Single module flow-electrode capacitive deionization for continuous water desalination

The search for novel desalination technologies has recently led to the introduction of flow-electrodes to capacitive deionization (CDI) processes, named as flow-electrode capacitive deionization (FCDI). Unlike classical CDI, which is a discontinuous or semi-continuous process due to the need for regeneration of the electrodes within the same module, flow-electrodes offer new design opportunities which enable fully continuous desalination processes as well as easily scalable systems. Here, we describe a novel system for the continuous desalination of water based on FCDI using a single flow-electrode and a single module. The flow-electrode is based on activated carbon powder suspended in water. During continuous operation of the system, a desalination rate of a 1 g/L NaCl solution of up to 70% is achieved at water recoveries of up to 80%. Additionally we report very good current efficiencies: in case of 80% water recovery, the current efficiency is 0.93. The single flow-electrode single module process might reduce energy and investment costs and lower the threshold to a large scale implementation.     

Capacitive deionization concept based on suspension electrodes without ion exchange membranes

A new type of capacitive deionization (CDI) system, based on capacitive suspension electrodes (CSEs), was developed for the purpose of desalting brackish and seawater through the use of flowable carbon suspensions. CSEs derived from activated carbon and acetylene black demonstrated a specific capacitance of 92 F g^− 1 in a static mode in a 0.6 M NaCl solution. The novel system introduced here is a proof of concept that capacitive suspension electrodes can be envisioned to desalt water without the aid of ion exchange membranes (IEMs).     

All-vanadium redox photoelectrochemical cell: An approach to store solar energy

A highly-efficient all-vanadium photoelectrochemical storage cell has been demonstrated in this work. This storage cell takes advantage of fast electrochemical kinetics of vanadium redox couples of VO₂⁺/VO^2 + and V^3 +/V^2 +, and appears as a promising alternative to photoproduction of hydrogen from water. Continuous photocharging for 25 h revealed a VO^2 + conversion rate of 0.0042 μmol/h and Faradaic efficiency of 95% without external voltage bias. The incident photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE) at 350 nm light was calculated to be ~ 12%.     

Electrochemical degradation of tramadol hydrochloride: Novel use of potentiometric carbon paste electrodes as a tracer

The electrochemical removal of tramadol hydrochloride from aqueous solutions has been investigated under several operating conditions using a Pb/PbO₂ electrode. The optimum conditions of the treatment process are: current density of 1000 mA/cm⁻², pH ≈6, temperature of 10 °C and initial tramadol hydrochloride concentration of 100 mg/L. The time of electrolysis is 25 min for degradation rate of tramadol hydrochloride and chemical oxygen demeaned (COD) removal is 22 h. The results were obtained by UV–Vis spectrophotometer and the presently designed electrode was coincident.     

Photo-induced degradation of some flavins in aqueous solution

The blue-light induced photo-degradation of FMN, FAD, riboflavin, lumiflavin, and lumichrome in aqueous solution at pH 8 is studied by measurement of absorption coefficient spectral changes due to continuous excitation at 428 nm. The quantum yields of photo-degradation determined are ϕ_D(riboflavin, pH 8) ≈ 7.8 × 10⁻³, ϕ_D(FMN, pH 5.6) ≈ 7.3 × 10⁻³, ϕ_D(FMN, pH 8) ≈ 4.6 × 10⁻³, ϕ_D(FAD, pH 8) ≈ 3.7 × 10⁻⁴, ϕ_D(lumichrome, pH 8) ≈ 1.8 × 10⁻⁴, and ϕ_D(lumiflavin, pH 8) ⩽ 1.1 × 10⁻⁵. In a mass-spectroscopic analysis, the photo-products of FMN dissolved in water (solution pH is 5.6) were identified to be lumichrome and the lumiflavin derivatives dihydroxymethyllumiflavin, formyllumiflavin, and lumiflavin-hydroxy-acetaldehyde. An absorption and emission spectroscopic characterisation of the primary photoproducts of FMN at pH 8 is carried out.     

