The aim of this study was to find out what kind of “Bianca” wine could be produced when using organic yeast, what are the dynamics of the resulting alcoholic fermentation, and whether this method is suitable for industrial production as well. Due to the stricter rules and regulations, as well as the limited amount and selection of the permitted chemicals, resistant, also known as interspecific or innovative grape varieties, can be the ideal basic materials of alternative cultivation technologies. Well-designed analytical and organoleptic results have to provide the scientific background of resistant varieties, as these cultivars and their environmentally friendly cultivation techniques could be the raw materials of the future. The role of the yeast in wine production is crucial. We fermented wines from the “Bianca” juice samples three times where model chemical solutions were applied. In our research, we aimed to find out how organic yeast influenced the biogenic amine formation of thr... [more]

The Sogunjung decoction (SGJD) is a traditional herbal formula that has been used to treat constipation and improve the constitution of infirm children in Korea. In this study, simultaneous quantification of gallic acid (1), magnoflorine (2), albiflorin (3), paeoniflorin (4), liquiritin apioside (5), liquiritin (6), liquiritigenin (7), coumarin (8), cinnamaldehyde (9), benzoylpaeoniflorin (10), and glycyrrhizin (11) was conducted using fast and sensitive liquid chromatography−tandem mass spectrometry (LC−MS) multiple-reaction monitoring to develop a quality-control protocol for the SGJD. A Waters Acquity UPLC BEH C18 column (2.1 × 100 mm, 1.7 μm) was used for the chromatographic separation of the 11 marker compounds in the SGJD using two mobile phases (5 mM ammonium acetate in distilled water containing 0.1% (v/v) formic acid, and acetonitrile). The MS parameters for a simultaneous analysis were capillary voltage (3.0 kV), source temperature (150 °C), desolvation temperature (500 °C),... [more]

In Switzerland, waste wood fly ash (WWFA) must be treated before deposition on landfills due to its high pollutant load (Cr(VI) and heavy metals). Acid fly ash leaching, the process used for heavy metal recovery from municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MSWIFA), represents a possible treatment for heavy metal depletion and Cr(VI) reduction in WWFA. The co-processing of WWFA with MSWIFA during acid fly ash leaching was investigated in laboratory- and industrial-scale experiments with different setups. Of interest were the effects on heavy metal recovery efficiency, the successful outcome of Cr(VI) reduction and consumption of neutralizing chemicals (HCl, H2O2). Detailed chemical and mineralogical characterization of two WWFA types and MSWIFA showed that MSWIFA has higher concentrations in potentially harmful elements than WWFA. However, both WWFA types showed high concentrations in Pb and Cr(VI), and therefore need treatment prior to deposition. Depending on the waste wood propor... [more]

To initiate our research into the development of biocompatiîle gelled-microemulsions based on essential oils (EOs) and sucrose esters (SEs) for the topical delivery of fluconazole, this formulation study investigated the usefulness of two relatively harmless natural non-ionic surfactants from the group of SEs (sucrose laurate and stearate) to form, in the presence of antifungal EOs, stable, isotropic microemulsions effective on fluconazole solubilization. Fluconazole’s solubility in EO significantly depended on their chemical composition, showing higher values for cinnamon, oregano and clove essential oils, further selected as oil phase components for microemulsion formulations. The phase behavior of several EO−isopropyl miristate/SE−isopropanol/water systems was assessed through pseudo-ternary phase diagrams constructed by microplate dilution technique. The hydrocarbon chain length of the SE and EO type strongly influenced the size of the microemulsion region in the pseudo-ternary pha... [more]

Sodium alginate (Na-Alg) is water-soluble, neutral, and linear polysaccharide. It is the derivative of alginic acid which comprises 1,4-β-d-mannuronic (M) and α-l-guluronic (G) acids and has the chemical formula (NaC6H7O6). It shows water-soluble, non-toxic, biocompatible, biodegradable, and non-immunogenic properties. It had been used for various biomedical applications, among which the most promising are drug delivery, gene delivery, wound dressing, and wound healing. For different biomedical applications, it is used in different forms with the help of new techniques. That is the reason it had been blended with different polymers. In this review article, we present a comprehensive overview of the combinations of sodium alginate with natural and synthetic polymers and their biomedical applications involving delivery systems. All the scientific/technical issues have been addressed, and we have highlighted the recent advancements.

