Open Access
Progress and perspectives for the use of pillared clays as adsorbents for organic compounds in aqueous solution
(De Gruyter, 2022-09-14) Cardona Rodríguez, Yaneth; Vicente, Miguel Ángel; Korili, Sophia A.; Gil Bravo, Antonio; Ciencias; Zientziak; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2
The world is faced with several problems as regards water pollution. This is due to several factors, including the discharge of effluents into the environment with no prior treatment. This wastewater, therefore, contains significant levels of pollutants, including numerous toxic organic contaminants and others that are similarly undesirable. Several studies have attempted to find ways of removing wastewater contaminants using pillared interlayered clays (PILC) as adsorbents. In this work, we present a summary of those studies that have used PILC as adsorbents for the removal of organic compounds from aqueous solutions while simultaneously illustrating their potential for this purpose. A general overview is provided so that the reader can acquire a basic understanding of the PILC and their modified counterparts that have been used, and some of the characteristics that can directly affect their adsorption behavior, especially their textural and surface properties.
Open Access
Heterogeneous Fenton- and photo-Fenton-like catalytic degradation of emerging pollutants using Fe2O3/TiO2/pillared clays synthesized from aluminum industrial wastes
(Elsevier, 2023-04-01) Cardona Rodríguez, Yaneth; Wegrzyn, Agnieszka; Miskowiec, Pawel; Korili, Sophia A.; Gil Bravo, Antonio; Zientziak; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Ciencias; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
The presence of emerging pollutants (EPs) in water is a major environmental concern. This study evaluates for the first time the removal of three EPs, namely triclosan (TCS), 2,6-dichlorophenol (2,6-DCP), and bisphenol A (BPA), 90 μmol/dm3, from water through both Fenton- and photo-Fenton-like reactions using montmorillonite (Mt) and aluminum interlayered pillared clays (Al-PILC) as catalytic supports. The catalysts (Fe2O3/TiO2/Mt and Fe2O3/TiO2/Al-PILC) were evaluated in single-component solutions and in an equimolar mixture. Two Al-PILC were synthesized from a hazardous waste, namely aluminum saline slag, using either the acid (Al-PILCAE) or the alkaline (Al-PILCBE) aluminum extract as precursors. The third Al-PILC was obtained by the conventional method using a commercial aluminum salt (Al-PILCCM). Catalytic supports were impregnated at 10 and 20 wt% titanium. Iron loadings from 1 to 20 wt% were tested for Mt, while only 20 wt% iron was tested for Al-PILC. All catalysts were characterized using several techniques and the results confirmed the formation of TiO2 and Fe2O3. Almost 100 % of TCS and 2,6-DCP were removed by both Fenton-like (240 and 420 min, respectively) and photo-Fenton-like reactions (30 and 90–120 min, respectively) using the Al-PILC based catalyst. The maximum removal for BPA was 80.14 ± 1.93 % after 120 min under photo-Fenton-like conditions using Al-PILCBE. The catalysts synthesized using the four catalytic supports showed good results for the removal of TCS by both processes, while for 2,6-DCP and BPA the best results were obtained using Al-PILCAE and Al-PILCBE as catalytic supports. Finally, a degradation pathway was suggested for every pollutant based on the by-products identified during the reactions by HPLC-MS. The results revealed that the materials used in this work are suitable catalysts for removing emerging pollutants from water by both Fenton- and photo-Fenton-like reactions.
Open Access
Understanding the formation of Al13 and Al30 polycations to the development of microporous materials based on Al13-and Al30-PILC montmorillonites: a review
(Elsevier, 2021) Cardona Rodríguez, Yaneth; Gil Bravo, Antonio; Korili, Sophia A.; Zientziak; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Ciencias; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Hydrolysis of aluminum cations (Al3+), the third most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust, is considered relevant in many academic fields, including materials science and chemical engineering. AlIII -polycations and their different uses have also been widely studied, as reflected in the extensive literature in that field. This review summarizes some of those studies, from Al3+ hydrolysis to form Al13 ([Al13O4(OH)24(H2O)12]7+) and Al30 ([(Al30O8(OH)56(H2O)24)]18+) polycations and their specific use as pillaring agents for montmorillonite, which is the most commonly used clay mineral in Aluminum Pillared Interlayered Clays (Al-PILC) synthesis. The experimental conditions published over the years regarding the synthesis of both these AlIII-polycations, as well as the conditions employed to synthesize Al-PILC montmorillonite using Al13 and Al30 polycation solutions, are also summarized. This review highlights some of the findings that have made it possible to explain the formation of Al13- and Al30-PILC montmorillonites, and allow us to clearly understand their differences. Finally, the new tendencies in the development of these materials based on Al-PILC and the applications are also highlighted.
