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• Ultrasound-assisted puncture and drainage is micro-invasion and precise. • Osmotic pressure gradient can form space-occupying tumor bed cysts. • Puncture and drainage is a novel method for space-occupying tumor bed cysts. To investigate the causes of space-occupying tumor bed cysts formed early after glioma resection by measuring the osmotic pressure gradient between cystic fluid, serum, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and propose a new method of bedside ultrasound-assisted puncture and drainage (UAP&D) under local anesthesia for treatment. Bedside UAP&D under local anesthesia was performed through a burr hole on the skull flap. Following a successful puncture, cystic fluid was collected, while blood and CSF were obtained through vein and lumbar puncture, respectively. The osmotic pressure of all fluids collected was measured. The appearance, biochemical composition, and results of microbial culture of cystic fluid and CSF were analyzed. Within 24 h after UAP&D, a CT examination and Glasgow coma scale (GCS) were assessed. The osmotic pressure of cystic fluid was higher than that of serum and CSF. White blood cell count and protein concentration were higher in the cystic fluid compared to the CSF. Conversely, the concentration of chloride ions and glucose were lower. CT scan confirmed the correct placement of the cysts' drainage tube and that the cysts' volume decreased significantly with continued drainage. Accompanied by a reduction in the volume of cysts, there were significant improvements in GCS score within 24 h after UAP&D. All drainage tubes were removed within 2–5 days, and no puncture tract hemorrhage or infection was observed. The osmotic pressure gradient between cystic fluid, serum, and CSF caused the formation of early post-operative space-occupying tumor bed cysts for glioma. UAP&D aligns with the concept that micro-invasive neurosurgery is an effective treatment method for such cysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This retro-prospective observational study described the experience in lumbar puncture procedures in children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) with and without neuromuscular scoliosis in a single center. The technical feasibility of intrathecal nusinersen administration was the main limiting factor. A total of 457 technically successful intrathecal injections based on a hierarchical strategy in Cobb angle were reviewed in 81 SMA children aged 0.75–13.5 years who were referred for nusinersen injections in our hospital from October 2019 to December 2022. Under local anesthesia, conventional lumbar puncture was performed on 47 patients without spinal deformity (Cobb angle of 0–10°) and 20 patients with moderate scoliosis (Cobb angle of 10–50°). Ultrasound-assisted lumbar puncture was performed on 12 patients with moderate scoliosis but lordosis. A combination of ultrasound imaging and three-dimensional CT under sedation was performed in the remaining 14 patients with severe scoliosis (Cobb angle >50°). No severe complications were found. Cobb angle is an important basis for intrathecal administration of nusinersen. It is feasible and suitable to carry out intrathecal nusinersen injection under ultrasound combined with three-dimensional CT imaging for children with severe scoliosis. • Many children with SMA have scoliosis causing challenging intrathecal access. • Personalized therapies are required to fit patients with different Cobb angle. • Ultrasound positioning was helpful for intrathecal injections within scoliosis. • Preoperative sedation helped to reduce patient's anxiety, thus got good cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium alloy-based hydroxyapatite (HAp) coating materials are beneficial for reducing stress shielding and improving the biocompatibility of implants. However, the significant disparity in thermal conductivity between titanium alloy and hydroxyapatite results in the material being highly susceptible to cracking during preparation, which diminishes the mechanical properties of the material and predisposes the implant to aseptic loosening. To obtain coatings of HAp that are free of cracks, this study proposes a process method of ultrasonic-assisted femtosecond laser under-liquid ablation of a Ca/P solution to synthesize HAp by a one-step process and apply coatings on the surface of TC4 titanium alloy. The relationship between the laser process parameters and the resulting surface morphology, coating spatial distribution, elemental composition, chemical state of the elements, phase, coating thickness, coating bonding, friction coefficient, corrosion resistance and the number of cells was investigated through a series of analytical techniques, including high-speed photographic observation, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scratch testing, Tafel plot and cell adhesion assays. The findings demonstrate that titanium-based HAp coatings with a thickness of 42.5 μm, a bonding force of 55 N, a polarization resistance of 10 Ω.cm2, the absence of cracks defects, and notable bioactivity can be produced with ultrasonic-assisted submerged laser ablation in a highly concentrated Ca/P solution. The proposed method represents a novel approach to the preparation of multifunctionalized implants. • Single-step synthesis and coating of hydroxyapatite coatings by femtosecond laser • Ultrasonic vibration-assisted processing for coating homogenisation • Femtosecond laser modulation of hydroxyapatite surface physicochemical properties [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • We have developed a simple and facile ultrasound-assisted synthesis of 1,5-disubstituted pyrazoles via cascade cyclization. • The synthesis of 1,5-disubstituted pyrazoles have been developed in the presence of 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP). • Readily available starting materials, good to high yields, shorter reaction time and mild reactions conditions. A simple and efficient metal-free strategy has been developed for the synthesis of 1,5-disubstituted pyrazole derivatives by using 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) medium and ultrasound irradiation. The condensation reactions of β-enaminone and aromatic hydrazine have taken place at room temperature with the assistance of sonication. The protocol provides rapid access to various N -aryl substituted pyrazole compounds with excellent functional group tolerance and yields. Notably, the eco-friendly and cost-effective method allows the conversion within a short time and under mild conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The structure change of Myofibrillar protein through ultrasound assisted polyphenols addition was analyzed by the multispectral analysis. • Ultrasound assisted polyphenols addition reduced the Oil/Water interfacial tension of Myofibrillar protein. • Ultrasound assisted polyphenols addition improved the emulsification, foaming and antioxidant properties of Myofibrillar protein. In this study, the effect of ultrasound-assisted non-covalent binding of different polyphenols (tannins, quercetin, and resveratrol) on the structure and functional properties of myofibrillar proteins (MP) from the golden threadfin (Nemipterus virgatus) was investigated. The effect of ultrasound-assisted polyphenol incorporation on the structure and properties of MP was evaluated by multispectral analysis, interfacial properties, emulsification properties and antioxidant properties et al. The results revealed that the protein–polyphenol interaction led to a conformational change in the microenvironment around the hydrophobic amino acid residues, resulting in an increase in the equilibrium of the MP molecules in terms of affinity and hydrophobicity. Ultrasound assisted polyphenols addition also led to a significant decrease of the oil/water interfacial tension (from 21.22 mN/m of MP to 8.66 mN/m of UMP-TA sample) and a significant increase of the EAI (from 21.57 m2/g of MP to 28.79 m2/g of UMP-TA sample) and ES (from 84.76 min of MP to 124.25 min of UMP-TA). In addition, ultrasound-assisted polyphenol incorporation could enhance the antioxidant properties of MP, with the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging rate of UMP-TA increase of 47.7 % and 55.2 % in comparison with MP, respectively. The results demonstrated that the noncovalent combination with polyphenols under ultrasound-assisted conditions endowed MP with better functional properties, including solubility, emulsification, foaming, and antioxidant properties through structure change. This study can provide innovative theoretical guidance for effectively preparing aquatic protein–polyphenol non-covalent complexes with multiple functions and improving the processing and utilization value of aquatic proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The search for renewable energy sources to replace fossil fuel has made lignin a promising carbon-containing resource. In this paper, LaNiO 3 perovskite catalyst supported by mesoporous carrier with specific pore structure was prepared by the pore filling of MCM-41 with citrate complex precursors of nickel and lanthanum. Then the catalysts applied to maize straw lignin depolymerization. The results of