FeCl3 Aqueous Solution Research Articles

Titania-zeolite composite for tetracycline photocatalytic degradation under visible light: A comparison between doping and ion exchange

In this study, TiO2 supported over embryonic Beta zeolite (BEA) was prepared for the photocatalytic degradation of Tetracycline (TC) antibiotic under visible light. The immobilization of sol-gel TiO2 over the zeolite increased its surface area from 33 (m2/g) to 226 (m2/g) and enhanced its adsorption efficiency from 8 % to 18 %. In order to expand the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 towards the visible light region (i.e. λ > 380 nm), two different metal sensitization techniques with Iron ions from aqueous solution of FeCl3 were explored. In the ion-exchange method, the substitutional cations within the TiO2/BEA structure were exchanged with Fe3+. Whereas, in the doping technique, solgel TiO2 was doped with Fe3+ during its synthesis and before its immobilization over Zeolite. Four different samples with 20, 40, 60, and 100 % w/w of TiO2/BEA ratio were prepared. After testing the various ion-exchanged photocatalysts under blue and white lights, only Fe–60%TiO2/BEA showed better activity compared to pure TiO2 under white light at TC initial concentration, Co = 20 ppm. For the doped immobilized Titania with 60 wt% TiO2/BEA, three different doped photocatalysts were prepared with 3 %, 7 %, and 10 % per mole Fe/TiO2. All the Fe-doped TiO2/BEA photocatalysts showed better activity compared to pure TiO2 under white light. Under solar irradiations, the 3 % Fe-doped TiO2/BEA was able to degrade all TC within 120 min, while Fe–60%TiO2/BEA needed 200 min, and TiO2 needed more than 300 min. This enhanced performance was a result of both increased surface area due to immobilization over BEA as well as iron doping by Fe3+ that simultaneously increased the visible light absorption of TiO2 and minimized the charge carrier recombination effect.

Kinetic analysis of CO2 hydrate formation in the aqueous solutions of transition metal chlorides

AbstractCO2 hydrate technology can be applied to seawater desalination. However, the kinetics of CO2 hydrate formation were inhibited in the aqueous solution with inorganic salts, and the kinetic mechanism of CO2 hydrate formation for inorganic salts with different metal cations and anions was still unclear. In this work, CO2 hydrate nucleation and growth were studied in aqueous solutions of metal chlorides. Instead of Na+ and K+ ions, CO2 hydrate nucleation was promoted in the presence of Ni2+, Mn2+, Zn2+ and Fe3+ ions due to the co‐ordination bonds between transition metal ions and water molecules to enhance the formation of the critical crystal nuclei. The induction time was increased by 61.1% in aqueous solution with 0.32 mol/L NaCl, while it was shortened by 55.6% in FeCl3 aqueous solution at the same concentration of Cl− anions. In the process of CO2 hydrate growth, Cl− ions played a more important role than the metal ions in affecting the stability of CO2 hydrate cages. The gas storage capacity was reduced by 10.3% in the presence of NaCl, and was lower than that of other metal chlorides. Cl− anions were absorbed on the hydrate surface and involved in hydrate cages to inhibit the hydrate growth due to the hydrogen bonds between the Cl− ions and water molecules of the hydrate cages. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Analysis of photocatalytic degradation of polyamide microplastics in metal salt solution by high resolution mass spectrometry

Microplastic pollution has become one of the most concerned focuses in the world. Among many treatment methods, photocatalysis is considered to be one of the most environmentally friendly methods. In this work, the photodegradation behavior of polyamide microplastics is studied by using polyamide 6 PA6) as model microplastics and FeCl3 as catalyst. It is hoped that the PA6 fiber can be effectively degraded by utilizing the strong oxidizing active species that can be produced after FeCl3 is irradiated in water. The results shows that PA6 fiber can be almost completely degraded after 10 days of irradiation in FeCl3 aqueous solution, indicating that it is promising to use this new method to solve the problem of PA6 type microplastics. In addition, the chain scission mechanism and degradation process of PA6 are analyzed in detail by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS), which provides a new insight for the study of polymer degradation mechanism.

