Application of catalytic ozonation using Y zeolite in the elimination of pharmaceuticals in effluents from municipal wastewater treatment plants.

Catalytic ozonation using faujasite-type Y zeolite with two different SiO/AlO molar ratios (60 and 12) was evaluated for the first time in the removal of 25 pharmaceutical compounds (PhCs) present in real effluents from two municipal wastewater treatment plants both located in the Mediterranean coast of Spain. Additionally, control experiments including adsorption and direct ozonation, were conducted to better understand the fundamental aspects of the different individual systems in wastewater samples. Commercial zeolites were used in sodium form (NaY).

Covalent bonding of N-hydroxyphthalimide on mesoporous silica for catalytic aerobic oxidation of p-xylene at atmospheric pressure.

The surface of SBA-15 mesoporous silica was modified by N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) moieties acting as immobilized active species for aerobic oxidation of alkylaromatic hydrocarbons. The incorporation was carried out by four original approaches: the grafting-from and grafting-onto techniques, using the presence of surface silanols enabling the formation of particularly stable O-Si-C bonds between the silica support and the organic modifier. The strategies involving the Heck coupling led to the formation of NHPI groups separated from the SiO surface by a vinyl linker, while one of the developed modification paths based on the grafting of an appropriate organosilane coupling agent resulted in the active phase devoid of this structural element.

Time-resolved control of nanoparticle integration in titanium-organic frameworks for enhanced catalytic performance.

Among the multiple applications of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), their use as a porous platform for the support of metallic nanoparticles stands out for the possibility of integrating a good anchorage, that improves the stability of the catalyst, with the presence of a porous network that allows the diffusion of substrates and products. Here we introduce an alternative way to control the injection of Au nanoparticles at variable stages of nucleation of a titanium(iv) MOF crystal (MUV-10). This allows the analysis of the different modes of nanoparticle integration into the porous matrix as a function of the crystal formation stage and their correlation with the catalytic performance of the resulting composite.

Investigation of AFeO (A=Ba, Sr) Perovskites for the Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Light Alkanes under Chemical Looping Conditions.

Oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of light alkanes to produce C-C olefins is a promising alternative to conventional steam cracking. Perovskite oxides are emerging as efficient catalysts for this process due to their unique properties such as high oxygen storage capacity (OSC), reversible redox behavior, and tunability. Here, we explore AFeO (A=Ba, Sr) bulk perovskites for the ODH of ethane and propane under chemical looping conditions (CL-ODH).

An alternative catalytic cycle for selective methane oxidation to methanol with Cu clusters in zeolites.

The partial oxidation of methane to methanol catalyzed by Cu-exchanged zeolites involves at present a three-step procedure that requires changing reaction conditions along the catalytic cycle. In this work we present an alternative catalytic cycle for selective methane conversion to methanol using as active species small Cu clusters supported on CHA zeolite. Periodic DFT calculations show that molecular O is easily activated on Cu clusters producing bi-coordinated O atoms able to dissociate homolytically a CH bond from CH and to react with the radical-like non-adsorbed methyl intermediate formed producing methanol, while competitive overoxidation to CO is energetically disfavored.

CoMnO/CeTbO Dual-Phase Membrane Material with High CO Stability and Enhanced Oxygen Transport for Oxycombustion Processes.

Oxygen transport membranes (OTMs) are a promising oxygen production technology with high energy efficiency due to the potential for thermal integration. However, conventional perovskite materials of OTMs are unstable in CO atmospheres, which limits their applicability in oxycombustion processes. On the other hand, some dual-phase membranes are stable in CO and SO without permanent degradation.

Water and Cu Synergy in Selective CO Hydrogenation to Methanol over Cu-MgO-AlO Catalysts.

The CO hydrogenation reaction to produce methanol holds great significance as it contributes to achieving a CO-neutral economy. Previous research identified isolated Cu species doping the oxide surface of a Cu-MgO-AlO-mixed oxide derived from a hydrotalcite precursor as the active site in CO hydrogenation, stabilizing monodentate formate species as a crucial intermediate in methanol synthesis. In this work, we present a molecular-level understanding of how surface water and hydroxyl groups play a crucial role in facilitating spontaneous CO activation at Cu sites and the formation of monodentate formate species.

Metal- and base-free, aerobic photoredox catalysis with riboflavin to synthesize 2-substituted benzothiazoles.

Sustainable approaches for the synthesis of 2-substituted benzothiazoles are sought after for their use in organic chemistry, bioorganic chemistry, and industrial applications. Here, we described a visible light-driven photoredox catalytic cyclization of thioanilides to afford 2-substituted benzothiazoles using riboflavin as a photocatalyst, where oxygen is used as a clean oxidant and ethanol as a greener solvent. These results provide a new photochemical route for environmentally benign synthesis.

The capsid protein of citrus leprosis virus C shows a nuclear distribution and interacts with the nucleolar fibrillarin protein.

Brevipalpus-transmitted viruses (BTVs) have a significant negative economic impact on the citrus industry in Central and South America. Until now, only a few studies have explored the intracellular distribution and interaction of BTVs-encoded proteins with host factors, particularly for cileviruses, the main BTV responsible for the Citrus Leprosis (CL) disease. This study describes the nuclear localization of citrus leprosis virus C (CiLV-C) capsid protein (p29) and its interaction with the fibrillarin (Fib2) within the nucleolar compartment and cell cytoplasm.

The Complex Interplay between Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Strigolactone: Mechanisms, Sinergies, Applications and Future Directions.

Plants, the cornerstone of life on Earth, are constantly struggling with a number of challenges arising from both biotic and abiotic stressors. To overcome these adverse factors, plants have evolved complex defense mechanisms involving both a number of cell signaling pathways and a complex network of interactions with microorganisms. Among these interactions, the relationship between symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and strigolactones (SLs) stands as an important interplay that has a significant impact on increased resistance to environmental stresses and improved nutrient uptake and the subsequent enhanced plant growth.

Effect of Framework Composition and NH on the Diffusion of Cu in Cu-CHA Catalysts Predicted by Machine-Learning Accelerated Molecular Dynamics.

Cu-exchanged zeolites rely on mobile solvated Cu cations for their catalytic activity, but the role of the framework composition in transport is not fully understood. Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations can provide quantitative atomistic insight but are too computationally expensive to explore large length and time scales or diverse compositions. We report a machine-learning interatomic potential that accurately reproduces ab initio results and effectively generalizes to allow multinanosecond simulations of large supercells and diverse chemical compositions.

Multifunctional materials for catalyst-specific heating and thermometry in tandem catalysis.

A multifunctional material design, integrating catalytic as well as auxiliary magnetic susception and contactless thermal sensing functionalities, unlocks catalyst-specific heating and thermometry for spatially proximate solid catalysts in a single reactor. The new concept alleviates temperature incompatibilities in tandem catalysis, as showcased for the direct production of propene from ethene, sequential olefin dimerization and metathesis reactions.

Synergistic In Vitro Antiviral Effect of Combinations of Ivermectin, Essential Oils, and 18-(Phthalimid-2-yl)ferruginol against Arboviruses and Herpesvirus.

Combining antiviral drugs with different mechanisms of action can help prevent the development of resistance by attacking the infectious agent through multiple pathways. Additionally, by using faster and more economical screening methods, effective synergistic drug candidates can be rapidly identified, facilitating faster paths to clinical testing. In this work, a rapid method was standardized to identify possible synergisms from drug combinations.

In Vitro Cytotoxic Effects of Ferruginol Analogues in Sk-MEL28 Human Melanoma Cells.

Ferruginol is a promising abietane-type antitumor diterpene able to induce apoptosis in SK-Mel-28 human malignant melanoma. We aim to increase this activity by testing the effect of a small library of ferruginol analogues. After a screening of their antiproliferative activity (SRB staining, 48 h) on SK-Mel-28 cells the analogue 18-aminoferruginol (GI50 ≈ 10 µM) was further selected for mechanistic studies including induction of apoptosis (DAPI staining, < 0.

Selective cycloaddition of ethylene oxide to CO within the confined space of an amino acid-based metal-organic framework.

