Adsorption and surface complex modeling of silicates on maghemite in aqueous suspensions.

Adsorption of soluble silicate species (Si(OH)(4)) on maghemite (gamma-Fe(2)O(3)) has been studied by high precision potentiometric titrations, spectroscopic analyses, and zeta potential determinations. Titrations were performed at 25.0 degrees C within the range 2.8FeOH(2)(+); logbeta(11)(s)(int)=5.39+/-0.01FeOH<-->FeO(-)+H(+); logbeta(-11)(s)(int)=-7.51+/-0.01; C=2.40Fm(-2). Three different concentration ratios of the determined concentration of active surface sites and added total silicate concentration [FeOH]:[Si(OH)(4)] were examined (1:1,2:1, and 3:1). A model comprising three surface complexes, FeOSi(OH)(3),logbeta(011)(s)(int)=3.61+/-0.02; FeOSiO(OH)(2)(-),logbeta(111)(s)(int)=-3.00+/-0.01; and FeOSiO(2)(OH)(2-),logbeta(-211)(s)(int)=-11.35+/-0.02, was found to best describe the experimental observations. Attempts to model the adsorption of silicates on maghemite as bidentate or polynuclear silicate complexes were not successful. The maximum silicate adsorption for the 1:1 ratio, approximately 80%, was obtained at pH 9-9.5. The IEP of maghemite in the presence of silicates (1:1 ratio) was determined from zeta-potential measurements, giving pH(IEP) approximately 6.6.

A 31P CP/MAS NMR study of PbS surface O,O'-dialkyldithiophosphate lead(II) complexes.

31P CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy was used to study the adsorption of six different O,O'-dialkyldithiophosphate ions on the surface of synthetic galena (PbS). The 31P CP/MAS NMR spectra of the surface lead(II) dithiophosphates were compared with the 31P CP/MAS NMR spectra of polycrystalline lead(II) dithiophosphate complexes of the same ligands. Surface complexation of the dialkyldithiophosphate ions was established on the surface of PbS. A terminal S,S(')-chelating coordination is suggested for the surface complexes. The bulkier alkyl groups lead to surface precipitation in addition to the surface adsorption. Derivatives of monothiophosphoric and phosphoric acids were displayed as hydrolysis products of dialkyldithiophosphates on the synthetic PbS, the amount of which depends on the type of alkyl group.

Effects of calcination temperature on the pore size and wall crystalline structure of mesoporous alumina.

In this paper, mesoporous alumina with different pore sizes and wall crystalline structures was synthesized at calcination temperatures over 550 degrees C. The characterization of the samples calcined at 550, 800, 1100, and 1300 degrees C, respectively, was performed using TEM, XRD, FTIR, TG/DTA, and N2 adsorption/desorption techniques. The correlation between pore size and wall crystalline structure on calcination temperature was systematically investigated.

Surface acid-base properties and hydration/dehydration mechanisms of aluminum (hydr)oxides.

In this paper, surface physiochemical properties of three typical aluminas, gamma-Al(OH)3, gamma-Al2O3, and alpha-Al2O3, were investigated by means of XRD, SEM, TEM, BET surface area, TG/DTA, and potentiometric titration techniques. Based on the titration data, surface protonation and deprotonation constants were determined using the constant capacitance model (CCM). The emphasis of this research was laid on the comparison of the crystal structure, surface hydration/dehydration and acid-base properties of these three typical alumina minerals. The calculation results revealed that the surface acidity of the aluminas is in the order of alpha-Al2O3>gamma-Al(OH)3>gamma-Al2O3 after being hydrated for 1 h. The correlation between the hydration/dehydration mechanisms of alumina and its acid/base properties is discussed.

A spectroscopic study of calcium surface sites and adsorbed iron species at aqueous fluorapatite by means of 1H and 31P MAS NMR.

