Newly developed Fe3O4–Cr2O3 magnetic nanocomposite for photocatalytic decomposition of 4-chlorophenol in water

Chlorophenols, typically 4-chlorophenols are highly toxic and non-biodegradable organic contaminants which pose serious threat to the environment, particularly when released into aqueous medium. The removal of these pollutants by efficient method has received worldwide concern in recent past. A new Fe_3O_4–Cr_2O_3 magnetic nanocomposite was synthesized by wet chemical method under ultrasonic irradiation. Microstructure and morphology of the nanocomposite were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction(XRD),Fourier transform infrared(FT-IR), and a transmission electron microscope(TEM). Magnetic and optical properties were studied by a vibrating sample magnetometer(VSM) and an ultraviolet–visible(UV–Vis) spectrophotometer respectively. The magnetic nanocomposite(MNC) was used as photocatalyst for effective decomposition of 4-chlorophenol in water under ultraviolet(UV) irradiation.     

Enhanced adsorption of Methylene Blue from aqueous solution by chitosan-g-poly （acrylic acid）/vermiculite hydrogel composites

A series of chitosan-g-poly (acrylic acid)/vermiculite hydrogel composites were synthesized and used as adsorbents for the investigation of the e ect of process parameters such as vermiculite content, pH of dye solution, contact time, initial concentration of dye solution, temperature, ionic strength and concentration of surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate on the removal of Methylene Blue (MB) from aqueous solution. The results showed that the adsorption capacity for dye increased with increasing pH, contact time and initial dye concentration, but decreased with increasing temperature, ionic strength and sodium dodecyl sulfate concentration in the present of the surfactant. The adsorption kinetics of MB onto the hydrogel composite followed pseudo second-order kinetics and the adsorption equilibrium data obeyed Langmuir isotherm. By introducing 10 wt.% vermiculite into chitosan-g-poly (acrylic acid) polymeric network, the obtaining hydrogel composite showed the highest adsorption capacity for MB, and then could be regarded as a potential adsorbent for cationic dye removal in a wastewater treatment process.     

Phosphorus removal by a fixed-bed hybrid polymer nanocomposite biofilm reactor

Eutrophication is one of the main challenges regarding the ecological quality of surface waters, phosphorus bioavailability being its main driver. In this context, a novel hybrid polymer nanocomposite (HPN-Pr) biofilm reactor aimed at integrated chemical phosphorus adsorption and biological removal was conceived. The assays pointed to removal of 1.2 mg P/g of reactive phosphorus and 1.01 mg P/g of total phosphorus under steady-state conditions. A mathematical adsorption–biological model was applied to predict reactor performance, which indicated that biological activity has a positive effect on reactor performance, increasing the amount of reactive phosphorus removed.     

磁性吸附剂MZFS吸附偶氮染料中性红的性能及机理

利用正硅酸乙酯水解制备得到"核-壳"结构的磁性吸附剂MZF@SiO₂（MZFS），采用X射线衍射（XRD）、透射电子显微镜（TEM）、振动样品磁强计（VSM）和傅利叶变换红外光谱（FT-IR）对MZFS的结构和性能进行表征，并研究MZFS对偶氮染料中性红（NR）的吸附性能.结果表明，拟二级动力学和Freundlich模型均能较好地描述该吸附过程，吸附过程的速率控制步骤为化学吸附；吸附自由能E为0.472-0.773kJ/mol，△G为-20~0kJ/mol，△H为37.5kJ/mol，表明该过程是以物理吸附为主的自发吸热过程.FT-IR结果表明吸附的主要作用力为分子间氢键，MZFS可采用15% wt H₂O₂进行原位再生.研究结果能为偶氮染料废水处理方法的革新提供基础理论数据.     

Hydrolytic and enzymatic degradation of poly(γ-glutamic acid) hydrogels and their application in slow-release systems for proteins

The hydrolytic and enzymatic degradation of newly developed hydrogels, produced by cross-linking purified poly(-glutamic acid) (PGA) with dihaloalkane compounds, was studied and is reported in this paper. Analysis of hydrolysis of the hydrogel as a function of pH indicated that the hydrolysis occurred slowly at neutral pH, but fast in both acidic and alkaline solutions, while the polymer could be hydrolyzed rapidly only in acidic solutions. The ester bonds were more sensitive to hydrolysis than peptide bonds. The biodegradability of the hydrogel and polymer was further confirmed when enzymatic degradation was studied by three enzymes (cathepsin B, pronase E, and trypsin), which were able to cleave both ester and peptide bonds gradually. A slow-release system for porcine somatotropin (pST) formed by using the hydrogel as matrix to entrap the hormone was evaluatedin vitro andin vivo. Results demonstrated that the hydrogel was able to release the hormone for a period of 20–30 days and indicated its potential application in slow-release systems for bioactive materials, especially macromolecules, such as peptides and proteins.     

Preparation and characterisation of green clay-polymer nanocomposite for heavy metals removal

ABSTRACT

Natural polymer Moringa oleifera seed as coagulant and bentonite clay as adsorbent were used for preparing novel composite coagulant. Results obtained from FTIR, SEM, TEM and P-XRD show that the bentonite clay and M. oleifera seed biopolymers physico-chemically interact with each other during the preparation of clay-polymer composite. The FTIR results show that the major functional groups present in bentonite clay and M. oleifera seed are integrated at nano levels in the novel composite to remove heavy metals from aqueous systems. The coagulo-adsorption using clay-polymer composite may be used for the adsorption of heavy metals ions from the aqueous systems. It becomes possible due to the structural characteristics of the clay crystallites together with the functional attraction of the biopolymer and it results in the formation of clay-polymer metal complexes. The clay-polymer nano-composite of M. oleifera seed and bentonite clay showed considerable cadmium, chromium and lead removal property.     

