Neutral Water Research Articles

Simultaneous treatment with tap water-based neutral electrolyzed water and citric acid for inactivating foodborne pathogens on stainless steel and their synergistic bactericidal mechanisms

Electrolyzed water has many potential applications, the primary one being the eliminating microorganisms in the food industry. However, this application is limited by high chlorine levels. Tap water-based neutral electrolyzed water (TNEW) has the advantage of relatively low chlorine concentration (1.7–4.6 mg/L), but its sterilization effect is limited. In this study, TNEW was combined with citric acid (CA) solution, resulting in strong synergistic inactivation effect on Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes on stainless steel surfaces. Simultaneous treatment of stainless steel with TNEW [available chlorine concentration (ACC) of 4.97 mg/L] and 0.1% CA for 15 min resulted in 4.78-, 4.26-, and >5.69 log CFU/cm2 surface reduction in E. coli O157:H7, S. Typhimurium, and L. monocytogenes, respectively, which was a synergistic cell count reductions of 3.25, 2.83, and >3.84 log units, respectively. Fluorescence and RT-qPCR analyses identified synergistic production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), damage to the cell membrane resulting from lipid peroxidation, and DNA damage as the major factors contributing to the synergistic lethal effect. The results of this study suggest that the TNEW–CA combination treatment can be applied as a potential substitute for conventional electrolyzed water treatment for food contact surface disinfection.

Long-Term Storage Stability of Neutral Electrolyzed Water by Two-Stage Electrolysis: Optimal Storage Conditions for Intraoral Use

Electrolyzed water mainly containing hypochlorous acid is widely used because of its strong microbicidal effects, biosafety, and eco-friendliness. For frequent use in intraoral treatments, we focused on neutral electrolyzed water (NW) produced using two-stage electrolysis and investigated its storage stability. For standard-concentration NW preparations with a free available chlorine concentration (ACC) of 25, 35, and 50 mg/L and high-concentration NW preparations (100, 200, 300, 500, and 1000 mg/L), the changes in the pH, oxidation reduction potential, and ACC during a 126-day storage period and the bactericidal efficacies after storage were examined. Storage under non-shaded conditions at room temperature (LRT) and a higher ACC substantially altered the properties of the NW. NW (≤300 mg/L) had a pH of 5.9–7.3 even after storage under LRT; however, NW with a higher ACC (500 and 1000 mg/L) had a pH ˂ 5.5, critical for human enamel, even under shaded and refrigerated conditions (SLW). Only NW (25 mg/L) stored under LRT decreased the bactericidal effect (removal rate: 99.8%). When stored for use in intraoral treatments, NW should be prepared with an ACC of 25–300 mg/L and stored in SLW. It is suggested that stored NW, especially when diluting it, should be checked to ensure it maintains the properties appropriate for every intended purpose.

Enhancing durability and oil-water separation efficiency with plasma-treated graphene oxide coated mesh

In recent years, there has been a surge in interest surrounding the fabrication and utilization of superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic surfaces, driven by their exceptional functionalities and properties. Graphene Oxide (GO) has inherent hydrophilicity and underwater superoleophobicity, which has made this material a particularly capable candidate for oil-water separation. Addressing the persistent challenge of efficient oil-water separation in industrial contexts, this study presents the fabrication of a GO-coated stainless steel mesh via a facile dip coating method augmented by an intermediate two-step O2 plasma treatment. The coated meshes were tested with various oil and water mixtures, including neutral, acidic, saline, and hot water, to find separation efficiency and recyclability. Notably, the meshes can achieve excellent separation efficiency of approximately 98.9 % and a superior flux of 11,464 L m−2 h−1 driven by gravity. This is a significant improvement over GO-coated meshes without O2 plasma treatment. Moreover, the plasma-treated meshes exhibit robust long-term durability and chemical stability, maintaining high underwater oil contact angles ≥119° even after extended immersion in diverse pH mediums and salt solutions for 150 days. This work showcases the practical viability of plasma-treated GO-coated meshes for oil-water separation applications and establishes a framework for systematically evaluating their long-term performance in harsh immersion conditions.

