CuO nanoparticles encapsulated inside Al-MCM-41 mesoporous materials via direct synthetic route

Investigating layer-by-layer chitosan-dextran sulfate-coated mesoporous silica as a pH-sensitive drug delivery system

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) coated by chitosan (CS) were shown to be a proper candidate as a carrier for drug delivery purposes. However, choosing the suitable drug-containing complexes to be applied on MSNPs-CS is of much greater importance to evaluate the possible candidate for an efficient combination of cell viability, drug release kinetics, and atherosclerosis prevention. In this regard, this study concentrates on the synthesis and assessment of coated MSNPs-CS designed for drug delivery purposes. The MSNPs are coated with polyelectrolyte complexes (PEC) composed of CS and dextran sulfate (MSNPs-CS-DX), serving as a versatile drug carrier with favorable biological characteristics. CS-DX is applied to MSNPs without requiring complex or multi-step synthesis procedures. Rosuvastatin, a cholesterol-lowering medication, is chosen for its therapeutic relevance. Additionally, CS-DX is found to relatively impede the uptake of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) by macrophages, enhancing their potential therapeutic utility. FTIR pattern, FESEM, and TEM images prove MSNPs-CS-DX formation. DLS measurement demonstrates the average particle size of 110 nm for MSNPs, with the combined thickness of CS and DX layers ranging from 10 to 15 nm. BET test is carried out to evaluate the pore size and porosity of structure, showing outstanding results that cause an entrapment efficiency of 57% for MSNPs-CS-DX. Furthermore, the findings demonstrate the pH sensitivity of MSNPs-CS-DX on drug release kinetics. Notably, the CS-DX layer exhibits a significant enhancement in cell viability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) by approximately 24% within a 24 h timeframe compared to MSNPs lacking CS-DX.

Hybridized quantum dot, silica, and gold nanoparticles for targeted chemo-radiotherapy in colorectal cancer theranostics

Multimodal nanoparticles, utilizing quantum dots (QDs), mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), and gold nanoparticles (Au NPs), offer substantial potential as a smart and targeted drug delivery system for simultaneous cancer therapy and imaging. This method entails coating magnetic GZCIS/ZnS QDs with mesoporous silica, loading epirubicin into the pores, capping with Au NPs, PEGylation, and conjugating with epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) aptamers to actively target colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. This study showcases the hybrid QD@MSN-EPI-Au-PEG-Apt nanocarriers (size ~65 nm) with comprehensive characterizations post-synthesis. In vitro studies demonstrate the selective cytotoxicity of these targeted nanocarriers towards HT-29 cells compared to CHO cells, leading to a significant reduction in HT-29 cell survival when combined with irradiation. Targeted delivery of nanocarriers in vivo is validated by enhanced anti-tumor effects with reduced side effects following chemo-radiotherapy, along with imaging in a CRC mouse model. This approach holds promise for improved CRC theranostics.

Novel and highly efficient transformation of carbon dioxide into 2-oxazolidinones over Al-MCM-41 mesoporous-supported ionic liquids

A type of Al-MCM-41 supported dual imidazolium ionic liquids were constructed and efficiently used as catalysts for the synthesis of 2-oxazolidinones from epoxides, amines, and CO2. The influence of the different catalysts and reaction parameters on the catalytic behaviours was investigated. Al-MCM-41@ILTiCl5 was identified as the most excellent catalyst because it could efficiently promote the three-component cycloaddition of CO2, epoxide, and amines to form the corresponding 2-oxazolidinones in high to excellent yields (84∼96%) with excellent selectivities (98∼99.7%). In addition, the recovery and reuse performances of Al-MCM-41@ILTiCl5 were examined. The catalyst could be recovered by simple filtration and reused six times without a change in the catalytic activity. Green reaction conditions, operational simplicity, feasibility, and sustainability of the functionalized catalyst are the main highlights of the present protocol.

Development of natural attapulgite derived ferromanganese spinel oxides as heterogeneous catalysts for persulfate activation of tetracycline degradation

Ferromanganese spinel oxides (MnFe2O4, MFO) have been proven effective in activating persulfate for pollutants removal. However, their inherent high surface energy often leads to agglomeration, diminishing active sites and consequently restricting catalytic performance. In this study, using Al-MCM-41 (MCM) mesoporous molecular sieves derived from natural attapulgite as a support, the MFO/MCM composite was synthesized through dispersing MnFe2O4 nanoparticles on MCM carrier by a simple hydrothermal method, which can effectively activate persulfate (PS) to degrade Tetracycline (TC). The addition of Al-MCM-41 can effectively improve the specific surface area and adsorption performance of MnFe2O4, but also reduce the leaching amount of metal ions. The MFO/MCM composite exhibited superior catalytic reactivity towards PS and 84.3% removal efficiency and 64.7% mineralization efficiency of TC (20 mg/L) was achieved in 90 min under optimized conditions of 0.05 mg/L catalyst dosage, 5 mM PS concentration, room temperature and no adjustment of initial pH. The effects of various stoichiometric MFO/MCM ratio, catalyst dosage, PS concentration, initial pH value and co-existing ions on the catalytic performance were investigated in detail. Moreover, the possible reaction mechanism in MFO-MCM/PS system was proposed based on the results of quenching tests, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and XPS analyses. Finally, major degradation intermediates of TC were detected by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry technologies (LC-MS) and four possible degradation pathways were proposed. This study enhances the design approach for developing highly efficient, environmentally friendly and low-cost catalysts for the advanced treatment process of antibiotic wastewater.

