Degradation Ratio Research Articles

Nano gold catalyst preparation and it’s p-nitrophenol catalytic degradation properties

Abstract Cacumen platyclade extracts were utilized as the reducing agent to prepare Au/Al2O3 composites. XRD, BET, SEM, TEM were employed to characterize the properties of the catalyst. The catalytic activity of Au/Al2O3 was studied by using NaBH4 as the reducing agent and nitrophenol as the pollutant. The results showed that the Au/Al2O3 catalyst, calcinated at 400 °C, exhibited the highest catalytic activity. With a catalyst dosage of 1 g L−1, 2 mL NaBH4 of 0.15 mol L−1 could degrade 96.5 % nitrophenol in 21 min at 298 K, with a reaction constant of 0.16 min−1. Furthermore, the p-nitrophenol degradation ratio decreased by 0.8 % after ten cycles.

Construction of piezoelectric fenton-like system over BaTiO3/α-FeOOH for highly efficient degradation of demethylchlortetracycline

Heterogeneous Fenton-like system is a promising technique for wastewater treatment, while Fe2+ regeneration limits its degradation efficiency. Piezoelectric materials can produce free electrons under mechanical stress. Based on this, a piezoelectric Fenton-like system coupling piezoelectric effect and Fenton-like reaction was proposed. Composite material BaTiO3/α-FeOOH was synthesized by sol–gel and hydrothermal method. Under ultrasonic vibration BaTiO3 continuously generated free electrons, which reduced Fe3+ to Fe2+ and realized Fe3+/Fe2+ cycle. The piezoelectric Fenton-like system based on BaTiO3/α-FeOOH was used to remove demethylchlortetracycline (DMCT) from water. The degradation ratio of DMCT can reach 100 % within 5 min, and the coupled system exhibited excellent adaptability and stability. Free radical capture and quantitative detection determined that •OH and •O2− were the main active oxygen species. A comprehensive catalytic mechanism was proposed and supported by energy band structure analysis, finite element method simulation, and Density Functional Theory (DFT) simulation calculations. The piezoelectric electrons generated by BaTiO3 were transfered to α-FeOOH to improve the Fe3+/Fe2+ cycle. In addition, the possible degradation mechanism of DMCT was proposed through Ultra Pressure Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS) measurement and DFT calculation, and the overall pollution toxicity of DMCT was assessed according to toxicity prediction. Overall, this work provided a new insight on coupling effect between piezoelectric effect and Fenton-like reaction.

Viologen-Directed Silver-Thiocyanate-Based Photocatalyst for Rhodamine B Degradation in Artificial Seawater.

Photocatalytic degradation is a leading technology for complete mineralization of organic dyes in the ocean. In this work, a new viologen-bearing silver-thiocyanate-based photocatalyst, i.e., {(i-PrV)[Ag2(SCN)4]}n (i-PrV2+ = isopropyl viologen) has been synthesized and structurally determined, with results showing that it can exhibit excellent degradation performance on rhodamine B (RhB) in artificial seawater. The planar i-PrV2+ dications are confined in the free voids of the [Ag2(SCN)4]n2n- layer with a two-dimensional (6,3) mesh, and strong C-H···S hydrogen bonds contribute to its structural stabilization. This photocatalyst was further characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), UV-Vis, fluorescence, and photo/electrical responsive measurements, pointing to its application in visible-light-driven catalysis. Interestingly, using this photocatalyst, good photocatalytic degradation performance on rhodamine B in artificial seawater could be observed. The dye pollutant could be degraded with a high degradation ratio of 87.82% in 220 min. This work provides a promising catalyst for organic dye-type ocean pollutant treatments.