Attosecond impulsive stimulated X-ray Raman scattering in liquid water.

We report the measurement of impulsive stimulated x-ray Raman scattering in neutral liquid water. An attosecond pulse drives the excitations of an electronic wavepacket in water molecules. The process comprises two steps: a transition to core-excited states near the oxygen atoms accompanied by transition to valence-excited states. Thus, the wavepacket is impulsively created at a specific atomic site within a few hundred attoseconds through a nonlinear interaction between the water and the x-ray pulse. We observe this nonlinear signature in an intensity-dependent Stokes Raman sideband at 526 eV. Our measurements are supported by our state-of-the-art calculations based on the polarization response of water dimers in bulk solvation and propagation of attosecond x-ray pulses at liquid density.

Co-complexes on modified graphite surface for steady green hydrogen production from water at neutral pH.

Green hydrogen production from water is one attractive route to non-fossil fuel and a potential source of clean energy. Hydrogen is not only a zero-carbon energy source but can also be utilized as an efficient storage of electrical energy generated through various other sources, such as wind and solar. Cost-effective and environmentally benign direct hydrogen production through neutral water (∼pH 7) reduction is particularly challenging due to the low concentration of protons. There is currently a major need for easy-to-prepare, robust, as well as active electrode materials. Herein we report three new molecular electrodes that were prepared by anchoring commercially available, and environmentally benign cobalt-containing electrocatalysts with three different ligand frameworks (porphyrin, phthalocyanine, and corrin) on a structurally modified graphite foil surface. Under the studied reaction conditions (over 7h at 22°C), the electrode with Co-porphyrin is the most efficient for the water reduction with starting ∼740mV onset potential (OP) (vs. RHE, current density 2.5mA/cm2) and a Tafel slope (TS) of 103mV/dec. It is followed by the molecular electrodes having Co-phthalocyanine [825mV (OP), 138mV/dec (TS)] and Vitamin-B12 (Co-corrin moiety) [830mV (OP), 194 mv/dec (TS)]. A clear time-dependent improvement (>200mV over 3h) in the H2 production overpotential with the Co-porphyrin-containing cathode was observed. This is attributed to the activation due to water coordination to the Co-center. A long-term chronopotentiometric stability test shows a steady production of hydrogen from all three cathode surfaces throughout seven hours, confirmed using an H2 needle sensor. At a current density of 10mA/cm2, the Co-porphyrin-containing electrode showed a TOF value of 0.45s-1 at 870mV vs. RHE, whereas the Co-phthalocyanine and Vitamin-B12-containing electrodes showed 0.37 and 0.4s-1 at 1.22V and 1.15V (vs. RHE), respectively.

Constructing Unsaturated Ru Atom Arrays Confined in Mn Oxides to Boost Neutral Water Reduction

Recently, Ru single atoms supported on carbon nanomaterials have demonstrated ultrahigh activity for acid hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), however their neutral HER activity remains low due to the sluggish kinetics for both the water dissociation step to generate H* intermediates and subsequent H* recombination in neutral electrolytes. Here, we synthesize ordered low‐coordinated Ru atom arrays confined in Mn oxides (i.e., Li4Mn5O12) for concurrently boosting the water dissociation and H* recombination, thus achieving a 6‐fold HER activity enhancement than commercial Pt/C in neutral media. Control experiments indicate that low‐coordinated Ru atoms with strong affinity to oxygen atoms of water molecules facilitate the water dissociation to rapidly generate H*. More importantly, both electrochemical and theoretic results uncover that the array‐like structure allows the activation of two water molecules on two adjacent Ru atoms for enabling direct H*–H* recombination via the Tafel step, while isolated Ru atoms can only activate water one by one for recombining H* via the sluggish Heyrovsky step. Clearly, this work paves new avenues to boosting the electrocatalytic activity by constructing ordered metal atoms assembles with controllable coordination environments.