In situ microwave-enhanced electrochemical reactions at stainless steel: Nano-iron for aqueous pollutant degradation

Iron nanoparticle deposition and stripping are observed from aqueous Fe^2 + solution at pH 3 on stainless electrodes in the presence of focused microwave activation. The effects of Fe^2 + concentration and microwave power are evaluated. It is shown that the resulting iron nanoparticle deposit (i) gives well-defined anodic stripping responses, (ii) is readily released into the solution phase, and (iii) is highly reactive towards chlorinated hydrocarbons such as trichloroacetate. The combined effects of increased mass transport and localized microwave heating improve pollutant degradation treatments.     

Voltammetric study on the mechanism of ion transfer caused by weak acids in the bilayer lipid membrane

The mechanism has been investigated by cyclic voltammetry for the ion transfer from one aqueous phase (W1) to another (W2) across a bilayer lipid membrane (BLM) in the presence of a typical uncoupler, carbonylcyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP). Voltammograms for the ion transfer were in steady-state and showed rotated sigmoidal and symmetrical shape about the origin (0 V, 0 A). The magnitude of the ion transfer current at a given applied potential increased linearly with the concentration of FCCP in W2 up to 10⁻⁶ M and then became saturated. The ion transfer current also showed a bell-type dependence on pH centered around pH ≅ pK_a + 1, K_a being the dissociation constant of FCCP in aqueous phase. These properties have been well explained by our proposed model that the ion transfer current is attributable to the transfers of H⁺ and Na⁺ distributed in BLM. The hydrophilic counter ions, H⁺ and Na⁺, compensate the negative charge of the dissociated FCCP in BLM. The current intensity is predominantly governed by the concentration and the ion mobility of the counter cations.     

Needle-like IrO/Ag combined pH microelectrode

In this study, a combined pH microelectrode has been developed consisting of an indicator electrode made of IrO₂ prepared using the polymeric precursor method and deposited in a platinum microwire. This electrode was mounted inside a stainless steel needle, the external surface of which was painted with conductive silver ink which is used as reference electrode. This device was compared with a conventional glass electrode, and the results presented linear behavior in the pH range from 2.0 to 12.5, in Na⁺ and K⁺ solutions, exceeding glass electrodes in the alkaline range. The sensitivity was 56.9 ± 0.2 mV pH^? 1 and using ANOVA test we conclude that the electrode is not sensitive to the presence of alkaline cations such as Li⁺, Na⁺ or K⁺. Finally, the response time (t₉₅) was 4.9 to 9.0 s depending on the solution pH. The combined pH microelectrode can be used several times and, after three years, continues to have a response similar to that of a freshly produced one.     

电容去离子脱盐装置构型的研究进展

电容去离子(CDI)技术是一种新型的海水淡化技术,因其具有环境友好、操作简单和能耗低等优势而受到广大研究者的关注。在CDI技术中,电吸附的性能与装置的构型有着密切的联系。本文综述了目前常见的几种CDI装置,包括膜电容去离子(MCDI)、流动电极电容去离子(FCDI)、杂化电极电容去离子(HCDI)、反式电极电容去离子(i-CDI)以及脱盐电池(DB),对这几种装置的发展历程和装置构型进行介绍,最后,对CDI的装置构型在未来的研究发展方向进行了展望,以期为CDI装置在电脱盐领域的研究和应用提供参考。     

Spectroscopic characterization of Cu(II) complex of l-phenylalanine and d,l-tryptophan

In this work, the reactions involving l-phenylalanine and d,l-tryptophan in the presence of Cu(II) ion were studied. Optimum conditions for the reactions were established as pH 7 and λ = 641 nm. When the reaction was kinetic, it was observed that the following rate formula was found as dA/Aⁿ = k dt and k = 3.2 × 10^?4 s^?1, according to absorbance measurements. Using a perpetual change curve, the ratio of [Cu]/[Cu] + l-phenylalanine + [d,l-tryptophan] was found 1:1:1. According to this result, one molecule of l-phenylalanine and one molecule of d,l-tryptophan react with one molecule Cu(II) ion.     

