Ammonium Hydroxide Research Articles

Nano-Structured CuO Grown with Aqueous NH3 for Salivary Glucose Detection

CuO nanostructures grown on flexible Cu foil by a simple chemical bath deposition in a solution of aqueous ammonia have been explored for non-invasive and nonenzymatic detection of salivary glucose. The nanostructured electrode developed with 100 μl of aqueous ammonia achieves a high sensitivity of 3243 μA mM−1 cm−2, linear range up to 3 mM, and limit of detection of 0.77 μM. The electrode also demonstrates good anti-interference properties, high reproducibility, repeatability, and long-term stability up to 30 days. In addition, the electrode exhibits remarkable sensitivity of 2865 μA mM−1 cm−2 for salivary glucose detection. To explore its potential for non-invasive detection of actual salivary glucose, pre-prandial and post-prandial salivary glucose of different human volunteers were measured using the electrode and were found to be correlated with corresponding blood glucose levels. Development and investigation of similar sensors for non-invasive detection via untraditional methods would certainly pave the way towards next generation glucose monitoring devices and systems.

Ultrasound-Assisted Catalyst-free Synthesis of α,β -Unsaturated Amino Acid Esters and Unsaturated Amino Ketones

Introduction: Sonication has been introduced as a green and effective activation method for the selective monoamination of β-dicarbonyl compounds. The simple one-pot process resulted in different substituted β-amino-ɑ,β-unsaturated esters and ketones at room temperature with quantitative yields. Aqueous NH4OH was used as a safe and economical nitrogen source for pressurized NH3 gas. The process is considered green, accounting for not using any solvents and catalysts, besides some aqueous NH4OH-involved reactions using nontoxic water. A broad variety of useful synthetic intermediates, β- amino-ɑ,β-unsaturated esters and ketones have been prepared in short reaction time. Methods: Using this developed protocol, we were able to synthesize a series of structurally diverse β- amino-ɑ,β-unsaturated esters and unsaturated amino ketones. Results: The synthesis of target compounds was achieved in a truly green process with high atom economy and excellent yields in a catalyst-free one-pot system in an aqueous medium using simple, commercially available, inexpensive ammonium hydroxide as the source of the nitrogen. The high atom economy has been accompanied by the formation of a small amount of nontoxic waste, water. Conclusion: In conclusion, a simple, convenient, and high-yielding catalyst-free environmentally benign method was developed for the synthesis of unsaturated amino acid esters and unsaturated amino ketones.

Smart versatile hydrogels tailored by metal-phenolic coordinating carbon and polypyrrole for soft actuation, strain sensing and writing recognition

Biomimetic intelligent conductive hydrogels integrating flexibility, signal sensing, and contactless actuation has become ideal candidates for the production of electronic skins, wearable devices, and soft robotics. However, the development of multifunctional smart hydrogels capable of both sensing and actuating simultaneously to enhance intelligent interaction interfaces remains a significant challenge. Herein, a multifunctional hydrogel composite with integrated sensing and actuating capabilities is proposed through the incorporation of Fe3+-tannic acid (TA) coordination compound-coated carbon nanotubes (Fe-TA@SWNT) and the in-situ formation of conductive polymer polypyrrole (PPy) inside the hydrogel networks composed of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and a copolymer of acrylic acid (AA) and [2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl]dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl) ammonium hydroxide (SBMA). Benefiting from multiple effective dynamic interactions within the internal matrix, the prepared hydrogel exhibits excellent stretchability (1283.42 % elongation) and toughness (1.11 MJ/m3). Additionally, the catechol groups carried by Fe-TA@SWNT, along with the zwitterionic monomer SBMA, provide the hydrogel with repeatable self-adhesion performance. Based on the outstanding photothermal effect of Fe-TA@SWNT and PPy, the hydrogel demonstrates reversible and stable photothermal responsiveness, exhibiting exceptional actuation performance under near-infrared (NIR) radiation. As a strain sensor, the hydrogel shows excellent sensitivity (GF = 3.32), rapid response time, and reliable stability, enabling precise monitoring of various physiological signals in the human body, including joint movements, facial expressions, and heartbeats. Therefore, this work significantly expands the application prospects of multifunctional smart hydrogels in fields of wearable electronics, soft robotics, and remote light-controlled devices.