Enhanced corrosion resistance of a novel periodic multilayered Si/(Si, N)-DLC coating against simulated coal mine water

In this study, a novel periodic multilayered DLC coating, which was composed of a Si interlayer and a Si/N co-incorporated DLC layer (Si/(Si, N)-DLC) per period, was deposited; the corrosion behavior under the neutral, acidic, or alkaline coal mine water environment and its periodic number dependence, especially the fundamental corrosion mechanism, were systemically explored. Results suggest that compare to the substrate, the introduction of multilayered Si/(Si, N)-DLC coating presents a dramatic enhancement in the corrosion resistance under coal mine water environment. However, with increasing the periodic number, the corrosion resistance of the multilayered coating strongly depends on the working environment, which exhibits an enhancement in neutral and alkaline environments while a degeneration in acidic environment. This is attributed to not only the prolongation of the corrosion path caused by the multilayered structure but also the formation of an insulating silicon oxide layer in neutral and alkaline environments. However, in acidic environments, the strong permeability of H+ with the smallest ionic radius easily infiltrates the inherent defects of the coating. This not only weakens the protective properties of the multilayer structure but also leads to hydrogen-induced cracking, ultimately diminishing corrosion resistance. These findings theoretically guide the development of the DLC coatings with excellent corrosion resistance for coal mine applications.

Head and neck cooling enhance exercise tolerance in individuals with multiple sclerosis

BackgroundIndividuals with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) experience impairments in heat dissipation, compromising core temperature regulation during exercise. ObjectiveTo examine the efficacy of combined head-and-neck cooling as administered via a commercially available cooling cap and neck wrap in mitigating increases in core temperature during exercise. MethodsOn separate days, ten (7 females) adults (46.1 ± 11.6 years) with relapsing-remitting MS performed semi-recumbent cycling consisting of an incremental exercise bout to volitional fatigue in a temperate environment (23 °C, 50 % relative humidity) while undergoing head-and-neck cooling using a cooling cap and neck wrap maintained at 10 °C (COLD) or 24–26 °C (NEUTRAL). Prior to and following a 30-minute post-exercise recovery, functional capacity was assessed by a battery of tests consisting of a 2-minute walk test, Timed 25-Foot Walk test, sit-to-stand test, and Berg Balance Scale. Core (ingestible pill) and skin temperatures were recorded continuously. The level of fatigue was measured with questionnaires. ResultsThe duration of the incremental exercise test increased with the application of COLD (28.4 ± 5.1 min) versus NEUTRAL water (vs 20.8 ± 5.1 min) (p = 0.001) and was paralleled by a significant reduction in body temperatures (∼1 °C, p < 0.05). The distance covered during the 2-min walk test performed after the incremental exercise test increased with the COLD (176.5 ± 0.6 m), relative to the NEUTRAL condition (147.7 ± 43.5 m) (p = 0.01). Fatigue levels did not change between conditions. ConclusionWe show that head-and-neck cooling with cold water effectively enhances exercise tolerance and mitigates increases in core temperature during exercise in individuals with MS.

Effects of water chemistry on corrosion and plugging in the copper heat exchangers of water-cooled generators in power plants

Corrosion and plugging of hollow copper conductors in water-cooled generators can cause system failures, such as flow restrictions and forced unit outages. Although both neutral water chemistry (NWC) and slightly alkaline water chemistry (SAWC) have been proposed as solutions, field operations show that NWC frequently suffers from system failures, while SAWC demonstrates high reliability. The scientific basis for this phenomenon has not been well understood. In this paper, the thermodynamics of NWC and SAWC were established to compare their tendencies toward copper corrosion and plugging. SAWC keeps copper in a stable CuO passivation region, exhibiting a superior buffer capacity against CO2 inleakage and the temperature rise of the cooling water. This buffer capacity is further enhanced by increasing the degree of the slight-alkalization. Under the SAWC with a pH value of 9.0 at 298.15 K, the concentration of the dissolved copper species is extremely low, and the positive temperature coefficient of CuO solubility prevents the accumulation of copper corrosion products in high-temperature regions. In contrast, NWC is susceptible to corrosion and plugging due to its poor buffer capacity. This study provides new insights into the effects of water chemistry on copper corrosion and plugging from a thermodynamic perspective, offering a sound theoretical basis for field operations.

