Eco-Friendly Poly (Butylene Adipate-co-Terephthalate) Coated Bi-Layered Films: An Approach to Enhance Mechanical and Barrier Properties.

In this research work, a coated paper was prepared with poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) film to explore its use in eco-friendly food packaging. The paper was coated with PBAT film for packaging using hot pressing, a production method currently employed in the packaging industry. The coated papers were evaluated for their structural, mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties. The structural morphology and chemical analysis of the coated paper confirmed the consistent formation of PBAT bi-layered on paper surfaces. Surface coating with PBAT film increased the water resistance of the paper samples, as demonstrated by tests of barrier characteristics, including the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), oxygen transmission rate (OTR), and water contact angle (WCA) of water drops. The transmission rate of the clean paper was 2010.40 cc m-2 per 24 h for OTR and 110.24 g m-2 per 24 h for WVTR. If the PBAT-film was coated, the value decreased to 91.79 g m-2 per 24 h and 992.86 cc m-2 per 24 h. The hydrophobic nature of PBAT, confirmed by WCA measurements, contributed to the enhanced water resistance of PBAT-coated paper. This result presents an improved PBAT-coated paper material, eliminating the need for adhesives and allowing for the fabrication of bi-layered packaging.

Electron Beam-Supported Fabrication of Biocompatible Silver/iota-Carrageenan for Wound Healing Application.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are a potent antibacterial agent, especially when used to treat bacteria that are multidrug resistant. However, it is challenging to eliminate the hazardous reducing agents that remain in AgNPs produced by the conventional chemical reduction process. To overcome these challenges, the presented research demonstrates the fabrication of AgNPs using iota-carrageenan (ι-carra) as a carbohydrate polymer using electron beam (EB) irradiation. Well-characterized ι-carra@AgNPs have a face-centered cubic (FCC) structure with spherical morphology and an average size of 26 nm. Herein we explored the approach for fabricating ι-carra@AgNPs that is suitable for scaling up the production of nanoparticles that exhibit excellent water stability. Further, the optimized ι-carra@AgNPs exhibited considerable antibacterial activity of 40% and 30% inhibition when tested with Gram-negative Escherichia coli ATCC 43895 and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (ATCC 6538), respectively, and low cytotoxicity at 10-50 µg/mL. To establish the potential biomedical application, as proof of the concept, the ι-carra@AgNPs showed significant antibiofilm activity at 20 µg/mL and also showed 95% wound healing abilities at 50 µg/mL compared to the nontreated control groups. Electron beam assisted ι-carra@AgNPs showed significant beneficial effects against specific bacterial strains and may provide a guide for the development of new antibacterial materials for wound dressing for large-scale production for biomedical applications.

Improved electrochemical detection of levofloxacin in diverse aquatic samples using 3D flower-like Co@CaPO4 nanospheres.

The misuse of antibiotics has become a concerning environmental issue, posing a significant threat to public health. Levofloxacin (LFX), a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, is particularly worrisome due to its detrimental impact on human health and the ecosystem. Therefore, the selective and accurate identification of LFX is of utmost importance. In this study, we have developed an electrochemical sensor based on cobalt-doped calcium phosphate (Co@CaHPO) for the sensitive and selective detection of LFX in various water samples. Under optimized conditions, the Co@CaHPO-modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) exhibited exceptional electrochemical activity, low charge transfer resistance, and a fast electron transfer rate, outperforming the unmodified GCE. The proposed Co@CaHPO-modified GCE demonstrated remarkable electrochemical characteristics, including a wide linear range (0.3-460 µM) and a lower detection limit (0.151 µM) with high sensitivity (0.676 µAµM-1 cm2). This detection approach may enable the direct detection of LFX in the pharmaceutical environment. Furthermore, the resulting sensor exhibited good selectivity, excellent cyclic and storage stability, reproducibility, and repeatability. The practical application of this LFX sensor can be extended to various water samples, yielding reliable and satisfactory results.

Preparation and Antimicrobial Characterization of Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/Kaolin Clay Biocomposites.

