Adsorption of oxalic acid on rutile surfaces

Denys Biriukov, Milan Predota, Ondrej Kroutil, Moira Ridley, Michael Machesky

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

Abstract

Interactions between mols. and solid metal-​oxide surfaces play crucial role in many scientific applications. Rutile surfaces are known for their photocatalytic applications, whereas oxalic acid is used in cleaning and dishwashing products, paints and coatings, and also is a surface active agent. The adsorption of oxalate on rutile was evaluated using macroscropic pH titrns., performed from 10 to 150°C in NaCl media. Oxalate increases the magnitude of proton charge curves; moreover, oxalate adsorption is enhanced at elevated temp. At all temps., adsorption of oxalate commences at pH above the pHznpc value. All exptl. results were rationalized using a CD-​MUSIC model combination. From the mol. point of view, oxalic acid (COOH)​2 and its deprotonated forms, i.e. hydrogenoxalate (bioxalate) HOOCCOO-​ and oxalate (COO-​)​2 ions represent the only mols. with a direct bond between two carboxylic carbons. We have optimized the classical mol. dynamics parameters of these mols. to match our AIMD data. Applying the scaled charges and modified vdW parameters according to the Electronic continuum correction (ECC) was found to significantly improve model performance. Our models of nonhydroxylated and hydroxylated (110) rutile surfaces were extended to a charge d. +0.2 C​/m2+, allowing us to study oxalate adsorption between pH values 2 and 12. The mol. level description of the surface interactions is provided by mol. dynamics simulations yielding adsorbed amts., binding patterns and the influence of pH. Advanced sampling techniques, namely potential of mean force detn. and metadynamics, were applied. Inner-​sphere vs. outer-​sphere binding motifs will be discussed and compared with information inferred from published ATR-​FTIR spectra.
Original languageEnglish (US)
StatePublished - 2018

Keywords

  • ISWS

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Adsorption of oxalic acid on rutile surfaces'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this