Integrating Whey Processing: Ultrafiltration, Nanofiltration, and Water Reuse from Diafiltration.

This work proposes an integrated production of whey protein concentrate (WPC) and lactose and the recovery of water from diafiltration (DF) steps. Whey protein and lactose can be concentrated using ultrafiltration and nanofiltration, respectively, and both can be purified using DF. However, DF uses three-fold the initial volume of whey. We propose a method to reclaim this water using reverse osmosis and adsorption by activated carbon. We produced WPC with 88% protein and purified lactose (90%), and 66% of the water can be reclaimed as drinking water. Additionally, the reclaimed water was used to produce another batch of WPC, with no decrease in product quality. Water recovery from the whey process is necessary to meet the needs of a dairy refinery.

Removal of acephate and methamidophos from water: Coagulation and adsorptive treatment approaches.

Pesticides has transformed the agricultural industry, primarily by enhancing productivity. However, the indiscriminate use of such compounds can adversely affect human health and disrupt ecosystem balance. Limited knowledge exists regarding the removal of these compounds from water, particularly for organophosphate pesticides when employing conventional treatment technologies. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the removal of acephate (ACE) and methamidophos (MET) - considered priority pesticides in Brazil - from waters with high and low turbidity during the clarification process carried out with aluminum sulfate (AS) and ferric chloride (FC), either alone or combined with powdered activated carbon (PAC) adsorption. All water samples were submitted to solid phase extraction (SPE C18 cartridges) prior to acephate and methamidophos analysis by HPLC MS/MS. The clarification process with either AS or FC coagulant did not efficiently remove acephate or methamidophos and maximum average removal (27 %) was observed with waters of high turbidity when using ferric chloride as coagulant. Addition of mineral PAC was also ineffective for removing both pesticides. However, the use of vegetable PAC (10 mg/L) resulted in better removal percentages, up to 80%, but only for methamidophos. The limited removal rates were attributed to the high hydrophilicity of acephate and methamidophos, along with their neutral charge at coagulation pH. These factors hinder the interaction of such organophosphorus pesticides with the flocs formed during coagulation as well as with PAC surface.

Adsorption of methane by modified-biochar aiming to improve the gaseous fuels storage/transport capacity: process evaluation and modeling.

The CH4 storage by adsorption on activated carbons for natural gas handling has gained interest due to the appearance of lightweight materials with large surface areas and pore volumes. Consequently, kinetic parameters estimation of the adsorptive process can play a crucial role in understanding and scaling up the system. Concerning its versatility, banana peel (BP) is a biomass with potential for obtaining different products, such as biochar, a solid residue from the biomass' thermal decomposition of difficult disposal, where through an activation process, the material porous features are taken advantage to application as adsorbent of gaseous substances. This research reported data for the CH4 adsorption kinetic modeling by biochar from BP pyrolysis. The activated biochar textural characterization showed particles with fine mesoporous structure (pore diameter ranging between 29.39 and 55.62 Å). Adsorption kinetic analysis indicated that a modified pseudo-first-order model was the most suitable to represent the experimental data, with equilibrium adsorption of 28 mg g-1 for the samples activated with 20.0% vol wt.-1 of H3PO4 and pyrolysis at 500 °C. The equilibrium constant was consistent with the Freundlich isotherm model, suggesting a physisorption mechanism, and led to a non-ideal, reversible, and not limited to monolayer CH4 adsorption.

Valorization of residual lignocellulosic biomass in South America: a review.