Catalytic dehydration of glycerol over Cu-Fe-Al-based oxides: understanding changes in active sites throughout the reaction

The glycerol conversion into acetol using Fe, Al and Cu-based oxides was investigated. XRD results indicate the formation of nanosized particles with high phase dispersion, however, Raman, Mössbauer, 27Al NMR and XPS spectroscopies suggest the presence of iron(iii) oxide, Al2O3 and CuO phases. The FTIR with pyridine adsorption revealed high Lewis acidity. The TPR profile showed the reduction temperature range for the Fe3+ and Cu2+ sites, indicating the suitable condition for pretreatment. The N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms indicated the presence of micro-mesopores with interesting textural properties and specific area varying between 71 and 220 m2 g-1, while the porous morphology was observed by SEM and TEM images. The optimized catalytic tests showed glycerol conversion of 60% and acetol selectivity of 92% with 17% of coke according to TG profile. The recycling tests confirmed the efficiency of the solid, reaching 28% conversion and 91% acetol selectivity after four reuses and, after reactivation in an oxidizing atmosphere, the catalytic performance obtained results close to the second reuse. The interaction between the different Lewis acid sites involved in the mechanisms for the acetol and coke formation on the catalyst surface is discussed. The charge distribution represented by colors which indicates the acid-base surface was evaluated by a simple theoretical-computational study based on the DFT approach. The synergy between the active sites indicates that the presence of Cu0/Cu+ drastically increases the acetol selectivity which is a more important characteristic than the high Lewis acidity of Fen+ and Al3+.

Recent Advances in Co3O4-Based Composites: Synthesis and Application in Combustion of Methane

In recent years, it has been found that adjusting the organizational structure of Co₃O₄ through solid solution and other methods can effectively improve its catalytic performance for the oxidation of low concentration methane. Its catalytic activity is close to that of metal Pd, which is expected to replace costly noble metal catalysts. Therefore, the in-depth research on the mechanism and methods of Co₃O₄ microstructure regulation has very important academic value and economic benefits. In this paper, we reviewed the catalytic oxidation mechanism, microstructure regulation mechanism, and methods of nano-Co₃O₄ on methane gas, which provides reference for the development of high-activity Co₃O₄-based methane combustion catalysts. Through literature investigation, it is found that the surface energy state of nano-Co₃O₄ can be adjusted by loading of noble metals, resulting in the reduction of Co-O bond strength, thus accelerating the formation of reactive oxygen species chemical bonds, and improving its catalytic effect. Secondly, the use of metal oxides and non-metallic oxide carriers helps to disperse and stabilize cobalt ions, improve the structural elasticity of Co₃O₄, and ultimately improve its catalytic performance. In addition, the performance of the catalyst can be improved by adjusting the microstructure of the composite catalyst and optimizing the preparation process. In this review, we summarize the catalytic mechanism and microstructure regulation of nano-Co₃O₄ and its composite catalysts (embedded with noble metals or combined with metallic and nonmetallic oxides) for methane combustion. Notably, this review delves into the substance of measures that can be used to improve the catalytic performance of Co₃O₄, highlighting the constructive role of components in composite catalysts that can improve the catalytic capacity of Co₃O₄. Firstly, the research status of Co₃O₄ composite catalyst is reviewed in this paper. It is hoped that relevant researchers can get inspiration from this paper and develop high-activity Co₃O₄-based methane combustion catalyst.

Optimization of Au(III) adsorption by the Taguchi method using pyrogallol functionalized silica nanoparticles

Pyrogallol molecules were successfully immobilized onto aminopropyl molecule functionalized MCM41 nanoparticles to obtain a fast and high gold adsorption capacity. The Taguchi statistical method was used to determine the factors affecting the gold(III) adsorption efficiency. The effect of six factors, pH, rate, adsorbent mass, temperature, initial Au(III) concentration and time, each with 5 levels, on the adsorption capacity was investigated by forming an L25 orthogonal. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) of each factor showed that all factors had significant effects on adsorption. pH 5, 250 rpm stirring speed, 0.025 g adsorbent mass, 40 °C temperature, 600 mg L^-1 Au(III) concentration and 15 min time were determined to be the optimum adsorption conditions. The maximum Langmuir monolayer adsorption capacity of APMCM1-Py for Au(III) was calculated to be 168.54 mg g^-1 at 303 K. The adsorption mechanism fits the pseudo-second-order kinetic model assuming the formation of a single chemical adsorption layer on the adsorbent surface. The adsorption isotherms are best represented using the Langmuir isotherm model. It exhibits a spontaneous endothermic behavior. FTIR, SEM, EDX and XRD analyses showed that mostly phenolic -OH functional groups adsorb Au(III) ions on the APMCMC41-Py surface with their reducing character. These results enable the rapid recovery of gold ions from weakly acidic aqueous solutions by reduction of APMCM41-Py NPs.

