Purification Efficiency Research Articles

B-022 A New DNA Size-Selection Technology:Methods for Isolating, Capturing, and Recovery of Target Macromolecules by Gel Electrophoresis

Abstract Background The ability to recover DNA fragments in high quantity and purity from agarose gel is an important need for researchers in molecular biology laboratories for downstream applications such as testing and sequencing. There are multiple established methods and corresponding commercial products available at researchers’ disposal. Despite the availability of many methods, researchers often face a trade-off decision between fast and simple methods with low yield and poor DNA quality, and time-consuming and expensive methods with higher yields and better purity. Methods Gene Stix (ElectroSep) is a new system for recovery of DNA/RNA from an electrophoresis gel. Using the power of electrophoresis to separate nucleic acids based on size (a well-known technique), the Gene Stix, for the first time, allows one to recover nucleic acids directly from the gel. Gene Stix consisted of a cationic membrane which is inserted (in front of the nucleic acid of interest) into the electrophoresis gel after the nucleic acids are resolved from other contaminants in a separate step. After the Gene Stix is inserted in front of the DNA, the gel is re-run for a short period of time, binding the DNA to the Gene Stix. The Gene Stix is removed from the gel (carrying the DNA) and the DNA is recovered by elution using a special buffer. Results Electro-Sep technology allows DNA recovery around 85% and may lead up to 35% process efficiency for purification. It maximizes the process efficiency by not requiring damaging UV sensitive dyes in samples or cutting gel bands and allowing multiple Gene Stix used with one sample. Unique serial numbering system provides unambiguous sample identification. Conclusions The yield from different methods varies, however, it is typically at around 60-70%. Many of the commercially available DNA purification kits require around 25-30 minutes for purification. Moreover, the process with available methods could be laborious requiring cutting the gel bands, using UV dyes in sample, or simply requiring specialized gel electrophoresis equipment. Electro-Sep technology (and Gene Stix product using the technology), designed to recover size-selected DNA from agarose gel, provides a viable option that is rapid, easy-to-use yet resulting in high DNA recovery.

Hydrogen Separation Membranes: A Material Perspective

The global energy market is shifting toward renewable, sustainable, and low-carbon hydrogen energy due to global environmental issues, such as rising carbon dioxide emissions, climate change, and global warming. Currently, a majority of hydrogen demands are achieved by steam methane reforming and other conventional processes, which, again, are very carbon-intensive methods, and the hydrogen produced by them needs to be purified prior to their application. Hence, researchers are continuously endeavoring to develop sustainable and efficient methods for hydrogen generation and purification. Membrane-based gas-separation technologies were proven to be more efficient than conventional technologies. This review explores the transition from conventional separation techniques, such as pressure swing adsorption and cryogenic distillation, to advanced membrane-based technologies with high selectivity and efficiency for hydrogen purification. Major emphasis is placed on various membrane materials and their corresponding membrane performance. First, we discuss various metal membranes, including dense, alloyed, and amorphous metal membranes, which exhibit high hydrogen solubility and selectivity. Further, various inorganic membranes, such as zeolites, silica, and CMSMs, are also discussed. Major emphasis is placed on the development of polymeric materials and membranes for the selective separation of hydrogen from CH4, CO2, and N2. In addition, cutting-edge mixed-matrix membranes are also delineated, which involve the incorporation of inorganic fillers to improve performance. This review provides a comprehensive overview of advancements in gas-separation membranes and membrane materials in terms of hydrogen selectivity, permeability, and durability in practical applications. By analyzing various conventional and advanced technologies, this review provides a comprehensive material perspective on hydrogen separation membranes, thereby endorsing hydrogen energy for a sustainable future.