Residual lignocellulosic biomass (RLB) is a valuable resource that can help address environmental issues by serving as an alternative to fossil fuels and as a raw material for producing various value-added molecules. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the use of lignocellulosic waste in South America, a review was conducted over the last 4 years. The review focused on energy generation, biofuel production, obtaining platform molecules (such as ethanol, hydroxymethylfurfural, furfural, and levulinic acid), and other materials of interest. The review found that Brazil, Colombia, and Ecuador had the most RLB sources, with sugarcane, oil palm, and rice crop residues being the most prominent. In South America, RLB is used to produce biogas, syngas, hydrogen, bio-oil, biodiesel, torrefied biomass, pellets, and biomass briquettes. The most studied and produced value-added molecule was ethanol, followed by furfural, hydroxymethylfurfural, and levulinic acid. Other applications of interest that have been developed with RLB include obtaining activated carbon and nanomaterials. Significant progress has been made in South America in utilizing RLB, and some countries have been more proactive in regulating its use. However, there is still much to learn about the potential of RLB in each country. This review provides an updated perspective on the typification and valorization of residual biomass in South America and discusses the level of research and technology being applied in the region. This information can be helpful for future research on RLB in South America.

Removal of Bisphenol S (BPS) by Adsorption on Activated Carbons Commercialized in Brazil.

This study assessed three powdered activated carbons (BETM, COCO, and SIAL) commercialized in Brazil at the bench scale in agitated reactors, analyzing their kinetic behavior and adsorptive capacity for BPS and BPA in ultrapure water. BETM exhibited the highest adsorption capacities (Q0max) for BPS and BPA at 260.62 and 264.64 mg/g, respectively, followed by SIAL, with a Q0max of 248.25 mg/g for BPS and for 231.20 mg/g BPA, and COCO, with a Q0max of 136.51 mg/g for BPS and 150.03 mg/g for BPA. The Langmuir isotherm model can describe the processes well. A pseudo-second-order model can describe the adsorption kinetics, and SIAL carbon had the highest rate constants (7.45 × 10-3 mg/g/min for BPS and 2.84 × 10-3 mg/g/min for BPA). The Weber-Morris intraparticle diffusion model suggests intraparticle diffusion as the rate-limiting step of all adsorption processes. Boyd's model confirmed more than the mechanism actuating in the bisphenol adsorption. The results suggest that adsorbents with basic surfaces, high specific surface areas, and high mesopore volumes tend to remove BPS and BPA efficiently. Therefore, activated carbons can effectively complement the existing treatment in Brazilian water treatment plants (WTPs).

Ethylene Elimination Using Activated Carbons Obtained from Baru (Dipteryx alata vog.) Waste and Impregnated with Copper Oxide.

Ethylene is a plant hormone regulator that stimulates chlorophyll loss and promotes softening and aging, resulting in a deterioration and reduction in the post-harvest life of fruit. Commercial activated carbons have been used as ethylene scavengers during the storage and transportation of a great variety of agricultural commodities. In this work, the effect of the incorporation of copper oxide over activated carbons obtained from baru waste was assessed. Samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption-desorption at -196 °C, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The results showed that the amount of ethylene removed using activated carbon obtained from baru waste and impregnated with copper oxide (1667 µg g-1) was significantly increased in comparison to the raw activated carbon (1111 µg g-1). In addition, carbon impregnated with copper oxide exhibited better adsorption performance at a low ethylene concentration. Activated carbons produced from baru waste are promising candidates to be used as adsorbents in the elimination of ethylene during the storage and transportation of agricultural commodities at a lower cost.

Hydrolysis of Casein by Pepsin Immobilized on Heterofunctional Supports to Produce Antioxidant Peptides.

A study was carried out on the immobilization of pepsin in activated carbon functionalized by different techniques (glutaraldehyde, genipin, and metallization) aiming at its application in obtaining bioactive peptides through casein hydrolysis. Studies of the immobilized derivatives were carried out in addition to the evaluation of the antioxidant potential of the peptides. Among the pH range studied, pH 3.0 was selected due to the higher activity of the derivatives at this pH. The support modification by metallization was the method with the best results, providing a 121% increase in enzymatic activity compared to other immobilization methods. In addition, this derivative provided activity closer to the soluble enzyme activity (3.30 U) and better storage stability, and allows reuse for more than 8 cycles. In turn, the peptides from casein hydrolysis showed potential as antioxidant agents, with a DPPH radical scavenging activity higher than 70%, maximum protection against ß-carotene oxidation close to 70%, and a maximum reducing power of Fe(III) into Fe(II) of 400 uM by the FRAP assay. The results showed that the new techniques for modification of activated carbon can be a promising approach for pepsin immobilization.

