Chemical Composition Analysis Research Articles

Activity of the Ethanolic Extract Obtained from Citrus microcarpa Pericarps against Meloidogyne enterolobii, and Chemical Composition Analysis

Citrus microcarpa is a popular nutritious fruit that is widely cultivated in China. In recent years, many compounds with significant pharmacological activities have been isolated successfully from the pericarp of C. microcarpa. However, to date, there are no reports on the activity of C. microcarpa pericarp against root-knot nematodes. This study used the ethanolic extract from the pericarp of Hainan C. microcarpa and the impregnation method to determine its activity on J2 Meloidogyne enterolobii specimens and on single-egg hatching. The results showed that when J2 individuals were treated with 50 mg⋅mL–1 of the extract, the lethal concentration 50 values after 24 and 48 hours were 17.124 and 8.858 mg⋅mL–1, respectively. The mortality rate of nematodes after 48 hours of treatment was 100%, and the inhibition rate of single-egg hatching after 24 hours was 89.29%. The ethanolic extract of C. microcarpa peels showed high inhibitory and lethal activity against the M. enterolobii. The analysis of the chemical composition of the extract revealed 28 substances with insecticidal and antibacterial effects, including lignans, flavonoids, fatty acids, organic acids, terpenoids, and imidazole. The formulas of the chemical structures and pharmacological effects of these potential insecticidal and antibacterial substances were elucidated to provide a scientific basis and a theoretical reference for the use of C. microcarpa pericarps as a raw material for the development of new, natural plant nematicides.

A Preliminary Evaluation of Alternative Raw Materials for Pellet Production

The study focuses on alternative raw materials available in Latvia and their possible use in pellet production. Laboratory testing to determine the main quality parameters – the moisture content, the ash content, the calorific value and ash melting temperature – was carried out for 13 alternative biomass sources: pine mix pellets (PMP); pellets of wood shavings, synthetic and textile waste mix (SSK); hogweed (Heracleum sosnowsky, HW); the full plant of Solidago canadensis L. (SC); the full plant of Solidago canadensis L. outgrown (SCO); mowed grass from the municipality (MGM); mowed grass from the garden (MGG); chamomile full plant without stems (CF); hemp without roots (Cannabis sativa L., HWR); hemp stems (Cannabis sativa L., HS); hemp leaves with seeds (Cannabis sativa L., HLS); spent grain (SG); damaged spent grain (DSG). The testing and determination of results were carried out according to the methodology set out in ISO standards regarding solid biofuels. The obtained results were compared to the quality parameters defined in ENplus certification for B-class wood pellets in requirements for producers. Additional analysis of chemical composition was carried out using XRD (X-ray diffraction) and SEM-EDX (scanning electron microscopy - energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) for the ash of two selected materials - SC and HLS - to gain an insight into possible combustion issues that can occur during the use of these materials. The main issue highlighted by the results is the ash content of alternative materials, which ranges from 1.34% to 11.27%. The other significant issue is the necessity to improve the ash deformation temperature, which was below 1100°C for 5 of the studied materials. Considering this, an algorithm was developed to determine the optimal proportion of alternative material and wood in pellets to achieve a quality comparable to at least B-class wood pellets. The study offers a direction for further research to successfully develop new pellets that could be later used in existing boiler systems, reducing the dependence on wood in pellet production. A discussion on the use, quality and development of alternative material pellets is offered to promote the significance of the topic.