Effect of salt addition on cellulose conversion into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in metal chloride aqueous solution

Metal chloride aqueous solution is an effective method to promote the conversion of cellulose into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). In this work, the influences of sodium chloride (NaCl) and lithium chloride (LiCl) on the conversion of cellulose into HMF in ferric chloride (FeCl3) aqueous solution were investigated. The conversion of glucose and fructose in FeCl3–NaCl and FeCl3–LiCl aqueous solutions were studied, and the interaction between active species and cellobiose was characterized by UV spectrum and electrospray ion mass spectrometry to explore salt addition on the reaction of cellulose conversion and the active specie. Results showed that the yield of HMF converted from cellulose in FeCl3 aqueous solution was low, while the yield of HMF was significantly increased when NaCl or LiCl added to the system. In FeCl3–NaCl aqueous solutions, the yield of HMF reach a maximum of 40.0% at a concentration of 0.02 M FeCl3, and hydrolysis of cellulose was the key step in the conversion of cellulose; In FeCl3–LiCl aqueous solutions, the yield of HMF reach a maximum of 36.7% at a concentration of 0.06 M FeCl3, and isomerization of glucose was the controlling step. The characterization results illustrated that the addition of NaCl or LiCl changed the active species in FeCl3 aqueous solutions, and [Fe(OH)2]+ and [FeCl2(OH) + Li]+ were the active species in FeCl3–NaCl and FeCl3–LiCl aqueous solution for cellulose conversion, respectively.

Enhancing solar energy harvest by Cu2S/CuCl heteroarrays with enriched sulfur vacancies for photo-rechargeable pseudocapacitors

The use of broadband light energy is important for enhancing photoenergy conversion. However, bifunctional materials that can efficiently harvest solar energy to assist electrochemical energy storage are difficult to prepare. Herein, copper foam (CF)-supported cuprous sulfide (Cu2S) heteroarrays (CS HAs) with enriched sulfur (S) vacancies (VS) were designed for photo-rechargeable pseudocapacitors. A direct hydrothermal sulfurization of CF first resulted in the growth of CS HAs with leaf-like heterostructures. Subsequent partial oxidation of S2− in FeCl3 aqueous solution enriched the VS within the leaf-like structures. In addition, CuCl and Cu2O were formed from Cu2S during FeCl3 treatment to derive a bifunctional photoelectrode with ternary components, thus further broadening the light absorption region. Thus, the optimal CS HAs have demonstrated areal capacitances of 1440−1048 mF cm−2 with the assistance of the photoelectric/thermal effects of light energy, delivering remarkable photoenhancements of 25%–35%. The asymmetrical pseudocapacitors fabricated from the optimal photoelectrodes delivered a high areal capacitance of 670 mF cm−2 after 6000 cycles, suggesting a promising application in transparent light-driven energy devices.

Fluoride ion adsorption isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamics on iron(III) oxyhydroxide powders containing cellulose nanofibrils

The adsorption isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamics of fluoride ions (F−) on FeOOH powders in water were investigated to obtain fundamental information on FeOOH powders, which are used as F− adsorbents in drinking and industrial water, and industrial wastewater. FeOOH powders were prepared as precipitates by mixing aqueous FeCl3 and NaOH solutions (1:3 mol/mol) in the presence of 2,2,6,6,-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical (TEMPO)-oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (TOCNs), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), or TEMPO-oxidized cellulose (TOC) fibers (without nanofibrillation), and subsequent drying and pulverizing. The FeOOH:TOCN, FeOOH:CMC, and FeOOH:TOC dry mass ratios were controlled at 87:13. The amount of F− adsorbed by the FeOOH/TOCN powder per FeOOH mass was higher than those adsorbed by FeOOH, FeOOH/CMC, or FeOOH/TOC. The F− adsorption isotherms on the FeOOH-containing powders showed higher correlation coefficients with the Langmuir model than with the Freundlich model. This indicates that F− adsorbed on FeOOH initially formed a monolayer, predominantly via physical adsorption. Pseudo-second-order kinetics fitted well to the time-dependent F− adsorption behaviors on the FeOOH-containing powders. Thermodynamic analysis of F− adsorption on the FeOOH-containing powders showed that the ΔG values were negative, which indicates that F− adsorption on the FeOOH-containing powders proceeded spontaneously in water. The negative ΔG value for FeOOH/TOCN was higher than those for FeOOH, FeOOH/CMC, and FeOOH/TOC at the same temperature. This shows that the FeOOH/TOCN powder can be used as an excellent and efficient F− adsorbent in water.Graphical abstract