Open Access
Hydrothermal liquefaction of biomass as one of the most promising alternatives for the synthesis of advanced liquid biofuels: a review
(MDPI, 2021) Grande López, Lucía; Pedroarena Apezteguía, Iván; Korili, Sophia A.; Gil Bravo, Antonio; Zientziak; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Ciencias; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
The use of biofuels offers advantages over existing fuels because they come from renewable sources, they are biodegradable, their storage and transport are safer, and their emissions into the atmosphere are lower. Biomass is one of the most promising sustainable energy sources with a wide variety of organic materials as raw material. Chemical, biochemical, and thermochemical methods have been proposed to obtain biofuels from raw materials from biomass. In recent years, a thermochemical method that has generated great interest is hydrothermal liquefaction. In this paper, a brief review of the main sources for liquid biofuels and the synthesis processes is presented, with special emphasis on the production of biofuels using hydrothermal liquefaction by using waste generated by human activity as raw material.
Open Access
A comparative study of the catalytic performance of nickel supported on a hibonite-type La-hexaaluminate synthesized from aluminum saline slags in the dry reforming of methane
(Elsevier, 2022) Torrez Herrera, Jonathan Josué; Korili, Sophia A.; Gil Bravo, Antonio; Zientziak; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Ciencias; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
In this work, a hibonite-type Ni/La-hexaaluminate (Ni/LHA) synthesized from an industrial waste is used and compared as catalyst in the dry reforming of methane (DRM) at 973 K. The structure, catalytic behavior, and stability during a run time of at least 50 h of three Nicatalysts obtained from two commercial supports and two preparation methods were used for comparison. An aluminum solution (9.40 g/L) obtained from an aluminum saline slag waste by acid extraction was used to synthesize the hexaaluminate by mixing with a stoichiometric amount of lanthanum nitrate and methanol/Peg400/PegMn400 under hydrothermal conditions at 493 K for 16 h. The Ni/LHA catalyst (10 wt% NiO) was obtained by impregnation of the synthesized support, calcined previously at 1473 K for 2 h. The resulting solids were characterized by several techniques as: X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption at 77 K, temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). In order to compare the catalytic behavior and properties of the Ni/LHA catalyst, three Ni catalysts obtained from two commercial supports (g-Al2O3 and SiO2) and two preparation methods (wet impregnation (I) and precipitation-deposition (PD)) were synthesized. Analysis of the TPR patterns for the catalysts allowed the type of metal support interaction and NiO species to be determined, with a weak interaction with the support being observed in Ni/LHA and NieI/ SiO2. The NiO species observed, with crystallite sizes between 9.7 and 40.4 nm, confirm the X-ray structural analyses. The Ni/LHA catalyst was found to be active and very stable in the DRM reaction after 50 h. The catalytic behavior was evaluated from the CO2 and CH4 conversions, as well as the H2/CO selectivity, with values of 99% over almost all the time range evaluated. The behavior of this catalyst is comparable to that of NieI/Al2O3 and NiPD/SiO2. The results found indicating that the strong interaction of nickel with the support favors the stability of the catalysts in the DRM reaction.
Open Access
Development of ceramic-MOF filters from aluminum saline slags for capturing CO2
(Elsevier, 2023) Torrez Herrera, Jonathan Josué; Korili, Sophia A.; Gil Bravo, Antonio; Ciencias; Zientziak; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
This study describes the procedures followed to synthesize ceramic-MOF filters using aluminum saline slag wastes. Briefly, the raw aluminum saline slags were washed at 80 ◦C to significantly reduce the saline content and eliminate gases. The pretreated material was mixed with glucose (G/S ratios between 0.2 and 1.6) and acetone by stirring for 4 h. After this time, the resulting solid was dried at 60 ◦C and then at 190 ◦C. During the glucose caramelization step, PegMn400 was also added and the temperature increased to 1200 ◦C. The obtained solid was impregnated with precursor solutions to achieve a supported ZIF-8 MOF. The ceramic-MOF filters were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption at 77 K, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), thereby confirming the presence of a structure that allows dispersion of the synthesized and supported ZIF-8. Finally, the performance of these ceramic-MOF filters as CO2 adsorbents was evaluated in the temperature range 50–300 ◦C, with isosteric heats of 19 kJ/mol being obtained using the Clausius-Clapeyron equation.
Open Access
Catalytic valorization of CO2 by hydrogenation: current status and future trends
(Taylor and Francis, 2021) Sancho Sanz, Iris; Korili, Sophia A.; Gil Bravo, Antonio; Zientziak; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Ciencias
Terrestrial environmental and biological systems are being threatened by the tremendous amount of human carbon dioxide emissions. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a sustainable energy system based on CO2 as chemical feedstock. In this review, an introduction to the CO2 activation and transformation has been made, together with a more comprehensive study of the catalytical reduction of CO2 to methane, methanol, and formic acid, which are currently contemplated as chemical feedstocks and/or promising energy carriers and alternative fuels.
