Extraction Of Materials Research Articles

Review on the Beneficiation of Li, Be, Ta, Nb-Bearing Polymetallic Pegmatite Ores in China

Lithium-bearing polymetallic pegmatite ores are an important raw material for lithium extraction. They contain not only lithium but also other associated elements such as beryllium, tantalum, and niobium, with great recovery values. It is therefore often called lithium-bearing polymetallic pegmatite ore (LPPO). The recovery and utilization of Be-bearing minerals in LPPOs have yet to be further studied. This paper briefly expounds the geological aspects of LPPO deposits in China and Chinese experiences on the beneficiation of LPPOs, with special emphasis on the flotation separation of lithium-beryllium minerals. In LPPO, spodumene is the main target mineral for lithium, while beryl is the main Be-bearing mineral in a fine-grained embedded state. If the BeO grade of LPPO is greater than the industrial grade (BeO ≥ 0.04%), it will be processed for recovery. Tantalum and niobium minerals are mainly in the form of tantalite, columbite, or ferrotapiolite, which may be recovered by gravity separation or magnetic separation. Gangue minerals are mainly composed of albite and quartz. Currently, the most commonly used methods for separating the target minerals from gangue are dense medium separation and flotation. The manual sorting method has become obsolete and is expected to be replaced by machine sorting methods such as color sorters and X-ray transmission sorters. Flotation is the main method for the separation of fine-grained beryl and spodumene. The success of flotation depends on the selection of suitable pretreatment methods and appropriate flotation reagents for altering the surface properties of spodumene and beryl and for expanding the floatability differences between spodumene and beryl and between spodumene and gangue.

A free elution immunoassay for chloramphenicol in chicken and egg after magnetic ZIF-8 adsorption separation

The excellent adsorption and rapid separation capabilities of magnetic MOFs make them desirable pretreatment materials for solid substrates. In this study, magnetic ZIF-8 (mZIF-8) was synthesized in situ by a one-step method in the aqueous solution of magnetic beads. Isothermal adsorption verified that the maximum adsorption capacity of (011) crystal-exposed rhombic dodecahedral ZIF-8 for chloramphenicol was up to 128.31 mg/g (mZIF-8 = 67.18 mg/g). Kinetic adsorption revealed that the type of ZIF-8/mZIF-8 adsorption on chloramphenicol belongs to the pseudo-secondary adsorption kinetics of chemical monomolecular layers. Characterization by FTIR, XPS, and XRD revealed that mZIF-8 interacts with chloramphenicol mainly by π-π electron stacking, electrostatic attraction, and hydrogen bonding interaction. ELISA confirmed that chloramphenicol remained antigenically active after adsorption by mZIF-8. The adsorption and separation of chloramphenicol residues in chicken and egg were completed by mZIF-8 within 20 min. mZIF-8 can be used directly for elution-free ELISA after the adsorption of chloramphenicol. The limits of detection (IC10) of the mZIF-8 + ELISA in chicken and eggs were 1.18 ng/mL and 0.64 ng/mL, respectively. mZIF-8 is expected to be used as a magnetic solid-phase extraction material for the rapid pretreatment of antibiotic residues in other complex solid matrices.

Self-assembled layered lithium manganese oxide shows ultra-large adsorption capacity and high selectivity for lithium

Lithium manganese oxides (LMOs) are competitive materials for lithium extraction from aqueous resources. However, traditional LMOs are yet to be industrialized based on their existing lithium adsorption capacities. In this work, Li1.90Mn1.52O4, a self-assembled layered LMO, is innovatively synthesized with an accurately measured structure using multiple high-precision characterization technologies, and its adsorbent has an ultra-large lithium adsorption capacity of 66 mg/g. Synthesis experiments and related density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that the self-assembled synthesis of Li1.90Mn1.52O4 occurs during the hydrothermal process and is abstracted into three steps: first, manganese oxide dissolves into manganese oxide octahedron [MnO6] groups; second, the [MnO6] groups form metastable and thin-layer δ-type manganese oxide (δ-MnO2) by self-assembly; third, the pre-product of Li1.90Mn1.52O4 is formed by the reaction between the δ-MnO2 and the hydroxide ions with lithium ions embedded between layers. The selectivity experiments and corresponding DFT calculations show that the selective adsorption process of H1.90Mn1.52O4 follows the selectivity order “Li+ ≫ Na+ > K+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+” and is divided into two steps: first, the hydrated metal ions from the liquid resources leave the water molecules and transfer to the surface of H1.90Mn1.52O4; second, the metal ions migrate into the adsorption sites via the ultra-narrow ion transfer channels.

Determining the Prevalence of Avian Chlamydiosis in Wild Amazona Species From Brazil Using Molecular Testing and Clinical Signs.

Avian chlamydiosis is a disease that occurs in birds, especially parrots, and is caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Chlamydia psittaci. Wild Animal Screening Centers in Brazil receive, maintain, treat, and place (preferably to nature) wild animals recovered from illegal trafficking. We performed molecular testing for avian chlamydiosis in parrots from the genus Amazona that were presented to these centers. Cloacal swab samples were collected from 59 parrots (Amazona species) and transported in aqueous or culture medium. The samples were subsequently submitted for DNA extraction by the boiling method, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification using CPF/CPR primers, and agarose gel electrophoresis. Conjunctivitis, nasal discharge, and poor body condition were the clinical signs associated with a differential disease diagnosis of avian chlamydiosis. Transport medium did not have an effect on the test results. The prevalence of C psittaci in the samples was 37% (22/59, 95% confidence interval: 25-49). There was a significant (P = 0.009) association between the PCR test results and clinical signs. Follow-up testing was conducted on a subgroup of 14 individuals that initially tested negative on PCR; 50% (7/14) of these birds were found to be positive within 24 days of the first test. The results of this study confirm the feasibility of using the CPF/CFP primer-based PCR to detect C psittaci in Amazona species, describe a less costly method of transporting biological material for DNA extraction, and evaluate the temporal aspect for obtaining positive results through molecular testing for C psittaci in Amazona species.

Synthesis of a magnetic micro-eutectogel based on a deep eutectic solvent gel immobilized in calcium alginate: Application for green analysis of melamine in milk and dairy products

A new three-component magnetic eutectogel composed of a crosslinked copolymeric deep eutectic solvent (DES) and polyvinylpyrrolidone-coated Fe3O4 nano-powder impregnated in calcium alginate gel was synthesized and applied as a sorbent material in a green alternative micro solid-phase extraction of melamine in milk and dairy products. The analyses were performed using the HPLC-UV technique. The copolymeric DES was prepared through thermally-induced free-radical polymerization of [2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate]:[thymol] DES (1:1 mol ratio) as functional monomer, azobisisobutyronitrile (as initiator), and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (as crosslinker). The sorbent was characterized using ATR-FTIR, 1H &13C FT-NMR, SEM, VSM, and BET techniques. The stability of the eutectogel in water and its effect on the pH of the aqueous solution was studied. A one-at-a-time approach was applied to optimize the impact of significant factors influencing sample preparation efficiency (sorbent mass, desorption conditions, adsorption time, pH, and ionic strength). The method validation was performed by evaluating matrix-matched calibration linearity (2–300 μg kg−1, r2 = 0.9902), precision, system suitability, specificity, enrichment factor, and matrix effect. The obtained limit of quantification (0.38 μg kg−1) was lower than the established maximum level for melamine by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (0.25 mg kg−1), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (0.5 & 2.5 mg kg−1), and The European Union (EU) (2.5 mg kg−1) in milk and dairy products. The optimized procedure was applied for the analysis of melamine in bovine milk, yogurt, cream, cheese, and ice cream. The obtained normalized recoveries of 77.4–105.3% (RSD% <7.0%) were acceptable regarding the practical default range set by the European Commission (70–120%, RSD≤20%). The sustainability and green aspects of the procedure were evaluated by the Analytical Greenness Metric Approach (0.6/1.0) and the Analytical Eco-Scale tool (73/100). This paper presents the first-time synthesis and application of this micro-eutectogel for the analysis of melamine in milk and milk-based dairy products.

