The carbonization of hydrophilic particle surfaces provides an effective route for tuning particle wettability in the preparation of particle-stabilized emulsions. The wettability of naturally occurring halloysite clay nanotubes (HNT) is successfully tuned by the selective carbonization of the negatively charged external HNT surface. The positively charge chitosan biopolymer binds to the negatively charged external HNT surface by electrostatic attraction and hydrogen bonding, yielding carbonized halloysite nanotubes (CHNT) on pyrolysis in an inert atmosphere. Relative to the native HNT, the oil emulsification ability of the CHNT at intermediate levels of carbonization is significantly enhanced due to the thermodynamically more favorable attachment of the particles at the oil-water interface. Cryogenic scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM) imaging reveals that networks of CHNT attach to the oil-water interface with the particles in a side-on orientation. The concepts advanced here can be extended to other inorganic solids and carbon sources for the optimal design of particle-stabilized emulsions.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.5b03878 | DOI Listing |
Sci Total Environ
January 2025
Geology and Sustainable Mining Institute, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Lot 660, Hay Moulay Rachid, Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco.
In the face of the climate change crisis, circular economy (CE) is put forward as a promising key to the sustainable development goals (SDGs) riddle. In this context that affects developed and developing countries alike, circular initiatives arise, such is the case for Morocco where an industrial synergy based on the CE concept of 'waste is food' can be envisioned between the local phosphate and cement industries. In order to support and guide this initiative, a life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted to compare the environmental performance of the production of ordinary Portland cement (OPC), limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) and a phosphate waste-based cement known as calcined marl cement (CMC).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Total Environ
January 2025
Department of Earth and Planetary Science, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; Isotope Science Center, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan. Electronic address:
The adsorption reaction on clay minerals is crucial for understanding the environmental behavior of various cations, including cesium (Cs). However, its details remain unclear because of multiple adsorption sites of the clay minerals, a significant difference between concentrations in the atomic-scale experiments and the actual environment, and difficulties of evaluating bonding states of the adsorbed cations. It is expected that systematic experiments at the atomic-scale with a wide concentration range and application of density functional theory (DFT) calculations overcome the problems and bring crucial insights to link laboratory experiment results with environmental sample analysis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSensors (Basel)
January 2025
United States Department of Agriculture-Agriculture Research Service, Grassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory, Temple, TX 76502, USA.
Efficient and reliable corn ( L.) yield prediction is important for varietal selection by plant breeders and management decision-making by growers. Unlike prior studies that focus mainly on county-level or controlled laboratory-scale areas, this study targets a production-scale area, better representing real-world agricultural conditions and offering more practical relevance for farmers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMolecules
January 2025
Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (IACT-CSIC), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Av. de las Palmeras 4, 18100 Armilla, Granada, Spain.
Many properties of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) depend on its molecular environment, such as whether it is an isolated molecule, a dimer, or in a crystalline state. The molecular geometry, conformational analysis, and vibrational spectrum of 2,4-D were theoretically calculated using Density Functional Theory (DFT) methods. A new slightly more stable conformer was found, which is different to those previously reported.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMaterials (Basel)
January 2025
Department of Civil Engineering and Management, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 28 Memorandumului Str., 400114 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
The objective of this paper is to analyze the characteristics of twelve compositions based on hemp shiv and four traditional binders used in the construction industry: cement, plaster, hydrated lime and clay, with the aim of using the resulting materials as final finishing products applicable to the raw area of walls, slabs and other construction elements for walls. Comparative, cost and multi-criteria analyses were carried out on the proposed compositions. The comparative analysis focused on acoustic, thermal, mechanical and fire characteristics, followed by a cost analysis and ending with multi-criteria analysis.
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