Facile synthesis of melamine-based porous polymer networks and their application for removal of aqueous mercury ions

Schiff-base Polymer Immobilized Ruthenium for Efficient Catalytic Cross-coupling of Secondary Alcohols with 2-amino- and γ-aminobenzyl Alcohols to Give Quinolines and Pyridines

A Schiff-base porous polymer has been impregnated with ruthenium trichloride for acceptor-free dehydrogenation coupling (ADC) of secondary alcohols with γ-amino- and 2-aminobenzyl alcohols to give pyridines and quinolines. This heterogenous catalyst exhibited high catalytic efficiency over repeated cycles with wide functional group tolerance.

Ultrafast adsorption of hexavalent chromium from aqueous effluents using covalent triazine frameworks

We have synthesized low-cost high performance covalent triazine framework (CTF) through Schiff base reaction of melamine and terephthalaldehyde with different proportions of the reactants. The synthesized adsorbents showed excellent capacity for adsorption of Cr (VI) at acidic pH while almost negligible adsorption at higher pH. The adsorbent displays excellent reusability, with a little decrease in adsorption capacity with the increasing number of cycles. Moreover, Cr (VI) the adsorption is unaffected by the presence of 50-500 times higher concentration of alkali metal and halide ions in solution, while sulphate ions demonstrate shielding behavior decreasing the adsorption capacity. Mechanistic studies indicate electrostatic attractions, ion exchange and reduction being responsible for the adsorption mediated by abundant nitrogen sites that also imbibes the adsorbent with high capacity. The adsorbent was also utilized to recover chromium from an industrial electroplating effluent, which demonstrates applicability of material for practical applications.

An overview of the synthetic strategies of C3-symmetric polymeric materials containing benzene and triazine cores and their biomedical applications

C3-symmetric star-shaped materials are an emerging category of porous organic polymers with distinctive properties such as permanent porosity, good thermal and chemical stability, high surface area, and appropriate functionalization that promote outstanding potential in various applications. This review is mostly about constructing benzene or s-triazine rings as the center of C3-symmetric molecules and using side-arm reactions to add functions to these molecules. Over and above this, the performance of various polymerization processes has been additionally investigated in detail, including the trimerization of alkynes or aromatic nitriles, polycondensation of monomers with specific functional groups, and cross-coupling building blocks with benzene or triazine cores. Finally, the most recent progress in biomedical applications for C3-symmetric materials based on benzene or s-triazine have been summarized.

SiO2 nanospheres as surfactant and template in aqueous dispersion polymerizations yielding highly nanoporous resin particles

HYPOTHESIS

High nitrogen containing resins such as poly(melamine-co-formaldehyde) (PMF) are known for their very good adsorption properties. Until now, using an ecofriendly hard-templating approach with SiO₂ nanospheres in water for synthesis, only yielded either highly porous particles with diameters up to 1 µm or non-porous particles with diameters above 1 µm. Small particles cannot be used as fixed bed adsorbents in columns because of the very high pressure occurring.

EXPERIMENTS

To yield particles with high porosity and larger diameters for the use as fixed bed adsorbent, we investigated the influence of several synthesis parameters on porosity and particle morphology.

FINDINGS

From all variations, we proposed a mechanism for the complex interplay between the PMF prepolymer and resin species with SiO₂ nanoparticles acting both as Pickering-like surfactant and template particle. With this knowledge we were able to produce a suitable column material with high specific surface area up to 260 m²/g. We then proved the application of this material for aqueous dichromate adsorption in batch, yielding a maximum capacity of 138 mg/g with recyclability. In column experiments, the contamination of 5 mg/L dichromate in water was reduced to drinking water safe levels for an influent volume equal to over 160 bed volumes.

Activated wood surface and functionalized cellulose co-building strong chemical wood bonding performance

Herein, an activated wood surface rich in CHO groups was constructed by spraying a sodium periodate aqueous solution on a natural wood surface. Besides, microcrystalline cellulose was functionalized to obtain aminated cellulose, which was dissolved in an aqueous solution and used as a specific adhesive. Subsequently, an ultrastrong wood bonding interface was co-constructed with the activated wood surface and aminated cellulose, which was formed by a chemical covalent reaction between aldehyde groups at the activated wood interface and amino groups on aminated cellulose. The dry, hot-water, and boiling-water lap shear strengths of the plywood specimens were 1.47, 1.07, and 1.08 MPa, respectively. The boiling-water strength of the plywood made from the activated wood surface achieved increased to 1.08 MPa from 0 MPa of the plywood constructed on the nonactivated wood surface. The chemical crosslinking reaction and bonding mechanism between the adhesive and activated wood surface were clarified by density functional theory calculations, attenuated total reflectance-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results showed that chemical bonding (aminal NCN and imine CN) at the bonding interface played an important part in improving the water resistance and bonding strength. This work provides new concepts for designing durable and moisture-resistant wood products.

