Eco-Friendly Polymer Nanocomposite Coatings for Next-Generation Fire Retardants for Building Materials.

The increasing global commitment to carbon neutrality has propelled a heightened focus on sustainable construction materials, with wood emerging as pivotal due to its environmental benefits. This review explores the development and application of eco-friendly polymer nanocomposite coatings to enhance wood's fire resistance, addressing a critical limitation in its widespread adoption. These nanocomposites demonstrate improved thermal stability and char formation properties by integrating nanoparticles, such as nano-clays, graphene oxide, and metal oxides, into biopolymer matrices. This significantly mitigates the flammability of wood substrates, creating a robust barrier against heat and oxygen. The review provides a comprehensive examination of these advanced coatings' synthesis, characterization, and performance. By emphasizing recent innovations and outlining future research directions, this review underscores the potential of eco-friendly polymer nanocomposite coatings as next-generation fire retardants. This advancement supports the expanded utilization of wood in sustainable construction practices and aligns with global initiatives toward achieving carbon neutrality.

Unveiling enhanced sound absorption in coconut wood through hemicellulose and lignin modification.

Coconut wood (Cocos nucifera L.) is lightweight and has variable quality, making it a potential candidate for manufacturing sound absorption boards. However, its sound absorption coefficient needs enhancement to optimize its effectiveness in this application. This study aims to enhance its sound absorption properties using eco-friendly hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid treatments. This treatment modified the carbohydrate polymers (hemicellulose and cellulose) and lignin structures in the wood cell wall. The novelty of this approach lies in using these chemicals to improve acoustic performance significantly. Coconut wood samples were treated with a 1:1 acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide mixture for 20, 40, 60, and 80 min. Characterization techniques such as FTIR, XPS, and XRD, and 3D optical profilometry analyzed changes in chemical functionalities, crystallinity, and surface roughness. Sound absorption coefficients were measured using the impedance tube method. Results showed a significant improvement in sound absorption for all treated samples, especially at 60 min. The treatment also enhanced surface roughness, air permeability, porosity, and pore sizes, contributing to better sound absorption. This proposed treatment method addresses environmental consciousness and enhances the sustainable use and utilization of coconut wood.

Toxicity of Metal Oxides, Dyes, and Dissolved Organic Matter in Water: Implications for the Environment and Human Health.

This study delves into the critical issue of water pollution caused by the presence of metal oxides, synthetic dyes, and dissolved organic matter, shedding light on their potential ramifications for both the environment and human health. Metal oxides, ubiquitous in industrial processes and consumer products, are known to leach into water bodies, posing a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems. Additionally, synthetic dyes, extensively used in various industries, can persist in water systems and exhibit complex chemical behavior. This review provides a comprehensive examination of the toxicity associated with metal oxides, synthetic dyes, and dissolved organic matter in water systems. We delve into the sources and environmental fate of these contaminants, highlighting their prevalence in natural water bodies and wastewater effluents. The study highlights the multifaceted impacts of them on human health and aquatic ecosystems, encompassing effects on microbial communities, aquatic flora and fauna, and the overall ecological balance. The novelty of this review lies in its unique presentation, focusing on the toxicity of metal oxides, dyes, and dissolved organic matter. This approach aims to facilitate the accessibility of results for readers, providing a streamlined and clear understanding of the reported findings.

Synthesis of starch-based smart hydrogel derived from rice-cooked wastewater for agricultural use.

The synthesis of biodegradable hydrogel based on naturally available macromolecules is an important area of research. We synthesized new hydrogel using rice-cooked wastewater (starch), acrylamide, and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropansulfonic acid in an aqueous medium. The synthesis approach is facile, low-cost, eco-friendly, and novel. The synthesized materials were characterized by scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and Thermogravimetric analysis. The hydrogel exhibited maximum tap water absorbency (158.3 g/g) at pH 7, saline water absorbency (50 g/g), urea solution absorbency (141.2 g/g) at 24 h, and excellent water retention capability (47 wt% at 70 °C, 12 h, and 89 wt% at 30 °C, 24 h). Chili plants, mung beans, and pea seeds germinated and grew well in the hydrogel and hydrogel-mixed soil, respectively. The biodegradability study shows 34.6 % at 120 days in soil and 6.5 % at 30 days in the open air. These findings could entice agricultural development in dry soil.

Next-Generation Water Treatment: Exploring the Potential of Biopolymer-Based Nanocomposites in Adsorption and Membrane Filtration.

