Volume 12, Issue 1

Comprehensive utilization of coal fly ashes (CFA) solid waste is a worldwide urgent issue. In China, tens of millions of tons of CFA are un-utilized and stored or discarded in landfills per year, causing a significant waste of resources and a serious environmental hazard. Herein, we developed a new process to reuse CFA and recycled polyvinyl chloride (r-PVC) to produce door or window sub-frame (DWSF) composite materials, realized CFA and r-PVC trash to treasure. In this process, aluminate-modified CFA mixing with r-PVC and other additives obtain a mixture, subsequently extruding into pellets, re-extrusion, cooling, shaping, hauling, and cutting to DWSF materials. The mechanical properties of these are excellent and meet the National Standards, with static bending and tensile strengths of 33 and 13.6 MPa, respectively, and a hardness of 89.2 HRR. Compared with the traditional CaCO 3 -based DWSF, our CFA-based DWSFs have higher competitive both from the perspective of “carbon neutrality” and production costs. More strikingly, this process is simple, robust, and easy to industrialize, which allows large-scale, value-added utilization of CFA.

Powder adsorbent made by coal gasification slag (CGS) was used to adsorb pollutants from coking wastewater (CW). This study initially focused on the removal efficiency of volatile phenol, NH 3 –N, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) from CW. The removal rate of volatile phenol increased from 48.90% to 70.50% after acid precipitation of CW by 4.0 mL reagent of sulfuric acid (3.0 M) and optimization of adsorption process by central composite design-response surface methodology with optimized conditions. Volume ratio of liquid and solid adsorbent ( V L/S ) and pH were the significant factors in the adsorption process. Batch experiment improved the volatile phenol, NH 3 –N, and COD removal rate to 85.1%, 41.6%, and 77.3%, respectively. Multi-grade batch process in grade 3 made a further promotion of pollutants removal rate as 98.5%, 73.6%, and 80.5%, respectively. Scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive spectrum and Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer were used to confirm the adsorption effect. CGS-based adsorbent for CW treatment has potential advantages due to the features of good adsorption performance and low cost.

The micron-scale diamond film was prepared using hydrogen and methane as the mixed gas supplies via self-developed 3 kW/2,450 MHz microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition (MPCVD) equipment. On this basis, the evolution of the surface morphology, hydrophobicity, and electrical properties of samples under different hydrogen plasma etching times was investigated. The results indicate that the crystal edge and the top of the diamond grain were preferentially etched when etching time is less than 30 min. The surface roughness reduced from 0.217 to 0.205 μm, and the resistance value decreases from 3.17 to 0.35 MΩ. However, as the etch time increases to 120 min, the etching depth increases, and the surface roughness was increased. Simultaneously, the contact angles increased from 62.8° to 95.9°, which indicates that the surface of the diamond films exhibits more pronounced hydrophobicity. The treatment time of hydrogen plasma has no significant effect on the resistance value in the range of 0.26–0.50 MΩ. The mechanism of surface etching by hydrogen plasma was also discussed.

Dioxins/furans are classified as highly toxic chemicals that seriously affect human health. To remove dioxin residues from contaminated water, CuZn-ZIFs, a material from bimetallic zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) has been synthesized and explored its efficacy treatment with dibenzofuran (DBF). The pristine structure of CuZn-ZIFs was confirmed using powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared, thermogravimetric analysis, energy-dispersive X-ray, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, and scanning electron microscopy. CuZn-ZIFs exhibited its role as a heterogeneous catalyst promoting H 2 O 2 oxidation and as an adsorbent in DBF treatment. Herein, at room temperature, more than 86% of DBF adsorbed and 90% of DBF degraded in the presence of H 2 O 2 with 10 mg catalyst dosage, 30 ppm of DBF within 40 and 60 min, respectively. Remarkably, the CuZn-ZIFs’ reusability of each process showed a high efficacy removal with over 80% after five cycles. Therefore, CuZn-ZIFs synthesized could be a prospective candidate for the indirect or direct degradation of dioxins/DBF derivatives from contaminated water. Graphical abstract

Since microwave (MW)-assisted synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using Caesalpinia sappan (CS) extract as both a reducing and stabilizing agent is currently unavailable, a MW-based synthesis protocol was investigated and presented for the first time in this work. In addition, to rapidly prepare the reactant for this purpose, the MW-assisted extraction of CS heartwood was studied. From the optimization experiments, it was found that the extraction using the MW irradiation at 300 W for 3 min produced the extract with high and reproducible brazilin content which could be readily used for the synthesis of AuNPs. Under the optimal synthesis conditions, roughly spherical CS-AuNPs with an average diameter size of 49.6 nm and acceptable 28-day stability were obtained within only 1 min. The resulting CS-AuNPs were capable of selective binding to Fe 2+ , Fe 3+ , and Al 3+ , leading to particle aggregation as well as noticeable change of color and shift of UV-Vis absorption maxima. From these results, CS-AuNPs could be fabricated via this fast, green, and efficient route. Furthermore, their potential application for colorimetric sensing of certain metal ions was preliminarily explored and proposed in this work.

The heterogeneous supported Lewis acid catalyst prepared by immobilization technology has high reaction activity. It is an environment-friendly catalyst. Using Lewis acid immobilized as the catalyst, 2-methyl-6-propionyl naphthalene is synthesized by Friedel–Crafts reaction with 2-methylnaphthalene and propionic anhydride, which has a good development prospect. A variety of AlCl 3 catalysts supported by H-zeolite molecular sieves are prepared using the solvent reflux method in the paper. It is found that AlCl 3 /Hβ has better catalytic performance. The results showed that AlCl 3 /Hβ catalyst is mainly composed of L acid. The acid content of B acid and the specific surface area increase, and the pore volume and pore size decreases. With the increase in AlCl 3 concentration, the acid content of strong acid, medium strong acid, and weak acid increases, but the solubility of AlCl 3 in CHCl 3 is limited. When the concentration of AlCl 3 is too high, too much AlCl 3 is deposited on the surface of the molecular sieve, which is useless to its binding with Si–OH. AlCl 3 /Hβ’s activity is higher when the concentration of AlCl 3 is 3 g·L −1 , and the solvent is refluxed for 8 h and calcined at 550°C for 3 h. Under these conditions, the conversion of 2-methylnaphthalene is 85.86%, and the yield of β,β-methyl propyl naphthalene is increased to 81.19%.

Biodegradable nanofilms from polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), citric acid (CA), glycerol (G), and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) were prepared using different ZnO concentrations and different electron beam irradiation doses, enabling crosslinking formation. The prepared films were characterized by X-ray diffractometer, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analyser, and transmission electron microscopy. The swelling percentage of PVP:CMC films was ordered in the sequence of composition ratio 1:2 > 1:1 > 2:1. Results showed decrease in swelling capacity accompanied by increase in gelation percentage of (PVP:CMC)/CA/G)/ZnO nanofilms as the irradiation dose increased up to 20 kGy. The tensile strength of (PVP:CMC) films increased by the incorporation of ZnO-NPs and increasing the irradiation dose. The thermal stability of the prepared (PVP:CMC)/CA/G/ZnO nanofilms was enhanced as the irradiation dosage increased. The water vapour transmission rate of the irradiated films was decreased. The biodegradability of the prepared nanofilms was monitored during 16 weeks and it exceeded 65% weight loss from the original blank weight. Moreover, the nanofilms exhibit antimicrobial activity against fungi, Gram-negative, and Gram-positive bacteria. The broad antimicrobial activity spectrum of the prepared nanofilms increased as the concentration of ZnO-NPs increased. These results suggested that (PVP:CMC)/CA/G/ZnO nanofilms can serve as biodegradable materials in various applications characterized by antimicrobial activity.

Worldwide, epilepsy is the second most prevalent neurological disorder. Disappointingly, various adverse effects are being observed with currently used antiepileptic drugs. Nanomedicine represents an effective strategy to overcome these limitations with a better central drug delivery. Hence, our work aimed to unravel the antiepileptic efficacy of rutin (Rut) loaded with selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) against pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-challenged mice. Ten days before PTZ (60 mg·kg −1 ) intraperitoneal injection, mice were orally administered Rut (100 mg·kg −1 ), sodium selenite (0.5 mg·kg −1 ), SeNPs (100 mg·kg −1 ), or sodium valproate (reference drug, 200 mg·kg −1 ). Remarkably, administration of Rut-loaded SeNPs (Rut-SeNPs) to epileptic mice markedly increased the latency time and decreased the severity and duration of seizures. Remarkable increases were also noticed in acetylcholinesterase, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, dopamine, and norepinephrine levels in epileptic mice treated with Rut-SeNPs. Furthermore, Rut-SeNPs boosted the cellular antioxidant defense by increasing superoxide dismutase, catalase, GSH, Nrf2, and HO-1, along with decreased malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels. In addition, the nanotherapy successfully mitigated the inflammatory mediators (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, cyclooxygenase-2, and nuclear factor kappa B) in mice hippocampus. Rut-SeNPs antagonized neuronal apoptosis by decreasing Bax and caspase-3 and increasing the levels of Bcl-2. Conclusively, the present work suggests Rut-loaded SeNPs as an effective antiepileptic therapy through correction of disturbed neurotransmitters, oxidative status, neuroinflammation, and apoptosis.

This study intended to optimize apigenin (APG) nanoparticle formulation prepared by planetary ball milling to enhance its dissolution rate and bioavailability using a design of experiment (DoE). In this study, polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP K30) was used as a nanoparticle stabilizer. The independent parameters of milling speed, milling ball size, and drug to solvent ratio were evaluated for their impacts on APG nanoparticles concerning the nanoparticle size ( Y 1), zeta potential ( Y 2), and drug dissolution efficiency after 60 min, notated as % DE 60 ( Y 3). The milling ball size showed a significant antagonistic effect ( P = 0.0210) on the size of APG nanoparticles, while milling speed had an agonistic effect on the zeta potential values of drug nanoparticles, ranging from low to medium speed levels. In addition, ANOVA analysis indicated that the effect of the drug-to-solvent ratio on the % DE 60 of APG from the nanoparticle formulations was antagonistically significant ( P = 0.015), and the quadratic effect of milling speed ( AA ) also had a significant antagonistic effect ( P = 0.025) on the % DE 60 . Risk assessment analytical tools revealed that milling ball size and milling speed significantly affect the nanoparticle size. The drug/solvent ratio exerted a strong impact on % DE 60 . Furthermore, the maximum plasma concentration ( C max ) of the optimized APG nanoparticle formula increased by four folds. In addition, AUC 0– t (ng·mL −1 ·h −1 ) for APG nanoparticle (353.7 ± 185.3 ng·mL −1 ·h −1 ) was higher than that noticed in the case of the untreated drug (149 ± 137.5 ng·mL −1 ·h −1 ) by more than two folds.

In this study, Origanum onites was used to synthesize the silver nanoparticles (AgNPs@Org). The structure of nanoparticles was identified by spectroscopic techniques. The maximum absorption was determined as 433 nm by UV-Vis spectroscopy. In Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy spectrum, the characteristic signal was observed at 3,262 cm −1 belonging to the OH group. The crystal structure of nanoparticles was revealed by X-ray diffraction analysis. The diffraction peaks (2 θ ) can be indexed to 111, 200, 220, 311, and 222 components representing the face-centered cubic unit structure. The spherical particle size was calculated as 18.1 nm by transmission electron microscopy. Cytotoxic effects of extract and AgNPs@Org were executed by MTT assay using Capan-1, L929, and Caco-2 cell lines. AgNPs@Org exhibited the excellent cytotoxic effect on Capan-1 cell lines with the viability of 37.6% (0.5 µg·mL −1 ). However, the effect of O. onites extract on the viability of Capan-1 cell lines was found to be 24.6% and 55.4% at 1.0 and 0.5 µg·mL −1 , respectively. AgNPs@Org effect on Caco-2 cell lines was found as 31.7% (1.0 µg·mL −1 ). In the L929 cell lines, the noticeable lethal influence was not detected for extract and nanoparticles. In other words, the extract and AgNPs@Org did not act a cytotoxic effect on L929 cell lines. Graphical abstract Synthesis, characterization, and anticancer activity of silver nanoparticles synthesized from Origanum onites .

The energy efficiency of an absorption–desorption system for carbon dioxide capture from flue gas utilizing methyltriphenylphosphonium bromide-monoethanolamine (MEA) deep eutectic solvent is investigated in this article. According to the results, when the working pressure of the absorber column increases, the process becomes significantly exergy deficient, with an exergy loss of 7.63 MW compared to 5.7 MW for a normal MEA process. The majority of the exergy deficit is due to flue gas compression effort, which accounts for 99% of the total process exergy. The process’s exergy shortfall can be improved by lowering the absorber pressure from 10 to 3 atm, lowering the carbon dioxide removal efficiency from 90% to 60%, and increasing the solvent-to-gas ratio from 075 to 7.05. Furthermore, the incorporation of an energy recovery device could allow for an 80–90% reduction in the energy consumed by the gas compressor when running at 10 atm, from 5.7 to 1.2 MJ‧kg CO 2 −1 . With this adjustment, the deep eutectic solvent-based process can match or outperform the corresponding aqueous alkanolamine solvent-based process in terms of exergy destruction and specific energy consumption.

Felodipine (FEL)–tetracyanoethylene (TCNE)–2,2′-bipyridine (Bpy) complex was prepared with FEL, TCNE–Bpy and characterized by fluorescence, ultraviolet, and infrared. By exploring the concentration and dosage of Bpy, it was found that 1 mL 2 × 10 −3  mol‧L −1 of Bpy had the best effect. The sequence of reagent addition was determined to be followed by FEL, then by TCNE, and then followed by Bpy. The concentration of FEL was 2.5 × 10 −4 to 9.0 × 10 −3  mol‧L −1 , which had a good linear relationship with fluorescence intensity. The compound had good accuracy, precision, and specificity, and could be used for the determination of phelodipine content in FEL sustained-release tablets.

In this article, Bi 2 O 3 @Zn-MOF hybrid nanomaterials were synthesized by supporting Zn-based metal–organic framework (Zn-MOF) through the hydrothermal method. X-ray diffractometer, Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray, N 2 physisorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and UV-Vis were used to characterize the physical and chemical properties of Bi 2 O 3 @Zn-MOF nanomaterials. The photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared hybrid has been studied over the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB). A catalytic activity of 97.2% was achieved using Bi 2 O 3 @Zn-MOF nanocomposite with the loading of 0.18 g Bi 2 O 3 , after 90 min of exposure to visible light irradiation, and the high photocatalytic performance was mainly associated with the nanorod structures, larger pore size, and broaden visible light absorption region due to the synergistic effect of the constituting materials. Furthermore, the Bi 2 O 3 @Zn-MOF nanocomposite can be reused three times and the degradation rate of RhB was maintained at 77.9%. Thus, the Bi 2 O 3 @Zn-MOF nanocomposite can act as a potential photocatalyst for the photodegradation of organic dyes in environmental applications.

Control strategy development for fed-batch bioreactor (FBBR) plays an important role in the improvement of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production. To develop a feeding strategy for PHA production in a large-scale FBBR, an optimization-based control scheme that considers nutrient dispersion is proposed in this work. A coupled partial differential equations and ordinary differential equation model is proposed to describe the axial-dispersed nutrient and well-dispersed microbial dynamics with process constraints. An analytical model predictive control (AMPC) method that applies integrated variables of nutrients is employed to develop the real-time control system. The control objective is to regulate the PHA concentration at the updated set points by adjusting the nutrient feed rates; a process disturbance is introduced to evaluate the control robustness. Simulation experiments of a fed-batch operation are conducted to investigate the performance of the developed controller; the controlled output is designed to track the updated set points corresponding to the biomass concentration. Results of closed-loop and regulatory systems showed that the proposed control strategy could provide more productivity (33–38%) compared to the applied PI controller. The performance test demonstrates that the developed control system could apply the biomass concentration for updating set points, provide the optimal control actions that promote PHB accumulation and handle the disturbance effectively.

Artemia urumiana extract was prepared and used in gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) synthesis via ultraviolet radiation accelerated technique. Response surface methodology was used to evaluate the effects of amount of extract (2–8 mL) and its pH (6.5–10.5) on the particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, and antioxidant activity of the fabricated Au NPs. Obtained results revealed that Au NPs with small particle size (61 nm) and PDI (0.387), and high zeta potential (−18.8 mV) and antioxidant activity (13.25%) were fabricated using 5.4 mL of the prepared A. urumiana extract with a pH value of 10.5. These optimum conditions were used in Au NPs synthesis, and NPs characteristics were assessed. Results indicated that the colloidal solution containing synthesized Au NPs had a broad emission peak at a wavelength of 562 nm. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy analysis show that the fabricated spherical NPs had a mean particle size of 25 nm. Finally, bactericidal effects of the fabricated Au NPs were assessed against four selected bacteria strains, namely, Staphylococcus aureus , Escherichia coli , Bacillus subtilis , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and results indicated that synthesized NPs had strong antibacterial activity toward those, with clear zone diameters of 16, 17, 11, and 17 mm, respectively.

