High Degree Of Polymerization Research Articles

Multiscale kinetic modeling of biomass fractionation in an experiment: Understanding individual reaction mechanisms and cellulose degradation

To avoid over-consumption and wastage of virgin fibers, the quality of pulp products is as important as their productivity. To this end, both the quality and quantity of pulp should be considered together during the pulping processes. Multiple experimental studies have highlighted that maintaining a high degree of polymerization (DP) for cellulose microfibers in the wood chip ensures a good quality pulp product. However, in the pulping process, the applied reagents and severe conditions can cause a certain degree of cellulose degradation, accompanying unwanted lowering of fiber grades. In order to mitigate cellulose degradation during this step, it is crucial to control the process conditions such as reagent concentration and temperature. Also, to establish the optimum operating strategies, it is necessary to understand how the operating conditions impact the DP of cellulose microfibers. Therefore, we have proposed a novel multiscale model which predicts mesoscopic properties (e.g., the lignin content and fiber morphology) alongside microscopic properties (e.g., the DP of the cellulose microfibers). The proposed model incorporates a multi-layered kinetic Monte Carlo (kMC) framework that allows us to capture the temporal evolution of lignin content, fiber morphology, and cellulose DP, occurring at disparate timescales, as a function of reaction conditions in a computationally tractable fashion. Furthermore, the model predictions are validated with the experimental results so that it gives us a detailed picture of the pulp production processes. Overall with the proposed model, we aim to maximize productivity and maintain a high quality of cellulose fibers from the wood chips during the pulping process.

Selecting an appropriate binder to prepare alumina granules via spray freeze granulation drying

Spray freeze granulation drying (SFGD) is a granulation technique, involving the freezing of sprayed droplets, followed by freeze drying. This technique affords soft granules, which is advantageous for producing sintered bodies with few defects. However, non-spherical and/or hard granules are sometimes formed by SFGD, and the sintered body fabricated from such granules shows reduced density and strength. The formation of such non-spherical and/or hard granules is expected to be avoided by selecting an appropriate binder. Therefore, in this study, four types of binders (water-soluble acrylic polymer, acrylic emulsion, and poly vinyl alcohol with low and high degree of polymerization) were tested to produce alumina granules via SFGD. The shapes and properties of the granules, as well as densities and strength of the sintered bodies, were evaluated. By choosing a suitable binder, the formation of non-spherical granules can be significantly reduced, and soft granules are obtained. These leads to a sintered body with high density and high strength. The acrylic emulsion binder was found to be the best performing binder among the four binders.

Preparation and evaluation of injectable microsphere formulation for longer sustained release of donepezil.

In this study, donepezil-loaded PLGA and PLA microspheres (Dp-PLGA-M/Dp-PLA-M) and Dp-PLA-M wrapped in a polyethylene glycol-b-polycaprolactone (PC) hydrogel (Dp-PLA-M/PC) were prepared to reduce the dosing frequency of injections to treat Alzheimer's disease patients. Dp-PLGA-M and Dp-PLA-M with a uniform particle size distribution were repeatably fabricated in nearly quantitative yield and with high encapsulated Dp yields using an ultrasonic atomizer. The injectability and in vitro and in vivo Dp release, biodegradation, and inflammatory response elicited by the Dp-PLGA-M, Dp-PLA-M, and Dp-PLA-M/PC formulations were then compared. All injectable formulations showed good injectability with ease of injection, even flow, and no clogging using a syringe needle under 21-G. The injections required a force of <1N. According to the biodegradation rate of micro-CT, GPC and NMR analyses, the biodegradation of Dp-PLA-M was slower than that of Dp-PLGA-M, and the biodegradation rate of Dp-PLA-M/PC was also slower. In the Dp release experiment, Dp-PLA-M sustained Dp for longer compared with Dp-PLGA-M. Dp-PLA-M/PC exhibited a longer sustained release pattern of two months. In vivo bioavailability of Dp-PLA-M/PC was almost 1.4 times higher than that of Dp-PLA-M and 1.9 times higher than that of Dp-PLGA-M. The variations in the Dp release patterns of Dp-PLGA-M and Dp-PLA-M were explained by differences in the degradation rates of PLGA and PLA. The sustained release of Dp by Dp-PLA-M/PC was attributed to the fact that the PC hydrogel served as a wrapping matrix for Dp-PLA-M, which could slow down the biodegradation of PLA-M, thus delaying the release of Dp from Dp-PLA-M. Dp-PLGA-M induced a higher inflammatory response compared to Dp-PLA-M/PC, suggesting that the rapid degradation of PLGA triggered a strong inflammatory response. In conclusion, Dp-PLA-M/PC is a promising injectable Dp formulation that could be used to reduce the dosing frequency of Dp injections.