Ionogels as modular platform for metal extraction

In this study, we have explored a strategy to develop new ionogels as materials for metal extraction. The methodology applied here consists, first, in confining a commercial salt tetrahexylammonium bromide [THN]Br in silica-based ionogels in order to determine their extracting properties. Anionic metathesis was then carried out in-situ on the [THN]Br ionogels with sodium dicyanamide (NaDca) or lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) to enhance their extracting efficiency or to bring selectivity to the extraction process. Treatment of [THN]Br ionogels with those salts ensures a quasi-quantitative replacement of bromide ions by Dca− and TFSI−. The replacement of bromide anions was confirmed by thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) and Infra-Red spectroscopy. Nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms measured before and after metathesis allow us to confirm that no major structural modification has been induced by the anionic exchange.[THN]Br ionogels were used for the extraction of Au(III), Pt(IV), Co(II), and Cr(VI). Au(III), Pt(IV) and Cr(VI) were fully extracted while the extraction of Co(II) did not exceed a few percent. Treatment of [THN]Br ionogels with NaDca improved the extraction capabilities of the material with respect to Co(II) while treatment with LiTFSI allowed the separation of Au(III) from Pt(IV), with separation factors higher than 1000. It also increased the separation of Au(III) from Cu(II) compared to the brominated ionogel. The extraction performances of each ionogel were compared to those of the pure similar ionic liquid. This work shows that, starting from the same ionogel, the extracting properties can be modulated as desired by simple anion exchange.

Channel length effect of P3HT:ZnO hybrid blend layer on electrical characteristics of thin-film transistors

In this present work, p-type bottom gate-bottom contact OTFTs based on semiconductor polymer poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) incorporating zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO) (OTFTs-P3HT:ZnO hybrid blend) with various channel lengths (L=2.5 µm, 5 µm, 10 µm and 20 µm) and constant channel width (W=10 mm) were elaborated using solution-processed P3HT:ZnO thin films, as an active layer, deposited on a Si/SiO2 substrate, without any surface treatment, by spin coating technique, and then were characterized. ZnO nanoparticles are utilized as acceptors and electron extraction materials. The effect of the channel length variation on the electrical parameters of these transistors at room atmosphere in saturation regime, has been investigated in order to better understand the dependency between the electrical performance and the channel length variation effect. As p-channel transistors, the fabricated devices exhibit a considerable variation in electrical parameters such as amount of hysteresis (△Vhyst), threshold voltage (Vth), density of trapped charges (Ntrap), sub-threshold slope (SS), density of the interface trap (Dit), field-effect saturation mobility (µsat) and current ratio (Ion/Ioff) with the increase of the channel length. In this study, we report a significant improvement in the efficiency of our devices in terms of good output characteristics and good electrical parameters such as low threshold voltage, low Ioff current, reduction of trap density and better field-effect saturation mobility when the channel length increases. These particularly promising results offer the possibility of using these organic thin-film transistors in several application domains such as low-cost sensing and non-volatile memory devices.

NAD+ Precursors Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN) and Nicotinamide Riboside (NR): Potential Dietary Contribution to Health.

NAD+ is a vital molecule that takes part as a redox cofactor in several metabolic reactions besides being used as a substrate in important cellular signaling in regulation pathways for energetic, genotoxic, and infectious stress. In stress conditions, NAD+ biosynthesis and levels decrease as well as the activity of consuming enzymes rises. Dietary precursors can promote NAD+ biosynthesis and increase intracellular levels, being a potential strategy for reversing physiological decline and preventing diseases. In this review, we will show the biochemistry and metabolism of NAD+ precursorsNR (nicotinamide riboside) and NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide), the latest findings on their beneficial physiological effects, their interplay with gut microbiota, and the future perspectives for research in nutrition and food science fields. NMN and NR demonstrated protect against diabetes, Alzheimer disease, endothelial dysfunction, and inflammation. They also reverse gut dysbiosis and promote beneficial effects at intestinal and extraintestinal levels. NR and NMN have been found in vegetables, meat, and milk, and microorganisms in fermented beverages can also produce them. NMN and NR can be obtained through the diet either in their free form or as metabolites derivate from the digestion of NAD+. The prospection of NR and NMN to find potential food sources and their dietary contribution in increasing NAD+ levels are still an unexplored field of research. Moreover, it could enable the development of new functional foods and processing strategies to maintain and enhance their physiological benefits, besides the studies of new raw materials for extraction and biotechnological development.

