Optimization of cadmium adsorption from aqueous solutions by functionalized graphene and the reversible magnetic recovery of the adsorbent using response surface methodology

Novel functionalized graphene adsorbent was prepared and characterized using different techniques. The prepared adsorbent was applied for the removal of cadmium ions from aqueous solution. A response surface methodology was used to evaluate the simple and combined effects of the various parameters, including adsorbent dosage, pH, and initial concentration. Under the optimal conditions, the cadmium removal performance of 70% was achieved. A good agreement between experimental and predicted data in this study was observed. The experimental results revealed of cadmium adsorption with high linearity follow Langmuir isotherm model with maximum adsorption capacity of 502 mg g^?1, and the adsorption data fitted well into pseudo‐second order model. Thermodynamic studies showed that adsorption process has exothermic and spontaneous nature. The recommended optimum conditions are: cadmium concentration of 970 mg L^?1, adsorbent dosage of 1 g L^?1, pH of 6.18, and T = 25 °C. The magnetic recovery of the adsorbent was performed using a magnetic surfactant to form a noncovalent magnetic functionalized graphene. After magnetic recovery of the adsorbent both components (adsorbent and magnetic surfactant) were recycled by tuning the surface charges through changing the pH of the solution. Desorption behavior studied using HNO₃ solution indicated that the adsorbent had the potential for reusability.     

Crosslinking‐induced morphology change of latex nanoparticles: A study of RAFT‐mediated polymerization in aqueous dispersed media using amphiphilic double‐brush copolymers as reactive surfactants

Amphiphilic double‐brush copolymers (DBCs) with each graft site quantitatively carrying both a hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) graft and a hydrophobic polystyrene (PSt) graft are synthesized by sequential reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). These DBCs are used as both surfactants and polyfunctional RAFT agents in the radical polymerization of St in aqueous dispersed media. Miniemulsions with narrowly dispersed St‐based nanodroplets are readily obtained after ultrasonication of the reaction mixtures. Without the presence of crosslinker, chain‐extension polymerization of St from the DBCs yields well‐defined polymeric latexes with narrow size distributions. However, with the presence of divinylbenzene (DVB) as the crosslinker, vesicular polymeric nanoparticles are formed as the major product. Such crosslinking‐induced change in morphology of the resulting latex nanomaterials may be ascribed to the increase of interfacial curvature in the heterophase systems during crosslinking polymerization. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 3250–3259     

Molecular simulation study on the self-assembly behaviors of zwitterionic heterogemini surfactant in aqueous solution

The self-assembly behaviors of a series of zwitterionic heterogemini surfactants C_mH_2m+1-PO^4–(CH₂)₂-N⁺(CH₃)₂-C_nH_2n+1, abbreviated as C_m-P-N-C_n (m, n?=?9, 9; 9, 12; 9, 15; 9, 18; 12, 12; 12, 15; 12, 18; 15, 15; 15, 18; 18, 18), have been investigated in aqueous solution by the dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) method. Morphologies such as sphere (S), rod (R), planar grid (PG), lamella (L), honeycomb (H), one-, two-, and three-dimensional tunnels (1DT, 2DT, and 3DT) have been observed showing more diversities than those of the corresponding symmetric gemini surfactants C_m-N-N-C_m (m?=?9, 12, 15, 18). With the increase of surfactant concentration in the aqueous solution, a distinct transition path ‘‘S—R—PG—3DT—L—2DT—1DT’’ is proved to be common for all the C_m-P-N-C_n systems. Besides, the hydrophobic chain length has a significant influence on the self-assembly behaviors in the case of m?≠?n. Radial distribution function is an effective method to quantitatively evaluate the interaction and relationship between each functional group in the surfactant molecule and water. Results can provide a new insight into the self-assembly behaviors of zwitterionic heterogemini surfactants and the corresponding applications.     

Importance of the Correlation between Width and Length in the Shape Analysis of Nanorods: Use of a 2D Size Plot To Probe Such a Correlation

Analysis of nanoparticle size through a simple 2D plot is proposed in order to extract the correlation between length and width in a collection or a mixture of anisotropic particles. Compared to the usual statistics on the length associated with a second and independent statistical analysis of the width, this simple plot easily points out the various types of nanoparticles and their (an)isotropy. For each class of nano‐objects, the relationship between width and length (i.e., the strong or weak correlations between these two parameters) may suggest information concerning the nucleation/growth processes. It allows one to follow the effect on the shape and size distribution of physical or chemical processes such as simple ripening. Various electron microscopy pictures from the literature or from the authors′ own syntheses are used as examples to demonstrate the efficiency and simplicity of the proposed 2D plot combined with a multivariate analysis.     

