Search Results (157)

This study investigates the development of mixed matrix membranes based on polyethersulfone incorporated with attapulgite for gas separation applications, addressing the existing gap regarding the use of this mineral in dense membranes obtained exclusively by solvent evaporation and its combined effects on microstructure and transport. The membranes were prepared by phase inversion via solvent evaporation, using solvent/polymer ratios of 75/25 and 80/20 and a thickness of 0.25 mm. The solutions were evaluated in terms of viscosity, and the membranes were characterized by structural techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscope (AFM), contact angle, mechanical properties (tensile testing), and water vapor permeation. The results showed that attapulgite incorporation promoted a reduction in surface roughness (up to ~40%) and a decrease in contact angle (from ~89° to ~68°), indicating increased hydrophilicity. In addition, water vapor permeability was influenced in a non-linear manner, with optimized performance observed at 3 wt% filler loading. Solution viscosities remained within ranges suitable for processing. Structural analyses indicated compatibility between the phases, while morphology changes dependent on filler content were decisive for transport behavior. It is concluded that attapulgite is a promising additive for fine-tuning membrane properties, enabling optimization of the sorption–diffusion balance and improvement of membrane performance in separation applications. Full article

Heat stress (HS) poses a significant stress challenge to growing lambs, impacting growth performance, health, and physiological responses. The study evaluated feeding an essential oil blend (EOB) on growth performance, physiological and blood parameters, oxidative, and immune responses. Thirty-two 3 mo old female (BW 18.6 ± 2.43 kg) crossbred (Mongolian × Thin-tailed Han F1) lambs were randomly assigned to either: (1) control (CON)—grain mix without EOB; or (2) EOB—an EOB blend supplemented at 4 g/kg grain mix. The EOB blend was comprised of 4.34% Zanthoxylum, 1% capsicum, and 1.06% cinnamon oils with 93.6% attapulgite carrier containing linalool, sabinene, limonene, capsaicin, cinnamaldehyde and eugenol. Extreme heat stress occurred for 39 out of the 45 d experiment. Feeding HS lambs EOB increased (p < 0.05) ADG (107.4 and 162.0 g/d for CON and EOB, respectively), forage intake (239.2 and 287.0 g/d), DMI (863.1 and 930.2 g/d), and feed efficiency (0.123 and 0.181 ADG, g/DMI, g) compared with lambs fed CON. Feeding EOB reduced (p < 0.01) respiration rates (RR) and rectal (RT) and skin temperatures (ST) compared to CON-fed lambs. Lambs fed EOB had a higher T-SOD activity and IgM concentration (0.05 < p < 0.10) than CON-fed lambs. Growing heat-stressed lambs fed EOB demonstrated a lower (p < 0.05) eosinophil percentage. Feeding EOB ameliorated HS conditions for growing crossbred lambs, which demonstrate improved growth performance, enhanced physiological responses, and overall health status. Full article

Although olefin aromatization reactions offer a potential route for the high-value utilization of Fischer–Tropsch naphtha, their industrial implementation is hindered by challenges such as coke-induced deactivation and the formation of large amounts of low-value alkane by-products. In this work, a series of Ga(x%)-EATP-550 catalysts were prepared via equal-volume impregnation of Ga onto an acid-etched attapulgite (EATP) support, followed by calcination at 550 °C. The catalysts were evaluated for the aromatization of olefins. The results show that the reaction proceeds mainly through direct dehydrogenative aromatization, yielding approximately 65% aromatics, while generating short-chain olefins (about 20% yield) as the main by-products. This system effectively suppresses the formation of long-chain aromatics and low-value alkanes, presenting a promising technical pathway for upgrading Fischer–Tropsch naphtha. Full article

A commercially available attapulgite sample (Red Attapulgite) was acid-pretreated to enhance its catalytic activity. It turned out to efficiently facilitate the dehydration of a range of substituted alcohols. The dehydration of the primary alcohol was conducted at 150–180 °C, which represents energy-saving conditions when taking into account the typical dehydration conditions of primary alcohols with temperatures of >300 °C. The alkene yields obtained in this study were found to be comparable to those when utilizing commercially available montmorillonite as catalysts, thereby underscoring the potential of the acid-pretreated attapulgite as a catalyst for a variety of reactions. In a parallel study, dehydration catalyzed by a range of Brønsted acids was investigated. However, only two of these acids were found to be suitable for the dehydration of primary alcohols. Nevertheless, these acids lacked both dehydration activity and recyclability. Therefore, a recyclability study was conducted in the presence of the acid-pretreated attapulgite sample. It is remarkable that no loss of activity was found over five cycles. We hypothesize that after acid-pretreatment, a synergistic effect of the Brønsted and Lewis acid sites is the cause for the high catalytic activity of the sample. Full article

