This study evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation with three silicate minerals (bentonite, zeolite, and illite) on the growth performance, whole-body composition, hematological and immune parameters, and apparent digestibility of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Four isonitrogenous (35% crude protein) and isoenergetic (17.0 MJ kg-1) diets were formulated: a control (CON) and three experimental diets containing 5% bentonite (BE), zeolite (ZE), or illite (IL), in which an equivalent amount of starch was replaced. Juvenile shrimp specimens (initial weight: 0.02 g) were reared for nine weeks and assessed for growth performance, feed efficiency, survival, biochemical indices, immune responses, and apparent digestibility. Shrimp specimens fed the illite-supplemented diet exhibited significantly higher final body weight (5.95 ± 0.97 g), weight gain, specific growth rate, and protein efficiency ratio than the other groups (p < 0.05). The feed conversion ratios were significantly better in the IL (1.10 ± 0.03) and ZE (1.16 ± 0.02) groups than that in the BE (1.26 ± 0.05) and CON (1.32 ± 0.04) groups (p < 0.05). The whole-body crude protein content was significantly higher in the ZE and IL groups. Hemolymph glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic-pyruvate transaminase (GPT) activities were significantly reduced in the ZE and IL groups, indicating improved hepatic health. Non-specific immune responses, including nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT), phenoloxidase (PO), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and lysozyme activities, were most enhanced in shrimp fed the IL diet. Apparent crude protein digestibility peaked in the IL group (93.3 ± 0.70%) followed sequentially by the CON (87.3 ± 0.92%), BE (87.8 ± 0.88%), and ZE (89.1 ± 1.11%) groups (p < 0.05). These findings demonstrate that dietary supplementation with illite significantly improves the growth performance, feed efficiency, hepatic condition, innate immune response, and protein digestibility of L. vannamei. Illite appears to be a promising candidate for functional feed supplementation aimed at enhancing productivity and health in intensive shrimp aquaculture.

The increasing concentrations of heavy metals (HM) in the water bodies, primarily caused by the rapid use of fertilizers in farming and increasing industrialization, pose a serious threat to the deteriorating earth’s environment and human health. This pollution is dangerous to water-dwelling life forms and is also of concern because it is believed to be a carcinogen. To overcome these challenges, constant water quality analysis must be done. Out of all the remediation methods, the adsorption-based techniques are considered one of the most suitable means of addressing the problem of heavy metal toxicity in wastewater. The latest trends in the application of Functionalized Magnetic Nanomaterials (MNPs) attached to nanocomposites, including carbon-based materials like carbon nanotubes (CNTs), Graphene Oxide (GOx), and Graphene Quantum Dots (GQDs) and inorganic supports like Zeolites (ZLs) and Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), demonstrate high efficiency in the extraction of heavy metals (HM). These nanocomposites possess a higher rate of active surface area and can adsorb properties, which make them reusable over multiple cycles of treatment in various forms of wastewater. This review will discuss the preparation method of engineering MNPs on CNTS and GOx and analyze modern materials' role in removing heavy metals. Besides, due to the observed effects of the substances on the biota, the study will highlight the need to conduct more research on the ecotoxicological effects of the materials and design suitable methods that can guarantee the effectiveness of the materials in promoting a sustainable environment.

This study aimed to develop a novel composite adsorbent combining peat (PS), limestone (LS), zeolite (ZEO), and activated carbon (AC), with ordinary Portland cement (OPC) as a binder (40% by weight), for the simultaneous removal of ammoniacal nitrogen (NH3-N) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) from stabilized landfill leachate. The composite was characterized using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, and pH at zero-point charge (pHzpc). The material exhibited high SiO2 and CaO content, functional groups (e.g., Si–O-Si, N–H, O–H, C–O, C–N, and O–C.), a rough and heterogeneous surface morphology, a surface area of 105.96 m2/g, and a pHzpc of 11.25. Batch experiments determined optimal adsorption conditions: 200 rpm shaking speed, 120-min contact time, pH 7, particle size of 2.36–3.35 mm, and dosage of 57 g/L. The Langmuir isotherm model provided the best fit for NH3-N and COD adsorption with adsorption capacities of 26.18 mg/g and 47.39 mg/g, respectively (R2 = 0.9941 and 0.9814). Kinetic studies indicated pseudo-second-order kinetics, suggesting chemisorption as the rate-limiting process. These findings demonstrate the composite (PS, LS, ZEO, and AC) potential as an efficient and sustainable adsorbent for treating stabilized landfill leachate. Further studies should focus on evaluating the performance of composite adsorbents for the removal of NH3-N, COD, or other pollutants from mining industry, domestic, or combined effluents, as well as their potential application in air pollution control.