Instant catapult steam explosion combined with ammonia water: A complex technology for detoxification of aflatoxin-contaminated peanut cake with the aim of producing a toxicity-free and nutrients retention of animal feed

Aflatoxin is one of the most toxic biotoxins found in contaminated agricultural products. It has strong mutagenicity, carcinogenesis and teratogenicity to humans and animals. In this study, instant catapult steam explosion combined with ammonia water was examined for its potential to degrade aflatoxin B1 in peanut cake in order to improve its utilization as a toxic-free animal feed. Incubation of AFB1-containing peanut cake followed by processing with Instant Catapult Steam Explosion (ICSE) led to approximately 79.03 % degradation of AFB1, while the degradation of AFB1 was up to 91.48 % under the treatment of ICSE combined with 4 % NH₃·H₂O at 1.2 MPa in 200 s of process time. After treatment, nutrients in peanut cake were not significantly changed. The toxicity of AFB1 degradation products was evaluated and the results showed that the toxicity of these products were found to be substantially less than that possessed by AFB1. A low chemical pollution, efficient and toxic-free technology system of AFB1 degradation was established, which detoxify aflatoxin-contaminated biomass for sustainable and safe utilization of agricultural biomass as animal feed.

Designing cellulose nanofibrils/carbon dots intelligent label with colorimetric and fluorescent dual responsiveness for real-time monitoring of food freshness

This study utilized 1,2,4-triaminobenzene dihydrochloride and NaOH as precursors to prepare the pH optical sensor based on carbon dots (CDs). By incorporating CDs into pineapple peel cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) matrix, an intelligent label (CNF/CDs label) with colorimetric and fluorescent dual responsiveness was created for real-time monitoring of food freshness. The CNF/CDs labels exhibited remarkable sensitivity and recognizability towards pH changes from 1 to 12. They also demonstrated excellent reversibility during acid-alkali cycling. Moreover, these labels exhibited exceptional responsiveness to the alkaline and acidic gas environments formed by ammonium hydroxide and acetic acid solutions, respectively. These responses were visually distinguishable through visible color changes and ultraviolet (UV) fluorescence alterations. Encouragingly, the developed labels were successfully applied to monitor the freshness of prawns and fruits, enabling timely assessment of food freshness levels. The dual-mode response of color and fluorescence provided double assurance for the accuracy of the results.

Lowering Charge Transport Barriers by Eliminating the Electric Double Layer Residues to Reconstruct Adjacent SnO2 Nanocrystals for High‐Efficiency Flexible Perovskite Solar Cells

AbstractThe sol–gel method is efficient and cost‐effective for synthesizing SnO2 sol, wherein SnO2 nanocrystallites (NCs) are stabilized by electric double‐layer of solvated ions tightly bound to their surface. However, this strong binding makes the removal of electric double‐layer residues from the SnO2 electron transport layer (ETL) to be difficult at low temperatures. This hinders both the close contact and subsequent growth among adjacent SnO2 NCs, leading to severe carriers scattering at grain boundary, adversely affecting the electrical properties of SnO2 ETL. Herein, SnO2 sol is synthesized via an ethanol‐based sol–gel method and aqueous ammonia (NH3·H2O) is introduced to effectively clean stubborn electric double‐layer residues within the SnO2 ETL at a low temperature (80 °C). Removing residues reduces the gap among adjacent SnO2 NCs and promotes further reconstructed growth through oriented attachment (OA), thereby reducing the number of grain boundaries. Hence, the energy barriers for electron transport decrease within the SnO2 ETL. Furthermore, MHP prepared on the treated ETL has fine‐tuned energy level alignment, improving the electron extraction capacity. Consequently, flexible perovskite solar cells (f‐PSCs) incorporating this ETL achieved a notable increase in power conversion efficiency, rising from 19.16% to 23.71%, as well as superior mechanical stability.