Synthetic greywater treatment using a scalable granular activated carbon bioelectrochemical reactor.

Greywater reuse has emerged as a promising solution for addressing water shortages. However, greywater needs treatment before reuse to meet the required water quality standards. Conventional wastewater treatment technologies are unsuitable for recreating highly decentralized domestic greywater. This study evaluated bioelectrochemical reactors (BERs) with granular activated carbon (GAC) as a sustainable alternative for developing decentralized and low-cost biological treatment systems. BERs using GAC as the anode material and conventional GAC biofilters (BFs) for synthetic greywater treatment were operated in batch mode for 110 days in two stages: (i) with polarized anodes at -150 mV vs. Ag/AgCl and (ii) as a microbial fuel cell with an external resistance of 1 kΩ. Anode polarization produced an electrosorption effect, increasing the ion removal of the BERs. Power production during the operation and cyclic voltammetry tests of the extracted granules revealed electrochemically active biofilm development on the BERs. Although low power density (0.193 ± 0.052 µW m-3) was observed in BERs, they showed a similar performance in sCOD removal (BER = 91.6-89.6 %; BF = 96.2-93.2 %) and turbidity removal (BER = 81-82 %; BF = 30-62 %) to BFs that used 50 % aeration. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy of sampled granules showed higher biomass formation in BER granules than in BF granules, suggesting a higher contribution of sessile (vs. planktonic) cells to the treatment. Thus, the results highlight the synergistic removal effect of the GAC-based BER. The scalable design presented in this study represents a proof-of-concept for developing BERs to use in decentralized greywater treatment systems.

Mango Fruit Detachment of Trees after Applying a Blend Composed of HNO3 and Charcoal Activated.

As young workers prefer urban labors and migrate to USA and Canada, mango harvesting is becoming scarce on Mexican coasts. This seasonal labor is becoming expensive and when many orchards produce fruit simultaneously, grower losses increase. In this research, an innovative fruit detachment method was tested after applying a viscous paste to the pedicel of mango fruits hanging in the tree. Activated carbon or charcoal (AC), was mixed with different amounts of nitric acid to provide three AC composite blends named: light, medium, and dense. The nanomaterial was applied with a brush to the fruit pedicel/peduncle taking up to 4 h before the mango fruits felt to a net below the tree canopy. Mango detachment experiments indicated that the medium blend was the most efficient in releasing the fruit, taking an average of 2 h. The dense nano-material decreased latex exudation to 7% of the fruits. Fruit maturity emerged as a crucial factor for detachment time, followed by mango weight.

Remediation through the coordinated use of local rice husk residues for the selective adsorption of iron and nickel in real landfill leachate.

Herein, we demonstrate the prospects of tackling several environmental problems by transforming a local rice husk residue into an effective adsorbent, which was then applied for the treatment of real landfill leachate (LL). The study focused on establishing (i) the effect of simple washing on morphological aspects, (ii) evaluating target adsorption capacity for total iron (Fe) and nickel (Ni), (iii) determining regeneration and reuse potential of the adsorbent and (iv) complying to the requirements of worldwide legislations for reuse of treated LL wastewater. The adsorbent was prepared by employing a simple yet effective purification process that can be performed in situ. The LL was collected post-membrane treatment, and the characterizations revealed high concentrations of Fe, Ni, and organic matter content. The simple washing affected the crystallinity, resulting in structural alterations of the adsorbents, also increasing the porosity and specific surface. The adsorption process for Ni occurred naturally at pH 6, but adjusting the pH to 3 significantly improved removal efficiency and adsorption capacity for total Fe. The kinetics were accurately described by the pseudo-second-order model, while the Langmuir model provided a better fit for the isotherms. The adsorbent was stable for 5 reuses, and the metals adsorbed were recovered through basic leaching. The removal capacities achieved underscore the remarkable effectiveness of the process, ensuring the treated LL wastewater meets rigorous global environmental legislations for safe use in irrigation. Thus, by employing the compelling methods herein optimized it is possible to refer to the of solving three environmental problems at once.

