MOSCOW — November 7, 2018 — Russian chemists from NUST MISIS have developed a new hybrid catalyst for carbon monoxide oxidation consisting of hexagonal boron nitride and silver nanoparticles. This material makes it possible to get a full conversion of carbon monoxide at only 194°C. As stated in the Journal of Catalysis, this temperature is nowhere near the process’s record temperatures, but in the future, chemists can reduce the temperature of catalysis more by increasing the concentration of silver in the hybrid material.

Carbon monoxide (carbonous oxide) is one of the most harmful gases to people, but the gas is everywhere as it is released through car engine exhaust. Catalytic converters, which oxidize the gas to non-toxic nitrogen dioxide through catalytic reactions, are typically used to get rid of cars’ carbon monoxide exhaust. However, due to the increase in the efficiency of modern engines and a decrease in the temperature of the exhaust gases, catalysts have dramatically lost efficiency and as a result, carbon monoxide content has increased in them.

To fight this effect, chemists are actively looking for new types of catalysts for CO oxidation that can work at relatively low temperatures — around 150-200°C. American scientists have recently developed a catalyst for the carbon monoxide oxidation of individual platinum atoms distributed over the surface of cerium oxide. Some materials have allowed scientists to oxidize CO with a lower rate of conversion at temperatures below 100 degrees.

A group of chemists from Russia and Australia led by NUST MISIS’s Professor Dmitri V. Golberg has discovered a new effective catalyst that can be used to convert carbon monoxide. Scientists had previously shown that hybrid materials based on hexagonal boron nitride and silver nanoparticles are promising for this purpose. Similar materials, where boron nitride served as a carrier matrix for metal nanoparticles of the catalyst, have also been proposed, including for carbon monoxide oxidation, but gold and platinum were previously thought to be the best metals to conduct oxidation.

It turns out that hybrid materials with cheaper silver nanoparticles are also a very effective catalyst. To obtain these silver nanoparticles, researchers used the decomposition reaction of silver nitrate under the effect of ultraviolet light in a solution of polyethylene glycol. This approach allows scientists to obtain monodisperse silver particles up to 10 nanometers in size, which are uniformly deposited on the surface of layered boron nitride and on the polymer matrix of polyethylene glycol.

Materials with the maximum concentration of silver nanoparticles, which amounted to about 1.4 percent by weight, turned out to be the most effective. Such a hybrid catalyst allows carbon monoxide to be oxidized to carbon dioxide at a temperature of just 194°C. This number is still far from record values, but according to the researchers, in the future the temperature of the catalyst’s work can be reduced further by increasing the concentration of silver nanoparticles, and in particular, by transforming them from the polymer matrix to boron nitride.

However, scientists do note that the current parameters of the catalyst only make it possible to use them to clean things like factories emitting harmful emissions. In the future, by reducing the temperature of the carbon monoxide conversion, these materials can also be used to reduce the ratio of carbon monoxide in vehicle emissions.

The development of catalysts for the oxidation of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide is relevant for the purification of harmful emissions as well as catalysts for other gas reactions-such as those to handle the decomposition of methane or to reduce carbon dioxide to hydrocarbons. Scientists around the globe are developing these catalysts to solve a number of technological and ecological issues.

You can read more about the most pressing issues of modern heterogeneous catalysis in the interview with British chemist Graham Hutchings.

Posted November 7, 2018

Source: National University of Science and Technology MISiS

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — November 7, 2018 — TRSA recently held its 105th Annual Conference & Exchange from October 16-18 at The Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa, Calif. Nearly 250 linen, uniform and facility services executives and guests gained insights from presentations on technology and family business, plus thought-provoking panel discussions and break-out sessions. They also participated in social events and in the recognition of industry leaders at the Annual Industry Awards Dinner.

Attendees raved about the program, which drew a net promoter score of 74 (anything above 50 is considered excellent). “TRSA’s Annual Conference is an excellent opportunity to catch up with old friends, make new connections in the industry, celebrate those who have contributed to our industry and learn about new best practices,” said Jim Buik, president of the Roscoe Co., Chicago. Gerard van de Donk, managing director of ABS Laundry Business Solutions/LSI Inc., added that the conference offered attendees a prime opportunity for networking. “Every time it is valuable to meet and talk with the executives in our industry,” he said. “That is helping us to define our road map toward creating history together.”