Peroxymonosulfate activation over (Cu+ decorated g-C3N4)/Bi2WO6 composites with S-scheme heterojunction for RhB degradation

Catalytic activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) is one of the important research areas in the development of advanced oxidation technology for wastewater treatment. At present, the development of high-performance catalysts for PMS activation has become a research hotspot. Herein, (Cu+ decorated g-C3N4)/Bi2WO6 ((Cu+/g-C3N4)/Bi2WO6) composite was prepared successively by calcination and solvothermal method, which was used in visible light-assisted PMS activation for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB). The construction of S-scheme heterojunctions between Cu+ decorated g-C3N4 and Bi2WO6 facilitated the activation of PMS, leading to a RhB degradation ratio of 98.46 % within 50 min. The corresponding reaction kinetic was significantly improved by a factor of 2.32 and 7.94 compared with that of CCN and BWO, respectively. The enhanced performance of the (Cu+/g-C3N4)/Bi2WO6 can be attributed to the successful construction of S-scheme heterojunction, which facilitates the separation of photogenerated carriers and accelerates the PMS activation to produce abundant active species. Furthermore, the (Cu+/g-C3N4)/Bi2WO6 composites exhibit strong stability and reusability following three cycles. In addition, the intermediates produced during the RhB degradation process were investigated by liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer (LC-MS). This study provides a new insight into the preparation of S-scheme photocatalysts for the photocatalytic-PMS activation system that will achieve efficient removal of dyes from wastewater.

A Novel First-Order Kinetic Model for Simultaneous Anaerobic–Aerobic Degradation of Municipal Solid Waste in Landfills

A first-order kinetic model for the simultaneous anaerobic–aerobic degradation of municipal solid waste (MSW) is presented in the study. The model incorporates the effect of oxygen concentration on anaerobic degradation, enabling the coexistence of anaerobic and aerobic processes within specific oxygen ranges. The model can thoroughly consider the impacts of temperature, moisture content, oxygen concentration, and free air space (FAS) on the degradation rates of five substrates, i.e., holocellulose, non-cellulosic sugars, proteins, lipids, and lignin. The model was successfully verified against two experimental results. The sequential model underestimates both compression strain and degradation ratio, with peak underestimation ratios of 8.7% and 9.2%, respectively. Using the simultaneous model, the effects of anaerobic age, temperature, and aeration rate on landfill aerobic remediation efficacy are quantitatively assessed. Two evaluation criteria, namely the advance rate of aerobic remediation stabilization time (Rt) and the degradation rate after 100 days of aerobic remediation (λ100a), are adopted. The results indicate the following: (1) Rt is more sensitive to anaerobic age and temperature, while λ100a is more affected by anaerobic age and aeration rate; (2) under optimal conditions, Rt and λ100a can reach 86.3% and 70.9%, respectively. The present model provides a crucial theoretical framework for evaluating aerobic remediation effectiveness in both anaerobic sanitary landfills and informal landfills, offering valuable insights for practical implementation and management.

Photocatalytic remediation of fluoranthene contaminated soil by eco-friendly GQDs/TiO2/α-FeOOH composite photocatalyst: Efficiency, influence factors, mechanism, and toxicity analysis

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), as a persistent organic pollutant, have adverse effects on soil environment and human health. In this study, a new type of iron-based material graphene quantum dots (GQDs)/TiO2/α-FeOOH was used to construct a photocatalytic system to achieve effective degradation of fluoranthene in soil. The hydrothermal method and sol–gel method were used to synthesize GQDs/TiO2/α-FeOOH composite photocatalyst, which exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity by promoting charge transfer, increasing specific surface area, and broadening light absorption range. The degradation ratio of fluoranthene in soil suspension by GQDs/TiO2/α-FeOOH was 67.37 % under the condition of 24 h of simulated sunlight irradiation, water/soil ratio of 10:1, and catalyst dosage of 50 mg/g. •O2– and h+ played the major roles in degradation process, and the catalytic mechanism was proposed. The degradation products and degradation pathway of fluoranthene were analyzed by GC–MS detection and DFT calculation, and the toxicity of degradation products was predicted by simulation calculation. The effect of remedial soil on seed germination was investigated through germination test of tomato seeds, and results showed that the productivity of fluoranthene contaminated soil was recovered in a certain extent.

Quantifying Seismic Damage in RC Walls with Image Analysis

ABSTRACT This study presents an image-assisted method for seismic damage evaluation of RC walls, integrating image processing, feature ranking, and machine learning. The method utilizes features from surface crack images, such as crack patterns and ratios, combined with design parameters, to predict damage levels and states. Seismic damage evaluation tools based on damage state, strength degradation, and drift ratio are introduced as indicators for quantifying structural damage. The approach is tested using 450 crack images, and feature selection was applied to identify the most important predictors. The results demonstrate high accuracy with an R-squared of 0.87 and an RMSE of 0.28.

