Effect of degree of polymerization on regenerated cellulose ultrafiltration membrane performance through ZnCl2/AlCl3 aqueous solvent system.

The development of a direct method for preparing regenerated cellulose (RC) ultrafiltration membranes from cellulose is urgently needed. In this study, refined cotton was used as the raw material to successfully prepare RC ultrafiltration membranes at room temperature using a ZnCl2/AlCl3 solvent system combined with a nonsolvent-induced phase separation (NIPS) method. This solvent system effectively degrades cellulose, producing RC ultrafiltration membranes with varying degrees of polymerization (DP). The research results indicate that reducing the DP of cellulose significantly decreases the viscosity of the solution, facilitating the formation of an asymmetric, finger-like pore structures in the membrane. Furthermore, a decrease in DP slightly enlarges the surface pore size and significantly thickens the dense layer. At a DP of 250, the water flux of the DP250-ET membrane reached 630 L·m-2·h-1·bar-1, with a molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) of ~300 kDa, enabling efficient separation of viruses (LRV > 3.91) and IgG. The exposure of more hydroxy groups on the RC enhances the membrane's hydrophilicity, indicated by a water contact angle (WCA) of 39.5°. Compared to commercial polyethersulfone (PES) membranes, the DP250-ET membrane exhibited lower protein adsorption and excellent anti-fouling performance in practical applications (FRR > 80 %). Overall, this work confirms the significant potential of the eco-friendly ZnCl2/AlCl3 solvent system in the fabrication of RC ultrafiltration membranes, where the structure and performance of the membrane can be tailored by adjusting the DP of cellulose.

Novel insights on room temperature-induced cellulose dissolution mechanism via ZnCl2 aqueous solution: Migration, penetration, interaction, and dispersion.

The unique molecular structure of cellulose makes it challenging to dissolve at room temperature (R.T.), and the dissolution mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we employed ZnCl2 aqueous solution for cellulose dissolution at R.T., proposing a novel four-stage dissolution mechanism. The efficient dissolution of cellulose in ZnCl2 aqueous solution at R.T. involves four indispensable stages: rapid migration of hydrated Zn2+ ions towards cellulose, sufficient penetration between cellulose sheets, strong interaction with cellulose hydroxyl groups, and effective dispersion of separated cellulose chains. The proposed four-stage dissolution mechanism was validated through theoretical calculations and experimental evidence. The hydrated Zn2+ ions in ZnCl2 + 3.5H2O solvent exhibited ideal migration, penetration, interaction, and dispersion abilities, resulting in efficient cellulose dissolution at R.T. Moreover, only slight degradation of cellulose occurred in ZnCl2 + 3.5H2O at R.T. Consequently, the regenerated cellulose materials obtained from ZnCl2 + 3.5H2O (R.T.) exhibited better mechanical properties. Notably, the solvent recovery rate reached about 95 % based on previous usage during five cycles. The solvent is outstanding for its green, low-cost, efficiency, simplicity, R.T. conditions and recyclability. This work contributes to a better understanding of the cellulose dissolution mechanisms within inorganic salt solvents at R.T., thereby guiding future development efforts towards greener and more efficient cellulosic solvents.

Impact of copper and zinc oral chronic exposure on Carniolan honey bee survival and feeding preference.

Honey bees are important plant pollinators and honey producers. Contamination of the environment with metals can lead to a decline in honey bee populations. Copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) salts are commonly used as fungicides and foliar fertilizers. In this study, we investigated the effects of 10-day chronic oral exposure to different concentrations of Cu (CuSO4) and Zn (ZnCl2) on survival and feeding rates of Carniolan honey bees in laboratory conditions. We found that mortality in honey bee workers increased in a concentration-dependent manner and that Cu (lethal concentration [LC50] = 66 mg/l) was more toxic than Zn (LC50 = 144 mg/l). There was no difference in the feeding rate of Cu-treated bees for the different concentrations tested, but the feeding rate decreased with the increase in Zn concentration. To determine feeding preference or avoidance for Cu and Zn, we conducted 2-choice 24-h feeding experiments. We demonstrated that honey bees preferred Zn-containing solutions compared to the control diet. A two-choice experiment with Cu showed a tendency for honey bees to be deterred by Cu at high concentrations; however, it was not statistically significant. In summary, our results suggest that honey bee workers may suffer adverse effects when exposed to ecologically relevant concentrations of Cu and Zn.

