Optimization of cadmium adsorption from aqueous solutions by functionalized graphene and the reversible magnetic recovery of the adsorbent using response surface methodology

Novel functionalized graphene adsorbent was prepared and characterized using different techniques. The prepared adsorbent was applied for the removal of cadmium ions from aqueous solution. A response surface methodology was used to evaluate the simple and combined effects of the various parameters, including adsorbent dosage, pH, and initial concentration. Under the optimal conditions, the cadmium removal performance of 70% was achieved. A good agreement between experimental and predicted data in this study was observed. The experimental results revealed of cadmium adsorption with high linearity follow Langmuir isotherm model with maximum adsorption capacity of 502 mg g^?1, and the adsorption data fitted well into pseudo‐second order model. Thermodynamic studies showed that adsorption process has exothermic and spontaneous nature. The recommended optimum conditions are: cadmium concentration of 970 mg L^?1, adsorbent dosage of 1 g L^?1, pH of 6.18, and T = 25 °C. The magnetic recovery of the adsorbent was performed using a magnetic surfactant to form a noncovalent magnetic functionalized graphene. After magnetic recovery of the adsorbent both components (adsorbent and magnetic surfactant) were recycled by tuning the surface charges through changing the pH of the solution. Desorption behavior studied using HNO₃ solution indicated that the adsorbent had the potential for reusability.     

Microwave‐associate synthesis of Co3O4 nanoparticles as an effcient nanocatalyst for the synthesis of arylidene barbituric and Meldrum's acid derivatives in green media

In this study, Co₃O₄ nanocatalysts were constructed in environmentally appropriate conditions using controlled, effective, and facile microwave method. The final nanostructures were characterized by SEM, XRD, and TEM analyses. The products had a small size distribution, homogeneous morphology, and crystallographic structures associated with the formation of Co₃O₄ nanostructures. Moreover, EDS mapping analysis confirmed the existence of Co and O elements in the final structure, and the magnetic properties of the samples were investigated by VSM. The application of this nanostructure in a catalytic process was further examined, and the results suggested that it could be used as a novel candidate for the synthesis of arylidene barbituric and Meldrum^,s acid through Knoevenagel condensation of aldehydes by barbituric and Meldrum^,s acid in aqueous media. The high yield of these nanocatalysts would be justified by the nature of the nanostructure as well as the experimental procedure developed in this study, which affected the physicochemical features of the products.     

MAGNESIUM HYDROGEN SULFATE POWDER CATALYZED STEREOSELECTIVE CONVERSION OF DIALKYL 2-(IMIDO-N -YL)-3-(TRIPHENYLPHOSPHORANYLIDENE)- BUTANEDIOATES TO ELECTRON-POOR (Z)-N -VINYLIMIDES IN SOLVENT-FREE CONDITIONS

Magnesium hydrogen sulfate powder was found to catalyze stereoselective conversion of dialkyl 2-(imido-N-yl)-3-(triphenylphosphorany-lidene)butanedioates to electron-poor (Z)-N-vinylimides in solvent-free conditions at 95°C 1 h in high conversions. Microwave also was found to catalyze the same reactions in the presence of magnesium hydrogen sulfate powder in solvent-free conditions in 3 min.     

Synthesis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-hydroxy-imidamide-functionalized graphene: an efficient metal-free electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction

Metal-free electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are key to the development of efficient, durable, and low-cost alternatives to noble-metal-based electrocatalysts in fuel cell cathodes. In recent years, many efforts are directed to the metal-free catalyst based on heteroatom-doped graphene. In this work, we demonstrate that the graphene surface can be converted into the catalyst for the oxygen reduction by chemical functionalization. In this context, we first synthesized malononitrile-functionalized graphene oxide. Amidoximation of nitrile group and reduction in graphene oxide were then carried out by hydroxylamine in one step. The electrochemical behavior of functionalized graphene-modified electrode for the reduction in oxygen was studied. The results showed that the electrocatalyst fabricated by this method exhibited striking catalytic activities in alkaline solution. In alkaline solution, this catalyst showed a competitive activity to the commercial Pt catalyst via four-electron transfer pathway with better ORR selectivity and stability. In addition, this metal-free electrocatalyst exhibited tolerance to methanol crossover effect. Based on its outstanding performance, this functionalized graphene electrocatalyst showed the promising prospect of a metal-free catalyst for fuel cell with much lower cost than currently used Pt/C catalyst.     

