Selective separation of La3+ and lanthanum organic complexes with nanometer-sized titanium dioxide and their detection by using fluorination-assisted electrothermal vaporization ICP-AES with in-situ matrix removal

Selectivity for La3+ ion by synthesized 4-((5-methylfuran-2-yl)methylene)hydrazono)methyl)phenol receptor and its spectral analysis

The functionalized molecules with specific molecular sites appear to be a promising approach for detection of cation in UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy. The synthesized receptor 4-((5-methylfuran-2-yl)methylene)hydrazono)methyl)phenol MFMHMP was found selective for La³⁺ among Ag⁺, K⁺, Na⁺, Be²⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Eu³⁺, Al³⁺, La³⁺, Zr⁴⁺, Th⁴⁺, UO₂²⁺, Fe³⁺, Fe²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Hg²⁺ metal ions used as their nitrates by UV-visible spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy. The binding nature of MFMHMP with La³⁺ ion was analyzed by UV-visible, fluorescence, IR, mass spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetric studies. The stoichiometry was established to be 1:1 by Benesi-Hildebrand, mole-ratio method and method of continuous variation (Job's method) with good association affinity K = 6.245 × 10⁴ M^-1. Computational studies and Density functional theory (DFT) calculation gives the proof of electron transfer during excitation and emission. Binding energy of complex through Density Function Theory -62.387 kcal/mol has also indication of strong binding. The electron transfer energy of Higher occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) to Lower unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) is about 4.662 eV for MFMHMP+La³⁺ Complex. Among that all transitions HOMO → LUMO + 8 and HOMO → LUMO + 9 play a key role for the blue shift transition during complexation.

Separation/Preconcentration Techniques for Rare Earth Elements Analysis

The main aim of this chapter exactly characterizes the contribution. The analytical chemistry of the rare earth elements (REEs) very often is highly complicated and the determination of a specific element is impossible without a sample pre-concentration. Sample preparation can be carried out either by separation of the REEs from the matrix or by concentrating the REEs. The separation of REEs from each other is mainly made by chromatography.

At the beginning of REE analysis, the method of precipitation/coprecipitation was applied for the treatment of REE mixtures. The method is not applicable for the separation of trace amounts of REEs. The majority of the methods used are based on the distribution of REEs in a two-phase system, a liquid–liquid or a liquid–solid system. Various techniques have been developed for the liquid–liquid extraction (LLE), in particular the liquid phase micro-extraction. The extraction is always combined with a pre-concentration of the REEs in a single drop of extractant or in a hollow fiber filled with the extractant. Further modified techniques for special applications and for difficult REE separation have been developed. Compared to the LLE, the solid phase micro-extraction is preferred. The method is robust and easy to handle, in which the solid phase loaded with the REEs can be used directly for subsequent determination methods. At present, very new solid materials, like nanotubes, are developed and tested for solid phase extraction.

Magnetic nanocomposite hydrogel prepared by ZnO-initiated photopolymerization for La (III) adsorption

Here, we provide an effective method to fabricate magnetic ZnO clay nanocomposite hydrogel via the photopolymerization. The inorganic components endow the hydrogel with high mechanical strength, while the organic copolymers exhibit good adsorption capacity and separation selectivity to La (III) ions. An optimized hydrogel has the maximum compressive stress of 316.60±15.83 kPa, which still exhibits 138.98±7.32 kPa compressive strength after swelling. The maximum adsorption capacity of La ion is 58.8 mg/g. The adsorption matches the pseudo-second-order kinetics model. La (III) ions can be effectively separated from the mixtures of La/Ni, La/Co, La/Cu, and La/Nd in a broad pH range (2.0 to 8.0). After six adsorption-desorption cycles, the hydrogel can maintain its adsorption capacity. This work not only provides a new approach to the synthesis of tough hydrogels under irradiation, but also opens up enormous opportunities to make full use of magnetic nanocomposite hydrogels in environmental fields.

In situ anodic growth of rod-like TiO2 coating on a Ti wire as a selective solid-phase microextraction fiber

A novel rod-like TiO₂ based SPME coating was directly fabricated by in situ anodization of Ti wire (Fig. 1). It has larger surface area and longer service time for sensitive determination of ultraviolet filters in environmental water samples.

Adsorption Behaviour of La(III) and Eu(III) Ions from Aqueous Solutions by Hydroxyapatite: Kinetic, Isotherm, and Thermodynamic Studies

The hydroxyapatite was successfully synthesized, characterized, and used as an alternative low-cost adsorbent material to study the adsorption behavior of La(III) and Eu(III) ions from nitrate aqueous solutions as a function of contact time, initial metal ion concentration, pH, and temperature by using a bath technique. The kinetic data correspond very well to the pseudo-second-order equation, and in both cases the uptake was affected by intraparticle diffusion. Isotherm adsorption data were well fitted by the Freundlich model equation with1/n>1, indicating a multilayer and cooperative-type adsorption. Thermodynamic parameters for the adsorption systems were determinated at 293, 303, 313, and 323 K. These parameters show that adsorptions of La(III) and Eu(III) ions on hydroxyapatite are endothermic and spontaneous processes. The adsorption was found to follow the order Eu(III) > La(III) and is dependent on ion concentration, pH, and temperature.

