Chemical Activation Research Articles

Pyrolysis solid product as a sorbent for flue gases mercury capture — Part II: Sorbent utilization

This study explores using solid pyrolysis products from six materials as sorbents to capture mercury from flue gas in an experimental fluidized bed combustor. It investigates the effects of activation methods, adsorption temperature, and Hg0/Hg2+ ratios on mercury removal efficiency. Physical and chemical activations are conducted using steam and NaOH, respectively. Tests are run at 100–160 °C with 5g of sorbent. Results show 120 °C as optimal, with sorbents losing 0.34% and 0.39% efficiency with increasing temperature for lignite and black coal. Specific surface area (up to 641 m2∙g–1) significantly influences cumulative removal efficiency (CRE), reaching 80.8% for lignite and 73.85% for black coal. Mercury gas recovery averages 35.5% and 53.7% after physical and chemical activations. Lignite sorbents exhibit higher CRE than black coal, indicating greater mercury oxidation in black coal flue gas. This study offers a promising method for char recovery from pyrolysis, suggesting competitive sorbents for industrial use.

Selektivitas Adsorpsi Campuran Biner Fe(II)/Cu(II) Menggunakan Karbon Aktif dari Sekam Padi dan Serbuk Gergaji Kayu Jati

Increasing human needs cause an increase in production on an industrial scale and can have an impact on increasing contamination of the aquatic environment. Efforts to improve water quality can be made by removing contaminants using renewable activated carbon originating from agricultural waste such as rice husks and teak sawdust. This research aims to examine the adsorption capacity of activated carbon from rice husks (RHAC) and teak sawdust (TSAC) on a binary mixture of Fe(II)/Cu(II) as well as the level of selectivity of each adsorbent on Fe(II) and Cu(II) ions. RHAC and TSAC activated carbon are produced through carbonization processes (T=400 °C, t=60 minutes), reflux (NaOH 2N, T=100 °C, t=120 minutes), chemical activation using H3PO4 (30%, 1:3, b/b) and physics (furnace). The results of this research are that RHAC and TSAC activated carbon have the functional groups O-H (str), C-H (str), C≡C, C=C, C-O (str), and C-O-P (str). The surface character of RHAC and TSAC activated carbon is dominated by the elements C, O, and P. The results of the Fe(II) and Cu(II) ion adsorption treatment using RHAC and TSAC activated carbon follow PSO kinetic modeling with R2 values of 0.9221 and 0.9565 on RHAC and 0.9915 and 0.97 on TSAC. TSAC-activated carbon more selectively adsorbs Fe(II) and Cu(II) ions compared to RHAC-activated carbon with adsorption percentages reaching 97.34% and 87.82%, respectively.

Cd2+ removal efficiency of activated carbon from Prosopis juliflora: Optimization of preparation parameters by the Box-Behnken Design of Response Surface Methodology

The study focuses on the preparation of activated carbon from Prosopis juliflora (PJAC) wood by pyrolysis and chemical activation. The objective is to assess its effectiveness as an adsorbent for synthesizing a composite adsorbent coating (CAC) for Cadmium (Cd2+) removal from aqueous solution. The effect of preparation factors related to Cd2+ removal efficiency was assessed. The Design of Experiments (DoE) for the adsorption of Cd2+ on the PJAC were done using the Box-Behnken Design (BBD) of the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) (Design Expert software version 11). The influence of impregnation ratio (IR), carbonization time (t), and carbonization temperature (T) on the Cd (II) percent (%) removal was evaluated. The response surface graphs in 3D were also generated for the response variable, and the higher R2 coefficient values were fitted into the polynomial quadric model. The results indicated that all the variable preparation factors were significant in the Cd2+ removal by PJAC with carbonization temperature being the most significant. At the optimum conditions i.e. impregnation ratio (1.8), carbonization temperature (595 °C) and carbonization time (174 min), the model predicted a 99.9 % Cd2+ removal efficiency while the adsorption experiment obtained a 96.7 % removal efficiency, respectively. Later, the morphological and chemical properties of the PJAC prepared with optimal parameters were analyzed using different characterization techniques including SBET, SEM-EDX, pHPZC, FTIR and XRD. The SEM images revealed a rough and porous morphological surface with an SBET of 600.4 m2/g and a near neutral pHPZC of 6.92. The XRD pattern indicated the crystalline nature of the prepared adsorbent. The pre and post adsorption FTIR spectrum of the PJAC demonstrated a distinct difference with the latter showing a reduction in peak intensity and height. These results underpin the potential of utilizing invasive plants like Prosopis Juliflora as adsorbents for heavy metal removal.

