Soaking In Water Research Articles

Ultrastable and flexible glass−ceramic scintillation films with reduced light scattering for efficient X−ray imaging

The thickness of the scintillation films in indirect X−ray detectors can significantly influence their luminescence intensity. However, due to the scattering and attenuation of incoherent photons, thick scintillation films tend to reduce light yield. Herein, a highly transparent perovskite glass−ceramic scintillation film, in which the CsPbBr3 nanocrystals are in-situ grown inside a transparent amorphous polymer structure, is designed to achieve ultrastable and efficient X-ray imaging. The crystal coordination−topology growth and in−situ film formation strategy is proposed to control the crystal growth and film thickness, which can prevent light scattering and non−uniform distribution of CsPbBr3 nanocrystals while providing sufficient film thickness to absorb X−ray, thus enabling a high−quality glass−ceramic scintillator without agglomeration and Ostwald ripening. This glass−ceramic scintillation film with a thickness of 250 μm achieves a low detection limit of 326 nGyair s−1 and a high spatial resolution of 13.9 lp mm−1. More importantly, it displays remarkable scintillation stability under X−ray irradiation (radiation intensity can still reach 95% at 278 μGyair s−1 for 3600 s), water soaking (150 days), and high−temperature storage (150 days at 60 °C). Hence, this work presents a approach to construct ultrastable and flexible scintillation films for X−ray imaging with reduced light scattering and improved resolution.

Influence of coupled water and thermal treatments on the fracture characteristics of a typical sandstone

Understanding the fracture behavior of rock after coupled water and thermal environment is important for many geotechnical projects. This study examines the influence of coupled water and thermal treatments on the fracture toughness and characteristics of a typical sandstone under mode I and mode II loading conditions. Notched deep beam (NDB) specimens were utilized and subjected to soaking treatments at various water temperatures (23 °C, 60 °C, and 99 °C). The experimental results indicate a significant reduction in both mode I and mode II fracture toughness values, with reductions ranging from 15.4% to 13.2% for mode I and 26.1% to 8.9% for mode II respectively. As the water temperatures increase, a slightly rising trend is observed in both mode I and mode II fracture toughness within the examined temperature range. Sandstone specimens displayed typical brittle fracture characteristics at lower soaking temperatures. For mode I specimens, an increase in ductility was evident with higher soaking temperatures, while the ductile behavior is less pronounced in the mode II specimens. Based on the Maximum Tangential Stress (MTS) criterion and the Generalized Maximum Tangential Stress (GMTS) criterion, the predicted values of mode II fracture toughness and the fracture process zone (FPZ) were discussed. The results show that both the GMTS and MTS criteria exhibit inaccuracies in predicting the mode II fracture toughness of sandstone treated at different soaking water temperatures. However, the GMTS criterion, which incorporates T-stress, demonstrates smaller errors compared to the MTS criterion. The study shows that the radius r0 of the fracture process zone is not a constant under both mode I and mode II loading conditions. The calculation of the fracture process zone radius r0 in the GMTS criterion requires further theoretical and experimental study.

Analysis of the treatability, water repellency efficiency, and dimensional stability of maritime pine after microwave drying

The impregnability of Portuguese maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) subjected to microwave (MW) drying was tested, and the hydrophobicity, anti-swelling efficiency (ASE), and water repellence efficiency (WRE) were evaluated. Small wood heartwood samples of Portuguese maritime pine and two distinct MW treatment settings were employed. The levels of ASE and WRE of the wood elements were evaluated throughout four cycles of drying in an oven and soaking in water. Because of MW applied energy, the wood pine samples were satisfactorily impregnated with the preservative product. Regarding the absolutely dry densities of the samples, very subtle reductions were measured, and they were statistically equivalent to the average density of the non-MW-treated group. Slight improvements were identified in the WRE values of wood samples dried in the microwave. In terms of ASE, both MW-treated groups had a statistically significant increase. The MW treatment decreased the volumetric swelling of the maritime pine wood specimens. Hence, this study raises new insights and previously unexplored paths that can contribute to the expansion and greater application of MW technology in maritime pine and other species.