Performance improvement of PDMS/PES membrane by adding silicalite-1 nanoparticles: separation of xenon and krypton

The polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) mixed matrix membrane with dispersed phase of nanozeolite silicalite-1 has been synthesized on polyethersulphone (PES) as a support, and its performance in the gas separation of xenon and krypton has been studied. For this purpose, nanozeolite silicalite-1 is synthesized by the hydrothermal clear solution method and is characterized by XRD and SEM analysis. In this research, the separation performance of MMM has also been compared with the polymeric PDMS membrane. Furthermore, the effect of feed pressure and loading percentage of nanozeolite in the polymeric matrix are evaluated. The results indicate that the addition of nanozeolite to the polymeric matrix improves its separation performance, and that the changes of the feed pressure have no major effect. The average permeability of the krypton and xenon gases through the PDMS polymeric membrane is calculated as 1.25 × 10^?9 and 1.78 × 10^?9 cm mol/(cm² s kPa), respectively, while by adding only 5 wt% of nanosilicalite-1 to the polymeric matrix of the membrane, this amount increased to 1.82 × 10^?9 and 8.07 × 10^?9 cm mol/(cm² s kPa), respectively. In addition, the presence of nanosilicalite-1 as the filler leads to an increase in the selectivity of xenon to krypton up to 4.38.     

One-Pot Stereoselective Synthesis of Alkyl Z-2-[2-Amino-4-oxo-1,3-selenazol-5(4H)-yliden] Acetates

Abstract

Selenourea reacts with dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates in acetone to form 1:1 adducts, which undergo a cyclization reaction to produce alkyl Z-2-(2-amino-4-oxo-1,3-selenazol-5(4H)-yliden) acetates in fairly good yields. The reaction is completely stereoselective.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of Alkyl Z -2-(2-Amino-4-oxo-1,3-thiazol-5(4 H )-yliden)Acetates in Solventless Conditions

Tiourea reacts with dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates in solventless conditions to form 1:1 adducts, which undergo a cyclization reaction to produce alkyl Z-2-(2-amino-4-oxo-1,3-thiazol-5(4H)-yliden)acetates in fairly good yields. The stereochemistry of the ethyl Z-2-(2-amino-4-oxo-1,3-thiazol-5(4H)-yliden)acetate was established by the use of X-ray single crystal structure analysis. The reaction is completely stereoselective.     

SYNTHESIS OF SOME BICYCLIC OXAZOLO- AND OXAZEPINOPYRIMIDINE DERIVATIVES

Oxazolopyrimidine compounds 2(a–c) and 3(a–e) were synthesized by a simple one-pot condensation reaction of the pyrimidine derivative 1 with 1,2-dibromoethane and 2-bromopropanoic acid, respectively. In a similar way the oxazepinopyrimidine compounds 4(a–b) were synthesized by reaction of 1 and 1,4-dichlorobutane in dioxane under reflux condition. The yields of products following recrystallization were of the order of 55–85%.     

Electronic, Energetic, and Geometric Properties of Methylene-Functionalized C60

Chemical functionalization of C₆₀ fullerene with one to six carbene (CH₂) molecule(s) has been investigated using density functional theory. We have found that the reaction is regioselective so that a CH₂ molecule prefers to be adsorbed atop a C–C bond which is shared between two hexagonal rings of the C₆₀, releasing energy of ?3.95 eV. Singly occupied molecular orbital (SOMO) of the CH₂ interacts with LUMO of the C₆₀ via a [2 + 1] cycloaddition reaction. Energy of the reaction and work function of the system are decreased by increasing the number of adsorbed CH₂ molecules. The HOMO/LUMO energy gap of C₆₀ is slightly changed and the electron emission from its surface is facilitated upon the functionalization.