Timothy G. Carter

Bio: Timothy G. Carter is an academic researcher from University of Oregon. The author has contributed to research in topics: Surface modification & Mesoporous silica. The author has an hindex of 7, co-authored 8 publications receiving 739 citations. Previous affiliations of Timothy G. Carter include Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Removal of Heavy Metals from Aqueous Systems with Thiol Functionalized Superparamagnetic Nanoparticles

Abstract: We have shown that superparamagnetic iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles with a surface functionalization of dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) are an effective sorbent material for toxic soft metals such as Hg, Ag, Pb, Cd, and Tl, which effectively bind to the DMSA ligands and for As, which binds to the iron oxide lattices. The nanoparticles are highly dispersible and stable in solutions, have a large surface area (114 m2/g), and have a high functional group content (1.8 mmol thiols/g). They are attracted to a magnetic field and can be separated from solution within a minute with a 1.2 T magnet. The chemical affinity, capacity, kinetics, and stability of the magnetic nanoparticles were compared to those of conventional resin based sorbents (GT-73), activated carbon, and nanoporous silica (SAMMS) of similar surface chemistries in river water, groundwater, seawater, and human blood and plasma. DMSA-Fe3O4 had a capacity of 227 mg of Hg/g, a 30-fold larger value than GT-73. The nanoparticles removed 99 wt % of 1 mg...

Self-Assembled E2L3 Cryptands (E = P, As, Sb, Bi): Transmetalation, Homo- and Heterometallic Assemblies, and Conformational Isomerism

Abstract: A series of Group 15-containing homometallic (E2L3, E = P, As, Sb, Bi) and heterometallic (AsSbL3, AsBiL3, PSbL3) supramolecular cryptands were prepared by the self-assembly of pnictogen halides with dithiolate ligand or by direct transmetalation from a heavier congener. Structural characterization by single crystal X-ray diffraction shows that the E−S bond distances and S−E−S bond angles are significantly affected by the identity of the pnictogen. 1H NMR spectroscopy reveals that the homometallic cryptands are dynamic in solution: surprisingly one ligand “flips”, perturbing the C3 symmetry of the complex and giving a new asymmetric conformer. Density functional theory calculations were carried out on both the symmetric and the asymmetric conformations of the cryptands, and the energies were compared to those observed by NMR spectroscopy. It was found that the relative stability of the asymmetric cryptand to its symmetric conformer increases with increasing size of the Group 15 element. Finally, it is rep...

Secondary bonding interactions observed in two arsenic thiolate complexes.

Abstract: Treatment of N-(2-mercaptoethyl)-1,8-naphthalimide (HL) with stoichiometric amounts of AsCl3 and base affords AsL2Cl and AsL3 complexes stabilized in part by secondary As···O bonding interactions.

A review on nanomaterials for environmental remediation

Abstract: This article gives an overview of the application of nanomaterials in environmental remediation. In the area of environmental remediation, nanomaterials offer the potential for the efficient removal of pollutants and biological contaminants. Nanomaterials in various shapes/morphologies, such as nanoparticles, tubes, wires, fibres etc., function as adsorbents and catalysts and their composites with polymers are used for the detection and removal of gases (SO2, CO, NOx, etc.), contaminated chemicals (arsenic, iron, manganese, nitrate, heavy metals, etc.), organic pollutants (aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons) and biological substances, such as viruses, bacteria, parasites and antibiotics. Nanomaterials show a better performance in environmental remediation than other conventional techniques because of their high surface area (surface-to-volume ratio) and their associated high reactivity. Recent advances in the fabrication of novel nanoscale materials and processes for the treatment of drinking water and industrial waste water contaminated by toxic metal ions, radionuclides, organic and inorganic solutes, bacteria and viruses and the treatment of air are highlighted. In addition, recent advances in the application of polymer nanocomposite materials for the treatment of contaminants and the monitoring of pollutants are also discussed. Furthermore, the research trends and future prospects are briefly discussed.

Coating Fe3O4 Magnetic Nanoparticles with Humic Acid for High Efficient Removal of Heavy Metals in Water

Abstract: Humic acid (HA) coated Fe3O4 nanciparticles (Fe3O4/HA) were developed for the removal of toxic Hg(II), Pb(II), Cd(II), and Cu(II) from water. Fe3O4/HA were prepared by a coprecipitation procedure with cheap and environmentally friendly iron salts and HA. TOC and XPS analysis showed the as-prepared Fe3O4/ HA contains similar to 11% (w/w) of HA which are fractions abundant in O and N-based functional groups. TEM images and laser particle size analysis revealed the Fe3O4/HA (with similar to 10 nm Fe3O4 cores) aggregated in aqueous suspensions to form aggregates with an average hydrodynamic size of similar to 140 nm. With a saturation magnetization of 79.6 emu/g, the Fe3O4/HA can be simply recovered from water with magnetic separations at low magnetic field gradients within a few minutes. Sorption of the heavy metals to Fe3O4/HA reached equilibrium in less than 15 min, and agreed well to the Langmuir adsorption model with maximum adsorption capacities from 46.3 to 97.7 mg/g. The Fe3O4/HA was stable in tap water, natural waters, and acidic/ basic solutions ranging from 0.1 M HCl to 2 M NaOH with low leaching of Fe (<= 3.7%) and HA (<= 5.3%). The Fe3O4/HA was able to remove over 99% of Hg(II) and Pb(II) and over 95% of COO and Cd(II) in natural and tap water at optimized pH. Leaching back of the Fe3O4/HA sorbed heavy metals in water was found to be negligible.