Search Results (1,479)

Dye-containing industrial effluents pose substantial risks to aquatic ecosystems. In this study, a material prepared using the stated SBA-15–Zn–Fe synthesis procedure was evaluated for malachite green (MG) removal and modeled using machine-learning and explainable artificial intelligence techniques. The dataset comprised 315 experimental observations covering initial MG concentrations of 100–500 mg L⁻¹, adsorbent concentrations of 0.5–3.0 g L⁻¹, pH values of 5–9, temperatures of 25–45 °C, and contact times of 0–360 min. At an initial MG concentration of 500 mg L⁻¹, an adsorbent concentration of 1.0 g L⁻¹, pH 9.0, 45 °C, and 90 min, the material achieved 99.65% MG removal. The Langmuir-estimated maximum monolayer capacity was 1428.57 mg g⁻¹. A multilayer perceptron (MLP) with a 100–50–25–12 hidden-layer architecture, hyperbolic tangent activation, and L-BFGS optimization was developed to predict residual MG concentration. The prespecified MLP achieved an $R^2$ of 0.9624 on the strictly held-out 20% internal test subset. Five-fold cross-validation yielded a mean $R^2$ of 0.8420 with a fold-wise standard deviation of 0.1273, while pooled contact-time-based LOGO-CV yielded an $R^2$ of 0.7411, indicating reduced transferability when entire contact-time groups were excluded from fitting. Nominal 95% CV+ prediction intervals achieved 98.41% empirical coverage on the held-out test subset, although their relatively broad widths indicated non-negligible predictive uncertainty. PFI and SHAP showed that the fitted MLP relied most strongly on contact time and initial MG concentration. Longer contact times were generally associated with lower predicted residual concentrations, whereas higher initial concentrations were associated with higher predicted residual concentrations. Overall, the framework provided an interpretable assessment of MG adsorption within the investigated experimental domain; external validity and extrapolation beyond this domain were not established. Full article

Multi-component solid waste combustion can recover energy and reduce the difficulty of waste classification, but variable solid composition complicates the reduction of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), which has been paid attention to by the international community. Therefore, this paper comprehensively elaborates on the application characteristics of multi-component solid waste, analyzes the current situation of its source-controlling of generation and emission, and summarizes the source inhibition of PCDD/Fs emission and the research methods of PCDD/Fs in terms of three aspects: PCDD/Fs degradation technology, quantum chemical analysis method, and new regulation technology. The PCDD/Fs degradation technology includes photocatalytic degradation technology, metal catalytic degradation technology, and catalytic degradation technology under high temperature conditions. Quantum chemical analysis methods include physical adsorption and desorption phase catalytic synthesis and degradation and heterogeneous catalytic synthesis and degradation. New control technologies include solid waste control technology, chemical looping combustion (CLC) technology, and flow field simulation control technology. The technology of PCDD/Fs degradation is an important aspect in further optimizing the conditions of source inhibition of PCDD/Fs. Calculating the energy barrier of formation and degradation from the perspective of quantum chemistry is an effective method for analyzing the migration and transformation of dioxin precursors. Furthermore, exploring the new regulation technology is also the new research direction for inhibiting and controlling the source of PCDD/Fs. Full article

Stearidonic acid (SDA) and γ-linolenic acid (GLA) are recognized for their anti-inflammatory and cardiometabolic benefits, yet their natural dietary sources remain scarce. This study aimed to develop and optimize the enzymatic synthesis of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) enriched with GLA and SDA in a solvent-free system using Echium plantagineum seed oil as the source of GLA and SDA. Enzyme screening was conducted with three immobilized lipases, among which Lipozyme^® 435 exhibited superior performance, achieving significantly higher proportions of both GLA and SDA into the LPC backbone compared with alternative lipases. Reaction optimization was performed using a Box–Behnken response surface design, evaluating temperature, time, lipase load, and substrate molar ratio. The analysis identified lipase load as the most influential factor for both fatty acid proportion and LPC yield. At 50 °C for 24 h, with a substrate molar ratio of 1:15 and a 15 wt% lipase load, the synthesis yielded 92.0 ± 4.1 mol%. Within the LPC fraction, GLA + SDA contributed 69.5 ± 1.2% of total fatty acids. The resulting structured LPC combines the enhanced bioavailability of the lysophospholipid carrier with the complementary metabolic activities of GLA and SDA, supporting its potential for the development of functional foods and nutraceutical formulations. Full article

