Exfoliation of layered double hydroxides by use of zwitterionic surfactants in aqueous solution

A new strategy to exfoliate inorganic layered double hydroxide (LDH) solids to micrometer-sized and positively-charged nanosheets in aqueous solution is presented. The procedure involves intercalation of zwitterionic surfactant into the decarbonated LDH by ion exchange, followed by simply stirring the surfactant-intercalated LDH in an aqueous solution of pH?=?2. Since the charge of zwitterionic surfactant can be varied from anionic to cationic by adjusting the pH, the zwitterionic ions present in the interlayer were converted to cationic at pH?=?2, resulting in the exfoliation of LDH by electrostatic repulsion. The delaminated LDHs nanosheets were confirmed by XRD, TEM, and AFM analyses. This simple method did not need reflux at high temperature, overcame the drawback of using organic solvents, and even resulted in a stably colloidal dispersion of nanosheets.     

Removal of organic dyes from water by liquid-liquid extraction using reverse micelles

In the present work, solvent extraction using reverse micelles is proposed for the removal of organic dyes from water. In this approach, the dye is solubilized in the aqueous core of the reverse micelles, which are present in the organic phase. The organic phase is subsequently separated from the aqueous phase leading to signifi-cant removal of dye. Experimental results reveal that the electrostatic interaction between the oppositely charged surfactant head group present in the reverse micelles and the dye molecule plays a key role in the separation. The removal of the anionic methyl orange dye from water is carried out in the presence of cationic hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide surfactant, whereas the removal of the cationic methylene blue dye is carried out in the presence of anionic sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate surfactant. Amyl alcohol is used as the solvent. The influence of parameters such as dye concentrations, surfactant concentrations, pH, and KCl and NaBr concentrations on the percentage removal of dye was studied. The percentage removal of dye is decreased with the increase in dye concentration in the feed. The increase in surfactant concentration resulted in higher dye removal, because more reverse micelles could be hosted in the organic phase. The increase in aqueous phase pH resulted in enhanced removal of methyl orange from water, while in the case of methylene blue the percentage removal decreased. The increase in KCl and NaBr concentrations resulted in decreased percentage removal of methylene blue, whereas the percentage removal of methyl orange was increased. The effect of pH and salt concentration is explained based on charge transfer mechanism and electrostatic interactions and dye-surfactant complex formation.     

Pseudopeptide‐Based Hydrogels Trapping Methylene Blue and Eosin Y

We present herein the preparation of four different hydrogels based on the pseudopeptide gelator Fmoc‐l ‐Phe‐d ‐Oxd‐OH (Fmoc=fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl), either by changing the gelator concentration or adding graphene oxide (GO) to the water solution. The hydrogels have been analysed by rheological studies that demonstrated that pure hydrogels are slightly stronger compared to GO‐loaded hydrogels. Then the hydrogels efficiency to trap the cationic methylene blue (MB) and anionic eosin Y (EY) dyes has been analyzed. MB is efficiently trapped by both the pure hydrogel and the GO‐loaded hydrogel through π–π interactions and electrostatic interactions. In contrast, the removal of the anionic EY is achieved in less satisfactory yields, due to the unfavourable electrostatic interactions between the dye, the gelator and GO.     

Adsorption and kinetic studies of cationic and anionic dyes on pyrophyllite from aqueous solutions

The adsorption of cationic Methylene Blue (MB) and anionic Procion Crimson H-EXL (PC) dyes from aqueous medium on pyrophyllite was studied. Changes in the electrokinetics of pyrophyllite as a function of pH were investigated in the absence and presence of multivalent cations. The results show that pyrophyllite in water exhibits a negative surface charge within the range pH 2-12. Pyrophyllite is found to be a novel adsorbent for versatile removal of cationic and anionic dyes. The negative hydrophilic surface sites of pyrophyllite are responsible for the adsorption of cationic MB molecules. The adsorption of anionic PC dye is possible after a charge reversal by the addition of trivalent cation of Al. Nearly 2 min of contact time are found to be sufficient for the adsorption of both dyes to reach equilibrium. The experimental data follow a Langmuir isotherm with adsorption capacities of 70.42 and 71.43 mg dye per gram of pyrophyllite for MB and PC, respectively. For the adsorption of both MB and PC dyes, the pseudo-second-order chemical reaction kinetics provides the best correlation of the experimental data.     

