Synthesis of novel chitosan resin derivatized with serine moiety for the column collection/concentration of uranium and the determination of uranium by ICP-MS

Novel biocompatible and sensitive visual sensor based on aggregation-induced emission for on-site detection of radioactive uranium in water and live cell imaging

In consideration of the severe hazards of radioactive uranium pollution, the rapid assessment of uranium in field and in vivo are urgently needed. In this work a novel biocompatible and sensitive visual fluorescent sensor based on aggregation-induced emission (AIE) was designed for onsite detection of UO₂²⁺ in complex environmental samples, including wastewater from Uranium Plant, river water and living cell. The AIE-active sensor (named as TPA-SP) was prepared with a "bottom-up" strategy by introducing a trianiline group (TPA) with a single-bond rotatable helix structure into the salicylaldehyde Schiff-base molecule. The photophysical properties, cytotoxicity test, recognition mechanism and the analytical performance for the detection of UO₂²⁺ in actual water samples and cell imaging were systematically investigated. TPA-SP exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity toward UO₂²⁺ as well as outstanding anti-interference ability against large equivalent of different ions in a wide effective pH range. A good linear relationship in the UO₂²⁺ concentration range of 0.05-1 μM was obtained with a low limit of detection (LOD) of 39.4 nM (9.38 ppb) for uranium detection. The prepared visual sensor showed great potential for fast risk assessment of uranium pollution in environmental systems. In addition, our results also indicated that the TPA-SP exhibited very low cytotoxicity in cells and demonstrated great potential for uranium detection in vivo.

Interpenetrating porous photonic crystal balls for rapid naked eye detection of uranyl ions

We developed a label-free interpenetrating porous photonic crystal ball sensor with amidoxime groups and carboxyl groups by two-step activation for rapid detection of UO22+ with the naked eye without an angle dependence.

Adsorption capacity of kelp-like electrospun nanofibers immobilized with bayberry tannin for uranium(vi) extraction from seawater

The extraction of uranium(vi) from seawater is of paramount interest to meet the rapid expansion of global energy needs. A novel gelatin/PVA composite nanofiber band loaded with bayberry tannin (GPNB-BT) was used to extract uranium(vi) from simulated seawater in this study. It was fabricated by electrostatic spinning and crosslinking, and characterized by SEM, EDX, FTIR, and XPS. Batch experiments were carried out to investigate the adsorption of uranium(vi) onto GPNB-BT. Simultaneously, the regeneration-reuse process of the GPNB-BT was determined and illustrated here. The GPNB-BT exhibited excellent adsorption and regeneration performance, and a maximum adsorption capacity of 254.8 mg g-1 toward uranium(vi) was obtained at 298.15 K, pH = 5.5. Further, the regeneration rate for uranium did not decrease significantly after five cycles. Moreover, even at an extremely low initial concentration of 3 μg L-1 in the simulated seawater for 24 h, GPNB-BT showed an ultrahigh adsorption rate of more than 90% and adsorption capacity of 7.2 μg g-1 for uranium. The high density of adjacent phenolic hydroxyl groups and the specific surface area of GPNB-BT improved the adsorption ability of GPNB-BT for uranium. Therefore, the GPNB-BT was shown to have an application prospect for the effective extraction of uranium(vi) from seawater.

Synthesis of a low-density biopolymeric chitosan–agarose cryomatrix and its surface functionalization with bio-transformed melanin for the enhanced recovery of uranium(vi) from aqueous subsurfaces

This study presents the development of a melanin nanoparticles functionalized biopolymeric cryomatrix for the recovery of uranium from aqueous subsurfaces.

Uranium(vi) adsorption from aqueous solutions using poly(vinyl alcohol)/carbon nanotube composites

A series of PVA/MWCNTs hydrogels were synthesized and characterized. Incorruption of MWCNTs into PVA enhanced UO₂²⁺ ions removal efficiency compared to the PVA only. UO₂²⁺ adsorption process on PVA/MWCNTs hydrogels was exothermic and spontaneous.

