Photo-fenton refreshable Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>@HCS adsorbent for the elimination of tetracycline hydrochloride

A yolk–shell-structured sphere composed of a superparamagnetic Fe₃O₄ core and a carbon shell (Fe₃O₄@HCS) was etched from Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@carbon by NaOH, which was synthesized through the layer-by-layer coating of Fe₃O₄. This yolk–shell composite has a shell thickness of ca. 27 nm and a high specific surface area of 213.2 m² g^?1. Its performance for the magnetic removal of tetracycline hydrochloride from water was systematically examined. A high equilibrium adsorption capacity of ca. 49.0 mg g^?1 was determined. Moreover, the adsorbent can be regenerated within 10 min through a photo-Fenton reaction. A stable adsorption capacity of 44.3 mg g^?1 with a fluctuation <10% is preserved after 5 consecutive adsorption–degradation cycles, demonstrating its promising application potential in the decontamination of sewage water polluted by antibiotics.     

Development of a new all solid contact Cs<Superscript>+</Superscript> ion selective electrode

Studies were carried out to develop all solid contact cesium ion selective electrode with 25,27-bis(1-octyloxy)calix[4]arene-crown-6 as an ionophore. Polyaniline (PANI), deposited on Pt electrode by electrochemical method, was used as a transducer. Three different types of electrodes were made with variation in thickness of PANI film and gold nanoparticles doped PANI as transducers. The best response was observed with ISE having Au nanoparticles doped PANI as a transducer. The optimised ISE gave Nernstian response in the range 10^?7 to 10^?2 M with the slope of 55.0 ± 0.6 mV/decade of Cs⁺. The response of ISE for Cs⁺ is fairly constant above the pH 4. The developed ISE was successfully employed to determine Cs⁺ in simulated high level nuclear waste solutions and CsCl spiked tap water samples.     

Adsorption equilibrium and kinetics of cesium onto insoluble Prussian blue synthesized by an immediate precipitation reaction between Fe3+ and [Fe(CN)6]4−

The adsorption equilibrium and kinetics of cesium ion (Cs⁺) onto insoluble Prussian blue (PB) prepared by an immediate precipitation reaction between Fe³⁺ and [Fe(CN)₆]^4? was investigated under initial Cs⁺ concentration of under 0.15 mmol/L. Synthesis conditions in this method were almost insensitive to the adsorption ability of insoluble PB, and this method provided one of the smallest PB crystallites among synthesis methods. Even when molar concentration of H₃O⁺ was more than 200 times higher or molar concentration of K⁺ was more than 50,000 times higher than that of Cs⁺ in the aqueous solution, the equilibrium adsorption amount was reduced by only approximately one-half to two-third of that in the pure system; that is, the insoluble PB synthesized possessed a considerably high adsorption selectivity for Cs⁺. In contrast to the excellent adsorption ability under adsorption equilibrium, adsorption rate was quite slow. It took at least 2 weeks at 25 °C to completely attain the adsorption equilibrium, even though the primary particle size (crystallite size) and secondary particle size (aggregate size of the crystallites) were sufficiently small at approximately 14 nm and 53–106 μm, respectively. This slow adsorption is primarily due to the large resistance of intracrystalline diffusion; the intracrystalline diffusion coefficient was extremely small at less than 3.3 × 10^?22 m²/s. We also found that increase in temperature could significantly decrease this diffusion resistance, resulting in much quicker elimination of Cs⁺ from the aqueous solution.     

