Eco-friendly Technique Research Articles

Multifunctional Chitosan Nanofiber-Based Sponge Materials Using Freeze-Thaw and Post-Cross-Linking Method.

The fabrication of porous sponge materials with stable structures via cross-linking diverse polymers presents significant challenges due to the simultaneous requirements for phase separation as a pore-forming step and cross-linking reactions during the fabrication process. To address these challenges, we developed a sponge material solely from natural-based polymers, specifically chitosan nanofibers (CSNFs) and dialdehyde carboxymethyl cellulose (DACMC), employing a straightforward, eco-friendly technique. This technique integrates a facile freeze-thaw method with subsequent cross-linking between CSNFs and DACMC. This method effectively addresses the difficulties associated with pore formation in materials, which typically arise from the rapid formation and precipitation of polyionic complexes during the mixing of anionic and cationic polymers, using ice crystals as a rigid template. The resultant sponge materials exhibit remarkable shape recoverability in their wet state and maintain light, stable porosity in the dry state. Furthermore, in comparison to commonly used commercial foams, this composite porous material demonstrates superior fire retardancy and thermal insulation properties in its dry state. Additionally, it shows effective adsorption capacities for both cationic and anionic dyes and metal ions. This method of using biobased polymers to produce porous composites offers a promising avenue for creating multifunctional materials, with potential applications across various industries.

Femtosecond laser technology: A new approach for water disinfection

Water makes up around 60 % of the body, making it essential to all body systems and crucial to human health and survival. The lack of clean drinking water is currently a problem in many different countries. While there are several approaches for disinfecting drinking water, including the widely used ozonation, UV irradiation, and chlorination processes, each has some drawbacks. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of femtosecond laser technology in disinfecting water polluted with Escherichia coli (E. coli), for the first time. Bacterial cells were exposed to a femtosecond laser light with different wavelengths, intensities, and exposure times. E. coli was subjected to femtosecond laser irradiation for 5, 10, 15, 30, and 45 min at different powers of 50, 100, and 200 mW. Femtosecond laser light, ranging from 400 to 800 nm in wavelengths, was used to irradiate E. coli bacteria. These wavelengths cover the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared spectra. Under these experimental settings, the concentration of E. coli bacteria (in CFU/ml) was instantly determined using the MTT assay. Bacterial growth was dramatically decreased to 45.2 CFU/ml (%) after 45 min of exposure to 400 nm wavelength and 200 mW averaged power. The results obtained in this study provide evidence to conclude that femtosecond laser irradiation dramatically suppresses E. coli growth. Without making direct chemical contact, femtosecond laser irradiation offers a possible remote water disinfection approach. Therefore, the femtosecond laser light could be used for water disinfection as a promising eco-friendly technique.

A novel combination of wetland plants (Eichhornia crassipes) and biochar derived from palm kernel shells modified with melamine for the removal of paraquat from aqueous medium: a green and sustainable approach

Herbicide contamination in aquatic systems has become a global concern due to their long- term persistence, accumulation and health risks to humans. Paraquat, a widely used and cost-effective nonselective herbicide, is frequently applied in agricultural fields for pest control. Consequently, the removal of paraquat from contaminated water is crucial. This research presents a sustainable and environmentally benign method for paraquat removal from aqueous system by integrating wetland plants (Eichhornia crassipes) with biochar derived from melamine-modified palm kernel shells. The prepared biochar was characterized by using various analytical techniques. The effectiveness of biochar in enhancing phytoremediation was evaluated through a series of experiments, showing significant paraquat removal efficiencies of 99.7, 98.3, and 82.8% at different paraquat concentrations 50, 100, and 150 mg L−1, respectively. Additionally, present study examined the impact of biochar on the growth of E. crassipes, highlighting its potential to reduce the toxic effects of paraquat even present at higher concentrations. The paraquat removal mechanism was elucidated, focusing on the synergistic role of biochar adsorption and phytoremediation capability of E. crassipes. This innovative approach is an effective, feasible, sustainable and eco-friendly technique that can contribute to the development of advanced and affordable water remediation processes for widespread application.

