Sustainable valorization of plastic waste into activation char through pyrolysis.

Plastic is a novel material, but the pollution associated with improper disposal of plastic has been a global concern. Plastic waste accumulated in our ecosystem can be minimized effectively by thermal recycling to obtain valuable end products. The char obtained after the pyrolysis of waste plastics having high carbon content has tremendous potential to be developed as activated carbon.

Additive-Free Ethylene Dimerization Over Well-Defined Nickel-Zeolite Catalysts.

Ethylene dimerization is a crucial chemical process, which currently relies on organo-metallic catalysis with the assistance of overdosed additives as cocatalysts. Heterogeneous nickel catalysts have been investigated as alternatives for ethylene dimerization, however suffer from low catalytic activity and/or poor 1-butene selectivity. Herein, we report a simple two-step ion-exchange strategy for the preparation of Ni-Mg-Y zeolite containing well-defined coordinatively-unsaturated nickel centers as a promising catalyst for ethylene dimerization.

Construction of CoSe/WO@Si Multiheterojunctions for Efficient Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting.

Developing efficient photoanodes for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is crucial for solar-to-hydrogen energy conversion. Monocrystalline silicon, as a photoelectrode material, has limitations of high surface reflectivity, easy formation of oxide passivation, and instability in aqueous solutions. Herein, flower cluster CoSe and lamellar WO obtained via the solvothermal method are coated onto the surface of textured silicon by chemical bath deposition to prepare a multiheterojunction structured photoanode.

Interfacial Confinement Derived High-Strength MXene@Graphene Oxide Core-Shell Fibers for Electromagnetic Wave Regulation, Thermochromic Alerts, and Visible Camouflage.

Although electrically conductive Ti₃C₂T MXene fibers are promising for wearable electronics, the poor inter-sheet interactions and the random stacking structure of MXene sheets seriously hinder electron transport and load transfer of the fibers. Herein, mechanically strong and electrically conductive MXene@graphene oxide (GO) core-shell fibers are fabricated with a coaxial wet-spinning methodology for electromagnetic wave regulation, thermochromic alerts, and visible camouflage. During the coaxial wet-spinning, the trace-carboxylated GO sheets in the shell align readily because of the spatial confinement of the coaxial needle, while the MXene sheets in the core are progressively oriented and flattened because of the spatial confinement of the GO shell.

A pH-Responsive and Guanidinium-Rich Nanoadjuvant Efficiently Delivers STING Agonist for Cancer Immunotherapy.

As natural agonists of the stimulator of interferon genes (STING), cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs) have been identified as promising immunotherapies that trigger a potent immune response against tumors. However, the low stability, rapid clearance, inadequate cellular uptake, and inefficient cytosol localization heavily hinder the therapeutic efficacy of the hydrophilic and negatively charged 2', 3'-cyclic-GMP-AMP (cGAMP). How to efficiently deliver cGAMP into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to activate STING for immune priming remains challenging.

Microplastics in rivers of Gujarat (India) until the Arabian Sea: assessment of the sources, distribution and associated environmental risk.

Microplastics (MPs) have become a notable concern and are released into the environment through the disposal or fragmentation of large plastics. Rivers have been the major pathways for MPs present in the oceans, which significantly affects the marine environment. In the current study, water samples were collected from the upper stream and downstream of Damanganga and Tapi rivers across different sites in the state of Gujarat, India for exploration of MPs contamination.

Fabricating Lattice-Confined Pt Single Atoms With High Electron-Deficient State for Alkali Hydrogen Evolution Under Industrial-Current Density.

The confining effect is essential to regulate the activity and stability of single-atom catalysts (SACs), but the universal fabrication of confined SACs is still a great challenge. Here, various lattice-confined Pt SACs supported by different carriers are constructed by a universal co-reduction approach. Notably, Pt single atoms confined in the lattice of Ni(OH) (Pt/Ni(OH)) with a high electron-deficient state exhibit excellent activity for basic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).

Navigating the nano-world future: Harnessing cellulose nanocrystals from green sources for sustainable innovation.

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are a class of materials that have received significant attention in recent years due to their unique properties and potential applications. CNCs are extracted from plant fibers and possess high strength, stiffness, and biocompatibility, making them attractive materials for use in various fields such as biomedical engineering, renewable energy, and nanotechnology. This provides an in-depth discussion of the extraction, characterization, and promising applications of CNCs.

Influence of additives on the development, mechanical, functional characteristics and biodegradability of banana starch-based bio plastic films.

Starch-based bio plastics, due to their abundance, recyclability, and biodegradability, offer a promising alternative to conventional petrochemical-based plastics. Additives significantly influences the functionality of bioplastics. This study investigates the effects of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) at varying concentrations on banana starch-based bioplastic films, using glycerol as a plasticizer.

Examining the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of a Novel Hybrid Thermoplastic Rubber Composite Made with Polypropylene, Polybutadiene, S-Glass Fibre, and Flax Fibre.

In this work, twin-screw extruder and compression moulding techniques were utilized to fabricate polymer blends: polypropylene (PP), polybutadiene (PB), and composites using glass fibre (GF) and flax fibre (FF). During fabrication, the polymer ratios maintained between PP and PB were 90:10, 80:20, and 70:30. Likewise, the composites were fabricated by varying the ratios between the PP, PB, and GF, which were 90PP:10PB:10GF, 80PP:20PB:10GF, and 70PP:30PB:10GF.

Effect of water retting on the physical and mechanical properties of lignocellulosic fiber from Mariscus ligularis plant.

