Preparation of nano-TiO_2/diatomite-based porous ceramics and their photocatalytic kinetics for formaldehyde degradation

Diatomite-based porous ceramics were adopted as carriers to immobilize nano-TiO_2 via a hydrolysis-deposition technique. The thermal degradation of as-prepared composites was investigated using thermogravimetric–differential thermal analysis, and the phase and microstructure were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The results indicated that the carriers were encapsulated by nano-TiO_2 with a thickness of 300–450 nm. The main crystalline phase of TiO_2 calcined at 650℃ was anatase, and the average grain size was 8.3 nm. The FT-IR absorption bands at 955.38 cm~(-1) suggested that new chemical bonds among Ti, O, and Si had formed in the composites. The photocatalytic(PC) activity of the composites was investigated under UV irradiation. Furthermore, the photodegradation kinetics of formaldehyde was investigated using the composites as the cores of an air cleaner. A kinetics study showed that the reaction rate constants of the gas-phase PC reaction of formaldehyde were κ = 0.576 mg·m~(–3)·min~(–1) and K = 0.048 m~3/mg.     

Preparation, characterization and photodegradation of methylene blue based on TiO2 microparticles modified with thiophene substituents

The new microparticles,2-formylthiophene(FT)/TiO2 and(E)-1,2-bis(5-formyl-2-thienyl) ethylene(EBFTE)/TiO2 were synthesized with a silane coupling agent.The prepared TiO2 composites were characterized using Ultraviolet-Vis absorption(UV-Vis),X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscope(SEM) and thermogravimetric analyzer(TGA).Methylene blue was used as a model material to examine the photocatalytic activities of the prepared catalysts under both Ultraviolet-Vis(UV) and visible(Vis) light.The enhanced photocatalytic activities were observed in the presence of(FT)/TiO2 and EBFTE/TiO2 under Vis light.It suggests that FT or EBFTE plays a block or active role in the photodegradation mechanisms under UV and Vis light irradiation,respectively.     

Improved photocatalytic activity of nano CuO-incorporated TiO2 granules prepared by spray drying

4 wt% CuO–96 wt% TiO2 granules were prepared by a spray drying process. The microstructure and optical property of CuO–TiO2 granules were studied. The results indicate that copper existed in the form of CuO. The spray dried granules possess spherical geometry and smooth surface with grain size in the range of 40–80 μm. CuO–TiO2 has a relatively smaller E g value(2.85 eV) than Ti O2(3.17 eV). The photocatalytic property of CuO–TiO2 granules was investigated by degradation of a model pollutant(the azo dye methyl orange) under the irradiation of the xenon lamp equipped with a band pass fi lter of 365 nm. The CuO–TiO2spray-dried granules degrade about 10% more MO than TiO2spray-dried granules under UV irradiation within the same time. The XPS spectra suggested that Cu2 tand reduced copper species were coexistent in reacted CuO–TiO2 photocatalyst. The improvement of photocatalytic activity for CuO–TiO2 was mainly attributed to effective separation of photogenerated electron–hole pairs in the presence of CuO.     

Fabrication of TiO2 nanoparticles/nanorod composite arrays via a two-step method for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells

Ti O2nanoparticles/nanorod composite arrays were prepared on the F-doped tin oxide(FTO)substrate through a two-step method of hydrothermal and d.c.magnetron sputtering.The microstructure and optical properties of the samples were characterized respectively by means of X-ray diffraction(XRD),field-emission scanning electron microscopy(FESEM)and UV–vis spectrometer.The results showed that the Ti O2composite nanorod arrays possess the nature of high surface area for more dye molecule absorption and the strong light scattering effects.The dye sensitized solar cells(DSSCs)based on Ti O2composite nanorod arrays exhibited a 80%improvement in the overall energy conversion efficiency compared with the pure Ti O2nanorod arrays photoanode.     

Controlled-release Properties of Microencapsulated Disperse Dyes

Some disperse dyes were microencapsulated by means of in-situ polymerization. These microencapsulated disperse dyes was extracted respectively by ethanol under certain conditions. The controlled-release properties of disperse dyes through the shell of microcapsules were measured by spectrophotometer. According to the results, it was drawn that the type of disperse dyes, the auxiliaries contained in disperse dyes, the quantity of system controlling medium used and the core/shell ratio of microcapsules play important roles in controlling the release properties of microcapsules. The different controlled-release properties of microcapsules, which were prepared under given conditions, however, would in turn influence the performance of microcapsules in multiple-transfer printing.     

