Europium insertion into MgAl hydrotalcite-like compound to promote the photocatalytic oxidation of nitrogen oxides.

Easy synthesis of efficient, non-toxic photocatalysts is a target to expand their potential applications. In this research, the role of Eu3+ doping in the non-toxic, affordable, and easily prepared MgAl hydrotalcite-like compounds (HTlcs) was explored in order to prepare visible light semiconductors. Eu doped MgAl-HTlcs (MA-xEu) samples were prepared using a simple coprecipitation method (water, room temperature and atmospheric pressure) and europium was successfully incorporated into MgAl HTlc frameworks at various concentrations, with x (Eu3+/M3+ percentage) ranging from 2 to 15. Due to the higher ionic radius and lower polarizability of Eu3+ cation, its presence in the metal hydroxide layer induces slight structural distortions, which eventually affect the growth of the particles. The specific surface area also increases with the Eu content. Moreover, the presence of Eu3+ 4f energy levels in the electronic structure enables the absorption of visible light in the doped MA-xEu samples and contributes to efficient electron-hole separation. The microstructural and electronic changes induced by the insertion of Eu enable the preparation of visible light MgAl-based HTlcs photocatalysts for air purification purposes. Specifically, the optimal HTlc photocatalyst showed improved NOx removal efficiency, ∼ 51% (UV-Vis) and 39% (visible light irradiation, 420 nm), with excellent selectivity (> 96 %), stability (> 7 h), and enhanced release of •O2- radicals. Such results demonstrate a simple way to design photocatalytic HTlcs suitable for air purification technologies.

An application of hierarchical MgAl hydrotalcite in the highly efficient treatment of oilfield macromolecular contaminants.

In this work, salicylic acid (SA) was used to induce the self-assembly of octadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (OTAC), a cationic surfactant, into three-dimensional wormlike micelle aggregates. These aggregates act as a soft template for hierarchical MgAl hydrotalcite (LDH) to create a multi-level pore structure adsorption material. Scanning electron microscopy characterization showed that the surface of the hierarchical hydrotalcite exhibited a dense layered structure, unlike the monolayer structure of ordinary hydrotalcite. Furthermore, the hierarchical MgAl-LDH possesses a significantly larger specific surface area (113.94 m2/g) and wide pore size distribution ranging more extensively from 2 to 80 nm, which significantly has an impressive adsorption effect on sulfonated lignite (SL), with a maximum adsorption capacity of 192.7 mg/g at pH = 7. Extensive research has been conducted on the adsorption mechanism of hierarchical MgAl-LDH, attributing it to surface adsorption due to the unique multi-level structure of the adsorbent. After two cycles of regeneration experiments, the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent remained at a high level of 179.1 mg/g, demonstrating the excellent renewability of hierarchical MgAl-LDH. Moreover, the hierarchical hydrotalcite showed high adsorption capacity in the adsorption of sulfonated lignite, which was attributed to its larger specific surface area and superior pore structure to expose more active sites.

A two-step electrochemical method for separating Mg(OH)2 and CaCO3: Application to RO reject and polluted groundwater.

The process of removing Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions typically results in the co-precipitation of Ca2+ and Mg2+ along with other salt waste. To improve water treatment efficiency towards a zero-waste goal, it is crucial to separate Ca2+ and Mg2+, and recover them in their purified form. This study proposes a two-step electrochemical approach that separately recovers Ca2+ as CaCO3 and Mg2+ as Mg(OH)2. The first step uses an undivided cell with 3D electrodes and controlled flow directions to selectively precipitate CaCO3 on the electrode, keeping the cell removal efficiency. The second step employs a two-compartment cell with a cationic exchange membrane to recover Mg(OH)2. This approach was evaluated on RO reject water with high Ca2+ to Mg2+ ratio and industrial effluent-polluted groundwater with a low ratio. Treatment of domestic RO reject water using undivided cell specifically recovered 64% of CaCO3, although the low conductivity of the RO reject water limited further Mg2+ recovery. Conversely, treating industrial effluent-polluted groundwater with this two-step process successfully recovered 80% of CaCO3 and 94% of Mg(OH)2. SEM, EDAX, and XRD analysis confirmed the quality of the recovered products.

Size-Optimized Layered Double Hydroxide Nanoparticles Promote Neural Progenitor Cells Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells Through the Regulation of M6A Methylation.

Purpose: The committed differentiation fate regulation has been a difficult problem in the fields of stem cell research, evidence showed that nanomaterials could promote the differentiation of stem cells into specific cell types. Layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanoparticles possess the regulation function of stem cell fate, while the underlying mechanism needs to be investigated. In this study, the process of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) differentiate to neural progenitor cells (NPCs) by magnesium aluminum LDH (MgAl-LDH) was investigated. Methods: MgAl-LDH with diameters of 30, 50, and 100 nm were synthesized and characterized, and their effects on the cytotoxicity and differentiation of NPCs were detected in vitro. Dot blot and MeRIP-qPCR were performed to detect the level of m6A RNA methylation in nanoparticles-treated cells. Results: Our work displayed that LDH nanoparticles of three different sizes were biocompatible with NPCs, and the addition of MgAl-LDH could significantly promote the process of ESCs differentiate to NPCs. 100 nm LDH has a stronger effect on promoting NPCs differentiation compared to 30 nm and 50 nm LDH. In addition, dot blot results indicated that the enhanced NPCs differentiation by MgAl-LDH was closely related to m6A RNA methylation process, and the major modification enzyme in LDH controlled NPCs differentiation may be the m6A RNA methyltransferase METTL3. The upregulated METTL3 by LDH increased the m6A level of Sox1 mRNA, enhancing its stability. Conclusion: This work reveals that MgAl-LDH nanoparticles can regulate the differentiation of ESCs into NPCs by increasing m6A RNA methylation modification of Sox1.

Optimizing Green Synthesis of Hydrotalcite - Silver Nanoparticles using Syzygium Nervosum based Reducing Agent.

Hydrotalcite-silver (HT-Ag) nanoparticles have been involved in various daily crucial applications, such as antibacterial, photocatalytic, adsorption, etc. There are many approaches to synthesizing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) decorated on hydrotalcite (HT) surface and the most used approach is using a strong reducing agent. Thus, affordable but effective "green" reducing agents - Syzygium nervosum leaf extract, are taken into account in this work to solve several issues related to chemical reducing agents. This work aimed to assess the effect of Syzygium nervosum leaf extract as a reducing agent for green synthesis of AgNPs on HT through an optimizing process using response surface methodology (RSM) and the Box-Benken model. The optimal conditions for the synthesis of AgNPs on HT include a reaction time of 6.15 hours, a reaction temperature of 50 °C, and the ratio of diluted Syzygium nervosum leaf extract to reduce AgNO3 of 50.37 mL/mg. Under the optimal conditions, the yield of the reduction reaction reached 77.54 %, close to the theoretical value of 76.97 %. The optimization model was suitable for the experiment data. Besides, the morphology, density, and characteristics of AgNPs on the surface of HT layers have been determined by using Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), selected area diffraction, X-ray diffraction, Dynamic light scattering (DLS), Infrared (IR) spectroscopy, Fluorescence emission spectroscopy (FE), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) methods. The spherical AgNPs were synthesized successfully on the surface of HT with the average particle size of 13.0±1.1 nm. Interestingly, HT-Ag hybrid materials can inhibit strongly the growth of E. coli, S. aureus as well as two antibiotic resistance bacterial strains, P. stutzeri B27, and antibiotic resistance E. coli. Especially, the antibacterial activity quantification and durability of the HT-Ag hybrid materials were also tested. Overall, the HT-Ag hybrid materials are very promising for application in material science and biomedicine fields.

Influence of Iron Substitution and Solution Composition on Brucite Carbonation.

Carbon neutral or negative mining can potentially be achieved by integrating carbon mineralization processes into the mine design, operations, and closure plans. Brucite [Mg(OH)2] is a highly reactive mineral present in some ultramafic mine tailings with the potential to be rapidly carbonated and can contain significant amounts of ferrous iron [Fe(II)] substituted for Mg; however, the influence of this substitution on carbon mineralization reaction products and efficiency has not been thoroughly constrained. To better assess the efficiency of carbon storage in brucite-bearing tailings, we performed carbonation experiments using synthetic Fe(II)-substituted brucite (0, 6, 23, and 44 mol % Fe) slurries in oxic and anoxic conditions with 10% CO2. Additionally, the carbonation process was evaluated using different background electrolytes (NaCl, Na2SO4, and Na4SiO4). Our results indicate that carbonation efficiency decreases with increasing Fe(II) substitution. In oxic conditions, precipitation of ferrihydrite [Fe10IIIO14(OH)2] and layered double hydroxides {e.g., pyroaurite [Mg6Fe2III(OH)16CO3·4H2O]} limited carbonation efficiency. Carbonation in anoxic environments led to the formation of Fe(II)-substituted nesquehonite (MgCO3·3H2O) and dypingite [Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2·âˆ¼5H2O], as well as chukanovite [Fe2IICO3(OH)2] in the case of 23 and 44 mol % Fe(II)-brucite carbonation. Carbonation efficiencies were consistent between chloride- and sulfate-rich solutions but declined in the presence of dissolved Si due to the formation of amorphous SiO2·nH2O and Fe-Mg silicates. Overall, our results indicate that carbonation efficiency and the long-term fate of stored CO2 may depend on the amount of substituted Fe(II) in both feedstock minerals and carbonate products.

Optimizing alkali-pretreatment dosage for waste-activated sludge disintegration and enhanced biogas production yield.

The rapid transition towards modernization and industrialization led to an increase in urban population, resulting in paramount challenge to municipal sewage sludge management. Anaerobic digestion (AD) serves as a promising venue for energy recovery from waste-activated sludge (WAS). Addressing the challenge of breaking down floc structures and microbial cells is crucial for releasing extracellular polymeric substances and cytoplasmic macromolecules to facilitate hydrolysis and fermentation process. The present study aims to introduce a combined process of alkaline/acid pre-treatments and AD to enhance sludge digestion and biogas production. The study investigates the influence of alkali pretreatment at ambient temperature using four alkali reagents (NaOH, Ca(OH)2, Mg(OH)2, and KOH). The primary goal is to provide insights into the intricate interplay of alkali dosages (0.04-0.12 g/gTS) on key physic-chemical parameters crucial for optimizing the pre-treatment dosage. Under the optimized alkaline/acid pre-treatment condition, the TSS reduction of 18%-30% was achieved. An increase in sCOD concentration (24%-50%) signifies the enhanced hydrolysis and solubilization rate of organic substrate in WAS. Finally, the biomethane potential test (BMPT) was performed for pre-treated WAS samples. The maximum methane (CH4) yield was observed in combination A1 (244 mL/g) and D1 (253 mL/g), demonstrating the pivotal role of alkali optimization in enhancing AD efficiency. This study serves as a valuable resource to policymakers, researchers, and technocrats in addressing challenges associated to sludge management.

Ion-imprinted macroporous polyethyleneimine incorporated chitosan/layered hydrotalcite foams for the selective biosorption of U(VI) ions.

In order to prevent uranium pollution and recovery uranium resources, it was necessary to find a highly efficient adsorbent for radioactive wastewater treatment. Herein, U(VI) imprinted polyethyleneimine (PEI) incorporated chitosan/layered hydrotalcite composite foam (IPCL) was synthesized by combining ion-imprinting and freeze-drying techniques. IPCL has a high amino/imino content and an ultralight macroporous structure, making it capable of efficiently adsorbing U(VI) and easy to separate; Especially after ion-imprinting, vacancies matching the size of uranyl ions were formed, significantly improving U(VI) selectivity. The adsorption isotherms and adsorption kinetics were in accordance with the Freundlich model and PSO model respectively, indicating that heterogeneous adsorption of U(VI) by the adsorbents. The adsorption capacity of IPCL-2 for U(VI) reached 278.8. mg/g (under the conditions of optimal pH 5.0, temperature of 298 K, contact time of 2 h, and adsorbent dosage of 0.2 g/L), which is almost double of that for the non-imprinted foam (PCL-2, 138.2 mg/g), indicating that IPCL-2 can intelligently recognize U(VI). The heterogeneous adsorption mechanism of U(VI) by IPCL-2 involves complexation, ion-exchange and isomorphic substitution. The adsorption of U(VI) by IPCL-2 is spontaneous and endothermic. IPCL-2 has excellent adsorption performance for U(VI), and is a promising adsorbent for radioactive pollution control.

MgO nanocube hydroxylation by nanometric water films.

Hydrophilic nanosized minerals exposed to air moisture host thin water films that are key drivers of reactions of interest in nature and technology. Water films can trigger irreversible mineralogical transformations, and control chemical fluxes across networks of aggregated nanomaterials. Using X-ray diffraction, vibrational spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and (micro)gravimetry, we tracked water film-driven transformations of periclase (MgO) nanocubes to brucite (Mg(OH)2) nanosheets. We show that three monolayer-thick water films first triggered the nucleation-limited growth of brucite, and that water film loadings continuously increased as newly-formed brucite nanosheets captured air moisture. Small (8 nm-wide) nanocubes were completely converted to brucite under this regime while growth on larger (32 nm-wide) nanocubes transitioned to a diffusion-limited regime when (∼0.9 nm-thick) brucite nanocoatings began hampering the flux of reactive species. We also show that intra- and inter-particle microporosity hosted a hydration network that sustained GPa-level crystallization pressures, compressing interlayer brucite spacing during growth. This was prevalent in aggregated 8 nm wide nanocubes, which formed a maze-like network of slit-shaped pores. By resolving the impact of nanocube size and microporosity on reaction yields and crystallization pressures, this work provides new insight into the study of mineralogical transformations induced by nanometric water films. Our findings can be applied to structurally related minerals important to nature and technology, as well as to advance ideas on crystal growth under nanoconfinement.

Evaluation of the coagulation properties of magnesium hydroxide for removal combined contamination of reactive dyes and microfibers.

Microfibers are a new type of pollutants that are widely distributed in water bodies. And the simultaneous removal of pollutants in water is popular research in the field of water treatment. In this study, magnesium hydroxide was used as coagulant to investigate the performance and mechanism of coagulation and removal of dyes (reactive orange) and microfibers (MFs). The presence of dyestuff in the composite system promoted the removal of microfibers, and the maximum removal efficiency of both could reach 95.55% and 95.35%. The coagulation mechanism was explored by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and zeta potential. The removal of reactive orange and microfibers relied on electrical neutralization, sweep flocculation, and adsorption mechanisms. Turbidity can enhance the removal efficiency of both. Boosting the rotational speed can increase the removal efficiency of microfibers. This study provides an important theoretical support for an in-depth understanding of the characteristics and mechanisms of coagulation for the removal of complex pollutants from printing and dyeing wastewater.

Enhanced precipitation of magnesium carbonates using carbonic anhydrase.

Carbonate precipitation, as part of the carbon dioxide (CO2) mineralization process, is generally regarded as a high-temperature, high-pressure, and high-purity CO2 process. Typical conditions consist of temperatures around 120 °C and a pressure of 100 bar of pure CO2, making the process costly. A major challenge facing carbonate precipitation is performing the reaction at low temperatures and low partial pressures of CO2 (pCO2) such as 25 °C and CO2 flue gas concentration. In this work, we investigated the effect of carbonic anhydrase (CA) to favor magnesium (Mg) carbonate precipitation at low temperatures and low pCO2. CA is an enzyme that accelerates CO2 hydration promoting its conversion into HCO3- and then CO32-. This increases supersaturation with respect to Mg-carbonates. A geochemical model was implemented and used to identify supersaturated conditions with respect to Mg-carbonates. Tests were run at 25, 40, and 50 °C and at 1 bar of either pure CO2 or 10 vol% CO2 and 90 vol% N2. The concentration of 10 vol% CO2 was chosen to resemble CO2 concentration in flue gas. In selected tests, the CA enzyme was added directly as bovine CA or through microalgae (Scenedesmus obliquus). Experiments were run for 48 hours; 24 hours to reach equilibrium, then another 24 hours until the supersaturated conditions were established. After 48 hours the experiments were interrupted and the solids were characterized. Results show that the addition of CA, either directly or through Scenedesmus obliquus, enhances Mg-carbonate precipitation. Regardless of the temperature, the precipitates were made entirely of nesquehonite (MgCO3-3H2O) when pure CO2 was used. Otherwise, a solid solution containing brucite (Mg(OH)2) and MgCO3-3H2O was formed. Overall, these findings suggest that CA can promote carbonate precipitation at low temperatures, pressures, and CO2 purity. The enzyme is effective when added directly or supplied through microalgae, opening up the possibility for a CO2 mineralization process to be implemented directly at a combustion plant as a CO2 storage option without preliminary CO2 capture.

Development of a novel anti-tuberculosis nanodelivery formulation using magnesium layered hydroxide as the nanocarrier and pyrazinamide as a model drug.

Designing and synthesizing biodegradable drug delivery systems are key research areas in biomedical nanotechnology. Here, we report the development of biodegradable magnesium-layered hydroxide (MgLH) based nanodelivery systems using magnesium oxide (MgO) as the precursor by a precipitation method. The designed nanocarrier does not contain any trivalent metal ions, which are most commonly used for the synthesis of layered double hydroxides (LDHs). The designed delivery system was characterized in detail using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analyses. The anti-tuberculosis (anti-TB) drug pyrazinamide (PZA) was successfully intercalated into interlayer galleries of MgLH, resulting in the formation of the nanocomposite, PZA-MgLH, having an average size of about 107 ± 24 nm with a uniform circular shape. The in vitro release of PZA in a human body simulated phosphate buffer saline (PBS) solution was sustained (i.e., almost 66 h) and followed a pseudo-secondorder kinetic model. Moreover, the designed nanodelivery system was found to be highly biocompatible with human normal lung cells (MRC-5) and with 3T3 fibroblast cells as controls for 24 and 48 h. Lastly, the PZA-MgLH nanocomposite showed good anti-tuberculosis activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and both the PZA-MgLH nanocomposite and its released free drug PZA showed antibacterial activity against tested Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria with percentage inhibition ranging from 5.6% to 68% against S. aureus, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa for the PZA free drug, and 32% to 32.5% against E. coli for the PZA-MgLH nanocomposite. In summary, the present results provide significant evidence that the designed nanodelivery system can be used for the delivery of PZA and, thus, should be investigated further for a wide range of anti-TB applications.

Multifaceted potential applicability of hydrotalcite-type anionic clays from green chemistry to environmental sustainability.

Hydrotalcite-like anionic clays (HTs) also known as Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have been developed as multifunctional materials in numerous applications related to catalysis, adsorption, and ion-exchange processes. These materials constitute an important class of ionic lamellar solid clays of Brucite-like structure which comprise of consecutive layers of divalent and trivalent metal cations with charge balancing anions and water molecules in interlayer space. These materials have received increasing attention in research due to their interesting properties namely layered structure, ease of preparation, flexible tunability, ability to intercalate different types of anions, electronic properties, high thermal stability, high biocompatibility, and easy biodegradation. Moreover, HTs/LDHs have unique tailorable and tuneable characteristics such as both acidic and basic sites, anion exchange capability, surface area, basal spacing, memory effect, and also exhibit high exchange capacities, which makes them versatile materials for a wide range of applications and extended their horizons to diverse areas of science and technology. This study enlightens the various rational researches related to the synthetic methods and features focusing on synthesis and/or fabrication with other hybrids and their applications. The diverse applications (namely catalyst, adsorbent to toxic chemicals, agrochemicals management, non-toxic flame retardants, and recycling of plastics) of these multifunctional materials related to a clean and sustainable environment were also summarized.

Parametric estimation of gyrotactic microorganism hybrid nanofluid flow between the conical gap of spinning disk-cone apparatus.

The silver, magnesium oxide and gyrotactic microorganism-based hybrid nanofluid flow inside the conical space between disc and cone is addressed in the perspective of thermal energy stabilization. Different cases have been discussed between the spinning of cone and disc in the same or counter wise directions. The hybrid nanofluid has been synthesized in the presence of silver Ag and magnesium oxide MgO nanoparticulate. The viscous dissipation and the magnetic field factors are introduced to the modeled equations. The parametric continuation method (PCM) is utilized to numerically handle the modeled problem. Magnesium oxide is chemically made up of Mg2+ and O2- ions that are bound by a strong ionic connection and can be made by pyrolyzing Mg(OH)2 (magnesium hydroxide) and MgCO3 (magnesium carbonate) at high temperature (700-1500 °C). For metallurgical, biomedical and electrical implementations, it is more efficient. Similarly, silver nanoparticle's antibacterial properties could be employed to control bacterial growth. It has been observed that a circulating disc with a stationary cone can achieve the optimum cooling of the cone-disk apparatus while the outer edge temperature remains fixed. The thermal energy profile remarkably upgraded with the magnetic effect, the addition of nanoparticulate in base fluid and Eckert number.

In situ imaging of amorphous intermediates during brucite carbonation in supercritical CO2.

Progress in understanding crystallization pathways depends on the ability to unravel relationships between intermediates and final crystalline products at the nanoscale, which is a particular challenge at elevated pressure and temperature. Here we exploit a high-pressure atomic force microscope to directly visualize brucite carbonation in water-bearing supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) at 90 bar and 50 °C. On introduction of water-saturated scCO2, in situ visualization revealed initial dissolution followed by nanoparticle nucleation consistent with amorphous magnesium carbonate (AMC) on the surface. This is followed by growth of nesquehonite (MgCO3·3H2O) crystallites. In situ imaging provided direct evidence that the AMC intermediate acts as a seed for crystallization of nesquehonite. In situ infrared and thermogravimetric-mass spectrometry indicate that the stoichiometry of AMC is MgCO3·xH2O (x = 0.5-1.0), while its structure is indicated to be hydromagnesite-like according to density functional theory and X-ray pair distribution function analysis. Our findings thus provide insight for understanding the stability, lifetime and role of amorphous intermediates in natural and synthetic systems.

Pectin-cellulose hydrogel, silk fibroin and magnesium hydroxide nanoparticles hybrid nanocomposites for biomedical applications.

Natural polymers are at the center of materials development for biomedical and biotechnological applications based on their biocompatibility, low-toxicity and biodegradability. In this study, a novel nanobiocomposite based on cross-linked pectin-cellulose hydrogel, silk fibroin, and Mg(OH)2 nanoparticles was designed and synthesized. After extensive physical-chemical characterization, the biological response of pectin-cellulose/silk fibroin/Mg(OH)2 nanobiocomposite scaffolds was evaluated by cell viability, red blood cells hemolytic and anti-biofilm assays. After 3 days and 7 days, the cell viability of this nanobiocomposite scaffold was 65.5% and 60.5% respectively. The hemolytic effect was below 20%. Furthermore, the presence of silk fibroin and Mg(OH)2 nanoparticles allowed to enhance the anti-biofilm activity, inhibiting the P. aeruginosa biofilm formation.

Experimental and first-principle computational exploration on biomass cellulose/magnesium hydroxide composite: Local structure, interfacial interaction and antibacterial property.

The specification of the local structure and clarification of interfacial interactions of biomass composites is of tremendous significance in synthesizing novel materials and advancing their performance in various demanding applications. However, it remains challenging due to the limitations of experimental techniques, particularly for the manner that biomass composites commonly have hydrogen bonds involved in the vicinity of active sites and interfaces. Herein, the cellulose/Mg(OH)2 nanocomposite has been synthesized via a simple hydrothermal approach and examined by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The composite exhibits a layered morphology; Mg(OH)2 flakes are around 50 nm in size and well-dispersed. They either anchor onto the cellulose surface or intercalate between layers. The specific composite structure was confirmed theoretically, in line with XRD, SEM and TEM observations. The interfacial interactions were found to be hydrogen bonding. The average adsorption energy per hydroxyl group was computed to be within -0.47 and -0.26 eV for a composite model comprising three cellulose chains and a two-layered Mg(OH)2 cluster. The combined computational/experimental results allow to postulate the antibacterial mechanism of the nanocomposite.

Removal of heavy metal ion cobalt (II) from wastewater via adsorption method using microcrystalline cellulose-magnesium hydroxide.

