Effect of Aluminum on the Nature of the Iron Species in Fe-SBA-15

Catalytic ozonation of hard COD in coking wastewater with Fe2O3/Al2O3-SiC: From catalyst design to industrial application

Development of robust, reactive, and inexpensive catalyst for pollutants abatement with catalytic ozonation is of great significance. Herein, the effect of a robust and easy-recovery catalyst, Fe₂O₃/Al₂O₃-SiC, for the catalytic ozonation of hardly biodegradable COD (hard COD) in coking wastewater had been explored. Al-O-Si bond formed on modified SiC through the substitution of hydrogen in surficial Si-OH groups by Al³⁺. The Lewis acid sites improved the adsorption of ozone and facilitated the formation of ·OH and O₂·^-. For coking wastewater treatment, the removal ratio of hard COD and the generation speed of hydroxyl radical (R_ct) in the catalytic ozonation process were 71% and 253% higher than those in the ozonation group, respectively. Ozone utilization increased from 0.44 g COD removed/g O₃ in the ozonation group to 1.42 g COD removed/g O₃ in the Fe₂O₃/Al₂O₃-SiC catalytic ozonation group. In a full-scale application, Fe₂O₃/Al₂O₃-SiC catalytic ozonation decreased the consumption of O₃ to 60 mg L^-1 and decreased the operation cost by 50%. These results provided an approachable way for sharing the extraordinary capacity of ozone for contaminants remediation in industrial applications.

Influence of Components Deposition Order on Silver Species Formation in Bimetallic Ag-Fe System Supported on Mordenite

In the present work, various experimental and theoretical methods were combined to study in detail the modifying effect of differences in the order of deposition of components on the state of silver in bimetallic iron–silver samples based on mordenite. In each of the silver-containing samples, the formation of large (≥2 nm in diameter) varieties of silver was observed, which differed from the varieties in the other samples, and in varying degrees. The formation of large Ag NPs on the outer surface of mordenite is explained by the redox interaction of Ag+-Fe2+ and the selectivity of ion exchange. The local surrounding of Ag in the studied samples is different: for AgMOR—monatomic species dominate, FeAgMOR—silver dimers and AgFeMOR—metal particles. In all investigated samples, the partially charged intra-channel Agnδ+ clusters (~0.7 nm in size) were formed due to partial Ag+ reduction and subsequent Ag0 agglomeration into the mordenite channel. Most of the silver in the bulk of the zeolite is represented in the cationic state attached to the mordenite framework by differently coordinated electrostatic forces, which can be Ag-O, Ag-Si or Ag-Al, with variations in interatomic distances and do not depend on the order of metal deposition. In addition, the arrangement of the cations in the side pockets means that the transport channels of mordenite are free, which is favorable for the application of the materials under study in catalysis and adsorption.

Facile synthesis of novel Bi0-SBA-15 adsorbents by an improved impregnation reduction method for highly efficient capture of iodine gas

Development of high efficient adsorbents to capture iodine is of great significance for the active development of nuclear power. Herein, Bi⁰-SBA-15 was firstly synthesized and applied for capture of iodine gas. Bi⁰-SBA-15 materials were prepared by an improved impregnation reduction method. The benefit of this method was that the Bi⁰ nanoparticles with flocculent and spherical morphologies were loaded on the surface of SBA-15, which provide abundant active sites for iodine and improve the utilization rate of active sites, so as to attain a record high capture capacity (up to 925 mg/g within 60 min) and high stablitiy (91.2%) at 200 °C. The results demonstrated that the loading of Bi⁰ on the surface showed a significant impact on the structure of Bi⁰-SBA-15 and did greatly enhance the iodine capture. Furthermore, the high iodine capture capacity mainly derived from the chemical adsorption in the stable form of BiI₃. The obtained Bi⁰-SBA-15 materials exhibited excellent aqueous and irradiation stability. Thus, the results indicated that the new and highly efficient Bi⁰-SBA-15 was a potential radioactive iodine gas capture material.

More octahedral Cu+ and surface acid sites in uniformly porous Cu-Al2O3 for enhanced Fenton catalytic performances

Porous Cu-doped alumina (P-Cu-Al₂O₃) has been synthesized using ammonium chloride as a green gaseous template. The unique pore-forming agent endows the catalyst a large surface area and homogenous pore structure. According to the characterization results by multi-technologies, the highly dispersed framework Cu⁺/Cu²⁺ was incorporated in octahedral sites with the formation of the Cu-O-Al bonds. Compared with bulk Cu-doped Al₂O₃ (B-Cu-Al₂O₃), more surface acidic oxygen-containing groups and Lewis acid sites existed in P-Cu-Al₂O₃, resulting in the production of surface adsorbed ^•OH, which is helpful for the removal of surface adsorbed organic intermediates. In addition, O₂ more easily participate in surface reaction to promote the ^•OH generation in P-Cu-Al₂O₃ system than that in B-Cu-Al₂O₃. As a result, the representative endocrine disruptor bisphenol A can be more efficiently mineralized by P-Cu-Al₂O₃. This work provides a facile route to develop porous active heterogenous Fenton-like catalysts and a unique perspective to insight into the structure-activity relationship.

