Room temperature fabrication of cobalt mullite for the snappy adsorption of cationic and anionic dyes

Cobalt mullite adsorbent for the robust adsorption performance toward Victoria Blue (VB) and Metanil Yellow (MY) is fabricated by the sol-gel method at room temperature using dipropylamine as a structure-directing agent. The synthesized adsorbent is characterized by XRD, FT-IR, and HRTEM. From these analyses, it is found that dipropylamine binds with the alumina and cobalt oxide, which makes it into tetrahedral to octahedral form. This interaction causes the formation of cobalt mullite. It is observed that trigonal alumina and orthorhombic cobalt mullite are interlinked to form a hybrid network. The special feature of adopting this adsorbent for the adsorption of VB and MY is that it has a large amount of Brønsted acid site because of the octahedral coordination of Al and Co. The large availability of acid sites in the framework and hybridization of two different network systems favors robust adsorption. The rate of adsorption (K₂ = 0.00402 g/mg.min for VB and K₂ = 0.004 g/mg.min for MY) and adsorption capacity (Q_e = 102.041 mg/g for VB and Q_e = 19.0406 mg/g for MY) are greater for VB than MY. This may be due to the more steric factor involved in MY than VB. Thermodynamic parameter indicated that the adsorption of VB and MY is spontaneous, endothermic, and increased randomness in the adsorbent-adsorbate interface. The results from the enthalpy value (ΔH° = 65.43 kJ/mol for VB and ΔH° = 44.729 kJ/mol for MY) revealed that the chemisorption is involved in the adsorption process.

Synthesis of hybrid framework of tenorite and octahedrally coordinated aluminosilicate for the robust adsorption of cationic and anionic dyes

Adsorption is an important process for the industrial dye effluent treatment. Many adsorbents are employed such as activated carbon, metal oxide, molecular sieves etc. All those adsorbents are having their own setbacks like longer adsorption time and lower adsorption capacity. So development of fast adsorption and higher adsorption capacity is very much essential. In this view, we synthesized hybrid crystal system of tenorite and aluminosilicate framework (CuO@AS) for the faster adsorption. It is characterized by FT-IR, HRTEM and WAXRD. WAXRD proved the hybridization of two crystal systems viz tenorite & alumina in monoclinic phase and silica in trigonal phase. The crystal structure drawn based on the WAXRD data. It is observed that the tenorite and aluminosilicate framework are separate, but they are interlinked through Cu-O-Al and Cu-O-Si bond. This interconnection makes the aluminium in six coordination and Cu in four coordination. Aluminium and copper has 3 and 2 Brønsted acid sites respectively. Moreover, copper has three more OH group, so totally 5 H⁺ and 3 OH^- sites in copper and aluminium are responsible for the faster adsorption with high adsorption capacity compared to reported literature. To test the adsorption tendency, Victoria Blue (VB) and Metanil Yellow (MY) dyes are employed at room temperature. The rate constant of Pseudo-second order kinetics for the VB and MY are 0.002462 g mg^-1 min^-1 and 0.001619 g mg^-1 min^-1 which indicated faster adsorption of VB than MY. Moreover, total adsorption capacity for VB (636 mg/g) is higher than MY (52 mg/g). This is due to the hybridization of tenorite and aluminosilicate. Thermodynamic data such as ΔG°, ΔH° and ΔS° revealed that the adsorption is spontaneous, chemisorption and highly disordered in the adsorbent-adsorbate interface. This disorderness is due to the disordered pores present in the material.

Highly efficient engineered waste eggshell-fly ash for cadmium removal from aqueous solution

