Ricerc@Sapienza

Cobalt (Co) has exceptional high-temperature strength, corrosion-resistance, catalytic properties, and exceptional strength for electrochemical applications. This makes it a crucial element for high performance applications where EU is in the leads, e.g. jet engines and electrical power generation turbines, specialty high strength steel, samarium cobalt magnets, bind wear-resistant alloys, chemical industries and oil refineries.

The solvation of the Co2+ ion in the [C4mim][Tf2N] (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide) room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) has been studied from both a structural and thermodynamic point of view. Co K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) data have been collected on a 0.1 M Co(Tf2N)2 solution in [C4mim][Tf2N] as well as on the metallic salt and classical MD simulations have been performed to obtain both structural and thermodynamic data.

Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) and nano Zero-Valent Iron (nZVI) particles, as well as two nanocomposites based on these novel nanomaterials, were employed as nano-adsorbents for the removal of hexavalent chromium, selenium and cobalt, from aqueous solutions. Nanomaterials characterization included the determination of their point of zero charge and particle size distribution. CNTs were further analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and Raman spectroscopy to determine their morphology and structural properties.