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Keywords = situ hydrolysis

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37 pages, 4320 KiB  
Article
Proof of Concept for Enhanced Sugar Yields and Inhibitors Reduction from Aspen Biomass via Novel, Single-Step Nitrogen Explosive Decompression (NED 3.0) Pretreatment Method
by Damaris Okafor, Lisandra Rocha-Meneses, Vahur Rooni and Timo Kikas
Energies 2025, 18(15), 4026; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18154026 - 29 Jul 2025
Viewed by 362
Abstract
The transition to sustainable energy sources has intensified interest in lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) as a feedstock for second-generation biofuels. However, the inherent structural recalcitrance of LCB requires the utilization of an effective pretreatment to enhance enzymatic hydrolysis and subsequent fermentation yields. This manuscript [...] Read more.
The transition to sustainable energy sources has intensified interest in lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) as a feedstock for second-generation biofuels. However, the inherent structural recalcitrance of LCB requires the utilization of an effective pretreatment to enhance enzymatic hydrolysis and subsequent fermentation yields. This manuscript presents a novel, single-step, and optimized nitrogen explosive decompression system (NED 3.0) designed to address the critical limitations of earlier NED versions by enabling the in situ removal of inhibitory compounds from biomass slurry and fermentation inefficiency at elevated temperatures, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for post-treatment detoxification. Aspen wood (Populus tremula) was pretreated by NED 3.0 at 200 °C, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation. The analytical results confirmed substantial reductions in common fermentation inhibitors, such as acetic acid (up to 2.18 g/100 g dry biomass) and furfural (0.18 g/100 g dry biomass), during early filtrate recovery. Hydrolysate analysis revealed a glucose yield of 26.41 g/100 g dry biomass, corresponding to a hydrolysis efficiency of 41.3%. Fermentation yielded up to 8.05 g ethanol/100 g dry biomass and achieved a fermentation efficiency of 59.8%. Inhibitor concentrations in both hydrolysate and fermentation broth remained within tolerable limits, allowing for effective glucose release and sustained fermentation performance. Compared with earlier NED configurations, the optimized system improved sugar recovery and ethanol production. These findings confirm the operational advantages of NED 3.0, including reduced inhibitory stress, simplified process integration, and chemical-free operation, underscoring its potential for scalability in line with the EU Green Deal for bioethanol production from woody biomass. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section A4: Bio-Energy)
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11 pages, 3598 KiB  
Article
NMR Spectroelectrochemistry in Studies of Procarbazine Oxidation by Laser-Induced Graphene Thin Films
by Zhe Wang, Xiaoping Zhang, Shihui Xu, Lin Yang, Lina Wang, Yijing Wang, Ahmad Mansoor and Wei Sun
C 2025, 11(3), 52; https://doi.org/10.3390/c11030052 - 21 Jul 2025
Viewed by 492
Abstract
In this paper, nanoscale graphene film electrodes were prepared using laser-induced technology, and an in situ electrochemical cell was constructed. The normalized peak areas at 2.82 ppm for the samples without the in situ electrochemical cell and with an in situ electrochemical cell [...] Read more.
In this paper, nanoscale graphene film electrodes were prepared using laser-induced technology, and an in situ electrochemical cell was constructed. The normalized peak areas at 2.82 ppm for the samples without the in situ electrochemical cell and with an in situ electrochemical cell are 4.02 and 4.41, respectively. Tests showed that this in situ electrochemical cell has minimal interference from the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) magnetic field, allowing for high-resolution in situ spectra. Using this in situ electrochemical cell and employing in situ electrochemistry combined with NMR techniques, we investigated the oxidation reaction of 0.01 M procarbazine (PCZ) in real-time. We elucidated the following oxidation mechanism for procarbazine: the oxidation of PCZ first generates azo-procarbazine, which then undergoes a double bond shift to hydrazo-procarbazine. hydrazo-procarbazine undergoes hydrolysis to yield benzaldehyde-procarbazine, and then finally oxidizes to produce N-isopropylterephthalic acid. This confirms that the combination of in situ electrochemistry and nuclear magnetic resonance technology provides chemists with an effective tool for in situ studying the reaction mechanisms of drug molecules. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Carbon Materials and Carbon Allotropes)
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15 pages, 3329 KiB  
Article
Identification of Chicken Bone Paste in Starch-Based Sausages Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy
by Haoyu Li, Li Shen, Xiang Han, Yu Liu and Yutong Wang
Sensors 2025, 25(13), 4226; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25134226 - 7 Jul 2025
Viewed by 447
Abstract
This study aims to rapidly in situ identify starch sausage samples with the improper addition of chicken bone paste. Chicken bones play important roles in building materials, biomass fuels, and as food additives after enzymatic hydrolysis, but no current research indicates that chicken [...] Read more.