Experimental strategy for the preparation of adsorbent materials from torrefied palm kernel shell oriented to CO2 capture.

In this study, an experimental strategy to obtain biochar and activated carbon from torrefied palm kernel shell as an efficient material for CO2 removal was evaluated. Biochar was obtained by slow pyrolysis of palm kernel shell at different temperatures (350 °C, 550 °C, and 700 °C) and previously torrefied palm kernel shell at different temperatures (220 °C, 250 °C, and 280 °C). Subsequently, activated carbons were prepared by physical activation with CO2 from previously obtained biochar samples. The CO2 adsorption capacity was measured using TGA. The experimental results showed that there is a correlation between the change in the O/C and H/C ratios and the functional groups -OH and C=O observed via FTIR in the obtained char, indicating that both dehydration and deoxygenation reactions occur during torrefaction; this favors the deoxygenation reactions and makes them faster through CO2 liberation during the pyrolysis process. The microporous surface area shows a significant increase with higher pyrolysis temperatures, as a product of the continuous carbonization reactions, allowing more active sites for CO2 removal. Pyrolysis temperature is a key factor in CO2 adsorption capacity, leading to a CO2 adsorption capacity of up to 75 mg/gCO2 for biochar obtained at 700 °C from non-torrefied palm kernel shell (Char700). Activated carbon obtained from torrefied palm kernel shell at 280 °C (T280-CHAR700-AC) exhibited the highest CO2 adsorption capacity (101.9 mg/gCO2). Oxygen-containing functional groups have a direct impact on CO2 adsorption performance due to electron interactions between CO2 and these functional groups. These findings could provide a new experimental approach for obtaining optimal adsorbent materials exclusively derived from thermochemical conversion processes.

Activated carbon from avocado seed as sorbent phase for microextraction technologies: activation, characterization, and analytical performance.

According to green analytical chemistry principles, the use of agricultural byproducts as sorbent phases is an interesting topic due to their lignocellulosic origin, as they are biodegradable and inexpensive. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in which avocado seed and avocado seed activated carbon are proposed as sustainable sorbents for solid-phase microextraction technologies, which were used to assess the proof of concept. Rotating disk sorptive extraction (RDSE) was used as a model technology and ibuprofen (Ibu) and 1-hydroxy-ibuprofen (1-OH-Ibu) as representative analytes. It was found that activated carbon (AC) prepared at 600 °C with an impregnation ratio (raw material/activating agent (ZnCl2), w/w) of 1:1.2 had better extraction efficiency than other ACs obtained at different temperatures, impregnation ratios, and activating agents (K2CO3). Characterization revealed several differences between natural avocado seed, biochar prepared at 600 °C, and selected AC since the typical functional groups of the natural starting material begin to disappear with pyrolysis and increasing the surface area and pore volume, suggesting that the main interactions between analytes and the sorbent material are pore filling and π-π stacking. By using this AC as the sorbent phase, the optimal extraction conditions in RDSE were as follows: the use of 50 mg of sorbent in the disk, 30 mL of sample volume, pH 4, 90 min of extraction time at a rotation velocity of the disk of 2000 rpm, and methanol as the elution solvent. The extracts were analyzed via gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The method provided limits of detection of 0.23 and 0.07 µg L-1 and recoveries of 81% and 91% for Ibu and 1-OH-Ibu, respectively. When comparing the extraction efficiency of the selected activated carbon with those provided by Oasis® HLB and C18 in RDSE, nonsignificant differences were observed, indicating that avocado seed activated carbon is a suitable alternative to these commercial materials.

Efficiency of home water filters on pesticide removal from drinking water.

