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[Display omitted] Electrowetting on conventional dielectrics requires direct fluid-electrode contact to generate strong electric fields at the three-phase contact line to modulate the wetting. Since the electric field alters wetting, the modulation of wetting can be achieved by applying an external electric field through insulated electrodes, preventing the liquid from contacting the electrodes. A simple and efficient method for non-contact between the fluid and the electrode external electric field modulation of fluid wetting was proposed. The switching ability of droplets on microgroove surfaces from Cassie-Baxter to Wenzel wetting state under an external electric field was used to drive and quantify the relationship between wetting, contact angle, and the applied voltage. Applying an external electric field modulates the wetting of deionized water, ionic liquids, and high-viscosity liquids on microgrooves. The wetting degree of liquid can be controlled by adjusting the external voltage parameters. The finite element simulations revealed that the Maxwell force drove this process. The effects of substrate size and liquid properties on wetting behavior were also examined. Post-application cross-sectional imaging showed the formation of a conformal interface, highlighting the relevance of the proposed method in advanced adaptive shape fabrication and microfluidic control, among other applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Although lots of nanomaterials modified anodes have been reported to improve the bacterial attachment and extracellular electron transfer (EET) in microbial fuel cells (MFCs), the lack of a three dimensional (3D) conductive and capacitive network severely limited MFCs performance. In this work, 3D conductive networks derived from mucor mycelia were grown on carbon cloth (CC), and capacitive FeMn phosphides/oxides were further anchored on these 3D networks by electrochemical deposition (denoted as FeMn/CMM@CC) to simultaneously address the above challenges. As a result, the multivalent metal active sites were evenly distributed on 3D conductive network, which favored the enrichment of exoelectrogens, mass transport and EET. Consequently, the as-prepared FeMn/CMM@CC anode displayed accumulated charge of 131.4C/m2, higher than bare CC. Meanwhile, FeMn/CMM@CC anode substantially promoted flavin excretion and the amounts of nano conduits. The abundance of Geobacter was 63 % on bare CC, and greatly increased to 83 % on FeMn/CMM@CC. MFCs equipped by FeMn/CMM@CC anode presented the power density of 3.06 W/m2 and coulombic efficiency (29.9 %), evidently higher than bare CC (1.29 W/m2, 7.3 %), and the daily chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal amount also increased to 92.6 mg/L/d. This work developed a facile method to optimize the abiotic-biotic interface by introducing 3D conductive and capacitive network, which was proved to be a promising strategy to modify macro-porous electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we synthesized a polymer hydrogel(PPNS), which features multiple hydrogen bonds through copolymerization, by using N -isopropylacrylamide, polyvinyl alcohol, and octadecyl polyoxyethylene ether acrylate (SGA 15) as raw materials. The PPNS hydrogel demonstrated outstanding high-resolution, repeatable recording capabilities, enabling reversible recording, encryption, and decryption of information using anhydrous ethanol as the inducer. Due to their responsive and dynamic nature of PPNS hydrogels are positions them as promising candidates for use as innovative information storage platforms. [Display omitted] Smart hydrogel materials, known for their sensitivity to external stimuli, exhibit a reversible dynamic response and find applications in diverse fields, particularly in information storage. Despite significant efforts in this domain, developing a hydrogel with high-resolution, repeatable recording, and robust information encryption/decryption capabilities still remains a challenge. In this study, we synthesized a polymer hydrogel, namely polyvinyl alcohol- n -isopropylacrylamide-octadecyl polyoxyethylene ether acrylate hydrogel (PPNS), which features multiple hydrogen bonds through copolymerization, by using N -isopropylacrylamide, polyvinyl alcohol, and octadecyl polyoxyethylene ether acrylate (SGA 15) as raw materials. The PPNS hydrogel demonstrated outstanding high-resolution, repeatable recording capabilities, enabling reversible recording, encryption, and decryption of information using anhydrous ethanol as the inducer. Varying the SGA 15 monomer concentration revealed that the PPNS-2% hydrogel, prepared with 2% SGA 15 , outperformed the other hydrogels in terms of information recording and encryption/decryption when immersed in anhydrous ethanol and deionized water. Furthermore, the PPNS-2% hydrogel exhibited the ability to undergo multiple information cycles while maintaining excellent mechanical properties even after 25 cycles. Notably, ethanol served as a specialized ink for inscribing different patterns on the hydrogel surface for information recording. The recorded information could be erased through water wiping or ethanol volatilization, enabling reversible information recording, encryption, and decryption. Due to their responsive and dynamic nature of PPNS hydrogels are positions them as promising candidates for use as innovative information storage platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The utilization of Na 2 MnSiO 4 as a Faraday electrode in hybrid capacitive deionization (HCDI) is investigated to achieve efficient desalination. The Na 2 MnSiO 4 /C (NMSO) materials were fabricated via a simple sol–gel method, in which the synthesis process was modulated by adjusting the volume ratio of ethanol to water. When maintaining the volume ratio of water to ethanol at 3:1, the resultant NMSO-3/1 exhibited expected salt adsorption capacity of 31.06 mg g−1 and salt adsorption rate of 20.43 mg g−1 min−1. This distinguished desalination performance was mainly attributed to its inherent multiple redox pairs, as well as the integration of ethanol, which enhanced both specific capacitance and hydrophilicity of the material. This study opens a new perspective for the development of highly efficient materials in HCDI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • An efficient CuHCF/C electrode was prepared for Cu2+ removal by CDI. • CuHCF/C achieved high Cu2+ adsorption capacity of 134.47 mg g−1 at low applied voltage of 0.8 V. • CuHCF/C manifested excellent Cu2+ selectivity in multi-ion coexisting solution. • The mechanism of removing Cu2+ by Faradaic pseudocapacitance was explained. The efficient capture of copper ions (Cu2+) in wastewater has dual significance in pollution control and resource recovery. Prussian blue analog (PBA)-based pseudocapacitive materials with open frameworks and abundant metal sites have attracted considerable attention as capacitive deionization (CDI) electrodes for copper removal. In this study, the efficiency of copper hexacyanoferrate (CuHCF) as CDI electrode for Cu2+ treating was evaluated for the first time upon the successful synthesis of copper hexacyanoferrate/carbon sheet combination (CuHCF/C) by introducing carbon sheet as conductive substrate. CuHCF/C exhibited significant pseudocapacitance and high specific capacitance (52.92 F g−1) through the intercalation, deintercalation, and coupling of Cu+/Cu2+ and Fe2+/Fe3+ redox pairs. At 0.8 an applied voltage and CuSO 4 feed liquid concentration of 100 mg L−1, the salt adsorption capacity was 134.47 mg g−1 higher than those of most reported electrodes. Moreover, CuHCF/C demonstrated excellent Cu2+ selectivity in multi-ion coexisting solutions and in actual wastewater experiments. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were employed to elucidate the mechanism. This study not only reveals the essence of Cu2+ deionization by PBAs pseudocapacitance with promising potential applications but also provides a new strategy for selecting efficient CDI electrodes for Cu2+ removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Mesoporous polydopamine (mPDA) was coated on the surface of leaf-like zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFL). • mPDA layer effectively mitigate backbone collapse of ZIFL during pyrolysis. • ZIFL@mPDA derived carbon possess hierarchical pore structures along with carbon nanotubes. • The structural and compositional merits enable ZIFL@mPDA derived carbon excellent desalination performance. The onstruction of novel porous carbon materials for efficient desalination is crucial but remains challenging for capacitive deionization (CDI) development. Herein, a micelle-assisted strategy was raised to coat mesoporous polydopamine (mPDA) on the surface of two-dimensional (2D) leaf-like zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFL) followed by confinement pyrolysis. The introduction of the mPDA layer can not only mitigate the backbone collapse of ZIFL during pyrolysis to build a favorable porous environment for efficient ion transport and diffusion, but also induce explosive growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to improve the electron conductivity. As expected, the derivative ZIFL@mPDA-C possessed a high desalination capacity of 41.9 mg g−1 in 500 mg L-1 NaCl solution at an operating voltage of 1.2 V. In particular, the retention ratio of the desalination capacity of ZIFL@mPDA-C was about 100 % after 50 consecutive adsorption-desorption cycles, while its leaf-like morphology and hierarchical pore structures were well preserved. This study highlights the importance of rationally designed structures and components for the performance breakthrough of carbon-based CDI electrode materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Urea electrolysis holds tremendous promise to provide green and sustainable energy and environmental solutions, because it can simultaneously remedy urea–containing wastewater and provide energy–saving hydrogen. However, the development of this emerging technology remains challenging mainly due to a dearth of high–performance electrocatalysts for efficient urea oxidation reaction (UOR). Perovskite fluorides have the advantages of intrinsic 3D diffusion pathways, robust architecture, and tunable chemical composition, thus receiving increasing attention in many applications. In this work, the UOR performances of a series of ABF 3 samples (A = K; B = Ni/Mn, Ni/Co, Co/Mn) with various compositions are investigated in a systematic fashion for the first time. Among the binary samples, KNMF41 (Ni/Mn atomic ratio = 4:1) is the optimal sample with reduced overpotential (reaching 100 mA cm−2 at 1.43 V), low Tafel slope (40 mV dec−1), enhanced reaction rate constant (6.3 × 105 cm3 mol−1 s−1), and high turnover frequency (TOF, 0.19 s−1 at 1.60 V) toward urea oxidation. By comparing with Ni Co and Co Mn samples, the binary Ni Mn design is confirmed to