Delamination behavior of silicate layers by adsorption of cationic surfactants

Smectite that has reacted for 48 h with hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA) cations equivalent to 0.01-3.0 times the cation exchange capacity (CEC) converts to HDTMA-smectite. The microstructure of this organoclay is observed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). When Na cations in the interlayer of clay are exchanged with HDTMA ions, the changes in internal and external surface configuration are augmented by the intercalation of organic surfactants, showing a heterogeneous increase of interlayer spacings. As HDTMA loading increases, the chance of delaminated layers being developed increases locally in the low-charge interlayer regions by the sufficient adsorption of organic surfactants beyond the CEC due to the tendency of alkyl chain interaction.     

Secondary adsorption of nitrobenzene and m-nitrophenol by hexadecyltrimethylammonium-montmorillonite thermo-XRD-analysis

In the present research we studied the effect of the solvent used, whether it was polar water or a non-polar organic solvent (n-hexane or n-hexadecane), on the basal-spacing and bulk structure of the sorbate-sorbent complexes obtained by the secondary adsorption of nitrobenzene and m-nitrophenol by two types of organo-montmorillonites. X-ray measured basal spacings before and after thermal treatments up to 360°C. The organo-clays were synthesized, with 41 and 90% replacement of the exchangeable Na⁺ by hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA), with mono-and bilayers of HDTMA cations in the interlayer space, labelled OC-41 and OC-90, respectively. After heating at 360°C both organo-clays showed spacing at 1.25–1.28 nm, due to the presence of interlayer-charcoal, indicating that in the preheated organo-clays the HDTMA was located in the interlayer. The thermo-XRD-analysis of Na-clay complexes showed that from organic solvents both sorbates were adsorbed on the external surface but from water they were intercalated. m-Nitrophenol complexes of both organo-clays obtained in aqueous suspensions contain water molecules. Spacings of nitrobenzene complexes of OC-41 and OC-90 and those of nitrophenol complexes of OC-41 showed that the adsorbed molecules were imbedded in cavities in the HDTMA layers. Adsorption of m-nitrophenol by OC-90 from water and n-hexane resulted in an increase of basal spacing (0.21 and 0.29 nm, respectively) suggesting the existence of a layer of nitrophenol molecules sandwiched between two parallel HDTMA layers.     

The adsorption of salicylic acid onto γ-alumina and kaolinite from solution in hexane studied using diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFT)

It was possible to determine the maximum loading of salicylic acid adsorbed onto γ-alumina and kaolinite clay after exposure to salicylic acid dissolved in hexane by examination using diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS). The maximum surface loading of salicylic acid (which resisted washing with fresh hexane) on γ-alumina was four times that observed using water as a solvent (approximately 3.0 compared with 0.7 molecules/nm²). Washing the sample with water removed the organic which was in excess to the maximum level observed for samples prepared with aqueous solution. The spectra of samples prepared with a loading up to the maximum observed with aqueous solution showed no significant differences to those of samples where the organic had been adsorbed from hexane (with the same surface loading). New peaks were observed for loadings greater than 1 molecules/nm², but the salicylic acid was still present as carboxylate (with no clear evidence for the carbonyl group). Salicylic acid adsorbed more readily to the surface of kaolinite from solution in hexane than from aqueous solution (up to maximum average loading of 2 molecules/nm²). Washing the samples with water removed the organic to a loading in the region of 0.2 molecules/nm², independent of the initial loading. Salicylic acid was adsorbed onto kaolinite as the carboxylate. The findings indicate that uptake is mediated by a surface water layer even in the absence of bulk water.     

Sorption interactions of volatile organic compounds with organoclays under different humidities by using linear solvation energy relationships