Study on electrochemical performance of activated carbon in aqueous Li2SO4, Na2SO4 and K2SO4 electrolytes

The electrochemical performances of activated carbon (AC) in 0.5 mol/l Li₂SO₄, Na₂SO₄ and K₂SO₄ aqueous electrolytes were investigated. The cyclic voltammetric results at different scan rates show that the rate behaviors of AC in the three electrolytes improve in the order of Li₂SO₄ < Na₂SO₄ < K₂SO₄. This improvement can be mainly ascribed to the following two reasons: (1) the decreasing equivalent series resistance in the order of Li₂SO₄ > Na₂SO₄ > K₂SO₄, which is the main factor influencing the maximum output power, and (2) the increasing migration speed of hydrated ions in the bulk electrolyte and in the inner pores of AC electrode in the order of Li⁺ < Na⁺ < K⁺. Their cycling behaviors do not show any differences in capacitive fading. The above results provide valuable information to explore new hybrid supercapacitors.     

Surface-enhanced Raman studies of bradykinin using colloidal gold

In this paper, bradykinin (BK), an endogenous peptide hormone, which is involved in a number of physiological and pathophysiological processes was deposited onto the colloidal Au nanoparticles. The surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was used to determine the adsorption mode of BK under different environmental conditions, including: excitation wavelengths (514.5 nm and 785.0 nm), pH of aqueous sol solutions (from pH = 3 to pH = 11), and size of the colloidal nanoparticles (10, 20, and 50 nm). The metal surface plasmon of the colloidal suspended Au nanoparticles was examined by ultraviolet-visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy. The results showed that the C-terminal part of BK plays a crucial role in the adsorption process onto the colloidal suspended Au particles. The Phe^5/8 and Arg⁹ residues of BK mainly participate in the interactions with the colloidal Au nanoparticles. At acidic pH of the solution (pH = 3), the BK COO⁻ terminal group through the both oxygen atoms strongly binds to the Au nanoparticles. The Phe⁵/Phe⁸ rings adopt tilted orientation with respect to the colloidal Au nanoparticles with diameters of 10 and 20 nm. As the particle size increases to 50 nm, the flat orientation of the Phe ring(s) with respect to the Au nanoparticles is observed.     

Radiotracer and analytical evidences proving the reduction of ClO4− ions at the cobalt/electrolyte solution interface

The occurrence of the reduction of ClO₄⁻ ions in the course of the dissolution (corrosion) of Co was indicated through the study of the adsorption of radio labelled (³⁶Cl) Cl⁻ ions. A detailed analytical study determining the Co²⁺ and Cl⁻ content of the solution phase furnished firm evidences that under suitable chosen experimental conditions the 4Co + ClO₄⁻ + 8H⁺=4Co²⁺ + Cl⁻ + 4H₂O reaction could be as important as the Co + 2H⁺=Co²⁺ + H₂ reaction considered in the literature as the only reaction path.     

Direct mass analysis of neutral molecules by superconductivity

Dissociation related to ion collision reactions produces neutral fragments in addition to ionic fragments, and the ability to analyze both neutral and ionic fragments is crucial for fully understanding chemical reactions in the gas phase. However, conventional mass spectroscopy (MS) instruments are unable to directly analyze multiple neutral fragments without reionization. This inability is called “neutral loss.” We report the first tandem MS instrument realized by a kinetic-energy-sensitive cryodetector (a superconducting tunnel junction operated in the Giaever mode) as the second mass separation (KEMS) to quantitatively analyze multiple fragment molecules, either neutral or ionic, in a keV kinetic energy range. The performance of the MS/KEMS instrument was examined using the collisions of singly charged acetone or acetyl precursors with a Xe target. These singly charged ions undergo either collisionally activated dissociation (CAD) or electron transfer dissociation (ETD), including a dissociation path of ABA⁺ + e → ABA* → A + B + A or AB + A, which produces neutral fragments only. Our approach is able to determine the branching ratios of the competing CAD and ETD processes and may provide a method to overcome the neutral loss.     

