Ondara, señorío del Duque de Gandía, a principios del siglo XV

A partir de un cabreve de 1416 conservado en el Archivo del Reino de Valencia hemos pretendido reconstruir cuál fue el desarrollo del lugar de Ondara, en el norte de la actual provincia de Alicante, en particular la renta percibida por el señor, el duque de Gandía. Ondara tenía una población de mayoría mudéjar, aunque también vivían en la localidad cristianos. De esta renta era la partición de frutos de los mudéjares y los cristianos, con sus 4.000 sueldos, la que proporcionaba los mayores ingresos en las arcas señoriales, es decir, el gravamen sobre la actividad económica de la localidad, seguida por los arrendamientos y el besante. Además de la agricultura había una actividad artesana en torno a la cantarería, la fabricación de jabón y el tinte. Se completa el estudio con unas normas municipales del año 1410 y la prosopografía de los vecinos.

Total oxidation of naphthalene using palladium nanoparticles supported on BETA, ZSM-5, SAPO-5 and alumina powders

A range of catalysts based on Pd nanoparticles supported on inorganic supports such as BETA and ZSM-5 zeolites, a silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve (SAPO-5) and γ-alumina as a standard support have been tested for the total oxidation of naphthalene (100 ppm, total flow 50 ml/min) showing a conversion to carbon dioxide of 100% between 165 and 180 °C for all the analysed catalysts. From the combined use of zeolites with PVP polymer protected Pd based nanoparticles, enhanced properties have been found for the total abatement of naphthalene in contrast with other kinds of catalysts. A Pd/BETA catalyst has been demonstrated to have excellent activity, with a high degree of stability, as shown by time on line experiments maintaining 100% conversion to CO2 during the 48 h tested.

Abatement of hydrocarbons by acid ZSM-5 and BETA zeolites under cold-start conditions

Simulated cold-start tests have been carried out to evaluate the performance of H-ZSM-5 and H-BETA zeolites as hydrocarbon traps under simulated gasoline car exhaust gases, paying special attention to the effect of water on their behaviour. It is concluded that the hydrothermal treatment of the zeolites in the acidic form contributes to the better performance of these materials as hydrocarbon traps since the stabilization of the zeolites takes place. Moreover, the decrease of the surface acidity of the zeolites results in an increase of the Si/Al ratio, which contributes to the decrease of the water affinity for adsorption sites. Thus, the competition with hydrocarbon molecules in the exhaust for the adsorption sites is reduced which increases their trap efficiency. The stabilized H-ZSM-5 is the zeolite that showed the best performance with a propene offset temperature of 240 °C, which should be high enough for the three-way catalyst to carry out its role as catalytic converter.

Total oxidation of naphthalene at low temperatures using palladium nanoparticles supported on inorganic oxide-coated cordierite honeycomb monoliths

A study on the preparation of thin films of ZSM-5 and BETA zeolites, and a SAPO-5 silicoaluminophosphate, supported on cordierite honeycomb monoliths by in situ synthesis was carried out for their use as catalyst supports. Furthermore γ-Al2O3 was also coated onto a cordierite honeycomb monolith by a dip-coating method for use as a standard support. Structured monolithic catalysts were prepared by impregnation of the aforementioned coated monoliths with polymer-protected Pd nanoparticles. The monolithic catalysts have been tested for the total oxidation of naphthalene (100 ppm, GHSV 1220 h−1). From the combined use of the zeolite with polymer-protected nanoparticles, enhanced catalytic properties have been found for the total abatement of naphthalene. The Pd/MBETA and Pd/MZSM-5 catalytic monoliths have shown excellent activity with a high degree of stability, even after undergoing accelerated ageing experiments.

BETA Zeolite Thin Films Supported on Honeycomb Monoliths with Tunable Properties as Hydrocarbon Traps under Cold-Start Conditions

A high percentage of hydrocarbon (HC) emissions from gasoline vehicles occur during the cold-start period. Among the alternatives proposed to reduce these HC emissions, the use of zeolites before the three-way catalyst (TWC) is thought to be very effective. Zeolites are the preferred adsorbents for this application; however, to avoid high pressure drops, supported zeolites are needed. In this work, two coating methods (dip-coating and in situ crystallization) are optimized to prepare BETA zeolite thin films supported on honeycomb monoliths with tunable properties. The important effect of the density of the thin film in the final performance as a HC trap is demonstrated. A highly effective HC trap is prepared showing 100 % toluene retention, accomplishing the desired performance as a HC trap, desorbing propene at temperatures close to 300 °C, and remaining stable after cycling. The use of this material before the TWC is very promising, and works towards achieving the sustainability and environmental protection goals.

Fabular edificando. La obra de Cortina

Este libro contiene la investigación llevada a cabo bajo la dirección de Joaquín Arnau Amo y la coordinación de Inmaculada Narbona Calvo sobre la obra del arquitecto José María Manuel Cortina (1868-1950). El equipo de investigadores está formado por Joaquín Arnau Amo, Javier Poyatos Sebastián, María Elia Gutiérrez Mozo, José Luis Baró Zarzo y Joaquín Arnau Navarro. Los adjuntos al equipo son Jorge Girbés Pérez, María Elisa Moliner Cantos y Tomás Roselló Jaunzarás. La investigación dio lugar a una exposición en el Centro del Carmen de Valencia cuyo catálogo asimismo se recoge, precedido de las aportaciones de los citados investigadores, a las cuales se sumaron las de Miguel Ángel Baldellou Santolaria, Joan Bassegoda Nonell, Jaume Coll Conesa, Carmen Rodríguez Pedret y Francisco Taberner Pastor.