endow the perovskite fluoride with higher electrocatalytic activity, thanks to the directed adsorption of urea molecules on the adjacent Ni Mn active sites. This work presents a targeted synthetic strategy for obtaining efficient electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The electronic properties and structural characteristics of transition metal materials have a significant impact on their electrocatalytic performance. Therefore, precisely controlling the electronic states of core metals and fabricating catalysts with advanced structures are conducive to facilitating electrolysis process. Herein, we manipulate the electronic properties of the electroactive sites of catalysts by controlling the degree of phosphorization during the phosphorization process. The Co x P-FeP@C electrocatalysts, characterized by their sea-urchin morphology, were synthesized by subjecting CoFc-metal organic framework (MOF) precursors to phosphorization for specific time intervals. The optimized Co 2 P-FeP@C-5 electrocatalyst showed the optimum performance towards the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalytic efficiency with 239 mV overpotential and the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity with 169 mV overpotential to reach 10 mA·cm−2 in 1.0 M KOH (PH = 13.8). For comparison, the extended duration of phosphorization resulted in the formation of CoP-FeP@C-15 and CoP-FeP@C-30 electrocatalysts, which exhibited compromised electrocatalytic performance due to the transformation of the electroactive core Co 2 P to CoP during subsequent phosphorization processes. The improved interfacial properties between Co 2 P and FeP play a crucial role in enhancing the efficiency of water decomposition, attributed to the higher density of states (DOS) at the Fermi Level and the increased availability of electroactive sites for the adsorption of intermediates and electrolysis. These findings are substantiated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. This approach offers a highly effective means of manipulating the electronic properties of the electroactive transition metal core by controlling the degree of phosphorization, with the ultimate goal of achieving efficient water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Flexible free-standing hierarchical SnS 2 @NC hybrid electrode was fabricated. • The hollow structure alleviates volume expansion and facilitates ion diffusion. • A high electrosorption capacity and a rapid salt adsorption rate were achieved. • Work function-driven interfacial electron transfer accelerates reaction kinetics. Constructing pseudocapacitive electrodes with high specific capacities is indispensable for increasing the large-scale application of capacitive deionization (CDI). However, the insufficient CDI rate and cycling performance of pseudocapacitive-based electrodes have led to a decline in their use due to the corresponding volumetric expansion and contraction that occurs during long-term CDI processes. Herein, hierarchical porous SnS 2 nanoflakes are encapsulated inside an N -doped carbon (NC) matrix to achieve efficient CDI. Benefiting from the synergistic properties of the pseudocapacitive SnS 2 nanoflakes and few-layered N -doped carbon, the heterogeneous interface simultaneously provides more available vigorous sites and demonstrates rapid charge-transfer kinetics, resulting in a superior desalination capability (49.86 mg g−1 at 1.2 V), rapid desalination rate (1.66 mg g−1 min−1) and better cyclic stability. Computational research reveals a work function-induced surface charge redistribution of the SnS 2 @NC heterojunction, which can lead to an auspicious surface electronic structure that reduces the adsorption energy to improve the diffusion kinetics toward sodium adsorption. This work contributes to providing a thoughtful understanding of the interface engineering between transition metal dichalcogenides and NC to construct high-performance CDI electrode materials for further industrialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Porous carbon materials have been regarded as a promising alternative to activated carbon for desalination via capacitive deionization (CDI) due to refined architectures and functionalities. However, it is still challenging to obtain a controlled hierarchical pore structure and considerable nitrogen-doped content by convenient method. Herein, nitrogen-doped hierarchical porous carbon foams (NHCFs) with different microstructural features, nitrogen contents and nitrogen species were successfully fabricated via a stepwise pyrolysis carbonization strategy using easily available melamine foam. Due to the synergistic effect of hierarchical porous structure and doped nitrogen, the optimized NHCF sample carbonized at 800℃ (NHCF-800) exhibited a maximum desalination capacity of 30.1 mg g−1 at the optimal operating parameters (500 mg/L NaCl solution, 1.2 V) and an excellent regeneration performance after 50 continuous adsorption–desorption cycles. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) was also conducted to elaborate the disparity of sodium adsorption energy among the nitrogen species for in-depth understanding, and it mainly benefits from the ascendency of the pyrrolic-N and pyridinic-N over the graphitic-N dopant. This work paves the way of rational regulation of nitrogen-doped process and hierarchical porous structure carbon as CDI electrode materials for desalination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks with RHO, qtz and ANA topologies were synthesized at room temperature under aqueous conditions. An excess of unreacted ligand acted as a structure directing agent to nucleate the porous RHO framework. [Display omitted] Here we report the synthesis of a zeolitic imidazolate framework with RHO topology (RHO-Zn(eim) 2 ; eim is the deprotonated anion of 2-ethylimidazole (Heim)) in the aqueous phase. Zn(eim) 2 crystals were prepared by the reaction between Heim and zinc acetate in deionized water. The products prepared at relatively high Heim/Zn molar ratios were Zn(eim) 2 whose structure assigned to RHO, qtz and ANA topologies. Zn(eim) 2 obtained under static condition had porous RHO structure, while under stirred condition, nonporous dense qtz and ANA structures were formed. This study revealed that the formation of RHO porous structure requires the template effect of excess Heim. The RHO-Zn(eim) 2 crystals possessed high surface area and micropore volume, whose morphology consisted of a rhombic dodecahedron. RHO-Zn(eim) 2 exhibited high adsorption capacity (4 mmol/g) for hexane and cyclohexane. Due to the hydrophobic nature of RHO-Zn(eim) 2 , water vapor was hardly adsorbed. Although RHO-Zn(eim) 2 was stable in the presence of water vapor, it became nonporous upon hydrolysis in aqueous solution. In contrast, partial carbonization of topmost surface improved the structural stability against hydrolysis by water, while maintaining the adsorption capacity and increasing the adsorption rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of moxifloxacin over a aminobenzaldehyde grafted graphitic carbon nitride. [Display omitted] Graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) has been demonstrated to be a potential visible-light-driven photocatalyst for eliminating organic pollutants. However, its practical application is limited by low photocatalytic efficiency originating from high recombination of photogenerated charges. In this work, the electronic structure of GCN was regulated by doping aminobenzaldehyde (ABA) into the skeleton through a solid-state Schiff base reaction. Photoelectrochemical characterizations illustrated that the obtained catalyst (CNABA) exhibited narrower band gap, lower recombination rate of photoinduced electron-hole pair and higher charge transfer ability than the pristine GCN, further indicating its excellent photocatalytic activity. Using moxifloxacin (MOX) as a model pollutant, the ABA doping content was firstly optimized and the optimal activity of the CNABA photocatalyst was 3.1 times higher than that of the GCN. Subsequently, the effects of pH value, photocatalyst dosage and MOX concentration on the photocatalytic behavior were also studied. Superior stability and photocatalytic reusability were confirmed by five repeated tests. By substituting tap water/natural lake water for deionized water and sunlight for xenon light, the CNABA also exhibited high elimination efficiency, implying its good practicability. Superoxide radical, hydroxyl radical and photogenerated hole were identified as the main active species to degrade MOX. Finally, possible degradation pathways for MOX to mineralize small molecules were proposed by determining intermediate products during photocatalysis. This work provides a solid-state method to rationally design aromatic system-modified GCN photocatalysts, and the obtained CNABA is a promising visible-light-driven photocatalyst for eliminating antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Ortho and para water are the two nuclear isomers where the hydrogen protons align to give a total nuclear spin of 1 or 0. The equilibrium ratio of 3:1 is established slowly in freshly evaporated water vapour while the isomers behave distinct gasses, with their own partial pressures. Magnetic-field-induced ortho ⟷ para transformations are expected to alter the evaporation rate. Evaporation from beakers of deionized water and a 6 M solution of urea is monitored simultaneously for periods from 1 to 60 h with and without a 500 mT magnetic field, while logging the ambient temperature and humidity. Balances with the two beakers are shielded in the same Perspex container. Many runs have been conducted over a two-year period. The evaporation rate of water is found to increase by 12 ± 7% of in the field but that of water with dissolved urea decreases by 28 ± 6%. Two effects are at play. One is dephasing of the Larmor precession of adjacent protons on a water molecule in a field gradient, which tends to equalize the isomer populations. The other is Lorentz stress on the moving charge dipole, which can increase the proportion of the ortho isomer. From analysis of the time and field dependence of the evaporation, we infer that the ortho fraction is 39 ± 1% in fresh vapour from water and 60 ± 5% in fresh vapour from urea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Exploring an emerging carbon-based material with optimized structure and controlled porosity is of significance for further heightening the capacitive deionization (CDI) performance and solving the problem of emergency fresh water supply. Herein, a porous nitrogen-doped carbon nanopolyhedra with hierarchical pores prepared via using zeolite-type metal-organic framework (ZIF-8) as precursor is reported and used for CDI. In order to prepare the nanomaterials with abundant hierarchical pore structure, the synthetic route of carbonization followed by HCl-activation is adopted. The resulting nitrogen-doped carbon materials exhibit a bimodal