Стресс-тесты антраценпроизводных растительного происхождения

Objective: to study the stability of solutions of standard samples of sennoside B and glucofrangulin A by stress tests using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Materials and methods. The objects of the study were solutions of standard samples of sennoside B, as well as glucofrangulin A. Stress agents were 0.5M aqueous solution of copper (II) chloride (CuCl2), 0.5M aqueous solution of iron (III) chloride (FeCl3), 0.1M aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid (HCl), as well as 0.1M aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and a solution of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) 3%. The study was carried out using an Agilent 1100 liquid chromatograph. For this purpose, a Zorbax SB-C18 reverse-phase column (4.6×250 mm, 5 µm) was used. Elution of the mobile phase (acetonitrile and highly purified water, which was adjusted to pH 2 with phosphoric acid) was carried out in a gradient mode. Detection was carried out at wavelengths of 360 nm and 435 nm. Results. It was found that a solution of a standard sample of glucofrangulin A is stable for 14 days under the influence of 0.1M aqueous solution of HCl and 0.1M aqueous solution of NaOH, as well as 0.5M aqueous solution of FeCl3 and 3% H2O2 solution. When a solution of a standard sample of glucofrangulin A interacts with a 0.5M aqueous solution of CuCl2, its destruction is observed. When a standard sample of sennoside B reacts with a 3% H2O2 solution and a 0.5M aqueous CuCl2 solution, it remains stable. When interacting with other stress agents, its destruction occurs. Conclusion. The results obtained on the stability of solutions of standard samples of anthracene derivatives determine the main physico-chemical factors that cause their destruction, which can be taken into account when validating analytical methods, justifying the conditions of storage, packaging and processing of medicinal plant materials that contain anthracene derivatives.

Regeneration of As(V) loaded granular activated carbon through desorption in FeCl3, CaCl2 and MgCl2 aqueous solutions

As(V) adsorption on granular activated carbon (GAC) and subsequent desorption in dH2O was modeled using the pseudo-first and pseudo-second order kinetic models. Regeneration was achieved by immersing loaded GAC in NaCl, FeCl3, CaCl2 and MgCl2 aqueous solutions. As(V) detection after desorption was highest for NaCl but subsequent adsorption was lowest. Regeneration was highest in FeCl3 solution of pH 2 followed closely by pH 3, but As(V) precipitation appeared superior at pH 3. Molar ratios of Fe, Ca and Mg to As were tested in the range of 0.75:1 to 12:1 where a logarithmic relation was found between the molar ratio and As(V) desorption as diluted in HNO3 and H2O and subsequent adsorption. Precipitation was nearly complete in FeCl3, limited in MgCl2 at a ratio of 12:1 and not observed in CaCl2. While kinetic values were lower than in previous tests, the pseudo-first and pseudo-second order models could accurately describe desorption in CaCl2 and MgCl2 but not in FeCl3 due to precipitation. Desorption in FeCl3 was most effective in precipitating As(V), being highest at a molar ratio of 6:1, but regeneration was slightly higher at a molar ratio of 12:1.

