Synthesis, characterization and application of a novel sorbent, glucamine-modified MCM-41, for the removal/preconcentration of boron from waters

A novel sorbent was prepared by the functionalization of an inorganic support material, MCM-41, with N-methylglucamine for the uptake of boron from aqueous solutions prior to its determination by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Characterization of the newly synthesized material was performed using BET, XRD, TEM, SEM and DRIFTS techniques, in addition to its C and N elemental content. Sorption behavior of the novel sorbent for boron was also investigated and found to obey Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherm models. The maximum amount of B (as H₃BO₃) that can be sorbed by the sorbent was calculated from the D-R isotherm and was found to be 0.8 mmol B g⁻¹ of sorbent. The applicability of the new sorbent for the removal/preconcentration of boron from aqueous samples was examined by batch method. It was found that the sorbent can take up 85% of boron in 5 min whereas quantitative sorption is obtained in 30 min. Any pH greater than 6 can be used for sorption. Desorption from the sorbent was carried out using 1.0 M HNO₃. The sorption efficiency of the new sorbent was also compared to that of Amberlite IRA 743, a commercial resin with N-methylglucamine functional groups. Within the experimental conditions employed, the new sorbent was found to have higher sorption efficiency than the commercial resin. For method validation, spike recovery tests were performed at various concentration levels in different water types and were found to be between 83-95 and 75-92% for ultra pure water and geothermal water, respectively.     

Extraction of rare-earth elements from nitrate solutions by fullerene black impregnated with tetraphenylmethylenediphosphine dioxide

The distribution of trace amounts of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, and Y nitrates between HNO₃ aqueous solutions and fullerene black (a product of electric are evaporation of graphite) impregnated with tetraphenylmethylenediphosphine dioxide (L) as a function of the concentrations of HNO₃ in the aqueous phase and L in the sorbent phase was considered. It was shown that REE(III) ions pass into the sorbent phase in the form of Ln(NO₃)₃L₃ solvated nitrates; the efficiency of extraction of these ions decreases with an increase in the REE atomic number in the periodic table.     

Removal of uranium(VI) and thorium(IV) ions from aqueous solutions by functionalized silica: kinetic and thermodynamic studies

Adsorption behavior of uranyl and thorium ions from synthetic radioactive solutions onto functionalized silica as sorbent has been investigated. The effect of contact time, initial concentration of radioactive solutions, sorbent mass, pH value and temperature on the adsorption capacity of the sorbent was investigated. Negative values of Gibbs free energy of adsorption suggested the spontaneity of the adsorption process on both functionalized silica with –NH₂ groups and with –SH groups. Positive values obtained for ΔH° indicates that the adsorption is an endothermic process. The adsorption isotherms were better fitted by Freundlich model and the adsorption kinetic was well described by the pseudo-second order equation. Desorption studies indicated that the most favorable desorptive reagents for UO₂ ²⁺ is HNO₃ 1 M and for Th⁴⁺ is EDTA 1 M solutions.     

Properties and Application of a Chelating Sorbent Prepared by Modification of LiChroprep-NH<Subscript>2</Subscript> with Calcon

A new chelating sorbent for metal ions was prepared by modification of chemically modified silica – LiChroprep-NH₂ with Calcon. The molecular mechanism of binding this reagent to the surface of the applied carrier is presented. The properties of this sorbent were compared to analogous sorbents with a plain silica carrier and chemically modified silicas – LiChroprep-RP containing Calcon. The advantages of the new sorbent compared to the silica and LiChroprep-RP chelating sorbents are demonstrated. The sorbent obtained was applied as stationary phase in solid-phase extraction (SPE) for separations of some chosen mixtures of metal ions and for additional purification of aqueous solutions of salts of alkali metals from trace amounts of heavy metals. The multiple use of the sorbent based on LiChroprep-NH₂ in sorption-desorption processes of metal ions without deterioration of its sorption capacity is demonstrated.     

Octadecylsilane/Nylon‐6 composite as a thin‐film microextraction sorbent for the determination of bisphenol A in water samples

We report on the fabrication of a thin‐film composite for the extraction of bisphenol A from aqueous solutions. Nylon‐6, C₁₈ particles, and polyethylene glycol were used to prepare the thin film sorbent. Bisphenol A was used as a model compound to evaluate the extraction efficiency of the sorbent. High‐performance liquid chromatography with UV detection was used for the analysis. The extraction yield of the sorbent was compared with other thin films fabricated using different sorbents including nanoclay, LiChrolut EN, and multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Experimental parameters affecting the extraction performance (extraction time, desorption condition, sample stirring, and ionic strength of the sample solution) were investigated. The detection limit and the dynamic range of the method were 0.05 and 0.15–50 μg/L, respectively. The relative standard deviation of the method at two concentration levels (0.5 and 20 μg/L) was less than 7.2%. Finally, a polycarbonate baby bottle, river water, and wastewater samples were analyzed by the method.     

