Exploring the viability of anti-microbial, superhydrophobic jute bags as an approach to sustainable food packaging system

Jute in food packaging offers several advantages, including cost-effectiveness, biodegradability, renewability, and low environmental impact. Nevertheless, its hydrophilic characteristic makes it susceptible to airborne humidity and precipitation moisture. We combated this by chemically treating jute to make it water-resistant. The coated jute (WCA = ∼162°) exhibits high mechanical endurance against exposure to air (>1 month), ultrasonic washing (6 h), brush scrubbing (>50 cycles), and mutual abrasion (>150 cycles), along with good thermal stability. During a 2-month experiment involving seed storage in an RH of 85%, wheat grains stored in the coated bag showed 8.08% less moisture content than that stored in control. Furthermore, the preserved grains in the control jute exhibited altered colour, texture, and fungal development. Additionally, compared to the control, the coated jute delivers >50% bacterial growth reduction in 48 h. The proposed jute offers a sustainable packaging solution that promotes eco-friendly practices and reduces plastic waste.

Stearic Acid and CeO2 Nanoparticles Co-functionalized Cotton Fabric with Enhanced UV-Block, Self-Cleaning, Water-Repellent, and Antibacterial Properties

Superhydrophobic cotton fabrics with multifunctional features are highly desired in domestic and outdoor applications. However, the short coating longevity and hazardous reagents significantly reduce their commercial-scale applications. Herein, we introduce CeO2 nanoparticles and stearic acid (SA) to develop a fluorine-free, durable superhydrophobic cotton fabric that mimics the lotus effect. The pristine cotton fabric is treated with APTES-functionalized CeO2 nanoparticles by immersion followed by a dip and drying treatment with a 2% myristic acid solution. This sequential process creates a stable superhydrophobic cotton fabric (SA/CeO2-cotton fabric) with a water contact angle of 158° and a water sliding angle of 5°. The results are attributed to the combined effect of CeO2 nanoparticles and stearic acid that enhances surface roughness and reduces surface sorption energy. APTES facilitates the durable attachment of CeO2 nanoparticles and stearic acid to the cotton fabric. The modified cotton fabric is characterized by advanced analytical tools, demonstrating enhanced superhydrophobicity, self-cleaning, and antiwater absorption properties. Additionally, it exhibits remarkable UV-blocking (UPF 542) and antibacterial properties. The designed superhydrophobic cotton fabric unveils good mechanical, thermal, and chemical durability. The proposed strategy is simple, green, and economical and can be used commercially for functional fabric preparation.

Aquatic Environment Exposure and Toxicity of Engineered Nanomaterials Released from Nano-Enabled Products: Current Status and Data Needs

Rapid commercialisation of nano-enabled products (NEPs) elevates the potential environmental release of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) along the product life cycle. The current review examined the state of the art literature on aquatic environment exposure and ecotoxicity of product released (PR) engineered nanomaterials (PR-ENMs). Additionally, the data obtained were applied to estimate the risk posed by PR-ENMs to various trophic levels of aquatic biota as a means of identifying priority NEPs cases that may require attention with regards to examining environmental implications. Overall, the PR-ENMs are predominantly associated with the matrix of the respective NEPs, a factor that often hinders proper isolation of nano-driven toxicity effects. Nevertheless, some studies have attributed the toxicity basis of observed adverse effects to a combination of the released ions, ENMs and other components of NEPs. Notwithstanding the limitation of current ecotoxicology data limitations, the risk estimated herein points to an elevated risk towards fish arising from fabrics' PR-nAg, and the considerable potential effects from sunscreens' PR-nZnO and PR-nTiO2 to algae, echinoderms, and crustaceans (PR-nZnO), whereas PR-nTiO2 poses no significant risk to echinoderms. Considering that the current data limitations will not be overcome immediately, we recommend the careful application of similar risk estimation to isolate/prioritise cases of NEPs for detailed characterisation of ENMs' release and effects in aquatic environments.

Dimensionally stable cellulosic aerogels functionalized by titania

The study is aimed at imparting dimensional stability and some functionalities to cellulosic aerogels. The polysaccharide suffers from mechanical strength loss in wetted state that restricts its application. Improvement is achieved by mean of microfibrillation of cellulosic fibers combining intense mechanical treatment with freeze-thawing. Addition of the latter decreases the number of cycles. Aerogels prepared from microfibrillated cellulose by freeze-drying hold their dimensional stability in solutions that makes possible treating them chemically without loss in shape. Here a method of directional sol-gel processing is applied to mineralize such aerogels by titania. Owing to covalent bonds to cellulose macromolecules formed via the condensation reactions, titania coating possesses good adhesion, not separating at heating when it is transferred in anatase form. Its photocatalytic activity results in self-cleaning of cellulose aerogels under outdoor sunlight irradiation. Calcination in air or carbonization in an inert gas atmosphere can serve to prepare metal oxide or composites with carbon of various shape and dimensionality.

Hybridization of PDMS based cyanate ester and DGEBA for radiation resistant and microelectronics applications

Cyanate ester terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS-OCN) was synthesized and is copolymerized with DGEBA (1 : 1 and 2 : 1 ratios) through the formation of oxazoline ring to obtain a thermally stable and flexible hybrid PDMS–DGEBA polymer matrix.

Titania synthesized through regulated mineralization of cellulose and its photocatalytic activity

Cellulose mineralization by titania is brought under control via restricted hydration of fibrils that provides precise localization of the fast hydration/condensation reactions proceeding in situ.

Photodecomposition of humic acid and natural organic matter in swamp water using a TiO(2)-coated ceramic foam filter: potential for the formation of disinfection byproducts

This paper reports on the photodecomposition of aqueous humic acid (HA) by a TiO(2)-coated ceramic foam filter (TCF) reactor and on the potential for the formation of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) upon chlorination of the photocatalytically treated solutions. This photocatalytic reactor can also be applied to the removal of natural organic matter (NOM) in swamp waters. The proposed photocatalytic reaction system was operated as per standardized methodologies. First, the ability of the TCF to decompose HA (a representative compound of NOM) was evaluated from the changes in the total organic carbon (TOC) and UV(254) with the reaction time. Remarkably, TOC removal and UV(254) values ranging from 44% to 61% and from 60% to 83%, respectively, were achieved. The potential for the formation of DBPs (total trihalomethane and total haloacetic acid) by chlorination of the phototreated solution was strongly dependent on the TOC removal and UV(254) values in the solution. The degree of photodecomposition of NOMs in the swamp water samples and the DBP formation potential showed similar trends as in the case of the standard solutions containing HA. The method used in this study could be effectively used to evaluate the efficiency of TCF for reducing HA and NOM, while suppressing the formation of DBP products.