Thermodynamic Study of Water Adsorption in High-Silica Zeolites

Chemically accurate predictions for water adsorption on Brønsted sites of zeolite H-MFI

We investigate the adsorption of water molecules in the zeolite H-MFI at isolated Brønsted acid sites (BAS) for loadings of 1, 2, and 3 H2O/BAS. We consider two approaches to the O3Al-O(H)-Si sites: the Brønsted-type approach of H2O to the acidic proton and the Lewis-type approach to the aluminium atom of the AlO4 tetrahedron. From the twelve crystallographically inequivalent framework sites for Al, a representative set of six active site positions is chosen. For them, we calculate CCSD(T)-quality adsorption energies at MP2-quality adsorption structures for different approaches, 48 in total. The Brønsted-type approach is favoured for most cases but the Lewis-type approach has similar stability for some framework positions. We predict heats of adsorption per molecule ranging from 60 to 76, 56 to 65, and 56 to 64 kJ mol-1 for loadings of 1, 2, and 3 H2O/BAS, respectively. For 1 H2O/BAS, the experimental result (70 kJ mol-1) falls into the range of our predictions, whereas for 2 and 3 H2O/BAS, the measured adsorption heats per molecule (74 and 70 kJ mol-1, respectively) are larger than our predictions. For 2 H2O/BAS, the ion-pair structure generated by proton transfer to the water dimer competes with the neutral adsorption complex. The DFT adsorption energies (PBE+D2) deviate significantly from the CCSD(T)-quality reference energies, by up to 25 kJ mol-1 for 1 H2O/BAS, 25 kJ mol-1 per H2O for 2 H2O/BAS, and 18 kJ mol-1 per H2O for 3 H2O/BAS. Specifically, PBE+D2 overstabilises the ion-pair structure, i.e. in many cases the PBE+D2 error is much larger for ionic than for neutral adsorption structures.

Water structures on acidic zeolites and their roles in catalysis

The local reaction environment of catalytic active sites can be manipulated to modify the kinetics and thermodynamic properties of heterogeneous catalysis. Because of the unique physical-chemical nature of water, heterogeneously catalyzed reactions involving specific interactions between water molecules and active sites on catalysts exhibit distinct outcomes that are different from those performed in the absence of water. Zeolitic materials are being applied with the presence of water for heterogeneous catalytic reactions in the chemical industry and our transition to sustainable energy. Mechanistic investigation and in-depth understanding about the behaviors and the roles of water are essentially required for zeolite chemistry and catalysis. In this review, we focus on the discussions of the nature and structures of water adsorbed/stabilized on Brønsted and Lewis acidic zeolites based on experimental observations as well as theoretical calculation results. The unveiled functions of water structures in determining the catalytic efficacy of zeolite-catalyzed reactions have been overviewed and the strategies frequently developed for enhancing the stabilization of zeolite catalysts are highlighted. Recent advancement will contribute to the development of innovative catalytic reactions and the rationalization of catalytic performances in terms of activity, selectivity and stability with the presence of water vapor or in condensed aqueous phase.

Inductive Effect Alone Cannot Explain Lewis Adduct Formation and Dissociation at Electrode Interfaces

Understanding breaking and formation of Lewis bonds at an electrified interface is relevant to a large range of phenomena, including electrocatalysis and electroadsorption. The complexities of interfacial environments and associated reactions often impede a systematic understanding of this type of bond at interfaces. To address this challenge, we report the creation of a main group classic Lewis acid-base adduct on an electrode surface and its behavior under varying electrode potentials. The Lewis base is a self-assembled monolayer of mercaptopyridine and the Lewis acid is BF₃, forming a Lewis bond between nitrogen and boron. The bond is stable at positive potentials but cleaves at potentials more negative of approximately -0.3 V vs Ag/AgCl without an associated current. We also show that if the Lewis acid BF₃ is supplied from a reservoir of Li⁺BF₄^- electrolyte, the cleavage is completely reversible. We propose that the N-B Lewis bond is affected both by the field-induced intramolecular polarization (electroinduction) and by the ionic structures and ionic equilibria near the electrode. Our results indicate that the second effect is responsible for the Lewis bond cleavage at negative potentials. This work is relevant to understanding the fundamentals of electrocatalytic and electroadsorption processes.

