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Herein, conductive and stable partially fluorinated multi-cationic alkaline membrane (AM) has been reported by macromolecular modification of poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and chemical grafting of vinyl benzyl chloride (VBC). Quaternization was achieved using different amines, to control the concentration of quaternary ammonium (QA) groups. Different multi-cationic AMs were analysed by their structural (1H NMR and FT-IR) and morphological properties, ion-exchange capacity (IEC), water uptake (WU), alkaline conductivity (κ m ), and stabilities (mechanical, chemical, and thermal). Due to presence of multi cationic groups and thus steric hindrance, reported membranes were robust in alkaline medium. Single-cell anion exchange membrane fuel cell (AMFC) assembled with Tri-amino-VBC-g-PVDF membrane, exhibited relatively high performance (open circuit voltage (OCV): 1.03 V, peak power density: 244.0 mW cm−2 at 400.0 mA cm−2), in compare with other AMs reported in the literature. It was observed that AMFC performance was strongly depends on cationic group density, and present study explored the utilization possibility of partially fluorinated polymer matrix with multi-cationic groups for long lifetime during AMFC application. [Display omitted] • High performance partially fluorinated multi-cationic alkaline membrane. • Alkaline membrane robust for Hofmann β -elimination and SN 2 reactions. • 96.34% remained conductivity after alkali treatment at 80 °C for 768 h. • 244.0 mW cm−2 maximum power density at 400.0 mA cm−2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anion Exchange Membranes (AEM) have the potential to solve the cost issues of fuel cell technologies due to their basic environment that can allow the use of cheaper components. However, there is still a need to develop an ideal inexpensive, mechanically robust AEM with high ionic conductivity and ion exchange capacity (IEC). In this work, we present various dual-fiber electrospun membranes based on a novel radiation-grafted copolymer. First, the synthesis route of radiation-induced grafting of vinyl benzyl chloride (VBC) onto poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) to prepare PVDF- g -VBC was optimized. Then, PVDF- g -VBC powders were used to fabricate dual-fiber electrospun mats with inert PVDF and commercial Fumion-FAA-3 ionomer. Dual-fiber electrospun mats were hot-pressed and then quaternized with trimethylamine. Finally, mechanical properties, ion exchange capacity, ionic conductivity, and morphology of these prepared dual-fiber electrospun membranes were investigated. The dual-fiber membrane prepared with PVDF- g- VBC (88% of the total weight of the membrane) and PVDF: Fumion-FAA-3 (1:2) mix (12 wt%) realized ionic conductivity of 4.67 mS/cm at 25 °C, high ion exchange capacity of 1.35 mmol/g with Young's Modulus of 761 MPa. The membrane based on the combination of radiation grafting and dual-fiber electrospinning was prepared for the first time in literature and offers the prospect of tuning and fine-control of mechanical and physicochemical properties of AEMs. [Display omitted] • Radiation-induced grafted and dual-fiber based electrospun AEMs for the first time. • Optimization of synthesis and characterizations of PVDF- g -VBC copolymer powders. • Novel AEMs with various ratios of inert and functionalized polymers. • Tuning and fine-control of mechanical and physicochemical properties of AEMs. • Our membranes could reach up to IEC of 1.35 mmol/g. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preparing AEMs with robust mechanical properties, high ionic conductivity and excellent chemical stability is challenging. Here, cross-linked/aggregated AEMs are prepared by incorporating hydrophilic Jeffamine cross-linkers and hydrophobic side chains into the rigid quaternized poly (vinyl benzyl chloride). Jeffamine's flexibility ensures high elongation at break of the cross-linked/aggregated membranes (125.0–199.8%). The hydrophobic side chain limits excessive water absorption and facilitates self-aggregation of hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains, enhancing tensile strength (5.08–7.40 Mpa in wet state) and improving ionic conductivity of the AEMs (73.8–110.4 mS cm−1 at 80 °C). Alkali-resistant PVB, restricted dimensionality, and ordered micro-phase separation morphology contribute to outstanding chemical stability of the AEMs. Degradation of both backbones and cations is <20% after treatment in 1 M NaOH solution at 80 °C for 30 days. Based on the membrane, a peak power density of 354.4 mW cm−2 at 60 °C is yielded. PVB based AEMs of c (Je) a Cx-QAPVB exhibit excellent flexibility, outstanding alkali-resistant and high hydroxide ion conductivity. [Display omitted] • Highly flexible and transparent poly (vinyl benzyl chloride) based anion exchange membranes are prepared. • Anion exchange membranes exhibit improved ionic conductivity and robust stability. • A peak power density of 354.4 mW cm−2 is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] (N -Alkyl- N , N -dioctylammoniomethyl)phosphonates were obtained by alkylation of amino phosphonate potassium salt with alkyl iodides or benzyl chloride. All synthesized compounds demonstrated high antibacterial and antifungal activity against Gram-positive bacterial strains B. cereus and S. aureus and were not active against Gram-negative strains Ps. aeruginosa. Some regularity connecting the structure of the obtained compounds with their antimicrobial action has been established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroxide exchange membrane fuel cells (HEMFCs) are a cost-effective alternative to proton exchange membrane fuel cells due to the advantages on fast oxygen reduction reaction kinetics, low cost and weak corrosion. Hydroxide exchange membrane (HEM) is the core component for HEMFC. At present, lacking highly robust and chemically stable HEMs is the main challenge to realizing durable HEMFCs. Polyethylene composite HEMs are considered as the-state-of-the-art HEM candidates due to their excellent mechanical properties, thus allowing for the use of ultrathin HEMs in HEMFCs to achieve a high cell and stack performance. Yet, the chemical stability of polyethylene composite HEM still needs to be improved for more durable HEMFC. In this study, we report that the preparation and chemical stability understanding of three polyethylene composite HEMs (named AEH-TMA, AEH-DMP and AEH-TMI) functionalized with trimethylamine (TMA), N-methylpiperidine (DMP) and 1, 2, 4, 5-tetramethylimidazole (TMI), respectively. We find that AEH-TMI exhibits a low conductivity and inferior chemical stability in comparison to AEH-TMA and AEH-DMP. To gain insight into chemical stability behavior, we have also prepared three organic chemicals (named Bn-TMA, Bn-DMP and Bn-TMI) as cations model by reacting benzyl chloride with TMA, DMP and TMI cations and elaborately studied their chemical stability in various water content systems. The results show that the overall chemical stability of cations can be strongly improved with increasing the surrounding water, and Bn-TMI suggests a lower chemical stability than Bn-TMA and Bn-DMP at high water content condition. • Polyethylene composite hydroxide exchange membranes have excellent mechanical strength. • The composite membrane functionalized with n-methylpiperidine offers high chemical stability. • 3-benzyl-1,2,4,5-tetramethyl-imidazolium shows an inferior chemical stability in high D 2 O system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the ability of triethyl benzyl ammonium chloride/lactic acid deep eutectic solvent extracted lignin (TEBAC/LA-DES-L) to adsorb methylene blue (MB) without additional functional group modification. The structure and morphology of TEBAC/LA-DES-L were characterized using SEM, BET, FT-IR, and TGA techniques. Various factors influencing MB adsorption, such as extraction temperature, solution pH, adsorbent dose, initial MB concentration, adsorption time, and reaction temperature, were investigated. The Redlich-Peterson isotherm displayed a good fit for the experimental data, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 85.16 mg/g. Kinetic analysis suggested that the adsorption process followed the pseudo-second-order model, with adsorption occurring in <100 min on DES-L-4 h. The mechanism of MB adsorption on DES-L-4 h was attributed to electrostatic attraction, hydrophobic interactions, and hydrogen bonding forces. Overall, DES-L-4 h demonstrated high adsorption capacity and rapid adsorption rate, making it a promising adsorbent for effectively removing cationic dyes from wastewater. • TEBAC/LA-DES-L was used for efficient adsorption of MB for the first time. • DES-L-4 h achieved superior adsorption capacity and quick diffusion rate for MB. • Adsorption mechanism of MB on the DES-L-4 h was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The continuous flow microreactor were used for the synthesis of chlorides. • The fluid model was proposed based on kinetic parameters. • Catalytic experiments validated the reliability of the fluid model. • The chloride achieved yields of up to ∼98 % with excellent reusability. The efficient and safe synthesis of chlorides is attractive in pharmaceutical chemicals yet presents challenges. Herein, a novel route has been developed for the conversion of alcohols into the corresponding alkyl chlorides in continuous flow microreactor. Meanwhile, the system utilizes deep eutectic solvents (DESs) hydrochloride solutions (DESs/HCl) as both solvents and catalysts for this reaction. The results suggest that the premixed mode continuous flow microreactor using DESs/HCl can significantly improve the harsh reaction conditions in the synthesis reaction of chlorides. Furthermore, tuning the HCl concentration under 383 K and 30 min conditions significantly increased the yields of n -Butanol chloride and Benzyl chloride to 86 % and 98 %, respectively. This work shows the great application potential of the continuous flow microreactor combined with DESs/HCl to convert alcohols into corresponding alkyl chlorides or aryl chlorides. Besides, the fluid model and HCl