low-angle XRD, N 2 adsorption-desorption, IR spectroscopy and SEM confirmed that the catalyst has been successfully manufactured. Based on the yield of phenolic monomer, low molecular weight lignin derived bio-oil and high molecular weight lignin derived bio-oil as standard, the catalyst showed best catalytic effect when the reaction temperature was 250 °C, the reaction time was 6 h, the ratio of lignin to catalyst mass was 5: 1 and with ultrasonic assist. The yield of phenolic monomer was 11.46 wt% and that of bio-oil was 68.0 wt%. In general, this method is an excellent embodiment of the principle of Lignin-first as well as an excellent strategy for the production of value-added phenolics and high-quality bio-oils from lignin. It plays an important role in promoting the high value utilization of lignin in the future. [Display omitted] • The MCM-41-based Perovskite catalyst is prepared for lignin depolymerization. • Ultrasonic assistance can enhance the catalytic performance of this catalyst. • Acquired Low Mw lignin-derived bio-oil has a distinct lignin structure. • This bio-oil has smaller Mw and higher calorific value than native lignin. • This bio-oil has more complex structure than native lignin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Design and synthesis of low viscosity, highly soluble and hydrophilic new ternary deep eutectic solvent. • First extraction of polyphenolic active compounds from Paeonia lactiflora. • New ternary deep eutectic solvent with higher extraction efficiency than conventional solvent. • Deep eutectic solvent extracts have higher antioxidant activity and reducing power than traditional solvent extracts. Study has demonstrated that Paeonia lactiflora contains a significant number of polyphenolic compounds; however, there is little research literature focus on phenolic acids in Paeonia lactiflora. In this study, an ultrasound-assisted extraction method based on ternary DESs was developed for the extraction of biologically active polyphenols in Paeonia lactiflora. The results indicated that the ternary solvent composed of choline chloride, DL-lactic acid, and 1,2-propanediol in a molar ratio of 1:4:2 achieved a superior extraction of polyphenols than that of conventional solvents and other ternary solvents. Subsequently, the response surface method was used to optimize the selected parameters of solid–liquid ratio, extraction time, and temperature for the extraction of phenolic by the DES, and the optimal extraction conditions were as follows: a solid–liquid ratio of 1:13.8 g/mL, an extraction time of 47.5 min, and an extraction temperature of 34.5 °C, with a total polyphenol yield of 79.77 mg/g, which is 1.09 times that of the traditional solvent. Furthermore, the extract of Paeonia lactiflora obtained through the DES method exhibited promising in vitro antioxidant activity and reducing ability. Studies have shown that DES is an efficient and environmentally friendly extraction solvent for extracting polyphenols from natural products, providing a new direction for the development and industrial production of Paeonia lactiflora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, carboxymethyl cellulose-based bionanocomposite hydrogel beads with diverse concentration ratios of Fe 3 O 4 -Zeolite were produced and used for the removal of Imidacloprid from an aqueous solution. Optimization of various factors such as Imidacloprid initial concentration, adsorbent dosage, pH solution, and sonicating time (42 kHz) affecting Imidacloprid removal was evaluated by response surface methodology (RSM). The optimum values for these parameters were obtained at 38 mg L−1, 1.9 g L−1, 7, and 19 min, respectively. The adsorption process of Imidacloprid by CMC/Fe 3 O 4 -Zeolite20 is multilayer adsorption (Jossens model) and was controlled by internal and external diffusion (double-exponential model). Additionally, the study of the ultrasonic effect on Imidacloprid removal performance showed that the ultrasound combined with adsorption significantly reduces the equilibration time. Also, the adsorption and desorption study showed that the adsorbent with high stability in adsorption performance was recycled in 6 cycles without a significant reduction in adsorption efficiency. And finally, the removal performance of CMC/Fe 3 O 4 -Zeolite20 was studied on the real wastewater samples and confirmed the feasibility of adsorbent for practical applications in industrial purposes. • The CMC/Fe 3 O 4 -Zeolite was synthesized in various percentage of Fe 3 O 4 -Zeolite. • The best condition for adsorption of Imidacloprid investigated by RSM. • The effect of ultrasonic on adsorption percentage was studied. • Isotherm, kinetic, thermodynamic and reusability were investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel organbentonite-based Ni-B catalyst doped with the metal La has been obtained. • La doping inhibited the aggregation of the catalyst and has more active centers. • Use of ultrasound effectively accelerated the CTH process of FAMEs. • The kinetics and thermodynamics of the FAMEs hydrogenation have been researched. • The possible reaction mechanism of ultrasound-assisted CTH has been proposed. In this work, an efficient organobentonite-based Ni-La-B composite catalyst (Ni-La-B/OB) was synthesized through impregnation and chemical reduction method using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-modified bentonite as support and along with the addition of the metal additive La, and then was employed as catalyst for the ultrasound-assisted catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH) reaction of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs). The characterization results suggested that the inclusion of La resulted in the generation of additional active site. Under the conditions of the mass ratio of solvent water, hydrogen donor isopropanol and FAMEs of 80:28:5 and the catalyst dosage of 10 wt.%, the conversion ratio of C18:2 (CR C182) reached 76.68 %, and the iodine value (IV) decreased from the initial value of 146.7 to 84.01. Kinetics and thermodynamics research showed that ultrasound-assisted CTH of FAMEs followed pseudo-first-order kinetics and was endothermic. Meanwhile, a possible reaction mechanism of the catalyst on CTH of FAMEs was proposed. The Ni-La-B/OB composite catalyst underwent four recirculated cycles, and no significant deactivation was observed. In addition, ultrasound-assisted CTH significantly improved the hydrogenation effect and shortened the reaction time in comparison with the conventional method. The Ni-La-B/OB composite was found to be an efficient hydrogenation catalyst for CTH, and the doping of La significantly enhanced the catalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Highly dispersed Co NPs on a beta zeolite surface were prepared by ESA. • PdCo bimetallic catalysts with high catalytic dehydrogenation activity were prepared by UGR. • Synergy of PdCo intermetallic electron transfer and SMSI improved the catalytic performance. • Pd 1 Co 9 /beta exhibited the superior catalytic 12H-NEC dehydrogenation activity. Research and development of high-performance catalysts is a key technology to realize hydrogen energy storage and transportation based on liquid organic hydrogen carriers. Co/beta was prepared using beta zeolite as a carrier via an electrostatic adsorption (ESA)-chemical reduction method, and it was used as the template and reducing agent to prepare bimetallic catalysts via an ultrasonic assisted galvanic replacement process (UGR). The fabricated PdCo/beta were characterized by TEM, XPS, FT-IR, XRD, H 2 -TPR, and H 2 -TPD. It was shown that the ultrafine PdCo nanoparticles (NPs) are evenly distributed on the surface of the beta zeolite. There is electron transfer between metal NPs and strong-metal-support-interaction (SMSI), which results in highly efficient catalytic dodecahydro-N-ethylcarbazole (12H-NEC) dehydrogenation performance of PdCo bimetallic catalysts. The dehydrogenation efficiency reached 100 % in 4 h at 180 °C and 95.3 % in 6 h at 160 °C. The TOF of 146.22 min−1 is 7 times that of Pd/beta. The apparent activation energy of the reaction is 66.6 kJ/mol, which is much lower than that of Pd/beta. Under the action of ultrasonic waves, the galvanic replacement reaction is accelerated, and the intermetal and metal-carrier interactions are enhanced, which improves the catalytic reaction performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocomposites consisting of polyvinyl alcohol embedded with nanoparticles of Zn 0.80 Co 0.1 Ni 0.1 Fe 2 O 4 and ZnFe 2 O 4 were successfully synthesized by employing a facile two-steps process. The nanoparticles of Zn 0.80 Co 0.1 Ni 0.1 Fe 2 O 4 and ZnFe 2 O 4 were synthesized via a micro emulsion procedure and then embedded into a polyvinyl alcohol matrix by an ultrasound-assisted in-situ emulsion. The result showed that the prepared nanoparticles of Zn 0.80 Co 0.1 Ni 0.1 Fe 2 O 4 & ZnFe 2 O 4 diffuse homogeneously in a polyvinyl alcohol matrix, maintaining the particle shape and size of the Zn 0.80 Co 0.1 Ni 0.1 Fe 2 O 4 nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscope images revealed that polyvinyl alcohol chains have encircled the Zn 0.80 Co 0.1 Ni 0.1 Fe 2 O 4 & ZnFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles. The interaction between the polyvinyl alcohol and the nanoparticles in the prepared nanocomposites was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy via the shifting of bands revealed from the Fourier-transform infrared spectra. Dielectric studies explained the decreasing trend by varying concentrations of nanoparticles with a constant polymer concentration. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss both revealed a decreasing trend by varying the concentration of the nanoparticles with a constant polymer concentration. This occurred due to the grain boundary effect which becomes dominant at low frequencies. The Transmission electron microscope images result shows that polycrystalline Zn 0.80 Co 0.1 Ni 0.1 Fe 2 O 4 & ZnFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles with an average size of 10–15 nm were incorporated with PVA to form nanocomposites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The poor interfacial properties and weavability of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites stem from the surface chemical inertness and low wear resistance of carbon fiber (CF). Herein, we developed an effective approach to fabricate the CF@Polydimethylsiloxane/MXene (CF@PDMS/MXene) using ultrasound-assisted techniques, to improve both wear resistance and interfacial properties. The effectiveness of the modified treatment was assessed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), microscopic confocal laser Raman spectrometer (Raman), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The success of the graft was evaluated using field emission scanning electron microscopes (FE-SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). The interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of the composite was evaluated through fiber pull-out experiments. Different weight ratios of MXene nanoparticles were employed during the grafting process to investigate their impact on surface morphology, wear resistance, and interfacial properties. The results demonstrated that CF@PDMS/MXene-1.5 wt% exhibited a residual fracture tensile strength 14.8 % higher than desized CF when the MXene concentration was increased to 1.5 wt%. Additionally, the IFSS of CF@PDMS/MXene-1.5 wt% was observed to be 113 % greater than desized CF. Consequently, this novel modification strategy holds great promise for enhancing the mechanical performance of CFRP composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Thermodynamic and parameters for selective alkaline leaching of Sn are studied. • Ultrasound can observably facilitate the alkaline leaching of Sn from tinplate scraps. • Microstructure, kinetics and electrochemistry differences in leaching are investigated. • Novel acoustoelectric synergy is applied to clarify tin intensifying dissolution mechanism. Clean and fast extraction of tin from the surface of tinplate scraps is of great significance for the efficient utilization of waste resources. However, the dense tin layer causes the low efficiency of conventional leaching process. To improve Sn leaching efficiency, the ultrasound technique was adopted to extract Sn from tinplate scraps by alkaline leaching in this study. In the NaOH-H 2 O 2 leaching system, metallic tin and alloyed tin in Fe-Sn alloy located on the surface of tinplate scraps can be oxidized and transferred to soluble Na 2 SnO 3 , while the iron in Fe-Sn alloy was oxidized to oxides which were chemically inert in alkaline solution. The differences in chemical solubility of Sn and Fe, and solubleness of stannate and iron oxides gave rise to the selective separation of Sn from the tinplate scraps. The effects of the leaching parameters on the Sn leaching behaviors in conventional and ultrasound-assisted leaching processes were compared. The conventional leaching temperature and time were significantly reduced during the ultrasound-assisted leaching process. Almost all of Sn can be extracted after conventional leaching at 1 mol/L NaOH, temperature of 80 ℃ and time of 60 min, however the same Sn leaching effect can be achieved by ultrasound-assisted leaching at 60 ℃ for 30 min with ultrasound power of 60% (360 W). Sn leaching kinetics based on the plate model demonstrated the reaction rate constant of the ultrasound-assisted leaching was 70% higher than that of the conventional leaching. A novel acoustoelectric synergy effect underlying intensifying mechanism by ultrasound irradiation was proposed in this study. Eventually, this work provided a rapid and clean tin extraction method from tinplate scraps via the ultrasound-assisted alkaline leaching treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Ultrasound and water soluble soybean polysaccharide (SSPS) were applied during the freezing of grass carp surimi. Ultrasound-assisted immersion freezing (UF) process was observed from 0 °C to −15 °C. Based on characteristic freezing time, tempering-stage freezing rate and the quality change of surimi after a 14-day storage period, the optimal sonication was performed 5 times at 300 W, for 10 s, with 40 s intervals. The cryoprotective effects of SSPS content on surimi myofibillar protein were subsequently investigated during 28-day frozen storage at −18 °C. The Ca2+-ATPase activity, total sulphydryl content, active sulphydryl content, salt extractable protein content, whiteness and water-holding capacity of frozen surimi were determined after adding SSPS (0%, 1%, 3% and 5%). The results showed that synergism of SSPS and UF occurred. Consequently 3% SSPS was best for mitigating the protein denaturation during processing. Highlights • Ultrasound could significantly increase the freezing rates of grass carp surimi. • Water soluble soybean polysaccharide (SSPS) could mitigate the protein denaturation. • SSPS was demonstrated as a novel cryoprotectant for grass carp surimi. • A new method of SSPS-ultrasound-assisted immersion freezing was investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Salvia miltiorrhiza has been widely used in Asia for medicinal purposes for >1000 years due to the high levels of bioactive constituents it contains. In this study, a simple and rapid ultrasound-assisted liquid extraction (5 min) was applied for the extraction of these bioactive constituents. The extracts were analyzed by using rapid ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) with simultaneous positive and negative electrospray ionization in a single analytical run. Eight analytes were separated within 2.2 min during 6 min of run time with UHPLC-MS/MS operated in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The concentration of salvianolic acids and tanshinones in the different organs of different varieties of Salvia miltiorrhiza ranged from 6.4 to 382.1 mg/g and 0.03 to 31.7 mg/g, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to characterize the tanshinone compounds found in the flower and stem/leaf of Salvia miltiorrhiza by UHPLC-MS/MS. Highlights • First report of tanshinones were found in leaf and flower from Salvia Miltiorrhiza. • A simple and rapid ultrasound-assisted liquid extraction was developed. • High throughput screening method by UPLC-MS/MS operated in MRM mode. • Salvianolic acid and tanshinones were quantified within 2.2 min in 6 min run time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract A facile one-pot and four-component synthesis of benzo[1,3]thiazine derivatives via intramolecular C H activation reaction from isocyanides, aniline and benzoyl (acetyl) isothiocyanate adduct catalyzed by copper (I) iodide in acetone at 30 °C is described. Highlights • Novel synthesis of highly functionalized benzo[1,3]thiazine. • Intramolecular C H activation reactions of isocyanides, aniline-benzoyl(acetyl) isothiocyanate adduct. • Use of sonochemical methodology as an efficient method in reduction the reaction time for the synthesis of compound. • CuI catalyzed the efficient synthesis of benzo[1,3]thiazine. Abstract A facile sonochemical route for the synthesis of benzo[1,3]thiazine derivatives via a one pot, multicomponent, intramolecular C H activation reaction from isocyanides, aniline and benzoyl (acetyl) isothiocyanate adduct catalyzed by copper (I) iodide in acetone at 30 °C have been reported. The advantages of the described method include using simple and readily available starting materials and performing under mild copper-catalytic reaction conditions and also obtaining pure product with high yield without applying column chromatography. Furthermore, using the sonochemical methodology as an efficient method led to reduce the reaction times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Leaching silver without oxygen and ammonia to be achieved by ultrasonic field. • Ultrasonic enhanced leaching mechanism has a detailed analysis. • The dynamic models were analyzed in detail separately. Abstract The process to fast recovery of silver from the spent symbiosis lead-zinc mine enhanced by ultrasound has been developed. A system composed of thiosulfate and the spent symbiosis lead-zinc mine under ultrasound radiation is researched and compared with regular methods to prove the superiority of ultrasound enhanced leaching. Oxygen is not provided by the usual way but by the cavitation of ultrasound, and the effect of ultrasonic enhanced leaching