Alkali Environment Research Articles

Self‐Polycondensation Flux Synthesis of Ultrastable Olefin‐Linked Covalent Organic Frameworks for Electrocatalysis

AbstractCreating new functional materials that efficiently support noble metal catalysts is important and in high demand. Herein, we develop a self‐polycondensation flux synthesis strategy that can produce olefin‐linked covalent organic framework (COF) platforms with high crystallinity and porosity as the supports of Pd nanoparticles for electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (ENRR). A series of “two in one” monomers integrating aldehyde and methyl reactive groups are rationally designed to afford COFs with square‐shaped pores and ultrahigh chemical stability (e.g., strong acid or alkali environments for >1 month). Functionalizing Fluorine significantly boosts the hydrophobicity of fluoro‐functionalized COFs, which can inhibit the competing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and enhance ENRR performances. The COFs loading Pd nanoparticles show high NH3 production yields up to 90.0±2.6 μg ⋅ h−1 ⋅ mgcat.−1 and the faradaic efficiency of 44 % at −0.2 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode, the best comprehensive performance among all reported COFs. Meanwhile, the catalysts are easy to recover and recycle, as demonstrated by their use for 15 cycles and 17 hours, with good performance retention. This work not only provides a new synthesis strategy for olefin‐linked COFs, but also paves a new avenue for the design of highly efficient ENRR catalysts.

Unlocking desalination’s potential: Harnessing MXene composite for sustainable desalination

Amidst freshwater scarcity, desalination is an effective solution, elevating pure water to a paramount commodity. Researchers actively pursue cost-effective alternatives to traditional desalination methods, with solar steam-based technologies now-a-days. Herein we report the synthesis of hierarchical photothermal absorber consisting of Ti3C2Tx decorated polypropylene fiber (PPF) composite and further used for solar desalination applications. Ensuring system stability amidst temperature fluctuations, pH variations, and mechanical stresses is pivotal for optimal desalination and wastewater treatment performance. Seamless integration of components is imperative to achieve this. Structurally, the Ti3C2Tx MXene@PPF composite evaporator showcases impressive metrics, such as high evaporation rate of 4.63 kg m−2h−1 along with a remarkable solar-evaporation efficiency of 93.48 % when tested under 1 sun illumination. Moreover, the composite absorber exhibits good mechanical stability, exceptional chemical stability even under harsh conditions (such as acid and alkali environments), outstanding salt tolerance and maintained a consistent evaporation rate over extended durations. Also, the absorber achieves good mechanical properties. These findings underscore the Ti3C2Tx MXene@PPF composite evaporator’s potential as a groundbreaking material for solar steam generation, offering high efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Beyond saline water desalination, its salt-preserving attributes and filtration capabilities position it as a promising alternative for wastewater treatment. This study presents an innovative and scalable solar water purification system applicable to a diverse range of water contaminants and manufacture in a cost-effective way.

Preparation and performance evaluation of CNF‐enhanced polyether‐modified polysiloxane defoamer

AbstractIn this article, polyether‐modified polysiloxanes were synthesized by the reaction of poly(methyl hydrogen siloxane) (PMHS) with Allyl alcohol polyether B‐400. FT‐IR, laser particle size analysis, hydrophilic–lipophilic balance (HLB) value test, and surface tension measurements were used to characterize its structures and properties. The results show that the control law for the HLB value of polyether‐modified polysiloxanes was obtained as follow: the HLB value increases with increasing hydrogen content of PMHS. When the polyether‐modified polysiloxanes were used to emulsify the polysiloxane, at the HLB value of 10.5, the average particle size of the emulsion was about 0.23 μm with a narrow particle size distribution. The emulsion has good emulsifying and dispersing properties, as well as excellent foam elimination and foam inhibition performance. When the cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) was used as a protective agent for the preparing of the polysiloxane defoamer, the stability of the emulsion does not affect, but its foam elimination and foam inhibition of emulsion can be further improved at the presence of CNF. The lowest surface tension of CNF‐enhanced polyether‐modified polysiloxane defoamer is about 22.4 mN m−1, which has good surface property. When the concentration of CNF‐enhanced polyether‐modified polysiloxane defoamer was 0.1 g L−1, the foam elimination time and foam inhibition time were 5.8 s and 38 min, respectively, at the temperature (80°C) and alkali environment (pH 13).