Blended Nephelium lappaceum and Durio zibethinus wastes for activated carbon production via microwave-ZnCl2 activation: optimization for methylene blue dye removal.

Herein, this work targets to employ the blended fruit wastes including rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum) peel and durian (Durio zibethinus) seed as a promising precursor to produce activated carbon (RPDSAC). The generation of RPDSAC was accomplished through a rapid and practical procedure (microwave-ZnCl2 activation). To evaluate the adsorptive capabilities of RPDSAC, its efficacy in eliminating methylene blue (MB), a simulated cationic dye, was measured. The Box-Behnken design (BBD) was utilized to optimize the crucial adsorption parameters, namely A: RPDSAC dose (0.02-01 g/100 mL), B: pH (4-10), and C: time (2-6 min). The BBD design determined that the highest level of MB removal (79.4%) was achieved with the condition dosage of RPDSAC at 0.1 g/100 mL, contact time (6 min), and pH (10). The adsorption isotherm data is consistent with the Freundlich concept, and the pseudo-second-order versions adequately describe the kinetic data. The monolayer adsorption capacity (qmax) of RPDSAC reached 120.4 mg/g at 25 °C. Various adsorption mechanisms are involved in the adsorption of MB dye onto the surface of RPDSAC, including π-π stacking, H-bonding, pore filling, and electrostatic forces. This study exhibits the potential of the RPDSAC as an adsorbent for removal of toxic cationic dye (MB) from contaminated wastewater.

Recycling of waste coffee grounds as a photothermal material modified with ZnCl2 for water purification.

The aim of this study was to develop a photothermal material modified with carbonization and ZnCl2 impregnation and supported by polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) for water purification using the waste coffee grounds. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterization of the prepared material revealed that a significant surface modification was achieved due to the carbonization and ZnCl2 impregnation. X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) pattern of the samples showed two broad peaks at 18.4° and 22.2°, this is due to the crystal planes of ß-crystal phase structure, which indicates the existence of strong hydrogen bonds between the micro-structures and therefore less suspectable to chemical attack. Additionally, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) result suggests a slight mass reduction between the temperature range of 65-75 °C implying the thermal stability of the prepared material. The produced modified material had a photothermal conversion efficiency of 74% and could produce vapor at a rate of 1.12 kg/m2h under 980 W/m2 irradiation at 1 sun. A significant reduction in Cu2+ ion concentration (83%), turbidity (91%), total dissolved solids (TDS) (61%), microbial load (95.6%), and total hardness (41.2%) were achieved. Therefore, waste coffee grounds can be considered as a future eco-friendly and low-cost candidate for water purification.

Aqueous AlCl3/ZnCl2 solution room-induced the self-growing strategy of expanded topological network for cellulose/polyacrylamide-based solid-state electrolytes.