Comparison of nanofibers, microfibers, nano/microfiber graphene doped composites, molecularly imprinted polymers, and restricted access materials for on-line extraction and chromatographic determination of citrinin, zearalenone, and ochratoxin A in plant-based milk beverages

Several advanced sorbents for on-line extraction followed by chromatographic determination of citrinin, zearalenone, and ochratoxin A in a complex matrix of plant-based beverages from oat and rice milk have been compared. Twelve types of the fibrous sorbents, including polyethylene and polypropylene microfibers, polycaprolactone microfibers/polyvinylidene difluoride nanofibers composite, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) microfibers, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) microfibers/polypropylene microfibers composite, polycaprolactone nanofibers, polycaprolactone nanofibers doped with 7.7, 20.2, and 30.7% graphene, polyacrylonitrile nanofibers, polyurethane nanofibers, and polyamide 6 nanofibers were compared in terms of extraction recovery and cleanup efficiency with both the commercial restricted access media sorbent RP-18 ADS (RAM) and molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP). The MIP sorbent was a mixture prepared from commercial Affinimip selective for ochratoxin A and zearalenone, and home-made MIP for citrinin (1:1:1). The polymer fibers and the MIP mixture were filled in a cartridge similar in size to the commercial RAM column and the clean-up step as well as the subsequent chromatographic separation were optimized. The HPLC separation of mycotoxins was carried out using Kinetex Biphenyl (150 × 4.6 mm, core–shell particle size 5 µm) analytical column followed by fluorescence detection. The excitation and emission wavelengths were set at 335/497 nm for citrinin and ochratoxin A, and 270/458 nm for zearalenone, respectively. The mobile phase used for the gradient elution of the mycotoxins consisted of 0.5% aqueous formic acid and acetonitrile. The zearalenone contaminations found in plant-based beverages ranged from 9.5 to 14.6 μg L−1 and were within the tolerable limit defined by the European Union.

Evaluation of a Resorcinarene-Based Sorbent as a Solid-Phase Extraction Material for the Enrichment of L-Carnitine from Aqueous Solutions

We present five new sorbents for the evaluation of the pre-concentration of L-carnitine. The sorbents were obtained from copolymerization between butylmethacrylate (BuMA) and ethylene dimethacrylate (EDMA), which were physically modified on their surface by each one of the five synthetized resorcinarenes of variable chain length studied, with long-chain resorcinarenes exhibiting better fixation on the copolymer. The characterization of the synthesized resorcinarenes was done using FTIR-ATR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and mass spectrometry, while characterization of the sorbents was done using FTIR-ATR and scanning electron micrography (SEM). The molecular interaction between L-carnitine and the synthesized resorcinarenes was studied in DMSO via 1H-NMR spectroscopy and, in the gas phase, via electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The results showed that the short-chain resorcinarenes underwent a stable interaction with the neurotransmitter. Once the sorption of resorcinarenes on the copolymer was accomplished, the best parameters for the evaluation of the L-carnitine preconcentration were established. The solution tests were carried out through LC/MS analysis, obtaining better results for L-carnitine absorption with the short-chain resorcinarenes such as tetra(ethyl)calix[4]resorcinarene and tetra(propyl)calix[4]resorcinarene.

Spherical amino-functionalized covalent organic frameworks: Synthesis and adsorption performance toward perfluorinated compounds

