Dilute Hydrochloric Acid Solution Research Articles

Optimization of waste biomass demineralization through response surface methodology and enhancement of thermochemical and fusion properties

This study examines the impact of leaching with dilute hydrochloric acid solution on the reduction of ash content and the thermal degradation behavior of sugarcane bagasse. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to statistically design the experiments and investigate the effect of three independent variables: treatment time, solid-to-liquid ratio, and reagent concentration. The leaching conditions were further optimized and experimentally validated for maximum ash reduction for suitability of treated biomass as feedstock for thermochemical conversion technologies. Reagent concentration and treatment time directly affected ash reduction, while the solid-to-liquid ratio inversely influenced it. Concentration had the highest impact, and treatment duration had the least. The maximum 78.2% ash reduction was achieved by treating the biomass with 1 M HCl for 80 min at a solid-to-liquid ratio of 50:1 (wt/vol). This ash reduction also resulted in a 9.82% increase in higher heating value (HHV). Hemicellulose hydrolysis during leaching was observed through chemical composition and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Ash fusion temperatures increased, indicating more thermally stable biomass. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed elevated maximum degradation temperature and activation energy.

Study on Oxygen Plasma-Based Copper Etching Process

A plasma-based, room-temperature copper etch process using the chlorine- or bromine-containing feed gas was reported. This simple process could potentially replace the chemical mechanical polishing method in preparing copper interconnects. However, the chlorine- and bromine-containing gases are corrosive and must be handled with expensive equipment following stringent safety procedures. In this paper, the oxygen plasma-based copper etch process is presented. The copper film was converted into a porous and polycrystalline copper oxide film which was subsequently dissolved in a dilute hydrochloric acid solution. The copper film was expanded when converted into an oxide film. The oxidation precursors, i.e., oxygen radicals and ions, were generated in the plasma phase and then transported through the oxide layer to the underneath copper film where the oxidation reaction proceeded. The oxide growth rate is affected by plasma parameters, such as pressure and power, and the kinetics of the oxidation reaction. This new oxygen plasma-based process is a simple solution for preparing copper interconnects for nano and microelectronic products.

Thermodynamic Justification for the Effectiveness of the Oxidation—Soda Conversion of Ilmenite Concentrates

This article presents the results of a thermodynamic analysis of the oxidation soda conversion reactions of minerals in ilmenite concentrates in the temperature range of 373–2273 K. The thermodynamic parameters of pseudorutile, pseudobrukite, and the new minerals, zhikinite and spessartine, were calculated for the first time. It has been established that the most important criterion relating to the stability of titanium minerals and related elements, as well as the reaction properties of the structural oxides of metals and silicon, is their degree of oxidation. Oxides of silicon (IV) and manganese have the best reactivity in solid-phase oxidizing alkaline environments (VI). Modeling this process scientifically substantiates the mechanism involved in the destruction of minerals in ilmenite concentrates in the low-temperature region in the presence of atmospheric oxygen and sodium oxide of soda ash, which are decomposed through the absorption of heat and the evaporation of moisture during the dehydration of hydrated minerals of iron and manganese and the dehydration of the soda–ilmenite batch. Tests conducted during pilot metallurgical production at the Institute of Metallurgy and Enrichment (PMP of JSC) confirmed the feasibility of processing high-chromium and siliceous rutile leucoxene ilmenite concentrates, which are unsuitable for traditional pyro- and hydro-metallurgical enrichment methods, through single-stage oxidation soda roasting, followed by the leaching of easily soluble sodium salts of iron and associated impurities with water and a dilute hydrochloric acid solution. The proposed energy-saving method ensures the production of high-purity (>98%) synthetic rutile while eliminating the formation of strong deposits on the lining of roasting units.

8-Hy-droxy-quinolinium tri-chlorido-(pyridine-2,6-di-carb-oxy-lic acid-κ3 O,N,O')copper(II) dihydrate.

