Adsorptive separation of xenon/krypton mixtures using a zirconium-based metal-organic framework with high hydrothermal and radioactive stabilities.

The separation of xenon/krypton mixtures is important for both environmental and industrial purposes. The potential of three hydrothermally stable MOFs (MIL-100(Fe), MIL-101(Cr), and UiO-66(Zr)) for use in Xe/Kr separation has been experimentally investigated. From the observed single-component Xe and Kr isotherms, isosteric heat of adsorption (Qsto), and IAST-predicted Xe/Kr selectivities, we observed that UiO-66(Zr) has the most potential as an adsorbent among the three candidate MOFs. We performed dynamic breakthrough experiments with an adsorption bed filled with UiO-66(Zr) to evaluate further the potential of UiO-66(Zr) for Xe/Kr separation under mixture flow conditions. Remarkably, the experimental breakthrough curves show that UiO-66(Zr) can efficiently separate the Xe/Kr mixture. Furthermore, UiO-66(Zr) maintains most of its Xe and Kr uptake capacity, as well as its crystallinity and internal surface area, even after exposure to gamma radiation (2kGy) for 7h and aging for 16 months under ambient conditions. This result indicates that UiO-66(Zr) can be considered to be a potential adsorbent for Xe/Kr mixtures under both ambient and radioactive conditions.

Preparation and characterization of Ag nanoparticle-embedded blank and ligand-anchored silica gels.

Ag nanoparticles, used for halogen (especially iodine) adsorption and an evaluation of halogen behavior, were embedded in synthesized inorganic-organic hybrid gels. In particular, an irradiation method using an electron beam plays a part in introducing Ag nanoparticles to the organofunctionalized silica gels from AgNO3 solutions in a simple way at atmospheric pressure and room temperature. For preparation of the Ag nanoparticle-embedded inorganic-organic hybrid gels, ligands of ethylenediamine (NH2CH2CH2NH-, TMSen) and mercapto (HS-) functionalized three-dimensional porous SiO2 sol-gels were first synthesized through hydrolysis and condensation reactions, and Ag nanoparticles were then embedded into the ethylenediamine- and mercapto-anchored silica gels each, through electron-beam irradiation. The addition of ligands yielded larger average pore sizes than the absence of any ligand. Moreover, the ethylenediamine ligand led to looser structures and better access of the Ag nanoparticles to the ethylenediamine-anchored gel. As a result, more Ag nanoparticles were introduced into the ethylenediamine-anchored gel. The preparation and characterization of Ag nanoparticle-embedded blank and ligand-anchored silica gels are discussed in detail.

Influence of zinc precursors and surfactants on the preparation of Ag-containing materials by electron beam irradiation.

Ag-Zn bimetallic nanocomposites or Ag2S precipitates were produced by irradiating a mixture of AgNO3 and Zn(NO3)2, and another mixture of AgNO3 and ZnS with an electron beam in an aqueous phase. Surfactants of poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) and poly ethylene glycol (PEG) induced a slightly different formation of particles during this process.

Application of ordered nanoporous silica for removal of uranium ions from aqueous solutions.

Ordered nanoporous silica (MSU-H) with high surface area has been utilized as a solid substrate of a surface-modified hybrid sorbent for the application to the removal of U(VI). Carboxymethylated polyethyleneimine (CMPEI) with a strong complexing property has been introduced to the pore surface of MSU-H substrate. CMPEI-modified MSU-H (CMPEI/MSU-H) has been characterized by scanning electron microscopy and nitrogen sorption. In a kinetic experiment for 12.5 ppm U(VI) solution at pH 4.0, 99% U(VI) was removed from solution by the hybrid sorbent within less than 10 min, indicating that the sorption of U(VI) on the CMPEI/MSU-H proceeds very rapidly. It was evident that a U(VI) sorption capacity increased with pH in the range of 2.0 to 4.0. The CMPEI/MSU-H showed a high sorption capacity of 153 mg/g-sorbent at pH 4.0. In particular, the CMPEI/MSU-H showed a significantly high uranium loading stability. Only about 1% U(VI) was released out of CMPEI/MSU-H during 4 months, when the CMPEI/MSU-H was treated with polyacrylic acid.

Adsorption characteristics of Cu(II) onto ion exchange resins 252H and 1500H: kinetics, isotherms and error analysis.

The adsorption of Copper(II) onto Amberjet 1500H and Ambersep 252H synthetic ion exchange resins have been studied. All the studies were conducted by a batch method to determine equilibrium and kinetic studies at the solution pH of 5.8 in the concentration ranges from 10 to 20mg/L. The experimental isotherm data were analyzed using the Freundlich, Langmuir, Redlich Perterson, Temkin, Dubinin-Radushkevich equations. Correlation co-efficient was determined for each isotherm analysis. Error functions have been used to determine the alternative single component parameters by non-linear regression due to the bias in using the correlation coefficient resulting from linearisation. From the error analysis the EABS error function provides the best parameters for the isotherm equation in this system. Adsorption kinetics data were tested using pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion models. Kinetic studies showed that the adsorption followed a pseudo-second-order reaction. The initial sorption rate, pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion rate constants for different initial concentrations were evaluated and discussed.