Boric Research Articles

A novel cellulose ether cross-linking modification and its effect mechanism on the properties of cementitious materials

Cellulose ether (CE) is a very important functional component of building materials, which can significantly improve the cohesiveness and water retention of mortar. However, the air entrainment of cellulose ether in cement-based materials would increase porosity and reduce their mechanical properties. In this study, a new cellulose ether modification technology was successfully invented based on the principle of cross-linking of boric acid and glyoxal to improve the comprehensive performance of mortar. The influence of modified cellulose ether on the working and mechanical properties of mortar was systematically studied. The mechanism of the modified cellulose ether on the performance of mortar was revealed. The results show that the cellulose ether hydroxyl groups were successfully cross-linked with boric acid and aldehyde groups by the novel cellulose ether modification technique. A three-dimensional spatial network structure was formed on a cellulose ether molecular chain. The modified cellulose ether significantly improved the water retention and thickening properties of cementitious materials. Cellulose ether doping of 0.09 % has the best performance, and the water retention of mortar after boric acid modification increased by 17 %. The viscosity of the modified mortar was increased and the fluidity was decreased. In addition, the cellulose ether modified by glyoxal improved the mechanical properties of mortar. The flexural strength and compressive strength at 7 d increased by 14.05 % and 7.12 %, compared with the control group. Through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) experiments, it was shown that the aldehyde group and boric acid of modified cellulose ether strengthen the intertwining of the molecular chain and increase the flexibility of the polymer chain. As a result, the comprehensive performance of the mortar is significantly improved.

Electrochemiluminescence detection of Hg2+ using lanthanide mental organic gel based on boric acid functionalization

Recent advancements in electrochemiluminescence (ECL) have highlighted the potential of metal–organic gels (MOGs) as innovative luminescent materials for environmental monitoring. This study introduces a terbium-based Metal–Organic Gel (Tb-MOG) synthesized through a straightforward solvothermal method, exhibiting quantitative detection of mercury ions (Hg2+). The high mesoporosity of Tb-MOG facilitates co-reactant penetration and the gel does not come off easily when applied to the electrodes, enhancing the stability and efficiency of ECL signals. The organic ligand 5-borophenyl-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (5-bop) serves dual functions: it sensitizes Tb3+ luminescence and specifically recognizes Hg2+. Upon the interaction with Hg2+, the boronic acid group of 5-bop undergoes a metal transfer reaction, resulting in an enhanced ’antenna’ effect, which enhances ECL emission. The linear range for Hg2+ of the proposed method was from 1.2 μM to 24.6 μM, with a detection of limit (LOD) of 0.53 μM.

Microwave-induced plasma optical emission spectrometry (MIP-OES) analysis of the major elements in woody biomass ash following microwave acid digestion

The increasing use of woody biomass for sustainable heat and power is generating large amounts of woody biomass ash (WBA), which needs to be safely disposed of or recycled. In this study, the utility of Microwave-induced plasma optical emission spectrometry (MIP-OES) with microwave-assisted acid digestion for simplifying analyses of the major elements of WBA was investigated. Calibration curves exhibited good linearity (R2 > 0.999). Internal standardization using three emissions lines (324.754 nm of Cu, 451.131 nm of In and 371.029 nm of Y) showed that calibration with Cu (324.754 nm) correction resulted in the best linearity. Physical effects, even the presence of hydrofluoric acid or boric acid in mixed acids used for digestion, were of trivial influence with internal standard recoveries were within 0.95 to 1.05 times those of the blank sample. The limit of detection of MIP-OES for seven measured elements was 0.85–89 μg/L, 0.23–2.8 times higher than that of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The recovery of elements in a certified fly ash reference material as determined by MIP-OES was 0.80–1.08. Elemental quantification of WBA samples by MIP-OES showed a strong correlation with that by ICP-OES. However, in a Welch's t-test, the MIP-OES values were significantly higher for K and significantly lower for Al and Ca in a majority of the samples. Nonetheless, considering the good correlation between their results, MIP-OES can replace ICP-OES for the analysis of WBA.

