Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer Research Articles

Effect of Oligoricinoleic Acid on Degradation of Polylactic Acid

ABSTRACT The objective of this research is to explore the impact of oligoricinoleic acid (ORA) on the degradation of polylactic acid (PLA). ORA was synthesized from ricinoleic acid using tin (II) 2-ethylhexanoate as a catalyst. The chemical structures of the obtained ORA were confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR). PLA/ORA films were prepared through the casting method by varying ORA concentrations as 0.1%wt, 0.3%wt, 0.5%wt, 1.0 wt%, and 3.0%wt. Degradation of the films via hydrolysis was studied by soaking the films in deionized water and stirring at 120 rpm in an incubator at 37°C. Alterations in the structure and properties of the films were investigated after soaking for 7, 14, 21, and 28 days using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and universal testing machine (UTM). Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) was performed to confirm the decrease in molecular weight (MW). The presence of 3%wt ORA could promote both ductility and degradation of PLA films. ORA further enhances thermal stability, indicating potential for prevention of thermal degradation during melt processing.

Investigation of controlled salmeterol xinafoate and fluticasone propionate release from double molecular imprinted nanoparticles

AbstractSalmeterol xinafoate (SAM) and fluticasone propionate (FLU) are one of the drug combinations used together in the treatment of lung diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this study is to investigate the usability of novel dual molecular imprinted nanoparticles (poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-N-methacryloyl-(L)-alanine-N-methacryloyl-(L)-histidine) [p(HEMA-MAAL-MAH)], abbr. DMIPNPs) as a controlled drug release systems. In this study, SAM and FLU drugs were chosen as model drugs because they are used in the treatment of these diseases. DMIPNPs were prepared by surfactant-free emulsion polymerization method and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR). In in vitro drug release experiments, drug release conditions were optimized. SAM and FLU release from DMIPNPs experiments were also performed in the simulated lung fluid (SLF). The amount of released SAM and FLU were found as 4.79 and 5.68 mg/g in the SLF medium at the end of 48 h, respectively. The release kinetics of SAM and FLU from DMIPNPs were calculated in the SLF medium. The release of SAM and FLU was determined to be compatible with the Higuchi release models. According to these results, these DMIPNPs, dual-template molecular imprinted nanoparticles with dual monomers, are promising materials that can be used in the controlled release of two different drugs. Graphical abstract

The development of high‐strength, anticorrosive, and strongly adhesive polyaspartate polyurea coating suitable for pipeline spray repairs

AbstractThis study synthesized polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)‐modified polyaspartate polyurea (PPPU) with different ratios, considering the practical performance requirements of underground water supply pipeline spray repair materials. The successful synthesis of PPPU was confirmed using Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) spectroscopy. The influence of the ratio of the two components and the content of ‐aminopropyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane (APT‐PDMS) on the drying time and tensile performance of PPPU coatings was evaluated. Based on this evaluation, a superior ratio for PPPU coatings was proposed. Subsequently, the bonding performance, hydrophobicity, and corrosion resistance of PPPU coatings at the superior ratio were tested. The results indicate that as the mass ratio of polyaspartic acid ester to hexamethylene diisocyanate trimer increases, both the drying time and tensile strength of the coating decrease. The addition of APT‐PDMS results in a decrease in the tensile strength of PPPU, but an increase in its elongation at break. The peak value of elongation at break is achieved when the APT‐PDMS content is 5%, making the PPPU2‐1‐5 coating the superior ratio for spray application on water supply pipelines. Through experiments, it was determined that the bonding strength of the PPPU2‐1‐5 coating with cement mortar under dry and humid conditions, static water contact angle (93.4°), and corrosion resistance performance are superior to those of the unmodified polyurea coating, demonstrating its application advantages. The conclusions drawn in this study provide a theoretical foundation for the practical engineering application of PPPU.