This study aims to rapidly in situ identify starch sausage samples with the improper addition of chicken bone paste. Chicken bones play important roles in building materials, biomass fuels, and as food additives after enzymatic hydrolysis, but no current research indicates that chicken bones can be directly added to food for consumption. Especially in starch sausages, the addition of chicken bone paste is highly controversial due to potential risks of esophageal laceration and religious concerns. This paper first uses laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) to investigate the elemental differences between starch sausages and chicken bone paste. By preparing mixtures of starch sausages and chicken bone paste at different ratios, the relationships between the spectral peak intensities of elements, such as Ca, Ba, and Sr, and the proportion of chicken bone paste were determined. Through processing methods such as normalization with reference spectral lines, selection of the signal of the second laser pulse at the same position, and electron temperature correction, the determination coefficients (R2) of each element’s spectral lines have significantly improved. Specifically, the R2 values for Ca I, Ca II, Ba II, and Sr II have increased from 0.302, 0.694, 0.857, and 0.691 to 0.972, 0.952, 0.970, and 0.982, respectively. Finally, principal component analysis (PCA) was used to distinguish starch sausages, chicken bone paste, and their mixtures at different ratios, with further effective differentiation achieved through t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE). The results show that LIBS technology can serve as an effective and rapid method for detecting elemental composition in food and distinguishing different food products, providing safety guarantees for food production and supervision. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optical Sensing Technologies for Food Quality and Safety)
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14 pages, 3484 KiB  
Article
Al2O3@SiO2 Supported NiMo Catalyst with Hierarchical Meso-Macroporous Structure for Hydrodemetallization
by Weichu Li, Jun Bao, Shuangqin Zeng, Jinbao Zheng, Weiping Fang, Xiaodong Yi, Qinghe Yang and Weikun Lai
Catalysts 2025, 15(7), 646; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15070646 - 1 Jul 2025
Viewed by 420
Abstract
The pore structure of a hydrotreating catalyst plays a pivotal role in hydrodemetallization (HDM) reactions. To effectively construct a meso-macroporous catalyst, we employed a CTAB-guided in situ TEOS hydrolysis approach to prepare silica-coated γ-Al2O3@SiO2 composite supports. The silica [...] Read more.
The pore structure of a hydrotreating catalyst plays a pivotal role in hydrodemetallization (HDM) reactions. To effectively construct a meso-macroporous catalyst, we employed a CTAB-guided in situ TEOS hydrolysis approach to prepare silica-coated γ-Al2O3@SiO2 composite supports. The silica shell incorporation significantly enhances specific surface area and reduces the metal–support interactions, thereby improving the dispersion of NiMo active components and boosting the deposition of metal impurity. Hence, the NiMo/Al2O3@SiO2 catalyst (2.8 wt.% NiO, 4.3 wt.% MoO3) exhibits much higher HDM activity than that of NiMo/Al2O3. This is evidenced by markedly higher demetallization rate constant (1.38 h−1) and turnover frequency (0.56 h−1) of the NiMo/Al2O3@SiO2. The NiMo/Al2O3@SiO2 catalyst further demonstrates excellent recyclability during sequential HDM reactions. This superior catalytic behavior stems from the hierarchical meso-macroporous structure, which simultaneously facilitates the deposition of metal impurities and mitigates deactivation by pore blockage. Full article
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14 pages, 4709 KiB  
Article
Eco-Friendly Gallic Acid-Tailored Binder with Synergistic Polarity Sites for High-Loading Lithium–Sulfur Batteries
by Xulong Jing, Shuyu Liu, Jiapei Wang, Chao Wan, Juan Zhu, Xiaojun He and Biyu Jin
Sustainability 2025, 17(12), 5240; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17125240 - 6 Jun 2025
Viewed by 604
Abstract
The development of polymer binders with tailored functionalities and green manufacturing processes is highly needed for high-performance lithium–sulfur batteries. In this study, a readily hydrolyzable 3,9-divinyl-2,4,8,10-tetraoxaspiro-[5.5]-undecane is utilized to prepare a water-based binder. Specifically, the acrolein produced by hydrolysis undergoes in situ polymerization [...] Read more.