Gel-based nanocomposite using persulfate-activated bread crumbs for fulvic acid release and Pb(II) removal

Breadmaking industry is one of the world’s largest food industries, and hundreds of tons of bread are wasted worldwide every year. In this study, a gel nanocomposite fulvic acid-based bread crumb (GN/FABC) was fabricated using persulfate-activated bread crumbs to release fulvic acid (FA) and remove bivalent lead (Pb(II)). Bread crumbs were treated with K2S2O8 under alkaline conditions to produce FABC. Subsequently, the FABC, biochar, and Fe3O4 were mixed with sodium alginate (SA) aqueous to form a homogeneous solution, and the mixed solution was then added dropwise to the FeCl3 aqueous solution to create GN/FABC. Therein, SA could be cross-linked with FeCl3 to form a gel sphere. After 2 h, the FA content in the FABC reached 50 mg/g, and the maximum temperature reached 80 °C during the activation of the bread crumbs. Additionally, the equilibrium quantity of FA released from GN/FABC reached 42 mg/g after being in water for 24 h. Meanwhile, the removal efficiency of GN/FABC in water for Pb(II) could be 75% after 36 h. Furthermore, the release mechanism of FA from GN/FABC was consistent with the Ritger-Peppas law and the removal kinetics of Pb(II) followed the pseudo second-order model. Notably, a pot experiment revealed that GN/FABC could inhibit the bioavailability of Pb(II). Thus, this study provided a new method for dealing with bread waste and achieving efficient resource utilization.

TFC organic solvent nanofiltration membrane fabricated by a novel HDPE membrane support covered by manganese dioxide /tannic acid-Fe3+layers

BackgroundIt is of great importance to select an ultrafiltration (UF) support with outstanding solvent stability to fabricate thin film composite (TFC) organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) membranes. MethodsHigh density polyethylene (HDPE)-polystyrene (PS)-styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) blends were prepared through the incorporation of different SEBS weight percentages. Next, HDPE membranes were made via extracting the dispersed phase from the HDPE/PS/SEBS blends using THF. Then, the membrane with the optimum properties was selected as the support for preparing the TFC membranes. Accordingly, the support was first contacted with KMnO4 solution, by which MnO2 nanoparticles (NPs) were generated on the support surface. The membrane surface was then contacted with tannic acid (TA) and FeCl3 aqueous solutions consecutively to form a uniform TA-Fe3+ layer. Eventually, the PA layer was formed on the membrane surface through contacting with m-phenylenediamine aqueous solution and trimesoyl chloride/n-hexane solution consecutively. Significant FindingsThe TFC membrane exhibited extraordinary dyes rejection and good methanol permeance in OSN applications. Moreover, DMF activation process was conducted on the TFC membrane, after which both the dye rejection performance and methanol permeance were enhanced. Moreover, it is worth pointing out that the membrane provided an excellent solvent stability after dipping in DMF after 100 days.

Rationally engineered BiVO4 micro-leaves as a bifunctional photocatalyst for highly durable solar water treatment and water splitting

Recently, the use of monoclinic bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) as a visible light active catalyst has continued to increase, thus minimizing major issues such as fast recombination, poor carrier mobility, and sluggish oxidation kinetics has become an increasingly crucial issue. Accordingly, we report the fabrication of phase-engineered BiVO4 micro-leaves via the facile hydrothermal route and their utilization in solar-light-driven azo dye degradation and water splitting. Notably, low-temperature calcined BiVO4 micro-leaves exhibited a monoclinic–tetragonal isotype heterostructure crystal system with highly active (110) oxidative facets that significantly improved redox chemistry, whereas exposed (040) facets facilitated charge transport from monoclinic to tetragonal crystallites. Rationally phase-engineered and (110)/(040)-oriented BiVO4 micro-leaves (mt-BiVO4) presented efficient visible-light-assisted dye-degradation efficiencies (~94%) for water treatment with high durability. Moreover, the fabricated samples displayed dominant photochemical oxygen evolution rates of 1509.62 and 1214.04 μmol h–1 g–1 in an aqueous solution of FeCl3 and AgNO3, respectively. Our results suggest that synergistic effects of exposed reactive facets, dual-phase, and morphology engineering boosted the photocatalytic activity in BiVO4 and provided a promising approach for the development of a bifunctional photocatalyst in water treatment and water-splitting devices.