The green synthesis strategy for cellulose-containing hydrogel electrolytes is significant for effectively managing resources, energy, and environmental concerns in the contemporary world. Herein, we propose an all-green strategy using AlCl3/ZnCl2/H2O solvent to create cellulose/polyacrylamide-based hydrogel (AZ-Cel/PAM) with expanded hierarchical topologies. The aqueous AlCl3/ZnCl2 facilitates the efficient dissolution of cellulose at room temperature, and the dispersed Al3+-Zn2+ ions autocatalytic system catalyzes in-situ polymerization of acrylamide (AM) monomer. This expands the AM network within the cellulose framework, forming multiple bonding interactions and stable ion channels. The resulting hybrid hydrogel exhibits improved mechanical properties (tensile strength of 56.54 kPa and compressive strength of 359.43 kPa) and enhanced ionic conductivity (1.99 S/m). Furthermore, it also demonstrates excellent adhesion, freeze resistance (-45 °C), and water retention capabilities. Quantum simulations further clarify the mechanical composition and ion transport mechanism of AZ-Cel/PAM hydrogels. The assembled supercapacitor with the hydrogel electrolyte, demonstrates an ideal area-specific capacitance of 203.80 mF/cm2. This all-green strategy presents a novel approach to developing sustainable energy storage devices.

Biodegradable films from the lignocellulosic fibers of wheat straw biomass and the effect of calcium ions.

Plastics are hazardous to human health, and plastic waste results in environmental pollution and ecological catastrophe. Biobased polymers from renewable sources have recently become promising for developing biodegradable packaging films. Among them, lignocellulosic residue from agricultural biomass is inexpensive, renewable, and biodegradable. This study aims to develop biodegradable films using lignocellulosic residue from wheat straw biomass. The methodology is a green process that solubilizes lignocellulosic chains using Zn2+ ions and crosslinks with Ca2+ ions of different concentrations (200-800 mM). The results reveal that the increase of Ca2+ ions significantly decreases moisture content, water solubility, water vapor permeability, transparency, and elongation of films. The tensile strength is recorded as 6.61 ± 0.07 MPa with the addition of 800 mM of CaCl2, which is approximately 2.5 times higher than commercial polyethylene films. Around 90 % of films biodegrade within a month in soil containing 20 % moisture content. Overall, lignocellulosic residue from wheat straw biomass could be an excellent replacement for synthetic polymer to fabricate strong, transparent, and biodegradable plastic films.

Comparison of methods for activating sesame stalk lignin biochar for removing benzo[a]pyrene from sesame oil.

In this study, three activators and two activation methods were employed to activate sesame lignin-based biochar. The biochar samples were comprehensively characterized, their abilities to adsorb benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) from sesame oil were assessed, and the mechanism was analyzed. The results showed that the biochar obtained by one-step activation was more effective in removing BaP from sesame oil than the biochar produced by two-step activation. Among them, the biochar generated by one-step activation with ZnCl2 as the activator had the largest specific surface area (1068.8776 m3/g), and the richest mesoporous structure (0.7891 m3/g); it removed 90.53 % of BaP from sesame oil. BaP was mainly adsorbed by the mesopores of biochar. Mechanistically, pore-filling, π-π conjugations, hydrogen bonding, and n-π interactions were involved. The adsorption was spontaneous and heat-absorbing. In conclusion, the preparation of sesame lignin biochar using one-step activation with ZnCl2 as the activator was found to be the best for removing BaP from sesame oil. This biochar may be an economical adsorbent for the industrial removal of BaP from sesame oil.

Unlocking the potential of Chinese herbal medicine residue-derived biochar as an efficient adsorbent for high-performance tetracycline removal.

This study employed hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) in conjunction with ZnCl2 activation and pyrolysis to produce biochar from one traditional Chinese medicine astragali radix (AR) residue. The resultant biochar was evaluated as a sustainable adsorbent for tetracycline (TC) elimination from water. The adsorption performance of TC on two micropore-rich AR biochars, AR@ZnCl2 (1370 m2 g-1) and HAR@ZnCl2 (1896 m2 g-1), was comprehensively evaluated using adsorption isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamics. By virtue of pore diffusion, π-π interaction, electrostatic attraction, and hydrogen bonding, the prepared AR biochar showed exceptional adsorption properties for TC. Notably, the maximum adsorption capacity (930.3 mg g-1) of TC on HAR@ZnCl2 can be achieved when the adsorbent dosage is 0.5 g L-1 and C0 is 500 mg L-1 at 323 K. The TC adsorption on HAR@ZnCl2 took place spontaneously. Furthermore, the impact of competitive ions behavior is insignificant when coexisting ion concentrations fall within the 10-100 mg L-1 range. Additionally, the produced biochar illustrated good economic benefits, with a payback of 701 $ t-1. More importantly, even after ten cycles, HAR@ZnCl2 still presented great TC removal efficiency (above 77%), suggesting a good application prosperity. In summary, the effectiveness and sustainability of AR biochar, a biowaste-derived product, were demonstrated in its ability to remove antibiotics from water, showing great potential in wastewater treatment application.

