Surface functionalization of oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes: Candida rugosa lipase immobilization

This work examines two approaches for immobilization of lipase from Candida rugosa on oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (o-MWCNTs). One method included the presence of activating agents to promote covalent bonding and the other the adsorption on o-MWCNTs to elucidate if non-specific bonding on the o-MWCNTs surface exists. The influence of the immobilization time and initial enzyme concentration on protein loading and the expressed lypolitic activity of the immobilized preparation were investigated. The results showed that the enzyme adsorbs on o-MWCNTs in a maximal amount of 37 μg mg⁻¹ CNTs, while the attached amount was more than 2-times higher under covalent promoting conditions (80 μg mg⁻¹ CNTs). Furthermore, similar trends were observed for the lypolitic activity, whereby preparations obtained under covalent promoting conditions had almost 3-times higher activity (560 IU g⁻¹ of immobilized enzyme). In addition, immobilization of the enzyme was confirmed by Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis.     

Interaction of multi-walled carbon nanotubes and zinc ions enhances cytotoxicity of zinc ions

More and more nanomaterials enter the environment along with their production, application and deposal. They may alter the biological effect of pollutants already existing in the real environment by different interactions. Therefore efforts should also be paid to investigate the combined toxicity of nanomaterials and pollutants. Herein, we studied the combined toxicity of oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (O-MWCNTs) and zinc ions on cells. It is found that cytotoxicity of the combined O-MWCNTs and zinc ions elevates significantly, compared with O-MWCNTs or zinc ions alone. This result comes from the assays of cell morphology, cell viability and proliferation, cell membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential and cell apoptosis. Mechanism studies indicate that O-MWCNTs absorb zinc ions and form slight aggregation. These enhance remarkably the cellular uptake of O-MWCNTs, and thus induce the death of cells by bringing in more zinc ions into cells. Our study indicates that the existence of nanomaterials could change the bioconsequence of other pollutants and emphasizes the importance of the combined toxicity research in the presence of nanomaterials.     

Oxidation of dopamine on multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Novel films consisting of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were fabricated by means of the chemical vapor deposition technique with decomposition of either acetonitrile (ACN) or benzene (BZ) in the presence of ferrocene (FeCp₂) which served as catalyst. The electrochemical response of the two different kinds of MWCNT-based films, further referred to as MWCNT-ACN and MWCNT-BZ, towards the oxidation of dopamine (DA) to dopamine-o-quinone (DAQ) was tested by means of cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Both MWCNT-based films exhibit quasi-reversible response towards DA/DAQ with some slight kinetic differences; specifically, the charge-transfer process was found to be faster on MWCNT-ACN (k _s?=?35.3?×?10^?3 cm s^?1) compared to MWCNT-BZ (k _s?=?6.55?×?10^?3 cm s^?1). The detection limit of MWCNT-BZ for DA (0.30 μM) appears to be poorer compared to that of MWCNT-ACN (0.03 μM), but nevertheless, both MWCNT-based films exhibit greater detection ability compared to other electrodes reported in the literature. The sensitivities of MWCNT-ACN and MWCNT-BZ towards DA/DAQ were determined as 0.65 and 0.22?A M^?1 cm^?2, respectively. The findings suggest that the fabricated MWCNT-based electrodes can be successfully applied for the detection of molecules with biological interest.     

Polystyrene grafted multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Oxidised, multi-walled, carbon nanotubes can be grafted with polystyrene molecules using an situ radical polymerisation reaction, thereby dramatically modifying their solubility and their suitability for nanocomposite applications.     

Transmission electron microscopy study of multi-walled carbon nanotubes of different morphology oxidized with nitric acid

Oxidation of conical and cylindrical carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was studied by physicochemical methods including high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Differences in mechanisms of oxidation of these CNTs were revealed. The oxidation of conical CNTs with nitric acid first results in the formation of oxygen-containing groups uniformly distributed over the CNT surface, and then the carbon material undergoes fragmentation and destruction. The treatment of cylindrical CNTs with nitric acid results in oxidation at defect sites followed by a decrease in the tube thickness and a change in the pore structure of the carbon material.     