This review article focuses on the potential of biopolymer-based nanocomposites incorporating nanoparticles, graphene oxide (GO), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and nanoclays in adsorption and membrane filtration processes for water treatment. The aim is to explore the effectiveness of these innovative materials in addressing water scarcity and contamination issues. The review highlights the exceptional adsorption capacities and improved membrane performance offered by chitosan, GO, and CNTs, which make them effective in removing heavy metals, organic pollutants, and emerging contaminants from water. It also emphasizes the high surface area and ion exchange capacity of nanoclays, enabling the removal of heavy metals, organic contaminants, and dyes. Integrating magnetic (Fe2O4) adsorbents and membrane filtration technologies is highlighted to enhance adsorption and separation efficiency. The limitations and challenges associated are also discussed. The review concludes by emphasizing the importance of collaboration with industry stakeholders in advancing biopolymer-based nanocomposites for sustainable and comprehensive water treatment solutions.

Near dissolved organic matter microfiltration (NDOM MF) coupled with UVC LED disinfection to maximize the efficiency of water treatment for the removal of Giardia and Cryptosporidium.

Microfiltration (MF) membranes with a mean pore size same as or smaller than 0.45 µm have been typically used to separate pathogenic protozoa in water since materials larger than 0.45 µm are considered particulates. However, 0.45 µm is too small to separate protozoa which are 4-6 µm (Cryptosporidium oocyst) or 8-15 µm (Giardia cyst) in size. In this study, we optimized the mean pore size of MF membranes to maximize the producibility and guarantee a high removal rate simultaneously and proposed the membrane filtration using an MF membrane with an optimum mean pore size larger than but close to dissolved organic matter (DOM), which is called near DOM MF (NDOM MF). According to the MF test using polystyrene surrogate beads with diameters of 3 and 8 µm, an MF membrane with a 0.8 µm mean pore size was the best in that it showed 52% to 146% higher water fluxes than a 0.45 µm MF membrane while maintaining the removal rate at 3-4 log. It was also the case for a low-temperature MF test, revealing the NDOM MF is highly effective regardless of temperature changes. Lastly, we tried to find the possibility of combining the NDOM MF with disinfection by an ultraviolet light emitting diode (UVC LED) to further guarantee the high quality of treated water while providing high process efficiency.

Oxidation treatment on wood cell walls affects gas permeability and sound absorption capacity.

This research aimed to study the efficacy of oxidation in wood cell walls by ammonium persulfate solution and the performances in sound absorption coefficients and gas permeability for cross sectional Oak wood (Quercus mongolica) species. Reaction parameters were optimized and extensive instrumental characterization techniques were used to study cell wall modifications, such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscope. The oxidation treatment changed the chemical compositions of wood (hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin), boosting wood porosity (12%) and gas permeability (39%). The effectiveness accelerates improvement of average sound absorption coefficient at each frequency range: 250-500 Hz (4.6%), 500-1000 Hz (26.8%), 1000-2000 Hz (31.8%), 2000-6400 Hz (57.8%) and overall 250-6400 Hz (47.1%) compared to the control samples. Simple wood oxidation treatment could be helpful for novel research and wood based sound absorption materials to manage the acoustic housing environment.

Ammonium persulfate treatment on carbohydrate polymers and lignin of wood improved sound absorption capacity.

The rational design of sound absorption boards made of wood materials is an exciting area of research. This article describes a simple and inexpensive method to increase the sound absorptions capacity of Malas hardwood (Homalium foetidum Roxb.) using ammonium persulfate treatment. The reaction parameters such as the concentration of ammonium persulfate and reaction time were optimized. The results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that ammonium persulfate could significantly affect carbohydrate polymers and lignin of wood by improving oxygen functionalities. The quantitative analysis of carbohydrate polymers (hemicellulose and cellulose) and lignin were evaluated. These changes in carbohydrate polymers and lignin enhanced the air permeability (83.6%) and average sound absorption coefficient at each frequency range 500-1000 Hz (2.6%), 1000-2000 Hz (4.9%), 2000-4000 Hz (17.4%), and overall 500-6400 Hz (20.8%) compared to the control samples. These results could be beneficial for new research and wood-based sound absorption materials to regulate the acoustic environment in houses.

Molecular Crowded ″Water-in-Salt″ Polymer Gel Electrolyte for an Ultra-stable Zn-Ion Battery.

Recently, the use of a gel polymer electrolyte for the development of robust, flexible, quasi-solid, ultra-stable, high-performance zinc-ion batteries (ZiBs) as an alternative to lithium-ion batteries has attracted widespread attention. However, the performance of ZiBs is limited due to the lack of suitable gel electrolytes. Herein, a ″water-in-salt″ (WiS)-based hydrophilic molecular crowded polymer gel electrolyte and binder free V2O5@MnO2 cathode are introduced to augment the durability, flexibility, safety, and electrochemical performance of ZiBs. The ″free water trapping″ capability of the WiS-based cross-linked molecular crowded polymer electrolyte provides an extended electrochemical stability window (ESW) of the device. The quasi-solid-state ZiB delivers ∼422 mAh g-1 discharge capacity and shows excellent cycling stability as high as ∼79.83% retention of the initial capacity after 5000 cycles. The durable, flexible, and ultra-stable ZiB with the polymer gel electrolyte performs well under various severe conditions where both the battery safety and energy density are of high priority. This work demonstrates a new approach and application for the development of durable, flexible, ultra-stable, quasi-solid-state ZiBs.

