Reaction Duration Research Articles

Sustainable synthesis of Di-iso-octyl Maleate using 3-octanol extracted from Peppermint oil

Surfactants are vital in industries such as detergents, textiles, and cosmetics, and their synthesis from renewable or waste-derived feedstocks aligns with sustainability goals. This study explores the valorization of 3-octanol, a byproduct of peppermint oil extraction, into di-isooctyl maleate (DOM), a precursor to di-octyl sulphosuccinate (DOSS), a widely used surfactant. The synthesis of DOM was achieved via esterification of 3-octanol and maleic anhydride in the presence of para-toluene sulphonic acid (PTSA) as a catalyst. Reaction parameters, including catalyst concentration, reaction time, and temperature, were systematically optimized to maximize yield. The highest yield of 96.34% was obtained using 0.4 g of PTSA per 5 g of 3-octanol, with an optimal temperature of 80–85°C and a reaction time of 3 hours. Experimental data showed a decline in yield beyond this catalyst concentration and reaction duration, indicating the importance of precise parameter control. Alternate catalysts such as Amberlite and Indion 130 were tested. This study demonstrates a sustainable and scalable approach to converting waste-derived 3-octanol into value-added surfactants, providing an economically viable solution with minimal equipment and investment requirements.

The Use of Classic Psychedelics for Depressive and Anxiety-Spectrum Disorders

Abstract Following a decades-long decline in psychedelic research resulting from social, political, and legislative factors, there has been greatly renewed interest in these compounds' ability to treat psychiatric disorders. Classic psychedelics, encompassing both natural and synthetic psychoactive compounds, are characterized by their action as agonists or partial agonists of serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A receptors. In this comprehensive review, we summarize the latest clinical trials of classic psychedelics on depression and anxiety, attending to the patient demographics and methodology of each study. Overall, studies published since 2020 affirm the potential for classic psychedelics to treat major depressive disorder, treatment-resistant depression, bipolar II, and anxiety-spectrum disorders. However, findings are limited by short follow-up durations and nonstandard dosing and study designs. Given that many of the studies identified were post hoc analyses or follow-up studies from a select few parent studies, it is recommended that more original research be undertaken, with more diverse and larger sample sizes, standardized methodologies including blinding assessment, and long-term follow-up to identify duration of benefits and adverse reactions. It is also important to consider the role of psychological support and the therapeutic alliance in the psychedelic treatment of psychiatric disorders.

Biosynthesised bentonite clay-based Cu nanocomposite using Punica granatum L. peel extract for the effective catalytic reduction of hazardous aqueous contaminants

ABSTRACT This article describes a facile and green one-pot synthetic process of Cu nanoparticles loaded on bentonite composite (5Cu wt.%/bentonite) using the peel extract of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) as a reductant. The 5Cu wt.%/bentonite composite was adopted as a heterogeneous catalyst for the NaBH4-assisted reductive degradation of Methylene Blue (MB) dye. The prepared 5Cu wt.%/bentonite composite demonstrated high catalytic efficiency in reducing MB, achieving almost complete reduction within a reaction duration as short as 60 seconds. Indeed, Cu nanoparticles act as electron relays, facilitating the electron transfer from BH4 − anions to MB dye, leading to its conversion into the colourless Leuco-Methylene Blue (LMB). The reduction rate corresponded nicely with the pseudo-first-order kinetic model, with the corresponding normalised rate constant (Knor) value computed as 1.48 min−1 mg−1, outperforming numerous previously documented metal-containing catalysts. Remarkably, the catalyst can straightforwardly be reused, with almost constant reduction efficiency observed across 5 successive catalytic cycles. Furthermore, 5Cu wt.%/bentonite was used in another catalytic reduction reaction, involving the reduction of the toxic Cr(VI) to environmentally benign Cr(III) adopting formic acid as a reducing agent under ambient conditions. The 5Cu wt.%/bentonite catalyst not only showed a high Cr(VI) reduction efficiency of 95.5% within 30 min but also outstanding reusability of 93% removal of Cr(VI) following 5 cycles, demonstrating its catalytic versatility. The Cr(VI) reduction mechanism involves the dehydrogenation of formic acid on the catalyst surface, followed by hydrogen transfer converting Cr(VI) into Cr(III). Based on the straightforward and green synthetic strategy, use of cost-effective and readily available raw materials, excellent catalytic activity, catalytic versatility, and outstanding reusability, the 5Cu wt.%/bentonite composite seemed to be an ideal catalyst for the real-world reduction of harmful aqueous pollutants to achieve environmental sustainability.

