Piezocatalytic Techniques in Environmental Remediation.

As a consequence of rapid industrialization throughout the world, various environmental pollutants have begun to accumulate in water, air, and soil. This endangers the ecological environment of the earth, and environmental remediation has become an immediate priority. Among various environmental remediation techniques, piezocatalytic techniques, which uniquely take advantage of the piezoelectric effect, have attracted much attention.

Smart prototype for an electronic color sensor device for visual simultaneous detection of macrofuran based on a coated paper strip.

Nowadays, in the clinical, pharmaceutical, and environmental sectors, the development of facile and sensitive analytical methods and/or innovative devices for the follow-up and detection of antibiotics and pharmaceutical formulations, in general, are urgently needed and still challenging. This work declared three vital applications for broad-spectrum nitrofurantoin (macrofuran) antibiotic detection and quantification: A colorimetric method, a coated paper strip-based nano-lanthanum complex prototype and fabrication of smart electronic color sensor device-based coated paper strips. The colorimetric method showed a significant response upon increasing the concentration of the nitrofurantoin in a range between (1.

ROS formation driven by pyrite-mediated arsenopyrite oxidation and its potential role on arsenic transformation.

Pyrite-mediated arsenopyrite oxidation is an important process affecting arsenic (As) mobility. The iron sulfides-induced reactive oxidation species (ROS) can exert significant influence on As transformation. However, the impact of pyrite-arsenopyrite association on ROS production and its contribution to As transformation were rarely estimated.

Au-TiO/Ti Hybrid Coating as a Liquid and Gas Diffusion Layer with Improved Performance and Stability in Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzer.

The liquid and gas diffusion layer is a key component of proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer (PEMWE), and its interfacial contact resistance (ICR) and corrosion resistance have a great impact on the performance and durability of PEMWE. In this work, a novel hybrid coating with Au contacts discontinuously embedded in a titanium oxidized layer was constructed on a Ti felt via facile electrochemical metallizing and followed by a pre-oxidization process. The physicochemical characterizations, such as scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometer, and X-ray diffraction results confirmed that the distribution and morphology of the Au contacts could be regulated with the electrical pulse time, and a hybrid coating (Au-TiO/Ti) was eventually achieved after the long-term stability test under anode environment.

Stainless Steel-Supported Amorphous Nickel Phosphide/Nickel as an Electrocatalyst for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

Recently, nickel phosphides (Ni-P) in an amorphous state have emerged as potential catalysts with high intrinsic activity and excellent electrochemical stability for hydrogen evolution reactions (HER). However, it still lacks a good strategy to prepare amorphous Ni-P with rich surface defects or structural boundaries, and it is also hard to construct a porous Ni-P layer with favorable electron transport and gas-liquid transport. Herein, an integrated porous electrode consisting of amorphous Ni-P and a Ni interlayer was successfully constructed on a 316L stainless steel felt (denoted as Ni-P/Ni-316L).

Effect of Bi and Ca on the Solidification Parameters of Sr-Modified Al-S-Cu (Mg) Alloys.

The effect of tramp elements, mainly Bi and Ca, on the thermal characteristics of Sr-modified Al-Si-Cu and Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloys has been investigated using thermal analysis, X-ray radiography, and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) techniques. The high affinity of Bi to interact with Sr results in an increase in the Al-Si eutectic temperature, and hence an increase in the size of eutectic silicon particles. In contrast, the Ca-Sr interaction seems to have no significant effect on the alloy thermal behavior.

Optimization of Bobbin Tool Friction Stir Processing Parameters of AA1050 Using Response Surface Methodology.

The current research designed a statistical model for the bobbin tool friction stir processing (BT-FSP) of AA1050 aluminum alloy using the Response Surface Method (RSM). The analysis studied the influence of tool travel speeds of 100, 200, and 300 mm/min and different pin geometries (triangle, square, and cylindrical) at a constant tool rotation speed (RS) of 600 rpm on processing 8 mm thickness AA1050. The developed mathematical model optimizes the effect of the applied BT-FSP parameters on machine torque, processing zone (PZ) temperature, surface roughness, hardness values, and ultimate tensile strength (UTS).