Self-Assembly of Trisiloxane-Tailed Sugar Surfactant in Aqueous Solution

Abstract

A lactobionamide-based trisiloxane surfactant (Si3N2–LA) was prepared via a two-step method. Structure characterization of Si3N2–LA was performed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR). Surface activity and aggregation behavior in aqueous solution of Si3N2–LA were investigated by surface tension measurements, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and negative-stained transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results show that the surfactants can self-assemble into spherical vesicles with diameters in the range from 50 to 150 nm due to the introduction of trisiloxane tail.     

Emulsion Polymerization Pathway for Preparation of Polyaniline‐Sulfate Salt,using Non Ionic Surfactant

In this work, aniline was polymerized directly to the polyaniline‐sulfate salt without using a protonic acid. The polyaniline‐sulfate salt was prepared by emulsion polymerization, using a non ionic surfactant such as poly(ethylene glycol)–block poly(propylene glycol)‐block poly(ethylene glycol). In the aniline oxidation process, to give the polyaniline salt by ammonium persulfate, the sulfate ion is generated from ammonium persulfate and doped on to the polyaniline. Ammonium persulfate acts both as an oxidizing agent, as well as the protonating agent in the aniline polymerization process, to give the polyaniline salt. This result indicates that the effect of sulfate ion, generated by ammonium persulfate during oxidation of aniline to the polyaniline salt, may be taken into consideration in the polymerization process of aniline.     

阴-非离子表面活性剂复合改性水滑石的表面性质研究

采用十二烷基苯磺酸钠（SDBS）、吐温-80（Tween-80）及两种表面活性剂复合改性镁铝水滑石,得到SDBS-LDHs,Tween-LDHs及SDBS/Tween-LDHs₃种改性水滑石。利用反相气相色谱法（IGC）对样品进行表面性质的研究,定量计算了表面吸附自由能（ΔG₀）和表面能色散组分（γ_s^d）。结果表明,改性材料的ΔG₀与γ_s^d值均比未处理的镁铝水滑石小,其中阴-非离子表面活性剂复合改性后的水滑石的ΔG₀与γ_s^d值最小,说明阴-非离子表面活性剂复合改性水滑石较单一改性水滑石更有利于提高材料的稳定性。此外,各类水滑石的γ_s^d值均随着温度的升高而减小,因此,在制备聚合物/水滑石类材料时,可以利用提高温度来改善其与聚合物的相容性。     

Synthesis of gemini surfactants with twelve symmetric fluorine atoms and one singlet F MR signal as novel F MRI agents

A family of fluorinated gemini surfactants derived from perfluoropinacol has been synthesized as novel ¹⁹F magnetic resonance imaging (¹⁹F MRI) agents. These fluorinated surfactants with 12 symmetric fluorine atoms and one singlet ¹⁹F MR peak can be conveniently prepared from perfluoropinacol and oligo(ethylene glycols) on multi-gram scales. Solubility, hydrophilicity (log P), and critical micelle concentration (CMC) measurements of these fluorinated surfactants indicated that high aqueous solubility can be achieved by introducing oligo(ethylene glycols) with appropriate length into perfluoropinacol, i.e., manipulating the fluorine content (F%). One of these fluorinated surfactants with high aqueous solubility and excellent ¹⁹F MR properties has been identified by ¹⁹F MRI phantom experiments as a promising ¹⁹F MRI agent.     

Spectrophotometric Determination of Hydrogen Peroxide Using Leucocrystal Violet in Micellar Medium

A simple and sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of hydrogen peroxide, based on the increase in color intensity of dye on addition of surfactant, is described. Hydrogen peroxide is first reacted with potassium iodide in acidic medium, in presence of ammonium molybdate to liberate iodine. The liberated iodine oxidizes leucocrystal violet to crystal violet having maximum absorbance at 593 nm. The color of the dye intensifies with the addition of the surfactant, cetyl pyridinium chloride though the absorption maximum remains the same. Beer's law is obeyed in the range 0.05–0.45 µg of hydrogen peroxide per 25 mL of final solution (0.002–0.018 µg mL^?1) with an excellent correlation coefficient (r = 0.9977). The proposed method has been successfully applied for the analysis of hydrogen peroxide in various food products and rainwater.