Degradation of Nile Blue by Photocatalytic, Ultrasonic, Fenton, and Fenton-like Oxidation Processes

The aim of this study is to investigate new catalytic systems for the degradation of a dye that has been classified as first-degree toxic pollutant. Advanced oxidation process such as photocatalytic oxidation, ultrasonic oxidation, Fenton, and Fenton-like constitute a promising technology for the treatment of wastewater containing organic compounds. Waste effluents from textile industries are a major source of water pollution. These wastewaters contain dyes, which have high toxicity and low biodegradability. In this study, degradation of Nile Blue (NB), an azo dye, was studied using the photocatalytic oxidation (TiO2 and silver-loaded TiO2 (Ag-TiO2) as catalyst), ultrasonic oxidation, Fenton (Fe(II)/H2O2), and Fenton-like (Cu(II)/H2O2, V(IV)/H2O2) processes. It was found that the photocatalytic degradation of NB increased with decreasing pH, and the degradation rate also increased in the presence of TiO2/UV compared to UV irradiation alone. In addition, Ag loading on TiO2 dramatically reduced the degradation time. The ultrasonic degradation of NB was also studied using different initial dye concentrations at different pH values and amplitudes. Concentrations of Fe(II), Cu(II), V(IV) and H2O2 on degradation ratio were investigated. It is found that Fe(II) ion is more effective than Cu(II) and V(IV) ions in the degradation of NB.

Does higher ratio of wheat straw addition decrease PAHs degradation in PAHs-contaminated paddy soils and PAHs concentrations in rice?

There are considerable studies focusing on impacts of straw returning on PAHs degradation and bioavailability in PAHs-contaminated upland soils, while similar research in paddy soils is limited. Incubation experiments and pot trials were conducted to study effects of straw returning on PAHs degradation in paddy soils and PAHs accumulation in rice, respectively. There are threshold effects of straw returning on PAHs degradation in PAHs-contaminated paddy soils. The inflection point of PAHs degrading was recorded under 0.8 % wheat straw treatment (conventional (CS) and pretreated wheat straw (PS)), which increased PAHs degradation by 18.13–32.36 %. The lowest PAHs concentrations in rice were recorded under 1 % straw (CS and PS) treatment, which was attributed to the highest PAHs degradation in rhizosphere soils. Compared to CS treatment, PS treatment significantly (p < 0.05) increased PAHs degradation by 7.93–10.28 % and PAHs concentrations in rice by 12.38–45.87 % due to that increasing dissolved organic carbon (DOC) enhanced PAHs concentrations in porewater of rhizosphere soils. Higher diversity enhanced the metabolic pathways and function genes to degrade PAHs by improving bacterial phenotypes and biochemical processes under 1 % wheat straw and PS treatment. The present study firstly demonstrated that the effects of straw returning on PAHs degradation in PAHs-contaminated paddy soils and PAHs concentrations in rice depended on amount and methods of straw returning.

Phase separation behavior and thermal degradation analysis of DETA/DEA/DMAC biphasic absorbent

Thermal stability is crucial for maintaining the efficient performance and low regeneration energy of biphasic absorbents, while the synergistic degradation reactions and condition fluctuations could significantly influence the thermal degradation process of biphasic solutions. In this research, a typical amide-based biphasic absorbent diethylenetriamine(DETA)/diethanolamine(DEA)/N, N-dimethylacetamide(DMAC) with low regeneration energy, was applied in a thermal degradation investigation. The thermal stability of active amine in DETA/DEA/DMAC was superior to 30 wt% MEA, 7 M DETA solution, and other biphasic absorbents, with a 19.9 % lower amine degradation ratio compared to 7 M DETA. The primary thermal degradation products in DETA/DEA/DMAC with and without CO2 were analyzed using Cation Ion Chromatography (IC) and 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). A series of synergistic reactions between DETA and DMAC, with DMAC being an inducer, was revealed in thermal degradation of DETA/DEA/DMAC, leading to accelerated DETA degradation and DEA formation. Various operational conditions including CO2 loading and degradation temperature were considered to build a systemic impact mechanism on thermal degradation for biphasic absorbents. Before phase separation, CO2 absorption and increasing temperature significantly exacerbated DETA degradation. However, phase separation behavior was found to effectively prevent the synergistic degradation reactions in the solution, leading to a 27.4 % reduction in the DETA degradation ratio of the aqueous phase after phase separation. Moreover, it achieved a 24.1 % reduction of the DETA degradation ratio caused by rising temperature in the solution after phase separation. Therefore, it is essential to ensure the completion of phase separation for biphasic solvents before entering the stripper in applications. After thermal degradation, the regeneration rate and cyclic capacity of DETA/DEA/DMAC were strengthened, which was 84.9 % and 63.3 % higher than that of 30 wt% MEA, respectively

Experimental studies on insulating oils for power transformer applications

Abstract In recent days, ester-based alternatives like natural and synthetic oils are preferred as an alternative to mineral oil by the power industry due to its higher bio-degradability, superior thermal conductivity, and fire resistance than mineral oil. In addition to this, blended oils are quite attractive because of its low dielectric loss and a low ratio of degradation. The present research deals with the experimental studies on different insulating oils like mineral oil, synthetic ester oil, coconut oil, blended oils, and nanofluids, which are developed from ZnO and TiO2 nanoparticle doped at 0.01 vol% in different insulating oils through ultrasonication process. In this experiment, the critical properties like electrical and physicochemical properties are examined according to International Electrotechnical Commission and American Society for Testing and Materials standards. Results show that ZnO and TiO2 nano-powder enhances the AC breakdown voltage (BDV), dielectric permittivity, and DC resistivity properties of different insulating oils with improved flash and fire resistance. Remarkably, it is found that mineral oil-based TiO2 nanofluid shows an enhancement of 55.8 % in AC BDV, 9.1 % in permittivity, and 15 % in flash resistance. Moreover, mineral oil based ZnO and TiO2 nanofluid results exhibit remarkable decrement in loss tangent with increased DC resistance property. Finally, it is observed that the influence of TiO2 nano-powder at 0.01 vol% remarkably enhances the electrical and physicochemical properties in different insulating oils compared to ZnO nanofluids. Hence, mineral oil and green insulating based synthetic ester oil (which is based on TiO2 nanofluids) have been considered as a potential candidate to make alternatives to traditional insulating oil for power transformer applications. The findings offer critical insights for the future of transformer insulation systems, guiding industry standards and fostering innovation in material science.

Solvothermal synthesis, photoelectricity and photocatalysis of biselenide-containing selenidostannate hybrid with one-dimensional structure

A biselenide-containing selenidostannate hybrid with narrow band gap, [Ni(terpy)2]2[Sn3Se7][Sn3Se6(Se2)]·4H2O (1) (terpy = 2,2′:6′,2′’-terpyridine), was prepared using a Ni(II)-terpy complex cation as the template under solvothermal conditions. In 1, two SnSe5 PBUs and one SnSe4 PBU are joined through edge-sharing to form a Sn3Se9 SBU. The Sn3Se9 SBUs are connected into a 1-D [Sn3Se7]n2n− chain by sharing two Se atoms, while the Sn3Se7(Se2)2 SBUs are interlinked via the same conncetion mode to form a [Sn3Se6(Se2)]n2n− polyselenide chains containing biselenide ligands. Compound 1 exhibited sensitive photocurrent responses under Xe light irradiation, and had a steady current density of 6.88 μA·cm−2 under visible light irradiation at power of 150 W. Compound was photocatalytically active in the degradation of the organic dye crystal violet (CV) in aqueous solution at room temperature, and the degradation ratio of CV reached 93.8 % after 60 min of light irradiation. Radical quenching experiments showed that all the ∙O2− and ·OH radicals, and the photogenerated positive holes h+ were involved in the photodegradation of CV.