Trichoderma Rhizosphere Soil Improvement: Regulation of Nitrogen Fertilizer in Saline–Alkali Soil in Semi-Arid Region and Its Effect on the Microbial Community Structure of Maize Roots

In order to reduce the actual impact of a saline–alkali environment on maize production in semi-arid areas, it is particularly important to use the combined fertilization strategy of Trichoderma microbial fertilizer and nitrogen fertilizer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different concentrations of nitrogen fertilizer combined with Trichoderma on improving the structural characteristics and ecological functions of maize rhizosphere microbial community in semi-arid saline–alkali soil. Through the microbiome analysis of maize rhizosphere soil samples with 60 kg N·ha−1 (N1) and 300 kg N·ha−1 (N2) nitrogen fertilizer combined with Trichoderma (T1) and without Trichoderma (T0), we found that the combination of Trichoderma and different concentrations of nitrogen fertilizer significantly affected the structure of bacterial and fungal communities. The results of this study showed that the combination of Trichoderma and low-concentration nitrogen fertilizer (N1T1) could improve soil nutritional status and enhance its productivity potential, revealing the relationship between beneficial and harmful fungal genera, microbial diversity and abundance, and crop biomass, which is of great significance for improving agricultural production efficiency and sustainable development.

Hydrothermal synthesis of MXenes in alkali environment and development of MXene/PEDOT:PSS composite electrodes for supercapacitor applications

Hydrothermal synthesis of MXenes in alkali environment and development of MXene/PEDOT:PSS composite electrodes for supercapacitor applications

Self-Polycondensation Flux Synthesis of Ultrastable Olefin-Linked Covalent Organic Frameworks for Electrocatalysis.

Creating new functional materials that efficiently support noble metal catalysts is important and in high demand. Herein, we develop a self-polycondensation flux synthesis strategy that can produce olefin-linked covalent organic framework (COF) platforms with high crystallinity and porosity as the supports of Pd nanoparticles for electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (ENRR). A series of "two in one" monomers integrating aldehyde and methyl reactive groups are rationally designed to afford COFs with square-shaped pores and ultrahigh chemical stability (e.g., strong acid or alkali environments for >1 month). Functionalizing Fluorine significantly boosts the hydrophobicity of fluoro-functionalized COFs, which can inhibit the competing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and enhance ENRR performances. The COFs loading Pd nanoparticles show high NH3 production yields up to 90.0±2.6 μg ⋅ h-1 ⋅ mgcat. -1 and the faradaic efficiency of 44 % at -0.2 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode, the best comprehensive performance among all reported COFs. Meanwhile, the catalysts are easy to recover and recycle, as demonstrated by their use for 15 cycles and 17 hours, with good performance retention. This work not only provides a new synthesis strategy for olefin-linked COFs, but also paves a new avenue for the design of highly efficient ENRR catalysts.

A non-enzymatic flexible and wearable sensor based on thermal transfer printing technology for continuous glucose detection in sweat