Silica-catalyzed ozonation of 17α -ethinyl-estradiol in aqueous media-to better understand the role of silica in soils

A promising route for thorough removal of 17α-ethinyl estradiol (EE2) from aqueous media was achieved through ozonation using mesoporous silicas such SBA-15, SBA-16, MCM-41 and MCM-48 as catalysts. Comparison with aluminosilicates along with Zeta potential and particle size measurements allowed demonstrating that EE2 interaction with silanols and hydrophobic -Si-O-Si- groups are essential requirements for the catalytic activity. Acid-base interactions, if any, should have minor contribution. EE2 hydroxylation appears to be an early step in the ozonation on all catalysts, but MCM-41 showed increased activity in phenolic ring cleavage. Confrontation of HPLC-UV and UV-Vis and HPLC-UV measurements revealed highest catalytic activity for MCM-41 and to a lesser extend of MCM-48 due to their higher specific surface area and weaker acid character. These results provide valuable findings for judiciously tailoring optimum [EE2-Silica:Water] interactions for thorough oxidative degradation of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC).

Structural and surface studies of luminescent Ca/Eu phosphate nanomaterials: From the bulk to surface features

Three luminescent Eu-containing phosphate materials (Ca-doped europium phosphate monohydrate, Eu-doped carbonated-apatite, and europium phosphate monohydrate) were prepared and analyzed on the level of bulk structure and surface properties and compared to the biomimetic non-luminescent counterpart hydroxyapatite. Europium-containing phosphate materials exhibited nanosized dimensions but different luminescence emissions and luminescence lifetimes depending on their crystalline structures (i.e., lanthanide phosphate or apatites) and chemical composition. The introduction of Eu in the crystal lattice leads to a notable decrease in the overall Lewis acidity of the surface cationic sites detected by CO probing. Further, the mixed Eu/Ca-containing materials surfaces were found to be very similar to the reference hydroxyapatite in terms of water adsorption energy, while the pure europium phosphate resulted to have the notably higher energy values of direct interaction of water molecules with the surface cations with no detected propagation of this effect towards water overlayers.

Synergistic Catalytic Elimination of NOx and Chlorinated Organics: Cooperation of Acid Sites

The synergistic catalytic removal of NO_x and chlorinated volatile organic compounds under low temperatures is still a big challenge. Generally, degradation of chlorinated organics demands sufficient redox ability, which leads to low N₂ selectivity in the selective catalytic reduction of NO_x by NH₃ (NH₃-SCR). Herein, mediating acid sites via introducing the CePO₄ component into MnO₂/TiO₂ NH₃-SCR catalysts was found to be an effective approach for promoting chlorobenzene degradation. The observation of in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (in situ DRIFT) and Raman spectra reflected that the Lewis acid sites over CePO₄ promoted the nucleophilic substitution process of chlorobenzene over MnO₂ by weakening the bond between Cl and benzene ring. Meanwhile, MnO₂ provided adequate Brønsted acid sites and redox sites. Under the cooperation of Lewis and Brønsted acid sites, relying on the rational redox ability, chlorobenzene degradation was promoted with synergistically improved NH₃-SCR activity and selectivity. This work offers a distinct pathway for promoting the combination of chlorobenzene catalytic oxidation and NH₃-SCR, and is expected to provide a novel strategy for synergistic catalytic elimination of NO_x and chlorinated volatile organic compounds.

Structural Characterization of Protonated Water Clusters Confined in HZSM-5 Zeolites

A molecular description of the structure and behavior of water confined in aluminosilicate zeolite pores is a crucial component for understanding zeolite acid chemistry under hydrous conditions. In this study, we use a combination of ultrafast two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) spectroscopy and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) to study H₂O confined in the pores of highly hydrated zeolite HZSM-5 (∼13 and ∼6 equivalents of H₂O per Al atom). The 2D IR spectrum reveals correlations between the vibrations of both terminal and H-bonded O-H groups and the continuum absorption of the excess proton. These data are used to characterize the hydrogen-bonding network within the cluster by quantifying single-, double-, and non-hydrogen-bond donor water molecules. These results are found to be in good agreement with the statistics calculated from an AIMD simulation of an H⁺(H₂O)₈ cluster in HZSM-5. Furthermore, IR spectral assignments to local O-H environments are validated with DFT calculations on clusters drawn from AIMD simulations. The simulations reveal that the excess charge is detached from the zeolite and resides near the more highly coordinated water molecules in the cluster. When they are taken together, these results unambiguously assign the complex IR spectrum of highly hydrated HZSM-5, providing quantitative information on the molecular environments and hydrogen-bonding topology of protonated water clusters under extreme confinement.

