In-Situ SERS Detection of Hg2+/Cd2+ and Congo Red Adsorption Using Spiral CNTs/Brass Nails

Brass spiral nails were functionalized with CoFe2O4 nanoparticles and utilized as a substrate for the growth of extremely long CNTs with helical structures and diameters smaller than 20 nm. Different methods were used to characterize the grown CNTs' structures and morphologies. The characteristic Raman peaks of CNTs were amplified four times after being uploaded on the spiral nail, making the substrates for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) more sensitive. To detect Hg2+ and Cd2+ at concentrations ranging from 1 to 1000 ppb, a CNT/spiral brass nail was used as a SERS substrate. The proposed sensor demonstrated high sensitivity and selectivity between these heavy metal ions. As a result, the proposed CNTs/spiral brass sensor can be an effective tool for identifying heavy metal ions in aqueous solutions. In addition, Congo red (CR) adsorption as a function of initial dye concentration and contact time was investigated. For CR dye solutions with concentrations of 5, 10, and 20 mg/L, respectively, the highest removal percentage was determined to be ~99.9%, 85%, and 77%. According to the kinetics investigation, the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models effectively handle CR adsorption onto CNTs/spiral nails. The increase in the dye concentration from 5 ppm to 20 ppm causes the rate constant to drop from 0.053 to 0.040 min-1. Therefore, our sample can be employed for both the effective degradation of CR dye from wastewater and the detection of heavy metals.

Electro-oxidation of amino-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes

We report the electrochemistry of amino-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-NH2) in the pH range from 0.3 to 6.4 using quantitative cyclic voltammetry (CV) and single entity electrochemistry measurements, making comparison with non-functionalized MWCNTs. CV showed the latter to both catalyze the solvent (water) decomposition and to undergo irreversible electro-oxidation forming oxygen containing surface functionality. The MWCNTs-NH2 additionally undergo an irreversible oxidation to an extent which is dependent on the pH of the solution, reflecting the variable amount of deprotonated amino groups present as a function of pH. Nano-impact experiments conducted at the single particle level confirmed the oxidation of both types of MWCNTs, showing agreement with the CV. The pK a of the amino groups in MWCNTs was determined via both electrochemical methods giving consistent values of ca. 2.5.

Recent advances in carbon nanotubes-based biocatalysts and their applications

Enzymes have been incorporated into a wide variety of fields and industries as they catalyze many biochemical and chemical reactions. The immobilization of enzymes on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for generating nano biocatalysts with high stability and reusability is gaining great attention among researchers. Functionalized CNTs act as excellent support for effective enzyme immobilization. Depending on the application, the enzymes can be tailored using the various surface functionalization techniques on the CNTs to extricate the desirable characteristics. Aiming at the preparation of efficient, stable, and recyclable nanobiocatalysts, this review provides an overview of the methods developed to immobilize the various enzymes. Various applications of carbon nanotube-based biocatalysts in water purification, bioremediation, biosensors, and biofuel cells have been comprehensively reviewed.

Mixed Dimensional Nanostructure (UiO-66-Decorated MWCNT) as a Nanofiller in Mixed-Matrix Membranes for Enhanced CO2 /CH4 Separation

Mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) with combination of two distinct dimensional nanofillers (such as 1D-3D, 2D-3D, or 3D-3D, etc.) have drawn special attention for gas separation applications due to their concerted effects on gas permeation and mechanical properties. An amine-functionalized 1D multiwalled carbon nanotube (NH₂ -MWCNT) with exceptional mechanical strength and rapid gas transport was crosslinked with an amine-functionalized 3D metal-organic framework (UiO-66-NH₂ ) with high CO₂ affinity in a Schiff base reaction. The resultant crosslinked mixed-dimensional nanostructure was used as a nanofiller in a polysulfone (PSf) polymer matrix to explore the underlying synergy between 1D and 3D nanostructures on the gas separation performance of MMMs. Cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy and mapping revealed the homogenous dispersion of UiO-66@MWCNT in the polymer matrix. The MMM containing 5.0 wt. % UiO-66@MWCNT demonstrated a superior permeability 8.3 Barrer as compared to the 4.2 Barrer of pure PSf membrane for CO₂ . Moreover, the selectivity (CO₂ /CH₄ ) of this MMM was enhanced to 39.5 from the 28.0 observed for pure PSf under similar conditions of pressure and temperature.

