Ion specific effects on the stability of layered double hydroxide colloids

The Impact of Polyphosphates on the Colloidal Stability of Laponite Particles

The effect of polyphosphate (polyP) adsorption on the colloidal properties of disc-shaped laponite (LRD) particles was examined in aqueous dispersions with a focus on elucidating the interparticle forces that govern the colloidal stability of the systems. The charge and aggregation rate data of bare LRD exhibited an ionic strength-dependent trend, confirming the presence of double-layer repulsion and van der Waals attraction as major surface interactions. The charge of LRD particles significantly increased in magnitude at elevated polyP concentrations as a result of polyP adsorption and subsequent overcharging of the positively charged sites on the edges of the LRD discs. A transition from stable to unstable LRD colloids was observed with increasing polyP doses indicating the formation of aggregates in the latter systems due to depletion forces and/or bridging interactions induced by dissolved or adsorbed polyP, respectively. The degree of phosphate polymerization influenced neither the charge nor the aggregation mechanism. The findings clearly confirm that polyP adsorption was the driving phenomenon to induce particle aggregation in contrast to other clay types, where phosphate derivatives act as dispersion stabilizing agents. This study provides valuable insights into the early stages of aggregation in colloidal systems involving LRD and polyPs, which have a crucial role in predicting further material properties that are important to designing LRD-polyP composites for applications such as potential phosphate sources in chemical fertilizers.

Interaction between Uranyl Cations and Layered Double Hydroxide Nanoparticles: Implications for Nuclear Wastewater Management

Effective uranium (U) capture is required for the remediation of contaminated solutes associated with the nuclear fuel cycle, including fuel reprocessing effluents, decommissioning, or nuclear accident cleanup. Here, interactions between uranyl cations (UO2 2+) and a Mg-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) were investigated using two types of uranyl-bearing LDH colloids. The first (ULDH) was synthesized by coprecipitation with 10% of Mg2+ substituted by UO2 2+. Alternatively, UO2 2+ was added to a neoformed LDH to obtain the second uranyl-bearing LDH colloid (LDHU). In both the LDHU and ULDH colloid systems, schoepite (UO2)8O2(OH)12·12H2O, was formed. The presence of U significantly reduced the size of both LDHU and ULDH compared to a reference LDH colloid. Surface charge and aggregation of the ULDH and LDHU colloids were compared in NaCl, Na2CO3, Na2SiO3, and Na3PO4 solutions that are often present in nuclear wastewaters. Aggregation of ULDH and LDHU in the presence of Na2SiO3 or Na3PO4 promotes colloid restabilization. While the uranyl cation was not incorporated into the LDH structure, it influences nanoparticle growth in addition to imparting modified surface properties that affect aggregation. This has implications for radioactive waste disposals, where LDH, which can also incorporate a variety of other radionuclides, is used for remediation.

Electrolyte-induced aggregation of zein protein nanoparticles in aqueous dispersions

Ion specific effects on the charging and aggregation features of zein nanoparticles (ZNP) were studied in aqueous suspensions by electrophoretic and time-resolved dynamic light scattering techniques. The influence of mono- and multivalent counterions on the colloidal stability was investigated for positively and negatively charged particles at pH values below and above the isoelectric point, respectively. The sequence of the destabilization power of monovalent salts followed the prediction of the indirect Hofmeister series for positively charged particles, while the direct Hofmeister series for negatively charged ones assumed a hydrophobic character for their surface. The multivalent ions destabilized the oppositely charged ZNPs more effectively and the aggregation process followed the Schulze-Hardy rule. For some multivalent ions, strong adsorption led to charge reversal resulting in restabilization of the suspensions. The experimental critical coagulation concentrations (CCCs) could be well-predicted with the theory developed by Derjaguin, Landau, Verwey and Overbeek indicating that the aggregation processes were mainly driven by electrical double layer repulsion and van der Waals attraction. The ion specific dependence of the CCCs is owing to the modification of the surface charge through ion adsorption at different extents. These results are crucial for drug delivery applications, where inorganic electrolytes are present in ZNP samples.

Electroplating wastewater treatment by in-situ formation of organic anions and inorganic anions intercalated layered double hydroxides

The electroplating wastewater containing various metal ions was treated by adding sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) and regulating pH value, and the resulting precipitates were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed that organic anions intercalated layered double hydroxides (OLDHs) and inorganic anions intercalated layered double hydroxides (ILDHs) were in-situ formed to remove heavy metals during the treatment process. In order to reveal the formation mechanism of the precipitates, SDB- intercalated Ni-Fe OLDHs, NO3- intercalated Ni-Fe ILDHs and Fe3+-DBS complexes were synthsized by co-precipitation at various pH values for comparison. These samples were characterized by XRD, Fourier Transform infrared (FTIR), element analysis as well as the aqueous residual concentrations of Ni2+ and Fe3+ were detected. The results showed that OLDHs with good crystal structures can be formed as pH≤7, while ILDHs began to form at pH = 8. When pH < 7, complexes of Fe3+ and organic anions with the ordered layered structure were formed firstly, and then with increase in pH value, Ni2+ inserted into the solid complex and the OLDHs began to form. However, Ni-Fe ILDHs were not formed when pH ≤ 7. The Ksp (Solubility Product Constant) of OLDHs was calculated to be 3.24 × 10-19 and that of ILDHs was 2.98 × 10-18 at pH = 8, which suggested that OLDHs might be easier to form than ILDHs. The formation process of ILDHs and OLDHs were also simulated through MINTEQ software, and the simulation output verified that OLDHs could be easier to form than ILDHs at pH ≤ 7. Information from this study provides a theoretical basis for effective in-situ formation of OLDHs in wastewater treatment.

