Electrochemical Detection of Ultra-trace Cu(II) and Interaction Mechanism Analysis Between Amine-Groups Functionalized CoFe 2 O 4 /Reduced Graphene Oxide Composites and Metal Ion

Magnetic nanocomposite for lead (II) removal from water

A magnetic perovskite-spinel oxide nanocomposite synthesized through a sol-gel self-combustion process is used for the first time as an adsorbent to remove toxic heavy metals (i.e., Pb2+). The synthesized LaFeO3:CoFe2O4 ((LFO)1:(CFO)x) (x = 0.11-0.87) nanocomposites possess good stability, abundant oxygenated active binding sites, and unique structural features, making them suitable for removing divalent Pb2+ ions. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, BET surface area, magnetization measurements, zeta-potential analyses, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to analyze the nanocomposites, and their structural changes after Pb2+ ions adsorption. Batch tests confirmed that (LFO)1:(CFO)x efficiently removes Pb2+ from water with a maximum adsorption capacity of 105.96 mg/g. The detailed quantitative study indicates that the interaction of hydroxyl groups with Pb2+ ions occurs through electrostatic interactions and complex formation. We also demonstrate a new ring-magnetic separator system that allows magnetic separation of the toxic ions at a higher speed compared to traditional block magnets. The unique structure, high porosity, large specific surface area, and oxygenated functional groups of (LFO)1:(CFO)x nanocomposites make them promising materials for removal of heavy metal ions and possibly other environmental pollutants. This study provides a new approach to preparing nanocomposites of magnetic spinel ferrites with perovskite oxides for environmental applications.

Synthesis and characterization of linear/nonlinear optical properties of graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide-based zinc oxide nanocomposite

In this paper, we aimed to investigate the linear and nonlinear optical properties of GO-ZnO and RGO-ZnO nanocomposites in comparison with pure GO and reduced graphene oxide (RGO). For this purpose, GO, RGO, GO-ZnO, and RGO-ZnO were synthesized and characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) absorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). XRD and EDX analysis indicated the reduction of GO as well as the successful synthesis of GO-ZnO and RGO-ZnO nanocomposites. The FT-IR spectroscopy showed that absorption bands were at 3340 cm^-1, 1630 cm^-1, 1730 cm^-1 and 480 cm^-1 related to OH, C=C, C=O, and Zn-O stretching vibrations, respectively. The direct band gaps of GO, RGO, GO-ZnO and RGO-ZnO from UV-Vis spectra were at 3.36, 3.18, 3.63 and 3.25 eV, sequentially. Moreover, the third-order nonlinear optical properties were investigated using a z-scan technique with Nd: YAG laser (532 nm, 70 mW). It can be seen that the nonlinear absorption coefficient value [Formula: see text] increased from 5.3 × 10^-4 (GO) to 8.4 × 10^-3 cm/W (RGO-ZnO). In addition, nonlinear refractive index (n₂) of the GO, RGO, GO-ZnO, and RGO-ZnO was obtained as 10.9 × 10^-10, 14.3 × 10^-10, 22.9 × 10^-10, and 31.9 × 10^-10 cm²/W respectively.

High-efficiency adsorption removal of CR and MG dyes using AlOOH fibers embedded with porous CoFe2O4 nanoparticles

Owing to the toxicity and difficulty in degradation, how to the effective separation for the residual dyes in the aqueous solution is still an issue with great challenge in the area of environmental protection. Now, to high-efficiency removal of organic dyes from the aqueous solution, we design a unique AlOOH/CoFe₂O₄ adsorbent with porous CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles embedded on the AlOOH fibers using a simple hydrothermal technique and calcination process. The structural properties and surface characteristics of the AlOOH/CoFe₂O₄ composites are detailedly analyzed by XRD, FTIR, XPS, TEM and SEM. Here, the high S_BET and specific porous structure are beneficial to improve the adsorption performance of AlOOH/CoFe₂O₄ adsorbents. Especially, when the molar ratio of AlOOH to CoFe₂O₄ in the AlOOH/CoFe₂O₄ fibers is 1:1, an optimal performance on adsorbing anionic Congo red (CR) and cationic methyl green (MG) dyes can be obtained at pH = 6.29, where the corresponding maximum adsorption capacities reach up to 565.0 and 423.7 mg g^-1, respectively. Factors leading to the change in the ability of adsorbing CR and MG dyes are systematically discussed, including contact time, temperature, initial concentrations, and pH values of the solutions. Meanwhile, the uptake of CR and MG dyes can best conform to Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo-second-order adsorption kinetics. The thermodynamic analysis verifies that the dye adsorption process is spontaneous and endothermic. Moreover, from the point view of practical application, the good reusability further makes the as-synthesized magnetic AlOOH/CoFe₂O₄ composite be a perfect adsorbent with efficiently removing both anionic and cationic dyes from aqueous solutions.