Sustainable waste and water management are key components of the newest EU policy regarding the circular economy. Simple, performant and inexpensive water treatment methods based on reusing waste are prerequisites for human health, sustainable development and environmental remediation. The design of performant, cost-effective absorbents represents a topical issue in wastewater treatment. This study aimed to investigate the development of a newly engineered adsorbent by functionalizing two different types of waste (industrial and food) with magnetic nanoparticles as environmentally friendly, highly efficient, cheap material for cadmium removal from aqueous solutions. This nano-engineered adsorbent (EFM) derived from waste eggshell and fly ash was used to remove the cadmium from the aqueous solution. SEM analysis has demonstrated that magnetite nanoparticles were successfully loaded with each waste. In addition, was obtained a double functionalization of the eggshell particles with ash and magnetite particles. As a result of this, the EFM surface area substantially increased, as confirmed by BET. A comprehensive characterization (BET, FT-IR, SEM, XRD and TGA) was performed to study the properties of this newly engineered adsorbent. Batch experiments were conducted to investigate the influence of different reaction parameters: temperature, pH, contact time, dosage adsorbent, initial concentration. Results showed that cadmium adsorption reached equilibrium in 120 min., at pH 6.5, for 0.25 g of adsorbent. The maximum efficiency was 99.9%. The adsorption isotherms research displayed that the Cd2+ adsorption fitted on the Freundlich model indicated a multi-molecular layer adsorption process. In addition, the thermodynamic study (ΔG < 0, ΔH > 0; ΔS > 0) shows that cadmium adsorption is a spontaneous and endothermic process. The adsorbent kinetic study was described with the pseudo-second-order model indicating a chemisorption mechanism. Desorption results showed that the nano-engineered adsorbent (EFM) can be reused. These data confirmed the possibility to enrich relevant theoretical knowledge in the field of waste recovery for obtaining newly designed adsorbents, performant and inexpensive for wastewater remediation.

Si-doped Al2O3 nanosheet supported Pd for catalytic combustion of propane: effects of Si doping on morphology, thermal stability, and water resistance

Catalytic combustion of propane as typical light alkanes was important for the purification of industrial VOCs and automobile hydrocarbon emissions. Si-doped Al₂O₃ nanosheet was synthesized by a hydrothermal method, and effects of Si content on the morphology and thermal stability of Al₂O₃ were investigated. The doping of SiO₂ could tune the thickness of Al₂O₃ nanosheets and significantly improve its thermal stability, the θ phase was still maintained, and the specific surface area was as high as 56.3 m² g^-1 after calcination at 1200 °C. And then the Si-doped Al₂O₃ nanosheets were used as support of Pd catalysts (Pd/Si-Al₂O₃ nanosheets) for catalytic combustion of propane, especially Pd/3.6Si-Al₂O₃ nanosheets, which presented high activity, stability, and resistance to sintering and H₂O due to the promotion of Si on the thermal stability of Al₂O₃ and the stabilization (dispersion, isolation, and strong interaction) of PdO_x species.

Sorption and mechanism studies of Cu2+, Sr2+ and Pb2+ ions on mesoporous aluminosilicates/zeolite composite sorbents

The research aimed to develop a novel mesoporous aluminosilicate/zeolite composite by the template co-precipitation method. The effect of aluminosilicate (AlSi) and zeolite (NaY) on the basic properties and adsorption capacity of the resultant composite was conducted at different mass ratios of AlSi/NaY (i.e., 5/90, 10/80, 15/85, 20/80, and 50/50). The adsorption characteristics of such composite and its feedstock materials (i.e., aluminosilicates and zeolite) towards radioactive Sr²⁺ ions and toxic metals (Cu²⁺ and Pb²⁺ ions) in aqueous solutions were investigated. Results indicated that BET surface area (S_BET), total pore volume (V_Total), and mesopore volume (V_Meso) of prepared materials followed the decreasing order: aluminosilicate (890 m²/g, 0.680 cm³/g, and 0.644 cm³/g) > zeolite (623 m²/g, 0.352 cm³/g, and 0.111 cm³/g) > AlSi/NaY (20/80) composite (370 m²/g, 0.254 cm³/g, and 0.154 cm³/g, respectively). The Langmuir maximum adsorption capacity (Q_m) of metal ions (Sr²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Pb²⁺) in single-component solution was 260 mg/g, 220 mg/g, and 161 mg/g (for zeolite), 153 mg/g, 37.9 mg/g, and 66.5 mg/g (for aluminosilicate), and 186 mg/g, 140 mg/g, and 77.8 mg/g for (AlSi/NaY (20/80) composite), respectively. Ion exchange was regarded as a domain adsorption mechanism of metal ions in solution by zeolite; meanwhile, inner-surface complexation was domain one for aluminosilicate. Ion exchange and inner-surface complexation might be mainly responsible for adsorbing metal ions onto the AlSi/NaY composite. Pore-filling mechanism was a less important contributor during the adsorption process. The results of competitive adsorption under binary-components (Cu²⁺ and Sr²⁺) and ternary-components (Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Sr²) demonstrated that the removal efficacy of target metals by the aluminosilicate, zeolite, and their composite remarkably decreased. The synthesized AlSi/NaY composite might serve as a promising adsorbent for real water treatment.

