Adaptation in Unstable Environments and Global Gene Losses: Small but Stable Gene Networks by the May-Wigner Theory.

Although gene loss is common in evolution, it remains unclear whether it is an adaptive process. In a survey of seven major mangrove clades that are woody plants in the intertidal zones of daily environmental perturbations, we noticed that they generally evolved reduced gene numbers. We then focused on the largest clade of Rhizophoreae and observed the continual gene set reduction in each of the eight species. A great majority of gene losses are concentrated on environmental interaction processes, presumably to cope with the constant fluctuations in the tidal environments. Genes of the general processes for woody plants are largely retained. In particular, fewer gene losses are found in physiological traits such as viviparous seeds, high salinity, and high tannin content. Given the broad and continual genome reductions, we propose the May-Wigner theory (MWT) of system stability as a possible mechanism. In MWT, the most effective solution for buffering continual perturbations is to reduce the size of the system (or to weaken the total genic interactions). Mangroves are unique as immovable inhabitants of the compound environments in the land-sea interface, where environmental gradients (such as salinity) fluctuate constantly, often drastically. Extending MWT to gene regulatory network (GRN), computer simulations and transcriptome analyses support the stabilizing effects of smaller gene sets in mangroves vis-à-vis inland plants. In summary, we show the adaptive significance of gene losses in mangrove plants, including the specific role of promoting phenotype innovation and a general role in stabilizing GRN in unstable environments as predicted by MWT.

The evolution history of an allotetraploid mangrove tree analysed with a new tool Allo4D.

Mangrove species are broadly classified as true mangroves and mangrove associates. The latter are amphibious plants that can survive in the intertidal zone and reproduce naturally in terrestrial environments. Their widespread distribution and extensive adaptability make them ideal research materials for exploring adaptive evolution. In this study, we de novo assembled two genomes of mangrove associates (the allotetraploid Barringtonia racemosa (2n = 4x = 52) and diploid Barringtonia asiatica (2n = 2x = 26)) to investigate the role of allopolyploidy in the evolutionary history of mangrove species. We developed a new allotetraploid-dividing tool Allo4D to distinguish between allotetraploid scaffold-scale subgenomes and verified its accuracy and reliability using real and simulated data. According to the two subgenomes of allotetraploid B. racemosa divided using Allo4D, the allopolyploidization event was estimated to have occurred approximately one million years ago (Mya). We found that B. racemosa, B. asiatica, and Diospyros lotus shared a whole genome duplication (WGD) event during the K-Pg (Cretaceous-Paleozoic) period. K-Pg WGD and recent allopolyploidization events contributed to the speciation of B. racemosa and its adaptation to coastal habitats. We found that genes in the glucosinolates (GSLs) pathway, an essential pathway in response to various biotic and abiotic stresses, expanded rapidly in B. racemosa during polyploidization. In summary, this study provides a typical example of the adaptation of allopolyploid plants to extreme environmental conditions. The newly developed tool, Allo4D, can effectively divide allotetraploid subgenomes and explore the evolutionary history of polyploid plants, especially for species whose ancestors are unknown or extinct.

Unraveling the Mechanistic Origin of High N2 Selectivity in Ammonia Selective Catalytic Oxidation on CuO-Based Catalyst.

NH3 emissions from industrial sources and possibly future energy production constitute a threat to human health because of their toxicity and participation in PM2.5 formation. Ammonia selective catalytic oxidation to N2 (NH3-SCO) is a promising route for NH3 emission control, but the mechanistic origin of achieving high N2 selectivity remains elusive. Here we constructed a highly N2-selective CuO/TiO2 catalyst and proposed a CuOx dimer active site based on the observation of a quadratic dependence of NH3-SCO reaction rate on CuOx loading, ac-STEM, and ab initio thermodynamic analysis. Combining this with the identification of a critical N2H4 intermediate by in situ DRIFTS characterization, a comprehensive N2H4-mediated reaction pathway was proposed by DFT calculations. The high N2 selectivity originated from the preference for NH2 coupling to generate N2H4 over NH2 dehydrogenation on the CuOx dimer active site. This work could pave the way for the rational design of efficient NH3-SCO catalysts.

Phantom study of a self-shielded X-ray bone age assessment instrument against scattered radiation in children.