absorption kinetics were established based on the calculated diffusion coefficients (D R), Damköhler number (Da), Bodenstein number (Bo), residence time (τ), and experimental results. The flow model of the mixture of DESs/HCl and alcohols in the microreactor was a plug flow, which is beneficial for improving the efficiency of this reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We are presenting a groundbreaking study on the use of a main group phosphorus corrole complex, P–(CF 3) 5 , as an efficient photocatalyst for chlorination reactions. Through the optimizations of catalyst selection, solvent choice and acid concentration, we achieved remarkable catalytic efficiencies. Meanwhile, this innovative system simultaneously generates H₂O₂, with its production optimized for maximum efficiency. Supported by DFT calculations, our study elucidates a reactive oxygen species–triggered mechanism, demonstrating the potential of non–precious main group systems as viable photocatalysts. This work opens new avenues for applying sustainable, eco–friendly photocatalysts in essential industrial organic processes, marking a significant advancement in green chemistry. [Display omitted] • Efficient photocatalytic chlorination of aromatics was achieved using P–corrole. • Dual catalysis was observed in both chlorination and H 2 O 2 formation. • Reproducibility and stability over multiple cycles highlight its practical utility. Corroles, despite their highly tunable and excellent photophysical and electrochemical properties, have rarely been explored as mainstream photocatalytic photosensitizers. Our study introduces a novel application of the highly oxidizing penta–CF 3 substituted phosphorus corrole, P–(CF 3) 5 , which has shown remarkable efficacy in the chlorination of phenol and related natural compounds (the beta 2, 3, 8, 17, 18-substituted isomer: 2,3,8,17,18–pentatrifluoromethyl–(5,10,15–tris(pentafluorophenyl) corrole phosphorus (V) difluoride). Here, we report the first case of the simultaneous photocatalytic chlorination of phenol or toluene and H 2 O 2 formation, with the latter achieving a notable rate of > 7 mM/g/h under ambient conditions. Notably, the oxidation of toluene predominantly yields benzaldehyde over benzyl chloride. The H 2 O 2 formation can be finely tuned by adjusting the water/acetonitrile ratio and acid concentration. Comprehensive experimental and theoretical (DFT) investigations were conducted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of both chlorination and oxidation. This dual–function catalytic process not only enhances reaction efficiency but also underscores the potential of corrole–based catalysts in advancing sustainable and green chemical methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondrial sulfur dioxide (SO 2) plays important roles in physiological and pathological activities. Unfortunately, it is lack of a reliable tool to precisely visualize the mitochondrial SO 2 and elaborate its complicated functions in various cytoactivities. Here we report a mitochondrial-immobilized fluorescent probe PM-Cl consisting of coumarin and benzyl chloride modified benzothiazole, which enables selective visualization of mitochondrial SO 2 via chemical immobilization. The spectral results demonstrated that probe PM-Cl could respond to SO 2 with high selectivity and sensitivity. Co-localization and the fluorescence of cytolysis extraction verified the excellent mitochondrial targeting and anchoring abilities. Due to the chemical immobilization, probe PM-Cl could firmly retain into mitochondria after stimulation of carbonyl cyanide m -chlorophenyl hydrazone (CCCP) and H 2 O 2. Significantly, a series of fluorescence images are indicative of capability for detecting the fluctuations of SO 2 in mitochondria during ferroptosis. Furthermore, PM-Cl also could visualize SO 2 in myocardium and muscle tissues after the stimulation of CCCP. Taken together, probe PM-Cl is a very potential molecular tool for precisely detecting mitochondrial SO 2 to explore its complex functions in physiological and pathological activities. A MMP-independent fluorescent probe PM-Cl for precise visualization of mitochondrial SO 2 was developed. [Display omitted] • A mitochondrial-immobilization SO 2 fluorescent probe PM - Cl was rational designed. • Denatured fluorescent protein showed PM - Cl has covalently labeled on mitochondria. • Probe PM - Cl can trace mitochondrial SO 2 in situ under the stimulation with CCCP. • Probe PM - Cl achieved in visualizing SO 2 during ferroptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scaling of reverse osmosis (RO) is an important factor affecting its permeability. Various types of scale inhibitors are widely used to reduce scale formation on membrane surfaces. In particular, polyaspartic acid (PASP) is increasingly used due to its environmental benefits. However, efficient detection of PASP during application remains a challenge. Here, we report method for enrichment and determination of PASP using dodecyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (DDBAC)-modified membranes. The DDBAC-PES membrane detection method improved detection accuracy by 45 % compared to the conventional method. This is due to DDBAC binding to PASP, causing small molecules to combine into larger ones. Additionally, DDBAC reduced the electronegativity of the PES membrane surface, resulting in a PASP retention rate increase from 90 % to 97 %. The experimental result was explained and demonstrated in DFT calculations. The binding energy of DDBAC to PASP was calculated to be −2.774 eV. In addition，the DDBAC-PES membrane maintained good stability of the PASP assay after two months of storage. It also demonstrated the validity and practicality of detection using the new module. Theoretical calculations also give the same results as the experimental ones. [Display omitted] • Development of a DDBAC-PES modified membrane for PASP detection. • A novel modified membrane enrichment method for PASP detection is proposed. • The properties of DDBAC-PES membranes comparing conventional methods were explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Allicin shows excellent synergistic corrosion inhibition effect to BQC. • BQC/allicin with 0.1 % dosage achieves IE 96.5 % at 363 K in 15 % lactic acid. • SEM, EDX, AFM reveal the formation of protective film on metal surface. • Theoretical calculations and MD simulations explain the synergistic effect. The synergistic inhibitive effect of benzyl quinolinium chloride (BQC) with allicin on N80 specimens in 15 % lactic acid environment at 363 K was investigated using weight loss experiments, electrochemical tests, and surface analysis techniques (including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and contact angle measurement), quantum chemical calculation as well as molecular dynamics (MD) simulation instruments. In the presence of allicin, the inhibition performance of BQC was significantly improved. The inhibition efficacy (IE) reached 96.49 % at the optimal mass ratio of 5:1(BQC/allicin) with the total inhibitor mass fraction of 0.1 %. Electrochemical testing demonstrated that the composite inhibitor impeded the corrosion process and the composite corrosion inhibitor was belong to hybrid inhibition type. Surface analysis techniques indicated that the composite corrosion inhibitor formed a hydrophobic adsorptive protective film to avoid the erosion of corrosion factors on the metal surface. The mechanism of the synergistic corrosion inhibition effect was further clarified, in terms of electrostatic attraction, intermolecular interactions and adsorption process through molecular dynamics simulation (MD) as well as density functional theory (DFT). The composite corrosion inhibitor composed of BQC and allicin formed a complete and dense adsorption protective film on the metal surface under the combined effect of physical and chemical adsorptions. The combination of BQC and allicin in proper ratio shows promising application potential as an efficient corrosion inhibitor in lactic acid based acidizing fluids. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2), as one of reactive oxygen species (ROS) widely present in the human body, is involved in a variety of physiological activities. Many human diseases are associated with abnormal levels of H 2 O 2 in the body. Mitochondria are the main organelles producing H 2 O 2 in the human body, and monitoring the level of H 2 O 2 in mitochondria can help to deepen the understanding of the detailed functions of H 2 O 2 in physiological activities. However, due to the highly dynamic nature of the cells, real-time quantitative monitoring of H 2 O 2 levels in mitochondria remains an ongoing challenge. Herein, a novel highly immobilized mitochondria-targeting fluorescent probe (QHCl) for detection of H 2 O 2 was reasonably constructed based on quinolinium dye containing benzyl chloride moiety. Spectral experimental results demonstrated QHCl possessed outstanding selectivity toward H 2 O 2 (λ ex/em = 380/513 nm). In addition, QHCl can quantitatively detect H 2 O 2 in the concentration range of 0–20 μM with excellent sensitivity (LOD = 0.58 μM) under the PBS buffer solution (10 mM, pH = 7.4). Finally, bioimaging experiments demonstrated that the probe QHCl was able to be used for accurately detecting both endogenous and exogenous H 2 O 2 in the mitochondria of living cells and zebrafish by its unique mitochondrial immobilization. [Display omitted] • Probe can achieve highly immobilized monitoring of H 2 O 2 in mitochondria. • Probe has excellent water-solubility and high sensitivity for H 2 O 2 detection. • Probe exhibited preeminent selectivity towards H 2 O 2 over other reactive oxygen species. • Probe can realize in situ detection of H 2 O 2 in live cells and zebrafish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sophisticated nanomedicines are continually being developed, but big obstacles remain before they finish the drug release mission. The first challenge is rupture possibility of structure when infinite dilution, competitive reaction of electrolytes and protein in blood circulation. In addition, low responsive drug release efficiency in the lesion site