Search Results (561)

Environmental pollution by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is a serious environmental problem. One of the effective methods of cleaning the environment from these toxicants is the use of sorbents based on clay minerals. Special organo-mineral, bio-mineral and bio-organo-mineral complexes were obtained. Organo-mineral complexes (organoclays) were synthesized on the basis of Na-bentonite and anionic, amphoteric and nonionic surfactants. Bio-mineral and bio-organo-mineral complexes were produced by inoculating bentonite and organoclays with a consortium of bacteria. The adsorption characteristics of the complexes to benzopyrene and naphthalene were studied. Modification of bentonite with various types of surfactants leads to a significant increase in the percentage adsorption of both benzopyrene and naphthalene, with benzopyrene being more so. All bio-organo-mineral complexes adsorb more benzopyrene than pure bentonite and the bentonite + bacteria complex. In most cases, this pattern is also characteristic of naphthalene adsorption. Organoclay complexes with bacteria adsorb PAHs in greater quantities than organoclays, typically at the average concentrations of benzopyrene and naphthalene used (30–60 μg mL⁻¹) and when modified with individual surfactants. Based on the determination coefficients, the adsorption of benzopyrene and naphthalene by all studied sorbents is best described by the Langmuir equation. The maximum (limiting) adsorption of benzopyrene by all organo-mineral complexes (organoclays) exceeds the maximum adsorption of benzopyrene by bentonite. Modification of bentonite with surfactants may not change, decrease, or increase the maximum adsorption of naphthalene compared to the original bentonite, depending on the surfactant used. Colonization of the organoclay surface by bacteria, with rare exceptions, results in a decrease in the maximum adsorption values of benzopyrene and naphthalene compared to organoclay, or has no effect at all. Full article

Surfactant-enhanced soil washing is a promising strategy for the remediation of organochlorine pesticide (OCPs) contaminated sites. In this study, we constructed a comprehensive evaluation framework integrating efficient parameter optimization, effluent recovery and ecological restoration assessment. Among the 14 evaluated washing agents, the non-ionic surfactant Triton X-100 exhibited superior solubilization capacity for highly hydrophobic OCPs. Under an optimal dosage of 2.0%, Triton X-100 achieved near-complete extraction of γ-chlordane and over 75% removal of mirex in both moderately and severely contaminated soils. Powdered activated carbon (PAC) demonstrated exceptional selective adsorption performance, significantly outperforming activated carbon fiber (ACF). The optimal PAC dosages (20 g/L) could extract over 90% of OCPs from the soil washing effluents, facilitating potential washing agent recycling. Furthermore, community-level physiological profiling (BIOLOG-AWCD) revealed distinct ecological trajectories post-washing. While nitrogen and phosphorus (N/P) bio-stimulation successfully restored and even surpassed the microbial diversity in moderately contaminated soils, it only partially alleviated the ecological vulnerability in severely contaminated soils (Simpson index < 0.45). These findings underscore that while surfactant-enhanced soil washing combined with selective adsorption constitutes a powerful physicochemical remediation cycle, restoring heavily degraded microhabitats necessitates an integrated approach coupling bio-stimulation with phytoremediation. Full article

This study presents the development and comprehensive characterization of innovative formulations for facial toners based on micellar water–glycol systems. The study evaluated aqueous solutions of three natural glycols—1,3-propanediol, 1,3-butylene glycol, and 1,2-pentylene glycol—both as extraction agents and as functional ingredients in facial toner formulations. The physicochemical properties (viscosity, color, contact angle) and aggregation behavior (CMC, particle size) were analyzed to determine the effect of the extraction medium on the efficiency of plant-derived metabolite extraction. Grapevine buds, obtained from a byproduct of grape cultivation, were used as the plant material. The extracts obtained were evaluated in terms of active ingredient content and antioxidant potential using LC-MS/MS and UV-VIS techniques, respectively. The results showed that pentylene glycol-based micellar systems exhibited the lowest CMC value and the most favorable wetting properties, leading to the highest phenolic content and antioxidant activity in the extracts. Facial toners containing these extracts were subjected to functional and application tests, assessing, among other things, viscosity, wetting angle, and irritation potential. The study results provide new insights into the relationship between surfactant aggregation, glycol-based media, and cosmetic formulation design, offering a balanced and effective strategy for developing multifunctional skin care products. Full article

Raw lacquer, a natural polymer derived from the bast of lacquer trees (Toxicodendron vernicifluum), is renowned as the “King of Coatings” due to its exceptional film-forming properties, abrasion resistance, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility. However, its inherent limitations—including stringent drying conditions, slow curing rates, deep coloration, and difficult application—have severely restricted its modernization and widespread adoption. This review systematically summarizes recent research advances in the modification and application of raw lacquer, focusing on four major modification strategies: (1) Nanocomposite modification—incorporating functional nanofillers such as Al₂O₃, cellulose nanofibrils (CNF), polydopamine (PDA) melanin-like nanoparticles, and SiO₂ to significantly enhance film hardness, compactness, UV-aging resistance, and drying kinetics. (2) Chemical structure modification—employing molecular design strategies including aminoanthraquinone grafting, tung oil blending, water-based emulsification, and terpene/allyl group functionalization to improve hydrophobicity, flexibility, fast-drying properties, and achieve dual photo/oxygen curing. (3) Biomass synergistic composites—utilizing natural polymers such as chitosan and lignin, along with bio-inspired adhesion mechanisms (e.g., PDA), to confer advanced functionalities including antibacterial and antifouling properties. (4) Curing behavior regulation—precisely controlling drying kinetics through inorganic salt ion microenvironment engineering, nonionic surfactants, and salicylaldehyde Schiff base-based driers. Building upon these foundations, this review further expands on the emerging high-value applications of modified lacquer in preventive conservation of cultural heritage, advanced functional coatings (anti-corrosion, super-hydrophobicity, flame retardancy), biomedical materials (hemostasis, antibacterial activity, drug-controlled release, water treatment adsorption), and intelligent responsive flexible electronics. Finally, addressing challenges including weak fundamental research, bottlenecks in green industrialization, and lack of standardization, future development directions are proposed encompassing interdisciplinary innovation, sustainable modification strategies, integration of multifunctional intelligent systems, and big data-driven research paradigms, aiming to provide theoretical guidance and technical references for the high-value utilization and modernization of lacquer resources. Full article

This study investigates improving the flowability of heavy crude oil using non-ionic surfactants that modify interfacial properties, thereby enhancing emulsification and dispersion. A mixture of Span 85 (HLB = 1.8) and Tween 20 (HLB = 16.7) was selected to meet the affinity requirements of both oil and water phases. Experiments were conducted on five different densities of heavy crude oil, evaluating viscosity reduction, emulsion droplet size distribution, and interfacial tension. Notably, this work presents the first systematic examination of interactions between various heavy crude oil densities and mixed emulsifiers. Results show that aligning the HLB value of the mixed emulsifier with that of the heavy crude oil enhances electrostatic repulsion between droplets, reducing droplet size and optimizing surfactant arrangement at the interface. The optimal HLB value for viscosity reduction was determined to be 8.0, at which a viscosity reduction rate of over 89% was achieved for high-density heavy crude oil. A quantitative relationship between emulsion droplet size and viscosity reduction rate was also established, leading to improved emulsion stability and significant viscosity reduction. These findings provide a theoretical framework for applying non-ionic mixed surfactants to enhance heavy crude oil flowability, and deliver experimental data to support field applications in petroleum engineering. Full article

Reducing herbicide input in paddy fields is essential for sustainable rice production and long-term soil health. Florpyrauxifen-benzyl effectively controls the dominant paddy weed barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli), yet excessive application poses environmental risks. Here, we investigated whether the compound adjuvant Sijiling, containing nonionic and anionic surfactants, could enable significant dose reduction in florpyrauxifen-benzyl while maintaining weed control efficacy and improving soil–plant system functions. Greenhouse dose–response assays and two-year field trials conducted in 2021 and 2022 demonstrated that the adjuvant permitted a 50% reduction in herbicide application without compromising control of barnyardgrass or other paddy weeds. Mechanistically, Sijiling disrupted the leaf cuticular wax barrier and amplified ethylene and ABA biosynthesis over two-fold. The reduced herbicide rate lowered residues in rice and soil, increased soil organic carbon and available potassium, and enhanced microbial diversity, particularly enriching beneficial Acidobacteria. Grain yield increased significantly under the reduced-input strategy, with Mantel analysis linking yield gains to improved soil available potassium and organic carbon. Our findings demonstrate that adjuvant-enabled herbicide dose reduction is an effective and sustainable weed management strategy for paddy rice, maintaining robust weed suppression while delivering measurable co-benefits for soil health and crop productivity, thereby supporting the sustainable intensification of rice-based cropping systems. Full article

