Polyvinyl alcohol fibers with functional phosphonic acid group: synthesis and adsorption of uranyl (VI) ions in aqueous solutions

PVA functionalized with vinylphosphonic acid was prepared as a new adsorbent for uranyl (VI) adsorption from aqueous solutions. The vinylphosphonic acid was cografted onto PVA fibers by preirradiation grafting technique. The adsorbent were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The adsorbent was observed to possess a fibrous structure and was bonded with phosphonic acid groups successfully. The adsorbent was used for the adsorption of low levels uranyl (VI) ions from aqueous solutions. The influence of analytical parameters including pH, adsorption time, amount of adsorbent, metal ion concentration, and temperature were investigated on the recovery of uranyl (VI) ion in aqueous solution. The maximum adsorption capacity (32.1 mg g^?1) and fast equilibrium time (30 min) were achieved at pH of 4.5 at room temperature. Thermodynamic parameters (ΔH° = 2.695 kJ mol^?1; ΔS° = 31.15 J mol^?1 K^?1; ΔG° = ?6.748 kJ mol^?1) show the adsorption of an exothermic process and spontaneous nature, respectively. The possible coordination mechanism was illustrated. Adsorption and desorption coexist in aqueous solutions and then the system becomes equilibrium.     

Immobilisation of lead(II) ions from aqueous solutions on natural coal

The immobilisation of lead(II) ions from aqueous solutions on natural coal was investigated to compare calculated and measured adsorption enthalpies. For this purpose, adsorption isotherms were measured at temperatures of 303, 333 and 353 K. Adsorption enthalpy ΔH was evaluated from temperature dependence of the equilibrium constant of adsorption using the van‘t Hoff equation. Thus, the value of ΔH = 27 kJ mol^?1 was obtained manifesting endothermic effect of lead(II) immobilisation on the coal. However, based on the flow and immersion calorimetric measurements, the exothermic character of lead(II) adsorption on the studied coal was proven with a value of about ?7 kJ mol^?1.     

Sorption study of uranium on carbon spheres hydrothermal synthesized with glucose from aqueous solution

The ability of oxygen-rich carbon spheres (CSs) produced by hydrothermal carbonization with the glucose has been explored for the removal and recovery of uranium from aqueous solutions. The micro-morphology and structure of CSs were characterized by FT-IR and SEM. The influences of different experimental parameters such as solution pH, initial concentration, contact time, ionic strength and temperature on adsorption were investigated. The CSs showed the highest uranium sorption capacity at initial pH of 6.0 and contact time of 25 min. Adsorption kinetics was better described by the pseudo-second-order model and adsorption process could be well defined by the Langmuir isotherm. The thermodynamic parameters, △G°(298 K), △H° and △S° were determined to be ?16.88, 12.09 kJ mol^?1 and 197.87 J mol^?1 K^?1, respectively, which demonstrated the sorption process of CSs towards U(VI) was feasible, spontaneous and endothermic in nature. The adsorbed CSs could be effectively regenerated by 0.05 mol/L HCl solution for the removal and recovery of U(VI). Complete removal (99.9 %) of U(VI) from 1.0 L industry wastewater containing 15.0 mg U(VI) ions was possible with 3.0 g CSs.     

A detailed study of isothermal crystallization of As2Se3 undercooled liquid

Isothermal crystallization of an As₂Se₃ undercooled melt was studied by differential scanning calorimetry and described using the classical theory of nucleation and crystal growth. The maximum rate of nucleation and crystal growth was observed to occur at approximately 235 and 350 °C, respectively. The activation energies of nucleation and crystal growth were determined to be ΔE _D = 311 kJ mol^?1 and ΔE* = 104 kJ mol^?1, respectively. The temperature dependencies of both the activation free energy of nucleation, ΔG*, and the critical diameter, r*, were also calculated.     

Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of volatilization of biodiesel from babassu, palm oil and mineral diesel by thermogravimetric analysis (TG)

