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Cordeiro, T, Santos AFM, Nunes G, Cunha G, Sotomayor JC, Fonseca IM, Florence Danède, Dias CJ, Cardoso MM, Correia NT, Viciosa TM, Dionísio M.  2016.  Accessing the Physical State and Molecular Mobility of Naproxen Confined to Nanoporous Silica Matrixes. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C. 120:14390-14401., Number 26 AbstractWebsite

The pharmaceutical drug naproxen was loaded in three different silica hosts with pore diameters of 2.4 (MCM), 3.2 (MCM), and 5.9 nm (SBA), respectively: napMCM\_2.4 nm, napMCM\_3.2 nm, and napSBA\_5.9 nm. To access the guest physical state in the prepared composites, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used. The different techniques provided complementary information on a molecular population that was revealed to be distributed among different environments, namely the pore core, the inner pore wall, and the outer surface. It was found that naproxen is semicrystalline in the higher pore size matrix being able to crystallize inside pores; after melting it undergoes full amorphization. In the case of the lower pore size matrix, naproxen crystallizes outside pores due to an excess of filling while most of the remaining fraction is incorporated inside the pores as amorphous. Crystallinity in these two composites was observed by the emergence of the Bragg peaks in the XRD analysis, whereas for napMCM\_3.2 nm only the amorphous halo was detected. The latter only exhibits the step due to the glass transition by DSC remaining stable as amorphous at least for 12 months. The glass transition in the three composites is abnormally broad, shifting to higher temperatures as the pore size decreases, coherent with the slowing down of molecular mobility as probed by dielectric relaxation spectroscopy. For napSBA\_5.9 nm the dielectric response was deconvoluted in two processes: a hindered surface (S-) process due to molecules interacting with the inner pore wall and a faster α-relaxation associated with the dynamic glass transition due to molecules relaxing in the pore core, which seems a manifestation of true confinement effects. The drug incorporation inside a nanoporous matrix, mainly in 3.2 nm pores, was revealed to be a suitable strategy to stabilize the highly crystallizable drug naproxen in the amorphous/supercooled state and to control its release from the silica matrix, allowing full delivery after 90 min in basic media.

Cordeiro, T, Paninho AB, Bernardo M, Matos I, Pereira CV, Serra AT, Matias A, Ventura MG.  2020.  Biocompatible locust bean gum as mesoporous carriers for naproxen delivery. Materials Chemistry and Physics. 239:121973. AbstractWebsite

The work reports the impregnation of naproxen into locust bean gum mesoporous matrixes with different textural properties. The matrixes were prepared through the dissolution of the biopolymer in water and in two ionic liquids (ILs): [bmim][Cl] and [C2OHmim][Cl] and dried with scCO2. The poor water-soluble pharmaceutical drug naproxen was loaded into the matrixes and the composites were characterized by attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and by differential scanning calorimetry; the results were compared with neat ILs and drug. The naproxen release from the matrixes was attempted at pH 7.4. Sustained release of naproxen in the different composites occurs, and consequently the naproxen release has lower rates compared with neat crystalline naproxen dissolution. Nevertheless, it was possible to observe small differences on release profiles for the studied composites. The higher release rate was observed for the composite where [bmim][Cl] was used as solvent, for which the calorimetric analysis revealed full amorphization of the incorporated drug. Cytotoxicity assays reveal that cellular viability in Caco-2 cells is preserved. This fact allied with the biocompatibility of locust bean gum allow for the composites potential application as naproxen controlled/sustained delivery systems with higher drug bioavailability achieved through naproxen amorphization.

do Fraga, AC, Quitete CPB, Ximenes VL, Sousa-Aguiar EF, Fonseca IM, Rego AMB.  2016.  Biomass derived solid acids as effective hydrolysis catalysts. Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical. 422:248-257. AbstractWebsite

The conversion of cellulose into products with higher added value often includes a depolymerization step to obtain glucose, its fundamental unity. The depolymerization reaction is carried out via hydrolysis of the β-1,4-glycosidic bond. The search for a solid acid catalyst capable of breaking these bonds is gaining increasing prominence in the literature. In this regard, sulfonated carbons have shown promising results. This work evaluated the use of a residue from the extraction of palm oil as raw material for the production of sulfonated carbons. The raw material was carbonized and sulfonated. The obtained solid acids were tested in the hydrolysis of cellobiose, a dimer of glucose often used as a model compound for cellulose. The hydrolysis reaction is the first step in converting renewable carbon sources into chemical products and biofuels. Some aspects were investigated, as the effect of carbonization temperature on the concentration of sulfonic groups, the results showing that the content thereof reached a maximum value at 300°C. Regarding the hydrolysis of cellobiose, it has been identified that there is a relationship between the concentration of sulfonic acid groups and the activity of these catalysts. However, there is a drop in the turnover number as the amount of sulfonic acid sites increases. This was related to a preferred position sulfonation mechanism. Furthermore, sulfonated carbons showed higher activity than the commercial acid resins, indicating that this material may be a good option for the generation of solid acid catalysts.