Introduction. One example of new polymers for target delivery systems are zeolites (ZEO) and zeolite imidazole frameworks (ZIF). ZEO are actively used in industry, ecology, pharmacy and biomedicine, having high porosity, adsorption capacity and physico-chemical stability. ZIF, as a type of metal-organic framework, are characterized by high thermal and chemical resistance, biocompatibility and adjustable porosity, which makes them promising for drug delivery. Both polymers, due to their properties, open up new opportunities for the creation of targeted drugs with prolonged action and minimal side effects. The purpose of this review is to characterize ZEO and ZIF as promising polymers for targeted delivery systems and to consider their basic properties.Text. The article discusses the structure and methods of analysis of zeolites and zeolite imidazole frameworks, methods of their synthesis, mechanism of action, and applications of polymers as directed delivery systems.Conclusion. The review shows that the chemical and physical properties of ZEO and ZIF polymers make it possible to develop effective targeted drug delivery systems used in oncology, ophthalmology, dentistry and orthopedics. Low cytotoxicity, regulated polymer pore loading and the effectiveness of intracellular targeting confirm the prospects of using ZEO and ZIF in medicine.

Statement of the Problem: Employing different instruments may have different impact on the outcome of root canal treatments. Deviation from the original canal path and defective root canal obturation may lead to pulpectomy treatment failure.Purpose: This study compared the primary molar canal transportation, centering ability, and obturation quality of hand files, Mtwo, Reciproc, and Gentlefile rotating machines in root canal treatments.Materials and Method: In this in vitro experimental study, eighty primary molar roots were randomly assigned to four groups. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans were provided for the samples, and hand files (group 1), Mtwo (group 2), Reciproc (group 3), and Gentlefile (group 4) were used to instrument the root canals. Once more, CBCT scans were acquired, and at 1, 2, and 3mm from the apex as well as 1 mm from the orifice, the canal transportation and centering ability were evaluated in buccolingual and mesiodistal directions. Zeolite (ZOE) cement was used to obturate every root canal. To evaluate the obturation density, number of voids, and underfilling in each group, new CBCT scans were obtained. For every tooth, the maximum, minimum, and average Hounsfield units (HU) were noted. One-way ANOVA, the Kruskal-Wallis test, and Tukey's HSD test were used to analyze the data.Results: Mtwo exhibited considerably superior centering ability than Gentlefile at 2mm from the apex in the mesiodistal direction (p Value< 0.05).Gentlefile had significantly higher buccolingual canal transportation than Reciproc at 3 mm from the apex (P0.05). Minimum HU, underfilling, and void numbers didnot differ amongst the four groups (p= 0.791, p= 0.1, and p= 0.548). Reciproc had substantially higher maximum and average HU, followed by Mtwo, Gentlefile,and hand files (p< 0.05).Conclusion: When compared to other systems, Gentlefile showed higher transportation and less centering ability. Reciproc had the highest obturation density, followed by Mtwo, Gentlefile, and hand files.

Enhanced remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soils using biochar and zeolite combinations with additives: A meta-analysis.

