Degradation of organic dyes by P25-reduced graphene oxide: influence of inorganic salts and surfactants

Treatment of coloured effluent treatment is a major issue for the textile industry. In this study, catalyst P25-graphene was prepared and applied for degrading dye from an aqueous solution. Three types of dyes were selected to determine the feasibility of the catalyst for the dye degradation, including sulphonic, azoic, and fluorescent dyes. P25-graphene catalyst showed good ability to degrade all selected dyes. The influence of inorganic salts and surfactants on the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B using catalyst P25-graphene was also investigated. The degradation of rhodamine B was suppressed by the presence of NaCl, but the effect of Na2SO4 was negligible. The degradation of rhodamine B was significantly suppressed by all three types of surfactant, namely anionic, cationic and non-ionic surfactants. NMR technique was used to investigate the mechanisms associated with this suppression.

Preparation of graphene oxide decorated Fe3O4@SiO2 nanocomposites with superior adsorption capacity and SERS detection for organic dyes

The fast detection and removal of organic dyes from contaminated water has become an urgent environmental issue due to their high toxicity, chemical stability, and low biodegradability. In this paper, we have developed graphene oxide decorated Fe3O4@SiO2 (Fe3O4@SiO2-GO) as a novel adsorbent aiming at the rapid adsorption and trace analysis of organic dyes followed by surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The structure and morphology of the nanocomposites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier infrared spectrometry (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The obtained nanocomposites were used to adsorb methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solution based on π-π stacking interaction and electrostatic attraction between MB and GO, and the adsorption behaviors of MB were investigated. Moreover, the obtained nanocomposites with adsorbed dyes were separated from the solution and loaded with silver nanoparticles for SERS detection. These nanocomposites showed superior SERS sensitivity and the lowest detectable concentration was 1.0 × 10-7 M.

Selective removal of anionic dyes using poly (N, N -dimethyl amino ethylmethacrylate) functionalized graphene oxide

An in situ polymerization strategy was used to functionalize graphene oxide (GO) with poly(N,N-dimethyl amino ethylmethacrylate) (PDMAEMA) for the selective removal of anionic dyes. Various characterization methods demonstrate that PDMAEMA-grafted GO (GO-PDMAEMA) was successfully synthesized, and the high PDMAEMA content of 68.5% in GO-PDMAEMA changed the zeta potential significantly from -36.5 (GO) to 41.5 (GO-PDMAEMA). This change in the charge of GO-PDMAEMA greatly increased the adsorption capacities for anionic dye orange G (OG) compared to the pristine GO. The maximum adsorption capacity for anionic OG dye based on the Langmuir model is 609.8 mg g-1. The adsorption mechanism is believed to be a consecutive process of intra-particle diffusion and surface adsorption, with electrostatic interactions as the key driving force. The GO-PDMAEMA nanocomposite also showed excellent regeneration capacity and selectivity towards the separation of various anionic dyes (i.e. OG, Eosin yellow and Congo red) from an aqueous dye mixture. In conclusion, our method offers a promising strategy for developing new anionic dye adsorbents.

Photocatalytic degradation of dye effluent by titanium dioxide pillar pellets in aqueous solution

Photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) process is an effective way to deal with organic pollutants in wastewater which could be difficult to be degraded by conventional biological treatment methods. Normally the TiO2 powder in nanometre size range was directly used as photocatalyst for dye degradation in wastewater. However the titanium dioxide powder was arduous to be recovered from the solution after treatment. In this application, a new form of TiO2 (i.e. pillar pellets ranging from 2.5 to 5.3 mm long and with a diameter of 3.7 mm) was used and investigated for photocatalytic degradation of textile dye effluent. A test system was built with a flat plate reactor (FPR) and UV light source (blacklight and solar simulator as light source respectively) for investigating the effectiveness of the new form of TiO2. It was found that the photocatalytic process under this configuration could efficiently remove colours from textile dyeing effluent. Comparing with the TiO2 powder, the pellet was very easy to recovered from the treated solution and can be reused in multiple times without the significant change on the photocatalytic property. The results also showed that to achieve the same photocatalytic performance, the FPR area by pellets was about 91% smaller than required by TiO2 powder. At least TiO2 pellet could be used as an alternative form of photocatalyst in applications for textile effluent treatment process, also other wastewater treatment processes.

