Iron(III) phthalocyanine supported on a spongin scaffold as an advanced photocatalyst in a highly efficient removal process of halophenols and bisphenol A

Bridging Nature and Engineering: Protein-Derived Materials for Bio-Inspired Applications

The sophisticated, elegant protein-polymers designed by nature can serve as inspiration to redesign and biomanufacture protein-based materials using synthetic biology. Historically, petro-based polymeric materials have dominated industrial activities, consequently transforming our way of living. While this benefits humans, the fabrication and disposal of these materials causes environmental sustainability challenges. Fortunately, protein-based biopolymers can compete with and potentially surpass the performance of petro-based polymers because they can be biologically produced and degraded in an environmentally friendly fashion. This paper reviews four groups of protein-based polymers, including fibrous proteins (collagen, silk fibroin, fibrillin, and keratin), elastomeric proteins (elastin, resilin, and wheat glutenin), adhesive/matrix proteins (spongin and conchiolin), and cyanophycin. We discuss the connection between protein sequence, structure, function, and biomimetic applications. Protein engineering techniques, such as directed evolution and rational design, can be used to improve the functionality of natural protein-based materials. For example, the inclusion of specific protein domains, particularly those observed in structural proteins, such as silk and collagen, enables the creation of novel biomimetic materials with exceptional mechanical properties and adaptability. This review also discusses recent advancements in the production and application of new protein-based materials through the approach of synthetic biology combined biomimetics, providing insight for future research and development of cutting-edge bio-inspired products. Protein-based polymers that utilize nature's designs as a base, then modified by advancements at the intersection of biology and engineering, may provide mankind with more sustainable products.

Heterogeneous photosensitization for water reuse in cellars: evaluation of silica, spongin, and chitosan as carrier material

Photosensitization, a powerful oxidation reaction, offers significant potential for wastewater treatment in the context of industrial process water reuse. This environmentally friendly process can be crucial in reducing water consumption and industrial pollution. The ultimate goal is to complete process water reuse, creating a closed-loop system that preserves the inherent value of water resources. The photosensitized oxidation reaction hinges on three essential components: the photosensitizer, visible light, and oxygen. In this study, we assess the performance of three distinct materials-silica, chitosan, and spongin-as carrier materials for incorporating the phthalocyanine photosensitizer (ZnPcS4) in the heterogenous photosensitization process. Among the three materials under study, chitosan emerged as the standout performer in reactor hydrodynamic performance. In the photooxidation process, the photosensitizer ZnPcS4 exhibited notable efficacy, resulting in a significant reduction of approximately 20 to 30% in the remaining COD concentration of the cellar wastewater. Chitosan demonstrated exceptional hydrodynamic characteristics and displayed a favorable response to pH adjustments within the range of 8 to 10, outperforming the other two carrier materials. To further enhance the efficiency of continuous operation, exploring methods for mitigating photosensitizer bleaching within the reaction medium and investigating the impact of different pH values on the process optimization would be prudent.

Creation of a 3D Goethite-Spongin Composite Using an Extreme Biomimetics Approach

The structural biopolymer spongin in the form of a 3D scaffold resembles in shape and size numerous species of industrially useful marine keratosan demosponges. Due to the large-scale aquaculture of these sponges worldwide, it represents a unique renewable source of biological material, which has already been successfully applied in biomedicine and bioinspired materials science. In the present study, spongin from the demosponge Hippospongia communis was used as a microporous template for the development of a new 3D composite containing goethite [α-FeO(OH)]. For this purpose, an extreme biomimetic technique using iron powder, crystalline iodine, and fibrous spongin was applied under laboratory conditions for the first time. The product was characterized using SEM and digital light microscopy, infrared and Raman spectroscopy, XRD, thermogravimetry (TG/DTG), and confocal micro X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (CMXRF). A potential application of the obtained goethite-spongin composite in the electrochemical sensing of dopamine (DA) in human urine samples was investigated, with satisfactory recoveries (96% to 116%) being obtained.