Conversion of Recovered Ammonia and Carbon Dioxide into Urea in the Presence of Catalytically Active Copper Species in Nanospaces of Porous Silica Hollow Spheres

The present study firstly reported porous silica hollow spheres as a host material for recovery of ammonia and carbon dioxide and conversion of the compounds into urea. These compounds were effectively introduced into the hollow spheres from an aqueous solution including ammonium and carbonate ions accompanied with catalytically active copper ions from the analyses of diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectra and diffusion reflectance ultraviolet-visible and near-infrared (DR UV-vis-NIR) spectra. The ammonium and carbonate ions were converted into urea in the hollow spheres at 323 K under 0.5 MPa of argon atmosphere from the results of the DRIFT spectra. From the results of nitrogen sorption isotherms and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) spectra, the amount of the generated urea depended on the amount of the introduced ammonium ions and the size distribution of the nanospaces in the hollow spheres. Urea was highly generated in the hollow spheres with a high amount of ammonium ions and well-ordered nanospaces from the reactants at high density.

Advanced biotechnological strategies towards the development of crops with enhanced micronutrient content

Micronutrients are essential mineral elements required for both plant and human development.An integrated system involving soil, climatic conditions, and types of crop plants determines the level of micronutrient acquisition and utilization. Most of the staple food crops consumed globally predominantly include the cereal grains, tubers and roots, respectively and in many cases, particularly in the resource-poor countries they are grown in nutrient-deficient soils. These situations frequently lead to micronutrient deficiency in crops. Moreover, crop plants with micronutrient deficiency also show high level of susceptibility to various abiotic and biotic stress factors. Apart from this, climate change and soil pollution severely affect the accumulation of micronutrients, such as zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), selenium (Se), manganese (Mn), and copper (Cu) in food crops. Therefore, overcoming the issue of micronutrient deficiency in staple crops and to achieve the adequate level of food production with enriched nutrient value is one of the major global challenges at present. Conventional breeding approaches are not adequate to feed the increasing global population with nutrient-rich staple food crops. To address these issues, alongside traditional approaches, genetic modification strategies have been adopted during the past couple of years in order to enhance the transport, production, enrichment and bioavailability of micronutrients in staple crops. Recent advances in agricultural biotechnology and genome editing approaches have shown promising response in the development of micronutrient enriched biofortified crops. This review highlights the current advancement of our knowledge on the possible implications of various biotechnological tools for the enrichment and enhancement of bioavailability of micronutrients in crops.

Tuning the basicity of the Ni@MCM-41 catalyst via alkaline earth metal oxide promoters for CO2 reforming of CH4

Dry reforming of methane (DRM) is an effective method to change two main greenhouse gases (CH4 and CO2) into valuable chemicals such as hydrogen.

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles incorporated with Ir(III) complexes: From photophysics to photodynamic therapy

Organically modified mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) containing Ir complexes (Ir1, Ir2 and Ir3) were successfully synthesized. These Ir-entrapped MCM41-COOH nanoparticles have shown relevant photophysical characteristics including high efficiency in the photoproduction and delivery of singlet oxygen (¹O₂), which is particularly promising for photodynamic therapy (PDT) applications. In vitro tests have evidenced that complex@MCM41-COOH are able to reduce cell proliferation after 10 min of blue-light irradiation in Hep-G2 liver cancer cells.

Facile Preparation of MCM-41/Ag2O Nanomaterials with High Iodide-Removal Efficiency

The elimination of iodide (I^-) from water is a tough subject due to its low adsorption tendency and high mobility. In this work, MCM-41/Ag₂O nanomaterials were prepared, characterized, and employed to adsorb I^- from water. The Ag₂O nanoparticles were dispersed homogeneously in the pores or at the surface of the MCM-41 support, and the Ag₂O nanoparticles in the pores had small particles sizes due to the confinement of the mesoporous channel. The prepared MCM-41/Ag₂O nanomaterials exhibited a higher specific surface area than previously reported Ag₂O-based composites. The adsorption of I^- by the nanomaterials was able to reach equilibrium at 180 min. The MCM-41/Ag₂O nanomaterials showed a better adsorption capacity per unit mass of Ag₂O than pure Ag₂O nanoparticles and previously reported Ag₂O-based composites prepared using other supports. Furthermore, the MCM-41/Ag₂O nanomaterials exhibited high selectivity for I^- in the presence of high concentrations of competitive anions, such as Cl^- or Br^-, and could function in a wide range of pH. The chemical reaction between Ag₂O and I^- and the surface adsorption were the main adsorption mechanisms. These results indicate that MCM-41/Ag₂O nanomaterials are a promising and efficient adsorbent material suitable for the removal of I^- for practical application.