Effect of iron chlorine concentration on type of green synthezed iron oxides nanoparticles using pheonixdactylifera l leaves extract

Iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by green synthesis process, using Pheonix Dactylifera. L. leaves ethanolic extractas polyphynols source and FeCl3 aqueous solution as precursor, where the volume ration was 1:2. The concentration of FeCl3 was varied as follow: (0.01, 0.02, 0.03 and 0.04M). To charactrizethe obtained iron oxide NPs, XRD, SEM, UV-VIS and FTIR techniques were used. XRD analyses show the existence of three essentials compounds of iron oxide NPs: maghemite phase, hematite phase and beta phase. While the grain size of these compoundswas varied in the ranges of 22.91-37.40nm, 20.41-31.32nm and 17.96-25.25nm respectively. SEM images analysis showed that all samples have spherical shaped particles. UV-VIS analysis showed that the variation of FeCl3 concentration hasdirecteffect on theband gap of the product which rangeedin the range 2.162-2.358eV, whereas FTIR study confirms the abundance of Fe-O bonds in all samples.

Fe2O3/Chitosan coated superparamagnetic nanoparticles supporting lipase enzyme from Candida Antarctica for microwave assisted biodiesel production

Biocatalysis has emerged as a green technology in chemical based catalysis. Immobilization of enzymes onto magnetized nanomaterials enhances downstream processing as it eases their separation from reaction mixture. Synthesis of the nanoparticles was performed in an aqueous solution of FeCl3.6H2O as precursor and NH3 as nucleating agent under microwave irradiation. The maghemite complex was cross-linked with glutaraldehyde to provide conducive environment for enzyme immobilization. Stability of produced immobilized lipases against different conditions were evaluated such as working temperatures from 27 °C to 85 °C and retained more than 64% of its activity at 85 °C. The immobilized lipase complex was able to withstand a wide range of acidic to alkaline environment from pH 5.5 to pH 9.5. The enzyme retains more than 59% of its activity after 14 days of storage and can be recycled for more than 7 cycles with remaining high activity at 93.7%. Developed enzyme was then subjected to microwave irradiation for transesterification of palm oil to produce biodiesel. Highest biodiesel recovery achieved from microwave assisted immobilized lipase catalysed transesterification of palm oil was 70.2%. The physical properties of produced biodiesel was evaluated and fulfilled the ASTM general requirement for fuels.

Effect of surface doping of TiO2 powders with Fe ions on the structural, optical and photocatalytic properties of anatase and rutile

The effect of surface Fe-doping on the structural, photocatalytic, optical properties of polydisperse anatase and rutile TiO2 has been comprehensively studied. The TiO2 surface has been modified by Fe3+ ions through the adsorption from the diluted FeCl3 aqueous solutions. The prepared powders were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis, temperature programmed desorption techniques (TPD), Raman and UV–vis spectroscopy. With the adsorption isotherms of Fe3+ ions from FeCl3 aqueous solutions, it was found that adsorption of Fe3+ ions on the anatase surface is twice more efficient compared to that one on the rutile. The XRD and Raman spectroscopy measurements confirmed the monophase structure of the Fe-doped TiO2 with a subtle change in the lattice parameters and O/Ti ratio compared to the undoped counterparts. The red shift of the UV absorption edge has been registered for the Fe-doped anatase resulting in a significant decrease of its bandgap from 3.2 to 2.7 eV. The photocatalytic destruction of organic dye Safranin T over the prepared Fe-doped TiO2 under UV irradiation has been investigated. The influence of various energetically nonequivalent active sites on the surfaces of anatase and rutile on their photoactivity is considered.