Adsorption and Fenton Synergistic Process Using Magnetic Co-Fe-Biochar Microsphere for the Removal of Dyes from Aqueous Solution

To attain a low-cost and high-efficient adsorbent and Fenton catalyst, sludge biochar/nano-cobalt(Co-Biochar) and sludge biochar/nano-cobalt/iron(Co-Fe-Biochar) composites were prepared to use as raw materials, and iron and nano-cobalt as modifiers with a hydrothermal method at 180°C for 3 h. The adsorption effect of different composite materials on low concentration Congo red dyes and synergistic effect of adsorption and high oxidation on high concentration Congo red dyes were studied. The results show that Co-Fe-Biochar has not only adsorption to Congo red dyes but also strong advanced oxidation. The removal rate of Co-Fe-Biochar to high concentration Congo red dyes is as high as 82%. Co-Fe-Biochar were characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS), scanning electron microscopy(SEM), nitrogen absorption and desorption(BET), hysteresis loop(VSM), and Fourier transform infrared spectrum(FTIR). It is known that the prepared composite material is a microsphere structure in which nano cobalt is the core and the iron carbon layer is the outer shell. Moreover, the addition of nano cobalt makes the composite have a porous morphology, with the specific surface area of the composite increased from 54.024 m~2/g to 117.753 m~2/g.     

Bilirubin sensor based on CuO-CdO composites deposited in a nafion/glassy carbon electrode matrixes

Copper oxide-cadmium oxide nanocomposites(CuO-CdO NCs) were synthesized by solvothermal technique in a basic medium. CuO-CdO NCs were characterized using conventional techniques, such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy(FTIR), UV–Visible Spectroscopy(UV/Vis), Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy(FESEM), X-ray electron dispersive spectroscopy(XEDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS), and powder X-ray diffraction(XRD). A selective and enzyme-less Bilirubin(BLR) sensor was developed with a thin-layer of NCs onto a glassy carbon electrode(GCE, surface area = 0.0316 cm~2) using 5% nafion binders at room conditions. Improved electrochemical performances of higher sensitivity, lower detection limit,linear dynamic range(LDR), and long-term stability of preferred BLR were achieved by a reliable currentvoltage(I-V) approach. The calibration curve was found linear(R~2= 0.9347) in a wide range of BLR concentration(10.0 pM ~ 10.0 mM). Based on the signal to noise ratio value of 3, the sensitivity and limit of detection(LOD) of the sensor were calculated as 95.0 pA μM~(-1) cm~(-2) and 1.0 ± 0.1 pM respectively.Solvothermally synthesized CuO-CdO NCs/GCE is an excellent advancement of developing a selective and sensitive BLR sensor by electrochemical approach and practically implemented in real sample applications.     

Bionic titania coating carbon multi-layer material derived from natural leaf and its superior photocatalytic performance

Bionic titania coating carbon multi-layer material was fabricated by employing canna leaves as substrate and carbon precursor. Titania nanocrystals were assembled and coated on the natural films. The carbonation treatment under pure N_2 atmosphere yielded the ultrathin multi-film hybrid material. The carbon layer was coated with small anatase titania crystallite(8–10 nm) and possessed a highly specific surface area of 248.3 m~2 g~(-1). Examination using UV–visible spectrophotometer(UV–vis) showed that the band gap of the multi-layer material was reduced to 2.75 eV, and the hydrogen production by photocatalytic splitting of water under visible light irradiation was about 302 μmol g~(-1) after six hour.     

AN EXAMINATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF STABILIZERS ON THE PHOTOCHEMICAL STABILITY OF DISPERSE DYES

There is a powerful market-need for superfast disperse dyes in special use, e.g. for automotivefabrics. The photochemical fading reactions of dyes are often very complicated, and no singlphotodegradation pathway can be involved for all kinds of dyes. To enhance the photostability of the commonly used disperse dyes, a series of tests on the ef-fect of variable stabilizers on the photodegradation rate of nine representative disperse dyes werecarried out both in ethyl acetate solution and on cellulose acetate film. A moderate light sourceemitting above 300 nm was adopted in this study to simulate the photofading under practical appli-cations. The results show that, in solution, 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-piperidine is the most effectivegeneral stabilizer for all the tested dyes, but on cellulose film, nickel diethyl-dithiocarbamateshows the greatest general protecting effect, and a synergistic effect is observed for special combina-tions of stabilizers.     

