Hierarchically Porous Structured Adsorbents with Ultrahigh Metal-Organic Framework Loading for CO Capture.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as promising candidates for CO adsorption due to their ultrahigh-specific surface area and highly tunable pore-surface properties. However, their large-scale application is hindered by processing issues associated with their microcrystalline powder nature, such as dustiness, pressure drop, and poor mass transfer within packed beds. To address these challenges, shaping/structuring micron-sized polycrystalline MOF powders into millimeter-sized structured forms while preserving porosity and functionality represents an effective yet challenging approach.

A Super-Hygroscopic Solar-Regenerated Alginate-Based Composite for Atmospheric Water Harvesting.

Global water scarcity is leading to increasingly tense competition across populations. In order to complement the largely fast-depleting fresh water sources and mitigate the challenges generated by brine discharge from desalination, atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) has emerged to support long-term water supply. This work presents a novel alginate-based hybrid material comprised of porous silico-aluminophosphate-34 (SAPO-34) as fast-transport channel medium as well as hydrophilicity and stability enhancer, and graphene-based sheets as light absorber for solar-enabled evaporation, both optimally incorporated in an alginate matrix, resulting in a composite sorbent capable of harvesting water from the atmosphere with a record intake of up to 6.

A Semi-Interpenetrating Network Sorbent of Superior Efficiency for Atmospheric Water Harvesting and Solar-Regenerated Release.

Water is readily available nearly anywhere as vapor. Thus, atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) technologies are seen as a promising solution to support sustainable water production. This work reports a novel semi-interpenetrating network, which integrates poly(pyrrole) doped with a hygroscopic salt and 2D graphene-based nanosheets optimally assembled within an alginate matrix, capable of harvesting water from the atmosphere with a record intake of up to 7.

Utilizing Carbonaceous Materials Derived from [BMIM][TCM] Ionic Liquid Precursor: Dual Role as Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction and Adsorbents for Aromatics and CO.

This work presents the synthesis of N-doped nanoporous carbon materials using the Ionic Liquid (IL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tricyanomethanide [BMIM][TCM] as a fluidic carbon precursor, employing two carbonization pathways: templated precursor and pyrolysis/activation. Operando monitoring of mass loss during pyrolytic and activation treatments provides insights into chemical processes, including IL decomposition, polycondensation reactions and pore formation. Comparatively low mass reduction rates were observed at all stages.

Synthesis of Mesoporous Carbon Adsorbents Using Biowaste Crude Glycerol as a Carbon Source via a Hard Template Method for Efficient CO Capture.

Biowaste utilization as a carbon source and its transformation into porous carbons have been of great interest to promote environmental remediation owing to biowaste's cost-effectiveness and useful physicochemical properties. In this work, crude glycerol (CG) residue from waste cooking oil transesterification was employed to fabricate mesoporous crude glycerol-based porous carbons (CGPCs) using mesoporous silica (KIT-6) as a template. The obtained CGPCs were characterized and compared to commercial activated carbon (AC) and CMK-8, a carbon material prepared using sucrose.

Data-driven prediction of CO foam strength for enhanced oil recovery and carbon sequestration.

Carbon dioxide foam injection is a promising enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method, being at the same time an efficient carbon storage technology. The strength of CO foam under reservoir conditions plays a crucial role in predicting the EOR and sequestration performance, yet, controlling the strength of the foam is challenging due to the complex physics of foams and their sensitivity to operational conditions and reservoir parameters. Data-driven approaches for complex fluids such as foams can be an alternative method to the time-consuming experimental and conventional modeling techniques, which often fail to accurately describe the effect of all important related parameters.

Carbon dioxide adsorbents from flame-made diesel soot nanoparticles.

Carbon dioxide (CO) is the top contributor to global warming. On the other, soot particles formed during fuel combustion and released into the atmosphere are harmful and also contribute to global warming. It would therefore be highly advantageous to capture soot and make use of it as a feedstock to synthesize carbon-based materials for applications such as carbon dioxide adsorption.

2D MXenes for controlled releases of therapeutic proteins.

MXenes belong to a new class of two dimensional (2D) functional nanomaterials, mainly encompassing transition-metal carbides, nitrides and carbonitrides, with unique physical, chemical, electronic and mechanical properties for various emerging applications across different fields. To date, the potentials of MXenes for biomedical application such as drug delivery have not been thoroughly explored due to the lack of information on their biocompatibility, cytotoxicity and biomolecule-surface interaction. In this study, we developed novel drug delivery system from MXene for the controlled release of a model therapeutic protein.

A Review on New 3-D Printed Materials' Geometries for Catalysis and Adsorption: Paradigms from Reforming Reactions and CO Capture.

"Bottom-up" additive manufacturing (AM) is the technology whereby a digitally designed structure is built layer-by-layer, i.e., differently than by traditional manufacturing techniques based on subtractive manufacturing.

Morphology, Activation, and Metal Substitution Effects of AlPO-5 for CO Pressure Swing Adsorption.

Aluminophosphate, AlPO-5, an AFI zeotype framework consisting of one-dimensional parallel micropores, and metal-substituted AlPO-5 were prepared and studied for CO adsorption. Preparation of AlPO-5 by using different activation methods (calcination and pyrolysis), incorporation of different metals/ions (Fe, Mg, Co, and Si) into the framework using various concentrations, and manipulation of the reaction mixture dilution rate and resulting crystal morphology were examined in relation to the CO adsorption performance. Among the various metal-substituted analogs, FeAPO-5 was found to exhibit the highest CO capacity at all pressures tested (up to 4 bar).

Metal Organic Framework - Based Mixed Matrix Membranes for Carbon Dioxide Separation: Recent Advances and Future Directions.