Advanced Materials for Energy-Water Systems: The Central Role of Water/Solid Interfaces in Adsorption, Reactivity, and Transport

The structure, chemistry, and charge of interfaces between materials and aqueous fluids play a central role in determining properties and performance of numerous water systems. Sensors, membranes, sorbents, and heterogeneous catalysts almost uniformly rely on specific interactions between their surfaces and components dissolved or suspended in the water-and often the water molecules themselves-to detect and mitigate contaminants. Deleterious processes in these systems such as fouling, scaling (inorganic deposits), and corrosion are also governed by interfacial phenomena. Despite the importance of these interfaces, much remains to be learned about their multiscale interactions. Developing a deeper understanding of the molecular- and mesoscale phenomena at water/solid interfaces will be essential to driving innovation to address grand challenges in supplying sufficient fit-for-purpose water in the future. In this Review, we examine the current state of knowledge surrounding adsorption, reactivity, and transport in several key classes of water/solid interfaces, drawing on a synergistic combination of theory, simulation, and experiments, and provide an outlook for prioritizing strategic research directions.

The H2O Effect on Cu Speciation in Cu-CHA-Catalysts for NH3-SCR Probed by NH3 Titration

The present work is focused on the effect of water on NH3 adsorption over Cu-CHA SCR catalysts. For this purpose, samples characterized by different SAR (SiO2/Al2O3) ratios and Cu loadings were studied under both dry and wet conditions. H2O adversely affects NH3 adsorption on Lewis acid sites (Cu ions) over all the tested catalysts, as indicated by the decreased NH3 desorption at low temperature during TPD. Interestingly, the NH3/Cu ratio, herein regarded as an index for the speciation of Cu cations, fell in the range of 3–4 (in the presence of gaseous NH3) or 1–2 (no gaseous NH3) in dry conditions, in line with the formation of different NH3-solvated Cu species (e.g., [CuII(NH3)4]2+ and [CuII(OH)(NH3)3]+ with gaseous NH3, [Z2CuII(NH3)2]2+ and [ZCuII(OH)(NH3)]+ without gaseous NH3). When H2O was fed to the system, on the contrary, the NH3/Cu ratio was always close to 3 (or 1), while the Brønsted acidity was slightly increased. These results are consistent both with competition between H2O and NH3 for adsorption on Lewis sites and with the hydrolysis of a fraction of Z2CuII species into ZCuIIOH.

Cost-effective composite methods for large-scale solid-state calculations

Following the development in recent years of progressively more accurate approximations to the exchange-correlation functional, the use of density functional theory (DFT) methods to examine increasingly large and complex systems has grown, in particular for solids and other condensed matter systems. However the cost of these calculations is high, often requiring the use of specialist HPC facilities. As such, for the purpose of large-scale high-throughput screening of material properties, a hierarchy of simplified DFT methods has been proposed that allows rapid electronic structure calculation of large systems, and we have recently extended this scheme to the solid state (sol-3c). Here, we analyze the applicability and scaling of the new sol-3c DFT methods to molecules and crystals composed of light-elements, such as small proteins and model DNA-helices. Furthermore, the calculation of the electronic structure of large to very large porous systems, such as metal-organic frameworks and inorganic nanoparticles, is discussed. The new composite methods have been implemented in the CRYSTAL17 code, which efficiently implements hybrid functionals and enables routine application of the new methods to large-scale calculations of such materials with excellent performance, even with small-scale computing resources.

Extrusion and Characterization of High Si/Al Ratio ZSM-5 Using Silica Binder

Biogas upgrading is a key operation for transforming raw biogas into valuable biomethane that can be used as fuel or transported through pipelines. Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) is one possible technique that can be used for upgrading. ZSM-5 with high silica/aluminum (Si/Al) ratio has a reasonable CO2/CH4 selectivity and an almost linear CO2 adsorption isotherm, which can reduce power consumption. Extrusion of zeolites uses Al-based binders which can result in a denaturation and in a decrease of Si/Al ratio, promoting a steeper CO2 isotherm and also impacting the water adsorption. In this work, we have extruded a ZSM-5 (with a Si/Al = 200) using only silica-based binder. Different samples were obtained using different extrusion paste compositions and operating conditions and their textural properties characterized. The mechanical strength of the samples as well as the CO2, CH4, and H2O adsorption equilibrium isotherms at 303–343 K were measured. Our results show that it is possible to produce extrudates with mechanical resistance comparable to (or higher than) commercial zeolite materials with surface area reductions lower than 10% and little or no impact on the CO2/CH4 selectivity.

