Magnetic Fe3O4@MgAl–LDH composite grafted with cobalt phthalocyanine as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the oxidation of mercaptans

A new method for the preparation of MgAl layered double hydroxide-copper metal-organic frameworks structures: application to electrocatalytic oxidation of formaldehyde

In this research, we present a novel design protocol for the in-situ synthesis of MgAl layered double hydroxide-copper metal-organic frameworks (LDH-MOFs) nanocomposite based on the electrocoagulation process and chemical method. The overall goal in this project is the primary synthesis of para-phthalic acid (PTA) intercalated MgAl-LDH with Cu (II) ions to produce the paddle-wheel like Cu-(PTA) MOFs nanocrystals on/in the MgAl-LDH structure. The physicochemical properties of final product; Cu-(PTA) MOFs/MgAl-LDH, were characterized by the surface analysis and chemical identification methods (SEM, EDX, TEM, XRD, BET, FTIR, CHN, DLS, etc.). The Cu-(PTA) MOFs/MgAl-LDH nanocomposite was used to modification of the carbon paste electrode (CPE); Cu-(PTA) MOFs/MgAl-LDH/CPE. The electrochemical performance of Cu-(PTA) MOFs/MgAl-LDH/CPE was demonstrated through the utilization of electrochemical methods. The results show a stable redox behavior of the Cu (III)/Cu (II) at the surface of Cu-(PTA) MOFs/MgAl-LDH/CPE in alkaline medium (aqueous 0.1 M NaOH electrolyte). Then, the Cu-(PTA) MOFs/MgAl-LDH/CPE was used as a new electrocatalyst toward the oxidation of formaldehyde (FA). Electrochemical data show that the Cu-(PTA) MOFs/MgAl-LDH/CPE exhibits superior electrocatalytic performance on the oxidation of FA. Also the diffusion coefficient, exchange current density (J°) and mean value of catalytic rate constant (Kcat) were found to be 1.18 × 10-6 cm2 s-1, 23 mA cm-2 and 0.4537 × 104 cm3 mol-1 s-1, respectively. In general, it can be said the Cu-(PTA) MOFs/MgAl-LDHs is promising candidate for applications in direct formaldehyde fuel cells.

Recovery of Palladium and Gold from PGM Ore and Concentrates Using ZnAl-Layered Double Hydroxide@zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 Nanocomposite

Gold (Au) and palladium (Pd) are platinum group metals (PGMs) that are considered critical in society because they are required in several industrial applications. Their shortage has caused the urgent need for their recovery from secondary resources. Therefore, there is a need to develop functional materials with high adsorption capacity and selectivity for recovery of PGMs from various secondary sources. In this study, a Zn-Al-layered double hydroxide@zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (Zn–Al–LDH@ZIF–8) nanocomposite was used as an adsorbent for the recovery of Au and Pd from ore concentrates. The Zn–Al–LDH@ZIF–8 nanocomposite was characterised using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, zeta potential, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy. The recovery of Au(III) and Pd(II) was achieved using ultrasound-assisted dispersive µ-solid-phase extraction (UA-D-µ-SPE) and their quantification was attained using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). The results showed that the surface of the adsorbent remained positively charged in a wide pH range, which endowed the nanocomposite with high adsorption affinity towards Au(III) and Pd(II). Under optimised conditions, the equilibrium studies revealed that the adsorption of Au(III) and Pd(II) ions followed the Langmuir isotherm model with maximum sorption capacities of 163 mg g−1 and 177 mg g−1 for Au(III) and Pd(II), respectively. The nanocomposite possessed relatively good regeneration, reusability, and stability characteristics, with its performance decreasing by only 10% after five adsorption–desorption cycles.