Effective thermal management is a cornerstone of safe, long-life lithium-ion battery operation, especially under high-rate charge–discharge and dynamic driving conditions. Conventional active cooling technologies face inherent trade-offs between heat dissipation efficiency, system complexity, and temperature uniformity, while phase change materials (PCMs) provide a promising passive alternative by absorbing latent heat during phase transition to buffer temperature spikes, improve temperature uniformity, and delay thermal runaway propagation. This paper presents a comprehensive review of recent advances in PCM-based lithium-ion battery thermal management, systematically covering the full scope from fundamental battery heat generation mechanisms to material synthesis optimization and hybrid system integration. At the material level, we analyze state-of-the-art strategies to address the intrinsic drawbacks of organic PCMs—low thermal conductivity, mismatched phase transition temperatures, and high flammability—including the construction of carbon/metal conductive skeletons, compositional tuning of phase change behavior, and flame-retardant modifications. These approaches have yielded composite PCMs with significantly improved heat transport capability and fire safety, while preserving high latent heat storage capacity. At the system level, we evaluate the thermal performance of pure passive PCM configurations, which excel at peak temperature suppression and inter-cell temperature uniformity, as well as hybrid designs that combine PCMs with air or liquid cooling to resolve heat accumulation issues and maintain stable performance under prolonged, demanding operating cycles. Despite these advances, key challenges remain: balancing high thermal conductivity with high latent heat capacity, developing climate-adaptable phase transition temperatures, and integrating multiple functionalities without compromising core thermal storage properties. Looking forward, future research directions include multifunctional integrated composites, smart adaptive PCMs, cost-effective scalable manufacturing, and precision structural engineering. This review also summarizes quantified performance trade-offs and provides actionable design guidelines for both material development and system-level integration. Full article

Slow pyrolysis of a plastic fraction isolated from municipal waste produced a char, which was then used as a precursor for the synthesis of activated carbon. The process involved thermal conversion at 800 °C and chemical activation using K₂CO₃. The resulting activated carbon was used to remove Pb(II), Cd(II), and Co(II) from aqueous solutions. Physicochemical, structural, and granulometric characterizations of the resulting adsorbent were performed. The obtained material had a specific surface area of 562 m²/g, a total pore volume of 0.328 cm³/g, and a micropore volume of 0.146 cm³/g. To determine the optimal adsorption conditions, the Box–Behnken experiment planning method was used, assuming solution pH, adsorbent mass, and initial metal ion concentration as independent variables, and the percentage removal of the contaminant as the response. Studies on sorption isotherms were conducted using a static method in a periodic system for initial metal ion concentrations ranging from 10 to 250 mg/dm³. The effect of temperature on the adsorption process was analyzed, and the kinetics sorption was investigated. Several adsorption isotherm models were used to describe the adsorption equilibrium. The maximum sorption capacity was 35.5 mg/g for Pb(II), 14.7 mg/g for Cd(II), and 11.6 mg/g for Co(II). The obtained results indicate that the plastic waste based adsorbent exhibits favorable sorption properties for the tested heavy metal ions and may be useful in water and wastewater treatment processes. Full article

