Mesoporous zirconium titanium oxides. Part 2: Synthesis, porosity, and adsorption properties of beads

Effective Am(iii)/Eu(iii) separations using 2,6-bis(1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)pyridine (BTP) functionalised titania particles and hierarchically porous beads

Titania particles and beads functionalised with a modified BTP ligand have been used to selectively extract Am(iii) over Eu(iii) from 0.01 M nitric acid solutions.

Hydrolytic stability of mesoporous zirconium titanate frameworks containing coordinating organic functionalities

The hydrolytic stability of lanthanide and actinide selective mono- and polyphosphonate-functionalized mesoporous zirconium titanium oxide adsorbents has been investigated in nitric acid solutions. Hydrolytic degradation of the surfaces, as measured through the fractional loss of phosphorus and elements of the oxide framework, increased by more than an order of magnitude as the nitric acid concentration was increased from 0 to 2 mol/L. The unfunctionalized parent oxide suffered considerable dissolution in 2 mol/L acid over a period of 72 h. Under identical conditions, the fractional Zr and Ti release was reduced to 1 × 10(-2) for monophosphonate functionalized hybrids and reached as low as 1 × 10(-6) for trisphosphonate functionalized variants. The bisphosphonates showed intermediate values. The leaching of P, Zr and Ti was found to be incongruent with the Zr leaching to a lesser extent implying enhanced stability of the Zr-O-P bond. Quantitative analysis of the dissolution kinetics indicated a parabolic dissolution model with a rate constant in the range of 0.5-1.5 mg g(-1) min(-1/2) for the elemental leaching of P, Ti, and Zr. The leaching of Zr from the mesoporous matrix was relatively more complex than for the other elements with evidence of a leaching mechanism involving two processes. ToF-SIMS and DRIFT analysis demonstrated that after leaching in 2 M HNO3 for 24 h, a significant proportion of grafted ligands remained on the surface. The oxide functionalized with amino trismethylenephosphonic acid, which had previously shown excellent (153)Gd(3+) selectivity, was demonstrated to have outstanding stability, with low fractional elemental losses and preservation of mesoporous texture even after leaching for 24 h in 2 M HNO3. This suggests this particular hybrid to be worthy of additional study.

Oxide-based inorganic/organic and nanoporous spherical particles: synthesis and functional properties

This paper reviews the recent progress in the preparation of oxide-based and heteroatom-doped particles. Surfactant-templated oxide particles, e.g. silica and titania, are possible candidates for various potential applications such as adsorbents, photocatalysts, and optoelectronic and biological materials. We highlight nanoporous oxides of one element, such as silicon or titanium, and those containing multiple elements, which exhibit properties that are not achieved with individual components. Although the multicomponent nanoporous oxides possess a number of attractive functions, the origin of their properties is hard to determine due to compositional/structural complexity. Particles with a well-defined size and shape are keys for a quantitative and detailed discussion on the unique complex properties of the particles. From this viewpoint, we review the synthesis techniques of the oxide particles, which are functionalized with organic molecules or doped with heteroatoms, the physicochemical properties of the particles and the possibilities for their photofunctional applications as complex systems.

Uranyl-sorption properties of amorphous and crystalline TiO₂/ZrO₂ millimeter-sized hierarchically porous beads

Hierarchically porous TiO(2)/ZrO(2) millimeter-sized beads were synthesized using a sol-gel templating technique, and investigated for suitability as radionuclide sorbents using uranyl as a radionuclide-representative probe. The bead properties were varied by altering either composition (22, 36, and 82 wt % Zr in the Ti/Zr composite) or calcination temperature (500 or 700 °C). Uranyl adsorption was higher for the crystalline beads (surface area: 52-59 m(2) g(-1)) than the amorphous beads (surface area: 95-247 m(2) g(-1)), reaching a maximum of 0.170 mmol g(-1) for the 22 wt % Zr sample. This was attributed to the higher surface hydroxyl density (OH nm(-2)), presence of limited microporosity, and larger mesopores in the crystalline beads. Mass transport properties of the crystalline beads were not compromised by the large bead diameter: sorption rates comparable to those reported for powders were achieved and rates were higher than exclusively mesoporous reported systems, thereby highlighting the importance of pore hierarchy in designing materials with improved kinetics. Chemical stability of the sorbent, an important property for processes involving corrosive effluents (e.g., radioactive waste), was also assessed. Crystalline beads displayed superior resistance against matrix leaching in HNO(3). Stability varied with composition: the 22 wt % Zr sample demonstrated the highest stability.