The boiling point and volatility are important properties for fuels, as it is for quality control of the industry of petroleum diesel and biofuels. In addition, through the volatility is possible to predict properties, such as vapor pressure, density, latent heat, heat of vaporization, viscosity, and surface tension of biodiesel. From thermogravimetry analysis it is possible to find the kinetic parameters (activation energy, pre-exponential factor, and reaction order), of thermally simulated processes, like volatilization. With the kinetic parameters, it is possible to obtain the thermodynamic parameters by mathematical formula. For the kinetic parameters, the minor values of activation energy were found for mineral diesel (E = 49.38 kJ mol^?1), followed by babassu biodiesel (E = 76.37 kJ mol^?1), and palm biodiesel (E = 87.00 kJ mol^?1). Between the two biofuels studied, the babassu biodiesel has the higher minor value of activation energy. The thermodynamics parameters of babassu biodiesel are, ΔS = ?129.12 J mol^?1 K^?1, ΔH = +80.38 kJ mol^?1 and ΔG = +142.74 kJ mol^?1. For palm biodiesel ΔS = ?119.26 J mol^?1 K^?1, ΔH = + 90.53 kJ mol^?1 and ΔG = +141.21 kJ mol^?1, and for diesel ΔS = ?131.3 J mol^?1 K^?1, ΔH = +53.29 kJ mol^?1 and ΔG = +115.13 kJ mol^?1. The kinetic thermal analysis shows that all E, ΔH, and ΔG values are positive and ΔS values are negative, consequently, all thermodynamic parameters indicate non-spontaneous processes of volatilization for all the fuels studied.     

Sorption study of uranium from aqueous solution on ordered mesoporous carbon CMK-3

The ability of ordered mesoporous carbon CMK-3 has been explored for the removal and recovery of uraium from aqueous solutions. The textural properties of CMK-3 were characterized using small-angle X-ray diffraction and N₂ adsorption–desorption, and the BET specific surface area, pore volume and the pore size were 1143.7 m²/g, 1.10 cm³/g and 3.4 nm. The influences of different experimental parameters such as solution pH, initial concentration, contact time, ionic strength and temperature on adsorption were investigated. The CMK-3 showed the highest uranium sorption capacity at initial pH of 6.0 and contact time of 35 min. Adsorption kinetics was better described by the pseudo-second-order model and adsorption process could be well defined by the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm. The thermodynamic parameters, ?G°(298 K), ?H° and ?S° were determined to be ?7.7, 21.5 k J mol^?1 and 98.2 J mol^?1 K^?1, respectively, which demonstrated the sorption process of CMK-3 towards U(VI) was feasible, spontaneous and endothermic in nature. The adsorbed CMK-3 could be effectively regenerated by 0.05 mol/L HCl solution for the removal and recovery of U(VI). Complete removal (99.9 %) of U(VI) from 1.0 L industry wastewater containing 15.0 mg U(VI) ions was possible with 2.0 g CMK-3.     

Adsorption of uranium from aqueous solution using biochar produced by hydrothermal carbonization

The ability of biochar produced by hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) has been explored for the removal and recovery of uranium from aqueous solutions. The micro-morphology and structure of HTC were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The influences of different experimental parameters such as solution pH, initial concentration, contact time, ionic strength and temperature on adsorption were investigated. The HTC showed the highest uranium sorption capacity at initial pH of 6.0 and contact time of 50 min. Adsorption kinetics was better described by the pseudo-second-order model and adsorption process could be well defined by the Langmuir isotherm. The thermodynamic parameters, △G°(298 K), △H° and △S° were determined to be ?14.4, 36.1 kJ mol^?1 and 169.7 J mol^?1 K^?1, respectively, which demonstrated the sorption process of HTC towards U(VI) was feasible, spontaneous and endothermic in nature. The adsorbed HTC could be effectively regenerated by 0.05 mol/L HCl solution for the removal and recovery of U(VI). Complete removal (99.9 %) of U(VI) from 1.0 L industry wastewater containing 15.0 mg U(VI) ions was possible with 2.0 g HTC.     

Mechanism of Oxidation of Ketorolac by Hexacyanoferrate(III) in Aqueous Alkali: A Thermodynamics and Kinetics Study

The kinetics of the oxidation of ketorolac by hexacyanoferrate(III) (HCF) in aqueous alkaline medium at a constant ionic strength of 0.75 mol·dm^?3 was studied spectrophotometrically at 300 K. A plausible mechanism was proposed and the rate law was derived. The mechanism of oxidation of ketorolac (KET) in alkaline medium has been shown to proceed via a KET-HCF complex, which decomposes in a slow step followed by other fast steps to give the products. The main oxidative product was identified as (2,3-dihydro-1-hydroxy-1H-pyrrolizin-5-yl-)(phenyl)methanone and is characterized by its LC–ESI–MS spectrum. Thermodynamic parameters of various equilibria of the mechanism were calculated and activation parameters ΔH ^≠, ΔS ^≠, ΔG ^≠ and log₁₀ A were found to be 29.9 kJ·mol^?1, ?220 J·K^?1·mol^?1, 96 kJ·mol^?1 and 2.70 respectively.     