Organoclays are usually used as sorbents to reduce the spread of organic compounds and to remove them at contaminated sites. The sorption equilibrium and the mechanisms of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on organoclays under different humidities are helpful for developing efficient organoclays and for predicting the fate of VOCs in the environment. In this study, the organoclay was synthesized through exchanging inorganic cations by hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium (HDTMA) into montmorillonite, resulting in 12?% of organic content. The surface area of organoclay was smaller than the unmodified clay due to the incorporation of organic cations into the interlayer. Both adsorption on organoclay surface and partition into the incorporated HDTMA in organoclay played roles on the sorption process. Compared the sorption coefficients in montmorillonite and different modified clays, the incorporated organic cations overcame the inhibition effect of hydrophilic surface of clay on the sorption process of hydrophobic organic compounds from water. The sorption coefficients of VOC vapors on organoclay were further characterized using a linear solvation energy relationship (LSER). The fitted LSER equations were obtained by a multiple regression of the sorption coefficients of 22 probe chemicals against their solvation parameters. The coefficients of the five-parameter LSER equations showed that high HDTMA-content montmorillonite interacts with VOC molecules mainly through dispersion, partly through dipolarity/polarizability and hydrogen-bonds as well as with negative π-/n-electron pair interaction. The interaction analysis by LSERs suggests that the potential predominant factors governing the sorption of VOCs are dispersion interactions under all tested humidity conditions, similar with the lower level modified clay. The derived LSER equations successfully fit the sorption coefficients of VOCs on organoclay under different humidity conditions. It is helpful to design better toxic vapor removal strategy and evaluate the fate of organic contaminants in the environment.     

Sorption of nitroaromatic compounds to synthesized organoclays

This project quantifies the ability of seven engineered organoclays to sorb TNT and two of its reduction products: 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene (2-A-4,6-DNT) and 4-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene (4-A-2,6-DNT). The organoclays used in the TNT sorption studies were synthesized in the laboratory by combining bentonite with benzyltriethylammonium chloride (BTEA) at 50, 75, and 100% of the bentonite's cation exchange capacity and with hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDTMA) at 25, 50, 75, and 100% of the bentonite's cation exchange capacity. For sorption of 2-A-4,6-DNT and 4-A-2,6-DNT, two organoclays were tested: BTEA at 50% CEC and HDTMA at 75% CEC. Sorption data with HDTMA organoclay and TNT were fit to linear isotherms and demonstrated that the clay's sorptive capacity increased as the amount of total organic carbon exchanged onto the clay increased. Sorption data with BTEA organoclay and TNT were fit to Langmuir isotherms; however, the clay's sorptive capacity increased as the amount of total organic carbon sorbed to the clay's surface was decreased. Sorption behavior for TNT reduction products 2-A-4,6-DNT and 4-A-2,6-DNT to one HDTMA organoclay and one BTEA organoclay demonstrated that HDTMA organoclay at 10.3% total organic carbon was a more effective sorbent than BTEA organoclay at 5.2% total organic carbon.     

Removal of Fulvic Acids from Aqueous Solutions via Surfactant Modified Zeolite

IntroductionNatural organic matter(NOM)is composed of acomplex mixture of organic compounds derived fromliv-ing and dead plants,animals and microorganisms,waste products of animals and microorganisms,andfrom the degradation of the above materials[1].Fulvi…     

Thermal analyis of hexadecyltrimethylammonium–montmorillonites

Na-montmorillonite (Na-MONT) was loaded with hexadecyltrimethylammonium cations (HDTMA) by replacing 41 and 90% of the exchangeable Na with HDTMA, labeled OC-41 and OC-90, respectively. Na-MONT, OC-41, and OC-90 were heated in air up to 900 °C. Unheated and thermally treated organoclays heated at 150, 250, 360, and 420 °C are used in our laboratory as sorbents of different hazardous organic compounds from waste water. In order to get a better knowledge about the composition and nature of the thermally treated organoclays Na-MONT and the two organo-clays were studied by thermogravimetry (TG) in air and under nitrogen. Carbon and hydrogen contents in each of the thermal treated sample were determined and their infrared spectra were recorded. The present results showed that at 150 °C both organoclays lost water but not intercalated HDTMA cations. At 250 °C, many HDTMA cations persisted in OC-41, but in OC-90 significant part of the cations were air-oxidized into H₂O and CO₂ and the residual carbon formed charcoal. After heating both samples at 360 °C charcoal was present in both organo clays. This charcoal persisted at 420 °C but was gradually oxidized by air with further rise in temperature. TG runs under nitrogen showed stepwise degradation corresponding to interlayer water desorption followed by decomposition of the organic compound, volatilization of small fragments and condensation of non-volatile fragments into quasi-charcoal. After dehydroxylation of the clay the last stages of organic matter pyrolysis and volatilization occurred.     