Stabilization mechanism of Pb with an amino- and mercapto-polymer to assist phytoremediation

An important concern during phytoremediation of heavy metal contamination in soils is the risk of leaching of heavy metals before they can be taken up by plants. The most effective method is to use heavy metal stabilizers. However, the stabilization without selectivity will greatly inhibit the phytoremediation effect of all heavy metals. A novel polymer with amino and mercapto groups named as AMP has been prepared as a new exclusive soil stabilizer for Pb. The adsorption of AMP toward Pb belonged to a monolayer adsorption and chemical process. The adsorption capacity of Pb increased with the increase of pH and initial Pb concentration, and obeyed the Langmuir model and pseudo-second-order model, respectively. An amazing maximum adsorption capacity of 588 mg Pb g^-1 was reached for AMP when initial concentration was 300 mg Pb L^-1, while K₂ of 0.594 g mg^-1 min^-1 was obtained when the initial Pb concentration was 2.0 mg L^-1. The distribution coefficient of AMP to Pb in the mixture of five heavy metals was as high as 3110 mL g^-1, which was at least 7-fold greater than those of other heavy metals, exhibiting high selective to Pb. AMP showed a fast, large adsorption capacity and good selectivity due to the abundance of sulfhydryl and amino functional groups in the polymer and their interaction with metal ions. The effects of AMP in soil remediation were further tested by a soil column leaching experiment and a pot experiment, and the good stabilization effect of AMP on Pb and the less effect on bioavailability of other heavy metals at recommended doses were verified. This study was expected to solve the problem of leaching risk of the target metal such as Pb in sludge during land use. It provided a new idea of exclusive stabilization to assist phytoremediation of non-target heavy metals by reducing the leaching risk of some special target metal.

Excellent removal performance of 4,4'-biphenyldicarboxaldehyde m-phenylenediamine Schiff base magnetic polymer towards phenanthrene and 9-phenanthrol: Experimental, modeling and DFT calculations studies

Phenanthrene (PTH) and 9-phenanthrol (9-PTH) exhibited severe health threats and ecological hazards, for this reason, exploring a high-efficient removing strategy for PTH and 9-PTH could be considered of great urgency. Herein the 4,4'-biphenyldicarboxaldehyde m-phenylenediamine Schiff base magnetic polymer (magnetic BIPH-PHEN) was successfully fabricated via Schiff base polycondensation reaction and the subsequently one-pot embedded method. The mutual aromatic nucleus of BIPH-PHEN polymer and PTH/9-PTH could form π-π interaction, thus improving the capture ability, the embedded Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles provided the possibility for rapid separation. The physical and chemical properties of the magnetic BIPH-PHEN were systematically characterized. The removal rate of magnetic BIPH-PHEN towards PTH and 9-PTH was 85.65 % and 98.52 %, respectively (PTH or 9-PTH: 8 mg/L; Adsorbent: 0.2 g/L). The DFT calculations including energy calculations and electrostatic potential distribution analyzed the different bonding modes and proposed the most possible bonding modes in the adsorbent/adsorbate system. Moreover, the LUMO and HOMO orbits combined with energy gaps analysis proved the existence and specific types of the π-π interaction. The monolayer adsorption occurred on the homogeneous magnetic BIPH-PHEN surface, simultaneously the chemisorption was dominant. This work not only proposed new sights on assembling magnetic Schiff base polymer for removing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, but also provided a deeper understanding of intramolecular interactions.

Tuning the pore structure of templated mesoporous poly(melamine-co-formaldehyde) particles toward diclofenac removal

The increasing demand and implementation of pharmaceutics poses severe risk to different aquatic species as detectable contaminant in almost every surface water worldwide. Diclofenac (DCF) as one of the most common used analgesics was investigated as contaminant to be removed by adsorption onto nanoporous poly(melamine-co-formaldehyde) (PMF) particles featuring a very high amount of nitrogen functionalities. To achieve a high specific surface area (up to 416 m²/g) and a tunable pore system by hard templating, four different SiO₂ nanoparticles were used as template. Differences in the pore formation and achieved pore structure were elucidated. For the first time, the adsorption of DCF onto PMF was tested. In batch adsorption experiments, impactful adsorption capacities as high as 76 μmol/g were achieved and complete removal at initial concentrations of 2 mg/L DCF. Differences in the connectivity and the micropore structure were decisive for uptake in low concentrations and the achieved adsorption capacity, respectively. As the presented PMF particles can be easily synthesized with the monomers formaldehyde and melamine combined with colloidal silica as sacrificial template and water as green solvent, this material presents a viable adsorbent for the removal of DCF at a larger scale. Our study further indicates a high potential for the removal of other pharmaceuticals.

