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Plastic is indispensable in today's everyday life, but it is one of the biggest problems humanity is facing in the twenty-first century. Global plastic production reached 4.9 billion tons in 2015 and by 2025, 11 billion tons of plastics are expected to end up in the environment. Microplastic particles (MPs) were originally defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, originating from primary and secondary sources. Primary sources of MPs are polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) particles in cosmetic and medical products. Secondary sources of MPs come from physical, chemical, and biological processes that lead to the fragmentation of plastic waste. More studies have focused on the effects and risks of MPs, and less attention has been paid to removal methods. Plastic takes 100 years to completely decompose. Scientific studies have shown that some types of worms can absorb and decompose MPs in just a few weeks. Researchers believe that this discovery can be an important tool in the human war against plastics; Substances whose presence in nature has serious risks for humans and compensatory damages Inevitability affects the environment. This review summarizes current chemical removal technologies of MPs.Then most of the current literature on the potential of earthworms to reduce MPs was collected. The advantages and disadvantages of various methods are summarized, and they are also compared, which can help more researchers choose the appropriate research method. The results of this research can open new doors to the global fight against plastic pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prepared bio- ligand derived from chalcone -azo (E)-1-(4-(E)-4- methyl-derivative of di-nitrogen atoms-cycle. In view of the effect of the compensating groups on the effectiveness and uses of the five-cyclic heterogeneous compounds, in this research new substitutes for the aromatic azo and chalcon compounds were prepared from different raw materials and compounds that could have different biological effects and effects on the cell of the organism were prepared and their physical and spectral properties were studied. The importance of studying the spectral characterization of a number of prepared compounds containing different groups of compensators, which may have an impact in the inorganic chemistry field or the industrial field., In addition to anti-cancer study against cancer cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐temperature electrolysis (HTE) is a key to link the electricity sector with other industries and to evolve the electricity transition into a full energy transition. After years of development, HTE is now on the threshold to reach market readiness. The present work shows the latest achievements of Sunfire's development based on the results of the project GrInHy2.0 demonstrating hydrogen production (solid oxide electrolysis cell [SOEC]) in an industrial environment and the project SynLink demonstrating co‐electrolysis (Co‐SOEC) for renewable synthesis gas production. The GrInHy2.0 system is a 720 kWAC electrolyzer operating in the iron‐and‐steel works Salzgitter (Germany). It is now in operation for approx. 14,500 h and achieved a mean degradation rate below 23 mOhm cm2 kh−1 and an electrical efficiency of up to 84%LHV. It also proved that HTE now reached industrial‐relevant availability of over 90%. While the HTE system in Salzgitter consists of eight modules, a single module was tested in co‐electrolysis mode within the project SynLink. It demonstrated synthesis gas generation via Co‐SOEC with a flexible H2/CO ratio between 1 and 4. The work provides insight into how HTE will play a major role in the near future to efficiently produce renewable feedstock for an economy with a drastically reduced carbon footprint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decomposition of hydrates can cause serious sand production and collapse problems, hindering the long-term effective production of hydrates. This study proposes a theory for framework reconstruction and reinforcement for deep-water hydrate layers based on grouting fracturing technology and chemical sand control principles. The setting liquid was injected via fracturing and grouting to form several cracks with a certain depth and width. The setting liquid remains in the fracture and solidifies to form a "reconstruction body." Simultaneously, the setting liquid permeates and diffuses from the cracks to the surrounding hydrate layer, bonding with the sediment and forming a gradient solidification zone to achieve solidification and reinforcement of the hydrate layer. To achieve effective production of hydrates, the reconstruction body must consider internal reinforcement, sand control, and good permeability. The parameters of the reconstruction body were designed based on the geological characteristics of hydrate formation in a certain area. In order to effectively support the hydrate layer, the reconstruction body was designed with a 24 h compressive strength of at least 3.20 MPa and a long-term compressive strength of at least 17.70 MPa. To ensure that the permeability characteristics of the reconstructed body meet production needs, the permeability of the reconstructed body must be greater than that of the hydrate layer. The maximum concentrated pore size of the skeleton reconstruction body is designed to be 9 μm based on the particle characteristics of shale sand in hydrate reservoirs. This study provides a new approach to solving sand production and collapse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Dissolved oxygen (DO) and aeration on/off time are the determining parameters for simultaneous carbon and nitrogen removal in biological treatment processes. The most effective way to decide the optimum operational conditions, e.g. aeration on/off time or DO concentration during the aeration period, is to determine specific nitrification/denitrification rates. For this purpose, the effects of DO (6 and 3 mg L−1) and aeration on/off time (from 2/2 to 90/360 min) on the specific ammonium oxidation and denitritation/denitrification rates in a membrane bioreactor (MBR) treating real textile wastewater were deeply investigated. RESULTS: The highest specific ammonium oxidation, denitritation and denitrification rates were obtained as 5.4, 3.8, and 5.3 mg N g−1 volatile suspended solids h−1, respectively, at an aeration on/off time of 90/360 min, which corresponded to the increase in specific ammonium oxidation rates by 1.8 and 2.1 times compared to continuous aeration conditions where DO was 6 and 3 mg L−1, respectively. CONCLUSION: Higher specific ammonium oxidation and denitrification rates can be achieved with the intermittent aeration compared to continuous aeration. Hence existing treatment plants can be retrofitted for higher performance with reduced energy requirements. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of reliable, cost-effective molecular detection at the attomolar level on analyte-immobilizing surfaces fabricated without lithographic patterning remains a major challenge in chemical sensing technology. This issue is addressed using custom-designed adhesive superhydrophobic silicon nanograss surfaces produced via plasma etching. When applied to ultrasensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering, the nanograss surface enables effective immobilization of water droplets containing Ag nanoparticles and R6G target molecules. Upon water evaporation, the R6G analytes are confined at the edge of the self-organized coffee-ring-like stains with the plasmonic hot spots of the Ag nanoparticles, thus providing a reliable Raman scattering platform for detecting trace analytes. Even at an ultralow concentration of 10−16 m, the corresponding relative standard deviation is 17.57%. A novel plasma-enabled approach for precise interface nanostructuring, potentially leading to unprecedented capabilities in molecular-level sensing technologies, is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perfumery has evolved from a handcraft activity, marking supreme aristocratic luxury in the Renaissance, to a global industry powering scent experiences for present‐day consumers through the use of a myriad of consumer packaged goods. This contribution reviews major breakthroughs in the field, including landmark fragrance ingredients, technological advances in scent delivery, and key innovations in consumer products which created the demand for scientific and technological advancements in the scent domain. These innovations are presented chronologically, relying solely on information drawn from public written sources, spanning a time period of 150 years (1870–2020). We hope with this contribution to generate interest in the readership for this fascinating field, while celebrating 150 years of innovation for scented mass‐market products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Municipal biowastes are conventionally treated by assessed anaerobic and aerobic fermentation to produce biogas, anaerobic digestate, and compost. Low-temperature hydrolysis and the oxidation of the digestate and compost, which are still at the experimental stage, are known to yield water-soluble value-added chemical specialities for use in different sectors of the chemical industry and in agriculture. The present paper reports the application of the two chemical reactions to the biowastes before fermentation. The products obtained in this manner are compared with those obtained from the chemical reactions applied to the fermented biowastes. Based on the experimental results, the paper discusses the expected environmental and economic benefits of the above chemical processes and products in comparison with the products obtained by other known biotechnologies for the valorisation of biomass as a feedstock for the biobased chemical industry. The results point out that a sustainable biowaste-based refinery that produces biofuel and biobased chemicals may be developed by integrating chemical and fermentation technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical hydrogenation reactions gained significant attention as a sustainable and efficient alternative to conventional thermocatalytic hydrogenations. This tutorial review provides a comprehensive overview of the basic principles, the practical application, and recent advances of electrochemical hydrogenation reactions, with a particular emphasis on the translation of these reactions from lab-scale to industrial applications. Giving an overview on the vast amount of conceivable organic substrates and tested catalysts, we highlight the challenges associated with upscaling electrochemical hydrogenations, such as mass transfer limitations and reactor design. Strategies and techniques for addressing these challenges are discussed, including the development of novel catalysts and the implementation of scalable and innovative cell concepts. We furthermore present an outlook on current challenges, future prospects, and research directions for achieving widespread industrial implementation of electrochemical hydrogenation reactions. This work aims to provide beginners as well as experienced electrochemists with a starting point into the potential future transformation of electrochemical hydrogenations from a laboratory curiosity to a viable technology for sustainable chemical synthesis on an industrial scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light olefins are abundantly manufactured in the petroleum industry and thus represent ideal starting materials for modern chemical synthesis. Selective and divergent transformations of feedstock light olefins to value‐added chemicals are highly sought‐after but remain challenging. Herein we report an exceptionally regioselective carbonickelation of light alkenes followed by in situ trapping with three types of nucleophiles, namely a reductant, base, or Grignard reagent. This protocol enables efficient 1,2‐hydrofunctionalization, dicarbofunctionalization, and branched‐selective Heck‐type cross‐coupling of light alkenes with aryl and alkenyl reagents to streamline access to diverse alkyl arenes and complex alkenes. Harnessing bulky N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands with acenaphthyl backbones for nickel catalysts is crucial to attain high reactivity and selectivity. This strategy provides a rare, modular, and divergent platform for upgrading feedstock alkenes and is expected to find broad applications in medicinal chemistry and industrial processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selective hydrodeoxygenation transformations constitute the most pivotal industrial processes in chemistry and catalysis. Herein, we have rationally designed a heterogeneous Co/CoOx catalytic system with metallic Co and oxygen vacancies in CoOx for selective hydrodeoxygenation of structurally diverse ketones and nitro compounds under mild conditions (80–100 °C and 10 bar H2), which shows a superior performance compared to state-of-the-art noble-metal catalysts. Experimental results and DFT calculation revealed that oxygen vacancies not only promote the adsorption and activation of substrates and the intermediates via electronic interactions, but also enable the hydrodeoxygenation reactions in a low-energy pathway via the direct hydrogenolysis process, instead of the dehydration–hydrogenation process. Given its generality and efficiency, it is believed that this method can serve as a practical, economically viable approach for selective hydrodeoxygenation reactions, which should impact both the chemical industry and scientific research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is notable that Brønsted acidic ionic liquids (BAILs) have several substantial benefits to the organic and acid-catalysis reaction, which avoid the technical issues associated with mineral acids, such as hydrochloric, sulfuric, and nitric acids. Herein, an efficient and novel magnetic BAILs (Fe3O4@CTC@[BisPy][HC2O2]) comprised of hydrogen oxalate anion paired with triazine bis pyridinium cations was successfully constructed. This catalyst was characterized using diverse methods for instance: FTIR, XRD, MAP, SEM, VSM, TGA, DTG, TEM, and EDS. The catalytic performance of Fe3O4@CTC@[BisPy][HC2O2] was investigated in the synthesis of pyranopyrazole and 4H-benzo[b]pyran derivatives. The results showed that the synthesized Fe3O4@CTC@[BisPy][HC2O2] was efficient even at low concentrations and showed excellent ability as a magnetic catalyst. Remarkably, recycling tests showed that Fe3O4@CTC@[BisPy][HC2O2] nanoparticles remained highly active for the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds even after successive runs, which will contribute to speeding up the development of catalysts that reduce environmental pollution and advance chemical technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Coal chemical technology" is a core professional course that emphasizes both theory and practice. In the process of teaching practice, the authors keep the "four combinations and one evaluations" throughout the teaching by starting with the reorganization of the course teaching content, the optimization of the teaching implementation process, the establishment of a comprehensive evaluation system, so as to improve the teaching quality and focus on cultivating applied undergraduate talents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of modeling the filtration of an indicator liquid (aqueous solution of an indicator) in a hydraulically fractured low-permeability formation with account for diffusion and convective mass transfer through the side walls of the fracture are presented. Simulation of filtration–diffusion processes is of great importance for the implementation of tracer studies in oil production, as well as for