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Human society annually produces nearly 100 billion gallons of wastewater, containing approximately 3600 GWh of energy. This study introduces a proof of concept utilizing graphene materials to extract and instantly store this energy. A hybrid device, mimicking a microbial fuel cell, acts as both a battery and supercapacitor. Wastewater serves as the electrolyte, with indigenous microorganisms on the graphene electrode acting as biocatalysts. The device features a capacitive electrode using a 3D nickel foam modified with a plasma-exfoliated graphene mixture. Compared to controls, the Gr/Ni configuration shows a 150-fold increase in power output (2.58 W/m2) and a 48-fold increase in current density (12 A/m2). The Gr/Ni/biofilm interface demonstrates outstanding charge storage capability (19,400 F/m2) as confirmed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Microscopy, spectroscopy, and electrochemical tests were employed to elucidate the superior performance of Gr/Ni electrodes. Ultimately, the capacitive energy extracted from wastewater can power small electrical equipment in water infrastructure, addressing energy needs in remote regions without access to a typical power grid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two Cd(II) MOFs based on the 1,4-bis[(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)-methyl]benzene (1,4-mbix) and succinate (Suc2−) or azelate (Aze2−) ligands have been hydrothermally synthesized, namely, {[Cd2(Suc)2(1,4-mbix)2]·5H2O}n (1) and [Cd(Aze)(1,4-mbix)]n (2). Both MOFs were structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In MOF 1, the Cd(II) centers are connected by Suc2− and 1,4-mbix to generate a two-dimensional (2D) sql layer with (H2O)5 water cluster. Each 2D layer is further interlocked with two adjacent layers to form a 2D + 2D → 3D parallel polycatenated structure. In MOF 2, when the Suc2− was placed by Aze2−, the Cd(II) centers are connected by Aze2− and 1,4-mbix into a 2D sql layer but without any water molecules. And two 2D sql layers interpenetrate with each other to generate a twofold 2D + 2D → 2D sheet. MOFs 1 and 2 display photoluminescence at 343 nm (λex = 288 nm) and 298 nm (λex = 271 nm), respectively. Luminescent quenching experiments show that 1 and 2 have good ability for detection of Fe3+ in deionized water with low detection limits as 0.58 μM for 1 and 0.54 μM for 2, respectively. Two MOFs also can serve as luminescent sensors for Fe3+ in real tap water and river water. The luminescent quenching of 1 and 2 toward Fe3+ can be attributed to the competition among the absorption of Fe3+ with the excitation and emission of two MOFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water deficit (WD) promotes great losses in agriculture, and the development of new sustainable technologies to mitigate the effects of this stress on plants is essential. This study aimed to evaluate the morphophysiological and biochemical alterations induced by the priming of tomato seeds with different formulations in plants under field capacity and WD conditions. In the first experiment, the treatments consisted of nanoparticles of alginate/chitosan and chitosan/tripolyphosphate containing gibberellic acid (GA3) in different concentrations (0.5, 5, and 50 µg mL−1 GA3), in addition to control with deionized water. The alginate/chitosan (5 µg mL−1 GA3) provided the greatest gains in plant growth under field capacity. In addition, under WD this treatment reduced damage to photosystem II (−14%), stomatal conductance (−13%), and water loss (−38%) and increased the instantaneous carboxylation efficiency (+24%) and intrinsic water use efficiency (+12%). In the second experiment, the treatments were alginate/chitosan nanoparticles containing GA3 (NPGA3 5 µg mL−1), free GA3 (GA3 5 µg mL−1), nanoparticles without GA3 (NP), deionized water (WATER), and non-primed seeds (CONT). Under WD, GA3 and CONT maintained plant growth and lost water rapidly, reducing stomatal conductance (−87%) and net photosynthesis (−69%). In contrast, NPGA3 decreased leaf area (−44%) and increased root-to-shoot ratio (+39%) when compared to GA3, reducing water loss (−28%). Activation of protective mechanisms (e.g., superoxide dismutase and catalase activities) by WATER, NPGA3, and NP treatments also resulted in lower susceptibility to WD compared to CONT and GA3. The results highlight the positive effect of seed priming on plant response to WD, which was enhanced by the use of nanoencapsulated GA3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microscale electronics have become increasingly more powerful, requiring more efficient cooling systems to manage the higher thermal loads. To meet this need, current research has been focused on overcoming the inefficiencies present in typical thermal management systems due to low Reynolds numbers within microchannels and poor physical properties of the working fluids. For the first time, this research investigated the effects of a connector with helical geometry on the heat transfer coefficient at low Reynolds numbers. The introduction of a helical connector at the inlet of a microchannel has been experimentally tested and results have shown that this approach to flow augmentation has a great potential to increase the heat transfer capabilities of the working fluid, even at low Reynolds numbers. In general, a helical connector can act as a stabilizer or a mixer, based on the characteristics of the connector for the given conditions. When the helical connector acts as a mixer, secondary flows develop that increase the random motion of molecules and possible nanoparticles, leading to an enhancement in the heat transfer coefficient in the microchannel. Otherwise, the heat transfer coefficient decreases. It is widely known that introducing nanoparticles into the working fluids has the potential to increase the thermal conductivity of the base fluid, positively impacting the heat transfer coefficient; however, viscosity also tends to increase, reducing the random motion of molecules and ultimately reducing the heat transfer capabilities of the working fluid. Therefore, optimizing the effects of nanoparticles characteristics while reducing viscous effects is essential. In this study, deionized water and deionized water–diamond nanofluid at 0.1 wt% were tested in a two-microchannel system fitted with a helical connector in between. It was found that the helical connector can make a great heat transfer coefficient enhancement in low Reynolds numbers when characteristics of geometry are optimized for given conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores a novel reactive cold sintering method for improving the density of gadolinia‐doped ceria (GDC) ceramics while reducing the annealing temperature. Instead of using deionized water as an aid in conventional cold sintering, stoichiometrically mixed Ce(NO3)3·6H2O and Gd(NO3)3·6H2O precursors were added as additives during the CSP in this study. The effects of processing parameters such as sintering temperature and additive content on the relative density of the compacts were investigated using synthesized GDC and commercial GDC powders as raw materials. The results showed that with the aid of precursors, GDC ceramics were sintered up to 90% of their theoretical densities at 850°C and up to 94% at 950°C when the synthesized nanopowder GDC was used. Additionally, the sintering mechanism was investigated, and it was found that the GDC generated by the precursor reaction effectively filled the gaps between the original particles, promoting densification of the sample after cold‐pressing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, activated red mud particles are used as adsorbents for phosphorus adsorption. HCl solutions with different concentrations and deionized water are employed for desorption tests, and the desorption mechanism under the following optimal conditions is investigated: HCl concentration = 0.2 mol/L, desorbent dosage = 0.15 L/g, desorption temperature = 35 °C, and desorption time = 12 h. Under these conditions, the phosphate desorption rate and amount reach 99.11% and 11.29 mg/g, respectively. Notably, the Langmuir isothermal and pseudo-second-order kinetic linear models exhibit consistent results: monomolecular-layer surface desorption is dominant, and chemical desorption limits the rate of surface desorption. Thermodynamic analysis indicates that phosphorus desorption by the desorbents is spontaneous and that high temperatures promote such desorption. Moreover, an intraparticle diffusion model demonstrates that the removal of phosphorus in the form of precipitation from the surface of an activated hematite particle adsorbent primarily occurs via a chemical reaction, and surface micromorphological analysis indicates that desorption is primarily accompanied by Ca dissolution, followed by Al and Fe dissolutions. The desorbents react with the active elements in red mud, and the vibrations of the [SiO4]4− functional groups of calcium–iron garnet and calcite or aragonite disappear. Further, in Fourier-transform infrared spectra, the intensities of the peaks corresponding to the PO43− group considerably decrease. Thus, desorption primarily involves monomolecular-layer chemical desorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal slurry is a semi-solid material formed by the water content of pulverized coal, which is a product of the coal production and transportation process and has viscous and wet characteristics, and is easy to cause blockage in the process of mechanized mining and transportation. To study the resistance law of the probe rod pressed into the quasi-static viscous particle medium at a uniform speed, coal dust and deionized water were mixed into different water content of coal slurry, and the resistance of the probe rod under pressure in different water content of coal slurry was measured. It is found that when the cohesion of coal slurry is small, the press-in process tends to be stable, and the intrusion resistance shows a linear-slowly increasing-suddenly increasing trend as the depth of pressure increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have demonstrated that altering the surface structure can enhance heat transfer. In this study, a square micropillar array with a homogeneous structure was designed for a long rectangular channel with a hydrodynamic diameter of 10 mm. Deionized water and HFE-7100 were used as working fluids for the study. The effect of flow rate and subcooling degree on flow boiling heat transfer performance is discussed. The bubble behavior of two different media was compared by visualization experiments. The results show that the square microcolumn array will delay the ONB point by increasing the heat transfer area and disturbing the main fluid, and improve the overall boiling heat transfer performance by 2–3 times. It was found that HFE-7100 boils better under low heat flow density, but its stable nuclear boiling time is shorter. Furthermore, the effects of volume flow and subcooling on heat transfer performance vary significantly at different stages of the boiling process. Before the ONB point, an increase in volume flow will increase the heat current density by 88.9% and reduce the boiling heat transfer stability. After the ONB point, the effect of fluid flow on the boiling process weakens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the importance of chemical separations in industrial manufacturing processes and their significant energy use in the United States. It focuses on the potential of electrochemical separations for applications such as critical minerals recovery, CO2 purification, and water desalination. The text highlights the role of electrode and electrolyte materials in achieving selective separations and mentions various strategies and materials used in electrochemical platforms. It also mentions the advantages of electrochemical separations, such as their potential to be powered by renewable energy and generate less chemical waste. The article provides a list of references from various scientific journals and publications, covering a wide range of topics and years, which can be useful for further research. [Extracted from the article]

The capacitive deionization (CDI) technique is considered a promising eco-friendly desalination method due to its high energy efficiency, ease of operation, and simplistic electrode regeneration capability. Thus, significant research is focused on developing highly efficient electrode materials with high electrochemical stability and salt electro-adsorption capacity (Sc) behavior during operation because these are the governing factors in examining the measured activity of fabricated CDI cells. In this manuscript, we report the synthesis of hydrogenated titanium nanotubes@spongy activated carbon (HTiO 2 NTs@SAC) using pyrolysis and hydrothermal processes. The SAC is synthesized by the pyrolysis of spongy loofa in an inert atmosphere and further hydrothermally activating it in an aqueous potassium hydroxide solution. The hydrothermal process activates and enhances the hydrophilicity of SAC. HTiO 2 is synthesized electrochemically at 20 V in 0.1 M perchloric acid. Such HTiO 2 NTs@SAC configuration can provide excellent pathways to increase ion adsorption and improve the kinetics of charge transfer by enhancing the contact between the electrolyte and electrode at the interface. It is found that HTiO 2 NTs@SAC has a specific capacitance (Cs) of 385.7 F g−1 compared with 332.7 F g−1 for SAC. The salt electrosorption capacity (Sc) of HTiO 2 NTs@SAC electrode material is found to be 24.90 mg g−1 in 250 μS cm −1 saline solution at 1.2 V, which is much higher than the values obtained for SAC (9.8 mg g−1). HTiO 2 NTs@SAC has also shown an antimicrobial effect toward gram-negative bacteria and exhibited good performance in the supercapacitor application, wherein HTiO 2 NTs@SAC showed a higher Cs (505.55 F g−1) than SAC (380 F g−1) at 1 A g−1. Thus, we demonstrate that the prepared composite can be used as an energy storage material, an antibacterial material, and a CDI electrode in the CDI technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supercapacitors, as high-performance energy storage devices, have garnered extensive research interest. Furthermore, capacitive deionization technology based on a supercapacitor has emerged as a crucial solution to tackling issues of freshwater scarcity and seawater pollution. However, their power density and cycling lifespan remain constrained by electrode materials. In recent years, 3D network graphene materials have gained prominence as an ideal choice due to their unique porous structure, high specific surface area, and excellent conductivity. This review summarizes the preparation methods of 3D network graphene materials, including techniques like chemical vapor deposition, graphene oxide reduction, and foaming methods. It also discusses their applications and the ongoing research advancements in supercapacitor energy storage and capacitive deionization. Ultimately, this review offers researchers an understanding and outlook on the application of 3D network graphene materials in supercapacitor energy storage and capacitive deionization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrate pollution of water sources has been increasing due to the expansion of agriculture and human activities. The use of electrodialysis (ED) technologies has expanded significantly in recent years. In this study, an ED system with current circulation was built, and it was converted to electrodeionization (EDI) by adding resin to its dilute chambers. The EDI and ED systems by examining different operating parameters such as initial concentration, voltage, and flow rate, and their effects on the removal rate were compared. Flow rates of 10, 20, and 30 ml/min, voltages of 5, 10, and 15 V, and various nitrate concentrations (75, 100, 150, and 200 ppm) to assess the nitrate removal percentage were considered. The results showed that the average nitrate removal in the EDI process was significantly higher than in the ED process (P < 0.001) at all voltage, flow rate, and concentration levels. In the denitrification process by EDI, the osmotic property did not affect the membrane ion exchange process. The research results showed that the EDI process has better functionality to reduce nitrate concentration in water. The results also revealed that osmotic properties do not affect the membrane ion exchange process in the nitrate removal process by continuous electrodeionization. Additionally, the amount of nitrate removal increased with increasing voltage, while increasing the flow rate through the electro-ionization system decreased the amount of nitrate removal, thereby increasing the remaining nitrate. Furthermore, the highest rate of nitrate removal of 99.7% in the continuous electrodeionization system was achieved at the minimum initial concentration, minimum flow rate, and maximum voltage. As a fundamental technology for in situ remediation for groundwater contamination, the EDI process proved feasible and provided a foundation for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a core component of the smart grid, capacitive equipment plays a critical role in modern power systems. When defects occur, they pose a significant threat to the safety of both other equipment and personnel. Hence, it is of great significance to predict whether defects occur in capacitive equipment in advance. To achieve this goal, we propose a novel method that integrates the weight of evidence (WOE) feature encoding with machine learning (ML). Five models, including support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), multi-layer perceptron (MLP), and linear classification, are employed with WOE features for defect prediction. Furthermore, based on the prediction of equipment with defects, an additional prediction is conducted to determine the potential defect level of