Synthesis of thermosensitive polymer/mesoporous silica composite and its temperature dependence of anion exchange property

An anion exchanger consisting of amino-functionalized MCM-41 type mesoporous silica coated with temperature-responsive polymer, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), was synthesized in this study. The structure of this composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and elemental analysis. The XRD pattern showed that the synthesized composite had the ordered hexagonal structure and the interplanar spacing, d(100), was around 40?. The amount of surface-grafted thermosensitive polymer was estimated to be about 0.8wt.% by elemental analysis. The adsorption-desorption behavior of methyl orange in this synthesized material depended on the temperature of aqueous solution: at 25°C, the reversible adsorption-desorption of methyl orange was repeated with changing pH of the solution; at 40°C, the methyl orange was not adsorbed and desorbed independent of pH of the solution.     

Sodium niobate adsorbents doped with tantalum (TaV) for the removal of bivalent radioactive ions in waste waters

Mesoporous silica containing a large amount of isolated Ti was prepared from an alkoxytitanosiloxane precursor through a hard template method. Isopropoxytris(tris-tert-butoxysiloxy)titanium (((i)PrO)Ti[OSi(O(t)Bu)(3)](3), TS3) was synthesized and TS3 was mixed with mesoporous carbon (CMK-3), a hard template. The mixture was pyrolyzed at 180 °C to form a composite consisting of titanosilica and the hard template. After calcination at 600 °C for the removal of the carbon template, the titanium species were not transformed to anatase TiO(2), proved by DR-UV-Vis, FTIR, XPS, and XRD, while the ESR results indicated the presence of isolated Ti. The mesoporous structure was verified by SEM, TEM, and N(2) adsorption. The Si/Ti ratio of the product was consistent with that of the precursor. All the results show that the material prepared from the precursor is ordered mesoporous silica containing a large amount of isolated Ti in the frameworks. The use of well-defined alkoxytitanosiloxane precursor leads to the formation of mesoporous silica with exactly controlled composition of titanium with neither loss of Ti nor transformation to anatase.     

Adsorption and desorption behaviors of DNA with magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles

The interaction between DNA and mesopores is one of the basic concerns when mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN) is used as a DNA carrier. In this work, we have synthesized a type of mesoporous silica nanoparticle that has a Fe(3)O(4) inner core and mesoporous silica shell. This magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticle (denoted as M-MSN) offers us a convenient platform to manipulate the DNA adsorption and desorption processes as it can be easily separated from solution by applying a magnetic field. The DNA adsorption behavior is studied as a function of time in chaotropic salt solution. The maximum amount of adsorbed DNA is determined as high as 121.6 mg/g. We have also developed a method to separate the DNA adsorbed onto the external surface and into the mesopores by simply changing temperature windows. The desorption results suggest that, within the whole adsorbed DNA molecules, about 89.5% has been taken up by M-MSN mesopores. Through the dynamic light scattering experiment, we have found that the hydrodynamic size for M-MSN with DNA in its mesopores is higher than the naked M-MSN. Finally, the preliminary result of the adsorption mechanism study suggests that the DNA adsorption into mesopores may generate more intermolecular hydrogen bonds than those formed on the external surface.     

Conformation of adsorbed layers of polyNIPAM on silica in a binary solvent

The conformation of poly( N-isopropylacrylamide) chains adsorbed at a silica interface was studied as a function of concentration in the methanol-water binary solvent mixture. Both water and methanol are good solvents for PNIPAM; however, in certain mixtures cononsolvency is induced by a lowering of the LCST. This led to a decrease in the extent of the PNIPAM layer away from the interface as measured using the colloidal probe technique in the poor solvent region. At low methanol concentrations but still in the good solvent region capillary bridging between the silica surfaces with adsorbed PNIPAM layers was observed due to the increased methanol concentration in this interfacial region over that of the bulk. Furthermore, adsorption measurements showed that PNIPAM adsorbed only weakly to the silica interface with a low surface excess on the order of 0.23 mg/m (2), which allowed study of the behavior of the immobilized PNIPAM chains under highly dilute conditions using the quartz crystal microbalance. As the concentration of methanol increased toward the phase transition boundary, a slight contraction followed by an expansion of the PNIPAM was observed, which is in agreement with previous predictions from theory for polymers in solution.     