Research on WPU‐RGO/ATP‐Fe3O4/chitosan composites with excellent electrical and magnetic properties

First, attapulgite‐Fe₃O₄ magnetic filler (ATP‐Fe₃O₄) was prepared by using a chemical precipitation method. Subsequently, graphite oxide (GO) was prepared through Hummer method, and then reduced GO (RGO) was prepared through GO reduced by chitosan (CS). Finally, a series of WPU‐RGO/ATP‐Fe₃O₄/CS composites were prepared by introduced RGO/ATP‐Fe₃O₄/CS to waterborne polyurethane. The structure and properties were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), thermogravimetric analysis TGA, conductivity test, and tensile test. The experimental results indicated that thermal stability and tensile strength of nanocomposites were improved with the increase of the content of RGO/ATP‐Fe₃O₄/CS. Meanwhile, with the increase of the RGO/ATP‐Fe₃O₄/CS content, the electrical and magnetic properties of WPU‐RGO/ATP‐Fe₃O₄/CS composites were improved. When the content of RGO/ATP‐Fe₃O₄/CS was 8 wt%, the electrical conductivity and the saturation magnetic strength of WPU‐RGO/ATP‐Fe₃O₄/CS composites were 3.1 × 10^?7 S·cm^?1 and 1.38 emu/g, respectively. WPU‐RGO/ATP‐Fe₃O₄/CS composites have excellent electrical and magnetic properties.     

Effect of carbonaceous support between graphite oxide and reduced graphene oxide with anchored Co<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> microspheres as electrode-active materials in a solid-state electrochemical capacitor

Hydrothermally synthesized Co₃O₄ microspheres were anchored to graphite oxide (GO) and thermally reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composites at different cobalt weight percentages (1, 10, and 100 wt%). The composite materials served as the active materials in bulk electrodes for two-electrode cell electrochemical capacitors (ECCs). GO/Co₃O₄–1 exhibited a high energy density of 35 W kg^?1 with a specific capacitance (C _sp) of 196 F g^?1 at a maximum charge density of 1 A g^?1. rGO/Co₃O₄-100 presented high specific power output values of up to 23.41 kW h kg^?1 with linear energy density behavior for the charge densities applied between 0.03 and 1 A g^?1. The composite materials showed Coulombic efficiencies of 96 and 93 % for GO/Co₃O₄–1 and rGO/Co₃O₄–100 respectively. The enhancement of capacitive performance is attributed to the oxygenated groups in the GO ECC and the specific area in the rGO ECC. These results offer an interesting insight into the type of carbonaceous support used for graphene derivative electrode materials in ECCs together with Co₃O₄ loading to improve capacitance performance in terms of specific energy density and specific power.

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Graphical abstract ?

     

Layered LiNi<Subscript>0.80</Subscript>Co<Subscript>0.15</Subscript>Al<Subscript>0.05</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript> as cathode material for hybrid Li<Superscript>+</Superscript>/Na<Superscript>+</Superscript> batteries

LiNi_0.80Co_0.15Al_0.05O₂ (NCA) is explored to be applied in a hybrid Li⁺/Na⁺ battery for the first time. The cell is constructed with NCA as the positive electrode, sodium metal as the negative electrode, and 1 M NaClO₄ solution as the electrolyte. It is found that during electrochemical cycling both Na⁺ and Li⁺ ions are reversibly intercalated into/de-intercalated from NCA crystal lattice. The detailed electrochemical process is systematically investigated by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry, ex situ X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic cycling, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The NCA cathode can deliver initially a high capacity up to 174 mAh g^?1 and 95% coulombic efficiency under 0.1 C (1 C?=?120 mA g^?1) current rate between 1.5–4.1 V. It also shows excellent rate capability that reaches 92 mAh g^?1 at 10 C. Furthermore, this hybrid battery displays superior long-term cycle life with a capacity retention of 81% after 300 cycles in the voltage range from 2.0 to 4.0 V, offering a promising application in energy storage.     