Performance and mechanism of benzene adsorption on ZnCl2 one-step modified corn cob biochar.

Utilizing cost-effective corn cob, zinc chloride-modified biochar was synthesized through one-step method for benzene adsorption from air. Study on impregnation ratio impact showed optimal benzene adsorption at ZnCl2:CC ratio of 1.5:1, with capacity reaching 170.53 mg g-1. Characterization using BET, SEM, FTIR, and XPS was conducted. BET results indicated specific surface area of Zn1.5BC at 1260.63 m2 g-1 and maximum pore volume of 0.546 m3 g-1. SEM analysis revealed microporous-mesoporous structure in Zn1.5BC, marking significant improvement over original biomass. DFT pore size distribution and FTIR analysis suggested post-modification dehydration and elimination reactions, leading to volatile compound release, functional group reduction, and pore widening. XPS analysis showed decrease in O = C-OH content with increased impregnation ratio, enhancing biochar's π-π electron diffusion for benzene. Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic models effectively described experimental data, indicating multilayer benzene adsorption on biochar controlled by complex physicochemical adsorption and pore diffusion. Adsorption condition assessment, including adsorption temperature (20-120 â„ƒ) and benzene concentration in inlet phase (159.73-383.36 mg L-1), was performed. Yoon-Nelson model fitting indicated adsorption site loss at higher temperatures and reduced capture ability due to increased adsorbate molecule kinetic energy. Higher adsorbate concentrations aided adsorption molecule diffusion to biochar surface and internal pores, increasing adsorption rate and shortening equilibrium time. Overall, zinc chloride-modified biochar facilitates benzene adsorption through pore filling and π-π interactions, with pore filling as primary mechanism. Produced biochar shows excellent regeneration properties and reusability.

Rapid fabricated in-situ polymerized lignin hydrogel sensor with highly adjustable mechanical properties.

Conductive hydrogels have been widely used as sensors owing to their tissue-like properties. However, the synthesis of conductive hydrogels with highly adjustable mechanical properties and multiple functions remains difficult to achieve yet highly needed. In this study, lignin hydrogel characterized by frost resistance, UV resistance, high conductivity, and highly adjustable mechanical properties without forming by-products was prepared through a rapid in-situ polymerization of acrylic acid/zinc chloride (AA/ZnCl2) aqueous solution containing lignin extract induced by the reversible quinone-catechol redox of the ZnCl2-lignin system at room temperature. Results revealed that the PAA/ZnCl2/lignin hydrogel exhibited mechanical properties with tensile stress (ranging from 0.08 to 3.28 MPa), adhesion to multiple surfaces (up to 62.05 J m-2), excellent frost resistance (-70-20 °C), UV resistance, and conductivity (0.967 S m-1), which further endow the hydrogel as potential strain and temperature sensor with wide monitor range (0-300 %), fatigue resistance, and quick response (70 ms for 150 % strain). This study proposed and developed a green, simple, economical, and efficient processing method for a hydrogel sensor in flexible wearable devices and man-machine interaction fields.

Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Additive for Robust Al Anode in Alkaline Aluminum-Air Battery.