GC-MS analysis of ethanolic extract of propolis from Jhajjar district in Haryana, India

Aim: To analyse the chemical composition of ethanolic extract of propolis, a glue like resinous natural material collected by worker honey bees from Jhajjar district of Haryana. Methodology: Chemical composition analysis of the ethanolic extract of propolis sample collected from Jhajjar district of Haryana, India was determined by Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Propolis sample was crushed to powdered form and extracted using 70% ethanol and kept for around 20 days. The supernatant was then filtered and thereafter, the filtered extract was dried and collected in a clean vial. Results: GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of hydrocarbons, sugars, fatty acids, carboxylic acid, alcohols, ethers, carbamate ester and other organic compounds. Interpretation: The results revealed the presence of diverse biochemical constituents which can be utilized in therapeutics of several ailments to enhance the quality of life by improving human health. Key words: Chemical profile, Fatty acids, Organic compounds, Propolis

Analysis of chemical composition and biological efficiency of leaf essential oils isolated from seven species of Cinnamomum of the Western Ghats, India

Analysis of chemical composition and biological efficiency of leaf essential oils isolated from seven species of Cinnamomum of the Western Ghats, India

Nutritional values, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities of selected edible marine macroalgae: a comparative study

AbstractThe objective of this study is to assess the chemical composition, nutritional values, and bioactivities of four macroalgae from the Egyptian Red Sea coasts using standard methods. Of these, three Rhodophyceae species, Digenea simplex (D. simplex), Laurencia papillosa (L. papillosa), and Galaxaura oblongata (G. oblongata), and one Phyaeophyceae species, Turbinaria decurrens (T. decurrens), were selected. The results of proximate and chemical composition analyses based on the algal dry weight (DW) showed that carbohydrate content was the highest, ranging from 32.47 ± 1.03% to 45.5 ± 1.23%. Other algal constituents, including ash, protein, moisture, sulfate, lipid, phenolics, and flavonoids, have contents that depend on the algal species. Besides, HPLC analysis revealed that each algal extract contained varying amounts of nine phenolic acids. Atomic absorption spectrometry, the HPLC-Pico-Tag method, the ion chromatography technique, and GC/MS analyses were used to determine the chemical profiles of the elemental, amino acid, halide, and fatty acid of each algal extract. Bioactivities revealed that both the •DPPH and ABTS assays showed that all the algae studied had a significant ability to scavenge free radicals in a dosage-dependent way. They also had strong selective cytotoxic activity against HEPG-2 and HCT-116 cell lines, but only weak activity against MCF-7 and A549 cell lines. Finally, our findings suggested that the selected algae might be efficiently used as nutraceuticals and functional foods, indicating an increase in their proliferation.

Influence of Different Retting on Hemp Stem and Fiber Characteristics Under the East of France Climate Conditions

ABSTRACT Historically, for fiber extraction, the stems were immersed in water. However, this method proved far too polluting, leading to its substitution by the dew-retting method in the field. Different retting processes and durations can produce significant differences in hemp stems and fiber characteristics. Both dew- and water-retting methods were carried out on the Santhica 27 cultivar in Eastern France in 2020. An analysis of the stem chemical composition and characteristics has been performed to observe the stem degradation during retting for both methods. Secondly, the analyses of the fiber chemical composition, color, morphological and mechanical properties have been performed to evaluate the impact of retting on the fiber quality. The effect of the retting on the stem and the fiber is observed after 1 week for water-retting and after 4 weeks for dew-retting. For dew-retting, the percentages of fine fiber and cellulose in the fiber bundle increase after 1 week, while the stem chemical composition decreases. Unlike in the dew-retting, the percentage of fine fiber and cellulose in the fiber bundle increases after 4 weeks, while the potassium percentage in the stem, fiber brightness, and fiber tenacity and strain decrease. Finally, after 8 weeks, the fiber properties were found to be similar for both methods.

Development of UroSAM: a machine learning model to automatically identify kidney stone composition from endoscopic video.