Cooperative effect of cobalt and zeolite in controlling activity and stability of a catalytic Fischer–Tropsch process

The use of zeolites in Co-catalysts of Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) results in cooperative effect in the form of sudden increase of the zeolite activity in catalysing secondary transformations of FTS-generated hydrocarbons at unusually low temperatures in the range of 170–260 °C. In addition, hydrophobic zeolites in H-form allow changing the hydrophobicity of the pore walls and influence capillary condensation phenomena for intermediate species. The most unexpected effect of Co and hydrophobic zeolites is the improvement of degradation behaviour of the catalysts due to involvement of FTS-generated water into formation of additional Bronsted centres thus preventing undesirable oxidation of heat-conductive metal additives and other water-induced degradation processes. In addition, the stability of catalyst behaviour and its lifetime increase.

High-silica zeolites for adsorption of organic micro-pollutants in water treatment: A review

High-silica zeolites have been found to be effective adsorbents for the removal of organic micro-pollutants (OMPs) from impaired water, including various pharmaceuticals, personal care products, industrial chemicals, etc. In this review, the properties and fundamentals of high-silica zeolites are summarised. Recent research on mechanisms and efficiencies of OMP adsorption by high-silica zeolites are reviewed to assess the potential opportunities and challenges for the application of high-silica zeolites for OMP adsorption in water treatment. It is concluded that the adsorption capacities are well-related to surface hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity and structural features, e.g. micropore volume and pore size of high-silica zeolites, as well as the properties of OMPs. By using high-silica zeolites, the undesired competitive adsorption of background organic matter (BOM) in natural water could potentially be prevented. In addition, oxidative regeneration could be applied on-site to restore the adsorption capacity of zeolites for OMPs and prevent the toxic residues from re-entering the environment.

Comparative Study of the Effect of Defects on Selective Adsorption of Butanol from Butanol/Water Binary Vapor Mixtures in Silicalite-1 Films

A promising route for sustainable 1-butanol (butanol) production is ABE (acetone, butanol, ethanol) fermentation. However, recovery of the products is challenging because of the low concentrations obtained in the aqueous solution, thus hampering large-scale production of biobutanol. Membrane and adsorbent-based technologies using hydrophobic zeolites are interesting alternatives to traditional separation techniques (e.g., distillation) for energy-efficient separation of butanol from aqueous mixtures. To maximize the butanol over water selectivity of the material, it is important to reduce the number of hydrophilic adsorption sites. This can, for instance, be achieved by reducing the density of lattice defect sites where polar silanol groups are found. The density of silanol defects can be reduced by preparing the zeolite at neutral pH instead of using traditional synthesis solutions with high pH. In this work, binary adsorption of butanol and water in two silicalite-1 films was studied using in situ attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy under equal experimental conditions. One of the films was prepared in fluoride medium, whereas the other one was prepared at high pH using traditional synthesis conditions. The amounts of water and butanol adsorbed from binary vapor mixtures of varying composition were determined at 35 and 50 °C, and the corresponding adsorption selectivities were also obtained. Both samples showed very high selectivities (100-23 000) toward butanol under the conditions studied. The sample having low density of defects, in general, showed ca. a factor 10 times higher butanol selectivity than the sample having a higher density of defects at the same experimental conditions. This difference was due to a much lower adsorption of water in the sample with low density of internal defects. Analysis of molecular simulation trajectories provides insights on the local selectivities in the zeolite channel network and at the film surface.

On the surface effects of citrates on nano-apatites: evidence of a decreased hydrophilicity

The surface structure and hydrophilicity of synthetic nanocrystalline apatite with strongly bound citrates on their surface are here investigated at the molecular level, by combining advanced IR spectroscopy, microgravimetry and adsorption microcalorimetry. Citrate are found to form unidentate-like and ionic-like complexes with surface Ca²⁺ ions, with a surface coverage closely resembling that present in bone apatite platelets (i.e., 1 molecule/(n nm)², with n ranging between 1.4 and 1.6). These surface complexes are part of a hydrated non-apatitic surface layer with a sub-nanometre thickness. Noticeably, it is found that the hydrophilicity of the nanoparticles, measured in terms of adsorption of water molecules in the form of multilayers, decreases in a significant extent in relation to the presence of citrates, most likely because of the exposure toward the exterior of –CH₂ groups. Our findings provide new insights on the surface properties of bio-inspired nano-apatites, which can be of great relevance for better understanding the role of citrate in determining important interfacial properties, such as hydrophobicity, of bone apatite platelets. The evaluation and comprehension of surface composition and structure is also of paramount interest to strictly control the functions of synthetic biomaterials, since their surface chemistry strongly affects the hosting tissue response.

