Degradation Rate Research Articles

Vanadium nitride /poly(0-methoxy aniline)- poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) interpenetrated into nanocomposite for efficient photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and enhanced electrochemical sensing of mebendazole

Vanadium nitride-poly (0-methoxy aniline)- poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) (VN-POMA-PEDOT) hybrid was synthesized via ammonolysis and chemical oxidative polymerization technique using VN-POMA-PEDOT/GCE with electrocatalytic activity has two dimensional VN hierarchical porosity with POMA-PEDOT structure created VN-POMA-PEDOT modified GCE working electrode. Donor-acceptor behavior and double-layer growth enable enhanced electrochemical performance and catalytic activity of mebendazole (MBZ). This work investigated the electrochemical sensing conduct of a VN-POMA-PEDOT hybrid composite towards MBZ. The detection limit (DL) and quantification limit (QL) were determined to be 2.192 × 10−9 μM μA−1 and 5.245 × 10−9 M μA−1. Estimation of anti-interference ability, long-term stability, and reproducibility revealed that the prepared VN-POMA-PEDOT electrode is appropriate for the electrochemical sensing finding of MBZ in real analysis, such by way of anti-helminthic drug milk. The VN-POMA-PEDOT achieved 98.9% efficiency in the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) within 50 min with degradation rate 8.3 × 10−3 min−1. The suppleness of this method was confirmed by the hybrid morphology VN-POMA-PEDOT, which shows an enormously superior and enhanced photocatalytic presentation of MB.

In vitro and in vivo studies of a biodegradable Zn-4Ag-0.1Sc alloy with high strength-elongation product, cytocompatibility, osteogenic differentiation, and anti-infection properties for guided bone-regeneration membrane applications

Zinc-silver (Zn-Ag) alloys are generally promising guided bone-regeneration membrane (GBRM) materials due to their moderate degradability, osteogenic differentiation, and antibacterial properties. However, Zn-Ag alloys often display microstructural inhomogeneity and mechanical instability due to the formation of coarse Ag-rich second phases. In this study, Zn-4Ag and Zn-4Ag-0.1Sc (denoted ZA and ZAS, respectively) were comparatively investigated, and the ZAS exhibited a suitable degradation rate, high strength-elongation product, cytocompatibility, antibacterial capacity, and in vitro and in vivo osteogenic properties, making it highly appropriate for GBRM applications. Among all the as-cast and hot-rolled (HR) samples, the HR ZAS had the highest ultimate tensile strength of ∼260.5 MPa, tensile yield strength of ∼202.0 MPa, and elongation of ∼72.7%. The HR ZAS also exhibited a higher degradation rate of ∼36.5 µm/a in Hanks’ solution than those of the HR ZA, while its diluted extract was more cytocompatible and capable of osteogenic differentiation toward both MG-63 and MC3T3-E1 cells. The HR ZAS showed an exceptionally effective antibacterial ability against S. aureus in both in vitro antibacterial testing and in vivo subcutaneous infection models. Further, the HR ZAS demonstrated better osteogenic and histocompatibility properties than those of pure Zn in a rat skull defect model.

Failures and performance of different aged PV modules operated under northern Algerian climate conditions: Analysis, assessment, and recommended solutions

This paper analyzes, assesses, and compares the failures and performance of various PV module types deployed at six PV installations located in different regions of northern Algeria, under Mediterranean climatic conditions. Qualitative data has been considered by selecting the best and worst-performing PV module samples for each of the six PV module types, along with other PV samples exhibiting specific permanent failures. Subsequently, the following IEC 61215 inspections were conducted: visual failures inspection, electrical performance inspection, thermal failures inspection, and insulation failures inspection. The results of these failure inspections indicate that different types of PV modules exhibit varying performance. Interestingly, the disparities are more pronounced between the PV module types than among the PV module samples within the same PV module type. This gap is at least ten times higher in terms of yearly degradation rates. However, some of the PV module types with high failure occurrence, severity, and exposure duration exhibit high performance compared to other types that have low failure occurrence, severity, and exposure duration. Meanwhile, there is no obvious and clear correlation between the different PV inspections, especially for PV module types. Thus, our analysis of the obtained results leads us to conclude that the significant disparity in failures and performance among the tested PV module types is primarily attributable to differences in their quality rather than the influence of local climate conditions or working conditions. Out of the six PV module types, only one will meet the 25-year warranty provided by the manufacturer, providing valuable insights into the prevalence of poor-quality PV modules in PV installations and those available in Algeria. Finally, a list of recommended solutions has been proposed to the Algerian government and other countries facing similar challenges to integrate into their national infrastructures and frameworks (quality, technical, qualification, and policies). These solutions aim to ensure the high quality, performance, and long lifespan of PV modules and PV installations.