Introduction Chemical composition analysis is important in prevention counseling for kidney stone disease. Advances in laser technology have made dusting techniques more prevalent, but this offers no consistent way to collect enough material to send for chemical analysis, leading many to forgo this test. We developed a novel machine learning (ML) model to effectively assess stone composition based on intraoperative endoscopic video data. Methods Two endourologists performed ureteroscopy for kidney stones ≥ 10mm. Representative videos were recorded intraoperatively. Individual frames were extracted from the videos and the stone was outlined by human tracing. An ML model, UroSAM, was built and trained to automatically identify kidney stones in the images and predict the majority stone composition: calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM), dihydrate (COD), calcium phosphate (CAP), or uric acid (UA). UroSAM was built on top of the publicly available Segment Anything Model (SAM) and incorporated a U-Net convolutional neural network (CNN). Discussion A total of 78 ureteroscopy videos were collected; 50 were used for the model after exclusions (32 COM, 8 COD, 8 CAP, 2 UA). The ML model segmented the images with 94.77% precision. Dice coefficient (0.9135) and Intersection over Union (0.8496) confirmed good segmentation performance of the ML model. A video-wise evaluation demonstrated 60% correct classification of stone composition. Subgroup analysis showed correct classification in 84.4% of COM videos. A post-hoc adaptive threshold technique was used to mitigate biasing of the model towards COM due to data imbalance - this improved the overall correct classification to 62% while improving the classification of COD, CAP, and UA videos. Conclusions This study demonstrates the successful development of UroSAM, an ML model that precisely identifies kidney stones from natural endoscopic video data. More high quality video data will improve the performance of the model in classifying the majority stone composition.

Fabrication of antibacterial bone scaffold based on carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite containing magnesium from black sea urchin (Arbacia lixula) shells reinforced with polyvinyl alcohol and gelatin

Carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite containing magnesium (Mg–C-HAp) was introduced through dissolution-precipitation treatment of hydroxyapatite containing magnesium (Mg-HAp) based on a black sea urchin (arbacia lixula) shells as novel biogenic materials. Based on chemical composition analysis, the Mg–C-HAp formed A- and B-type CHAp, which contained high carbonate ions. The Ca/P ratio of Mg–C-HAp was 1.707, very close to the biological bone apatite of 1.71. The Mg content in Mg–C-HAp was also relatively high, with the Mg/(Ca + Mg) ratio of 0.139, which is beneficial for antibacterial agents. The morphology of Mg–C-HAp showed particles with nanosize that provide a large surface area of ion promotion. The antibacterial test revealed that the Mg–C-HAp performed high antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The Mg–C-HAp-based porous scaffolds were then fabricated using the freeze-drying method with variations of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and gelatin fraction. According to the physicochemical analysis, the addition of PVA and gelatin in the scaffold structure decreased the crystallinity of the Mg–C-HAp/PVA/Gel scaffold. This lower crystallinity indicates high biodegradability, which is good for new bone growth. The macropores of the Mg–C-HAp/PVA/Gel scaffold were appropriate for new bone and blood vessel formation. The micropores of the Mg–C-HAp/PVA/Gel scaffold can be a medium for cells to grow. The microporosity of the Mg–C-HAp/PVA/Gel scaffold was also suitable for cell nutrient promotion. The compressive strength of the Mg–C-HAp/PVA/Gel scaffold was sufficient for bone regeneration. The Mg–C-HAp/PVA/Gel scaffold demonstrated high antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa, so the Mg–C-HAp/PVA/Gel scaffold can maintain the role of Mg and carbonate content for antibacterial purposes. The good physicochemical, mechanical, and antibacterial properties of the Mg–C-HAp/PVA/Gel scaffold represented its suitable characteristics for antibacterial bone scaffolds.

Attaining superhydrophobic and superoleophilic bronze surface by picosecond laser texturing and post-heat treatment

As a bearing material, bronze has high strength and hardness but is poor in anti-adhesion property. In this study, we propose a method to prepare a superhydrophobic and superoleophilic bronze surface by combining laser surface texturing and post-heat treatment. A picosecond laser was employed to produce pore arrays with varying spacings and depths on the bronze surface, which exhibited micro-nano hierarchical structures. A further post-heat treatment of the laser-textured sample at 150 °C in the ambient led to the formation of a superhydrophobic surface with a maximum water contact angle of 158° and with superoleophilicity. It was found that pore spacings played a significant role in forming the surface hierarchical structures, which were covered with the laser-ablated micro-nano particles. The pore depth, however, showed little influence on the surface wettability. Analysis of the surface chemical compositions by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicates that the C element mainly exists in the form of the C–C(H) group, which reduces the surface energy and leads to superhydrophobicity. It was also verified that the wettability transition of the bronze surface before and after heating was independent of the oxide transition. Rubbing tests were conducted to evaluate the durability of the surface hierarchical structure. Anti-icing and self-cleaning functions were demonstrated showing the potential of the developed method for preparing a superhydrophobic and superoleophilic surface.

