A further simplification of the revised physical adsorption (RPA) model

Advances in morphology-controlled alumina and its supported Pd catalysts: synthesis and applications

Alumina materials, as one of the cornerstones of the modern chemical industry, possess physical and chemical properties that include excellent mechanical strength and structure stability, which also make them highly suitable as catalyst supports. Alumina-supported Pd-based catalysts with the advantages of exceptional catalytic performance, flexible regulated surface metal/acid sites, and good regeneration ability have been widely used in many traditional chemical industry fields and have also shown great application prospects in emerging fields. This review aims to provide an overview of the recent advances in alumina and its supported Pd-based catalysts. Specifically, the synthesis strategies, morphology transformation mechanisms, and structural properties of alumina with various morphologies are comprehensively summarized and discussed in-depth. Then, the preparation approaches of Pd/Al2O3 catalysts (impregnation, precipitation, and other emerging methods), as well as the metal-support interactions (MSIs), are revisited. Moreover, Some promising applications have been chosen as representative reactions in fine chemicals, environmental purification, and sustainable development fields to highlight the universal functionality of the alumina-supported Pd-based catalysts. The role of the Pd species, alumina support, promoters, and metal-support interactions in the enhancement of catalytic performance are also discussed. Finally, some challenges and upcoming opportunities in the academic and industrial application of the alumina and its supported Pd-based are presented and put forward.

The influence of turbulence on sediment phosphorus sorption

The effect of mean flow velocity on phosphorus (P) partitioning between water and sediment has received much attention in recent decades. However, the impact of turbulence on the efficiency and capability of sediment adsorbing and desorbing dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) is still unclear. A series of contrasting experiments on the sediment sorption and desorption of DIP with the flow turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) ranging from 1.95 to 2.93 pa have been conducted. It was found that the adsorbed P onto unit mass of sediment increases with the increase in TKE. It is because an increase in TKE results in a rise in the effective adsorption capacity of sediment (b_m) by 20-30% during the adsorption process. The b_m shows the maximum rise from 0.18 to 0.25 mg/g when TKE increases from 1.95 to 2.93 pa with a fixed sediment concentration of 0.5 g/L. To account for the direct effect of TKE on P adsorption, the Langmuir model is modified by introducing a newly defined coefficient (f_A-TKE). The f_A-TKE shows a good linear relationship with TKE. Comparison between the modified model and the classic model shows that the amount of adsorbed P could be overestimated by over 50% if the direct effect of turbulence intensity is ignored. The experimental data show that the increase in TKE also enhances the desorption process, with the degree of P desorption (D_des) increased by 44%. The relation between D_des and TKE can be well represented using a logarithmic function to quantify the direct effect of turbulence intensity on desorption of P.

Comprehensive Model for the Synthesis of γ-Al2O3 Microsphere-Supported Bimetallic Iron- and Copper Oxide Materials

The effects of incipient wetness impregnation synthesis conditions on the macro- and microscopic properties of bimetallic iron oxide/copper oxide@γ-Al₂O₃ microspheres were elucidated. The key steering factors for the macroscopic distribution of the metals throughout the support, and for the metal nanoparticle sizes, were the pH of the impregnation solution, the counterions present in the metal precursor, the amount of negatively charged groups on the alumina, the complexation of iron, the impregnation strategy (simultaneous or sequential) and, in the latter case, the order of impregnation. The interactions taking place during impregnation are identified as competitive adsorption of charged dissolved species (Fe/Cu cations, protons, and additional anions) in the impregnation solution. Adsorption can take place on either charged alumina sites or previously deposited metal (i.e., iron on iron, copper on copper, iron on copper, and copper on iron) and is affected by counterion shielding. Modeling of these interactions via simulation on an in-house-developed python code allowed quantification of the adsorption constants for each of the above-mentioned processes, where iron adsorbs much faster than copper on all surfaces, and adsorption of iron on both alumina surface groups and previously deposited copper contributes majorly to the final iron distribution. The findings in this work will allow for better prediction and control over bimetallic materials synthesized via the simple and scalable impregnation procedure.