Biological evaluation of femtosecond-laser-textured Fe–Mn alloys for vascular applications

Biodegradable metals represent a valuable solution for the development of temporary vascular implants. These are expected to dissolve in the body over time, avoiding side effects typical of permanent implants, such as thrombosis, in-stent restenosis and chronic inflammation. Iron (Fe)-based alloys, such as iron–manganese (Mn) alloys, are of particular interest for cardiovascular applications due to their intrinsic properties. However, their degradation behavior and biological performance need to be improved. Femtosecond (fs)-laser-induced surface topography could affect both their degradation and cell–material interaction. In this work, fs-laser-induced patterning was performed on a Fe–Mn20 alloy to tune both the degradation behavior of the material and its interaction with the biological environment for cardiovascular applications. Processing parameters were varied to select an optimized surface morphology, characterized by linear grooves. Profilometric analysis, scanning electron microscopy and degradation rate analysis were performed on the treated samples. Thereafter, endothelial cell viability tests and hemocompatibility assessment were carried out on selected process conditions. The obtained fs-laser-induced linear patterns were demonstrated to decrease the degradation rate and to improve the biological response toward both endothelial cells and blood. These results demonstrate how fs-laser-induced patterning is a promising solution for the development of biodegradable metal-based vascular implants.

Construction of a Synergy Combination Model for Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) and Black Pepper (Piper nigrum L.) Extracts: Enhanced Anticancer Activity against A549 and NCI-H292 Human Lung Cancer Cells.

Extensive research on medicinal herbs for bioactive compounds proposes that they could replace synthetic drugs, reducing side effects and economic burdens. Especially, interest in the synergistic benefits of natural products is increasing, implying that their combined use may enhance therapeutic effectiveness. This study aimed to explore the synergetic effects of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) and black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) extract on lung normal (MRC-5) and cancer (A549 and NCI-H292) cell lines. The turmeric extract (TM) only affected the lung cancer cell lines, but it had no impact on the MRC-5 cell line. On the other hand, the black pepper extract (BP) did not cause any damage to either the lung normal or cancer cell lines, even at concentrations of up to 400 µg/mL. Response surface methodology was used to predict the ideal synergistic concentrations (EC50) of TM and BP, which were found to be 48.5 and 241.7 µg/mL, respectively. Notably, the selected condition resulted in higher cytotoxicity compared to the exposure to TM alone, indicating a potent synergetic effect. The rate of curcumin degradation under this combined treatment was significantly decreased to 49.72 ± 5.00 nmol/h/µg for A549 cells and 47.53 ± 4.78 nmol/h/µg for NCI-H292 cells, respectively, as compared to curcumin alone. Taken together, this study confirmed the potent synergistic effect of TM and BP on lung cancer cell lines. Further research is required to identify their specific synergetic mechanisms. Our findings provide crucial foundational data on the synergistic effects of TM and BP.

Photoelectrode FTO/ Anodized TiO2 Production and Characterization for Methylene Blue Affected Photoelectrochemical Decomposition

