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Gold nanoparticles synthesized via honey-mediated chemical reduction have desirable features that make them ideal candidates for nanoparticle-assisted photothermal therapy (N-PTT). However, their photothermal properties have not been previously explored. In this study, after synthesis and characterization (structural and optical) of the HM-AuNPs, we investigated their photothermal conversion efficiency (η) and absorption cross section (σ a b s ) in aqueous solution, cytotoxic effects in in vitro MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cell culture, and temperature profiles in agarose gel under 810 nm NIR irradiation. The results showed that ≈ 15 nm and primarily spherical HM-AuNPs had η values of up to 40% and an average σ a b s of 2.15 ± 0.08 × 10 − 18 m 2. Furthermore, cell viability was reduced to about 52% and the temperature profile in agarose gel had the typical radially increasing topology. Collectively, the findings show that HM-AuNPs can be used in N-PTT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital advancements have reshaped the sales channels for industrial products like chemical fertilizers, allowing for the elimination of certain intermediaries. Utilizing survey data from 1374 rice‐growing smallholder farmers across counties in central China, this study explored the impact of disintermediation in chemical fertilizer sales channels on application rates among smallholder farmers. Benchmark regression analyses indicated that channel disintermediation significantly decreased chemical fertilizer application across various scenarios. Additionally, the alignment of contractual factors and technical services between chemical suppliers and farmers, facilitated by disintermediation, reduced chemical fertilizer application. Heterogeneity analysis revealed that the reduction in chemical fertilizer application due to channel disintermediation was more pronounced among farmers with higher digital literacy or lower production capacity. These findings highlighted the importance of encouraging chemical suppliers with direct‐to‐consumer channels to enhance their technical services and increase supervision over the quality of their products and services, thereby building trust among farmers and facilitating their adaptation to changes in the sales channel structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical looping reforming of CH 4 coupled with CO 2 reduction stands out as a promising method for the syngas production. In this process, it is significant to design the oxygen carrier with high reactivity and stability. In this work, a highly efficient oxygen carrier is obtained by physically mixing Metal-modified ZSM-5 with LaFe 0.85 Ni 0.15 O 3 (LFN). The physical and chemical properties of the oxygen carriers are characterized by XRD, Raman, XPS, BET, TEM, NH 3 -TPD, CO 2 -TPD and CH 4 -TPD techniques. It is noted that mesoporous structures are formed over the Ni modified ZSM-5, due to that part of Ni elements replace Al in the silicaluminate framework. The structure change of the ZSM-5 promotes the gas adsorption capacity. CH 4 and CO 2 cannot be adsorbed on the surface of ZSM-5, while Ni-modified ZSM-5 enhances the adsorption capacity for CO 2 to a large degree. Moreover, Ni species are acted as active sites to facilitate the activation of CH 4 and CO 2 during the redox process. The aggregation-redispersion of Ni particles during the reduction-oxidation process inhibits the deactivation of Ni particles, which improves the stability of the oxygen carrier. Among all the obtained samples, LFN/10 wt% Ni-ZSM-5 exhibits the highest yields of syngas (8.38 mmol g−1) and CO (2.42 mmol g−1). [Display omitted] • Modifying ZSM-5 with Ni changed the pore structures and acid sites. • Ni-modified ZSM-5 promoted the adsorption capacity towards CO 2. • The activation of CH 4 and CO 2 could be improved over Ni-modified ZSM-5. • Ni particles maintained active by aggregation-redispersion under redox atmospheres. • LFN/10 wt% Ni-ZSM-5 exhibited high stability either in the activity or structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were synthesized using the arc discharge method, and gold (Au) , and Au@MWCNT nanoparticles (NPs) were obtained via a rapid and cost-effective chemical reduction method. The performance of these catalysts in ethylene glycol (EG) fuel cells was investigated. According to the Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) results, the Au particle size was determined to be 3.89 nm, and the MWCNT diameter was found to be 8.21 nm. For EG oxidation, current densities of 33.28 mA/cm2 for Au NPs and 171.28 mA/cm2 for Au@MWCNT NPs were obtained. This result demonstrates that the MWCNT support increased the electrocatalytic activity by a factor of 5.14. Long-term stability tests showed that the MWCNT support exhibited more stable and consistent characteristics and improved CO tolerance. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) testing revealed that the MWCNT-supported structure significantly enhanced charge transfer. These findings contribute significantly to the literature by demonstrating the potential for cost-effective production of carbon supported Au NPs, and their application in fuel cells. • MWCNT production using arc-discharge method. • Preparation of Au and Au@MWCNT catalysts and their use in ethylene glycol oxidation studies. • Au@MWCNT exhibits superior electrocatalytic activity towards ethylene glycol oxidation. • Synthesis of more stable catalyst for ethylene glycol oxidation. • Anode catalyst showing high potential for fuel cell applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary The reaction between tripodal trisamidophosphine ligand H3PN3Ar and V(Mes)3(THF) (Mes = mesityl) yields the vanadium(III) complex (PN3Ar)V (1) with an open site in the axial position, which could coordinate with THF, pyridine, and NH3 to form the corresponding adducts (2—4). The vanadium(III) center is redox‐active, as demonstrated by cyclic voltammetry methods and chemical oxidation or reduction. Notably, a novel dinitrogen divanadium complex with a bridging N2 ligand, {K(THF)}2{[PN3Ar]V}2(μ‐N2) (6), was synthesized via treatment of 1 with 1 equivalent of potassium naphthalenide in THF under a N2 atmosphere. The electronic structures and binding properties of 6 are evaluated and discussed based on its DFT calculations. Additionally, these vanadium complexes (1, 5, 6) can serve as catalysts for the conversion of N2 into N(SiMe3)3 in the presence of reductants and Me3SiCl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a straightforward yet impactful method to enhance optical fibre sensor signals by integrating silver nanostars (AgNS) with graphene oxide (GO-AgNS) as a sensing material. AgNS were synthesized successfully via a one-step chemical reduction method using hydroxylamine as a reducing agent. The concentration of hydroxylamine was varied (7.2, 3.6, 1.8, and 0.9) x 10-4 %v/v to optimize AgNS formation, with the longest spike of the nanostar observed at lower hydroxylamine concentrations, as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). UV-visible measurements revealed the highest peak absorption for AgNS synthesized using 0.9 x 10-4 %v/v hydroxylamine, 0.05 M sodium hydroxide, 0.8 mM silver nitrate, and 0.045 M sodium citrate, with an average length of 352.62 ± 59.72 nm measured from TEM images. GO was synthesized via a modified Hummer's method and mixed with AgNS at varying ratios (1:5, 1:10, 1:15, and 1:20) to form GO-AgNS coatings for the fibre optic probe. The GO-AgNS coating at a ratio of 1:5 exhibited the highest light absorption intensity, enhancing optical signal by 218% compared to GO-coated and 174% compared to AgNS-coated fibre optic sensors. These findings demonstrate that embedding AgNS onto the GO matrix structure as a sensing material significantly improves sensor performance, suggesting promising applications for super-sensitive, costeffective, and rapid detection in fibre optic-based sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document is the contents list for the journal "Chemical Communications" published on September 14, 2024. It includes highlights, feature articles, and communications on various topics in chemistry. Some of the topics covered include transition metal complexes, electrochemical biosensors, and photochemical catalysis. The journal is published by The Royal Society of Chemistry, a leading chemistry community. [Extracted from the article]