A strategy to reutilize silver nanoparticles on silicon nanowires via photocathodic activation for enhanced and sustainable hydrogen evolution

The development of electrodes for hydrogen evolution via water splitting in a neutral electrolyte is highly desirable, especially considering that natural water resources such as seawater typically have a neutral pH. In this study, silicon nanowires (SiNWs) arrays with uniform silver (Ag) decoration are prepared as a cathode material, which exhibits excellent and stable electrochemical performance for neutral water electrolysis. Ag ions, utilized in the preparation of SiNWs through metal-assisted chemical etching technique, are retained and decorated within the SiNWs array without undergoing a dissolution process, referred to as Native SiNWs. Remained Ag+ ions on the SiNWs are activated photocathodically and reduced to Ag0, resulting in a significantly enhanced performance as an electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Hence, this photocathodic activation of Native SiNWs (PCA-Native SiNWs) eliminates the need for additional cocatalyst deposition for HER, utilizing the Ag ions employed in the SiNWs preparation process. This enhancement in HER activity is exclusively observed by photocathodic activation, not by cathodic activation without light irradiation, indicating the crucial role of photoelectrons in SiNWs under light irradiation for the activation. Additionally, the nanowire structure serves as an ideal platform for Ag nanoparticles, providing sufficient surface area, resulting in excellent dispersion and an increased number of active sites. Furthermore, PCA-Native SiNWs demonstrates outstanding electrochemical stability for over 60 h, with no significant reduction in current density or structural degradation in a neutral electrolyte. Several characterizations and electrochemical analyses have been conducted to elucidate the in-situ decoration of Ag nanoparticles on SiNWs and investigate the surface chemistry for the activation mechanism. This work introduces a new perspective on using Ag-decorated SiNWs directly as an electrocatalyst for effective hydrogen evolution in a neutral media.

Hydrogen Evolution Atomic Cluster Catalysts-Decorated Hierarchical Nanoporous Zinc for on-Demand Hydrogen Generation By Metal Hydrolysis

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in nanoporous metals due to their wide range of applications, including catalysis, electrocatalysis, energy storage, actuation, and plasmonics. However, considerable attention has been given to precious nanoporous metals such as nanoporous Au, Pd, Pt, Ag, and Cu due to their low chemical reactivity, which makes them relatively easy to synthesize and characterize. Less precious nanoporous metals such as nanoporous Zn, Al, and Mg have been rarely fabricated and characterized because of their relatively high chemical reactivity 1. In this talk, I will present a novel, highly scalable approach to making hierarchical nanoporous zinc (NP-Zn) decorated with atomic clusters of hydrogen evolution catalysts for on-demand hydrogen generation by metal hydrolysis. Our approach involves selective etching in combination with galvanic replacement reactions. The conventional selective etching method requires several days to create a monolithic piece of NP-Zn 2. Our approach creates the same amount of hierarchical NP-Zn in less than 5 minutes, instead of several days. In our work, we used focused ion beam/scanning electron microscopy techniques to reveal the internal nanoscale morphology of the hierarchical NP-Zn, and small-angle X-ray scattering to analyze the pore size distribution. In general, when NP-Zn is used for hydrogen generation by metal hydrolysis, the hydrogen generation yield is low, typically around 20%. This is because zinc is naturally a poor hydrogen evolution material. Our process overcomes this issue by creating NP-Zn with its interface decorated with clusters of hydrogen evolution catalysts, which enables hydrogen generation yield exceeding 90% depending on the catalyst loading. References (1) Fu, J.; Welborn, S. S.; Detsi, E. Dealloyed Air- and Water-Sensitive Nanoporous Metals and Metalloids for Emerging Energy Applications. ACS Appl. Energy Mater. 2022, 5 (6), 6516–6544. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaem.2c00405.(2) Fu, J.; Deng, Z.; Lee, T.; Corsi, J. S.; Wang, Z.; Zhang, D.; Detsi, E. pH-Controlled Dealloying Route to Hierarchical Bulk Nanoporous Zn Derived from Metastable Alloy for Hydrogen Generation by Hydrolysis of Zn in Neutral Water. ACS Appl. Energy Mater. 2018, 1 (7), 3198–3205. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaem.8b00419.

Low-Temperature Water Electrolysis Under a Sustained pH-Gradient for the Electrochemically-Induced Decarbonation of Limestone into Hydrated Lime

Conventional low-temperature water electrolysis processes operate either at high or low pH to enhance conductivity, minimizing electrical resistance. Neutral water electrolysis in a buffer solution is considered non-competitive due to higher energy consumption. Nevertheless, interest in water electrolysis using a salt-based electrolyte has grown due to its ability to generate a pH gradient inside the cell. Electrolysis using a neutral salt-based electrolyte has higher operating costs due to its higher standard equilibrium potential (due to the pH gradient) and lower conductivity. Although this approach incurs higher operating costs, it presents a unique advantage: the production of additional valuable elements thanks to the pH gradient generated.In 2019, Ellis & al. [1] highlighted the possibility to use this pH gradient to electrify the production of hydrated lime (calcium hydroxide). Lime has applications in different areas such as the removal of impurities during steel production and aqueous or gaseous effluent treatments. It can also be used as a precursor of cement. Cement production is accounting for 8% of global CO2 emissions. The acidity generated by water oxidation at the anode dissolves the calcium carbonate inserted. Carbon dioxide from the dissolution is recovered with the oxygen generated. The calcium cations migrate through the cationic membrane towards the cathodic compartment to react with the hydroxide ions generated by water reduction at the cathode. Calcium hydroxide is finally collected after precipitation. Figure 1 compares the conventional process with the electrochemical way and describes more precisely the steps involved in Figure 1. More recently, another way of exploiting this gradient has been proposed by Ni & al. [2] for the recycling of spent Li-ion batteries. With the growing interest in process electrification, other applications may emerge.In this paper, this hybrid electrochemical system for the simultaneous production of hydrogen, oxygen and calcium hydroxide has been intensively studied. Water electrolysis has been performed in a two-compartment cell at different applied currents. Calcium concentration and pH measurement enabled the study of the sub-step efficiencies and equilibria in anodic and cathodic chambers. Perfect faradic efficiencies were obtained with perchlorate salt electrolytes and platinum-free electrodes. The establishment of the pH gradient has been proven and correlated with the transport number of protons through the cationic membrane. Finally, the kinetics of calcium ion migration and calcium hydroxide precipitation have been investigated as well. Continuous addition of calcium carbonate as opposed to a single excess addition was shown to be able to tune the working pH in the anodic compartment and thereby reducing the risk of precipitation on the membrane. Our experimental results lead to the formulation of practical recommendations for achieving optimal reaction stoichiometry in each stage. These findings pave the way for scaling up a promising new sustainable process for lime and cement production.[1] L. D. Ellis, A. F. Badel and M. L. Chiang, "Toward electrochemical synthesis of cement," PNAS, vol. 117, no. 23, pp. 12584-12591, 2019.[2] N. Jihong, Z. Jiayin, B. Jinhong and G. Xiaofei, "Recycling the cathode materials of spent Li-ion batteries in a H-Shaped neutral water electrolysis cell," Separation and Putification Technology , vol. 278, p. 119485, 2022. Figure 1 - Conventional and electrochemical production route of Ca(OH)2 and a simplified scheme of the hybrid electrolyzer used in this work, with the reactions involved. Figure 1

Swimming in cold water increases the browning process by diminishing the Myostatin pathway