The development of polymer binders with tailored functionalities and green manufacturing processes is highly needed for high-performance lithium–sulfur batteries. In this study, a readily hydrolyzable 3,9-divinyl-2,4,8,10-tetraoxaspiro-[5.5]-undecane is utilized to prepare a water-based binder. Specifically, the acrolein produced by hydrolysis undergoes in situ polymerization to form a linear polymer, while the other hydrolyzed product, pentaerythritol, physically crosslinks these polymer chains via hydrogen bonding, generating a network polymer (BTU). Additionally, gallic acid (GA), a substance derived from waste wood, is further introduced into BTU during slurry preparation, forming a biphenol-containing binder (BG) with a multi-hydrogen-bonded structure. This resilience and robust cathode framework effectively accommodate volumetric changes during cycling while maintaining efficient ion and electron transport pathways. Furthermore, the abundant polar groups in BG enable strong polysulfide adsorption. As a result, sulfur cathode with a high mass loading of 5.3 mg cm−2 employing the BG (7:3) binder still retains an areal capacity of 4.7 mA h cm−2 after 50 cycles at 0.1 C. This work presents a sustainable strategy for battery manufacturing by integrating renewable biomass-derived materials and eco-friendly aqueous processing to develop polymer binders, offering a green pathway to high-performance lithium–sulfur batteries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Materials and Technologies for Battery Manufacturing)
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30 pages, 3841 KiB  
Article
Eco-Friendly Octylsilane-Modified Amino-Functional Silicone Coatings for a Durable Hybrid Organic–Inorganic Water-Repellent Textile Finish
by Mariam Hadhri, Claudio Colleoni, Agnese D’Agostino, Mohamed Erhaim, Raphael Palucci Rosa, Giuseppe Rosace and Valentina Trovato
Polymers 2025, 17(11), 1578; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17111578 - 5 Jun 2025
Viewed by 1398
Abstract
The widespread phase-out of long-chain per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) has created an urgent need for durable, fluorine-free water-repellent finishes that match the performance of legacy chemistries while minimising environmental impact. Here, the performance of an eco-friendly hybrid organic–inorganic treatment obtained by the [...] Read more.
The widespread phase-out of long-chain per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) has created an urgent need for durable, fluorine-free water-repellent finishes that match the performance of legacy chemistries while minimising environmental impact. Here, the performance of an eco-friendly hybrid organic–inorganic treatment obtained by the in situ hydrolysis–condensation of triethoxy(octyl)silane (OS) in an amino-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (APT-PDMS) aqueous dispersion was investigated. The sol was applied to plain-weave cotton and polyester by a pad-dry-cure process and benchmarked against a commercial fluorinated finish. Morphology and chemistry were characterised by SEM–EDS, ATR-FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy; wettability was assessed by static contact angle, ISO 4920 spray ratings, and AATCC 193 water/alcohol repellence; and durability, handle, and breathability were evaluated through repeated laundering, bending stiffness, and water-vapour transmission rate measurements. The silica/PDMS coating formed a uniform, strongly adherent nanostructured layer conferring static contact angles of 130° on cotton and 145° on polyester. After five ISO 105-C10 wash cycles, the treated fabrics still displayed a spray rating of 5/5 and AATCC 193 grade 7, outperforming or equalling the fluorinated control, while causing ≤5% loss of water-vapour permeability and only a marginal increase in bending stiffness. These results demonstrate that the proposed one-step, water-borne sol–gel process affords a sustainable, industrially scalable route to high-performance, durable, water-repellent finishes for both natural and synthetic textiles, offering a viable alternative to PFAS-based chemistry for outdoor apparel and technical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally Friendly Textiles, Fibers and Their Composites)
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12 pages, 1467 KiB  
Article
Conversion of Cellulose to γ-Valerolactone over Raney Ni Catalyst Using H2O as a Hydrogen Source
by Yalin Guo, Zhuang Ma, Binbin Jin, Limin Ma and Guodong Yao
Catalysts 2025, 15(6), 530; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15060530 - 27 May 2025
Viewed by 604
Abstract
The sustainable valorization of lignocellulosic biomass into high-value platform chemicals presents a crucial pathway for reducing reliance on fossil resources. Gamma (γ)-valerolactone (GVL) has gained recognition as a versatile bio-derived compound with broad applications in renewable energy systems and green chemical synthesis. While [...] Read more.
