Search

The separation and purification of bio-based chemicals from conversion processes often contribute substantially to bioprocessing costs, and for many biochemicals produced through fermentation, solventbased liquid--liquid extraction (LLE) is a common separations strategy for in situ product recovery (ISPR). Many in situ LLE-based separations for biochemicals are often challenged by emulsion formation between the immiscible aqueous and organic phases. Typically, membrane contactors have been used to overcome emulsion formation, with the aqueous and organic phases coming into contact in the membrane contactor pores, but these unit operations require a large membrane area to compensate for their limited effective interfacial area. In this study, we show that a hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane-based emulsion separator (MBES) enables continuous LLE for the recovery of an exemplary fermentation product, butyric acid, with substantially improved throughput relative to a membrane contactor. With a membrane permeate flux of 290 L m-2 h-1, the overall butyric acid flux of the single-stage MBES system was calculated to be 1450 g m-2 h-1, which is substantially higher than the 9 g m-2 h-1 achievable with a membrane contactor. At an equivalent butyric acid throughput, process modeling estimates that MBES-assisted LLE can enable a 55% and 91% reduction in process costs (the sum of CAPEX and OPEX) and greenhouse gas emissions, respectively, compared to a membrane contactor due to a ~160-fold decrease in the required membrane area. Although membrane fouling from cellular debris led to reduced membrane flux and phase separation efficiency, common fouling mitigation strategies including the incorporation of ultrafiltration and periodic membrane backwashing effectively recovered the membrane performance. Overall, MBES systems can potentially enable continuous LLE processes in bioprocessing separations, including where emulsion formation is a challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New carriers for protein immobilization are objects of interest in various fields of biomedicine. Immobilization is a technique used to stabilize and provide physical support for biological micro- and macromolecules and whole cells. Special efforts have been made to develop new materials for protein immobilization that are non-toxic to both the body and the environment, inexpensive, readily available, and easy to modify. Currently, biodegradable and non-toxic polymers, including cellulose, are widely used for protein immobilization. Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a natural polymer with excellent biocompatibility, purity, high porosity, high water uptake capacity, non-immunogenicity, and ease of production and modification. BC is composed of glucose units and does not contain lignin or hemicellulose, which is an advantage allowing the avoidance of the chemical purification step before use. Recently, BC–protein composites have been developed as wound dressings, tissue engineering scaffolds, three-dimensional (3D) cell culture systems, drug delivery systems, and enzyme immobilization matrices. Proteins or peptides are often added to polymeric scaffolds to improve their biocompatibility and biological, physical–chemical, and mechanical properties. To broaden BC applications, various ex situ and in situ modifications of native BC are used to improve its properties for a specific application. In vivo studies showed that several BC–protein composites exhibited excellent biocompatibility, demonstrated prolonged treatment time, and increased the survival of animals. Today, there are several patents and commercial BC-based composites for wounds and vascular grafts. Therefore, further research on BC–protein composites has great prospects. This review focuses on the major advances in protein immobilization on BC for biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geological and environmental applications of tin (Sn) isotopes have been hindered by the shortcomings of chemical purification, as severe loss of Sn would occur during sample preparation (evaporation and re-dissolution) and column separation, triggering isotope measurement bias. In this study, we develop a novel and robust separation method to purify Sn from natural samples for accurate isotope measurements. The protocol is established by combining two chromatographic columns loaded with AG 1-X8 and AG 50W-X12 resins, and optimizing the sample evaporation and re-dissolution procedures. The method is proven to efficiently eliminate the main interferents such as Ag, Zn, Mo, Cd and Sb and results in low procedural blank (0.54 ± 0.21 ng, n = 3), quantitative recovery (95--102%, n = 32) and good external precision (δ120Sn of 0.02--0.04‰, in 55 measurements) for isotope measurement. The protocol is further applied to seven geological and environmental reference materials (BCR-2, BHVO-2, AGV-2, JG-2, AC-E, PACs-2 and GSS 7) and new values are reported for both odd (δ119Sn and δ117Sn) and even (δ120Sn and δ122Sn) Sn isotope ratios. This study demonstrates clearly the potential application of our method for studying the geochemical behaviors of Sn and its isotopes in various aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The densification of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) during flash sintering is strongly dependent on the amount of residual chlorine in the sintered bodies. The residual chlorine, present as a remnant from powder synthesis, hinders densification after it is trapped and vaporized in the rapidly closing pores, limiting the final density at around 87 – 93% of theoretical. We show that this phenomenon is likely to affect all YSZ powders synthesized from chloride precursors unless the residual chlorine is reduced to ≤ 0.03 wt% before the onset of the flash sintering. This can be universally achieved by thermal purification of green bodies at a high temperature or by chemical purification in ammonium hydroxide. Furthermore, added binder in commercially available Tosoh zirconia TZ-powders (TZ-3YB, TZ-3YB-E) helps to significantly reduce chlorine content during binder burnout which in turn allows flash sintering into a high density even without green body purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hot spot engineering in plasmonic nanostructures plays a significant role in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) for bioanalysis and cell imaging. However, creating stable, reproducible, and strong SERS signals remains challenging due to the potential interference from surrounding chemicals and locating SERS-active analytes into hot-spot regions. Herein, we developed a straightforward approach to synthesize intra-gap nanoparticles encapsulating 4-nitrobenzenethiol (4-NBT) as a reporter molecule within these gaps to avoid outside interference. We made three kinds of intra-gap nanoparticles using nanorods, bipyramids, and nanospheres as cores, in which the nanorods based intra-gap nanoparticles exhibit the highest SERS activity. The advantage of our method is the ease of preparation of high-yield and stable intra-gap nanoparticles characterized by a short incubation time (10 min) with 4-NBT and quick synthesis without requiring an additional step to centrifuge for the purification of core nanoparticles. The intense localized field in the synthesized hot spots of these plasmonic gap nanostructures holds great promise as a SERS substrate for a broad range of quantitative optical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, a suitable and efficient CoFe2O4@ZnO@Bentonite nano-catalyst was designed and synthesized by using zinc oxide (ZnO) and cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) nanoparticles and bentonite by microwave irradiation. Characteristics of the synthesized nanocomposite were investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Bruner-Emmett-Teller (BET) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) techniques. The produced catalyst was effectively employed as a supported solid acid catalyst in mildly agitated three-component reactions involving aromatic aldehydes, 4-hydroxycoumarin, and 1,3-dimethyl-barbituric acid in a single pot to produce benzylbarbiturocoumarins. Starting materials were condensed via three C-C bond formation by CoFe2O4@ ZnO@Bentonite as an efficient, recyclable, and environmentally safe nanocatalyst to obtain target products. The advantages of this method include using a natural substrate, small amounts of catalyst, aqueous media, performing reactions at ambient temperature, simple separation and purification of products, and good yields with short reaction times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The separation and purification of chemical raw materials, particularly neutral compounds with similar