High-Dispersed V2O5-CuOX Nanoparticles on h-BN in NH3-SCR and NH3-SCO Performance

Typically, to meet emission regulations, the selective catalytic reduction of NO_X with NH₃ (NH₃-SCR) technology cause NH₃ emissions owing to high NH₃/NO_X ratios to meet emission regulations. In this study, V-Cu/BN-Ti was used to remove residual NO_X and NH₃. Catalysts were evaluated for selective catalytic oxidation of NH₃ (NH₃-SCO) in the NH₃-SCR reaction at 200–300 °C. The addition of vanadium and copper increased the number of Brønsted and Lewis acid sites available for the reaction by increasing the ratio of V⁵⁺ and forming Cu⁺ species, respectively. Furthermore, h-BN was dispersed in the catalyst to improve the content of vanadium and copper species on the surface. NH₃ and NO_X conversion were 98% and 91% at 260 °C, respectively. Consequently, slipped NH₃ (NH₃-Slip) emitted only 2% of the injected ammonia. Under SO₂ conditions, based on the NH₃ oxidation reaction, catalytic deactivation was improved by addition of h-BN. This study suggests that h-BN is a potential catalyst that can help remove residual NO_X and meet NH₃ emission regulations when placed at the bottom of the SCR catalyst layer in coal-fired power plants.

Removal of Organics from Landfill Leachate by Heterogeneous Fenton-like Oxidation over Copper-Based Catalyst

Landfill leachates are a mixture of high concentration organic and inorganic contaminants and need to be appropriately treated due to their toxicity and severe adverse effects on the environment. Here, we studied the treatment of landfill leachate through a heterogeneous Fenton-like oxidation process using a zirconia supported copper catalyst (Cu/ZrO2). Reaction conditions such as pH, amount of catalyst, oxidant dose, temperature, and reaction time were investigated and their effects on pollutant abatement discussed. AOS (average oxidation state) and COS (carbon oxidation state) parameters were used for the evaluation of the degree of oxidation of the process, obtaining some insight into the formation of oxidized intermediates (partial oxidation) and the total oxidation (mineralization) of the leachate during the reaction. A two-step oxidation process enhanced the overall performance of the reaction with an abatement of organic compounds of 92% confirming the promising activity of a copper-based catalyst for the treatment of liquid waste. Higher catalytic activity was achieved when the following reaction conditions were applied: 70 °C, pH 5, 200 mg/L of catalyst, 30 mL/L of H2O2 dose, and 150 min. In addition, durability of the catalyst under optimized reaction conditions was verified by repeated reaction cycles.

Necessity of Quantifying Urbach Energy through Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy

In this Letter, we introduce scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) to quantify the Urbach energy (E_U) in disordered semiconductors. The technique enabled us to gain precise information on the extending component of conduction and valence band-edges responsible for Urbach tailing, individually; such information has been obtained from the width of band-energy-histograms drawn from STS studies at many different points. STS, as a probing method at the microscopic scale to derive E_U, is in contrast to commonly employed optical spectroscopy studies which provide information at the macroscopic scale. A comparison between Urbach energy values from optical studies and distribution of band-edges obtained from STS revealed the inherent inaccuracies involved in the optical characterization process. We have considered copper oxide (Cu_xO) thin films in this regard; we show that through STS and the associated density of state (DOS) spectra, we can derive accurate information on the band-edges' distribution leading to E_U in different phases of the binary oxide thin films.

Assessment of Biofortification Approaches Used to Improve Micronutrient-Dense Plants That Are a Sustainable Solution to Combat Hidden Hunger

Malnutrition causes diseases, immune system disorders, deterioration in physical growth, mental development, and learning capacity worldwide. Micronutrient deficiency, known as hidden hunger, is a serious global problem. Biofortification is a cost-effective and sustainable agricultural strategy for increasing the concentrations or bioavailability of essential elements in the edible parts of plants, minimizing the risks of toxic metals, and thus reducing malnutrition. It has the advantage of delivering micronutrient-dense food crops to a large part of the global population, especially poor populations. Agronomic biofortification and biofertilization, traditional plant breeding, and optimized fertilizer applications are more globally accepted methods today; however, genetic biofortification based on genetic engineering such as increasing or manipulating (such as CRISPR-Cas9) the expression of genes that affect the regulation of metal homeostasis and carrier proteins that serve to increase the micronutrient content for higher nutrient concentration and greater productivity or that affect bioavailability is also seen as a promising high-potential strategy in solving this micronutrient deficiency problem. Data that micronutrients can help strengthen the immune system against the COVID-19 pandemic and other diseases has highlighted the importance of tackling micronutrient deficiencies. In this study, biofortification approaches such as plant breeding, agronomic techniques, microbial fertilization, and some genetic and nanotechnological methods used in the fight against micronutrient deficiency worldwide were compiled.

Fabrication of copper supported porous silica–alumina hollow spheres for catalytic decomposition of nitrous oxide

Copper supported porous silica–alumina hollow sphere catalysts were prepared using surfactant micelles to control the size distribution of interparticle spaces in the hollow sphere shells.

On the importance of physicochemical parameters of copper and aminosilane functionalized mesoporous silica for hydroxychloroquine release

Recently, great attention has been paid to hydroxychloroquine which after promising in vitro studies has been proposed to treat the severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by SARS-CoV-2. The clinical trials have shown that hydroxychloroquine was not as effective as was expected and additionally, several side effects were observed in patients cured with this medicament. In order to reduce them, it is suggested to deliver hydroxychloroquine in a controlled manner. Therefore, in this study non-modified (SBA-15, SBA-16) and modified with copper and aminosilane mesoporous silica materials were applied as novel nanocarriers for hydroxychloroquine. First, pristine and functionalized samples were synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction, low-temperature nitrogen sorption, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, laser diffraction. Then the influence of physicochemical parameters of materials obtained on the adsorption and release processes of hydroxychloroquine was analyzed. The mechanism of hydroxychloroquine binding to non-modified silicas was based on the formation of hydrogen bonds, while in the case of copper and aminosilane functionalized materials the complexes with drug molecules were generated. The release behavior of hydroxychloroquine from silica samples obtained was determined by different factors including pH conditions, textural parameters, surface charge, and presence of surface functional groups. The greatest differences in hydroxychloroquine release profiles between materials were observed at pH 7.2. The amount of drug desorbed from silica decreased in the following order: functionalized SBA-15 (84%) > functionalized SBA-16 (79%) > SBA-15 (59%) > SBA-16 (33%). It proved that a higher amount of drug was released from materials of hexagonal structure.

Metal-Free Phosphated Mesoporous SiO2 as Catalyst for the Low-Temperature Conversion of SO2 to H2S in Hydrogen

Highly active metal-free mesoporous phosphated silica was synthesized by a two-step process and used as a SO2 hydrogenation catalyst. With the assistance of a microwave, MCM-41 was obtained within a 10 min heating process at 180 °C, then a low ratio of P precursor was incorporated into the mesoporous silica matrix by a phosphorization step, which was accomplished in oleylamine with trioctylphosphine at 350 °C for 2 h. For benchmarking, the SiO2 sample without P precursor insertion and the sample with P precursor insertion into the calcined SiO2 were also prepared. From the microstructural analysis, it was found that the presence of CTAB surfactant was important for the incorporation of active P species, thus forming a highly dispersed, ultrafine (uf) phosphate silica, (Si-P) catalyst. The above approach led to the promising catalytic performance of uf-P@meso-SiO2 in the selective hydrogenation of SO2 to H2S; the latter reaction is very important in sulfur-containing gas purification. In particular, uf-P@meso-SiO2 exhibited activity at the temperature range between 150 and 280 °C, especially SO2 conversion of 94% and H2S selectivity of 52% at 220 °C. The importance of the CTAB surfactant can be found in stabilizing the high dispersion of ultrafine P-related species (phosphates). Intrinsic characteristics of the materials were studied using XRD, FTIR, EDX, N2 adsorption/desorption, TEM, and XPS to reveal the structure of the above catalysts.

Metal-Loaded Mesoporous MCM-41 for the Catalytic Wet Peroxide Oxidation (CWPO) of Acetaminophen

MCM-41 based catalysts (molar ratio Si/Al = 40) were prepared by a hydrothermal route, modified by ionic exchange with different metals (Cu, Cr, Fe and Zn) and finally calcined at 550 °C. The catalysts were fully characterized by different techniques that confirmed the formation of oxides of the different metals on the surfaces of all materials. Low-angle X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses showed that calcination resulted in the incorporation of metallic Zn, Fe and Cr in the framework of MCM-41, while in the case of Cu, thin layers of CuO were formed on the surface of MCM-41. The solids obtained were tested in the catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) of acetaminophen at different temperatures (25–55 °C). The activity followed the order: Cr/MCM-41 ≥ Fe/MCM-41 > Cu/MCM-41 > Zn/MCM-41. The increase of the reaction temperature improved the performance and activity of Cr/MCM-41 and Fe/MCM-41 catalysts, which achieved complete conversion of acetaminophen in short reaction times (15 min in the case of Cr/MCM-41). Fe/MCM-41 and Cr/MCM-41 were submitted to long-term experiments, being the Fe/MCM-41 catalyst the most stable with a very low metal leaching. The leaching results were better than those previously reported in the literature, confirming the high stability of Fe/MCM-41 catalysts synthesized in this study.