Preparation and characterization of the Leonardite and Boric acid added Polylactic acid films for food packaging applications

Polylactic acid (PLA), a biodegradable plastic, has begun to replace petroleum-based plastics used in thin film. According to the literature, various clays are used to develop PLA matrix film. In this study, PLA composite films containing specific proportions of Leonardite (LEO) and Boric acid (BOR) were prepared by casting method, and the physical, mechanical, thermal, barrier, and microstructure properties of these films were studied. As the amount of LEO in LEO and BOR/LEO added films increased, correspondingly increased the TS and EM values, while TR and MF values decreased, and the EB values fluctuated. As the amount of BOR increases in BOR added films, the increases and decreases in TS and EM values are similar, while the TR, MF and EB values decrease. In added films, the additive effect is clearly seen in the XRD patterns. While the addition of LEO significantly changed the surface color and opacity, BOR added films showed fewer changes in these properties. The Contact angle measurements demonstrated that, while the addition of BOR reduced the CA value, the addition of LEO partially increased it. The addition of BOR/LEO resulted in an increase in CA value because of the effects of LEO.

Advanced Dehydration Techniques Standardized for Flowers of Gomphrena globosa L.

The present experiment was conducted on standardizing dehydration technique for Gomphrena globose flower by using embedding drying methods in room temperature and hot air oven at 55°C was done. The experiment consisted of 10 treatments with 3 replications designed in completely randomized design. Treatments used were as; T1-Boric acid (room temperature), T2-Silica gel (room temperature), T3-Sand (room temperature), T4-Sawdust (room temperature), T5-Cocopeat (room temperature), T6-Boric acid (hot air oven at 55 °C), T7-Silica gel (hot air oven at 55 °C), T8-Sand (hot air oven at 55 °C), T9-Sawdust (hot air oven at 55 °C), T10-Cocopeat (hot air oven at 55 °C). The most reduction in flower fresh and dry weight, measuring 2.36 and 2.12 g, was observed in Treatment T7 (Silica gel with hot air oven at 55°C), where silica gel was employed as the desiccant. The least reduction in flower fresh and dry diameter, measuring 1.92 and 1.81 g, was observed in Treatment T7 (Silica gel with hot air oven at 55°C), where silica gel was employed as the desiccant. The highest drying duration for gomphrena in T3 (Sand) and T4 (Sawdust) treatments was 234.21 and 210.40 hrs at room temperature. The boric acid and silica gel demonstrated outstanding performance in terms of quality parameters, including texture, color, and overall appearance. Among all treatment, embedding drying with silica with hot air oven dehydration at 55°C was found to be best in term of reduction in weight, diameter and overall colour, appearance and texture of Gomphrena globose flowers.

Ultrahigh-Temperature Long-Persistent Luminescence from B2O3-Confined Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds.

Organic molecules and polymers have recently been intensively explored for afterglow materials owing to their low cost and flexible design. However, they normally fail to generate long-persistent luminescence at elevated temperatures, mostly due to the fast deactivation of triplet excited states. Here, we report that polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) individually confined in a B2O3 crystalloid emit long-persistent luminescence at high temperatures up to 400 °C. This is facilely accomplished by dispersing a series of aromatic derivatives in an aqueous solution of boric acid, followed by drying, melting, and dehydrating. The resulting highly rigid and thermostable B2O3 crystalloid network provides a matched ultrastrong confinement effect and completely restricts the vibration and rotation of the molecularly distributed PACs even at ultrahigh temperatures and thereby prevents the nonradiative dissipation of triplet excitons and promotes the generation of ultrahigh-temperature long-persistent luminescence. The afterglow colors are responsive to both temperature and time, spanning from ultraviolet to near-infrared regions over a wide temperature range, which is substantially modulated by the subtle balance of phosphorescence and thermally activated delayed fluorescence. These features favor the creation of advanced afterglow materials for visual 3D temperature probing, anticounterfeiting, and data encryption in extreme environments.