Adsorption of lanthanides(III) from aqueous solutions by fullerene black modified with di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid

Fullerene black (FB) - a product of electric arc graphite vaporization after extraction of fullerenes - was modified with the di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (D2EHPA). The distribution of D2EHPA between FB and aqueous HNO₃ solutions has been studied. The effect of HNO₃ concentration in the aqueous phase and that of D2EHPA concentration in the sorbent phase on the adsorption of microquantities of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, and Y nitrates from HNO₃ solutions by D2EHPA-modified FB are considered. The stoichiometry of the sorbed complexes has been determined by the slope analysis method. The efficiency of lanthanides’ adsorption increases with an increase in the element atomic number. A considerable synergistic effect has been observed upon the addition of the neutral bidentate tetraphenylmethylenediphosphine dioxide ligand to D2EHPA in the sorbent phase.      

Sol–gel niobia sorbent with a positively charged octadecyl ligand providing enhanced enrichment of nucleotides and organophosphorus pesticides in capillary microextraction for online HPLC analysis

A niobia‐based sol–gel organic–inorganic hybrid sorbent carrying a positively charged C₁₈ ligand (Nb₂O₅‐C₁₈(+ve)) was synthesized to achieve enhanced enrichment capability in capillary microextraction of organophosphorus compounds (which include organophosphorus pesticides and nucleotides) before their online analysis by high‐performance liquid chromatography. The sorbent was designed to simultaneously provide three different types of molecular level interactions: electrostatic, Lewis acid–base, and van der Waals interactions. To understand relative contributions of various molecular level analyte–sorbent interactions in the extraction process, two other sol–gel niobia sorbents were also created: (a) a purely inorganic sol–gel niobia sorbent (Nb₂O₅) and (b) an organic–inorganic hybrid sol–gel niobia sorbent carrying an electrically neutral‐bonded octadecyl ligand (Nb₂O₅‐C₁₈). The extraction efficiency of the created sol–gel niobia sorbent (Nb₂O₅‐C₁₈ (+ve)) was compared with that of analogously designed and synthesized titania‐based sol–gel sorbent (TiO₂‐C₁₈ (+ve)), taking into consideration that titania‐based sorbents present state‐of‐the‐art extraction media for organophosphorus compounds. In capillary microextraction with high‐performance liquid chromatography analysis, Nb₂O₅‐C₁₈ (+ve) had shown 40–50% higher specific extraction values (a measure of extraction efficiency) over that of TiO₂‐C₁₈ (+ve). Compared to TiO₂‐C₁₈(+ve), Nb₂O₅‐C₁₈(+ve) also provided superior analyte desorption efficiency (96 vs. 90%) during the online release of the extracted organophosphorus pesticides from the sorbent coating in the capillary microextraction capillary to the chromatographic column using reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography mobile phase.     

Equilibrium,kinetics and thermodynamics studies of Cd sorption onto a dithizone-impregnated Amberchrom CG-300m polymer resin

Amberchrom CG-300m, a styrene acrylic ester polymer resin, was studied for the first time as sorbent for metal ion sorption in a solid-phase extraction system. The polymer sorbent was modified via impregnation with dithizone to improve its efficiency. Efficiency of the modified sorbent improved by more than 47%. The loading capacity of the resin is 3.2 mg dithizone per gram of sorbent. The mechanisms of Cd(II) sorption from aqueous solutions are presented. Capacity of the modified resin for Cd(II) was investigated in batch experiments as a function of pH, initial metal ion concentration, temperature and time. Maximum capacity of 0.551 mg Cd(II) per gram of sorbent was achieved. The dimensionless separation factor, 0 < R_L < 1, associated with the Langmuir isotherm (at T = 294 K) signifies sorption of Cd(II) was favorable, as do negative values of free energy of sorption (ΔG) at temperatures exceeding 293 K. Sorption was endothermic (ΔH > 0) while ΔS > 0 reflects the affinity of the sorbent towards Cd(II). The pseudo-second order model proved to be the best fit model for Cd(II) sorption kinetics data. Particle-diffusion models suggest sorption follows film as well as pore diffusion mechanisms.     