porosity containing micro- and meso-pores, high specific surface area, and numerous exposed adsorption active sites. The excellent performance in structure ensures the ultrahigh desalination capacity of 37.52 mg g−1 and excellent recyclability (retained 90% over 30 cycles) of the as-prepared carbon electrode material. Notably, the above electrode demonstrates ultrafast desalination rate of 16.01 mg g−1 min−1, which is 2–8 times faster than the conventional carbon materials. This present work may provide a new insight for developing efficient MOF-derived CDI electrode materials and realizing rapid water resource supply in emergencies such as outdoor survival or unexpected natural disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Capacitive deionization (CDI) technologies have the potential to become cost-competitive alternatives to reverse osmosis for the treatment of brackish waters. In this study, we report our findings on the effect of co-ion sorption and faradaic side reactions on our ion exchange resin functionalized desalination electrodes which passively capture salt and reject it upon charging. This system, which we previously reported on and refer to as electrically regenerated ion exchange (ERI), avoids the use of expensive ion exchange membranes in an effort to save costs. Surprisingly, we find that, compared to a reference CDI system, ERI electrodes capture salt most effectively at low applied voltages (0.5 mg/cm3 at 0.8 V). Both CDI and ERI systems also seem to suffer from co-ion sorption effects which negatively impact salt adsorption. However, Faradaic side reactions at higher voltages (1 V and 1.2 V) which we track via pH measurements, serve as a detriment to CDI but seem to facilitate the functionality of ERI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Microscopic self-propelled motors (SPMs) are an area of active research, but very little investigation has been conducted on millimetre-scale or macroscopic SPMs and exploring their potential in biomedical research. In this study, we tested if 3D reactive inkjet (RIJ) printing could be used for precise fabrication of millimetre-scale self-propelled motors (SPMs) with well-defined shapes from regenerated silk fibroin (RSF) by converting water soluble RSF (silk I) to insoluble silk fibroin (silk II). Secondly, we compared the different propulsion behaviour of the SPMs to put forward the best geometry and propulsion mechanism for potential applications in enhancing the sensitivity of diffusion-rate limited biomedical assays by inducing fluid flow. SPMs with four different geometric shapes and propelled by two different mechanisms (catalysis and surface tension gradient) were fabricated by 3D RIJ printing and compared. For bubble propulsion, the structures were selectively doped in specific regions with the enzyme catalase in order to produce motion via bubble generation and detachment in hydrogen peroxide solutions. For surface tension propulsion, PEG 400 -doped structures were propelled through surface tension gradients caused by leaching of PEG 400 surfactant in deionized water. The results demonstrated the ability of 3D inkjet printing to fabricate SPMs with desired propulsion mechanism and fine-tune the propulsion by precisely fabricating the different geometric shapes. The resulting 3D structures were capable of generating motion without external actuation, thereby enabling applications in biomedicine such as micro-stirring small fluid volumes to enhance biological assay sensitivity. The surface tension gradient caused by the leaching of surfactant led to faster propulsion velocities with smooth deceleration, whereas, in comparison, catalysis-induced bubble propulsion tended to be jerky and uneven in deceleration, and therefore less suitable for aforementioned applications. Computational fluid dynamic simulations were used to compare the various experimental SPMs ability to enhance mixing when deployed within 96-well plate microwells, to reveal the effect of both SPM shape and motion character on performance, and show viability for small scale mixing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) transformation provides a good platform for obtaining new functional coordination polymers. In this study, we demonstrate a violent and rapid structural transformation between two d10 coordination polymers (CPs). The complex 1 [Zn(3,5-thbzc) 2 (C 2 H 6 O) 2 ] transformed into the complex 2 {[Zn(3,5-thbzc) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ]·C 3 H 7 NO·2H 2 O} (where t = tbutyl, hbzc− = 2-Hydroxybenzoato) triggered by deionized water under standard temperature and pressure conditions in solid state. The transformation reaction was confirmed using single-crystal XRD, PXRD and SEM. The results showed that complex 1 adopts a bidentate chelate six-coordination mode, and complex 2 adopts a monodentate four-coordination mode. SEM clearly showed that complex 2 was in the form of random nanowire clusters, suggesting that their transformation required degradation of the entire crystal structure. UV–Vis–NIR spectra were used to calculate the band gaps of complexes 1 and 2 , which demonstrated wide-bandgap semiconductor-like materials with ∼3.2 eV band gap widths. The results of dielectric studies of complex 1 revealed that it possessed a medium dielectric constant (κ = 6.08 at 1 kHz), while complex 2 displayed an even higher dielectric constant (κ = 7.97 at 1 kHz) at room temperature. Interestingly, parent complex 1 exhibited a small ladder-like dielectric anomaly at 188 °C, while progeny complex 2 did not. This paper describes a new strategy for preparing adjustable functional dielectric materials. Through solid-state transformation triggered by deionized water, the parent bidentate six-coordination complex 1 generates the progeny monodentate four-coordination complex 2. This transformation process involves the cleavage and regeneration of coordination bonds. Complex 2 has a high dielectric constant due to the substitution of water ligands. [Display omitted] • Ligand-substituted SCSC transformation between complexes 1 and 2 was triggered by deionized water. • The transformation process involves the cleavage and regeneration of coordination bonds. • The coordination number of Zn2+ changes from six-coordination to four-coordination. • The introduction of H 2 O ligands can significantly improve the dielectric constants of Zn-CPs. • Complex 1 shows a ladder-like dielectric anomaly at 188 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

6:2 Chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonate (F-53B) is a new type of perfluorinated and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) that is used extensively in industry and manufacturing. F-53B causes damage to multiple mammalian organs. However, the impacts of F-53B on bone are unknown. Maternal exposure to F-53B is of particular concern because of the vulnerability of the developing fetus and newborn to contaminants from the mother. The goal of this study was to examine the impacts of maternal F-53B exposure on bone growth and development in offspring and to explore its underlying mechanisms. Herein, C57BL/6 J mice were given free access to deionized water containing 0, 0.57, or 5.7 mg/L F-53B during pregnancy and lactation. F-53B exposure resulted in impaired liver function, decreased IGF-1 secretion, dysregulation of bone metabolism and disruption of the dynamic balance between osteoblasts and osteoclasts in male offspring. F-53B inhibits longitudinal bone growth and development and causes osteoporosis in male offspring. F-53B may affect the growth and development of offspring bone via the IGF-1/OPG/RANKL/CTSK signaling pathway. This study provides new insights for the study of short stature and bone injury caused by F-53B. • Maternal F-53B exposure inhibits bone growth and development in male offspring. • Maternal F-53B exposure causes osteoporosis in male offspring. • This demonstrates that F-53B may be genotoxic. • F-53B may cause bone damage via the IGF-1/OPG/RANKL/CTSK signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a new strategy by in situ combining slag-based geopolymer microsphere (SGS) with dithiocarbamate (DTC) was employed to synthesize in situ the composite adsorbent of the SGS and DTC (SGS-DTC). The differences of material properties, performance, and mechanisms in adsorption and immobilization of toxic Cd(II) in water between the SGS and SGS-DTC were investigated. For the static adsorption, the adsorption rate of SGS-DTC(1.5h) was faster than that of SGS(6h); the Cd(II) adsorption capacity of the SGS-DTC (211.2 mg/g) was almost twice that of the SGS (116.7 mg/g), corresponding to the removal rate of the SGS-DTC (99.75%) was nearly twice that of the SGS (53.2%). For the dynamic adsorption, the adsorption capacity of the SGS-DTC is higher than that of the SGS in the Cd(II) solution prepared by the deionized water or the river water from Yongjiang, Nanning, Guangxi, China. The mechanism of the difference of the Cd(II) adsorption between SGS and SGS-DTC was analyzed in dept. [Display omitted] In this study, slag-based geopolymer microspheres (SGS) were combined with dithiocarbamate (DTC) to synthesize the composite adsorbent of SGS and DTC in situ (SGS-DTC). Synthesis was carried out with optimal dosages of 10 mL of EDA, 1.0 g of SGS, and 20 mL of CS 2. The differences in material properties, performance, and mechanisms in the adsorption and immobilization of toxic Cd(II) in water between SGS and SGS-DTC were investigated. SGS-DTC showed better adsorption performance than SGS, irrespective of adsorbent dosage, pH, original content, and contact duration. Although after the Cd(II) adsorption, the immobilization performance at a different pH was better in the SGS-DTC than in the SGS, the immobilization performance was unaffected by changes in the other factors. For static adsorption, the adsorption rate of SGS-DTC (1.5 h) was faster than that of SGS (6 h); the Cd(II) adsorption capacity of SGS-DTC (211.2 mg/g) was almost twice that of SGS (116.7 mg/g), and correspondingly, the removal rate of SGS-DTC (99.75%) was nearly twice that of SGS (53.2%). For dynamic adsorption, the adsorption capacity of SGS-DTC was 389.78 mg/g, which is considerably higher than that of SGS (293.38 mg/g) in the Cd(II) solution prepared with deionized water. Furthermore, the adsorption capacity of the SGS-DTC was 299.26 mg/g, which is significantly higher than that of SGS (150.03 mg/g) in the Cd(II) solution prepared by the river water from Yongjiang, Nanning, Guangxi, China. One reason is that DTC was able to activate Si-O-Si without adsorption performance within SGS, thereby improving its adsorption and purification properties significantly. The other reason is that, after anchoring DTC on SGS, the specific surface area varied from 34.05–146.47 m2/g, the morphology was smooth-leaf-like, the pore volume was 0.13–0.20 cm3/g, and the pore size in SGS, was 14.75–5.60 nm. The high potential of SGS-DTC in removing and