the equipment. Experimental results demonstrate that the performance of each algorithm significantly improves with WOE encoding features. Particularly, the RF model with WOE encoding features exhibits optimal performance. In conclusion, the proposed method offers a promising solution for predicting the occurrence of defects and the corresponding defect levels of capacitive equipment. It enables relevant personnel to focus on and inspect equipment predicted to be at risk of defects, thereby preventing major malfunctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two Cd(II) MOFs based on the 1,4-bis[(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)-methyl]benzene (1,4-mbix) and succinate (Suc2−) or azelate (Aze2−) ligands have been hydrothermally synthesized, namely, {[Cd2(Suc)2(1,4-mbix)2]·5H2O}n (1) and [Cd(Aze)(1,4-mbix)]n (2). Both MOFs were structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In MOF 1, the Cd(II) centers are connected by Suc2− and 1,4-mbix to generate a two-dimensional (2D) sql layer with (H2O)5 water cluster. Each 2D layer is further interlocked with two adjacent layers to form a 2D + 2D → 3D parallel polycatenated structure. In MOF 2, when the Suc2− was placed by Aze2−, the Cd(II) centers are connected by Aze2− and 1,4-mbix into a 2D sql layer but without any water molecules. And two 2D sql layers interpenetrate with each other to generate a twofold 2D + 2D → 2D sheet. MOFs 1 and 2 display photoluminescence at 343 nm (λex = 288 nm) and 298 nm (λex = 271 nm), respectively. Luminescent quenching experiments show that 1 and 2 have good ability for detection of Fe3+ in deionized water with low detection limits as 0.58 μM for 1 and 0.54 μM for 2, respectively. Two MOFs also can serve as luminescent sensors for Fe3+ in real tap water and river water. The luminescent quenching of 1 and 2 toward Fe3+ can be attributed to the competition among the absorption of Fe3+ with the excitation and emission of two MOFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfate is a typical characteristic pollutant in mine water. Because of its high concentration and large discharge of mine water, it has become a difficult problem in mineral exploitation. Capacitive deionization (CDI) is an innovative and economical removal technology. There are few reports on the use of CDI to remove SO42− from mine water. In this study, a CeO2 activated carbon electrode with good wettability, excellent electrochemical performance, and suitable pore structure was prepared by the sol-gel method. The application of the CeO2 activated carbon electrode to the capacitive method for treating high SO42− mine water was investigated using simulated wastewater and actual mine water. The study structure shows that CeO2:activated carbon (AC) has the best wettability, the highest specific capacitance, and the lowest electrical conductivity when the mass ratio of CeO2 is 5%. At 100 mg/L, the electrode has the maximum SO42− ion specific adsorption capacity (SAC). At 1 V and 20 mL/min, this value is measured. The electrode has a SAC value of 9.36 mg/g, far higher than the AC electrode's 4.1 mg/g. The effect of CDI process factors such the voltage, flow rate, and initial concentration was studied to find the best treatment method. SAC retention is 91% after 10 adsorption–desorption cycles, demonstrating outstanding electrode performance. Under the best CDI process (1.4 volts, 30 mL/min), mine water was treated. After 20 cycles of treatment, the concentration of SO42− in mine water decreased from 1170 mg/L to 276.46 mg/L, and the removal rate was 76.37%. This study proved that the CeO2 modified activated carbon electrode capacitance method can effectively remove sulfate ions and other ions from mine water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we investigated the impacts of atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge (DBD), i.e., plasma treatment, on pearl millet seeds germination and plant growth. The effect of plasma discharge on water activation, by introducing the reactive species, was explored. We evidenced that about 30 min plasma treated pearl millet seeds exhibited 20% higher germination rate than the control seed watered with tap water. The HR-SEM study revealed that the plasma treatment increased the roughness and FTIR study showed that new oxygen functional groups were introduced on the seed surface. Moreover, it was observed that the water contact angle decreased for plasma treated seeds (50%) and the water uptake also increased considerably as compared to control seeds. These findings indicate that the seed surface has turned more hydrophilic after plasma treatment. A cylindrical double dielectric barrier discharge (D-DBD) reactor was employed for water activation, and 30 min of treatment under air has decreased the pH of deionized water from 7.4 to 4.5 and produced about 1.78 ppm of nitrate (NO3−) and 4.2 ppm of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Interestingly, the plasma activated water (PAW) improved the pearl millet seed germination by 30% (after 24 h of sowing) and plant growth as compared to tap water and deionized water. Remarkably, when PAW and plasma-treated seeds were combined, a beneficial impact in seed germination (95 ± 2%) and seedling growth have been evidenced owing to synergistic effect. We evidenced that among the long-lived species in PAW, NO3− enhanced the seed germination and plant growth under similar conditions. These findings demonstrate that the proposed cold plasma reactors could be utilized to boost seed germination and plant growth.Please confirm if the author names are presented accurately and in the correct sequence (given name, middle name/initial, family name). Author 4 Given name: [Amine Aymen] Last name [Assadi]. Also, kindly confirm the details in the metadata are correct.Yes, all author names are correctly editted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halonitromethanes (HNMs), a representative nitrogen-containing disinfection byproduct, have gained significant concerns due to their higher cytotoxicity and genotoxicity. UV/chlorination is considered a promising alternative disinfection technology for chlorination. This study aimed to investigate the HNMs formation from benzylamine (BZA) during UV/chlorination. The experimental results revealed that the yields of HNMs initially raised to a peak then dropped over time. Higher chlorine dosage and BZA concentration promoted the formation of HNMs, whereas alkaline pH inhibited their formation. The presence of bromine ion (Br−) not only converted chlorinated-HNMs (Cl-HNMs) to brominated (chlorinated)-HNMs Br (Cl)-HNMs) and brominated-HNMs (Br-HNMs) but also enhanced the total concentration of HNMs. Besides, the calculated cytotoxicity index (CTI) and genotoxicity index (GTI) of HNMs were elevated by 68.97% and 60.66% as Br− concentration raised from 2 to 6 µM. The possible formation pathways of HNMs from BZA were proposed based on the intermediates identified by a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). In addition, the formation rules of HNMs in actual water verified the results in deionized water during UV/chlorination. The results of this study provide basic data and a theoretical basis for the formation and control of HNMs, which is conducive to applying UV/chlorination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The capacitive behavior of a supercapacitor (SC) based on activated carbon derived from biomass is enhanced when a halogenated iodide (in this case, iodide, Iˉ) is added to the acidic aqueous electrolyte. In this work, we prepared ultrahigh capacitive performance of O and Mg self‐dual‐doped activated carbon (AC) from Ananas comosus leaf fiber (ACLF) via chemical activation at high temperature, followed by activation under the protection of CO2 to produce commercially feasible electrodes for commercial‐scale SC devices. The prepared ACLFs were characterized through SEM–EDX, XRD, adsorption/desorption of N2. Moreover, in a 2‐electrode setup, the capacitive activity of the prepared ACLFs were evaluated using cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge/discharge techniques in a redox additive electrolyte (1 M H2SO4 + 0.05 M KI). RESULT: The pairs 3Iˉ/I3ˉ, 2Iˉ/I2, 2I3ˉ/3I2, and I2/IO3ˉ generate reduction–oxidation (redox) peaks in the CV curves and a significant Faradaic plateau in the GCD curves. The ACLF samples delivered an outstanding gravimetric capacitance and energy density as high as 581 F g−1 and 80.69 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 346.14 W kg−1, respectively. CONCLUSION: The enhanced capacitive activity is a result of the Faradaic pseudocapacitance associated with the redox‐active ions present in the acidic electrolyte solution. This work describes a facile and economical approach to acquiring a potential candidate of electrode materials for SC devices with exceptional performance, achieved via a redox additive‐based electrolyte system. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The floating porous structure consists of an optical absorption layer, a porous layer, and an insulating layer. Water is pumped through a porous structure to the top absorption surface for evaporation. A numerical model of interfacial evaporation of floating porous structure is established. A multiphysical field coupling model for heat transfer, flow, and mass transfer within porous structures is simulated. The transient temperature response, evaporation flux, and vapor concentration distribution inside the structure are calculated. Effects of porous structure characteristics, such as size and porosity, on evaporation performance are discussed. With the increase of structure radius, the evaporation amount increases gradually, but the evaporation per unit area decreases with the radius. With the increase of the structure height, the evaporation amount and the evaporation flux decrease, but the decrease is relatively small. The porosity of the porous layer ε1 has a significant effect on the evaporation performance. The increase of ε1 is beneficial to the evaporation of water. When ε1 < 0.3, the effect of the porosity of insulation layer ε2 on the evaporation performance can be neglected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceramic membranes are now receiving greater attention and are regarded as the best alternative option for reducing energy use. There are currently a number of limitations on the use of ceramic membranes, including high raw material costs and high sintering temperatures during synthesis. Cost‐effective raw materials were employed in the synthesis of ceramic membranes to get around these restrictions. Utilizing a straightforward pressing technique, circular disc‐type membranes were prepared. To assess the membrane properties, the impact of sintering temperatures between 700 and 900°C was examined. By varying the sintering temperature, the average membrane pore diameter was observed. The membrane, which was sintered at 800°C, had pores that were on average 110 nm in size. Furthermore, the porosity of these synthesized membranes ranged from 22% to 35% with an average pore diameter of 74–121 nm. These manufactured membranes showed very good chemical stability when both acidic and basic solutions were used. Various characterization methods, including thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), x‐ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), were used. Thermo‐gravimetric investigation revealed that the synthesized cenosphere membrane required a minimum sintering temperature of about 700°C. The flux measured with deionized water and the applied transmembrane pressure showed an upward trend. The impact of sintering temperature on permeate flux was investigated. The results showed that as the sintering temperature increased from 700°C to 900°C, the flux reduced. It was determined that the synthesized membrane cost ₹1618.80/m2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objective: To investigate intestinal toxicity in rats and the effects of Nano-cerium dioxide on intestinal flora in rats after oral sub-chronic exposure. Method: Forty healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: a control group (deionized water) and three groups treated with different doses of Nano-ceria (e.g., 20 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, and 500 mg/kg), with 10 rats in each group. The rats were given intragastric administrations (every other day) for 90 days. After the last intragastric administration, fresh fecal samples were collected by pressing the abdomen, and the animals were sacrificed. Jejunum, ileum and cecum tissues were retained for pathological analysis by Hematoxylin-eosin staining. The stool samples of rats were sequenced by the Illumina NovaSeq sequencing platform, and the sequencing results were further analyzed by QIIME2 software. Results: The histopathology results show that compared with the control group, in the middle- and high-dose groups, epithelial tissue was shed, lamina propria glandular structures were damaged or disappeared, and large numbers of inflammatory cells were distributed in the mucosa. The intestinal flora results show that there were no significant differences in the α-/β-diversities in each Nano-ceria-treated group compared with the control group (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the intestinal pathogenic bacteria, Mucispirillum and Streptococcus increased significantly after Nano-cerium dioxide ingestion, while Weissella decreased. The abundances of Akkermansia in all Nano-ceria-treated groups were higher than those in the control group, but the abundances decreased with increasing dose. MetagenomesSeq analysis show that, compared with the control group, the abundances of S24-7, Lactobacillus and Clostridiales in all experimental groups significantly decreased. Conclusions: The sub-chronic toxicity of Nano-cerium dioxide to rats can affect the structure and abundance of intestinal microflora, long-term exposure to high doses (>100 mg/kg) causes enteritis, but there was no significant difference in the diversity of gut microbiota. Therefore, we infer that the enteritis in rats may be associated with the relative ratios of the pathogenic bacteria and intestinal probiotics, and increased of the intestinal pathogenic bacteria can disrupted intestinal homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) stalks were pretreated with pyrrolidinium acetate [Pyrr][AC] to increase the availability of cellulose for cellulolytic enzymes and thus improve the production of 2G ethanol from reducing sugars. The process was carried out under different temperature and time conditions: The control sample was raw material and deionized water, and the second sample was kept at 21 °C for 24 h. The third sample was kept at 90 °C for 30 min, and the fourth sample was kept at the same temperature for 24 h. For each pretreatment, the extraction of lignin and hemicellulose was determined, as well as the change in biomass composition before and after pretreatment. The stalks of hemp seed contained 41.54% cellulose, 18.08% lignin and 28. 87% hemicellulose. [Pyrr][AC] used to dissolve seed hemp at 90 °C for 24 h was most effective in the extraction of this biopolymer, extracting 3.1% content. After enzymatic hydrolysis, the highest content of reducing sugars was found for samples of hemp stalks that were first pretreated with proton ionic liquid (PIL) and stirred at 90 °C for 24 h. On the other hand, the highest ethanol content (5.6 g/L) after fermentation and yeast viability (56.7%) after 72 h were obtained in samples pretreated at 90 °C and for 24 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a new voltammetric procedure for acyclovir (ACY) trace-level determination has been described. For this purpose, an electrochemically activated screen-printed carbon electrode (aSPCE) coupled with well-conductive electrolyte (CH3COONH4, CH3COOH and NH4Cl) was used for the first time. A commercially available SPCE sensor was electrochemically activated by conducting cyclic voltammetry (CV) scans in 0.1 mol L−1 NaOH solution and rinsed with deionized water before a series of measurements were taken. This treatment reduced the charge transfer resistance, increased the electrode active surface area and improved the kinetics of the electron transfer. The activation step and high conductivity of supporting electrolyte significantly improved the sensitivity of the procedure. The newly developed differential-pulse adsorptive stripping voltammetry (DPAdSV) procedure is characterized by having the lowest limit of detection among all voltammetric procedures currently described in the literature (0.12 nmol L−1), a wide linear range of the calibration curve (0.5–50.0 and 50.0–1000.0 nmol L−1) as well as extremely high sensitivity (90.24 nA nmol L−1) and was successfully applied in the determination of acyclovir in commercially available pharmaceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E-textiles have emerged as a fast-growing area in wearable technology for sports and fitness due to the soft and comfortable nature of textile materials and the capability for smart functionality to be integrated into familiar sports clothing. This review paper presents the roles of wearable technologies in sport and fitness in monitoring movement and biosignals used to assess performance, reduce injury risk, and motivate training/exercise. The drivers of research in e-textiles are discussed after reviewing existing non-textile and textile-based commercial wearable products. Different sensing components/materials (e.g., inertial measurement units, electrodes for biosignals, piezoresistive sensors), manufacturing processes, and their applications in sports and fitness published in the literature were reviewed and discussed. Finally, the paper presents the current challenges of e-textiles to achieve practical applications at scale and future perspectives in e-textiles research and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capacitive deionization is a promising solution for freshwater production with Ti3C2Tx emerging as a momentous electrode material. Here, highly porous 3D nitrogen-doped Ti3C2Tx (3D-N-Ti3C2Tx) is developed by using electropositive melamine to electrostatically induce electronegative Ti3C2Tx nanosheets to be reconstructed to alleviate the severe stacking problem of Ti3C2Tx layers. 