Highly Sensitive and Selective In-Situ SERS Detection of Pb(2+), Hg(2+), and Cd(2+) Using Nanoporous Membrane Functionalized with CNTs

Porous Anodic Alumina (PAA) membrane was functionalized with CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles and used as a substrate for the growing of very long helical-structured Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) with a diameter less than 20 nm. The structures and morphologies of the fabricated nanostructures were characterized by field emission- scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and Raman spectroscopy. By uploading the CNTs on PAA, the characteristic Raman peaks of CNTs and PAA showed 4 and 3 times enhancement, respectively, which leads to more sensitive Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) substrates. For comparison, PAA and CNTs/PAA arrays were used as SERS substrates for the detection of Hg²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Pb²⁺. The proposed sensor demonstrated high sensitivity and selectivity between these heavy metal ions. CNTs/PAA sensor showed excellent selectivity toward Pb²⁺ over other metal ions, where the enhancement factor is decreased from ~17 for Pb²⁺ to ~12 for Hg²⁺ and to ~4 for Cd²⁺. Therefore, the proposed CNTs/PAA sensor can be used as a powerful tool for the determination of heavy metal ions in aqueous solutions.

New sulfonate composite functionalized with multiwalled carbon nanotubes with cryogel solid-phase extraction sorbent for the determination of β-agonists in animal feeds

A new mixed-mode cation-exchange sulfonate composite functionalized with multiwalled carbon nanotubes with polyvinyl alcohol cryogel was fabricated and used for the first time as a solid-phase extraction sorbent for the determination of β-agonists in animal feeds. Feed samples were extracted with 0.20 M phosphoric acid and methanol (1:4, v/v) using ultrasonication, cleaned-up using the developed sorbent to which the β-agonists bound then finally eluted with 5.0% ammonia in methanol and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Various parameters that affected the extraction efficiency were optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the developed sorbent strongly interacted with β-agonists by cationic exchange and hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions, that provided a high extraction efficiency in the range of 92.8 ± 3.7-104.4 ± 2.3% over a range of 0.04-2.0 mg/kg for salbutamol and ractopamine, and 0.40-8.0 mg/kg for clenbuterol. The relative standard deviations were less than 6.0%. The developed method was successfully applied for the determination of β-agonists in various types of animal feed and effectively reduced any matrix interference.

Electrochemical sensors and biosensors based on redox polymer/carbon nanotube modified electrodes: a review

The aim of this review is to present the contributions to the development of electrochemical sensors and biosensors based on polyphenazine or polytriphenylmethane redox polymers together with carbon nanotubes (CNT) during recent years. Phenazine polymers have been widely used in analytical applications due to their inherent charge transport properties and electrocatalytic effects. At the same time, since the first report on a CNT-based sensor, their application in the electroanalytical chemistry field has demonstrated that the unique structure and properties of CNT are ideal for the design of electrochemical (bio)sensors. We describe here that the specific combination of phenazine/triphenylmethane polymers with CNT leads to an improved performance of the resulting sensing devices, because of their complementary electrical, electrochemical and mechanical properties, and also due to synergistic effects. The preparation of polymer/CNT modified electrodes will be presented together with their electrochemical and surface characterization, with emphasis on the contribution of each component on the overall properties of the modified electrodes. Their importance in analytical chemistry is demonstrated by the numerous applications based on polymer/CNT-driven electrocatalytic effects, and their analytical performance as (bio) sensors is discussed.

Reversible magnetic mercury extraction from water

Magnetic carbon-coated cobalt nanoparticles functionalized with polyethyleneimine proved to be highly effective and selective for the detoxification of mercury ions from aqueous solutions.