Synthesis, characterization and catalytic oxidation of cyclohexene with molecular oxygen with host (nanopores of zeolite-Y)/guest (Ni(II) complexes of 14- and 16-membered tetraaza dioxo diphenyl macrocyclic ligands) nanocomposite materials

Ni(II) complexes of [14]aneN₄: 1,5,8,12-tetraaza-2,9-dioxo-4,11-diphenylcyclotetradecane; [16]aneN₄: 1,5,9,13-tetraaza-2,10-dioxo-4,12-diphenylcyclohexadecane; Bzo₂[14]aneN₄: dibenzo-1,5,8,12-tetraaza-2,9-dioxo-4,11-diphenylcyclotetradecane and Bzo₂[16]aneN₄: dibenzo-1,5,9,13-tetraaza-2,10-dioxo-4,12-diphenylcyclohexadecane have been encapsulated in the nanopores of zeolite-Y by a two-step process in the liquid phase: (i) adsorption of [bis(diamine)nickel(II)] (diamine = 1,2-diaminoethane, 1,3-diaminopropane, 1,2-diaminobenzene, 1,3-diaminobenzene); [Ni(N–N)₂]²⁺–NaY; in the nanopores of the zeolite-Y, and (ii) in situ condensation of the nickel(II) precursor complex with ethylcinnamate. The new host–guest nanocomposite materials (HGNM) were characterized by several techniques: chemical analysis and spectroscopic methods (FT-IR, UV/Vis, XRD and DRS) and the BET technique. These complexes were used for oxidation of cyclohexene with molecular oxygen.     

Fabrication of an iron(III)-selective PVC membrane sensor based on a bis-bidentate Schiff base ionophore

A Fe³⁺ ion-selective membrane sensor was fabricated from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) matrix membrane containing bis-bidentate Schiff base (BBS) as a neutral carrier, sodium tetraphenyl borate (NaTPB) as anionic excluder, and o-nitrophenyloctyl ether (NPOE) as a plasticizing solvent mediator. The effects of the membrane composition, pH, and additive anionic influence on the response properties were investigated. The best performance was obtained with a membrane containing 32% PVC, 62.5% NPOE, 3% BBS, and 2.5% NaTPB. The electrode shows a Nernstian behavior (slope of 19.3 ± 0.6) over a very wide iron ion concentration range (1.0 × 10⁻⁷–1.0 × 10⁻² M) and has a low detection limit (7.4 × 10⁻⁸ M). The potentiometric response of the sensor is independent of pH of the solution in the pH range 1.9–5.1. The proposed sensor has a very low response time (<15 s) and a good selectivity relative to a wide variety of other metal ions including common alkali, alkaline earth, heavy, and transition metal ions. The electrode can be used for at least 60 days without any considerable divergence in potentials. The proposed sensor was successfully applied as an indicator electrode for the potentiometric titration of 1.0 × 10⁻² M Fe³⁺ ions with a 1.0 × 10⁻⁴ M EDTA and the direct determination of Fe³⁺ in mineral water and wastewater samples.     

Preparation and Characterization of Cu2S Nanoparticles Via Ultrasonic Method

This study reports on the synthesis of Cu₂S nanoparticles via an ultrasonic method by employing Na₂SO₃ as a reducing agent. Morphology, structure, and composition of the obtained products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, scanning electron microscope and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The effects of time and power of irradiation were studied.     

Solvothermal Synthesis and Characterization of PbSe Nanostructures with the Aid of Schiff-base Ligand

In this work, Pb(II)N,N-bis(salicylidene)-ethylenediamine; [Pb(salen)]; was applied as lead precursor to synthesis PbSe nanostructures. Besides [Pb(salen)], SeCl₄ and reducing agents like N₂H₄·H₂O have been employed for the production of PbSe nanostructures via a solvothermal route at 180 °C for 3 h in propylene glycol. The effect of preparation factors such as temperature, reaction time, and surfactant on the morphology of PbSe nanostructures was investigated. The experimental results indicated that PbSe synthesized at 150 and 210 °C was composed of agglomerated particles. On the other hand, the use of KBH₄ as reducing agent led to produce PbSe with higher particle size and agglomeration. The as-prepared PbSe nanostructures were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, EDS, and FT-IR.     