An FTIR investigation of hexadecyltrimethylammonium intercalation into rectorite

Rectorite is an interstratified clay mineral made at 1:1 ratio of an orderly arrangement of a nonswelling component illite and a swelling component smectite. Due to the presence of two distinct types of components, it is of great interest to study the adsorption of long chain alkylammonium in rectorite. In this study, we conducted batch experiments and used X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to characterize the interlayer configuration of intercalated long chain hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA) in rectorite. The FTIR results showed that a monomer-like intercalation with extensive gauche conformers was formed at surfactant loading less than the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the mineral. At a higher surfactant loading the CH2--symmetric and anti-symmetric vibrations shifted to lower frequencies, suggesting a more ordered all-trans surfactant interlayer configuration. The thermogravimetric and derivative of thermogravimetric analayses showed a high pyrolysis temperature for the monomer-like gauche conformers and lower pyrolysis temperature for the all-trans configuration of the intercalated HDTMA. The XRD analysis confirmed the monomer-like conformation with a d-spacing of 25.2 angstroms at the low surfactant intercalation and a vertical all-trans configuration with a d-spacing of 49.5 angstroms at an HDTMA intercalation of 3.20 CEC. In addition to conformation analyses of intercalated surfactant in the interlayer using FTIR, the absorbance measured by peak height at 1470, 2850, and 2917 cm(-1) increased linearly with surfactant loading, providing a faster, yet efficient method to quantify the amount of surfactant adsorbed.     

Sulfonamide imprinted polymers using co-functional monomers

Molecular imprinted polymers (MIPs) prepared using combination of acrylamide (ACM) and 4-vinylpyridine (4-Vpy) as co-functional monomers exhibited efficient recognition properties in both organic and aqueous media as HPLC stationary phase. The results indicate that amide and pyridine groups in functional monomers formed strong hydrogen-bonding interaction with the template molecule, and specific recognition sites were created within the polymer matrix during the imprinting process. When sulfamethoxazole (SMO) was used as template, a MIP prepared in a polar organic solvent (acetonitrile) using the combination of ACM and 4-Vpy showed better recognition of template than the polymer prepared in the same solvent using the combination of acidic monomer (methacrylic acid) and basic monomer 4-Vpy. On the contrary, when sulfamethazine (SMZ) was used as template, a MIP prepared using the combination of methacrylic acid (MAA) and 4-Vpy showed better recognition of template than the polymer prepared using the combination of ACM and 4-Vpy. Our results indicate that in organic media the degree of retention of the sample molecules on the imprinted polymers was controlled by the hydrogen-bonding interaction between the sample molecules and the polymer, while in aqueous media it was determined to a considerable extent by hydrophobic interactions. In both media the shape, size and the electronic structure of the template molecule were all-important factors in the recognition process.     

Organoclay sorption of benzene as a function of total organic carbon content

The sorption of benzene to bentonite, activated carbon, and two organo-clays synthesized with the quaternary ammonium organic cations hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA) and benzyltriethylammonium (BTEA) was quantified as a function of total organic carbon content. The unmodified bentonite sorbed no benzene, while the activated carbon exhibited the strongest benzene uptake. For the organoclays, organic cations were exchanged onto Wyoming bentonite at four different percentages of the clay's cation exchange capacity. For HDTMA clay, in which partitioning is the dominant sorptive medium, it was determined that benzene sorption increased as the total organic carbon content increased (as the clay became more hydrophobic). In contrast, the sorption of benzene to BTEA clay, an adsorptive clay, decreased as the total organic carbon content of the clay was increased. It is believed that the sorptive capacity of BTEA clay decreases due to the formation of positively charged dimers on the clay's surface that block access to the sorptive sites. The organoclays sorbed more benzene than the unmodified bentonite, but less than the activated carbon.     

Adsorption of p-nitrophenol on organoclays

In this study, organoclays were prepared through ion exchange of a single cationic surfactant, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide and characterised by a range of methods including X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis. Changes in the surface properties of montmorillonite and the organoclays were observed and the basal spacings of organoclays with and without p-nitrophenol were determined using XRD. The thermal stability of both organoclays were measured using thermogravimetry. As the surfactant loading increased, the expanded basal spacings were observed, and different molecular configurations of surfactant were identified. When the surfactant loading exceeded 1.0 CEC, surfactant molecules tend to adsorb strongly on the clay surface and this resulted in increased affinity to organic compounds. The adsorbed p-nitrophenol and the surfactant decomposed simultaneously. Hence, the surfactant molecules and adsorbed p-nitrophenol are important in determining the thermal stabilities of organoclays. This study enhances the understanding of the structure and adsorption properties of organoclays and has further implications for the application of organoclays as filter materials for the removal of organic pollutants in aqueous solutions.     

