CdSnO3-graphene nanocomposites: Ultrasonic synthesis using glucose as capping agent and characterization for electrochemical hydrogen storage

Nanoscale cadmium stannate (CdSnO₃) structures were productively synthesized via a facile and rapid sonochemical route using an eco-friendly capping agent of glucose. In order to optimize the size and structure of products, the various effective factors were inquired such as ultrasound waves, calcination temperature and solvent. The all samples were synthesized under ultrasonic probe for 30 min and different power (frequency) of 80 (24 KHz), 60 (18 KHz) and 40 W (12 KHz). The properties and characteristics of as-fabricated samples were examined by proficient techniques to identification the purity, structure, shape, optical, electrical and surface features. The ability of CdSnO₃ nanostructures and representative graphene based nanocomposites as potential hydrogen storage materials was considered by electrochemical methods. According to the obtained results, the CdSnO₃/graphene nanocomposites demonstrated higher hydrogen storage capacity than pristine CdSnO₃ nanostructures.     

Phosphorylation of Guar Gum/Magnetite/Chitosan Nanocomposites for Uranium (VI) Sorption and Antibacterial Applications

The development of new materials is needed to address the environmental challenges of wastewater treatment. The phosphorylation of guar gum combined with its association to chitosan allows preparing an efficient sorbent for the removal of U(VI) from slightly acidic solutions. The incorporation of magnetite nanoparticles enhances solid/liquid. Functional groups are characterized by FTIR spectroscopy while textural properties are qualified by N₂ adsorption. The optimum pH is close to 4 (deprotonation of amine and phosphonate groups). Uptake kinetics are fast (60 min of contact), fitted by a pseudo-first order rate equation. Maximum sorption capacities are close to 1.28 and 1.16 mmol U g⁻¹ (non-magnetic and magnetic, respectively), while the sorption isotherms are fitted by Langmuir equation. Uranyl desorption (using 0.2 M HCl solutions) is achieved within 20–30 min; the sorbents can be recycled for at least five cycles (5–6% loss in sorption performance, complete desorption). In multi-component solutions, the sorbents show marked preference for U(VI) and Nd(III) over alkali-earth metals and Si(IV). The zone of exclusion method shows that magnetic sorbent has antibacterial effects against both Gram+ and Gram- bacteria, contrary to non-magnetic material (only Gram+ bacteria). The magnetic composite is highly promising as antimicrobial support and for recovery of valuable metals.     

通过有机配体中四嗪基团的原位水解提高金属有机框架的CO2吸附性能

在保持原有“层-柱”MOF,[Zn₄（bpta）₂（dipytz）₂（H₂O）₂]·4DMF·H₂O （1）（H₄bpta=2,2'',6,6''-联苯四羧酸,dipytz=3,6-二（4-吡啶基）-1,2,4,5-四嗪）主体结构不变的情况下,通过dipytz配体中四嗪环的原位水解反应将极性的二芳酰基联氨基团引入框架,成功构筑出配合物[Zn₄（bpta）₂（dipytzhydr）₂（H₂O）₂]·solvent （2）（dipyt_zhydr=1,2-二异烟酰基肼）。对配合物2的系统表征和气体吸附性质研究结果证实了功能化目标的实现：配合物2相比于配合物1展现出更高的二氧化碳吸附热（由28.8 kJ·mol^-1升高至30.3 kJ·mol^-1）和CO₂/CH₄吸附选择性。以上结果表明基于配体中四嗪基团的原位水解后修饰能够有效提高相关MOFs材料的CO₂吸附性能。     

Sorption and regeneration performance of novel solid desiccant based on PVA-LiCl electrospun nanofibrous membrane

Electrospun PVA (polyvinyl alcohol)-LiCl composite membranes were prepared as novel solid desiccants. Experimental results show that nanofibrous membranes (NFMs) exhibit notable advantages in sorption capacity, sorption rate and low-temperature desorption rate, as compared with the solution-cast PVA-LiCl membranes (SCMs). The PVA NFM with 15 wt% LiCl can sorb 1.04 g g⁻¹ water at 25 °C and 90% relative humidity (RH), which is more than twice of the reported capacity of silica gel. Due to the nano-structure and small diffusion distance, the desiccant membranes have fast sorption and desorption rates. The desorption isobars show that about 90% of the sorbed moisture can be removed at temperatures between 40 °C and 60 °C, which makes it promising to utilize solar energy or exhaust heat for air dehumidification. The composite desiccant membranes can also be recycled without the degradation of sorption and desorption performance.     

Towards a theory of nonequilibrium multiphase filtration flow

A new theoretical model of joint filtration flow of immiscible incompressible fluids is presented. This model takes into account relaxation processes due to the exchange of the fluids between pores of different sizes, and these relaxation processes are driven by capillary forces. The fluids occupy connected regions in the four-dimensional space formed by three coordinates and the pore length scale. When fluid exchange between pores of given sizes is effected by way of successive flow through pores of all intermediate sizes, the fluid pressure within each region is governed by a hyperbolic equation, the role of time being played by the pore linear scale. Pressure jumps across hypersurfaces separating these regions are equal to corresponding values of capillary pressure. A supplementary condition at any such hypersurface requires the speed of its displacement in the four-dimensional space to coincide with the normal velocity components of both the adjoining fluids. As a result, a new formulation of multiphase filtration flow problems is gained with allowance made for capillary relaxation in the porous space.     