Morphological and Thermal Characterization of Low-Cost Graphene Produced by Electrochemical Exfoliation Method

The low-cost and mass production of graphene has gained importance in recent years. The electrochemical exfoliation method, one of the graphene production methods, is an efficient technique used to obtain low-cost-effective and large quantities of graphene nanosheets. Exfoliation parameters affect the properties of exfoliated graphene nanosheets. In this study, graphene production is fabricated by the method of exfoliation using electrolyte and voltage parameters. For this, a pen tip was used instead of pure platinum, which is very expensive, at the cathode. The structural research was done by X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (F-TIR). Morphological analyses were carried out by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The number of layers and crystallite of graphene layers were estimated. The obtained results were compared with the results of the other similar studies. Analysis results show that low-cost multilayer graphene can be produced by the electrochemical exfoliation method with the electrical parameters.

Fine extraction of cellulose from corn straw and the application for eco-friendly packaging films enhanced with polyvinyl alcohol

Biomass materials substituting for petroleum-based polymers occupy an important position in achieving sustainable development. Cellulose, a typical biomass material, stands out as the primary choice for producing eco-friendly packaging materials. However, it is still a challenge to efficiently utilize cellulose from waste biomass materials in practice. Herein, cellulose-based films were prepared by pretreating waste corn straw, separating straw husk, straw pith and straw leaf, and extracting cellulose through alkali and sodium chlorite treatment to improve its mechanical properties using the cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) method in this work. The prepared composite films were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), X-ray diffraction instrument (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Thermogravimetric (TG) and mechanical properties. The results indicated that corn straw husk exhibited the highest cellulose content of 31.67 wt%, and obtained husk cellulose had the highest crystallinity of 52.5 %. Compared to corn straw, the crystallinity of husk cellulose, pith cellulose and leaf cellulose increased by 19.5 %, 16.4 % and 44.1 %, respectively. Husk cellulose/PVA composite films were the most thermally stable, with a maximum weight loss temperature of 346.8 °C. In addition, the husk cellulose/PVA composite film had the best tensile strength of 37 MPa. Meanwhile, the composite films had good UV shielding, low water vapor transmission rate and biodegradability. Therefore, this work provides a fine utilization route of waste corn straw, and as-prepared cellulose based films have potential application in eco-friendly packaging materials.

Hypochlorite-mediated degradation and detoxification of sulfathiazole in aqueous solution and soil slurry

Although various activated sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) systems were proven to be promising strategies for recalcitrant organics treatment, the direct interaction between NaClO and pollutants without explicit activation is quite limited. In this work, a revolutionary approach to degrade sulfathiazole (STZ) in aqueous and soil slurry by single NaClO without any activator was proposed. The results demonstrated that 100% and 94.11% of STZ could be degraded by 0.025 mM and 5 mM NaClO in water and soil slurry, respectively. The elimination of STZ was shown to involve superoxide anion (O2•−), chlorine oxygen radical (ClO•), and hydroxyl radical (•OH), according to quenching experiments and the analysis of electron paramagnetic resonance. The addition of Cl−, HCO3−, SO42−, and humic acid (HA) marginally impeded the decomposition of STZ, while NO3−, Fe3+, and Mn2+ facilitated the process. The NaClO process exhibited significant removal effectiveness at a neutral initial pH. Moreover, the NaClO facilitated application in various soil samples and water matrices, and the procedure was also successful in effectively eliminating a range of sulfonamides. The suggested NaClO degradation mechanism of STZ was based on the observed intermediates, and the majority of the products exhibited lower ecotoxicity than STZ. Besides, the experiment results by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and a fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) indicated the negligible effects on the composition and structure of soil by the treatment of NaClO. Simultaneously, the experimental results also illustrated that the bioavailability of heavy metals and the physiochemical characteristics of the soil before and after the remediation did not change to a significant extent. Following the remediation of NaClO, the phytotoxicity tests showed reduced toxicity to wheat and cucumber seeds. As a result, treating soil and water contaminated with STZ by using NaClO was a reasonably practical and eco-friendly method.