Effect of Phosphorus Slag Admixture on the Properties and Hydration Mechanism of Circulating Fluidized Bed Fly Ash-Based Multi-Solid Waste Cementitious Material.

This research aims to reveal the effect of phosphorus slag (PS) admixtures on the properties and hydration mechanism of circulating fluidized bed fly ash (CFA)-based multi-solid waste cementitious material (CWM). The results indicate that PS as an admixture is more helpful for improving the performance of CWM systems compared with blast furnace slag with a high specific surface area (HBFS) and gasification slag (GS). In this work, CWM2 is prepared with 30 wt.

A Quasi In-Situ Study on the Microstructural Evolution of 2195 Al-Cu-Li Alloy during Homogenization.

An optimized homogenization process for Al alloy ingots is key to subsequent material manufacturing, as it largely reduces metallurgical defects, such as segregation and secondary phases. However, studies on their exact microstructural evolution at different homogenization temperatures are scarce, especially for complex systems, such as the 2195 Al-Cu-Li alloy. The present work aims to elucidate the microstructural evolution of the 2195 Al-Cu-Li alloy during homogenization, including the dissolution and precipitation behavior of the T (AlCuLi) phase and S (AlCuMg) phase at different homogenization temperatures.

Adsorption performance of Enterobacter cloacae towards U(VI) ion and application of Enterobacter cloacae/carbon nanotubes to preconcentration and determination of low-levels of U(VI) in water samples.

Keeping the high potential of some microorganisms in adsorption of radionuclides in view, the adsorption properties of Enterobacter cloacae towards uranium were attentively scrutinized, and then it was used for preconcentration of uranium in different samples, using Enterobacter cloacae/carbon nanotube composite. First, using ultrasonic agitation, the effects of operational factors on biosorption of uranium on the inactive Enterobacter cloacae were appraised and modeled by central composite design, and a comprehensive study was performed on the equilibrium, kinetics, thermodynamic, and selectivity aspects of biosorption. The optimization studies along with the evaluations of the adsorption properties revealed that Enterobacter cloacae have a high affinity for fast and selective biosorption of uranium ions, at pH 5.

The potential of proteomics in the study of processed meat products.

Proteomics is a field that has grown rapidly since its emergence in the mid-1990s, reaching many disciplines such as food technology. The application of proteomic techniques in the study of complex biological samples such as foods, specifically meat products, allows scientists to decipher the underlying cellular mechanisms behind different quality traits. Lately, much emphasis has been placed on the discovery of biomarkers that facilitate the prediction of biochemical transformations of the product and provide key information on parameters associated with traceability and food safety.

Structural design of the electrospun nanofibrous membrane for membrane distillation application: a review.

Although membrane distillation (MD) is a promising technology for water desalination and industrial wastewater treatment, the MD process is not widely applied in the global water industry due to the lack of a suitable membrane for the MD process. The design and appropriate manufacture are the most important factors for MD membrane optimization. The well-designed porous structure, superhydrophobic surface, and pore-wetting prevention of the membrane are vital properties of the MD membrane.

Smelting copper in decorated pottery: communities of practice in the Niari Basin, Republic of the Congo, fifteenth-seventeenth centuries CE.

Unlabelled: This paper considers copper production in the Niari Basin, Republic of the Congo, during a period dated to the mid-fifteenth-mid-seventeenth centuries CE. Using a combination of pXRF, OM, SEM-EDS, and FTIR, it assesses the microstructure and composition of slags and technical ceramics from sites associated with two different regional pottery traditions: Moubiri-type at the site of Kingoyi near Mindouli and Kindangakanzi-type at Kindangakanzi near Boko-Songho. Both sites are characterised by the use of refractory domestic pottery as crucibles for copper smelting.

Study on the Hydration Reaction of Typical Clay Minerals under Alkali and Sulfate Compound Activation.

