Synthesis and support composition effects on CH4 partial oxidation over Ni–CeLa oxides

Abstract Two series of Ni (6 wt%) catalysts supported over CeO 2 , La 2 O 3 and mixed CeO 2 –La 2 O 3 were prepared by co-precipitation and by wet-impregnation. The effect of the two Ni loading procedures on the catalyst structural properties was investigated by XRD, TPR and XPS. The catalytic behavior of the catalysts was tested in the methane partial oxidation reaction performed at 1 atm in a temperature range of 400–800 °C using dilute feed gas mixture with CH 4 /O 2  = 2 and gas hourly space velocity of 60,000 ml g −1  h −1 . Total methane combustion was observed within the 450 °C ≤  T ≤ 650 °C temperature range. Above 650 °C partial oxidation of methane started to occur, reaching at 80…

Effect of Gold on the HDS Activity of Supported Palladium Catalysts

Abstract The effect of gold on palladium catalysts supported on amorphous aluminosilicate was investigated in the hydrodesulfurization of thiophene. A series of bimetallic AuxPdy catalysts was prepared by the slow deposition–precipitation method with decomposition of urea. The structural and surface properties of the samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques at different stages of the catalyst life. After calcination at 673 K, gold-enriched solid solutions of approximately Au90Pd10 and Au80Pd20 composition were formed for all samples of different Au/Pd ratios, along with free palladium phases. Au80Pd20 was the prevailing phase. Hydrogen treat…

The 54 days orbital period of AX J1820.5-1434 unveiled by Swift

The hard X-ray survey that Swift-BAT has been performing since late 2004 has provided a considerable database for a large number of sources whose hard X-ray emission was poorly known. We are exploiting the BAT survey archive to improve the temporal and spectral characterization of the Galactic hard-X-ray sources. In this letter we focus on the study of the high mass X-ray binary AX J1820.5-1434. All the data relevant to AX J1820.5-1434 have been extracted from the BAT survey archive and analyzed using a folding technique to search for periodical modulations. A broad-band spectral analysis was also performed complementing the BAT spectrum with the available Swift-XRT and XMM-Newton pointed o…

Ceria-based electrolytes prepared by solution combustion synthesis: The role of fuel on the materials properties

Ce0.8Sm0.2O2 − xpowders were synthesized by solution combustion synthesis using citric acid, cellulose and sucrose as single, or intimately mixed, fuels. The powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, N2sorption at −196 °C, H2-temperature programmed reduction and thermogravimetric analyses. Textural properties of the powders were shaped by the peculiar employed fuel. The study of reducibility revealed that oxygen vacancies formation is mainly influenced by both parameters, specific surface area and total pore volume. The different tendency toward reduction played a key role in sintering under reducing atmosphe…

Swift GRBs: The early afterglow spectral energy distribution

We present the first results of a program to systematically study the optical-to-X-ray spectral energy distribution (SED) of Swift GRB afterglows with known redshift. The goal is to study the properties of the GRB explosion and of the intervening absorbing material. In this report we present the preliminary analysis on 23 afterglows. Thanks to Swift, we could build the SED at early times after the GRB (minutes to hours). We derived the Hydrogen column densities and the spectral slopes from the X-ray spectrum. We then constrained the visual extinction by requiring that the combined optical/X-ray SED is due to synchrotron, namely either a single power law or a broken power law with a slope ch…

Post-synthesis alumination of MCM-41: Effect of the acidity on the HDS activity of supported Pd catalysts

Abstract Siliceous MCM-41 with different amount of alumina, from 0.25 up to 4.0 wt%, were prepared by impregnation of the MCM-41 with aqueous solution of Al(NO) 3 ·9H 2 O. The modified mesoporous silicas were then used as supports for Pd catalysts prepared by wet-impregnation from PdCl 2 precursor. Supports and corresponding Pd catalysts were characterized by XRD, XPS and NH 3 -TPD. The catalytic behavior was tested in the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) reaction of thiophene. An increase of the hydrodesulfurization activity with increasing alumina amount up to 0.5 wt% was observed. On the basis of the acidity change of the support and the structural modification underwent by the deposited palla…