Development of a multifunctional active food packaging membrane based on electrospun polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan for preservation of fruits

To mitigate environmental impacts in food preservation, the development of a multifunctional membrane for packaging is of importance. In this study, we have successfully fabricated a nanofibrous membrane using an eco-friendly electrospinning technique, comprising polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), chitosan (CS), and tannic acid (TA). The resulting nanofibrous membranes were crosslinked with glutaraldehyde (GA) and surface modified with ZnO. Our findings demonstrate that the crosslinking process enhances water resistance, reduces water vapor permeability, improves tensile strength (from 3 to 18 MPa), and enhances thermal stability (increasing decomposition temperature from 225 °C to 310 °C). Furthermore, the incorporation of TA and ZnO provides antioxidant properties to the membrane, effectively preventing food decomposition caused by UV-induced oxidation. Additionally, CS, TA, and ZnO synergistically exhibit a remarkable antibacterial effect with a bacteriostasis rate exceeding 99.9 %. The strawberry fresh-keeping experiment further confirms that our developed membrane significantly extends shelf life by up to 6 days. Moreover, cytotoxicity assays confirm the non-toxic nature of these membranes. The innovative significance of this study lies in proposing a robust GA-PVA/CS/TA@ZnO nanofibrous membrane with excellent mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and multiple functionalities including antibacterial, anti-ultraviolet, and anti-oxidation capabilities. It has tremendous potential for applications in active food packaging materials.

Green micellar UPLC and complementary eco-friendly spectroscopic techniques for simultaneous analysis of anti-COVID drugs: a comprehensive evaluation of greenness, blueness, and whiteness

The development of sustainable analytical methodologies that minimize hazards, waste generation, and energy consumption has become crucial. This study introduces pioneering green‒blue-white approaches for the simultaneous quantification of montelukast sodium (MLK) and fexofenadine hydrochloride (FEX) in combination formulations. The first approach employs an ultra-performance liquid chromatographic method (UPLC) with a green micellar mobile phase of 0.02 M sodium dodecyl sulfate and 10% 1-pentanol (65:35%). The method demonstrated excellent resolution, peak symmetry, and a short analysis time, with retention times of 3.53 min for MLK and 1.67 min for FEX. The MLK and FEX linearities were 1–260 and 1.2–312 μg/mL, respectively. The second approach involves complementary built-in spectroscopic techniques (second derivative, third derivative, and ratio difference methods) using water as a solvent, providing a green, simple, low-cost alternative in laboratories where expensive chromatographic devices may not be readily available. The MLK and FEX linearities were 3–50 and 3–60 μg/mL, respectively. All methods were comprehensively validated and showed satisfactory results. The proposed methods demonstrated excellent linearity (r2 ≥ 0.9990), accuracy (recovery 98.5–101.5%), and precision (RSD ≤ 2%) across wide concentration ranges. A multifaceted evaluation was conducted to assess the environmental sustainability, real-world applicability, and economic viability of the proposed methods in comparison with previously reported techniques. This comprehensive assessment leveraged several state-of-the-art tools, including NEMI, ComplexGAPI, AGREE, ESA, BAGI, and RGB12. The suggested approaches exhibited favorable quadrant profiles in the NEMI and ComplexGAPI assessments, coupled with higher AGREE scores (0.90, 0.86) than reported (0.62, 0.74, 0.75, 0.69, 0.74, 0.74, and 0.75), in addition to higher ESA score (88, 92) than reported (75, 84, 85, 79, 82, 82, and 83), collectively affirming their environmentally friendly credentials. Moreover, we embraced the innovative notions of 'blueness' and 'whiteness' assessment by harnessing the recently formulated BAGI and RGB12 algorithms. The higher BAGI score (90, 82.5) than reported (72.5, 70, 70, 67.5, 67.5, 67.5, and 72.5), confirmed the excellent real-world applicability of the proposed methods, while the notable RGB12 indices (89.8, 88.1) than reported (67.8, 72.8, 71.5, 67.1, 73.7, 70.3, and 73.2), validated their cost-effectiveness and overall sustainability, contributing to an eco-friendly future for quality control processes.

