Reexamining the phenolic composition of commonly consumed Brazilian fruits by using metabolomics tools.

Comprehensive profiling of extractable versus non-extractable phenolic compounds in plums (Prunus domestica L.).

Effect of thermal alkaline and thermal hydrolysis on the methane production and antibiotic resistance genes removal during sewage sludge anaerobic digestion

A series of bis‐diimine rhenium(I) complexes Re(NN1‐OMe) − Re(NN3‐OMe) , containing neocuproine and methyl [2‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)quinoline‐4‐carboxylate (NN1), methyl [2,2′‐biquinoline]‐4‐carboxylate (NN2), dimethyl [2,2′‐biquinoline]−4,4′‐dicarboxylate (NN3) was synthesized and characterized. Utilization of the asymmetric NN1 and NN2 ligands affords two types of structural isomers, which were isolated and structurally studied by X‐ray diffraction analysis in the solid state. 1 H‐ 1 H COSY and NOESY NMR experiments confirmed preservation of the structural patterns in liquid media for the complexes under study. Alkaline hydrolysis of the ester groups in the NN# diimine ligands was performed to give the Re(NN1‐OK) − Re(NN3‐OK) complexes exhibiting higher water solubility that made possible to use them in biological experiments. In MeOH and aqueous media, the complexes display NIR absorption with a long wavelength band at ca. 715 nm extended up to 850 nm in the case of both forms of Re(NN3)‐OX . The Re(NN3‐OK) complex demonstrated stable photoacoustic signal in oxygenated blood phantoms and showed no significant toxicity with the cell viability above 80% even at concentrations of 1 mM in cell experiments with CHO‐K1 cell line.

Protein hydrolysis for amino acid analysis revisited.

Abstract Freshwater scarcity demands materials and systems that enable efficient, low-cost, and environmentally responsible water generation. Here we report a hydrocell technology based on a recycled-polymer superabsorbent, poly(acrylamide-co-potassium acrylate) (PANSAP), synthesized through solvent-free alkaline hydrolysis of post-consumer polyacrylonitrile textiles. The process achieves an Environmental Factor (E-factor) of 0.056 when ammonia released during hydrolysis is recovered as ammonium phosphate, comparable to benchmark polymer-recycling efficiencies. The resulting cross-linked polymer exhibits a swelling capacity exceeding 200 g H₂O g⁻¹ and a stable atmospheric uptake of 0.43 ± 0.09 g g⁻¹ over 79 days at 69–90% relative humidity. Integrated into modular hydrocell plates, PANSAP delivers hybrid solar–electric desorption yields of 4–6 L day⁻¹ from 25 units at 0.90–1.25 kWh L⁻¹, approaching the thermodynamic minimum for water evaporation. Long-term cycling tests indicate negligible nitrogen loss (0.09 mg L⁻¹ NH₃ yr⁻¹), corresponding to an estimated service life beyond 2,500 cycles. Derived from recycled textiles, partially biodegradable, and agronomically beneficial through potassium release, PANSAP establishes a scalable, circular-materials framework for atmospheric water harvesting. The results position polymer-based hydrocells as a durable and sustainable platform for decentralized freshwater generation in arid and semi-arid regions.

The development of oil–water separation materials that combine high separation efficiency, robust mechanical properties, and environmental degradability remains a significant challenge. This study presents a novel degradable and superhydrophobic porous material fabricated via a multi-step process. A porous foam was first synthesized from degradable poly(ε-caprolactone-co-2-ethylhexyl acrylate) using a high internal phase emulsion templating technique. The foam was subsequently modified through in situ silica (SiO2) deposition via a sol–gel process, followed by grafting with hydrophobic hexadecyltrimethoxysilane (HDTMS) to produce the final oil–water separation porous materials. Various characterization results showed that the optimized material featured a hierarchical pore structure in micro scales and the porosity of the foam remained ~90% even after the 2-step modification. Mechanical tests indicate that the modified material exhibited significantly enhanced compressive strength and the water contact angle measurements revealed a superhydrophobic surface with a value of approximately 156°. The prepared material demonstrated excellent oil/water separation performance with notable absorption capacities ranging from 4.11 to 4.90 g/g for oils with different viscosity. Additionally, the porous material exhibited exceptional cyclic stability, maintaining over 90% absorption capacity after 10 absorption-desorption cycles. Moreover, the prepared material achieved a mass loss of approximately 30% within the first 3 days under alkaline hydrolysis conditions (pH 12, 25 °C), which further escalated to ~70% degradation within four weeks. The current work establishes a feasible strategy for developing sustainable, high-performance oil–water separation materials through rational structural design and surface engineering.