The conference began with a keynote address by Vivek Wadhwa, a technology expert and columnist for The Washington Post and Bloomberg BusinessWeek. Wadhwa’s speech looked at technological innovations. Specifically, he examined how those advances are disrupting industries today and how they will continue to do going forward. From the outset, Wadhwa promised a stirring glimpse of what’s to come. “I’m going to take you on a tour of the future,” he said. “I’m going to tell you why this is the most amazing and scary time in human history.” He proceeded to do just that, elaborating on a range of topics from medical/genetic engineering breakthroughs to progress in robotics, water treatment, nanotechnology, energy and more. For example, he noted that the cost of solar energy is dropping exponentially. Within five years, he predicted that the costs for both solar technology and battery storage units will drop by 50% or more.

Breakout sessions were devoted to current topics including:

• Textile Services Bottom Line Performance, with Andrew Wittmann, CFA, senior research analyst, institutional equities and research, Robert W. Baird & Co. Wittman reviewed trends in textile service markets, including employment rates and the pace of business expansion by commercial laundries.
• Employment Law Trials, Tribulations and Best Practices: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You, with Joseph Shelton, partner, Fisher & Phillips LLP. Shelton gave an overview of trends in personnel issues such as sex discrimination and how employers can avoid lawsuits and maximize compliance with overtime rules and other mandates associated with the Fair Labor Standards Act.

The panel “Global Opportunities and Challenges in the Linen, Uniform and Facility Services Industry” featured Enrique Jacques, COO, LAVARTEX SAPI de CV, Mexico City; Jose Luis Jacques, CEO, LAVARTEX SAPI de CV, Mexico City; Joe Sullivan, national technical operations manager, Spotless Laundries, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and Chris Sander, CEO, Johnson Service Group. Due to flight delays, Sander was unable to attend the conference. Joseph Ricci, president and CEO, TRSA, reported on the European linen, uniform and facility services market based on a report submitted by Sander. Topics ranged from uncertainty over the recent election of a new president in Mexico to Australia’s 27 years of recession-free growth – fueled largely by exports of mineral ores. In addition, the panel addressed concerns among European operators over rising labor and environmental-compliance costs.

The Annual Conference also included the announcement of two top award winners, including:

• Steve Larson, vice president of the North America Division of Alsco Inc, who received the Operator Lifetime Achievement Award, TRSA’s highest honor for a linen, uniform or facility services executive, and
• David Hart, CEO of Mountville Mills Inc., who received this year’s Maglin/Biggie Lifetime Achievement Award, the association’s highest honor for an associate member executive.

Both men received their awards during conference’s Annual Awards Dinner on Oct. 17. They spoke briefly to thank customers and colleagues, while reflecting on the factors that fueled their respective career success stories.

Also recognized for their contributions to TRSA and the industry were outgoing Board Member Alexis Miller, Regent Apparel; and outgoing TRSA Chairman David Potack, Unitex. Potack now assumes the post of immediate past chairman, while Buik advances from vice chairman to chairman of the TRSA Board of Directors.

The winners of other awards, including those for Years of Service, Clean Green Innovation and SafeTRSA Safety Excellence, will be announced during TRSA’s Legislative Conference on March 20-21, 2019.

In another popular program at the Annual Conference, attendees participated in a lively discussion with industry veterans who spoke as part of a “Legends of the Industry panel.” They included:

• Bruce Boynton, former senior vice president of operations, UniFirst Corp.;
• Alan Bubes, former president & CEO, Linens of the Week;
• Bill Evans, former CEO, AmeriPride Services Inc.;
• Tom Storm, co-founder, Washing Systems (WSI); and
• Donald Struminger, chairman of the board and CEO, Mohenis Services Inc.

The closing keynote address was delivered by family businessman and vintner Michael Mondavi, founder of the Michael Mondavi Family Estate. Mondavi reviewed key milestones in the development of the California wine industry, Napa Valley and the challenges and opportunities associated with running a family business.

In addition, nearly 20 laundry decision-makers sat down for direct talks with 15 supplier-company counterparts during two rounds of TRSA’s Executive Exchange program. Operators said they appreciated the concise and focused discussions these meetings provided. Vendors said the exchange meetings provided excellent opportunities to share industry solutions with prospects and current customers. Vendor participants in the exchange meetings included:

• ARCO/Murray;
• Automation Dynamics LLC;
• Ellis Corp.;
• Ecolab Textile Care Division;
• Fashion Seal, a brand of Superior Uniform Group;
• Girbau Industrial;
• Kemco Systems Co. LLC;
• Hunt Textiles Inc.;
• JENSEN USA Inc.;
• M&B Hangers;
• Leonard Automatics Inc.;
• Lavatec Laundry Technology Inc.;
• M+A Matting;
• Softrol Systems Inc.; and
• WSI.

TRSA’s 106^th Annual Conference will be held September 17-19, 2019, at the Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor in Boston.

Posted November 7, 2018

Source: TRSA