Amidoxime modified chitosan based ion-imprinted polymer for selective removal of uranyl ions

The construction of highly selective surface molecularly imprinted polymers based on Cu(II) coordination for the detection of bisphenol A

Herein, we designed and constructed a highly selective MIPs for bisphenol A (BPA) named Cu-MIPs@CS based on Cu(II) coordination. The synthesis of Cu-MIPs@CS employed a dummy template strategy and surface imprinting technology, with chitosan (CS) as the substrate linked to imprinted layers via Cu2+ bridging. 4-vinylpyridine acted as the functional monomer, capable of forming a complex with the template ketoprofen, while ethylene glycol dimethacrylate served as the cross linker. Cu-MIPs@CS exhibited a significantly enhanced imprinting factor of 14.78 for BPA, which was approximately 6.6 times higher than that of imprinted materials without Cu2+ (MIPs@CS). Cu-MIPs@CS exhibited a selective factor of 12.74 towards resorcinol, which possessed identical functional groups but a smaller size than BPA, representing an enhancement of selectivity by 12.25-fold compared to MIPs@CS. More importantly, Cu-MIPs@CS exhibited a superior discrimination ability between BPA and its structural analogue, diphenolic acid, with an excellent selective factor of 2.93, highlighting its significance in distinguish the structural analogue of BPA. In contrast, MIPs@CS lack sufficient selectivity to differentiate between them. Through exploration of adsorption mechanism of Cu-MIPs@CS, it was demonstrated that the incorporation of Cu2+ significantly reduced nonspecific adsorption, but also facilitated the creation of more selective imprinted cavities by introducing metal coordination, thereby notably enhancing the selectivity of Cu-MIPs@CS. Finally, the developed Cu-MIPs@CS were applied as the solid phase extraction adsorbent and combined with HPLC-DAD detection to establish an analytical method towards BPA in drinking water samples. The limit of detection of the method was 0.14 μg L-1 and recoveries ranged from 95.6 % to 101 %. This work provided broad prospects for construction of highly selective MIPs and accurate quantification of trace amounts of BPA.

A Prussian blue analog-based copper-aluminum layered double hydroxide for cesium removal from water: fabrication, density functional theory-based molecular modeling, and the adsorption mechanism

A new type of adsorbent, a Prussian blue analog-based copper-aluminum layered double hydroxide (PBA@CuAl-LDH), was successfully synthesized using a one-step method for the removal of radioactive Cs+ from wastewater. The adsorption performance, characteristics and the underlying adsorption mechanism of PBA@CuAl-LDH were systematically examined. The results showed that PBA@CuAl-LDH exhibited excellent adsorption performance, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 109.2 mg g-1. Over 85% of PBA@CuAl-LDH can be recycled, and the material exhibited only a 6.6% loss in adsorption performance. The adsorption process was well-fitted using the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Freundlich isotherm model, revealing the surface heterogeneity of the composite adsorbent. A molecular model of PBA@CuAl-LDH was constructed by combining density functional theory and multiple instrumental characterization techniques. Our results indicate that PBA crystals can be generated between layers and on the surface. Ion exchange was revealed as the main adsorption mechanism of Cs+ by PBA@CuAl-LDH. Specifically, the interstitial spaces of the PBA crystals generated between the layers and on the surface played an important role in ion exchange. These findings provide concrete theoretical support for radioactive pollution control and have significant value in directing the fabrication of cesium removal materials and their future engineering application.

Macroporous and ultralight polyethyleneimine-grafted chitosan/nano-TiO2 foam as a novel adsorbent with antibacterial activity for the efficient U(VI) removal

