Adsorptive-Photocatalytic Composites of α-Ferrous Oxalate Supported on Activated Carbon for the Removal of Phenol under Visible Irradiation.

Adsorptive-photocatalytic composites based on activated carbon (AC) and α-ferrous oxalate dihydrate (α-FOD) were synthesized by an original two-step method and subsequently used for the removal of phenol from aqueous solutions. To obtain the composites, ferrotitaniferous black mineral sands (0.6FeTiO·0.

Synergistic Antibacterial Properties of Silver Nanoparticles and Its Reducing Agent from Cinnamon Bark Extract.

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles with antibacterial properties using a one-pot green approach that harnesses the natural reducing and capping properties of cinnamon () bark extract is presented in this work. Silver nitrate was the sole chemical reagent employed in this process, acting as the precursor salt. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS), High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis, and some phytochemical tests demonstrated that cinnamaldehyde is the main component in the cinnamon bark extract.

Magnetite Impregnated Lignocellulosic Biomass for Zn(II) Removal.

Magnetic composites obtained by impregnation of lignocellulosic biomass with magnetite nanoparticles were used for zinc(II) removal from aqueous synthetic solutions. Laurel, canelo and eucalyptus sawdust, with a particle size between 74 and 150 µm were used as support. Structural and morphological examinations of the composites confirmed the presence of magnetite nanoparticles in the lignocellulosic support.

Cellulose particles capture aldehyde VOC pollutants.

Aldehydes are commonly encountered Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) released to the atmosphere from a variety of anthropogenic sources. Based on the increasing interest in developing sustainable and environmentally friendly materials for the decontamination of VOCs, cellulose particles have emerged as one possible candidate, but there is a lack of understanding of the physicochemical properties affecting the adsorption of VOCs, and the effect of the extraction source on these intrinsic features. The present study was focused on the evaluation of unmodified cellulose particles extracted from biodiverse sources in Ecuador as potential VOC decontaminants.

An Archaeometric Characterization of Ecuadorian Pottery.

Ecuadorian pottery is renowned for its beauty and the particularly rich colour of its pigments. However, a major challenge for art historians is the proper assessment of the provenance of individual pieces due to their lack of archaeological context. Of particular interest is the Jama-Coaque culture, which produced fascinating anthropomorphic and zoomorphic pottery from ca.