Trash to treasure: A general strategy to prepare high performance graphite blocks via constructing interfacial transition layers with highly chemically active on recyclable graphite powder

Recently, the cycling of graphite residuum generated in the machining process of isostatic graphite has aroused great interest in both academia and industry as it offers an important solution to reduce the waste of resources and environmental disruption. However, conventional method of simple backfilling of residuum suffers drawbacks of low added-value and environmental pollution owing to the high graphitization degree and low chemical activity of these graphite powders. Herein, we report a general strategy to prepare high-performance graphite blocks (GBB) while using recyclable graphite powder (RGP) as starting compound via constructing highly chemical active interfacial transition layers (ITLs) on the surface of RGP by impregnated pitch (IP). The ITLs decorated recycled graphite powder (RGP@SC), as reflected in FT-IR, ESR, TG-DTG and EA, contains abundant surface functional groups, free radicals, and heteroatoms which ensures the high chemical activity, thus obviously improving the self-sintering and self-adhesion properties of GBB. As a result, graphite blocks (GBB) with RGP@SC as the main aggregate display a high homogeneity and mechanical properties. The average open porosity, flexural and compressive strength were determined to 9.90%, 56.60 MPa and 123.50 MPa, respectively, which even outperforms most reported graphite blocks. Impressively, due to the absence of impregnating and multiple calcinating, the process has a short production cycle, which not only saves energy, but also is environmentally friendly. The current work display benchmark example of the employment of RGP for synthesis of high-performance graphite blocks.

Fluorinated polymer-derived microporous carbon spheres for CFx cathodes with high energy density

Fluorinated carbon (CFx) compounds have extensive applications in lithium primary battery cathodes owing to their high energy density. In this investigation, a novel CFx compound offering superior electrochemical properties was synthesized via a low-temperature fluorination process, utilizing Pluronic F127 as a template agent and microporous carbon spheres produced through soft template-assisted high-temperature carbonization and chemical activation as precursors, and by regulating the amount of soft template F127 added. The reduction in microsphere size, narrower particle size distribution, and introduction of defects contribute to augmenting the molar ratio of F to C (F/C) of CFx while preserving the electrochemical activity of C-F bonds. The specific capacity of fluorinated polymer-derived microporous carbon spheres (FPMCSs) with a high fluorination degree rivals that of commercial fluorinated graphite (FG). The microsphere morphology and microporous structure not only furnish abundant sites for fluorination reactions in electrode processes but also facilitate Li+ diffusion, ensuring ample rate capability. The synthesized FPMCSs exhibited a peak specific capacity of 1079 mAh g–1 and a maximum energy density of 2679 Wh kg–1 (substantially surpassing the 2180 Wh kg–1 of commercial FG). Hence, the prepared FPMCSs underscore the significance of selecting suitable carbonaceous materials and designing structures deliberately, showing promising potential for achieving high energy density in CFx cathodes in the future, employing readily available and cost-effective raw materials.

The therapeutic effect and targets of herba Sarcandrae on breast cancer and the construction of a prognostic signature consisting of inflammation-related genes

BackgroundThe prevalence of breast cancer (BRCA), which is common among women, is on the rise. This study applied network pharmacology to explore the potential mechanism of action of herba sarcandrae in BRCA and construct a prognostic signature composed of inflammation-related genes. MethodsThe active ingredients of herba sarcandrae were screened using the SymMap, TCMID, and TCMSP platforms, and the molecular targets were determined in the UniProt database. The “drug-active compound-potential target” network was established with Cytoscape 3.7.2. The molecular targets were subjected to disease ontology, gene ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes (KEGG) analyses. AutoDock software was used for molecular docking. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to inflammation were obtained from the BRCA Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. In the training cohort, the univariate Cox regression model was applied to preliminarily screen prognostic genes. A multigene signature was built by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model, followed by validation through Kaplan‒Meier, Cox, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses. ResultsForty-one active compounds were identified, and 265 therapeutic targets for herba sarcandrae were predicted. GO enrichment results revealed significant enrichment of biological processes, such as response to xenobiotic stimuli, response to nutrient levels, and response to lipopolysaccharide. KEGG analysis revealed significant enrichment of pathways such as AGE-RAGE and chemical carcinogenesis receptor activation signaling pathways. In addition, the herbs Marc-Andre and rutin were shown to mediate BRCA cell proliferation and apoptosis via the interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway. Sixteen inflammatory signatures, including BST2, GPR132, IL12B, IL18, IL1R1, IL2RB, IRF1, and others, were constructed, and the risk score was found to be a strong independent prognostic factor for overall survival in BRCA patients. The 16-inflammation signature was associated with several clinical features (age, clinical stage, T, and N classifications) and could reflect immune cell infiltration in tumor microenvironments with different immune cells. ConclusionsHerba sarcandrae and rutin were shown to mediate BRCA cell proliferation and apoptosis via the IRF1/STAT3/PD-L1 pathway, and the 16-member inflammatory signature might be a novel biomarker for predicting BRCA patient prognosis, providing more accurate guidance for clinical treatment prognosis evaluation and having important reference value for individualized treatment selection.