Simultaneous preconcentration and fluorescence detection of ATP by a hybrid nanocomposite of magnetic nanoparticles incorporated in mixed metal hydroxide

A new approach for increasing the sensitivity of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) detection was demonstrated. The assay was based on the synergetic function of a hybrid nanocomposite (MNPs@MMH) composed of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) incorporated in a mixed metal hydroxide (MMH). MNPs@MMH can be utilized as an efficient green extractant and peroxidase catalyst. The trace level of ATP in the sample solution was first extracted by the MNPs@MMH hybrid nanocomposite through the ion exchange properties of MMH and adsorbed on the surface of the MNPs@MMH. The concentration of ATP was related to the fluorescence intensity of 2,3-diaminophenazine (DAP) generated from peroxidase-like activity of the MNPs in the presence of H₂O₂ and o-phenylenediamine (OPD). In the presence of ATP, the active surface of the MNPs was diminished, and the amount of DAP generated was reduced. Thus, the concentration of ATP was related to the degree of fluorescence decrease compared to the fluorescence intensity of the system without ATP. Based on the proposed strategy, a highly sensitive assay for ATP was achieved. This assay exhibited good selectivity for detection of ATP over derivatives and other common anions. The proposed assay allowed the detection of ATP in a concentration range of 2.5-20 μM with a detection limit of 0.41 μM.

Magnetic layered double hydroxide/zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 nanocomposite as a novel adsorbent for enrichment of four endocrine disrupting compounds in milk samples

For the first time, a novel nanocomposite, zeolitic imidazolate framework/magnetic layered double hydroxide (Fe₃O₄@LDH/ZIF), was successfully fabricated through in situ synthetic method with Fe₃O₄ as magnetic core and composite as shell. The resulting materials were characterized by XRD, TEM, FT-IR, VSM, TGA and nitrogen adsorption-desorption analysis. The Fe₃O₄@LDH/ZIF was employed as a sorbent in dispersive micro-solid phase extraction (D-μ-SPE) for enrichment of four endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) from milk samples prior to ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) analysis. The synthesized nanocomposite showed bigger specific surface area and better absorption capacity than Fe₃O₄@LDH. The equilibrium adsorption capacities (Qe, mg/g) of EDCs on the Fe₃O₄@LDH/ZIF reached up to 47.4-138.8 mg/g, mainly resulting from hydrogen bonding, π-π interaction and electrostatic interaction between EDCs and nanocomposite. Several variables affecting the extraction efficiency were investigated and optimized. The method displays low limits of detection (3-15 ng L^-1), good linearity (10-5000 ng L^-1), acceptable precision (RSD < 7.8%) and accuracy (RE < 5.2%). Satisfactory repeatability was obtained with RSD in the range of 1.2-7.8%. This work provides a promising approach for the development of new sorbent media in sample preparation for the improvement of analytical performance.

Daptomycin and AgNP co-loaded rGO nanocomposites for specific treatment of Gram-positive bacterial infection in vitro and in vivo

In order to improve the stability of AgNPs and decrease the dosage of Daptomycin for killing bacteria, a reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was used for simultaneously anchoring AgNPs and Daptomycin to prepare rGO@Ag@Dap nanocomposites. In vitro experiments showed that the nanocomposites can efficiently kill four kinds of pathogenic bacteria, especially two kinds of Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) through damaging cell integrity, producing ROS, decreasing ATP and GSH and disrupting bacterial metabolism. Against Gram-positive bacteria, the rGO@Ag@Dap nanocomposites showed a cooperative antibacterial effect. Moreover, in vivo experiments showed that rGO@Ag@Dap can improve the healing of wounds infected with bacteria by efficiently killing the bacteria on the wounds and further promoting skin regeneration and dense collagen deposition. In summary, the above results suggest that the cooperative function of AgNPs with Daptomycin can significantly improve antibacterial efficiency against infectious diseases caused by bacteria, especially for therapies made ineffective due to the drug resistance of pathogenic bacteria.

Functionalized MoS2 Nanovehicle with Near-Infrared Laser-Mediated Nitric Oxide Release and Photothermal Activities for Advanced Bacteria-Infected Wound Therapy