Performance of a novel microwave-based treatment technology for atrazine removal and destruction: Sorbent reusability and chemical stability, and effect of water matrices

Transition metal-exchanged dealuminated Y zeolites were used to adsorb atrazine from aqueous solutions, followed by regeneration of the sorbents and destruction of the sorbed atrazine with microwave irradiation. Exchange of copper and iron into the zeolite's micropores significantly enhanced its sorption capacity and selectivity toward atrazine, and increased the microwave-induced degradation rate of the sorbed atrazine by 3-4-folds. Both the copper- and iron-exchanged zeolites could be regenerated and reused multiple times, while the catalytic activity of the latter was more robust due to the much greater chemical stability of Fe(3+) species in the micropores. The presence of humic acid, and common cations and anions had little impact on the sorption of atrazine on the transition metal-exchanged zeolites. In the treatment of atrazine spiked in natural surface water and groundwater samples, sorptive removal of atrazine was found to be impacted by the level of dissolved organic carbon, probably through competition for the micropore spaces and pore blocking, while the water matrices exhibited no strong effect on the microwave-induced degradation of sorbed atrazine. Overall, iron-exchanged dealuminated Y zeolites show great potential for removal and destruction of atrazine from contaminated surface water and groundwater in practical implementation of the novel treatment technology.

Lysosome-controlled efficient ROS overproduction against cancer cells with a high pH-responsive catalytic nanosystem

Excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been proved to damage cancer cells efficiently. ROS overproduction is thus greatly desirable for cancer therapy. To date, ROS production is generally uncontrollable and outside cells, which always bring severe side-effects in the vasculature. Since most ROS share a very short half-life and primarily react close to their site of formation, it would be more efficient if excess ROS are controllably produced inside cancer cells. Herein, we report an efficient lysosome-controlled ROS overproduction via a pH-responsive catalytic nanosystem (FeOx-MSNs), which catalyze the decomposition of H2O2 to produce considerable ROS selectively inside the acidic lysosomes (pH 5.0) of cancer cells. After a further incorporation of ROS-sensitive TMB into the nanosystem (FeOx-MSNs-TMB), both a distinct cell labeling and an efficient death of breast carcinoma cells are obtained. This lysosome-controlled efficient ROS overproduction suggests promising applications in cancer treatments.

Mechanism of catalytic ozonation in Fe ₂O₃/Al ₂O₃@SBA-15 aqueous suspension for destruction of ibuprofen

Fe2O3 and/or Al2O3 were supported on mesoporous SBA-15 by wet impregnation and calcinations with AlCl3 and FeCl3 as the metal precursor and were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) of adsorbed pyridine. Fe2O3/Al2O3@SBA-15 was found to be highly effective for the mineralization of ibuprofen aqueous solution with ozone. The characterization studies showed that Al-O-Si was formed by the substitution of Al(3+) for the hydrogen of surface Si-OH groups, not only resulting in high dispersion of Al2O3 and Fe2O3 on SBA-15, but also inducing the greatest amount of surface Lewis acid sites. By studies of in situ attenuated total reflection FTIR (ATR-FTIR), in situ Raman, and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra, the chemisorbed ozone was decomposed into surface atomic oxygen species at the Lewis acid sites of Al(3+) while it was converted into surface adsorbed (•)OHads and O2(•-) radicals at the Lewis acid sites of Fe(3+). The combination of both Lewis acid sites of iron and aluminum onto Fe2O3/Al2O3@SBA-15 enhanced the formation of (•)OHads and O2(•-) radicals, leading to highest reactivity. Mechanisms of catalytic ozonation were proposed for the tested catalysts on the basis of all the experimental information.

Catalytic effect of transition metals on microwave-induced degradation of atrazine in mineral micropores

With their high catalytic activity for redox reactions, transition metal ions (Cu(2+) and Fe(3+)) were exchanged into the micropores of dealuminated Y zeolites to prepare effective microporous mineral sorbents for sorption and microwave-induced degradation of atrazine. Due to its ability to complex with atrazine, loading of copper greatly increased the sorption of atrazine. Atrazine sorption on iron-exchanged zeolites was also significantly enhanced, which was attributed to the hydrolysis of Fe(3+) polycations in mineral micropores and electrostatic interactions of protonated atrazine molecules with the negatively charged pore wall surface. Copper and iron species in the micropores also significantly accelerated degradation of the sorbed atrazine (and its degradation intermediates) under microwave irradiation. The catalytic effect was attributed to the easy reducibility and high oxidation activity of Cu(2+) and Fe(3+) species stabilized in the micropores of the zeolites. It was postulated that the surface species of transition metals (monomeric Cu(2+), Cu(2+)-O-Cu(2+) complexes, FeO(+), and dinuclear Fe-O-Fe-like species) in the mineral micropores were thermally activated under microwave irradiation, and subsequently formed highly reactive sites catalyzing oxidative degradation of atrazine. The transition metal-exchanged zeolites, particularly the iron-exchanged ones, were relatively stable when leached under acidic conditions, which suggests that they are reusable in sorption and microwave-induced degradation. These findings offer valuable insights on designing of effective mineral sorbents that can selectively uptake atrazine from aqueous solutions and catalyze its degradation under microwave irradiation.

