Chemical Action Research Articles

Investigation on the chemical structure evolution and action mechanism of coal during catalytic combustion

Catalytic combustion is one of the most promising technologies to realize efficient and clean coal combustion, but its catalytic mechanism is unknown until now. This study selected three types coal to explore the influence of catalysts on the chemical structure, surface morphology, and action mechanism during combustion. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were characterized the surface chemical structure of combustion products. The results showed that the aliphatic hydrogen decreased and then increased, the content of –CO and aromaticity(I) increased, and the aromatic condensation (DOC) and CC content decreased by catalysts. Both FTIR and XPS results demonstrated that the catalysts were easy to promote the dehydrogenation condensation reaction between coal molecules, disrupting the stability of coal aromatic structure, thereby generating many free radicals and improving coal combustion. BET and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to observe the effect of catalysts on the pore structure and surface morphology of combustion products. The results showed that the pore structure of product with catalysts continuously formed from micropores to medium pores and even large pores, which accelerated the oxygen transport and chemical reaction on coal surface. Finally, the mechanism of catalytic coal combustion was summarized.

The key role of unsaturated olefin content on polysulfides prepared via inverse vulcanization of waste plant oils for mercury removal from wastewater.

Three waste plant oils (olive oil, coconut oil, and soybean oil) were utilized as monomer crosslinking agents to synthesize polysulfides by inverse vulcanization with elemental sulfur, for mercury removal from wastewater. NMR analysis showed that 92.1% of the olefins participated in the inverse vulcanization reaction, indicating that the quantity of unsaturated olefins in plant oil mainly affects the ring-opening ratio of sulfur for the formation of sulfur-based polymers. The experimental results showed that olive oil polysulfide (S-r-olive) achieved 100% Hg2+ removal within 2h at a pH of 6. The S-r-olive, S-r-soybean, and S-r-coconut exhibited adsorption capacities of 130.23, 42.72, and 28.08mg/g, respectively. The kinetic and adsorption isotherm illustrated that the Hg2+ adsorption by polysulfides conformed to the pseudo-second-order and Freundlich models, showing that the reaction rate constant of S-r-olive is approximately 14 times and 4.6 times greater than that of S-r-soybean and S-r-coconut, respectively. The adsorption mechanism is concluded that Hg2+ first enters the suspended S-r-olive by physical adsorption, then combined with sulfur to form HgS by chemical action and fixed in the S-r-olive adsorbent. This study demonstrates that utilizing waste plant oils as monomer crosslinking agents to synthesize adsorbents for Hg2+ removal is feasible and effective.

Microbial Composition of Water Kefir Grains and Their Application for the Detoxification of Aflatoxin B1.

Water kefir grains (WKGs), the starter used to develop a traditional beverage named water kefir, consist of a symbiotic mixture of probiotics with diverse bioactivities, but little is known about their abilities to remove mycotoxins that have serious adverse effects on humans and animals. This study investigated the ability of WKGs to remove aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), one of the most toxic mycotoxins, under different settings, and determined the mechanism of absorption mediated by WKGs and the effect of WKGs on the toxicity induced by AFB1 and the reduction in AFB1 in cow milk and tea soups. The results showed the WKGs used herein were dominated by Lactobacillus, Acetobacter, Phenylobacterium, Sediminibacterium, Saccharomyces, Issatchenkia, and Kodamaea. HPLC analysis demonstrated that the WKGs effectively removed AFB1 at concentrations ranging from 1 to 5 µg/mL, pH values ranging from 3 to 9, and temperatures ranging from 4 to 45 °C. Additionally, the removal of AFB1 mainly depended on absorption, which was consistent with the Freundlich and pseudo-second-order kinetic models. Moreover, only 49.63% of AFB1 was released from the AFB1-WKG complex after four washes when the release of AFB1 was non-detectable. Furthermore, WKG treatment caused a dramatic reduction in the mutagenicity induced by AFB1 according to an Ames test and reduced more than 54% of AFB1 in cow milk and three tea soups. These results suggested that WKGs can act as a potential bio-absorbent with a high binding ability to detoxify AFB1 in food and feed via a chemical action step and multi-binding sites of AFB1 absorption in a wide range of scenarios.