The conversion of polyaniline nanotubes to nitrogen-containing carbon nanotubes and their comparison with multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Polyaniline (PANI) nanotubes were prepared by the oxidation of aniline in solutions of acetic or succinic acid, and subsequently carbonized in a nitrogen atmosphere during thermogravimetric analysis running up to 830 °C. The nanotubular morphology of PANI was preserved after carbonization. The molecular structure of the original PANI and of the carbonized products has been analyzed by FTIR and Raman spectroscopies. Carbonized PANI nanotubes contained about 8 wt.% of nitrogen. The molecular structure, thermal stability, and morphology of carbonized PANI nanotubes were compared with the properties of commercial multi-walled carbon nanotubes.     

Asymmetric end-functionalization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Asymmetric end-functionalization of carbon nanotubes was achieved by sequentially floating a substrate-free aligned carbon nanotube film on two different photoreactive solutions with only one side of the nanotube film being contacted with the photoreactive solution and exposed to UV light each time. The resultant nanotubes with different chemical reagents attached onto their opposite tube-ends should be very useful for site-selective self-assembling of carbon nanotubes into many novel functional structures for various potential applications.     

The defluoridation of drinking water using multi-walled carbon nanotubes

In this study, the potential sorption capacity of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was investigated as a means of removing fluoride from the drinking water of a number of regions in Iran and from experimental solutions. The test was conducted in both batch and continuous operation modes. Batch mode experiments were used to study the effect of parameters such as pH, contact time, ionic strength, adsorbent dose, adsorbent capacity, and the presence of foreign anions on the efficiency of fluoride removal. The results showed that the highest level of sorption occurs at pH 5 (about 94% at 18 min). The ionic strength of the solutions and the presence of co-anions such as chloride, nitrate, sulfate, hydrogen carbonate, perchlorate had a negligible effect on the sorption of F⁻ onto MWCNTs. Sorption capacity measurements revealed that MWCNTs have a saturation capacity of 3.5 mg of F⁻ per gram. Sorption data were best fitted with the Fruendlich sorption isotherm equation, which indicates that F⁻ tends to be adsorbed on MWCNTs in a multilayered manner. Experiments using Kohbanan city drinking water, which contains the highest level of F⁻ among the drinking water samples studied, showed that MWCNTs can remove over 85% of fluoride content.     

The influence of nitrogen sources on nitrogen doped multi-walled carbon nanotubes

A range of nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNTs) was produced by a nebulised floating catalyst method at 850 °C using a mixture of toluene and 1-8% nitrogen containing reagents (a range of amines and amides). The carbon nanotube (CNT) products were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), CHN analysis as well as Raman spectroscopy. Differences due to the different N containing reagents were noted but in general all reagents gave aligned CNTs that at low concentration (1%) were longer and wider than those produced without nitrogen. Increased N content in the reactant mixture gave doped tubes that became shorter and showed more disorder. Treatment of the N-CNTs with nitric acid (microwave, 30 min) gave samples that were chemically modified by the acid (loss of alignment, narrower tubes and more facile oxidation). It appears in general that the amount of N in the nitrogen containing reagent is more important than the source and type of the N atoms used as revealed by trends in the morphology (diameter, length) of the N-CNTs produced.     

Synthesis of highly nitrogen-doped multi-walled carbon nanotubes

We present a new synthesis route for nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes (CNx) based on the aerosol method. Tubes with a record high concentration of nitrogen (approximately 20 atom%) have been synthesized, confirmed by electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). A strong correlation between the N/C ratio and morphology of the tubes is observed and discussed.     

