Understanding the Effect of Triazole on Crosslinked PPO-SEBS-Based Anion Exchange Membranes for Water Electrolysis.

For anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE), two types of anion exchange membranes (AEMs) containing crosslinked poly(phenylene oxide) (PPO) and poly(styrene ethylene butylene styrene) (SEBS) were prepared with and without triazole. The impact of triazole was carefully examined. In this work, the PPO was crosslinked with the non-aryl ether-type SEBS to take advantage of its enhanced chemical stability and phase separation under alkaline conditions. Compared to their triazole-free counterpart, the crosslinked membranes made with triazole had better hydroxide-ion conductivity because of the increased phase separation, which was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Moreover, they displayed improved mechanical and alkaline stability. Under water electrolysis (WE) conditions, a triazole-containing crosslinked PPO-SEBS membrane electrode assembly (MEA) was created using IrO2 as the anode and a Pt/C catalyst as the cathode. This MEA displayed a current density of 0.7 A/cm2 at 1.8 V, which was higher than that of the MEA created with the triazole-free counterpart. Our study indicated that the crosslinked PPO-SEBS membrane containing triazoles had improved chemo-physical and electrical capabilities for WE because of the strong hydrogen bonding between triazole and water/OH-.

Cycling system for decomposition of gaseous benzene by hydrogen peroxide with naturally Fe-containing activated carbon.

For the removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from environmental systems, gaseous benzene, a model VOC, was adsorbed on naturally Fe-containing activated carbon and subsequently, decomposed in the presence of de-ionized water, and low (0.03%, pH 6.5) and high (30%, pH 2.5) concentration H2O2 solutions. The intermediates produced during benzene decomposition were analyzed and compared using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. After the decomposition process, the activated carbon sample was air dried. Three cycles were carried out with de-ionized water and low and high concentration H2O2 solutions as oxidants. The adsorption capacity of the activated carbon sample treated with DI water gradually decreased as the number of cycles increased. On the other hand, the benzene adsorption capacity of the activated carbon samples treated with the H2O2 solutions was improved due to the relatively higher specific surface areas of these samples. After treatment with the low-concentration H2O2 solution, intermediates such as glyoxylic acid, oxalic acid, phenol, malonic acid, and pyrocatechol were observed. After treatment with high-concentration H2O2 solution, intermediates such as glyoxylic acid, formic acid, and acetic acid were formed. With increasing H2O2 concentration, the number and the molecular weight of the intermediate formed by the oxidative degradation of benzene, simultaneously decreased. The Fenton reaction induced by naturally Fe-containing activated carbon and H2O2 could lead to more efficient decomposition of benzene.

Novelty of Dynamic Process in the Synthesis of Biocompatible Silica Nanotubes by Biomimetic Glycyldodecylamide as a Soft Template.

A dynamic process in the synthesis of silica nanotubes (SNTs) by utilizing glycyldodecylamide (GDA) as a soft template was thoroughly investigated. The morphological evolution from GDA to SNTs was deeply explored to elucidate the formation mechanism for optimizing the synthesis procedure. Various analytical tools, namely, XRD, FTIR, SEM, TEM, Z-potential, and N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms, were employed during the synthesis procedure. The interactive structure of GDA was also investigated using TEM-EDX as a function of aging time. These studies revealed the stepwise morphology of nanograin, nanofiber, curved plate, and nanotube in the ethanol/water solution when aged at room temperature. The supramolecular GDA molded the vesicle type nanostructure which was surrounded by silica and facilitated the formation of uniform SNTs. The stimulus for GDA to be curved into a vesicle was the intermolecular hydrogen bonding between adjacent amide groups of the template molecules. This was illustrated by FTIR spectra of GDA-silica intermediate by detecting the transition of amide I peak from 1678 to 1635 cm-1. The effect of hydrogen bonding became stronger when the sample was aged.

Tetraethylenepentamine embedded zeolite A for carbon dioxide adsorption.

Tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) embedded zeolite A crystals were synthesized by using TEPA and the preformed zeolite A precursor under the microwave irradiation. The presence of TEPA in zeolite A crystal was confirmed by TG analysis and FTIR, Raman spectra. The CO2 adsorptive behavior of TEPA embedded zeolite A samples was investigated by CO2 isotherms measured at 25 degrees C comparing with zeolite A. The optimum CO2 sorption capacity was found in the case of 7.5% TEPA embedded zeolite A, which showed 3.75 mmol g(-1) where as the zeolite A showed less CO2 adsorption capacity of 2.88 mmol g(-1). The adsorption capacity of TEPA embedded Zeolite A was sustained up to 90% during 4 cycles of temperature swing adsorption (TSA) from 40 degrees C to 140 degrees C, indicating that the TEPA embedded Zeolite A was found to be useful as one of the application to solid amine adsorbent for CO2.

Encapsulation of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-s-triazine (RDX) onto amino-functionalized mesoporous silica.

Amine functionalized disk type mesoporous silica was directly synthesized by co-condensation method for the encapsulation of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-s-triazine (RDX), aiming for the desensitization of such high energetic material. The adsorption capacities were measured by TG analysis and pore-filling adsorption efficiencies of RDX were estimated based on sorption amounts with respect to pore volume of amino-functionalized mesoporous silica. The RDX was encapsulated as nanoparticles in the (NH2)-INC-2 due to the confinement effect within the size of mesopores and shows adsorption efficiency upto 80% at with respect to pore-filling. The confinement effect is also depicted by lowering of the T(rho) (190 degrees C) when encapsulated compared with that of free RDX. The non-neutralized amino-functionalized (cationic (NH3+)-INC-2) gave more 80% adsorption efficiency at 25% loading and the T(rho) were comparatively higher due to the ionic interaction between RDX and quaternary amine group.

Removal of Cu(II) from water by tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin-functionalized mesoporous silica.

Various adsorbents are available for the removal of heavy and toxic metals, silica-based materials have been the most popular. Recently, there has been considerable interest for the modification of organic moieties and mesostructured materials to enable their use as efficient adsorbent for metal removal. In this study, here we are reporting successful incorporation of tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (TCPP) in mesoporous silica by the post-synthetic method. TCPP-SBA-15 has been found to be an effective material for the removal of Cu(II) from aqueous solution due to the chelating nature of the porphyrin-bridging group. A comparative study on adsorption of copper(II) ion over NH(2)-SBA-15 silica and TCPP-SBA-15 was performed. The results show that TCPP-SBA-15 material has higher adsorption capacity than NH(2)-SBA-15 silica and it reaches the adsorption maxima around 13 mmol g(-1).