Search Results (386)

Mayaro virus (MAYV) is an arthritogenic alphavirus transmitted by mosquitoes and is the causative agent of Mayaro fever. This disease is associated with symptoms such as arthralgia and myalgia, which may persist for months or even years. Currently, no vaccine or specific antiviral therapy is available. This study aimed to assess the antiviral activity of synthetic imine-chalcone derivatives (1a–1d) against MAYV replication in Vero cells and predict their pharmacokinetic and toxicological properties. All compounds presented low cytotoxicity, with CC₅₀ values ranging from 249.92 µM to >1000 µM. Additionally, the derivatives showed good antiviral activity, with compound 1a being the most potent (EC₅₀ = 12.15 μM; SI = 31.47), and 1b being the most selective (EC₅₀ = 16.92 μM; SI > 59.10). Mechanistic assays revealed that compounds 1a and 1b primarily inhibit early events in the MAYV life cycle, such as viral adsorption (1a: 51.53%; 1b: 59.35%) and entry (1a: 71.26%; 1b: 54.21%). Compound 1b also impaired virus egress, while none of the compounds exhibited strong virucidal activity. Finally, in silico ADMET predictions suggested favorable pharmacokinetic and toxicological parameters for compounds 1a and 1b. Overall, our work demonstrated for the first time the activity and safety of imine-chalcones against MAYV. Full article

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are important indicators of environmental pollution and metabolic activity, making their sensitive and selective detection highly relevant for applications in health monitoring and air quality assessment. Graphene, owing to its exceptional charge transport properties, large surface area, and tunable surface chemistry, is a promising candidate for advanced gas and VOCs sensing. Here we report chemoresistive sensors based on pristine graphene and graphene decorated with platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), and gold (Au) nanoparticles toward both aromatic (benzene, toluene, and xylene) and non-aromatic (ethanol, methanol, and acetone) vapor compound detection. The detection is achieved at room temperature, and the results demonstrate that graphene functionalized with noble metal nanoparticles shows significant enhancements in sensitivity compared to pristine graphene, mainly against ethanol, toluene and xylene vapors for the Au–graphene sensors. A comparative study with Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube (MWCNT) sensors decorated with the same type of nanoparticles revealed clear advantages of graphene, attributed to the microstructure and porous structure of graphene powders, which facilitate efficient charge transfer upon vapor adsorption. Full article

It is well known that gas sensor responses are affected by the presence of humidity in the analyzed gas. This is particularly true when dealing with biological fluid samples, whose high moisture content interferes with the adsorption of the trace volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on the sensors’ active layer. To address this challenge, this study focuses on designing and testing a novel sampling system for the dehumidification of biological fluid headspace to be characterized by an electronic nose (e-Nose). Such a system, based on the use of disposable polymeric sampling bags purged with dry air, exploits the polymers’ permeability to water vapor to reduce sample humidity. Tested materials included Nalophan^TM (20 μm), high-density polyethylene (HDPE, 8, 9, 10 and 11 μm), low-density polyethylene (LDPE, 12 and 50 μm), and biodegradable polyester (Bio-PS, 15 μm). First, dehumidification performance was characterized as a function of dry air flow rate and film type. A purge of 1 L/min accelerated the sample humidity removal compared to passive storage of bags from >2 h to <1 h (from 80% to 20% RH). Second, a mass-balance model was applied to dedicated experiments to decouple water losses due to diffusion and adsorption, showing that diffusion through the polymer wall dominates, while adsorption occurs in the early stages of conditioning. Third, because these materials are not selectively permeable to water, potential loss of water-soluble VOCs during dehumidification was investigated. Pooled urine headspace samples—both raw and spiked with a metabolite mix of VOCs—were dried using each material and analyzed using a photo-ionization detector (PID) and an e-Nose. Results were compared against a Nafion^TM dryer. Comparison was based on the e-Nose’s ability to discriminate between pooled vs. spiked samples and reveal real-life metabolomic changes. Nalophan^TM bags and Nafion^TM dryer provided the highest VOC fingerprint to support discrimination by the e-Nose, while Bio-PS provided the fastest sample dehumidification. The proposed bag-based system offers a cost-effective, disposable, and contamination-free solution to humidity interference in e-Noses. Full article