Chemical reduction of a vertically expanded pentacene, TIPS-peri-pentacenopentacene (TIPS-PPP), with sodium metal in THF readily afforded a doubly-reduced product isolated as [{Na+(THF)3}2(TIPS-PPP2−)]. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed the formation of a π-complex of TIPS-PPP2− with two {Na+(THF)3} moieties. The sodium ion is coordinated to three C-atoms at the most negatively charged edge sites and at the lateral ethynyl group. The delocalisation of the charge on the ethynyl function is accompanied by its notable elongation (Δ = 0.015 Å) coupled with the contraction of the adjacent single C–C bond (Δ = 0.033 Å). Bond length analysis supported by Harmonic Aromaticity Oscillator Model (HOMA) shows that the dianion can be written with four aromatic sextets in agreement with the Clar representation. Although TIPS-PPP2− has 36 π-electrons (4n), it does not show a global magnetic paratropic response. The rings with the most negative charge density have a very low paratropic response, while the other rings have a low diatropic response. Overall, the dianion is a non-aromatic molecule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrocatalysts, which are important in increasing the efficiency of fuel cells, still have disadvantages such as low stability and high cost. To overcome these disadvantages, research on the synthesis of low-cost nanoparticle (NP) catalysts has been carried out. In this study, a new approach to develop a low-cost, high electrocatalytic activity and more stable catalyst was realized. In this context; kaolin ((Al 2 O 3 (SiO 2) 2 (H 2 O) 2)) and zinc oxide (ZnO) supported palladium-copper (PdCl 2 –CuCl 2) nanostructures were synthesized by chemical reduction technique. The particle sizes of the synthesized PdCu@kaolin and PdCu@ZnO NPs were found to be 12.02 nm and 23.02 nm, respectively, according to the Debye Scherrer formula. The PdCu@kaolin and PdCu@ZnO NPs obtained within the scope of the study were also used in the anodic oxidation of methanol (CH₃OH), a one-carbon organic compound. According to the results obtained, the current density for methanol oxidation peaks of PdCu@kaolin and PdCu@ZnO NPs were found to be 27.77 mA cm−2 and 41.52 mA cm−2, respectively. It was observed that the ZnO-supported nanoparticles provided 1.49 times higher electrocatalytic activity compared to the other one. The 500-cycle results showed that the ZnO-supported catalyst exhibited a continuously increasing current density. The tests also proved that the catalysts are diffusion-controlled systems and have high stability. Within the scope of the study, ZnO and Kaolin support not only decreased the cost of the catalyst but also significantly affected the electrocatalytic activity, offering better results than the commercial Pd/C catalyst. Cost-effective ceramic structures such as kaolin and ZnO were crucial to show high stability and electroactive behavior close to the literature. The current study has performed an important contribution to the literature on the use of ceramic materials in electrochemistry. • Synthesis of PdCu@kaolin and PdCu@ZnO NPs by chemical reduction. • High electrocatalytic activity of PdCu@kaolin and PdCu@ZnO NPs against methanol oxidation. • Cost-effective and highly stable catalysts. • Efficient anode catalysts for methanol fuel cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal halide perovskites with suitable energy band structures and excellent visible-light responses have emerged as promising photocatalysts for CO2 reduction to valuable chemicals and fuels. However, the efficiency of CO2 photocatalytic reduction often suffers from inefficient separation and sluggish transfer. Herein, a step-scheme (S-scheme) CsPbBr3/BiOBr photocatalyst with oxygen vacancies possessing intimate interfacial contact was fabricated by anchoring CsPbBr3 QDs on BiOBr-Ov nanosheets using a mild anti-precipitation method. The results showed that CsPbBr3/BiOBr-Ov-2 with an internal electric field (IEF) heterojunction exhibited a boosted evolution rate of 27.4 μmol g−1 h−1 (CO: 23.8 μmol g−1 h−1 and CH4: 3.6 μmol g−1 h−1) with an electron consumption rate (Relectron) of 76.4 μmol g−1 h−1, which was 5.9 and 3.2 times that of single CsPbBr3 and BiOBr-Ov, respectively. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that BiOBr with oxygen vacancies can effectively enhance the adsorption and activation of CO2 molecules. More importantly, in situ infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) spectra show the transformation process of the surface species, while the femtosecond transient absorption spectrum (fs-TA) reveals the charge transfer kinetics of the CsPbBr3/BiOBr-Ov. Overall, this work provides some guidance for the rational design of S-scheme heterojunctions and vacancy-engineered photocatalysts, which are expected to have potential applications in the fields of photocatalysis and solar energy conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work reports a practical approach for C−O and C−C bond formation reactions catalysed by Pd nanoparticles supported on Luffa sponge (PdNPs@LS).PdNPs@LS were prepared via a green route in‐situ by using ethanol as solvent, and lignin content present in the luffa sponge could work as an effective reducing reagent to reduce Pd(II) to Pd(0) without any harsh chemical used for reduction. The bio‐based support used i. e. Luffa sponge extracted from the waste feedstock of Luffa guard in a simple filtration method is a cheap, biodegradable, abundant and renewable source with netting‐like three‐dimensional porous structure. Without significant loss of its activity the PdNPs@LS could be easily recovered and recycled for at least three times. The catalyst is characterized by FT‐IR, TGA, SEM‐EDX, TEM, and XPS analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this research was to assess the efficiency of the liquid digestate treatment conducted with algal, environmental isolates illuminated entirely with sunlight. The photobioreactor was exposed to natural conditions and evaluated based on the reduction of chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrogen compounds, and soluble phosphates. Microalgal and bacterial communities growing during the treatment process were studied. A high removal rate of soluble COD (= 91%) and nutrients (= 86%) was achieved. The average concentrations of nitrogen, phosphates, and COD in the reactor effluent were 95 mgN/L, 49 mg/L, and 735 mg O2/L, respectively. The overall algae-bacteria biomass productivity of 22 mg/L/d, calculated on the total suspended solids (TSS) basis, was recorded. The microbial analysis revealed the dominance of Tetradesmus obliquus followed by Microglena sp. in the first 14 weeks of the experiment. At the end of the experimental run, Chlorella sorokiniana cells appeared as a result of illumination intensity changes. The dominating bacteria belonged to Firmicutes (26.31%), Patescibacteria (17.38%), and Actinobacteriota (14.86%) and could have been responsible for the transformation of nitrogen and oxidation of organic contaminants. The research demonstrated that natural sunlight can successfully be used for efficient liquid digestate treatment with the algae-bacterial community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A one‐pot, ecologically friendly method for the preparation of Fe/Ni, Fe/Co and Co/Ni bimetallic magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) was reported, using glycerol as both a solvent and reducing agent. Six different bimetallic MNPs by varying the proportions of transition metals, namely, Fe, Co and Ni were synthesized by the chemical reduction method. The catalytic efficiency of the synthesized nanoparticles (NPs) was explored for the reduction of 4‐nitrophenol, and the reaction rate for different catalysts was systematically analysed. Especially, glycerol‐Fe/Co (1:3) bimetallic nanoparticles as a magnetically recoverable catalyst had higher catalytic activity than the other bimetallic nanoparticles for the reduction of 