Surface modification of polypropylene non-woven fibers with TiO2 nanoparticles via layer-by-layer self assembly method: Preparation and photocatalytic activity

Polypropylene (PP) meltblown fibers were coated with titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles using layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition technique. The fibers were first modified with 3 layers of poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid) (PSS) and poly(diallyl-dimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) to improve the anchoring of the TiO₂ nanoparticle clusters. PDADMAC, which is positively charged, was then used as counter polyelectrolyte in tandem with anionic TiO₂ nanoparticles to construct TiO₂/PDADMAC bilayer in the LbL fashion. The number of deposited TiO₂/PDADMAC layers was varied from 1 to 7 bilayer, and could be used to adjust TiO₂ loading. The LbL technique showed higher TiO₂ loading efficiency than the impregnation approach. The modified fibers were tested for their photocatalytic activity against a model dye, Methylene Blue (MB). Results showed that the TiO₂ modified fibers exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity efficiency similar to that of TiO₂ powder dispersed in solution. The deposition of TiO₂ 3 bilayer on the PP substrate was sufficient to produce nanocomposite fibers that could bleach the MB solution in less than 4 hr. TiO₂-LbL constructions also preserved TiO₂ adhesion on substrate surface after 1 cycle of photocatalytic test. Successive photocatalytic test showed decline in MB reduction rate with loss of TiO₂ particles from the substrate outer surface. However, even in the third cycle, the TiO₂ modified fibers are still moderately effective as it could remove more than 95% of MB after 8 hr of treatment.     

一种光催化体系光催化降解苯胺的研究

以钛酸丁酯为原料．以膨润土为载体,用酸性溶胶法合成TiO2纳米复合物,并利用该复合物作催化剂,在H2O2存在下进行光催化降解苯胺溶液。结果表明,该催化剂在UV／H2O2系统中对苯胺溶液有很好的光催化降解效果,其效果优于纯TiO2;H2O2的存在提高了苯胺光催化降解速率,在本实验条件下其最佳摩尔浓度是5mmol／L;溶液pH是影响反应速率的重要因素．pH在中性范围内具有更强的光催化活性;该体系中苯胺能够有效地被降解,其光催化反应遵循一级反应动力学规律。     

Environmental monitoring of complex hydrocarbon mixtures in water and soil samples after solid phase microextraction using PVC/MWCNTs nanocomposite fiber

A novel nanocomposite based on incorporation of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) was prepared. Proposed nanocomposite was coated on stainless steel wire by deep coating. Composition of nanocomposite was optimized based on results of morphological studies using scanning electron microscopy. The best composition (83% MWCNTs:17% PVC) was applied as a solid phase microextraction fiber. Complex mixture of aromatic (BTEX) and aliphatic hydrocarbons (C₅–C₃₄) were selected as model analytes, and performance of proposed fiber in extraction of the studied compounds from water and soil samples was evaluated. Analytical merits of the method for water samples (LODs = 0.10–1.10 ng L⁻¹, r² = 0.9940–0.9994) and for soil samples (LODs = 0.10–0.77 ng kg⁻¹, r² = 0.9946–0.9994) showed excellent characteristics of it in ultra trace determination of petroleum type environmental pollutants. Finally, the method was used for determination of target analytes in river water, industrial effluent and soil samples.     

Experimental investigation on extinguishing performance of a novel nanocomposite for gaseous fires

