Effect of Lanthanum Sorption on the Behavior of Rarely Crosslinked Acidic and Basic Polymer Hydrogels during Remote Interaction

This present study is targeted at the complex investigation of the behavior of interpolymer systems based on acidic rarely crosslinked polymeric hydrogels (polyacrylic acid hydrogel (hPAA); polymethacrylic acid hydrogel (hPMAA)) and basic rarely crosslinked polymeric hydrogels (poly-4-vinylpyridine hydrogel (hP4VP), specifically the poly-2-methyl-5-vinylpyridine hydrogel (hP2M5VP)) either in an aqueous medium or lanthanum nitrate solution. We found that the transition of the polymeric hydrogels in the developed interpolymer systems (hPAA-hP4VP, hPMAA-hP4VP, hPAA-hP2M5VP, and hPMAA-hP2M5VP) into highly ionized states leads to significant changes in electrochemical, conformational, and sorption properties of the initial macromolecules. The subsequent mutual activation effect demonstrates strong swelling of both hydrogels in the systems. The sorption efficiency of lanthanum by the interpolymer systems is 94.51% (33%hPAA:67%hP4VP), 90.80% (17%hPMAA-83%hP4VP), 91.55% (67%hPAA:33%hP2M5VP), and 90.10% (50%hPMAA:50%hP2M5VP). An advantage of the interpolymer systems (compared to individual polymeric hydrogels) is the strong growth of their sorption properties (up to 35%) due to high ionization states. Interpolymer systems can be considered new-generation sorbents for further application in the industry for highly effective sorption of rare earth metals.

Preparation of aminated porous polyacrylonitrile nanofibers as adsorbent for methyl orange removal

In this study, porous electrospinning polyacrylonitrile nanofiber (PPAN) surface functionalization with amine groups is studied for methyl orange (MO) dye removal from aqueous solution. A series of adsorption experiments were carried out to investigate the influence of initial solution pH value, contact time, initial solution concentration, and adsorption temperature on the adsorption performance. The experimental results showed that the removal of MO on these PPAN-PEI and PPAN-TEPA nanofibrous mats was a pH-dependent process with the maximum adsorption capacity at the initial solution pH of 3, and that the PPAN-PEI and PPAN-TEPA nanofibrous mats could be regenerated successfully after 4 recycling processes. The adsorption equilibrium data were all fitted well to the Langmuir isotherm equation, with maximum adsorption capacity of 1414.52 mg g⁻¹ and 1221.09 mg g⁻¹ for PPAN-PEI and PPAN-TEPA, respectively. The kinetic study indicated that the adsorption of MO could be well fitted by the pseudo-second-order equation and Weber–Morris model. Thermodynamic parameters such as free energy, enthalpy, and entropy of adsorption of the MO were also evaluated, and the results showed that the adsorption was a spontaneous exothermic adsorption process.

Amino functionalized porous polyacrylonitrile electrospun nanofibers were fabricated, which have good adsorption performance for MO in an acidic environment.

Selective Adsorption of Rare Earth Elements over Functionalized Cr-MIL-101

Efficient rare earth elements (REEs) separation and recovery are crucial to meet the ever-increasing demand for REEs extensively used in various high technology devices. Herein, we synthesized a highly stable chromium-based metal-organic framework (MOF) structure, Cr-MIL-101, and its derivatives with different organic functional groups (MIL-101-NH₂, MIL-101-ED (ED: ethylenediamine), MIL-101-DETA (DETA: diethylenetriamine), and MIL-101-PMIDA (PMIDA: N-(phosphonomethyl)iminodiacetic acid)) and explored their effectiveness in the separation and recovery of La³⁺, Ce³⁺, Nd³⁺, Sm³⁺, and Gd³⁺ in aqueous solutions. The prepared materials were characterized using various analytical instrumentation. These MOFs showed increasing REE adsorption capacities in the sequence MIL-101 < MIL-101-NH₂ < MIL-101-ED < MIL-101-DETA < MIL-101-PMIDA. MIL-101-PMIDA showed superior REE adsorption capacities compared to other MOFs, with Gd³⁺ being the element most efficiently adsorbed by the material. The adsorption of Gd³⁺ onto MIL-101-PMIDA was examined in detail as a function of the solution pH, initial REE concentration, and contact time. The obtained adsorption equilibrium data were well represented by the Langmuir model, and the kinetics were treated with a pseudo-second-order model. A plausible mechanism for the adsorption of Gd³⁺ on MIL-101-PMIDA was proposed by considering the surface complexation and electrostatic interaction between the functional groups and Gd³⁺ ions under different pH conditions. Finally, recycling tests were carried out and demonstrated the higher structural stability of MIL-101-PMIDA during the five adsorption-regeneration runs.

