Hexagonal mesoporous silica modified with carboxylic acid (SiAc) has been obtained by reaction between chloroacetic acid and 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, which was immobilized on porous material by a sol-gel process in the presence of an n-dodecylamine template. SiAc was characterized by TG, FT-IR, (29)Si NMR, (13)C NMR, SEM, surface charge density, surface area and porous diameter, which proved that the carboxylic group was chemically bonded to an inorganic structure, and the material presented a nanometric structure with spheres <50 nm and porous diameter of 10 nm. Herbicides 2,4-D and picloram were anchored on SiAc porous gel to produce the materials named SiD and SiPi, respectively. The controlled release of picloram from the SiAc was less than that of 2,4-D. After 26 days of releasing, 4.43 × 10(-5) mol L(-1) of picloram was delivered by SiPi, and 5.0 × 10(-5) L(-1) was released from the SiD in 30 days.

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As densidades superficiais de carga de ácidos húmicos foram determinadas por titulação potenciométrica e condutimétrica simultâneas. Também foi observada a influência do pH na conformação molecular através de espectroscopia de UV-Vis e microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). A densidade de carga superficial para todas as amostras de ácido húmico é aproximadamente zero na faixa de pH 3,5-6,0. A influência do pH na condensação molecular foi observada pela determinação do índice b na equação de Doty e Steiner. Os altos valores de b foram obtidos na região ácida, indicando uma conformação condensada, devido à fraca interação atrativa. Além disso, na região alcalina, a densidade de carga na superfície da molécula é mais negativa, o que favorece o aumento da repulsão e dispersão das partículas, levando à formação de estruturas micelares como consequência da característica anfifílica dos ácidos húmicos.The surface charge densities for humic acids (HAs) were determined by simultaneous potentiometric and conductimetric titrations. It was also observed the pH influence on molecular conformation by UV-Vis spectroscopy measurements and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. The surface charge densities are approximately zero at the pH range 3.5 to 6.0 for all samples. The pH influence on molecular condensation level was observed by the determination of the b index from Doty and Steiner equation. High values of b were obtained at acid region indicating a condensed conformation due to weak attractive interactions whereas around the neutral region the repulsive intramolecular forces take place leading to an extended conformation of humic molecules. Moreover, at very alkaline region, the charge density on molecule surface is more negative, increasing repulsion and dispersion of the particles and also takes place formation of micelle-like structure because of the amphyphylic feature of HA samples.

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Bimetallic Pt3Eu/C, Pt3La/C, and Pt3Ce/C electrocatalysts have been prepared, characterized, and tested for ethanol electro-oxidation (EEO). The materials were synthesized by chemical reduction with NaBH4, rendering nanosized particles with actual compositions close to the nominals and no alloy formation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed that the auxiliary rare-earth metals were present on the surface in oxide form. The electrochemical analyses in acid and alkaline EEO evidenced that, compared to Pt/C, the addition of rare earth metals in the form of oxides reduced the onset potential, increased the current density, and enhanced the stability. The results were fully confirmed in the DEFC single-cell measurements. Finally, the presence of rare earth metals in the oxidized form increased the percentage of acetic acid as the final product, making the electrocatalysts more selective and efficient than Pt/C, where acetaldehyde was the main product.