Bacillus atrophaeus has considerable potential for development as a microbial pesticide. Optimization of fermentation conditions and the wettable powder (WP) formulation is critical for its industrialization and application in sustainable agriculture. In this study, the fermentation of B. atrophaeus YL84 was optimized using single-factor experiments and response surface methodology. Based on these results, a WP formulation was developed and further optimized. The optimal carbon, nitrogen, and inorganic salt sources were sucrose (13.9 g·L⁻¹), tryptone (11.8 g·L⁻¹), and MgSO₄ (5.9 g·L⁻¹), respectively; optimal fermentation conditions were pH 7.0, 32 °C, and 210 r·min⁻¹. After optimization, the inhibition rate and OD₆₀₀ reached 83.71% and 1.758, respectively. The optimized formulation comprised attapulgite-based powder (79%, as carrier), sodium alkyl naphthalene sulfonate (5.4%) as a wetting agent, PEG-6000 (12.6%), CaCO₃ (2%), and vitamin C (1%). The resulting WP exhibited a spore viability of 2.63 × 10⁹ CFU·g⁻¹, and its 50-fold dilution demonstrated antagonistic activity in vitro against Cytospora pyri (Korla pear valsa canker agent) and biocontrol efficacy in vivo on detached-branch assays. These findings demonstrate that the YL84 WP is a promising candidate for the biological control of Korla pear valsa canker. Full article

A carbon-modified attapulgite composite (C-AATP@CTAB) was synthesized via the hydrothermal method using citric acid as the carbon source and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a surface modifier for efficient rhodamine B (Rh-B) removal. Carbon modification elevated the composite’s specific surface area (212 m²/g) and negative surface charge (−38.21 mV), significantly enhancing dye adsorption capacity to 666.66 mg/g—nearly double that of unmodified ATP variants (360.4–386.8 mg/g). Kinetic studies confirmed pseudo-second-order adsorption kinetics, attributed to hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions between Rh-B and the composite. Under photo-Fenton conditions, C-AATP@CTAB achieved 99.8% Rh-B degradation within 20 min, demonstrating superior catalytic performance in heterogeneous Fenton/photo-Fenton systems. This work establishes a low-cost, high-efficiency adsorbent-catalyst hybrid derived from low-grade attapulgite, offering promising avenues for sustainable wastewater treatment. Full article

Aerogels are recognized as exceptional thermal insulation materials, but poor mechanical strength and flammability problems hinder their application in high-temperature environments. Thermal management materials that combine high mechanical strength with superior flame retardancy are, therefore, critically important for thermal insulation. Herein, ultra-lightweight aerogels were facilely fabricated using chitosan (CS) and acidified attapulgite (SATP) as the primary components. The optimal composite, CS-SATP30%, exhibited a compressive strength of 633.15 kPa at 80% strain, demonstrating significant improvement in mechanical properties. Structural analysis revealed that the hydroxyl groups and amino groups of CS molecules formed hydrogen bonds with SATP, ensuring excellent interfacial affinity among the constituents. Compared to pure CS aerogel, the total heat release (THR) and peak heat release rate (PHRR) of CS-SATP30% were substantially reduced to 3.83 MJ/m² and 37.00 kW/m², respectively. Furthermore, the limiting oxygen index (LOI) of CS-SATP30% increased to 34% and passed the vertical burning test (UL-94). This study provides a feasible way to construct advanced chitosan-based thermal insulation aerogels. Full article

