Adsorption of lanthanoid ions on calcite

p-Aminobenzoic acid (pABA) sensitization of LaF3:Tb3+ nanoparticles and its applications in the detection of explosive materials

“A novel approach for detecting highly explosive aromatic nitro compounds utilizing pABA sensitised terbium (Tb³⁺) doped spherical LaF₃ nanoparticles.”

Interactions of Al(III), La(III), Gd(III), and Lu(III) with the fused silica/water interface studied by second harmonic generation

The interactions of the trivalent metal cations Al(III), La(III), Gd(III), and Lu(III) with the silica/water interface were studied using the nonlinear optical technique of second harmonic generation (SHG). Specifically, the Eisenthal chi(3) technique was used to quantify the thermodynamics of trivalent ion adsorption to the bare fused silica surface. SHG adsorption isotherms were measured and fit with the triple layer surface complexation model to obtain adsorption free energies, binding constants, and interfacial charge densities. The adsorption free energy for Al(III) was found to be -37.2(5) kJ/mol, while the adsorption free energies for the three trivalent lanthanide cations ranged from -29.9(9) to -32.2(7) kJ/mol. Despite identical ionic charges, the metals under investigation displayed different affinities for the fused silica/water interface, and this finding is analyzed and interpreted in the context of size-dependent metal cation properties and metal ion speciation. The thermodynamic results from this work are valuable benchmarks for computer simulations of trivalent metal transport in the environment.

Adsorption of Eu(III) on a heterogeneous surface studied by time-resolved laser fluorescence microscopy (TRLFM)

Time-resolved laser fluorescence microscopy (TRLFM) is a useful tool to simultaneously investigate the intensity, location, type, and surrounding chemical environment of a fluorophore. In this study, we demonstrated the applicability of TRLFM for the adsorption of Eu(III) on a natural heterogeneous surface. Different adsorption species of Eu(III) were observed on the Makabe granite surface and its constituents (biotite, plagioclase, potassium feldspar, and quartz). Eu(III) heterogeneously adsorbed on biotite, plagioclase, and quartz and homogeneously on potassium feldspar. The histograms of the fluorescence decay rates of adsorbed Eu(III) indicated efficient quenching of Eu(III) fluorescence probably due to Eu(III)-surface interaction or the formation polynuclear hydoxo Eu(III) species on the surfaces. It was also revealed that single species of Eu(III) was observed on biotite and two species on plagioclase and potassium feldspar. The adsorption of Eu(III) on the granite surface was highly heterogeneous. The TRLFM measurements of different regions of the granite surface turned into the finding of Eu(III) with different fluorescence decay rates. Comparing with the fluorescence decay histograms of the mineral constituents, Eu(III) clearly adsorbed on the feldspar family. It was also found that Eu(III) adsorbed as an outer-sphere complex and on an altered mineral of the granite.

Tetrad effect in the adsorption of the lanthanides on zeolite Y

The adsorption of the lanthanides (except for Pm) on the zeolite Y was investigated under various solution conditions of nitrate ion concentration ([NO(-)(3)]: 0.001-2 mol/dm(3)) and total lanthanide concentration (from 0.0001 to 0.001 mol/dm(3)). The solutions of the lanthanide nitrates were equilibrated with the zeolite samples at 296 K. The concentrations of lanthanides in the initial and equilibrium solutions were determined by means of spectrophotometrical method with Arsenazo III reagent and distribution constants K(d) of the lanthanides between aqueous and zeolite phases were calculated. The evident concave tetrad effect in the change of logK(d) values (nitrate concentrations 0.4-2 mol/dm(3)) within the lanthanide series was noticed and an attempt at its explanation through the comparison of covalence in LnO bonds existing in triple bond AlO(1/3Ln)Si triple bond species in the zeolite phase and in Ln(NO(3))(2+) complexes forming in the aqueous phase was presented. The weak convex tetrad effect for equilibrium nitrate concentrations 0.001-0.32 mol/dm(3), manifesting in the change of logK(d) values and in the alteration of logK (adsorption constants), is evidence of the complexation of the tripositive lanthanide ions by the oxygens originating both from water molecules and from the zeolite framework.