Ulises Jáuregui-Haza

Degradation of paracetamol by catalytic wet air oxidation and sequential adsorption - Catalytic wet air oxidation on activated carbons

The concern about the fate of pharmaceutical products has raised owing to the increasing contamination of rivers, lakes and groundwater. The aim of this paper is to evaluate two different processes for paracetamol removal. The catalytic wet air oxidation (CWAO) of paracetamol on activated carbon was investigated both as a water treatment technique using an autoclave reactor and as a regenerative treatment of the carbon after adsorption in a sequential fixed bed process. Three activated carbons (ACs) from different source materials were used as catalysts: two microporous basic ACs (S23 and C1) and a meso- and micro-porous acidic one (L27). During the first CWAO experiment the adsorption capacity and catalytic performance of fresh S23 and C1 were higher than those of fresh L27 despite its higher surface area. This situation changed after AC reuse, as finally L27 gave the best results after five CWAO cycles. Respirometry tests with activated sludge revealed that in the studied conditions the use of CWAO enhanced the aerobic biodegradability of the effluent. In the ADOX process L27 also showed better oxidation performances and regeneration efficiency. This different ageing was examined through AC physico-chemical properties.

Theoretical study of chlordecone and surface groups interaction in an activated carbon model under acidic and neutral conditions.

Activated carbons (ACs) are widely used in the purification of drinking water without almost any knowledge about the adsorption mechanisms of the persistent organic pollutants. Chlordecone (CLD, Kepone) is an organochlorinated synthetic compound that has been used mainly as agricultural insecticide. CLD has been identified and listed as a persistent organic pollutant by the Stockholm Convention. The selection of the best suited AC for this type of contaminants is mainly an empirical and costly process. A theoretical study of the influence of AC surface groups (SGs) on CLD adsorption is done in order to help understanding the process. This may provide a first selection criteria for the preparation of AC with suitable surface properties. A model of AC consisting of a seven membered ring graphene sheet (coronene) with a functional group on the edge was used to evaluate the influence of the SGs over the adsorption. Multiple Minima Hypersurface methodology (MMH) coupled with PM7 semiempirical Hamiltonian was employed in order to study the interactions of the chlordecone with SGs (hydroxyl and carboxyl) at acidic and neutral pH and different hydration conditions. Selected structures were re-optimized using CAM-B3LYP to achieve a well-defined electron density to characterize the interactions by the Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules approach. The deprotonated form of surface carboxyl and hydroxyl groups of AC models show the strongest interactions, suggesting a chemical adsorption. An increase in carboxylic SGs content is proposed to enhance CLD adsorption onto AC at neutral pH conditions.

Theoretical study of γ-hexachlorocyclohexane and β-hexachlorocyclohexane isomers interaction with surface groups of activated carbon model

Activated carbon (AC) is employed in drinking water purification without almost any knowledge about the adsorption mechanism of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) onto it. Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) is an organochlorinated contaminant present in water and soils of banana crops production zones of the Caribbean. The most relevant isomers of HCH are γ-HCH and β-HCH, both with great environmental persistence. A theoretical study of the influence of AC surface groups (SGs) on HCH adsorption is done in order to help to understand the process and may lead to improve the AC selection process. A simplified AC model consisting of naphthalene with a functional group was used to assess the influence of SGs over the adsorption process. The Multiple Minima Hypersurface (MMH) methodology was employed to study γ-HCH and β-HCH interactions with different AC SGs (hydroxyl and carboxyl) under different hydration and pH conditions. The results obtained showed that association of HCH with SGs preferentially occurs between the axial protons of HCH and SGs oxygen atom, and the most favorable interactions occurring with charged SGs. An increase in carboxylic SGs content is proposed to enhance HCH adsorption onto AC under neutral pH conditions. Finally, this work presents an inexpensive computer aided methodology for preselecting activated carbon SGs content for the removal of a given compound.