Surra, E, Bernardo M, Lapa N, Esteves IAAC, Fonseca I, Mota JPB.  2019.  Biomethane production through anaerobic co-digestion with Maize Cob Waste based on a biorefinery concept: A review. Journal of Environmental Management. 249:109351. AbstractWebsite

Maize Cob Waste (MCW) is available worldwide in high amounts, as maize is the most produced cereal in the world. MCW is generally left in the crop fields, but due to its low biodegradability it has a negligible impact in soil fertility. Moreover, MCW can be used as substrate to balance the C/N ratio during the Anaerobic co-Digestion (AcoD) with other biodegradable substrates, and is an excellent precursor for the production of Activated Carbons (ACs). In this context, a biorefinery is theoretically discussed in the present review, based on the idea that MCW, after proper pre-treatment is valorised as precursor of ACs and as co-substrate in AcoD for biomethane generation. This paper provides an overview on different scientific and technological aspects that can be involved in the development of the proposed biorefinery; the major topics considered in this work are the following ones: (i) the most suitable pre-treatments of MCW prior to AcoD; (ii) AcoD process with regard to the critical parameters resulting from MCW pre-treatments; (iii) production of ACs using MCW as precursor, with the aim to use these ACs in biogas conditioning (H2S removal) and upgrading (biomethane production), and (iv) an overview on biogas upgrading technologies.

Nogueira, M, Matos I, Bernardo M, Pinto F, Lapa N, Surra E, Fonseca I.  2019.  Char from Spent Tire Rubber: A Potential Adsorbent of Remazol Yellow Dye. C—Journal of Carbon Research. 5, Number 4 AbstractWebsite

A char produced from spent tire rubber showed very promising results as an adsorbent of Remazol Yellow (RY) from aqueous solutions. Spent tire rubber was submitted to a pyrolysis process optimized for char production. The obtained char was submitted to chemical, physical, and textural characterizations and, subsequently, applied as a low-cost adsorbent for dye (RY) removal in batch adsorption assays. The obtained char was characterized by relatively high ash content (12.9% wt), high fixed-carbon content (69.7% wt), a surface area of 69 m2/g, and total pore volume of 0.14 cm3/g. Remazol Yellow kinetic assays and modelling of the experimental data using the pseudo-first and pseudo-second order kinetic models demonstrated a better adjustment to the pseudo-first order model with a calculated uptake capacity of 14.2 mg RY/g char. From the equilibrium assays, the adsorption isotherm was fitted to both Langmuir and Freundlich models; it was found a better fit for the Langmuir model to the experimental data, indicating a monolayer adsorption process with a monolayer uptake capacity of 11.9 mg RY/g char. Under the experimental conditions of the adsorption assays, the char presented positive charges at its surface, able to attract the deprotonated sulfonate groups (SO3−) of RY; therefore, electrostatic attraction was considered the most plausible mechanism for dye removal.

Surra, E, Bernardo M, Lapa N, Esteves IAAC, Fonseca I, Mota JP.  2018.  Enhanced Biogas Production through Anaerobic co-Digestion of OFMSW with Maize Cob Waste Pre-Treated with Hydrogen Peroxide. Chemical Engineering Transactions. 65:121-126.
Mestre, AS, Nabiço A, Figueiredo PL, Pinto ML, Santos SMCS, Fonseca IM.  2016.  Enhanced clofibric acid removal by activated carbons: Water hardness as a key parameter. Chemical Engineering Journal. 286:538-548. AbstractWebsite

