Highly reusable Bi2O3/electron-Cu-shuttle in-situ immobilized polyacrylonitrile fibrous mat for efficient photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and rhodamine B dyes.

Organic semiconductor-based photocatalysts have been alluring due to their edge over inorganic photocatalysts. In this study, a reusable copper-bismuth oxide/polyacrylonitrile (Cu-Bi2O3/PAN) fibrous mat was prepared by fast-process flame spray pyrolysis and electrospinning for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine B (RhB) dyes. The results confirmed a well-defined morphology of Cu-Bi2O3/PAN fibers and good coordination of flame-made Cu-Bi2O3 particles with the functional groups of PAN. The Cu-Bi2O3/PAN fibrous mat exhibits remarkable photocatalytic performance of 96.2% MB and 98.6% RhB degradation, with a reaction rate as high as about 4.5- and 10.2-times than that of flame-made Cu-Bi2O3 particles and PAN under neutral condition, even after 10 cycles. The Cu-Bi2O3/PAN exhibits complete degradation of MB and RhB in 90 and 150 min under alkaline and slightly acidic conditions, respectively. The synergistic effect of Cu-Bi2O3 and coordination bond between particles and functional groups of PAN promoted carrier migration, suppressed recombination of carriers and provided abundant radicals on the surface of the mat. Superoxide and hydroxyl radicals were the major active species involved in the degradation of RhB and MB, respectively. This work provides an insight into designing the Cu-metal-shuttle based photocatalysts to optimize fibrous mat application in water remediation.

CO2-responsive tunable persistent luminescence in a hydrogen-bond organized two-component ionic crystal.

A reversible CO2-responsive luminescent material was constructed by a facile hydrogen-bond self-assembly of a two-component ionic crystal. The modification of CO2 on the ionic crystal not only alternates the green afterglow, but also endows the material with inverse excitation wavelength dependence for multicolor emission.

Synthesis of Benzisothiazole-Azo Disperse Dyes for High Resistance to Alkaline Treatments and Peroxide Bleaching of Polyester and Polyester/Cotton Fabric.

We proposed in this paper to design and synthesize a series of benzisothiazole-based heterocyclic azo disperse dyes with high resistance to alkali and peroxide. These newly synthesized disperse dyes were confirmed using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), mass spectroscopy, and a UV-visible spectrophotometer. The resistances to alkali and peroxide were examined by dyeing polyester fabric with these synthesized disperse dyes in sodium hydroxide solution and alkaline hydrogen peroxide solution, respectively. It was found that the disperse dyes having cyano and hydroxyl groups exhibited poor resistance to alkali and peroxide. When the cyano and hydroxyl groups were substituted with ethyl, benzyl, and p-methylbenzyl groups, the synthesized disperse dyes exhibited extremely high resistance to alkali and peroxide. Utilizing the high resistance to alkali and peroxide of synthesized disperse dyes, the polyester suede fabric and polyester/cotton blended fabric could be produced by combining pretreatment with dyeing in one bath. From pilot-plant production based on 1-ton fabric, the one-bath process provided the advantages of saving electric power, steam, water, and man-hour.

Enhancing the Dyeability of Polyimide Fibers with the Assistance of Swelling Agents.

Polyimide (PI) fibers have outstanding thermal stability and mechanical properties, but are difficult to dye with disperse and basic dyes. In this work, it was proposed to use N-methylformanilide (MFA), phenoxyisopropanol (PIP), and acetophenone (AP) as swelling agents to enhance the dyeability of PI fibers. The PI fibers treated with swelling agents were characterized by thermal gravimetric analysis, scanning electronic microscopy, tensile testing, and crystalline analysis. It was found that the swelling agents penetrated into the PI fibers in amounts greater than 10% (pertaining to the weight of PI fibers). The swelling agents did not really swell the PI fibers, but broke the interaction forces between the PI macromolecules. With the assistance of swelling agent, the PI fibers could be dyed with disperse and basic dyes in strong color strengths. AP exhibited the best performance for enhancing the dyeability of PI fibers, followed by MFA and PIP. The dyed PI fibers were found to have good colorfastness to washing.

Hotspot Analysis of Sepsis Literature.

Sepsis is a common life-threatening pathological process. However, the transformation efficiency of studies on the treatment of sepsis is relatively low. Therefore, a hotspot and trend development study was attempted on the treatment area of sepsis in accordance with the literature. We selected 2511 studies most related to the treatment of sepsis within the past 5 years as research samples. Text and co-word matrix were established by analyzing and selecting high-frequency words using BICOMB software. Classifications in hotspot areas were obtained through biclustering and visual analysis of high-frequency words using Ggluto software. Strategy coordinates for hotspot research were conducted using a co-word matrix. A total of 41 high-frequency words, text, and co-word matrix were conducted within the 2511 studies. A peak map was drawn based on biclustering analysis. The density and concentricity of each hotspot were calculated using the result of the co-word matrix and biclustering analysis. The research concluded 4 categories and 9 aspects for the treatment of sepsis. Additionally, calculation results showed that the relationship between the prognosis of sepsis and the hematological prognosis was in the fourth quadrant of the strategic diagram, that means it was the potential hotspot area for the treatment of sepsis. This conclusion provides potential value for future exploratory stages of study.

Recognizing a limitation of the TBLC-activated peroxide system on low-temperature cotton bleaching.

