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.

Fabrication of a novel tantalum boride/vanadium carbide modified screen-printed carbon electrode for voltammetric determination of pimonidazole in bio-fluids.

For the first time, a tumour hypoxia marker detection has been developed using two-dimensional layered composite modified electrodes in biological and environmental samples. The concept of TaB and VC-based MXene composite materials is not reported hitherto using ball-milling and thermal methods and it remains the potentiality of the present work. The successful formation is confirmed through various characterisation techniques like X-ray crystallography, scanning electron microscopy photoelectron, and impedance spectroscopy.

Green synthesis and characterization of silicate nanostructures coated with Pluronic F127/gelatin for triggered drug delivery in tumor microenvironments.

Thermo-/pH-sensitive nanocomposites based on mesoporous silicate MCM-41 (MSNCs) derived from rice husk ash were synthesized and characterized. MSNCs were coated with thermo-/pH-sensitive Pluronic® F127 and gelatin to form MSNCs@gp nanocomposites, serving as carriers for controlled release of the anticancer drug doxorubicin (Dox). The in vitro and in vivo antitumor efficacy of MSNCs@gp-Dox against liver cancer was evaluated.

A Simplified Kinetic Modeling of CO Absorption into Water and Monoethanolamine Solution in Hollow-Fiber Membrane Contactors.

The absorption of CO from CO-N gas mixtures using water and monoethanolamine (MEA) solution in polypropylene (PP) hollow-fiber membrane contactors was experimentally and theoretically examined. Gas was flowed through the lumen of the module, whereas the absorbent liquid was passed counter-currently across the shell. Experiments were carried out under various gas- and liquid-phase velocities as well as MEA concentrations.

PEDOT:PSS-Based Bioelectrodes for Multifunctional Drug Release and Electric Cell-Substrate Impedance Sensing.

Electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) is an innovative approach for the label-free and real-time detection of cell morphology, growth, and apoptosis, thereby playing an essential role as both a viable alternative and valuable complement to conventional biochemical/pharmaceutical analysis in the field of diagnostics. Constant improvements are naturally sought to further improve the effective range and reliability of this technology. In this study, we developed poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) conducting polymer (CP)-based bioelectrodes integrated into homemade ECIS cell-culture chamber slides for the simultaneous drug release and real-time biosensing of cancer cell viability under drug treatment.

A sonochemical synthesis of SrTiO supported N-doped graphene oxide as a highly efficient electrocatalyst for electrochemical reduction of a chemotherapeutic drug.

A sonochemical based green synthesis method playa powerful role in nanomaterials and composite development. In this work, we developed a perovskite type of strontium titanate via sonochemical process. SrTiO particles were incorporated with nitrogen doped graphene oxide through simple ultrasonic irradiation method.

Fouling Analysis in One-Stage Ultrafiltration of Precipitation-Treated Fermentation Liquors for Biosurfactant Recovery.

Primary recovery of surfactin from precipitation-pretreated fermentation broths of ATCC 21332 culture by one-stage dead-end and cross-flow ultrafiltration (UF) was studied. Dead-end experiments were first performed to select suitable conditions, including the amount of added ethanol-a micelle-destabilizing solvent (0-70 vol%), type (polyethersulfone, polyacrylonitrile, poly(vinylidene fluoride)) and molecular-weight cut-off (MWCO, 30-100 kDa) of the membrane in the surfactin concentration range of 0.25-1.

Employing functionalized graphene quantum dots to combat coronavirus and enterovirus.

The ongoing COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus) pandemic continues to adversely affect the human life, economy, and the world's ecosystem.

How to avoid mistakes in treating adsorption isotherm data (liquid and solid phases): Some comments about correctly using Radke-Prausnitz nonlinear model and Langmuir equilibrium constant.

Two flaws in concepts were identified and discussed in the paper ("Removal of Pb(II) from contaminated waters using cellulose sulfate/chitosan aerogel: Equilibrium, kinetics, and thermodynamic studies". J. Environ.