To achieve sustainable agriculture development in arid regions, it is imperative to improve the soil quality of arid sandy soils. This study explored the effects of the combined application of organic–inorganic fertilizers with soil conditioners on the physiological characteristics, yield, and quality of rapeseed in arid sandy lands. The aim was to provide a technical reference for improving sandy soil and increasing rapeseed yield in arid regions. This field study designed six treatments (control group: organic fertilizer + chemical fertilizer (CK); T1: organic fertilizer + chemical fertilizer + super absorbent polymer (SAP); T2: organic fertilizer + chemical fertilizer + humic acid (PI); T3: organic fertilizer + chemical fertilizer + attapulgite (PII); T4: organic fertilizer + chemical fertilizer + PI + PII; HF: chemical fertilizer) to evaluate their effects on the nutrient absorption, physiological characteristics, yield, and quality of rapeseed. The results showed that the combination of organic–inorganic fertilizers with SAP, PI, PII, or PI + PII could significantly reduce the salinity of sandy soil while increasing the nutrient content in various parts of rapeseed. Among the combinations, the SAP treatment (T1) had the most significant effect, with the following specific impacts: (1) Alleviation of salt stress: The SAP treatment increased the root potassium ion content by 63.09% and reduced sodium ion content by 60.16% compared with CK, significantly increasing the potassium/sodium ratio. (2) Physiological improvement: The SAP treatment increased the total chlorophyll content (TCC), superoxide dismutase/catalase activity, and dry matter accumulation by 86.85%, 161.58%, and 376.8%, respectively, compared with CK. (3) Yield and quality enhancement: The SAP treatment increased rapeseed yield and the crude protein content in stems and leaves by 148.32% and 86.05%, respectively, but decreased crude fiber content by 43.59% compared with CK. (4) Economic benefits: The net revenue (NR) of the SAP treatment reached 197.62 USD per hectare, which was significantly higher than that of other treatments. A comprehensive evaluation showed that the combined application of organic–inorganic fertilizers with SAP enhanced plant antioxidant enzyme activity and photosynthetic efficiency, synergistically enhancing the yield and quality of rapeseed in sandy areas. This study provides an economically efficient solution for sustainable agricultural development in arid regions. Full article

Soil salinization restricts the sustainable development of global agriculture, expanding at an annual rate of approximately 1 million hectares. In China, the total area of saline–alkali land reaches 170 million hectares, of which the arable land area exceeds 50 million hectares. The arid northwest region witnesses worsening soil salinization due to arid climate and improper irrigation practices, which seriously affects the yield of crops such as spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.). As a leafy vegetable with high nutritional value and economic significance, spinach exhibits growth inhibition, leaf yellowing, and disrupted physiological metabolism under saline–alkali stress. Therefore, this study investigates the alleviating effects and mechanisms of Attapulgite Clay-g-(AA-co-AAm) Hydrogel (ACH) on spinach under salt stress (NaCl) and alkaline stress (NaHCO₃). The results show that ACH has a loose, porous structure. As the addition of Attapulgite Clay increases, the surface roughness and porosity improve while retaining organic functional groups (amide groups, carboxyl groups) and inorganic Si-O bonds, providing a structural foundation for stress mitigation. In terms of yield enhancement, ACH effectively alleviates salt–alkali stress: under severe salt stress (SS2), 0.2% ACH increased leaf area by 91% and leaf weight by 95.69%; under mild alkaline stress (AS1), 0.2% ACH increased leaf area by 46.3% and leaf weight by 46.21%; and under severe mixed salt–alkali stress (MS2), 0.4% ACH increased root weight by 49.83%. Physiologically, ACH reduced proline content (51.25% reduction under severe mixed stress) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content (68.98% reduction under severe alkaline stress) while increasing soluble sugar content (63.54% increase under mixed stress) and antioxidant enzyme activity (SOD, POD, CAT). In terms of ion regulation, ACH reduced Na⁺ accumulation in roots and leaves (61.12% reduction in roots and 36.4% reduction in leaves under severe salt stress) and maintained potassium–sodium balance. To conclude, ACH mitigates the adverse effects of salt–alkali stress by coordinately modulating spinach’s growth, physiological metabolic processes, and ion balance. This synergistic regulatory effect ultimately contributes to sustaining high yields of spinach. Full article

