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The concepts of sustainability and sustainable chemistry have attracted increasing attention in recent years, being of great importance to the younger generation. In this Viewpoint Article, we share how early-career chemists can contribute to the sustainable transformation of their discipline. We identify ways in which they can engage to catalyse action for change. This article does not attempt to answer questions about the most promising or pressing areas driving research and chemical innovation in the context of sustainability. Instead, we want to inspire and engage early-career chemists in pursuing sustainable actions by showcasing opportunities in education, outreach and policymaking, research culture and publishing, while highlighting existing challenges and the complexity of the topic. We want to empower early-career chemists by providing resources and ideas for engagement for a sustainable future globally. While the article focuses on students and early-career chemists, it provides insights to further stimulate the engagement of scientists from diverse backgrounds., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Although nearly all newly derived water purification methods have improved the water quality in developing countries, few have been accepted and maintained for long-term use. Field studies indicate that the most beneficial methods use indigenous resources, as they are both accessible and accepted by communities they help. In an effort to implement a material that will meet community needs, two fractions of mucilage gum were extracted from the Opuntia ficus-indica cactus and tested as flocculation agents against sediment and bacterial contamination. As diatomic ions are known to affect both mucilage and promote cell aggregation, CaCl(2) was studied in conjunction and compared with mucilage as a bacteria removal method. To evaluate performance, ion-rich waters that mimic natural water bodies were prepared. Column tests containing suspensions of the sediment kaolin exhibited particle flocculation and settling rates up to 13.2 cm/min with mucilage versus control settling rates of 0.5 cm/min. Bacillus cereus tests displayed flocculation and improved settling times with mucilage concentrations lower than 5 ppm and removal rates between 97 and 98% were observed for high bacteria concentration tests (>10(8) cells/ml). This natural material not only displays water purification abilities, but it is also affordable, renewable and readily available.

Quantum chemistry is a field of science that has undergone unprecedented advances in the last 50 years. From the pioneering work of Boys in the 1950s, quantum chemistry has evolved from being regarded as a specialized and esoteric discipline to a widely used tool that underpins much of the current research in chemistry today. This achievement was recognized with the award of the 1998 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to John Pople and Walter Kohn. As the new millennium unfolds, quantum chemistry stands at the forefront of an exciting new era. Quantitative calculations on systems of the magnitude of proteins are becoming a realistic possibility, an achievement that would have been unimaginable to the early pioneers of quantum chemistry. In this article we will describe ongoing work towards this goal, focusing on the calculation of protein infrared amide bands directly with quantum chemical methods.

The article narrates on the domain of the sanitary inspection medical laboratory workers' supervision in the field of industrial chemistry and their experience in handling different physical and chemical analysis techniques. It is indicated that sanitary inspection medical laboratory personnel requires constant postgraduate training. Proposed is the respective training programme adopted at the Institute for Postgraduate Training of Physicians, Moscow, which includes samples' selection, physical and chemical analysis testing and application in specific conditions, statistical assessment of the results obtained. The programme also includes the hygienic aspects, e. i. current sanitary control, labour hygiene in different gas discharge-related conditions. Practical training is performed in small groups of 2 or 3 persons, thus facilitating adoption of skills in using various analysis techniques. Initial, current and intermediate control, tests and situational analysis are used in the training process.

Owing to the significant development in graphene, an increasing number of studies have been conducted to identify novel two-dimensional (2D) organic materials with Dirac cones and topological properties. Although a series of toy models based on specific lattice patterns has been proposed and demonstrated to possess a Dirac cone, realistic materials corresponding to the lattice models must be identified to achieve excellent properties for practical applications. To understand factors contributing to the rarity of 2D organic Dirac materials and provide guidance for identifying novel organic Dirac systems, we review recent theoretical studies pertaining to various 2D Dirac models and their corresponding organic Dirac materials, including the Haldane, Kagome, Libe, line-centered honeycomb, and Cairo pentagonal models. Subsequently, the corresponding structural and topological electronic properties are summarized. Additionally, we investigate the relationship between the existence of Dirac cones and their structural features, as well as the manner by which Dirac points emerge and propagate in these systems.