Nanoparticles of type Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>-SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-graphene oxide and coated with an amino acid-derived ionic liquid for extraction of Al(III), Cr(III), Cu(II), Pb(II) prior to their determination by ICP-OES

An amino acid derived ionic liquid, Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles and graphene oxide (GO) were used to prepare a material for the magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE) of the ions Al(III), Cr(III), Cu(II) and Pb(II). The material was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectral (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), magnetic analysis and isoelectric point (pI) analysis. It is shown to be a viable sorbent for the separation of these metal ions. Single factor experiments were carried out to optimize adsorption including pH values, ionic strength, temperature and solution volume. Following desorption with 0.1 M HCl, the ions were quantified by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Under the optimum conditions, the method provides a linear range from 10 to 170 μg· L^?1 for Al(III); from 4.0 to 200 μg· L^?1 for Cr(III); from 5.0 to 170 μg· L^?1 for Cu(II); and from 5.0 to 200 μg· L^?1 for Pb(II). The limits of detection (LOD) are 6.2 ng L^?1 for Al(III); 1.6 ng L^?1 for Cr(III); 0.52 ng L^?1 for Cu(II); and 30 ng L^?1 for Pb(II). Method performance was investigated by determination of these ions in (spiked) environmental water and gave recoveries in the range of 89.1%–117.8%.

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Graphical abstract The graph shows that Al(III), Cr(III), Cu(II), Pb(II) are not adsorbed quantitatively by Fe₃O₄-SiO₂. On the other hand, Cr(III) and Pb(II) are adsorbed quantitatively by Fe₃O₄-SiO₂-GO while Al(III) and Cu(II) are not quantitatively retained. However, 3D–Fe₃O₄-SiO₂-GO-AAIL adsorb all these 4 metal ions quantitatively.

     

Bioaccumulation of <Superscript>137</Superscript>Cs and <Superscript>60</Superscript>Co by bacteria isolated from spent nuclear fuel pools

This paper is focused on a characterization of bacterial contamination in pool water of the interim spent fuel storage (JAVYS Inc.) in Slovak Republic and on bioaccumulation of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁶⁰Co by isolated bacteria. Bacterial community in pool water is kept on very low level by extremely low concentration of solutes in deionized water and by the efficient water filtration system. Based on standard methods and sequencing of 16S rDNA four pure bacterial cultures were identified as Kocuria palustris, Micrococcus luteus, Ochrobactrum spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Isolated aerobic bacteria were able to bioaccumulate ¹³⁷Cs and ⁶⁰Co in laboratory experiments. The mechanism of Co and Cs binding involve rapid interactions with anionic groups of the components of cell surface and in the case of Cs⁺ ions is followed by transport processes across cytoplasm membranes and by intracellular distribution. The maximum specific uptake of Cs⁺ after 48 h cultivation in mineral medium (MM) reached 7.54 ± 0.48 μmol g^?1 dw (Ochrobactrum spp.), 19.6 ± 0.1 μmol g^?1 dw (M. luteus) and 20.1 ± 2.2 μmol g^?1 dw (K. palustris). The maximum specific uptake of Co²⁺ after 24 h cultivation in MM reached 31.1 ± 3.5 μmol g^?1 dw (Ochrobactrum spp.), 86.6 ± 12.2 μmol g^?1 dw (M. luteus) and 16.9 ± 1.2 μmol g^?1 dw (K. palustris). These results suggest that due to the long lasting uptake of ¹³⁷Cs, ⁶⁰Co and other radionuclides by biofilm in pool water high specific radioactivities (Bq m^?2) can be expected on stainless steel walls of pools.     

Graphene oxide wrapped Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>@Au nanostructures as substrates for aptamer-based detection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vibrio parahaemolyticus</Emphasis> by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