Candida albicans is the most predominant fungal species isolated from medical devices, including catheters, heart valves, and dental prostheses. In recent years, it has been demonstrated to be resistant to many antifungals; therefore, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been proposed as an alternative. But only a handful of research is contributed to omic-based studies to study the various impacts of AgNPs on Candida species and other microorganisms. Thus, the study aims to biosynthesize AgNPs using Pelargonium-hortorum leaf and test its antifungal, cytotoxicity, and global gene expression on Candida through transcriptomic profiling. The leaf-assisted AgNPs resulted in spherical shapes with a particle size of 38 nm. The anticandidal effect demonstrated that the Minimum inhibitory concentration was 25 μg·mL −1 . Later, the cytotoxicity assay reported a moderate impact on the human gingival fibroblast cells. Finally, the transcriptomic analysis demonstrated the differential gene expression of 3,871 upregulated and 3,902 downregulated genes. Thus, proving the anticandidal effect of AgNPs on Candida through RNA-seq experiments and the regulated genes is highly important to cell wall integrity, adherence, and virulence.

In the search for potent bioactive compounds, a series of tetrahydro-2 H -1,3,5-thiadiazine-2-thiones ( 1 – 13 ) were synthesized in good yield and characterized by means of 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, and mass spectral data. The anticancer activity of the compounds was evaluated against HeLa cell line and anti-inflammatory potential via nitric oxide (NO) inhibition. Among the screened compounds, 2-(5-(3-methoxypropyl)-6-thioxo-1,3,5-thiadiazinan-3-yl) propionic acid ( 3 ), 2-(5-cyclopropyl-6-thioxo-1,3,5-thiadiazinan-3-yl) propionic acid ( 5 ), 2-(5-cyclopropyl)-6-thioxo-1,3,5-thiadiazinan-3-yl) acetic acid ( 6 ), and 2-(5-butyl-6-thioxo-1,3,5-thiadiazinan-3-yl) acetic acid ( 9 ) were the most potent against HeLa cell line with IC 50 values <4 µM, whereas the rest of the series exhibited moderate-to-good activities. All the compounds were potent NO inhibitors with IC 50 values ranging from <0.4 to 14.9 µM. Docking studies, binding orientations, and interaction plots showed strong interaction of the studied compounds with the inducible NO synthase enzyme via strong hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions, which authenticate the in vitro results. These newly synthesized compounds could lead to the discovery of anticancer drugs.

Red elemental nano-selenium, which is an important biological form of selenium, exhibits very low toxicity and remarkable biological properties and thus has several positive effects. For instance, it shows antioxidation and antistress characteristics, promotes growth and improves immunity. However, owing to its nanoscale size, it is very difficult to disperse and stabilize during synthesis and storage. In this study, nanoscale selenium with a mass content of 2.06% and an average particle size of 49 nm was prepared by the chemical reduction method. The analysis demonstrated that the surface phospholipids formed lamellar structures after directional freezing, and the nano-selenium particles were distributed in the middle of the lamellar. The nano-selenium particles were efficiently dispersed due to their lamellar structure and amphiphilicity. The particles displayed excellent stability and remained relatively unchanged after 20 days of storage in solution or solid state. The difficulties associated with the dispersion and storage stability of nanometer selenium during preparation were solved.

Over the past few decades, nanotechnology has shown promising prospects in biomedicine and has a proven impact on enhancing therapeutics by facilitating drug delivery. The present study brings an amalgamation of nanoscience and “clean technology” by fabricating nature-friendly nanoparticles (NPs) sans the use of chemical surfactants using Indian mustard seed, Brassica juncea L. The as-synthesized NPs were characterized to assess their average size, crystallinity, morphology, and constituent functional groups through conventional techniques: dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The NPs were crystalline in nature and exhibited a mean size of 205.5 nm (PDI of 0.437) being primarily polygonal in shape. Additionally, the therapeutic efficacy of the green NPs was evaluated based on their cytotoxic effect against two human cancer lines, MCF-7 and HepG-2. Both the NPs and the bulk seeds showed a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect. However, an assessment of the antiproliferative/cytotoxic potential of the green NPs versus the bulk seeds showed that the NPs were relatively more efficacious on both cell lines. Taken together, the mustard seed NPs could be potential nutraceuticals considering the green credential in their mode of biosynthesis.

The selective leaching method presents a new and innovative approach for the enrichment of low-grade phosphate raw materials. The use of acetic acid as a reagent in the leaching process allows for the selective dissolution of carbonates, potassium-, and aluminum-containing compounds, offering a promising solution for the improvement of the recovery rates of valuable phosphorus compounds. This study presents the results of research on the selective leaching of carbonates from low-grade phosphate raw materials and evaluation of its efficiency using a combination of SEM, energy-dispersion and chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction, differential thermal, IR-Fourier spectroscopic, and mineralogical analysis techniques. The results showed an increase in the content of phosphorus( v ) oxide from 14% to 22% through the selective leaching process. The enriched phosphate raw materials were also found to be suitable for the production of phosphorus-containing products. This research highlights the potential of the selective leaching method to overcome the challenges faced in the enrichment of low-grade phosphorites and provide a more efficient and sustainable solution for the industry.

Thiosulfate gold leaching is a green gold extraction technology. Here, the effects of thiosulfate, copper ion, ethylenediamine, and polarization voltage on the dissolution of gold in this system were investigated by an electrochemical method. The results showed that the addition of thiosulfate promoted the dissolution of gold, but increasing the thiosulfate concentration had a little additional effect. The addition of ethylenediamine also increased the dissolution of gold, but the dissolution resistance of gold increased after adding ethylenediamine. The dissolution of gold increased, the diffusion resistance increased, and the dispersion effect increased upon increasing the copper ion concentration. The copper–ethylenediamine–thiosulfate system did not display passivation (or only weak passivation) upon increasing the polarization voltage, which indicates that the system was relatively stable. The influence of three factors on the dissolution of gold followed the order thiosulfate > copper ion > ethylenediamine.

The purpose of the study was to determine whether lake sediments could be a potential raw material for the plastics industry. The examined samples were obtained in a complex process of sediment collection from Lake Swarzędzkie located in the region of Wielkopolska, Poland, followed by granulometric analysis by sieving and quartz grain shape analysis, with preparation of geotechnical sheets. The works involved the examination of physico-chemical characteristics of carbonate lake sediments and the analysis of impact of the sediments’ depth extraction on their chemical composition and physico-chemical properties. The lake sediment consists mainly of calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) and can be a potential filler for plastics. Tests were carried out to determine chemical composition of the sediments and their thermal stability. The thermogravimetric analysis showed the three stages of the thermal decomposition. Sediments in deeper layers of the lake are characterised by the presence of not only CaCO 3 and silica, but also other chemical compounds, including aluminosilicates. In addition, as the depth increases, the average size of sediment particles changes, with the main fraction particle size being the smallest for the material from the 6–12 m depth. Additionally, carbon content systematically decreases with increasing depth.

Selenium (Se) is indispensable for animals and humans. One option to address Se deficiency is to biofortify plants with Se. Biofortification of forage with Se nanoparticles (NPs) is gaining more attention as an efficient and safe source of Se for livestock. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different concentrations of NPs-Se (0, 30, 50, 100, 150, and 250 mg·L −1 ) on the growth of alfalfa harvested multiple times, and to provide a basis for the production of Se-enriched forages. Applying 50 mg·L −1 concentration of NPs-Se had the best effect on yield over three harvests. Over three harvests, low-dose NPs-Se (30 and 50 mg·L −1 ) application significantly increased peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities, chlorophyll content and carotenoid content, and significantly decreased malondialdehyde content. The total Se content and Se accumulation in plants at the same harvest showed an upward trend with increasing Se concentration. At the same concentration, from first harvest to third harvest, Se content and Se accumulation showed an initially increasing and then decreasing trend. The evaluation found that foliar application of NPs-Se at 50 mg·L −1 could have the greatest positive effect on the growth and yield of multiple-harvested alfalfa.

Black cumin ( Nigella sativa ) seed (BS) oil has high a peroxide value (PV) and acid value (AV). In this study, BS was incorporated with different levels of rosemary extracts as a natural antioxidant source before and after pretreatment by microwaves. Based on the oil extraction yield (33%), PV (8.4 meq O 2 per kg oil), and AV (3.2 mg KOH per gram oil), the optimum condition was determined as microwave radiation for 120 s and, after that, moisturizing by the extract at 4% level. AV and PV were lower, and chlorophylls, carotenoids, polyphenols, thymoquinone, and tocopherols content were higher in oil extracted from pretreated BS than oil extracted from control BS. Reduction and loss of bioactive components occurred in oil samples during the 120 days of storage; however, it was higher in the control sample. There were no significant differences ( p < 0.05) in the fatty acid composition of oil samples; however, oxidation and reduction of linoleic acid in the control oil sample were higher (4.2%) than the oil extracted from pretreated BS (2.5%). In conclusion, the oil extracted from the pretreated BS had higher oil extraction yield, high bioactive components, and stability; therefore, microwave radiation and incorporation of rosemary extract before oil extraction from BS is suggested.

In this article, silicotungstic acid (STA)-loaded metal–organic framework (MOF)-derived composites (C-STA@ZrO 2 ) were successfully synthesized by simple strategies. X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray, N 2 physisorption, UV-vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques were used to characterize the as-obtained composites. Intriguingly, C-STA@ZrO 2 exhibits excellent photocatalytic performance, and rhodamine B (RhB) (40 mg·L −1 ) in water can be degraded to 93.9% after 120 min of irradiation. Moreover, various catalysts, catalyst dosage, and dye concentrations on RhB degradation were evaluated. Besides, the reusability of C-STA@ZrO 2 was also investigated. This work may provide a new and significant guideline for exploring excellent performance of MOF-derived hybrid material for wastewater purification.

Rare earth elements (REEs) are typically found in low concentrations within natural rocks that make up mine tailings, such as carbonates in association with silicates within carbonatite igneous rocks, so it is of interest to develop (bio)hydrometallurgical ways to liberate them from the silicate matrix. This work investigated, through geochemical modeling, the extraction of europium and ytterbium carbonates from rocks containing one of four silicates (chrysotile, forsterite, montmorillonite, and phlogopite) via chemical (mineral acid) or biological (organic acid) leaching. The results indicated conditions that led to either congruent or incongruent dissolution of the mineral phases and the formation of transient mineral phases. Chemical leaching models suggest that REE carbonates are recoverable in one-step leaching from forsterite and chrysotile rocks, while they are recoverable in a secondary leaching step from montmorillonite and phlogopite rocks. Gibbsite as a transient phase is shown to complicate REE recovery, potentially requiring reactive extraction. REEs have the potential to be recovered from silicate rocks via chemoorganotrophic bioleaching, but the process configuration would differ depending on the predominant minerals that make up the rock, and the type of REE present in it.

ZnFe photocatalysts have been increasingly investigated for water remediation due to the high demands in this field, such as activity, toxicity, cost, and stability. The presented study was focused on the simple, safe, non-toxic, and eco-friendly synthesis and characterization of ZnFe-mixed metal oxides in correlation with their functional properties. Photocatalytic performance of these materials was evaluated by rhodamine B photodegradation under simulated solar light irradiation. The synthesized mixed oxides contained hexagonal wurtzite ZnO as the predominant phase, whereas, after thermal treatment, the formation of the spinel-structured ZnFe 2 O 4 phase was observed. The photocatalysts with the additional spinel phase and thermally treated at 300°C and 500°C exhibited superior photocatalytic activity probably due to the highest amount of the ZnFe 2 O 4 spinel phase, favourable mesoporous structure, and an optimal energy band gap of ∼2.30 eV that initiated higher light-harvesting efficiency. The rhodamine B photodegradation followed zero-order kinetics, indicating complete coverage of active sites by the pollutant substrate. Additionally, photocatalysts showed the highest efficiency at the natural pH (6.8), being in accordance with green synthesis principles. Simple, green route assembling synthesis method, high photodegradation efficiency, and good reusability make these ZnFe-mixed oxides great candidates for potential application in practical wastewater treatments.

This study assessed the protective effect of citrus flavanone, naringin (Nar), and its nanoformulation against di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) toxicity in albino rats. Keeping green nanotechnology as the cornerstone, nanoparticles of Nar were synthesized and characterized using electron microscopy (transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy), particle size distribution, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The synthesized nanoparticles were primarily spherical with an average size of 109 nm and a low polydispersity index of 0.175. Mature male albino rats were used for the exposure study. Group I was negative control. Groups II, III, and IV were exposed to (250 mg·kg b·wt −1 ) DEHP for 3 weeks. Group III was treated with bulk Nar (5 mg·kg b·wt −1 ), and group IV was treated with non-naringin (NNar) (5 mg·kg b·wt −1 ). Group V was exposed only to NNar. Exposure to DEHP significantly enhanced serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-1β, 6, 8 (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8), and tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α). In addition, the repression of hepatic mRNA expression of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 was also observed. In addition, marked histopathological alterations were observed in the hepatic and renal tissues. Treatment with both Nar and NNar significantly alleviated the DEHP-induced oxidative stress/inflammatory response along with the associated histological alterations. However, therapeutic utility of NNar was more profound underlining its potential in nutraceutical therapeutics with high green credentials. Graphical abstract Effect of naringin and its nanoparticles against DEHP toxicity in a rat.

Environmental remediation of toxic organic pollutants on catalytic degradation has gained much attention. Organic dyes and fossil fuels as pollutants are the two major problems nowadays. The efficient and targeted eradication of organic dye from water systems is a critical global concern for the treatment of both drinking water and wastewater. In this study, ZnO–ZnS–CdO–CdS quaternary core–shell nanocomposites (NCs) were synthesized using Ricinus communis as a stabilizing agent and hydrazine hydrate as a reducing agent. UV-visible spectroscopy and photoluminescence confirmed the formation of NCs. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the presence of functional groups, while scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that the morphology of nanomaterials was spherical and poly distributed. X-ray powder diffraction confirmed the crystalline nature of prepared samples. The prepared nanocatalysts were used in the production of hydrogen gas from green sources of the Brassica campestris leaf extract and the degradation of Congo red and methyl red dyes. Overall, the photocatalytic performance of NCs and their design was successful. The prepared catalysts were not only active in the degradation of a single substrate but also in the degradation of a mixture of dyes.

In this work, an efficient and green approach has been presented to prepare carbon quantum dots (CQDs) from watermelon juice through a microfluidic steam-based method, with a view to enabling continuous production at scale, i.e., to save time, costs, or energy as compared to conventional production using an autoclave. The evolution of the product formation through multifarious intermediates generated in different stages of the reaction process was characterized. Computational fluid dynamics simulations reveal the pressure and velocity profiles in the microchannel to exert process control. These determine the quality of the obtained CQDs by influencing the particle size transformations and manifold chemicals along the microchannel axis. The optimal reaction conditions and reaction mechanism for the synthesis of CQDs were investigated. Additionally, the synthesized CQDs demonstrated good fluorescence properties as well as a specific response to NO 2 − {\text{NO}}_{2}^{-} in both fluorescence and spectrophotometric modes, providing great potential for their application in environmental monitoring.

The present study investigated the possibility of complete utilization of eggshell waste (ESW) transforming it to adherent egg white protein solution, calcium chloride dihydrate, and eggshell membranes (ESM). Adherent egg white protein solution was obtained by washing ESW three times with distilled water at 25°C, followed by filtration, and analyzed for the protein content and lysozyme activity. ESM and calcium chloride were obtained simultaneously by the exposure of washed eggshells to 5% hydrochloric acid treatment at 25°C for 3 h, followed by separation by filtration. The separated ESM were washed, dried, and milled to powder and analyzed for protein and lipid content. The calcium chloride solution was exposed to the neutralization of excess hydrochloric acid by calcium hydroxide, followed by evaporation to one-tenth of volume. Calcium chloride crystals were precipitated from the concentrated solution with acetone, separated by filtration, dried at 110°C, and analyzed for chemical composition and purity. The obtained results revealed that 100 g of ESW can be transformed to 1.61 ± 0.34 g of adherent white proteins containing 485,821 U of lysozyme activity, 2.84 ± 0.16 g of ESM powder, and 108.74 ± 3.62 g of calcium chloride dihydrate of high purity.

Zr-metal-organic frameworks (Zr-MOFs) were prepared by a solvothermal method and characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetry. Zr-MOFs were used to remove doxycycline hydrochloride (DOC) from wastewater. According to the experimental results, the maximum adsorption capacity of DOC by Zr-MOFs within 5 h was 148.7 mg·g −1 . From the pseudo-second-order kinetics model, all R 2 values were greater than 0.99, which proved that the adsorption of DOC by Zr-MOFs was consistent with practice. According to the Freundlich isotherm model, the adsorption of DOC by Zr-MOFs proceeded via multilayer adsorption. The aforementioned results show that Zr-MOFs have good application prospects for removing DOC from wastewater.

This study focused on testing manufactured silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against the malaria pathogen Plasmodium falciparum and the malaria vector Anopheles stephensi using the plant filtrate from Madhuca longifolia . The M. longifolia leaf extracts were used to synthesize the AgNPs, which were then subjected to several physicochemical methods to determine their characteristics. To evaluate the effectiveness of the green produced AgNP therapy, the mosquitocidal activity of A. stephensi , cytotoxicity assay in Vero cells, and antiplasmodial activity assay were performed. The larval and pupal toxicity of biosynthesized AgNPs against the malarial vector A. stephensi is 90% promising in laboratory settings at low dosages (10 ppm). When tested on African green monkey kidney cells, the cytotoxic effect of biosynthesized materials was found to be inappropriately damaging up to 100 g·mL −1 . The antimalarial efficacy of AgNPs was evaluated against P. falciparum strains. The parasites that were restrained by AgNPs at 100 ppm had the highest parasitemia restraint rate (80.4%). AgNPs then showed significant in vitro antimalarial activity against P. falciparum . Our findings suggested that the biosynthesized AgNPs might function as a novel antimalarial agent that is both safer for the environment and a barrier to infections spread by mosquitoes. Graphical abstract Illustration of AgNP synthesis in the fight against malaria.