Identification of a Key Loop for Tuning Transglycosylation Activity in the Substrate-Binding Region of a Chitosanase.

Csn-PD, a glycoside family 46 chitosanase from Paenibacillus dendritiformis, exhibits endotype hydrolysis of chitosan and produces (GlcN)2 as the major product. Here, we report the crystal structure of Csn-PD at 1.68 Å resolution. The structure contains 14 α-helices and two β-strands that fold into two globular domains with the substrate bound between them. To evaluate the function of a loop in the substrate-binding region (residues 112-116, NDKHP), a mutant Csn-PDL1, in which this loop was deleted, was generated. Hydrolysis of chitosan by the mutant yielded chitooligosaccharides (COSs) with higher degrees of polymerization (DP) than the wild-type enzyme. Excitingly, (GlcN)6 was produced from smaller COSs via transglycosylation activity of the mutant. Hence, the catalytic performance of a chitosanase was altered by modification of a loop in the substrate-binding regions. Our novel data on a chitosanase with transglycosylation activity offer a promising way to produce COSs with high DP.

Evolution of Seed-Soluble and Insoluble Tannins during Grape Berry Maturation

Condensed tannins (CT) in wine are derived from the seeds and skins of grapes, and their composition and content contribute to the bitterness/astringency characteristics and ageing potential of the wine. Global warming has accelerated the ripening process of grape berries, making them out of sync with seed ripening. To understand the influence of berry ripening on the seed CT composition and content, we analyzed the changes in the soluble and insoluble CT in the seeds of 'Cabernet Sauvignon' grapes from two vineyards over two years. The results showed that the seed-soluble CT presented a slight downward trend in fluctuation during grape berry development, while the insoluble CT increased continuously before the véraison and remained at a high level afterwards. Relatively speaking, a lower sugar increment in developing grape berries favored the conversion of seed CT towards a higher degree of polymerization. The terminal unit of soluble CT was dominated by epigallocatechin gallate, the content of which decreased as the seeds matured. It is suggested that the seeds should be fully matured to reduce this bitter component in tannins. This study provides a reference for us to control the grape ripening process and produce high-quality grapes for wine making.

Burnout Syndrome and its Risk Factors among Gynecology Consultants

Background: Burnout as a condition characterised by emotional weariness, depersonalization (a propensity to show anti and cynical views about others) and a diminished feeling of personal success. In contrast to the more generalized concept of sadness, "burnout" describes a specific kind of fatigue that occurs in the job. Objective: The study's objectives were to (a) determine whether or not burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal professional achievement) is influenced by environmental factors (gender, age, marital status, years of professional experience, number of hours worked per week, teaching level, workplace), and (b) determine whether or not these factors are related. Study Design: Cross sectional study Study Setting: This study was conducted at Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Rashid Latif Medical College Lahore from July 2022 to December 2022. Methodology: By using a systematic random sample, we were able to include 60 gynecologists. The proforma was given to them through email or print mail, and they were contacted individually. Doctors were told that by completing the anonymous proforma, after taking their consents. The study's template has two sections. The participants' demographic information was found in the first document. The second section was a copy of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). The 22-item MBI is scored on a 0–6-point Likert scale. SPSS version 20 was used to analyze the data. Results: In all, 60 gynecologists filled the performa. Participants mean ages ranged 40.55 ±6.0 years. Forty-seven of the participants were female (78.3%), whereas just four were male 13 (21.7%). The vast majority of guys had their FCPS, while married people made up the bulk of the sample 38(63.3%). In addition, 48 people (80%) were chosen field of expertise. In this study, participants were classified as burnt out if they had high EE in addition to high DP or low PPA. Over a quarter of consultants were suffering from burnout. At least 33 people The burnout prevalence rate among doctors whose annual salaries fall between 60 and 100,000 PKR is disproportionately high (Table 2). Low-income physicians had more burnout than high-income physicians (p= 0.014).