remains the major challenge for clinical application of nanomedicine combination treatment. In this study, we discussed the opportunities for Alzheimer's disease (AD) combination therapy based on the thermodynamically ultra-stable dextran conjugated prodrug micelles. Dextran-nateglinide conjugated prodrug micelles (NA) and dextran-vitamin E succinate conjugated prodrug micelles (VES) presented ultra-low critical micelle concentration of ~10−5 mM and high physiological stability when challenged by NaCl, sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), dodecyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (DDBAC) and no rupture of structure happened. The NA/insulin polymer-drug conjugate micelles (NA/INS PDC) and VES/insulin polymer-drug conjugate micelles (VES/INS PDC) efficiently cleaved by reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to over 80% release of the encapsulated and conjugated drugs. The combination of nateglinide and insulin, vitamin E succinate and insulin improved the glucose metabolism, reduced oxidative stress, improved the mitochondrial function and recovered the cognitive capacity of mice. This work demonstrated a paradigm for specific and high efficacy AD combination therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Environmentally friendly D-Mt composite is prepared. • The adsorption of AMP and AMX by D-Mt-1.4 under different conditions was studied. • DFT was applied to quantitatively analyze the molecular surface of AMP and AMX. • Multiwfn program was applied to quantitatively analyze the molecule surface. The quaternary ammonium surfactant-dodecyl benzyl ammonium chloride (DDBAC) was applied to modify Ca-montmorillonite (Ca-Mt) to obtain organo D-Mt that was used as the adsorbent for micropollutants-ampicillin (AMP) and amoxicillin (AMX). The XRD characterization indicated that DDBAC intercalated the interlayer space of Ca-Mt. When the amount of modifier was 1.4 CEC, the basal spacing enlarged from 1.53 nm to 2.97 nm, and the arrangement of modifier molecules were sloped in the interlayer of Ca-Mt along the longest axis. The saturated adsorption capacity of D-Mt-1.4 for AMP and AMX was 30.86 mg/g and 13.29 mg/g, respectively, while the saturated adsorption capacity of Ca-Mt for two contaminants was only 0.36 mg/g and 0.16 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption of the two pollutants was more consistent with Freundlich adsorption isotherm second-order kinetic model, and the thermodynamic study suggested that adsorption was more likely to occur at higher temperatures, which means that the adsorption of two pollutants was a spontaneous endothermic process. Moreover, Multiwfn wavefunction program based on Density Functional Theory (DFT) was applied to reveal the microadsorption mechanism of D-Mt to two pollutant molecules. This work confirmed that Ca-Mt functionalized by DDBAC was promising adsorbents for micro-contaminants of antibiotics and the insight of the adsorption mechanism from the atomic level, providing theoretical guidance for architecting high performance adsorbent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The variation Characteristics of ambient VOCs on haze days and non-haze days were discussed in Zhengzhou. • Five sources of VOCs were identified by the PMF model. • Vehicle exhaust and industrial production were the largest sources of VOCs in winter. • Healthy risk of VOCs during different pollution episodes were estimated. Zhengzhou is one of the most haze-polluted cities in Central China with high organic carbon emission, which accounts for 15%-20% of particulate matter (PM 2.5) in winter and causes significantly adverse health effects. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are the precursors of secondary PM 2.5 and O 3 formation. An investigation of characteristics, sources and health risks assessment of VOCs was carried out at the urban area of Zhengzhou from 1st to 31st December, 2019. The mean concentrations of total detected VOCs were 48.8 ± 23.0 ppbv. Alkanes (22.0 ± 10.4 ppbv), halocarbons (8.1 ± 3.9 ppbv) and aromatics (6.5 ± 3.9 ppbv) were the predominant VOC species, followed by alkenes (5.1 ± 3.3 ppbv), oxygenated VOCs (3.6 ± 1.8 ppbv), alkyne (3.5 ± 1.9, ppbv) and sulfide (0.5 ± 0.9 ppbv). The Positive Matrix Factorization model was used to identify and apportion VOCs sources. Five major sources of VOCs were identified as vehicular exhaust, industrial processes, combustion, fuel evaporation, and solvent use. The carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk values of species were calculated. The carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of almost all air toxics increased during haze days. The total non-carcinogenic risks exceeded the acceptable ranges. Most VOC species posed no non-carcinogenic risk during three haze events. The carcinogenic risks of chloroform, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,2-dibromoethane, benzyl chloride, hexachloro-1,3-butadiene, benzene and naphthalene were above the acceptable level (1.0 × 10−6) but below the tolerable risk level (1.0 × 10−4). Industrial emission was the major contributor to non-carcinogenic, and solvent use was the major contributor to carcinogenic risks. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel fused heterocyclic quaternary ammonium salt (BQD) was synthesised using a one-pot method, which can be easily operated and was increased the effective content of BQD in the product to 50 %. • The performance of synergy and inhibition of different compounding agents and BQD in acid solution were studied by different evaluative methods. • Molecular simulations of three systems of BQD corrosion inhibitor were carried out to explain the corrosion inhibition mechanism from a microscopic point of view. A novel fused heterocyclic quaternary ammonium salt (BQD) corrosion inhibitor was developed using the one-pot synthesis method, which employed quinoline and benzyl chloride. The one-pot synthesis method was easy to operate and successfully increased the effective BQD content to 50 %, aiming to provide an effective acidic corrosion inhibitor. The corrosion inhibition performance of BQD on N80 steel sheets in 20 % HCl solution was evaluated by weight loss and electrochemical tests. The synergistic inhibition between BQD and different compounding agents was investigated. The results indicated that BQD possessed good inhibition performance at 363 K. A corrosion inhibition rate of 99.17 % was achieved at an ultra-low concentration (0.05 % BQD). In addition, a synergistic performance was observed when combining BQD with either KI or urotropine. The system of BQD with urotropine presented the best inhibition performance, and the corrosion rate was further reduced to 2.87 g·m−2·h−1. The adsorption of the inhibitor system on the N80 steel surface was followed by Langmuir adsorption isotherm, which adsorbed on the N80 steel surface by chemical adsorption. The inhibition mechanism of BQD on N80 steel was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurement, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis, contact angle determination, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. BQD can be adsorbed parallel to the surface of a steel sheet by using a conjugate plane consisting of a five-membered nitrogen-containing heterocycle and two six-membered rings on either side of the five-membered heterocycle as the reference plane. Therefore, BQD forms an adsorption protection film on the steel sheet surface, which can effectively slow down metal corrosion by acid solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing resistance of antibiotics and the global spread of pathogenic bacteria highlight the urgent need for novel antibacterial materials. In this study, a terpolymer (PVBA) with carboxyl (-COOH) and benzyl chloride (-C 7 H 6 Cl) groups was synthesized using acrylic acid (AA), butyl acrylate (BA), and 4-vinyl benzyl chloride (VBC) as monomers. The -C 7 H 6 Cl groups in the PVBA terpolymer was then reacted with N-N-dimethylhexadecane 1-amine (HAM) to prepare a more hydrophilic antibacterial (PVBA-N) terpolymer. Further, a synthetic/natural (PVBA-N/C) composite with quaternary ammonium (QA) groups was prepared by covalent crosslinking of the PVBA-N terpolymer and chitosan (CS). Finally, the AgCl-decorated PVBA-N/C (AgCl@PVBA-N/C) antibacterial composite was were constructed by anchoring silver chloride nanoparticles (AgClNPs) to the surface of the PVBA-N/C composite. Remarkably, the resulting AgCl@PVBA-N/C antibacterial composite had a porous network structure and exhibited favorable antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) based on both contact-typed and release-typed antibacterial modes, and low cytotoxicity against L929 cells. This research provides an effective strategy to combat the threat of bacterial resistance to human health relying on the advantage of the respective antibacterial mechanisms of various antibacterial ingredients. [Display omitted] • An organic/inorganic antibacterial (AgCl@PVBA-N/C) composite was prepared by a dual modification strategy. • The AgCl@PVBA-N/C composite combated bacteria via both contact-type and release-type mechanisms. • The AgCl@PVBA-N/C composite possessed good antibacterial activity and low cytotoxicity. • The AgCl@PVBA-N/C composite has a bright prospect against the threat of bacterial resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work provides a more favorable implementation of synergistic drag reduction strategies based on molecular simulations of the strength of polymer-surfactant interactions. The simulated preferred system identifies polyethylene oxide (PEO) and guar gum (GG) as polymers, and dodecyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (DDBAC) and dodecyl hydroxy sulfobetaine (DHSB). To forecast the drag reduction capability and identify the drag reduction process, important elements such as aggregation phenomena, charge distribution, shear deformation, and interfacial behavior were examined. Experimental measurements of viscosity, surface tension, and drag reduction validate the interactions. It was found that the compound system demonstrates enhanced viscosity, surface tension, and drag reduction efficiency compared to individual systems. The PEO-DHSB system achieves a drag reduction rate of 63.68% during initial flow, while the GG-DHSB system maintains a rate of 47.26% even after prolonged water circulation. This work visualizes the poly-surface aggregation phenomenon using the density distribution of surfactant hydrophobic tail chains, dynamically demonstrating the deformation of polymer and surfactant molecules during the shear process and interfacial behavior, and providing molecular-scale intuitive insights for understanding the drag reduction mechanism of poly-surface systems. Meanwhile, by comparing the effects of molecular type and structure on poly-surface interactions and drag reduction performance, it provides a theoretical foundation for the development and application of subsequent poly-surface drag reduction schemes, thereby broadening the application of drag reduction technology in the field of energy conservation and emission reduction. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zero-gap liquid alkaline water electrolyzers have great potential for hydrogen production. In order to enhance their actual performance, one of the key components to investigate is the anionic exchange membrane that allows the conduction of anions between the electrodes. This paper reports the preparation and characterization of membranes composed of a polybenzimidazole, either poly(2,5-benzimidazole) (ABPBI) or poly[2-2′-(m-phenylene)-5-5′-bibenzimidazole] (PBI), crosslinked with different ratios of poly(vinylbenzyl chloride) (PVBC), forming thermally stable and homogeneous films. Quaternization of these films with 1,4-diazabicyclo (2.2.2) octane (DABCO) followed by immersion in an alkaline solution lead to the introduction of quaternary ammonium groups and hydroxide anions respectively. Adequate thermal stability is observed in the temperature range of application (below 100 °C). Measurements of KOH and water and related swelling reflect the higher absorption capacity of ABPBI based membranes relative to PBI based ones. ABPBI-c-PVBC/OH 1:2 membranes at 50 °C are characterized by high ionic conductivity values (48 mS cm−1), reaching 380 mA cm−2 at cell voltage 1.98 V. In conclusion, we consider that these membranes are competitive candidates as anion exchange membranes for zero-gap alkaline water electrolyzers, and can be further enhanced to reach the performance of state of the art AEM's. Image 1 • Quaternized and crosslinked ABPBI-PVBC membranes are stable and homogeneous. • ABPBI-PVBC have higher density of QA sites, KOH uptake and conductivity than PBI-PVBC • Best performance is attained by the membranes with the highest PVBC content. • These membranes enable to operate alkaline electrolyzers under mild conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A thalidomide derivative was assessed for its anti-inflammatory activity. • The derivative suppressed cytokine expression to a greater degree than thalidomide. • The derivative penetrated skin due to its feasible lipophilicity and small size. • This compound regulated inflammation via inhibition of MAPKs/NF-κB/AP-1 signaling. • Thalidomide analog has potential as a therapeutic agent against psoriasis. Thalidomide can be a TNF-α inhibitor for treating skin inflammation. This drug exhibits a strong toxicity that limits its application. We synthesized a thalidomide analog containing the benzyl chloride group (2-[1-(3-chlorobenzyl)-2,6-dioxopiperidin-3-yl]isoindoline-1,3-dione, CDI) to examine anti-inflammatory activity against psoriasis. The evaluation was conducted by the experimental platforms of in vitro TNF-α- or imiquimod (IMQ)-stimulated HaCaT cells and in vivo IMQ-induced psoriasiform plaque. Using the in vitro keratinocyte model, we demonstrated a greater inhibition of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-24 by CDI than by thalidomide. No significant cytotoxicity was observed at 100 μM. CDI delivered facilely into the skin with a cutaneous targeting ability 228-fold greater than thalidomide. CDI caused a negligible irritation on healthy mouse skin. We showed that topically applied CDI reduced IMQ-induced red scaly lesions, hyperplasia, microabscesses, and cytokine expression in the mouse model. The skin-barrier function measured by transepidermal water loss (TEWL) could be partially recovered from 50.6–36.3 g/m2/h by CDI. The mechanistic study showed that CDI suppressed cytokine production by inhibiting the phosphorylation of NF-κB and AP-1 via MAPK pathways. CDI would be beneficial for the development of a therapeutic agent against psoriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• adipic acid synthesis from cyclohexene and hydrogen peroxide in microemulsion is investigated. • stearyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride is used as surfactant. • reaction carried out without organic ligand and without phase transfer catalyst. • non-polluting catalyst sodium tungstate, which contains no heavy metal, is used. • by recycling the catalyst and the surfactant, the process becomes truly green. Adipic acid appears as an intermediate compound for the synthesis of polyamides and preferentially for the production of nylon-6,6 polyamide. It can be synthesized by the oxidation of cyclohexene by hydrogen peroxide in microemulsion media which has the main advantage to lead a better contact between the two phases thus increasing the yield of the reaction. The microemulsion is generated by stearyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (C18) as a surfactant avoiding the use of harmful organic solvents and phase-transfer catalysts. The reaction is performed under mild conditions (85 °C, 8 h) with sodium tungstate, - a no heavy metal catalyst - leading to the production of adipic acid in high yield (>80%). By recycling the catalyst and the surfactant, the process becomes truly green. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phenolic hydroxyl-functionalized imidazolium ionic polymer (IP 1) with lower activation energy was designed and synthesized successfully via a one-pot quaternization, which exhibits excellent catalytic activities for CO 2 fixation under mild conditions. [Display omitted] • Phenolic imidazolium ionic polymers (IPs) are prepared via a one-pot method. • Excellent catalytic activities of IPs on CO 2 conversion are achieved. • IP 1 presents good recyclability and substrate universality. • IP 1 features low activation energy with the first-order reaction kinetics. • Synergistic catalytic mechanism involving H-bond and halogen anion is proposed. Developing a greener and efficient catalysts towards the direct fixation of atmospheric CO 2 and then being used to synthesize high-value chemicals is of great interest, but challenging. To achieve this aim, rational design of the catalyst is very important. Herein, three imidazolium-based ionic polymers (IPs), named as IP 1–IP 3 , are straightforwardly synthesized through a simple one-pot quaternization method by employing benzyl chloride linkers and tri-imidazole monomers (L 1 and L 2). These IPs are fully characterized using FTIR spectroscopy, 13C MAS NMR, XRD, elemental analysis, SEM with elemental mapping, HRTEM, TGA, XPS spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption–desorption, and CO 2 /NH 3 -TPD methods. The newly synthesized IP 1 catalyst with phenolic hydroxyl shows an excellent catalytic activity toward CO 2 cycloaddition with 97.1 % yield of cyclic carbonate under mild conditions (80 °C, 0.1 MPa CO 2 , solvent-free, 4.5 h). Moreover, the IP 1 catalyst is highly robust and can be reused at least for 7 consecutive runs. Mechanistic studies indicate that the synergic effect of hydrogen bonding and halogen anion in the IP 1 catalyst afford the ability to activate the substrate and ease the reaction kinetics, which results in an enhanced catalytic efficiency toward CO 2 fixation. This work provides an efficient new method for the design and synthesis of multifunctional heterogeneous catalysts for the CO 2 cycloaddition reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Organic treatments to MMT usually contribute to better properties of bitumen as compared to untreated MMT. • Bitumen molecules have successfully intercalated into galleries of MMT and OMMTs. • Increasing molecular chain length of organic reagent is more helpful to the improvement of asphalt properties than introduction of benzyl groups. Organic reagents, as modifiers of montmorillonite (MMT), have great effects on bitumen properties. In this respect, octadecyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (1827), stearyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (1831) and dodecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (1231) were selected to modify MMT. The MMT and three kinds of organic montmorillonite (OMMT) were then used to modify base bitumen. Structures of MMT and OMMTs were tested by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). Results show that organic treatments contribute to the expansion of MMT interlayer space and make lamellar edges of OMMTs more regular without obvious curls. Properties of modifiers and modified bitumens were studied mainly by hydrophilicity test, physical tests, dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) and bending beam rheometer (BBR). It is found that introduction of MMT and OMMTs improves high temperature property but weakens low temperature property of bitumen. 