immobilizing heavy metal materials in wastewater is demonstrated in the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • NO 2 – oxidation and sorption on oxyhydroxides was studied at constant potential. • NiOOH played a rule of diffusive capacitance effective in NO 2 – oxidation. • Adsorption capacity of Ni/CoOOH composite was facilitated by carbon support. • Langmuir model assessed NO 2 – monolayer capacity under given electrode potentials. • NiCo/AC had synergist effect on NO 2 – eliminated. The composite electrode of NiCo oxide supported by porous carbon was synthesized for nitrite oxidation and nitrate electro-sorption. The crystal structure and chemical state of the Co and Ni oxyhydroxides which were precipitated on loofah-derived activated carbon (AC) using hypochlorite were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and BET surface area. The voltammetry showed that the redox couple of Co(II)/Co(III) and Ni(II)/Ni(III) as the mediator catalytically transferred the electrons of NO 2 –/NO 3 –; the Ni site had a relatively high transfer coefficient and diffusive current, while the Co site was better in the capacitive removal of the nitrite and nitrate compounds. A batch electrolysis of nitrite ions was operated under constant anodic potential mode (0 to + 1.5 V vs. Ag/AgCl) to assess the performance of the composite electrodes. The adsorption capacity of NiCo/AC (Ni = 5% and Co = 5% on AC by weight) was 23.5 mg-N g−1, which was twice that of AC substrate (7.5 mg-N g−1), based on a multilayer adsorption model. The steady-state kinetics of the consecutive reaction were derived to determine the rate steps of the electrochemical oxidation of NO 2 – and adsorption of NO 3 –. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steviol glycosides (SGs), derived from Stevia rebaudiana , are of increasing interest as potent low-calorie sweetener. However, there is still unclear regulation for estimating the maximum limit of their usage in food products and daily intakes, due to limited information on quantitative analytical protocols for SGs. In the present study, optimized settings for ultraperformance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) with product ion confirmation scan (PICS) mode for separation and quantitation of all 13 SGs were discussed. As a result, UPLC-TQ-MS/MS method with PICS mode presented excellent linearity (R² > 0.999), limits of detection (0.03–0.04 mg/L), and limits of quantitation (0.09–0.12 mg/L), along with high accuracy (recovery 97.4–105.6 %) and precision (RSD 0.35–3.24 %), within 35 min. The validated method was then applied to analyze 10 commercial Korean distilled liquors, Soju. All Soju samples were diluted with a five-fold volume of the acetonitrile (ACN) and deionized water mixture (3:7, v / v) for further analysis. Mostly, rebaudioside A exhibited the highest content with large variation, while both rebaudioside E and O were the lowest content with the smallest variation. The separation and quantitation methods for SGs can be applied for liquid food quality control and the obtained results can be useful to the guideline for daily amounts of drinking Soju for the public. [Display omitted] • Steviol glycoside derivatives are used widely in Soju, Korean distilled liquor. • Screening and quantitation of 13 steviol glycosides in Soju are highly needed. • UPLC-TQ-MS was optimized and validated with 10 commercial Soju samples. • All Soju samples contain more than 10 steviol glycosides, up to 7.66 mg/L total. • Total anticipated exposure to steviol glycosides by drinking Soju can be estimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research presents an analytical technique based on nano Fe-Al-bi-MOF designed for the extraction and preconcentration of some pesticides from fruit juices. The MOF was synthesized using iron and aluminum salts along with 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid. The obtained sorbent was subjected to a series of characterization techniques to accurately determine the phase and characteristics of the material. The MOF (mg amount) was added in the fruit juices for extracting the targeted pesticides. The mixture was agitated using a vortex mixer to enhance the analytes sorption onto the sorbent, followed by centrifugation to facilitate settling down the analyte-loaded particles. Subsequently, the sorbent particles were subjected to elute with mL-volume of acetonitrile. Ultimately, the resulting eluate was mixed with a µL-volume of 1,2-dibromoethane and rapidly injected into deionized water. The milky solution underwent the process of centrifugation and sedimentation in order to separate the organic phase. An appropriate portion of it was injected into a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector. Low limits of detection (0.53–2.59 µg L−1) and quantification (1.75–8.57 µg L−1), high enrichment factors (295−350), appreciable extraction recoveries (59–70 %), and the use of three-dimensional nano MOF in the analytical method development are the highlights of the research. • A new bimetallic organic framework was used in extraction of several pesticides. • The pesticides content of mango, apple, and orange juices was investigated. • Gas chromatography-flame ionization detector was used as analytical instrument. • High enrichment factor and acceptable recoveries were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The facile synthesis approach for the adsorbent preparation and recyclability during decontamination of radioactive pollutants is a significant concern in water treatment. The objective of this study is to, synthesis via solid-state reaction of the nanostructured CaTiO 3 for the removal and recovery of strontium (Sr2+) from the various water sources. The influence of the adsorption-dependent parameters including, initial concentration, adsorbent dose, pH, contact time and co-existing ions interference were investigated. The prepared adsorbent was characterized by different analytical techniques like FT-IR, SEM with EDAX, TEM, TGA-DTG, Powder XRD and BET surface analysis. The kinetic models were also used, and according to the kinetic models, a pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R2 = 0.999) was better fitted to the adsorption of Sr2+ ions onto CaTiO 3 rather than pseudo-first-order kinetics, which could properly represent the observed adsorption of Sr2+. For the isotherm study, the results are best fitted to the Langmuir isotherm model (R2 = 0.98) with a maximum adsorption capacity of 102.04 mg/g. The common ions (Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, and K+) and Sr2+ having a concentration of 1:2, 1:3, and 1:4, where 82.8, 79.5, and 68.2 % removal was achieved of Sr2+ in each respective matrix. In addition, the adsorption and corresponding recovery and removal for the different Sr2+spiked matrices in deionized water, tap water, well water, lake water, and seawater were investigated with 97, 65.6, 76.5, 73.9 and 17.8 % removal respectively. Also, the CaTiO 3 showed excellent recyclability with minimal loss even after 5 consecutive recyclability cycles and >90% removal of strontium achieved. Hence, prepared nanostructured CaTiO 3 could be considered a promising adsorbent for the removal and recovery of Sr2+ions from contaminated water bodies. [Display omitted] • CaTiO 3 nanostructured adsorbent was synthesized through single step synthesis. • Pseudo-second order kinetic model was best fitted to the adsorption of Sr2+. • Maximum adsorption capacity was found 102.04 mg/g. • Sr2+ spiked different water bodies were tested and found 76.5 to 17.8 % removal. • CaTiO 3 showed excellent five successive recyclability cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metakaolin-based geopolymers are very promising materials for improving the safety of low and intermediate level radioactive waste disposal, with respect to ordinary Portland cement, due to their excellent immobilization performance for Cs+ and superior chemical stability. However, their application is limited by the fact that the leaching behavior of Cs+ is susceptible to the presence of other ions in the environment. Here, we propose a way to modify a geopolymer using perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane (PDFS), successfully reducing the leaching rate of Cs+ in the presence of multiple competitive cations due to blocking the diffusion of water. The leachability index of the modified samples in deionized water and highly concentrated saline water reached 11.0 and 8.0, respectively. The reaction mechanism between PDFS and geopolymers was systematically investigated by characterizing the microstructure and chemical bonding of the material. This work provides a facile and successful approach to improve the immobilization of Cs ions by geopolymers in real complex environments, and it could be extended to further improve the reliability of geopolymers used in a range of applications. [Display omitted] • A novel modification of geopolymer using perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane (PDFS) is proposed. • The diffusion of water in PDFS-modified geopolymer slows down significantly. • The Cs + leaching rate and the cumulative leaching fraction of PDFS-modified geopolymer reduce significantly in the leaching tests. • PDFS-modified geopolymer exhibits excellent reliability in complex environments with the presence of multiple competing ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upon the simulated solar irradiation with the 420 nm optical filter, the photoreduction CO 2 reaction of 2D/2D FAPbBr 3 /Ti 3 C 2 photocatalysts occurs on the surface of Ti 3 C 2 nanosheets, and the corresponding reactants/products and photocatalytic mechanism with Schottky heterostructure are presented. [Display omitted] Mimicking the natural photosynthesis process to convert carbon dioxide into value-added chemicals is vital to solving both the climate crisis worldwide and the depletion of fossil fuels. Herein, we explore the synthesis of 2D FAPbBr 3 nanoplate combined with 2D Ti 3 C 2 nanosheet to form a 2D/2D FAPbBr 3 /Ti 3 C 2 Schottky heterojunction using facile hot-injection and in-situ growth approaches. The Schottky heterojunction of FAPbBr 3 /Ti 3 C 2 over large interfacial contact provides abundant channels for transferring photogenerated carriers from FAPbBr 3 nanoplate to Ti 3 C 2 nanosheet. The experimental results showed a CO yield of 93.82 μmol·g−1·h−1 with ethyl acetate/deionization water as a sacrificial reagent for FAPbBr 3 /Ti 3 C 2 composite, which was 1.25-fold enhancement that on pristine FAPbBr 3 nanoplates. The large 2D heterointerface can efficiently accelerate the spatial separation and transfer of photogenerated carriers and result in the superior photocatalytic activity and favorable stability of FAPbBr 3 /Ti 3 C 2 photocatalysts, which are proved by in-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, photoluminescence, transient absorption spectra, and Mott-Schottky measurement. Thus, this work unveils