Design and construction of an artificial labor-division consortium for phenanthrene degradation with three-functional modules

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are highly toxic organic pollutants. Phenanthrene often serves as a model compound for studying PAHs biodegradation. In this work, we firstly engineered Escherichia coli M01 containing seven phenanthrene degradation genes and combined it with existing engineered strains E. coli M2 and M3 to form an artificial three-bacteria consortium, named M0123, which exhibited a degradation ratio of 64.66% for 100 mg/L of phenanthrene over 8 days. Subsequently, we constructed engineered Pseudomonas putida KTRL02 which could produce 928.49 mg/L rhamnolipids and integrated it with M0123, forming a four-bacteria consortium with an impressive 81.62% phenanthrene degradation ratio. Assessment of extracellular adenosine levels during the degradation process indicated high cellular energy demand in the four-bacteria consortium. Then, we introduced Bacillus subtilis RH33, a riboflavin-producing strain, as an energy-supplying bacterium, to create a five-bacteria consortium, which exhibited an 88.19% degradation ratio for phenanthrene. The NADH/NAD+ ratio in the five-bacteria consortium during the degradation process was monitored, which was consistently higher than that of the four-bacteria consortium over the eight-day period, indicating a higher overall intracellular reduction capacity. Furthermore, the five-bacteria consortium displayed good tolerance to phenanthrene, even achieving a degradation ratio of 79.38% for 500 mg/L of phenanthrene. This study demonstrates that designing and constructing artificial consortia from the functional perspective and various angles can effectively enhance the degradation of phenanthrene after the addition of the energy-supplying bacterium. This study demonstrates that designing and constructing artificial labor-division consortia from the functional perspective and various angles can effectively enhance the degradation of phenanthrene.

Facile ultrasound-assisted synthesis of g-C3N4@Bi20TiO32/Bi2O2CO3 heterojunction with high photocatalytic performance for resistant-biodegradable dye

In this study, g-C3N4/Bi20TiO32/Bi2O2CO3 photocatalyst structured as a heterojunction was fabricated by an ultrasound-assisted methodology. It evaluated the activity in photocatalytic processes of g-C3N4/Bi20TiO32/Bi2O2CO3 composite material through simulated visible light-induced Rhodamine B photodegradation, demonstrating photodegradation efficiencies 5.6 and 13.84 times exceeding that of pure g-C3N4 and Bi20TiO32/Bi2O2CO3 in turn. Due to the formation of a ternary heterojunction, the g-C3N4/Bi20TiO32/Bi2O2CO3 composite material has a stronger visible light absorption capability compared to pure g-C3N4 and Bi20TiO32/Bi2O2CO3. The photocurrent density is also significantly increased (0.156 μA/cm2). The catalyst's efficiency remained a high degradation ratio (over 95 %) after five cycles, showing the composite's sustainable stability. In summary, based on its excellent performance, the ternary composite photocatalyst g-C3N4/Bi20TiO32/Bi2O2CO3 exhibits great potential for photodegradation of non-biodegradable dye.

Different microbiota modulation and metabolites generation of five dietary glycans during in vitro gut fermentation are determined by their monosaccharide profiles

Dietary oligo- and polysaccharides modulate gut microbiota and thus exert prebiotic activity, which is determined by their heterogeneous structure. To explore the correlations between monosaccharide profile and microbial community, simulated gut fermentation of different glycans, including arabinan (ArB), galactooligosaccharide (GOS), arabinogalactan (ArG), rhamnogalacturonan (RhG), and xyloglucan (XyG) that are characterized by typical sugar residues were performed. Results showed that RhG displayed high contents of galacturonic acid (344.79 mg/g), rhamnose (171.70 mg/g), and galactose (151.77 mg/g), and the degradation ratio of them after fermentation was 73.87 %, 84.96 %, and 87.11 %, respectively. Meanwhile, the relative abundance of glycan-degrading bacteria Bacteroides in the RhG was boosted from 4 h (4.97 %) to 48 h (36.45 %). Butyrate-generating bacteria Megasphaera (56.69 %) and Bifidobacterium (28.02 %) are dominant genera in the ArB, which generated the highest concentration of carbohydrate-metabolite (94.58 mmol/L) in terms of acetate, propionate, butyrate and valerate, followed by the ArG (87.36 mmol/L). However, ammonia generation of the ArG increased rapidly, representing the highest content of protein-metabolite (66.36 mmol/L) including ammonia, isobutyrate, and isovalerate. As compared, metabolites generated from protein and carbohydrates grow steadily at a low level during the XyG fermentation. Correlation analysis further indicated that Bacteroides was positively correlated with propionate (p < 0.001), galacturonic acid (p < 0.001), and rhamnose (p < 0.05), while Bifidobacterium has positive correlation with butyrate and arabinose (p < 0.01). Overall, monosaccharides composition in the different oligo- and polysaccharides induces distinct responses of the dominant microbiota and thus modulates the subsequent fermentation metabolites of carbohydrate and protein, promoting a deep understanding of the structure-fermentation relationship of dietary glycans.