3D-N-Ti3C2Tx has a large specific surface area (129.48 m2 g−1) and pore volume (0.372 cm3 g−1), exposing numerous ion adsorption sites. Also, 3D-N-Ti3C2Tx achieves nitrogen doping, which greatly improves the hydrophilicity and electrical conductivity. With the combined advantages of a three-dimensional structure and nitrogen doping, 3D-N-Ti3C2Tx achieves a specific capacitance of 101.9 F g−1 in 1 mol L−1 NaCl solution and demonstrates fantastic desalination performance with a high desalination capacity of 31.51 mg g−1, surpassing those of the majority of reported Ti3C2Tx electrodes, and outstanding desalination cycling stability in 500 mg L−1 NaCl solution at 1.2 V. This work significantly contributes to the advancement of Ti3C2Tx electrode material in CDI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoremediation is an effective way to reduce heavy metal content in agricultural soil. The effects of brackish water irrigation on phytoremediation efficiency of plants have not yet been completely understood. In this study, the effects of brackish water irrigation on cadmium (Cd) uptake by maize as the phytoremediator were investigated. In a pot experiment, maize seedlings were grown in soil with exogenously added Cd (0, 5, 10, or 15 mg kg−1) and irrigated with deionized water (T1), natural brackish water (T2), or water with NaCl with salinity equal to that of natural brackish water (T3). Salt stress and cation antagonism caused by brackish water affected maize plant growth and Cd uptake. Under 5, 10, and 15 mg kg−1 Cd, Cd accumulation in maize shoots was 5.55, 7.08, and 5.71 μg plant–1; 4.08, 3.04, and 5.38 μg plant–1; and 2.48, 3.44, and 5.33 μg plant–1 under the T1, T2, and T3 treatments, respectively. Cd accumulation in the shoots was significantly lower under the T2 and T3 treatments than under the T1 treatment at 5 and 10 mg kg−1 Cd; however, no significant differences were observed among all treatments at 15 mg kg−1 Cd. These findings indicated that phytoremediation efficiency decreased in response to both salt stress and cation antagonism caused by brackish water under low soil-Cd concentrations; however, this effect was negligible under high soil-Cd concentration. Therefore, brackish water irrigation can be considered for the phytoremediation of soils contaminated with high Cd levels to save freshwater resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pineapple by-products are good sources of bromelain, a complex enzyme with commercial applications. This study evaluated the feasibility of producing bromelain powders from pineapple waste using an organic solvent-free approach. Pineapple by-products (from var. MD2), including cores, peels, crowns, stems, and basal stems, were homogenized with deionized water, and the pH of the mixture was adjusted to 4.5 and 9 (isoelectric points of fruit bromelain and stem bromelain), clarified, ultra-filtered, and freeze-dried to produce bromelain powders. The enzymatic activity of the bromelain powders was measured using the gelatin and casein digestion methods. The bromelain powders from the crowns did not show significant enzymatic activity (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, bromelain powders produced from the cores and peels had an enzymatic activity of 694 gelatin digesting units (GDU)/g and 124 casein digesting units (CDU)/mg, and 1179 GDU/g and 217 CDU/mg, respectively. Bromelain powders from the basal stems showed the highest enzymatic activity (2909 GDU/g and 717 CDU/mg). Increasing the pH of the liquid mixture before the purification and freeze drying significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the enzymatic activity of the bromelain powders. Using a practical and organic solvent-free approach, this study demonstrates the feasibility of producing bromelain powders with high enzymatic activity from pineapple waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve high flow hydrogen production, a laminated self-thermal methanol reforming microreactor was designed. Through simulation and experiments, the hydrogen production performance of the microreactor and the compatibility between the methanol catalytic combustion module and the methanol steam reforming module were investigated. The results show that the microreactor exhibits impressive hydrogen production performance, with a methanol conversion rate of 95.27%. When the inlet flow rate of the mixture of methanol and deionized water was increased to a high flow rate, the microreactor exhibits significant cold spots over a wide range in the reaction chamber plates, which could be effectively solved by enhancing the methanol catalytic combustion intensity. The methanol catalytic combustion module inside the microreactor can meet the heat demand of the methanol reforming module. The microreactor operated for 20 h with a methanol-deionized water mixture inlet flow rate of 12 mL/min and a methanol inlet flow rate of 7.5 mL/min; the methanol conversion rate finally stabilized at 90.1%, which was decreased by about 2.2% compared with the initial methanol conversion rate. • Laminated self-thermal methanol steam reforming microreactor was designed with a maximum hydrogen flow rate of 10 L/min. • Thermal matching of methanol catalytic combustion reaction and methanol reforming reaction gained explored. • Methanol conversion rate was improved from 58.6% to 91.2% at the inlet flow rate of methanol of 7.5 mL/min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil nitrite (NO2−) is an important reactive intermediate in many nitrogen transformation processes, but it is unstable under acidic conditions and may be lost as gaseous N. The canonical extraction method of soil NO2− using a potassium chloride (KCl) solution greatly underestimates its concentration. To reflect the concentration more accurately, we optimized the extraction method of soil NO2− for three agricultural soils differing in soil texture and pH, an alkalic fluvo-aquic soil and acidic Mollisol and Ultisol soils, respectively. Both extractable soil ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3−) were systematically investigated to optimize the simultaneous extraction of soil inorganic nitrogen. The effects of different extractants (deionized water (DIW), un-buffered 2 mol L−1 KCl, and pH-buffered 2 mol L−1 KCl), shaking time (10 and 30 min), and storage duration of the extracts (stored at −20 °C for 1 day, and at 4 °C for 1, 3, and 6 days) on the determination of soil inorganic nitrogen were investigated. The results showed that the un-buffered KCl extractant significantly underestimated soil NO2− concentration compared to DIW. The highest recovery of NO2− was obtained by extracting with DIW at 10 min of shaking for all three soils. Compared with DIW, the concentration of NH4+ and NO3− in soil extracted from the KCl solution increased significantly. Furthermore, the soil inorganic nitrogen content of extracts stored at 4 °C for one day was closer to the direct measurements of fresh samples than with the other storage methods. Overall, the recommended analysis method for soil NO2− was extraction by DIW, shaking for 10 min, and filtering with a 0.45 µm filter, while soil NH4+ and NO3− were extracted with a KCl solution and shaken for 30 min. The extract should be stored at 4 °C and analyzed within 24 h. Our study provides an efficient extraction method for soil NO2− and supports studies on the biogeochemical nitrogen cycle, e.g., in the investigation of soil nitrous acid (HONO) and nitric oxide (NO) emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) have become an emerging contaminant in many environmental compartments. Although numerous studies worldwide have accounted for MP contamination in our primary condiments such as salt, there is limited data available in the Philippines. This study aims to determine MPs in commercially distributed salts in markets in Iligan City, Northern Mindanao, the Philippines. We collected table salts of various brands according to their information on the packaging, weight, and salt type. Salt samples were diluted with ultrapure deionized water to float MPs due to their intrinsic hydrophobicity. After flotation, the solutions were filtrated using a vacuum system. The filters were observed under microscopy analysis and suspected MP particles were verified using ATR-FTIR analysis. A total of 31 MP particles were detected, which averaged 11.27 ± 4.31 particles/kg of salt. The most abundant polymer types of MPs were polypropylene (23%), polyethylene (23%) and polyamide (19%). The shapes of MPs were dominated by fibers (65%), whereas white (45%) was the most