Recent advancements in carbon/metal-based nano-catalysts for the reduction of CO2 to value-added products

Due to the increased human activities in burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, the CO2 level in the atmosphere gets increased up to 415 ppm; although it is an essential component for plant growth, an increased level of CO2 in the atmosphere leads to global warming and catastrophic climate change. Various conventional methods are used to capture and utilize CO2, among that a feasible and eco-friendly technique for creating value-added products is the CO2RR. Photochemical, electrochemical, thermochemical, and biochemical approaches can be used to decrease the level of CO2 in the atmosphere. The introduction of nano-catalysts in the reduction process helps in the efficient conversion of CO2 with improved selectivity, increased efficiency, and also enhanced stability of the catalyst materials. Thus, in this mini-review of nano-catalysts, some of the products formed during the reduction process, like CH3OH, C2H5OH, CO, HCOOH, and CH4, are explained. Among different types of metal catalysts, carbonaceous, single-atom catalysts, and MOF based catalysts play a significant role in the CO2 RR process. The effects of the catalyst material on the surface area, composition, and structural alterations are covered in depth. To aid in the design and development of high-performance nano-catalysts for value-added products, the current state, difficulties, and future prospects are provided.

Nylon dyeing with reactive dyes by intermittent exposure to microwave irradiations to improve leveling

Purpose Reactive dyes are believed to have great potential for nylon dyeing, but these anionic dyes tend to rush toward the nylon at the beginning of the process, resulting in uneven dyeing. Achieving uniformity gets even harder when the dyeing is performed under exposure to eco-friendly technique microwave irradiations. This study aims to achieve rapid and homogenous results by intermittent shaking and non-continuous exposure to microwave. Design/methodology/approach A set of reactive red dyes, based on the same chromophore and different substituents in the auxochrome part, was applied to the nylon fabric without any leveling agent. A series of experiments were designed to investigate the effect of different dye structures, exhaustion pH, liquor ratio, exhaustion time and fixation time to obtain an optimum recipe under the microwave dyeing technique. Findings Dyeing performance was characterized based on the color strength, exhaustion and fixation percentages and color fastness values. The characterization showed that better results can be achieved at a liquor ratio of 1:15 at exhaustion pH 2.7 which is also the isoelectric point of nylon, with 5.5 to 7 min of exhaustion and 6 to 8 min of fixation time for different dyes. Microwave dyed samples secured higher color strength values and provided better exhaustion and fixation than the conventional dye samples. Furthermore, the X-ray diffraction results verified that there was no considerable difference in the morphological structure of nylon with microwave exposure. Originality/value An applied technique is disclosed in this work to achieve uniform dyeing on nylon 66 with reactive dyes without any leveling agent under exposure to eco-friendly rapid heating microwave irradiations.

Maximizing Degumming Efficiency for Firmiana simplex Bark Using Deep Eutectic Solvents.

Degumming is a critical process in the purification of natural fibers, essential for enhancing their quality and usability across various applications. Traditional degumming methods employed for natural fibers encounter inherent limitations, encompassing prolonged procedures, excessive energy consumption, adverse environmental impact, and subpar efficiency. To address these challenges, a groundbreaking wave of degumming technique has emerged, transcending these constraints and heralding a new era of efficiency, sustainability, and eco-friendly techniques. This study represents the Firmiana simplex bark (FSB) fiber's delignification by using deep eutectic solvents (DESs). The study explores the application of deep eutectic solvents, by synthesizing different types of DES using a hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) and four representative hydrogen bond donors (HBDs) for FSB fiber degumming. This study investigates the morphologies, chemical compositions, crystallinities, and physical properties of Firmiana simplex bark fibers before and after the treatment. Furthermore, the effects and mechanisms of different DESs on dispersing FSB fibers were examined. The experimental results showed that choline chloride-urea (CU)-based DES initiates the degumming process by effectively disrupting the hydrogen bond interaction within FSB fibers, primarily by outcompeting chloride ions. Following this initial step, the DES acts by deprotonating phenolic hydroxyl groups and cleaving β-O-4 bonds present in diverse lignin units, thereby facilitating the efficient removal of lignin from the fibers. This innovative approach resulted in significantly higher degumming efficiency and ecofriendly as compared to traditional methods. Additionally, the results revealed that CU-based DES exhibits the utmost effectiveness in degumming FSB fibers. The optimal degumming conditions involve a precise processing temperature of 160 °C and a carefully controlled reaction time of 2 h yielding the most favorable outcomes. The present study presents a novel straightforward and environmentally friendly degumming method for Firmiana simplex bark, offering a substantial potential for enhancing the overall quality and usability of the resulting fibers. Our findings open new pathways for sustainable fiber-processing technologies.