Effect of Sodium Silicate on the Hydration of Alkali-Activated Copper-Nickel Slag Materials

This paper studied the influence of the modulus and dosage of sodium silicate on the hydration of alkali-activated copper-nickel slag (CNS) materials. CNS was used as the main raw material, and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) powder was selected as the mineral additive. The hydration and hardening mechanisms were discussed. The experimental results showed that [SiO4]4− and [AlO4]5− with a high degree of polymerization in the CNS glassy phase more easily underwent depolymerization-condensation and produced more C-S-H gels when the modulus was small and the sodium silicate dosage was high. When the content of sodium silicate was 7.0% and the modulus of sodium silicate solution was 1.0, the 28-day compressive strength of the material reached 125 MPa. This alkali-activated copper-nickel slag material can be used for mine filling, which has certain economic and ecological benefits.

Preparation of high‐strength, high‐modulus PVA fiber by synthesis of syndiotacticity‐rich high molecular weight PVA polymers with VAc and VBz via emulsifier‐free emulsion polymerization

AbstractDifferent vinyl acetate (VAc) and vinyl benzoate (VBz) monomer ratios have been chosen as monomers to create high polymerization degree (Pn) and high syndiotacticity‐diad content (S‐diad) poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) polymers via emulsifier‐free polymerization in order to address the problem of limited mechanical capabilities of PVA fibers prepared with low Pn and low S‐diad polymer. The variations in hydrogen bonding, Pn, S‐diad, and viscosity of different PVA polymers were investigated and evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, gel permeation chromatography, and a viscosity tester. Moreover, various PVA fibers with high strength and modulus have been manufactured using a synthetic polymer as the raw material for dry‐wet spinning. The effect of Pn and S‐diad on the mechanical and thermal characteristics of PVA fibers is evaluated using a variety of characterization techniques, such as the scanning electron microscope, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analyzer, X‐ray diffraction, and tensile tester. As the ratio of VBz monomer increased, the results suggested that VBz may have a considerable impact on the Pn and S‐diad of PVA polymers, the OH vibration absorption peak reduced from 3491 to 3442 cm−1; the Pn increased from 2112 to 17,704; and the S‐diad rose from 51.2% to 60.1%. In addition to the fact that Pn and S‐diad significantly increased the fibers' strength and modulus, the crystallinity increased from 41.8% to 51.7%, and the orientation degree rose from 87.5% to 91.7%, as Pn and S‐diad increased; the tensile strength and highest elastic modulus increased from 9.71 ± 0.3 cN/dtex to 12.74 ± 0.5 cN/dtex (increased of 31.2%) and 264.52 ± 9.3 cN/dtex to 338.41 ± 8.6 cN/dtex (increased of 27.9%); the elongation at break decreased from 5.63 ± 0.3% to 2.92 ± 0.2%.

Bacterial cellulose: A highly versatile nanomaterial.

Bacterial cellulose: A highly versatile nanomaterial.

Decreasing the Crystallinity and Degree of Polymerization of Cellulose Increases Its Susceptibility to Enzymatic Hydrolysis and Fermentation by Colon Microbiota.

Cellulose can be isolated from various raw materials and agricultural side streams and might help to reduce the dietary fiber gap in our diets. However, the physiological benefits of cellulose upon ingestion are limited beyond providing fecal bulk. It is barely fermented by the microbiota in the human colon due to its crystalline character and high degree of polymerization. These properties make cellulose inaccessible to microbial cellulolytic enzymes in the colon. In this study, amorphized and depolymerized cellulose samples with an average degree of polymerization of less than 100 anhydroglucose units and a crystallinity index below 30% were made from microcrystalline cellulose using mechanical treatment and acid hydrolysis. This amorphized and depolymerized cellulose showed enhanced digestibility by a cellulase enzyme blend. Furthermore, the samples were fermented more extensively in batch fermentations using pooled human fecal microbiota, with minimal fermentation degrees up to 45% and a more than eight-fold increase in short-chain fatty acid production. While this enhanced fermentation turned out to be highly dependent on the microbial composition of the fecal pool, the potential of engineering cellulose properties to increased physiological benefit was demonstrated.

Biocide Coating from Polydiallyldimethylammonium Chloride—What Molecular Weight Should We Choose?