Treatment of brominated epoxy resin waste in subcritical dimethylformamide wastewater: Upcycling of brominated epoxy resin and dimethylformamide degradation

The debromination and upcycling of brominated epoxy resin (BER) waste is important for the e-waste treatment, while the degradation and removal of N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) is the critical step for the DMF wastewater treatment. In this study, a co-treatment strategy was proposed for the BER waste and DMF wastewater by the subcritical water process. The co-treatment was carried out using subcritical DMF wastewater (SDW) as the reaction medium. The results showed a significantly synergistic effect between the BER conversion and DMF degradation in the SDW process. The optimal reaction conditions were as follows: reaction temperature of 300 °C, solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:15 g/mL, DMF wastewater of 30000 mg/L and reaction time of 60 min. Under the optimal reaction conditions, the debromination ratio of the BER was 98.57 %, the degradation ratio of the DMF reached 99.59 %, and phenolic substances with a purity of 86.61 % were recovered. The formation of HBr from the debromination of the BER was the most significant factor affecting the pH of the system, which had a noticeable impact on the degradation of the DMF. The main degradation products of the DMF were dimethylamine (DMA), methylamine (MA), NH3, NH4+, and CO2. The products degraded from the DMF could significantly promote the debromination and conversion of the BER. Life cycle assessment (LCA) analysis showed that the SDW process had low CO2 emissions. It is believed that the SDW process proposed in this study is an efficient technology for the synergistic treatment of the BER waste and DMF wastewater.

Construction a flow through catalytic ozonation system with activated sludge based ceramsite for enhanced ibuprofen removal

Emerging contaminants had drawn much attention due to their ubiquitous occurrence in aquatic environment, and their potential negative effects. In this study, a flow catalytic ozonation system with activated sludge based ceramsite was established, and its catalytic performance was evaluated for degradation of ibuprofen (IBU). Firstly, the proportion of activated sludge and fly ash was 1:1 based on Reliy model for successfully preparation of ceramsite which could catalyze ozone to completely remove IBU within 10 min, while degradation ratio was just 19.9 % in ozonation system. The effects of operational conditions including initial concentration of IBU, ozone dosage, hydraulic retention time, and pH were considered to further verify the applicability of the system. The prepared ceramsite could not only enhance ozone dissolution, but also promote the decomposition of ozone to produce more •OH, which was contributed by metal ions active sites and surface hydroxyl groups. And the contribution of •OH for IBU degradation was about 95.3 % indicating that the •OH played an important role in degradation. The inorganic ions except CO32−/HCO3− and phosphates had less effect on catalytic performances. Furthermore, the degradation products and possible pathways were proposed. The catalytic ozonation system could effectively control the toxicity of the treatment solution. This study not only provided new ideas for resource utilization, but also provided advisable practice application of heterogeneous catalysts for dealing with wastewater.