The rising dangers of bacterial infections have created an urgent need for the development of a new generation of antibacterial nanoagents and therapeutics. A new near-infrared 808 nm laser-mediated nitric oxide (NO)-releasing nanovehicle (MoS₂ -BNN6) is reported through the simple assembly of α-cyclodextrin-modified MoS₂ nanosheets with a heat-sensitive NO donor N,N'-di-sec-butyl-N,N'-dinitroso-1,4-phenylenediamine (BNN6) for the rapid and effective treatment of three typical Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria (ampicillin-resistant Escherichia coli, heat-resistant Escherichia faecalis, and pathogen Staphylococcus aureus). This MoS₂ -BNN6 nanovehicle has good biocompatibility and can be captured by bacteria to increase opportunities of NO diffusion to the bacterial surface. Once stimulated by 808 nm laser irradiation, the MoS₂ -BNN6 nanovehicle not only exhibits photothermal therapy (PTT) efficacy but also can precisely control NO release, generating oxidative/nitrosative stress. The temperature-enhanced catalytic function of MoS₂ induced by 808 nm laser irradiation simultaneously accelerates the oxidation of glutathione. This acceleration disrupts the balance of antioxidants, ultimately resulting in significant DNA damage to the bacteria. Within 10 min, the MoS₂ -BNN6 with enhanced PTT/NO synergetic antibacterial function achieves >97.2% inactivation of bacteria. The safe synergetic therapy strategy can also effectively repair wounds through the formation of collagen fibers and elimination of inflammation during tissue reconstruction.

Mechanistic Insight into the Light-Irradiated Carbon Capsules as an Antibacterial Agent

Infections caused by bacteria are a growing global challenge for public health as bacteria develop resistance, which will cause the failure of anti-infective treatment eventually. An effective alternative strategy to traditional antibacterial therapy is utilizing reactive oxygen species (ROS) to kill bacteria. Here, we report a simple route to prepare PEGylated nitrogen-doped carbon capsules (PEG-N-CCs) as an antibacterial agent. The PEG-N-CCs can translate near-infrared light (NIR) into heat and produce a high concentration of ROS triggered by NIR irradiation. Both heating and ROS are critical to destroy the outer membranes and rupture cell bodies, causing DNA fragmentation and glutathione oxidation both in Gram-negative Escherichia coli, Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus, and their multidrug-resistant strains. Moreover, PEG-N-CCs plus NIR irradiation can efficiently scavenge the existing biofilms and prevent the formation of new biofilms, killing planktonic bacteria as well as those within the biofilm. Our studies prove that the PEG-N-CCs plus NIR irradiation can provide a simple and effective platform for combating bacteria, employing carbon nanomaterials as an antibacterial alternative for treatment of infectious diseases.

Electrophoretic Deposited Stable Chitosan@MoS2 Coating with Rapid In Situ Bacteria-Killing Ability under Dual-Light Irradiation

Developing in situ disinfection methods in vivo to avoid drug-resistant bacteria and tissue toxicity is an urgent need. Here, the photodynamic and photothermal properties of the chitosan-assisted MoS₂ (CS@MoS₂ ) hybrid coating are simultaneously inspired to endow metallic Ti implants with excellent surface self-antibacterial capabilities. This coating, irradiated by only 660 nm visible light (VL) for 10 min, exhibits an antibacterial efficacy of 91.58% and 92.52% against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), respectively. The corresponding value is 64.67% and 57.44%, respectively, after irradiation by a single 808 nm near infrared light for the same amount of time. However, the combined irradiation using both lights can significantly enhance the efficiency up to 99.84% and 99.65% against E. coli and S. aureus, respectively, which can be ascribed to the synergistic effects of photodynamic and photothermal actions. The former produces single oxygen species under 660 nm VL while the latter induces a rise in temperature of implants, which can inhibit the growth of both E. coli and S. aureus. The introduction of CS can also promote the biocompatibility of implants, which provides a facile, rapid, and safe in situ bacteria-killing method in vivo without needing a second surgery.

Synthesis and characterization of graphene oxide supported cobalt (II) tetrasulfophthalocyanine as an efficient heterogeneous nanocatalyst for mercaptans oxidation from gasoline

In the present study, graphene oxide-supported cobalt (II) tetrasulfophthalocyanine (CoTsPc-GO) was synthesized using the incipient wetness impregnation assisted [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] assembling method. Applications for this material were investigated for ethyl mercaptan, [Formula: see text]-propyl mercaptan and [Formula: see text]-butyl mercaptan oxidation from fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) gasoline in a fixed bed reactor. The synthesized CoTsPc-GO catalysts were characterized using UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDAX), thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TGA-DTA), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The effect of cobalt (II) tetrasulfophthalocyanine (CoTsPc) content (0–0.34 g), catalyst dosage (0.02–0.12 g) and temperature (30–40∘ C) on the performance of CoTsPc-GO catalysts were investigated during the Merox process. The stability and reusability of CoTsPc-GO catalyst for mercaptans oxidation were also tested. The obtained results revealed that the maximum mercaptan oxidation during the Merox process was obtained in CoTsPc-GO of 0.34 g, catalyst content of 0.1 g and a temperature of 40∘ C with ethyl mercaptan, [Formula: see text]-propyl mercaptan and [Formula: see text]-butyl mercaptan conversions of 99.9, 98.5 and 97.0%, respectively. The potential of CoTsPc-GO catalyst was investigated for further mercaptans oxidation. The results were compared to those obtained with an industrial impregnated active charcoal catalyst and a CoPc catalyst. The obtained results demonstrated the higher capability of CoTsPc-GO catalyst for mercaptans oxidation from FCC gasoline.

