Impacts of zeolite nanoparticles on substrate properties of thin film nanocomposite membranes for engineered osmosis

In this work, microporous substrates modified by zeolite nanoparticles were prepared and used for composite membrane making with the aim of reducing internal concentration polarization (ICP) effect of membranes during engineered osmosis applications. Nanocomposite substrates were fabricated via phase inversion technique by embedding nanostructured zeolite (clinoptilolite) in the range of 0–0.6 wt% into matrix of polyethersulfone (PES) substrate. Of all the substrates prepared, the PES0.4 substrate (with 0.4 wt% zeolite) exhibited unique characteristics, i.e., increased surface porosity, lower structural parameter (S) (from 0.78 to 0.48 mm), and enhanced water flux. The thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membrane made of this optimized substrate was also reported to exhibit higher water flux compared to the control composite membrane during forward osmosis (FO) and pressure-retarded osmosis (PRO) test, without compromising reverse solute flux. The water flux of such TFN membrane was 43% higher than the control TFC membrane (1.93 L/m² h bar) with salt rejection recorded at 94.7%. An increment in water flux is ascribed to the reduction in structural parameter, leading to reduced ICP effect.     

Gliclazide as novel carrier in construction of PVC-based La(III)-selective membrane sensor

A PVC-based sensor for La³⁺ ions based on N-[hexahydrocyclopentapyrol-2((1H)yl)amino]carbonyl]-4-methyl benzene sulfonamide (gliclazide) as a novel carrier was prepared. The electrode exhibits a Nernstian response for La³⁺ over a wide concentration range (1.0×10⁻¹-1.0×10⁻⁶ M) with a slope of 20.1 mV per decade. The limit of detection is 8.0×10⁻⁷ M. The sensor has a very short response time (<15 s) and a useful working pH range of 4.0-8.0. The proposed membrane sensor shows excellent discriminating ability towards La³⁺ ions with regard to several alkali, alkaline earth, transition and heavy metal ions. The electrode was successfully applied for determination of La³⁺ in binary mixtures.     

A selective membrane electrode for iodide ion based on a thiopyrilium ion derivative as a new ionophore

A highly selective electrode for iodide ion based on a thiopyrilium derivative as an excellent ionophore is described. At pH 5.5-8.0, the electrode responds to iodide ion in a linear range from 1.0×10⁻¹ to 8.0×10⁻⁷ M with a slope of 60.2 mV per decade, and a detection limit of 2.0×10⁻⁷ M. Selectivity coefficients determined with the match potential method (MPM) indicate that the interference from inorganic and organic anions is very small. The proposed sensor shows a fast response time of approximately 15 s. It was applied as an indicator electrode in titration of iodide with Ag⁺.     

Determination of ultra trace amounts of cobalt and nickel in water samples by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry after preconcentration on modified C18-silica extraction disks

A highly sensitive and accurate method for preconcentration and determination of ultra trace amounts of cobalt and nickel ions in water samples is proposed. The preconcentration is achieved using C₁₈-silica extraction disks modified with 5-(6-methoxy-2-benzothiazoleazo)-8-aminoquinoline (MBTAQ). The retained ions on the prepared solid phase was eluted with 10 ml of 0.01 M nitric acid and measured by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The influence of the type and amount of eluent used, pH, sample and eluent flow rates, amount of MBTAQ and the effect of other ions on extraction efficiency were investigated. The limits of detection of the method were 0.08 and 0.06 μg l^− 1 for cobalt and nickel, respectively, and provide an enrichment factor of 100. The results obtained on 10 successive extractions and elution cycles revealed relative standard deviations of 1.5 and 1.0% for cobalt and nickel, respectively. The proposed method has been applied to the determination of ultra trace amounts of cobalt and nickel ions in natural and synthetic water samples with satisfactory results.     

