Synthesis and physicochemical characteristics of titanium dioxide doped with selected metals

The paper details with of the preparation and physicochemical characterisation of nano- and microstructured TiO2 doped with Fe and Co produced by the sol-gel method using titanium alkoxide as the precursor of titania as well as iron or cobalt nitrates as dopant sources. Fe and Co doped TiO2 materials were successfully prepared with two different methods. The effect of the dopant type on the synthesis of TiO2 powders was investigated. The physicochemical properties of the studied samples were determined. The characterisation included determination of the dispersion and morphology of the systems (particle size distribution, SEM images), characteristics of porous structure (BET isotherms), crystalline structure (XRD), surface composition (EDS), as well as thermal stability (TG/DTA)

Magnesium silicate conjugated with calcium lignosulfonate: In situ synthesis and comprehensive physicochemical evaluations

The aim of this study was to effectively combine synthetic magnesium silicate with the lignin-derived biopolymer calcium lignosulfonate, using the in situ sol-gel route. Magnesium ethoxide and tetraethoxysilane were used as precursors of MgO and SiO2. The synthesis was carried out in alcoholic solution with the addition of ammonia solution as a promoter of hydrolysis. Calcium lignosulfonate was introduced to the reaction medium prior to the synthesis of magnesium silicate. The resulting hybrid powder material was thoroughly characterized, including morphology and particle sizes (SEM microscopy and the DLS technique), porous structure parameters (the BET method and BJH model), thermal stability (TG analysis) and electrokinetic stability (LDV measurements). FTIR spectral analysis was carried out to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed synthesis methodology. Based on the results, a mechanism is proposed for the MgSiO3/lignosulfonate interactions. The resulting novel type of hybrid material combines the multifunctional nature of the biopolymer (diversity of functional groups) with the well-developed porous structure of synthetic magnesium silicate. Its physicochemical parameters were found to depend significantly on the quantity of lignosulfonate used in the synthesis

Hydroxyapatite as a support in protease immobilization process

Hydroxyapatite is used as a matrix for immobilization of protease from Aspergillus oryzae by a process of adsorption. The matrix obtained has the surface area of 26 m2/g and particles in the shape of flakes of diameters no greater than 650 nm. The efficiency of the proposed method was confirmed by the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis and by analysis of parameters of the pore structure of matrix and products after immobilization. On the basis of the Bradford method it was found that the greatest amount of enzyme (132 mg/g) was immobilized from a solution of initial enzyme concentration of 7 mg/cm3 after 24 h of the process