Assessment of nominal and off-nominal parameters of a soluble boron free small modular reactor design

Boric acid is traditionally used for reactivity control in pressurised water reactors. However, it increases the rate at which reactor components corrode. This leads to increased operational radioactive waste produced through neutron-activation of corrosion fragments. During reactor operation, radioactive corrosion product deposits, or so-called crud, accumulate on fuel cladding in regions of high burnup. Boron compounds have been detected in such deposits, and they cause axial-offset anomaly, i.e. deviation in axial power prediction. Accumulation of boron-laden deposits can reduce plant efficiency to about 70 % over time. This work presents the design process and analysis of nominal and off-nominal parameters of a soluble boron-free small modular reactor core. The design, and analyses were carried out using CASMO4e, CMSLINK, and SIMULATE3 codes. In addition, a borated variant of the target boron-free core was designed and used as reference. Equilibrium cycles were achieved for both the reference and the boron-free core. The limiting FΔH during the transition to equilibrium was found to be 1.754 and 1.651 for the reference and boron-free cores. The equilibrium FΔH were found to be 1.624 and 1.57 compared to the design limit of 1.7. The hot zero power MTC for the boron-free core at beginning of cycle was found to be –22.67 pcm/K compared to −3.64 pcm/K for the reference. The removal of boric acid made the MTC coefficients more negative and the FΔH lower compared to the reference. The boron-free core had enough rod-worth for power and isothermal defect counteraction and reactor shut down.

Rational Design of Multi‐color Phosphorescent Carbon Dots Based on Binaphthyldiamine with Chiral Signals

Comprehensive SummaryChiral phosphorescent materials have received extensive research owing to the unique properties of optical activity in recent years. Many phosphorescent carbon dots (CDs) materials have been reported, but the research on chiral phosphorescence is still in the exploratory stage. This work designs multi‐color room temperature phosphorescent (RTP) CDs with chiral signals, which are fully mixed with aromatic aldehyde precursors and chiral amino compounds precursors in a boric acid (BA) matrix and can be easily prepared by solvent‐free thermal method. The prepared (R)‐GCDs, (R)‐YCDs and (R)‐RCDs achieved phosphorescence emission at 545 nm, 582 nm, and 654 nm, respectively, and exhibited corresponding circular dichroism (CD) signals at 341 nm, 394 nm, 384 nm, and 380 nm, 448 nm, and 435 nm, respectively. The longest phosphorescence lifetime is up to 946 ms. Specifically, YCDs exhibit time‐dependent phosphorescence under UV excitation, and the afterglow time under white light excitation can reach 40 s. This article provides a new approach to the study of chiral phosphorescence.

Dissolution behavior and kinetic investigation of in solution in the reaction of colemanite ore with propionic acid

Colemanite ore, which is one of the most significant commercially substantial boron minerals, is used to produce various boron compounds in the industry with its rich B_2 O_3 content. Calcium propionate, used in the food industry, is formed as a by-product in its production. In the production of boric acid from colemanite, the use of different solvent reagents is at the forefront to prevent the formation of Mg^(2+), Ca^(2+) and SO_4^(2-) impurities and borogypsum by-products. For this reason, in our study, the dissolution kinetics of colemanite ore in propionic acid solution in an aqueous medium were carried out in a batch reactor system. As dissolution parameters; reaction temperature, solid/liquid ratio, propionic acid (CH_3 CH_2 COOH) concentration, stirring speed and particle size were selected as. According to the experimental results, the amount of Mg^(2+) passed to the solution; was observed that the solution increased with the increase in reaction temperature with the decrease in solid-liquid ratio, grain size, and acid concentration. In addition, it was determined that the mixing speed was not effective. Obtained experimental data were analyzed according to homogeneous and heterogeneous reaction models using the Statistica 10.0 package program. It was determined that the dissolution kinetic of Mg^(2+) passing to solution conformed to the "Avrami model" and activation energy (E) was calculated as 8.18 kJ⁄mol.

Synthesis and anti-ureolitic activity of Biginelli adducts derived from formylphenyl boronic acids

Urease is a metalloenzyme that contains two Ni(II) ions in its active site and catalyzes the hydrolysis of urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide. The development of effective urease inhibitors is crucial not only for mitigating nitrogen losses in agriculture but also for offering an alternative treatment against infections caused by resistant pathogens that utilize urease as a virulence factor. This study focuses on synthesizing and investigating the urease inhibition potential of Biginelli Adducts bearing a boric acid group. An unsubstituted or hydroxy-substituted boronic group in the Biginelli adducts structure enhances the urease inhibitory activity. Biophysical and kinetics studies revealed that the best Biginelli adduct (4e; IC50 = 132 ± 12 µmol/L) is a mixed inhibitor with higher affinity to the urease active site over an allosteric one. Docking studies confirm the interactions of 4e with residues essential for urease activity and demonstrate its potential to coordinate with the nickel atoms through the oxygen atoms of carbonyl or boronic acid groups. Overall, the Biginelli adduct 4e shows great potential as an additive for developing enhanced efficiency fertilizers and/or for medical applications.

