A facile synthesis of highly water-soluble, core–shell organo-silica nanoparticles with controllable size via sol–gel process

A series of highly water-soluble organo-silica nanoparticles, ranging from 2 to 10 nm in diameter, were synthesized by the cohydrolysis and copolycondensation reactions. ω-methoxy(polyethyleneoxy)propyltrimethoxysilane (PEG6-9) and hydroxymethyltriethoxysilane (HMTEOS) mixtures were catalyzed by sodium hydroxide in the presence of surfactant benzethonium chloride (BTC) with various ratios of PEG6-9/HMTEOS at room temperature. The synthesized organo-silica nanoparticles possess a core–shell structure with a core of organo-silica resulting from HMTEOS and a monolayer shell of PEG6-9. The chemo-physical characteristics of the particles were studied by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, ²⁹Si nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The molecular weight and particle size of the particles increased with increasing HMTEOS molar ratios. The richest HMTEOS composition for the water-soluble particles was found to be HMTEOS:PEG6-9 = 80:20, where the particles had a 6 nm diameter core and a 0.8 nm thick shell. We propose that these water-soluble organo-silica nanoparticles will be suitable for biomedical applications.     

The Effects of Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonding on the Reaction of Phenols with Epoxide in the Presence of Nano Calcium Carbonate

The reaction of phenols and dihydroxybenzenes with epoxide in the presence of nano CaCO₃ was studied. Catechol could react with epoxide and gave monochlorohydrin derivative; other dihydroxybenzenes and monomeric phenols had no reaction under the same conditions. The reaction of catechol with epoxide did not occur when nano CaCO₃ was replaced by a normal one. These were attributed to the strong interaction between nano CaCO₃ and the substrate as catechol possessed intrahydrogen bond and excess active hydrogen, which can induce the intramolecular proton transfer via the intramolecular hydrogen bond and promote the reaction of hydroxyl and epoxide. This is an example revealing the unique role of the hydrogen bond played in chemical reactions.     

The flow-through silica as the matrix to immobilize gold nanoparticles for HPLC applications

In the present study, the flow-through silica, featured with hierarchical pores, i.e., tunable mesopores and penetrable macropores, was attempted as the chromatographic stationary phase matrix to immobilize gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). It was first modified by mercapto groups (named as SiO₂-SH), and then by AuNPs (named as SiO₂-S-Au). Thanks to the characteristic macropores, the column backpressure of SiO₂-S-Au was comparable to SiO₂-SH, which effectively overcame the difficulty of high column backpressure upon the nanoparticles were introduced to the chromatographic matrix. Both the reversed-phase and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatographic performance were observed on these two columns but with different selectivities. Hydrophobic, hydrophilic, hydrogen bond and electrostatic interactions between the SiO₂-S-Au stationary phase and analytes could contribute to the retention. The SiO₂-S-Au column showed excellent aqueous compatibility by “Stop-flow” test with the relative standard deviations (RSD) of analyte’s k (capacity factor) values from 0.59% to 2.88%. The reproducibility of SiO₂-S-Au was acceptable with RSDs of analyte’s k values in the range of 3.13%-5.03%. In addition, compared with the SiO₂-SH column, the SiO₂-S-Au column had better separation performance and selectivity. The results demonstrated that the flow-through silica was a promising matrix for nanoparticles with low backpressure and different selectivities.     

Chromatographic study of adsorption from binary and ternary solutions

Adsorption of benzene, anisole, and nitrobenzene on hydroxylated silica gel from binary and ternary solutions (adsorbate--n-hexane and adsorbate--n-hexane--terahydrofuran) was studied by HPLC. The equation that describes the adsorbate retention as a function of its concentration in binary and ternary solutions was proposed. The equation makes it possible to calculate the adsorption isotherms and adsorption equilibrium constants directly from chromatograms using the retention parameters and equilibrium concentrations of the adsorbate in the mobile phase.     

Silica - Titania Support for HVOC's Combustion Catalysts

Preparation of support series for catalysts of combustion of halogenated volatile organic compounds (H-VOC's) was carried out. It was stated that all they allow preparing active catalysts however their main drawback is the lack of hardness against products of H-VOC's combustion e.g. hydrogen chloride and chlorine. Laboratory tests showed that titania and silica - titania supports were characterized by the highest hardness against chlorine derivatives. In comparison to the titania supports, low content (ca. 10 wt.%) silica-containing supports have better mechanical properties, i.e. mechanical strength and attrition resistance. In this paper the method of preparation, composition and physicochemical properties of silica - titania support are presented. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Base-catalyzed reactions enhanced by solid acids: Amine-catalyzed nitroaldol (Henry) reactions enhanced by silica gel or mesoporous silica SBA-15

The reactions of various aldehydes with CH₃NO₂ catalyzed by Et₃N, n-C₆H₁₃NH₂, and Me₂N(CH₂)₂NH₂ were accelerated by the addition of silica gel to give aromatic (aliphatic) β-nitroalcohols, aromatic nitroalkenes, and aromatic 1,3-dinitroalkanes, respectively. Mesoporous silica SBA-15 showed higher activity than silica gel for the synthesis of aromatic nitroalkenes by the reactions of the corresponding aldehydes with CH₃NO₂ catalyzed by n-C₆H₁₃NH₂.     

Atrane complexes chemistry as a tool for obtaining trimodal UVM-7-like porous silica

Abstract

The use of atrane complexes as hydrolytic precursors enables the homogeneous incorporation of manganese (25 ≤ Si/Mn ≤ 48) throughout the porous walls of the nanoparticles of a surfactant-templated bimodal mesoporous silica (UVM-7). The subsequent leaching of the manganese nanodomains allows adding controlled microporosity to the host silica framework. The resulting final silica material presents three pore systems structured at different length scales: interparticle textural-type macroporosity (ca. 43.2 nm), ordered intraparticle mesoporosity (ca. 2.63 nm; after template removal), and well-dispersed microporosity (< 2 nm; as consequence of the lixiviation of the Mn-rich domains). The good dispersion of the guest element (Mn) in the silica intermediate provided by the atrane route is responsible for the disordered but regular microporosity achieved.     

Porous ceramic bed supports for fused silica packed capillary columns used in liquid chromatography

Porous ceramic bed supports for fused silica packed capillary columns utilized in liquid chromatography were prepared by polymerizing solutions containing potassium silicate in-situ within a column to create a mechanically stable, rugged, and easily constructed termination. The effect of the bed support length on efficiency, and comparisons to glass wool bed supports, were considered in terms of column efficiencies and hydrodynamic variables. Results obtained indicate better performance for the ceramic bed support.     

Rapid determination of organochlorine pesticide residues in feeds by capillary gas chromatography

A simple micro-method is described for determination of 15 organochlorine pesticide residues in mixed feeds. Clean-up of the petroleum ether extract is by basic alumina minicolumn chromatography and quantitative identification is by capillary gas chromatography with electron capture detection. Cyanopropyl-polysiloxane chemically bonded fused silica capillary columns have been used to perform high resolution analyses in short time as well as to overcome possible interferences by PCBs. Recovery, repeatability, and detection limits of the proposed procedure are checked and results are also reported for non random samples of 180 feeds collected in Italy.