Simple Parameters and Data Processing for Better Signal-to-Noise and Temporal Resolution in In Situ 1D NMR Reaction Monitoring.

In situ 1D NMR spectroscopic reaction monitoring allows detailed investigation of chemical kinetics and mechanism. Concentration versus time data are derived from a time series of NMR spectra. Each spectrum in the series is obtained by Fourier transform of the corresponding FID. When the spectrometer outputs FIDs recorded from multiple scans, the spectra benefit from an increase in signal-to-noise (S/N). However, this reduces the number of FIDs and, thus, kinetic data points. We report a simple alternative in which the same number of scans is acquired by the spectrometer, but each scan is saved independently. Signal averaging is then conducted by postacquisition processing. This leads to an increase in both the S/N and the number of kinetic data points and can avoid "overaveraging" effects. The entire series of single-scan FIDs spanning the reaction lifetime can be summed to yield a "total reaction spectrum" in which intermediates can be identified. The method can be applied in coherence with phase cycling to minimize spectral distortion during solvent signal suppression. Overall, the approach simplifies the preacquisition parameters to the estimation of the reaction duration and T1max and then the selection of the pulse angle, θ, and scan repetition time, τR, without the need to set the signal averaging before the experiment.

Utilizing supercritical water gasification for hydrogen production combined with a waste heat recovery system for domestic households

Hydrogen from food waste can provide sustainable energy. Food waste can be gasified into clean, efficient hydrogen gas using cutting-edge techniques. This study is about the gasification of food waste under different settings to determine gas production and efficiency. The supercritical water gasification (SCWG) method was used in experiments at 400 °C, 450 °C, and 500 °C with reaction durations of 30, 60 and 90 min. The results showed peak values of CO2, CO, CH4, H2 at 90 min, equivalent to 6.2 % and 7.9 % hydrogen efficiency (HE) and cold gas efficiency (CGE). Peak CGE and HE were 6.7 % and 9.2 % at 500 °C, whereas peak CE and total gas output were 6.8 % and 8.6 %. To generate heat and power, a PEM cell was added. Gasification-generated hydrogen was warmed and fed in the PEM circuit at 0.7, 1 and 1.5 m/s. The peak velocity indicates a 23.1 % waste heat recovery rate and a higher hydrogen temperature difference of roughly 8.1 °C. At the temperature of peak gasification (500 °C), the values of CO2, CO, CH4, and H2 are approximately 3.6 mol/kg, 0.3 mol/kg, 2.6 mol/kg, and 4.7 mol/kg, respectively. At the peak gasification temperature (500 °C), As a result, the suggested system is ideal for combining hydrogen production to generate both power and heat energy for use in heating small homes or buildings (the proposed system can deliver that much energy or at least partially fulfill it).