A novel nanocomposite was synthesized by incorporating three different types of flame-retardants and its extinguishing performance was tested for gaseous fires. The nanocomposite consists of the inorganic magnesium hydroxide (MH) nanoparticles as the dominant component, the nitrogen-based melamine cyanurate (MCA), and the phosphorus-based ODOPB. The wet mixing, dry mixing, and ultrasonic agitation were employed in the preparation process to enhance the homogeneity of the nanocomposite. The prepared powders were characterized using a series of analytical instruments including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermal gravity analyzer (TGA), and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The efficiency of various samples in extinguishing gaseous fires was investigated in a lab-scale extinguishing system. The fire extinguishing tests indicated that the nanocomposite is considerably more effective in fire extinguishing than other powders in terms of extinction time and agent mass consumed. The fire extinction time of nanocomposite was 45.2% shorter than that of commercial ABC-MAP powder. Furthermore, the consumed amount of nanocomposite was 63.2% less than that of commercial powder. In addition, the order of extinguishing mass concentrations was as follows: the novel nanocomposite (103.7 g/m³) < MH/MCA (148.1 g/m³) < MH/ODOPB (155.6 g/m³) < MH (170.4 g/m³) < commercial ABC powder (281.5 g/m³) < MCA/ODOPB (384.1 g/m³). The fire suppression mechanisms of the nanocomposite were also discussed. It was inferred that the extinguishing mechanism of nanocomposite comprised of simultaneous chemical and physical inhibition actions involving chemical inhibition action, cooling action, and asphyxiation action. This study provides a promising attempt to gain benefits from the striking features of nanotechnology and flame-retardants in extinguishing gaseous fires.     

Optimized photocatalytic regeneration of adsorption-photocatalysis bifunctional composite saturated with Methyl Orange

Photo-responsive adsorption-photocatalysis nanocomposites are generally used in water and wastewater decontamination; however, the prolonged adsorption capacity of composites and the role of adsorption in concomitant photocatalysis are typically neglected. These composites can be regenerated under light irradiation as their adsorption capacity decreases. Herein, a novel adsorption-photocatalysis bifunctional nanocomposite, Bi-doped TiO₂ supported on powdered activated carbon (Bi₂O₃/TiO₂/PAC), was prepared using the sol-impregnation-hydrothermal procedure. Bi₂O₃/TiO₂/PAC with a secondary calcination temperature of 700°C under a nitrogen atmosphere was selected for maximum adsorption capacity on Methyl Orange (MO). The composite displayed an excellent adsorption capacity and was easily separated and recycled. The results demonstrate that 71.2% photocatalytic regeneration efficiency could be attained under visible light irradiation for 1 hr at an intensity of 750?W/m² and pH 7. Characterization of the as-prepared Bi₂O₃/TiO₂/PAC nanocomposite (700°C) indicates that it possesses a highly specific surface area and great optical properties, showing bifunctional adsorption-photocatalysis characteristics. The p-n heterojunction of the composite played a dominant role in the photocatalytic regeneration process, and effective degradation of MO could be achieved along with composite regeneration.     

阻燃高抗冲聚苯乙烯/有机改性蒙脱土纳米复合材料阻燃效应的研究(Ⅰ)--传统阻燃剂与改性蒙脱土的阻燃协效性

运用"一步熔融共混法"制备了包含十溴联苯醚(DBDPO)-氧化锑(Sb2O3)和蒙脱土(MMT)-十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(C16BrN)阻燃体系的高抗冲聚苯乙烯(HIPS)复合材料,并通过X射线衍射(XRD)、透射电镜(TEM)、UL 94垂直燃烧测试和锥形量热计等测试手段对其结构形貌和燃烧性能进行了表征.结果表明,在传统阻燃剂DBDPO存在前提下,仍然获取了具有插层结构的高抗冲聚苯乙烯/蒙脱土(HIPS/MMT)纳米复合材料.燃烧特性实验发现两种阻燃体系在HIPS基体中具有良好协效性,复合材料热释放速率大幅下降.这种效应为减少溴系阻燃剂用量以降低生产成本和减轻不良环境效应提供了依据,对于发展绿色环保型高性能聚合物阻燃复合材料非常有意义.     