Magnesium Utilization in Dolomite Rocks by Struvite Precipitation in an Insulated Column Reactor

Dolomite is a natural mineral rock with the chemical formula CaMg(CO3)2. Pure dolomite contains 21.70% calcium and 13.04% magnesium. Dolomite has not been widely used in the industrial sector until now. One way to increase the economic value of dolomite rock is to utilize its magnesium content as a precursor to struvite mineral which is the raw material for slow release fertilizer. Under alkaline conditions, struvite minerals are formed at concentrations of Mg2+, NH4+, and PO43-. Struvite solution (MAP) can be prepared by reacting phosphoric acid, ammonium hydroxide, and dolomite as a magnesium source in a molar ratio of 1:1:1. In a continuously operated isolated column reactor, the pH ranged from 8 to 12, and the reactor inlet air velocity ranged from 0.25 to 1.25 L/min. The chemical elements of dried struvite were determined using XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence), and the morphology was analyzed using SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope). At the same time, the crystal phase composition was identified using the Rietveld XRD (X-Ray Diffraction) technique. Based on the results of XRF analysis, the highest magnesium content was found under operating conditions with pH 12, air rate 0.75 L/min, and magnesium content 15.5%.

Microbiome Taxonomic and Functional Differences in C3H/HeJ Mice Fed a Long-Term High-Fat Diet with Beef Protein ± Ammonium Hydroxide Supplementation.

Studies have suggested that alkalinized foods may reduce the effects of the acidogenic Western diet in promoting obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and coronary heart disease. Indeed, a recent study in mice fed a high-fat diet containing dietary beef supplemented with ammonium hydroxide showed improvement in a suite of metabolic outcomes. However, the effects of dietary protein ammonium supplementation on the microbiome remain unknown. In this study, the effects of ammonium supplementation on beef protein towards microbiome taxa and function in a high-fat diet were analyzed. Fecal microbiomes were characterized using a shotgun metagenomic approach for 16-month-old male and female mice after long-term diet treatments. The results for ammoniated diets showed that several bacteria known to be associated with health benefits increased significantly, including Romboutsia, Oscillospiraceae, and Lactococcus cremoris. The beneficial mucin-degrader Akkermansia was especially abundant, with a high prevalence (~86%) in females. Concurrently, the phyla Actinomycetota (Actinobacteria) and Bacteroidota (Bacteroidetes) were significantly reduced. While sex was a confounding factor affecting microbiome responses to ammonium supplementation in dietary protein, it is worth noting that several putatively beneficial microbiome functions increased with ammonium supplementation, such as glycine betaine transport, xenobiotic detoxification, enhanced defense, and others. Conversely, many disease-associated microbiome functions reduced. Importantly, modifying protein pH alone via ammonium supplementation induced beneficial microbiota changes. Taken together, these results suggest that ammonium-supplemented proteins may mediate some negative microbiome-associated effects of high-fat/Western diets.

A robust hydrothermal synthesis method of NH4Zr2(PO4)3, a precursor for HZr2(PO4)3 proton conductor

Hydrogen zirconium phosphate (HZP) is a ceramic material with the formula HZr2(PO4)3 that can potentially offer anhydrous protonic conductivity, with thermostability for the intrinsic protons up to 650 °C, and good chemical stability in aqueous environments or acid gases. Despite the attraction of these features for electrolyte applications, such as gas separation, fuel cells or electrolysers, work on this material remains in its infancy. A possible reason for this lack of attention may be related to the complexity to obtain the HZP material as a pure phase. For this reason, the current article examines a new hydrothermal synthesis method to produce the ammonium precursor, NH4Zr2(PO4)3, in its phase pure form, and consequently a refined overall route to produce the desired HZP target material. In the synthesis of the ammonium precursor, we underscore the precise control of reaction conditions that are necessary to obtain the pure NH4Zr2(PO4)3 material, both in its cubic and hexagonal structural polymorphs. For reaction times of 10 h, the cubic phase is obtained by employing a hydrothermal temperature of 150 °C and an aqueous ammonia volume of 2.1 mL, while the hexagonal phase is obtained for a hydrothermal temperature of 200 °C and an aqueous ammonia volume between 2.3 and 2.4 mL. Subsequently, we investigate the required conditions to convert hexagonal NH4Zr2(PO4)3 fully to hexagonal HZr2(PO4)3 via thermal treatment at 600 °C for 5 h, assessed by a combination of X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy.In this way this article aims to open up further research on this interesting HZP material by documenting a robust route for its preparation.