New Mn-CP as a multi-responsive fluorescent probe for ratiometric sensing toward ascorbic acid and turn-off sensing toward nitrofurazone and acetylacetone

The abuse of environmental and biological related molecules, such as small biomolecules, pharmaceutical antibiotics and volatile organic chemicals has become a hotspot issue of global concern. Thus, exploring accurate and effective techniques for monitoring these species remains a major challenge. Here, by employing semi-rigid tetracarboxylate ligand H4edda, one new 2D Mn-based coordination polymer with formula of [Mn2(edda)(phen)2(H2O)2]n (Mn-CP; H4edda = 5,5′-(ethane-1,2-diylbis(oxy)) diisophthalic acid); phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) has been hydrothermally fabricated. The prepared Mn-CP possesses a sql topology with Schläfli symbol of (44·62). Stability research for Mn-CP reveals that it maintains structural stability and initial fluorescence intensity after soaking in water for one week. Moreover, Mn-CP also displays high structural stability in acidic-basic aqueous solution of broad pH scope (1–13) for 48 h. Importantly, photoluminescence measurements indicate that it shows ratiometric fluorescence response to ascorbic acid (AA) as well as turn-off response toward nitrofurazone (NFZ) and acetylacetone (ACAC). The developed fluorescence probe based on Mn-CP shows merits of high selectivity and low detection limits (33.67 nM, 1.43 nM and 2.29 μM for AA, NFZ and ACAC, respectively). The possible mechanisms have been thoroughly explored through exhaustive experimental surveys and theories calculations. The CP-based multi-responsive fluorescent probe designed in this work extends the application of such materials in environmental and biological related fields.

Impact of Cl- on the performance of magnesium oxysulfate (MOS) cement

As magnesium oxysulfate (MOS) cement finds more applications in the engineering field, the influence of Cl- on the mechanical properties of MOS cement has gained more attention. In this paper, MgCl2·6 H2O served as the source of Cl- to investigate its influence on the evolving properties of MOS cement. The results showed that MgCl2·6 H2O extended the formation time of the 5Mg(OH)2·MgSO4·7 H2O phase, reduced the dispersion of the MOS cement system, and decreased the crystalline size of the 5Mg(OH)2·MgSO4·7 H2O phase (200) crystal plane. The addition of MgCl2·6 H2O had a positive effect on improving flexural strength and increasing the content of gel. During the curing process, the presence of Cl- facilitated the dissolution and recrystallization of Mg(OH)2, altering its growth tendency and promoting the formation of hexagonal crystal Mg(OH)2. During soaking in water, the increased content of MgCl2·6 H2O led to a decrease in the softening coefficient due to the dissolution of excess MgCl2. The structure of the 5Mg(OH)2·MgSO4·7 H2O phase underwent changes as Cl- entered the crystal interior, leading to an increase in the d-spacing of the 5Mg(OH)2·MgSO4·7 H2O phase at the (222) crystal plane. The introduction of Cl- endowed the 5Mg(OH)2·MgSO4·7 H2O phase with the potential to transform into 5Mg(OH)2·MgCl2·8 H2O. Following immersion in water, the modified structure of the 5Mg(OH)2·MgSO4·7 H2O phase retained its relative integrity, resulting in a higher softening coefficient of 0.73 after a 90-day soaking period, attributed to the proper introduction of Cl-.