Assignments of the protolytic speciation at the calcium hydroxyl surface sites of synthetic fluorapatite and the chemical interactions between fluorapatite-maghemite and fluorapatite-Fe2+ ions have been studied by means of 1H and 31P single-pulse and 31P CP MAS NMR. Three possible forms of calcium hydroxyl surface sites have been suggested and assigned to [triple bond] CaOH, [triple bond]Ca(OH)2-, and [triple bond]CaOH2+, and their mutual ratios were found to vary as a function of pH. Due to their paramagnetic properties, iron species and Fe2+ ions adsorbed at the fluorapatite surface display a broad spinning sideband manifold in the single-pulse 31P MAS NMR spectra. The resonance lines in the 31P CP MAS NMR spectra originating from the bulk phosphate groups PO4(3-) and phosphorus surface sites [triple bond]POx and [triple bond]POxH decrease with increasing Fe2+ ion adsorption. When iron species originating from maghemite are adsorbed at the fluorapatite surface, no 31P NMR signal is detected, which supports the hypothesis that surface reactions occur between the phosphorus surface sites of fluorapatite and iron species.

Characterization of active phosphorus surface sites at synthetic carbonate-free fluorapatite using single-pulse 1H, 31P, and 31P CP MAS NMR.

The chemically active phosphorus surface sites defined as PO(x), PO(x)H, and PO(x)H2, where x = 1, 2, or 3, and the bulk phosphorus groups of PO4(3-) at synthetic carbonate-free fluorapatite (Ca5(PO4)3F) have been studied by means of single-pulse 1H,31P, and 31P CP MAS NMR. The changes in composition and relative amounts of each surface species are evaluated as a function of pH. By combining spectra from single-pulse 1H and 31P MAS NMR and data from 31P CP MAS NMR experiments at varying contact times in the range 0.2-3.0 ms, it has been possible to distinguish between resonance lines in the NMR spectra originating from active surface sites and bulk phosphorus groups and also to assign the peaks in the NMR spectra to the specific phosphorus species. In the 31P CP MAS NMR experiments, the spinning frequency was set to 4.2 kHz; in the single-pulse 1H MAS NMR experiments, the spinning frequency was 10 kHz. The 31P CP MAS NMR spectrum of fluorapatite at pH 5.9 showed one dominating resonance line at 2.9 ppm assigned to originate from PO4(3-) groups and two weaker shoulder peaks at 5.4 and 0.8 ppm which were assigned to the unprotonated PO(x) (PO, PO2-, and PO3(2-)) and protonated PO(x)H (PO2H and PO3H-) surface sites. At pH 12.7, the intensity of the peak representing unprotonated PO(x) surface sites has increased 1.7% relative to the bulk peak, while the intensity of the peaks of the protonated species PO(x)H have decreased 1.4% relative to the bulk peak. At pH 3.5, a resonance peak at -4.5 ppm has appeared in the 31P CP MAS NMR spectrum assigned to the surface species PO(x)H2 (PO3H2). The results from the 1H MAS and 31P CP MAS NMR measurements indicated that H+, OH-, and physisorbed H2O at the surface were released during the drying process at 200 degrees C.

Solid-state NMR and EXAFS spectroscopic characterization of polycrystalline copper(I) O,O'-dialkyldithiophosphate cluster compounds: Formation of copper(I) O,O'-diisobutyldithiophosphate compounds on the surface of synthetic chalcocite.

A number of polycrystalline copper(I) O,O'-dialkyldithiophosphate cluster compounds with Cu4, Cu6, and Cu8 cores were synthesized and characterized by using extended X-ray absorption fine-structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. The structural relationship of these compounds is discussed. The polycrystalline copper(I) O,O'-diisobutyldithiophosphate cluster compounds, [Cu8{S2P(OiBu)2}6(S)] and [Cu6{S2P(OiBu)2}6], were also characterized by using 31P CP/MAS NMR (CP = cross polarization, MAS = magic-angle spinning) and static 65Cu NMR spectroscopies (at different magnetic fields) and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Comparative analyses of the 31P chemical-shift tensor, and the 65Cu chemical shift and quadrupolar-splitting parameters, estimated from the experimental NMR spectra of the polycrystalline copper(I) cluster compounds, are presented. The adsorption mechanism of the potassium O,O'-diisobutyldithiophosphate collector, K[S2P(OiBu)2], at the surface of synthetic chalcocite (Cu2S) was studied by means of solid-state 31P CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). 31P NMR resonance lines from collector-treated chalcocite surfaces were assigned to a mixture of [Cu8{S2P(OiBu)2}6(S)] and [Cu6{S2P(OiBu)2}6] compounds.

