No description available.

An adsorbent suitable for adsorption desalination cycles is essentially characterized by a hydrophilic and porous structure with high surface area where water molecules are adsorbed via hydrogen bonding mechanism. Silica gel type A++ possesses the highest surface area and exhibits the highest equilibrium uptake from all the silica gels available in the market, therefore being suitable for water desalination cycles; where adsorbent’s adsorption characteristics and water vapor uptake capacity are key parameters in the compactness of the system; translated as feasibility of water desalination through adsorption technologies. The adsorption characteristics of water vapor onto silica gel type A++ over a temperature range of 30 oC to 60 oC are investigated in this research. This is done using water vapor adsorption analyzer utilizing a constant volume and variable pressure method, namely the Hydrosorb-1000 instrument by Quantachrome. The experimental uptake data is studied using numerous isotherm models, i. e. the Langmuir, Tóth, generalized Dubinin-Astakhov (D-A), Dubinin-Astakhov based on pore size distribution (PSD) and Dubinin-Serpinski (D-Se) isotherm for the whole pressure range, and for a pressure range below 10 kPa, proper for desalination cycles; isotherms type V of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) classification were exhibited. It is observed that the D-A based on PSD and the D-Se isotherm models describe the best fitting of the experimental uptake data for desalination cycles within a regression error of 2% and 6% respectively. All isotherm models, except the D-A based on PSD, have failed to describe the obtained experimental uptake data; an empirical isotherm model is proposed by observing the behavior of Tóth and D-A isotherm models. The new empirical model describes the water adsorption onto silica gel type A++ within a regression error of 3%. This will aid to describe the advantages of silica gel type A++ for the design of adsorption desalination processes where reducing capital cost and footprint area are highly important parameters to take into account.

Silica gels containing incorporated heteropolyacids (HPAs) were synthesized in acidic media by co-condensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) with phosphotungstic or phosphomolybdic acids using the sol-gel technique. The effect of the synthesis conditions on their structure and morphology was studied. Yields of modified materials were somewhat lower compared to non-modified silica gels. All materials were mesoporous but contained micropores in their structures. Presence of bands of Keggin's structures in FT-IR spectra along with absence of XRD patterns of crystalline HPAs confirmed their fine incorporation into silica network. Particle sizes of modified materials were 500-1100 nm except for the W-containing sample obtained with trimethylstearylammonium chloride, which was significantly lower. This unusual effect was attributed to stabilization of primary silica nanoparticles by interactions between the surfactant and HPA. High ratio HPA/TEOS resulted in partial loss of porosity. Obtained results might be used for optimization of synthesis of effective catalysts and adsorbents containing HPAs in mesoporous structure.

Four ethylene bis-indenyl ligands containing tethers of various lengths were successfully immobilized on the surface of functionalized silica gel. The strategy of immobilization was based on catalytic thiol-ene coupling of terminal alkene groups in the tethers with surface thiol groups. Obtained materials have high BET surface area and pore volume. The method developed can be used for immobilization of catalytically active bis-indenyl metallocene complexes, thus preventing their dimerization and deactivation.

No description available.

The focus of this research is on the optical measurement of uranyl in a solid matrix using fluorescence spectroscopy. Nanoporous silica-based materials were used to extract uranyl from contaminated soil and to enhance the fluorescence intensity and lifetime. The fluorescence lifetime and intensity of uranyl ions adsorbed on porous silica-based materials of varying pore size was measured as a function of pH and in the presence of fluoride. The feasibility of uranyl fluorescence detection on the top of soil by silica gel is carried out by four types of natural soil. The results show that the uranyl fluorescence intensity can be enhanced by approximately two orders of magnitude by the silica nanoporous matrix from pH 4-12 with the greatest enhancement occurring from pH 4-7. The enhanced fluorescence lifetime can be used in time-gated measurements to help minimize the influence of background environmental fluorophores. The pH and the fluoride variation causes different uranyl speciation and results in a peak shift in the fluorescence spectrum. The mechanism of the uranyl ion on the silica nanoporous matrix was studied through 15 different silica materials with different water content ratios and various concentrations of uranium on different silica structures. The result shows that the particle size, pore size, water content and uranyl concentration on silica surfaces are all important factors for optimizing the fluorescence intensity. The spacing between silica materials, either the pore inside materials or the space between particles, causes the variety of uranyl distribution on the material surface and changes the fluorescence performance. Also, X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) is used to identify the possible uranyl surface species on silica. The fluorescence emission spectra from silica materials and the XPS results are consistent with the presence of two different uranyl compounds. The specific surface area of silica materials plays an important role on uranyl adsorption mechanism. To further enhance the sensitivity, an optical ball lens was used to preferentially direct the fluorescence signal toward the excitation source in standoff measurements. The application of the ball lens was found to increase the detection distance up to 14 times.

