Room-temperature nitrophenol reduction over Ag–CeO2 catalysts: the role of catalyst preparation method

Ag–CeO2 catalysts (20 mol % Ag) were synthesized using different techniques (co-precipitation, impregnation, and impregnation of pre-reduced ceria), characterized by XRD, N2 sorption, TEM, H2-TPR methods, and probed in room-temperature p-nitrophenol reduction into p-aminophenol in aqueous solution at atmospheric pressure. The catalyst preparation method was found to determine the textural characteristics, the oxidation state and distribution of silver and, hence, the catalytic activity in the p-nitrophenol reduction. The impregnation technique was the most favorable for the formation over the ceria surface of highly dispersed silver species that are active in the p-nitrophenol reduction (the first-order rate constant k = 0.656 min−1)

Toluene abatement on Ag-CeO2/SBA-15 catalysts: synergistic effect of silver and ceria

As a typical volatile organic compound, toluene is a hazardous material for human health and the environment, and currently, the development of catalysts for its oxidation into CO2 and water is crucial. The series of Ag-CeO2/SBA-15 catalysts is synthesized by wetness impregnation techniques and characterized by a number of physical-chemical methods (nitrogen [N2] physisorption, small angle X-ray scattering [SAXS], transmission electron microscopy [TEM], and temperature-programmed reduction [TPR]). The toluene sorption and catalytic properties in toluene oxidation are studied. Small silver [Ag] and cerium oxide [ceria, CeO2] particles with sizes below 3 nm are predominantly formed in the ordered structure of Santa Barbara Amorphous-15 [SBA-15]. The interactions between the Ag and CeO2 nanoparticles are established. Temperature-programmed desorption of toluene [TPD-C7H8] analysis shows that physical adsorption of toluene occurs on pristine SBA-15 material, while the introduction of either silver or ceria to SBA-15 leads to the appearance of additional strongly bound chemisorbed toluene on such sites. When both Ag and CeO2 are introduced, only chemisorbed toluene is formed over the Ag-CeO2/SBA-15 catalyst, and the highest catalytic activity in toluene oxidation is observed over this catalyst (T98% = 233 °C, 0.2% C6H5CH3) that is attributed to the synergistic effect of ceria [CeO2] and silver [Ag]

Ag–CeO2/SBA-15 composite prepared from Pluronic P123@SBA-15 hybrid as catalyst for room-temperature reduction of 4-nitrophenol

The catalytic activity of the SBA-15-supported silver and/or ceria catalysts in the 4‑nitrophenol reduction under mild conditions is described. The catalysts are prepared by wetness impregnation of Pluronic P123@SBA-15 hybrid applied to stabilize small Ag and CeO2 particles. The bare SBA-15 and the catalysts on the basis thereof are characterized by N2 sorption, XRD, SAXS, TEM, UV–vis DRS, and H2-TPR. The catalysts possess high surface area (594−754 m2/g) and narrow pore size distributions (5.5–7.8 nm). Silver and ceria particles are stabilized in a highly dispersed state (predominant sizes below 5 nm) in the ordered SBA-15 structure. The Ag–CeO2/SBA-15 catalyst demonstrates the presence of the developed Ag–CeO2 interface that enhances the catalytic activity in 4-nitrophenol reduction to 4‑aminophenol (k = 0.016 s−1) at room temperature and ambient pressure due to the cooperation of silver and ceria active sites

Silica gel as a sorbent and catalyst support: Improvement of technologies and search for alternative production routes

Silica gels are porous materials that are commonly used both in industry and in everyday life. Russian manufacturers produce spherical and powdered silica gels; however, a number of fields of application of silica gels are entirely dependent on import. Therefore, it is necessary to develop silica gel production technologies, the introduction of which would make it possible to replace imported silica gels. Methods for improving the properties of spherical silica gels and new solutions for the production of SiO2, in particular, silica gel powders and silica gels with an ordered pore structure, are described. It is proposed that they should be produced using cheap feedstocks, in particular, the aluminum industry waste Si-stoff and the cheap natural material diatomite. It is shown that control of the silica precipitation and structure formation parameters provides the formation of silica gels with a wide range of pore structure characteristics, which makes it possible to use them in various fields

Effect of Chronic Treatment with Uridine on Cardiac Mitochondrial Dysfunction in the C57BL/6 Mouse Model of High-Fat Diet–Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes

Long-term hyperglycemia in diabetes mellitus is associated with complex damage to cardiomyocytes and the development of mitochondrial dysfunction in the myocardium. Uridine, a pyrimidine nucleoside, plays an important role in cellular metabolism and is used to improve cardiac function. Herein, the antidiabetic potential of uridine (30 mg/kg/day for 21 days, i.p.) and its effect on mitochondrial homeostasis in the heart tissue were examined in a high-fat diet–streptozotocin-induced model of diabetes in C57BL/6 mice. We found that chronic administration of uridine to diabetic mice normalized plasma glucose and triglyceride levels and the heart weight/body weight ratio and increased the rate of glucose utilization during the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test. Analysis of TEM revealed that uridine prevented diabetes-induced ultrastructural abnormalities in mitochondria and sarcomeres in ventricular cardiomyocytes. In diabetic heart tissue, the mRNA level of Ppargc1a decreased and Drp1 and Parkin gene expression increased, suggesting the disturbances of mitochondrial biogenesis, fission, and mitophagy, respectively. Uridine treatment of diabetic mice restored the mRNA level of Ppargc1a and enhanced Pink1 gene expression, which may indicate an increase in the intensity of mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy, and as a consequence, mitochondrial turnover. Uridine also reduced oxidative phosphorylation dysfunction and suppressed lipid peroxidation, but it had no significant effect on the impaired calcium retention capacity and potassium transport in the heart mitochondria of diabetic mice. Altogether, these findings suggest that, along with its hypoglycemic effect, uridine has a protective action against diabetes-mediated functional and structural damage to cardiac mitochondria and disruption of mitochondrial quality-control systems in the diabetic heart

Alisporivir Improves Mitochondrial Function in Skeletal Muscle of mdx Mice but Suppresses Mitochondrial Dynamics and Biogenesis

Mitigation of calcium-dependent destruction of skeletal muscle mitochondria is considered as a promising adjunctive therapy in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). In this work, we study the effect of intraperitoneal administration of a non-immunosuppressive inhibitor of calcium-dependent mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) pore alisporivir on the state of skeletal muscles and the functioning of mitochondria in dystrophin-deficient mdx mice. We show that treatment with alisporivir reduces inflammation and improves muscle function in mdx mice. These effects of alisporivir were associated with an improvement in the ultrastructure of mitochondria, normalization of respiration and oxidative phosphorylation, and a decrease in lipid peroxidation, due to suppression of MPT pore opening and an improvement in calcium homeostasis. The action of alisporivir was associated with suppression of the activity of cyclophilin D and a decrease in its expression in skeletal muscles. This was observed in both mdx mice and wild-type animals. At the same time, alisporivir suppressed mitochondrial biogenesis, assessed by the expression of Ppargc1a, and altered the dynamics of organelles, inhibiting both DRP1-mediated fission and MFN2-associated fusion of mitochondria. The article discusses the effects of alisporivir administration and cyclophilin D inhibition on mitochondrial reprogramming and networking in DMD and the consequences of this therapy on skeletal muscle health