some processes of hydrogeology and ecology (control of the injection of industrial waste into formations), chemical and membrane technologies. The problem is solved using the Laplace integral transform method. An analysis of the obtained solutions was carried out, which makes it possible to determine the main qualitative characteristic features of the diffusion and filtration processes under consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The New Chemistry, as practised by its early proponents in late eighteenth-century France, is often associated with quantification and a move away from sensorial perceptions. In this paper, I argue that the sensory, far from being discarded by the practitioners of the New Chemistry, thrived in one of their major productions: the Annales de Chimie. Viewing the New Chemistry through its relation to the sensory highlights the diversity of chemical applications and offers a new way of examining the connection of chemistry to state and industrial actors. Chemists utilised a precise vocabulary which allowed them to productively interact on the subject of the senses. Sensorial impressions were used for distinct purposes, including the identification of substances, and to track the progress of ongoing chemical transformations. Most important, the senses were frequently tied to the purpose of chemical work. As chemists put their expertise in support of the state, industry, medicine, and commerce, they aimed to improve the sensory qualities of their objects of study, be they dairy products or fabric dyes. Remaining attuned to the senses, therefore, was an essential prerequisite of the New Chemistry's claim to utility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer flooding technology has become the most widely utilized chemical flooding technology in the world. The polymer structure gradually grows from linear to branched and hyperbranched as reservoir variability increases and polymer flooding technology advances. In this study, the nano-SiO2 was first controllably modified, and subsequently, a series of nano-SiO2 grafted modified polymers (MNSP) were synthesized using homogeneous aqueous solution polymerization with modified nano-SiO2 and another functional monomer. The rheological properties of MNSP were analyzed by using the MCR 301 rheometer; then, the mechanism of the influence of the concentration and the modification degree of nano-SiO2 on the rheological properties of MNSP was explored from the microscopic standpoint. The results demonstrate that at a salinity of 3 × 104 mg/L and temperature of 85 °C, the viscosity of the MNSP polymer is superior to that of the standard amphiphilic polymer APC16 whose synthesized monomers do not include nano-SiO2. When the concentration and the modification degree of nano-SiO2 were increased, the solution viscosity first increased and then decreased, and this is mostly due to the addition of inorganic nanoparticles, which stimulates the creation of a three-dimensional network structure and improves the solution characteristics of MNSP. However, too much modified SiO2 addition will interfere with polymerization between various monomers. The modification degree of the nano-SiO2 mostly influences the density of the polymer-formed network structure, the active sites on the modified nano-SiO2 surface rise as the degree of modification increases, as does spatial site resistance, resulting in inferior polymer characteristics. The findings of the experiments reveal fresh ideas for inorganic particles compounding organic polymers and expand the use area of polymers in the oilfield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dual-display encoded libraries have resulted in the identification of pairs of synergistic binders, which have been further developed into high-affinity ligands. Novel selection modalities based on simultaneous display of binding molecules with molecules of selected functionality have recently been developed, creating opportunities for screening target proteins both in solution and in a cellular context. The versatility of encoding designs makes it possible to modulate the distance between ligands. Dual-display libraries can be used to explore ligand geometry and spacing for improving binding synergy. Affinity maturation by selections is an established use of dual-display encoded libraries and is an accessible method for improving the binding affinity of known ligands. DNA-encoded chemical library technology (DECL or DEL) has become an important pillar for small-molecule drug discovery. The technology rapidly identifies small-molecule hits for relevant target proteins at low cost and with a high success rate, including ligands for targeted protein degradation (TPD). More recently, the setup of DNA- or peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-encoded chemical libraries based on the simultaneous display of ligand pairs, termed dual-display, allows for more sophisticated applications which will be reviewed herein. Both stable and dynamic dual-display DEL technologies enable innovative affinity-based selection modalities, even on and in cells. Novel methods for a seamless conversion between single- and double-stranded library formats allow for even more versatility. We present the first candidates emerging from dual-display technologies and discuss the future potential of dual-display for drug discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to synthesize and characterize a bioresin named cardanol from cashew nutshell liquid and use it to create novel polymer composites. Sisal fibres were dried out in an oven to reduce humidity. These fibres were then cut into 15 mm lengths and chemically treated using an alkaline process. Compression moulding was used to make polymer composites of cardanol reinforced with 15% wt% 15 mm sisal fibre and bentonite nanoclay (with nanoclay levels of 0%, 1%, 3%, 5% and 7%). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to characterize the bioresin cardanol. The mechanical behaviour for cardanol nanocomposites was assessed using tensile, flexural and impact tests and a water absorption test. Furthermore, the thermal and morphology behaviour of cardanol nanoclay composites was examined. The results confirm that increasing the range of nanoclay by up to 5% enhanced mechanical characteristics. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accumulation of non‐biodegradable plastic waste in land and aquatic environments is expanding every day. According to data collected from various scientific reports, about 100–250 megatonnes of plastic waste arrives in the oceans annually. According to the Central Control Board of India (2019–2020), India produces about 3.5 million metric tonnes of plastic waste annually, while only 5–10% of the produced waste is recycled. The non‐recycled plastic waste dumped into the environment either goes to landfills or directly goes to the sea, which disrupts the marine life of the ocean. We are highly dependent on plastic at household and industrial scales. Removal of plastic waste and lowering the use of hazardous and non‐biodegradable plastics are the main challenges. Researchers and industrialists have come up with many ideas to lower the generation of non‐biodegradable plastic waste and found that reusability is easier than degradability, while the use of bioplastics is the ultimate solution to tackle the plastic waste problem. Hence, developing eco‐friendly alternative plastics without compromising physicochemical and mechanical properties is the need of the hour. An eco‐friendly alternative to conventional or petrochemical plastics is bioplastics, which are environmentally safe, and reduce our dependency on fossil reserves. Therefore, this review focuses on eco‐friendly bioplastics as an efficient alternative to non‐biodegradable plastics. Among renewable and sustainable feedstocks available, vegetable oils are the most suitable resource for bioplastic production because of their renewability and economical nature. Hence, this study concluded that polyurethane‐based polymers from vegetable oils are inherently more eco‐friendly than most other plastics. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemically responsive liquid crystal (LC) based polymers can change their mechanical or optical properties when exposed to chemical triggers. The anisotropy inherent in LC materials allows the programming and control of predictable changes in shape, stiffness, and/or color. By further incorporating ionizable moieties into the polymer formulation, these materials may exhibit a response to chemical stimuli such as pH, solvents, or specific analytes. This mini‐review highlights seminal papers and recent advances in the use of chemoresponsive LC polymers for sensing and actuation. We also discuss how these materials can respond to biochemical stimuli through the immobilization of enzymes into the network, and provide examples of different types of responses (e.g., shape reconfigurations and color transitions). Multiple ways of modulating the response, such as chemical gating and enzyme patterning, are also reviewed. Finally, we illuminate some of the challenges and opportunities in the use of these materials for state‐of‐the‐art applications, including shape‐controllable medical implants and real‐time field‐deployable sensors. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to obtain a new class of aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) polymers without common conjugated chromophores in their structures, hyperbranched polysiloxanes (HBPSi) containing halogen elements were obtained by introducing chlorine and bromine atoms into HBPSi (Cl‐HBPSi, Br‐HBPSi) through one‐step polycondensation reaction. The relationship between the chemical structure and fluorescence properties of the two types of HBPSi was studied. The results show that both Cl‐HBPSi and Br‐HBPSi prepared in this study can emit bright blue light under a UV lamp of 365 nm wavelength, and appropriate ratio of raw materials can endow the halogenated HBPSi with moderate degree of polymerization, and give it strong excitation intensity and emission intensity. Meanwhile, Br‐HBPSi exhibits a higher fluorescence intensity, which is due to the 'heavy atom effect' of halogen atoms. In addition, for different concentrations of tetrahydrofuran (THF) solutions with the same addition of HBPSi, the luminescence intensity increases gradually with the decrease of THF concentration. These results indicate that the emission intensity is affected by the molecular weight and concentration of polymers, and that the AIE properties of halogenated HBPSi are related to the 'impurity atomic clusters' formed by halogenated atoms and the hydroxyl groups formed by the heterogeneity of HBPSi. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermoplastic elastomers are a green and sustainable category of high performance polymers and show the great advantage of easy processability relative to conventional rubbers. In this work, a fluorine‐containing thermoplastic elastomer was prepared through dynamic crosslinking of poly(vinylidene fluoride)/poly(ethylene−methyl acrylate−glycidyl methacrylate) (PVDF/EGMA) blends with the aid of amino‐terminated crosslinker (KH602). The reaction kinetics of EGMA with KH602 were evaluated by the DSC Kissinger method with an activation energy (Ea) of 103.04 kJ mol−1. The increased 'S‐type' torque curve during dynamic crosslinking indicates the occurrence of chemical crosslinking while Fourier transform infrared spectra further demonstrate the dehydrofluorination of PVDF and the reaction between the amino group of KH602 and the epoxy group in EGMA. The prepared PVDF/EGMA (30/70) thermoplastic vulcanizate shows good reprocessability, mechanical robustness and elasticity. With increasing content of crosslinker, the stress at 300% increases from 2.3 MPa to 3.5 MPa while elongation at break decreases from 1150% to 380%. The PVDF/EGMA blend has a typical 'sea‐island' morphology with ca 7 μm dispersed phase while PVDF/EGMA thermoplastic vulcanizates have gradually elongated disperse phases due to improved interfacial miscibility as evidenced by quantitative nanomechanical mapping AFM modulus analysis. Therefore, dynamic vulcanization is an effective and economical approach to integrate thermoplasticity and rubber elasticity into plastic/rubber pairs with good phase miscibility. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper oxide−zeolite (CuO−ZT) reinforced polyaniline (PANI) matrices were prepared by in situ oxidative polymerization and the samples were characterized by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, XRD, TGA, UV–visible spectrophotometry, SEM and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller theory; the optical bandgap was also evaluated. Moreover, the synthesis and exploration of electrodes are increasingly being considered for the development of conducting‐polymer‐based supercapacitors, which has attracted significant interest in energy conversion and storage technology. Here, hybrid materials used in the preparation of the electrode materials on the capacitive properties were investigated. It is found that the PANI@CuO exhibits a high specific capacitance of 311.5 F g−1 at 1.0 A g−1 current density between 0.0 and 1.0 V compared to PANI@CuO−ZT (222.7 F g−1). Further, the PANI@CuO presented an excellent cycling stability at 1.0 A g−1 (1500 cycles; 81.9%) in a two‐electrode system. Accordingly, producing a PANI matrix on CuO presented a simple and viable way to ameliorate the capacitive performance of the supercapacitor. Conversely, the adsorptive removal of malachite green and methyl violet dyes by PANI@CuO−ZT adsorbent could be described by the pseudo‐first‐order and Temkin models. The maximum adsorptive capacity of malachite green and methyl violet dyes was 249.7 and 198.2 mg g−1, respectively. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ribavirin is an important antiviral with demonstrated activity against coronaviruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus and coronavirus disease 2019 virus. However, abuse of ribavirin will cause great environmental damage and threaten human health owing to its reproductive toxicity and teratogenicity. Therefore, an innovative detection method is demanded for simple and sensitive detection of ribavirin. This work reports an imprinted colloidal crystal array (ICCA) for ribavirin sensing. The building blocks of the ICCA are ribavirin imprinted spheres, which possess superior binding efficiency toward ribavirin. Benefiting from the highly ordered structure, the ICCA exhibits optical properties which change upon binding ribavirin. The changes in reflectance wavelength enable a fast and label‐free detection of ribavirin between 21 and 245 μmol L−1. Moreover, the sensor shows excellent selectivity for ribavirin detection in river water. Overall, all the results reported in this work demonstrate that the ICCA should be a promising detection tool for antivirals. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA) is regarded as an intelligent actuator that can reproduce the performance of human muscle. A core–shell structured dielectric filler is synthesized by modifying carbon nanotube (CNT) with polydopamine (PDA) noncovalently and 3‐mercaptopropyl ethyoxyldi (tridecyl‐pentaethoxy) silane (Si747) covalently, designated as PDA‐Si747@CNT. Then, the filler is incorporated into an epoxy natural rubber (ENR) matrix to yield dielectric elastomer composites, denoted as PDA‐Si747@CNT/ENR. The PDA and Si747 modifications improve not only the filler dispersion but also the dielectric strength of the ENR composites. More importantly, Si747 is involved in vulcanization and provides chemical bonds between CNT and ENR chains. The maximum actuated strain of the PDA‐Si747@CNT/ENR composites increases to 17.9% at 55.5 kV mm−1, which is 152% higher than that of CNT/ENR composites (7.1% at 30 kV mm−1). Furthermore, the ENR composite‐based DEA demonstrates excellent stability and reliability, which is advantageous for practical applications. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endpoint detection is an important technology in chemical mechanical polishing (CMP), which is used to capture the material interface and compensate the variations of consumables and incoming wafer thickness. This paper aimed to apply optical detection in metal CMP. An in situ optical measurement system was developed for a 12-inch CMP tool. Kinematic analysis of the scanning trajectory of the laser device indicated the relative position relationship between the device and the wafer. Average optical data within the wafer described the material removal of metal CMP. Furthermore, optical data and location described the non-uniformity of the entire wafer surface. In this research, the polishing condition and the residual of the wafer edge are characterized by optical trace. Pauta Criterion is used to discriminate the inflexion point of the material interface. The results reveal that the interface capture is accurate and effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Cellular foam materials are excellent engineering materials for many applications in chemical engineering, especially process intensification of chemical conversions and separation. Recently, a silicon carbide (SiC) ceramic foam monolithic tray was developed as an excellent mass transfer tool to improve distillation and it showed an improved operational flexibility. Previous studies have revealed the effects of open cell diameter and tray thickness on the hydraulic performance and mass transfer efficiency of SiC foam monolithic trays, but relevant correlations are still missing, limiting their practical uses. RESULTS: In this study, based on the published experimental data, empirical correlations were developed to predict the hydrodynamic performance and mass transfer efficiency of SiC ceramic foam monolithic trays. The new correlations include the influence of the tray structure parameters, such as open cell (or pore) diameter and tray thickness, and of the operation conditions (such as the liquid and vapor volumetric flow rates), and the data obtained agree well with the experimental results. CONCLUSION: The availability of such empirical correlations can be beneficial for the chemical engineering design of practical distillation processes based on SiC foam monolithic trays. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclizations, epoxides, regioselectivity, silyl enol ethers, epihalohydrins, dianions They possess three electrophilic centers and can undergo nucleophilic substitution reactions at the halide or ring-opening reactions at the epoxide moiety. In 2000, on the basis of the known cyclization of 1,3-dicarbonyl dianions with epoxides, [18] my student Tobias -Eckardt developed a related cyclization of epoxides with 1,3-bis(silyloxy)-1,3-butadienes. Keywords: cyclizations; dianions; epoxides; regioselectivity; silyl enol ethers; epihalohydrins EN cyclizations dianions epoxides regioselectivity silyl enol ethers epihalohydrins 1953 1960 8 10/09/23 20231024 NES 231024 Graph 1 Introduction Epichlorohydrin is a bulk chemical (800,000 t/a) that is used technically for the synthesis of epoxy resins and other polymers. [Extracted from the article]

This article provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the synthesis of sultines, which are important sulfur heterocycles with various applications in industrial and pharmacological chemistry. The article discusses different methods for the construction of sultine skeletons, including radical relay cyclization, anion relay cyclization, and radical anion relay cyclization. The authors highlight the challenges and limitations of current synthesis approaches and emphasize the need for new strategies to access sultines with high atom-economy and environmental friendliness. The article concludes by encouraging further research and development in this field. [Extracted from the article]

Enzymatic catalysis in mild conditions plays a pivotal role in green chemistry, and the mining and the directed evolution of novel enzymes are crucial for the utilization of efficient biocatalysts. Glycosyltransferases (GTs) hold great promise in the synthesis of many valuable glycosylated products; however the narrow substrate scope and low catalytic efficiency of GTs often limit their broader applications. Phylogenetic mining and directed evolution of GTs are well-established methodologies to generate powerful enzymes. The combination of these established methodologies, termed PhyloDirect, integrates the identification of an excellent performing enzyme with its engineering by directed evolution to rapidly match the demands in biocatalysis. Herein, we report and validate a combined phylogeny-based directed evolution (PhyloDirect) approach to improve the performance of novel GT BarGT-3. A single GT high-throughput screening system based on UDP-glucose recycling was established. Through one-round of directed evolution, a promising variant I63P/H108G was obtained with significantly improved catalytic efficiency (28-fold for acetaminophen) and increased conversions toward a broad range of synthetically valuable substrates (phenols, coumarins, and flavonoids, up to 5-fold). The success of this PhyloDirect approach offers new opportunities for the development and application of efficient biocatalysts in green chemistry and other industrial processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal complexes play an important role in agriculture, pharmacology, medicine, and industrial chemistry. Schiff base metal compounds are the fusion products of propene and aldehydes, require a metal surrounded by an ion or cluster of molecules to form. Metal complexes of Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) have also been created. Elemental analysis is used to analyses the structure and related compounds of the produced Schiff base ligand. According to deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA) binding tests, Schiff base metal(II) complexes attach to DNA in an intercalative form with weak covalent connections. The predicted DNA binding mode supports an increase in the complexes' binding activity in the presence of newly generated ligand. The cleavage activities of the DNA were recorded using gel-electrophoresis in the presence and absence of the complexes. The findings of the cleavage experiment show that all of the produced chelates can successfully cut DNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a compact and exhaustive interpretation of the foundations of energodynamics and shows that it significantly extends the horizons of natural science and opens new avenues to improve the scientific bases of chemical technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In current work, myrrh residue, a special type of natural biomass, was used as the feedstock for carbon dots (CDs) preparation for the first time. The effect of synthesis conditions including ethylenediamine addition, reaction temperature, and reaction time on the CDs fluorescence intensity was investigated to construct a proper synthesis system. Under the suitable condition, CDs with an average particle size of 6.35 ± 1.07 nm and excitation wavelength dependence were prepared, and the CDs yield and the CDs quantum yield were 3.78% and 10.63%, respectively. The CDs obtained were used for the detection of various metal ions, and Fe3+ could be detected most sensitively due to its significant quenching effect. For low Fe3+ concentrations (0.2–1 mM), it had a good linear relationship with F0/F (the relative fluorescence intensity) that a standard curve (y = 0.3553x + 0.926) was built with R2 of 0.997 and the limit of detection (LOD) of 24.62 μM. While for high Fe3+ concentrations (1–15 mM), it