Graphene oxide (GO) is a novel carbon material utilized extensively for diverse industrial applications. When exposed to environmental elements like sunlight and chlorination, GO can undergo a series of physical and chemical transformations, and its presence in water and the environment can endanger ecosystems. Therefore there is a need for methods that can effectively remove GO from water. Accordingly, we delve into the efficacy of basalt stone powder (BSP) as an adsorption medium for purifying aqueous solutions of GO. We examine the impact of various experimental parameters—namely pH, initial solution concentration, adsorbent mass, contact duration, and ambient temperature—on GO adsorption, employing the method of controlled variables. The adsorption efficacy is notably influenced by the pH level. At an acidic pH of 3, an initial GO concentration of 80 mg/L, an adsorbent dosage of 50 mg, and a temperature of 303 K (approximately 30 °C), the adsorption removal efficiency reaches an impressive 99 %, boasting a maximum adsorption capacity of 112 mg/g. Dynamically, the adsorption kinetics align most closely with a pseudo-first-order model, achieving equilibrium after 24 h. Thermodynamic analyses reveal that the Langmuir isotherm model most accurately describes the adsorption behavior, indicating an enhancement in BSP's adsorption capacity for GO as temperature rises. Based on thermodynamic equations, the adsorption of GO onto BSP is deduced to be a spontaneous process. Our findings illustrate BSP's considerable potential in the treatment and removal of GO from water, and therefore it may prove useful in environmental remediation efforts.

Along with the development of science and technology, chemical reactions exhibit an important role in various fileds including synthesis, chemical engineering, energy, environment, biology and medicine. The effective intermediates monitoring and mechanism exploration of chemical reactions can promote their development and contribute to the design of new chemical reactions. However, in the complex reaction matrix, a variety of intermediates with different molecular weights, life and dynamic changes will be generated at different reaction conditions, the effective capture and structure determinations of the short-lived and active reaction intermediates are hard to be achieved. In recent years, ambient mass spectrometry (AMS) has been widely used in the detection of chemical intermediates to explore reaction mechanisms, due to its advantages of high sensitivity, high selectivity, rapid analysis and in-situ monitoring. Herein, the research progress and development of AMS for the detection of reaction intermediates were reviewed, which involved the reactions in the fields of electrochemistry, photochemistry, plasma chemistry and microdroplet chemistry. For different types of reactions, the designs of different AMS detection technologies were introduced in details. Upon the different ionization strategies, different kinds of techniques have been reported, including desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS), nano-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (nESI-MS), extraction electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (EESI-MS), Venturi easy ambient sonic spray ionization mass spectrometry (VEASI-MS), spray-dependent plasma mass spectrometry (SDP-MS), accelerated plasma degradation coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (APD-MS), field-induced droplet ionization mass spectrometry (FIDI-MS) and so on. Subsequently, the progress and application of these mass spectrometry techniques in capturing intermediates of different kinds of reactions as well as the exploration of mechanisms were reviewed. Finally, the development of mass spectrometry for the detection of transient reaction intermediates in different chemical reactions, including electrochemical reactions, photochemical reactions, plasma reactions and microdroplet reactions were summarized and prospected. As reviewed, based on the characteristics of high throughput virtual screening and online monitoring, as well as the diversification of ion sources, AMS would be widely used in various fields including industrial production, environmental protection, energy and so on. In the future, the improved AMS techniques will be encouraged for examining more highly active intermediates with the increasing requirements for the examination of complicated reactions.

Abstract The α-bromination reaction of carbonyl compounds is a significant topic in the field of organic chemistry. However, due to the lack of suitable brominating reagents, the application of this reaction in undergraduate organic chemistry experiments is limited. In this study, three junior undergraduates successfully conducted an innovative experiment under the guidance of teachers. The bromination of various acetophenone derivatives was investigated by employing pyridine hydrobromide perbromide as the brominating agent, with a focus on exploring the effects of reaction time, reaction temperature, and dosage of the brominating agent. The results demonstrated that 4-chloro-α-bromo-acetophenone could be synthesized at 90 ℃ using 4-chloroacetophenone as a substrate and acetic acid as a solvent with a molar ratio of substrate to brominator being 1.0:1.1. Through the experimental teaching of 18 junior undergraduates, it was observed that all the students successfully completed the experiment within a time frame of 4–5 h, with a notable achievement yield exceeding 80% observed in 14 students. This innovative experiment exhibits significant advantages in terms of safety, high yield, cost-effectiveness, and repeatability. Furthermore, while reinforcing fundamental skills in chemistry experimentation among students, it enhances their scientific literacy levels and fosters innovation consciousness as well as practical aptitude. Consequently, this approach is highly suitable for widespread implementation and integration into undergraduate experimental pedagogy.