The title compound, (C9H8NO)[CuCl3(C7H5NO4)]·2H2O, was prepared by reacting CuII acetate dihydrate, solid 8-hy-droxy-quinoline (8-HQ), and solid pyridine-2,6-di-carb-oxy-lic acid (H2pydc), in a 1:1:1 molar ratio, in an aqueous solution of dilute hydro-chloric acid. The CuII atom exhibits a distorted CuO2NCl3 octa-hedral geometry, coordinating two oxygen atoms and one nitro-gen atom from the tridentate H2pydc ligand and three chloride atoms; the nitro-gen atom and one chloride atom occupy the axial positions with Cu-N and Cu-Cl bond lengths of 2.011 (2) Å and 2.2067 (9) Å, respectively. In the equatorial plane, the oxygen and chloride atoms are arranged in a cis configuration, with Cu-O bond lengths of 2.366 (2) and 2.424 (2) Å, and Cu-Cl bond lengths of 2.4190 (10) and 2.3688 (11) Å. The asymmetric unit contains 8-HQ+ as a counter-ion and two uncoordinated water mol-ecules. The crystal structure features strong O-H⋯O and O-H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds as well as weak inter-actions including C-H⋯O, C-H⋯Cl, Cu-Cl⋯π, and π-π, which result in a three-dimensional network. A Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the most important contributions to the crystal packing involving the main residues are from H⋯Cl/Cl⋯H inter-actions, contributing 40.3% for the anion. Weak H⋯H contacts contribute 13.2% for the cation and 28.6% for the anion.

Kwaśna modyfikacja gruzińskiego heulandytu naturalnego

Acid treatment is a powerful tool for improving the performance of natural zeolites, and the purpose of our work was to study chemical composition, structure and properties of acid-treated heulandite from the Tedzami-Dzegvi deposit. Samples of heulandite-containing tuff from the Rkoni plot with zeolite phase content up to 90%, consisting of heulandite and chabazite in a ratio of 8:1, and having chemical composition described by empirical formula |Na0.25K0.06Ca0.19Mg0.15)|[AlSi3.6O9.2].3H2O were treated with hydrochloric acid solutions with concentration up to 2.0 N. It was established that acid treatment leads to significant dealumination (the molar ratio of Si/Al increases from 3.6 to 9.5) and decationization (the total charge per aluminium atom decreases from 1 to 0.68), sodium and magnesium are mainly leached, calcium and potassium does not take part in the decationization process. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns show that hydrochloric acid solutions with a concentration up to 2.0 N do not lead to amorphization of the zeolite microporous crystal structure, but can gradually dissolve it. The adsorption of water vapor indicates the availability of micropores for the entry of small polar molecules, benzene adsorption shows a slight increase of hydrophobicity of the surface as a result of acid treatment. Nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms show acid-mediated sharp increase of adsorption in micropores and of the surface area, as well as changes in the mesoporous system, leading to the prevalence of pores with a diameter of 3 – 10 nm. The concentration of dilute solutions of hydrochloric acid is determined, which provides availability of micropores for large ions and nonpolar molecules, but at which dealumination is insignificant and ion-exchange capacity remains at a sufficient level. Materials obtained by acid treatment of heulandite can be used as adsorbents, ion exchangers, and carriers of biologically active substances and metal ions.

Simultaneous Improvements of Physicochemical Properties and Anti‐Microbial Activity of Berberine via Forming Salt with Gallic Acid

AbstractImplementing combination medication through crystal engineering technology receives increasing attention from researchers due to improvements in the clinical treatment effects as well as the physicochemical properties of the drug. Berberine (BER) is commonly used to treat gastroenteritis and bacterial diarrhea, with the problems of poor solubility and low oral bioavailability. Recently, it is found that gallic acid (GA) also has anti‐inflammatory and anti‐bacterial activities. Therefore, if the above‐mentioned two ingredients can be combined, it is possible to enhance the therapeutic effects and physicochemical properties of BER. Inspired by this, 8‐hydroxy‐7,8‐dihydroberberine (8H‐HBER) in this study is employed to react with gallic acid to yield BER gallate dihydrate (2BER‐2GA‐2 W). Furthermore, dissolution experiments demonstrate that the maximum apparent solubility (MAS) of 2BER‐2GA‐2 W in dilute hydrochloric acid solution medium (pH 1.2) has increased by 7 times compared to the commercial form of BER, because of avoiding the common‐ion effect. Moreover, 2BER‐2GA‐2 W has also obviously enhanced stability relative to the commercial form of BER. In addition, 2BER‐2GA‐2 W has a better inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) relative to the commercial form of BER. Hence, 2BER‐2GA‐2 W will be a promising solid‐state form of BER for its further development.