Electrolysis destroyed the O-containing bonds of muscovite for the purification of natural flake graphite and its applications

The muscovite is arranged in parallel and tightly combined with the natural graphite layer, which forms a stable structure and impedes the diffusion of hydrofluoric acid in graphite. It requires large quantities of hydrofluoric acid and long diffusion time for effective purification of natural graphite, which leads to increased production costs and significant environmental impact. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the amount of hydrofluoric acid used and improve purification efficiency. In this work, electrolysis was used to enhance acid leaching purification process and destroy the structure of muscovite to reduce the amount of hydrofluoric acid used. After hydrochloric acid leaching and heat treatment, the purity of natural flake graphite was increased from 95.27 % to 96.60 %, and the remaining impurities were mainly muscovite and quartz. Through electrolysis, the interlayer spacing of muscovite was increased, and the C-O bond between graphite and muscovite was destroyed, making it easier for hydrofluoric acid to enter and react with the muscovite layers. Compared with acid leaching, 99.9 % high-purity graphite was obtained by electrolysis, and the ratio of 40 wt% hydrofluoric acid to natural graphite was decreased from 1.0 mL/g to 0.7 mL/g, reducing the amount of hydrofluoric acid used by 30 %.

SMAP: Design And Development Of A Sustainable Modular Air Purifier For Energy-Efficient Indoor Air Quality Management

This paper presents the design and development of the Sustainable Modular Air Purifier (SMAP), an innovative solution aimed at improving indoor air quality while minimizing energy consumption. The system features a modular architecture that allows for customizable and targeted air purification based on specific pollutants, including particulate matter, mold spores, and animal dander. Each module is equipped with specialized filters—high-efficiency particulate air, UV-C sterilization, and activated carbon—and operates selectively based on real-time air quality data from advanced sensors. This intelligent activation mechanism is aimed to reduce energy consumption, thus enhancing the system’s sustainability. Its modularity also allows for easy maintenance and adaptability to different indoor environments, making it scalable to a variety of use cases. Through a combination of energy-efficient components and a user-friendly interface, the SMAP ensures high purification efficiency and also contributes to the broader goal of environmental sustainability. The system’s performance, flexibility, and low energy footprint offer a promising solution for maintaining healthy indoor air quality in an environmentally responsible manner

Enhancing removal performance of ortho xylene by adding polydimethylsiloxane into two-stage biofilter

A two-stage biofilter was built, augmented with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), to enhance the degradation of ortho xylene (o-xylene), and evaluate the feasibility of different PDMS concentrations for improving the removal effect. The results showed that PDMS concentration of 0.50 % significantly enhanced the purification efficiency and mineralization rate of o-xylene to 85(±1)% and 81 %, respectively. Simultaneously, the surface tension of the circulating liquid was reduced by 31.91 mN/m. Furthermore, the polysaccharide concentration of biofilters were increased by 6.90 mg/g and 7.38 mg/g, respectively, while the protein concentration was enhanced by 7.98 mg/g and 9.29 mg/g, respectively. It is worth noting that Sphingomonas and Sphingobium emerged as the dominant bacterial genera after intensification. Fusarium and Cladosporium became the predominant fungal genera in BTF1 and BTF2, respectively. Therefore, the two-stage biofilter containing bacteria and fungi combined with the addition of PDMS can effectively improve the degradation effect.

Hydrogen purification via hydrate-based methods: Insights into H2-CO2-CO hydrate structures, thermodynamics, and kinetics

Hydrate-based H2 purification is promising for removing impurities owing to the cage-like structures formed by water molecules. Understanding the competition mechanism of multicomponent gas molecule in hydrate is critical for improving gas purification efficiency. This study investigated the hydrate structure, thermodynamics, and kinetics of ternary gas mixture (H2–CO2–CO) from natural gas reforming products. The results identified H2–CO2–CO hydrate as type sI and determined the lattice parameters using X-ray diffraction. Raman spectroscopy results confirmed the presence of H2, CO2, and CO gas molecules in the hydrate phase. Increasing pressure, compared to cooling, enhanced CO2 content in hydrate phase. The phase equilibrium conditions and average hydrate dissociation enthalpy (53.47 J/g) were determined using a high-pressure microcalorimeter. Gas chromatography identified that the content of CO2 in the hydrate was the highest, followed by H2, and CO was the least abundant. The molecule dynamics simulation results show CO2 molecule numbers reflected trends in 51262 cages, H2 numbers correlated with changes in 512 cages, while CO numbers showed insignificant variation. Under the gas composition studied, the ability of gas molecules to be incorporated within hydrates decreases in the following order: CO2, H2, and CO.