The administration of drugs via transdermal therapeutic systems has become an attractive form of therapeutic approach, considering its advantages and the high patient compliance achieved, making them a viable alternative, especially in the treatment of chronic diseases. The purpose of our study was the development of polymer-based films containing tenoxicam (TX) and the analysis of dissolution kinetics. Auxiliary substances represent an important part of pharmaceutical forms, so during the first stage, TX and excipient compatibility were verified. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analyses were performed on TX and on physical mixtures of TX-HPMCE5 and TX-HPMC15kcP. Three polymeric films of TX (TX1, TX2, and TX3) were prepared using a solvent evaporation technique. Release studies were done at 32 °C ± 1 °C with a Franz diffusion cell. The results of the DSC and FT-IR analyses demonstrated the compatibility of the active substance... [more]

Synthesis of super-hydrophobic carbonaceous materials is gaining a broader interest by the research community due to its versatile application in separation processes, special coating technologies, and membrane distillation. Carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) may exhibit stable super-hydrophobic character due to their unique physio-chemical features which can be further controlled based on customer requirements by optimizing the process variables. This study deals with the application of a bimetallic catalyst composed of iron (Fe) and cobalt (Co) to synthesize CNMs from powder activated carbon as a precursor. The process parameters were optimized to ensure super-hydrophobic surfaces. Chemical vapor deposition was utilized for the growth of carbon nanomaterials. The impact of input variables on the desired output of yield and contact angle was analyzed. The chemical vapor deposition process was optimized using the response surface methodology based on Box-Behnken design. The proportion of the... [more]

Developing economical and robust catalysts for the highly selective and stable destruction of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) is a great challenge. Here, hollow nanosphere-like VOx/CeO2 catalysts with different V/Ce molar ratios were fabricated and adopted for the destruction of1,2−dichloroethane (1,2−DCE). The V0.05Ce catalyst possessed superior catalytic activity, reaction selectivity, and chlorine resistance owing to a large number of oxygen vacancies, excellent low-temperature redox ability, and chemically adsorbed oxygen (O− and O2−) species mobility. Typical chlorinated byproducts (CHCl3, CCl4, C2HCl3, and C2H3Cl3) derived from the cleavage of C−Cl and C−C bonds of 1,2−DCE were detected, which could be effectively inhibited by the abundant acid sites and the strong interactions of VOx species with CeO2. The presence of water vapor benefited the activation and deep destruction of 1,2−DCE over V0.05Ce owing to the efficient removal of Cl species from the catalyst sur... [more]

For reliability and safety issues of injection wells, corrosion resistance of materials used needs to be determined. Herein, representative low-cost materials, including carbon steel X70/1.8977 and low alloyed steel 1.7225, were embedded in mortar to mimic the realistic casing-mortar interface. Two types of cement were investigated: (1) Dyckerhoff Variodur commercial Portland cement, representing a highly acidic resistant cement and (2) Wollastonite, which can react with CO2 and become stable under a CO2 stream due to the carbonation process. Exposure tests were performed under 10 MPa and at 333 K in artificial aquifer fluid for up to 20 weeks, revealing crevice corrosion and uniform corrosion instead of expected pitting corrosion. To clarify the role of cement, simulated pore water was made by dispersing cement powder in aquifer fluid and used as a solution to expose steels. Surface analysis, accompanied by element mapping on exposed specimens and their cross-sections, was carried out... [more]

The prevalence of the antibiotic resistant bacteria remains a global issue. Cheap, sustainable and multifunctional antibacterial membranes are at the forefront of filtrating materials capable of treating multiple flow streams, such as water cleansing treatments. Carbon nanomaterials are particularly interesting objects shown to enhance antibacterial properties of composite materials. In this article, amino-functionalized, photoluminescent carbon nanodots (CNDs) were synthesized from chitosan by bottom-up approach via simple and green hydrothermal carbonization. A chemical model for the CNDs formation during hydrothermal treatment of chitosan is proposed. The use of urea as an additional nitrogen source leads to the consumption of hydroxyl groups of chitosan and higher nitrogen doping level as pyridinic and pyrrolic N-bonding configurations in the final carbonaceous composition. These functionalized carbon nanodots that consist of carbon core and various surface functional groups were u... [more]

