Phenolic Compounds in Water: Sources, Reactivity, Toxicity and Treatment Methods

Phenolic compounds exist in water bodies due to the discharge of polluted wastewater from industrial, agricultural and domestic activities into water bodies. They also occur as a result of natural phenomena. These compounds are known to be toxic and inflict both severe and long‐lasting effects on both humans and animals. They act as carcinogens and cause damage to the red blood cells and the liver, even at low concentrations. Interaction of these compounds with microorganisms, inorganic and other organic compounds in water can produce substituted compounds or other moieties, which may be as toxic as the original phenolic compounds. This chapter dwells on the sources and reactivity of phenolic compounds in water, their toxic effects on humans, and methods of their removal from water. Specific emphasis is placed on the techniques of their removal from water with attention on both conventional and advanced methods. Among these methods are ozonation, adsorption, extraction, photocatalytic degradation, biological, electro‐Fenton, adsorption and ion exchange and membrane‐based separation

Synthesis, crystal structures, hydrogen bonding graph-sets and theoretical studies of nickel (+II) co-ordinations with pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide oxime

The pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide oxime, C7H9N5O2, was Synthesis and  characterises with 1H NMR and FTIR spectroscopy . The reaction of this ligand with nickel (II) perchlorate yielded green crystals of formula  [Ni(C<sub>7</sub>H<sub>9</sub>N<sub>5</sub>O<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub>]<sup>2+</sup>,2[ClO<sub>4</sub>]-, which crystallized in the monoclinic space group C2/c with a = 14.915(2), b = 0.895(2), c = 8.205(1) Å, β = 114.69(1), and Z = 4. The complex consists of discrete cations (+II) and one perchlorate anion, the  cations existing in a slightly distorted octahedral  complex with bonding through the heterocyclic and oxime nitrogen atoms. The structure is held together through N-H…O, O-H…O and C-H...O hydrogen bonds occurring  between the coordinated oxime  molecules and the perchlorate counter-ion. Computational investigations of nickel(II) complex are done by using M062X method with 6-31+G(d)(LANL2DZ) basis set in vacuo.Keywords: Oxime complexe; Crystal structure; Hydrogen-bonding graph-set; DFT; M062X method; 6-31+G(d)(LANL2DZ) basis

Synthesis, quantum chemical computations and x-ray crystallographic studies of a new complex based of manganese (+II)

The ligand oxime, C7H9N5O2, was Synthesis and characterises with different characterization methods such as 1H NMR and FTIR spectroscopy. The complexation of this ligand with manganese (II) perchlorate yielded pink crystals of formula [Mn (C7H9N5O2)2]2+, 2[ClO4]-, which crystallized in the monoclinic space group P21/n with a = 12.824(3), b=13.799(2), c=15.441(4)Å, β = 100.17(2), and Z = 4. The complex consists of cations (+II) and two perchlorate anions, the cations part existing in a slightly distorted octahedral complex. Computational investigations of manganese (II) complex are done by using the DFTmethod with B3LYP functional in conjunction with the 6-31G(d,p) and lanl2dz basis sets in the gas phase imposing the C1 and C2v symmetries.Keywords: Manganese complex; Crystal structure; DFT method; B3LYP functional; 6-31G(d,p) and (LANL2DZ) basi

Recent progress in gelatin hydrogel nanocomposites for water purification and beyond

Innovative characteristics of hydrogels such as swellability, modifiability and hydrophilicity make them materials of choice for water treatment and other applications. Hydrogels have shown excellent adsorptive performance for different types of water pollutants comprising toxic dyes, nutrients and heavy metals. Among different types of hydrogel based materials, hydrogel-nanomaterials combination represent a highly viable method to further improve the properties of hydrogel for numerous applications. The combination of hydrogel and nanomaterials leads to the development of hybrid hydrogel with multifunctional network. This novel combination gives synergistic effect to the newly formed novel hydrogel materials. In this article, we briefly review the recent progress in gelatin based hydrogel nanocomposites with particular emphasis on wastewater treatment along with biomedical applications

Recent progress in gelatin hydrogel nanocomposites for water purification and beyond