Corrosion Inhibition of Expired Cefazolin Drug on Copper Metal in Dilute Hydrochloric Acid Solution: Practical and Theoretical Approaches.

In this work, we studied the corrosion of Cu metal in 0.5 mol L-1 HCl and the inhibition effect of the expired Cefazolin drug. The inhibition efficiency (IE) of Cefazolin varied according to its concentration in solution. As the Cefazolin concentration increased to 300 ppm, the IE increased to 87% at 298 K and decreased to 78% as the temperature increased to 318 K. The expired drug functioned as a mixed-type inhibitor. The adsorption of the drug on the copper surface followed Temkin's adsorption model. The magnitudes of the standard free energy change (ΔGoads) and adsorption equilibrium constant (Kads) indicated the spontaneous nature and exothermicity of the adsorption process. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques showed that the drug molecules were strongly attached to the Cu surface. The electrochemical frequency modulation (EFM), potentiodynamic polarization (PP), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results were in good agreement with the results of the weight loss (WL) method. The density functional tight-binding (DFTB) and Monte Carlo (MC) simulation results indicated that the expired drug bound to the copper surface through the lone pair of electrons of the heteroatoms as well as the π-electrons of the tetrazole ring. The adsorption energy between the drug and copper metal was -459.38 kJ mol-1.

The physico-chemical properties and sorption potentials of snail shell particulates, chitin, chitosan, and oxalic acid modified chitosan from <i>achatina fulica</i> shell

The purpose of the research was to compare the properties of snail shell particulate (SSP) and its derivatives to those of commercial chitosan (CC) as potential adsorbents. Chitin (CT) was synthesized by deproteinizing and demineralizing SSP with dilute sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) solutions, respectively. Chitosan (CH) was prepared by partially deacetylating CT with concentrated NaOH. The extracted CH was modified with 10.00% (w/v) oxalic acid (CH<sub>ox</sub>). Energy dispersive X-Ray (EDAX), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and chromium adsorption were used to characterize the materials. FTIR spectra of CT and CH materials showed the presence alkyne, nitrile, primary and secondary amines/amides groups with 83.98% as the degree of deacetylation. The spectra of EDAX of CT and CH samples showcased predominant peaks, which correspond to calcium, oxygen, yttrium, and silver. SEM images showed tight, porous, and fractured surface for CT and CH materials unlike the snail shell and CC. BET surface area of the adsorbents were in the increasing order of CT<CC<CH<sub>ox</sub><SSP<CH. CH has a greater surface area of 362.32 m<sup>2</sup>/g and a mesoporosity of 71.41%. However CH<sub>ox</sub> with moisture content 1.52%, bulk density of 0.58 g/cm<sup>3</sup>, ash content (AC) 0.47% and pH 10.24, has better advantage to be used as biosorbent compared to CC with moisture content 1.08%, bulk density of 0.49 g/cm<sup>3</sup>, AC 0.87% and pH 8.58. CH<sub>ox</sub> had a higher chromium adsorption of 80.4 mg/g at a concentration of 150 mg/L, while having a relatively smaller surface area of 325.38 m<sup>2</sup>/g (68.36% mesoporosity). The potential removal techniques include ionic interaction between chromium ion and functional groups and surface adsorption due to the textural characteristics of adsorbent samples. When compared to CC, snail shell particle and its derivatives are potential good adsorbents.

