Search Results (317)

The rapid expansion of high-protein dairy-based powders (HPDPs), including milk protein concentrates and isolates (MPC/MPI), whey protein concentrates and isolates (WPC/WPI), and micellar casein concentrates and isolates (MCC/MCI), has intensified the need to understand instability phenomena that emerge during processing and storage. These products are governed by protein-rich amorphous matrices, in which molecular mobility, interfacial composition, and mineral interactions dictate both physical stability and functional performance. Importantly, these physical instabilities are directly coupled with functional deterioration, particularly in terms of impaired wetting, dispersion, and dissolution during rehydration. This review presents an integrated mechanistic framework linking these instability phenomena across processing, storage, and reconstitution, thereby consolidating concepts that remain fragmented across the current literature on high-protein dairy matrices. Key controlling factors include glass transition temperature (Tg), water activity-induced plasticization, protein–protein and protein–mineral interactions, and surface compositional heterogeneity established during spray drying. These factors govern the progression from surface stickiness through uncontrolled agglomeration to caking, forming a consolidation continuum. In contrast to lactose-driven matrices, caking and agglomeration in HPDPs arise primarily from protein-mediated restructuring and inter-particle bonding, with lactose crystallization acting only as a secondary mechanism in mixed-composition grades. The review further distinguishes engineered agglomeration from storage-induced consolidation and evaluates advances in molecular mobility characterization and Tg-based stability mapping. Significant gaps remain in linking localized surface evolution, mineral redistribution, and inter-particle bridge chemistry under realistic environmental conditions. The review concludes by proposing a mobility-centered “stability-by-design” framework that integrates composition, processing, particle architecture, and storage conditions to guide the development of future HPDPs with improved physical stability and functional recovery. Full article

Routine monitoring of ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA) disinfectants is critical for endoscope reprocessing, yet commercial test strips suffer from subjective visual ambiguity, strict manual timing, and susceptibility to sample matrix dilution. This study proposes a portable multi-spectral colorimetric sensing platform paired with structurally engineered microfluidic plastic strips for quantitative OPA monitoring. The strips utilize a confined microfluidic geometry to achieve capillary-driven volumetric self-metering (5.4 μL), while cross-hatched micro-structures eliminate edge pooling, yielding uniform colorimetric responses. Analytically, the system integrates a matrix-matched reagent formulation, an interference-free indicator, and an automated steady-state ratiometric readout algorithm to counteract physical dilution and spectral interference. Cross-validation against a capillary electrophoresis benchmark confirmed quantitative accuracy (R² = 0.9684) under physical dilution of real-world CIDEX OPA solutions. This correlation facilitated a matrix-compensated 0.32% diagnostic threshold for unambiguous, automated “[PASS]” or “[FAIL]” alerts. Ultimately, this scalable, cost-effective microfluidic architecture provides an objective point-of-care diagnostic solution, demonstrating translational potential for broad dry chemistry optical detection. Full article

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are persistent environmental contaminants whose mobility in soil and groundwater is strongly controlled by adsorption and desorption processes. In saturated clay-rich soils, these processes are complex because PFASs interact with hydrated mineral surfaces, organic matter, metal oxides, exchangeable cations, and pore-water constituents. This review synthesizes the current literature on PFAS adsorption and desorption in saturated soils, with an emphasis on clay mineralogy, mineral–water interfaces, pore-water chemistry, and electrochemical double layer (EDL) effects. PFAS retention is influenced by molecular properties such as chain length, functional head group, and charge state, as well as soil properties such as organic carbon content, clay mineral type, surface charge, cation exchange capacity, and Fe/Al oxide content. Longer-chain PFASs and sulfonate-based compounds generally show stronger retention, while shorter-chain PFASs tend to remain more mobile. This review focuses particularly on how an EDL affects PFAS behavior in saturated clay systems. Unlike dry clay surfaces, saturated clay surfaces are covered by structured water, exchangeable ions, and diffuse counterion layers. These hydrated interfacial conditions influence how closely anionic PFASs can approach negatively charged clay surfaces, how dissolved cations reduce electrostatic repulsion or promote cation-mediated binding, and how effectively short-range interactions such as hydrophobic association, van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding, and surface association contribute to adsorption. Desorption is also emphasized because adsorption does not necessarily represent permanent immobilization. Changes in pH, ionic strength, cation composition, dissolved organic matter, or competing solutes can weaken retention and promote PFAS release. Overall, PFAS mobility in saturated clay-rich soils should be interpreted as a coupled interfacial process rather than simple partitioning to soil solids. Future work should better connect molecular-scale mechanisms, EDL behavior, adsorption–desorption experiments, and saturated transport studies to improve predictions of PFAS retention and long-term groundwater release. Full article