that 2D/2D Schottky heterostructures would significantly improve the reaction activities of halide perovskite-based photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anion driven Rocking-chair Capacitive Deionization system with flow-through electrode was built for the first time based on the design of high-performance bismuth oxychloride coated carbon foam electrode. [Display omitted] • Anion-driven Flowthrough Rockingchair Capacitive Deionization (AFT-RCDI) was built. • BiOCl coated carbon foams were fabricated and used as the electrode for AFT-RCDI. • The AFT-RCDI displays excellent desalination performance with superior stability. Rocking-chair capacitive deionization (RCDI), as the next generation technique of capacitive deionization, has thrived to be one of the most promising strategies in the desalination community, yet was hindered mostly by its relatively low desalination rate and stability. Motivated by the goal of simultaneously enhancing the desalination rate and structural stability of the electrode, this paper reports an anion-driven flow-through RCDI (AFT-RCDI) system equipped with BiOCl nanostructure coated carbon sponge (CS@BiOCl for short; its backbone is derived from commercially available melamine foam with minimum capital cost) as the flow-through electrode. Owning to the rational design of the composite electrode material with minimum charge transfer resistance and ultrahigh structure stability as well as the superior flow-through cell architecture, the AFT-RCDI displays excellent desalination performance (desalination capacity up to 107.33 mg g−1; desalination rate up to 0.53 mg g-1s−1) with superior long-term stability (91.75% desalination capacity remained after 30 cycles). This work provides a new thought of coupling anion capturing electrode with flow-through cell architecture and employing a low-cost CS@BiOCl electrode with commercially available backbone material, which could shed light on the further development of low-cost electrochemical desalination systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schematic illustration of the effect of the electrode pore structure on electrochemical supercapacitor performance. [Display omitted] The carbon pore structure could have a significant effect on supercapacitor performance; however, this effect has not yet been systematically studied. A facile approach for synthesizing porous, ultrathin carbon sheets while rationally tuning the ratio of micro-to meso -pores via partial corrosion has been developed for the fabrication of high-performance devices. The prepared carbon from biomass with an optimal ratio of micro- to meso -pores has a large specific surface area of 1785 m2 g −1, a high specific capacitance of 447F g −1 at 0.5 A g−1, a high energy density of 15.5–9.7 Wh kg−1, and an excellent power density of 0.062–6.24 kW kg−1. After 10,000 charge–discharge cycles, the capacitance retention was maintained at 95%, which exceeded most of the biomass-carbon-based capacitors. Volcano relationships were found to exist through plots of both specific surface area and specific capacitance versus the micro-to meso -pore ratio. An enhancement mechanism with a rational pore structure is proposed, which not only networks micropores to remove died-end micropores to achieve the largest specific active surface area and high specific capacitance but also realizes fast mass-transport channels, resulting in high power density. This work provides an effective approach based on waste re-use by tuning a rational pore structure for achieving high energy/power density toward green energy applications with universal significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The sticky bacterium Acinetobacter sp. Tol 5 adheres to various material surfaces via its cell surface nanofiber protein, AtaA. This adhesiveness has only been evaluated based on the amount of cells adhering to a surface. In this study, the adhesion force mapping of a single Tol 5 cell in liquid using the quantitative imaging mode of atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed that the adhesion of Tol 5 was near 2 nN, which was 1–2 orders of magnitude higher than that of other adhesive bacteria. The adhesion force of a cell became stronger with the increase in AtaA molecules present on the cell surface. Many fibers of peritrichate AtaA molecules simultaneously interact with a surface, strongly attaching the cell to the surface. The adhesion force of a Tol 5 cell was drastically reduced in the presence of 1% casamino acids but not in deionized water (DW), although both liquids decrease the adhesiveness of Tol 5 cells, suggesting that DW and casamino acids inhibit the cell approaching step and the subsequent direct interaction step of AtaA with surfaces, respectively. Heterologous production of AtaA provided non-adhesive Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1 cells with a strong adhesion force to AFM tip surfaces of silicon and gold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Herein, we report that the phosphorous-doped 1 T-MoS 2 as co-catalyst decorated nitrogen-doped g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets (P -1 T-MoS 2 @ N -g-C 3 N 4) are prepared by the hydrothermal and annealing process. The obtained P -1 T-MoS 2 @ N -g-C 3 N 4 composite presents an enhanced photocatalytic N 2 reduction rate of 689.76 μmol L-1 g-1h−1 in deionized water without sacrificial agent under simulated sunlight irradiation, which is higher than that of pure g-C 3 N 4 (265.62 μmol L-1 g-1h−1), 1 T-MoS 2 @g-C 3 N 4 (415.57 μmol L-1 g-1h−1), 1 T-MoS 2 @N doped g-C 3 N 4 (469.84 μmol L-1 g-1h−1), and P doped 1 T-MoS 2 @g-C 3 N 4 (531.24 μmol L-1 g-1h−1). In addition, compared with pure g-C 3 N 4 NSs (2.64 mmol L-1 g-1h−1), 1 T-MoS 2 @g-C 3 N 4 (4.98 mmol L-1 g-1h−1), 1 T-MoS 2 @N doped g-C 3 N 4 (6.21 mmol L-1 g-1h−1), and P doped 1 T-MoS 2 @g-C 3 N 4 (9.78 mmol L-1 g-1h−1), P -1 T-MoS 2 @ N -g-C 3 N 4 (11.12 mmol L-1 g-1h−1) composite also shows a significant improvement for photocatalytic N 2 fixation efficiency in the sacrificial agent (methanol). The improved photocatalytic activity of P -1 T-MoS 2 @ N -g-C 3 N 4 composite is ascribed to the following advantages: 1) Compared to pure g-C 3 N 4 , P -1 T-MoS 2 @ N -g-C 3 N 4 composite shows higher light absorption capacity, which can improve the utilization rate of the catalyst to light; 2) The P doping intercalation strategy can promote the conversion of 1 T phase MoS 2 , which in turn in favor of photogenerated electron transfer and reduce the recombination rate of carriers; 3) A large number of active sites on the edge of 1 T-MoS 2 and the existence of N doping in g-C 3 N 4 contribute to photocatalytic N 2 fixation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Regenerable methods for phosphate (P) recycling have received intense attention due to their potential environmental and economic benefits. In this study, to improve the electrosorptive removal of P in membrane capacitive deionization, an activated carbon (AC) electrode was coated with a heterogeneous anion-exchange resin layer, and named the AE-AC composite electrode. It was shown that the AE-AC electrode exhibited a good capacitive behavior for electrical double-layer charging. The batch-mode experiments indicted that when the solution pH changed from 5 to 8, the predominant P species shifted from monovalent H 2 PO 4 − to divalent HPO 4 2− that was preferentially electroadsorbed for competitive electrosorption with Cl−. Importantly, the AE-AC composite electrode significantly increased the selectivity coefficient of P over Cl− to 0.56 that was 2.24-fold greater than that of the uncoated AC electrode, at 1.2 V in single-pass mode operation. This improvement can be ascribed to the preferential transport of P through the thin coating layer containing quaternary amine functional groups. The permselectivity of the coating also significantly increased the electrosorption capacity of P from 0.031 to 0.101 mmol/g with a high charge efficiency (97%) by the reduction in the co-ion repulsion effect. When the reverse voltage (−1.2 V) was applied, electroadsorbed P was reversibly desorbed from the AE-AC electrode in repeated operation. This work suggests that coating an anion-exchange resin layer on the surface of a carbon electrode shows great potential to improve the selective removal of P through electrosorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Microencapsulation helps to improve bioavailability of a functional whey protein, lactoferrin (Lf), in adults. Herein, we report the Lf loading capacity (LC) and retention efficiency (RE) in the microparticles of surface-reacted calcium carbonate (SRCC) of different types and compare them to those of widely used vaterite microparticles. The LCs and REs are analyzed in connection to the total surface area and the volume of intraparticle pores. The best performing SRCC3 demonstrates Lf LC of 11.00 wt% achieved in a single absorption step and 74% RE after two cycles of washing with deionized water. A much larger surface area of SRCC templates and a lower pH required to release Lf do not affect its antitumor activity in MCF-7 assay. Layer-by-Layer assembly of pepsin-tannic acid multilayer shell around Lf-loaded microparticles followed by acidic decomposition of the inorganic core produces microencapsulated Lf with a yield ~36 times higher than from vaterite templates reported earlier, while the scale of encapsulated Lf production is ~12,000 times larger. In vitro digestion tests demonstrate the protection of ~65% of encapsulated Lf from gastric digestion. The developed capsules are prospective candidates for functional foods fortified with Lf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • MgCo 2 O 4 @NiMn-LDH core-shell nanoarrays is fabricated on Ni foams. • The materials are obtained by a facile hydrothermal strategy. • MgCo 2 O 4 @NiMn-LDH electrode exhibits superb supercapacitive performance. In this work, MgCo 2 O 4 @NiMn layered double hydroxide (LDH) core-shell structured nanocomposites on Ni foam (NF) are synthesized by facile hydrothermal and calcination methods. MgCo 2 O 4 /NF is synthesized first via a hydrothermal reaction and annealing treatment, and then utilized to prepare MgCo 2 O 4 @NiMn-LDH/NF core-shell structured nanocomposites via the second hydrothermal process. It is found that the MgCo 2 O 4 @NiMn-LDH/NF nanocomposite prepared from 6 h hydrothermal reaction (MC@NM-LDH-2) exhibits an excellent specific capacitance of 3757.2 F g−1 (at 1 A g−1). Moreover, a high capacitance retention (86.9% after 6000 cycles) and a low internal resistance (Rs) (0.565 Ω) can be achieved. Furthermore, an all-solid-state asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) is assembled using MgCo 2 O 4 @NiMn-LDH/NF-2 as positive electrode and activated carbon (AC) as negative electrode. The as-fabricated MgCo 2 O 4 @NiMn-LDH/NF-2//AC ASC shows a high energy density of 62.33 Wh kg−1 at 750 W kg−1. Meanwhile, the MgCo 2 O 4 @NiMn-LDH/NF-2//AC ASC device possesses an outstanding cycling stability of 93.7% retention of the initial capacitance after 6000 cycles and three ASC devices connected in series can light up a LED bulb for 15 min. Our results manifest that these core-shell structure MgCo 2 O 4 @NiMn-LDH nanocomposites could envision huge potential application in energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since ecosystems are becoming inherently polluted, long-term contaminant removal methods are required. Electrodeionization, in particular, has recently been demonstrated as an effective approach for eliminating ionic compounds from contaminated water sources. Being a more environmentally friendly technology is most likely the main reason for its eminence. It uses electricity to replace toxic contaminants that are conventionally used to regenerate and hence reducing the toxins associated with resin regeneration. In wastewater treatment, continuous electrodeionization system overcomes several limitations of ion exchange resins, notably ion dumping. This prospective assessment delves into the mechanism, principle, and theory of electrodeionization system. It also focused on the design and applications, particularly in the removal of toxic compounds, as well as current advances in the electrodeionization system. Recent breakthroughs in electrodeionization were comprehensively discussed. Further developments in electrodeionization systems are also projected, with improved efficiency at the time of functioning at lower costs because of reduced energy use, proving them desirable for commercial usage with a broad array of applications across the globe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An efficient method is presented for the recovery of In3+ from acidic solution. • The activated carbon electrode shows good capability for electrosorption of In3+. • The recovery of In3+ is mainly based on electrical double-layer charging. • In3+ ions are preferentially electrosorbed in a competitive environment. High-efficiency recycling technology for endangered elements effectively mitigates the risk of resource shortages and promises the sustainability of supply chains, which is significant to the industry. In this study, an activated carbon (AC)-based capacitive deionization (CDI) for the selective electrosorption and recovery of indium ions (In3+) from acidic aqueous solution is proposed. The effects of applied voltage, pH, and initial concentration of indium were investigated to optimize the operation parameters for In3+ electrosorption. The results of cyclic voltammetry and the galvanostatic charge/discharge measurements indicate that the AC electrode shows good capability for the electrosorption of In3+ based on electrical double-layer capacitance. As demonstrated, In3+ can be successfully removed by CDI without deposition when the pH < 4, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The deionization capacity of In3+ is 7.95 mg/g with an energy consumption of 0.84 kWh/mol in single-pass mode CDI with an initial concentration of 50 mg/L (pH = 3) at 1.2 V. However, the removal of In3+ is affected by the solution pH since hydrogen ions (H+) compete for electrosorption. Note that In3+ ions with high valence are preferentially electrosorbed on the electrode surface over H+ ions, exhibiting a selectivity coefficient of 2.12. Herein, in the charging step, a large number of H+ ions in solution are rapidly electrosorbed onto the electrode, while these H+ ions are gradually replaced by a small number of In3+ ions in solution. Therefore, this electrosorption process shows great potential for effectively recovering indium ions from acidic aqueous solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ruthenium nanoparticles (Ru NPs) with face-centered cubic (fcc) structure possess higher catalytic activity than that with hexagonal close-packed (hcp) structure. However, a high temperature above 1800 K is needed for the formation of the metastable fcc Ru phase. In this study, we present a tunable fabrication strategy of fcc and hcp Ru NPs by laser ablation of Ru target in solvents. In methanol, ethanol or acetone organic solvent, both fcc and hcp Ru NPs encapsulated in carbon layer could be obtained, while in deionized water only pure hcp Ru NPs formed. The extreme conditions, that is, the laser-target interaction induced high temperature and high-pressure plasma plume (4000–5000 K, 10–15 GPa) together with its subsequent quenching process, favored the formation of metastable fcc phase. Significantly, the graphite carbon layers sourced from the thermal decomposition of solvent molecules prevent the further evolution of metastable fcc phase into stable hcp phase. Clarification of the solvents and pulse energy effects promise the tunable fabrication of Ru NPs with desired crystallographic structure during laser ablation in liquids (LAL). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cost-effective PDMS/CNTs@melamine solar evaporators were developed. • The evaporators showed good evaporation performance for saline water. • The evaporators exhibited excellent salt-resistance during long-term continuous solar desalination. • The evaporators may find applications in solar desalination and sewage treatment. Solar driven interfacial evaporation has received extensive attention as a very promising desalination technique to solve the fresh water shortage crisis. However, salt-fouling and poor stability during long-term solar desalination seriously hinder applications of solar evaporators. In addition, most of the reported evaporators rely on expensive materials and complex preparation processes. Here, we report facile preparation of polydimethylsiloxane/carbon nanotubes (PDMS/CNTs) modified melamine solar evaporators for efficient steam generation and desalination. The elastic solar evaporators feature (i) macroporous network with rough skeleton owing to phase separation of PDMS, high solar absorbance (99%) and excellent photothermal performance, low thermal conductivity (0.032 W m−1 K−1), and (iii) unique wettability (hydrophobic upper surface and hydrophilic lower part). Consequently, the evaporators have an evaporation rate of 1.44 kg m−2 h−1 and a solar-to-vapor conversion efficiency of 84% for solar evaporation of deionized water under 1 sun illumination. Interestingly, the evaporators show similar solar evaporation performance for saline water compared to deionized water. Moreover, the evaporators show excellent salt-resistance and stability during long-term continuous solar desalination owing to rapid water replenishment in the evaporators. The evaporators may find practical applications in solar desalination because of the merits of the evaporators and the simple preparation method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we designed and prepared a novel metal organic framework (MOF)/holey graphene (HG) composites as electrode materials for electrochemistry and capacitive deionization (CDI). The MOF nanoparticles were attached to the surface of the HG sheets to form layered porous structure, which promoted the transport of ions and electrons in the electrode/electrolyte interfaces. Additionally, the synergistic effect of these composite electrodes, which combined pseudocapacitance performance of MOF and the high conductivity of graphene, contributed to enhancing the performance of electrochemistry and CDI. The MOF/HG-2 exhibited high capacitances of 526 F g−1 at current rates of 0.1 A g−1, low charge transfer resistance of 0.53 Ω, and excellent cycling stability (retention of about 90.3% after 5000 cycles at 2 A g−1). As electrode materials for CDI, the MOF/HG-2 displayed a remarkable electrosorption capacity of 39.6 mg g−1 with initial salt concentration of 800 mg L−1, and there was no obvious attenuation after 20 CDI regeneration cycles. These results confirmed that MOF/HG was a promising electrode material for the actual application of CDI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The dispersibility of GO and highly graphitized RGO, in various solvents was reported. • Hansen Solubility Parameters (HSP) of the materials were determined. • High concentrations for GO and RGO were achieved, in DH 2 O and o-DCB respectively. • Stability, particles' size and PDI of GO and RGO dispersions were evaluated through DLS. The formation of highly concentrated and stable graphene derivatives dispersions remains a challenge towards their exploitation in various applications, including flexible optoelectronics, photovoltaics, 3D-printing, and biomedicine. Here, we demonstrate our extensive investigation on the dispersibility of graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) in 25 different solvents, without the use of any surfactant or stabilizer. Although there is a significant amount of work covering the general field, this is the first report on the dispersibility of: a) RGO prepared by a HI/AcOH assisted reduction process, the method which yields RGO of higher graphitization degree than the other well-known reductants met in the literature, b) both GO and RGO, explored in such a great range of solvents, with some of them not previously reported. In addition, through calculation of their Hansen Solubility Parameters (HSP), we confirmed their dispersibility behavior in each solvent, while we indirectly validated the most advanced graphitization degree of the studied RGO compared to other reported RGOs, since its HSPs exhibit the highest similarity with the respective ones of pure graphene. Finally, high concentrations of up to 189 μg mL−1 for GO and ~ 87.5 μg mL−1 for RGO were achieved, in deionized water and o -Dichlorobenzene respectively, followed by flakes size distribution and polydispersity indices estimation, through dynamic light scattering as a quality control of the effect of a solvent's nature on the dispersion behavior of these graphene-based materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their excellent electrocatalytic properties, transition metal phosphides have been considered as desirable and cost-effective electrocatalysts in recent years. However, in many cases, the synthesis of phosphide-based nanostructures requires expensive conditions and toxic phosphorous-containing compounds. Therefore, the emergence of an economical and eco-friendly method for creating phosphides-based nanostructures can be very effective. Here, S-doped Ni-P nanospheres were created using a novel pulse electrochemical deposition method, and its hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), as well as oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalytic activity and stability were investigated. Inspired by the high electrochemically active surface area, the synergistic effect between S and P, the rapid detachment of the gasses from the surface and thus the lowered resistance resulted from bubbles pinning, and ultimately the increased wettability due to nanostructuring, the electrode exhibited outstanding electrocatalytic activity for