Preparation of nano-TiO2/diatomite-based porous ceramics and their photocatalytic kinetics for formaldehyde degradation

Diatomite-based porous ceramics were adopted as carriers to immobilize nano-TiO₂ via a hydrolysis-deposition technique. The thermal degradation of as-prepared composites was investigated using thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis, and the phase and microstructure were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The results indicated that the carriers were encapsulated by nano-TiO₂ with a thickness of 300-450 nm. The main crystalline phase of TiO₂ calcined at 650℃ was anatase, and the average grain size was 8.3 nm. The FT-IR absorption bands at 955.38 cm-1 suggested that new chemical bonds among Ti, O, and Si had formed in the composites. The photocatalytic (PC) activity of the composites was investigated under UV irradiation. Furthermore, the photodegradation kinetics of formaldehyde was investigated using the composites as the cores of an air cleaner. A kinetics study showed that the reaction rate constants of the gas-phase PC reaction of formaldehyde were κ=0.576 mg·m-3·min-1 and K=0.048 m3.     

Influence of chitosan characteristics on the properties of biopolymeric chitosan–montmorillonite

Chitosan–montmorillonite is a modified montmorillonite in which the sodium ions in montmorillonite layers are replaced by biopolymeric chitosan. The effects of characteristics of chitosan (i.e. molecular weight and degree of deacetylation) and the chitosan/montmorillonite mass ratio on the properties of chitosan–montmorillonite were investigated. Thermogravimetric analysis, zeta potential and X-ray diffraction results confirmed intercalation of chitosan into montmorillonite layers. An interaction between chitosan and montmorillonite was revealed by FTIR and the zeta potential. The amount of chitosan intercalated into the montmorillonite layers depended on the characteristics of chitosan, with the largest amounts of intercalated chitosan achieved by addition of chitosan with a molecular weight of 71,000 g/mol or a degree of deacetylation of 80% at a fixed chitosan/montmorillonite mass ratio of 2:1. The resulting chitosan–montmorilllonite had good adsorbent properties, especially for adsorption of cationic dyes, and also inhibited E. coli by almost 100%. The chitosan–montmorillonite may be useful as a functional material for dye adsorption and antibacterial applications.     

Photodegradation of N-nitrosodiethylamine in water with UV irradiation

The direct photolysis of N-nitrosodiethylamine(NDEA) in water with ultraviolet(UV) irradiation was investigated.Results showed that NDEA could be completely degraded under the direct UV irradiation.The effects of the experimental conditions,including the initial concentration of NDEA,humic acid and solution pH,were studied.The degradation products of NDEA were identified and quantified with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS) and high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC).It was confirmed that methylamine(MA),dimethylamine(DMA),ethylamine(EA),diethylamine(DEA),NO2-and NO3-were the main degradation products.The photolysis degradation mechanism of NDEA was also discussed.As a result of N-N bond fission,NDEA was degraded by direct UV irradiation.     

构建TiO2柱状多层石墨烯纳米复合材料作为降解环丙沙星的高效光催化剂

We successfully constructed TiO₂-pillared multilayer graphene nanocomposites (T-MLGs) via a facile method as follows: dodecanediamine pre-pillaring, ion exchange (Ti4+ pillaring), and interlayer in-situ formation of TiO₂ by hydrothermal method. TiO₂ nanoparticles were distributed uniformly on the graphene interlayer. The special structure combined the advantages of graphene and TiO₂ nanoparticles. As a result, T-MLGs with 64.3wt% TiO₂ showed the optimum photodegradation rate and adsorption capabilities toward ciprofloxacin. The photodegradation rate of T-MLGs with 64.3wt% TiO₂ was 78% under light-emitting diode light irradiation for 150 min. Meanwhile, the pseudo-first-order rate constant of T-MLGs with 64.3wt% TiO₂ was 3.89 times than that of pristine TiO₂. The composites also exhibited high stability and reusability after five consecutive photocatalytic tests. This work provides a facile method to synthesize semiconductor-pillared graphene nanocomposites by replacing TiO₂ nanoparticles with other nanoparticles and a feasible means for sustainable utilization of photocatalysts in wastewater control.     

