Constructing a new optical sensor for monitoring ammonia in water samples using bis(acetylacetoneethylendiamine)-tributylphosphin cobalt(III) tetraphenylborate complex-coated triacetylcellulose.

A new ammonia optical sensor was designed using bis(acetylacetoneethylendiamine)tributylphosphin cobalt(III) tetraphenylborate complex, coated on transparent triacetylcellulose film as membrane. The change in the absorbance of the optode at the maximum wavelength of 408 nm was related to ammonia concentration in aqueous samples. A buffer solution with a pH of 9 (sodium borate-HCl) was used. The optode was fully regenerated in pH 2. The linear dynamic range for determination of ammonia was 3.3 x 10(-4) to 6.9 x 10(-3) mol l(-1) with a detection limit of 5.0 x 10(-5) mol l(-1) and a response time range of 4 - 6 min. This membrane was successfully applied for determination of ammonia in drinking water.     

Photocatalytic ozonation degradation of ciprofloxacin using ZnO nanoparticles immobilized on the surface of stones

Ciprofloxacin is used in the treatment of bacterial infections. Because ciprofloxacin is not effectively degraded by biological processes, advanced oxidation processes such as photocatalytic ozonation are applied to remove this antibiotic from wastewater. The aim of this study was to investigate photocatalytic ozonation for the removal of ciprofloxacin from aquatic environments and optimization of the effective parameters of the process. For this purpose, ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized using the thermal method and immobilized on the surface of stones. The structural properties of the nanoparticles were determined by XRD, TEM, Photoluminescence (PL) and SEM. Experiments were carried out in a Plexiglas reactor supported with the continuous injection of ozone. The effective parameters for removal efficiency were reaction time, initial concentration of ciprofloxacin, pH, photocatalyst concentration and reaction kinetics. The highest ciprofloxacin removal efficiency occurred at the following optimal conditions: pH of 7, reaction time of 30?min, photocatalyst concentration of 3?g/L and initial ciprofloxacin concentration of 10?mg/L. Removal efficiency of 96% was obtained under these conditions. Linear kinetic models showed that the process followed pseudo-first order and Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetics. This process had a high removal efficiency and suitable for removal of ciprofloxacin from aquatic environments.GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT     

Donor ligand, basal ligand and solvent effects on the equilibrium constants of triphenylphosphinecobalt(III) Schiff base complexes with phosphite ligands

The equilibrium constants and the thermodynamic parameters were spectrophotometrically measured for the 1:1 adduct formation of [Co(Salen)(PPh₃)]ClO₄.H₂O, and [Co(7,7′-Me₂Salen)(PPh₃)]ClO₄.H₂O as acceptors, with P(OR)₃ (R = methyl, ethyl, and i-propyl) as donors, in acetonitrile (CH₃CN) and dimethylformamide (DMF) as solvents at constant ionic strength (I = 0.1 M NaClO₄), and various temperatures (t = 10–50 °C). Our results revealed the following trends: stability of the cobalt(III) Schiff base complexes toward a given phosphite donor, [Co(7,7′-Me₂Salen)(PPh₃)]⁺ < [Co(Salen)(PPh₃)]⁺; binding of the donors (phosphites) toward a given cobalt(III) Schiff base complex, P(OEt)₃ > P(OMe)₃ > P(O-ⁱPr)₃; influence of solvent on the stability of a given cobalt(III) Schiff base complex toward a given phosphite donor, CH₃CN < DMF.     

A selective modified carbon paste electrode for determination of cyanide using tetra-3,4-pyridinoporphyrazinatocobalt(II)

A chemically modified carbon paste electrode with 3,4-tetra pyridinoporphirazinatocobalt(II) (Co(3,4 tppa) was applied to the determination of free cyanide ion. The electrode has a linear range between 1.5 × 10⁻⁵ M and 1.0 × 10⁻² M with a Nernstian slope of 60 ± 1.5 mV/decade and its detection limit is 9 × 10⁻⁶ M. The response time of electrode is 5 min. The proposed electrode was applied successfully for the determination of cyanide in commercially available spring water. Some anions, such as SCN⁻, I⁻, Cl⁻, Br⁻ and oxalate that are usually serious interfering species for most of cyanide selective electrodes, did not have any interfering effect for this proposed electrode.     

HEXAMETHYLDISILAZANE IN THE PRESENCE OF N,N′,N″,N‴-TETRAMETHYLTETRA-2,3-PYRIDINOPORPHYRAZINATO COPPER (II) IS A NEW,MILD AND HIGHLY EFFICIENT REAGENT FOR SILYLATION OF ALCOHOLS AND PHENOLS

Alcohols and phenols are protected with hexamethyldisilazane in the presence of N,N′,N′,N?-tetramethyletra-2,3-pyridinoporphyrazinato copper (II) in good-to-excellent yields at room temperature.     

Finely dispersed palladium on silk‐fibroin as an efficient and ligand‐free catalyst for Heck cross‐coupling reaction

A palladium–fibroin complex (Pd/Fib.) was prepared by the addition of sonicated fibroin fiber in water to palladium acetate solution. Pd (OAc)₂ was absorbed by fibroin and reduced with NaBH₄ at room temperature to the Pd(0) nanoparticles. Powder‐X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy–energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform‐infrared, CHN elemental analysis and inductively coupled plasma‐atomic emission spectroscopy were carried out to characterize the Pd/Fib. catalyst. Catalytic activity of this finely dispersed palladium was examined in the Heck coupling reaction. The catalytic coupling of aryl halides (‐Cl, ‐Br, ‐I) and olefins led to the formation of the corresponding coupled products in moderate to high yields under air atmosphere. A variety of substrates, including electron‐rich and electron‐poor aryl halides, were converted smoothly to the targeted products in simple procedure. Heterogeneous supported Pd catalyst can be recycled and reused several times.     

Computational fluid-dynamics-based analysis of a ball valve performance in the presence of cavitation

In this paper, the ball valve performance is numerically simulated using an unstructured CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) code based on the finite volume method. Navier-Stokes equations in addition to a transport equation for the vapor volume fraction were coupled in the RANS solver. Separation is modeled very well with a modification of turbulent viscosity. The results of CFD calculations of flow through a ball valve, based on the concept of experimental data, are described and analyzed. Comparison of the flow pattern at several opening angles is investigated. Pressure drop behind the ball valve and formation of the vortex flow downstream the valve section are also discussed. As the opening of the valve decreases, the vortices grow and cause higher pressure drop. In other words, more energy is lost due to these growing vortices. In general, the valve opening plays very important roles in the performance of a ball valve.     

Uranium recovery from UCF liquid waste by nanoporous MCM-41: breakthrough capacity and elution behavior studies

Adsorption and recovery of uranium by nanoporous MCM-41 from aqueous solutions (synthetic solution and uranium conversion facility liquid waste) were investigated by use of a fixed-bed column (1.2 cm diameter and 3.0 cm height). Adsorption was carried out at flow rates 0.2 and 0.5 mL min^?1, which correspond to retention times of 10 and 6 min. The maximum breakthrough capacity for uranium ions was achieved by use of nanoporous MCM-41 at the optimum pH of 3.6 and flow rate 0.2 mL min^?1 (61.95 μg g^?1). The Thomas and Yan models were applied to the experimental data, by use of linear regression, to determine the characteristics of the column for process design. The breakthrough curves calculated from the models were in good agreement with the experimental data. The elution behavior of uranium on nanoporous MCM-41 was studied with different eluents; the results showed that 0.1 M HCl is good eluent for uranium recovery. The regenerated column could be used in a multitude of adsorption–desorption cycles.