Colloidal Interactions of Microplastic Particles with Anionic Clays in Electrolyte Solutions

Homoaggregation of polystyrene microplastics (MPs) and heteroaggregation of MPs with anionic clay minerals, namely, layered double hydroxide (LDH), in different salt (NaCl, CaCl2, and Na2SO4) solutions were systematically investigated using light scattering techniques. The salt type and ionic strength had significant effects on the stability of both MPs and LDH particles individually and the results could be explained by DLVO theory and the Schulze-Hardy rule. However, once stable colloidal dispersions of the individual particles were mixed, heteroaggregation occurred between the oppositely charged MPs and LDH, which was also confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray scattering. Adsorption of the LDH particles resulted in neutralization and reversal of MPs surface charge at appropriate LDH doses. Once LDH adsorption neutralized the negative charges of the MP spheres, rapid aggregation was observed in the dispersions, whereas stable samples formed at high and low LDH concentrations. The governing interparticle interactions included repulsive electrical double-layer forces, as well as van der Waals and patch-charge attractions, the strength of which depended on the mass ratio of the interacting particles and the composition of the aqueous solvent. Our results shed light on the colloidal behavior of MPs in a complex aquatic environment and, in the long term, are also useful for developing LDH-based approaches for water remediation to remove contamination with MP particles.

Structure–activity relationships of LDH catalysts for the glucose-to-fructose isomerisation in ethanol

Hydrotalcite catalysed liquid phase glucose isomerisation in EtOH.

Layered Double Hydroxide/Graphene Quantum Dots as a New Sorbent for the Dispersive Solid-Phase Microextraction of Selected Benzophenones, Phenols, and Parabens

In this study, the synthesis of a layered double hydroxide (LDH) composite with graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and its utilization for the development of a dispersive solid-phase extraction procedure are described. To this end, a carbonate-free Mg-Al LDH was synthesized. The development of the composite material made feasible the use of GQDs in a sample preparation procedure, while the incorporation of the GQDs in the LDH structure resulted in an 80% increase in extraction efficiency, compared to the bare LDH. As a proof of concept, the composite material was used for the development of an analytical method for the extraction, and preconcentration, of benzophenones, phenols, and parabens in lake water using high-performance liquid chromatography, coupled to a diode array detector. The analytical method exhibits low limits of quantification (0.10-1.33 μg L^-1), good recoveries (92-100%), and satisfactory enrichment factors (169-186). Due to the abovementioned merits, the easy synthesis and simple extraction, the developed method can be used for the routine analysis of the target compounds.

Surface modification of two-dimensional layered double hydroxide nanoparticles with biopolymers for biomedical applications

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are appealing nanomaterials for (bio)medical applications and their potential is threefold. One can gain advantage of the structure of LDH frame (i.e., layered morphology), anion exchanging property towards drugs with acidic character and tendency for facile surface modification with biopolymers. This review focuses on the third aspect, as it is necessary to evaluate the advantages of polymer adsorption on LDH surfaces. Beside the short discussion on fundamental and structural features of LDHs, LDH-biopolymer interactions will be classified in terms of the effect on the colloidal stability of the dispersions. Thereafter, an overview on the biocompatibility and biomedical applications of LDH-biopolymer composite materials will be given. Finally, the advances made in the field will be summarized and future research directions will be suggested.

Nanoarchitectured two-dimensional layered double hydroxides-based nanocomposites for biomedical applications

Despite the exceptional physicochemical and morphological characteristics, the pristine layered double hydroxides (LDHs), or two-dimensional (2D) hydrotalcite clays, often suffer from various shortcomings in biomedicine, such as deprived thermal and chemical stabilities, acid-prone degradation, as well as lack of targeting ability, hampering their scale-up and subsequent clinical translation. Accordingly, diverse nanocomposites of LDHs have been fabricated by surface coating of organic species, impregnation of inorganic species, and generation of core-shell architectures, resulting in the complex state-of-the-art architectures. In this article, we initially emphasize various bothering limitations and the chemistry of these pristine LDHs, followed by discussions on the engineering strategies of different LDHs-based nanocomposites. Further, we give a detailed note on diverse LDH nanocomposites and their performance efficacy in various biomedical applications, such as drug delivery, bioimaging, biosensing, tissue engineering and cell patterning, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extraction, as well as photoluminescence, highlighting the influence of various properties of installed supramolecular assemblies on their performance efficacy. In summary, we conclude with interesting perspectives concerning the lessons learned to date and the strategies to be followed to further advance their scale-up processing and applicability in medicine.