Spongin as a Unique 3D Template for the Development of Functional Iron-Based Composites Using Biomimetic Approach In Vitro

Marine sponges of the subclass Keratosa originated on our planet about 900 million years ago and represent evolutionarily ancient and hierarchically structured biological materials. One of them, proteinaceous spongin, is responsible for the formation of 3D structured fibrous skeletons and remains enigmatic with complex chemistry. The objective of this study was to investigate the interaction of spongin with iron ions in a marine environment due to biocorrosion, leading to the occurrence of lepidocrocite. For this purpose, a biomimetic approach for the development of a new lepidocrocite-containing 3D spongin scaffold under laboratory conditions at 24 °C using artificial seawater and iron is described for the first time. This method helps to obtain a new composite as "Iron-Spongin", which was characterized by infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetry. Furthermore, sophisticated techniques such as X-ray fluorescence, microscope technique, and X-Ray diffraction were used to determine the structure. This research proposed a corresponding mechanism of lepidocrocite formation, which may be connected with the spongin amino acids functional groups. Moreover, the potential application of the biocomposite as an electrochemical dopamine sensor is proposed. The conducted research not only shows the mechanism or sensor properties of "Iron-spongin" but also opens the door to other applications of these multifunctional materials.

Perylene diimide/iron phthalocyanine Z-scheme heterojunction with strong interfacial charge transfer through π-π interaction: Efficient photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride

The development of an all-organic Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst with the matched band structure, efficient electron transfer and excellent photocatalytic performance is valuable for a sustainable future. A novel perylene diimide/phthalocyanine iron (PDI/FePc) heterojunctions with strong π-π interaction were synthesized by a self-assembled method, which exhibited strong visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation activities of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC). The TC removal rate over PDI/FePc was achieved three times and 87.5 times higher than that of PDI and FePc. PDI/FePc (131.1 mv·dec^-1) presented a lower Taffel slope than that of PDI (228.6 mv·dec^-1) for the oxidation. This may be due to the strong π-π interactions between PDI and FePc, which can reduce the layer spacing of the supramolecular structure and facilitate the separation and transfer of photogenerated carriers in the built-in electric field. In addition, radical quenching tests revealed that superoxide radicals (•O₂^-) acted as a dominant role in photocatalytic oxidation. An increscent specific surface area of PDI decorated by FePc also gave the rapid pathway for charge transfer and enhanced the adsorption ability. This provides a new idea for the formation of heterojunction to improve the photocatalytic activity of organic supramolecular materials.

Solid waste collagen-associated fabrication of magnetic hematite nanoparticle@collagen nanobiocomposite for emission-adsorption of dyes

The strategic utilization of hazardous particulate waste in eliminating environmental pollution is an important research hotspot. Herein, abundantly available hazardous solid collagenic waste of leather industry is converted into stable hybrid nanobiocomposite (HNP@SWDC) comprising magnetic hematite nanoparticles (HNP) and solid waste derived collagen (SWDC) via co-precipitation method. The structural, spectroscopic, surface, thermal, and magnetic properties; fluorescence quenching; dye selectivity; and adsorption are explored via microstructural analyzes of HNP@SWDC and dye adsorbed-HNP@SWDC using ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance, Raman, ultraviolet-visible, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron, and fluorescence spectroscopies; thermogravimetry; field-emission scanning electron microscopy; and vibrating-sample magnetometry (VSM). The intimate interaction of SWDC with HNP and elevated magnetic properties of HNP@SWDC are apprehended via amide-imidol tautomerism associated nonconventional hydrogen bondings, disappearance of goethite specific -OH def. in HNP@SWDC, and VSM. The as-fabricated reusable HNP@SWDC is employed for removing methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine B (RhB). Chemisorption of RhB/MB in HNP@SWDC via ionic, electrostatic, and hydrogen bonding interactions alongside dimerization of dyes are realized by ultraviolet-visible, FTIR, and fluorescence studies; pseudosecond order fitting; and activation energies. The adsorption capacity = 46.98-56.14/22.89-27.57 mg g^-1 for RhB/MB is noted using 0.01 g HNP@SWDC within 5-20 ppm dyes and 288-318 K.