Clofibric acid is the metabolite and active principle of blood lipid regulators, it represents the class of acidic pharmaceuticals, and is one of the most persistent drug residues detected in the aquatic environment worldwide. This interdisciplinary work evaluates the effect of solution pH and water hardness in clofibric acid adsorption onto commercial activated carbons. Kinetic and equilibrium assays revealed that the highest clofibric acid removal efficiencies (>70%) were attained at pH 3, and that at pH 8 water hardness degree plays a fundamental role in the adsorption process. In hard water at pH 8 the removal efficiency values increased by 22 or 46% points depending on the carbon sample. Adsorbents’ textural properties also affect the adsorption process since for the microporous sample (CP) the increase of water hardness has a great influence in kinetic and equilibrium data, while for the micro+mesoporous carbon (VP) the variation of the water hardness promoted less significant changes. At pH 3 the increase of water hardness leads to changes in the adsorption mechanism of clofibric acid onto CP carbon signaled by a transition from an S-type to an L-type curve. At pH 8 the change from deionized water to hard water doubles the maximum adsorption capacity of sample CP (101.7mgg−1 vs 211.9mgg−1, respectively). The adsorption enhancement, with water hardness under alkaline conditions, was reasoned in terms of calcium complexation with clofibrate anion exposed by molecular modeling and conductivity studies. Ca2+ complexation by other acidic organic compounds may also occur, and should be considered, since it can play a fundamental role in improved design of water treatment processes employing activated carbons.

Silva, CAC, Figueiredo FCA, Rodrigues R, Sairre MI, Gonçalves M, Matos I, Fonseca IM, Mandelli D, Carvalho WA.  2016.  Enhancing the biodiesel manufacturing process by use of glycerin to produce hyacinth fragrance, Jun. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy. 18:1551–1563., Number 5 AbstractWebsite

Oxidized and sulfonated-activated carbons (AC) were tested in the catalytic conversion of glycerol by acetalization reactions. The solids were treated with concentrated nitric acid and/or fuming sulfuric acid (AC, AC-N, AC-S, and AC-NS). The presence of sulfur and an increase in the acidity of the solids demonstrate the suitability of the oxidation as well as the sulfonation process, especially in the sample treated with concentrated nitric acid and fuming sulfuric acid (AC-NS). The best catalyst for the reaction of glycerol acetalization with phenylacetaldehyde was AC-NS, with a phenylacetaldehyde conversion of 95 {%} after 90 min at 383 K and selectivity of 88 and 12 {%}, respectively, to dioxolane and dioxane. These products can be used as hyacinth fragrance flavoring compounds. Furthermore, a contribution of homogeneous catalysis in these systems was not identified. Thus, we identified a possibility of glycerol conversion, a biodiesel by-product, into value-added products by suitable catalysts produced from activated carbons.

Inocêncio, S, Cordeiro T, Matos I, Florence Danède, Sotomayor JC, Fonseca IM, Correia NT, Corvo MC, Dionísio M.  2021.  Ibuprofen incorporated into unmodified and modified mesoporous silica: From matrix synthesis to drug release. Microporous and Mesoporous Materials. 310:110541. AbstractWebsite

Aiming to rationalize the release profile of an incorporated pharmaceutical drug in terms of its mobility, driven by guest-host interactions, the poorly water-soluble ibuprofen drug was loaded in a mesoporous inorganic silica matrix with unmodified (MCM-41) and modified surface (MCM-41sil) by post-synthesis silylation, both having pore sizes   3 nm. The single calorimetric detection of a broad glass transition step for both ibuprofen composites indicates full drug amorphization, confirmed by the only appearance of an amorphous halo in the powder XRD patterns. Moreover, a gradient profile is disclosed by the heat flux derivative plot in the glass transition, in coherence with the thermogravimetric profile that shows a multi-step decomposition trace for confined ibuprofen in these matrixes. While identical guest dynamics, as probed by dielectric relaxation spectroscopy, were found in both dehydrated composites, a significant molecular population with faster relaxation exists in the hydrated state for the drug inside the unmodified matrix. This was rationalized as the concurrence of true confinement effects, which manifest under nanometer dimensions, and greater water affinity of the unmodified matrix, forcing the drug molecules to be placed mostly in the pore core. Finite size effects are also felt in both dehydrated composites, however guest-host interactions give origin to a dominant population with slowed down mobility that governs the overall guest dynamics. In spite of an inferior number of active sites for drug adsorption in the silylated matrix, a faster ibuprofen delivery in phosphate buffer (pH = 6.8) was observed when the drug is released from unmodified MCM-41 in the hydrated state. Therefore, our results suggest that a relevant role is played by water molecules, which impair a strong guest adsorption in the host surface more efficiently than the limited surface modification, influence the higher ratio of a faster population in the pore core and facilitate the diffusion of the aqueous releasing media inside pores.

