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This work reports the effects of potassium bromide (KBr) on the electrodeposition of manganese on copper from a DES consisting of a stoichiometric 1:2 mix of choline chloride and ethylene glycol (Ethaline 200). The speciation of MnCl2.4H2O in Ethaline 200 has been investigated using UV–vis spectroscopy, in particular with regard to the addition of KBr to the plating bath, for which no apparent change in the Mn species was noted. This said, the physical properties of the manganese deposits themselves were found to have been considerably improved in comparison to when KBr was omitted from the bath; indeed, the actual adhesion of Mn was achieved for the first time on a copper substrate, somewhat remarkably producing a coating of some considerable thickness. Given its clear electrochemical behavior of the Mn liquid were subsequently determined via cyclic voltammetry method. A reduction in the peak current of Mn was noted on addition of KBr. The mechanism of Mn deposition has been examined via chronocoulometry and chronoamperometry. Surface analyses of Mn deposits have been conducted via SEM/EDX, AFM, and XRD, from which improvements to the Mn surface coatings in depositions performed from an electrolyte containing 0.1 M KBr were noted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work includes a synthesis of three types of the activated carbon (AC) from three different positions from the same Iraqi Khestawy date palm. These three positions are the palm fronds (AC1), the date palm seeds (AC2), and the palm fiber (AC3). These three types of AC were synthesized by a physiochemical activation method using the same activator which was H3PO4. These materials were investigated using different techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The adsorption activity of the synthesized AC samples was investigated by following the removal of both Bismarck brown G (BBG) and reactive yellow dye 145 (RY145). Both the kinetics of adsorption and the removal percentage of these dyes were investigated from the batch tests in this study. Different reaction parameters and conditions for adsorption processes were investigated. Also an investigation of both Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms was considered. The different physical properties of these materials were undertaken such as the point zero charges of the synthesized samples (PZCs), the percentage of humidity, and the adsorption capacity also being investigated. The activity of these materials in the removal of BBG from the aqueous solution was as follows: AC1>AC2>AC3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimould agents are widely used in different applications, such as specialty paints, building materials, wood preservation and crop protection. However, many antimould agents can be toxic to the environment. This work aims to evaluate the application of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) surface modified with boronic acid (BA) terminal groups as antimould agents. We developed CuONPs grafted with (3-glycidyloxypropyl) trimethoxysilane (GLYMO), coupled with 4-hydroxyphenylboronic acid (4-HPBA), which provided a strong boost of their action as antimould agents. We studied the antimould action of the 4-HPBA-functionalized CuONPs against two mould species: Aspergillus niger ( A. niger ) and Penicillium chrysogenum ( P. chrysogenum ). The cis-diol groups of polysaccharides expressed on the mould cell walls can form reversible covalent bonds with the BA groups attached on the CuONPs surface. This allowed them to bind strongly to the mould surface, resulting in a very substantial boost of their antimould activity, which is not based on electrostatic adhesion, as in the case of bare CuONPs. The impact of these BA-surface functionalized nanoparticles was studied by measuring the growth of the mould colonies versus time. The BA-functionalized CuONPs showed significant antimould action, compared to the untreated mould sample at the same conditions and period of time. These results can be applied for the development of more efficient antimould treatments at a lower concentration of active agent with potentially substantial economic and environmental benefits.