High-amylose starch-based gel as green adhesive for plywood: Adhesive property, water-resistance, and flame-retardancy

The escalating demand for environmentally sustainable and cost-effective adhesives in the wood processing and manufacturing sector has prompted exploration into innovative solutions. This study introduces a novel gel adhesive composed of chemically unmodified high-amylose starch (G70, with 68 % amylose content) with a minimal proportion of urea-formaldehyde (UF) (UF/starch = 1:10, w/w). This G70/UF gel demonstrates remarkable adhesive capabilities for wooden boards under both dry conditions (with a shear stress of 4.13 ± 0.12 MPa) and wet conditions (with a shear strength of 0.93 ± 0.07 MPa after 2 h of water soaking). The study unveils that the elevated amylose content in the starch, coupled with a meticulously controlled isothermal process during bonding, is crucial for these enhancements. Specifically, the robust cohesion of amylose chains expedites phase separation between starch and UF, while the isothermal process facilitates the migration and enrichment of UF molecules at the gel-board and gel-air interfaces. Lacking these mechanisms, conventional amylopectin-rich starch/UF gels (27 % amylose content) show minimal improvement. Moreover, the G70/UF gel showcases exceptional fire retardancy. In all, the G70/UF gel presents a promising alternative for plywood production, reducing reliance on unhealthy UF resin while offering satisfactory bonding resistance in diverse conditions and superior flame retardancy.

Effect of humidification on antimony-based flexible phase change memory

Ambient humidity has an important impact on the performance of flexible electronic devices, and wearable electronic devices will inevitably involve a high humidity environment. To investigate the impact of humidification on flexible phase-change memory, we prepared Sb phase-change film and memory device unit with polyether ether ketone as substrate, and studied the effect of humidification on the properties of the film and device. The results show that the effective transition from an amorphous to a crystalline state can still be achieved by the film after soaking in water for 55 min, and the phase transition temperature increases with the increase of soaking time. Water molecules refine the film grains, resulting in increased crystalline resistance. Sb is a hydrophilic material, and its hydrophilicity decreases after crystallization. The reversible conversion of SET-RESET can be realized under different pulse widths even after the phase change memory device is soaked in water and bent many times. This study shows that antimony-based flexible phase change memory has certain deformation self-healing ability and moisture resistance, which provides a way to expand its application environment.

Experimental study on the deterioration of mechanical properties of sandy mudstone under different water-gas interactions

Based on the water-rock-gas coupling test system, the work combined the scanning electron microscope and XTDIC 3D full-field strain measurement system. The Brazilian splitting test was performed on four groups of sandy mudstone specimens under contrast (CO), mash-gas soaking (MS), water-mash gas soaking (WM), and water-soaking (WS) conditions. The tensile strength, deformation failure, and microscopic characteristics of fractures were studied to reveal the deterioration mechanism of the tensile properties of sandy mudstone under water-gas coupling. The results showed that the uniaxial tensile strength of sandy mudstone specimens under the three soaking conditions was less than that of the contrast conditions. Compared with specimens in the CO group, the tensile strength of specimens in MS-WS groups was reduced; the WS group decreased the most. Specimens changed from brittle failure to plastic failure after soaking. The decrease rate in strength after the peak was consistent with the change trend in tensile strength. It led to a larger localized deformation zone of specimens and more obvious displacement. The deformation localization zone of the WS group was the broadest, with the most intense displacement. Besides, stress concentration first occurred in the submerged part of the WM group. Fractures expanded in the direction of maximum principal strain. The internal pore structure of sandy mudstone specimens in each group changed after soaking. The average porosity, maximum pore area, and probability entropy of specimens in WS-MS groups increased compared to the CO group. The WS group had the largest reduction and the MS group had the smallest. The pre-peak energy storage capacity of sandy mudstone specimens was gradually weakened. Compared with the CO group, that in the WS-MS groups was reduced. The WS group had the greatest reduction, and the MS group had the smallest. The deterioration effect of water on the interior of sandy mudstone was stronger than that of gas. The work is of great significance for understanding the stability of coal and rocks in closed-pit high-gas mines.