HER and OER processes. The electrode requires only 55 mV and 229 mV overproduction to be able to afford the current density of 10 mA.cm−2 for HER and OER processes, respectively. Furthermore, at a current density of 100 mA.cm−2, these electrodes showed minor changes in potential, indicating the superb electrocatalytic stability of the synthesized electrode. Moreover, in the overall water splitting process, the S-doped Ni-P electrode requires only 1.51 V to generate a current of 10 mA.cm−2. The results of this study indicate the successful use of pulse electrochemical deposition method to create active electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• TBAOH assisted synthesis of ultrathin BiOCl-T nanosheets with exposed (1 1 0) face. • Deionized water was used as the solvent for the preparation of BiOCl-T. • BiOCl-T exhibited enhanced charge separation efficiency. • BiOCl-T displayed superior photocatalytic activity in CBZ degradation. • h+, O 2 −, and OH predominated the photocatalytic degradation process of CBZ. Ultrathin nanosheets show great promise in photocatalytic technology, due to short path for electron transfer and large surface for reactant adsorption. However, there is no report that ultrathin nanosheets photocatalyst has been used to degrade carbamazepine (CBZ) in aquatic environment. This paper aimed at fabricating ultrathin BiOCl nanosheets to improve the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of CBZ. Herein, tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (TBAOH) was firstly applied to synthesize ultrathin BiOCl nanosheets (BiOCl-T) by a simple hydrolysis route in water at ambient conditions. TBAOH could act as a structure-directing agent, determining the structure and property of BiOCl-T. Assisted by TBAOH, BiOCl-T exhibited ultrathin nanosheets structure with preferential exposed (1 1 0) face. PL, photocurrent density, and EIS Nyquist plots demonstrated the enhanced charge separation efficiency in BiOCl-T. Furthermore, BiOCl-T displayed large pore size and specific surface area. Thus, BiOCl-T showed high photocatalytic activity toward CBZ degradation under simulated sunlight. Upon 30 min irradiation, the degradation efficiency of CBZ was 91.1% with fast degradation kinetics, which is 2.46 times higher than ordinary BiOCl. Active species of h +, O 2 −, and OH contributed to CBZ degradation reaction. The obtained result provides a novel viewpoint to fabricate ultrathin nanosheets and broadening their application in the degradation of recalcitrant pharmaceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A series of controllable flower-like Ni(S x Se 1−x) 2 @PGCNS catalysts are prepared. • The d -band center of catalyst is modified to improve catalytic activity via tailoring S/Se species. • The porous graphitized carbon structure can significantly increase stability and conductivity. • Ni(S 0.61 Se 0.39) 2 @PGCNS and Ni(S 0.24 Se 0.76) 2 @PGCNS shows best HER and OER activity, respectively. • A two-electrode water electrolyzer requires 1.54 V to reach 10 mA cm−2 in alkaline. Developing effective and earth-abundant non-noble electrocatalysts for water splitting to produce clean and eco-friendly hydrogen is necessary in conversion of renewable energy. Pyrite nickel disulfide (NiS 2) and nickel diselenide (NiSe 2) as electrocatalysts have been extensively researched, but controllable component and superior structure for them are still a huge challenge. For this work, we report a series of flower-like electrocatalysts with Ni(S x Se 1−x) 2 nanoparticles encapsulated by porous graphitized carbon nanosheets (PGCNS) through regulating molar ratio of S/Se, and reveal ultra-sensitive S/Se species-induced behaviors and the enhanced inherent electrocatalytic activity. The electrocatalytic activities of these anion-tuned sulfoselenides nanoparticles for both HER and OER can be further enhanced by insertion these nanoparticles into PGCNS. By virtue of the most rational doping and the unique architecture, Ni(S 0.61 Se 0.39) 2 @PGCNS shows the remarkable HER activity While Ni(S 0.24 Se 0.76) 2 @PGCNS exhibits the excellent OER activity. When these two electrocatalysts with outstanding performance are assembled in a typical two-electrodes system (Ni(S 0.61 Se 0.39) 2 @PGCNS || Ni(S 0.24 Se 0.76) 2 @PGCNS) for overall water splitting in 1 M KOH, a current density of 10 mA cm−2 is generated at a low cell potential of 1.54 V. This work emphasizes the significances of anion doping and unique architecture to enhance the activities for electrocatalytic water splitting in energy conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing a facile method to fabricate new heterogeneous Metal-Organic Framework (MOFs) based catalysts with high catalytic activity and stability has drawn significant attention. Herein, we demonstrate a simple in-situ pyrolysis reduction strategy to fabricate a novel three-dimensional (3D) Cu-based catalyst, which displays an outstanding performance for the decomposition of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). Detailed characterization including SEM, FTIR, XPS, ICP-OES, HRTEM, SAED, XRD and BET confirmed the formation of the Cu/C porous composites (Cu/C-PC). Taking advantage of enormous Cu particles in the composite as well as ultrahigh surface area (196.7 m2/g) of carbon support, Cu/C-PC presents prominent catalytic activity for the hydrogenation reduction 4-NP to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) with apparent rate constant (K app) of 0.0267 s−1 (the ratio of K app to the catalyst amount is 119 s−1 g−1), which is dramatically higher than that previous reports. On the contrary, after being washed successively (Cu/C-PC-AW) by FeCl 3 , HCl aqueous solution and deionized water, the Cu/C porous composite materials exhibit fairly weak catalytic activity. The catalytic performance of Cu/C-PC is better than Cu, Cu 2 O and CuO nanoparticles as well as other catalysts in previous reports. Furthermore, Cu/C-PC shows excellent reusability, indicating its potential applications in treatment of water pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The highest exposure of Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC) into the water bodies as a result of extensive production and application of Covid-19 related drugs is a growing concern now a days. Herein, a novel nanocomposite material was developed by impregnating green synthesized copper oxide nanoparticles on the porous surface of fabric waste derived biochar to eliminate the concerned EDCs along with a sustainable disposal strategy for the spent adsorbent. Morphological characterizations by Field emission scanning electron microscopy confirmed the formation of hierarchical porous structured material. X-ray analysis revealed presence of both amorphous nature of biochar matrix as well as the crystalline nature attributed from monodispersion of copper oxide nanoparticles onto biochar surface. Batch sorption study showed removal of doxycycline hydrochloride (DOX) of >97% after 2 h at pH 7, 30 mg L−1 initial concentration of DOX and 2 g L−1 of adsorbent dose at room temperature after a two-step optimization process. Spectroscopic study and Raman shift suggested that pore filling, strong complexation and electrostatic interactions maximise the adsorption of DOX in the CuO/biochar composite as compared to the pristine biochar. However disposal of spent adsorbent is a crucial aspect for the environment and therefore, a sustainable recycling strategy for DOX loaded adsorbent as electrode material has been proposed for the first time in this study. Maximum specific capacitance value was observed in the range of 221.9–297.3 F g−1 for the DOX loaded nanocomposite at 1 mV s−1 comparable with other reported heteroatom-doped carbonaceous material as electrode. Therefore the excellent adsorption capacity of green synthesized CuO/biochar composite and its recycling after DOX adsorption can be recommended as a sustainable solution for mitigation of pharmaceuticals from wastewater. A detail study on degradation of DOX into eco-friendly products and its cost-effectiveness would be beneficial to suggest appropriate mitigation strategy for such compounds. [Display omitted] • Textile waste derived biochar composite with CuO nanoparticle formulated first time • Wide range of mesoporosity observed in CuO/biochar composite • DOX adsorption capacity was 430 mg g−1 on heterogenous surface of composite • DOX loaded spent adsorbent was reused as electrode material • DOX loaded composite exhibited Specific capacitance 297F g−1 in LiPF 6 electrolyte [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discharge of effluents containing radionuclides has a detrimental impact on the ecological environment, emphasizing the importance of recovering U(VI) from nuclear wastewater to safeguard the environment. Electrosorption has emerged as a viable technique for the extraction of uranium from radioactive solutions. Herein, we propose a facile strategy utilizing ultrasonication to fabricate a novel sulfonated carbon material (HCCMs-SO 3 H) co-doped with B, N, and P atoms. The incorporation of sulfonate groups and doping heteratoms in HCCMs-SO 3 H significantly enhanced its electrosorption capacity for uranium, yielding an impressive capacity of 626.37 mg/g at 0.9 V. This enhancement in electrosorption ability is attributed to the synergistic effects of sulfonate groups and the presence of B, N, and P atoms in the carbon matrix. Furthermore, HCCMs-SO 3 H exhibited excellent recoverability and selectivity towards uranium, endowing it a promising material for uranium extraction from uranium-containing solutions. Its high electrosorption capacity, coupled with favorable recoverability and selectivity, positioned HCCMs-SO 3 H as a potential candidate for efficient and environmentally friendly uranium recovery processes. 