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This study explores the sorption capacity and field application of activated carbons (ACs) derived from plant residues for the remediation of oil-contaminated soils. ACs were prepared from rice husks, reed stalks, pine sawdust and wheat straw using two-stage pyrolysis and chemical activation with potassium hydroxide. The structural and physicochemical properties of these ACs were analyzed using BET surface area measurements, SEM analysis, Raman spectroscopy and FTIR spectroscopy. Sorption experiments at room temperature demonstrated that AC from rice husks (OSL) exhibited the highest sorption capacities for gasoline, kerosene and diesel fuel, with values of 9.3 g/g, 9.0 g/g and 10.1 g/g, respectively. These results are attributed to the well-developed microporous and mesoporous structures of OSL, as confirmed by SEM images and a BET surface area of 2790 m2/g. Field tests conducted at the “Zhanatalap” oil deposit showed that the ACs effectively reduced the oil content in contaminated soils from 79.2 g/kg to as low as 2.6 g/kg, achieving a purification degree of up to 67% within 16 days. This study highlights the critical role of structural properties, such as porosity and graphitization degree, in enhancing the sorption efficiency of ACs.

This study investigates the physical, mechanical, and structural characteristics of handmade paper samples derived from cellulose extracted from grass clippings using two distinct methods as follows: (1) alkali treatment and (2) alkali treatment followed by bleaching, coupled with the incorporation of barium sulfate as a mineral filler. Our investigation revealed that the handmade paper samples’ densities, moisture contents, and thicknesses varied within the ranges of 0.436 to 0.549 g/cm3, 5.60 to 2.51%, and 0.41 to 0.50 mm, respectively. The tensile strength and folding endurance of the papers produced through alkali treatment with barium sulfate were notably superior to those produced from bleached pulp and barium sulfate. Our analysis indicates that several critical factors, including paper density, thickness, the crystallinity index, and the microfibrillar structure of cellulose, intricately influence the mechanical and strength properties of the samples. Using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques, we identified characteristic cellulose bonds and examined cellulose’s crystalline and amorphous phases. Additionally, the crystallinity index of the samples was determined using both the Segal and peak deconvolution methods. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs revealed interconnected networks of cellulose fibers with varying thicknesses and lengths, along with incorporated mineral filler within the cellulose fiber structure. Variations in mineral particle retention were attributed to the presence or absence of cellulose microfibrils. These findings contribute to our understanding of the observed strength characteristics of the paper samples and underscore the potential applications of cellulose derived from grass clippings, especially when combined with barium sulfate as a mineral filler in paper production.

This study investigates the potential of biochar derived from various biomass sources: apricot kernel (AK), pine sawdust (PS), rice husk (RH), wheat straw (WS), and reed stem (RS) to enhance the yield, nutritional quality, and environmental sustainability of parsley crops. Comprehensive characterization through SEM, EDAX, nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms, and FTIR analyses identified AK biochar as the most suitable for further enrichment due to its superior specific surface area (512.3 m2/g) and iodine number (51.23 mg/g). EDAX analysis revealed that AK biochar exhibited the highest carbon content (92.1%), while RH biochar contained the highest silicon content (46%), indicating different potential applications. FTIR analysis identified key functional groups, such as carbonyl (1740 cm⁻1) and hydroxyl (3430 cm⁻1) groups, which contribute to the biochar’s reactivity and potential effectiveness in various applications. The effects of selenium (Na2SeO4), iodine (KI), their combination (Na2SeO4 + KI), and BISF (biochar-enriched iodine and selenium fertilizer) on parsley growth, antioxidant properties, and nutrient accumulation were evaluated. The results demonstrated that joint applications of iodide and selenate led to a 3.1-fold increase in iodine content (up to 16.8 mg/kg d.w.) and a 1.2-fold increase in selenium accumulation (up to 2482.1 μg/kg d.w.) in parsley compared to separate treatments. Additionally, BISF treatment significantly improved key biometric parameters, with leaf weight increasing by 1.6 times (up to 326.5 g) compared to the control, and antioxidant content—ascorbic acid, polyphenols, and antioxidant activity—showing increases of 1.56, 1.27, and 1.50 times, respectively. This study underscores the effectiveness of selenium- and iodine-enriched biochar in enhancing parsley crop yield and nutritional quality while also demonstrating the multifunctional role of biochar in environmental remediation.

The thermal decomposition of an ammonium dinitramide-based energetic compound was conducted for the first time using a dispersive inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer, DTA-TG analysis, and pyrolysis at a constant temperature. A liquid droplet was injected over synthesized CuO catalytic particles deposited on lanthanum oxide-doped alumina. The thermal behavior of the ADN liquid monopropellant revealed that decomposition in the presence of catalytic particles occurs in two distinct steps, with the majority of ejected gases being detected in real-time analysis using the DIP-MS technique. At a temperature of 280 °C, pyrolysis confirmed the catalytic decomposition behavior of ADN, which occurred in two distinct steps.