The Effect of Different Priming Applications on The Germination of Seeds of Some Hazelnut Cultivars

In this study, the germination of pericarp and non-pericarp-free seeds of the Kara and Tombul cultivars was examined in relation to the effects of hormonal and hydro-priming treatments. According to the results, the control group produced the best pericarp seed of the Kara variety in terms of germination rate, root length, root fresh-dry weight, plant fresh-dry weight, and number of leaves. The seeds of the Kara variety without pericarp, 60 minutes of Perlan + 2 days of soaking in water in the control group (56 seeds), and the pericarpless seeds of the Kara variety, respectively, and the seeds with pericarp of the best Tombul variety (53.6 units), produced the best results when the root diameters were measured. The application of 30 minutes of Perlan plus two days of soaking in water to the seeds without pericarp of the Kara cultivar produced the best results in terms of leaf area, and the control group produced the best results for the amount of chlorophyll in the seeds without pericarp of the Tombul and Kara cultivars.

EDUKASI PENANGANAN BENIH CABAI KATOKKON PADA KELOMPOK WANITA TANI LEMBANG SANDANA, TANA TORAJA

The katokkon chili plant (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) is a crop commodity that has high economic value. This type of chili is suitable for planting in high-altitude areas such as the Tanah Toraja region. However, its productivity is still low compared to its production potential, which can reach tens of tons/ha. The low level of knowledge and skills of chili farmers is one of the problems in increasing the productivity of katokkon chilies. The service aims to educate katokkong chili farmers in Lembang Sandana on good seed treatment. The methods used are outreach activities, education, and training on how to treat katokkong chili seeds and make appropriate chili seedling media. Pre- and post-tests were carried out to measure the level of success in implementing activities. Socialization carried out with target partners and collaboration resulted in collaborative support by the head of the Lembang and target partners for implementing kosabangsa. The results of education and training show that 94% of target partners have understood and implemented seed treatment methods such as using growth regulators, soaking in warm water (hot water treatment) and sowing seeds in rockwool media, as well as making growing media using a ratio of buffalo manure. , top soil and husk (1:2:1, v/v) appropriately. The education carried out by the kosabangsa service team has increased the level of knowledge and skills of farmers regarding how to treat katokkon seeds properly

Symmetrical acrokeratoderma: a case series

Symmetrical acrokeratoderma is rare keratinization disorder which is characterized by symmetrical acral brown to black hyperpigmented keratotic plaques. In this case series, all three patients presented with asymptomatic symmetrical thick raised dark brown skin lesions with rough surface on flexural surface of wrists and dorsum of hands and feet. Palms and soles were spared in all three patients. White maceration and swelling of skin lesions were noticed after soaking in water. All Patients showed good response to oral acitretin and patients were asked for regular follow up every 4 weekly.

A novel non-woven fabric from bamboo fiber in medical lifestyle products

The present study aims to investigate the appropriate size of bamboo fibers derived from waste bamboo and determine the optimal duration for soaking in bio-fermented water to facilitate fabric molding. Additionally, we seek to explore the properties of non-woven fabric products manufactured from bamboo fibers. The study factors encompass three grades of bamboo fibers, designated A, B, and C, as well as five levels of fermentation time: 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 days. A Completely Randomized Design (CRD) experiment is planned to assess both physical and microbial properties. Furthermore, we will analyze the inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E.coli) bacteria in accordance with AATCC test standards and determine the optimal ratio for non-woven fabric molding. Regarding the ratio of bamboo fiber to polyester fiber, we will investigate three levels: 50:50, 70:30, and 100:0, with the objective of designing medical lifestyle products.Preliminary findings indicate that grade B bamboo fibers exhibit a light brown color and a relatively thin structure, with lengths ranging from 1 to 3 cm, rendering them suitable for most fabric production processes. Notably, unfermented bamboo fibers demonstrate higher inhibition of S. aureus and E.coli bacterial growth compared to their fermented counterparts. Additionally, our results suggest that the ingredient ratio significantly impacts the molding process, with a 99.94% effect. Remarkably, a blend of bamboo fiber and polyester fiber in a 70:30 ratio can be mechanically processed to create needle-pressed fabric, utilizing a method that involves pressing and tight weaving. This innovative approach facilitates the production of antibacterial non-woven fabric products suitable for elderly individuals, ready for practical use in community settings as a best practice solution.

