Zero-valent iron nanoparticles entrapped in SiO2 sol-gel matrices: A catalyst for the reduction of several pollutants

Effect of Sol-Gel Silica Matrices on the Chemical Properties of Adsorbed/Entrapped Compounds

The sol-gel process enables the preparation of silica-based matrices with tailored composition and properties that can be used in a variety of applications, including catalysis, controlled release, sensors, separation, etc. Commonly, it is assumed that silica matrices prepared via the sol-gel synthesis route are "inert" and, therefore, do not affect the properties of the substrate or the catalyst. This short review points out that porous silica affects the properties of adsorbed/entrapped species and, in some cases, takes an active part in the reactions. The charged matrix affects the diffusion of ions, thus affecting catalytic and adsorption processes. Furthermore, recent results point out that ≡Si-O. radicals are long-lived and participate in redox processes. Thus, clearly, porous silica is not an inert matrix as commonly considered.

Heterogeneous Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution Reaction by a Sol-Gel Electrode with Entrapped Na3 [Ru2 (μ-CO3 )4 ]: The Effect of NaHCO3

The Na3 [Ru2 (μ-CO3 )4 ] complex is acting as a water oxidation catalyst in a homogeneous system. Due to the significance of heterogeneous systems and the effect of bicarbonate on the kinetic, we studied the bicarbonate effect on the heterogeneous electrocatalyst by entrapping the Na3 [Ru2 (μ-CO3 )4 ] complex in a sol-gel matrix. We have developed two types of sol-gel electrodes, which differ by the precursor, and are demonstrating their stability over a minimum of 200 electrochemical cycles. The pH increases affected the currents and kcat for both types of electrodes, and their hydrophobicity, which was obtained from the precursor type, influenced the electrocatalytic process rate. The results indicate that NaHCO3 has an important role in the catalytic activity of the presented heterogeneous systems; without NaHCO3 , the diffusing species is probably OH- , which undergoes diffusion via the Grotthuss mechanism. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to present a simple and fast one-step entrapment process for the Na3 [Ru2 (μ-CO3 )4 ] complex by the sol-gel method under standard laboratory conditions. The results contribute to optimizing the WSP, ultimately helping expand the usage of hydrogen as a green and more readily available energy source.

Dual Role of Silicon-based Matrices in Electron Exchange Matrices for Waste Treatment

Para chloro aniline (PCA) is a common toxic pollutant found in pharmaceutical wastewater. Our study suggests a novel PCA treatment method based on a heterogeneous advanced oxidation process (AOP) that proceeds in an electron exchange matrix (EEM) prepared by the incorporation of redox-active specie in silica matrices using the sol-gel synthesis route. The results, which are supported by DFT calculations, show that the silicon skeleton of the EEM has two important roles, both as a porous matrix that hosts the redox species and as an oxidant species involved in the AOP. The calculations indicate that the formation of a radical on the nitrogen is favored. The suggested mechanism could shed light on the AOP, which proceeds in a heterogenous system, and on its application inside the understudied EEMs that, until now, have been a virtual black box. A better understanding of the mechanism could lead to improved control over the heterogeneous processes that can play a critical role in industries with the need to treat small amounts of toxic compounds at low concentrations, such as in the pharmaceutical industry.

Electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate - a step towards a sustainable nitrogen cycle

Nitrate enrichment, which is mainly caused by the over-utilization of fertilisers and industrial sewage discharge, is a major global engineering challenge because of its negative influence on the environment and human health. To solve this serious problem, many technologies, such as the activated sludge method, reverse osmosis, ion exchange, adsorption, and electrodialysis, have been developed to reduce the nitrate levels in water bodies. However, the applications of these traditional techniques are limited by several drawbacks, such as a long sludge retention time, slow kinetics, and undesirable by-products. From an environmental perspective, the most promising nitrate reduction technology is enabled to convert nitrate into benign N₂, and features low cost, high efficiency, and environmental friendliness. Recently, electrocatalytic nitrate reduction has been proven by satisfactory research achievements to be one of the most promising methods among these technologies. This review provides a comprehensive account of nitrate reduction using electrocatalysis methods. The fundamentals of electrocatalytic nitrate reduction, including the reaction mechanisms, reactor design principles, product detection methods, and performance evaluation methods, have been systematically summarised. A detailed introduction to electrocatalytic nitrate reduction on transition metals, especially noble metals and alloys, Cu-based electrocatalysts, and Fe-based electrocatalysts is provided, as they are essential for the accurate reporting of experimental results. The current challenges and potential opportunities in this field, including the innovation of material design systems, value-added product yields, and challenges for products beyond N₂ and large-scale sewage treatment, are highlighted.