Assessment of the Location of Pt Nanoparticles in Pt/zeolite Y/γ-Al2O3 Composite Catalysts

The location of Pt nanoparticles was studied in Pt/zeolite Y/γ-Al2O3 composite catalysts prepared by H2PtCl6 ⋅ 6H2O (CPA) or Pt(NH3)4(NO3)2 (PTA) as Pt precursors. The aim of this study is to validate findings from Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) by using characterization techniques that sample larger amounts of catalyst per measurement. Quantitative X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) showed that the catalyst prepared with CPA led to a significantly higher Pt/Al atomic ratio than the catalyst prepared with PTA confirming that the 1-2 nm sized Pt nanoparticles in the former catalyst were located on the open and mesoporous γ-Al2O3 component, whereas they were located in the micropores of zeolite Y in the latter. By using infrared spectroscopy, a shift in the absorption band maximum of CO chemisorbed on Pt nanoparticles was observed, which can be attributed to a difference in electronic properties depending on the support of the Pt nanoparticles. Finally, model hydrogenation experiments were performed using β-phenylcinnamaldehyde, a reactant molecule with low diffusivity in zeolite Y micropores, resulting in a 5 times higher activity for the catalyst prepared by CPA compared to PTA. The combined use of these characterization techniques allow us to draw more robust conclusions on the ability to control the location of Pt nanoparticles by using either CPA or PTA as precursors in zeolite/γ-Al2O3 composite catalyst materials.

Phosphorus adsorption on natural sediments with different pH incorporating surface morphology characterization

Sediment samples from University Lake (U.L.) and Anacostia River (A.R.) were collected to study the phosphorus (P) adsorption with pH at 3.65, 4.75, and 5.65. The surface micro-morphology and pore structures of sediment particles were obtained using a scanning electron microscopy and gas adsorption method, respectively. Fourier analysis was then applied to approximate the surface morphology, which was incorporated into the Langmuir isotherm to directly derive the model parameters for P adsorption simulation. Meanwhile, an empirical function of pH was introduced to represent the pH effect on P adsorption. A stronger P adsorption was observed for the A.R. sediment due to the more clay minerals, smaller median diameter, and a greater percentage of large pores, and the increasing pH resulted in a decrease of adsorption equilibrium constant as well as the P adsorption capacity, which was well reproduced by the adsorption isotherms. This study would benefit the mechanism study of the interactions between sediment particles and pollutants, providing references for understanding the pollutants' transport in aqueous systems.

Adsorption behavior of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) on boehmite

Understanding the interaction of perfluorochemicals, persistent pollutants with known human health effects, with mineral compounds in surface water and groundwater environments is essential to determining their fate and transport. Kinetic experiments showed that adsorption equilibrium can be achieved within 48 h and the boehmite (AlOOH) surface is receptive to perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) adsorption. The adsorption isotherms estimated the maximum adsorption capacities of PFOS and PFOA on boehmite as 0.877 μg m(-2) and 0.633 μg m(-2), respectively. Compared to the adsorption capacity on γ-alumina, the abundant hydroxyl groups on boehmite surfaces resulted in the 2-3 times higher adsorption of PFOS and PFOA. Increasing solution pH led to a moderate decrease in PFOS and PFOA adsorption, owing to an increase in ligand exchange reactions and the decrease of electrostatic interactions. The presence of NaCl and CaCl(2) in solution demonstrated negative effects for PFOS and PFOA adsorption on boehmite surfaces, with potential mechanisms being electrical double layer compression, competitive adsorption of chloride, and the Ca(2+) bridging effect between perfluorochemicals.

Novel impedance cell for low conductive liquids: determination of bulk and interface contributions