Intensified Biobutanol Recovery by using Zeolites with Complementary Selectivity

A vapor-phase adsorptive recovery process is proposed as an alternative way to isolate biobutanol from acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation media, offering several advantages compared to liquid phase separation. The effect of water, which is still present in large quantities in the vapor phase, on the adsorption of the organics could be minimized by using hydrophobic zeolites. Shape-selective all-silica zeolites CHA and LTA were prepared and evaluated with single-component isotherms and breakthrough experiments. These zeolites show opposite selectivities; adsorption of ethanol is favorable on all-silica CHA, whereas the LTA topology has a clear preference for butanol. The molecular sieving properties of both zeolites allow easy elimination of acetone from the mixture. The molecular interaction mechanisms are studied by density functional theory (DFT) simulations. The effects of mixture composition, humidity and total pressure of the vapor stream on the selectivity and separation behavior are investigated. Desorption profiles are studied to maximize butanol purity and recovery. The combination of LTA with CHA-type zeolites (Si-CHA or SAPO-34) in sequential adsorption columns with alternating adsorption and desorption steps allows butanol to be recovered in unpreceded purity and yield. A butanol purity of 99.7 mol % could be obtained at nearly complete butanol recovery, demonstrating the effectiveness of this technique for biobutanol separation processes.

Insight into the Nanoscale Mechanism of Rapid H2O Transport within a Graphene Oxide Membrane: Impact of Oxygen Functional Group Clustering

Realistic models of graphene oxide membranes were developed and validated to interpret the exceptional water permeation in association with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry analysis, and dynamic vapor sorption measurements. With respect to the GO oxidization level, surface distributions of functionalized domains were analyzed in line with TEM observations, and 3 types of interlayer domains in slit pores of GO membranes were identified. The hydrophilicity degrees of as-defined domains strongly influence their H2O uptake capacities. Calculated sorption enthalpies and isotherms are in good agreement with experimental data, and the results indicate the dominant role of dipole interactions. GO expansion shows a transition from the interstratification of an H2O monolayer to the accumulation of H2O multilayers at an interlayer distance of 0.8 nm. The evolution of both hydrogen bonds and H2O diffusivities suggests the existence of three types of H2O species with different binding states and molecular mobilities. The computed H2O permeability on the basis of sorption-diffusion theory supports the exceptional H2O transport capacity in GO membranes.

Adsorption of water and butanol in silicalite-1 film studied with in situ attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

Biobutanol produced by, e.g., acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation is a promising alternative to petroleum-based chemicals as, e.g., solvent and fuel. Recovery of butanol from dilute fermentation broths by hydrophobic membranes and adsorbents has been identified as a promising route. In this work, the adsorption of water and butanol vapor in a silicalite-1 film was studied using in situ attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy to better understand the adsorption properties of silicalite-1 membranes and adsorbents. Single-component adsorption isotherms were determined in the temperature range of 35-120 °C, and the Langmuir model was successfully fitted to the experimental data. The adsorption of butanol is very favorable compared to that of water. When the silicalite-1 film was exposed to a butanol/water vapor mixture with 15 mol % butanol (which is the vapor composition of an aqueous solution containing 2 wt % butanol, a typical concentration in an ABE fermentation broth, i.e., the composition of the gas obtained from gas stripping of an ABE broth) at 35 °C, the adsorption selectivity toward butanol was as high as 107. These results confirm that silicalite-1 quite selectively adsorbs hydrocarbons from vapor mixtures. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive study on the adsorption of water and butanol in silicalite-1 from vapor phase.

In search of the chemical basis of the hemolytic potential of silicas

The membranolytic activity of silica particles toward red blood cells (RBCs) has been known for a long time and is sometimes associated with silica pathogenicity. However, the molecular mechanism and the reasons why hemolysis differs according to the silica form are still obscure. A panel of 15 crystalline (pure and commercial) and amorphous (pyrogenic, precipitated from aqueous solutions, vitreous) silica samples differing in size, origin, morphology, and surface chemical composition were selected and specifically prepared. Silica particles were grouped into six groups to compare their potential in disrupting RBC membranes so that one single property differed in each group, while other features were constant. Free radical production and crystallinity were not strict determinants of hemolytic activity. Particle curvature and morphology modulated the hemolytic effect, but silanols and siloxane bridges at the surface were the main actors. Hemolysis was unrelated to the overall concentration of silanols as fully rehydrated surfaces (such as those obtained from aqueous solution) were inert, and one pyrogenic silica also lost its membranolytic potential upon progressive dehydration. Overall results are consistent with a model whereby hemolysis is determined by a defined surface distribution of dissociated/undissociated silanols and siloxane groups strongly interacting with specific epitopes on the RBC membrane.