also had a good linear relationship with F0/F that a standard curve (y = 0.3232x + 0.7636) was built with R2 of 0.991 and LOD of 27.06 μM. The CDs was used for the real samples detection with the recoveries ranged from 92.71 to 103.84%. The fluorescence quenching mechanism of CDs by Fe3+ was learned and the static quenching was the possible mechanism. In addition, based on the antioxidant properties of myrrh itself, the myrrh residue derived CDs also had antioxidant activities and thus had potential for antioxidant application. On the whole, this work can provide an attractive technology for chemical conversion from low-cost myrrh residue to functional CDs which can be applied for Fe3+ detection and antioxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterogeneous catalysts have been widely used in recent research because of their several advantages such as selectivity, minimization of waste product, low cost, easy separation from reaction mixture, and toleration of a wide range of temperatures and pressures. On the other hand, due to the presence of aldehydes and ketones in many target molecules such as drugs and natural products, oxidation of alcohols to the corresponding carbonyl compounds is one of the most common fundamental transformations in both laboratory and industrial synthetic chemistry. Therefore, in this study an impressive catalytic method has been presented for the synthesis of ketones and aldehydes via oxidation of alcohols with hydrogen peroxide in aqueous acetonitrile in the presence of Cs3NaV4O12(H2O) heteropolyacid as catalyst. One of the advantages of this catalyst is the ability to be reused in at least four consecutive reactions without significant loss of activity, in addition to seriously shortening the oxidation time compared to some previously reported methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2‐(3‐Bromophenyl)‐2H‐1,2,3‐triazole is a low molecular‐weight building block that is not readily accessible in pure form by standard synthetic approaches due to competing formation of the triazol‐1‐yl regioisomer. After investigation of a wide range of synthetic routes, a process based on construction of the triazole heterocycle by cyclization of an activated dihydrazone was developed. A suitable isolation method had to be identified before embarking on a demonstration run on >100 g scale without the need for chromatography. The new process delivered the desired building block in 48 % overall yield over four telescoped steps with excellent purity (99 % a/a). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient three‐step synthesis of (1R)‐1‐(4‐bromophenyl)‐2,2,2‐trifluoroethan‐1‐amine hydrochloride (1) starting from inexpensive and readily available starting materials was developed. The sequence features a highly diastereoselective trifluoromethylation of a chiral sulfinimine using the Rupert–Prakash reagent TMSCF3 in combination with K3PO4 as an initiator. The diastereomeric purity of the resulting sulfinamide was further improved by direct precipitation of the desired diastereomer from the reaction mixture upon addition of water. The chiral auxiliary was then removed under acidic conditions, resulting in the isolation of chiral benzylamine 1 as its hydrochloride salt in 71 % overall yield and excellent purity (LC/MS: >99 % a/a; e.r.=99 : 1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is essential to overcome the challenges of structural complexity, synthesis, source heterogeneity, and lack of analytical tools, to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of carbohydrate-based adjuvants for the design of new putative vaccines. The physicochemical factors of carbohydrates, including molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, functional groups, and spatial conformation, determine their recognition by pattern recognition receptors, consequently affecting their immunomodulatory activities. Carbohydrate-based adjuvants may harbor advantages in the regulation of antigen transport, presentation, and processing, thus enriching the type of adaptive immunity that can be initiated. Advanced chemical and computational technologies can provide new tools for the development of carbohydrate-based adjuvants. By increasing our efforts to elucidate the immunomodulatory mechanisms of carbohydrates, especially those representing or mimicking microbial infections, we might provide new biological evidence and engineering perspectives for the design of next-generation vaccine adjuvants. Adjuvants are essential components of modern vaccines. One general mechanism underlying their immunostimulatory functions is the activation of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) of innate immune cells. Carbohydrates – as essential signaling molecules on microbial surfaces – are potent PRR agonists and candidate materials for adjuvant design. Here, we summarize the latest trends in developing carbohydrate-containing adjuvants, with fresh opinions on how the physicochemical characteristics of the glycans (e.g., molecular size, assembly status, monosaccharide components, and functional group patterns) affect their adjuvant activities in aiding antigen transport, regulating antigen processing, and enhancing adaptive immune responses. From a translational perspective, we also discuss potential technologies for solving long-lasting challenges in carbohydrate adjuvant design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective A clean and efficient biomass-to-ammonia system based on the chemical looping technology has been developed. Methods Considering comprehensively the self-heating operation, economy and carbon dioxide emission requirements of the system, the thermodynamic analysis, economic evaluation and parameter optimization of the system were carried out, and the coupling of chemical unit and power unit was emphatically explored. Results The system achieved multiple co-production of NH3 and electricity from biomass.When the biomass feed rate was 1 kg/s, the following optimization results were obtained:（1） In terms of thermodynamic performance, ammonia yield was 13.82 mol/s, energy efficiency was 0.45 and fuel energy saving rate was 12.16%;（2） In terms of economic performance, the ammonia production cost is 0.461 $/kg NH3;（3） In terms of environment, the carbon dioxide emission is 0.978 kg/kg NH3. Conclusions The feasibility of the design concept is confirmed, which provides a theoretical basis for the design and optimization of the subsequent industrial chemical looping ammonia production process.  [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enzymatic glycosylation is a versatile and sustainable biotechnological approach that plays a pivotal role in the production of bioactive compounds. This process involves the enzymatic transfer of sugar moieties onto various acceptor molecules, such as small molecules, peptides, or proteins, resulting in the synthesis of glycosides. These glycosides often exhibit enhanced bioactivity, improved solubility, and enhanced stability, making them valuable in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and the food industry. This review explores the diverse enzymatic glycosylation strategies employed in the synthesis of bioactive compounds. It highlights the enzymatic catalysts involved, including glycosyltransferases, glycosidases, glycophosphorylases, and glycosynthases. It considers the advantages and disadvantages of these biocatalysts in the stereoselective and regioselective synthesis of different types of glycosylated molecules, phenolic and aliphatic alcohols, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, glycoderivatives, glycopeptides, and glycoproteins with a clear focus on food and pharmaceutical chemistry. Furthermore, the review outlines various sources of sugar donors, activated glycosides, and sugar nucleotides, as well as the utilization of engineered enzymes and microorganisms for glycosylation reactions. The