Efficient peroxymonosulfate activation by N-rich pyridyl-iron phthalocyanine derivative for the elimination of pharmaceutical contaminants under solar irradiation

It is of great significance for improving electron transmission performance by changing of the outer ring structure of iron phthalocyanine. Herein, 4 (pyridine-2, 3-yl) iron phthalocyanine (FepyPc), as N-rich pyridyl-iron phthalocyanine derivative, was introduced to degrade pharmaceutical contaminants. The catalytic degradation of organic pollutants with FepyPc was studied by activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS) at room temperature. The results clarified that the removal rate of carbamazepine (CBZ) was close to 100% within 60 min and the calculated apparent rate constant was about 2 times larger than FePc, which proved that FepyPc had superior performance. Four active species were identified for the degradation of CBZ, including superoxide radical (•O₂^-), singlet oxygen (¹O₂), sulfate radical (SO₄•^-) and hydroxyl radical (•OH). In addition, the possible reaction mechanism was inferred in FepyPc/PMS/sunlight system for CBZ removal. Finally, the CBZ degradation pathway was proposed by using ultra-performance liquid chromatography and high definition mass spectrometry (UPLC/HDMS). This research provided a meaningful and efficient method for the elimination of pharmaceutical contaminants.

Adsorption of Cationic Dyes on a Magnetic 3D Spongin Scaffold with Nano-Sized Fe3O4 Cores

The renewable, proteinaceous, marine biopolymer spongin is yet the focus of modern research. The preparation of a magnetic three-dimensional (3D) spongin scaffold with nano-sized Fe3O4 cores is reported here for the first time. The formation of this magnetic spongin-Fe3O4 composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA) (TGA-DTA), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and zeta potential analyses. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) confirmed the formation of well-dispersed spherical nanoparticles tightly bound to the spongin scaffold. The magnetic spongin-Fe3O4 composite showed significant removal efficiency for two cationic dyes (i.e., crystal violet (CV) and methylene blue (MB)). Adsorption experiments revealed that the prepared material is a fast, high-capacity (77 mg/g), yet selective adsorbent for MB. This behavior was attributed to the creation of strong electrostatic interactions between the spongin-Fe3O4 and MB or CV, which was reflected by adsorption mechanism evaluations. The adsorption of MB and CV was found to be a function of pH, with maximum removal performance being observed over a wide pH range (pH = 5.5-11). In this work, we combined Fe3O4 nanoparticles and spongin scaffold properties into one unique composite, named magnetic spongin scaffold, in our attempt to create a sustainable absorbent for organic wastewater treatment. The appropriative mechanism of adsorption of the cationic dyes on a magnetic 3D spongin scaffold is proposed. Removal of organic dyes and other contaminants is essential to ensure healthy water and prevent various diseases. On the other hand, in many cases, dyes are used as models to demonstrate the adsorption properties of nanostructures. Due to the good absorption properties of magnetic spongin, it can be proposed as a green and uncomplicated adsorbent for the removal of different organic contaminants and, furthermore, as a carrier in drug delivery applications.

High affinity of 3D spongin scaffold towards Hg(II) in real waters

This study focuses on the ability of commercial natural bath sponges, which are made from the skeletons of marine sponges, to sorb Hg from natural waters. The main component of these bath sponges is spongin, which is a protein-based material, closely related to collagen, offering a plenitude of reactive sites from the great variety of amino acids in the protein chains, where the Hg ions can sorb. For a dose of 40 mg L^-1 and initial concentration of 50 μg L^-1 of Hg(II), marine spongin (MS) removed ~90% of Hg from 3 water matrixes (ultrapure, bottled, and seawater), corresponding to a residual concentration of ~5 μg L^-1, which tends to the recommend value for drinking water of 1 μg L^-1. This value was maintained even by increasing the MS dosage, suggesting the existence of a gradient concentration threshold below which the Hg sorption mechanism halts. Kinetic modelling showed that the Pseudo Second-Order equation was the best fit for all the water matrixes, which indicates that the sorption mechanism relies most probably on chemical interactions between the functional groups of spongin and the Hg ions. This material can also be regenerated in HNO₃ and reused for Hg sorption, with marginal losses in efficiency, at least for 3 consecutive cycles.

