Effect of non-ionic surfactant in the solvothermal synthesis of anatase TiO2 nanoplates with a high percentage of exposed {001} facets and its role in the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye.

The synthesis of anatase TiO2 nanoparticles with controlled morphology and increased {001} facets exposed without the presence of fluorine-derived substances is a challenge. Herein, we report a highly effective approach to fabricate anatase TiO2 nanoplates with exposed {001} facets and their exploitation as robust photocatalytic materials for dye remediation. These materials were synthesized under controlled hydrolysis and condensation reactions, using titanium (IV) n-butoxide in an ethanolic solution, with acetic and sulfuric acids, by a solvothermal method at 190 °C with or without the presence of the non-ionic surfactant Triton® X-100 and then characterized. During TiO2 crystal synthesis, the effect of a non-ionic surfactant on the TiO2 particle growth was investigated. Our results demonstrate that the proposed method can synthesize pure and crystalline anatase TiO2 square nanoplates that form nanostructured spheres with high surface area, uniformly sized mesopores, and exposed {001} facets. The presence of non-ionic surfactant increased the exposed {001} facets percentage of the formed nanoplates from 69 to 80%, decreased the crystallite thickness, but unaffected its crystalline phase and band gap energy. The kinetic constants (Ka e Kb) for the synthesized TiO2 anatase nanoplates are considerably higher than the commercial TiO2 anatase constant (Kc). The synthesized photocatalysts show higher efficiency in the photocatalytic removal of methylene blue (MB) than commercial TiO2 (for t = 120 min).

Bioremediation potential of Dicentrarchus labrax fish scales for dye-based emerging contaminants by ANN-GA hybrid modeling.

This work investigates the possibility of using scales of sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax as a low-cost material for the adsorptive removal of methylene blue (MB) cationic dye in aqueous solutions. The physical-chemical characterizations of fish scales in natura (FS-in natura) revealed through thermogravimetry that they are composed of inorganic (hydroxyapatite) and organic (collagen) phases in relatively similar amounts. Spectroscopy analyses show that the interactions of MB with FS-in natura occur mainly in the organic phase layer of the adsorbent. The effects of initial MB concentration (5.0 × 10-4 and 5.0 × 10-3 mol L-1) and temperature (25-55 °C) on the adsorption efficiency of FS-in natura were evaluated. FS-in natura at MB concentration (5.0 × 10-3 and 5.0 × 10-4 mol L-1) exhibited the maximum adsorption capacities of 2.2 × 10-3 mol g-1 at 25 °C and 2.8 × 10-5 mol g-1 at 55 °C, respectively. The pseudo-second-order model represented the adsorption kinetics well, and the equilibrium isotherm data were better correlated using the Langmuir equation. The newly developed neural model demonstrated a high predictive capacity with an R-value greater than 0.99 and reduced values for mean squared error, root mean squared error, and mean absolute error equal to 0.003, 0.055, and 0.0348, respectively. The genetic algorithm was used to optimize the experimental conditions of the process. In conclusion, the sea bass scales have promising prospects as a low-cost alternative material for removing cationic dyes from aqueous solutions.

Dual emission tunable in the near-infrared (NIR) and visible (VIS) spectral range by mix-LnMOF.

In this study, we describe the synthetic approach, crystallographic structure, luminescent behavior and elucidation of the channels of the energy conversion in heteronuclear coordination polymers with emission in the visible (Eu(3+) and organic ligand) and near-infrared (Nd(3+)) range. The [(Nd0.9Eu0.1)2(dipc)3(H2O)3]n·nH2O, [(Nd0.7Eu0.3)2(dipc)3(H2O)3]n·nH2O, [(Nd0.5Eu0.5)2(dipc)3(H2O)3]n·nH2O, [(Nd0.3Eu0.7)2(dipc)3(H2O)3]n·nH2O, [(Nd0.1Eu0.9)2(dipc)3(H2O)3]n·nH2O, [Eu2(dipc)3(H2O)3]n·nH2O and [Nd2(dipc)3(H2O)3]n·nH2O materials are obtained by hydrothermal conditions from pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (H2dipc) and Ln2O3 oxide (Ln = Eu and Nd). The fine structures in the emission spectrum and spectral profile are used to investigate the ion responsible for the emission characteristics of a material (6), based on coordination polyhedron. The heteronuclear systems show emission in the dual spectral range (NIR-VIS) tuned for blue or red. The tuning of emission on the red (Eu(3+)) or blue (organic ligand) range may be performed by controlling the stoichiometric ratio of the lanthanide ions and by controlling the excitation wavelength. Nd(3+) ions display self-absorption of emission to dipc ligand, resulting in interference on the emission band profile ranging from 400 to 600 nm. The energetic process of energy transfer is operated by a cascade of energy transfer, from dipc ligand mainly to Eu(3+) ions and finishing on the Nd(3+) ion. The efficient sensitization to Nd(3+) by Eu(3+) ions is due to the presence of many resonant energy levels and the short distance between these ions.

Investigating the potential of functionalized MCM-41 on adsorption of Remazol Red dye.

The modification of MCM-41 was performed with 3-aminopropropyltrimethoxysilane. The structural order and textural properties of the synthesized materials were studied by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry/differential thermogravimetry, nitrogen adsorption, and desorption analysis. The adsorption capacity of NH2-MCM-41 was studied with Remazol Red dye. The following parameters were studied in the adsorption process: pH, temperature, adsorbent dosage, and initial concentration. The desorption process was studied in different concentrations of NaOH solutions. The Freundlich isotherm model was found to be fit with the equilibrium isotherm data. Kinetics of adsorption follows the modified Avrami rate equation. The maximum adsorption capacity was estimated to be 45.9 mg g(-1), with removal of the dye of 99.1%. The NH2-MCM-41 material exhibited high desorption capacity with 98.1%.