Chemical-free fabrication of silk fibroin microspheres with silk I structure

Silk fibroin (SF) microspheres show bright prospects for biomedical applications, such as microcarriers, drug delivery, tumor embolization agents, and microscaffolds. However, the chemistry-independent preparation of SF microspheres, which is critical to biomedical applications, has been challenging. In this study, the SF microspheres with silk I crystal type were generated by using electrostatic spraying and freezing-induced assembly. The SF solution was sprayed into liquid nitrogen to form frozen microspheres with tunable size. Annealing can crystallize frozen SF to form silk I crystal type, providing a green approach to harvest water-insoluble microspheres. The SF microspheres can retain a monolithic shape in water for up to 30 days, while having a 77 % degradation ratio in PBS in 14 days, showing high stability in water and rapid degradation under physiological conditions. The biomedical application prospects of the silk I microspheres were demonstrated by cell culture and small molecule drugs (doxorubicin). The microspheres can support the growth and expansion of mammalian cells, and provide a sustainable release for DOX with 10 days. This strategy offers a green approach that avoids the use of organic solvents and cross-linkers for designing SF microsphere biomaterials.

Effect of Microbial Degradation Treatments on Lignocellulose, Cellulose, and Water-Holding Capacity of Four Typical Forest Fuels from Northeast China

Since forest fuel decomposes slowly and increases the risk of forest fires by accumulating over the years, forest fuel management to accelerate the decomposition process is essential to prevent forest fires and protect forest resources. In this study, we conducted experiments on forest fuels (Pinus sylvestris var. mongholica, Larix gmelinii, Quercus mongolica and Fraxinus mandshurica) in four typical plantation forests in northeast China by adding Trichoderma spp. to investigate the decomposition process and the changes in cellulose, hemicellulose and the water-holding capacity of the fuels. The addition of Trichoderma spp. accelerated the decomposition of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin in the fuel. Trichoderma spp. promoted the ratio of water absorption and loss, as well as the water-holding capacity of the fuels. The ratio of water absorption and loss reached equilibrium when the decomposition time was up to 35 days, and the addition of Trichoderma spp. increased the maximal water-holding capacity of the fuel. The residual ratio of the four types of fuel degraded by the different treatments was inversely proportional to their maximal water-holding capacities and to the residual ratios of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. The residual ratios of degradation of the four fuels under different treatments were linearly related to their maximum water-holding capacity, cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin residual ratios. Trichoderma spp. had a positive effect on the degradation effect and water-holding capacity of fuel on the ground surface of four typical plantation forests. The study is of positive significance for the decomposition of fuel in forests, it promotes the development of biological fire prevention technology and provides a basis for the reinforcement of the management of fuel in forests and the protection of forest resources.

Anti-Aflatoxigenic Burkholderia contaminans BC11-1 Exhibits Mycotoxin Detoxification, Phosphate Solubilization, and Cytokinin Production.

The productivity and quality of agricultural crops worldwide are adversely affected by disease outbreaks and inadequate nutrient availability. Of particular concern is the potential increase in mycotoxin prevalence due to crop diseases, which poses a threat to food security. Microorganisms with multiple functions have been favored in sustainable agriculture to address such challenges. Aspergillus flavus is a prevalent aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-producing fungus in China. Therefore, we wanted to obtain an anti-aflatoxigenic bacterium with potent mycotoxin detoxification ability and other beneficial properties. In the present study, we have isolated an anti-aflatoxigenic strain, BC11-1, of Burkholderia contaminans, from a forest rhizosphere soil sample obtained in Luzhou, Sichuan Province, China. We found that it possesses several beneficial properties, as follows: (1) a broad spectrum of antifungal activity but compatibility with Trichoderma species, which are themselves used as biocontrol agents, making it possible to use in a biocontrol mixture or individually with other biocontrol agents in an integrated management approach; (2) an exhibited mycotoxin detoxification capacity with a degradation ratio of 90% for aflatoxin B1 and 78% for zearalenone, suggesting its potential for remedial application; and (3) a high ability to solubilize phosphorus and produce cytokinin production, highlighting its potential as a biofertilizer. Overall, the diverse properties of BC11-1 render it a beneficial bacterium with excellent potential for use in plant disease protection and mycotoxin prevention and as a biofertilizer. Lastly, a pan-genomic analysis suggests that BC11-1 may possess other undiscovered biological properties, prompting further exploration of the properties of this unique strain of B. contaminans. These findings highlight the potential of using the anti-aflatoxigenic strain BC11-1 to enhance disease protection and improve soil fertility, thus contributing to food security. Given its multiple beneficial properties, BC11-1 represents a valuable microbial resource as a biocontrol agent and biofertilizer.