Construction of functional epoxy resin coatings based on acid-doping polyaniline coated APP: Preparation, characterization and properties

Waterborne epoxy resin (WER) coatings have attracted more and more attention because of their excellent physical and chemical properties, however, WER's flammability and high insulation limit its application. In this paper, polyaniline (PANI) doped with four different acids (sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, citric acid and amino trimethylene phosphonic acid) was used as the shell material to coat ammonium polyphosphate (APP), and a series of multifunctional WER fillers (PANIacids/APP) integrating flame retardant, smoke suppression and antistatic properties were prepared. Then, the PANIacids/APP was compounded with WER to prepare a functional WER coating. The structures and morphologies of the PANIacids/APP fillers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), the results showed that acids doping could promote the formation of polyaniline coating on the surface of APP, and the PANIacids/APP filler doped by amino trimethylene phosphonic acid (ATMP) exhibits the best coating effect. Furthermore, the effects of PANIacids/APP fillers on the flame retardant property, smoke suppression property, electrical property and adhesion property of waterborne epoxy resins were explored. The results indicated that the carbon residue of WER coatings with PANIacids/APP fillers at 800 °C could reach 24.1 %-29.6 %, among which ATMP doping group has a residual carbon of 27.3 %. Also, the WER coating containing PANIATMP/APP filler possesses the best comprehensive performance, the coating has a limiting oxygen index of 31.7 % and passed V-0 level in the vertical burning test (UL-94). Compared with pure EP coating, the peak heat release rate of the PANIATMP/APP modified coating decreased by 78.1 % and the total heat release decreased by 37.8 %. Additionally, the surface resistance and adhesive force of the PANIATMP/APP modified coating reached 3.14×106 Ω and 11.8 MPa, respectively, which could meet the usage needs of anti-static application of the WER coatings.

Co-pyrolysis of waste tire with agricultural and forestry residues: Pyrolysis behavior, products distribution and synergistic effects

Co-utilization of waste tires (WT) and agricultural and forestry residues (AFR) provides an effective means to produce energy while simultaneously providing solution for waste treatment and environment protection. In this paper, co-pyrolysis of WT and AFR (cotton stalk, CS, peanut shell, PS, and poplar branch, PB) was performed using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), and pyrolyzer coupled with gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (Py-GC/MS). The synergistic effects of mass loss rate and hydrocarbon content were quantified from the results of co-pyrolysis of WT with CS, PS, or PB with the weighted average of individual pyrolysis of the feedstocks. The results showed that the mass loss rate of WT with CS, PS, or PB in co-pyrolysis increased by 3.06 %, 3.84 %, and 0.61 %, respectively, compared to the weighted average of individual pyrolysis, while the hydrocarbon content increased by 19.20 %, 18.26 % and 2.97 %, respectively. The addition of AFR to WT made the pyrolysis easier. In co-pyrolysis, the amount of O-compounds decreased while that of hydrocarbons (aromatic hydrocarbons and aliphatic hydrocarbons) increased. Co-pyrolysis of AFR and WT had an effect on reducing aromatic and nitrogen content. These results provide insights into the synergistic effects, from the products distribution and offer potential waste treatment method for these wastes via thermochemical conversion.

Potentiometric sensing of ibuprofen over ferric oxide doped chitosan grafted polypyrrole-based electrode

