Optimization of Extraction Conditions from Gac Fruit and Utilization of Peel-Derived Biochar for Crystal Violet Dye Removal.

Gac fruit ( Spreng.) is a prominent source of carotenoids, renowned for its exceptional concentration of these compounds. This study focuses on optimizing the extraction of active components from the aril of gac fruit by evaluating the effects of extraction temperature, solid-liquid ratio, and extraction time.

Preparing Copper Nanoparticles and Flexible Copper Conductive Sheets.

Nanotechnology is used in a wide range of fields, including medicine, cosmetics, and new material development, and is one of the most popular technologies in the field of flexible electronic products. For the present work, the chemical reduction method with environmentally friendly reducing agents was used to synthesize copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) with good dispersibility. The CuNPs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV-vis).

Association of long-term indoor exposure to fine particles with pulmonary effects in Northern Taiwan.

An association between short-term indoor exposure to fine particles (PM) and acute respiratory effects has been reported. It is still unclear whether long-term indoor exposure to PM is associated with pulmonary events. This study recruited 1023 healthy adult homeworkers to conduct a prospective observational study from 2010 to 2021.

Facile Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles and Preparation of Conductive Ink.

In the scientific industry, sustainable nanotechnology has attracted great attention and has been successful in facilitating solutions to challenges presented in various fields. For the present work, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were prepared using a chemical reduction synthesis method. Then, a low-temperature sintering process was deployed to obtain an Ag-conductive ink preparation which could be applied to a flexible substrate.

Colorimetric detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by using gold nanoparticles.

The existence and content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the environment have gradually received attention because PAHs are widely detected in many sources. Therefore, an effective detection method for PAHs is necessary for further treatment. This study proposes a novel colorimetric detection method based on AuNPs to determine the contents of phenanthrene (Phe) and pyrene (Pyr).

Enhancement of plasticizer adsorption by utilizing a rice bran-derived adsorbent.

Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) are commonly used plasticizers in many countries and are detected at significant levels in the environment. Wastewater treatment plants are currently unable to completely treat wastewater discharges containing plasticizers. Rice bran was used to prepare magnetic-activated biochar (MAB) as a reusable adsorbent for enhanced adsorption of DEHP and DBP.

Preparing and Applying Silver Nanoparticles in Conductive Ink and Inkjet Painting.

Noble metal nanoparticles have special properties in optical, electronic, and physical chemistry due to their high surface area and volume. With the development of electronic printing technology, inkjet printing has gradually replaced traditional spin coating and blade coating, since it leads to more material savings and a faster batch production, and the pattern can be easily designed by a computer. In this study, Ag nanoparticles were prepared by a chemical reduction method.

Husk of Agarwood Fruit-Based Hydrogel Beads for Adsorption of Cationic and Anionic Dyes in Aqueous Solutions.

Hydrogel beads based on the husk of agarwood fruit (HAF)/sodium alginate (SA), and based on the HAF/chitosan (CS) were developed for the removal of the dyes, crystal violet (CV) and reactive blue 4 (RB4), in aqueous solutions, respectively. The effects of the initial pH (2-10) of the dye solution, the adsorbent dosage (0.5-3.

Performance Evaluation and Optimization of Dyes Removal using Rice Bran-Based Magnetic Composite Adsorbent.

Although several studies have explored green adsorbent synthesized from many types of agriculture waste, this study represents the first attempt to prepare an environmentally friendly rice bran/SnO/FeO-based absorbent with economic viability and material reusability, for the promotion of sustainable development. Here, rice bran/SnO/FeO composites were successfully synthesized and applied for adsorption of reactive blue 4 (RB4) and crystal violet (CV) dyes in aqueous solutions. The adsorption data were well-fitted by the Langmuir isotherm model and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model.

Houseplant, indoor air pollution, and cardiovascular effects among elderly subjects in Taipei, Taiwan.

Previous studies have documented the linkage between houseplant usage and indoor air quality (IAQ) improvement. However, the effect of houseplant on the association between indoor air quality and cardiovascular health is still unknown. We recruited 100 elderly subjects from 100 houses with (50) or without houseplants (50) in Taipei and conducted six 24-hour house visits for each elderly subject between 2015 and 2016.

Indoor ozone levels, houseplants and peak expiratory flow rates among healthy adults in Taipei, Taiwan.

The association between houseplants and indoor air quality improvement has been reported in previous studies. However, the effect of houseplant-emitted isoprene on the association between ozone (O) formation and respiratory health remains unclear. We recruited 60 adult subjects from 60 houses with or without houseplants (1:1) in Taipei; twelve house visits were conducted in each home throughout 2014.

Investigation of the Antioxidant Capacity, Insecticidal Ability and Oxidation Stability of Seed Extract.

To maximize the extraction of antioxidants from seeds, the process factors, such as the ethanol concentration (0⁻100%), extraction time (30⁻180 min) and temperature (30⁻70 °C), for the extraction of the bioactive contents as well as the antioxidant capacity are evaluated using response surface methodology (RSM). The experimental results fit well with quadratic models. The extract was identified by GC/MS, and it was found that some active compounds had antioxidant, repellency and insecticidal activities.

Adsorption Behavior of Recyclable Magnetites with N-Components for Adsorption of Copper Ion.