Preparation of an experimental glass-ionomer cements and evaluation of their properties

The preparation of glass-ionomer cements based on the composition of SiO₂–Al₂O₃–CaO–SrO–F and evaluation of their properties is described. Cements were prepared via the sol–gel method and characterized by XRD, BET, SEM, and EDAX analysis. The effect of various concentrations of Sr on in vitro bioactivity of the glass speciments was investigated. In vitro bioactivity of the samples was evaluated by soaking them in simulated body fluid followed by structural characterization using SEM and atomic absorption analysis. A glass specimen with 0.5 mol of Sr exhibited appropriate bioactivity.     

Embedded passivated-electrode insulator-based dielectrophoresis (EπDEP)

Here, we introduce a new technique called embedded passivated-electrode insulator-based dielectrophoresis (EπDEP) for preconcentration, separation, or enrichment of bioparticles, including living cells. This new method combines traditional electrode-based DEP and insulator-based DEP with the objective of enhancing the electric field strength and capture efficiency within the microfluidic channel while alleviating direct contact between the electrode and the fluid. The EπDEP chip contains embedded electrodes within the microfluidic channel covered by a thin passivation layer of only 4 μm. The channel was designed with two nonaligned vertical columns of insulated microposts (200 μm diameter, 50 μm spacing) located between the electrodes (600 μm wide, 600 μm horizontal spacing) to generate nonuniform electric field lines to concentrate cells while maintaining steady flow in the channel. The performance of the chip was demonstrated using Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacterial pathogens in aqueous media. Trapping efficiencies of 100 % were obtained for both pathogens at an applied AC voltage of 50 V peak-to-peak and flow rates as high as 10 μl/min.     

Sonochemical Synthesis and Photocatalytic Properties of Metal Hydroxide and Carbonate (M:Mg, Ca, Sr or Ba) Nanoparticles

In this work Mg(OH)₂, Ca(OH)₂, CaCO₃, SrCO₃ and BaCO₃ nanoparticles were synthesized via a simple sonochemical reaction at room temperature. Nanoparticles were synthesized via a surfactant-free reaction solvent water. Nanostructures materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The photocatalytic behavior of nanoparticles was evaluated using the degradation of a methyl orange aqueous solution under ultraviolet light irradiation. The results show that metal hydroxide and metal carbonate nanoparticles are promising materials with excellent performance in photocatalytic applications.     

“Grafting through” approach for synthesis of polystyrene/silica aerogel nanocomposites by in situ reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization

Aerogel/polystyrene nanocomposites with mixed free and aerogel-attached polystyrene chains were synthesized using reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. 3-methacryloxypropyldimethylchlorosilane containing a double bond, which could be incorporated into polystyrene chains by a “grafting through” approach, was used as an aerogel modifier. Kinetics of RAFT polymerization of styrene in the presence of modified silica aerogel was studied by monitoring conversion and molar mass values. To further study, attached polymers were detached and their molecular characteristics were compared to free chains. According to results, the presence of silica aerogel particles has a sensible influence on polymerization kinetic and more aerogels result in decreased polymerization rate and conversion. The dispersity (Ð) of polymer chains increased by the addition of silica aerogel. In the case of aerogel-attached polystyrene chains, number-averaged molar mass values were slightly lower than that of free chains. Also, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques were used to observe the effect of loading on thermal properties of synthesized nanocomposites.     

Study of kinetic,thermodynamic, and isotherm of Sr adsorption from aqueous solutions on graphene oxide (GO) and (aminomethyl)phosphonic acid–graphene oxide (AMPA–GO)

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - In this work, graphene oxide (GO) and (aminomethyl)phosphonic acid–Graphene oxide (AMPA–GO) adsorbents were prepared by the modified...     

An investigation on the influence of the shape of the vortex generator on fluid flow and turbulent heat transfer of hybrid nanofluid in a channel

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The purpose of this study is to numerically investigate flow field and turbulent heat transfer of hybrid nanofluid, water–DWCNT–TiO2 in a...