The effect of water retting on the physical, morphological, thermal, mechanical, and chemical characteristics of retted Mariscus ligularis fibers (RMLF) compared to non-retted MLF has been studied. Removing pectin and non-cellulosic substances decreased the diameter from 243.6 μm to 183.

A review of exploring the synthesis, properties, and diverse applications of poly lactic acid with a focus on food packaging application.

Polylactic acid (PLA) is an aliphatic polyester, which is primarily synthesized from renewable resources through the polycondensation or ring-opening polymerization of lactic acid (LA)/lactide. LA can be conveniently produced via the fermentation of sugars obtained from renewable sources such as corn and sugar cane. Due to its biodegradable and biocompatible nature, PLA exhibits a vast range of applications.

A systematic review of energy storing dynamic response foot for prosthetic rehabilitation.

The purpose of this paper is to undertake a systematic review on various mechanical design considerations, simulation and optimization techniques as well as the clinical applications of energy storing and return (ESAR) prosthetic feet used in amputee rehabilitation. Methodological databases including PubMed, EMBASE, and SCOPUS were searched till July 2022, and the retrieved records were evaluated for relevance. The design, mechanism, materials used, mechanical and simulation techniques and clinical applications of ESAR foot used in developed and developing nations were reviewed.

Electrocoagulation treatment of wastewater collected from Haldia industrial region: Performance evaluation and comparison of process optimization.

This study investigates the treatment of oil-contaminated wastewater with high levels of inorganic substances, suspended solids and turbidity, collected from the Haldia industrial region of India in February 2023. The wastewater, originating from industries such as chemical, petrochemical, textile, and battery manufacturing, presents a complex pollutant load that challenges traditional treatment methods. Electrocoagulation was employed as the treatment technique, with process optimization conducted using Box-Behnken design (BBD) and central composite design (CCD) for key parameters: pH, initial oil concentration, current density, and electrolysis time.

Key Process Control for Synthesizing High-Performance Inherently Flame-Retardant Long-Chain Bio-Based Polyamide.

Long-chain bio-based polyamide has shown promising development prospects due to its excellent properties and green renewable characteristics; however, synthesizing inherently flame-retardant long-chain bio-based polyamide remains a big challenge due to the lack of effective knowledge of the key polymerization process. Herein, intrinsicly flame-retardant long-chain bio-based polyamide 512 (PA512) was synthesized in the presence of a reactive flame retardant with high thermal stability and good water solubility. The reaction conditions and existing problems in each stage of the copolymerization system have been clarified and optimized.

Co-delivery of temozolomide and quercetin with folic acid-conjugated exosomes in glioblastoma treatment.

The study aims to improve glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) treatment by combining temozolomide (TMZ) and quercetin (Qct), using folic acid (FA)-conjugated exosomes to overcome TMZ resistance and enhance blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration. Exosomes were isolated and after characterizing and modifying their surfaces with FA, drug loading of TMZ and Qct into exosomes was done. assays, including cell viability tests, RT-PCR, Western-blotting and flow-cytometry, were performed using U87MG and U251MG GBM cell lines.

A Review on Residual Stress in Metal Additive Manufacturing.

A new method for producing parts in the expanding sector is additive manufacturing. The appropriate name for three-dimensional (3D) printing is additive manufacturing because it produces the part layer by layer. Plastics and metals can be 3D printed in large quantities with the precise surface finish and feature quality needed in additive manufacturing.

Green and renewable thermoplastic polyvinyl alcohol/starch blend film fabricated by melt processing.

In this study, the PVA/starch blend films were prepared by dry melting method. The microstructure showed that the starch existed in the continuous PVA matrix in granular structure. When the amount of starch was 30 wt%, the tensile strength increased from 12.

Experimental and numerical study on explosion resistance of polyurea-coated shelter in petrochemical industry.

To reduce the number of casualties in explosion accidents, blast-resistant shelters can be used to protect personnel in high-risk areas of petrochemical processing plants. In this work, the deformation behaviours of uncoated and polyurea-coated blast-resistant plates were studied through gas explosion tests. An ANSYS/LS-DYNA model of a polyurea-coated shelter was established, and the dynamic responses of the shelter under various explosion loads were analysed.

Recycling of diaper wastes for a triboelectric nanogenerator-based weather station.

Escalating concerns over waste management and the need for sustainable energy have prompted innovative solutions at the nexus of resource recycling and self-powered applications. This study presents a novel approach to recycling super-absorbing polymer (SAP) gels from waste diapers and discarded baking sheets to fabricate a diaper waste-based triboelectric nanogenerator (DW-TENG). The DW-TENG, resembling a maraca, demonstrated superior electrical performance with a voltage output of 110 V, a current of 9 μA, and a power of 259.

Dimeric Small Molecule Acceptors via Terminal-End Connections: Effect of Flexible Linker Length on Photovoltaic Performance.

The dimerization of small molecule acceptors (SMAs) holds significant potential by combining the advantages of both SMAs and polymer acceptors in realizing high power conversion efficiency (PCE) and operational stability in organic solar cells (OSCs). However, advancements in the selection and innovation of dimeric linkers are still challenging in enhancing their performance. In this study, three new dimeric acceptors, namely DY-Ar-4, DY-Ar-5, and DY-Ar-6 are synthesized, by linking two Y-series SMA subunits via an "end-to-end" strategy using flexible spacers (octyl, decyl, and dodecyl, respectively).