is more obvious than oxygen enhanced leaching effect. We are more authoritative by combining some valuable literature after conducting systematic experiments. The process mechanism was analyzed by fire assaying, XRD, XRF, SEM and EDS. The optimal conditions were found out through single factor experiments: stirring rate of 300 rpm, thiosulfate concentration of 75 g/L, leaching temperature of 303 K, PH of 5, leaching time of 2 h and the ultrasound power of 100 W. And the leaching rate is 77.34% under the best conditions. When the ultrasonic experiment has the same parameters as the normal, the leaching rate at five minutes under ultrasonic conditions was 73.88%, while the leaching rate was only 72.51% at two hours under normal conditions. The apparent activation energy under conventional and ultrasonic conditions is 12.47 kJ/mol and 12.35 kJ/mol, respectively, and it is proved that both are controlled by diffusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quality parameters of açai juice processed with ultrasound-assisted, ozone and the combined methods were analyzed in this work. Two ultrasound energy densities (350 and 700 J·mL −1 ) and two ozonization times (5 and 10 min with 1.5 ppm) were analyzed for pure açai juice and 8 different treatments (2 2 complete factorial). To evaluate the quality parameters of the juice, physical-chemical analyzes such as pH, titratable acidity, cloud value, non-enzymatic browning, rheology, antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS), phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, enzymatic activity (peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase) and microbial counts (mesophilic bacteria, molds and yeasts) were conducted. The treatments with ozone were better for microbial inactivation and the ultrasound for enzymatic inactivation. In general, the use of non-thermal methods can be a good alternative for the processing of açai juice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Considering their toxicity, the determination of PAEs in various sample is essential. • Green extraction strategy was developed and utilized for the extraction of PAEs in diapers. • The Box-Behnken model was used to evaluate the extraction condition. • The greenness of the developed extraction method was evaluated by application of GAPI tool. • The method is characterized by simplicity, rapidity and good accuracy. A green extraction strategy was developed and utilized for the extraction and determination of phthalates. The extraction is based on ultrasound-assisted extraction and a polypropylene porous membrane. The Box-Behnken model was performed to optimize the extraction condition. The optimal extraction conditions are 5.5 mL of ethyl acetate, 10 min of extraction time and 55 °C for extraction temperature. The developed green extraction method was successfully applied to extract target phthalate from baby's diapers. Under the optimal condition, the developed method provided acceptable recoveries in the range of 87 to 102% with a relative standard deviation lower than 13%. The developed method exhibited good linearity in the range of 0.05 to 10.0 µg g−1 with a coefficient of determination greater than 0.992 (R2). Applied the developed method coupled with the gas chromatography-mas spectroscopy (GC–MS) method, benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) and dioctyl phthalate (DOP) were found in some diaper samples. While low concentrations of diisononyl phthalate (DINP) and diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) were detected in almost all diaper samples. The greenness of the developed method was also evaluated. The developed method can be used as an alternative simple, green and efficient strategy for the determination of phthalates in baby diapers. In sum, the presented article is the first step in raising awareness about carcinogenic impurities to which infants and older children are exposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Increasing the value of agricultural residue through ultrasonics. • Ultrasonic technology for pretreatment and valorization of biomass. • Unique characteristics of bioproducts obtained from agricultural residue. • Ultrasonics vs Conventional methods: Advantages and Disadvantages. • Potential to exploit ultrasonic technology for large-scale application. The utilization of agricultural residues to obtain biocompounds of high-added value has significantly increased in the past decades. The conversion of agro-based residues into valuable products appears to be an economically efficient, environment-friendly, and protracted waste management practice. The implementation of ultrasonic technologies in the conversion of value-added goods from agricultural waste materials through pre-treatment and valorization processes has imparted many advantageous effects including rapid processing, effective process performance, minimization of processing steps, minimal dependency on harmful chemicals, and an increased yield and properties of bio-products. To further enliven the literature and inspire new research investigations, this review covers the comprehensive work including theoretical principles, processes, and potential benefits of ultrasonic treatment technologies to assist the production of bio-products which emphasize the extraction yield and the characteristic of the end-product extracted from agriculture residues. A detailed evaluation of these methods and key aspects impacting their performance as well as the features and shortcomings of each ultrasound-assisted approach is also discussed. This review also addressed some of the challenges associated with using ultrasonic irradiation and proposed several potential techniques to maximize productivity. Understanding the concept of ultrasonication technique allow the academician and industrial practitioners to explore the possibility of applying a greener and sustainable approach of biomass extraction to be translated into higher scale production of commercial products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • An efficient ginseng residue oligosaccharide decolorization method was developed. • Three decolorization methods were systematically compared. • Ultrasound-assisted decolorization greatly shortened the decolorization time. • The GRO structure did not change significantly before and after decolorization. An efficient decolorization method for ginseng residue oligosaccharides (GROs) using ultrasound-assisted D392 macroporous resin was developed. The decolorization effects and color differences of activated carbon adsorption, hydrogen peroxide oxidation, and resin adsorption were evaluated. The optimal conditions of the three decolorization methods for static, dynamic, ultrasound-assisted resin adsorption were compared. The results showed that ultrasound-assisted decolorization had the best decolorization effect of greatly decreasing the decolorization time to 80 min. Color difference analysis revealed the process of pigment removal during GRO decolorization. The UV–visible full-wavelength scan showed that most pigments were removed after decolorization. The characterizations by the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the chemical structure and crystallinity of the GROs did not change upon decolorization. In addition, the molecular weight distribution did not change significantly. This research contributes to further exploration of the structures and functions of GROs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ultrasound-assisted extraction process of vanadium from the aqueous phase to the organic phase by methyltrioctylammonium chloride (MAC) was studied. The factors that influence the vanadium extraction rate such as stirring speed, temperature, and ultrasound power were investigated. The rate expression of vanadium extraction with ultrasound was established. The extraction process could consist of diffusion and chemical capturing steps at the aqueous-organic interface. This study demonstrated that the diffusion resistance could be eliminated by increasing the stirring speed and ultrasound power. The vanadium extraction process without diffusion resistance conformed to the first-order kinetic model. The activation energy (E a) of this extraction process was determined as 36.7 kJ mol−1 along with a pre-exponential factor k 0 a as 3.27 × 105 s−1, while the ultrasound enhancement factor can be expressed as ε = 1 + 1.40 × 10−2 P - 6.61 × 10−5 P 2. The optimal extraction kinetics are identified by examining the factors affecting the vanadium extraction rate (r extr), which are stirring speed ≥ 200 rpm, ultrasound power (P) = 90 W, extraction temperature (T) = 318.15 K. This study provides a theoretical basis for the extraction process of vanadium and aids the design of ultrasound-assisted extraction applications. [Display omitted] • A kinetic model for ultrasonic vanadium extraction was established. • An enhancement mechanism of ultrasonic vanadium extraction was determined. • A quantitative relationship among the ka ε, P , and T was illustrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, simple ultrasound-assisted method was used for prepare the composite of (Cu-doped PVA) interfacial layer between metal and semiconductor (Al/p-Si). The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the