Coadsorption of Cd(II) and oxalate ions at the TiO2/electrolyte solution interface

The study of the adsorptions of cadmium and oxalate ions at the titania/electrolyte interface and the changes of the electrical double layer (edl) structure in this system are presented. The adsorption of cadmium or oxalate ions was calculated from an uptake of their concentration from the solution. The concentration of Cd(II) or oxalate ions in the solution was determined by radiotracer method. For labeling the solution 14C and 115Cd isotopes were used. Coadsorption of Cd(II) and oxalic ions was determined simultaneously. Besides, the main properties of the edl, i.e., surface charge density and zeta potential were determined by potentiometer titration and electrophoresis measurements, respectively. The adsorption of cadmium ions increases with pH increase and shifts with an increase of the initial concentration of Cd(II) ions towards higher pH values. The adsorption process causes an increase of negatively charged sites on anatase and a decrease of the zeta potential with an increase of initial concentration of these ions. The adsorption of oxalate anions at the titania/electrolyte interface proceeds through the exchange with hydroxyl groups. A decrease of pH produces an increase of adsorption of oxalate ions. The processes of anion adsorption lead to increase the number of the positively charged sites at the titania surface. However, specific adsorption of bidenate ligand as oxalate on one surface hydroxyl group may form inner sphere complexes on the metal oxide surface and may overcharge the compact part of the edl. The presence of oxalate ions in the system affects the adsorption of Cd(II) ions on TiO2, increasing the adsorption at low pH range and decreasing the adsorption at high pH range. Using adsorption as a function of pH data, some characteristic parameters of adsorption envelope were calculated.     

Monitoring of Zn(II) and Cd(II) adsorption on activated carbon from aqueous multicomponent solutions by differential pulse polarography (DPP)

The adsorption process of Zn(II) and Cd(II) from aqueous solution has been investigated from both kinetic and equilibrium standpoints, using differential pulse polarography (DPP) on a mercury dropping electrode as the analytical technique. With such an aim, adsorption experiments were performed using not only a single metal ion–Zn(II) or Cd(II) solution but also a multi-component ion metal–Zn(II), Cd(II) and Hg(II) solution. The influence of the pH change in the multi-component ion metal solution on the adsorption of Zn(II) and Cd(II) was also studied. The adsorption processes is relatively fast for Zn(II) and Cd(II). The presence of two foreign ions in the solution slightly speeds up the adsorption process for Zn(II) and significantly slows it down for Cd(II). The adsorption isotherms are similarly shaped for Zn(II) and Cd(II). The addition of the foreign ions has a more unfavourable effect on the adsorption for Cd(II) than for Zn(II). At pH 2, neither Zn(II) nor Cd(II) is adsorbed practically on the carbon. The voltammetric approach has proved to be a fast and efficient method that, at the same time, enables one to monitor the adsorption of Zn(II) and Cd(II) with potential on-line application, which could be useful in waste-water treatment.     

Removal of cadmium(II) and zinc(II) metal ions from binary aqueous solution by rice husk ash

The present study reports the competitive adsorptive removal of cadmium (Cd(II)) and zinc (Zn(II)) ions from binary systems using rice husk ash (RHA), a waste obtained from the rice husk-fired furnaces, as an adsorbent. The initial pH (pH₀) affects significantly the capacity of RHA for adsorbing the metallic ions in the aqueous solution. The pH₀ ≈ 6.0 is found to be the optimum for the removal of Cd(II) and Zn(II) ions by RHA. The single ion equilibrium adsorption from the binary solution is better represented by the non-competitive Redlich–Peterson (R–P) and the Freundlich models than by Langmuir model in the initial metal concentration range of 10–100 mg/l. The adsorption of Zn(II) ion is more than that of Cd(II) ion, and this trend is in agreement with the single-component adsorption data. The equilibrium metal removal decreases with increasing concentrations of the other metal ion and the combined effect of Cd(II) and Zn(II) ions on RHA is generally found to be antagonistic. Non-modified Langmuir, modified Langmuir, extended-Langmuir, extended-Freundlich, Sheindorf–Rebuhn–Sheintuch (SRS), non-modified R–P and modified R–P adsorption models were tested to find the most appropriate competitive adsorption isotherm for the binary adsorption of Cd(II) and Zn(II) ions onto RHA by minimizing the Marquardt's percent standard deviation (MPSD) error function. The extended-Freundlich model satisfactorily represents the adsorption equilibrium data of Cd(II) and Zn(II) ions onto RHA.     

Removal of Cd(II) from Micro-Polluted Water by Magnetic Core-Shell Fe3O4@Prussian Blue

A novel core-shell magnetic Prussian blue-coated Fe₃O₄ composites (Fe₃O₄@PB) were designed and synthesized by in-situ replication and controlled etching of iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) to eliminate Cd (II) from micro-polluted water. The core-shell structure was confirmed by TEM, and the composites were characterized by XRD and FTIR. The pore diameter distribution from BET measurement revealed the micropore-dominated structure of Fe₃O₄@PB. The effects of adsorbents dosage, pH, and co-existing ions were investigated. Batch results revealed that the Cd (II) adsorption was very fast initially and reached equilibrium after 4 h. A pH of 6 was favorable for Cd (II) adsorption on Fe₃O₄@PB. The adsorption rate reached 98.78% at an initial Cd (II) concentration of 100 μg/L. The adsorption kinetics indicated that the pseudo-first-order and Elovich models could best describe the Cd (II) adsorption onto Fe₃O₄@PB, indicating that the sorption of Cd (II) ions on the binding sites of Fe₃O₄@PB was the main rate-limiting step of adsorption. The adsorption isotherm well fitted the Freundlich model with a maximum capacity of 9.25 mg·g⁻¹ of Cd (II). The adsorption of Cd (II) on the Fe₃O₄@PB was affected by co-existing ions, including Cu (II), Ni (II), and Zn (II), due to the competitive effect of the co-adsorption of Cd (II) with other co-existing ions.     

The chemistry of adsorbed Cu(II) and Mn(II) in aqueous titanium dioxide suspensions

We studied the adsorption behavior of Cu(II) and Mn(II) on the surface of titanium dioxide over the pH range from 2.0 to 11.5. The titanium dioxide we used in these experiments was prepared by hydrolyzing TiCl₄ and had a surface area of 113.7 m² g⁻¹. All suspensions, which were 9.04 × 10⁻³ M in NaClO₄, contained 20 m² liter⁻¹ of oxide surface and divalent metal ion concentrations sufficient (at full adsorption from solution) to cover the available surface with one-half, one, and four layers of close-packed, hydrated ions. Both divalent ions began adsorption below titanium dioxide's isoelectric point (pH = 6.2). Cu²⁺ adsorption was accompanied by net OH⁻ uptake from solution and it was inferred that the titania surface also provided OH⁻ for Cu²⁺ adsorption. ESR spectra demonstrate the coexistence of two distinct forms adopted by these metal ions on the surface. A portion of the adsorbed metal ions occupies sites magnetically isolated one from another, as evidenced by the paramagnetic behavior of this form. The majority of the metal ions, however, exist in hydrous-metal-ion clusters in which spin-exchange coupling of the electron dipoles determines the magnetic behavior. Electrophoretic mobility measurements indicate that ions adsorbed at isolated sites exert a stronger influence on the electrophoretically measured charge of the suspension particles than ions in clusters. Even though these experiments were performed in the absence of oxygen, we observed the oxidation of a limited amount of the Mn(II) on the surface as low as pH = 5. Presumably this occurs as a result of electron transfer between photo-induced electron holes and Mn(II) on the surface.     

A novel method for the simultaneous determination of Pb (II), Cd (II) and Zn (II) in environmental water samples

A novel UV-VIS spectrophotometric method was developed in this study by using solid phase extraction procedure for the simultaneous preconcentration, separation and determination of trace levels of Pb (II), Cd (II) and Zn (II) ions in various water samples by using Amberlite N,N-bis(salicylidene)cyclohexanediamine (SCHD) resin. This study presents the results of experimental procedures carried out like the adsorption of analytes to the resin, influences of some analytical parameters that effect the recovery such as pH, sample volume, sample flow rate, eluent type and concentration, eluent volume, eluent flow rate and the effects of alkaline metals, earth alkaline metals and some other transition metals. The analytes in the samples with the adjusted pH range of 4–7 were adsorbed on XAD-4-SCHD resin and eluted by using 1.0 mol L^?1 nitric acid. The amounts of ions were determined by using UV-VIS spectrometer. The limits of detection were 0.03, 0.07 and 0.05 µg mL^?1 for Pb (II), Cd (II) and Zn (II), respectively. The accuracy of the method was assured by the analysis of the certified standard water sample NW-TMDA-70.2 and the observed recoveries were above 93%. Different environmental water samples that contain trace amounts of Pb (II), Cd (II) and Zn (II) were analysed by using the method developed in this study. Same samples were also analysed by ICP-MS for comparison and almost the similar results were observed. The method developed in this study was successfully applied to the various environmental water samples to determine the trace levels of Pb (II), Cd (II) and Zn (II) ions.     