Aluminum-air batteries (AABs), known for their high energy density, environmental friendliness, and cost-effectiveness, show immense promise in the realm of energy conversion applications. Nonetheless, their commercialization has encountered inherent challenges of Al anode corrosion and material degradation. In this study, economical hybrid electrolyte additives to inhibit the Al corrosion are developed, safeguarding the integrity of the Al anode. Due to the synergistic interplay between the organic compound dithiothreitol, and inorganic compounds zinc chloride, a robust zinc film is formed on the Al surface This Zn film plays a pivotal role in quelling parasitic hydrogen evolution reactions that typically can plague the Al electrode. Consequently, the as-prepared hybrid additive culminates in a remarkable enhancement to AABs, delivering exceptional discharge capacity of 1793.37 mAh g-1 , high energy density of 2047 Wh kg-1 , and excellent battery longevity (over 20 h in on/off cycling tests). This study, therefore, introduces a novel approach in utilizing hybrid electrolyte additives to effectively counteract corrosion-related challenges and boost the stability and performance of AABs.

Compressible, anti-freezing, and ionic conductive cellulose/polyacrylic acid composite hydrogel prepared via AlCl3/ZnCl2 aqueous system as solvent and catalyst.

From the perspective of environmental sustainability, introducing cellulose into ionic conductive hydrogel is an inevitable trend for the development of flexible conductive materials. We report a double-network cellulose/polyacrylic acid (Cel/PAA) composite hydrogel based on the dissolving of cellulose by AlCl3/ZnCl2 aqueous system. The Cel/PAA composite hydrogel consists of rigid cellulose chains and flexible polyacrylic acid, which synergistically realize the improvement of the mechanical properties. The AlCl3/ZnCl2 aqueous system not only serves as the green solvent for cellulose, but also the Al3+ and Zn2+ metal ions can be served as a catalyst to activate the initiator for polymerization of acrylic acid. Compared with pure cellulose hydrogel, the compression strain of the Cel/PAA composite hydrogel was significantly improved to 80 %, and its conductivity increased by 28.1 %. In addition, its compression stress was enhanced over 2 times than pure PAA hydrogel. The Cel/PAA composite hydrogel exhibits excellent anti-freezing (-45 °C), weight retention (90 %), and conductivity (2.70 S/m) properties, still maintaining transparency and storage stability in the extreme environment. This work presents a facile strategy to develop an ionic conductive cellulose-based composite hydrogel with good conductivity and mechanical properties, which shows potential for the application fields of flexible sensors and 3D-printing functional materials.

Tailoring epoxy coating with acetoxime derivative of zinc for advanced anticorrosive performance on mild steel: experimental and computational insights.

CONTEXT: In this work, the corrosion inhibitive effect of acetoxime derivative of zinc chloride, (ZnCl2.2HON=C(CH3)2) (ZA), was investigated on mild steel in epoxy/polyamide coating. ZA was used to modify diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) to yield novel anticorrosive coating (epoxy-ZA) with excellent barrier characteristic. The dispersal of ZA may lead to the formation of Zn-O-C and O-Zn-O linkages in the polymer framework which act as inorganic fillers producing a dense structure of hybrid coating. In electrochemical findings, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and Tafel polarization (TP) indicate higher protection efficiency for epoxy-ZA coatings (99.99 and 99.93 % for EIS and TP, respectively) as compared to others. Using surface analysis and electrochemical data, it was concluded that an inhibition synergy was developed when ZA was taken instead of acetoxime or zinc chloride (ZC) alone in the coating formulation. METHODS: Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) was used to investigate epoxy interaction with zinc compounds and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to investigate morphology of the samples. To reinforce the experimental results, reactivity of crosslinked epoxy and epoxy-ZA coatings with metallic surface was also explored using density functional theory (DFT) with basis set B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) and molecular dynamics (MD) methods by using Forcite module. Modification of epoxy with ZA enhances its interaction with steel surface in dry as well as in wet conditions as indicated by the adhesion energy calculated by MD simulations.