ABSTRACT With the growing demand for sustainable and biodegradable adhesives, castor oil has gained attention as a promising bio‐based raw material due to its hydroxyl functionality, low toxicity, and environmental benefits. In this study, a solvent‐free pressure‐sensitive adhesive (CO‐PSA) with a high castor oil content (55 wt%) was synthesized via controlled functionalization of castor oil (trifunctional to difunctional) and polymerization with isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI). FTIR confirmed the target chemical structure of CO‐PSA by comparing the structures of the starting material, intermediates, and final product. The optimal CO‐PSA formulation (CO‐PSA‐3) exhibited outstanding adhesive performance: initial tack for an 11# steel ball, 180° peel adhesion strength of 12.26 N/25 mm, and static shear holding power of 25 h. Wettability tests confirmed good surface interaction (water contact angle < 80° for all formulations), ensuring effective substrate bonding. Thermal analysis (DSC/TGA) indicated good thermal stability (initial thermal degradation temperature: 266°C) and flexibility at low temperatures (glass transition range: −70°C to −32°C). Degradation studies showed that CO‐PSA undergoes complete alkaline hydrolysis within 2 h, forming nanoscale degradation products (~90 nm in diameter). The high–castor‐oil (55 wt%), solvent‐free, and degradable CO‐PSA formulation developed in this study can serve as an environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum‐derived adhesives, advancing sustainable adhesive technologies for the packaging industry and related sectors.

Extraction and characterization of keratin from chicken feathers via alkaline hydrolysis and characterization of its secondary structure

Sustainable flocculation system for microalgae harvesting and dye-containing wastewater treatment: Chlorella vulgaris as a bioflocculant source.

Innovative microwave-assisted extraction with biobased solvents to enhance the recovery of bioactive extractable and non-extractable polyphenols from lemon peels.

Introduction. Coumarin and its derivatives are biologically active substances (BAS) of plant origin that exhibit a range of pharmacological activities as well as toxicological effects. The adverse effects of coumarin derivative drugs, along with poisonings caused by the use of rodenticides, coumarin-containing plants, and other related factors, justify the relevance of developing a rapid analytical method for the detection of coumarin derivatives. Aim. To develop a rapid semi-quantitative method for the determination of coumarin derivatives using paper chromatography, perform validation tests, and apply the method to plant-based samples. Materials and methods. For the development of the method were used substances coumarin and sodium hydroxide, filter paper brand FS and UV-lamp (365 nm). The technique includes impregnating paper bars with NaOH solutions (5–30 %), sample preparation with water or ethanol extraction followed by filtration, and visual fluorescence detection. Validation was performed using standard samples of phenolic compounds (coumarin derivatives, hydroxycorium derivatives, benzoic acids and flavonoids). Results and discussion. As a result of the studies, the optimal conditions of the technique were established: concentration of the impregnating solution of sodium hydroxide – 10 %, use of SF-mark paper and detection time of 20 seconds. It is shown that the method has selectivity to coumarin derivatives when performing a number of tests, which are reflected in the «decision tree». Confirmed the possibility of semi-quantitative determination with detection limit 1 · 10 –6 mg/ml and testing on synthetic and plant objects. Conclusion. A rapid semi-quantitative method for the determination of coumarin derivatives has been developed, based on their alkaline hydrolysis on a paper substrate with subsequent fluorescence detection. The method is characterized by simplicity, high sensitivity (limit of detection 1 · 10 –6 mg/mL), and was successfully tested on medicinal products, plant materials, and other objects. The proposed methodology is recommended as an effective tool for preliminary screening in laboratory practice.

The massive accumulation of agricultural waste, such as wheat straw, and its disposal by burning pose significant environmental challenges. This study explores a sustainable solution by converting wheat straw into composite superabsorbent polymers (SAPs)—superabsorbents contain both synthetic and biodegradable fragments—for improved agricultural water and nutrient management. Wheat straw (WS) was sequentially processed via acid and alkaline hydrolysis to yield fractions with different lignin contents, which were then carboxymethylated (CMWS-Ac and CMWS-Al) to enhance hydrophilicity. These derivatives were incorporated at 20 and 33 wt. %. into SAPs synthesized by copolymerization with acrylamide and acrylic acid. The CMWS-Al-based SAPs exhibited superior properties, including higher equilibrium swelling ratios (up to 566 g/g in water), excellent mechanical strength, and robust gel structure, as confirmed by rheological studies. Furthermore, SAPs demonstrated a significant capacity to retain urea in sand columns, with SAP-CMWS-Al-33 achieving 56% urea retention, highlighting their potential for mitigating fertilizer leaching. The results establish a correlation between the extent of straw processing, the physicochemical properties and lignin content of the derivatives, and the performance of the final SAPs. These wheat straw-based SAPs present a promising, sustainable technology for enhancing soil moisture retention, improving fertilizer use efficiency, and valorizing agricultural waste.

