U. Narkiewicz

Equilibrium and kinetic studies on acid dye Acid Red 88 adsorption by magnetic ZnFe2O4 spinel ferrite nanoparticles.

A magnetic ZnFe2O4 (MNZnFe) was synthesized by microwave assisted hydrothermal method and was used as an adsorbent for the removal of acid dye Acid Red 88 (AR88) from aqueous solution. The effects of various parameters such as initial AR88 concentration (10-56 mg L(-1)), pH solution (3.2-10.7), and temperature (20-60°C) were investigated. Prepared magnetic ZnFe2O4 was characterized by XRD, SEM, HRTEM, ICP-AES, BET, FTIR, and measurements of the magnetic susceptibility. The experimental data were analyzed by the Langmuir and Freundlich models of adsorption. Equilibrium data fitted well with the Langmuir model. Pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models and intraparticle diffusion model were used to examine the adsorption kinetic data. The adsorption kinetics was found to follow the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Thermodynamics parameters, ΔG°, ΔH° and ΔS°, indicate that the adsorption of AR88 onto MNZnFe was spontaneous and exothermic in nature.

Impact of yttria stabilization on Tb3+ intra-shell luminescence efficiency in zirconium dioxide nanopowders

This paper reports the observation of Tb(3+) 4f-4f emission gain in ZrO2 nanocrystals stabilized by Y2O3 as the amount of stabilizer increases from 0% to 10% mol. The nanocrystals were obtained via microwave solvothermal technology. The photoluminescence properties of as-grown samples are investigated. The possibility of biological applications of the material is tested on living organisms (mice). The result indicates the potential use of the studied material as a luminescent nanomarker.

Chlorination of carbon nanotubes obtained on the different metal catalysts

In this paper, a chlorination method is proposed for simultaneous purification and functionalization of carbon nanotubes, thus increasing their ability to use. Carbon nanotubes were obtained by CVD method through ethylene decomposition on the nanocrystalline iron or cobalt or bimetallic iron-cobalt catalysts. The effects of temperature (50, 250, and 450°C) in the case of carbon nanotubes obtained on the Fe-Co catalyst and type of catalyst (Fe, Co, Fe/Co) on the effectiveness of the treatment and functionalization were tested. The phase composition of the samples was determined using the X-ray diffraction method. The quantitative analysis of metal impurity content was validated by means of the thermo gravimetric analysis. Using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) analysis, and also Mohr titration method, the presence of chlorine species on the surface of chlorinated samples was confirmed.

Copper removal by carbon nanomaterials bearing cyclam-functionalized silica

The synthesis of metal (Fe, Co, Ni)-encapsulated carbon nanomaterials coated with cyclam-bonded silica has been described. The organic layer was identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The functionalized magnetic nanomaterials were employed to extract the divalent cations: copper, calcium, cobalt, manganese and nickel from aqueous solutions. Their adsorption capacities were studied by the batch procedure. The concentration of cations extracted was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Influence of different parameters viz. pH, amount of the compound studied, contact time, on the cation extraction was investigated. Under optimum conditions copper extraction was significantly more efficient when compared with other coexisting ions.

Titanium dioxide modified with various amines used as sorbents of carbon dioxide

In this study, titanium dioxide was modified with various amines through hydrothermal treatment for adsorption of CO2. The carbon dioxide adsorption performance of the prepared samples was measured using an STA 449 C thermobalance (Netzsch Company, Germany). The morphological structures, functional groups and elemental compositions of the unmodified and amine-modified titanium dioxide sorbents were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR/DR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The results showed that modification of TiO2 with amines through hydrothermal treatment is a simple method to prepare CO2 sorbents with high adsorption capacities. Moreover, the results revealed that TEPA-modified titanium dioxide shoved the highest adsorption capacity, enabling an increase in CO2 uptake from 0.45 mmol CO2 g−1 in the case of raw TiO2 to 1.63 mmol CO2 g−1. This result could be indirectly related to the fact that TEPA has the highest amino group content among the three amines used in our research. Additionally, durability tests performed by cyclic adsorption–desorption revealed that TEPA modified titanium dioxide also possesses excellent stability, despite a slight decrease in adsorption capacity over time.