Milkfish oil possesses beneficial properties for human health due to its composition of omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential fatty acids, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). EPA and DHA are long-chain unsaturated fatty acids susceptible to oxidation and produce compounds that cause odors from oil degradation. Ultrasound-assisted extraction was performed for 68 min at 84 °C with a solvent-to-sample ratio of 3:1 mL/g using d-limonene as a bio-solvent to extract milkfish by-product oil. One of the crucial stages in the oil refining process is deodorization. In this study, several deodorization techniques were used, including liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), steam distillation (SD), and solid-phase adsorption using activated carbon (AC), zeolite (ZT), bentonite (BT), and diatomite (DT). Refined milkfish by-product oil during refining with the deodorization method showed significant differences in physical-chemical characteristics, nutrition, and saturation levels compared with crude oil. The LLE method can significantly reduce the acid and peroxide values and maintain the composition of omega-3 fatty acids. The low temperature used in LLE can prevent the oxidation and degradation of oil. The LLE and solid-phase adsorption method is beneficial because it is low-cost, efficient, and easy to use in milkfish oil deodorization.

Plastic waste in the ocean leaches chemicals, polluting marine environments. A recent study examined adsorption capacities of various media to address this concern. After a natural leaching process of three months, it was observed that activated carbon (AC) and a combination of activated carbon and zeolite (ZEO) demonstrated superior heavy metal removal efficiency. Specifically, 30g of activated carbon removed 91.72% of metals and a 10g mix of AC:ZEO achieved 90.38%. In contrast, 50g of zeolite removed 88.10%. Notably, the mixture of activated carbon and zeolite was especially efficient in removing copper. Additionally, the pH remained stable during these processes. The adsorption behavior was best described using the Langmuir isotherm model, outperforming the Freundlich model. This was evident from a higher correlation coefficient value for the Langmuir model across all tested media. The study emphasizes the potential of AC and AC:ZEO in addressing marine contamination from plastic waste.

In this study, Cu-doped TiO2 combined with natural zeolite (ZT) was synthesized and applied as a fixed powder layer on poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) tablets. The material’s morphology, structural, and chemical properties were characterized using high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis. The antioxidant capacity was evaluated by assessing the neutralization of hydroxyl radicals and iron (III) ions. For the first time, tablets with Cu-TiO2 and ZT deposited on PMMA as the carrier were investigated for removing two dyes, methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB), from water under simulated solar (SS) and UVC irradiation. Under SS irradiation, the Cu-TiO2/PMMA and Cu-TiO2/ZT/PMMA tablets achieved about 21% degradation of MB after 240 min. This result is particularly noteworthy because SS radiation provides lower energy compared with UVC, making the process more economically efficient. Furthermore, the photocatalysts are immobilized on a stable carrier, which enhances the method’s cost-effectiveness by reducing material loss and simplifying recovery. In the presence of ZT/PMMA tablets, 69% of MB was removed by adsorption after 240 min. Additionally, we explored the mechanism of degradation, revealing that the enhanced generation of hydroxyl radicals plays a pivotal role in the effective degradation of MB. At the same time, photogenerated holes contribute to the removal of MO. The overall results suggest that the tablets obtained are a promising solution for water purification due to their effectiveness, simplicity, and low processing cost.

Flow injection analysis of hydroquinone using amperometric sensor modified with nanomaterials

Abstract Concrete is the most adaptable, extensively researched, and reliable building material available worldwide. minimizing the adverse impacts of the construction sector on the ecosystem as it exists today. Manufactured sand (MS) or manufactured fine aggregate (MFA) is made by crushing larger aggregate pieces into aggregate particles the size of sand. Manufactured sand is widely employed in the construction industry as a substitute for river sand, mostly for making concrete mixtures and mortar. By utilizing less cement in the concrete in the current study, Alccofine 1203 and Zeolite were partially substituted for cement, making the concrete a more sustainable material. Zeolite (ZL) is produced when ash and rock layers that simultaneously form following a volcanic eruption are used in concrete as a substitute for Portland cement, making up 4% of the total mass. The utilization of manufactured sand has recently started, with several construction projects taking place in various countries. In this experiment, alccofine (AF) 1203 is being used in M40-grade concrete in amounts ranging from 2% to 20% as a cement substitute. To create Ternary Blended Cement Concrete (TBCC), cement, 4% zeolite, and 50% MS are used in place of natural sand.