Hand-wrist radiography is the most common and accurate method for evaluating children's bone age. To reduce the scattered radiation of radiosensitive organs in bone age assessment, we designed a small X-ray instrument with radioprotection function by adding metal enclosure for X-ray shielding. We used a phantom operator to compare the scattered radiation doses received by sensitive organs under three different protection scenarios (proposed instrument, radiation personal protective equipment, no protection). The proposed instrument showed greater reduction in the mean dose of a single exposure compared with radiation personal protective equipment especially on the left side which was proximal to the X-ray machine (≥80.0% in eye and thyroid, ≥99.9% in breast and gonad). The proposed instrument provides a new pathway towards more convenient and efficient radioprotection.

Genomic analysis of Nypa fruticans elucidates its intertidal adaptations and early palm evolution.

Nypa fruticans (Wurmb), a mangrove palm species with origins dating back to the Late Cretaceous period, is a unique species for investigating long-term adaptation strategies to intertidal environments and the early evolution of palms. Here, we present a chromosome-level genome sequence and assembly for N. fruticans. We integrated the genomes of N. fruticans and other palm family members for a comparative genomic analysis, which confirmed that the common ancestor of all palms experienced a whole-genome duplication event around 89 million years ago, shaping the distinctive characteristics observed in this clade. We also inferred a low mutation rate for the N. fruticans genome, which underwent strong purifying selection and evolved slowly, thus contributing to its stability over a long evolutionary period. Moreover, ancient duplicates were preferentially retained, with critical genes having experienced positive selection, enhancing waterlogging tolerance in N. fruticans. Furthermore, we discovered that the pseudogenization of Early Methionine-labelled 1 (EM1) and EM6 in N. fruticans underly its crypto-vivipary characteristics, reflecting its intertidal adaptation. Our study provides valuable genomic insights into the evolutionary history, genome stability, and adaptive evolution of the mangrove palm. Our results also shed light on the long-term adaptation of this species and contribute to our understanding of the evolutionary dynamics in the palm family.

Advances in air pollution control for key industries in China during the 13th five-year plan.

Industrial development is an essential foundation of the national economy, but the industry is also the largest source of air pollution, of which power plants, iron and steel, building materials, and other industries emit large amounts of pollutants. Therefore, the Chinese government has promulgated a series of stringent emission regulations, and it is against this backdrop that research into air pollution control technologies for key industrial sectors is in full swing. In particular, during the 13th Five-Year Plan, breakthroughs have been made in pollution control technology for key industrial sectors. A multi-pollutant treatment technology system of desulfurization, denitrification, and dust collection, which applies to key industries such as power plants, steel, and building materials, has been developed. High-performance materials for the treatment of different pollutants, such as denitrification catalysts and desulfurization absorbers, were developed. At the same time, multi-pollutant synergistic removal technologies for flue gas in various industries have also become a hot research topic, with important breakthroughs in the synergistic removal of NOx, SOx, and Hg. Due to the increasingly stringent emission standards and regulations in China, there is still a need to work on the development of multi-pollutant synergistic technologies and further research and development of synergistic abatement technologies for CO2 to meet the requirements of ultra-low emissions in industrial sectors.

Genomic insights into molecular adaptation to intertidal environments in the mangrove Aegiceras corniculatum.

Mangroves have colonised extreme intertidal environments characterised by high salinity, hypoxia and other abiotic stresses. Aegiceras corniculatum, a pioneer mangrove species that has evolved two specialised adaptive traits (salt secretion and crypto-vivipary) is an attractive ecological model to investigate molecular mechanisms underlying adaptation to intertidal environments. We assembled de novo a high-quality reference genome of A. corniculatum and performed comparative genomic and transcriptomic analyses to investigate molecular mechanisms underlying adaptation to intertidal environments. We provide evidence that A. corniculatum experienced a whole-genome duplication (WGD) event c. 35 Ma. We infer that maintenance of cellular environmental homeostasis is an important adaptive process in A. corniculatum. The 14-3-3 and H+ -ATPase protein-coding genes, essential for the salt homeostasis, were preferentially retained after the recent WGD event. Using comparative transcriptomics, we show that genes upregulated under high-salt conditions are involved in salt transport and ROS scavenging. We also found that all homologues of DELAY OF GERMINATION1 (DOG1) had lost their heme-binding ability in A. corniculatum, and that this may contribute to crypto-vivipary. Our study provides insight into the genomic correlates of phenotypic adaptation to intertidal environments. This could contribute not only within the genomics community, but also to the field of plant evolution.