1. A novel sulfonated carbon material (HCCMs-SO 3 H) co-doped with B, N, and P atoms was successfully fabricated; 2. The incorporation of sulfonate groups and doping heteratoms in HCCMs-SO 3 H significantly enhanced its electrosorption capacity for uranium; 3. The maximum electrosorption capacity reached 626.37 mg/g at −0.9v and the optimum pH value was 5.5; 4. HCCMs-SO 3 H electrode exhibited excellent recoverability and selectivity towards uranium; 5. The high electrosorption capacity, coupled with favorable recoverability and selectivity, positioned HCCMs-SO 3 H as a potential candidate for efficient and environmentally friendly uranium recovery processes. [Display omitted] • HCCMs-SO 3 H electrode was successfully synthesized. • The maximum electrosorption capacity reached 626.37 mg/g at −0.9 v and the optimum pH value was 5.5. • The excellent selectivity and regeneration performance is demonstrated. • The modified sulfonic acid group and co-doped B,N,P atoms contributed to the electrosorption capacity of U(VI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, for the first time, metal-organic framework-801 (MOF-801) was applied as an adsorbent for pesticide analysis. The high surface area of the adsorbent (780 m2 g-1) positively affected the extraction efficiency. Also, the first-ever attempt was done to couple an MOF-oriented adsorptive process with evaporation for preconcentration aim. The process was followed by dissolving the residue in a microliter level of an organic solvent. Initially, the particles of MOF-801 were subjected to the solution of interest having dissolved sodium sulfate and vortexed. After centrifugation and discarding the supernatant, acetonitrile was added onto the adsorbent and vortexed. After centrifugation, the acetonitrile phase underwent evaporation using the designed device. After complete evaporation, a microliter level of 1,2-dibromoethane was used to elute the inner perimeter of the conical bottom glass test tube by vortexing. Finally, one microliter of the organic phase was injected into a gas chromatography equipped with a flame ionization detector. Reaching the exhaustive extraction conditions with higher than 90% extraction recoveries, low limits of detection (0.35–2.10 μg L-1) and quantification (1.16–7.00 μg L-1), high enrichment factors (455−490), using bare MOF-801 in analytical method development, nearly no analyte loss during the extraction, and decreasing the applied volume of organic solvent in the process are the main highlights of the research. • An exhaustive extraction method with 91–98% extraction recoveries was introduced. • Comprehensive transfer of the analytes from the sample into the extractant acceded. • Analytical steps, deionized water, and eluent use were significantly decreased. • High EFs and ERs were achieved due to implementing the preconcentration method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drinking of fluoride (F−) contaminated water causes fluorosis and thus providing safe drinking water to the affected community remains a major challenge. Therefore, defluoridation without disturbing water quality is imperative. Hydroxyapatite (HAP) is proved to have a potential application for defluoridation; however, its dissolution during defluoridation is a concern for its implementation. Experiments conducted by suspending HAP in F− solution and deionized water without F− show that former had high residual pH and PO 4 3 − than the latter with Ca2+ being absent in the former. This indicates that Ca2+ had participated in defluoridation and promoted HAP dissolution when Ca2+ was unavailable. Hence, HAP dissolution seems to be a governing step for defluoridation. However, higher residual PO 4 3 − and pH affect drinking water quality, and its usage may pose additional health problems. Thus, Ca2+ deficient defluoridated water is unfit for drinking unless it is treated further. Hence, the present work proposes a novel method to overcome HAP dissolution by amending aqueous Ca2+ to F− water. The results show that amending Ca2+ efficiently prevents HAP dissolution and enhances defluoridation capacity as an added feature. Furthermore, speciation using MINEQL+ and FTIR of fluoride-calcium treated HAPs suggest the possibility of defluoridation by aqueous CaF+ adsorption onto HAP besides F− ion exchange with OH−. Image 1 • HAP dissolution in defluoridation makes the treated water unfit for drinking. • Amending aqueous Ca2+ to F− water suppressed the HAP dissolution in defluoridation. • Aqueous Ca2+ amendment to F−-water provides Ca2+-enriched alkaline drinking-water. • Amending aqueous Ca2+ showed enhanced defluoridation capacity for HAP. • Deflouridation occurred by adsorption of aqueous CaF+ and ion-exchange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct immersion solid phase microextraction (DI-SPME) coupled to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is of significant research interest because of its low solvent consumption, simple design, and efficient, sensitive, fast performance. In this work, a combination of these two methods (DI-SPME-LC-MS) for the determination of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) in water was developed. Important factors, which included temperature, stirring rate, salt concentration, pH value and adsorption time, were evaluated in for the optimization of solid phase microextraction (SPME) method. The method was developed using spiked natural waters in a concentration range of 0.1–10 ng mL−1, and showed notable linearity with regression coefficients ranging between 0.992 and 0.999. The limits of detection varied from 0.01 to 0.04 ng mL−1 (at S/N = 3) and relative standard deviation (RSD < 11%) were obtained showing that the precision of the method was reliable. Recoveries were in relatively high levels for both analytes and ranged from 88% to 108%. Moreover, in comparison with the performance time of traditional sample pretreatment methods such as solid-phase extraction (SPE), accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), and liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), DI-SPME-LC-MS takes only approximately 35 min to perform. The optimized method was successfully applied for monitoring concentrations of TBBPA and HBCD in water. Image 1 • DI-SPME-LC-MS method was developed based on uniform design. • The proposed method is rapid, efficient, environmentally friendly and feasible. • The proposed method takes only 35 min to perform for one water sample. • Good linearity, detection limits, and recovery were achieved. • The proposed method provides good repeatability and high enrichment factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic nanoparticles have been successfully used to recovery oil from oil spilled on water. Two different methods, floating and vortex, were employed to promote the interaction of four oil samples with different API (e.g., 10, 20, 28 and 45) spilled on seawater and deionized water with three magnetic materials, namely: magnetite nanoparticles (N); magnetic nanocomposites of yeast biomass provided by ethanol industry (Y); and magnetic nanocomposites of cork powder (C). The magnetic nanomaterials exposed to oil on water were taking out by a neodymium magnet, and the oil recoveries were determined by gravimetric analysis before and after lyophilization. The lyophilization was determinant to guarantee the accuracy of the experiments, and without this step, the masses of oil recovered would be overestimated due to the drag of water during the oil and magnetic material removal process. Three main factors, API, contact method and magnetic material, and two interactions (i.e., API × contact method, and contact method × magnetic material) presented a statistically significant effect on oil recovery. It was observed that oil recovery increases as API decreases, and it was possible to establish a model to predict the amount of recovered oil according to this effect. Higher oil recoveries were also obtained by magnetic nanocomposites of yeast biomass (Y), regardless of the contact method and type of water, recoveries of 23% and 100% for 45 and 10 API, respectively, employing around 20 mg of Y on 300 mg of spilled oil. These percentages correspond to 0.29 ± 0.01 kg/kg and 15.98 kg/kg of recovering oil by the magnetic procedure. The increase of mass of magnetic material improved the recovery of oils with higher APIs. The reusability of the spent materials presents potential for its application in oil spill cleaning technologies. • It is possible to predict the amount of recovered oil according to the API. • The oil recovery increases as API decreases. • The API, contact method and magnetic material were the significant on oil recovery. • Interactions of contact method with API and magnetic material are also significant. • Lyophilization is crucial to guarantee the accuracy of oil recovering amounts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI) as a promising approach was developed to simultaneously conduct water desalination and metal recovery by using activated carbon fiber (ACF) as electrodes. The removal performance of two metal ions (Cu2+, Zn2+) was firstly investigated at different voltages. Experiments showed that the adsorption amount of Cu2+ was higher than that of Zn2+ under the voltage of 0.4–0.6 V. However, inverse result was obtained at the voltage of 0.8–1.2 V that the adsorption amount of Cu2+ was lower than that of Zn2+. The analysis of scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed that Cu2+ removal involved the adsorption and electrodeposition, and the reduction potential of Cu2+ was found to be 0.6 V. At a higher voltage, Cu2+ was reduced and the reduction product consisting of Cu/Cu 2 O would decrease the effective surface area and cause serious degradation of electrode properties, which inhibited Cu2+ adsorption. Comparatively, Zn2+ reduction was only observed at the voltage of 1.2 V. FTIR showed that the difference of the reduction potential was partly attributed to the type of functional groups of ACF and its affinity towards ions. Considering the gap of the reduction potential, the feasibility of selective reduction and recovery of Cu(0) from CuCl 2 /ZnCl 2 mixed solution was studied by controlling the applied voltage and the optimal voltage was determined to be 0.8 V. The recovery efficiency of Cu(0) in the competitive environment could reach to 42.8% at the voltage of 0.8 V. Moreover, the electrode regeneration was investigated and it was found that the performance of fouled electrode could be effectively recovered for further reuse via cleaning methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Realizing that one main factor affecting development of forward osmosis (FO) membrane was internal concentration polarization (ICP), graphene oxide (GO) with two-dimensional structure and oxidized carbon nanotubes (OCNTs) with one-dimensional structure were linked by oxygen-containing groups to form water channels in the polyamide layer. OCNTs and GO were used for producing reactions among oxygen-containing groups of nanoparticles and polymer chains, and oxygen-containing groups were fully exposed because GO and OCNTs restrained aggregation. Decrease of cross-linking degree for interfacial polymerization layer was confirmed due to reaction from GO/OCNTs/m-phenylene diamine/1,3,5-benzenetricarbonyl trichloride. Moreover, OCNTs formed an appropriate supporting effect for GO to improve hydrophilic properties, which was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscope and contact angle. Resulting membrane PA-GO-OCNTs showed high water flux (114 LMH and 84.6 LMH in the PRO (active layer facing draw solution) and FO (active layer facing feed solution) mode, respectively) and low solute flux (5.17 gMH and 3.4 gMH in the PRO and FO mode, respectively) under this condition that 0.5 M NaCl and deionized water were used as draw solution and feed solution respectively. It was worth mentioning that water flux of FO membrane was far higher than that in reported literatures while its structural parameter S was only 203 μm, which led to decrease of ICP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]