Degradation Rate Research Articles

Magnetically separable Z-scheme ZnFe2O4/MoS2 photocatalyst for boosting photo-Fenton degradation activity by a hole-mediated mechanism

The development of high-efficiency and robust photocatalysts is imperative and challenging in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). Herein, magnetically separable ZnFe2O4/MoS2 photocatalyst was prepared by a simple hydrothermal method. The degradation characteristics of several organic pollutants (rhodamine B (RhB), methyl orange, methylene blue, and antibiotic tetracycline) were investigated with/without the addition of H2O2 under visible light irradiation. It is found that the synergistic effect of Z-scheme ZnFe2O4/MoS2 photocatalyst and photo-fenton-like reaction promotes the decomposition of H2O2, accelerates the separation efficiency of photogenerated electrons and holes, and thus improves the photocatalytic activity. The RhB photo-degradation of the constructed Z-scheme ZnFe2O4/MoS2 (96.3%) photocatalyst in the absence of H2O2 for 100min is better than that of MoS2 (74.8%) and ZnFe2O4 (6.2%), with a rate constant of 0.0332min-1. The slight amount of H2O2 boosts the photocatalytic performance significantly. Its degradation rate is 98.6% within 8min with the rate constant of 0.396min-1, 12 times higher than that of ZnFe2O4/MoS2 photocatalyst without H2O2. The magnetic separation, recycling stability and neutral solution process are also confirmed in ZnFe2O4/MoS2 system, indicating the enormous potential of this photocatalyst in environmental remediation and waste water treatment. The hole-mediated oxidation mechanism has been proposed instead of conventional active radicals of •OH based on the free radicals capture and electron spin resonance experiments. MoS2 plays a crucial role in facilitating the H2O2 decomposition and realizing the conversion circulation from Fe3+ to Fe2+ by the redox cycling as a co-catalyst. This study provides insights into the photocatalytic mechanism of Z-scheme photo-Fenton heterojunction photocatalysts, conducive to the development of high-efficient and stable photocatalysts in AOPs.

An investigation for optical, photocatalytic, photoluminescence and dielectric properties of Cd0.40Ni0.60ZnO2 annealed nanocomposites

We report here the optical, photoluminescence (PL), and dielectric properties of Cd0.40Ni0.60ZnO2 nanocomposites annealed between 200 and 600oC. An increase in annealing temperature (Tann) up to 600oC correlates with a gradual increase in the crystallite and particle sizes. The surface area, pore radius, and pore volume are increased as Tann increases from 200oC to 300oC, and then decreased, but still higher than of 200oC. Similar behaviors were obtained for the absorbance carrier density, photocatlytic efficiency, degradation rate, PL intensity, dielectric constant, dielectric loss, ac conductivity, F-factor, series resistance, and electronic polarizability. While the energy gap, binding energy, impedance of grains and their boundaries, and effective capacitance show an opposite behavior. The relaxation times at the peak of dielectric parameters are between 11.54 and 159.24ns and between 35.23 and 24273.73ns, respectively. The Cole-Cole plot shows a single semicircle at Tann < 400oC and two successive semicircles at Tann> 500oC. The energy of PL of visible emissions is independent on the chosen Tann. These findings indicated that the nanocomposite annealed at 300oC can be used for water purification, telecommunications, solar cells, supercapacitor, and white light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

Interface modulation of AgBiO3 via BiOCl In situ growth: Simultaneously boosting O⁎ and OVs production