Background: The production of thin film TiO2 nanostructured systems for electrocatalytic, photocatalytic, and photoelectrocatalytic applications has been an essential topic in recent years. Due to the light-sensitive effect of TiO2, it can be produced by various methods and used as a photoelectrode to remove dye. Using magnetron sputtering, Ti thin films can be deposited on different substrates and converted into transparent TiO2 structures by electrochemical anodization. Methods: In this study, the thin Ti film was produced using a magnetic spraying technique on the FTO substrate, and then an anodic TiO2 structure was obtained by the anodization technique. TiO2 films produced by the anodizing technique were used as a photoelectrode for the degradation of MB. The reactor contained 400 mL of 20 mg/L MB solution at 20 °C. The produced photoelectrode was characterized by the SEM/EDS, FTIR, XRD, and UV-Vis Spectrophotometer analyses. Results: The EDS analysis confirmed the presence of titanium and oxygen in the FTO/ Anodized TiO2 photoelectrode. The XRD results showed that all the peaks of the produced FTO/ Anodic TiO2 were associated with the anatase phase of TiO2. According to the FTIR spectroscopy, the functional groups of the anodized TiO2 were obtained for the FTO/ Anodized TiO2. The electrocatalytic, photocatalytic, and photoelectrocatalytic degradation experiments were performed with the degradation of the dye solution of MB on the FTO/ Anodic TiO2 photoelectrode, and the rates of dye degradation were determined as 17.12%, 64.67%, and 82.12%, respectively. Conclusion: This study showed that the methylene blue dye of FTO/ Anodic TiO2 is a suitable photoelectrode for electrocatalytic, photocatalytic, and photoelectrocatalytic degradation.

Recent research and developments of degradation assessment and its diagnosis methods for solar PV plant: a review

The world is moving forward to a transition in the form of increasing the contribution of renewable energy sources in the energy sector, and among these, solar photovoltaic-based power generation is catching pace. Several factors are responsible for the lowering of outputs due to different degradation causes such as hotspots, corrosion, humidity, ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, temperature effects, dust, aging, weathering, yellowing, snail trails, discoloration, junction box failure, delamination, cracks, and faults from the solar photovoltaic (PV) plants. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the various form of degradation and their implications on solar PV power plant performance. The review has been carried out considering the different degradation causes and their identification methods in solar PV plant. Further, the analysis has been done on the basis of the earlier studies to understand the rates of degradation for various solar PV power plants in various climatic conditions. The PV technologies used in solar power plants are also responsible for the change in the performance of power plants over time; therefore, degradation based on different solar PV cell technologies is also analyzed. The visual inspection tools like thermal imaging with IR cameras help identify areas with abnormal heat patterns, indicating potential issues like cell or interconnect failures, loose electrical connections, or bypass diode malfunctions while EL cameras are used to identify low-level electrical excitation and defects such as cracks, hotspots, and cell-level degradation.

In situ construction of Ag/Bi2O3/Bi5O7I heterojunction with Bi-MOF for enhance the photocatalytic efficiency of bisphenol A by facet-coupling and s-scheme structure

In this study, Ag/Bi2O3/Bi5O7I with s-scheme heterostructures were successfully synthesized in situ by nano-silver modification of CUA-17 and halogenated hydrolysis.The growth rate of Bi2O3 crystals was effectively controlled by adjusting the doping amount of Ag, resulting in the formation of a facet-coupling heterojunctions. Through the investigation of the microstructure and compositional of catalysts, it has been confirmed that an intimate facet coupling between the Bi2O3 (120) facet and the Bi5O7I (312) facet, which provides robust support for charge transfer. Under visible light irradiation, the AgBOI.3 heterojunction photocatalyst exhibited an outstanding degradation rate of 98.2% for Bisphenol A (BPA) with excellent stability. Further characterization using optical, electrochemical, impedance spectroscopy, and electron spin resonance techniques revealed significantly enhanced efficiency in photogenerated charge separation and transfer, and confirming the s-scheme structure of the photocatalyst. Density functional theory calculations was employed to elucidate the mechanism of BPA degradation and the degradation pathway of BPA was investigated by LC-MS. Finally, the toxicity of the degradation intermediates was evaluated using T.E.S.T software.

Oxygen vacancy and Ce ion co-synergize to enhance the photocatalytic degradation performance of FeTiO3: An experimental and DFT study