Magnetic properties of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles

Fine particles of ZnFe2O4 were synthesized by a wet chemical method in the (80 wt.% Fe2O3 + 20 wt.% ZnO) system. The morphological and structural properties of the mixed system were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The major phase was determined to be the ZnFe2O4 spinel with particle size of 11 nm. The magnetic properties of the material were investigated by ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) in the temperature range from liquid helium to room temperature. A very intense, asymmetric FMR signal from ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles was recorded, which has been analyzed in terms of two Callen-lineshape lines. Temperature dependence of the FMR parameters was obtained from fitting the experimental lines with two component lines. Analysis of the FMR spectra in terms of two separate components indicates the presence of strongly anisotropic magnetic interactions.

Adsorption of metal ions on magnetic carbon nanomaterials bearing chitosan-functionalized silica

Abstract Magnetic chitosan nanocomposites have been synthesized on the basis of metal (Fe, Co, Ni)-encapsulated carbon nanomaterials. The organic layer was identified using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The functionalized nanomaterials were employed to remove metal ions: cadmium, copper, nickel, lead and zinc from aqueous solutions. Their adsorption capacities were studied by the batch procedure. The concentration of cations extracted was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The influence of different parameters (pH, amount of the support studied, contact time) on the cation extraction was investigated. The studies demonstrated excellent ability of copper and lead adsorption, and satisfactory adsorption of other ions applied by the supports studied. The nanocomposites with complexed cations can be easily removed from water with the help of an external magnet. They can then undergo regeneration in an acidic environment and can be reused in the analogous process repeatedly.

Functionalization of gold-coated carbon nanotubes with self-assembled monolayers of thiolates

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition using Co–Fe as a catalyst and ethylene as a carbon source. Afterward, a simple method combining wet-chemistry and chemical reduction was used to prepare carbon nanotube/gold material (CNT/Au). Pristine nanotubes and CNT/Au were characterized by transmission electron microscopy micrographs. It appeared that gold formed nanoparticles on CNTs endings and their sidewalls. Further functionalization was carried out by using thiols of different chemical properties and molecule sizes. Thiols formed self-assembled monolayer on gold surface that led to formation of CNT/gold/thiol-functionalized material. The amounts of chemisorbed thiols were measured by elemental analysis and thermogravimetry.

Removal of SO2 from gases on carbon materials

Removal of SO2 from gases on carbon materials The aim of the work is to describe a capability of the active carbon CARBON L-2-4 (AC) and of the nanocarbon (NC) materials containing iron nanoparticles to continuously remove SO2 from air. The carbon nanomaterials (NC) containing iron nanoparticles were synthesised using a chemical vapor deposition method - through catalytic decomposition of ethylene on nanocrystalline iron. The process of SO2 removal was carried out on dry and wet with water carbon catalyst (AC or NC) and was studied for inlet SO2 concentration 0.3 vol.% in the presence of O2, N2 and H2O, in the temperature range of 40-80°C.

FMR and Magnetization Study of ZnFe 2 O 4 Nanoparticles in 0.40Fe 2 O 3 /0.60ZnO Nanocomposite

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanocrystals containing Fe2O3 have been synthesized by the calcination method. Ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) and dc magnetization measurements of 0.40(Fe2O3)/0.60(ZnO) nanocomposite have been carried out in the 4-300 K range to study the magnetic properties of agglomerated magnetic zinc ferrite ZnFe2O4 (ZFO) nanoparticles with an average crystallite size of 12 nm. Temperature dependence of the resonance field, linewidth, and the integrated intensity calculated from FMR spectra have been determined to obtain the value of the uniaxial anisotropy field and to establish the ranges of different relaxation types. Magnetization measurements in ZFC and FC modes as well as the study of hysteresis loops allowed calculating different magnetic characteristics - blocking/freezing temperature, magnetic moment, anisotropy constant, and anisotropy field. The observed magnetic properties of 0.40(Fe2O3)/0.60(ZnO) nanocomposite were explained based on the core-shell model of ZFO nanoparticles. From comparison of FMR and dc magnetization measurements, the temperature ranges of magnetic phases existing in ZFO nanoparticles in 0.40Fe2O3/0.60ZnO nanocomposite are proposed.