Chlorine-Coordinated Pd Single Atom Enhanced the Chlorine Resistance for Volatile Organic Compound Degradation: Mechanism Study

A bimetallic MOF-derived MnCo spinel oxide catalyst to enhance toluene catalytic degradation

MnCo spinel oxide catalysts were successfully synthesized by the calcination of bimetallic Mn/Co-MOFs as sacrificial templates. The derived catalysts exhibited optimal catalytic activity, reusability and thermal stability for toluene oxidation, which was ascribed to their large specific surface area, higher number of octahedral metal ions and the weakest metal-oxygen bonds.

Fluorination modification enhanced the water resistance of Universitetet i Oslo-67 for multiple volatile organic compounds adsorption under high humidity conditions: Mechanism study

The construction of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with highly efficient capture for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) adsorption under humid conditions is a significant yet formidable task. Herein, series of fluorinated UiO-67 modified with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and 4-fluorobenzoic acid were successfully synthesized for VOCs adsorption under high humidity conditions. Experiments results showed that UiO-67 modified with 4-fluorobenzoic acid (67-F) presented excellent adsorption capacity of 345 mg/g for toluene adsorption and exhibited great water resistance (10.0 vol% H2O, 374 mg/g toluene adsorption capacity). Characterization results indicated that the introduction of 4-fluorobenzoic acid induced the competitive coordination between 4-fluorobenzoic acid and 4,4-biphenyl dicarboxylic acid (BPDC) with Zr4+, causing the formation of abundant defects to provide extra adsorption sites. Meanwhile, the benzene ring in 4-fluorobenzoic acid enhanced the π-π conjugation, causing the further promotion of VOCs adsorption capacity. More importantly, the water resistance mechanism was investigated and elucidated that the introduction of F decreased the surface energy of 67-F and its affinity with water. Meanwhile, the metal complex induced by the fluorinated modification produced an electron-dense pore environment, which greatly improved its chemical and water stability. This work provided a strategy for preparing an adsorbent with high water resistance for real-world VOCs adsorption at high humidity conditions.

Adsorption of perfluoroalkyl substances on deep eutectic solvent-based amorphous metal-organic framework: Structure and mechanism

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a class of emerging organic pollutants characterized by high toxicity, environmental persistence, and widespread detection in water sources. The removal of PFASs from water is a matter of global concern, given their detrimental impact on both the environment and public health. Many commonly used PFAS adsorbents demonstrate limited adsorption capacities and/or slow adsorption kinetics. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of efficient adsorbents. For the first time, this work systematically investigated the performance of a deep eutectic solvent (DES)-based amorphous metal-organic framework (MOF) for the adsorption of PFASs with different carbon-chain lengths under the state of the mixture in aquatic environments. The adsorption mechanism was probed by a suite of adsorption kinetics studies, adsorption isotherm profiling, spectral characterization, and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations, revealing that PFAS adsorption is driven by synergistic capturing effects including acid/base coordination, CF-π (carbon-fluorine-π), hydrogen bonding, and hydrophobic interactions. Furthermore, the adsorption processes of short-chain and long-chain targets were found to involve different rate-controlling steps and interaction sites. Hydrophobic interactions facilitated the swift arrival of long-chain PFASs at the coordinatively interacting sites between carboxyl termini and Lewis acid Zr unsaturated sites, thanks to their lower reaction barriers. On the other hand, the adsorption of short-chain PFASs primarily relied on a Zr hydroxyl-based ligand exchange force, which would take place at Brønsted acid sites. The existence of massive structural disorder in amorphous UiO-66 led to the development of larger pores, thus improving the accessibility of abundant adsorption sites and facilitating adsorption and diffusion. The presence of multiple types of interactions and flexible structure in defect-rich amorphous UiO-66 significantly increased the exposure of functional groups to the adsorbates. Additionally, this material possessed outstanding regeneration efficiency and outperformed other MOF-based adsorbents with high affinity for targets. It enhances our understanding of the adsorption performances and mechanisms of amorphous materials toward PFASs, thereby paving the way for designing more efficient PFAS adsorbents.