Single-step removal of arsenite ions from water through oxidation-coupled adsorption using Mn/Mg/Fe layered double hydroxide as catalyst and adsorbent

This study developed a layered double hydroxides (Mn/Mg/Fe-LDH) material through a simple co-precipitation method. The Mn/Mg/Fe-LDH oxidized arsenite [As(III)] ions into arsenate [As(V)] anions. The As(III) and oxidized As(V) were then adsorbed onto Mn/Mg/Fe-LDH. The adsorption process of arseniate [As(V)] oxyanions by Mn/Mg/Fe-LDH was simultaneously conducted for comparison. Characterization results indicated that (i) the best Mg/Mn/Fe molar ratio was 1/1/1, (ii) Mn/Mg/Fe-LDH structure was similar to that of hydrotalcite, (iii) Mn/Mg/Fe-LDH possessed a positively charged surface (pH_IEP of 10.15) and low Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area (S_BET = 75.2 m²/g), and (iv) Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ and Mn²⁺/Mn³⁺/Mn⁴⁺ coexisted in Mn/Mg/Fe-LDH. The As(III) adsorption process by Mn/Mg/Fe-LDH was similar to that of As(V) under different experimental conditions (initial solutions pH, coexisting foreign anions, contact times, initial As concentrations, temperatures, and desorbing agents). The Langmuir maximum adsorption capacity of Mn/Mg/Fe-LDH to As(III) (56.1 mg/g) was higher than that of As(V) (32.2 mg/g) at pH 7.0 and 25 °C. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was applied to identify the oxidation states of As in laden Mn/Mg/Fe-LDH. The key removal mechanism of As(III) by Mn/Mg/Fe-LDH was oxidation-coupled adsorption, and that of As(V) was reduction-coupled adsorption. The As(V) mechanism adsorption mainly involved: (1) the inner-sphere and outer-sphere complexation with OH groups of Mn/Mg/Fe-LDH and (2) anion exchange with host anions (NO₃^-) in its interlayer. The primary mechanism adsorption of As(III) was the inner-sphere complexation. The redox reactions made Mn/Mg/Fe-LDH lose its original layer structure after adsorbing As(V) or As(III). The adsorption process was highly irreversible. Mn/Mg/Fe-LDH can decontaminate As from real groundwater samples from 45-92 ppb to 0.35-7.9 ppb (using 1.0 g/L). Therefore, Mn/Mg/Fe-LDH has great potential as a material for removing As.

Nickel-Iron Layered Double Hydroxide Dispersions in Ethanol Stabilized by Acetate Anions

This work reports a method to obtain stable dispersions of nickel-iron layered double hydroxide (NiFe-LDH) nanosheets in ethanol by exposing the as-synthetized bulk NiFe-LDH to a sodium acetate solution or by adding acetate and citrate anions inside the reaction mixture. In the case of citrate-containing NiFe-LDH, the formation of single-layer nanosheets is confirmed by X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy measurements. Lastly, the effect of acetate ions on the electrocatalytic activity of NiFe-LDH is discussed for the oxygen evolution reaction. Our results provide useful information to improve the existing LDH exfoliation routes based on the use of green solvent alternatives to the mostly used formamide.

Innovative in situ remediation of mine waters using a layered double hydroxide-biochar composite

The current demand for alternative water sources requires the incorporation of low-cost composites in remediation technologies. These represent a sustainable alternative to more expensive, commercially used adsorbents. The main objective of this comprehensive field-scale study was to incorporate the layered double hydroxides (LDHs) into the hybrid biochar-based composites and apply an innovative material to remediate As/Sb-rich mine waters. The presence of hydrous Fe oxides (HFOs) within the composite enhanced the total adsorption efficiency of the composite for As(V) and Sb(V). The kinetic data fitted a pseudo-second order model. Equilibrium experiments confirmed that the composite had a stronger interaction with As(V) than with Sb(V). The efficient removal of As(V) from mine water was achieved in both batch and continuous flow column systems, reaching up to 98% and 80%, respectively. Sb(V) showed different behavior to As(V) during mine water treatment, reaching adsorption efficiencies of up to 39% and 26% in batch and column experiments, respectively. The migration of Sb(V) in mine water was mostly attributed to its dispersion before it was able to show affinity to the composite. In general, the proposed column technology is suitable for the field remediation of small volumes of contaminated water, and thus has significant commercial potential.

Overcharging and Free Energy Barriers for Equally Charged Surfaces Immersed in Salt Solutions

The stability of dispersions containing charged particles may obviously be regulated by salt. In some systems, the effective charge, as measured by the potential some small distance away from the particles, can have a sign opposite to the bare surface charge. If charge reversal takes place, there is typically a salt concentration regime within which colloidal stability increases with added salt. These experimental findings on dispersions have been corroborated by atomic force microscopy investigations, where an attraction is found at short separations. This attraction is stronger than expected from standard DLVO theory, and there has been considerable debate concerning its origin. In this work, we use simple coarse-grained models of these systems, where the bare surfaces carry a uniform charge density, and ion-specific adsorption is absent. Our hypothesis is that these experimental observations can be explained by such a simplistic pure Coulomb based model. Our approach entails grand canonical Metropolis Monte Carlo (MC) simulations as well as correlation-corrected Poisson-Boltzmann (cPB) calculations. In the former case, all ions have a common size, while the cPB utilizes a point-like model. We devote significant attention on apparent surface charge densities and interactions between large flat model surfaces immersed in either a 2:1 salt or a 3:1 salt. In contrast to most of the previous theoretical efforts in this area, we mainly focus on the weak long-ranged repulsion and its connection to an effective surface charge. We find a charge reversal and a concomitant development of a free energy barrier for both salts. The experimentally observed nonmonotonic dependence of colloidal stability on the salt concentration is reproduced using MC simulations as well as cPB calculations. A strong attraction is observed at short range for all investigated cases. We argue that in our model, all non-DLVO aspects can be traced to ion-ion correlations.

