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The article discusses the synthesis of 5-aryl-1H-tetrazoles using manganese (II) chloride tetrahydrate as a catalyst. Tetrazoles are important in various fields, including pharmaceuticals. The study found that manganese (II) salts were effective catalysts for this reaction, with 10 mol% of MnCl2·4H2O providing the highest yield. The optimized conditions involved using MnCl2·4H2O in DMSO at 120 °C. The study highlights the importance of finding efficient and environmentally friendly catalysts for organic synthesis. [Extracted from the article]

As a representative of dope‐dye, the color masterbatch method has been widely applied in modern dyeing processes, while it has difficulties in solving the dispersibility of inorganic pigments color master batch in the polymer matrix. In this work, attapulgite (ATP) was used as the adsorption carrier of inorganic pigments to prepare color‐dyed attapulgite (CD‐ATP). The selected environmentally friendly inorganic pigments were well adsorbed by ATP in KOH aqueous solution, and could stably be monodispersed in KOH aqueous solution for more than 168 h. Moreover, the KOH aqueous solution could be reused repeatedly, thereby, a sustainable method to prepare novel CD‐ATP was realized. By blending the as‐prepared CD‐ATP with polyamide‐6 (PA6), a series of dope‐dyed colorful PA6 composites was prepared. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) results indicated that the CD‐ATP was still monodispersed in the PA6 matrix, and endowed PA6 with a vivid color. Further studies show that the adding of CD‐ATP had little influence on the properties of PA6, but significantly reduced the water adsorption. This novel color‐dyed ATP has potential implications in making paper‐making blankets and is highly expected to have more extensive applications in many fields of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of organic attapulgite (OATT) and polyurethane (PU) on the anti-aging properties of OATT/PU composite-modified asphalt were investigated in this study. Firstly, the basic physical properties, high- and low-temperature rheological properties of OATT/PU composite-modified asphalt before and after aging were studied. Meanwhile, several aging indexes were calculated to quantify the anti-aging performance. In addition, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and atomic force microscope (AFM) were used to explore the modification mechanism and micro-morphology. The results indicated that the high-temperature properties of different asphalts were enhanced and the low-temperature properties were adversely affected by aging. As for the OATT/PU composite-modified asphalts, OATT and PU have always shown good synergistic effects in improving the high- and low- temperature properties of modified asphalts during aging. The anti-aging properties of asphalt were improved after the addition of OATT together with PU. OATT plays a significant role in improving the anti-aging performance of modified asphalt. OATT/PU composite-modified asphalt containing 2 wt% OATT showed the best anti-aging performance. The PU content in the composite modified asphalt was recommended to be 5 wt%, so as to obtain satisfactory anti-aging performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • 3D hierarchical Z-scheme heterojunction was successfully constructed. • The sandwich-like layered structure of the ZCA composite photocatalyst offers a rich heterojunction interface. • A possible mechanism for the enhanced performance was briefly discussed by means of work function calculations. • This work provided insights into the use of natural minerals for high value-added mineral applications. Construction of hierarchical architecture with suitable band alignment for graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4) played a pivotal role in enhancing the efficiency of photocatalysts. In this study, a novel attapulgite-intercalated g-C 3 N 4 /ZnIn 2 S 4 nanocomposite material (ZIS/CN/ATP, abbreviated as ZCA) was successfully synthesized using the freeze-drying technique, thermal polymerization, and a simple low-temperature hydrothermal method. Attapulgite (ATP) was intercalated into g-C 3 N 4 to effectively regulate its interlayer structure. The results reveal a substantial enlargement of its internal space, thereby facilitating the provision of additional active sites for improved dispersibility of ZnIn 2 S 4. Notably, the optimized photocatalyst, comprising a mass ratio of ATP, g-C 3 N 4 , and ZnIn 2 S 4 at 1:1:2.5 respectively, achieves an outstanding hydrogen evolution rate of 3906.15 μmol g−1h−1, without the need for a Pt co-catalyst. This rate surpasses that of pristine g-C 3 N 4 by a factor of 475 and ZnIn 2 S 4 by a factor of 5, representing a significant improvement in performance. This significant enhancement can be primarily attributed to the higher specific surface area, richer active sites, broadened light response range, and efficient interfacial charge transfer channels of the ZCA composite photocatalyst. Furthermore, the Z-scheme photocatalytic mechanism for the sandwich-like layered structure heterojunction was thoroughly investigated using diverse characterization techniques. This work offers new insights for enhancing photocatalytic performance through the expanded utilization of natural minerals, paving the way for future advancements in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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We investigated the effects of Attapulgite clay irrigation and ground amendment on soil characteristics, tomato growth, and yield. Attapulgite clays were used as earth amendments at 600, 1300 and 3000 kg ha-1. In addition, spraying Attapulgite clay over leaves after nano transformation produced 0 and 1 g/l amendments. Assuming the salinity rise was not statistically significant, soil characteristics improved from (2.51) for treatment A0N0B0 to (4.12) for treatment A3N1B3. The soil pH interaction increased as neutralizers improved it. The substance and attapulgite clay increased positive ion exchange capacity. Positive ion exchange capability increased with component content. For treatment A0N0B0, wave ion exchange capacity rose from 13.85 to 23.42. Treatment A3N1B3's organic matter concentration rose with clay and organic matter. Thus, adding attapulgite clays and organic matter immediately and significantly improved sandy soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water, a vital resource for ecosystems and human populations, is facing increasing nitrate contamination due to agricultural runoff, industrial discharge and improper waste disposal. The present study focuses on the efficacy of nitrate removal through adsorption using fuller's earth (FE) and modified fuller's earth (acid-treated) (MFE) as adsorbents. The impact of initial pH (2.0–7.0), contact time (5–240 min), adsorbent dosage (1–30 g/L), initial nitrate concentration (50–250 mg/L) and temperature (30–50°C) on nitrate removal using fuller's earth were studied. The maximum nitrate removal was observed at pH 2.0, and equilibrium was reached in 120 min at 30℃. The Freundlich isotherm best fit the equilibrium data. The maximum nitrate uptake of fuller's earth and modified fuller's earth were 84.75 mg/g and 85.47 mg/g, respectively. Nitrate removal by FE and MFE followed a second-order