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), magnesium sulfate hexahydrate, and trisodium citrate were reacted in ammonia bath in an aqueous solution to prepare a MCC-magnesium hydroxide (MH) composite adsorbent, which was used to adsorb heavy metal Co(II) ion. The method of using MCC-MH to adsorb and remove Co(II) was studied under different pH values, adsorbent dosages, contact times, initial Co(II) ion concentrations, and temperatures. The optimal process parameters include an MCC-MH dosage of 2.5 mg/mL, a contact reaction equilibrium time of 50 min, a Co(II) solution pH of 6.0-8.0, an initial Co(II) concentration of 300 mg/L, and a temperature of 303 K. The removal rate of Co(II) solution by MCC-MH was as high as 97.67%, and the maximum adsorption capacity of MCC-MH reached 153.84 mg/g under these optimal conditions. The adsorption isotherm of Co(II) conformed to the Langmuir model, the kinetic data of Co(II) conformed to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and the adsorption of Co(II) by MCC-MH was a spontaneous endothermic reaction under the optimized conditions. Analytical studies showed that Co(II) adsorption on MCC-MH composites is affected by chemical adsorption and involves the influence of intraparticle diffusion to a certain extent.

Zn Promoted Mg-Al Mixed Oxides-Supported Gold Nanoclusters for Direct Oxidative Esterification of Aldehyde to Ester.

The synthesis of ester compounds is one of the most important chemical processes. In this work, Zn-Mg-Al mixed oxides with different Zn2+/Mg2+ molar ratios were prepared via co-precipitation method and supported gold nanoclusters to study the direct oxidative esterification of aldehyde and alcohol in the presence of molecular oxygen. Various characterization techniques such as N2-physical adsorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and CO2 temperature programmed desorption (TPD) were utilized to analyze the structural and electronic properties. Based on the results, the presence of small amounts of Zn2+ ions (~5 wt.%) provoked a remarkable modification of the binary Mg-Al system, which enhanced the interaction between gold with the support and reduced the particle size of gold. For oxidative esterification reaction, the Au25/Zn0.05MgAl-400 catalyst showed the best performance, with the highest turnover frequency (TOF) of 1933 h-1. The active center was believed to be located at the interface between metallic gold with the support, where basic sites contribute a lot to transformation of the substrate.

Hybrid Bionanocomposite Containing Magnesium Hydroxide Nanoparticles Embedded in a Carboxymethyl Cellulose Hydrogel Plus Silk Fibroin as a Scaffold for Wound Dressing Applications.

Based on the promising biomedical developments in wound healing strategies, herein, a new nanobiocomposite scaffold was designed and presented by incorporation of carboxymethyl cellulose hydrogels prepared using epichlorohydrin as a cross-linking agent (CMC hydrogel), a natural silk fibroin (SF) protein, and magnesium hydroxide nanoparticles (Mg(OH)2 NPs). Biological evaluation of the CMC hydrogel/SF/Mg(OH)2 nanobiocomposite scaffold was conducted via in vitro cell viability assays and in vivo assays, red blood cell hemolysis, and antibiofilm assays. Considering the cell viability percentage of Hu02 cells (84.5%) in the presence of the prepared nanobiocomposite after 7 days, it was indicated that this new nanoscaffold was biocompatible. The signs of excellent hemocompatibility and the high antibacterial activity were observed due to the low-point hemolytic effect (8.3%) and high-level potential in constraining the P. aeruginosa biofilm formation with a low OD value (0.13). Moreover, in vivo wound healing assay results indicated that the wound healing method was faster in mice treated with the prepared nanobiocomposite scaffold (82.29%) than the control group (75.63%) in 12 days. Apart from the structural characterization of the CMC hydrogel/SF/Mg(OH)2 nanobiocomposite through FTIR, EDX, FESEM, and TG analyses, compressive mechanical tests, contact angle, porosity, and swelling ratio studies indicated that the combination of the CMC hydrogel structure with SF protein and Mg(OH)2 NPs could significantly impact Young's modulus (from 11.34 to 10.14 MPa), tensile strength (from 299.35 to 250.78 MPa), elongation at break (12.52 to 12.84%), hydrophilicity, and water uptake capacity (92.5%).