A novel graphene oxide-carbon nanotubes anchored α-FeOOH hybrid activated persulfate system for enhanced degradation of Orange II

Persulfate activation has been applied as one of the efficient advanced oxidation processes(AOPs) to remediate polluted environments. In this study, a novel α-FeOOH anchored by graphene oxide(GO)-carbon nanotubes(CNTs) aerogel(α-FeOOH@GCA) nanocomposite activated persulfate system(α-FeOOH@GCA + K_2S_2O_8) was applied for decolorization of Orange Ⅱ(OⅡ). The decolorization of OⅡ was remarkably enhanced to a level of ～ 99% in this system compared with that of pristine α-FeOOH(～ 44%) or GO-CNTs(～18%). The enhanced catalytic activity of α-FeOOH@GCA was due to the formation of a heterojunction byα-FeOOH and GO-CNTs as confirmed by the presence of Fe–O–C chemical bonds. The degradation intermediates of OⅡ were comprehensively identified. The proposed degradation pathway of OⅡ begins with the destruction of the conjugated structures of OⅡ by the dominant reactive oxygen species, surface-bound SO_4~(·-). The decolorization efficiency of OⅡ by the α-FeOOH@GCA activated persulfate system decreased from the first to third cycle of recycling. Ultraviolet(UV) irradiation or introduction of a small amount of Fe~(2+) could restore the activation of this system. The results show that the α-FeOOH@GCA persulfate activation system promises to be a highly efficient environmental remediation method for organic pollutants.     

Synthesis of a novel illite@carbon nanocomposite adsorbent for removal of Cr(VI) from wastewater

A novel illite@carbon (I@C) nanocomposite adsorbent has been synthesized via a facile hydrothermal carbonization process (HTC) using glucose as carbonaceous source and illite as the carrier. The morphology, microstructure and surface properties of the prepared nanocomposite adsorbent were analyzed by FESEM, TGA, XRD, FT-IR and Zeta potential measurements. Batch experiments were carried out on the adsorption of Cr(VI) to determine the adsorption properties of the composite. The adsorption of Cr(VI) onto the I@C nanocomposite was well described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm. Compared with the illite and carbon material (SC) separately, the prepared I@C nanocomposite adsorbent exhibited enhanced adsorption performance for Cr(VI) with a maximum adsorption capacity of 149.25 mg/g, which was higher than that of most reported adsorbents. In addition, the adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic based on the adsorption thermodynamics study. The adsorption of Cr(VI) by I@C was highly pH-dependent and the optimum adsorption occurred at pH 2.0. The Zeta potential analysis results indicated that the electrostatic interactions between anionic Cr(VI) and the positively charged surface of the adsorbent might be critical to the adsorption mechanism. This study demonstrated that the I@C nanocomposite should be a promising candidate for a low-cost, environmental friendly and highly efficient adsorbent for the removal of toxic Cr(VI) from wastewater.     

Superior trichloroethylene removal from water by sulfide-modified nanoscale zero-valent iron/graphene aerogel composite

Sulfide-modified nanoscale zero-valent iron (S-nZVI) is a promising material for removal of organic pollutants from water, but S-nZVI nanoparticles (NPs) easily agglomerate and have poor contact with organic contaminants. Herein, we propose a new S-nZVI/graphene aerogel (S-nZVI/GA) composite which exhibits superior removal capability for trichloroethylene (TCE) from water. Three-dimensional porous graphene aerogel (GA) can improve the efficiency of electron transport, enhance the adsorption of organic pollutants and restrain the agglomeration of the core-shell S-nZVI NPs. The TCE removal rates of FeS, nZVI, GA and S-nZVI were 27.8%, 42%, 63% and 75% in 2?hr, respectively. Furthermore, TCE was completely removed within 50?min by S-nZVI/GA. The TCE removal rate increased with increasing pH and temperature, and TCE removal followed the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. The results demonstrate the great potential of S-nZVI/GA composite as a low-cost, easily separated and superior monolithic adsorbent for removal of organic pollutants.     

Improved utilization of active sites for phosphorus adsorption in FeOOH/anion exchanger nanocomposites via a glycol-solvothermal synthesis strategy

Metal oxide/hydroxide-based nanocomposite adsorbents with porous supporting matrices have been recognized as efficient adsorbents for phosphorus recovery. Aiming at satisfying increasingly restrictive environmental requirements involving improving metal site utilization and lowering metal leakage risk, a glycol-solvothermal confined-space synthesis strategy was proposed for the fabrication of Fe OOH/anion exchanger nanocomposites（Fe/900s）with enhanced metal site utilization and reduced metal lea...