Water pollution via natural and anthropogenic activities has become a global problem, which can lead to short and long-term impacts on humans' health and the ecosystems. Substantial amounts of individual or mixtures of organic pollutants move into the surface water via point and non-point source contamination. Some of these compounds are known to be toxic and difficult to remove from water sources, thus affecting their quality. Moreover, environmental regulations in high-income countries have become very strict for drinking water treatment over the past decades, especially regarding pesticides. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of different residential water treatments to remove 13 pesticides with distinct physicochemical characteristics from the drinking water. Nine water treatments were used: four membrane filters, an activated carbon filter, ultraviolet radiation, reverse osmosis, ion exchange resins, and ozonation. The trial was performed with tap water contaminated with an environmental concentration of 13 pesticides. According to the results, activated carbon and reverse osmosis were 100% efficient for pesticide removal, followed by ion exchange resins and ultraviolet radiation. Membrane filters, in general, showed low efficiency and should, therefore, not be used for this purpose.

Contaminants of emerging concern reduction and microbial community characterization across a three-barrier advanced water treatment system.

This research investigated the removal of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) and characterized the microbial community across an advanced water treatment (AWT) train consisting of Coagulation/Flocculation/Clarification/Granular Media Filtration (CFCGMF), Ozone-Biological Activated Carbon Filtration (O3/BAC), Granular Activated Carbon filtration, Ultraviolet Disinfection, and Cartridge Filtration (GAC/UV/CF). The AWT train successfully met the goals of CECs and bulk organics removal. The microbial community at each treatment step of the AWT train was characterized using 16S rRNA sequencing on the Illumina MiSeq platform generated from DNA extracted from liquid and solid (treatment media) samples taken along the treatment train. Differences in the microbial community structure were observed. The dominant operational taxonomic units (OTU) decreased along the treatment train, but the treatment steps did impact the microbial community composition downstream of each unit process. These results provide insights into microbial ecology in advanced water treatment systems, which are influenced and shaped by each treatment step, the microbial community interactions, and their potential metabolic contribution to CECs degradation.

Effects of dentifrices containing activated charcoal on dental enamel: a review of the literature / Efeitos de dentifrícios contendo carvão ativado no esmalte dental: uma revisão da literatura

ABSTRACT The increased demand for white teeth has intensified the commercialization of new bleaching products, particularly those that can be accessed easily, do not require the direct supervision of a dentist, and are affordable. Among these new products, several dentifrices publicized as bleaching products have been developed, most recent of them being the activated charcoal toothpaste, which entered the market promising to whiten teeth. While it is portrayed as a healthy and ecological product, there is a paucity of scientific evidence supporting its alleged benefits. Therefore, this literature review aimed to evaluate activated charcoal containing oral hygiene products on their bleaching ability and effects on enamel. After analyzing several in vitro studies on the subject, it can be concluded that these products do not have a bleaching effect per se, but act by removing the extrinsic pigments from the teeth. However, most of the products containing activated charcoal could have abrasive effects on the surface of the enamel. Therefore, it is suggested caution about the indication of these dentifrices, especially for individuals predisposed to dental wear, such as gingival recession, reduced salivary flow, and high risk of caries or dental erosion.

RESUMO A maior procura por dentes brancos tem impulsionado a comercialização de novos produtos clareadores, especialmente aqueles que possam ser de fácil acesso, que não precisem supervisão direta do dentista, e que tenham um custo acessível para o consumidor. Entre esses novos produtos diversos dentifrícios, denominados como branqueadores, têm sido comercializados. Destes o mais recente é o dentifrício a base de carvão ativado, que entrou no mercado prometendo clarear os dentes, enquanto que se apresenta como um produto saudável e ecológico, porém sem grande respaldo científico. Portanto, esta revisão da literatura teve o objetivo de avaliar a capacidade branqueadora e os efeitos no esmalte após o uso de produtos de higiene oral contendo carvão ativado. Após avaliar diversos artigos in vitro sobre o tema, pode-se concluir que estes produtos não tem um efeito clareador propriamente dito e sim agem como removedores de pigmentos extrínsecos. Porém, grande parte dos produtos contendo carvão ativado poderiam apresentar um efeito abrasivo sobre a superfície do esmalte, pelo que se sugere cautela sobre a indicação destes dentifrícios, especialmente para os pacientes sujeitos a maiores riscos de desgaste dental, como recessão gengival, fluxo salivar reduzido, alto risco de cárie ou erosão dentária.