Advancing Albumin Isolation from Human Serum with Graphene Oxide and Derivatives: A Novel Approach for Clinical Applications.

This study introduces a novel, environmentally friendly albumin isolation method using graphene oxide (GO). GO selectively extracts albumin from serum samples, leveraging the unique interactions between GO's oxygen-containing functional groups and serum proteins. This method achieves high purification efficiency without the need for hazardous chemicals. Comprehensive characterization of GO and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) through techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the structural and functional group transformations crucial for protein binding. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and mass spectrometry analyses demonstrated over 95% purity of isolated albumin, with minimal contamination from other serum proteins. The developed method, optimized for pH and incubation conditions, showcases a green, cost-effective, and simple alternative for albumin purification, promising broad applicability in biomedical research and clinical applications.

TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTION FOR COMBATING HYDROGEN SULFIDE AT THE FIELD

One of the urgent problems in the production of hydrogen sulfide-containing oils is the problem of increasing the efficiency of hydrogen sulfide removal. Optimization of costs associated with the production, transportation and preparation of oil is very important at the present time. In order to reduce the costs of oil preparation, the use of a differentiated approach to solving the problem of its purification from hydrogen sulfide at the Kashagan field depends on the volumes of oil preparation, the mass fraction of hydrogen sulfide in the oil, the presence of gas near the high-sulfur oil preparation unit (UPVSN) that does not contain hydrogen sulfide, the presence of a gas collection system and the possibility of transporting increased volumes of hydrogen sulfide-containing gas to the sulfur purification unit. Taking these factors into account, it is necessary to identify the maximum values ​​​​of the volume fractions of methane, ethane, nitrogen and carbon dioxide in the composition of the stripping gas, at which the mass of oil will be preserved, as well as the conditions under which it will be purified from hydrogen sulfide in the conditions of the Kashagan field. Studies have shown that with an increase in the oil heating temperature and a decrease in the pressure in the desorption column, the maximum total volume fraction of methane and nitrogen in the mixture in the composition of the stripping gas decreases. A decrease in the mass fraction of hydrogen sulfide in oil below 100 ppm and maintaining the mass yield of oil depending on the proportion of these components in the composition of the stripping gas is possible if the oil temperature and pressure in the column are optimized. An increase in the total volume fraction of methane and nitrogen in the composition of the stripping gas leads to a decrease in its required consumption to achieve a certain efficiency of oil purification from hydrogen sulfide at specified operating parameters of the column.

Silencing of RDR1 and RDR6 genes by a single RNAi enhances lettuce's capacity to express recombinant proteins in transient assays.

Enhanced recombinant protein expression was achieved in Salinas lettuce and commercial lettuce by designing a unique RNAi that knockdown the gene-silencing mechanism in transient assays. Improved yields of recombinant proteins (RP) are necessary for protein-production efficiency and ease of purification. Achieving high yield in non-tobacco plants will enable diverse plants to be used as hosts in transient protein-expression systems. With improved protein yield, lettuce (Lactuca sativa) could take the lead as a plant host for RP production. Therefore, this study aimed to improve RP production in lettuce var. Salinas by designing a single RNA interference (RNAi) construct targeting LsRDR1 and LsRDR6 using the Tsukuba system vector. Two RNAi constructs, RNAi-1 and RNAi-2, targeting common regions of LsRDR1 and LsRDR6 with 75% and 76% similarity, respectively, were employed to evaluate simultaneous gene silencing. Quantitative transcription analysis demonstrated that both RNAi constructs effectively knocked down LsRDR6 and LsRDR1, but not LsRDR2, at both 3 and 5days post-infiltration (dpi), with RNAi-1 exhibited slightly higher efficiency. Based on the protein yield, co-expression of RNAi-1 with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) increased EGFP expression by approximately 4.9-fold and 3.7-fold at 3dpi and 5dpi, respectively, compared to control. A similar but slightly lower increase (2.4-fold and 2.33-fold) was observed in commercial lettuce at 3and 5 dpi, respectively. To confirm these results, co-infiltration with Bet v 1, a major allergen from birch pollen, resulted in a 2.5-fold increase in expression in Salinas lettuce at 5 dpi. This study marks a significant advancement in enhancing transient protein production in lettuce, elevating its potential as a host for recombinant protein production.