Does Dispersion Dominate over H-Bonds in Drug-Surface Interactions? The Case of Silica-Based Materials As Excipients and Drug-Delivery Agents

Amorphous silica is widely employed in pharmaceutical formulations both as a tableting, anticaking agent and as a drug delivery system, whereas MCM-41 mesoporous silica has been recently proposed as an efficient support for the controlled release of drugs. Notwithstanding the relevance of this topic, the atomistic details about the specific interactions between the surfaces of the above materials and drugs and the energetic of adsorption are almost unknown. In this work, we resort to a computational ab initio approach, based on periodic Density Functional Theory (DFT), to study the adsorption behavior of two popular drugs (aspirin and ibuprofen) on two models of an amorphous silica surface characterized by different hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties due to different SiOH surface groups' density. Particular effort was devoted to understand the role of dispersive (vdW) interactions in the adsorption mechanism and their interplay with H-bond interactions. On the hydrophilic silica surface, the H-bond pattern of the Si-OH groups rearranges to comply with the formation of new H-bond interactions triggered by the adsorbed drug. The interaction energy of ibuprofen with the hydrophilic model of the silica surface is computed to be very close to the sublimation energy of the ibuprofen molecular crystal, accounting for the experimental evidence of ibuprofen crystal amorphization induced by the contact with the mesoporous silica material. For both surface models, dispersion interactions play a crucial role in dictating the features of the drug/silica system, and they become dominant for the hydrophobic surface. It was proved that a competition may exist between directional H-bonds and nonspecific dispersion driven interactions, with important structural and energetic consequences for the adsorption. The results of this work emphasize the inadequacy of plain DFT methods to model adsorption processes involving inorganic surfaces and drugs of moderate size, due to the missing term accounting for London dispersion interactions.

Dynamic properties of water in silicalite-1 powder

Self-diffusion of D(2)O in partially filled silicalite-1 crystals was studied at 25°C by (2)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) with bipolar field gradient pulses and longitudinal Eddy-current-delay. For the first time, reliable experimental diffusion data for this system were obtained. Analysis of NMR diffusion decays revealed the presence of a continuous distribution of apparent self-diffusion coefficients (SDCs) of water, ranging from 10(-7) to ∼10(-10) m(2)/s, which include values much higher and lower than that of bulk water (∼10(-9) m(2)/s) in liquid phase. The observed distribution of SDC changes with variation of the diffusion time in the range of 10-200 ms. A two-site Kärger exchange model was successfully fitted to the data. Finally, the water distribution and exchange in silicalite-1 pores were described by taking into account (a) a gas-like phase in the zeolite pores, a gas-like phase in mesopores and an intercrystalline gas-like phase and (b) intercrystalline liquid droplets with intermediate exchange rate with the other phases. The other phases experience fast exchange on the NMR diffusion time scale. Diffusion coefficients and mean residence times of water in some of these states were estimated.

Physicochemical determinants in the cellular responses to nanostructured amorphous silicas

Amorphous silicas, opposite to crystalline polymorphs, have been regarded so far as nonpathogenic, but few studies have addressed the toxicity of the wide array of amorphous silica forms. With the advent of nanotoxicology, there has been a rising concern about the safety of silica nanoparticles to be used in nanomedicine. Here, we report a study on the toxicity of amorphous nanostructured silicas obtained with two different preparation procedures (pyrolysis vs. precipitation), the pyrogenic in two very different particle sizes, in order to assess the role of size and origin on surface properties and on the cell damage, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response elicited in murine alveolar macrophages. A quartz dust was employed as positive control and monodispersed silica spheres as negative control. Pyrogenic silicas were remarkably more active than the precipitated one as to cytotoxicity, reactive oxygen species production, lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide synthesis, and production of tumor necrosis factor-α, when compared both per mass and per unit surface. Between the two pyrogenic silicas, the larger one was the more active. Silanols density is the major difference in surface composition among the three silicas, being much larger than the precipitated one as indicated by joint calorimetric and infrared spectroscopy analysis. We assume here that full hydroxylation of a silica surface, with consequent stable coverage by water molecules, reduces/inhibits toxic behavior. The preparation route appears thus determinant in yielding potentially toxic materials, although the smallest size does not always correspond to an increased toxicity.