Anomalous Inferior Zn Anode in High-Concentration Electrolyte: Leveraging Solid-Electrolyte-Interface for Stabilized Cycling of Aqueous Zn-Metal Batteries.

Aqueous Zn-metal batteries (AZMBs) are promising large-scale energy storage devices for their high safety and theoretical capacity. However, unstable Zn-electrolyte interface and severe side reactions have excluded AZMBs from long cycling required by practically reversible energy storage. Traditional high-concentration electrolyte is an effective strategy to suppress dendrites growth and resolve the poor electrochemical stability and reversibility of Zn-metal anodes, yet how scientifically universal such strategy is for hybrid electrolyte of different concentrations remains unclear. Herein, we studied the electrochemical behaviors of AZMBs comprising a ZnCl2 -based DMSO/H2 O electrolyte of two distinct concentrations (1 m vs. 7 m). The electrochemical stability/reversibility of Zn anodes in both symmetric and asymmetric cells with high-concentration electrolytes are unusually inferior to the ones with low-concentration electrolyte. It was found that more DMSO components in the solvation sheath of low-concentration electrolyte exist at the Zn-electrolyte interface than in high-concentration counterpart, enabling higher organic compositions in solid-electrolyte-interface (SEI). The rigid inorganic and flexible organic compositions of SEI decomposed from the low-concentration electrolyte is accounted for improved cycling and reversibility of Zn metal anodes and the respective batteries. This work reveals the critical role of SEI than the high concentration itself in delivering stable electrochemical cycling in AZMBs.

Determination of solubility of ZnCl2 in hydrochloric acid solutions for 68Ga production in liquid target.

The solubility of zinc-chloride (ZnCl2) in different concentrations of hydrochloric acid have been experimentally studied. Solubility for anhydrous ZnCl2 was found to be the highest in 3-6 M hydrochloric acid solution. Elevating the temperature of the solvent further increased solubility albeit with diminishing returns above 50 °C when the evaporation of hydrochloric acid increases. The best solubility was found to be 26.1 ± 1.17 M in 6 M hydrochloric acid at 50 °C. This information is important for further studies which will be aimed at producing and testing a liquid target for the irradiation of [68Zn]ZnCl2 solution in hydrochloric acid. The testing will involve pressure, irradiation time, acquired activity and other parameters. In the current paper we only describe the experimental results for the solubility measurements for ZnCl2 in different hydrochloric acid concentrations, 68Ga production is not carried out yet.

Study on the Adsorption of Cr3+ by Peanut Shell: Adsorption Kinetics, Thermodynamics, and Isotherm Properties.

The pollution of heavy metals in soil to the environment is becoming more and more serious, resulting in the reduction of crop production and the occurrence of medical accidents. In order to remove heavy metal ions from soil and reduce the harm of heavy metals to the environment, modified peanut shell was used to adsorb Cr3+ in this article. The effects of different adsorption conditions on the adsorption rate and adsorption capacity of Cr3+ on ZnCl2 modified peanut shell were studied, the best adsorption conditions were explored, and the relationship of kinetics, thermodynamics and adsorption isotherm properties of adsorption process were explored. The results showed that the optimum adsorption pH value, dosage, initial concentration, adsorption temperature and contact time of ZnCl2 modified peanut shell were 2.5, 2.5 g/L, 75 µg/mL, 25 °C and 40 min, respectively. The prepared materials were characterized and analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyzer. It was concluded that the modified peanut shell had a good adsorption capacity to Cr3+ . The kinetic study showed that the adsorption process of Cr3+ on peanut shell modified by zinc chloride was in accordance with the quasi-second-order kinetic model. The adsorption process belonged to exothermic reaction and belonged to spontaneous reaction process. In summary, it is proved that zinc chloride modified peanut shell can efficiently adsorb Cr3+ , which can be used for the treatment of heavy metal wastes in industry, which is beneficial to environmental protection and avoid heavy metal pollution.