The sustainable valorization of lignocellulosic biomass into high-value platform chemicals presents a crucial pathway for reducing reliance on fossil resources. Gamma (γ)-valerolactone (GVL) has gained recognition as a versatile bio-derived compound with broad applications in renewable energy systems and green chemical synthesis. While conventional GVL production strategies from carbohydrate biomass typically depend on noble metal catalysts paired with high-pressure hydrogen gas, these approaches face substantial technical barriers including catalyst costs, hydrogen storage requirements, and operational safety concerns in large-scale applications. This work develops an innovative catalytic system utilizing earth-abundant iron for in situ hydrogen generation through water splitting, integrated with Raney Ni as the hydrogenation catalyst. The designed two-stage process enables direct conversion of cellulose—first through acid hydrolysis to levulinic acid (LA) followed by catalytic hydrogenation to GVL without intermediate purification. Through systematic parameter optimization, a remarkable 61.9% overall GVL yield from cellulose feedstock was achieved. Furthermore, the methodology’s versatility was demonstrated through wheat straw conversion experiments, yielding 24.6% GVL. This integrated methodology explores a technically feasible pathway for direct cellulose-to-GVL conversion utilizing abundant water as the hydrogen source, effectively overcoming the critical limitations associated with conventional hydrogenation technologies regarding hydrogen infrastructure and process safety. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Catalytic Conversion of Biomass to Bioenergy)
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20 pages, 476 KiB  
Article
Combining Carboxylic-Acid-Based Deep Eutectic Solvents and High Temperatures Enhances Phenolic Acid Extraction from Grape Pomace
by Francesca Lorenzo, Marialaura Frisina, Sonia Bonacci, Monica Nardi, Manuela Oliverio and Antonio Procopio
Antioxidants 2025, 14(6), 643; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14060643 - 27 May 2025
Viewed by 538
Abstract
Phenolic acids are contained in grape pomace, mostly in a conjugate form, and can be a natural source of building blocks if they are efficiently hydrolyzed and extracted from the natural matrix. In this study, a comparative study based on the spectrophotometric evaluation [...] Read more.
Phenolic acids are contained in grape pomace, mostly in a conjugate form, and can be a natural source of building blocks if they are efficiently hydrolyzed and extracted from the natural matrix. In this study, a comparative study based on the spectrophotometric evaluation of total phenolic content, hydroxycinnamic acid content, and anthocyanin content was performed on different carboxylic-acid-based NADES with different heating sources. Moreover, a quali–quantitative characterization of the bioactive molecules extracted was performed using UHPLC-ESI-HRMS. We found that the nature of the acidic component of the DES was crucial in selecting the family of molecules to be extracted; ChCl/oxalic acid 1:1 NADES, when combined with MAE at 100 °C, is the best medium for the in situ hydrolysis and extraction of phenolic acids from grape pomace. The ORAC test performed on natural extracts with and without NADES revealed a role for NADES components in antioxidant activity against the ROS of extracted bioactive phenols. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Natural and Synthetic Antioxidants)
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21 pages, 8880 KiB  
Article
Impact of Acid Hydrolysis on Morphology, Rheology, Mechanical Properties, and Processing of Thermoplastic Starch
by Saffana Kouka, Veronika Gajdosova, Beata Strachota, Ivana Sloufova, Radomir Kuzel, Zdenek Stary and Miroslav Slouf
Polymers 2025, 17(10), 1310; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17101310 - 11 May 2025
Viewed by 742
Abstract
We modified native wheat starch using 15, 30, and 60 min of acid hydrolysis (AH). The non-modified and AH-modified starches were converted to highly homogeneous thermoplastic starches (TPSs) using our two-step preparation protocol consisting of solution casting and melt mixing. Our main objective [...] Read more.
