Nonsterile Process for Biohydrogen Production: Recent Updates, Challenges, and Opportunities.

Hydrogen (H), a clean and versatile energy carrier, has recently gained significant attention as a potential solution for reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable energy systems. The yield and efficiency of the biological H production process primarily depend on sterilization conditions. Various strategies, such as heat inactivation and membrane-based sterilization, have been used to achieve desirable yields via microbial fermentation.

Laccase-Based Magnetic Inorganic-Protein Hybrid Nanobiocatalyst for Efficient Decolorization of Dyes in the Presence of Inhibitors.

In the present investigation, an ecofriendly magnetic inorganic-protein hybrid system-based enzyme immobilization was developed using partially purified laccase from (Lac), FeO nanoparticles, and manganese (Mn), and was successfully applied for synthetic dye decolorization in the presence of enzyme inhibitors. After the partial purification of crude Lac, the specific enzyme activity reached 212 U∙mg total protein. The synthesized FeO/Mn(PO)-laccase (FeO/Mn-Lac) and Mn(PO)-laccase (Mn-Lac) nanoflowers (NFs) exhibited encapsulation yields of 85.

Sulfation Pattern Dependent Iron(III) Mediated Interleukin-8 Glycan Binding.

Cytokines such as interleukin-8 activate the immune system during infection and interact with sulfated glycosaminoglycans with specific sulfation patterns. In some cases, these interactions are mediated by metal ion binding which can be used to tune surface-based glycan-protein interactions. We evaluated the effect of both hyaluronan sulfation degree and Fe on interleukin-8 binding by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and surface characterizations.

Disordered-Layer-Mediated Reverse Metal-Oxide Interactions for Enhanced Photocatalytic Water Splitting.

In heterogeneous catalysts, metal-oxide interactions occur spontaneously but often in an undesired way leading to the oxidation of metal nanoparticles. Manipulating such interactions to produce highly active surface of metal nanoparticles can warrant the optimal catalytic activity but has not been established to date. Here we report that a prior reduced TiO support can reverse the interaction with Pt nanoparticles and augment the metallic state of Pt, exhibiting a 3-fold increase in hydrogen production rate compared to that of conventional Pt/TiO.

Reduced graphene oxide/InGaZn mixed oxide nanocomposite photocatalysts for hydrogen production.

A series of reduced graphene oxide and indium-gallium-zinc mixed oxide (RGO/IGZ) nanocomposites were successfully synthesised by a simple one-step hydrothermal method. The as-synthesised nanocomposites were characterised by crystallographic, microscopic, and spectroscopic methods to explore the robust photocatalytic activity of the prepared materials. XRD patterns confirmed the formation of highly pure, single-phase, hexagonal In2 Ga2 ZnO7 with no impurity-related peaks.

Fabrication of α-Fe2O3 nanorod/RGO composite: a novel hybrid photocatalyst for phenol degradation.

We report herein the fabrication of a hematite nanorod-graphene composite (α-Fe2O3 nanorod/RGO) via a facile template-free hydrothermal route with an aim to improve the photocatalytic efficiency of the α-Fe2O3 nanorod. The structural and morphological characterizations of the as-prepared composites were carried out using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, N2 adsorption-desorption, etc. The α-Fe2O3 nanorods were well-decorated on the surface of the graphene sheets, which helps in electron transfer from α-Fe2O3 to graphene and hence can delay the recombination process, leading to the improvement in photocatalytic activity.