Microwave-Assisted Production of Defibrillated Lignocelluloses from Blackcurrant Pomace via Citric Acid and Acid-Free Conditions.

Blackcurrant pomace (BCP) is an example of an annual, high-volume, under-utilized renewable resource with potential to generate chemicals, materials and bioenergy within the context of a zero-waste biorefinery. Herein, the microwave-assisted isolation, characterization and potential application of defibrillated lignocelluloses from depectinated blackcurrant pomace are reported. Depectination was achieved using citric acid (0.

Sustainable bio-based solid phase extraction adsorbent for the determination of various types of organic compounds.

A sustainable, bio-based, mesoporous material, Starbon A800, was explored for use as an adsorbent in solid phase extraction (SPE). A solution containing seven nitrosamines was first used as a standard to optimise conditions for extraction efficiency with Starbon A800. After optimising conditions, 25 compounds of varying polarity (terpenes, phenolics, pesticides, PAHs, amines, and nitrosamines) were extracted with SPE using either Starbon® A800, C18 or Porous Graphitic Carbon (PGC) as the adsorbent, for comparison purposes.

A Rapid 3-Day Excipient Screening Methodology and its Application in Identifying Chemical Stabilizers for Solid Formulations with Mixed Mechanisms of Degradation.

This study outlines a practical approach for assessing chemical instability by heating the drug-excipient binary mixtures or multi-excipient formulations at 75°C for 3 days before characterization. Differentiating itself from other excipient compatibility methods, our methodology necessitates a saturated aqueous slurry rather than arbitrarily fixed water content. This allows bulk and surface water in the excipient to contribute to drug degradation.

Production of Hydrogels from Microwave-Assisted Hydrothermal Fractionation of Blackcurrant Pomace.

The exploitation of unavoidable food supply chain wastes resulting from primary and secondary processing for chemicals, materials, and bioenergy is an important concept in the drive towards circular-based, resource-efficient biorefineries rather than petroleum refineries. The potential production of hydrogels (materials) from unavoidable food supply chain wastes, which are naturally rich in biopolymers such as cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin, and lignin, represents an interesting opportunity. However, these intertwined and interconnected biopolymers require separation and deconstruction prior to any useful application.

You've Got E-Mail: A Pilot Study Examining the Feasibility and Impact of a Group-Based Technology-Training Intervention Among Older Adults Living in Residential Care.

Older adults living in residential care often experience challenges in sustaining meaningful social relationships, which can result in compromised health and well-being. Online social networking has the potential to mitigate this problem, but few studies have investigated its implementation and its effectiveness in maintaining or enhancing well-being. This pilot study used a cluster-randomized pre-post design to examine the feasibility of implementing a 12-week group-based technology-training intervention for older adults ( = 48) living in residential care by exploring how cognitive health, mental health, and confidence in technology were impacted.

S,N-GQD sensitization effect on the improvement of ZnO nanopencil photoelectrochemical properties.

ZnO photoanodes in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting for green-hydrogen production are limited due to the large bandgap that is only confined to UV light. One of the strategies for broadening the photo absorption range and improving light harvesting is to modify a one-dimensional (1D) nanostructure to a three-dimensional (3D) ZnO superstructure coupling with a narrow-bandgap material, in this case, a graphene quantum dot photosensitizer. Herein, we studied the effect of sulfur and nitrogen co-doped graphene quantum dot (S,N-GQD) sensitization on the surface of ZnO nanopencil (ZnO NPc) to give a photoanode in the visible light spectrum.

Cost-Effective PCR-Based Identification of (Siphonaptera) Larvae Extracted from Soil Samples Containing PCR Inhibitor-Rich Material.

Tungiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by skin-penetrating female fleas. Although tungiasis causes severe health problems, its ecology is poorly understood and morphological descriptions of the larvae are unavailable. To identify immature stages and sites where they develop, diagnostic PCRs are required.

Examining the Efficacy of Bright Light Therapy on Cognitive Function in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Survivors.

Patients who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) may experience cognitive impairment that can persist after treatment. Several studies have shown that bright light therapy may improve cognition, potentially due to its effects on the circadian system via brain regions that respond preferentially to light. In this double-blind randomized controlled trial, the efficacy of bright light therapy on cognition was examined in HSCT survivors.

Mesoporous-rich calcium and potassium-activated carbons prepared from degreased spent coffee grounds for efficient removal of MnO in aqueous media.

Commercial ACs typically possess high surface areas and high microporosity. However, ACs with appreciable mesoporosity are growing in consideration and demand because they are beneficial for the adsorption of large species, such as heavy metal ions. Thus, in this study, degreased coffee grounds (DCG) were used as precursors for the production of ACs by means of chemical activation at 600 °C for the efficient removal of manganese in the form of MnO .

Highly Efficient Mesoporous Carbonaceous CeO Catalyst for Dephosphorylation.