Co-liquefaction of α-cellulose and phycocyanin: A preliminary study

Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is an efficient technology for converting biomass to platform compounds. It has great potential for reducing the dependence on fossil fuels. The HTL of waste biomass has been extensively studied in recent years due to both its environmental and economic benefits. However, most woody waste contains a large amount of cellulose, and it is difficult to be sufficiently decomposed to valuable chemicals. Phycocyanin, a key component of algae, is easily degraded under high-temperature liquefaction conditions. In this work, focusing on bio-oil generation properties, the co-liquefaction characteristics and synergistic mechanisms of α-cellulose and phycocyanin were explored. The findings revealed a maximum bio-oil yield of 33.1 wt% under the optimal conditions (300 °C for 40 min), with a notable positive synergistic effect of 13.5 wt%. Chemical composition analysis indicated distinct compositional differences between the bio-oils derived from individual and dual feedstock. The amounts of pyridine and pyrimidine compounds increased due to the enhanced co-liquefaction. The results also highlighted the influence of temperature on the degree of conversion and product distribution. Finally, preliminary chemical reaction pathway was elucidated, underscoring the potential of integrating microalgae and woody biomass for enhanced bio-oil production.

One-pot extraction of nanocellulose from raw durian husk fiber using carboxylic acid-based deep eutectic solvent with in situ ultrasound assistance

Nanocellulose (CNF) has emerged as a promising alternative to synthetic petroleum-based polymers, but the conventional preparation process involves multiple tedious steps, heavily dependent on chemical input, and proves cost-inefficient. This study presented an, in situ ultrasound-assisted extraction using deep eutectic solvent (DES) based on choline chloride and oxalic acid for more facile production of CNF from raw durian husk fibers. FESEM analysis confirmed the successful extraction of web-like nanofibril structure with width size ranging from 18 to 26 nm. Chemical composition analysis and FTIR revealed the selective removal of lignin and hemicellulose from the raw fiber. As compared to post-ultrasound treatment, in situ ultrasound-assisted extraction consistently outperforms, yielding a higher CNF yield with finer fiber width and significantly reduced lignin content. Integrating this eco-friendly in situ ultrasonication-assisted one-pot extraction method with a 7.5 min interval yielded the highest CNF yield of 58.22 % with minimal lignin content. The superior delignification ability achieved through the proposed in situ ultrasound-assisted protocol surpasses the individual efficacy of DES and ultrasonication processes, neither of which yielded CNF in our experimental setup. This single-step fabrication process significantly reduces chemical usage and streamlines the production steps yielding web-structured CNF that is ideal for sustainable application in membrane and separator.

Metabolomic differences between non-hydrothermal treated water-soluble (WSPs) and hydrothermally treated water-insoluble (WIPs) Maitake polysaccharides fermented by Lactobacillus acidophilus and L. plantarum