The authors describe a sensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based aptasensor for the detection of the food pathogen Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Nanostructures consisting of Fe₃O₄@Au particles wrapped with graphene oxide (GO) were used both as SERS substrates and separation tools. A first aptamer (apt 1) was immobilized on the Fe₃O₄@Au/GO nanostructures to act as a capture probe via the affinity binding of aptamer and V. parahaemolyticus. A second aptamer (apt-2) was modified with the Raman reporter molecule TAMRA to act as a SERS sensing probes that binds to the target the same way as the Fe₃O₄@Au/GO-apt 1. The sandwich formed between Fe₃O₄@Au/GO-apt 1/V. parahaemolyticus and apt 2-TAMRA can be separated with the aid of a magnet. The concentration of V. parahaemolyticus can be quantified by measurement of the SERS intensity of TAMRA. Under optimal conditions, the signal is linearly related to the V. parahaemolyticus concentration in the range between 1.4 × 10² to 1.4 × 10⁶ cfu·mL^?1, with a detection limit of 14 cfu·mL^?1. Recoveries ranging from 98.5% to 105% are found when analyzing spiked salmon samples. In our perception, the assay described here is a useful tool for quantitation of V. parahaemolyticus in real samples.

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Graphical abstract GO wrapped Fe₃O₄@Au nanostructures were synthesized as the substrate and modified with with a first aptamer (apt 1) to capture V. parahaemolyticus. TAMRA labelled aptamer 2 was then used as signal probe. The V. parahaemolyticus concentrations are closely related to the Raman intensity of TAMRA.

     

Effect of the Support on the Nature of Metal-Promoter Interactions in Ru-Cs<Superscript>+</Superscript>/MgO and Ru-Cs<Superscript>+</Superscript>-Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> Catalysts for Ammonia Synthesis

The Ru-Cs⁺/MgO and Ru-Cs⁺/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts, which were prepared by an impregnation method using RuOHCl₃ and Cs₂CO₃ as precursor compounds and reduced with H₂ at 450°C, are characterized by X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (with X-ray microanalysis), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The Cs⁺/MgO(Al₂O₃) systems, Ru-Cs⁺ black, and model systems prepared by cesium sputtering onto polycrystalline ruthenium foil are studied as reference samples. It is found that, in the Ru-Cs⁺/MgO sample, cesium is present as a Cs_{2 + x}O cesium suboxide, which weakly interacts with the support, localized on the surface of Ru particles or near them. In the case of Ru-Cs⁺/γ-Al₂O₃, cesium occurs as a species that is tightly bound to the support; this is likely surface cesium aluminate, which prevents promoter migration to Ru particles. The Ru-Cs⁺/MgO sample exhibits a considerable shift of the Ru3d line in the XPS spectra toward lower binding energies, as compared to the bulk metal. It is hypothesized that this shift is due to a decrease in the electron work function from the surface of ruthenium because of the polarizing effect of Cs⁺ ions in contact with Ru particles. Based on the experimental results, the great difference between the catalytic activities of the Ru-Cs⁺/MgO and Ru-Cs⁺/γ-Al₂O₃ systems in ammonia synthesis at 250–400°C and atmospheric pressure is explained.     

Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>/rice husk-based maco-/mesoporous carbon bone nanocomposite as superior high-rate anode for lithium ion battery

Rice husks (RHs), a kind of biowastes, are firstly hydrothermally pretreated by HCl aqueous solution to achieve promising macropores, facilitating subsequently impregnating ferric nitrate and urea aqueous solution, the precursor of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. A Fe₃O₄/rice husk-based maco-/mesoporous carbon bone nanocomposite is finally prepared by the high-temperature hydrothermal treatment of the precursor-impregnated pretreated RHs at 600 °C followed by NaOH aqueous solution treatment for dissolving silica and producing mesopores. The macro-/mesopores are able to provide rapid lithium ion-transferring channels and accommodate the volumetric changes of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles during cycling as well. Besides, the macro-/mesoporous carbon bone can offer rapid electron-transferring channels through directly fluxing electrons between Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles and carbon bone. As a result, this nanocomposite delivers a high initial reversible capacity of 918 mAh g^?1 at 0.2 A g^?1 and a reversible capacity of 681 mAh g^?1 remained after 200 cycles at 1.0 A g^?1. The reversible capacities at high current densities of 5.0 and 10.0 A g^?1 still remain at high values of 463 and 221 mAh g^?1, respectively.     

