https://vital.seals.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Index ${session.getAttribute("locale")} 5 The design and synthesis of multidentate N-heterocyclic carbenes as metathesis catalyst ligands https://vital.seals.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:4304 Wed 12 May 2021 16:08:21 SAST ]]> Oxidative desulfurization of fuel oils-catalytic oxidation and adsorptive removal of organosulfur compounds https://vital.seals.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:4498 99%), thus producing polar sulfones which are extractible by polar solid phase extractants. Adsorption of the polar sulfone compounds was carried-out by employing MIPs which were fabricated through the formation of recognition sites complementary to oxidized sulfur-containing compounds (sulfones) on electrospun polybenzimidazole (PBI) nanofibers, cross-linked chitosan microspheres and electrospun chitosan nanofibers. Adsorption of benzothiophene sulfone (BTO₂), dibenzothiophene sulfone (DBTO₂) and 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene sulfone (4,6-DMDBTO₂) on the various molecularly imprinted adsorbents presented a Freundlich (multi-layered) adsorption isotherm which indicated interaction of adsorbed organosulfur compounds. Maximum adsorption observed for BTO₂, DBTO₂ and 4,6-DMDBTO₂ respectively was 8.5 ± 0.6 mg/g, 7.0 ± 0.5 mg/g and 6.6 ± 0.7 mg/g when imprinted chitosan nanofibers were employed, 4.9 ± 0.5 mg/g, 4.2 ± 0.7 mg/g and 3.9 ± 0.6 mg/g on molecularly imprinted chitosan microspheres, and 28.5 ± 0.4 mg/g, 29.8 ± 2.2 mg/g and 20.1 ± 1.4 mg/g on molecularly imprinted PBI nanofibers. Application of electrospun chitosan nanofibers on oxidized hydro-treated diesel presented a sulfur removal capacity of 84%, leaving 62 ± 3.2 ppm S in the fuel, while imprinted PBI electrospun nanofibers displayed excellent sulfur removal, keeping sulfur in the fuel after the oxidation/adsorption below the determined limit of detection (LOD), which is 2.4 ppm S. The high level of sulfur removal displayed by imprinted PBI nanofibers was ascribed to hydrogen bonding effects, and π-π stacking between aromatic sulfone compounds and the benzimidazole ring which were confirmed by chemical modelling with density functional theory (DFT) as well as the imprinting effect. The home-made pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE) system was applied for extraction/desorption of sulfone compounds adsorbed on the PBI nanofibers at a flow rate of 1 mL/min and at 150°C with an applied pressure of 30 bars. Application of molecularly imprinted PBI nanofibers for the desulfurization of oxidized hydro-treated fuel showed potential for use in refining industries to reach ultra-low sulfur fuel level, which falls below the 10 ppm sulfur limit which is mandated by the environmental protection agency (EPA) from 2015.]]> Wed 12 May 2021 15:53:07 SAST ]]> Development of a visible light active, photo-catalytic and antimicrobial nanocomposite of titanium dioxide and silicon dioxide for water treatment https://vital.seals.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:11335 Thu 13 May 2021 06:42:06 SAST ]]> Studies towards the synthesis of novel tridentate ligands for use in ruthenium metathesis catalysts https://vital.seals.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:4360 Thu 13 May 2021 06:16:05 SAST ]]> Removal and photocatalysis of 4-Nitrophenol using metallophthalocyanines https://vital.seals.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:4343 NiPcS[subscript 4] > NiPcS[subscript mix] > FePcS[subscript 4] > FePcS[subscript mix] > CoPcS[subscript 4]. The adsorbents were regenerated using dilute HNO[subscript 3], with 76 % (7.6 x 10[superscript -5] mol) of 4-Np recovered within 150 min.]]> Thu 13 May 2021 04:14:52 SAST ]]> Photocatalytic reduction of CO2 by cobalt doped TiO2 and ZnO micro/nanostructured materials https://vital.seals.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:41607 Fri 15 Mar 2024 12:11:18 SAST ]]> An intergrated continuous flow system for the manufacture of biodiesel from waste cooking oil using a heterogeneous acid catalyst and homogeneous base catalyst https://vital.seals.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:37837 Fri 15 Mar 2024 09:30:02 SAST ]]>