A SEMI-TRANSPARENT COMPOSITE FILM FROM RICE STRAW-BASED MICROFIBRILLATED CELLULOSE AND CHITOSAN AND ITS APPLICATION IN LIGHT MANAGEMENT

Semi-transparent composite film from rice straw-based microfibrillated cellulose and chitosan (MFC/CS) has been demonstrated to be a promising candidate light management material for the next generation optical engineering applications. Here, the lignin-modified MFC was prepared successfully through a green method, in which the MFC was first extracted using dilute sodium hydroxy solution on a homogenizer at 5000 rpm. The dissolved lignin was then deposited on the MFC surface by neutralizing it with a dilute hydrochloric acid solution. MFCs were obtained with diameters ranging from 2-5 μm and lengths up to 200 μm. Decoloration of lignin by removing its chromophore groups was conducted using peracetic acid treatment using a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and acid acetic with a volume ratio of 4:1. The MFC film shows good transparency and excellent diffusing effects with MFC/CS weight ratios of 1:3 and 1:1.

Solvent extraction of Terbium(III) from chloride solution using organophosphorus extractant, its mixture and ionic liquid in the presence of organic acids

Addition of organic acids to dilute hydrochloric acid solution can improve the extraction of rare earth elements by single cationic extractants. However, the correlation between the chemical structure of organic acids and the extraction of REEs as well as the variation in equilibrium pH has not been elucidated. In this study, we investigated the extraction of Tb(III) from dilute HCl solutions containing an organic acid like formic, lactic, fumaric, or maleic acid. As extractants, single Cyanex 272, a mixture of Cyanex 272 and Alamine 336 (Ala336-Cy272), and an ionic liquid (ALi-Cy272) synthesized by Cyanex 272 and Aliquat 336 were used. The speciation of Tb(III) in dilute HCl solutions containing organic acids was analyzed. In extraction of Tb(III), organic acids showed two roles as complexing and buffering agent, which depended on the chemical structure of the acids. There was some difference in the extraction of Tb(III) between single Cyanex 272 and ionic liquid, ALi-Cy272. During extraction with ALi-Cy272, formic and lactic acid negatively affected the extraction of Tb(III). The fact that the chemical structure of organic acids affected the extraction of Tb(III) from dilute HCl solution by the studied extractants can provide important information on the selection of suitable extraction systems.

Dilute hydrochloric acid induced switching from antagonism to synergism in the binary mixed systems of cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS)

Abstract A synergism is reported in the binary mixtures of cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) at mole fractions of 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75, in dilute hydrochloric acid solutions (∼0.05 M) HCl, at 25 °C. Such synergism is confirmed by surface tension values, critical micelle concentration (CMC), and interaction parameter values according to Holland and Rubingh’s model and the satisfaction of Hua and Rosen conditions. Surface excess (Γ) at air/water interface and the minimum area occupied by surfactant molecule (A min) also indicated a reduction in the A min of mixed CAPB/SDBS compared to single surfactants that is due to the strong electrostatic interaction between surfactants heads. The composition of CAPB/SDBS mixed micelles, the interaction parameter (β) and the micellar activity coefficients (f 1 and f 2) were evaluated from the regular solution model for these binary amphoteric/anionic mixed systems. It is clear the CAPB surfactants are converted to the cationic form by charging in the presence of HCl, which enhances the interaction between the oppositely charged CAPB and SDBS heads and overcomes the unfavourable packing between the tails predicted in pure water. Such strong interaction was also reflected on the phase behavior of CAPB/SDBS binary mixed system. Accordingly, a switching from antagonism to synergism is reported for CAPB/SDBS binary mixed system in the presence of dilute hydrochloric acid.

Acid Resistance and Ion-Exchange Capacity of Natural Mixtures of Heulandite and Chabazite

The recovery and immobilization of metals from wastewater often occurs in an acidic environment that destroys the structure of adsorbents such as zeolites, which are porous crystalline aluminosilicates. The influence of hydrochloric acid solutions on the structure and properties of two natural mixtures of heulandite (HEU) and chabazite (CHA)—tuff from the Georgian Dzegvi-Tedzami deposit (HEU/CHA ≈ 8) and rock from the Kazakhstani deposit Chankanay (HEU/CHA≈1)—was studied by the X-ray energy dispersion spectra and diffraction patterns, as well as by adsorption of water, benzene, and nitrogen methods. It was found that acid-mediated dealumination, decationization, dissolution, and changes in systems of micro- and mesopores depend on the nature and chemical composition of the initial zeolites. It is concluded that, under the influence of acid, (i) zeolite micropores become accessible to relatively large molecules and ions, and the surface area of the adsorbent increases; (ii) the volume of mesopores decreases, and pores with a diameter of less than 4 nm become predominant; (iii) in terms of the degree of dealumination and dissolution rate, Kazakhstani zeolite is more acid-resistant than Georgian heulandite; and (iv) Kazakhstani zeolite retains a high ion-exchange capacity in an acidic environment, while Georgian heulandite, treated with dilute hydrochloric acid solutions, uptakes relatively high amounts of valuable silver, copper, and zinc.

