Temporal and spatial distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Danube River in Hungary.

The Danube is a significant transboundary river on a global scale, with several tributaries. The effluents from industrial operations and wastewater treatment plants have an impact on the river's aquatic ecosystem. These discharges provide a significant threat to aquatic life by deteriorating the quality of water and sediment. Hence, a total of 16 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) compounds were analyzed at six locations along the river, covering a period of 12 months. The objective was to explore the temporal and spatial fluctuations of these chemicals in both water and sediment. The study revealed a significant fluctuation in the concentration of PAHs in water throughout the year, with levels ranging from 224.8 ng/L during the summer to 365.8 ng/L during the winter. Similarly, the concentration of PAHs in sediment samples varied from 316.7 ng/g in dry weight during the summer to 422.9 ng/g in dry weight during the winter. According to the Europe Drinking Water Directive, the levels of PAHs exceeded the permitted limit of 100 ng/L, resulting in a 124.8% rise in summer and a 265.8% increase in winter. The results suggest that the potential human-caused sources of PAHs were mostly derived from pyrolytic and pyrogenic processes, with pyrogenic sources being more dominant. Assessment of sediment quality standards (SQGs) showed that the levels of PAHs in sediments were below the Effect Range Low (ERL), except for acenaphthylene (Acy) and fluorene (Fl) concentrations. This suggests that there could be occasional biological consequences. The cumulative Individual Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) exceeds 1/104 for both adults and children in all sites.

Improved eco-friendly CsSn0.5Ge0.5I3 perovskite photovoltaic efficiency beyond 20% with SMe-TATPyr hole-transporting layer.

Perovskites composed of inorganic cesium (Cs) halide provide a route to thermally resistant solar cells. Nevertheless, the use of hole-transporting layers (HTLs) with hydrophobic additives is constrained by moisture-induced phase deterioration. Due to significant electrical loss, dopant-free HTLs are unable to produce practical solar cells. In this article, we designed a two-dimensional 1,3,6,8-tetrakis[5-(N,N-di(p-(methylthio)phenyl)amino-p-phenyl)-thiophen-2-yl]pyrene (termed SMe-TATPyr) molecule as a new HTL to regulate electrical loss in lead-free perovskite solar cells (PSCs). We optimized the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of PSCs based on mixed tin (Sn)/germanium (Ge) halide perovskite (CsSn0.5Ge0.5I3) by exploring different factors, such as the deep and shallow levels of defects, density of states at the valence band (NV), thickness of the perovskite film, p-type doping concentration (NA) of HTL, the series and shunt resistances, and so on. We carried out comparative research by employing the 1D-SCAPS (a solar cell capacitance simulator) analysis tool. Through optimization of the PSC, we obtained the highest parameters in the simulated solar cell structure of fluorine tin oxide (FTO)/titanium dioxide (TiO2)/CsSn0.5Ge0.5I3/SMe-TATPyr/gold (Au), and the PCE reached up to 20% with a fill factor (FF) of 81.89%.

Novel partially cross-linked nanoparticles graft co-polymer as pore former for polyethersulfone membranes for dyes removal.

A newly developed water-soluble polymeric nano-additive termed "partially cross-linked nanoparticles graft copolymer (PCLNPG)" has been successfully synthesized and harnessed as a pore former for modifying a polyethersulfone ultrafiltration membrane for dyes removal. The PCLNPG content was varied in the PES polymeric matrix aiming to scrutinize its impact on membrane surface characteristics, morphological structure, and overall performance. Proposed interaction mechanism between methylene blue (MB), methyle orange (MO), and malachite green (MG) dyes with PES membrane was presented as well. Hydrophilicity and porosity of the novel membrane increased by 18 and 17 %, respectively, when manufactured with a 3 Wt. % PCLNPG, according to the findings. Besides this, the disclosed increased porosity, rather than the hydrophilic properties of the water-soluble PCLNPG, was the principal cause of the diminished contact angle. Meanwhile, raising the PCLNPG content in the prepared membrane made worthy shifts in its structure. A sponge-like region was materialized near the bottom surface as well. The membrane's pure water flux (PWF) synthesized with 3 Wt.% PCLNPG recorded 628 LMH, which is estimated 3.95 fold the pristine membrane. MG, MB, and MO dyes were rejected by 90.6, 96.3, and 97.87 %, respectively. These findings showed that the performance characteristics of the PES/PCLNPG membrane make it a potentially advantageous option to treat the textile wastewater.