Chitosan-puerarin composite hydrogel with magnetic enhanced photothermal properties as sustained antimicrobial coatings for beef preservation

The bactericidal properties of traditional food coatings mostly depend on the amount of fungicides present, which reduces the sustainability of food packaging. Herein, we proposed a magnetic field to precisely modulate the near-infrared (NIR) absorption activity to enhance antimicrobial coatings sustainability. Inspired by the typical grinding procedure, the assembly of CP/Fe3O4@TA nanofiber hydrogel was proposed as the coating, applying mechanical force and encouraging the collision of effective molecules of puerarin (PUE), chitosan (CS), and Fe3O4@TA NFs. This hydrogel design offers precise control over the physical and chemical properties, including appearance, viscoelasticity, and rheology. Particularly, significant changes in photothermal performance were observed as a result of magnetic regulation of NIR absorption activity. As a result, the CP/Fe3O4@TA coatings achieve effective bacteria killing performance under NIR irradiation, magnetocaloric effect, boric acid adsorption, and aggregation interference. Finally, the hydrogel coating was applied to the beef surface and serves as an effective barrier against the growth of pathogenic bacteria, thereby preserving the freshness and tenderness of the beef. The finding from this work is expected to open up a new way in active nano hydrogel coating for food preservation.

Determination of antibacterial performance of boric acid ester in the paint industry

ABSTRACT This study aims to assess the antibacterial activity of boric acid ester derived from boron mines, which is utilised as an active component in the paint industry. Multiple product variations were obtained by adding boric acid ester to the base, referred to as the reference sample, known as silk matte paint, and used as an interior paint with active substance concentrations ranging from 0.005% to 0.6%. Escherichia coli (ATCC10536) bacteria were inoculated at 78000 cfu cm−2 into samples with 0.005- 0.075% active substance, and at 24000 cfu cm−2 into samples containing 0.15- 0.6% of the active substance, and the reduction rates were determined by a mathematical equation via multivariate linear regression analysis, relating Escherichia coli reduction percentages, surface energy values, and pH measurements, including the power percentages and gloss values for the reference sample. The highest level of antibacterial effect was observed in the sample containing 0.075% active substance.

Development of 16N monitoring system for real-time detection of small leakage in reactor coolant systems

This paper introduces a16N monitoring system designed for the real-time detection of minor coolant leaks in nuclear reactors. Conventional coolant leak detection methods in nuclear power plants rely on observing changes in sump tank water levels, as guided by Nuclear Regulatory Commission standards. However, these methods are slow and often inaccurate, particularly for detecting small leakages of less than 0.5 gallons per minute (gpm). Such delays pose risks of corrosion from boric acid and potential safety hazards due to mechanical or thermal fatigue at critical junctions. To address these challenges, we have developed a Reactor Coolant System (RCS) leakage detection system that can swiftly identify small coolant leaks. This system employs beta-ray emissions from 16N, a nuclide predominantly produced during reactor operation and accounting for 90.4% of the total radioactivity in the APR1400 RCS coolant. High-energy beta-rays emitted by 16N are ideal for monitoring due to their significant energy levels, which distinguish them from other nuclides. This system is specifically designed for installation within the annulus zone of the reactor containment, where it captures air near reactor pipes to measure 16N beta-rays. Given the short half-life of 16N (7.13 s), direct measurement is challenging; hence, we use an indirect method to determine calibration factors between dose rate with count rate and estimate radioactivity concentrations based on simulation data and experimental measurements with a surrogate 90Sr/Y source. This system can enhance the safety protocols of nuclear plants by enabling early detection of leaks. Our findings demonstrate that this system can detect leaks as small as 0.01 gpm within seconds, significantly improving response times compared to conventional methods.

Chemically treated NiCo2O4 nanostructures with boric acid for the development of high-performance electrocatalytic materials for non-enzymatic ascorbic acid sensor

Chemically treated NiCo2O4 nanostructures with boric acid for the development of high-performance electrocatalytic materials for non-enzymatic ascorbic acid sensor

Role of self-assembled molecules’ anchoring groups for surface defect passivation and dipole modulation in inverted perovskite solar cells

Abstract Inverted perovskite solar cells have gained prominence in industrial advancement due to their easy fabrication, low hysteresis effects, and high stability. Despite these advantages, their efficiency is currently limited by excessive defects and poor carrier transport at the perovskite–electrode interface, particularly at the buried interface between the perovskite and transparent conductive oxide (TCO). Recent efforts in the perovskite community have focused on designing novel self-assembled molecules (SAMs) to improve the quality of the buried interface. However, a notable gap remains in understanding the regulation of atomic-scale interfacial properties of SAMs between the perovskite and TCO interfaces. This understanding is crucial, particularly in terms of identifying chemically active anchoring groups. In this study, we used the star SAM ([2-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)ethyl] phosphonic acid) as the base structure to investigate the defect passivation effects of eight common anchoring groups at the perovskite–TCO interface. Our findings indicate that the phosphonic and boric acid groups exhibit notable advantages. These groups fulfill three key criteria: they provide the greatest potential for defect passivation, exhibit stable adsorption with defects, and exert significant regulatory effects on interface dipoles. Ionized anchoring groups exhibit enhanced passivation capabilities for defect energy levels due to their superior Lewis base properties, which effectively neutralize local charges near defects. Among various defect types, iodine vacancies are the easiest to passivate, whereas iodine-substituted lead defects are the most challenging to passivate. Our study provides comprehensive theoretical insights and inspiration for the design of anchoring groups in SAMs, contributing to the ongoing development of more efficient inverted perovskite solar cells.

A Computational Study of Reactions with Boric Acid Aimed to Promote the Utilization of Lignin.

For exploring the reaction between the hydroxyl groups of lignin and boric acid under the alkaline condition, we study three proposed mechanisms for the formation of the anionic borate diester (ABDE) using the salicyl alcohol anion as the model compound by the density functional theory. ABDE has high flame retardancy and is a potentially practical application of lignin. The catalysis of sodium cation is found to enhance the deprotonation of the water cluster. The deprotonated product, hydroxide anion, is essential to the critical step, which is the cleavage of B-O bonds of the boric acid molecule, in reaction mechanisms. The energy profiles of the mechanisms show that the reaction between lignin and boric acid may start from the hydroxymethyl moieties of lignin since it requires less energy for the aforementioned critical step than from the phenol moieties of lignin. Moreover, the hydroxide anions compete with the hydroxymethyl groups in lignin for the formation of B-O bonds by forming tetrahydroxyborate anion (TBA) which requires very high activation energies to further react to the desired product ABDE. The optimal condition is to enhance the catalytic effect of sodium cations and meanwhile to control the formation of TBA.

Multifunctional and immunoregulatory microenvironment-responsive hydrogel for whole course management of infected diabetic wounds

Infective diabetic wounds can significantly delay healing and pose severe infection risks. The process of infective diabetic wounds healing (DWH) are not only re-epithelialization and angiogenesis but also anti-bacterial, hair follicles regeneration and nerve growth. In this study, a stable dynamic hydrogel system was formulated by incorporating dynamic borate easter bond and carbon–carbon double bond, which based on tannic acid (TA) − acrylic phenyl boric acid (APBA) and acrylamide (AM). Subsequently, a hydrogel (ATAN-Met) was obtained by modifying the antibacterial ammonium cationic (N+) and loading metformin (Met). This system demonstrated impressive wet adhesion, self-healing, wearable and peelable properties, responding to glucose/reactive oxygen species (ROS) for drug release. In vitro and vivo experiments illustrated that ATAN-Met recruited mesenchymal stem cell (MSC), facilitating interaction between MSC and neural cells, regulating macrophage polarization, and modulating the diabetic wound microenvironment while exhibiting anti-bacterial property, ultimately leading to re-epithelialization and neurovascular-hair follicles regeneration. RNA and metabolomic sequencing indicated that ATAN-Met activate the Hippo pathway, inhibit the TNF pathway, and regulate wound metabolism to improve the diabetic wound microenvironment. These results suggest that the microenvironment-responsive ATAN-Met hydrogel shows considerable potential for the whole course management of infective DWH.