Inhibition of efflorescence for fly ash-slag-steel slag based geopolymer: Pore network optimization and free alkali stabilization

Role of modified calcium montmorillonite and 5 A zeolite in microstructure and efflorescence formation of metakaolin-based geopolymer

Carvacrol and thymol are broad-spectrum natural antimicrobial agents. To reduce their volatility and improve their antimicrobial performance, synergistic systems were prepared loading the active molecules in zinc-modified clays. Montmorillonite (MMT) and zeolite (ZEO) were modified with zinc ions (ZnMMT and ZnZEO), with well-known antimicrobial properties, and then with carvacrol or thymol, reaching the 26 ± 3% and 33 ± 2% w/w of loading, respectively. The resulting hybrid materials were characterized by FT-IR, XPS, XRD, TGA, and GC-MS to evaluate carvacrol/thymol release in simulating food matrices. Antimicrobial assays carried out using spoiler and pathogenic bacterial strains showed that the antimicrobial activity of both thymol and carvacrol was largely preserved once they were loaded into Zn-modified clays. However, MMT hybrids showed an antibacterial activity significantly higher than ZEO hybrids at 50 mg/mL of thymol and carvacrol. For this reason, deeper antimicrobial evaluations were carried out only for ZnMMT composites. ZnMMT loaded with thymol or carvacrol produced inhibition zones against most of the target strains, also at 3.12 mg/mL, while the positive controls represented by the single molecule thymol or carvacrol were not active. The hybrid materials can be useful for applications in which the antimicrobial activity of natural molecules need to be displayed over time as requested for the control of microbial pathogens and spoilage bacteria in different applications, such as active packaging, biomaterials, and medical devices.

With the ongoing amendment of the European Union legislation on the treatment of municipal wastewater, stricter requirements for the removal of pollutants are expected, which calls for the need for innovative wastewater treatment technologies. Our research was focused on the removal of ammonium nitrogen from municipal wastewater by nontraditional processes based on the use of adsorption processes on zeolite (ZEO) and ozone. Adsorption, adsorption-regeneration, and adsorptive ozonation processes were applied. All processes were carried out in a completely stirred reactor (CSR) and a jet-loop reactor (JLR) with external recirculation of the reaction mixture. Experimental measurements were carried out with real municipal wastewater after mechanical treatment. The best results were achieved in the adsorption-regeneration process, which was implemented in a current loop reactor. An average ammonium nitrogen removal efficiency of 53.1% was obtained by adjusting the pH value to 10.0. Average values of 46.2% and 49.2% for chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total organic carbon (TOC) removal efficiencies are an added value of the process. The values of ammonium nitrogen, COD, and TOC removal efficiencies in individual cycles confirm the high stability of the process.

Cu-SSZ-13 has been commercialized for selective catalytic reduction with ammonia (NH3-SCR) to remove NOx from diesel exhaust. As its synthesis usually requires toxic and costly organic templates, the discovery of alternative Cu-based zeolite catalysts with organotemplate-free synthesis and comparable or even superior NH3-SCR activity to that of Cu-SSZ-13 is of great academic and industrial significance. Herein, we demonstrated that Cu-T with an intergrowth structure of offretite (OFF) and erionite (ERI) synthesized by an organotemplate-free method showed better catalytic performance than Cu-ERI and Cu-OFF as well as Cu-SSZ-13. Structure characterizations and density functional theory calculations indicated that the intergrowth structure promoted more isolated Cu2+ located at the 6MR of the intergrowth interface, resulting in a better hydrothermal stability of Cu-T than Cu-ERI and Cu-OFF. Strikingly, the low-temperature activity of Cu-T significantly increased after hydrothermal aging, while that of Cu-ERI and Cu-OFF substantially decreased. Based on in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectra analysis and density functional theory calculations, the reason can be attributed to the fact that NH4NO3 formed on the CuxOy species within ERI polymorph of Cu-T underwent a fast SCR reaction pathway with the assistance of Brønsted acid sites at the intergrowth interfaces under standard SCR reaction conditions. Significantly, Cu-T exhibited a wider temperature window at a catalytic activity of over 90% than Cu-SSZ-13 (175-550 vs 175-500 °C for fresh and 225-500 vs 250-400 °C for hydrothermal treatment). This work provides a new direction for the design of high-performance NH3-SCR catalysts in terms of the interplay of the intergrowth structure of zeolites.