Surra, E, Bernardo M, Lapa N, Esteves I, Fonseca I, Mota JP.  2018.  Maize cob waste pre-treatments to enhance biogas production through co-anaerobic digestion with OFMSW. Waste Management. 72:193-205. AbstractWebsite

In the present work, the enhancement of biogas and methane yields through anaerobic co-digestion of the pre-hydrolised Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Wastes (hOFMSW) and Maize Cob Wastes (MCW) in a lab-scale thermophilic anaerobic reactor was tested. In order to increase its biodegradability, MCW were submitted to an initial pre-treatment screening phase as follows: (i) microwave (MW) irradiation catalysed by NaOH, (ii) MW catalysed by glycerol in water and alkaline water solutions, (iii) MW catalysed by H2O2 with pH of 9.8 and (iv) chemical pre-treatment at room temperature catalysed by H2O2 with 4 h reaction time. The pre-treatments cataysed by H2O2 were performed with 2% MCW (wMCW/v alkaline water) at ratios of 0.125, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 (wH2O2/wMCW). The pre-treatment that presented the most favourable balance between sugars, lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose solubilisations, as well as low production of phenolic compound and furfural (inhibitors), was the chemical pre-treatment catalysed by H2O2, at room temperature, with a ratio of 0.5 wH2O2/wMCW (Pre1). This Pre1 was then optimised testing reaction times of 1, 2 and 3 days at a different pH (11.5) and MCW percentage (10% w/v). The optimised pre-treatment that presented the best results, considering the same criteria defined above, was the one carried out during 3 days, at pH 9.8 and 10% MCW w/v (Pre2). The anaerobic reactor was initially fed with the hOFMSW obtained from the hydrolysis tank of an industrial AD plant. The hOFMSW was than co-digested with MCW submitted to the pre-treatment Pre1. In another assay, hOFMSW was co-digested with MCW submitted pre-treatment Pre 2. The co-digestion of hOFMSW + Pre1 increased the biogas yield by 38.9% and methane yield by 29.7%, when compared to the results obtained with hOFMSW alone. The co-digestion of hOFMSW + Pre2 increased biogas yield by 46.0% and CH4 yield by 36.3%. In both cases, the methane content obtained in the biogas streams was above 66% v/v. These results show that pre-treatment with H2O2, at room temperature, is a promising low cost way to valorize MCW through co-digestion with hOFMSW.

Surra, E, Nogueira MC, Bernardo M, Lapa N, Esteves I, Fonseca I.  2019.  New adsorbents from maize cob wastes and anaerobic digestate for H2S removal from biogas. Waste Management. 94:136-145. AbstractWebsite

Two activated carbons (ACs) were prepared by physical activation of Maize Cob Waste (MCW) with CO2, during 2 and 3 h (MCW(PA)2h and MCW(PA)3h, respectively). Two other ACs were prepared by chemical activation: a) MCW(LD) – MCW was impregnated with anaerobic liquid digestate (LD) and carbonized under N2 atmosphere; and b) CAR-MCW(LD) – previously carbonized MCW was impregnated with LD and carbonized under N2 atmosphere. All ACs were fully characterized for textural and chemical properties, and then used in dynamic H2S removal assays from real biogas samples. Regarding H2S removal, the ACs that were physically activated behaved much better than the impregnated ones: MCW(PA)3h and MCW(PA)2h showed H2S uptake capacities of 15.5 and 0.65 mg g−1, respectively, while MCW(LD) and CAR-MCW(LD) showed values of 0.47 and 0.25 mg g−1, respectively. This may indicate that textural properties (surface area and microporosity) are more important than mineral content in H2S removal. Effectively, both surface area and micropore volume were much higher for the samples of MCW(PA)3h (SBET = 820 m2 g−1 and Vmicro = 0.32 cm3 g−1) and MCW(PA)2h (SBET = 630 m2 g−1 and Vmicro = 0.21 cm3 g−1) than for the ACs that were chemically activated (SBET = 38.0 m2 g−1 and Vmicro = 0.01 cm3 g−1 for MCW(LD); SBET = 8.0 m2 g−1 and Vmicro = 0.01 cm3 g−1 for CAR-MCW(LD)). High oxygen content in MCW(PA)3h favoured the catalytic oxidation reaction of H2S, promoting its removal. The use of MCW as precursor and LD as activating agent of the ACs may contribute for the integrated management of maize wastes and to diversify the applications of anaerobic digestate.

