Performance of Full-Component Coal Gasification Fine Slag: High-Value Utilization as Reinforcing Material in Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (ESBR) for Replacing Carbon Black.

Ultrafine, highly active coal gasification slag (HCGS) was produced via a sustainable, green dry-ball-milling method. Coal gasification fine slag (CGS), a potential environmental pollutant, was used as a new source of rubber filler without pre-treatment, enabling waste utilisation. HCGS was added to styrene-butadiene rubber (ESBR) composites, and the effects of HCGS and the filler content on the mechanical and thermal stabilities of SBR were evaluated. The procedure conforms to important green metrics, requiring no solvent or additional reagent, or solvent-assistance for product collection. HCGS reduced the scorch time (t10) and curing time (t90) of the filled ESBR composites relative to those of pure SBR and improved the mechanical parameters. The tensile strength at 50 phr reached 10.91 MPa, and the tear strength at 90 phr reached 64.92 kN/m, corresponding to 9.4- and 3.92-fold increases relative to that of SBR filled with HCGS, respectively. HCGS exerted a reinforcing effect on ESBR, comparable to that of commercial carbon black (CB) N330. HCGS improves the binding between rubber molecules and filler particles and captures the rubber chain, thereby limiting its movement. HCGS is potentially applicable as a CB substitute in the rubber industry, with environmental and economic benefits in the disposal of CGS.

Enhanced hydrophobic ZSM-5 with high capacity for toluene capture under high-humidity conditions.

Industrial volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have the characteristics of large displacement and high humidity. The problem of water resistance of the adsorbent in treating VOCs by adsorption method under high humidity conditions needs to be solved urgently. Herein, methyl triethoxysilane (CH3Si(C2H5O)3) and methyl trimethoxysilane (CH3Si(CH3O)3) are used for hydrophobic modification of ZSM-5, and its adsorption properties for toluene are studied under high-humidity conditions. Fourier infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicate that the hydrophobic groups -CH3 and -CH2- are successfully grafted onto the surface of the ZSM-5. The adsorption-desorption results of toluene show that the hydrophobicity of the modified ZSM-5 is remarkably improved, and the adsorption capacity for toluene is almost 6.5 times higher than that of original ZSM-5 at 80 % relative humidity. The mechanism of surface hydrophobicity modification of ZSM-5 was further investigated and found that the silicone hydroxyl group on the surface of the material reacted with the modifier to graft the hydrophobic group onto the surface of the material, which improved the hydrophobic property of the material. Moreover, the universality of the hydrophobic modification method has been proved feasible in commercial ZSM-5. Therefore, this work provides an important theory and reference for improving the hydrophobic properties of ZSM-5 molecular sieve.

The Improvement of Kaolinite Supported Cerium Oxide for Styrene-Butadiene Rubber Composite: Mechanical, Ageing Properties and Mechanism.

Kaolinite supported cerium oxide (CeOx/Kaol) was successfully prepared via a deposition method and used to improve the mechanical and aging properties of styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) composite. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results showed that cerium oxide has a successfully loading and fine distribution on the edge and surface of kaolinite. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy indicated that cerium oxide may interact with the surface hydroxyls of kaolinite. The CeOx/Kaol material had a uniform dispersion in the resulting SBR composite. The loading of cerium oxide on Kaol increases the scorch time (t10) and curing time (t90) of the filled SBR composites relative to the pure SBR. The mechanical parameters of the filled SBR composites were increased significantly. The tensible strength and tear strength at 40 phr content with 4% CeOx loading reached 12.85 Mpa and 51.16 kN/m, which were increases of 35.9% and 38.3%, respectively, relative to that of the SBR filled with raw Kaol. The anti-ageing characteristic of the resulting composite showed an obvious improvement with the loading of CeOx. Meanwhile, the reinforcement and anti-ageing mechanisms of the CeOx/Kaol were proposed. These results were attributed to the complexation between Ce elements on the surface of Kaol and rubber chains through a double bond. This could improve the incorporation between rubber molecules and filler particles, and restrict rubber chain motion via trapping rubber chains.