Adsorptive removal of phenol by bagasse fly ash and activated carbon: Equilibrium,kinetics and thermodynamics

Present study deals with the adsorption of phenol on carbon rich bagasse fly ash (BFA) and activated carbon-commercial grade (ACC) and laboratory grade (ACL). BFA is a solid waste obtained from the particulate collection equipment attached to the flue gas line of the bagasse-fired boilers of cane sugar mills. Batch studies were performed to evaluate the influences of various experimental parameters like initial pH (pH₀), contact time, adsorbent dose and initial concentration (C₀) on the removal of phenol. C₀ varied from 75 to 300 mg/l for the adsorption isotherm studies and the effect of temperature on adsorption. Optimum conditions for phenol removal were found to be pH₀ ≈ 6.5, adsorbent dose ≈10 g/l of solution and equilibrium time ≈5 h. Adsorption of phenol followed pseudo-second order kinetics with the initial sorption rate for adsorption on ACL being the highest followed by those on BFA and ACC. The effective diffusion coefficient of phenol is of the order of 10⁻¹⁰ m²/s. Equilibrium isotherms for the adsorption of phenol on BFA, ACC and ACL were analysed by Freundlich, Langmuir, Temkin, Redlich–Peterson, Radke–Prausnitz and Toth isotherm models using non-linear regression technique. Redlich–Peterson isotherm was found to best represent the data for phenol adsorption on all the adsorbents. The change in entropy (ΔS°) and heat of adsorption (ΔH°) for phenol adsorption on BFA were estimated as 1.8 MJ/kg K and 0.5 MJ/kg, respectively. The high negative value of change in Gibbs free energy (ΔG°) indicates the feasible and spontaneous adsorption of phenol on BFA. The values of isosteric heat of adsorption varied with the surface loading of phenol.     

NMR and theoretical study on interactions between diperoxovanadate complex and pyrazole-like ligands

To understand the effects of pyrazole substitution on reaction equilibrium, the interactions between a series of pyrazole-like ligands and [OV(O₂)₂(D₂O)]^?/[OV(O₂)₂(HOD)]^? were explored by using multinuclear (¹H, ¹³C, and ⁵¹V) magnetic resonance, HSQC, and variable temperature NMR in 0.15 mol/L NaCl ionic medium mimicking physiological conditions. These results show that the relative reactivities among the pyrazole-like ligands are 3-methyl-1H-pyrazole ≈ 4-methyl-1H-pyrazole ≈ 1H-pyrazole > 1-methyl-1H-pyrazole. As a result, the main factor which affects the reaction equilibrium is the steric effect instead of the electronic effect of the methyl group of these ligands. A pair of isomers has been formed resulting from the coordination of 3-methyl-1H-pyrazole and a vanadium complex, which is attributed to different types of coordination between the vanadium atom and the ligands. Thus, the competitive coordination leads to the formation of a series of six-coordinate peroxovanadate species [OV(O₂)₂L]^? (L, pyrazole-like ligands). Moreover, the results of density functional calculations provided a reasonable explanation on the relative reactivity of the pyrazole-like ligands as well as the important role of solvation in these reactions.     

Bioelectrocatalytic formate oxidation and carbon dioxide reduction at high current density and low overpotential with tungsten-containing formate dehydrogenase and mediators

We show a great possibility of mediated enzymatic bioelectrocatalysis in the formate oxidation and the carbon dioxide (CO₂) reduction at high current densities and low overpotentials. Tungsten-containing formate dehydrogenase (FoDH1) from Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 was used as a catalyst and immobilized on a Ketjen Black-modified electrode. For the formate oxidation, a high limiting current density (j_lim) of ca. 24 mA cm^− 2 was realized with a half wave potential (E_1/2) of only 0.12 V more positive than the formal potential of the formate/CO₂ couple (E°′_CO2) at 30 °C in the presence of methyl viologen (MV^2 +) as a mediator, and j_lim reached ca. 145 mA cm^− 2 at 60 °C. Even when a viologen-functionalized polymer was co-immobilized with FoDH1 on the porous electrode, j_lim of ca. 30 mA cm^− 2 was attained at 60 °C with E_1/2 = E°′_CO2 + 0.13 V. On the other hand, the CO₂ reduction was also realized with j_lim ≈ 15 mA cm^− 2 and E_1/2 = E°′_CO2 − 0.04 V at pH 6.6 and 60 °C in the presence of MV^2 +.     