Removal of Arsenic (III) from natural contaminated water using magnetic nanocomposite: kinetics and isotherm studies

The application of newly synthesized Fe₃O₄/TiO₂–SiO₂ that is modified with zinc (FTSZ) as a sorbent, for the removal of arsenic from contaminated water has been investigated in the present study. SEM, FTIR, XRD, BET, Zeta potential sizer (ξ) analyses are used to determine the sorbent characterization. The effect of the operational parameters such as initial pH, initial concentration, and the contact time were studied. In addition, the equilibrium behavior of FTSZ in As(III) removal was investigated in the temperature range of 20–40 °C. The results showed that the equilibrium data were fitted well with Langmuir than Freundlich isotherm model. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity estimated by Langmuir isotherm was 24.010 mg g^?1. Thermodynamic parameters, ?H°, ?S° and ?G° were also calculated from graphical interpretation of the experimental data. Standard heats of sorption (?H°) were found to be endothermic and ?S° values were calculated to be positive for the sorption of As(III) onto the adsorbent.     

Speciation analysis of mercury contaminants in water samples by RP-HPLC after solid phase extraction on modified C18 extraction disks with 1,3-bis(2-cyanobenzene)triazene

A highly sensitive and accurate method for preconcentration and determination of ultra trace amounts of inorganic mercury and organomercury compounds in different water samples is proposed. The preconcentration is achieved using octadecyl silica (C₁₈) extraction disks modified with 1,3-bis(2-cyanobenzene)triazene (CBT). The retained analytes as their triazenide complexes on the solid phase was eluted with 10 ml acetonitrile and measured by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Type and amount of eluent, pH, amount of CBT, flow rates of sample solution and eluent have been optimized in order to obtain quantitative recovery of the analytes. The effect of interfering ions, such as Cu²⁺, Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Al³⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Ba²⁺, Pb²⁺, K⁺ and Na⁺ usually present in water samples on the recovery of the analytes has also been investigated. The enrichment factor of 100 was obtained for all mercury species and the analytical detection limits of phenylmercury, methylmercury and Hg²⁺ were found as 0.8, 1.0 and 1.3 ng l^− 1, respectively. Stability of mercury species after extraction on the modified disks was studied and the results showed that complexes collected on the disks were stable for at least 5 days. The proposed method has been applied to the quantitative determination of mercury species in natural and synthetic water samples with recoveries more than 90%.     

Magnetically separable and recyclable g-C<Subscript>3</Subscript>N<Subscript>4</Subscript> nanocomposite catalyzed one-pot synthesis of substituted imidazoles

A green, reliable synthetic method and highly efficient one-pot three-component synthesis of 2,4,5-trisubstituted imidazoles from 1,2-diketones, aldehydes and ammonium acetate in the presence of recyclable magnetic graphitic carbon nitride nanocomposite (Fe₃O₄@g-C₃N₄) has been developed. Various imidazole derivatives were obtained in moderate to excellent yields and high purity after recrystallization from ethanol. Interestingly, the low-cost Fe₃O₄@g-C₃N₄ a nontoxic and inexpensive catalyst showed excellent recyclability using an external magnet without loss of parent catalytic activity even after ten cycles and its provides new opportunities for the truly environmental friendliness methodology.     

Magnetic g-C3N4 nanocomposite-catalyzed environmentally benign aminolysis of epoxide

Research on Chemical Intermediates - A magnetic graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanocomposite was prepared and used as a novel magnetically retrievable nanocatalyst for efficient ring opening of...     

Generalized second derivative linear multistep methods for ordinary differential equations

Numerical Algorithms - This paper is devoted to investigate the modified extended second derivative backward differentiation formulae from second derivative general linear methods point of view....     

Nuclephilic ring opening of epoxides promoted by multi-site phase-transfer catalyst:An efficient and eco-friendly route to synthesis of b-hydroxy-thiocyanate

A highly effective and mild protocol for ring opening of epoxides with NH ₄ SCN in the presence of catalytic amount of a multisite phase-transfer catalyst, α,α',α" -N-hexakis(triethylammoniummethylene chloride)-melamine, is developed. A variety of b-hydroxy thiocyanates as important intermediates in agricultural and pharmaceutical chemistry were obtained in high yields with excellent regioselectivity and in short reaction times.