1827-OMMT modified bitumen exhibits the best high temperature property, followed by 1831-OMMT modified bitumen, while there is better low temperature property for 1831-OMMT modified bitumen than 1827-OMMT modified bitumen. Moreover, 1827-OMMT modified bitumen and 1831-OMMT modified bitumen all show excellent storage stability. Modification mechanism and micro-morphologies were tested by XRD, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and atomic force microscope (AFM). Results show that bitumen molecules can intercalate into interlayer spaces through reacting with exchangeable cations in interlayers. Only 1831-OMMT and 1827-OMMT modified bitumens form the exfoliated nanostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heterometallic hydride [MoWCp 2 (μ -H)(μ -PCy 2)(CO) 4 ] was prepared in 30% yield through reaction of an equimolar mixture of [Mo 2 Cp 2 (CO) 6 ] and [W 2 Cp 2 (CO) 6 ] with a two-fold excess of PHCy 2 in xylene solution, in a sealed tube at 453 K. The sodium salt of the title anion was then prepared from the latter hydride in a three-step process first involving dehydrogenation with HBF 4 ·OEt 2 in dichloromethane to give the cationic derivative [MoWCp 2 (μ -PCy 2)(CO) 4 ](BF 4), then reaction of the latter with NaI in refluxing 1,2-dichloroethane to yield the iodide-bridged dicarbonyl complex [MoWCp 2 (μ -I)(μ -PCy 2)(CO) 2 ] and, finally, reaction of the latter with Na(Hg) in tetrahydrofuran solution. Reaction of this anion with (NH 4)PF 6 gave the hydride [MoWCp 2 (H)(μ -PCy 2)(CO) 2 ], which in solution displays an equilibrium mixture of two isomers, one with terminal carbonyls and the hydride ligand bridging the metal atoms (B), another one with a semibridging carbonyl and the hydride ligand terminally bound to the W atom (T). The prevalence of isomer T was higher than the observed ones in the corresponding homometallic analogues, and there was a clear thermodynamic preference of the hydride ligand for the W site, estimated in some 20 kJ/mol according to density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The title anion reacted selectively with benzyl chloride at room temperature, to give the agostic benzyl-bridged derivative [MoWCp 2 (μ - κ 1: η 2-CH 2 Ph)(μ -PCy 2)(CO) 2 ], which displays specific κ 1-coordination to the W atom (Mo W = 2.580(1) Å), while the analogous reaction with MeI gave a mixture of the related methyl-bridged complex [MoWCp 2 (μ - κ 1: η 2-CH 3)(μ -PCy 2)(CO) 2 ] and its methoxycarbyne-bridged isomer [MoWCp 2 (μ -COMe)(μ -PCy 2)(μ -CO)] in a ratio of ca. 5:1, with the latter corresponding to a chemical behaviour intermediate between those of its homonuclear analogues. Photolysis of the above alkyl complexes with visible-UV light at room temperature resulted in fast decarbonylation followed by dehydrogenation, to give the corresponding carbyne-bridged derivatives [MoWCp 2 (μ -CR)(μ -PCy 2)(μ -CO)] (R = H, Ph) in good yield. This suggests that the cooperative action of Mo and W atoms greatly reduces the thermal barrier of the C H bond cleavage steps required for dehydrogenation of the alkyl ligands in these substrates. Hydride and alkyl derivatives of the title anion display structural and chemical properties different from their homometallic analogues: a higher preference of the hydride ligand for terminal coordination, a marked preference of hydride and alkyl ligands for the tungsten site, and an easier methyl dehydrogenation yielding the corresponding methylidyne derivative. Image 1 • Both the metal and oxygen atoms are nucleophilic sites in the title anion. • W H and W C binding is favoured at hydride and alkyl derivatives of the title anion. • Mo and W atoms cooperatively reduce the thermal barrier for C H activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Dendrite-like Au@Pt NCs were synthesized by a simple one-pot aqueous method. • HDBAC served as a growth-directing agent for the core-shell architectures. • Significant signal amplification was achieved by dendritic Au@Pt NCs/Fc-g-CS. • Ultrasensitive label-free immunosensor was constructed for detection of CA15-3. The introduction of advanced nanocrystals and mediator is crucial for signal amplification of electrochemical immunosensors due to trace amounts of analytes in real samples. Herein, a novel ultrasensitive label-free electrochemical immunosensor was constructed to monitor carbohydrate antigen 15-3 (CA15-3) based on dendritic Au@Pt core-shell nanocrystals (Au@Pt NCs) uniformly dispersed with ferrocene-grafted-chitosan (Fc-g-CS), where Au@Pt NCs were prepared with hexadecyldimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (HDBAC) as the growth-directing agent via a simple one-pot wet-chemical strategy. More notably, Fc grafted with CS would dramatically improve the stability and the Fc-g-CS enlarged specific surface area and behaved as dispersing agent for the Au@Pt NCs to greatly boost the electrochemical signals and improve the biocompatibility. The resulting immunosensor displayed wider linear range of 0.5–200 U mL–1 and lower detection limit of 0. 17 U mL–1, which was further explored for detecting CA15-3 in serum sample with highly acceptable results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of chitosan-based flocculants have been successfully synthesized by grafting poly(acrylamide) (PAM) or poly(dimethyl acryloyloxyethyl benzyl ammonium chloride) (PDBC) onto chitosan (CS) molecular chain and then characterized by using multiple techniques. The synthesized CS-based flocculants were subsequently used to flocculate the emulsified oil droplets in simulated oily wastewater under various conditions. It was found that the PDBC-grafted CS (CS-g-PDBC) showed better flocculation performance than those of CS and two other commonly used flocculants, i.e. cationic PAM (CPAM) and polyaluminum chloride (PAC). Moreover, the flocculation efficiency of CS-g-PDBC was gradually enhanced with increasing grafting ratio of PDBC, while declined after the introduction of grafted PAM chains. The cationic and hydrophobic groups of PDBC could significantly promote the adsorption of flocculant molecular chains on the negatively charged oil droplets via electrostatic attraction and hydrophobic interaction, thereby facilitating subsequent flocculation process. In addition to the adsorption bridging mechanism, zeta potentials measurements indicated that patching was the dominant mechanism under acidic and neutral conditions, while charge neutralization was the main mechanism under alkaline condition. On this basis, the chosen flocculant CS-g-PDBC was employed to treat the actual oily wastewater. Results showed that the removal ratio of both turbidity and oil exceeded 98%, suggesting that this newly synthesized CS-g-PDBC would be a promising flocculant for emulsified oily wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Electron capture detectors (ECDs) and detectors used in ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) have been successfully used for the detection of numerous compounds including hazardous substances. The general principles of their operations are similar and based on sample component ionization and measurement of the signal using the differences in the mobility of electric charge carriers. Differences in sensitivity result from various parameters of these instruments. Value of electric field intensity in ionic reactors have an influence on ionization process. The main goal of the performed tests was to compare the analytical properties of ECD and two types of IMS detectors: a drift tube spectrometer (DT IMS) and a differential mobility spectrometer (DMS). In the work performed, the efficiency of ionization and the response of detectors to selected analytes were compared. ECD, DT IMS and DMS were equipped with 63-Ni radioactive sources. Analytes have been ionized via electron capture process or dissociative electron transfer. Results obtained for oxygen and chloro-substituted organic compounds (carbon tetrachloride, benzyl chloride, chloroform, 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide) were used to calculate the relative signal and to compare the ionization efficiency for three detectors. The phenomena observed experimentally were related to energy dependencies and electron capture cross-sections of analytes. The efficiency of ionization in DT IMS was also compared for electron capture when nitrogen was used as the carrier gas, and when the ionization process was based on the collisions of the analyte molecules with the O 2 - with the use of air. Graphical abstract fx1 Highlights • Electron capture is effective method of ionization in ion mobility spectrometry. • Different types of detectors are compared. • Limits of detection of below 1 ppb level are achieved. • Electron energy is the factor determining ionization efficiency. • In some cases dissociative charge transfer is the effective way for ionization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supported Co 3 O 4 nanoparticles on SBA-15 aluminosilicates (Al-SBA-15) with different cobalt loadings (0.5, 1, 5, 10 wt %) were synthesized by ball-milling. The synthesized materials were characterized by different techniques including, N 2 adsorption measurements, XRD, TEM, EDX, ICP-MS, DRIFTs of pyridine among others. The catalysts were studied in the microwave assisted benzyl alcohol oxidation as well as in the akylation of toluene with benzyl chloride. Co 3 O 4 catalysts exhibited moderate conversions in the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol, with a high selectivity towards benzaldehyde. Lewis acidity increases upon the incorporation of cobalt nanoparticles onto the surface of the support which was found to significantly influence the materials in the alkylation of toluene with benzyl chloride. The high active sites accessibility of ball-milling prepared materials leads to high conversions to alkylated derivatives in short periods of time (>99 mol %, 30 min). A direct correlation acidity/activity could not be obtained in the systems, for which nanoparticle sizes and distribution could influence the observed activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A well-defined tetra-coordinated copper(I)- bis (imino)pyridine-phosphine complex was synthesized and completely characterized. The catalytic application of copper(I) complex has been explored in multicomponent azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction using benzyl bromide/benzyl chloride, alkynes and sodium azide. [Display omitted] • Bis (imino)pyridine-phosphine based copper(I) complex was synthesized and characterized by NMR, IR, UV–Visible, Elemental analysis and XRD. • The copper(I) complex is used as catalyst for the synthesis of 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles via multicomponent reaction of benzyl bromide/benzyl chloride, alkynes, and sodium azide. • Excellent catalytic activity of bis(pyrrolyl)pyridine-phosphine based copper(I) complex in one-pot multicomponent