Sand, stone, tailings and other aggregates often contain a small amount of clay mineral and their hydration activity is low, thereby lowering concrete performance indexes while negatively affecting their resource utilisation. In this study, clay minerals, calcium hydroxide and desulfurised gypsum were used to prepare cementitious materials to examine kaolinite, montmorillonite, illite and chlorite clay mineral contents under compound activation. The effects of curing temperature and water reducer on clay samples were analysed.

Membrane reactor based synthesis of biodiesel from Toona ciliata seed oil using barium oxide nano catalyst.

Membrane technology has been embraced as a feasible and promising substitute to the traditional technologies employed for biodiesel synthesis which are energy and time consuming. It needs less energy, has high stability, is environmentally friendly, and is simple to operate and control. Therefore, in our current study membrane technology was employed to synthesize biodiesel from Toona ciliate novel and non-edible seed oil.

Synthesis, Physical Properties and Electrocatalytic Performance of Nickel Phosphides for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction of Water Electrolysis.

Nickel phosphides have been investigated as an alternative to noble metals and have emerged as potential catalysts that can efficiently catalyze the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, the impacts of facet morphology and crystal structure of the nickel phosphides on their catalytic reactivity have not been systematically investigated. Herein, nickel phosphides with different crystalline states were prepared through a facile calcination treatment.

Comprehensive Understanding of Aluminosilicate Phosphate Geopolymers: A Critical Review.

Aluminosilicate phosphate (ASP) geopolymers are a new kind of green cementitious materials synthesized from aluminosilicate precursors and acidic activators (phosphoric acid or phosphate), which have received extensive attention from researchers because of their excellent and unique characteristics. The current investigation indicates that ASP geopolymers have the characteristics of a low-carbon synthesis process, high mechanical properties (e.g.

Genus: phytochemical constituents, biological activities and health promoting-effects.

genus belongs to the family of Santalaceae, widespread in India, Australia, Hawaii, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia, and valued as traditional medicine, rituals and modern bioactivities. Sandalwood is reported to possess a plethora of bioactive compounds such as essential oil and its components (α-santalol and β-santalol), phenolic compounds and fatty acids. These bioactives play important role in contributing towards biological activities and health-promoting effects in humans.

Copper and cobalt doped bioactive glass-fish dermal collagen electrospun mat triggers key events of diabetic wound healing in full-thickness skin defect model.

The wounds arising out of underlying hyperglycemic conditions such as diabetic foot ulcers demand a multifunctional tissue regeneration approach owing to several deficiencies in the healing mechanisms. Herein, four different types of electrospun microfibers by combining Rohu fish skin-derived collagen (Fcol) with a bioactive glass (BAG)/ion-doped bioactive glass, namely, Fcol/BAG, Fcol/CuBAG, Fcol/CoBAG, and Fcol/CuCoBAG was developed to accelerate wound healing through stimulation of key events such as angiogenesis and ECM re-construction under diabetic conditions. SEM analysis shows the porous and microfibrous architecture, while the EDX mapping provides evidence of the incorporation of dopants inside various inorganic-organic composite mats.

Impacts of Lubricant Type on the Densification Behavior and Final Powder Compact Properties of Cu-Fe Alloy under Different Compaction Pressures.

A Cu-15Fe alloy was fabricated using a powder metallurgy (PM) route, with the addition of different solid lubricants (i.e., paraffin wax (PW) and stearic acid (SA) as well as their composites (PW+SA)).

A systematic review of gold extraction: Fundamentals, advancements, and challenges toward alternative lixiviants.

Since the birth of cyanidation, it has been dominant in the gold extraction industry. Recently, with the increasing awareness of environmental hazards and potential risks posed by the severe toxicity of cyanide, attempts to seek alternative lixiviants have arisen. Over the past three decades, a significant amount of literature has examined alternative lixiviants to cyanide for recovering gold, while few industrial applications have been reported due to various obstacles, such as toxicity, excessive consumption, or low leaching efficiency.