Synthesis of a New Cu(II)-Ion Imprinted Polymer for Solid Phase Extraction and Preconcentration of Cu(II)

A new Cu(II)-ion imprinted polymer (IIP) has been synthesized by copolymerizing salicylic acid and formaldehyde as a monomer and crosslinker, respectively in the presence of Cu(II)-4-(2-pyridylazo) resorcinol complex. The imprinted Cu(II) ions were completely removed by leaching the IIP with 0.05 M EDTA. The maximum adsorption capacity for Cu(II) ions was 310 μg g^?1 at pH 6. The IIP was repeatedly used in adsorption–desorption experiments for seven times with recoveries ~95%. The relative selectivity factor (α _r) values of Cu(II)/Zn(II), Cu(II)/Cd(II), Cu(II)/Ni(II) and Cu(II)/Co(II) are 3.17, 2.90, 2.47 and 3.37, respectively. The detection limit corresponding to three times the standard deviation of the blank was found to be 3.0 μg L^?1. The developed IIP has also been tested for preconcentration and recovery of Cu(II) ions from water samples.     

Adsorption of Copper (II) Ions onto Surfactant-Modified Oil Palm Leaf Powder

Il palm leaf powder (OPLP), an agricultural solid waste was used as adsorbent for the removal of copper (II) ions after modification with an anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS), CH₃(CH₂)₁₁C₆H₄SO₃Na. The copper (II) ions adsorption is highly dependent on pH and maximum removal was observed at pH 6, above which copper (II) started to precipitate. The equilibrium adsorption data were fitted into the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The Freundlich isotherm model fitted well to data with 0.989 regression coefficient (R²). The kinetics of the adsorption of copper (II) ions onto the surfactant-modified OPLP was best described by a pseudo-second-order model. Comparison of this SDBS-modified-OPLP to previously investigated adsorbents showed comparably good result, offering this material as a promising adsorbent for the treatment of waste waters containing lower concentrations of copper (II) ions.     

Preparation and characterization of nanosized TiO2 powder as an inorganic adsorbent for aqueous radionuclide Co(II) ions

In this research TiO₂ sample was synthesized by a simple sol–gel method and was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) techniques. The XRD result indicated that the obtained product was anatase titanium dioxide with high purity, the TEM image clearly showed that the particle sizes of TiO₂ nanoparticles were in the range of 30–70 nm, and the measured BET surface area of the heated TiO₂ nanoparticles was 147.14 m²/g. In this work, the prepared TiO₂ sample was used as a new adsorbent for the adsorption of radionuclide Co(II) ions from aqueous solutions, and the influence of pH, contact time, ionic strength and temperature in the presence or absence of humic acid/fulvic acid (HA/FA) were also investigated. The experimental results indicated that the adsorption of Co(II) ions onto TiO₂ was strongly pH-dependent. Based on the surface complexation, the presence of HSs enhanced the adsorption of Co(II) ions and the influence of Co(II) adsorption onto FA–TiO₂ hybrids was much stronger than that of HA–TiO₂ at pH values of 2.0–9.0. Adsorption of Co(II) ions onto TiO₂ powder was strongly dependent on ionic strength. The adsorption process mainly occured in the first contact time of 2 h and could be fitted by a pseudo-second-order rate model. The calculated thermodynamic data indicated that the adsorption of Co(II) ions onto TiO₂ was a spontaneous process and favorable at high temperatures.     

Electokinetic and adsorption properties of different titanium dioxides at the solid/solution interface

Six samples of titanium dioxide of different phase compositions and specific surface areas have been characterized by XRD, Raman-and FTIR spectroscopy, adsorption of nitrogen, electrophoresis. Adsorption of Zn(II) ions at the TiO₂/NaCl aqueous solution interface as well as the effect of adsorption on the structure of electrical double layer have been studied. The influence of ionic strength, pH and presence of ions on the adsorption of Zn(II) ions at the TiO₂/NaCl solution interface have also been investigated. The zeta potential, surface charge density, parameters of adsorption edge pH_50% and ΔpH_10–90% for different concentrations of basic electrolyte have been determined. Studied unpurified samples showed lower values of isoelectric point pH_iep compared with literature data due to the presence of anion impurities. The antibate dependence between pH_iep values and particle size has been established. Adsorption of Zn(II) ions using monophase samples is completed at a lower pH than for the biphase TiO₂. Appearance of the point CR3 is associated with the charge turnover from positive to negative at high values of pH and formation of Zn(OH)₂.      

