Unripe Plantain Peel Biohydrogel for Methylene Blue Removal from Aqueous Solution.

Dye contamination is a serious environmental issue, particularly affecting water bodies, driving efforts to synthesize adsorbent materials with high dye-removal capacities. In this context, eco-friendly and cost-effective materials derived from bioresidues are being explored to recycle and valorize waste. This study investigates the synthesis, characterization, and application of a biohydrogel made from unripe plantain peel (PP), modified with carboxymethyl groups and crosslinked using varying concentrations of citric acid (CA), an eco-friendly and economical organic acid.

Development of High-Efficiency Fertilizer by Hydrogels Obtained from Cassava Starch and Citric Acid for Slow Release of Ammonium and Potassium.

Fertilizers with enhanced efficiency or high-efficiency fertilizers increase the nutrient availability, minimize losses, and reduce costs, thereby increasing crop yields and food production while mitigating environmental impacts. This research evaluates the synthesis of biodegradable hydrogels from cassava starch and citric acid for agrochemical applications. Hydrogels were synthesized using water as the solvent and applied for the controlled release of macronutrients (N and K).

Biodegradable Cassava Starch/Phosphorite/Citric Acid Based Hydrogel for Slow Release of Phosphorus: Study.

Phosphorous (P) is one the most important elements in several biological cycles, and is a fundamental component of soil, plants and living organisms. P has a low mobility and is quickly adsorbed on clayey soils, limiting its availability and absorption by plants. Here, biodegradable hydrogels based on Cassava starch crosslinked with citric acid (CA) were made and loaded with KHPO and phosphorite to promote the slow release of phosphorus, the storing of water, and the reduction in P requirements during fertilization operations.

Synthesis and Characterization of Nanocomposite Hydrogels Based on Poly(Sodium 4-Styrene Sulfonate) under Very-High Concentration Regimen of Clays (Bentonite and Kaolinite).

The aim of this work was to synthesize and study the functional properties of polymer-clay nanocomposite (PCNCs) based on poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) (NaPSS) and two types of clay in the dispersed phase: bentonite and kaolinite, in order to advance in the development of new geomimetic materials for agricultural and environmental applications. In this study, the effect of adding high concentrations of clay (10-20 wt. %) on the structural and functional properties of a polymer-clay nanocomposite was evaluated.

Nanocarrier of α-Tocopheryl Succinate Based on a Copolymer Derivative of (4,7-dichloroquinolin-2-yl)methanol and Its Cytotoxicity against a Breast Cancer Cell Line.

In order to improve the water solubility and, therefore, bioavailability and therapeutic activity of anticancer hydrophobic drug α-tocopherol succinate (α-TOS), in this work, copolymers were synthesized via free radicals from QMES (1-[4,7-dichloroquinolin-2-ylmethyl]-4-methacryloyloxyethyl succinate) and VP (N-vinyl-2-pirrolidone) using different molar ratios, and were used to nanoencapsulate and deliver α-TOS into cancer cells MCF-7. QMES monomer was chosen because the QMES pendant group in the polymer tends to hydrolyze to form free 4,7-dichloro-2-quinolinemethanol (QOH), which also, like α-TOS, exhibit anti-proliferative effects on cancerous cells. From the QMES-VP 30:70 (QMES-30) and 40:60 (QMES-40) copolymers obtained, it was possible to prepare aqueous suspensions of empty nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with α-TOS by nanoprecipitation.

Comparative Study of the Removal Efficiency of Nalidixic Acid by Poly[(4-vinylbenzyl)trimethylammonium Chloride] and N-Alkylated Chitosan through the Ultrafiltration Technique and Its Approximation through Theoretical Calculations.

Emerging antibiotic contaminants in water is a global problem because bacterial strains resistant to these antibiotics arise, risking human health. This study describes the use of poly[(4-vinylbenzyl) trimethylammonium chloride] and N-alkylated chitosan, two cationic polymers with different natures and structures to remove nalidixic acid. Both contain ammonium salt as a functional group.

Bio-Based Polymeric Membranes: Development and Environmental Applications.

Nowadays, membrane technology is an efficient process for separating compounds with minimal structural abrasion; however, the manufacture of membranes still has several drawbacks to being profitable and competitive commercially under an environmentally friendly approach. In this sense, this review focuses on bio-based polymeric membranes as an alternative to solve the environmental concern caused by the use of polymeric materials of fossil origin. The fabrication of bio-based polymeric membranes is explained through a general description of elements such as the selection of bio-based polymers, the preparation methods, the usefulness of additives, the search for green solvents, and the characterization of the membranes.

Electrochemistry Study of Bio-Based Composite Biopolymer Electrolyte-Starch/Cardol.

The environmental problems generated by pollution due to polymers of petrochemical origin have led to the search for eco-friendly alternatives such as the development of biopolymers or bio-based polymers. The aim of this work was to evaluate the electrochemical behavior of a biopolymer composite made from cassava starch and cardol extracted from cashew nut shell liquid. The biopolymers were prepared using the thermochemical method, varying the synthesis pH and the cardol amounts.

Multiple surface interaction mechanisms direct the anchoring, co-aggregation and formation of dual-species biofilm between and .

Introduction: Polymicrobial biofilms have a significant impact on pathogenesis of infectious microorganisms. Many human diseases are affected by colonization of multi-species communities affecting negatively the treatments and increase the risks for the health. In particular, in the epithelium of the stomach co-existence between and has been described, which has been associated to a synergistic effect on ulcer pathogenesis.

A critical analysis of environmental sustainability metrics applied to green synthesis of nanomaterials and the assessment of environmental risks associated with the nanotechnology.

Nanotechnology is one of the most relevant scientific areas today due to its multiple applications in fields such as medicine, environmental remediation, information technology and energy conversion. This importance has led to the need to advance in the development of environmentally sustainable and safe nanomaterials by incorporating the principles of green chemistry during their synthesis and in their applications. However, this qualitative framework of thought does not offer minimum criteria for the use of the term "green", and therefore, this adjective is commonly used to refer to bio-based or nanotechnological processes without taking into account their net ecological impact.

Functional transformation of Fourier-transform mid-infrared spectrum for improving spectral specificity by simple algorithm based on wavelet-like functions.

Herein a simple algorithm for the mathematical transformation of FTIR spectrum was developed, evaluated, and applied for description of different systems. Water, ethanol, -butanol, -hexanol, formic acid, acetic acid, citric acid, and water-acetic acid mixtures at different concentrations were used as model systems. We found that functional transformation of FTIR spectrum can be performed by functionally-enhanced derivative spectroscopy approach using the Function P, which is defined as P = (1 +  )() where and are the absorbance and the scale factor, respectively.

Metal-ion retention properties of water-soluble amphiphilic block copolymer in double emulsion systems (w/o/w) stabilized by non-ionic surfactants.

Metal-ion retention properties of water-soluble amphiphilic polymers in presence of double emulsion were studied by diafiltration. Double emulsion systems, water-in-oil-in-water, with a pH gradient between external and internal aqueous phases were prepared. A poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) (PSAM) solution at pH 6.