Synthesis and adsorption properties of gold nanoparticles within pores of surface‐functional porous polymer microspheres

Mesoporous polymer microspheres with gold (Au) nanoparticles inside their pores were prepared considering their surface functionality and porosity. The Au/polymer composite microspheres prepared were characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) techniques. The results showed that the adsorption of Au nanoparticles could be increased by imparting the pore structure and surface‐functional groups into the supporting polymer microspheres (in this study, poly (ethylene glycol dimethacrylate‐co‐acrylonitrile) and poly (EGDMA‐co‐AN) system). Above all, from this study, it was established that the porosity of the polymer microspheres is the most important factor that determines the distribution and adsorption amount of face‐centered cubic (fcc) Au nanoparticles in the final products. Our study showed that the continuous adsorption of Au nanoparticles with the aid of the large surface area and surface interaction sites formed more favorably the Au/polymer composite microspheres. The BET measurements of Au/poly(EGDMA‐co‐AN) composite microspheres reveals that the adsorption of Au nanoparticles into the pores kept the pore structure intact and made it more porous. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5627–5635, 2004     

Adsorption of anionic surfactant on porous and non-porous polyethylene terephthalate films

We study the adsorption of anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl diphenyloxide disulfonate (SDDD) on three types of polyethylene terephthalate substrates from aqueous solutions of SDDD of different concentrations. Neutral electrolyte (KCl) was added to the solutions to vary the ionic strength. The three types of substrates were: (1) original polymer film, (2) etched non-porous film, which was obtained from pristine film by chemical etching and bears negative charge on the surface, (3) etched porous membranes, which were fabricated from pristine film by ion irradiation and subsequent chemical etching. The membranes have negative charge on the flat surface and on the inner pore walls. The comparison of original and etched nonporous films shows that the negative charge on the flat surface has weak effect on adsorption of the anionic surfactant. The comparison of etched non-porous and porous films shows that the SDDD adsorption on the inner walls of pores is much weaker than on flat surface—even in case the pore radius is significantly larger than the Debye length. This “exclusion” effect strongly depends on ionic strength of solution. For the porous films, the effect of the pore size and shape on the anionic surfactant adsorption is presented and discussed.     

Effect of pore size on adsorption of a polyelectrolyte to porous glass

The adsorption of quaternized poly(vinylpyridine) (QPVP) on controlled pore glass (CPG) size, over the ionic strength range 0.001-0.5 M was found to display nonmonotonic behavior as a function of pore size. Both adsorption kinetics and ionic strength effects deviated dramatically from behavior typical of adsorption on flat surfaces when the ratio of the pore radius Rp to the polymer hydrodynamic radius Rh became smaller than ca. 2. Ionic strength enhancement of adsorption for small pore sizes was observed at much higher salt concentrations than is typical for polycation adsorption on flat surfaces. The amount of polymer adsorbed per unit surface area of glass GammaA, in 0.5 M NaCl, exhibited a shallow maximum at Rp/Rh approximately 5. Since the value of GammaA for small pore size CPG is strongly depressed by the large surface area, an alternative and more interesting observation is that the amount of polymer adsorbed per gram of CPG, Gammaw, displays a strong maximum when Rp is equal to or slightly smaller than Rh. The efficiency with which QPVP binds anionic micelles to (negatively charged) CPG (grams of surfactant/grams of QPVP) increases strongly with diminishing pore size, indicating that the configuration of polycation bound to small pores favors micelle binding. Since the micelles are larger than small pores, the results indicate that when Rp < Rh, adsorbed polycation molecules reside only partially within the pore. The results of this study are supported by simulations of polyelectrolytes within cylindrical cavities.     

Modeling of adsorption in pores with strongly heterogeneous walls: parametric lattice-site wall model

We present results of grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations of adsorption in cylindrical pores with rough surface modeled by a parametric lattice-site approach. The sites are randomly distributed over the pore walls. They could be attractive, neutral or repulsive with respect to the smooth pore model. Each site is characterized by two amplitudes (structural and energetic) which modify locally the structure and energetic properties of the surface. The results presented here show how different parameters of the model affect the mechanism of adsorption and, consequently, the form of the isotherm.     