Chemical Constituents, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Activities of Ethyl Acetate Fractionated Extract from Rhizomes of Zingiber monophyllum Gagnep.: In vitro and in silico Screenings

Objective/Background: Zingiber monophyllum Gagnep., a member of the Zingiberaceae family, is known for its significant biological activities. The current study aimed to determine the volatile components of the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fractionated extract found in the rhizomes of this species. This is the first report on the chemical composition and bioactivities of Z. monophyllum rhizomes fractionated extract. Methods: The chemical constituents were analyzed and determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Antioxidant activities were evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays using ascorbic acid as a positive control. Antibacterial and antifungal properties of the EtOAc fractionated extract of Z. monophyllum rhizomes were assessed against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enterica, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Candida albicans. Density functional theory (DFT) and molecular docking were also employed to illustrate antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Results: Nine components were identified by GC-MS analysis from the EtOAc fractionated extract of Z. monophyllum rhizomes. ( E)-labda-8(17),12-diene-15,16-dial (9), spathulenol (2), and neointermedeol (5) were the major components (21.8%, 16.8%, and 11.9%, respectively). Moderate antioxidant activities of the EtOAc fractionated extract were observed via both the DPPH assay and the FRAP assay using ascorbic acid as the standard compound. The extract demonstrated remarkable antimicrobial activity against all examined microbial strains, except for P. aeruginosa. The DFT study analyzed the antioxidant potential of each component in the fractionated extract. Molecular docking study chose E. faecalis DNA gyrase B, E. coli DNA gyrase B, S. aureus biotin protein ligase, E. faecalis Alanine racemase, and C. albicans N-myristoyltransferase as potential target proteins for antimicrobial activity. Conclusion: In this study, the chemical composition of the EtOAc fractionated extract of Z monophyllum rhizomes was demonstrated through GC-MS analysis for the first time. Nine components, including alloaromadendrene, spathulenol, globulol, τ-cadinol, neointermedeol, aromadendrene oxide-(2), ambrial, (E)-15,16-dinorlabda-8(17),11-dien-13-one, and (E)-lambda-8 (17),12-diene-15,16-dial along with relative content were identified in this fractionated extract. The bioassays revealed that the fractionated extract showed moderate antioxidant activities and significant antimicrobial activities. The antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of each component was also theoretically examined by the DFT study and molecular docking study, respectively.

Optimization of Composite Enzymatic Extraction, Structural Characterization and Biological Activity of Soluble Dietary Fiber from Akebia trifoliata Peel.

In order to reduce the waste of Akebia trifoliata peel and maximize its utilization, in this study, on the basis of a single-factor experiment and the response surface method, the optimum technological conditions for the extraction of soluble dietary fiber from Akebia trifoliata peel with the compound enzyme method were obtained. The chemical composition, physical and chemical properties, structural characterization and biological activity of the purified soluble dietary fiber (AP-SDF) from the Akebia trifoliata peel were analyzed. We discovered that that the optimum yield was 20.87% under the conditions of cellulase addition 600 U/g, enzymolysis time 100 min, solid-liquid ratio 1:24 g/mL and enzymolysis temperature 51 °C. At the same time, AP-SDF was a porous network structure cellulose type I acidic polysaccharose mainly composed of arabinoxylan (36.03%), galacturonic acid (27.40%) and glucose (19.00%), which possessed the structural characteristic peaks of the infrared spectra of polysaccharides and the average molecular weight (Mw) was 95.52 kDa with good uniformity. In addition, the AP-SDF exhibited high oil-holding capacity (15.11 g/g), good water-holding capacity and swelling capacity, a certain antioxidant capacity in vitro, hypoglycemic activity in vitro for α-glucosidase inhibition and hypolipidemic activity in vitro for the binding ability of bile acids and cholesterol. These results will provide a theoretical basis for the development of functional products with antioxidant, hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects, which have certain application value in related industries.