Innovative characteristics of hydrogels such as swellability, modifiability and hydrophilicity make them materials of choice for water treatment and other applications. Hydrogels have shown excellent adsorptive performance for different types of water pollutants comprising toxic dyes, nutrients and heavy metals. Among different types of hydrogel based materials, hydrogel-nanomaterials combination represent a highly viable method to further improve the properties of hydrogel for numerous applications. The combination of hydrogel and nanomaterials leads to the development of hybrid hydrogel with multifunctional network. This novel combination gives synergistic effect to the newly formed novel hydrogel materials. In this article, we briefly review the recent progress in gelatin based hydrogel nanocomposites with particular emphasis on wastewater treatment along with biomedical applications

Corn cob char as catalyst support for developing carbon nanotubes from waste polypropylene plastics : comparison of activation techniques

The future and continuity of nanomaterials are heavily dependent on their availability and affordability. This could be achieved when cheap materials are actively employed as starting materials for nanomaterials synthesis. In this study, waste corn cob char was used as support during the preparation of the NiMo catalyst, and the effect of different char-activating techniques on the microstructure, yield and quality of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) obtained from waste polypropylene (PP) plastics using the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique was investigated. Properties of the catalysts and obtained nanomaterials were evaluated by XRD, SEM, N2 physisorption experiment, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy and TEM. Results showed improved surface properties of the NiMo catalyst supported on chemically (NiMo/ACX) and physically activated char (NiMo/ACT) compared to the NiMo catalyst supported on non-activated char (NiMo/AC0 ). High-quality CNTs were deposited over NiMo/ACT compared to NiMo/ACX and NiMo/AC0 . It was also observed that different activation methods resulted in the formation of CNTs of different microstructures and yield. Optimum yield (470.0 mg CNTs/g catalyst) was obtained with NiMo/AC0 , while NiMo/ACT gave the least product yield (70.0 mg CNTs/g catalyst) of the as-produced nanomaterials. Based on the results of the analysis, it was concluded that utilizing a cheap pyrogenic product of waste corn cob as a catalyst support in a bimetallic NiMo catalyst could offer a promising approach to mass producing CNTs and as a low-cost alternative in CNTs production from waste plastics.The University of Johannesburg, South Africa, under the Global Excellence Stature Fourth Industrial Revolution (GES 4IR) Scholarship.https://www.mdpi.com/journal/polymersdm2022Chemical Engineerin

Zeolitic imidazolate framework as humidity-resistant solid state-chemiresistive gas sensors : a review

DATA AVAILABILITY : Data will be made available on request.With significant technological advances, solid-state gas sensors have been extensively applied to detect toxic gases and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in confined areas such as indoor environments and industries and to identify gas leakage. Semiconductor metal oxides are the primary sensing materials, although their major drawbacks include a lack of sensitivity, poor performance at high humidity, and operating at high temperatures ranging between 140 and 400 ◦C. Recently, the use of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) in gas sensors has received considerable attention as a promising material to overcome the drawbacks possessed by semiconductor metal oxide-based gas sensors. Because of their unique properties, including size tunability, high surface area, and stability in humidity, ZIF becomes a preferred candidate for sensing materials. The use of ZIF materials in gas sensors is limited because of their high-temperature operation and low gas responses. This review outlines the strategies and developments in the utilization of ZIF-based materials in gas sensing. The significant influence of the addition of carbon additives in ZIF materials for temperature operation sensors is discussed. Finally, ZIF-carbon additives and SMO@ZIFs/carbon additives are the proposed materials to be studied for future prospects for the detection of VOCs at low temperatures and exhibiting good selectivity towards the gas of interest.http://www.cell.com/heliyonam2024ChemistrySDG-09: Industry, innovation and infrastructur

Recent advancements in the use of plastics as a carbon source for carbon nanotubes synthesis - a review