The biodegradable polymer poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) starts decomposing at room temperature. Kaolin clay (KO) was dispersed and blended into PBAT composites using a solution-casting method. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to evaluate the structure and morphology of the composite materials. PBAT/kaolin clay composites were studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The PBAT composite loaded with 5.0 wt% kaolin clay shows the best characteristics. The biocomposites of PBAT/kaolin [PBC-5.0 (37.6MPa)] have a good tensile strength when compared to virgin PBAT (18.3MPa). The oxygen transmission rate (OTR), with ranges from 1080.2 to 311.7 (cc/m2/day), leads the KO content. By including 5.0 wt% kaolin 43.5 (g/m2/day), the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of the PBAT/kaolin composites was decreased. The pure PBAT must have a WVTR of 152.4 (g/m2/day). Gram-positive (S. aureus) and Gram-negative (E. coli) food-borne bacteria are significantly more resistant to the antimicrobial property of composites. The results show that PBAT/kaolin composites have great potential as food packaging materials due to their ability to decrease the growth of bacteria and improve the shelf life of packaged foods.

Preparation and Performance of Biodegradable Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) Composites Reinforced with Novel AgSnO2 Microparticles for Application in Food Packaging.

Biodegradable composites with antimicrobial properties were prepared with microparticles of silver stannate (AgSnO2) and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) and tested for applications in food packaging. The PBAT matrix was synthesized and confirmed by 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Ultrasonic and coprecipitation methods were used to synthesize AgSnO2. A two-step mixing method and a solvent cast technique were utilized to fabricate the PBAT composites (different weight % of AgSnO2) for packaging foods. Attenuated total reflection-infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, XRD, and scanning electron microscopy were used to investigate the formation, structure, and size of the composites. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal calorimetry were used to examine the PBAT/AgSnO2 composites. The best characteristics are exhibited in 5.0 wt. % AgSnO2 loaded PBAT composite. The tensile strength, elongation at break, water vapor transmission rate, and oxygen transmission rate were 22.82 MPa, 237.00%, 125.20 g/m2/day, and 1104.62 cc/m2/day.atm, respectively. Incorporating AgSnO2 enhanced the hydrophobicity of the PBAT materials as evaluated by the water contact angle. The 5.0 wt. % AgSnO2/PBAT film shows a favorable zone of inhibition against the bacteria pathogens S. aureus and E. coli, according to an evaluation of its antimicrobial activity. The weight loss of 5% AgSnO2/PBAT film was 78.4% after eight weeks in the natural soil environments. In addition, the results of food quality studies recommend that AgSnO2/PBAT (5.0 wt. %) film had a longer food shelf life than the neat PBAT and commercial, increasing it from one to 14 days for carrot vegetables.

Rational design of Nd2O3 decorated functionalized carbon nanofiber composite for selective electrochemical detection of carbendazim fungicides in vegetables, water, and soil samples.

Abuse of carbendazim (CBZ) leaves excessive pesticide residues on agricultural products, which endangers human health because of the residues' high concentrations. Hence, a composite consisting of functionalized carbon nanofibers (f-CNF) with neodymium oxide (Nd2O3) was fabricated to monitor CBZ at trace levels. The Nd2O3/f-CNF composite-modified electrode displays higher electro-oxidation ability towards CBZ than Nd2O3 and f-CNF-modified electrodes. The combined unique properties of Nd2O3 and f-CNF result in a substantial specific surface area, superior structural stability, and excellent electrocatalytic activity of the composite yielding enhanced sensitivity to detecting CBZ with a detection limit of 4.3 nM. Also, the fabricated sensor electrode can detect CBZ in the linear concentration range of up to 243.0 µM with high selectivity, appropriate reproducibility, and stability. A demonstration of the sensing capability of CBZ in vegetables, water, and soil samples was reported paving the way for its use in practical applications.

Thermoplastic Starch Composites Reinforced with Functionalized POSS: Fabrication, Characterization, and Evolution of Mechanical, Thermal and Biological Activities.

Rapid advancements in materials that offer the appropriate mechanical strength, barrier, and antimicrobial activity for food packaging are still confronted with significant challenges. In this study, a modest, environmentally friendly method was used to synthesize functionalized octakis(3-chloropropyl)octasilsesquioxane [fn-POSS] nanofiller. Composite films compared to the neat thermoplastic starch (TS) film, show improved thermal and mechanical properties. Tensile strength results improved from 7.8 MPa to 28.1 MPa (TS + 5.0 wt.% fn-POSS) with fn-POSS loading (neat TS). The barrier characteristics of TS/fn-POSS composites were increased by fn-POSS by offering penetrant molecules with a twisting pathway. Also, the rates of O2 and H2O transmission were decreased by 50.0 cc/m2/day and 48.1 g/m2/day in TS/fn-POSS composites. Based on an examination of its antimicrobial activity, the fn-POSS blended TS (TSP-5.0) film exhibits a favorable zone of inhibition against the bacterial pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The TS/fn-POSS (TSP-5.0) film lost 78.4% of its weight after 28 days in natural soil. New plastic materials used for packaging, especially food packaging, are typically not biodegradable, so the TS composite with 5.0 wt.% fn-POSS is therefore of definite interest. The incorporation of fn-POSS with TS composites can improve their characteristics, boost the use of nanoparticles in food packaging, and promote studies on biodegradable composites.