Optimizing catalytic performance: Reduction of organic dyes using synthesized Fe3O4@AC magnetic nano-catalyst

This article presents a sustainable method for the catalytic reduction of both simple and binary dye systems using magnetic activated carbon (Fe3O4@AC) synthesized from almond shells, an agricultural waste biomass. The reduction of methylene blue (MB) and Congo red (CR) was investigated in the presence of NaBH4, and a series of physical-chemical experiments were conducted to elucidate the mechanism of dye conversion and its performance. The results confirmed the successful synthesis of Fe3O4 nanoparticles on the activated carbon surface. The calculated rate constants in a simple system were 0.34 min⁻1 for MB and 0.25 min⁻1 for CR, in the binary system, the Fe3O4@AC catalyst demonstrated enhanced selectivity for the cationic MB dye, attributable to the robust, attractive surface charge. The study aimed to enhance catalytic performance by employing optimization curves generated from a three-level Box-Behnken Design (BBD) simulation. Experimental results indicated that the optimal catalyst dose, dye concentration, and reaction duration were 4–7 mg, 80–120 mg/L, and 5–20 min, respectively. Response surface methodology (RSM) was developed by processing the findings from 17 replicated experiments using a two-quadratic polynomial model, establishing a functional link between the experimental parameters and MB conversion. Optimal conditions for MB conversion were determined to be 7 mg of catalyst, 80 mg/L of MB concentration, and a reaction time of 12.5 minutes, resulting in an estimated conversion rate of 99.99 %. This prediction was validated by experimental findings, with regression analysis confirming a high correlation (R2 > 0.99) between the predicted and observed values. Additionally, the Fe3O4@AC catalyst demonstrated good recyclability and stable performance over three consecutive cycles, maintaining high conversion efficiency without loss of performance. These findings demonstrate that Fe3O4@AC is a viable approach for the rapid and efficient remediation of dyes in water.

Olive pomace waste conversion to bio-fuel by application of integrated configuration of pyrolysis/hydrodeoxygenation process

Bio-oil obtained from non-catalytic pyrolysis of biomass, consists of a large number of oxygenated compounds. Hence, it is essential for the bio-oil to go through upgrading processes such as hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) to reform these compounds to aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. This study works towards this purpose by initially deriving raw bio-oil from olive pomace waste biomass in a non-catalytic pyrolysis process at temperature of 400–700 ºC. Then for reducing the oxygen content of derived bio-oil, HDO of the raw bio-oil over NiMo/Al2O3 catalyst was performed in a batch reactor, in varying operational parameters: temperature of 200–250 °C, reaction time of 1–3 h, hydrogen pressure of 2–6 bar and catalyst: bio-oil ratio of 1:20, 1:10, 1:5. The results revealed that the catalytic HDO is an appropriate procedure, as fatty acids as the main oxygenated components in bio-oil were reduced from 81.8 % to 56.7 %, aldehydes and ketones were entirely removed, and there was a noticeable rise in aliphatic hydrocarbons from 2.8 % to 33.9 % at temperature of 250 ºC, hydrogen pressure of 6 bar and reaction duration of 3 h. In addition, by raising the catalyst to bio-oil ratio to 1:5, the content of fatty acids reached 47.6 %. Furthermore, a comparison was made between the O/C and H/C ratios of the obtained biofuels and the raw bio-oil, which results exhibited that this method worked successfully in substituting oxygen atoms of the raw bio-oil with hydrogen atoms.

Synthesis and coating of novel cadmium-free MnCsPb(Br0·4/I0.6)3 red perovskite quantum dots

This work introduces a novel synthesis method for MnCsPb (Br0·4/I0.6)3 quantum dots, which demonstrate excellent optical and thermal stability. These quantum dots offer high luminescence intensity and tunable emission wavelengths. By optimizing key factors such as thermal injection temperature, chemical composition, and reaction duration, we were able to improve their crystal quality, reduce defects, and enhance optical properties like luminescence efficiency and emission peak sharpness. Surface treatments with TMOS, APTES, and TEOS further improved their stability, with APTES showing the best results for thermal resistance. In thermal degradation tests, APTES-coated quantum dots retained 76.7 % of their initial luminescence intensity and maintained 95 % of their brightness after 68 h of continuous heating at 85 °C. These quantum dots also showed strong resistance to blue shift in emission wavelength during long-term UV exposure, making them highly durable for applications requiring prolonged performance under harsh conditions.