For cable compound manufacturers, accurate formulation fine-tuning is essential to ensure safety, long-term durability, and compliance with international standards for dielectric strength, volume resistivity, and environmental and thermal ageing. This work presents an experimental study demonstrating how minor additives can critically affect the performance of complex flame-retardant elastomeric formulations. The investigation focuses on the role of small amounts of zinc oxide (ZnO) in commercial cable compounds based on a crosslinked elastomeric matrix composed of ethylene–propylene monomer (EPM), ethylene–propylene–diene monomer (EPDM), and thermoplastic polyolefin elastomer (POE). The formulations contain aluminium trihydroxide (ATH) as the major filler, together with several minor additives. Among these, a phenolic antioxidant (AN01) acting as a metal deactivator is also present. The addition of ZnO in low amounts (2–5 phr) allowed the compounds to maintain a volume resistivity ≥ 10¹² Ω·cm in water at 100 °C. To elucidate the role of ZnO, a systematic set of formulations was prepared by varying the type and content of selected additives. The compounds were prepared by melt mixing in an internal mixer (Banbury type), followed by peroxide crosslinking via compression molding. Electrical characterization results indicate that ZnO interacts with the phenolic additive through surface adsorption, forming a coated particle with significantly reduced electrical conductivity. Optimal electrical performance was achieved when the ZnO-to-additive ratio corresponded to the minimum amount required for complete surface complexation. Full article

Application of porous coordination polymers (PCPs), which include metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs) in sensors for detection of toxicant pollutants in water is discussed. Particular attention is given to electrochemical and photoluminescent sensors because PCPs/MOFs demonstrate good selectivity towards adsorption of molecules in combination with outstanding luminescent properties and electroconductivity in composite materials. The use of PCPs/MOFs as pre-concentrators of the compounds to be analyzed is also outlined. The review covers the results described in the literature over the past 5 years in such diverse fields as the determination of metal ions and anions, drugs, mycotoxins, pesticides, explosives, bacteria, etc. Thus, the review demonstrates the proliferation of MOF applications and the universal nature of sensors based on them. Full article

Sulfated polysaccharides, carrageenans (CRGs) derived from Chondrus armatus, were used as mucoadhesive matrices for incorporating the antiviral drug acyclovir (ACV). Through IR spectroscopy and quantum-chemical calculations, it was demonstrated that CRGs interact with ACV, forming complexes via intermolecular hydrogen bonding and coordination interactions, with an enthalpy of approximately 15–20 kcal/mol. The monomodal ζ-potential distribution observed in the CRG/ACV mixture confirmed the successful formation of this complex. The antiviral efficacy of the CRG/ACV complex was evaluated during the early stages of herpes simple virus (HSV-1) infection, focusing on its ability to inhibit the cytopathic effects of the virus on host cells. Notably, CRGs enhanced antiviral activity by allowing a reduction in the ACV dosage. Unlike ACV alone, the CRG complex exhibited a prophylactic effect, with therapeutic efficacy comparable to that of ACV. When incorporated into liposomes, the CRG/ACV complex displayed excellent mucoadhesive properties. This liposomal formulation demonstrated notable antiviral activity against infected cells with selective index (SI) 344 and a heightened prophylactic effect (SI 128) compared to the complex alone. Overall, these new antiviral compounds show promise in selectively inhibiting viral adsorption and replication processes without adversely affecting the host organism. Full article

To detect volatile organic compounds, fabricating gas sensors with high sensitivity, excellent selectivity, low detection limits, and good long-term stability is critical. Herein, Er_1/3Yb_1/3La_1/3FeO₃ medium-entropy material was synthesized via the sol–gel method and characterized in terms of its morphological, structural, and chemical properties. The medium-entropy design induces significant lattice distortion and increased oxygen vacancies, leading to higher adsorbed oxygen content and hole concentration on the material surface, which enhances the activity of gas-sensing reactions. The Er_1/3Yb_1/3La_1/3FeO₃ sensor exhibits a response of 13.2 toward 10 ppm of butanone gas at the optimum operating temperature of 192 °C, which is nearly three times the response of the ErFeO₃ sensor (4.5), along with excellent selectivity to butanone gas, a low detection limit (0.5 ppm), and long-term stability. Moreover, the applied magnetic fields improve the ordering of magnetic moments in both Er_1/3Yb_1/3La_1/3FeO₃ and O₂ molecules, which facilitates gas adsorption and electron transfer, and further boosts the gas-sensing performance. The response of the Er_1/3Yb_1/3La_1/3FeO₃ sensor toward 10 ppm butanone is enhanced to 21.3 under the applied magnetic field of 680 mT, which improves the selectivity toward butanone. This work provides a novel material design strategy for the detection of VOCs and a feasible magnetic field-assisted approach for optimizing the gas-sensing performance of perovskite ferrite materials. Full article

Pesticides are a major cause of water contamination, making this issue a major environmental and public health concern. In this context, the development of advanced and effective remediation materials is needed. In this study, a titanium-functionalized magnetic silica aerogel (AG-Ti@Fe₃O₄-SA) was successfully prepared via microfluidics and evaluated for water decontamination. The structural and compositional features of the aerogel were determined using XRD, FT-IR, RAMAN, SEM, TEM, BET, and DLS, confirming the formation of the aerogel with dispersed Fe₃O₄-SA nanoparticles and the successful incorporation of titanium within the aerogel matrix. Regarding decontamination potential, the aerogel was tested against a pesticide mixture, yielding pesticide-dependent removal efficiencies (16–100%). Notably, the aerogel exhibited a high affinity for organophosphorus pesticides and a moderate affinity for polar compounds, whereas bulky hydrophobic pesticides showed lower adsorption. In vitro, the aerogel induced a moderate decrease in HaCaT cell viability after 48 h of exposure, accompanied by a slight increase in lactate dehydrogenase release, while HEK293 cells remained largely unaffected, indicating a cell-type-dependent biological response. Overall, the findings from this screening-level study recommend AG-Ti@Fe₃O₄-SA aerogel as a promising selective adsorbent for pesticide removal. Full article

Achieving selective conversion of lignin-derived phenolic compounds to cycloalkanes under mild conditions remains a significant challenge. Herein, we report a novel iron-incorporated two-dimensional NiO nanosheet supported Pd-Pt alloy catalyst (Pd_1.7-Pt_0.3/NiO-5FeO_x) that is capable of facilitating highly efficient hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of lignin-derived phenolic model compounds (e.g., 2,6-dimethoxy-4-methylphenol) under mild conditions (250 °C, 5 atm H₂). The reaction mechanism was investigated through various characterization techniques and mechanistic studies: introducing FeO_x into the NiO support increases the proportion of defect-related oxygen species (Oβ), enhances adsorption of the key hydrogenated alcohol intermediate 4-methylcyclohexanol, and optimizes the acidity distribution of the catalyst, thereby promoting C(_sp³)-O bond cleavage (dehydroxylation) toward cycloalkane formation. The catalyst achieved high conversion (>95%) for various lignin-derived phenolics and high selectivity (93.0%) toward methylcyclohexane under mild conditions. This work offers new insights into the design of efficient biomass conversion catalysts under mild conditions and provides an energy-efficient route for the sustainable utilization of lignin resources. Full article

Soil health is a major environmental concern. Biochars are a promising solution to address both soil contamination and amendment. They represent a sustainable valorisation alternative for solid wastes produced in huge amounts, namely agroforestry residues and sludge from wastewater treatment plants. Biochar’s superior properties, enhanced pore structure and high specific surface area can contribute to restoring soil quality, by adsorbing several pollutants (e.g., pharmaceutical compounds, pesticides, and metals) from water and soil, enhancing water retention capacity, improving soil aggregation, regulating pH, and reducing the need for synthetic fertilisers. Multiple studies have reported removal efficiencies exceeding 70% for metals and 60% for organic compounds in soils, as well as over 40% for both organic compounds and metals in waters. These efficiencies depend on factors such as feedstock, pyrolysis conditions, modification strategies, and target contaminants. Recent advancements in the field have introduced both chemical and physical modifications that can enhance adsorption selectivity. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the fundamentals of biochar production, modification strategies, and their environmental applications in soil remediation and water treatment. By comparing unmodified and modified biochars, this review highlights the crucial factors that influence the performance of this highly versatile and cost-effective solution. Full article

