One-pot sonochemical fabrication of hierarchical hollow CuO submicrospheres.

Hierarchical hollow CuO submicrospheres have been fabricated on a large scale by a facile one-pot sonochemical process in the absence of surfactants and additives. The as-prepared products were investigated by XRD, FESEM, EDX, TEM, SAED, HRTEM and BET nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. The results reveal that hollow pumpkin-shaped structures possess a monoclinic phase CuO with the diameters ranging from 400 to 500 nm, and their walls with around 45 nm in thickness are composed of numerous single crystalline CuO nanoribbons with a width of about 8 nm. The BET specific surface area of the as-synthesized CuO hollow structures was measured to be 59.60 m(2)/g, and the single point adsorption total pore volume was measured to be 0.1036 cm(3)/g. A possible growth mechanism for the formation of hierarchical hollow CuO structures was proposed, which is considered to be a sonohydrolysis - oriented aggregation - Ostwald ripening process. The novel hollow CuO spherical structures may utilize applications in biosensors, photonics, electronics, and catalysts.

Novel zwitterionic inorganic-organic hybrids: synthesis of hybrid adsorbents and their applications for Cu2+ removal.

A series of zwitterionic hybrid adsorbents were prepared via the ring-opening polymerization of pyromellitic acid dianhydride (PMDA) and N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl] ethylene diamine (TMSPEDA), and a subsequent zwitterionic process as well as sol-gel reaction. Their applications for Cu(2+) removal by adsorption were performed. FTIR spectra confirmed the step products. TGA revealed that the initial decomposition temperature (IDT) of these zwitterionic hybrid adsorbents could arrive at near 150°C. DSC showed that T(g) values decreased with an increase in PMDA content in the hybrid matrix. Ion-change capacity (IEC) revealed that the cation-exchange capacities (CIECs) and anion-exchange capacities (AIECs) of these hybrid adsorbents were within the range of 9.13-11.49 and 4.97-6.28 mmol g(-1), respectively. Meanwhile, the CIECs and AIECs exhibit an opposite change trend as PMDA content increases. Adsorption experiment indicated that their adsorptions for Cu(2+) ions followed Lagergren second-order kinetic model, surface adsorption and intraparticle diffusion mechanisms might be the major process. These findings demonstrated that they are promising absorbents for the separation and recovery of Cu(2+) ions from contaminated water.

Preparation of zwitterionic hybrid polymer and its application for the removal of heavy metal ions from water.

A series of zwitterionic hybrid polymers were prepared from the ring-opening polymerization of pyromellitic acid dianhydride (PMDA) and phenylaminomethyl trimethoxysilane (PAMTMS), and a subsequent sol-gel process. FTIR spectra confirmed the step products. TGA analysis showed that the thermal degradation temperature increased with an increase in PMDA content. As a typical example, sample B was used to separate Cu(2+) and Pb(2+) removal by adsorption. It was indicated that its adsorption for Cu(2+) and Pb(2+) followed Lagergren second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model, demonstrating that the adsorption process might be Langmuir monolayer adsorption. Meanwhile, it was found that the adsorption capacity of Pb(2+) on sample B is beyond 12 times higher than that of Cu(2+) in 0.1 mol dm(-3) aqueous solution, revealing that it has larger affinity for Pb(2+). The desorption efficiency of Cu(2+) and Pb(2+) in 1 mol dm(-3) HNO(3) solution reached up to 96 and 89%, respectively; indicating that they can be regenerated and recycled in industry. These findings suggest that they are promising adsorbents for the selective removal of Pb(2+) from Pb(2+)/Cu(2+) mixed aqueous solution, and can be applied to separate and recover the heavy metal ions from contaminated water and waste chemicals.

Novel negatively charged hybrids. 3. Removal of Pb2+ from aqueous solution using zwitterionic hybrid polymers as adsorbent.

Using zwitterionic hybrid polymers as adsorbent, the adsorption kinetics and isotherm, thermodynamic parameters of Delta G, Delta H and DeltaS for the removal of Pb(2+) from aqueous solution were investigated. It is indicated that the adsorption of Pb(2+) ions on these zwitterionic hybrid polymers followed the Lagergren second-order kinetic model and Freundlich isotherm model, demonstrating that the adsorption process might be Langmuir monolayer adsorption. The negative values of Delta G and the positive values of Delta H evidence that Pb(2+) adsorption on these zwitterionic hybrid polymers is spontaneous and endothermic process in nature. Moreover, the zwitterionic hybrid polymers produced reveal relatively higher desorption efficiency in 2 mol dm(-3) aqueous HNO(3) solution, indicating that they can be recycled in industrial processes. These findings suggest that these zwitterionic hybrid polymers are the promising adsorbents for Pb(2+) removal and can be potentially applied in the separation and recovery of Pb(2+) ions from the waste chemicals and contaminated water of lead-acid rechargeable battery.

[Synthesis, characterization, spectroscopy and theoretical calculation of two novel carbazole derivatives].

Two novel carbazole derivatives, 3-acetyl-9-n-hexylcarbazole (AHCZ) and 3, 6- diacetyl-9-n-hexylcarbazole (DHCZ) were synthesized through Friedel-Crafts reaction. The compounds were characterized by IR spectra, 1H NMR, MS and elemental analysis. UV-visible spectra of AHCZ and DHCZ were measured and compared with those of their precursors, 9-hexylcarbazole(HCZ) and carbazole(CZ). DHCZ and AHCZ exhibited strong absorption band, revealing the extent of pi conjugation in the system. TD-DFT method was performed to analyze the electronic absorption spectra of AHCZ and DHCZ, and the calculated excitation energies and oscillator strengths were compared with the experimental results.