Shengyan Pu

Entrapping of Fullerenes, Nanotubes, and Inorganic Nanoparticles by a DNA−Chitosan Complex: A Method for Nanomaterials Removal

We report a protocol for entrapping of various water-dispersed nanomaterials: fullerenes, multiwall carbon nanotubes, quantum dots (semiconductor nanoparticles), and gold nanorods, into a DNA-chitosan complex. In contrast to small-size nanomaterial particles, the bulky DNA-chitosan interpolyelectrolyte complex incorporating the dispersed nanomaterials can be easily separated from aqueous media by centrifugation, filtration, or decantation. While the removal of nanoparticles by centrifugation is equally efficient for every type of nanoparticles and reaches 100%, the higher efficiency of the nanomaterials removal by other two methods is favored by larger size of nanoparticles. The application of this entrapping protocol for removal of nanomaterials from water is discussed.

Conformational behavior of DNA-templated CdS inorganic nanowire

We describe the conformational behavior and morphological control of DNA-mineralized CdS nanowires in a bulk solution. The conformational behavior of individual double-stranded DNA in the presence of cadmium ions and stoichiometric mixtures of cadmium ions and sulfide ions was directly visualized by fluorescence microscopy. It was found that in the presence of mixtures of cadmium ions and sulfide ions, DNA molecules exhibit a conformational transition from an elongated coil to a compacted state. Mineralized DNA nanowires possess a significant conformational freedom at a microscale, and flexibility in the micro- and nanodimensions. The density of the inorganic material on the nanowire can be controlled by varying the concentrations and the molar ratio of Na(2)S to Cd(ClO(4))(2).

Hybrid porous magnetic bentonite-chitosan beads for selective removal of radioactive cesium in water

Easy-to-obtain magnetic bentonite-chitosan hybrid beads (Bn-CTS) were prepared by immobilizing bentonite within a porous structure of chitosan beads to achieve a hybrid adsorption effect for the removal of cesium ion (Cs+) from water. The hybrid adsorbent, which had a porous structure and abundant binding sites contributed by both chitosan and bentonite, ensured superb adsorption characteristics. The paramagnetic character of the beads enabled their facile separation for recycling. The chitosan/bentonite ratio, pH and contact time were optimized to achieve the optimal Cs+ efficiency, and the adsorption kinetics and isotherms were thoroughly discussed. The adsorption kinetics obeyed the pseudo-second-order model, and the best fitted equation for equilibrium data was the Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacity of the bentonite-chitosan beads was 57.1 mg g-1. The adsorbent had excellent selectivity towards Cs+ adsorption in the presence of abundant cations (Li+, Na+, K+ and Mg2+). The adsorbent was able to be recycled by treating the beads with 0.1 mol L-1 of MgCl2 to quantitatively desorb Cs+ from the beads. Overall, the magnetic bentonite-chitosan beads can be used as a highly efficient adsorbent for radioactive waste disposal and management.