physical and chemical properties, represents an ongoing challenge. In this study, we introduce a class of water-soluble macrocycle compound, calix[2]azolium[2]benzimidazolone (H), comprising two azolium and two benzimidazolone subunits. The heterocycle subunits form a hydrophobic binding pocket that enables H1 to encapsulate a series of neutral guests in water with 1:1 or 2:1 stoichiometry, including aldehydes, ketones, and nitrile compounds. The host-guest complexation in the solid state was further confirmed through X-ray crystallography. Remarkably, H1 was shown to be a nonporous adaptive crystal material to separate valeraldehyde from the mixture of valeraldehyde/2-methylbutanal/pentanol with high selectivity and recyclability in the solid states. This work not only demonstrates that azolium-based macrocycles are promising candidates for the encapsulation of organic molecules but also shows the potential application in separation science. The separation and purification of particularly neutral compounds with similar physical and chemical properties remains challenging. Here, the authors introduce a water-soluble macrocyclic calixarene compound as nonporous adaptive crystalline material to separate valeraldehyde from the mixture of valeraldehyde/2-methylbutanal/pentanol with high selectivity and recyclability in the solid state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focussed on the development of fully biodegradable composites based on polybutylene succinate (PBS) in combination with raw materials from different processing stages of the pulp and paper industry. Sulfite pulp (SP), kraft pulp (KP) and screened sludge residue (SL) from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) were investigated as reinforcing fibres contributing to a circular economy. We report a comparative study of the physicochemical properties and mechanical performance of PBS composites reinforced with these cellulosic raw fibres and commercial pure microcrystalline cellulose (MC). The composites were characterised in tensile strength, elongation at break, modulus of elasticity, water absorption and wettability. The incorporation of the fibres into the polymer matrix was also investigated using torque rheometry. Critical concentrations were obtained with maximum incorporation in the range of 15–20 wt% for SP/KP and 25–30 wt% for SL. SP and KP composites showed at least as good physicochemical and mechanical properties as MC at the concentrations studied (0–20 wt%). SP-composites showed the highest tensile strength and modulus of elasticity. It was shown that these fibres from the pulp and paper industry can be used as reinforcement for PBS matrices without additional chemical purification and provide a valuable alternative to commercial microcrystalline cellulose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metallic alloy fuels from fast reactors will be reprocessed by a non‐aqueous electrochemical technique known as electrorefining. Electrorefining of spent metal fuel results in the accumulation of heat‐generating fission products, especially 137Cs in the eutectic salt. These fission products need to be removed from the salt so as to reduce the decay heat load and contamination. The melt crystallization technique is a simple separation process being pursued for the separation of fission products. This is a single‐step process that utilizes the difference in solubility of fission products in the solid and liquid phase. This process is also less energy intensive. Crystallization involves the purification of a substance from a liquid mixture by solidification of the desired component. Since separation is based on selective solidification, which involves phase change, it is essential to evaluate the transient solidification pattern, liquid fraction distribution, solute distribution, and separation time and efficiency. Numerical modeling of the separation of CsCl from a LiCl‐KCl eutectic mixture has been carried out using Ansys Fluent (19.2). The effect of crystallizer geometry and cooling rates on the separation of CsCl has been numerically simulated. [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]

With rising energy demands and costs, the significance of thermally insulating materials is on a constant upward trajectory. While they offer impressive performance, their sustainability is increasingly becoming an essential design feature. The study thus develops an unprecedented strategy that enables recycling, repairing, and reprogramming of superinsulating polyimine aerogels. The principle at play involves the decomposition of polyimine aerogels into a solution of oligomers through transimination reactions with additional amines. This solution can be utilized to create new aerogels with virtually identical properties to the original ones. This aerogel‐to‐sol‐to‐aerogel (ASA) process is also applicable to mixed waste streams and damaged aerogels. Moreover, this method allows to alter the aerogel properties post‐synthetically through careful selection of amines. Since the ASA process is highly reproducible and selective, omits purification steps, and conserves 100% of the initially embedded chemical resources, it presents an innovative tool for the sustainable management of superinsulating aerogels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the work is to establish the possibility of obtaining expanded graphite of high purity (carbon content more than 99.5 % wt.) from flotation-enriched graphite (carbon content 94–97 % wt.) by combining into one process intercalation of graphite with a solution of potassium dichromate in concentrated sulfuric acid with subsequent hydrolysis, and chemical purification using solutions of ammonium bifluoride in sulfuric or hydrochloric acid and Trilon B in an alkaline buffer as purification reagents, and to confirm this possibility by quantum chemical calculations. It has been experimentally shown that combining oxidized graphite synthesis and its chemical purification into one process allows obtaining expanded graphite of high purity, with a carbon content of 99.75–99.85 % wt. The methods of X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetry show that the interaction of oxidized graphite (the residual compound of intercalation of graphite with sulfuric acid) with cleaning reagents does not reduce the ability to expand. The magnitude of the mass loss of oxidized graphite according to various variants of chemical post-cleaning and the temperature range of such loss remain practically unchanged. Quantum chemical calculations of the adsorption energy (∆Eads) of one molecule of Trilon B on the surface of a graphene-like plane (GLP), the complexation reaction of metal sulfates, the energy effect of the interaction of Trilon B with sulfates of alkaline earth metals in an aqueous solution, and with the participation of the surface of the graphene plane were carried out using the GAMESS (US) program by the density functional theory (DFT) method with the B3LYP functional and the 6-31G(d,p) basis set, taking into account the Grimme D3 dispersion correction within the PCM polarizable continuum. The results of the analysis of quantum chemical calculations indicate that the Trilon B molecule is better physically sorbed on the oxidized GLP (–412 kJ/mol) than on its native form (–188 kJ/mol). The values of the energy effect of the complexation of magnesium and calcium cations with Trilon B have a negative value both in an aqueous solution and in the presence of the oxidized form of GLP. This indicates the thermodynamic probability of this process, which is consistent with the experimental results. Regardless of the nature of the cation, its interaction with Trilon B is thermodynamically more likely in an aqueous solution than in the adsorbed state on the surface of oxidized GLP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen is an industrial raw material both for the production of chemicals and for oil refining with hydrotreating. It is the subject of increasing attention for its possible use as an energy carrier and as a flexible energy storage medium. Its production is generally accomplished in Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) plants, where a gaseous mixture of CO and H2, with a limited number of other species, is obtained. The process of production and purification generates relevant amounts of carbon dioxide, which needs to be removed due to downstream process requirements or to limit its emissions to the atmosphere. A work by IEAGHG focused on the study of a state-of-the-art Steam Methane Reforming plant producing 100 kNm3/h of H2 and considered chemical absorption with MethylDiEthanolAmine (MDEA) solvent for removing carbon dioxide from the PSA tail gas in a baseline scheme composed of the absorber, one flash vessel and the regeneration column. This