Effect of amino acid complexing agents on chemical mechanical polishing performance and action mechanism of C-plane sapphire: Combining experiments and theoretical calculations

Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) of sapphire faces greater challenges as the performance and processing requirements of sapphire devices continue to improve. Amino acids are often used as complexing agents on CMP because of their high water solubility, environmental friendliness and strong complexing ability. In this study, a combination of experimental techniques and theoretical calculations were used to investigate the effects of glycine (Gly), serine (Ser) and lysine (Lys) as complexing agents on the CMP properties of C-plane sapphire. The existence forms of three amino acid molecules under alkaline conditions were analyzed, and their possible binding modes to sapphire were discovered. Experimentally, it can be found that all three amino acids can improve the performance of C-plane sapphire CMP in different degrees. The measure results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) show that the three amino acids can be complexed with the Al(OH)4‒ ions produced by the sapphire to form soluble substance, thus speeding up the removal of sapphire. By calculation, it can be shown that the process of complexation is that the –NH2 and –OH groups in amino acids form covalent bonds with Al atom in Al(OH)4‒. Finally, the complexation capacity of the three amino acids is in the following order: Gly < Ser < Lys. Therefore, this study can confirm that amino acids as complexing agent have a good complexing effect on sapphire CMP, and the addition of –NH2 and –OH groups can help to enhance the complexing ability of the complexing agent, which has a certain good guiding significant for the selection of sapphire CMP complexing agent.

Effect of Ca Modified Biochar on the Chemical Speciation of Soil Phosphorus and Its Stabilization Mechanism

To control of phosphorus release from soil after farmland inundation around the lake and reservoir， calcium modified biochar （Ca-BC） was prepared using the coprecipitation method. Through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS）， X-ray polycrystalline powder diffraction （XRD）， adsorption experiments， and simulated culture experiments， the effects of Ca-based biochar on the fraction of soil phosphorus （P） and its stabilization mechanism were studied. The results showed that the adsorption process of Ca-based modified biochar conformed to Langmuir （R2 = 0.940） and the first-order adsorption kinetic model （R2 = 0.961）， indicating that the P adsorption was a single-layer adsorption dominated by chemical action， and the maximum adsorption capacity was 267.93 mg·g-1. The simulated culture experiment indicated that when the modified biochar was 1%， the exchangeable fraction of phosphorus in the soil decreased from 7.42% to 4.59%. The XRD results demonstrated that Ca3（PO4）2 and hydroxyapatite absorption peaks appeared after adsorbed phosphorus on biochar， which proved that phosphate formed a relatively stable crystal precipitation. As shown in the XPS spectrum analysis， the carbonyl functional groups participated in the phosphorus fixation process， which improved the adsorption capacity of biochar for phosphorus. In general， when the concentration of Ca-based modified biochar was greater than 1%， it had a good fixation capacity for phosphorus release and had potential application value for controlling phosphorus release in soil.

