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This work aims to synthesize novel amphiphilic ionic liquids (AILs), AH‐PM, and AD‐PM as well as apply them to chemically demulsifying crude oil emulsions. Two AILs containing different long alkyl chains were synthesized and characterized using several techniques. The surface and interfacial indicated AILs' surface activity and ability to form micelles. For that, the demulsification efficacy (DE) of these AILs was explored using different factors affecting, e.g., AIL dose, settling time (ST), water content, and temperature. The results indicated that the AIL hydrophobicity resulting from the longer alkyl chain could improve AIL DE. Moreover, increased AIL dose, ST, water content, and temperature improved DE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial wastewater containing heavy metals, toxic compounds, and dyes poses significant environmental concerns. These substances harm aquatic and terrestrial life, making their removal essential for safeguarding biodiversity, ecosystems, and human health. This study focused on synthesizing Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) and their chitosan-coated composite (CS/Fe3O4 NC) for effective wastewater treatment. The NPs were synthesized using the aqueous leaf extract of Laurus nobilis and then coated with chitosan extracted from shrimp. Characterization analysis confirmed the spherical morphology of both Fe3O4 NPs and CS/Fe3O4 NC, with average sizes of 21.3 nm and 28 nm, respectively. The Fe3O4 NPs and CS/Fe3O4 NC exhibited optical bandgap energies of 2.62 eV and 1.81 eV, respectively, indicating their potential as efficient photocatalysts. Photocatalytic efficiency was evaluated using methylene blue (MB) and ortho-toluidine blue (O-TB) dyes. After 75 min, CS/Fe3O4 NC achieved degradation rates of 99% for MB and 98.4% for O-TB, surpassing the rates of 79% and 60.0% achieved by Fe3O4 NPs alone. This highlights the superior performance of CS/Fe3O4 NC in dye degradation. Moreover, Fe3O4 NPs and CS/Fe3O4 NC were effective in removing heavy metals from petroleum water, achieving a remarkable 100% removal efficiency within 30 min. The removal of oil in water was 86% for Fe3O4 NPs and 90% for CS/Fe3O4 NC, while the reduction in total suspended solids was 71% and 78%, respectively. Overall, the synthesized Fe3O4 NPs and CS/Fe3O4 NC demonstrate promising potential for wastewater treatment by efficiently degrading dyes and removing heavy metals, oil, and suspended solids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we present a novel green synthesis method for magnesium oxide/magnesium peroxide nanocomposite using citric acid, enhancing both photocatalytic degradation and antioxidant activity. The physical properties and light absorption of the nanostructure were examined using X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy techniques. A cubic phase was identified, with a nano-size of 25 nm, and a bandgap energy of 2.45 eV was determined. In the photocatalytic degradation tests, the nanostructure achieved an 85% removal rate of Brilliant Cresyl Blue dye after 120 min, with a pseudo-first-order rate constant of 0.014 min⁻¹. Computational simulations revealed a high adsorption energy of -131.552 eV for Brilliant Cresyl Blue on the magnesium oxide/magnesium peroxide nanocomposite, indicating strong binding affinity and supporting the experimental degradation efficiency. Antioxidant assays revealed a half-maximal inhibitory concentration value of 45.81 µg/mL, showcasing substantial free radical scavenging capabilities comparable to established antioxidants. The antibacterial properties of magnesium oxide/magnesium peroxide nanocomposite were assessed against Staphylococcus aureus through the agar well diffusion method. The results demonstrated significant antibacterial efficacy, with inhibition zones ranging from 7.9 ± 0.4 mm to 14.9 ± 1.5 mm, indicating a dose-dependent antibacterial effect. This research advances green synthesis methods for multifunctional nanomaterials, offering promising solutions for environmental remediation and highlighting the potential of magnesium oxide/magnesium peroxide nanocomposite in wastewater treatment, antioxidant applications, and as a potent antibacterial agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferrite-based photocatalysts have raised as potent agents for breaking down organic pollutants in wastewater treatment. However, the challenge of developing an environmentally sustainable and economically viable photocatalyst with heightened efficacy persists. In this study, we prepared a green biochar-supported ZnFe2O4 (BC-ZnFe2O4) composite catalyst through a simple calcination method using waste banana peel (Macho plantain). The physicochemical properties of the prepared catalysts were thoroughly characterized, encompassing phase structure, surface morphology, purity, size, optical features, and charge separation efficiency. The characterization results confirmed that the ZnFe2O4 had a specific crystal structure in the composite. Microscopic analysis showed that the BC-ZnFe2O4 composite had a consistent cubic-like shape, with grains sized between 60–80 nm. Importantly, these BC-ZnFe2O4 composite had a direct band gap of about 2.29 eV, making them suitable for photocatalytic reactions. The photocatalytic methylene blue (MB) degradation experiments revealed that BC-ZnFe2O4 (91.08%; k = 0.3938 min−1) exhibits a superior photocatalytic activity compared to its pure BC-ZnO (75.26; k = 0.2129 min−1) counterparts within 100 min visible light irradiation. The excellent photocatalytic performance of the BC-ZnFe2O4 composite was due to the combined effect of the biochar and ZnFe2O4, which generated reactive oxygen species during the degradation process. In addition, the as-prepared BC-ZnFe2O4 composite demonstrated remarkable catalytic stability throughout multiple reaction cycles, making it suitable for sustained degradation of dye pollutants. Considering the outstanding performance of BC-ZnFe2O4 composite for the photocatalytic reaction, we believe that BC-ZnFe2O4 holds significant potential for purifying pollutants in various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to synthesize novel heterocyclic scaffolds containing a thiophene moiety using easily accessible acetoacetamide as a key synthon. The reaction of acetoacetamide with diazonium salts resulted in the formation of the corresponding thiophene derivatives 4a–c. Additionally, the reaction of acetoacetamide derivative 3 with malononitrile, ethyl cyanoacetate, or 2‐cyanoacetamide, along with elemental sulfur, under refluxing in dioxane containing triethylamine afforded thiophene‐containing derivatives 5a–c. Furthermore, compound 3 reacted with phenyl isothiocyanate in dry dimethylformamide and K2CO3 to yield compound 7. In situ alkylation of the non‐isolable salt 6 was achieved by the addition of methyl iodide, resulting in the formation of methylthio‐thiophene‐2‐carboxamide 8. Compound 7 was employed with numerous alpha‐halogenated reagents in ethanol, affording thiazole derivative 9 and thiophene derivatives 10a and 10b, respectively. Moreover, compound 8 was reacted with hydrazine to produce the 1H‐pyrazole‐4‐carboxamide derivative 11. Additionally, refluxing acetoacetamide derivative 3 with malononitrile and/or ethyl cyanoacetate in dioxane, in the presence of catalytic amount of triethylamine afforded 4‐imino‐3,7‐dimethyl‐4H‐pyrido[1,2‐a]thieno[3,2‐e]pyrimidin‐9(5H)‐one derivatives 12a and 12b. Furthermore, the reactivity of acetoacetamide derivative 3 with 2‐cyanoacetohydrazide was investigated through refluxing the reactants in dioxane, which subsequently yielded the corresponding cyanoacetamide derivative 13. The chemical identity of the newly synthesized compounds was determined by employing infrared spectroscopy (IR), 1H NMR, and 13C NMR techniques. Newly synthesized heterocycles incorporating thiophenes were evaluated for their antioxidant and antimicrobial potentials. Notably, thiophene scaffolds 5a, 10b, 11, and 13 displayed notable antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal and metal oxide nanoparticles are gaining traction in inorganic catalysis and photocatalysis, driving the development of eco-friendly methods. This study introduces an eco-friendly and cost-effective approach for synthesizing Al2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) using extracts derived from the leaves of Calligonum comosum L. The primary objective of this investigation is to assess the photocatalytic efficacy of the synthesized catalyst in addressing organic pollutants. The Al2O3 NPs exhibit a spherical morphology with crystalline arrangements, as evidenced by an average crystallite size of 25.1 nm in the XRD analysis. The band gap energy of the Al2O3 NPs is determined to be 2.86 eV. In terms of mechanical properties, the Al2O3 NPs show significant potential in enhancing both flexural and compressive properties, thereby making them a viable choice for improving the mechanical performance of composites. Notably, the Young's modulus of the hybrid composite (comprising plant material and Al2O3 NPs) exhibits a remarkable increase of 34.4% in flexion and 78.3% in compression compared to the plant material alone. The catalytic performance of the Al2O3 NPs is evaluated using methylene blue (MB) as a cationic dye and Rose Bengal (RB) as an anionic dye. Impressively, the Al2O3 NPs demonstrate degradation efficiencies of 98.2% for MB and 90.5% for RB. The degradation processes occur under solar light irradiation, with a contact time of 120 m, a maintained pH of 7, and a temperature of 25 °C. This study found that Al2O3 nanoparticles are a promising, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly option for water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the critical need for efficient and recyclable photocatalysts for water treatment applications by presenting a novel approach for the synthesis and characterization of copper (I) oxide (Cu2O) nanoparticles modified with ascorbic acid (Cu2O/AA). The motivation for this research stems from the increasing concern about environmental pollution caused by organic pollutants, such as Brilliant Cresyl Blue (BCB), and the necessity for sustainable solutions to mitigate this issue. Through comprehensive characterization techniques including Ultraviolet–Visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), zeta potential measurements, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, we demonstrate a significant modification to the electronic structure, enhancing the photocatalytic activity of Cu2O/AA. BET analysis revealed a mesoporous structure with a specific surface area of 2.7247 m2/g for Cu2O/AA, further emphasizing its potential for enhanced catalytic