Electrospinning (ES) can produce nonwoven fibrous mats with high surface area and interconnected porosity, making them attractive for biomedical and functional material applications. However, conventional ES often relies on volatile organic solvents, raising safety, environmental, and translational concerns. Fully aqueous (“green”) ES offers an appealing alternative, although many water-soluble polymers remain difficult to spin and may show limited stability under hydrated conditions. In this study, two fully aqueous binary systems, poly(vinylpyrrolidone)–sodium alginate (PVP–SA) and poly(vinylpyrrolidone)–riboflavin (PVP–RF), were investigated to decouple the roles of sodium alginate (SA) and riboflavin (RF) on solution behaviour, fibre formation, morphology, dry-state mechanical properties, and surface chemistry. Aqueous PVP solutions (20% w/v; molecular weight 1.3 MDa) were blended with SA (1–5 wt% relative to PVP) or RF (1–10 wt% relative to PVP). Electrical conductivity and rheological properties were evaluated prior to ES under controlled conditions, with simultaneous ultraviolet (UV) exposure at 344 nm during fibre collection. RF did not significantly alter conductivity (~0.74–0.75 µS·cm⁻¹), whereas SA increased conductivity up to 2.75 ± 0.03 µS·cm⁻¹ at 5 wt%. All formulations exhibited shear-thinning behaviour, while 10 wt% RF increased the zero-shear viscosity relative to neat PVP. Morphological analysis showed that low SA contents produced uniform fibres, whereas higher SA levels (4–5 wt%) led to bead defects and reduced fibre diameter (down to 85 ± 25 nm). Dry-state mechanical performance decreased with increasing SA content, while 10 wt% RF improved tensile strength and toughness, reaching an ultimate tensile strength of 5.21 ± 0.15 MPa and toughness of 40.51 ± 1.53 MJ·m⁻³. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicated subtle UV-driven redistribution of surface chemical states, consistent with mild photo-oxidative microstructural modification rather than extensive covalent network formation. Because the UV irradiance was not directly measured and wet-state stability was not assessed, the UV-related findings are interpreted as preliminary chemical evidence rather than confirmation of stabilized fibre mats. Overall, this work establishes a solvent-free aqueous ES platform in which ionic and photoactive additives can be used to tailor fibre morphology, dry-state mechanical behaviour, and surface characteristics without toxic reagents. Full article

Natural saline–alkaline soils are widespread in Central Asia, yet microbial responses to salinity gradients and ionic composition remain poorly resolved. We profiled bacterial communities (16S rRNA V3–V4, Illumina MiSeq) in 20 topsoil (0–20 cm) samples from four regions of Kazakhstan spanning non-saline to highly saline conditions. Soil chemistry included pH, total mineralization (dry residue), and major ions (Na⁺, Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻, HCO₃⁻, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺). Alpha (Chao1, Shannon, observed ASVs) and beta diversity (Bray–Curtis; ANOSIM; PCoA) were evaluated across salinity classes. Soils were alkaline (pH 7.91–10.47) and covered a broad salinity range (256–26,312 mg/L), driven mainly by Na⁺ with chloride and/or sulfate. Alpha diversity remained stable across salinity classes, though dispersion increased under high salinity. Community composition differed significantly among classes (ANOSIM R = 0.428, p = 0.005), with partial PCoA separation and overlap, indicating gradual turnover along the salinity gradient. In contrast, fungal communities showed no significant response to salinity, with stable alpha and beta diversity across all samples and consistent dominance of Ascomycota. Communities were dominated by Actinomycetota (formerly Actinobacteriota), Bacteroidota, and Pseudomonadota (formerly Proteobacteria). Bacteroidota increased in highly saline soils (FDR q = 0.036), whereas Acidobacteriota decreased (FDR q = 0.052). Thermodesulfobacteriota (formerly Desulfobacterota) correlated positively with sulfate, and Cyanobacteriota negatively with chloride. Overall, Kazakhstan’s saline–alkaline soils show stable bacterial alpha diversity but moderate, ion-linked compositional shifts with enrichment of halotolerant taxa. Full article

