Nanoporous Carbon-Supported Bimetallic (Ni, Cu, and Fe)-Mo Catalysts for Partial Hydrogenation of Biodiesel.

Upgrading biodiesel or hydrogenated fatty acid methyl esters (H-FAMEs) by partial hydrogenation is a second-generation biofuel with high specific fuel characteristics, such as superior cold flow properties, higher oxidative stability, and lower hazardous gas emissions, allowing this biofuel to provide excellent fuel properties, over conventional biodiesel. This study assessed the potential of using nanoporous carbon produced from cattail leaves (CL) as an alternative catalyst support. We synthesized various catalysts including monometallic Mo/NPC, Ni/NPC, Ce/NPC, and Fe/NPC catalysts, as well as bimetallic molybdenum-based catalysts doped with nickel, copper, or iron for the partial hydrogenation of soybean biodiesel.

Oxygen vacancy-rich high-pressure rocksalt phase of zinc oxide for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

The generation of hydrogen as a clean energy carrier by photocatalysis, as a zero-emission technology, is of significant scientific and industrial interest. However, the main drawback of photocatalytic hydrogen generation from water splitting is its low efficiency compared to traditional chemical or electrochemical methods. Zinc oxide (ZnO) with the wurtzite phase is one of the most investigated photocatalysts for hydrogen production, but its activity still needs to be improved.

Advanced Photocatalysts for CO Conversion by Severe Plastic Deformation (SPD).

Excessive CO emission from fossil fuel usage has resulted in global warming and environmental crises. To solve this problem, the photocatalytic conversion of CO to CO or useful components is a new strategy that has received significant attention. The main challenge in this regard is exploring photocatalysts with high efficiency for CO photoreduction.

Porous Biochar Supported Transition Metal Phosphide Catalysts for Hydrocracking of Palm Oil to Bio-Jet Fuel.

The upgrading of plant-based oils to liquid transportation fuels through the hydrotreating process has become the most attractive and promising technical pathway for producing biofuels. This work produced bio-jet fuel (C-C hydrocarbons) from palm olein oil through hydrocracking over varied metal phosphide supported on porous biochar catalysts. Relative metal phosphide catalysts were investigated for the highest performance for bio-jet fuel production.

Catalytic deoxygenation of palm oil over metal phosphides supported on palm fiber waste derived activated biochar for producing green diesel fuel.

Palm oil conversion into green diesel by catalytic deoxygenation (DO) is one of the distinctive research topics in biorefinery towards a bio-circular-green economic model to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions. In this study, palm fiber waste was explored as an alternative precursor for the preparation of activated biochar as a support material. A new series of nickel phosphide (Ni-P) and iron phosphide (Fe-P) catalysts supported on palm fiber activated biochar (PFAC) was synthesized by wetness impregnation, and extensive characterization was performed by several techniques to understand the characteristics of the supported metal phosphide catalysts prior to palm oil deoxygenation for producing of green diesel (C-C hydrocarbons).

Optimization of ionic liquid-incorporated PLGA nanoparticles for treatment of biofilm infections.

Ionic liquids (ILs) containing imidazolium cations have a number of useful properties, such as high permeability to cells, high antimicrobial activity, and good biocompatibility. With the aid of ILs, transdermal delivery, solubilization of poorly soluble drugs were developed and therapeutic effects were improved. In this work, 1‑butyl‑3‑methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate-incorporated, chitosan-modified, submicron-sized poly(dl‑lactide‑co‑glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared using the emulsion solvent diffusion method for the treatment of biofilm infections.

Solid-state reduction of silica nanoparticles oxygen abstraction from SiO units by polyolefins under mechanical stressing.

Metal oxides with an oxidation number lower than the highest often exhibit attractive functional properties. However, conventional chemical or thermal reduction of the stable oxides is often laborious and cannot be stopped at an appropriate level of reduction. Therefore, we here try to explore non-conventional reduction processes in a solid-state without external heating.

Chemical and thermal properties of VO mechanochemically derived from VO by co-milling with paraffin wax.