Influence of adsorption of ionic liquid constituents on the stability of layered double hydroxide colloids

The influence of ionic liquid (IL) anions and cations on the charging and aggregation properties of layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanoparticles was systematically studied. Surface charge characteristics were explored using zeta potential measurements, while aggregation processes were followed in dynamic light scattering experiments in aqueous IL solutions. The results revealed that the aggregation rates of LDHs were sensitive to the composition of ILs leading to IL-dependent critical coagulation concentration (CCC) values being obtained. The origin of the interparticle forces was found to be electrostatic, in line with the classical Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory, as the experimental aggregation kinetics were in good agreement with the predicted data. The ion specific adsorption of IL anions led to different surface charge densities for LDHs, which decreased in the order Cl^- > Br^- > DCA^- > SCN^- > NO₃^- for counterions and BMIM⁺ > BMPYR⁺ > BMPY⁺ > BMPIP⁺ in the case of coions resulting in weaker electrical double layer repulsion in these sequences. Since van der Waals forces are always present and their strength does not depend significantly on the ionic strength, the CCC values decreased in the above order. The present results shed light on the importance of the interfacial arrangement of the IL constituent ions on the colloidal stability of particle dispersions and provide important information on the design of stable or unstable particle-ionic liquid systems.

Aggregation of Halloysite Nanotubes in the Presence of Multivalent Ions and Ionic Liquids

Colloidal stability was investigated in two types of particle systems, namely, with bare (h-HNT) and polyimidazolium-functionalized (h-HNT-IP-2) alkali-treated halloysite nanotubes in solutions of metal salts and ionic liquids (ILs). The valence of the metal ions and the number of carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon chain of the IL cations (1-methylimidazolium (MIM+), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium (EMIM+), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium (BMIM+), and 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium (HMIM+)) were altered in the measurements. For the bare h-HNT with a negative surface charge, multivalent counterions destabilized the dispersions at low values of critical coagulation concentration (CCC) in line with the Schulze-Hardy rule. In the presence of ILs, significant adsorption of HMIM+ took place on the h-HNT surface, leading to charge neutralization and overcharging at appropriate concentrations. A weaker affinity was observed for MIM+, EMIM+, and BMIM+, while they adsorbed on the particles to different extents. The order HMIM+ < BMIM+ < EMIM+ < MIM+ was obtained for the CCCs of h-HNT, indicating that HMIM+ was the most effective in the destabilization of the colloids. For h-HNT-IP-2 with a positive surface charge, no specific interaction was observed between the salt and the IL constituent cations and the particles, i.e., the determined charge and aggregation parameters were the same within experimental error, irrespective of the type of co-ions. These results clearly indicate the relevance of ion adsorption in the colloidal stability of the nanotubes and thus provide useful information for further design of processable h-HNT dispersions.

Specific Ion Effects on Aggregation and Charging Properties of Boron Nitride Nanospheres

The charging and aggregation properties of boron nitride nanospheres (BNNSs) were investigated in the presence of electrolytes of different compositions and valences in aqueous suspensions. The influence of mono- and multivalent cations (counterions) and anions (coions) on the colloidal stability of the negatively charged particles was studied over a wide range of salt concentrations. For monovalent ions, similar trends were determined in the stability and charging of the particles irrespective of the salt composition, i.e., no ion-specific effects were observed. Once multivalent counterions were involved, the critical coagulation concentrations (CCCs) decreased with the valence in line with the direct Schulze-Hardy rule. The dependence indicated an intermediate charge density for BNNSs. The influence of the coions on the CCCs was weaker and the destabilization ability followed the inverse Schulze-Hardy rule. The predominant interparticle forces were identified as electrical double-layer repulsion and van der Waals attraction. These findings offer useful information to design stable BNNS dispersions in various applications, where mono- and multivalent electrolytes or their mixtures are present in the samples.

A colloid chemistry route for the preparation of hierarchically ordered mesoporous layered double hydroxides using surfactants as sacrificial templates

An efficient synthetic route was developed to prepare hierarchically ordered mesoporous layered double hydroxide (LDH) materials. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was used as a sacrificial template to tune the interfacial properties of the LDH materials during the synthetic process. The SDS dose was optimized to obtain stable dispersions of the SDS-LDH composites, which were calcined, then rehydrated to prepare the desired LDH structures. Results of various characterization studies revealed a clear relationship between the colloidal stability of the SDS-LDH precursors and the structural features of the final materials, which was entirely SDS-free. A comparison to the reference LDH prepared by the traditional co-precipitation-calcination-rehydration method in the absence of SDS shed light on a remarkable increase in the specific surface area (one of the highest within the previously reported LDH materials) and pore volume as well as on the formation of a beneficial pore size distribution. As a proof of concept, the mesoporous LDH was applied as adsorbent for removal of nitrate and dichromate anions from aqueous samples, and excellent efficiency was observed in both sorption capacity and recyclability. These results make the obtained LDH a promising candidate as adsorbent in various industrial and environmental processes, wherever the use of mesoporous and organic content-free materials is required.

