Confined dual Lewis acid centers for selective cascade C-C coupling and deoxygenation.

The selective formation of C-C bonds, coupled with effective removal of oxygen, plays a crucial role in the process of upgrading biomass-derived oxygenates into fuels and chemicals. However, co-feeding reactants with water is sometimes necessary to assist binding sites in catalytic reactions, thereby achieving desirable performance. Here, we report the design of a CeSnBeta catalyst featuring dual Lewis acidic sites for the efficient production of isobutene from acetone via C-C coupling followed by deoxygenation. By incorporating Ce species onto SnBeta, which was synthesized through liquid-phase grafting of dealuminated Beta, we created confined dual Lewis acidic centers within Beta zeolites. The cooperative action of Ce species and framework Sn sites within this confined environment enabled selective catalysis of the acetone-to-isobutene cascade reactions, showcasing enhanced stability even without the presence of water.

Effects of X-Rays, Electron Beam, and Gamma Irradiation on Chemical and Physical Properties of EVA Multilayer Films.

Gamma-ray irradiation, using the cobalt-60 isotope, is the most common radiation modality used for medical device and biopharmaceutical products sterilization. Although X-ray and electron-beam (e-beam) sterilization technologies are mature and have been in use for decades, impediments remain to switching to these sterilization modalities because of lack of data on the resulting radiation effects for the associated polymers, as well as a lack of education for manufacturers and regulators on the viability of these sterilization alternatives. For this study, the compatibility of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) multilayer films with different ionizing radiation sterilization (X-ray, e-beam, and gamma irradiation) is determined by measuring chemical and physical film properties using high performance liquid chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier-Transform InfraRed spectroscopy (FTIR), surface energy measurement, and electron spin resonance techniques. The results indicate that the three irradiation modalities induce no differences in thermal properties in the investigated dose range. Gamma and X-Ray irradiations generate the same level of reactive species in the EVA multilayer film, whereas e-beam generates a reduced quantity of reactive species.