Ce travail concerne l'étude des interactions bactéries /silicates grâce à de nouveaux matériaux ou gels de silice hybrides dopés en particules colloïdales de smectites (GSH). Les deux objectifs principaux sont la caractérisation physicochimique des GSH et l'amélioration des connaissances sur les mécanismes de l'altération minérale grâce aux GSH. Dans le premier volet de la thèse, nous avons ainsi pu mettre en évidence que le gel est constitué d'une matrice siliceuse particulaire de nature fractale dans laquelle les particules minérales sont dispersées. La structure des GSH est stabilisée par le traitement hydrothermal choisi (type autoclave). Dans le second volet de la thèse, l'altération minérale est étudiée pour des GSH à concentration variable en particules minérales, à teneur élevée (NAu-2) ou basse (SWy-2) en fer. Il est ainsi montré que la diffusion des acides organiques et des sidérophores dans le GSH, hors adhésion ou formation d'un biofilm en surface des minéraux, est suffisante pour altérer efficacement les particules minérales. La mise en évidence de gradients de protons locaux produits par la bactérie en interaction avec les GSH peut également expliquer l'efficacité biotique de la dissolution minérale par rapport à des conditions abiotiques. En conclusion, les points forts et les limites de l'utilisation d'un matériau hybride type GSH pour cibler les interactions minéral/microorganismes sont discutés / This work deals with the study of bacteria/silicate interactions by using new hybrid materials, i.e. hybrid silica gel dopped with colloidal smectite particles (HSG). The aims are (1) to characterize HSG physicochemical properties and (2) to get a better knowledge about mineral/bacteria interactions. In a first part of the thesis, it is shown that HSG is a fractal silica network containing well-dispersed mineral particles. Hydrothermal treatment is necessary to stabilize the HSG structure. In the second part, it is shown that diffusion of organic acids and siderophores is sufficient to explain the high efficiency of bacterial action compared to abiotic treatments. Preventing bacterial adhesion or biofilm formation at the mineral surface permits to enhance the influence of metabolites diffusion. To conclude, the advantages and limits of using HSG in environmental studies are discussed

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:45:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:07:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 07179.pdf: 6113980 bytes, checksum: 1a969cfb7280cccf98f26594e185a2c2 (MD5) / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-14T13:21:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1997340 bytes, checksum: d9de6932e705d57a480fc922a17f1ba4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-11-01 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / In this work, modified silica gel with the group aminopropiletanoimina was used as retention capacity for the ions cadmium, lead and cromate. The tests were accomplished in aqueous solutions under different conditions of pH, in constant temperature of 298±1 K. The number of mol of the organic chain anchored to the matrix was 0,97mmol /g. The analysis of the curves TG, for the degradation interval between 0,12 and 0,4, shows certain constancy of the value of the activation energy with the increase of the value of the conversion degree, however, the comparison of the activation energies calculated by the method of FWO and by the method of Coats-Redfern shows different results for all the models of simple mechanisms, for that, it is believed that the process in such area conversion doesn't happen through a simple mechanism, but through a complex process where more than one mechanism is acting in the dynamics of the degradation reaction. Based in the number of mols of cadmium, lead and cromate adsorbed, it can settle down the following order: cadmium > cromate > lead. The analysis of the kinetics of the reaction for the three ions shows that the processes of adsorption follow a kinetic law of speed of pseudo-second order with the constants of speed cadmium > lead > cromate. The balance of the process of adsorption is not described by the same model of adsorption; the lead and the cromate are described reasonably well by Langmuir, but for the cadmium it was not found any model to describe the behavior of the process of adsorption satisfactorily. / Neste trabalho, sílica gel modificada com o grupo aminopropiletanoimina foi utilizada como adsorvente para os íons cádmio, chumbo e cromato. Os testes foram realizados em soluções aquosas sob diferentes condições de pH em temperatura constante de 298±1 K. O número de mol da cadeia orgânica ancorada à matriz foi de 0,97mmol /g. A análise das curvas TG, para o intervalo de degradação entre 0,12 e 0,4, mostra certa constância do valor da energia de ativação com o aumento do valor do grau de conversão, entretanto, a comparação das energias de ativação calculadas pelo método de FWO e pelo método de Coats-Redfern mostra resultados diferentes para todos os modelos de mecanismos simples, por isso, acredita-se que o processo em tal região de conversão não ocorre a través de um mecanismo simples, mas sim, através de um processo complexo onde mais de um mecanismo está atuando na dinâmica da reação de degradação. Com base no número de moles de cádmio, chumbo e cromato adsorvidos pode-se estabelecer a seguinte ordem: cádmio > cromato > chumbo. A análise da cinética da reação para os três íons mostra que os processos de adsorção seguem uma lei cinética de velocidade de pseudo-segunda ordem com as constantes de velocidade de cádmio > chumbo > cromato. O equilíbrio do processo de adsorção não é descrito pelo mesmo modelo de adsorção; o chumbo e o cromato são descritos razoavelmente bem pelo Langmuir, mas, para o cádmio não foi encontrado nenhum modelo que descrevesse o comportamento do processo de adsorção satisfatoriamente.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:45:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:07:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 07179.pdf: 6113980 bytes, checksum: 1a969cfb7280cccf98f26594e185a2c2 (MD5) / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP