Ammonium Chloride Research Articles

Synthesis and characterization of bagasse cellulose-based quaternary ammonium peroxyphosphotungstate and their catalytic properties for cyclohexene oxidation in the absence of any solvent

Bagasse cellulose, an industrial waste byproduct of sugar production, was demonstrated to be a viable solid support for a solid-phase ionic oxidation catalyst enabling organic solvent-free aqueous reaction conditions and facile catalyst recovery. Bagasse cellulose-supported quaternary ammonium peroxyphosphotungstate was synthesized from bagasse cellulose-supported quaternary ammonium chloride, phosphotungstic acid, and hydrogen peroxide. The chemical structure of this material was characterized by SEM, XRD, FT-IR, XPS, and 13C NMR, revealing stability of the cellulose matrix to the catalyst loading conditions and effective dispersion of the acicular catalyst crystals throughout the matrix. High catalytic activity of this synthetic complex was demonstrated in the oxidation of cyclohexene to 1,2-cyclohexanediol with hydrogen peroxide in the absence of solvent. Optimized conditions providing trans-1,2-cyclohexanediol with 86.2 % selectivity were 12 wt% catalyst and 4 mL/g 30 % H2O2 (vs. cyclohexene) at 50 °C for 10 h.

Adsorption and transport of acid dye through polymer inclusion membrane with Aliquat 336 and TBP

Colour is typically the initial pollutant identified in wastewater. Membrane separation represents a novel approach to separation processes, with expectations of supplanting many traditional separation systems. The aim of this study is to investigate polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) consisting of tri octyl methyl ammonium chloride as the carrier, tributylphosphate as the modifier, poly-vinyl chloride as the base polymer and 2-Nitro phenyl pentyl ether as the plasticizer for removing an acid dye (Red Erionyl A-3G) from aqueous solution. The dye adsorption on the membrane surface and its transition to the stripping phase was achieved by placing the membrane between two glass cells. Changing the stripping solution ensured both adsorption on the membrane surface and the transfer of all the dye to the stripping stage. Using a mixture of 0.8 M salicylic acid and 0.8 M NaOH, along with stirring at 1000 rpm during the stripping phase, extraction efficiency reached 98% in the feed phase and 53% in the stripping phase. When 1 M NaOH solution was employed as the stripping solution, the membrane absorbed all the dye within 10 minutes, but there was no transition to the stripping phase. The membrane has a durability of 2 days.Graphical abstract

A facile strategy to fabricate stretchable, low hysteresis and adhesive zwitterionic elastomers by concentration-induced polymerization for wound healing

Developing high-efficient wound dressing with a combination of good mechanical toughness, conformal adhesion and multiple functions is important in clinical application yet remains challenge. Herein, a multi-functional zwitterionic elastomer (TASM) was developed by directly evaporating the uniform precursor containing zwitterionic monomer 3-[Dimethyl-[2-(2-methylprop-2-enoyloxy) ethyl] azaniumyl] propane-1-sulfonate (SBMA), α-thioctic acid (TA) and [2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl] trimethyl ammonium chloride (METAC). It is interesting to find that the originally immiscible SBMA could dissolve well in ethanol with the assistance of TA, while some other zwitterionic still cannot. The underlying reason is revealed through Flory-Huggins model that the mixture of SBMA and TA exhibit a very low mixing free energy, making them successfully dissolve in ethanol. The obtained TASM elastomer exhibited good mechanical performance, robust adhesion, self-healing ability, along with wound monitoring potential. Besides, the elastomer also showed excellent biocompatibilities and efficient anti-bacterial capability. Furthermore, the elastomer worked well in promoting wound healing in both of full-thickness wound and incisions models. Specifically, in the incision model, the elastomer treatment can replace suturing treatment thanks to the strong adhesion, showing great advantages as wound dressing materials. This work could offer new insights into the preparation of PolyTA systems and promote their functionalization and applications.