Layered double hydroxide-based antioxidant dispersions with high colloidal and functional stability

Highly stable antioxidant dispersions were designed on the basis of ring-opened ellagic acid (EA) intercalated into MgAl-layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanoparticles. The morphology of the composite was delicately modified with ethanolic washing to obtain EtOH-EA-LDH with a high specific surface area. The colloidal stability was optimized by surface functionalization with positively charged polyelectrolytes. Polyethyleneimine (PEI), protamine sulfate (PS) and poly(acrylamide-co-diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) (PAAm-co-DADMAC) was adsorbed onto the surface of the oppositely charged EtOH-EA-LDH leading to charge neutralization and overcharging at appropriate doses. Formation of adsorbed polyelectrolyte layers provided remarkable colloidal stability for the EtOH-EA-LDH. Modification with PEI and PAAm-co-DADMAC outstandingly improved the resistance of the particles against salt-induced aggregation with a critical coagulation concentration value above 1 M, while only limited stability was achieved by covering the nanoparticles with PS. The high antioxidant activity of EtOH-EA-LDH was greatly preserved upon polyelectrolyte coating, which was proved in the scavenging of radicals in the test reaction applied. Hence, an active antioxidant nanocomposite of high drug dose and remarkable colloidal stability was obtained to combat oxidative stress in systems of high electrolyte concentrations.

Ion Specific Effects on the Stability of Halloysite Nanotube Colloids-Inorganic Salts versus Ionic Liquids

Charging and aggregation processes were studied in aqueous dispersions of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) in the presence of monovalent inorganic electrolytes and ionic liquid (IL) constituents. The same type of co-ion (same sign of charge as HNT) was used in all systems, while the type of counterions (opposite sign of charge as HNT) was systematically varied. The affinity of the inorganic cations to the HNT surface influenced their destabilizing power leading to an increase in the critical coagulation concentration (CCC) of HNT dispersions in the Cs+ < K+ < Na+ order. This trend agrees with the classical Hofmeister series for negatively charged hydrophobic surfaces. For the IL cations, the CCCs increased in the order BMPY+ < BMPIP+ < BMPYR+ < BMIM+. An unexpectedly strong adsorption of BMPY+ cations on the HNT surface was observed giving rise to charge neutralization and reversal of the oppositely charged outer surface of HNT. The direct Hofmeister series was extended with these IL cations. The main aggregation mechanism was rationalized within the classical theory developed by Derjaguin, Landau, Verwey, and Overbeek, while ion specific effects resulted in remarkable variation in the CCC values. The results unambiguously proved that the hydration level of the surface and the counterions plays a crucial role in the formation of the ionic composition at the solid-liquid interface and consequently, in the colloidal stability of the HNT particles in both inorganic salt and IL solutions.

Specific Ion Effects on the Colloidal Stability of Layered Double Hydroxide Single-layer Nanosheets

The surface charge properties and aggregation behavior of positively charged Mg-Al-NO₃ layered double hydroxide (LDH) single-layer nanosheets dispersed in water were investigated in the presence of K⁺ salts with different mono-, di-, and trivalent anions, using electrophoresis and dynamic light scattering techniques. An increase in the salt concentration can significantly decrease the effective surface charge density (σ_eff) of LDHs, leading to the aggregation of nanosheets. The critical coagulation concentration (CCC) or ionic strength (CCIS) of salts for nanosheets significantly decreases with an increase in the valence of anions. Specific ion effects, with a partially reverse Hofmeister series, are observed. On the basis of the Stern model and the DLVO theory, the relationship of CCC with σ_eff and the ionic valences of salts (z_i) is theoretically analyzed, which can accurately describe the dependence of CCC on the σ_eff and z_i but cannot explain the origin of specific ion effects. To explore the origin of specific ion effects, a correlation between CCIS and the specific adsorption energy (E_sc) of anions within the Stern layer is developed. Especially, an empirical relationship of E_sc with the characteristic physical parameters of anions is proposed. Our model can accurately predict the CCISs of at least monovalent anions and divalent anions (CO₃^2- and SO₄^2-), demonstrating that the specific ion effects observed can be attributed to the differences in ionic size, polarizability, and hydration free energy (or the formation capacity of anion-cation pairs) of different anions. This work not only deepens the understanding of specific ion effects on the colloidal stability but also provides useful information for the potential applications of LDH single-layer nanosheets.

Heteroaggregation between Charged and Neutral Particles

Experimentally determined heteroaggregation rates between charged and neutral colloidal particles are reported for the first time. Different positively and negatively charged polystyrene latex particles are investigated. The neutral particles are obtained through adsorption of an appropriate amount of oppositely charged additives, such as aliphatic oligoamines, iron cyanide complexes, or alkyl sulfates. Heteroaggregation rates were measured with time-resolved multiangle light scattering. One observes that heteroaggregation between charged and neutral particles is always fast and diffusion controlled. These experimental values are compared with calculations of the Derjaguin, Landau, Verwey, and Overbeek (DLVO) theory, whereby one finds that this heteroaggregation process is highly sensitive to charge regulation conditions. The comparison with experiments shows unambiguously that the surface of the neutral particles regulates strongly and probably behaves close to a constant potential surface. This observation is in line with direct force measurements on similar systems and further agrees with the fact that for neutral surfaces the capacitance of the diffuse layer is expected to be much smaller than the one of the inner layer.

A Simple Method to Determine Critical Coagulation Concentration from Electrophoretic Mobility

Critical coagulation concentration (CCC) is a key parameter of particle dispersions, since it provides the threshold limit of electrolyte concentrations, above which the dispersions are destabilized due to rapid particle aggregation. A computational method is proposed to predict CCC values using solely electrophoretic mobility data without the need to measure aggregation rates of the particles. The model relies on the DLVO theory; contributions from repulsive double-layer forces and attractive van der Waals forces are included. Comparison between the calculated and previously reported experimental CCC data for the same particles shows that the method performs well in the presence of mono and multivalent electrolytes provided DLVO interparticle forces are dominant. The method is validated for particles of various compositions, shapes, and sizes.