Recovery of fuel from real waste oily sludge via a new eco-friendly surfactant material used in a digital baffle batch extraction unit.

This study focused on developing a new cocktail extraction agent (CEA) composed of solvent and a new surfactant material (SM) for enhancing the efficiency of fuel recovery from real waste oil sludge (WSO). The effects of different solvents (e.g. methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), naphtha, petrol and kerosene), SMs (Dowfax and sodium thiosulfate), extraction time (10-20 min), extraction temperatures (20-60 °C) and CEA/sludge ratios (1-4) on the extraction performance were investigated. SMs and DBBE design enhanced the extraction efficiency by increasing the dispersion of solvent in WSO and enhancing the mixing and mass transfer rates. Results proved that Dowfax was the best SM for oil recovery under various conditions. The best CEA (e.g. MEK and Dowfax) provides the maximum fuel recovery rate of 97% at a period of 20 min, temperature of 60 °C and 4:1 CEA/sludge ratio. The produced fuel was analysed and fed to the distillation process to produce diesel oil. The characteristics of diesel oil were measured, and findings showed that it needs treatment processes prior its use as a finished fuel.

Effect of MAX Phase Ti3ALC2 on the Ultrafiltration Membrane Properties and Performance.

Membrane fouling remains a major obstacle to ultrafiltration. Due to their effectiveness and minimal energy demand, membranes have been extensively employed in water treatment. To improve the antifouling property of the PVDF membrane, a composite ultrafiltration membrane was created employing the in-situ embedment approach throughout the phase inversion process and utilizing a new 2D material, MAX phase Ti3ALC2. The membranes were described using FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), EDS (energy dispersive spectroscopy), CA (water contact angle), and porosity measurements. Additionally, atomic force microscopy (AFM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were employed. Standard flux and rejection tests were applied to study the produced membranes' performance. Adding Ti3ALC2 reduced composite membranes' surface roughness and hydrophobicity compared to the pristine membrane. Porosity and membrane pore size increased with the addition up to 0.3% w/v, which decreased as the additive percentage increased. The mixed matric membrane with 0.7% w/v of Ti3ALC2 (M7) had the lowest CA. The alteration in the membranes' properties reflected well on their performance. The membrane with the highest porosity (0.1% w/v of Ti3ALC2, M1) achieved the highest pure water and protein solution fluxes of 182.5 and 148.7. The most hydrophilic membrane (M7) recorded the highest protein rejection and flux recovery ratio of 90.6, which was much higher than that of the pristine membrane, 26.2. MAX phase Ti3ALC2 is a potential material for antifouling membrane modification because of its protein permeability, improved water permeability, and outstanding antifouling characteristics.

Enhanced Antifouling in Flat-Sheet Polyphenylsulfone Membranes Incorporating Graphene Oxide-Tungsten Oxide for Ultrafiltration Applications.

In this study tungsten oxide and graphene oxide (GO-WO2.89) were successfully combined using the ultra-sonication method and embedded with polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) to prepare novel low-fouling membranes for ultrafiltration applications. The properties of the modified membranes and performance were investigated using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), contact angle (CA), water permeation flux, and bovine serum albumin (BSA) rejection. It was found that the modified PPSU membrane fabricated from 0.1 wt.% of GO-WO2.89 possessed the best characteristics, with a 40.82° contact angle and 92.94% porosity. The permeation flux of the best membrane was the highest. The pure water permeation flux of the best membrane showcased 636.01 L·m-2·h-1 with 82.86% BSA rejection. Moreover, the membranes (MR-2 and MR-P2) manifested a higher flux recovery ratio (FRR %) of 92.66 and 87.06%, respectively, and were less prone to BSA solution fouling. The antibacterial performance of the GO-WO2.89 composite was very positive with three different concentrations, observed via the bacteria count method. These results significantly overtake those observed by neat PPSU membranes and offer a promising potential of GO-WO2.89 on activity membrane performance.