Abstract Lipid droplets (LDs), which are the hubs of lipid metabolism, play a critical role in maintaining cellular energy homeostasis. The construction of advanced photosensitizers (PSs) capable of manipulating LD‐mediated cell fate regulation is highly desirable though rarely reported. In this study, a near‐infrared emissive PS (DPCMP) with LDs specificity was synthesized and successfully applied to induce ferroptosis and apoptosis. DPCMP exhibited typical aggregation‐induced emission characteristics owing to its twisted molecular conformation. Excellent biocompatibility and suitable lipophilicity allowed DPCMP to specifically stain the LDs in living cells. Under white light illumination, the DPCMP displayed potent reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation capacity through both type I and II photochemistry. The massive accumulation of lethal ROS generated by DPCMP‐mediated photosensitization initiated lipid peroxidation, impaired cellular redox homeostasis, and led to endoplasmic reticulum oxidative stress, ultimately inhibiting cellular proliferation via concurrent ferroptosis and apoptosis in both living cancer cells and multicellular tumor spheroids.

The effects of ultrasound and different inulin (INU) concentrations (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 mg/mL) on the structural and functional properties of soybean isolate protein (SPI)-INU complexes were hereby investigated. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that SPI was bound to INU via hydrogen bonding. All samples showed a decreasing and then increasing trend of α-helix content with increasing INU concentration. SPI-INU complexes by ultrasound with an INU concentration of 20 mg/mL (U-2) had the lowest content of α-helix, the highest content of random coils and the greatest flexibility, indicating the proteins were most tightly bound to INU in U-2. Both UV spectroscopy and intrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy indicated that it was hydrophobic interactions between INU and SPI. The addition of INU prevented the exposure of tryptophan and tyrosine residues to form a more compact tertiary structure compared to SPI alone, and ultrasound caused further unfolding of the structure of SPI. This indicated that the combined effect of ultrasound and INU concentration significantly altered the tertiary structure of SPI. SDS-PAGE and Native-PAGE displayed the formation of complexes through non-covalent interactions between SPI and INU. The ζ-potential and particle size of U-2 were minimized to as low as −34.94 mV and 110 nm, respectively. Additionally, the flexibility, free sulfhydryl groups, solubility, emulsifying and foaming properties of the samples were improved, with the best results for U-2, respectively 0.25, 3.51 μmoL/g, 55.51 %, 269.91 %, 25.90 %, 137.66 % and 136.33 %. Overall, this work provides a theoretical basis for improving the functional properties of plant proteins.

Stachyose (ST), a naturally occurring compound extracted from cucumbers and legumes, holds great promise as a natural therapeutic agent. In this study, the impact of ST on blood deficiency syndrome (BDS) induced by cyclophosphamide (CP) and acetylphenylhydrazine (APH) was investigated in a rat model. Subsequently, the levels of erythropoietin (EPO), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were quantified in rat blood and peripheral blood cells. Furthermore, haematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was employed to elucidate morphological alterations in the spleen tissue. To gain comprehensive insights into the therapeutic potential and underlying mechanisms of ST against BDS, we used 16S rRNA gene sequencing and serum and spleen metabolomic analyses. Our findings revealed a significant ameliorative effect of ST on BDS. Notably, at the phylum level, Firmicutes and Bacteroidota exhibited marked variations in abundance, while at the genus level, discernible changes were observed in the abundances of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, among others. The therapeutic effects of ST on BDS were proposed to be due to its modulation of phenylalanine metabolism and glycine, serine and threonine metabolism and its impact on the restructuring of the gut microbiota.

Abstract Using household detergents to clean oil stains has always caused global concerns, as these detergents negatively impact the ecosystem and are toxic. Therefore, it is essential to effectively attenuate the adhesion force between oil stains and substrates to create an easy and detergent‐saving cleaning pathway. To address this challenge, we herein develop a strategy to reduce the strength of oil adhesion on common substrates by ∼20 times through a lamination layer, which contains phase‐transitioned lysozyme nanofilm (PTL) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). The resultant CNC/PTL coating significantly enhances the capability of cleaning oil stains in an underwater detergent‐free manner; this strategy is applicable to edible oil packaging material and tableware, without impairing the usability and aesthetics of these materials. This coating exhibits excellent mechanical stability and regeneration characteristics through simple soaking, ensuring its robustness in real applications in an infinite life cycle. By eliminating 100% detergent in routine cleaning, the CNC/PTL coating demonstrated remarkable cost‐effectiveness, saving 57.7% of water and 83.3% of energy when washing tableware only with water. This work presents an ingenious design to create oil‐repellent packaging materials and tableware toward detergent‐free water‐cleaning pathways, thereby greatly reducing the negative environmental impact of surfactant emissions.

