Efficient and convenient methods for the removal of toxic heavy metal ions especially Cd(II) and Pb(II) from aqueous solutions is of great importance due to their serious threat to public health and the ecological system. In this study, two magnetic metal-organic frameworks (namely: Fe3O4@ZIF-8, and Fe3O4@UiO-66–NH2) were synthesized, fully characterized, and applied for the adsorption of Cd(II) and Pb(II) from aqueous solutions. The adsorption efficiencies for the prepared nanocomposites are strongly dependent on the pH of the aqueous solution. The maximum adsorption capacities of Fe3O4@UiO-66–NH2, and Fe3O4@ZIF-8 at pH 6.0 were calculated to be 714.3 mg·g−, and 370 mg·g−1 for Cd(II), respectively, and 833.3 mg·g−1, and 666.7 mg·g−1 for Pb(II), respectively. The adsorption process follows a pseudo-second-order model and fit the Langmuir isotherm model. Moreover, the thermodynamic studies revealed that the adsorption process is endothermic, and spontaneous in nature. A plausible adsorption mechanism was discussed in detail. The magnetic adsorbents: Fe3O4@ZIF-8, and Fe3O4@UiO-66–NH2 showed excellent reusability, maintaining the same efficiency for at least four consecutive cycles. These results reveal the potential use of magnetic Fe3O4@ZIF-8, and Fe3O4@UiO-66–NH2 as efficient adsorbents in removing Cd(II) and Pb(II) from aqueous solutions.

There is a high interest to develop suitable solid phase extractants for uranium separation from aqueous solutions in order to reduce cost and enhance the efficiency. This paper describes solid phase extraction of uranium(VI) from aqueous phosphoric acid solution using MCM-41 based D2HEPA-TOPO organophosphorous extractants. The mixture of D2HEPA (di-2-ethyl-hexylphosphoric acid) and TOPO (tri-n-octylphosphine oxide) was impregnated into the pores of MCM-41 and the synthesized sorbent was fully characterized. The influences of different factors such as synergistic mixture ratio, phosphoric acid concentration, mixing time and temperature were investigated. The results showed that 90% of uranium(VI) extraction can be achieved within 5 min, using D2HEPATOPO@MCM-41 (mass ratio 2: 1 w/w) from 1 M phosphoric acid containing 64 ppm of uranium at room temperature. High adsorption capacity of uranium(VI) have been achieved at the mentioned conditions. The rate constant for the chemical adsorption of uranium(VI) was 0.988 g mg. 1 min. 1 calculated by the pseudo-second order rate equation. The obtained thermodynamics parameters showed that uranium(VI) adsorption from H-3 PO4 is an exothermic and spontaneous process.

The production of clean and sustainable energy is considered as one of the most urgent issues for our society. Mastering the oxidation of water to dioxygen is essential for the production of solar fuels. A study of the influence of the substituents on the catalytic activity of a series of mononuclear Ru complexes (2a-e) based on a tetradentate ligand framework is presented. At neutral pH, using [Ru(bpy)(3)](PF6)(3) (bpy=2,2'-bipyridine) as the terminal oxidant, a good correlation between the turnover frequency (TOF) and the Hammett sigma(meta) parameters was obtained. Additionally, a general pathway for the deactivation of Ru-based catalysts 2a-e during the catalytic oxidation of water through poisoning by carbon monoxide was demonstrated. These results highlight the importance of ligand design for fine-tuning the catalytic activity of water oxidation catalysts.

Photocatalytic water oxidation represents a key process in conversion of solar energy into fuels and can be facilitated by the use of molecular transition metal-based catalysts. A novel straightforward approach for covalent linking of the catalytic units to other moieties is demonstrated by preparation of a dinuclear complex containing two [Ru(pdc)(pic)(3)]-derived units (pdc = 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylate, pic = 4-picoline). The activity of this complex towards chemical and photochemical oxidation of water was evaluated and a detailed insight is given into the interactions between the catalyst and acetonitrile, a common co-solvent employed to increase solubility of water oxidation catalysts. The solvent-induced transformations were studied by electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques and the relevant quantitative parameters were extracted.

Water oxidation is a fundamental step in artificial photosynthesis for solar fuels production. In this study, we report a single-site Ru-based water oxidation catalyst, housing a dicarboxylate-benzimidazole ligand, that mediates both chemical and light-driven oxidation of water efficiently under neutral conditions. The importance of the incorporation of the negatively charged ligand framework is manifested in the low redox potentials of the developed complex, which allows water oxidation to be driven by the mild one-electron oxidant [Ru(bpy)(3)](3+) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine). Furthermore, combined experimental and DFT studies provide insight into the mechanistic details of the catalytic cycle.

In this work, magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles functionalized with L-cysteine (Cys-Fe3O4 NPs) was synthesized and fully characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and zeta potential measurements. The synthesized Cys-Fe(3)O(4)NPs has been evaluated as a highly adsorbent for the adsorption of a mixture of four rare earths RE3+ ions (La3+, Nd3+, Gd3+ and Y3+) from digested monazite solutions. The influence of various factors on the adsorption efficiency such as, the contact time, sample pH, temperature, and concentration of the stripping solution were investigated. The results indicate that Cys-Fe3O4 NPs achieve high removal efficiency 96.7, 99.3, 96.5 and 87% for La3+, Nd3+, Gd3+ and Y3+ ions, respectively, at pH = 6 within 15 min, and the adsorbent affinity for metal ions was found to be in order of Nd3+ > La3+ > Gd3+ > Y3+ ions. Using the Langmuir model, a maximum adsorption capacity of La3+, Nd3+, Gd3+ and Y3+ at room temperature was found to be 71.5, 145.5, 64.5 and 13.6 mg g (1), respectively. The Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second order model fitted much better than the other isotherms and kinetic models. The obtained results for the thermodynamic parameters confirmed the spontaneous and endothermic nature of the process. Moreover, the desorption was carried out with 0.1 M nitric acid solutions. In addition, Cys-Fe3O4 NPs can be used as a highly efficient adsorbent for the adsorption of La3+, Nd3+, Gd3+ and Y3+ ions from digested monazite solutions.

The synthesis of two molecular iron complexes, a dinuclear iron(III,III) complex and a nonanuclear iron complex, based on the di-nucleating ligand 2,2'-(2-hydroxy-5-methyl-1,3-phenylene)bis(1H-benzo[d]imidazole-4-carboxylic acid) is described. The two iron complexes were found to drive the oxidation of water by the one-electron oxidant [Ru(bpy)(3)](3+).