kinetic equation. Thermodynamic studies showed spontaneity and the exothermic nature of the nitrate adsorption process. ∆H° values were −44.96 and −42.63 kJmol−1 for FE and MFE and ΔS° was −85.11 and −74.52 Jk−1mol−1 for FE and MFE, respectively. FE, known for its exceptional adsorption capacity owing to its porous structure and high ion-exchange capacity, has demonstrated a remarkable affinity for nitrate ions in batch studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural attapulgite (ATP) is a promising substitute for existing artificial nanozymes due to its intrinsic enzymatic activity. However, the active center of ATP's inherent enzymatic activity has not yet been revealed, which limits its further design and activity optimization. Studying the active center of mineral materials can be extremely challenging due to their complexity. Here, we demonstrated that Fe is the primary element in ATP responsible for peroxidase (POD)-like activity through theoretical speculation and experimental verification. More importantly, we found that the ratio of Fe2+/Fe3+ is responsible for the district POD-like activity of ATP from different regions with the same Fe content. Additionally, three facile strategies, including grinding, heat treatment, and acid treatment, were demonstrated to increase the relative Fe content and thus optimize the POD-like activity of ATP. Finally, ATP was used to detect the concentration of H2O2, enabling the detection of low concentrations (0.11–1.76 mM) of H2O2. This study serves as a novel reference for the future design and performance optimization of nanozymes that are based on ATP and clay minerals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus removal is critical for effective water treatment and the prevention of eutrophication. This study focuses on the modification of attapulgite, an economical clay material, with zirconium (Zr@ATP) to enhance its phosphorus adsorption capacity. Zr@ATP was comprehensively characterized, and its phosphorus-removal mechanisms were investigated. Additionally, its performance in water treatment was evaluated using a lake water-sediment system. Zr@ATP exhibited a high surface area of 329.29 m2/g. The static adsorption experiments revealed that Zr@ATP achieved a phosphorus-removal efficiency of 95.8% at an adsorbent dosage of 5 g/L. Kinetic studies indicated that the adsorption followed a pseudo-second-order model, with the primary mechanism being chemisorption via ion exchange. Application of Zr@ATP in a lake water-sediment system resulted in an 83.6% reduction in total phosphorus. The chlorophyll concentration significantly decreased from 32.33 μg/L to 8.56 μg/L, and the algal density decreased by 84.6%, effectively inhibiting algal growth. These results suggest that Zr@ATP is a promising adsorbent for sustainable phosphorus removal and eutrophication control in aquatic environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photothermal superhydrophobic coatings are supposed promising to prevent ice accumulation on infrastructures but often experience significant performance degradation in real icing conditions and lack mechanical robustness. Here, we report design of robust photothermal superhydrophobic coatings with three-tier hierarchical micro-/nano-/nanostructures by deposition of nanosized MOFs on natural attapulgite nanorods, fluorination, controlled phase separation of a hydrophobic adhesive and spraying assembly. Phase separation degree and adhesive content significantly influence the coatings' properties by regulating the structural parameters and morphology. In simulated/real icing environments, the coatings simultaneously show (i) high superhydrophobicity and stable Cassie-Baxter states due to their low-surface-energy, three-tier micro-/nano-/nanostructure, (ii) excellent photothermal effect primarily due to nanosized MOFs, and (iii) good mechanical robustness by the phase-separated adhesive, reinforcement with attapulgite and the coatings' self-similar structure. Accordingly, combined with low thermal conductivity, the coatings exhibit remarkable anti-icing/frosting (e.g., no freezing in at least 150 min and almost free of frost in 25 min) and de-icing/frosting performances (e.g., fast de-icing in 12.7 min and fast de-frosting in 16.7 min) in such environments. Furthermore, we realize large-scale preparation of the coatings at reasonable costs. The coatings have great application potential for anti-icing and de-icing in the real world by efficiently using natural sunlight. Photothermal superhydrophobic coatings show poor anti-icing performance and mechanical stability in real conditions. Here, authors report on robust photothermal superhydrophobic coatings with self-similar low-surface-energy three-tier micro-/nano- /nanostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The newly reclaimed soil is an important reserve land resource, while it faces challenges such as poor water retention and low fertility. Therefore, it requires improvement through the use of soil amendments. Attapulgite (ATP) is abundant in northwest China with excellent properties and can be used as an amendment for newly reclaimed soil. The effects of ATP and its addition rate on infiltration and evaporation characteristics in newly reclaimed soil were studied by experiments and model simulation. Three addition gradients (2%, 4%, and 6%) were set in this study, and no ATP addition was used as a control (CK). The results show that ATP treatment prolonged the infiltration duration, reduced the wetting front migration distance, and reduced the accumulated evaporation. Both the Philip model and the Kostiakov model can accurately describe the infiltration process of newly reclaimed soil with ATP addition; the soil evaporation process can be fitted well with the Rose model. In this study, ATP addition affected both sorptivity and the stable infiltration rate of the reclaimed soil. During the evaporation, the soil evaporation effect was inversely proportional to the addition rates of ATP, and the ATP addition rate at 2% had the best effect on reducing soil evaporation. In summary, the ATP addition was beneficial top soil infiltration and evaporation, thus improving the poor water retention of newly reclaimed land and is a reasonable choice for efficient construction of new reclaimed land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five clay poultices used in built heritage, stone, and wall painting conservation were examined for their potential to extract impurities from medieval lime-rich wall painting plaster. Since the most efficient extraction is achieved by capillary advection, this evaluation compared the pore size distribution of the clay poultices with that of medieval plaster. The pore size distribution was measured using the pressure plate method, a method with a long history of use in soil and building science. The present study demonstrates for the first time a successful application of this method in the evaluation of clay poultices for conservation. In addition, the retentive capacities of the five poultices were examined by measuring lateral migration and penetration depths as a function of time, using customised plaster samples and a blue dye to facilitate migration measurements. Of the five poultices, bentonite showed the least promising pore size range and was estimated to have little or no effect