In this study, cotton was bleached at low temperatures with an activated peroxide system which was established by incorporating a bleach activator, namely, N-[4-(triethylammoniomethyl)benzoyl]caprolactam chloride (TBCC) into an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Experimental results showed that the bleaching performance was unexpectedly diminished as the TBCC concentration was increased over the range of 25-100g/L. Kinetic adsorption experiment indicated that this was most likely ascribed to the adsorptive interactions of TBCC and the in situ-generated compounds with cotton fibers. Such a limitation was especially fatal to cold pad-batch bleaching process of cotton in which a high TBCC concentration was often required. The results of this study may stimulate further research to avoid or overcome the limitation of the TBCC-activated peroxide system on low-temperature cotton bleaching.

Establishment of an activated peroxide system for low-temperature cotton bleaching using N-[4-(triethylammoniomethyl)benzoyl]butyrolactam chloride.

Cotton bleaching is traditionally carried out in strongly alkaline solution of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) at temperatures close to the boil. Such harsh processing conditions can result in extensive water and energy consumptions as well as severe chemical damage to textiles. In this study, an activated peroxide system was established for low-temperature cotton bleaching by incorporating a bleach activator, namely N-[4-(triethylammoniomethyl)benzoyl]butyrolactam chloride (TBBC) into an aqueous H2O2 solution. Experimental results showed that the TBBC-activated peroxide system exhibited the most effective bleaching performance in a pH range of 6-8 which could be approximated by adding sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3). The TBBC/H2O2/NaHCO3 system led to rapid bleaching of cotton at a temperature as low as 50°C. In comparison with the hot alkaline peroxide bleaching system, the TBBC/H2O2/NaHCO3 system provided cotton fabric with an equivalent degree of whiteness, higher degree of polymerization, and slightly lower water absorbency. The new activated peroxide system may provide a more environmentally benign approach to cotton bleaching.

A nonlinear isotherm model for sorption of anionic dyes on cellulose fibers: a case study.

The sorption data of an anionic dye on cellulose fiber are often correlated with a log-linear model to determine the internal accessible volume of the fiber to the anionic dye (V, L/kg) and as such the standard affinity of the anionic dye to the fiber (-Δµ°, J/mol), but without taking into account the influence of ionized carboxyl groups due to cellulose oxidation ([COO(-)]f, mol/kg). In this study, a nonlinear isotherm model was derived by incorporating [COO(-)]f, V and -Δµ° as three model parameters. A set of classical sorption data of C. I. Direct Blue 1 on bleached cotton was correlated with the nonlinear isotherm model. The nonlinear curve fitting analysis showed that the nonlinear isotherm model was in excellent agreement with the sorption data and robust to determine the values of [COO(-)]f, V and -Δµ° for describing the sorption behaviors of anionic dyes on cellulose fibers.

Regenerated cellulose fibers spun-dyed with carbon black/latex composite dispersion.

A carbon black (CB)/latex composite was prepared by the method of miniemulsion polymerization for use as a colorant for spun dyeing of regenerated cellulose fibers. Analysis of experimental results revealed that the CB/latex composite had a small particle size and a narrow particle size distribution which were important to ensure a stable dispersion being later added to spinning solution. A good stability of the prepared CB/latex composite dispersion in the spinning solution indicated that it was highly possible to use the CB/latex composite as a colorant for spun dyeing of regenerated cellulose fibers. When a 3.5% mass ratio of CB/latex composite to cellulose was used for spun dyeing, the spun-dyed fibers had the highest tensile strength, breaking elongation and color strength. The rubbing and washing color fastnesses of spun-dyed regenerated cellulose fibers could satisfy requirements of most textiles. This study provided a new insight into producing spun-dyed regenerated cellulose with a novel colorant.

The TAED/H2O2/NaHCO3 system as an approach to low-temperature and near-neutral pH bleaching of cotton.

A low-temperature and near-neutral pH bleaching system was conceived for cotton by incorporating TAED, H2O2 and NaHCO3. The TAED/H2O2/NaHCO3 system was investigated and optimized for bleaching of cotton using a central composite design (CCD) combined with response surface methodology (RSM). CCD experimental data were fitted to create a response surface quadratic model (RSQM) describing the degree of whiteness of bleached cotton fabric. Analysis of variance for the RSQM revealed that temperature was the most significant variable, followed by [TAED] and time, while [NaHCO3] was insignificant. An effective system was conducted by adding 5.75 g L(-1) TAED together with H2O2 and NaHCO3 at a molar ratio of 1:2.4:2.8 and applied to bleaching of cotton at 70 °C for 40 min. Compared to a commercial bleaching method, the TAED/H2O2/NaHCO3 system provided cotton with comparable degree of whiteness, slightly inferior water absorbency and acceptable dyeability, but had competitive advantage in protecting cotton from severe chemical damage in bleaching.

A critical reinvestigation of the TAED-activated peroxide system for low-temperature bleaching of cotton.

There exists a misunderstanding on the TAED-activated peroxide system in the textile industry that H(2)O(2) used in excess of the stoichiometric amount could produce an addition effect on bleaching of cotton under alkaline conditions. In this study, a critical reinvestigation was carried out on the TAED-activated peroxide system for bleaching of cotton. It was found that the TAED-activated peroxide system achieved its best performance under near-neutral pH conditions. No addition effect was observed when an excessive amount of H(2)O(2) was used under alkaline conditions, which is probably due to the base-catalyzed bimolecular decomposition of peracetic acid and the nucleophilic attack by H(2)O(2) on peracetic acid. NaHCO(3) was shown to be a desired alkaline agent for maintaining near-neutral pH for the TAED-activated peroxide system. This study provides new insight into the application of the TAED-activated peroxide system for low-temperature bleaching of cotton under more environmentally benign conditions.