Land saving and promising seasonal performance in novel spiral wetland

Constructed wetlands have been widely employed as an ecological treatment technology. However, compared to conventional wastewater treatment methods, constructed wetlands require a larger land area, which is incompatible with the limited urban land resources where every inch is valuable. To address this issue, this study proposed and constructed a space-saving spiral constructed wetland. Through optimized structural design, the spiral wetland effectively reduced land occupation and maximizes the utilization of each elevation space to 70 %−80 %. Under the same wetland plane area, spiral wetland only uses 1/3 and 2/3 of the land resources of traditional wetland and the slope wetland, respectively. By utilizing high water head, it resolved dynamic issues faced by traditional wetlands. Additionally, aeration and re-aeration occurred during the transfer of rainwater between each layer of the wetland, enhancing its treatment performance. During summer, the average purification rate of COD is 82 %, and the purification efficiency of ammonia nitrogen is almost 100 % in the spiral wetland where it can accommodate large volumes of stormwater resulting from short-term heavy rainfall events while handling greater pollution loads, which challenges associated with significant amounts of storm runoff and instantaneous water flow during summer periods. In winter seasons, overflow from the spiral wetland combined with multi-stage purification alleviated clogging issues commonly encountered by traditional wetlands and enhanced treatment efficiency which remained above 90 %. The spiral wetlands provided a novel approach to resolving conflicts related to land use in urban areas.

Study on the purification of aquaculture tailwater under Sulfamethoxazole stress using algae-bacteria biofilms: Nutrient removal efficiency, microbial community, and ARGs

This study explored the dynamic processes of algae-bacteria biofilms in the remediation of aquaculture pond effluents as a novel treatment strategy. The purification capacity of the biofilms, changes in community composition, and their impact on the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were investigated under the application of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) at concentrations ranging from 100 to 1000 μg/L. The study also considered the factors influencing the abundance and diversity of ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) across different seasons, including the roles of environmental parameters and microbial community structure.The results showed that, although exposure to SMX reduced nutrient removal efficiency, photosynthetic activity, and increased oxidative stress levels, the biofilms maintained relatively high purification efficiency (with nutrient removal rates ranging from 67.62 % to 93.23 % and SMX removal rate reaching 50.13 % ± 12.34 %), demonstrating adaptability to SMX stress. Network analysis identified key microbial carriers responsible for ARG dissemination, highlighting the complex interactions between environmental factors, microbial communities, and resistance gene propagation. These findings enhance our understanding of biofilm-based water treatment systems and the seasonal factors affecting the dynamics of ARGs and MGEs.

Enhancing water purification efficiency with zirconium-mercaptosuccinic acid metal-organic framework integrated mixed matrix membranes: Synthesis, comprehensive characterization, and performance insights