as a drying poultice for medieval wall painting plaster. The remaining four poultices showed promising results, although with various shortcomings that might influence the results of the intervention, as the best fit is dependent on the aim of the poulticing. For a cleaning poultice, where dirt is to be extracted solely from the surface of the plaster, attapulgite and PANGEL® S1500 seemed to be best suited due to their high retention. The pore size distribution and migration pattern of PANGEL® S9 and sepiolite indicated that they could be suitable as poultices for desalination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, an incinerated fibrous clay in the form of calcined attapulgite (CAT) emerges as an encouraging avenue for progress in the realm of new cementitious materials, boasting good pozzolanic activity. This study aims to examine the strength and transport features of microsilica (MS) and fly ash (FA) blended concretes made of cold-bonded coarse and fine CAT lightweight aggregates. In this regard, attapulgite pure rocks were crushed, fined, and then calcined at a specific temperature to produce a pozzolanic material. Then, a dry powder composed of 80% CAT and 20% Portland cement (PC) by weight was transformed into calcined attapulgite lightweight aggregates (CATLWAs) by cold bonding pelletization process at room temperature. Then, they were cured for 28 days. Afterward, different concrete mixtures were designed in which normal aggregate was swapped out with cold-bonded coarse and fine aggregates in different percentages up to 100%. The binary and ternary cementitious blends of PC, MS, and FA were also taken into account at various contents. Concrete samples were tested at different ages to determine their transport-related performances based on the water permeability, gas penetration, and rapid chloride permeability. The strength and microstructural properties of the samples were also measured. The results revealed that with an increase in the volume friction of coarse CATLWA up to 100% and fine CATLWA up to 25% in the mixtures, a significant reduction in the strength up to 39% was observed. Additionally, transport properties especially for the sorptivity and rapid chloride permeability were deteriorating in case of 100% volume fraction of CATLWAs. However, it was observed that these adverse effects could be eliminated by introducing binary and ternary cementitious material systems in the mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is one of the most harmful mycotoxins to human and environmental health. In this paper, a novel electrochemical AFB1 immunosensor using attapulgite composite N-phenylglycine as a conductive material is developed. The strong π–π and electrostatic interactions between the AFB1 antibody and the nanomaterial are investigated. The developed electrochemical AFB1 immunosensor exhibits high sensitivity, with a detection limit of 0.011 ng mL−1 and a quantitation limit of 0.035 ng mL−1 (S/N = 3). The recoveries for three different concentrations of AFB1 range from 97.5% to 104.6%, with a relative standard deviation of stability less than 2.0%. ATP-PNPG possesses more oxygen defects and adsorbed oxygen than ATP-NPG. These properties enhance its electronegativity and make it more conducive to detecting low concentrations of AFB1 through electrochemical sensing technology. Finally, the electrochemical AFB1 immunosensor demonstrates good selectivity, stability, and reusability for detecting AFB1 in corn samples, exhibiting a high recovery rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of zeolites from natural aluminosilicate minerals has drawn extensive attention due to its significant utility in greening the zeolite manufacturing process. In this study, pure-phase NaX zeolite was synthesized via a low-temperature hydrothermal method, utilizing natural, low-quality attapulgite clay as the raw material. Acidified clay was fully activated through alkali fusion at 200 °C, and the impact of alkali fusion temperature, H2O/Na2O ratio, aging temperature, and crystallization time on the resulting crystalline NaX zeolite was investigated. The optimal conditions for obtaining pure NaX zeolite were determined to be alkali melting at 200 °C for 4 h, an H2O/Na2O ratio of 50, aging at 40 °C, and a crystallization period of 11 h at 90 °C. With a large BET surface area of 328.43 m2/g, the obtained NaX zeolite was used to adsorb Pb2+ from wastewater with a removal rate of 95%. This research provides a valuable method for the extensive and efficient utilization of low-grade natural attapulgite clay. Moreover, this is the first report on the synthesis of pure-phase NaX zeolite using only low-quality natural attapulgite clay as raw material through an atmospheric pressure water bath method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attapulgite is a natural clay mineral, that has been investigated as a potential lightweight aggregate due to its low density and unique structural properties. Recently, the interest in using attapulgite has increased. In this study, the combined attapulgite (fine and coarse) is used in a concrete mixture. Tests were conducted to select the best content of attapulgite in mixtures by investigating its properties, including slump, compressive strength, and density characteristics to evaluate Lightweight Concrete (LWC) performance. The outcomes exhibited that different attapulgite aggregate contents influence compressive strength, with the highest value being 21 MPa for 984 kg/m³ attapulgite content at 28 days of curing. Furthermore, the dry density is positively correlated with the increment of the attapulgite aggregate percentage. Then, different percentages of Superplasticizer (SP) of 0.9%, 1.1%, 1.3%, 1.5%, and 1.7% were utilized, which led to the enhancement of the slump flow. The ideal ratio adopted for the subsequent mixtures was 1.3% by weight of cementitious material, which gave the highest compressive strength (26.2 MPa at 28 days). Also, mixtures in which cement was replaced by fly ash of 10%, 20%, 30%, 60%, and 100% ratio by weight of cement were prepared. The results demonstrated that the highest compressive strength was 32.7 MPa with a 30% ratio of fly ash by weight of cementitious materials after 90 days of curing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most crucial ecological challenges is the removal of the ever increasing enormous quantities of Fly Ash (FA) generated from various industries and its reduction in landfill spaces. Light-Weight Aggregate Concrete (LWAC) is utilized in the construction industry as it can decrease the unit weight leading to lower dead load, thermos-insulation, and resistance against earthquakes. A number of researchers have implemented experimental programs on the use of large amounts of FA as a substitute for cement in various lightweight concrete mixtures. This study aims to present the recent efforts of adding attapulgite in LWAC and highlight its effects and the influence of its mixture with High Volume FA Light-Weight Concrete (HVFALC) in terms of compressibility resistance, tensile strength, and rupture resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attapulgite, with abundant reserves, low price, a special structure, excellent adsorption, thermal stability, and catalytic performance, is often used as a catalyst or catalyst support, offering broad