Copper and Magnetic Activated Carbon Nanocomposites: Application as Recoverable Catalyst for C-S Coupling Reaction.

In this study, activated carbon (AC) was prepared from pistachio nut shell precursor as agricultural by-product. The prepared AC was used to synthesize an efficient nanocomposite via loading of the copper metal and magnetic nanoparticles (Cu-MAC@C4H8SO3H NCs) onto its structure. The structure of the nanocatalyst was characterized by different methods such as FT-IR, TEM, EDS, XRD, VSM, and TGA analysis. The catalytic activity of the prepared composite was tested in a special C-S coupling, namely with the reaction of 2-mercapto-3-phenylquinazolin-4(3H)-one with iodobenzene or bromobenzene. The products of the aryl thioquinazoline derivatives were obtained in good yields and in short reaction times and the products were characterized with 1H, 13C NMR and CHNS analysis. On the other hand, with easy and high recovery of Cu-MAC@C4H8SO3H NCs through magnetic separation, a simple and green method to enhance the efficiency of the nanocatalyst has been provided. The nanocatalyst was reused in the next reaction in up to five cycles without obvious activity decrease.

CdS Semiconductor Quantum Dots; Facile Synthesis, Application as Off Fluorescent Sensor for Detection of Lead (Pb2+) Ions and Catalyst for Degradation of Dyes from Water.

The CdS quantum dots (QDs) were prepared by rapid, one-pot, and novel photochemical method, which used Thioglycolic acid (TGA) molecules as both stabilizer and sulfur source. The structure and morphology of the prepared CdS QDs were characterized by different analyses such as XRD, FT-IR, Raman, EDS, TEM, PL, and absorption. In this work, was used of CdS QDs as off fluorescence sensor for rapid and simple detection of lead (Pb2+) ions in water. The PL intensity of CdS QDs in the presence of lead ions decreased gradually and in the presence of 100 µM lead ions, photo emission completely quenched. The photocatalyst performance of CdS QDs was investigated by methylene blue (MB), methylene orange (MO), and rhodamine b (RB) pollutant dyes under both UV and sun lights. The obtained results showed that CdS QDs had excellent photocatalyst activity with dyes under UV light and 94.9% of MO dye, 94.4% of RB dye, and 81.2% of MB was degraded after 60 min UV irradiation. For understanding about which parameter have a key role in the photodegradation process of MO by CdS QDs under UV illumination, several radical scavengers were used, and results showed that holes have a key role in the degradation process.

Correction to: Intelligent-activated carbon prepared from pistachio shells precursor for effective adsorption of heavy metals from industrial waste of copper mine.

The original publication of this paper contains a mistake.

Intelligent-activated carbon prepared from pistachio shells precursor for effective adsorption of heavy metals from industrial waste of copper mine.

A novel and efficient bio-adsorbent based on magnetic activated carbon nanocomposites (MAC NCs)-modified by sulfamic acid (H3NSO3) has been developed from pistachio shell precursor as agricultural by-products and then was applied for heavy metal removal. Design an experimental model (Central Composite Design (CCD)) for adopting surface response could efficiently be used for adsorption process, and it is an economical way of obtaining the optimal adsorption conditions based on the limited number of experiments. The variants of adsorbent dosage, metal ion concentration, and contact time were optimized for Cu(II) metal by CCD. In addition, adsorption capacity and isoelectric point (pHzpc) of adsorbent were studied at different pH values. Kinetic and isotherm of adsorption were investigated via the Langmuir and the pseudo-second-order model. The maximum adsorption capacity using the Langmuir model was 277.77 mg g-1 for Cu(II) ions on H2NSO3-MAC NCs. Then adsorption process was investigated for ions of Fe(II), Zn(II), and Ni(II) under optimized condition. Also, the competitive adsorption of Fe(II), Zn(II), and Ni(II) ions mixed solution onto H2NSO3-MAC NCs was conducted. Adsorption-desorption results exhibited that the H2NSO3-MAC NCs can be used up to seven cycles while they have excellent performance. Finally, to evaluate the efficiency of this bio-adsorbent, the removal of heavy metals from wastewater of the Sarcheshmeh copper mine as a real sample was studied. Graphical abstract.

Adsorption capacity of heavy metal ions using sultone-modified magnetic activated carbon as a bio-adsorbent.