type of process is characterized by high energy consumption, in particular at the reboiler of the regeneration column, usually operated by employing steam, and modifications to the baseline scheme can allow for a reduction of the operating costs, though with an increase in the complexity of the plant. This work analyses three configurations of the treatment section of the off gas obtained after the purification of the hydrogen stream in the Pressure Swing Adsorption unit with the aim of selecting the one which minimizes the overall costs so as to further enhance Carbon Capture and Storage in non-power industries as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrapure gallium up to 99.9999%/ 99.99999% (6N/7N) purity level is a highly demanding material needed for the growth of gallium‐based group III–V semiconductor compounds and optoelectronic devices. However, general extraction of gallium from Bayer liquor contains high impurity content and ultra‐purification of the same cannot be accomplished by a single step. Thus, the purpose of this review is to assess various purification processes for the production of ultra‐pure gallium and to critically examine its applications in the optoelectronics industry. Through this research survey, it is found that zone refining of the zone melting process stands tall over other methods in purifying materials even up to 13N. Hence, scientists are adopting detailed mathematical models and simulation tools for designing unique zone refining systems for material purification. Current‐day technology even adopts intelligence methods such as machine learning, which sheds light on the importance of different zone refining parameters that influence the purification process. Here, the practical aspects of zone refining and how the feedback from the theoretical models or performance prediction through intelligence methods can be effectively incorporated into practice have also been emphasized [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste chemicals cause soil pollution and increase concerns about the environment. Among these waste materials, heavy metals have significant physiological effects on living organisms due to their indestructibility. Due to the lack of decomposition of heavy metals in the environment, there is a need to remove them from the environment. Considering the very high costs of physical and chemical methods, efforts are being made to introduce and use cheaper methods. In this study, an attempt has been made to introduce a new method using the potential of plants to remove soil pollution. The most obvious disadvantages of this method are the following: limited to sites with low and medium pollution, shallow roots, low biomass production, low bioavailability of metals in the soil (especially calcareous and young soils) in dry areas and Semi-dry, and time-consuming. According to the results obtained from various studies, the following are suitable solutions to overcome these problems: choosing suitable species, using bacteria resistant to heavy metals and stimulating plant growth, strengthening the root system, more biomass production, and increasing the bioavailability of metals by plants. The use of microbial inoculation helps plant species to efficiently remove heavy metals from the soil. The application of the phytoremediation technique has been less used so far and due to the ignorance and carelessness of some people, it has never been used as an effective method in the purification of heavy metals in contaminated soils. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce and replace plants and apply new strategies based on the investigation of the cooperation of plantmicrobial communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Mining Magazine is the property of China Mining Magazine Co., Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

As genomic databases expand and artificial intelligence tools advance, there is a growing demand for efficient characterization of large numbers of proteins. To this end, here we describe a generalizable pipeline for high-throughput protein purification using small-scale expression in E. coli and an affordable liquid-handling robot. This low-cost platform enables the purification of 96 proteins in parallel with minimal waste and is scalable for processing hundreds of proteins weekly per user. We demonstrate the performance of this method with the expression and purification of the leading poly(ethylene terephthalate) hydrolases reported in the literature. Replicate experiments demonstrated reproducibility and enzyme purity and yields (up to 400 µg) sufficient for comprehensive analyses of both thermostability and activity, generating a standardized benchmark dataset for comparing these plastic-degrading enzymes. The cost-effectiveness and ease of implementation of this platform render it broadly applicable to diverse protein characterization challenges in the biological sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of porous materials with flexible‐robust characteristics shows some unique advantages to target high performance for gas separation, but remains a daunting challenge to achieve so far. Herein, we report a carboxyl‐based hydrogen‐bonded organic framework (ZJU‐HOF‐8a) with flexible‐robust porosity for efficient purification of natural gas. ZJU‐HOF‐8a features a four‐fold interpenetrated structure with dia topology, wherein abundant supramolecular entanglements are formed between the adjacent subnetworks through weak intermolecular hydrogen bonds. This structural configuration could not only stabilize the whole framework to establish the permanent porosity, but also enable the framework to show some flexibility due to its weak intermolecular interactions (so‐called flexible‐robust framework). The flexible‐robust porosity of ZJU‐HOF‐8a was exclusively confirmed by gas sorption isotherms and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies, showing that the flexible pore pockets can be opened by C3H8 and n‐C4H10 molecules rather by C2H6 and CH4. This leads to notably higher C3H8 and n‐C4H10 uptakes with enhanced selectivities than C2H6 over CH4 under ambient conditions, affording one of the highest n‐C4H10/CH4 selectivities. The gas‐loaded single‐crystal structures coupled with theoretical simulations reveal that the loading of n‐C4H10 can induce an obvious framework expansion along with pore pocket opening to improve n‐C4H10 uptake and selectivity, while not for C2H6 adsorption. This work suggests an effective strategy of designing flexible‐robust HOFs for improving gas separation properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Point of care testing (POCT) of nucleic acids holds significant importance in the realm of infectious disease prevention and control, as well as the advancement of personalized precision medicine. Nevertheless, conventional nucleic acid testing methods continue to face challenges such as prolonged detection times and dependence on extensive specialized equipment and personnel, rendering them unsuitable for point of care applications. Here, we proposed an innovative active centrifugal microfluidic system (ACMS) for automatic nucleic acid extraction, encompassing modules for active valve control and magnetic control. An on-chip centrifugal puncture valve (PV) was devised based on the elastic tolerance differences between silicone membranes and tinfoils to release pre-embedded liquid reagents on demand. Furthermore, we have utilized the returnable valve (RV) technology to accurately control the retention and release of liquids, leveraging the high elastic tolerance of the silicone membrane. By incorporating an online controllable magnetic valve, we have achieved controlled and rapid aggregation and dispersion of magnetic beads. The final chip encapsulates multiple reagents and magnetic beads necessary for nucleic acid extraction. Upon sample addition and loading into the instrument, automated on-chip sample loading and nucleic acid extraction, purification, and collection can be accomplished within 30 minutes, halving the overall operation time and even increasing the efficiency of pseudovirus extraction by three orders of magnitude. Consequently, real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR amplification has successfully detected multiple targets of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (with an impressive detection limit as low as 10 copies per µL), along with targeted sequencing analysis yielding a conformity rate of 99%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recycling of cathode materials for spent NCM has always been a major concern for the energy industry. However, among the current processing methods, the general leaching efficiency of Li is between 85% and 93%, with much room for improvement. The recovery