The present work demonstrates the correlation between structure, properties, and self-sensing protocols of in situ prepared ferric oxide doped grafted copolymer composite, comprised of ferric oxide, chitosan, and polypyrrole (α-Fe2O3-en-CHIT-g-PPy) for residual ibuprofen present in natural and artificial samples. The chemical structure, morphology, functionality, and physio-mechanical properties of the composite were determined by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR), Raman spectra, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Two probe method, and standard ASTM techniques to explore sensing nature. The results confirm the evolution of axially aligned structure against 110 planes of α-Fe2O3 and chemically functionalized expanded polymer matrix during in-situ chemical polymerization of pyrrole, with better porosity, interactivity, and improved electrical conductivity i.e. 7.32 × 10−3 S cm−1. Further, a thin film of prepared composite coated on an ITO glass plate was explored for potentiometric sensing of ibuprofen (IBU) present in artificial and natural samples without the use of any additional energy sources. The observed sensing parameters are the sensing ranging 0.5 μM to 100.0 μM, sensitivity 2.5081 mV μM−1 cm−2, response time 50 s, recovery time 10 s, and stability for 60 days. The sensing mechanism of the IBU sensor and effective charge transfer in the electrode was also discussed based on changes in IR spectra of the electrode recorded before and after sensing due to surface oxidation of IBU due to the presence of iron and doping effect of iron oxide in the composite.

Electrocatalytic Reduction of CO2 to CO by Molecular Cobalt-Polypyridine Diamine Complexes.

Cobalt complexes have previously been reported to exhibit high faradaic efficiency in reducing CO2 to CO. Herein, we synthesized capsule-like cobalt-polypyridine diamine complexes [Co(L1)](BF4)2 (1) and [Co(L2) (CH3CN)](BF4)2 (2) as catalysts for the electrocatalytic reduction of CO2. Under catalytic conditions, complexes 1 and 2 demonstrated the electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to CO in the presence or absence of CH3OH as a proton source. Experimental and computational studies revealed that complexes 1 and 2 undergo two consecutive reversible one-electron reductions on the cobalt core, followed by the addition of CO2 to form a metallocarboxylate intermediate [CoII(L)-CO22-]0. This crucial reaction intermediate, which governs the catalytic cycle, was successfully detected using high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). In situ Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) analysis showed that methanol can enhance the rate of carbon-oxygen bond cleavage of the metallocarboxylate intermediate. DFT studies on [CoII(L)-CO22-]0 have suggested that the doubly reduced species attacks CO2 on the C atom through the dz2 orbital, while the interaction with CO2 is further stabilized by the π interaction between the metal dxz or dxz orbital with p orbitals on the O atoms. Further reductions generate a metal carbonyl intermediate [CoI(L)-CO]+, which ultimately releases CO.

Flotation separation of chalcopyrite from pyrite and sphalerite using a novel collector: An experimental and mechanism investigation

In this paper, a new collector, named O-isobutyl-N-allyl thionocarbamate (IBATC), was synthesized, and the structure was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR) and 1H NMR, 13C NMR analysis. The collection performance of IBATC was evaluated by flotation tests and interaction mechanism was investigated by means of adsorption amount, zeta potential measurements, FTIR, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and density functional theory (DFT) calculation. The flotation tests results proved that IBATC was inclined to collect chalcopyrite compared with pyrite and sphalerite. Especially in the pH range of 9.5–10 and IBATC concentrate of 30–40 mg/L, the recovery of chalcopyrite exhibited more than 80 %. The adsorption amount and zeta potential measurements showed that IBATC had a greater orientation to chalcopyrite. FTIR and XPS analysis demonstrated IBATC chemically adsorbed on chalcopyrite surface, whereas physically adsorbed on pyrite and sphalerite. Further, DFT calculation of the interaction between IBATC and chalcopyrite proved that S atom of IBATC donated electrons to Cu sites on chalcopyrite surface and the adsorption energy was −19.45 kcal/mol, referring to an exothermic reaction. As a result, IBATC showed great capacity for the separation flotation of chalcopyrite, pyrite and sphalerite.

Resource Recovery of Spent Lithium-Ion Battery Cathode Materials by a Supercritical Carbon Dioxide System.