Chemiluminescence from the oxidation of urea and ammonia with hypobromite and N-bromosuccinimide

The spectral distribution for the chemiluminescent oxidation of ammonia with hypobromite is significantly different to that for the oxidation of ammonia with N-bromosuccinimide. Therefore, in contrast to the assumptions of several authors, the action of N-bromosuccinimide is not solely derived from the in situ formation of hypobromite. Neither the oxidation of urea with hypobromite nor the oxidation of urea with N-bromosuccinimide involves an initial hydrolysis of urea to ammonia in the alkaline solution. However, these two reactions lead to a common emitter. The addition of xanthene dyes, such as dichlorofluorescein, enhance the chemiluminescence intensity by energy transfer to the efficient fluorophore, but reaction between the sensitiser and hypobromite can result in a significant increase in the background signal. A list of potential interferences has been compiled; particular attention was paid to guanidino compounds, as the chemiluminescence accompanying the oxidation of this functional group has not been previously discussed.

The effects of dye dopants on the conductivity and optical absorption properties of polypyrrole

Ten anionic compounds, including four acidic dyes, were used to dope polypyrrole powder. The effects of the dopants on density, optical absorption and conductivity of the polypyrroles were studied. The presence of the dopant in the conducting polymer matrix was verified by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Density function theory (DFT) simulation was used to understand the effect of the dopants on the solid structure, optical absorption and energy band structures. Anthraquinone-2-sulfonic acid-doped polypyrrole yielded the highest conductivity. The dye-doped polypyrrole showed an enhancement in its UV–vis optical absorption.

Effects of atmospheric pressure plasma on dye uptake by the surface of wool

A woven pure wool fabric has been exposed to atmospheric pressure plasma for 30 seconds using a pilot-scale. commercial machine. X-ray photoelectron spectral data revealed large increases in oxygen and nitrogen. and a large reduction in carbon. on the surfaces of the plasma-treated fibres. A CIN ratio of 3.55 for plasma-treated wool was consistent with removal of the covalently-bound fatty acids from the surface of the cuticle cells. resulting in exposure of the proteinaceous epicuticle. Dye staining experiments revealed that the back of the fabric had received the same, uniform level of treatment as the face, despite the fact that only the face had been directly exposed to the plasma. Dyes (1 % oww) were applied to fabric at 50°C (liquor ratio =40: 1) and pH values from 3 to 6. The relatively low temperature of 50°C was selected in order to accentuate the effects of plasma on the rate of dye uptake. Under these conditions, dye was adsOibed onto the fibre surfaces, with very little penetration into the fibres. Effects of the plasma treatment on the rate of dyes adsorption were dyespecific. No significant effects of plasma on the rate of dye uptake were observed with relatively hydrophobic dyes, but hydrophilic dyes were adsorbed more rapidly by the plasmatreated fabric. It would appear that for more hydrophobic dyes, hydrophobic effects are more important for the adsorption of dyes by the plasma-treated fibres, even though these fibres were quite hydrophilic. On the other hand. it is concluded that for more hydrophilic dyes, electrostatic effects are more important for adsorption by the plasma-treated fibre.

Fluorescence and conductivity studies on wool

An optimized synthetic method for the production of fluorescent conductive wool using pyrene, rhodamine B and fluorescein is reported. The application of fluorescent conductive polymers to wool was studied using solution and mist polymerization techniques. The effects of incorporating fluorescent dopants into the polymerization solution as well as the encapsulation of fluorescent dyes in a polypyrrole (PPy) micelle were also investigated. It was determined on the basis of both conductivity and fluorescence measurements that the encapsulation of dyes in PPy onto the surface of textiles gave the best results.

