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Even though transition metals can activate Oxone to degrade toxic contaminants, bimetallic materials possess higher catalytic activities because of synergistic effects, making them more attractive for Oxone activation. Herein, nanoscale CuCo-bearing N-doped carbon (CuCoNC) can be designed to afford a hollow structure as well as CuCo species by adopting cobaltic metal organic frameworks as a template. In contrast to Co-bearing N-doped carbon (CoNC), which lacks the Cu dopant, CuCo alloy nanoparticles (NPs) are contained by the Cu dopant within the carbonaceous matrix, giving CuCoNC more prominent electrochemical properties and larger porous structures and highly nitrogen moieties. CuCoNC, as a result, has a significantly higher capability compared to CoNC and Co3O4 NPs, for Oxone activation to degrade a toxic contaminant, Rhodamine B (RDMB). Furthermore, CuCoNC+Oxone has a smaller activation energy for RDMB elimination and maintains its superior effectiveness for removing RDMB in various water conditions. The computational chemistry insights have revealed the RDMB degradation mechanism. This study reveals that CuCoNC is a useful activator for Oxone to eliminate RDMB.

As cobalt (Co) has been the most useful element for activating Oxone to generate SO4•−, this study aims to develop a hierarchical catalyst with nanoscale functionality and macroscale convenience by decorating nanoscale Co-based oxides on macroscale supports. Specifically, a facile protocol is proposed by utilizing Cu mesh itself as a Cu source for fabricating CuCo2O4 on Cu mesh. By changing the dosages of the Co precursor and carbamide, various nanostructures of CuCo2O4 grown on a Cu mesh can be afforded, including nanoscale needles, flowers, and sheets. Even though the Cu mesh itself can be also transformed to a Cu-Oxide mesh, the growth of CuCo2O4 on the Cu mesh significantly improves its physical, chemical, and electrochemical properties, making these CuCo2O4@Cu meshes much more superior catalysts for activating Oxone to degrade the Azo toxicant, Acid Red 27. More interestingly, the flower-like CuCo2O4@Cu mesh exhibits a higher specific surface area and more superior electrochemical performance, enabling the flower-like CuCo2O4@Cu mesh to show the highest catalytic activity for Oxone activation to degrade Acid Red 27. The flower-like CuCo2O4@Cu mesh also exhibits a much lower Ea of Acid Red 27 degradation than the reported catalysts. These results demonstrate that CuCo2O4@Cu meshes are advantageous heterogeneous catalysts for Oxone activation, and especially, the flower-like CuCo2O4@Cu mesh appears as the most effective CuCo2O4@Cu mesh to eliminate the toxic Acid Red 27.

Hemodialysis, one of the earliest artificial kidney systems, removes uremic toxins via diffusion through a semipermeable porous membrane into the dialysate fluid. Miniaturization of the present hemodialysis system into a portable and wearable device to maintain continuous removal of uremic toxins would require that the amount of dialysate used within a closed-system is greatly reduced. Diffused uremic toxins within a closed-system dialysate need to be removed to maintain the optimum concentration gradient for continuous uremic toxin removal by the dialyzer. In this dialysate regenerative system, adsorption of uremic toxins by nanoporous biomaterials is essential. Throughout the years of artificial kidney development, activated carbon has been identified as a potential adsorbent for uremic toxins. Adsorption of uremic toxins necessitates nanoporous biomaterials, especially activated carbon. Nanoporous biomaterials are also utilized in hemoperfusion for uremic toxin removal. Further miniaturization of artificial kidney system and improvements on uremic toxin adsorption capacity would require high performance nanoporous biomaterials which possess not only higher surface area, controlled pore size, but also designed architecture or structure and surface functional groups. This article reviews on various nanoporous biomaterials used in current artificial kidney systems and several emerging nanoporous biomaterials. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 105B: 1232-1240, 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]