Surface modification of mesoporous silica nanoparticle with 4-triethoxysilylaniline to enhance seawater desalination properties of thin-film nanocomposite reverse osmosis membranes

• Mesoporous silica nanoparticle was modified with 4-triethoxysilylaniline. • AMSN-based TFN-RO membranes were prepared for seawater desalination. • Water transport capability of the AMSN was limited by polyamide. • Polyamide still plays a key role in permeability of the TFN RO membranes. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN), with higher water permeability than NaA zeolite, were used to fabricate thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) reverse osmosis (RO) membranes. However, only aminoalkyl-modified MSN and low-pressure (less than 2.1 MPa) RO membrane were investigated. In this study, aminophenyl-modified MSN (AMSN) were synthesized and used to fabricate high-pressure (5.52 MPa) RO membranes. With the increasing of AMSN dosage, the crosslinking degree of the aromatic polyamide decreased, while the hydrophilicity of the membranes increased. The membrane morphology was maintained to show a ridge-and-valley structure, with only a slight increase in membrane surface roughness. At the optimum conditions (AMSN dosage of 0.25 g/L), when compared with the pure polyamide RO membrane, the water flux of the TFN RO membrane (55.67 L/m²/h) was increased by about 21.6%, while NaCl rejection (98.97%) was slightly decreased by only 0.29%. However, the water flux of the membranes was much lower than expected. We considered that the enhancement of RO membrane permeability is attributed to the reduction of the effective thickness of the PA layer.     

多孔水凝胶P（HEA/AMPS）对水溶液中Fe（Ⅲ）的吸附

以2-丙烯酸羟乙酯（HEA）和2-丙烯酰胺基-2-甲基丙磺酸（AMPS）为单体合成了聚合物水凝胶（PHEA/AMPS）,采用水凝胶对水溶液中Fe（Ⅲ）的吸附行为进行了研究。实验主要考察了聚合物组分、溶液pH、初始Fe（Ⅲ）浓度和吸附时间对水凝胶吸附作用的影响,并通过FT-IR和XPS分析了吸附前后水凝胶的变化。结果表明,当单体摩尔比AMPS∶HEA=1∶1,pH=2时,水凝胶对Fe（Ⅲ）的吸附容量最大。水凝胶对水溶液中Fe（Ⅲ）的吸附容量随着溶液中初始Fe3＋浓度的增加而增加,但当初始Fe3＋的浓度达到1 g/L时,吸附容量基本达到饱和。吸附等温线符合Langmuir等温线方程,吸附动力学符合准二级模型。FI-IR和XPS的分析表明,水凝胶的磺酸基和酰胺基是吸附Fe3＋的有效功能性基团,吸附机理为螯合和离子交换。     

纳米复合水凝胶的制备及其对重金属离子的吸附

以N-羟甲基丙烯酰胺(HMAm)和2-丙烯酸羟乙酯(HEA)为共聚单体,采用60Co-γ射线低温辐照法,制备了具酰胺基和羟基的新型聚合物水凝胶p(HMAm/HEA),运用原位沉淀法制备了纳米复合水凝胶HMO-p(HMAm/HEA),用于对重金属离子Pb~(2+)和Cu~(2+)的去除.应用SEM、TEM、FTIR等方法对水凝胶进行表征,表征结果证明p(HMAm/HEA)是HMAm和HEA的共聚产物,且纳米水合氧化锰(HMO)成功负载.探讨了溶液初始p H值、反应温度、重金属初始浓度、反应时间、竞争性Ca~(2+)和Na+浓度等因素对纳米复合水凝胶吸附过程的影响,研究表明HMO-p(HMAm/HEA)对Pb~(2+)和Cu~(2+)的吸附过程不受温度的影响;吸附量随着溶液初始p H的升高而增加;吸附过程属于Langmuir单分子层吸附;吸附动力学过程符合准二级动力学吸附;高浓度的Ca~(2+)和Na~+对吸附过程影响不大.XPS图谱进一步证明吸附机制是重金属离子与羟基间的离子交换作用.采用0.05 mol·L~(-1)的HCl溶液为脱附剂,经过4次吸附-脱附循环再生后,纳米复合水凝胶重复利用性好.     

Removal of natural organic matter by cationic hydrogel with magnetic properties

Magnetic cationic hydrogel (MCH) was synthesized, and its removal efficiency and mechanisms in regard to natural organic matter (NOM, represented by humic acid and fulvic acid) from the aqueous environment were studied. The effects of time, adsorbent dosage, initial pH, ionic strength, background ions, and NOM types were also investigated. MCH was characterized and found to have a strong magnetic character, yielding an extra advantage for recycling and reuse. Batch studies showed that the removal of Aldrich humic acid (AHA) by MCH was effective. The main mechanism for the removal of NOM is believed to be due to electrostatic interaction. NOM with larger molecular weight tended to be preferentially removed. Solutions with low pH, high ionic strength, and background electrolytes containing calcium, sulfate and bicarbonate were unfavorable for AHA removal. The adsorption-desorption of MCH was evaluated in three cycles, and demonstrated high regeneration rates.