Design of Superhydrophobic Porous Coordination Polymers through the Introduction of External Surface Corrugation by the Use of an Aromatic Hydrocarbon Building Unit

We demonstrate a new approach to superhydrophobic porous coordination polymers by incorporating an anisotropic crystal morphology featuring a predominant surface that is highly corrugated and terminated by aromatic hydrocarbon moieties. The resulting low‐energy surface provides particularly promising hydrophobic properties without the need for postsynthetic modifications or surface processing that would block the porosity of the framework. Consequently, hydrophobic organic molecules and water vapor are able to penetrate the surface and be densely accommodated within the pores, whereas bulk water is repelled as a result of the exterior surface corrugation derived from the aromatic surface groups. This study provides a new strategy for the design and development of superhydrophobic porous materials.     

Adsorption of direct black-38 azo dye on p-tert-butylcalix[6]arene immobilized material

The present study demonstrates the adsorption of the direct black-38 (DB-38) azo dye on potential and newly synthesized p-tert-butylcalix[6]arene based silica resin (4). Resin 4 was synthesized via the modification of pure silica 1 as 2 followed by the immobilization of p-tert-butylcalix[6]arene (3) onto modified silica (2). It was characterized by using different analytical techniques such as FT-IR, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). The effect of adsorbent dosage, pH and the electrolyte effect on the removal of the DB-38 azo dye were evaluated through batch wise adsorption experiments. Maximum adsorption of 91% was achieved at pH 9.0. The textile wastewater samples were used to ensure the field applicability of the newly synthesized adsorbent 4 for the treatment of dye contaminated effluents. All results regarding the removal of the DB-38 azo dye from the aqueous environment prop up resin 4 as an effective adsorbent and it was found that resin 4 has high adsorption efficiency toward the DB-38 azo dye at a wide range of pH as compared to 1 and 2.     

Adsorption equilibrium studies for O‐xylene vapour and modified clays system

Tunisian bentonites were used to prepare three modified clays: two organoclays by intercalating respectively didodecyldimethylammoniumbromide (DDMAC) and hexadecyltrimethylammoniumbromide (HDTMAC), and synthesis of NaX zeolite. The X‐ray diffraction, infrared and thermogravimetric analyses enabled us to differentiate between the structures obtained. Clay materials systems were used as adsorbent for the investigation of the adsorption isotherms and saturation capacity of O‐xylene, a toxic volatile organic compound, by gravimetric method at three different temperatures 20, 30, and 40 °C. The absolute values of the volatile organic compound adsorbed amounts in the intercalated clays (604 mg g^?1) were higher than for the zeolite (296 mg g^?1). The adsorption isotherms were analysed by the Freundlich and Langmuir equations. The latter was found to describe better the equilibrium adsorption data. Mass transfer coefficient of O‐xylene is evaluated using uptake curve method, and all values are in the order of 10^?2 s^?1. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rainstorm statistics conditional on soil moisture index: Temporal and spatial characteristics

Soil moisture is the primary hydrological state variable that controls and it is controlled by land surface processes. Assessment of feedback mechanisms between land surface and the atmosphere must involve soil moisture. The Midwestern region of the United States is used as a case example in the preliminary investigations on the hypothesis that the structure and development of storm events are influenced by soil moisture conditions. In particular we deal with the antecedent soil moisture condition influence on storm precipitation amounts and interstorm durations. The analysis based on observations indicates that when the soil moisture is low, the ensuing interstorm duration and drying period is anomalously long. We also show that storm precipitation amounts are larger when the antecedent soil moisture is anomalously high. This finding supports the hypotheses that the Summer 1993 floods over Midwestern United States were partially forced by moist antecedent conditions.

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Sommario L'umidità del suolo è la variabile idrological di stato primaria che controlla ed è a sua volta controllata dai processi sulla superficie del terreno. La quantificazione dei meccanismi di retroazione fra superficie del terreno ed atmosfera deve comprendere l'umidità del suolo. La regione centro-occidentale degli Stati Uniti è usata come esempio in uno studio preliminare sull'ipotesi che la struttura e lo sviluppo di eventi di precipitazione siano influenzati dalle condizioni di umidità del suolo. In particolare, viene considerata l'influenza delle condizioni antecedenti di umidità del suolo sulle quantità di precipitazione e gli intervallamenti dei vari eventi. Le analisi basate sulle osservazioni indicano, che quando l'umidità del suolo è bassa, il periodo secco di attesa della pioggia successiva è più lungo del normale. Viene anche mostrato che le quantità di precipitazione sono maggiori quando l'umidità del suolo nel periodo antecedente è più alta del normale. Questo risultato supporta l'ipotesi secondo la quale le alluvioni dell' estate del 1993 negli Stati Uniti centro-occidentali furono parzialmente causate dalle condizioni antecedenti di umidità del suolo.

     

Transient moisture transport in a cracked porous medium

Condensation under high relative humidity, imbibition under zero capillary pressure, and drying in a cracked mesoporous slab is numerically simulated. The porous medium is homogeneous, the crack lattice is periodic and has uniform aperture and transport properties. It is found that the crack lattice density and the crack hydraulic conductivity has minor influence on the global kinetics of condensation and drying, and a strong influence on the imbibition kinetics. The transient effects of the heterogeneity of the medium are examined from three view-points: the study of the spatial distribution of pressure head, the tentative definition of an effective diffusivity, and the comparison between the quasi-static and transient transport properties. The equivalent homogeneous medium approach is found to be relatively satisfactory to describe the global kinetics in the three processes. The transient effects appear in secondary features of the processes.