prepared (Cu-doped PVA) nanocomposites have shown an uniform fish scale shape, which are about 100 nm long and several tens of nm in width. Both the Al/p-Si (MS) and Al/(Cu-PVA)/p-Si (MPS) structures were fabricated on the same Si wafer to investigate the effect of this polymer layer on the electrical characteristics by using the current-voltage (I-V) and capacitance/conductance-voltage (C/G-V) measurements at room temperature. The values of reverse-saturation current ( I o ), ideality factor (n) and zero-bias barrier height ( Φ Bo ) were obtained from the liner part of the forward bias I-V plot as 6.6 × 10 −10 A, 3.67 and 0.84 eV for MS structure and 1.82 × 10 −8 A, 4.18 and 0.76 eV for MPS structure, respectively. MPS structure has a good rectifier behavior with low leakage current in comparison to the MS structure. The high values of n was attributed to the barrier inhomogeneity at Al/p-Si, special density distribution of N ss at (Cu-PVA)/p-Si interface and both the existence of native SiO 2 and deposited of (Cu-doped PVA) interlayer at M/S interface. The energy dependent values of N ss were obtained from the forward bias I-V data and they ranged from the 1.85 × 10 13  eV −1 cm −2 (0.60 eV - Ev ) to 7.40 × 10 13  eV −1 cm −2 (0.40 eV - Ev ) for MS structure and 9.81 × 10 12  eV −1 cm −2 (0.67 eV - Ev ) to 5.26 × 10 13  eV −1 cm −2 (0.47 eV - Ev ) for the MPS structure. Experimental results show that the (Cu-PVA) interlayer can be successfully used instead of traditional insulator layer because of the saturation of dangling bonds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of ZSM-5 zeolites with tunable mesoporosity were synthesized by a facile ultrasound-assisted method. XRD, FT-IR and NH 3 -TPD results exhibited that as-synthesized ZSM-5 kept the MFI structure as well as the original acidity. Traced by TEM techniques, the crystallization process, especially the state of initial amorphous gel, was found notably affected by the ultrasound treatment by breaking the weak bonds, which led to formation of mesopores in crystals. The ZSM-5 catalysts with abundant mesoprores inhibited coking significantly and showed high catalytic stability for methanol to propylene reaction. The Z5-us-60 catalyst exhibited the highest catalytic stability for >600 h at a high WHSV of 4.0 h −1 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coal-based solid acid catalysts are synthesized by incomplete carbonization followed by sulfonation approach and their activities in catalyzing esterification of oleic acid with methanol are subsequently investigated. For characterizations of catalyst, N 2 adsorption and desorption, ultimate analysis, XRD, SEM, XPS, TG, FTIR and acid amount test are employed. The synthesis conditions are optimized as carbonization at 400 °C for 1 h and sulfonation at 105 °C for 2 h, where acid amount of 1.57 mmol·g −1 is measured. Ultrasound irradiation is introduced into the esterification reactor, and the effects of different operation parameters, including the ultrasonic power, catalyst dosage, molar ratio of methanol to oleic acid, reaction temperature on the esterification efficiency under ultrasound-assisted as well as sonication-free method, have been investigated. The results demonstrate that after passing the given reaction duration of 1 h, 91.4% of esterification efficiency is obtained under the optimized conditions (i.e., ultrasonic power of 270 W, catalyst dosage of 6 wt.%, methanol to oleic acid molar ratio of 10, and reaction temperature of 67 °C). 87.9% of conversion is achieved under the same operating conditions without ultrasonic irradiation. Moreover, esterification experiments indicate that this synthesized coal-based solid acid catalyst possesses favorable catalytic activity and satisfactory recyclability in biodiesel production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A facile and environmentally friendly strategy for grafting polymers onto the surface of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was demonstrated by Diels-Alder “click chemistry”. Firstly, the copolymers of poly(styrene- alt -maleic anhydride) (PSM) were prepared by the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and subsequently functionalized with furfuryl amine to introduce anchoring groups. The copolymers were then grafted on CNTs via the Diels-Alder reaction in water through a conventional heating-stirring route and ultrasound-assisted method. The obtained nanocomposite materials were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results indicated that the reaction rate under ultrasound irradiation was accelerated about 12 times than the one under the conventional heating-stirring condition without losing the grafting efficiency. The direct functionalization of CNTs formed a stably dispersed solution in water, promising a green and effective method for industrial process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waterborne nanoemulsion of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A type epoxy resin (DGEBA) with droplet size of around 124 nm was prepared by using an ultrasonic-assisted supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO 2 ) technique in an autoclave reactor at a low temperature (32 °C). A view cell positioned in-line with the ultrasonic probe allowed observation of the emulsification process. From the image analysis and droplet size measurement, the influence mechanisms of the ultrasonic power, the degree of mixing of scCO 2 with DGEBA, the adding amount of emulsifier, and the system pressure on emulsification process and emulsion droplet size were investigated. In the emulsification process, scCO 2 penetrated into the mixture and absorbed on the DGEBA molecular. The interactions between CO 2 and the functional groups of DGEBA reduced the chain-chain interactions of polymer segments and therefore efficiently reduced the viscosity of DGEBA at a low temperature. Meantime, the cavitation and acoustic streaming of ultrasound provided a shear force for the nanoemulsification and a disturbance force for the homogeneity of the emulsion. Therefore, the combination of scCO 2 and ultrasonication made it possible to prepare a long-term stable nanoemulsion under a low temperature. This ultrasonic-assisted scCO 2 emulsification method provides an efficient and solvent-free process for the preparation of waterborne nanoemulsions of, for example, some heat-sensitive and water-insoluble active substances at low temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Initial study by ultrasound-assisted dispersive solid-phase extraction using magnesium ferrite as a magnetic adsorbent. • The spectrophotometric method was successfully applied. • Response surface methodology was used to optimize the extraction of dyes. • The proposed method was sensitive, fast, inexpensive, reliable, simple, and eco-friendly. This study aimed to determine of malachite green (MG) and auramine O (AO) dyes in different environmental water samples. For this purpose, MG and AO dyes were pre-concentrated by ultrasound-assisted dispersive solid-phase extraction (UA-DSPE) and measured by spectrophotometry. Magnesium ferrite (MgFO) was applied as a magnetic adsorbent in the UA-DSPE-UV/Vis method. The effect of different parameters on the dye extraction efficiency, including pH of the solution, sorbent mass, sample volume, ultrasound frequencies, irradiation time, and type and volume of eluent, were investigated. In addition, response surface methodology (RSM) approach-based central composite design (CCD) was used to design and optimize parameters affecting the process. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) results based on high F-values, low p-values, coefficient of determination (R2 > 0.99), and adjusted-R2 (R2adj > 0.99) revealed that the quadratic model was the best model for defining the interaction of the studied variables. The calibration curve, the limit of detection (LOD), and relative standard deviation (RSD, n = 5) for MG and AO dyes were 1–800 ng mL−1 and 3–1200 ng mL−1, 0.33 ng mL−1 and 1 ng mL−1, and 3.2% and 2.8%, respectively. The effect of some external species (including cations and anions) on the determination of MG and AO dye was investigated. The results revealed that adding different ions does not significantly interfere with determining MG and AO dyes. The reusability of the MgFO adsorbent showed that it could be reused for up to 7 cycles, maintaining its high efficiency in the extraction of MG and AO dyes. Moreover, the proposed method was used for the extraction of MG and AO dyes from different water samples. The obtained extraction efficiency was in the range of 95.37–99.54%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The highly selective separation of palladium from spent catalyst by ozone/ultrasonic is proposed. • The leaching percentage of palladium is 93.7% at low-acid medium of 0.4 M. • The leaching process is driven by ultrasonic disaggregating of the cladding layer and active free radicals. It is of great significance to consider the recovery of palladium from spent catalyst in terms of resource reserve and environmental protection. However, the leaching percentage of palladium is limited by high oxidation potential and cladding layer. In order to