Synthesis and antimicrobial activity testing of quaternary ammonium silane compounds

With increasing health awareness of the pathogenic effects of disease-causing microorganisms, interest in and use (of medical textiles, disinfectants in medical devices, etc.) of antimicrobial substances have increased in various applications, such as medical textiles and disinfectants (alcohol-based and nonalcoholic), in medical devices There are several concerns with alcohol-based disinfectants, such as surface deformation of medical devices due to high alcohol content and damage to skin tissue caused by lipid and protein denaturation of cell membranes. Quaternary ammonium compounds (quats) were preferred because they have the potential to prepare water-based disinfectants. In this study, novel (3-chloropropyl)triethoxysilane (CPTMO) and (3-chloropropyl)triethoxysilane (CPTEO) based quaternary ammonium silane compounds (silane-quats) were developed using quats with carbon chain lengths of C12, C14, C16 and C18. Titration (ASTM D2074) was used to calculate the yield of the synthesis and the structures of the products were characterised by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (13C NMR, 1H NMR) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS).The in vitro antimicrobial activity of the synthesized samples was evaluated against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Enterococcus hirae (E. hirae)) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli (E. coli), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa)) bacteria and fungi (Candida albicans (C. albicans), Aspergillus brasiliensis (A. brasiliensis)) using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test. According to MIC tests, the silane-quats with the highest antimicrobial effects were dimethylhexadecyl[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]ammonium chloride (SQ3), which had an MIC of < 16 μg/ml (ppm) against E. coli, S. aureus, E. hirae, C. albicans, and A. brasiliensis and 32 μg/ml against P. aeruginosa. The MIC test results also showed antimicrobial activity at least 2 times greater than that of the commercially available disinfectant benzalkonium chloride (BAC). Findings suggest that SQ3 (C16) holds promise as an effective medical disinfectant, presenting a novel approach to combating microbial infections in healthcare settings.

Flotation separation of hematite from quartz with dodecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride and sodium dodecyl sulfonate collector

Through a series of testing methods, including micro-flotation tests, contact angle test, ζ-potential analysis, FTIR, and XPS, the behavior and mechanism of flotation separation of hematite and quartz by mixed anionic-cationic collectors (Dodecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride (DTAC) and Sodium Dodecyl Sulfonate (SDS), DS for short) were investigated. Additionally, the froth performance of the mixed collector was examined through froth stability experiments. The study revealed that the inclusion of DS collectors significantly enhanced the flotation separation efficiency of quartz-hematite, with the addition of SDS leading to a reduction in the foam viscosity of DTAC. Notably, at a pH of 7 and with a DTAC to SDS mass ratio of 2:1, the mixed collector demonstrated exceptional performance in the flotation separation of quartz and hematite, achieving a quartz recovery of 91.85 % and a hematite recovery of 11.45 %. This efficacy was corroborated by ζ-potential measurements, FT-IR analysis, and XPS analysis, which confirmed the physical adsorption of DS on the mineral surfaces. Importantly, the adsorption dynamics were found to be influenced by the different surface charge characteristics of quartz and hematite. Specifically, the higher negative charge on the surface of quartz resulted in unaffected DTAC adsorption in the presence of SDS, while on hematite surfaces, the DTAC interaction with SDS led to the partial desorption of DTAC. Consequently, the adsorption of DTAC on hematite surfaces was reduced, facilitating the selective separation of quartz and hematite.

Avian Coronavirus Infectious Bronchitis Virus Activates Mitochondria-Mediated Apoptosis Pathway and Affects Viral Replication by Inducing Reactive Oxygen Species Production in Chicken HD11 Cells.

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), a coronavirus that causes severe respiratory and gastrointestinal illness in poultry, leads to substantial economic losses. According to earlier research, IBV infection causes chicken macrophage HD11 cells to undergo cell apoptosis. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the IBV-activated intrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway were examined in this work. The findings demonstrate that IBV infection causes ROS to accumulate. Moreover, IBV infection decreased the mitochondrial transmembrane potential in HD11 cells, which could be blocked by ROS antioxidants (PDTC and NAC). The two antioxidants significantly affected the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax and further inhibited the activation of caspase-3 and apoptosis in HD11 cells. Additionally, IBV replication was decreased by blocking ROS accumulation. Pretreating HD11 cells with ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) prevented IBV from entering the cells and reduced the oxidative stress which IBV causes. The ability to accumulate ROS was also lost in UV-inactivated IBV. The IBV N protein induces cell apoptosis through the activation of ROS. These findings provide an explanation for the processes of IBV infection in immune cells by indicating that IBV-induced ROS generation triggers cell apoptosis in HD11 cells.

Quaternization-based graft modification of straw fibers for conditioning the sludge dewatering performance.

Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) are a critical influencing factor in sludge dewatering. Disrupting such EPS contributes to the release of bound water in sludge, enhancing the sludge dewatering performance. In This study, quaternized straw fibers that are destructive to the EPS structure and components in active sludge were prepared useing heterogeneous free radical graft polymerization. Straw fibers, dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride (DMDAAC), ammonium persulfate (APS), and acrylamide (AM) were taken as the substrate, grafting monomer, catalyst, and cross-linking agent, respectively.The optimal processing conditions determined for the DMDAAC-based quaternization and graft modification of straw fibers were as follows: reaction temperature of 60 °C, reaction time of 5 h, 0.100 g of catalyst APS dosage per gram of straw, and 3.000 ml of DMDAAC dosage per gram of straw. The optimal processing conditions yielded 1.335 g of modified straw fibers per gram of straw, 33.67% grafting rate, and 31.70% substitution of the quaternary ammonium groups. The capillary suction time (CST) was conditioned from 243.3 ± 22.6 s in the original sludge to 134.5 ± 34.45 s. The specific resistance to filtration (SRF) was reduced from 8.82 ± 0.51 × 1012 m/kg in the original sludge to 4.59 ± 0.23 × 1012 m/kg.

Hierarchical three-layered fibers for bioaerosol and CO2 capture, and antimicrobial performance

As the duration of indoor activities has increased owing to environmental issues and the prevalence of respiratory diseases, it has become important to reduce indoor air pollutants. In this study, air filters with structurally modified surfaces are fabricated to effectively capture and remove indoor air pollutants. High-temperature alkali treatment is applied to a smooth fiber filter to convert it into porous calcium silicate hydrate and create a hierarchical three-layered (H3L) fibrous structure. The outer, middle, and inner layers of the H3L fiber are designed for bioaerosol capture and disinfection, CO2 capture, and maintenance of mechanical strength, respectively. An antimicrobial agent ((3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyldimethyloctadecyl ammonium chloride, TPMMC) is covalently grafted onto the surface of H3L fibers to impart antimicrobial performance. The H3L-TPMMC filter outperforms the bare filter in capturing E. coli and S. aureus aerosols, displaying improved quality factors of 31.9 % and 63.9 %, respectively. It achieves a 99.999 % reduction and 99.790 % for the collected E. coli and S. aureus aerosols, respectively. The H3L-TPMMC filter demonstrates selective CO2 capture and maintains consistent performance and antimicrobial efficacy even in environments with bioaerosols and CO2. This hierarchical filter membrane provides an efficient approach for reducing various indoor air pollutants using a single filter system.

Fluoride-free synthesis of two-dimensional Mo2TiC2 MXene by solvothermal reaction

The dual-transition metal Mo2TiC2 MXene shows promising applications in energy storage due to its unique physicochemical properties. However, existing methods for preparing Mo2TiC2 MXene often rely on the use of fluorine-containing chemical reagents, leading to environmental pollution and safety hazards. Here, we introduce a novel water-free solvothermal method for etching Mo2TiAlC2, successfully eliminating the aluminum atomic layer to obtain accordion-like Mo2TiC2 MXene. During the synthesis process, we found that the combined use of ammonium chloride and dimethyl sulfoxide in a water-free environment at 150°C can selectively etch aluminum, providing a new approach for the efficient synthesis of Mo2TiC2 MXene. Present research offers a feasible pathway for the environmentally friendly preparation of non-toxic MXene materials, which can further propel the applications and developments of MXene materials in the fields of energy storage and catalysis.

Assessment of Ammoniacal Leaching Agents for Metal Cation Extraction from Construction Wastes in Mineral Carbonation.

The use of carbon mineralization to produce carbonates from alkaline industrial wastes is gaining traction as a method to decarbonize the built environment. One of the environmental concerns during this process is the use of acids, which are required to extract Ca2+ or Mg2+ from the alkaline waste to produce carbonates. Conventionally, acids such as hydrochloric, nitric, or sulfuric are used which allow for the highest material recovery but are corrosive and difficult to regenerate as they are utilized in a linear fashion and generate additional process waste. An alternative is to use regenerable protonatable salts of ammonia, such as ammonium chloride (AC) or ammonium sulfate, the former of which is used globally during the Solvay process as a reversible proton shuttle. In this study, we show that regenerable ammonium salts, such as AC (NH4Cl) and ammonium bisulfate (NH4HSO4), can be effectively used for material recovery and the production of calcium carbonate during the leaching of waste cement paste as an alternative to conventional acids such as HCl. Leaching kinetics, postreaction residue, and carbonate characterization were performed to assess the productivity of this system and potential uses of these materials downstream. The stabilization of vaterite was observed in the case of AC leaching, suggesting its importance in the kinetic stability of vaterite and suppression of calcite nucleation. Overall, this study motivates the use of alternative leaching agents, such as salts of ammonia, to facilitate material recovery and carbon capture from alkaline industrial wastes.