Insight into the structure and stability of Tc and Re DMSA complexes: A computational study

Meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) is used in nuclear medicine as ligand for preparation of diagnostic and therapy radiopharmaceuticals. DMSA has been the subject of numerous investigations during the past three decades and new and significant information of the chemistry and pharmacology of DMSA complexes have emerged. In comparison to other ligands, the structure of some DMSA complexes is unclear up today. The structures and applications of DMSA complexes are strictly dependent on the chemical conditions of their preparation, especially pH and components ratio. A computational study of M-DMSA (M=Tc, Re) complexes has been performed using density functional theory. Different isomers for M(V) and M(III) complexes were studied. The pH influence over ligand structures was taken into account and the solvent effect was evaluated using an implicit solvation model. The fully optimized complex syn-endo Re(V)-DMSA shows a geometry similar to the X-ray data and was used to validate the methodology. Moreover, new alternative structures for the renal agent 99mTc(III)-DMSA were proposed and computationally studied. For two complex structures, a larger stability respect to that proposed in the literature was obtained. Furthermore, Tc(V)-DMSA complexes are more stable than Tc(III)-DMSA proposed structures. In general, Re complexes are more stable than the corresponding Tc ones.

Quantum chemistry calculations of technetium and rhenium compounds with application in radiopharmacy: review

In the last 15 years, computational quantum chemistry has become an invaluable tool that supports the interpretation of experimental measurements of a broad range of molecular properties of Tc and Re compounds. Among the contemporary computational techniques, density functional theory is the most extended one. This review describes recent computational investigations that illustrate best the promise of quantum chemical calculation in a number of areas of Tc and Re chemistry, such as geometry, stability of complexes, molecular spectroscopic properties and electronic structures and bonding characters. General trends and the prospects for future applications are also discussed.

Influence of the chelator structures on the stability of Re and Tc tricarbonyl complexes with iminodiacetic acid tridentate ligands: a computational study

The development of novel radiopharmaceuticals for nuclear medicine based on M(CO)3 (M = Tc, Re) complexes has attracted great attention. The versatility of this core and the easy production of the fac-[M(CO)3(H2O)3]+ precursor could explain this interest. The main characteristics of these tricarbonyl complexes are the high substitution stability of the three CO ligands and the corresponding lability of the coordinated water molecules, yielding, via easy exchange of a variety of bi- and tridentate ligands, complexes xof very high kinetic stability. Here, a computational study of different tricarbonyl complexes of Re(I) and Tc(I) was performed using density functional theory. The solvent effect was simulated using the polarizable continuum model. These structures were used as a starting point to investigate the relative stabilities of tricarbonyl complexes with various tridentate ligands. These complexes included an iminodiacetic acid unit for tridentate coordination to the fac-[M(CO)3]+ moiety (M = Re, Tc), an aromatic ring system bearing a functional group (−NO2, −NH2, and –Cl) as a linking site model, and a tethering moiety (a methylene, ethylene, propylene butylene, or pentylene bridge) between the linking and coordinating sites. The optimized complexes showed geometries comparable to those inferred from X-ray data. In general, the Re complexes were more stable than the corresponding Tc complexes. Furthermore, using NH2 as the functional group, a medium length carbon chain, and ortho substitution increased complex stability. All of the bonds involving the metal center presented a closed shell interaction with dative or covalent character, and the strength of these bonds decreased in the sequence Tc-CO > Tc-O > Tc-N.

Interaction of paracetamol and 125I-paracetamol with surface groups of activated carbon: theoretical and experimental study

The selection of activated carbon (AC) filters for water decontamination is currently carried out empirically. The low concentrations of drugs in the environment make the radioisotope labeling a valuable tool for physical and chemical studies of the adsorption process. A theoretical study of paracetamol and 125I-paracetamol adsorption onto AC was performed to evaluate the interactions between pollutants and surface groups (SG) of AC. Paracetamol was labeled with 125I and adsorption isotherms were obtained using radioanalytical and spectrophotometric techniques. The radioanalytical method overestimates the paracetamol adsorption. The validity of the chosen approach for qualitative assessment of SG influence over the adsorption process was demonstrated.