Novel broad-spectrum-driven g-C3N4 with oxygen-linked band and porous defect for photodegradation of bisphenol A, 2-mercaptophenthiazole and ciprofloxacin

Abundant active oxygen free radicals could efficiently remove refractory organic pollutants. In previous research, the original carbon nitride can form more hydrogen peroxide, however, owing to the limitation of its band structure, the original carbon nitride cannot decompose the hydrogen peroxide to generate more active oxygen free radicals. Herein, this work reports a simple bottom-up synthesis method, which synthesize a broad-spectrum-response carbon nitride (CN-CA) with oxygen-linked band and porous defect structure, while adjusting the band structure, and the introduction of the oxygen-linked band structure can also decompose the hydrogen peroxide produced by the original carbon nitride to form more active oxygen free radicals. Instrumental characterization and analysis of experimental results revealed the important role of oxygen-linked band and porous defects in adjusting the CN-CA energy band structure and improving its visible light absorption. The optimal CN-CA displays an outstanding photocatalytic degradation ability, that degradation rate of bisphenol A (BPA) reaches 99.8% within 150 min, the reaction rate constant of which is 6.77 times higher than that of pure g-C₃N₄, as also demonstrated with 2-mercaptophenthiazole (MBT) and ciprofloxacin (CIP). Meanwhile, the excellent degradation performance under blue LED (450-462 nm) and green LED (510-520 nm) exhibits the broad-spectrum characteristics of CN-CA. The degradation pathways of BPA and MBT were analyzed via HPLC-MS. Moreover, the primary active species were detected as O₂^-, OH and h⁺ based on the trapping experiments and ESR. This research provides a new strategy for g-C₃N₄ modified by porous defects and oxygen-linked band structure for environmental remediation.

Oxygen vacancy engineering of cerium oxide for the selective photocatalytic oxidation of aromatic pollutants

The engineering of oxygen vacancies in CeO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) allows the specific fine-tuning of their oxidation power, and this can be used to rationally control their activity and selectivity in the photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) of aromatic pollutants. In the current study, a facile strategy for generating exceptionally stable oxygen vacancies in CeO₂ NPs through simple acid (CeO₂-A) or base (CeO₂-B) treatment was developed. The selective (or mild) PCO activities of CeO₂-A and CeO₂-B in the degradation of a variety of aromatic substrates in water were successfully demonstrated. CeO₂-B has more oxygen vacancies and exhibits superior photocatalytic performance compared to CeO₂-A. Control of oxygen vacancies in CeO₂ facilitates the adsorption and reduction of dissolved O₂ due to their high oxygen-storage ability. The oxygen vacancies in CeO₂-B as active sites for oxygen-mediated reactions act as (i) adsorption and reduction reaction sites for dissolved O₂, and (ii) photogenerated electron scavenging sites that promote the formation of H₂O₂ by multi-electron transfer. The oxygen vacancies in CeO₂-B are particularly stable and can be used repeatedly over 30 h without losing activity. The selective PCOs of organic substrates were studied systematically, revealing that the operating mechanisms for UV-illuminated CeO₂-B are very different from those for conventional TiO₂ photocatalysts. Thus, the present study provides new insights into the design of defect-engineered metal oxides for the development of novel photocatalysts.

Progress in Modern Marine Biomaterials Research

The growing demand for new, sophisticated, multifunctional materials has brought natural structural composites into focus, since they underwent a substantial optimization during long evolutionary selection pressure and adaptation processes. Marine biological materials are the most important sources of both inspiration for biomimetics and of raw materials for practical applications in technology and biomedicine. The use of marine natural products as multifunctional biomaterials is currently undergoing a renaissance in the modern materials science. The diversity of marine biomaterials, their forms and fields of application are highlighted in this review. We will discuss the challenges, solutions, and future directions of modern marine biomaterialogy using a thorough analysis of scientific sources over the past ten years.

Three-dimensional heterogeneous Electro-Fenton system with a novel catalytic particle electrode for Bisphenol A removal