BackgroundBrown adipose tissue (BAT) is a thermogenic tissue that uncouples oxidative phosphorylation from ATP synthesis and increases energy expenditure via non-shivering thermogenesis in mammals. Cold exposure and exercise have been shown to increase BAT and browning of white adipose tissue (WAT) in mice. This study aimed to determine whether there is an additive effect of exercise during cold exposure on markers related to browning of adipose tissue. in Wistar rats.MethodsTwenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: Control (C, 25˚C), Swimming in Neutral (SN, 30˚C) water, and Swimming in Cold (SC, 15˚C) water. Swimming included intervals of 2–3 min, 1 min rest, until exhausted, three days a week for six weeks, with a training load of 3–6% body weight. After the experimental protocol, interscapular BAT and inguinal subcutaneous white adipose tissue (WAT) were excised, weighed, and processed for beiging marker gene expression.ResultsSN and SC resulted in lower body weight gain, associated with reduced WAT and BAT volume and increased BAT number with greater effects observed in SC. Myostatin protein expression was lower in BAT, WAT, soleus muscle, and serum NC and SC compared to the C group. Expression of the interferon regulatory factor-4 (IRF4) gene in both BAT and WAT tissues was significantly greater in the SC than in the C. Expression of the PGC-1α in BAT was significantly increased in the SC compared to C and increased in WAT in NC and SC. Expression of the UCP1 in BAT and WAT increased in the SC group compared to other groups.ConclusionThe findings demonstrate that six weeks of swimming training in cold water promotes additive effects of the expression of genes and proteins involved in the browning process of adipose tissue in Wistar rats. Myostatin inhibition may possess a regulator effect on the PGC-1α – UCP1 pathway that mediates adipose tissue browning.

The interaction of light with oxygen-vacancy-rich W18O49 nanoparticles synthesized using different acid molarities for acidic and neutral water treatments

Toxic industrial compounds as a global difficulty can adversely impact people's health and the environment which motivates studies on the interaction of light and metal oxide nanoparticles to treat the water through adsorption or photocatalysis mechanism by nanoparticles. In the paper, oxygen-vacancy-rich W18O49 nanorods are successfully synthesized by a facile one-pot hydrothermal method using different molarities of hydrochloric acid (HCl) (2–12 M) as proposed candidates to treat the wastewater and solve the global difficulty related to treating the acidic water. The results declare that the change in acid molarity leads to noteworthy changes in the characteristic properties of the produced W18O49 nanorods, and the lowest acid molarity (2 M) causes the formation of uniform and pure monoclinic W18O49 nanorods with the high specific surface area (SSA) of 51.33 m2/g. Furthermore, the nanorods exhibit indirect and direct band gap energies in the range of 2.52–2.68 eV and 2.54–3.08 eV, respectively, as influenced by varying acid molarities (2–12 M). Furthermore, the impressive effects of acid molarity on the methylene blue removal efficiency of the nanorods under ultraviolet (UV) light are observed. The highest efficiency is obtained for W18O49 nanorods synthesized using the acid molarity of 2 M which can be explained by its high SSA, small band gap energy, generation of a large number of electron-hole pairs, and its efficient charge separation. The efficiencies of water treatment reach up to 99 % and 99.5 % at pH of 7 and 5, respectively, which is an excellent achievement and leads to proposing the mentioned W18O49 nanorods as an excellent candidate for treating wastewater and acid factory effluent which represents an appreciable breakthrough in addressing the issue.

Unveiling the fate of metal leaching in bimetal-catalyzed Fenton-like systems: pivotal role of aqueous matrices and machine learning prediction

Metal-based catalytic materials exhibit exceptional properties in degrading emerging pollutants within Fenton-like systems. However, the potential risk of metal leaching has become pressing environmental concern. This study addressed scientific issues pertaining to the leaching behavior and control strategies for metal-based catalytic materials. Innovative cobalt-aluminum hydrotalcite (CoAl-LDH) triggered peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation system was constructed and achieved near-complete removal of Ciprofloxacin (CIP) across diverse water quality environments. Notably, it was found that the tunable ion exchange and Al3+ stabilization of CoAl-LDH occurred due to the particularity of neutral water quality, resulting in significantly lower Co2+ leaching levels (0.321 mg/L) compared to acidic conditions (5.103 mg/L). In light of this, machine learning technology was then employed for the first time to simulate the dynamic trend of Co2+ leaching and elucidated the critical regulatory roles and mechanisms of Al3+, aqueous matrix, and reaction rate. Furthermore, degradation systems based on different water quality and metal leaching levels regulated the generation levels of SO4.- and O2∙-, and the unique advantages of free radical attack paths were clarified through CIP degradation products and ecotoxicity analysis. These findings introduced novel insights and approaches for engineering application and pollution control in metal-based Fenton-like water treatment.