Synthesis of a New Cu(II)-Ion Imprinted Polymer for Solid Phase Extraction and Preconcentration of Cu(II)

A new Cu(II)-ion imprinted polymer (IIP) has been synthesized by copolymerizing salicylic acid and formaldehyde as a monomer and crosslinker, respectively in the presence of Cu(II)-4-(2-pyridylazo) resorcinol complex. The imprinted Cu(II) ions were completely removed by leaching the IIP with 0.05 M EDTA. The maximum adsorption capacity for Cu(II) ions was 310 μg g⁻¹ at pH 6. The IIP was repeatedly used in adsorption–desorption experiments for seven times with recoveries ~95%. The relative selectivity factor (α _r) values of Cu(II)/Zn(II), Cu(II)/Cd(II), Cu(II)/Ni(II) and Cu(II)/Co(II) are 3.17, 2.90, 2.47 and 3.37, respectively. The detection limit corresponding to three times the standard deviation of the blank was found to be 3.0 μg L⁻¹. The developed IIP has also been tested for preconcentration and recovery of Cu(II) ions from water samples.

     

Biosorption of Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions by Agave sisalana (sisal fiber)

The present work proposes the use of Agave sisalana (sisal fiber) as an natural adsorbent for ions Pb(II) and Cd(II) biosorption from natural waters. The flame atomic absorption spectrometry was used for quantitative determination and study of the ions Pb(II) and Cd(II) adsorption on the solid phase. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT IR) was used to investigate the sisal structure and the specific BET surface area was analyzed. The biosorption potential of sisal as biosorbent for the removal of the ions Pb(II) and Cd(II) from aqueous solution was investigate considering the followings parameters: pH, biomass amount and contact time. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were used to evaluate adsorption behavior of the ions on this solid phase. The results showed that sisal has a surface area to adsorption of 0.0233 m² g^{− 1}, and the OH and CO functional groups are the main involved in the biosorption. The best interpretation for the experimental data was given by Freundlich isotherm that proposes a monolayer sorption with a heterogeneous energetic distribution of active sites, accompanied by interactions between sorbed molecules. The maximum monolayer biosorption capacity was found to be 1.85 mg g^{− 1} for Cd (II) and 1.34 mg g^{− 1} for Pb (II) at pH 7 and 296 K. This phase solid can be used for biosorption of cadmium and lead in polluted natural waters.     

Competitive adsorption of Ca2+ and Zn(II) ions at monodispersed SiO2/electrolyte solution interface

A study of competitive adsorption of Ca(2+) and Zn(II) ions at the monodispersed SiO(2)/electrolyte solution interface is presented. Influence of ionic strength, pH, and presence of other ions on adsorption of Ca(2+) and Zn(II) in the mentioned system are investigated. zeta potential, surface charge density, adsorption density, pH(50%), and DeltapH(10-90%) parameters for different concentrations of carrying electrolyte and adsorbed ions are also presented. A high concentration of zinc ions shifts the adsorption edge of Ca(2+) ions adsorbed from solutions with a low initial concentration at the SiO(2)/NaClO(4) solution interface to the higher pH values. This effect disappears with a concentration increase of calcium ions. The presence of Ca(2+) ions in the system slightly affects the adsorption of zinc ions on SiO(2), shifting the adsorption edge toward lower pH values and thereby increasing the adsorption slope.     

Simultaneous removal of copper(II), lead(II), zinc(II) and cadmium(II) from aqueous solutions by multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were used successfully for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solution. Characterization techniques showed the carbon as nanotubes with an average diameter between 40 and 60 nm and a specific surface area of 61.5 m² g^?1. The effect of carbon nanotubes mass, contact time, metal ions concentration, solution pH, and ionic strength on the adsorption of Cu(II), Pb(II), Cd(II) and Zn(II) by MWCNTs were studied and optimized. The adsorption of the heavy metals from aqueous solution by MWCNTs was studied kinetically using different kinetic models. A pseudo-second order model and the Elovich model were found to be in good agreement with the experimental data. The mechanism of adsorption was studied by the intra-particle diffusion model, and the results showed that intra-particle diffusion was not the slowest of the rate processes that determined the overall order. This model also revealed that the interaction of the metal ions with the MWCNTs surface might have been the most significant rate process. There was a competition among the metal ions for binding of the active sites present on the MWCNTs surface with affinity in the following order: Cu(II) > Zn(II) > Pb(II) > Cd(II).     