Effects of Ammonium Chloride on Some Vital Organs of Snakehead Fish, Channa punctatus (Bloch.)

The present study includes the chronic exposure of sublethal concentrations (20 mg/L) of inorganic fertilizer, ammonium chloride for 30 days to snakehead fish, Channa punctatus caused histopathological alteration in some vital organs. There were very significant histopathological changes were observed in gill, liver, intestine and kidney of treated fish group. The ammonium chloride treated fish group showed lamellar fusion, deterioration of secondary lamellae, hemorrhage and destruction of gill arches in gill. The remarkable changes like hyperemia, vacuolar degeneration, necrosis and mononuclear cells filtration in portal regions were observed in liver of treated fish group. The very distinguish alterations like hydropic degeneration, necrosis, desquamation in epithelium cells at the apex of the villi and mononuclear cell infiltration in the lamina propria were observed in kidney and proximal and distal tubules cellular shrinkage, nuclear pycnosis, and vacuolar degenerative changes in the tubular epithelium were observed in treated fish group. The finding of present investigation clearly analyzed that ammonium chloride caused dysfunction of some vital organs of C. punctatus. The study suggested that contamination of fertilizer, ammonium chloride in fish culture pond water should be avoided to fish production.

Surface engineering of FAPbI3 based organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite for memristors

Organic–inorganic hybrid perovskites (OIHPs) have been spotlighted as emerging solution-processed electronics and show promise as economical, flexible, and stretchable emerging memristors. However, OIHPs suffer from considerable defects derived from solution processing; thus, post-processing is often required to alleviate such shortcomings. Treating alkyl ammonium organic salt on OIHP films is a representative approach to efficiently mediate the defect density. Here, we adopted n-octyl ammonium chloride (OACl) in our post-processing agent for organometal perovskite memristors (OPMs). The OACl-incorporated OPM showed an enlarged ON/OFF resistance ratio of 520 compared to OPM without passivation (3.91). Thin film analysis revealed that the synergistic insulating/passivating layer from OACl post-treatment retarded the interaction with the electroactive electrode (Ag). Additionally, the combined effects from the lower-dimensional OIHP induced by OA, including the p-doping of lead by chloride, enhanced the energetic barrier with Ag electrode to reduce the parasitic current at the high resistance state. This study offers deeper insights into the surface passivation of OIHPs and its effects on memristic performance.

Preparation of a Highly Flame-Retardant Urea-Formaldehyde Resin and Flame Retardance Mechanism.

Urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin is the most widely used adhesive resin. However, it is necessary to improve its flame-retardant performance to expand its applications. In this study, exploiting electrostatic interactions, anionic phytic acid and cationic chitosan were combined to form a bio-based intumescent flame-retardant, denoted phytic acid-chitosan polyelectrolyte (PCS). The molecular structure of the urea-formaldehyde resin was optimized by crosslinking with melamine and plasticizing with polyvinyl alcohol-124. Thus, by combining PCS with the urea-formaldehyde resin and with ammonium polyphosphate and ammonium chloride as composite curing agents, flame-retardant urea-formaldehyde resins (FRUFs) were prepared. Compared to traditional UF resin, FRUF showed excellent flame retardancy and not only reached the UL-94 V-0 level, but the limit of oxygen index was also as high as 36%. Compared to those of UF, the total heat release and peak heat release rate of FRUF decreased by 86.44% and 81.13%, respectively. The high flame retardancy of FRUF originates from the combination of oxygen and heat isolation by the dense carbon layer, quenching of phosphorus free radicals, and dilution of oxygen by a non-flammable gas. In addition, the mechanical properties of the FRUF remained good, even after modification. The findings of this study provide a reference for the flame-retardant application of FRUF for applications in multiple fields.