solve this process problem, external field enhancement method with ultrasonic-assisted ozone is proposed for the recycling of palladium in this study. Mechanical and cavitation effects of ultrasonic can destroy cladding layer and promote solid–liquid interface reaction. The highly oxidizing free radicals generated by ultrasonic excitation of ozone can improve the oxidation of the reaction system and accelerate the oxidation rate of palladium. The leaching percentage of palladium is 93.7% under ultrasonic/ozone condition, which is 23.7% higher than that under conventional conditions. The leaching reaction kinetics shows that the reaction barrier is reduced and the apparent activation energy is reduced by 35.25 kJ/mol after introducing ultrasound and ozone. Additionally, mineralogical analysis is carried out to analyze the enhanced leaching mechanism of palladium. This work demonstrates the value of advanced oxidation process with ultrasonic-assisted ozone in efficient and green recovery of precious metals from secondary resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The study evaluated the effect of an ultrasound-assisted treatment on the structural and functional properties of sheep bone collagen (SBC). The type and distribution of SBC were analyzed by proteome (shotgun) technology combined with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Compared with pepsin extraction, the ultrasound-assisted treatment significantly increased the collagen extraction rate by 17.4 pp (P < 0.05). The characteristic functional groups and structural integrity of collagen extracted by both methods were determined via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy. Circular dichroism spectra revealed that the ultrasound-assisted pretreatment reduced α-helix content by 1.6 pp, β-sheet content by 21.9 pp, and random coils content by 28.4 pp, whereas it increased β-turn content by 51.9 pp (P < 0.05), compared with pepsin extraction. Moreover, ultrasound-assisted treatment collagen had superior functional properties (e.g., solubility, water absorption, and oil absorption capacity) and foaming and emulsion properties, compared with pepsin extraction. Furthermore, the relative content of type I collagen in ultrasound-assisted extracted SBC was highest at 79.66%; only small proportions of type II, VI, X, and XI collagen were present. Peptide activity analysis showed that SBC had potential antioxidant activity, dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitory activity, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory activity; it also had anticancer, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

S-doped and Cu- and Co-doped TiO 2 was synthesized by a sol–gel method and characterized by FE-SEM, XRD, EDX and FTIR. The Co/Cu/S-TiO 2 nanocomposite loaded on the activated carbon as new nanoadsorbent was used for simultaneous removal of methylene blue (MB) and sunset yellow (SY) from aqueous solution by ultrasonic-assisted adsorption method. In this work, central composite design (CCD) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) as a support tool for examining data and making prediction are used to recognize and predict the removal percentage in MB and SY dye solution of different concentrations. The predictive capabilities of CCD and ANFIS are compared in terms of square correlation coefficient ( R 2 ), root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE) and absolute average deviation (AAD) against the empirical data. It is found that the ANFIS model shows the better prediction accuracy than the CCD model. In addition to, the optimization of ultrasound-assisted simultaneous removal of methylene blue (MB) and sunset yellow (SY) on the Co/Cu/S-TiO 2 /AC nanocomposite by response surface methodology (RSM) for the optimization of the process variables, such as MB and SY concentrations, Co/Cu/S-TiO 2 /AC nanocomposite dose and sonication time, was investigated. Various isotherm and kinetic models were used in the experimental data. The results revealed that the langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order model had a better correlation than the other models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the ultrasound-assisted leaching of iron from boron carbide waste-scrap was investigated and the optimization of different influencing factors had also been performed. The factors investigated were acid concentration, liquid-solid ratio, leaching temperature, ultrasonic power and frequency. The leaching of iron with conventional method at various temperatures was also performed. The results show the maximum iron leaching ratios are 87.4%, 94.5% for 80 min-leaching with conventional method and 50 min-leaching with ultrasound assistance, respectively. The leaching of waste-scrap with conventional method fits the chemical reaction-controlled model. The leaching with ultrasound assistance fits chemical reaction-controlled model, diffusion-controlled model for the first stage and second stage, respectively. The assistance of ultrasound can greatly improve the iron leaching ratio, accelerate the leaching rate, shorten leaching time and lower the residual iron, comparing with conventional method. The advantages of ultrasound-assisted leaching were also confirmed by the SEM-EDS analysis and elemental analysis of the raw material and leached solid samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct determination of ammonium and amines in high salinity water samples by ion chromatography using conductivity detection is impossible due to the presence of high potassium and sodium concentrations. This work describes a simple and fast method for the determination of ammonium, monomethylamine and monoethylamine in high salinity waters by ion chromatography. An ultrasound-assisted purge-and-trap extraction system was used to eliminate matrix interferences. This system was optimized using a full two-level factorial (2 3 ) design followed by a two-level factorial (2 2 ) design. In the first factorial design, the variables: extraction time, concentration of sodium hydroxide solution and analyte mass were tested. In the second factorial design, the mass of each analyte was maintained constant. Parameters of the analytical curves, prepared in different matrices: sulfuric solution and extracts from working standard solutions prepared in water and saline solution were compared. Limits of detection of 0.02, 0.03 and 0.03 mg L − 1 were found for ammonium, monomethylamine and monoethylamine, respectively. Saline waters from Brazilian oil industry, pre-treated to remove nitrogen compounds, were analyzed. Satisfactory recoveries (93–111%) of the analytes were obtained for all spiked samples. Precision was ≤ 10% ( n = 3). The proposed method is adequate for analyzing saline waters containing sodium to ammonium, monomethylamine and monoethylamine concentration ratios up to 56,000:1 and potassium to ammonium, monomethylamine and monoethylamine concentration ratios up to 24,000:1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ultra fast decopperization method from the anode slime has been developed based on the ultrasound-assisted leaching. The effects of parameters such as ultrasound power, leaching time, sulfuric acid concentration and liquid/solid ratio were investigated. Under optimum conditions, the concentration of Cu in residue was only 2.64%. The removal efficiency increases considerably and the decopperization time was significantly shortened comparing with conventional method (>10%, 24 h). Se and Te have not been detected in lixivium, indicating the selective leaching of Cu. In addition, the mineralogical characteristics of the untreated anode slime and the residues after ultrasound-assisted decopperization are investigated. The results revealed that the increasing of decopperization efficiency was attributed to the change of the phase composition and the morphology and size of samples during ultrasound-assisted decopperization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present study is based on describing an ultrasound-assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction coupled with derivative spectrophotometry (UAS-DLLME-UV–vis) as useful technique for selective determination of crystal violet (CV) and azure b (Az-B). The significant factors like pH, extractor volume, disperser value and extraction time contribution and their numerical coefficient in quadratic model were calculated according to central composite design (CCD). According to desirability function (DF) as good criterion the best experimental conditions was adjusted and selected at pH of 7.0, 170 μL of chloroform, 800 μL of ethanol that strongly mixed with the aqueous phase via 4 min sonication. Additionally, under study system was modeled by trained artificial neural networks (ANNs) as fitness function with acceptable error of MSE 2.97 × 10 −06 and 1.15 × 10 −05 with R 2 : 0.9999 and 0.9997 for CV and Az-B, respectively. The optimum conditions by using genetic algorithm (GA) method was pH of 6.3, 160 μL of chloroform, 740 μL of ethanol and 4.5 min sonication. Under above specified and optimize conditions, the predicted extraction percentage were 99.80 and 102.20% for CV and Az-B, respectively. The present UAS-DLLME-UV–vis procedure has minimum