Non-invasive, flexible wearable sensors are an important method to continuously measure glucose in sweat for diabetes and human health monitoring and management. However, how to create an alkaline environment at any time so that CuO based sensors can be applied to wearable devices to detect sweat glucose while finding a way to efficiently and quickly produce the sensors in small batches have been a challenge. Herein, we report a non-enzymatic thermal transferred flexible and wearable sensor based on CuO/CaTiO3 for continuous glucose detection in sweat. The sensor is manufactured using thermal transfer printing technology, which offers advantages like low cost, ease of operation, and rapid small batch production. CuO is known for its excellent electrocatalytic activity, making it a suitable candidate for glucose oxidation. Meanwhile, CaTiO3 particles provide a large specific surface area, good biocompatibility, and electrical conductivity, which enhance the electron transfer rate during detection and broaden the linear range of glucose detection. Specially designed NaOH/Nafion/PEO blend film make the measurements always in a strong alkali environment without any pretreatment and preparation. The synthesized material with this as-prepared flexible and wearable sensor exhibits superior performance towards glucose monitoring, such as high sensitivity of 487.3 μA mM−1 cm−2 with limit of detection(LOD) 0.75 μM, wide dynamic linear range from 0.01 mM to 2 mM and fast response time of less than 0.1 s. Additionally, the proposed sensor also exhibited excellent biocompatibility, selectivity, reproducibility and flexibility, as well as good stability with about 88 % of its initial activity after 5 weeks’ storage and it has been successfully applied for the detection of glucose concentration in human sweat real samples. This research contributes to the development of flexible and wearable sensors for non-invasive sweat diagnostics, enabling continuous glucose monitoring for various applications in healthcare and wellness.

A coumarin-hemicyanine fluorescent probe for simultaneous detection and discrimination of biothiols, HSO3− and S2-

Biomercaptan, bisulfite (HSO3−) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) are involved in many physiological and pathological processes in the human body. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop a fluorescent probe that can simultaneously detect and distinguish biological mercaptans from HSO3− and S2−. The probe CDI-1 was synthesized by combining coumarin with hemicyanine. The maximum absorption wavelength of the probe is at 609 nm. After adding Cys/Hcy and GSH, the probe shows varying degrees of blue shift, which can be used to distinguish Cys/Hcy and GSH. After it reacts with Cys/Hcy, the fluorescence intensity of the solution increases about twice, while it increases three times after it reacts with GSH. This phenomenon can also be used to distinguish Cys/Hcy from GSH. The probe CDI-1 can react with Cys completely within 30 min, with Hcy or GSH completely within 80 min, and with HSO3− and S2− quickly within 20 min. The study on the effect of pH on the fluorescence performance of CDI-1 shows that the probe is suitable for detecting biological mercaptan or HSO3−, S2− in weak acid to weak alkali environments. The selectivity study showed that the probe CDI-1 had high specificity for biological mercaptan, HSO3− and S2−. This provides a new and simple method for simultaneous detection of biological mercaptan, HSO3− and S2− ions.

The Dispersion and Hydration Improvement of Silica Fume in UHPC by Carboxylic Agents.

Silica fume (SF) is an essential component in ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) to compact the matrix, but the nucleus effect also causes rapid hydration, which results in high heat release and large shrinkage. In this paper, the carboxylic agents, including polyacrylic acid and polycarboxylate superplasticizer, were used to surface modify SF to adjust the activity to mitigate hydration at an early time and to promote continuous hydration for a long period. The surface and dispersion properties of modified SF (MSF), as well as the strength and pore structure of UHPC, were studied, and the stability of the modification was also investigated. The results demonstrated that, after treatment, the carboxylic groups were grafted on the SF surface, the dispersion of SF was improved due to the increased negative pentanal of the particle surface and the steric hindrance effect, the early hydration was delayed about 3-5 h, and the hydration heat release was also mitigated. The compressive strength of UHPC with MSF reached a maximum of 138.7 MPa at 3 days, which decreased about 3.7% more than the plain group, while flexural strength varied insignificantly. More pores and cracks were observed in the matrix with MSF, and the hydration degree was promoted with MSF addition. The grafted group on SF fell off under an alkali environment after 1 h.