Fast and Efficient Removal of Uranium onto a Magnetic Hydroxyapatite Composite: Mechanism and Process Evaluation

The exploration and rational design of easily separable and highly efficient sorbents with satisfactory capability of extracting radioactive uranium (U)-containing compound(s) are of paramount significance. In this study, a novel magnetic hydroxyapatite (HAP) composite (HAP@ CoFe2O4), which was coupled with cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4), was rationally designed for uranium(VI) removal through a facile hydrothermal process. The U(VI) ions were rapidly removed using HAP@ CoFe2O4 within a short time (i.e., 10 min), and a maximum U(VI) removal efficiency of 93.7% was achieved. The maximum adsorption capacity (Qmax) of the HAP@CoFe2O4 was 338 mg/g, which demonstrated the potential of as-prepared HAP@CoFe2O4 in the purification of U(VI) ions from nuclear effluents. Autunite [Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2(H2O)6] was the main crystalline phase to retain uranium, wherein U(VI) was effectively extracted and immobilized in terms of a relatively stable mineral. Furthermore, the reacted HAP@CoFe2O4 can be magnetically recycled. The results of this study reveal that the suggested process using HAP@CoFe2O4 is a promising approach for the removal and immobilization of U(VI) released from nuclear effluents.

A simple electrochemical sensor based on rGO/MoS2/CS modified GCE for highly sensitive detection of Pb(ii) in tobacco leaves

High-performance electrode modification materials play a crucial role in improving the sensitivity of sensor detection in electrochemical determination of heavy metals. In this study, a rGO/MoS₂/CS nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was used to construct a sensitive sensor for detecting lead ions in tobacco leaves. The reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was used to increase the conductivity of the sensor, and the nano-flowered MoS₂ could provide a large reaction specific surface area and a certain active site for heavy metal reaction. Chitosan (CS) was used to improve the enrichment ability of heavy metals and increase the electrocatalytic activity of electrode. Thus, an electrochemical sensor with excellent performance in reproducibility, stability and anti-interference ability was established. The stripping behavior of Pb(ii) and the application conditions of the sensor were studied by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). The investigation indicated that the sensor exhibited high detection sensitivity in the range of 0.005-0.05-2.0 μM, and the limit of detection (LOD) was 0.0016 μM. This work can provide a fast and effective method for determination of Pb(ii) in samples with low content, such as tobacco leaves.

Highly stable branched cationic polymer-functionalized black phosphorus electrochemical sensor for fast and direct ultratrace detection of copper ion

Copper ions (Cu²⁺) is an indispensable trace element in the process of metabolism and intake of excessive Cu²⁺ may lead to fatal diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. It is highly demanding to develop a sensitive, selective and convenient method for Cu²⁺ detection. In this work, thin-layer structured polyethyleneimine (PEI) decorated black phosphorus (BP) nanocomposite is one-step synthesized for an electrochemical sensor toward direct detection of Cu²⁺. This sensor achieves a wide detection range of 0.25-177 μM, a low detection limit of 0.02 μM much below the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maximum contaminant levels for drinking water (20 μM for Cu²⁺), and much faster response (1.5 s response time) and simpler operation than the conventional tedious anodic stripping voltammetry, ranking one of the best among all reported Cu²⁺ sensor. The great sensing enhancement is mainly due to a synergistic effect of BP and PEI of the composite, of which the former offers the reactivity while the latter splits the thick BP to thin-layer structured PEI-BP composite for larger reaction area. Meanwhile, a flexible sensor has been successfully fabricated and applied in detecting of Cu²⁺ in real samples of river, confirming the application feasibility of PEI-BP sensor in water environment control.