The adsorption of resorcinol from water using multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Adsorption of resorcinol and other phenolic derivatives on pristine multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and HNO₃ treated MWCNTs has been investigated in attempt to explore the possibility to use MWCNTs as efficient adsorbents for pollutants. MWCNTs showed higher adsorption ability in a rather wide pH range of 4–8 for resorcinol, while decreased uptake capacity was found for acid-treated MWCNTs. Other phenolic derivatives such as phenol, catechol, hydroquinone and pyrogallol were employed to study the influence of the number and position of hydroxyl groups on the adsorption capacity. The amounts adsorbed by MWCNTs increased with the increasing number of hydroxyl. The substitution of phenol with a hydroxyl in meta-position leads to a much higher absorption ability than substitution in ortho- or para-position, which suggested that MWCNTs possess a great potential in removal of resorcinol from water, as well as the other phenolic derivatives.     

Effect of oxidation of activated carbon on its enrichment efficiency of metal ions: comparison with oxidized and non-oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes

The effect of oxidation of activated carbon (AC) with various oxidizing agents (nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide, ammonium persulfate) on preconcentration of metal ions (Cr3+, Mn2+, Pb2+, Cu2+, Cd2+ and Zn2+) from environmental waters prior to their flame atomic absorption spectroscopic analysis was investigated. The highest recoveries and adsorption capacities towards metal ions were achieved when using nitric acid-oxidized AC (sorbent AC-NA) as preconcentrating sorbent at pH 9. A preconcentration procedure was optimized using AC-NA as sorbent, which was then compared with non-oxidized AC in terms of analytical performance of the preconcentration method. Higher sensitivity, lower detection limits and wider linear ranges were achieved when AC-NA was used. The analytical performance of the method using AC-NA as preconcentrating sorbent was also compared with nitric acid-oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (sorbent MWCNT-NA) and non-oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (sorbent MWCNT). The analytical performance of the preconcentration method using AC-NA was close to MWCNT-NA, but AC-NA was better than non-oxidized MWCNT. Application of the optimized preconcentration method (using AC-NA sorbent) to environmental waters (tap water, reservoir water, stream water) gave spike recoveries of the metals in the range 63-104%.     

Analysis of oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes in single K562 cells by capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence

Short oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) were derivatized with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). Capillary electrophoresis coupled with laser-induced fluorescence (CE–LIF) was then used to separate and detect the fluorescently labeled carbon-nanotube probes (CNTP) in multidrug-resistant cells (K562A) and the parent cells (K562S). Greater expression of P-glycoprotein in K562A cells than in K562S cells was confirmed by use of anti-P-glycoprotein antibody and flow-cytometric analysis. Analyses of CNTP in both cell lines using both CE–LIF and flow cytometry showed that CNTP could traverse the cellular membrane without being pumped out by P-glycoprotein. The CNTP distributed in both cell lines was analyzed at the single cell level and the results were compared with those from analysis of ten cells and of the lysate from bulk cells. The results revealed the CE–LIF method could be used for quantitative analysis of CNT in single cells in studies of drug delivery and multidrug resistance.      

Solid-contact pH-selective electrode using multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) are shown to be efficient transducers of the ionic-to-electronic current. This enables the development of a new solid-contact pH-selective electrode that is based on the deposition of a 35-μm thick layer of MWCNT between the acrylic ion-selective membrane and the glassy carbon rod used as the electrical conductor. The ion-selective membrane was prepared by incorporating tridodecylamine as the ionophore, potassium tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate as the lipophilic additive in a polymerized methylmethacrylate and an n-butyl acrylate matrix. The potentiometric response shows Nernstian behaviour and a linear dynamic range between 2.89 and 9.90 pH values. The response time for this electrode was less than 10 s throughout the whole working range. The electrode shows a high selectivity towards interfering ions. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and chronopotentiometry techniques were used to characterise the electrochemical behaviour and the stability of the carbon-nanotube-based ion-selective electrodes.     

