Engineered Mg-modified biochar-based sorbent for arsenic separation and pre-concentration.

The utilization of biochar as a relatively efficient sorbent or stationary phase for the separation and preconcentration of a wide range of analytes represents an innovative approach in current sample pretreatment methods. Appropriate pre- and post-pyrolysis modification of the input precursor and pyrolysis product, respectively, allows targeted design of the physicochemical properties and sorption characteristics of the resulting sorbent. The present work deals with the preparation of pyrolysis materials based on unmodified cattail leaf biomass (BC) and its Mg-modified analogue (MgBC) by a slow pyrolysis process at 500 °C and a residence time of 1 h in a pyrolysis reactor.

Efficient removal of aqueous ciprofloxacin antibiotic by ZnO/CuO-bentonite composites synthesized via carbon-bed pyrolysis of bentonite and metal co-precipitation.

Antibiotics are of emerging concern due to their widespread use, lack of adequate treatment, and for their potential to threaten human health and the environment. Here, a facile fabrication approach for synthesizing ZnO/CuO-bentonite composites was investigated via carbon-bed pyrolysis of bentonite followed by ZnO/CuO co-precipitation. Sorbents were synthesized using a range of bentonite pyrolysis temperatures, metal oxide contents, and ZnO:CuO mass ratios.

The role of isothiocyanate-rich plants and supplements in neuropsychiatric disorders: a review and update.

Neuroinflammation in response to environmental stressors is an important common pathway in a number of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Responses to immune-mediated stress can lead to epigenetic changes and the development of neuropsychiatric disorders. Isothiocyanates (ITC) have shown promise in combating oxidative stress and inflammation in the nervous system as well as organ systems.

Magneto-Thermoelectric Transport in Graphene Quantum Dot with Strong Correlations.

Disorder at etched edges of graphene quantum dots (GQD) enables random all-to-all interactions between localized charges in partially filled Landau levels, providing a potential platform to realize the Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev (SYK) model. We use quantum Hall edge states in the graphene electrodes to measure electrical conductance and thermoelectric power across the GQD. In specific temperature ranges, we observe a suppression of electric conductance fluctuations and slowly decreasing thermoelectric power across the GQD with increasing temperature, consistent with recent theory for the SYK regime.

Biochar dispersion in a tropical soil and its effects on native soil organic carbon.

Although biochar application to soils has been found to increase soil quality and crop yield, the biochar dispersion extent and its impacts on native soil organic carbon (SOC) has received relatively little attention. Here, the vertical and lateral migration of fine, intermediate and coarse-sized biochar (<0.5, 0.

Using the benzenepolycarboxylic acid (BPCA) method to assess activated biochars and their PFAS sorption abilities.

Activated carbon (AC) has important industrial and environmental applications as it has excellent abilities to sorb contaminants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Current research aims to develop activated biochars (AB) from renewable biomass to replace AC that is produced from fossil feedstock. Both AC and AB are primarily comprised of condensed aromatic carbon (ConAC), the component that is the focus of this study.

Persistent free radicals generated from a range of biochars and their physiological effects on wheat seedlings.

Biochar is a promising soil conditioner and environmental remediation material. However, the amount, type, and environmental effect and risk of persistent free radicals (PFRs) associated with biochar need to be better understood. Thus, this study characterized PFRs in a range of biochar types and their effects on the growth and oxidative stress of wheat seedlings.

Initial experience with laparoscopic gastric bypass in an Australian general foregut surgery unit.

Background: Laparoscopic gastric bypass (LGB) is an increasingly utilized approach to bariatric surgery in Australia. A high proportion of those procedures are revisional due to Australia's legacy of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB), which is not the case internationally. The aim of this study was to compare post-operative outcomes in an Australian general foregut surgery unit against benchmarks published in the literature.

Remarkable synergy between sawdust biochar and attapulgite/diatomite after co-ball milling to adsorb methylene blue.

Biochar has been recognized as a promising sustainable adsorbent for removing pollutants from wastewater. In this study, two natural minerals, attapulgite (ATP) and diatomite (DE) were co-ball milled with sawdust biochar (pyrolyzed at 600 °C for 2 h) at ratios of 10-40% (w/w) and examined the ability of methylene blue (MB) to be removed from aqueous solutions by them. All the mineral-biochar composites sorbed more MB than both ball milled biochar (MBC) and ball milled mineral alone, indicating there was a positive synergy in co-ball milling biochar with these minerals.

Applications, impacts, and management of biochar persistent free radicals: A review.

Biochar is a promising environmental contaminant remediation agent because of its adsorptive and catalytic properties. However, the environmental effects of persistent free radicals (PFRs) produced by biomass pyrolysis (biochar production) are still poorly understood, though they have received increasing research attention in recent years. Although PFRs both directly and indirectly mediate biochar's removal of environmental pollutants, they also have the potential to cause ecological damage.

Sewage sludge biochars as effective PFAS-sorbents.

The use of sewage sludge to produce biochar-based sorbents for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) removal from water and soil may be an economically and environmentally sustainable waste management option. This study compared the sorption of six perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) by two sewage sludge biochars (SSBCs) and one wood chip biochar (WCBC), dry pyrolyzed at 700 °C. Batch sorption tests were conducted by adding individual PFCAs and a PFCA-mixture to pure biochars and mixtures of biochar and a sandy soil (1.