Topochemical behavior of ferrocene embedded in V2O5·nH2O with weak hydrogen bonding enhancing ammonium-ion storage

Aqueous ammonium ion batteries (AAIBs) are garnering increasing attention due to their utilization of abundant resources, cost-effectiveness, safety, and unique energy storage mechanism. The pursuit of high-performance cathode materials has become a pressing issue. In this study, we propose and synthesize ferrocene-embedded hydrated vanadium pentoxide (Fer/VOH) for implementation in AAIBs. The inclusion of ferrocene serves to expand the interlayer spacing, mitigate interlayer forces, and introduce the electron-rich environment characteristic of ferrocene. This augmentation facilitates the creation of additional oxygen vacancies, substantially enhancing the capacity and efficiency of ammonium ion storage. Notably, our investigation reveals that the incorporation of ferrocene attenuates the hydrogen bonding interactions associated with ammonium ions, rendering them more amenable to the interlayer embedding and release processes. Building upon these advantages, Fer/VOH exhibits a specific capacity of 313 mAh/g at a current density of 0.2 A/g, representing the highest reported performance among vanadium oxides utilized in AAIBs to date. Even after 2000 charge/discharge cycles at a current density of 2 A/g, Fer/VOH maintains a reversible specific capacity of 89 mAh/g, with a capacity retention rate of 54.8%. This study confirms the viability of Fer/VOH as a cathode material for AAIBs and offers a novel approach to enhancing the electrical conductivity and diminishing the hydrogen bonding forces in vanadium oxide intercalation through the embedding of electron-rich species and positronic groups.

Modifier-free sol–gel preparation of cotton fiber@SiO2 superhydrophobic fabric for oil/water separation

The oil/water separation material is beneficial to the respective detection of organic and inorganic impurities in samples by retaining the water-soluble impurities in water and the liposoluble impurities in the oil phase. Cotton fiber@SiO2 superhydrophobic fabric was prepared by a facile modifier-free sol–gel method for oil/water separation. By adjusting the hydrolysis and condensation of TEOS, the preparation of superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic fabrics can be achieved. The hydrolysis and condensation of TEOS are simply controlled by changing the content of ammonia water (as a catalyst). When the content of ammonia water is 3–6 %, cotton fiber@SiO2 superhydrophobic fabric was obtained with the water and oil contact angle of ∼ 156° and 0°, respectively. When the content of ammonia water is 7–10 %, cotton fiber@SiO2 superhydrophilic fabric was realized. In addition, the as-prepared cotton fiber@SiO2 superhydrophobic fabric can be used for the separation of oil/water mixtures with a separation efficiency of 98 %. Finally, the mechanism for the modifier-free sol–gel preparation of cotton fiber@SiO2 superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic fabric was discussed.

Toward Safe and Reliable Aqueous Ammonium Ion Energy Storage Systems

AbstractAqueous batteries using non‐metallic charge carriers like proton (H+) and ammonium (NH4+) ions are becoming more popular compared to traditional metal‐ion batteries, owing to their enhanced safety, high performance, and sustainability (they are ecofriendly and derived from abundant resources). Ammonium ion energy storage systems (AIBs), which use NH4+ ions with tetrahedral geometry, a small hydrated ionic radius, and relatively low ionic weight, are emerging as strong candidates in non‐metal ion battery chemistry. Various electrode materials (both inorganic and organic) are investigated as hosts for NH4+ ions, however, a comprehensive understanding of these mechanisms is still lacking. This gap limits the ability to optimize performance and identify further research opportunities in AIBs. In this review, the charge storage mechanisms in AIBs are discussed, offering insights into the interactions between NH4+ ions and different electrode materials. Additionally, existing literature on electrode materials, highlighting key structural, and electrochemical achievements are summarized. The review also outlines various electrolytes and examines how their properties influence AIB performance. Finally, the shortcomings of current research are discussed and potential solutions are suggested to advance AIB technology, with the goal of inspiring researchers to explore real‐world applications for ammonium ion batteries.