Surface Functionalization Strategies of Polystyrene for the Development Peptide-Based Toxin Recognition

The development of a robust surface functionalization method is indispensable in controlling the efficiency, sensitivity, and stability of a detection system. Polystyrene (PS) has been used as a support material in various biomedical fields. Here, we report various strategies of polystyrene surface functionalization using siloxane derivative, divinyl sulfone, cyanogen bromide, and carbonyl diimidazole for the immobilization of biological recognition elements (peptide developed to detect ochratoxin A) for a binding assay with ochratoxin A (OTA). Our objective is to develop future detection systems that would use polystyrene cuvettes such as immobilization support of biological recognition elements. The goal of this article is to demonstrate the proof of concept of this immobilization support. The results obtained reveal the successful modification of polystyrene surfaces with the coupling agents. Furthermore, the immobilization of biological recognition elements, for the OTA binding assay with horseradish peroxidase conjugated to ochratoxin A (OTA-HRP) also confirms that the characteristics of the functionalized peptide immobilized on polystyrene retains its ability to bind to its ligand. The presented strategies on the functionalization of polystyrene surfaces will offer alternatives to the possibilities of immobilizing biomolecules with excellent order- forming monolayers, due to their robust surface chemistries and validate a proof of concept for the development of highly efficient, sensitive, and stable future biosensors for food or water pollution monitoring.

Synthesis and Characterization of Bipyridine-Based Polyaminal Network for CO2 Capture

The response to the high demand for decreasing the amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere, a new polyaminal-based polymer network was designed and successfully prepared through one-pot polycondensation reaction of melamine and [2,2′-Bipyridine]-5,5′-dicarbaldehyde. The formation of the polymer structure was confirmed by FT-IR, solid-state ¹³C NMR, and powder-X-ray diffraction. The porous properties of the polymeric structure were confirmed by field-emission scanning electron microscope and N₂ adsorption–desorption methods at 77 K. The prepared polymer can take up 1.02 mmol/g and 0.71 mmol/g CO₂ at 273 K and 298 K, respectively, despite its relatively modest Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area (160.7 m²/g), due to the existence of superabundant polar groups on the pore surfaces.

Highly Efficient and Selective Capture of Pb(II) by New Crosslinked Melamine-Based Polymethyl Methacrylate for Water Treatment

Owing to the recent developments in the polymer’s properties and application, the demands for designing different structure of polymers are greater than ever. Crosslinked polymers (CPs) are a type of porous materials that have a variety of potential applications. Because of simple methods of modification of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), the crosslinked PMMA considers the most commonly polymeric adsorbents. A new crosslinked melamine-based polymethyl methacrylate (C-PMMA/Mel) was prepared via a polycondensation reaction between PMMA and melamine used as a crosslinking agent. Different characterization methods were carried out to investigate the molecular structures, thermal stability, and morphology. C-PMMA/Mel was applied for the adsorption behavior toward different metal cations and detected a selective to Pb(II). The evaluation of the new polymers as adsorbent against Pb(II) ion was studied using the contact time, adsorbent dose, initial concentration, and effects of pH. The adsorption efficiency of heavy metals was improved in the presence of melamine in polymeric matrix. The C-PMMA/Mel has high efficacy in the removal of ~94% of Pb at pH 6 for one hour. Noticeably, the adsorption performance of C-PMMA/Mel perfectly suited with Freundlich isotherm and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Additionally, the new materials showed no obvious loss in Pb(II) removal after 7 cycles.