Swift observations of GRB 060614: an anomalous burst with a well behaved afterglow

GRB 060614 is a remarkable GRB observed by Swift with puzzling properties, which challenge current progenitor models. The lack of any bright SN down to very strict limits and the vanishing spectral lags are typical of short GRBs, strikingly at odds with the long (102s) duration of this event. Here we present spectral and temporal analysis of the Swift observations. We show that the burst presents standard optical, UV and X-ray afterglows. An achromatic break is observed simultaneously in optical and X-rays, at a time consistent with the break in the R-band light curve measured by the VLT. The achromatic behaviour and the consistent post-break decay slopes make GRB 060614 one of the best exa…

Combined effect of noble metals (Pd, Au) and support properties on HDS activity of Co/SiO2 catalysts

Abstract Cobalt-based catalysts supported on different types of SiO 2 are studied in the hydrodesulfurization of thiophene. Amorphous silica and siliceous MCM-41 and HMS, characterized by different texture and surface acidity are used as carriers. The effects due to the modification of the support by impregnation with palladium precursor and to the co-impregnation of cobalt and gold are considered. The catalysts are characterized by N 2 physisorption (BET), XRD, TPR and XPS techniques. The use as supports of the ordered mesoporous silica with higher surface area with respect to amorphous silica, produces a better dispersion of the cobalt oxides particles. Moreover, the addition of palladium…

Spectral Variability of the Nucleus of M33 in aChandra/ACIS Observation

We have analyzed a 90 ksec long observation of the bright nucleus of M33 made with Chandra/ACIS. We detected low-amplitude (~sim10%) highly significant variability on timescales of ~5000 sec. We also find associated spectral variability. The two main spectral components (a power-law with \Gamma~2 and a multicolor disk -MCD- with kT~0.9-1.2 keV) vary in relative flux. The MCD temperature also increases with increasing MCD flux. The pattern of variability is reminiscent of (but not identical to) galactic black hole binaries. A ~5 M$_{\odot}$ accreting black hole may explain this source.

Influence of Sodium on the Structure and HDS Activity of Co–Mo Catalysts Supported ON Silica and Aluminosilicate

Abstract Structural changes and catalytic performances of hydrodesulfurization (HDS) Co–Mo catalysts, supported on amorphous aluminosilicate (ASA) and amorphous SiO 2 were investigated as a function of the amount of sodium ions added to the supports. The catalysts were prepared according to the incipient wet impregnation method using (NH 4 ) 6 Mo 7 O 24 as molybdenum precursor and CoCl 2 or Co(NO 3 ) 2 as cobalt precursor. Structural and morphological characterisations of the materials were performed with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and surface area measurements (BET). In the case of the ASA-supported catalysts, increasing the amount of sodium resulted in a gradual decrease of the catalyst surf…

Swift-BAT hard X-ray sky monitoring unveils the orbital period of the HMXB IGR J18219-1347

IGR J18219-1347 is a hard X-ray source discovered by INTEGRAL in 2010. We have analyzed the X-ray emission of this source exploiting the BAT survey data up to March 2012 and the XRT data that include also an observing campaign performed in early 2012. The source is detected at a significance level of ~14 standard deviations in the 88-month BAT survey data, and shows a strong variability along the survey monitoring, going from high intensity to quiescent states. A timing analysis on the BAT data revealed an intensity modulation with a period of 72.46 days. The significance of this modulation is about 7 standard deviations in Gaussian statistics. We interpret it as the orbital period of the b…

Structural characterisation of silica supported CoMo catalysts by UV Raman spectroscopy, XPS and X-ray diffraction techniques

The structure of Co-Mo catalysts supported on commercial silica, doped with various amounts of sodium ions, was investigated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Two series of samples were considered. One series was prepared by classic incipient wet impregnation (WI) and the other series by co-impregnation in the presence of nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA). The effect of sodium on the catalyst structure depended on the preparation procedure: in the case of the WI catalysts, sodium promoted the transformation of the polymolybdate species into monomolybdate Na2MoO4; in the case of the NTA prepared samples, sodium induced transforma…

Swift Observations of the High-mass X-ray Binary IGR J16283-4838 unveil a 288-day Orbital Period

We report on the temporal and spectral properties of the HMXB IGR J16283-4838 in the hard X-ray band. We searched the first 88 months of Swift BAT survey data for long-term periodic modulations. We also investigated the broad band (0.2--150 keV) spectral properties of IGR J16283--4838 complementing the BAT dataset with the soft X-ray data from the available Swift-XRT pointed observations. The BAT light curve of IGR J16283-4838 revealed a periodic modulation at P_o=287.6+7-1.7 days (with a significance higher than 4 standard deviations). The profile of the light curve folded at P_o shows a sharp peak lasting ~ 12 d, over a flat plateau. The long-term light curve shows also a ~300 d interval …

BeppoSAX observations of EXO 0531-66 in outburst and X persei

Abstract We report temporal and spectral analysis of two Be/X-ray systems observed by the BeppoSAX NFI. EXO 0531-66 was in outburst during the BeppoSAX observation: it is not a well known source because it is not detectable during the low states and the outbursts are unforeseeable and at temporal distances of years. X Persei is a well known source, but the band spectrum, obtained for the first time from the BeppoSAX observation, revealed an unexpected complexity.

GRB 050410 and GRB 050412: are they really dark gamma-ray bursts?

We present a detailed analysis of the prompt and afterglow emission of GRB 050410 and GRB 050412 detected by Swift for which no optical counterpart was observed. The 15-150 keV energy distribution of the GRB 050410 prompt emission shows a peak energy at 53 keV. The XRT light curve of this GRB decays as a power law with a slope of alpha=1.06+/-0.04. The spectrum is well reproduced by an absorbed power law with a spectral index Gamma_x=2.4+/-0.4 and a low energy absorption N_H=4(+3;-2)x10^21 cm^(-2) which is higher than the Galactic value. The 15-150 keV prompt emission in GRB 050412 is modelled with a hard (Gamma=0.7+/-0.2) power law. The XRT light curve follows a broken power law with the f…

The flaring afterglow of GRB 050730

We present a detailed spectral and temporal analysis of Swift and XMM-Newton observations of GRB 050730. The X-ray afterglow of GRB 050730 was found to decline with time with intense flaring activity superimposed. Evidence of flaring activity in the early UVOT optical afterglow, simultaneous with that observed in the X-ray band, was found. Strong spectral evolution in the X-ray energy band during the flaring activity was present.

Activity of SiO2 supported gold-palladium catalysts in CO oxidation

Abstract Bimetallic Au-Pd catalysts supported on silica with different Au/Pd atomic ratios were prepared by simultaneous reduction of palladium and gold precursors by ethanol in the presence of the polymer, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Formation of alloyed particles was detected by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and CO chemisorption measurements. The catalysts were tested in the catalytic oxidation of CO using a plug–flow reactor. The CO conversion was determined as a function of temperature. The monometallic palladium and the palladium-rich catalysts behaved quite similarly and were the most active catalysts. …

eta1-Allypalladium complexes with tridentate PNP’ ligand for the assembly of modified Screen Printed Electrodes: an electrochemical study.