The radioactive contamination from the excessive discharge of uranium-containing wastewater seriously threatens environmental safety and human health. Herein, macroporous and ultralight polyethyleneimine-grafted chitosan/nano-TiO2 composite foam (PCT) with antibacterial activity was synthesized, which could quickly remove U(VI) from solution. Among different PCT adsorbents, PCT-2 had the best adsorption performance for U(VI), which could be due to its honeycomb macroporous structures and the presence of abundant amino/imine groups. The kinetics and adsorption isotherms data were found in agreement with the pseudo-second-order model and the Langmuir model, respectively, indicating chemisorption or complexation as the main adsorption mechanism. The saturated adsorption capacity of PCT-2 for U(VI) reaches 259.91 mg/g at pH 5.0 and 298 K. The PCT-2 also presents good selectivity for U(VI) with the coefficient (βU/M) order of Na+ > K+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+ > Ni2+ > Co2+ > Mn2+ > Al3+ > Fe3+ > Cu2+. The adsorption mechanism was explored using FT-IR and XPS analysis, indicating that amino/imine groups and hydroxyl groups are responsible for U(VI) complexation. Thermodynamic calculations show that U(VI) adsorption is endothermic and spontaneous. The ease of preparation, excellent adsorption performance and environmental friendliness of PCT-2 make it a novel adsorbent with antibacterial activity for radioactive contamination control.

Construction of amino-thiol functionalized ion-imprinted chitosan for lead (II) ion removal

Ion-imprinting technique was used to create a lead ion-imprinted sorbent from an amino-thiol chitosan derivative (Pb-ATCS). First, 3-Nitro-4-sulfanylbenzoic acid (NSB) unit's amidized the chitosan, and then the -NO₂-residues were selectively reduced to -NH₂. Imprinting was accomplished by cross-linking with epichlorohydrin and removing the Pb (II) ions from the across-linked polymeric complex formed from the amino-thiol chitosan polymer ligand (ATCS) and Pb (II) ions. The synthetic steps have been investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and the sorbent was tested for its ability to selectively bind Pb (II) ions. The produced Pb-ATCS sorbent had a maximum capacity of roughly 300 mg/g, and it showed a greater affinity for the Pb (II) ions than the control NI-ATCS sorbent particle. The pseudo-2nd-order equation was also consistent with the adsorption kinetics of the sorbent, which were quite rapid. This demonstrated that metal ions were chemo-adsorbed onto the Pb-ATCS and NI-ATCS solid surfaces via coordination with the introduced amino-thiol moieties.

Magnetic ion-imprinted polyacrylonitrile-chitosan electro-spun nanofibrous membrane as recyclable adsorbent with selective heavy metal removal and antibacterial fouling in water treatment

Water pollution has become one of the most concerned environmental issues on the worldwide scale. Due to the harmfulness of the heavy metal ions and microorganisms in wastewater, novel filtration membranes for water treatment are expected to simultaneously clear these pollutants. Herein, the electro-spun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based magnetic ion-imprinted membrane (MIIM) were fabricated to achieve both selective removal of Pb(II) ions and excellent antibacterial efficiency. The competitive removal experiments showed that the MIIM displayed efficiently selective removal of Pb(II) (45.4 mg·g^-1). Pseudo-second-order mode and Langmuir isotherm equation is well matched with the equilibrium adsorption. The MIIM showed sustained removal performance (~79.0 %) against Pb(II) ions after 7 adsorption-desorption cycles with negligible Fe ions loss of 7.3 %. Moreover, the MIIM exhibited excellent antibacterial properties that >90 % of E. coli and S. aureus were killed by the MIIM. In conclusion, the MIIM provides a novel technological platform for integration of multi-function with selective metal ions removal, excellent cycling reusability, and enhanced antibacterial fouling property, which can be potentially utilized as a promising adsorbent in actual treatment of polluted water.

Hierarchical build-up of vertically oriented lignin-based aerogel for photothermally assisted uranium uptake and recovery from acidic wastewater

Developing the lignin-based functional materials for uranium uptake is extremely attractive, but challenging due to the complex structure, poor solubility and reactivity of lignin. Herein, a novel phosphorylated lignin (LP)/sodium alginate/ carboxylated carbon nanotube (CCNT) composite aerogel (LP@AC) with vertically oriented lamellar configuration was created for efficient uranium uptake from acidic wastewater. The successful phosphorylation of lignin by a facile solvent-free mechanochemical method achieved more than six-times enhancement in U(VI) uptake capacity of lignin. While, the incorporation of CCNT not only increased the specific surface area of LP@AC, but also improved its mechanical strength as a reinforcing phase. More importantly, the synergies between LP and CCNT components endowed LP@AC with an excellent photothermal performance, resulting in a local heat environment on LP@AC and further boosting the U(VI) uptake. Consequently, the light irradiated LP@AC exhibited an ultrahigh U(VI) uptake capacity (1308.87 mg g^-1), 61.26% higher than that under dark condition, excellent adsorptive selectivity and reusability. After exposure to 10 L of simulated wastewater, above 98.21% of U(VI) ions could be rapidly captured by LP@AC under light irradiation, revealing the tremendous feasibility in industrial application. The electrostatic attraction and coordination interaction were considered as the main mechanism for U(VI) uptake.

