Synthesis and Characterization of H₅PV₂Mo₁₀O₄₀@Cu₃(BTC)₂ and Its Use as a Heterogeneous Catalyst for Oxidative Desulfurization: A Comprehensive Chemistry Laboratory Experiment

Abstract

In this laboratory experiment, the synthesis and characterization of H5PV2Mo10O40@Cu3(BTC)2 (denoted as NENU-9, H3BTC = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid) and its application in fuel desulfurization were performed. This experiment is designed for advanced undergraduate students majoring in chemistry. In this experiment, students experience the universal procedures of solution syntheses, get knowledge of several modern instrumental techniques (PXRD, FTIR, SEM, and GC) widely utilized in chemical research, and learn the general procedure of heterogeneous catalytic reaction. Upon the completion of the experiment, not only was students’ teamwork spirit cultivated by data-sharing and discussion in their assigned group, but also their environmental protection awareness was stimulated by performing a catalytic oxidative desulfurization reaction, a potential technology that may reach the goal of reducing sulfur oxide emissions. Moreover, students’ basic chemistry knowledge (inorganic, coordination, organic, and analytical chemistry) was consolidated by using it to analyze experimental phenomena and results.

The fabrication of CuBTC@PW12 with prominent peroxidase-mimicking activity for colorimetric detection of H2O2 and ascorbic acid via “on–off” switch

“…The 2 θ values of the main diffraction peaks appeared at 5.89°, 6.78°, 11.74°, 15.10°, 17.55°, 20.00°, 21.44°, 23.45°, and 26.05° corresponding to (111), (200), (222), (420), (511), (531), (620), (444) and (731) of NENU-3, 43 indicating that the synthesized CuBTC@PW 12 presented the typical structure of NENU-3, which implies the successful synthesis of CuBTC@PW 12 with good phase purities and crystallinities. 45 These results can also be verified by FTIR spectra. As portrayed in Fig.…”

“…Compared with the reported results (Table 2), the LOD of H 2 O 2 in this paper is comparable and even better than the reported methods. 42–46 The above results manifested the colorimetric detection of H 2 O 2 based on the POD mimicking activity of CuBTC@PW 12 .…”

Synthesis, Characterization, and Evaluation of Metal–Organic Frameworks for Oxidative Desulfurization: An Integrated Experiment

“…Huo et al . on the other hand, used NENU-9, another copper-based MOF, to demonstrate ODS of dibenzothiophene (DBT) which introduced students to heterogeneous catalysis and to train students on aiming to solve environmental issues with their skill sets.…”

An Interdisciplinary Experiment within Chemistry: Natural Product Composition Analysis Using a Miniature Mass Spectrometer

“…2−4 Many universities are actively working on the development and design of interdisciplinary experiment courses. 3,5,6 Instrumental analysis plays an important role in interdisciplinary experiments in chemistry. Instrumental analysis methods are widely used to characterize compounds and provide indispensable experimental data.…”

“…Interdisciplinary experiments break through the limitations of related discipline branches and develop their abilities to solve practical frontier problems in the future. For students, a series of comprehensive training develops multiple competencies, upgrading reference review, knowledge application, and hands-on and experimental data processing skills, and also helps to strengthen peer collaboration and foster their critical thinking. − Many universities are actively working on the development and design of interdisciplinary experiment courses. ,, …”