4‐nitrophenol to 4‐aminophenol in the presence of sodium borohydride. The reduction process was monitored by UV–visible spectroscopy, and the reaction was complete within 8 min. The kinetic study shows 99% conversion of 4‐nitrophenol to 4‐aminophenol, and the rate constant is 0.593 min−1. Furthermore, the glycerol‐Fe/Co (1:3) MNPs were retrieved from the reaction mixture and subsequently utilized in five consecutive cycles, demonstrating both the reusability and durability of the NPs as a catalyst. This research was remarkable for its fast reaction kinetics, simplified one‐pot conversion of 4‐nitrophenol to 4‐aminophenol without the need for mechanical or magnetic stirring and in‐depth study of six bimetallic MNPs' catalytic properties in nitro reduction. These findings explored the potential benefits of bimetallic magnetic NPs for the synthesis of 4‐aminophenol products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromite ore processing residue (COPR), which is created during the chromite preparation process of chromite compounds, is considered hazardous waste because it contains chromium trivalent and chromium hexavalent. Recently, the harmless disposal of COPR has received a lot of research interest. COPR is a type of resource attributable to its abundant content of chromium, iron, aluminum, etc. This article starts from the main sources, properties, and pollution characteristics of COPR. It summarizes the methods and approaches used by scholars in recent years to handle COPR: chemical reduction, dry detoxification, pyrolysis, mineralization, solidification/stabilization, biotechnology, electrochemical methods, and resource utilization, achieving harmless treatment of COPR. Among them, research on resource utilization stands out, not only improving resource utilization efficiency but also reducing environmental pollution. This provides new ideas and directions for our future treatment of COPR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Cs 3 Bi 2 Br 9 @Nb 2 O 5 S-scheme photocatalyst is constructed by embedding Cs 3 Bi 2 Br 9 perovskite quantum dots into mesoporous Nb 2 O 5. Profiting from the boosted charge separation, as well as the enhanced CO 2 adsorption contributed by mesoporous Nb 2 O 5 , the Cs 3 Bi 2 Br 9 @Nb 2 O 5 nanocomposite exhibits excellent CO 2 photoreduction performance. [Display omitted] Solar-energy-powered CO 2 reduction into valuable chemical fuels represents a highly promising strategy to address the currently energy and environmental issues. Owing to the nontoxicity and robust reduction capability, lead-free Cs 3 Bi 2 Br 9 perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) are regarded as an attractive material for CO 2 photoreduction. Nevertheless, the potential of their applications in this field has been restricted by the severe charge recombination, resulting in unsatisfactory photocatalytic performance. Herein, a step-scheme-based Cs 3 Bi 2 Br 9 @Nb 2 O 5 (CBB@Nb 2 O 5) nanocomposite was fabricated by embedding the CBB PQDs into mesoporous Nb 2 O 5. Experimental studies, along with theoretical calculations, revealed that the charge migration route in the CBB@Nb 2 O 5 nanocomposite conformed to the step-scheme (S-scheme) mode, enabling effective charge separation and strong redox ability preservation. Profiting from the promoted charge separation, as well as the improved CO 2 adsorption contributed by mesoporous Nb 2 O 5 , the CBB@Nb 2 O 5 nanocomposite unveiled superior CO 2 photoreduction performance, with CO evolution rate reaching 143.63 μmol g−1h−1. The present study provides a potential strategy to manufacture highly-efficient perovskite-based photocatalysts for achieving carbon neutrality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The as-prepared and thermally treated Ni–P and Ni–Fe–P alloy powders obtained by chemical reduction were studied regarding the microstructure, as an important factor affecting the functional properties of the materials. Also, the influence of the microstructure and thermally induced transformations of the studied materials on the corrosion behavior in neutral, alkaline, and acidic media is presented. For a detailed study of the mentioned phenomena, different structural and electrochemical techniques were used, including XRD, TEM, DTA, potentiodynamic, and EIS measurements. The composition and microstructure of the studied alloy powders were shown to be dependent on the reactant ratio and thermal history of the material. Small amounts of crystalline phases present in the as-prepared powders, as well as crystalline phases formed during crystallization, included some or all of the following phases: Ni, Ni3P, and Ni12P5. It was shown that the addition of small amount of Fe into the Ni–P powder alloy considerably affects the microstructure and thermal stability of the material, having beneficial effect on the formation of protective oxide layers and thus on the corrosion resistance in chloride environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the electrocatalytic transformation of carbon dioxide (CO2) to multi-carbon (C2þ) products is of great importance. Here we developed a nitrogen-doped Cu catalyst, by which the maximum C2þ Faradaic efficiency can reach 72.7% in flow-cell system, with the partial current density reaching 0.62 A cm-2. The in situ Raman spectra demonstrate that the *CO adsorption can be strengthened on such a N-doped Cu catalyst, thus promoting the *CO utilization in the subsequent C--C coupling step. Simultaneously, the water activation can be well enhanced by N doping on Cu catalyst. Owing to the synergistic effects, the selectivity and activity for C2þ products over the N-deoped Cu catalyst are much improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the impact of internet usage on farmer's adoption behavior of fertilizer reduction and efficiency enhancement technologies in China. Based on 1,295 questionnaires in Henan Province, this study constructs a counterfactual analysis framework and used endogenous switching probit model to analyze the effects and pathways of internet usage on farmer's adoption behavior of chemical fertilizer reduction and efficiency enhancement technologies. The results indicate that. (1) The proportion of farmers adopting chemical fertilizer reduction and efficiency enhancement technologies is 60.15%, while the proportion of farmers not adopting these technologies is 39.85%. (2) Internet usage directly influences farmers' adoption of fertilizer reduction and efficiency enhancement technologies. According to counterfactual assumption analysis, if farmers who currently use the Internet were to stop using it, the probability of them adopting these technologies would decrease by 28.09%. Conversely, for farmers who do not currently use the Internet, if they were to start using it, the probability of them adopting fertilizer reduction and efficiency enhancement technologies would increase by 40.67%. (3) Internet usage indirectly influences farmers' adoption behavior through mediating pathways of expected benefits and risk perception. In addition, social networks negatively moderate the impact of internet usage on farmers' behavior of chemical fertilizer reduction and efficiency enhancement technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we report an experimental protocol based on gold nanoparticles (GNPs) for the selective and efficient chromogenic detection and determination of glutathione in two pharmaceutical samples, viz. Maxiliv and Glutaderm, in real time. The glucosamine hydrochloride driven hydrothermal (40 °C) wet chemical reduction of gold(III) chloride trihydrate resulted in gold sol with a ruby red color exhibiting a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) at 521 nm. The most frequent average size of these GNPs was found to be 23 nm and their concentration was evaluated to be 8.4 nM. The zeta potential measurements and interaction of these GNPs against NaCl of varying molarities indicated their long-term stability. According to SEM analysis, these GNPs exhibited a nanowire morphology and produced a categorical color change from ruby red to blue selectively with GSH in the presence of a wide range of similar analytes in real time. UV-vis, FT-IR, XPS, SEM, TEM, AFM, EDAX, DLS, zeta potential, and other techniques were used to characterize the as-synthesized GNPs and to study their interaction with glutathione. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrocatalytic carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction to valuable chemical compounds is a sustainable technology with enormous potential to facilitate carbon neutrality by transforming intermittent energy sources into stable fuels. Among various electrocatalysts, metal--organic frameworks (MOFs) have garnered increasing attention for the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) owing to their structural diversity, large surface area, high porosity and tunable chemical properties. Ligands play a vital role in MOFs, which can regulate the electronic structure and chemical environment of metal centers of MOFs, thereby influencing the activity and selectivity of products. This feature article discusses the strategies for the rational design of ligands and their impact on the CO2RR performance of MOFs to establish a structure--performance relationship. Finally, critical challenges and potential opportunities for MOFs with different ligand types in the CO2RR are mentioned with the aim to inspire the targeted design of advanced MOF catalysts in the future to achieve efficient electrocatalytic CO2 conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new series of [CoIII–CF3]n+ complexes supported by a bidentate redox-active ligand is presented. The cationic [Co–CF3]+ complex was first obtained by reacting [CpCo(tBuUreaopda)] (Cp = cyclopentadienyl, opda = o-phenylenediamide) with an electrophilic trifluoromethyl source, for which the redox-active phenylenediamide ligand serves as a 2e− reservoir to generate [CpCp(tBuUreabqdi)(CF3)]+ (bqdi = benzoquinonediimine). Electrochemical studies of [Co–CF3]+ revealed two reversible 1e− reductions. Chemical reduction with 1 or 2 equiv. reducing agent enabled isolation of the neutral and anionic complexes, respectively, where the [CoIII–CF3] bond remains intact in all three oxidation states (n = +1, 0, −1). Structural analysis shows systematic changes to the redox-active ligand backbone upon reduction, consistent with sequential ligand-centered electron transfer in the series [bqdi]0 to [s-bqdi]˙− to [opda]2−. In contrast, the reaction of [CpCo(tBuUreaopda)] with alkyl triflates resulted in ligand-centered alkylation at the ureayl groups instead of the targeted Co–alkyl bond formation, suggesting less favorable bond formation at cobalt and greater nucleophilic accessibility of the ligand compared to the metal center. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work deals with developing a method for revalorizing steel residues to create sunlight-active photocatalysts based on iron oxides. Commercial-grade steel leftovers are oxidized under different combinations of pH and temperature (50–90 °C and 3 ≥ pH ≤ 5) in a low energy-intensive setup. The material with the highest production efficiency (yield > 12%) and magnetic susceptibility (χm = 387 × 10−6 m3/kg) was further explored and modified by diffusion of M2+ (Zn and Co) ions within the structure of the oxide using a hydrothermal method to create ZnFe2O4, CoFe2O4 and combined Co–Zn ferrite. (Co–Zn)Fe2O4 displayed a bandgap of 2.02 eV and can be activated under sunlight irradiation. Electron microscopy studies show that (Co–Zn)Fe2O4 consists of particles with diameters between 400 and 700 nm, homogeneous size, even distribution, and good dispersibility. Application of the developed materials in the sunlight catalysis of black liquors from cellulose extraction resulted in a reduction of the Chemical Oxygen Demand (− 15% on average) and an enhancement in biodegradability (> 0.57 BOD/COD) after 180 min of reaction. Since the presented process employs direct solar light, it opens the possibility to large-scale water treatment and chemical upgrading applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mosquito-borne diseases, such as malaria, dengue, Zika and chikungunya, pose significant public health threats in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. To mitigate the impact of these diseases on human health, effective vector surveillance and control strategies are necessary. Traditional vector control methods, which rely on chemical agents such as insecticides and larvicides, face challenges such as resistance and environmental concerns. Consequently, there has been a push to explore novel surveillance and control tools. Mass trapping interventions have emerged as a promising and environmentally friendly approach to reducing the burden of mosquito-borne diseases. This study assessed mass-trapping interventions using autocidal gravid ovitraps (AGOs) on Aedes aegypti populations in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Methods: Four neighborhoods were selected to evaluate the effects of three treatments: AGO mass-trapping, integrated vector control (IVC), which included source reduction and the application of chemical larvicide and adulticide, and AGO + IVC on Ae. aegypti populations. A control area with no interventions was also included. The effectiveness of the interventions was evaluated by comparing Ae. aegypti abundance between the pre-treatment period (9 weeks) and the post-treatment period (11 weeks) for each treatment. Results: Only treatment using AGO mass trapping with an 84% coverage significantly reduced Ae. aegypti female populations by 47%, from 3.75 ± 0.32 to 1.96 ± 0.15 females/trap/week. As expected, the abundance of Ae. aegypti in the control area did not differ from the pre- and post-treatment period (range of 4.97 ± 0.59 to 5.78 ± 0.53); Ae. aegypti abundance in the IVC treatment was 3.47 ± 0.30 before and 4.13 ± 0.35 after, which was not significantly different. However, Ae. aegypti abundance in the AGO + IVC treatment increased from 1.43 ± 0.21 before to 2.11 ± 0.20 after interventions; this increase may be explained in part by the low AGO (56%) coverage. Conclusions: This is the first report to our knowledge on the effectiveness of mass-trapping interventions with AGOs in Mexico, establishing AGOs as a potential tool for controlling Ae. aegypti in Northeastern Mexico when deployed with sufficient coverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The processes of hemp bast fiber retting, forming, and drying offer the opportunity for value-added products such as natural fiber-reinforced composites. A new process for the retting of raw bast fibers through enzyme-triggered self-cultured bacterial retting was developed in the lab-scale setup. This study focused on comparing the energy consumption and environmental impacts of this bacterial retting process with the thermochemical retting process currently widely used to obtain lignocellulosic fibers for composites. The gate-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) models of the two retting processes were constructed to run a comparison analysis using the TRACI (the tool for the reduction and assessment of chemical and other environmental impacts) method for environmental impacts and the cumulative energy demand (CED) method for energy consumptions. This work has demonstrated the advantages of the bacterial retting method from an environmental standpoint. The result of our research shows about a 24% gate-to-gate reduction in CED for bacterial retting and 20–25% lower environmental impacts relating to global warming, smog formation, acidification, carcinogenics, non-carcinogenics, respiratory effects, ecotoxicity, and fossil fuel depletion when compared to that of thermochemical retting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the synthesis, followed by a detailed evaluation of the structural, optical, and electrical properties of the N‐ZnO/N‐rGO nanocomposite prepared using a one‐step low‐temperature hydrothermal process, is reported. By employing N, N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) as the reducing agent and urea as the nitrogen precursor, simultaneous reduction and nitrogen doping are achieved in the nanocomposite. X‐ray diffraction (XRD), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman measurements are used for the structural evaluation. The formation of composites is verified using the ZnC/ZnOC bonds in the XPS. The