Open Access
Effect of the synthesis method on the morphology, textural properties and catalytic performance of La-hexaaluminates in the dry reforming of methane
(Elsevier, 2021) Torrez Herrera, Jonathan Josué; Korili, Sophia A.; Gil Bravo, Antonio; Zientziak; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Ciencias; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
This work describes the synthesis of nickel/lanthanum hexaaluminates (NiO/LHA), optimizing the LHA synthesis method, as well as their performance in terms of stability and catalytic activity in the dry reforming of methane (DRM). The synthesis methods studied include co-precipitation, nitrate decomposition and freeze drying, using a La/Al molar ratio of 1:11 in all methods. Drying methods, namely oven drying (4 h at 353 K), vacuum drying (8 h at 353 K) + oven drying (2 h at 423 K) and heat treatment (12 h at 473 K) + oven drying (2 h at 373 K), were also optimized during selection of the final catalyst support. After calcination at 1473 K for 2 h, the presence of lanthanum aluminate (LaAlO3) and traces of LHA were found in all cases. Specific surface areas of 50, 32 and 30 m(2)/g were obtained for the samples AD1 (nitrate decomposition), FD1 (freeze drying), CP1 (co-precipitation). The nitrate decomposition method was selected and optimized to obtain the LHA structure at low temperature in the presence of Ni(II), using a La/Al/Ni molar ratio of 1/15/0.2. The results showed the formation of pure-phase hexaaluminate at 1473 K. The solids obtained were used as supports for nickel catalysts (10 wt%) for DRM at 973 K. The supports and catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N-2 adsorption at 77 K, temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The simulation of the TPR patterns of the catalysts allowed determining the type of metal support interaction and the activation energy of the system as well as the rest of the kinetic parameters. A cumulative mean activation energy of 100.7 kJ/mol was determined for the catalysts. The metallic morphologies, dispersion and distribution of NiO on the surface of the LHA support were analyzed considering a theoretical simulation of the reduction profiles, obtaining an average growth factor of 1.4, which indicates that the metallic phase is growing in one and two dimensions. The NiO/LHA catalysts synthesized were found to be active and very stable in the DRM reaction after 20 h of reaction with an average selectivity H-2/CO upper than 0.90. The differences observed can be related to the textural properties developed during the optimized nitrate decomposition method. The characterization analysis by simulation, TPR, XRD, TEM, SEM allowed us to establish the effect of the textural properties, the metal interaction, the growth of the nickel grains and their distribution in the support on the catalytic performance in DRM. The better performance was obtained with the catalysts with higher porosity and greater support metal interaction, which allowed obtaining a better distribution of the metallic phase, thus generating less harmful carbonaceous species for the activity of the catalyst and therefore showing the best values of catalytic stability and conversion. Finally, three types of coke were identified from HR-TEM and EDS analysis: graphitic, filamentous and CNT, showing different effects on the catalytic behavior deactivation being the presence of graphitic more aggressive than the other two species.
Open Access
Optimizing the removal of nitrate by adsorption onto activated carbon using response surface methodology based on the central composite design
(Taylor & Francis, 2020) Taoufik, Nawal; Elmchaouri, Abdellah; Korili, Sophia A.; Gil Bravo, Antonio; Zientziak; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Ciencias
This study sheds light on the adsorption process for the removal of nitrate ions from synthetic aqueous solutions. This contaminant pose a potential risk to the environment and can cause health effects including cancers and methemoglobinemia in infants. When the adsorption process is carried out, the effect by the several operating parameters such as initial nitrate concentration, pH, mass of activated carbon, and contact time becomes apparent. The essential process variables are optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) based on the central composite design (CCD) experiments. For this purpose 31 experimental results are required to determine the optimum conditions. The optimum conditions for the removal of nitrates is found to be: initial nitrate concentration = 15 mg/L; initial pH 4.0; mass of activated carbon = 25 mg, and contact time = 70 min. At these optimized conditions, the maximum removal of nitrates is found to be 96.59%.
Open Access
Effect of the surface properties of Me2+/Al layered double hydroxides synthesized from aluminum saline slag wastes on the adsorption removal of drugs
(Elsevier, 2020) Santamaría Arana, Leticia; Devred, F.; Gaigneaux, E. M.; Korili, Sophia A.; Gil Bravo, Antonio; Zientziak; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Ciencias; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua, PI017-PI039 CORRAL
This work presents the synthesis of Me2+ (Co, Mg, Ni and Zn)/Al layered double hydroxides (LDH) with a 3:1 M ratio by the co-precipitation method. Structural characterization and comparison of the series has been achieved using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nitrogen physisorption at 77 K, thermogravimetry measurements (TGA), temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ammonia temperature-programmed desorption (NH3-TPD) and point of zero charge (pHpzc). Batch experiments were performed to analyze the adsorption capacity of the different LDH on diclofenac and salicylic acid, as example of emergent pollutants. The pH, mass of adsorbent, contact time and concentration of pollutant were the parameters used to compare the adsorption performance of the synthesized materials. Samples showed different behavior and the equilibrium was reached at different times, Mg6Al2 and Zn6Al2 showed lower equilibrium times but had higher adsorption capacity. Various adsorption and isotherm equation models were employed to study both the kinetic and equilibrium results and, in general, the removal of diclofenac was greater than that of salicylic acid. 1-Butanol conversion was also used as a means of acidity and basicity characterization and the results were compared with the adsorption performance of the samples in order to explain the results found. A relationship between the amount of pollutants adsorbed and the butenes formed in the dehydrogenation reaction of 1-butanol was found.