Novel thionin-functionalised core shell magnetic nanoparticles for dispersive solid-phase extraction of Hg(II) in food and water samples

To develop an accurate and precise method for separation and pre-concentration of Hg(II), a novel thionin functionalised core shell structure magnetic material has been prepared and characterised. The extraction ability of the material was evaluated by magnetic solid-phase extraction coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry determination of Hg(II) in food and water samples. Combining the advantages of magnetic separation with selective extraction of thionin towards Hg(II), the material exhibits enhanced enrich selectivity and efficiency for Hg(II). The experimental parameters influencing Hg(II) extraction efficiency, including pH of the aqueous solution, the dosage of the adsorbent, extraction time and sample volume, were systematically investigated. Under the optimised conditions, concentration of Hg(II) at 1.0 μg L^?1 can be successfully enriched by the material without the interference of the common co-existing ions. The enrichment factor and adsorption capacity were 250 and 75.2 mg g^?1, and precise of the method was confirmed by analysing the spiked food, water samples and standard water reference samples with the recoveries of 92.5–101.8%.     

An automated vane shear test tool for environmental monitoring with unmanned ground vehicles

The present work describes the development of a novel robotic vane shear test tool for characterization of soil parameters with high precision and accuracy. The tool automates industrial standards for testing procedures. The proposed system is capable of performing high resolution torque measurements, which are then used to estimate the shear strength of the soil. The design of the instrument and its advantages over traditional manual instruments are discussed, after which error sources, calibration, and test procedures are described. The developed tool was successfully validated against high-end commercial equipment. The built unit was employed for characterizing mine waste in a laboratory setting and also deployed in the field on board an Unmanned Ground Vehicle for remote soil characterization.     

Autonomously Propelled Motors for Value‐Added Product Synthesis and Purification

A proof‐of‐concept design for autonomous, self‐propelling motors towards value‐added product synthesis and separation is presented. The hybrid motor design consists of two distinct functional blocks. The first, a sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) granule, serves both as a reaction prerequisite for the reduction of vanillin and also as a localized solid‐state fuel in the reaction mixture. The second capping functional block consisting of a graphene–polymer composite serves as a hydrophobic matrix to attract the reaction product vanillyl alcohol (VA), resulting in facile separation of this edible value‐added product. These autonomously propelled motors were fabricated at a length scale down to 400 μm, and once introduced in the reaction environment showed rapid bubble‐propulsion followed by high‐purity separation of the reaction product (VA) by the virtue of the graphene–polymer cap acting as a mesoporous sponge. The concept has excellent potential towards the synthesis/isolation of industrially important compounds, affinity‐based product separation, pollutant remediation (such as heavy metal chelation/adsorption), as well as localized fuel‐gradients as an alternative to external fuel dependency.     

Fruit waste (Pulp) decorated CuO NFs as promising platform for enhanced catalytic response and its peroxidase mimics evaluation

Herein, we report for the first time, an eco-compatible hydrothermal route for the synthesis of carbon enriched mesoporous material (CuO NFs@MP) using fruit waste (Pulp) obtained from Citrus limetta’s (Mausambi) decorated irregular shaped CuO nanoflakes (NFs). The CuO NFs@MP nanocomposite was fully characterized through several spectroscopic-cum-analytical techniques such as TEM and XPS, which further confirmed the presence of CuO NFs. CuO NFs@MP could serve as an excellent catalyst for N-Arylation reaction and also paves promising peroxidase mimic activity. The preliminary results indicated that CuO NFs@MP shows the catalytic advantage of higher yields, shorter reaction time and greener conditions. Simultaneously, the oxidation of colorless TMB with H₂O₂ into blue-green colored ox-TMB was also observed in 60 s with CuO NFs@MP. The present nanocomposite is easy to synthesize, economical, retrievable and a reusable catalyst for synthesizing a varied range of N-Arylated products and could also mimic peroxidase without significant loss of activity.     

The influence of the recycling stress history on LDPE waste pyrolysis

It is elementary to recognize the benefits and the negative impacts of the use of plastic materials on modern societies. Polyethylene (PE) is the major plastic component present in the municipal solid waste. In this paper, two types of low-density PE (LDPE) waste with different mechanical recycling stress histories were used to investigate the influence of recycling cycles on pyrolysis. The kinetic triplet and thermal degradation study were obtained using TGA data.To determine the sample composition and hydrocarbon arrangements, ultimate, proximate and X-ray diffraction analyses were carried out. Taking advantage of these analyses and combining them with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) data, a series–parallel pyrolysis pathway was formulated. The waste of recycled polyethylene presented low enthalpy of pyrolysis, at about 205 J/g against 299 J/g for a virgin PE. The DSC analyses evidenced a multi-step reaction behavior of the pyrolysis, confirmed by the kinetic study using different isoconversional methods: the waste of recycled polyethylene presented a higher variation of activation energies as a function of the fraction reacted. The main conclusion is that the results suggest that the recycling stress history promotes the increase of long carbon chains while weakening the boundary among the compounds. This explains the fact that recycled waste needs less activation energy than other samples to degrade thermally. Finally, different categories of low-density polyethylene wastes must be considered when dealing with either kinetics or modeling of the product recovery process.     