Biosorption of As3+ Ions Using Ternary Microspheres of Chitosan,Yeast, and Gelatin: A Dynamic and Equilibrium Investigation

Ternary biopolymeric microspheres of chitosan, yeast and gelatin were prepared and characterized by FTIR spectral analysis, particle size measurements, and scanning electron micrograph techniques. The prepared microspheres were investigated for static and dynamic studies of adsorption of As⁺³ ions onto the microspheres surfaces at fixed pH and ionic strength of the aqueous solution.The adsorption data were applied to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm equations and various static parameters were calculated. The dynamic nature of adsorption was quantified in terms of several kinetic constants such as rate constants for adsorption, Lagergreen rate constant, inter particle diffusion rate constant and pore diffusion coefficient. The influence of various experimental parameters such as solid to liquid ratio, pH, temperature, and chemical composition of biopolymeric microspheres were investigated on the adsorption of arsenic ion and various thermodynamic parameter were also calculated.     

Pore network modelling: determination of the dynamic profiles of the pore diffusivity and its effect on column performance as the loading of the solute in the adsorbed phase varies with time

A three-dimensional pore network model for diffusion in porous adsorbent particles was employed in a dynamic adsorption model that simulates the adsorption of a solute in porous particles packed in a chromatographic column. The solution of the combined model yielded the dynamic profiles of the pore diffusion coefficient of beta-galactosidase along the radius of porous ion-exchange particles and along the length of the column as the loading of the adsorbate molecules on the surface of the pores occurred, and, the dynamic adsorptive capacity of the chromatographic column as a function of the design and operational parameters of the chromatographic system. The pore size distribution of the porous adsorbent particles and the chemistry of the adsorption sites were unchanged in the simulations. It was found that for a given column length the dynamic profiles of the pore diffusion coefficient were influenced by: (i) the superficial fluid velocity in the column, (ii) the diameter of the adsorbent particles and (iii) the pore connectivity of the porous structure of the adsorbent particles. The effect of the magnitude of the pore connectivity on the dynamic profiles of the pore diffusion coefficient increased as the diameter of the adsorbent particles and the superficial fluid velocity in the column increased. The dynamic adsorptive capacity of the column increased as: (a) the particle diameter and the superficial fluid velocity in the column decreased, and (b) the column length and the pore connectivity increased. In preparative chromatography, it is desirable to obtain high throughputs within acceptable pressure gradients, and this may require the employment of larger diameter adsorbent particles. In such a case, longer column lengths satisfying acceptable pressure gradients with adsorbent particles having higher pore connectivity values could provide high dynamic adsorptive capacities. An alternative chromatographic system could be comprised of a long column packed with large particles which have fractal pores (fractal particles) that have high pore connectivities and which allow high intraparticle diffusional and convective flow mass transfer rates providing high throughputs and high dynamic adsorptive capacities. If large scale monoliths could be made to be reproducible and operationally stable, they could also offer an alternative mode of operation that could provide high throughputs and high dynamic adsorptive capacities.     

Adsorption, capillary bridge formation, and cavitation in SBA-15 corrugated mesopores: a Derjaguin-Broekhoff-de Boer analysis

A Derjaguin-Broekhoff-de Boer analysis of adsorption and desorption in SBA-15 mesoporous silica is presented, using realistic geometrical models that account for the pore corrugation in these materials. The model parameters are derived from independent electron tomography and small-angle scattering characterization. A geometrical characteristic of the pore that is found to be important for adsorption is the corrugation length, l(C), which describes the longitudinal size of the geometrical defects along a given pore. Capillary bridges are possible only for large values of l(C). The results are explained in terms of two spinodal and two equilibrium pressures, characterizing the wide and the narrow sections of the pores. Simplified analytical expressions are obtained, which provide necessary conditions for bridge formation and for cavitation in terms of the radii of the narrow and wide sections of the pores, as well as of l(C). Quite generally, the results show that the deviation of the pore shape from that of ideal cylinders is key to understanding adsorption and desorption in corrugated mesopores, notably in SBA-15.     

Intercation spacing and side chain effects on phosphonium polymers: Thermal,supramolecular, and bactericidal properties

The properties of phosphonium polyelectrolytes (PELs) were evaluated in an effort to assess the influence of both side chain and main chain composition. The influence of side chain was examined by comparing properties of a series of PELs having hydrophobic octyloxy side chains to those of structural analogues lacking the side chains. The influence exerted by backbone flexibility/length of spacer between charges was revealed by comparing properties of two series of polymers with a variable number of methylene units between phosphonium charge‐bearing sites. Side chain composition and spacing between phosphonium units lead to noteworthy influence on thermal stability, glass transition, and crystallinity. The molecular structure of PELs also correlates with trends in film morphology and critical surface energy of PEL dip‐cast films. Sensitivity of morphology to humidity or water in the casting solvent was observed. Supramolecular assembly of films via layer‐by‐layer deposition of PELs alternating with anionic polythiophene derivative layers was also undertaken. The linearity of film growth, amount of material deposited in each bilayer, polycation:polyanion ratio, and film roughness all show noteworthy trends that depend on both the presence/absence of side chains and on spacing between ionic centers. The relationship between side chain and spacer on bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was assessed. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 24–34     