Photocatalytic activity of the composite photocatalyst AgBiO3/BiOCl was examined after the interface of AgBiO3 was modified by growing BiOCl in situ and building heterojunction towards increasing reactive oxygen species (O⁎) and oxygen vacancy (OVs) production. The degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) revealed that the photocatalytic performance of the heterojunction structure of AgBiO3/BiOCl-x (x=0.05, 0.2, 2, 5) was significantly improved over that of AgBiO3 monomer, with the degradation effect of AgBiO3/BiOCl-2 reaching 99.6% within 60minutes and no significant decrease in performance after reuse (93% degradation after four cycles). Similar experiments also used another contaminant, tetracycline hydrochloride (TC-HCl). Within 60minutes, under visible light irradiation, the degradation rate of TC was 89.1% and the degradation rate was 0.0367min-1. The effects of catalyst addition, varied starting concentrations, and pH on RhB degradation were also studied. Furthermore, the free radical scavenging studies and chemical characterizations revealed that the principal reactive radicals functioning in the reaction system were h+, 1O2 and ‧O2-. Based on the findings, a potential catalytic mechanism for the synergistic degradation of RhB via photo-driven and chemical oxidation of AgBiO3/BiOCl heterostructures was postulated.

Biological evaluation of femtosecond-laser-textured Fe–Mn alloys for vascular applications

Biodegradable metals represent a valuable solution for the development of temporary vascular implants. These are expected to dissolve in the body over time, avoiding side effects typical of permanent implants, such as thrombosis, in-stent restenosis and chronic inflammation. Iron (Fe)-based alloys, such as iron–manganese (Mn) alloys, are of particular interest for cardiovascular applications due to their intrinsic properties. However, their degradation behavior and biological performance need to be improved. Femtosecond (fs)-laser-induced surface topography could affect both their degradation and cell–material interaction. In this work, fs-laser-induced patterning was performed on a Fe–Mn20 alloy to tune both the degradation behavior of the material and its interaction with the biological environment for cardiovascular applications. Processing parameters were varied to select an optimized surface morphology, characterized by linear grooves. Profilometric analysis, scanning electron microscopy and degradation rate analysis were performed on the treated samples. Thereafter, endothelial cell viability tests and hemocompatibility assessment were carried out on selected process conditions. The obtained fs-laser-induced linear patterns were demonstrated to decrease the degradation rate and to improve the biological response toward both endothelial cells and blood. These results demonstrate how fs-laser-induced patterning is a promising solution for the development of biodegradable metal-based vascular implants.

Fullerene derivatives barrier layer for efficient and stable perovskite solar cells through interfacial modification and removal of superoxide radicals

Superoxide radicals(O2•–)-induced decomposition of perovskite, which seriously impairs the photovoltaic performance and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Both TiO2 and perovskite produce O2•– that accelerates the rate of catalytic degradation at the interface and inherently poor interfacial contact, exacerbating charge recombination and efficiency loss. Adding fullerene phenol derivative (C60HTB) to the perovskite/TiO2 interface absorbs O2•– and improves poor interfacial communication. The PSCs' power conversion efficiency (PCE) is improved from 20.54 % to 21.63 %. The target devices retained 91.20 %, 94.86 %, and 89.36 % of their initial power conversion efficiencies after 48 h of aging under full-spectrum illumination, 240 h of aging under ultraviolet illumination, and dark storage in air for 500 h, respectively. In this work, efficient and stable TiO2-based-PSCs were realized by scavenging O2•–, which opens a new way to enhance the stability of PSCs in light and O2 environments (light/oxygen).

Photoelectrode FTO/ Anodized TiO2 Production and Characterization for Methylene Blue Affected Photoelectrochemical Decomposition

Background: The production of thin film TiO2 nanostructured systems for electrocatalytic, photocatalytic, and photoelectrocatalytic applications has been an essential topic in recent years. Due to the light-sensitive effect of TiO2, it can be produced by various methods and used as a photoelectrode to remove dye. Using magnetron sputtering, Ti thin films can be deposited on different substrates and converted into transparent TiO2 structures by electrochemical anodization. Methods: In this study, the thin Ti film was produced using a magnetic spraying technique on the FTO substrate, and then an anodic TiO2 structure was obtained by the anodization technique. TiO2 films produced by the anodizing technique were used as a photoelectrode for the degradation of MB. The reactor contained 400 mL of 20 mg/L MB solution at 20 °C. The produced photoelectrode was characterized by the SEM/EDS, FTIR, XRD, and UV-Vis Spectrophotometer analyses. Results: The EDS analysis confirmed the presence of titanium and oxygen in the FTO/ Anodized TiO2 photoelectrode. The XRD results showed that all the peaks of the produced FTO/ Anodic TiO2 were associated with the anatase phase of TiO2. According to the FTIR spectroscopy, the functional groups of the anodized TiO2 were obtained for the FTO/ Anodized TiO2. The electrocatalytic, photocatalytic, and photoelectrocatalytic degradation experiments were performed with the degradation of the dye solution of MB on the FTO/ Anodic TiO2 photoelectrode, and the rates of dye degradation were determined as 17.12%, 64.67%, and 82.12%, respectively. Conclusion: This study showed that the methylene blue dye of FTO/ Anodic TiO2 is a suitable photoelectrode for electrocatalytic, photocatalytic, and photoelectrocatalytic degradation.

The Effect of Farming Techniques on Degradation of DDT in Historical Cotton Farms

DDT was used in the mid 20th century for crop and livestock production. After use, DDT and its degradates DDE and DDD (collectively DDX) remain in the environment for decades. A few studies have reported that the rate of degradation of DDT into its metabolites is affected by various farming techniques like tillage, irrigation, and use of fertilizers. However, most of these studies did not evaluate active farms, and none of them focused on the Southeast US or historical cotton farms. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to determine if different farming techniques affect the decomposition of DDT in Walton County, Georgia, where farms historically grew cotton. Five Walton County farms were sampled for soil, and churches were sampled as control sites. The extensive land history of the farms was recorded, and the soil levels of p,p’-DDT, p,p’-DDE, p,p’-DDD, o,p’-DDT, and o,p’-DDE were measured using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. All farm sites had detectable levels of p,p’-DDT, p,p’-DDE, and p,p’-DDD, while few sites had detectable levels of o,p’-DDT and o,p’-DDE. Tillage was found to speed up p,p’-DDE degradation, but there was no effect on p,p’-DDT degradation. Plowing was associated with an increase in decomposition of p,p’-DDT, but p,p’-DDE and p,p’-DDD were not significantly increased. The largest difference in the degradation of DDT was based on the fertilizer type. Natural fertilizer sped up degradation of p,p’-DDT and p,p’-DDE; synthetic fertilizer increased p,p’-DDE degradation, but not p,p’-DDT degradation.

Recent research and developments of degradation assessment and its diagnosis methods for solar PV plant: a review

The world is moving forward to a transition in the form of increasing the contribution of renewable energy sources in the energy sector, and among these, solar photovoltaic-based power generation is catching pace. Several factors are responsible for the lowering of outputs due to different degradation causes such as hotspots, corrosion, humidity, ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, temperature effects, dust, aging, weathering, yellowing, snail trails, discoloration, junction box failure, delamination, cracks, and faults from the solar photovoltaic (PV) plants. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the various form of degradation and their implications on solar PV power plant performance. The review has been carried out considering the different degradation causes and their identification methods in solar PV plant. Further, the analysis has been done on the basis of the earlier studies to understand the rates of degradation for various solar PV power plants in various climatic conditions. The PV technologies used in solar power plants are also responsible for the change in the performance of power plants over time; therefore, degradation based on different solar PV cell technologies is also analyzed. The visual inspection tools like thermal imaging with IR cameras help identify areas with abnormal heat patterns, indicating potential issues like cell or interconnect failures, loose electrical connections, or bypass diode malfunctions while EL cameras are used to identify low-level electrical excitation and defects such as cracks, hotspots, and cell-level degradation.