Bacterial Metabolite through a fermentation process is a growing trend and a promising alternative for use as functional components. Non-hydrothermal water-soluble (WSPs) and hydrothermally treated water-insoluble (WIPs) Maitake polysaccharides were fermented with Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA) and Lactobacillus plantarum (LP). Chemical composition analysis indicated that Maitake polysaccharides contained 58.22 ± 1.35 % total sugar and 31.46 % β-glucan, essential for metabolites production. 6-glucanase was used to degrade the WIPs, and hydrothermally treated WIP fibers exhibited smooth microstructure. Hence, the LA and LP bacteria investigated the potential fermented metabolic activities and differences between WSPs(Sp1)and WIP(Sp3) Maitake polysaccharides using LC-MS, and 887 metabolites were identified. Using Venn, Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), VIP Metabolites, and other multivariate statistical analysis methods, metabolites were expressed differently in all samples. Due to hydrothermal processing, WIP induced the highest growth of LA and LP, with an abundance of isocitrate metabolites. Furthermore, 50 metabolite correlations were identified, leading to the classification of 6 distinct metabolic groups. Thus, the study offers the initial comprehensive analysis of metabolites in Lactobacillus-fermented Maitake polysaccharides, aiding in understanding its metabolic interactions and facilitating progress in food engineering research.

Chemical composition analysis and transcriptomics reveal the R2R3-MYB genes and phenol oxidases regulating the melanin formation in black radish

Melanins are dark-brown to black-colored biomacromolecules which have been thoroughly studied in animals and microorganisms. However, the biochemical and molecular basis of plant melanins are poorly understood. We first characterized melanin from the black radish (Raphanus sativus var. niger) ‘HLB’ through spectroscopic techniques. p-Coumaric acid was identified as the main precursor of radish melanin. Moreover, a joint analysis of transcriptome and coexpression network was performed for the two radish accessions with black and white cortexes, ‘HLB’ and ‘55’. A set of R2R3-type RsMYBs and enzyme-coding genes exhibited a coexpression pattern, and were strongly correlated with melanin formation in radish. Transient overexpression of two phenol oxidases RsLAC7 (laccase 7) or RsPOD22-1 (peroxidase 22-1) resulted in a deeper brown color around the infiltration sites and a significant increase in the total phenol content. Furthermore, co-injection of the transcriptional activator RsMYB48/RsMYB97 with RsLAC7 and/or RsPOD22-1, markedly increased the yield of black extracts. Spectroscopic analyses revealed that these extracts are similar to the melanin found in ‘HLB’. Our findings advance the understanding of structural information and the transcriptional regulatory mechanism underlying melanin formation in radish.

Comparative analysis of antioxidant activities and chemical compositions in the extracts of different edible parts from Camellia tetracocca Zhang (C. tetracocca) with two distinct color characteristics

The Camellia tetracocca Zhang is a rare and ancient plant, exclusively found in the vicinity of Puan County, Guizhou Province, China. According to leaf color, two distinct variations have been identified: purple C. tetracocca Zhang (PCTZ) and green C. tetracocca (GCTZ). This research was conducted to investigate the antioxidant activities and chemical compositions of different edible parts of PCTZ and GCTZ. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH, ABTS, HSA, and T-AOC assays, while the content of compounds was determined by HPLC. The findings demonstrated that the antioxidant capacity of PCTZ leaves is significantly superior to that of GCTZ leaves. Notably, theacrine, a rare compound, contains up to 2.075% in PCTZ leaves, indicating potential as a novel natural antidepressant and antioxidant. In conclusion, PCTZ is a distinctive tea beverage and a valuable genetic material for tea tree breeding due to its high theacrine and low caffeine characteristics.

Essential oils profile, antioxidant and antibacterial potency of Tunisian fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) leaves grown under conventional and organic conditions

The aim of this work was to study the chemical composition, antioxidant properties and antibacterial activity of Tunisian fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) leaves grown under conventional and organic cultivation conditions. Analysis of chemical composition of fennel leaves showed high sugar contents whatever the cultivation conditions and the tested cultivar, and ranged from 2.7 to 7.39%. Protein contents varied from 5.94 to 7.82 and from 4.41 to 7.15% under conventional and organic cultivation conditions, respectively. Moreover, the chemical composition of the fennel leaves essential oils (EOs) showed high levels of limonene and trans-anethole. Data analysis of EOs antioxidant activity showed that E1 and E4 cultivars grown under conventional and organic cultivation conditions, respectively, had the lowest IC50 with mean values of 0.052 and 0.045 mg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, antibacterial activity of fennel leaves EOs was shown to be effective against Listeria monocytogenes with an inhibition diameter of 30 mm with a concentration of 100 mg/mL for the EOs extracted from the E3 cultivar cultivated under conventional conditions.