Cascade Kinetics in an Enzyme-Loaded Aqueous Two-Phase System

Macromolecular crowding plays a critical role in the kinetics of enzymatic reactions. Dynamic compartmentalization of biological components in living cells due to liquid-liquid phase separation represents an important cell regulatory mechanism that can increase enzyme concentration locally and influence the diffusion of substrates. In the present study, we probed partitioning of two enzymes (horseradish-peroxidase and urate-oxidase) in a poly(ethylene glycol)-dextran aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) as a function of salt concentration and ion position in the Hofmeister series. Moreover, we investigated enzymatic cascade reactions and their kinetics within the ATPS, which revealed a strong influence of the ion hydration stemming from the background electrolyte on the partitioning coefficients of proteins following the Hofmeister series. As a result, we were able to realize cross-partitioning of two enzymes because of different protein net charges at a chosen pH. Our study reveals a strong dependency of the enzyme activity on the substrate type and crowding agent interaction on the final kinetics of enzymatic reactions in the ATPS and therefore provides substantial implications en route toward dynamic regulation of reactivity in synthetic protocells.

Mechanisms of Surface Charge Modification of Carbonates in Aqueous Electrolyte Solutions

The influence of different types of salts (NaCl, CaCl 2 , MgCl 2 , NaHCO 3 , and Na 2 SO 4 ) on the surface characteristics of unconditioned calcite and dolomite particles, and conditioned with stearic acid, was investigated. This study used zeta potential measurements to gain fundamental understanding of physico-chemical mechanisms involved in surface charge modification of carbonate minerals in the presence of diluted salt solutions. By increasing the salt concentration of divalent cationic salt solution (CaCl 2 and MgCl 2 ), the zeta potential of calcite particles was altered, resulting in charge reversal from negative to positive, while dolomite particles maintained positive zeta potential. This is due to the adsorption of potential-determining cations (Ca 2 + and Mg 2 + ), and consequent changes in the structure of the diffuse layer, predominantly driven by coulombic interactions. On the other hand, chemical adsorption of potential-determining anions (HCO 3 - and SO 4 2 - ) maintained the negative zeta potential of carbonate surfaces and increased its magnitude up to 10 mM, before decreasing at higher salt concentrations. Physisorption of stearic acid molecules on the calcite and dolomite surfaces changed the zeta potential to more negative values in all solutions. It is argued that divalent cations (Ca 2 + and Mg 2 + ) would result in positive and neutral complexes with stearic acid molecules, which may result in strongly bound stearic acid films, whereas ions resulting in negative mineral surface charges (SO 4 2 - and HCO 3 - ) will cause stearic acid films to be loosely bound to the carbonate mineral surfaces. The suggested mechanism for surface charge modification of carbonates, in the presence of different ions, is changes in both distribution of ions in the diffuse layer and its structure as a result of ion adsorption to the crystal lattice by having a positive contribution to the disjoining pressures when changing electrolyte concentration. This work extends the current knowledge base for dynamic water injection design by determining the effect of salt concentration on surface electrostatics.

The Removal of Silicate(IV) by Adsorption onto Hydrocalumite from the Sodium Hydroxide Leaching Solution of Black Dross

Alkaline leaching of mechanically activated black dross resulted in an aluminate(III) solution with a small amount of silicate(IV). To obtain pure aluminate(III) solution, the removal of silicate(IV) from the alkaline leaching solution was investigated by adsorption with hydrocalumite (Ca2Al(OH)6Cl·2H2O). The hydrocalumite was synthesized by the coprecipitation method. The characterization of the synthesized hydrocalumite was analyzed via X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). In our experimental conditions, silicate(IV) was selectively adsorbed onto hydrocalumite over aluminate(III). The reaction time greatly affected the removal percentage of aluminate(III) owing to mass action effect. When the reaction time was longer than 2 h, no aluminate(III) was adsorbed onto hydrocalumite and thus it was possible to selectively remove silicate(IV). When the dosage of hydrocalumite was in excess, the removal percentage of silicate(IV) was rather reduced. Complete removal of silicate(IV) from the solution was accomplished in the reaction temperature between 50 and 70 °C. By selective adsorption of silicate(IV) from the solution at the optimum condition (30 g/L hydrocalumite, 50 °C, 400 rpm, and 2 h), an aluminate(III) solution with purity higher than 99.9% was obtained. The adsorption of silicate(IV) onto hydrocalumite followed the Freundlich isotherm.

Removal of Chromates and Sulphates by Mg/Fe LDH and Heterostructured LDH/Halloysite Materials: Efficiency, Selectivity, and Stability of Adsorbents in Single- and Multi-Element Systems

Industrial wastewaters often contain mobile and toxic anions that cannot be removed by precipitation techniques and most known adsorbents. Layered double hydroxides (LDH) are excellent scavengers of anions; however, their use in real applications is of minor importance owing to their swelling behavior and high cost of production. The performed research shows the possibility of obtaining Mg/Fe LDH using natural magnesite. Moreover, heterostructured LDH/halloysite materials were synthesized. The adsorption efficiency of these materials was very high in both single- and multi-element systems, confirming the LDH selectivity. This was with the exception of wastewaters containing a high concentration of chlorides, which clearly hampered the removal of Cr(VI) and S(VI). The measurements indicated that LDH dissolution took place to a small extent (<10 wt%). The LDH/halloysite materials showed lower efficiency than the raw LDH; however, the clay presence has several benefits in terms of future applications: (i) it significantly reduces the pH, especially in contrast to the calcined LDH, which enables the reuse or safe disposal of purified water; (ii) it reduces swelling of the composite, which opens the possibility for applications in column adsorption; (iii) it induces dual adsorption properties through additional cation adsorption; and (iv) it substantially lowers the price of the adsorbent.