Chemists around the World,Take Your Part in the Circular Economy!

Based on recent examples and initiatives reported in the literature, this concept article discusses how chemistry can contribute to the circular economy approach in order to improve our current and future economical, societal, and environmental system. Through five proposed levels of contribution, chemists can take a significant part in this global approach via the consideration of green chemistry principles, the simplification of syntheses, the limitation of complex products preparation, the efficient utilization of resources but also the novel ways of waste valorization. A more systematic and generalized environmental and economic assessment from the lab-scale is also recommended. At last, chemists have to work even more collaboratively and in a multidisciplinary way, within chemistry and beyond.     

海蛎壳粉废弃物负载CuCl_2作为高效、廉价以及可回收催化剂合成炔胺类化合物(英文)

发展了一种经济、简单的海蛎壳粉负载的CuCl2异相催化剂OSP-CuCl2,用来催化醛-炔-胺之间的A3偶联反应.OSP-CuCl2容易通过简单的方法从海蛎壳粉以及CuCl2制备,且显示出高的催化活性以及良好的可循环回收性.在微波辅助以及无溶剂条件下,以OSP-CuCl2为催化剂,能够以高产物收率制备出一系列炔胺类化合物.OSP-CuCl2可通过简单的过滤方式进行回收,并至少可循环使用6次.初步放大实验表明,炔胺类化合物能够以150 mmol的规模制备(87%收率).     

Comparison of a single-use pH test strip and a glass electrode for potentiometric titration

The potentiometric titration of a carbonate mixture or an acetate solution is a common experiment in analytical laboratories. Typically, a glass electrode combined with a calomel or Ag/AgCl reference electrode is used to locate the equivalence points in neutralization titrations. The dissociation constants of weak acids and bases can be calculated from the pH at the half-neutralization point. Recently, a new commercial product for measuring pH has been developed. This novel acid–base detection strip is a single-use sensor that requires neither storage in a preservation liquid nor calibration prior to use. This study examined its suitability for the continuous monitoring of pH changes in potentiometric titrations of carbonate mixtures, acetate solutions, or ammonia solutions. There were no significant differences in the concentrations of solutions tested using a glass electrode and a pH test strip. The pK_a, pK_b, and pH values determined using the two systems differed by less than 5%. The results confirmed that the pH strips are suitable for continuously monitoring pH changes during neutralization titrations. However, the strips can only be used once.     

钢渣与污泥协同资源化研究进展

钢渣和污泥作为传统大宗固体废弃物,始终面临处理成本高、回收利用率低等问题,但其内部含有大量可利用物质,具有较高的资源化利用价值,现已成为国内外的研究热点。为了提高钢渣与污泥绿色、高效、协同资源化利用,综述了近年来国内外钢渣在建筑、道路、水处理、农业等领域资源化利用的研究进展,立足固废无害化、减量化,从钢渣和污泥的资源化进行分析与总结,指出不同研究方法的特点和优劣,为固废资源化利用提供参考。并基于我国发展现状对钢渣与污泥资源化利用的未来发展方向进行了展望,以期为固废处理行业的良性发展提供一定的理论支撑。     

Recycling of polyethylene terephthalate (PET Or PETE) plastics – An alternative to obtain value added products: A review

Waste management is become one of the world's most pressing issues. Plastic is one of the most widely utilised materials in the modern world. Plastic manufacturing and usage have risen globally in recent decades due to its low weight and outstanding mechanical properties. Plastic has a wide range of applications due to such good properties include lightweight, high strength, and extended durability. Because of plastics are non- or low-biodegradable, a vast quantity of plastic waste is generated every day, making waste disposal the most pressing matter globally. Furthermore, improper waste disposal pollutes the environment. An ecologically friendly approach is necessary to locket these issues. One of the solutions is to recycle this sort of garbage. There are many plastic recycling technologies available, however practically all of them have certain restrictions. Chemical recycling of plastic, on the other hand, has been shown to be more efficient than other recycling methods. This article provides a quick overview of chemical recycling of PET post-consumer waste and the synthesis of potentially value-added products such as dye or dyestuffs, bolaform surfactant, bio-degradable polyesters, drug carrier, Metal-organic framework (MOF), bio-degradable polymeric scaffolds, polyurethane foam and coating materials etc.