pH/temperature dual stimuli-responsive microcapsules with interpenetrating polymer network structure

The microcapsules with interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) structure based on crosslinked poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and crosslinked poly (acrylic acid) (PAA) were fabricated in a three-step process. Firstly, silica/PNIPAM core/shell composite particles were synthesized by thermo-initiated seed precipitation polymerization using 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate modified silica colloidal particles as seeds and N-isopropylacrylamide and N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as monomer and crosslinker, respectively. Secondly, PAA network was incorporated into the shell of the composite particles by redox-initiated polymerization of acrylic acid and MBA entrapped in the PNIPAM network. Finally, the silica core of the composite particles was removed using hydrofluoric acid under certain condition to produce the microcapsules. The chemical compositions, their mass ratio, and particle sizes of the particles formed in each step were determined by Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, and dynamic laser light scattering (DLLS), respectively. The IPN structure of the microcapsules was identified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) using uranyl acetate staining method, and their hollow structure was evidenced by TEM and scanning electron microscopy. Their temperature- or pH-dependent hydrodynamic diameters were measured by DLLS, and the results showed that the microcapules had both pH- and temperature-responsive properties, and the temperature-responsive component and the pH-responsive component inside the microcapsule shell had little interference with each other.     

Prearation of Highly Ordered Mesoporous Silica Materials and Application as Enzeme Supports

An enzyme, horseradish peroxidase (HRP), was adsorbed in the manner of single immersion method on the silica mesoporous materials, FSM-16, MCM-41 and SBA-15 with various pore diameters from 27 to 92 and their enzymatic activity in an organic solvent and the thermal stability were studied. FSM-16 and MCM-41 showed larger amount of adsorption of HRP than SBA-15 or silica gel,when the pore sizes were larger than the spherical molecular diameter of HRP (ca 64×37). The increased enzyme adsorption capacity may be due to the surface characteristics of FSM-16 and MCM-41, which would be consistent with the observed larger adsorption capacity of cationic pigment compared with anionic pigment for these materials. The immobilized HRP on FSM-16 and MCM-41 with pore diameter above 50 showed the highest enzymatic activity in an organic toluene and thermal stability in aqueous solution at the temperature of 70℃. The immobilized enzymes on the other mesoporous materials including large or small pore sized FSM-16 showed lower enzymatic activity in an organic solvent and the thermal stability. Both surface character and size matching between pore sizes and the molecular diameters of HRP were important in achieving high enzymatic activity in organic solvent and high thermal stability.     

Effects of Surface Properties on Rheological and Interfacial Properties of Pickering Emulsions Prepared by Fumed Silica Suspensions Pre-Adsorbed Poly(N-Isopropylacrylamide)

The hydrophobic fumed silica suspensions physically pre-adsorbed poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) in water could prepare oil dispersed in water (O/W) Pickering emulsion by mixing of silicone oil. The resulting Pickering emulsions were characterized by the measurements of volume factions of emulsified silicone oil, adsorbed amounts of the silica suspensions, oil droplet size, and some rheological responses, such as stress-strain sweep curve and dynamic viscoelastic moduli as a function of the added amount of PNIPAM. Moreover, their characteristics were compared with those of the O/W Pickering emulsions prepared by the hydrophilic fumed silica suspensions pre-adsorbed PNIPAM. For the emulsions prepared by the hydrophobic silica suspensions, an increase in the added amount of PNIPAM led to (1) a decrease in the volume fraction of the emulsified oil in the emulsified phase, (2) both the size of oil droplets and the adsorbed amount of the corresponding silica suspensions being almost constant, except for the higher added amounts, and (3) both the storage modulus (G′) and the yield shear strain being constant. The term of 1 is the same for the emulsions prepared by the hydrophilic silica suspensions, whereas both the adsorbed amount of the corresponding silica suspension and the G′ value increase and both the droplet size and the yield shear strain decrease with an increase in the added amount of PNIPAM. The differences between the rheological properties of the emulsions prepared by the hydrophilic silica suspensions and those by the hydrophobic ones are attributed to the hydrophobic interactions of the flocculated silica particles in the Pickering emulsions.     