Thermodynamical Analysis of the Distillation Column for Targeting Minimum Energy in Ammonia–Water Absorption Refrigeration Cycle

In this study, a comprehensive method to optimize distillation columns in ammonia–water absorption refrigeration, power, and cogeneration cycles is introduced. The novelty of this work lies in a comprehensive analysis of the distillation column's thermal performance and the introduction of a new design framework that maximizes heat integration. Key findings include the critical role of the solution heat exchanger, especially at lower generation and evaporation temperatures. Using a saturated liquid or two‐phase feed can achieve up to 80% efficiency at a feed composition of 0.3. Moreover, in the results, the substantial potential for improving the coefficient of performance (COP) through strategic design is highlighted. Notably, minimizing the pinch point temperature difference to 0 °C can boost the COP by 6%, while optimal feed placement can increase it by 9%. Incorporating feed preconditioning and side exchangers can lead to a 22% COP enhancement, indicating the significance of heat integration to the distillation column. In this study, a graphic guideline for selecting cycles that can achieve a minimum of 10% COP improvement without introducing unnecessary complexity is delivered and it suggests that distillation columns can be simplified by using a combination of separators, heaters, and coolers in certain cases.

Enhancing energy and environmental metrics of aqueous ammonia emulsified diesel fuel using carbon-metal oxide nanocomposites: An experimental study

The study explores the impact of a zinc oxide (ZnO) induced carbon nanotube (CNT) nanocomposite on ammonia decomposition in aqueous ammonia (AA) emulsified diesel fuel, while evaluating performance and emissions. Functionalized CNTs induced with ZnO underwent structural and surface morphology analysis. Different concentrations of ammonium hydroxide (5 % and 10 %) were mixed with plain diesel fuel (PDF), and 100 ppm of ZnO/CNT was blended with 10 % AA emulsified fuel. Fuel performance was assessed under various brake power conditions compared to PDF. The results demonstrate that the absorption of latent heat by ammonia and its higher decomposition energy result in a longer ignition delay, thereby increasing peak in-cylinder pressure and net heat release rate. The post-combustion reaction of AA emulsified fuels contributes to increased brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC), brake specific energy consumption (BSEC), hydrocarbon (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), and smoke opacity. However, the dispersion of nanocomposite in AA emulsion enhances the catalytic effect and promotes ammonia decomposition, resulting in combustion characteristics similar to PDF. Notably, there is an observed improvement in BSFC by 8.1 % and BSEC by 10.9 %, respectively. Furthermore, emission metrics such as oxides of nitrogen, HC, CO, and smoke opacity decrease by 4.5 %, 18.8 %, 11.4 %, and 5 %, respectively.

Anti-fouling ampholytic polymer membrane with super-wetting surfaces for efficient oil-water emulsion separation

The development of highly efficient polymeric membranes with super-wetting surfaces (superhydrophilic/submerged superoleophobic) is one of the ideal options to achieve emulsified oily wastewater separation. However, this remains a challenging due to low fluxes and severe membrane contamination limitations. Here, we have demonstrated an ultra-hydrophilic, underwater super-oleophobic, highly anti-fouling and antibacterial (polydopamine/poly [2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl] dimethyl- (3-sulfopropyl) ammonium hydroxide) PDA/PSBMA modified membrane by grafting amphoteric polymers via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Benefiting from PSBMA's superhydrophilicity and the unique adhesion of dopamine (DA), the PDA/PSBMA modified membrane shows superhydrophilic properties, superoleophobicity underwater, oil resistance, and fouling resistance. Meanwhile, PDA/PSBMA modified membrane reached a superb permeability to water as high as 5620 L·m−2·h−1·bar−1 and remarkable oil rejection rate of 98 % in separating diesel-in-water emulsions. Furthermore, the separating performance remained fairly constant over 10 emulsion filtration cycles. Besides, the PDA/PSBMA modified membranes have excellent acid and alkali resistance and antibacterial properties, showing its potential for oily wastewater purification. This work offers a simple and versatile strategy to fabricate superwetting efficient polymeric membranes to separate emulsified oily wastewater.