Coordination chemistry of Ca sites at the surface of nanosized hydroxyapatite: interaction with H₂O and CO

The affinity towards water of a selection of well-defined, nanostructured hydroxyapatite (HA) samples was investigated by H(2)O vapour adsorption microcalorimetry and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. A large hydrophilicity of all investigated materials was confirmed. The surface features of hydrated HA were investigated on the as-synthesized samples pre-treated in mild conditions at T=303 K, whereas dehydrated HA features were characterized on samples activated at T=573 K. The relatively large hydrophilicity of the hydrated surface (-Δ(ads)H~100-50 kJ mol(-1)) was due to the interaction of water with the highly polarized H(2)O molecules strongly coordinated to the surface Ca(2+) cations. At the dehydrated surface, exposing coordinatively unsaturated (cus) Ca(2+) cations, H(2)O was still molecularly adsorbed but more strongly (-Δ(ads)H~120-90 kJ mol(-1)). The use of CO adsorption to quantify the Lewis acidic strength of HA surface sites revealed only a moderate strength of cus Ca(2+) cations, as confirmed by both microcalorimetric and IR spectroscopic measurements and ab initio calculations. This result implies that the large HA/H(2)O interaction energy is due to the interplay between cus Ca(2+) sites and nearby hydrophilic PO(4) groups, not revealed by the CO probe. The lower density of cus Ca(2+) cations at the 573 K activated HA surface with respect to the pristine one did not affect the whole hydrophilicity of the surface, as the polarizing effect of Ca sites is so strong to extend up to the fourth hydrated layer, as confirmed by both high-coverage microcalorimetric and IR spectroscopic data. No specific effects due to the investigated specimen preparation method and/or different morphology were observed.

Do H-bond features of silica surfaces affect the H2O and NH3 adsorption? Insights from periodic B3LYP calculations

The adsorption of a single H(2)O and NH(3) molecule on different fully hydroxylated α-quartz, cristobalite, and tridymite surfaces has been studied at the B3LYP level of theory, within a periodic approach using basis sets of polarized triple-ζ quality and accounting for basis set superposition error (BSSE). Fully hydroxylated crystalline silica exhibits SiOH as terminal groups whose distribution and H-bond features depend on both the considered silica polymorph and the crystallographic plane, which gives rise to isolated, H-bond interacting SiOH pairs or infinitely connected H-bond chains. A key point of the present study is to understand how the H-bond features of a dry crystalline silica surface influence its adsorption properties. Results reveal that the silica-adsorbate (H(2)O and NH(3)) interaction energy anticorrelates with the density of SiOH groups at the surface. This counterintuitive observation arises from the fact that pre-existing H-bonds of the dry surface need to be broken to establish new H-bonds between the surface and the adsorbate, which manifests in a sizable energy cost due to surface deformation. A simple method is also proposed to estimate the strength of the pre-existing H-bonds at the dry surfaces, which is shown to anticorrelate with the adsorbate interaction energy, in agreement with the above trends.

Monte Carlo simulation of water adsorption in hydrophobic MFI zeolites with hydrophilic sites

The effect of strong and weak hydrophilic sites, Al atoms with associated extraframework Na cations and silanol nests, respectively, in high-silica MFI zeolites on water adsorption was investigated using Monte Carlo simulations. For this purpose, a new empirical model to represent potential energy interactions between water molecules and the MFI framework was developed, which reproduced the hydrophobic characteristics of a siliceous MFI-type zeolite, silicalite-1, with both the vapor-phase adsorption isotherm and heats of adsorption at 298 K being in good agreement with experimental data. The proposed model is also compatible with previous hydrocarbon potential models and can be used in the adsorption simulations of VOC-water mixtures. Adsorption simulations revealed that strongly hydrophilic Al sites in Na-ZSM-5 zeolites coordinate two water molecules per site at low coverage, which promotes water clustering in the vicinity of these sites. However, weakly hydrophilic silanol nests in silicalite-1 are in coordination with a single water molecule per site, which does not affect the adsorption capacity significantly as expected. However, even in the presence of 0.125 silanol nest per unit cell, the increase in the heat of adsorption at low coverage is drastic.