Lanthanide MOFs based portable fluorescence sensing platform: Quantitative and visual detection of ciprofloxacin and Al3

In the current context of water environmental monitoring and pollution control, there's a crucial need for rapid and simple methods to detect multi-pollutant. We herein report an easy one-step hydrothermal synthesis method to produce Eu-based metal-organic frameworks (Eu MOFs), which was used as a fluorescent probe to detect the aquatic environmental pollutants of ciprofloxacin (CIP) and aluminum ions (Al3+). This fluorescent sensor enabled the cascade detection of CIP and Al3+ through fluorescence enhancement and ratio fluorescence response, respectively. The introduction of CIP significantly turned on the characteristic fluorescence of Eu MOFs at 595 nm and 616 nm through the "antenna effect". Based on this, the sensor enables quantitative detection of CIP within a linear range of 0-120 μM with a LOD as low as 50.421 nM. In the presence of Al3+, the fluorescence emission of Eu MOFs-CIP was sharply turned off due to strong Al3+ coordination with CIP, while the blue fluorescence emission of CIP was remarkably enhanced. And thus allowing ratio fluorescence quantitative detection of Al3+ (LOD = 2.681 μM). The introduction of CIP and Al3+ in cascade resulted in distinct fluorescence color changes from colorless to red and eventually to blue, exhibiting pronounced fluorescence characteristics. This observable phenomenon enables the visual detection of CIP and Al3+ in both aqueous phase and paper test strips. By combining the analysis of fluorescence chromaticity with the use of a smartphone, the fluorescence color of test papers allows for simple quantitative determination, which provides a convenient and accessible approach for quantifying CIP and Al3+ in water environments.

Defects materials of Institut Lavoisier-125(Ti) materials enhanced photocatalytic activity for toluene and chlorobenzene mixtures degradation: Mechanism study

In this paper, the effect of three monocarboxylic acids on MIL-125 synthesis was systematically investigated and the results were discussed in detail. X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and nitrogen adsorption-desorption curves indicated that small molecule acids (acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid) affected the morphology of MIL-125 and induced lamellar pores and structural defects in the crystals. Thermogravimetric measurements confirmed the presence of acid-regulated defective metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Electrochemical tests and density function theory calculations indicated that acid modulation could change the forbidden bandwidth of the material. The acid modification strategy effectively promoted the transfer of photogenerated electrons and enhanced the adsorption and activation of O2 and H2O molecules, generating reactive radicals. The modified MOFs also showed excellent performance in the removal of mixed toluene and chlorobenzene. The degradation pathways of the mixture were analyzed by in situ infrared (IR) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The mixture was converted to chlorophenolic intermediates in the presence of reactive oxygen species, further decomposed to form ethers and ethanol, and finally formed small molecules such as carbon dioxide and water. A feasible method was provided for the preparation of photocatalysts for the treatment of mixed VOCs.

Photocatalytic oxidation of formaldehyde under visible light using BiVO4-TiO2 synthesized via ultrasonic blending

Formaldehyde (HCHO) is one of the primary indoor air pollutants, and efficiently eliminating it, especially at low concentrations, remains challenging. In this study, BiVO4-TiO2 catalyst was developed using ultrasonic blending technology for the photocatalytic oxidation of low-level indoor HCHO. The crystal structure, surface morphology, element distribution, and active oxidation species of the catalyst were examined using XRD, SEM, TEM, UV-Vis, EDS, and ESR techniques. Our results demonstrated that the BiVO4-TiO2 catalyst, prepared by ultrasonic blending, exhibited good oxidation performance and stability. The HCHO concentration reduced from 1.050 to 0.030 mg/m3 within 48 h, achieving a removal rate of 97.1%. The synergy between BiVO4 and TiO2 enhanced the efficiency of separating photogenerated carriers and minimized the likelihood of recombination between photogenerated electrons and holes. Additionally, this synergy significantly enhanced the presence of hydroxyl radicals (·OH) on the catalyst, resulting in an oxidation performance superior to that of either BiVO4 or TiO2. Our research offers valuable insights for the development of new photocatalysts to address HCHO pollution.