The modification mechanism of modified asphalt with natural asphalt was analyzed through Fourier transform infrared spectrum. The results show that the modification mechanism of both the natural asphalt and petroleum asphalt is mainly a physical blending process. The polar functional groups contained in natural asphalt make modified asphalt with natural asphalt have characteristic good scaling resistance and water stability. Subsequently, the carbon emissions of each link of asphalt production stage were quantified, and the influence of mining, transportation, and processing on the total carbon emissions were all analyzed by establishing the carbon emission calculation model of asphalt production. The calculation results of GREET model showed that the equivalent carbon dioxide emission (CO 2 e) of rock asphalt mining was only 9.4% of that of crude oil production. At the same time, the CO 2 e of modified asphalt with natural asphalt processing was 44.7% lower than that of petroleum asphalt, and the carbon emission of rock asphalt transportation accounted for only 1/3 of that of petroleum asphalt transportation. Furthermore, the increased energy consumption caused by petroleum asphalt transportation and modified asphalt with natural asphalt processing will partially offset the contribution of natural asphalt to reducing carbon emissions. Meanwhile, the CO 2 e of modified asphalt with natural asphalt was lower than that of petroleum asphalt when the content of natural asphalt exceeded 18%. Thereafter, the analytic hierarchy process calculation results showed that petroleum asphalt processing and transportation had the largest weight of carbon emissions in the production stage of modified asphalt with natural asphalt. Ultimately, it is significant to further reduce carbon emissions by increasing the content of natural asphalt, which will then inevitably lead to the reduction in the production and transportation energy consumption of petroleum asphalt.

Quinazolinone synthesis usually requires employing sensitive substrates, hazardous solvents, large excess oxidants, and expensive catalysts. In this study, an efficient and environmentally benign pathway was developed to synthesize 2-phenylquinazolin-4(3 H )-one via oxidative coupling between commercially available and stable chemicals, including 2-aminobenzamide and benzyl alcohol without toxic oxidizing agents and transition-metal catalysts. A high yield of the desired product (up to 84%) was obtained at 120°C for 24 h in the presence of oxygen as a green oxidant and t -BuONa as a base. Importantly, the study scope was expanded toward successfully producing various 2-phenylquinazolin-4(3 H )-one derivatives in moderate-to-good yields. Furthermore, control experiments proposed that the conversion involved the initial partial oxidation of benzyl alcohol to the benzaldehyde intermediate under basic conditions, followed by the condensation, intramolecular nucleophilic addition, and oxidative dehydrogenation to 2-phenylquinazolin-4(3 H )-one.

Nanoherbicides are articulated by empowering the potential of nanotechnology for the efficacious delivery of chemical or biological herbicides with the aid of nanomaterial‐based herbicide combinations. Therefore, the goal of this work was to investigate the chitosan nanoparticles loaded with mesosulfuron methyl and mesosulfuron methyl + florasulam + (2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid) MCPA isooctyl herbicides as a possible environmentally benign substitute to manage weeds in wheat. Due to intriguing characteristics including biocompatibility, low allergenicity, biodegradability, and nontoxicity, chitosan biopolymers as sustainable chitin derivatives have received intense scrutiny in the biomedical business. The manufactured nanoparticles were characterized by using ultraviolet absorbance, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The average particle size as revealed by SEM was 40–70 nm in a cluster form with the porous structure. The maximum absorption peaks of both nanoparticles of mesosulfuron methyl and mesosulfuron methyl + florasulam + MCPA isooctyl were 330 and 360 nm. The FT-IR analysis showed an intensive peak at 2 θ value of 30.55° for mesosulfuron methyl and 32.79° for mesosulfuron methyl + florasula + MCPA isooctyl, which correspond to the 78 and 198 planes of the anatase phase, respectively. The nanoparticles were sprayed at the third to fourth leaf stages of the targeted weeds. Seven different doses were applied. A total of 100% mortality and visual injury were caused by the chitosan-based nanoparticles of both herbicides at the recommended dose of standard herbicide. The 5-fold lower dose showed the minimum chlorophyll content (5.75%), plant height (2.35 cm), fresh biomass (1.08 g), and dry biomass (0.33 g) of a weed mixture. For the same traits, the herbicide nanoparticles at 10-fold lower dose of commercial herbicides exhibited a similar effect as the recommended dose. Nanoherbicides could recuperate the conventional herbicide effectiveness by enhancing the stability and reducing the toxicity.

High-sulfur petroleum coke (PC) as solid waste has high treatment cost. Gasification technology can utilize PC and lignite for co-gasification. Organically combining the two is the key to expanding the adaptability of gasification raw materials. This work used thermal analysis technology to study the gasification reaction of PC and lignite systems in a CO 2 atmosphere. The results show that the starting and end temperatures of the co-gasification of lignite/high-sulfur PC are lower than those of pure coke. The improved carbonization rate and gasification reaction index indicate that lignite improves the gasification performance. The gasification synergy factors are all greater than 1, indicating that the co-gasification process produces obvious synergism, and the synergism is more obvious in the gasification stage after 800°C. The lignite ash is gradually enriched on the surface of high-sulfur PC with the temperature increase, and the Ca and Fe elements have an obvious catalytic effect, but the catalytic effect has a saturation value. Ashes from lignite used as a multi-component gasification catalyst can increase the overall reactivity in the lignite/high-sulfur PC system, which can broaden the selection of gasification raw materials, and make efficient use of the resource characteristics of both.

Quaternary quantum dots (QDs) have recently gained more attention due to their low toxicity, tunable wavelength, reduced or no blueshift emission upon overcoating, improved photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield, and PL lifetime when compared to their binary (II–VI) and ternary (I–III–VI) counterparts. In this work, the aqueous synthesis of ZnCuInS/ZnS–ZnS multi-shell quaternary QDs as a nanosensor for the selective detection of Cu 2+ ions was reported. The as-synthesized QDs were spherical, with a particle diameter of 3.66 ± 0.81 nm, and emitted in the first near-infrared window (725 nm) with an average decay PL lifetime of 43.69 ns. The X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the QDs were of the wurtzite structure, while the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed GSH capping through the sulphur–metal bond. Furthermore, the fluorometric study shows that the developed multi-shell QDs were selective towards Cu 2+ ions compared to other metal ions via fluorescence quenching with a limit of detection of 1.4 µM, which is below the acceptable limit in drinking water.

Insecticides kill mosquitoes but damage other animals including humans. Eco-friendly metal nanoparticles may be a plant-based pesticide for vector control. Here, the copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) synthesized from Nepeta cataria leaves have been investigated for their antibacterial and larvicidal properties. Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy demonstrated that biochemicals reduced and stabilized nanoparticles by shifting peaks from 1,049 to 1,492 cm −1 , and ultraviolet–visible spectrometry proved that produced Cu NPs had a peak at 550 nm. Transmission electron microscopic and scanning electron microscope showed that the particles are spherical and 23–29 nm in size. X-ray diffraction analysis shows that Cu NPs are crystalline. At a 100 µg·mL −1 concentration, Cu NPs exhibited a higher percentage of inhibition in the order of Escherichia coli ≫ Enterococcus faecalis ≫ Staphylococcus aureus . The lethal concentration (LC 50 ) of the Cu NPs against the larvae of Aedes aegypti, Anopheles stephensi, and Culex quinquefasciatus was determined to be 60.63, 56.58, and 54.32 µg·mL −1 , respectively. This ground-breaking study describes the biological production of Cu NPs utilizing N. cataria leaf extract for the first time. Based on these findings, the bio-synthesized Cu NPs and the aqueous extract of N. cataria may provide a potential alternative method for managing these vector populations. Graphical abstract

The reduced TiO 2 film on which a photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) process had occurred was created from TiO 2 nanotube film electrodes by the electrochemical reduction method. The obtained samples’ structure and morphology were characterized using UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, photoluminescence, and X-ray diffraction. Cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, chronoamperometry, UV-Vis absorbance spectroscopy, and Mott–Schottky plots were employed to examine the electrochemical and photoelectrochemical activities of the prepared electrodes. The results showed that the optimal conditions of cathodic polarization were a potential of −1.4 V for 60 min. The reduced TiO 2 nanotube film electrode had better photoelectrochemical activities than pristine TiO 2 under UV light due to the higher photocurrent density (13.7 mA‧cm −2 ) at 1.5 V (vs Ag/AgCl, sat. KCl reference electrode) compared to pristine TiO 2 achieving 7.3 mA‧cm −2 , indicating more effective charge separation and transport. The degradation of methyl orange (MO) on pristine TiO 2 and reduced TiO 2 electrodes was carried out in electrocatalytic (EC) and PEC conditions. The PEC process on the reduced TiO 2 electrode had the highest MO processing efficiency (98.4%), and the EC process for MO removal on reduced TiO 2 had higher efficiency (95.1%) than the PEC process on pristine TiO 2 (89.2%).

Due to the enormous of fossil fuels and the ensuing increase in automobiles, an unprecedented scenario has arisen with pollution levels that are out of human control. In this study, a fuzzy logic model is developed to predict how well a spark-ignition engine running on gasoline and ethanol mixes would operate. A test engine was operated on pure gasoline and gasoline–ethanol fuel mixtures in a range of ratios at varying engine speeds. In order to estimate outputs such as brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC), brake thermal efficiency, nitrogen oxides (NO x ), hydrocarbon emissions, and carbon monoxide, a fuzzy logic model, a sort of logic model application, has been developed using experimental data. The developed fuzzy logic model’s output was compared to the results of the trials to see how well it performed. The output parameters were indicated, including braking power, thermal, volumetric, and mechanical efficiency. The input parameters were engine speed and ethanol mixes. Regression coefficients were nearly equal for training and testing data. According to the study, a superior method for accurately forecasting engine performance is the fuzzy logic model. To eliminate proportionality signs from equations, regression analysis is used. It is accurate to develop mathematical relations based on dimensional analysis. Based on the root mean square errors, BSFC is a minimum of 6.12 and brake power is a maximum of 8.16; lower than 2% of errors occur on average.

Much effort was taken to elucidate how organic precursors appeared in early Earth, and attention was paid to two impact experiments: hypervelocity impacts by a propellant gun which simulated meteorite collides to Earth forming fatty acids and amino acids from inorganics, and micro-impacts by a planetary ball-mill which formed ammonium and acetic acid from inorganics. Our extended study on micro-impacts showed the formation of carboxylic acids, amines, and amino acids from Fe 3 C/Fe 4 N, carbon, and carbonates/nitrates by milling up to 30 h at 40 G. Fe(CO 2 ) 2 ·2H 2 O accelerated the formation a step further. Cu addition caused superior capability to form amines and amino acids. Two reaction fields were disclosed. In the impact field, the hydration of ferrous materials generated hydrogen which hydrogenated inorganic carbons to organics and ferrous transient materials and, in the maturing field, hydrogenated materials were then transformed into complex organics. Iron and CO 2 were presumably the key components in the Hadean Ocean. Discussions on the mechano-chemical reaction were extended to serpentinization coupled with diastrophism of oceanic crusts and further led to a depiction that organic precursors were formed by micro-impacts and frictions of rocks and sands (like milling-balls) due to tremors in crusts. It provides a new path on how organic precursors were formed on the aqua-planet Earth.

In this study, a simple green method was employed to produce strontium (Sr)-doped-tin-dioxide (SnO 2 ) nanoparticles (SrSnO 2 NPs) using the Mahonia bealei leaf extract. The synthesized NPs were characterized with XRD, FE-SEM, FTIR, and PL spectroscopy measurements. SrSnO 2 NPs were analysed for antimicrobial and anticancer activities. The XRD analysis revealed that the synthesized samples exhibited a tetragonal rutile crystal structure type of tin oxide. The EDX spectrum conforms to the chemical composition and elemental mapping of SrSnO 2 NP synthesis. At 632 cm −1 , the O–Sn–O band was observed and chemical bonding was confirmed using an FTIR spectrum. The PL spectrum identified surface defects and oxygen vacancies. The SrSnO 2 NPs were tested against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative human pathogens. The synthesized nanoparticles exhibited effective antibacterial properties. The anticancer effects of SrSnO 2 nanoparticles were also assessed against MCF-7 cells, and growth was decreased with increasing concentrations of the nanoparticles. Dual staining revealed high apoptosis in SrSnO 2 NP-treated MCF-7 cells, proving its apoptotic potential. To conclude, we synthesized and characterized potential SrSnO 2 nanoparticles using a green approach from the Mahonia bealei leaf extract. Further, green SrSnO 2 nanoparticles showed significant antibacterial and anticancer properties against breast cancer cells (MCF-7) through apoptosis, which suggests a healthcare application for these nanoparticles. Graphical abstract An overview of the study presented in a schematic form.

Mosquito vectors in the present universe cause a major problem due to the transmission of pathogens with high morbidity. The present research aimed to explore the larvicidal and adulticidal toxicity of the Cladostepus spongiosus extract and its fabricated AgNPs on key mosquito vectors. The synthesized AgNPs were confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry, and X-ray diffraction analysis. In the mosquitocidal assay, the C. spongiosus extract has shown good larvicidal mortality against Aedes aegypti (88.9%), Anopheles stephensi (84.1%), and Culex. quinquefasciatus (81.6%). Further, adulticidal mortality percentages were 78.8%, 75.4%, and 67.6% against An. stephensi, Ae. Aegypti, and Cx. quinquefasciatus at 1,000 ppm. AgNPs revealed larvicidal mortality percentages of 94.8% against An. stephensi , 92.8% against Ae. Aegypti , and 90.6% against Cx. quinquefasciatus ; the adulticidal potential was also revealed to be higher against An. stephensi (89.4%) followed by Ae. aegypti (86.8%) and Cx. quinquefasciatus (83.2%). Comparing the results achieved from the C. spongiosus extract and its derived AgNPs, promising activity was attained against key mosquito vectors at a minimal dose of 70 ppm of AgNPs. Thus, C. spongiosus- mediated AgNPs can be an alternative tool in controlling key mosquito vectors.

Nickel salts of Keggin heteropolytungstates with the general formula Ni x A y W 12− y O 39or40 (A = Si/P) were synthesized and studied as bulk catalytic materials or supported ones by deposition on modified and functionalized clay minerals (pillared layered clay and porous clay heterostructure). Characterizations by Raman, 31 P and 29 Si-NMR, and ESEM-EDS techniques showed that pure and supported systems preserved the Ni/W ratio and the expected structural properties of heteropolyanions. These materials were evaluated as catalysts in the selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides or sulfones, using aqueous hydrogen peroxide and mild reaction conditions. The bulk materials, with a higher content of Ni, displayed a remarkable catalytic behavior in the oxidation of diphenyl sulfide (Ni 3 PW 11 NiO 40 H, 90% conversion in 15 min at 75°C, 100% sulfone selectivity in 3 h). Supported catalysts, particularly the non-functionalized PCH (Ni 2 SW 12 O 40 /PCH), showed excellent activity, with also being selective in the oxidation of sulfide to sulfoxide (87% conversion, 88.9% sulfoxide selectivity). The reuse of these materials was studied in the optimum reaction conditions, resulting in similar activity and selectivity. Graphical abstract Selective oxidation reaction of DPS to DPSO2 with hydrogen peroxide as oxidant in presence of nickel salts of Keggin heteropolytungstates as catalysts

The fish-borne zoonotic bacteria may pose a risk to humans; nanobiotechnological techniques could serve as effective solutions for fighting them. The direct phycosynthesis of metals’ nanoparticles (NPs), silver (AgNPs), and selenium (SeNPs) using Corallina officinalis extract (CoE) was achieved. The construction of nanocomposites (NCs) from phycosynthesized NPs and nano-chitosan (NCht) was also accomplished to evaluate these entire compounds/NCs as antibacterial amalgams against fish-borne bacteria, Aeromonas hydrophila , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Salmonella typhimurium , and Staphylococcus aureus . The entire agents/NCs were characterized and assessed. The structure and interactions of chemicals and NCs were determined using infrared analysis. CoE/AgNPs, CoE/SeNPs, NCht, NCht/CoE/AgNPs, and NCht/CoE/SeNPs had mean particles’ diameter of 5.52, 12.46, 59.81, 64.59, and 77.16 nm, respectively, which were confirmed by size studies and electron microscopy. The challenged bacteria were entirely susceptible to the inspected agents, using both qualitative and quantitative assays; S. aureus was more resistant, while A. hydrophila was the most sensitive strain. The NCs (NCht/CoE/AgNPs and NCht/CoE/SeNPs) have the utmost bactericidal potentialities, respectively; they exceeded the action of ampicillin. The total distortion, disintegration, and lysis of the treated A. hydrophila cells were highlighted by scanning imaging within 10 h of exposure. The conjugation of CoE-mediated NPs with NCht produced effective and harmless NCs, valid for applications to remove fish-borne pathogens with biosafe characteristics.

In this study, iron concentrate and blast furnace dust were used as raw materials, and graphite was used as a reducing agent for mixing and briquetting. The briquettes were roasted in a high-temperature tube furnace at different temperatures and held for a certain time to simulate the pre-reduction sintering process. The effects of dust content, reduction time, and reduction temperature on the removal rate of zinc, potassium, and sodium and the metallization rate of the pre-reduction sintered products were investigated. The reduced briquettes were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy, and flame atomic absorption spectroscopy to further explore the mechanisms of zinc, potassium, and sodium removal. The Zn removal rate and metallization rate increased gradually with the increase in dust content, reaching 97.57% and 87.14% at 30% dust content, respectively. Both K and Na removal rates reached a maximum of 83.57% and 94.78%, respectively, at 25% dust content. With the increase in reduction time and temperature, the removal rate of the three elements and the metallization rate gradually increased. When the briquettes with 20% blast furnace (BF) dust content were reduced at 1,200℃ for 20 min, the removal rates of zinc, potassium, and sodium reached 95.66%, 79.97%, and 91.49%, respectively, and the metallization rate reached 84.77%. It shows that the pre-reduction sintering process can effectively remove Zn, K, and Na from the BF dust and meet the requirements of subsequent BF production. The research results can provide some theoretical basis for industrial production.