Effective and reusable 3D CuxS nanocluster structured magnetic adsorbent for mercury extraction from wastewater

The elimination of mercury from polluted water using an effective, cost-economic, and sustainable method was investigated in this work. A modulated multilayer magnetic Hg²⁺ extractor was prepared with a self-assembly engineering that permitting robust anchoring and uniform distribution of the negatively charged 3D Cu_xS nanocluster onto a polydopamine (PDA) covered positively strengthened Fe₃O₄ surface. The developed PAD@Fe₃O₄ supported copper sulfide composite (Cu_xS/PAD@Fe₃O₄) presented an unparalleled Hg²⁺ uptake performance with adsorption capacity of 1394.61 mg/g (without saturation), and extraordinary selectivity with distribution coefficient value K_d of 17419.2 mL/g. A complexation reaction during Hg²⁺ affinity was taken place on Cu_xS/PAD@Fe₃O₄ surface, and almost no components losses occurring during the adsorption. Furthermore, the as-prepared Cu_xS/PAD@Fe₃O₄ micron-adsorbent can be easily magnetic recovery and recycled with hydrochloric acid elution. The purification of 50 L Hg²⁺ containing wastewater, initial concentration of 20 μg/L can be achieved with Cu_xS/PAD@Fe₃O₄ dosage of 0.1 g and treatment cost of 0.077 US $. The outlet Hg²⁺ concentration met drinking water standard of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The Cu_xS/PAD@Fe₃O₄ magnetic adsorbent can be fabricated cheaply and holds promise for scale-up applications.

Covalent organic frameworks-derived hierarchically porous N-doped carbon for 2,4-dichlorophenol degradation by activated persulfate: The dual role of graphitic N

A series of hierarchically porous carbon catalysts with high N content and large surface area were prepared via self-templated carbonization of covalent organic frameworks (COFs). The catalyst was used to activate persulfate (PS) for degrading 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP). Experimental results demonstrated that the prepared catalyst treated at 700 °C (PNC-700) showed both strong adsorption ability and enhanced PS activity for 2,4-DCP degradation. A variety of characterization techniques were used to investigate the properties of prepared catalysts. We found that the graphitic N functional groups acted as both activity sites and electron transfer access. The activity of the catalyst was also closely related to the hierarchical pore structure and good electrical conductivity. The influencing factors of PNC-700/PS system in 2,4-DCP degradation were discussed. In addition, PNC-700 displayed excellent recyclability. The activation process especially non-radical pathway was promoted by increasing graphitic N contents. The possible reaction mechanism and degradation pathways were also proposed.

Synthesis of Naphthalene-Based Polyaminal-Linked Porous Polymers for Highly Effective Uptake of CO2 and Heavy Metals

Studying the effect of functional groups on the porosity structure and adsorption efficiency of polymer materials is becoming increasingly interesting. In this work, a novel porous polyaminal-linked polymer, based on naphthalene and melamine (PAN-NA) building blocks, was successfully synthesized by a one-pot polycondensation method, and used as an adsorbent for both CO2 and heavy metals. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, solid-state 13 C NMR, powder X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetry were used to characterize the prepared polymer. The porous material structure was established by field-emission scanning electron microscope and N2 adsorption-desorption methods at 77 K. The polymer exhibited excellent uptake of CO2, 133 mg/g at 273 K and 1 bar. In addition, the adsorption behavior of PAN-NA for different metal cations, including Pb(II), Cr(III), Cu(II), Cd(II), Ni(II), and Ba(II), was investigated; a significant adsorption selectivity toward the Pb(II) cation was detected. The influence of pH, adsorbent dose, initial concentrations, and contact time was also assessed. Our results prove that the introduction of naphthalene in the polymer network improves the porosity and, thus, CO2 adsorption, as well as the adsorption of heavy metals.

Highly effective removal of Hg(ii) solution using corn bract@MoS2 as a new biomass adsorbent

As known, mercury contamination is one of the current environmental issues due to the high toxicity of mercury.

Porosity Design on Conjugated Microporous Poly(Aniline)S for Exceptional Mercury(II) Removal

The use of conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) in practical wastewater treatment demands further design on the pore structure, otherwise their adsorption capacities toward heavy-metal ions were moderate. Here, we report a rational design approach, which produces hybrid molecular pores in conjugated microporous poly(aniline)s (CMPAs) for mercury removal. It is achieved through a delicate interval introduction of linkers with differential molecular lengths during polymerization, acquiring both diffusion channels and storage pores for radical enhancement of mass transfer and adsorption storage. The resulting CMPA-M featured a large adsorption capacity of 975 mg g^-1 and rapid kinetics that could remove 94.8% of 50 mg g^-1 of mercury(II) within a very short contact time of 48 s, with a promising initial adsorption rate h as high as 113 mg g^-1 min^-1, which was 2.54-fold larger in the adsorption capacity and 45.2-fold faster in the adsorption efficiency compared with the undeveloped CMPAs. More importantly, our CMPA-M-2, with robust stability and easy reusability, was able to scavenge over 99.9% of mercury(II) from the actual wastewater in a harsh condition with a very low pH of 0.77, extremely high salinity of 53,157 mg L^-1, and complex impurities, featuring exceptional selectivity that allows us to extract and recycle a high purity of 99.1% of mercury from the wastewater. These outcomes demonstrate the unprecedented potential of CMPs for environmental remediation and real-world mercury extraction and present benchmarks for CMP-based mercury adsorbents.

