A comparative study of bismuth-based photocatalysts with titanium dioxide for perfluorooctanoic acid degradation

Bismuth-based material has been broadly studied due to their potential applications in various areas, especially used as promising photocatalysts for the removal of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and several approaches have been adopted to tailor their features. Herein, the bismuth-based photocatalysts (BiOCl, BiPO₄, BiOPO₄/BiOCl) were synthesized by hydrothermal method and advanced characterization techniques (XRD, SEM, EDS elemental mapping, Raman and UV–vis DRS) were employed to analyze their morphology, crystal structure, and purity of the prepared photocatalysts. These synthesized photocatalysts offered a praiseworthy activity as compared to commercial TiO₂ (P25) for the degradation of model pollutant perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) under 254 nm UV light. It was interesting to observe that all synthesized photocatalysts show significant degradation of PFOA and their photocatalytic activity follows the order: bismuth-based catalysts > TiO₂ (P25) > without catalyst. Bismuth-based catalysts degraded the PFOA by almost 99.99% within 45 min while this degradation efficiency was 66.05% with TiO₂ under the same reaction condition. Our work shows that the bismuth-based photocatalysts are promising in PFOA treatment.     

Carbofuran: analytical methods and its determination in natural water samples by flow injection DPA(III)–H2SO4 chemiluminescence

This study proposes, a simple, rapid and sensitive chemiluminescent (CL) method for determination of carbofuran based on diperiodatoargentate(III) (DPA)-sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) reaction coupled with flow injection (FI) methodology. Under optimum conditions, a linear standard curve is achieved in the range of 0.001–8.0 mg L^–1 (R²= 0.9994 (n = 11) with relative standard deviation (RSD) of 1.4–3.7% (n = 4)), a limit of detection (LOD) 5.0 × 10^–4 mg L^–1 (S/N = 3) and injection throughput 180 h^–1. The proposed method was applied satisfactorily for the analysis of carbofuran in freshwater samples using solid phase extraction (SPE) technique with the recoveries of 94–110% (% RSD = 1.7–3.8, n = 4). A possible CL reaction mechanism has also been discussed briefly.     

Viscosities and ultrasonic speeds of binary mixtures of benzene with triethylamine and tributylamine at different temperatures: An experimental and theoretical study

The viscosities, η, and ultrasonic speeds, u, of pure benzene, triethylamine, （TEA） tributylamine, （TBA）, and those of their binary mixtures, with benzene as common component, covering the whole composition range have been measured at 278.15 K, 283.15 K, 288.15 K, 293.15 K, 298.15 K, 303.15 K, 308.15 K, 313.15 K, and 318.15 K. From the experimental data the deviations in viscosity, △η, deviations in Gibbs free energy, AG, deviations in ultrasonic speed, △u, deviations in entropies, △S^＊, and deviations in enthalpies, △H^＊, of activation of viscous flow have been determined. The sign and magnitude of these parameters were found to be sensitive towards interactions prevailing in the studied systems. Further, the excess molar volumes, VE, were calculated using data for the binary mixtures. Moreover, theoretical values of viscosities and ultrasonic speeds of the binary mixtures were calculated using different empirical relations and theories. The results were in experimental and theoretical values. discussed in terms of average deviations （AD）     

Interplay of the Staggered and Three-Body Interaction Potentials on the Quantum Phases of a Spin-1 Ultracold Atom in an Optical Lattice

The interplay of the staggered and the three-body interaction potentials on the quantum phases of a spin-1 Bose Hubbard model using a mean field approximation (MFA) is studied. In the antiferromagnetic (AF) case, a smaller value of the staggered potential (SP) results in the charge and the spin density wave ordering along with the Mott insulator (MI) and the staggered superfluid (SSF) phases. While the competition between two types of the potential leads to the stabilization of the higher order MI and charge density wave (CDW) phases with increasing three-body interaction strength. Further, the spin eigenvalue and nematic order parameters are calculated to scrutinize the spin singlet-nematic formation in the MI and the CDW phases and spin population fractions to analyze the nature of the SSF phase. A signature of the spin density wave (SDW) pattern is also observed in the gapped phase lobes. In case of a purely three-body interaction, the third and higher order insulating lobes become dominant with increasing staggered potential strength. Subsequently, all MFA phase diagrams are then nicely corroborated with the analytical results obtained using a perturbative expansion corresponding to the AF and ferromagnetic cases.     