Enhanced mechanical property and flame resistance of phosphorylated cellulose nanofiber based‐aerogel combined with boric acid

AbstractAs for cellulose‐based aerogels, a feature of inadequate mechanics and easy‐flammability seriously restricts their practical applications. To address this issue, herein a lightweight, mechanical elastic and flame‐retardant phosphorylated lignin‐based cellulose nanofiber (PLCNF‐B) aerogel with the aid of boric acid was successfully obtained by freeze‐drying method. Due to the uniform and tough network structure benefitting by strong hydrogen bond between phosphorylated fibers and boric acid, the resultant aerogel showed excellent mechanical performance, that is, high compressive strength of 8.9 kPa (strain: 50%) and outstanding cyclic reliability (remain 90% after 10 cycles). Meanwhile, PLCNF‐B aerogel possesses highly improved flame‐retardant property, that is, a high LOI value (up to 46%), significantly reduced peak heat release rate (11.2 W/g) and total heat release rate (0.47 kJ/g). Based on structural observation and analysis, the flame‐retardant behavior should be attributed to the formation of PxOy/amorphous boron oxide protective layer, which is derived from the phosphorus containing group of PLCNF and boric acid. The splendid overall performance of aerogel material offers a potential material tactic for design and development of advanced bio‐based aerogels for practical applications.

Investigation of removal of ash and sulfur from Kangal (Sivas/Turkey) lignite with the application of combined methods

ABSTRACT Boric acid is a dilute or mild acid derived from boron, and it is available in a water-soluble form as a white powder. Strong acids are generally preferred to remove ash and sulfur from coal. However, consumption of these strong acids harms the environment. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the leaching possibilities of weak acids. Also, a combination of beneficiation methods may need to be used to achieve the desired quality and environmental compatibility of coal. In this study, a combination of bioleaching and chemical experiments was employed to eliminate ash and sulfur from Sivas Kangal lignite coal. Initially, bioleaching experiments were conducted on lignites with high ash and sulfur contents by bioreactor with Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. Following this, in the second phase of experiments, boric acid leaching was employed to beneficiate Sivas/Turkey lignites through chemical methods. Additionally, the effect of glycerol on the leaching efficiency of boric acid, which is a weak acid, was investigated. Experimental findings have shown that combination methods provide better results in ash and sulfur removal from lignite coal. Finally, a clean coal product with 19.80% ash and 2.89% S content was obtained by combination methods to the lignite coal (46.60% ash and 4.99% S).

Properties, evaluation and application of naringin magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer based on synergistic imprinting strategy.

A novel and facile surface molecularly imprinted polymer coated on magnetic chitosan (Fe3O4@CS@MIP) was fabricated for the selective recognition and enrichment of naringin (NRG). The Fe3O4@CS@MIP was prepared based on covalent-noncovalent synergistic imprinting strategies, utilizing 4-vinyl phenyl boric acid as covalent functional monomer, deep eutectic solvent (choline chloride/methacrylic acid [ChCl/MAA]) as non-covalent functional monomer and Fe3O4@CS nanoparticles as the magnetic support. The obtained Fe3O4@CS@MIP exhibited a uniform morphology, excellent crystallinity, outstanding magnetic properties, and high surface area. Owing to the double recognition abilities, the resultant polymer showed exceptional binding performance and rapid mass transfer in phosphate buffer (pH 7.0). The maximum binding amount of Fe3O4@CS@MIP was found to be 15.08mgg-1, and the equilibrium adsorption could be achieved within 180min. Moreover, they also exhibited stronger selectivity for NRG and satisfactory reusability, with only 11.0% loss after five adsorption-desorption cycles. Additionally, the Fe3O4@CS@MIP, serving as an adsorbent, presented practical application potential in the separation and enrichment of NRG from pummelo peel, with extraction efficiency in the range of 79.53% to 84.63%. This work provided a new strategy for improving the performance of MIP and contributed an attractive option for the extraction of NRG in complex samples.