development prospects. In order to understand and fully utilize attapulgite resources, this paper introduces the common preparation methods of attapulgite and explores the effects of different modification methods (e.g. thermal modification, acid modification, etc.) on attapulgite performance. The article focuses on the current status of semiconductor-attapulgite composites in the fields of wastewater treatment, air pollution, and energy, and briefly describes examples of their applications in other fields. Finally, the development prospects of the composites in the field of environment and energy are summarized, and the challenges are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar‐driven interfacial evaporation (SIE) of brine may solve the fresh water shortage issue but suffers from salt‐fouling. Meanwhile, adsorption can extract valuable lithium (Li) from brine but is hampered by low adsorption capacity/rate, additional energy input and low selectivity, etc. Here, as a proof‐of‐concept, the design of a separated solar evaporator (S‐evaporator) is reported for simultaneously efficient fresh water collection and Li+ selective adsorption by SIE of brine, accomplishing their complementation using only sunlight. The S‐evaporator consists of a tilted n‐shaped H2TiO3‐modified fabric and a photothermal sheet on it. The superhydrophilic fabric transports brine to the photothermal sheet and provides affluent sites for Li+ adsorption. The photothermal sheet promotes SIE and enhances Li+ adsorption by significantly increasing the fabric's temperature. Consequently, simultaneous fresh water collection and Li+ selective adsorption are realized by the S‐evaporator. Under 1 kW m−2 illumination, the S‐evaporator shows long‐term stable evaporation rate (1.51 kg m−2 h−1) for 20 wt% brine, high Li+ adsorption capacity (20.09 mg g−1), good Li+ adsorption selectivity from real brine and good cycle stability. The S‐evaporator has great application potential for efficiently extracting fresh water and Li+ from brine as demonstrated by the large SIE setup in real outdoor conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FeS@Fuller's Earth (FeS@FE) was synthesized by borohydride reduction in presence of dithionite with a 10% w/w iron loading. FESEM analysis reveal immobilized FeS NPs (40–100 nm) on the surface of Fuller's Earth with agglomeration. The presence of sulfur as confirmed from XPS and EDX analysis of FeS@FE. Batch adsorption study of FeS@FE for crystal violet (CV) dye adsorption in aqueous solution yielded an optimized adsorption at pH 8, adsorbent dose 0.1 g/L, with a removal of upto 80% of the dye from a 20 mg/L CV solution. The CV adsorption on FeS@FE followed a good non-linear fit for Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm with R2 > 0.95. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of FeS@FE was found to be 601.2 mg/g for CV with a D-R Isotherm Free energy of 141.58 kJ/mol at optimum conditions of pH 8, 100 mg/L of CV, and 0.1 g/L of adsorbent dose. The non-linear kinetic fit for CV dye adsorption on FeS@FE fitted to the pseudo-second-order (PSO) and intraparticle diffusion (IPD) models, indicating a strong chemical interaction between CV and FeS@FE. The strong adsorption of CV using FeS@FE is attributed to the Fe-OOH surface formation by FeS immobilized on FE under alkaline conditions, leading to deprotonation and electrostatic adsorption of the dye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review critically examines the latest advancements in clay mineral-based photocatalysts for water purification. Clay minerals, owing to their natural abundance, low cost, and unique physicochemical properties, have emerged as promising candidates for enhancing photocatalytic efficiency. This article delves into various activation methods for clay minerals, including acid, alkali, calcination, and mechanochemical activation, highlighting their roles in enhancing surface area, creating active sites, and improving photocatalytic performance. Moreover, the review explores various modification strategies for photocatalysts, such as doping with metal and non-metal ions, deposition of metals, and the design of heterojunctions, to further boost photocatalytic activity. In particular, the utilization of kaolinite, montmorillonite, attapulgite, and sepiolite as clay mineral supports for photocatalysts is discussed in detail, showcasing their potential in wastewater treatment. The review underscores the significant strides made in the development of clay mineral-based photocatalysts, highlighting their effectiveness in degrading organic contaminants under light exposure. Nevertheless, there are persisting challenges such as the optimization of loading quantities, improvement in compatibility between clay minerals and photocatalysts, and reduction in preparation costs for large-scale applications. In summary, this review offers valuable insights into the current status of clay mineral-based photocatalysts for water purification, thereby stimulating future research in this promising field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attapulgite (ATP) is a biocompatible clay mineral that efficiently absorbs water. It is widely used in water treatment due to its environmental friendliness and cost‐effectiveness. This study aimed to develop a volume‐expansion structure‐based attapulgite flocculant (VES‐ATP) using aluminum salt and attapulgite (ATP) under alkaline conditions, specifically for the treatment of water containing low levels of phosphorus. The VES‐ATP was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The removal of phosphorus by the VES‐ATP was conducted by varying the mass ratio of Al to attapulgite (denoted as RmAl/mATP), ATP dosage, and pH. The results showed that the VES‐ATP had a good expansion and dispersibility in the presence of alkalized aluminum species. The basicity as the molar ratio of OH to Al (0.8 or 1.6) determined the expansion feasibility, and the coverage degree of Al onto ATP, as indicated by the mass ratio of Al to attapulgite (denoted as RmAl/mATP), determined Al flocculation efficiency. Higher values such as RmAl/mATP = 4:1 and 2:1 may result in a better flocculation. Low phosphorus treatment was successfully achieved through Al flocculation and ATP adsorption, including complexation, hydrogen bonding, and electrostatic attraction. As expected, the VES‐ATP generated larger size flocs with a bigger fractal dimension than that with the sole Al flocculation. As a result, the total phosphorus could be reduced to the level below 5 μg/L. It is more efficient in the pH range of 5–9. Overall, the coupling of aluminum and attapulgite has significantly enhanced both purification capabilities of phosphorus. Practitioner Points: Polymeric aluminum‐modified attapulgite was efficient for removal of low phosphorus concentration.Phosphorus concentrations can be reduced to below 5 μg/L.Polymeric aluminum and attapulgite are both safe, and this technology is suitable for water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simultaneously enhancing strength and toughness through simple and low‐cost methods has always been a challenge for polylactic acid (PLA) materials. In this context, natural attapulgite (ATT) nanorods were used as fillers combined with fused deposition modeling (FDM) to improve the strength and toughness of PLA. The