Adsorption of synthetic cationic dyes from water (experimental, DFT and Monte Carlo studies) and treatment of real industrial wastewater using dextrose compound-modified layered double hydroxide

Dyes are a major water pollutant, and various methods have been employed to address the dye pollution in aqueous solutions. Currently, adsorption using inexpensive, abundant, and eco-friendly adsorbents like anionic clay is one of the simplest and most effective methods. This study aimed to investigate the fabrication of a novel layered double hydroxide modified with dextrose D@Mg1.5Zn0.5Al-LDH composite via co-precipitation route for removing both synthetic Rhodamine B (RhB) and Basic Fuchsin (BF) dyes from aqueous solutions. Various characterization techniques were employed to comprehensively understand the properties of the as-synthesized material, including XRD, FTIR, SEM-EDX, BET surface area analysis and zeta potential. To enhance the adsorption process of both basic dyes, experiments were conducted in a batch reactor to investigate the effects of key parameters such as reaction duration, initial dye concentration, pH, adsorbent dosage, and solution temperature. Cationic dyes uptake was predominantly observed within the first 10mins, reaching equilibrium in approximately 60mins. The D@Mg1.5Zn0.5Al-LDH composite achieved removal efficiencies of 99% for BF dye and 60% for RhB dye at pH 10, which are considerably higher than that of bare Mg1.5Zn0.5Al-LDH. The experimental adsorption data demonstrated excellent agreement with pseudo-second-order kinetics and the Langmuir isotherm. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and molecular simulations had been employed to elucidate the adsorption mechanism of BF and RhB dyes onto the D@Mg1.5Zn0.5Al-LDH composite. Quantum parameters were calculated to characterize the electron density of the dyes which provided insights into their reaction behavior. Additionally, Monte Carlo simulations were employed to calculate the fluctuation energy, and to determine probability distributions of adsorption energy, and geometry of the small adsorption energy poses for BF/D@Mg1.5Zn0.5Al-LDH and RhB/ D@Mg1.5Zn0.5Al-LDH. These results offer equilibrium statistical conditions that explain the adsorption mechanism behaviors between the D@Mg1.5Zn0.5Al-LDH composite and BF/RhB dyes optimally. Importantly, the theoretical outcomes are in good agreement well with experimental results. Finally, the adsorption process is used to treat real industrial wastewater that mainly contains a mixture of Rhodamine B and Methylene Blue as the cationic dyes. The D@Mg1.5Zn0.5Al-LDH composite has shown good efficiency in the treatment of real industrial wastewater.

Degradation of dioxins in chelated municipal solid waste incineration fly ash by low-temperature pyrolysis

In this study, low-temperature pyrolysis is applied to raw and chelated municipal solid waste incinerator fly ash to degrade and remove PCDD/F (polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, and dibenzofurans) and corresponding I-TEQs (international toxic equivalents), respectively. Additionally, PCDD/F degradation pathways are identified based on PCDD/F signatures. From the analysis of the average signal intensity of dioxin isomers in thermally treated fly ashes, the PCDD/F degradation rate was between 89.97 and 99.80 %, and the I-TEQs removal rate was 98.96 and 99.90% across all samples compared to untreated raw fly ash. The chelating agent EDTA enhanced the thermal degradation of PCDD/F, but the addition of Na2HPO4 in chelated fly ash as an inhibitor promoted PCDD/F regeneration. Further, there is a variable output of dioxins and corresponding I-TEQs under different temperatures and reaction times; however, longer reaction duration and higher temperatures proved highly effective. The overall toxicity of all thermally tested fly ashes was lesser than the permissible value of 50 ng I-TEQ/kg for resource utilization and observed in the range of 1.84 ± 0.15 to 19.45 ± 0.89 ng I-TEQ/kg. The investigation of the PCDD and PCDF signatures suggests that thermal destruction was a major pathway of degradation by breakage of the C-O bond, compared to dechlorination as observed by a high percentage contribution of HpCDD/F and OCDD/F congeners in thermally treated fly ashes. Low-temperature pyrolysis is an auspicious disposal technology that requires additional studies for large-scale applications.