Three-dimensional concrete printing (3DCP) is an emerging technology that improves design flexibility and material efficiency in construction. However, widespread adoption of 3DCP requires overcoming key material challenges. These include controlling rheology for pumpability and buildability and achieving sufficient mechanical strength. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the application of nanoclays (NCs) as a key admixture to address these challenges. The effects of three primary NCs (attapulgite (ATT), bentonite (BEN), and sepiolite (SEP)) on the fresh- and hardened-state properties of printable mortars are systematically analyzed. This review summarize findings on how NCs enhanced thixotropy, yield stress, and cohesion, which are critical for shape retention and the successful printing of multilayered structures. Quantitative analysis reveals that optimized dosages of NCs can increase compressive strength by up to 34% and flexural strength by up to 20%. For enhancing rheology and printability, a dosage of approximately 0.5% by binder weight is often suggested for ATT and SEP. In contrast, BEN can be used at higher replacement levels (up to 20%) to also function as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM), though this significantly impacts workability. This review consolidates the current knowledge to provide a clear framework for selecting appropriate NCs and dosages to develop high-performance, reliable, and sustainable materials for 3DCP applications. Full article

Catalytic combustion gas sensors are critical for safety and environmental monitoring, yet face persistent challenges in sensitivity and detection limits amid expanding market demands. This study innovatively employs attapulgite as a support material functionalized with noble metal catalyst Pd to fabricate a low-cost, high-sensitivity sensor. Characterization (SEM/EDS) confirms a unique Pd/attapulgite core–shell structure with engineered Pd gradient distribution (7.5–75.8 wt% from core to surface). The sensor achieves methane catalytic combustion below 300 °C, delivering 0.7 µV/ppm sensitivity and ~36 ppm detection limit. Reaction kinetics follow the Eley–Rideal mechanism, with voltage difference ($\mathsf{\Delta }\mathrm{U}$) versus methane concentration (C) conforming to the Langmuir equation ($\mathsf{\Delta }\mathrm{U}={\displaystyle \frac{{\mathrm{U}}_{\mathrm{m}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{x}}\cdot \mathrm{K}\cdot \mathrm{C}}{1+\mathrm{K}\cdot \mathrm{C}}}$, R² > 0.99, ${\mathrm{U}}_{\mathrm{m}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{x}}$ = 41.80 mV). Cost-effective fabrication and exceptional performance underscore its potential for practical deployment in industrial, residential, and environmental safety monitoring. Full article

Accelerated industrialization and surging energy demands have led to continuously rising atmospheric CO₂ concentrations. Developing sustainable methods to reduce atmospheric CO₂ levels is crucial for achieving carbon neutrality. Concurrently, the rapid development of new energy vehicles has driven a significant increase in demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), which are now approaching an end-of-life peak. Efficient recycling of valuable metals from spent LIBs represents a critical challenge. This study employs conventional hydrometallurgical processing to recover valuable metals from spent LIBs. Subsequently, Ni-doped Co₃O₄ (Ni:Co₃O₄) supported on the natural mineral attapulgite (ATP) was synthesized via a sol–gel method. The incorporation of a small amount of Ni into the Co₃O₄ lattice generates oxygen vacancies, inducing a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect, which significantly enhances charge carrier transport and separation efficiency. During the photocatalytic reduction of CO₂, the primary product CO generated by the Ni:Co₃O₄/ATP composite achieved a high production rate of 30.1 μmol·g⁻¹·h⁻¹. Furthermore, the composite maintains robust catalytic activity even after five consecutive reaction cycles. Full article

Agricultural soil contaminated with mercury (Hg) poses a serious threat to ecosystems and human health. Although adding an appropriate amount of selenium (Se) can reduce the toxicity and mobility of Hg in soil, Se alone is prone to leaching into groundwater through soil runoff. Therefore, Se-enriched compound fertilizers were developed, and their remediation effect on Hg-contaminated agricultural soil was determined. The Se-enriched compound fertilizers were prepared by combining an organic fertilizer (vinegar residue, biochar, and potassium humate), inorganic fertilizer (urea, KH₂PO₄, ZnSO₄, and Na₂SeO₃), and a binder (attapulgite and bentonite). A material proportioning experiment showed that the optimal granulation rate, organic matter content, and compressive strength were achieved when using 15% attapulgite (Formulation 1) and 10% bentonite (Formulation 2). An analysis of Se-enriched compound fertilizer particles showed that the two Se-enriched compound fertilizers complied with the standard for organic–inorganic compound fertilizers (China GB 18877-2002). Compared with the control, Formulation 1 and Formulation 2 significantly reduced the Hg content in bulk and rhizosphere soil following diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) extraction by 40.1–47.3% and 53.8–56.0%, respectively. They also significantly reduced the Hg content in maize seedling roots and shoots by 26.4–29.0% and 57.3–58.7%, respectively, effectively limiting Hg uptake, transport, and enrichment. Under the Formulation 1 and Formulation 2 treatments, the total and DTPA-extractable Se contents in soil and maize seedlings were significantly increased. This study demonstrated that Se-enriched compound fertilizer effectively remediates Hg-contaminated agricultural soil and can promote the uptake of Se by maize. The results of this study are expected to positively contribute to the sustainable development of the agro-ecological environment. Full article

