Fengting Li

Metal–Organic Frameworks with a Three-Dimensional Ordered Macroporous Structure: Dynamic Photonic Materials†

Tuning MOFs: When a metal-organic framework (MOF) with an ordered three-dimensional macroporous structure is integrated into a film, the resulting materials have an additional optical element, which can be used as a general and effective signal transducer. This, in combination with the hierarchical pore structure, makes these films interesting dynamic photonic materials with potential applications in sensors.

Preparation and application of functionalized cellulose acetate/silica composite nanofibrous membrane via electrospinning for Cr(VI) ion removal from aqueous solution

Novel NH(2)-functionalized cellulose acetate (CA)/silica composite nanofibrous membranes were successfully prepared by sol-gel combined with electrospinning technology. Tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as a silica source, CA as precursor and 3-ureidopropyltriethoxysilane as a coupling agent were used in membrane preparation. The membranes chemical and morphological structures were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images, X-ray diffraction (XRD), element analyzer, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and N(2) adsorption-desorption isotherms. The composite nanofibrous membranes exhibited high surface area and porosity. The membranes were used for Cr(VI) ion removal from aqueous solution through static and dynamic experiments. The adsorption behavior of Cr(VI) can be well described by the Langmuir adsorption model, and the maximum adsorption capacity for Cr(VI) is estimated to be 19.46 mg/g. The membrane can be conveniently regenerated by alkalization. Thus the composite membrane prepared from biodegradable raw material has potential applications in the field of water treatment.

Thioether-functionalized mesoporous fiber membranes: sol-gel combined electrospun fabrication and their applications for Hg2+ removal.

Mesoporous polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)/SiO(2) composite nanofiber membranes functionalized with thioether groups have been fabricated by a combination method of sol-gel process and electrospinning. The precursor sol was synthesized by one-step co-condensation of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and 1,4-bis(triethoxysilyl)propane tetrasulfide (BTESPTS, (CH(3)CH(2)O)(3)Si(CH(2))(3)S-S-S-S(CH(2))(3)Si-(OCH(2)CH(3))(3)), with the triblock copolymer poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (P123, EO(20)PO(70)EO(20)) as template. After the addition of PVP, nanofiber membranes were prepared by electrospinning. The membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), N(2) adsorption-desorption isotherms, and an Elementar Vario EL analyzer. The composites were used as highly selective adsorbents for Hg(2+) due to the modification with thioether groups (-S-), and were conveniently separated from the waste water. The composite could be regenerated through acidification.

Magnetic Metal–Organic Frameworks: γ‐Fe2O3@MOFs via Confined In Situ Pyrolysis Method for Drug Delivery

A general one-step in situ pyrolysis route for the construction of metal-organic frameworks encapsulating superparamagnetic γ-Fe2O3NPs dispersed in the confined cavities of MOFs homogeneously is described. The integration of γ-Fe2O3 NPs or clusters into MOFs can endow these porous materials with superparamagnetic element. By the combination of the thermal stability of MOFs and pyrolysis of metal triacetylacetonate complex at matched conditions, the porous structure of MOFs are well maintained while the size-induced superparamagnetic property of nano γ-Fe2O3 is obtained. As a proof of concept, both the γ- Fe2O3@ZIF-8 and γ-Fe2O3@MIL-53(Al) were successfully prepared, and the latter was chosen to demonstrate its potential drug delivery as a magnetic MOF.

Laccase–Polyacrylonitrile Nanofibrous Membrane: Highly Immobilized, Stable, Reusable, and Efficacious for 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol Removal

Increasing attention has been given to nanobiocatalysis for commercial applications. In this study, laccase was immobilized on polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibrous membranes through ethanol/HCl method of amidination reaction and successfully applied for removal of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP) from water. PAN membranes with fiber diameters from 200 nm to 300 nm were fabricated via electrospinning and provided a large surface area for enzyme immobilization and catalytic reactions. Images of scanning electron microscope demonstrated the enzyme molecules were aggregated on the nanofiber surface. The immobilized laccase exhibited 72% of the free enzyme activity and kept 60% of its initial activity after 10 operation cycles. Moreover, the storage stability of the immobilized laccase was considered excellent because they maintained more than 92% of the initial activity after 18 days of storage, whereas the free laccase retained only 20%. The laccase-PAN nanofibrous membranes exhibited high removal efficiency of TCP under the combined actions of biodegradation and adsorption. More than 85% of the TCP was removed under optimum conditions. Effects of various factors on TCP removal efficiency of the immobilized laccase were analyzed. Results suggest that laccase-PAN nanofibrous membranes can be used in removing TCP from aqueous sources and have potential for use in other commercial applications.

The removal of bisphenol A from aqueous solutions by MIL-53(Al) and mesostructured MIL-53(Al).