Impact of encapsulation conditions on V-type granular starch-curcumin complexes

V-type granular starch (VGS) could be a potential carrier of active substances according to previous research. Its hydrophobic cavity is capable of encapsulating and accommodating guest molecules with hydrophobicity. This study investigates the impact of various encapsulation conditions on curcumin payload capacity, encapsulation efficiency, and composite index, revealing that the optimal conditions for curcumin encapsulation using VGS were an encapsulation temperature of 60 °C, a curcumin addition ratio of 20% (w/w), a reaction duration of 1 h, and an ethanol solution volume of 40% (v/v). This observation is attributed to the hydrophobic capacity of VGS and the environmental sensitivity of curcumin. Furthermore, the initial temperature of thermal decomposition and the maximum weight loss rate temperature occurs for the complex are higher than those of VGS, curcumin, and the physical blend. In the enzymatic resistance experiments, the resistant starch content in the complex increased from 10.38% to 35.12%, while the rapidly digestible starch (RDS) content decreased from 72.77% to 40.62%. Collectively, these findings underscore the immense potential of VGS as a carrier for the transport of sensitive actives.

Development of a Production Process for Biomass-Based Activated Carbon via Hydrothermal Carbonization Method

This study presents a process development including detailed characterization of hydrochars and activated carbons produced by hydrothermal carbonization and chemical activation methods using apricot kernel shells (AKS). Initially, the AKS were processed by grinding, followed by subjecting them to hydrothermal carbonization at 240ºC for 24, 36, and 48 hours, resulting in three distinct hydrochars. Subsequently, these hydrochars were mixed with KOH for 3 hours and subjected to a carbonization process at 700°C for 1 hour to obtain activated carbons. Various characterization methods such as Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis, and Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) measurements were employed to determine the properties of the activated carbons. The results obtained indicate that the duration of the hydrothermal reaction increases the carbon content and leads to the formation of porous structures. Particularly, the chemical activation process was found to be effective in pore formation, as evident in SEM images. In conclusion, this study provides a detailed description of the characteristic properties of hydrochars, and activated carbons derived from AKS.

Recombinant MS087-based indirect ELISA for the diagnosis of Mycoplasma synoviae.

Accurate detection is a prerequisite for effective prevention and control of Mycoplasma synoviae infection. ELISA is the most popular method for the clinical detection of M. synoviae because of its convenience, low cost, and high detection rate. However, the cross-reactivity of commercially available ELISA kits with other avian pathogen-positive sera needs to be addressed. The aim of this study was to establish an ELISA method with high specificity for the detection of anti-M. synoviae antibodies in chicken serum to evaluate the M. synoviae infection status on poultry farms. The recombinant MS087 (rMS087) protein was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) and purified by Ni2+ affinity chromatography. An antibody against rMS087 was generated by immunizing BALB/c mice. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that MS087 was conserved among M. synoviae strains. Western blotting and indirect immunofluorescence results indicated that MS087 was not only localized in the cytoplasm and on the membrane but also secreted by the organism. For the established ELISA method based on rMS087, the optimal antigen concentration, blocking buffer, blocking duration, serum dilution, serum incubation duration, secondary antibody dilution, secondary antibody incubation duration and colorimetric reaction duration were 2 μg/mL, 1% BSA, 3 h, 1:500, 1.5 h, 1:20,000, 2 h and 5 min, respectively. Validation of the rMS087-based ELISA revealed a cut-off value of 0.5. The coefficients of variation of both the intra-batch and inter-batch methods were less than 9%. The assay was able to differentiate positive serum against M. synoviae from antisera against nine other avian pathogens and was able to recognize M. synoviae-positive sera at a dilution of 1:1,000. Compared with the commercial ELISA method, the rMS087-based ELISA has the potential to recognize more positive sera against M. synoviae. Collectively, the rMS087-based ELISA is a reproducible, specific, and sensitive serological method for detecting antibodies against M. synoviae in chicken serum and has robust potential for large-scale serological epidemiology of M. synoviae infection on poultry farms.

