Highly efficient scavenging of P(V), Cr(VI), Re(VII) anions onto g-C3N4 nanosheets from aqueous solutions as impacted via water chemistry

Toward a mechanistic understanding of Rhenium(VII) adsorption behavior onto aminated polymeric adsorbents: Batch experiments, spectroscopic analyses, and theoretical computations

Rhenium, a rare and critical metal, existing in the industrial wastewater has been aroused extensive interests recently, due to its environmental and resource issues. Chitosan, an easily available, low-cost and eco-friendly biopolymer, was prepared and modified by grafting primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary amino groups, respectively. Adsorption behaviors and interactions between ReO4- and these four types of aminated adsorbents were investigated through batch experiments, spectroscopic analysis, and theoretical computations. Chitosan modified with secondary amines showed an extremely high uptake of ReO4- with 742.0 mg g-1, which was higher than any reported adsorbents so far. Furthermore, a relatively high adsorption selectivity for Re(VII), as well as the stable and facile regeneration of these aminated adsorbents revealed a promising approach for Re(VII) recovery in full-scale applications. The electrostatic attraction was illustrated to be the main adsorption mechanism by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy analyses. Significantly, the sub-steps of the adsorption process, encompassing the transformation of binding sites and the subsequent binding between these sites and the adsorbate, have been thoroughly investigated through the density functional theory (DFT) calculation method. This approach was firstly proposed to clearly demonstrate the differences in Re(VII) adsorption behavior onto four types of aminated adsorbents, resulting the importance of not only strong binding energy but also an appropriate binding spatial environmental for effective Re(VII) adsorption.

Investigation of kinetics, isotherms, thermodynamics and photocatalytic regeneration of exfoliated graphitic carbon nitride/zeolite as dye adsorbent

A novel exfoliated graphitic carbon nitride and clinoptilolite nanocomposites (Ex.g-C3N4/CP and g-C3N4/CP with a various ratios of g-C3N4 to CP) were prepared by facile method. This study evaluates the adsorption of methylene blue (MB) on the surface of synthesized adsorbents. The as-prepared composites were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, FESEM, BET and DRS. Batch experiments were carried out under various conditions, such as the amount of adsorbent and solution pH. The optimum batch experimental conditions were found under the response surface methodology. The Ex.g-C3N4/CP presented maximum removal of MB as compared to others. The removal efficiency of the as-prepared nanocomposite was significantly elevated owing to the synergistic effects. The adsorption capacities of MB (10 ppm) on Ex.g-C3N4/CP was 54.3 mg/g. The adsorption process by both composites (g-C3N4/CP and Ex.g-C3N4/CP) showed well-fitting with the Elovich kinetic model, and Langmuir isotherm. The thermodynamic study suggested that the adsorption of MB was a spontaneous and endothermic process. The reusability of g-C3N4/CP1:2 and Ex. g-C3N4/CP in removing of MB (10 ppm, pH = 9) was studied by photocatalytic regeneration under visible irradiation for three consecutive cycles. The results obtained from the experimental analyses showed that the removal of MB was easy treatment, eco-friendly, and high yield.

Aluminum-based metal-organic frameworks (CAU-1) highly efficient UO22+ and TcO4- ions immobilization from aqueous solution