A plane capacitor cell with variable gap has been designed in order to detect the complex permittivity of low conductive liquids (up to 500 microS/cm) and the impedance of the sample-electrode interface. The novelty of the cell consists of the simultaneous presence of the field uniformity ensured by a guard ring, an adjustable gap between 300 microm and 6.75 mm (the electrode axial motion avoiding any rotation), and the immersion of the capacitor in the sample reservoir. The size of the capacitor electrodes and the gap values have been tested via the capacitance detection of the in-air cell at 1 kHz. The sample measurements have been performed by scanning the frequency range between 15 Hz and 2 MHz at four different capacitor gap values. In the paper a method to directly extract the bulk complex permittivity and the interface impedance versus frequency is presented. It is based on the assumption that the interface contribution is independent of the electrode gap, as confirmed (within the measurement accuracy) from measurements on all samples investigated. As samples of interest, we have chosen two certified electrolytic conductivity standards, KCl aqueous solutions having conductivity traceable to SI units; and two polymer latex aqueous dispersions of microspheres. Regarding KCl solutions, the conductivity measurements are compatible with the reference values within the specified uncertainty; the measured permittivities are consistent with the literature. For all samples, we have recovered the expected result that the interface impedance mainly affects the low frequency range (f<10 kHz).

Ion adsorption components in liquid/solid systems

Experiments on Zn2+ and Cd2+ adsorptions on vermiculite in aqueous solutions were conducted to investigate the widely observed adsorbent concentration effect on the traditionally defined adsorption isotherm in the adsorbate range 25-500 mg/L and adsorbent range 10-150 g/L. The results showed that the equilibrium ion adsorption density did not correspond to a unique equilibrium ion concentration in liquid phase. Three adsorbate/adsorbent ratios, the equilibrium adsorption density, the ratio of equilibrium adsorbate concentration in liquid phase to adsorbent concentration, and the ratio of initial adsorbate concentration to adsorbent concentration, were found to be related with unique values in the tested range. Based on the assumption that the equilibrium state of a liquid/solid adsorption system is determined by four mutually related components: adsorbate in liquid phase, adsorbate in solid phase, uncovered adsorption site and covered adsorption site, and that the equilibrium chemical potentials of these components should be equalized, a new model was presented for describing ion adsorption isotherm in liquid/solid systems. The proposed model fit well the experimental data obtained from the examined samples.

The nature of 'overexchanged' copper and platinum on zeolites

The uptake of platinum and copper tetra-ammine (PTA and CTA, [(NH(3))(4)Pt](2+) and [(NH(3))(4)Cu](2+)) into zeolites was compared over silica and three zeolites (Y, MOR and MFI) with different points of zero charge and aluminium content. Adsorption was determined as a function of pH at several metal concentrations, and pH shifts relative to metal free control experiments were carefully monitored. The uptake of both metal ammine complexes onto silica is well described by electrostatic adsorption. We suggest that the metal cations interact with zeolites by two mechanisms, ion exchange at the Al exchange sites and electrostatic adsorption at silanol groups. The former is the dominant mechanism at low to mid pH, and the latter at high pH. This effect is most clearly manifested in zeolites with low aluminium content such as ZSM5; electrostatic adsorption at high pH in ZSM5 yields metal loadings much in excess of the ion exchange capacity and so gives rise to 'overexchange'. Differences between PTA and CTA can be explained by the weaker stability of the CTA complex and its response to the decrease in local pH near the adsorption plane of low PZC zeolites. This change in local pH near oxide surfaces is characteristic of electrostatic adsorption. As the local pH decreases, the CTA ion is probably converted to a dimerized copper complex, perhaps Cu(2)(OH)(2)(2+). A portion of the released ammonia is protonated, increasing the solution pH. In high PZC, high aluminium zeolites with high ion exchange capacity, there is relatively little contribution from electrostatic adsorption.

Probing outer-sphere adsorption of aqueous metal complexes at the oxide-water interface with resonant anomalous x-ray reflectivity

Resonant anomalous x-ray reflectivity near the Pt L(III) edge simultaneously revealed the geometric and spectroscopic structures of Pt(NH(3))(4)(2+) ions adsorbed at the quartz(100)-water interface. The derived Pt geometric subprofile shows two discrete "outer-sphere" adsorbed layers, and the interface-specific x-ray absorption edge profile exhibits a significant white-line enhancement compared to the bulk-solution species.