Adsorption performance of bentonite and clay for Zn(II) in landfill leachate

BackgroundThe increasing prevalence of the Galvanized and dry battery industries has led to a rise in zinc proportions in landfills, posing environmental risks. This study explores the potential of bentonite, renowned for its metal adsorption capability, as a landfill barrier material.MethodsAdsorption characteristics of Zn(II) in natural bentonite and Shanghai clay were investigated. Various factors affecting Zn(II) adsorption, including pH, Na ion strength, contact time, initial Zn(II) concentration, and adsorption temperature, were analyzed through batch-type adsorption tests.ResultsThe change in pH and Na strength demonstrates no significant impact on the adsorption of Zn(II) onto bentonite, highlighting the strong selectivity of bentonite for Zn(II). Conversely, the equilibrium adsorption capacity of Zn(II) onto clay increases with rising pH or decreasing ion strength. The Zn(II) adsorption onto bentonite is well-described by the pseudo-second-order, intra-particle diffusion, and Elovih models, each achieving an R2 value exceeding 0.9. While both physical and chemical adsorption coexist in Zn(II) adsorption onto bentonite or clay, the primary determinant of the adsorption rate is chemical adsorption. The adsorption onto bentonite is spontaneous, whereas onto clay it is not. The mechanism involves van der Waals forces, ion exchange, and chemical actions such as inner-sphere complexation for Zn(II) adsorption onto both bentonite and clay.

Removal mechanism on 4H–SiC single crystal by picosecond laser ablation-assisted chemical mechanical polishing (CMP)

The properties of the single-crystal 4H–SiC are complex and difficult to understand. Consequently, determining the effect of the surface and subsurface structures and composition changes of picosecond laser ablation (PLA) on the material removal mechanism during the CMP stage is challenging. In this study, we used PLA of 4H–SiC surfaces to investigate the mechanism underlying the effect of PLA-assisted CMP, which is considerably larger than the laser ablation threshold, on the removal of 4H–SiC to improve the material removal rate and surface quality of CMP. The TEM and contact angle detection results indicated that the reduction in the fracture strength and increase in the surface energy of high-power PLA contributed to the removal form and chemical action of CMP. Subsequent experimental results showed that the contact angle and hardness of the PLA-treated surfaces in the hydrophilic range were reduced by 45% and 48.6%, respectively. The material removal rate (MRR) of PLA-CMP (alumina slurry) at 45 min was 3.67 μm/h that was a 70% improved CMP removal relative to no picosecond laser ablation (NPLA). The mechanism of PLA-assisted CMP removal was revealed to be related to the plastic cutting of the abrasive and high pressure and temperature, leading to the softening-removal-softening cycle of the material. This study provides a new perspective on the ultraprecise and high-efficiency fabrication of high-quality single-crystal 4H–SiC.

Patterns, Clinical Outcome, and Factors Associated with Poisoning Outcomes among Poisoned Patients in Northwest Ethiopia.

Poison is a substance that can hurt or cause dysfunction in the body due to its chemical action. Poisoning related to pesticides used in agriculture is a major public health issue in developing countries. However, there is a limited epidemiological data on poisoning in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to determine poisoning patterns, clinical outcome, and factors associated with poisoned patients in Northwest Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted in July 2021 to include data of 1 year period. Data of all poisoned patients were collected using a standardized checklist from the registration book and patient medical records. The association between variables and outcomes was analyzed using a multivariable logistic regression model. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered to declare a statistically significant association. Over one-third of the poisoning cases (35.9%) were seen in the spring, according to a survey of 315 patient medical data. The majority of patients were in the age group of 21-30 years (44.1%). The most common form of poison consumed was organophosphate (OP), which accounts for 61.3% of all visits, and the least common was food poisoning, which accounts for 1.9%. About 82.5% of poisoning cases survived, while the remaining 17.5% were died. Time of arrival to the hospital ≥1 h (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 7.02; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.16, 11.40), lack of oxygen support (AOR = 6.64; 95% CI: 3.56-6.78), and lack of adrenaline/dopamine medication (AOR = 3.57; 95% CI: 1.17-5.78) were all substantially linked with death of poisoned cases. Three-fourth of poisoning cases survived, while the remaining one-fourth died. Ingestion of OPs is the most prevalent type of poisoning, and most cases are intentional. Delayed arrival ≥1 h, lack of oxygen support, and adrenaline/dopamine treatment were all linked to death. On-time arrival, oxygen assistance, and adrenaline/dopamine treatment in a healthcare setting are all recommended.