The increasing global market size of high-energy storage devices due to the boom in electric vehicles and portable electronics has caused the battery industry to produce a lot of waste lithium-ion batteries. The liberation and de-agglomeration of cathode material are the necessary procedures to improve the recycling derived from spent lithium-ion batteries, as well as enabling the direct recycling pathway. In this study, the supercritical (SC) CO2 was innovatively adapted to enable the recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) based on facilitating the interaction with a binder and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) co-solvent. The results show that the optimum experimental conditions to liberate the cathode particles are processing at a temperature of 70 °C and 80 bar pressure for a duration of 20 min. During the treatment, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) was dissolved in the SC fluid system and collected in the dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), as detected by the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR). The liberation yield of the cathode from the current collector reaches 96.7% under optimal conditions and thus, the cathode particles are dispersed into smaller fragments. Afterwards, PVDF can be precipitated and reused. In addition, there is no hydrogen fluoride (HF) gas emission due to binder decomposition in the suggested process. The proposed SC-CO2 and co-solvent system effectively separate the PVDF from Li-ion battery electrodes. Thus, this approach is promising as an alternative pre-treatment method due to its efficiency, relatively low energy consumption, and environmental benign features.

Preparation of CaO@CeO2 Solid Base Catalysts Used for Biodiesel Production

The study investigated the use of CeO2 extracted from monazite with calcium oxide (CaO) as a solid catalyst for biodiesel production. The wet impregnation method was used to produce CaO@CeO2 mixed-oxide catalysts with 0–50 wt.% CaO. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) was used to characterize the catalysts. In order to determine the optimal preparation conditions, the effect of different CaO compositions on the performance of CaO@CeO2 mixed-oxide catalysts was examined. The catalytic activity of the CaO@CeO2 catalyst for the transesterification reaction of palm oil to produce biodiesel was studied. The results show that the optimum yield of biodiesel can reach 97% fatty acid methyl ester over the 30CaO@CeO2 catalyst at the reaction conditions of 5 wt.% catalysts, methanol-to-oil molar ratio of 9:1, with a reaction temperature of 65 °C within 30 min. The results show that the high catalytic activity and stability of the CaO@CeO2 catalyst make it a promising candidate for industrial-scale biodiesel production. Further study is needed to improve the stability and efficiency of catalysts in transesterification reactions to achieve a high FAME yield using long-life-span catalysts. Moreover, it is necessary to investigate the economic feasibility of this process for application in large-scale biodiesel production.

Potential application of Ginkgo biloba extract as a green corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel reinforcement in chloride-polluted simulated concrete pore solution

The present work describes the development of a green and sustainable corrosion inhibitor using the extract of Ginkgo biloba fruit (GBFE). The screening of the inhibitory performance of GBFE was done in a simulated concrete pore solution (SCPS). The results report that GBFE inhibits B450 ribbed steel bar (RSB) corrosion and represents a significant decrease in corrosion rate with the rising dose at 50 °C temperature. Electrochemical experiments manifest that GBFE can restrain reactions of the cathode and anode of RSB. The molecular adsorption of GBFE is governed by Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The main active components were classified using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR) and Mass spectrometry (MS). The morphology maps of surface analysis support the creation of an inhibitive layer of GBFE over the RSB surface. DFT and MC describe the adsorption of GBFE over the RSB.

Hardware method for zero optical path difference position detection of FTIR spectrometer

This paper presents a method for accurately controlling the position of the zero optical path difference in the transformation process from interferogram of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer to spectrogram. This position has a significant impact on the position, consistency, and repeatability of spectral lines in restored spectrograms. The proposed method, known as the double-slit photoelectric aiming and triggering method (DS-PATM), can be used to precisely control the zero optical path difference position, as well as the starting and ending positions of sampling, thereby ensuring identical optical path difference in the spectrometer system. The working principle of DS-PATM is elaborated in detail, followed by a description of the optical structure of the photoelectric aiming detector and the photoelectric aiming trigger circuit. Subsequently, a displacement detection system of the spectrometer moving mirror is developed. The system is experimentally validated through displacement aiming and triggering experiments of the moving mirror of the FTIR spectrometer, conducted under standard measurement environment. The results demonstrate that using the proposed method, the standard deviation of zero optical path difference position can be measured with a confidence probability (math.) of 99.7% and a resolution of 0.1 cm−1 for Fourier transform spectrometer, yielding a value of 0.08 μm. This confirms the effectiveness of the detection system and its ability to meet the requirements of sampling interferogram with high resolution.