prevalent color. This research is the first to provide a snapshot of MPs in salts in the Philippines. This adds knowledge on the extent of MP pollution in the food industries and informs the government's prioritization of this emerging food contaminant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The radioactive pollution caused by uranium containing wastewater generated during the nuclear fuel cycle seriously threatens human health and environmental safety. The electrosorption (or capacitive deionization, CDI) separation of U(VI) from wastewater has the advantages of high efficiency, low energy consumption, convenient operation, and no secondary pollution, making it a promising new separation technology. By combining double layer capacitive materials with pseudo capacitive materials, the specific capacitance and ion storage capacity of the composites can be significantly improved, thereby improving the electrosorption performance. This work used natural biomass as raw material to prepare hierarchical porous biocarbon through high-temperature pyrolysis and chemical activation, and then it was incorporated with hydrothermally synthesized α-MnO 2 nanofibers to obtain novel composites (BC/α-MnO 2) with high hybrid capacitance for U(VI) removal in CDI. The electrochemical characteristics of the composites and their electrosorption performances for U (VI) were respectively investigated in a three electrode system and a CDI device. The results suggested that BC/α-MnO 2 exhibited an ideal capacitive behavior, and theoretical calculations indicated the synergistic effect of capacitive and diffusion control processes on ion storage. Among different BC/α-MnO 2 electrodes, BC/α-MnO 2 -2 had the highest specific capacitance (130.48 F/g) and also the highest adsorption capacity for U (VI) (280.20 mg/g at 0.9 V and pH 4.0). The isotherms and kinetics of U (VI) electrosorption were consistent with the Langmuir and PFO models, respectively. The electrosorption mechanism was mainly related to the contribution of pseudocapacitance and EDL adsorption. Overall, BC/α-MnO 2 -2 exhibited ideal electrochemical properties and excellent electrsorption performance for U (VI) (high electrosorption capacity, fast kinetic rate, and good cycling stability), facile fabrication and environmentally friendly, and thus it has promising application in CDI treatment of radioactive wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anodic electrodeposition was used to synthesize a composite electrode of nanostructured manganese dioxide/carbon fiber (CF) galvanostatically. Different characterization results of the nanostructured MnO2 were obtained by varying the H2SO4 concentration and the current density. Field emission scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and atomic force microscopy were utilized to characterize the prepared composite electrodes. The best conditions were: 0.3 mA cm−2 current density and 0.64 M H2SO4 concentration. The electrosorption performance of the MnO2/CF electrode prepared under the best conditions was tested by way of its chromium(VI) ion adsorption from a simulated solution. The applied voltage, pH, and ionic strength affect the efficiency of Cr(VI) ion removal. The highest chromium removal efficiency was 99.98 %, achieved at pH 2, a cell voltage of 4.6 V, and a NaCl concentration of 1 g L−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lymphatic system possesses the main viral replication sites in the body following viral infection. Unfortunately, current antiretroviral agents penetrate the lymph nodes insufficiently when administered orally and, therefore, cannot access the lymphatic system sufficiently to interrupt this viral replication. For this reason, novel drug delivery systems aimed at enhancing the lymphatic uptake of antiretroviral drugs are highly desirable. Dissolving polymeric microarray patches (MAPs) may help to target the lymph intradermally. MAPs are intradermal drug delivery systems used to deliver many types of compounds. The present work describes a novel work investigating the lymphatic uptake of two anti-HIV drugs: cabotegravir (CAB) and rilpivirine (RPV) when delivered intradermally using dissolving MAPs containing nanocrystals of both drugs. Maps were formulated using NCs obtained by solvent-free milling technique. The polymers used to prepare the NCs of both drugs were PVA 10 Kda and PVP 58 Kda. Both NCs were submitted to the lyophilization process and reconstituted with deionized water to form the first layer of drug casting. Backing layers were developed for short application times and effective skin deposition. In vivo biodistribution profiles of RPV and CAB after MAP skin application were investigated and compared with the commercial intramuscular injection using rats. After a single application of RPV MAPs, a higher concentration of RPV was delivered to the axillary lymph nodes (AL) (C max 2466 ng/g – T max 3 days) when compared with RPV IM injection (18 ng/g - T max 1 day), while CAB MAPs delivered slightly lower amounts of drug to the AL (5808 ng/g in 3 days) when compared with CAB IM injection (9225 ng/g in 10 days). However, CAB MAPs delivered 7726 ng/g (T max 7 days) to the external lumbar lymph nodes, which was statistically equivalent to IM delivery (C max 8282 ng/g - T max 7 days). This work provides strong evidence that MAPs were able to enhance the delivery of CAB and RPV to the lymphatic system compared to the IM delivery route. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent scenarios, plenty of research has been conducted on porous activated carbon derived from biowaste precursors. The well‐developed surface area and porous nature of biowaste‐derived activated carbon material make them good candidates for electrochemical devices to use as electrode material. In the present work, we have used waste peanut shells (W.P.) as a precursor material to derive large surface area activated carbon. Chemical activation is used to activate the activated carbon, for which ZnCl2 is used as an activating agent. The waste peanut shell‐derived activated carbon (WPAC) is studied via XRD, FESEM, and BET. Prepared carbon shows a large BET surface area of 1366 m2 g−1 and a well‐developed pore structure; the presence of pores is also confirmed by FESEM images. A solid‐state supercapacitor is also fabricated using waste peanut shell‐based activated carbon and ionic liquid‐based polymer electrolyte. The EDLC is further studied using electrochemical characterizations such as CV, EIS, and GCD. The EIS study found that the WPAC‐based EDLC cell shows a specific capacitance of 25 F/g at 10 mHz. A DSSC is also fabricated using the WPAC on the counter electrode, and it shows an efficiency of 0.96% with a fill factor of 27.79. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydration behavior of a GCL with polymerized bentonite (PB-GCL) was investigated by laboratory column tests in terms of hydration gravimetric water content (w), apparent degree of saturation ( S r ∗ )and air permeability (kair), and compared with those of a GCL with natural bentonite as the core (NB-GCL). In cases of deionized water (DI water) and 0.1 M NaCl solution as pore water of the subsoil, the PB-GCL had higher final w values than the NB-GCL, but the values of S r ∗ are similar. The values of kair of the PB-GCL are approximately four orders lower than that of the NB-GCL. In addition, kair of the PB-GCL at S r ∗ = 40% is comparable with that of the NB-GCL at S r ∗ = 70%. In the case of the subsoil with 0.6 M NaCl solution, the final value of kair of the PB-GCL is about half of the NB-GCL. These results indicate that cation concentration in a subsoil has a considerable influence on the hydration behavior of a GCL. It is suggested that the PB-GCL has a better hydration performance than the NB-GCL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disease, causing loss of motor function and, in some instances, cognitive decline and dementia in those affected. The quality of life can be improved, and disease progression delayed through early interventions. However, current methods of confirming a PD diagnosis are extremely invasive. This prevents their use as a screening tool for the early onset stages of PD. We propose a surface imprinted polymer (SIP) electroimpedance spectroscopy (EIS) biosensor for detecting α-Synuclein (αSyn) and its aggregates, a biomarker that appears in saliva and blood during the early stages of PD as the blood-brain barrier degrades. The surface imprinted polymer stamp is fabricated by low-temperature melt stamping polycaprolactone (PCL) on interdigitated EIS electrodes. The result is a low-cost, small-footprint biosensor that is highly suitable for non-invasive monitoring of the disease biomarker. The sensors were tested with αSyn dilutions in deionized water and in constant ionic concentration matrix solutions with decreasing concentrations of αSyn to remove the background effects of concentration. The device response confirmed the specificity of these