Preparation of γ-Al2O3 sorbents loaded with metal components and removal of thiophene from coking benzene

Series sorbents of Cu, Zn, Ni, Ce and Ag metal components supported on γ-Al₂O₃ carrier for removing thiophene from benzene were prepared by conventional and ultrasound-assisted incipient-wetness impregnation method. The static adsorption experiments were carried out in the thiophene-benzene solution with thiophene concentration of 500?mg/L. The results show that the desulfurization activity of all γ-Al₂O₃ sorbents modified by different metal components obviously increase, among which the sorbent modified by silver nitrate has the best performance. The active components of sorbents from Cu, Zn, Ni, Ce nitrates loaded on γ-Al₂O₃ carrier are their oxides. Besides Ag₂O, the products of silver nitrate thermal decomposition in sorbent prepared still have Ag⁰ and Ag–O–Al species. The assistant ultrasound in the process of sorbent preparation can not only shorten the impregnation time, but also enrich the pore structure of sorbent and improve the size and distribution of the Ag species, which is favorable to the removal of thiophene from benzene. The desulfurization capacity of sorbent changes with the Ag content loaded. The sorbent with 15?% quality content of Ag prepared by ultrasound-assisted impregnation method has the highest desulfurization efficiency. It could reduce the thiophene concentration to 1.7?mg/L from 500?mg/L at room temperature and ambient pressure, with the desulfurization efficiency of more than 99?%, when the ratio of sorbent to solution was 1:4?(g/mL).     

Extraction and sorption preconcentration of rhenium with the use of 2-phosphorylphenoxyacetamides

Interfacial distribution of micro amount of ReO₄ ^- between aqueous solutions of mineral acids and solutions of 2-phosphorylphenoxyacetamides in dichloroethane has been studied. Stoichiometry of extracted complexes has been determined; the effect of HNO₃, HCl, and H₂SO₄ concentration in aqueous phase, extractant structure, and organic solvent nature on the efficiency of ReO₄ ^- ions transfer into organic phase has been considered. It has been shown that Re(VII) can be selectively recovered and concentrated with complexing sorbent obtained by the noncovalent binding of 2-[2-(diphenylphosphoryl)-4-ethylphenoxy]-N,N-dioctylacetamide on the surface of macroporous polymer Amberlite XAD7HP.     

Advantages and disadvantages of various kinds of adsorbents used in industrial extraction of [Au(CN)<Subscript>2</Subscript>]<Superscript>–</Superscript> anions from cyanide solutions and pulps

Comparative study of an industrially used activated carbon of WSC-207C-GR brand, strongly basic anion exchanger MINIX, and weakly basic anion exchanger Purogold S992 in recovery of [Au(CN)₂]^– ions from cyanide aqueous solutions and slurries was carried out. It was found that the strongly basic anion exchanger MINIX has the highest adsorption rate of the cyanide complex of gold(I), whereas the activated carbon and the weakly basic ion exchanger possess a substantially higher selectivity toward the complex of gold(I). Use of each of the three sorbents makes it possible to solve the problem of the cyanide leaching of gold from ores containing natural substances that exhibit adsorbent properties with respect to the dicyanoaurate(I) ion. The influence exerted by the amount of kerosene additive and volume fraction of a sorbent on the efficiency of gold recovery by the sorbent in cyanidation of ores in the “carbon-in-pulp” and “resin-in-pulp” modes.     

On the concentration and determination of plutonium in natural waters by adsorption on MnO2 filters

A new method of analysis of the efficiency of four filters of MnO₂ in series which takes into account the reactions induced in plutonium by the sorbent is described. The system of differential equations describing the behaviour of plutonium in water as it passes through the filters is solved and the parameters of the filters are determined for a best fitting of the solutions corresponding to the experimental uncertainties. The method is checked by numerical simulation and then applied to water solutions with a known plutonium concentration and to some experimental results given by other authors. In all occassions the results are consistent with the possibility of determining the contents of plutonium in sea and continental waters with uncertainties of the order of 10%.     

Sorption recovery of rubidium ions from highly mineralized solutions to obtain rubidium chloride of reagent grade

Recovery of Rb⁺ ions from highly mineralized solutions with a granulated composite sorbent of the composition K_0.92–1.0Cu_1.50–1.54[Fe(CN)₆] · 4.9SiO₂ in the multiple-cycle mode was studied.     