Synthesis, performance and mechanism of shrinkage-reducing agents with water-reducing function for cement-based materials

Three shrinkage-reducing agents (SRAs) possessing a water-reducing capacity with different structures were synthesized by aqueous free radical copolymerization. Their structures were characterized by Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC), specific anion charge density, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR) measurements. Their abilities to reduce surface tension and their adsorption and dispersing effectiveness in cement paste as well as their impacts on cement hydration and compressive strength, autogenous shrinkage, drying shrinkage, and pore structure of cement mortar were investigated. Results clearly showed that the three synthesized SRAs with a water-reducing function reduced the surface tension of pore solution, with the water-reducing SRA with butyl exerting the most significant effect due to its lower molecular mass. They enhanced the flowability of cement paste because of their adsorption on cement grains. The water-reducing SRA with dimethyl amino exhibited higher adsorption amounts on cement grains due to higher charge density, resulting in higher initial flowability of cement paste and more significant hydration retardation. Their presence decreased the autogenous shrinkage of cement mortar by reducing the surface tension of pore solution, delaying the cement hydration, and decreasing the capillary pore volume. Their addition also mitigated the drying shrinkage due to the synergistic effect of surface tension reduction, pore structure coarsening, and porosity (2.5–50 nm) reduction. Among the three, the water-reducing SRA with butyl demonstrated a higher capability of reducing the drying shrinkage and had a favorable effect on the compressive strength of mortar at later ages.

Simultaneous synthesis of carbon quantum dots and porous carbon using one step hydrothermal method for supercapacitor applications

The present work reports a one-step hydrothermal carbonization process used to simultaneously produce carbon quantum dots and porous carbon. The synthesized materials were characterized by using a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR) to study the chemical interactions, the optical properties were studied with the help of UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, and the morphology analysis of CQDs and porous carbon was examined using FESEM, in which spherical morphology confirms the formation of CQDs, while XRD confirms the amorphous nature of the porous carbon. The application of CQDs and porous materials is evaluated as a supercapacitor material by using the cyclic voltammetry technique. The specific capacitance of porous carbon was 161.33 Fg−1 at 0.01mVs−1 scan rate. This makes CQDs and porous carbon a promising candidate for applications in energy storage devices such as supercapacitors.

Enhanced ozonation of vanillin catalyzed by highly efficient magnetic MnFe2O4/ZIF-67 catalysts: Synergistic effects and mechanism insights.

