Synthesis of novel Schiff base doped sol–gel silicas

Sulfonamide Schiff bases were doped uniformly in silica sol–gels prepared from liquid precursors by a fast and easy way at room temperature and processed to form xerogels. Schiff bases are efficient chelating agents, bioactive and catalytically active compounds. The structures of the newly synthesized Schiff base doped xerogels were elucidated by their physical (morphology, surface area, porosity), spectral (FTIR) and analytical (CHNSO/Si) data. The powder X-ray diffraction studies were carried out to confirm the formation of single phase. Characterization confirmed that Schiff base molecules are entrapped inside the pores as well as physically bound onto the silica surface. All Schiff base doped xerogels are stable mesoporous materials showing hydrophilic properties. Loadings of Schiff bases from 0.10 to 0.23 g/g of xerogel were obtained resulting amorphous materials. The doping of Schiff bases with xerogel caused change in surface area, pore volume and pore diameter of xerogel without damaging the main framework of siliceous skeleton. Morphology and colour of xerogel was also changed after doping. The entrapment of Schiff bases in xerogel caused increase in their decomposition temperatures. The final Schiff base doped xerogels show remarkable thermal stability.     

Enhancing the organic dye adsorption on porous xerogels

We investigate the adsorption of four different organic dyes (i.e., methyl orange, alizarin red S, brilliant blue FCF, and phenol red) on porous xerogels. To understand the factors affecting the adsorption capacity of the xerogels, we vary the hydrophobicity and the textural properties of the xerogels as well as the solution pH. We control the hydrophobicity by mixing two different precursors (i.e., vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS)) and the textural properties by using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a templating agent. We find that the adsorption capacity is enhanced as the organic/inorganic hybrid xerogel or the templated xerogel is used instead of the purely inorganic or the untemplated xerogel. In all the cases studied, adsorption decreases as the pH is increased due to the electrostatic repulsion between the dyes and the xerogel surface. We find that both the hydrophobic surface and larger pore size/volume are required to enhance the adsorption capacity significantly.     

Characterization of Alumina Gel Catalysts by Emanation Thermal Analysis (ETA)

Alumina gels made from the metal alkoxide is known to have high catalyst activity for the selective reduction of NO _x by hydrocarbons. It is also reported that the fine structure of the gels effects the activity. In this study, the effect of the preparation method on the fine structure and catalyst activity of the gels was investigated. Monolithic gels were obtained by hydrolysis of Al(sec-C₄H₉O)₃. The wet gels were dried at 90°C (xerogels), supercritically dried (aerogels), or dried after immersion in an ethanol solution of methyltrimethoxysilane (modified xerogels). The changes in the microstructure during heating were discussed using the results of TG-DTA, ETA and N₂ adsorption. The ETA curves show the ²²⁰Rn-release rate, E, of the samples, previously labelled with ²²⁸Th and ²²⁴Ra, during heating. The decrease in E of the xerogel at temperatures higher than 400°C indicates a gradual decrease in the surface area and porosity. A remarkable decrease in the BET surface area of the xerogel was found after heat-treating at 500°C. On the other hand, constant E of the aerogels and modified xerogels above 450°C suggests high thermal stability. The pore radii, estimated by BJH method, and the catalyst activities at 500°C of the aerogels and the modified xerogels were higher than those of the xerogels. The temperature range in which the alumina gels are applicable as catalysts was determined.     

Protein Loading Capacity and Textural Properties of Column Packings in Reversed-Phase HPLC

Abstract

The relationship between the textural properties (pore size, pore volume and surface area) of reversed-phase silica gel packings for HPLC and the dynamic loading capacity of large biomolecules was studied by using silica gels manufactured by similar processes. Several silica gels whose unbonded pore diameters range from 100 to 250 A and whose pore volumes range from 1.0 to 1.4 ml/g have been prepared and characterized. The bonded phase is monomeric C18. The textural properties of the bonded silica gels are also presented and related to the properties of the unbonded silica gels.

Chromatographic evaluation with typical proteins in an underload-to-overload condition was performed in order to relate the influence of textural properties of silica gel to loading capacity and resolution. The packings with larger pore size and pore volume produced better column performance and higher loading of proteins.     