In vivo study on the repair of rat Achilles tendon injury treated with non-thermal atmospheric-pressure helium microplasma jet.

Non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasma (NTAPP) has been widely studied for clinical applications, e.g., disinfection, wound healing, cancer therapy, hemostasis, and bone regeneration. It is being revealed that the physical and chemical actions of plasma have enabled these clinical applications. Based on our previous report regarding plasma-stimulated bone regeneration, this study focused on Achilles tendon repair by NTAPP. This is the first study to reveal that exposure to NTAPP can accelerate Achilles tendon repair using a well-established Achilles tendon injury rat model. Histological evaluation using the Stoll's and histological scores showed a significant improvement at 2 and 4 weeks, with type I collagen content being substantial at the early time point of 2 weeks post-surgery. Notably, the replacement of type III collagen with type I collagen occurred more frequently in the plasma-treated groups at the early stage of repair. Tensile strength test results showed that the maximum breaking strength in the plasma-treated group at two weeks was significantly higher than that in the untreated group. Overall, our results indicate that a single event of NTAPP treatment during the surgery can contribute to an early recovery of an injured tendon.

Advancing Sensitivity in Guided-Wave Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensor through Integration of 2D BlueP/MoS2 Hybrid Layers.

The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) signal, generated from the Kretschmann configuration, has been developed as an effective detection technology in chemical and biological sensors. The sensitivity of SPR signals to changes in the surrounding media makes it a valuable tool, as even a slight variation in refractive index can cause a significant change in SPR signals, such as phase, intensity, and resonance angle. However, the detection of ultralow changes in refractive index, which occur in chemical reactions or biological actions, remains a challenge for conventional SPR sensors due to their limited sensitivity. To overcome this limitation, we theoretically propose a novel guided-wave SPR (GWSPR) configuration coated with a few-layer blue phosphorene (blueP)/MoS2 hybrid structure. This configuration aims to enhance the electric field and subsequently achieve a significant improvement in sensitivity. The results of our study demonstrate that the proposed blueP/MoS2-based GWSPR sensor exhibits a high sensitivity of 290°/RIU, which represents an impressive enhancement of approximately 82.4% compared to the conventional Au-based SPR sensor. This advancement addresses the challenge of detecting ultralow changes in refractive index and offers significant potential for enhancing the performance of chemical and biological sensors.

A ultra‐low viscosity stearic acid emulsion prepared by lauric acid as waterproof agent for cement mortar

AbstractSafe building structures cannot be achieved without reliable waterproofing engineering. To address the susceptibility of concrete materials to water leakage, a low‐viscosity stearic acid emulsion has been developed as a waterproofing agent for mortar. By introducing lauric acid, the formation of stearic acid crystals in water could be effectively prevented, resulting in a stearic acid emulsion with a viscosity of only 24 mPa·s. It is found that the best overall performance was achieved when the ratio (R) of lauric acid to stearic acid was 2/3. This emulsion has the least effect on mortar fluidity and setting time. The as‐prepared modified mortar possessed the highest compressive strength (127% of the blank) and the lowest water absorption at 48 h (37% of the blank). X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy‐dispersive x‐ray spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) particle size analysis, and water contact angle measurements were used to investigate the mechanism of stearic acid emulsion's modification. It is determined that the stearic acid emulsions successfully modified the internal and external hydrophobicity of the mortar by chemical action with calcium hydroxide.

Exploring the Role of Phytochemicals in Arthritic Disorders: A Review

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a prevalent inflammatory condition exemplified by a prolonged course and diverse levels of complexity in symptoms involving joints, extra-articular organs and systemic manifestations, impacting a substantial number of people worldwide. The current treatment regimen of RA involves various synthetic drugs which cause severe side effects and occasionally infections also having high cost and impaired life quality. Plants and herbs contain abundant phytochemicals, which have demonstrated effectiveness in preventing, treating, or alleviating a range of health issues. Phytochemicals due to their low cost, safety and effectiveness in RA treatment and better patient acceptability are used as an alternative therapy. Currently, varied phytochemicals are isolated and evaluated for anti-arthritic drugs as they possess diverse chemical structures and specific biological actions. Phytochemicals are tested as a novel curative approach for arthritis management. In the present review, our intention is to present the role of different phytochemicals in reducing the progression of RA. We also aim to present a mechanism-based reduction of arthritic symptoms

How plants manage pathogen infection.