Electrocatalytic oxidation and amperometric determination of sulfasalazine using bimetal oxide nanoparticles-decorated graphene oxide composite modified glassy carbon electrode at neutral pH.

Cube-shaped samarium orthovanadate (SmVO) nanoparticles were interconnected with a graphene oxide sheet (GOS) using a simple and eco-friendly method to generate a SmVO@GOS nanocomposite. SmVO was characterized using various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques, which confirmed the wrapping of GOS around the SmVO nanoparticles. SmVO@GOS was then used to modify a glassy carbon electrode (GCE), which was evaluated for its electrochemical performance toward the assay of sulfasalazine (SSZ), an antibiotic drug.

Intelligent and thermo-responsive Au-pluronic® F127 nanocapsules for Raman-enhancing detection of biomolecules.

Thermo-responsive Raman-enhanced nanocapsules were successfully fabricated by Pluronic® F127 (F127) decorated with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection of biomolecules. F127 nanocapsules changes from hydrophilicity (swelling) to hydrophobicity (de-swelling) when the temperature increases from 15 °C to 37 °C, owing to the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of F127 is about 26.5 °C.

Feasibility Assessment of Parathyroid Hormone Adsorption by Using Polysaccharide-Based Multilayer Film Systems.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a systemic disorder that combines complex bone and mineral abnormalities. The high level of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in the blood causes irreversible renal dysfunction and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce level of PTH in the blood of patients with uremic state.

SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in water and wastewater: A critical review about presence and concern.

The presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in water and wastewater has recently been reported. According to the updated literature, the stools and masks of the patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were considered as the primary route of coronavirus transmission into water and wastewater. Most coronavirus types which attack human (possible for SARS-CoV-2) are often inactivated rapidly in water (i.

Efficient removal of antibiotic oxytetracycline from water using optimized montmorillonite-supported zero-valent iron nanocomposites.

In this study, montmorillonite-supported nanoscaled zero-valent iron (Mt-nZVI) composites were fabricated using a facile liquid-phase reduction method to avoid serious agglomeration of nZVI particles in suspensions due to magnetic effect. The morphology, crystal structure, functional groups, and magnetic properties of as-prepared composites were explored using scanning and transmission electron microscope, X-ray diffractometer, Fourier transform infrared spectroscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscope, zeta potential analyzer, and superconducting quantum interference device. The fabricated composites were then applied to remove antibiotic oxytetracycline from water.

Polyethylene Glycol/carbon Nanodots as Fluorescent Bioimaging Agents.

Photoluminescent nanomaterials have immense potential for use in biological systems due to their excellent fluorescent properties and small size. Traditional semiconductor quantum dots are heavy-metal-based and can be highly toxic to living organisms, besides their poor photostability and low biocompatibility. Nano-sized carbon quantum dots and their surface-modified counterparts have shown improved characteristics for imaging purposes.

Carbon Nanotube/Conducting Polymer Hybrid Nanofibers as Novel Organic Bioelectronic Interfaces for Efficient Removal of Protein-Bound Uremic Toxins.

Protein-bound uremic toxins (PBUTs) can cause noxious effects in patients suffering from renal failure as a result of inhibiting the transport of proteins and inducing their structural modification. They are difficult to remove through standard hemodialysis (HD) treatment. Herein, we report an organic bioelectronic HD device system for the effective removal of PBUTs through electrically triggered dissociation of protein-toxin complexes.

Hybridizing Ag-Doped ZnO nanoparticles with graphite as potential photocatalysts for enhanced removal of metronidazole antibiotic from water.

In this study, the ZnO nanoparticles were doped with Ag and then hybridized on graphite (GP) layer (Ag-ZnO/GP) by a hydrothermal method, which was used as photocatalysts to remove metronidazole (MNZ) antibiotic from aqueous solutions. The fine structure, morphologies, and optical properties of the synthesized composites were first examined. The incorporation of Ag would readily reduce the rate of the recombination of electron-hole pairs and enhance the photocatalytic activity in a wide range of light wavelength.