Magnetically Directed Co-nanoinitiators for Cross-Linking Adhesives and Enhancing Mechanical Properties

Magnetically directed localized polymerization is of immense interest for its extensive impacts and applications in numerous fields. The use of means untethered from an external magnetic field to localize initiation of polymerization to develop a curing system is a novel concept, with a sustainable, efficient, and eco-friendly approach and a wide range of potential in both science and engineering. However, the conventional means for the initiation of polymerization cannot define the desirable location of polymerization, which is often exacerbated by the poor temporal control in the curing system. Herein, the copper-immobilized dendrimer-based magnetic iron oxide silica (MNPs-G2@Cu²⁺) co-nanoinitiators are rationally designed as initiators for redox radical polymerization. The nanoinitiators are magnetically responsive and therefore enable localized polymerization using an external magnetic field. In this work, anaerobic polymerization of an adhesive composed of triethylene glycol dimethacrylate, tert-butyl peroxybenzoate, and MNPs-G2@Cu²⁺ as the magnetic co-nanoinitiators has been investigated. The use of a magnet locates and promotes redox free radical polymerization through the synergistic functions between peroxide and MNPs-G2@Cu²⁺ co-nanoinitiators. The mechanical properties of the resulting polymer are considerably reinforced because the MNPs-G2@Cu²⁺ co-nanoinitiators concurrently play another crucial role as nanofillers. This strategy provides a novel approach for magnetically tunable localized polymerization, which allows new opportunities to govern the formulation of advanced adhesives through polymerization under hazard-free conditions for various promising applications.

Synchronous reduction-fixation of reducible heavy metals from aqueous solutions: Application of novel mesoporous MFT/SBA-15 composite materials

The usual treatment for Cr(VI)-contaminated wastewater primarily included reduction, adsorption, and the subsequent separation of the Cr-laden adsorbent. Among these factors, the adsorbent is the most critical factor in determining Cr removal efficiency. In this study, a novel melamine-formaldehyde-thiourea (MFT) chelating resin/mesoporous silica composite material (MFT/SBA-15) was synthesized via a co-condensation method and used for the reduction and fixation of Cr(VI)-contaminated water. Cr(VI) adsorption onto MFT/SBA-15 obeyed the pseudo-second-order model, and the chemical adsorption was the rate-limiting step in the adsorption process. Also it followed the Langmuir adsorption model, with single molecular layer adsorption characteristics. The organic components within MFT/SBA-15 were the core functional groups for Cr(VI) adsorption, and the formation of a coordination bond (CS→Cr) between the lone electron pairs of the S atom and Cr during the adsorption process led to the synchronous reduction-fixation processes of Cr(VI). These synchronous effects were further demonstrated for other reducible heavy metals, including As(V) and Cu(II), but negligibly observed in chemically stable elements, such as Zn(II), Ni(II), Pb(II), Cd(II), and As(III). The novel mesoporous MFT/SBA-15 materials combine the advantages of the chelating resin and mesoporous silica and have excellent potential for the wastewater treatment of reducible heavy metals through synchronous reduction-fixation.

Corn bracts loading copper sulfide for rapid adsorption of Hg(II) and sequential efficient reuse as a photocatalyst

Hg(II) ions in wastewater are highly toxic to the environment and human health, yet many materials to remove the ions exhibit lower adsorption efficiency, and few studies report the reuse of Hg(II)-loaded waste materials. Here, a cheap and efficient adsorbent was prepared for the removal of Hg(II) based on corn bracts (CB) loading copper sulfide (CuS), and the Hg(II)-adsorbed material was reused as a photocatalyst. By changing the adsorption variables such as pH, adsorbent dosage, Hg(II) concentration, contact time and coexisting ions, the optimum adsorption conditions were obtained. The study indicated the adsorption capacity and removal rate of CB/CuS reached 249.58 mg/g and 99.83% at pH 6 with 20 mg CB/CuS, 50 mL Hg(II) concentration (100 mg/L) and 60 min, and coexisting ions did not affect the uptake of Hg(II). The adsorption behavior of CB/CuS toward Hg(II) followed pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models, with the theoretical maximum adsorption capacity of 316.46 mg/g. Finally, we explored an alternative strategy to dispose of spent adsorbents by converting the CB/CuS/HgS into a photocatalyst for the degradation of rhodamine B, with a removal rate of 98%. Overall, this work not only develops a promising material for the treatment of Hg(II)-containing wastewater, but opens up a new approach for the use of the waste adsorbent.