Effect of thermal pretreatment on the reactivity of red mud valorized as aluminosilicate precursor for geopolymer production

Thermal pretreatment has proven to be an effective method to improve the reactivity of red mud to be valorized as an aluminosilicate precursor for geopolymer production. This approach offers the dual advantage of recovering caustic residue in red mud and encapsulating heavy metal, thus, achieving the transformation of red mud into a cleaner and value-added construction material. However, the inconsistent properties of red mud, including variations in chemical composition, particle size, and amorphous content pose challenges and can lead to instability in geopolymer as well as the effectiveness of thermal pretreatment, limiting the scalability of red mud valorization. Here in this study, thermal pretreatment was employed on five types of red mud from three refineries by calcining each red mud at 800 ○C for 2 h and its effect on the reactivity of each red mud was evaluated by comparing the performance of the resultant geopolymer. The results demonstrated a significant enhancing effect from thermal pretreatment, particularly noticeable at NaOH concentrations of 4 M and 8 M. This again highlighted the potential of thermal pretreatment in the conversion of red mud into construction material. However, amplified disparities between each thermal pretreated-red mud were also observed. To further address the challenges associated with thermal pretreatment variability, the dissolubility of reactive content from each thermal pretreated-red mud under alkali environments was quantified through alkali leaching tests and correlated to the mechanical properties of its resultant geopolymer. A strong negative correlation was observed between the concentration of Si, Al, and Fe from thermal pretreated-red mud and the mechanical properties of its resultant geopolymer. This correlation has the potential to facilitate quality control measures for thermal pretreated-red mud and its derived geopolymer, enabling better process optimization and consistency in geopolymer production.

Fabrication of high-performance pervaporation desalination composite membranes with study of its acid-base stability

In the process of industrial production will produce a lot of acid and alkaline waste liquid, how to effectively treat acid and alkali waste liquid is an important topic at present. At present, there are some problems about the treatment of acid and alkali waste liquid, such as large investment, complicated process and low efficiency. Pervaporation has the characteristics of mild operating conditions and no influence of osmotic pressure threshold, so it has great application potential in the concentration, reuse and reduction of acid and alkali waste liquid. However, at present, conventional pervaporation dense membrane materials cannot maintain long-term stability in strong acid and alkali environment, in order to achieve this performance, we use perfluorosulfonic acid resin with good acid and alkali resistance as the dense layer substrate. PFSA/PTFE/PP composite membrane was prepared by spraying process, and the final prepared composite membrane had a pure water flux of 45 ± 1.2 kg/(m2∙h) at 70 ℃. The acid and alkali resistance of the intrinsic membrane and the composite membrane was evaluated, and it was found that the feed liquid was concentrated to 20 wt% after 19 h long concentration operation at 70℃ and starting liquid was 5 wt% H2SO4 and 5 wt% NaOH. The retention rate of acid and alkali can be maintained above 99.9 %. During the concentration of H2SO4 solution, the dense layer structure is affected, and the pure water flux of the composite membrane is reduced, eventually maintaining around 32 kg/(m2∙h). In the process of concentrating NaOH solution, the pure water flux of the composite membrane increased first and then decreased, and the final pure water flux of the membrane remained near 40 kg/(m2∙h).

Thermal protective and hydrophobic coating on polyimide resin matrix composites surface for improved aging resistance