Cordeiro, T, Castiñeira C, Mendes D, Florence Danède, Sotomayor J, Fonseca IM, Gomes da Silva M, Paiva A, Barreiros S, Cardoso MM, Viciosa MT, Correia NT, Dionisio M.  2017.  Stabilizing Unstable Amorphous Menthol through Inclusion in Mesoporous Silica Hosts. Molecular Pharmaceutics. 14:3164-3177., Number 9 AbstractWebsite
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Bernardo, MMS, Madeira CAC, dos Santos Nunes NCL, Dias DACM, Godinho DMB, de Jesus Pinto MF, do Nascimento Matos IAM, Carvalho APB, de Figueiredo Ligeiro Fonseca IM.  2017.  Study of the removal mechanism of aquatic emergent pollutants by new bio-based chars, Oct. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 24:22698–22708., Number 28 AbstractWebsite

This work is dedicated to study the potential application of char byproducts obtained in the gasification of rice husk (RG char) and rice husk blended with corn cob (RCG char) as removal agents of two emergent aquatic contaminants: tetracycline and caffeine. The chars presented high ash contents (59.5–81.5{%}), being their mineral content mainly composed of silicon (as silica) and potassium. The samples presented a strong basic character, which was related to its higher mineral oxides content. RCG char presented better textural properties with a higher apparent surface area (144 m2 g−1) and higher micropore content (V micro = 0.05 cm3 g−1). The alkaline character of both chars promoted high ecotoxicity levels on their aqueous eluates; however, the ecotoxic behaviour was eliminated after pH correction. Adsorption experiments showed that RG char presented higher uptake capacity for both tetracycline (12.9 mg g−1) and caffeine (8.0 mg g−1), indicating that textural properties did not play a major role in the adsorption process. For tetracycline, the underlying adsorption mechanism was complexation or ion exchange reactions with the mineral elements of chars. The higher affinity of RG char to caffeine was associated with the higher alkaline character presented by this char.

Sharipova, AA, Aidarova SB, Bekturganova NY, Tleuova A, Kerimkulova M, Yessimova O, Kairaliyeva T, Lygina O, Lyubchik S, Miller R.  2017.  Triclosan adsorption from model system by mineral sorbent diatomite. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects. 532:97-101. AbstractWebsite

Adsorption of model systems of triclosan by mineral sorbent diatomite is studied. The triclosan equilibrium concentration was measured spectrophotometrically, the morphology of the diatomite characterized using scanning electron microscopy and the amount of the adsorbed triclosan on the diatomite quantified by a mass balance. Adsorption isotherms were analyzed according to the linear/nonlinear form of Langmuir, Freundlich, Sips and Toth isotherm models isotherms, using AMPL software. It is shown that nonlinear Langmuir and Sips isotherm model provided suitable fitting results and no pronounced difference in adsorption efficiency between isotherms measured after 1, 2 and 3days adsorption was observed. Determined maximum adsorption capacity of diatomite towards triclosan qs is 140mg/g. Averaged calculated values of ΔG are −9.9 and −9.6kJ/mol for Langmuir and Sips models respectively. The negative sign of such values indicates spontaneous, physical in nature adsorption.

Sharipova, AA, Aidarova SB, Bekturganova NE, Tleuova A, Schenderlein M, Lygina O, Lyubchik S, Miller R.  2016.  Triclosan as model system for the adsorption on recycled adsorbent materials. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects. 505:193-196. AbstractWebsite

The adsorption of triclosan as model system was studied to qualify activated carbon sorbents recycled from gas masks (civilian gas mask GP5). The triclosan equilibrium concentration was measured spectrophotometrically, the morphology of the activated carbon characterized by scanning electron microscopy, and the amount of the adsorbed triclosan on the activated carbon quantified by a mass balance method. Experimental isotherms were fitted by Langmuir, Freundlich and Sips adsorption models. It was obtained that the contact time is a crucial sorption parameter that provides information on the optimum adsorption efficiency. It was shown that the maximum efficiency of GP5 (88%) is obtained after 10days of adsorption at a maximal concentration of triclosan and carbon loading 1mg/l. No significant adsorption efficiency differences were measured after 5 and 10days of adsorption. The non-linear Sips isotherm, a combined Freundlich–Langmuir model, provides suitable fitting results. The observed remarkable adsorption capacity of activated carbon (GP5) towards triclosan adsorption (∼85mg/g) makes it a viable solution for wastewater treatment.