Gas separation and purification using polymeric membranes is a promising technology that constitutes an energy-efficient and eco-friendly process for large scale integration. However, pristine polymeric membranes typically suffer from the trade-off between permeability and selectivity represented by the Robeson's upper bound. Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) synthesized by the addition of porous nano-fillers into polymer matrices, can enable a simultaneous increase in selectivity and permeability.

Bimetallic Nanoparticles for Antimicrobial Applications.

Highly effective antimicrobial agents are needed to control the emergence of new bacterial strains, their increased proliferation capability, and antibacterial resistance that severely impact public health, and several industries including water, food, textiles, and oil and gas. Recently, bimetallic nanoparticles, formed via integration of two different metals, have appeared particularly promising with antibacterial efficiencies surpassing that of monometallic counterparts due to synergistic effects, broad range of physiochemical properties, and diverse mechanisms of action. This work aims to provide a review on developed bimetallic and supported bimetallic systems emphasizing in particular on the relation between synthesis routes, properties, and resulting efficiency.

Functionalization effects on HKUST-1 and HKUST-1/graphene oxide hybrid adsorbents for hydrogen sulfide removal.

HKUST-1, a Cu-based metalorganic framework (MOF), was synthesized solvothermally, functionalized with polyethyleneimine (PEI), and hybridized with graphene oxide (GO) and functionalized GO for HS removal. MOF synthesis approach, molecular weight of amines, and the content of GO in the hybrid adsorbents were systematically varied. The adsorbent materials were characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM, elemental analysis, liquid N adsorption-desorption, water vapor and oxygen sorption, and subsequently tested for HS adsorption in a breakthrough column.

Nanoscale Dynamics and Transport in Highly Ordered Low-Dimensional Water.

Highly ordered and highly cooperative water with properties of both solid and liquid states has been observed by means of neutron scattering in hydrophobic one-dimensional channels with van der Waals diameter of 0.78 nm. We have found that in the initial stages of adsorption water molecules occupy niches close to pore walls, followed later by the filling of the central pore area.

Ion-Based Metal/Graphene Antibacterial Agents Comprising Mono-Ionic and Bi-Ionic Silver and Copper Species.

Design of novel and more efficient antibacterial agents is a continuous and dynamic process due to the appearance of new pathogenic strains and inherent resistance development to existing antimicrobial treatments. Metallic nanoparticles (NPs) are highly investigated, yet the role of released ions is crucial in the antibacterial activity of the NP-based systems. We developed herein ion-based, metal/graphene hybrid structures comprising surface-bound Ag and Cu mono-ionic and Ag/Cu bi-ionic species on functionalized graphene, without involvement of NPs.

Ag and Cu Monometallic and Ag/Cu Bimetallic Nanoparticle-Graphene Composites with Enhanced Antibacterial Performance.

Increased proliferation of antimicrobial resistance and new strains of bacterial pathogens severely impact current health, environmental, and technological developments, demanding design of novel, highly efficient antibacterial agents. Ag, Cu monometallic and Ag/Cu bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) were in situ grown on the surface of graphene, which was produced by chemical vapor deposition using ferrocene as precursor and further functionalized to introduce oxygen-containing surface groups. The antibacterial performance of the resulting hybrids was evaluated against Escherichia coli cells and compared through a series of parametrization experiments of varying metal type and concentration.

CO2 captured in zeolitic imidazolate frameworks: Raman spectroscopic analysis of uptake and host-guest interactions.

Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) exhibit enhanced selectivity and increased CO2 uptake due to the incorporation of functional imidazolate units in their structure as well as their extensive porosity and ring flexibility. In situ Raman investigation of a representative host compound, ZIF-69, in practical CO2 pressure and temperature regimes (0-10 bar and 0-64 °C) correlates well with corresponding macroscopic CO2 sorption data and shows clear clear spectroscopic evidence of CO2 uptake. Significant positive shift of the 159 cm(-1) phenyl bending mode of the benzimidazole moiety indicates weak hydrogen bonding with CO2 in the larger cavities of the ZIF matrix.

Poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(propylene oxide) amphiphilic block copolymer-mediated growth of silver nanoparticles and their antibacterial behavior.

Silver nanoparticles were grown in self-assembled amphiphilic poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(propylene oxide) (PEO/PPO) triblock copolymers in selective solvents. Ternary systems of block copolymer, water, and p-xylene were used, forming a dispersion of water droplets in oil (reverse micellar) as well as binary water/block copolymer solutions. Besides its stabilizing affect, the role of the copolymer as a reducing agent for the metal salt precursors was examined.

Catalytic NOx removal by single-wall carbon nanotube-supported Rh nanoparticles.

Single-wall carbon nanotubes functionalized with polyethylene glycol and doped with Rh nanoparticles were prepared and tested as catalyst for NO(x) reduction. Gravimetric adsorption studies were employed to elucidate the mechanism of NO adsorption on the active surface sites and to determine the onset of the desorption of oxygen. These studies provided information about the reaction kinetics and the lifetime of the catalyst, as well as the NO scission onset temperature and abatement rate, thus making possible to predict the conversion and define the optimum reaction conditions for efficient NO removal.

Magnetic carbon nanotubes with particle-free surfaces and high drug loading capacity.

Open-ended, multi-wall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with magnetic nanoparticles encapsulated within their graphitic walls (magCNTs) were fabricated by a combined action of templated growth and a ferrofluid catalyst/carbon precursor, and tested as drug hosts. The hybrid nanotubes are stable under extreme pH conditions due to particle protection provided by the graphitic shell. The magCNTs are promising for high capacity drug loading given that the magnetic functionalization did not block any of the active sites available for drug attachment, either from the CNT internal void or on the internal and external surfaces.