Metal-doped carbon dots as robust nanomaterials for the monitoring and degradation of water pollutants.

The contamination of the environment by domestic and industrial discharges is a relevant and persistent problem that needs novel solutions. Innovations in the detection, adsorption, and removal or in-situ degradation of toxic components are urgently required. Various effective techniques and materials have been proposed to address this problem, in which carbon dots (CDs) stand out because of their unique properties and low-cost and abundant nature. Their combination with different metals results in the enhancement of their innate properties. Metal-doped CDs have shown excellent results and competitive advantages in recent times. Considering the above useful critiques and CDs notable potentialities, this review discusses different approaches in detail to sense, adsorb, and photodegrade different pollutants in water samples. It was found that altering the electronic structure of CDs via metal doping has a great potential to enhance the optical, electrical, chemical, and magnetic capabilities of CDs, which in turn is beneficial for wastewater treatment.

A Review on Current Strategies for Extraction and Purification of Hyaluronic Acid.

Since it is known that hyaluronic acid contributes to soft tissue growth, elasticity, and scar reduction, different strategies of producing HA have been explored in order to satisfy the current demand of HA in pharmaceutical products and formulations. The current interest deals with production via bacterial and yeast fermentation and extraction from animal sources; however, the main challenge is the right extraction technique and strategy since the original sources (e.g., fermentation broth) represent a complex system containing a number of components and solutes, which complicates the achievement of high extraction rates and purity. This review sheds light on the main pathways for the production of HA, advantages, and disadvantages, along with the current efforts in extracting and purifying this high-added-value molecule from different sources. Particular emphasis has been placed on specific case studies attempting production and successful recovery. For such works, full details are given together with their relevant outcomes.

Carbon-based nanocomposite materials with multifunctional attributes for environmental remediation of emerging pollutants.

Carbon-based materials are among the most biosynthesized nanocomposites with excellent tunability and multifunctionality features, that other materials fail to demonstrate. Naturally occurring materials, such as alginate (Alg), can be combined and modified by linking the active moieties of various carbon-based materials of interest, such as graphene oxide (GO), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and mesoporous silica nanocomposite (MSN), among others. Thus, several types of robust nanocomposites have been fabricated and deployed for environmental remediation of emerging pollutants, such as pharmaceutical compounds, toxic dyes, and other environmentally hazardous contaminants of emerging concern. Considering the above critiques and added features of carbon-based nanocomposites, herein, an effort has been made to spotlight the synergies of GO, CNTs, and MSN with Alg and their role in mitigating emerging pollutants. From the information presented in this work, it can be concluded that Alg is a material that has excellent potential. However, its use still requires further tests in different areas and other materials to carry out a holistic investigation that exploits its versatility for environmental remediation purposes.