Self-compacting concrete (SCC) has been increasingly used in the construction sector due to its favorable characteristics in improving various durability and rheology aspects of concrete such as deformability and segregation resistance. Recently, the studies on the application of nano-alumina (NA) produced from factory wastes have been significantly considered to enhancing the performance, and mechanical strength, of SCC. Many experimental works show that NA can be used in SCC with appropriate proportion to enjoy the benefits of improved microstructure, fresh and hardened properties, durability, and resistance to elevated temperature. However, a limited detailed review is available to particularly study using NA to improve the performance of SCC, so far. Hence, the present study is conducted to fill the existing gap of knowledge. In this study, the effect of using NA in improving rheological, mechanical parameters, and elevated temperature resistance of SCC is reviewed. This research s... [more]

The article describes a technique for obtaining a quantitative assessment of the composition and structure of the petroleum dispersed system (PDS) and its individual structural formations based on the data of the component composition and infrared spectroscopy. In the PDS of heavy petroleum feedstock modified with a mixture of unsaturated carboxylic acids and four atomic alcohols, the components of the core and the inner solvation shell are different in structure. The degree of affinity of the components of the inner and outer solvation shells of the complex structural unit (CSU), as well as that of the outer solvation shell and the hydrocarbon components of the dispersion medium, increases. Nonionic additives are involved, to a greater degree, in structuring the solvation shell of the CSU and also increase the degree of its affinity with the hydrocarbon components, which leads to an increase in the dispersion of the system and a decrease in its mobility.

The typical time-dependent decrease of the iron corrosion rate is often difficult to consider while designing Fe0-based remediation systems. One of the most promising approaches is the amendment with manganese dioxide (Fe0/MnO2 system). The resulting system is a very complex one where characterization is challenging. The present communication uses methylene blue discoloration (MB method) to characterize the Fe0/MnO2 system. Shaken batch experiments (75 rpm) for 7 days were used. The initial MB concentration was 10 mg L−1 with the following mass loading: [MnO2] = 2.3 g L−1, [sand] = 45 g L−1, and 0 < [Fe0] (g L−1) ≤ 45. The following systems where investigated: Fe0, MnO2, sand, Fe0/MnO2, Fe0/sand, and Fe0/MnO2/sand. Results demonstrated that MB discoloration is influenced by the diffusive transport of MB from the solution to the aggregates at the bottom of the test-tubes. Results confirm the complexity of the Fe0/MnO2/sand system, while establishing that both MnO2 and sand improve th... [more]

To ascertain the agronomic value of the material resulting from the compost-bedded pack (CBP) in dairy barns, a cross-over experiment was designed with eight dry non-pregnant Holstein cows. The study was performed in two 11-week periods. Bedding materials used were: (1) CBP with sawdust (S) and (2) CBP with forest biomass (FB). Samples were taken from the raw bedding materials and from the CBP across the experiment. We conducted an additional study preparing two piles, one of each CBP material, to accomplish a composting process of 3 months, where samples were also taken. Granulometry and some chemical composition characteristics of FB made it a suitable bedding material to be used as CBP, but its high moisture content limited the ability to absorb liquid manure. Both the degree of stability of the organic matter and the temperature evolution of CBP suggest that a real composting process did not occur. Finally, the composting process of the piles did not lead to any relevant change in... [more]