Modulating the d-band center of single-atom catalysts for efficient Li2S2-Li2S conversion in durable lithium-sulfur batteries

Enhancing the conversion of insoluble Li2S2-Li2S to improve sulfur utilization has become an essential strategy for Lithium-Sulfur (Li-S) batteries. The proposed approach employs single-atom catalysts (SACs) known for their high atomic usage efficiency to enable in-situ reactions with Li2S2. However, the origin and mechanisms of various SACs involved in the Li2S2 to Li2S reduction reaction are not fully elucidated. Herein, we reveal the underlying mechanism of Li2S2-Li2S reduction catalysis on Mn atoms by examining the electronic structure of d orbitals. Theoretical calculations indicate that substituting a S atom for N in the first coordination structure of Mn SACs elevates the Mn d-band center and simultaneously enhances the hybridization between the Mn d orbitals and the p orbitals of sulfur species. This alteration not only improves the anchoring of lithium polysulfides, leading to better adsorption but also accelerates the conversion kinetics of Li2S2 to Li2S due to the improved intrinsic catalytic activity of SACs. As a result, the Li-S batteries equipped with the SAMn-based cathode deliver an impressive initial capacity of 1343.9 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C, exceptional rate capability of 782.4 mAh g−1 at 3 C, and maintain a low degradation rate of approximately 0.025% per cycle over 1000 cycles at 1.0 C. Furthermore, with a sulfur loading of 6 mg cm−2, the S/SAMn@NSC cathode achieves a reversible areal capacity of 4.4 mAh cm−2 at 0.1 C. This study significantly advances the kinetics of solid-solid transformation in Li-S battery cathodes through catalysis facilitated by single-atom d-band regulation.

Study on Utilization of LDPE Waste Plastic for Manufacturing the Paver Blocks

Abstract: The aim of this project is to replace cement with plastic waste in paver block and to reduce the cost of paver block when compared to that of convention concrete paver blocks. At present nearly 63 millions tones of plastic waste is produced in India per year. The degradation rate of plastic waste is also a very slow process. Hence the project is helpful in reducing plastic waste in a useful way. In this project we have used plastic waste in different proportions with quarry dust, coarseaggregate and ceramic waste. The paver blocks were prepared and tested and the results were discussed.

Enhanced Peroxymonosulfate activation via Bi 12 CoO 20 /rGO with Near‐Infrared Photothermal Response for Antibiotics Degradation

Against the backdrop of escalating antibiotic pollution, this study presents a novel approach to remediation using a photothermal heterogeneous Fenton‐like catalyst, Bi12CoO20/rGO, which efficiently activates peroxymonosulfate (PMS) under near‐infrared (NIR) light. This catalyst capitalize on the NIR absorption capabilities of Bi12CoO20 and the electron transfer properties of reduced graphene oxide (rGO). The restored sp2 structure of rGO serves as a conduit for electron transfer, crucial for the redox cycle of Co2+/Co3+ that facilitates PMS activation. Moreover, the incorporation of rGO significantly boosts the NIR absorption capacity of Bi12CoO20, thereby enhancing the photothermal conversion efficiency of the composite and further promoting PMS activation. This synergy enables efficient light‐to‐heat conversion and PMS activation, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) essential for antibiotic degradation. Using levofloxacin (LVX) as a representative pollutant, the developed system achieves an impressive 99% degradation rate within just 30 min under Bi12CoO20/rGO + PMS + NIR conditions. Moreover, this approach demonstrates robust stability and adaptability across diverse water compositions and pH ranges. Its eco‐friendly nature and renewable characteristics position it as a promising solution for combating antibiotic pollution through photothermal Fenton‐like technology, thereby harnessing solar energy for environmental remediation and fostering sustainable water management practices.