Prognostic factors for ovarian metastases in colorectal cancer patients.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze prognostic factors for ovarian metastases (OM) in colorectal cancer (CRC) using data from a Chinese center. In addition, the study aimed at developing a new clinical scoring system for prognosis of OM of CRC patients after surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data of CRC patients with OM were collected from a single Chinese institution (n = 67). Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to evaluate cumulative survival of patients. Factors associated with prognosis of overall survival (OS) were explored using Cox's proportional hazard regression models. A scoring system to determine effectiveness of prognosis was developed. RESULTS: Median OS values for patients with or without surgery were 22 and 7 months, respectively. Size of OM, number of OM, peritoneal metastasis (PM), Peritoneal cancer index (PCI), and completeness of cytoreduction (CC) were associated with OS of patients through univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis using a Cox regression model showed that only CC was an independent predictor for OS. Three variables (the size of OM >15cm, PCI ≥ 10, and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) >30 ng/mL) assigned one point each were used to develop a risk score. The resulting score was used for prognosis of OS. CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment of metastatic sites is effective and safe for CRC patients with OM. CC-0 is recommended for improved prognosis. The scoring system developed in this study is effective for prediction of OS of patients after surgery.

Validation and application of a novel UHPLC-MS/MS method for the measurement of furanodienone in rat plasma.

A sensitive ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method was established to analyze furanodienone in rat plasma. In the process of chromatographic separation, selected reaction monitoring transitions for furanodienone and patchouli alcohol (internal standard, IS) were m/z 231.1 → 83.2 and m/z 205.1 → 95.1, respectively. Great linearity of furanodienone in plasma samples was found in the corresponding concentration range (r > 0.995). Intra- and inter-day precisions (RSD, %) were <11.3% in plasma, and the accuracy (RE, %) was within ±10.7%. This method was used to the furanodienone study on rat pharmacokinetics after a single oral dose of 10 mg/kg of furanodiene. The results indicated that the maximum observed plasma concentration was 52.4 ± 19.1 ng/ml at 1.2 ± 0.7 h with an elimination half-life of 2.2 ± 0.7 h. The obtained data indicated that furanodienone could be moderately distributed and eliminated.

Comparative study on the pyrolysis kinetics of polyurethane foam from waste refrigerators.

Thermal treatment offers advantages of significant volume reduction and energy recovery for the polyurethane foam from waste refrigerators. In this work, the pyrolysis kinetics of polyurethane foam was investigated using the model-fitting, model-free and distributed activation energy model methods. The thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the polyurethane foam decomposition could be divided into three stages with temperatures of 38°C-400°C, 400°C-550°C and 550°C-1000°C. Peak temperatures for the major decomposition stage (<400°C) were determined as 324°C, 342°C and 344°C for heating rates of 5, 15 and 25 K min-1, respectively. The activation energy (Eα) from the Friedman, Flynn-Wall-Ozawa and Tang methods increased with degree of conversion (α) in the range of 0.05 to 0.5. The coefficients from the Flynn-Wall-Ozawa method were larger and the resulted Eα values fell into the range of 163.980-328.190 kJ mol-1 with an average of 206.099 kJ mol-1. For the Coats-Redfern method, the diffusion models offered higher coefficients, but the E values were smaller than that from the Flynn-Wall-Ozawa method. The Eα values derived from the distributed activation energy model method were determined as 163.536-334.231 kJ mol-1, with an average of 206.799 kJ mol-1. The peak of activation energy distribution curve was located at 205.929 kJ mol-1, consistent with the thermogravimetric results. The Flynn-Wall-Ozawa and distributed activation energy model methods were more reliable for describing the polyurethane foam pyrolysis process.

Kinetic modeling study on the combustion treatment of cathode from spent lithium-ion batteries.