Structural, optical, and electrical characterization of TiO2-doped yttria-stabilized zirconia electrolytes grown by atomic layer deposition

Electrolyte material optimization is crucial for electrochemical energy storage devices. The specific composition and structure have an impact on conductivity and stability, both of which are essential for efficient device performance. The effects of controlled incorporation of TiO2 into a Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte using the atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique are investigated in this study. The surface chemical composition analysis reveals variations in the Ti oxidation state and a decrease in the O/(Zr + Y + Ti) ratio as TiO2 concentration increases. The formation of acceptor states near the valence band is proposed to reduce the bandgap with the Fermi level. The structural properties indicate that as TiO2 concentration increases, surface homogeneity and crystallite size increase. The contact angle with water indicates a hydrophobic behavior influenced by surface morphology and potential oxygen vacancies. Finally, electrical properties, measured in Ru/TiO2-doped YSZ/Au capacitors operated at temperatures between 100 and 170 °C, showed that the TiO2 incorporation improved the ionic conductivity, decreased the activation energy for conductivity, and improved the capacitance of the cells. This study highlights the importance of the ALD technique in solid-state electrolyte engineering for specific applications, such as energy storage devices.

From the chokeberry fruit products and by-products to health-promoting effects through multifaceted in vitro bioactivity evaluation and molecular docking studies

BACKGROUND: Polyphenolic-rich chokeberry extracts and juice could provide health benefits in humans. Moreover, by-products after processing stand out as a potential new source of valuable compounds. OBJECTIVE: The research aimed to evaluate in vitro bioactivity of chokeberry fruit extract, juice, and waste extract (material remaining after juice processing) based on their chemical composition and molecular docking analysis. METHODS: Spectrophotometric methods were used to determine the phenolics, anthocyanins, flavonoids, and proanthocyanins content in freeze-dried samples. Additionally, individual anthocyanins, flavonoids, and sugars were identified through HPLC analysis. The antioxidant capacity was tested using two in vitro methods and assessing antimicrobial activity. The effects of tyrosinase and acetylcholinesterase inhibition were examined using spectrophotometric methods. Molecular docking analysis identified the interaction of chokeberry components with the active sites of these enzymes. RESULTS: The waste extract exhibited the most robust antioxidant activity within the DPPH system. While bactericidal activity was absent across all chokeberry preparations, they demonstrated inhibitory effects on specific microbiological strains relevant to the gastrointestinal tract. Results revealed the chokeberry products’ ability to inhibit tyrosinase and acetylcholinesterase. Molecular docking confirmed the strong interactions between chokeberry compounds and these enzymes. CONCLUSION: The results indicate the potential of chokeberry products and by-products as valuable resources for pharmaceutical applications.

Characterization and prebiotic potential of polysaccharides from Rosa roxburghii Tratt pomace by ultrasound-assisted extraction

In this study, polysaccharides (RRTPs) were extracted from Rosa roxburghii Tratt pomace by hot water or ultrasound (US)-assisted extraction. The structural properties and potential prebiotic functions of RRTPs were investigated. Structural characterization was conducted through HPAEC, HPGPC, GC–MS, FT-IR and SEM. Chemical composition analysis revealed that RRTPs extracted by hot water (RRTP-HW) or US with shorter (RRTP-US-S) or longer duration (RRTP-US-L) all consisted of galacturonic acid, galactose, glucose, arabinose, rhamnose and glucuronic acid in various molar ratio. US extraction caused notable reduction in molecular weight of RRTPs but no significant changes in primary structures. Fecal fermentation showed RRTPs could reshape microbial composition toward a healthier balance, leading to a higher production of beneficial metabolites including total short-chain fatty acids, curcumin, noopept, spermidine, 3-feruloylquinic acid and citrulline. More beneficial shifts in bacterial population were observed in RRTP-HW group, while RRTP-US-S had stronger ability to stimulate bacterial short-chain fatty acids production. Additionally, metabolic profiles with the intervention of RRTP-HW, RRTP-US-S or RRTP-US-L were significantly different from each other. The results suggested RRTPs had potential prebiotic effects which could be modified by power US via molecular weight degradation.