of Ni, Co and Mn requires a high cost of secondary purification. In this study, to recycle the NCM cathode material, a route of sulphated reduction roasting – selective Li water leaching – efficiency acid leaching of Ni, Co, Mn – extraction separation – crystallisation was adopted. The results showed that after roasting (a temperature of 800 °C, a reaction time of 90 min, a carbon content of 26%, and a sulphuric acid addition of nH2SO4:nLi = 0.85), Li water leaching efficiency was 98.6%, followed by acid leaching of Ni, Co and Mn at around 99%. Mn, Co were extracted with Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid and 2-Ethylhexyl phosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester respectively to obtain Ni, Co, Mn solutions, which eventually were crystallized for manganese sulphate, cobalt sulphate, lithium carbonate and nickel sulphate products, with high purity of 99.40%, 98.95%, 99.10%, and 99.95%. The results of this study improved the leaching efficiency of Li and were closely linked to the actual industrial preparation of Ni, Co and Mn sulphates, providing a feasible and promising basis for spent NCM cathode materials industrial recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have found extensive application in the biomedical domain due to their enhanced biocompatibility, minimal toxicity, and strong magnetic responsiveness. MNPs exhibit great potential as nanomaterials in various biomedical applications, including disease detection and cancer therapy. Typically, MNPs consist of a magnetic core surrounded by surface modification coatings, such as inorganic materials, organic molecules, and polymers, forming a nucleoshell structure that mitigates nanoparticle agglomeration and enhances targeting capabilities. Consequently, MNPs exhibit magnetic responsiveness in vivo for transportation and therapeutic effects, such as enhancing medical imaging resolution and localized heating at the site of injury. MNPs are utilized for specimen purification through targeted binding and magnetic separation in vitro, thereby optimizing efficiency and expediting the process. This review delves into the distinctive functional characteristics of MNPs as well as the diverse bioactive molecules employed in their surface coatings and their corresponding functionalities. Additionally, the advancement of MNPs in various applications is outlined. Additionally, we discuss the advancements of magnetic nanoparticles in medical imaging, disease treatment, and in vitro assays, and we anticipate the future development prospects and obstacles in this field. The objective is to furnish readers with a thorough comprehension of the recent practical utilization of MNPs in biomedical disciplines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminum nitride (AlN) has attracted huge attention in new energy vehicle, communication equipment fields, due to the high-thermal conductivity and reliable insulating ability. One of the most crucial factors is the preparation of high-performance AlN powders, and more significantly, the two-dimensional nanostructure would change the phonon vibration mode and transport process, bringing in the novel heat conduction and electricity properties. In this paper, kilogram of two-dimensional aluminum nitride nanosheets (AlNNS) with thicknesses around 30 nm and particle sizes around 400 nm were prepared by a new strategy for the nano sanding process, in which they still keep high purity (impurity content ppm grade) without further purification. Furthermore, the technological parameters of the sanding time and line speed are found as the key factors, that would affect the transformation process fro m hexagonal AlN into super-thin AlNNS. The morphology of the nanosheets is more complete at the line speed of 8 m/s. In addition, AlNNS have an increase of 7% in thermal conductivity (at 50 °C) compared to that of raw powders. Moreover, AlNNS have stronger sintering activity due to the larger specific surface area, in which show an increase of 16.8% in shrinkage. Therefore, AlNNS would represent excellent physical properties more than thermal conductivity, providing a new dimension research in high-thermal conductivity ceramics. Last but not least, nano sanding strategy as a purely physical process, avoids the subsequent chemical purification process, and has the advantages of simple and efficient, low energy consumption and environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanochitin, especially in the form of chitin nanowhiskers (ChNWs), represents a significant advance in biopolymer technology due to its high specific surface area, superior tensile strength, and excellent thermal stability. Derived from crustacean waste, which contains 15–40% of chitin, these materials provide a sustainable option that diverts waste from landfills and contributes to environmental conservation. Traditional methods of isolating nanochitin are energy-intensive and generate substantial waste. This study introduces a more sustainable method using inexpensive ionic liquids (ILs) such as [Hmim][HSO4] and [HN222][HSO4], which bypass the costly and destructive steps of traditional procedures. This study also identified the byproduct in IL-mediated chitin hydrolysis reaction as calcium sulfate dihydrate and presented a solution to circumvent the byproduct formation. The effectiveness of the [HN222][HSO4] IL in producing ChNWs from both purified chitin and crustacean biomass was assessed, showing a high yield and maintaining the purity and structural integrity of chitin, thereby demonstrating a significant reduction in the environmental footprint of ChNW production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historical research on urban epidemics has focused on the interaction of diseases with social and spatial gradients, such as class, ethnicity, or neighborhood. Even sophisticated historical studies usually lack data on health-related behavior or health-related perceptions, which modern analysts tend to emphasize. With detailed source material from the Finnish city of Tampere during a typhoid epidemic in 1916, we are able to combine both dimensions and look at how material and social constraints interacted with behavior and knowledge to produce unequal outcomes. We use data on socioeconomic status, location, and physical habitat as well as the self-reported behavior and expressed understandings of transmission mechanisms of the infected people to identify the determinants of some falling ill earlier or later than others. Applying survival analysis to approximately 2,500 cases, we show that disease avoidance behavior was deficient and constrained by physical habitat, regardless of considerable public health campaigning. Behavioral guidelines issued by authorities were sub-optimally communicated, unrealistic, and inadequately followed. Boiling water was hampered by shared kitchens, and access to laundry houses for additional hygiene was uneven. Centralized chemical water purification finally leveled the playing field by socializing the cost of prevention and eliminating key sources of unequal risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe the current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) production and subsequent characterization of eOD-GT8 60mer, a glycosylated self-assembling nanoparticle HIV-1 vaccine candidate and germline targeting priming immunogen. Production was carried out via transient expression in the human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cell line followed by a combination of purification techniques. A large-scale cGMP (200 L) production run yielded 354 mg of the purified eOD-GT8 60mer drug product material, which was formulated at 1 mg/mL in 10% sucrose in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at pH 7.2. The clinical trial material was comprehensively characterized for purity, antigenicity, glycan composition, amino acid sequence, and aggregation and by several safety-related tests during cGMP lot release. A comparison of the purified products produced at the 1 L scale and 200 L cGMP scale demonstrated the consistency and robustness of the transient transfection upstream process and the downstream purification strategies. The cGMP clinical trial material was tested in a Phase 1 clinical trial (NCT03547245), is currently being stored at −80 °C, and is on a stability testing program as per regulatory guidelines. The methods described here illustrate the utility of transient transfection for cGMP production of complex products such as glycosylated self-assembling nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminosilicates, abundant and crucial in both natural environments and industry, often involve uncontrollable chemical components when derived from minerals, making further chemical purification and reaction more complicated. This