Influence of Brønsted and Lewis acidity of the modified Al-MCM-41 solid acid on cellulose conversion and 5-hydroxylmethylfurfuran selectivity

The modified Al-MCM-41 solid acids with turning Si/Al molar ratio were successfully fabricated through a hydrothermal route and utilized as a suitable catalyst in the cellulose conversion into 5-hydroxylmethylfurfural (5-HMF). The crystal structure, composition, morphologies and porosity of as-synthesized acids were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, N₂ adsorption-desorption, TEM and EDS. The ²⁷Al MAS NMR and ²⁹Si-MAS NMR results revealed the existence of both Al framework and Al extra framework. Besides, the existence of medium-weak and strong acid sites, according to Brønsted and Lewis acidity, in Al-MCM-41 acids was confirmed by NH₃-TPD and FTIR-pyridine adsorption. The 30Al-MCM-41 solid acid (Si/Al molar ratio = 30) exhibited excellent activity with the highest 5-HMF yield of 40.56% compared to other samples. We also discovered that 5-HMF production, as well as cellulose conversion, strongly depended on the total acid, strong/medium-weak acid ratio, as well as Brønsted/Lewis acid ratio. Therefore, these parameters have been considered as essential factors for the design of solid acid for 5-HMF production.

Nanoarchitecting Hierarchical Mesoporous Siliceous Frameworks: A New Way Forward

Owing to their attractive physicochemical and morphological attributes, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have attracted increasing attention over the past two decades for their utilization in diversified fields. Despite the success, these highly stable siliceous frameworks often suffer from several shortcomings of compatibility issues, uncontrollable degradability leading to long-term retention in vivo, and substantial unpredictable toxicity risks, as well as deprived drug encapsulation efficiency, which could limit their applicability in medicine. Along this line, various advancements have been made in re-engineering the stable siliceous frameworks, such as the incorporation of diverse molecular organic, as well as inorganic (cationic and anionic) species and monitoring the processing, as well as formulation parameters, resulting in the hetero-nanostructures of irregular-shaped (Janus and multi-podal) and dynamically-modulated (deformable solids) architectures with high morphological complexity. Insightfully, this review gives a brief emphasis on re-engineering such stable siliceous frameworks through modifying their intrinsic structural and physicochemical attributes. In conclusion, we recapitulate the review with exciting perspectives.

Utilization of iron tailings to prepare high-surface area mesoporous silica materials

Iron tailings are fine, stable and complex materials, which are mainly composed of minerals and metal oxides. Residual silicon in iron tailings can be used to prepare mesoporous silica materials applied to energy storage, environmental protection and other fields. This paper reported a novel synthesis strategy from iron tailings to high-surface area hexagonally ordered mesoporous silica materials in an innovative non-hydrothermal system at room temperature. A pretreatment process involving acid leaching and hydrothermal alkaline reaction was vital to the successful utilization of iron tailings. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) data suggested that about 95% of the silicon of iron tailings changed to the silicate as a silicon source. The samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N₂-adsorption-desorption isotherms, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) and ²⁹Si solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The SAXRD patterns of mesoporous silica materials exhibited an intense (100) diffraction peak and two weak (110, 200) diffraction peaks, corresponding to characteristic of the ordered mesoporous lattice. TEM images further confirmed the hexagonally ordered porous structure of mesoporous silica materials. The WAXRD patterns and ²⁹Si MAS NMR spectra of the samples indicated that mesoporous silica materials were composed of amorphous SiO₂. The obtained mesoporous silica materials had a high surface area of 1915 m²/g and pore volume of 1.32 cm³/g. Furthermore, the evolution from iron tailings to mesoporous silica materials was elucidated and a proposed synthesis mechanism was discussed. Collectively, these results provided an insight into efficient recycling of iron tailings and the production of advanced functional materials from solid waste.

Ketone Hydrogenation by Using ZnO-Cu(OH)Cl/MCM-41 with a Splash of Water: An Environmentally Benign Approach

MCM-41-supported ZnO-Cu(OH)Cl nanoparticles were synthesized via an incipient wetness impregnation technique using zinc chloride and copper chloride salts as well as water at room temperature. The catalyst was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR), and TGA, whereas surface and morphological studies were performed by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The above studies revealed the incorporation of metal species into the pores of MCM-41, leading to a decrease in surface area of the nanoparticles that was found to be 239.079 m² /g. The substituents attached to the ketone determine the rate of the reaction, and the utilization of the green solvent 'water' astonishingly completes the hydrogenation reaction in 45 minutes at 40 °C with 100% conversion and 100% selectivity as analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Hence, ZnO-Cu(OH)Cl/MCM-41 nanoparticles with 2.46 wt% zinc and 6.39 wt% copper were demonstrated as an active catalyst for the reduction of ketones without using any gaseous hydrogen source making it highly efficient as well as environmentally and economically benign.

Development of luminescent atacamite nanoclusters for bioimaging and photothermal applications

Fluorescent atacamite nanoclusters (FANCs) have been developed and modified with silica for Drosophila salivary gland tissue imaging and photothermally induced cell death of osteosarcoma MG-63 cells. FANCs were synthesized with Moringa oleifera leaf extract without using any hazardous reducing and external capping agents. FANC was further used to evaluate light absorption, fluorescence emission, band gap, and magnetic properties as the first report on such nanoclusters. Upon excitation with a 350 nm light source, FANCs exhibited fluorescence at 460 nm, with a relative quantum yield of 0.3%. Besides, silica-encapsulated fluorescent atacamite nanoclusters (SEFANC) manifested remarkable improvement in emission, quantum yield (1.7%), shelf-life (15 d), biocompatibility, and photostability. Concomitantly, it has also increased the absorption in the near-infrared region and demonstrated high heat generation potential (42 °C → 50 °C). The above results suggest that FANC can be a potential candidate in the area of nanomedicine for a number of applications such as bioimaging, photothermal therapy, etc.