Host-guest chemistry within the confined space of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) offers an almost unlimited myriad of possibilities, hardly accessible with other materials. Here we report the synthesis and physical characterization, with atomic resolution by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, of a novel water-stable tridimensional MOF, derived from the amino acid -methyl-L-cysteine, {SrZn[(,)-Mecysmox](OH)(HO)}·9HO (1), and its application as a robust and efficient solid catalyst for the cycloaddition reaction of ethylene/propylene oxide with CO to afford ethylene/propylene carbonate with yields of up to 95% and selectivity of up to 100%. These results nicely illustrate the great potential of MOFs to be game changers for the selective synthesis of industrially relevant products, representing a powerful alternative to the current heterogeneous catalysts.

Microwave-Driven Exsolution of Ni Nanoparticles in A-Site Deficient Perovskites.

Exsolution has emerged as a promising method for generating metallic nanoparticles, whose robustness and stability outperform those of more conventional deposition methods, such as impregnation. In general, exsolution involves the migration of transition metal cations, typically perovskites, under reducing conditions, leading to the nucleation of well-anchored metallic nanoparticles on the oxide surface with particular properties. There is growing interest in exploring alternative methods for exsolution that do not rely on high-temperature reduction via hydrogen.

Optoelectronic properties of octahedral molybdenum cluster-based materials at a single crystal level.

Octahedral molybdenum (Mo) clusters constitute suitable building blocks for the design of promising single crystal materials in the field of optoelectronics. Here, we prepared single crystals composed of hydroxo MoX (X = Br, Cl) cluster complexes interconnected by H-bonding interactions with water molecules and protons. The optoelectronic responses and the absorption and emission spectra of these cluster-based single crystals were acquired upon light irradiation, and they show dependency on the nature of the halogens, with the brominated cluster being the most conductive.

BASHY Dyes Are Highly Efficient Lipid Droplet-Targeting Photosensitizers that Induce Ferroptosis through Lipid Peroxidation.

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent lipid-peroxidation-driven mechanism of cell death and a promising therapeutic target to eradicate cancer cells. In this study, we discovered that boronic acid-derived salicylidenehydrazone (BASHY) dyes are highly efficient singlet-oxygen photosensitizers (PSs; Φ up to 0.8) that induce ferroptosis triggered by photodynamic therapy.

Octahedral Tantalum Bromide Clusters as Catalysts for Light-Driven Hydrogen Evolution.

The development of an efficient hydrogen generation strategy from aqueous protons using sunlight is a current challenge aimed at the production of low-cost, easily accessible, renewable molecular hydrogen. For achieving this goal, non-noble metal containing and highly active catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are desirable. Octahedral tantalum halide clusters {Ta(μ-X)} (X = halogen) represent an emerging class of such HER photocatalysts.

Silver-Exchanged Zeolite Y Catalyzes a Selective Insertion of Carbenes into C-H and O-H Bonds.

Commercially available zeolite Y modulates the catalytic activity and selectivity of ultrasmall silver species during the Buchner reaction and the carbene addition to methylene and hydroxyl bonds, by simply exchanging the counter cations of the zeolite framework. The zeolite acts as a macroligand to tune the silver catalytic site, enabling the use of this cheap and recyclable solid catalyst for the in situ formation of carbenes from diazoacetate and selective insertion in different C-H (i.e.

Maternal Embryo Effect Arrest 31 (MEE31) is a moonlighting protein involved in GDP-D-mannose biosynthesis and KAT1 potassium channel regulation.

Due to anthropogenic global warming, droughts are expected to increase and water availability to decrease in the coming decades. For this reason, research is increasingly focused on developing plant varieties and crop cultivars with reduced water consumption. Transpiration occurs through stomatal pores, resulting in water loss.

Modulating redox properties of solid-state ion-conducting materials using microwave irradiation.

The industrial adoption of low-carbon technologies and renewable electricity requires novel tools for electrifying unitary steps and efficient energy storage, such as the catalytic synthesis of valuable chemical carriers. The recently-discovered use of microwaves as an effective reducing agent of solid materials provides a novel framework to improve this chemical-conversion route, thanks to promoting oxygen-vacancy formation and O-surface exchange at low temperatures. However, many efforts are still required to boost the redox properties and process efficiency.