The Taiwan loach (Paramisgurnus dabryanus ssp. Taiwan) is a popular cultured fish in southern China due to its rich nutritional content and rapid growth. Oxidative stress and homeostatic imbalance induced by low temperature are among the key factors restricting its large-scale aquaculture. Therefore, it is of great significance to investigate the oxidative stress damage and the adaptive mechanisms employed by this species in response to low temperature. In this study, the water temperature was lowered from 24 °C to 8 °C at a rate of 2 °C/h. Afterwards, the temperature was held at 8 °C for two durations: 12 h and 48 h. Antioxidant indices indicated that the Taiwan loach suffered from oxidative stress damage at the 12 h stage, but the antioxidant enzyme defense system was not fully activated. As the cold stress extended to 48 h, the activities of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) increased significantly (p < 0.01). Histological observations revealed that the livers exhibited cellular vacuolation, sinusoid congestion and karyolysis under cold stress. Transcriptomic data revealed that the Taiwan loach underwent adaptive alterations in response to low temperature through diverse pathways. We speculate that, at low temperature, the Taiwan loach may, on the one hand, regulate lipid metabolism to maintain cell membrane fluidity and meet energy demands, and, on the other hand, reprogram protein synthesis and processing to avert the overaccumulation of misfolded proteins. In addition, it also adopts a strategy of lysine and polyamine accumulation. This study provides a novel theoretical basis for breeding cold-tolerant varieties of Taiwan loach and optimizing overwintering aquaculture management. Full article

During the experiments presented in this work, the electrochemical synthesis of ferrate ions was performed from high-purity iron electrode in a 45% (m/m) aqueous NaOH solution at different temperatures. The synthesis process was investigated using dual dynamic voltammetry (DDV), which involves applying independent potential–time waveforms (dynamic potential programs) simultaneously to the disk and ring electrodes of a rotating ring–disk electrode (RRDE, Pt-ring—Fe-disk) setup. This innovative technique facilitates the instantaneous measurement of the concentration of ferrate ions generated at the disk electrode. The effect of temperature on ferrate ion formation was examined, and the optimal potential range and applied current density at various temperatures were determined to maximize ferrate ion production and current efficiency. The results indicate that the rate of both ferrate ion production and oxygen evolution increases with temperature within the investigated temperature range (15–45 °C). It was found that there is an optimal potential range at each temperature where ferrate ion formation occurs at the highest rate (limited by other factors). The maximum current efficiency was determined at each temperature, with the highest value obtained at approximately 35 °C. Full article

This study presents targeted contributions to the development of macromolecular silane coupling agents (MSCAs) and high-performance fiber-reinforced polyimide (PI) composites. Three novel MSCAs were synthesized via chemical imidation and transamidation reactions, using hexafluoroisopropylidene diphthalic anhydride and 2,3,3′,4′-diphenyl ether tetracarboxylic acid as dianhydride monomers, 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether and 1,3-bis(4′-aminophenoxy)benzene as diamine monomers, and aminopropyltriethoxysilane (KH550) as the capping agent. Structural characterization by FTIR, ¹H NMR, and XPS confirmed the successful synthesis of the target products, with silicon contents of 3.29%, 3.37%, and 3.66%, respectively. The MSCAs exhibited excellent thermal stability, with 10% weight loss temperatures ranging from 462 °C to 543.3 °C, and good solubility in most polar organic solvents, addressing the poor processability of conventional macromolecular coupling agents. Compared with small-molecule KH550, the MSCAs significantly enhanced interfacial properties: the average tensile and flexural strengths of the composites increased by 11.0% and 9.8%, respectively, compared to 3.9% and 4.0% for KH550. SEM analysis demonstrated that MSCAs improved resin adhesion to fibers and fiber–resin compatibility. Additionally, the T5, T10, and glass transition temperatures of the composites were further optimized due to polymer chain diffusion and entanglement. This work provides a feasible strategy for interfacial design in high-performance polyimide composites. Full article