To combat microbial pathogens, plants have evolved specific immune responses that can be divided into three essential steps: microbial recognition by immune receptors, signal transduction within plant cells, and immune execution directly suppressing pathogens. During the past three decades, many plant immune receptors and signaling components and their mode of action have been revealed, markedly advancing our understanding of the first two steps. Activation of immune signaling results in physical and chemical actions that actually stop pathogen infection. Nevertheless, this third step of plant immunity is under explored. In addition to immune execution by plants, recent evidence suggests that the plant microbiota, which is considered an additional layer of the plant immune system, also plays a critical role in direct pathogen suppression. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of how plant immunity as well as microbiota control pathogen growth and behavior and highlight outstanding questions that need to be answered.

Molecular structure, different solvents interaction, thermodynamic, electronic, topological, and chemical behaviors of cis-2,6-dimethylpiperazin- anti depression agent

The Cis-2,6-Dimethylpiperazin has undergone wave function analysis to determine the topological characteristics. The vibrational and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy investigations were carried out. By advocating Density Functional Theory as a technique, the optimized structure is computed. Polarizability, nucleophilicity, and electrophilicity have also been estimated using Non-Linear Optics, Fukui, and Molecular Electro Static Potential. Additionally, the Highest occupied molecular orbital to Lowest unoccupied molecular orbital studies were carried out to know biological activity. It has been hypothesized that drug-like properties can explain a biological reaction. We predicted and examined the various thermodynamic properties. In addition to previous studies, the docking process was employed to calculate the energies of binding and size of bonding hydrogen with various proteins. This work describes molecular, electrical, chemical, and biological actions.

Integrating network pharmacology and experimental verification to explore the mucosal protective effect of Chimonanthus nitens Oliv. Leaf Granule on ulcerative colitis

Ethnopharmacological relevanceChimonanthus nitens Oliv. Leaf Granule (COG) is a commonly used clinical preparation of traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of cold, but there are folk reports that it can treat diarrhea and other gastrointestinal diseases. Therefore, the mechanism of COG in the treatment of ulcerative colitis with diarrhea as the main symptom needs to be studied. Aim of the studyCombined network pharmacology and experimental validation to explore the mechanism of COG in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. Materials and methodsFirst, the main components of COG were characterized by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS); subsequently, a network pharmacology approach was used to screen the effective chemical components and action targets of COG to construct a target network of COG for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). The protein-protein interaction network (PPI) and literature reports were combined to identify the potential targets of COG for the treatment of UC. Finally, the predicted results of network pharmacology were validated by animal and cellular experiments. Results19 components of COG were characterized by LC-MS, among which 10 bioactive components could act on 377 potential targets of UC. Key therapeutic targets were collected, including SRC, HSP90AA1, PIK3RI, MAPK1 and ESR1. KEGG results are enriched in pathways related to oxidative stress. Molecular docking analysis showed good binding activity of main components and target genes. Animal experiments showed that COG significantly relieved the colitis symptoms in mice, regulated the Treg/Th17 balance, and promoted the secretion of IL-10 and IL-4, along with the inhibition of IL-1β and TNF-α. Additionally, COG reduced the apoptosis of colon epithelial cells, and significantly improved the levels of SOD, MAO, GSH-px, and inhibited MDA, iNOS, eNOS in colon. Also, it increased the expression of tight junction proteins such as ZO-1, Claudin1, Occludin and E-cadherin. In vitro experiments, COG inhibited the oxidative stress and inflammatory injury of HCT116 cells induced by LPS. ConclusionsCombining network pharmacology and in vitro and in vivo experiments, COG was verified to have a good protective effect in UC, which may be related to enhancing antioxidation in colon tissues.