Critical Evaluation of Adsorption–Desorption Hysteresis of Heavy Metal Ions from Carbon Nanotubes: Influence of Wall Number and Surface Functionalization

Single‐, double‐, and multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs, DWCNTs, and MWCNTs), and two oxidized MWCNTs with different oxygen contents (2.51 wt % and 3.5 wt %) were used to study the effect of the wall number and surface functionalization of CNTs on their adsorption capacity and adsorption–desorption hysteresis for heavy metal ions (Ni^II, Cd^II, and Pb^II). Metal ions adsorbed on CNTs could be desorbed by lowering the solution pH. Adsoprtion of heavy metal ions was not completely reversible when the supernatant was replaced with metal ion‐free electrolyte solution. With increasing wall number and amount of surface functional groups, CNTs had more surface defects and exhibited higher adsorption capacity and higher adsorption–desorption hysteresis index (HI) values. The coverage of heavy metal ions on the surface of CNTs, solution pH, and temperature affect the metal ion adsorption–desorption hysteresis. A possible shift in the adsorption mechanism from mainly irreversible to largely reversible processes may take place, as the amount of metal ions adsorbed on CNTs increases. Heavy metal ions may be irreversibly adsorbed on defect sites.     

Temperature-dependent competition between adsorption and aggregation of a cellulose ether--simultaneous use of optical and acoustical techniques for investigating surface properties

Adsorption of the temperature-responsive polymer hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) from an aqueous solution onto hydrophobized silica was followed well above the bulk instability temperature (T(2)) in temperature cycle experiments. Two complementary techniques, QCM-D and ellipsometry, were utilized simultaneously to probe the same substrate immersed in polymer solution. The interfacial processes were correlated with changes in polymer aggregation and viscosity of polymer solutions, as monitored by light scattering and rheological measurements. The simultaneous use of ellipsometry and QCM-D, and the possibility to follow layer properties up to 80 °C, well above the T(2) temperature, are both novel developments. A moderate increase in adsorbed amount with temperature was found below T(2), whereas a significant increase in the adsorbed mass and changes in layer properties were observed around the T(2) temperature where the bulk viscosity increases significantly. Thus, there is a clear correlation between transition temperatures in the adsorbed layer and in bulk solution, and we discuss this in relation to a newly proposed model that considers competition between aggregation and adsorption/deposition. A much larger temperature response above the T(2) temperature was found for adsorbed layers of HPMC than for layers of methyl cellulose. Possible reasons for this are discussed.     

Coil-to-globule-type transition of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) adsorbed on colloidal silica particles

 The temperature dependence of the dimensions of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) adsorbed on two different colloidal silica particles was studied with dynamic light scattering. The hydrodynamic diameter was measured when the temperature was varied stepwise from 10 to 60 °C. PNIPAM molecules free in solution undergo a conformational transition at the θ temperature. We have found that PNIPAM adsorbed onto silica particles also undergoes a transition below the θ temperature. When a small amount of polymer was adsorbed the coil-to-globule transition at the θ temperature did not occur. Potentiometric titrations showed that the surface charge of the silica particles was not affected by the polymer adsorption. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) (100–1200 mg/l) was added to improve the stability. The particles with a higher zeta potential required a smaller addition of SDS to prevent coagulation compared to the particles with a smaller surface potential. For low additions of SDS the transition curves of adsorbed PNIPAM were unaffected. For larger additions of SDS the collapse of PNIPAM was shifted to higher temperatures. When as much as 1200 mg/l SDS was added, two regions with weak transitions were observed before the collapse. It was also observed that the presence of SDS results in a smaller adsorption of PNIPAM onto the particles. The addition of SDS strongly increased the magnitude of the electrophoretic mobility of the polymer–particle unit. From the electrophoretic measurements an electrokinetic layer thickness was calculated and it was found to be smaller than the corresponding hydrodynamic layer thickness, as obtained by dynamic light scattering. Received: 14 December 1999/In revised form: 22 February 2000/Accepted: 6 March 2000     