AbstractPolyimide composites are easily degraded in high temperature and high humidity environments for long service, which reduces their reliability and stability in aerospace, electronic components, weapons, and other fields. In this paper, the inorganic and organic multiphase double‐layer coating was prepared. The insulating layer was made of vinyl polysilazane resin as the base material and hollow glass microspheres as the filler. The hydrophobic layer consisted of polydimethylsiloxane as the base material, hollow phenolic microspheres, and nano‐TiO2 as the filler. The heat resistance, hydrophobic properties, and aging resistance of the coated polyimide resin matrix composites were studied. The results showed that the thickness of the double‐layer coating was about 200 μm. Under the 200°C thermal insulation test, the maximum temperature drop can be achieved at 59.7°C. After adding 5 wt% TiO2, the static contact angle of composites was increased from 86.2° to 127.7°. Significantly, the hydrophobic performance was improved by 48.1%, which was due to the construction of micro‐nano structures in the surface layer coating. In the accelerated hydrothermal aging tests, the bending properties of coated composite materials can be improved by 8.5%, 3.2%, and 8.7% in water, alkali, and acid environments, respectively. The moisture absorption of glass fiber and the pyrolysis of polyimide led to the degradation of the mechanical properties. The existence of heat‐resistant and hydrophobic coating could effectively eliminate this adverse effect, which was of great significance for polyimide composites to cope with various service environments.Highlights A novel coating consisting of thermal insulating and hydrophobic layers was developed on glass fiber reinforced polyimide composites (G/PI) composites. The maximum temperature drop of coating can be achieved at 59.7°C. The static contact angle of coated G/PI composites was increased from 86.2° to 127.7°. In the aging tests, the protective effect of the coating resulted in improved mechanical strengths of G/PI composites. The microscopic damage morphology was performed to analyze the anti‐aging properties of the coating.

Highly reliable and ultra-wideband metamaterial absorber based on graphene-assembled films for extremes

Metamaterial absorbers have demonstrated significant potential in mitigating electromagnetic pollution, yet there is a dearth of research on absorbers that function effectively in extreme environments. In this work, a highly reliable and ultra-wideband metamaterial absorber based on graphene-assembled films (GAFs) is proposed. The presented absorber consists of four-layer structures, including a high-resistance GAF pattern layer, a polyimide medium layer, an air layer, and a low-resistance GAF layer. The periodic ring structure made of high-resistance GAF by screen printing with a sheet resistance of 57 Ω/sq exhibits excellent characteristics of wideband absorption and broad incidence angle absorption. The GAF absorber demonstrates a measured absorption efficiency exceeding 90 %, covering 4.24–17.90 GHz, and has a relative bandwidth of 123.4 %, which exhibits good stability when electromagnetic waves are incident at 0–30°. More importantly, the GAF absorber maintains excellent performance in various extreme conditions, including acid, alkali, salt spray, high-humidity, high-temperature, and low-temperature environments. Therefore, the GAF absorber demonstrates consistent reliability and stability under extreme conditions, which is significant for electromagnetic protection under extremes.

Co-encapsulation of bacterial spores and nutrients by polyethylene glycol for self-sealing cementitious composites

Co-encapsulation of endospores and nutrients in self-healing concrete can mitigate their negative effects on cement hydration. However, the current approaches of co-encapsulation for bacteria-based self-healing cementitious composites could cause pre-consumption of nutrients before cracking or a restricted release of nutrients after cracking. To address the nutrient release issue, polyethylene glycol (PEG) with high solubility was applied as an alternative to co-encapsulation of bacterial spores and nutrients, subsequently coated by an epoxy/sand protective shell herein. The core-shell structured capsules rapidly released the encapsulated substances within approximately 4 h and protected the encapsulated endospores in alkali environments. Due to the co-encapsulation, hydration retardation was avoided, leading to less severe reductions in compressive strength. After cracking, although the released amount of nutrients decreased after encapsulation, the closure of cracks below 300 μm was improved in the presence of capsules, thus water tightness was recovered more significantly. A model was developed to simulate sealing evolutions, and the modelling results were generally consistent with the experimental results.

Tailoring physicochemical properties of quaternized polystyrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene membrane for enhanced pervaporation desalination