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are widely used in textiles, fire protection, metal electroplating, and semiconductor production owing to their hydrophobic and oil-repellent characteristics. However, they are also persistent organic pollutants. The uncontrolled discharge of PFCs into the environment has led to serious global pollution. PFCs pose severe reproductive, neural, immune, and other threats to human health by accumulating through the food chain. Thus, the development and application of high-performance extraction materials has become a research hotspot in efforts to achieve the accurate detection of trace PFCs in environmental waters. Most traditional PFC adsorbents present a number of disadvantages, such as low adsorption selectivity, slow diffusion, and poor reusability. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are crystalline polymers with ordered porous structures, large specific surface areas, and high chemical and thermal stability. These frameworks can easily be functionalized for the desired purpose. In this paper, spherical amino-functionalized COFs (denoted COF-NH2) were fabricated via a two-step method to effectively enrich/remove PFCs from water. First, vinyl covalent organic framework (Vinyl COF) was synthesized at room temperature using 1,4-diradical-2,5-divinylbenzene (Dva) and 1,3,5-tris(4-aminophenyl)benzene (Tab) as building blocks. Then, thioether-bridged aromatic amine-functionalized spherical COF-NH2 was synthesized through a thiol-alkenyl click reaction using 4-aminothiophenol as the functional monomer. COF-NH2 showed good dispersion in water owing to its abundant amino groups, forming multiple hydrogen bonds with the F atoms of PFCs. The synergistic hydrophobic interactions between the organic skeleton of the COF and alkyl carbon chains of the PFCs led to enhanced adsorption efficiency. The produced Vinyl COF and COF-NH2 were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Brunner-Emmet-Teller (BET) measurements. The results confirmed that spherical COF-NH2 materials with a homogeneous size distribution were successfully fabricated. The obtained COF-NH2 microspheres had a diameter of approximately 500 nm and exhibited high thermal stability as well as a large specific surface area and pore volume. The adsorption kinetics, isotherm adsorption models, pH effects, and regeneration properties of COF-NH2 were also investigated, and the results indicated that the adsorption of PFCs by COF-NH2 conformed to the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm adsorption models. The obtained COF-NH2 microspheres can be applied over a wide pH range, and the best adsorption effect was achieved in neutral and alkaline environments. After five cycles of regeneration and reuse, the COF-NH2 microspheres retained their good adsorption efficiency for PFCs. The adsorption mechanism was mainly attributed to the synergistic effect of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions between COF-NH2 and the PFCs. The extraction efficiencies of the microspheres toward five PFCs (perfluorobutyric acid, perfluorovaleric acid, perfluorohexanoic acid, perfluorooctanoic acid, and perfluorononanoic acid) in tap and Pearl River water samples were between 91.76% and 98.59%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) (n=3) varying from 0.82% to 3.8%; these findings indicate that the obtained COF-NH2 is promising for the extraction of PFCs from complex water samples. Given their uniform size distribution, high thermal stability, good adsorption performance, and reusability, the novel spherical COF-NH2 materials developed in this study may be used as solid-phase extraction materials or filled into liquid chromatographic columns for the enrichment, separation, and detection of PFCs in complex samples.

The feasibility of Sorghum (Sorghum vulgare) fodder as poultry feed ingredients seen from growth performance, nutrient content and fiber profile of Sorghum fodder.

The aim of the study was to assess the feasibility of fodder Sorghum as poultry feed in terms of growth performance (plant height and fresh weight), nutritional quality (moisture, ash, crude protein, extract ether, crude fiber, extract material without nitrogen, and metabolic energy), and scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX). The study used a completely randomized design with six treatments and three replications. The treatments consisted of planting times of 24, 48, 72, 120, and 240 h and a control (0 h). The results showed that there was a significant effect (p ≤ 0.05) when planting Sorghum fodder (SGF) on growth performance and moisture, but it had no significant effect on fresh weight, ash, crude protein, extract ether, crude fiber, nitrogen-free extract, energy metabolic aspects, and SEM-EDX. SGF is suitable as a feed ingredient for poultry in terms of nutrition and contains ZrO2, which functions as an antifungal.

RIFT DEPRESSIONS AS A PROSPECTIVE HYDROCARBON PRODUCTION FACILITY IN THE TERRITORY OF TRANSBAIKALIA

Currently, commercial production of hydrocarbons in Russia has the widest geography. This allows most entities to extract and process hydrocarbon raw materials in quantities necessary for uninterrupted economic activity and ensuring socio-economic stability. One of the few regions in which there is an insufficiently studied resource base, but at the same time there are completely no oil and gas production facilities introduced into industrial development, is Transbaikalia. This situation has led to the fact that this region is almost completely dependent on the supply of petroleum products from outside, which requires additional capital costs for the placement and maintenance of the strategic reserve of already processed raw materials, as well as the organization of uninterrupted supplies and its subsequent distribution throughout the region. One of the most poorly studied types of geological objects containing a fairly large amount of hydrocarbon resources in Russia is the intermountain rift genesis basins. It is known that the main resources of hydrocarbon raw materials in the territory of Transbaikalia are confined to just this type of facilities, the account of which goes to dozens. Such rift troughs are Mesozoic in age, and their resource potential can be hundreds of millions of tons of oil equivalent. Therefore, interest in this type of objects and their further study looks natural. In the future, hydrocarbon production at such facilities can amount to hundreds of thousands and even millions of tons of oil equivalent, which makes them extremely important not only in terms of increasing the level of oil production in general, but also as a determining factor in increasing the level of energy security of the entire region.