Doping the iron titanate (FeTiO3) with rare earth element is considered as an effective method of enhancing its photocatalytic performance. In this work, the novel FeTiO3 doped with cerium (Ce) (Ce/FeTiO3) photocatalysts were designed and synthesized using the sol–gel method. The 10 mol% Ce/FeTiO3 photocatalyst displays excellent photocatalytic performance for degrading the tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH), methylene blue (MB) and brilliant blue (BB). The degradation efficiencies are 97.50 % (TCH), 95.40 % (MB), and 84.60 % (BB), respectively, and the degradation rate constants (k) are 3.68, 2.91, and 7.12 times that of pure FeTiO3. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were used to study the photocatalytic degradation mechanism in depth. The results show that the content of oxygen vacancy is increased and the oxygen vacancy formation energy is significantly increased from 2.25 eV to 6.97 eV after doping the Ce ion, which can provide more active sites to degrade pollutants and enhance the photocatalytic performance of the FeTiO3. Furthermore, the Ce 4f orbital can narrow the bandgap and form the impurity level to capture the photoexcited electron, inhibiting the recombination rate of photocarriers in FeTiO3. This work is expected to provide a valuable insight into the Ce doped FeTiO3 photocatalyst, which is conductive to expanding the practical applications of FeTiO3-based photocatalyst.

A Z-scheme LaFeO3–CuFe2O4 composite for sulfate radical-based photocatalytic process: Synergistic effect and mechanism

The sulfate radical-based photocatalytic process is supposed to be the most promising way to degrade organic pollutants. However, the development of a suitable and efficient photocatalyst is very challenging. The 40LaFeO3-CuFe2O4 (40LFO-CFO) nanocomposite was constructed and its catalytic performance was studied using Rhodamine B (RhB) as the target pollutant. 40LFO-CFO exhibited excellent RhB degradation by the persulfate (PS) - assisted photocatalytic process compared to the pristine LFO and CFO. The degradation rate constant for RhB by 40LFO-CFO in the Vis/PS system was 2.22 h -1 which is 3.04 times and 5.05 times higher than the pristine LFO (0.73 h -1) and CFO (0.44 h -1) respectively. Furthermore, the trapping experiment and EPR proved that h+ plays a leading role in the bleaching of RhB for the 40LFO-CFO/PS/Vis system. The enhanced photocatalytic oxidation activity of 40LFO-CFO could be attributed to the unique charge carriers flow in 40LFO-CFO due to the Z-scheme and the cooperation effect between photocatalysis and PS activation. The recycle tests confessed the stability of 40LFO-CFO. Additionally, the intermediates and products of RhB are detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and the photocatalytic degradation routes of RhB for the 40LFO-CFO/Vis/PS system were proposed. Moreover, the 40LFO-CFO nanocomposite has a superior catalytic performance for other organics, suggesting that it is a promising heterocatalyst because of its high catalytic activity and stability for the PS-assisted photocatalytic process.

Cross-media transfer of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Naples metropolitan area, southern Italy

At present, an in-depth knowledge of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the multimedia system of the urban environment remains limited. Taking the Naples metropolitan area (NMA) for instance, we simulated the cross-media transfer of PAHs using a multimedia urban model, involving air, water, soil, sediment, vegetation, and impervious film. The results indicated that the predicted PAH values in 2015 match well with their corresponding in-situ monitoring data. The PAH emission inventory and the simulated mass in various media all showed a downward trend from 2015 to 2020 due to national energy conservation policies and Corona Virus Disease 2019. The simulated mass of PAHs in the soil and sediment phases was 896.8 and 232.7 kg in 2020, respectively, contributing together to 96.7% of PAHs in the NMA. And they were identified as the greatest sinks for PAHs, and exhibited the longest retention duration, with values of PAH persistence reaching approximately 548.8 – 2,0642.3 hours. The results of transfer fluxes indicated that local emissions and atmospheric advection were the primary routes affecting the distribution of PAHs. The sensitivity analysis indicated that atmospheric advection rate was the most critical parameter for air, soil, vegetation, and film, whereas water concentration and sediment degradation rate were vital for water and sediment, respectively. This study offered valuable insights into how human activity contributes to the status and fate of PAHs in the urban environment.

Enhanced dye degradation using plasma bubbles for the sustainable environmental remediation

This study proposes a novel and eco-friendly approach for wastewater treatment using plasma jet technology under bubble condition. This method allows for the controlled production of highly reactive hydroxyl radicals () while minimizing unwanted interactions with nitrogen in the air. The presence of bubbles in liquid significantly boosts the diffusion of within the wastewater, leading to a two-fold increase in degradation rate compared to normal condition. The effectiveness of the treatment was confirmed through ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, which showed a significant decrease in rhodamine B and methyl orange absorbance peaks . Raman spectroscopy further revealed structural changes in both pollutants, indicating successful degradation. Additionally, plasma characteristics like power, electron temperature, and density were monitored to gain deeper insights into the underlying mechanism. Importantly, the process minimizes the formation of harmful secondary pollutants such as ozone and nitrogen oxides. These pollutants were found under concentration of 0.14 mg m-3 which is below established safety thresholds, adhering to World Health Organization guidelines. This research demonstrates that plasma jet treatment in bubble condition not only enhances the degradation efficiency of pollutants in wastewater but also minimizes the formation of harmful byproducts. This represents a significant breakthrough in developing sustainable wastewater treatment technologies.

FeMnCSi alloy for degradable pin implants: Surface and in vitro characterization

Biodegradable metals such iron-based materials, are studied as temporary implants in the orthopedic field due to their adequate mechanical properties, non-toxic degradation products, and the possibility of avoiding a second surgical intervention to remove the device. One strategy to overcome the slow degradation rate of pure Fe is the addition of alloying elements. The aim of this work is to characterize the in vitro behavior of a new FeMnCSi alloy (Fe 26.5Mn 0.5C 1.14Si 0.03P 0.01S), and compare it with the performance of pure iron in simulated body fluid. The alloy performance was characterized in terms of chemical composition, microstructure, hemocompatibility and electrochemical responseIt has been found that FeMnCSi alloy presented a marked and progressive degradation in simulated body fluid after 14 days of immersion, significantly larger than pure Fe. The presence of phosphate-based compounds was confirmed on the surface of the alloy after 1 day of immersion while only after 14 days of immersion was detected on Fe. Additionally, the FeMnCSi alloy demonstrates improved blood compatibility compared to pure iron, indicating its suitability for applications in irrigated areas such as bones.

A novel 3D-printed scaffold for patient-specific partial breast reconstruction: A prospective, single-arm clinical trial.

e23227 Background: The current scarcity of appropriate breast fillers restricts the availability of breast-conserving surgery for breast cancer patients. The advent of 3D printing technology has introduced novel possibilities for breast reconstruction by fabricating the patient-specific and custom-designed medical products in three dimensions. Methods: We performed a prospective, single-arm clinical trial. The trial population included woman aged between 18 and 60 years with histologically confirmed breast cancer. (Primary) tumors with a size greater than 1.0 cm and less than 8.0 cm, or those presenting as multiple diffuse lesions limited to a single quadrant, preclude the feasibility of traditional breast-conserving surgery. Patients were assigned to receive the patient-specific 3D-printed scaffolds transplantation surgery. Degradation of 3D-printed scaffold, cosmetic outcomes, complications, satisfaction of patients was assessed. Results: Between August of 2016 and August of 2023, 26 patients received partial breast reconstruction using 3D-printed patient-specific scaffolds. The median follow-up was 58.9 months (range, 29 to 88 months). Patients who received partial breast reconstruction with 3D-printed scaffolds have natural-looking and symmetrical breasts after surgery. One year after operation, mild depression at the implantation site was observed in four patients (15.4%). This number increased to seven (26.9%) after two years of surgery. No flap necrosis or ischemia was observed in the nipple and areola area in all patients. Hematoxylin & Eosin showed that fibrous connective tissue, fibroblast cells and blood vessels were observed inside/around the scaffold after one year of surgery. The average degradation rate of 3D-printed scaffolds is 54.07% at 12 months, 74.48% at 24 months, 86.94% at 36 months,87.36% at 48 months, and 92.76% at 60 months. The breast satisfaction score rating by Breast-q scale is 68.5±15.7 at 6 months, 65.4±14.2 at 12 months, and 62.8±15.9 at 24 months. Conclusions: This is the first report of 3D-printed biodegradable scaffolds for breast reconstruction. Partial breast reconstruction using a 3D-printed scaffold presents a viable alternative for breast cancer patients who are not suitable candidates for conventional breast-conserving surgery, yielding promising outcomes. Clinical trial information: NCT03348293 .