study utilizes pure alumina and fumed silica powders as more controllable sources, enhancing aluminosilicate reactivity through room temperature (non-firing) processing and providing a robust framework that resists mechanical stress and high temperature. By embedding iron-based metal–organic frameworks (Fe-MOF/non-firing aluminosilicate membranes) within the above matrix, these ceramic membranes not only preserve their mechanical robustness but also gain significant chemical functionality, enhancing their capacity to removing phytochromes from the vegetables. Sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate were selected as activators to successfully prepare high-strength, non-firing aluminosilicate membranes. These membranes demonstrated a flexural strength of 8.7 MPa under wet-culture conditions with a molar ratio of Al2O3:SiO2:NaOH:Na2SiO3 at 1:1:0.49:0.16. The chlorophyll adsorption of spinach conducted on these membranes showed a removal rate exceeding 90% at room temperature and pH = 9, highlighting its potential for the selective adsorption of chlorophyll. This study underscores the potential of MOF-enhanced aluminosilicate ceramic membranes in environmental applications, particularly for agricultural pollution control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural and physicochemical properties of two types of bacterial cellulose (BC) produced by Komagateibacter sucrofermentans strain DSM 15973T after 7 days through either immobilized bacteria (solid inoculum) forming BCS7 or free bacteria (liquid inoculum) forming BCL7, followed by a water-based purification as a chem-free alternative treatment, were investigated in this study. SEM verifies the effectiveness of the water-based purification on BC network and reveals the insufficient interfibrillar space of BCS7 compared to BCL7. BCL7 was generally proved to be superior to BCS7 regarding degree of purification, BC yield, overall higher porosity, water swell ability, and water holding capacity (WHC), exhibiting higher hydrophilicity. However, thermally resistant BCS7 reveals a 35% residual up to 800 ºC compared to BCL7 (15%) and prevailed in terms of water retention rate. Both water-treated BC7 were proved to be Iα-rich cellulose type and exhibited a typical type IV(a) isotherm with an H3 type of hysteresis loop, a similar pore distribution, crystallinity index (~77%), crystallite size (~7.5 cm), same levels of moisture content (~98%) and the same poor levels of rehydration after the freeze-drying process. During BCL kinetics in 20 mL of HS medium over 7 days, K. sucrofermentans, 2D pellicle formation was observed until day 3 and then 3D. The highest WHC was obtained on day 4 (116 g water/g cellulose), while the lowest on day 1 (19 g water/g cellulose). Overall, we discussed the preparation and characterization of two different BCs water-treated for purification as an eco-friendly alternative method towards functional, and sustainable application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The harmful effects of air pollution on humans are multifaceted and are closely linked to outbreaks of various infectious viruses. Thus, design of high‐performance air filters that are lightweight, flexible, and easy to prepare is urgent. The electret air filter can utilize the electrostatic force of charge to capture dust particles, making it efficient and convenient, which is highly favored by people. In this study, a summary of the research on electret filters for highly efficient air purification is presented. First, this study outlines the mechanisms of air filtration methods and discusses three factors that evaluate filter performance. The methods of manufacturing electret air filters are then presented, and the advantages and limitations of different methods are discussed. Then, electrification, including corona discharge, friction electrification, electrospinning, thermal electrification, and water electrification as methods, enhances the physical charge adsorption performance of materials, while the use of fluorinate polymer, non‐fluorinate polymer, and biobased polymer as functional substrates exhibits varying degrees of electrification effects. Different materials and manufacturing techniques give the filters additional advantages, such as being self‐degradable and antibacterial. Finally, the challenges that remain in the development of electret filters for use in air purification are also discussed in terms of material type and fabrication technology. It is expected that highly efficient air purification with low energy consumption can be achieved by electret filters with multifunctional capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the synthesis of diborane(6)-dianions decorated with weakly coordinating B(C6F5)3- and SiEt3+ groups. Two compounds were isolated, which demonstrate the synthetic potential and chemical versatility of the dianions. The functionalization of the dianions is of interest for stabilizing reactive dications and modulating the properties of salts with reactive cations. The thermal stability, bond lengths, and electronic properties of the compounds were investigated and confirmed by spectroscopic and electrochemical measurements. The results show that the functionalization of the diborane(6)-dianions leads to new properties. [Extracted from the article]

The feasibility of bioprocess development relies heavily on the successful application of primary recovery and purification techniques. Aqueous two-phase extraction (ATPE) disrupts the definition of "unit operation" by serving as an integrative and intensive technique that combines different objectives such as the removal of biomass and integrated recovery and purification of the product of interest. The relative simplicity of processing large samples renders this technique an attractive alternative for industrial bioprocessing applications. However, process development is hindered by the lack of easily predictable partition behaviours, the elucidation of which necessitates a large number of experiments to be conducted. Liquid handling devices can assist to address this problem; however, they are configured to operate using low viscosity fluids such as water and water-based solutions as opposed to highly viscous polymeric solutions, which are typically required in ATPE. In this work, an automated high throughput ATPE process development framework is presented by constructing phase diagrams and identifying the binodal curves for PEG6000, PEG3000, and PEG2000. Models were built to determine viscosity- and volume-independent transfer parameters. The framework provided an appropriate strategy to develop a very precise and accurate operation by exploiting the relationship between different liquid transfer parameters and process error. Process accuracy, measured by mean absolute error, and device precision, evaluated by the coefficient of variation, were both shown to be affected by the mechanical properties, particularly viscosity, of the fluids employed. For PEG6000, the mean absolute error improved by six-fold (from 4.82% to 0.75%) and the coefficient of variation improved by three-fold (from 0.027 to 0.008) upon optimisation of the liquid transfer parameters accounting for the viscosity effect on the PEG-salt buffer utilising ATPE operations. As demonstrated here, automated liquid handling devices can serve to streamline process development for APTE enabling wide adoption of this technique in large scale bioprocess applications. • Automation minimised experimental set-up for binodal curve construction. • High throughput screening and automation can expedite ATPS characterisation. • Physicochemical properties of fluids impact the automated transfer characteristics. • Transfer volume and speed are critical parameters to determine optimal transfer. • Correlation of viscosity and transfer parameters minimises manipulation errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hydrothermal synthesis method was developed to produce high crystallinity ZSM-5 zeolite using coal gasification coarse slag (CGCS) as the raw material. Instead of the expensive NaOH(s.), Na2SiO3(s.) was utilized to activate, depolymerize, and recombine Si and Al elements in the CGCS. The mother liquor circulation technology was employed to recover and reuse raw materials and residual reagents (Na2SiO3(aq.) and TPABr), reducing waste emissions and enhancing resource utilization efficiency. The synthesized ZSM-5 had a specific surface area of 455.675 m2 g−1, pore volume of 0.284 cm3 g−1, and pore diameter of 2.496 nm. The influence of various factors on the morphology and crystallinity of ZSM-5 was investigated, resulting in the production of ZSM-5 with higher specific surface area and pore volume. Adsorption experiments showed that WU-ZSM-5 exhibited a removal efficiency of 85% for ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N(aq.)), validating its effectiveness in coal chemical wastewater purification. The mother liquor recycling technology enabled zero-emission utilization of solid waste resources and improved the utilization rate of alkali and template to 90%. These results demonstrate the potential application of the developed method in the efficient treatment of coal chemical wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the unique morphology and mechanical properties of multi-jet electrospun cashew gum (CG) when combined with high-molecular-weight polyethylene oxide (PEO) and glycerol. Cashew gum (CG) is a low-cost, non-toxic heteropolysaccharide derived from Anacardium occidentale trees. Initially, the electrospinnability of aqueous solutions of cashew gum alone or in combination with PEO was evaluated. It was found that cashew gum alone was not suitable for electrospinning; thus, adding a small quantity of PEO was needed to create the necessary molecular entanglements for fiber formation. By using a single emitter with a CG:PEO ratio of 85:15, straight and smooth fibers with some defects were obtained. However, additional purification of the cashew gum solution was needed to produce more stable and defect-free straight and smooth fibers. Additionally, the inclusion of glycerol as a plasticizer was required to overcome material fragility. Interestingly, when the optimized formulation was electrospun using multiple simultaneous emitters, thicker aligned fiber bundles were achieved. Furthermore, the resulting oriented fiber mats exhibited unexpectedly high elongation at break under ambient conditions. These findings underscore the potential of this bio-polysaccharide-based formulation for non-direct water contact applications that demand elastic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, fluorescent sensors have gained considerable attention due to their high sensitivity, low cost and noninvasiveness. Among the different materials that can be used for this purpose, carbon dots (CDs) represent valuable candidates for applications in sensing. These, indeed, are easily synthesized, show high quantum yield and are highly biocompatible. However, it was pointed out that the photoluminescence properties of these nanomaterials are strictly dependent on the synthetic and purification methods adopted. The presence of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs), a natural, low cost and biocompatible clay mineral, has been found to be efficient in obtaining small and highly monodispersed CDs without long and tedious purification techniques. Herein, we report the comparison of synthetic pathways for obtaining halloysite-N-doped CDs (HNTs-NCDs) that could be used in biological sensing. One was based on the synthesis of N-doped CDs by a bottom-up approach on HNTs' surface by a MW pyrolysis process; the other one was based on the post-modification of pristine N-doped CDs with halloysite derivatives. The evaluation of the best synthetic route was performed by different physico-chemical techniques. It was found that the bottom-up approach led to the formation of N-doped CDs with different functional groups onto the HNTs' surface. This evidence was also translated in the different fluorescence quantum yields and the existence of several functional groups in the obtained materials was investigated by potentiometric titrations. Furthermore, the ability of the synthesized nanomaterials as sensors for Fe3+ ions detection was assessed by spectroscopic measurements, and the cellular uptake was verified by confocal/fluorescence microscopies as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceramic nanofibrous sponges are attractive for their broad applications in high-temperature air filtration, thermal insulation, sewage treatment, and catalyst support. However, the present ceramic sponges usually show brittle fracture even under tensile stresses. Herein, a ceramic sponge assembled by ultralong and crimped Si 3 N 4 nanofiber nanofibers is designed and prepared to achieve temperature-invariant reversible from liquid nitrogen to 1200 °C and large elongations (ductile failure over 100 %) as well as excellent compressive anti-puncturing property. Moreover, the ceramic sponge illustrates a high filtration efficiency of 99.6 % for PM 2.5 and a low-pressure drop of 32 Pa during a long-term test under high-speed gas flow. It can also support photocatalyst g-C 3 N 4 nanoparticles, yielding a high efficiency of photodegradation of nitrogen oxide gases. The well-designed ceramic nanofiber sponge with good comprehensive mechanical performances thus shows promising applications in air purification under extreme working conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin has been considered the main aromatic renewable biopolymer. Besides its availability in large quantities as a major and low‐cost side product of several industries as a polysaccharide component of lignocellulosic biomass for industrial applications, it remains underutilized and as such, lignin valorization is highly desirable. This study was focused on the fabrication, purification, and characterization of lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) from black liquor of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) empty fruit bunch (EFB). The functional properties of the LNPs investigated include the morphology, particle size, zeta potential distribution, elemental composition, functional groups, and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The purified LNPs provided smaller particle sizes ranging from 32 to 62 nm while the unpurified sample sizes range between 53 and 88 nm. The zeta potential value of purified LNPs displays relatively good stability to the unpurified LNPs despite the consistency in their particle size spreading as observed from the TEM micrograph. The results of the GC–MS analysis signify that the purification procedure affects the compounds in the LNPs. The kappa‐carrageenan (KC) biopolymers reinforced with purified LNPs provided more organized surfaces than the biopolymers reinforced with unpurified LNPs, leading to enhanced hydrophobicity and mechanical properties of the bionanocomposites. This study shows the potential applications of valorized lignin from oil palm residue as a reinforcement agent in renewable packaging. Highlights: Lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) were yielded from empty fruit bunch black liquor.Syringyl to guaiacyl ratio of LNPs was increased from 0.83 to 1.26.Biopolymers were prepared by incorporating LNPs into the kappa‐carrageenan.Biopolymer with 4% purified LNPs had an optimum contact angle of 106.83°.The optimized biopolymer showed an optimum tensile strength of 38.42 MPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Allium jesdianum is traditionally used by local iranians as a natural anti-urolithiasis and kidney pain reducer. • A. jesdianum hydroalcoholic extract has promising potential in inhibiting crystal growth and aggregation. • Three phenolic and two steroidal compounds were identified by advanced spectroscopic methods in the hydroalcoholic extract of this species. • The possible mechanism of the therapeutic effects of the species can be attributed to the presence of phenolic compounds and their ability to reduce free radicals and break up stone formation signaling pathways. Allium jesdianum , a plant utilized in traditional Iranian medicine, has been historically recognized for its efficacy in countering urolithiasis and alleviating kidney pain. In this study, we investigated the hydroalcoholic extract of A. jesdianum for its potential inhibitory effects on calcium oxalate crystallization (in vitro). The study employed spectrophotometric analysis and microscopic observation to quantify sodium oxalate-induced crystallization, nucleation, and aggregation. The extract of A. jesdianum at concentration of 32 mg/mL exhibited significant potential in inhibiting crystal growth, aggregation, and reducing crystal particle size. Phytochemical analysis of the extract disclosed the presence of three known phenolic and two identified steroid compounds, offering initial insights into its bioactive constituents. A. jesdianum emerges as a promising candidate for the development of plant-based oxalate anticrystallization drugs. The therapeutic mechanisms might be attributed to pain control and the presence of phenolic compounds acting as free radical scavengers, disrupting stone formation signaling pathways. However, further investigation is required to elucidate specific chemical structures related to these activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent developments in sequencing and bioinformatics have advanced our understanding of adenosine‐to‐inosine (A‐to‐I) RNA editing. Surprisingly, recent analyses