Recyclable magnetites with thioureido group (poly-allyl-thiourea/oleic acid/magnetite, PAT-adsorbent) and amine functional group (ethylenediamine/methyl methacrylate/oleic acid/magnetite, EDA-adsorbent) were synthesized by modifying magnetite with oleic acid, methyl methacrylate, allyl thiourea and ethylenediamine. PAT-adsorbent and EDA-adsorbent were used and compared for adsorption of copper ions in a batch system due to the existence of amino group (-NH2) both on thioureido group and amine functional group. The kinetics of both PAT-adsorbent and EDA-adsorbent were evaluated utilizing pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models.

Biosynthesis of SnO₂ Nanoparticles Based on Response Surface Methodology and the Study of Their Dye Removal.

Litsea cubeba is an evergreen tree from the Lauraceae family, with the common name of mountain pepper in Taiwan. The extracts from different parts such as the bark, leaf, root and fruit have various medicinal properties and have been extensively used in traditional Chinese medicine. SnO2 nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized using an extract of Litsea cubeba fruit based on response surface methodology (RSM).

Antioxidant capacity, insecticidal ability and heat-oxidation stability of Tagetes lemmonii leaf extract.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of process factors such as ethanol concentration, extraction time and temperature on the extraction yield and the bioactive contents of Tagetes lemmonii leaf extracts using response surface methodology (RSM). ANOVA results showed that the response variables were affected by the ethanol concentration to a very significant degree and by extraction temperature to a lesser degree. GC/MS characterization showed that the extract is rich in bioactive compounds and those present exhibited important biological activities such as antioxidant, insect repellence and insecticidal activities.

Long-term indoor air conditioner filtration and cardiovascular health: A randomized crossover intervention study.

The association of short-term air pollution filtration with cardiovascular health has been documented. However, the effect of long-term indoor air conditioner filtration on the association between air pollution and cardiovascular health is still unclear. We recruited 200 homemakers from Taipei and randomly assigned 100 of them to air filtration or control intervention; six home visits were conducted per year from 2013 to 2014.

Characterization of pulmonary protein profiles in response to zinc oxide nanoparticles in mice: a 24-hour and 28-day follow-up study.

Although zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) are recognized to cause systemic disorders, little is known about the mechanisms that underlie the time-dependent differences that occur after exposure. The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanistic differences at 24 hours and 28 days after the exposure of BALB/c mice to ZnONPs via intratracheal instillation. An isobaric tag for the relative and absolute quantitation coupled with liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry was used to identify the differential protein expression, biological processes, molecular functions, and pathways.

Carbon dioxide adsorption on amine-impregnated mesoporous materials prepared from spent quartz sand.

Mesoporous MCM-41 was synthesized using cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) as a cationic surfactant and spent quartz sand as the silica source. Modification of the mesoporous structure to create an absorbent was then completed using 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane. Amine-Quartz-MCM (The A-Q-MCM) adsorbents were then characterized by N2 adsorption/desorption, elemental analysis (EA), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), as well as the carbon dioxide (CO2) adsorption/desorption performance.

Study on particulates and volatile organic compounds removal with TiO2 nonwoven filter prepared by electrospinning.

Unlabelled: In this study, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and titania (TiO2) Degussa P-25 were mixed to generate TiO2 nonwoven filters using electrospinning. The wires of titanium dioxide and the nonwoven binding titania nanofibers were formed using 14 kV voltage and a distance of 15 cm. A single-factor experimental method was used to investigate the effects of parameters such as initial concentration, retention time, and light source on acetone removal by nonwoven binding titania nanofibers.

Study on the methylene blue adsorption from wastewaters by pore-expanded calcium fluoride sludge adsorbent.

The adsorption of methylene blue (MB) onto pore-expanded calcium fluoride sludge (ECF) by the batch adsorption technique was investigated. The results showed that the adsorption capacity increased with increasing MB concentration but decreased as pH was increased. In order to investigate the adsorption mechanisms, three simplified isotherm models and kinetic models were used in this study.

Optimizing treatment of benzoic acid by ozone process with recyclable catalyst of magnetism.

This study is to optimize the multi-quality performance of magnetic catalyst/ozone process by combining a technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) with the Taguchi method, which simultaneously has the best decomposition rate constant of benzoic acid and removal rate constant of total organic carbon (TOC). The optimal experimental parameters were pH of 7, initial concentration of 75 ppm and catalyst loading of 0.05 g/L.

Dendrimer modified magnetic nanoparticles as adsorbents for removal of dyes.

The recycling of dendrimers using an ultrafiltration membrane during wastewater treatment is extremely inconvenient. With the combination of magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) with dendrimers, the problem of the recovery of tiny particulate matter from an aqueous solution can be overcome using its magnetism. In this study, the coprecipitation method was adopted to prepare MNP, and then MNP-G(n) (n, generations of dendrimers) was prepared with the formation of the dendrimers on the surface of the MNP.

Effect of platinum on the photocatalytic degradation of chlorinated organic compound.

TiO2 nanoparticles, doped with different Pt contents, were prepared by a modified photodeposition method using Degussa P-25 TiO2, H2PtCl6 6H2O and methanol as the solvents. The physicochemical properties of Pt/TiO2 were investigated by the nitrogen adsorption and desorption isotherm measurement technique, X-ray diffraction analysis and photoluminescence spectra, respectively. Reaction rates from photocatalytic removal of dichloromethane over Degussa P-25 TiO2 and Pt/TiO2 were evaluated.