Biocidal compositions based on interpolyelectrolyte complexes and a low molecular weight antibiotic can become a promising material for creating biocidal coatings, as they combine wash-off resistance and dual biocidal action due to the biocide and the polycation. Molecular mass characteristics of polymers play an essential role in the physics and mechanical properties of the coatings. In this work, the properties of polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (PDADMAC) coatings of various molecular weights are investigated and assumptions are made about the optimal molecular weight needed to create antibacterial compositions. To study the resistance to washing off and moisture saturation of the coatings, the gravimetric method was used, and the adhesive properties of the coatings were studied by dynamometry. It has been established that an increase in molecular weight affects the wash-off resistance of coatings, but does not affect moisture absorption and adhesion mechanics of coatings. All samples of PDADMAC were demonstrated to exhibit the same antibacterial activity. Thus, when developing systems for creating antibacterial coatings, it must be taken into account that in order to create stable coatings, the requirement to use PDADMAC with a high degree of polymerization is necessary for the coating desorption control during wash off-but not mandatory for the control of mechanical and antibacterial properties of the coating.

Physicochemical Characterization and Thermal Behavior of Different Wood Species from the Amazon Biome

The Brazilian Amazon is one of the main tropical wood-producing regions in the world, where exploration and industrial processing are among its main economic activities. Wood is characterized as a material consisting mainly of compounds with a high degree of polymerization and molecular weight such as cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, in addition to other compounds such as ash and extractives. This chemical complexity of wood brings with it a wide possibility of chemical and thermochemical processing aiming at the production of bioproducts and biofuels. In this context, it is essential to know the physicochemical properties and thermal behavior of wood species from the Amazon biome to add value to the product, reducing waste and maximizing the species used. This work presents an investigation into the physicochemical and thermogravimetric characteristics of 21 species of wood from the Amazon, in addition to the determination of the higher heating value (HHV) of each one of them, focusing on the energy use of the biomass under analysis. The samples showed a high lignin content, varying between 26.8% and 33.9%, with a standard deviation of 1.7% and an average of 30.0%. The Trattinnickia sp. had the highest lignin content (33.86 ± 0.13%). The cellulose content varied from 31.3% to 55.9%, with a standard deviation of 7.3% and an average of 41.74%. The Ruizterania albiflora had the highest cellulose content (55.90 ± 1.20%). For the hemicellulose content, the variation ranged from 8.6% to 17.0%, with a standard deviation of 2.6% and an average of 12.38%. The samples that showed the highest HHVs were Ocotea sp. (18.588 ± 0.082 MJ kg−1) followed by Ferreiraa spectabilis (18.052 ± 0.157 MJ kg−1).

Synthesis of High Molecular Weight Polymers by Organocatalyzed Living Radical Polymerization and Self-Assembly Behavior.

A mild organocatalyzed living radical polymerization method is studied for high molecular weight polymers (HMWPs), yielding low-dispersity linear and star polymers (Đ = Mw /Mn = 1.03-1.28) up to Mn = 3.9 × 105 and monomer conversion = 80%, where Mn and Mw are the number- and weight-average molecular weights, respectively. Even at high degrees of polymerization (DPs > 2000), this technique still features excellent control over molecular weights and Đ values, indicating the living character. The macroinitiators prepared at DP = 2000 are subsequently used for block polymerizations at high DPs (>2000) with functional methacrylates, yielding linear A-B diblock, linear B-A-B triblock, and 3-arm star A-B diblock copolymers, suggesting the excellent block efficiency of macroinitiators synthesized at a high DP value (=2000). This mild organocatalyzed living radical polymerization technique can enhance the livingness of propagation radicals and kinetic chain length at high monomer conversions for monomers with moderate propagation rate coefficients (kp s), reduce the persistent radical effect as much as possible, and hence enable HMWPs without the presence of metal catalyst, exogenous initiator, or harsh equipment. The obtained amphiphilic block copolymers present unique microphase separation behavior, and hold great potential in advanced materials applications, for example, thermosensitive nanocarriers.