Ru-substitution effect on the FeSe2 thin films properties

In the aim of improving the FeSe2 thin films properties (structural, optical, and electrical), the ruthenium was incorporated into their composition by the spray pyrolysis technique. Indeed, an aqueous solution of FeCl3.6H2O (0.03 M) was sprayed on pre-heated glass substrates (at 350 °C) for 4 min, on which immediately, another aqueous solution of RuCl3.3H2O with different molar ratios such as [RuCl3.3H2O][FeCl3.6H2O] = 0.01, 0.0156, 0.10, and 0.25, was sprayed for 1 min. The as obtained amorphous films are heated under selenium atmosphere (~10−4 Pa) in sealed tubes at different temperatures (400 °C, 450 °C, 500 °C, and 550 °C) for 3 h into RTP oven and submitted to X-ray diffraction analysis. Iron oxide phases are identified for 400 °C and 450 °C. At 500 °C and 550 °C the PXRD patterns present the FeSe2 phase. For the samples alloyed with the molar ratios of 0.01 and 0.0156 and annealed under selenium atmosphere at 550 °C, the optical measurements showed a high absorption coefficient (α > 4 × 104 cm−1 for wave lengths lower than 800 nanometer) and an amelioration of the corresponding direct band gap value from 1.03 eV (for 0% of ruthenium) to, respectively, 1.50 eV and 1.64 eV, desired values for photovoltaic application. Electrical properties are determined using the Hall Effect measurements. All the obtained Ru-alloyed films showed N-type conductivity. The bulk concentration reached a value about 1020 cm−3 and the sheet concentration reached a value about 1015 cm−2. For the different percentages of ruthenium and at the different annealing temperatures, the conductivity of the as obtained films is the range of 0.057278–89.699 Ω−1 cm−1. The resistivity varies from 0.011148 (Ω cm) to 17.459 (Ω cm). The measured values of the mobility vary from 0.076098 (cm2/(V s)) to 11.71 (cm2/(V s)). The noted improvement of the FeSe2 thin films optical and electrical behaviors, confirms that ruthenium is one of the best candidates for alloying potential photovoltaic materials. Furthermore, all the obtained Ru-alloyed FeSe2 films are able to be used for several applications, especially in the photovoltaic domain.

Arthrospira platensis (Cyanobacteria) – a potential biofactory for fluoromagnetic nanoiron production

ABSTRACT Bioconversion of Fe3+ to Fe0 followed by spindle shaped magneto-fluorescent nanoiron production has been investigated using Arthrospira platensis as a potential bio-reagent. The characteristic features, e.g. in situ localisation, magnetic and fluorescent properties of synthesised nanoparticles, were explored. Bioconversion occurred when healthy growing biomass of Arthrospira platensis was exposed to 0.01 M aqueous solution of FeCl3 for 96 h at 25 °C with pH5.2. Spindle-shaped nanoiron was synthesised both inside and outside the cells. The average dry and hydrodynamic sizes for intracellular particles were 24.26 ± 3.40 nm × 5.45 ± 1.66 nm and 175.9 nm, respectively; whereas size variation for extracellular particles was 23.62 ± 3.49 nm × 8.41 ± 4.33 nm and 40.02 nm, respectively, as observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis, respectively. Further characterisations were conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-Ray diffraction analysis (XRD). Nonspherical nanoiron particles generated multiple absorption bands at approximately 230, 350, and 480 nm in the UV-Vis spectra. Fluorescence of nanoiron was detected using confocal microscopy both inside and outside cells employing a blue filter (λex–425 nm, λem–475 nm). The magneto-fluorescent nature of synthesised nanoiron was estimated using fluorimetric analysis and dynamic light scattering study using a 0.5-tesla static magnetic field (SMF) at 4 °C. The investigation showed that the static magnetic field induced non-invasive clustering effect of nanoiron directly influence fluorescence intensity and its lifetime. The presence of superparamagnetism was detected in iron nanoparticles using a superconducting quantum interference device-vibrating sample magnetometer (SQUID-VSM).