Copper single-site engineering in MOF-808 membranes for improved water treatment

MOF-808, a metal-organic framework containing Zr6O8 clusters, can serve as a secure anchoring point for stabilizing copper single-sites with redox activity, thus making it a promising candidate for catalytic applications. In this study, we target the incorporation of Cu-MOF-808 into a mixed-matrix membrane for the degradation of tyrosol, an emerging endocrine-disrupting compound commonly found in water sources, through Fenton reactions, developing innovative technologies for water treatment. We successfully demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach by preparing catalytic membranes with minimal metal leaching, which is one of the primary challenges in developing copper-based Fenton heterogeneous catalysts. Furthermore, we utilized advanced synchrotron characterization techniques, combining X-ray absorption spectroscopy and pair distribution function analysis of X-ray total scattering, to provide evidence of the atomic structure of the catalytic copper sites within the membranes. Additionally, we observed the presence of weak interactions between the MOF-808 and the organic polymer, potentially explaining their enhanced stability.

Insight into modified CeMn based catalysts for efficient degradation of toluene by in situ infrared

Trace activated carbon (AC) and diatomaceous earth (DE) were used as structural promoters to be incorporated into Ce-Mn-based solid-solution catalysts by the redox precipitation method. The modified catalysts exhibit superior reducibility, with abundant Ce3+, Mn3+and reactive oxygen species, which are facilitated to the migration of oxygen and the generation of oxygen vacancies. In particular, the catalytic combustion temperatures of 90 % toluene (3000 ppm) on Ce1Mn3Ox-AC/DE were 84 °C (dry) and 123 °C (10 vol% H2O), respectively. The role of lattice oxygen and adsorbed oxygen was revealed by in situ DRIFTS. Additionally, in situ DRIFTS was employed to verify that the degradation of toluene by Ce1Mn3Ox-AC/DE satisfied the Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) mechanism and the Mars-Van Krevelen (MvK) mechanism. The possible reaction pathway was elucidated (toluene → benzyl alcohol → benzoic acid → maleic anhydride → CO2 + H2O). Furthermore, final products attributed to toluene oxidation were detected by in situ DRIFTS at 50 °C in the absence of oxygen, confirming that the catalyst possessed outstanding performance at low temperatures beyond mere adsorption.

Monolithic Catalyst of Ni Foam-Supported MnOx for Boosting Magnetocaloric Oxidation of Toluene

Catalytic oxidation has been considered an effective technique for volatile organic compound degradation. Development of metal foam-based monolithic catalysts coupling electromagnetic induction heating (EMIH) with efficiency and low energy is critical yet challenging in industrial applications. Herein, a Mn18.2-NF monolithic catalyst prepared by electrodeposition exhibited superior toluene catalytic activity under EMIH conditions, and the temperature of 90% toluene conversion decreased by 89 °C compared to that in resistance furnace heating. Relevant characterizations proved that the skin effect induced by EMIH encouraged activation of gaseous oxygen, leading to superior low-temperature redox properties of Mn18.2-NF under the EMIH condition. In situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results showed that skin effect-induced activation of oxidizing species further accelerated the conversion of intermediates. As a result, the Mn18.2-NF monolithic catalyst under EMIH demonstrated remarkable performance for the toluene oxidation, surpassing the conventional nonprecious metal catalyst and other reported monolithic catalysts.

Effect of amino functional groups on the surface properties and Lewis's acid base parameters of UiO-66(NH2) by inverse gas chromatography