Enhanced Olivine Reactivity in Wet Supercritical CO2 for Engineered Mineral Carbon Sequestration.

The success of CO2 mineralization as a potential solution for reducing carbon emissions hinges on understanding chemical interactions between basaltic minerals and CO2-charged fluids. This study provides a detailed analysis of olivine dissolution in CO2-water mixtures at 90 and 150 °C, 2-9 MPa, and for 8 and 24 h, in both water- and CO2-dominant conditions. By using olivine crystal sections instead of powders, surface agitation is prevented, closing the gap between laboratory studies and natural settings. Surface chemistry, texture, and cross-sectional properties were examined pre- and postreaction using a multiscale approach combining spectroscopic and imaging techniques. Results show that wet supercritical CO2 environments lead to significant olivine dissolution, forming Mg-depleted, Si-enriched etched surfaces, and under certain conditions, the formation of passivating silica precipitates. In contrast, reactions in aqueous fluids caused minimal changes in surface chemistry and texture with no silica precipitation. These observations indicate that reaction extent in the CO2-rich phase is greater relative to water-rich mixtures at equivalent temperature, pressure, and reaction duration. The presence of silica precipitates incorporating leached metals indicates limited transport of reactant away from reaction sites in a CO2-rich medium. This study semi-quantitatively evaluates reaction extents in both CO2-rich and aqueous systems across a wide range of parameters, demonstrating faster mineralization in CO2-rich environments and highlighting their potential for enhancing the CO2 storage efficiency.

Hydrothermal synthesis and morphological evolution of hexagonal ceria microrod structures

CeriaBTC (CeO2-1,3,5-Benzenetricarboxylic acid) microstructures have been synthesized through hydrothermal methods. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) micrographs and X-ray diffraction (XRD) data reveal that the ceria microstructure exhibit hexagonal rod-like structures with average diameters 1.9 ± 0.17 µm and length 5.7 ± 0.19 µm, synthesized at 130 °C for 72 h. Elevating the reaction temperature or duration leads to gradual morphological evolution in micromaterial shape and size (aspect ratio), stabilizing at 3.51. This signifies an ongoing chemical transformation driving morphological alteration. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) reveals the presence of an organic linker in the CeriaBTC microrods. Results from XRD, FE-SEM, FT-IR, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) suggest a chemical transformation from hexagonal type CeriaBTC to Ceria microrods at higher calcination temperatures of 400 °C for 4 h. The development of hierarchical morphologies, transitioning from hexagonal CeriaBTC rods to ceria microstructure powder, has been observed to rely on both the orientation of the organic precursor (1,3,5-Benzenetricarboxylic acid) and the specific calcination temperature applied.

Fabrication of mango-leaf biowaste mediated green magnetite (Fe3O4@MBE NPs) and modified EDTA/Fe3O4@MBE NCs for enhanced heavy metals sequestration: Characterisation, simulation modelling, mechanism, cost-effectiveness and electroplating wastewater performance