printable PLA nanocomposite filaments filled with ATT nanorods were prepared by melting compounding and smoothly printed via a commercial FDM three‐dimensional (3D) printer. The influences of FDM process and ATT filling on the properties of PLA/ATT composite parts were evaluated through microstructure analysis, rheological, and mechanical tests. The results suggest that PLA/ATT composite parts manufactured by FDM exhibit superior mechanical properties, which can be attributed to the FDM induced orientation and nucleation effect of ATT nanorods. The tensile strength can reach 56 MPa with the addition of 2 wt% ATT at a nozzle temperature of 205°C, increasing by 24% compared to pure PLA. In addition, the fracture elongation of PLA/ATT parts printed by FDM has significantly increased to 26%, which is 924% higher than pure PLA. Furthermore, the filling of ATT significantly improves the storage modulus of composite parts. This work provides a new high‐strength, ultra tough, low‐cost, and printing stable PLA/ATT composite material and forming method, offering a promising avenue for the wider application of PLA and ATT in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUNDS: Pesticides have been widely applied to promote plant growth due to their high insecticidal efficiency. However, most pesticides easily slip from the leaf surface due to the low foliar adhesion, leading to significant damage to the environment and human health. Increasing foliar adhesion of pesticides has been a major challenge. Nanomaterial technology, which can deliver pesticide active ingredients, offers a new opportunity to increase pesticides efficacy with higher foliar adhesion. RESULTS: In this study, we prepared the pesticide loaded nanohydrogel ALP@Ge‐g‐P(AA‐co‐AM)/ATP by grafting attapulgite and gelatin onto P(AA‐co‐AM), and loading the pesticide alphacypermethrin synchronously via the emulsion solvent evaporation method. The size of the new nanohydrogel was 20.5 nm and the pesticide loading capacity was 21.5%. Compared to P(AA‐co‐AM), the water absorbency of Ge‐g‐P(AA‐co‐AM)/ATP increased by 54.3% in 120 min, while the water retention increased from 4.27% to 38.7% after 48 h. Washout experiments and contact angle results suggested that the nanohydrogel, with a contact angle of 44.8° indicating good wettability, can resist rain flush and increase foliar adhesion naturally. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the preparation of pesticide loaded nanohydrogel is simple. Experiments demonstrated the pesticide loaded nanohydrogel has high efficiency and strong foliar adhesion. This makes it a promising candidate for spraying application and reducing pollution levels. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rheological properties of drilling mud play an important role in drilling oil wells. The objective of this research is to examine the influence of cation additions on the rheological properties and filtration behavior of attapulgite obtained from Western Desert of Iraq. Mineral and chemical characteristics of attapulgite were evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) techniques. The rheological properties and filtration features of attapulgite were investigated by using two types of cations Na2CO3 and KCl at different concentrations: 1, 3, 5, and 7%. The results suggest that the density values exhibit stability irrespective of the addition of KCl and Na2CO3. An inverse relationship was seen between the concentration of KCl and Na2CO3 additions and the filtration rate, indicating a reduction in the filtration rate as the concentration of these additives increased. The rheological properties of attapulgite did not exhibit enhancements and failed to meet the specified criteria established by the American Petroleum Institute (API). A positive correlation was seen between the thickness of the mud and the amounts of KCl and Na2CO3 additives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The safety of people's everyday water consumption has been gravely challenged by wastewater from printing and dyeing, however, research on effective contaminants removal from wastewater is encouraging. In this experiment, attapulgite modified with Mg2+ was calcined, and chitosan was added to create attapulgite composites. By refining the experimental parameters of the preparation, the adsorption performance of rhodamine B in wastewater was enhanced. A fully automated specific surface area and porosity investigation, a method known as X-ray diffraction, and nitrogen adsorption desorption equilibrium temperatures at 77 K were all performed. The original and composite attapulgite samples were evaluated using BET, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Composite materials were prepared using n (Mg2+)/m (AP) = 30 mmol/g, m (CS)/m (AP) = 1/3, a calcination temperature of 300 °C, and 1 h. After a series of adsorption experiments, manifesting that adding 0.2 g of attapulgite, at an initial concentration of 800 mg/L, pH of 4, temperature of 25 °C, and stirring for half an hour resulted in a maximum adsorption capacity of 325.73 mg/g. According to thermodynamic and kinetic equations, the pseudo-second-order kinetic theory is more consistent with the Langmuir adsorption isotherm (R2 = 0.999). Upon examining the thermodynamic properties of ΔS, ΔH, and ΔG, it was found that the reaction is a spontaneous endothermic process that could potentially be utilized to eliminate Rh B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silphium integrifolium Michx. (silflower), a perennial plant, is of great interest as a potential new oilseed crop due to its long, strong, deep, extensive root systems, which can prevent erosion, capture dissolved nitrogen, and out‐compete weeds eliminating the need for frequent irrigation and herbicide uses. In this study, oil was extracted from unhulled silflower seeds, and its composition and oxidative stability were evaluated. The oil content in unhulled silflower seeds was 15.2% (wt/wt), and its fatty acid composition was similar to that of sunflower oil. The level of total polar compounds (TPC) in the oil was 12.3% (wt/wt), and the content of total phenolics was 1.12 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g oil. Noteworthily, 4.89% squalene was isolated from silflower oil indicating its potential application as an alternative source of squalene. Silflower oil had lower oxidative stability as indicated by the oxidative stability index (OSI) at 110°C and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), presumably due to its high level of chlorophyll (1002.8 mg/kg). Even after a typical refining process involving degumming, alkali refining, and bleaching with Fuller's earth, silflower oil contained 725.5 mg/kg chlorophyll, and its oxidative stability was not improved. Further treatments with bleaching agents including bentonite, sepiolite, and Tonsil® lowered the chlorophyll level to 4.2, 474.5, and 38.5 mg/kg, respectively, and some aspects of oxidative stability were improved and better than those of refined sunflower oil. This study presents the potential of silflower oil as new edible oil and a great plant source of squalene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of the battery industry has brought about a large amount of waste battery pollution. How to realize the high-value utilization of waste batteries is an urgent problem