Fabrication of titanate nanotubes/iron oxide magnetic composite for the high efficient capture of radionuclides: a case investigation of 109Cd(II)

In this paper, the capture of radiocadmium (Cd(II)) by adsorption onto the titanate nanotube/iron oxide (TNT/IOM) magnetic composite as a function of contact time, pH, ionic strength, foreign cation and anion ions, humic acid (HA) and fulvic acid (FA) was studied using batch technique. The results indicated that the adsorption of Cd(II) onto the TNT/IOM magnetic composite was dependent on ionic strength at pH <9.0, but was independent of ionic strength at pH >9.0. Outer-sphere surface complexation were the main mechanism of Cd(II) adsorption onto the TNT/IOM magnetic composite at low pH values, whereas the adsorption was mainly dominated via inner-sphere surface complexation at high pH values. The adsorption of Cd(II) onto the TNT/IOM magnetic composite was dependent on foreign cation and anion ions at low pH values, but was independent of foreign cation and anion ions at high pH values. A positive effect of HA/FA on Cd(II) adsorption onto the TNT/IOM magnetic composite was found at low pH values, while a negative effect was observed at high pH values. From the results of Cd(II) removal by the TNT/IOM magnetic composite, the optimum reaction conditions can be obtained for the maximum removal of Cd(II) from water. It is clear that the best pH values of the system to remove Cd(II) from solution by using the TNT/IOM magnetic composite are 7.0–8.0. Considering the low cost and effective disposal of Cd(II)-contaminated wastewaters, the best condition for Cd(II) capture by the TNT/IOM magnetic composite is at room temperature and solid content of 0.5 g L^?1. These results are quite important for estimating and optimizing the removal of Cd(II) and related metal ions by the TNT-based magnetic composite.     

The separation of zinc(II) and cadmium(II) by liquid-liquid extraction

The extraction of Zn(II) and Cd(II) from thiocyanate solutions with bis-2-ethylhexyl sulphoxide (B₂EHSO) in benzene as an extractant has been studied by tracer techniques. For comparison, extraction has also been carried out with tributylphosphate (TBP). The extraction data have been analysed by both graphical and theoretical methods by taking into account complexation of the metal in the aqueous phase by inorganic ligands and plausible complexes extracted into the organic phase. The results demonstrate that Zn(II) is extracted as Zn(SCN)₂·2B2EHSO and Zn(SCN)₂·2TBP. In the case of Cd(II), the extracted species are Cd(SCN)₂·4B2EHSO/4TBP. The synergistic extraction of Zn(II) and Cd(II) with mixtures of 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-benzoyl-pyrazolone-5 (HPMBP) and B2EHSO or TBP or trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) from acetate buffer solutions has also been investigated. Zn(II) is extracted as Zn(PMBP)₂·B2EHSO/TBP/TOPO. On the other hand, Cd(II) is found to be not extracted with these mixed-ligand systems under the experimental conditions. These results also demonstrate the mutual separation of Zn(II) and Cd(II) using the synergistic extraction with HPMBP in the presence of various neutral oxodonors.     

New Application of Chemically Modified Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes with Thiosemicarbazide as a Sorbent for Separation and Preconcentration of Trace Amounts of Co(II), Cd(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) in Environmental and Biological Samples Prior to Determination by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

The present article reports the application of Thiosemicarbazide‐modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs‐TSC) as a new, easily prepared selective and stable solid sorbent for the preconcentration of trace Co(II), Cd(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions in aqueous solution prior to the determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The studied metal ions can be adsorbed quantitatively on MMWNTs at pH 5.0 and then eluted completely with HNO₃ (1.5 mol L^?1) prior to their determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The separation/preconcentration conditions of analytes were investigated, including the pH, the sample flow rate and volume, the elution condition and the interfering ions. The maximum adsorption capacity of the adsorbent at optimum conditions were found to be 32.5, 27.3, 44.5 and 34.1 mg g^?1 for Co(II), Cd(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II), and the detection limits of the method were found to be 0.28, 0.13, 0.21 and 0.17 μg L^?1, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied for extraction and determination of the analytes in well water, sea water, wastewater, soil, and blood samples.     