In this study, we synthesized magnetic MnFe2O4/ZIF-67 composite catalysts using a straightforward method, yielding catalysts that exhibited outstanding performance in catalyzing the ozonation of vanillin. This exceptional catalytic efficiency arose from the synergistic interplay between MnFe2O4 and ZIF-67. Comprehensive characterization via x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) confirmed that the incorporation of MnFe2O4 promoted the creation of oxygen vacancies, resulting in an increased presence of l adsorbed oxygen (Oads) and the generation of additional ·OH groups on the catalyst surface. Utilizing ZIF-67 as the carrier markedly enhanced the specific surface area of the catalyst, augmenting the exposure of active sites, thus improving the degradation efficiency and reducing the energy consumption. The effects of different experimental parameters (catalyst type, initial vanillin concentration, ozone dosage, initial pH value, and catalyst dosage) were also investigated, and the optimal experimental parameters (300 mg/L1.0-MnFe2O4/ZIF-67, vanillin concentration = 250 mg/L, O3 concentration = 12 mg/min, pH = 7) were obtained. The vanillin removal efficiency of MnFe2O4/ZIF-67 was increased from 74.95% to 99.54% after 30 min of reaction, and the magnetic separation of MnFe2O4/ZIF-67 was easy to be recycled and stable, and the vanillin removal efficiency of MnFe2O4/ZIF-67 was only decreased by about 8.92% after 5 cycles. Additionally, we delved into the synergistic effects and catalytic mechanism of the catalysts through kinetic fitting, reactive oxygen quenching experiments, and electron transfer analysis. This multifaceted approach provides a comprehensive understanding of the enhanced ozonation process catalyzed by MnFe2O4/ZIF-67 composite catalysts, shedding light on their potential applications in advanced oxidation processes. PRACTITIONER POINTS: A stable and recyclable magnetic composite MnFe2O4/ZIF-67 catalyst was synthesized through a simple method. The synergistic effect and catalytic mechanism of the MnFe2O4/ZIF-67 catalyst were comprehensively analyzed and discussed. A kinetic model for the catalytic ozone oxidation of vanillin was introduced, providing valuable insights into the reaction dynamics.

Ultrasound-assisted extractive-catalytic removal of micro-organic pollutants in liquid hydrocarbon fuels using highly active ZnO nanoparticles supported zinc-substituted phosphotungstate

To produce ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD), it is necessary to remove compounds such as 2-methylthiophene and 3-methylthiophene that cannot be isolated by conventional industrial methods. This paper presents, a phosphotungstate catalyst improved with zinc atoms placed on the surface of super active zinc oxide nanoparticles and is able to switch between two phases using a hydrophobic ionic liquid (transfer agent). Here, is a description of the synthesis of the α-keggin type hybrid nanocatalyst and its application for the removal of 2- methylthiophene and 3-methylthiophene. The nanocatalyst was subjected to various characterization techniques, including Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) Surface Area Analysis, Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) pore size and volume analysis and Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis(EDAX). The optimized conditions for the ultrasound-assisted extractive-catalytic oxidative desulfurization (UA-ECODS) process were determined using a statistical design, specifically the Box-Behnken design (BBD), which was proposed as a plan for designing experiments and studying the behavior of the parameters. The optimal conditions, which encompass four parameters, namely ultrasonic time, reactor temperature, amount of nanocatalyst, and oxidant concentration, are archived as 14.43 min, 40.52 °C, 86.27 mg catalyst, and 24 % H2O2 Respectively. The results indicated that the removal efficiency was higher for 2- methylthiophene than 3-methylthiophene. The paper concludes that the UA-ECODS method utilizing the synthesized nanocatalyst is a promising and effective approach for desulfurizing of liquid hydrocarbon fuels.

SYNTHESIS OF ALUMINA FROM KAOLIN FOUND IN AJEBO, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

This study proposes the utilization of kaolin as an alternate resource for alumina production due to the decreasing availability of bauxite ores in Nigeria. This project covers the procedures and operations required to produce a high surface area γ-alumina using kaolin, a refractory material. The kaolin used in this study was sourced from Ajebo in Ogun State, Nigeria. The mineral processing of kaolin was the initial step involving removing inherent impurities from the clay. Subsequently, calcination was performed to eliminate crystallised water and impurities and activate the kaolin's limited alumina content. This activation process facilitated the subsequent acid-leaching reactions. At 90oC, 5M HCl acid was used to leach meta-kaolin, which was then filtered. The filtrate was mixed with 5M NaOH at 900oC and was transformed into sodium aluminate. This reaction also facilitated the removal of magnesium and iron hydroxides. Subsequently, HCl was introduced to adjust the pH of the solution. The resulting aluminium hydroxide was then calcinated at temperatures of 700oC and 900oC for 2 hours each to produce γ-alumina. Ultimately, the calcined material was cooled to ambient temperature inside the furnace. The produced γ-alumina was further characterised using X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometer (FTIR), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).