Preparation of One-Dimensional Polyaniline Nanotubes as Anticorrosion Coatings.

Uniform polyaniline (PANI) nanotubes were synthesized by a self-assembly method under relatively dilute hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy were employed to characterize the morphology and molecular structure of the PANI products. SEM images show that the PANI nanotubes have uniform morphology and form compact coating on the substrate surface. For comparison, aggregated PANI was also synthesized by conventional polymerization method. The performance of the PANI products on carbon steel was studied using eletrochemical measurement and immersion corrosion experiment in 3.5 wt% NaCl aqueous solution. The corrosion potentials of carbon steel samples increase by 0.196 V and 0.060 V after coated with PANI nanotubes and aggregated PANI, respectively, and the corrosion currents density decrease by about 76.32% and 36.64%, respectively. The 6-day immersion experiment showed that the carbon steel samples coated by PANI nanotubes showed more excellent anticorrosion performance, because the more compact coating formed by PANI nanotubes may inhibit the corrosion process between the anodic and cathodic.

Adsorption of Acid Orange and Reactive Red by DK110 Loaded Ionic Liquid

AbstractWastewater treatment has always been a topic of concern. Adsorption is one of the commonly‐used methods to treat the dye wastewater. In this work, epichlorohydrin and N‐methylimidazole based ionic liquid were bonded to DK110 resin to synthesize a modified resin (ILDK110) loaded with an ionic liquid. Then infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis were used to characterize the successful synthesis of ILDK110. The absorption functions of modified resins on reactive red and acid orange under different temperatures, dye concentrations and pH were investigated. The experimental results show that the adsorption amount of ILDK110 increases with the rise of temperature. At 35 °C, the adsorption amount of acidic orange and reactive red reaches 109.45 mg/g and 111.94 mg/g respectively. The pH has little effect on the amount of adsorption. In the whole adsorption process, the adsorption of reactive red and acid orange by ILDK110 was more consistent with Langmuir isothermal model. The adsorption of acid orange is suitable to be described by the first‐order kinetic equation, while the adsorption of reactive red is more suitable by the description of the second‐order kinetic equation. Under experimental conditions, the removal rates of the modified resin on both the two dyes can reach over 99 %. Furthermore, after adsorption, the saturated resin is easy to be eluted with dilute hydrochloric acid solution, and the elution rate is more than 99 %.

Studies on the Removal of Sr(II) Ions from Water Using Carbonized Orange Juice Residue

The adsorbent for Sr(II) ion removal was prepared from orange juice residue (OJR) after carbonization at 800°C. An energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopic analysis showed the existence of trace amounts of P, Na, K, and Fe together with C and Ca in the examined sample of COJR. The adsorption parameters such as effect of pH, contact time, initial Sr(II) concentration and adsorbent dosage were studied. COJR selectively adsorbed Sr(II) from the mixed solution containing Sr(II) and Cs(I). Experimental data obtained for the adsorption of Sr(II) were analyzed by using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models, and the data were well fitted with both the models with R2 higher than 0.98. Adsorption equilibrium was achieved within one hour by using a 24.3 mg/L Sr(II) solution at a solid-liquid ratio of 1g/L. The maximum adsorption capacity (Qmax) and adsorption equilibrium constant (b) of COJR for Sr(II) ion were found to be 322.58 mmol/kg and 1.93 L/mmol, respectively. The concentration of Sr(II) was successfully lowered down to the EPA standard (4 mg/L) by using COJR dosage higher than 4 g/L. The adsorbed Sr(II) could be successfully desorbed using a dilute (0.5M) solution of hydrochloric acid. These results indicated that COJR investigated in this study showed a high affinity for Sr(II) ion thus it is expected to be employed as a promising adsorbent for the removal of Sr(II) ions from polluted water.