Mechanistic insights into the chemical structural changes of lignite on potential formation of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) generated during lignite combustion and gasification are highly carcinogenic, teratogenic, and mutagenic. Leveraging solvent extraction without damaging the macromolecular structure of lignite could help better understand the chemical structure and further clarify the possible source of PAHs, and the possibility of their elimination, thereby improving lignite utilization efficiency. In this study, methanol, ethanol, dichloromethane, and n-hexane were used to extract the feedstock at room temperature, and the constituents of the extracts were analyzed using GC-MS. The study showed that poly-condensed aromatic constituents were present in relatively high percentage in the extracts, due to the polarity effect of solvents, and could have a noticeable impact on the generation of PAHs. The aromatic hydrocarbons content accounts for nearly 70% of the total, which is about 10% higher than that of aliphatic hydrocarbons, and mainly exist in the form of 2 and 3 rings. Furthermore, FTIR, XRD and Raman were used to evaluate the macromolecular structural characteristics and the relevant information of the lignite bonds. The study demonstrated that the rupture of weak C-O or C-C covalent bonds promoted a more aromatic product, as strongly cross-linked networks of polycyclic aromatic components remained. The potential generation of PAHs was comprehensively ascertained by evaluating the extracts obtained at room temperature and products of combustion test， which can provide more information on PAHs pollutants.

Study on the correlation between pore morphology of porous calcium silicate and high-capacity formaldehyde adsorption.

A novel porous calcium silicate (PCS) material with unique pore structure prepared from coal fly ash (CFA) was reported. The microstructure was investigated through X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance cryoporometry, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method. Model describing the nanostructure of the prepared PCS was proposed in this work. Results show that the prepared PCS has open pores, a high specific surface area, and multi-peak pore size distributions (macro-, meso-, and micropores). The unique conical pore structure and interconnected micro-, meso-, and macropores are favourable to the reduction of the diffusion resistance of gas molecules. Benefiting from such a valuable structure, PCS exhibits excellent gas adsorption properties. Used in formaldehyde (HCHO) adsorption experiment, PCS shows excellent properties, including high storage capacity and endurance. The saturated adsorption capacity of the prepared PCS is 2.056 mg/g, which is enhanced by fourfold compared with that of active carbon commercially used for formaldehyde adsorption. This work provides a new, efficient, and rational way to utilize CFA. The prepared material can be used as an efficient and cost-effective adsorbent of HCHO under ambient conditions. Furthermore, the microstructure and the correlation between pore morphology and gas adsorption properties of the prepared PCS are revealed.

miR-153-3p regulates progression of ovarian carcinoma in vitro and in vivo by targeting MCL1 gene.

The study of either miR-153-3p or MCL1 gene in ovarian carcinoma (OVC) has been reported; however, the interaction between miR-153-3p and MCL1 gene in OVC as well as the influence of their interaction on OVC progression has not been reported yet. Herein we intended to study the effects of miR-153-3p/MCL1 axis in OVC. Web-based bioinformatics algorithms including DIANA TarBase 8.0, PicTar, and TargetScan Human 7.2 were used to predict the microRNAs (miRNAs) that could target MCL1 mRNA. Patient characteristics data collection and tissue sample immunohistochemical staining were used to determine the expression level of miR-153-3p and MCL1. We determined to unravel the effects of the pairing-up of miR-153-3p and MCL1 mRNA in OVC cell lines (OVCAR3 cell line and A2780) and xenografts (immunodeficient(immunodeficient Rag-/- mice) using several methods including real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, westernWestern blot, colony formation assay, wound healing assay, Transwell invasion assay, flow cytometry assay, and xenograft assay. These experiments were performed to study OVC cellular activities such as cell growth and death and so forth in vitro and in vivo. Plenty of miRNAs that can target MCL1 mRNA have been identified, and we have narrowed them down to miR-153-3p. MCL1 gene was found overexpressed in OVC tissues and OVC cell lines at RNA and protein levels, whereas miR-153-3p was found under-expressed in OVC tissues and cells. miR-153-3p was found to target MCL1 mRNA and interfered OVC progression. The repression of MCL1 gene expression caused by either miR-153-3p or small interfering RNA technique led to significantly reduced OVC cell growth and invasion in vitro. Lastly, the engraftment of transfected human OVC cells into Rag-/- mice confirmed the in vitro results. MCL1 gene acts as a cancer facilitator in OVC. In this study, we revealed the role of miR-153-3p on OVC progression by targeting MCL1 gene. Our work could comprehend the current understanding of OVC progression and contribute to the underlying aggression mechanism of this cancer.

Wettability designing by ZnO periodical surface textures.

A facile and effective aqueous chemical synthesis approach towards well control of periodical ZnO textures in large-scale areas is reported, by which considerable adjusting of surface wettability can be realized. With the assistance of polystyrene spheres monolayer template and morphology control agent, we succeeded in preparing a series of ordered ZnO microbowls with different sag height. It was found that the contact angle could be well adjusted by changing geometry of microbowl. Such novel, ordered arrays are expected to exploit the great potentiality in waterproof or self-cleaning micro/nanodevices, and even microfluidic devices.