This work reports biogenic green fabricated novel magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4@MBE NPs) coated with mango-leaf biowaste extract and modified disodium ethylenediamine tetra-acetate (EDTA) functionalised nanocomposite (EDTA/Fe3O4@MBE NCs). Several approaches were used to characterise them, and their applicability as nanoadsorbents was exhaustively investigated in batch mode sequestration of Cd(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) from synthetic solutions. The Brunauer Emmett and Teller’s surface areas of Fe3O4@MBE and EDTA/Fe3O4@MBE was determined to be 47.73 and 43.95 m2/g, respectively, with average porous diameters of 10.36 and 7.44 nm, revealing mesoporosity. EDTA/Fe3O4@MBE NCs exhibit soft ferromagnetism with a saturation magnetisation of 40.67 emu/g. Further, EDTA modification creates carboxyl and amino sites, improving adsorption performance. Adsorption was pH dependent, with optimal sequestration at 40 mg/L divalent metal ions, 0.5 g/L nanoadsorbent dosage, and 75 min of reaction duration at 27 °C. Among the simulation models employed, the Langmuir isotherm, pseudo second order kinetic, and Elovich kinetic were the best fitted and offered the highest capability to explain the adsorption process. The Langmuir monolayer adsorption capacity (qmax) of 147.06, 129.87, and 117.65 mg/g for Cd(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) by EDTA/Fe3O4@MBE, respectively, were significantly higher than Fe3O4@MBE (120.48, 102.04, and 95.24 mg/g). The best-suited kinetics precisely describe chemisorption as the primary rate-limiting phase in divalent metal ions adsorption. Thermodynamics approved the endothermic nature and feasibility of divalent metals adsorption, with modest improvement in efficacy at higher temperatures. The ability of EDTA/Fe3O4@MBE to form stable surface complexes with divalent metals enhances adsorption even in the presence of other co-existing ionic species. EDTA/Fe3O4@MBE NCs magnetic separability, improved sequestration upto five recycles, and regenerability of ≥89.07 % demonstrate its cost-effectiveness in heavy metals sequestration. Finally, practicality study confirmed that EDTA/Fe3O4@MBE nanoadsorbent provides a practical and economically efficient option for heavy metals sequestration from electroplating wastewater; thus, it contributed towards UN-2030, SDG No-6.

Optimization of synthesis of cationic starches for wastewater sludge and microalgae separation

The implementation of stricter water protection legislation requires the development of novel environmentally friendly water treatment materials. A new method for the preparation of water soluble cationic starch flocculants using potato starch, 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride and CaO additive was developed and surface response methodology was successfully utilized for the optimization of degree of substitution in the cationization of potato starch with and without CaO additive. Based on the results of destabilization studies of model kaolin, wastewater sludge, and microalgae dispersion systems, optimized conditions ware proposed for obtaining an efficient, soluble, and biodegradable cationic starch flocculant with optimal structure. The duration of starch etherification reaction was reduced to <12 h to obtain soluble cationic starch derivatives with a degree of substitution of quaternary ammonium groups of 0.25, which retained the granular structure during synthesis. An efficient flocculation technology using anionic polymer and high content of biodegradable cationic flocculant was proposed. The highly efficient flocculation of microalgae suspensions using developed cationic starch derivative with the degree of substitution of cationic groups of 0.25 has been also achieved. The developed environmentally friendly cationic starches with tailored flocculation properties proofed to have a great potential in various water cleaning and separation technologies with prospects in wastewater treatment, agriculture or energy sectors.

A rapid and visual detection assay for Senecavirus A based on recombinase-aided amplification and lateral flow dipstick.