A Carboxyl-Functionalized Covalent Organic Framework Synthesized in a Deep Eutectic Solvent for Dye Adsorption

Instead of using organic solvents, a deep eutectic solvent (DES) composed of tetrabutylammonium bromide and imidazole (Bu₄NBr/Im) was employed as a solvent for the first time to synthesize covalent organic frameworks (COFs). Due to the low vapor pressure of the Bu₄NBr/Im-based DES, a new carboxyl-functionalized COF (TpPa-COOH) was synthesized under environmental pressure. The as-synthesized TpPa-COOH has open channels, and the DES can be removed completely from the pores. The dye adsorption performance of TpPa-COOH was examined for three organic dyes with similar molecular sizes: one anionic dye (eosin B, EB) and two cationic dyes (methylene blue, MB and safranine T, ST). TpPa-COOH showed an excellent selective adsorption effect on MB and ST. The electronegative keto form in TpPa-COOH might help to form electrostatic and π–π interactions between the π-stacking frameworks of TpPa-COOH and the positive plane MB and ST molecules. The adsorption isotherms of MB and ST on TpPa-COOH were further investigated in detail, and the equilibrium adsorption was well modeled by using a Langmuir isotherm model. Together with hydrogen bonding, TpPa-COOH showed higher adsorption capacity for ST than for MB (1135 vs. 410 mg g⁻¹). These results could provide a guidance for the green synthesis of adsorbents in removing organic dyes from wastewater.     

Poly(N‐vinylcarbazole) chemically modified graphene oxide

A new soluble donor‐acceptor type poly(N‐vinylcarbazole)‐covalently functionalized graphene oxide (GO‐PVK) has been synthesized by reaction of DDAT (S‐1‐dodecyl‐S′‐(α,α′‐dimethyl‐α″‐aceticacid)trithiocarbonate)‐PVK with GO‐toluene‐2,4‐diisocynate. The incorporation of sufficient amount of PVK chains makes the modified GO nanosheets readily dispersible in organic solvents. The resulting material exhibits an enhanced solubility of 10 mg/mL in organic solvents. Covalent grafting of PVK onto the edge and surface of GO nanosheets did not change the carbazole absorption in the ultraviolet region, but substantially reduced the absorption intensity of GO in the visible region. The intensity of the emission band of GO‐PVK at 437 nm was a little bit quenched when compared with that of DDAT‐PVK, suggesting intramolecular quenching from PVK to GO. Such intramolecular quenching process may involve energy or electron transfer between the excited singlet states of the PVK moiety and the GO moiety. The HOMO/LUMO values and the energy bandgap of GO‐PVK experimentally estimated by the onset of the redox potentials are ?5.60, ?3.58, and 2.02 eV, respectively. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2642–2649, 2010     

In situ measurements of the dynamics of single giant DNA molecules at the toluene-trioctylamine/water interface by total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy

The dynamics of single giant deoxyribonucleic acid (T4GT7DNA, 165 600 base pairs) molecules was examined near and at the toluene/water, toluene-trioctylamine mixtures/water, and trioctylamine/water interfaces by total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy. The results were considerably affected by the trioctylamine content. With pure toluene or mixtures of lower trioctylamine volume contents (%VA), the randomly coiled DNA molecules diffused to near the interfaces. With mixtures of higher %VA (9 and 50%), the DNA molecules were stretched and adsorbed at the interfaces. There are a large number of anionic phosphate groups ((-O)2PO2-) in the DNA molecule that have an electrostatic affinity to protonated trioctylamine existing at the interface. In the case of pure trioctylamine, globular DNA molecules were adsorbed at the interface and also existed in the aqueous phase.     