Covalent organic framework Schiff base network-1-based pipette tip solid phase extraction of sulfonamides from milk and honey

In this work, a covalent organic framework Schiff base network-1 (SNW-1), was synthesized based on the Schiff base reaction between terephthalaldehyde and melamine and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm analyses. The prepared SNW-1 was employed as pipette tip solid phase extraction adsorbent for the extraction of sulfonamides (SAs) prior to high performance liquid chromatography analysis. The parameters affecting the extraction efficiency, including the salt concentration, sample pH, amount of adsorbent, and types and volume of eluent were investigated in detail. Good linearities were obtained between the peak area and SAs concentration ranging from 5 to 500 ng mL^-1 with correlation coefficients (R²) higher than 0.9998. The limits of detection and RSDs were lower than 0.25 ng mL^-1 and 1.9 %, respectively. The developed method was further applied for the determination of SAs in milk and honey samples with recoveries in the range of 85.8 % - 118.0 % and RSDs less than 9.5 %. The results demonstrate that the SNW-1 shows great potential for the enrichment of trace SAs in complex matrices.

Melamine-based Covalent Organic Polymers (MCOPs) as Lipase Nanocarrier for Recyclable Esters Hydrolysis and Transesterification

Present study has successfully synthesized melamine-based covalent organic polymers (MCOPs) and applied it as lipase carrier for recyclable esters hydrolysis and transesterification. The synthesized MCOPs are composed of dense nanosheet structures having a thickness of 3.5 nm. Three immobilization methods namely physical adsorption, cross-linking and carrier activation were employed to prepare the MCOPs-immobilized CRL. Cross-linked MCOPs-immobilized CRL (41.30 mg protein/g MCOPs) and carrier activated MCOPs-immobilized CRL (33.20 mg protein/g MCOPs) had higher enzyme loading as compared to physical absorb MCOPs-immobilized CRL (29.30 mg protein/g MCOPs). Nevertheless, physical absorb MCOPs-immobilized CRL demonstrated the highest esters hydrolysis (49.85 U) and transesterification (1.04 U) activities. Despite having the highest enzymatic activity, physical absorb MCOPs-immobilized CRL were not able to maintain its catalytic stability with more than 30% decreased in enzymatic activity during consecutive hydrolysis and transesterification activities. Meanwhile, cross-linked MCOPs-immobilized CRL demonstrated highest catalytic stability with highest enzymatic activities at the end of consecutive reactions. All the MCOPs-immobilized CRL can be easily recovered and reused through centrifugation with more than 85% of recovery rate.

Application of nitrogen-rich porous organic polymer for the solid-phase synthesis of 2-amino-4H-benzo[b]pyran scaffolds using ball milling process

This paper presents the efficient synthesis of 2-amino-4H-benzo[b]pyrans using mesoporous poly-melamine-formaldehyde as a polymeric heterogeneous catalyst. According to the principals of green chemistry, the reaction was performed by the planetary ball milling process at ambient and neat conditions. The heterogeneous catalyst could be reused up to five runs with no reducing of catalytic efficiency. A variety of substituted 2-amino-4H-benzo[b]pyrans were obtained in good to excellent yields under eco-friendly conditions. Other advantages of the current methodology include short reaction time, wide substrate-scope, and use of a metal-free polymeric catalyst. Also, the current method avoids the use of hazardous reagents and solvents, tedious workup and multi-step purification. This work revealed that porous organic polymers containing Lewis base sites having acceptor-donner hydrogen bonding functional groups, and high porosity could play a vital role in the promotion of the one-pot multicomponent reactions in the solid-phase synthesis.