A novel mechanochemical reduction process of VO to VO was established by milling with paraffin wax (PW, average molecular weight 254-646), serving as a reductant. The reduction progressed with increasing milling time and mass ratio VO : PW (MRVP). The mechanochemically derived VO became phase pure after milling for 3 h with an MRVP of 30 : 1 and exhibited a reversible polymorphic transformation between tetragonal and monoclinic phases at around 53-60 °C and 67-79 °C during heating and cooling, respectively.

Optical Properties of Nanocrystalline Monoclinic YO Stabilized by Grain Size and Plastic Strain Effects via High-Pressure Torsion.

Yttrium oxide (yttria) with monoclinic structure exhibits unique optical properties; however, the monoclinic phase is thermodynamically stable only at pressures higher than ∼16 GPa. In this study, the effect of grain size and plastic strain on the stability of monoclinic phase is investigated by a high-pressure torsion (HPT) method. A cubic-to-monoclinic phase transition occurs at 6 GPa, which is ∼10 GPa below the theoretical transition pressure.

FE-SEM observation of swelled seaweed using hydrophilic ionic liquid; 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate.

The method to observe the exact morphology of swelled seaweed as an example of biological material by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) with the aid of hydrophilic ionic liquid (IL); 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate is reported. Seaweed was first swelled in 3.5% NaCl solution and then treated with the IL and water mixture in 1:7 weight ratios and centrifuged to remove the excess IL solution.

Generation of gaseous sulfur-containing compounds in tumour tissue and suppression of gas diffusion as an antitumour treatment.

Background And Aims: The mechanisms of cancer cell growth and metastasis are still not entirely understood, especially from the viewpoint of chemical reactions in tumours. Glycolytic metabolism is markedly accelerated in cancer cells, causing the accumulation of glucose (a reducing sugar) and methionine (an amino acid), which can non-enzymatically react and form carcinogenic substances. There is speculation that this reaction produces gaseous sulfur-containing compounds in tumour tissue.

Characterization of concentrated colloidal ceramics suspension: a new approach.

The dispersion behavior of a concentrated ceramic suspension (Al(2)O(3)) has been investigated in terms of capillary suction time (CST) with varying solids concentration both in the absence as well as in the presence of dispersant (APC). The CST value is found to be the lowest at the pH(iep) whereas it increases as the pH is changed either to the acid side or alkaline side due to the repulsive forces acting among the neighboring particles keeping them in more dispersed state. It has been further observed that the CST value increases with increasing concentration of solids in the suspension.

Stability of dispersions of colloidal alumina particles in aqueous suspensions.

The colloidal stability of suspensions of alumina particles has been investigated by measuring particle size distribution, sedimentation, viscosity, and zeta potential. Alumina particles were found to be optimally dispersed at pH around 3 to 7.8 without dispersant and at pH 8.

Development of a simple method for the preparation of a silica gel based controlled delivery system with a high drug content.

Silica gel was used as core particles to design a simple preparation for controlled delivery system with a high drug content. Drug loading was carried out by immersing the silica gel in a pre-heated drug solution or suspension. HPLC, SEM, DSC, PXRD analysis and N2 adsorption studies evaluated the drug-loading process.

Characterization of silica-pillared derivatives from aluminum-containing kanemite.

A series of aluminum-containing kanemite (Al-kanemite) samples with several Si/Al molar ratios were synthesized. The Al-kanemite samples were pillared with silica. X-ray diffractograms showed that the layered structure of the Al-kanemite samples was maintained at Si/Al= infinity approximately 10 but was broken at Si/Al = 5, 2.

Effect of geometric structure and surface wettability of glidant on tablet hardness.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of geometric structure and surface wettability of glidant on tablet hardness. Geometric structure is defined, in this work, as three-dimensional structure such as porosity, particle size and specific surface area. A variety of silica was incorporated in direct compressive fillers as glidant and mixed powder was compressed in single punch tablet machine with and without 0.

Preparation and characterization of silica-pillared derivatives from kanemite.

The silica-pillared derivatives from kanemite (NaHSi(2)O(5).3H(2)O) were prepared by intercalation of dialkyldimethylammonium (DADMA) ion and pillaring with tetraethylorthosilicate. The formation of silica pillars between the silicate sheets was demonstrated by X-ray diffraction, (29)Si CP/MAS NMR, and TEM observation.