Droplet assisted growth and shaping of alumina and mixed alumina-silicone 1-dimensional nanostructures

Since the discovery of silicone nanofilaments a decade ago, room temperature droplet assisted growth and shaping using silanes has been used to synthesize various silicone-based nanostructures. In the present work, we report an extension of this synthesis technique to synthesize nanostructures of new materials. We have successfully synthesized one-dimensional assemblies of beads or necklaces based on alumina (Al) and mixed alumina-silicone (AlSi) nanostructures exhibiting a similar structure as silicone nanofilaments. The characterization of the synthesized nanostructures was performed using different tools, including scanning and transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and infrared and NMR spectroscopy. Selected area electron diffraction revealed that the nanostructures are amorphous in nature, and the growth behavior and thermal stability of nanostructures are also discussed.

Synthesis of nanocrystalline strontium titanate by a sol–gel assisted solid phase method and its formation mechanism and photocatalytic activity

Strontium titanate (SrTiO₃) with a perovskite structure is widely applied to hydrogen production by photolysis water splitting.

Development of cobalt-doped alumina hybrids for adsorption of textile effluents

The discharge volume and composition of textile effluents gain scientific concern due to hazardous and biotoxic nature of azo dyes. Azo dyes are non-biodegradable due to its complex molecular structure and recalcitrant nature. Serious attempts have been made to synthesize and develop new materials to combat the environmental problems. The present study is designed for removal of azo dyes (Methyl orange, Congo red and Basic fuchsine) from synthetic aqueous solutions and real textile effluents. For this purpose, cobalt-doped alumina hybrids are synthesized and applied as adsorbents in batch experiment. Two different aluminium precursor (aluminium nitrate and spent aluminium foil) and glucose are mixed following sol–gel method to get hybrids. The synthesized hybrids are characterized for surface and bulk properties using Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray techniques. The characterization of materials under Fourier transform infrared revealed that –OH (3487–3504 cm−1), C–H (2935–2985 cm−1), Al–O–C (∼1380 cm−1), Al–O (∼ 800 cm−1), Al–O–Al (659–669 cm−1) and Co–O (583–589 cm−1) groups participate in the binding of dyes onto the surface of hybrids. Amorphous shaped particles and elemental composition (carbon, aluminium and oxygen) are demonstrated in scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray micrograph. Time-dependent batch experiments under identical experimental parameters showed 74% of basic fuchsine, 68% of methyl orange and 85% maximum removal of Congo red onto the surface of cobalt-doped alumina hybrids probably through ion exchange mechanism. The experimental data when treated with adsorption models and isotherms, pseudo-second-order kinetic and Freundlich isotherm are found to be best fitted. The present study accomplishes the successful synthesis of novel and efficient cobalt-doped alumina hybrids provides environmental friendly and economical alternative option to the commercial adsorbents for the treatment of textile effluents.

Molecular Structures of Al/Si and Fe/Si Coprecipitates and the Implication for Selenite Removal

Aluminum and iron oxides have been often used in the coagulation processes during water purification due to their unique surface properties toward anions. In the presence of silica, the coprecipitation of Al/Si or Fe/Si might decrease the efficiency of wastewater purification and reuse. In this study, surface properties and molecular structures of Al/Si and Fe/Si coprecipitates were characterized using spectroscopic techniques. Also, the selenite removal efficiency of Al/Si and Fe/Si coprecipitates in relation to their surface and structural properties was investigated. While dissolved silicate increased with increasing pH from Fe/Si coprecipitates, less than 7% of silicate was discernible from Al/Si samples over the range from acidic to alkaline conditions. Our spectroscopic results showed that the associations between Al and Si were relatively stronger than that between Fe and Si in coprecipitates. In Al/Si coprecipitates, core-shell structures were developed with AlO₆/AlO₄ domains as the shells and Si frameworks polymerized from the SiO₂ as the cores. However, Si framework remained relatively unchanged upon coprecipitation with Fe hydroxides in Fe/Si samples. The Si core with Al shell structure of Al/Si coprecipitates shielded the negative charges from SiO₂ and thereby resulted in a higher adsorption capacity of selenite than Fe/Si coprecipitates.