Waste solution of acrylic-based emulsion with low solid content for cement concrete curing: a lab-scale study

In this study, we investigate using acrylic and acrylic-styrene emulsions as curing solution to enhance water resistance and prevent cracking in cement concrete surfaces. Our main objective is to investigate the possibilities of utilizing washing waste generated during the Rhomn & Haas factory - Dow Chemical Vietnam production process. This waste is currently being treated as solid even though it contains anywhere from 10-45% solid content. Through laboratory-scale experiments and analysis, we aim to assess the feasibility of employing this waste material as a cost-effective, technically sound, and environmentally sustainable solution for curing compound of concrete. The findings of this research have the potential to contribute to the advancement of eco-friendly waste management techniques while improving the durability and effectiveness of cement structures.

Cold Nitrogen Plasma: A Groundbreaking Eco-Friendly Technique for the Surface Modification of Activated Carbon Aimed at Elevating Its Carbon Dioxide Adsorption Capacity

The commercially available activated carbon was modified using barrier and spark discharge low-temperature nitrogen plasma treatment. The samples were investigated using nitrogen sorption at a temperature of −196 °C, XRD, SEM, and FTIR methods, and elemental analysis. The nitrogen content on the surface was increased, but other properties, such as specific surface area, total pore volume, pseudocrystallite height, and pseudocrystallite width, remained unchanged. The activated carbons after nitrogen plasma treatment indicated higher CO2 adsorption than the pristine ones. Since the investigated materials only differed in their nitrogen content, it has been unequivocally demonstrated that the increased presence of nitrogen is responsible for the enhanced adsorption of CO2. The low-temperature nitrogen plasma treatment of activated carbon is a promising method for enhancing CO2 capture.

Phytoremediation potential of monocotyledonous plants in the sediments of the Uben River, Gujarat, India

Phytoremediation is a basic eco-friendly technique that uses to treat contaminated water and soil. The plants that remediate the water and soil by their absorption process and improve the water and sediment fertility or decrease the contamination. Form this experiment our finding suggest that the contamination decrease in majority from starting point to end point, it means plants plays the most important role in clean-up the environment and its cost-efficient method to improve the quality of water and soil. This study was carried out on Uben River which is around 50kms long and we covered around 41.88kms of area which divided into six locations. in soil minerals (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+ and K+) from Up-stream to Down-stream the concentration of minerals is in decreasing order but in heavy metals (Cu2+, Zn2+, Fe2+ and Mn2+) the concentration data is varying. We selected plants that grow around riverbanks belongs to family Cyperaceae, Poaceae, Typhaceae. Most of the plants accumulate high Fe2+ concentrations in their root while in the shoots have low concentration observed from our data. For the statistical validation of data, we perform Grouped Component Analysis (GCA) and Radial Cluster Hierarchy (RCH) analysis. Further we included pollution indices: Contamination factor (CF), Degree of contamination (Cd), Geo accumulation index (Igeo).

Recycle of spent LiFePO4 batteries: An eco-friendly closed-loop technique based on less solvent solid state reaction

Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries have become one of the most popular batteries due to their high safety and low cost. However, the lifespan of LFP batteries is limited, making effective recycling processes crucial for environmental protection, resource conservation, and economic benefits. Less solvent solid state reaction (LSR) is reactions of solids with the help of a little solvent, which has advantage of almost 100% conversion of reactants and no waste generation. Herein, LFP (S-LFP) from spent batteries was first entirely decomposed to produce FePO4 and LiH2PO4 in H3PO4-H2O2 leaching systems using the LSR method. Then, battery-grade Li2CO3 was prepared by adding CaCl2 and Na2CO3 to LiH2PO4. As a result, the battery of regenerated LiFePO4 (R-LFP) using recycled FePO4 and Li2CO3 exhibits superior electrochemical performance compared to those with unused LiFePO4, including a higher discharge specific capacity (140.7 mAhg−1 at 0.1C) and excellent cycle life, with a capacity retention of 98.6% over 500cycles at 1.0C. The LSR method provides a green and sustainable closed-loop recovery strategy for S-LFP cathode materials, which reduces the number of processing steps and chemical consumption, promotes resource conservation and environmental protection, and facilitates the sustainable industrial development of S-LFP batteries.

Graphene Quantum Dots Based on Mechanical Exfoliation Methods: A Simple and Eco-Friendly Technique.