A Stefan-Maxwell Model of Single Pore Pressurization for Langmuir Adsorption of Gas Mixtures

A model based on the application of the Maxwell-Stefan approach has been used to describe the dynamics of intraparticle transport (pore diffusion, surface diffusion and convection) in a single pore during and after a pressurization process. The model was first compared with the model proposed by Taqvi and Levan (Adsorption, 2, 299–309 (1996)) for a linear adsorption isotherm. The effect of several parameters (pressurization rate, adsorption capacity, bulk gas-phase mole fraction, adsorption affinity and pore radius) was studied, evaluating the relative importance of each mass-transport mechanism in different conditions. A binary mixture of an inert and an adsorbable component was considered first, extending the analysis of the pore radius effect to a ternary mixture. In general, surface diffusion is dominant with very low pore radius, whereas gas-phase fluxes dominate in a large pore. However, depending on the value of the bulk gas-phase mole fraction (which is related to the surface coverage level through the adsorption equilibrium isotherm), the equilibrium and rate parameters, and the surface to volume ratio, surface diffusion cannot be always neglected for large pores. More generally, system non-linearity can switch the dominant mechanism and create fronts.     

硅酸镁锂的有机改性及对Cr(Ⅵ)的吸附特性

采用水热法合成了硅酸镁锂(Laponite),然后利用十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTMAB)对其进行有机改性,研究了改性后的有机硅酸镁锂(CTMABL)对Cr(Ⅵ)的吸附特性.结果表明,改性后样品的比表面积和孔容积变小而平均孔径增大.CTMABL样品的d(001)值从改性前的1.23 nm增加到1.79 nm,表明CTMAB进入Laponite层间.随着溶液p H值的提高,CTMABL对Cr(Ⅵ)的吸附效率明显下降;p H8.5时,CTMABL颗粒表面电势为正,能够与Cr(Ⅵ)阴离子发生静电吸引从而提高吸附效率.随着固液比增加,对Cr(Ⅵ)的去除效率迅速上升,当固液比达到4 g/L后去除效率趋于稳定.离子强度对Cr(Ⅵ)吸附过程的影响不明显.CTMABL对Cr(Ⅵ)的吸附符合准二级动力学模型,吸附传质速率受膜扩散和颗粒内扩散过程共同影响.等温吸附过程符合Langmuir模型,热力学分析结果表明吸附过程是一个自发的吸热反应.综合分析认为表面配合作用是主要的吸附机制,同时静电引力在吸附过程中起到了促进作用.     

Adsorption of simple gases in MCM-41 materials: the role of surface roughness

This paper reports the development and testing of atomistic models of silica MCM-41 pores. Model A is a regular cylindrical pore having a constant section. Model B has a surface disorder that reproduces the morphological features of a pore obtained from an on-lattice simulation that mimics the synthesis process of MCM-41 materials. Both models are generated using a similar procedure, which consists of carving the pore out of an atomistic silica block. The differences between the two models are analyzed in terms of small angle neutron scattering spectra as well as adsorption isotherms and isosteric heat curves for Ar at 87 K and Xe at 195 K. As expected for capillary condensation in regular nanopores, the Ar and Xe adsorption/desorption cycles for model A exhibit a large hysteresis loop having a symmetrical shape, i.e., with parallel adsorption and desorption branches. The features of the adsorption isotherms for model B strongly depart from those observed for model A. Both the Ar and Xe adsorption branches for model B correspond to a quasicontinuous pore filling that involves coexistence within the pore of liquid bridges and gas nanobubbles. As in the case of model A, the Ar adsorption isotherm for model B exhibits a significant hysteresis loop; however, the shape of the loop is asymmetrical with a desorption branch much steeper than the adsorption branch. In contrast, the adsorption/desorption cycle for Xe in model B is quasicontinuous and quasireversible. Comparison with adsorption and neutron scattering experiments suggests that model B is too rough at the molecular scale but reproduces reasonably the surface disorder of real MCM-41 at larger length scales. In contrast, model A is smooth at small length scales in agreement with experiments but seems to be too ordered at larger length scales.     

