Microswimming by oxidation of dibenzylamine

Chemiophoretic nano- and micromotors require a constant flow of product molecules to maintain a gradient that enables their propulsion. Apart from a smaller number of redox reactions that have been used, catalytic reactions are the main source of energy with the obvious benefit of making on-board fuel storage obsolete. However, the decomposition of H₂O₂ seems to strongly dominate the literature and although motion in H₂O through water splitting is becoming more popular, so far only a few different reactions have been used for propulsion of photocatalytic microswimmers. Here, we investigate the possibility of extending the range of possible fuelling reactions to organic reactions with high significance in organic synthesis - the oxidation of amines to imines. Herein, motion of the microswimmers is analysed at different amine concentrations and light intensities. The findings thereof are correlated with the reaction products identified and quantified by gas chromatography (GC).

A Review on the Some Issues of Multiphase Flow with Self-Driven Particles

Multiphase flow with self-driven particles is ubiquitous and complex. Exploring the flow properties has both important academic meaning and engineering value. This review emphasizes some recent studies on multiphase flow with self-driven particles: the hydrodynamic interactions between self-propelled/self-rotary particles and passive particles; the aggregation, phase separation and sedimentation of squirmers; the influence of rheological properties on its motion; and the kinematic characteristics of axisymmetric squirmers. Finally, some open problems, challenges, and future directions are highlighted.

Light- and magnetically actuated FePt microswimmers

Externally controlled microswimmers offer prospects for transport in biological research and medical applications. This requires biocompatibility of the swimmers and the possibility to tailor their propulsion mechanisms to the respective low Reynolds number environment. Here, we incorporate low amounts of the biocompatible alloy of iron and platinum (FePt) in its [Formula: see text] phase in microstructures by a versatile one-step physical vapor deposition process. We show that the hard magnetic properties of [Formula: see text] FePt are beneficial for the propulsion of helical micropropellers with rotating magnetic fields. Finally, we find that the FePt coatings are catalytically active and also make for Janus microswimmers that can be light-actuated and magnetically guided.

Carbonate Micromotors for Treatment of Construction Effluents

Concrete in construction has recently gained media coverage for its negative CO₂ footprint, but this is not the only problem associated with its use. Due to its chemical composition, freshly poured concrete changes the pH of water coming in contact with the surface to very alkaline values, requiring neutralization treatment before disposal. Conventional methods include the use of mineral acid or CO₂ pumps, causing high costs to building companies. In this paper, we present a micromotor based remediation strategy, which consists of carbonate particles half-coated with citric acid. To achieve this half coverage spray coating is used for the first time to design Janus structures. The motors propel diffusiophoretically due to a self-generated gradient formed as the acid coverage dissolves. The locally lower pH contributes to the dissolution of the carbonate body. These motors have been employed to study neutralization of diluted concrete wash water (CWW) at microscopic scale and we achieve visualization of the pH changes occurring in the vicinity of motors using anthocyanine as pH indicator dye. The effect of citric acid-carbonates hybrid on neutralization of real CWW on macroscopic scale has also been studied. In addition, all employed chemicals are cheap, non-toxic and do not leave any solid residues behind.

Green synthesis and application of heterogeneous iron oxide based nanoparticles for dairy wastewater treatment by Photo-Fenton processes

The aim of this study is to investigate the efficiency of heterogeneous Photo-bio-Fenton-like process and adsorption process for phosphorus removal from wastewater. The results showed that both of these processes can reach 98 and 92% removal efficiencies phosphate (P) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), respectively. The findings of kinetic and isotherm studies revealed that data of P removal highly correlated with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm. The quenching experiments determined that both hydroxyl radicals and sulfate radicals are key factors for the removal of contamination and the sulfate radicals were also the dominant radicals.

Green synthesis and application of heterogeneous iron oxide based nanoparticles for dairy wastewater treatment by Photo-Fenton processes

The aim of this study is to investigate the efficiency of heterogeneous Photo-bio-Fenton-like process and adsorption process for phosphorus removal from wastewater. The results showed that both of these processes can reach 98 and 92% removal efficiencies phosphate (P) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), respectively. The findings of kinetic and isotherm studies revealed that data of P removal highly correlated with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm. The quenching experiments determined that both hydroxyl radicals and sulfate radicals are key factors for the removal of contamination and the sulfate radicals were also the dominant radicals.

The Kinetics and Equilibrium Thermodynamics Study on the Removal of Direct Blue and Titan Yellow Dyes from Aqueous Media by Modified Rice Husk Char

The use of indigenous natural materials and their modification toward fruitful application is one of the important subjects. Thermal modification of Rice Husk at 400 oC resulted into Rice Husk Char (RHC) which was chemically modified with KOH and was labeled as KOH Modified Rice Husk Char (KMRHC). Both RHC and KMRHC were characterized by using, Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-rays (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) before and after their use as adsorbents. The prepared material was applied for the removal of toxic dyes, Direct Blue (DB) and Titan Yellow (TY) from aqueous media. The maximum adsorption capacity of DB and TY dyes on KMRHC were inspected as 30.9 mg/g and 28.6 mg/g, respectively at pH 4 using initial dye concentrations of 80 mg/L containing 2500 mg/L of the adsorbent dose with agitation speed of 240 rpm at 303 K. At the same experimental conditions the highest percentage removal of DB and TY on the adsorbent were observed as 96.6% and 89.3%, respectively. Thermodynamics studies of the adsorption of DB and TY dyes on KMRHC inferred for exothermic and spontaneous process. The value of ΔS is negative which suggested that randomness decreases at the interface of adsorbent-adsorbate during the adsorption. The kinetics study indicated that the experimental data of the adsorption process for both dyes, best fits to pseudo-second order kinetic model. The equilibrium data was tested on Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin adsorption isotherm models. It was observed that the data are best fit to the Langmuir isotherm model (R2 > 0.99), which suggested that the adsorption process is dominated by chemisorption approach. The overall results suggest that various parameters of the adsorption process were not only affected by the variation in experimental conditions but also by the chemical structure of the adsorbate molecules for the same adsorbent.

Preparation, Physical Characterization and Adsorption Properties of Synthesized Co–Ni–Cr Nanocomposites for Highly Effective Removal of Nitrate: Isotherms, Kinetics and Thermodynamic Studies

In the current effort, the Co–Ni–Cr Nanocomposites were synthesized by chemical method and characterized by means of scanning electron micrographs (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier trans from infra-red (FTIR), and vibration sample magnetization (VSM). In the final step, these nanoparticles were used to study the nitrate removal efficiency from aqueous solution. The effect of important factor including pH, concentration of Nitrate (NO3 −) ion, contact time and nanoparticle dose were studied in order to find the optimum adsorption conditions. A maximum of removal of the nitrate was observed at pH 4, initial concentration of 40 mg L−1, amount of nanoparticle of 0.06 g L−1 and contact time 60 min. The adsorption isotherm values were obtained and analyzed using the Langmuir, Frenudlich, Temkin and Dubinin–Radushkevich equations, the Temkin isotherm being the one that showed the best correlation coefficient (R2 = 0.999). In addition to, the adsorption kinetics studied by the pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, Elovich model, Ritchie and intraparticle diffusion models. The experimental data fitted to pseudo-second-order (R2 = 0.999).

Sorption Studies of Chromate by Iron Oxide from Drinking Water

Chromium is well-thought-out heavy metal which is one of the enormously lethal due to its cancer-causing nature. In this study, iron oxide is used as adsorbent for chromate removal from aqueous solution as a function of pH, time, temperature, concentration of adsorbate and media dosage. The influence of pH on Cr (VI) sorption by iron oxide reveals that adsorption is significantly increased as pH is decreased from 8 to 2. The sorption rate is detected to be higher in the beginning and then it remains constant after 120 min of equilibrium time. The removal of Cr (VI) is found to be greater at higher temperature, which confirms the endothermic nature of Cr (VI) adsorption by iron oxide. Whereas, the kinetic investigations confirm that the chromate adsorption follows the pseudo second order with kinetic energy in the range of 8.4–83.7 kJ mol−1.

Removal of Phenol from Steel Plant Wastewater in Three Dimensional Electrochemical (TDE) Process using CoFe2O4@AC/H2O2

This study investigated the removal of phenol from steel industry wastewater by three dimensional electrochemical (TDE) process using CoFe2O4 nanobiocomposite based activated carbon in the presence of H2O2 (EC-CoFe2O4@AC-H2O2). In this study, CoFe2O4 nanobiocomposite-foundation activated carbon (CoFe2O4@AC) was used as microelectrode, adsorbent, and activator for peroxide hydrogen. The removal efficiency of phenol and COD was investigated through the parameters of pH, contact time, CoFe2O4@AC dosage, current density, and H2O2 concentration. The highest removal rates of phenol and COD were >99% and 98%, respectively. Also, steel plant wastewater under the optimal conditions of pH = 6.5, current density = 15 mA cm−2, contact time = 25 min, H2O2 concentration of 1.0 mM, and CoFe2O4@AC dose = 0.3 g L−1. Kinetic analysis revealed that the adsorption experimental data was best fitted by the pseudo-first-order model.

Decolorization of Basic Turquise Blue X-GB and Basic Blue X-GRRL by the Fenton’s Process and its Kinetics

Textile industries use dyes to color their products and release waste water containing dyes, causing water pollution which is a serious problem for survival of human life on earth. The decolorization of basic turquise blue X-GB (BTB X-GB) 250% and basic blue X-GRRL (BB X GRRL) 250% dyes was examined by advanced (Fenton process) oxidation process. The effects of different parameters (initial dye concentration, pH, concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and reaction time) have been examined and optimum conditions were determined. It has been noted that percentage decolorization of both dyes (50 mg/L) increases with increase in concentration of H2O2. At optimum conditions (pH=3.0, H2O2=4.8 mM, temperature=50°C, time=80 min of BTB X-GB, and pH=5.0, H2O2=5.6 mM, temperature=40°C, time=60 min of BB X-GRRL) the decolorization obtained by Fenton process was 85.83% of BTB X-GB and 74.98% for BB X-GRRL. 1st order, 2nd order and BMG kinetic models were used to analyze the data. BMG model gives us the higher values of correlation coefficients for all data. Results showed that Fe2+/H2O2 are most effective for oxidation treatment of waste water effluents containing dyes as main pollutants.

Preparation and Chemical Modification of Rice Husk Char for the Removal of a Toxic Dye (Orange G) from Aqueous Medium

The rice husk char (RHC) was prepared by keeping a known amount of the rice husk in furnace at 400°C. The product was modified with KOH and labeled as KOH modified rice husk char (KMRHC) which was used as an adsorbent for the removal of toxic dye, Orange G (OG) from aqueous media. Variation in the experimental conditions (agitation time, dye concentration, adsorbent dose, pH and temperature) play significant role in the adsorption process. The maximum adsorption capacity of OG on KMRHC was investigated as 38.8 mg/g at pH=4 using initial dye concentrations of 80 mg/L containing 2 g/L of the adsorbent dose with agitation speed of 250 rpm at 303 K. The % adsorption of dye was inspected as 96%. Thermodynamics studies of the adsorption of OG on KMRHC indicated that the value of ΔG and ΔH were negative which revealed that the adsorption process is exothermic and spontaneous process. The negative value of ΔS suggested that randomness decreases at the interface of adsorbent–adsorbate during the adsorption process. The kinetics study indicated that the experimental data of the adsorption process best fits to pseudo-second order kinetic model. The equilibrium data was tested on Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin adsorption isotherm models. It was inspected that data follows all the three isotherm models (R2>0.91). However, the values of correlation coefficients (R2) indicated that the data is best fit to the Langmuir isotherm model (R2>0.99) which suggest for chemi-sorption process. The effect of temperature (303–343 K) shows that by varying the temperature the adsorption process is significantly affected. The general trend indicates that adsorption efficiency is higher at lower temperature as compared to higher temperature. This trend also suggests that the adsorption coefficient (K), rate of adsorption, and hence the spontaneity of adsorption process also decreases with raising the temperature.