Products of hydrolytic polymerization of Cr(III) hydroxide were investigated in Milli-Q water and in natural water matrices. Products were first fractionated on Sephadex column using eluents of increasing strength. Ion chromatography (IC) with UV detection at 436 nm was then used to separate the ionic species.

No description available.

published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Texas, May, 2007. / Title from title page display. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references.

Ferrihydrite (FHYD), a nanocrystalline material has long been described as a poorly crystalline disordered mineral mainly due to its small crystal size which is typically 2−6 𝑛𝑚. The three-dimensional structure of the mineral has long been described by a multi-phase structural model that consists of Fe3+ only in octahedral (Oh) coordination. In this model ferrihydrite is described as a mixture of two major phases (akaganeite/goethite-like f-phase and feroxyhite-like d-phase) and a minor ultradispersed nanohematite phase. This model has been recently challenged and a new, single-phase model was proposed, having a basic structural motif closely related to the Baker-Figgs δ-Keggin cluster and is isostructural with the mineral akdalaite, Al10O14(OH)2. In its ideal form, the proposed new structure of FHYD consist of 80 % Oh and 20 % tetrahedral (Td) Fe3+ polyhedra which can be adequately described by a single-domain model with the hexagonal spacegroup 𝑃63𝑚𝑐 and unit cell dimensions 𝑎=5.95 Å and 𝑐=9.06 Å. In this study, nanoparticles of 2-line FHYD (FHYD2), 2-line FHYD deposited onto SiO2 (FHYD2/SiO2) and 6-line FHYD (FHYD6) synthesised using rapid hydrolysis of Fe(NO3)3.9H2O solutions were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Mössbauer spectroscopy (MS) as well as magnetization and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The coordination environment of iron atoms in the structure of FHYD was investigated using TEM and MS. The thermal transformation of FHYD nanoparticles was monitored through changes in the magnetization as a function of temperature and the reduction behaviour in hydrogen environment was studied using temperature programmed reduction (TPR), in-situ XRD and MS. Electron diffraction, TEM/ scanning TEM (STEM) imaging, and electron energy loss (EELS) measurements were carried out on three different microscopes viz. JEOL JEM-2100 LaB6 TEM, aberration corrected Schottky-FEG JEOL JEM-ARM200F HRTEM and cold-FEG Zeiss SESAM TEM. EELS studies were concentrated mainly on the iron 𝐿-edge of FHYD and iron oxides reference spectra with well known crystal structures. The iron oxide Fe 𝐿-edge is usually characterized by two intense sharp peaks termed “white lines”. The fine structures introduced by the crystal field effect on the 𝐿- edge contain information that is highly specific to the Fe3+ site symmetry.

A series of dihydroxy bridged copper(II) complexes of the type [(L)Cu(OH)₂Cu(L)]x₂ * nH₂0, where L is 2,2'-bipyridine, 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine or 1,10-phenanthroline, x is a counter ion, and n is the number of water molecules, was synthesized. In the case of monohydroxy bridged copper(II) complexes, we have found a new method of synthesis for [ (L)₂Cu(OH)Cu(L)₂ ] (ClO₄)₃, where L is 2,2'-bipyridine or 1,10-phenanthroline. We have synthesized five new monohydroxy bridged copper(II) complexes, thus increasing the number of monohydroxy bridged copper(II) complexes to nine. All complexes have been characterized by infrared spectroscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, magnetic moments, and elemental analysis. The electron spin resonance results establish that the fulvic acids contain organic free radicals as an internal part of their molecular structure. The concentration of unpaired electrons will increase by increasing the pH. The unpaired electron in fulvic acid interacts with the unpaired electron on copper(II) through the Π system, and this will decrease the spin concentration of fulvic acid complexed with copper(II). The displacement of titration curve from a free ligand (fructose-1,6-diphosphate, ribulose-1,5-diphosphate, phospherine, phosphothreonine, and 3-phosphoglyceric acid, to a ligand plus copper(II) (1:1 ratio) shows there is a strong interaction between copper(II) and the corresponding ligand. All complexes absorb UV-visible at 250-300 nm. The absorption intensity changes as a function of pH. Copper (II) forms a complex with fructose-1,6-diphosphate, ribulose-1,5-diphosphate, phosphoserine, phosphothreonine, and 3-phosphoglyceric acid by the ratio of 1:3, 1:3, 1:1, 1:1, and 1:2, respectively.

No description available.

Benzenesulfonates, para-substituted with amine, chloride and methyl groups were successfully incorporated into layered double hydroxides of two different compositions, 2:1 Mg-Al LDH and 2:1 Zn-Al LDH. These parent materials were also doped with small amounts of nickel and the differences in the two systems were studied. The hexamethylenetetramine route of layered double hydroxide synthesis was investigated to verify if the mechanism is indeed homogeneous. This included attempting preparation of 2:1 Mg-Al LDH, 2:1 Zn-Al LDH and 2:1 Zn-Cr LDH with two different concentrations of hexamethylenetetramine. The analytical data of the products suggest that the homogeneous precipitation may not be the true mechanism of reaction involved in LDH synthesis by this method.

