Influence of silane functionalized nanoclay on the barrier, mechanical and hydrophobic properties by clay nanocomposite films in an aggressive chloride medium

Sulfonamide functionalized silica nano-composite: characterization and fluorescence "turn-on" detection of Fe3+ ions in aqueous samples

We have synthesized novel sulfonamide-based nano-composite (SAN) for selective and sensitive detection of Fe³⁺ ions in aqueous samples. Morphological characterization of SAN was carried out with TGA, FT-IR, UV-Vis, ninhydrin assay, FE-SEM, pXRD, BET, EDX, and elemental analysis. The sensing nature, effect of pH, sensor concentration and response time analysis were accomplished with the help of emission spectral studies and SAN was assessed as "turn-on" emission detector for the biologically important Fe³⁺ ions. Here, the LOD and LOQ were computed to be 26.68 nM and 88.93 nM, respectively, and it was found to be much lower than the permissible limit of Fe³⁺ ions in drinking water. The accuracy of the sensor (SAN) was determined by testing the aqueous samples spiked with known concentrations of Fe³⁺ ions and results demonstrated 98.00-99.66% recovery, which made SAN a reliable, selective and sensitive chemosensor for the quantification of Fe³⁺ ions in fully aqueous media.

Functional Nanohybrids and Nanocomposites Development for the Removal of Environmental Pollutants and Bioremediation

World population growth, with the consequent consumption of primary resources and production of waste, is progressively and seriously increasing the impact of anthropic activities on the environment and ecosystems. Environmental pollution deriving from anthropogenic activities is nowadays a serious problem that afflicts our planet and that cannot be neglected. In this regard, one of the most challenging tasks of the 21st century is to develop new eco-friendly, sustainable and economically-sound technologies to remediate the environment from pollutants. Nanotechnologies and new performing nanomaterials, thanks to their unique features, such as high surface area (surface/volume ratio), catalytic capacity, reactivity and easy functionalization to chemically modulate their properties, represent potential for the development of sustainable, advanced and innovative products/techniques for environmental (bio)remediation. This review discusses the most recent innovations of environmental recovery strategies of polluted areas based on different nanocomposites and nanohybrids with some examples of their use in combination with bioremediation techniques. In particular, attention is focused on eco-friendly and regenerable nano-solutions and their safe-by-design properties to support the latest research and innovation on sustainable strategies in the field of environmental (bio)remediation.

Oxygen Scavenging Hybrid Nanostructure: Localization of Different Iron Nanoparticles on Montmorillonite Clays Host

According to the great potential of zero-valent iron nanoparticle applications in the environmental, medical, chemical, packaging and many other industries, there is still a need to tailor their production methods. This study reports the production of a hybrid nanostructure based on iron nanoparticles (INPs) produced in/on montmorillonite (MMT) nanoclays as an oxygen scavenger and barrier additive in polymeric packaging materials of oxygen-sensitive products. INPs and MMT were demonstrated to have effective mutual interactions in which the MMT host played a chemophysical trapping role for iron particles, causing smaller particles around 10 nm with 6.2 g/m² higher specific surface area by limiting particle growth and agglomeration. In return, the embedding of primary iron cations in/on clays and growth of these particles during the reduction reaction pushed the clay layers out and helped further clay intercalation-exfoliation. Effective study of solvent and primary cation (Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺) types showed different preferences in interacting with natural and alkylammonium-modified MMT, resulting in the different site selection. Fe²⁺ cations preferred to migrate to the interlayer space, whereas Fe³⁺ cations tended to bond to the clay surface. The obtained results in this study suggest tailoring the ultimate oxygen scavenging capacity, shelf life, and migration properties of a hybrid nanoparticle according to the application requirements.