Preparation, characterization and application of CuCrO2/ZnO photocatalysts for the reduction of Cr(VI)

The delafossite CuCrO₂ elaborated by sol-gel from 40 nm diameter colloid is optically active in the visible region. It is characterized physically and photoelectrochemically. The microstructure is fairly homogenous with a mean crystallite size of ca. 2 μm. The optical gap (1.30 eV), determined from the diffuse reflectance, is well suited to the sunlight spectrum. The Mott Schottky plot is characteristic of P-type conductivity with a flat band potential of -0.26 V_SCE. As application, the photoreduction of chromate is successfully achieved in air-equilibrated suspension CuCrO₂/ZnO (1/1). CuCrO₂ is photoactivated by visible light and the electrons in the conduction band (-1.34 V_SCE) are injected to ZnO. In the presence of salicylic acid, a conversion of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) of 57% is obtained under optimal conditions (pH 3 at 25℃, 5×10^-4 mol/L) because of the HCrO₄^- dark adsorption onto ZnO (4HCrO₄^- + 3C₇H₆O₃ + 18O₂ + 16H⁺ → 4Cr³⁺ + 21CO₂ + 19H₂O, ΔG⁰ = -557 kcal/mol). Prolonged illumination is accompanied by a deceleration in the photoactivity owing to the competitive water reduction, an issue of energetic concern. The hetero-system exhibits self sensitization for hydrogen production with an evolution rate of 149 μmol/(hr·g).     

Transverse approach between real world concentrations of SO2, NO2, BTEX, aldehyde emissions and corrosion in the Grand Mare tunnel

With regard to automotive traffic, a tunnel-type semi enclosed atmosphere is characterized by a higher concentration of gaseous pollutants than on urban traffic roads and highlights the gaseous effluent species having an impact on material degradation. Therefore, a transverse approach between air quality and its consequences upon the longevity of materials is necessary, implying better knowledge of tunnel atmosphere and a better understanding of material degradation inside a tunnel for operating administration. Gaseous pollutant measurements carried out in a road tunnel in Rouen (Normandy) give the real world traffic concentrations of experimental exposure conditions. The sampling campaigns, achieved in summer and winter include SO₂, NO₂, BTEX and aldehyde analyses. Effluent profiles in the upward and downward tubes have been established. The current work shows that SO₂, NO₂, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propanal and butanal must be considered in the degradation process of materials in a stuffy environment. As regards NO₂, its concentration depends on the modification of the automotive fleet. The total aldehyde concentrations indicate no particular trend between the two bores. Formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propanal, butanal and acrolein species are the most abundant species emitted by vehicles and represent 90% to 95% of the total aldehyde emissions.     

Characterizing the optimal operation of photocatalytic degradation of BDE-209 by nano-sized TiO2

Brominated flame retardants have been widely used in industry. There is a rapid growing public concern for their availabilities in the environment. Advanced oxidation process (AOP) is a promising and efficient technology which may be used to remove emerging chemicals such as brominated flame retardants. This project aims at investigating optimal operational conditions for the removal of BDE-209 using nano-scaled titanium(IV) oxide. The residual PBDE congeners after photocatalytical degradation of BDE-209 by TiO₂ were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). It was found that the degradability of BDE-209 by TiO₂ was attributed to its photocatalytic activity but not the small size of the particles. The half-life of removing BDE-209 by TiO₂ was 3.05 days under visible light. Tetra- and penta-BDEs were the major degraded products of BDE-209. Optimum conditions for photocatalytical degradation of BDE-209 was found to be at pH 12 (93% ± 1%), 5, 10, 20 mg/L (93.0% ± 1.70%, 91.6% ± 3.21%, 91.9% ± 0.952%, respectively), respectively of humic acid and in the form of anatase/rutile TiO₂ (82% ± 3%). Hence, the efficiency of removing BDE-209 can be maximized while being cost effective at the said operating conditions.     