Comparative Toxicogenomics Database: A tool to investigate the effects of environmental exposures on the etiology of Alzheimer’s disease

AbstractBackgroundMost human diseases involve interactions between genetic and environmental factors. Although the environment is implicated in most chronic diseases, the etiology and mechanisms of action underlying these diseases remain unclear. It is estimated that more than 80,000 chemicals are currently used in commerce, challenging elucidation about chemical mechanisms‐of‐action and prioritization of environmental health research. Integration of diverse data is required to understand environment‐disease associations, mechanisms of chemical action, toxicity prediction and development of effective therapeutic interventions.MethodThe Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD; http://ctdbase.org) was launched publicly to address an unmet need for a public data resource dedicated exclusively to advancing understanding about environment‐disease connections. CTD provides a combination of richly annotated data describing chemical‐gene‐phenotype‐disease interactions, exposure information, and novel analysis tools that enable user‐driven discoveries about environmental influences on human health.ResultsCurrently, CTD provides &gt;2.5 million manually curated relationships for 16,800 chemicals; 52,000 genes/proteins; 5,500 phenotypes; and 7,200 diseases. The value of CTD has been specifically leveraged for a range of chronic and neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease.ConclusionThere is growing evidence of environmental influences on the etiology of a range of neuropsychiatric syndromes. This presentation will provide an overview of CTD content and functionality and how it can be used to explore environmental influences on the etiology and underlying mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease and other disorders.

Is the whitening effect of charcoal-based dentifrices related to their abrasive potential or the ability of charcoal to adsorb dyes?

ObjectivesTo evaluate if tooth color alteration of activated charcoal-based dentifrices may be attributed to the dye adsorption potential of charcoal (chemical action - C - slurry only) or to the association of dye adsorption with abrasion (chemo-mechanical action - CM- slurry/toothbrushing). Potential adverse effects in surface roughness, gloss, and wear were also assessed. MethodsBovine enamel/dentin specimens were randomly allocated into the groups according to treatments and test model (n = 15): deionized water (negative control- NC); Colgate Maximum Anticaries Protection (conventional toothpaste- positive control- PC); Colgate Luminous White Activated Charcoal (LW); Oral-B 3D White Therapy Charcoal (WT); Curaprox Black is White (BW); Dermavita Whitemax (Activated charcoal powder- WP). Specimens were exposed to the C or CM models, in 28-day staining-treatment cycling. Color change (ΔE00), whiteness index (ΔWID), percentage of alteration of surface roughness (%Raalt), and gloss (%GUalt) were calculated. Additional specimens (n = 9) were indented with a Knoop diamond and subjected to 100,000 abrasion cycles. Enamel wear was determined by calculating the decrease in indentations geometry. Data were analyzed by ANOVA/Tukey tests (α = 0.05). ResultsThe CM-model produced lower color change (staining) than C (p = 0.0001). PC, LW, WT, BW, and WP showed similar color results for both models, differing from NC (p < 0.05).%Ra and%GU did not differ among the C-model groups (p > 0.05) and WP exhibited the highest variation (%Ra and%GU) under CM-model. Enamel wear values were lowest in the NC and PC groups, intermediate for LW, WT, BW, and highest for the WP (p < 0.05). ConclusionActivated charcoal-based dentifrices have a similar ability to minimize tooth staining as the conventional toothpaste, with increased enamel wear potential in the long term (after 100,000 cycles). The activated charcoal powder damaged the enamel surface, showing a higher deleterious effect on enamel roughness, gloss, and wear. Clinical significanceDentifrices containing activated charcoal do not provide superior results to minimize tooth staining compared to conventional toothpaste. Charcoal powder should be used with caution because it promotes higher superficial alterations on the enamel surface.