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are very precious, widely used, and face significant challenges in preparation methods. In this study, three mechanical methods are investigated for the preparation of GQDs. All of these methods are green, cost-effective, and simple. In fact, Graphite, as a main source of GQDs, is exfoliated and fragmented under mechanical forces by sonication and ball milling. This mechanical exfoliation method is effective for converting large flakes of graphite into quantum dots. Additionally, the proposed methods are simple and faster than other top-down GQD fabrication methods. High-power sonication is applied to graphene flakes by using the liquid-phase exfoliation method. The liquid phase consists of ethanol and water, which are completely eco-friendly. Exfoliation and fragmentation of graphene flakes are performed using different sonication and ball-milling times. The obtained results from the analysis of the synthesized GQDs exhibit pristine graphene's distinct structural, chemical, and optical properties. Several analyses, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, were applied to study the product structure. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) were used to examine product size and morphology, which confirmed the nanosize of GQDs. The smallest observed size of GQDs is approximately 23 nm. It is estimated that 95% of the nanoparticles are between 0.001 and 0.1 μm in size (41 nm). The optical properties of GQDs were investigated by using ultraviolet-visible and photoluminescence (PL) techniques. The PL peak wavelength is approximately 610 nm. Eventually, the results proved that the combined use of two methods, ultrasonication and ball milling during liquid-phase exfoliation, will be a simple, cheap, and suitable method for the production of GQDs.

Green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) by Streptomyces baarnensis and its active metabolite (Ka): a promising combination against multidrug-resistant ESKAPE pathogens and cytotoxicity

Various eco-friendly techniques are being researched for synthesizing ZnO-NPs, known for their bioactivity. This study aimed at biosynthesizing ZnO-NPs using Streptomyces baarnensis MH-133, characterizing their physicochemical properties, investigating antibacterial activity, and enhancement of their efficacy by combining them with a water-insoluble active compound (Ka) in a nanoemulsion form. Ka is a pure compound of 9-Ethyl-1,4,6,9,10-pentahydroxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrotetracene-5,12-dione obtained previously from our strain of Streptomyces baarnensis MH-133. Biosynthesized ZnO-NPs employing Streptomyces baarnensis MH-133 filtrate and zinc sulfate (ZnSO4.7H2O) as a precursor were purified and characterized by physicochemical investigation. High-resolution-transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) verified the effective biosynthesis of ZnO-NPs (size < 12 nm), whereas dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis showed an average size of 17.5 nm. X-ray diffraction (XRD) exhibited characteristic diffraction patterns that confirmed crystalline structure. ZnO-NPs efficiently inhibited both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (MICs: 31.25–125 µg/ml). The pure compound (Ka) was combined with ZnO-NPs to improve effectiveness and reduce dose using checkerboard microdilution. Niteen treatments of Ka and ZnO-NPs combinations obtained by checkerboard matrix inhibited Klebsiella pneumonia. Eleven combinations had fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICi) between 1.03 and 2, meaning indifferent, another five combinations resulted from additive FICi (0.625–1) and only one combination with FICi of 0.5, indicating synergy. In the case of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), Ka-ZnO-NPs combinations yielded 23 treatments with varying degrees of interaction. The results showed eleven treatments with indifferent interaction, eight additive interactions, and two synergies with FICi of 0.5 and 0.375. The combinations that exhibited synergy action were transformed into a nanoemulsion form to improve their solubility and bioavailability. The HR-TEM analysis of the nanoemulsion revealed spherical oil particles with a granulated core smaller than 200 nm and no signs of aggregation. Effective dispersion was confirmed by DLS analysis which indicated that Ka-ZnO-NPs nanoemulsion droplets have an average size of 53.1 nm and a polydispersity index (PI) of 0.523. The killing kinetic assay assessed the viability of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and K. pneumonia post-treatment with Ka-ZnO-NPs combinations either in non-formulated or nanoemulsion form. Results showed Ka-ZnO-NPs combinations show concentration and time-dependent manner, with higher efficacy in nanoemulsion form. The findings indicated that Ka-ZnO-NPs without formulation at MIC values killed K. pneumonia after 24 h but not MRSA. Our nanoemulsion loaded with the previously mentioned combinations at MIC value showed bactericidal effect at MIC concentration of Ka-ZnO-NPs combination after 12 and 18 h of incubation against MRSA and K. pneumonia, respectively, compared to free combinations. At half MIC value, nanoemulsion increased the activity of the combinations to cause a bacteriostatic effect on MRSA and K. pneumonia after 24 h of incubation. The free combination showed a bacteriostatic impact for 6 h before the bacteria regrew to increase log10 colony forming unit (CFU)/ml over the initial level. Similarly, the cytotoxicity study revealed that the combination in nanoemulsion form decreased the cytotoxicity against kidney epithelial cells of the African green monkey (VERO) cell line. The IC50 for Ka-ZnO-NPs non-formulated treatment was 8.17/1.69 (µg/µg)/ml, but in nano-emulsion, it was 22.94 + 4.77 (µg/µg)/mL. In conclusion, efficient Ka-ZnO-NPs nanoemulsion may be a promising solution for the fighting of ESKAPE pathogenic bacteria according to antibacterial activity and low toxicity.