nitrogen doping in the nanocomposites varies from 0.8% to 1.8%. The major nitrogen moieties observed here include pyrrolic N, pyridinic N, and graphitic N. The electrical response is measured using current–voltage characteristics, and enhanced conductivity was observed in the sample with the highest percentage of pyrrolic N. This is attributed to the superior electron transport mechanism of pyrrolic N in the graphene structure. The current response is found to increase from 2 to 10 μA from ZnO/rGO to N‐ZnO/N‐rGO nanocomposite. The integration of N‐rGO support with extensively doped pyrrolic end groups for the N‐ZnO nanoparticles has been found to improve the conduction mechanism and is hence promising for many applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among hydrogen production methods, water electrolysis stands out, but its efficiency is hampered by the substantial energy barrier of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). To address this, incorporating electron‐deficient boron (B) into Co–Fe hydroxide (CoFeOxHy) promotes higher oxidation states of involved metals, greatly enhancing OER activity and charge transfer capabilities. Herein, the synthesis of a range of amorphous CoFeB nanoparticles with varying Fe to (Co+Fe) atomic ratios achieved through a simple chemical reduction method using CoFe‐Prussian blue analogs as precursors and employing Mössbauer spectroscopy to observe structural characteristics before and after transformation is reported. Among these nanoparticles, the CoFe0.25B variant, exhibiting favorable electrochemical properties, is chosen and subsequently subjected to hydrolysis to yield CoFe0.25BOH nanoparticles, serving as an active catalyst for OER. At a current density of 10 mA cm−2, the overpotentials for CoFe0.25OxHy and CoFe0.25BOH are 362 and 310 mV, respectively, with Tafel slopes decreasing from 393 to 93 mV dec−1. Furthermore, the i–t test reveals no significant loss of electrochemical performance within 24 h, substantiating the efficacy of enhancing the electrocatalytic performance of CoFeOxHy through the introduction of electron‐deficient elements. This research offers novel insights into the development of efficient and stable water electrolysis catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, Sr-doped hydroxyapatite, HAp and NiO nanoparticles were used to produce a novel nanocomposite, Sr-doped HAp/NiO. Various analytical and instrumentation techniques such as FTIR, PXRD, UV-DRS, SEM, TEM, and XPS were used to characterize the as synthesized composite material. The nanocomposite acts as an efficient photocatalyst and is able to degrade Congo red (CR) dye up to 95.6% within 40 min under solar light irradiation without any kind of external additive. The HR LC–MS spectrum was recorded to determine the degradation products of the chosen organic dye. Furthermore, the as prepared nanocatalyst also effectively reduced 98.7% of carcinogenic Cr(VI) to Cr(III) within just 10 min. In order to propose the photocatalytic mechanism and to detect the active radicals present, a radical trapping experiment was conducted. As an appealing photocatalyst for wastewater treatment and reduction of toxic chemicals, the research concluded with a methodical and cost-effective process for producing the Sr-doped HAp/NiO nanocomposite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphaphenalenes, extended π conjugates with the incorporation of phosphorus, are attractive avenues towards molecular materials for the applications in organic electronics, but their electron accepting ability have not been investigated. Herein we present systematic studies on the reductive behavior of a representative phosphaphenalene and its oxide by chemical and electrochemical methods. The chemical reduction of the phosphaphenalene by alkali metals reveals the facile P−C bond cleavage to form phosphaphenalenide anion, which functions as a transfer block for structure modification on the phosphorus atom. In contrast, the pentavalent P‐oxide reacts with one or two equivalents of elemental sodium to form stable radical anion and dianion salts, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu2O has been successfully synthesized in different morphologies/sizes (nanoparticles and octahedrons) via a low-temperature chemical reduction method. Trapping metal ions in an ice cube and letting them slowly melt in a reducing agent solution is the simplest way to control the nanostructure. Enhancement of charge transfer and transportation of ions by Cu2O nanoparticles was shown by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements. In addition, nanoparticles exhibited higher current densities, the lowest onset potential, and the Tafel slope than others. The Cu2O electrocatalyst (nanoparticles) demonstrated the Faraday efficiencies (FEs) of CO, CH4, and C2H6 up to 11.90, 76.61, and 1.87%, respectively, at −0.30 V versus reference hydrogen electrode, which was relatively higher FEs than other morphologies/sizes. It is mainly attributed to nano-sized, more active sites and oxygen vacancy. In addition, it demonstrated stability over 11 h without any decay of current density. The mechanism related to morphology tuning and electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction was explained. This work provides a possible way to fabricate the different morphologies/sizes of Cu2O at low-temperature chemical reduction methods for obtaining the CO, CH4, and C2H6 products from CO2 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon materials are of great significance in state‐of‐the‐art electrochemical CO2 reduction (ECR) as key components such as electrocatalysts, gas diffusion electrodes, and current collectors. Notably, dimensionalities of carbons and related manipulations play vital roles in boosting ECR performance, e.g., mass/charge transfer dynamics, exposure of active sites, reaction space, product's Faradaic efficiency/selectivity, and durability. Here, recent endeavors in dimensionality engineering toward advanced carbon‐based materials for ECR is first summarized, including pure carbons (e.g., carbon nanotube and graphene) and carbon composites, and highlight the dimensionality‐dependent properties toward ECR performance. Various engineering strategies referring to dimensionality modulation and integration have been summarized, e.g., top‐down, bottom‐up, and soft chemical approaches. Design principles of dimensionality‐varied carbons are elaborated, the impacts of dimensionalities of carbons and related surface chemistry (e.g., functional group, wettability, and electronic structure) on ECR kinetics and product‐targeted mechanisms are also scrutinized. Some insights into how the dimensionality manipulation of carbons elevates performance of carbon‐based materials in mass/charge transfer acceleration, ECR kinetics, and product selectivity are provided. At last, a perspective for challenges and future development of dimensionality‐varied carbon materials is discussed. This review aims at providing guidance for customizable construction of carbon materials with dimensionality dependence toward green and energy‐saving electrosynthesis systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing effective transition metal catalysts that can replace precious metal-based catalysts for hydrogen generation from the hydrolysis of chemical hydride has attracted extensive interest. This study focuses on synthesizing cobalt phospho-boride (CoPB) within a metal-organic framework (MOF) framework using hydrothermal and chemical reduction methodologies. Incorporating boron and phosphorous into Co-MOF enhances the hydrogen generation rate, reaching 1.8 L/min/g and 3.6 L/min/g for CoB-MOF and CoPB-MOF, respectively, during NaBH 4 hydrolysis. Along with the nanostructured morphology of MOF, the electron modulation around Co-sites due to the presence of P and B creates a synergic effect to produce this high H 2 generation rate and very low activation energy of 20.7 kJ/mol. The kinetic studies on NaBH 4 hydrolysis reaction revealed zero-order kinetics with respect to NaBH 4 concentration for CoPB-MOF, where porous morphology renders facile movement of BH 4 − ions to the active sites. The heat treatment at 773 K in the N 2 atmosphere did not show any