Iron incorporated rice husk silica as a sorbent for hexavalent chromium attenuation in aqueous system

An environmentally benign metal oxide, Fe, was incorporated into silica derived from rice husk via the sol gel route and the physiognomies of both the modified (IRS) and raw rice husk derived silica (RHS) were studied via FTIR and XRD analysis and pH_PZC and surface area determinations. The stability of the Fe incorporated into the silica matrix, determined via the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure, showed that the integrity of the sorbent was intact only in basic medium but got vitiated in acidic medium. The sorption process conformed to the pseudo second order model than reversible first order and pseudo first order kinetic models and the rate of sorption of Cr(VI) onto either sorbents was determined by film diffusion. Process variables optimization showed that the amount of Cr(VI) removed per gram of sorbent reduced with increase in initial solution pH and the negative impact of the anionic interference was more in the presence of SO₃²⁻ than NO₃²⁻ and Cl⁻. The predicted Langmuir monolayer sorption capacity (mg/g) of the IRS (63.69) was higher than that of the RHS (61.35). The value of the mean free energy (kJ/mol) of sorption, obtained for IRS (267.26) and RHS (100.00), and the significant changes in the peak positions of specific functional groups on the Cr(VI) laden sorbents showed that chemisorption was the dominant mechanism of Cr(VI) uptake.     

Effective removal of Fe(II) impurity from rare earth solution using surface imprinted polymer

Rare earth is a very important resource. But, impurities, such as Fe²⁺, have great influence on the properties of rare earth material. In this paper, a novel Fe²⁺-ionic imprinted polyamine functionalized silica gel adsorbent was prepared by a surface imprinting technique for selective adsorption of Fe²⁺ from rare earth solution. Firstly, functional macromolecule polyethyleneimine (PEI) was grafted onto the surfaces of silica gel particles, and the PEI/SiO₂ was formed. Secondly, the ionic imprinting process was carried out using Fe²⁺ ion as a template, and Cr³⁺ ionic imprinting polyamine IIP-PEI/SiO₂ was prepared. The adsorption and recognition properties of IIP-PEI/SiO₂ for Fe²⁺ were studied in detail, and the effects of main imprinting conditions, such as the amount of crosslinking agent and reaction time, on the adsorption property of the imprinted material IIP-PEI/SiO₂ were examined. The experimental results showed that the IIP-PEI/SiO₂ possesses strong adsorption affinity, specific recognition ability, and excellent selectivity for Fe²⁺. The adsorption capacity could reach to 0.334 mmol g⁻¹, and relative selectivity coefficients to Pr³⁺ and Ce³⁺ are 23.25 and 18.42, respectively. Besides, the IIP-PEI/SiO₂ was regenerated easily using diluted hydrochloric acid solution as eluent and IIP-PEI/SiO₂ possesses better reusability.     

White light emission from Eu co-activated Ca2Gd8Si6O26:Dy nanophosphors by solvothermalsynthesis

Ca₂Gd₈(SiO₄)₆O₂ (CGS) nanophosphors with different concentrations of single-doped Dy³⁺ ions and co-doped Dy³⁺/Eu³⁺ ions were prepared by a solvothermal synthesis. Very fine particles in the nanometer range could be achieved by this method, as evidenced by transmission electron microscope measurements. The hexagonal phase of the oxyapatite structure was confirmed by X-ray diffraction patterns. The energy transfer between Eu³⁺ and Dy³⁺ ions was investigated by photoluminescence excitation and emission properties. These phosphors had absorption bands in the UV and NUV region, which are suitable for the emission wavelength of UV or NUV light-emitting diodes (LEDs). With increasing the Eu³⁺ ion concentration, the emission peak intensity corresponding to the ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ transition increased and the yellow (⁴F_9/2→⁶H_13/2) emission intensity also increased compared to the blue (⁴F_9/2→⁶H_15/2) emission intensity due to the increased energy transfer between Dy³⁺ to Eu³⁺ ions. Thus, the Eu³⁺ ions compensated the red emission component of the Dy³⁺ doped CGS nanophosphors. Such phosphors are expected to have potential applications for NUV based white LEDs.     

Polyurethaneurea–silica nanocomposites: Preparation and investigation of the structure–property behavior

Nanocomposites consisting of thermoplastic polyurethane–urea (TPU) and silica nanoparticles of various size and filler loadings were prepared by solution blending and extensively characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermal analysis, tensile tests, and nanoindentation. TPU copolymer was based on a cycloaliphatic diisocyanate and poly(tetramethylene oxide) (PTMO-2000) soft segments and had urea hard segment content of 20% by weight. TPU/silica nanocomposites using silica particles of different size (29, 74 and 215 nm) and at different loadings (1, 5, 10, 20 and 40 wt. %) were prepared and characterized. Solution blending using isopropyl alcohol resulted in even distribution of silica nanoparticles in the polyurethane–urea matrix. FTIR spectroscopy indicated strong interactions between silica particles and polyether segments. Incorporation of silica nanoparticles of smaller size led to higher modulus and tensile strength of the nanocomposites, and elastomeric properties were retained. Increased filler content of up to about 20 wt. % resulted in materials with higher elastic moduli and tensile strength while the glass transition temperature remained the same. The fracture toughness increased relative to neat TPU regardless of the silica particle size. Improvements in tensile properties of the nanocomposites, particularly at intermediate silica loading levels and smaller particle size, are attributed to the interactions between the surface of silica nanoparticles and ether linkages of the polyether segments of the copolymers.     

