Hongyun Niu

Superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles as catalysts for the catalytic oxidation of phenolic and aniline compounds

Fe(3)O(4) magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) with diameters about 10nm were synthesized successfully and used to remove phenol and aniline from aqueous solution. The results showed that phenol and aniline could be eliminated easily from solution under acidic and neutral conditions in the presence of MNPs and H(2)O(2). When the concentrations of Fe(3)O(4) MNPs and H(2)O(2) were 5gL(-1) and 1.2M, respectively, phenol and aniline could be removed completely after 6h of reaction at 308K, and the total organic carbon (TOC) abatement efficiency for phenol and aniline were 42.79% and 40.38%. Some intermediates such as formic acid, acetic acid, fumaric acid and hydroquinone were detected during reaction. Fe(3)O(4) MNPs exhibited good stability and reusability, also showed excellent catalysis ability to eliminate some substituted phenolic and aniline compounds from solution. Fe(3)O(4) MNPs had good superparamagnetism and was readily separated from solution by applying an external magnetic field. Finally we proposed that phenol and aniline might be degraded by the hydroxyl free radicals (.OH) released from H(2)O(2) in the presence of Fe(3)O(4) MNPs as catalysts.

Preparation of carbon coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles and their application for solid-phase extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from environmental water samples.

The carbon coated Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles (Fe(3)O(4)/C) were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal reaction and applied as solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbents to extract trace polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from environmental water samples. The Fe(3)O(4)/C sorbents possess high adsorption capacity and extraction efficiency due to strong adsorption ability of carbon materials and large surface area of nanoparticles, and only 50 mg of sorbents are required to extract PAHs from 1000 mL water samples. The adsorption attains equilibrium rapidly and analytes are eluted with acetonitrile readily. Salinity and solution pH have no obvious effect on the recoveries of PAHs, which avoids fussy adjustment to water sample before extraction. Under optimized conditions, the detection limits of PAHs are in the range of 0.2-0.6 ng L(-1). The accuracy of the method was evaluated by the recoveries of spiked samples. Good recoveries (76-110%) with low relative standard deviations from 0.8% to 9.7% are achieved. This new SPE method provides several advantages, such as high extraction efficiency, high breakthrough volumes, convenient extraction procedure, and short analysis times. To our knowledge, this is the first time that Fe(3)O(4)/C nanoparticles are used for the pretreatment of environmental water samples.

Occurrence of antibiotics in eight sewage treatment plants in Beijing, China

The occurrence, removal efficiency and seasonal variation of 22 antibiotics, including eight fluoroquinolones, nine sulfonamides and five macrolides, were investigated in eight sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Beijing, China. A total of 14 antibiotics were detected in wastewater samples, with the maximum concentration being 3.1 μg L(-1) in the influent samples and 1.2 μg L(-1) in the effluent samples. The most frequently detected antibiotics were ofloxacin, norfloxacin, sulfadiazine, sulfamethoxazole, erythromycin and roxithromycin; of these, the concentration of ofloxacin was the highest in most of the influent and effluent samples. Eighteen antibiotics were detected in the sludge samples, with concentrations ranging from 1.0×10(-1) to 2.1×10(4) μg kg(-1). The dominant antibiotics found in the sludge samples were the fluoroquinolones, with ofloxacin having the highest concentration in all the sludge samples. The antibiotics could not be removed completely by the STPs, and the mean removal efficiency ranged from -34 to 72%. Of all the antibiotics, the fluoroquinolones were removed comparatively more efficiently, probably due to their adsorption to sludge. Seasonal variation of the antibiotics in the sludge samples was also studied. The concentrations of antibiotics in winter were higher than in spring and autumn. Since the total levels of the fluoroquinolones detected in the influent samples were lower than the predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) of 8.0 μg L(-1), the residues of these antibiotics would be unlikely to have adverse effects on microorganisms involved in sewage treatment processes.

Chitosan-Coated Octadecyl-Functionalized Magnetite Nanoparticles: Preparation and Application in Extraction of Trace Pollutants from Environmental Water Samples