Fullerenes inside carbon nanotubes and multi-walled carbon nanotubes: optimum and maximum sizes

The potential energies of interaction between carbon nanotubes and internal fullerenes of spherical and ellipsoidal shape, as well as between nanotubes in multi-walled nanotubes were calculated using the Lennard–Jones (LJ) potential for carbon–carbon interactions. The optimum and maximum size of internal fullerenes and multi-walled nanotubes are determined as a function of the external nanotube radius. It was found that at the potential energy minimum, the van der Waals distance is close to that in graphite for all studied cases. The calculated results agree with available experimental observations and could be used as a guide for future experiments.     

磺胺在碳纳米管修饰玻碳电极上的电化学行为

磺胺类抗菌药是一类允许在饲料中添加的兽用广谱抗菌药.它被广泛用于治疗家畜呼吸道、消化道细菌感染、猪萎缩性鼻炎、禽霍乱、伤寒等疾病[1].停药期用药或用药不当将导致动物食品中抗菌药残留超标.人们长期食用含磺胺类抗菌药残留超标的动物产品,将导致肝肾损伤和体内耐药菌株产生,危害到人们的身体健康和疾病治疗.     

Microtrapping characteristics of single and multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) possess some highly desirable sorbent characteristics, which make them attractive for a variety of applications including micro-scale preconcentration. The main advantage of CNTs is that they are non-porous, thus eliminating the mass transfer resistance related to diffusion into pore structures. Their high aspects ratio leads to large specific capacity, consequently they have the potential to be the next generation high performance sorbent. In this paper we present the microtrapping. The objective of this paper was to study the sorption of select organic compounds on single and multi-walled nanotubes either packed or self-assembled onto a micro-sorbent trap. The data show that the CNTs show highly favorable adsorption as well as desorption. The former is characterized by relatively large breakthrough volumes and isosteric heats of adsorption (DeltaH(s), close to 64 kJ/mol). Similarly, rapid desorption from CNTs was demonstrated by narrow desorption bandwidth. The elimination of non-tubular carbons (NTC) from the CNT surface is important, as they reduce the performance of these sorbents.     

Removal of oxidation debris from multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Conventional liquid phase oxidation of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) using concentrated acids generates contaminating debris that should be removed using aqueous base before further reaction.     

Electro-deposition of platinum nanoparticles on 4-mercaptobenzene-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes

A new method to electro-deposit platinum nanoparticles on the surface of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) functionalized with 4-mercaptobenzene has been described. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results reveal that 4-mercaptobenzene was attached to the surface of MWNTs. Transmission electron microscope and X-ray diffraction analysis confirm that platinum nanoparticles were highly dispersed on the surface of MWNTs, and the average size of the platinum particle is 4.2 nm. The electrocatalytic properties of the Pt/MWNT composite electrode for methanol oxidation were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, and the results show that the fabricated composites exhibit high catalytic activity and good long-term stability. The study provides a feasible approach to fabricate Pt/MWNT composite electrode for direct methanol fuel cell.     

The effect of arylferrocene ring substituents on the synthesis of multi-walled carbon nanotubes

The synthesis of shaped carbon nanomaterials (SCNMs) such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), amorphous carbon, carbon fibres (CFs) and carbon spheres (CSs) was achieved using para-substituted arylferrocenes, FcPhX (X = H, OH, Br, COCH₃) or a mixture of ferrocene (FcH) and substituted benzenes (PhX; X = H, OH, Br, COCH₃). The reactions were carried out by an injection chemical vapour deposition (CVD) method using toluene solutions (carrier gas: 5% H₂ in Ar at a flow rate of 100 ml/min) in the temperature range of 800-1000 °C. In most instances multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) were produced. Variations in the concentrations of precursor catalysts, the injection rate and temperature affected the type, distribution and dimensions of the SCNMs produced. The overall finding is that the presence of Br and O in these studies significantly reduces CNT growth. A comparative study on the effect of FcPhX versus FcH/PhX mixtures was investigated. The SCNMs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA).