Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry Research Articles

Phosphorylating Tannin in Urea System: A Simple Approach for Enhanced Methylene Blue Removal from Aqueous Media.

Tannin, after lignin, is one of the most abundant sources of natural aromatic biomolecules. It has been used and chemically modified during the past few decades to create novel biobased materials. This work intended to functionalize for the first time quebracho Tannin (T) through a simple phosphorylation process in a urea system. The phosphorylation of tannin was studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), NMR, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), while further characterization was performed by scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to investigate the morphology, composition, structure, and thermal degradation of the phosphorylated material. Results indicated the occurrence of phosphorylation, suggesting the insertion of phosphate-containing groups into the tannin structure, revealing a high content of phosphate for modified tannin (PT). This elevated phosphorus content serves as evidence for the successful incorporation of phosphate groups through the functionalization process. The corresponding PT and T were employed as adsorbents for methylene blue (MB) removal from aqueous solutions. The results revealed that the Langmuir isotherm model effectively represents the adsorption isotherms. Additionally, the pseudo-second-order model indicates that chemisorption predominantly controls the adsorption mechanism. This finding also supports the fact that the introduced phosphate groups via the phosphorylation process significantly contributed to the improved adsorption capacity. Under neutral pH conditions and at room temperature, the material achieved an impressive adsorption capacity of 339.26 mg·g-1 in about 2 h.

Cytotoxicity of Zirconium Oxide Nanoparticles on Rabbit Tooth Gum Cells

The cytotoxicity mechanism of zirconium oxide nanoparticles (ZrO2-NPs) has not been clarified to-date. Nevertheless, the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by ZrO2-NPs has been perceived as an important mechanism in some in vivo studies. Accordingly, this study was conducted to identify the potential effects of ZrO2-NPs on rabbit tooth gum cells as well as the mechanism/s of their cytotoxicity. Synthesized ZrO2-NPs were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), Cell viability, ROS level, lipid peroxidation (LPO), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), glutathione count (GSH/GSSG), lysosome damage and apoptosis/necrosis were evaluated. Biodistribution studies were conducted on tooth gum, liver, kidney, heart and brain tissues in the rabbit using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP/OES). ZrO2-NPs increased ROS, MMP collapse and malondialdehyde (MDA). In contrast, GSH/GSSG and apoptosis/necrosis were found to be changed. The ZrO2-NPs accumulated significantly more on rabbit tooth gum tissues compared with other organs ([Formula: see text]). The study provided evidence that ZrO2-NPs cannot be considered completely biocompatible in the gum cell tissues of the rabbit. Before these nanoparticles can be used for human dental applications, further investigations on a wide range of cell death signaling should be performed.

Synthesis and evaluation of electrochemical and photocatalytic properties of rare Earth, Ni and Co mixed oxides recycled from spent Ni–MH battery anodes

This study presents a new environmentally favorable hydrometallurgical approach to the recycling of nickel–metal hydride (Ni–MH) battery anodes into new materials based on mixed oxides of Ni, Co, Mn, and lanthanides, which were applied as photocatalysts and electrodes in alkaline media. The starting material was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Tartaric acid was used as leaching agent for anode metals, and the resulting tartrate salts were converted to oxides via thermal treatment. Characterization of the synthesized materials was performed by XRD, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to analyze the electrochemical properties of oxides, which were found to behave as electric double-layer capacitors. The recycled materials were used as catalysts in the decolorization of methylene blue in the presence of H2O2 under UV radiation. A decolorization efficiency greater than 90% was achieved in a shorter time than that taken for the non-catalyzed reaction to achieve 80% color removal (maximum decolorization). The results showed that methylene blue photocatalysis and photolysis differ in optimal pH conditions and that the catalyzed reaction follows pseudo-first-order kinetics.

Cellular Uptake of Upconversion Nanoparticles Based on Surface Polymer Coatings and Protein Corona.

Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are materials that provide unique advantages for biomedical applications. There are constantly emerging customized UCNPs with varying compositions, coatings, and upconversion mechanisms. Cellular uptake is a key parameter for the biological application of UCNPs. Uptake experiments have yielded highly varying results, and correlating trends between cellular uptake with different types of UCNP coatings remains challenging. In this report, the impact of surface polymer coatings on the formation of protein coronas and subsequent cellular uptake of UCNPs by macrophages and cancer cells was investigated. Luminescence confocal microscopy and elemental analysis techniques were used to evaluate the different coatings for internalization within cells. Pathway inhibitors were used to unravel the specific internalization mechanisms of polymer-coated UCNPs. Coatings were chosen as the most promising for colloidal stability, conjugation chemistry, and biomedical applications. PIMA-PEG (poly(isobutylene-alt-maleic) anhydride with polyethylene glycol)-coated UCNPs were found to have low cytotoxicity, low uptake by macrophages (when compared with PEI, poly(ethylenimine)), and sufficient uptake by tumor cells for surface-loaded drug delivery applications. Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) studies revealed that PIMA-coated NPs were preferentially internalized by the clathrin- and caveolar-independent pathways, with a preference for clathrin-mediated uptake at longer time points. PMAO-PEG (poly(maleic anhydride-alt-1-octadecene) with polyethylene glycol)-coated UCNPs were internalized by energy-dependent pathways, while PAA- (poly(acrylic acid)) and PEI-coated NPs were internalized by multifactorial mechanisms of internalization. The results indicate that copolymers of PIMA-PEG coatings on UCNPs were well suited for the next-generation of biomedical applications.

Magnetically recoverable CuFe2O4 nanocatalyst: Dual catalytic action in sonogashira and Chan-Lam coupling reactions

Magnetically retrievable CuFe2O4 nanocatalyst has been synthesized for Sonogashira (C-C) and Chan-Lam (C-N) coupling reactions by a facile co-precipitation method. Synthesized nanocatalyst was characterized by powder x-ray diffraction (PXRD), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) analysis. The catalytic action of the catalyst was evaluated for both Pd-free C-C coupling and base-free C-N coupling reactions where an excellent product yield up to 96 % and 95 % respectively was obtained. The uniqueness of the catalyst was its effective performance under ambient reaction conditions in green solvents such as EtOH and EtOH:H2O (1:1) with a broad substrate scope. The catalyst can be easily retrieved from the reaction mixture with the aid of an external magnet and reused at least five times without significant loss in catalytic activity. The structural stability of the recovered catalyst was confirmed by XRD, FTIR, SEM and ICP-OES (Inductively coupled plasma - optical emission spectrometry) analysis. Thus, the synthesized catalyst works excellently well for dual applications and establishes the sustainable application of the catalyst.

Impact of Soluble and Exchangeable Concentrations of Elements in Surface Sediments from Recreational Areas on Culturable Bacterial Behaviors

Contamination of major and trace elements in sediments is a global concern due to their potential risks to organisms. Bacteria also play vital roles in ecosystem processes and human health. However, the environmental adaptation of bacterial species due to human activities remains unclear. Therefore, in this study, surface sediments were collected from 12 recreational areas in Istanbul, Türkiye. Major and trace elements were determined in soluble and exchangeable fractions of sediments using inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). In addition, viability and primary biochemical and oxidative markers (protein, antioxidant, and lipid peroxidase) of gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa were assessed with exposure to soluble and exchangeable fractions of sediments from 1 to 42 h. The results showed that Na, Mg, K, Ca, P, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, and Al were present at average concentrations of 1254.1 ± 574.5, 234857.0 ± 126335.7, 109960.3 ± 73248.6, 201343.0 ± 84426.4, 124.0 ± 77.1, 129.5 ± 82.4, 36.0 ± 22.8, 25.2 ± 32.8, 26.3 ± 16.4, and 186.5 ± 76.7 mg/kg, respectively. The bacterial responses to the soluble and exchangeable fractions of sediments showed that approximately 27% of Staphylococcus aureus exhibited inhibition at short exposures; the inhibition levels were 14% to 34% for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. However, the inhibition decreased and no specific viability changes were observed at longer exposures compared to controls. The viability of bacteria is explained by the protein, antioxidant and lipid peroxidation with moderate and strong correlations. The bacterial responses were evaluated using elemental concentrations, and adaptation was explained by the correlation results.

Development Of A Distance Education Experiment Set That Allows The Ratio Of Chemical Components In Hydroponic Farming Nutrient Liquid To Be Estimated By Artificial Intelligence

With the increase and development of electronic systems, especially with the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) applications, AI has begun to meet many of humanity's needs. Due to the rapidly increasing human population and the decreasing availability of fertile land, the use of AI has become necessary in rapidly expanding soilless agriculture practices. One of the biggest challenges in soilless agriculture is the inability to accurately determine the chemical content of nutrient solutions in real-time. In this study, the results of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and electrical conductivity (EC) were obtained for 300 hydroponic agriculture nutrient solutions containing different ratios of Mg, K, and P minerals. The obtained data were evaluated using artificial neural networks in Matlab® software, with ICP-OES results as inputs and EC results as outputs (3 inputs-1 output). The results were uploaded to the cloud system using Firebase, and an EC meter capable of communicating with the cloud was developed. The results of the produced EC meter were compared with the data in the cloud, and attempts were made to determine the element ratios in the nutrient solution content of 300 samples using artificial neural networks. The Pearson Correlation Constant (R) was found to be 0.860 for all data. According to the test results obtained with the produced system, the success rate of the artificial neural network in detecting the chemical composition of the nutrient solution ranged from 53.2% to 87.4% depending on the chemical ratios in the nutrient solution.

Post‐Synthetic Modification of Mixed‐Metal UiO‐66 Framework for Rapid Neutralization of Chemical Warfare Agent Simulants

AbstractMetal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) are a promising class of materials for catalysis, offering unique opportunities for designing efficient and selective catalysts. In this study, we have focused on the synthesis and catalytic activity of a novel mixed metal MOF, Ce/Zr−UiO‐66@LiOtBu, designed for the rapid hydrolysis of chemical warfare agents simulants: dimethyl 4‐nitrophenyl phosphate (DMNP) and 2‐chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES). This MOF was thoroughly characterized using powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD), BET surface area, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP‐OES). The catalytic performance of Ce/Zr−UiO‐66@LiOtBu was monitored in the hydrolysis of DMNP and CEES by using 31P NMR and GC‐MS respectively. Remarkably, the MOF demonstrated rapid and efficient catalytic activity, breaking the P−O bond in DMNP with 2 min and the hydrolysis of CEES was observed in less than 45 min The results suggest the potential application of Ce/Zr−UiO‐66@LiOtBu as a robust catalyst in the detoxification of chemical warfare agent simulants. Our findings highlight the novelty of Ce/Zr−UiO‐66@LiOtBu as a catalytically active MOF, showcasing the successful integration of cerium ions and lithium tert‐butoxide to enhance basicity.

Biosorption of copper, nickel, and manganese as well as the production of metal nanoparticles by Bacillus species isolated from soils contaminated with electronic wastes.

Improper electronic waste management in the world especially in developing countries such as Iran has resulted in environmental pollution. Copper, nickel, and manganese are from the most concerned soil contaminating heavy metals which found in many electronic devices that are not properly processed. The aim of this study was to investigate the biological removal of copper, nickel, and manganese by Bacillus species isolated from a landfill of electronic waste (Zainal Pass hills located in Isfahan, Iran) which is the and to produce nanoparticles from the studied metals by the isolated bacteria. The amounts of copper, nickel, and manganese in the soil was measured as 1.9 × 104 mg/kg, 0.011 × 104 mg/kg and 0.013 × 104 mg/kg, respectively based on ICP-OES analysis, which was significantly higher than normal (0.02 mg/kg, 0.05 mg/kg, and 2 mg/kg, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of metals on the bacterial isolates was determined. The biosorption of metals by the bacteria was evaluated by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The metal nanoparticles were synthetized utilizing the isolates in culture media containing the heavy metals with the concentrations to which the isolates had shown resistance. X ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were used for the evaluation of the fabrication of the produced metal nanoparticles. Based on the findings of this study, a total of 15 bacterial isolates were obtained from the soil samples. The obtained MICs of copper, nickel, and manganese on the isolates were 40-300 mM, 4-10 mM, and 60-120 mM, respectively. The most resistant isolates to copper were FM1 and FM2 which were able to bio-remove 79.81% and 68.69% of the metal, respectively. FM4 and FM5 were respectively the most resistant isolate to nickel and manganese and were able to bio-remove 86.74% and 91.96% of the metals, respectively. FM1, FM2, FM4, and FM5 was molecularly identified as Bacillus cereus, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus paramycoides, and Bacillus wiedmannii, respectively. The results of XRD, SEM and EDS showed conversion of the copper and manganese into spherical and oval nanoparticles with the approximate sizes of 20-40 nm. Due to the fact that the novel strains in this study showed high resistance to copper, nickel, and manganese and high adsorption of the metals, they can be used in the future, as suitable strains for the bio-removal of these metals from electronic and other industrial wastes.

Evaluating Heavy Metals in Human Breast Milk: a Cross-Sectional Study from Mining and Agricultural Areas in Northwestern Iran.

This study aimed to assess the levels of heavy metals in the breast milk of women residing in the mining and agricultural areas of East Azerbaijan province in Iran. This cross-sectional study analyzed 68 lactating mothers from mining (n = 28) and agricultural (n = 40) areas of East Azerbaijan province in Iran between June 2022 and March 2023. The study used an Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) to measure the concentrations of heavy metals, including arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), and iron (Fe). A semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (SQ-FFQ) was used to collect data on the dietary and sociodemographic characteristics of the mothers. Although the concentration of arsenic (As) was below the limit of detection (LOD), the mean concentrations of chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), and iron (Fe) were 1.11, 0.87, and 13.25mg/L in agricultural areas and 0.83, 0.93, and 11.35mg/L in mining areas, respectively. The concentrations of Cr (p < 0.001) and Fe (p = 0.019) were significantly higher in the breast milk of women residing in agricultural areas. However, the concentration of Cu was significantly higher (p = 0.085) in the breast milk of women living in mining areas. Additionally, lactation age had a significant effect on Cu levels (p = 0.015), with a negative coefficient of -0.011. The study indicates that the levels of heavy metals in breast milk can be influenced by the exposure to pesticides, fertilizers, volcanic soil, and disparities in access to post-natal care and iron supplements.

Relevance of using portable X-ray fluorescence to identify gold hyperaccumulator plants

Field Portable X-Ray Fluorescence (FPXRF) was investigated as an alternative analysis tool for the detection and quantification of gold in hyperaccumulator plants in the field. First, synthetic gold standards were prepared with materials chosen to best simulate plant material, using microcrystalline cellulose (mcc) or ash by adding known amounts of gold. Powder samples were obtained containing gold in amounts ranging from 10 to 1000 ppm of gold. They were analysed, as well as blank samples of mcc and ash, using a NITON xl3t GOLDD+ FPXRF spectrometer in AllGeo and Soil modes with an analysis time of 60 s. Results were compared to Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) analysis of the synthetic gold standards after digestion in aqua regia. Gold was detected and accurately quantified in synthetic gold standards containing more than 25 ppm of gold in AllGeo mode. At lower concentration, results were much more inaccurate, with no gold being detected at 10 ppm. In Soil mode, similar results to AllGeo mode were obtained with mcc synthetic standards. However, with ash synthetic standard gold quantification was very poor over the whole concentration range and gold was detected in the blank ash sample, which was confirmed as a false positive by the subsequent ICP analysis. Samples of Phyllanthus stipulatus, suspected gold hyperaccumulators, collected on gold-bearing sites in French Guiana were then analysed following the same protocol. The same false positive phenomenon was observed in some of them, with gold being detected by FPXRF in Soil mode but not by ICP analysis. Furthermore, analysis of the FPXRF spectra revealed that none of the characteristic gold emission ray was present. This false positive was attributed to an interference caused by zinc, present in significant amount in the ash of the synthetic standard and the collected plants.

The key role of major and trace elements in the formation of five common urinary stones

BackgroundUrolithiasis has emerged as a global affliction, recognized as one of the most excruciating medical issues. The elemental composition of stones provides crucial information, aiding in understanding the causes, mechanisms, and individual variations in stone formation. By understanding the interactions between elements in various types of stones and exploring the key role of elements in stone formation, insights are provided for the prevention and treatment of urinary stone disease.MethodsThis study collected urinary stone samples from 80 patients in Beijing. The chemical compositions of urinary stones were identified using an infrared spectrometer. The concentrations of major and trace elements in the urinary stones were determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), respectively. The data were processed using correlation analysis and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) methods.ResultsUrinary stones are categorized into five types: the calcium oxalate (CO) stone, carbonate apatite (CA) stone, uric acid (UA) stone, mixed CO and CA stone, and mixed CO and UA stone. Ca is the predominant element, with an average content ranging from 2.64 to 27.68% across the five stone groups. Based on geochemical analysis, the high-content elements follow this order: Ca > Mg > Na > K > Zn > Sr. Correlation analysis and PCA suggested significant variations in the interactions between elements for different types of urinary stones. Trace elements with charges and ionic structures similar to Ca may substitute for Ca during the process of stone formation, such as Sr and Pb affecting the Ca in most stone types except mixed stone types. Moreover, the Mg, Zn and Ba can substitute for Ca in the mixed stone types, showing element behavior dependents on the stone types.ConclusionThis study primarily reveals distinct elemental features associated with five types of urinary stones. Additionally, the analysis of these elements indicates that substitutions of trace elements with charges and ion structures similar to Ca (such as Sr and Pb) impact most stone types. This suggests a dependence of stone composition on elemental behavior. The findings of this study will enhance our ability to address the challenges posed by urinary stones to global health and improve the precision of interventions for individuals with different stone compositions.

Photocatalytic water oxidation by iron and copper phthalocyanine complexes immobilized on Fe3O4@SiO2@TiO2 under visible light irradiation

In this research, the heterogeneous catalysts of Fe3O4@SiO@TiO‐FePc and Fe3O4@SiO@TiO‐ CuPcN (FePc = iron (II) phthalocyanine and CuPcN = copper (II) tetraazaphthalocyanine), termed respectively as nanocomposites 1 and 2, were prepared by immobilizing the FePc and CuPcN complexes on the Fe3O4@SiO@TiO surface and used for the photocatalytic water oxidation reaction. Since phthalocyanine complexes have received very little attention as photocatalysts for water oxidation, the advantage of the synthesized photocatalyst owes to the ability of the phthalocyanine complex grafted on the titanium substrate to oxidize water in the photocatalytic reaction. The prepared nanocomposites were then studied by diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy‐dispersive X‐ray (EDX), Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopies, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), inductively coupled plasma‐optical emission spectroscopy (ICP‐OES), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, ultraviolet diffuse reflectance (DRS), and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopies. The photocatalytic response of water oxidation by nanocomposites 1 and 2 was investigated in the presence of silver nitrate as an electron recipient at ambient temperature. The progress of the water oxidation reaction was monitored with an oxygen meter. The amount of oxygen generated in the presence of nanocomposites 1 and 2 under visible light irradiation was found to be 2.6 and 2.1 mg L−1, respectively. Owing to the existence of magnetic material, these nanocomposites can be effortlessly removed from the response medium with an external magnet. The involved nanocomposites can be used up to three times in catalytic water oxidation reactions with no significant change in their photocatalytic activity.

Ultrasound-assisted Cu(II) Strecker-functionalized organocatalyst for green azide-alkyne cycloaddition and Ullmann reactions.

A new aminonitrile-functionalized Fe3O4 has been synthesized via the Strecker reaction, the designed aminonitrile ligand on the surface of the magnetic core coordinated to copper(II) to obtain the final new catalyst. The fabricated nanocatalyst was characterized by Fourier transform Infrared (FT-IR), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Vibrating-Sample Magnetometer (VSM), Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). The high tendency of nitrogens in the aminonitrile functional group to make a complex with Cu(II) has caused the practical activity of this nucleus in this catalyst. This nanocatalyst performance was investigated in azide-alkyne Huisgen cycloaddition (3 + 2) reaction for achieving to 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles in water as a green media at room temperature. In another try, Classic Ullmann Reaction was investigated for the synthesis of biaryls at 85°C promoted by ultrasonic condition (37 kHz). The reaction scope was explored using different reactants and the results of using this developed catalytic system demonstrated its capacity to reduce the reaction time and enhance the reaction efficiency to provide good to excellent product yield. Conversely, the simple recycling and reusability of this catalyst for at least six times without any noticeable leaching of copper makes it a potential future catalyst for synthesizing such compounds.

Assessment of trace elements in Iranian kefir samples by using ICP-OES technique

ABSTRACT In this research, levels of 12 trace elements (Al, Zn, Cd, Ni, Hg, Pb, Co, Cr, Se, Fe, As and Mn) were measured in Iranian kefir samples by using ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy) method. Based on our findings, the maximum and minimum averages of essential elements were related to Fe (423 ± 146 µg/kg) and Se (not detected or ND), respectively, and the maximum and minimum averages of toxic elements were related to As (13.3 ± 4.68 µg/kg) and Hg (ND), respectively. Based on the amount of fat in the kefir samples, the highest mean values of toxic and essential elements was related to As (15.9 ± 5.25 µg/kg) and Fe (466 ± 177 µg/kg) in high-fat kefir samples, respectively. In addition, the correlation between the amount of fat and elements in the samples was shown with a multivariate principal component analysis (PCA). Based on the obtained results, the amount of trace elements in kefir samples was lower than the existing standards (Cd = 10, Pb = 20, Al = 500, Hg = 20, As = 140, Mn = 100 and Fe = 2700 µg/kg). Also, in reviewing the results by PCA analysis, the differences and similarities between the type and amount of toxic elements and essential elements in kefir samples have been shown. Finally, based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that the consumption of this food item can be safe due to the low level of elements below the acceptable limit.

Synthesis and characterization of Novel Igepal Co-520 surfactant coated Fe3O4 Nanoparticles: An evaluation of Vanadium enrichment in spice samples

In this study, novel Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated with surfactant Igepal Co-520 (polyoxyethylene (5) nonylphenylether) as adsorbent were synthesized, and total vanadium recovery was performed by magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE) method. Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated with Igepal Co-520 were employed in the investigation of vanadium enrichment. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDX), X-Ray Diffraction Analysis (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and total vanadium concentration was determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). The corresponding values for the pH, adsorbent amount, and contact time were 3, 5 mg, and 120 min. Total vanadium was recovered from an aqueous solution under the optimum conditions. Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms, pseudo-first and pseudo-second order adsorption kinetics, foreign ion studies, desorption, and analytical value studies were performed. In isotherm studies, the effect on adsorption was examined by varying the vanadium concentration between 1 mg/L and 100 mg/L. The Langmuir model (R2>0.99) seems to be more compatible with vanadium adsorption than the Freundlich model (R2<0.87). Pseudo−first-order and pseudo-second-order equations were used to evaluate adsorption kinetic models. It has been observed that the pseudo-quadratic equation (R2>0.89) was more suitable for modeling than the pseudo-first-order equation (R2<0.56). The analytical performance parameters of the method were calculated as enrichment factor (EF) 114, the limit of detection (LOD) 8.3 µg/L, the limit of quantification (LOQ) 28.3 µg/L, and relative standard deviation (RSD) 1.20 %. At various molarities, the effects of acidic (HCl) and basic (NaOH) agents on the desorption of total vanadium ions adsorbed on the magnetic Fe3O4 surface were examined and compared. It was observed that the maximum recovery (100 %) was obtained using HCl as the desorption agent. The total vanadium concentration in spice samples was measured in an actual sample analysis. All the results demonstrate that the Fe3O4@Igepal Co-520 was successfully synthesized and has the potential to be a useful tool for heavy metal recovery.

Enhancing the selectivity for light olefins through catalytic cracking of n-hexane by phosphorus doping on lanthanum-modified ZSM-5.