Specific Pd-based organometallic complex, in particular the [Pd(η1-CH2–CH=CH2)(P–N–P’)]BF4 was used for the assembly of chemically modified Screen Printed Electrodes (SPEs) and their electrochemical reactivity was also investigated. For this purpose potassium ferricyanide, hexaammineruthenium(III) chloride, sodium hexachloroiridate-(III) hydrate, ascorbic acid (AA), uric acid (UA), acetaminophen (Ac), guanine (G) and adenine (A) were used to study the electron-transfer processes, which occurred at modified SPEs, fabricated by using the [Pd(η1-CH2–CH=CH2)(P–N–P’)]BF4, applying the drop casting procedure. Interesting results were obtained in the case of the guanine (G) quantitative detection,…

Rest frame light curves of Swift GRBs

CoMo catalysts supported on aluminosilicates: synergy between support and sodium effects

Abstract The structural properties and the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) activity of sodium doped and sodium free CoMo catalysts supported on amorphous aluminosilicates (ASA) were investigated as a function of different SiO2:Al2O3 ratios. The support yielding the most active catalyst, (66% alumina) doped with different amounts of sodium, was used for a series of similar catalysts in order to study the effect of the alkali ion on the catalytic performance. The supports were prepared by sol–gel method and the catalysts were prepared by incipient wet impregnation method. The structure and the surface of the various samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature-programmed reduc…

Influence of the preparation method on the thiophene HDS activity of silica supported CoMo catalysts

Abstract The effect of the preparation method of CoMo/SiO2 catalysts with and without sodium ions, on the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of thiophene was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and N2 physisorption (BET). The samples were prepared by total sol–gel route, by classic wetness impregnation and by co-impregnation, in the presence of nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), of commercial and sol–gel prepared silica. The influence of sodium ions added to the sol mixture and to the silica before the impregnation with Co and Mo salt solution, was also considered. The presence of sodium favoured the phase transition of amorphous silica to cristobalite with con…

Pile-up correction for the Swift-XRT observations in WT mode

The detector at the focal plane of the Swift X-ray Telescope (XRT) supports four readout modes, automatically changed on board, to cover the dynamical range of fluxes and rapid variability expected from GRB afterglows. The Windowed Timing (WT) mode is used for sources with flux higher than a few mCrab and is obtained by compressing 10 rows into a single row, and then reading out only the central 200 columns of the CCD. Point sources with a rate above ~300 c/s produce severe pile-up in the central region of the Point Spread Function. This paper presents three methods to correct the effects of the pile-up in WT mode. On ground calibration results and data from the very bright GRB 060124 are u…

La1−xSrxCo1−yFeyO3− perovskites: Preparation, Characterization and Solar Photocatalytic Activity

The exceptionally extended flaring activity in the X-ray afterglow of GRB 050730 observed with Swift and XMM-Newton

We present the results of a detailed spectral and temporal analysis of Swift and XMM-Newton observations of the high redshift (z=3.969) GRB 050730. The X-ray afterglow of GRB 050730 was found to decline with time with superimposed intense flaring activity that extended over more than two orders of magnitude in time. Seven distinct re-brightening events starting from 236 s up to 41.2 ks after the burst were observed. The underlying decay of the afterglow was well described by a double broken power-law model with breaks at t_1= 237 +/- 20 s and t_2 = 10.1 (-2.2) (+4.6) ks. The temporal decay slopes before, between and after these breaks were alpha_1 = 2.1 +/- 0.3, alpha_2 = 0.44 (-0.08) (+0.1…

The Swift-BAT survey reveals the orbital period of three high-mass X-ray binaries

A growing number of previously hidden Galactic X-ray sources are now detected with recent surveys performed by the Integral and Swift satellites. Most of these new sources eluded past surveys due to their large local X-ray extinction and consequent low soft X-ray flux. The Swift-BAT performs daily monitoring of the sky in an energy band (15-150 keV) which is only marginally affected by X-ray extinction, thus allowing for the search of long periodicities in the light curve and identification of the nature of the X-ray sources. We performed a period search using the folding technique in the Swift-BAT light curves of three Integral sources: IGR J05007-7047, IGR J13186-6257 and IGR J17354-3255.…

La1-xSrxCo1-yFeyO3-delta perovskites: Preparation, characterization and solar photocatalytic activity