Constructing cactus-like mixed dimensional MOF@MOF as sorbent for extraction of bisphenols from environmental water

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) received considerable attention to adsorption and removal of various environmental pollutants because of some inherent advantages. However, it is challenging but meaningful to design and fabricate hierarchical mixed-dimensional MOFs with synergistic effects to enhance the performance for removal and preconcentration of environmental pollutants. Herein, a new hierarchical two-dimensional (2D)-three-dimensional (3D) mixed-dimensional cactus‐like MOF@MOF hybrid material (PCN-134@Zr-BTB) was prepared by in-situ growth of 2D MOF nanosheets (Zr-BTB) on the surface of 3D MOF (PCN-134). The PCN-134@Zr-BTB composites combine the advantages of 2D and 3D MOFs with extensive mesoporous structures and large surface area for effective removal and enrichment of bisphenols (BPs). In comparison with pristine PCN-134 and Zr-BTB materials, the PCN-134@Zr-BTB hybrid material presented excellent adsorption performance for BPs. The adsorption isotherms are consistent with the Langmuir model, and the maximum adsorption capacity of four bisphenols (BPs) ranged from 135.1 mg/g to 628.9 mg/g. The adsorption kinetics are in accordance with the pseudo-second-order model. The recoveries ranged from 72.8% to 108%. The limits of detection were calculated at 0.02–0.03 ng/mL. The enrichment factors were calculated in the range of 310–374. According to FT-IR and XPS analysis, the main adsorption mechanisms are hydrogen bonding and π-π stacking. Nevertheless, this work provides a new and convenient strategy for the preparation of new hierarchical mixed-dimensional MOF@MOF (PCN-134@Zr-BTB) hybrid material for extraction and enrichment of BPs from aqueous matrix.

Fermentation Quality and Chemical Composition of Industrial Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Silage Inoculated with Bacterial Starter Cultures—A Pilot Study

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a plant species cultivated as a raw material for fiber extraction. Alternatively, hemp biomass can be used for feeding or energy purposes. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of inoculation with a lactic acid bacteria starter culture on the fermentation and chemical compositions of hemp silages. Hemp shoots (HS) and hemp flowers (HF) were ensiled in mini laboratory silos without or with the inoculation of the commercial starter culture Lactosil Biogaz (Lentilactobacillus buchnerii KKP 907 p; L. buchneri A KKP 2047 p; Pediococcus acidilactici KKP 2065 p). After 7 and 42 days of ensiling, the fermentation quality and chemical compositions of the silages were assessed. The use of Lactosil Biogas for hemp resulted in a decrease in pH, increase in lactic acid (LA), and reduction in fungal abundance in the HS silage. In the case of the HF silage, the bacterial inoculation was less effective; however, an increase in LA and a decrease in butyric acid (BA) were observed. As a result of the ensilage process, decreases in crude fiber and hemicellulose were observed in the HS and HF silages. Thus, hemp ensiling with biological additives is an effective pre-treatment of hemp plants for subsequent biofuel production that can preserve the biomass and provide the year-round availability of feedstock.

Extraction of Nanocellulose from Matured Coconut Husk

Nanocellulose is a promising nanomaterial that can be used in various applications such as reinforcements for composite films. Agricultural lignocellulosic wastes, such as coconut husks, offer great advantages as raw materials for nanocellulose extraction due to their abundance and economic viability. The aim of this study is to extract nanocellulose from matured coconut husk. Nanocellulose was extracted using sulfuric acid hydrolysis and characterized using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Results showed that nanocellulose extracted from matured coconut husk has 2.26% yield with agglomerated, rod-shaped structures. An average aspect ratio of 3.16 ± 1.82 nm was also obtained.

Modeling extraction of medical device polymers for biocompatibility evaluation

Extraction testing is critical for biocompatibility evaluation of medical devices, whether to generate samples for biological testing or form the basis for toxicological risk assessment. However, it is not always clear how to compare extraction testing between different extraction conditions and sample geometries. We employ a physics-based model to elucidate the theoretical impact of extraction conditions, sample geometry and material properties on extraction efficiency (M/M0) and extract concentration (C/C0) for single–step and iterative/exhaustive extraction test methods. The model is specified by three parameters: thermodynamic contributions (Ψ), kinetic contributions (τ), and number of extraction iterations (N). We find that over the range of typical parameters for single–step extractions, M/M0 only approaches one (complete exhaustion) for relatively large values of Ψ (≥10) and τ(≥1). Further, the model suggests that test article geometry and solvent volume can have a dramatic and sometimes opposing effect on M/M0 and C/C0. Our results imply that iterative extractions can be approximated as a single–step extraction with scaled parameters Ψ′ = ΨN and τ′ = τN. The model provides a framework to reduce the biocompatibility evaluation test burden by optimizing test article and extraction condition selection and guiding development of new test protocols.