Amino-functionalized metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted much attention for various applications such as carbon dioxide capture, water remediation and catalysis. The focus of this study is to determine the surface and Lewis's acid-base properties of UiO-66(NH2) crystals by the inverse gas chromatography (IGC) technique at infinite dilution. The latter was applied to evaluate the dispersive component of the surface energy γ s d ( T ) by using thermal model and several molecular models. The obtained results proved that γ s d ( T ) decreases when the temperature increases. The best results were achieved by using the thermal model that takes into account the effect of the temperature on the surface areas of the organic molecules. We also observed a decrease of the Gibbs surface free energy of adsorption by increasing the temperature of the different organic solvents. The polar interactions of UiO-66(NH2) were obtained by using the methods of Saint-Flour Papirer, Donnet et al., Brendlé-Papirer and the different molecular models. The Lewis's acid base constants K A and K D were further calculated by determining the different variables of adsorption of the probes on the solid surface and the obtained values were 1.07 and 0.45 for K A and K D respectively, with an acid-base ratio (KA/KD) of 2.38. These values showed the high acidic surface of the solid substrate; whereas, the values of the entropic acid base parameters, ω A , ω D and ω A / ω D respectively equal to 1.0 × 10 - 3 , 3.8 × 10 - 4 and 2.73 , also highlighted the important acidity of UiO-66-(NH2) surface. These important findings suggest that the surface defects (missing linkers and/or clusters) in UiO-66(NH2) are the main determining factor of the acid-base properties of UiO-66 based structures.

Au doped metal organic frameworks as di-functional photocatalysts for clearing organics in wastewater

Along with the development of productive forces, the use of organic compounds including diversified dyes and multiple drugs has become more and more commonly, resulting in the accelerating water contamination. Herein in this paper, Au doped PCN 224 are designed as bi-functional wastewater treatment agents to absorb and decompose organics molecules efficiently under light irradiation. After inserted with Au, the PCN 224 nanoparticles, which is kind of porous, stable and photosensitive metal-organic framework, show enhanced photodegradeability. Because the Au inserted could inhibit the re-combination of electrons and holes by absorbing photo-electrons; decrease the nanoparticles' band gap, and finally produce much more free radicals. In the meanwhile, due to the lower binding energy between S and Au, the Au modified PCN 224 perform better in absorbing organic compounds consisted of S contained heterocyclic ring (such as methylene blue). This work provides new insights into the precious design of materials in clearing organic compounds.

Facet-specific NiCo2O4/Fe2O3 p-n heterojunction with promising triethylamine sensing properties

Semiconductor gas sensing materials with specific crystal facets exposure have attracted researchers' attention recently. However, related research mainly focuses on single metal oxide semiconductor. The research on crystal facets designing of semiconductor p-n heterojunction is still highly challenging. Herein, based on NiCo2O4 octahedral nanocrystals with high-energy {111} crystal facets as substrate, Fe2O3 nanorods with {001} crystal facets were decorated to obtain a facet-specific NiCo2O4/Fe2O3 p-n heterojunction. The p-n heterojunction showed promising triethylamine sensing properties with a high response of 70 (Ra/Rg, 100 ppm) at 300 °C, which was about 57 and 10 times higher than that of pristine NiCo2O4 and Fe2O3, respectively. Theoretical calculation suggested that the electronic coupling effect formed by d-orbitals of Co-Fe in heterojunction strengthened the influence on the orbitals of N site in triethylamine, which improved the triethylamine adsorption and interface charge transfer. The results indicate that crystal facets designing of NiCo2O4 and Fe2O3 can achieve synergistic optimization of surface/interface characteristics of p-n heterojunction, thereby achieving a comprehensive improvement in gas sensing performance. This study not only provides a high performance triethylamine sensing material, but also greatly enriches the gas sensing mechanism of p-n heterojunction at the atomic and electronic levels.

Effect of benzoic acid and dopamine hydrochloride as a modulator in the water resistance of Universitetet i Oslo-67: Adsorption performance and mechanism