Ionic liquids can typically be synthesized via protonation, alkylation, metathesis, or neutralization reactions. The many types of ionic liquids have increased their attractiveness to researchers for employment in various areas, including in polymer composites. Recently, ionic liquids have been employed to modify nanofillers for the fabrication of polymer nanocomposites with improved physicochemical properties. In this succinct review, four types of imidazolium-based ionic liquids that are employed as modifiers—specifically alkylimidazolium halide, alkylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, alkylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, and alkylimidazolium bistriflimide—are reviewed. Additionally, three types of ionic liquid-modified nanofiller/polymer nanocomposites—namely ionic liquid-nanofiller/thermoplastic nanocomposites, ionic liquid-nanofiller/elastomer nanocomposites, and ionic liquid-nanofiller/thermoset nanocomposites—are described as well. The effect of imidazolium-based ionic liquids on t... [more]

In bio-oil upgrading, the activity and stability of the catalyst are of great importance for the catalytic hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) process. The vapor-phase HDO of guaiacol was investigated to clarify the activity, stability, and regeneration ability of Al-MCM-41 supported Pd, Co, and Fe catalysts in a fixed-bed reactor. The HDO experiment was conducted at 400 °C and 1 atm, while the regeneration of the catalyst was performed with an air flow at 500 °C for 240 min. TGA and XPS techniques were applied to study the coke deposit and metal oxide bond energy of the catalysts before and after HDO reaction. The Co and Pd−Co simultaneously catalyzed the CArO−CH3, CAr−OH, and multiple C−C hydrogenolyses, while the Fe and Pd−Fe principally catalyzed the CAr−OCH3 hydrogenolysis. The bimetallic Pd−Co and Pd−Fe showed a higher HDO yield and stability than monometallic Co and Fe, since the coke formation was reduced. The Pd−Fe catalyst presented a higher stability and regeneration ability than the P... [more]

In order to improve the resistance to thermal fatigue and wear resistance of H13 hot-working tool steel, a nickel-based composite coating was prepared on its surface by laser cladding technology. The relationship was studied between the main processing parameters and the size of the cladding layer such as height and width. Based on the orthogonal polynomial regression method, the relationships were modeled mathematically between laser power, scanning speed, powder feeding voltage and microhardness. This model was proved to be able to predict the laser power and powder feeding voltage under 1100 Hv microhardness.

In order to improve the structural stiffness of the gravure cell structure in the solid printing process and realize a lightweight design, a multi-objective optimization design method was proposed to optimize the parameters of the direct laser engraving of the cell structure. In this paper, based on the characteristics of the cell structure and the analysis of the contact force, the ANSYS parametric design language (APDL) was used to conduct a finite element analysis on the microstructure of the regular hexagonal cell. We found that there is a certain optimization space. Then, a response surface (RSM) method optimization model, using a central composite design (CCD), was established to obtain, and then analyze, the sensitivity of each design variable to the objective functions. Finally, a multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA) was used to solve the model. The optimization results show that the maximum deformation was reduced by 44.4%, and the total volume was reduced by 46.3%. By com... [more]

Praseodymium (Pr)-promoted MCM-41 catalyst was investigated for the catalytic decomposition of methyl mercaptan (CH3SH). Various characterization techniques, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption−desorption, temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia (NH3-TPD) and carbon dioxide (CO2-TPD), hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR), and X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS), were carried out to analyze the physicochemical properties of material. XPS characterization results showed that praseodymium was presented on the modified catalyst in the form of praseodymium oxide species, which can react with coke deposit to prolong the catalytic stability until 120 h. Meanwhile, the strong acid sites were proved to be the main active center over the 10% Pr/MCM-41 catalyst by NH3-TPD results during the catalytic elimination of methyl mercaptan. The possible reaction mechanism was proposed by analyzing the product distribution results. The final products were mainly small-mole... [more]

The “European Union Training Network for Resource Recovery Through Enhanced Landfill Mining (NEW-MINE)” was a European research project conducted between 2016 and 2020 to investigate the exploration of and resource recovery from landfills as well as the processing of the excavated waste and the valorization of the obtained waste fractions using thermochemical processes. This project yielded more than 40 publications ranging from geophysics via mechanical process engineering to ceramics, which have not yet been discussed coherently in a review publication. This article summarizes and links the NEW-MINE publications and discusses their practical applicability in waste management systems. Within the NEW-MINE project in a first step concentrates of specific materials (e.g., metals, combustibles, inert materials) were produced which might be used as secondary raw materials. In a second step, recycled products (e.g., inorganic polymers, functional glass-ceramics) were produced from these con... [more]