to be solved. Herein, cobalt and titanium compounds (LTCO) were firstly recovered from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) using the carbon thermal reduction approach, and plasmonic attapulgite/Co(Ti)Ox (H-ATP/Co(Ti)Ox) nanocomposites were prepared by the microwave hydrothermal technique. H-ATP had a large specific surface area and enough active sites to capture CO2 molecules. The biochar not only reduced the spinel phase of waste LIBs into metal oxides including Co3O4 and TiO2 but also increased the separation and transmission of the carriers, thereby accelerating the adsorption and reduction of CO2. In addition, H-ATP/Co(Ti)Ox exhibited a localized surface plasmon resonance effect (LSPR) in the visible to near-infrared region and released high-energy hot electrons, enhancing the surface temperature of the catalyst and further improving the catalytic reduction of CO2 with a high CO yield of 14.7 μmol·g−1·h−1. The current work demonstrates the potential for CO2 reduction by taking advantage of natural mineral and spent batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The specific surface area of attapulgite was significantly enhanced (from 128 to 212 m2/g) by its purification with sodium hexametaphosphate and nitric acid. Subsequently, an acid modification method was employed to prepare a coated attapulgite cordierite honeycomb with a specific surface area approximately 39 times larger than that of the bare cordierite honeycomb. SEM images showed that the surface of the cordierite was rough and uneven, with the attapulgite filling the large pores on its surface, forming a "nail-like" interaction between the coating and the carrier. After loading the catalyst, no significant mass loss was observed after 1 h of ultrasonic testing, indicating good adhesion stability of the coating. Furthermore, under test conditions of GHSV (Gas Hourly Space Velocity) = 10 000 h–1 and a toluene concentration of 1500 ppm, the prepared integrated catalyst exhibited excellent activity for the catalytic oxidation of toluene, with T50 and T90 values of 261 and 290°C, respectively, suggesting broad application prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuous discharge of organic dyes into freshwater resources poses a long-term hazard to aquatic life. The advanced oxidation Fenton process is a combo of adsorption and degradation of pollutants to detoxify toxic effluents, such as anti-bacterial drugs, antibiotics, and organic dyes. In this work, an activated attapulgite clay-loaded iron-oxide (A-ATP@Fe3O4) was produced using a two-step reaction, in which attapulgite serves as an enrichment matrix and Fe3O4 functions as the active degrading component. The maximum adsorption capacity (qt) was determined by assessing the effect of temperature, pH H2O2, and adsorbent. The results showed that the A-ATP@Fe3O4 achieves the highest removal rate of 99.6% under optimum conditions: 40 °C, pH = 3, H2O2 25 mM, and 0.1 g dosage of the composite. The dye removal procedure achieved adsorption and degradation equilibrium in 120 and 30 min, respectively, by following the same processes as the advanced oxidation approach. Catalytic activity, kinetics, and specified surface characteristics suggest that A-ATP@Fe3O4 is one of the most promising candidates for advanced oxidation-enrooted removal of organic dyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The swelling behaviors and water retention of superabsorbent sand-fixing materials prepared from acrylic acid/acrylamide copolymer (AA/AM) and acid-modified attapulgite under ultrasonic treatments and different pH conditions were investigated. The results demonstrated that a suitable amount of attapulgite can effectively improve the absorption capacity and saltwater performance. The superabsorbent achieved the highest absorptions of 1257.54 g/g and 209.45 g/g in distilled water and a 0.9 wt% NaCl solution, and a higher water absorbency occurred over a wide pH range of 5~9 when the ultrasonic power was 200 W and the attapulgite content was 10%. The addition of attapulgite could significantly increase the water absorption and retention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV) has caused significant economic losses in the global swine industry. As a potential drug for treating diarrhea, the antiviral properties of attapulgite deserve further study. Methods: In this study, various methods such as RT-qPCR, Western blot, viral titer assay, Cytopathic Effect, immunofluorescence analysis and transmission electron microscopy were used to detect the antiviral activity of attapulgite and to assess its inhibitory effect on PEDV. Results: When exposed to the same amount of virus, there was a significant decrease in the expression of the S protein, resulting in a viral titer reduction from 10-5.613 TCID50/mL to 10-2.90 TCID50/mL, which represents a decrease of approximately 102.6 folds. Results of cytopathic effect and indirect immunofluorescence also indicate a notable decrease in viral infectivity after attapulgite treatment. Additionally, it was observed that modified materials after acidification had weaker antiviral efficacy compared to powdered samples that underwent ultrasonic disintegration, which showed the strongest antiviral effects. Conclusion: As a result, Attapulgite powders can trap and adsorb viruses to inhibit PEDV in vitro, leading to loss of viral infectivity. This study provides new materials for the development of novel disinfectants and antiviral additives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we developed Earth Fuller-based composites (EFBC) by incorporating varying mass fractions (2, 4, 6, and 8 wht %) of micron-sized Al2O3 and TiO2 particles. The microstructure of the prepared EFBC was analyzed using Bruker-Nova FE-SEM, operating at 5–30 kV. We investigated the thermal properties, including thermal conductivity (TC), thermal diffusivity (TD), and specific heat capacity (SHC) of the composites using a Thermal Constants Analyzer. The measurements were performed at temperatures ranging from 10 °C to 60 °C, with intervals of 10 °C. Results showed that increasing the weight percentage of Al2O3 and TiO2 in EFBC resulted in an 11% and 10% increment in thermal conductivity, respectively, at 30 °C. Interestingly, the thermal diffusivity exhibited a 9% increase with 6 wht % Al2O3 loading at 10 °C, while a 7% decrement was observed with 8 wht % TiO2 loading at 30 °C. Surprisingly, at 8 wht % Al2O3 particles, thermal diffusivity increased significantly by 195% at 30 °C. The specific heat capacity of EFBC with Al2O3 decreased by 14% at 10 °C when increasing the concentration from 2 wht % to 6 wht %, and a maximum decrease of approximately 62% was observed with 8 wht % particle loading at all temperatures. Conversely, the specific heat capacity of EFBC with TiO2 increased by approximately 10% at 10 °C when increasing particle loading from 2 wht % to 8 wht %. The highest increment of 13% in specific heat capacity for EFBC was observed at 20 °C and 40 °C. These findings provide valuable insights for potential applications of EFBC in thermal management and other fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attapulgite (APT) is widely used in wastewater treatment due to its exceptional adsorption and colloidal properties, as well as its cost-effectiveness and eco-friendliness. However, low-grade APT generally