Fe-based MIL-101(Fe) MOFshavea high potential to capture CO2 due to their high porosity, porous structure,and significant interaction with CO2, but the photogenerated electron and hole recombination phenomenon is relatively obvious. Copper tetracarboxyphenyl porphyrin (Cu-TCPP) was incorporated into MIL-101(Fe) as a photosensitive material to forma heterostructure. This enhanced the light absorption capability and the photogenerated electron-hole pairs separation in the composite catalyst. Based on the above factors, the current study reported the synthesis of MIL-101(Fe) by hydrothermal method, and a new composite photocatalyst Cu-TCPP@MIL-101(Fe) was prepared by using Cu-TCPP as a copper source with different mass ratios. Themorphologicaland structural characterizationof the composite catalyst was carried out by XRD, SEM, TEM, BET, and FT-IR, and the CO2 reduction performance of the composite catalyst Cu-TCPP@MIL-101(Fe) was determined by a vacuum CO2 reduction system under simulated sunlight irradiation. The results revealed that MIL-101(Fe) was loaded with Cu-TCPP with the formation of type II heterojunctions that are capable of inhibitingthe electron-hole recombination with improved light absorption capacity, and accelerated reduction rate of CO2. The reduction rateof CO2 into CO was found to be 29 μmol·g−1·h−1.

Background: Amino acids (AAs) metabolism profiles in brain play a pivotal role in cerebral ischemia (CI), which is a complex, spatial and temporal event. NaoXinTong Capsules (NXT) are widely prescribed in Chinese medicine for the treatment of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases. Methods: In this study, a novel analytical method for the quantification of twenty-three AAs in cortex and hippocampus was developed by UPLC-QQQ-MS. Based on middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat model, the cerebral infarction and the neurological behavior scores are firstly dynamically evaluated at 3, 12, and 24 h after CI. Then the dynamic levels of the AAs in cortex and hippocampus were analyzed respectively after CI. Results: After CI, MCAO rats showed neurological deficits especially at 24 h. Based on PCA scores plot at different time after CI, the time of the AAs metabolism showing an obvious disturbance in the cortex (12 and 24 h after ischemia) is earlier than that in the hippocampus (24 h after ischemia). Based on the fold-changes of MCAO vs. sham group and receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis, a total of nine AAs biomarkers, with continuous and consistent changes at different time points after CI, were finally obtained including eight AAs of Ala, GABA, Pro, Val, Ile, His, Cit and Leu in the cortex, and three AAs of Ile, Asp, and Cit in the hippocampus. After NXT treatment, the efficacy was confirmed by reducing cerebral infarction and improving the neurological behavior scores. Furthermore, GABA, Pro, His, Leu, Asp, Ile and Cit were found to exhibited an obvious tendency for returning to baseline values in the corresponding regions at 24 h after CI (P

Se-chitosan with a high Se content of 139 mg/g was successfully synthesized using the glacial acetic acid-sodium selenite (HAc-Na2SeO3) method. The chemical structure of Se-chitosan was characterized by FTIR, XRD, TGA, UV–vis and 13C NMR, confirming that selenite acid was introduced into chitosan via the esterification reaction of the hydroxyl group at C6 and the electrostatic interaction of the amino group at C2 of chitosan. Agarose hydrogels were designed as an efficient carrier of Se-chitosan for Se-enriched cultivation of sprouts. The hydrogels exhibited a porous structure, which is beneficial for Se diffusion in hydrogels. The growth indexes of sprouts grown in Agar/Se-chitosan composite hydrogels with different Se concentrations, including plant weight, plant height and Se content, were investigated. The results showed that in the Se-enriched cultivation of sprouts, Se-chitosan possessed an excellent Se enrichment effect. As the Se concentration in Agar/Se-chitosan composite hydrogels increases from 0 to 1600 μg/L, the Se content of the sprouts will also increase from 0.92 mg/kg to 6.79 mg/kg accordingly. Moreover, it is necessary to control the amount of Se-chitosan added to the hydrogels; otherwise, the growth of sprouts will be inhibited. This research provided a simple and effective method for the fabrication of Se-containing hydrogels for Se-enriched cultivation of sprouts.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are extensively utilized in industrial, biotechnological and medical fields because of their specific physical and chemical properties, which shown small size effects, surface and interface effects, quantum scale effects. Inevitably, wastewater containing AgNPs is leached into the soil. AgNPs in soil may be absorbed by plant roots and they affect plant growth. Understanding the complex interactions between AgNPs and plants is of crucial significance since plants are essential to the ecological environment as key players in ecosystems. Most previous reports have focused on AgNP phytotoxicity rather than positive effects in the plant field. This article reviews recent studies on the important aspects about nanoparticles including the green synthesis, absorption, migration, accumulation, biotransformation, biological effects, and the underlying molecular mechanisms of AgNPs affecting plants. We provide insights into the interactions between AgNPs and plants, helping to further understand AgNP-related effects and biosafety in agricultural production, as well as the practical application of various nanomaterials in agriculture.