Herein, a novel three-dimensional (3D) heterogeneous Electro-Fenton (EF) system with improved gas diffusion electrode (GDE) as cathode and magnetic nitrogen doped/reduced graphene oxide (Fe₃O₄/N-rGO) as catalytic particle electrodes (CPEs) was built for Bisphenol A (BPA) removal. The Fe₃O₄/N-rGO served as both particle electrodes and heterogeneous catalyst. The study concluded that BPA could be effectively removed via this hybrid system. The synergistic effect between the 3D electrode and EF system was discussed by comparing the performance of different functional particle electrodes. The 3D electrode system exhibited a larger specific surface area electrode, which improved the mass transfer of pollutants to electrode, and also accelerated the regeneration of Fe^Ⅱ due to faster electron transfer, thereby enhancing the efficiency of EF catalysis. The EF process promotes the regeneration rate of particle electrodes and thus accelerates the 3D electrode reaction course. The parameters affecting degradation behavior of BPA were optimized. As a result, optimal removal rate of BPA and TOC was 93% and 60.5%, respectively within 90 min. The CPEs showed high catalytic performance (86.5% for BPA and 50.3% for TOC) and low catalyst loss (less than 9.5%) after 5 cycles, indicating its excellent stability and reusability. The possible mechanism of 3D heterogeneous EF was investigated by comparing the catalytic activity and •OH production capacity of homogeneous EF and Fenton-like. Built on the analysis of intermediates, a possible decomposition pathway of BPA was proposed.

Naturally pre-designed biomaterials: Spider molting cuticle as a functional crude oil sorbent

Diverse fields of modern environmental technology are nowadays focused on the discovery and development of new sources for oil spill removal. An especially interesting type of sorbents is those of natural origin-biosorbents-as ready-to-use constructs with biodegradable, nontoxic, renewable and cost-efficient properties. Moreover, the growing problem of microplastic-related contamination in the oceans further encourages the use of biosorbents. Here, for the first time, naturally pre-designed molting cuticles of the Theraphosidae spider Avicularia sp. "Peru purple", as part of constituting a large-scale spider origin waste material, were used for efficient sorption of crude oil. Compared with currently used materials, the proposed biosorbent of spider cuticular origin demonstrates excellent ability to remain on the water surface for a long time. In this study the morphology and hydrophobic features of Theraphosidae cuticle are investigated for the first time. The unique surface morphology and very low surface free energy (4.47 ± 0.08 mN/m) give the cuticle-based, tube-like, porous biosorbent excellent oleophilic-hydrophobic properties. The crude oil sorption capacities of A. sp. "Peru purple" molt structures in sea water, distilled water and fresh water were measured at 12.6 g/g, 15.8 g/g and 16.6 g/g respectively. These results indicate that this biomaterial is more efficient than such currently used fibrous sorbents as human hairs or chicken feathers. Four cycles of desorption were performed and confirmed the reusability of the proposed biosorbent. We suggest that the oil adsorption mechanism is related to the brush-like and microporous structure of the tubular spider molting cuticles and may also involve interaction between the cuticular wax layers and crude oil.

3D Chitin Scaffolds from the Marine Demosponge Aplysina archeri as a Support for Laccase Immobilization and Its Use in the Removal of Pharmaceuticals

For the first time, 3D chitin scaffolds from the marine demosponge Aplysina archeri were used for adsorption and immobilization of laccase from Trametes versicolor. The resulting chitin-enzyme biocatalytic systems were applied in the removal of tetracycline. Effective enzyme immobilization was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. Immobilization yield and kinetic parameters were investigated in detail, in addition to the activity of the enzyme after immobilization. The designed systems were further used for the removal of tetracycline under various process conditions. Optimum process conditions, enabling total removal of tetracycline from solutions at concentrations up to 1 mg/L, were found to be pH 5, temperature between 25 and 35 °C, and 1 h process duration. Due to the protective effect of the chitinous scaffolds and stabilization of the enzyme by multipoint attachment, the storage stability and thermal stability of the immobilized biomolecules were significantly improved as compared to the free enzyme. The produced biocatalytic systems also exhibited good reusability, as after 10 repeated uses they removed over 90% of tetracycline from solution. Finally, the immobilized laccase was used in a packed bed reactor for continuous removal of tetracycline, and enabled the removal of over 80% of the antibiotic after 24 h of continuous use.

Iron phthalocyanine-sensitized magnetic catalysts for BPA photodegradation

The catalytic behavior of iron phthalocyanine (FePc)-sensitized magnetic nanocatalysts was evaluated for their application in the oxidative treatment of Bisphenol A (BPA) under mild environmental conditions. Two types of FePc (Fe(II)Pc and Fe(III)Pc), which are highly photosensitive compounds, were immobilized on the surface of functionalized magnetite. The nanomaterials were characterized by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analyses (TGA). The generation of singlet oxygen by nanomaterials was also investigated. In the presence of UVA light exposure (365 nm) and 15 mM H₂O₂, the M@Fe(III)Pc photocatalyst gave the best results; for a catalyst concentration of 2.0 g L ^− 1, around 60% BPA was removed after 120 min of reaction. These experimental conditions were further tested under natural solar light exposure, for which also M@Fe(III)Pc exhibited enhanced oxidative catalytic activity, being able to remove 83% of BPA in solution. The water samples were less cytotoxic after treatment, this being confirmed by the MCF-7 cell viability assay.