have revealed the capability of adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (ADAR) to edit DNA:RNA hybrid strands. However, edited inosines in DNA remain largely unexplored. A precise biochemical method could help uncover these potentially rare DNA editing sites. We explore maleimide as a scaffold for inosine labeling. With fluorophore‐conjugated maleimide, we were able to label inosine in RNA or DNA. Moreover, with biotin‐conjugated maleimide, we purified RNA and DNA containing inosine. Our novel technique of inosine chemical labeling and affinity molecular purification offers substantial advantages and provides a versatile platform for further discovery of A‐to‐I editing sites in RNA and DNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of kinetic sorptive effects on the transport phenomena of reactive solute has numerous real-world applications, including in the industrial and environmental sectors. These kinds of investigations become more realistic when an oscillatory pressure gradient with both the reversible and irreversible reactions at the channel walls is considered in a magnetohydrodynamics flow. In the past, Ng and Yip [J. Fluid Mech. 446, 321–345 (2001)] studied the effect of sorptive phase exchange at boundaries on the solute transport phenomena in an open-channel flow using Mei's multiple-scale homogenization technique. They considered fluid flows without magnetic field and boundary absorption. This work uses the above-mentioned method to investigate the phase exchange kinetics of Taylor dispersion phenomena in a two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamics fluid flowing through a parallel channel. The paper discusses how various parameters and dimensionless numbers, such as the Hartmann, oscillatory Reynolds, and Damkohler, affect the flow velocity, transport coefficient, multi-dimensional concentration distributions, and transverse variation rate. Due to the strong magnetic field, the flow velocity and Taylor dispersivity are adversely affected and conspicuously reduced. Additionally, for large Damkohler numbers, the total dispersion coefficient and the Taylor dispersion coefficient both decrease. However, the longitudinal concentration distribution rises with the Hartmann number and partition coefficient. It is worth noting that in the presence of unequal boundary absorption, there is no occurrence of transverse symmetry in solute concentration at any given time. Controlling various processes of tracer dispersion in environmental systems, especially water purification and the chemical industry, may benefit from these intriguing findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a non-metallic material, high-purity graphite has been widely used in many high-tech fields and has become an important raw material for its production and processing. As the purity of graphite increases, its application value will also increase. Therefore, it is necessary to purify graphite. In this study, the natural flake graphite is purified by the additive-assisted alkali melting-acid leaching process to produce high-purity graphite. Alkali melting is the main process in the alkali-acid process. Therefore, this paper is mainly to explore the removal mechanism of impurities in the alkali melting process. First, the influence of various factors on the purification efficiency in the process of alkali melting is investigated. The fixed carbon content of graphite can reach 99.9815% and 99.9569%, respectively, when 4% (accounting for graphite mass) of sodium metaborate and potassium pyrosulfate is added as additives under the best process conditions. The results show that the crystal structure and morphology of graphite have no obvious changes. Compared with the traditional alkaline melting-acid leaching process, the carbon content of natural flake graphite can be increased to a higher level by an auxiliary alkaline melting-acid leaching process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) plays a crucial role in advancing state‐of‐the‐art lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) for efficient energy storage. The primary source of lithium is lithium‐rich brines, which have complex compositions. Conventional extraction processes from brines involve cumbersome methods that often lead to emissions and/or large volumes of wastewater. To address these environmental challenges, a novel and eco‐friendly lithium extraction process under ambient pressure is necessary. In this project, we developed an electrolytic process utilizing a NASICON‐type solid‐state electrolyte (LATP) to extract lithium chloride from low‐purity sources at a temperature of 380 °C. To reduce the melting points of the lithium sources, ZnCl2 was introduced as a fluxing agent. The electrolytic process effectively separated Li+ from other coexisting ions, but resulted in their mixture with Zn2+. Subsequently, purification and carbonation processes were employed to produce high‐purity Li2CO3 (98.9 %). We also obtained high‐purity Zn(OH)2 (>99.9 %) as a value by‐product. Despite the formation of color centers that caused the LATP disk to change from white to black during the electrolytic process, it exhibited sufficient ionic conductivity for successful lithium extraction. Our environmentally friendly approach offers a promising pathway for efficient and sustainable lithium extraction, contributing to the advancement of LIB technology for energy storage applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Regeneration of waste graphite by using surfactant assisted methanesulfonic acid. • The purity and recovery rate of regenerated graphite reaches 99.7% and 98.0%. • This method can protect the graphite structure under impurity removal conditions. • Regenerated graphite exhibits excellent electrochemical performance. With the vigorous development of the new energy industry, the use of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is growing exponentially, and the recycling of spent LIBs has gradually become a research hotspot. Currently, recycling both cathode and anode materials of LIBs is important to environmental protection and resource recycling. This research reports a method of efficient purification and high-quality regeneration of graphite from spent LIBs by surfactant-assisted methanesulfonic acid (MSA). Under the optimal conditions (0.006 mol/L sodium dodecyl sulfonate, 0.25 mol/L MSA, 10 vol% hydrogen peroxide, liquid–solid ratio of 30:1 mL/g, 60 °C, 1.5 h), the purity of the regenerated graphite was 99.7 %, and the recovery efficiency was 98.0 %. The regenerated graphite showed the characteristics of small interplanar spacing, high degree of graphitization, a small number of surface defects, and excellent pore structure, which was closer to commercial graphite. Furthermore, the regenerated graphite electrode exhibited superior rate performance and cycling stability with a high specific capacity of 397.03 mAh/g after 50 cycles at 0.1C and a charge–discharge efficiency of 99.33 %. The recovery of anode graphite beneficial for resource utilization, environmental protection, and cost control throughout the entire production chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution caused by particulate matter (PM) is a worldwide concern. PM is particularly problematic from fossil-fuel-based energy conversion devices. For PM collection, a low-pressure loss method is ideal. Although PM collection via electrostatic force is an effective method with low pressure loss for PM with a wide range of diameters, it is difficult to apply to low-resistive PM, such as diesel particulates, owing to re-entrainment on the collection electrode. A magnetic fluid filter with an AC non-thermal plasma discharge solves the problem of re-entrainment. Based on our previous study, we hypothesized that an increase in the number of magnetic fluid spikes leads to an improvement in collection efficiencies with energy conservation. In this study, experiments are performed to verify this hypothesis. By improving our previous experimental methodology, the experiments include not only collection efficiency but also pressure loss, power consumption, and ozone generation efficiency. PM collection efficiencies using diesel fine particles and the ozone generation efficiencies required for air purification are investigated under different discharge conditions. The results revealed that the PM collection and ozone generation efficiencies increase proportionally with the number of spikes of the magnetic fluid with discharge, as hypothesized. The resulting PM collection and ozone generation efficiencies are sufficiently high for air purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic reaction takes place on the surface of the catalyst, the crystal plane engineering which can adjust and optimize the surface atomic ordering