The severe hazards on ecological environment and human body caused by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have attracted worldwide substantial attention. In this research, a series of novel modified Universitetet i Oslo-67 (UiO-67) with water resistance were prepared and characterized, which had modified by benzoic acid and dopamine hydrochloride (67-ben-DH). On this basis, the adsorption performance, adsorption kinetics, defect engineering and water resistance of adsorbent were investigated. The results indicated that the excellent pore structure and specific surface area of 67-ben-DH-6 (molar ratio of Zr4+ to DH was 1:6) were retained while the adsorption performance and water resistance of the adsorbent were improved. Due to more defects, excellent adsorption diffusion and strong π-π interactions of 67-ben-DH-6, it performed the maximum adsorption capacity of toluene (793 mg g-1). Furthermore, the outstanding water resistance was attributed to the fact that N element of DH reduced the affinity of the adsorbent with water. Finally, the density functional theory (DFT) calculations showed that the adsorbent 67-ben-DH-6 had the maximum adsorption energy for toluene (-99.4 kJ mol-1) and the minimum adsorption energy for water (-17.8 kJ mol-1). Thus, the potential mechanism of 67-ben-DH for efficient toluene adsorption and water resistance was verified from a microscopic perspective.

Fabrication of highly dispersed Pd-Mn3O4 catalyst for efficient catalytic propane total oxidation

Adjusting the interaction between dual active components for enhancing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) degradation is an effective but still challenging means of air pollution control. Herein, a limited pyrolysis oxidation strategy was adopted to prepare Pd-Mn3O4 spinel catalysts with uniform morphology and active component dispersion. Among these, 1.08Pd-Mn3O4 presented the highest catalytic efficiency with a T90 value of 240 °C, which was 94 °C lower than that of Mn3O4. Characterization and density functional theory (DFT) calculation results revealed that the strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) effect between Pd and Mn3O4 promoted the redistribution of surface charges, thus strengthening the oxidation-reduction ability of the active sites. Moreover, the SMSI effect led to a better migration of surface oxygen species, and boosted the generation of active surface oxygen species. Simultaneously, the Pd catalyst further reduced the energy barrier in the initial stage of the dehydrogenation of propane. Overall, this study provided a novel design strategy for dual active components catalysts with SMSI effect and extended the application of these catalysts in the important field of VOCs elimination.

Post-Synthetic Modification of Zr-based Metal-Organic Frameworks with Imidazole: Variable Optical Behavior and Sensing

UiO-66-NH2 -IM, a fluorescent metal-organic framework (MOF), was synthesized by post-synthetic modification of UiO-66-NH2 with 2-imidazole carboxaldehyde via a Schiff base reaction. It was examined using various characterization techniques (PXRD, FTIR, NMR, SEM, TGA, UV-Vis DRS, and photoluminescence spectroscopy). The emissive feature of UiO-66-NH2 -IM was utilized to detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs), metal ions, and anions, such as acetone, Fe3+ , and carbonate (CO3 2- ). Acetone turns off the high luminescence of UiO-66-NH2 -IM in DMSO, with the limit of detection (LOD) being 3.6 ppm. Similarly, Fe3+ in an aqueous medium is detected at LOD=0.67 μM (0.04 ppm) via quenching. On the contrary, CO3 2- in an aqueous medium significantly enhances the luminescence of UiO-66-NH2 -IM, which is detected with extremely high sensitivity (LOD=1.16 μM, i. e., 0.07 ppm). Large Stern-Volmer constant, Ksv , and low LOD values indicate excellent sensitivity of the post-synthetic MOF. Experimental data supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations discern photo-induced electron transfer (PET), resonance energy transfer (RET), inner filter effect (IFE), or proton abstraction as putative sensing mechanisms. NMR and computational studies propose a proton abstraction mechanism for luminescence enhancement with CO3 2- . Moreover, the optical behavior of the post-synthetic material toward analytes is recyclable.

Effective photocatalytic degradation of amphotericin B and naproxen from aqueous solutions using carbon quantum dots combined in MIL-88B(Fe) under visible light