Improving the hydrostability of zeolitic imidazolate framework coatings using a facile silk fibroin protein modification method

Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) are an important subclass of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with zeolite-type topology, which can be fabricated under ambient synthesis conditions. However, the applications of ZIFs are commonly limited due to the weak hydrostability of their metal–ligand coordination bonds, particularly under humid and aqueous conditions. In this work, as an example, the hydrolysis behaviours of ZIF-L with a special focus on ZIF-L coatings were tested at aqueous conditions with a wide range of pHs to systematically study and fundamentally understand their structural stability and degradation mechanism. Pristine ZIF-L powder and ZIF-L coatings were severely damaged after only 24 h in aqueous media. Interestingly, the ZIF-L coatings showed two distinct hydrolyzation pathways regardless of pH conditions, exhibiting either a ring-shaped etching or unfolding behaviours. While the ZIF-L powders were hydrolyzed almost identically across all pH conditions. With this new understanding, a facile silk fibroin (SF) protein modification method was developed to enhance the hydrostability of ZIF-L coatings in aqueous media. The effect of protein concentration on surface coating was systemically studied. ZIF-L coating retained its surface morphology after soaking in water and demonstrated switchable super wetting properties and superior separation performance for oil/water mixture. As a result, the quick SF protein modification significantly enhanced the stability of ZIF-L coatings under various pHs, while retaining their switchable wetting property and excellent separation performance.

Effect of Various Pre-sowing Treatments on Germination and Seedling Performance of Bixa orellana L. at Low Seed Moisture Content

Natural plant-based substances are becoming more and more popular in today's society for a variety of uses. Bixin (vibrant red-orange dye) is one such compound derived from Bixa orellana L., commonly known as annatto. This plant is primarily propagated through seeds for commercial cultivation. However, there is very little information available on germination combined with the seedling performance of this species. Hence, to fill this research gap, the present study evaluated seed morphological characteristics and various pre-sowing treatments to enhance seed germination and its vigour at a low seed moisture content of 10%. This study used Completely Randomized Design (CRD), and seeds were subjected to six pre-sowing treatments with four replications. The study showed the highest germination (52%) and highest mean daily germination (4.6) in 24hrs Water-soaked seeds, whereas mechanical scarification in combination with 24hrs water-soaking increased the germination percentage from 19% to 47%. In addition, the highest seed vigour index (411.25) was also observed in mechanical scarification combined with 24-hour water soaking. These findings of germination and vigour at low seed moisture content will certainly help in the formation of desiccation and storage protocols for medium to long-term conservation of Bixa orellana L. seeds.

Different solvents accompanied by different structures: Catalyst-free one step construction of highly branched polythioureas and its properties

In this study, tris(2-aminoethyl)amine and carbon disulfide were used as raw materials for the construction of highly branched polythioureas. Firstly, a highly branched polythiourea adsorbent was synthesized through a heating condensation reaction using N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) as solvent without any catalyst. Interestingly, this study also revealed that a highly branched polythiourea resin was successfully synthesized without any catalyst when water was used as the solvent. Through nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), gel chromatography column (GPC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and other means to characterize the comprehensive properties of the polymer. Then, mercury ions were used as the adsorption model. The effects of adsorbent dosing, adsorption time, and different pH on the adsorption of mercury ions (Hg2+) were investigated by intermittent adsorption experiments. The adsorption kinetics, isotherm model, sensitivity test of mercury extraction, single metal ion test, and the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent for nine metal ions were studied. In addition, bond strength tests were utilized to explore the adhesive properties of the prepared aqueous phase highly branched polythioureas. The results show that in the adsorption performance test, when the dosage of highly branched polythiourea adsorbent is 10 mg, the pH is acidic or neutral, and the adsorption time is 60 min, the adsorption efficiency of P-DMF for Hg2+ is as high as 99.99 %. The adsorption follows the Langmuir isotherm model and fits well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. In addition, P-DMF has a certain selectivity for Hg2+, and the adsorption efficiency is positively correlated with the mercury ion concentration. When Hg2+ is 100 mg/L, the adsorption efficiency reaches 99.98 %. In the bond strength test, the dry shear strength of the plywood reached 1.6 MPa, and the strength after soaking in hot water and boiling water for 3 h was 1.5 MPa and 1.4 MPa respectively, exceeding the requirements of GB/T9846-2015 for type II plywood (≥0.7 MPa).