The growing volume of crustacean shell waste generated during seafood processing poses a serious environmental problem. However, this type of biowaste remains underutilized, despite being a promising renewable raw material for the production of functional carbon materials. This study aims to investigate how synthesis parameters influence the formation of a hierarchical porous structure in shrimp shell-based carbon materials and to optimize these parameters to improve CO₂ adsorption efficiency. Under optimal carbonization conditions (holding time: 2 h; temperature: 650 °C) and activation conditions (holding time: 2 h; temperature: 750 °C) with activator-to-carbon weight ratios (A/C) of 1/1, 2/1 and 4/1, the resulting porous carbon samples exhibited relatively high S_BET values (1175, 2708 and 3052 m²/g, respectively) and V_T (0.70, 1.55 and 2.60 cm³/g, respectively), as well as different pore size distributions. Notably, the resulting carbon materials demonstrated exceptional CO₂ adsorption performance at 298 K, reaching a maximum adsorption capacity of 40.03 mmol/g at 40 bar for sample SS_652_41752, 15.12 mmol/g at 15 bar for SS_652_21752, and 3.41 mmol/g at 1 bar for SS_652_11752. These values rank among the highest ever reported for biomass-derived porous carbon materials. The adsorption behavior of the most efficient sorbent, SS_652_41752, was further analyzed using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models over the temperature range of 298–318 K and at pressures up to 40 bar, and the isosteric heats of adsorption were calculated to elucidate adsorbent–adsorbate interactions. It was found that the differential molar isosteric heat of CO₂ adsorption decreased from approximately 20 to approximately 17 kJ/mol with increasing adsorption uptake, confirming the physisorption nature of the process. These results demonstrate that crustacean shell waste is a promising feedstock for producing carbon materials with tailored properties and significant potential for CO₂ adsorption applications. Full article

This study presents a comparative analysis of the effect of the structural–mineralogical type of clay matrices on the phase and structure formation in composite aluminosilicate materials within the multi-component Fe-Al-C-Si system. Highly plastic Saryozek montmorillonite clay and moderately plastic Alekseevskaya kaolinite–illite clay were investigated as binding matrices to consolidate iron–aluminosilicate fly ash from the Almaty CHPP-2. The raw materials and binary batches containing 10 to 50 wt.% fly ash were evaluated using XRD, XRF, TG/DTA, and SEM techniques. The results demonstrate that the superior plastic and binding properties of the Saryozek clay ensure enhanced consolidation of the non-plastic, fragmented ash particles. Simultaneous thermal analysis reveals that increasing the compaction pressure from 20 to 30 MPa induces a kinetic shift in the montmorillonite dehydroxylation interval toward higher temperatures (580–720 °C) due to increased partial water vapor pressure within the dense green body. This thermal shift scientifically necessitates introducing an isothermal dwell at 600 °C to mitigate firing defects. The optimal composite properties are achieved at a molding pressure of 30 MPa, a firing temperature of 1050 °C, and a fly ash concentration of 10–20 wt.%, yielding a peak compressive strength of 38.4 MPa. SEM confirmed that under these conditions, the locally formed silicate melt uniformly encapsulates the crystalline mullite and quartz microparticles, whereas increasing the ash content to 50 wt.% results in a loose, highly porous structure that degrades strength down to 17.9 MPa. These findings lay a scientifically substantiated foundation for optimizing composite ceramic synthesis and reducing structural defects. Full article