Bulk and interfacial thermodynamics of ammonia, water and their mixtures

Ammonia is a promising energy carrier for the green transition, but its hygroscopicity and toxicity necessitate in-depth understanding of its interaction with water. This work examines the bulk and interfacial thermodynamics of the ammonia–water system. Parameters for three equations of state are fitted to experimental data and compared to parameters from literature: PC-SAFT, Cubic Plus Association and Peng–Robinson. Peng–Robinson stands out as most accurate for bulk thermodynamics. Introducing a temperature-dependent volume shift for water with Peng–Robinson yields a highly accurate model without introducing problematic inconsistencies, with errors of 0.05% for saturation pressures, and 0.5% for liquid densities. For the mixture, Peng–Robinson with a two-parameter Huron–Vidal mixing rule reproduces measurements mostly within their uncertainties, whereas the standard mixing rules for PC-SAFT and CPA are less accurate. A literature review of surface tension measurements of ammonia–water mixtures reveals that accurate measurements exist only at ambient temperature. We apply density gradient theory and density functional theory based on PC-SAFT, finding that both models fail at reproducing qualitative features of the surface tensions and adsorptions of dilute solutions of aqueous ammonia. Whereas bulk properties are well characterized, understanding and describing the interfacial thermodynamics of the ammonia–water system demands more work both on the experimental and modeling side.

Removal of Heavy Metal Ions(Fe2+, Mn2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+) on to Activated Carbon Prepared from Kashmiri Walnut Shell (Juglans regia)

Heavy metal pollution poses significant threats to the environment and human health, even at trace concentrations. In this study, activated carbon derived from Kashmiri walnut shell (Juglans regia) was investigated for its potential to adsorb heavy metal ions (Fe2+, Mn2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+). Standard solutions containing heavy metal ions at concentrations ranging from 10 to 50 ppm were prepared for adsorption experiments, i.e., at temperature 25 °C, and adsorbent dosage 1 g using a column mechanism. The activated carbon was first treated with 0.1M HCl and 0.5M ammonia solutions, and then washed with demineralised water. Subsequently, the metal ion solutions were passed through the column individually, and the filtrates were analyzed for heavy metal ion presence. The experimental results demonstrated that walnut shell-derived activated carbon exhibited promising adsorption capacity spanning from 0.36 mg/g for Zn2+, 0.5 mg/g for both Mn2+ and Cu2+ and 0.54 mg/g for Fe2+ thus showing the adsorption trend as Fe2+ > Mn2+ = Cu2+ > Zn2+. This study highlights the potential of using walnut shell-derived activated carbon as an effective and cost-efficient method for mitigating heavy metal pollution in contaminated water sources.

A novel method for MSWI fly ash resource based on calcium component regulation and CO2 mineralization

While accelerated carbonation has been widely studied for the disposal of municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly ash, there has been limited consideration for high-value applications of carbonization products and environmental risks. High-performance CaCO3 ceramics and cement pastes were produced in a low-carbon and sustainable manner by combining calcium extraction, CaCO3 crystal transformation, and cold sintering to reduce the environmental risks associated with heavy metals in MSWI fly ash. The mechanisms of CaCO3 crystal transformation, dissolution-reprecipitation, stabilization of heavy metals (HMs), and hydration of acid-leached solids were explored. Experiments and density functional theory results show that calcite has a stabilizing impact on divalent HMs (Ba, Cd, Ni, Pb, and Zn) (Ei < 0). According to the principles of thermodynamics and crystallography, temperature, pH, and reaction time affected the gradual transition of Vaterite to calcite. The optimal reaction conditions were 10 % ammonia water and 10 min reaction time. Vaterite in CaCO3 ceramics demonstrated outstanding mechanical properties (compressive strength > 265 MPa) based on pressure solution creep. The potential risk of acid-leached solids in alkaline environments was low (The overall pollution toxicity index is only 15). Calcium sulfate (>50 %) in acid-leached solid reacted with aluminate to form ettringite. Strongly alkaline cement pastes with high compressive strengths (>40 MPa) generated from acid-leached cementitious materials posed a low risk of HMs leaching. Throughout the disposal process, HMs leaching concentration in leachate and reaction solution fulfilled Class III groundwater criteria (GB/T 14848–2017). This approach offers environmental benefits and demonstrates broad applicability across diverse alkaline solid waste types.