Thermal treatment offers an alternative method for the separation of aluminum foil and cathode materials during spent lithium-ion batteries recycling. In this work, the combustion kinetic of cathode was studied based on six model-free (isoconversional) methods, namely Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO), Friedman, Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose, Starink, Tang, and Boswell methods. The possible decomposition mechanism was also probed using a master-plots method (Criado method). Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the whole thermal process could be divided into three stages with temperatures of 37-578°C, 578-849°C, and 849-1000°C. The activation energy (Eα) derived from these model-free methods displayed the same trend, gradually increasing with a conversion range of 0.002-0.013, and significantly elevating beyond this range. The coefficients from the FWO method were larger, and the resulted Eα fell into the range of 10.992-40.298 kJ/mol with an average value of 20.228 kJ/mol. Comparing the theoretical master plots with an experimental curve, the thermal decomposition of cathode could be better described by the geometric contraction models.

Kinetic studies on the pyrolysis of plastic waste using a combination of model-fitting and model-free methods.

In this work, the pyrolysis behavior of plastic waste-TV plastic shell-was investigated, based on thermogravimetric analysis and using a combination of model-fitting and model-free methods. The possible reaction mechanism and kinetic compensation effects were also examined. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the decomposition of plastic waste in a helium atmosphere can be divided into three stages: the minor loss stage (20-300°C), the major loss stage (300-500°C) and the stable loss stage (500-1000°C). The corresponding weight loss at three different heating rates of 15, 25 and 35 K/min were determined to be 2.80-3.02%, 94.45-95.11% and 0.04-0.16%, respectively. The activation energy (Ea) and correlation coefficient (R2) profiles revealed that the kinetic parameters calculated using the Friedman and Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose method displayed a similar trend. The values from the Flynn-Wall-Ozawa and Starink methods were comparable, although the former gave higher R2 values. The Eα values gradually decreased from 269.75 kJ/mol to 184.18 kJ/mol as the degree of conversion (α) increased from 0.1 to 0.8. Beyond this range, the Eα slightly increased to 211.31 kJ/mol. The model-fitting method of Coats-Redfern was used to predict the possible reaction mechanism, for which the first-order model resulted in higher R2 values than and comparable Eα values to those obtained from the Flynn-Wall-Ozawa method. The pre-exponential factors (lnA) were calculated based on the F1 reaction model and the Flynn-Wall-Ozawa method, and fell in the range 59.34-48.05. The study of the kinetic compensation effect confirmed that a compensation effect existed between Ea and lnA during the plastic waste pyrolysis.

Kinetic study on the slow pyrolysis of nonmetal fraction of waste printed circuit boards (NMF-WPCBs).

In this study, the pyrolysis behaviour of nonmetal fraction of waste printed circuit boards (NMF-WPCBs) was studied based on five model-free methods and distributed activation energy model (DAEM). The possible decomposition mechanism was further probed using the Criado method. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the NMF-WPCBs pyrolysis process could be divided into three stages with temperatures of 37-330°C, 330-380°C and 380-1000°C. The mass loss at different heating rate was determined as 26.85-29.98%, 13.47-24.21% and 20.43-23.36% for these stages, respectively. The activation energy (Eα) from various model-free methods first increased with degree of conversion (α) increasing from 0.05 to 0.275, and then decreased beyond this range. The coefficient (R) from the Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO) method was higher, and the resulting Eα fell into the range of 214.947-565.660 kJ mol-1. For the DAEM method, the average Eα value was determined as 337.044 kJ mol-1, comparable with 329.664 kJ mol-1 from the FWO method. The thermal decomposition kinetics of NMF-WPCBs could be better described by the second-order reaction.

Pyrolysis treatment of nonmetal fraction of waste printed circuit boards: Focusing on the fate of bromine.

Advanced thermal treatment of electronic waste offers advantages of volume reduction and energy recovery. In this work, the pyrolysis behaviour of nonmetallic fractions of waste printed circuit boards was studied. The fate of a bromine and thermal decomposition pathway of nonmetallic fractions of waste printed circuit boards were further probed. The thermogravimetric analysis showed that the temperatures of maximum mass loss were located at 319°C and 361°C, with mass loss of 29.6% and 50.6%, respectively. The Fourier transform infrared Spectroscopy analysis revealed that the spectra at temperatures of 300°C-400°C were complicated with larger absorbance intensity. The nonmetallic fractions of waste printed circuit boards decomposed drastically and more evolved products were detected in the temperature range of 600°C-1000°C. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis indicated that various brominated derivates were generated in addition to small molecules, such as CH4, H2O and CO. The release intensity of CH4 and H2O increased with temperature increasing and reached maximum at 600°C-800°C and 400°C-600°C. More bromoethane (C2H5Br) was formed as compared with HBr and methyl bromide (CH3Br). The release intensity of bromopropane (C3H7Br) and bromoacetone (C3H5BrO) were comparable, although smaller than that of bromopropene (C3H5Br). More dibromophenol (C6H4Br2O) was released than that of bromophenol (C6H5BrO) in the thermal treatment. During the thermal process, part of the ether bonds first ruptured forming bisphenol A, propyl alcohol and tetrabromobisphenol A. Then, the tetrabromobisphenol A decomposed into C6H5BrO and HBr, which further reacted with small molecules forming brominated derivates. It implied debromination of raw nonmetallic fractions of waste printed circuit boards or pyrolysis products should be applied for its environmentally sound treating.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of pyrazolo-[3,4-b]pyridine derivatives as adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase activators.