Functionalized Nano-MoS2 with Peroxidase Catalytic and Near-Infrared Photothermal Activities for Safe and Synergetic Wound Antibacterial Applications

We have developed a biocompatible antibacterial system based on polyethylene glycol functionalized molybdenum disulfide nanoflowers (PEG-MoS₂ NFs). The PEG-MoS₂ NFs have high near-infrared (NIR) absorption and peroxidase-like activity, which can efficiently catalyze decomposition of low concentration of H₂O₂ to generate hydroxyl radicals (·OH). The conversion of H₂O₂ into ·OH can avoid the toxicity of high concentration of H₂O₂ and the ·OH has higher antibacterial activity, making resistant bacteria more vulnerable and wounds more easily cured. The PEG-MoS₂ NFs combine the catalysis with NIR photothermal effect, providing a rapid and effective killing outcome in vitro for Gram-negative ampicillin resistant Escherichia coli (Amp^r E. coli) and Gram-positive endospore-forming Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) as compared to catalytic treatment or photothermal therapy (PTT) alone. Wound healing results indicate that the synergy antibacterial system could be conveniently used for wound disinfection in vivo. Interestingly, glutathione (GSH) oxidation can be accelerated due to the 808 nm irradiation induced hyperthermia at the presence of PEG-MoS₂ NFs proved by X-ray near-edge absorption spectra and X-ray spectroscopy. The accelerated GSH oxidation can result in bacterial death more easily. A mechanism based on ·OH-enhanced PTT is proposed to explain the antibacterial process.

Recent Advances in Solid Catalysts Obtained by Metalloporphyrins Immobilization on Layered Anionic Exchangers: A Short Review and Some New Catalytic Results

Layered materials are a very interesting class of compounds obtained by stacking of two-dimensional layers along the basal axis. A remarkable property of these materials is their capacity to interact with a variety of chemical species, irrespective of their charge (neutral, cationic or anionic). These species can be grafted onto the surface of the layered materials or intercalated between the layers, to expand or contract the interlayer distance. Metalloporphyrins, which are typically soluble oxidation catalysts, are examples of molecules that can interact with layered materials. This work presents a short review of the studies involving metalloporphyrin immobilization on two different anionic exchangers, Layered Double Hydroxides (LDHs) and Layered Hydroxide Salts (LHSs), published over the past year. After immobilization of anionic porphyrins, the resulting solids behave as reusable catalysts for heterogeneous oxidation processes. Although a large number of publications involving metalloporphyrin immobilization on LDHs exist, only a few papers have dealt with LHSs as supports, so metalloporphyrins immobilized on LHSs represent a new and promising research field. This work also describes new results on an anionic manganese porphyrin (MnP) immobilized on Mg/Al-LDH solids with different nominal Mg/Al molar ratios (2:1, 3:1 and 4:1) and intercalated with different anions (CO₃²⁻ or NO₃⁻). The influence of the support composition on the MnP immobilization rates and the catalytic performance of the resulting solid in cyclooctene oxidation reactions will be reported.

A two in one approach: renewable support and enhanced catalysis for sweetening using chicken feather bound cobalt(ii) phthalocyanine under alkali free environment

Poultry waste chicken feathers, an inexpensive and abundantly available material has been used as a renewable support for immobilizing a cobalt phthalocyanine catalyst.

Electrocatalytic oxidation of ethanol on a glassy carbon electrode modified with a gold nanoparticle-coated hydrolyzed CaFe–Cl layered double hydroxide in alkaline medium

The Ca–Fe–Cl LDH was synthesized by a co-precipitation method in alkaline medium.