Solid-state 31P CP/MAS and static 65Cu NMR characterization of polycrystalline copper(I) dialkyldithiophosphate clusters.

Polycrystalline tetra-nuclear Cu4[S2P(O-i-C3H7)2]4, hexa-nuclear Cu6[S2P(OC2H5)2]6, and octa-nuclear Cu8[S2P(O-i-C4H9)2]6(S) complexes were synthesized and analyzed by means of solid-state 31P CP/MAS and 65Cu static NMR spectroscopy. The symmetries of the electronic environments around each P-site were estimated from the 31P chemical shift anisotropy (CSA) parameters, Deltaaniso and eta. The 65Cu chemical shift and quadrupolar splitting parameters obtained from the experimental 65Cu NMR spectra of the polycrystalline Cu(I)-complexes are presented. A solid-state NMR approach for the elucidation of the stereochemistry of poly-nuclear Cu(I) dithiophosphate complexes, when the structural analysis of the systems by single-crystal X-ray diffraction is not readily available, is proposed.

Measurement of iron and zinc isotopes in human whole blood: preliminary application to the study of HFE genotypes.

Multi-collector inductively coupled plasma--sector field mass spectrometry was applied to the measurement of Fe and Zn isotopes in human whole blood samples. For the Fe present in the blood of healthy adults, enrichment of the lighter isotopes relative to a standard material was observed, in agreement with earlier studies. The level of fractionation was found to be lower in hemochromatosis patients exhibiting homozygous (C282Y/C282Y) mutation of the HFE gene. On the one hand, this reinforces the hypothesis that Fe fractionation in blood decreases with enhanced dietary absorption. On the other hand, this contradicts predictions made on the basis of determinations of Fe fractionation in blood samples collected from subjects characterized by milder HFE mutations. In healthy subjects, the Zn in blood is depleted in lighter isotopes, consistent with the limited number of prior observations. As for Fe, the Zn isotopic composition exhibited a tendency toward lower levels of fractionation in the blood of subjects with hereditary hemochromatosis with homozygous mutation (C282Y/C282Y) of the HFE gene. The results therefore suggest that both Fe and Zn isotopic signatures in whole blood, at least to some extent, reflect polymorphisms in the HFE gene.

Protolytic surface reactions of a fluorapatite-maghemite mixture in aqueous suspension.

Synthetically prepared maghemite and fluorapatite, characterized with BET, SEM, XRD, FT-IR, and FT-Raman, are used to investigate the protolytic properties and surface characteristics in a mixed system of maghemite and fluorapatite by means of potentiometric titrations and surface complex modeling. Titrations were performed in the pH range of 7.3-10.5 at 25 +/- 0.2 degrees C in ionic media of 0.10 mol dm(-3) NaNO3 with 0.0100 mol dm(-3) HNO3 and 0.0100 mol dm(-3) NaOH used as titrants. The constant capacitance model (CCM) was applied to interpret the titration data. Two models with different surface equilibria were tested. In the first model, the mixed system was treated as a one-component system with a total surface area of 40.04 +/- 5.2 m2 g(-1) without any consideration to the subsystems. The surface equilibria, triple bond XOH + H+ <==> triple bond XOH2+, beta(s)(-11)(int) = 6.74 +/- 0.07; XOH <==> triple bond XO- + H+, beta(s)(-11)(int) = -7.75 +/- 0.07, were found to represent an accurate model for the system, and the specific capacitance was optimized to 2.0 F m(-2). The number of active surface sites N(s) was found to be 1.2 sites nm(-2). This model has, however, no relation to the subsystems of maghemite and fluorapatite. The second model is related to the subsystems and displays the surface equilibria, triple bond S2OH<==> triple bond S2O- + H+, beta(s)(-101)(int) = -9.12 +/- 0.01; triple bond FeOH + H+<==> triple bond FeOH2+, lg beta(s)(-11)(int) = 6.80 +/- 0.01; triple bond FeOH<==>FeO- + H+, beta(s)(-11)(int) = -7.77 +/- 0.01, where S2OH is related to fluorapatite and FeOH is representing maghemite. Fluorapatite corresponds to the dominating active surface in the system. The specific capacitance was optimized to 18 F m(-2). The N(s) values were found to be 2.27 sites nm(-2) for fluorapatite and 0.80 sites nm(-2) for maghemite. The N(s) values together with evidence from the FT-Raman and SEM investigations reveal that interactions between maghemite and fluorapatite surfaces occur during the titration. The acid-base properties and surface characteristics of the subsystems maghemite-H+ and fluorapatite-OH- using the CCM have been published earlier.