In Situ Formation of Ionic Liquid by Metathesis Reaction for the Rapid Removal of Bisphenol A from Aqueous Solutions

In this work we present a rapid and easy method to remove the totality of bisphenol A from aqueous solutions using ionic liquid (IL). Dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction is employed. The IL 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium bis((trifluoromethane)sulfonyl)imide ([C8C1im] [NTf2]) is formed in situ because of the mixture of 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C8C1im]Cl) and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (Li[NTf2]) aqueous solutions. A cloud of microdroplets of IL formed by the dispersion generated through the precursors metathesis reaction allows the rapid and total extraction of bisphenol A (BPA). After centrifugation, the formed IL phase is deposited at the bottom of the flask and the total amount of BPA is extracted in the sedimented phase. The volume of IL is very low, in the order of microliters, which enables us to remove all the BPA from the solution. The technique studied is highly efficient, cost-effective, and presents less environmental impact than other extraction techniques, thus becoming an outstanding alternative to the most commonly used methods. BPA concentration is determined by high performance liquid chromatography by injecting the IL phase directly. An extraction kinetic model for the kinetic profile has been tested for this method, which allows to infer the ideal experimental conditions to execute the extraction method.

Improved culture of fastidious Gemmata spp. bacteria using marine sponge skeletons

Gemmata are Planctomycetes bacteria recalcitrant to traditional cultivation in the clinical microbiology laboratory and they have been seldom documented in patients. Based on previously known relationships of Planctomycetes with marine sponges, we designed a new culture medium A incorporating marine sponge skeleton of Spongia sp. to the standard culture medium; and culture medium B incorporating Spongia sp. skeleton heat aqueous filtrate into medium A; and inoculating the three culture media (standard, A and B) with Gemmata obscuriglobus DSM 5831^T and Gemmata massiliana DSM 26013^T in the presence of negative controls. Cultures were observed by naked eyes for 7 days and bacterial growth was quantified by microscopic observations and culture-based enumerations. Macroscopic observations at day-3 revealed a pink bacterial pellet in medium B tubes while standard medium tubes remained limpid until day-8. Growing Gemmata spp. bacteria in medium A yielded air bubbles released by bacterial respiration, whereas control tubes remained bubble-free. The number of colonies in standard medium (1.363 ± 115 for G. obscuriglobus, 1.288 ± 83 for G. massiliana) was significantly lower than those counted from medium B (2.552 ± 128 for G. obscuriglobus, 1.870 ± 112 for G. massiliana) and from medium A (2.851 ± 137 for G. obscuriglobus, 2.035 ± 163 for G. massiliana) (p < 0.10^-4) at day-2 incubation. At day-3 incubation, the number of colonies counted from supplemented media A and B increased up to one log than those counted from the control medium (p < 0.10^-4). Along the following day-4-7 incubation, the number of colonies counted from media A and B remained significantly higher compared to standard medium (p < 0.10^-4). These data indicate that incorporation of spongin-based marine sponge skeleton and heat aqueous filtrate of sponge skeleton significantly improved growth of Gemmata spp. bacteria. These observations pave the way towards improved isolation and culture of Gemmata spp. from environmental and clinical specimens.