limits its performance. Here, a colloid mill-assisted ultrasonic-fractional centrifugal purification method was developed to refine low-grade APT. This process successfully separated and removed impurity minerals such as quartz and dolomite from the raw ore, resulting in a refined APT purity increase from 16.9% to 60% with a specific surface area of 135.5 m2∙g−1. Further modifying of the refined APT was carried out through the hydrothermal method using varying dosages of cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC), resulting in the production of four different APT adsorbents denoted as QAPT-n (n = CTAC mole number) ranging from 0.5 to 5 mmol. Using Congo red (CR) as the target pollutant, the QAPT-5 sample exhibited the best adsorption capacity with the maximum quantity of 1652.2 mg∙g−1 in a neutral solution at 30 °C due to the highest surface charge (zeta potential = 8.25 mV). Moreover, the QAPT-5 pellets (~2.0 g adsorbent) shaped by the alginate-assisted molding method removed more than 96% of 200 mL aqueous solution containing 200 mg∙L−1 CR and maintained this efficiency in 10 adsorption–elution cycles, which exhibited the promising practical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a novel molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was synthesized with attapulgite (ATP) and acrylamide (AM) and ethyl methacrylate (MMA) for controlled release carrier of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The MIPs (PAM-PMMA) were characterized by XRD, FESEM, HRTEM, and FTIR. The drug loading and in vitro controlled release ability of MIP on 5-FU was investigated by adsorption property analysis and in vitro release analysis. MIPs (PAM-PMMA) reached a maximum drug loading of 12 mg/g and a maximum release of 80% at an ATP dosage of 0.2 g (0.4%), an initial concentration of 5-FU of 100 mg/L, and an adsorption time of 240 min. Cytotoxicity analysis showed that the maximum inhibition of cells could reach 25% at 72 h of cell culture time under the above conditions. The results showed that MIPs synthesized with ATP as the substrate and AM and MMA as the functional monomers were successfully synthesized and could be used as a drug delivery system for 5-FU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ATP-BF-P(HEC-AA-AMPS) composite highly absorbent polymer was copolymerized with acrylic acid (AA) and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) using an aqueous solution method with attapulgite (ATP) and attapulgite (ATP) as a matrix. The prepared ATP-BF-P(HEC-AA-AMPS) was characterized in terms of microstructure and tested for its water absorption capacity, water retention properties, and pH dynamic sensing ability. The results showed that the synthesized ATP-BF-P(HEC-AA-AMPS) had a rough and porous surface and a high water absorption capacity and rate, almost reaching the maximum water absorption around 20 min, and demonstrated excellent water retention performance at low and medium temperatures. ATP-BF-P(HEC-AA-AMPS) has a sensitive dynamic sensing ability in different pH solutions, with a high swelling capacity between pH 6.0 and 10.0. When the pH value exceeded 10.0, the swelling rate decreased rapidly. Additionally, the thermal stability and mechanical strength of the highly absorbent polymers were significantly improved after blending with ATP and BF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Fossil fuel power plants are the primary contributors to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, necessitating effective and stable methods for adsorbing CO2 from flue gas under diverse conditions. Achieving this remains challenging due to the complexity of flue gas compositions and the prolonged operation of adsorption processes. RESULTS: This study focuses on enhancing CO2 adsorption in flue gas using attapulgite (ATP), activated by acid and modified with tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) via an impregnation method. Characterization through X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and N2 adsorption–desorption revealed that acidic treatment removed impurities, enhancing BET (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller) surface area. TEPA modification significantly increased CO2 adsorption capacity by providing more active sites. Notably, 30TEPA/HATP exhibited the best performance at 3.28 mmol g−1. Optimal CO2 adsorption occurred at 60 °C in simulated flue gas, with water improving amine utilization. Furthermore, 30TEPA/HATP demonstrated consistent CO2 adsorption capacity (3.04 mmol g−1) across concentrations (10–20 vol%) and maintained stability after ten cycles, experiencing only a 7.0% decrease. CONCLUSION: The findings underscore the success of low‐cost ATP, modified with TEPA, in achieving excellent CO2 capture and stability under diverse flue gas conditions. This material holds promise for practical engineering applications in mitigating carbon emissions from fossil fuel power plants. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On-site hydrogen generation from ammonia decomposition is a promising technology to address the challenges of direct transportation and storage of hydrogen. The main problems with the existing support materials for ammonia decomposition catalysts are their high cost and time-consuming preparation process. In this work, ammonia decomposition catalysts consisting of in situ-formed nano-Ru particles supported on a naturally abundant mineral fiber, attapulgite (ATP), were proposed and studied. Also, 1 wt.% Ru was uniformly dispersed and anchored onto the surface of ATP fibers via the chemical method. We found that the calcination temperatures of the ATP support before the deposition of Ru resulted in little difference in catalytic performance, while the calcination temperatures of the 1Ru/ATP precursor were found to significantly influence the catalytic performance. The prepared 1 wt.% Ru/ATP catalyst (1Ru/ATP) without calcination achieved an ammonia conversion efficiency of 51% at 500 °C and nearly 100% at 600 °C, with the flow rate of NH3 being 10 sccm (standard cubic centimeter per minute). A 150 h continuous test at 600 °C showed that the 1Ru/ATP catalyst exhibited good stability with a degradation rate of about 0.01% h−1. The 1Ru/ATP catalyst was integrated with proton ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs). We reported that PCFCs at 650 °C offered 433 mW cm−2 under H2 fuel and 398 mW cm−2 under cracked NH3 fuel. The overall results suggest low-level Ru-loaded ATP could be an attractive, low-cost, and efficient ammonia decomposition catalyst for hydrogen production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low‐cost ceramic microfiltration membranes were explored for immobilizing lipases. Expensive commercial ceramics (e.g., alumina, zirconia) have advantages like chemical robustness, but high sintering temperatures limit their usability. To overcome this, researchers used Fuller's earth clay with rice husk ash to create cost‐effective membranes. However, fewer reactive sites on ceramic surfaces hinder enzyme immobilization. To address this, 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane and glutaraldehyde activated the membrane for covalent lipase binding. The immobilized membrane retained activity for over five 1‐h reaction cycles with a minimal performance decline of around 60 %. After five cycles, it