Effective uranium(vi) sorption from alkaline media using bi-functionalized silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles

A bi-functionalized magnetic iron oxide composite has been employed for uranium(vi) sorption from alkaline media. The maximum sorption capacity was observed at pH 9.0 with a capacity of 70.7 mg g⁻¹atc_U(vi)initial= 21.7 mg L⁻¹.

Resonance light scattering determination of uranyl based on labeled DNAzyme-gold nanoparticle system

A resonance light scattering (RLS) method has been developed using a uranyl (UO2(2+)) specific DNAzyme and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). In this strategy, the cleavage of the substrate strand (SDNA) of DNAzyme results in releasing a shorter duplex in the presence of UO2(2+), leading to the aggregation of AuNPs and the increase of RLS intensity. The response signals linearly correlated with the concentration of UO2(2+) over the range of 1.36×10(-8)-1.50×10(-7) mol L(-1). The limit of detection (LOD) is 4.09×10(-9) mol L(-1). The method has excellent selectivity and higher sensitivity. It could provide a promising potential for the detection of metal ions, and be benefit to extend the application of RLS method.

Adsorption of uranium from aqueous solution using chitosan-tripolyphosphate (CTPP) beads

Chitosan-tripolyphosphate (CTPP) beads were prepared using in-liquid curing method and used for the adsorption of uranium from aqueous solution. Beads were prepared at two different cross-linking densities by adjusting the pH of the tripolyphosphate solution. The synthesized beads were characterized using FTIR spectroscopy before and after adsorption of uranium. Beads having higher cross-linking are found to have better adsorption capacity for uranium. Factors that influence the uranium adsorption onto CTPP beads such as solution pH, contact time and initial uranium concentration were studied in detail. The experimental results were fitted into Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms. From Langmuir adsorption model the adsorption capacity of CTPP beads for uranium is estimated as 236.9 mg/g. Pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order and intraparticle diffusion model were applied to the observed kinetics data and the results shows that the pseudo-second order model is more suitable to explain the kinetics of adsorption of uranium on CTPP beads. FTIR spectroscopic characterization of the beads showed that the phosphate groups may be more responsible for the adsorption of uranium on CTPP beads.

Adsorptive recovery of UO2(2+) from aqueous solutions using collagen-tannin resin

Collagen-tannin resin (CTR), as a novel adsorbent, was prepared via reaction of collagen with black wattle tannin and aldehyde, and its adsorption properties to UO(2)(2+) were investigated in detail, including pH effect, adsorption kinetics, adsorption equilibrium and column adsorption kinetics. The adsorption of UO(2)(2+) on CTR was pH-dependent, and the optimal pH range was 5.0-6.0. CTR exhibited excellent adsorption capacity to UO(2)(2+). For instance, the adsorption capacity obtained at 303 K and pH 6.0 was as high as 0.91 mmol UO(2)(2+)/g when the initial concentration of UO(2)(2+) was 1.0 mmol/L. In kinetics studies, the adsorption equilibrium can be reached within 300 min, and the experimental data were well fitted by the pseudo-second-order rate model, and the equilibrium adsorption capacities calculated by the model were almost the same as those determined by experiments. The adsorption isotherms could be well described by the Freundlich equation with the correlation coefficients (R(2)) higher than 0.99, the adsorption behaviors of UO(2)(2+) on CTR column were investigated as well. Present study suggested that the CTR can be used for the adsorptive recovery of UO(2)(2+) from aqueous solutions.

Adsorption properties of ionic species on cross-linked chitosans modified with catechol and salicylic acid moieties

Catechol-type chitosan resin and salicylic acid-type chitosan resin were easily synthesized for use in estimating the adsorption behavior of 34 elements at pH 1 - 7 in aquatic media. The catechol-type chitosan resin could adsorb Cu(II) at pH 3 - 7, In(III) at pH 4 - 6, Pb(II) and lanthanoids at pH 5 - 7, and U(VI) at pH 4 - 7 more effectively than the salicylic acid-type chitosan resin and the cross-linked chitosan resin (base material). Adsorption ability was in the order: catechol-type chitosan resin > salicylic acid-type chitosan resin > cross-linked chitosan resin.