Thiol-ene polymerization for hierarchically porous hybrid materials by adding degradable polycaprolactone for adsorption of bisphenol A

Hierarchically porous materials with multiple pore structures have the potential application in catalysis, separation or bioengineering. A concept was introduced to design and fabricate hierarchically porous hybrid materials (HPHMs) simultaneously containing mesopores and macropores. The proof-of-concept design was demonstrated by fabrication of several kinds of hybrid materials by adding degradable polycaprolactone (PCL) additive, which was simple and easy-operating. The specific surface areas of HPHMs prepared with polyhedral oligomeric vinylsilsesquioxanes (vinylPOSS) and 1,4-dithiothreitol (DTT) could reach 727 m²/g by adding 25% PCL additive, while the HPHMs were imperforate prior to degradation of PCL. The characterization further indicated that the macropores could be controlled by the amount of PCL additive. Moreover, the porous properties of HPHMs were influenced by the molecular weight of PCL. Other dithiols compounds were also successful in preparing HPHMs with high specific surface areas over 400 m²/g. Due to hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bond interaction, the HPHM exhibited good adsorption ability for bisphenol A (BPA) in aqueous solution. Adsorption equilibrium could be achieved within 30 min, and the adsorption capacity was up to 157.4 mg/g. Meanwhile, the removal efficiency was found to be 95.37% for BPA.

Application of nickel foam-supported Co3O4-Bi2O3 as a heterogeneous catalyst for BPA removal by peroxymonosulfate activation

Nickel foam (NF)-functionalized Co₃O₄-Bi₂O₃ nanoparticles (CBO@NF) synthesized using a facile one-step microwave-assistant method were employed as catalysts to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) with bisphenol A (BPA) as the target pollutant. The crystallinity, morphology, and chemical valence state of the synthesized CBO@NF were analyzed using XRD, SEM, and XPS, respectively. Moreover, effects of the preparation parameters, including the calcination temperature and calcination time as well as the loading dosage, were evaluated in detail. A degradation efficiency of 95.6% was achieved within 30 min with the optimal degradation system. The CBO@NF/PMS system shows great catalytic activity in a pH range from 3.0 to 11.0. The stability and reusability of the CBO@NF supported catalyst was evaluated through a recycling experiment. In addition, the possible degradation mechanism was also explored using a quenching experiment and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) detection. The result shows that both the surface-bound SO₄^- and OH play significant roles during the degradation process, where the electron transfer of Co²⁺/Co³⁺, Bi³⁺/Bi⁵⁺, and Ni²⁺/Ni³⁺ realizes the sustained regeneration of the active radicals. This work provides new insight for the practical applications of sulfate radical-based advanced oxidation processes (SR-AOPs) in wastewater treatment.

Titania-Based Hybrid Materials with ZnO, ZrO₂ and MoS₂: A Review

Titania has properties that enable it to be used in a variety of applications, including self-cleaning surfaces, air and water purification systems, hydrogen evolution, and photoelectrochemical conversion. In order to improve the properties of titanium dioxide, modifications are made to obtain oxide/hybrid systems that are intended to have the properties of both components. In particular, zinc oxide, zirconia and molybdenum disulfide have been proposed as the second component of binary systems due to their antibacterial, electrochemical and photocatalytic properties. This paper presents a review of the current state of knowledge on the synthesis and practical utility of TiO₂-ZnO and TiO₂-ZrO₂ oxide systems and TiO₂-MoS₂ hybrid materials. The first part focuses on the hydrothermal method; then a review is made of the literature on the synthesis of the aforementioned materials using the sol-gel method. In the last section, the literature on the electrospinning method of synthesis is reviewed. The most significant physico-chemical, structural and dispersive-morphological properties of binary hybrid systems based on TiO₂ are described. A key aim of this review is to indicate the properties of TiO₂-ZnO, TiO₂-ZrO₂ and TiO₂-MoS₂ hybrid systems that have the greatest importance for practical applications. The variety of utilities of titania-based hybrid materials is emphasized.

Control of halophenol formation in seawater during chlorination using pre-ozonation treatment