Preparation and surface properties of low-density gels synthesized using prepolymerized silica precursors

Properties of silica xerogels and aerogels synthesized using a number of prepolymerized silica precursors were probed by 29Si magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy, the small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) method, the nitrogen adsorption method, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to show that xerogels with attractive textural properties can easily be prepared using this type of precursors and the conventional one-step, base procedure. Pore sizes and overall pore volumes in these materials can be notably larger than those in the corresponding materials synthesized using tetraethoxysilane. This positive effect stems from the stronger structure of the polymeric network due to a higher degree of silica condensation on one side and a larger thickness of polymeric chains on the other. The thorough investigations of the fine silica structure demonstrate, however, that the relationship between the microstructure of the silica precursor and the micro- and macrostructures of dry gels is complex and the use of more condensed precursors favors, but does not necessarily ensure, more porous dry materials, under the same reaction conditions. Ethyl silicate 40 may be recommended as a low-cost precursor suitable for applications in this situation.     

SiO2-AEO凝胶体系的织构特性

采用溶胶 凝胶法 ,以正硅酸乙酯 (TEOS)为前驱体 ,用脂肪醇聚氧乙烯醚 (AEO)为改性剂制备结构可控的多孔SiO2 干凝胶.结果表明 :通过调节添加量和聚合度以及溶胶老化时间可以对SiO2 干凝胶织构性质进行有效的调控 ;采用不同的环境气氛对SiO2 AEO干凝胶进行热处理 ,则AEO表现出不同的热稳定性 ;经热处理后 ,AEO等有机残留物被脱除的同时 ,SiO2 AEO干凝胶柔性骨架得到加强 ,孔分布更趋集中 ,干凝胶结构的热稳定性得到进一步提高.     

Pore Structure Simulation of Gels with a Binary Monomer Size Distribution

The pore size distribution in silica gels can be tailored by the addition of silica soot particles during the gel formation. We introduce a numerical model in order to simulate the structure of this “composite gel”. The algorithm is based on Diffusion-Limited Cluster-Cluster Aggregation model with an initial binary distribution of monomer sizes. The textural properties of the simulated gels are calculated using a simple triangulation method. Nitrogen adsorption-desorption experiments show that with the powder addition the mean pore size is shifted towards larger pore size and the specific surface area decreases. Numerical results of the mean pore size, specific surface area, and particles are in good agreement with experimental data. Because of these textural properties this new type of gels and aerogels has larger permeability and interesting properties as host matrix. The composite gels and the numerical model could also be helpful to simulate the natural allophanic gel found in volcanic soils.     

Porous silicon oxycarbide glasses from organically modified silica gels of high surface area

High surface area alkyl-substituted silica aerogels and xerogels were successfully prepared by sol-gel processing and supercritical drying. The gels were further heat treated in inert atmosphere to temperatures as high as 1000°C. Surface areas and pore structure of the gels and gels pyrolyzed at high temperatures were determined by multipoint BET surface area measurement. The aerogels and xerogels exhibited surface areas of about 1100 m²/g. No significant effect of pH was found on the surface areas of gels in the two step sol-gel process, but gels of low pH showed smaller pore diameter and higher density. Xerogels showed smaller surface area, pore size, and pore volume compared to aerogels. Upon pyrolyzing in inert atmosphere, the surface areas of all the gels decreased with temperature as a result of collapse of micropores and shrinkage of mesopores. Unlike pure silica gel, which loses almost all surface area and densifies at 1000°C, the advantage of the alkyl-substituted gels is that they maintained a high surface area of 400 m²/g at 1000°C.Also with the Department of Agronomy.     

