Brunner-Emmet-Teller Research Articles

Cross-linked bionanocomposites of hydrolyzed guar gum/magnetic layered double hydroxide as an effective sorbent for methylene blue removal

Guar gum (GG), a type of functional biomass, is one of the low-cost sources of galactomannan. To enhance its adsorption capacity, guar gum was chemically modified by Fe3O4/Ni-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) and GG-LDH-Fe3O4 (GLF) bionanocomposites were prepared. Then, cross-linked bionanocomposites (BNC-CLs) were synthesized using N, N'-methylene bis-acrylamide and applied to adsorb methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solutions. BNCs of GG with 4%, 6%, and 8% of magnetic LDH were prepared. These BNCs were identified by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, and Bruner–Emmett–Teller (BET) specific surface area techniques. The TGA results revealed that thermal properties of BNC-CLs improved by about 35 % and 47 % in comparison with pure polymer and GLF, respectively. Then, cross-linked and non-cross-linked BNCs were used to remove MB contaminants and the results revealed that cross-linked BNCs were able to remove 84 % of the MB. Adsorption studies were performed on the cross-linked BNC 8% and the effects of various characteristics such as pH, adsorbent dosage, contact time, and initial dye concentration were studied. The adsorption procedure was thoroughly contingent upon the pH value, with the optimal pH of 9 and equilibrium time of 120 min. Studying the isothermal models showed that the data were more consistent with the Langmuir linear isotherm.

Capture effect of Pb, Zn, Cd and Cr by intercalation-exfoliation modified montmorillonite during coal combustion

Raw montmorillonite (MMT) was modified by intercalation-exfoliation method to improve the capture capacity of heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cr and Cd) during coal combustion. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy and Brunner-Emmett-Teller (BET) indicated that intercalation agents cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) could be successfully inserted into the interlayer of MMT during the intercalation step, additionally exfoliation process could peel off the MMT into fine flakes. The co-combustion of coal and MMTs was conducted in a tube furnace from 900 to 1300 °C. Results indicated that with the increase of temperature, the retention ratio of Pb, Zn and Cd gradually decreased, especially higher than 1200 °C with a great capture capacity reduction, whereas for Cr, it rose first and then decreased. The capture performance of modified MMT on Pb, Zn and Cr was obviously improved. However, for Cd, adverse effect was observed, of which the capacity was even worse than that of raw MMT in some cases. According to the mechanism analysis, the intercalation-exfoliation modification of MMT primarily enhances the chemisorption of heavy metals by exposing more active sites, which facilitates the fixation of heavy metals in the form of aluminosilicates.

Preparation of composite sludge carbon-based materials by LDHs conditioning and carbonization and its application in the simultaneous removal of dissolved organic matter and phosphate in sewage

In this work, a novel carbon-based hydrotalcite-like compounds materials (LDO-SBCs) were prepared by coupling layered double hydroxides (LDHs) conditioning and pyrolytic carbonization, and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Brunner-Emmet-Teller (BET) measurements. The synthesized LDO-SBCs composites were used in wastewater treatment for simultaneous removal of phosphate and dissolved organic matter (DOM). The adsorption of DOM and phosphate were well conformed to pseudo-second-order mode. Adsorption equilibrium was better fitted by Langmuir model for phosphate, while Freundlich model for DOM. Compared with the raw sludge carbon, the removal efficiency of DOM and phosphate by LDO-SBCs were increased by 8% and 13%, respectively. Based on the fluorescence spectrum and parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC), LDO-SBCs performed well in promoting the removal of protein substances (TPN and APN). Pore filling, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic adsorption and surface complexation might be dominant in the adsorption of DOM, while, surface complexation and ion exchange between the LDO layers were mainly responsible for the adsorption of phosphate. The difference of adsorption capacity of LDO-SBCs was related to the superior channel structure of composite materials and the composition of interlayer anions of LDO.

A facile method to achieve dopamine polymerization in MOFs pore structure for efficient and selective removal of trace lead (II) ions from drinking water

Heavy metals are seriously hazardous contaminants and drinking water has been identified as an important route of human exposure to them. Herein, to efficiently and selectively remove trace heavy metal ions, a facile method was reported to achieve the slow polymerization of dopamine in the cages of MIL-100 (Fe) via ultrasonic treatment followed by the hydrolysis of the urea. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Brunner-Emmet-Teller (BET) and pore size distribution determination confirmed the formation of the polydopamine (PDA) and binding with the unsaturated Fe3+ site in MIL-100 (Fe) pores. The composite not only retained pore structure of MOFs but also contained abundant reactive functional groups. When initial lead concentration was 150 ppb and 20 ppm calcium coexisted at pH of 6.5 ± 0.25, the effluent lead concentration met the safe drinking water standard in several tens of seconds, and decreased to 1.13 ppb in 10 min. The adsorption rate reached 99.35%. The synthetic strategy effectively overcomes mass transfer resistance of trace heavy metal ions and provides a facile approach to prepare adsorption materials for efficient and selective removal of trace heavy metal ions from drinking water.