An efficient and environmentally benign synthesis of a new class of acridinedione embedded spirooxindolo/acenaphthenothiopyrrolizidines and spirooxindolo/acenathenoindolizidines has been synthesized in good to excellent yields employing ionic liquid accelerated one-pot [3 + 2]-cycloaddition strategy. The pre-requisite starting substrates, O -acryloyl acridinediones were prepared from dimedone in three good yielding steps, while the 1,3-dipole was derived in situ from isatin/acenaphthenequinone and thiazolidine-4-carboxylc acid/ l -pipecolinic acid via decarboxylative condensation. The cycloadduct possesses three stereogenic carbons, one of which is a spiro carbon through the formation of two C–C and one C–N bonds in one-pot synthetic transformation. Geometrical parameters of the synthesized compounds were calculated using the B3LYP/6-311g(d,p) level of theory. The activity of these molecules was evaluated against main protease of COVID-19 to screen them for their inhibitor efficiency. In order to get a broad understanding of the interactions of these synthesized ligands, a detailed molecular docking analysis was performed. Molecular docking analysis shows that compound 8b has the highest binding affinity toward the protein. The compound can be a potential candidate for the treatment of COVID-19.

This study presents a novel approach for the reuse of uncontaminated fracturing flowback fluids to improve the inhibitory and lubricating properties of water-based drilling fluids (WBFs), curb environmental pollution arising from flowback fluids, and substantially mitigate the expenses associated with WBFs. The experimental design was optimized using orthogonal experiments and range analyses, whereby the modified rubber powder was set at 2.0%, xanthan gum at 0.15%, and a plant phenol to modified complexing agent ratio of 1:0.01. The assessment of the performance evaluation tests indicated that the use of uncontaminated fracturing flowback fluids as the base water can remarkably enhance the inhibitory and lubricating properties of WBFs. Precisely, this approach reduces the linear expansion rate from 62.31% to 21.25%, the reduction rate of extreme pressure lubrication coefficient by 87.98%, and the reduction rate of mud cake sticking factor by 59.86%. This investigation has established the potential environmental and economic benefits of reusing clean fracturing flowback fluids in WBFs.

Cellulose membrane (CM) was successfully prepared by phase conversion (L–S). The adsorption performance of CM for Pb( ii ) under different adsorption conditions was investigated, and the adsorption isothermal models and kinetic models were established. Additionally, desorption performance of CM for Pb( ii ) under different conditions were also investigated. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersion spectroscopy (EDS), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) methods were used to evaluate changes in the microstructure, element content, and functional groups of CM. The maximum adsorption capacity (343 mg·g −1 ) of Pb( ii ) was achieved (initial concentration of Pb( ii ) solution was 1,200 mg·L −1 , pH was 4.5, adsorption time was 120 min, adsorption temperature was 30°C). Meanwhile, the process conforms to multi-molecular layer chemical adsorption. The desorption results showed that the maximum desorption capacity was 90.00 mg·g −1 (HNO 3 concentration was 0.04 mol·L −1 , desorption time was 120 min, desorption temperature was 60°C). SEM showed that the pores were saturated after adsorption of Pb( ii ). Mapping and EDS analysis revealed that CM contained 72.14% Pb( ii ) after adsorption. In the FT-IR curve, Pb( ii ) chelated the C═O group of the CM. This method showed great potential for adsorption of Pb( ii ) from aqueous solutions.

Structurally diverse fused polycyclic pyrrolo[3,2- c ]quinolinone/pyrrolizino[2,3- c ]quinolinone hybrids were synthesized to get excellent yields via a tandem multi-component reaction sequence employing an environmentally benign solid state melt reaction involving [3+2]-cycloaddition process followed by two consecutive annulation steps. Baylis–Hillman products, used as dipolarophiles, were synthesized from various substituted aryl/heteroaryl aldehydes in the presence of DABCO and methyl acrylate, while the 1,3-dipole component was derived in situ from indoline-2,3-dione and acyclic/cyclic amino acid viz N -methylgylcine/ l -proline. The structure of the unusual tandem products was unambiguously assigned by spectroscopic and XRD analysis. The products arose through the formation of three new rings, five new bonds, and three adjoining stereocenters with complete diastereomeric control.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been efficaciously synthesized from AgNO 3 via an easy and green method, also called green synthesis, using Mon Thong durian ( Durio zibethinus L.) rind extract. The inner shell of durian rind extract was used as an intermediary for the synthesis of AgNPs because the absorption spectra of the AgNP colloid extracted from the inner shell had a higher absorption than that of the outer shell. Additionally, we have found more fructose and glucose – which act as a reducing agent – and protein and carbohydrates – which act as the stabilizer – in a higher amount in the inner shell than the extract from the outer shell. The synthesized AgNPs were mainly spherical in shape and exhibited a relatively narrow size distribution with an average particle diameter of 10.2 ± 0.2 nm. In the reduction of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), these nanoparticles demonstrate catalytic activity. The degradation of AgNPs, including the catalytic decomposition of H 2 O 2 , causes a considerable change in the absorbance strength of the surface plasmon resonance band depending on the H 2 O 2 concentration. Over a broad concentration range of 10 −1 –10 −6  mol·L −1 H 2 O 2 , a good sensitivity and a linear response are achieved. This sensor’s quantification limit is found to be 0.9 µmol·L −1 H 2 O 2 . Therefore, this optical sensor for the detection of H 2 O 2 can be potentially applied in the determination of color indicators in medical or clinical diagnosis, biochemical analysis, and environmental applications.

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium (EDTA) can form stable complexes with many metals. To improve the leaching rate of gold and the consumption rate of thiosulfate, EDTA and ammonia were combined with copper ions to form a copper-EDTA-ammonia-thiosulfate system. Electrochemical methods were used to study the effect of thiosulfate, copper ion, EDTA, and polarization voltage. The results showed that increasing the concentrations of thiosulfate, copper ions, and EDTA promoted the dissolution of gold, which changed from electrochemical control to diffusion control after adding EDTA. The order of influence was thiosulfate > EDTA > copper ion. The pure gold leaching experiment showed that the dissolution rate of gold in the EDTA-ammonium-copper thiosulfate system was higher than that in the EDTA-copper-thiosulfuric acid system, thus achieving synergistic gold leaching.

In this study, the production of bio-oil by pyrolysis with microwave (MW) heating was tested experimentally. Two magnetrons with a total MW power of 1,600 W were used in the pyrolysis setup. The electric field strength was 185.38 V·m −2 at an MW frequency of 2.45 GHz. Cashew nut shells (CNS) or Cassia fistula pods (CFP) were pyrolyzed at 400°C, 500°C, or 600°C, with biomass-to-activated carbon ratio set at 70:30, 80:20, or 90:10. The largest yield of bio-oil was found for CNS at 600°C, and for CFP at 500°C, both with 90:10 ratio, achieving, respectively, 20.0% and 15.8% yields. When the bio-oil yields from CNS and CFP at 90:10 ratio and 400–600°C were analyzed with gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer, the components found included acids, esters, ketones, furans, pyrans, guaiacol, syringol and phenols, and phenolic derivatives were the dominant type of compounds. There were 23.56% and 13.23% phenolic derivatives, respectively, in the bio-oils from CNS (at 500°C) and from CFP (at 400°C). An analysis with Folin–Ciocalteu reagent of the phenolic contents in bio-oils gave the respective ranges 146.83–164.83 mg·GAE·g·DW −1 and 39.34–45.91 mg·GAE·g DW −1 for CNS and CFP (both run with 90:10 ratio).

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a microbiologically produced cellulose with high purity and excellent biocompatibility, allowing it to be used alone or in combination with other materials, including polymers and nanoparticles. This study was conducted to incorporate silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) into a BC matrix using simple and environmentally friendly methods in order to create a composite with superior industrial properties. The fabricated composites were characterized with Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), while the thermal stability was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. The antimicrobial activity of the composites was determined by observing the formation of an inhibition zone during the incubation of Staphylococcus aureus (gram-positive) and Escherichia coli (gram-negative). The SEM, EDX, and XRD analysis confirmed the presence of AgNPs. The composites also exhibit excellent thermal stability and significant antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and E. coli .

In this article, ZnO quantum dots (QDs)-g-C 3 N 4 complexes were prepared by a combined sol–gel method and ultrasound-assisted chemical method, and ZnO-g-C 3 N 4 composites with different doping ratios were also prepared for photocatalytic degradation of dye wastewater. The composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, Fourier transform infrared, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and photoluminescence. The photocatalytic performance of the best ZnO QDs-g-C 3 N 4 complexes with different g-C 3 N 4 doping amounts was investigated, and the kinetics of their photocatalytic reactions were analyzed, and it was found that the best effect of ZnO-g-C 3 N 4 10% could reach 89.08% and ZnO QDs-g-C 3 N 4 could reach 91.53%. It was also demonstrated that ZnO-g-C 3 N 4 10%, ZnO QDs-g-C 3 N 4 cyclic stability is better, and the reaction mechanism of ZnO QDs-g-C 3 N 4 was investigated. It can be used for the degradation of dyes in environmental wastewater and the removal of harmful substances from the natural environment.

Bio-fortification is a potential technique to tackle micronutrient deficiencies that remain. Wheat grain bio-fortification has the ability to decrease malnutrition because it represents one of the most essential staple crops. Bio-fortification is cost-effective and evidence-based sustainable technique to address malnutrition in wheat varieties possessing additional micronutrient contents. Nano-biofortification is a novel approach, enriching crops with essential nutrients in order to supplement human diets with balanced diets. The current study was designed to explore the potential role of phytogenic iron nanoparticles (Fe-NPs) to enhance nutritional contents in wheat plants to fulfill the nutrient deficiency important for human and animal health. In the current study, Fe-NPs were fabricated by using the extract of Mentha arvensis L. that were irregular in shape with an approximate size range of 40–100 nm. Further, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analyses were deployed to confirm the presence of t of various functional groups involved in the green and eco-friendly fabrication of Fe-NPs. The effects of phytogenic Fe-NPs were examined on various physiological and biochemical parameters such as total proline, total chlorophyll, carbohydrates, protein, crude fibers, and lipids contents. Moreover, wheat physiological and biochemical profiling was carried out, and it was noticed that Fe-NPs significantly altered the physico-biochemical profiling of wheat plants. Multiple methods of administration of Fe-NPs were used to fortify the wheat crop. However, the Fe-NPs assisted seed priming along with foliar applications at various concentrations (10, 20, and 30 mg·L −1 ) were found more suitable to enhance the contents of proline, Chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll, carbohydrate, proteins, fibers, and lipids (20.22%, 18.23%, 17.25%, 16.32%, 12.34%, 24.31%, 19.52%, and 11.97%, respectively) in wheat plants. Further, wheat flour was exposed to digestive enzymes, with the iron content gradually increased in a dose-dependent manner. The nutritional analysis of wheat zinc (Zn), molybdenum (Mo), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), yttrium (Y), and copper (Cu) and the fatty acid profile have demonstrated divergent patterns of behavior. Similarly, iron content was also increased significantly in response to the exposure to Fe-NPs.

In this study, we evaluated the antiproliferative and apoptotic properties of Pluronic-F127-containing manganese oxide nanoparticles (PF-127-coated Mn 2 O 3 NPs) derived from the leaf extract of Glycyrrhiza uralensis (GU) on breast adenocarcinoma, MCF7, and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. The leaf extract of GU contains bioactive molecules that act as a reducing or capping agent to form Mn 2 O 3 NPs. Various analytical techniques were used to characterize the physiochemical properties of PF-127-coated Mn 2 O 3 NPs, including spectroscopy (ultralight-Vis, Fourier transform infrared, photoluminescence), electron microscopy (field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy), X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron diffracted X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX), and dynamic light scattering. The average crystallite size of Mn 2 O 3 NPs was estimated to be 80 nm, and the NPs had a cubic crystalline structure. PF127-encapsulated Mn 2 O 3 NPs significantly reduce MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cell proliferation, while increasing endogenous ROS and lowering mitochondrial matrix protein levels. DAPI, EtBr/AO dual staining, and Annexin-V-FITC-based flow cytometry analysis revealed that PF127-coated Mn 2 O 3 NP-treated breast cancer cells exhibit nuclear damage and apoptotic cell death, resulting in cell cycle arrest in the S phase. Furthermore, PF127-encapsulated Mn 2 O 3 NPs show strong antimicrobial efficacy against various strains. As a result, we can conclude that PF127-coated Mn 2 O 3 NPs may be effective as future anticancer agents and treatment options for breast cancer.

Ce and F were added to MCM-48 molecular sieve by hydrothermal synthesis, and Pd/Ce(F)-MCM-48 metal acid bifunctional catalysts were prepared by impregnation method. The physical and chemical properties of Ce(F)-MCM-48 and Pd/Ce(F)-MCM-48 were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, NH 3 temperature programmed desorption instrument, Fourier infrared spectrometer, and X-ray photoelectronic spectrometer characterization methods. The results showed that when the molar ratio of the raw materials was n (Ce): n (TEOS) = 0.02 and n (NaF): n (TEOS) = 0.10, Ce(F)-MCM-48-0.10 molecular sieve had a high degree of order and large specific surface area and pore volume, the total acid content increased, and the acid strength also increased. And it had an acidic center and generated certain oxygen vacancies. The catalyst prepared after Pd impregnation had good dispersibility. 0.4% Pd/Ce(F)-MCM-48-0.10 catalyst still maintained the crystalline phase of MCM-48 molecular sieve. A micro-reaction device was used to examine the catalytic performance of n -heptane isomerization of Pd/Ce(F)-MCM-48-0.10 catalysts. When the hydrogen flow rate was 30 mL·min −1 , reduction temperature was 300°C, reduction time was 4 h, weight hourly space velocity was 7.6 h −1 , and reaction temperature was 280°C, 0.4% Pd/Ce(F)-MCM-48-0.10 catalyst was used in the heptane isomerization reaction, where the conversion of n -heptane was 67.3% and the selectivity of isoheptane was 96.5%.

An efficient one-pot route leading to bis-indolizine symmetric compounds has been developed via a new approach from the dipyridinium heterocyclic compound, reactive halogenated derivative, and activated alkyne through biocatalysis. A set of local plants was evaluated for its catalytic potential in “one-pot” biocatalysis of these valuable fluorescent compound synthesis reactions. Most of these biocatalysts containing enzymes from the oxidoreductase class (peroxidase: 0.56–1.08 mmol purpurogallin‧g −1 fresh weight‧min −1 , polyphenol oxidase (PPO) : 27.19–48.95 PPO units‧mg tissue −1 , CAT: 3.27–21.71 µmol O 2 ‧g −1 fresh weight‧min −1 ), were used as green catalysts in the multi-component cycloaddition reaction, in an aqueous buffer solution, for the production of bis-indolizine compounds in moderate to excellent yields (45–85%). The horseradish root ( Armoracia rusticana ) has been selected as the most promising biocatalyst source among the evaluated plants, and the obtained yields were greater than in the conventional synthesis method. The structures of indolizine derivatives were confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectra, elemental analyses, as well as Fourier transform-infrared spectra. The cytotoxicity of the latter obtained indolizine compounds on the growth of the model microorganism, Saccharomyces cerevisiae MIUG 3.6 yeast strain, was also evaluated. Various parameters (number of generations, growth rate, generation time, dry matter yield, the degree of the budding yeast cells, and the degree of yeast autolysis, fermentation intensity), which describe the yeast growth, suggest that the nutrient broth supplemented with different concentrations of bis-indolizine compounds (10 and 1 µM) had no toxic effect on the yeast strain growth, under submerged cultivation conditions.

Spherical Ti-MCM-41, synthetized by co-condensation method, presented very promising activity in catalytic and photocatalytic oxidation of diphenyl sulfide with H 2 O 2 to obtain diphenyl sulfoxide and diphenyl sulfone. Mesoporous silica materials with various titanium content were analyzed with respect to chemical composition (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry), structure properties (X-ray diffraction), textural properties (low-temperature N 2 adsorption–desorption), morphology (scanning electron microscopy), forms and aggregation introduced titanium species (diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy), and surface acidity (NH 3 -TPD). Titanium introduced in the samples was present mainly in the form of highly dispersed species, presenting catalytic and photocatalytic activities in diphenyl sulfide oxidation with H 2 O 2 . Efficiency of the reaction increased with an increase in titanium loading in the samples and was significantly intensified under UV irradiation. The role of various Ti species in diphenyl sulfide oxidation was presented and discussed.