Complexation of the cesium cation with 1,3-alternate-25,27-bis(1-octyloxy)calix[4]arene-crown-6

From extraction experiments and γ-activity measurements, the extraction constant corresponding to the equilibrium Cs⁺(aq) + I^?(aq) + 1(nb) ? 1·Cs⁺(nb) + I^?(nb) taking place in the two–phase water–nitrobenzene system (1 = 1,3-alternate-25,27-bis(1-octyloxy)calix[4]arene-crown-6; aq = aqueous phase, nb = nitrobenzene phase) was evaluated as log K _ex (1·Cs⁺, I^?) = 2.9 ± 0.1. Further, the stability constant of the 1·Cs⁺ complex in nitrobenzene saturated with water was calculated for a temperature of 25 °C: log β_nb (1·Cs⁺) = 8.8 ± 0.1. Finally, by using quantum–mechanical DFT calculations, the most probable structure of the resulting cationic complex species 1·Cs⁺ was derived.     

Graphene oxide/Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>@polythionine nanocomposite as an efficient sorbent for magnetic solid-phase extraction followed by high-performance liquid chromatography for the determination of duloxetine in human plasma

Herein, an efficient graphene oxide/Fe₃O₄@polythionine (GO/Fe₃O₄/PTh) nanocomposite sorbent was introduced for magnetic solid-phase extraction combined with high-performance liquid chromatography–ultraviolet detection of duloxetine (DLX) in human plasma. To prepare the sorbent, an oxidative polymerization of thionine on the surface of magnetic GO was utilized while PTh was simply used as a surface modifier to improve extraction efficiency. Transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, vibrating sample magnetometry, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller technique were applied to characterize the prepared nanoparticles. Firstly, effective parameters controlling the performance of the extraction process were evaluated in detail and optimized. Under the optimized conditions, calibration curve showed linearity in the range of 2–2500 ng mL^?1 with regression coefficient corresponding to 0.998. Limits of detection (LOD, S/N = 3) and quantification (LOQ, S/N = 10) were 0.5 and 2 ng mL^?1, respectively. Reasonable intra-assay (3.5–4.5%, n = 6) and inter-assay (3.8–6.7%, n = 9) precision represented acceptable performance of the procedure. The applicability of the method was successfully extended to the determination of DLX in human plasma after oral administration of 60 mg single dose of the drug and finally some pharmacokinetic data was achieved.     

A new Schiff base fluorescent indicator for the detection of Mg<Superscript>2+</Superscript> and its application to real samples

A new Schiff base fluorescence probe, 3-Allylsalicylaldehyde salicylhydrazone (L), for Mg²⁺ was designed and synthesized. The fluorescence of the sensor L was enhanced remarkably by Mg²⁺ with 2:1 binding ratio, and the binding constant was determined to be 1.02 × 10⁷ M^?1. Probe L had high sensitivity for Mg²⁺ in a solution of DMF/water (4:1, v/v, pH 7.5), and the detection limit was 4.88 × 10^?8 mol/L. Common coexistent metal ions, such as K⁺, Na⁺, Ag⁺, Ca²⁺, Zn²⁺, Ba²⁺, Bi²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Hg²⁺, Fe³⁺ , and Al³⁺, showed little or no interference on the detection of Mg²⁺ in solution. The fluorescence probe L, which was successfully used for the determination of trace Mg(II) in real samples, was shown to be promising for liquid-phase extraction coupled with fluorescence spectra.     