retained over 40 % of the initial activity. These results show promise for using low‐cost ceramic membranes in various industries, such as in food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, and chemical production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In situ capping and biochemical oxidation are two of the most commonly used methods for internal phosphorus (P) control, but there are few studies on the combined use of these two methods. In this study, two lanthanum (La)-based materials, La-modified bentonite (LMB) and the La-modified attapulgite and chitosan composite (LMA&C), were combined with calcium nitrate (CN) to investigate the effect on sediment P control. Results showed that SRP removal rates by LMB+CN and LMA&C+CN were much higher than that by LMB, LMA&C and CN alone. LMB+CN and LMA&C+CN decreased DGT-labile P flux both in overlying water and surface 65 mm sediment, while LMB and LMA&C had an effect only on overlying water and surface 10~40 mm sediment, and CN was effective only on sediments. LMB and LMA&C transformed NH4Cl-P, BD-P, NaOH-SRP and NaOH-NRP in surface 20 mm sediment to HCl-P and Residual-P on day 60. CN transformed NaOH-SRP and NaOH-NRP to BD-P, resulting in the increase in NH4Cl-P. LMB+CN and LMA&C+CN sequestered P in the surface 20 mm mainly as HCl-P and Residual-P, and mainly as BD-P in −20~−60 mm. Results indicate that the combination of capping by La-based material and oxidation by CN is a promising method for sediment P control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a highly effective hybrid adsorbent composite based on low-cost fuller's earth (FE), aluminum silicate (AS) and chitosan (CS) was prepared using a facile method. The prepared composite was applied to adsorb lead (Pb2+) and copper (Cu2+) ions from aqueous solutions. Several analyses such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize the composite. The adsorption efficiency of the prepared composite was investigated at different operating conditions. Moreover, the adsorption isotherm/kinetic models and adsorption thermodynamics of the composite were examined. The results showed that the pseudo-second-order kinetic model described well with the obtained data and the adsorption equilibrium can be better described by Langmuir isotherm model with maximum adsorption capacities of 305.5 and 284.2 mg/g for Pb2+ and Cu2+, respectively. The obtained data demonstrated that the prepared composite is an efficient and kinetically fast metal ion removal with high adsorption capacity and recovery efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attapulgite, as a versatile clay, can be constructed as an integral monolith through a 3D printing strategy to promote practical catalytic applications. Herein, we successfully realized 3D printing of attapulgite monoliths with the superior printing effect via a direct ink writing (DIW) technique. The influence of thermal treatment on DIW attapulgite monoliths was also systematically investigated at different calcination temperatures. Wherein, related characteristic changes of DIW attapulgite monoliths under thermal treatment were examined, including surface morphology, chemical properties, solidification shrinkage, rheological behaviors and compressive strength. Additionally, DIW attapulgite monoliths under thermal treatment were probed for the selective catalytic reduction of NOx with NH3 (NH3-SCR) performance, in which 3D-ATP-400 can exhibit superior low-temperature NH3-SCR activity with almost 100% NOx conversion and N2 selectivity in the range of 40–70 °C. This study can provide a facile strategy for the design and preparation of 3D-printed attapulgite monoliths with superior low-temperature NH3-SCR performance under thermal treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To further reduce the cost of carbon capture technology and improve CO2 desorption efficiency, a low-cost metal modified attapulgite (ATP) solid acid catalyst was prepared. The rich acid sites of the catalysts promoted the regeneration of amine solvent. The result showed that the introduction of ATP-Zr in-creased the amount and rate of CO2 desorption by 13.8% and 42% respectively. The catalyst was also characterized and investigated for the forming process. This work can serve as a reference for the prepara-tion of SACs and the industrial application of energy-efficient CO2 capture technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold-pressed hemp oils are characterized by an intense color, which is undesirable when used directly. Therefore, research was undertaken on removing chlorophyll and carotenoids effectively. This publication presents the results of tests that verified the adsorption properties of seven bleaching earths (BE1–BE7) in two doses (2.5% and 5.0%) in the low-temperature bleaching process of hemp oils. These oils were obtained by cold and hot pressing of the seeds of three varieties of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.): Finola, Earlina 8FC, and Secuieni Jubileu. The color change and the content of carotenoid and chlorophyll pigments in the bleached oils were verified using the colorimetric method (CIE-Lab). The BEs used had different abilities to reduce the content of natural dyes connected with oil decolorization. The conducted research allowed us to characterize the influence of BEs on the organoleptic properties of the tested oils. Hemp oil obtained from the Secuieni Jubileu CP and HP hemp variety should be bleached with unmodified magnesian bentonite at 2.5%. Unmodified attapulgite clay is not recommended for this variety, as it strongly adsorbs carotenoids from the oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to reveal the effect of alkali treatment of walnut shell (WS) powder and attapulgite (ATP) hybrid filling on the properties of WS/polyvinyl chloride (PVC) composites, and to compare the effects of different reinforcement methods, WS/PVC composites were prepared by single screw melt extrusion. Furthermore, analysis was conducted on the chemical composition, thermal stability, microstructure, and physical, mechanical and wear resistance properties of composites. The results showed that ATP hybrid can enhance the performance of WPC more effectively than alkali treatment, unmodified WS blended with ATP composites have the best physical, mechanical properties, abrasive wear resistance, as well as lower water absorption, compared with the untreated, the tensile strength, bending strength and impact strength increased by 24%, 8%, and 21%, respectively. In addition, the composites of ATP hybrid alkali treated WS have the best thermal stability, and its pyrolysis residue is 15.64% higher than untreated composites. The study found that ATP have a larger potential to enhance the properties of composites than alkali treatment. Highlights: Chemical treatment and inorganic mineral particle filling were used to enhance the properties of the WS/PVC composites.The experimental results showed that attapulgite can maximize the properties of the composites without alkali treatment. This means that attapulgite filling is a more effective and environmentally friendly and simple method to enhance the properties of composites than alkali treatment.The wear failure modes of the composites are mainly micro‐indentation and micro‐cutting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]