SiO2-AEO凝胶体系的织构特性

采用溶胶－凝胶法,以正硅酸乙酯（ＴＥＯＳ）为前驱体,用脂肪醇聚氧乙烯醚（ＡＥＯ）为改性剂制备结构可控的多孔ＳｉＯ２干凝胶。结果表明：通过调节添加量和聚合度以及溶胶老化时间可以对ＳｉＯ２干凝胶织构性质进行有效的调控;采用不同的环境气候对ＳｉＯ２－ＡＥＯ干凝胶进行热处理,则ＡＥＯ表现出不同的热稳定性;经热处理后,ＡＥＯ等有机残留物被脱除的同时,ＳｉＯ２－ＡＥＯ干凝胶柔性骨架得到加强,孔分布更趋集中,干     

Production of low-density sodium silicate-based hydrophobic silica aerogel beads by a novel fast gelation process and ambient pressure drying process

We report a method to synthesize low-density transparent mesoporous silica aerogel beads by ambient pressure drying (APD). The beads were prepared by acid–base sol–gel polymerization of sodium silicate in aqueous ammonia solution via the ball dropping method (BDM). To minimize shrinkage during drying, wet silica beads were initially prepared; their surfaces were then modified using trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS) via simultaneous solvent exchange and surface modification. The effects of the volume percentage (%V) of TMCS on the physical and textural properties of the beads were investigated. The specific surface area and cumulative pore volume of the silica aerogel beads increased with an increase in the %V of TMCS. Silica aerogel beads with low packing bed density (0.081 g/cm³), high surface area (917 m²/g), and large cumulative pore volume (2.8 cm³/g) was obtained when 10%V TMCS was used. Properties of the final product were examined by FE-SEM, TEM, BET, and TG–DT analyses. Surface chemical modifications were confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. The hydrophobic silica aerogel beads were thermally stable up to 411 °C. We discuss our results and compare our findings for modified versus unmodified silica beads.     

Effect of vacuum and of strong adsorbed water films on micropore formation in aluminum hydroxide xerogel powders

Aluminum hydroxide gels were washed with water, ethanol, methanol and isopropanol to obtain new gels with different liquid phases that were dried either in air at 120 degrees C or under vacuum at 80 degrees C. Drying in air leads to alcoholic xerogels with BET surface areas larger than the aqueous ones. The effect of the alcoholic groups as substitutes of the hydroxyl ones has been discussed to account for the final size of xerogel crystallites. Drying under vacuum decreases the BET surface of the methanol xerogels, but no micropores are formed in all the alcoholic xerogel matrixes. On the contrary, the vacuum drying process changes significantly the microstructure of the aqueous xerogels. Their BET surface increases by 34 m(2)/g, and micropores are formed within their crystallite aggregates. It has been experimentally shown that these changes are due to a shear transformation that occurs in the boehmite xerogels obtained under vacuum. To discuss these data, the existence of chemical compounds such as AlOOHnH(2)O was postulated. On this ground, a neat analogy between vacuum drying process and vacuum interfacial decomposition reactions of inorganic salts can be drawn. This analogy explains how a state of stresses forms in aqueous xerogel matrix during vacuum drying process.     

Optimization of instantaneous solvent exchange/surface modification process for ambient synthesis of monolithic silica aerogels

The instantaneous solvent exchange/surface modification (ISE/SM) process for the ambient synthesis of crack-free silica aerogel monoliths with a high production yield was optimized. Monolithic forms of silica wet gels were obtained from aqueous colloidal silica sols prepared via the ion exchange of sodium silicate solutions. Crack-free silica aerogel monoliths were synthesized via an ISE/SM process using isopropyl alcohol/trimethylchlorosilane as a modification agent and n-hexane as a main solvent, followed by ambient drying. The optimum process conditions of the ISE/SM process were investigated by clarifying the reaction mechanism and phenomena. Most effective ranges of process variables on the ISE/SM stage were determined as 0.2500-0.3567 of TMCS/H2O (pore water) in molar ratio and 15-30 of n-hexane/TMCS in volumetric ratio, with a reaction temperature below 283 K. Crack-free silica aerogel monoliths synthesized via these conditions had a well-developed mesoporous structure and excellent properties (bulk density of 0.12-0.14 g/cm3, specific surface area of 724 m2/g), and a high yield (nearly 80%).     