Solid state 31P and 207Pb MAS NMR studies on polycrystalline O,O'-dialkyldithiophosphate lead(II) complexes.

A number of lead(II) O,O'-dialkyldithiophosphate complexes were studied by (13)C, (31)P, and (207)Pb MAS NMR. Simulations of (31)P chemical shift anisotropy using spinning sideband analysis reveal a linear relationship between the SPS bond angle and the principal values delta(22) and delta(33) of the (31)P chemical shift tensor. The (31)P CSA data were used to assign ligands with different structural functions. In the cases of diethyldithiophosphate and di-iso-butyldithiophosphate lead(II) complexes, (2)J((31)P, (207)Pb)-couplings were resolved and used to confirm the suggested assignment of the ligands. The SIMPSON computer program was used to calculate (31)P and (207)Pb spectral sideband patterns.

Formation of {Cu6[S2P(OC2H5)2]6} on Cu2S surfaces from aqueous solutions of the KS2P(OC2H5)2 collector: scanning electron microscopy and solid-state 31P cross-polarization/magic angle spinning and static 65Cu NMR studies.

The interactions of synthetic chalcocite surfaces with diethyldithiophosphate, potassium salt, K[S2P(OC2H5)2], were studied by means of 31P cross-polarization/magic angle spinning (CP/MAS) NMR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). To identify the species formed on the Cu2S surfaces, a polycrystalline {CuI6[S2P(OC2H5)2]6} cluster was synthesized and analyzed by SEM, powder X-ray diffraction techniques and solid-state 31P CP/MAS NMR and static 65Cu NMR spectroscopy. 31P chemical shift anisotropy (CSA) parameters, delta(cs) and eta(cs), were estimated and used for assigning the bridging type of diethyldithiophosphate ligands in the {CuI6[S2P(OC2H5)2]6} cluster. The latter data were compared to 31P CSA parameters estimated from the spinning sideband patterns in 31P NMR spectra of the collector-treated mineral surfaces: formation of polycrystalline {CuI6[S2P(OC2H5)2]6} on the Cu2S surfaces is suggested. The second-order quadrupolar line shape of 65Cu was simulated, and the NMR interaction parameters, CQ and etaQ, for the copper(I) diethyldithiophosphate cluster were obtained.

Characterisation of the protolytic properties of synthetic carbonate free fluorapatite.

The acid/base surface properties of carbonate free fluorapatite (Ca5(PO4)3F) have been characterised using high precision potentiometric titrations and surface complex modelling. Synthetic carbonate free fluorapatite was prepared and characterised by SEM, XRD, FT-IR and FT-Raman. The specific surface area was determined to be 17.7+/-1.2 m2 g(-1) with BET (N2 adsorption). The titrations were performed at 25+/-0.2 degrees C, within the pH range 5.7-10.8, in 0.10 and 0.50 mol dm(-3) NaNO3 ionic media. Experimental data were interpreted using the constant capacitance model and the software FITEQL 4.0. The surface equilibria: [triple bond]S1OH <==> [triple bond]S1O- + H+ lg betaS(-110) (int), [triple bond]S2OH <==> [triple bond]S2O- + H+ lg betaS(-101) (int) well describes the surface characteristics of synthetic fluorapatite. The equilibrium constants obtained were: lg betaS(-110) (int) = -6.33+/-0.05 and lg betaS(-101) (int) = -8.82+/-0.06 at I = 0.10 mol dm(-3). At the ionic strength 0.50 mol dm(-3), the equilibrium constants were slightly shifted to: lg betaS(-110) (int) = -6.43+/-0.05 and lg betaS(-101) (int) = -8.93+/-0.06. The number of active surface sites, N(s), was calculated from titration data and was found to be 2.95 and 2.34 sites nm(-2) for the ionic strengths 0.10 and 0.50 mol dm(-3), respectively. pH(PZC) or the IEP was found to be 5.7 from Z-potential measurements.