New approach to the immobilization of glucose oxidase on non-porous silica microspheres functionalized by (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTMS)

The immobilization and encapsulation of glucose oxidase (GOD) onto the mesoporous and the non-porous silica spheres prepared by co-condensation of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTMS) in the water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion system were studied. The terminal amine group was used as the important functionality for GOD immobilization on the silica substrate. When only TEOS is used as a silica source, the disordered mesoporous silica microspheres are obtained. As the molar ratio of APTMS to TEOS (R_AT) increases, the surface area and pore volume of the silica particles measured by nitrogen adsorption and desorption method and SEM decrease rapidly. Particularly, the largest change of the surface morphology is observed between R_AT = 0.20 and R_AT = 0.25. The amount and the adsorption time of immobilized enzyme were measured by UV spectroscopy. About 20 wt% of GOD was immobilized into the silica substrates above R_AT = 0.60 and was completely adsorbed into the substrate of R_AT = 0.80 with lapse of 4 h after addition. In the measurement of the thermal stability, GOD dissolved in buffer solution loses nearly all of its activity after 30 min at 65 °C. In contrast, GOD immobilized on the surface-modified silica particles still retains about 90% of its activity after the same treatment. At this temperature, the immobilized glucose oxidase retained half of its initial activity after 4 h. It is shown that the suitable usage of functionalizing agent like APTMS as well as the control of surface morphology is very important on the immobilization of enzyme.     

Determination of Arsenic(V) as a Heteropoly Acid after Its Adsorption on a Fibrous Anion Exchanger

The conditions were found for determining arsenic(V) as a heteropoly acid after its adsorption on a fibrous anion exchanger. A blue form of a molybdoarsenic heteropoly acid formed on the adsorbent at any order of the adsorption of the reactants; however, the sensitivity of determination was higher if arsenic was adsorbed first. A detection limit of 4 ng/mL was attained using adsorption from a 100-mL portion of a test solution. The sensitivity and selectivity of the proposed method are significantly higher than those of known methods because of the preconcentration of arsenate ions on an anion exchanger as a heteropoly acid followed by the direct determination of the heteropoly acid in the solid phase.     

Adsorption of DNA into mesoporous silica

In these experiments, double-stranded, linear DNA sequences were adsorbed into the pores of spherically shaped acid-prepared mesoporous silica (APMS). The lengths of the sequences were either 760 base pairs or 2000 base pairs. DNA adsorption into the interior of the mesoporous material was confirmed using confocal microscopy of sequences containing fluorescently labeled DNA molecules. Additional characterization with N(2) physisorption and powder X-ray diffraction supported this finding. The extent of adsorption was measured at various concentrations using UV-visible spectrophotometry to establish adsorption isotherms. APMS alone adsorbed a negligible amount of DNA; however, exchanging divalent cations such as Mg(2+) and Ca(2+) into the pores of APMS prior to DNA uptake was found to cause a significant amount of DNA to be adsorbed. Using Na(+) caused a lower amount of DNA to be adsorbed. DNA adsorption was also dependent on the pore diameter of APMS. Adsorption increased upon expansion of the pore size of the metal ion-exchanged material from 34 to 54 A; however, no additional uptake was measured by further increasing the pore size to 100 A. The amount of DNA adsorbed could also be significantly increased by using (aminopropyl)triethoxysilane to covalently link ammonium ions to the surface. Postsynthetic modification of the silica surface with aminopropyl groups increased the maximum DNA adsorption to 15.7 microg/mg silica, for materials with pore diameters of 100 A, which is 2 to 3 times more adsorbed DNA than for metal ion-exchanged material. This indicated that DNA binds more strongly in the presence of the ammonium group compared to the metal counterions. Finally, calculation and comparison of Freundlich and Langmuir constants for these adsorption processes indicate that intermolecular interactions between the DNA molecules within the pores are significant when the effective pore diameter is small, including materials with larger pores that were modified with organosilane.     