O presente trabalho trata da preparação e da caracterização textural e espectroscópica de hidróxidos mistos lamelares de composição [Mg3-xCuxAl(OH)8](CO3)0,5.yH2O (x= 0,3; 0,6; 0,9; 1,2; 1,5; 1,8; 2,1; 2,4; 2,7 e 3,0), bem como do estudo da reatividade desses materiais na hidroxilação do fenol, utilizando peróxido de hidrogênio como oxidante. Os sólidos foram preparados através do método da co-precipitação e caracterizados por difratometria de raios X, análises elementares (C, H, N e metais) e termogravimétricas, medidas de área superficial e, também, pelas seguintes técnicas espectroscópicas: vibracional no infravermelho e espalhamento Raman, eletrônica de absorção no visível-infravermelho próximo e ressonância paramagnética eletrônica. Observou-se que quanto maior o conteúdo de cobre(II) nas amostras, maior é a tendência à formação de CuO. Materiais de coloração azul contendo apenas uma fase cristalina foram obtidos por co-precipitação no intervalo de pH 8-10 e efetuando as etapas de envelhecimento e secagem na temperatura ambiente. Quanto maior a quantidade de íons Cu2+ no hidróxido misto lamelar, menor a cristalinidade e a estabilidade térmica do material. Os espectros de EPR são anisotrópicos (parâmetros g// e g? bem definidos), indicando que os íons cobre(II) se encontram em sítio com simetria axial. À medida que a quantidade de Cu2+ nas amostras aumenta, ocorre uma diminuição no sinal do metal de transição, que pode ser interpretada como decorrência de um acoplamento antiferromagnético entre os íons cobre. Dados de espectroscopia vibracional sugerem que nos hidróxidos mistos há dois tipos de íons carbonato. Além disso, foi observado o fenômeno de abaixamento de simetria dos ânions CO32- ao longo do processo de aquecimento, originando, conforme a temperatura e a composição, materiais de coloração variada. O abaixamento de simetria pode estar sendo ocasionado pela coordenação (ou enxertia) dos íons carbonato aos centros metálicos das lamelas. Os sólidos verdes obtidos por aquecimento possuem, além de bandas no espectro eletrônico atribuídas às transições do tipo d-d (700-800 nm), absorção na região abaixo de 400 nm, que pode ser atribuída à transferência de carga O2- -> Cu2+. Apesar dos difratogramas de raios X apresentarem picos de baixas intensidades referentes às fases espinélio, a coloração ocre observada pode ser devida à presença da fase CuAl2O4 (sólido marrom). Nas amostras cinzas e pretas, os difratogramas de raios X mostram picos intensos atribuídos ao CuO. Os testes de reatividade dos hidróxidos mistos sintetizados na hidroxilação do fenol pelo peróxido de hidrogênio em meio aquoso envolveram a variação de parâmetros reacionais como temperatura, tempo, concentração de substrato e influência de luz, mantendo-se constante a relação molar fenol/Cu2+. O substrato orgânico foi oxidado a catecol, hidroquinona e p-benzoquinona. As substâncias no meio reacional foram quantificadas pela deconvolução do espectro eletrônico da mistura na região do ultravioleta. Como esperado, o material sintetizado sem íons cobre(II) não apresenta atividade catalítica para o sistema reacional estudado. / In this work it was investigated the preparation and spectroscopic characterization of layered hydroxides of composition [Mg3-xCuxAl(OH)8](CO3)0.5.yH2O (x = 0.3; 0.6; 0.9; 1.2; 1.5; 1.8; 2.1; 2.4; 2.7 and 3.0), as well the reactivity of these materials towards phenol hydroxylation, using hydrogen peroxide as oxidizing agent. The solids had been prepared through the co-precipitation method and characterized by X ray diffractometry, elemental analysis (C, H, N and metals), thermogravimetric analysis, surface area measurements, and also by the following spectroscopic techniques: infrared vibrational absortion (FTIR), Raman scattering, vis-NIR electronic absorption and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). It was observed that the increase of copper(II) content in the samples favours the CuO formation. Materials of blue coloration containing only one crystalline phase were obtained by the co-precipitation method in the pH range 10 – 8, and were submitted to aging and drying processes at room temperature. As the amount of Cu2+ ions increases in the layered hydroxide material, it was observed a decrease in crystallinity and thermal stability. EPR spectra are anisotropic (parameters g// and g? well defined), indicating that copper(II) ions are in sites with axial symmetry. As the amount of Cu2+ in the samples increases, EPR signal decreases, what can be interpreted as result of an antiferromagnetic coupling between copper ions. FTIR data suggests that the layered hydroxides gave two types of cabornate ions. Moreover, the symmetry lowering phenomena of CO32- anions during the heating process was observed, originating, according to the temperature and sample composition, materials of varied coloration. This lowering of symmetry can be due to coordination (or grafting) of carbonate ions to the metal ions in the layers. Vis-NIR electronic spectra of green solids obtained by heating show absorption in the region below 400 nm, besides bands attributed to d-d transitions (700-800 nm), that can be attributed to O2- -> Cu2+ charge transfer transition. Despite the X ray diffraction peaks of low intensities attributed to spinel phases, the ochre coloration observed can be due to the presence of CuAl2O4 (brown solid). For gray and black samples, X ray diffractograms shows intense peaks attributed to CuO. Reactivity tests about phenol hydroxylation involved the variation of experimental parameters as temperature, time, substrate concentration and influence of light, keeping constant the phenol/Cu2+ molar ratio. The organic substrate was oxidized to cathecol, hydroquinone and p-benzoquinone and these products were quantified by deconvolution of the electronic spectra. As expected, the material synthesized without copper(II) ions does not show catalytic activity for the studied reaction.