Investigation on influence of polishing disc materials in UV-catalytic polishing of single crystal diamond

The effects of three materials (Fe, SiO2, Al2O3) on the tribological behavior and material removal process of single crystal diamond (SCD) in a UV-catalyzed environment were investigated through ball-on-disc friction and wear experiments, as well as CMP experiments. The results indicate that the material removal rate (MRR) of SCD increases with the hardness of the polishing disc material. However, the surface roughness Ra is influenced by the synergistic effect of both chemical and mechanical actions. Strong chemical action leads to C-O corrosion on the surface, while strong mechanical action causes sp2 damage to surface C atoms. When using Al2O3 discs, the MRR is the highest, reaching 713.5 nm/h, while SiO2 discs result in a smooth surface with a surface roughness Ra of 0.26 nm. Therefore, the SCD can be rough polished with Al2O3 discs first and then fine polished with SiO2 discs to achieve a high material removal rate and superior surface quality simultaneously.

Study on the Synergistic Effect of Superabsorbent Polymer and Crystalline Admixture on Self-Healing Performance of Mortar Based on Image Binarization Method

Concrete self-healing technology is an effective method for autonomously repairing cracks, which can reduce the maintenance costs of concrete components and prolong their service life. This study investigates the mechanical properties and self-healing abilities of mortar with internally mixed superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) and crystalline admixtures (CAs). The compressive strength and recovery rate of the specimens were evaluated, and the self-healing performance of concrete specimens was assessed through water absorption tests and optical microscopy observation of healed cracks. Microscopic analysis of the crack fillings was conducted using SEM-EDS and XRD tests, revealing the mechanism of the synergistic effect of SAPs and CAs on self-healing. The results indicate that the physical filling effect of SAPs’ water absorption and expansion almost completes the healing action before the 7-day healing age, with a weakened healing ability after this age. The chemical action of CA activation continues to heal cracks up to the 90-day healing age. When SAPs and CAs are incorporated together into the concrete matrix, the mortar specimens exhibit the best healing ability before the 7-day healing age. As water is released from the SAPs, the ongoing activation reaction of CAs shows the most effective healing result at the 90-day age. SEM-EDS analysis confirmed that the addition of CAs increases the Ca/Si ratio of calcium silicate hydrated, transforming it from an amorphous cluster structure to a needle-like structure. Furthermore, the internal curing effect of SAPs promotes the activation reaction of CAs, resulting in a greater quantity of more densely structured calcium silicate hydrated.

Chemical, microbial, and sensory characteristics of traditional cow ghee as affected by modified atmospheric packaging

Ghee is a stable product made from cow butter and obtained by clarifying butter after heat treatment to extend the shelf life of butter. It is commonly used in traditional foods due to its desired sensory characteristics. However, it can undergo spoilage during storage due to chemical and microbial action. Therefore, to address this issue, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) with [MAP1 (10 ± 5%O2 and 50 ± 5%CO2), MAP2 (5 ± 5%O2 and 75 ± 5%CO2), MAP3 (95 ± 5%CO2) and ambient air (21%O2, 0.03%CO2 and 78%N2)] on traditional cow Ghee's chemical, microbial, and sensory characteristics over 12 months of storage. The study found significant differences in chemical parameters for different MAP conditions. Microbial parameters increased, but yeast, mold, and coliform were undetected. Sensory parameters decreased over time. Ghee packed with high CO2 concentration-maintained quality and shelf stability for 12 months. Strong positive correlations were found among chemical and microbial attributes. However, strong negative correlations were found between chemical properties with sensory properties. The study recommends using MAP3 (95 ± 5% CO2) for better storage quality and shelf stability. These findings provide valuable insights into extending the shelf life of traditional cow Ghee, which can benefit both the food industry and consumers.