Unraveling energy storage behavior of independent ions in carbon electrode for supercapacitors by polymeric ionic liquids and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance

A fundamental understanding of the charge storage mechanism of electrochemical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) requires an in-depth storage behavior investigation of independent ions (individual cations or anions) on the electrode surface. The direct in-situ observation for energy storage behavior of individual ions under realistic conditions remains challenge. Herein, in-situ monitoring the energy storage behavior of independent ions is realized with assistance of polymeric ionic liquids skillfully. Triangle cyclic voltammogram (CV) curves indicate that polymeric imidazole cations PVBIm+ with huge size cannot enter the active carbon pores upon charging, whereas only free anions can. The CV and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) simultaneously detect ion adsorption/desorption during charging. It’s proposed that ion adsorption/desorption is governed by electrostatic attraction and repulsion of charged particles. PVBIm+ are adsorbed on the electrode surface due to ion adsorption mechanism during the negative polarization and have a small capacity contribution. Free anions contribute capacitance, their number entering the pore is determined by the interaction between polycaions and anions. Moreover, PVBIm(0.1)+ with higher polymerization degree may promote desorption of polycations and prevent further adsorption of anions at higher potential in positive polarization. This work not only observes the charging behavior of independent ions, but also reveals the relevant charging mechanism through EQCM, paving the way for panorama of EDLC.

Ultrathin porous graphitic carbon nitride from recrystallized precursor toward significantly enhanced photocatalytic water splitting

Structure regulation (including electronic structure and morphology) for graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is an effective way to promote the photocatalytic activity. Herein, an ultrathin porous g-C3N4 (BCN-HT100) was synthesized by calcination of biuret hydrate. Hydrothermal treatment induced biuret recrystallization to form biuret hydrate precursor with regular morphology and large crystal size, thus promoting the polymerization of melem to form g-C3N4 network. Accordingly, BCN-HT100 possessed ultrathin nanosheet structure, higher polymerization degree, larger surface area and more pores than biuret-derived g-C3N4. BCN-HT100 behaved high-efficiency photocatalytic H2-productin activity with an apparent quantum yield (AQY) of 58.7% at 405 nm due to the enhanced utilization efficiency for photo-generated charge carriers and abundant reactive sites. Furthermore, Pt-NiCo2O4 dual cocatalysts were employed on BCN-HT100 for achieving photocatalytic overall water splitting, and the AQY reached 4.9% at 405 nm. This work provides a meaningful reference to designing g-C3N4 to achieve efficient solar energy conversion into hydrogen.

Market competition and risk assessment of nanofiber composite materials

Nano cellulose has the advantages of high degree of polymerization, high strength, degradability, and large specific surface area. The modifier is uniformly dispersed in the matrix material to form a composite system containing nano-scale materials in one phase. With regard to the above-mentioned competitive situation of performance fibers, China should first strengthen the research on engineering scale-up, focusing on finding the factors that affect product quality and dispersion coefficient from engineering issues, and making continuous improvements. Using the analytic hierarchy process method, according to the idea of first decomposition and then synthesis, through pairwise comparison between risk indicators, the risk weights of risk factors at various levels in the risk assessment index system are rigorously calculated and sorted, and the degree of membership and validity are compared. The risk assessment index is judged, the fuzzy clustering algorithm is used to identify the bad data in the market competition data, and the conditional value-at-risk (CVaR) model is constructed to conduct risk assessment. Experimental results show that the actual logarithmic rate of return fluctuates around 0, most of which are higher than the Va R value. Only in extreme cases will it break the Va R curve; the accuracy of risk assessment is close to 100%, and the (Tech-Sector Volatility)TSV indicator begins to decline significantly. That is, the transmission sensitivity of risk data is effectively improved.

Coal fly ash resource utilization: Structure of siloxy group of high-modulus sodium silicate solution

To achieve the deep separation and resource utilization of alumina and silica in aluminosilicate solid wastes such as coal fly ash and coal gangue, the siloxy group structures of high-modulus sodium silicate solution under various moduli (1.5 – 3.0), sodium oxide concentrations (30 – 70 g·L−1) and thermal histories were studied as well as the solution properties of pH and viscosity. The results show that the polymerization degree of silicate anions and the solution viscosity increase with increasing modulus, and the solution structure becomes complex with a predominance of high-polymeric sheet (Q3), chain (Q2) and cage-like (Q4) groups, whereas the pH of the solution decreases. Although the number of high-polymeric siloxy groups increases with increasing temperature, neither increasing the temperature nor prolonging the residence time is conducive to the polymerization of high-polymeric siloxy groups. The polymerization degree and the number of silicate species increase with increasing sodium oxide concentration for solutions with a constant modulus. The viscosity of high-modulus solutions increases conspicuously due to the presence of siloxy groups with the higher polymerization degree, but the increase in pH is not significant.