Surface interaction forces mediated by poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) polymers: effects of concentration and temperature

Total internal reflection microscopy was used to directly measure the interaction potentials between a micron-sized silica sphere and a flat silica surface in the presence of a linear poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) aqueous solution. When the PNIPAM concentration was low, no discernible forces were detected. A further increase in PNIPAM concentration resulted in a long-range attraction which was likely due to a combined of the reduced electrostatic interaction between the silica particle and the flat surface after the polymer adsorption and polymer bridges formation. On the other hand, for a fixed PNIPAM concentration, the interaction potential profiles between the particle and flat surface were once again characterized by attraction as temperature was increased. This attractive force can be explained in terms of the conformational changes of PNIPAM chains at the surfaces, which subsequently affected the polymer adsorption and enhanced the segment–segment interaction among the adsorbed polymer chains.     

Properties of Immobilized Laccase on Mesostructured Cellular Foam Silica and its Use in Dye Decolorization

Laccase was immobilized on mesostructured cellular foam (MCF), a kind of mesoporous silica with large pore size by adsorption–cross linking method. The effects of immobilization time, temperature, pH, amount of enzyme and content of glutaraldehyde on the immobilization were optimized. The activities and stabilities towards pH and temperature of the immobilized enzyme were studied, and significantly improved enzymatic properties and good operational stability were obtained for the immobilized laccase. Dye decolorization tests showed that the immobilized enzyme could decolorize Alizarin Red and Indigo Blue solution fast and efficiently in the presence of ABTS.     

有序介孔二氧化硅对正丁醛的吸附性能

合成了一系列具有不同孔结构与性质的有序介孔二氧化硅材料SBA-15、MCM-41、SBA-16、KIT-6, 同时通过改变水热温度制备了不同孔径大小的SBA-15, 并利用小角X射线散射、透射电镜、扫描电镜和氮气吸附-脱附等手段, 对其介孔结构进行了表征. 以正丁醛为探针分子, 考察了其对有机醛的吸附, 并与Y-沸石的吸附性能做了对比. 结果表明, 材料的介孔比表面积与其对正丁醛的吸附量成正比, 吸附等温线符合Langmuir 模型, 属于单层吸附, 具有最大介孔比表面积的MCM-41对正丁醛的吸附量最大(484 mg·g^-1). 最后将SBA-15添加到卷烟滤嘴中, 实验结果表明, SBA-15能显著降低卷烟烟气中巴豆醛的释放量.     

有序介孔二氧化硅对正丁醛的吸附性能

合成了一系列具有不同孔结构与性质的有序介孔二氧化硅材料SBA-15、MCM-41、SBA-16、KIT-6,同时通过改变水热温度制备了不同孔径大小的SBA-15,并利用小角X射线散射、透射电镜、扫描电镜和氮气吸附-脱附等手段,对其介孔结构进行了表征.以正丁醛为探针分子,考察了其对有机醛的吸附,并与Y-沸石的吸附性能做了对比.结果表明,材料的介孔比表面积与其对正丁醛的吸附量成正比,吸附等温线符合Langmuir模型,属于单层吸附,具有最大介孔比表面积的MCM-41对正丁醛的吸附量最大(484 mg·g-1).最后将SBA-15添加到卷烟滤嘴中,实验结果表明,SBA-15能显著降低卷烟烟气中巴豆醛的释放量.     