Click reactions. Copper(I)- bis (imino)pyridine-triphenylphosphine complex (2a) was prepared from the reaction of bis (imino)pyridine ligand and [Cu(PPh 3) 3 Cl]. The tetracoordinated copper(I) complex was characterized by UV–Visible, NMR and elemental analysis. The molecular structure of 2a was characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction and adopts a distorted tetrahedral geometry around the copper centre. The copper(I) 2a was established as catalyst for one-pot multicomponent Click reaction of aryl halides and sodium azide with terminal alkynes using 0.5 mol % catalyst loading in methanol as a solvent. Several 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles have been synthesized in moderate to excellent yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A set of OASs with various side chains are applied as passivators to regulate interfacial band alignment, decrease defect density, and increase hydrophobic property. As a consequence, PSCs passivated with TOAC bearing a Si-O-CH 3 side chain achieve an increase in stability and PCE from 16.66% to 20.55%. [Display omitted] • Studying passivation effects via using a set of OASs with various side chains. • TOAC bearing a Si-O-CH 3 side chain leads to superior defect passivation, interfacial band alignment and hydrophobic property. • TOAC-treated PSCs show an increase in mean PCE from 16.62% to 20.06%. • The unencapsulated PSCs with TOAC treatment achieve excellent high-humidity stability. The extreme vulnerability of hybrid perovskite solar cells (PSCs) to moisture greatly limits the realization of their full potential. Here, we propose an efficient strategy to reinforce the efficiency and the ambient stability of PSCs via employing a series of octadecyl ammonium salts (OASs): octadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (OTAC), octadecyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (ODBAC), and 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl octadecyldimethyl ammonium chloride (TOAC), as passivating agents. Among these OASs, TOAC bearing a trimethoxysilane (Si-O-CH 3) side chain group most efficiently promoted the efficiency along with the high-humidity stability of PSC devices. TOAC significantly passivated the defects, assisted better energy-level alignment and facilitated charge carrier transport in the devices. The TOAC-passivated PSCs exhibited an increase in the average PCE from 16.62 ± 0.56 % to 20.06 ± 0.68 % with a substantially enhanced fill factor of 80.10 ± 1.82 %. Furthermore, the unencapsulated TOAC-passivated PSCs preserved 90 % of their performance after storage in ambient conditions (25–30 ℃, 50–70 % relative humidity) for 300 h. When no OAS passivator was introduced, the devices were losing more than 74 % of their starting PCE after 150 h. The Si-O-CH 3 groups side-chained to the OAS molecules were capable of supporting superior protection to the PSC devices against the permeation of high-moisture. Thereupon, the application of multifunctional octadecyl ammonium salt molecules to passivate defects and tailor the interface energy-level alignment in PSCs offers an encouraging staging to upgrade the PV performance of PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Light color of lignin is achieved by the structural protection of hydrated DES. • Hydrated DES can reduce cleavage and condensation of lignin linkages. • 87.4% of β- O -4 bonds were preserved in 30% hydrated DES pretreatment. • Hydrated DES lignin has broad application prospects in cosmetics. In this study, light-colored lignin was extracted from bamboo shoot shells (BSS) using a hydrated deep eutectic solvent (DES) pretreatment. The hydrated DES used in pretreatment consist of formic acid, benzyl triethylammonium chloride (BTEAC) and water. The pretreatment using a hydrated DES containing 30% water (H30) demonstrate efficient delignification (82.9%). Additionally, the hydrated DES protected the β- O -4 linkage from excessive cleavage and recondensation as well as keep the light-colored of lignin. Moreover, the hydrated DES extracted lignin exhibits superior antioxidant performance and tyrosinase inhibitory capacity compared to the control. Notably, incorporating 5% lignin of H30-extracted lignin into a commercial suncream led to a remarkable enhancement of the SPF value, elevating from 14.8 to 32.6. In summary, the proposed hydrated DES pretreatment method offers significant benefits for extracting light-colored lignin, thereby promoting the multifunctional application of lignin in cosmetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• TQD, a novel heterocyclic quaternary ammonium salt dimer was synthesized. • TQD has excellent effectiveness at inhibiting corrosion for N80 steel in lactic acid solution. • TQD shows much better inhibition efficiency than its analogue compound BQD in lactic acid solution. • Surface analyses by SEM, EDX, AFM and contact angle revealed the formation of protective film on the surface of mild steel. • Theoretical calculations and MD simulations explain the different performance between TQD and BQD. In an effort to develop an effective corrosion inhibitor which is applicable to the chelating acidizing fluids in petroleum production, a novel heterocyclic quaternary ammonium salt dimer (TQD) was synthesized through the reaction of quinoline with 4-chloromethylthiazole hydrochloride. An analogue compound, benzyl quinolinium chloride dimer (BQD), was also prepared for comparison. Their anti-corrosion performances in 15% lactic acid solution were investigated through weight-loss experiments, electrochemical tests, surface morphology observation and simulation calculations. The outcomes demonstrate that inhibition efficiency of 99.38% has been achieved with 0.1% TQD at 363 K, which is much higher than that of BQD at the same condition. Both inhibitors were consistent with the Langmuir model, and both were hybrid adsorption, including physical and chemical adsorptions. According to the results of surface analysis (SEM, AFM, XPS, contact angle) and theoretical calculation (DFT and MD), TQD can effectively slow down the metal corrosion in lactic acid and thus is a promising inhibitor for oil and gas well acidizing purpose. The stronger adsorption capacity of TQD may come out of the contribution of thiazole rings in the molecules. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hazardous chemicals released from the petroleum-derived face mask can be inhaled by wearers and cause adverse health effects. Here, we first used headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with GC-MS to comprehensively analyze the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from 26 types of face masks. The results showed that total concentrations and peak numbers ranged from 3.28 to 197 μg/mask and 81 to 162, respectively, for different types of mask. Also, light exposure could affect the chemical composition of VOCs, particularly increasing the concentrations of aldehydes, ketones, organic acids and esters. Of these detected VOCs, 142 substances were matched to a reported database of chemicals associated with plastic packaging; 30 substances were identified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as potential carcinogenic to humans; 6 substances were classified in the European Union as persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic, or very persistent, very bioaccumulative substance. Reactive carbonyls were ubiquitous in masks, especially after exposure to light. The potential risk of VOCs released from the face masks were then accessed by assuming the extreme scenario that all the VOC residues were released into the breathing air within 3 h. The result showed that the average total concentration of VOCs (17 μg/m3) was below the criterion for hygienic air, but seven substances, 2-ethylhexan-1-ol, benzene, isophorone, heptanal, naphthalene, benzyl chloride, and 1,2-dichloropropane exceeded the non-cancer health guidelines for lifetime exposure. This finding suggested that specific regulations should be adopted to improve the chemical safety of face masks. [Display omitted] • Large amount of VOCs were detected from the face masks. • Light irradiation significantly affected the VOC release profile. • Hazardous VOCs released from the face masks were screened. • Seven compounds released from face masks were recognized as high-risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

4-(Benzyloxy)benzyl chloride polymer-bound (BBC-Polym) was functionalized with 1-phenyl-1 H -tetrazole-5-thiol (PTT), and the corresponding novel nano-particle Pd catalyst prepared by the subsequent addition of PdCl 2 (BBC-Polym@PTT@Pd). The Pd catalyst was characterized using powder XRD, SEM, EDX, ICP, TGA-DTA, and FT-IR spectroscopy. Then, the Pd catalyst was used as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of various N -benzylated arylcyanamides at 60 °C in acetonitrile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel strategy for a heterogeneous benzylation reaction conducted in a capillary microreactor was proposed. Silica-immobilized FeCl 3 nanocatalysts were dispersed in benzyl chloride to form a nanofluid, and then were applied for the benzylation of toluene with benzyl chloride to produce monobenzyl toluene and dibenzyl toluene. The effects of various factors, such as reaction temperature, catalyst composition and residence time on the reaction performance were systematically evaluated. The benzyl chloride conversion could reach 99.2% with the 10%FeCl 3 -SiO 2 catalyst under optimal conditions. Both internal effectiveness factor and external effectiveness factor were estimated to explore the influence of internal diffusion and external diffusion on the reaction performance and to reveal the rate-controlling step during the continuous-flow synthesis. Furthermore, the carbenium ions mechanism was applied to elaborate this heterogeneous benzylation reaction. The nanocatalysts could be regenerated and reused for three times with a high catalytic activity (conversion of benzyl chloride >70%), showing great application potential of this nanofluid catalysis protocol on chemical transformations for fine chemicals syntheses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel synthetic route is reported for the preparation of anion exchange membrane and its application towards desalination via electrodialysis and acid recovery via diffusion dialysis. In current study a copolymer based on triethoxyvinylsilane and quaternized vinyl benzyl chloride was synthesized by free radical polymerization using AIBN as an initiator. Further, the property of copolymer was improved by adding different concentration of functionalized graphene nano-ribbons ( f GNR). Structural, chemical and morphological parameters was confirmed by FT-IR, AFM, SEM and TEM analysis. Prepared membrane shows excellent thermal, mechanical and chemical stability by the addition of f GNR. The performance of copolymer was analyzed in terms of electrochemical and physicochemical system. The PGR-5 membrane shows hydroxyl ion conductivity of 1.60 × 10 −2 S/cm, which is found to be double at 90 °C. The IEC of the membranes was also improved by addition of f GNR. In summary increasing the amount of f GNR in membrane matrix, IEC, ionic conductivity, hydration number, elastic modulus, thermal stability etc. increases while swelling ratio reduces by 30% for PGR-5 membrane compared to PVSi. Prepared composite membranes shows lower power consumption 1.36 kWh/kg with high current efficiency 88.68% for salt removal by electrodialysis. For recovery of HCl, PGR-5 membrane shows its superiority with dialysis coefficient of 0.053 m/h and separation factor of 41. Results show that PGR-5 membrane is a good candidate for electro-membrane processes and diffusion dialysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditionally benzylation of phenol is carried out with benzyl chloride which is corrosive and difficult to handle, and the resultant reaction is not atom economical. Benzyl alcohol is an alternative to benzyl chloride which is safe and easy to handle. Benzyl phenols are industrially important products particularly in plastic, rubber and petroleum industries. In present study, cesium salt of dodecatungstophosphoric acid (Cs 2.5 H 0.5 PW 12 O 40 , Cs-DTP) supported on mesocellular foam (MCF) silica was used as catalyst among others. The activity of prepared catalyst, 20% (w/w) Cs-DTP/MCF was compared with Amberlyst-15, montmorillonite clay K10, S-ZrO 2 and unsupported Cs-DTP catalyst. The supported catalyst showed better performance because of even distribution of acidic sites on MCF. The effect of reaction parameters were studied in detail and it was found that reaction follows second order kinetics. The activation energy was found to be 15.94 kcal/mol. The catalyst was found reusable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the synthesis and characterization of amphiphile copolymers derived from poly( N , N -dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) generated by the stepwise quaternization of PDMAEMA, first with 1-hexadecyl bromide (HDB) and then with benzyl chloride (BC). Amphiphile copolymers consisting of hydrophile blocks separated by hydrophobe units were thus prepared in a predictable manner. The chemical structure of the hydrophobically modified polycations was confirmed by FTIR and 1 H NMR spectroscopy, and by elemental analysis. The behavior in salt-free aqueous solutions was investigated by viscometry at 25 °C, rheological investigations at different temperatures, and by SAXS measurements. The steady shear measurements revealed an aggregation during the flow at moderate shear rates, the amplitude of this phenomenon depending on the hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance. The clusters are formed due to the intermolecular interactions and they grow as the shear rate is approaching 1 s −1 . For the temperatures between 45 °C and 65 °C, the shear forces determine an expansion of the macromolecules that tend to orient in the flow direction and favor either a better interaction of the hydrophilic groups with the water molecules, or the manifestation of hydophobic interactions. The associative properties and the micelles geometry were tuned by the content and distribution of the hexadecyl groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quaternary ammonium salts are widely used as epidermal and topical antimicrobial agents in medical treatments due to their broad activity, excellent performance and ready availability. However, their epidermal application has revealed many noticeable disadvantages, including short-term functionality, environmental toxicity, rapid antimicrobial resistance and skin penetration. Here, a series of tri-block copolymers grafted with dimethylaminopropyl benzyl chloride and based on a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) backbone, referred to as PDMS- b -(PDMS- g -BC)- g -PDMS, were prepared with well-controlled chain length and cationic grafting content. The quaternary ammonium salt-containing polymers were effective antimicrobial agents against epidermal pathogenic microbes, such as E. coli , S. albus and C. albicans . By incorporating hydrophilic and antimicrobial quaternary ammonium salt groups into the hydrophobic PDMS backbones, the amphiphilic tri-block copolymers were water-soluble but capable of assembling onto different surfaces, driven by electrostatic attraction or hydrophobic repulsion, which yielded long-term functionality on the surface. Moreover, the enlarged molecular size prevented penetration though full-thickness rat skins. These findings suggest a promising application of polymeric quaternary ammonium salts with hydrophobic moieties as epidermal antimicrobial agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The conversion of carbohydrates to monosaccharides is 87.0%. • Adding water to DES promotes the conversion of carbohydrate to monosaccharides. • Xylose yield from hydrated DES hydrolyzate is higher than that of DES. • Glucose yield from enzymatic hydrolysis increases by 10.3 times. In this work, a rapid one-pot hydrated deep eutectic solvent (DES) pretreatment was proposed to facilitate the conversion of carbohydrates from lignocellulosic biomass to monosaccharides. Specifically, the pure and hydrated DES based on benzyl triethylammonium chloride (BTEAC), formic acid (FA) and water was used to pretreat bamboo shoot shells (BSS) by microwave heating. The pretreated solid residues were enzymatically saccharified to produce fermentable sugars, and the hydrolyzed carbohydrates and lignin remained in the hydrolyzate. The results showed that the yield of monosaccharides from the hydrated DES hydrolyzate (193.7–228.4 g/kg) was significantly higher than that (45.9–66.1 g/kg) of pure DES. The 30% hydrated DES pretreatment achieved the best glucose yield (89.03%) and a total monosaccharides yield of 555.4 g/kg, which corresponded to a conversion ratio of carbohydrates to monosaccharides of 87.0%. The proposed process is a robust method for the efficiently convert carbohydrates from BSS into monosaccharides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We synthesized poly(poly(ethylene glycol)methyl ether methacrylate)- b -poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (p(PEGMA- b -DMAEMA)) by sequential addition of monomers and its quaternized products (p(PEGMA- b -(DMAEMA- co -QDMAEMA)) from the reaction with benzyl chloride for dispersion of copper phthalocyanine (CuPc). The structure of block copolymers was characterized by 1 H NMR and GPC analysis. The block copolymers were investigated for their dispersion performance of CuPc in propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate. The dispersion states of CuPc by dispersants were studied using dynamic light scattering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A well-defined molecularly imprinted polymer nanospheres with excellent specific recognition ability was prepared on Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles via the combination of click chemistry and surface-initiated reversible addition−fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and using Tetrabromobisphenol A as template. Concretely, Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles were prepared by solvothermal method and then modified by 4-vinylbenylchloride through distillation-precipitation, which makes azide groups easily introduced on the surface of magnetic nanoparticles to form the relatively large amount of benzyl chloride groups. With high efficiency, alkyne terminated RAFT chain transfer agent were then immobilized onto the surface of Fe 3 O 4 by means of click chemistry, which is Cu(I)-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). The highly uniform imprinted thin film was finally fabricated on the surface of RAFT agent modified Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles. The binding results demonstrated that as-prepared imprinted beads exhibited remarkable molecular imprinting effects to the template molecule, fast rebinding kinetics and an excellent selectivity to compounds with similar configuration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel metal-free synthesis of 2-substituted benzothiazoles from easily available o -chloronitrobenzenes and benzyl chlorides using elemental sulfur as traceless oxidizing agent has been developed. The protocol provides a simple, efficient, and atom-economic way to access to benzothiazoles in moderate to excellent yields. And the approach exhibited good functional group tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient one-pot three-component reaction of 2-iodoanilines, benzyl chlorides and elemental sulfur to form 2-substituted benzothiazoles in satisfactory yields (up to 98%) has been described. The reaction tolerated a wide range of functional groups on the aromatic ring. And heterocycle methylene chlorides substrates were also found to be compatible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The first oral-administration near-infrared fluorescence molecular (NS-V) for detection the variation of viscosity was established. • The probe NS-V was developed on the basis of naphthalene and pyridine benzyl chloride salt, and emitted at NIR region (710 nm). • The robust probe NS-V possesses a large Stokes shift (∼262 nm in MeCN) and high signal-to-noise ratio. • The new probe NS-V