Rationally designed β-FeOOH/N,P-MXene Schottky-junction for efficient removal of pollutants from wastewater

Effective separation of photogenerated electrons and holes, as well as providing ample reactive sites, is crucial for enhancing the activity of photocatalytic degradation of pollutants in water. In this study, we have expanded MXene through a simple water swelling method and successfully doped N and P elements into MXene via a hydrothermal process. This modification not only exfoliates the layered structure of MXene, enlarging its specific surface area and providing abundant reactive sites but also endows MXene with enhanced metallic properties. As a result, an N,P-MXene/FeOOH Schottky junction photocatalyst is constructed. Our photocatalytic experiments revealed that the FO-NPM200/H2O2 system performs well under extreme pH conditions and exhibits excellent photocatalytic stability across a wide pH range (1–13), suggesting its outstanding potential for practical applications in complex environments. Under conditions of pH = 7 without the presence of inorganic salt ions, the degradation rate of tetracycline reached 98.1 %, and the photocatalytic reduction rate of the common heavy metal salt Cr(VI) was as high as 99.4 %. We have also unveiled the band structure of FO-NPM200 using UPS and UV–vis DRS. This research paves a new way for the design and construction of Schottky junction photocatalysts.

Preparation of Injectable Dicalcium Phosphate Bone Cement for Potential Orthopedic Applications

Various natural wastes can be promising for mining more valuable compounds if some specialized extraction techniques are adopted. Hydroxyapatite (HA) is a significant biomaterial that can be extracted from waste bovine bones by heating them at 700 °C and 900 °C. Based on this idea, we made a novel dicalcium phosphate (DCP) bone cement (BC) by extracting HA via the reaction with monocalcium phosphate monohydrate (MCPM) and trisodium citrate. The setting time, injectability, and compressive strength (CS) of this DCPBC were examined using various analytical techniques, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) attached with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, and Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The phase composition, surface morphology, and chemical compositions of HA and DCP were evaluated. A Gillmore needle apparatus was used to measure the initial and final setting times of the specimens. The CS values of the prepared specimens were determined using INSTRON Series IX. The in vitro dissolution behavior of all samples was evaluated by immersing them in simulated body fluid (SBF) over 7 days at 37 °C. The final setting times of samples 3, 4, and 5 were 20, 24, and 18 min, respectively. In addition, the CS value of sample 1 before immersion in SBF was much lower (1.23 MPa) compared to sample 5 (21.79 MPa) after 7 days of immersion. The CS of the DCP after 3 days of immersion was increased to 33.75 MPa. The in vitro results for the dissolution and bioactivity of HA showed the highest degradation rate after 1 day of immersion and then decreased with the increase in the immersion duration. The HA layer thickness was considerably improved with longer incubation times. The proposed injectable DCP bone cement may have potential in future orthopedic applications.

Effect of physical and chemical co-application of biochar and sulfidated nano scale zero valent iron on the NB degradation in soil: Key roles of biochar

Sulfidated nano zero-valent iron (S-nZVI) can efficiently degrade nitrobenzene (NB) in water. However, its practical application in soil remediation is constrained by limited contact with soil-sorbed NB, leading to sparse research. Herein, Biochar (BC), with its notable adsorption capacity, was coupled with S-nZVI to assess the role of physical (S-nZVI + BC) and chemical (S-nZVI@BC) co-application of BC and S-nZVI, respectively, on enhancing NB degradation in soil. Regardless of the physical or chemical co-application, there was a remarkable advantage after addition of BC relative to S-nZVI alone. In physical co-application, the NB degradation rate of S-nZVI + BC increased as the increasing BC concentration from 0 to 3.5 g·L−1, attributed to enhanced NB desorption via the solubilization effect of BC, facilitating interaction with S-nZVI. Beyond this concentration, no significant improvement was observed, possibly due to BC obstructing reactive sites on S-nZVI surface. In chemical co-application, the S-nZVI@BC (S-nZVI/BC mass ratio of 1:1) exhibited a high NB degradation rate constant (1.097 h−1) during reaction. Apart from solubilization effect, BC in S-nZVI@BC endowed S-nZVI with a higher anti-oxidation property, hydrophobicity, electron transfer capacity, and dispersion effect, accounting for the higher reactivity of S-nZVI@BC over S-nZVI + BC. Besides, the water/soil ratio and initial soil pH significantly affected NB degradation rate, with the optimum water/soil ratio and initial soil pH being 3 and 5, respectively. Our finding broadens the applicability of BC and may offer a highly effective way in soil remediation.