Efficient Removal of Levofloxacin by Activated Persulfate with Magnetic CuFe2O4/MMT-k10 Nanocomposite: Characterization, Response Surface Methodology, and Degradation Mechanism

In this study, a magnetic copper ferrite/montmorillonite-k10 nanocomposite (CuFe2O4/MMT-k10) was successfully fabricated by a simple sol-gel combustion method and was characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the Brunner–Emmett–Teller (BET) method, vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). For levofloxacin (LVF) degradation, CuFe2O4/MMT-k10 was utilized to activate persulfate (PS). Due to the relative high adsorption capacity of CuFe2O4/MMT-k10, the adsorption feature was considered an enhancement of LVF degradation. In addition, the response surface methodology (RSM) model was established with the parameters of pH, temperature, PS dosage, and CuFe2O4/MMT-k10 dosage as the independent variables to obtain the optimal response for LVF degradation. In cycle experiments, we identified the good stability and reusability of CuFe2O4/MMT-k10. We proposed a potential mechanism of CuFe2O4/MMT-k10 activating PS through free radical quenching tests and XPS analysis. These results reveal that CuFe2O4/MMT-k10 nanocomposite could activate the persulfate, which is an efficient technique for LVF degradation in water.

RF Thermal Plasma Synthesis of Ultrafine ZrB2-ZrC Composite Powders.

Ultrafine ZrB2-ZrC composite powders were synthesized via a radiofrequency (RF) thermal plasma process. Numerical simulation and thermodynamic analysis were conducted to predict the synthesis process, and experimental work was performed accordingly to demonstrate its feasibility. The as-prepared samples were characterized by XRD, FESEM, particle size analyzer, nitrogen/oxygen analyzer, Hall flowmeter, and the Brunner-Emmet-Teller (BET) measurements. The thermodynamic analysis indicated that ZrB2 was preferentially generated, rather than ZrC, and numerical simulation revealed that the solid raw materials could disperse well in the gaseous reactants, and experimental work showed that free carbon particles were easily removed from the products and the elements of Zr, B, C, and O exhibited a uniform distribution. Finally, ZrB2-ZrC composite powders with a particle size of about 100 nm were obtained, the surface area of which was 32.15 m2/g and the apparent density was 0.57 g/cm3.

Synergetic adsorption and Fenton-like degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride by magnetic spent bleaching earth carbon: Insights into performance and reaction mechanism

In this study, the synergetic adsorption and Fenton-like degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) by magnetic spent bleaching earth carbon (Mag-SBE@C) with H2O2 were developed and performed, with 91.5% of TCH degradation efficiency and 42.1% of TOC removal efficiency. The effects of the reaction parameters (temperature, initial pH, catalyst dosage, molar ratio of TCH to H2O2) on TCH degradation in Mag-SBE@C/H2O2 system were studied. Under the optimal conditions (temperature 41.1 °C, initial pH 4.89 and molar ratio of H2O2 to TCH 114.435) forecasted by response surface methodology (RSM), high TCH degradation efficiency (99%) was achieved. Also, four cycling tests were performed to confirm the excellent stability and regeneration ability of Mag-SBE@C in presence of H2O2. In addition, the characteristics of Mag-SBE@C after reaction are analyzed in details via scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), Brunner-Emmet-Teller (BET), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), and it was found that Fe3O4 nanoparticles on Mag-SBE@C surface acted as co-catalyst and participated in degradation and improved reaction efficiency, while its properties were not greatly changed. The quenching experiments showed that hydroxyl radicals on Mag-SBE@C surface (OHadsorption) were dominant in Mag-SBE@C/H2O2 system. Meanwhile, three possible TCH degradation pathways were given based on the possible intermediates determined by liquid chromatography quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF-MS/MS). Mag-SBE@C is an excellent heterogeneous Fenton-like catalyst, exhibiting greatly potential to antibiotics elimination.