Exploring corporate environmental responsibility through practitioners’ lens

Purpose Organizations are partly responsible for the pollution in the world and are expected to contribute towards curbing climate change. Despite the growing importance of the environmental aspect of corporate social responsibility (CSR), i.e. corporate environmental responsibility (CER), current literature focuses more on its antecedents and outcomes rather than drilling deeper into the essential elements of the concept. This has resulted in conceptual confusion as researchers use different aspects to define, understand and measure CER. Hence, this study aims to identify the critical dimensions of CER from a practitioner’s point of view. Design/methodology/approach Twenty-eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with senior sustainability professionals across top Bombay Stock Exchange-indexed organizations in India. Manual content analysis and the Gioia method were used to arrive at the findings. Findings The critical components of CER are as follows: encompassing environmental responsibility mindset; optimized resource consumption; neutral water, energy and air status; multi-level environmental responsibility approach and targets; compliance, disclosure, reporting and policy formation; and green supply chain. Originality/value Our research introduces a comprehensive framework of dimensions to study, measure and represent CER, addressing a critical gap in the current literature. The authors identify and propose novel dimensions, such as the CER mindset and a multi-level approach, which are essential for a holistic understanding of CER. These dimensions, presently absent in academic definitions, render existing research based on those definitions incomplete. Integrating these new dimensions will significantly enhance the rigor and relevance of CER studies, offering a more robust foundation for future research and practical application.

Oral Hygiene With Neutral Electrolyzed Water and Systemic Therapy Increases Gastric Helicobacter pylori Eradication and Reduces Recurrence.

Helicobacter pylori gastricinfection strongly correlates with gastric diseases such as chronic gastritis, functional dyspepsia, and complications such as peptic ulcers and gastric cancer. In developing countries, systemic therapies are not usually successful due to elevated antibiotic resistance. Additionally, oral H. pylori infection and periodontal disease correlate with gastric treatment failures. This study aimed to explore the effect of an integral therapy, comprising oral hygiene and concomitant systemic treatment, to increase the eradication of gastric infection and recurrences. A prospective, randomized, four-arm, parallel-group, open-label clinical trial was conducted to investigate the efficacy of integral therapy to eradicate gastric H. pylori infection and avoid recurrences in double-positive (real-time PCR oral and gastric infection) patients. Oral hygiene involved mouthwash with neutral electrolyzed water (NEW), with or without periodontal treatment.One hundred patients were equally distributed into four groups: NS, NS-PT, NEW, and NEW-PT. All patients had concomitant systemic therapy and additionally, the following oral treatments: mouthwash with normal saline (NS), periodontal treatment and mouthwash with normal saline (NS-PT), mouthwash with NEW (NEW), and periodontal treatment and mouthwash with NEW (NEW-PT). Gastric and oral infection and symptoms were evaluated one and four months after treatments. Integral therapy with NEW-PT increased gastric eradication rates compared with NS or NS-PT (84%-96% vs. 20%-56%; p < 0.001). Even more, a protective effect of 81.2% (RR = 0.1877; 95% CI: 0.0658-0.5355; p = 0.0018) against recurrences and 76.6% (RR = 0.2439; 95% CI: 0.1380-0.4310; p < 0.001) against treatment failure (eradication of infection and associated symptoms) was observed in patients from the NEW and NEW-PT groups. Implementation of oral hygiene and systemic treatment can increase the eradication of gastric infection, associated symptoms, and recurrences. NEW is recommended as an antiseptic mouthwash due to its efficacy and short- and long-term safety.