As the population ages, the demand for customizable, resorbable bone implants in tissue engineering has intensified, outstripping the limitations of traditional autografts and allografts. While silicate-based bioactive glasses dominate bioactive glass research, borate-based bioactive glasses (BBGs) present distinct biomimetic advantages due to their accelerated degradation kinetics and superior ion-release profiles. However, producing highly pure, homogeneous BBG powders tailored for additive manufacturing remains a severe bottleneck. This study reports the development of a highly efficient synthesis protocol and subsequent Digital Light Processing (DLP) 3D printing of BBG scaffolds. An aqueous-based precursor mixture was processed via spray drying and a customized multi-stage thermal pretreatment sequence up to 800 °C to mitigate material loss, minimize oxide evaporation, and completely eliminate carbonates. Subsequent “flash melting” at 1150 °C for 20 min yielded an amorphous, high-purity borate–phosphate glass network (68.1B₂O₃-3.8Na₂O-18.9CaO-4.9MgO-4.3P₂O₅, in wt%). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed a glass transition temperature ($T_g$) of 625 °C, while in situ X-ray diffraction localized the onset of crystal nucleation between 706 °C and 723 °C. Following fine planetary milling to achieve a highly dense particle packing distribution (D_v50 = 5.4 µm, D_n50 = 0.6 µm), the optimized BBG powder was successfully loaded into an acrylate-based photosensitive slurry (51.2 wt% solid loading) to manufacture complex 3D biomimetic gyroid scaffolds via DLP. While the structural feasibility of printing high-resolution gyroid porous architectures is validated, post-printing evaluation highlighted a narrow thermal processing window; sintering at 660 °C optimized particle coalescence while minimizing microstructural de-densification caused by closed porosity expansion (which reaches 48.4% at 675 °C). This scalable synthesis-to-printing workflow offers a crucial steppingstone toward next-generation fully resorbable bone tissue scaffolds. Full article

Background/Objectives: The green synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using plant-derived flavonoids offers a sustainable alternative to traditional methods. This study aimed to synthesize, characterize, and evaluate the biological activities and cytogenotoxicity of AuNPs functionalized with naringin (NG) and its aglycone, naringenin (NGN). Methods: Synthesis was optimized by varying pH, HAuCl₄ concentration, reagent ratios, temperature, and stirring time. The resulting AuNPs-NG and AuNPs-NGN were characterized via Ultraviolet–Visible (UV–Vis) Spectroscopy, Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), and Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy with Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (STEM-EDX). Biological potential was assessed through five antioxidant assays, alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase inhibition, and antimicrobial screening. Cytogenotoxicity was evaluated using the Allium cepa root meristem model. Results: Optimal synthesis occurred at pH 10 for both flavonoids (NG at 40 °C, NGN at 20 °C). STEM revealed AuNPs-NG were smaller (54.64 ± 13.15 nm) and more polydisperse than AuNPs-NGN (135.52 ± 23.85 nm). Both nanoformulations exhibited superior antioxidant and antidiabetic activities compared to free precursors, with AuNPs-NGN showing the highest potency in inhibiting lipoxygenase (LOX) (EC₅₀ = 9.58 ± 0.74 µg/mL). No antimicrobial activity was detected. In the Allium cepa test, both AuNPs induced concentration-dependent reduction in the mitotic index and triggered predominantly aneugenic chromosomal abnormalities. Conclusions: NG and NGN successfully act as reducing and stabilizing agents for AuNPs, with NGN providing enhanced biological efficacy alongside larger particle sizes. While these biogenic AuNPs show significant therapeutic potential as antioxidant and antidiabetic agents, their concentration-dependent cytogenotoxicity must be carefully considered for biomedical applications. Full article