Extraction mechanisms of charged organic dye molecules into silica-surfactant nanochannels in a porous alumina membrane

Extraction mechanisms of charged organic dye molecules are examined for an assembly of silica-surfactant nanochannels with a channel diameter of 3.4 nm, which is formed inside the pores of an anodic alumina membrane by a surfactant-template method. Experimental results confirm that the extraction mechanism depends on the sign of a charge of the dye molecules. The extraction of the cationic rhodamine 6G is predominantly caused by an ion-pair extraction process, whereas an anion-exchange process is mainly responsible for the extraction of the anionic sulforhodamine B. These extraction mechanisms are discussed by considering the microstructures of the silica-surfactant nanochannels.     

Performance evaluation of Alizarin extraction from aqueous solutions in a microfluidic system

This research has been conducted to study extraction of an anionic dye, Alizarin Red S (ARS), from the aqueous phase into the organic phase in a T-junction microchannel. The organic phase included Aliquat 336 and 1-octanol. Equal volumetric flow rates of aqueous and organic phases were adjusted in all the experiments. Designing the experiments and analyzing of the parameters that affect the extraction percentage of ARS were carried out using response surface methodology. The parameters were feed pH, feed concentration, extractant concentration and flow rate of aqueous and organic phases. The maximum extraction percentage of 98.7 was obtained at the feed pH of 3, feed concentration of 5000 mg L^?1, extractant concentration of 4 vol.% and flow rate of 2.5 mL min^?1. Under the optimum conditions obtained from the experimental design analysis, ARS extraction was performed in a batch system, too. The two-phase contact times to reach the extraction percentage of 98.7 in the microchannel and batch system were 2.4 s and 5.5 min, respectively.     

Removal of dyes from water by conducting polymeric adsorbent

Chemically synthesized conducting polyaniline (PANI) was investigated as adsorbent for its possible application in the removal of organic dyes, such as methylene blue (MB) and procion red (PR) from their aqueous solution. PANI adsorbent behaves as a charged surface upon post‐synthesis treatment of the polymer with acid and base. The adsorbent thus treated shows a high selectivity for the removal of dyes in the adsorption process. The Langmuir adsorption isotherm was used to represent the experimental adsorption data. The cationic dye, MB can be preferentially removed by the base‐treated PANI while the anionic dye, PR is predominately removed by the acid‐treated one. These observations were further evidenced from the measurements of molar conductance and pH of the dye solutions employed for adsorption. The finding can be explained considering the electrostatic nature of adsorption coupled with the morphology of the PANI surface thus treated. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of ethanol in the organic phase on liquid-liquid extraction in monosegmented flow analysis. Determination of zinc in drugs

In liquid-liquid extraction performed by monosegmented flow analysis (MSFA), the aqueous sample is introduced between two air bubbles and flows, under restricted dispersion, through a glass extraction tube where the analyte is retained, usually at pH higher than 8. The retained analyte is removed to a small volume of an organic phase containing a ligand which is introduced after the second air bubble. In this work, the effect of the organic phase composition on the extraction of Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) in MSFA systems was investigated by changing the ethanol content (0.1-4% v/v) in toluene, chloroform and carbon tetrachloride. The extracting efficiency of the organic phases containing ethanol was evaluated by using dithizone (DT), 1-2-pyridylazo-2 naphthol (PAN) and sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC) as ligands for the metals. The MSFA extraction system was improved by introducing a new syringe-based device for organic phase delivery. The presence of ethanol in the organic phase shows a remarkable (up to ten times) effect on the extraction efficiency of the flow system when DT is employed. Its presence is mandatory if DDTC is used, as it accounts for ligand solubility in the organic phase. The extraction efficiency also increases with the pH of the aqueous phase as a consequence of higher ionisation of the glass silanols, where the analytes are adsorbed before extraction. The system has been evaluated for determination of Zn(II) in drugs showing a mean R.S.D. of 2.2% and mean relative accuracy of 4.4%, when compared with atomic absorption spectrometry results. Typical sample frequency, sample and organic phase consumption are 30 samples per hour, 200 and 100 mul, respectively.     