Role of acidic sites in beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH) adsorption by activated carbons: molecular modelling and adsorption–desorption studies

The removal of β-HCH from contaminated water by adsorption on activated carbons is presented. Sugar cane bagasse activated carbons with different textural and surface chemical properties were prepared and characterized for studying the β-HCH adsorption process. The isotherms are correlated by six models, among which the Fowler–Guggenheim/Jovanovic–Freundlich model is found to provide the best fit for two of the studied activated carbons. The isotherm adsorption data were correlated with the surface functional group composition. β-HCH adsorption was favored by the presence of acidic groups at the AC surface of chemically activated carbons. A thorough theoretical exploration of the potential energy surface for the interaction of β-HCH with a graphene sheet alone or containing hydroxyl or carboxyl surface groups was carried out. Molecular modelling results showed that under neutral to slightly acidic conditions only carboxylic surface groups should significantly contribute to β-HCH adsorption, in qualitative agreement with the experimental results. The analysis of the most stable structures suggests that the hydrogen bonds between the axial hydrogens of β-HCH and the charged oxygens of the deprotonated acidic surface groups are the main interactions responsible for the adsorption. This result is confirmed by a Temperature-Programmed Desorption study, showing that β-HCH molecules are associated with carboxylic groups of the AC surface.

Theoretical study on the interactions between chlordecone hydrate and acidic surface groups of activated carbon under basic pH conditions

A theoretical study of the influence of acidic surface groups (SG) of activated carbon (AC) on chlordecone hydrate (CLDh) adsorption is presented, in order to help understanding the adsorption process under basic pH conditions. A seven rings aromatic system (coronene) with a functional group in the edge was used as a simplified model of AC to evaluate the influence of SG in the course of adsorption from aqueous solution at basic pH conditions. Two SG were modeled in their deprotonated form: carboxyl and hydroxyl (COO- and O-), interacting with CLDh. In order to model the solvation process, all systems under study were calculated with up to three water molecules. Multiple Minima Hypersurface (MMH) methodology was employed to study the interactions of CLDh with SG on AC using PM7 semiempirical Hamiltonian, to explore the potential energy surfaces of the systems and evaluate their thermodynamic association energies. The re-optimization of representative structures obtained from MMH was done using M06-2X Density Functional Theory. The Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules (QTAIM) was used to characterize the interaction types. As result, the association of CLDh with acidic SG at basic pH conditions preferentially occurs between the two alcohol groups of CLDh with COO- and O- groups and by dispersive interactions of chlorine atoms of CLDh with the graphitic surface. On the other hand, the presence of covalent interactions between the negatively charged oxygen of SG and one hydrogen atom of CLDh alcohol groups (O-⋯HO interactions) without water molecules, was confirmed by QTAIM study. It can be concluded that the interactions of CLDh with acidic SG of AC under basic pH conditions confirms the physical mechanisms of adsorption process.

Degradation of chlordecone and beta-hexachlorocyclohexane by photolysis, (photo-)fenton oxidation and ozonation

ABSTRACT Intensive use of chlorinated pesticides from the 1960s to the 1990s has resulted in a diffuse contamination of soils and surface waters in the banana-producing areas of the French West Indies. The purpose of this research was, for the first time, to examine the degradation of two of these persistent pollutants – chlordecone (CLD) and beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH) in 1 mg L−1 synthetic aqueous solutions by means of photolysis, (photo-) Fenton oxidation and ozonation processes. Fenton oxidation is not efficient for CLD and yields less than 15% reduction of β-HCH concentration in 5 h. Conversely, both molecules can be quantitatively converted under UV-Vis irradiation reaching 100% of degradation in 5 h, while combination with hydrogen peroxide and ferrous iron does not show any significant improvement except in high wavelength range (>280 nm). Ozonation exhibits comparable but lower degradation rates than UV processes. Preliminary identification of degradation products indicated that hydrochlordecone was formed during photo-Fenton oxidation of CLD, while for β-HCH the major product peak exhibited C3H3Cl2 as most abundant fragment.