Sedimentary environment and relative sea level changes revealed by marine biological membrane

Biodiesel production from date seed oil using hydroxyapatite-derived catalyst from waste camel bone

Biodiesel is considered to be more friendly to the environment than petroleum-based fuels, cheaper and capable for producing greener energy which contributed positively in boosting bio-economy. A new non-edible feedstock utilized from date seed oil was analyzed for the synthesis of eco-friendly biodiesel using newly novel hydroxyapatite heterogeneous catalysts, obtaining from waste camel bones prepared from dried camel bone followed calcination under different temperature. This catalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results showed that hydroxyapatite catalyst pore size reduced with increasing the calcination temperature. Optimize biodiesel yield (89 wt%) was achieved through the process of transesterification with optimum reaction conditions of 4 wt% catalyst, oil to ethanol molar ratio of 1:7 and temperature 75 °C for 3 h reaction time. The production of FAME was confirmed by using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Fuel properties of fatty acid ethyl ester complied with ASTM D 6751 which indicated that it would be an appropriate alternative form of fuel. As a result, using biodiesel made from waste and untamed resources to develop and implement a more sustainable and environmentally friendly energy strategy is commendable. The acceptance and implementation of the green energy method may result in favorable environmental effects, which in turn may lead to better societal and economic growth for biodiesel industry at a larger scale.

Membrane-processed honey samples for pollen characterization with health benefits

Better processing techniques must be utilized widely due to the rising demand for honey. The most common honey processing techniques are applied to melissopalynomorphs to check the quality and quantity of valuable honey using microporous ultrafiltration membranes. It is essential to have the ability to selectively filter out sugars from honey using ultrafiltration. This study authenticated 24 honey samples using membrane reactors ultrafiltration protocol to describe the pollen spectrum of dominant vegetation. The purpose of this study was also to explore nutritional benefits as well as the active phytochemical constituents of honey samples. Honey samples were collected and labeled Acacia, Eucalyptus, and Ziziphus species based on plant resources provided by local beekeepers. A variety of honeybee flora was collected around the apiaries between 2020 and 2021. Honey analysis revealed that the pollen extraction of 24 bee foraging species belonging to 14 families. The honey membrane technology verified the identities of honey and nectar sources. Also, pollen identified using honey ultrafiltration membranes revealed dominant resources: Acacia spp. (69%), Eucalyptus spp. (52%) and Ziziphus spp. Honey filtration using a membrane technology classified 14 samples as unifloral, represented by six dominant pollen types. The absolute pollen count in the honey sample revealed that 58.33% (n = 14) belong to Maurizio's class I. Scanning ultrasculpturing showed diverse exine patterns: reticulate, psilate, scabrate-verrucate, scabrate-gemmate, granulate, perforate, microechinate, microreticulate, and regulate to fossulate for correct identification of honey pollen types. Honey ultrafiltration should be utilized to validate the botanical sources of honey and trace their biogeographic authenticity. Thus, it is imperative to look at the alternative useful method to identify the botanical origin of filtered honey. It is critical to separate honey from adulteration by a standardized protocol. Membrane technology has yielded significant outcomes in the purification of honey.

Investigate the suitability of g-C3N4 nanosheets ornamented with BiOI nanoflowers for photocatalytic dye degradation and PEC water splitting

The two-step thermal polymerization and solvothermal approach is used to construct nano heterostructures of FCN and BiOI (bismuth oxeye iodide), both of which are Nobel metal-free materials. This work reports the effect nano-heterostructure on the micro-structural, light absorption capability, PEC properties and pollutant degradation efficiency of the synthesised heterostructures. The addition to that formation of FCN/BiOI nano-heterostructure enhances the solar light absorption. The FCN/BiOI nano heterostructure shows 10 times higher photocurrent density than the BCN nanostructure and 3.8 time higher that FCN. The FCN/BiOI has a high induced photo-current density (20.17 mA/cm²) and H₂ evolution rate (3762 μmol h^-1 cm^-2) under solar light illumination (λ ≥ 420 nm) in comparison with the other. Furthermore, the photocatalytic performance of this material for the breakdown of methyl red dyes was much greater. Under solar light irradiation, the azo dyes were degraded in 90 min. The FCN/BiOI nano-heterostructure has a higher dye degradation efficiency of 97.91%. The rapid transport of photo-induced electrons in the FCN/BiOI nanocomposite is responsible for the improvement in PEC and PC performances. These impressive findings suggest that this nanocomposite might be used to facilitate the PEC water splitting and the PC degradation of MR in the presence of light. The current research provides insight on how to best tailor composition and structure for efficient FCN photo-electrocatalysis water splitting and Methyl red dye degradation.