Fabrication of Fe3 O4 /ZIF-67 composite for removal of direct blue 80 from water

Fe₃ O₄ /ZIF-67 composite was successfully fabricated by a facile method and used as adsorbent to remove direct blue 80 (DB80, azo dye) from water. Characterizations of Fe₃ O₄ /ZIF-67 composite were performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), N₂ adsorption/desorption isotherms, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and magnetic property analysis. As an adsorbent, the factors (such as adsorbent dose, pH, initial concentration, contact time, and temperature) affecting the adsorption performance of adsorbent were investigated. The optimal adsorption condition is 5 mg of Fe₃ O₄ /ZIF-67 composite in 8 ml of DB80 solution (70 mg/L) for 60 min at 318 K, and the pH value has little effect on the adsorption performance. The adsorption isotherm, kinetics, and thermodynamics of DB80 adsorbed on the Fe₃ O₄ /ZIF-67 composite were also studied. The experimental results revealed that the experimental data followed the Langmuir model and the adsorption behavior could be well explained by pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Thermodynamic analysis indicated that the adsorption was a spontaneous and endothermic process. Furthermore, the mechanism of DB80 adsorbed on the Fe₃ O₄ /ZIF-67 composite was proposed. The occurrence of adsorption might be caused by the π-π stacking interaction between Fe₃ O₄ /ZIF-67 composite and DB80. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Fe₃ O₄ /ZIF-67 composite was successfully fabricated via a facile method. Fe₃ O₄ /ZIF-67 composite was used to the adsorptive removal of direct blue 80 (azo dye). The kinetic characteristics and thermodynamic parameters were analyzed. The adsorption behavior might be ascribed to the π-π stacking interaction between Fe₃ O₄ /ZIF-67 composite and DB80.

Co0.85Se Nanoparticles Encapsulated by Nitrogen-Enriched Hierarchically Porous Carbon for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries

Coordination compound derivates (CCDs) have been widely applied in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, the functionalization of CCDs with open structure and heteroatomic doping is still challenging. Herein, an effective functionalization strategy is presented to prepare a kind of CCD, where Co_0.85Se nanoparticles are encapsulated by nitrogen-enriched hierarchically porous carbon (CS/NPC) based on the heat treatment of a cobalt-complexed hexamethylolmelamine-polyvinylpyrrolidone resin (Co²⁺/HPR). The abundant free volume and enriched N species of the HPR are responsible for the hierarchically porous configuration and high N-doping of the composites. By controlling the content of cobalt salt and the heating rate, high specific surface area (440.7 m² g^-1), high N-doping (8.54 atom %), and suitable mass loading of Co_0.85Se (55.5%) were simultaneously achieved in CS-2/NPC-5, which delivers high reversible capacity (758.5 mAh g^-1 at 0.1 A g^-1), outstanding rate capability (401.7 mAh g^-1 at 5 A g^-1), and excellent cycling durability (638.4 mAh g^-1 at 1 A g^-1 after 200 cycles), suggesting a promising candidate for LIB anode materials.

Integrating Conductivity, Immobility, and Catalytic Ability into High-N Carbon/Graphene Sheets as an Effective Sulfur Host

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are considered to be one of the most promising candidate systems for next-generation electrochemical energy storage. The major challenge of this system is the polysulfide shuttle, which results in poor cycling efficiency. In this work, a highly N-doped carbon/graphene (NC/G) sheet is designed as a sulfur host, which combines the merits of abundant N active sites and high electrical conductivity to achieve in situ anchoring-conversion of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs). Such a host not only has strong binding with LiPSs but also promotes redox kinetics, which are revealed by both experimental investigations and theoretical studies. The sulfur cathode based on the NC/G host exhibits a high initial capacity of 1380 mA h g^-1 and a superior cycle stability with a low capacity decay of 0.037% per cycle within 500 cycles at 2 C. Steady areal capacity with a high sulfur loading (5.6 mg cm^-2 ) is also attained even without the addition of LiNO₃ in the electrolyte. This work proposes and illustrates the importance of in situ anchoring-conversion of LiPSs, offering a new strategy to design multifunctional sulfur hosts for high-performance Li-S batteries.

Exploration of a novel triazine-based covalent organic framework for solid-phase extraction of antibiotics

A novel COF was synthesized, which has a similar structure to SNW-1 but different selectivity towards antibiotics.