Design of ion-imprinted cellulose-based microspheres for selective recovery of uranyl ions

Herein, cellulose was selected as the raw material for the production of sorbent microspheres for the selective separation of uranyl (UO₂²⁺) ions by ion-imprinting technique due to their low cost, biodegradability, and renewability. To begin, an amidoxime cellulosic derivative (AOCE) is synthesized by a Michael addition followed by an amidoximation reaction, both of which are homogeneous reactions. In the end, microspheres of ion-imprinted U-AOCE sorbent were made by mixing the developed AOCE derivative with UO₂²⁺, crosslinking the UO₂²⁺ polymer complex with glyoxal, and eluting the coordinated ions with H⁺/EDTA. U-AOCE smartly recognized the target ions for fitting the cavities generated during the UO₂²⁺-imprinting process, resulting in a much greater adsorption capacity of 382 ± 1 mg/g and enhanced adsorption selectivity for UO₂²⁺. A pseudo-second-order model fit the data well in terms of kinetics, while the Langmuir model adequately explained the isotherms, indicating chemisorption and adsorption via UO₂²⁺ chelation. The coordination between UO₂²⁺ and both the -NH₂ and -OH groups of the amidoxime units is the primary adsorption process, as shown by NMR, XPS, and FTIR studies. For UO₂²⁺ biosorption from aqueous effluents, the results of this study deliver new guidance for the design of biosorbents with high removal capability and excellent selectivity.

Ion-Imprinted Polymeric Materials for Selective Adsorption of Heavy Metal Ions from Aqueous Solution

The introduction of selective recognition sites toward certain heavy metal ions (HMIs) is a great challenge, which has a major role when the separation of species with similar physicochemical features is considered. In this context, ion-imprinted polymers (IIPs) developed based on the principle of molecular imprinting methodology, have emerged as an innovative solution. Recent advances in IIPs have shown that they exhibit higher selectivity coefficients than non-imprinted ones, which could support a large range of environmental applications starting from extraction and monitoring of HMIs to their detection and quantification. This review will emphasize the application of IIPs for selective removal of transition metal ions (including HMIs, precious metal ions, radionuclides, and rare earth metal ions) from aqueous solution by critically analyzing the most relevant literature studies from the last decade. In the first part of this review, the chemical components of IIPs, the main ion-imprinting technologies as well as the characterization methods used to evaluate the binding properties are briefly presented. In the second part, synthesis parameters, adsorption performance, and a descriptive analysis of solid phase extraction of heavy metal ions by various IIPs are provided.

Selective removal of uranyl ions using ion-imprinted amino-phenolic functionalized chitosan

The recovery of uranium from aqueous effluents is very important for both the environment and the future of nuclear power. However, issues of sluggish rates and poor selectivity persist in achieving high-efficiency uranium extraction. In this study, uranyl (UO₂²⁺) ions were imprinted on an amino-phenolic chitosan derivative using an ion-imprinting method. First, 3-hydroxy-4-nitrobenzoic acid (HNB) units were joined to chitosan via amide bonding, followed by reducing the -NO₂ residues into -NH₂. The amino-phenolic chitosan polymer ligand (APCS) was coordinated with UO₂²⁺ ions, then cross-linked with epichlorohydrin (ECH), and finally the UO₂²⁺ ions were taken away. When compared to non-imprinted sorbent, the resulting UO₂²⁺ imprinted sorbent material (U-APCS) recognized the target ions preferentially, allowing for much higher adsorption capacities (q_m = 309 ± 1 mg/g) and improved adsorption selectivity for UO₂²⁺. The FTIR and XPS analyses supported the pseudo-second-order model's suggestion that chemisorption or coordination is the primary adsorption mechanism by fitting the data well in terms of kinetics. Also, the Langmuir model adequately explained the isotherms, suggesting UO₂²⁺ adsorption in the form of monolayers. The pH_ZPC value was estimated at around 5.7; thus, the optimum uptake pH was achieved between pHs 5 and 6. The thermodynamic properties support the endothermic and spontaneous nature of UO₂²⁺ adsorption.

