Effect of pore structure in bismuth metal-organic framework nanorod derivatives on adsorption and organic pollutant degradation.

This study explores the synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic properties of bismuth metal-organic framework (Bi-MOF) nanorods and their derivatives such as Ag/Bi-MOF and Ag/BiO. Bi-MOF nanorods exhibit significant photocatalytic activity under visible light, with the addition of silver (Ag) enhancing electron-hole pair separation and reducing their recombination. This leads to improved photocatalytic performance, particularly in the degradation of organic pollutants such as Rhodamine B (RhB) and Methylene Blue (MB).

Effective degradation of tetracycline in aqueous solution by an electro-Fenton process using chemically modified carbon/α-FeOOH as catalyst.

This study applied an electro-Fenton process using chemically modified activated carbon derived from rubber seed shells loaded with α-FeOOH (RSCF) as catalyst to remove tetracycline residues from aquatic environment. Catalyst characteristics were evaluated using SEM, EDS, XRD, and XPS, showing successful insertion of iron onto the activated carbon. The effects of the parameters were investigated, and the highest treatment efficiency was achieved at pH of 3, Fe: HO ratio (w/w) of 500:1, catalyst dose of 1 g/L, initial TCH concentration of 100 mg/L, and electric current of 150 mA, with more than 90% of TCH being eliminated within 30 min.

Polyethylene Glycol Confined in SiO-Modified Expanded Graphite as Novel Form-Stable Phase Change Materials for Thermal Energy Storage.

Form-stable phase change materials (FSPCMs) composed of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) encapsulated in SiO-modified expanded graphite (EG@SiO) were prepared and investigated for thermal energy storage behaviors. The modification of SiO on EG was done using a simple sol-gel method, and then the resulting EG@SiO was introduced to confine PEG at varying content (60-90 wt %). Surface properties (including microstructure, morphology, and functional groups), PEG adsorptivity, leakage-proof ability, and thermal energy storage of the prepared materials were thoroughly characterized and discussed.

Pollution characteristics, associated risks, and possible sources of heavy metals in road dust collected from different areas of a metropolis in Vietnam.

Road dust samples were collected from different areas in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC)-the largest city in Vietnam to explore pollution characteristics, ecological and human health risks, and sources of heavy metals (HMs). Results revealed the level of HMs found in the samples from residential and industrial zones of HCMC in the order of Mn > Zn > Cu > Cr > Pb > Ni > Co > As > Cd, Zn > Mn > Cu > Cr > Pb > Ni > Co > As > Cd. Due to the high enrichment of Cu, Zn in residential areas and Cu, Pb, Zn in industrial areas, the HM contamination in these areas remained moderate to severe.

Two-stage preparation of highly mesoporous carbon for super-adsorption of paracetamol and tetracycline in water: Important contribution of pore filling and π-π interaction.

This study aimed to develop an extremely highly porous activated carbon derived from soybean curd residues (SCB-AC) through two-step pyrolyzing coupled with KOH activating process and then apply it for removing paracetamol (PRC) and tetracycline (TCH) from water. The optimal conditions for chemical activation were 800 °C and the ratio of KOH to material (4/1; wt./wt.

Green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles toward highly efficient photocatalysis and antibacterial application.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were successfully synthesized by a green method using rosin and zinc chloride as salt precursors. The phase structure, morphology, and particle size of ZnO were determined by X-ray powder diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The fabricated ZnO NP samples are crystalline with a grain size of 30-100 nm.

The global evolution of mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted mental health, but the global evolution of mental health problems during the pandemic is unknown. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies to evaluate the global evolution of mental health problems during the pandemic.

Methods: To conduct this systematic review, we searched for published articles from APA PsycInfo (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Embase (Ovid), MEDLINE (Ovid), and Web of Science.

Characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air of a tropical mega-area, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: concentration, distribution, gas/particle partitioning, potential sources and cancer risk assessment.

This is the first investigation on overall characteristics of 25 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (15 PAHs regulated by US-EPA (excluding naphthalene) and 16 PAHs recommended by the European Union) in ambient air of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Their levels, congener profiles, gas/particle partitioning, potential sources of atmospheric PAHs (gas and particulate phases), and lung cancer risks in the dry and rainy seasons were examined. The ∑25 PAH concentration in the dry and rainy seasons ranged from 8.