We modified native wheat starch using 15, 30, and 60 min of acid hydrolysis (AH). The non-modified and AH-modified starches were converted to highly homogeneous thermoplastic starches (TPSs) using our two-step preparation protocol consisting of solution casting and melt mixing. Our main objective was to verify if AH can decrease the processing temperature of TPS. All samples were characterized in detail by microscopic, spectroscopic, diffraction, thermomechanical, rheological, and micromechanical methods, including in situ measurements of torque and temperature during the final melt mixing step. The experimental results showed that (i) AH decreased the average molecular weight preferentially in the amorphous regions, (ii) the lower-viscosity matrix in the AH-treated starches resulted in slightly higher crystallinity, and (iii) all AH-modified TPSs with a less viscous amorphous phase and higher content of crystalline phase exhibited similar properties. The effect of the higher crystallinity predominated at a laboratory temperature and low deformations, resulting in slightly stiffer material. The effect of the lower viscosity dominated during the melt mixing, where the shorter molecules acted as a lubricant and decreased the in situ measured processing temperature. The AH-induced decrease in the processing temperature could be beneficial for energy savings and/or possible temperature-sensitive admixtures for TPS systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimization, Properties and Application of Polysaccharides)
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14 pages, 4139 KiB  
Article
Catalytic Conversion of Xylo-Oligomers to Furfural in Pulping Pre-Hydrolysis Liquor Using a Hydroxyl-Functionalized Covalent Organic Framework
by Kai Zhang, Huanmei Xia, Guangyao Cheng, Peng Gan, Yuan Ju, Baozhen Guo, Jingli Yang, Chengcheng Qiao, Jixiang Lin and Jiachuan Chen
Polymers 2025, 17(8), 1102; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17081102 - 18 Apr 2025
Viewed by 462
Abstract
With the rapid development of biorefinery technology, the efficient conversion of lignocellulose into high-value platform chemicals is of great significance for enhancing the value of renewable carbon resources. In this study, a hydroxyl-functionalized covalent organic framework (COF), TAPB-DHPA, was synthesized via an in [...] Read more.
With the rapid development of biorefinery technology, the efficient conversion of lignocellulose into high-value platform chemicals is of great significance for enhancing the value of renewable carbon resources. In this study, a hydroxyl-functionalized covalent organic framework (COF), TAPB-DHPA, was synthesized via an in situ method and innovatively applied to the catalytic conversion of xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) into furfural. The results demonstrated that TAPB-DHPA possesses a large specific surface area, a well-developed porous structure, and excellent thermal stability, with abundant Brønsted acid (B acid) sites, exhibiting outstanding catalytic activity. Under optimal conditions, including a catalyst loading of 0.16 wt%, a reaction temperature of 180 °C, and a reaction time of 3 h, a furfural yield of up to 65.4% was achieved. The high selectivity was primarily attributed to the p-π conjugation effect between the benzene ring and the phenolic hydroxyl group, which enhanced the ionization ability of hydroxyl hydrogen, thereby effectively promoting the hydrolysis of XOS and subsequent dehydration. Furthermore, TAPB-DHPA exhibited excellent recyclability and stability, maintaining a furfural yield of over 59.9% after six cycles. This study provides new insights into the application of functionalized COF in biomass catalytic conversion and contributes to the green transformation of the pulp and paper industry into a biorefinery-based model. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Polymer Chemistry)
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17 pages, 8294 KiB  
Article
Aqueous Gel-Casting Synthesis and the Characterization of Cobalt Oxide as a Catalyst Precursor for Sodium Borohydride Hydrolysis
by Lan Zhang, Zhihua Deng, Bin Miao, Hongquan He, Chee Kok Poh, Lili Zhang and Siew Hwa Chan
Catalysts 2025, 15(4), 380; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15040380 - 14 Apr 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 687
Abstract
Aqueous gel-casting provides a cost-effective and scalable approach for synthesizing nano-spherical Co3O4 powders, enabling precise control over particle morphology. In this study, Co3O4 powders were prepared using this method and evaluated as a catalyst precursor for the [...] Read more.