The development of metal-organic framework (MOF) based membranes has shown great potential to address the bottlenecks in industrial wastewater treatment. This study emphasized a novel approach involving a zirconium-based MOF (Zr-MA-MOF) with mercaptosuccinic acid (MA) as a ligand for fabricating mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). These MMMs were fabricated using a polyethersulfone (PES) matrix embedded with different nanofiller loadings of 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 wt%. Consequently, this study investigated the impact of Zr-MA-MOF loadings on the membrane morphology and functional performance, particularly focusing on pure water flux, rejection of salts, heavy metals, and dyes, antifouling properties, and long-term stability. The MMM with a loading of 0.75 wt% Zr-MA-MOF emerged as a standout performer, delivering an exceptional water flux of 71 Lm−2h−1 and rejection efficiencies of 80, 74, and 99 % for divalent magnesium sulfate (MgSO4), monovalent sodium chloride (NaCl), and dyes (including methylene blue, congo red, and rose bengal), respectively. The heavy metal rejection capabilities of the Zr-MA-MOF membrane were equally remarkable, with rejection rates of 90, 92, and 94 % for arsenic, chromium, and aluminum ions, respectively. Furthermore, a flux recovery ratio of 92 % showcased the great potential for sustainable industrial applications. These findings revealed that the integration of Zr-MA-MOF into membrane technology holds great potential for water treatment processes, catering to both human consumption and industrial applications for diverse wastewater treatment needs.

Cutting edge technology for wastewater treatment using smart nanomaterials: recent trends and futuristic advancements.

Water is a vital component of our existence. Many human activities, such as improper waste disposal from households, industries, hospitals, and synthetic processes, are major contributors to the contamination of water streams. It is the responsibility of every individual to safeguard water resources and reduce pollution. Among the various available wastewater treatment (WWT) methods, smart nanomaterials stand out for their effectiveness in pollutant removal through absorption and adsorption. This paper examines the application of valuable smart nanomaterials in treating wastewater. Various nanomaterials, including cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), cellulose nanofibrils (CNF), nanoadsorbents, nanometals, nanofilters, nanocatalysts, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), nanosilver, nanotitanium dioxide, magnetic nanoparticles, nanozero-valent metallic nanoparticles, nanocomposites, nanofibers, and quantum dots, are identified as promising candidates for WWT. These smart nanomaterials efficiently eliminate toxic substances, microplastics, nanoplastics, and polythene particulates from wastewater. Additionally, the paper discusses comparative studies on the purification efficiency of nanoscience technology versus conventional methods.

Development of an Enhanced Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe Method for Determination of Quinolone Drug Residues in Quail Eggs

ABSTRACTAn enhanced quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) purification method utilizing multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) has been developed and coupled with liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of eight quinolone drug residues in quail eggs. The sample was extracted using ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid‐McIlvaine buffer (pH = 4.0) and 2% formic acid in acetonitrile, followed by salting out with MgSO4, and purification with primary secondary amine (PSA), MWCNT, and Octadecylsilane (C18). The method demonstrated linear relationships for the target compounds within the range of 2–100 µg/L with correlation coefficients (r) exceeding 0.99. The limits of detection and quantification were determined to be 0.4 and 0.8 µg/kg, respectively. Validation through a three‐level spiking test (low, medium, and high) in quail eggs resulted in an average recovery rate ranging from 86.8% to 113.7%, with relative standard deviations between 2.6% and 10.2% (n = 6). This method offers rapid operation, excellent purification efficiency, and high sensitivity, making it suitable for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of quinolone drug residues in eggs. Application of this method to a batch of 20 quail eggs revealed the presence of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin, suggesting a potential risk of non‐compliant quinolones use in quail egg production.

Development and morphological analysis of the zone refining process for high purity germanium

A highly efficient purification process has been developed to enhance the purity of germanium (Ge) up to 13 N from an initial 4N purity. Hall effect measurements demonstrated that part of the zone refined Ge (ZRGe) bars exhibited p-type conductivity and high purity with a net charge carrier concentration of around 4–9 × 1010 cm−3. Noteworthy observations include a rise in carrier concentration (1011 to 1012 cm−3) at a very low zone refining (ZR) velocity of 1 mm/min, which is attributed to the diffusion of impurities from the container into the Ge melt. The purification efficiency was enhanced by optimizing the ZR velocity to around 4–5 mm/min. Purification was carried out at different process steps using graphite and quartz containers. Subsequent microstructural examinations, conducted in conjunction with wet-chemical etching of the sample unveiled the presence of various grains, grain boundaries (GBs), and low & high-density of dislocation clusters: These observations were made in samples that had undergone zone refining under various gas atmospheres including argon, nitrogen and hydrogen. Electron back scattered diffraction (EBSD) analysis reveals the characteristics of multiple grains and grain boundaries (GBs) of Ge refined in argon and nitrogen atmosphere, including low-angle GBs, high-angle GBs with coincide site lattice (CSL) Σ3, Σ9, Σ27a, and random angle GBs. In contrast, the EBSD results of Ge refined in hydrogen atmosphere shows larger grains with only a few low-angle grain boundaries. The materials refined in argon and nitrogen show a lower carrier lifetime (10–30 μs) owing to the presence of various high angle grains boundaries as well as low purity. Conversely, zone refining in hydrogen resulted in the carrier lifetime of around 50 μs in polycrystalline Ge wafers with larger grains.