Abstract LaCoO3 perovskites substituted by Sr at the A site and/or by Fe at the B site have been prepared by the citrate method. Characterizations by several techniques, such as specific surface area (BET method), XRD, TPR, SEM, UV–vis in DRS mode, XPS and TGA analyses, have been performed. The so prepared La1−xSrxCo1−yFeyO3−δ perovskites are semiconductor materials showing band gap energy values from 1.9 to 3.2 eV. They displayed solar photocatalytic activity for the 2-propanol degradation in gas–solid regime. The photocatalytic results suggest that the perovskites containing Fe are less active and the activity decreases by increasing the Fe content, however the presence of iron avoids the…

Swift Observations of GRB 070110: An Extraordinary X-Ray Afterglow Powered by the Central Engine

We present a detailed analysis of Swift multi-wavelength observations of GRB 070110 and its remarkable afterglow. The early X-ray light curve, interpreted as the tail of the prompt emission, displays a spectral evolution already seen in other gamma-ray bursts. The optical afterglow shows a shallow decay up to ~2 d after the burst, which is not consistent with standard afterglow models. The most intriguing feature is a very steep decay in the X-ray flux at ~20 ks after the burst, ending an apparent plateau. The abrupt drop of the X-ray light curve rules out an external shock as the origin of the plateau in this burst and implies long-lasting activity of the central engine. The temporal and s…

Direct Methane Oxidation on La1-xSrxCr1-yFeyO3-δ perovskite-type oxides as Potential Anode for Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Abstract La1−xSrxCr1−yFeyO3−δ (x = 0, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2; y = 0, 0.3, 0.5) perovskite-type oxide powders were synthesized by solution combustion synthesis and characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and H2-temperature programmed reduction. Selected compositions were studied by CH4-temperature programmed reduction in the absence and in the presence of H2S. Temperature programmed oxidation and structural characterizations were performed in order to discriminate the nature of residual deposits on the catalyst surface. The study about reduction in different methane-based mixture revealed that total and partial methane oxidation occurred in the range ∼450–1000 °C indepen…

Effect of Alkali Ions on the Amorphous to Crystalline Phase Transition of Silica

Abstract The effect of the addition of alkali ions to commercial amorphous silica, generally used as support for heterogeneous catalysts, has been investigated from the point of view of morphological and structural changes. Samples of alkali-doped silica were prepared by impregnation and subsequent calcination at various temperatures. The structural effect of Li, Na, K, and Cs was determined by use of techniques such as wide-angle (WAXS) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The WAXS diffractograms, analyzed with the Rietveld method using the GSAS program, allowed qualitative and quantitative identification of the fraction of the different silica polymorphs like quartz, tridymite, and cr…

Finding a 61.0-day orbital period for the HMXB 4U 1036-56 with the Swift-BAT monitoring

Since November 2004, the Burst Alert Telescope on board Swift is producing a monitoring of the entire sky in the 15-150 keV band, recording the timing and spectral behavior of the detected sources. Here we study the properties of the HMXB 4U 1036-56 using both the BAT survey data and those from a Swift-XRT observation. A folding analysis performed on the BAT light curve of the first 100 months of survey unveils a periodic modulation with a period of 61.0 days, tied to the presence in the BAT light curve of several intensity enhancements lasting ~1/4 of P_0. We explain this modulation as the orbital period of the binary system. The position of 4U 1036-56 on the Corbet diagram, the derived se…

Swiftdiscovery of the orbital period of the high mass X-ray binary IGR J015712−7259 in the Small Magellanic Cloud

In the last years the hard X-ray astronomy has made a significant step forward, thanks to the monitoring of the IBIS/ISGRI telescope on board the INTEGRAL satellite and of the Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) on board of the Swift observatory. This has provided a huge amount of novel information on many classes of sources. We have been exploiting the BAT survey data to study the variability and the spectral properties of the new high mass X-ray binary sources detected by INTEGRAL. In this letter we investigate the properties of IGR J015712-7259. We perform timing analysis on the 88-month BAT survey data and on the XRT pointed observations of this source. We also report on the broad-band 0.2-150 …