Removal of Diesel Oil from Aqueous Solution Using Agro-Waste Activated Carbon Synthesized by Chemical and Microwave Activation

Removal of Diesel Oil from Aqueous Solution Using Agro-Waste Activated Carbon Synthesized by Chemical and Microwave Activation

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Cordiera myrciifolia leaves against pathogenic bacteria and fungi: Drug potentiation ability and inhibition of virulence

Cordiera myrciifolia is an abundant species in Northeast Brazil that presents metabolites of biological/therapeutic interest. From this perspective, the present study aimed to investigate the chemical constituents and evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial activity of hexane (HECM) and ethanolic (EECM) extracts of C. myrciifolia leaves. The extracts were analyzed by chromatographic techniques (GC and UPLC) coupled with mass spectrometry. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts and the extracts combined with conventional drugs was evaluated by microdilution. The in vitro effect of the treatments on Candida's morphological transition was verified through cultivation in humid chambers. In HECM, 11 constituents including fatty acids, and triterpenes, including phytosterols, alkanes, tocols, and primary alcohols were identified. Triterpenes represented >40% of the identified constituents, with Lupeol being the most representative. In EECM, 13 constituents were identified, of which eight belonged to the class of flavonoids. High antibacterial activity of HECM was detected against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, with Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations of 8 and 16 μg/mL, respectively. The combined activity was more effective when combined with Norfloxacin and Imipenem. In anti-Candida activity, the IC50 of the extracts ranged from 36.6 to 129.1 μg/mL. There was potentiating effect when associated with Fluconazole. Both extracts inhibited the filamentous growth of C. tropicalis at a concentration of 512 μg/mL. C. myrciifolia extracts prove to be candidates for the development of new therapeutic formulations to treat bacterial and fungal infections.

Comparative study of the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of volatile oils extracted from Pimpinella anisum L. and Anethum graveolens L. seeds grown in Syria

Comparative study of the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of volatile oils extracted from Pimpinella anisum L. and Anethum graveolens L. seeds grown in Syria

Predicting enthalpy of formation of benzenoid hydrocarbons and ordering molecular trees using general multiplicative Zagreb indices

Many existing studies show that there exists a strong relationship between structures and characteristics of molecules. Topological indices are often used in modeling the properties of chemical compounds and biological activities in theoretical chemistry. Topological indices are numerical values associated with structures of molecules in such a way that they remain constant under graph isomorphism. Multiplicative Zagreb indices are among the famous topological indices that have been explored by numerous researchers in the last few years. The first objective of the present paper is to examine the importance of general multiplicative Zagreb indices for forecasting the enthalpy of formation of hydrocarbons using a data set of 25 benzenoid hydrocarbons. The second objective of this paper is to study molecular trees with a given order and with a given number of branching vertices or segments using general multiplicative (first and second) Zagreb indices. Sharp lower/upper bounds on these Zagreb indices for the aforementioned molecular trees are obtained and the graphs attaining these bounds are determined. Bounds on the classical multiplicative Zagreb and Narumi-Katayama indices are corollaries of the obtained results.

Synthesis and mechanism of quaternary ammonium salts based on porphyrin as high-performance copper levelers

The molecular structure and energy distribution of organic compounds have a great influence on their adsorption capacity on the metal surface. However, there are still insufficient researches on the influence of energy distribution on adsorption properties of organic molecules. Herein, a family of porphyrin derivatives (TPyP-Et, TPyP-Oct, TPyP-Bn and TPyP-Al) bearing quaternary ammonium groups were synthesized for the first time as promising levelers for through-hole copper electrodeposition. Electrochemical tests revealed that all four TPyP derivatives displayed enhanced electrochemical properties. Theoretical calculations and molecular dynamics simulations were carried out to investigate the physisorption capacity and chemical reaction activity of the TPyP molecules, as well as the adsorption capacity on the surface of the copper layer. Through optical and scanning electron microscopy as well as X-ray diffractometry, it was demonstrated that TPyP molecules are effective electroplating levelers. TPyP-Oct, with its longer carbon chain substituent, exhibited superior hole-filling performance in practical PCB experiments among the four compounds. This study expandes the application range of porphyrin compounds, analyzes the influence of organic molecular adsorption properties in copper electrodeposition, and provides theoretical guidance for the future study of organic compounds adsorbed on metal surfaces.