performance. The photocatalytic degradation studies showcased remarkable efficiency improvements, with degradation coefficients of 30.8% and 73.12% for Cu2O NPs and Cu2O/AA NC, respectively, within a 120 min timeframe. Additionally, recyclability experiments indicated sustained efficiency over five consecutive cycles, with both catalysts retaining crystalline integrity. These findings underscore the promising potential of Cu2O/AA nanoparticles as highly efficient and recyclable photocatalysts for the degradation of organic pollutants, offering superior performance compared to pure Cu2O NPs and addressing the pressing need for sustainable water treatment solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent times have witnessed notable progress in augmenting the effectiveness of pharmaceutical actions, leading to the creation of novel drug formulations and delivery technologies. A complete understanding of the molecular-level interactions between drug molecules and biological membranes is necessary to achieve optimal design in these processes. Comprehensive understanding of these interactions can be gained through thermodynamic research, which helps pharmaceutical professionals make well-informed decisions about which manufacturing compounds are most suited for a certain application. Because ionic liquids can interact with biological membranes and exert their effects on them, studying ionic liquids in combination with co-solvents in aqueous settings is important for many kinds of research. Using an Anton Paar DSA 5000 M apparatus, the densities, and speed of sound in a liquid mixture comprising L-phenylalanine and glycyl-L-phenylalanine within an aqueous 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C10mim]Br), the ionic solution was measured. This was done across temperature ranges of 288.15 K, 298.15 K, 308.15 K, and 318.15 K and experimental pressure of p = 0.1 MPa with concentrations of "0.000, 0.005, 0.030, and 0.050 mol kg–1". From the experimental results, various acoustic and physicochemical properties were derived, including apparent molar properties, partial compression, isentropic compression, and transfer properties. These computations provided insights into intermolecular interactions within the combination of 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide, water, L-phenylalanine, and glycyl-L-phenylalanine. The mixture's characteristics were explored through pair and triplet coefficients, taking into account empirical constants and expansibilities, thereby delving into solute–solvent, hydrophilic-hydrophilic, dipole–dipole, and ion-hydrophilic interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Natural Fibers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Natural Fibers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Natural Fibers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Natural Fibers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Two new poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) were synthesized, characterized, and applied in breaking waterin-oil (W/O) emulsions. For that, tetraethylene glycol (TG) was treated with thionyl chloride, obtaining dialkyl chloride (TC). TC was reacted with diamines 1,5-diaminopentane (AP) and 1,11- diaminoundecane (AU), forming the corresponding polyamines, TC-AP and TC-AU. Following this, TC-AP and TC-AU were quaternized with acetic acid (AA), producing poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs), TCAPPIL, and TCAU-PIL, respectively. Chemical structures, thermal stability, surface activity, aggregation size, and zeta potential measurements were investigated using several techniques. In addition, their performance in breaking (PB) W/O emulsions in different ratios was investigated. TCAP-PIL and TCAU-PIL exhibited high PB at all ratios, while their performance improved as the crude oil ratio decreased. Moreover, TCAU-PIL showed higher PB than TCAP-PIL, which may be linked to the increased hydrophobicity of TCAU-PIL due to increased methylene units in the diamine chain compared to TCAP-PIL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) are always recognized as vital and important for human life from the ancient era. But it is very difficult to synthesize the Au NPs in the oxidizing atmosphere for the intended purpose. The innovative flame reduction method utilizing the N, N-Dimethylformamide (DMF) as a solvent was successfully used for the synthesis of precious metal Au NPs. The synthesized Au NPs are bare, so they can be directly used without any further processing as catalyst materials. The Au NPs were synthesized by burning their salt in DMF as solvent and fuel using a simple lamp. The prepared nanoparticles were found readily dispersible in water and DMF giving stable sols. In this paper, we report the synthesis of bare metal nanoparticles using the flame reduction method for the first time. The prepared NPs were collected on the glass surface and used for routine characterization techniques viz., UV-Visible, XRD, HR-TEM and electron diffraction. The Au NPs were 15nm in size and showed characteristic absorption peak at 550nm. The characteristic peaks observed in XRD of synthesized nanoparticles demonstrated the cubic phase of Au NPs. The formation mechanism of the prepared nanoparticles in open-air flame synthesis has been discussed in detail in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]