Development of Samed mushroom (Boletus griseipurpureus Corner) crackers and quality study during storage

The objectives of this research were to develop cracker products using pre-treated Samed mushrooms in three variations (boiling water, brining, and soaking in herbal water), assess the proximate composition, evaluate their chemical and physical properties, and assess the quality of Samed mushroom crackers during storage. The proximate composition of fresh Samed mushrooms (per 100 g) revealed moisture of 92.08 g, carbohydrates of 2.60 g, protein of 3.37 g, ash of 0.81 g, fat of 0.23 g, and fiber content of 0.91g. The energy content was 29.59 kcal/100 g. The proximate composition of Samed mushroom crackers per 100 g indicated the following: carbohydrates 69.25 g, crude fat 24.08 g, protein 4.36 g, ash 1.82 g, and moisture 0.49 g. Additionally, the energy content was 511.6 kcal/100 g, with sugar and sodium contents measuring at 0.91 g and 552.3 mg/100 g, respectively. The study on the different types of pre-treatment solutions for Samed mushrooms demonstrated that pre-treatment by soaking in herbal water received the highest acceptance from consumers, with an overall liking score of 8.97. In the development of Samed mushroom crackers, the appropriate ratio of Samed mushroom to fish was 15 to 85. Regarding the microbiological quality changes during a 30-day storage period, the study revealed that the total viable count was <10 CFU/g, yeast count was 7.0 CFU/g, Bacillus cereus count was <100 CFU/g, Staphylococcus aureus count was <10 CFU/g, Clostridium perfringens count was <100 CFU/g, and Escherichia coli count was 3.0 CFU/g. In terms of chemical quality, the peroxide value was 0.57 meq/kg which is consistent with the Thai Community Product Standard (Cracker 107/2011). Storage for 30 days found that the condition of adding nitrogen gas resulted in the finding of less microorganisms than in a normal atmosphere, along with conditions for adding oxygen absorbers together with desiccant.

Sustainable practices impact and planting date on yield of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench)

Environmental stress affects the yield of sorghum. This impact can be reduced by seed stimulation technique and determining the appropriate planting date. An experiment was conducted in the spring and fall seasons of 2022. Randomized complete block design with split-plot arrangement in four replications was used. Planting dates (spring season: February 15th, March 1st, 15th, April 1st, 15th; fall season: June 15th, July 1st, 15th, August 1st, 15th) were assigned to the main plots. Seed stimulation treatments (banana peel extract 35% + citric acid 100 mg L−1 and soaking in distilled water only) were applied to the subplots. The interaction treatment of soaking with banana peel extract + citric acid and the planting date of April 15th showed superiority in traits of head grain number (1743) and total grain yield (6.135 tons ha−1) during the spring season. Seed stimulation treatment with banana peel extract + citric acid on July 1st planting date outperformed in traits of plant dry weight (398.8 g), head grain number (4582), total grain yield (10.82 tons ha−1), and biological yield (67.8 tons ha−1) during the fall season. It can be concluded that seed stimulation with banana peel extract + citric acid improved yield characteristics. Early planting date in the spring season (February 15th, March 1st, or March 15th) or the delay in the fall season (August 1st or August 15th) resulted in less efficient plant performance. This is closely related to the nature of the climatic conditions accompanying crop growth from planting to harvesting. Also, using of agricultural applications related to the use of natural materials could helping hand sustainable agriculture. It can be recommended to soak seeds with banana peel extract + citric acid and adopt the planting date of April 15th for the spring season and July 1st for the fall season to enhance grain yield.