UV Raman spectroscopic studies on active sites and synthesis mechanisms of transition metal-containing microporous and mesoporous materials

Microporous and mesoporous materials are widely used as catalysts and catalyst supports. Although the incorporation of transition metal ions into the framework of these materials (by isomorphous substitution of Al and Si) is an effective means of creating novel catalytic activity, the characterization of the transition metal species within these materials is difficult. Both the low concentration of the highly dispersed transition metal and the coexistence of extraframework transition metal species present clear challenges. Moreover, the synthetic mechanisms that operate under the highly inhomogeneous conditions of hydrothermal synthesis are far from well understood. A useful technique for addressing these challenges is UV Raman spectroscopy, which is a powerful technique for catalyst characterization and particularly for transition metal-containing microporous and mesoporous materials. Conventional Raman spectroscopy, using visible and IR wavelengths, often fails to provide the information needed for proper characterization as a result of fluorescence interference. But shifting the excitation source to the UV range addresses this difficulty: interference from fluorescence (which typically occurs at 300-700 nm or greater) is greatly diminished. Moreover, signal intensity is enhanced because Raman intensity is proportional to the fourth power of the scattered light frequency. In this Account, we review recent advances in UV Raman spectroscopic characterization of (i) highly dispersed transition metal oxides on supports, (ii) transition metal ions in the framework of microporous and mesoporous materials, and (iii) the synthetic mechanisms involved in making microporous materials. By taking advantage of the strong UV resonance Raman effect, researchers have made tremendous progress in the identification of isolated transition metal ions incorporated in the framework of microporous and mesoporous materials such as TS-1, Ti-MCM-41, Fe-ZSM-5, and Fe-SBA-15. The synthetic mechanisms involved in creating microporous materials (such as Fe-ZSM-5 and zeolite X) have been investigated with resonance and in situ UV Raman spectroscopy. The precursors and intermediates evolved in the synthesis solution and gels can be sensitively detected and followed during the course of zeolite synthesis. This work has resulted in a greater understanding of the structure of transition metal-containing microporous and mesoporous materials, providing a basis for the rational design and synthesis of microporous and mesoporous catalysts.

Structure and nuclearity of active sites in Fe-zeolites: comparison with iron sites in enzymes and homogeneous catalysts

Fe-ZSM-5 and Fe-silicalite zeolites efficiently catalyse several oxidation reactions which find close analogues in the oxidation reactions catalyzed by homogeneous and enzymatic compounds. The iron centres are highly dispersed in the crystalline matrix and on highly diluted samples, mononuclear and dinuclear structures are expected to become predominant. The crystalline and robust character of the MFI framework has allowed to hypothesize that the catalytic sites are located in well defined crystallographic positions. For this reason these catalysts have been considered as the closest and best defined heterogeneous counterparts of heme and non heme iron complexes and of Fenton type Fe(2+) homogeneous counterparts. On this basis, an analogy with the methane monooxygenase has been advanced several times. In this review we have examined the abundant literature on the subject and summarized the most widely accepted views on the structure, nuclearity and catalytic activity of the iron species. By comparing the results obtained with the various characterization techniques, we conclude that Fe-ZSM-5 and Fe-silicalite are not the ideal samples conceived before and that many types of species are present, some active and some other silent from adsorptive and catalytic point of view. The relative concentration of these species changes with thermal treatments, preparation procedures and loading. Only at lowest loadings the catalytically active species become the dominant fraction of the iron species. On the basis of the spectroscopic titration of the active sites by using NO as a probe, we conclude that the active species on very diluted samples are isolated and highly coordinatively unsaturated Fe(2+) grafted to the crystalline matrix. Indication of the constant presence of a smaller fraction of Fe(2+) presumably located on small clusters is also obtained. The nitrosyl species formed upon dosing NO from the gas phase on activated Fe-ZSM-5 and Fe-silicalite, have been analyzed in detail and the similarities and differences with the cationic, heme and non heme homogeneous counterparts have been evidenced. The same has been done for the oxygen species formed by N(2)O decomposition on isolated sites, whose properties are more similar to those of the (FeO)(2+) in cationic complexes (included the [(H(2)O)(5)FeO](2+)"brown ring" complex active in Fenton reaction) than to those of ferryl groups in heme and non heme counterparts.