The Influence of Temperature on the Adsorption of Cadmium(II) and Cobalt(II) on Goethite

The adsorption of Cd(II) and Co(II) onto goethite was measured at five temperatures between 10 and 70 degrees C. For both cations the amount adsorbed at any given pH increased as the temperature was increased. Cd(II) adsorbed at a slightly lower pH at each temperature than Co(II). Adsorption isotherms at pH 7.00 for Cd(II) could be fitted closely by a simple Langmuir model, but a two-site Langmuir model was needed for Co(II). Potentiometric titrations of goethite suspensions in the presence and absence of added cation could be modeled closely by a constant-capacitance surface complexation model that assumed the adsorption reactions M2+ + SOH ⇋ SOM+ + H+ and M2+ + SOH + H2O ⇋ SOMOH + 2H+, where M represents Cd or Co. This model also fitted the experimental data from the adsorption edge and adsorption isotherm experiments. Thermodynamic parameters estimated from both Langmuir and surface complexation models showed that the adsorption of both metals was endothermic. Values obtained for the adsorption enthalpies from both modeling schemes were similar for both cations. Estimates of the adsorption entropies were model-dependent: Langmuir parameters yielded positive entropies, while some of the surface complexation parameters generated negative adsorption entropies. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.     

Influence of Zn(II) adsorption on the photocatalytic activity and the production of H2O2 over irradiated TiO2

The photocatalytic activity of semiconductor oxides, in particular TiO₂ powders or colloids, is a complex function of bulk (light absorption and scattering, charge carrier mobility and recombination rate) and surface (structure, defects and reconstruction, charge, presence of adsorbate, surface recombination centers) properties. Among surface modifications, the inner sphere surface complexation of metal cations can change the surface charge of the metal oxide, thus changing the surface activity coefficient of ionic substrates, the band edge positions, as well as the mechanism and kinetic of interfacial electron transfer by blocking surface trapping sites for photogenerated carriers (≡Ti?OH). In this work we show that in anatase/water systems under band-gap irradiation, both the organic substrate (formate) oxidation initiated by photogenerated valence band holes and the formation of hydrogen peroxide from O₂ reduction (by conduction band electrons) is strongly influenced by the presence of Zn²⁺ cations. Depending on the pH, the formate oxidation rate can be enhanced or nearly completely inhibited. The observed result can be rationalized by considering the fraction of ≡Ti?OH surface sites blocked by inner sphere complexation of Zn²⁺ as a function of pH. When this fraction is low, the more positive surface charge favors formate oxidation, whereas when the fraction is high the almost complete blockage of ≡Ti?OH surface sites by Zn²⁺ stops almost entirely formate oxidation. Interestingly, the surface complexation of Zn²⁺ is accompanied by an increasing production of H₂O₂ during formate degradation in the presence of O₂. Zn(II) cations are not complexed by peroxide/superoxide species derived from O₂ reduction. When ≡Ti?OH sites are blocked by Zn²⁺, the complexation on the TiO₂ surface of peroxide/superoxide species is inhibited, hindering their further transformation. The results presented demonstrate that the combined effect of pH and surface complexation of redox inert cations greatly influences both the oxidative and reductive processes during the photocatalytic process over TiO₂.     

Chemically modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes as efficient and selective sorbent for separation and preconcentration of trace amount of Co(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), and Pd(II)

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were chemically functionalized by glutaric dihydrazide (GDH) and characterized with FT-IR technique. This new sorbent was used for enrichment and preconcentration of Co(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), and Pd(II) ions. The adsorption was achieved quantitatively on MWCNTs at pH 4.0, and then the retained metal ions on the adsorbent were eluted with 1.5 mol L^?1 HNO₃. The effects of analytical parameters including pH of the solution, eluent type, sample volume, and matrix ions were investigated for optimization of the presented procedure. The adsorption capacity of the adsorbent at optimum conditions was found to be 33.6, 29.2, 22.1, and 36.0 mg g^?1 for Co(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), and Pd(II), respectively. The LOD values of the method were 0.16, 0.19, 0.17, and 0.12 ng mL^?1 (3Sb, n = 10) for Co(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), and Pd(II), respectively. The RSDs values of the method were 0.75, 0.85, 1.16, and 1.30 ng mL^?1 for Co(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), and Pd(II), respectively. The method was applied for the determination of analytes in soil, well water, and wastewater samples with satisfactory results.