The reverse osmosis process is widely used for seawater desalination, whereas the pre-chlorination step for controlling membrane biofouling results in undesirable disinfection by-products, such as halophenols (HPs) which are not yet regulated but of increasing concerns. The formation and speciation of HPs during chlorination of three filtered seawater samples (SA, SB, and SC) with various phenol concentrations (0.25, 0.5, 1.0 mg/L) were evaluated. 4-Bromophenol (4-BrP), 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TClP), 2,4-dibromophenol (2,4-DBrP), and 2,4,6-tribromophenol (2,4,6-TBrP) were identified during chlorination, with 2,4,6-TBrP as the predominant HP. Ozone as a common oxidant in water and wastewater treatment was subsequently applied to assess its effect in dissolved organic matter (DOM) and its ability of reducing HP precursors in the seawater samples. An initial ozone dose of 5 mg O₃/L was capable of reducing dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in SA, and UV absorbance at 254 nm (UV₂₅₄) in SB, whereas it induced an elevation of UV₂₅₄ in SC. When ozone dose increased to 10 mg O₃/L, the DOC and UV₂₅₄ levels in all seawater samples were reduced. Ozone was more powerful on degrading DOM with molecular weight (MW) of near 1000 Da than those with MW of 20-100 Da, both of which composed the majority of DOM in the seawater samples. As determined by excitation emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy, the most ozone-susceptible fraction of DOM was soluble microbial by-product-like substances, while the least was tryptophan-like aromatic proteins. Despite that the initial ozone of 5 mg O₃/L was less effective in DOM degradation than the higher dose, it successfully degraded HP precursors. By pre-ozonation at 5 mg O₃/L, no chlorophenol was detected during chlorination, and the mean reductions of the three bromophnols formed were above 92% in all seawater samples, with the reduction of 2,4,6-TBrP being the highest of 99.7, 99.6, and 99.1% in SA, SB, and SC, respectively.

Production, Characterization and Biocompatibility Evaluation of Collagen Membranes Derived from Marine Sponge Chondrosia reniformis Nardo, 1847

Collagen is involved in the formation of complex fibrillar networks, providing the structural integrity of tissues. Its low immunogenicity and mechanical properties make this molecule a biomaterial that is extremely suitable for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) strategies in human health issues. Here, for the first time, we performed a thorough screening of four different methods to obtain sponge collagenous fibrillar suspensions (FSs) from C. reniformis demosponge, which were then chemically, physically, and biologically characterized, in terms of protein, collagen, and glycosaminoglycans content, viscous properties, biocompatibility, and antioxidant activity. These four FSs were then tested for their capability to generate crosslinked or not thin sponge collagenous membranes (SCMs) that are suitable for TERM purposes. Two types of FSs, of the four tested, were able to generate SCMs, either from crosslinking or not, and showed good mechanical properties, enzymatic degradation resistance, water binding capacity, antioxidant activity, and biocompatibility on both fibroblast and keratinocyte cell cultures. Finally, our results demonstrate that it is possible to adapt the extraction procedure in order to alternatively improve the mechanical properties or the antioxidant performances of the derived biomaterial, depending on the application requirements, thanks to the versatility of C. reniformis extracellular matrix extracts.

Modification of chitin with high adsorption capacity for methylene blue removal

Porous chitin sorbents (PChs) with different content of chitin, ranging from 0.9% to 3.5%, were prepared by gel method with CaBr₂·xH₂O/CH₃OH solution and characterized by FT-IR, XRD and SEM. The adsorption isotherms and kinetic analysis of methylene blue (MB) onto PChs were studied. Experimental results illustrated lower crystallinity and more pores of PChs containing 3.5% chitin displayed higher adsorption capacity, the removal of MB was 79.8%. The adsorption equilibrium isotherm curve of MB onto PChs adsorbents conformed to the Freundlich equation. The PFO, PSO and Weber-Morris models were applied to fit with the adsorption kinetics. The results demonstrated the adsorption of MB might be the mass transfer of heterogeneous system and involve multiple diffusion steps. The adsorption capacity of PChs with 3.5% chitin can maintain 65% removal ratio of MB after being used six adsorption-desorption cycles. It was supposed that PChs may be a promising, cheap, environmentally friendly and efficient adsorbent for some dye wastewater treatment in the near future.

Marine Spongin: Naturally Prefabricated 3D Scaffold-Based Biomaterial

The biosynthesis, chemistry, structural features and functionality of spongin as a halogenated scleroprotein of keratosan demosponges are still paradigms. This review has the principal goal of providing thorough and comprehensive coverage of spongin as a naturally prefabricated 3D biomaterial with multifaceted applications. The history of spongin's discovery and use in the form of commercial sponges, including their marine farming strategies, have been analyzed and are discussed here. Physicochemical and material properties of spongin-based scaffolds are also presented. The review also focuses on prospects and trends in applications of spongin for technology, materials science and biomedicine. Special attention is paid to applications in tissue engineering, adsorption of dyes and extreme biomimetics.