Background: Rebamipide (REB) is a poorly water-soluble drug with limited ocular bioavailability, necessitating advanced delivery strategies for sustained therapy in dry eye disease. Methods: In the present study, micelle-assisted ocular inserts were developed using non-ionic surfactants to enhance REB solubilization, drug loading, and controlled ocular delivery. The intrinsic solubility of REB in simulated tear fluid (STF, pH 7.4) was evaluated and compared with micellar systems. The formulations were characterized for particle size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential. Ocular inserts were fabricated via UV photopolymerization and evaluated for physicochemical properties, drug content, in vitro drug release, ex vivo permeation, cytocompatibility using SIRC cells, and histopathological analysis. Results: REB exhibited low intrinsic solubility in STF (26.05 ± 1.00 µg/mL), which was significantly enhanced in micellar systems, particularly with Solutol HS 15 (306.71 ± 1.10 µg/mL) and Tween 80 (263.18 ± 1.19 µg/mL). All micellar formulations formed stable nanosized micelles (7.5–15.1 nm) with low polydispersity (PDI < 0.35) and near-neutral zeta potential (−0.08 to −2.81 mV). The prepared ocular inserts showed uniform thickness, weight, and physiological surface pH. Micelle-assisted inserts demonstrated significantly higher drug content (87.40 ± 3.25 to 99.19 ± 2.44 µg/insert) compared to plain REB inserts (21.41 ± 2.28 µg/insert). In- vitro studies revealed sustained drug release over 24 h (92.25 ± 1.64 to 100.50 ± 1.10%), whereas plain inserts showed burst release. Ex vivo permeation studies indicated enhanced drug permeation (up to 77.30 ± 0.34 µg) and improved flux (1.38–8.52 µg/cm²·h) compared to plain REB. Cytocompatibility studies confirmed >90% SIRC cell viability, and histopathological analysis showed no structural damage to corneal tissue. Conclusions: Micelle-assisted ocular inserts, particularly those formulated with Solutol HS 15 and Tween 80, provide a promising platform for sustained, safe, and effective ocular delivery of Rebamipide in the management of dry eye disease. Full article

Adsorption properties of graphene oxide (GO) and its organo-modified analog (GO-HDTMA), treated with the hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA) cationic surfactant, were evaluated for the removal of persistent pharmaceutical products (PPs): an anionic diclofenac (DCF) anti-inflammatory, a cationic metoprolol (MTP) beta-blocker, and a nonionic sulfamethoxazole (SMX) antibiotic. Adsorption isotherms, fitted by Langmuir and Freundlich models, together with FTIR data, demonstrate that both GO and GO-HDTMA are effective adsorbents for DCF. The adsorption is primarily governed by both π–π and van der Waals interactions, leading to saturation of the accessible C sp² carbon domains at a maximum uptake of 4.2 mmol g⁻¹. In contrast, due to its cationic nature, MTP is not removed using GO-HDTMA, while it is effectively adsorbed at about 0.5 mmol g⁻¹ for GO via electrostatic attractive forces. SMX is adsorbed by both materials, although its uptake remains limited on GO. The presence of hydrophobic domains in GO-HDTMA enhances SMX adsorption through weak intermolecular interactions. These results highlight the tunability of GO-based hybrid materials and their potential for the selective removal of a large spectrum of emerging pharmaceutical contaminants. Full article

Lubricants based on fatty acid ester (FAE) mixtures are widely used in the textile industry, e.g., in spin finishes applied during the production of synthetic fibres, or in sizes added to fibres before weaving. FAE lubricants can significantly impact the dyeing quality of a textile due to their hydrophobicity and must therefore be removed before dyeing. However, the solvents currently used for their removal pose an environmental risk, and biobased solutions are thus sought. A lipase-assisted pre-dyeing treatment for synthetic fibre textiles was developed in this study. Six lipases were tested for their ability to hydrolyse FAEs from a polyamide-with-elastane textile, and all were found to be active. The conditions for the washing of lipase-treated textiles were found to be crucial for the performance of the process. Among the possible lipid hydrolysis products of tripalmitin (selected as a model FAE), only palmitic acid removal improved during washing, in comparison with the original FAE. This improvement only occurred with washing solutions containing a monovalent base. A combination of lipase treatment and washing with a non-ionic surfactant and monovalent base was found to be effective in the removal of FAEs, with a performance similar to a current solvent-based pre-treatment process. Full article