Nano-sized hematite-assembled carbon spheres for effectively adsorbing paracetamol in water: Important role of iron.

Unlabelled: This study developed a new -FeO (hematite) nanoparticles-loaded spherical biochar (H-SB) through the direct pyrolysis of glucose-derived spherical hydrochar and FeCl. The optimal impregnation ratio (hydrochar and FeCl) was 1/1.25 (wt/wt).

Adsorption of norfloxacin from aqueous solution on biochar derived from spent coffee ground: Master variables and response surface method optimized adsorption process.

In this study, biochar derived from spent coffee grounds (SCGB) was used to adsorb norfloxacin (NOR) in water. The biochar properties were interpreted by analysis of the specific surface area, morphology, structure, thermal stability, and functional groups. The impacts of pH, NOR, and ion's present on SCGB performance were examined.

Contamination, source attribution, and potential health risks of heavy metals in street dust of a metropolitan area in Southern Vietnam.

This study investigates distribution, pollution indices, and potential risk assessment for human health and ecology of eight heavy metals in twenty-five street dust samples collected from metropolitan area-Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Results showed that Zn was of the highest concentration (466.4 ± 236.

Evaluation of the dioxin-like toxicity in soil samples from Thua Thien Hue province using the AhR-CALUX bioassay - An update of Agent Orange contamination in Vietnam.

In this study, an AhR-responsive reporter-gene cell-based bioassay CALUX was used to assess the biological potency of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs (dl-PCBs) in top soil samples collected from a former airbase (A-So) and remote regions from urban and agricultural areas in Thua Thien Hue, Vietnam. In top soil collected from A-So airbase, Bioanalytical EQuivalent (BEQ) concentrations of up to 2700 pg 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) per g dry weight (pg BEQ-TCDD g dw) were assessed. Interestingly, while BEQ values for dl-PCBs were found to be up to 13 pg BEQ-TCDD g dw, the dl-PCB activity was not detected in all the hotspot sample extracts.

Measurement of PCNs in sediments collected from reservoir and river in northern Taiwan.

Sediment samples were collected from a large reservoir and a river in northern Taiwan to investigate the occurrence and characteristics of Σ73PCNs analyzed. Results indicate that total concentrations of PCNs (Di- to Octa-CNs) measured in sediments collected in reservoir (29.2 ± 7.

Characteristics of PCDD/Fs in soil and sediment samples collected from A-So former airbase in Central Vietnam.

A-So airbase, located in A-Luoi Valley - Central Vietnam, is a former military base occupied by US Special Forces between 1963 and 1966. The storage of Agent Orange in A-So airbase during the Vietnam War now poses a high potential for PCDD/F contamination in soils and sediments. In order to evaluate the occurrence and characteristics of PCDD/Fs in A-So former airbase, which has been reserved for a long time and suffered almost no significant anthropogenic impacts, soil and sediment samples were collected from 40 sites of two adjacent zones A and B in an area of 160,000 m.

Characteristics of atmospheric polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) collected at different sites in northern Taiwan.

Ambient air samples were collected simultaneously at three sites in northern Taiwan using high-volume samplers during winter and summer to evaluate the atmospheric PCN characteristics including concentration, distribution, potential sources and gas/particle partitioning. The average concentration (Σ73 PCNs from di-to octa-CN) observed at industrial site is the highest (172 ± 111 pg m), while PCN levels measured at urban and rural sites are comparable (45.2 ± 8.

Review on characteristics of PAHs in atmosphere, anthropogenic sources and control technologies.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of organic compounds composed of multiple aromatic rings. PAHs are ubiquitous atmospheric pollutants which are well-recognized as carcinogenic, teratogenic and genotoxic compounds. PAHs are released from incomplete combustion or pyrolysis of materials containing carbon and hydrogen, such as coal, oil, wood and petroleum products.

PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs concentrations in water samples of Taiwan.

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (dioxin-like PCBs) have received much public concern worldwide due to their persistence and toxicity. The presence of these compounds in environmental matrices, especially in water bodies, enhances the risk of human exposure to these toxic pollutants. In this study, seventeen 2,3,7,8 chlorinated PCDD/Fs and twelve dl-PCBs were measured in 11 groundwater samples collected throughout Taiwan and 2 surface water samples collected in northern Taiwan.