Sustainable approach for seed stimulating and sowing date to enhance field emergence and growth of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench)

Sorghum cultivation is often accompanied by low field emergence rates and weak seedlings, which may be due to genetic or environmental stress. A factorial experiment was conducted in the spring and fall seasons of 2022 using a randomized complete block design with split-plot arrangement and four replications. Planting dates (spring season: Feb. 15th, Mar. 1st, 15th, and Apr. 1st, 15th; fall season: Jun. 15th, Jul. 1st, 15th, and Aug. 1st, 15th) were allocated to the main plots. Seeds stimulation treatments (35% banana peel extract + 100 mg L−1 citric acid and distilled water soaking treatment only) were allocated to the subplots. The interaction treatment (banana peel extract + citric acid) with the planting date of April 15 showed the highest field emergence (74.2%), 75% flowering (86.0 day), plant height (163.9 cm), and days to physiological and complete maturity (111.0 and 131.0 day), respectively. The banana peel extract + citric acid soaking treatment with the planting date of July 1st showed the highest field emergence (91.3%), plant height (185.1 cm), leaf area index (7.6), and dry weight per plant (398.8 g). It can be concluded that the seeds primed with banana peel extract + citric acid before planting improved growth characteristics and could be a solution to environmental challenges, which also promote the concept of sustainable agriculture. It can be recommended seeds soaking with a combination of banana peel extract and citric acid to enhance emergence and growth when planting in April 15th for the spring season and July 1st for the fall season.

Enhancement of Biolubricant Production from Waste Cooking Oil using Alkali Derived from Oil-Palm empty Fruit Bunches

This study focuses on the enhancement of biolubricant production by converting waste-cooking oil methyl esters (WOMEs) through the transesterification process. The potassium hydroxide (KOH) necessary for the transesterification was extracted from Oil-Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (OPEFB) through a multistep procedure involving cutting, sun-drying, burning, and soaking in distilled water. The resulting filtrate contained KOH at a concentration of 0.2 mol/dm³. To optimize the transesterification process, Response Surface Methodology (RSM) employing central composite design (CCD) was utilized. Three critical factors—temperature, mole ratio, and reaction time—were investigated for their influence on biolubricant yield. The study revealed that an optimal biolubricant yield of 98.5% could be achieved under the following pecific conditions: a temperature of 100°C, a mole ratio of 7:1, and a reaction time of 120 minutes. The predicted yield from the optimization correlates closely with the experimental results, indicating the efficacy of the optimization approach. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) underscored the significance of mole ratio and temperature as pivotal factors affecting biolubricant yield. This systematic investigation contributes valuable insights into the transesterification process, offering a sustainable approach to biolubricant production by utilizing waste cooking oil and KOH extracted from OPEFB. The findings provide a foundation for future research in the field of environmentally friendly lubricant synthesis.

In-situ assembly of Cu-BTC nanoparticles onto pollen template with enhanced hydrolytic stability and mechanical performance

Herein, a green and facile method is introduced to simultaneously enhance the hydrolytic stability, mechanical performance, and catalytic activity of Cu-BTC nanoparticles, by utilizing pollen as the biotemplate for self-assembling Cu-BTC nanoparticles. The resulting A-bio-Cu-BTC composite retains its original morphology after soaking in water at 60 °C for 24 h, experiencing only 8.9 % decrease in the specific BET surface area, which is more stable than the pristine Cu-BTC (a sharp decrease of 94.4 %). For the monoliths fabricated by the 3D printing technique, the A-bio-Cu-BTC grids exhibit superior mechanical properties compared to Cu-BTC girds (tensile strength of 0.45 vs. 0.09 MPa), thereby ensuring good long-term applications. It is found that the organic dye degradation performance of A-bio-Cu-BTC powder and 3D-printed grids is superior to the Cu-BTC samples without biotemplates. Moreover, the incorporation of pollen also facilitates the generation of abundant Cu(Ⅰ) species on the surface of Cu-BTC (the ratio of Cu(Ⅰ)/Cu(Ⅱ) increased from 0.80 to 1.67), which enhances the degradation performance of organic dyes.