The present study employed molted feather ash extract from Pavo cristatus to synthesize zinc oxide nanoparticles (Pcf-ZnONPs). The Pcf-ZnONPs were characterized through advanced spectroscopy techniques to study the chemical and physical properties of NPs. Pcf-ZnONPs specifically exhibit an absorption peak at 365 nm in the UV spectroscopy analysis. TEM and SEM confirmed the nanoscale presence of ZnO. The antibiofilm and antibacterial properties of Pcf-ZnONPs were assessed against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . At a concentration of 25 µg·mL −1 , Pcf-ZnONPs exhibited a significant reduction in the thickness of bacterial biofilms. Breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231) and fish cell lines were used to investigate in vitro anticancer activity. The MTT experiment demonstrated that Pcf-ZnONPs have good anticancer efficacy against a breast cancer and a fish cell line. The nontoxicity and biocompatibility of Pcf-ZnONPs were also investigated, exhibiting excellent hemocompatibility with red blood cells and no appreciable toxicity in Brine shrimp. In conclusion, Pcf-ZnONPs may be deemed nano-biomedicine compatible with biological systems for the treatment of bacterial illnesses in higher species. Graphical abstract Synthesis, characterization, and biological applications of zinc oxide nanoparticles using P. cristatus .

The effects of SiO 2 and CO 2 on the crystallization action of Ti-containing mixed molten slag (molten Ti-containing blast furnace slag and molten Ti slag) were discussed by thermodynamic calculation and specific experiments. The results of thermodynamic calculation indicated that the increase of SiO 2 addition mass and CO 2 oxidation time can promote the transformation of anosovite and sphene to rutile. The experiment results showed that the phase composition of modification slag was only rutile under the SiO 2 addition mass of 110 g and the CO 2 oxidation time of 180 s. Moreover, the formation theory of rutile was investigated. Using CO 2 as an oxidizing gas can not only prepare rutile but also achieve carbon neutrality, which is a clean preparation method.

Globally, nanotechnology is generating significant interest because of its promise in a wide range of industries. The most commonly used nanoparticles are titanium dioxide nanoparticles (PF-127 coated TiO 2 NPs), which can be formulated with physical, chemical, and environmental factors. The establishment of an economical and environmentally beneficial method for its fabrication is due to increasing concerns about human health impacts. In this exploration, green Pluronic F-127 (PF-127) coated TiO 2 NPs using leaf extracts of Atractylodes macrocephala have been formulated and studied through various methods. PF-127 coated TiO 2 NPs were 60 nm large and a polygonal rutile-type crystalline structure was observed. Moreover, the NPs’ antimicrobial capacity against several pathogens was investigated. The cytotoxicity of the NPs against HEp-2, KB, and Vero cell lines was assessed using the MTT test. Increased antimicrobial potential of PF-127 coated TiO 2 NPs against several pathogens was noted. Furthermore, NPs displayed remarkable antioxidant activity, which increased with concentration. The NPs exhibited significant cytotoxic effects against HEp-2 and KB cell lines but failed to demonstrate toxicity against Vero cells. This is indicative of their cytotoxic potential against cancer cell lines and non-toxic nature towards healthy cells. This indicates that PF-127 coated TiO 2 NPs possess beneficial antimicrobial and antitumor properties. Graphical abstract

Kitchen waste contains high contents of organic matter and moisture, and it is prone to biodegrade and decompose to give odors. If not collected and transported promptly or treated improperly, it is highly likely to pollute the environment and spread diseases. Because the lipid content in kitchen waste is high and a portion of organic matter is not subject to hydrolysis, the development of anaerobic digestion technology has been greatly limited. Kitchen waste was pretreated with NaOH, KOH, and Ca(OH) 2 with different concentrations, and 50 days sequencing batch mesophilic anaerobic digestion experiments were conducted. This study sheds light on the pollution reduction and energy generation of kitchen waste. The results are as follows: (1) The lipid content of kitchen waste could be reduced, and the concentration of dissolved organic matter could be increased by pretreating with alkali. The degradation rate of kitchen waste lipid reached a maximum of 50.51%, if 3% NaOH was added, and the soluble chemical oxygen demand concentration was increased by 235.3%. (2) The cumulative methane (CH 4 ) output and biogas production efficiency were improved in the anaerobic digestion process with kitchen waste pretreated with alkali. The maximum daily gas output of kitchen waste pretreated with NaOH and KOH took place on the 11th to 12th day, with the biogas production efficiency of 40.4 and 45.2 mL·g·VS −1 . The cumulative CH 4 output was increased from 370.2 mL·g·VS −1 (untreated) to 393.1 and 434.1 mL·g·VS −1 , respectively. In addition, the concentration of CH 4 in biogas was increased from 54.8% (untreated) to 59.1% and 61.7%, respectively. (3) The Chao1 and Ace values of bacteria were increased first and then decreased. On the 10th day, the diversity of bacteria reached the highest value, and on the 20th day, the diversity of archaea reached its maximum. Therefore, it was verified that the improvement in the hydrolysis acidification efficiency and degree was crucial for the rapid and complete anaerobic digestion reactions.

In this investigation, using the biogenic approach, Plectranthus vettiveroides root extract was used to synthesize chitosan nanoparticles ( P. vettiveroides CNPs). The produced nanoparticles (NPs) were characterized using UV-visible (UV/vis) absorption spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The typical absorption peaks in the UV/vis spectra were located around 253 nm. Functional groups were identified in P. vettiveroides CNPs by FTIR. As per SEM analysis, the NPs generated exhibited a spherical shape with an average diameter of 78.01 nm. In addition, the synthesized P. vettiveroides CNPs were examined for antioxidant and antibacterial properties and anticancer activities. They show a strong antioxidant activity compared to butylated hydroxytoluene as a standard antioxidant. P. vettiveroides root extract CNPs demonstrated the most significant zone of inhibition against Klebsiella pneumoniae (22 mm), followed by Escherichia coli (21 mm), Bacillus cereus (19 mm), and Staphylococcus aureus (17 mm). In addition, using MTT assay, anticancer efficacy against KB (oral cancer) cells was studied. The cytotoxic reaction was observed in a dosage-dependent manner. P. vettiveroides CNPs show bioefficacy because of their size and the existence of bioactive compounds, which can enhance antibacterial and anticancer activities by lysing bacterial and cancer cell walls. Graphical abstract

The effect of microwave pretreatment and moisture levels of Camelina sativa seeds on the quality of extracted oil by cold press was investigated. The seed moistures were adjusted to 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5%, and 10.0% and pretreated with microwaves for 0, 1, 2, and 3 min. Microwave pretreatment (3 min) of the seeds with 2.5% moisture increased the oil extraction yield by ∼11% compared to the control sample. The highest amount of acidity (0.564 g FFA·g −1 oil), peroxide value (2.4 meq O 2 ·kg −1 oil), carotenoid (5.26 mg·kg −1 oil), and browning index (0.710) were found in the oil extracted from seeds with 10% moisture and 3 min microwave pretreatment. The total phenolic compound was increased by microwave pretreatment but was mitigated by the seed moisture content, and the highest amount (208.24 mg caffeic acid·100 g −1 oil) was observed at 3 min microwave pretreatment of the seeds with 2.5% moisture. Chlorophyll content decreased by both microwave pretreatment and seed moisture content in camelina oil. Generally, the fatty acid composition of the extracted oils was not affected by the seed pretreatments. In conclusion, pretreatment of the camelina seeds before oil extraction is suggested to obtain a high oil extraction yield with a good quality oil.

Phorate, a highly toxic organophosphorus pesticide, poses significant risks due to its efficiency, versatility, and affordability. Therefore, studying pretreatment and detection methods for phorate in complex samples is crucial. In this study, we synthesized core-shell phorate aptamer-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles using solvothermal and self-assembly techniques. Subsequently, we developed a magnetic dispersive solid-phase extraction and detection method to identifying phorate in plasma samples. Under optimal conditions, we achieved quantitation of phorate within a range of 2–700 ng·mL −1 using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The detection limit ( S / N = 3) was 0.46 ng·mL −1 , and the intraday and interday relative standard deviation were 3.4% and 4.1%, respectively. In addition, the material exhibited excellent specificity, an enrichment capacity (EF = 416), and reusability (≥15). During phorate extraction from real plasma samples, spiked recoveries ranged from 86.1% to 101.7%. These results demonstrate that our method offers superior extraction efficiency and detection capability for phorate in plasma samples.

Solanum nigrum and Mentha leaf extracts were used as reducing and stabilizing reagents in the green synthesis of silver oxide nanoparticles (AgO NPs), and their antibacterial efficacy was subsequently evaluated. The structure and morphology of AgO NPs were evaluated using X-ray diffraction and filed emission scanning electron microscope. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy images were used to analyze the characteristics of certain particles with clearly discernible atomic structures. The functional group and elemental composition of AgO NPs were investigated using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy was used to determine the energy band gap ( E g ) of the sample. The dielectric constant of both samples was found to be inversely proportional to frequency, whereas the dielectric loss was found to be directly proportional to temperature but directly proportional to frequency. This suggests that the space charge has an effect on the mechanism of charge transfer as well as polarizability. AC conductivity rises and is inversely proportional to temperature increases. AgO NPs had a size range of around 56 nm and were mostly spherical. The antibacterial potential of the synthesized AgO NPs using both extracts was compared by the well-diffusion method. AgO NPs at 50–100 µg·mL −1 concentration significantly inhibited the bacterial growth of Bacillus cereus , Staphylococcus aureus , Escherichia coli , and Klebsiella pneumonia .

The exoskeletons of crabs, shrimp, and fish are major waste. These wastes contain chitin, an abundant natural polymer found next to cellulose. Thus, disposal of this waste becomes a huge problem for the environment; besides this, reutilization boosts the circular economy. Chitin is partially deacetylated to yield the economically useful product of chitosan and is a heteropolymer. The current study isolated chitosan from mushrooms and various marine crustaceans, i.e., crabs, shrimp, and fish. Chitosan was extracted from marine crustaceans by demineralization, deproteination, and deacetylation. Later, extracted chitosan was characterized by physicochemical characteristics like deacetylation degree, ash content, protein, color, fat-binding capacity (FBC), water-binding capacity (WBC), pH, and moisture content. The result showed that chitosan yield ranges from 13.0% to 17.0%, the degree of deacetylation range from 82.0% to 85.0%, ash content range from 0.8% to 3.0%, and protein content is below 1.0%. The FBC and WBC range between 320% and 444% and 535% and 602%, respectively. The pH and moisture content range from 7.4 to 8.0 and from 2.0% to 4.0%, respectively. Overall, results specified that crustacean waste was an exceptional chitosan source with availability and production consistency.

Nanoherbicides are articulated by exploiting the prospective of nanotechnology for effectively delivering chemical and biological herbicides using nanomaterial‐based herbicide combinations. The nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction and FT-IR. On the targeted weeds, the nanoherbicides were sprayed at the third to fourth leaf stage. Six different doses were applied. The mortality and visual injury caused by both chitosan-based nanoherbicides reached 100% at the recommended dose of standard herbicide. The 5-fold lower dose exhibited weed density and maximum wheat yield and related parameters. For the same traits, the nanoherbicide at 10-fold lower dose of commercial herbicides showed a comparable influence as the suggested dose. The size of both herbicides was found to be 35–65 nm. It was observed that the clodinofop-propargyl nanoherbicide has an intense peak appearing at a 2 θ value of 29.83°, corresponding to the (176) plane of the anatase phase and NPs of fenoxaprop- P -ethyl showed an intense peak around the 2 θ value of 30.55° corresponding to the (74) plane of the anatase phase. The FT-IR spectra of fenoxaprop- P -ethyl clearly showed that the major functional groups were located in the FT-IR region between 610 and 1,840 cm −1 and the major functional ones of clodinofop propargyl were located in the FT-IR region between 640 and 1,740 cm −1 . Nanoherbicides could restore the efficacy of conventional herbicides by improving stability and reducing toxicity.

In this study, a modified synthetic zeolite adsorbent was synthesized by the hydrothermal method using coal fly ash as the main raw material, and the enhanced phosphorus adsorption properties from aqueous solutions were then evaluated. The modification parameters were specifically studied and optimized. Moreover, the effects of initial phosphorus concentration, adsorption time, and pH value on phosphorus absorption were also investigated. The adsorbent was characterized by the energy-dispersive spectrometer analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Furthermore, the phosphorus adsorption properties of the zeolite adsorbent were preliminarily discussed through the perspectives of isothermal adsorption experiments, adsorption kinetics experiments, and adsorption thermodynamics calculations. The results show that the lanthanum ions were physically loaded on the surface and micropores of the adsorbent after modification, which helps to enhance the adsorption effect of phosphorus components from the aqueous solution. The phosphorus removal rate has been increased by about 65%. The adsorption process better fitted the Langmuir and Elovich equations. The theoretical calculation and analysis of adsorption thermodynamics showed that the adsorption and removal of phosphorus in water happens spontaneously.

As a 2D carbon material, graphene exhibits a unique structure and outstanding properties and has been widely applied in various fields. Because the properties of graphene are closely related to their structural parameters, graphene with different size distributions is suitable for different applications. However, current methods of fine-scale separation of graphene and its derivatives have certain limitations. In this study, graphene oxide (GO) size separation using multilayer dialysis was proposed. Multiple size separation in one step was achieved by customizing the dialysis size of each layer according to the actual requirements. In this way, GOs of different sizes were separated and large-scale synthesis can be achieved using this method. Meanwhile, the anti-friction and lubrication properties of aqueous dispersion solutions of GOs of different sizes were investigated. The results indicated significant improvements of the anti-friction and lubrication properties of GO samples prepared by the proposed method, as large-scale GOs can act as lubricants by relieving, if not preventing, friction between the two friction surfaces. Graphical abstract GO was diffused into different size samples by dialysis. The experimental results showed that the GO in uniform size had better anti-friction and lubrication effects.

The synthesis of cinnolines has found great interest due to their diverse biological and industrial potency. Yet, the reported synthetic protocols for their synthesis showed limitations that involve harsh reaction conditions such as strong acidic or basic medium, low reaction yields, and using expensive and high loading catalysts. The C–H functionalization has been recognized as intriguing synthetic approach for the synthesis of aromatic/heteroaromatic scaffolds over the past two decades. Here, we reported a novel metal-catalyzed free photocatalytic synthesis of polyfunctionally substituted cinnolines. When ethyl 1-aryl-5-cyano-4-methyl-6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridazine-3-carboxylates and nitrostyrene derivatives are irradiated with white light (LED 30 W) in ethanol in the presence of piperidine (30 mol%) in open air for 8 h at room temperature, the corresponding polyfunctionally substituted cinnolines are obtained in excellent yields (90–95%) via C–H activation of pyridazine methyl group and nitrostyrene (–N═O) function. Several merits were achieved, which are as follows: (1) the reaction is metal-free; (2) the reaction proceeds with increasing energy efficiency; (3) diversity of functionally substituted cinnolines; (4) high EcoScale value, which reflects the greens of the reaction; and (5) ease handling either in conducting the reaction or in the isolation of products. Graphical abstract

2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), an eco-friendly biomass resource capable of replacing petroleum-based fuels, is gaining increasing popularity. In this article, 2,5-FDCA was prepared by liquid-phase oxidation of the sustainable precursor 5-hydroxymethylfurfural using the Co–Mn–Br catalyst system. The effects of catalyst concentration, catalyst ratio, reaction temperature, reaction time, reaction pressure, and solvent ratio on the reaction of FDCA were investigated. The products are subjected to qualitative and quantitative analyses using high-performance liquid chromatography, infrared spectroscopy, and hydrogen nuclear magnetic spectroscopy. Moreover, considering the loss of catalytic liquid, the suitable reaction conditions were determined as follows: n (Co)/ n (Mn)/ n (Br) = 1/0.04/0.5, n (HMF)/ n (HAC) = 0.05, reaction temperature of 170°C, reaction pressure of 2 MPa, reaction time 40 min, and airflow rate 1.0 L·min −1 . Under these conditions, the yield of the product is 86.01%, the purity is 97.53%, and the loss of the catalytic liquid is about 5.63%, which is at an ideal level and provides a good basis for the recovery of the subsequent catalytic liquid and multiple cycle reactions. Through the optimization of the existing process, the use of noble metal catalysts has been reduced, and the recycling of catalytic liquid has also reduced the consumption of catalysts. This advancement marks a significant stride toward sustainable development in the green chemical industry.