Tunable white light emission by variation of composition and defects of electrospun Al2O3-SiO2 nanofibers

Composite nanofibers consisting of Al2O3-SiO2 were prepared by electrospinning in combination with post-calcination in air. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were used to investigate the crystalline phase and microstructure of the composite nanofibers. Photoluminescence experiments indicated that the resulting white light emission can be tuned by the relative intensity of the individual spectral components, which are related to the individual defects such as: violet-blue emission from O defects, green emission from ≡Si(Al)-O-C∙=O, and red emission from intersystem radiative crossing. White light emission was realized at a Al/(Al-Si) ratio of 40 and 60 mol %. This research may offer a deeper understanding of the preparation of efficient and environmentally friendly, white luminescence materials.

Mesochanneled hierarchically porous aluminosiloxane aerogel microspheres as a stable support for pH-responsive controlled drug release

The molecular-scale self-assembly of a 3D aluminosiloxane (Al-O-Si) hybrid gel network was successfully performed via the cocondensation of hydrolyzed alumina (AlOOH) and (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APS). It was transformed into a microspherical aerogel framework of Al-O-Si containing mesochannels with tunable hierarchically bimodal meso/macroporosities by a subcritical drying technique. Good homogeneity of AlOOH and APS brought during the synthesis guaranteed a uniform distribution of two metal oxides in a single body. A systematic characterization of the aerogel support was carried out using FTIR, SEM, TEM, nitrogen adsorption/desorption analysis, WAXS, SAXS, and ξ-potential measurement in order to explore the material for drug uptake and release. The drug loading and release capacity and chemical stability of an aluminosiloxane aerogel were studied using two nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, ibuprofen and aspirin. A comprehensive evaluation of the aluminosiloxane aerogel with ordered mesoporous MCM-41 was also performed. Aerogel supports showed a high drug loading capacity and a pH-responsive controlled-release property compared to MCM-41. Meanwhile, kinetic modeling studies indicate that the drug releases with a zero-order profile following the Korsmeyer-Peppas model. The biocompatibility of aluminosiloxane aerogels was established via ex vivo and in vivo studies. We also outline the use of aluminosiloxane aerogel as a support for a possible 3D matrix for an osteoconductive structure for bone tissue engineering.

Metallic nanoparticles and their medicinal potential. Part II: aluminosilicates, nanobiomagnets, quantum dots and cochleates

Metallic miniaturization techniques have taken metals to nanoscale size where they can display fascinating properties and their potential applications in medicine. In recent years, metal nanoparticles such as aluminium, silicon, iron, cadmium, selenium, indium and calcium, which find their presence in aluminosilicates, nanobiomagnets, quantum dots (Q-dots) and cochleates, have caught attention of medical industries. The increasing impact of metallic nanoparticles in life sciences has significantly advanced the production techniques for these nanoparticles. In this Review, the various methods for the synthesis of nanoparticles are outlined, followed by their physicochemical properties, some recent applications in wound healing, diagnostic imaging, biosensing, assay labeling, antimicrobial activity, cancer therapy and drug delivery are listed, and finally their toxicological impacts are revised. The first half of this article describes the medicinal uses of two noble nanoparticles – gold and silver. This Review provides further information on the ability of aluminum, silicon, iron, selenium, indium, calcium and zinc to be used as nanoparticles in biomedical sciences. Aluminosilicates find their utility in wound healing and antibacterial growth. Iron-oxide nanoparticles enhance the properties of MRI contrast agents and are also used as biomagnets. Cadmium, selenium, tellurium and indium form the core nanostructures of tiny Q-dots used in cellular assay labeling, high-resolution cell imaging and biosensing. Cochleates have the bivalent nano ions calcium, magnesium or zinc imbedded in their structures and are considered to be highly effective agents for drug and gene delivery. The aluminosilicates, nanobiomagnets, Q-dots and cochleates are discussed in the light of their properties, synthesis and utility.