Growth patterns of Pterocarpus angolensis in savannas of the South African lowveld
- Authors: Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2002
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/182373 , vital:43824 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1127(01)00676-4"
- Description: Pterocarpus angolensis D.C. is one of the most valuable indigenous timber species on the African continent south of the equator. Because of its high value, it is actively sought after in a number of countries, and wild populations are diminishing. However, attempts at artificial germination and growth trials have yielded poor results, thus, emphasis needs to be placed on sustainable management of existing populations. Success of in situ management will be enhanced if based on reliable data and knowledge regarding the growth patterns of this species within specific localities and countries. Such comprehensive data are lacking for several countries, including South Africa. This paper presents empirical data on a number of studies investigating the growth patterns of P. angolensis in the central lowveld savannas of South Africa, including phenology, annual diameter increment, size class structure, size of reproductive maturity, and morphometric relationships. The size class profile indicated that there was adequate recruitment of P. angolensis, but with constricted through growth from the suffrutex stage to the sapling stage. A small proportion of individuals attained reproductive maturity at 8 cm diameter, but most were bigger. All stems were reproductively mature by 26 cm diameter. This is below the minimum size for harvesting which is dictated by the need for a well developed heartwood. Annual growth was strongly related to stem size and rainfall during the growing season. Basal area increment of small stems was approximately four times greater than mature stems, and declined with increasing stem size. Over the 6-year-period and across all stem sizes, mean diameter increment was 4.5 mm per year. This rate is towards the lower end of the range of reported growth rates from other countries, and poses particular challenges for the sustainable management of this species in South African savannas.
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- Date Issued: 2002
Interaction of sulfur dioxide and cyanide with cobalt (II) tetrasulfophthalocyanine in aqueous media
- Authors: Thamae, Mamothibe , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2002
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/289595 , vital:56652 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-5387(01)00968-8"
- Description: Kinetic and equilibrium studies for the coordination of cyanide or sulfur dioxide to the cobalt(II) tetrasulfophthalocyanine ([CoTSPc]4−) complex are reported. The equilibrium constant for the coordination of the cyanide under pH 11 conditions and an oxygen atmosphere, and the formation of [(CN−)2Co(III)TSPc]5− species, was found to be 2.1×101 dm3 mol−1 and the rate constant, kf was found to be 7.4 dm3 mol−1 s−1. Similarly, the coordination of SO2 to [CoTSPc]4− occurred with an equilibrium constant of 8.7×101 dm3 mol−1 and a rate constant of 2.1×102 dm3 mol−1 s−1, at pH 11. These rate and equilibrium constants represent the coordination of the second cyanide or sulfur dioxide ligands to the [CoTSPc]4− species. Coordination of the first ligand occurred faster than that of the second ligand in both cases. The coordination is accompanied by the oxidation of the central Co(II) metal with the formation of a Co(III) tetrasulfophthalocyanine species.
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- Date Issued: 2002
Iron perchlorophthalocyanine and tetrasulfophthalocyanine catalyzed oxidation of cyclohexane using hydrogen peroxide, chloroperoxybenzoic acid and tert-butylhydroperoxide as oxidants
- Authors: Grootboom, Natasha , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2002
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/289606 , vital:56653 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S1381-1169(01)00404-6"
- Description: Polychlorophthalocyanine (Cl16PcFeII) and tetrasulfophthalocyanine ([FeIITSPc]4−) complexes of iron are employed as catalysts for the oxidation of cyclohexane using tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP), m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (m-CPBA) and hydrogen peroxide as oxidants. Catalysis using the Cl16PcFeII was performed in a dimethylformamide:dichloromethane (3:7) solvent mixture. For the [FeIITSPc]4−catalyst, a water:methanol (1:9) mixture was employed. The products of the catalysis are cyclohexanone, cyclohexanol and cyclohexanediol. The relative yields of the products depended on oxidant and the catalyst. TBHP was found to be the best oxidant since minimal destruction of the catalyst and higher selectivity in the products were observed when this oxidant was employed. The mechanism of the oxidation of cyclohexane in the presence of the Cl16PcFeII and [FeIITSPc]4− involves the oxidation of these catalysts, forming an Fe(III) phthalocyanine species as an intermediate. Higher yields were observed when [FeTSPc]4− was employed as a catalyst, which is more soluble than the perchlorinated iron phthalocyanine catalyst.
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- Date Issued: 2002
Synthesis, electrochemical and photochemical properties of unsymmetrically substituted zinc phthalocyanine complexes
- Authors: Matlaba, Pulane M , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2002
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/289650 , vital:56658 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-5387(02)01226-3"
- Description: The synthesis of symmetrically and unsymmetrically substituted zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) derivatives are reported. The ZnPc derivatives are synthesized by ring expansion of subphthalocyanine complexes. Ring substitution is effected with tert-butyl phenol, naphthol and hydroxybenzoic acid. Comparison of the redox potentials for complexes substituted with varying numbers of tert-butyl phenol: 1 (complex 5), 2 (complex 6), 3 (complex 7), 6 (complex 8) and 8 (complex 9) shows that the complexes with the highest number of substituents are more difficult to oxidize and easier to reduce. All the reported complexes are relatively photostable, with photobleaching quantum yields of the order of 10−5. Singlet oxygen quantum yields for the complexes ranged from 0.22 to 0.68.
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- Date Issued: 2002
Voltammetric characterization of the self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of octabutylthiophthalocyaninatoiron (II)
- Authors: Ozoemena,Kenneth , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2002
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/290419 , vital:56748 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-4686(02)00362-6"
- Description: The fabrication of a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of 2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octa (butylthio)-phthalocyaninatoiron(II) [FePc(SBu)8] on gold electrode is described. The integrity of the SAM, with respect to its ability to block certain Faradaic processes, is interrogated using cyclic voltammetric experiments in aqueous solutions. The experiments show that this SAM provide an excellent blocking capability to the Faradaic processes emanating from gold surface oxidation, underpotential deposition (UPD) of copper and redox chemistry of Fe(NH4)(SO4)2 in HClO4. It is revealed by cyclic voltammetry that an ill-defined reversible couple of the SAM of FePc(SBu)8 can be greatly improved by a simple repetitive cycling of the modified electrode in a DMF solution containing TBAP within a short space of time (ca. 2 min). This ‘activation’ process provides good information concerning the surface coverage and orientation of the monolayer. The reversible redox wave shows a potential shift of about −57 mV per pH in the pH range of 2–9. A preliminary investigation indicates that FePc(SBu)8-SAM modified gold electrode shows electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of L-cysteine in acidic medium. The monolayer is stable and easily reproducible. However, due to its susceptibility to destruction via oxidative and reductive desorptions, its potential application as an electrochemical sensor would be much better in acidic and neutral than alkaline environments.
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- Date Issued: 2002