Undoped and Eu3+ Doped Magnesium-Aluminium Layered Double Hydroxides: Peculiarities of Intercalation of Organic Anions and Investigation of Luminescence Properties

The Mg₃/Al and Mg₃/Al0.99Eu0.01 layered double hydroxides (LDHs) were fabricated using a sol-gel chemistry approach and intercalated with different anions through ion exchange procedure. The influence of the origin of organic anion (oxalate, laurate, malonate, succinate, tartrate, benzoate, 1,3,5-benzentricarboxylate (BTC), 4-methylbenzoate (MB), 4-dimethylaminobenzoate (DMB) and 4-biphenylacetonate (BPhAc)) on the evolution of the chemical composition of the inorganic-organic LDHs system has been investigated. The obtained results indicated that the type and arrangement of organic guests between layers of the LDHs influence Eu3+ luminescence in the synthesized different hybrid inorganic⁻organic matrixes. For the characterization of synthesis products X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy (FLS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), were used.

Highly stable enzyme-mimicking nanocomposite of antioxidant activity

A highly stable nanocomposite of antioxidant activity was developed by immobilization of a superoxide dismutase-mimicking metal complex on copolymer-functionalized nanoclay. The layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanoclays were synthesized and surface modification was performed by adsorbing poly(vinylpyridine-b-methacrylic acid) (PVPMAA). The effect of the adsorption on the charging and aggregation properties was investigated and the copolymer dose was optimized to obtain stable LDH dispersions. The LDH-PVPMAA hybrid particles showed high resistance against salt-induced destabilization in aqueous dispersions. Copper(II)-histamine (Cu(Hsm)₂) complexes were immobilized via the formation of dative bonds between the metal ions and the nitrogen atoms of the functional groups of the copolymer adsorbed on the particles. Changes in the coordination geometry of the complex upon immobilization led to higher superoxide radical anion scavenging activity than the one determined for the non-immobilized complex. Comparison of superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity of the obtained hybrid LDH-PVPMAA-Cu(Hsm)₂ with the nanoclay-immobilized SOD enzyme revealed that the developed composite maintained its activity over several days and was able to function at elevated temperature, while the immobilized native enzyme lost its activity under these experimental conditions. The developed nanocomposite is a promising antioxidant candidate in applications, where high electrolyte concentration and elevated temperature are applied.

An evaluation of monovalent, divalent, and trivalent cations as aggregating agents for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) analysis of synthetic cannabinoids

Monovalent, divalent and trivalent chloride, sulfate and nitrate salts were examined to determine the critical coagulation concentration (CCC) for each salt and its corresponding effect on detection limits for SERS analysis of synthetic cannabinoids.

Effect of Polyelectrolyte Mono- and Bilayer Formation on the Colloidal Stability of Layered Double Hydroxide Nanoparticles

Sequential adsorption of polyelectrolytes on nanoparticles is a popular method to obtain thin films after deposition. However, the effect of polyelectrolyte multilayer formation on the colloidal stability of the nanoparticles has not been studied in detail. In the present work, layered double hydroxides (LDH) were synthesized and interaction with oppositely and like-charged polyelectrolytes was investigated. Electrophoretic and light scattering measurements revealed that colloidal stability of LDH can be tuned by adsorption of poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS) on the oppositely charged LDH surface in appropriate doses and thus, unstable or stable dispersions can be designed. Negatively charged LDH of adsorbed PSS monolayer was obtained and a poly(diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) second layer was systematically built on the particles. The obtained polyelectrolyte bilayer provided high colloidal stability for the LDH-PSS-PDADMAC dispersions due to the presence of repulsive interparticle forces of electrostatic and steric origin. The results provide crucial quantitative information on designing highly stable particle-polyelectrolyte systems for the preparation of thin films or immobilization of guest substances between the layers for delivery processes.

Aggregation of Colloidal Particles in the Presence of Hydrophobic Anions: Importance of Attractive Non-DLVO Forces

Aqueous suspensions of amidine latex (AL) and sulfate latex (SL) particles containing sodium tetraphenylborate and NaCl are studied with electrokinetic and time-resolved light-scattering techniques. In monovalent salt solutions, AL is positively charged, whereas SL is negatively charged. Electrophoretic mobility measurements demonstrate that adsorption of tetraphenylborate anions leads to a charge reversal of AL particles. At higher concentrations, both types of particles accumulate negative charge. For AL particles, the charge reversal leads to a narrow fast aggregation region and an intermediate regime of slow aggregation. For SL particles, the intermediate slow regime is also observed. These aspects can be explained with classical theory of Derjaguin, Landau, Verwey, and Overbeek (DLVO). Another regime of fast aggregation is observed at intermediate concentrations, and the existence of this regime can be rationalized by an additional attractive non-DLVO force. We suspect that this additional force is caused by surface charge heterogeneities.