Adsorption of bulky molecules of nonylphenol ethoxylate on ordered mesoporous carbons

Ordered mesoporous carbons (OMCs) with varying pore sizes were prepared using ordered mesoporous silica SBA-15 as hard templates. The OMCs possess abundant mesopores with narrow pore size distribution, on which the adsorption behavior of bulky molecules of nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPE) were investigated. The isotherms of NPE on OMCs can be fitted by Langmuir adsorption model, evidenced by the adsorption data. The surface area of the pores larger than 1.5 nm is a crucial factor to the adsorption capacity of NPE, whereas the most probable pore diameter of OMCs is crucial to the adsorption rate of NPE. The adsorption temperature has more significant effects on adsorption rate than the adsorption capacity. Theoretical studies show that the adsorption kinetics of NPE on OMCs can be depicted with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. In addition, thermodynamic parameters of adsorption were evaluated based on the equilibrium constants related to the equilibrium of adsorption at different temperatures.     

Structural characterization of surfactant aggregates adsorbed in cylindrical silica nanopores

The self-assembly of nonionic surfactants in the cylindrical pores of SBA-15 silica with a pore diameter of 8 nm was studied by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) at different solvent contrasts. The alkyl ethoxylate surfactants C(10)E(5) and C(12)E(5) exhibit strong aggregative adsorption in the pores as indicated by the sigmoidal shape of the adsorption isotherms. The SANS intensity profiles can be represented by a sum of two terms, one accounting for diffuse scattering from surfactant aggregates in the pores and the other for Bragg scattering from the pore lattice of the silica matrix. The Bragg reflections are analyzed with a form factor model in which the radial density profile of the surfactant in the pore is approximated by a two-step function. Diffuse scattering is represented by a Teubner-Strey-type scattering function which indicates a preferred distance between adsorbed surface aggregates in the pores. Our results suggest that adsorption starts with formation of discrete surface aggregates which increase in number and eventually merge to interconnected patches as the plateau value of the adsorption isotherm is approached. A grossly different behavior, viz. formation of micelles as in solution, is found for the maltoside surfactant C(10)G(2), in agreement with the observed weak adsorption of this surfactant in SBA-15.     

Diffusion into and adsorption of polyethylenimine on porous silica gel

The polyethyleneimine (PEI)–water–silica gel absorption system was used as a model system to investigate the relationship between diffusion into the porous structure, adsorption rate, and molecular weight of the polymer. Three silica gels, Porasil A, B, and and C having a range of characteristic porosity were used as adsorbents. Adsorption of PEI on Porasil C, which has the majority of its pores much larger than the dimensions of the adsorbate molecule, increased initially with increased molecular weight but became nearly constant at higher molecular weight. Little increase in adsorption occurred for this silica gel with increased ionic strength or with increased pH between 9.5 and 10.8. In contrast, adsorption increased sharply with increased ionic strength and for the same pH range on Porasil A. Molecular weight dependence was reversed. Adsorption decreased with increased molecular weight on Porasil A. In this case, the molecular size of PEI investigated was the same as the majority of pore apertures in the adsorbent. Solution environments (i.e., pH and ionic strength) that decrease the size of the PEI molecule and its affinity for the anionic silica gel surface, thus enabling it to more readily diffuse into the smaller porous regions of the adsorbent, are the apparent causes of the very large adsorption increase. Electrostatic repulsion between PEI molecules do not appear greatly to affect adsorption. Similar adsorption behavior has been reported in the literature for the PEI–cellulosic fiber adsorption system. Maximum adsorption on Porasil A occurred at pH 10.8, the same maximum generally reported for adsorption of PEI on cellulosic fibers. In this case, the silica gel (Porasil A) was found to have a pore size distribution and specific surface area of the same magnitude as cellulosic fibers prepared in the expanded state.     

Monte Carlo Calculations of Polymer Adsorption at the Entrance of Cylindrical Pores in Flat Adsorbing Surfaces

The influence of surface interactions on the conformation of flexible polymers partially confined inside narrow cylindrical pores in a flat surface is studied above the critical adsorption energy in a good solvent. We use a static configurational bias computational sampling method to calculate the adsorption free energy and the radius of gyration components parallel and perpendicular to the pore axis as a function of the polymer center of mass position at different degrees of confinement. We find strong free‐energy minima just in front of the pore entry for all degrees of confinement studied. At the location of the free‐energy minimum, polymers are partially adsorbed inside the pore and on the outer solid surface and adopt “drawing pin”‐like conformations. A distinct maximum in the average loop length at the pore entry indicates that the polymer bridges the pore entry of small pores.     