One-pot pyrolysis route to Fe−N-Doped carbon nanosheets with outstanding electrochemical performance as cathode materials for microbial fuel cell

The naturally lackadaisical kinetics of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in the cathode is one of the important factors that restrict the development of air-cathode microbial fuel cells (MFCs). In this work, the iron-nitrogen-carbon hierarchically nanostructured materials had been successfully fabricated by pyrolyzing glucose, iron chloride, and dicyandiamide with the aim of solving the issue. The obtained catalyst with an ultrathin nanostructure demonstrated an idiosyncratic electrocatalytic activity caused by the high content introduction of nitrogen and iron atoms, large surface area, which will offer sufficient active sites for improving the charge/mass transfer and reducing the diffusion resistance. Furthermore, with the increase of N dopant in the catalyst, better ORR catalytic activity could be achieved. Illustrating the N doping was beneficial to the ORR process. The high content of N, BET surface area caused by the N increasing could be responsible for the superior performance according to results of X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman and Brunner-Emmet-Teller (BET) analysis. The ORR on the Fe–N3/C material follows 4e− pathway, and MFCs equipped with Fe–N3/C catalyst achieved a maximum power density (MPD) of 912 mW/m2, which was 1.1 times of the MPD generated by the commercial Pt/C (830 mW/m2). This research not only provided a feasible way for the fabrication of Pt-free catalyst towards oxygen reduction but also proposed potential cathode catalysts for the development of MFCs. Keywords: one-pot pyrolysis route, Fe−N-Doped carbon nanosheets, microbial fuel cells, iron-nitrogen co-doping, carbon based catalyst, electrochemical performance, cathode materials DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20201306.5765 Citation: Sun Y, Zhang Z Z, Sun Y M, Yang G X. One-pot pyrolysis route to Fe−N-Doped carbon nanosheets with outstanding electrochemical performance as cathode materials for microbial fuel cell. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2020; 13(6): 207–214.

New Insight into the In Situ SO2 Poisoning Mechanism over Cu-SSZ-13 for the Selective Catalytic Reduction of NOx with NH3

To reveal the nature of SO2 poisoning over Cu-SSZ-13 catalyst under actual exhaust conditions, the catalyst was pretreated at 200 and 500 °C in a flow containing NH3, NO, O2, SO2, and H2O. Brunner−Emmet−Teller (BET), X-ray diffraction(XRD), thermo gravimetric analyzer (TGA), ultraviolet Raman spectroscopy (UV Raman), temperature-programmed reduction with H2 (H2-TPR), temperature-programmed desorption of NO+O2 (NO+O2-TPD), NH3-TPD, in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (in situ DRIFTS), and an activity test were utilized to monitor the changes of Cu-SSZ-13 before and after in situ SO2 poisoning. According to the characterization results, the types and generated amount of sulfated species were directly related to poisoning temperature. Three sulfate species, including (NH4)2SO4, CuSO4, and Al2(SO4)3, were found to form on CZ-S-200, while only the latter two sulfate species were observed over CZ-S-500. Furthermore, SO2 poisoning had a negative effect on low-temperature selective catalytic reduction (SCR) activity, which was mainly due to the sulfation of active sites, including Z2Cu, ZCuOH, and Si-O(H)-Al. In contrast, SO2 poisoning had a positive effect on high-temperature SCR activity, owing to the inhibition of the NH3 oxidation reaction. The above findings may be a useful guideline to design excellent SO2-resistant Cu-based zeolite catalysts.

High Resistance of SO2 and H2O over Monolithic Mn-Fe-Ce-Al-O Catalyst for Low Temperature NH3-SCR

Monolithic Mn-Fe-Ce-Al-O catalyst with honeycomb cordierite ceramic as a carrier was reported for the first time for low temperature deNOx application. In the reaction of selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO with NH3, a NO conversion of above 80% at 100 °C was obtained. Notably, the catalyst also showed excellent resistance against SO2 and H2O. About 60% NO conversion was maintained after successive operation in the mixed stream of SO2 and H2O for 168 h. The Brunner−Emmet−Teller (BET) measurement, SEM, EDS, thermogravimetric analysis (TG), FT-IR, and XPS results of the used catalysts indicated that certain amounts of ammonium sulfate was formed on the surface of the catalyst. XPS results revealed that partial of Fe2+ was oxidized to Fe3+ during the reaction process, and Fe2+ species have strong redox ability, which can explain the decrease in activity after reaction. In addition, SO2 and H2O induced a transformation of Ce from Ce4+ to Ce3+ on the surface of the catalyst, which increased the amount of chemisorbed oxygen. Owing to these factors, the addition of Ce and Fe species contributes to excellent resistance of the catalyst to SO2 and H2O.