Residual antibiotics and organic dyes in wastewater have gained the current challenge all over the world because of their toxicity to humans and the environment. In this study, the bimetallic porous FeZn-ZIFs materials were successfully prepared under mild conditions at room temperature and atmospheric pressure and characterized by various techniques. The FeZn-ZIFs were used as a heterogeneous catalyst to remove tetracycline antibiotics (TC) and methyl violet 2B dyes (MV) in an aqueous solution by activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and peroxydisulfate (PDS), respectively. The catalytic activity of FeZn-ZIFs towards TC and MV under different oxidant dosages, the catalyst dosage, the initial pollutant concentration, contact time, and reaction temperature were optimized. The results indicated that FeZn-ZIFs was an efficient catalyst for removing TC and MV based on advanced oxidant processes, having a removal capacity of 92% at TC concentration of 50 mg·L −1 and 95% MV concentration of 20 mg·L −1 . More importantly, this bimetallic catalyst was identified the superior structural stability when the removal efficiency of TC and MV was maintained at approximately 90% after five cycles. In short, the FeZn-ZIFs and PMS/PDS system exhibited a promising application prospect for antibiotic and dye-containing wastewater treatment. Graphical abstract

In the current study, among 36 isolates, the bacterial strain M7 was selected as the highest cellulase producer and underwent traditional and molecular identification as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens M7. The productivity of the cellulase enzyme was optimized using the one-factor-at-a-time method. The optimization analysis showed that the best pH value for cellulase production was 7, in the presence of 1% bacterial inoculum size, 5 g·L −1 of carboxymethyl cellulose, 5 g·L −1 of peptone as nitrogen source, and incubation period of 24 h at a temperature of 35°C. The highest cellulase activity (64.98 U·mL −1 ) was obtained after optimizing conditions using BOX-Behnken Design. The maximum cellulase yield (75.53%) was obtained after precipitation by 60% ammonium sulfate, followed by purification by dialysis bag and Sephadex G-100 column chromatography. The purified cellulase enzyme was characterized by 6.38-fold enrichment, with specific activity (60.54 U·mg −1 ), and molecular weight of approximately 439.0 Da. The constituent of purified cellulase was 18 amino acids with high concentrations of 200 and 160 mg·L −1 for glycine and arginine, respectively. The purified cellulase enzyme was more stable and active at pH 8 and an incubation temperature of 50°C. The metal ions CaCl 2 , NaCl, and ZnO enhanced the activity of purified cellulase enzyme. Finally, the B. amyloliquefaciens M7-cellulase exhibits high bio-polishing activity of cotton fabrics with low weight loss (4.3%) which was attained at a maximum concentration (1%, v/v) for 90 min.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most challenging diseases among all the other diseases in the recent era, and it is a life-threatening disorder. The best enzymes to target for treating DM are α-glucosidase and α-amylase. For this purpose, we explored numerous succinimides with ketone functionalities. First, we explored these compounds for their in vitro analysis. Compounds 1 and 4 exhibited excellent inhibition of both enzymes in in vitro studies. These compounds displayed excellent activity with IC 50 values of 3.69 and 1.526 µg·mL −1 against the α-glucosidase enzyme. In the α-amylase inhibitory assay, compound 1 has shown excellent potential with an IC 50 value of 1.07 µg·mL −1 and compound 4 with an IC 50 value of 0.115 µg·mL −1 . Based on the in vitro analysis, the potent compounds were further subjected to their in vivo analysis. Before the in vivo analysis, the toxicity profile was checked, and it was confirmed that the compounds were safe at 1,500 µg·kg −1 . Then, these compounds were subjected for their in vivo anti-diabetic potential in a mouse model of diabetes. Various concentrations of compounds 1 and 4 were explored by in vivo analysis using glibenclamide as a standard drug. The blood glucose level of the tested and control groups was measured at 0 to 15 days accordingly. Similarly, we also explored compounds 1 and 4 for the oral glucose tolerance test at 0–120 min using glibenclamide as the standard drug. Hence, the succinimide having ketone moiety displayed excellent potential against diabetes.

Eco-friendly ultrasound-assisted synthesis of a series of 3- N -substituted 6-((4-(butylamino)-6-(diethylamino)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)oxy)pyridazin-3(2 H )-one derivatives and in silico study to predict their biological activities were carried out. Physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties were obtained. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity properties and bioavailability index were calculated. A comparative analysis of structural similarity based on the Tanimoto coefficient was carried out. Graphical abstract

The study synthesized Pluronic F-127 nanoparticles that encapsulate Fe 2 O 3 (PF127Fe 2 O 3 NPs), nanoparticles, characterized their formation, and evaluated their cytotoxicity and anticancer activity using Berberis vulgaris leaf extract, using various analytical methods such as FTIR, Ultraviolet-visible, photoluminescence, dynamic light scattering, X-ray diffraction, and morphology analysis. We assessed the antioxidant properties of PF127Fe 2 O 3 NPs, cytotoxicity, and apoptosis through 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining in breast cancer cells, such as MCF7, and MDA-MB-231. The characterization results demonstrated that PF-127 was coated with Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles. MTT assay data revealed that PF127Fe 2 O 3 NPs effectively prevent cancer cells from proliferating and act as an anticancer drug. The antimicrobial results revealed that the fabricated nanoparticles are effective against gram-negative ( Klebsiella pneumoniae , Escherichia coli , and Shigella dysenteriae ) and gram-positive ( Streptococcus pneumoniae , Staphylococcus aureus , and Bacillus subtilis ) bacteria. Treatment of PF127Fe 2 O 3 NPs in a dose-dependent manner on MCF7, and MDA-MB-231, exhibited increased antioxidant activity, nuclear damage, and apoptotic activity. These results confirm the apoptotic activity of PF127Fe 2 O 3 NPs. The study concludes that MCF7 appears to be more sensitive to PF127Fe 2 O 3 NPs than MDA-MB-231. In conclusion, we have found that it can be used as an effective antioxidant and anticancer agent in therapeutics.

Silver nanoparticles have attracted great attention due to their important usage areas recently. Silver nanoparticles were synthesized via Consolida orientalis flowers by green approach. The spectroscopic analyses characterized the synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs@Co). The surface plasmon resonance of AgNPs@Co was determined as 425 nm by UV-Vis. The particle size was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) as 9.7 nm using the Scherrer equation. XRD analysis at 2 θ with the angle of 38.17°, 44.29°, 57.49°, and 77.36° corresponded to planes [111, 020, 202, and 131] demonstrating the fcc structure. In addition, transmission electron microscopy analysis presented the particle size to be 11.9 nm as spherical. The functional moiety of bioactive compounds was displayed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis, and a characteristic hydroxyl was detected at 3,274 cm −1 . The zeta potential revealed the stability of nanoparticles as −20.3 mV. The signals at 2.3–3.4 keV in energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy proved the nanostructure. The catalytic activity of AgNPs@Co was executed using methylene blue in the treatment of sodium borohydride and degradation was determined as 71% in 45 min. Antioxidant of extract and nanoparticles was carried out using 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and superoxide assays. The nanoparticles and extract exhibited good antioxidant activity with the values of 9.3 ± 0.2 and 11.2 ± 0.6 in the DPPH assay, respectively, in comparison with the standard butyl hydroxyanisole (6.5 ± 0.4). The silver nanoparticles may be a good antioxidant agent for drug development and the food industry. Graphical abstract

Plastic, valued for its low cost and durability, is widely used in various aspects of daily life. However, accumulative plastic waste (PW) has emerged as an increasing environmental concern that causes a negative impact on both public well-being and marine biodiversity. Studies on marine PW have focused primarily on the number of PW items collected without considering its accumulation in coastal areas. Hence, this study aims to address this gap by meticulously examining the mass and constitution of macro PW in the summertime mangrove ecosystems of Hau Loc, Cat Ba, and Nha Trang. This study revealed that the average densities of PW collected in Hau Loc, Cat Ba, and Nha Trang mangrove forests were 0.93, 0.23, and 0.18 items·m −2 in the morning collection, whereas the afternoon collection showed slightly lower densities of 0.31, 0.12, and 0.14 items·m −2 for the same locations. Although all PWs in the standard plots were collected in the morning, PWs were present in the afternoon after the rising tide. This initially proves that tide is one of the reasons for increasing the presence of PW in mangroves. The most common types of PWs collected included water bottles, plastic bags, ropes, freight lines, fishing nets, and sponge floats. When assessing the PW composition based on mass, low-density polyethylene was the dominant PW category in Hau Loc with 5.97 g·m −2 . In Cat Ba, polypropylene was the highest with 11.87 g·m −2 , while polyethylene terephthalate was the highest with 0.9 g·m −2 in Nha Trang during the morning sampling. The “Others” type of PW was not present in any of the three locations. This study provides useful information that can be a foundation for future studies to analyze the relationship between socio-economic activities and the presence of PW in mangroves. Additionally, they hold the potential to guide the formulation of targeted strategies aimed at curbing plastic pollution within Vietnam’s coastal regions.

The coal base electrodes and efficient coal base loaded cobalt electrodes (Co-CE) were prepared by pyrolysis method of low rank coal united activation method of KOH in order to develop more pores structures. The morphology of electrodes were characterized by Scanning electron microscopy, meanwhile, the type of elements were detected by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The electrochemical performance of electrodes were tested by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The lamella structures and pores were observed in microtopography of electrodes and the cobalt were successfully loaded in Co-CE from the EDS analysis. The operating conditions of processing time, current density, electrolyte concentration, pH and initial phenol concentration on this electrochemical system in single factor experiment were separately explored, correspondingly, the value was 180 min, 40 mA·cm −2 , 0.01 mol·L −1 , 2, 100 mg·L −1 , and the phenol removal rate ( R ) were at the range of 47.64–67.84%. In the optimization experiment of JMP design, the removal rate could reach at 83.47%. The response surface methodology was employed for optimizing operation conditions to improve R . And the prediction model obtained for the response can be represented as: R = 66.5275 + 6.7311 X 1 – 5.4197 X 4 – 5.2303 X 5 + 4.9555 X 1 2 – 12.5219 X 2 2 – 6.2912 X 4 2 + 16.0937 X 5 2 + 2.4109 X 2 X 4 – 7.910 X 3 X 4 – 3.0123 X 3 X 5 – 2.183 X 4 X 5 . The optimized conditions were pH 3, 100 mg·L −1 of phenol concentration, 0.1 mol/L of electrolyte concentration, 35 mA/cm 2 of current density, and 180 min of processing time. Meanwhile, the predicted R was 90.86%, the actual R of three parallel experiments were 91.2%, 89.3%, 91.05%, which were well consistent with the predicted value. Additionally, the degradation mechanism was proposed as that the adsorption in pore structures synergy electrocatalytic effect of Co-CE. Micro-electric fields formed in pores and the transition metal catalysis accelerated the transformation of cathode hydrogen peroxide to generate hydroxyl radical (·OH). Furthermore, the ·OH were produced both by cathode and anode which promoted the degradation of phenol. This high catalytic activity and low cost Co-CE is a kind of prospective electrode for electrochemical degradation of phenolic wastewater.

The synthesis of silver nanoparticles using plant-based materials has seen a surge in recent years. This study used the Syzygium aromaticum (clove) buds extract as a reducing agent for synthesizing silver nanoparticles (Sa-AgNPs). The presence of Sa-AgNPs (440 nm) was confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy. The optimization of nanoparticle production with pH, metal ions, and substrate concentration (clove extract) was studied. The transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed that Sa-AgNPs had a size distribution predominantly below the range of 10–100 nm. The investigation of Sa-AgNPs using EDX revealed the presence of an optical absorption silver peak at 3 keV. The involvement of phenolic chemicals and carboxylic acids in stretching O–H, N–O, and C═O bonds, forming Sa-AgNPs has been identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Klebsiella pneumoniae and Trichophyton rubrum exhibited a higher inhibition zone of 26 ± 0.48 mm and 21 ± 0.48 mm in antibacterial and antifungal activity, respectively. In the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl experiment, at a maximum concentration of 500 μg·mL −1 , Sa-AgNPs exhibited a scavenging efficiency of 79.98%. Cytotoxicity was observed in the treated cells due to the presence of biologically synthesized Sa-AgNPs. An IC 50 value of 48 μg·mL −1 was determined by treating L929 human fibroblast cells. Graphical abstract

In this study, a silica matrix was utilized as a substrate for zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) to enhance their photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye. The recovery of the prepared material was also investigated. To compare the performance of the prepared material with ZnO NPs and bare silica, various analyses were conducted. ZnO NPs were synthesized via a coprecipitation method and characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectra and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The XRD results revealed highly crystalline ZnO NPs with an average crystallite size of less than 100 nm. The presence of ZnO on the silica matrix was confirmed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and EDX analysis. The prepared ZnO NPs showed enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of MB dye, and reasonable material recovery was also observed. The silica-coated ZnO NPs degraded MB dye by 97% in just 40 min and retained their photocatalytic activity for up to 20 cycles. In comparison, bare silica exhibited effective photodegradation but lost its photodegradation capacity after five cycles. ZnO NPs without silica coating took 5 h to degrade MB dye. The significant accomplishment in this study is the development of novel materials with high recoverability, simple preparation, and efficient photocatalytic activity. In the future, ZnO NPs supported on a silica matrix can be utilized for various applications.

The electrical and thermal conductivities and light transmittance properties of silicone oil and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomer composites were investigated. Pumice, scoria, nano-Ag, and multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) particles were used as fillers. An effective, clean, and easy method was used to prepare nanosized particles from pumice and scoria rocks. Only MWCNT–PDMS composites showed electrical conductivity. The highest electrical conductivity of 24.7 S·m −1 was obtained with the 25% pumice–10% MWCNT–silicone oil composite. All filler particles increased the thermal conductivity of the PDMS elastomer. MWCNTs were more effective than pumice and scoria, and the thermal conductivity reached 0.62 W·(m·K) −1 with an addition of 3 wt% MWCNTs. All filler particles decreased the transparency of the PDMS elastomer. The sample with 5 wt% pumice particles reached zero transmittance. Pumice and scoria naturally colored the PDMS elastomer. The powders of these natural volcanic rocks could be used as a suitable coloring filling material instead of dyes and pigments for polymers without waste. However, it was concluded that pumice and scoria particles are not suitable for making composites with silicone oil due to the possibility of catalyzing the degradation of linear PDSM.

Glycerylphosphorylcholine (GPC) was prepared by transesterification using supported sodium methoxide as catalyst and natural lecithin as raw material. Sodium methoxide has been proved to be an effective catalyst for the preparation of GPC, which is easy to recover and reuse. After six repeated uses, its stability is satisfactory. The effects of agitation speed, catalyst dosage, and reaction temperature on the reaction were investigated, respectively, and the optimum conditions for preparing GPC catalyzed by supported sodium methoxide were found: the concentration of phosphorylcholine was 0.1 mol·L −1 , the stirring speed was 600 rpm, the amount of catalyst was 7.5 g·L −1 , the reaction temperature was 45°C, and the reaction time was 4 h; then, the conversion rate of phosphatidylcholine could reach 99%. At the same time, the reaction kinetic model was established based on the mechanism of the transesterification, and the experimental data were compared with the calculated values; it was found that the experimental data fitted the model well. Finally, the reaction activation energy obtained by the Arrhenius equation is 41.6 kJ·mol −1 , which indicates that the supported sodium methoxide has good catalytic performance in this reaction system.

In response to the challenge of high packet loss rates due to poor mobility of PCs, we introduce a sustainable design evaluation system centered around wireless network handheld terminals. This system combines hardware components, including microprocessor and wireless communication modules, to achieve wireless data transmission and program debugging. In the software domain, a configurable communication protocol is employed to establish an ecological data communication module supporting wireless network handheld terminals. Leveraging real-time monitoring data from multiple points, we introduce an information fusion algorithm and construct a green ecological sustainability design evaluation model. Notably, experimental results reveal that our system outperforms alternatives based on sensor and RFID technologies. It exhibits a lower packet loss rate and extends the distance of zero packet loss, highlighting its advantages in data communication.

The mechanical properties of hydrogels are crucial in wound dressing application. Starch-based hydrogels have deficiencies in mechanical strength and gel stability. These shortcomings can be addressed by employing crosslinking techniques with oxidized sucrose. A design of experiments approach was used to optimize the tensile strength of the product. The results indicated that both the composition of oxidized sucrose and glycerol significantly impact tensile strength ( p -value < 0.05). The optimal tensile strength achieved was 27 MPa, using 0.9762 mL of oxidized sucrose and 0.0624 g of glycerol per gram of starch. The hydrogel products underwent a series of characterizations, including optical microscope examination, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance ( 1 H NMR), swelling test, Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR), contact angle, and cytotoxicity test. The FTIR and 1 H NMR analyses confirmed the crosslinking of hydroxyl groups within starch molecules with aldehyde groups from oxidized sucrose. Characterization of this hydrogel revealed that it had a swelling capacity of 95%, a WVTR of 714.92 g per m 2 per 24 h, a contact angle of 74.76°, and a cell viability value greater than 100%. Thus, this hydrogel is suitable for wound dressing due to its strength, exudate-absorbing capabilities, moisture retention properties, hydrophilicity, and non-toxicity.

In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized via an eco-friendly approach using an extract from sugarcane leaves ( Saccharum officinarum ). The optimal synthesis conditions were determined to be a pH of 10, yielding AgNPs with an average size of 11.7 ± 2.8 nm. This was substantiated by UV-vis spectral analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and field emission transmission electron microscope coupling with selected area electron diffraction. The synthesized AgNPs exhibited notable antibacterial efficacy against two prominent pathogens, namely Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli , with minimum inhibitory concentration values of 20 and 2.5 ppm, respectively. Further extending the applications of AgNPs, they were successfully integrated into architectural paints at varying concentrations to create antiviral coatings. The addition of AgNPs influenced several properties of the paints, including viscosity, hiding power, and color characteristics. Notably, our findings revealed that the antiviral paint containing 80 ppm of AgNPs effectively hindered virus propagation, exhibiting a remarkable reduction of over 90% when compared to the control, measured by 50% tissue culture infectious dose. Graphical abstract

The nano-silver-coated tin (Sn@Ag) paste was modeled using the method of the Anand unified viscoplastic constitutive model and elastic model. After thermal cyclic loading, the plastic strain of the solder joints increased cumulatively, while the maximum equivalent stress remained basically stable. The simulation results show that the maximum displacement occurs at the solder joint at the farthest end from the center of the chip, which is a dangerous solder joint. Using the finite element method and EPRI (the American Electric Power Research Institute) estimation method, the fatigue life of the nano-silver-coated tin solder joint is predicted to be 616 weeks, which is significantly higher than that of the nano-silver solder joint. It is indicated that adding a certain amount of nano-tin to the nano-silver paste to form a core–shell structure can improve the shear strength of the solder joint and reduce the plastic strain, thereby significantly improving the reliability of the solder joint. It is proved by experiments that the nano-silver paste is feasible for flip–chip interconnection. The research on this topic provides experimental reference and theoretical basis for the application of a new generation of interconnection materials in power devices and promotes the development and application of microelectronic packaging technology.