One-pot preparation of silica-supported hybrid immobilized metal affinity adsorbent with macroporous surface based on surface imprinting coating technique combined with polysaccharide incorporated sol--gel process

A simple and reliable one-pot approach using surface imprinting coating technique combined with polysaccharide incorporated sol-gel process was established to synthesize a new organic-inorganic hybrid matrix possessing macroporous surface and functional ligand. Using mesoporous silica gel being a support, immobilized metal affinity adsorbent with a macroporous shell/mesoporous core structure was obtained after metal ion loading. In the prepared matrix, covalently bonded coating and morphology manipulation on silica gel was achieved by using one-pot sol-gel process starting from an inorganic precursor, -glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysiloxane (GPTMS), and a functional biopolymer, chitosan (CS) at the atmosphere of imprinting polyethylene glycol (PEG). Self-hydrolysis of GPTMS, self-condensation, and co-condensation of silanol groups (Si-OH) from siloxane and silica gel surface, and in situ covalent cross-linking of CS created an orderly coating on silica gel surface. PEG extraction using hot ammonium hydroxide solution gave a chemically and mechanically stabilized pore structure and deactivated residual epoxy groups. The prepared matrix was characterized by using X-ray energy dispersion spectroscopy (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mercury intrusion porosimetry. The matrix possessed a high capacity for copper ion loading. Protein adsorption performance of the new immobilized metal affinity adsorbent was evaluated by batch adsorption and column chromatographic experiment using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a simple model protein. Under the optimized coating conditions, the obtained macroporous surface resulted in a fast kinetics and high capability for protein adsorption, while the matrix non-charged with metal ions offered a low non-specific adsorption.     

High performance of phosphonate-functionalized mesoporous silica for U(VI) sorption from aqueous solution

The renaissance of nuclear energy promotes increasing basic research on the separation and enrichment of nuclear fuel associated radionuclides. Herein, we report the first study for developing mesoporous silica functionalized with phosphonate (NP10) as a sorbent for U(VI) sorption from aqueous solution. The mesoporous silica was synthesized by co-condensation of diethylphosphatoethyltriethoxysilane (DPTS) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), using cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as the template. The synthesized silica nanoparticles were observed to possess a mesoporous structure with a uniform pore diameter of 2.7 nm, and to have good stability and high efficiency for U(VI) sorption from aqueous solution. A maximum sorption capacity of 303 mg g(-1) and fast equilibrium time of 30 min were achieved under near neutral conditions at room temperature. The adsorbed U(VI) can be easily desorbed by using 0.1 mol L(-1) HNO(3), and the reclaimed mesoporous silica can be reused with no decrease of sorption capacity. In addition, the preconcentration of U(VI) from a 100 mL aqueous solution using the functionalized mesoporous silica was also studied. The preconcentration factor was found to be as high as 100, suggesting the vast opportunities of this kind of mesoporous silica for the solid-phase extraction and enrichment of U(VI).     

Synthesis, characterization, and in vitro pH-controllable drug release from mesoporous silica spheres with switchable gates

To accomplish pH-controllable drug release on mesoporous carrier, one of the best ways is to graft stimuli-responsive organic molecules around mesopore outlets. In this work, the pH-responsive propyldiethylenetriamine groups (abbreviative phrase: multiamine chains) were grafted around mesopore outlets of mesoporous silica spheres (MSS) and expected to act as pH-responsive gates. To this end, three multiamine-grafted MSS (i.e., NM1, NM2, and NM3) were synthesized under different reaction temperatures and reaction times. The reaction temperature and time for multiamine grafting were 25 °C and 12 h for NM1, 100 °C and 1 h for NM2, and 100 °C and 12 h for NM3, respectively. Through systematic investigations of TEM, SEM, N(2) adsorption/desorption, TG, and (29)Si MAS NMR, it was found that NM3 had the highest grafting amount of multiamine chains. It was further confirmed that the multiamine chains around the pore outlets of NM3 played the role of "molecular switch" that could well control the transport of guest drug molecules. In contrast, the multiamine chains around the pore outlets of NM2 and NM3 did not show gate effect. The difference should be decided by the fact whether the grafting amount of multiamine chains around mesopore outlets were sufficient under determined reaction temperature and time. In the tests of in vitro drug release, multiamine-gated MSS (i.e., NM3) showed highly sensitive response to the solution pH. At high pH (pH 7.5), ibuprofen (IBU) in this carrier released rapidly and completely within 2 h; at low pH (pH 4.0 or 5.0), only a small part of the IBU (13 wt %) was slowly released from this carrier and the most of IBU was effectively confined in mesopores.