Fisetin Protects the Wistar Rats from the Oxidative and Inflammatory Damage Caused by Ethelene Glycol Induced Urolithiasis

Urolithiasis, commonly referred to as urinary stones, is the third most prevalent condition affecting the urinary system and affects 12% of people worldwide. In this investigation, we assessed the prospective flavonoid fisetin's anti-urolithiasis activity. Fisetin reduced the nucleation, aggregation, and crystallization of kidney stones in in vitro tests at dosages of 62.5, 125, 250, 500, and 1,000 ug/mL in a dose-dependent manner. Twenty-four male Wistar rats (n = 6) were induced with urolithiasis using ethylene glycol (0.75% v/v) with ammonium chloride (1% w/v) in drinking water for seven days. Except for the animals in the vehicle control and disease control groups, the remaining animals were supplemented with either Fisetin 15 mg/kg or 30 mg/kg body weight from days 7 to 21. On day 22, a urine evaluation showed that fisetin significantly increased the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content, corrected urine pH, increased creatinine clearance, and increased urine volume. Additionally, fisetin decreased the levels of calcium, creatinine, uric acid, and N-acetyl glucouronidase (NAG) activity. Serum biochemical analysis revealed that fisetin reduced the excretion of creatinine, uric acid, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Further, fisetin reduced the content of total protein, calcium, oxalate, protein carbonyl content (PCC), malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interlukin-6 (IL-6), and increased the content of reduced glutathione (GSH), the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). Histological findings also support our findings. Based on the above observations, fisetin can be a potential candidate for the treatment of urolithiasis.

Study on Corrosion Behavior of Sour Water Stripper in Ammonium Chloride by Electrochemical Techniques

The corrosion features of 20# carbon steel, the base material of sour water stripper, in NH4Cl solution were examined in this research. The anatomical samples of the corroded parts were characterized by an X-ray diffractometer and other analytical tools. It was found to be a localized perforation caused by pitting, and the corrosion product was FeCl2. 20# steel was subjected to electrochemical testing using Tafel polarization and Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The studies showed that the 20# steel’s cathodic depolarization reaction rate speeds as density rises, and that the concentration polarization gets more marked as temperature rises. The corrosion rate of 20# steel is the fastest when temperature hits its highest point of 80°C, measuring 4.7142 mm/a. When density rose from 5 to 20%, corrosion rate grew from 1.6378 to 7.2430 mm/a.

Preparation of Ultra-High Temperature Resistant Cyclodextrin-Based Filtration Loss Reducer for Water-Based Drilling Fluids.

In the development of ultra-deep wells, extremely high temperatures can lead to inefficiency of additives in drilling fluids. Hence, there is a need to prepare additives with a simple preparation process and good effects at ultra-high temperatures to ensure stable drilling fluid performance. In this study, a high temperature resistant filtration loss polymer (LY-2) was prepared using γ-methacryloyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (KH570), N,N-dimethylallyl ammonium chloride (DMDAAC), sodium p-styrenesulfonate (SSS), and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD). The impact of the different monomer ratios on particle size, rheology, and filtration performance was systematically investigated. Infrared spectroscopy afforded the structural features. Thermogravimetric Analysis detected the temperature stability, and scanning electron microscopy characterized the polymer micromorphology. LY-2 was completely decomposed at a temperature above 600 °C. Experiments showed FLAPI of the drilling fluid containing 3% LY-2 aged at 260 °C/16 h was only 5.1 mL, which is 85.4% lower compared to the base fluid. This is attributed to the synergistic effect of the polymer adsorption through chemical action at high temperatures and the blocking effect of carbon nanoparticles on the filter cake released by cyclodextrin carbonization at high temperatures. Comparing LY-2 with commercial filter loss reducers shows that LY-2 has excellent temperature resistance, which exhibited five times higher filtration performance and relatively low cost, making it possible to be applied to ultra-high temperature drilling operations in an industrial scale-up.

Multi-interface interaction mechanism of pulp reject-based flocculants for the removal of antibiotics and its combined pollutants

The efficient removal of antibiotics and its combined pollutants is essential for aquatic environment and human health. In this study, a lignin-based organic flocculant named PRL-VAc-DMC was synthesized using pulp reject as the raw material, with vinyl acetate (VAc) and methacryloxyethyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (DMC) as the grafting monomers. A series of modern characterization methods were used to confirm the successful preparation of PRL-VAc-DMC and elucidate its polymerization mechanism. It was found that the Ph-OH group and its contiguous carbon atoms of lignin served as the primary active sites to react with grafting monomers. Flocculation experiments revealed that PRL-VAc-DMC could react with tetracycline (TC) through π-π* interaction, hydrophobic interaction, hydrogen bonding, and electrostatic attraction. With the coexistence of humic acid (HA) and Kaolin, the aromatic ring, hydroxyl, and amide group of TC could react with the benzene ring, hydroxyl group, and carboxyl group of HA, forming TC@HA@Kaolin complexes with Kaolin particles acting as the hydrophilic shell. The increase in particle size, electronegativity, and hydrophily of TC@HA@Kaolin complexes facilitated their interaction with PRL-VAc-DMC through strong interfacial interactions. Consequently, the presence of HA and Kaolin promoted the removal of TC. The synergistic removal mechanism of TC, HA, and Kaolin by PRL-VAc-DMC was systematically analyzed from the perspective of muti-interface interactions. This paper is of great significance for the comprehensive utilization of pulp reject and provides new insights into the flocculation mechanism at the molecular scale.