Preparation of amine-modified amphiphilic resins for the extraction of trace pharmaceuticals and personal care products in environmental waters

Herein, four amine-modified amphiphilic resins were synthesized and utilized as solid-phase extraction (SPE) materials to enrich pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) from environmental water. The obtained materials (Strong anion-exchange amphiphilic materials, SAAMs; Weak anion-exchange amphiphilic materials, WAAMs) possessed large specific surface area (473–626 m2/g), high ion exchange capacity (0.89–1.97 mmol/g), and small contact angle (74.41–79.74°), indicating good hydrophilicity. The main factors affecting the efficiency of the extraction process were studied, including column volume, column flow rate, sample salinity and sample pH. Notably, the trend observed in absolute recovery was significantly correlated with the Zeta potential of the employed adsorbents. Furthermore, based on the obtained materials, a method of SPE coupled with ultra-performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (SPE/LC-MS/MS) was developed, and then utilized to determine PPCPs in the samples collected from the Yangtze River Delta. The Method detection limit (MDL) and Method quantification limit (MQL) ranged from 0.05 to 0.60 ng/L and 0.17 to 2.00 ng/L, respectively, with a relative standard deviation (RSD) below 6.3%, demonstrating good accuracy and sensitivity. As evidenced by comparison with previous literature, the developed method exhibited satisfactory performance, showing great potential for further commercial application in the extraction of trace PPCPs from environmental water samples.

Fabrication of DSSC based on Capsicum annuum and Tamarindus indica plant seeds extract as natural photosensitizers

Twelve dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were fabricated using Capsicum annuum and Tamarindus indica seeds extract as natural photosensitizing dyes. Zinc oxide-based three different films were employed as charge transporters, whereas graphite and PEDOT:PSS were adopted as electrode materials. The optical character of natural dyes and zinc oxide-based layers was obtained by UV–vis spectroscopy. Structural information was achieved by X-ray diffraction and modes of vibrations were obtained by Fourier Transform IR spectroscopy. Different schemes of DSSCs were considered by choosing from metal oxide films, seed extract, and electrode material. J-V curves recorded for all the DSSCs-configurations revealed that the maximum power conversion efficiency of 1.65% was found in the case of DSSC which comprised Capsicum annuum (dye), zinc oxide, and graphite as an electrode. Minimum 0.43% efficiency was obtained for the DSSC based on Capsicum annuum as a dye, Al-doped zinc oxide film, and PEDOT:PSS as an electrode. This study is a way forward to using recyclable natural resources for sustainable and economical solar power conversion devices.

PAMAM-Functionalized Paper as a New Substrate for the Paper Spray Mass Spectrometry Measurement of Proteins.

Paper surface functionalization with polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers has been developed for increased sensitivity analysis of proteins by paper spray mass spectrometry (PS-MS). PAMAM is a branched polymeric compound with an ethylenediamine core linked to repeating PAMAM units that generates an outer surface rich in primary amines. These positively charged amine groups can interact electrostatically with negatively charged residues (e.g., aspartate, glutamate) on the protein surface. PAMAM inner amide moieties can also promote hydrogen bonding with protein surface oxygens, making PAMAM a useful material for protein extraction. PAMAM-functionalized PS-MS paper strips were used to extract proteins from biofluids, dipped in acetonitrile to remove unbound constituents, dried, and then measured with PS-MS. The use of this strategy was optimized and compared with unmodified paper strips. PAMAM-functionalized paper substrates provided sixfold greater sensitivity for albumin, 11-fold for hemoglobin, sevenfold for insulin, and twofold for lysozyme. The analytical performance of the functionalized paper substrate was evaluated through the analysis of albumin in urine, achieving linearity with R2 > 0.99, LOD of 1.1 μg mL-1, LOQ of 3.8 μg mL-1, precision better than 10%, and relative recovery 70-83%. The method was applied to quantify urinary albumin from nine anonymous patient samples (concentrations ranged from 6.5 to 77.4 μg mL-1), illustrating its potential for the diagnosis of microalbuminuria. These data demonstrate the utility of paper modification with the PAMAM dendrimer for sensitive PS-MS analysis of proteins, opening a path for further applications in clinical diagnosis through the analysis of disease-related proteins.