Vapor deposition synthesis of polypyrrole nanoparticles with a tunable photothermal conversion capacity

In recent years, nanomaterials have aroused people's interest in the field of biomedicine. Polypyrrole (PPy) has become a research hotspot because of its simple synthesis, excellent photothermal conversion performance, and high biocompatibility. Here, we report the synthesis of PPy nanoparticles (PPy-PVP NPs) using a vapor deposition method, for tumor photothermal therapy. In this method, the slowly produced volatile pyrrole vapor was absorbed by the PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone)/FeCl3 aqueous solution. This slow vapor production and absorption allows the formation of uniform PPy-PVP NPs at room temperature. Then, the effects of the molecular weight of PVP on the photothermal property and anti-tumor efficiency of PPy-PVP NPs were compared. It was found that the selection of PVP40kDa as the template and surface linker can ensure a better application performance of the synthesized nanomaterials. This work provides a theoretical basis for the rational design of nano-therapy carriers and biomedical applications.

Hydrothermal Synthesis of FeOOH and Fe2O3 Modified Self-Organizing Immobilized TiO2 Nanotubes for Photocatalytic Degradation of 1H-Benzotriazole

In this study, titanium dioxide nanotubes were prepared by electrochemical anodization technique and modified with an aqueous solution of FeCl3 using hydrothermal synthesis method to control the amount and distribution of iron compounds on the anatase TiO2 nanotubes. The objective was to synthesize immobilized FeOOH@TiO2 or Fe2O3@TiO2 photocatalysts designed for the flow-through reactor systems; to investigate thermal treatment effect on the photocatalytic efficiency; to determine appropriate Fe-compounds concentration for the maximum photocatalytic activity improvement, and to explain the mechanism responsible for the enhancement. The photocatalysts were tested for the degradation of 1H-benzotriazole in water under UV/solar light irradiation. Up to two times increase in the photocatalytic activity was obtained when TiO2 nanotubes were modified with 0.8 mM Fe. At higher Fe concentrations (8 mM and 80 mM), the photocatalytic activity of the given photocatalysts decreased. To confirm the formation of FeOOH or Fe2O3 species, and to clarify the mechanism of photoactivity, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy (RS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and UV-Vis spectroscopy were used.

Green Synthesis and Characterization of Magnetic Antibiotic Delivery System Using Linden Extract

Green chemistry enables iron oxide nanoparticle production with easy, cost-effective and environmentally friendly way. Amoxicillin is used in the treatment of various bacterial infections, however antibiotic resistance is a major problem for treatment. Iron oxide nanoparticles are promising alternatives for overcoming these problems and magnetically targeted antibiotic delivery. In this work, it was aimed to synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles with green chemistry method utilizing the linden plant, and loading of amoxicillin to these magnetic nanoparticles to be targeted antibiotic delivery system. Iron oxide nanoparticles were prepared using aqueous linden extract and FeCl3 solution. These nanostructures were characterized with FTIR, SEM, and zetasizer. Amoxicillin solutions at varying concentrations were incubated with magnetic nanoparticles for drug adsorption and in vitro drug release from nanoparticles at pH 7.4 was studied. It was found that nanoparticles had spherical morphology (70-88 nm), iron oxide structure and were capped with polyphenols. Optimum amoxicillin amount in magnetic nanoparticles was determined as 100.17 μg drug/ mg nanoparticle. Drug release was faster in the first hours and proceeded in controlled manner. It can be suggested that amoxicillin loaded iron oxide nanoparticles could have potential of magnetically targeted therapy of bacterial infectious disease with low cost and ecofriendly production.

Natural urushiol as a novel under-water adhesive

The curing and adhesion of natural urushiol, a catechol derivative, in water were studied; this work was inspired by the adhesive role of the catechol functional group, found in blue mussels, in water. We confirmed the curing reaction of urushiol in water in the presence of Fe3+ and showed the possibility of utilizing this material as an under-water adhesive. Urushiol becomes the cross-linked network urushi via the formation of chemical and Fe3+-coordination bonds, which were confirmed by FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy. The effect of the coordination bond between the catechol group in urushiol and Fe3+ ion was investigated by mechanical strength measurements. The adhesion strength of urushi formed in an FeCl3 aqueous solution depends on the pH and the thickness; an adhesion strength of 1.4 kgfcm−2 was found at a thickness of 100 μm at acidic condition, revealing a high potential for the applicability of natural urushiol adhesive that has environmental sustainability.