Poly(ionic liquid)s as phase-transporter for graphene oxide liquid crystals from aqueous to non-polar organic phase via noncovalent functionalization

We synthesise a novel poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) and develop a procedure that allows the phase transfer of graphene oxides (GO) from water to organic solvent, retaining graphene oxide liquid crystal (GOLC) phase in various organic solvents, especially non-polar organic solvents. PIL ([PEP-MIM]DBS) is exploited in this procedure as a noncovalent functional material that is capable of transporting GO from aqueous to non-polar organic phase. PILs can decorate GO noncovalently and keep GO nano-sheets exfoliated in solid-state PILs/GO hybrids, which can well redisperse in organic solvents without any agglomeration. This expands the number of known solvents which can support GOLC phase to dimethyl formamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran, and a number of other non-polar organic solvents, many of which were not known to afford GOLC phase prior to this report, such as dichloromethane, tetrachloromethane, dichloroethane and tetrachloroethane.     

Equilibrium and fractal-like kinetic studies of the sorption of acid and basic dyes onto watermelon shell (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Citrullus vulgaris</Emphasis>)

In the present study, batch experiments were used to determine adsorption characteristics of Watermelon Shell Biosorbent (WSB) for the uptake of anionic and cationic dyes from aqueous solution. Various factors such as initial dye concentration, adsorbent dosage, pH, contact time and temperature were systematically investigated and discussed. WSB was characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy, Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The adsorption kinetics was best described by Elovich and Diffusion-Chemosorption models for Basic red 2 (BR2) (cationic dye) and Orange G (OG) (anionic dye) respectively. However, the fractional time index “α” and non-integer “n” order by Fractal-like pseudo-first order kinetic affirmed that the mechanism of interaction of both dyes with WSB was by chemical reaction. The applicability of four adsorption isotherm models for the present system was tested. The equilibrium data were found to be well represented by the Extended Langmuir isotherm equation. The monolayer adsorption capacity of WSB for BR2 and OG adsorption was found to be 125 and 27 mg/g, respectively. The effect of temperature on the adsorption process was also investigated and the values of thermodynamic parameters ΔG°, ΔH° and ΔS° revealed that the adsorption system was spontaneous.     

Determination of Anionic Surfactant in Fresh Water and in Sea Water

Ion pairs formed from suitable cationic dye and anionic surfactant in water were separated by solvent extraction. The extracts were used subsequently for spectrophotometric determinations. The extraction of ion pairs with various combinations is described. Of the dyes and solvents examined, ethyl violet and p-xylene are the most useful combination as the cationic dye and extraction solvent. The extracts are determined spectrophotometrically at 611.5 nm; the molar absorptivity is 1, 01 × 10⁵ M^?1 cm^?1. The detection limit is 1.4 ppb in water. The method is simple, rapid and sensitive. It can also be applied to the determination of anionic surfactants in sea water.     

Assessment of the surfactant-dye binding degree method as an alternative to the methylene blue method for the determination of anionic surfactants in aqueous environmental samples

The surfactant to dye binding degree (SDBD) method is proposed for the routine monitoring of anionic surfactants in aqueous environmental samples and their analytical features compared with those provided by the standard methylene blue (MB) method. This new analytical approach is based on the effect that anionic surfactants exert on the binding degree of the cationic surfactant didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDABr) to the anionic dye Coomassie Brilliant Blue G (CBBG). The formation of DDABr-CBBG aggregates is monitored photometrically. The analytical applicability of the proposed method was demonstrated by determining anionic surfactants in tap, river and swamp water, and raw and treated sewage. The mean recoveries obtained ranged between 99 and 101%. The SDBD method offers important advantages over the classical MB method: it is more sensitive, selective, precise, simple and rapid; the analytical response is independent of the molecular structure of the anionic surfactants, and the volume of sample required for analysis and the consumption of organic solvents are significantly reduced.     