Wet cleaning robots have seen a boost in popularity in recent years, with notable impact on their technical features and portfolio of functionalities. To improve cleaning results as well as to create unique selling points, robot manufacturers introduce and expand on new wet cleaning concepts such as self-regenerating roller mops, close-to-wall operation and floor sterilisation. This paper takes a narrative approach to provide an overview of the development of wet cleaning robots for household usage in the span of the last four years (2022–2025). During this period, significant advancements have been made to increase the wet cleaning potential in household robots, both wet & dry cleaning units and dedicated wet cleaning models. The review focuses on developments that directly enhance wet cleaning performance (e.g., mop kinematics, regeneration and hygiene functions) and deliberately excludes advances that are not specific to wet cleaning (e.g., battery chemistry or generic navigation). As part of the review process, the findings are checked against the current landscape of technical standardisation. Thus, the paper identifies normative gaps which have opened due to the absence of international technical standards for wet cleaning robots. It advises on filling these gaps by establishing and updating testing guidelines to address new developments. Full article

Groundwater is an important water source in China, yet its quality is increasingly threatened by industrial activities, including petroleum exploration. This study assessed seasonal hydrochemical characteristics, groundwater quality, and human health risks of shallow groundwater in the central Jianghan Plain, with emphasis on potential influences of petroleum-related activities. Groundwater samples collected during dry and wet seasons were analyzed for hydrochemical parameters, classified by hydrochemical facies, and evaluated using the water quality index (WQI), non-carcinogenic health risk assessment, and spatial distribution analysis. Groundwater was generally weakly alkaline and mainly hard to extremely hard, with HCO₃–Ca·Mg as the dominant hydrochemical facies and some samples shifting toward mixed HCO₃–Cl–Ca·Mg types. Most parameters had higher mean concentrations in the dry season, indicating wet-season dilution. Rock weathering dominated groundwater chemistry, whereas evaporation had limited influence. Elevated Cl⁻ suggested possible effects of petroleum-related activities. Overall groundwater quality was poor, with mean WQI values of 394.23 and 292.50 in the dry and wet seasons, respectively. Children showed greater vulnerability than adults, and Fe and As were the main contributors to non-carcinogenic risk. WQI and health-risk hotspots were concentrated near Zhouji and adjacent petroleum exploration areas, indicating the need for long-term monitoring and risk management. Full article

Syzygium polyanthum (Wight) Walp., commonly known as Indonesian bay leaf or Daun salam, is widely used as a culinary and traditional botanical resource. However, region-specific information on its lipophilic constituents remains limited, and the sustainability implications of solvent-dependent phytochemical profiling are rarely addressed. This study characterized the GC–MS-detectable volatile lipophilic constituents of a selected nonpolar fraction of S. polyanthum leaves collected from Paniki Bawah, Mapanget District, Manado, Indonesia, using GC–MS, while evaluating solvent-related limitations for future greener extraction strategies. Dried leaf powder was macerated with 96% ethanol, followed by liquid–liquid partitioning with n-hexane and ethyl acetate. The n-hexane fraction was separated by silica gel column chromatography, and a TLC-selected fraction was analyzed by GC–MS. Compound annotation was supported by NIST 17 library matching, retention-index comparison using a C8–C40 n-alkane series, diagnostic ion evaluation, solvent blank analysis, and triplicate injections. Ethanolic extraction of 900 g dried powder yielded 87.0 g crude extract (9.67%). The n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and aqueous fractions yielded 5.98%, 21.15%, and 72.87%, respectively. GC–MS analysis tentatively annotated 11 compounds representing 94.44% of the total normalized peak area. The major constituents were palmitic acid, phytol, squalene, and neophytadiene. All annotations showed match scores of 90–98%, ΔRI values of 4–8 units, and RSD values of 1.86–3.27%. Although ethanol use, sunlight drying, solvent recovery, and recirculating chiller-assisted evaporation partially aligned with green chemistry principles, the use of n-hexane and chloroform means that the workflow should not be described as fully green. This study provides a baseline GC–MS fingerprint to support future greener extraction optimization. Full article