SYNTHESIS OF ZEOLITE-ACTIVATED CARBON COMPOSITE FOR REMOVAL OF AMMONIUM FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION

In this study, zeolite-activated carbon composite (Z/AC) was synthesized by hydrothermal reaction using kaolin as a source of silica and alumina. The synthesized materials were characterized by Brunner-Emmet-Teller (BET) surface area to calculate surface area, X-ray diffraction (XRD) to study the crystal structure of materials, Infrared spectroscopy (IR) to indicate the presence of functional groups on the surface and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to determine the morphology of the composites. In this paper, adsorption equilibrium and kinetics for the removal of ammonium by prepared Z/AC materials were evaluated.

Synthesize and characterize of Fe3O4/zeolite 4A magnetic nanocomposite

In order to solve the problem that separating zeolite 4A from solutions, we have synthesized Fe3O4/zeolite 4A magnetic nanocomposite by hydrothermal method. It is characterized by Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Brunner-Emmet-teller (BET). The XRD result shows that Fe3O4/zeolite 4A magnetic nanocomposite has a good crystal structure. It also shows that Fe3O4/zeolite 4A magnetic nanocomposite contains two phases of zeolite 4A and Fe3O4 MNP. The optimal sample (Z-2) was judged by the calculation of crystallinity. The successful combination of zeolite 4A and Fe3O4 MNP was visually observed through SEM technology. The functional groups of Fe3O4/zeolite 4A magnetic nanocomposite were characterized by FTIR technology. The TEM result shows that some Fe3O4 MNPs enter zeolite 4A, which further clarifies the microstructure of Fe3O4/zeolite 4A magnetic nanocomposite. N2 adsorption-desorption technique confirms that Fe3O4/zeolite 4A magnetic nanocomposite SBET is 55.3374 m2/g and Dave is 9.7128 nm. VSM result shows that Fe3O4/zeolite 4A magnetic nanocomposite magnetization is 18.4534 emu/g. Simulation experiment shows that Fe3O4/zeolite 4A magnetic nanocomposite exhibit a fast response to an external magnetic field.

Investigation of Pb (II) and Cd (II) removal from aqueous solution by organic-modified xonotlite

ABSTRACT In this work, a novel xonotlite nanocomposite was synthesised with abandoned eggshell by hydrothermal method, and organic-modified with toluene diisocyanate (TDI) for the removal of Pb(II) and Cd(II) from wastewater. The xonotlite and organic-modified xonotlite were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunner-Emmet-Teller (BET) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) methods. The effect of solution pH, contact time, adsorbent dose, and initial concentrations were also investigated. The organic-modified xonotlite was found to have a high loading capacity of 467.7 mg g−1 for Pb(II) and 147.6 mg g−1 for Cd(II). The adsorption of Pb (II) and Cd (II) was well fitted by Freundlich model and pseudo-second order model. In the effect of the competing ion, the ions like Na(I) and K(I), had little effect on the Pb(II) and Cd(II) removal efficiency. Furthermore, the organic-modified xonotlite can be reused and shown good recyclability. It was concluded that the organic-modified xonotlite is simple, fast and effective adsorbent for the removal of Pb(II) and Cd(II) in treating wastewater with outstanding adsorption capacity.

Enhanced photocatalytic reaction and mechanism for treating cyanide-containing wastewater by silicon-based nano-titania

The treatment of cyanide-containing wastewater is very important for the sustainable development of gold industry. Treating wastewater by nano-titania (nano-TiO2) has the advantage of adsorbing heavy metals and catalyzing the decomposition of cyanogen simultaneously. Since the catalysis is limited by solid-liquid diphase system, the photocatalytic and adsorption efficiency is relatively low. This study aimed to enhance catalytic process based on silicon-based nano-TiO2 composite functional material to treat deeply cyanide-containing wastewater. The characteristics of the silicon-based nano-TiO2 material were studied by Brunner−Emmet−Teller (BET) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM)/ energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), which indicated that the material has excellent dispersibility and large specific surface area(146.6±2.4 m2·g−1). Further, the comparison of the treatment effects of cyanide wastewater with pure nano-TiO2 and silicon-based nano-TiO2 material demonstrates that the latter is more effective on cyanide degradation. Almost 99.8% of cyanide degradation was achieved by silicon-based nano-TiO2 material under light irradiation within 135 min. The mechanism and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. It was found that the final decompositions of Copper cyanide complex and zinc cyanide complex are CO2, NO2, Cu2+ and Zn2+.