can elucidate the variations of mitochondrial viscosity in abnormal state cells. • The robust probe NS-V was realized in situ visualization the changes of viscosity in gastritis mice, for the first time. Gastritis is one of the most common digestive disorders and affecting millions of people worldwide. Recent investigations discovered that abnormal viscosity changes in organisms are associated with an increasing number of diseases that cannot be cured or managed. However, the relationship between gastritis and viscosity has not been explored so far due to lacking the suitable tools for in situ detecting the variations of viscosity in stomach. Herein, we developed a new oral-administration fluorescent probe (NS-V) for in situ elucidation of gastritis viscosity variations, for the first time. Based on the TICT mechanism, the probe employs naphthalene as the fluorescence platform, the rotatable single bond as the viscosity sensitive site, N, N -dimethyl as the strong electron donating moiety and the pyridine salt as the strong withdrawing group to enlarge the π-conjugated system to prolong the emission wavelength. Interestingly, NS-V revealed a good fluorescence response for viscosity at the NIR region from a silent "off" state to "on" and demonstrated high sensitivity, large Stokes shift (262 nm in MeCN), and high signal-to-noise ratio. In addition, NS-V could elucidate the altered mitochondrial viscosity in inflammatory cells. More importantly, utilizing these satisfactory features of NS-V , we discovered a significant increase in viscosity in the gastritis mice. Notably, with the assistance of the oral fluorescence molecule, in vivo and in situ visualizing for the first time revealed the positive correlation between viscosity and gastritis. This work provides an important basis for the diagnosis of gastritis and the robust probe developed in this work possesses a potential application in diagnosis of gastritis without any pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient synthetic method for chiral trisubstituted diarylcyclopropanecarboaldehydes has been developed from substituted benzyl chloride and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes. The reactions were catalyzed by chiral amine catalyst under mild condition to afford the chiral diarylcyclopropanecarboaldehydes in good to high yields and up to excellent enantioselectivities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Alkyl chain length of cationic material regulates the electrostatic attraction. • The bond strength of anionic and cationic materials regulates the shell. • The core penetrates to the bottom, the double-layers provide better UV protection. • MCs with loose shell have better anti-photolysis and pesticide utilization. The development of microencapsulation is currently blocked by the mismatch between the release rate and pest-control demand in terms of improving the photostability of pesticides. Achieving both long-term stability and quick release of pesticides through the use of microcapsules (MCs) is an effective way to increase pesticide efficiency. Sodium lignosulfonate and four types of polyalkyl quaternary ammonium salts (PQAS) were used as shell materials in the fabrication of four types of microcapsules by electrostatic self-assembly. The effects of the PQAS alkyl chain length on the morphology, zeta potential, molecular electrostatic potential, particle size distribution, encapsulation efficiency, release behaviour, anti-photolysis performance, and field application effects of the MCs were investigated. The four types of MCs were spherical and 0.5–3 μm in size, and they had an encapsulation efficiency of more than 75 %. The X-ray diffraction results showed that the longer the alkyl chain of PQAS was, the looser the material formed by electrostatic attraction was. With the increase of the alkyl chain length of PQAS, the MCs shell was looser and easier to deform, leading to rapid nuclear release. Therefore, the MCs shells were looser and more prone to deformation with increasing PQAS alkyl chain length, resulting in the quick release of the core. This quick release of the core to the bottom of the microcapsules and the loose shell formed a double-layer structure, which effectively prevented ultraviolet degradation. Therefore, abamectin MCs with quick-release and favourable anti-photolysis performances showed advantages in controlling Plutella. xylostella and Pieris. rapae insect pests. Octadecyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride can be used to fabricate loose MCs by electrostatic self-assembly, which achieves both rapid and long-term pest control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Benzimidazolium salts bearing 4-(methylsulfonyl)benzyl group were synthesized. • All compounds were characterized by NMR and FTIR spectroscopic techniques. • Two compounds were examined by the single-crystal X-ray diffraction method. • Inhibitory effects of all compounds were been tested against XO and AChE enzymes. • Molecular docking work was conducted on the chosen compounds against AChE and XO. [Display omitted] Herein, a series of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursors bearing sulfonyl moieties was prepared. These compounds were characterized by using 1H NMR, 13C NMR, FT-IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis techniques. Molecular and crystal structures of two compounds were determined by using the single-crystal X-ray diffraction method. Furthermore, enzyme inhibitory properties of benzimidazolium salt were tested against xanthine oxidase (XO) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Docking applications were used by using AutoDock4 in order to define the binding pose of the selected compounds, and also to visualize the correlation of the generated optimal complexes. Herein, a series of N -heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursors bearing sulfonyl moieties was prepared. 1-(4-(methylsulfonyl)benzyl)-3-alkylbenzimidazolium chloride salts were synthesized with the reaction of 1-alkylbenzimidazoles with 4-(methylsulfonyl)benzyl chloride. These compounds were characterized by using 1H NMR, 13C NMR, FT-IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis techniques. Molecular and crystal structures of compounds 2e and 2j were determined by using the single-crystal X-ray diffraction method. Furthermore, enzyme inhibitory properties of benzimidazolium salt were tested against xanthine oxidase (XO) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), then determined the IC 50 value range of XO were determined from 0.218 to 1.927 µM, while the IC 50 for AChE were determined from 1.328 to 5.22. Docking applications were used by using AutoDock4 in order to define the binding pose of the selected compounds, (2c, 2d and 2g) and also to visualize the correlation of the generated optimal complexes. It is found that the compound 2g has good binding affinity (-11.24 kcal/mol) against AChE, on the other side, compound 2c shows the lowest binding energy (-8.32 kcal/mol) for the XO target. These findings and the defined compounds could be as potential agents to develop effective medicine for AChE and XO in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inhibition performance of a novel Mannich base-type imidazoline quaternary salt, namely [N, N -bis(propiophenone), N(-1-polyethyleneployamine-2-stearic-imidazole)] benzyl ammonium chloride (PPLC) for mild steel in 0.5 M HCl was investigated. The experimental results show that PPLC is an excellent corrosion inhibitor, which can retard both the anodic and cathodic reactions through strong chemisorption on the surface. The theoretical results from DFT and MD simulations imply that the active site of PPLC was concentrated on the imidazole ring, carbonyl group and benzene ring, and the PPLC could spontaneously adsorb on the surface of metal in a manner parallel. [Display omitted] • A novel quaternary ammonium salt inhibitor was synthesized by Mannich reaction. • The compound acts as a mixed-type inhibitor via multi-center chemical adsorption. • MD simulation reveals that the inhibitor adsorbed on the iron in a parallel manner. • Theoretical calculations are in good agreement with the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Honeybee midgut tissues are disrupted upon DDBAC exposure. • DDBAC exposure reduced the abundance of beneficial microbiota in the honeybee midgut. • DDBAC exposure altered the level of phospholipids constituting cell membranes. • DDBAC exposure changed the expression of genes involved in calcium signaling pathways. One of the impacts of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been a profound increase in the application amounts of disinfectants. Dodecyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (DDBAC) is a widely used disinfectant, yet its hazards to non-target species remain largely unknown. We are unaware of any studies assessing DDBAC's impacts on honeybee, a pollinator species that is a useful indicator of environmental pollution essential for many forms of agricultural production. Here, we assessed the potentially negative effects of DDBAC on honeybees. After conducting a formal toxicity evaluation of DDBAC on honeybee mortality, we detected an accumulation of DDBAC in the honeybee midgut. We subsequently studied the midgut tissues of honeybees exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of DDBAC: histopathological examination revealed damage to midgut tissue upon DDBAC exposure, microbiome analysis showed a decreased abundance of beneficial midgut microbiota, lipidomics analysis revealed a significant reduction in cell membrane phospholipids with known functions in signal transduction, and a transcriptome analysis detected altered expression of genes involved in calcium signaling pathways (that variously function in calcium absorption, muscle contraction, and neurotransmission). Thus, our study establishes that DDBAC impacts honeybee midgut functions at multiple levels. Our study represents an early warning about the hazards of DDBAC and appeals for the proper stewardship of DDBAC to ensure the protection of our ecological environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]