TiO2/nanoclinoptilolite as an efficient nanocatalyst in the synthesis of substituted 2‐aminothiophenes

TiO₂/nanoclinoptilolite (TiO₂/NCP) was prepared by the mediation of hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA) as surfactant and used as an effective heterogeneous nanocatalyst for the preparation of substituted 2‐aminotiophenes. The modified HDTMA/NCP was impregnated with titanium(IV) chloride solution followed by calcination at 500 °C for 20 h. The obtained nanocomposite was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction. Moreover, the prepared nanocomposite had high stability and recoverability under mild and solvent‐free conditions.     

Thin film photochromic materials: Effect of the sol-gel ormosil matrix on the photochromic properties of naphthopyrans

Photochromic naphthopyran derivatives have been embedded in sol-gel prepared organically modified thin films. The introduction of organic functional groups into a silica matrix allows tailoring the surface of its pores and the polarity of the environment of the embedded host molecules. The photochromic properties of the naphthopyran molecules, such as the spectral properties of the coloured forms and the kinetics of the thermal bleaching, depend strongly on the polarity of the pores where the molecules are located and, hence, on the nature and loading of organic functional groups in the composition of the ormosil matrix. Important changes in the photochromic properties of the films have also been induced by modifications in the sol-gel preparation and processing parameters. The photostability of the photochromic molecules upon prolonged exposition to UV light is strongly related to the nature of the embedding ormosil matrix. The introduction of organic functional groups into the inner pore surface of the matrix, where the dye molecules will be located, affects the stability of the molecules, in terms of the effectiveness of the interaction between the photochromic molecules and the pore surface.     

Electronic structures of one-dimensional metal-molecule hybrid chains studied using scanning tunneling microscopy and density functional theory

The electronic structures of self-assembled hybrid chains comprising Ag atoms and organic molecules were studied using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy (STS) in parallel with density functional theory (DFT). Hybrid chains were prepared by catalytic breaking of Br-C bonds in 4,4″-dibromo-p-terphenyl molecules, followed by spontaneous formation of Ag-C bonds on Ag(111). An atomic model was proposed for the observed hybrid chain structures. Four electronic states were resolved using STS measurements, and strong energy dependence was observed in STM images. These results were explained using first-principles calculations based on DFT.     

Mild pre-heating of organic cation-exchanged clays enhances their interactions with nitrobenzene in aqueous environment

Aqueous sorption kinetics and equilibrium isotherms of nitrobenzene were studied on two series of sorbents that were prepared by (i) replacing inorganic exchangeable cations in Wyoming bentonite with tetraethylammonium (TEA) and benzyltrimethylammonium (BTMA) and (ii) heating synthesized complexes in air at different temperatures (between 150 and 420°C). The aim of this work was to examine recently observed enhancement of aqueous sorption of a probe organic sorbate on organoclays after mild thermal pre-treatment of sorbents. Thermal pre-treatment of TEA- and BTMA-clays at 150°C results in the maximal enhancement of nitrobenzene–sorbent interactions as compared with treatment of original bentonite and its exchange complexes formed with long-chain quaternary ammonium (n-hexadecyltrimethylammonium, HDTMA). Based on C, N content data and FTIR spectra of TEA- and BTMA-clay complexes, no indications of decomposition of organic matter were found in organoclays heated at 250°C (and below this temperature). Suppressed hydration of pre-heated sorbents resulting in a lessening of water–organic sorbate competition for sorption sites is considered to be responsible for thermally induced enhancement of nitrobenzene–sorbent interactions. In the HDTMA-based organoclays, the long-chain aliphatic groups of the quaternary ammonium can additionally interact with clay surface thus competing with organic sorbate–sorbent surface interactions and, in this way, mitigating the enhancement of nitrobenzene sorption on thermally treated sorbents.     

Synthesis and characterization of antibacterial compounds using montmorillonite and chlorhexidine acetate

Two series of antibacterial compounds were synthesized using montmorillonite and chlorhexidine acetate (CA) by ion-exchange reaction. The resulting samples were characterized by high-resolution thermogravimetric analysis (HRTG), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and their antibacterial activity was assayed by halo method. In this study, the loaded amounts of CA in the resultant compounds were evaluated by the HRTG curves. CA adopts a lateral monolayer arrangement in the resulting samples with low CA loading, while a special state with partial overlapping of organic molecules is supposed for the resulting samples prepared at 1.0–4.0 CEC. After the intercalation with CA, the hydrophilic surfaces of montmorillonite are changed to hydrophobic ones, reflected by the frequency shift of the symmetric ν_1(O-H) stretching vibration from low to high. This study shows that the interlayer cations in raw montmorillonite have little influence on the structure of the resulting samples. Antibacterial activity test against E. coli demonstrates that the antibacterial activity of the resulting samples strongly depends on the content of the loaded CA and these resulting materials show a long-term antibacterial activity that can last for at least one year.     