Aqueous gel-casting provides a cost-effective and scalable approach for synthesizing nano-spherical Co3O4 powders, enabling precise control over particle morphology. In this study, Co3O4 powders were prepared using this method and evaluated as a catalyst precursor for the hydrolysis of sodium borohydride (NaBH4). The effects of the monomer (acrylamide, AM)-to-metal molar ratio and initiator content (ammonium persulphate, APS) on particle size and catalytic performance were systematically explored. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the formation of the Co3O4 phase at 400 °C, while transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images revealed particle sizes ranging from 16 to 85 nm, with higher AM and APS concentrations promoting finer particles. The optimized catalyst achieved a high hydrogen generation rate (HGR) of 28.13 L min−1·cat.−1, demonstrating excellent catalytic activity. Moreover, in situ-formed cobalt boride, derived from Co3O4 calcined at 600 °C for 2 h, exhibited an activation energy of 51.81 kJ mol−1, comparable to Ru-based catalysts. This study underscores the aqueous gel-casting technique as a promising strategy for synthesizing efficient and low-cost hydrogen generation catalysts, offering an alternative to noble metal-based materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalytic Processes for Green Hydrogen Production)
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15 pages, 4715 KiB  
Article
In Situ Anchored, Ultrasmall, Oxygen Vacancy-Rich TiO2−x on Carbonized Bacterial Cellulose for the Efficient Adsorption and Separation of Organic Pollutants
by Man Zhou, Yanli Zhou, Minmin Ni, Yuzhe Zhang, Song Xu, Hao Ma, Jian Zhou, Jin Zhao, Liwei Lin and Zhongyu Li
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(7), 514; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15070514 - 28 Mar 2025
Viewed by 457
Abstract
Superior selective adsorption of organic dye is still a big challenge in the process of dye wastewater treatment. Meanwhile, low-price and environmentally friendly biomass-based adsorbents show huge potential in the fields of separation and purification. In this study, we adopted the “hydrolysis–calcination method” [...] Read more.
Superior selective adsorption of organic dye is still a big challenge in the process of dye wastewater treatment. Meanwhile, low-price and environmentally friendly biomass-based adsorbents show huge potential in the fields of separation and purification. In this study, we adopted the “hydrolysis–calcination method” to develop a novel in situ anchoring strategy for ultrasmall TiO2−x on carbonized bacterial cellulose (CBC), which was derived from natural bacterial cellulose. Notably, 3D networks of porous CBC played a dual role for both providing hydrolytic sites and controlling the oxygen vacancies (Vo) of TiO2−x. As for the single-dye adsorption, the TiO2−x/CBC had a strong adsorption ability (101.4 mg/g) for removing methylene blue (MB), which was much higher than that of methyl orange (MO), malachite green (MG), rhodamine B (RhB), and tetracyclines (TC). Moreover, under the optimized carbonization temperature (Tc) of 300 °C, the TiO2−x/CBC-300 exhibited an outstanding separation efficiency of 97.07% for the MB/MO solution. Detailed analysis confirmed that Tc was a key regulator for adjusting the Vo concentration, which directly influenced the surface charge density and, further, the separation efficiency of TiO2−x/CBC. Additionally, the used adsorbent could be easily regenerated from washing by ethanol. After 4 regenerations, the adsorption efficiency declined only by 6.9% after 20 min and 13.6% after 120 min adsorption, respectively. Ultimately, this oxygen vacancy-rich TiO2−x/BC system illuminated good prospects for mixed dye wastewater adsorption and separation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nano-Enabled Materials for Clean Water and Energy Generation)
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15 pages, 2843 KiB  
Article
Difenoconazole Degradation by Novel Microbial Consortium TA01: Metabolic Pathway and Microbial Community Analysis
by Tianyue Wang, Jingyi Sui, Yi Zhou, Liping Wang, Jia Yang, Feiyu Chen, Xiuming Cui, Ye Yang and Wenping Zhang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(7), 3142; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26073142 - 28 Mar 2025
Viewed by 550
Abstract
Difenoconazole, a broad-spectrum systemic fungicide, can effectively prevent and control plant diseases such as rice blast, leaf spot, and black spot caused by Colletotrichum godetiae, Alternaria alternata, and Neopestalotiopsis rosae. However, its residual accumulation in the environment may pose potential [...] Read more.