以陶瓷纤维为基材的硅胶吸附材料的制备与性能

以陶瓷纤维纸为基材，经水玻璃浸泡，絮凝剂沉积，盐酸调节pH值得到陶瓷纤维基硅胶吸附材料：探讨水玻璃浓度、絮凝剂浓度，盐酸浓度等条件对硅胶吸附剂吸附性能的影响：采用扫描电镜(SEM)，多孔介质孔隙分析仪揭示吸附材料的表面形貌、比表面积及孔径大小。实验结果显示：当水玻璃浓度为26．67wt%，絮凝剂浓度为15wt％，盐酸浓度为0．5mol／L时，吸附剂具有较好的吸附性能：硅胶能较好分散在纤维表面及其空隙中，BET比表面积为347．4m^2／g，总孔容为0．20295cm^2／g，其中，微孔所占比例为50．54％，平均孔径为，微孔0．4939nm，中孔3．907nm。     

Effect of the resorcinol/catalyst ratio in the capacitive performance of carbon xerogels with potential use in sodium chloride removal from saline water

Carbon xerogels were prepared by the resorcinol–formaldehyde method as potential electrodes for the electroadsorption of sodium chloride from aqueous solution. This work evidences the relevance of the resorcinol-to-catalyst (R/C) ratio employed during the synthesis in the capacitive properties of these carbon xerogels. Raman spectra revealed a significant increase of the structural ordering from R/C?=?355 to 480, while an opposite trend was detected for R/C?=?500. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed an increase in the contribution of hydroxyl groups for those xerogels with a less ordered structure. Similarly, surface area and micropore volume showed a maximum for R/C?=?480. The textural changes fairly matched with capacitance values recorded by cyclic voltammetry. Thus, a value as high as 89 F g^?1 was recorded for R/C?=?480, which was confirmed by a higher electrosorption capacity of 0.1 mmol of NaCl g^?1 as compared to only 0.087 and 0.07 mmol g^?1 for R/C?=?355 and 500, respectively. Also, a low internal resistance was determined for CXG480, revealing the optimized properties achieved for the xerogel with intermediate resorcinol/catalyst ratio.     

Synthesis and characterization of silica xerogels obtained via fast sol–gel process

The synthesis and physical properties of high surface area silica xerogels obtained by a two-step sol–gel process in the absence of supercritical conditions are reported. The hydrolysis and condensation reactions were followed by infrared spectroscopy. The increment in the bands corresponding to silanol and hydroxyl groups suggests that the hydrolysis reaction was complete during the first 30 min. The effect on surface area and global reaction time under various reaction conditions, such as type of alkaline catalyst and solvents, water–monomer and solvent–monomer molar ratios, was also studied. The obtained results suggest that surface area was increased using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane as catalyst. The use of isopropyl alcohol as solvent promotes the reduction of the capillary stress, giving a well-structured xerogel. As a conclusion, with H₂O/i-PrOH/TEOS in a molar ratio of 10:4:1, it was possible to obtain silica xerogels with surface areas about 1,240 m²/g. Such surface areas are comparable with those obtained under supercritical conditions (aerogels), and higher than those xerogels conventionally obtained under normal condition (500–800 m²/g).     

SiO2-PEG凝胶体系的热物理化学特征

用程序升温热重法分析了SiO2及SiO2-PEG干凝胶的热物理化学行为,结果表明：采用不同的环境气氛对SiO2-PEG干凝胶进行热处理,聚乙二醇（PEG）表现出不同的热稳定性,并由此影响干凝胶的织构性质;通过对氮气气氛中得到的DTG曲线进行处理,得到不同温度段的表现活化能,说明SiO2干凝胶脱羟反应表现出动力学控制,而SiO2-PEG干凝胶随着温度的升高则表现出动力学控制逐步向表面羟基的扩散控制转变．     

Silica xerogels as a delivery system for the controlled release of different molecular weight heparins