Corrosion behavior of as-cast Mg–8Li–3Al+xCe alloy in 3.5wt% NaCl solution

Mg–8Li–3Al+xCe alloys (x = 0.5wt%, 1.0wt%, and 1.5wt%) were prepared through a casting route in an electric resistance furnace under a controlled atmosphere. The cast alloys were characterized by X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The corrosion behavior of the as-cast Mg–8Li–3Al+xCe alloys were studied under salt spray tests in 3.5wt% NaCl solution at 35°C, in accordance with standard ASTM B–117, in conjunction with potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) tests. The results show that the addition of Ce to Mg–8Li–3Al (LA83) alloy results in the formation of Al₂Ce intermetallic phase, refines both the α-Mg phase and the Mg₁₇Al₁₂ intermetallic phase, and then increases the microhardness of the alloys. The results of PDP and salt spray tests reveal that an increase in Ce content to 1.5wt% decreases the corrosion rate. The best corrosion resistance is observed for the LA83 alloy sample with 1.0wt% Ce.     

Leaching behavior of zinc and copper from zinc refinery residue and filtration performance of pulp under the hydrothermal process

This study aims to investigate the leaching behavior and filtration performance of zinc refinery residue under hydrothermal conditions. The relationships between the structure and morphology of silicon in the leaching residue and the pulp filtration performance were explored by determining the pulp filtration speed, analyzing quantitatively the silicon content in the leachate, and characterizing the leaching residue structure. The results show that hydrothermal leaching induces the coagulation–hydrolysis of the silicon in solution, consequently altering the microstructure of the leaching residue, and that silicon oxygen tetrahedra([SiO_4]~(4-)) form the main skeleton structure of the residue. The results obtained also show that the leaching rates of zinc and copper are 98.1% and 98.7%, respectively, and that the filtration speed is 526.32 L/(m~2·h) under the conditions of sulfuric acid concentration of 140 g/L, leaching temperature of 160°C, leaching time of 3.0 h, oxygen partial pressure of 0.75 MPa, stirring speed of 600 r/min, and a liquid-to-solid ratio of 10 mL/g.     

Hydrothermal synthesis of ultrathin Bi2MO6 (M=W,Mo) nanoplates as new host substances for red-emitting europium ion

Ultrathin Bi2MO6 (M?W, Mo) nanoplates were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. SEM, EDS and XRD were used to investigate the morphologies and compositions of the samples from BiONO3 nanoplates along with some nanoparticles, to precursory Bi2WO6 nanoplates and Bi2MoO6 nanoparticles, and to final Bi2MO6 nanoplates. The possible formation mechanism of products was proposed. The experimental results exhibited that Bi2MO6 nanoplates had stronger light adsorption in ultraviolet–visible range. Bi2MO6 nanoplates were useful host for rare earth ions, Eu3twas successfully doped in Bi2MO6 nanoplates and an energy efficiently transferred from Bi3t to Eu3t, displaying intense red color under ultraviolet (UV) light excitation. The morphologies of products kept constant after doping. It is suggested that Bi2MO6:Eu nanoplates have promising application in fluorescent mark.     

放电等离子烧结及热处理制备的Fe/316L/430–Ti(C,N)复合材料的滑动磨损行为

A series of novel steel–Ti(C,N) composites was fabricated by spark plasma sintering (SPS) and subsequent heat treatment. The hardness, indentation fracture resistance, and wear behaviour of the steel–Ti(C,N) composites were compared with those of the unreinforced samples, and their potentials were assessed by comparison with traditional cermet/hardmetal systems. The results showed that with the addition of 20wt% Ti(C,N), the wear rates of the newly examined composites reduced by a factor of about 2 to 4 and were comparable to those of cermets and hardmetals. The martensitic transformation of the steel matrix and the formation of in situ carbides induced by heat treatment enhanced the wear resistance. Although the presence of excessive in situ carbides improved the hardness, the low indentation fracture resistance (IFR) value resulted in brittle fracture, which in turn resulted in poor wear property. Moreover, the operative wear mechanisms were investigated. This study provides a practical and cost-effective approach to prepare steel–Ti(C,N) composites as potential wear-resistant materials.     