Direct growth of m-BiVO4@carbon fibers for highly efficient and recyclable photocatalytic and antibacterial applications

Owing to photocatalytic and antibacterial properties, bismuth based oxides has drawn much attention in recent past. However, non-recyclability of these oxides has restricted their practical applications. In present work, a novel nanostructured composite monoclinic bismuth vanadate@ activated carbon fibers (BiVO4@ACF) photocatalyst was efficaciously synthesized using a solvothermal method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Bruner-Emmett-Teller (BET). The specific surface area, phase composition, microstructure, binding and photocatalytic activity of BiVO4@ACF pose great dependence on solvent nature and chelating agents utilized for synthesis. The photocatalytic and antibacterial potential of this composite was evaluated and optimized by using a model pollutant, Reactive Rhodamine Blue (RhB) and pathogenic microbes (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus). The composite possesses enhanced photocatalytic and antibacterial activity and was reutilized for three rounds of respective reaction without any loss of activity and structure as evident from SEM and XRD results. The photocatalytic mechanism of photodegradation of dye and bactericidal properties of samples under visible light irradiation was determined by scavenger and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The enhanced photocatalytic and antibacterial activity, chemical stability and most importantly good recyclability of BiVO4@ACFs highlight the potential application of this composite in water purification and other biological applications.

Pyrrolidone ligand improved Cu‐based catalysts with high performance for acetylene hydrochlorination

A series of Cu‐pyrrolidone/spherical activated carbon (SAC) catalysts were prepared via a simple incipient wetness impregnation method and then assessed in acetylene hydrochlorination, and the catalytic evaluation result indicated that the 1‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone (NMP) ligand was found to be the most effective one to significantly improve the activity and stability of Cu catalyst. The catalyst with the optimal molar ratio of NMP/Cu = 0.25 showed 94.2% acetylene conversion at 180°C and an acetylene gas hourly space velocity of 180 h−1. Moreover, the acetylene conversion of Cu‐0.25NMP/SAC remained stable over 99.1% for about 220 h under the industrial condition. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses proved that NMP ligand improved the dispersion of Cu species. In addition, hydrogen temperature‐programmed reduction (H2‐TPR), X‐ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Brunner–Emmet–Teller (BET) indicated that the additive of NMP was preferential to stabilize the catalytic active Cu+ and Cu2+ species and inhibit the reduction of Cuα+ to Cu0 during the preparation process and reaction, hence restraining the coke deposition. Furthermore, the steady coordination structure between Cu and NMP was confirmed by Fourier‐transform infrared spectra (FT‐IR) and Raman combining with density functional theory (DFT) calculation, which could effectively lower the adsorption energy of catalyst for C2H2 and inhibit the serious carbon deposition caused by excessive acetylene self‐accumulation. Our findings suggest that the efficient, well‐stabilized cost‐effective, and environmentally friendly Cu catalyst has great potential in acetylene hydrochlorination.

Study of the Active Carbon from Used Coffee Grounds as the Active Material for a High-Temperature Stable Supercapacitor with Ionic-Liquid Electrolyte.

This study reveals a simple approach to recycle wasted coffee grounds into highly valuable carbon material with superior electrochemical performance. Activated carbon prepared from wasted coffee grounds has been formed via hydrothermal acidic hydrolysis followed by a KOH chemical activation at 800 . To understand the electrochemical properties of the sample, a set of characterization tools has been utilized: N2 and CO2 adsorption–desorption isotherms, thermal gravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The specific surface area obtained from a Brunner–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis reached . Prepared sample (designated as ACG-800KOH) was tested as electrode material in an electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) device with ionic liquid PYR13-TFSI as an electrolyte. The EDLC test was conducted at temperatures ranging from 20 to 120 . The specific material capacitance reached 178 measured at 20 and 50 A and was in the range 182 to 285 at the 20 to 120 temperature range.