Pervaporation offers unique advantages for desalination of hypersaline water using highly hydrophilic and selective membrane. Positively charged membrane is superior in repelling cations and preventing scaling through electrostatic repulsion. This study investigates the quaternization and crosslinking of block copolymer styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) membrane and explores the potential of quaternized membrane for pervaporation desalination. A one-step immersion process was proposed to easily adjust the physicochemical properties of membrane using trimethylamine (TMA) and N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-1,6-hexanediamine (TMHDA) for ammonium grafting and crosslinking. Compared to the quaternization with TMA or TMHDA alone, the combination of TMA and TMHDA produces a synergistic effect, improving crosslinking efficiency and facilitating the grafting reaction. This results in high ion exchange capacity (IEC) values and a transformation of microphase separation structure with more interconnected hydrophilic domains. An ultrahigh water permeability coefficient of 0.6 × 106–1.2 × 106 Barrer and highly intrinsic salt rejection were obtained in treating 3.5–20 wt% NaCl solution. The thin film composite QEBS/nylon membranes showed a superior water flux of 116.5 kg·m−2·h−1 and salt rejection of >99.99 % in desalinating 5 wt% NaCl solution at 85 °C. Additionally, the membrane exhibited excellent long-term performance stability and resistance to acid and alkali environment, showing great potential for desalination of hypersaline water.

Alkaline stability of polyester nanofiltration membranes prepared by interfacial polymerization

Polyester nanofiltration membranes typically outperform traditional polyamide alternatives in fouling resistance, water flux, and chlorine tolerance. However, their alkali resistance remains poorly understood. This study investigates the stability of polyester membranes, prepared via interfacial polymerization of eight hydroxyl monomers with TMC, in alkaline conditions (pH 12.4). We systematically recorded changes in water flux and solute rejection and employed SEM, AFM, zeta-potential, contact angle analysis, and XPS to examine physicochemical structural changes during hydrolysis. The findings reveal that most membranes are susceptible to alkaline hydrolysis, evidenced by increased water flux and decreased rejection rates. Specifically, membranes derived from pyrogallol-based hydroxyl monomers exhibited the greatest instability, whereas those incorporating sodium alginate demonstrated remarkable stability. After immersion in water, the water flux of the TA membrane increased from 8.4 to 21.2 Lm−2h−1bar−1 and the rejection rate decreased from 36.6 % to 12.1 %. the water flux of PG membrane was from 22.0 to 54.2 Lm−2h−1bar−1, while the rejection rate decreased from 60.2 % to 22.7 %. DFT calculations corroborate these observations, linking ester bond energies with membrane stability. This study not only advances our understanding of polyester nanofiltration membrane properties but also highlights critical vulnerabilities in alkali environments, guiding future improvements.

Characterization of aloe vera gel incorporated unsaturated polyester resin jute-cotton fabric composites for enhanced biodegradability, flexibility, and insulation properties

In this research, Aloe Vera Gel (AVG) was incorporated into Unsaturated Polyester Resin (UPR) with jute-cotton union fabric to fabricate partially biodegradable composites. These composites were fabricated using a hand lay-up technique and characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetry Analysis (TGA), thermal conductivity measurements, water absorption tests, degradation assessments, cracking tests, and Universal Testing Machine (UTM) analysis. The study found that increasing the percentage of AVG in the composites led to a decrease in thermal conductivity, indicating improved insulation properties. Samples reinforced with AVG showed enhanced resistance to damage from iron nails, with reduced scratching and fiber displacement observed. However, the addition of AVG resulted in decreased thermal, mechanical, and water resistance properties compared to composites without AVG. FTIR analysis demonstrated interactions between AVG and the matrix materials. In degradation tests, composites subjected to an alkali environment (PH = 11.96) showed the highest weight reduction (2.22 %) compared to those without AVG. Similarly, composites buried in soil exhibited greater weight loss (2.38 %) than their counterparts lacking AVG. Overall, the developed composite's reduced heat transfer rate suggests its potential application as an insulating material in environments such as rural poultry housing and the automotive industry.

Ex Situ Stabilization/Solidification Approaches of Marine Sediments Using Green Cement Admixtures.