Flow injection spectrophotometric determination of vitamin E in pharmaceuticals,milk powder and blood serum using potassium ferricyanide-Fe(Ⅲ) detection system

<正>A simple and sensitive flow injection spectrophotometric method is reported for the determination of vitamin E using potassium ferricyanide-Fe(Ⅲ) detection system.In the presence of vitamin E,Fe(Ⅲ)/ferricyanide reduces.The in situ reduced ions are then reacted with unreduced portion of ferricyanide/Fe(Ⅲ) to make soluble Prussian blue,which is monitored at absorption wavelength of 735 nm.Linear calibration graph was obtained in the concentration range of 0.1-40μg mL~(-1).The relative standard deviations (n=4) were in the range of 1.1-3.6%,with limits of detection(3 s blank) of 0.04μg mL~(-1).The proposed method allowed 12 injections h~(-1).The method is applied to determine vitamin E in pharmaceuticals,infant milk and blood serum samples using hexane extraction with the recoveries in the range of 93±3 to 97.5±4%.The method is validated using certified reference materials SRM 968c for blood serum samples.     

Synthesis of corrected multi-wavelength spectrometers for atmospheric trace gases

The method for synthesis of corrected three-wavelengths spectrometers for trace gas components of atmo- sphere on the basis of development of mathematical model has been suggested. The classification table for possible structures of corrected spectrometers is considered. The synthesis allows to reveal some new variants for development of three-wavelength spectrometers for trace gas components of atmosphere. For experimental checkup of achieved theoretical results, a laboratory pattern of three-wavelength spectrome- ter is developed and tested.     

Thermal analysis and SANS characterisation of hybrid materials for biomedical applications

Silicate hybrid materials were prepared by the sol?Cgel process with the addition of x mass% of zirconium propoxide (x?=?0 and 1). The thermal behaviour as well as the influence of Zr addition was studied by thermal gravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis. The microstructure evolution with temperature was investigated by X-ray diffraction and small-angle neutron scattering. It was found that the beginning of polymer degradation occurs at a higher temperature in the material prepared with addition of Zr than in the one prepared without. At the nanometric scale, the materials prepared without Zr show smooth interfaces, whereas those with Zr present a mass fractal structure. This structure is also observed in the material without Zr after thermal treatment at 200?°C. The results showed that bioactivity is favoured by mass fractal structures in comparison with one consisting of smooth surfaces.     

Copper nanoparticles supported on 2‐methoxy‐1‐phenylethanone‐functionalized MCM‐41: An efficient and recyclable catalyst for one‐pot three‐component C–S coupling reaction of aryl halides with benzyl bromide and thiourea

An environmentally friendly copper‐based catalyst supported on 2‐methoxy‐1‐phenylethanone‐functionalized MCM‐41 was prepared and characterized by Fourier transform‐infrared, transmission electron microscopy, field emission‐scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction and inductively coupled plasma techniques. The catalyst was applied for the one‐pot three‐component C–S coupling reactions of aryl halides with benzyl bromide and thiourea under aerobic conditions to afford the corresponding coupled products in good yields in water. The catalyst could be recovered and recycled five times. These results prove 2‐methoxy‐1‐phenylethanone‐functionalized MCM‐41 supported Cu (II) complex was not leached during the reaction. Also it shows the correct heterogeneous nature of the catalyst.     

Prediction of viscosities and COSMO-RS analyses in binary mixtures of N,N-dimethylformamide with acetone

Experimental viscosities, η, for pure N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and acetone (ACT) and their binary mixtures are measured over the whole composition range as a function of temperature between 298.15 and 313.15 K. The deviations in viscosity, ?η, Gibbs free energy of activation ?G, entropies ?S*, enthalpies ?H of activation of viscous flow have been calculated. The determination of excess molar volumes, Vη^E, was calculated from the experimental viscosities for the binary mixtures. The conductor-like screening model is applied to interpret the intermolecular forces. The σ-profile is computed for the N,N-DMF and ACT with conductor-like screening model for real solvents. The experimental results were found to be in good agreement with the theoretical predictions. Moreover, viscosity data were calculated from the theoretical equations of Grunberg and Nissan, Hind et al. and Wilke for the entire systems. All results obtained were averaged experimentally and theoretically in terms of average deviations.