and electronic energy band structure has been widely studied, considering the microchemical environment changes caused by defects on different surfaces, the combination of crystal plane engineering and defect engineering is expected to become a promising strategy to greatly improve the performance of photocatalysis. In this paper, we introduce 2,2'‐Bipyridyl to induce oxygen vacancy in the synthesis of highly exposed {100} faceted TiO2 nanorods, and obtain oxygen‐rich TiO2 nanomaterials. Benefit from the synergistic effect of high‐energy crystal plane and oxygen vacancy, 96.8 % Rhodamine B (10 mg ⋅ L−1) is degraded after irradiation of 30 min in T100‐VO photocatalytic system. This study provides a new strategy and inspiration for low‐cost control of semiconductor oxides and the design of efficient photocatalysts for environmental purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐purity octafluoropropane (C3F8) electronic specialty gas is a key chemical raw material in semiconductor and integrated circuit manufacturing industry, while selective removal of hexafluoropropylene (C3F6) impurity for C3F8 purification is essential but a challenging task. Here we report a fluorinated cage‐like MOF Zn‐bzc‐CF3 (bzc=5‐(trifluoromethyl)‐1H‐pyrazole‐4‐carboxylic acid) for C3F6/C3F8 separation. The incorporation of −CF3 groups not only provides suitable pore aperture size for highly efficient size‐exclusive C3F6/C3F8 separation, but also creates hydrophobic microenvironments, endowing Zn‐bz‐CF3 high chemical stability. Remarkably, Zn‐bzc‐CF3 exhibits high C3F6 adsorption capacity while excluding C3F8, achieving ideal molecular‐sieving C3F6/C3F8 separation. Breakthrough experiments show that Zn‐bzc‐CF3 can efficiently separate C3F6/C3F8 mixture and high‐purity C3F8 (99.9 %) can be obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A flexible technology for the production of high purity inorganic acids has been developed, which includes the stages of chemical purification, rectification, desorption, adsorption, absorption, composition correction, and microfiltration. It is shown that one of the most important stages of the technology is chemical purification, which makes it possible to convert volatile impurities into non-volatile ones, and also to carry out deep purification of acids from arsenic impurities. A pilot installation for studying the process has been created. Based on the conducted research, a chemical purification module has been was developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing high-efficiency photothermal seawater desalination devices is of significant importance in addressing the shortage of freshwater. Despite much effort made into photothermal materials, there is an urgent need to design a rapidly synthesized photothermal evaporator for the comprehensive purification of complex seawater. Therefore, we report on all-in-one FeO x -rGO photothermal sponges synthesized via solid-phase microwave thermal shock. The narrow band gap of the semiconductor material Fe 3 O 4 greatly reduces the recombination of electron-hole pairs, enhancing non-radiative relaxation light absorption. The abundant π orbitals in rGO promote electron excitation and thermal vibration between the lattices. Control of the surface hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity promotes salt resistance while simultaneously achieving the purification of various complex polluted waters. The optimized GFM-3 sponge exhibitedan enhanced photothermal conversion rate of 97.3% and a water evaporation rate of 2.04 kg/(m2·hr), showing promising synergistic water purification properties. These findings provide a highly efficient photothermal sponge for practical applicationsof seawater desalination and purification,as well as develop a super-rapid processing methodology for evaporation devices. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been a growing interest in using cadmium (Cd) isotopes to trace the source of Cd contamination and Cd cycling in the Earth surface. Yet it remains technically challenging to precisely and efficiently determine the Cd isotopic compositions of samples with extremely low Cd concentrations due to the imperfect separation of Cd from the matrix and the interference caused by resin-derived organics when TRU Spec resin was used. In this study, we present a two-stage column chromatography system (AG-MP-1M resin + UTEVA resin) for Cd purification. Here, a Prefilter resin combined with UTEVA resin effectively purifies Cd from Sn after the separation of Cd by AG-MP-1M column while keeping the phosphorous organic compounds to an acceptable level. In contrast to TRU Spec resin, which is prone to leaking through the Prefilter resin, we find that UTEVA resin is effectively retained by the Prefilter resin, thus avoiding the P-related anomalous shifts in the Cd isotope measurement (P/Cd < 1). UTEVA resin also exhibits a comparable capacity for purifying Cd from Sn and Mo when compared to TRU Spec resin. The recovery of the two-stage column system is generally higher than 99% and the procedural blank accounting for sample digestion and chemical purification is lower than 20 pg. The Cd isotopic compositions of several reference materials are determined using double spike MC-ICP-MS, with a 111Cd–113Cd double spike pair optimized for the 111Cd, 112Cd, 113Cd, and 114Cd inversion. The δ114/110Cd values of these reference materials relative to NIST SRM 3108 agree within analytical uncertainty with previous studies. The long-term external precision of δ114/110Cd determined based on replicated measurements of BCR-2 is 0.04‰ (n = 10, 2 SD) for a minimum sample size of 10 ng. Our study thus provides an efficient two-stage column system for determining the Cd isotopic compositions of geological samples with relatively low Cd concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine microalgae are widely present in the natural environment, exhibiting a significant economic value. However, during the inoculation and cultivation process of microalgae, the introduction of unwanted algae is bound to trigger nutrient competition, leading to a decrease in the growth rate of microalgae and consequently impacting their economic value in production. To address this issue, this study integrates the optically induced dielectrophoresis (ODEP) manipulation technology based on the continuous flow in a microfluidic system. A two-stage cell filter, utilizing two virtual optical spots, is designed and manufactured. Leveraging the size differences between microalgae, continuous separation and purification of mixed samples containing Chlorella vulgaris and Haematococcus pluvialis are achieved within microchannels. Additionally, optimal ODEP manipulation conditions for mixed algal liquid samples, comprising C. vulgaris and H. pluvialis, are demonstrated, including appropriate alternating current voltage (6 V), alternating current frequency (100 kHz), light spot width (40 μm), and sample flow rate (0.9 μl/min). Analysis of mixed liquid samples collected at the chip's outlet reveals a reduction in the proportion of H. pluvialis from 37.5% to 1.2% after separation. In summary, this study proposes an ODEP microfluidic system capable of continuously separating and purifying microalgae with different biological characteristics, showcasing its potential as an alternative to traditional labor-intensive microalgae separation techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-purity tellurium is a supporting material for contemporary high-tech industries. Zone refining is commonly used as a reliable final purification step to achieve higher purity levels of tellurium. However, the removal of Selenium (Se)—the most troublesome impurity in tellurium often occurring in quite high amounts—stays as the challenge during zone refining, due to its very unfavorable distribution coefficient. In addition, there is an important factor, essential to predict the zone refining efficiency (required number of passes), which is still seldom explored. Therefore, in the present work, the effect of different number of passes on the purification effect of tellurium was investigated by using 4N tellurium as raw material. Firstly, the possibility of removing vaporized Se through introducing an reductive gas flux was studied by testing initial concentrations of Se (13 ppm) and undergoing different process parameters. The experimental results showed that when the number of passes was 3, the impurity removal rate was low and the purification effect was poor; when the number of zone refining reached 9, the removal rate of most impurities in tellurium reached 100 pct, the removal rate of impurity Se reached 80.15 pct, and the total removal rate reached 89.49 pct, and the purity of tellurium ingot was 5N7. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]