significant fall in the activity of CoPB-MOF, thus showcasing its robust nature. Moreover, the present catalyst also displayed recycling behavior with no signs of deactivation. [Display omitted] • Co–B and CoPB MOFs were synthesized by the hydrothermal method. • The MOFs were used as catalysts for the Hydrolysis of NaBH 4 for Hydrogen production. • CoPB MOF exhibited an enhanced H 2 generation rate with low activation energy. • The enhanced activity is attributed to the morphology and the incorporation of boron and phosphor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this work is to fabricate the advanced organic antibacterial coating containing the strong photocatalytic nanomaterials. For this purpose, firstly the TiO2–Ag hybrid nanoparticles are synthesized by chemical reduction method. Then, the antibacterial coating based on acrylic polyol, polyisocyanate, and these TiO2–Ag hybrid nanoparticles has been prepared. Mechanical properties show that the optimal content of TiO2–Ag hybrid nanoparticles in the coating matrix is 2 wt%, with its abrasion resistance of 166.2 L/mil; impact strength of 195 kg cm; adhesion of size #1 and relative hardness of 0.78. In addition, FE-SEM analysis shows that the nanocomposite coating has a tight structure with homogeneous dispersion of TiO2–Ag nanoparticles in the polymer matrix. The paint film has good antibacterial activity and has great application prospects. Data from the antibacterial test indicates that in the presence of an acrylic polyurethane coating containing 2 wt% TiO2–Ag, the number of viable Escherichia coli decreased from 3.4 × 105 CFU/ml to 1.5 × 102 CFU/ml after 24 h of culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical reduction within a family of organic selenocyanates, as masked selenols, using reducing agents, such as Rongalite, sodium dithionite, and sodium thiosulfate is investigated. Using Rongalite, the corresponding diselenides were obtained quantitatively and selectively in very good to excellent yields (51–100 %) starting from alkyl, aryl, and benzyl selenocyanates. The scope of the reaction is unaffected by the electronic nature of the substituents. Furthermore, the reducing agent, Rongalite, is compatible with hydrolysable and reducing‐sensitive functional groups. Additionally, a simple methodology employing the in‐situ generated benzyl selenolate anion (PhCH2Se−) to promote aliphatic nucleophilic substitution, epoxide ring opening, and Michael addition reactions has been developed; thus, extending the structural diversity of the synthesized selenium derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen production by direct seawater electrolysis is an alternative technology to conventional freshwater electrolysis, mainly owing to the vast abundance of seawater reserves on earth. However, the lack of robust, active, and selective electrocatalysts that can withstand the harsh and corrosive saline conditions of seawater greatly hinders its industrial viability. Herein, a series of amorphous transition‐metal phospho‐borides, namely Co‐P‐B, Ni‐P‐B, and Fe‐P‐B are prepared by simple chemical reduction method and screened for overall alkaline seawater electrolysis. Co‐P‐B is found to be the best of the lot, requiring low overpotentials of ≈270 mV for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), ≈410 mV for oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and an overall voltage of 2.50 V to reach a current density of 2 A cm−2 in highly alkaline natural seawater. Furthermore, the optimized electrocatalyst shows formidable stability after 10,000 cycles and 30 h of chronoamperometric measurements in alkaline natural seawater without any chlorine evolution, even at higher current densities. A detailed understanding of not only HER and OER but also chlorine evolution reaction (ClER) on the Co‐P‐B surface is obtained by computational analysis, which also sheds light on the selectivity and stability of the catalyst at high current densities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated if reducing the amount of chemical fertilizer by combining it with organic fertilizer in Hemerocallis citrina Baroni (H. citrina) cultivation could improve plant growth and photosynthetic capacity and, consequently, increase yield and quality. A continuous two-year field experiment was conducted at a research farm in Zhangzhou City, China, during 2021–2022. Six fertilization levels with two locally grown H. citrina cultivars, "Taidong 6" and "Shibage", were tested. The results showed that 100% of the recommended dose of chemical fertilizer (RDF) with bio-organic fertilizer yielded superior effects in promoting both vegetative and reproductive growth in comparison to RDF alone. However, reducing the application rate of chemical fertilizers, especially by more than 40%, resulted in a significant decline in certain agronomic traits such as plant width, leaf width, and scape length. Compared to RDF, the use of 100% or 80% RDF in combination with bio-organic fertilizer significantly increased chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, and transpiration rate as well as yield production, while excessive reductions in chemical fertilizer rate produced results that demonstrated an opposite trend. The co-application of chemical and bio-organic fertilizer enhanced the contents of soluble sugar and lowered total acidity, whereas excessive chemical fertilizer reduction decreased vitamin C, total flavonoids, and soluble protein levels. Utilizing radar chart analysis for a comprehensive assessment of yield and quality demonstrates that the application of bio-organic fertilizer with 80% RDF could be a better field fertilization regime for H. citrina cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming but fortunately can be removed via chemical conversion processes that often involve a reduction step. Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma is an effective way to promote chemical reduction processes but requires a catalyst for energetically demanding reactions. In this study, the rapid conversion of CO2 into solid carbon via a DBD plasma is reported using dispersed liquid metal Ga which is first converted into GaOOH particles to ultimately form a GaOOH/C nanocomposite. Raman and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) experiments indicate that amorphous activated carbon is formed after the plasma treatment. Further analysis demonstrates that highly dispersed sub‐nano‐sized carbon particles containing oxygen functional groups are formed uniformly on the GaOOH surface. The CO2 conversion mechanism suggests that plasma electrons activate CO2 molecules, while plasma‐generated oxygen vacancies on the catalyst surface help dissociate CO2 into solid carbon. This work opens a new approach for synthesizing materials comprising of highly dispersed sub‐nano‐sized carbon on a metal oxide support suitable for other applications such as adsorption, heterogenous catalysis, and energy conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) contain some valuable metals. Smelting reduction of spent LIBs produces metallic alloys containing Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Ni. Leaching of the metallic alloys with inorganic acid solutions and subsequent separation of Cu(II), Fe(III) and Mn(II) results in a solution containing Co(II) and Ni(II). In this work, solvent extraction and chemical reduction experiments were performed to recover pure metals from this solution. Cobalt(II) was first separated from Ni(II) by solvent extraction with saponified Cyanex 272. Batch simulation experiments based on the McCabe-Thiele diagram for the extraction of Co(II) verified the complete separation of Co(II) from Ni(II). Hydrazine was then employed as a reducing agent for Co(II) and Ni(II) from the stripping solution and the raffinate, respectively. The effect of several variables on the reduction such as the molar ratio of hydrazine to metal ion, reaction time, temperature, and solution pH was investigated. It was found that the reduced metals could be dissolved owing to the oxidizing action of hydrazonium in acidic solution. Addition of NH4Cl was effective in suppressing the dissolution of the reduced metals. Especially, there was an optimum molar ratio of NH4Cl at which