Analysis of scientific and technological trends in the incorporation of activated carbon in advanced oxidation processes-a bibliometric study.

There is high interest in the development of water pollution remediation technologies. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are a promising alternative for the degradation of organic compounds; however, these technologies have been limited mainly by high operating costs and, in some cases, by forming byproducts, which can be more hazardous than the original pollutants. Activated carbon (AC) is a porous material that can be combined with AOP systems in various ways, given its adsorbent and catalytic characteristics. In addition, AC is a flexible, adaptable, and low-cost material. This article presents a bibliometric analysis of AOPs incorporating CA in scientific research and patents; the Scopus database was used to obtain patents and Orbit Express for patents. The most investigated AOPs incorporating AC are photocatalysis processes, Fenton processes, persulfate-based AOP, electrochemical processes, and ozonation. However, it is the persulfate-based AOP that has seen the greatest growth in scientific publications in recent years; this great interest can be related to the synergy that the process has with AC, allowing the degradation of contaminants via radical and non-radical. According to the maturity analysis of scientific publications, photocatalysis, Fenton, electrochemistry, ozonation, and persulfate technologies are in a growth stage and will reach maturity in 2034, 2042, 2040, 2034, and 2035, respectively; these technologies coupled with AC are expected to generate a greater number of patents when they reach maturity.

Optimization of Physical Activation Process by CO2 for Activated Carbon Preparation from Honduras Mahogany Pod Husk.

In this work, the Honduras Mahogany (Swietenia macropnylla King, SMK) seed husk was used as a novel biomass resource for producing activated carbon by physical activation. The texture characteristics and chemical characterization of resulting products were investigated in correlation with the process parameters. Based on the thermochemical properties of the SMK biomass, the process conditions were set to a rate of about 10 °C/min under nitrogen (N2) flow of 500 cm3/min heated to 500 °C, then switched to carbon dioxide (CO2) flow of 100 cm3/min in the specified activation conditions (i.e., temperature of 700-850 °C for holding times of 0-60 min). Our findings showed that the texture characteristics (i.e., surface area and pore volume) increased with an activation temperature increase from 700 to 800 °C for a holding time of 30 min but gradually decreased as the temperature increased thereafter. Similarly, the texture characteristics also indicated an increasing trend with the residence time extending from 0 min to 30 min but slightly decreased as the time was extended to 60 min. Therefore, the optimal activation conditions for producing SMK-based activated carbon should be set at 800 °C for a holding time of 30 min to obtain the maximal texture characteristics (i.e., BET surface area of 966 m2/g and total pore volume of 0.43 cm3/g). On the other hand, the chemical characteristics were analyzed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), showing oxygen complexes contained on the hydrophilic surface of the resulting activated carbon.

Granular activated carbon enhances the anaerobic digestion of solid and liquid fractions of swine effluent at different mesophilic temperatures.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the effect of particle size and dosage of granular activated carbon (GAC) on methane production from the anaerobic digestion of raw effluent (RE) of swine wastewater, and the solid (SF) and liquid (LF) fractions. The effect of temperature using the selected size and dosage of GAC was also evaluated. METHODS: 60 mL of swine wastewater were inoculated with anaerobic granular sludge and GAC at different dosages and particle size. The cultures were incubated at different temperatures at 130 rpm. The kinetic parameters from experimental data were obtained using the Gompertz model. RESULTS: The cultures with the LF and GAC (75-150 µm, 15 g/L) increased 1.87-fold the methane production compared to the control without GAC. The GAC at 75-150 µm showed lower lag phases and higher Rmax than the cultures with GAC at 590-600 µm. The cumulative methane production at 45 °C with the RE + GAC was 7.4-fold higher than the control. Moreover, methane production at 45 °C significantly increased with the cultures LF + GAC (6.0-fold) and SF + GAC (2.0-fold). The highest production of volatile fatty acids and ammonium was obtained at 45 °C regardless of the substrate and the addition of GAC contributed to a higher extent than the cultures lacking GAC. In most cases, the kinetic parameters at 30 °C and 37 °C were also higher with GAC. CONCLUSIONS: GAC contributed to improving the fermentative and methanogenesis stages during the anaerobic digestion of fractions, evidenced by an improvement in the kinetic parameters.