Novel Approach in Biodegradation of Synthetic Thermoplastic Polymers: An Overview.

Biodegradation is necessary for water-soluble or water-immiscible polymers because they eventually enter streams which can neither be recycled nor incinerated. It is important to consider the microbial degradation of natural and synthetic polymers in order to understand what is necessary for biodegradation and the mechanisms involved. Low/high-density polyethylene is a vital cause of environmental pollution. It occurs by choking the sewer line through mishandling, thus posing an everlasting ecological threat. Environmental pollution due to the unscrupulous consumption of synthetic polymers derived from petroleum has an adverse impact on the environment since the majority of plastics do not degrade, and the further incineration of synthetic plastics generates CO2 and dioxin. This requires understanding the interactions between materials and microorganisms and the biochemical changes involved. Widespread studies on the biodegradation of plastics have been carried out in order to overcome the environmental problems associated with synthetic plastic waste. Awareness of the waste problem and its impact on the environment has awakened new interest in the area of degradable polymers through microbes viz., bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes. The microbial degradation of plastics is caused by certain enzymatic activities that lead to a chain cleavage of polymers into oligomers and monomers. This review focuses on the biodegradation rate of plastics by fungal and bacterial communities and the mode of action of biodegradation.

Iron doped activated carbon for effective removal of tartrazine and methylene blue dye from the aquatic systems: Kinetics, isotherms, thermodynamics and desorption studies.

In the current research work, the activated carbon synthesized from the plant species Delonix regia is doped with iron oxide nanoparticles and enforced as a nanosorbent for the effective extermination of Tartrazine (TAR) and Methylene blue (MB) dyes. This nanosorbent is prepared from the bark powder of the Delonix regia and subjected to chemical activation; Furthermore, the synthesized biosorbent were characterized using FTIR, SEM, TGA, and XRD to understand their functional properties and structural morphology. The optimum effectiveness adsorption of Tartrazine and Methylene blue has been investigated by using different key parameters. The conclusions have shown the highest removal percentage at a pH of 3 and 6 for Tartrazine and Methylene blue, respectively. For the various initial concentrations, the adsorption percentage reached equilibrium after 60 min and 90 min for TAR and MB. The adsorption equilibrium values were applied to various isotherms models. The adsorbent showed a higher removal capacity of 357.142 mg g-1 and 147.058 mg g-1 and for MB and TAR respectively. The kinetic data were best fits to pseudo second order model. The thermodynamic parameters indicated that this adsorption process was found to be spontaneous, exothermic and feasible at different temperatures. These results have shown that the prepared adsorbent is an environmentally friendly and suitable material for the elimination of TAR and MB from water systems.

A detailed review on advanced oxidation process in treatment of wastewater: Mechanism, challenges and future outlook.

The presence of several contaminants in waterbodies raises global pollution and creates major risks to mankind, wildlife, as well as other living organisms. Development of an effective, feasible, cost-effective and eco-friendly approach for treating wastewater that is discharged from various industries is important for bringing down the deposition of contaminants into environment. Advanced oxidation process is an efficient technique for treating wastewater owing to its advantages such as high oxidation efficacy and does not produce any secondary pollutants. Advanced oxidation process can be performed through various methods such as ozone, Fenton, electrochemical, photolysis, sonolysis, etc. These methods have been widely utilized for degradation of emerging pollutants that cannot be destroyed using conventional approaches. This review focuses on wastewater treatment using advanced oxidation process. A brief discussion on mechanism involved is provided. In addition, various types of advanced oxidation process and their mechanism are explained in detail. Challenges faced during wastewater treatment process using oxidation, electrochemical, Fenton, photocatalysis and sonolysis are discussed elaborately. Advanced oxidation process can be viewed as potential approach for treating wastewater with certain modifications and solving challenges.

Impact of gadolinium oxide with functionalized carbon nanosphere: A portable advanced electrocatalyst for pesticide detection in aqueous environmental samples.