Alkaline ball-milled peanut-hull biosorbent effectively removes aqueous organic dyes.

Advanced biosorbents increasingly attract attention for their application in environment remediation. Here, a facile one-step approach to alkaline ball milling was used to synthesize a porous peanut hull biosorbent without heating. The alkaline ball-milled peanut-hull (ABP) biosorbent was characterized for its ability to remove Congo red (CR), titan yellow (TY), and methyl violet (MV) from aqueous solutions.

Characteristics and aqueous dye removal ability of novel biosorbents derived from acidic and alkaline one-step ball milling of hickory wood.

New classes of biosorbents are needed for various environment remediation applications. Thus, a facile and benign approach to synthesize porous biosorbents was developed using acidic or alkaline one-step ball milling of hickory wood biomass (AcBH and AlBH, respectively) without any external heat treatment, and their properties were compared. AcBH and AlBH were richer in O-containing functional groups, had enhanced porous structure and greater ability to remove crystal violet (CV, 476.

Fixed bed column performance of Al-modified biochar for the removal of sulfamethoxazole and sulfapyridine antibiotics from wastewater.

In this study, biochar derived from bamboo pretreated with aluminum salt was synthesized for the removal of two sulfonamide antibiotics, sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and sulfapyridine (SPY), from wastewater. Batch sorption experiments showed that Al-modified bamboo biochar (Al-BB-600) removed both sulfonamides effectively with the maximum sorption capacity of 1200-2200 mg/kg. The sorption mechanism was mainly controlled by hydrophobic, π-π, and electrostatic interactions.

Characterization and nutritional value of hydrothermal liquid products from distillers grains.

Hydrothermal liquid products (HLPs) produced by hydrothermal treatment (HTT) contain a large amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and other substances, while the environmental problems caused by arbitrary discharge. This work explored the effects of temperature, reaction time and solid-liquid ratio on the chemistry of HLPs of two different distillers grains, with a focus on nutrient composition. Increased HTT temperature was related to increased HLPs pH, dissolved organic carbon content, and aromaticity, and decreased electrical conductivity.

Microwave-assisted pyrolysis derived biochar for volatile organic compounds treatment: Characteristics and adsorption performance.

Biochar derived from corn stalk doping with activated carbon was produced by microwave-assisted pyrolysis and applied to sorb volatile organic compounds (VOCs: benzene and o-xylene). Specific surface area (SSA), total pore volume (TPV) and micropore volume (MV) of microwave biochar increased with increasing microwave power with the maximum values 325.2 m·g, 0.

Microwave biochars produced with activated carbon catalyst: Characterization and sorption of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

A series of microwave biochars derived from wheat straw in the presence of a granulated activated carbon (GAC) catalyst, using a range of microwave conditions, were produced, characterized and tested as sorbents of three benzene series volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The microwave biochar with the greatest specific surface area (SSA), total pore volume (TPV), and micropore volume (312.62 m g, 0.

Preparation of biosorbent for the removal of organic dyes from aqueous solution via one-step alkaline ball milling of hickory wood.

Biosorbent has attracted considerable attention recently for use in environment remediation and pollution control. Here, a simple and efficient method of one-step alkaline ball milling was designed to prepare porous hickory biosorbent without any thermal treatments. The products were characterized for their ability to remove methyl violet (MV) and titan yellow (TY) organic dyes from aqueous solutions.

Mechanisms and adsorption capacities of hydrogen peroxide modified ball milled biochar for the removal of methylene blue from aqueous solutions.

In this work, hickory chip biochars developed at distinctive pyrolysis temperatures were ball milled (BMHC) and then post-modified with a 10% hydrogen peroxide (HO) solution to obtain a set of novel sorbents (BMHC-HO). The specific surface area (SSA) was dramatically increased after ball-milling while the hydroxyl and carboxyl groups on the surface of the biochars were further increased through HO modification. Additionally, thermal stability of the biochar treated with ball-milling was not greatly reduced by HO modification and hydrodynamic radius was decreased.

P-enriched hydrochar for soil remediation: Synthesis, characterization, and lead stabilization.

One-step synthesis of multifunctional materials using biomass waste for environmental remediation is a current research hotspot. In this study, a novel P-enriched hydrochar was obtained by co-hydrothermal treatment of biomass (bamboo or hickory) with concentrated HPO (biomass: HPO = 1:4) at 200 °C for 7 h. The characteristics of the P-enriched hydrochar were determined and its effect on the stabilization of Pb in soils was investigated.

Randomized controlled trial of sulforaphane and metabolite discovery in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Background: Sulforaphane (SF), an isothiocyanate in broccoli, has potential benefits relevant to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) through its effects on several metabolic and immunologic pathways. Previous clinical trials of oral SF demonstrated positive clinical effects on behavior in young men and changes in urinary metabolomics in children with ASD.

Methods: We conducted a 15-week randomized parallel double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial with 15-week open-label treatment and 6-week no-treatment extensions in 57 children, ages 3-12 years, with ASD over 36 weeks.