In the present study, chitosan-coated octadecyl-functionalized magnetite nanoparticles (Fe(3)O(4)-C(18)-chitosan MNPs) are synthesized and used as an adsorbent to extract trace analytes from environmental water samples. The magnetic nanoparticles, 20 nm in diameter, are of uniform size and have a high magnetic saturation value of 52 emu g(-1), which endue the adsorbent with a large surface area and convenience of isolation. The anionic pollutants, perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), are trapped by the octadecyl group of the interior hydrophobic layer. The positively charged chitosan polymer coating also contributes to PFC enrichment. At the same time, the coating improves the dispersibility of MNPs in aqueous solution and enhances the anti-interference ability of the adsorbent to natural organic macromolecules in complex samples by size exclusion or electrostatic repulsion. A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry system is employed in the determination of PFCs after preconcentration with the MNP adsorbent. The predominant factors affecting preconcentration are investigated and optimized. Under the selected conditions, concentration factors of 1000 are achieved by extracting the analytes from 500 mL of several environmental water samples and concentrating the eluants to 0.5 mL with a nitrogen flow. The method detection limits obtained for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA), perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoDA), and perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTA) in Gaobeidian wastewater are 0.24, 0.093, 0.24, 0.14, 0.075, 0.24, and 0.17 ng L(-1), respectively. Recoveries of PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFDA, PFUnDA, PFDoDA, and PFTA are in the ranges of 88-108%, 63-112%, 79-109%, 56-107%, 66-106%, 56-106%, and 66-103% for four spiked water samples with low relative standard deviation (2-8%), which indicates good method precision. The advantages of this novel adsorbent are high extraction efficiency, anti-interference, and convenient operation.

Barium alginate caged Fe3O4@C18 magnetic nanoparticles for the pre-concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and phthalate esters from environmental water samples

The hydrophobic octadecyl (C(18)) functionalized Fe(3)O(4) magnetic nanoparticles (Fe(3)O(4)@C(18)) were caged into hydrophilic barium alginate (Ba(2+)-ALG) polymers to obtain a novel type of solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbents, and the sorbents were applied to the pre-concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and phthalate esters (PAEs) pollutants from environmental water samples. The hydrophilicity of the Ba(2+)-ALG cage enhances the dispersibility of sorbents in water samples, and the superparamagnetism of the Fe(3)O(4) core facilitates magnetic separation. With the magnetic SPE technique based on the Fe(3)O(4)@C(18)@Ba(2+)-ALG sorbents, it requires only 30 min to extract trace levels of analytes from 500 mL water samples. After the eluate is condensed to 0.5 mL, concentration factors for both phenanthrene and di-n-propyl-phthalate are over 500, while for other analytes are about 1000. The recoveries of target compounds are independent of salinity and solution pH under testing conditions. Under optimized conditions, the detection limits for phenanthrene, pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene, and benzo[a]pyrene are 5, 5, 3, and 2 ng L(-1), and for di-n-propyl-phthalate, di-n-butyl-phthalate, di-cyclohexyl-phthalate, and di-n-octyl-phthalate are 36, 59, 19, and 36 ng L(-1), respectively. The spiked recoveries of several real water samples for PAHs and PAEs are in the range of 72-108% with relative standard deviations varying from 1% to 9%, showing good accuracy of the method. The advantages of the new SPE method include high extraction efficiency, short analysis time and convenient extraction procedure. To the best of our knowledge, it is unprecedented that hydrophilic Ba(2+)-ALG polymer caged Fe(3)O(4)@C(18) magnetic nanomaterial is used to extract organic pollutants from large volumes of water samples.

Humic acid coated Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles as highly efficient Fenton-like catalyst for complete mineralization of sulfathiazole

Humic acid coated Fe(3)O(4) magnetic nanoparticles (Fe(3)O(4)/HA) were prepared for the removal of sulfathiazole from aqueous media. Fe(3)O(4)/HA exhibited high activity to produce hydroxyl (OH) radicals through catalytic decomposition of H(2)O(2). The degradation of sulfathiazole was strongly temperature-dependent and favored in acidic solution. The catalytic rate was increased with Fe(3)O(4)/HA dosage and H(2)O(2) concentration. When 3 g L(-1) of Fe(3)O(4)/HA and 0.39 M of H(2)O(2) were introduced to the aqueous solution, most sulfathiazole was degraded within 1h, and >90% of total organic carbon (TOC) were removed in the reaction period (6h). The major final products were identified as environmentally friendly ions or inorganic molecules (SO(4)(2-), CO(2), and N(2)). The corresponding degradation rate (k) of sulfathiazole and TOC was 0.034 and 0.0048 min(-1), respectively. However, when 3 g L(-1) of bare Fe(3)O(4) were used as catalyst, only 54% of TOC was eliminated, and SO(4)(2-) was not detected within 6h. The corresponding degradation rate for sulfathiazole and TOC was 0.01 and 0.0016 min(-1), respectively. The high catalytic ability of Fe(3)O(4)/HA may be caused by the electron transfer among the complexed Fe(II)-HA or Fe(III)-HA, leading to rapid regeneration of Fe(II) species and production of OH radicals.