Recent Advances in Colorimetric Detection of Arsenic Using Metal-Based Nanoparticles.

Nowadays, arsenic (III) contamination of drinking water is a global issue. Laboratory and instrument-based techniques are typically used to detect arsenic in water, with an accuracy of 1 ppb. However, such detection methods require a laboratory-based environment, skilled labor, and additional costs for setup. As a result, several metal-based nanoparticles have been studied to prepare a cost-effective and straightforward detector for arsenic (III) ions. Among the developed strategies, colorimetric detection is one of the simplest methods to detect arsenic (III) in water. Several portable digital detection technologies make nanoparticle-based colorimetric detectors useful for on-site arsenic detection. The present review showcases several metal-based nanoparticles that can detect arsenic (III) colorimetrically at a concentration of ~0.12 ppb or lower in water. A literature survey suggests that biomolecule-based metal nanoparticles could serve as low-cost, facile, susceptible, and eco-friendly alternatives for detecting arsenic (III). This review also describes future directions, perspectives and challenges in developing this alternative technology, which will help us reach a new milestone in designing an effective arsenic detector for commercial use.

Delignification Effects on Indonesian Momala (Homalium foetidum) and Korean Red Toon (Toona sinensis) Hardwood Pore Structure and Sound Absorption Capabilities.

Among the various methods used to improve the sound absorption capability of wood, we focused on delignification in Indonesian momala (Homalium foetidum) and Korean red toon (Toona sinensis). We performed gas permeability, pore size, and porosity analyses and evaluated how the change in the pore structure affects the sound absorption capabilities. Results show that delignification increased the through-pore porosity and improved sound absorption capability in both species. In addition, the air gap in the rear space maximized the sound absorption of momala and the red toon. The noise reduction coefficient (NRC) of delignified momala (90 min) with a 3 cm air gap was 0.359 ± 0.023. This is approximately 154.6% higher than that of untreated momala without an air gap. The NRC of delignificated red toon (90 min) with a 3 cm air gap was 0.324 ± 0.040, an increase of 604.3% over untreated red toon without an air gap.

Do Face Masks become Worthless after Only One Use in the COVID-19 Pandemic?

BACKGROUND: Due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), world-wide face mask use is increasing exponentially. These face masks are difficult to recycle, and their accumulation contributes to enormous environmental threats. In this study, we hypothesize that the face mask can be reused as long as it retains its original structure, which will slow the environmental impacts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We selected common disposable surgical masks for this study and classified test conditions based on wear time and reuse method. After wearing the mask for 10 hours, we let it dry naturally in the shade for 14 hours. The specimens were measured by scanning electron microscope and capillary flow porometer. RESULTS: The pore structure of the mask did not change when worn 4 times for 10 hours each time, and there was no significant pore structure change when impregnated with ethyl alcohol (purity 95%), treated with UV or steam, or run through a washing machine. CONCLUSION: The pore structure of the surgical mask was not changed significantly after 40 hours of use. Surgical mask pore structure did not change significantly after treatment with ethyl alcohol, UV light, steam, or a washing machine.

Publisher Correction: Moisture transverse moving mechanism during presteamed oak lumber drying.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Moisture transverse moving mechanism during presteamed oak lumber drying.

Effect of steaming at 100 °C, 80 °C and 60 °C dry-bulb temperature and 0 °C wet-bulb depression for 4 hours prior to drying on the drying rate and drying deformation of 25.4 mm thick oak lumbers during kiln drying was explored in this study. The results showed that presteaming delayed the drying time by at least 19 percent, and increased the crooks and bows of the lumbers. The mechanism that presteaming delayed the drying time is attributed to the smaller and fewer moisture transverse pathways inside the surface layers of presteamed lumbers. These pathways decrease the moving rates of the bound water and the water vapor from the inner part to the surface layers of presteamed lumbers during the middle and last stage of drying because of reduced distance between the microfibrils and increased crystallinity.

Possibility of using waste tire composites reinforced with rice straw as construction materials.

Agricultural lignocellulosic fiber (rice straw)-waste tire particle composite boards were manufactured for use as insulation boards in construction, using the same method as that used in the wood-based panel industry. The manufacturing parameters were: a specific gravity of 0.8 and a rice straw content (10/90, 20/80 and 30/70 by wt.% of rice straw/waste tire particle). A commercial polyurethane adhesive for rubber was used as the composite binder. The water proof, water absorption and thickness swelling properties of the composite boards were better than those of wood particleboard. Furthermore, the flexibility and flexural properties of the composite boards were superior to those of other wood-based panel products. The composite boards also demonstrated good acoustical insulation, electrical insulation, anti-caustic and anti-rot properties. These boards can be used to prevent impact damage, are easily modifiable and are inexpensive. They are able to be used as a substitute for insulation boards and other flexural materials in construction.