Magnetic recyclable CoFe2O4@PPy prepared by in situ Fenton oxidization polymerization with advanced photo-Fenton performance

Here we present a magnetic recyclable photo-Fenton catalyst CoFe₂O₄@PPy with uniform morphology and excellent dispersibility prepared via simple in situ Fenton oxidization polymerization. The CoFe₂O₄ core provides good magnetic recyclability for the catalysts as well as the ion source for catalyzed decomposition of H₂O₂ in PPy coating. The optimal catalytic effect can be obtained by adjusting the ratio of CoFe₂O₄ and PPy. Methylene blue, Methyl orange and Rhodamine B (RhB) employed as model pollutants certificated that the catalyst exhibits a wide range of photodegradability. The decoloration rates reach nearly 100% in the photodegradation of 10 mg L⁻¹ RhB after 2 h visible-light irradiation and only low toxicity small molecules are detected by LC-MS. Moreover, the catalytic activity remains after 5 cycles with decoloration rates up to 90%. The degradation measurement in the presence of scavengers of reactive species reveals that the positive holes (h⁺) and hydroxyl radical (·OH) are the main reactive oxygen species in the CoFe₂O₄@PPy system. The performance enhancement may be attributed to the combination of improved Fenton activity by coordinated Fe²⁺ and PPy redox pairs and photo-catalytic activity by broaden adsorption and photo-generated charge separation.

Here we present a magnetic recyclable photo-Fenton catalyst CoFe₂O₄@PPy with uniform morphology and excellent dispersibility prepared via simple in situ Fenton oxidization polymerization.

Colorimetric determination of copper(II) by using branched-polyethylenimine droplet evaporation on a superhydrophilic-superhydrophobic micropatterned surface

A colorimetric method is described for the determination of Cu(II). It is based on branched polyethylenimine (BPEI) droplet evaporation on a superhydrophilic-superhydrophobic polystyrene micropatterned surface. Exposure to Cu(II) leads to a color change from colorless to light blue and dark blue. The micropatterned surface was fabricated via combining electrospinning with oxygen plasma and served as a detection substrate. Analysis requires only a single drop of blood. The method has a linear response in the 5.0 μM to 2.5 mM Cu(II) concentration range which is within the physiological range (15.7 ∼ 23.6 μM). Compared to an assay in solution, the detection limit is decreased from 386 nM to 89 nM. Excellent selectivity over other metal ions and anions was achieved. Graphical abstract A rapid and sensitive colorimetric detection platform for Cu(II) was fabricated by using branched-polyethylenimine droplet evaporation on a superhydrophilic-superhydrophobic micropatterned surface. Only a single drop of blood was needed for the analysis. The sensitivity was improved about 4.3 times.

Graphene-derived nanomaterials as recognition elements for electrochemical determination of heavy metal ions: a review

This review (with 155 refs.) summarizes the progress made in the past few years in the field of electrochemical sensors based on graphene-derived materials for the determination of heavy metal ions. Following an introduction of this field and a discussion of the various kinds of modified graphenes including graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide, the review covers graphene based electrodes modified (or doped) with (a) heteroatoms, (b) metal nanoparticles, (c) metal oxides, (d) small organic molecules, (e) polymers, and (f) ternary nanocomposites. Tables are provided that afford an overview of representative methods and materials for fabricating electrochemical sensors. Furthermore, sensing mechanisms are discussed. A concluding section presents new perspectives, opportunities and current challenges. Graphical Abstract Schematic illustration of electrochemical sensor for heavy metal ion sensing based on heteroatom-doped graphene, metal-modified graphene, metal-oxide-modified graphene, organically modified graphene, polymer-modified graphene, and ternary graphene based nanocomposites.