The routine dredging of waterways produces huge volumes of sediments. Handling contaminated dredged sediments poses significant and diverse challenges around the world. In recent years, novel and sustainable ex situ remediation technologies for contaminated sediments have been developed and applied. This review article focuses on cement-based binders in stabilizing contaminants through the stabilization/solidification (S/S) technique and the utilization of contaminated sediments as a resource. Through S/S techniques, heavy metals can be solidified and stabilized in dense and durable solid matrices, reducing their permeability and restricting their release into the environment. Industrial by-products like red mud (RM), soda residue (SR), pulverized fly ash (PFA), and alkaline granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) can immobilize heavy metal ions such as lead, zinc, cadmium, copper, and chromium by precipitation. However, in a strong alkali environment, certain heavy metal ions might dissolve again. To address this, immobilization in low pH media can be achieved using materials like GGBS, metakaolin (MK), and incinerated sewage sludge ash (ISSA). Additionally, heavy metals can be also immobilized through the formation of silicate gels and ettringites during pozzolanic reactions by mechanisms such as adsorption, ion exchanges, and encapsulation. It is foreseeable that, in the future, the scientific community will increasingly turn towards multidisciplinary studies on novel materials, also after an evaluation of the effects on long-term heavy metal stabilization.

Optimization of bio-oil production from macroalgae, caulerpa lentillifera via hydrothermal liquefaction

Abstract An environmentally friendly method of producing bio-oil through the hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of algae has emerged, providing a path toward renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Algae is currently received a lot of interest as biomass feedstock due to its long growing season in warm climate area, does not require arable land, and relatively rapid growing rate. This study aims to optimize the HTL process of macroalgae (Caulerpa lentillifera) for bio-oil production, focusing on optimizing the bio-oil yield based on three parameters (operating temperature, the loading size of catalyst sodium hydroxide (NaOH), and algae-to-water ratio) using Box Behnken Design (also generally known as Response Surface Methodology). The results showed that an ideal reaction temperature of 277 °C, a 1:10 algae-to-water ratio, and 0.88 wt% catalyst loading led to an optimal experimental bio-oil yield of 11.65 wt%. Sensitivity study also revealed that the temperature is the second most important component, after the algae-to-water ratio. The difference in the catalyst loading showed low impact on the HTL of algae. Slight improvement to the bio-oil yield under the presence of NaOH is mainly due to the alkali environment provided by NaOH. The FTIR spectrum revealed the existence of various functional groups in the bio-oil. In summary, HTL has been effective in turning Caulerpa lentillifera into useful bio-oil. Overall, this study contributes to the growing body of research on algae-based bio-oil production. The results highlighted the potential of HTL as a promising technology for sustainable biofuel production, offering a pathway towards a greener and more energy-efficient future.

Bioactive Calcium Hydride-Driving "Triple" Hydrogen/Alkaline/Calcium Therapy for Efficient Treatment of Osteomyelitis.

Osteomyelitis with high mortality and disability rates is a common clinical disease caused by a bacterial infection that is difficult to cure. Considering the stubborn nature and depth of tissue infection, rapid and effective treatments for osteomyelitis remain an enormous challenge. Calcium hydride (CaH2), as efficient hydrogen/alkaline/calcium donors, is employed for combined osteomyelitis therapy. CaH2 reacts with water to sufficiently generate a strong alkali environment with hydroxide anions (OH-) to inhibit bacterial proliferation and induce bacterial death. The released calcium ions (Ca2+) induce calcium overload to kill bacteria first and then serves as calcium source to promote new bone formation. Another byproduct, hydrogen enhances the bacterial membrane permeability and scavenges excess reactive oxygen species (ROS). After incubation with bacteria, CaH2 significantly increases the permeability of the bacterial membrane, therefore increasing the entry of OH- and Ca2+ into bacterial cells, thereby leading to significant bacterial death. After being applied to S. aureus-infected mouse tibia osteomyelitis, CaH2 materials efficiently kill bacteria, relieve local inflammation, and promote new bone formation in a short time. Overall, bioactive metal hydride-associated "triple" hydrogen/alkaline/calcium therapy provides a new idea for the treatment of deep-site bacterial infection, which is beneficial for relieving the pressure caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.