In this paper, to remove the water lock effect in tight gas reservoirs, amphipathic polymer-modified titanium quantum dots (PTQs) were synthesized via in situ polymerization, showing a hyper-branched structure and an excellent synergistic effect with the nonionic fluorocarbon surfactant to break the water lock. The molecular structure, fluorescent property, and micromorphology of the PTQs were obtained. The surface activity and wettability alteration of rock are discussed. Results show that PTQs have zwitterionic hydrophilic groups and the hydrophobic structure of long-chain groups on their molecular structure. PTQ fluid, with a median particle size of 3.6 nm, showed strong green fluorescence and had excellent dispersibility in 50,000 mg/L of standard saline fluid at 120 °C. Additionally, the surface tension decreased to 18.6 mN/m at a PTQ concentration of 0.08%. At a 0.1% concentration, PTQ fluid altered the water wettability of tight sandstone to 67.2°, which resulted in lower capillary resistance. Furthermore, the surfactant (PHPE) had a good synergistic effect with the PTQs to decrease surface tension and alter the wettability of the sandstone surface, leading to lower surface tension and significant amphiphobicity. The strong surface activity of PTQs results from their specific molecular structure, which enables electrostatic attraction, quantum size effects, hydrogen bonding, and van der Waals forces between the inter-polar molecules of PTQs and the surface of sandstone to forcefully eliminate the water lock effect. This study offers key guidance for the development of a high-performance water-lock-breaking agent and application of titanium quantum dots in tight gas reservoirs. Full article

The rheological behavior of chitosan–vanillin crosslinked olive oil-in-water emulsions (Φ = 0.52) was investigated to identify formulation and processing conditions suitable for designing oleogel precursors. The effects of homogenization conditions, reaction temperature, chitosan concentration, vanillin-to-chitosan molar ratio, and non-ionic surfactants were systematically evaluated. Surfactant-free emulsions exhibited a structured, gel-like response and non-thixotropic shear-thinning flow, which was well described by the Herschel–Bulkley model within the investigated shear-rate range. Optimal homogenization (4 min, ≥9500 rpm) refined the microstructure without compromising stability. Increasing the reaction temperature to 55 °C, the chitosan concentration to ~0.9% (w/w), and the vanillin-to-chitosan molar ratio to 0.7 maximized yield stress, consistency, and thermal robustness, consistent with enhanced network formation. In contrast, Tween^® surfactants produced divergent responses, increasing small-amplitude oscillatory stiffness while markedly reducing resistance under steady shear, likely due to surfactant-driven interfacial displacement. Among the tested surfactants, Tween^® 20 provided the highest thermal stability. Overall, these results define processing and formulation windows to obtain surfactant-free, structured emulsions with improved structuring performance, supporting their use as effective templates for olive oil oleogel development. Full article

Homeobox protein MEIS2 has been strongly implicated in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression and metastatic potential, making its targeted inhibition a promising therapeutic strategy. However, recently developed MEIS inhibitors are limited by poor aqueous solubility, instability under physiological conditions, and insufficient intracellular accumulation, which restrict their clinical applicability. To overcome these challenges, a multifunctional hybrid nanoemulsome system was developed by integrating boron–silane-doped carbon dots (CDs) with chitosan via glutaraldehyde crosslinking, followed by emulsification with oleic acid and non-ionic surfactants (Span 80 and Tween 20/80) in the presence of a MEIS inhibitor (MEISi-2). The resulting composite exhibited high structural stability, excellent biocompatibility, and a drug encapsulation efficiency of 96.2%. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analyses confirmed successful hybridization and the formation of nanoemulsions with an average particle size of approximately 320 nm following drug loading. The system demonstrated controlled drug release under physiological conditions. In vitro studies using HCT116 CRC and HaCaT healthy keratinocytes revealed effective cellular uptake and selective cytotoxicity. The intrinsic fluorescence properties of CDs enabled real-time monitoring of intracellular drug delivery via DAPI-channel imaging. Overall, this hybrid nanoemulsome platform provides a stable and efficient delivery system for MEIS inhibitors and represents a promising strategy for the treatment of CRC. Furthermore, this approach may be extended to other poorly soluble amphiphilic therapeutic agents. Full article