maximum reduction of Co(II) was obtained. The recovery percentages of Co and Ni powder were higher than 99.1% and 99.9%, respectively, and the purity of the reduced metals was higher than 99.9%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental contaminant 1,3-Dinitrobenzene (1,3-DNB), which contains two nitro groups (-NO2), has a +III nitrogen atom oxidation state, and is susceptible to electron acceptance, and subsequent reductive degradation. In this study, carpet grass was investigated as a potential source of polyphenols for the reductive degradation of 1,3-DNB. A characterization of carpet grass revealed a rapid release of polyphenols from the grass in aqueous solution, and an increase in reduction capacity. The effects of the amount of grass in solution, and effects of the pH of the aqueous phase were examined. It was found that higher grass doses (e.g., 50 g L-1) in solution resulted in complete removal of 1,3-DNB in the aqueous phase after 7 d reaction, regardless of the pH level. Kinetic analysis of 1,3-DNB degradation and its reaction intermediates, 3-nitroaniline (3-NA) and 1,3-phenylenediamine, indicated that the overall observed degradation rates (2.51-3.17 × 10-2 h-1) were similar across different doses of carpet grass, but found that the dose did impact the formation and degradation of 3-NA. Based on the results, a potential soil mixing treatment for 1,3-DNB contaminated soils, consisting of the blending of carpet grasses with soils was proposed. Soil slurry experiments simulating field remediation application suggested that enhanced degradation of 1,3-DNB contaminated soils can be achieved under reaction conditions with an appropriate solution volume and sufficiently high grass doses. This research offers valuable insights into the utilization of carpet grass for potential soil remediation through its incorporation into soils contaminated with 1,3-DNB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen production by direct seawater electrolysis is an alternative technology to conventional freshwater electrolysis, mainly owing to the vast abundance of seawater reserves on earth. However, the lack of robust, active, and selective electrocatalysts that can withstand the harsh and corrosive saline conditions of seawater greatly hinders its industrial viability. Herein, a series of amorphous transition‐metal phospho‐borides, namely Co‐P‐B, Ni‐P‐B, and Fe‐P‐B are prepared by simple chemical reduction method and screened for overall alkaline seawater electrolysis. Co‐P‐B is found to be the best of the lot, requiring low overpotentials of ≈270 mV for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), ≈410 mV for oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and an overall voltage of 2.50 V to reach a current density of 2 A cm−2 in highly alkaline natural seawater. Furthermore, the optimized electrocatalyst shows formidable stability after 10,000 cycles and 30 h of chronoamperometric measurements in alkaline natural seawater without any chlorine evolution, even at higher current densities. A detailed understanding of not only HER and OER but also chlorine evolution reaction (ClER) on the Co‐P‐B surface is obtained by computational analysis, which also sheds light on the selectivity and stability of the catalyst at high current densities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, PtNi@SWCNT (Platinum Nickel @ Single Walled Carbon Nanotube) and PtNi@MWCNT (Platinum Nickel @ Multi Walled Carbon Nanotube) catalysts were obtained using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) produced by arc discharge method and used for ascorbic acid (AA) detection. SWCNT and MWCNT were used as support structures in PtNi nanostructures and synthesis was carried out by chemical reduction method. The nanostructure was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Electrochemical analyses were carried out on catalysts of appropriate size. According to the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) results obtained; The calculated Limit of Detection (LOD) and Limit of Quantification (LOQ) values for PtNi@SWCNT and PtNi@MWCNT catalysts were 6.94 mM/ 21.05 mM and 5.03 mM /15.26 mM, respectively. With these results, it was seen that sensitive and selective sensor was created for AA detection. The results showed that both CNTs based materials are highly effective in AA detection. In addition, this study is important for the industrial scale production of SWCNT and MWCNT by arc discharge method and performance evaluation in different applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report the record-breaking seven-electron reduction of di-iso-propylphenyl-bis-iminoacenaphthene (dpp-bian) involving protons under chemical and electrochemical reduction conditions. Using the dpp-bian-H2 compound as a starting reagent, its mono- and trisodium salts were obtained. A voltammetric study showed that the trinuclear sodium salt can accept an additional seventh electron upon electrochemical reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Almond shell (AS) represents about 33% of the almond fruit, being a cellulose-rich by-product. The use of greener methods for separating cellulose would contribute to better exploitation of this biomass. Subcritical water extraction (SWE) at 160 and 180 °C has been used as a previous treatment to purify cellulose of AS, followed by a bleaching step with hydrogen peroxide (8%) at pH 12. For comparison purposes, bleaching with sodium chlorite of the extraction residues was also studied. The highest extraction temperature promoted the removal of hemicellulose and the subsequent delignification during the bleaching step. After bleaching with hydrogen peroxide, the AS particles had a cellulose content of 71 and 78%, with crystallinity index of 50 and 62%, respectively, for those treated at 160 and 180 °C. The use of sodium chlorite as bleaching agent improved the cellulose purification and crystallinity index. Nevertheless, cellulose obtained by both bleaching treatments could be useful for different applications. Therefore, SWE represents a promising green technique to improve the bleaching sensitivity of lignocellulosic residues, such as AS, allowing for a great reduction in chemicals in the cellulose purification processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractMnO and Ba-doped MnO NPs were prepared through the chemical reduction method and these NPs were used for the photodegradation of Methylene blue dye (MB) dye in an aqueous medium. The morphological study shows that the MnO NPs have granular shapes while Ba-doped MnO NPs have irregular spherical shapes. XRD results presented that the diameter of MnO and Ba-doped MnO NPs was 30 and 36 nm, respectively. FTIR spectra show peaks in the range of 750–1385 cm−1, which present the metal oxide NPs. The photocatalytic degradation study demonstrated that the MnO and Ba-doped MnO NPs degraded about 73 and 86% dye within 250 min, respectively. The effect of various parameters like pH, initial dye concentration, and catalyst dosage on the photodegradation of dye was also studied. The recovered MnO and Ba-doped MnO NPs also significantly degraded the Methylene Blue dye in aqueous media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial biotechnology and biocatalysis can provide very effective synthetic tools to increase the sustainability of the production of fine chemicals, especially flavour and fragrance (F&F) ingredients, the market demand of which has been constantly increasing in the last years. One of the most important transformations in F&F chemistry is the reduction of C C bonds, typically carried out with metal-catalysed hydrogenations or hydride-based reagents. Its biocatalytic counterpart is a competitive alternative, showcasing a range of advantages such as excellent chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivity, ease of implementation, mild reaction conditions and modest environmental impact. In the present review, the application of biocatalysed alkene reductions (from microbial fermentations with wild-type strains to engineered isolated ene-reductase enzymes) to synthetic processes useful for the F&F industry will be described, highlighting not only the exquisite stereoselectivity achieved, but also the