Efficient Removal of Copper Ion from Wastewater Using a Stable Chitosan Gel Material

Gel adsorption is an efficient method for the removal of metal ion. In the present study, a functional chitosan gel material (FCG) was synthesized successfully, and its structure was detected by different physicochemical techniques. The as-prepared FCG was stable in acid and alkaline media. The as-prepared material showed excellent adsorption properties for the capture of Cu²⁺ ion from aqueous solution. The maximum adsorption capacity for the FCG was 76.4 mg/g for Cu²⁺ ion (293 K). The kinetic adsorption data fits the Langmuir isotherm, and experimental isotherm data follows the pseudo-second-order kinetic model well, suggesting that it is a monolayer and the rate-limiting step is the physical adsorption. The separation factor (R_L) for Langmuir and the 1/n value for Freundlich isotherm show that the Cu²⁺ ion is favorably adsorbed by FCG. The negative values of enthalpy (ΔH°) and Gibbs free energy (ΔG°) indicate that the adsorption process are exothermic and spontaneous in nature. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis of FCG before and after adsorption further reveal that the mechanism of Cu²⁺ ion adsorption. Further desorption and reuse experiments show that FCG still retains 96% of the original adsorption following the fifth adsorption–desorption cycle. All these results indicate that FCG is a promising recyclable adsorbent for the removal of Cu²⁺ ion from aqueous solution.

Controllable Sulfur, Nitrogen Co-doped Porous Carbon for Ethylbenzene Oxidation: The Role of Nano-CaCO3

Heteroatom-doped porous carbon materials have exhibited promising applications in various fields. In this work, sulfur, nitrogen co-doped carbon materials (SNCs) with abundant pore structure were prepared by pyrolysis of sulfur, nitrogen-containing porous organic polymers (POPs) mixed with nano-CaCO₃ at high temperature. Among the resultant materials, SNC-Ca-850 possesses a relatively high level of doped heteroatoms and exhibits an excellent catalytic performance for the selective oxidation of benzylic C-H bonds. It is noteworthy that nano-CaCO₃ increases the doped sulfur content in the synthesized carbon materials to a large extent and impacts the existence modes of sulfur. In addition, it enhances the porous structure and specific surface area of the resultant SNCs significantly. This work provides a viable strategy to promote the doping of sulfur into carbon materials during the pyrolysis process.

One-step preparation of polyimide-inlaid amine-rich porous organic block copolymer for efficient removal of chlorophenols from aqueous solution

A novel polyimide-inlaid amine-rich porous organic block copolymer (PI-b-ARPOP) was prepared via one-step polymerization by using different molar ratios of melamine (MA)/terephthalaldehyde (TA)/pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA), at molar ratios of 4/3/1, 4/2/2 and 4/1/3. The copolymer contained both aminal groups belonging to ARPOP and imide groups belonging to PI, and the bonding styles of the monomers and growth orientations of the polymeric chains were diversiform, forming an excellent porous structure. Notably, MA/TA/PMDA (4/2/2) had a surface area and pore volume of 487.27 m²/g and 1.169 cm³/g, respectively. The adsorption performance of the materials towards 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) in ultra-pure water was systematically studied. The pH value of 7 was optimal in aqueous solution. Na⁺ and Cl^- ions did not negatively affect the adsorption process, while humic acid (HA) slightly decreased the capacity. The equilibrium time was 40 sec, and the maximum adsorption capacity reached 282.49 mg/g at 298 K. The removal process was endothermic and spontaneous, and the copolymer could maintain its porous structure and consistent performance after regeneration by treatment with alkali. Moreover, to further assess the practical applicability of the material, the adsorption performance towards 2,4-DCP in river water was also investigated. This paper demonstrated that the PI-b-ARPOP can be an efficient and practical adsorbent to remove chlorophenols from aqueous solution.

A morphology-tailored triazine-based crystalline organic polymer for efficient mercury sensing

A melamine-based crystalline organic polymer as a highly efficient ultra-trace Hg²⁺ ion sensor with a detection limit of 0.03 ppb.

Hydrothermal Synthesis of Composition- and Morphology-Tunable Polyimide-Based Microparticles

Polyimide is one of the most important high-performance polymers, which is widely used due to its excellent mechanical performance and thermal stability. Unlike the conventional synthetic approach, hydrothermal polymerization enables the synthesis of polyimides without any toxic solvent and catalyst. Herein, we report the synthesis of polyimide-based microparticles (PIMs) through one-pot hydrothermal polymerization using precursors of mellitic acid (MA) and three isomers of phenylenediamine (PDA) (o-, m-, and p-PDA). Interestingly, the chemical composition of PIMs was highly tunable with the choice of the PDA isomers, leading to considerable morphological differences between PIMs. The molecular dynamics simulation and density functional theory calculation of the polymeric segment of the respective PIMs suggested that the relative ratio of amide to imide influenced the rotational freedom of the polymeric chains and number of hydrogen bonds, resulting in the well-defined structures of respective PIMs. Considering the highly tunable nature of PIMs coupled with the facile synthetic protocol, we anticipate prospective potentials of PIMs in materials, energy, and composite applications.