devices to the target protein of monomeric αSyn. The sensor limit of detection was measured to be 5 pg/L, and its linear detection range was 5 pg/L–5 µg/L. This covers the physiological range of αSyn in saliva and makes this a highly promising method of quantifying αSyn monomers for PD patients in the future. The SIP surface was regenerated, and the sensor was reused to demonstrate its capability for repeat sensing as a potential continuous monitoring tool for the disease biomarker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigates micro-electro discharge machining (EDM) performance involving deionized and tap water. The chosen machining regime was semi-finishing, where open voltage (from 100 to 130 V) and current values (5–10 A) were applied using a 0.5 µs pulse-on time and a frequency of 150 kHz, i.e., a duty cycle of 25%. First, numerical analyses were performed via COMSOL Multiphysics and used to estimate the plasma channel distribution and melted material, varying the current, sparking gap, electrical conductivity, and permittivity of the two fluids. Then, experimentally, the micro-EDM of holes and channels in hardened thin steel plates were replicated three times for each considered fluid. The material removal rate (MRR), tool wear ratio (TWR), radius overcut, and surface roughness were plotted as a function of open voltage and electrical conductivity. The study proves that as voltage and current increase, the MRR and TWR decrease with electrical conductivity. Nonetheless, for higher electrical conductivity (tap water), the process did not proceed for lower open voltages and currents, and the radius overcut was reduced, contrary to what is commonly acknowledged. Finally, the crater morphology and size were evaluated using a confocal microscope and compared to simulated outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar derived from lignocellulosic biomass has been used as a low-cost adsorbent in wastewater treatment applications. Due to its rich porous structure and good electrical conductivity, biochar can be used as a cost-effective electrode material for capacitive deionization of water. In this work, willow biochar was prepared through carbonization of shrub willow chips, activated with potassium hydroxide, and loaded with manganese dioxide (WBC-K-MnO2 nanocomposite). The prepared materials were used to electrochemically adsorb Pb2+ from aqueous solutions. Under the applied potential of 1.0 V, the WBC-K-MnO2 electrode exhibited a high Pb2+ specific electrosorption capacity (23.3 mg/g) as compared to raw willow biochar (4.0 mg/g) and activated willow biochar (9.2 mg/g). KOH activation followed by MnO2 loading on the surface of raw biochar enhanced its BET surface area (178.7 m2/g) and mesoporous volume ratio (42.1%). Moreover, the WBC-K-MnO2 nanocomposite exhibited the highest specific capacitance value of 234.3 F/g at a scan rate of 5 mV/s. The electrosorption isotherms and kinetic data were well explained by the Freundlich and pseudo-second order models, respectively. The WBC-K-MnO2 electrode demonstrated excellent reusability with a Pb2+ electrosorption efficiency of 76.3% after 15 cycles. Thus, the WBC-K-MnO2 nanocomposite can serve as a promising candidate for capacitive deionization of heavy metal contaminated water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to prepare fluorescent cellulose acetate fiber with higher fluorescence intensity and stability. N, N-dimethylformamide was used as the solvent, cellulose acetate was used as the raw material, europium-and dysprosium-doped strontium alkaline-earth aluminate were used as the fluorescent molecules, and deionized water were used as the solidification bath, fluorescent cellulose acetate fibers were prepared by wet spinning. The surface morphology, mechanical property, fluorescent particle distribution, and fluorescence property of the fiber prepared at different spinning solution concentrations, fluorescent particle contents and solidification bath temperatures were characterized by using trans reflectance metallurgical microscope, electronic single-fiber compactor, a scanning electron microscope and fluorescence spectrometer. The results showed that the fluorescent fibers produced by wet spinning had breaking strength of 4.2 cN/dtex, breaking elongation of 380% and fluorescence intensity of 4.8x105 when the concentration of spinning solution was 20%, the fluorescent particle mass fraction was 3%, and the solidification bath temperature was 25 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the evolution of lithium-ion batteries (LIB) has been propelled by the growing demand for energy storage systems that are lightweight, have high energy density, and are long-lasting. This review article examines the use of self-terminated oligomers with hyperbranched architecture (STOBA) as a key electrode additive for the superior performance of LIBs. STOBA has been found to have excellent electrochemical properties, including high specific capacity, low impedance, and good cycling stability when used as an additive in electrode materials. The article discusses the process of synthesis and characterization of STOBA materials, including their potential applications in LIBs as electrode material additives. The article also discusses current research on the optimization of STOBA materials for LIBs, including the use of different solvents, monomers, and initiators. Overall, the review concludes that STOBA materials possess huge potential as a next-generation additive for LIB safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the cardinal part of capacitive deionization apparatus, the performance of electrode directly determines the capacitive deionization's adsorption rate, adsorption capacity and selectivity. However, the adsorptivity and reusability of electrode material for special adsorbate need to be developed urgently for the application of capacitive deionization in wastewater purification. In this research, we successfully enhanced the Cu(II) adsorptivity of activated carbon fiber felt (ACFF) to 23 mg/g (4.47 times of ACFF0) by the sonication‐assisted chemical reactivation process with the solution of 20 wt % NaOH used as activator (ACFF‐N20). As ACFF‐N20 used as cathode, the Cu(II) electro‐adsorptivity of ACFF‐N20 under a current of 0.15 A is 84 mg/g for 130 mg/L Cu(II) standard working fluid. For the Cu(II) wastewater with a concentration of 50 mg/L, it can be purified to 0.14 mg/L by one step of capacitive deionization, which below the drinking standard of World Health Organization. By the technology of low‐temperature pickling regeneration, the regeneration rates of ACFF‐N20 are 102 %–106 % for five recycling times of Cu(II) electrosorption process. Based on fitting analysis of adsorption processes using different kinetic models, it was found that Langmuir model is more convergent than Freundlich model to the adsorption isotherms. Additionally, Bangham adsorption kinetic model and pseudo‐first order adsorption kinetic model have the best fitting correlation for the Cu(II) static adsorption and electrosorption of ACFFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, cobalt oxide decorated on carbon cloth (Co 3 O 4 /CC) is fabricated by the electrodeposition method by optimizing two factors: (i) the electrodeposition time; (ii) the volume ratio between ethylene glycol (EG) and deionized water (DI) in deposition solution. Results indicate that 5 min of electrodeposition is the most effective interval to acquire the sample with the most homogeneous in size and distribution. Furthermore, the addition of EG has a significant effect on the surface morphology of Co 3 O 4 /CC, causing the formation of the mesoporous Co 3 O 4 layers on the substrate's surface. Due to the porous and rough structure of Co 3 O 4 /CC, its specific surface area reaches 111.3 m2g-1 as opposed to pure CC (37.2 m2g-1). Additionally, the coverage of Co 3 O 4 on the cloth helps to enhance the electrochemical surface area up to 10 times and improve strongly the conductivity of the whole system. In the electrochemical water splitting (EWS) application, the Co 3 O 4 /CC sample prepared in precisely 5 min with the existence of EG at 40 %vol. possesses the best electrocatalytic performance with the lowest overpotentials for both hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), with 291 mV and 357 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 for each. This material also exhibits good stability to maintain a stable voltage at 10 mA cm−2 for 30 h. • Co 3 O 4 nanomaterials are synthesized on flexible carbon cloth (CC). • Co 3 O 4 /CC has good ability for both HER and OER. • Vertical CC is the best choice of soft substrate for enhancing conductivity and electron transfer process in HER/OER. • Ratio of EG: DI = 2: 3 exhibits the extraordinary surface for thin well–crystallized mesoporous layers of Co 3 O 4 /CC. • The lowest overpotentials and Tafel slopes for HER (291 mV and 202 mV.dec−1) and OER (357 mV and 283 