Effect of temperature on the chemical activation of carbon nanospheres and their efficiency in supercapacitors

Effect of temperature on the chemical activation of carbon nanospheres and their efficiency in supercapacitors

Fe-doped biomass-derived activated carbons as sustainable electrode materials in supercapacitors using different electrolytes

In the search of sustainable and low-cost materials, able to reinforce circular economy, different activated carbons were obtained from agroindustry wastes, by means of a chemical activation route, after the doping of their corresponding biochars with Fe-based species through an incipient wetness method. These activated carbons were assessed as active electrode materials in supercapacitors using various electrolytic media, including aqueous, organic and ionic liquid electrolytes. The electrochemical results obtained revealed an excellent performance for all porous materials and electrolytes under evaluation, reaching the highest specific capacitance of 334F/g at a current density of 0.02 A/g using an aqueous electrolyte. The highest specific capacitance using an organic electrolyte and an ionic liquid electrolyte were 214F/g and 166F/g, respectively. It was found that activated carbons with a relevant mesopores volume, and pore sizes around 1 nm, achieved a better specific capacitance when using aqueous and organic electrolytes. However, heteroatoms as oxygen and iron enhanced the electrochemical performance of the device using the ionic liquid as electrolyte, thus achieving the highest energy and power density values (up to 63 Wh/kg and 1606 W/kg, respectively) among the different systems evaluated.

Catalytic pyrolysis of wood dust for monophenol over macroalgal biochar-based catalyst: Effects of activation agents and atmospheres during catalyst synthesis on its performance

After introducing heteroatoms into the carbon material skeleton, the performance of carbocatalyst during catalytic pyrolysis of biomass for monophenol production is significantly improved. Algae, as a carbon source with intrinsic nitrogen content, is well-identified as a suitable raw material for preparing heteroatom-doped carbocatalyst. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of different alkaline activation agents (KOH/NaOH) and gas atmospheres (N2/CO2) during the carbonization-activation synthesis process of macroalgal biochar-based catalysts (MBBCs) on their properties and performances. Characterizations of carbocatalysts were carried out via BET and XPS analyses to investigate the porous structures and surface functional groups. Results showed that CO2, as a weakly oxidizing atmosphere, can promote the formation of porous structure of MBBCs. However, the promotion is not as strong as that of chemical activation agents (KOH/NaOH). Furthermore, KOH can promote the formation of porous structure more strongly than NaOH, but NaOH can substantially enhance the formation of surface oxygen‑nitrogen groups compared to KOH. All the MBBCs exhibited the increment of monophenols in the bio-oil obtained from catalytic pyrolysis of wood dust, especially phenol, o-cresol, and p-cresol. Amongst, the biochar-based catalyst activated with NaOH in CO2 atmosphere was the most effective one in promoting monophenols content (up to 59.46 %). Compared with the control group (without catalyst), the phenol content was increased from 5.03 % to 19.40 %. Moreover, it is found that the catalytic performance was positively correlated with the CO species percentage on the surface of MBBCs. The macroalgal biochar-based catalyst has an excellent catalytic performance, which is of great significance for achieving the complete utilization of algae and thereby improving the quality of catalytic pyrolysis products.

Revealing spatial distribution and accessibility of cell wall polymers in bamboo through chemical imaging and mild chemical treatments

Understanding the distribution and accessibility of polymers within plant cell walls is crucial for addressing biomass recalcitrance in lignocellulosic materials. In this work, Imaging Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy, coupled with targeted chemical treatments, were employed to investigate cell wall polymer distribution in two bamboo species at both tissue and cell wall levels. Tissue-level Imaging FTIR revealed significant disparities in the distribution and chemical activity of cell wall polymers between the fibrous sheath and fibrous strand. At the cell wall level, Imaging Raman spectroscopy delineated a distinct difference between the secondary wall and intercellular layer, with the latter containing higher levels of lignin, hydroxycinnamic acid (HCA), and xylan, and lower cellulose. Mild acidified sodium chlorite treatment led to partial removal of lignin, HCA, and xylan from the intercellular layer, albeit to a lesser extent than alkaline treatment, indicating susceptibility of these polymers to chemical treatment. In contrast, lignin in the secondary wall exhibited limited reactivity to acidified sodium chlorite but was slightly removed by alkaline treatment, suggesting stable chemical properties with slight alkaline intolerance. These findings provide valuable insights into the inherent design mechanism of plant cells and their efficient utilization.