Inhibition of Phase Transition in Amorphous Niobium Oxide by Covalent Carbon Reinforcement Enables Fast‐Charge and Long‐Duration Lithium Storage

AbstractNiobium oxides are potential anode materials for ultrafast and safe lithium‐ion batteries due to their high ionic conductivity and relatively high operation voltage. However, the electrochemically induced phase transformations that involve multi‐electron redox reactions in a wide voltage window cause rapid capacity degradation and poor rate capability. Here, a novel carbon‐covalent amorphous niobium oxide anode is reported to greatly suppress the phase transition during cycling via formation of strong Nb─O─C bonds, achieving high‐capacity, fast‐charge and long‐duration lithium storage. This amorphous structure and forming covalent carbon contribute to good volume accommodation and high electron conductivity. The carbon‐covalent amorphous Nb2O5 displays a high reversible capacity of 361.5 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 and excellent cycling stability with a capacity of 189.8 mAh g−1 at a high rate of 10 A g−1 after 9000 cycles. Structure characterizations reveal that the well‐preserved amorphous structure without phase transition during repeated Li+ insertion/desertion is responsible for the superior performance. This work opens a new avenue on rational design of high‐performance amorphous electrode materials for next‐generation batteries.

Mechanistic study on 4, 4'-sulfonylbis removal with CO2/Ar gas-liquid DBD plasma

Abstract In this study, a single dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) coaxial reactor was used to degrade 4, 4'-sulfonylbis (TBBPS) in water using greenhouse gas (CO2) and argon as the carrier gases. The investigation focused on CO2 conversion, reactive species formation, gas-liquid mass transfer mechanism, and degradation mechanism of TBBPS during the discharge plasma process. With the decrease of CO2/Ar ratio in the process of plasma discharge, the emission spectrum intensity of Ar, CO2 and excited reactive species was enhanced. This increase promoted collision and dissociation of CO2, resulting in a series of chemical reactions that improved the production of reactive species such as ·OH, 1O2, H2O2 and O3. These reactive species initiated a sequence of reactions with TBBPS. Results indicated that at a gas flow rate of 240 mL/min with a CO2/Ar ratio of 1:5, both the highest CO2 conversion rate (17.76%) and TBBPS degradation rate (94.24%) were achieved. The degradation mechanism was elucidated by determining types and contents of reactive species present in treatment liquid along with analysis of intermediate products using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques. This research provides novel insights into carbon dioxide utilization and water pollution control through dielectric barrier discharge plasma technology.

Synergistic photocatalytic activity of metal chalcogenides (MoS2)-Modified Silver silicate (Ag6Si2O7) nanocomposites for dyes degradation

A recent research focus aimed at enhancing photocatalysis efficiency by tackling rapid charge carrier recombination resulted in a significant breakthrough. Through the synthesis of a composite heterostructure comprising Ag6Si2O7/MoS2 using a hydrothermal approach, the creation of the AM-4 composite marked a notable advancement. AM-4 demonstrated remarkable photonic efficiency enhancements, achieving impressive degradation rates of 97.31% for rhodamine B and 98.31% for methylene blue within a mere 45-minute timeframe. Surpassing pure Ag6Si2O7 by 26.65 times in rate constant, the superior performance of AM-4 was supported by a thorough examination of its physicochemical and electrochemical properties, reinforcing a proposed mechanism for its enhanced efficacy. Evaluation of its durability and reusability through XRD, BET, and XPS analyses further confirmed the composite’s exceptional performance. This study deepens our comprehension of the Ag6Si2O7/MoS2 composite and offers valuable insights for advancing high-performance photocatalysis applications.