Study of the effect of oxidative-bisulfite modification of the cotton cellulose on its ion exchange properties

The effect of chemical modification on the sorption properties of cotton cellulose toward Cu(II) and Ni(II) ions was studied. The modification was carried out in two stages: oxidation of cellulose with the formation of dialdehydocellulose, followed by its sulfonation. The optimal conditions for modifying the cellulose to produce a sorbent capable to remove effectively the heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions of corresponding salts were elucidated. The modified sorbent exceeds the native cellulose in the sorption capacity (in terms of sorption maximum) about 3 times, therewith the time of extraction of heavy metal ions is reduced from 45 to 8 min. The high sorption properties are defined by the formation of new sorption sites -SO₃Na along with initially formed -COOH groups on the sorbent surface.     

The equilibrium characteristics of pyridoxine hydrochloride sorption on clinoptilolite

Pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B₆) sorption by clinoptilolite from aqueous solutions has been studied at 283, 295, and 317 K. Enhancement of the sorption with decreasing temperature has been found. Isotherm of pyridoxine hydrochloride adsorption from dilute solutions may be described by the Langmuir theory. It has been shown that the monolayer coverage of clinoptilolite surface with pyridoxine occurs via the equivalent exchange with extra-framework cations of the sorbent. Thermodynamic parameters of vitamin monolayer adsorption have been determined. It has been concluded that the polymolecular adsorption is due to the formation of pyridoxine associates in the sorbent mesopores.     

The influence of chemical activation of the M45K20 sorbent on the heat effects of sorption of ammonium ions

Calorimetric measurements were performed and the heat effects of sorption of ammonium ions from aqueous solutions by the M₄₅K₂₀ natural sorbent and its acid- and alkali-activated forms were calculated.     

Salting-out thin-layer chromatography of transition metal complexes. IV: Effect of sorbent on the behaviour of mixed aminocarboxylato cobalt (III) complexes

Summary From literature data for 14 mixed aminocarboxylato cobalt(III) complexes, the effect of the sorbent on R_M values, salting-out efficiency (m) and separation factors () of adjacent members of homologous series was investigated in salting-out, thin-layer chromatography on silica gel, polyacrylonitrile and cellulose sorbents, using ammonium sulphate solutions as developers. For complexes belonging to the same homologous series, linear dependence was found between R_M,m and log values, respectively, on two different sorbents. Polyacrylonitrile was shown to be the most suitable sorbent for the separation of the complexes since it gave the highest values for R_M,m and .     

The sorption properties of carbon nanotubes modified with tetraphenylmethylenediphosphine dioxide in nitric acid media

The distribution of microamounts of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, and Y nitrates between aqueous solutions of HNO₃ and multiwalled carbon nanotubes noncovalently modified with tetraphenylmethylenediphosphine dioxide (L) was considered depending on the concentration of HNO₃ in the aqueous phase and L in the sorbent phase. Ln(III) ions were shown to pass to the sorbent phase in the form of solvated nitrates Ln(NO₃)₃L₃. The effectiveness of the extraction of such complexes decreases along the series of rare-earth metals as the atomic number of the element in the Periodic Table increases.     

Hierarchical porous carbon with designed pore architecture and study of its adsorptive properties

Ordered mesoporous carbon nanoparticles have been synthesized by a nanocasting procedure from furfuryl alcohol impregnation into alumino–silica UVM-7 material. By a proper adjustment of the synthesis parameters, furfuryl alcohol volume vs. template pore volume, it was possible to obtain a carbonaceous templated material which keeps the hierarchical bimodal porosity of the silica together with its high surface area (>1000 m²/g), as it was confirmed by means of electron transmission microscopy and N₂ adsorption isotherms. This carbon material was evaluated by testing it as a sorbent for several pesticides in aqueous solutions. Its absorption efficiency was compared with typical commercial solid phase extraction materials such as silica C₁₈ and graphitized carbon black GCB.     

Polytrimethylsilylpropyne as adsorbent for separation of gases

Polytrimethylpropyne supported on a solid substrate was proposed as a chromatographic adsorbent for the separation of hydrocarbon gases. The heats of adsorption of hydrocarbon gases were determined. The efficiency of application of this sorbent for the selective separation of C₁--C₄ hydrocarbon gases in packed columns was demonstrated.