A series of pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their activation activity toward adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK). According to the enzyme activity, the pyrazole N-H exposure and para substitution on the diphenyl group were proved to be essential for the activation potency. Compound 17f showed equal activation compared with A-769662. In the molecular modeling study, compound 17f exhibited important hydrogen bond interaction with Lys29, Asp88, and Arg83. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assays on the NRK-49F cell line showed that potent enzyme activators could effectively inhibit cell proliferation, especially for 17f (EC50 [AMPKα1γ1ß1] = 0.42 µM, efficacy = 79%; IC50 [NRK-49F cell line] = 0.78 µM). These results might provide new insights to explore novel AMPK activators.

The acidity/basicity of metal-containing ionic liquids: insights from surface analysis and the Fukui function.

Metal-containing ionic liquids (ILs) have been recognized as potential solvents, catalysts, catalyst precursors and reagents for many organic processes. In this work, several quantum-chemical parameters, including the surface electrostatic potential (Vs,max and Vs,min), the lowest surface average local ionization energy (I̅s,min), and the electrostatic potential at the position of an atom (EPnuc), were adopted to understand the acidity/basicity of metal-containing ILs. Chlorometallate-based ILs show stronger acidity than conventional ILs, because of the increased electron-deficiency of the imidazole ring upon the incorporation of metal chloride. For the ILs with the Ag-coordinated cations, the acidity tends to attenuate while the basicity becomes stronger, as compared to traditional ILs. In addition, the regional Fukui function was also used to assess the molecular distribution of the Lewis acidity/basicity of the ILs under study. Overall, the introduction of metals into either the cations or the anions influences the acidity/basicity of ILs to a large degree, which would be beneficial for their certain applications, such as catalysis and extraction. We hope that the results presented here will assist in the development of novel metal-containing ILs with desirable properties.

Arabidopsis thaliana defense response to the ochratoxin A-producing strain (Aspergillus ochraceus 3.4412).

KEY MESSAGE: OTA-producing strain Aspergillus ochraceus induced necrotic lesions, ROS accumulation and defense responses in Arabidopsis . Primary metabolic and defense-related proteins changed in proteomics. Ascorbate-glutathione cycle and voltage-dependent anion-selective channel proteins fluctuated. Mycotoxigenic fungi, as widespread contaminants by synthesizing mycotoxins in pre-/post-harvest infected plants and even stored commercial cereals, could usually induce plant-fungi defense responses. Notably, ochratoxin A (OTA) is a nephrotoxic, hepatotoxic, teratogenic, immunotoxic and phytotoxic mycotoxin. Herein, defense responses of model system Arabidopsis thaliana detached leaves to infection of Aspergillus ochraceus 3.4412, an OTA high-producing strain, were studied from physiological, proteomic and transcriptional perspectives. During the first 72 h after inoculation (hai), the newly formed hypersensitive responses-like lesions, decreased chlorophyll content, accumulated reactive oxygen species and upregulated defense genes expressions indicated the defense response was induced in the leaves with the possible earlier motivated jasmonic acid/ethylene signaling pathways and the later salicylic acid-related pathway. Moreover, proteomics using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis 72 hai showed 16 spots with significantly changed abundance and 13 spots corresponding to 12 unique proteins were successfully identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF MS/MS. Of these, six proteins were involved in basic metabolism and four in defense-related processes, which included glutathione-S-transferase F7, voltage-dependent anion-selective channel protein 3 (VDAC-3), osmotin-like protein OSM34 and blue copper-binding protein. Verified from proteomic and/or transcriptional perspectives, it is concluded that the primary metabolic pathways were suppressed with the ascorbate-glutathione cycle fluctuated in response to A. ochraceus and the modulation of VDACs suggested the possibility of structural damage and dysfunction of mitochondria in the process. Taken together, these findings exhibited a dynamic overview of the defense responses of A. thaliana to A. ochraceus and provided a better insight into the pathogen-resistance mechanisms in plants.