Phosphorus is fast becoming a critical element, as the global supply and demand are reaching unsustainable levels. Herein, the synthesis, characterization, and applicability of a novel biomass-derived mesoporous carbonaceous material decorated with CeO (CeO-S400) as an efficient catalyst for the dephosphorylation of 4-nitrophenyl phosphate disodium salt hexahydrate are reported. The presence and distribution of CeO are evidenced by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) (118.

Use of Carbotrace 480 as a Probe for Cellulose and Hydrogel Formation from Defibrillated Microalgae.

Carbotrace 480 is a commercially available fluorescent optotracer that specifically binds to cellulose's glycosidic linkages. Herein, the use of Carbotrace 480 is reported as an analytical tool for linking cellulose content to hydrogel formation capability in defibrillated celluloses obtained from proprietary microalgae. Defibrillated celluloses obtained from acid-free hydrothermal microwave processing at low temperature (160 °C) showed poor hydrogel formation attributed to a low cellulose concentration as evidenced through the lack of Carbotrace fluorescence.

Silver nanostructures prepared via novel green approach as an effective platform for biological and environmental applications.

Silver nanoparticles play a significant role in biomedical sciences due to their unique properties allowing for their use as an effective sensing and remediation platform Herein, the green synthesis of silver nanostructures (Ag NSs), prepared via aqueous extract of waste leaves in the presence of silver nitrate solution (10 M), is reported. The Ag NSs are fully characterized and their efficacy with respect to 4-nitrophenol reduction, glucose sensing, and microbes is determined. Visually, the color of silver nitrate containing solution altered from colorless to yellowish, then reddish grey, confirming the formation of Ag NSs.

Recycling bread waste into chemical building blocks using a circular biorefining approach.

Food waste is a global problem, causing significant environmental harm and resulting in substantial economic losses globally. Bread is the commonly wasted food item in the developed world and presents a severe problem for the majority of European nations. It is the second most wasted food item in the UK after potatoes, with an equivalent of 20 million slices of bread thrown away daily.

Microwave-Assisted Defibrillation of Microalgae.

The first production of defibrillated celluloses from microalgal biomass using acid-free, TEMPO-free and bleach-free hydrothermal microwave processing is reported. Two routes were explored: i. direct microwave process of native microalgae ("standard"), and ii.

Efficacy and sustainability of natural products in COVID-19 treatment development: opportunities and challenges in using agro-industrial waste from and apple.

Natural products have been used in the treatment of illnesses throughout the history of humankind. Exploitation of bioactive compounds from natural sources can aid in the discovery of new drugs, provide the scaffold of new medicines. In the face of challenging diseases, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, for which there was no effective treatment, nature could offer insights as to novel therapeutic options for control measures.

Analysis and optimisation of a novel 'almond-refinery' concept: Simultaneous production of biofuels and value-added chemicals by hydrothermal treatment of almond hulls.

For the first time, this work investigates the achievability of developing a biorefinery concept around almond hulls by hydrothermal treatment (HTT), thoroughly scrutinising the influence of the temperature (200-300 °C), pressure (100-180 bar), time (20-180 min) and solid loading (5-25 wt%). This process allowed the conversion of almond hulls into four main products: gas (2-13%), bio-oil (2-12%), aqueous (4-69%) and hydro-char (17-89%). The gas consisted of a mix of H, CO, CO and CH with a LHV fluctuating from 1 to 13 MJ/m STP.

Unforeseen crystal forms of the natural osmolyte floridoside.

Floridoside (2-α-O-D-galactopyranosyl glycerol) is a glycerol glycoside that is biosynthesised by most species of red algae and has been implicated as an intracellular regulator of various homeostatic functions. Here, we report the identification of two unforeseen crystal forms of the ubiquitous natural osmolyte floridoside including a seemingly unheralded second anhydrous conformational polymorph and the unambiguous description of an elusive monohydrated variant. By employing a variety of thermal and spectroscopic techniques, we begin to explore both their macro and molecular physicochemical properties, which are notably different to that of the previously reported polymorph.

A biorefinery strategy for spent industrial ginger waste.

An integrated biorefinery approach using spent industrial ginger waste for resource recovery is reported. Valuable products including ginger oil, starch, microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), bio-oil and hydrochar were obtained. Approximately 4 % ginger oil, with a profile similar to commercial ginger oil, can be recovered via Soxhlet or Supercritical CO + 10 %EtOH extraction.

Highly stable AgNPs prepared via a novel green approach for catalytic and photocatalytic removal of biological and non-biological pollutants.

Increases in biological and non-biological pollutants pose a significant threat to environmental systems. In an effort to develop an effective means to treat such pollutants, the use of Phaseolus vulgaris (kidney beans) as reducing and capping agents is proposed for the green synthesis of highly stable silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with a face-centered cubic (fcc) crystalline structure (size range: 10-20 nm). The potent role of the resulting AgNPs was found as triple platforms (photocatalyst, catalyst, and antimicrobial disinfectant).