Senecavirus A (SVA) is a newly pathogenic virus correlated with the acute death of piglets and vesicular lesions in pigs. The further prevalence of SVA will cause considerable economic damage to the global pig farming industry. Therefore, rapid and accurate diagnostic tools for SVA are crucial for preventing and controlling the disease. We designed multiple primer pairs targeting the most conserved region of the SVA 3D gene and selected those with the highest specificity. Nfo-probes were subsequently developed based on the highest specificity primer pairs. Subsequently, the recombinase-assisted amplification (RAA) reaction was completed, and the reaction temperature and duration were optimized. The RAA amplicons were detected using a lateral flow device (LFD). Finally, a rapid and intuitive RAA-LFD assay was established against SVA. The SVA RAA-LFD assay can be performed under reaction conditions of 35°C within 17 minutes, with results observable to the naked eye. We then evaluated the performance of this method. It exhibited high specificity and no cross-reaction with the other common swine pathogens. The lowest detectable limits of this method for the plasmid of pMD18-SVA-3D, DNA amplification product, and viral were 3.86×101 copies/µL, 8.76×10-7 ng/µL, and 1×100.25 TCID50/mL, respectively. A total of 44 clinical samples were then tested using the RAA-LFD, PCR, and RT-qPCR methods. The results demonstrated a consistent detection rate between the RAA-LFD and RT-qPCR assays. The SVA RAA-LFD assay developed in our study exhibits excellent specificity, sensitivity, and time-saving attributes, making it ideally suited for utilization in lack-instrumented laboratory and field settings.

Alginate sulfonamide hydrogel beads for 5-fluorouracil delivery: antitumor activity, cytotoxicity assessment, and theoretical investigation

This study focused on grafting a new monomer (E)-N-(4-(3-(4-bromophenyl) acryloyl) phenyl)-4-methyl benzene sulfonamide (Br-PS) onto sodium alginate (Alg) using a free radical polymerization method. The optimal parameters for the grafting polymerization reaction were investigated, including initiator and monomer concentrations, polymerization reaction duration, and temperature. Additionally, the conversion, graft, and solid content percentages were calculated. The resulting novel poly (Br-PS)-g-Alg was thoroughly analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Moreover, poly (Br-PS)-g-Alg was tested for cytotoxicity and selectivity values on lung cancer cell line (A549), breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231), and a normal cell line (MDCK) using the neutral red uptake test. Poly (Br-PS)-g-Alg demonstrated more inhibitory impact (IC50 = 33.37 and 40.9 μg/mL) and high selectivity (selectivity index = 4.83 and 3.94) on the A549 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines, respectively. Furthermore, uniform beads of creative poly (Br-PS)-g-Alg were fabricated, and their swelling rate in various media was studied. These beads could potentially serve as drug carriers for 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Release experiments in simulated gastric (SGF) and intestinal fluids (SIF) showed a slower 5-FU release pattern in SGF compared to SIF. The proposed structures of poly (Br-PS)-g-Alg were theoretically verified using density functional theory with DFT/B3LYP/6–31(G) basis set, revealing distinct interactions due to the presence of different functional groups. The findings of this study could significantly impact the development of new drug delivery systems.

Simultaneous treatment and enrichment of total phosphorus from livestock sewage using hydrate technology

The presence of phosphorus in livestock sewage is a key factor that causes eutrophication and the degradation of ecological water quality. Cyclopentane (CP) hydrate-based water treatment technique was utilized for the efficient total removal of phosphorus in effluents. This study assesses the treatment effectiveness and enrichment potential of hydrate technology when applied to real-world samples, specifically livestock wastewater. The treatment process was applied under atmospheric pressure and optimized appropriate conditions comprising the CP-to-sample volume ratio of 1:4, reaction duration of 3 h, and temperature of 2 °C because of the high subcooling and ability to enhance the number of hydrate crystals formed along with water. In addition, various methods, such as vacuum filtration, cold centrifugation, and washing, were employed for the effective and comprehensive removal of phosphorus from water samples with the efficiency exhibited from approximately 30 % to 80 %. The structure and composition of the CPHs formed in wastewater were analyzed via Raman spectroscopy and the phosphorus content was determined according to ISO 6878:2004. After a single-stage hydrate process without pretreatment and posttreatment, the water recovered from the extracted hydrates showed that the phosphorus removal efficiency in livestock sewage was approximately 85 % with a remarkable water recovery above 25 %. The study findings provide insights into the development of hydrate-based treatment technology for the removal of phosphorus and explore opportunities for resource enrichment and recovery from sewage.