Synthesis process and adsorption performance of temperature-sensitive ion-imprinted porous microspheres (ReO4−-TIIM) for the selective separation of ReO4−

The adsorption–desorption process of imprinted microspheres is controlled by changing the temperature conditions of the external environment.

Shear-induced fabrication of SiO2 nano-meshes for efficient uranium capture

The extraction of uranium from seawater and the safe treatment of wastewater containing uranium (VI) were important to ensure the sustainable development of nuclear-related energy sources. Two-dimensional silica nanomaterials have been extensively investigated in the field of uranium adsorption due to their high adsorption capacity, short equilibration times, and easily modified surface groups. However, the two-dimensional mesoporous silica nanomaterial preparation has become a challenge due to the lack of natural sheet templating agents. The reason will hinder the development of silica nanomaterials for uranium extraction. Here, the specific surface area silica nanomeshes (HSMSMs) uranium adsorbent was prepared by a high shear method to induce nanobubble formation. HSMSMs showed a high uranium adsorption capacity of 822 mg_-U/g_-abs in seawater with the uranium adsorption concentration was 50 mg/L, which was approximately 2 times higher than the conventional mesoporous silica nanomaterials. Compared to HSMSMs, the amidoxime-modified high specific surface area silica nanomesh (HSMSMs-AO) demonstrated good selectivity for U(VI), and the uranium ions uptake was 877 mg_-U/g_-abs in 50 mg/L uranium-spiked simulated seawater. Due to HSMSMs-AO's stable chemical properties and high mechanical strength, HSMSMs-AO also displayed long service life. Benefiting from the simple preparation method and high adsorption capacity of HSMSMs, HSMSMs could be a promising candidate for large-scale extraction of uranium from seawater.

Uranium Determination in Waters, Wine and Honey by Solid Phase Extraction with New Ion Imprinted Polymer

An analytical method for uranium determination in waters, wine and honey was developed based on solid phase extraction (SPE) with new ion imprinted polymer. The sorbent was synthesized using 4-(2-Pyridylazo)resorcinol (PAR) as a ligand via dispersion polymerization and characterized by SEM for morphology and shape of polymer particles and nitrogen adsorption–desorption studies for their surface area and total pore volume. The kinetic experiments performed showed that the rate limiting step is the complexation between U(VI) ions and chelating ligand PAR incorporated in the polymer matrix. Investigations by Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherm models showed that sorption process occurs as a surface monolayer on homogeneous sites. The high extraction efficiency of synthesized sorbent toward U(VI) allows its application for SPE determination of U(VI) in wine and honey without preliminary sample digestion using ICP-OES as measurement method. The recoveries achieved varied: (i) between 88 to 95% for surface and ground waters, (ii) between 90–96% for 5% aqueous solution of honey, (iii) between 86–93% for different types of wine. The validity and versatility of proposed analytical methods were confirmed by parallel measurement of U in water samples using Alpha spectrometry and U analysis in wine and honey after sample digestion and ICP-MS measurement. The analytical procedure proposed for U determination in surface waters is characterized with low limits of detection/quantification and good reproducibility ensuring its application for routine control in national monitoring of surface waters. The application of proposed method for honey and wine samples analysis provides data for U content in traditional Bulgarian products.