A novel magnetic bio-adsorbent has been prepared by the loading of Fe3O4 NPs and immobilization of 1,4-butane sultone on the surface of activated carbon. The activated carbon was synthesized from pistachio shell as a carbon material of biogenic, bio-resources and its use is cost effective. Structure, morphology and magnetic property of the prepared adsorbent were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The capacity of the adsorbent for removing heavy metals ions Pb(II), As(III) and Cd(II) was studied using Langmuir adsorption isotherm under ultrasound-assisted condition. The maximum adsorption capacities of Pb(II), As(III) and Cd(II) were found to be 147.05, 151.51 and 119.04 mg g-1, respectively. In addition to high adsorption capacity, this adsorbent shows advantages such as green synthesis, low cast, recyclability, and easy separation. So this nanocomposite can be a suitable absorbent for removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions. Meanwhile, the use of ultrasound radiation is an effective and rapid uptake technology for separating of heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions.

Magnetic bio-metal-organic framework nanocomposites decorated with folic acid conjugated chitosan as a promising biocompatible targeted theranostic system for cancer treatment.

In this work, a multifunctional magnetic Bio-Metal-Organic Framework (Fe3O4@Bio-MOF) coated with folic acid-chitosan conjugate (FC) was successfully prepared for tumor-targeted delivery of curcumin (CUR) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) simultaneously. Bio-MOF nanocomposite based on CUR as organic linker and zinc as metal ion was prepared by hydrothermal method in the presence of amine-functionalized Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4@NH2 MNPs). 5-FU was loaded in the magnetic Bio-MOF and the obtained nanocarrier was then coated with FC network. The prepared nanocomposite (NC) was fully characterized by high resolution-transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and UV-vis analyses. In vitro release study showed controlled release of CUR and 5-FU in acidic pH confirming high selectivity and performance of the carrier in cancerous microenvironments. The selective uptake of 5-FU-loaded Fe3O4@Bio-MOF-FC by folate receptor-positive MDA-MB-231 cells was investigated and verified. The ultimate nanocarrier exhibited no significant toxicity, while drug loaded nanocarrier showed selective and higher toxicity against the cancerous cells than normal cells. SDS PAGE was also utilized to determine the protein pattern attached on the surface of the nanocarriers. In vitro and in vivo MRI studies showed negative signal enhancement in tumor confirming the ability of the nanocarrier to be applied as diagnostic agent. Owing to the selective anticancer release and cellular uptake, acceptable blood compatibility as well as suitable T2 MRI contrast performance, the target nanocarrier could be considered as favorable theranostic in breast cancer.

Molecular Ionic Liquid Supported on Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles-Imprinted Iron Metal: A Recyclable Heterogeneous Catalyst for One-Pot, Three-Component Synthesis of a Library of Benzodiazepines.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: A novel and convenient transformation for the synthesis of benzodiazepines has been developed via catalytic cyclization reaction using ionic liquid supported on mesoporous silica nanoparticles- imprinted iron metal (Fe-MCM-41-IL) as a recyclable catalyst under mild conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For preparation of Fe-MCM-41-IL, FeCl3·6H2O was added to a mixture of distilled water, CTAB and NaOH aqueous solution. The tetraethyl orthosilicate was dropped into the solution under stirring. The product was separated, washed, and dried. The solid product was collected and calcined. Then, to a solution of ß-hydroxy-1,2,3-triazole in toluene, 3-chloropropyltrimethoxysilane was added and the mixture was refluxed. The Conc. H2SO4 was added dropwise into the above solution and stirred. For immobilization of IL onto Fe-MCM-41, the solution IL was added to Fe-MCM-41 and was refluxed for the production of the Fe- MCM-41. Following this, benzodiazepines were synthesized using Fe-MCM-41-IL as a catalyst. RESULTS: The Fe-MCM-41-IL was prepared and characterized by a different analysis. The activity of the prepared catalyst as the above described was tested in the model reaction of o-phenyldiamine, tetronic acid, and different aldehydes under room temperature in ethanol solvent. Also, the catalyst could be recovered for five cycles. CONCLUSION: We developed a novel nanocatalyst for the synthesis of benzodiazepines in excellent yields. Fe- MCM-41-IL as a catalyst has advantages such as: environmental friendliness, reusability and easy recovery of the catalyst using an external magnet.