Effects of WOx modification on the activity, adsorption and redox properties of CeO2 catalyst for NOx reduction with ammonia

A series of WO₃/CeO₂ (WOx/CeO₂) catalysts were synthesized by wet impregnation of ammonium metatungstate on a CeO₂ support. The resulting solid acid catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Raman spectroscopy (Raman), in-situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (in-situ FT-IR) of ammonia adsorption, NH₃-TPD, H₂ temperature-programmed reduction (H₂-TPR), NH₃/NO oxidation and activity measurements for NOx reduction by NH₃ (NH₃-SCR). The results show that polytungstate (WOx) species are the main species of tungsten oxide on the surface of ceria. The addition of tungsten oxide enhances the Brönsted acidity of ceria catalysts remarkably and decreases the amount of surface oxygen on ceria, with strong interaction between CeO₂ and WOx. As a result, the N₂ selectivity of NH₃ oxidation and NH₃-SCR at high temperatures (> 300℃) is enhanced. Therefore, a wide working temperature window in which NOx conversion exceeds 80% (NOx conversion > 80%) from 200 to 450℃, is achieved over 10 wt.% WOx/CeO₂ catalyst. A tentative model of the NH₃-SCR reaction route on WOx/CeO₂ catalysts is presented.     

Effect of CeO2 and Al2O3 on the activity of Pd/Co_3O_4/cordierite catalyst in the three-way catalysis reactions (CO/NO/CnHm)

The present article studies the effect of CeO₂ and Al₂O₃ on the activity of Pd/Co₃O₄/cordierite catalyst in conversion of NO, CO, C_nH_m. The catalysts were characterized by temperature programmed reduction with hydrogen, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. It is shown that the effect of CeO₂ on the properties of Pd/Co₃O₄/cordierite catalyst depends on preparation method. The catalyst obtained by co-deposition of cerium and cobalt oxides has higher activity in CO oxidation (CO + O₂ and CO + NO) and total hexane oxidation (C₆H₁₄ + O₂). Such phenomenon is probably caused by more than stoichiometric amount of formed oxygen vacancies, an increase in both mobility of surface oxygen and dispersity of components in the catalytic composition. It is demonstrated that CeO₂ addition promotes the SO₂ resistance of Pd/Co₃O₄/cordierite. The second support decreases the activity of Pd/Co₃O₄/cordierite catalyst in the reactions of CO and C₆H₁₄ with oxygen because of CoAl₂O₄ formation.     

Aminobenzenesulfonamide functionalized SBA-15 nanoporous molecular sieve: A new and promising adsorbent for preconcentration of lead and copper ions

A rapid method for the extraction and monitoring of nanogram level of Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺ ions using uniform silanized mesopor (SBA-15) functionalized with aminobenzenesulfonamide groups and flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) is presented. Aminobenzenesulfonamide functionalized SBA-15 was synthesized according to procedure in the literature and the presence of organic groups in the silica framework was demonstrated by FT-IR spectra. The functionalized product showed the BET surface area 110 m²/g and pore diameter 5.1 nm, based on adsorption-desorption of N₂ at 77 K. The effect of several variables such as (amount of adsorbent, stirring time, pH and presence of other ions in the medium) has been studied. Lead and copper were completely extracted at pH greater than 3 after stirring for 10 min. The maximum capacity of the adsorbent was found to be 191.3 ± 1.4 and 155.0 ± 1.0 μg of lead and copper ions/mg functionalized SBA-15, respectively. The preconcentration factor of the method was found to be 200. The detection limit of the technique was 3.4 and 0.4 ng/mL for Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺, respectively. The applications of this methodology for real samples were examined by various water type, black tea and pepper samples.     