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs, dominated by xylene, toluene, and benzene) and paint mist emissions from ship painting represent a major environmental and health concern, posing a critical bottleneck to the green transformation of the shipbuilding industry. To tackle this challenge, this study presents an integrated recovery system designed specifically for ship automatic-spraying robots. Guided by the synergistic principle of “air-curtain containment, multi-stage adsorption, and negative-pressure recovery,” the system features a modular design that ensures full compatibility with the robots’ spraying trajectory without operational interference. Core adsorption materials, namely glass fiber filter cotton and honeycomb activated carbon fiber, were selected to suit the high-humidity and high-pollutant-concentration environment typical of ship painting. An appropriately matched axial flow fan maintains stable negative pressure throughout the system. Furthermore, the design integrates an air curtain isolation subsystem and an automated control subsystem, enabling coordinated operation and real-time adjustment. Using ANSYS Fluent, geometric and flow field simulation models were established to analyze airflow distribution and pollutant adsorption behavior, which led to the optimization of key structural and material parameters. Field experiments conducted in shipyard environments demonstrated the system’s superior performance: it achieved a VOC removal efficiency of 88.4% and a paint mist capture efficiency of 85.7% under optimal working conditions, with a maximum simulated paint mist capture efficiency of 86.2%. The system maintained stable performance under complex vertical and overhead spraying conditions, with an efficiency attenuation of less than 1.5%, and its outlet emissions fully complied with the mandatory limits specified in the Emission Standard of Air Pollutants for the Shipbuilding Industry (GB 30981.2-2025). The relative error between experimental data and simulation results is less than 2%, confirming the reliability and practicality of the proposed system. This research provides an efficient and adaptable pollution control solution for green shipbuilding and offers valuable technical insights for the sustainable upgrading of automated painting processes in heavy industries. Full article

Adsorption is a method widely used to remove low-molecular-weight organics from wastewaters, and phenolic compounds from olive mill wastewater are a persistent class of bioactive pollutants of environmental concern. We screened eleven microalgal candidates at 0.10 g·L⁻¹ using batch kinetics fitted with the Lagergren pseudo-first-order model to obtain rate constants (k) and fitted equilibrium capacities (q_e). Cyanobacteria, particularly Anabaena spp. and Limnospira platensis, exhibited the highest adsorptive potential in the screening; wall-less species (e.g., Dunaliella salina, Isochrysis galbana) showed negligible surface adsorption, indicating that the presence and type of cell wall highly influence biosorption. L. platensis was selected for detailed study because of its established industrial cultivation and valorisation potential. Equilibrium experiments with HCl-functionalized L. platensis at four biomass loadings (0.10–1.00 g·L⁻¹; initial phenolic mix 30 mg·L⁻¹) showed that increasing dose reduced equilibrium concentration (C_e) but decreased specific uptake from ≈77 mg·g⁻¹ to ≈18 mg·g⁻¹ while removal rose from ~26% to ~61%. Nonlinear isotherm fitting favoured the Freundlich model (1/n < 1), consistent with heterogeneous, multi-site adsorption. Targeted macromolecular extractions abolished phenol uptake, demonstrating that the intact protein–polysaccharide matrix is essential for binding. L. platensis route delivered higher single-cycle removal (≈61%) compared to the maize-derived activated carbon reference (≈49%) while also incurring a 1.3-fold lower GWP (approximately 3 kg CO₂-eq per treatment) than the activated carbon route (approximately 4 kg CO₂-eq per treatment) in our model. Overall, L. platensis represents a lower-impact alternative for natural phenols remediation, especially when integrated into valorisation pathways that recover algal co-products. Full article