Some Thermodynamic Properties of Aqueous 2-Mercaptopyridine-N-Oxide (Pyrithione) Solutions

The thermodynamic properties of 2-mercaptopyridine-N-oxide (pyrithione, PT) were studied potentiometrically in NaCl aqueous solutions at different ionic strengths and temperatures. A set of protonation constants is provided, together with distribution (water/2-methyl-1-propanol) and solubility data. The total and the specific solubility (solubility of neutral species) values of pyrithione were determined and, for example, are 0.0561 and 0.0518 mol·dm^?3 at c _NaCl = 0.244 mol·dm^?3 and T = 298.15 K. By fitting the distribution and solubility results against the ionic strength, the Setschenow coefficient and the activity coefficients of the neutral species were determined. In pure water, the specific solubility is log₁₀ \( S_{m 0}^{0} = \, {-} 1. 20 \, \pm \, 0.0 4 \) . To determine the activity coefficient of the charged species and the protonation constant at infinite dilution, the data were analyzed by different models, namely the Debye–Hückel type equation, the SIT (Specific ion Interaction Theory) and the Pitzer approach. The interaction coefficient of the deprotonated pyrithione species was determined [ε(Na⁺, PT^?) = ?0.105 ± 0.002]. The protonation enthalpy was also determined, is slightly positive, and the protonation process is entropic in nature. At infinite dilution and T = 298.15 K, log₁₀ K ^H0 = 4.620 ± 0.002, ΔG ⁰ = –26.4 ± 0.1 kJ·mol^?1, ΔH ⁰ = 2.1 ± 0.5 kJ·mol^?1 and TΔS ⁰ = 28.5 ± 0.5 kJ·mol^?1. The electrochemical behavior of pyrithione was studied in NaCl solutions at T = 298.15 K. It was found that voltammetry can be used to study the binding ability of pyrithione towards metal cations. The results of this work are in agreement with literature findings and improve the knowledge of the chemistry of pyrithione in aqueous solutions.     

Determination of adsorption heats of individual adsorption complex by combination of microcalorimetry and FTIR spectroscopy

Adsorption of CO as a probe molecule on K-FER zeolites differing in Si/Al ratio was investigated. Successful determination of adsorption heats of individual adsorption complexes formed upon adsorption of CO molecules on K-FER zeolites at 300 K by combination of IR spectroscopy with adsorption microcalorimetry is reported. Adsorption heat of bridged carbonyl complexes, where CO molecule interacts with two nearby extraframework K⁺ cations, was experimentally determined for the first time. It was found that bridged complexes on dual cationic sites exhibit adsorption heat of 34.8 kJ mol^?1, whereas monodentate carbonyls on single isolated K⁺ cation exhibit adsorption heat of only 26.2 kJ mol^?1 and adsorption heat of isocarbonyls was 21.5 kJ mol^?1.     

Adsorptive removal of thorium from aqueous solution using diglycolamide functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were functionalized with diglycolamide (DGA) through chemical covalent route. The adsorption behavior of the DGA-functionalized-MWCNTs (DGA-MWCNTs) towards thorium from aqueous solution was studied under varying operating conditions of pH, concentration of thorium, DGA-MWCNTs dosages, contact time, and temperature. The effective range of pH for the removal of Th(IV) is 3.0–4.0. Kinetic data followed a pseudo-second-order model. The equilibrium data were correlated with the Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin-Radushkevich and Temkin models. The equilibrium data are best fitted with Langmuir model. The equilibrium Th(IV) sorption capacity was estimated to be 10.58 mg g^?1 at 298 K. The standard enthalpy, entropy, and free energy of adsorption of the thorium with DGA-MWCNTs were calculated to be 8.952 kJ mol^?1, 0.093 kJ mol^?1 K^?1 and -18.521 kJ mol^?1 respectively at 298 K. The determined value of sticking probability (0.072) and observed kinetic and isotherm models reveal the chemical adsorption of thorium on DGA-MWCNTs.     