Investigation on the performance of a solar multifunctional photovoltaic/thermal window combining photocatalytic oxidation technology

In response to the challenges of high energy consumption and poor indoor air quality, a novel solar multifunctional louver window has been proposed. This study developed a numerical model to examine the effects of environmental variables and louver angles on the thermal, electrical, and degradation performance of the system. Additionally, an exergy-based evaluative framework was introduced to account for the varying qualities of energy in assessing the performance of solar multifunctional windows. Finally, a comprehensive evaluation was conducted using this framework. The results demonstrate that the exergy efficiency of the solar multifunctional window can be maintained at 20 % or higher, even under reduced solar irradiation, delivering high-quality energy. Lower environmental temperatures and solar radiation intensities were found to negatively affect ventilation, thermal efficiency, and air purification capacity. The thermal, purification, and electrical efficiencies were influenced by the louver angle to varying extents. In terms of air purification, the window achieved the highest Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) at louver angles between 80° and 90°, thereby enhancing air purification performance.

Experiment and density functional theory researches on (Mn, Hf) co-doped Ce-based applied surface catalysts for carbon monoxide oxidation and thermal stability

Catalyst addition can improve system after treatment efficiency of pollutants purification. In this study, the performance of (Mn, Hf) co-doped Ce-based catalysts has been investigated in oxidation to mitigate CO emission of engines. A series of Ce-Mn-Hf-Ox with different metal ratios (Ce: Mn: Hf = 8:1:1,7:2:1,7:1:2,6:1:3,6:2:2 and 6:3:1) catalysts were prepared. DFT (density functional theory) calculations were carried out to investigate the mechanism of applied surface catalytic reaction. XRD (X-ray Diffraction) analysis and SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) revealed Mn and Hf doping increased the catalysts surface area contact with the CO gas with the catalytic performance improvement. XPS (X-ray Photoelectron Spectra), H2-TPR (Temperature-Programmed Reduction) and DFT calculations manifested the Mn and Hf doping would promote the formation of oxygen vacancy to enhance the catalytic performance for CO oxidation. The thermal stability of the catalysts increased with Hf content increasement. Ce6Mn3Hf1 had the highest catalytic activity with the favorable thermal stability according to the temperature-programmed oxidation of CO experiment. T10, T50 and T90 of CO oxidation were 156, 188 and 198 °C, which lost 4.82 % mass at 500°C and 6.18 % mass at 900 °C. Ce6Mn1Hf3Ox displayed the best thermal stability according to TG with the lowest catalytic activity.

The novel α-TiO2@g-C3N4 heterostructure for ultra rapid ionic pumping and effective capacitive deionization