The world’s energy matrix faces challenges in replacing fossil fuels and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Pellet production is effective for the correct disposal of agricultural waste through the production of biofuels. The objective of this work was to produce and characterize pellets from blends of pine and coffee straw residues, in addition to their compliance with ISO 17225-6/2021. The biomasses were subjected to analysis of dry and wet base moisture, bulk density, upper and lower calorific value (HCV and LCV dry), immediate, structural and elemental chemistry, chloride content, and thermogravimetric behavior. The pellets were produced in nine blends with the Amandus Kahl pellet mill, model 14-175, being submitted to analysis of productivity, moisture in dry and wet base, HCV and LCV dry, chloride, immediate chemistry, hardness, diameter and length, durability and percentage of fines, the analyses were compared by the Scott-knott test at the level of 95% probability. The blends that presented the best overall performance were 100% pine and a mixture of 87.5% pine and 12.5% coffee straws, especially for the higher calorific value (20.65 and 20.65 MJ/kg), moisture (8.98 and 9.17%), and ash (0.22 and 1%), but had limitations regarding mechanical durability (96.74 and 97.12%). The use of blends in pellet production is promising to promote the sustainable use of agricultural waste and the generation of clean energy. Full article

Accurate quantification of soil organic matter (SOM) and carbon content is critical for understanding climate change, evaluating soil health, supporting agricultural sustainability, and implementing carbon sequestration policies. For decades, classical analytical and statistical approaches have underpinned soil carbon assessment, but the emergence of machine learning (ML) techniques offers new opportunities to improve prediction accuracy, scalability, and efficiency. This review summarises the current knowledge on classical and ML-based approaches for analysing SOM and carbon content. We examine the strengths, limitations, and practical applications of conventional methods, including wet chemistry, dry combustion analysis, and geostatistical techniques, alongside modern ML approaches such as random forests (RFs), gradient boosting machines, neural networks, deep learning, and hybrid ML-geostatistical frameworks. Special emphasis is placed on comparative analysis across dimensions, including prediction accuracy, computational requirements, data availability needs, interpretability, uncertainty quantification, and scalability. Soil carbon stocks and dynamics are tightly regulated by indigenous soil microbial communities and their management-driven alterations, creating substantial biologically driven variation that remains difficult to capture with current modelling approaches. We therefore explore hybrid approaches that integrate classical pedological knowledge with ML capabilities. Finally, we discuss emerging challenges, future research directions, and the complementary role these approaches play in advancing soil carbon science. This review concludes that neither classical nor ML approaches alone are sufficient for accurate carbon assessment across diverse scales and environments. Instead, their strategic integration, combining classical mechanistic grounding alongside machine learning’s scalability, represents the most promising path toward realistic soil carbon evaluation for climate change mitigation and agricultural sustainability. Full article