In this research, an Al-based metal-organic framework (MOFs), CAU-1 was prepared through complexation between 2-aminoterephthalic acid and Al (III) by solvothermal approach, and simple operation and cost-effective synthetic route. The objective was to immobilize the typical positive/negative radionuclide ions (UO₂²⁺/TcO₄^-) in aqueous solution. The synthesized CAU-1 was characterized by XRD, FT-IR, TGA, FESEM, TEM-SAED, pH_pzc, XPS and N₂ physisorption analysis. The structure of CAU-1 possessed excellent thermostability, rich functional groups (‒NH₂ and ‒OH groups), as well as large surface area (1636.3 m²/g) and the micropore volume (0.51 m³/g). Furthermore, batch experiments demonstrated that CAU-1 with superior adsorption capacity was 648.37 (UO₂²⁺) mg/g and 692.33 (ReO₄^-) mg/g calculating from Langmuir isotherm model, respectively. Thermodynamic investigation showed the adsorption process was endothermic and spontaneous. In addition, the adsorption mechanism of ReO₄^- ion onto CAU-1 could be electrostatic attraction and chelation effect, while for UO₂²⁺ ion, was mainly chelation effect induced by nitrogen-containing and oxygen-containing functional groups. Hence, the inexpensive and high-capacity CAU-1 could be considered as a practical material for sequestrations of radioactive pollutants from water environment.

A novel ternary magnetic Fe3O4/g-C3N4/Carbon layer composite for efficient removal of Cr (VI): A combined approach using both batch experiments and theoretical calculation

Heavy metal pollution has posed a potential hazard to the ecological environment and human health. Herein, a novel ternary magnetic adsorbent (Fe₃O₄/g-C₃N₄/Carbon layer, Carbon layer: hydrothermal products from sucrose) was synthesized through a simple hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) method for removal of hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)) removal. The Carbon layer (CL) formed during the HTC of carbon precursors (sucrose) acted as a reducing agent. Also, it has abundant oxygen-containing groups on its surface. The Fe₃O₄/g-C₃N₄/CL had a high removal capacity for Cr (VI) (50.09 mg/g), and excellent regeneration and magnetic separation performance. Importantly, the Fe₃O₄/g-C₃N₄/CL could not only improve the adsorption ability for Cr (VI), but also strengthen the immobilization of Cr (III). Based on the comprehensive experiments and characterization, combined with DFT calculations, we proposed that, the first time, the removal of Cr (VI) was controlled by three consecutive processes: (1) ion exchange of Cr (VI) by hydroxyl groups, (2) reduction of Cr (VI) to Cr (III) by electron-donor (oxygen-containing) groups (EDGs), and (3) complexation of Cr (III) by amine groups. This study provides a new avenue for the removal of toxic oxygen anions and reveals an original removal mechanism of Fe₃O₄/g-C₃N₄/CLx (x = hydrothermal products from carbon precursors (glucose, ascorbic acid, cellulose)).

Facile one-step hydrothermal synthesis of α-Fe2O3/g-C3N4 composites for the synergistic adsorption and photodegradation of dyes

With the expansion of industrialization, dye pollution has become a significant hazard to humans and aquatic ecosystems. In this study, α-Fe₂O₃/g-C₃N₄-R (where R is the relative percentage of α-Fe₂O₃) composites were fabricated by a one-step method. The as-prepared α-Fe₂O₃/g-C₃N₄-0.5 composites showed excellent adsorption capacities for methyl orange (MO, 69.91 mg g⁻¹) and methylene blue (MB, 29.46 mg g⁻¹), surpassing those of g-C₃N₄ and many other materials. Moreover, the ionic strength and initial pH influenced the adsorption process. Relatively, the adsorption isotherms best fitted the Freundlich model, and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model could accurately describe the kinetics for the adsorption of MO and MB by α-Fe₂O₃/g-C₃N₄-0.5. Electrostatic interaction and π–π electron donor–acceptor interaction were the major mechanisms for MO/MB adsorption. In addition, the photocatalytic experiment results showed that more than 79% of the added MO/MB was removed within 150 min. The experimental results of free-radical capture revealed that holes (h⁺) were the major reaction species for the photodegradation of MO, whereas MB was reduced by the synergistic effect of hydroxyl radicals (·OH) and holes (h⁺). This study suggests that the α-Fe₂O₃/g-C₃N₄ composites have an application potential for the removal of dyes from wastewater.

Simple one-step hydrothermal synthesis of α-Fe₂O₃/g-C₃N₄ composites for the synergistic adsorption and photodegradation of dyes