Fabrication of Magnetic Fe₃O₄ Nanoparticles with Unidirectional Extension Pattern by a Facile and Eco-Friendly Microwave-Assisted Solvothermal Method.

This study synthesizes iron(III) oxide magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) using a facile and eco-friendly microwave-assisted solvothermal method. The highly porous particles become stable after a 60-min reaction when the temperature is fixed at 200 °C, in which the particle size is kept at 100-150 nm. The magnetic properties, crystal structure, surface morphology, and microstructures of the prepared MNPs are then analyzed.

Recent Advances and Perspectives of Carbon-Based Nanostructures as Anode Materials for Li-ion Batteries.

Rechargeable batteries are attractive power storage equipment for a broad diversity of applications. Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are widely used the superior rechargeable battery in portable electronics. The increasing needs in portable electronic devices require improved Li-ion batteries with excellent results over many discharge-recharge cycles.

Removal of metronidazole and amoxicillin mixtures by UV/TiO photocatalysis: an insight into degradation pathways and performance improvement.

The degradation efficiencies and pathways of metronidazole (MNZ) and amoxicillin (AMX) in binary mixtures by UV/TiO photocatalysis were studied. The presence of AMX significantly decreased the degradation of MNZ, whereas the existence of MNZ slightly reduced the degradation of AMX. This is basically due to the difference in attack ability of oxidizing agents present during TiO photocatalysis.

Removal of metronidazole by TiO and ZnO photocatalysis: a comprehensive comparison of process optimization and transformation products.

The photodegradation of antibiotic metronidazole (MNZ) was systematically studied and compared by using aqueous suspensions of TiO and ZnO catalysts under 100-W UV irradiation. The degradation conditions were optimized using the central composite design and response surface methodology. The optimal photodegradation conditions obtained were at pH 6.

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-Based Nanofiber Mats as an Organic Bioelectronic Platform for Programming Multiple Capture/Release Cycles of Circulating Tumor Cells.

In this investigation, we employed a novel one-step electrospinning process to fabricate poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) core/shell nanofiber structures with improved water resistance and good electrochemical properties and characterized them using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry imaging. We then integrated a biotinylated poly-(l-lysine-graft-ethylene glycol) (PLL-g-PEG-biotin) coating with three-dimensional (3D) PEDOT-based nanofiber devices for dynamic control over the capture/release performance of rare circulating tumor cells (CTCs) on-chip. The detailed capture/release behavior of the circulating tumor cells was studied using an organic bioelectronic platform comprising PEO/PEDOT:PSS nanofiber mats with 3 wt % (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane as an additive.

Enhanced CO₂ Adsorption on Activated Carbon Fibers Grafted with Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanotubes.

In this paper, multiscale composites formed by grafting N-doped carbon nanotubes (CNs) on the surface of polyamide (PAN)-based activated carbon fibers (ACFs) were investigated and their adsorption performance for CO₂ was determined. The spaghetti-like and randomly oriented CNs were homogeneously grown onto ACFs. The pre-immersion of cobalt(II) ions for ACFs made the CNs grow above with a large pore size distribution, decreased the oxidation resistance, and exhibited different predominant N-functionalities after chemical vapor deposition processes.

Biosorption and biodegradation of a sulfur dye in high-strength dyeing wastewater by Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans.

The ability of the bacterial strain Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans to remove sulfur blue 15 (SB15) dye from water samples was examined. This bacterium could not only oxidize sulfur compounds to sulfuric acid but also promote the attachment of the cells to the surface of sulfidic particles, therefore serving as an efficient biosorbent. The biosorption isotherms were better described by the Langmuir equation than by the Freundlich or Dubinin-Radushkevich equation.

Accessible mixotrophic growth of denitrifying sulfide removal consortium.

Nitrate, sulfide and organic matters in wastewaters can be removed simultaneously by denitrifying sulfide removal (DSR) process. Complicated interactions between different microbial groups in the DSR medium render the process design and control difficult to implement. A consortium with DSR activity was grown mixotrophically at varying concentrations of nitrate, acetate or ammonium.