TiO2 nanotubes as solid-phase extraction adsorbent for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in environmental water samples

An analytical method based on TiO2 nanotubes solid-phase extraction (SPE) combined with gas chromatography (GC) was established for the analysis of seven polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): acenaphtylene, acenaphthene, anthracene, fluorene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene and pyrene. Factors affecting the extraction efficiency including the eluent type and its volume, adsorbent amount, sample volume, sample pH and sample flow rate were optimized. The characteristic data of analytical performance were determined to investigate the sensitivity and precision of the method. Under the optimized extraction conditions, the method showed good linearity in the range of 0.01-0.8 microg/mL, repeatability of the extraction (RSD were between 6.7% and 13.5%, n = 5) and satisfactory detection limits (0.017-0.059 ng/mL). The developed method was successfully applied to the analysis of surface water (tap, river and dam) samples. The recoveries of PAHs spiked in environmental water samples ranged from 90% to 100%. All the results indicated the potential application of titanate nanotubes as solid-phase extraction adsorbents to pre-treat water samples.

Effects of low-molecular-weight organic acids on gadolinium accumulation and transportation in tomato plants

Effects of low-molecular-weight organic acids on the accumulation and transportation of gadolinium (Gd) in tomato plants were studied under hydroponic condition. The results indicated that changes of organic acids occurred in the processes of Gd accumulation and transportation in tomato plants which were treated with extraneous Gd solutions. Malic, citric, and succinic acids contributed to both Gd accumulation in roots and transportation in xylem vessels. When Gd was unloaded from the xylem to the leaf cells, formic, lactic, citric, and succinic acids played important roles in Gd accumulation in leaves. When tomato plants were cultured in the uptake solution of Gd-containing malic, citric, or succinic acid for 48 h, the succinic acid in roots and leaves and the malic acid in xylem saps both increased obviously. From the results above, we can conclude that succinic acid had the most important role in Gd accumulation in tomato roots and leaves, while malic acid transported Gd via xylem vessels more effectively.

Fractionations of rare earth elements in plants and their conceptive model

Fractionations of rare earth elements (REEs) and their mechanisms in soybean were studied through application of exogenous mixed REEs under hydroponic conditions. Significant enrichment of middle REEs (MREEs) and heavy REEs (HREEs) was observed in plant roots and leaves respectively, with slight fractionation between light REEs (LREEs) and HREEs in stems. Moreover, the tetrad effect was observed in these organs. Investigations into REE speciation in roots and in the xylem sap using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and nanometer-sized TiO2 adsorption techniques, associated with other controlled experiments, demonstrated that REE fractionations should be dominated by fixation mechanism in roots caused by cell wall absorption and phosphate precipitation, and by the combined effects of fixation mechanism and transport mechanism in aboveground parts caused by solution complexation by intrinsic organic ligands. A conceptive model was established for REE fractionations in plants based on the above studies.

A comparison of slurry sampling electrothermal vaporization and slurry nebulization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for the direct determination of trace impurities in titanium dioxide powder

A comparison of slurry sampling (SS)-ETV-ICP-MS and slurry nebulization (SN)-ICP-MS for direct determination of trace impurities in titanium dioxide powder is made. The particle size effect, matrix effect and analytical characteristics of SSETV-ICP-MS and SN-ICP-MS are compared. The results have shown that SSETV-ICP-MS has a lower particle size effect and matrix effect compared to SN-ICP-MS. The analytical performance of the two methods reveals that SSETV-ICP-MS and SN-ICP-MS have similar relative detection limits (in the nanogram per liter level); however, the former has a lower absolute detection limit than the latter. Although the precision for SSETV-ICP-MS is a little worse than that for SN-ICP-MS, it is still acceptable for real sample analysis. The two methods were successfully applied for the determination of trace impurities in titanium dioxide powder samples with particle sizes of less than 50 nm, but only SSETV-ICP-MS could be applied for the determination of trace impurities in titanium dioxide powder samples with a particle size of 1 microm.

Accumulation and fractionation of rare earth elements (REEs) in wheat: controlled by phosphate precipitation, cell wall absorption and solution complexation

Previous studies on rare earth element (REE) bioaccumulation have focused on their accumulation rate and fractionation, but the processes involved remain unclear. In this study, the accumulation and fractionation of REEs in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were investigated using solution culture with exogenous mixed REEs. A decrease in REE contents was observed from the roots to the tops of wheat. Significant fractionations of REEs were found in wheat organs as compared to the exogenous mixed REEs. Middle REE (MREE, the elements from Sm to Gd) enrichment and an M-type tetrad effect (an effect that can cause a split of REE patterns into four consecutive convex segments) were observed in the roots, which were probably caused by phosphate precipitation of REEs in/on the roots and absorption of REEs to root cell walls. Light REE (LREE, the elements from La to Eu) and heavy REE (HREE, the elements from Gd to Lu) enrichments were observed in the stems and leaves, respectively, accompanied by conspicuous W-type tetrad effects (an opposite effect to the M-type tetrad effect) in the REE patterns. HREE enrichment decreased from the older to the younger leaves and increased upwards within a single leaf. It is suggested that the solution complexation that occurred in the xylem vessels plays an important role in REE fractionations in the above-ground parts of wheat.