mV.dec−1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research for alternative sources for producing renewable energy is rising exponentially, and consequently, microbial fuel cells (MFCs) can be seen as a promising approach for sustainable energy production and wastewater purification. In recent years, MFC is widely utilized for wastewater treatment in which the removal efficiency of heavy metal ranges from 75–95%. They are considered as green and sustainable technology that contributes to environmental safety by reducing the demand for fossil fuels, diminishes carbon emissions, and reverses the trend of global warming. Moreover, significant reduction potential can be seen for other parameters such as total carbon oxygen demand (TCOD), soluble carbon oxygen demand (SCOD), total suspended solids (TSS), and total nitrogen (TN). Furthermore, certain problems like economic aspects, model and design of MFCs, type of electrode material, electrode cost, and concept of electro-microbiology limit the commercialization of MFC technology. As a result, MFC has never been accepted as an appreciable competitor in the area of treating wastewater or renewable energy. Therefore, more efforts are still required to develop a useful model for generating safe, clean, and CO2 emission-free renewable energy along with wastewater treatment. The purpose of this review is to provide a deep understanding of the working mechanism and design of MFC technology responsible for the removal of different pollutants from wastewater and generate power density. Existing studies related to the implementation of MFC technology in the wastewater treatment process along with the factors affecting its functioning and power outcomes have also been highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Conductive hydrogels (CHs) are promising candidates for wearable devices. However, it remains challenging for traditional CHs to realize a combination of self‐adhesive and skin‐comparable performances. Herein, a stretch‐induced orientation strategy was demonstrated to achieve this goal. The hydrogel was fabricated from poly(vinyl alcohol), aluminum sulfate, tannin acid, and deionized water, which exhibited skin‐comparable elastic modulus (26.3 kPa), stretchability (180%), and water content (87.6%). Meanwhile, it had anisotropic properties. For instance, the mechanical and anisotropy ratios between parallel and orthogonal directions were 1.77 and 2.02, respectively. Furthermore, the presence of free ions within regular conductive channels imparted stable conductivity (gauge factor of 2.2 within 200% strains), fast response (0.2 s), and low detect limit (a strain of 0.2%). Additionally, the existence of catechol groups from tannin acid enabled self‐adhesion ability (adhesion strength of 73.9 kPa). All of these merits show promising potential in wearable devices and electronic skins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preparation of lactic acid (LaA) from waste biomass Pueraria cellulose by chemically catalyzed conversion is important for the realization of biomass waste resource utilization. In this study, lignin was used as raw material to prepare lignin-based carbonaceous support (LCSA) by one-step sulfonation and carbonization with chlorosulfonic acid. LCSA–AlxZny, a lignin-based carbon solid acid catalyst, was obtained by modifying the carbonaceous support with inexpensive and readily available Al and Zn chlorides. Through the use of SEM, BET, XRD, FT-IR and NH3–TPD, the catalyst's physical as well as chemical characteristics were identified. In an aqueous solution, these catalysts were evaluated for the generation of LaA from Pueraria cellulose. LCSA–Al was identified as the optimal catalyst, subsequently, experimental conditions such as reaction time, reaction temperature, and catalyst dosage were studied and optimized. The results showed that at 160 °C, with 50 mg Pueraria cellulose, 50 mg catalyst, and 10 mL deionized water, the conversion rate of Pueraria cellulose was 53.7% and the highest LaA yield was 24.7% after 120 min of reaction. This research provides a new pathway for the preparation of chemicals from cellulose via multi-step tandem catalytic reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyamines and ethylene are key regulators of the growth and development, quality formation, and stress response of cereal crops such as rice. However, it remains unclear whether the application of these regulators could improve the nutritional quality via increasing amino acids in rice grains. This study examined the role of exogenous polyamines and ethylene in regulating amino acid levels in the milled rice of earlier-flowered superior grain (SG) and later-flowered inferior grain (IG). Two rice varieties were field grown, and either 1 mmol L−1 spermidine (Spd) or 50 μmol L−1 amino-ethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) was applied to panicles at the early grain-filling stage. The control check (CK) was applied with deionized water. The results showed that the Spd or AVG applications significantly increased polyamine (spermine (Spm) and Spd) contents and decreased ethylene levels in both SG and IG and significantly increased amino acid levels in the milled rice of SG and IG relative to the CK. Collectively, the application of Spd or AVG can increase amino acid-based nutritional quality and grain yield via increasing polyamine (Spm and Spd) contents and reducing ethylene levels in both SG and IG of rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Casein/starch composites are shown to act as potential candidates for binders of symmetric carbonaceous electrodes used in the capacitive deionization (CDI) of water. Casein and potato-starch biopolymers are cheap and environmentally friendly and may be implemented throughout a green process to obtain a carbonaceous CDI electrode using sole water as a solvent. It was found that among the different starch/casein mass ratios considered in this study (0 : 1, 1 : 1, 2 : 1, 1 : 2, 1 : 4 and 1 : 0), the ratio 1 : 2 resulted in an optimal CDI performance corresponding to 12.7 mg g−1, 50% and 1.01 W h g−1 for salt adsorption capacity, charge efficiency, and specific energy consumption, respectively. The outstanding performance observed is attributed to the formation of a binder with a hydrophilic mesoporous network carrying inherent positive and negative charges throughout the internal surface area, inducing both anion and cation-exchange membrane characteristics in the binder layer. For the optimal binder composition, the latter network possesses a dominant pore diameter of 4.65 nm, while the dominant pore diameter is less than 3.00 nm for the other samples, eventually enhancing ion species mass transfer through the polymer matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ru(II) complexes with polypyridyl ligands (2,2′-bipyridine = bpy, 1,10-phenanthroline = phen) play a central role in the development of photocatalytic organic reactions. In this work, we synthesized four mixed-ligand [Ru(phen)(bpy)2]2+-type complexes (Ru-Pcat-A) bearing two phosphonate substituents P(O)(OH)(OR) (R = H, Et) attached to the phen core at positions 3,8 (Ru-3,8PH and Ru-3,8PHEt) and 4,7 (Ru-4,7PH and Ru-4,7PHEt) of the heterocycle in high yields (87–99%) and characterized them using spectral methods. Single crystal X-ray diffraction was employed to determine the coordination mode of the ditopic phen ligand in Ru-4,7PH. This complex exists as the neutral species and forms a 1D hydrogen-bonded framework in the crystals. The light absorption characteristics were found to be similar for all complexes prepared in this work. However, the emission maxima in aqueous solutions were significantly affected by the substitution of the heterocycle, ranging from 629 nm for Ru-4,7PH to 661 nm for Ru-3,8PHEt. The emission quantum yields in Ar-saturated deionized water showed a strong dependence on the substitution pattern of the phen ligand, with maximal values reaching approximately 0.11 for Ru-4,7PHEt and Ru-4,7PH, which is twice as high as that of the classical [Ru(bpy)3]2+ complex (Ru-bpy). The photocatalytic performance of Ru-Pcat-A was investigated using visible light photoredox catalytic transformations of tertiary amines. With Ru-Pcat-A, we achieved the phosphonylation of N-aryl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines (THIQs) and cyanation of THIQs and N,N-dimethylaniline in methanol, while a mixture of nitromethane/methanol (1 : 1 v/v) proved to be the optimal solvent for conducting the nitromethylation of THIQs. In the majority of the studied reactions, Ru-4,7PHEt exhibited greater efficiency compared to Ru-bpy, and it could be easily separated from the products using water extraction and reused in the next catalytic cycle. We successfully performed seven consecutive nitromethylation and phosphonylation of N-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline using the recycled homogeneous photoredox catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]