Hydrothermal and pyrolytic conversion of sunflower seed husk into novel porous biochar for efficient adsorption of tetracycline.

In this study, sunflower seed husk biochar prepared by ZnCl2-activated and hydrothermal carbonization (HZSF) was studied for its effectiveness in removing tetracycline (TC) from an aqueous solution. The physical and chemical properties of materials were characterized by different methods of surface analysis. The specific surface area of HZSF is significantly enhanced over 1200 times compared with non-modified biochar (HZSF: 1578.3 m2·g-1, SF-700: 1.3 m2·g-1), which has an enhancement effect on the TC adsorption capacity. The HZSF showed that the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic models could properly characterize the adsorption processes. In the Langmuir isotherm model, HZSF exhibited effective adsorption performance with qmax of 673.0 mg·g-1 at 298 K for 24 h. The possible mechanisms for the adsorption process were the monolayer, chemical adsorption, and the participation of strong intermolecular forces. In general, HZSF has the potential to be a useful adsorbent for the elimination of antibiotics from water-based solutions.

Dissolution of lignocellulose with high lignin content in AlCl3/ZnCl2 aqueous system and properties of the regenerated cellulose film.

Herein, a novel method for dissolving lignocellulose at room temperature is proposed by combining deep eutectic solvents (DES) pretreatment and subsequent dissolution in AlCl3/ZnCl2 aqueous system. Results showed that DES pretreatment could significantly increase the dissolubility of lignin-containing cellulose (CL) samples in AlCl3/ZnCl2 aqueous system. The dissolution ratio of the CL sample with 15.6 % lignin content in AlCl3/ZnCl2·3H2O solvent was as high as 90 %. Besides, the mechanism for the remarkable dissolution of CL samples in low water AlCl3/ZnCl2 aqueous solvent was also proposed. Moreover, the dissolved CL sample was regenerated for the production of lignocellulose films, which have excellent ultraviolet (UV) blocking, hydrophobic, mechanical strength, and natural degradation properties. In particular, the films could be completely naturally degraded after 10 days, which provided a promising way to prepare biodegradable lignocellulose materials, and to encourage the potential utilization of renewable lignocellulose in packaging industry.

Effects of nZnS vs. nZnO and ZnCl2 on mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek] plant and Bradyrhizobium symbiosis: A life cycle study.

Scarce of knowledge of using Zinc (Zn) nanoparticles (NPs) to augment plant growth, Zn availability to plants and its potential toxicity warrants more NPs-plant life cycle studies. The main objectives of this study were to compare nano zinc sulphide (nZnS) with nano zinc oxide (nZnO) and ionic Zn i.e., ZnCl2, as a source of Zn, as well as to establish physiological impact of NPs on growth, yield and symbiosis of mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek] plants at different concentrations (0, 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 mg kg-1 of soil). In this study, mungbean plants were grown for 60 days (life cycle study) in natural soil infested with Bradyrhizobium. Effects of Zn compounds (nZnS, nZnO and ZnCl2) on plant height, dry biomass, number of nodules per plant, yield and fruit agronomical parameters along with micronutrient assessment were determined. Impact of Zn compounds on Bradyrhizobium-mungbean symbiosis was also unravelled. Results showed that both the NPs, (nZnS and nZnO) were more effective than ZnCl2 in promoting growth and yield up to a critical concentration and above which phytotoxic effects were observed. Both the NPs were more effective than ZnCl2 at increasing fruit Zn content also. Whereas, nZnS treatment was found to be better than nZnO in improving overall plant growth. Bradyrhizobium-mungbean symbiosis was not affected at lower NPs concentrations, while higher concentration revealed toxicity by damaging bacterial morphology and nodule formation. There was no nano specific toxicity found while, ZnCl2 showed relatively more toxicity than both the NPs. The present investigation demonstrated the concept of nano-micronutrient as well as NPs phytotoxicity by understanding NPs-plant interactions in the soil environment.