Synthesis of novel chitosan resin derivatized with serine diacetic acid moiety and its application to on-line collection/concentration of trace elements and their determination using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry

A novel chelating resin functionalized with serine diacetic acid moiety was synthesized by using chitosan as base material, and applied to the collection/concentration of trace elements in environmental water samples, followed by the determination using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES). The synthesized resin, crosslinked chitosan serine diacetic acid (CCTS-SDA), showed good adsorption behavior toward trace amounts of Cd, Pb, Cu, Ni, V, Ga, Sc, In, and Th in a wide pH range. Additionally, rare earth elements also can be retained on the resin at neutral pH region. The adsorbed elements can be easily eluted with 1 mol L(-1) of nitric acid, and their recoveries were found to be 90-100%. The CCTS-SDA was packed in a mini-column, which was then installed in a computer-controlled auto-pretreatment system (Auto-Pret System) for on-line trace elements collection and determination with ICP-AES. Experimental parameters which related to the improvement of sensitivity and reproducibility were optimized. The limits of detection (LOD) for 13 elements were found to be in sub-ppb level. The proposed method with CCTS-SDA resin was successfully applied to the determination of trace elements in river water samples. The method was validated by determining a certified reference material of river water, SLRS-4.

Preparation of silica-supported porous sorbent for heavy metal ions removal in wastewater treatment by organic–inorganic hybridization combined with sucrose and polyethylene glycol imprinting

A new porous sorbent for wastewater treatment of metal ions was synthesized by covalent grafting of molecularly imprinted organic-inorganic hybrid on silica gel. With sucrose and polyethylene glycol 4000 (PEG 4000) being synergic imprinting molecules, covalent surface coating on silica gel was achieved by using polysaccharide-incorporated sol-gel process starting from the functional biopolymer, chitosan and an inorganic epoxy-precursor, gamma-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysiloxane (GPTMS) at room temperature. The prepared porous sorbent was characterized by using simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimeter (TG/DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nitrogen adsorption porosimetry measurement and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Copper ion, Cu(2+), was chosen as the model metal ion to evaluate the effectiveness of the new biosorbent in wastewater treatment. The influence of epoxy-siloxane dose, buffer pH and co-existed ions on Cu(2+) adsorption was assessed through batch experiments. The imprinted composite sorbent offered a fast kinetics for the adsorption of Cu(2+). The uptake capacity of the sorbent imprinted by two pore-building components was higher than those imprinted with only a single component. The dynamic adsorption in column underwent a good elimination of Cu(2+) in treating electric plating wastewater. The prepared composite sorbent exhibited high reusability. Easy preparation of the described porous composite sorbent, absence of organic solvents, cost-effectiveness and high stability make this approach attractive in biosorption.

Functionalization of chitosan with 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid for the adsorption/collection of uranium in water samples and its determination by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

A chitosan resin derivatized with 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid moiety (CCTS-DHBA resin) was newly synthesized for the collection/concentration of trace uranium by using cross-linked chitosan (CCTS) as base material, and the adsorption behavior of uranium as well as 60 elements on the resin was examined by passing the sample solutions through a mini-column packed with the resin. After the elution of the collected elements on the resin with 1M HNO(3), the eluates were measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The CCTS-DHBA resin can adsorb several metal cations and several oxoanionic elements at appropriate pH. Among these metal ions, uranium shows an excellent adsorption behavior on this resin. Uranium as UO(2)(2+) species can be adsorbed on the resin by chelating mechanism with adsorption capacity of 330 mg g(-1) resin. Through the column treatment, the complete removal of large amounts of alkali and alkaline earth matrices without any loss of adsorption efficiency over prolonged usage were achieved with this resin. The CCTS-DHBA resin was applied to the adsorption/collection of uranium in tap water, river water and seawater samples with satisfactory results. The validation of the proposed method was carried out by analyzing uranium in the standard reference materials of SLRS-4, CASS-4, and NASS-5 after passing through the CCTS-DHBA resin, and the results showed good agreement with the certified values.