Utilization of the Dicarbonyl Compounds 3-Deoxyglucosone and 3-Deoxymaltosone during Beer Fermentation by Saccharomyces Yeasts

In beer production, 1,2-dicarbonyl compounds such as 3-deoxyglucosone (3-DG) and 3-deoxymaltosone (3-DM) are formed via Maillard reaction or caramelization especially during malt kilning or wort boiling, resulting in substantial concentrations in wort. Consequences of dicarbonyl compounds for yeast metabolism are widely unknown. In the present study, the handling of 3-DG and 3-DM by Saccharomyces strains from different habitats in wort and during beer fermentation was investigated. We show that beer yeast strains induced a faster 3-DG degradation in Pilsner wort and were additionally more stress-resistant to 3-DG compared to yeasts isolated from natural habitats. In fermentation experiments comparing a light wort and a dark wort prepared from malt extracts, it could be shown that high levels of 3-DM in dark wort influence the utilization of 3-DG by yeasts, and thus higher levels of 3-DG remain in the wort. Beer yeast strains showed an increased formation of 3-deoxyfructose (3-DF) with up to 220 µM, which is possibly due to a preferred metabolization of 3-DM, as indicated by the low degradation rate of 3-DG. In contrast, yeasts isolated from natural habitats produced significantly lower amounts of 3-DF. This suggests an adaptation of technologically used yeasts to metabolization of dicarbonyl compounds, possibly as a result of beer yeast domestication.

Practical design of an optical filter for thermal management of photovoltaic modules

AbstractThis work presents a practical approach to designing an optical filter for thermal management for photovoltaic modules. The approach emphasizes the practicality of manufacturing over optical performance. Simulation work demonstrates that, for an interdigitated back contact solar cell architecture, complete rejection of infrared radiation offers limited thermal benefits requiring highly complex optical filter designs. An alternative approach consists of reducing thermalization losses by providing reflectance at lower wavelength values. An optical filter design that fulfills this requirement is possible using simple structures based on two materials and taking advantage of the harmonics present in quarter wavelength optical thickness designs. The filter is later optimized for angular performance via second‐order algorithms, resulting in a device consisting of only 15 thin‐film layers. Performance simulations on two locations, Delft (the Netherlands) and Singapore, estimate a temperature reduction of 2.20°C and 2.45°C, respectively. In a single year, the optical loss produced by the filter is not compensated via temperature reduction. However, improvements in the annual degradation rate show that in Singapore, the overall effect of the filter on the lifetime DC energy yield is positive.

Overlooked competition and promotion effects in electrochemical oxidation of humic acid and ammonia in landfill leachate

Electrochemical oxidation (EO) can effectively reduce the degree of humification and toxicity of landfill leachate by generating highly active oxidative species in situ. However, the selective and competitive oxidation of humic acid (HA) and ammonia (NH4+) and the role of different oxidative species during the EO process in complex aqueous conditions remain unclear. In this study, a nanostructured tin-antimony electrode (Ti/Sb-SnO2 NFs) was prepared and compared with three types of commercial electrodes (Ti/Ir-RuO2, Ti4O7, Ti/Sb-SnO2) in terms of electrochemical properties and electrocatalytic oxidation of HA and NH4+. The de-humification capacity, interactive effects of HA and NH4+ on each other's oxidation by different oxidative species, as well as the related oxidation byproducts were investigated. The differences in pollutant electrooxidation among the different electrodes were found to be insignificant. The presence of HA was found to be detrimental to NH4+ degradation while reducing the N2 conversion rate. Interestingly, NH4+ initially inhibited the degradation rates of HA while promoted the degradation and reduced the accumulation of organic chlorine during the later EO process. A proposed mechanism accounts for both competitive and promotional effects for simultaneous HA and NH4+ oxidation during the EO process.