Surface complex characteristics of synthetic maghemite and hematite in aqueous suspensions.

The acid-base properties of the maghemite (gamma-Fe2O3)/water and hematite (alpha-Fe2O3)/water interfaces have been studied by means of high precision potentiometric titrations and the experimental results are evaluated as surface complexation reactions. Synthetic maghemite and hematite were prepared and characterized using a combination of SEM, FT-IR and XRD. The specific surface area of the minerals was determined by the BET method. The titrations were performed at 25.0+/-0.2 degrees C within the range 2.8

Correlations between 31P chemical shift anisotropy and molecular structure in polycrystalline O,O'-dialkyldithiophosphate zinc(II) and nickel(II) complexes: 31P CP/MAS NMR and ab initio quantum mechanical calculation studies.

Different potassium salts and zinc(II) and nickel(II) O,O'-dialkyldithiophosphate complexes were studied by solid-state 31P CP/MAS and static NMR and ab initio quantum mechanical calculations. Spectra were obtained at different spinning frequencies, and the intensities of the spinning sidebands were used to estimate the chemical shift anisotropy parameters. Useful correlations between the shapes of the 31P chemical shift tensor and the type of ligand were found: terminal ligands have negative values of the skew kappa, while bridging and ionic ligands have positive values for this parameter. The experimental results were compared with known X-ray diffraction structures for some of these complexes as well as with ab initio quantum mechanical calculations, and a useful correlation between the delta22 component of the 31P chemical shift tensor and the S-P-S bond angle in the O,O'-dialkyldithiophoshate zinc(II) and nickel(II) complexes was found: delta22 increases more than 50 ppm with the increase of S-P-S bond angle from ca. 100 degrees to 120 degrees , while the other two principal values of the tensor, delta11 and delta33, are almost conserved. This eventually leads to the change in sign for kappa in the bridging type of ligand, which generally has a larger S-P-S bond angle than the terminally bound O,O'-dialkyldithiophosphate group forming chelating four-membered P(ss)Me heterocycles.

Interaction between a capacitor electrolyte and gamma-aluminum oxide studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

The interaction between y-aluminum oxide and an ethylene glycol (EG) based capacitor electrolyte was investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. It was found that only a few ingredients of the electrolyte react with the oxide (azelaic acid, poly(1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP), and phosphoric acid); the others act as pH or conductivity buffers (boric acid, ammonia, and water). The adsorption of azelaic acid and PVP from the electrolyte was studied as a function of temperature, pH, and time, and the result was compared to the adsorption from model solutions of simpler composition. The influence of other components such as phosphoric acid both in the electrolyte and on the aluminum oxide was also investigated, as was the presence of water. At low pH and high temperature (T > or = 105 degrees C) the acid formed an ester with EG and this product adsorbed on the oxide surface. The PVP was attached to the adsorbed azelaic acid by hydrophobic interaction, which is pH independent. Ester formation was found to be catalyzed by other electrolyte ingredients like boric acid. At high pH, surface adsorption of azelaic acid occurs through a deprotonated species, which is mainly coordinated through outer-sphere complexation. At high temperature or after a long equilibration time, the surface of the alumina changed, resulting in less adsorption of the organic substances, independent of pH. This change is due to a selective adsorption of phosphate species from the electrolyte, which block active surface sites.