This study investigates the durability of silicone-based membranes in contact with hempcrete under combined moisture and temperature exposure. Membrane specimens were aged in contact with non-treated and treated hempcrete under dry and wet conditions at temperatures up to 90 °C. The evolution of chemical, thermal, and microstructural properties was characterized using FTIR, TGA, DSC, optical microscopy, and SEM–EDS analyses. Results show that dry exposure does not induce measurable changes in membrane structure or performance, confirming that temperature alone is not a critical degradation factor. In contrast, wet exposure leads to significant chemical, thermal, and microstructural changes in the membrane, including degradation of the siloxane network, reduced polymer chain mobility, and the formation of calcium-rich mineral deposits at the interface. These results indicate that membrane degradation is governed by a coupled moisture–ion mechanism involving ion transport, mineral deposition, and hydrolysis of the polymer network. Fiber treatment slightly reduces the aggressiveness of the leachate but does not prevent degradation under wet conditions. Overall, moisture availability and leachate chemistry are identified as key factors controlling the durability of silicone membranes in contact with bio-based materials. Full article

Industrial control of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from medium-density fibreboard (MDF) production remains constrained by a shortage of compound-resolved evidence from full-scale plants, where wood furnish, amino resin chemistry, heat transfer, gas flow, and wet gas cleaning act simultaneously. Here, we analysed more than 20,000 synchronized operating records from a full-scale single-stage flash-tube MDF dryer at an industrial SWISS KRONO production line and linked total VOC (TVOC) measurements from flame ionization detection with Fourier-transform infrared speciation on the cleaned stack. Five compounds—α-pinene, 3-carene, limonene, methanol, and formaldehyde—accounted for more than 80% of the resolved VOC signal. Process–state contrasts showed that higher digester residence time, discharge screw speed, adhesive amount, urea amount, dryer inlet temperature, and scrubber–water temperature increased one or more representative compounds, whereas higher hardwood share, additional flue-gas supply, and higher scrubber–water pH decreased them. Limonene, methanol, and formaldehyde were substantially more process-sensitive than α-pinene. An exploratory decorrelation step further showed that a drying/throughput domain explained about half of the variability of the screened process space. The study therefore identifies the small set of compounds and operating domains that most strongly govern the cleaned dryer-stack signature and provides a mechanistically grounded prioritization framework for follow-up causal experiments, source apportionment, and emission-mitigation design in industrial MDF manufacture. Unlike product or chamber emission studies, this work links the compound-resolved FTIR/FID chemistry of the final cleaned industrial stack with synchronized production variables; it therefore addresses a scale-integration gap by transforming routine compliance-type exhaust monitoring into a process-diagnostic framework for ranking emission sources, abatement-sensitive variables, and mitigation experiments. Full article

This paper presents a theoretical engineering feasibility analysis of the RK-X photocatalytic process for In Situ Resource Utilisation (ISRU) on Mars. Experimental validation under simulated Martian conditions is the essential next step before any mission deployment claim can be made. The RK-X process converts the two most abundant Martian resources, atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) and subsurface water ice (H₂O), into formic acid (HCOOH) and oxygen (O₂) through a fulvic acid-based photocatalytic cycle validated at the industrial scale in Hungary. A reference module processing 10 tonnes of CO₂ per Earth year yields 10.459 tonnes of formic acid and 3.636 tonnes of oxygen, sufficient to sustain a six-person crew for approximately two Earth years with a 198% safety margin over nominal respiratory demand. The economic analysis indicates that importing equivalent oxygen from Earth costs $1.82–$3.64 million per year; equivalent energy storage (Li-ion) costs $30.5–$61 million for one-time use. Formic acid stores 15.25 MWh of energy in ambient-stable liquid form at a round-trip efficiency of 68.64% without cryogenic infrastructure. A photovoltaic array of 55.37 m² provides the primary energy source; a kilowatt-class nuclear fission reactor constitutes the strategic opportunity for continuous, dust-storm-immune operation with free thermal co-generation. Three critical research gaps have been identified requiring laboratory validation before Mars deployment: (i) catalyst performance at the Martian CO₂ partial pressure (p(CO₂) < 10 mbar, T = 15 °C); (ii) water ice and dry ice extraction at an operational scale; and (iii) integrated closed-loop system demonstration. Built on Earth-proven chemistry with identified, addressable development pathways, the RK-X process theoretically resolves the problems of oxygen supply, seasonal energy storage, water management, and cryogenic infrastructure within a single closed-loop chemical cycle. Full article

