The properties of four completely saturated and one partially saturated salts consisting of methyl-tri-n-decylphosphonium cations and either chloride, chloride monohydrate, bromide, bromide monohydrate, or nitrate anions are reported. Their neat phase behavior has been examined by polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction. The monohydrates form smectic phases that persist in >90 °C ranges and extend from below room temperature; they are ordered, room-temperature ionic liquid crystals. The nitrate salt becomes liquid-crystalline above room temperature and the other two salts remain as soft solids to their isotropization temperatures. The locations of two solvatochromic dyes, Nile Red and 1,1-dicyano-2-[6-(dimethylamino)naphthylen-2-yl]propene, within the ionic assemblies have been approximated from UV/vis absorption and fluorescence spectra, and the temperature (phase) dependence of the conductivities and dielectric constants of some of the salts have been measured. Some comparisons with properties of isotropic, room-temperature ionic liquids are made.

Gallium–platinum promoted HZSM-5 is found to be a promising catalyst for ethane aromatization reaction. The influence of Pt as a promoter on the activity of Ga/HZSM-5 catalyst for ethane aromatization has been investigated. Comparative study was performed between bimetallic Ga–Pt based and Mo based HZSM-5, where the GaPt/HZSM-5 showed better aromatic and hydrogen selectivity. Pt promoted Ga/HZSM-5 catalyst exhibited higher activity compared to pure Ga/HZSM-5 catalyst. The presence of platinum in the gallium zeolite considerably accelerated dehydrogenation step in ethane aromatization. In addition, GaPt/HSZM-5 deactivated significantly slower than Mo/HZSM-5 and Ga/HZSM-5. TPO study of spent catalysts revealed that carbonaceous deposit on GaPt/HZSM-5 catalyst was burnt off at lower temperature compared to pure Ga/HZSM-5 catalyst, indicating the presence of Pt facilitated hydrogen spillover resulting in hydrogenolysis of coke precursors. The reaction mechanism associated with aromatic formation is postulated based on the correlation between catalytic performance and surface characterization.

To select suitable tree species associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) for phytoremediation of heavy metal (HM) contaminated area, we measured the AMF status and heavy metal accumulation in plant tissues in a lead-zinc mine area, Northwest China. All 15 tree species were colonized by AM fungi in our investigation. The mycorrhizal frequency (F%), mycorrhizal colonization intensity (M%) and spore density (SP) reduced concomitantly with increasing Pb and Zn levels; however, positive correlations were found between arbuscule density (A%) and soil total/DTPA-extractable Pb concentrations. The average concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd in plant samples were 168.21, 96.61, 41.06, and 0.79 mg/kg, respectively. Populus purdomii Rehd. accumulated the highest concentrations of Zn (432.08 mg/kg) and Cu (140.85 mg/kg) in its leaves. Considerable amount of Pb (712.37 mg/kg) and Cd (3.86 mg/kg) were concentrated in the roots of Robinia pseudoacacia Linn. and Populus simonii Carr., respectively. Plants developed different strategies to survive in HM stress environment: translocating more essential metals (Zn and Cu) into the aerial parts, while retaining more toxic heavy metals (Pb and Cd) in the roots to protect the above-ground parts from damage. According to the translocation factor (TF), bioconcentration factor (BCF), growth rate and biomass production, five tree species (Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle, Cotinus coggygria Scop., P. simonii, P. purdomii, and R. pseudoacacia) were considered to be the most suitable candidates for phytoextraction and/or phytostabilization purposes. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that the efficiency of phytoremediation was enhanced by AM symbioses, and soil pH, Pb, Zn, and Cd levels were the main factors influencing the HM accumulation characteristics of plants.