Synthesis and modification of supports with an alkylamine and their use in albumin adsorption

The morphological effect of polymeric networks (R) modified with terminal amino groups was studied on the adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA). Networks of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate and 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate [poly (EGDMA‐co‐HEMA)] were synthesized by suspension polymerization, using different EGDMA contents and agitation speeds. These matrices were characterized by FTIR, mercury intrusion porosimetry, SEM, and swelling degree. The increase of the EGDMA concentration led to the formation of networks with the highest crosslinking degree and porosity. An earlier phase separation yielded a higher aggregation of rigid microspheres, also forming stable pore systems. The increase in coalescence frequency, together with the impeller speed, and the decrease of the stabilizer molecules led to an increment in drop size. Large fused aggregates of microspheres were formed with additional loss of small pores as the stirring was increased, attaining also a higher pore volume (V_p) and a slight decrease of the surface area. Once characterized, networks were activated with butanediolglycidyl ether (BDGE), and then reacted with hexamethylenediamine (HMDA) through coupling reaction. Only the R‐BDGE‐HMDA networks synthesized with the highest EGDMA content and agitation speed showed BSA adsorption. Their base matrices exhibited a V_p higher than 1.4 mL/g, which allows easier protein diffusion into the support. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2557–2566, 2008     

Preparation and evaluation of a well-ordered mesoporous nickel-molybdenum/silica opal hydrodesulfurization model catalyst

A silica-supported hydrodesulfurization (HDS) model catalyst with well-ordered pore structure was prepared by depositing Ni and Mo on the surface of silica opal. Using the voids of ordered packing of monodisperse silica microspheres, the pores of the model catalyst are wholly open-through and uniformly distributed. The ordered pore structure and regular smooth surface of the model catalyst make the surface states of metal oxides readily observable. As a result, the metal oxides were well dispersed on the silica, and the model catalyst exhibited a high activity in HDS of dibenzothiophene.     

Effect of surface active sites on adsorption of associating chain molecules in pores: A Monte Carlo study

This work describes the adsorption behavior of associating and non-associating chains and their mixtures in pores with activated surfaces. The systems are studied using Gibbs ensemble Monte Carlo molecular simulations. Fluid molecules are modeled as freely jointed Lennard-Jones chains. Associating chains have, additionally, an associating square-well site placed in an end sphere. The pores are modeled as regular slit pores via an integrated Lennard-Jones potential (10-4-3); activation is achieved by placing specific association sites protruding from the surface. Two different solid-fluid interaction parameters are used, one of which corresponds roughly to alkanes on graphite, the other being a much weaker interaction. Adsorption isotherms are presented for several different cases: associating and non-associating chains confined within both neutral and activated walls. Mixtures of associating and non-associating chains are also considered. The effects of pore size, temperature and chain length are quantified. Selectivities obtained are in the range of those seen in adsorption experiments of alkane-alkanol mixtures.     

Adsorption of highly charged polyelectrolytes onto an oppositely charged porous substrate

The adsorption behavior of highly charged cationic polyelectrolytes onto porous substrates is electrostatic in nature and has been shown to be highly dependent on the polyelectrolyte properties. Copolymers of acrylamide (AM) and diallyldimethylammonium chloride (DADMAC) were synthesized to have a range of macromolecular properties (i.e., charge density and molecular mass). Traditional titration methods have been complemented by fluorescence labeling techniques that were developed to directly observe the extent that fluorescently labeled poly(AM- co-DADMAC) adsorbs into the pore structure of a cellulosic substrate. Although contributing to the electrostatic driving force, the charge density acts to limit adsorption to the outermost surface under electrolyte-free conditions. However, adsorption into the pores can occur if both the molecular mass and charge density of poly(AM- co-DADMAC) are sufficiently low. Adsorption initially increases as the electrolyte concentration is increased. However, the electrostatic persistence length of poly(AM- co-DADMAC) restricts the polyelectrolyte from entering the pores. Therefore, changes in the adsorption behavior at moderate electrolyte concentrations have been attributed to swelling of the polyelectrolyte layer at the fiber exterior. The adsorption behavior changes again at high electrolyte concentrations such that poly(AM- co-DADMAC) could adsorb into the pore structure. This occurred when the electrolyte concentration was sufficient to screen the electrostatic persistence length of poly(AM- co-DADMAC), provided that the entropic driving force for adsorption still existed. It is suggested that adsorption into the pore structure is a kinetic process that is governed by localized electrostatic interactions between poly(AM- co-DADMAC) and the charges located within the pores.