Atomistic insight into adsorption, mobility, and vibration of water in ion-exchanged zeolite-like metal-organic frameworks

The adsorption, mobility, and vibration of water in ion-exchanged rho-zeolite-like metal-organic frameworks (ZMOFs) are investigated using atomistic simulations. Because of the high affinity for the ionic framework and nonframework ions, water is strongly adsorbed in rho-ZMOFs with a three-step adsorption mechanism. At low pressures, water is preferentially adsorbed onto Na(+) ions, particularly at site II; with increasing pressure, adsorption occurs near the framework and finally in the large cage. Upon water adsorption, Na(+) ions are observed to redistribute from site I to site II and gradually hydrated with increasing pressure. In Li-, Na-, and Cs-exchanged rho-ZMOFs, the adsorption capacity and isosteric heat decrease with increasing ionic radius attributed to the reduced electrostatic interaction and free volume. The mobility of water in Na-rho-ZMOF increases at low pressures but decreases upon approaching saturation. With sufficient amount of water present, the mobility of Na(+) ions is promoted. The vibrational spectra of water in Na-rho-ZMOF exhibit distinct bands for librational motion, bending, and stretching. The librational motion has a frequency higher than bulk water due to confinement. With increasing loading and hence stronger coordinative attraction, the bending frequency shows a blue shift. Symmetric and asymmetric modes are observed in the stretching as a consequence of the strong water-ion interaction. This study provides a fundamental microscopic insight into the static and dynamic properties of water in charged ZMOFs and reveals the subtle interplay between water and nonframework ions.

Binary adsorption equilibrium of carbon dioxide and water vapor on activated alumina

Adsorption equilibria of a CO2/H2O binary mixture on activated alumina F-200 were measured at several temperatures and over a wide range of concentrations from 4% to around 90% of the saturated water vapor pressure. In comparison with the single-component data, the loading of CO2 was not reduced in the presence of H2O, whereas at low relative humidity the adsorption of H2O was depressed. The binary system was described by a competitive/cooperative adsorption model where the readily adsorbed water layers acted as secondary sites for further CO2 adsorption via hydrogen bonding or hydration reaction. The combination of kinetic models, namely, a Langmuir isotherm for characterizing pure CO2 adsorption and a BET isotherm for H2O, was extended to derive a binary adsorption equilibrium model for the CO2/H2O mixture. Models based on the ideal adsorbed solution theory of Myers and Prausnitz failed to characterize the data over the whole composition range, and a large deviation of binary CO2/H2O equilibrium from ideal solution behavior was observed. The extended Langmuir-BET (LBET) isotherm, analogous to the extended Langmuir equation, drastically underestimated the CO2 loading. By incorporating the interactions between CO2 and H2O molecules on the adsorbent surface and taking into account the effect of nonideality, the realistic interactive LBET (R-LBET) model was found to be in very good agreement with the experimental data. The derived binary isosteric heat of adsorption showed that the heat was reduced by competitive adsorption but promoted by cooperative adsorption.

Water adsorption on the stoichiometric (001) and (010) surfaces of hydroxyapatite: a periodic B3LYP study

H2O adsorption on hexagonal hydroxyapatite (001) and (010) stoichiometric surfaces has been studied at B3LYP level with a localized Gaussian basis set of polarized double-zeta quality using the periodic CRYSTAL06 code. Because four Ca2+ cations are available at both surfaces, the considered H2O coverages span the 1/4<or=theta<or=5/4 range. The affinity of both HA surfaces for H2O is large: on the (001) surface, H2O adsorbs molecularly (binding energies BE approximately 80 kJ mol(-1) per adsorbed molecule), whereas it dissociates on the (010) surface, giving rise to new surface terminations (CaOwHw and POHw). The highly negative reaction energy for H2O dissociation (between -250 and -320 kJ mol(-1) per adsorbed H2O molecule) strongly suggests that the pristine (010) surface "as cut" from the hydroxyapatite bulk cannot survive in aqueous environment. Conversely, on the reacted surface, H2O adsorbs molecularly with BE similar to those computed for the (001) surface. The B3LYP BEs have been contrasted to the experimental water adsorption enthalpies measured by microcalorimetry on polycrystalline hydroxyapatite samples, showing a fairly good agreement and supporting the suggestion that H2O vapor adsorbs on the already reacted (010) crystalline faces. Harmonic B3LYP vibrational features of adsorbed H2O show, when compared to modes of the gas-phase H2O, a hypsochromic shift of the HOH bending mode (Deltadelta(HOH)=49 cm(-1)) and a bathochromic shift of the OH stretching modes larger than 1700 cm(-1) (Deltanu(OH)=427 cm(-1)), which are both in good agreement with literature experimental data.