advantages of enzymatic glycosylation, including its high regioselectivity, stereoselectivity, and sustainability, are emphasized. Therefore, these approaches combining the use of different catalytic systems, the improvement of tools such as immobilization technology or chemical or genetic modification to improve the glycosylation process, could be useful tools in continuous biotechnological advancements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)–lithium perchlorate (LiClO4) serves as the classical model of polymer–salt systems with good polymer–salt molecular interaction at low salt concentration, whereas titanium dioxide (TiO2) without any surface treatment when added to PEO serves as a classical model of polymer–filler systems with weak polymer–filler molecular interaction. The correlation of molecular interactions of polymer–salt or polymer–filler with thermal properties of the systems, which govern the formation of morphologies of the systems, was attempted in a previous study. Hence, this work focuses on the correlation of morphologies and dielectric relaxation properties of PEO with the addition of LiClO4 or TiO2 investigated using polarized optical microscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy over the frequency range from 50 Hz to 1 MHz at 25 °C. The effects of the addition of LiClO4 or TiO2 on the dynamics and relaxations of the polymer chain of PEO are discussed empirically following the fluctuation–dissipation effects from the common electrochemical terms and equivalent circuit model. The PEO–LiClO4 system seems to be one of the promising polymer electrolytes for application in lithium rechargeable batteries where the charged entities may arise from the interaction of salt with the ether oxygen of PEO in the amorphous region. Meanwhile, the PEO–TiO2 system may be analogous to a polar polymer with longitudinal dipoles along the PEO backbone, ethylene oxide monomers (from PEO) of which may represent the molecular dipole or charged entity. The findings show that the transport of charged entities in the PEO systems after the addition of LiClO4 or TiO2 is dominated by short‐range motion at room temperature. © 2022 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2010, an IUPAC task group comprising Aubrey Jenkins, Dick Jones and Graeme Moad coined 'reversible‐deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP)' as a new term to describe what up to that time had been known variously as living or controlled radical polymerization. This paper describes the steps and missteps in the terminological development of RDRP. The paper that introduced the term is currently one of the more highly cited IUPAC terminology papers. © 2022 Commonwealth of Australia. Polymer International published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Click reactions on poly[(methyl acrylate)‐co‐(5‐azido‐1‐pentene)], synthesized by radical polymerization of methyl acrylate and 1‐bromo‐5‐pentene, and converted into the click‐ready azido form by nucleophilic substitution with sodium azide, were studied. Propargyl benzoate and propargyl acetate were clicked onto the polymeric substrate, with the latter known to be a poor click reactant. The impact of solvents (dimethyl formamide (DMF) and tetrahydrofuran (THF)), catalytic systems (CuSO4/Na ascorbate, [Cu(BPMEN)(ClO4)2]/Na ascorbate, bromotris(triphenylphosphine) copper(I) ([CuBr(PPh3)3])) and the addition of chelating nitrogenous bases (triethylamine (TEA), diisopropylethylamine, N,N,N′,N″,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine) on the degree of conversion was analyzed. Only reactions catalyzed with [CuBr(PPh3)3] led to high or complete conversions in both solvents. Reactions catalyzed with the pre‐catalyst complexes CuSO4⋅5H2O and [(CuBPMEN)(ClO4)2], which require the in situ reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(I) by sodium ascorbate, yielded incomplete conversions in both solvents. Adding chelating nitrogenous bases, with TEA being the most effective, yielded complete conversions for propargyl benzoate with all three catalytic systems in DMF. Adding TEA to reactions of propargyl acetate in DMF increased conversion by 17.9% for CuSO4⋅5H2O/Na ascorbate and 29.6% for [(CuBPMEN)(ClO4)2]/Na ascorbate. The addition of chelating bases was more effective in DMF than in THF, which was also the less suited solvent in reactions without chelating bases. The results show that click reactions with propargyl reagents that cannot increase the nucleophilicity of the vinylidene‐like β‐carbon through electron conjugation yield lower conversions. The effectiveness of catalytic systems that undergo in situ reductions can be enhanced by nitrogenous chelating bases that stabilize the Cu(I) stage. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the advent of supporting matrices for biological applications, many types of drugs have been administered via various forms of conventional drug delivery preparations, such as pills, solutions, creams, suppositories, injected gels and so on. Key parameters to all these systems for effective drug delivery are controlled release for sustained periods, targeted delivery, and enhancements of drug stability and efficacy, all of which can be manipulated by using polymers. Given the important impact of the structures of the polymers on these parameters, this mini‐review gives a simple introduction to the requirements of drug delivery systems and surveys the synthetic pathways to a key polymer in this field, namely poly(lactic acid). We also review the preparation of block copolymers that incorporate poly(lactic acid), to expand and further develop its properties for drug delivery systems. It is hoped that this short teacherly and introductory review will provide a basic stepping‐stone to more in‐depth reviews and papers and enable an easy access to this fast growing field. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the broader polymer field, the term 'crystallinity' is often used rather loosely. However, increasingly, it becomes critical to clearly distinguish between degree of crystallinity, which provides the fractional amount of crystalline phase in a polymer, and the crystalline quality, which describes the perfection of the crystalline moieties that may form in a polymer. The reason is that these different structural features dictate important properties of plastic materials, including the mechanical properties of commodity polymers and the behavior of macromolecular ferroelectrics; they also determine which photophysical processes occur in semiconducting polymers. Hence, rigor needs to be applied when establishing structure/processing/property interrelations; and it should become a general practice that specific functions are clearly attributed to the degree of crystallinity, the crystalline quality or a combination of the two. In this perspective, in memoriam of Professor Dick Jones, a long‐time member of IUPAC's Polymer Division, we discuss the challenges of identifying—and distinguishing between—these important structural characteristics when using commonly applied measuring techniques and/or theoretical approaches. This task is often elaborate, as small changes in the chemical nature of the polymer and/or processing conditions selected can have drastic effects on both the crystalline quality and the degree of crystallinity, an issue that combined with the general ambiguity of data obtained with methodologies used to characterize polymer structures, theoretically or experimentally based. © 2023 The Authors. Polymer International published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combining organic and inorganic materials is a fascinating strategy to produce hybrid materials that combine the advantages of both polymeric and inorganic materials. Among the various types of organic–inorganic hybrids, stimuli‐responsive magnetic polymer hybrids (RMPHs) are particularly promising materials for