Macroporous adsorption resins (MARs) are widely used for preparative-scale flavonoid purification, yet rational resin selection remains difficult because flavonoids differ substantially in hydrophobicity, hydrogen-bonding capacity, molecular size, and planarity. This review reorganizes the available literature into a structure-guided and data-supported selection aid rather than a fully predictive model. A systematic search of Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and CNKI (January 2000 to February 2026) identified 55 studies for qualitative synthesis. Because many reports describe total flavonoids or mixed extracts rather than explicit single-compound adsorption data, only the subset with sufficiently clear compound-level or narrowly interpretable adsorption information was used for cautious comparative interpretation. Across the compiled evidence, non-polar resins generally favored less polar aglycones and methoxylated flavonoids, whereas medium-polar and polar resins more often performed well for glycosylated or more hydrophilic targets. On this basis, flavonoids were organized into four operational classes linked to recommended resin polarity, indicative adsorption capacity ranges, and typical ethanol-elution windows. A retrospective comparison with independent literature cases suggests practical value for initial resin prioritization, but the framework should be interpreted primarily as a heuristic, trend-based guide rather than as a strictly predictive model, because mixed-matrix effects, pore accessibility, and competitive adsorption can override simple polarity matching. A generalized operating window for adsorption and desorption is also summarized. Overall, this review provides a mechanism-informed starting point for resin screening while making explicit the conditions under which case-specific experiments remain necessary. Full article

One of the many applications of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) is their use as adsorbents for removing emerging contaminants, such as ciprofloxacin (CIP), a fluoroquinolone-class antibiotic, from aqueous environments. We selected the copper-based MOF HKUST-1 and coupled it with TiO₂, then immobilized the composite on glass beads (TiO₂/HKUST-1@GB) to produce a reusable photocatalyst. The immobilization of the composite on glass beads improved the structural strength as well as the reusability of the photocatalyst. Together, these properties pave the way for scale-up for commercial applications in continuous-flow water treatment systems. Herein, we used XRD, FTIR, and SEM to characterize the immobilized catalyst and assess its structural, morphological, and optical properties. Photocatalytic experiments showed 98% degradation in 45 min under UV irradiation at pH 6 and a CIP concentration of 200 μgL⁻¹. The TiO₂/HKUST-1@GB composite showed higher degradation compared to pristine TiO₂ and HKUST-1 due to enhanced charge–carrier separation and synergistic interfacial effects. The reusability of the composite over five cycles was observed, with high stability and negligible Cu and Ti leaching, indicating promising environmental performance. Thus, TiO₂/HKUST-1@GB provides an efficient and sustainable approach for removing ciprofloxacin from aqueous solutions. The degradation performance, reusability, and ability to work simultaneously in adsorption and photocatalytic processes make TiO₂/HKUST-1@GB a promising candidate for the advanced treatment of aqueous-phase antimicrobial compounds such as ciprofloxacin. Full article

Despite global efforts to reduce landfill use for municipal waste, many sites remain active, and older closed sites still require management, particularly regarding leachate. Landfill leachate contains varying levels of organic and inorganic pollutants, generated through biological and physicochemical processes following water infiltration. Its complex composition—including COD, inorganic macro-components, heavy metals, and xenobiotics—necessitates effective treatment technologies to enable safe discharge into surface waters. This study compares low-cost, eco-sustainable adsorbents for the removal of ammonium, trace elements (Cd, Be, Fe, Cu, Ni, Pb, Cr, As, Sn, Sb, Se), and color (as an indirect measure of organic compounds) from urban landfill leachate. In more detail, six biochars from different biomass feedstocks and pyro-gasification conditions as well as natural chabazite and synthetic zeolite 13X (FAU-type) were investigated. After characterization, biochars were characterized and adsorption performance was assessed. Removal performance was comparatively evaluated after 24 h batch contact under fixed experimental conditions. Results showed that gasified biochars achieved high removal efficiency for metals and color but were ineffective for ammonium. Instead, both zeolites demonstrated efficient ammonium removal (~50%) but were less efficient for metals, reflecting the mechanism-driven selectivity of the adsorbents studied. Finally, a principal component analysis (PCA) revealed correlations between biochar physicochemical properties and contaminant retention, providing insight into key factors governing adsorption and informing the design of sustainable leachate treatment strategies. Full article