions of acetonitrile (CH3CN). Hydrophobicity of the solute is discussed, as well as the possibility of describing the title system in terms of hydrophobic solvation. The concept of Levay et al. of calculating the “ideal” positronium lifetimes is applied, basing on the mean volume of cavities (holes) in liqu...

Researchers at DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) have been investigating the formation of synthetic gas hydrates, with an emphasis on rapid and continuous hydrate formation techniques. The investigations focused on unconventional methods to reduce dissolution, induction, nucleation and crystallization times associated with natural and synthetic hydrates studies conducted in the...

Mid-infrared (IR) spectra of a series of calcium silicate hydrates (C-S-H) gels synthesised from C3S in the presence of magnesium oxide show many similarities with the mid-IR spectra of pure C-S-H gels. However, the presence of the vibration bands attributed to brucite is observed in all spectra of C-S-H synthesised with MgO, although only the sample with the highest CaO/SiO2 ratio (1.8) reveal...