Hydrothermal extraction and thorough characterization of carrageenans and proteins from Gigartina pistillata

Carrageenan, an interesting biopolymer from red seaweed, possesses a myriad of applications in food, nutraceutical, or pharmaceutical industries. Although its conventional extraction used to be performed with alkaline solvents, water extraction under subcritical conditions is an alternative eco-friendly technique that has gained popularity in recent years. This work evaluates the recovery and characterization of carrageenan and proteins from Gigartina pistillata. The highest number of proteins was identified at the lowest processing tempeartures. Extracted carrageenan exhibits molecular weights greater than 500 kDa and good rheological behaviour, with interest for food applications and for the formulation of hydrogels when mixed with KCl. The carrageenans and carrageenan hydrogels presented interesting properties such as good thermal stability until 170 °C (TGA-DTG) and show characteristic bands of kappa/iota carrageenans in FTIR studies. Greater cell viability than 70% were achieved on NIH/3T3 fibroblast at carrageenan concentrations of 0.05 and 0.025%, whereas carrageenan extracted at 160 °C (concentration of 0.025%) displays a lower inflammatory action than other samples. In this sense, in this work the eco-friendlier extracted carrageenan was thoroughly characterized and its potentiality to be used in the biomedical field was evaluated.

Green synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles from Nigella sativa L seeds and It’s against human pathogenic bacteria and fungi

The green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (SNPs) is the most economical, rapid, facile, and eco-friendly technique. In this study, pathogenic bacteria from human stool were identified, and the antibacterial potency of Nigella sativa L. seed extracts containing SNPs was assessed. The identification of the isolated pathogenic bacteria was achieved through the analysis of their 16 S rDNA sequences. The characterization of SNPs was done by ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–VIS spectroscopy), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Six pathogenic bacteria were isolated from human stool and isolated bacteria were identified by 16 S rDNA sequencing analysis. SNPs were found in the size range of 30–60 nm and showed good antibacterial and antifungal activity. The maximum zone of inhibition was found against A. spanius at 32.0±0.8 nm. Achromobacter spanius, Pseudomonas geniculate, and Enterobacter asburiae WL115 were extremely sensitive to heated treated nanoparticles at 100 μg ml−1. In the current work, N. sativa L. was investigated because it produced SNPs effectively, may be used as a safe, affordable agent, and may have antibacterial and antifungal properties. The potential biological uses of SNPs will be encouraged by these discoveries, which will drive future research.

Synergistic effect by Sorghum bicolor L., citric acid, biochar, and vermiwash amendment for the remediation of a mine-contaminated soil.

Phytoremediation is an in situ remediation and eco-friendly technique employing accumulator plant species to remove trace elements (TEs) from contaminated sites. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that both natural and synthetic amendments can enhance trace elements (TEs) phytoremediation from polluted soils through bioenergy crops. This work assessed the synergistic impact of two tested biochar (BC) from data palm (B1) and Prosopis (B2) (1.5%/ kg), citric acid (CA, 1.5 mmol/kg) and vermiwash (VW, 20 ml/kg) to enhance the remediation of tested TEs (Mn, Zn, Cd, Pb, Ni, Cu, and Fe) from Mahad AD'Dahab mine-contaminated soil by sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.). The BC and CA amendments alone and combined with VW significantly augmented the proliferation and survival of sorghum grown in mine-contaminated soil. Considering the individual and combined applications of VW and BC, the influence on plant growth followed this order: K < VW < B2 < B1 < B1 + VW < B2 + VW < CA < CA + VW. Applying tested BC/CA and VW significantly increased chlorophyll compared to unamended soil. The outcomes revealed a substantial elevation in TE absorption in both shoot and root (p ≤ 0.05) with all tested treatments compared to the untreated soil (K). The combined application of CA and VW resulted in the most significant TE uptake of TEs at both the root and the shoot. Furthermore, adding CA or VW as a foliar spray enhanced the bioaccumulation factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF) of studied metals. The combined addition of CA and foliar spraying of VW was more effective than the sole addition of CA or VW. Such increase reached 20.0%, 15.6%, 19.4%, 14.3%, 14.0%, and 25.6% of TF, and 13.7%, 11.9%, 8.3%, 20.9%, 20.5%,18.7%, and 19.8% of BCE for Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn, respectively. This study highlights the efficiency of combining CA/BC with VW as a more viable option for remediating mine-contaminated soil than individual amendments. However, future research should prioritize long-term field trials to assess the efficiency of using citric acid and vermiwash for restoring contaminated mining soils.