“Doing More with Less”: Ni(II)@ORMOSIL, a Novel Sol-Gel Pre-Catalyst for the Reduction of Nitrobenzene

Reduction of nitrobenzene with NaBH4 using zero-valent iron nanoparticles (ZVI-NPs) and NiCl2∙6H2O incorporated in organically modified hybrid silica matrices as ZVI@ORMOSIL and Ni(II)@ORMOSIL catalysts is proposed as a remediation strategy. Ni(II)@ORMOSIL is prepared by ion-exchanging H+ of the ORMOSIL matrix with NiII. Ni(II)@ORMOSIL is a pre-catalyst that undergoes reduction by NaBH4 by an in-situ reaction and promotes nitrobenzene reduction by the unconsumed NaBH4, leading to sparing use of the catalyst. Ni(II)@ORMOSIL undergoes color change from green to black in this process, returning to a green hue after washing and drying. Nitrobenzene reductions were examined in aqueous acetonitrile solvent mixtures, and the reduction cascade produced the reaction end-products with catalytic implications. Plausible mechanisms of ZVI@ORMOSIL and Ni(II)@ORMOSIL catalyzed reductions of nitrobenzene are discussed. This work is the first to report M(II)@ORMOSIL pre-catalysts for in-situ reduction of nitrobenzene, and expands the scope of the ORMOSIL series of catalysts for the reduction of polluting compounds. This approach enables the development of catalysts that use very low concentrations of transition metal cations.

Advanced sol-gel process for efficient heterogeneous ring-closing metathesis

Olefin metathesis, a powerful synthetic method with numerous practical applications, can be improved by developing heterogeneous catalysts that can be recycled. In this study, a single-stage process for the entrapment of ruthenium-based catalysts was developed by the sol-gel process. System effectiveness was quantified by measuring the conversion of the ring-closing metathesis reaction of the substrate diethyl diallylmalonate and the leakage of the catalysts from the matrix. The results indicate that the nature of the precursor affects pore size and catalyst activity. Moreover, matrices prepared with tetraethoxysilane at an alkaline pH exhibit a better reaction rate than in the homogenous system under certain reaction conditions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to present a one-step process that is simpler and faster than the methods reported in the literature for catalyst entrapment by the sol-gel process under standard conditions.

Reductive Dechlorination of Chloroacetamides with NaBH4 Catalyzed by Zero Valent Iron, ZVI, Nanoparticles in ORMOSIL Matrices Prepared via the Sol-Gel Route

The efficient reductive dechlorination, as remediation of dichloroacetamide and monochloroacetamide, toxic and abundant pollutants, using sodium borohydride catalyzed by zero valent iron nanoparticles (ZVI-NPs), entrapped in organically modified hybrid silica matrices prepared via the sol-gel route, ZVI@ORMOSIL, is demonstrated. The results indicate that the extent of the dechlorination reaction depends on the nature of the substrate and on the reaction medium. By varying the amount of catalyst or reductant in the reaction it was possible to obtain conditions for full dechlorination of these pollutants to nontoxic acetamide and acetic acid. A plausible mechanism of the catalytic process is discussed. The present work expands the scope of ZVI-NP catalyzed reduction of polluting compounds, first reports the catalytic parameters of chloroacetamide reduction, and offers additional insight into the heterogeneous catalyst structure of M0@ORMOSIL sol-gel. The ZVI@ORMOSIL catalyst is ferromagnetic and hence can be recycled easily.

Single atomic site catalysts: synthesis, characterization, and applications

Single atomic site catalysts (SASCs) have attracted great attention in heterogenous catalysis due to their maximized atomic utilization and unique electronic structure. This feature article summarizes the recent contributions of the authors in the synthesis, characterization, and applications of SASCs. Firstly, we disclose the tricks of our recent progress in the synthesis of SASCs, including impregnation of metal precursors on defect-rich supports, pyrolysis of polymer-encapsulated metals and isolation of contiguous atoms by alloying. Then, we show several key characterization technologies to identify the geometric and electronic structure of SASCs, and reveal the advantages and disadvantages of these characterization technologies. Finally, the applications of the SASCs in heterogenous catalysis are presented, which are classified into electrocatalysis and thermocatalysis, and the structure-function relationships are disclosed.