a wide variety of applications. While the magnetic properties are generally provided by the presence of magnetic nanoparticles, such as iron oxide nanoparticles, the polymeric compound brings the stimuli‐responsiveness, e.g. responsiveness to pH, temperature, redox reaction or irradiation. Furthermore, as the chemical structure and architecture of the polymeric materials are diverse and easily tunable, stimuli‐RMPHs have found applications in various domains, including catalysis, biotechnology, (bio)imaging and cancer therapy. Given the importance of the hybrids' shape and morphology for the targeted application, this review presents the possible synthetic strategies to rationally design stimuli‐RMPHs of various morphologies ranging from nanometric core–shell structures to nanogels, microgels and membranes. © 2023 The Authors. Polymer International published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the correlation of thermal, morphological and melt rheological properties of poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(methyl acrylate) (PEO/PMA) blends and PEO/poly(n‐butyl methacrylate) (PEO/PnBMA) blends. The miscibility and correlation of these properties were assessed through thermal analysis such as glass transition temperature (Tg) and apparent melting temperature (Tm), morphological study and melt rheological analysis of the blends. The results show that PEO/PMA blends are miscible as suggested by the number of Tg values that follow the Fox equation and the development of homogeneous mixtures in the molten state (T = 80 °C). On the other hand, PEO/PnBMA blends are immiscible as shown by the constancy of the Tg values of PEO throughout the blend compositions. The immiscibility was confirmed by optical microscopy which shows the matrix‐droplet and co‐continuous morphologies (i.e. heterogeneous mixtures) in the PEO/PnBMA blends at T = 80 °C. Melt rheological properties of the immiscible PEO/PnBMA blends are affected by the blend compositions and show significant deviation from Maxwell behaviour. Conversely, the rheological properties of the miscible PEO/PMA blends show close to Maxwell behaviour. Hence, the correlation of thermal, morphological and melt rheological studies is discussed for both miscible and immiscible PEO/polyacrylate blends. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies into the termination step of radical polymerization have mostly been carried out via chain‐length‐averaged properties. With the advent of pulsed laser polymerization (PLP) induced by single pulses (SPs), the analysis of termination rate coefficients kt has significantly improved. In conjunction with highly time‐resolved near‐infrared (NIR) detection of monomer consumption, SP‐PLP‐NIR allows for the measurement of chain‐length‐averaged termination rate coefficients as a function of temperature, pressure and degree of monomer conversion. With the addition of a suitable reversible addition−fragmentation chain−transfer agent, this technique even allows for the determination of chain‐length‐dependent termination rate coefficients kti,i, where i refers to the chain length of two terminating radicals of identical size. The decay of kti,i with chain length is more pronounced at small radical size below a crossover chain length ic. At larger chain lengths, kti,i decreases to a weaker extent. Thus, the so‐called composite model is perfectly suited for representing kti,i behaviour across the entire chain‐length range. A further clear improvement of kti,i determination is provided by the SP‐PLP‐EPR method, which directly measures the type and concentration of radicals via microsecond time‐resolved electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. This EPR‐assisted technique is particularly valuable for polymerizations where secondary radicals undergo backbiting and thus two types of radicals, secondary and tertiary, are simultaneously present, as is the case with acrylic monomers. © 2023 The Authors. Polymer International published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenothiazines (PTZs) and their derivatives are a group of compounds that have diverse applications in medicine, the dye industry and advanced materials. Due to the electron–hole donating characteristic, these compounds have also been applied in batteries and solar energy devices. PTZs can be converted into stable radical cations by chemical and photochemical reactions. The PTZ radical cations are reactive for polymerization. The photochemical formation of PTZ radical cations is favored in aggregates by the Type I mechanism in which one molecule in the triplet excited state abstracts one electron from a neighbor molecule. In the present study, 10H‐phenothiazine (PHT) was dissolved in chloroform and converted to the radical cation species (PHT•+) by UV light irradiation. The radical cation was characterized by UV–visible absorption and electron paramagnetic resonance techniques. Addition of α‐Fe2O3 nanorods and nanowires to PHT•+ chloroform solution promoted its color change from orange to blue‐green. Absorption measurement revealed a significant decrease of the UV and visible bands assigned to radical cation species and the appearance of a broad band at the spectral region of 650 nm. The blue‐green solution was dried, leading to the formation of crystals that were characterized using the X‐ray diffraction technique. Considering possible PHT oligo(poly)merization, the crystals were analyzed using matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry that corroborated the formation of oligomers containing three, four and five PHT residues and their sulfoxide derivatives. The PHT oligomers retained photosensitivity and exhibited an electron paramagnetic resonance signal indicating possible applications as hole donors in electronic devices. Oligomerization was also obtained by aggregation of PHT•+ in sodium dodecylsulfate micelles indicating that proximity and orientation of the free radical molecules is the mechanism for the oligomerization. Therefore, a new route for PHT oligomerization catalyzed by α‐Fe2O3 nanowires is proposed. The method is readily available, inexpensive and environmentally safe. © 2022 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adverse effects of climate change, predominantly propelled by greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels, underscore the urgency of seeking sustainable alternatives to fossil fuel use. Amid growing concerns about climate change caused by fossil fuels and petrochemicals, this review focuses on sustainable solutions through the conversion of glycerol into value-added biochemicals. Glycerol, as the main byproduct of biodiesel production, is a particularly attractive chemical due to its potential to be upgraded into value-added building blocks and biochemicals. This review provides a detailed analysis of different thermochemical (catalytic) and synthetic biology (fermentative) pathways for the conversion of glycerol into 1,2-propanediol and 1,3-propanediol, which have proven industrial and commercial applications globally. The synthesis of propanediol from glycerol hydrogenolysis and other catalytic processes using different active metals and acidic oxides is reviewed. The reaction mechanism involved in hydrogenolysis reactions concerning the surface reaction mechanism is systematically discussed. The metabolic activities of promising microorganisms in fermenting glycerol, as the carbon source used to produce propanediol, are illustrated and elaborated. Combining these insights, this review is a comprehensive resource that can foster a better understanding of glycerol transformation into propanediol and its implications for sustainable chemistry and industrial practices. This exploration of alternative methods emphasizes the potential of sustainable approaches to reshape production practices and contribute to climate change mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]