Self-assembled nano-phase particles for enhanced oxygen barrier coatings on polymeric materials

Aqueous-based inorganic–organic hybrid coating materials comprising self-assembled nanophase particles (SNAP) were investigated for their potential to confer high gas barrier performance to flexible polymeric substrates, particularly to improve suitability of the substrates as encapsulation materials for organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices. Potential benefits of this approach include versatility in barrier coating formulation to achieve specific barrier properties, and application of coatings in a reel-to-reel process under ambient conditions. The present study focused on enhancement of the oxygen barrier performance of polypropylene (PP) substrates by applying SNAP-based coatings with and without the addition of an oxygen scavenging additive. SNAP particles were characterised using ²⁹Si NMR and dynamic light scattering, and coatings were analysed using atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. SNAP particle preparation and coating formulation was optimised with respect to oxygen transmission rate (OTR) of the coating on PP, and mechanical properties of the coating solution. In the absence of oxygen scavenger, the lowest OTR attained for the SNAP-based coatings was 0.87 cm³ mil m⁻² day⁻¹ atm⁻¹. The OTR was further reduced to 0.22 cm³ mil m⁻² day⁻¹ atm⁻¹ on addition of 9,10-anthraquinone-2,6-dissulfonic acid (AQDS) into the coating as an oxygen scavenger. These results represent a decrease in OTR by 4 orders of magnitude compared with uncoated PP, and the oxygen barrier obtained by addition of AQDS surpasses the performance of many plastic materials considered to be high oxygen barriers in the food and pharmaceutical industries.     

也黄中活性成分的提取及抑菌实验研究

利用4种不同极性溶剂（石油醚、氯仿、乙酸乙酯、正丁醇）浸泡地黄,对地黄不同极性段成分进行提取,得到不同极性段成分的各种浸膏。通过硅胶柱层析对浸膏进行分离浓缩,用纸碟法研究其不同极性段成分的抗菌活性,实验结果表明,氯仿浸膏60％石油醚一40％氯仿洗脱液、20％石油醚一80％氯仿洗脱液,乙酸乙酯浸膏,正丁醇浸膏等对大肠杆菌、金色葡萄球菌、枯草杆菌等有较好的抑菌活性。     

Homogeneous dispersion of SiO2 nanoparticles in an hydrosoluble polymeric network

The main difficulty still encountered in the elaboration of polymer/silica nanocomposites is the control of the nanoparticles dispersion homogeneity and the stability of the nanoparticle dispersion in the surrounding substance. The innovative point of this work is the elaboration of hybrid networks in aqueous solution performed with ASE (alkali swellable emulsion) thickeners grafted with silica nanoparticles. The thickening ability of the polymer should favour silica nanoparticles dispersion in fluid matrices. Two ASE copolymers were realised by copolymerisation in emulsion of MA (methacrylic acid) and EA (ethyl acrylate) and/or TFEM (trifluoroethyl methacrylate). The substitution of a part of EA by TFEM gave fluorinated ASE copolymers. Their free acid functions were then coupled with different ratio of amine functionalized silica nanoparticles to afford nanocomposites. The amounts of silica nanoparticles in the copolymers were determined by thermogravimetric experiments. Depending on the silica nanoparticles/copolymer ratio in basic aqueous solutions we achieved stable translucent gel like aqueous suspensions of silica nanoparticles containing 1 wt.% of the polymer/SiO₂ nanocomposite.     

Rheological characterisation of cement pastes with nanosilica,silica fume and superplasticiser additions

Abstract

Abstract

This paper reports the effect of silica fume (SF), nanosilica (NS) and superplasticiser (SP) addition on the rheological behaviour of Portland cement pastes with different amounts of SF (0-10%), NS (1%) and SP (0-0·4%) and water to binder (W/B) ratio of 0·4. A rheometer with concentric cylinders geometry was used and the maximum shear rate of 100?s^?1 was applied. SP decreased the hysteresis area, while SF and NS increased it. Samples with NS showed high slopes in descending curves, while samples with SF and high dosages of SP showed lower values. In both cases, the Bingham model resulted in negative values for the yield stress, so that the Herschel-Bulkley model was used instead. The spread values variation on flow table did not follow a linear regression model. For this investigation, commercially available SF and NS were used.     

Autogenous shrinkage of high-strength concrete containing silica fume under drying at early ages

The present study investigated experimentally autogenous shrinkage of high-strength concrete containing silica fume under drying at early ages. The influence of drying on hydration of cementitious materials in the high-strength concrete with water-binder ratios of 0.25, 0.35 and 0.45 was evaluated based on bound water content (BWC), which was exposed to drying at the ages of 0.5, 1.0 and 3.0 days, respectively. By establishing the relationship between the BWC and autogenous shrinkage strain under sealed conditions, autogenous shrinkage strain under drying conditions and drying shrinkage strain were separated from total shrinkage strain, and, then, the contribution of autogenous shrinkage in total shrinkage was discussed. The results showed that the percentage of autogenous shrinkage was macroscopically 50-20% based on the present method, while that was 70-30% based on the conventional superposition principle (SP). The latter resulted in overestimating autogenous shrinkage strain under drying conditions.     

Relationship between resistivity, diffusivity and microstructural descriptors for mortars with silica fume

Mortars with a sand-to-cement ratio of 3 and water-to-cement ratio of 0.5 were made with 0% and 10% silica fume (SF). Resistivities were measured with alternating current impedance spectroscopy (ACIS). Diffusivities were determined with the propan-2-ol counterdiffusion method. Microstructure was investigated with mercury intrusion porosimetry. It was found that there is a relationship relating hydration time to the product of resistivity and diffusivity. Furthermore, the product of resistivity and diffusivity was related to porosity, mean and threshold pore diameters. The influence of silica fume in refining the pore structure was marked.