The impact of gaseous degradation on the gas–particle partitioning of methylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Abstract. The partitioning of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) between gas and particle phases plays a crucial role in their long-range transport and health risk assessment. However, the accurate prediction of the gas–particle (G–P) partitioning quotient (KP′) remains a challenge, especially for the light-molecular-weight (LMW) SVOCs due to their upward deviation from equilibrium state. In this study, the phenomenon with the influence of gaseous degradation on G–P partitioning was observed. Based on the diurnal study of concentrations and KP′ values for methylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (Me-PAHs), it was found that the KP′ values of methylated naphthalenes (Me-Naps; one type of LMW SVOC) during the daytime were higher than during the nighttime, and the regression lines of log KP′ versus log KOA (octanol–air partitioning coefficient) for daytime and nighttime were non-overlapping, which were different from other Me-PAHs. Compared with other diurnal influencing factors, the higher gaseous degradation of Me-Naps in the daytime than in the nighttime should partially explain their special diurnal variation in KP′, which provided a new explanation for the non-equilibrium behavior of KP′ for LMW SVOCs. Moreover, the influence of gaseous degradation on the deviation of KP′ from equilibrium state was deeply studied based on the steady-state G–P partitioning model considering particulate proportion in emission (ϕ0). The increasing times of KP′ influenced by the gaseous degradation deviated from equilibrium state can be calculated by 1 + 13.2ϕ0 × kdeg (kdeg, gaseous degradation rate). The increase in KP′ along with the increase in kdeg proved that higher gaseous degradation in the daytime could increase the KP′ value. Furthermore, an amplification in KP′ ranging from 1.11 to 5.58 times (90 % confidence interval: 1.01 to 14.4) under different ϕ0 values (0 to 1) in the temperature range of −50 to 50 °C was estimated by the Monte Carlo analysis. In summary, it can be concluded that the influence of gaseous degradation should also be considered in the G–P partitioning models of SVOCs, especially for the LMW SVOCs, which provided new insights into the related fields.

Cross Talking Calcium, IP3 and Buffer Dynamics Alters ATP and NADH Level in Obese and Normal Hepatocyte Cell.

The cross talk between calcium (Ca2+), IP3 and buffer dynamics regulate various mechanisms in hepatocyte cells. The study of independent systems of calcium, IP3, and buffer signaling provides limited information about cell dynamics. In the current study, coupled reaction-diffusion equations are used to design a cross-talk model for IP3, buffer, and calcium dynamics in a hepatocyte cell. The one-way feedback of calcium, buffer, and IP3 in ATP production, ATP degradation, and NADH production rate is incorporated into the model. Numerical simulation has been done using the Finite Element Method (FEM) along the spatial direction and the Crank-Nicolson (C-N) method along the temporal direction. The numerical results are analysed to determine the effects of alterations in processes of cross-talking dynamics of IP3, buffer, and calcium on ATP and NADH production and degradation rate of ATP in a hepatocyte cell under normal and obesity conditions. The comparative analysis of these findings unveils notable distinctions induced by obesity in calcium dynamics, ATP and NADH synthesis, and ATP degradation kinetics.

Analysis of Microwave Effects on the MnO2-Catalyzed Toluene Oxidation Pathway

Microwave radiation has become an effective catalytic combustion method, especially in the degradation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as toluene using catalysts like MnO2. In this study, a spine waveguide microwave reactor was designed to investigate the influence of different microwave processing conditions on the degradation of toluene catalyzed by MnO2. An experimental system for microwave-assisted catalytic degradation of toluene was established to explore the relationship between microwave power, catalyst conductivity, and toluene degradation rate. The results showed that the efficiency of MnO2 catalyzing toluene degradation had a nonlinear relationship with microwave power, first increasing to a peak and then decreasing. Additionally, the experiment found that the degradation rate of toluene was positively correlated with the conductivity of MnO2. Subsequent characterization analyses using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) further verified the changes in the microstructure and properties of MnO2 under microwave heating. The characterization results showed that with the increase in microwave power, the relative content of Mn3+ on the surface of MnO2 increased, and the relative content of adsorbed oxygen also increased accordingly. At a microwave power of 100 W, the treated MnO2 displayed the optimal ratio of manganese oxidation state and oxide, both close to 1:1, which was more conducive to the degradation of toluene. Based on these findings, this study hypothesized that the microwave-enhanced catalytic degradation of toluene by MnO2 may be attributed to changes in the surface electron transfer kinetics of MnO2, providing new insights into the field of microwave-enhanced catalysis.