Sensitivity of the Cherenkov Telescope Array to a dark matter signal from the Galactic centre

Full list of authors: Acharyya, A.; Adam, R.; Adams, C.; Agudo, I.; Aguirre-Santaella, A.; Alfaro, R.; Alfaro, J.; Alispach, C.; Aloisio, R.; Alves Batista, R.; Amati, L.; Ambrosi, G.; Angüner, E. O.; Antonelli, L. A.; Aramo, C.; Araudo, A.; Armstrong, T.; Arqueros, F.; Asano, K.; Ascasíbar, Y. Ashley, M.; Balazs, C.; Ballester, O.; Baquero Larriva, A.; Barbosa Martins, V.; Barkov, M.; Barres de Almeida, U.; Barrio, J. A.; Bastieri, D.; Becerra, J.; Beck, G.; Becker Tjus, J.; Benbow, W.; Benito, M.; Berge, D.; Bernardini, E.; Bernlöhr, K.; Berti, A.; Bertucci, B.; Beshley, V.; Biasuzzi, B.; Biland, A.; Bissaldi, E.; Biteau, J.; Blanch, O.; Blazek, J.; Bocchino, F.; Boisson, C.; Bonneau Arbe…

Effect of the Al/Si atomic ratio on surface and structural properties of sol-gel prepared aluminosilicates

Abstract A series of aluminosilicates with an Al/Si ratio ranging from 0 to ∞ (0 for pure silica and ∞ for pure alumina) was prepared by sol–gel process and characterized by surface and structure techniques. Aluminum tri sec butoxide and tetramethylorthosilicate were used as precursors for the sol–gel synthesis. The acidic properties of the oxides were studied by determination of the zero point charges, through mass titration method, and, for selected samples, by FT-IR spectroscopy of adsorbed pyridine used as a probe for both Bronsted and Lewis acidity. A dependence of the acidity on the Al/Si atomic ratio was found. According to the X-ray diffraction patterns, all the oxides have an amorp…

La1−xSrxCo1−yFeyO3− perovskites: Preparation, Characterization and Solar Photocatalytic Activity in gas-solid regime

The short GRB 051210 observed by Swift

We report on the short GRB051210 detected by the Swift-BAT. The light curve, on which we focus mainly, shows a hint of extended emission in the BAT energy range, a steep decay of the X-ray emission, without any flattening or break, and two small flares in the first 300 sec. The emission fades out after ~1000 s.

Circinus X-1 observed with BeppoSAX wide field cameras

Abstract We present a sky image and spectra for various orbital phases of Circinus X-1 observed by B-SAX Wide Field Cameras. We suggest that the spectral shape is dependent on the orbital phase.

Attributes of flares in Gamma Ray Bursts: sample I

We discuss some of the preliminary results and findings derived from the analysis of a first sample of flares detected by the XRT on board Swift. The analysis shows that the morphology of flares is the one we expect from the collision of ultra-relativistic shells as it happens during the internal shock model proposed by Rees and Meszaros in 1994. Furthermore the Delta(t)/t ratio and the decay-time to rise-time ratio have mean values that are in good agreement with the values observed in the prompt emission pulses that are believed to originate from internal shocks. The conclusion is that the flare analysis favors the internal shock as due to shells that have been ejected by the central engi…

Evidence for a resonant cyclotron line in IGR J16493-4348 from the Swift-BAT hard X-ray survey

Resonant absorption cyclotron features are a key diagnostic tool to directly measure the strength of the magnetic field of accreting neutron stars. However, typical values for cyclotron features lie in the high-energy part of the spectrum between 20 keV and 50 keV, where detection is often damped by the low statistics from single pointed observations. We show that long-term monitoring campaign performed with Swift-BAT of persistently, but faint, accreting high-mass X-ray binaries is able to reveal in their spectra the presence of cyclotron features. We extracted the average Swift-BAT 15-150 keV spectrum from the 54 months long Swift-BAT survey of the high-mass X-ray source IGR J16493-4348. …