A comparative compositional screening of combustion behavior and phase formation during self-propagating high-temperature synthesis in B₂O₃–Al–C and B₂O₃–Mg–C mixtures was performed under the same open-air laboratory conditions. Twelve strongly carbon-rich formulations were examined. These formulations were not intended to reproduce the target stoichiometric reactions and are interpreted as an empirical screening matrix rather than as optimized stoichiometric compositions. In the individual SHS runs, the Mg-containing formulations produced higher recorded maximum apparent local combustion front temperatures and estimated apparent average front propagation velocities than the Al-containing formulations. Because each formulation was tested only once, these observations do not establish reproducible differences between the two systems. Qualitative X-ray diffraction analysis identified Al₂O₃, Al₂₀B₄O₃₆, Al₄B₂O₉, and residual Al in the aluminothermic products. MgO, Mg₂B₂O₅, and Mg₃B₂O₆ were identified in the magnesiothermic products. Weak reflections attributable to B₄C were observed in selected compositions, whereas oxides and metal borates were the principal crystalline phases identified in both systems. This result indicates that the carbide-forming pathway was competitively disadvantaged under the investigated open-air SHS conditions. Thermodynamic calculations for the idealized reactions showed that the relative standard driving force depended on temperature and the phase states of the reactants and products. The final phase assemblages indicate competition between carbide formation and the formation of stable oxide and borate phases. Atmospheric oxidation may also have contributed to the oxide-rich products. The results provide a descriptive comparison of the two investigated formulation sets and identify compositional patterns associated with limited B₄C formation under open-air SHS conditions. Full article

Aerobic composting is an important pathway for the resource utilization of agricultural waste. However, nitrogen loss during composting not only reduces the nutrient value of the final product but also causes environmental burdens, particularly through ammonia (NH₃) volatilization and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions. The objective of this review is to systematically summarize the sources, pathways, and mechanisms of nitrogen loss during aerobic composting of agricultural waste and to evaluate multi-scale control strategies for enhancing nitrogen retention and mitigating environmental emissions. This review addresses an important gap by integrating the sources, pathways, and mechanisms of nitrogen loss with practical mitigation strategies across the feedstock, in-process, post-treatment, system design, and macro scales. The synthesis indicates that the major nitrogen loss routes during aerobic composting include NH₃ volatilization, N₂O emissions, and nitrate leaching. From a multiscale perspective, the review synthesizes control strategies spanning feedstock pretreatment, including optimization of carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio, adsorbent amendment, and microbial inoculation; in-process regulation, including aeration, moisture, temperature, pH; and post-treatment approaches for nitrogen stabilization and resource recovery. The supporting roles of reactor innovation, intelligent process control, and policy and regulatory measures are also discussed. Finally, current bottlenecks and future research directions are summarized from environmental and economic perspectives, with particular emphasis on interdisciplinary integration and technological innovation to enhance nitrogen retention during composting. Full article

Solar-Driven Photothermal Membrane Distillation (SPMD) integrates solar energy using photothermal coatings on the hydrophobic membranes, such as carbon black nanoparticles coated on PVDF membranes, to achieve localized heating at the liquid–vapor interface. This approach enhances energy efficiency by mitigating temperature polarization and reducing thermal energy demands compared to conventional membrane distillation (MD). However, the challenges of fouling and scaling, which can significantly impair membrane performance, continue to be a serious concern, similar to other MD configurations. This comprehensive review establishes a unified framework connecting core transmembrane mass and heat transfer mechanisms with the thermodynamic pathways of surface fouling and scaling. We critically evaluate various strategies for mitigating scaling and fouling, including the development of omniphobic membranes, the introduction of nano/micro bubbles, the addition of anti-scalants and surfactants, and the implementation of chemical and mechanical pretreatments. Subsequently, the impact of photothermal coatings, applied to the feed–membrane interface in SPMD to absorb solar radiation, on scaling and fouling resistance is also discussed. Finally, we provide a comprehensive review of advanced computational paradigms, for both coupled radiative-thermal and dynamic fouling models—contrasting deterministic, physics-based multi-phase Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) with empirical Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and predictive Artificial Intelligence (AI) data-driven models. Beyond this survey, we identify and directly address a critical, previously unquantified gap in the field of SPMD: the absence of an explicit thermodynamic link between transmembrane heat/mass transfer and the nucleation and adhesion processes that govern scaling and fouling, and we further highlight the practical barriers—photothermal coating durability, economic feasibility, and technology readiness—that currently separate laboratory-scale SPMD from field deployment. This holistic synthesis charts future engineering strategies for scalable, fouling-resistant, and optimized solar-driven desalination infrastructure. Full article