Ultralight multiwalled carbon nanotube aerogel

Ultralight multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) aerogel is fabricated from a wet gel of well-dispersed pristine MWCNTs. On the basis of a theoretical prediction that increasing interaction potential between CNTs lowers their critical concentration to form an infinite percolation network, poly(3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate) (PTMSPMA) is used to disperse and functionalize MWCNTs where the subsequent hydrolysis and condensation of PTMSPMA introduces strong and permanent chemical bonding between MWCNTs. The interaction is both experimentally and theoretically proven to facilitate the formation of a MWCNT percolation network, which leads to the gelation of MWCNT dispersion at ultralow MWCNT concentration. After removing the liquid component from the MWCNT wet gel, the lightest ever free-standing MWCNT aerogel monolith with a density of 4 mg/cm(3) is obtained. The MWCNT aerogel has an ordered macroporous honeycomb structure with straight and parallel voids in 50-150 μm separated by less than 100 nm thick walls. The entangled MWCNTs generate mesoporous structures on the honeycomb walls, creating aerogels with a surface area of 580 m(2)/g which is much higher than that of pristine MWCNTs (241 m(2)/g). Despite the ultralow density, the MWCNT aerogels have an excellent compression recoverable property as demonstrated by the compression test. The aerogels have an electrical conductivity of 3.2 × 10(-2) S·cm(-1) that can be further increased to 0.67 S·cm(-1) by a high-current pulse method without degrading their structures. The excellent compression recoverable property, hierarchically porous structure with large surface area, and high conductivity grant the MWCNT aerogels exceptional pressure and chemical vapor sensing capabilities.

Hybrid inorganic-organic adsorbents Part 1: Synthesis and characterization of mesoporous zirconium titanate frameworks containing coordinating organic functionalities

A series of functional hybrid inorganic-organic adsorbent materials have been prepared through postsynthetic grafting of mesoporous zirconium titanate xerogel powders using a range of synthesized and commercial mono-, bis-, and tris-phosphonic acids, many of which have never before been investigated for the preparation of hybrid phases. The hybrid materials have been characterized using thermogravimetric analysis, diffuse reflectance infrared (DRIFT) and 31P MAS NMR spectroscopic techniques and their adsorption properties studied using a 153Gd radiotracer. The highest level of surface functionalization (molecules/nm2) was observed for methylphosphonic acid (∼3 molecules/nm2). The level of functionalization decreased with an increase in the number of potential surface coordinating groups of the phosphonic acids. Spectral decomposition of the DRIFT and 31P MAS NMR spectra showed that each of the phosphonic acid molecules coordinated strongly to the metal oxide surface but that for the 1,1-bis-phosphonic acids and tris-phosphonic acids the coordination was highly variable resulting in a proportion of free or loosely coordinated phosphonic acid groups. Functionalization of a porous mixed metal oxide framework with the tris-methylenephosphonic acid (ATMP-ZrTi-0.33) resulted in a hybrid with the highest affinity for 153Gd3+ in nitric acid solutions across a wide range of acid concentrations. The ATMP-ZrTi-0.33 hybrid material extracted 153Gd3+ with a Kd value of 1×10(4) in 0.01 M HNO3 far exceeding that of the other hybrid phases. The unfunctionalized mesoporous mixed metal oxide had negligible affinity for Gd3+ (Kd<100) under identical experimental conditions. It has been shown that the presence of free or loosely coordinated phosphonic acid groups does not necessarily translate to affinity for 153Gd3+. The theoretical cation exchange capacity of the ATMP-ZrTi-0.33 hybrid phase for Gd3+ has been determined to be about 0.005 mmol/g in 0.01 M HNO3. This behavior and that of the other hybrid phases suggests that the surface-bound ATMP ligand functions as a chelating ligand toward 153Gd3+ under these acidic conditions.