Selective capture of Pd(II) from aqueous media by ion-imprinted dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles and re-utilization of the spent adsorbent for Suzuki reaction in water

The development of highly efficient adsorptive material for the selective capture of Pd(II), and re-utilization of spent Pd(II)-loaded adsorbent as an efficient catalyst for organic synthesis are of great significance, but challenging. Particularly, the heterogeneous palladium-catalyzed Suzuki reaction in aqueous media is much more challenging than that of homogeneous. Herein, several novel Pd(II) ion-imprinted polymers (PIIPs) based on dendritic fibrous silica particles are constructed by surface ion imprinting technology (SIIT), using Schiff base and pyridine groups functionalized organosilicon as functional monomer. The PIIP-3 prepared by 3 g of functional monomer exhibits the best adsorption performance, and shows ultrafast (10 min) and selective capture of Pd(II) with high uptake capacity (382.5 mg/g). Moreover, the waste Pd(II) loaded PIIP-3 (PIIP-3-Pd) can serve as a catalyst towards the Suzuki reaction in water, affording 94.2 % yield of the desired product. Interestingly, the PIIP-3-Pd can be reused 12 times without an appreciable decrease in catalytic activity, which is probably due to the imprinted cavity and specific recognition site of PIIP-3 can match and recapture Pd active species in a complex catalytic environment. Thus, this work demonstrates huge potentials of SIIT to enhance the selectivity of adsorption process and increase the lifetime of catalysts.

A Critical Review of Analytical Applications of Chitosan as a Sustainable Chemical with Functions Galore

Biomass and biowastes stand as sustainable and cost-effective environmentally benign alternative feedstock. Chitosan is a biocompatible, bioactive, and biodegradable biopolymer derived from chitin to achieve eight aspects out of the 12 green chemistry principles. Chitosan got significant attention in several fields including chemical analysis, in addition to chemical functionally, which enabled its use as adsorbent and its structural crosslinking using various crosslinkers. The physicochemical, technological, and optical properties of chitosan have been extensively exploited in analysis. Mainly, deacetylation degree and molecular weight are controlling its properties and hence controlling its functions. This review presents a structure, properties, and functions relationships of chitosan. It also aims to provide an overview of the different functions that chitosan can serve in each analytical technique such as supporting matrix, catalyst…etc. The contribution of chitosan in improving the ecological performance is discussed in each technique.

Fabrication and investigation of novel monochloroacetic acid fortified, tripolyphosphate-crosslinked chitosan for highly efficient adsorption of uranyl ions from radioactive effluents

Chitosan crosslinked with potassium tripolyphosphate (CTPP) and monochloroacetic-acid-modified chitosan crosslinked with potassium tripolyphosphate (MCTPP) were synthesized for removing UO₂²⁺ from acidic radioactive effluents. The influential factors, operational requirements, and interactive mechanisms of the adsorption process were systematically investigated. The mesh-structured composites adsorbed UO₂²⁺ most effectively at pH 5.0. The maximum adsorption capacities for pure chitosan, CTPP, and MCTPP were 374.93, 780.89, and 1487.72 mg/g, respectively. Batch experiments indicated that the pH and adsorbent dose strongly influenced UO₂²⁺ adsorption. MCTPP could adsorb most UO₂²⁺ within 15 min, and equilibrium was reached by ~1 h. The adsorption isotherms indicated that UO₂²⁺ adsorption by MCTPP may be an endothermic single-layer adsorption process. Moreover, common metal ions in single-metal systems only slightly affected this process. The results of instrumental characterization and natural water application suggested that the highly developed pore structure and abundant tripolyphosphate groups in synthesized composites were dominant adsorption contributors besides amino and hydroxyl groups. Successful development of the novel material for efficiently adsorbing UO₂²⁺ and identification of the adsorption mechanism will provide valuable guidance to chitosan modification and further remediation practices of radioactive effluents.

Synthesis and characterization of chitosan-vermiculite-lignin ternary composite as an adsorbent for effective removal of uranyl ions from aqueous solution: Experimental and theoretical analyses

