Experimental Study of Vegetative Properties in Zeolite–Biochar-Improved Ecological Revetment Substrates

The vegetation of the ecological substrate plays a crucial role in restoring shoreline ecology. This study focused on using zeolite and biochar as substrate modifiers, specifically utilizing the Cynodon dactylon from Central China for vegetation. A pot vegetation experiment was carried out to compare the effects of different ratios of zeolite and biochar. The vegetation indices, including germination index, plant height, and coverage rate, were analyzed and discussed. The results revealed that zeolite primarily influenced the germination index of Cynodon dactylon, while biochar had a more significant impact on germination percentage, germination energy, plant height, and coverage rate. This study discovered that the seed germination effect of the improved substrate initially increased with zeolite content and then decreased. The average germination percentage was 63.96%. Conversely, it decreased with an increase in biochar content, resulting in an average germination percentage of 55.45%. Zeolite and biochar caused a decrease and increase in substrate pH by −0.11 and 0.4 on average, respectively. The germination of each substrate showed a negative correlation with pH. Additionally, the average coverage and plant height decreased with an increase in biochar content. However, the inclusion of 6% zeolite led to an increase in coverage and plant height. Specifically, the average plant height increased by 3.92 cm and the coverage by 7.48%. Our research identified the optimal ratio of zeolite and biochar as 6% zeolite and 0% biochar, showcasing good overall vegetative properties. These findings offer insights for further understanding the vegetative effects of zeolite–biochar-modified substrates and optimizing substrate schemes for ecological vegetation projects

A comparative study on the comprehensive properties of natural microfibers isolated from the large-clustered bamboos in the southwest of China using steam explosion

To develop sustainable functional fibers and expand their novel applications, the large-clustered dendrocalamus sinicus (DS) and the dendrocalamus giganteus (DG) planted in the southwest of China were effectively isolated by steam explosion (SE). The fine and uniform bamboo microfibers of DS and DG corresponding to the smallest average widths of 18.24 μm and 17.16 μm were obtained, respectively. The relative content of cellulose in two bamboo species had a marked increase after SE but a decrease for hemicellulose and lignin without any introduction of toxic chemical reagents. The SE treatment improved the thermal stability, the crystallinity, and the surface hydrophilicity of bamboo samples with their morphologies varying from rod-shaped strips to fibrous filaments. The degrees of crystallinity for DS and DG increased from 57.63% and 57.53% to 73.67% and 74.10%, respectively. The thermal stability, mechanical properties, and hydrophobicity of bamboo microfibers derived from DS were superior to those of DG, which showed a higher maximum decomposition temperature (5.24°C), tensile strength (181 MPa), elongation at break (1.1%), and water contact angle (7.8°)

A Water-Stable Proton-Conductive Barium(II)-Organic Framework for Ammonia Sensing at High Humidity

In view of environmental protection and the need for early prediction of major diseases, it is necessary to accurately monitor the change of trace ammonia concentration in air or in exhaled breath. However, the adoption of proton-conductive metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) as smart sensors in this field is limited by a lack of ultrasensitive gas-detecting performance at high relative humidity (RH). Here, the pellet fabrication of a water-stable proton-conductive MOF, Ba­(<i>o</i>-CbPhH₂IDC)­(H₂O)₄]_<i>n</i> (<b>1</b>) (<i>o</i>-CbPhH₄IDC = 2-(2-carboxylphenyl)-1<i>H</i>-imidazole-4,5-dicarboxylic acid) is reported. The MOF <b>1</b> displays enhanced sensitivity and selectivity to NH₃ gas at high RHs (>85%) and 30 °C, and the sensing mechanism is suggested. The electrochemical impedance gas sensor fabricated by MOF <b>1</b> is a promising sensor for ammonia at mild temperature and high RHs