My Farm Guide

The farming industry encounters a plethora of obstacles, such as climate change, pest infestations, soil degradation, and fluctuating market conditions. To tackle these issues and enhance farming productivity and sustainability, "My Farm Guide" is designed as a comprehensive digital platform. This innovative tool Strives to enhance the abilities of farmers by providing real-time information and personalized guidance on weather forecasts, soil health, pest management, and market trends. By leveraging advanced technologies like satellite imagery, IoT sensors, and machine learning algorithms, "My Farm Guide" delivers precise and actionable insights tailored to individual farm conditions. The platform is designed to be user- friendly, accessible via both smartphones and web applications, ensuring farmers of varying technological proficiency can benefit from its features. In addition to its core functionalities, "My Farm Guide" promotes promoting sustainable agriculture involves providing guidance on methods like crop rotation, organic farming, and implementing eco-friendly techniques such as water conservation. Implementation of "My Farm Guide" involves a phased approach, including development, pilot testing, and large-scale rollout, with continuous updates drawing from user input and technological advancements.

Enhanced Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals By Soil-applied Organic And Inorganic Amendments: Heavy Metal Phytoavailability, Accumulation, And Metal Recovery

ABSTRACT Phytoremediation, an eco-friendly and cost-effective technique for remediating heavy metal-contaminated soils, can be significantly enhanced through the application of soil amendments. This study investigates the impact of Foliar spraying of both organic (fulvic acid, auxin, Compost, and coconut coir) and inorganic (sulfur) amendments on the phytoavailability, accumulation, and recovery of heavy metals: Arsenic-As, Mercury-Hg, Cadmium-Cd and Lead-Pb in contaminated soils. Field experiment was conducted using hyperaccumulator plant species; T. capensis and H. psittacorum with varying amendment treatments to assess their effectiveness in improving phytoremediation outcomes. The results demonstrate that specific amendments significantly increase heavy metal uptake and translocation within plants by altering soil pH, cation exchange capacity, and microbial activity, thus enhancing metal solubility and bioavailability. Furthermore, the study evaluates the potential of these amendments to not only facilitate metal recovery but also to restore soil health and fertility. The findings underscore the potential of tailored amendment strategies in optimizing phytoremediation processes, offering a sustainable solution for heavy metal remediation in polluted environments.

Elevated Water Oxidation by Cation Leaching Enabled Tunable Surface Reconstruction.

Water electrolysis is one promising and eco-friendly technique for energy storage, yet its overall efficiency is hindered by the sluggish kinetics of oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Therefore, developing strategies to boost OER catalyst performance is crucial. With the advances in characterization techniques, an extensive phenomenon of surface structure evolution into an active amorphous layer was uncovered. Surface reconstruction in a controlled fashion was then proposed as an emerging strategy to elevate water oxidation efficiency. In this work, Cr substitution induces the reconstruction of NiFexCr2-xO4 during cyclic voltammetry (CV) conditioning by Cr leaching, which leads to a superior OER performance. The best-performed NiFe0.25Cr1.75O4 shows a ~1500 % current density promotion at overpotential η=300 mV, which outperforms many advanced NiFe-based OER catalysts. It is also found that their OER activities are mainly determined by Ni : Fe ratio rather than considering the contribution of Cr. Meanwhile, the turnover frequency (TOF) values based on redox peak and total mass were obtained and analysed, and their possible limitations in the case of NiFexCr2-xO4 are discussed. Additionally, the high activity and durability were further verified in a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) cell, highlighting its potential for practical large-scale and sustainable hydrogen gas generation.