Kinetics of Adsorption of the Cobalt Ions on the “Electrolytic Solution/γ-Alumina” Interface

In the present work we studied, for the first time, the kinetics of adsorption of the Co(H(2)O)(6)(2+) species on the "electrolytic solution/gamma-Al(2)O(3)" interface at pH = 7 and 25 degrees C for a very broad range of Co(II) surface concentrations ranged from 0.03 to 6 theoretical Co(H(2)O)(6)(2+) surface layers. Moreover, we studied the surface dissolution of gamma-alumina in the presence of the Co(H(2)O)(6)(2+) ions in the impregnating solution, the contribution of the Co(II) desorption on the whole deposition process and the deposition isotherm. It was found that under the conditions where the deposition has taken place, the dissolution of the gamma-alumina surface is negligible even in the presence of the Co(H(2)O)(6)(2+) species in the impregnating solution. It was, moreover, inferred that the Co(II) desorption does not participate significantly to the whole deposition process. It was found that the deposition kinetics may be described by the following kinetic expression r(Co,bulk) = k'C(Co,bulk)(2), which relates the rate of disappearance of the Co(H(2)O)(6)(2+) ions from the impregnating solution, r(Co,bulk,) with their concentration C(Co,bulk). This kinetic expression may be derived assuming the following deposition scheme: nS + 2[Co(H(2)O)(6)(2+)] --> S(n) - [Co(H(2)O)(x,x)(<)(6)(2+)](2), where S represents the surface reception sites. The above expressions indicated that two Co(H(2)O)(6)(2+) ions are involved, from the side of the interface, in the reaction with the reception sites. It seems probable that the deposition step involves the simultaneous adsorption and dimerization of the two interfacial Co(H(2)O)(6)(2+) ions through (hydr)oxobridges. On the other hand, the sigmoidal form of the deposition isotherm and the dependence of the apparent rate constant, k', on the interfacial Co(II) concentration suggested that the already deposited Co(II) species may be involved in the reception sites, S, promoting the adsorption and resulting to the formation of multinuclear complexes and Co(II) surface precipitates. Finally, reasonable interface potential values for oxides were determined for the first time using kinetic results.

Adsorption of cobalt species on the interface, which is developed between aqueous solution and metal oxides used for the preparation of supported catalysts: a critical review

In the present review article, we present the efforts done so far for elucidating the mechanism of adsorption of the Co(II) species, mainly Co(H(2)O)(6)(2+), on the interfacial region developed between metal oxide particles, used as catalytic supports, and aqueous electrolytic solutions. Specifically, we present: (i) the principal modes of deposition of the transition metal ionic species (TMIS) on the surface of oxidic supports related with the various methodologies used for the preparation of the supported catalysts; (ii) the state of the art concerning the general aspects of the adsorption mechanisms of the TMIS on the aforementioned interfacial region; and (iii) the works reported so far dealing with the adsorption of the Co(II) species on the surface of gamma-Al(2)O(3) (gamma-alumina), alpha-Al(2)O(3) (alpha-alumina), TiO(2) (rutile), and SiO(2) (silica). It was concluded that the mechanism of adsorption depends on two main factors: on the Co(II) surface concentration and on the nature of the support surface. It seems that, generally, the mechanism changes progressively along the Co(II) surface concentration from the deposition of monodentate-mononuclear inner sphere complexes, weakly evidenced in too low values of the Co(II) surface concentration, to multidentate, multinuclear inner sphere surface complexes at relatively low Co(II) surface concentrations, and then into surface Co(OH)(2)-like, eventually mixed precipitates, at relatively high Co(II) surface concentrations but at pH values lower than those required for bulk precipitation. In all cases, Co(II) forms surface species with Co(II) in octahedral symmetry. However, the exact Co(II) surface concentration values, in which the abovementioned two transitions (concerning the deposited phase) take place, depends on the kind of the support. Thus, SiO(2) favors the formation of the Co(OH)(2)-like precipitates even at relatively low Co(II) surface concentrations. In contrast, TiO(2) favors the formation of mononuclear or oligonuclear surface complexes. Finally, alumina, which exhibits the maximum adsorption capacity, favors the formation of highly defected Co(OH)(2)-like precipitates, probably mixed Co-Al precipitates. The exact local structure of the inner sphere Co(II) surface complexes, formed by exchanging the H(2)O ligands with surface oxygens, has been already approached but only for the surface planes of the alpha-Al(2)O(3) and rutile monocrystals. This structure remains up to now rather unclear for the polycrystalline oxides used as catalytic supports.