A photocatalytic adsorbent composed of carbon dots (CD) embedded in a metal-organic framework (MOF) of MIL-88 B(Fe) was prepared by solvothermal technique. The synthesized CD@MIL-88 B(Fe) was characterized by different X-ray-based microscopic and spectroscopic methods, as well as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, UV-Vis, FT-IR, DRS, TGA, and photoluminescence (PL) analysis. The prepared adsorbent showed a remarkable photocatalytic activity for eliminating amphotericin B (AmB) and naproxen (Nap) from aqueous solutions under visible light, reaching up to 92% and 90% removal, respectively, with an RSD value of around 5%. The parameters affecting the degradation process of pharmaceuticals were investigated. The optimal conditions for the degradation process were determined, including pH values (3 and 4 for AmB and Nap), photocatalyst concentration (0.2 g L-1), and H2O2 concentration (40-50 mM). Reactive oxidative species were also identified (·OH, ·O2) by examination of different scavengers. The adsorption isotherm and kinetic studies reveal that the synthesized photocatalyst exhibits dual functionality as an effective adsorbent (with maximum adsorption capacities of 42.5 and 121.5 mg g-1 for AmB and Nap) and a photocatalytic agent for removal purposes.

Analysis of Radioactive Iodine Trapping Mechanism by Zinc-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks with Various N-Containing Carboxylate Ligands

This study aimed to develop effective adsorbents for capturing radioactive iodine in nuclear power waste gas. Two zinc metal-organic frameworks (Zn-MOFs) were synthesized and found to have favorable properties such as a large surface area, thermal stability, surface rich in π-electron-containing nitrogen, and redox potential. Adsorption experiments revealed maximum capacities of 1.25 and 1.96 g g^-1 for the MOFs at 75 °C, with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model fitting the data well. The Langmuir equation provided a better fit in cyclohexane, with maximum adsorption amounts of 249 and 358 mg g^-1 for Zn-MOF-1 and Zn-MOF-2, respectively. The MOFs were also stable during six cycles of adsorption and desorption. Furthermore, electron transfer occurred due to the synergistic adsorption of Zn, N, and O atoms, resulting in the conversion of some iodine to polyiodide. Zn-MOF-2 exhibited better chemisorption than Zn-MOF-1 due to a smaller highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO)-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) gap. Notably, it was discovered that N-containing radicals had stronger interactions with iodine compared to radicals without N. These findings provide valuable insights into MOF synthesis and environmental protection.

Activation of Co-O bond in (110) facet exposed Co3O4 by Cu doping for the boost of propane catalytic oxidation

Defects engineering in metal oxide is an important avenue for the promotion of VOCs catalytic oxidation. Herein, the influence of crystal facet of Co₃O₄ is first investigated for the propane oxidation. An intelligent Cu doping is subsequently performed in the most active (110) facet exposed Co₃O₄ catalyst. The optimized Cu-Co₃O₄-110-3 catalyst exhibits a prominently enhanced activity with propane conversion rate of 1.9 μmol g^-1 s^-1 at reaction temperature of 192 °C and the propane mass space velocity of 60,000 mL g^-1 h^-1, about 2.4 times that of the pristine Co₃O₄. Systematic experimental characterizations (XAS, EPR, Raman, TPR, XPS, etc.) combined with density functional theory calculations point out that the incorporated Cu could increase the electrophilicity of nearby O atom and implant beneficial defect structures (lattice distortion, coordination unsaturation, abundant oxygen vacancies, etc.), which could significantly activate Co-O bond in Co₃O₄, leading to the facilitated generation of active oxygen species as well as promoted oxidation ability. This study could set an illuminating paradigm for the boost of the intrinsic oxidation activity by the precise defect construction in Co₃O₄ catalyst, which will help drive ahead the pursuit of non-precious metal catalyst for VOCs abatement.

Plasma-catalysis for VOCs decomposition: A review on micro- and macroscopic modeling

Plasma-catalysis has been recognized as a promising method to decompose hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) since many years ago. To understand the fundamental mechanisms of VOCs decomposition by plasma-catalysis systems, both experimental and modeling studies have been extensively carried out. However, literature on summarized modeling methodologies is still scarce. In this short review, we therefore present a comprehensive overview of modeling methodologies ranging from microscopic to macroscopic modeling in plasma-catalysis for VOCs decomposition. The modeling methods of VOCs decomposition by plasma and plasma-catalysis are classified and summarized. The roles of plasma and plasma-catalyst interactions in VOCs decomposition are also critically examined. Taking the current advances in understanding the decomposition mechanisms of VOCs into account, we finally provide our perspectives for future research directions. This short review aims to stimulate the further development of plasma-catalysis for VOCs decomposition in both fundamental studies and practical applications with advanced modeling methods.