Charge‐selective separation and recovery of organic ions by polymeric micelles

Charge‐selective separation and recovery of organic ionic dyes by polymeric micelles (PMs) are reported. Branched polyethylenimine (PEI) functionalized with 4‐cetyloxybenzaldehyde (CBA) via Schiff‐base bonds (PEI@CBA) can extract an anionic dye from cationic contaminants, and transfer it from an aqueous phase into an apolar oil phase, and thus leading to separation. While a physical micelle of PAA@PS, with polyacrylic acid (PAA) as core and polystyrene (PS) as shell, can selectively extract a cationic dye from anionic contaminants. When polar, yet nonionic groups are eliminated from the core of a PM, charge selectivity can be significantly enhanced. Although many anionic–cationic dyes can form a poorly water‐soluble complex or precipitate, separation is still feasible with a reasonably designed PM. Finally, entrapment of a guest by a PM is found easy but release may be difficult; in this case, PEI@CBA with an acid‐sheddable shell, can recover the entrapped guest. It is also found the encapsulation of a dye is usually accompanied with dye stacking, resulting in a changed UV/vis spectrum. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014 , 52, 872–881     

影响高浓度氧化石墨烯分散液流变行为的重要因素及群体平衡动力学分析

氧化石墨烯(GO)片的基面和边缘上存在大量的含氧官能团,能很好地分散在水中,因而具有很好的加工性和广阔的应用前景。在较高浓度范围下,GO水分散液中存在着强烈的竞争性相互作用,从而对流变行为产生较大影响。在本文中,通过稳态、动态等流变实验以及理论分析,研究了pH值、温度和不同的有机溶剂对GO分散液流变行为的影响。结果表明,降低pH值、适当增加温度以及加入吡啶均可促进GO水分散液从粘弹性液体到凝胶态的转变。利用DLVO (Deryagin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek)理论,探讨了GO片之间的范德华作用力以及双电层排斥作用的相互关系,及其对流变性能的影响。通过群体平衡模型(PBE)分析了GO分散液的屈服应力与体积分数的正相关关系。同时,通过蠕变和松弛实验发现,高浓度的GO分散液中结构变化及流变行为在很多方面与高聚物相似,利用Poyting-Thomson模型能较好地拟合其粘弹性行为。上述研究结果为深入研究复杂的GO分散体系提供理论支撑和实验依据。     

Electrochemical investigation of acid-base properties of ordered liquid systems

Acid-base properties of ordered media were investigated via potentiometry, polarography and electrochemical probes. Electrochemical probes have a pH-dependent reduction potential and their oxidized and reduced forms have a different affinity for aqueous and organic phases. Solutions of anionic, cationic and nonionic surfactants were investigated. One anionic and one cationic surfactant stabilized emulsion were studied. A water-dodecane-pentanol-anionic surfactant microemulsion and a water-heptane-butanol-cationic surfactant were also investigated for several compositions. In micellar solutions and emulsions, it was possible to standardize and use the classical glass electrode for pH values in the range 1-12. The hydrogen electrode was required in the microemulsion systems. The reduction of electrochemical probes was studied by polarography. It is shown that in the ordered media studied, the aqueous phase played the most important role in micellar solutions and in O/W emulsions, as far as acid-base properties were concerned. In microemulsions, the acid-base properties of the aqueous phase were very different to those of water. The alizarin probe could be reduced at a "local" pH of about 12 when the aqueous phase pH was only 6.     

A Study on the Adsorption Characteristics of Orthophosphates on Rutile-Type Titanium Dioxide in Aqueous Solutions

Rutile-type titanium dioxide is widely used as a pigment for paint, coating ink, paper, plastic products, and cards because of its very whiteness and outstanding hiding property. It has two weak properties to be improved, however, one being its coagulation in compounding and the other its decreasing whiteness owing to poor heat resistance. To solve these problems, a study on the treatment of titanium dioxide surfaces by adsorption technology has been performed. Experiments have been carried out to establish the adsorption isotherms of orthophosphates on titanium dioxide and to investigate the effect of organic solvents on adsorption. It is shown that the adsorption isotherms vary with pH. A Freundlich adsorption isotherm is suitable for the acidic and basic regions, while a Langmuir adsorption isotherm is suitable for the region of pH 5-8 where a maximum adsorption has been achieved. In aqueous solutions containing organic solvents, the adsorption was strongest with aqueous solutions containing 1 wt% toluene and weakest with those containing 1 wt% ethanol. Among the alcohols used, the adsorption was strongest with the aqueous solution containing 1 wt% butanol and weakest with that containing 1 wt% ethanol, thus showing a correlation with the molecular weight of the alcohol. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.