Spatial confinement of a Co3O4 catalyst in hollow metal-organic frameworks as a nanoreactor for improved degradation of organic pollutants.

We here first proposed a yolk-shell Co3O4@metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) nanoreactor via a facile method to accommodate sulfate radical-based advanced oxidation processes (SR-AOPs) into its interior cavity. The mesoporous and adsorptive MOFs shells allow the rapid diffusion of reactant molecules to the encapsulated Co3O4 active sites, and the confined high instantaneous concentration of reactants in the local void space is anticipated to facilitate the SR-AOPs. As a proof of concept, the nanoreactor was fully characterized and applied for catalytic degradation of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) in the presence of peroxymonosulfate (PMS). The enhancement of SR-AOPs in the nanoreactor is demonstrated by the result that degradation efficiency of 4-CP reached almost 100% within 60 min by using the yolk-shell Co3O4@MOFs catalysts as compared to only 59.6% under the same conditions for bare Co3O4 NPs. Furthermore, the applicability of this nanoreactor used in SR-AOPs was systematically investigated in terms of effect of reaction parameters and identification of intermediates and primary radical as well as mineralization of the reaction and stability of the composite. The findings of this study elucidated a new opportunity for improved environmental remediation.

Preparation of polydopamine coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles and their application for enrichment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from environmental water samples

Core/shell structured magnetic Fe3O4/polydopamine (Fe3O4/PDA) nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized and developed as a magnetic solid-phase extraction (SPE) adsorbent in dispersion mode for the determination of trace polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in environmental samples. The Fe3O4/PDA synthetic procedure is simple and involves no organic solvents. Only 20mg of Fe3O4/PDA adsorbents are required to extract PAHs from 500mL water samples. The adsorption attains equilibrium rapidly and analysts are eluted with acetonitrile readily. The extraction efficiency is not influenced by salt concentrations up to 300mM and pH values over the range 4-11. Under optimized conditions, the detection limits of PAHs are in the range of 0.5-1.9ngL(-1). The accuracy of the method is evaluated by the recoveries of PAHs from environmental samples. Good recoveries (76.4-107%) with low relative standard deviations from 1.0% to 9.7% are achieved. Comparison study shows that the recoveries of target PAHs are low when they are extracted using traditional SPE method even with the addition of methanol or tetrabutylammonium bromide surfactants in water samples, suggesting great application potential of magnetic SPE method to preconcentrate highly hydrophobic contaminants (such as PAHs) from large volume of water samples. This new SPE method provides several advantages, such as simplicity, low environmental impact, high extraction efficiency, high breakthrough volumes, convenient extraction procedure, and short analysis time.

A novel Fe3O4–graphene–Au multifunctional nanocomposite: green synthesis and catalytic application

A facile, economical, and low-toxicity approach was proposed to coat gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) on the surface of graphene-encapsulated magnetic microspheres. The current method makes it possible to integrate Fe3O4 NPs and metal NPs with graphene without any interference or site competition. Dopamine serves as a reducing agent as well as a coupling agent for the assembly of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and Au NPs on magnetic cores, so that no additional chemicals and thermal treatments are needed. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results demonstrate that GO is successfully deoxygenated by the reduction of the PDA layer, while transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) results indicate that plenty of Au NPs (about 7.3 nm in diameter) are homogeneously distributed onto the surface of RGO and the Au content of the composite is 13.58 wt%. The high Au content endows the nanocatalyst with great catalytic performance towards the reduction of o-nitroaniline to benzenediamine by NaBH4 (completely transformation within 4 min). Furthermore, the as-prepared catalyst can be easily recovered and reused at least ten times due to the high magnetization and stability.

One-step synthesis of silver/dopamine nanoparticles and visual detection of melamine in raw milk.

In this work, we propose a simple, sensitive and reliable assay for melamine in raw milk with dopamine-stabilized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as a colorimetric reader. Dopamine can reduce Ag(+) and functionalize the produced AgNPs to form monodispersed AgNPs. The coexisting melamine in reaction solution could bind dopamine through Michael addition and Schiff base reactions, which leads to the aggregation of AgNPs and induces a colorimetric response. The one-step assay is simple, rapid and highly sensitive. The color-change is quantitatively correlated with the concentration of melamine in the range of 10 ppb to 1.26 ppm, which is below the safety limit in China (1.0 ppm) and EU (2.0 ppm). The coexisting substances including phenylalanine, dl-leucine, l-glutamate, sulfanilic acid, Mg(2+), galactose, lysine, urea and glucose do not affect the determination of melamine. The colorimetric sensor can be used for rapid monitoring of raw milk quality.