Hydrodynamic assembly of two-dimensional layered double hydroxide nanostructures

Formation mechanisms of two-dimensional nanostructures in wet syntheses are poorly understood. Even more enigmatic is the influence of hydrodynamic forces. Here we use liquid flow cell transmission electron microscopy to show that layered double hydroxide, as a model material, may form via the oriented attachment of hexagonal nanoparticles; under hydrodynamic shear, oriented attachment is accelerated. To hydrodynamically manipulate the kinetics of particle growth and oriented attachment, we develop a microreactor with high and tunable shear rates, enabling control over particle size, crystallinity and aspect ratio. This work offers new insights in the formation of two-dimensional materials, provides a scalable yet precise synthesis method, and proposes new avenues for the rational engineering and scalable production of highly anisotropic nanostructures.

While liquid-phase synthesis of 2D materials presents opportunities for large-scale production, achieving precise control over product quality, size and morphology remains challenging. Here, the authors show that hydrodynamic manipulation of nanoparticle assembly enables control over crystallinity, size and aspect ratio.

Description of colloidal particles aggregation in the presence of Hofmeister effects: on the relationship between ion adsorption energy and particle aggregation activation energy

Particle aggregation is acutely affected by Hofmeister effects. Results for aggregation behavior in the presence of Hofmeister effects predicted by the classic DLVO model were not satisfactory. In this study, description of colloidal clay particles aggregation in the presence of Hofmeister effects based on a theoretical relationship between ion adsorption energy and aggregation activation energy was established. Moreover, the validity of the suggested theory was confirmed with the published experimental data on montmorillonite particles aggregation in solutions of LiNO3, KNO3, CsNO3, Mg(NO3)2 and Ca(NO3)2. In the presence of Hofmeister effects, the differences in adsorption ability of the involved five cations were quantitatively characterized by defining an additional Hofmeister energy. We found that the additional Hofmeister energy for Li+, K+, Cs+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ on montmorillonite surface were 0.063, 0.942, 1.864, 0.850 and 2.010-times larger, respectively, than the classic Coulomb interaction energy. Taking these additional Hofmeister energies into account, CCC values for the presence of different cations were theoretically calculated by the suggested theory, and the predicted CCC values matched well with the experimental results. The theoretically predicted CCC values in montmorillonite aggregation for KNO3, CsNO3, Mg(NO3)2 and Ca(NO3)2 were 78.8, 29.9, 6.48, and 3.12 mM, respectively, and the corresponding measured CCC values were 80.3, 27.2, 7.99, and 2.38 mM. Our findings are helpful for further understanding the interactions of nanoparticles with cations and quantitatively answer how ion-surface interactions affect particle interaction processes.

Effect of Ionic Compounds of Different Valences on the Stability of Titanium Oxide Colloids

Titanium oxide particles of various morphologies have been prepared for applications of scientific or industrial interest in recent decades. Besides development of novel synthetic routes and solid-state characterization of the obtained particles, colloidal stability of titanium oxide dispersions was the focus of numerous research groups due to the high importance of this topic in applications in heterogeneous systems. The influence of dissolved ionic compounds, including monovalent salts, multivalent ions and polyelectrolytes, on the charging and aggregation behaviour of titanium oxide materials of spherical and elongated structures will be discussed in the present review.

Horseradish peroxidase-nanoclay hybrid particles of high functional and colloidal stability

Highly stable dispersions of enzyme-clay nanohybrids of excellent horseradish peroxidase activity were developed. Layered double hydroxide nanoclay was synthesized and functionalized with heparin polyelectrolyte to immobilize the horseradish peroxidase enzyme. The formation of a saturated heparin layer on the platelets led to charge inversion of the positively charged bare nanoclay and to highly stable aqueous dispersions. Great affinity of the enzyme to the surface modified platelets resulted in strong horseradish peroxidase adsorption through electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions as well as hydrogen bonding network and prevented enzyme leakage from the obtained material. The enzyme kept its functional integrity upon immobilization and showed excellent activity in decomposition of hydrogen peroxide and oxidation of an aromatic compound in the test reactions. In addition, remarkable long term functional stability of the enzyme-nanoclay hybrid was observed making the developed colloidal system a promising antioxidant candidate in biomedical treatments and industrial processes.

Ionic Specificity in Rapid Coagulation of Silica Nanoparticles

The Smoluchowski theory has been widely accepted as the basic theory to estimate the rapid coagulation rate of colloidal particles in electrolyte solutions. However, because the size and specificity of molecules and ions are not taken into account, the theory is applicable only if the particle size is large enough to neglect the effects caused by the structured layers composed of water molecules, ions, and hydrated ions adsorbed on the colloidal surface. In the present study, the rapid coagulation rates of silica nanoparticles in concentrated chloride and potassium solutions were measured by using a low-angle light-scattering apparatus, and the dependence of the experimental value of rapid coagulation rate, K_E^R, on the particle diameter, D_p, and also on the Gibbs free energy of hydration of ions, ΔG_hyd, was investigated extensively. The following were found. (1) When the particle size was small enough, the value of K_E^R reduced exponentially not only with the decreasing particle size but also with the increasing value of (-ΔG_hyd) of cations (counterions) in the case of chloride solutions and with that of anions (coions) in the case of potassium solutions. (2) Silica nanoparticles of D_p ≲ 70 nm in 1 M KNO₃ and KSCN solutions did not coagulate at all, although they coagulated at D_p ≳ 100 nm as in the other potassium solutions. These unexpected phenomena were explained by the proposed mechanisms.