镍掺杂二氧化钛光催化剂的制备与光催化性能研究

利用溶胶-凝胶法制备了镍掺杂的二氧化钛,采用紫外可见分光光度计、傅里叶红外分光光度计、X衍射仪(XRD)、扫描电镜(SEM)等测试手段对结果进行了表征。表征结果表明在550℃下煅烧的产物主要是锐钛型二氧化钛,镍的掺杂使得二氧化钛的紫外可见反射光谱明显红移,且镍掺杂二氧化钛的粒度减小,团聚程度下降。以活性艳蓝KN-R为模型降解目标物,通过比较镍掺杂二氧化钛、纯二氧化钛以及标准P25二氧化钛的光催化性能发现镍掺杂二氧化钛的光催化活性最好。当钛酸正丁酯/乙醇比为1:25;钛酸正丁酯/冰乙酸比为1:1;钛酸正丁酯/硝酸镍比为1 000:3;煅烧温度为550℃,煅烧时间为2 h时,镍掺杂二氧化钛的光催化效率最高,达到73.3%。     

华南沿海某大气背景点黑碳气溶胶污染特征

黑碳气溶胶(BC)因其显著的气候效应和对人类健康的危害而成为研究的热点。研究背景点位BC的浓度水平和来源特征有助于掌握BC在区域尺度上的辐射强迫特性和环境影响。2009年秋季在华南沿海某区域大气背景点进行了为期约40 d的BC在线观测。观测期间BC的平均浓度为(2.34±1.33)μg/m3,与其它区域背景点相比处于较高水平。利用中尺度天气研究和预报系统WRF模拟的高分辨率三维气象场数据驱动HYSPLIT-4反向轨迹模式,模拟观测期间每小时的气团轨迹,将所有轨迹分为来源特征明显的东北沿海、北方内陆、香港方向和东南海面方向四类。当受到东北沿海来源气团影响时,BC的浓度为平均水平的1.4倍,BC和CO有较好的线性相关关系,而其它三类气团影响时的BC浓度都低于平均浓度,且BC和CO的相关关系很差,说明来自东北沿海地区的较近距离区域传输是影响该背景点大气BC的主要源区。     

沸石负载介孔TiO_2的制备及其可见光催化性能研究

以人工沸石为载体,采用溶胶-凝胶法,制备出了沸石负载介孔改性TiO2光催化剂。以亚甲基蓝为目标污染物,研究了不同掺杂金属及介孔薄膜制备方法对纳米TiO2可见光催化性能的影响。用扫描电镜(SEM)、紫外-可见吸收光谱(UV-vis)等手段研究了掺杂改性前后TiO2的变化。研究发现,N-Fe掺杂可使催化剂的光吸收谱带红移。当掺杂Fe的比为0.2%,焙烧温度为500℃时制备的TiO2效果最好,在可见光照射2 h后,亚甲基蓝的去除率可达90%。研究表明经十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTAB)作为模板剂修饰后的TiO2催化效果有明显提高,通过将经过萃取去除模板剂的共掺TiO2和直接高温焙烧的TiO2对比后发现,前者比后者降解亚甲基蓝的效果要好,原因在于,高温直接焙烧去除模板剂很容易使模板剂形成的骨架塌陷,减小了比表面积,从而影响了其光催化性能。     

改性甘蔗渣对Pb~(2+)、Cd~(2+)的吸附行为研究

为提高废弃甘蔗渣对重金属离子Cd2+和Pb2+的吸附能力,文章采用简单的方法制备了乙二胺四乙酸二酐(EDTAD)修饰的甘蔗渣。经FTIR分析,有大量的羰基修饰在了甘蔗渣的表面,为其吸附重金属离子提供了更多的活性位点。实验结果表明:经过修饰后的甘蔗渣对Cd2+和Pb2+的吸附量分别为46.46 mg/g、119.36 mg/g,是未修饰的3.69和12.31倍,且均能在20 min内达到最大吸附量并保持平衡,其吸附符合Langmuir等温吸附模型,且吸附过程遵循二级动力学模型。在pH 4~7范围内,修饰SCB对Cd2+和Pb2+具有较高的吸附能力。除此之外,在Cd2+、Pb2+、Cu2+和Zn2+共存的情况下,修饰SCB对Pb2+仍能保持较高的吸附量。修饰后的甘蔗渣对Cd2+和Pb2+的吸附能力有了显著提高,且具有一定的抗干扰能力,有望应用于实际工业废水处理。