Fabrication of novel metal ion imprinted xanthan gum-layered double hydroxide nanocomposite for adsorption of rare earth elements

The work focus to enhance the properties of xanthan gum (XG) by anchoring metal ions (Fe, Zr) and encapsulating inorganic matrix (M@XG-ZA). The fabricated nanocomposite was characterized by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), surface area (BET) and zeta potential analysis. The adsorption of Sc, Nd, Tm and Yb was investigated after screening of synthesized materials in detail to understand the influence of pH, contact time, temperature and initial REE (rare earth element) concentration both in single and multicomponent system via batch adsorption. The adsorption mechanism was verified by FTIR, SEM and elemental mapping. The SEM images of Zr@XG-ZA demonstrate scutes structure, which disappeared after adsorption of REEs. The maximum adsorption capacities were 132.30, 14.01, 18.15 and 25.73 mg/g for Sc, Nd, Tm and Yb, respectively. The adsorption efficiency over Zr@XG-ZA in multicomponent system was higher than single system and the REEs followed the order: Sc > Yb > Tm > Nd. The Zr@XG-ZA demonstrate good adsorption behavior for REEs up to five cycles and then it can be used as photocatalyst for the degradation of tetracycline. Thus, the work adds a new insight to design and preparation of efficient bifunctional adsorbents from sustainable materials for water purification.

Sulfonylcalix[4]arene functionalized nanofiber membranes for effective removal and selective fluorescence recognition of terbium(iii) ions

A novel sulfonylcalix[4]arene functionalized aminated polyacrylonitrile (APAN) nanofiber membrane was fabricated, exhibiting good Tb³⁺ adsorption capacity and photoluminescence performance.

Electrospun Poly(acrylic acid)/Silica Hydrogel Nanofibers Scaffold for Highly Efficient Adsorption of Lanthanide Ions and Its Photoluminescence Performance

Combined with the features of electrospun nanofibers and the nature of hydrogel, a novel choreographed poly(acrylic acid)-silica hydrogel nanofibers (PAA-S HNFs) scaffold with excellent rare earth elements (REEs) recovery performance was fabricated by a facile route consisting of colloid-electrospinning of PAA/SiO2 precursor solution, moderate thermal cross-linking of PAA-S nanofiber matrix, and full swelling in water. The resultant PAA-S HNFs with a loose and spongy porous network structure exhibited a remarkable adsorption capacity of lanthanide ions (Ln(3+)) triggered by the penetration of Ln(3+) from the nanofiber surface to interior through the abundant water channels, which took full advantage of the internal adsorption sites of nanofibers. The effects of initial solution pH, concentration, and contact time on adsorption of Ln(3+) have been investigated comprehensively. The maximum equilibrium adsorption capacities for La(3+), Eu(3+), and Tb(3+) were 232.6, 268.8, and 250.0 mg/g, respectively, at pH 6, and the adsorption data were well-fitted to the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order models. The resultant PAA-S HNFs scaffolds could be regenerated successfully. Furthermore, the proposed adsorption mechanism of Ln(3+) on PAA-S HNFs scaffolds was the formation of bidentate carboxylates between carboxyl groups and Ln(3+) confirmed by FT-IR and XPS analysis. The well-designed PAA-S HNFs scaffold can be used as a promising alternative for effective REEs recovery. Moreover, benefiting from the unique features of Ln(3+), the Ln-PAA-S HNFs simultaneously exhibited versatile advantages including good photoluminescent performance, tunable emission color, and excellent flexibility and processability, which also hold great potential for applications in luminescent patterning, underwater fluorescent devices, sensors, and biomaterials, among others.

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/crown ether composite nanofibers for the selective adsorption of cations

Electrospun PAN/crown ether nanofibers have potential for selective recovery of specific ions from mixtures with ions.

High recovery of lead ions from aminated polyacrylonitrile nanofibrous affinity membranes with micro/nano structure

In this paper, highly porous polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibrous membranes were successfully fabricated by wet-electrospinning technique from PAN and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) blended solution using hot water bath as extractor, and then aminated with diethylene triamine (DETA). The obtained aminated PAN (APAN) nanofibrous mats showed unique micro/nano structures and possessed extra high extraction capability for the removal of lead ions (Pb(2+)) from aqueous solution (maximum uptake capacity of Pb(2+) was up to 1520.0mg/g), and could maintain over 90% of its extraction capacity at the sixth cycle of extraction-dissociation. Interestingly, the hexagonal crystals of basic lead(II) carbonate (Pb3(CO3)2(OH)2) grown on micro/nano structured APAN nanofibers were observed when APAN membrane was immersed in Pb(II) ions aqueous solution. The results provided new insights for the removal of metal ions by metal crystal growth from wastewater with high recovery.