Effect of the structural change of an iron–iron oxide mixture on the decomposition of trichloroethylene

The effect of the structure of a mixture of industrially produced iron and iron oxide on the decomposition of trichloroethylene (TCE) was investigated by gas chromatography, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray diffractometry, and ⁵⁷Fe-Mössbauer spectroscopy. The concentration of 10 mg L^?1 TCE aqueous solution decreased to 0.41, 0.52, 0.26, and 0.09 mg L^?1 when stirred for 7 days with iron–iron oxide mixtures having mass ratios of 2:8, 3:7, 4:6, and 5:5, respectively. The Mössbauer spectra of the mixtures after leaching were composed of two sextets with respective isomer shifts (δ) and internal magnetic fields (H) of 0.29_±0.01 mm s^?1 and 48.8_±0.1 T, and 0.64_±0.01 mm s^?1 and 45.5_±0.1 T, attributed to the Fe³⁺ species in tetrahedral (T _d) and the Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ mixed species (Fe^2.5+) in octahedral (O _h) sites, respectively. Mössbauer spectra of a 3:7 mass ratio iron–iron oxide mixture showed a gradual decrease in the absorption area (A) of zero valent iron (Fe⁰) from 40.6. to 12.6, 13.2, 3.8 2.8, and 1.0_±0.5 % and an increase in A of Fe₃O₄ from 31.8 to 59.4, 71.4, 93.2, 95.6, and 98.0_±0.5 % after leaching with 10 mg L^?1 TCE aqueous solution for 1, 2, 3, 7, and 10 days, respectively. Consistent values of the first-order rate constant were calculated as 0.32 day^?1 for Fe⁰ oxidation, 0.34 day^?1 for Fe₃O₄ production, and 0.30 day^?1 for TCE decomposition, which indicates that the oxidation of Fe⁰ was the rate-controlling factor for Fe₃O₄ production and TCE decomposition. It is concluded from the experimental results that an iron–iron oxide mixture is very effective for the decomposition of TCE.     

Characterization of electrically conductive vanadate glass containing tungsten oxide

New conductive glass with a composition of 20BaO·10Fe₂O₃·xWO₃·(70 ? x)V₂O₅ (x = 10–50) was investigated by means of Mössbauer spectroscopy. A marked decrease in quadrupole splitting (Δ) was observed after the isothermal annealing at 500 °C for 1,000 min, due to the structural relaxation of 3D-network composed of FeO₄, VO₄, and VO₅ units. After the isothermal annealing, a marked increase in the electrical conductivity (σ) was observed from 1.7 × 10^?5 to 1.0 × 10^?1 S cm^?1 when “x” was 10, whereas comparable σ values of 1.1 × 10^?4 and 2.0 × 10^?4 S cm^?1 were observed when “x” was 40. These results evidently show that structural relaxation of 3D-network structure involved with a marked increase in σ is intrinsic of “vanadate glass”. XRD pattern indicated several weak peaks due to needle-like BaFe₂O₄ and α-Fe₂O₃ when the glass sample with “x” of 20 was annealed at 500 °C for 1,000 min. SEM study proved the formation of needle-like BaFe₂O₄ just on the surface of the sample, whereas hexagonal BaFe₁₂O₁₉ were observed in the annealed sample with “x” of 40. Chemical durability of WO₃-containing vanadate glass was investigated by immersing each glass sample into 20 %-HCl solution for 72 h.     

Efficient separation of nitrite from aqueous solutions by grafting metalloporphyrin on Fe3O4 nanoparticles

A new sorbent comprising 3-aminopropyltriethoxy-silane-coated magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with organic moieties containing the cobalt(III) porphyrin complex Co (TCPP) [TCPP: 4,4′,4″,4″′-(21H,23H-porphine-5,10,15,20-tetrayl)tetrakis (benzoic acid)], was prepared, for nitrite removal from drinking water. Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were synthesized by co-precipitation of Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺, then surface of the Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles was modified with APTES and Co (TCPP). The sorbent was characterized using FTIR, TGA, XRD, SEM and TEM analysis. The batch experiments showed that the proposed sorbent can effectively be used to remove nitrite from water. Various parameters such as pH of the solution, contact time, sorbent dosage, concentration of desorbing reagent, and influence of other interfering anions have been investigated. Under optimal conditions for a nitrite concentration of 10 mg L^?1 (i.e., contact time 15 min, pH 5.5 and nanosorbents dosage 100 mg), the percentage of the extracted nitrite ions was 92.0. Nitrite sorbing material was regenerated with 10 mM NaOH up to 97.0 %. The regeneration studies also showed that nanosorbents are regenerable and can be used for a couple of times.     