To control the excretion of beta-agonists used to accelerate the growth of muscle mass in animal husbandry, a method of determination of 20 compounds of this series in the cattle urine and blood, and 12 compounds in the cattle hairs samples by high-performance liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry has been developed. The sample preparation of cattle urine included enzymatic hydrolysis in a phosphate buffer followed by purification using solid-phase extraction with a Copure C8/SCX sorbent. For the blood samples extraction of analytes by acetonitrile and acetic acid, followed by a phase separation and purification using C 18 and aluminum oxide were carried out. Hair samples were subjected to an alkaline hydrolysis, and the analytes were extracted using methyl tert butyl ether. The extract was then transferred to acetonitrile for further dispersive purification. The overall loss during sample preparation ranged from 27 to 85% for blood samples and from 2 to 80% for urine samples, depending on the compound being determined. Chromatographic separation was conducted in a gradient mode using an ACQUITY UPLC HSS C 18 column. Detection was performed in the selected reactions monitoring mode with registration of at least two product ions for each compound. The detection ranges of beta-agonists in urine were 0.25 – 20.0 μg/kg; 0.1 – 10.0 μg/kg in blood; 0.5 – 20.0 μg/kg in hairs depending on the analyte. For urine and blood analysis, the relative expanded uncertainty values ranged from 9 to 25%, while for hair analysis, they ranged from 9 to 30%.

The rapid development of the textile industry has led to massive disposal of waste polyester/cotton blended fabrics via landfilling or incineration, causing severe environmental pollution and resource waste. To achieve high-value recycling, this work proposes a green chemical approach for efficient separation and upcycling of polyester and cotton components. A deep eutectic solvent (ZnCl2/H3PO4/H2O) dissolved cotton, leaving polyester intact. The cellulose solution, rich in Zn2+ ions, was reinforced with bacterial cellulose (BC) to form a composite film. Subsequent NaOH treatment and thermal decomposition enabled in situ synthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO), yielding an antibacterial regenerated cellulose film (Cellulose/BC/ZnO). Antibacterial tests showed that the inhibition zones against E. coli, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa were 2.6 ± 0.2, 3.0 ± 0.2, and 2.0 ± 0.2mm, respectively, confirming the antibacterial efficacy of zinc oxide. For separated polyester fibers, a bio-based solvent system (DMI/EG/KOH) facilitated alkaline hydrolysis, depolymerizing PET into high-purity terephthalic acid (TPA). Structural and thermal analyses (FT-IR, XRD, TGA) verified TPA recovery. Molecular dynamics simulations elucidated solvent-polymer interactions at the electronic level, offering mechanistic insights into cellulose dissolution and PET depolymerization. This work provides a sustainable strategy for textile waste upcycling, expands applications of regenerated cellulose films in biomedicine, and promotes closed-loop polyester recycling.

Quantification of esterified oxylipins following HILIC-fractionation of lipid classes.

Abstract Gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors and are frequently characterized by mutations in the isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) gene, particularly the R132H point mutation. These genetic alterations are among the earliest events in gliomagenesis and result in a neomorphic enzymatic activity that converts α-ketoglutarate to the oncometabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG) (Kayabolen et al., 2021). The accumulation of 2-HG inhibits α-ketoglutarate-dependent enzymes, leading to widespread epigenetic and metabolic changes (Dang et al., 2009). This also results in an altered sphingolipid metabolism. Sphingolipids are bioactive lipids that play essential roles in regulating apoptosis, autophagy, and cell survival (Strub et al., 2010) - key processes in cancer progression and therapy response. This study aims to identify specific alterations in bioactive sphingolipids in IDH1-mutant glioma cells and to evaluate their impact on cellular pathways. Experiments were conducted using an isogenic U-87 MG glioma cell line harboring the IDH1R132H/+ mutation, with wild-type IDH1+/+ cells serving as controls. The only difference between the two cell lines is the single point mutation at codon 132, ensuring high comparability. Lipid extractions were performed using a methanol/chloroform-based protocol followed by alkaline hydrolysis to remove glycerolipids. Samples were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS), with quantification based on internal standards and external calibration curves (Prell et al., 2024). The results revealed distinct differences in the sphingolipid profiles of wild-type and mutant cells, particularly in the ratios of ceramides to dihydroceramides. These changes suggest a potential role of IDH1 mutations in regulating pathways related to autophagy and apoptosis. Future investigations will assess whether pharmacological inhibition of mutant IDH1 can modulate these sphingolipid ratios and induce cell death in glioma cells. These findings may contribute to the development of novel therapeutic approaches targeting IDH1-mutant gliomas by exploiting vulnerabilities in their altered lipid metabolism.

