Chanapa Kongmark

Performance and status of beamline BL8 at SLRI for X-ray absorption spectroscopy.

Beamline BL8 of the Synchrotron Light Research Institute (Thailand) is routinely operated for X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) in an intermediate photon energy range (1.25-10 keV). The photon energy is scanned by using a double-crystal monochromator, the crystal pair of which can be interchanged among KTP(011), InSb(111), Si(111) and Ge(220). The experimental set-up conveniently facilitates XAS measurements in transmission and fluorescence-yield modes at several K-edges of elements ranging from magnesium to zinc. Instrumentation and specification of the beamline and the XAS station are described, together with the determination of the available photon flux [0.1-6 × 10(10) photon s(-1) (100 mA)(-1)], energy resolution (1-5 × 10(-4)) and stability of photon energy calibration (0.07 eV), representing the beamline performance. Data quality and accuracy of XANES and EXAFS measured at BL8 are compared with those of other well established beamlines. A noted distinction of BL8 is its relatively high sensitivity for studying phosphorous, sulfur and chlorine in diluted systems and its maximum beam size of 14 mm (width) × 1 mm (height), which is suitable for bulk characterization.

Catalytic remediation of phenol contaminated wastewater using Cu–Zn hydroxide nitrate

This work highlights an application of Cu–Zn hydroxide nitrate (denoted as 6Cu–Zn) as a highly effective and reusable catalyst for catalytic wet peroxide oxidation of phenol under mild conditions (35 °C). PXRD and XANES experiments were carried out to confirm a single phase of copper hydroxide nitrate in the 6Cu–Zn sample. The catalytic activity of 6Cu–Zn for degrading phenol was reported in terms of the percent phenol conversion, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency. Treatment of 100, 200, and 500 ppm aqueous phenol solutions with H2O2/6Cu–Zn resulted in complete phenol degradation within 10 min. The 6Cu–Zn catalyst can be reused for up to five consecutive runs while maintaining complete phenol conversion and COD removal efficiency (greater than 90%) after water washing. This work introduces a simple, mild, energy efficient and effective pretreatment method for highly toxic wastewater which could be applied prior to feeding the pretreated wastewater to subsequent conventional treatment units.

Synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy study of disordered cation distribution of nanosized zinc ferrite powders

The zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4) powders of various nanoparticle sizes were synthesised at different milling times (0 to 24 h) of the as-combusted powders. The non-equilibrium site occupancy of zinc (Zn2+) and ferric (Fe3+) ions was investigated through Zn and Fe K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra. The XRD and SEM strongly confirm the particle size of these ferrites decreasing with the increasing milling time. Compared with the bulk specimen of zinc ferrite, both XANES and EXAFS spectra of zinc ferrite powders clearly exhibit the large translocation of Zn2+ ions from the tetrahedral (A) sites to the octahedral (B) sites and the opposite translocation of some of Fe3+ ions without affecting the long-range structural order. Moreover, the curve-fitting analysis of Zn and Fe K-edge EXAFS spectra indicates that the degree of inversion increases as the particle size decreases resulting in significant differences in the magnetic behaviours.

The disordered cation distribution studies of nanosized zinc ferrite powders by synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy

The non-equilibrium site occupancy of zinc (Zn2+) and ferric (Fe3+) ions in dissimilar nanosized zinc ferrites (ZnFe2O4)powders obtained from the different milling time (0 to 24 h) of the as-combusted powders was investigated through Zn and Fe K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra. Compared with the bulk specimen of zinc ferrite, both XANES and EXAFS spectra of nanosized zinc ferrite powders clearly exhibit the large Zn2+ ions translocation from the tetrahedral (A) sites to the octahedral (B) sites leading to the movement of many Fe3+ ions in the opposite direction without the variation in the long-range structural order.