Novel 1,8-naphthalimide dye for multichannel sensing of H<Superscript>+</Superscript> and Cu<Superscript>2+</Superscript>

A novel 1,8-naphthalimide dye with simple structure has been produced by a facile synthetic method for colorimetric and fluorescent sensing of H⁺ and Cu²⁺. In CH₃CN/H₂O (1/1, v/v), the dye could monitor H⁺ using dual channels (ratiometric absorbance and fluorescence intensity change) from pH 6.2 to 12.0. Meanwhile, in the pH range of 1.9–5.2, the dye could also be used to detect Cu²⁺ using triple channels [ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) absorption, fluorescence intensity reduction, as well as fluorescence blueshift]. The detection limits for Cu²⁺ evaluated by colorimetric and fluorescent titration were 6.10 × 10^?7 and 2.62 × 10^?7 M, respectively. The dye exhibited specific selectivity and sensitivity for H⁺ and Cu²⁺ over various coexisting metal ions. Moreover, the sensing mechanism of the dye for H⁺ and Cu²⁺ was carefully examined.     

Complexation of the cesium cation with nonactin: extraction and DFT study

From extraction experiments and γ-activity measurements, the extraction constant corresponding to the equilibrium Cs⁺(aq) + A^?(aq) + 1(nb) ? 1·Cs⁺(nb) + A^?(nb) taking place in the two-phase water–nitrobenzene system (A^? = picrate, 1 = nonactin; aq = aqueous phase, nb = nitrobenzene phase) was evaluated as log K _ex (1·Cs⁺,A^?) = 2.8 ± 0.1. Further, the stability constant of the 1·Cs⁺ complex in nitrobenzene saturated with water was calculated for a temperature of 25 °C: log β _nb (1·Cs⁺) = 4.7 ± 0.1. Finally, by using quantum–mechanical DFT calculations, the most probable structure of the resulting cationic complex species 1·Cs⁺ was derived.     

Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>@ionic liquid-β-cyclodextrin polymer magnetic solid phase extraction coupled with HPLC for the separation/analysis of congo red

Fe₃O₄@ionic liquids β-cyclodextrin polymer(Fe₃O₄@mono-6-deoxy-6-(1-ethyl-imidazolium)-β-cyclodextrin iodide polymer, Fe₃O₄@ILs-β-CDCP) was prepared. Magnetic solid phase extraction coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography for the separation/analysis of congo red (CR) in water and drysaltery was established. Fe₃O₄@ILs-β-CDCP showed a higher adsorption capacity toward CR. CR was adsorbed rapidly by Fe₃O₄@ILs-β-CDCP (adsorption efficiency: 95%) and eluted by ethanol (elution efficiency: 96%) at room temperature. Under the optimal conditions, preconcentration factor of the proposed method was 20-fold. The linear range, correlation coefficient (R ²), detection limit (DL) and relative standard deviation were found to be 0.005–100.00 µg mL^?1, 0.9910, 1.8 g L^?1 and 0.61% (n = 3, c = 5.00 µg mL^?1), respectively. The adsorption mechanism of CR on Fe₃O₄@ILs-β-CDCP was studied through the FTIR analysis. The accuracy of the developed method was confirmed by spiking city water, lake water, pond water and drysaltery. Fe₃O₄@ILs-β-CDCP can be used repeatedly for 10 times. This proposed method had been successfully applied to the determination of CR in real samples.