In this work, we investigated a sol–gel derived silica matrix as a delivery system for the prolonged release of different molecular weight heparins, which allows the glycosaminoglicons to retain their whole biological activity. Several xerogels were obtained by embedding different molecular weight heparins into matrices prepared by using different amount of NH₄OH as a catalyst during gel formation. Gel synthesis parameters, drug release properties, and xerogels surface area were evaluated. Unfractionated, low and oligo-molecular weight heparins were embedded into xerogels and the effect of the molecular weight on the release kinetics and the retained biological activity has been investigated. The results show that the surface area of the matrix is a determinant parameter affecting drug release kinetics. This structural feature can be modified by varying the catalyst tetraethoxysilane molar ratio used during the matrix synthesis. In most cases release kinetics fitted the Higuchi diffusive model and a lower diffusion rate was observed from silica matrices characterized by a smaller surface area. In the case of matrices with lower surface area, loaded with unfractionated heparin, zero order kinetics was observed. In this paper, we have defined a heparin release silica xerogel system and we have pointed out how modulation of its synthesis parameters allows adjusting the release of heparin according to therapeutic needs.     

窄孔分布介孔分子筛MSU-1的合成

以水玻璃为硅源，在pH=3以下合成MSU-X介孔材料的报道很少，本文将pH范围扩展至0.78，并从廉价的水玻璃和工业级非离子表面活性剂AEO-9出发，用二步法合成出介孔分子筛MSU-1。首先将无机前驱体和非离子表面活性剂在介稳态下(pH≈2，t≈2 ℃)混合，然后调pH至所需值(0.78～3.94)，在该pH值下进行二氧化硅缩聚。合成出的MSU-1具有孔分布窄，短程有序度提高，颗粒呈微米级等特点。其中在pH=1.98下合成的MSU-1具有最薄的孔壁、最大的比表面和孔容；在pH=0.78下合成的MSU-1具有最厚的孔壁、最大的孔径和d100值。随着pH值的增大，孔壁厚度先减小后增大。     

Influence of Sol-Gel Synthesis Parameters on the Microstructure of Particulate Silica Xerogels

The influence of key sol-gel synthesis parameters on the pore structure of microporous silica xerogels was investigated. The silica xerogels were prepared using an acid-catalyzed aqueous sol-gel process, with tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as the silicon-containing precursor. At high H2O : TEOS ratios, sols synthesized at pH 2–3 yielded minimum values of mean micropore diameter and micropore volume. Analysis of the resulting Type I nitrogen adsorption isotherms and the equilibrium adsorption of N(C4F9)3 indicated micropore diameters for these xerogels of less than approximately 10 Å.Xerogel micropore volumes corresponding to sols prepared at pH 3 and an H2O : TEOS ratio of r = 83 were consistent with nearly close packing of silica spheres in the xerogel. Xerogel microstructure was only weakly dependent upon H2O : TEOS ratio during sol synthesis for r > 10. Xerogel micropore volume increased rapidly with sol aging time during an initial induction period of particle formation. However, the xerogel microstructure changed only slowly with time after this initial period, suggesting potential processing advantages for the particulate sol-gel route to porous silica materials.Surface adsorption properties of the silica xerogels were investigated at ambient temperature using N2, SF6, and CO2. CO2 adsorbed most strongly, SF6 also showed measurable adsorption, and N2 adsorption was nearly zero. These results were consistent with the surface transport of CO2, and to a lesser extent SF6, observed in gas permeation studies performed through thin membrane films cast from similarly prepared silica sols.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Microporous Silica Prepared with Sodium Silicate and Organosilane Compounds

Microporous silica gels were prepared in the pH range of 3–4 using sodium silicate as a silica source. Surface polarity of these gels was modified by grafting hydrophobic groups into the silica gel matrix with the help of hydrophilic solvents (acetone, acetonitrile, ethanol and methanol) and alkoxysilane compounds containing nonhydrolyzable alkyl groups. The porous framework and hydrophobicity of the silica gels were evaluated using nitrogen adsorption/desorption and water adsorption measurement techniques. All the measured isotherms were found to be type I which is indicative of microporosity. The surface area and microporosity of these samples were estimated by analyzing the measured nitrogen adsorption/desorption data using BET, Langmuir and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) adsorption isotherms. The micropore size distribution was determined from their nitrogen adsorption isotherms using the slit-pore model of the Horvath-Kawazoe equation. Silica gels with high surface area (over 500 m²/g) as well as high microporosity (over 0.2 cc/g) were obtained at gelation pH of 3.50 from the water-solvent system.