Microstructure and electrolysis behavior of self-healing Cu-Ni-Fe composite inert anodes for aluminum electrowinning

The microstructure evolution and electrolysis behavior of(Cu_(52)Ni_(30)Fe_(18))–x Ni Fe_2O_4(x=40wt%,50wt%,60wt%,and 70wt%)composite inert anodes for aluminum electrowinning were studied.Ni Fe_2O_4 was synthesized by solid-state reaction at 950°C.The dense anode blocks were prepared by ball-milling followed by sintering under a N_2 atmosphere.The phase evolution of the anodes after sintering was determined by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.The results indicate that a substitution reaction between Fe in the alloy phase and Ni in the oxide phase occurs during the sintering process.The samples were also examined as inert anodes for aluminum electrowinning in the low-temperature KF–NaF–AlF_3 molten electrolyte for 24 h.The cell voltage during electrolysis and the corrosion scale on the anodes were analyzed.The results confirm that the scale has a self-repairing function because of the synergistic reaction between the alloy phase with Fe added and the oxide phase.The estimated wear rate of the(Cu_(52)Ni_(30)Fe_(18))–50Ni Fe_2O_4 composite anode is 2.02 cm·a~(-1).     

Mechanical,electrical, and thermal properties of the directionally solidified Bi-Zn-Al ternary eutectic alloy

A Bi-2.0Zn-0.2Al (wt%) ternary eutectic alloy was prepared using a vacuum melting furnace and a casting furnace. The samples were directionally solidified upwards at a constant growth rate (V = 18.4 μm/s) under different temperature gradients (G = 1.15–3.44 K/mm) and at a constant temperature gradient (G = 2.66 K/mm) under different growth rates (V = 8.3–500 μm/s) in a Bridgman-type directional solidification furnace. The dependence of microstructure parameter (λ) on the solidification parameters (G and V) and that of the microhardness (Hv) on the microstructure and solidification parameters were investigated. The resistivity (ρ) measurements of the studied alloy were performed using the standard four-point-probe method, and the temperature coefficient of resistivity (α) was calculated from the ρ-T curve. The enthalpy (ΔH) and the specific heat (C_p) values were determined by differential scanning calorimetry analysis. In addition, the thermal conductivities of samples, obtained using the Wiedemann-Franz and Smith-Palmer equations, were compared with the experimental results. The results revealed that, the thermal conductivity values obtained using the Wiedemann-Franz and Smith-Palmer equations for the Bi-2.0Zn-0.2Al (wt%) alloy are in the range of 5.2–6.5 W/Km and 15.2–16.4 W/Km, respectively.     

Cobalt doped ZrO2 decorated multiwalled carbon nanotube: A promising nanocatalyst for photodegradation of indigo carmine and eosin Y dyes

This paper reports the degradation of indigo carmine and eosin Y dyes in water, catalyzed by cobalt and multiwalled carbon nanotube modified zirconium oxide nanocomposite(Co-ZrO_2-MWCNTs) under simulated visible light. The bare ZrO_2,ZrO_2-MWCNTs, Co-ZrO_2 and Co-ZrO_2-MWCNTs with different percentage compositions of cobalt were synthesized by homogeneous co-precipitation method. Characterization of the prepared nanocomposites was carried out using X-Ray powder Diffraction(XRD), Fourier Transformer Infrared(FTIR) Spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy(TEM), Raman Spectroscopy,(UV–Vis)-Spectroscopy and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy(EDS) for their structure, formation,morphology, size and elemental analysis. The experimental results indicated that all the cobalt and MWCNTs modified nanocomposites demonstrated higher photocatalytic activities compared to the bare ZrO_2. The most efficient catalyst(0.5% Co-ZrO_2-MWCNTs) with the band gap and Ka values of 5.21 e V and 16.86*10~(-3) min~(-1) respectively exhibited 98% degradation efficiency toward indigo carmine and 87% toward eosin Y in 180 min.