Highly Sensitive and Selective Recognition of Zn2⁺ and Fe2⁺ Ions Using a Novel Thiophene-Derived Hydrazone Dual Fluorometric Sensor

The selective detection of Zn2⁺ and Fe2⁺ ions is critical in environmental and biological studies. Schiff base chemosensors hold promise, but exploration of thiophene-derived variants remains limited. This work introduces a novel thiophene-derived Schiff base sensor (TBH), synthesized through the condensation reaction of thiophene-2-carboxaldehyde with benzil-bis-hydrazone, for the selective detection of Zn2⁺ and Fe2⁺ ions. TBH exhibits remarkable selectivity, with a significant 185-fold fluorescence enhancement for Zn2⁺ and complete quenching 99% for Fe2⁺, allowing for distinct detection of both ions. Notably, TBH demonstrates high binding affinity towards Zn2⁺ and Fe2⁺, even in the presence of competing cations, forming stable 1:1 complexes. This finding is supported by absorption and emission titration studies and FT-IR analysis as well. This easily synthesized, rapid and cost-effective sensor offers a promising approach for sensitive and differentiated dual detection of Zn2⁺ and Fe2⁺ in environmental and biological systems.

Adsorptive removal of trace thallium(I) from wastewater: A review and new perspectives

Thallium is an emerging pollutant reported in wastewater along with the increasing mining and smelting of thallium-containing ores in recent years. The complete removal of Tl(I) from wastewater is of significant emergency due to its high toxicity and mobility, however, Tl(I) removal is always confronted with numerous technical difficulties because of the extremely low Tl(I) concentration in wastewater and the disturbances of many accompanying impurity ions. Adsorption is currently the most widely used method for Tl(I) removal on industrial scale and varied kinds of adsorbents such as Prussian blue analogues, biosorbents, and metal oxides have been developed. However, the adsorption process of Tl(I) is always affected by the co-existing cations, resulting in low Tl(I) removal efficiency. Recently, the development of a variety of novel adsorbents or ion sensors based on macrocyclic compounds for enrichment and accurate determination of trace Tl(I) in aqueous solutions exhibits great potential for application in Tl(I) removal from wastewater with high selectivity and process efficiency. This paper provides an overview of the adsorption methods for Tl(I) removal from wastewater with emphasis on complexation properties between varied types of adsorbents and Tl(I). Future directions of research and development of adsorptive Tl(I) removal from industrial wastewater are proposed.

Extraction of Pd(ii) and Pt(ii) from aqueous hydrochloric acid with 1,3-diaminocalix[4]arene: switching of the extraction selectivity by using different extraction modes

1,3-Diaminocalix[4]arene shows extraction ability toward Pd(ii) and Pt(ii), the selectivity of which can be switched by changing the concentrations of H⁺ and Cl⁻ in the aqueous phase.

Pillararenes as macrocyclic hosts: a rising star in metal ion separation

Pillararenes are macrocyclic oligomers of alkoxybenzene akin to calixarenes but tethered at the 2,5-positions via methylene bridges. Benefiting from their unique pillar-shaped architecture favorable for diverse functionalization and versatile host-guest properties, pillararenes decorated with chelating groups worked excellently as supporting platforms to construct extractants or adsorbents for metal ion separation. This feature article provides a detailed summary of pillararenes in Ln/An separation by liquid-liquid extraction and heavy metal separation by solid-liquid extraction. The preorganization effect of the rigid pillararene framework has a profound impact on the extraction of metal ions, and a unique extraction mechanism is observed when employing ionic liquids as solvents. The rich host-guest chemistry of pillararenes enables construction of a wide variety of supramolecular materials as metal ion adsorbents. We also discuss the differences between pillararenes and several well-known macrocycles, with a focus on the metal-ligand coordination and its influencing factors. We hope this review will provide useful information and unleash new opportunities in this field.

Rapid and selective recovery of palladium from platinum group metals and base metals using a thioamide-modified calix[4]arene extractant in environmentally friendly hydrocarbon fluids

A novel macrocyclic calix[4]arene extractant having a long alkyl chain thioamide, 25,26,27,28-tetrakis(N-n-octylthiocarbamoyl)methoxy-5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-butylcalix[4]arene (1), was synthesized from 25,26,27,28-tetrakis(N-n-octylcarbamoyl)methoxy-5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-butylcalix[4]arene (2) using Lawesson's reagent. Extractant 1 was characterized using ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, FT-IR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. The Pd(II) extraction abilities of 1 and 2 were studied in high-boiling-point and environmentally friendly hydrocarbon diluents. Pd(II) extraction experiments were conducted using single-metal Pd(II) solutions, simulated mixed palladium group metal (PGM) solutions, and acid-leached automotive catalyst residue solutions. Different experimental conditions, including the shaking time, HCl/HNO₃ concentration, Pd(II) concentration, extractant concentration, and the organic/aqueous phase ratio, were studied systematically. Extractant 1 showed very selective (> 99.9%) Pd(II) extraction from the mixed PGM/base metal solutions and the acid-leached automotive catalyst residue solution. Conversely, the Pd(II) extraction ability of extractant 2 was found to be negligible. Extractant 1 showed very fast extraction kinetics and a high extraction capacity as compared to those of the commercial extractant di-n-octyl sulfide. Effective stripping of Pd(II) from 1 was performed using HCI, HNO₃, NH₃, and HCl-thiourea solutions. Furthermore, 1 was successfully recycled over five extraction/stripping cycles. The Pd(II) extraction mechanism of 1 was studied using FT-IR spectroscopy. Extractant 1 exhibited very selective Pd(II) extraction and high acid stability, demonstrating its industrial applicability for the extraction of Pd(II) from leached automotive catalyst liquors containing PGMs and base metals.

Selective extraction of Pd(ii) by p-tert-butylcalix[4]arenedicarboxylic acid

p-tert-Butylcalix[4]arenedicarboxylic acid, in which two distal hydroxy groups of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene are replaced with carboxy groups, shows extraction selectivity toward Pd²⁺ ions by the formation of a 2 : 2 (M/L) complex.

Synergism as a phenomenon in solvent extraction of 4f-elements with calixarenes

The objective of the review is to provide an overview on the synergistic solvent extraction of lanthanoids: β-diketone/calixarene mixtures.

Synthetic approaches to mixed ligand chelators on t-butylphenol-formaldehyde oligomer (PFO) platforms

Synthetic approaches to mixed ligand chelators on readily available t-butylphenol-formaldehyde oligomer, PFO, scaffolds were examined. In a promising approach, tris and tetraphenol oligomers were selectively mono or di protected using t-butyldiphenyl silyl chloride. The utility of these protected intermediates to prepare representative mixed PFO chelators, carrying ligands such as hydroxamic acid, 3,2-hydroxypyridinones and others was then demonstrated. The introduction of the ligand tethers onto the phenolic scaffold can be done sequentially under relatively mild conditions that tolerate the presence of other sensitive ligand groups. The differential reactivity of the disilyl derivative 20b, allowed stepwise introduction of two different ligands on the internal phenolic positions. This enabled the introduction of three different ligand groups of choice onto the tetra phenol platform.