Functionalization of hexagonal mesoporous silicas (HMS) for the synthesis of efficient catalyst and investigation of its catalytic activity in the synthesis of 1-amidoalkyl-2-naphthols and 2-substituted benzimidazoles

Preparation and catalytic application of two different nanocatalysts based on hexagonal mesoporous silica (HMS) in synthesis of tetrahydrobenzo[b]pyran and 1,4-dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole derivatives

The present study describes the synthesis, characterization, and investigation of catalytic activity of xanthine-Ni complex (Xa-Ni) and 4-phenylthiosemicarbazide-Cu complex (PTSC-Cu) incorporated into functionalized hexagonal mesoporous silica (HMS/Pr-Xa-Ni and HMS/Pr-PTSC-Cu). These useful mesoporous catalysts had been synthesized and identified using various techniques such as FT-IR, XRD, adsorption-desorption of nitrogen, SEM, TEM, EDX-Map, TGA, AAS and ICP. These spectral techniques successfully confirmed the synthesis of the mesoporous catalysts. The catalytic activity of HMS/Pr-a-Ni (Catalyst A) and HMS/Pr-PTSC-Cu (Catalyst B) were evaluated for synthesis of tetrahydrobenzo[b]pyran and 1,4-dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole derivatives. HMS/Pr-PTSC-Cu exhibited higher efficiency in green media under milder reaction condition at room temperature. Furthermore, the synthesized nanocatalysts, exhibited appropriate recoverability that can be able to reuse for several times without significant loss of catalytic activity.

N, S doped carbon quantum dots inside mesoporous silica for effective adsorption of methylene blue dye

This study aimed to develop non-metal elements for doping carbon quantum dots (CQDs) with nitrogen and sulfur (N, S-CQDs), which loaded inside hexagonal mesoporous silica (HMS) in order to effectively remove methylene blue dye (MB) from an aqueous solution. The histidine and cysteine amino acids were used as the source for synthesis N, S-CQDs through the hydrothermal method. Morphology and structure of the N, S-CQDs, and adsorbent (N, S-CQDs/HMS) were characterized by using different microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. The adsorption parameters such as adsorbent dosage (0.25–1 g/L), pH (2–10), contact time (15–75 min), and initial MB dye concentration (20–300 mg/L) were investigated. The maximum adsorption capacity and removal efficiency of MB were determined at 370.4 mg/g and 97%, respectively, under optimum conditions at 303 K. The adsorption isotherm studies were fitted with the Freundlich isotherm equation, and the dye removal kinetics of the adsorbent followed the pseudo-second-order model. Thermodynamic studies showed that the adsorption process had exothermic and spontaneous behavior. The removal of MB next to the Rhodamine B and Reactive Black 5 dyes indicated that the N, S-CQDs/HMS had excellent selective behavior for MB absorption. This prepared adsorbent could be well recycled with suitable activity after four repeated adsorption–desorption cycles. Results revealed that the porous characters, surface area, charge properties, reduction in the bandgap, and quantum yield of the N, S-CQDs/HMS were essential factors that affected dye adsorption.