Difenoconazole, a broad-spectrum systemic fungicide, can effectively prevent and control plant diseases such as rice blast, leaf spot, and black spot caused by Colletotrichum godetiae, Alternaria alternata, and Neopestalotiopsis rosae. However, its residual accumulation in the environment may pose potential toxicity risks to non-target organisms. In this study, a highly efficient DIF-degrading microbial consortium TA01 was enriched from long-term pesticide-contaminated soil by a laboratory-based adaptive evolution strategy. The microbial consortium TA01 was able to degrade 83.87% of 50 mg/L of DIF within 3 days. In addition, three intermediate metabolites were identified using HPLC–MS/MS, and the results indicated that the degradation of DIF by microbial consortium TA01 may involve catalytic reactions such as hydrolysis, dehalogenation, and hydroxylation. High-throughput sequencing results showed that Pantoea, Serratia, Ochrobactrum, and Bacillus were the dominant microbial members involved in the degradation process. Finally, bioremediation capacity experiments showed that inoculation with microbial consortium TA01 was able to accelerate the degradation of DIF in the water–sediment system. The findings of this study not only enrich the microbial resources available for DIF degradation but also offer new potential strategies for in situ remediation of DIF contamination. Full article
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12 pages, 4102 KiB  
Article
Surface Modification of Organic Chromium-Free Tanned Leather Shavings and the Immobilization of Lipase
by Dongyan Hao, Xuechuan Wang, Jiajia Shi, Zhisheng Wang and Xing Zhu
Polymers 2025, 17(5), 688; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17050688 - 4 Mar 2025
Viewed by 863
Abstract
Following the concept of “waste into resources”, a mild and controllable light grafting technique was used to immobilize pancreatic lipase (PPL) in situ on modified organic, chromium-free tanned leather scraps to catalyze the hydrolysis of waste oil. The experimental results showed that immobilized [...] Read more.
Following the concept of “waste into resources”, a mild and controllable light grafting technique was used to immobilize pancreatic lipase (PPL) in situ on modified organic, chromium-free tanned leather scraps to catalyze the hydrolysis of waste oil. The experimental results showed that immobilized PPL significantly improved the catalytic activity, operational stability, reusability, and storage stability compared to free PPL. Furthermore, the study evaluated the environmental compatibility of the system through biological risk assessment of soil extracts after degradation, indicating that the system has good environmental compatibility. The experiment is simple to operate, uses mild conditions, and the immobilized material is obtained from leather-making solid waste. The use of this immobilization system to treat waste oil in the leather-making process is of great significance for achieving clean and sustainable production in the leather industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Circular and Green Sustainable Polymer Science)
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20 pages, 13262 KiB  
Article
Microwave-Heating-Assisted Synthesis of Ultrathin and Ultralong Hydroxyapatite Nanowires Using Biogenic Creatine Phosphate and Their Derived Flexible Bio-Paper with Drug Delivery Function
by Yu Zhang, Ying-Jie Zhu, Si-Yi Li, Li-Ying Dong and Han-Ping Yu
Molecules 2025, 30(5), 996; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30050996 - 21 Feb 2025
Viewed by 864
Abstract
With an ultrahigh aspect ratio and a similar chemical composition to the biomineral in bone and tooth, ultralong hydroxyapatite nanowires (UHAPNWs) exhibit a meritorious combination of high flexibility, excellent mechanical performance, high biocompatibility, and bioactivity. Despite these exciting merits, the rapid and green [...] Read more.
With an ultrahigh aspect ratio and a similar chemical composition to the biomineral in bone and tooth, ultralong hydroxyapatite nanowires (UHAPNWs) exhibit a meritorious combination of high flexibility, excellent mechanical performance, high biocompatibility, and bioactivity. Despite these exciting merits, the rapid and green synthesis of UHAPNWs remains challenging. In this work, we have developed an environment-friendly, rapid, and highly efficient synthesis of ultrathin UHAPNWs by the microwave-assisted calcium oleate precursor hydrothermal method using biogenic creatine phosphate as the bio-phosphorus source. Owing to the controllable hydrolysis of bio-phosphorus-containing creatine phosphate and the highly efficient heating of microwave irradiation, ultrathin UHAPNWs with a homogeneous morphology of several nanometers in diameter (single nanowire), several hundred micrometers in length, and ultrahigh aspect ratios (>10,000) can be rapidly synthesized within 60 min. This effectively shortens the synthesis time by about two orders of magnitude compared with the traditional hydrothermal method. Furthermore, ultrathin UHAPNWs are decorated in situ with bioactive creatine and self-assembled into nanowire bundles along their longitudinal direction at the nanoscale. In addition, ultrathin UHAPNWs exhibit a relatively high specific surface area of 84.30 m2 g–1 and high ibuprofen drug loading capacity. The flexible bio-paper constructed from interwoven ibuprofen-loaded ultrathin UHAPNWs can sustainably deliver ibuprofen in phosphate-buffered saline, which is promising for various biomedical applications such as tissue regeneration with anti-inflammatory and analgesic functions. Full article
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