Selenium-doped porous-C3N4 decorated with Cu NPs, as an operative heterogenous catalyst for the nitroarenes reduction reaction

In this project, the insitu selenium-doped porous graphitic carbon nitride, named as Se-p-C3N4 was synthezied using melamine, ammonium chloride, and selenium dioxide as the low-cost precursor materials via a facil thermal condensation protocol and applied as an superlative support with high specific surface area (125.3 m2/g). Cu NPs were coorporated on the surface of Se-p-C3N4 over the co-reduction protocol with Hydrazine Hydrate as a reducing agant to prepare the Se-p-C3N4/Cu nanocatalyst. Several chemophysical analysis confirmed the structure of Se-p-C3N4/Cu. The Se-p-C3N4/Cu was showen the exceptional catalytic proficiency in the hydrogenation of nitroaromatic compounds utilizing a green redactant in an environmentally friendly aqueous media, and the related anilines were produced as sole products. The supreme catalytic effeciency and durability of the Se-p-C3N4/Cu can be attributed to the synergetic collaboration between the highly distributed Cu NPs and the support.

Biohybrid Nanorobots Carrying Glycoengineered Extracellular Vesicles Promote Diabetic Wound Repair through Dual-Enhanced Cell and Tissue Penetration.

Considerable progress has been made in the development of drug delivery systems for diabetic wounds. However, underlying drawbacks, such as low delivery efficiency and poor tissue permeability, have rarely been addressed. In this study, a multifunctional biohybrid nanorobot platform comprising an artificial unit and several biological components is constructed. The artificial unit is a magnetically driven nanorobot surface modified with antibacterial 2-hydroxypropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan, which enables the entire platform to move and has excellent tissue penetration capacity. The biological components are two-step engineered extracellular vesicles that are first loaded with mangiferin, a natural polyphenolic compound with antioxidant properties, and then glycoengineered on the surface to enhance cellular uptake efficiency. As expected, the platform is more easily absorbed by endothelial cells and fibroblasts and exhibits outstanding dermal penetration performance and antioxidant properties. Encouraging results are also observed in infected diabetic wound models, showing improved wound re-epithelialization, collagen deposition, angiogenesis, and accelerated wound healing. Collectively, a biohybrid nanorobot platform that possesses the functionalities of both artificial units and biological components serves as an efficient delivery system to promote diabetic wound repair through dual-enhanced cell and tissue penetration and multistep interventions.

Surfactant-assisted thermal hydrolysis of sewage sludge: Biomolecule extraction and its potential for protease production

Efficient management of sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are crucial to obtain industrial value-added products and reducing environmental impact. Thermal hydrolysis, coupled with surfactants to enhance solubilisation, offers a promising approach for sewage sludge treatment. This study assessed the impact of four surfactants: sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS), cetyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (CTAC), and tetraethylammonium chloride (TAC) on thermal hydrolysis of sewage sludge. The addition of anionic surfactants (SDS and SDBS) significantly increased biomolecule production, with proteins, humic-like substances, carbohydrates, and DNA concentrations reaching 6018 ± 28 mg/L (306 mg/gVSSo), 2496 ± 103 mg/L (127 mg/gVSSo), 1822 ± 4 mg/L (93 mg/gVSSo), and 389 ± 3 mg/L (20 mg/gVSSo), respectively, after 155 min of thermal hydrolysis. Low levels of surfactants (10 and 50 mg/gVSSo) also led to a substantial increase in the readily biodegradable fraction of hydrolysed sewage sludge, reaching up to 90 %. Additionally, surfactant-assisted hydrolysed sewage sludge proved to be a favourable substrate for protease production using Bacillus licheniformis. The optimal enzymatic activity of 678 ± 14 U/mL was achieved when CTAC was added at a concentration of 10 mg/gVSSo. In summary, this study evaluated an innovative approach to enhance the solubilisation of biomolecules from sewage sludge using surfactant-assisted thermal hydrolysis. This methodology not only positively affected biodegradability but also proved to be suitable for potentially producing valuable industrial products like proteases through fermentation with B. licheniformis, thus offering a new strategy for the sustainable treatment of sewage sludge.