Chitosan (Ch), vermiculite (V) and lignin (L) were used as the components of a natural composite adsorbent (Ch-VL) for the removal of the UO₂²⁺ ions in aqueous solutions. During the study, we recorded and analyzed the initial UO₂²⁺ ion concentration, initial pH, contact time, temperature, and recovery. The recycling performance of the Ch-VL composite was assessed by three sequential adsorption/desorption experiments. Adsorption performance of the Ch-VL composite for UO₂²⁺ ions was 600 mg L^-1 at pH 4.5 and temperature of 25 °C. Thermodynamic findings, ΔH⁰:28.1 kJ mol^-1, and ΔG⁰:-14.1 kJ mol^-1 showed that adsorption behavior was endothermic and spontaneous. Its maximum adsorption capacity was 0.322 mol kg^-1, obtained from the Langmuir isotherm model. The adsorption kinetics indicated that it followed the pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion rate kinetics. The adsorption thermodynamic shown indicated that the UO₂²⁺ ion adsorption was both spontaneous and endothermic. The adsorption process was enlightened by FT-IR and SEM-EDX analyses. The study suggested a simple and cost-effective approach for the removal of toxic UO₂²⁺ ions from wastewater. To highlight the adsorption mechanism, DFT calculations were performed. Theoretical results are in good agreement with experimental observations.

Construction and application of a novel electrochemical sensor for trace determination of uranium based on ion-imprinted polymers modified glassy carbon electrode

In the present work, a novel electrochemical sensor modified glassy carbon electrode with ion-imprinted polymers (IIP-GCE) was applied for uranyl ions (UO₂²⁺) determination. Surface modifier was synthesized through precipitation polymerization method, using acrylic acid as a monomer, benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as initiator, and trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA) as cross-linker. A new uranyl-trans-3-(3-pyridyl) acrylic acid complex was employed, serving as an active and specific site on the synthesized modifier. Next, the synthesized modifier was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) techniques. UO₂²⁺ ions were detected using a differential pulse adsorptive anodic stripping voltammetry method. Under the optimized conditions (pH = 8.0, pre-concentration time = 10 min and pre-concentration potential = -0.30 V), the modified electrode exhibited linear behavior in the interval of 1.27-95.49 μg.L^-1 with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.43 μg.L^-1. Also, the constructed ion-imprinted sensor showed a successful application for determining UO₂²⁺ ions with recovery range of 97.6-101% in real samples.

Enantioselective chitosan-based racemic ketoprofen imprinted polymer: Chiral recognition and resolution study

This work presented a novel racemic imprinting process employing the chiral properties of chitosan monomer. The preparation of racemic ketoprofen (RS-KTP) imprinted polymer (RS-MIP) was conducted using glutaraldehyde as a crosslinker. The nature of elution solvent affected the % desorption ratio suggesting a heterogenous nature of the formed binding sites. Good imprinting was indicated by an imprinting factor of 3.50 for S-KTP. The enantioselectivity of the RS-MIP was indicated by enantioselectivity coefficient of 2.31 and % enantiomeric excess (%ee) of 28.55%. A SPE cartridge packed with RS-MIP enabled resolution of RS-KTP using gradient elution solvent system. Scatchard plot revealed two binding sites types of different affinity towards S-KTP and density observed for the RS-MIP. The binding capacity of RS-MIP showed observed dependence on the % ee of S-KTP indicating its enantioselectivity. The success of using racemic template for the preparation of enantioselective MIP brings a new possibility to achieve enantioseparation of racemic mixtures having very expensive or unavailable pure enantiomers.

Rational fabrication of a new ionic imprinted carboxymethyl chitosan-based sponge for efficient selective adsorption of Gd(iii)

In this work, a new PEI-CMC-IIS adsorbent with 3D network structure was fabricated for the selective adsorption of Gd(iii).

Indole-functionalized cross-linked chitosan for effective uptake of uranium(VI) from aqueous solution

Herein, a novel indole-modified cross-linked chitosan aerogel (IAA-CTSA) was fabricated by grafting 3-indoleacetic acid onto chitosan and adding glutaraldehyde as crosslinking agent through a facile two-step one pot method. The...