Proton transfer triggered in-situ construction of C=N active site to activate PMS for efficient autocatalytic degradation of low-carbon fatty amine

Removal of low-carbon fatty amines (LCFAs) in wastewater treatment poses a significant technical challenge due to their small molecular size, high polarity, high bond dissociation energy, electron deficiency, and poor biodegradability. Moreover, their low Brønsted acidity deteriorates this issue. To address this problem, we have developed a novel base-induced autocatalytic technique for the highly efficient removal of a model pollutant, dimethylamine (DMA), in a homogeneous peroxymonosulfate (PMS) system. A high reaction rate constant of 0.32 min^-1 and almost complete removal of DMA within 12 min are achieved. Multi-scaled characterizations and theoretical calculations reveal that the in situ constructed C=N bond as the crucial active site activates PMS to produce abundant ¹O₂. Subsequently, ¹O₂ oxidizes DMA through multiple H-abstractions, accompanied by the generation of another C=N structure, thus achieving the autocatalytic cycle of pollutant. During this process, base-induced proton transfers of pollutant and oxidant are essential prerequisites for C=N fabrication. A relevant mechanism of autocatalytic degradation is unraveled and further supported by DFT calculations at the molecular level. Various assessments indicate that this self-catalytic technique exhibits a reduced toxicity and volatility process, and a low treatment cost (0.47 $/m³). This technology has strong environmental tolerance, especially for the high concentrations of chlorine ion (1775 ppm) and humic acid (50 ppm). Moreover, it not only exhibits excellent degradation performance for different amine organics but also for the coexisting common pollutants including ofloxacin, phenol, and sulforaphane. These results fully demonstrate the superiority of the proposed strategy for practical application in wastewater treatment. Overall, this autocatalysis technology based on the in-situ construction of metal-free active site by regulating proton transfer will provide a brand-new strategy for environmental remediation.

Remediation of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) with nano ceramic clay: Synthesis, characterization, scale-up and regenerations

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in the ecosystem, resulting from industrial effluent and water bodies, has attracted greater concern. An economical treatment is in demand to optimize the current issue. In this research work, Perfluorooctanoic Acid was treated from drinking water sources with nano-ceramic clay. The ceramic clay was synthesized and characterized with Fourier infrared transformation, scanning electron micrograph, transmission electron micrograph, x-ray diffraction, and thermal analysis. An adsorption process was performed in batch and continuous modes for the effective conditions for maximum removal. In batch mode 82 ± 12 nm ceramic clay particle size; 3.0 initial pH; 210 rpm agitation 1.2 mg/L PFOA concentration; 100 mg/L clay dosage; 27 °C temperature, and 20hrs experimental time shows maximum 99.15% adsorption. The experimental data is well fitted with kinetics, isotherms, and thermodynamics calculated data. In fixed bed, continuous column study 10 h treatment time, 10 cm of bed height, and 2 ml/min were adsorbed 99.99% of PFOA. The experimental data from the fixed bed adsorption equipment was correlated using a number of different mathematical models, including the Thomas, Adams-Bohart, Yoon-Nelson, and Clark models. Overall nano ceramic clay was found to potential adsorbent for Perfluorooctanoic acid removal.

Enhanced Visible-Light Photocatalytic Activities of CeVO4-V2O3 Composite: Effect of Ethylene Glycol

CeVO4-V2O3 composites were prepared by simple hydrothermal method, and the effects of ethylene glycol(EG) on the products were studied by XRD, N2 adsorption–desorption, SEM, EDS, XPS, PL and UV-vis spectra. The characterization reveals a slight decrease in surface area and a slight enhancement of visible light absorption in the final sample, while the crystalline phase, morphology and separation efficiency of the collective carriers are severely affected by the EG. At the same time, the photocatalytic effect of CeVO4-V2O3 composites was evaluated by the degradation rate of methylene blue (MB) under simulated visible light. The sample for 10 mL EG obtained the highest efficiency of 96.9%, while the one for 15 mL EG showed the lowest efficiency of 67.5% within 300 min. The trapping experiments and ESR experiment showed that the contribution of active species to the photocatalytic degradation of MB was ∙OH > h+ > ∙O2− in descending order, and a possible degradation mechanism was proposed.