Brilliant blue FCF (E133) is a commonly employed azo synthetic dye in the food industry owing to its visually appealing color and widespread consumer acceptance. The health risks associated with the excessive use of brilliant blue necessitate prioritizing eco-friendly methods for its quantification. The purpose of this study is to develop and validate an analytical quality by design (AQbD) based eco-friendly high-performance liquid chromatography method adhering to the 12 principles of green chemistry followed by ultrasound-assisted extraction of food samples and confirming them using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Rotatable central composite designs (CCDs) were utilized to optimize the chromatographic parameters. The separation was achieved on a Phenomenex column (Luna C 18 , 250 mm × 4.6 mm, i.d. 5 μm) employing ethanol and acetate buffer as a mobile phase in the ratio 25:75 (v/v) at a flow rate of 1 mL·min −1 with detection at 626 nm, which resulted in elution of brilliant blue at 2.692 min. The developed method fulfills the predetermined requirements of linearity, accuracy, sensitivity, and reproducibility at the specified working point. The green analytical procedure index, analytical eco scale, and analytical greenness metrics were used for assessing greenness, which yielded the most benign outcomes. In the future, this research could lead to the adoption and enhancement of eco-friendly robust AQbD methodologies for evaluating various food colorants, utilizing green solvents. Graphical abstract

Background The field of nanomedicine has attracted much interest and is now serving as the impetus for many revolutionary advances in the pharmaceutical industry. Objectives In the current exploration, we intended to fabricate the zinc/sodium alginate/polyethylene glycol/ d -pinitol nanocomposites (ZSP/D-Pin/NCs) and evaluate their antimicrobial and anticancer properties against MG-63 cells. Methods ZSP/D-Pin/NCs were synthesized and characterized using several techniques and their cytotoxicity was examined against osteosarcoma MG-63 cells and normal 3T3 cells using the MTT assay. The levels of oxidative stress and apoptotic protein were examined using assay kits and fluorescence staining. Results and Conclusion The findings of several characterization studies revealed the development of agglomerated and crystalline ZSP/D-Pin/NCs. The antimicrobial assay demonstrated that ZSP/D-Pin/NCs substantially inhibited the growth of pathogens. Additionally, the MG-63 cell viability, which was exposed to several doses (1–20 µg) of ZSP/D-Pin/NCs, showed a remarkable decrease at various time periods, i.e., 24, 48, and 72 h without showing toxicity in 3T3 cells. The results of the fluorescence staining assay demonstrated that ZSP/D-Pin/NCs considerably increased apoptosis in the MG-63 cells by triggering oxidative stress. The antioxidants were reduced and upregulated the Bax and caspase expressions in ZSP/D-Pin/NC-treated MG-63 cells.

To address the harmful pollutants found in heavy metals and agricultural waste, researchers have worked on creating various materials that can capture these pollutants. They have experimented with altering the shape, size, structure, surface properties, and bioactive components of these materials. This study aims to improve the effectiveness of materials used for adsorption, focusing on the combination of cobalt spinal ferrite (CoFe 2 O 4 ) and nanoporous carbon (NC) obtained from discarded palm kernel shells with the aim of Hg( ii ) removal. The composite formed by the hydrothermal method was characterized thoroughly with morphological, structural, functional, pore sizes, thermal analysis, and magnetization analysis. Adsorption experiments were conducted under optimal conditions with a mass of 0.3 g, a concentration of 30 mg·L −1 of Hg( ii ), and a pH of 3. The aim was to adsorb Hg( ii ) ions from aqueous solutions. The analysis of kinetic studies using the Freundlich model revealed that it provided the most accurate fit for the adsorption isotherm. This model indicated a maximum Hg( ii ) adsorption efficiency of 232.56 mg·g −1 . Additionally, the thermodynamic measurements indicate that the adsorption is a spontaneous, favorable, and endothermic process. Likewise, we assessed how well the NC@CoFe 2 O 4 nanocomposite could absorb Hg( ii ) ions in actual condensate samples from the oil and gas industry. The results demonstrated a 93% recovery rate for Hg( ii ) ions in wastewater. According to the findings, the NC@CoFe 2 O 4 nanocomposite synthesized appears to be a strong contender for wastewater treatment and, at the same time, the prepared nanocomposite’s effectiveness, affordability, and non-toxic nature support the potential applications.

In this research, cell-free extracts from magnesite mine-isolated actinobacterial strain (M10A62) were used to produce silver sulfide nanoparticles (Ag 2 SNPs). Streptomyces minutiscleroticus JX905302, actinobacteria capable of producing Ag 2 SNPs, was used to synthesize Ag 2 NPs. The UV–vis range was used to confirm the biosynthesized Ag 2 NPs; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX), and dynamic light scattering analysis were employed to characterize them further. Surface resonance plasma (SRP) for Ag 2 SNPs was obtained at 355 nm using UV–visible spectroscopy; FT-IR detected bimolecular and eventually microbial-reduced Ag 2 SNPs from S. minutiscleroticus culture extract. Furthermore, AFM and TEM analysis confirms that the synthesized Ag 2 SNPs were spherical in shape. Dynamic light scattering revealed a negatively charged Ag 2 NPs surface with a diameter of 10 nm. The XRD spectrum showed the crystalline nature of the obtained particles. EDAX revealed a pure crystalline nature, and a significant silver particle signal confirms the presence of metallic silver and sulfide nanoparticles together with the signals of Cu and C atoms. After 40 and 48 h of treatment at 150–200 µg·ml −1 , Ag 2 SNPs produced the highest mortality in Spodoptera litura , H. armigera, Aedes aegypti , and Culex quinquefasciatus larvae. Hence, the biosynthesized Ag 2 SNPs may be useful for potential pest control in integrated pest management and vector control program as a safer, cost-effective, selective, and environmentally friendly approaches.

This study aimed to develop a green and safe method for producing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the root extract of Withania somnifera (WS) and evaluate their antioxidant properties. UV-visible spectroscopy revealed a maximum absorption peak at 430 nm. Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy confirmed the presence of phenolic coatings on Ws-AgNPs, indicating their role in stabilizing and reducing Ag ions into Ws-AgNPs. Scanning electron microscopy analysis demonstrated that Ws-AgNPs had a spherical shape and a size range of 74–88 nm. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis confirmed silver as the primary element in Ws-AgNPs. X-ray powder diffraction analysis indicated a face-centered cubic crystalline structure for Ws-AgNPs. The potential antioxidant activities of Ws-AgNPs were evaluated using various scavenging assays. At the highest concentration tested (500 µg/mL), 95 ± 1.3%, 98 ± 1.6%, 76.9 ± 1.44%, and 89.6 ± 1.6% scavenging activities were observed with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2′-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid, phosphomolybdate, and H 2 O 2 , respectively. Moreover, the reducing power of Ws-AgNPs was higher than that of the methanolic WS root extract and showed a concentration-dependent trend. In conclusion, the green-synthesized Ws-AgNPs from W. somnifera showed remarkable antioxidant activity, as evidenced by their low IC 50 values. Due to these findings, it is suggested that Ws-AgNPs have the potential to be used as potent antioxidant agents in the cosmetic, food, and pharmaceutical industries.

Lignocellulosic biomass extracted from plants that contain rich amounts of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin content can replace synthetic fibers in many engineering applications and is biodegradable. However, e-waste is rapidly evolving into one of the most serious environmental issues in the world owing to the presence of several toxic compounds that can contaminate the environment and pose a threat to human health. Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are one of the major components available in e-waste. In this research work, waste PCB (WPCB) powder is mixed in suitable proportions of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% with a lignocellulosic sisal woven fabric fiber mat, and blended with epoxy resin using the vacuum-assisted hand lay-up method. To determine the effect of particle size on the fabricated composites, mechanical, thermal, water absorption, surface roughness, and wear tests were conducted. It was found that the composition that contains 15% nanofiller composites gave better results in mechanical testing than the composition that contains 10% microfiller composites. Pin-on disc wear test and differential scanning calorimetric thermal test results show that 10% microfiller composites show better outcome results than 15% nanofiller composites. Testing values indicate that lignocellulosic sisal fiber composites with WPCB nano- and microfillers can be substituted for many engineering applications instead of being disposed of in landfills.

Terpenes, such as thymol and carvacrol, are phenols that exhibit antioxidant and antimicrobial activities but are unstable in the presence of light or oxygen. Layered hydroxide salts are laminar compounds that can host molecules in their interlaminar space, protecting them from degradation and delivering bioactive molecules in a sustained manner. In the present study, hybrids composed of brucite, thymol, or carvacrol were synthesized by precipitation and anion-exchange process. The structure was confirmed by X-ray diffraction, and characteristic hexagonal morphology was verified by scanning electronic microscopy. The antibacterial activity of hybrids was evaluated against foodborne pathogens ( Escherichia coli , Salmonella Enteritidis, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus ), obtaining an inhibition of 80% for both Gram-positive and -negative bacteria, while inhibition of 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) was 65% for carvacrol and 93% for thymol. Finally, the exposition of hybrids to Artemia salina proved to be non-toxic up to 200 mg·mL −1 . The results suggest that these hybrids can control pathogen growth and exhibit antioxidant activity without threatening consumers’ health in the case of consumption, which helps develop novel and safe products applied in the food industry.

Zinc oxide and quaternary ammonium-type surfactants have been separately recognized for their anti-corrosive efficiencies. Their composite, not investigated so far, could provide a synergetic anti-corrosion effect. In this respect, the aim of this study is to synthesize a composite material consisting of zinc oxide and benzalkonium chloride (ZnO-BAC) in varying mass ratios (3:1, 1:1, and 1:3). The inhibitory properties of the ZnO-BAC composite against carbon steel corrosion in a 0.5 M sulfuric acid solution were assessed under ambient conditions. First, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to examine the chemical structure of the prepared composite. Then, the corrosion inhibitive performance of the devised inhibitors was screened using electrochemical, hydrogen collection, and weight loss measurements. Further, the surface morphology was examined using a scanning electron microscope, both before and after immersion in the corrosion medium. The electrochemical measurements indicate that the prepared inhibitor exhibits a predominant cathodic inhibition behavior and the maximum inhibition efficiency, approximately 91.9%, was achieved for one-to-one mass ratio. Similar results were obtained from weight loss and hydrogen evolution measurements, which showed that the ZnO-BAC composite reduced the corrosion rate of carbon steel by 69.9% and 64.9%, respectively. Finally, molecular dynamics and an adsorption equilibrium model were used to elucidate the mechanism of corrosion inhibition by the ZnO-BAC composite, which exhibits a high adsorption energy on the iron surface. Graphical abstract

The most fascinating product of honeybee is propolis. It has an immense role in dentistry, dermatology, and otorhinolaryngology. The increased popularity of propolis as an important remedy is due to its constituents, which have anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antihepatotoxic, anti-cancerous, antifungal, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antiviral activities. The diverse biological and pharmacological activities of propolis have piqued the interest of many scientists. Many techniques like gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, chromatography, and spectroscopy are being used to identify different propolis constituents. Flavonoids, phenolic acids, and their esters are the most pharmacologically active molecules of propolis and are known to disrupt the replication machinery of the virus corroborating the anti-coronavirus activity of propolis. The main aim of this article is to provide an insight of the increasing theragnostic uses of propolis and its nanoparticles, including their chemical analysis, diverse biological activities, and the necessity for chemical standardization. In this review, we have focused at the promising effects of propolis, its optimization, and its liposomal formulation as a therapeutic intervention for COVID-19 and its accompanying comorbidities. Graphical abstract

Among biogenic methods employed for synthesizing various nanoparticles (NPs), gum tragacanth (TGC)-mediated NP production is important. The gum TGC not only qualifies the principles of green chemistry but also embraces unique qualities. In this perspective, the current review concentrates on the composition, uses, and exploitation of gum towards synthesizing metal NP of silver (Ag), gold (Au), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), and their characterization (UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy). In addition, applications of synthesized NP as a bactericide, catalyst, antioxidant, and peroxidase mimic are emphasized. Ag NP (13 nm) showed antibacterial action against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria at 2–12 μg‧mL −1 . The exploitation of Ag NP as a bactericide makes it a candidate of choice for medicinal and pharmacological applications. The catalytic activity of Pd NP (14 nm) demonstrated borohydride reduction of methylene blue. The gum reduced/capped metal and metal oxide NP serve as redox and photocatalysts for the remediation of toxic pigments and dyes in industrial effluents. At 15 μg‧mL −1 , Pd NP exhibited 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyle radical scavenging activity (95.8%) and served as an artificial enzyme mimic for colorimetric sensing of hydrogen peroxide. The industrial applications of other TGC-based nanocomposites, such as heavy metal sorption, wound dressing, drug carrier, tissue engineering, etc., are mentioned.

Nanotechnology investigates different promising methodologies in the space of material sciences on a sub-atomic level. Novel methodologies are expected for the accomplishment of protected and successful helpful medicines past the traditional ones, and society needs new prerequisites for innovations, moving towards perfect and green innovation improvement. This review study deals with topics related to green nanotechnology for the investigation of different assays such as anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-larval, and microbial. The confirmation of nanocomposite will be conformed using scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction to determine the size, shape, and supporting material to stabilize and cap the agent. However, the biomedical application of the ZnO/TiO 2 nanocomposite is also discussed. Furthermore, to their remarkable biocompatibility, ZnO/TiO 2 has shown significant potential in bio-imaging, tissue engineering, and drug delivery. The biological activities of the green-produced nanoparticles are strong and they are employed in several biological applications across various assays. The current review covers the creation and most recent developments of bio-nanocomposite materials from plant sources (such as leaves, stems, bark, roots, rhizomes, fruits, flowers, and seeds), as well as their anti-cancer, diabetes-related, and anti-larval activities. This is followed by a thorough discussion of their mechanisms of action.

The effective exploitation of lignin, the world’s largest renewable source of aromatics, is alluring for the sustainable production of chemicals. Microwave-assisted depolymerisation (MAD) of lignin using hydrogen-donating solvents (HDS) is a promising technique owing to its effective volumetric heating pattern and so-called “non-thermal effects.” However, lignin is a structurally complex bio-polymer, and its degradation produces a myriad of products; consequently, MAD reaction mechanisms are generally complex and poorly understood. This review aims to provide a perspective of current research into MAD reaction mechanisms involving HDS, with the goal to give researchers an overall understanding of MAD mechanisms and hopefully inspire innovation into more advanced methods with better yields and selectivity of desired aromatics. Most reaction mechanisms were determined using characterisation methods such as GC-MS, MALDI-TOF, 2D-NMR, GPC, and FT-IR, supported by computational studies in some instances. Most mechanisms generally revolved around the cleavage of the β–O–4 linkage, while others delved into the cleavage of α–O–4, 4–O–5 and even C–C bonds. The reactions occurred as uncatalysed HDS reactions or in combination with precious metal catalysts such as Pt/C, Pd/C and Ru/C, although transition metal salts were also successfully used. Typical MAD products were phenolic, including syringol, syringaldehyde, vanillin and guaiacol. Graphical abstract

The utilization of renewable energy represents an effective way to address current issues associated with fossil fuels. Biomass is considered one type of renewable energy resources with abundant reserves on earth. However, the high oxygen contents and high degree of functionalization of biomass have hindered the direct exploitation of biomass for the production of fuels and chemicals. Considerable efforts have been devoted to developing effective deoxygenation methods capable of reducing the oxygen contents of biomass and its derivatives. The deoxydehydration (DODH) of biomass derivatives to generate olefins over oxophilic metal catalysts is considered a very useful approach in eliminating vicinal OH groups. In recent years, catalysts based on non-noble metals such as Mo, W, and V featuring good catalytic performance have emerged as promising alternatives to classical noble Re-based catalysts for DODH. This review aims to summarize the progress on the DODH of biomass-derived vicinal diols catalyzed by non-noble metals such as Mo, W, and V, with an emphasis on the preparation of catalysts, optimization of experimental conditions, and mechanistic studies. By surveying the performance of non-noble metal catalysts, key factors that determine the DODH activity were proposed, including the choice of reductant, the electronic and steric effects of ligand, and the interaction between solid support and metal center. The latter two could adjust the redox properties of metal centers by directly bonding with ligand or solid support.

Iron–carbon microelectrolysis was employed to remove phosphorus in this study. The efficiency, mechanism, influence factors, and feasibility of actual wastewater were investigated. The results showed that iron–carbon microelectrolysis had an excellent phosphorus removal ability. When the initial concentration of PO 4 3 − {\text{PO}}_{4}^{3-} –P was 19.44 mg·L −1 , after 120 min reaction time, the remaining PO 4 3 − {\text{PO}}_{4}^{3-} –P in wastewater was 4.65 mg·L −1 , and the removal rate was 76.05%. The precipitate formed in the reaction was mainly ferric phosphate (FePO 4 ), which had a high recovery value. There was a linear correlation between initial phosphorus concentrations and phosphorus removal velocity. As to actual wastewater, 88.37 ± 0.44%, 89.78 ± 1.88%, and 94.23 ± 0.16% phosphorus removal rates were achieved in the influent of municipal wastewater treatment plant, effluent of secondary sedimentation tank, and actual high salinity wastewater, respectively, after 120 min reaction time. This study provides a new method for phosphorus removal and recovery from wastewater. Graphical abstract Iron–carbon microelectrolysis has an excellent phosphorus removal ability. The precipitate formed in the reaction was mainly ferric phosphate (FePO 4 ) which had a high recovery value.