Bio-based polyurethane asphalt binder (PUAB) derived from castor oil (CO) is environmentally friendly and exhibits extended allowable construction time. However, CO imparts inherently poor mechanical performance to bio-based PUAB. To address this limitation, attapulgite (ATT) with fibrous nanostructures was incorporated. The effects of ATT on bio-based PUAB were systematically investigated, including cure kinetics, rotational viscosity (RV) evolution, phase-separation microstructures, dynamic mechanical properties, thermal stability, and mechanical performance. Experimental characterization employed Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Brookfield viscometry, laser scanning confocal microscopy, dynamic mechanical analysis, thermogravimetry, and tensile testing. ATT incorporation accelerated the polyaddition reaction conversion between isocyanate groups in polyurethane (PU) and hydroxyl groups in ATT. Paradoxically, it reduced RV during curing, prolonging allowable construction time proportionally with clay content. Additionally, ATT’s compatibilizing effect decreased bitumen particle size in PUAB, with scaling proportionally with clay loading. While enhancing thermal stability, ATT lowered the glass transition temperature and damping properties. Crucially, 1 wt% ATT increased tensile strength by 71% and toughness by 62%, while maintaining high elongation at break (>400%). The cost-effectiveness and significant reinforcement capability of ATT make it a promising candidate for producing high-performance bio-based PUAB composites. Full article

In this study, we investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with thermally modified attapulgite on the daily weight gain, serum biochemical indices, and serum metabolites of Simmental fattening cattle. A total of 30 healthy Simmental fattening beef calves of similar age (8 to 9 months old) and body weight (370 ± 10 kg) were randomly divided into two groups, each containing 15 animals. A control group was fed the basal diet, and a treatment group was fed the same basal diet with the addition of 4 g/kg of thermally modified attapulgite. After 75 days of formal experiment, the calves in the two groups were weighed, and blood samples were collected by tail vein blood sampling for determinations of the serum biochemical indices and serum metabolites using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis. The results indicated that the addition of thermally modified attapulgite to the diet had no significant effects on the daily weight gain of fattening beef cattle. After feeding with modified attapulgite, the glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities in the serum of the experimental group were 55.02% (257.26 U·mL⁻¹ to 165.95 U·mL⁻¹, p < 0.05) and 13.11% (18.98 U·mL⁻¹ to 16.78 U·mL⁻¹, p < 0.05) higher than that in the control group. Compared with the control group, the tumor necrosis factor-alpha content was reduced by 14.50% (31.27 pg·mL⁻¹ to 36.57 pg·mL⁻¹, p < 0.01), and the concentration of interleukin-6 and lipopolysaccharide decreased by 17.00% (34.33 pg·mL⁻¹ to 41.36 pg·mL⁻¹, p < 0.001) and 23.05% (51.34 EU·L⁻¹ to 66.72 EU·L⁻¹, p < 0.001) in the serum of the experimental group. Contrastingly, the thermally modified attapulgite had no significant effects on the levels of serum total protein, albumin, or globulin in Simmental fattening cattle (p > 0.05). Furthermore, the results of serum metabolomic analyses revealed that there were a total of 98 differential metabolites, which were mainly enriched with respect to glycerophospholipid metabolism, Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation, autophagy-other, retrograde endogenous cannabinoid signaling, and the NF-κB signaling pathway. Overall, thermally modified attapulgite was found to effectively increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes, reduce serum inflammatory mediators, may suppress oxidative damage, enhance immunity, and have a positive influence on the health of Simmental fattening beef calves. Full article