Nitrile-Functionalized Poly(2-oxazoline)s as a Versatile Platform for the Development of Polymer Therapeutics

In recent years, polymers bearing reactive groups have received significant interest for biomedical applications. Numerous functional polymer platforms have been introduced, which allow for the preparation of materials with tailored properties via post-polymerization modifications. However, because of their reactivity, many functional groups are not compatible with the initial polymerization. The nitrile group is a highly interesting and relatively inert functionality that has mainly received attention in radical polymerizations. In this Article, a nitrile-functionalized 2-oxazoline monomer (2-(4-nitrile-butyl)-2-oxazoline, BuNiOx) is introduced, and its compatibility with the cationic ring-opening polymerization is demonstrated. Subsequently, the versatility of nitrile-functionalized poly(2-oxazoline)s (POx) is presented. To this end, diverse (co)polymers are synthesized and characterized by nuclear resonance spectroscopy, size-exclusion chromatography, and mass spectrometry. Amphiphilic block copolymers are shown to efficiently encapsulate the hydrophobic drug curcumin (CUR) in aqueous solution, and the anti-inflammatory effect of the CUR-containing nanostructures is presented in BV-2 microglia. Furthermore, the availability of the BuNiOx repeating units for post-polymerization modifications with hydroxylamine to yield amidoxime (AO)-functionalized POx is demonstrated. These AO-containing POx were successfully applied for the complexation of Fe(III) in a quantitative manner. In addition, AO-functionalized POx were shown to release nitric oxide intracellularly in BV-2 microglia. Thus nitrile-functionalized POx represent a promising and robust platform for the design of polymer therapeutics for a wide range of applications.

Ultra-high mechanical property and multi-layer porous structure of amidoximation ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer balls for efficient and selective uranium adsorption from radioactive wastewater

Adsorption uranium [U(VI)] from U-containing radioactive wastewater (URW) is a critical strategy for solving the resource shortage and environmental pollution in pace with the sustainable development of nuclear energy. However, the URW universally exhibits acidity and contains co-existing metal ions with high concentration. Herein, the amidoximation ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer balls (EAA-AO) with aciduric and super-high mechanical property were successfully synthesized through grafting diaminomaleonitrile and further treatment of amidoximation. Significantly, the mechanical properties of EAA-AO were not affected by the grafting process and maintained super-high mechanical properties. Furthermore, the -NH₂ and unreacted -CN groups in diaminomaleonitrile adjusted the pK_a to make the optimal pH be 4. In addition, the microstructure of EAA-AO was transformed from the original dense to multi-layer porous structure, which promoted the mass transfer process and the contact between uranyl ions (UO₂²⁺) and internal adsorption active sites. The adsorption capacity of EAA-AO was about 1.78 times that of EAA at pH = 4, and the adsorption capacity for U(VI) was about 8.17 times that of Ba²⁺ with the second highest adsorption capacity. Therefore, the EAA-AO exhibited ultra-high adsorption performance (q_e = 3.196 mg g^-1) in the artificial radioactive wastewater, laying a good foundation for subsequent large-scale industrial adsorption of U(VI) in nuclear industrial wastewater.

Efficient removal and recovery of uranium from industrial radioactive wastewaters using functionalized activated carbon powder derived from zirconium carbide process waste

Development of efficient sorbents for selective removing and recovery of uranium from radioactive wastewaters is highly important in nuclear fuel industries from the standpoint of resource sustainability and environmental safety issues. In this study, carbon powder waste was modified by various chemical activating agents under atmosphere of nitrogen gas at 725 °C to prepare an efficient sorbent for removal and recovery of uranium ions from radioactive wastewaters of nuclear fuel conversion facility. Activation of the carbon powder with KOH, among different activators, provided maximum porosity and surface area. The activated samples were modified by reacting with ammonium persulfate in sulfuric acid solution to generate surface functional groups. The synthetized sorbents were characterized with FT-IR, XRD, BET, and SEM-EDS techniques. The effects of solution pH, contact time, initial uranium concentration, and temperature on the sorption capacity of the sorbent with respect to U(VI) from wastewater were investigated by batch method, followed by optimizing the effect of influential parameters by experimental design using central composite design. The sorption of UO₂²⁺ ions on the sorbents follows the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic models. Maximum sorption capacity for U(VI) was 192.31 mg g^-1 of the modified sorbent at 35 °C. Thermodynamic data showed that sorption of U(VI) on the sorbent was through endothermic and spontaneous processes. The sorption studies on radioactive effluents of the nuclear industry demonstrated that the modified sorbent had a favorable selectivity for uranium removal in the presence of several other metal ions.