Effect of biochar, zeolite and bentonite on physiological and biochemical parameters and lead and zinc uptake by maize (Zea mays L.) plants grown in contaminated soil

The access of vinasse leachates to water bodies and groundwater exacerbates environmental problems, especially eutrophication. Therefore, a column experiment was performed to examine the effect of adding zeolite (ZL), bone char (BC), and wood chips biochar (WCB) in the presence of vinasse on carbon dioxide (CO2) emission, leaching dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and ammonium (NH4+) in calcareous sandy soil, as well as studying the kinetics of leaching dissolved organic carbon and ammonium. This column experiment contains four treatments: soil alone (CK), soil + zeolite (SZL), soil + bone char (SBC), and soil + wood chips biochar (SWCB). These amendments were applied to the soil at a level of 4%. Vinasse was added to all treatments at a level of 13 mL per column. The leached total cumulative DOC and total cumulative soluble ammonium amounts decreased significantly with applying ZL, BC, and WCB compared with the soil alone. The effectiveness of these amendments in lowering the total cumulative DOC leaching is in the order of SBC > SWCB > SZL > CK. However, the effectiveness of these amendments in decreasing the total cumulative NH4+ leaching is in the order of SZL > SWCB > SBC > CK. The rate constant (k) of DOC leaching decreased significantly with the application of bone char compared to soil alone treatment. In the presence of vinasse, the apparent half-life of leached DOC from the soil was 8.1, 12.9, 36.7, and 15.5 days for soil CK, SZL, SBC, and SWCB treatments, respectively. Half-life values of leached soluble ammonium from the soil in the presence of vinasse addition were 10.1, 39.5, 28.5, and 37.9 days for CK, SZL, SBC, and SWCB treatments, respectively. Amending soil with BC increased significantly the phosphorus availability, however, applying ZL and BC caused a significant increase in the available potassium in calcareous sandy soil compared to the control treatment. According to these results, it is recommended not to add vinasse alone to sandy soils, but it is preferred to be co-applied with BC amendment at the level of 4% better than ZL and WCB. This would decrease leaching DOC and ammonium to the water table and groundwater as well as enhance nutrient retention in the soil, which in turn, plays a vital role in reducing the harmful effect of vinasse and improving soil fertility.

Exploring the effects of zeolite, biochar, and diatomite as additives for enhancing heavy metals passivation and eliminating antibiotic resistance genes in composts during vermicomposting of dewatered sludge and green waste

Microbial attacks rapidly degrade concrete structures in wastewater facilities, leading to brief service lifespans. Hence, producing concrete resistant to chemical and sulfuric acid corrosion is more cost-effective. In the present study, a total of six concrete mixtures incorporating 7.5% silica fumes (SF) and 10% natural zeolite (ZE) were immersed in 0.5% and 1% sulfuric acid solutions with a maximum pH threshold of 2 and 1, respectively, for 70 weeks. The specimens were regularly monitored for surface deterioration, mass change and crushing load change. To better understand the relationship between the pore structure of concrete mixtures and resistance to sulfuric acid, various durability tests such as rapid chloride penetration, water absorption, electrical resistivity and chloride diffusion coefficient were performed. Based on the results obtained, converting calcium hydroxide into calcium silicate hydrate gel through pozzolanic reactions and then refining the porosity of concrete with silica fumes (SF) and natural zeolite (ZE) was effective in enhancing the resistance of concrete to attack by sulfuric acid of relatively low concentration. As a result, using silica fumes (SF) and natural zeolite (ZE) is a lower-cost method for reducing corrosion rates to extend the service life of facilities, particularly in lower concentrations.