Structures and electronic properties of transition metal-containing ionic liquids: insights from ion pairs.

Transition metal-containing ionic liquids (TM-ILs) have attracted a great deal of attention in recent years, due to their unique physical and chemical properties. In this work, several representative TM-ILs, such as the cations consisting of silver(I) center coordinated by two n-alkylimidazole ligands ([(C(n)(im))Ag(mim)](+)) and the anions involving mercury(II) (HgCl3(-)), zinc(II) (ZnCl3(-)), and rhenium(VII) (ReO4(-)), were investigated using density functional theory calculations. First, the structural and energetic properties of the ion pairs for these TM-ILs have been examined in detail and compared with properties for conventional ILs. It was found that the interactions between the cations and anions, including hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions, in TM-ILs become weaker in strength than those in traditional ILs. In particular, the calculated geometric and energetic features compare fairly well with the experimental results, such as melting points and X-ray crystal structures of these TM-ILs. Then, the structures and energetics of ion-pair dimers for three ILs containing HgCl3(-), ZnCl3(-), and ReO4(-) were also explored, to gain a deeper understanding of the properties of TM-ILs. Finally, a survey of the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) was undertaken to provide some crystallographic implications of TM-ILs.

Multiscale experimental insights into vacuum drying of sludge for enhanced energy efficiency and emission control.

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the vacuum drying process for sludge drying, with a focus on optimizing energy efficiency and emission control. The study used both lab-scale static and pilot-scale vacuum drying systems to test various parameters like vacuum levels, heat source temperatures, and sludge thicknesses. The results indicated that optimal drying conditions were achieved at a vacuum level of -0.06 MPa, a heat temperature of 140 °C, and a sludge thickness of 3.4 mm, where the drying rate reaches 0.13278 g·g-1·min-1. The study underscores the significant influence of vacuum level, temperature, and sludge thickness on drying rates. The Page model was used to analyze drying kinetics, elucidating how changes in these parameters affect drying characteristics. Furthermore, the study also examined the pollutant emissions and energy efficiency at the pilot scale. It found that high vacuum environments could efficiently dry sludge using low-temperature heat source, leading to average energy consumption per unit evaporation of 3020.29 kJ/kg, which is lower compared to traditional methods. By harnessing low-grade industrial waste heat, this can be further reduced to 875.76 kJ/kg. This study offers valuable insights for sustainable sludge management systems, highlighting the environmental and economic benefits of vacuum drying technology. The detailed experimental approach and thorough analysis make a significant contribution to the field of the sludge drying.

A graphene@Cu-MOF hybrid synthesized by mechanical ball milling method and its flame retardancy and smoke suppression effect on EP.

The traditional method of preparing graphene will cause serious environmental pollution, and the combustion of polymer materials will seriously harm people's health. In this paper, a Cu-MOF-coated graphene composite flame retardant (G@Cu-MOF) rich in flame retardant elements such as B and N was synthesized through green mechanical ball milling method. Flame retardants reduce the threat to the environment and people's lives and property. After adding 6 wt% G@Cu-MOF, the peak heat release rate, total heat release rate, CO production and CO2 production of epoxy resin (EP) composite samples decreased by 55, 14, 59, and 55%, respectively. This type of Cu-MOF releases incombustible gases such as boron trifluoride (BF3) and ammonia (NH3) during combustion, diluting the concentration of combustible gases and producing copper borate in the condensed phase. Cu2+ is reduced to Cu, and boron compounds are converted into boron oxides. The thermal conductivity of graphene can reduce the temperature of the matrix, and has good flame retardancy. It synergistically acts with Cu-MOF to promote the formation of high-quality residual char, and can significantly inhibit the heat and smoke release of EP. It plays a role in flame retardancy and protecting the substrate from fire. This study provides a new approach for preparing graphene hybrid flame retardants through mechanical ball milling, in order to improve the flame retardancy of EP and suppress the release of smoke and toxic gases.