Binding interaction and conformational changes of human serum albumin with ranitidine studied by spectroscopic and time-resolved fluorescence methods

This study was designed to examine the interaction of histamine H₂-receptor antagonist drug ranitidine (RTN) with human serum albumin by multi-spectroscopic methods. The experimental results showed the involvement of dynamic quenching mechanism which was further confirmed by lifetime spectral studies. The binding constants (K _a) at three temperatures (288, 298, and 308 K) were 2.058 ± 0.020, 4.160 ± 0.010 and 6.801 ± 0.011 × 10⁴ dm³ mol^?1, respectively, and the number of binding sites (m) were 1.169, respectively; thermodynamic parameters ΔH ⁰ (44.152 ± 0.047 kJ mol^?1), ΔG ⁰ (?26.214 ± 0.040 kJ mol^?1), and ΔS ⁰ (236.130 ± 0.025 J K^?1 mol^?1) were calculated. The distance r between donor and acceptor was obtained (r = 3.40 nm) according to the Förster theory of non-radiative energy transfer. Synchronous fluorescence, CD, AFM and 3D fluorescence spectral results revealed the changes in secondary structure of the protein upon interaction with RTN. A molecular modeling study further confirmed the binding mode obtained by the experimental studies.     

Sorption of uranium using silica gel with benzoylthiourea derivatives

Benzoylthiourea derivatives (N,N-diphenyl-N′-(3-methylbenzoyl)thiourea and diphenyl-N′-(4-methylbenzoyl)thiourea) were impregnated onto silica gel. The preconcentration of uranium(VI) from aqueous solution was investigated. Extraction conditions were optimized in batch method prior to determination by uv–visible absorption spectrometry using arsenazo(III). The optimum pH for quantitative adsorption was found as 3–7. Quantitative recovery of uranium (VI) was achieved by stripping with 0.1 mol L^?1 HCl. Equilibration time was determined as 30 min for 99% sorption of U(VI). Under optimal conditions, dynamic linear range of for U(VI) was found as 0.25–10 μg mL^?1. The relative standard deviation as percentage and detection limit were 5.0% (n = 10) for 10 μg mL^?1 U(VI) solution and 8.7 ng mL^?1, respectively. The method was employed to the preconcentration of U(VI) ions in soil and tap water samples.     

Kinetic Study on the Exothermic First-stage Decomposition Reaction of 2,4,8,10-Tetranitro-2,4,8,10-tetraaza- spiro[5,5]undecane-3,9-dione

Introduction 2,4,8,10-Tetranitro-2,4,8,10-tetraazaspiro[5,5]udecane- 3,9-dione is a typical cyclourea nitramine (Figure 1). Its crystal density is 1.91 gcm-3. The detonation velocity according to =1.90 gcm-3 is about 8670 ms-1. Its sensitivity to impact is better than that of cyclotrimethy- lenetrinitramine. So it is the potential high explosive. Its preparation,1-3 properties,1-3 hydrolytic behavior4 and electronic structure3 have been reported. In the present work, we report its kinetic pa…     

Drug–tea polyphenol interaction

Propericiazine (PCZ) is an antipsychotic agent used for the treatment and the prevention of relapse of schizophrenia. We found that when an oral solution containing PCZ was mixed with a green tea drink, the residual content of PCZ was reduced by forming an insoluble complex between PCZ and tea polyphenol. In this study, the mechanism underlying the incompatibility of PCZ with green tea polyphenol (GTP) in the solution was clarified by isothermal titration microcalorimetry (ITC). Both solutions of 27.4 mM PCZ and 2.2 mM (?)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), which is a main ingredient of GTP, were mixed and then PCZ in the filtrate was reduced to approximately 60 %. According to measurement at 298 K by ITC, PCZ formed an insoluble complex with EGCg at an associate constant (K) of 4.75 × 10² M^?1 exothermically, ΔH = ?40.0 kJ mol^?1. When (?)-epicatechin gallate (ECg) was used as the GTP, PCZ interacted with ECg with K and ΔH values of 3.74 × 10² M^?1 and ?22.1 kJ mol^?1, respectively. On the other hand, little heat of the reaction between PCZ and (?)-epigallocatechin or (?)-epicatechin was observed. The results indicated that the main reason for this incompatibility was the formation of an insoluble complex by PCZ and a gallate-type GTP such as EGCg and ECg in the aqueous solution.     