Size matters: incorporation of poly(acrylic acid) and small molecules into hierarchically porous metal oxides prepared with and without templates

Template synthesis of metal oxides can create materials with highly controlled and reproducible pore structures that can be optimized for particular applications. Zirconium titanium oxides (25:75 mol %) with three different pore structures were synthesized in order to relate polymer loading capacity to macropore architecture. Sol-gel chemistry was used to prepare the materials in conjunction with (i) agarose gel templating, (ii) no template, and (iii) stearic acid templating. The three materials possessed high surface areas (212-316 m(2) g(-1)). Surface modification was performed postsynthetically using propionic acid (a monomer), glutaric acid (a dimer), and three molecular weights of poly(acrylic acid) (2000, 100,000, and 250,000 g mol(-1)). Higher loading (mg g(-1)) was observed for the polymers than for the small molecules. Following surface modification, a perceptible decrease in surface area and mesopore volume was noted, but both mesoporosity and macroporosity were retained. The pore architecture had a strong bearing on the quantity and rate of polymer incorporation into metal oxides. The templated pellet with hierarchical porosity outperformed the nontemplated powder and the mesoporous monolith (in both loading capacity and surface coverage). The materials were subjected to irradiation with (60)Co gamma-rays to determine the radiolytic stability of the inorganic support and the hybrid material containing the monomer, dimer, and polymer. The polymer and the metal oxide substrate demonstrated notable radiolytic stability.

Mesoporous zirconium titanium oxides. Part 3. Synthesis and adsorption properties of unfunctionalized and phosphonate-functionalized hierarchical polyacrylonitrile-F-127-templated beads

A method is presented for the preparation of zirconium titanate mixed oxides in bead form having hierarchical pore structure. This method entailed the use of both preformed polyacrylonitrile (PAN) polymer beads and surfactants as templates. The templates were removed by calcination at temperatures below about 500 degrees C, resulting in mixed oxide beads with trimodal pore size distributions and interconnected pores. The pore size distributions as determined using nitrogen adsorption-desorption showed clear maxima at 4.5 and 45 nm length scales and also clear evidence of microporosity. The macroporous framework morphology was a replica of the PAN beads with radial structure. The mesoporous framework possessed wormhole-like pores with pore size of about 6 nm that was consistent with the F-127 triblock copolymer template used. The mixed oxide beads exhibited surface areas of 215 and 185 m2/g after calcination at 500 and 600 degrees C. Thermal stability up to 650 degrees C is unprecedented for bulk systems. The adsorption properties were characterized using uranyl as the target cation and the mass transport in the beads with the present hierarchical architectures has been shown to be exceptional. The beads were functionalized with 4-amino,1-hydroxy,1,1-bis-phosphonic acid (HABDP) and amino-tris-methylene phosphonic acid (ATMP) and the adsorption properties for the extraction of uranyl sulfate complexes from acidic solution examined. Of the two molecules investigated, ATMP functionalization resulted in the best extraction efficiency with equilibrium uptake of about 90% of uranium available in solution between pH 1 and 2. The beads could potentially be utilized as catalysts, catalyst supports, adsorbents, and separation materials.

Template synthesis and adsorption properties of hierarchically porous zirconium titanium oxides

Hierarchical morphologies in metal oxides are advantageous for many applications, including controlled drug release, photocatalysis, catalysis, synthetic biomaterials, and adsorption and separation technologies. In this study, agarose gel has been used as a template to prepare zirconium titanium mixed oxide pellets with bimodal porosity. Sol-gel chemistry conducted within the agarose gel produced "coral-like" interconnected networks of oxide nanoparticles with controllable quantities of zirconium and titanium. The materials were characterized using N(2) sorption, extended X-ray absorption fine structure, X-ray diffraction, TEM, SEM, zeta potential, and thermogravimetric analysis (to measure surface hydroxyl group density). The oxides were then tested for the adsorption of vanadyl and vanadate to determine which Zr mole fraction exhibited the highest capacity and fastest kinetics. The material containing 25 mol % Zr exhibited the highest surface area (322 +/- 8 m(2)/g) of the compositions investigated and also displayed a superior adsorption rate and capacity. Vanadate adsorption occurred with faster kinetics than did vanadyl adsorption. A comparative study demonstrated that the macro/meso pore structure had improved transport properties over a monomodal mesopore structure of similar Zr/Ti composition. The faster vanadate adsorption kinetics is attributed to enhanced surface accessibility in a hierarchical material.