Naphtha, as the primary raw material in the production of light olefins, could well accommodate their increasing demand through the energy-efficient process of catalytic cracking with ZSM-5. In the current work, different amounts of lanthanum and phosphorous were loaded on ZSM-5 using the wet impregnation method to tune the acidic properties of ZSM-5 for selective catalytic cracking of n-hexane to produce light olefins. Various characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Al nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), temperature-programmed desorption of NH3 (NH3-TPD), Py-Fourier transform infra-red (Py-FTIR), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), N2 adsorption-desorption, X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy were adopted to investigate the modified zeolites. It was found that adding La to ZSM-5 (0.25wt% to 1wt%) improved the catalytic life and increased the n-hexane conversion (to 99.7%), while the further addition had a negative impact, reducing the conversion rate and deviating the product selectivity towards a substantial, undesired benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX) fraction (33%). On the other hand, a 64% selectivity for light olefins was achieved on phosphorous-doped ZSM-5 (at a loading amount of 1wt%) while reducing the BTX fraction (2.3%) and converting 69% of the n-hexane. A dual metal-modified ZSM-5 with optimal loading amount, 1P0.25LaZ5 (phosphorus 1wt% and La 0.25wt%), helped boost the light olefin selectivity to 62% in the tuned Lewis acid sites at an n-hexane conversion of about 77% while decreasing the undesired BTX selectivity to 3% by reducing the number of Brønsted sites. Thus, the current study reveals that tuning the acidic sites of ZMS-5 by dual metal augmentation with P.La is an effective way of controlling the amount of undesirable BTX produced at a stable n-hexane conversion rate and substantial olefin selectivity.

Bioactive coatings on biopolymer materials: evaluation of mechanical, physical, thermal, and in vitro properties

AbstractThe aim of this study was to develop and characterize coatings of bioglass nanoparticles (BGNs) on biopolymer (poly [glycolide-co-L-lactide], (PGLA)) surgical sutures, and to investigate the effects of these coatings on the performance of the sutures as they slid through a skin substitute. Melt-derived BGNs were used to coat resorbable PGLA biopolymers, providing them with bioactivity, biocompatibility, and improved physical and mechanical properties. The structural, thermal, and physical properties of the coated and uncoated biopolymers were analyzed using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDXS). The dissolution profiles and bioactivity of the BGNs-coated PGLA biopolymers were assessed through Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). Tensile strength tests were conducted on the biopolymers before and after immersion in simulated body fluid to evaluate the impact of the BGNs coating on the degradation of PGLA biopolymers. Incorporating BGNs into PGLA resulted in improved tensile strength properties. The study also found that increasing the BGNs ions content facilitated the formation of a hydroxycarbonate apatite (HCA) layer in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium and medium with L-glutamine and sodium bicarbonate solutions. In vitro bioactivity tests demonstrated that the coated suture biopolymers exhibited enhanced attachment, migration, and proliferation of fibroblasts, indicating favorable biocompatibility of the biomaterial for clinical applications.

Elemental Analysis with Sorption Preconcentration by Graphene Oxide for Mineral Water by Inductively Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission and Mass Spectrometries (ICP-OES and ICP-MS)

The paper discusses using sorption preconcentration of elements from mineral waters by graphene oxide. The procedure aims to extract heavy metals such as Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn and other analytes from solution. Inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma – optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) were used to determine the analyte content. Graphene oxide was obtained by microwave exfoliation of graphite oxide. The sorption of analytes on the graphene oxide at different pH values and coexisting ion effect were studied in detail. Preliminary preconcentration of analytes provides good extraction recoveries using the optimal conditions. The limits of detection (LODs) of 27 analytes for the developed procedure ranged 0.1 to 200 ng L−1 for ICP-MS and from 5 to 1000 ng L−1 for ICP-OES. Sorption concentration provides recoveries of analytes from 80 to 110%. Graphene oxide was successfully employed for the sorption preconcentration of analytes from mineral and tap water.

Classification of wooden wastes with machine learning approaches

In this study, 200 wood waste samples from different origins were analysed by Inductive coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for 11 elements (lead, cadmium, aluminium, iron, zinc, copper, chrome, arsenic, nickel, mercury and sulphur) that are likely to present in wood waste. In the study, the data as non-hazardous and hazardous was evaluated based on the standard (TS EN ISO 17225-1, 2021). Artificial neural network (ANN) and random forest (RF) analyses were then applied to better analyze and interpret the data. In this way, statistical separation of wood wastes as non-hazardous and hazardous was realized. Accordingly, it was shown that random forest analysis with an accuracy rate of 100% was better than artificial neural network analysis with an accuracy rate of 99%. Results suggested that wood wastes could be recycled and entered the production cycle in a way to contribute to the national economy or be incinerated with appropriate methods in bioenergy production in an environmentally friendly way which would be possible with the accurate classification of these wastes. In this study, the classification of wood wastes as hazardous and non-hazardous with 100% accuracy rate using ICP data with machine learning approaches, which is not encountered in the literature review.