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : Data will be available on request.Plastics, which majorly consist of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE)), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), etc., are the most abundant municipal solid wastes (MSW). They have been utilized as a cheap carbon feedstock in the synthesis of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) because of their high hydrocarbon content, mainly carbon and hydrogen, especially for the polyolefins. In this review, the detailed progress made so far in the use of plastics (both waste and virgin) as cheap carbon feedstock in the synthesis of CNTs (only) over the years is studied. The primary aim of this work is to provide an expansive landscape made so far, especially in the areas of catalysts, catalyst supports, and the methods employed in their preparations and other operational growth conditions, as well as already explored applications of plastic-derived CNTs. This is to enable researchers to easily access, understand, and summarise previous works done in this area, forging ahead towards improving the yield and quality of plastic-derived CNTs, which could extend their market and use in other purity-sensitive applications.The University of Johannesburg (UJ), South Africa, under the Global Excellence Stature (GES) Fellowship 4.0.https://www.cell.com/heliyonhj2024Chemical EngineeringSDG-11:Sustainable cities and communitiesSDG-12:Responsible consumption and productio

The Effect of Slicer Infill Pattern on the Electrochemical Performance of Additively Manufactured Electrodes

In this work we report the dramatic effects that changing the infill pattern has on the electrochemical performance of an additively manufactured electrode made from commercial filament. Electrodes were produced using six different slicing patterns and imaged to confirm how the infill pattern altered the working electrode surface. These electrodes were then electrochemically characterised against the near-ideal outer sphere redox probe [Ru(NH3)6]3+, the common inner sphere probe [Fe(CN)6]3−, and then used for the electroanalytical determination of acetaminophen. It was found that changing the infill pattern had a dramatic effect on the electrochemical performance of the electrodes. Over the course of the manuscript, it can be seen that Aligned Rectilinear and Rectilinear infill patterns perform consistently well and offer good reproducibility. On the other hand, Concentric infill pattern had noticeably poor inter-electrode reproducibility and the Hilbert Curve infill was one of the worst performing electrodes in many categories. For future work in this field, we recommend the infill pattern is always reported within the experimental section to allow other researchers to repeat work properly. Additionally, when optimising an electroanalytical sensing platform, we encourage researchers to optimise the infill pattern as it has direct influence on the analytical parameters

Attenuating Muscle Damage Biomarkers and Muscle Soreness After an Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage with Branched-Chain Amino Acid (BCAA) Supplementation:A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis with Meta-regression

Background: Branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation is one of the most popular strategies used by the general population and athletes to reduce muscle soreness and accelerate the recovery process of muscle damage biomarkers after an intense exercise or training session. Objectives: This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the effects of BCAA supplementation on muscle damage biomarkers and muscle soreness after exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). Methods: The systematic literature search for randomized controlled trials was conducted using seven databases, up to September 13th, 2022. The eligibility criteria for selecting studies were as follows: studies performed on healthy active participants, using BCAA at least once, controlled with a placebo or control group, performing resistance or endurance exercises, and followed up at least once post-EIMD. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the “SIGN RCT checklist”. Random-effects meta-analyses were processed to compute the standardized mean difference (Hedges’ g). Meta-regression analyses were completed with daily and total dosage and supplementation as continuous moderator variables. Results: Of the 18 studies included in this meta-analysis, 13 were of high quality and five were of acceptable quality. Our results revealed BCAA supplementation elicits a significant effect on reducing creatine kinase (CK) levels immediately (g = − 0.44; p = 0.006) and 72 h (g = − 0.99; p = 0.002), but not 24 h, 48 h, and 96 h post-EIMD. Additionally, a significant effect on delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS) was identified at 24 h (g = − 1.34; p < 0.001), 48 h (g = − 1.75; p < 0.001), 72 h (g = − 1.82; p < 0.001), and 96 h (g = − 0.82; p = 0.008), but not immediately post-EIMD. No significant effect was found on lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels at any time point. Meta-regression indicated higher daily and total dosages of BCAA, and longer supplementation periods were related to the largest beneficial effects on CK (total dosage and supplementation period) at 48 h, and on DOMS at 24 h (only daily dosage). Conclusion: The overall effects of BCAA supplementation could be considered useful for lowering CK and DOMS after EIMD, but not LDH. The longer supplementation period prior to the EIMD could be more effective for CK and DOMS reduction