Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine B and Malachite Green by Cobalt Sulfide Nanoparticles

Present study reports the simple and cost effective thermolytic method for the synthesis of cobalt sulphide nanoparticles (CoS NPs). The PXRD spectrum of cobalt sulphide (CdS) nanoparticles exhibited four peaks indexed to (100), (101), (102) and (110) crystal planes. The average particle size observed from DLS and PXRD was in the range 4.81-12.20 nm. A blue shift in band gap was observed from UV-visible spectra. The FESEM and TEM studies revealed that cobalt sulfide nanoparticles are of cubic and rectangle shapes. FTIR spectra of hexadecylamine (HDA) capped CoS NPs exhibited ν(N-H) absorption around 3350-3240 cm–1. The stretching frequency due to ν(Co-S) appeared in the region 334-332 cm–1. Proton NMR (1H) spectra of CoS NPs showed signals at nearly same positions as in case of capping agent, suggesting its capping nature. ESI-MS analyses of cobalt sulphide nanoparticles displayed peak at m/z = 124.93 corresponding to the [CoS2]+ ion. Thermogravimetric curves showed single step decomposition corresponding to 84.28% weight loss and 15.72% as final residue due to cobalt oxide. The degradation rate of rhodamine B and malachite green dyes after irradiating with sunlight showed 92-94% degradation while irradiated with UV-light of 4.8 eV show much slower degradation rate.

Mineralogical Prediction of Flotation Performance for a Sediment-Hosted Copper–Cobalt Sulphide Ore

As part of a study investigating the influence of mineralogical variability in a sediment hosted copper–cobalt deposit in the Democratic Republic of Congo on flotation performance, the flotation of nine sulphide ore samples was investigated through laboratory batch kinetics tests and quantitative mineral analyses. Using a range of ore samples from the same deposit the influence of mineralogy on flotation performance was studied. Characterisation of the samples through QEMSCAN showed that bornite, chalcopyrite, chalcocite and carrollite are the main copper-bearing sulphide minerals while carrollite is the only cobalt-bearing mineral. Mineralogical characteristics were averaged per sample to allow for a quantitative correlation with flotation performance parameters. Equilibrium recoveries, rate constants and final grades of the samples were correlated to the feed mineralogy through Multiple Linear Regression (MLR). Target sulphide minerals content and particle size, magnesiochlorite content, carrollite liberation and association of the copper and cobalt minerals with magnesiochlorite and dolomite were used to predict flotation performance. Leave One Out Cross Validation (LOOCV) revealed that the final copper and cobalt grades are predicted with an R2 of 0.80 and 0.93 and Root Mean Square Error of Cross Validation (RMSECV) of 4.41% and 1.34%. The recovery of cobalt and copper with time can be predicted with an R2 of 0.94 for both and an overall test error of 4.70% and 5.14%. Overall, it was shown that quantitative understanding of changes in mineralogy allows for prediction of changes in flotation performance.

Designing a carbon nanotubes-interconnected ZIF-derived cobalt sulfide hybrid nanocage for supercapacitors

A hybrid structure of a cobalt sulphide nanocage derived from ZIF-67 and interconnected by CNTs is proposed as an electrode material for SCs.