overall improvement when chirality is not involved. Multi-enzymatic cascades involving C C bioreductions are also examined, which allow much greater chemical complexity to be built in one-pot biocatalytic systems. [Display omitted] • C C reduction is a key transformation in the synthesis of flavours and fragrances. • Biocatalytic alternatives involve ene-reductases or microorganisms habouring them. • Many examples of industrially relevant molecules are provided and discussed. • Multi-enzymatic systems involving C C bioreductions are also examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A life cycle assessment (LCA) study was completed to understand the environmental impacts associated with the land application of wastes produced from rural food‐processing operations for final disposal. The system boundaries for the two comprised scenarios included the storage of the produced non‐agriculture source material (NASM), transportation to an applicable location, land application of the NASM, and the impacts of the final emissions to the soil and groundwater for a full year. The Tool for the Reduction and Assessment of Chemicals and Other Environmental Impacts (TRACI) v2.1 was selected as the impact assessment method. Furthermore, SimaPro 8.0.4.26 was the LCA model version that was used with all the databases included. Overall, the LCA study showed that the most significant environmental impacts associated with the disposal process resulted from carcinogenic and eutrophication emissions. The component that contributed the most to carcinogenic impacts was found to be from the material required to create the concrete storage tank. Additionally, eutrophication was identified to be a potential significant impact, if proper setback requirements are not followed for the NASM material. Results of the study look to inform stakeholders about the benefits and risks encountered from NASM disposal. Practitioner Points: Life cycle assessment was completed on a representative NASM disposal system using land application.Concrete tank used for storage of NASM had the most significant impact in carcinogenic emissions.Eutrophication impacts were the second most significant impact behind carcinogenic emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co-B catalyst, W-modified Co-B (Co-W-B) catalyst, and Mo-modified Co-W-B (Co-W-Mo-B) catalyst powders were synthesized via chemical reduction of metal salt solutions at room temperature. The optimal hydrogen production rate was obtained when the ratio of the reducing agent (NaBH4) to the metal solution was 4:1. Among the ternary catalysts, the Co0.1-W0.9-B catalyst showed the optimal hydrogen production rate when the content of W doping was 0.9. Furthermore, the hydrogen production rate of the quaternary catalyst was enhanced when the content of Mo doping was 0.075, denoted as Co0.1-W0.9-Mo0.075-B. The catalyst powders were characterized by SEM, XRD, XPS, and BET. The hydrogen production rates of the Co-B catalyst, Co0.1-W0.9-B catalyst, and Co0.1-W0.9-Mo0.075-B catalyst were investigated for the decomposition of alkaline sodium borohydride (NaBH4) in a water–ethanol mixture solution. The Co0.1-W0.9-Mo0.075-B catalyst exhibited the highest hydrogen production rate compared to Co-B and Co0.1-W0.9-B catalyst powders. The optimal hydrogen production rate of the Co0.1-W0.9-Mo0.075-B catalyst is 4600 ml·min−1·g−1, which is nearly 1.9 times higher than that of the Co-B catalyst. Moreover, the Co0.1-W0.9-Mo0.075-B catalyst exhibited good stability, retaining 73% of its catalytic activity after five cycles, and had a low apparent activation energy of 41.51 kJ·mol−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer nanocomposites have been employed for various applications, including biocompatible biomedical devices, electronic devices, UV shielding, and thermal management. There is a pressing need to develop comprehensive characterization approaches that can assess the overall performance of these materials under irradiation conditions, encompassing a broader range of mechanical properties beyond those traditionally studied. In this context a hybrid polymer nanocomposite was developed using Polyvinyl Alcohol, glutaraldehyde, Silver, and Graphene Oxide nanoparticles through a straightforward in situ chemical reduction process. These prepared samples were subjected to varying doses of gamma radiation, ranging from 0 to 10 kGy, to investigate alterations in their structural and mechanical properties. To validate the elemental composition and functional groups present in both unirradiated and irradiated nanocomposites, EDX and FTIR spectra were employed. The investigation to the mechanical characteristics of these samples. In unirradiated samples, elongation at break (ϵf) was determined to be 134.67 ± 1.45%, while radiation exposure resulted in an increase in the ϵf to 175.33 ± 8.01%. Tensile strength (σult) initially declined for the 2 kGy exposure but increased at 5 kGy, only to decrease again with further dose increments. Remarkably, the material exhibited increased toughness as the dose reached 5 kGy, with a measured value of modulus of toughness (MT) at 55.30 ± 6.09 J/m3. These findings shed light on the impact of gamma radiation on the structural and mechanical properties of the polymer nanocomposite material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the problems of high cost of microemulsion use and the limitation of microe- mulsion application in high temperature and high salt strata, this paper conducted a systematic research on the development of chemically driven microemulsions and the unique properties of nanoparticles, and summarized the synergistic effect between nanoparticles and microemulsions, the effect of nanoparticle incorporation on the applicability of salinity to the microemulsions as well as the influence on the rheological properties. The current status of nanoparticle synergistic microemulsion research at home and abroad is summarized and reviewed, and the synergistic effect between nanoparticles and microemulsions is summarized to produce mechanisms such as low interfacial tension, change of wettability, reduction of chemical adsorption, enhancement of stability, and improvement of rheological ratio. At present, the application of nanoparticles in microemulsions is still in the exploratory stage, which requires further theoretical analysis and experimental research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to the yield maintenance along with environmental protection, the replacement or combination of chemical fertilizers with organic ones has received increasing attention recently. However, the yield and quality of production in aromatic plants differ from other plants. The present experiment was conducted for 2 years with the aim of evaluating the potential of vermicompost instead of nitrogen fertilizer for the production of geraniums without reducing its perfume quality. Regarded to the macronutrients, essential oil, and shoot yield, geranium treated with 20 ton ha−1 vermicompost and 16 ton ha−1 vermicompost + 40 kg ha−1 nitrogen had the best condition compared to other fertilizer regimes. Geranium is a perennial plant; hence the traits related to plant growth and yield were higher in the second harvest. Besides that, compared to treatments with a high amount of chemical nitrogen, the effects of vermicompost on the quality and quantity of geranium in the second yield were more effective and sustainable. Moreover, these findings suggested that an appropriate proportion of organic substitution not only provides uptake nutrients but also improves the essential oil yield and chemical composition. In fact, increasing the level of vermicompost resulted in improved oxygenated monoterpene content in geranium essential oil. According to the results of this study, cow manure-derived vermicompost could be a suited and sustained replacement for nitrogen inorganic fertilizer without any significant reduction in the quality and quantity of geranium products. Thus, it can be a practical step to reduce production costs, and environmental issues own to chemical fertilizers, particularly in aromatic plant cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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