During wet deposition, particulate matter and gaseous species in the atmosphere are ultimately transported to the Earth’s surface via precipitation and subsequently incorporated into terrestrial ecosystems. Therefore, investigating the fluxes, chemical compositions, and source apportionment of regional wet deposition is of great scientific importance. An analysis of the concentrations, deposition fluxes, spatiotemporal variations, and source apportionment of water-soluble ions in wet deposition can further enhance our understanding of the water-soluble ion characteristics, atmospheric pollution profiles, and potential ecosystem impacts of wet deposition in the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta regions. Coastal cities in China are most developed regions, and also areas suffering from severe air pollution. This study investigates the chemical characteristics, sources and wet deposition fluxes of water-soluble inorganic ions in precipitation in two typical coastal urban agglomerations of China: Ningbo in the Yangtze River Delta and Guangzhou in the Pearl River Delta. Precipitation samples were collected and analyzed to determine the concentrations of major ions. The results revealed distinct ionic compositions between the two regions. In Ningbo, NO₃⁻ and SO₄²⁻ were the predominant ions accounting for 16.98% to 23.22% of the total, reflecting the influence of anthropogenic emissions from fossil fuel combustion and mobile sources with the NO₃⁻/SO₄²⁻ ratio of 0.90 and 0.70. In Guangzhou, precipitation was characterized by high contributions of SO₄²⁻, NO₃⁻, NH₄⁺, and Ca²⁺, accounting for 17.22% to 23.29% of the total, indicating a mixed influence of industrial emissions, agricultural activities, and construction dust with the NO₃⁻/SO₄²⁻ ratio of 0.92 and 0.87. A clear inverse relationship between rainfall amount and ion concentration was observed at all sites (p < 0.05), demonstrating a significant dilution effect. Seasonality played a crucial role in deposition fluxes. In Ningbo, fluxes peaked during summer from 4667 to 5156 mg·m⁻², while in Guangzhou, distinct dry and rainy season patterns influenced the scavenging efficiency of different ion species. Urban sites exhibited enhanced scavenging of crustal and anthropogenic ions (e.g., Ca²⁺, NH₄⁺) during the rainy season, whereas the coastal site showed elevated fluxes of marine-derived ions (Na⁺, Cl⁻, Mg²⁺, SO₄²⁻) during the same period. The observed trends in ion fluxes suggest a gradual improvement in regional air quality over the study period. These findings elucidate the complex interactions between anthropogenic activities, natural sources, and meteorological factors in shaping the wet deposition chemistry in coastal urban environments, providing essential data for developing regional deposition models and assessing the ecological impacts of atmospheric pollution. Full article

Background: Intensive agriculture in fragile, dry–hot valleys degrades coffee plantation soils. Combining leguminous cover crops with microbial inoculants is promising, yet their synergy remains unresolved. Methods: In a field trial, we established Medicago sativa L. (ZB1) and Vicia villosa Roth var. glabrescens (ZB2) cover crops following Bacillus cereus inoculation, then assessed soil chemistry, nitrate–nitrogen (NO₃⁻-N), key enzyme activities (catalase, CAT; sucrase, IA; urease, UA), and bacterial communities; redundancy analysis linked edaphic variables to community structure. Results: Co-application remodeled the soil microenvironment. ZB1 moderated pH from 7.92 (weakly alkaline) to 7.46 (near neutral) and increased total nitrogen (TN) and potassium (K). NO₃⁻-N rose 1.38-fold (ZB1) and 2.14-fold (ZB2), indicating improved N retention and reduced leaching risk. CAT, IA, and UA activities increased concurrently. The bacterial community shifted from Acidobacteria toward Bacteroidetes and was enriched in taxa including Flavobacterium. Redundancy analysis identified total nitrogen as the primary environmental driver of community change. Conclusions: Leguminous cover crops combined with B. cereus synergistically improved soil conditions and reorganized bacterial communities in dry–hot valley coffee systems, providing field-scale evidence and practical guidance for sustainable agroecosystem management. Full article