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) Membrane for Separation of Soluble Toluene by Pervaporation Process.

A commercial polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane was employed to separate the soluble toluene compounds (C7H8) from an aqueous solution via the pervaporation (PV) process. The performance and the efficacy of the PDMS PV membrane were evaluated through the estimation of the permeation flux and separation factor under various operating parameters. The response surface method (RSM) built in the Minitab-18 software was used for the design of the experiment in this study, and the responses of the permeation flux and the separation factor were analyzed and optimized based on the operating conditions. A nonlinear regression analysis was applied to the experimental output and input, and as a result, a quadratic equation model with parameters interactions was obtained as mathematical expressions to predict the permeation flux and separation factor. At the optimal conditions of temperature 30 °C, initial toluene concentration 500 ppm, and feed flowrate 3.5 L/min, the toluene permeation flux and separation factor were 125.855 g/m2·h and 1080, respectively. The feed concentration was the most impactful and significant in the improvement of the permeation flux and separation factor of the PDMS membrane.

Hospital wastewater treatment methods and its impact on human health and environments.

The scientific development and economic advances have led to the identification of many pathogenic agents in hospital effluents. Hospital wastewaters are qualitatively similar to municipal wastewaters, with the difference that these wastewaters contain toxic and infectious substances and compounds that can be dangerous for the health of the environment, employees of these centers, and the entire community. Therefore, in the last few years, it has been emphasized that all hospitals and medical and health centers should have a treatment facility for their produced wastewater so that the health of the society and people is not threatened. An issue that is not paid attention to has become one of the environmental problems and concerns of the world today. The present study focused on the investigate hospital wastewater treatment methods and its impact on human health and the environment. In this narrative study, the first literature search was performed with four hundred and twenty-three articles were retrieved based on PubMed, Elsevier, Web of science, Spring, and Google Scholar databases. The results of this study showed that wastewater from hospitals and medical centers can play a significant impress in polluting soil and aquatic environments and spreading infectious diseases. According to the mentioned contents, collection and treatment of hospital wastewater is essential. In addition, if hospital wastewater enters the wastewater collection network without knowing its characteristics or with incomplete treatment and finally enters the municipal wastewater treatment plant. It causes many problems, including disturbing the balance of the biological system of the treatment plant. Purification and disposal of hospital wastewater is considered a vital action based on environmental standards. The results of this study also showed that the treatment methods of this type of hospital wastewater can play a significant role in reducing the spread of diseases caused by hospital wastewater treatment, including infectious diseases. The results of this study can be very useful for politicians, the managers of the Ministry of Energy and Health and the Environmental Organization in choosing the appropriate methods and process to reduce hospital wastewater and increase the efficiency of hospital wastewater treatment plants.

Spotlighting of microbial electrodeionization cells for sustainable wastewater treatment: Application of machine learning.

Microbial electrodeionization cells (MECs) have been investigated for various potential applications, including the elimination of persistent pollutants, chemical synthesis, the recovery of resources, and the development of biosensors. Nevertheless, MEC technology is still developing, and practical large-scale applications face significant obstacles. This review aims to investigate MEC implementations in sustainable wastewater treatment. Ideas and concepts of MEC technology, the setup of the electrodeionization component, the membranes of MECs, the working mechanism of MECs, and the various microorganisms used in MECs are discussed. Additionally, difficulties and prospective outcomes were discussed. The goal of this review is to support scientists and engineers in fully grasping the most recent developments in MEC technologies and applications.

Assessment of graphene-based polymers for sustainable wastewater treatment: Development of a soft computing approach.

Since graphene possesses distinct electrical and material properties that could improve material performance, there is currently a growing demand for graphene-based electronics and applications. Numerous potential applications for graphene include lightweight and high-strength polymeric composite materials. Due to its structural qualities, which include low thickness and compact 2D dimensions, it has also been recognized as a promising nanomaterial for water-barrier applications. For barrier polymer applications, it is usually applied using two main strategies. The first is the application of graphene, graphene oxide (GO), and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) to polymeric substrates through transfer or coating. In the second method, fully exfoliated GO or rGO is integrated into the material. This study provides an overview of the most recent findings from research on the use of graphene in the context of water-barrier applications. The advantages and current limits of graphene-based composites are compared with those of other nanomaterials utilized for barrier purposes in order to emphasize difficult challenges for future study and prospective applications.

Recent Progress in Aptamer-Functionalized Metal-Organic Frameworks-Based Optical and Electrochemical Sensors for Detection of Mycotoxins.

Mycotoxin contamination in foodstuffs and agricultural products has posed a serious hazard to human health and raised international concern. The progress of cost-effective, facile, rapid and reliable analytical tools for mycotoxin determination is in urgent need. In this regard, the potential utility of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as a class of crystalline porous materials has sparked immense attention due to their large specific surface area, adjustable pore size, nanoscale framework structure and good chemical stability. The amalgamation of MOFs with high-affinity aptamers has resulted in the progress of advanced aptasensing methods for clinical and food/water safety diagnosis. Aptamers have many advantages over classical approaches as exceptional molecular recognition constituents for versatile bioassays tools. The excellent sensitivity and selectivity of the MOF-aptamer biocomposite nominate them as efficient lab-on-chip tools for portable, label-free, cost-effective and real-time screening of mycotoxins. Current breakthroughs in the concept, progress and biosensing applications of aptamer functionalized MOFs-derived electrochemical and optical sensors for mycotoxins have been discussed in this study. We first highlighted an overview part, which provides some insights into the functionalization mechanisms of MOFs with aptamers, offering a foundation to create MOFs-based aptasensors. Then, we discuss various strategies to design high-performance MOFs-based aptamer scaffolds, which serve as either signal nanoprobe carriers or signal nanoprobes and their applications. We perceived that applications of optical aptamers are in their infancy in comparison with electrochemical MOFs-derived aptasensors. Finally, current challenges and prospective trends of MOFs-aptamer sensors are discussed.

Assessment in carbon-based layered double hydroxides for water and wastewater: Application of artificial intelligence and recent progress.

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are a class of clays with brucite like layers and intercalated anions. Hybrids of carbon nanomaterials and layered double hydroxides (C-LDHs) are promising nanomaterials due to their versatile properties and the large number of composition/preparation variables available for fine-tuning. Several techniques are available for the synthesis of these novel C-LDHs nanocomposites. This article assess developments in the synthesis and applications of C-LDHs in water and wastewater treatment via using artificial intelligence approaches. In addition, current challenges and possible strategies are discussed from the viewpoint of synthesis and application. It is concluded that the use of C-LDH is expected to produce interesting results. The anisotropic properties and good dispersion ability make them suitable to be used as particulates in the dispersion phase of electro-responsive and electro-rheological fluids. Although these materials have been tested for the removal of contaminants from single component solutions in water. In addition, application of artificial intelligence in this regard is discussed. At the end, the necessity of evaluating their performance in the removal of contaminants from multi-components solutions is proposed. Finally the challenges in obtaining material with precisely controlled particle sizes and morphology must be addressed.

An in-depth analysis of nucleation and growth mechanism of CdS thin film synthesized by chemical bath deposition (CBD) technique.

The aim of this study is to acquire a deeper understanding of the response mechanism that is associated with the formation of CdS thin films. We presented an effective and new hybrid sensitisation technique, which involved the 1-step linker between the related chemical bath deposition (CBD) process and the traditional doping method during CBD for synthesising high-quality, CdS thin films. The mechanism for the combined synthesis of the films is also describes. CdS films were electrostatically bonded to soda-lime glass, causing the formation of the intermediate complexes [Cd(NH3)4]2+, which aided in the collision of these complexes with a soda-lime glass slide. In the one-step fabrication technique, 3-Mercaptopropionic Acid (MPA) was employed as a second source of sulphur ions and a linker molecule. Optical studies showed that the bandgap ranged between (2.26-2.52) eV. CdS + MPA films exhibited a uniform distribution of spherical molecules based on their morphological properties. After annealing, this approach significantly altered the electrical characteristics of CdS films. The CdS + MPA films displayed the highest carrier concentration whereas the CdS + Ag + MPA films exhibited the lowest resistivity, with a jump of 3 orders of magnitude.

Adsorption of methyl violet dye onto a prepared bio-adsorbent from date seeds: isotherm, kinetics, and thermodynamic studies.

Raw date seeds, as prospective natural, broadly obtainable and low-price agricultural waste for adsorbing cationic dyes from aqueous solutions, have been studied. In this work, Iraqi date seeds were prepared and characterised using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis before being used as an efficient bio-adsorbent for methyl violet (MV) dye removal. Adsorption tests were conducted with three investigated parameters, namely, time of contact, first adsorbate concentration and adsorbent dose. Compared with the pseudo first-order model (coefficient of determination = 0.9001), the pseudo second-order model was determined to be the best-fitting model with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.9917. The equilibrium isotherms for MV were obtained, and their ultimate capacity of adsorption was (59.5 mg g1). Two isotherm models, Langmuir and Freundlich, were studied to fit the equilibrium data. Compared with the Freundlich isotherm model (R2 = 0.8154), the Langmuir model functioned better as an adsorption isotherm with R2 of 0.9837. In addition, the adsorption process was endothermic and spontaneous. The date seeds acted as active adsorbents to remove MV from the aqueous solutions in the model experiments.

Modification of Polyethersulfone Ultrafiltration Membrane Using Poly(terephthalic acid-co-glycerol-g-maleic anhydride) as Novel Pore Former.

In this research, poly terephthalic acid-co-glycerol-g-maleic anhydride (PTGM) graft co-polymer was used as novel water-soluble pore formers for polyethersulfone (PES) membrane modification. The modified PES membranes were characterized to monitor the effect of PTGM content on their pure water flux, hydrophilicity, porosity, morphological structure, composition, and performance. PTGM and PES/PTGM membranes were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and contact angle (CA). The results revealed that the porosity and hydrophilicity of the fabricated membrane formed using a 5 wt.% PTGM ratio exhibited an enhancement of 20% and 18%, respectively. Similarly, upon raising the PTGM ratio in the casting solution, a more porous with longer finger-like structure was observed. However, at optimum PTGM content (i.e., 5%), apparent enhancements in the water flux, bovine serum albumin (BSA), and sodium alginate (SA) retention were noticed by values of 203 L/m2.h (LMH), 94, and 96%, respectively. These results illustrated that the observed separation and permeation trend of the PES/PTGM membrane may be a suitable option for applications of wastewater treatment. The experimental results suggest the promising potential of PTGM as a pore former on the membrane properties and performance.

Ethanol Separation from an Ethanol-Water Solution Using Vacuum Membrane Distillation.

The vacuum membrane distillation (VMD) process was applied to separate ethanol from a simulated ethanol-water solution using a commercial polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane. The presence of ethanol in the ethanol-water solution with a 2 wt.% ethanol concentration at a temperature above 40 °C during the MD process may result in membrane failure due to an increase in the chance of the PTFE membrane wetting at high temperatures. Therefore, the operating temperature in this study was not higher than 35 °C, with an initial ethanol concentration up to 10 wt.%. This work focuses on optimizing the VMD operating parameters using the Taguchi technique based on an analysis of variance (ANOVA). It was found that the feed temperature was the most-affected parameter, leading to a significant increase in the permeation flux of the PTFE membrane. Our results also showed that the permeate flux was reported at about 24.145 kg/m2·h, with a separation factor of 8.6 of the permeate under the operating conditions of 2 wt.%, 30 °C, 60 mm Hg(abs), and 0.6 L/min feed (concentration, temperature, permeate vacuum pressure, and flow rate, respectively). The initial feed concentration, vacuum pressure, and feed flow rate have a lower impact on the permeation flux.

Risk assessment of organophosphorus pesticide residues in drinking water resources: Statistical and Monte-Carlo approach.

A large part of the world's agricultural production, despite its adverse effects on human health and water resources, depends on the use of pesticides. Despite strict regulations, the use of pesticides continues around the world. This study aimed to determine the residual concentrations of malathion and diazinon in samples of drinking water resources. To achieve this goal, 384 samples from 8 various sites from January to December 2020 were analyzed using gas chromatography (GC) with an electron capture detector (ECD) and liquid-liquid extraction technique. Besides, statistical analysis and a risk-modeling approach supported by an automatic Monte-Carlo procedure were applied. The results showed that there is a high carcinogenic risk regarding malathion and that the low age population is at the most non-carcinogenic risk regarding diazinon.

New systematic study approach of green synthesis CdS thin film via Salvia dye.

In this study, we aimed to increase the knowledge regarding the response mechanisms which were associated with the formation of CdS thin films. CdS thin film remains the most appealing alternative for many researchers, as it has been a capable buffer material for effect in film based polycrystalline solar cells (CdTe, CIGSe, CZTS). The Linker Assisted and Chemical Bath Deposition (LA-CBD) technique, which combines the Linker Assisted (LA) technique and the chemical bath deposition (CBD) method for forming high quality CdS thin film, was presented as an efficient and novel hybrid sensitization technique. CdS films were bound to soda lime with the help of electrostatic forces, which led to the formation of the intermediate complexes [Cd (NH3)4]2+ that helped in the collision of these complexes with a soda lime slide. Salvia dye and as a linker molecule 3-Mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) was used in the one step fabrication technique. Optical results showed that the bandgap varied in the range of (2.50 to 2.17) eV. Morphological properties showed a homogeneous distribution of the particles that aspherical in shape in the CdS + MPA + Salvia dye films. This technique significantly affected on the electrical characterizations of CdS films after the annealing process. The CdS + Ag + MPA + Salvia dye films showed the maximum carrier concentration and minimum resistivity, as 5.64 × 10 18 cm-3 and 0.83 Ω cm respectively.

Modification of SBA-15 mesoporous silica as an active heterogeneous catalyst for the hydroisomerization and hydrocracking of n-heptane.

In this study, a mesoporous SBA-15 silica catalyst was prepared and modified with encased 1% platinum (Pt) metal nanoparticles for the hydrocracking and hydroisomerization of n-heptane in a heterogeneous reaction. The textural and structural characteristics of the nanostructured silica, including both encased and non-encased nanoparticles, were measured using small-angle X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption-desorption porosimetry, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis, Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Catalytic testing was carried out in a plug-flow reactor under highly controlled operating conditions involving the reactant flow rate, pressure, and temperature. Gas chromatography was used to analyze the species as they left the reactor. The results demonstrated that 1% Pt/SBA-15 has a high n-heptane conversion activity (approximately 85%). Based on the results of this experimental work, there is no selectivity in the SBA-15 catalysts for isomerization products because they are inactive at the relatively low temperature that is essential for hydroisomerization. On the other hand, the SBA-15 catalysts have a considerable selectivity for products that have cracks, owing to their ability to withstand extremely high temperatures (300-400 â€‹°C) as well as the availability of Lewis acid sites within the catalyst structure.

Nanomagnetic macrocyclic Schiff-base-Mn(ii) complex: an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for click approach synthesis of novel ß-substitued-1,2,3-triazoles.

In the present work, a novel symmetrical 15-membered macrocyclic Schiff base complex of manganese was prepared using the reaction of the synthetic 2,6-diacetylpyridine functionalized Fe3O4 MNPs with 2,2-(piperazine-1,4-diyl)dianiline and Mn(ii) bromide salt via a template approach. The resulting [Fe3O4@PAM-Schiff-base-Mn][ClO4] heterogenized complex was characterized using FT-IR, XRD, BET, TGA, EDX, Xray-mapping, SEM, TEM and VSM analysis. To demonstrate proof of concept, Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition synthesis of 1,2,3-triazoles was selected to evaluate the activity and reusability of the catalyst. The ethanol as a green solvent proved to be an excellent reaction medium for this synthesis. Yields of up to 100% were obtained in some cases. Significantly, as demonstrated, [Fe3O4@PAM-Schiff-base-Mn][ClO4] catalyst was recycled for 8 cycles without losing catalytic activity under the optimized reaction conditions. The hot filtration and ICP-OES tests ratified that there was no leaching of metal during the catalytic reaction, indicating the heterogeneous manner of the catalyst.