Hydrothermal assisted synthesis of hierarchical SnO2 micro flowers with CdO nanoparticles based membrane for energy storage applications

Hierarchical nanostructures with appropriate morphology and surface functionalities are highly desired to achieve an optimized electrochemical property for active electrode materials. This work renders the facile hydrothermal synthesis of CdO, SnO₂, and CdO-SnO₂ nanocomposite, and their capacitive performance was tested. The formation of the pure samples and their composite was committed by low-temperature Raman spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction studies which revealed the tetragonal and cubic structures of CdO and SnO₂ powder samples with good crystallinity and purity. The morphological postmortem reveals the formation of nanoparticles morphology of CdO with a highly smooth surface appearance. Besides, the SnO₂ illustrates the morphology of the micro flowers composed of ultrathin nanosheets. More specifically, the electrochemical properties indicate the pseudocapacitive charge storage mechanism based on cyclic voltammetry and chronopotentiometry analysis. The CdO-SnO₂ composite electrode displayed a higher capacitance due to additional pores/space offered for active sites and continuously allowed electrolyte ions to interact with the inner/outer surface of the electrode. These exciting findings led us to design and fabricate battery hybrid supercapacitors (BHSC) from CdO-SnO_2, and activated carbon (AC), referred to as CdO-SnO₂//AC BHSC, attains a high power delivery (5717 W/kg), and a maximum energy density of 42 Wh/kg at low discharge rate. Noteworthy, a stable cycling performance was obtained with only 91.3% retention after 8000 cycling at a large discharge current of 10 A/g, denoting the magnificent durability of the active electrode material.

Comparative study of ZIF-8-materials for removal of hazardous compounds using physio-chemical remediation techniques

The inherent toxicity, mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of dyes that are discharged into aquatic ecosystems, harming the health of humans and animals. ZIF-8 based composites are regarded as good adsorbents for the breakdown of dyes in order to remove or degrade them. In the course of this research, metal-organic framework materials known as ZIF-8 and its two stable composites, ZIF-8/BiCoO₃ (MZBC) and ZIF-8/BiYO₃ (MZBY), were produced via a hydrothermal process and solvothermal process, respectively, for the dangerous Congo red (CR) dye removal from the solution in water using adsorption method. According to the findings, the most significant amount of CR dye that could be adsorbed is onto MZBC, followed by MZBY and ZIF-8. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model was used effectively to match the data for adsorption behavior and was confirmed using the Langmuir isotherm equation. There is a possibility that the pH and amount of adsorbent might influence the adsorption behavior of the adsorbents. According to the experiment results, the technique featured an endothermic adsorption reaction that spontaneously occurred. The higher adsorption capability of MZBC is because of the large surface area. This results in strong interactions between the functional groups on the surface of MZBC and CR dye molecules. In addition to the electrostatic connection between functional group Zn-O-H on the surface of ZIF-8 in MZBC and the -NH₂ or SO₃ functional group areas in CR molecules, it also includes the strong π-π interaction of biphenyl rings.

Environmental remediation through various composite membranes moieties: Performances and thermomechanical properties

Pollution harms ecosystems and poses a serious threat to human health around the world through direct or indirect effects on air, water, and land. The importance of remediating effluents is paramount to reducing environmental concerns. CO₂ emissions are removed efficiently and efficaciously with mixed matrix membranes (MMMs), which are viable replacements for less efficient and costly membranes. In the field of membrane technology, MMMs are advancing rapidly due to their good separation properties. The selection of filler to be incorporated in mixed matrix membranes is very considered very important. There has been considerable interest in MOFs, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), ionic liquids (ILs), carbon molecular sieves (CMSs), sulfonated fillers (SFs), and layered silicates (LSs) as inorganic fillers for improving the properties of mixed matrix membranes. These fillers promise superb results and long durability for mixed matrix membranes based on them. The purpose of this review is to review different fillers used in MMMs for improving separation properties, limitations, and thermomechanical properties for environmental control and remediation.