The acid-base properties of phytic acid [ myo-inositol 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakis(dihydrogen phosphate)] (H(12)Phy; Phy(12-)=phytate anion) were studied in aqueous solution by potentiometric measurements ([H+]-glass electrode) in lithium and potassium chloride aqueous media at different ionic strengths (0< I mol L(-1)< or =3) and at t=25 degrees C. The protonation of phytate proved strongly dependent on both ionic medium and ionic strength. The protonation constants obtained in alkali metal chlorides are considerably lower than the corresponding ones obtained in a previous paper in tetraethylammonium iodide (Et(4)NI; e.g., at I=0.5 mol L(-1), log K(3)(H)=11.7, 8.0, 9.1, and 9.1 in Et(4)NI, LiCl, NaCl and KCl, respectively; the protonation constants in Et(4)NI and NaCl were already reported), owing to the strong interactions occurring between the phytate and alkaline cations present in the background salt. We explained this in terms of complex formation between phytate and alkali metal ions. Experimental evidence allows us to consider the formation of 13 mixed proton-metal-ligand complexes, M(j)H(i)Phy((12-i-j)-), (M+ =Li+, Na+, K+), with j< or =7 and i< or =6, in the range 2.5< or =pH< or =10 (some measurements, at low ionic strength, were extended to pH=11). In particular, all the species formed are negatively charged: i+j-12=-5, -6. Very high formation percentages of M+-phytate species are observed in all the pH ranges investigated. The stability of alkali metal complexes follows the trend Li+ > or =Na+K+. Some measurements were also performed at constant ionic strength (I=0.5 mol L(-1)), using different mixtures of Et(4)NI and alkali metal chlorides, in order to confirm the formation of hypothesized and calculated metal-proton-ligand complex species and to obtain conditional protonation constants in these multi-component ionic media.

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Protonation constants of several natural and synthetic humates and fulvates were determined by ISE-H+ potentiometry in different ionic media (alkali metal halides and tetraethylammonium iodide) at different ionic strengths and T = 298.15 K. Experimental data obtained in previous studies of different synthetic (polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyacrylate-co-maleate) and naturally occurring (alginate, humic substances) polycarboxylates were also taken into account in the general analysis of acid−base properties of polyelectrolytes. Protonation constants were expressed as a function of the dissociation degree (α) using three models, namely, a simple linear model, the Högfeldt three-parameter equation, and the modified Henderson−Hasselbalch equation. Moreover, a model, independent of α, according to which acid−base properties of polyelectrolytes in the whole acidic pH range can be described by two protonation constants (Diprotic-like model), was also tested. This model allows us to analyze protonation and complex formation data as for simple low molecular weight ligands. In general, all the models taken into consideration give satisfactory results with fitting errors in the order Högfeldt three-parameter equation < Diprotic-like model < modified Henderson−Hasselbalch equation < simple linear model. For each type of polyelectrolyte investigated, a detailed discussion is reported. The parameters involved in the different models are strictly correlated, and canonical correlation analysis is reported. A statistical analysis on the protonation constants of all the polyelectrolytes investigated was made confirming that very similar results can be obtained using any considered model and, as a consequence, that the Diprotic-like model is a valid alternative simple approach to study acid−base properties of polyelectrolytes.

In this paper, new information on physical and chemical properties of the widely used nanostructured Halloysite mineral are reported. Given that the Halloysite has a tubular structure formed by a variable number of wrapped layers containing Si-OH and Al-OH groups, their proton binding affinity was measured at different ionic strengths and ionic media by means of potentiometric measurements in heterogeneous phase. One protonation constant for the Si-OH groups and two for the Al-OH groups were determined. The protonation constant values increase with increasing of the ionic strength in all the ionic media. This suggests that the presence of a background electrolyte stabilizes the protonated species through the formation of weak complexes between ions of the supporting electrolytes and the protonated species. Ten weak species were determined with different stoichiometry. It was shown that the interactions do not depend on the nature of the supporting electrolytes but on the charge. The surface charge of Halloysite was estimated by ζ potential measurements as a function of pH, and the values obtained are consistent with the nanotubes ionization predicted by using the protonation constants for the Si-OH and Al-OH groups. The total solubility of the Halloysite nanotubes, was also determined in NaCl aqueous solution. These measurements showed that the solubility slightly increases with increasing ionic strength and contact time between Halloysite and NaCl solution. Goodness-of-fit (GOF) criteria were used to test the application of these models with good results. The obtained results confirm that the behavior of Halloysite in water is strictly correlated to the experimental conditions of the aqueous suspension (e.g., pH, ionic strength, and ionic media). The thermodynamic data here reported are of main importance in the several applications where is exploited the charge separation between the inner and outer surfaces of this nanotubular material

In this study, environmental friendly halloysite nanotubes and their amino derivatives were used as adsorbent materials for lead(II) ions. The adsorption ability of both nanomaterials towards Pb 2+ ions has been studied in NaCl aq , at I = 0.1 mol L -1 , in the pH range 3 -6. Moreover, the effect of ionic strength on the adsorption process was evaluated at the pH of maximum efficiency of the adsorbent materials. Kinetic and equilibrium experiments were carried out by using the Differential Pulse Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (DP-ASV) technique to check the metal ion concentration in solution after contact with the two adsorbents. Different isotherm and kinetic equations were used to fit the experimental data. The speciation of metal ion and the characterization of the adsorbents with different techniques were considered in order to establish the suitable experimental conditions for the metal ion removal. The collected data showed that the functionalization of halloysite enhances the adsorption ability of the clay mineral and it makes the nanoclay a good candidate for metal removal from aqueous solutions.