Oxygen plasma micro-nanostructured poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) slides were modified through silver microparticle deposition to create microarray substrates that enhance the emitted fluorescence intensity. Silver deposition relied on a commercially available reagent and was completed in two 30-min incubation cycles of the substrate with the reagent. The fluorescence enhancement achieved using these substrates over flat PMMA slides was determined through the development of a microarray for the multiplexed detection of four mycotoxins, aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A, fumonisin B1, and deoxynivalenol. It was shown that the implementation of silver-plated oxygen plasma micro-nanotextured PMMA substrates increased the signals obtained for aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A by approximately 2.8 times, 5.6 times for deoxynivalenol, and 16-times for fumonisin B1, compared to flat PMMA substrates. Most notably, this signal increase was not accompanied by a significant increase in the non-specific si... [more]

Carbon dots have gained tremendous interest attributable to their unique features. Two approaches are involved in the fabrication of quantum dots (Top-down and Bottom-up). Most of the synthesis methods are usually multistep, required harsh conditions, and costly carbon sources that may have a toxic effect, therefore green synthesis is more preferable. Herein, the current review presents the green synthesis of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) and graphene quantum dots (GQDs) that having a wide range of potential applications in bio-sensing, cellular imaging, and drug delivery. However, some drawbacks and limitations are still unclear. Other biomedical and biotechnological applications are also highlighted.

Arsenic contamination of groundwater is still a global problem due to the toxicity at low dose on human health confirmed by epidemiological studies. Magnetic xerogel monoliths (MXs) were synthesized by the sol-gel polymerization using resorcinol, formaldehyde, alkaline catalyst and magnetite. The varying molar ratios of magnetite and resorcinol (M/R) in the gel were evaluated for As(V) removal from groundwater. The surface chemistry, structure and morphology of MXs related to arsenic adsorption were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and point of zero charge. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of Fe contents, initial pH and adsorbent dose on As(V) removal performance. The MXs with molar ratio of M/R at 0.15 gave the maximum As(V) adsorption capacity and removal with values of 62.8 µg/g and 86.7%, respectively. The adsorption data were well d... [more]

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) is a newly developed green solvent with low cost, easy preparation and regeneration. Because of its excellent solubility and swelling effect in lignocellulose, it has received widespread attention and recognition. In this study, choline-based deep eutectic solvents (DESs)—choline chloride-urea (CC-U), choline chloride-ethylene glycol (CC-EG), choline chloride-glycerol (CC-G), choline chloride-lactic acid (CC-LA), and choline chloride-oxalic acid (CC-OA)—were used to extract and separate bagasse. The effects of hydrogen bond donors on lignin separation and the fiber and lignin structure were investigated. All five DESs could dissolve lignin from bagasse; acidic DESs exhibited higher solubility than basic DESs. CC-OA effectively separated lignin and hemicellulose. CC-LA showed weaker lignin separation ability than CC-OA. CC-G, CC-EG, and CC-U were more inclined to selectively separate lignin than hemicellulose. The crystalline cellulose II structure was reta... [more]

There are several approaches to treat ocular diseases, which can be invasive or non-invasive. Within the non-invasive, new pharmaceutical strategies based on nanotechnology and mucoadhesive polymers are emerging methodologies, which aim to reach an efficient treatment of eye diseases. The aim of this work was the development of novel chitosan/hyaluronic acid nanoparticle systems with mucoadhesive properties, intended to encapsulate antioxidant molecules (e.g., crocin) aiming to reduce eye oxidative stress and, consequently, ocular disease. An ultraviolet (UV) absorber molecule, actinoquinol, was also added to the nanoparticles, to further decrease oxidative stress. The developed nanoparticles were characterized and the results showed a mean particle size lower than 400 nm, polydispersity index of 0.220 ± 0.034, positive zeta potential, and high yield. The nanoparticles were also characterized in terms of pH, osmolality, and viscosity. Mucoadhesion studies involving the determination of... [more]