Nano zinc oxide for UV protection of textiles

This paper describes the effect on the fading of dyed polyester fabrics in artificial sunlight, when the Ultra Violet (UV) component of the radiation was blocked by coating the fabric with zinc oxide nanoparticles, dispersed in an acrylic polymer. Zinc oxide is photoactive and generates superoxide and hydroxyl radicals (Reactive Oxygen Species; ROS) when irradiated with UV in the presence of oxygen and water. The results for the four dyes studied show that different dye chromophores interact differently with ROS. Selection of dyes with anti oxidant properties or addition of other anti oxidants may reduce the adverse effects of ROS

One-bath union dyeing of wool/polytrimethylene terephthalate blends

The one-bath dyeing of blends of polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT) staple and wool has been investigated. The exhaustion of selected Terasil disperse dyes on PTT fibre and Lanasol reactive dyes on wool was measured as a function of temperature, together with the cross-staining of the Terasil dyes on the wool component and the Lanasol dyes on PTT component. Most Terasil disperse dyes achieved satisfactory dye uptake on PTT at 110 °C, whereas on conventional polyester (polyethylene terephthalate) temperatures of up to 130 °C are required. An optimised union-dyeing technique for wool/PTT blends was developed which minimised the staining of Terasil disperse dyes on wool and produced dyed goods with high levels of wet colour fastness. Carriers were not required to enhance the dyeability of PTT at low temperatures. The wool component appeared to be protected against damage at 110 °C by the reactive dyes. The results indicate the potential for blending PTT fibre and wool to produce fabrics that are easier to dye at lower temperatures than conventional wool/polyester blends.

Fast response photochromic textiles from hybrid silica surface coating

In this study, a hybrid silica sol-gel embedded with a photochromic dye has been applied to wool fabric to form a photochromic coating. The treated wool fabrics showed very quick photochromic response. Five different silanes have been used as the silica precursor, and the resultant coating showed slight differences in photochromic performance, fabric washing fastness, and surface hydrophilicity. However, the silica type had a considerable influence on fabric handle property. The silica matrix from the silane containing a long alkyl chain had a very little influence on the fabric handle and better photochromic performance than those from other different silane precursors.

Bleaching and dyeing of superfine wool powder/polypropylene blend film

Fibers based regenerated protein draw much attention for recycling discarded protein resources and can produce biodegradable and environmental friendly polymers. In this study, superfine wool powder is blended with polypropylene (PP) to produce wool powder/PP blend film through extrusion and hot-pressing. Hydrogen peroxide is used to bleach the black colored surface of the blend films. The effects of peroxide concentration, bleaching time and powder content on the final whiteness and mechanical properties of the blend films are investigated.

The bleached films are dyed with acid red dyes and the dyed color is evaluated using a Computer Color Matching System. Color characters of dyed films, such as L*, a*, b*, ΔE*ab, C*ab and K/S values are measured and analyzed. The study not only reuses discarded wool resources into organic powder, widens the application of superfine wool powder on polymers, but also improves the dyeing properties of PP through the addition of protein content.

2nd Hand Cinema

A celebration of the offal of cinema, old films, old soundtracks, drawing directly on the film, using stamps and food-dyes to create discarded imagery. To chew film up and spit it out as painting direct.

Photochromic coloration of wool fabric

A method has been developed for producing photochromic wool fabric by applying a layer of hybrid silica containing a photochromic dye onto wool fibres. A number of different hybrid silicas were prepared by the sol-gel technique involving co-hydrolysis and co-condensation of alkyltrialkoxysilanes together with 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane. With the dye Photorome II, it was possible to obtain a photo chromic coating which showed fast optical response. The coating had only a slight effect on the fabric handle. The durability of the coating appeared to be acceptable, at least for fashion wear.

Effects of undoped and manganese-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles on the colour fading of dyed polyester fabrics

This paper describes the effects of applying coatings of an acrylic polymer containing nanoparticles of zinc oxide (ZnO) on the fading rate in artificial sunlight of polyester fabrics dyed with disperse dyes containing anthraquinone and benzopyran chromophores. Factors affecting the transparency and UV absorbance of the coatings are discussed. Removing the UV component of sunlight with ZnO nanoparticles markedly decreased the fading rate of the dyes, provided the polymer/ZnO film was not in direct contact with the fabric. When the treatment was applied directly to the fabrics, however, the protection against colour fading was different for the two dyes studied. Whereas the rate of colour fading of a benzopyran dye, of relatively low lightfastness, was decreased by the polymer-ZnO film, the treatment increased the fading rate of the dye of higher lightfastness, based on anthraquinone. This effect has been attributed to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) when ZnO is exposed to UV. The effect of decreasing the photoactivity of ZnO by doping with manganese has been examined. For the benzopyran dye, the UV protection was greatly increased, whereas a much smaller improvement was found for the anthraquinone-based dye.