As oil and gas development increasingly targets low and ultra-low permeability reservoirs, conventional recovery techniques often prove insufficient for mobilizing residual oil. Surfactant flooding, a key chemical enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technology, thus requires careful system optimization and mechanistic investigation. This study focuses on low-permeability reservoirs in the Changqing Oilfield, evaluating three surfactant systems—YHS-Z1 (a 7:3 mass ratio blend of hydroxypropyl sulfobetaine and cocamide), YHS-Z2 (a polyether carboxylate, a nonionic-anionic composite) and a middle-phase microemulsion system (Heavy alkylbenzene sulfonate and hydroxysulfobetaine were combined with a mass ratio of 7:3)—through a series of experiments including interfacial tension measurement, contact angle analysis, static and dynamic oil displacement tests, as well as emulsion transport/retention index assessments, to comprehensively characterize their oil displacement properties. Based on the experimental data, this study constructed four classical regression models: Ridge Regression, Random Forest (RF), Gradient Boosting Regression (GBR), and Support Vector Regression (SVR), and conducted a comparative analysis of their predictive performance. The results demonstrate that the Random Forest (RF) model achieved the optimal prediction performance, with a Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 1.8245, a Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) of 4.78%, and a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.9428 on the training set. Further analysis using the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) algorithm revealed that the retention index is the primary global factor (accounting for 49.79% of the variance), while significant intergroup differences exist in the primary factors across different surfactant systems. Concurrently, single-factor and multi-factor sensitivity analyses were conducted to elucidate synergistic effects and threshold behaviors among parameters. The optimal parameter combination, identified via a random search method, achieved a predicted recovery factor of 45.61%, representing a 6.57% improvement over the highest experimental value. This study demonstrates that machine learning methods can effectively identify the dominant factors in oil displacement and enable synergistic parameter optimization, thereby providing a theoretical foundation for the efficient development of surfactant flooding in low-permeability reservoirs. Full article

Coal-bed gas well production is too low to realize a highly efficient exploitation of the #8 coal seam in the Shanxi formation in the Nalin region. Based on the reservoir characteristics, the designed poly-aromatic-grafted silicon-quantum-dot-based desorption agent (PQS) has been developed. Then, the adsorption/desorption behavior of CBM on the coal surface under the influence of this active chemical has been studied, and the synergy effect with an anionic–nonionic surfactant to desorption of CBM has also been discussed. The results show that the developed poly-aromatic-grafted silicon quantum dot, with a median size of 4.9 nm and +5.6 mV of zeta potential in neutral condition, has a significant emission peak with 470 nm at the excitation of 380 nm and 150,000 mg/L of salinity resistance, which also generates a strong adsorption capacity on the coal surface. A promoting effect to desorption of CBM for PQS nanofluid is exhibited and the Langmuir pressure is obviously increased. However, when the PQS nanofluid is synergized with an anionic–nonionic surfactant, the desorption of CBM is further improved and the wettability of the coal surface is altered from 78.2° to 84.2°. The desorption rate for this compound system reached 65.3%. It can be found that combining the quantum size, π–π stacking, π–π conjugation, and the synergy effect between PQS nanofluid and surfactant fluid with the traditional intermolecular force has a stronger capacity for promoting desorption of CBM than the conventional desorption agent. This study provides guidance for the molecular design of the desorption agent for deep coal rock and the application of silicon quantum dots. Full article

Nanoemulsions are widely recognized as versatile delivery platforms capable of stably loading lipophilic active ingredients. Although low-energy phase inversion methods enable nanoemulsion formation under ambient and low-shear conditions, their scalability and applicability in practical formulation environments remain insufficiently validated. Here, we develop oil-in-water (O/W) nanoemulsions via a low-energy phase inversion process and systematically investigate their composition-dependent formation, scalability, and formulation stability. By precisely tuning the composition of a mixed nonionic surfactant system, monodisperse nanoemulsions with an average droplet size of ~110 nm and a polydispersity index (PDI ≤ 0.20) are reproducibly obtained under ambient, low-shear conditions. The optimized nanoemulsions maintain their nanoscale dispersion characteristics over 30 days of storage and exhibit consistent droplet size and distribution upon scale-up to 1 L. Furthermore, the nanoemulsions retain structural stability when incorporated into polymer-based formulations under various temperature conditions and repeated thermal cycling. These results demonstrate that low-energy phase inversion enables a scalable and formulation-compatible nanoemulsion platform, providing practical guidelines for industrial formulation and manufacturing of delivery systems for lipophilic active ingredients. Full article