Phenol electrooxidation on Fe-Co3O4 thin film electrodes in alkaline medium

Photo-assisted generation of phospholipid polymer substrates for regiospecific protein conjugation and control of cell adhesion

Novel photo-reactive phospholipid polymers were synthesized for use in the preparation of nonfouling surfaces with protein conjugation capacity. Poly[2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC)-ran-N-methacryloyl-(l)-tyrosinemethylester (MAT)] (P(MPC/MAT)) was synthesized by conventional radical polymerization, with the MAT units capable of being oxidized by 254nm UV irradiation. Because of this photo-oxidation, active species such as catechol and quinone were alternately generated in the copolymer. A silicon wafer was subjected to surface modification through spin coating of P(MPC/MAT) from an aqueous solution for use as a model substrate. The surface was then irradiated several times with UV light. The thickness of the polymer layers formed on the Si wafers was influenced by various parameters such as polymer concentration, UV irradiation time, and composition of the MAT units in P(MPC/MAT). Oxidized MAT units were advantageous not only for polymer adhesion to a solid surface but also for protein conjugation with the adhered polymers. The amount of protein immobilized on UV-irradiated P(MPC/MAT) was dependent on the composition of the MAT units in the polymer. Furthermore, it was confirmed that protein immobilization on the polymer occurred through the oxidized MAT units because the protein adsorption was significantly reduced upon blocking these units through pretreatment with glycine. Conjugation of regiospecific protein could also be achieved through the use of a photomask. In addition, nonspecific protein adsorption was reduced on the non-irradiated regions whose surface was covered with physisorbed P(MPC/MAT). Therefore, P(MPC/MAT) can be used in the preparation of nonfouling substrates, which enable micrometer-sized manipulation of proteins through photo-irradiation. Function of proteins immobilized on MPC copolymers was also confirmed by cell adhesion test. As such, photo-reactive MPC copolymers are suitable for performing controlled protein conjugation and preparing polymer-protein hybrid platforms for use in biomedical and diagnostic devices.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Novel photo-reactive phospholipid polymers have been synthesized for immobilization on solid surfaces and regiospecific protein conjugation. Tyrosine residues embedded in 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) copolymers could be photo-oxidized, resulting in polymers able to form layers on a solid surface and conjugate with proteins. Moreover, nonspecific biofouling on the surface significantly reduced when the oxidized tyrosine units in the polymer layers were blocked. Upon UV irradiation through a photomask, the UV-exposed tyrosine units were selectively oxidized, forming the only specific regions in which protein conjugation could occur.

Improvement of phenol photodegradation efficiency by a combined g-C3N4/Fe(III)/persulfate system

Graphite-like C3N4 (g-C3N4) is an efficient visible-light-driven photocatalyst commonly used in dye decolorization with very poor photocatalytic efficiency for degrading recalcitrant organic pollutants, such as phenol. In this study, we designed a g-C3N4/Fe(III)/persulfate system to significantly improve the phenol photodegradation efficacy by combining photocatalysis and light Fenton interaction. The phenol removal ratio and degradation rate of the g-C3N4/Fe(III)/persulfate system are 16.5- and 240-fold higher than those of individual g-C3N4 system. Sulfate radicals [Formula: see text] and H2O2 are detected in the g-C3N4/Fe(III)/persulfate system, suggesting that both radical decomposition and light Fenton interaction play important roles in phenol degradation. The efficient coupled photocatalytic system of g-C3N4 combined with Fe(III) and persulfate shows significant potential for application in large-scale degradation of environmental pollutants.

Theoretical study of phenol and hydroxyl radical reaction mechanism in aqueous medium by the DFT/B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p)/CPCM model

Four different possible reaction pathways of phenol and hydroxyl radical reaction were investigated theoretically by density functional theory (DFT) B3LYP with the 6-31+G(d,p) calculations under the conductor-like polarized continuum model (CPCM). According to frontier molecule orbital theory, both the highest occupied orbital and lowest occupied orbital of phenol (25th orbital) showed –602.79 and –43.53 kJ mol−1 molecular orbital energies, respectively. This resulted in a 559.27 kJ mol−1 relative energy gap. Relative energies of the ortho product radical (o-PR) (i.e., –54.08 kJ mol−1) was lower than those of both the para product radical (p-PR) (–50.03 kJ mol−1) and the meta product radical (m-PR) (–47.10 kJ mol−1). Then, o-PR was found to be the energetically most stable product radical. The ortho addition reaction path was confirmed as the most possible reaction path and its major intermediate was found as catechol with 99.09% product distribution. Percentages of hydroquinone, resorcinol, and phynoxyl radicals in the system were found as 0.053%, 0.029%, and 0.009%, respectively.

STEP wastewater treatment: a solar thermal electrochemical process for pollutant oxidation

A solar thermal electrochemical production (STEP) pathway was established to utilize solar energy to drive useful chemical processes. In this paper, we use experimental chemistry for efficient STEP wastewater treatment, and suggest a theory based on the decreasing stability of organic pollutants (hydrocarbon oxidation potentials) with increasing temperature. Exemplified by the solar thermal electrochemical oxidation of phenol, the fundamental model and experimental system components of this process outline a general method for the oxidation of environmentally stable organic pollutants into carbon dioxide, which is easily removed. Using thermodynamic calculations we show a sharply decreasing phenol oxidation potential with increasing temperature. The experimental results demonstrate that this increased temperature can be supplied by solar thermal heating. In combination this drives electrochemical phenol removal with enhanced oxidation efficiency through (i) a thermodynamically driven decrease in the energy needed to fuel the process and (ii) improved kinetics to sustain high rates of phenol oxidation at low electrochemical overpotential. The STEP wastewater treatment process is synergistic in that it is performed with higher efficiency than either electrochemical or photovoltaic conversion process acting alone. STEP is a green, efficient, safe, and sustainable process for organic wastewater treatment driven solely by solar energy.