Influence of Mg/CTAB ratio on the structural, physicochemical properties and catalytic activity of amorphous mesoporous magnesium silicate catalysts

This study investigated the physicochemical and catalytic properties of mesoporous magnesium silicate catalysts prepared at various Mg/CTAB ratios (0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00). The XPS analysis detected a mixture of enstatite and magnesium carbonate species when the Mg/CTAB ratio was 0.25, and 0.50. A mixture of forsterite and magnesium carbonate species were detected when the Mg/CTAB ratio was 0.75 whereas for the Mg/CTAB ratio of 1.00, enstatite and magnesium metasilicate species were detected. A catalyst with the Mg/CTAB ratio of 1.00 demonstrated the highest catalytic activity in the oxidation of styrene. The styrene conversion rate was 59.0%, with 69.2% styrene oxide (StO) selectivity. The H₂O₂ molecules were activated regio-specifically by the magnesium species to prevent rapid self-decomposition while promoting selective interaction with styrene. All the parameters that influence the styrene conversion and product selectivity were evaluated using analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey's test. The ANOVA analysis showed that the reaction time (h), Mg/CTAB ratio, styrene/H₂O₂ ratio, catalyst loading (mg) and temperature (°C) affect styrene conversion and product selectivity (StO) significantly (p < 0.05). The oxidation of styrene was well fitted to the pseudo-first-order model. The activation energy, E_a of the catalysed styrene epoxidation reaction was calculated to be 27.7 kJmol⁻¹. The catalyst can be reused several times without any significant loss in its activity and selectivity. The results from this study will be useful in designing and developing low cost, high activity catalysts from alkaline earth metals.

Increasing the magnesium content in direct synthesis will lead to the formation of different magnesium active sites that increase the styrene oxide selectivity under the same reaction conditions.

Synthesis of MCM-41 Immobilized (Phenoxy)Imine Palladium(II) Complexes as Recyclable Catalysts in the Methoxycarbonylation of 1-Hexene

The immobilization of 2-phenyl-2-((3(tryethoxysicyl)propyl)imino)ethanol (HL1) and 4-methyl-2-(((3(triethoxysilyl)propyl)imino)methyl)phenol (HL2) on MCM-41 afforded the respective ligands HL1-MCM-41 (HL3) and HL2-MCM-41 (HL4). The treatment of complexes Pd(L1)2 and Pd(L2)2 with MCM-41 afforded the immobilized complexes (Pd(L1)2)-MCM-41 (1) and (Pd(L2)2)-MCM-41 (2) respectively. Separately, the reactions of HL3 and HL4 with Pd(NCMe)2Cl2 produced the immobilized complexes Pd(HL3)Cl2 (3) and Pd(HL4)Cl2 (4) respectively. The immobilized compounds were characterized by FT-IR, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRD). All the complexes (1–4) formed active catalysts in the methoxycarbonylation of 1-hexene to give linear and branched esters. The catalysts were recycled four times without the loss of catalytic activity. Hot filtration experiments established the absence of leaching, and the heterogeneous nature of the active species was derived from mercury drop experiments.

Bi2SiO5@g-SiO2 upconverting nanoparticles: a bismuth-driven core-shell self-assembly mechanism

Core-shell systems have attracted increasing interest among the research community in recent years due to their unique properties and structural features, and the development of new synthetic strategies is still a challenge. In this work, we have investigated lanthanide-doped Bi2SiO5 nanocrystal formation inside mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs). The role of both synthesis temperature and concentration of the bismuth precursor impregnated into the MSNs is discussed, showing an unprecedented strategy for the simultaneous stabilization of a crystalline core and a glassy shell. Temperature dependent synchrotron radiation X-ray powder diffraction (SR-XRPD) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) analyses allow one to follow the crystalline core growth. A mechanism for the formation of a Bi2SiO5@g-SiO2 core-shell nanosystem is proposed. In addition, the easy tunability of the color output of the upconverting system is demonstrated by means of suitable doping lanthanide ions with potential applications in several fields.

Lanthanide-doped mesoporous MCM-41 nanoparticles as a novel optical–magnetic multifunctional nanobioprobe

To research and develop potential multifunctional nanoprobes for biological application, lanthanide-doped MCM-41 (Ln-MCM-41, Ln = Gd/Eu) silica nanoparticles with excellent pore structure and optical–magnetic properties were synthesized via a facile and economical sol–gel method. The microstructure and pore distribution of Ln-MCM-41 nanoparticles were obviously affected by the Ln-doping. As the Ln/Si mole ratio increased, the specific surface area and total pore volume of Ln-MCM-41 nanoparticles rapidly decreased. However, the Ln-MCM-41 nanoparticles still retained the typical well-ordered mesoporous structure, and exhibited excellent drug release behavior. Moreover, the drug release rate of Ln-MCM-41 was remarkably pH-dependent and increased gradually upon decreasing pH. Additionally, these nanoparticles also exhibit considerable photoluminescence properties, living cells photoluminescence imaging in vitro, and paramagnetism behavior at room temperature due to the Ln³⁺-ions doping. Our research shows the possibility of our Ln-MCM-41 nanoparticles as multifunctional nanoprobes for application in bioseparation, bioimaging, and drug delivery.