The in-planta accumulationof coproducts in crops canenhance thevalue of lignocellulosic biomass and facilitate a sustainable bioeconomy.Corn stover represents a major renewable source of lignocellulosefor the production of advanced biofuels and bioproducts. In this study,we engineered corn with a bacterial gene encoding a dehydroshikimatedehydratase (QsuB) to overproduce protocatechuate (DHBA). Transgeniccorn lines accumulate up to 2.9% DHBA on a dry weight basis in leafand stem biomass. DHBA occurs in the form of glucosides that are extractablefrom biomass using aqueous methanol as the solvent. The analysis oflignin did not show any evidence for the incorporation of DHBA; however,an increase in the lignin syringyl to guaiacyl ratio and a higherrelative abundance of p-coumarate groups comparedwith total lignin units were observed in QsuB-modified corn. Alkalinehydrolysates prepared from QsuB corn were enriched in DHBA comparedto the hydrolysates obtained from wild-type biomass, which containedmostly p-coumarate and ferulate. Using engineered Novosphingobium aromaticivorans as a production host,a 375% improvement in 2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylate titers was achievedthrough biological upgrading of alkaline hydrolysates derived fromQsuB corn compared to unmodified biomass. Our data demonstrate anengineering strategy to overproduce DHBA in corn that can facilitatesustainable manufacturing of other valuable bioproducts using stoveras a feedstock.

Chemical recycling of plastics holds great promise but remains constrained by sustainability issues, with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) epitomizing this challenge. Herein, we introduce a conceptually novel strategy that overcomes PET's intrinsic hydrophobicity by physically re-engineering the polymer's microstructure to enable ultrafast alkaline hydrolysis under exceptionally mild conditions. We leverage the ability of propylene carbonate (PC)-an inexpensive, commercial, green solvent-to selectively dissolve PET, to thermally induce phase separation, and subsequently act as a carrier for water insertion between polymer chains. Upon complete PC replacement, the water uptake exceeds twice the polymer mass, preventing chain re-compaction and establishing an interfacial environment that facilitates hydroxyl ion diffusion to ester bonds and depolymerization with minimal alkali consumption. As a result, water-swollen PET fully depolymerizes (96% TPA yield) at atmospheric pressure within 5min at 90 or under 2h at room temperature, vastly outperforming conventional hydrolysis methods. The process achieves a 20-fold reduction in energy footprint versus direct PET hydrolysis. It performs robustly on challenging, real-world feedstocks-including textiles and mixed plastic waste-enabling selective depolymerization unaffected by PET crystallinity. A techno-economic analysis (TEA) confirms energy efficiency and strong economic feasibility, demonstrating overall competitiveness with existing engineered technologies. Beyond PET, the physical mechanism underpinning the strategy offers a scalable and sustainable platform for recycling a wide range of condensationpolymers.

Abstract Chemical recycling of plastics holds great promise but remains constrained by sustainability issues, with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) epitomizing this challenge. Herein, we introduce a conceptually novel strategy that overcomes PET's intrinsic hydrophobicity by physically re‐engineering the polymer's microstructure to enable ultrafast alkaline hydrolysis under exceptionally mild conditions. We leverage the ability of propylene carbonate (PC)—an inexpensive, commercial, green solvent—to selectively dissolve PET, to thermally induce phase separation, and subsequently act as a carrier for water insertion between polymer chains. Upon complete PC replacement, the water uptake exceeds twice the polymer mass, preventing chain re‐compaction and establishing an interfacial environment that facilitates hydroxyl ion diffusion to ester bonds and depolymerization with minimal alkali consumption. As a result, water‐swollen PET fully depolymerizes (96% TPA yield) at atmospheric pressure within 5 min at 90 or under 2 h at room temperature, vastly outperforming conventional hydrolysis methods. The process achieves a 20‐fold reduction in energy footprint versus direct PET hydrolysis. It performs robustly on challenging, real‐world feedstocks—including textiles and mixed plastic waste—enabling selective depolymerization unaffected by PET crystallinity. A techno‐economic analysis (TEA) confirms energy efficiency and strong economic feasibility, demonstrating overall competitiveness with existing engineered technologies. Beyond PET, the physical mechanism underpinning the strategy offers a scalable and sustainable platform for recycling a wide range of condensation polymers.