Manipulating the overall capacitance of hierarchical porous carbons via structure- and pore-tailoring approach

Herein, we present pore architecture-tailorable porous carbons through a time-adjustable hydrothermal reaction and subsequent KOH chemical activation method. Accordingly, platanus spiky (Ps) fruits, taro (T) roots, and green bell peppers (Pp) biowaste substrates were utilized as sustainable precursors to construct novel hierarchical porous carbons (HPCs) with highly interconnected porous frameworks and smart micro/meso/macroporous architecture for supercapacitors. The heterogeneous feedstocks were pre-carbonized under hydrothermal conditions for different hold durations (12 h, 24 h, 36 h) at 200 °C. The optimized Ps-24h material exhibits a high capacitance of 371.6 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 in an aqueous Na2SO4 electrolyte and an outstanding rate performance (94% capacitance retention after 10,000 charge-discharge cycles). Surprisingly, the specific gravimetric capacitance of HPCs can be significantly manipulated by establishing a high-performance redox electrolytic system. In particular, the tailored Ps-24h-based electrode delivers a superior capacitance of 843 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 with an exceptional rate capability (64.7% capacitance retention from 1 to 20 A g−1 in K3[Fe(CN)6]/Na2SO4 electrolyte). Consequently, the as-integrated Ps-24h//Ps-24h symmetric supercapacitor device with a working voltage of 1.8 V presents enhanced energy/power outcomes (63.8 Wh kg‒1/900.2 W kg‒1) with remarkable long-term cyclic durability (90.4% capacitance retention after 15,000 cycles) in a redox electrolytic system.

Preparation of modified wood-based metal nanoparticles synthesized in situ and efficient removal of organic pollutants from wastewater

Wood has excellent properties such as biodegradability, high reactivity and rich channel skeleton structure. However, the defects such as hole blockage and limited specific surface area limit the application of wood-based materials in wastewater treatment. Therefore, in this research, wood substrates (DTWS) were treated using a deep eutectic solvent method, which was able to remove both lignin and hemicellulose from wood. Wood-based carriers with high specific surface area and high chemical activity were formed. The DTWS-Ag material was formed by growing Ag nanoparticles (NPs) in wood channels by hydrothermal method. The results showed that with the increase of lignin and hemicellulose removal, the degradation performance of DTWS-Ag material showed a volcanic trend due to the interaction between Ag and the inner wall of the pipe. The pore size and the amount of Ag NPs are very important to the degradation rate of dye molecules. DTWS-4-Ag composite material makes wood pore diameter and Ag NPs production reach a high balance, so that it has the highest degree of reduction. DTWS-4-Ag showed high catalytic degradation efficiency and stability for methylene blue degradation, with the degradation efficiency up to 98.3%. This low-cost, renewable wood-based filter has high dye degradation efficiency and can be widely used in practical wastewater treatment.

Ice/salt assisted synthesis of ultrathin two-dimensional nitrogen doped carbon nanosheets for fast lithium storage

Two-dimensional carbon nanosheets have garnered considerable interest as promising anode materials in energy storage devices due to their large specific surface area and excellent conductivity. The efficient synthesis of ultrathin nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheets is achieved with the aid of cysteine, employing a green ice/salt-assisted strategy. Ice influences the growth direction of salt crystals and determines the distribution of sodium lignosulfonate on the surfaces of both ice and salt crystals. The introduction of methionine incorporates heteroatoms, altering the electronic structure and chemical activity of the material, thereby effectively enhancing its lithium storage performance. The initial charge capacity of the optimized sample reached 766.4 mA h g−1 at a current density of 0.2 A g−1, maintaining a capacity of 571.1 mA h g−1 after 100 cycles. This study presents an innovative method for fabricating ultrathin carbon nanosheets using eco-friendly, cost-effective sodium lignosulfonate, showcasing a promising candidate for lithium-ion batteries and future energy storage technologies.