Comparative Gravimetric Studies on Carbon Steel Corrosion in Selected Fruit Juices and Acidic Chloride Media (HCl) at Different pH.

Food contamination due to metal corrosion and the consequent leakage of metals into foods is a problem. Understanding the mechanism(s) of metal corrosion in food media is vital to evaluating, mitigating, and predicting contamination levels. Fruit juices have been employed as model corrosive media to study the corrosion behaviour of metallic material in food media. Carbon steel corrosion in fresh juices of tomato, orange, pineapple, and lemon, as well as dilute hydrochloric acid solutions at varied pH, was studied using scanning electron microscopy, gravimetric and spectrophotometric techniques, and comparisons made between the corrosivity of these juices and mineral acids of comparable pH. The corrosion of carbon steel in fruit juices and HCl solutions manifests as a combination of uniform and pitting corrosion. Gravimetric data acquired after one hour of immersion at ambient temperature (22 °C) indicated corrosion rates of 0.86 mm yr−1 in tomato juice (pH ≈ 4.24), 1.81 mm yr−1 in pineapple juice (pH ≈ 3.94), 1.52 mm yr−1 in orange juice (pH ≈ 3.58), and 2.89 mm yr−1 in lemon juice (pH ≈ 2.22), compared to 2.19 mm yr−1 in 10−2 M HCl (pH ≈ 2.04), 0.38 mm yr−1 in 10−3 M HCl (pH ≈ 2.95), 0.17 mm yr−1 in 10−4 M HCl (pH ≈ 3.95), and 0.04 mm yr−1 in 10−5 M HCl (pH ≈ 4.98). The correlation of gravimetrically acquired corrosion data with post-exposure spectrophotometric analysis of fruit juices enabled de-convolution of iron contamination rates from carbon steel corrosion rates in fruit juices. Elemental iron contamination after 50 h of exposure to steel samples was much less than the values predicted from corrosion data (≈40%, 4.02%, 8.37%, and 9.55% for tomato, pineapple, orange, and lemon juices, respectively, relative to expected values from corrosion (weight loss) data). Tomato juice (pH ≈ 4.24) was the least corrosive to carbon steel compared to orange juice (pH ≈ 3.58) and pineapple juice (pH ≈ 3.94). The results confirm that though the fruit juices are acidic, they are generally much less corrosive to carbon steel compared to hydrochloric acid solutions of comparable pH. Differences in the corrosion behaviour of carbon steel in the juices and in the different mineral acid solutions are attributed to differences in the compositions and pH of the test media, the nature of the corrosion products formed, and their dissolution kinetics in the respective media. The observation of corrosion products (iron oxide/hydroxide) in some of the fruit juices (tomato, pineapple, and lemon juices) in the form of apparently hollow microspheres indicates the feasibility of using fruit juices and related wastes as “green solutions” for the room-temperature and hydrothermal synthesis of metal oxide/hydroxide particles.

Acid rain: an unsuspected factor predisposing Panzhihua airport landslide, China.

Understanding the effect of acid rain to landslides is crucial for a better landslide risk assessment. This work aims to reveal the unsuspected but key role of acid rain in Panzhihua airport landslide, China. Firstly, we propose a hypothesis that acid rain may aggravate the slaking behavior of mudstone at weak interlayer and make it more fragmented, eventually further reducing its shear strength and predisposing the Panzhihua airport landslide. Subsequently, mudstone samples are subjected to slaking durability test, respectively, using water with a pH of 7 and two dilute hydrochloric acid solution with pH of 5 and 3. Slaking durability index (Idn) is adopted aiming to quantitatively evaluate the impact of acid rain on the slaking. Moreover, the mechanisms of acid rain affecting the slaking behavior of mudstone are revealed by (1) analyzing cation compositions changes in different pH slaking fluid and (2) observing micro-structure change of mudstone-chip before and after acid rain treatment. Finally, three works are conducted as evidences to prove that acid rain indeed plays a key role in the occurrence of Panzhihua airport landslide, including (1) analysis of the link between the slaking behavior of mudstone and its shear strength, (2) comparison of cations between spring water at the edge of the toe of landslide and acid rain, and (3) comparison of mineral contents of mudstone samples collected from different locations. These findings have implications for comprehensively analyzing the formation mechanism of landslide in acid rain area (such as Europe, North America, and China).