interference from other substances assign to the matrix, which candidate this method as good alternative to quantify under study dyes content with recoveries in the range of 86–100% for dyes. The detection limits were 2.043 ng mL −1 and 1.72 ng mL −1 , and limits of quantitation were 6.81 ng mL −1 and 5.727 ng mL −1 for CV and Az-B, respectively. The proposed methodology was successfully applied for quantification of under study analytes at different media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanostructured SnS thin films were prepared using an electrochemical deposition method on fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate from aqueous solution containing 2 mM SnCl 2 and 16 mM Na 2 S 2 O 3 . The pH, temperature, time, and deposition potential ( E ) of the solution were remained at 2.10, 60 °C, 30 minutes and −1 V, respectively. The ultrasonic waves were applied to synthesize ultrasound-assisted electrodeposited SnS thin film. The characterization of deposited thin films was carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), room temperature photoluminescence (PL) and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The deposited SnS nanostructures were polycrystalline with orthorhombic structure. By applying ultrasonic waves, the crystalline quality was decreased. The FESEM images revealed that the ultrasonic waves are responsible for the changes in the morphology of the SnS nanostructures. Also by applying ultrasonic waves, more thin planes were created which led to formation of two dimensional (2D) SnS. The PL spectra of the ultrasound-assisted electrodeposited SnS film showed a red shift compared to the electrodeposited SnS. The optical bandgap energy ( E g ) of the ultrasound-assisted electrodeposited SnS decreased from 1.5 eV to 1.45 eV. In addition, the ultrasound-assisted electrodeposited SnS has greater conversion efficiency of solar cell than that of the electrodeposited SnS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a rapid and simple ultrasound-assisted pretreatment for maize samples is proposed. Also, the performance of microwave plasma atomic emission spectrometry (MPAES) for the analysis of Ag, Al, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, Tl, V and Zn in maize seeds, was evaluated. Instrumental parameters optimization, as well as validation and application of the MPAES are presented. The obtained limits of detection were ranged between 0.7 μg g − 1 (for Mo and Fe) and 4.3 μg g − 1 (for Ca). Validation assays were carried out by standard addition and internal standard, showing good recovery performances, over 96% in all cases. The developed method was applied to trace elements determination of Argentinean maize samples, improving the productivity performance due the reducing costs — by the use of atmospheric nitrogen as plasma source for MPAES — and time analysis, which could be trustworthy for routine analysis, quality control and traceability of maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper-cadmium slag, produced during the hydrometallurgical process of zinc, is considered as hazardous solid waste. However, a large number of valuable metals (zinc, cadmium, copper and magnesium) are contained in copper-cadmium slag. It is necessary to treat copper-cadmium slag to make it harmless and recycled with an efficient mean. In response to the problems of low oxidation and multiple inclusions hindering leaching reaction, a more effective and ecologically friendly method based on ultrasonic cavitation and mechanical effect is suggested for recovering valuable metals from copper-cadmium slag. The influencing factors of leaching experiment include reaction time, leaching temperature, liquid-solid ratio, sulfuric acid concentration and ultrasound power. The leaching rates of zinc, cadmium, copper and magnesium reached over 97% at 300 W of ultrasonic power, which are much better than that of conventional condition. In addition, ultrasonic assistance shortened the leaching time to 2 h, improving the leaching rate and reducing the extra energy consumption during conventional leaching in the metal recovery process. The particle size of copper-cadmium slag is reduced from 30 μm to 1 μm by virtue of the ultrasonic microjet and microbubble effects. Moreover, the mineralogy analysis results indicate that microstructures and composition of solid slag changed greatly after ultrasonic treatment. The kinetic analysis results show that the activation energy decreases from 34.68 kJ/mol to 6.21 kJ/mol after ultrasound, demonstrating that ultrasonic field can reduce the activation energy and accelerate the reaction rate. As a result, ultrasound-assisted method is shown to be considerably powerful in improving the leaching and recovery efficiency of solid waste slag. [Display omitted] • An ultrasound-assisted measure was proposed to high-efficiently recover copper-cadmium slag. • Reaction mechanism is attributed to the cavitation and mechanical effects of ultrasound. • The leaching rate of copper is over 97% under the optimal conditions. • Ultrasound-assisted can enhance recovery rate visibly compared with traditional metallurgy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Ru/LDH-CNT catalysts are prepared by ultrasound-assisted green synthesis method. • •H excited from OH on the LDH via ultrasound reduces Ru3+ to Ru NPs. • The introduction of CNT is beneficial to the improvement of electron transfer ability. • The synergy of ultrafine Ru NPs and fast electron transfer improves the catalytic activity. • The NEC hydrogenation performance of Ru/LDH-CNT at 80 °C is better than that of Ru/Al 2 O 3 at 120 °C. N -ethylcarbazole/dodecahydro- N -ethylcarbazole (NEC/12H-NEC) is one of the most attractive LOHCs, and it is of great significance to develop catalysts with high activity and reduce the hydrogen storage temperature. Layered double hydroxides-carbon nanotubes composites (LDH-CNT) were synthesized by a simple in-situ assembly method. Due to the introduction of CNT, a strong interaction occurred between LDH and CNT, which effectively improved the electron transfer ability of LDH-CNT. Ru/LDH-CNT catalysts were prepared via ultrasound-assisted reduction method without adding reducing agents and stabilizers. Under the cavitation effect of ultrasound, the hydroxyl groups on the surface of LDH were excited to generate hydrogen radicals (•H) with high reducibility, which successfully reduced Ru3+ to Ru NPs. Ru/LDH-3.9CNT-(300-1) catalyst was of 1.63 nm average Ru particle size with CNT amount of 3.9 wt% and the ultrasonic power of 300 W at 1 h, and its electron transfer resistance was less than that of Ru/LDH-(300-1). The synergy of ultrafine Ru NPs and fast electron transfer made it exhibit exceptional catalytic performance in NEC hydrogenation. Even if the reaction temperature was lowered to 80 °C, its hydrogenation performance was better than that of commercial Ru/Al 2 O 3 catalyst at 120 °C. The ultrasound-assisted method is efficient, green and environmentally friendly, and the operation process is simple and economical. It is expected to be used in practical industrial production, which provides a reference for the preparation of high-activity and low-temperature hydrogen storage catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple, low cost and ultrasensitive method for the simultaneous preconcentration and determination of trace amount of auramine-O and malachite green in aqueous media following accumulation on novel and lower toxicity nanomaterials by ultrasound-assisted dispersive solid phase micro-extraction (UA-DSPME) procedure combined with spectrophotometric has been described. The Mn doped ZnS nanoparticles loaded on activated carbon were characterized by Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), particle size distribution, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analyses and subsequently were used as green and efficient material for dyes accumulation. Contribution of experimental variables such as ultrasonic time, ultrasonic temperature, adsorbent mass, vortex time, ionic strength, pH and elution volume were optimized through experimental design, and while the preconcentrated analytes were efficiently eluted by acetone. Preliminary Plackett–Burman design was applied for selection of most significant factors and giving useful information about their main and interaction part of significant variables like ultrasonic time, adsorbent mass, elution volume and pH were obtained by central composite design combined with response surface analysis and optimum experimental conditions was set at pH of 8.0, 1.2 mg of adsorbent, 150 μL eluent and 3.7 min sonication. Under optimized conditions, the average recoveries (five replicates) for two dyes (spiked at 500.0 ng mL −1 ) changes in the range of 92.80–97.70% with acceptable RSD% less than 4.0% over a linear range of 3.0–5000.0 ng mL −1 for the AO and MG in water samples with regression coefficients ( R 2 ) of 0.9975 and 0.9977, respectively. Acceptable limits of detection of 0.91 and 0.61 ng mL −1 for AO and MG, respectively and high accuracy and repeatability are unique advantages of present method to improve the figures of merit for their accurate determination at trace level in complicated materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports ultrasound-assisted optical imaging of chemiluminescent probes in biological tissue. A focused low power ultrasound sonochemically enhances a peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence (CL) that involves indocyanine green (ICG) as luminescent pigments. By scanning the focus, it produces tomographic images of CL in scattering media. The authors demonstrate imaging using a slab of porcine muscle measuring 50 × 50 × 75 mm, in which a capsuled CL reagent is embedded at 25 mm depth. Spatial resolution of imaging and concentration characteristics of CL reagents to enhanced CL intensity are also studied to evaluate the potential for use in bio-imaging applications with exploring the CL enhancement mechanisms. CL enhancement ratio, defined as the ratio of ultrasonically enhanced CL intensity to the base intensity without ultrasound irradiation, was found to be constant even in varying ICG and oxidizer concentrations, implying to be applicable for quantitative determination of these molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A one-pot synthesis of benzo[ f ]indole-4,9-diones from 1,4-naphthoquinone with α-aminoacetals has been developed. This method provides a straightforward synthesis of benzo[ f ]indole-4,9-diones via intramolecular nucleophilic attack of aminoquinones to aldehydes under mild reaction conditions. The detailed mechanism was also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, PbMoO 4 and PbMoO 4 :Eu 3+ nanocrystals (NCs) with homogeneous grain size were successfully prepared via a simple but effective ultrasound-assisted precipitation process. These NCs samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible (UV–vis) absorption spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), photoluminescence (PL) and decay curve measurements. XRD patterns indicated that the PbMoO 4 NCs present a scheelite-type tetragonal structure without the presence of secondary phases. UV–vis absorption spectra of the prepared PbMoO 4 NCs indicate they had absorption in the UV region. The E gap values decrease with increasing Eu 3+ ions doping concentrations. An intense PL emission at room temperature was observed in these PbMoO 4 NCs when they were excited with a 300 nm wavelength. The luminescence spectra showed that PbMoO 4 :Eu 3+ phosphors can be effectively excited by the blue light, and exhibited strong red emission around 613 nm attributed to the 5 D 0 → 7 F 2 transition. It was also found that the process of energy transfer among the nearest neighbor ions plays an important role in quenching luminescence of Eu 3+ ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cathode materials Li 3 V 2-(4/3) x Ti x (PO 4 ) 3 ( x = 0,0.03, 0.06, 0.09, 0.12) using Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) as carbon source are synthesized via an ultrasound-assisted sol–gel method. Ultrasound helps to a uniform dispersion of the water insoluble PVDF. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) show that samples exhibit pure monoclinic structure and have similar morphology. Electrochemical galvanostatic charging/discharging results show that the capacities at low current density (less than 2C) of all samples are not that different. However, the discharge capacities and cyclic performance are improved at higher current density by a proper amount of Ti 4+ doping ( x = 0.03–0.06). The electrochemical performances become a bit worse when x is higher than 0.06. This may be attributed to the uniform lattice distortion caused by the overmuch dopant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ultrasound-assisted acetonitrile extraction method was applied for the determination of 43 pesticide residues in intact grape berries (Vitis Vinifera L.) by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). The results showed that ultrasound-assisted extraction from intact grape berries exhibited better efficiency than extraction from homogenized grape berries. Matrix-matched calibration curves were applied from 0.01 to 200 μg/L and determination coefficients (R2) were greater than 0.99. The recovery values were 70.6%–119.7% with a relative standard deviation (RSD) range of 0.02%–9.92%. The limits of detection (LODs) and limits of quantification (LOQs) ranged between 0.005 μg/kg and 0.2 μg/kg, and between 0.10 μg/kg and 10 μg/kg, respectively. The method was applied in the analysis of wine grape samples from three different regions of China. A total of 10 pesticides were detected in samples during fruit ripeness. • Pesticide residues were directly extracted in intact grape berries. • An ultrasound-assisted acetonitrile extraction method was performed. • Multiple pesticide residues were detected in the commercial wine grapes. • Change rules of pesticide residues in wine grapes during veraison were studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrasound-assisted (UA) and supercritical CO 2 technologies (SCO 2 ) were used to modify the chitin surface and, improve its adsorption characteristics regarding to cobalt. Chitin, before and after the treatments, was characterized by N 2 adsorption isotherms (BET), infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Unmodified and surface modified chitins were used as adsorbents to remove cobalt from aqueous solutions. The adsorption study was performed by equilibrium isotherms and kinetic curves. The chitin particle characteristics, such as, surface area, pore volume and porosity were improved by the UA and SCO 2 treatments. The crystallinity index decreased after the UA and SCO 2 treatments, and also, intense surface modifications were observed. Langmuir and Freundlich models were adequate to represent the adsorption equilibrium. The maximum adsorption capacities were 50.03, 83.94 and 63.08 mg g −1 for unmodified chitin, UA surface modified chitin and SCO 2 surface modified chitin. The adsorption kinetic curves were well represented by the pseudo-second order model. UA and SCO 2 technologies are alternatives to modify the chitin surface and improve its adsorption characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we developed a novel integrated device to perform phase separation based on ultrasound-assisted, salt-induced, liquid–liquid microextraction for determination of five fluoroquinones in meats by HPLC analysis. The novel integrated device consisted of three simple HDPE (high density polyethylene) parts that were used to separate the solvent from the aqueous solution prior to retrieving the extractant. The extraction parameters were optimized using the response surface method based on central composite design: 589 μL of acetone solvent, pH 2.1, 4.1 min extraction time and 3.5 g of Na 2 SO 4 . The limits of detection were 0.056–0.64 μg kg − 1 and recoveries were 87.2–110.6% for the five fluoroquinones in muscle tissue from fish, chicken, pork and beef. This method is easily constructed from inexpensive materials, extraction efficiency is high, and the approach is compatible with HPLC analysis. Thus, it has excellent prospects for sample pre-treatment and analysis of fluoroquinones in meat samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work focuses on the ultrasound-assisted hydrolysis of yam to obtain fermentable sugars using phosphoric acid or enzymes as catalysts. In the chemical and enzymatic hydrolyses the effects of temperature and catalyst concentration on the amount of fermentable sugar released were evaluated. The same experiment was carried out with and without ultrasound. For chemical hydrolyses, the maximum amounts of fermentable sugars obtained were 0.155 g sugar g −1 dry material and 0.205 g sugar g −1 dry material, whereas for enzymatic hydrolysis the maximum fermentable sugars obtained were 0.32 g sugar g −1 dry material and 0.42 g sugar g −1 dry material, without and with ultrasound, respectively. These experiments demonstrated that the amount of fermentable sugars differs according to the type of hydrolysis applied. In this work, ultrasound increased the yield for chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis, showing a promising technology to be used for hydrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new process was developed for the selective extraction and pre-concentration of amitriptyline (AT) from human plasma using nano-sized molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) with ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). The nano-sized AT imprinted polymer particles were synthesized using suspension polymerization in silicon oil and characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope (SEM) methods. With the application of optimized values, linearity values in the ranges of 20–200 μg mL −1 and 35–200 μg mL −1 were obtained for AT with the correlation of determination values ( r 2 ) 0.998 and 0.995 in water and plasma, respectively. The limits of detections (S/N = 3) for AT were found to be 0.7 and 1.2 μg mL −1 in water and plasma, respectively. The enrichment factors of AT in water and plasma were 52 and 40, respectively. The inter-day precisions (%) were in the range of 5.8–9.2%. Relative recovery rates ranged from 82.4% to 92.3%. The method was successfully applied to determine AT in the human plasma samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]