Use of a microcolumn packed with modified carbon nanofibers coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for simultaneous on-line preconcentration and determination of trace rare earth elements in biological samples

In this work, a new method was developed for the determination of trace rare earth elements (REEs) in biological samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after preconcentration on a microcolumn packed with modified carbon nanofibers (CNFs). CNFs oxidized with nitric acid have been proved to possess an exceptional adsorption capability for REEs due to their surface functionalization. The effects of the experimental parameters, including pH, sample flow rate and volume, elution solution and interfering ions, on the recoveries of the analytes have been investigated systematically. A 100-fold enrichment factor was obtained. The adsorption capacity of CNFs was found to be 18.1, 19.3, 23.6, 17.6, 22.3 and 19.5 mg/g for La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Dy and Y, respectively. Under the optimum conditions, the detection limits of this method ranged from 0.2 pg/mL (Dy) to 1.2 pg/mL (Ce) with an enrichment factor of 15-fold, and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) for the determination of REEs at the 1.0 ng/mL level were less than 4% (n = 9). This method was applied to the analysis of trace REEs in a real sample of human hair with recoveries of 95-115%. In order to validate the proposed method, a certified reference material of human hair (GBW 07601) was analyzed with satisfactory results.

Synthesis of salicylaldehyde-modified mesoporous silica and its application as a new sorbent for separation, preconcentration and determination of uranium by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

A new functionalized mesoporous silica (MCM-41) using salicylaldehyde was utilized for the separation, preconcentration and determination of uranium in natural water by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Experimental conditions for effective adsorption of trace levels of U(VI) were optimized. The preconcentration factor was 100 (1.0 mL of elution for a 100 mL sample volume). The analytical curve was linear in the range 2-1000 microg L(-1) and the detection limit was 0.5 ng mL(-1). The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) under optimum conditions was 2.5% (n=10). Common coexisting ions did not interfere with the separation and determination of uranium at pH 5. The sorbent exhibited excellent stability and its sorption capacity under optimum conditions has been found to be 10mg of uranium per gram of sorbent. The method was applied for the recovery and determination of uranium in different water samples.

On-line Preconcentration System Using Mini-column Packed with a Chelating Resin for the Characterization of Seasonal Variations of Trace Elements in Seawater by ICP-MS and ICP-AES

An on-line column preconcentration technique coupled with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and -atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) was developed using a mini-column (ca. 3 mm i.d., 40 mm length), that was packed with chelating resin (0.2 g) of iminodiacetic acid groups, Muromac A-1. After the preconcentration step, the column was washed with ammonium acetate buffer (pH 5.5) and water to remove major elements, such as Ca and Mg, and then eluted with 4 ml of 2 mol l(-1) nitric acid. Eleven trace elements (Al, V, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Th and U) in seawater were determined by ICP-MS/AES. Recoveries for most of the elements tested were over 90%, although those for Al, V and Th were around 70%. The accuracy of the proposed method was evaluated by analyzing a standard reference material of seawater (NASS-4, NRC Canada). The values of Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb obtained with the present method showed good agreement with the certified values as judged from the standard deviation. The method was successfully applied to characterize seasonal variations of trace elements in deep seawater (DSW) and surface seawater (SSW). In addition, no serious decrease in analytical performance of the present column system was observed during the experimental period of about 1 year.

Simple Bead Injection-Flow Injection System for the Determination of Copper

We demonstrate the extended application of a simple bead injection-flow injection system with a modified simple colorimetric detection unit for the determination of low amount of Cu2+ in samples of different matrices (water and supplement tablet samples) with minimal sample pretreatment by employing ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (APDC) reagent.