Facile in situ growth of ZIF-8 films onto aluminum for applications requiring fast thermal response

In this work, we report a simple approach for the synthesis of highly crystalline films of ZIF-8 directly grown onto non-functionalized common aluminum substrates through an easy, short in situ solvothermal methodology. Through several techniques such as XRD, SEM, EDS, AFM and XPS, it is shown that a simple, short pretreatment of the substrate with a dilute hydrochloric acid solution promotes the subsequent solvothermal nucleation and growth of continuous, homogeneous micrometer thickness and very adherent ZIF-8 films. The robustness and usefulness of ZIF-8/aluminum are shown by testing it in the highly exothermic catalytic reaction of carbon monoxide oxidation, in which it presented a high performance and durability, preserving the metal–organic framework integrity during reaction time. This behavior demonstrates that the novel ZIF-8/aluminum systems have a high potential for use in applications at moderate temperatures demanding a fast heat exchange rate between the metal–organic framework (MOF) film and the substrate.

Removal of lead ions by two Fe[sbnd]Mn oxide substrate adsorbents

Lead pollution has become a global concern due to its ubiquity and persistence. This study describes two FeMn oxide substrate adsorbents, namely, FeMn binary oxides (FMBO) and mesoporous FeMn binary oxide (MFMBO) covered with tannic acid film (FMBO@TA-Fe3+ and MFMBO@TA-Fe3+), for the treatment of Pb2+ in water. The characterization results showed that TA was successfully coated onto the surfaces of FMBO and MFMBO. The maximum capacities of Pb2+ on FMBO@TA-Fe3+ and MFMBO@TA-Fe3+ were 322.08 and 357.14 mg g−1, respectively, which were twice those of FMBO and MFMBO. The adsorption of Pb2+ on the adsorbents was a spontaneous, endothermic process with increasing disorder through thermodynamics studies. An overall mechanism was proposed for Pb2+ adsorption, the improved adsorption performance of FMBO@TA-Fe3+ and MFMBO@TA-Fe3+ is ascribed to the mesoporous characteristics and the introduction of hydroxyl groups. Further investigation indicated the adsorption of Pb2+ could be attributed to electrostatic interactions on FMBO@TA-Fe3+ and MFMBO@TA-Fe3+, and cation exchange existed through the formation of these internal surface complexes. The Pb2+-loaded adsorbents could be effectively desorbed in a dilute hydrochloric acid solution, promoting recycling and reuse of the regenerated adsorbents. These results warrant the promising application of FMBO@TA-Fe3+ and MFMBO@TA-Fe3+ for the removal of Pb2+, and this work first proposed TA film-modified FMBO and MFMBO to improve its adsorption capacity in the application of environmental remediation.

Chromatographic separation of rare earths from aqueous and ethanolic leachates of NdFeB and SmCo magnets by a supported ionic liquid phase.

The separation of rare-earth elements (REEs) from other components of end-of-life NdFeB and SmCo magnets was investigated by column chromatography. A carboxylic-acid functionalized supported ionic liquid phase (SILP) was studied as a stationary phase. The magnets were firstly leached with a dilute aqueous or ethanolic hydrochloric acid solution at room temperature. Leaching of REEs from a NdFeB magnet was similarly efficient with both lixiviants, but the REEs were more efficiently leached from a SmCo magnet with the ethanolic lixiviant. The SILP exhibited a high affinity towards trivalent cations of REEs, which were successfully recovered from the aqueous and ethanolic leachates of magnets. Divalent cations of iron and cobalt, which were the major components of the acidic aqueous leachates of magnets, were rejected by the SILP. Iron and cobalt were present as negatively charged chloro complexes in the ethanolic leachates of magnets, and were not recovered by the cation-exchanging SILP. A versatile column chromatography method is developed, suitable for the separation of REEs from iron and cobalt, either from aqueous or ethanolic leachates of permanent magnets.