Non-toxic and biodegradable κ-carrageenan/ZnO hydrogel for adsorptive removal of norfloxacin: Optimization using response surface methodology

Antibiotic resistance is increasing globally due to increased prescription and easy dispensing of antibiotic drugs universally. Hence, to mitigate this effect, efficient, biodegradable, and non-toxic adsorbents are required to be developed. Carrageenan (CG), a natural polymer, having multiple functional groups, provides a backbone for crosslinking with borax and incorporation of ZnO nanoparticles that formed borax-cross-linked κ-carrageenan (CG/Bx/ZnO) hydrogel which is used for efficient adsorption of norfloxacin from water. Surface morphology of as-synthesized hydrogel revealed the rough surface, which was determined by FESEM. Surface area of CG/Bx/ZnO hydrogel was found to be 22.90 m²/g with 3.41 nm pore radius. Systematic batch adsorption studies revealed that 99.4 % removal efficiency could be achieved at a dosage level of 20 mg/L of norfloxacin with 10 mg of hydrogel at pH of 4 in 8 h at room temperature. Experimentally optimized key parameters affecting the overall efficiency of adsorption matched well with the results assessed from ANOVA using Box-Behnken composite design model. The adsorption process was well fitted with the pseudo-second-order model and Langmuir isotherm with 1282.05 mg/g adsorption capacity. Thermodynamic study results show that adsorption is spontaneous and endothermic. The CG/Bx/ZnO hydrogel demonstrated excellent repeatability with minimal loss in norfloxacin adsorption for seven cycles.

Migration: A Neglected Potential Contribution of HCl-Oxidized Au(0)

In this study, the typical oxidation process of Au/C catalysts exposed to HCl is presented. Although the process violates the standard electrode potentials, the "oxidized" tendency of Au(0) species is analyzed. This oxidation behavior can only be triggered over the Au/C sample within residual cationic Au species, and terminated over the completely metallic Au(0)/C sample. This study demonstrates that the presence of surface chlorination species cannot facilitate the oxidation of Au(0) and Au(I) when the sample is treated with HCl alone, which excludes the oxidation paths of: Au(0) → Au(III) and Au(I) → Au(III). The reported "HCl-oxidized Au(0)" behavior is partially caused by the migration of Au(III) species in the carbon bulk-phase, which occurs outside the XPS detection limit region and into the detection limit rather than the "HCl-oxidized Au(0)" itself. The mechanism of driving the bulk-phase Au(III) migrated from the steady destabilized state to the carbon surface is then studied. This study demonstrates that the migration of Au cannot be neglected behind the curious oxidation phenomenon by HCl, which provides a new perspective for the oxidation of other noble metals by HCl.

Expediting Toluene Combustion by Harmonizing the Ce-O Strength over Co-Doped CeZr Oxide Catalysts

Low-temperature catalytic degradation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by enhancing the activity of non-precious metal catalysts has always been the focus of attention. The mineralization of aromatic VOCs requires the participation of a large number of oxygen atoms, so the activation of oxygen species is crucial in the degradation reaction. Herein, we originally adjust the Ce-O bond strength in CeZr oxide catalysts by cobalt doping to promote the activation of oxygen species, thus improving the toluene degradation performance while maintaining high stability. Subsequent characterizations and theoretical calculations demonstrate that the weakening of the Ce-O bond strength increases the oxygen vacancy content, promotes the activation of oxygen species, and enhances the redox ability of the catalysts. This strategy also promotes the activation of toluene and accelerates the depletion of intermediate species. This study will contribute a strategy to enhance the activation ability of oxygen species in non-noble metal oxide catalysts, thereby enhancing the degradation performance of VOCs.