In this study, we developed a portable electrochemical sensor for realizing the pesticide residue in biological, environmental, and vegetable samples. A lower concentration of carbendazim pesticide (CBZ) was electrochemically exposed by newly developed gadolinium oxide/functionalized carbon nanosphere modified glassy carbon electrode (Gd2O3/f-CNS/GCE). The Gd2O3/f-CNS composite was prepared by two-pot ultrasonic-assisted co-precipitation method and characterized by various physicochemical analytical techniques. In addition, the electrocatalytic activity of the composite was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) towards the detection of CBZ. Besides, the Gd2O3/f-CNS/GCE exhibited excellent electrocatalytic capability and sensitivity towards the oxidation of CBZ due to its high electrochemical active surface area, good conductivity, and fast electron transfer ability. A wide linear range of CBZ (0.5-552 µM) was attained with a low level of detection (LOD) of 0.009 µM L-1 and exceptional stability of 93.41%. The proposed sensor exemplifies practical feasibility in blood serum, water, and vegetable samples with an remarkable recovery range of 96.27-99.44% and primary current response of ∼91% after 15 days.

Morphological, Mechanical, and Antimicrobial Properties of PBAT/Poly(methyl methacrylate-co-maleic anhydride)-SiO2 Composite Films for Food Packaging Applications.

A poly(methyl methacrylate-co-maleic anhydride) P(MMA-co-MA) copolymer was synthesized via radical polymerization. The synthesized P(MMA-co-MA) copolymer was identified by 1H- and 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR), (13C-NMR), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT)/P(MMA-co-MA)-SiO2 composites were developed using a solution-casting method. The PBAT to P(MMA-co-MA) weight ratio was kept at 70:30, while the weight percentage of SiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) was varied from 0.0 to 5.0 wt.%. SiO2 was used for PBAT/P(MMA-co-MA) to solve the compatibility between PBAT and the P(MMA-co-MA) matrix. The PBAT/P(MMA-co-MA)-SiO2 composites were characterized by studied FTIR spectroscopy, XRD, SEM, and TEM. A comparison of the composite film PBAT/P(MMA-co-MA)-SiO2 (PBMS-3) with the virgin PBAT and P(MMA-co-MA) film revealed its good tensile strength (19.81 MPa). The WVTR and OTR for the PBAT/P(MMA-co-MA)-SiO2 composites were much smaller than for PBAT/P(MMA-co-MA). The PBAT/P(MMA-co-MA)-SiO2 WVTR and OTR values of the composites were 318.9 ± 2.0 (cc m-2 per 24 h) and 26.3 ± 2.5 (g m-2 per 24 h). The hydrophobicity of the PBAT/P(MMA-co-MA) blend and PBAT/P(MMA-co-MA)-SiO2 composites was strengthened by the introduction of SiO2, as measured by the water contact angle. The PBAT/P(MMA-co-MA)-SiO2 composite films showed excellent antimicrobial activity against the food-pathogenic bacteria E. coli and S. aureus from the area of inhibition. Overall, the improved packaging characteristics, such as flexibility, tensile strength, low O2 and H2O transmission rate, and good antimicrobial activities, give the PBAT/P(MMA-co-MA)-SiO2 composite film potential for use in food packaging applications.

Simultaneous electrochemical determination of nitrofurantoin and nifedipine with assistance of needle-shaped perovskite structure: barium stannate fabricated glassy carbon electrode.

A needle-shaped perovskite, barium stannate (BaSnO3), was synthesized via a co-precipitation technique for the simultaneous electrochemical determination of antibiotic drug nitrofurantoin (NFTO) and pericardial drug nifedipine (NFP). The spectroscopic and microscopic result confirms that as-prepared BaSnO3 particles formed with desired crystalline nature, functional group, pore size, pore diameter, and fine needle-like morphology. The simultaneous electrochemical detection of the two pharmaceutical compounds was examined via cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) technique using BaSnO3-modified glassy carbon electrode (BaSnO3/GCE) at a potential range from +0.4 to - 1.2 V. The discrete and simultaneous detection of NFTO and NFP at the BaSnO3 sensor exhibits higher catalytic activity in terms of cathodic current and cathodic potential compared to bare GCE. DPV results of the BaSnO3 sensor provide improved linear ranges and limits of detection for NFTO (0.01-42.65 µM; 42.65-557.65 µM, 0.062 µM, respectively) and NFP (0.01-697.65 µM, 0.0168 µM, respectively). Besides, the BaSnO3-fabricated sensor exhibits good sensitivity, reproducibility, and repeatability. The modified electrode shows excellent recoveries of NFTO (97.0-100.7%) and NFP (98.7-101.3%) in plasma, urine, and milk samples with an acceptable relative standard deviation (RSD) of 1.6-4.8%. Graphical abstract Needle-shaped BaSnO3 perovskite material for simultaneous electrochemical sensing of pharmaceutical drugs.