In this work, metal-organic framework MIL-53(Al){Al(OH)[O2C-C6H4-CO2]} and MIL-53(Al)-F127{Al(OH)[O2C-C6H4-CO2]} were synthesized and used as sorbents to remove bisphenol A (BPA) from aqueous system. The sorption kinetics data of BPA were found to be in agreement with the pseudo-second-order model. The equilibrium sorption amounts of BPA on MIL-53(Al) and MIL-53(Al)-F127 reached 329.2±16.5 and 472.7±23.6 mg g(-1), respectively, far more than that of commercial activated carbons (ranging from 129.6 to 263.1 mg g(-1)). Both MIL-53(Al) and MIL-53(Al)-F127 could remove BPA fast from aqueous solutions, and the required contact time to reach equilibrium was approximately 90 min for MIL-53(Al) and 30 min for MIL-53(Al)-F127, respectively. The optimum pH levels for the removal of BPA using MIL-53 (Al) and MIL-53(Al)-F127 were 4 and 6 separately. The optimum temperature for the sorption behavior of BPA on the two sorbents was 20 °C. The results performed show that the resulting products, as one kind of MOFs, can be regarded as a new class of sorbents for water treatment and could find great applications in the fields of environmental water pollution control and resources reuse.

Electrospun fibrous mats as skeletons to produce free-standing MOF membranes

Nanofibrous mats produced by electrospinning are ideal porous substrates for developing chemical systems due to their high specific surface area, large porosity, and enormous structural and chemical tunability. In this work, we report the fabrication of free-standing MOF membranes using electrospun nanofibrous mats as skeletons, and demonstrate the great potential of such nonwoven fiber mats as a new type of porous support in MOF research field. Direct deposition and seeded secondary growth approaches could be used to produce MOF materials within different nanofibrous skeletons, indicating that the developed method of generating MOF membranes has a remarkable flexibility. The characterizations performed show that the resulting products combine the unique properties of both electrospun nanofibers and MOFs, and can be regarded as a new class of hierarchically nanostructured functional materials.

Heteroaggregation of nanoparticles with biocolloids and geocolloids

The application of nanoparticles has raised concern over the safety of these materials to human health and the ecosystem. After release into an aquatic environment, nanoparticles are likely to experience heteroaggregation with biocolloids, geocolloids, natural organic matter (NOM) and other types of nanoparticles. Heteroaggregation is of vital importance for determining the fate and transport of nanoparticles in aqueous phase and sediments. In this article, we review the typical cases of heteroaggregation between nanoparticles and biocolloids and/or geocolloids, mechanisms, modeling, and important indicators used to determine heteroaggregation in aqueous phase. The major mechanisms of heteroaggregation include electric force, bridging, hydrogen bonding, and chemical bonding. The modeling of heteroaggregation typically considers DLVO, X-DLVO, and fractal dimension. The major indicators for studying heteroaggregation of nanoparticles include surface charge measurements, size measurements, observation of morphology of particles and aggregates, and heteroaggregation rate determination. In the end, we summarize the research challenges and perspective for the heteroaggregation of nanoparticles, such as the determination of αhetero values and heteroaggregation rates; more accurate analytical methods instead of DLS for heteroaggregation measurements; sensitive analytical techniques to measure low concentrations of nanoparticles in heteroaggregation systems; appropriate characterization of NOM at the molecular level to understand the structures and fractionation of NOM; effects of different types, concentrations, and fractions of NOM on the heteroaggregation of nanoparticles; the quantitative adsorption and desorption of NOM onto the surface of nanoparticles and heteroaggregates; and a better understanding of the fundamental mechanisms and modeling of heteroaggregation in natural water which is a complex system containing NOM, nanoparticles, biocolloids and geocolloids.

Preparation and application of amino functionalized mesoporous nanofiber membrane via electrospinning for adsorption of Cr3+ from aqueous solution

Novel amino (-NH2) functionalized mesoporous polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP)/SiO2 composite nanofiber membranes were fabricated by a one-step electrospinning method using poly (vinyl alcohol) and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) mixed with cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) as the structure directing agent. Ureidopropyltriethoxysilane was used for functionalization of the internal pore surfaces. The membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), element analyzer and N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms. The nanofiber diameters, average pore diameters and surface areas were 100-700 nm, 2.86 nm and 873.62 m2/g, respectively. These mesoporous membranes functionalized with -NH2 groups exhibited very high adsorptions properties based on the adsorption of Cr3+ from an aqueous solution. Equilibrium adsorption was achieved after approximately 20 min and more than 97% of chromium ions in the solution were removed. The membrane could be regenerated through acidification.

Removal of algal blooms in freshwater using magnetic polymer

Removal of algal blooms in freshwater using magnetic polymer was studied by magnetic field. Results showed that magnetic polymer at optimal loadings (4 mg/Lferroferric oxide modified with 1.6 mg/Lchitosan) could remove over 99% algal cells; meanwhile, the removal efficiency of COD, total nitrogen and phosphorus was found to be 85.0%, 73.9% and 28.7% respectively. Furthermore, effects of ionic strength, pH and cell concentration on the removal of algal cells were analyzed: ionic strength had a negative effect on the removal efficiency which increased with the increase of cell concentration and reached a maximum at pH 7.0.