Intraindividual pain variability metrics for youth with sickle cell disease: Relations to health outcomes.

While the majority of pediatric sickle cell disease (SCD) research has used mean pain intensity as the only pain metric, recent evidence suggests this metric alone is inadequate in describing the intraindividual variability in SCD pain experiences and subsequent impact. There is limited information on other intraindividual pain metrics in youth with SCD, or how they relate to health outcomes in this population. The aims of this study were to describe differing patterns of intraindividual pain metrics derived from ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) of youth with SCD and to characterize the unique relationships between these metrics and health outcomes. Eighty-eight youth with SCD, aged 8-17 (mean age=11.6), were recruited from three regional pediatric SCD clinics in the United States. At baseline, youth and their guardians reported on demographic and disease information. Then youth completed twice daily EMAs for up to 4weeks. Pain metrics derived from EMA data were calculated including mean daily pain intensity (DP), SD-DP (standard deviation of DP), proportion of pain days (PPD), and 90th percentile of DP (p90). Pearson correlations were calculated between pain metrics and health outcomes. High DP and SD-DP were correlated with more anxiety symptoms, while high SD-DP and p90 were correlated with more depression symptoms. High SD-DP was correlated with low self-esteem, and high DP and PPD were correlated with low sickle cell self-efficacy. For healthcare utilization due to pain, high p90 was correlated with more emergency department visits, while high DP, p90, and PPD were correlated with more healthcare contacts. There are distinct associations between pain variability metrics beyond DP and health outcomes. Collectively, the patterns of associations suggest the utility of these pain metrics for determining risk in relation to specific health outcomes for youth with SCD.

Bacterial Cellulose-Based Blends and Composites: Versatile Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering Applications.

Cellulose of bacterial origin, known as bacterial cellulose (BC), is one of the most versatile biomaterials that has a huge potential in tissue engineering due to its favourable mechanical properties, high hydrophilicity, crystallinity, and purity. Additional properties such as porous nano-fibrillar 3D structure and a high degree of polymerisation of BC mimic the properties of the native extracellular matrix (ECM), making it an excellent material for the fabrication of composite scaffolds suitable for cell growth and tissue development. Recently, the fabrication of BC-based scaffolds, including composites and blends with nanomaterials, and other biocompatible polymers has received particular attention owing to their desirable properties for tissue engineering. These have proven to be promising advanced materials in hard and soft tissue engineering. This review presents the latest state-of-the-art modified/functionalised BC-based composites and blends as advanced materials in tissue engineering. Their applicability as an ideal biomaterial in targeted tissue repair including bone, cartilage, vascular, skin, nerve, and cardiac tissue has been discussed. Additionally, this review briefly summarises the latest updates on the production strategies and characterisation of BC and its composites and blends. Finally, the challenges in the future development and the direction of future research are also discussed.

Effect of Natural Zeolite on Pore Structure of Cemented Uranium Tailings Backfill

The use of some environmental functional minerals as backfill-modified materials may improve the leaching resistance of cemented uranium tailings backfill created from alkali-activated slag (CUTB), but these materials may participate in the hydration reaction of the cementitious materials, which could have a certain impact on the pore structure of the CUTB, thus affecting its mechanical properties and leaching resistance. In this paper, natural zeolite is selected as the backfill-modified material, and it is added to alkali-activated slag paste (AASP) and CUTB in cementitious material proportions of 4%, 8%, 12%, and 16% to prepare AASP mixtures and CUTB mixtures containing environmental functional minerals. After the addition of natural zeolite, the porosity of the CUTB generally increases, but when the content is 4%, the porosity decreases to 22.30%. The uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of the CUTB generally decreases, but the decrease is the smallest when the content is 4%, and the UCS is 12.37 MPa. The addition of natural zeolite mainly reduces the number of fine pores in the CUTB, but the pores with relaxation times T2 of greater than 10 ms account for about 10% of the total pores, and there are a certain number of large pores in the CUTB. The main product of alkali-activated slag is calcium (alumino)silicate hydrate (C-(A)-S-H gel). When natural zeolite is added, the hydration products develop towards denser products with a high degree of polymerization and the formation of low polymerization products is reduced. This affects the internal fracture pores of the hydration products and the interface pores of the CUTB, has an irregular effect on the pore characteristics of the CUTB, and influences the UCS.