Microporous polyimide VOC-rejective membrane for the separation of nitrogen/VOC mixture

The treatment of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) in waste streams is very important. Herein, we propose to use a network microporous polyimide (PI) membrane for the molecular sieving of nitrogen over VOC molecules to control their emission. 2,6,14-triaminotriptycene (Trip) was reacted with aromatic dianhydride monomers, such as 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA), to synthesize ultramicroporous polyimides, which readily form composite membranes via solution coating. The properties of the PIs were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Brunner-Emmet-Teller (BET) analysis, etc., which validated the formation of a network structure and ultramicroporosity in these polyimides. Therefore, the outstanding separation performance for the separation of nitrogen over VOCs, such as cyclohexane, by molecular sieving was obtained by using these membranes; a rejection higher than 99 % was realized with a permeability of approximately 2000∼2600 Barrer under a temperature of 25 °C and feed concentration of 30,000 ± 2000 ppm. Finally, the stability of the Trip-BTDA-PI membrane over time was studied.

Adsorption of safranine T from aqueous medium by nano mesoporous MCM-41: adsorption equilibrium, kinetics, and thermodynamics

Introduction: In industrial production, a small amount of saffron T emissions will cause increase of water color and increase of chemical oxygen consumption, so study of the decolorization of saffron T wastewater has an important practical significance. Methods: MCM (Mobil Composition of Matter)-41 molecular sieve was synthesized by hydrothermal method. Power Xray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the sample. Safranine T dye was adsorbed from water by the MCM-41 prepared. Kinetics and thermodynamics of the adsorption were studied. Results: The MCM-41 sample presented spherical particles and regular. The BET (Brunner-Emmett-Teller) specific surface area of the sample determined by 77 K low temperature nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm was 932 m2 /g. Its average particle diameter was 110 nm. TEM (transmission electron microscopy) results showed that the sample structure presented a honeycomb pore structure and the average pore diameter was 3.0 nm. The results showed that when room temperature was 20 ± 1 ℃, adsorbate safranine T: adsorbent MCM-41 = 20 : 1，the optimum pH value of adsorption was 4.0 and contact time was 20 min, the adsorption rate reached 98.29% and the adsorption capacity was 19.66 mg/g. The entropy change and enthalpy change of the adsorption system are respectively ΔS0 = 157.5 J/(mol·K); ΔH0 = 21.544 kJ/mol. When temperature was 277.15, 293.15, 303.15 K，the free energy change was respectively △G1 0 = -22.107 kJ/mol, △G2 0 = -24.627 kJ/mol, △G3 0 = -26.202 kJ/mol. Conclusion: The adsorption of safranine T by MCM-41 belongs to a pseudo-second-order adsorption. This adsorption accords with the Freundlich equation and belongs to a heterogeneous adsorption. The adsorption is an endothermic reaction of entropy increase, being spontaneous.

Synthesis, characterization and investigation of photocatalytic activity of ZnMnO3/Fe3O4 nanocomposite for degradation of dye Congo red under visible light irradiation

ZnMnO3/Fe3O4 magnetic nanocomposites were fabricated via facile co-precipitation route and were calcined at 400 °C for 3 h. Synthesis of ZnMnO3/Fe3O4 magnetic nanocomposites were optimized by different weight percentages. Then, the as-synthesized sample was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), photoluminescence(PL), vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM), EDAX (Energy dispersive X-ray analysis), diffuse reflectance UV–Vis spectroscopy (DRS),ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectrometry, Bruner-Emmett-Teller (BET), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Based on the results, elemental analyses of the samples were similar to those expected from the initial concentrations of the solutions used during synthesis. The x-ray diffraction pattern revealed that ZnMnO3/Fe3O4 has a cubic structure and average particle size of the catalyst was found 27.43 nm. In addition, Fourier transform infrared spectra could confirm the presence of hydroxyl group and Fe–O bond vibration in the catalyst. Further, the superparamagnetic behavior of the synthesized nanocomposite at room temperature was confirmed by VSM studies. Furthermore, the photocatalytic performance of ZnMnO3/Fe3O4 samples were evaluated based on the removal of Congo red (CR) in aqueous solution in 60 min of under visible light irradiation. The experiment demonstrated that 0.10 g of ZnMnO3/Fe3O4 nanocomposites can degrade (98.17%) 50 mg l−1 of Congo red (CR) solution. The mechanistic study using scavengers propose that the superoxide (O2·−) is the most reactive species involved in the photodegradation of organic dyes. The photocatalytic degradation of Congo red conformed the pseudo-first-order kinetic model and the rate constant achieved for 0.10 g l−1 of ZnMnO3/Fe3O4 was (k = 0.0384 min−1). Finally, the effect of reaction time, pH, and loading of ZnMnO3/Fe3O4 on degrading Congo red was studied. The synthesized ZnMnO3/Fe3O4 nanocomposite can be potentially applied as a magnetically separable photocatalyst to deal with water pollution problems.