Calcination temperature-dependent morphology of photocatalytic ZnO nanoparticles prepared by an electrochemical–thermal method

ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) with tunable morphologies were synthesized by a hybrid electrochemical–thermal method at different calcination temperatures without the use of any surfactant or template. The NPs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering, thermogravimetry–differential thermal analysis, scanning electron microscope and N₂ gas adsorption–desorption studies. The FT-IR spectra of ZnO NPs showed a band at 450 cm^?1, a characteristic of ZnO, which remained fairly unchanged at calcination temperatures even above 300 °C, indicating complete conversion of the precursor to ZnO. The products were thermally stable above 300 °C. The ZnO NPs were present in a hexagonal wurtzite phase and the crystallinity of ZnO increased with an increasing calcination temperature. The ZnO NPs calcined at lower temperature were mesoporous in nature. The surface areas of ZnO NPs calcined at 300 and 400 °C were 51.10 and 40.60 m² g^?1, respectively, which are significantly larger than commercial ZnO nanopowder. Surface diffusion has been found to be the key mechanism of sintering during heating from 300 to 700 °C with the activation energy of sintering as 8.33 kJ mol^?1. The photocatalytic activity of ZnO NPs calcined at different temperatures evaluated by photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue under sunlight showed strong dependence on the surface area of ZnO NPs. The ZnO NPs with high surface area showed enhanced photocatalytic activity.     

Thermal studies and spectral characterization of the chelate of bis-(η5-cyclopentadienyl titanium(IV) with salicylidene-4-methylaniline

A new chelate (η⁵-C₅H₅)₂Ti(SB)₂, whereSB=O, N donor Schiff base salicylidene-4-methylaniline, was synthesized. The course of thermal degradation of the chelate was studied by thermogravimetric (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) under dynamic conditions of temperature. The order of the thermal decomposition reaction and energy of activation was calculated from TG curve while from DTA curve the change in enthalpy was calculated. Evaluation of the kinetic parameters was performed by Coats-Redfern as well as Piloyan-Novikova methods which gaven=1, ΔH=1.114 kJ·mol^?1, ΔE=27.01 kJ·mol^?1, ΔS=?340.12 kJ·mol^?1·K^?1 andn=1, ΔH=1.114 kJ·mol^?1, ΔE=20.01 kJ·mol^?1, ΔS=?342.60 kJ·mol^?1·K^?1, respectively. The chelate was also characterized on the basis of different spectral studies viz. conductance, molecular weight, IR, UV-visible and¹H NMR, which enabled to propose an octahedral structure to the chelate.     

Insight from adsorption properties of Xylidyl Blue embedded hydrogel for effective removal of uranyl: Experimental and theoretical approaches

Applications of a hybrid material consisting of polyacrylamide (PAA) and Xylidyl Blue (XB) for the removal of uranyl ions from aqueous solutions has been investigated with all details. Adsorption experiments were performed at batch mode and constant temperature. Experimental parameters affecting adsorption process such as pH, initial uranyl concentration, time and temperature were studied on the removal of the uranyl ions. The isotherms assays were carried out with synthetic solutions and adsorption data were evaluated by using Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R) isotherm models. Morphological and chemical characterizations of new synthesized material were investigated by UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy and SEM/EDX techniques and pH_pzc experiments. The results of the kinetic experiments are consistent with pseudo-second-order models and intra-particle diffusion models with a slightly better fit to the latter. Equilibrium was achieved within 3 h. The value of rate constant for adsorption process was calculated as 1.055 mol⁻¹ kg min⁻¹ at 318 K. The calculated thermodynamic parameters (ΔG°, ΔH° and ΔS°) indicated that the adsorption of uranyl ions onto XB@PAA was feasible, spontaneous and endothermic nature under the studied temperature. The developed material has also a potential as a sensor because its color turn from pink to red by adsorption of uranyl ions.     

Removal, preconcentration and spectrophotometric determination of U(VI) from water samples using modified maghemite nanoparticles

Arsenazo III modified maghemite nanoparticles (A-MMNPs) was used for removing and preconcentration of U(VI) from aqueous samples. The effects of contact time, amount of adsorbent, pH and competitive ions was investigated. The experimental results were fitted to the Langmuir adsorption model in the studied concentration range of uranium (1.0 × 10^?4–1.0 × 10^?2 mol L^?1). According to the results obtained by Langmuir equation, the maximum adsorption capacity for the adsorption of U(VI) on A-MMNPs was 285 mg g^?1 at pH 7. The adsorbed uranium on the A-MMNPs was then desorbed by 0.5 mol L^?1 NaOH solution and determined spectrophotometrically. A preconcentration factor of 400 was achieved in this method. The calibration graph was linear in the range 0.04–2.4 ng mL^?1 (1.0 × 10^?10–1.0 × 10^?8 mol L^?1) of U(VI) with a correlation coefficient of 0.997. The detection limit of the method for determination of U(VI) was 0.01 ng mL^?1 and the relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) for the determination of 1.43 and 2.38 ng mL^?1 of U(VI) was 3.62% and 1.17% (n = 5), respectively. The method was applied to the determination of U(VI) in water samples.