Physicochemical study of novel organoclays as heavy metal ion adsorbents for environmental remediation

Four organic-modified clays based on a SWy-2 montmorillonite were prepared by embedding ammonium organic derivatives with different chelating functionalities (NH(2), COOH, SH or CS(2)) in the interlayer space of montmorillonite. Organic molecules such as (a) hexamethylenediamine, (b) 2-(dimethylamino)ethenethiol, (c) 5-aminovaleric acid and (d) hexamethylenediamine-dithiocarbamate were used for the clay modification in order to study the effect of the chelating functionality on heavy metal ions binding from aqueous solutions. The organoclays were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared (FTIR) and NMR spectroscopies. The experimental data showed that the organic molecules are intercalated into the interlamelar space with the long dimension parallel to the clay sheets. Their sorbing properties were evaluated for the removal of heavy metals, Pb, Cd and Zn, from aqueous solutions as a function of the pH. When compared with the unmodified SWy-2 montmorillonite, the modified clays show significant improvement in terms of sorbing selectivity as well as of metal loading capacity. The fit to adsorption data by a Surface Complexation Model shows that the intercalated molecules act as specific binding sites in the clay. These contribute additional sorption capacity which is additive to the variable charge edge-sites of the clay in competition with the permanent charge sites.     

Study of types and mixture ratio of organic solvent used to dissolve polymers for preparation of drug-containing PLGA microspheres

The effects of the types and the ratios of various organic solvents used as a mixtures to dissolve poly (lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) by using a solvent evaporation method, a technique used to prepare polymer particles, were carefully studied in order to investigate their advantages in developing drug delivery system (DDS) formulations for the prepared microspheres. The particle size and drug loading efficiency of drug-containing PLGA microspheres were found to be dependent on the types of solvent used due to the interfacial tension between the organic solvent and water phase. The drug loading efficiency of monodisperse microspheres prepared by using a membrane emulsification technique employing organic solvents and high interfacial tension for dissolving the PLGA was increased in a controlled manner. The organic solvents with high interfacial tension in the water phase used for the preparation of polymer particles by means of the solvent evaporation method were found to be suitable in terms of improvement in the properties of DDS formulations.     

Detection of organic gases using TiO2 nanotube-based gas sensors

We fabricated porous gas sensing films composed of TiO₂ nanotubes prepared by a hydrothermal treatment for the detection of organic gases, such as alcohol and toluene. The morphology of the sensing films was controlled with a ball-milling treatment and calcination at high temperature to improve the sensitivity of the films. The sensor using nanotubes with the ball-milling treatment exhibited the improved sensor responses to toluene at 500oC. The results obtained indicated the importance of the microstructure control of sensing layers in terms of particle packing density, pore size distribution, and particle size and shape for detecting large sized organic gas molecules.     

两种有机物改性膨润土对Cu2+和Zn2+的吸附-解吸研究

选用天然有机物料(猪粪降解液)和有机化学试剂[十六烷基三甲基溴化胺(HDTMA)]对钠基膨润土进行表面改性,比较了膨润土对两类有机物的吸附特性,以及两种有机物改性膨润土对Cu2+、Zn2+吸附-解吸性能的差异。结果表明,膨润土对HDTMA和猪粪降解液是优惠吸附,且前者最大吸附量为382.4mg/g,是后者的4.19倍。HDTMA改性膨润土对Cu2+、Zn2+的最大吸附量均大于猪粪降解液改性膨润土,前者分别为后者的1.12倍(Cu2+)和1.09倍(Zn2+),且两种吸附剂对Cu2+的最大吸附量和吸附速率均大于Zn2+。Zn2+在两种改性膨润土上的解吸率均高于Cu2+,且Cu2+、Zn2+在猪粪改性膨润土上的解吸率均要高于在HDTMA改性膨润土的。两种有机物改性的钠基膨润土对重金属离子具有良好的吸附性能,可以用于含重金属废水的处理和重金属污染土壤的钝化修复,而猪粪降解液改性膨润土是环境友好的重金属钝化剂。