Tanshinone IIA has a potential therapeutic effect on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury (CIRI). In this study, tanshinone IIA was encapsulated in poly(lactic- co -glycolic acid)-block-poly (ethylene glycol)-carboxylic acid (PLGA-PEG-COOH) nanoparticles, and its therapeutic efficacy on CIRI was investigated. Morphology and dynamic light scattering analyses were performed to identify and optimize nano-formulations. A drug release test was conducted using the dialysis method. The cytotoxic effect of tanshinone IIA on human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) and brain endothelial capillary cells (hCMEC/D3) was measured using the MTT assay. The protective effect of PLGA-PEG-COOH-encapsulated tanshinone IIA against CIRI was evaluated in oxygen and glucose deprivation/reoxygenation-induced SH-SY5Y/IR cells and middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rats. Results showed that PLGA-PEG-COOH-encapsulated tanshinone IIA promoted viability and inhibited apoptosis of SH-SY5Y/IR cells ( P < 0.01). Moreover, PLGA-PEG-COOH-encapsulated tanshinone IIA facilitated the invasion of SH-SY5Y/IR cells and repressed inflammation in MCAO rats ( P < 0.01). Noteworthy, PLGA-PEG-COOH-encapsulated tanshinone IIA combined with angiopep-2 peptide presented a better inhibitory effect on CIRI than tanshinone IIA alone ( P < 0.01). Angiopep-2 peptide contributes to traversing blood–brain barrier by recognizing lipoprotein-related protein expressed in the brain capillary endothelial cells. In conclusion, PLGA-PEG-COOH-encapsulated tanshinone IIA plus angiopep-2 peptide holds promising therapeutic potential toward CIRI.

In the current research work, an attempt was made to synthesize silver nanoparticles (MA-AgNPs) utilizing the ripened fruit extract of Melia azedarach . Various characterization techniques such as UV-visible spectroscopic analysis, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to confirm the AgNPs synthesis. The bioreduction and color changes were tracked by UV-visible spectroscopy while SEM confirmed AgNPs of size 2–60 nm. TGA revealed the stability of the synthesized AgNPs. The antibacterial potential of the M. azedarach -based AgNPs and the fruit extract was assessed in terms of zone of inhibition (ZI), minimum bactericidal concentration, and minimum inhibitory concentration against tested bacterial strains where higher activity was noted for NPs ( P. aeruginosa ZI = 22). The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and (2,2-azinobis-[3-ethylbenzthiazoline]-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays revealed that NPs have significant antioxidant activities. The IC 50 values recorded for extract was 340 and 350 μg·mL −1 against DPPH and ABTS whereas the corresponding values obtained for AgNPs were 40 and 58 μg·mL −1 , respectively. The study suggests that the engineered NPs have promising biological activities compared to the parental extract, and thus could be used in drug designing as antibacterial and antioxidant agents; however, there should be further in vivo exploration in this regard before extending their uses to biological systems.

Antibiotic-resistant microorganisms are a rising issue when it comes to human health. Microbial pathogens that cause harmful infections are quickly becoming resistant to the antimicrobial action of traditional antibiotics. Nanotechnology, an innovative sector being an indispensable part of healthcare and research, has in-depth and extensive applications. Nano-compounds have been promising antimicrobial agents, anti-cancerous mediators, vehicles for drug delivery, formulations for functional foods, identification of pathogens, food and drug packaging industry, and many more. However, the chemical synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) has certain drawbacks such as causing toxicity and other adverse effects. For more than a decade, the use of NPs that are conjugated or green-synthesized has gained popularity due to the two-fold action of metallic NPs mixed with biological sources. In contrast, NPs synthesized using plant or microbial extracts, conjugated with biologically active components, appear to be a safe alternative approach as they are environmentally friendly and cost-effective. Such environmentally safe techniques are referred to as “green nanotechnology” or “clean technology” and are feasible alternatives to chemical methods. Furthermore, NPs conjugated with natural biomolecules have improved bioavailability and have minimal side effects, as they are smaller in size and have higher permeability in addition to being reducing and stabilizing agents possessing excellent antioxidant activity. NPs serve as potential antimicrobial agents due to their affinity towards sulphur-rich amino acids, adhere to microbial cell walls by means of electrostatic attraction, and disrupt the cytoplasmic membrane along with the nucleic acid of microbes. They possess anticancer activity owing to oxidative stress, damage to cellular DNA, and lipid peroxidation. The green-synthesized NPs are thus a promising and safe alternative for healthcare therapeutic applications.

The current research focuses on the silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesis from the Cassia alata aqueous leaf extract. Various production parameters like pH (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10), metal ion concentration (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 mM), and substrate (leaf extract) concentration (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5 mL) were optimized. UV-visible spectroscopy was used to identify the production by scanning the wavelength from 200 to 800 nm. Visual color change from light green to brown was designated as prior confirmation of the AgNP production. Physical characterization of AgNPs was carried out using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Furthermore, the obtained AgNPs show significant antibacterial activity for Staphylococcus aureus , Pseudomonas sp. Klebsiella sp., Proteus sp., and Enterobacter sp. The antioxidant potential was determined by α,α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl assay and cytotoxicity by (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) tetrazolium reduction assay on human lung cancer cell lines (A549). AgNPs confirmed potent antibacterial activity against skin infections, demonstrating their medicinal significance and are therefore crucial for creating a medicinal formulation with antibacterial properties.

This article presents a simple, eco-friendly, and green method for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from AgNO 3 solution utilizing an aqueous extract of Callisia fragrans leaf. The effects of C. fragrans leaf extraction conditions were evaluated. Parameters affecting the synthesis of AgNPs, such as the volume of extract, pH, temperature, and reaction time were investigated and optimized. The obtained AgNPs were analyzed by UV–Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction pattern, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and FTIR techniques. TEM and DLS analyses have shown that the synthesized AgNPs were predominantly spherical in shape with an average size of 48 nm. The zeta potential of the colloidal solution of AgNPs is −27 mV, indicating the dispersion ability of AgNPs. The results of GC–MS and FTIR analyses show the presence of biomolecules in the aqueous extract of C. fragrans leaf that acts as reducing and capping agents for the biosynthesis of AgNPs. The synthesized AgNPs demonstrate anticancer activity against MCF-7, HepG2, KB, LU-1, and MKN-7 cell lines, with inhibitory concentrations at 50% (IC 50 values) of 2.41, 2.31, 2.65, 3.26, and 2.40 µg·mL −1 , respectively. The obtained results in the study show that the biosynthesized AgNP from C. fragrans leaf extract can be further exploited as a potential candidate for anticancer agents.

This review addresses green algae-based gold (Au), iron (Fe), and silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) as eco-friendly nanomaterials to deal with biological, organic, and inorganic environmental contaminants. Among nanotechnological tools that can fully degrade, adsorb, and/or convert pollutants into less harmful structures, AgNPs, AuNPs, and FeNPs deserve highlight for their efficiency and low cost. However, green protocols are preferable to produce them in an eco-friendly manner. Although phycosynthesis is still in its infancy, algae present various advantages as green raw materials to NPs’ synthesis; fast growth rate, low-energy input requirement, low costs, easy and eco-friendly cultivation, and high tolerance to metals are examples. To allow their large-scale application, however, challenges regarding obtaining sufficient biomaterial with good reproducibility, designing protocols to achieve desirable features on NPs, and recovering the biocompatible nanomaterial after use still need attention. Perspectives for the field involve surpassing these limitations, broadening knowledge on synthesis mechanisms, protocols, and new species useful to offer, in the future, commercial eco-friendly, and low-cost phycosynthesized AuNPs, AgNPs, and FeNPs to nanoremediation. The potential of these NPs to deal with environmental contaminants, their advantageous characteristics and biocompatibility, the main limitations associated with their large-scale application, and future prospects for the field will receive attention.

The synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by the green method is favored as compared to chemical synthesis due to their appreciable properties of less toxicity and simple synthesis. The current study designed the biosynthesis of AgNPs in one step by using the plant Kickxia elatine (KE) extract and then investigated its inhibiting activity against rat’s brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) ex vivo. Ultraviolet spectrum at 416 nm confirmed the formation of AgNPs. X-ray diffractometer calculated size was reported to be 42.47 nm. The SEM analysis confirmed spherical-shaped AgNPs. FT-IR suggested that the phytochemical groups present in the KE extract and their nanoparticles (NPs) are responsible for the biosynthesized of NPs. EDX analysis presented that Ag was the chief element with 61.67%. Both KE extract and AgNPs showed significant anti-AChE activity at 175 µg·mL −1 . Statistical analysis showed that both KE and AgNPs exhibited non-competitive type inhibition against AChE, i.e. V max decreased (34.17–68.64% and 22.29–62.10%), while K m values remained constant. It is concluded that KE and AgNPs can be considered an inhibitor of rats’ brain AChE. Furthermore, the synthesis of AgNP-based drugs can be used as a cheaper and alternative option against diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.

A feasible alternative to classic chemical synthesis, the phyto-mediated production of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) utilizing aqueous flower petal extract of Cassia alata as a reducing agent is reported for the first time. Characterization of synthesized AgNPs was carried out using various techniques viz ., ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). The results of the FTIR research conducted in this study show different bond stretches with varying durations, which can be seen at various faraway points. AgNPs are mainly spherical and vary in size from 20 to 100 nm, according to TEM images. The highest X-ray energy surge, at 3 keV, is visible in the EDX spectrum. The XRD pattern showed that four diffraction peaks could be assigned to the 111, 200, 220, and 311 planes of the face-centered cubic crystalline silver, respectively, at 32.05, 46.27, 55.25, and 57.39°. Optimization of production parameters including pH, metal ion concentration, and substrate concentrations were studied. In addition, the bioactivity was evaluated against Trichophyton rubrum , Aspergillus fumigatus , Candida albicans , Epidermophyton floccosum , and Mucor sp. using the agar diffusion method. Furthermore, their antioxidant properties were assessed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate assay and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power tests. MTT assay was performed using human fibroblast cell line (L929) to determine the cell viability and cytotoxicity through increased metabolism of the tetrazolium salt.

The aim of the present study was the synthesis of hydrogel incorporated with chitosan blend with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) from red cabbage Brassica oleracea and its application in wound healing and antibacterial activity. The chitosan/PVA hydrogel was synthesized by the combination of chitosan and PVA treated with acetic acid. The silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized from the B. oleracea extract and its antibacterial efficacy was examined. The synthesized nanoparticles (NPs) were characterized using UV-spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction methods. The synthesized NPs were purified and combined with the hydrogel. This combined hydrogel and AgNP mixture was then subjected to Fourier transform infrared analysis, and the results were observed to conclude the effectiveness of the hydrogel. This hydrogel would differ in the part of dressing the wound, that is it can last on the wound for a longer period, thus reducing the pain and frequency of dressing and in turn naturally healing the wound in less time.

Brassica is one of the crops sensitive to low copper supply, leading to Alternaria blight. The present study reflects the synthesis of myco-derived copper oxide (M-CuO) nanoparticles (NPs) from Trichoderma asperellum and investigates their effect against Alternaria blight of Brassica in two soil types, alluvial and calcareous. Foliar applications of different treatments were used to treat plants: T1 (mancozeb@0.2%), T2 (propiconazole@0.05%), T3 ( T. asperellum filtrate), T4 (M-CuO NPs), T5 chemically synthesized (C-CuO NPs), and T6 bulk phase (BP-CuO @25, 50, 100, 150, and 200 ppm) of each in twice such as protectant and curative method under pot experiments. M-CuO NPs in two protective sprays exhibit up to 75% disease suppression in alluvial soil, compared to 68.9% suppression in curative spray at 200 ppm. Maximum seed yield and seed number were obtained, 1.95 g/plant and 850 seeds/plant in alluvial soil, but in calcareous soil, seed yield (1.14 g/plant) and seed number 414 seeds/plant were recorded in plants supplemented with M-CuO NPs as a protectant. In both soils, maximum plant height was increased by protective applications of M-CuO NPs at 200 ppm. Thus, the present study suggested that among foliar sprays of copper nanocompounds, protective activity shows better results as compared to curative activity. Among all the treatments, M-CuO NPs were found to be most effective in suppressing disease and improving productivity and growth-promoting effects of Brassica .

Everything around us is made up of atoms and molecules. The properties of quantum atoms are sought to understand the behavior of a particular object. But with the advent of research, it was discovered that there is a quantity smaller than the molecular size. The nanoscale measures a fraction of a billionth of a meter. The atom of an object measures 0.1 nm. Since atoms are the building blocks of matter, at the nanoscale one can combine these atoms to create new materials. The proposed model displays the properties of these nano-scale elements in modern medical applications. The nano-scale research of matter is fascinating because it is the basic phase in which atoms are held together. Therefore, by manipulating material at this level, one can create many different types of objects. This proposed model calculates the operation requirements and expects the results. Based on the operational requirements, the proposed model provides the suggestions. This will be helpful for the medical researchers to identify the proper medical treatments based on the microbiological requirements.

In the present work, the disk-shaped zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were synthesized and functionalized with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and nicotinic acid (vitamin B3) using the wet co-precipitation method. The functionalized ZnO/β-CD/nicotinic acid nanocomposite materials were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), field emission electron microscopy (FESEM), and band-gap energy analysis. The band gap value ( E g ) was 4.3 eV. The average XRD crystallite size was determined using the Scherrer formula and was found to be 50 nm. The ZnO/β-CD/nicotinic acid nanocomposite material showed a photocatalytic effect for dye-polluted wastewater. It also showed an antibacterial effect against the Gram-positive bacterial strain Streptococcus aureus ( S. aureus ) but did not show any antibacterial activity with Gram-negative Escherichia coli ( E. coli ). The ZnO/β-CD/nicotinic acid nanocomposite also showed antifungal activity with Aspergillus niger (A. niger). It was noticed that ZnO/β-CD/nicotinic acid nanocomposite showed efficient anticancer activity with IC 50 = 14.95 µg·mL −1 in MCF-7 cell lines. Because of the formation of singlet oxygen (O 2 ˙ − ) and hydrogen oxide radical (–OH˙), the composite material showed a photodegradation reaction against aq. solution of methylene blue dye. After 190 min, the blue colour of aq. solution methylene blue was decolourized at 6 pH at a constant time interval.

Throughout history, the utilization of plant products as medicinal remedies has been widespread, with numerous modern drugs finding their origins in the plant kingdom. Taxol, derived from Taxus species, stands out as an exceptional and highly potent anticancer medication. In this study, we present a rapid one-pot synthesis method for silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the leaves of Taxus wallichiana Zucca in the presence of sunlight. The synthesized AgNPs were comprehensively characterized using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and HPLC Q-TOF. The AgNPs were further investigated for their antioxidative, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antiurolithi properties. The anticancer activity was assessed through a sulforhodamine B assay conducted on the MDA-MB-231 human breast carcinoma cell line and SiHa human cervical cancer cell line. The findings of this study reveal the impressive antioxidative, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antiurolithi characteristics exhibited by AgNPs synthesized from leaf extracts. This research highlights an environmentally friendly and cost-effective approach to producing AgNPs by utilizing plant extracts as reducing agents, underscoring the immense potential of natural resources in advancing nanotechnology and its applications.

This work aims to investigate the environmentally sustainable technique to synthesize the copper nanoparticles using bougainvillea flower ethanolic extract at ambient temperature. Copper nanoparticles have considerable potential for reducing the environment’s harmful pigments and nitrogen contaminants. The oxidized copper nanoscale catalysts are enclosed inside nanomaterial, which work as a benign and sustainable resource for capping agents. Ultraviolet spectroscopic, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray crystallography (XRD) techniques were used to evaluate the produced oxidized copper nanocrystals. The particles produced have been very robust, are cylindrical in form, and have an outer diameter of 12 nm. Furthermore, under normal conditions, copper oxide (CuO) nanomaterials demonstrated strong photocatalytic efficiency in liquid media for the oxidation of Congo red, bromothymol blue, and 4-nitrophenol in an acidic solution acetic anhydride. Moreover, the CuO nanocrystalline enzyme could be readily vortexed or used for five cycles with an exchange rate of even over 90%. The evaporation process caused around 18% of the loss of weight between 25°C and 190°C, while soil organic breakdown caused almost 31% of the loss of weight around 700°C. As a result, the little reduction in enzymatic effectiveness of the recoverable multilayer CuO substrate might be attributed to catalytic degradation throughout spinning and processing.

Green nano-chemistry is an advanced research route covering eco-friendly fabrication approaches for synthesizing bimetallic nanocomposites (NCs) to enhance their therapeutic properties. The current study aims to phytofabrication, characterization, and bio-potential evaluation of novel selenium–iron (Se–Fe) NCs by utilizing garlic extract. The morphological and physicochemical features of Se–Fe NCs were evaluated by UV–visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray, Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, and Zeta potential analysis. The findings showed that garlic cloves extract was a promising capping and reducing agent for the formulation of the NC. To explore the antioxidant potential of a bioinspired Se–Fe NC, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and reducing power assays were performed. Furthermore, antioxidant efficacy was confirmed through antimicrobial activities against clinical pathogens. Phytosynthesized Se–Fe NCs (25, 50, 75, and 100 ppm) showed a dose-dependent response. Higher concentrations of Se–Fe NCs impose a more potent antioxidant and antimicrobial potential. The astonishing findings suggest that phytochemicals in Allium sativum extract are useful reducing agents in the formulation of well-defined Se–Fe NCs, and such NCs could act as competitive inhibitors against pathogens. To the extent of our understanding, Se–Fe NC is the first time synthesized and demonstrates the distinctiveness of green chemistry and will give multifunctional applications in nano-biotechnology. Graphical abstract