Preparation of biomolecular anthocyanin-immobilized plasma-cured nonwoven fibers from pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) and recycled cotton waste for detection of ammonia

Cotton fibers have been one of the major resources for various modern textile and non-textile industries. They are breathable, soft, and high absorbent natural fibers with a low production cost. Cotton fibers have found uses in a wide range of fields, such as medical field, automobile industry, and furniture design. However, there have been increasing demands to find out other resources for cotton production at high quality and low cost for high technological applications, such as colorimetric sensors. In this work, we provide a novel technique for plasma-induced coloring of nonwoven recycled cotton waste with an anthocyanin natural probe obtained from pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to study the anthocyanin extract. Mordant was employed to bind anthocyanin to nonwoven fibers, creating an anthocyanin-mordant coordinative complex. The diameters of the anthocyanin-mordant complex particles were between 5 and 15 nm. A small coating layer of anthocyanin probe was applied to plasma-activated nonwoven cotton. Coloration parameters, absorbance spectra, and colorimetric strength (K/S) data showed that anthocyanin-finished nonwoven cotton had a detection limit of 1–250 ppb of aqueous ammonia, with a corresponding colorimetric change from purple (549 nm) to white (393 nm) due to intramolecular charge transfer. The results demonstrated satisfactory colorfastness of the anthocyanin-dyed nonwoven cotton fibers, UV blocking, and antibacterial efficacy. Promising portable colorimetric technology of anthocyanin-dyed nonwoven cotton fibers was developed for onsite detection of ammonia that can cause severely harmful effects on human organs or even death. Signs of a high surface area in the sensor material include anthocyanin-mordant complex nanoparticles and cotton microfibers.

Effectiveness of luliconazole vs ketoconazole topical formulation in reversing damaged hair cuticle

Azole antifungal agents are effective agents for treating scalp ailments such as seborrheic dermatitis. Luliconazole (LZ) is a new azole with unique effects against clinically important dermatomycotic fungi. This study examines the impact of different topical formulation of Luliconazole vs Ketoconazole (KZ) on damaged hair cuticle repair after 5 and 10 washes, using SEM images and sensory Analysis.In this in-vitro study,twelve damaged hair tresses were divided into two groups, and treated with LZ and KZ formulations. Both groups underwent pretreatment with 20% Sodium Laureth sulfate (SLES) and damage induction using 9% HO and 20% ammonium solution, followed by respective LZ (Lupizol ZS, manufactured by Lupin Ltd, India) and KZ therapies. SEM imaging and expert sensory analysis were conducted at baseline, after 5, and 10 washes to evaluate surface characterization like cuticle upliftment, smoothness, and softness.After five washes, LZ-treated hair exhibited smooth, intact cuticles with no upliftment, improving to grade 1 cuticle damage. In contrast, KZ-treated hair continued to show substantial upliftment without damage grade improvement. After ten washes, LZ maintained grade 1 damage and 0 µm upliftment, while KZ-treated strands persisted in showing considerable cuticular distress. Sensory analysis supported these results, with LZ improving hair smoothness and softness by 2.42x and 2.72x respectively, after ten washes, significantly outperforming KZ. Visually, LZ-treated hair appeared smoother and healthier, indicating its greater effectiveness in enhancing hair integrity post-washing.The botanical conditioner-based formulation of LZ is more efficacious in enhancing hair integrity post-washing compared to the Ketoconazole formulation. Well-controlled human studies are required to further establish the clinical effects on human participants.