Smart ion imprinted polymer for selective adsorption of Ru(Ⅲ) and simultaneously waste sample being transformed as a catalyst

In this work, a temperature-sensitive block polymer PDEA-b-P(DEA-co-AM) was synthesized and then introduced into the preparation of a smart Ru(Ⅲ) imprinted polymer (Ru-IIP) to selectively adsorption Ru(Ⅲ) first. Then the waste Ru-IIP was converted into a catalyst in-situ for recycle. The structure and morphology of the prepared polymer were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, Scanning electron microscope, BET surface area and Thermogravimetric analysis. The adsorption properties of the synthesized smart material were investigated in terms of adsorption pH, adsorption kinetics and adsorption isotherm. Results documented that the optimal adsorption temperature and pH were 35 °C and 1.5 respectively, the maximum adsorption capacity was 0.153 mmol/g, and the adsorption processes of Ru-IIP were more suitable to be expressed by pseudo-first-order kinetic and Langmuir model. The selectivity studied in different binary mixed solutions showed that Ru-IIP has good selectivity, and reusability results showed that Ru-IIP still maintains a good adsorption effect after 8 cycles. In addition, the waste Ru-IIP, a Ru(Ⅲ) remained waste sample was employed as the catalyst for the synthesis of imines, and result showed the mass of adsorbent would reduce after the completion of catalysis, which could not only catalyze the reaction but also reduce pollution.

Chitosan/Phosphate Rock-Derived Natural Polymeric Composite to Sequester Divalent Copper Ions from Water

Herein, a chitosan (CH) and fluroapatite (TNP) based CH-TNP composite was synthesized by utilizing seafood waste and phosphate rock and was tested for divalent copper (Cu(II)) adsorptive removal from water. The XRD and FT-IR data affirmed the formation of a CH-TNP composite, while BET analysis showed that the surface area of the CH-TNP composite (35.5 m²/g) was twice that of CH (16.7 m²/g). Mechanistically, electrostatic, van der Waals, and co-ordinate interactions were primarily responsible for the binding of Cu(II) with the CH-TNP composite. The maximum Cu(II) uptake of both CH and CH-TNP composite was recorded in the pH range 3-4. Monolayer Cu(II) coverage over both CH and CH-TNP surfaces was confirmed by the fitting of adsorption data to a Langmuir isotherm model. The chemical nature of the adsorption process was confirmed by the fitting of a pseudo-second-order kinetic model to adsorption data. About 82% of Cu(II) from saturated CH-TNP was recovered by 0.5 M NaOH. A significant drop in Cu(II) uptake was observed after four consecutive regeneration cycles. The co-existing ions (in binary and ternary systems) significantly reduced the Cu(II) removal efficacy of CH-TNP.

A chitosan-based composite for adsorption of uranyl ions; mechanism, isothems, kinetics and thermodynamics

The present paper describes a green and cost-effective approach to investigate chitosan-sepiolite (Ch-Sep) composite as an adsorbent for removal of UO₂²⁺ ions in aqueous solution. The Ch-Sep composite was prepared as a beads using with two cross-linking agents: tripolyphosphate (TPP) and epichlorohydrin (ECH). Their adsorption properties for the removal of UO₂²⁺ ions in aqueous solution by batch experimental conditions were studied. The adsorptive removal processes of UO₂²⁺ ions from aqueous solution were evaluated by Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm models, and was found to be perfectly fit to the Langmuir model (R² = 0.971). The maximum adsorption capacity was 0.220 mol kg^-1 at 25 °C from Langmuir isotherm model. Adsorption energy was 12.1 kJ mol^-1 indicating that the adsorption process was chemical. The adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo second order and intra particle diffusion models. The thermodynamics parameters of UO₂²⁺ ions removal from aqueous solution was confirmed spontaneous, endothermic and possible at higher temperatures behavior of adsorption process. The adsorption mechanism of UO₂²⁺ ions onto Ch-Sep composite beads was investigated by FT-IR and SEM analysis. These findings revealed the effectiveness and potential of the newly synthesized Ch-Sep composite beads for the removal of UO₂²⁺ ions.