The enhanced oxidase-like activity of modified nanoceria/ZIF-67 for fluorescence and smartphone-assisted visual detection of tannic acid

As a substitute for natural enzymes, nanozymes have unique characteristics of high catalytic activity, excellent stability and low cost, making them pivotal in sensing applications. Among them, nanozymes with oxidase-like activity garner significant attention for antioxidant detection, as they efficiently catalyze the oxidation of antioxidants in the presence of oxygen. Herein, a nanozyme with an enhanced oxidase-like activity was synthesized through a 3-step strategy, that is, ceria nanoparticles were firstly modified with amino acid and oligopeptides, then combined with zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (ZIF-67), and finally the composite was etched in neutral water. The as-synthesized nanozyme can oxidize the substrate 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) or Amplex Red (AR) in the presence of oxygen, inducing a change in their color or fluorescent signals, verifying its oxidase-like activity. Tannic acid (TA), an antioxidant, competes with TMB/AR for oxidation by the nanozyme. Leveraging this competitive relationship, a fluorescent and portable trichromatic sensor was developed for the detection of tannic acid (TA) in food samples. The fluorescent sensor shows high sensitivity with detection limits (S/N = 3) of 0.011 µM, and the trichromatic sensor presents comparable performance to colorimetric sensor, exhibiting a linear range of 30–270 µM and detection limit of 1.03 µM. By using a smartphone platform, the trichromatic sensor enables convenient, rapid, inexpensive, and quantitative assessment of TA. Both two sensors were successfully applied to TA detection in 9 different foods. This study not only provides an effective strategy to enhance enzyme performance but also paves the way for their applications in food testing.

Electrocatalytic Transfer Hydrogenation of 1‐Octene with [(tBuPCP)Ir(H)(Cl)] and Water

AbstractElectrocatalytic hydrogenation of 1‐octene as non‐activated model substrate with neutral water as H‐donor is reported, using [(tBuPCP)Ir(H)(Cl)] (1) as the catalyst, to form octane with high faradaic efficiency (FE) of 96 % and a kobs of 87 s−1. Cyclic voltammetry with 1 revealed that two subsequent reductions trigger the elimination of Cl− and afford the highly reactive anionic Ir(I) hydride complex [(tBuPCP)Ir(H)]− (2), a previously merely proposed intermediate for which we now report first experimental data by mass spectrometry. In absence of alkene, the stoichiometric electrolysis of 1 in THF with water selectively affords the Ir(III) dihydride complex [(tBuPCP)Ir(H)2] (3) in 88 % FE from the reaction of 2 with H2O. Complex 3 then hydrogenates the alkene in classical fashion. The presented electro‐hydrogenation works with extremely high FE, because the iridium hydrides are water stable, which prevents H2 formation. Even in strongly alkaline conditions (Bu4NOH added), the electro‐hydrogenation of 1‐octene with 1 also proceeds cleanly (89 % FE), suggesting a highly robust process that may rely on H2O activation, reminiscent to transfer hydrogenation pathways, instead of classical H+ reduction. DFT calculations confirmed oxidative addition of H2O as a key step in this context.

Electrocatalytic Transfer Hydrogenation of 1-Octene with [(tBuPCP)Ir(H)(Cl)] and Water.

Electrocatalytic hydrogenation of 1-octene as non-activated model substrate with neutral water as H-donor is reported, using [(tBuPCP)Ir(H)(Cl)] (1) as the catalyst, to form octane with high faradaic efficiency (FE) of 96 % and a kobs of 87 s-1. Cyclic voltammetry with 1 revealed that two subsequent reductions trigger the elimination of Cl- and afford the highly reactive anionic Ir(I) hydride complex [(tBuPCP)Ir(H)]- (2), a previously merely proposed intermediate for which we now report first experimental data by mass spectrometry. In absence of alkene, the stoichiometric electrolysis of 1 in THF with water selectively affords the Ir(III) dihydride complex [(tBuPCP)Ir(H)2] (3) in 88 % FE from the reaction of 2 with H2O. Complex 3 then hydrogenates the alkene in classical fashion. The presented electro-hydrogenation works with extremely high FE, because the iridium hydrides are water stable, which prevents H2 formation. Even in strongly alkaline conditions (Bu4NOH added), the electro-hydrogenation of 1-octene with 1 also proceeds cleanly (89 % FE), suggesting a highly robust process that may rely on H2O activation, reminiscent to transfer hydrogenation pathways, instead of classical H+ reduction. DFT calculations confirmed oxidative addition of H2O as a key step in this context.