Anatase titanium dioxide (α-TiO2) has been widely identified as an efficient electrode material for capacitive deionization (CDI). However, this material usually suffers from limited exposure of active sites, poor electrical conductivity and significant obstacles in ion movement due to its tendency to severely aggregate during its preparation. A novel approach to fabricate α-TiO2@g-C3N4 composite materials was proposed in this work. In detail, the 2D material g-C3N4 serves as a high-speed electron-conducting scaffold, allowing uniform loading of nanoscale α-TiO2 and exposing abundant active sites. Furthermore, g-C3N4 facilitates electron transport to nanoscale α-TiO2, enhancing charge transfer and activating previously underutilized electrochemical centers. As a result, α-TiO2@g-C3N4 composites were synthesized for the first time. Through these improvements, the prepared α-TiO2@g-C3N4 exhibits excellent desalination performance, with a high degree of efficiency in water purification. It shows an improved salt adsorption capacity (SAC) of 50.4 mg g-1 and a salt adsorption rate (SAR) of 2.7 mg g-1 min−1 in a 1.2 V, 1 mm electrode spacing, and 500 mg L-1 NaCl solution. This outstanding CDI performance surpasses most recently reported electrode materials. More importantly, this electrode showed remarkable removal efficiencies for various heavy metal ions (Ni2+, Cr3+, Cu2+, Pb2+, Fe3+ and Cd2+), indicating its significant potential for wastewater purification. The superior CDI performance of the α-TiO2@g-C3N4 composite material endows it with practical application in future.

Vertical Green Wall Systems for Rainwater and Sewage Treatment

Rainwater and sewage are important pollution sources for surface water bodies. Vertical greening systems (VGSs) are extensively employed for these wastewater treatments due to the green and sustainable characteristics, as well as their high-efficiency in pollutant (organic matter, nitrogen, and phosphorus) removal. At present, more and more VGSs are designed with green buildings, serving city ecosystems. This study provides an overview of different kinds of VGSs for rain and sewage treatment, emphasizing their types, design, mechanisms, selection of plants, and growth substrate. Plants play a crucial role in pollutant removal, and different plants usually obtain different efficiencies of water treatment. Climbing plants and ornamental plants with fast growth rates are priority selections for VGSs, including Canna lilies, Jasmine, Grape vine, Boston ivy, Pittosporum tobira, Pelargonium australe, Mentha aquatica, and Lythrum salicaria. The substrate is the most critical part of the VGS, which plays an important role in regulating water flow, supporting plant growth, promoting biofilm growth, filtering pollutants, and adsorbing nutrients. The single substrate either has a blockage problem or has a short holding time. Therefore, a number of studies have mixed the substrates and integrated the advantages of the substrates to form a complementary effect, thereby improving the overall purification efficiency and stability. Novel substrates (sand, spent coffee grounds, date seeds, coffee grinds, reed-based, etc.) are usually mixed with coco coir, light-weight expanded clay, growstone, or perlite at a certain ratio to obtain optimum treatment performance. Moreover, plants in clay show more significant growth advantages and health statuses than in zeolite or soil. Operating parameters are also significant influences on the treatment performance. This review provides theoretical and technical support for designing sustainable, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective VGSs in treating rainwater and sewage.

Facile Synthesis of Aptamer-Functionalized Polydopamine-Coated Magnetic Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites for Highly Efficient Purification of His-Tagged Proteins.

Recombinant proteins hold significant importance in numerous disciplines. As the demand for expressing and purifying these proteins grows, the scientific community is in dire need of a simple yet versatile methodology that can efficiently purify these proteins. Aptamers as synthetic nucleic acid-based ligands with high affinity have shown promise in this regard, as they can capture targets through molecular recognition. In this study, novel aptamer-functionalized polydopamine-coated magnetic graphene oxide nanocomposites were facilely prepared, achieving an impressive average aptamer coverage density (45nmol/mg). These nanocomposites exhibited a uniform structure and robust magnetic responsiveness. The findings indicated that they possess several advantages, such as rapid adsorption, substantial capacity (171.4mg/g), and excellent reusability. Notably, due to the inherent properties of nucleic acids, the immobilized aptamer-magnetic beads can be utilized repeatedly with high purification efficiency. Finally, the nanocomposites were further employed to purify His-tagged proteins from actual samples. Remarkably, they were able to selectively and efficiently isolate His-tagged retinoid X receptor alpha protein from complex Escherichia coli lysate. The purified His-tagged retinoid X receptor alpha protein was analyzed using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. This confirmed the efficacy of developed nanocomposites, reinforcing their vast potential for purification of His-tagged recombinant proteins.