The synthesis of Fe3O4@SiO2 superparamagnetic materials and mechanism of catalysis

Abstract The superparamagnetic Fe3O4 was fabricated by the solvothermal synthesis, in which medium ferric chloride is the iron source and deoxidizer using as ethylene glycol. The core-shell material Fe3O4@SiO2 was fabricated by the scheme which was composed of Anhydrous ethanol, deionized water, ammonia water, and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS). The structural and optical characteristics of the samples Fe3O4 and core-shell Fe3O4@SiO2 was detected by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and UV/VIS/IR spectrophotometer. The conclusions illustrate that the spherical core-shell structure of Fe3O4 and Fe3O4@SiO2 were fabricated with superparamagnetic. The Ostwald ripening effect on structure of sample Fe3O4 was concluded to form inverse spinel polycrystal structure by nanometer particles. The visual-driven photocatalytic properties of Fe3O4 and Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticles toward the deposition of methodology blue was studied. The obtained conclusions indicate that Fe3O4@SiO2 after irradiated by visible light, its degradation rate of methodology methylene mlue (MB) was enhanced than Fe3O4 in the presence of H2O2. The samples Fe3O4 and core-shell Fe3O4@SiO2 materials are recycled by external magnetic field and reused for special superparamagnetic property. The sample Fe3O4 and core-shell Fe3O4@SiO2 materials represent higher catalytic property and excellent fixity consistent with the decomposition rate of methodology methylene mlue (MB) after being recycling and reuse severe times. The photocatalytic mechanism was dismissed based on the determined active agent during the process of degraded wastewater.

Investigation of film Physical properties under various starch thermal treatments with emphasis on Retrogradation effects

This study investigated the changes in the physical properties of cornstarch-based films as they were retrogradely aged at different temperatures. Using a casting method, the films were fabricated, and their effects on the mechanical properties, thermal stability, barrier properties, and essential properties were analyzed. With prolonged aging and retrogradation periods, reductions in film thickness, solubility, water content, and water vapor permeability of 5.35%, 9.92%, 29.61%, and 20.94%, respectively, were observed. In addition, the surface roughness decreased by 44.46% for Rq (root-mean-square roughness) and 45.61% for Ra (arithmetic average roughness), while the elongation at break decreased by 72.64%. Conversely, the tensile strength, maximum degradation rate, and maximum degradation temperature increased by 116.98%, 99.5%, and 3.21%, respectively. These results provide a fundamental understanding of the changes that occur in the properties of cornstarch-based films during aging and retrogradation.

Synthesis of iron-manganese bimetallic materials supported by activated carbon and application of activated persulfate in the degradation of soil contaminated by crude oil

Heterogeneous catalytic processes based on zero-valent iron (ZVI) have been developed to treat soil and wastewater pollutants. However, the agglomeration of ZVI reduces its ability to activate persulfate (PS). In this study, a new Fe-Mn@AC activated material was prepared to activated PS to treat oil-contaminated soil, and using the microscopic characterization of Fe-Mn@AC materials, the electron transfer mode during the Fe-Mn@AC activation of PS was clarified. Firstly, the petroluem degradation rate was optimized. When the PS addition amount was 8%, Fe-Mn@AC addition amount was 3% and the water to soil ratio was 3:1, the petroluem degradation rate in the soil reached to the maximum of 85.69% after 96 hours of reaction. Then it was illustrated that sulfate and hydroxyl radicals played major roles in crude oil degradation, while singlet oxygen contributed slightly. Finally, the indigenous microbial community structures remaining after restoring the Fe-Mn@AC/PS systems were analyzed. The proportion of petroleum degrading bacteria in soil increased by 23% after oxidation by Fe-Mn@AC/PS system. Similarly, the germination rate of wheat seeds revealed that soil toxicity was greatly reduced after applying the Fe-Mn@AC/PS system. After the treatment with Fe-Mn@AC/PS system, the germination rate, root length and bud length of wheat seed were increased by 54.05%, 7.98 mm and 6.84 mm, respectively, compared with the polluted soil group. These results showed that the advanced oxidation system of Fe-Mn@AC activates PS and can be used in crude oil-contaminated soil remediation.