Mesoporous Ln-MCM-41 nanoparticles with optical–magnetic dual-modal properties can be used as a multifunctional nanoprobe for application in bioseparation, optical–magnetic bioimaging, and drug delivery.

1,2-Epoxyalkane: Another Precursor for Fabricating Alkoxy Self-Assembled Monolayers on Hydrogen-Terminated Si(111)

This work describes the UV alkoxylation of a series of 1,2-epoxyalkanes on the hydrogen-terminated silicon (H-Si) substrate. The formation of alkoxy self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and the nature of bonding at the surface of H-Si were examined using water contact angle goniometer, spectroscopic ellipsometer, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscopy. UV exposure to 1,2-epoxyalkane mesitylene solution for 60 min formed alkoxy-SAMs onto H-Si with hydrophobic properties. The local molecular environment of the alkyl chains transitioned from a disordered, liquid-like state to an ordered, crystalline-like structure with increasing the chain length. XPS and FTIR indicated that the reaction of H-Si with 1,2-epoxyalkane produced Si-O-C linkages. The Si-H bond homolysis and electron/hole were the plausible mechanistic routes for the grafting of 1,2-epoxyalkanes.

Microalgae hydrothermal liquefaction and derived biocrude upgrading with modified SBA-15 catalysts

In this study, a novel route was proposed for microalgae biofuel production by catalytic upgrading of Chlorella hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) derived biocrude. Al-SBA-15, CuO/Al-SBA-15, ZuO/Al-SBA-15, and CuO-ZnO/Al-SBA-15 catalysts were synthesized in a facile, one-pot way, and tested for methyl palmitate decarboxylation and biocrude upgrading without H₂ addition. These modified SBA-15 catalysts enhanced alkane selectivity of methyl palmitate decarboxylation from 7.6 wt% up to 79.6 wt% at 340-350 °C. FT-IR, TG and GC-MS characterizations were employed to identify the composition and properties of the upgraded bio-oils. Compared with thermal upgrading, modified SBA-15 catalysts enriched the yield of low boiling point compounds, and the content of heavy bio-oil (>400 °C) declined from 9.57 wt% to 1.89 wt%. Hydrocarbon yield was greatly enriched on the catalysts, and aromatics predominant on Al-SBA-15 while aliphatics abundant on metal oxide(s) supported catalysts. The hydrocarbon yield was increased from 25.1 wt% (thermal) to 65.7 wt% on the CuO/Al-SBA-15.

Tailoring the reducibility and catalytic activity of CuO nanoparticles for low temperature CO oxidation

Copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles have received considerable interest as active and inexpensive catalysts for various gas-solid reactions. The CuO reducibility and surface reactivity are of crucial importance for the high catalytic activity. Herein, we demonstrate that the reducibility and stability of CuO nanoparticles can be controlled and tailored for the high catalytic activity of CO oxidation. The synthesized CuO nanoparticles possessed enhanced reducibility in CO atmosphere at lower reduction temperature of 126 °C compared to 284 °C for that of reference CuO particles. Moreover, the CuO catalysts with tailored reducibility demonstrated a reaction rate of 35 μmol s-1 g-1 and an apparent activation energy of 75 kJ mol-1. Furthermore, the tailored catalysts exhibited excellent long-term stability for CO oxidation for up to 48 h on stream. These readily-reducible CuO nanoparticles could serve as efficient, inexpensive and durable catalysts for CO oxidation at low temperatures.

Pyrolysis of oil palm mesocarp fiber catalyzed with steel slag-derived zeolite for bio-oil production

The pyrolysis of oil palm mesocarp fiber (OPMF) was catalyzed with a steel slag-derived zeolite (FAU-SL) in a slow-heating fixed-bed reactor at 450 °C, 550 °C, and 600 °C. The catalytic pyrolysis of OPMF produced a maximum yield of 47 wt% bio-oil at 550 °C, and the crude pyrolysis vapor (CPV) of this process yielded crude pyrolysis oil with broad distribution of bulky oxygenated organic compounds. The bio-oil composition produced at 550 °C contained mainly light and stable acid-rich carbonyls at a relative abundance of 48.02% peak area and phenolic compounds at 12.03% peak area. The FAU-SL high mesoporosity and strong surface acidity caused the conversion of the bulky CPV molecules into mostly light acid-rich carbonyls and aromatics through secondary reactions. The secondary reactions mechanisms facilitated by FAU-SL reduced the distribution of the organic compounds in the bio-oil to mostly acid-rich carbonyls and aromatic in contrast to other common zeolite.