Simultaneous voltammetric determination of cadmium(II), lead(II), mercury(II), zinc(II), and copper(II) using a glassy carbon electrode modified with magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles and fluorinated multiwalled carbon nanotubes

A method is described for the simultaneous voltammetric determination of the heavy metal ions cadmium(II), lead(II), mercury(II), zinc(II), and copper(II) using a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles and fluorinated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (Fe3O4/F-MWCNTs). The Fe3O4/F-MWCNT composite was synthesized by a hydrothermal method and characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, elemental mapping, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and square wave stripping voltammetry. Under the optimum conditions, the electrode displays excellent response to the ions. Figures of merit for Cd(II), Pb(II), Hg(II), Zn(II), and Cu(II), respectively, include (a) high electrochemical sensitivity (29.88, 43.50, 120.86, 47.34 and 90.31 (μA μM-1 cm-2), (b) well separated peaks (at -0.70, -0.53, +0.37, -1.11 and + 0.01 V vs. Ag/AgCl); (c) low limits of detection (0.014, 0.0084, 0.0039, 0.012, and 0.0053 μM); and (d) wide linear ranges (0.048-30.0, 0.028-30.0, 0.013-32.5, 0.039-32.5, and 0.017-31.5 μM). The modified GCE displays satisfying selectivity in the presence of potentially interfering other metal ions, stability for 30 days, and reproducibility of electrodes (with a relative standard deviation between 1.2 and 4.8% for n = 6). The modified GCE was applied to the determination of several heavy metal ions in (spiked) water and rice samples, and the results agreed well with data obtained by atomic fluorescence spectrometry or inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The dramatic performance probably result from the semi-ionic C-F bond on F-MWCNTs surface with a strong negative charge, the good electrical conductivity of the F-MWCNTs and Fe3O4, the synergistic interaction between Fe3O4 and F-MWCNTs, and the nafion conductive membrane improving the stability of the modified layer and enhanced cation adsorption. Graphical abstract An environmentally-friendly, low-cost, high-throughput Fe3O4/fluorinated multi-walled carbon nanotube composite (Fe3O4/F-MWCNTs) modified glassy carbon electrode is described. It was applied to simultaneous electrochemical determination of Cd(II), Pb(II), Hg(II), Zn(II), and Cu(II) by square wave stripping voltammetry.

An "off-on" colorimetric and fluorometric assay for Cu(II) based on the use of NaYF4:Yb(III),Er(III) upconversion nanoparticles functionalized with branched polyethylenimine

The authors describe an "off-on" colorimetric and fluorometric assay for the determination of Cu(II). It is based on the use of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) of type NaYF₄:Yb(III),Er(III) that were functionalized with branched polyethylenimine (BPEI). A color change from colorless to blue occurs within 2 s after addition of Cu(II) to a solution of the modified UCNPs. The color change can be visually detected at Cu(II) concentrations down to 80 μM. The upconversion fluorescence of the modified UCNPs, measured at excitation wavelength of 980 nm, is reduced due to the predominant inner filter effect caused by the formation of the BPEI-Cu(II) complex. Normalized fluorescence intensity drops linearly in the 50 nM to 10 μM Cu(II) concentration range, and the fluorometric detection limit is 45 nM. Both the color and the fluorescence are recovered on addition of EDTA. Excellent selectivity over other metal ions and anions is achieved. Graphical abstract Upconversion nanoparticles of type NaYF4:Yb,Er were functionalized with branched polyethylenimine (UCNP/BPEI) and used in an "off-on" colorimetric and fluorometric assay for Cu(II). The upconversion fluorescence is selectively quenched on addition of Cu(II), and this is accompanied by a rapid colorless-to-blue color switch. The colorimetric changes and quenched fluorescence can be reversed by adding EDTA.

Ultra-facile and rapid colorimetric detection of Cu2+ with branched polyethylenimine in 100% aqueous solution

An ultra-facile and rapid colorimetric method was explored to detect Cu²⁺ in 100% aqueous solution by using only BPEI.

Synthesis, characterization and application of a MnFe2O4@poly(o-toluidine) nanocomposite for magnetic solid-phase extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

A nanocomposite of poly(o-toluidine)-coated MnFe₂O₄ magnetic nanoparticles with a core–shell structure was synthesized by the chemical co-precipitation method and employed as a magnetic adsorbent for solid-phase extraction of ten polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).