Dynamicity, emerging patterns, and spatiotemporal trends of scientific production on the use of activated carbon in oral health: a scientometric study.

BACKGROUND: The use of activated carbon (AC) in oral hygiene products has gained significant interest; however, its potential benefits for oral health remain uncertain. This study aimed to conduct a scientometric analysis to examine the dynamicity, emerging patterns, and trends over time in scientific production concerning the use of AC in oral health. METHODS: The Web of Science database was searched for articles published between 2005 and 2022. Various bibliometric indicators, including the H-index, annual growth, Lotka's law, Bradford's law, and Sankey diagram, were used for data analysis. Overlay maps, timezone visualization, and three field plots were used to evaluate visualization patterns, time-temporal relationships, and trends. Information retrieval process was performed on March 11, 2023. RESULTS: The analysis revealed that only six studies constituted the top references with the highest number of citations in recent years, with Brooks' 2017 study demonstrating the most significant increase in citation. The dual-map overlay demonstrated a close citation relationship between cluster 4 (Molecular Biology Immunology) and the areas of Environmental, Toxicology, and Nutrition. The visualization graph of publication patterns indicated the journals that accumulated the highest number of citations during the study period. CONCLUSION: This scientometric study provides valuable insights into the use of AC in oral health and its impact on the field of dentistry. It determines the most productive journals, authors, and countries with the greatest influence. AC effectively removes pollutants and is gaining interest for use in dental effluent treatment. Thus, it may be a viable option for professionals.

The Synthesis and Evaluation of Porous Carbon Material from Corozo Fruit (Bactris guineensis) for Efficient Propranolol Hydrochloride Adsorption.

This study explores the potential of the corozo fruit (Bactris guineensis) palm tree in the Colombian Caribbean as a source for porous carbon material. Its specific surface area, pore volume, and average pore size were obtained using N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms. The images of the precursor and adsorbent surface were obtained using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra were obtained to detect the main functional groups present and an X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) was performed in order to analyze the structural organization of the materials. By carbonizing the fruit stone with zinc chloride, a porous carbon material was achieved with a substantial specific surface area (1125 m2 g⁻1) and pore volume (3.241 × 10-1 cm3 g⁻1). The material was tested for its adsorption capabilities of the drug propranolol. The optimal adsorption occurred under basic conditions and at a dosage of 0.7 g L⁻1. The Langmuir homogeneous surface model effectively described the equilibrium data and, as the temperature increased, the adsorption capacity improved, reaching a maximum of 134.7 mg g⁻1 at 328.15 K. The model constant was favorable to the temperature increase, increasing from 1.556 × 10-1 to 2.299 × 10-1 L mg-1. Thermodynamically, the adsorption of propranolol was found to be spontaneous and benefited from higher temperatures, indicating an endothermic nature (12.39 kJ mol⁻1). The negative ΔG0 values decreased from -26.28 to -29.99 kJ mol-1, with the more negative value occurring at 328 K. The adsorbent material exhibited rapid kinetics, with equilibrium times ranging from 30 to 120 min, depending on the initial concentration. The kinetics data were well-represented by the general order and linear driving force models. The rate constant of the general order model diminished from 1.124 × 10-3 to 9.458 × 10-14 with an increasing concentration. In summary, the leftover stone from the Bactris guineensis plant can be utilized to develop activated carbon, particularly when activated using zinc chloride. This material shows promise for efficiently adsorbing propranolol and potentially other emerging pollutants.