Phase equilibrium properties of binary aqueous solutions containing ethanediamine, 1,2-diaminopropane, 1,3-diaminopropane,or 1,4-diaminobutane at several temperatures

The vapour pressures of {ethanediamine (EDA) + water}, {1,2-diaminopropane (1,2-DAP) + water}, {1,3-diaminopropane (1,3-DAP) + water} or {1,4-diaminobutane (1,4-DAB) + water} binary mixtures, and of pure EDA, 1,2-DAP, 1,3-DAP, 1,4-DAB, and water components were measured by means of two static devices at temperatures between (293 and 363) K. The data were correlated with the Antoine equation. From these data, the excess Gibbs function (G^E) was calculated for several constant temperatures and fitted to a fourth-order Redlich–Kister equation using the Barker’s method. The {ethanediamine (EDA) + water}, and {1,2-diaminopropane (1,2-DAP) + water} binary systems show negative azeotropic behaviour. The aqueous solutions of EDA, 1,2-DAP, or 1,3-DAP exhibit negative deviations in G^E for all investigated temperatures over the whole composition range whereas the (1,4-DAB + water) binary mixture shows negative G^E for temperatures (293.15 < T/K < 353.15) and a sinusoidal shape for G^E at T = 363.15 K.     

Thermodynamics of the hydrolysis reactions of adenosine 3′,5′-(cyclic)phosphate(aq) and phosphoenolpyruvate(aq); the standard molar formation properties of 3′,5′-(cyclic)phosphate(aq) and phosphoenolpyruvate(aq)

Molar calorimetric enthalpy changes Δ_rH_m(cal) have been measured for the biochemical reactions {cAMP(aq) + H₂O(l)=AMP(aq)} and {PEP(aq) + H₂O(l)=pyruvate(aq) + phosphate(aq)}. The reactions were catalyzed, respectively, by phosphodiesterase 3^′,5^′-cyclic nucleotide and by alkaline phosphatase. The results were analyzed by using a chemical equilibrium model to obtain values of standard molar enthalpies of reaction Δ_rH_m^∘ for the respective reference reactions {cAMP⁻(aq) + H₂O(l)=HAMP⁻(aq)} and {PEP³⁻(aq) + H₂O(l)=pyruvate⁻(aq) + HPO²⁻₄(aq)}. Literature values of the apparent equilibrium constants K^′ for the reactions {ATP(aq)=cAMP(aq) + pyrophosphate(aq)}, {ATP(aq) + pyruvate(aq)=ADP(aq) + PEP(aq)}, and {ATP(aq) + pyruvate(aq) + phosphate(aq)=AMP(aq) + PEP(aq) + pyrophosphate(aq)} were also analyzed by using the chemical equilibrium model. These calculations yielded values of the equilibrium constants K and standard molar Gibbs free energy changes Δ_rG_m^∘ for ionic reference reactions that correspond to the overall biochemical reactions. Combination of the standard molar reaction property values (K, Δ_rH_m^∘, and Δ_rG_m^∘) with the standard molar formation properties of the AMP, ADP, ATP, pyrophosphate, and pyruvate species led to values of the standard molar enthalpy Δ_fH_m^∘ and Gibbs free energy of formation Δ_fG_m^∘ and the standard partial molar entropy S_m^∘ of the cAMP and PEP species. The thermochemical network appears to be reasonably well reinforced and thus lends some confidence to the accuracy of the calculated property values of the variety of species involved in the several reactions considered herein.     

Photoelectrochemical determination of inorganic mercury ions based on energy transfer between CdS quantum dots and Au nanoparticles

A novel photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensor for mercury ions (Hg^2 +) was fabricated based on the energy transfer (ET) between CdS quantum dots (QDs) and Au nanoparticles (NPs) with the formation of T–Hg^2 +–T pairs. In the presence of Hg^2 + ions, a T-rich single-strand (ss) DNA labeled with Au NPs could hybridize with another T-rich ssDNA anchored on the CdS QDs modified electrode, through T–Hg^2 +–T interactions, rendering the Au NPs in close proximity with the CdS QDs and hence the photocurrent decrease due to the ET between the CdS QDs and the Au NPs. Under the optimal condition, the photocurrent decrease was proportional to the Hg^2 + concentration, ranging from 3.0 × 10^− 9 to 1.0 × 10^− 7 M, with the detection limit of 6.0 × 10^− 10 M.