Irregular α-V2O5 nanodiscs fabrication for highly sensitive and responsive ethanol vapours detection

The current study presents a template-free hydrothermal approach for synthesizing nanodiscs resembling vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) nanostructures, highlighting their potential as ethanol gas sensing materials. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirms the presence of a highly crystallized orthorhombic phase of V2O5 (JCPDS file no 85–0601). The morphological features of V2O5, resembling irregular nanodiscs, were investigated using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was employed to explore the chemical structure and bonding of V2O5. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) confirmed the crystalline nature of the material, with lattice spacing at 0.57 nm corresponding to the (020) crystal planes. Elemental chemical composition analysis of V2O5 was conducted via energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The V2O5 sample exhibited a BET surface area of 15.32 m2/g and a BJH desorption average pore width of 28.76 nm, providing essential insights into its surface availability for gas adsorption. In ethanol vapor environments, the sensing capabilities of the V2O5 sensor were evaluated at room temperature. The prepared V2O5-based sensor demonstrated exceptional selectivity towards ethanol over other volatile organic compounds (VOCs), with a sensing response of 74.88 % towards 1000 ppm ethanol at room temperature (30 °C). These findings underscore the efficacy of the V2O5-based sensor in ethanol atmospheres, exhibiting rapid response and recovery times of 36s and 12s, respectively, at room temperature.

A Study of the Effects of Stimulants on Resin Yield, Resin Duct and Turpentine Chemical Composition in Pinus kesiya var. langbianensis

This study presents a comprehensive examination of Pinus kesiya var. langbianensis (Pinus kesiya var. langbianensis), the primary resin-extraction tree species in Yunnan Province, China. In this study, we formulated different concentration gradients of 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, and 2% of diquat solution as tapping stimulant to test the effect of different concentrations on the resin gain rate of Pinus kesiya, and analyzed the relationship between anatomical structure, major chemical composition of turpentine and resin yield by methods such as wood anatomy and chemical composition analysis of turpentine. The primary focus of the investigation was on exploring the interrelationships among resin-tapping stimulants, anatomical structures, turpentine components, and resin yield. Research findings demonstrate a significant enhancement in resin production due to the application of stimulants, with the highest increase rate reaching 55% in a specific group, while others achieved approximately 30% increments. Moreover, measurement data about resin duct dimensions indicate a noteworthy increase in resin duct area for the stimulant-treated group compared to the control group. However, it should be noted that the impact on resin duct area by varying stimulant concentrations was relatively minor. Furthermore, continuous observation of resin extraction from different resin-yield classes of P. kesiya revealed insignificant variation in resin yield over time for the low and moderate resin-yield groups. In contrast, the high resin-yield group exhibited a gradual increase in resin production. Interestingly, the high resin-yield group exhibited the smallest resin duct area, but the highest resin duct density, indicating an interconnectedness of resin duct-related data that influences resin yield. Additionally, correlative investigations between anatomical structures and resin yield demonstrate a positive correlation between resin duct area and resin yield, total resin production, and average resin yield. This underscores the importance of resin duct area as a significant factor in resin production. On the other hand, the influence of stimulant concentrations on the turpentine components was found to be negligible. Overall, the correlation results suggest that turpentine components cannot reliably predict or differentiate between high and low resin-yield trees. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the interrelationships among stimulants, anatomical structures, and turpentine components, offering a theoretical foundation for the resin extraction and resin processing industries in Yunnan Province.