Green polyurethane synthesis by emulsion technique: a magnetic composite for oil spill removal

A 30-Year Review on Nanocomposites: Comprehensive Bibliometric Insights into Microstructural, Electrical, and Mechanical Properties Assisted by Artificial Intelligence

From 1990 to 2024, this study presents a groundbreaking bibliometric and sentiment analysis of nanocomposite literature, distinguishing itself from existing reviews through its unique computational methodology. Developed by our research group, this novel approach systematically investigates the evolution of nanocomposites, focusing on microstructural characterization, electrical properties, and mechanical behaviors. By deploying advanced Boolean search strategies within the Scopus database, we achieve a meticulous extraction and in-depth exploration of thematic content, a methodological advancement in the field. Our analysis uniquely identifies critical trends and insights concerning nanocomposite microstructure, electrical attributes, and mechanical performance. The paper goes beyond traditional textual analytics and bibliometric evaluation, offering new interpretations of data and highlighting significant collaborative efforts and influential studies within the nanocomposite domain. Our findings uncover the evolution of research language, thematic shifts, and global contributions, providing a distinct and comprehensive view of the dynamic evolution of nanocomposite research. A critical component of this study is the "State-of-the-Art and Gaps Extracted from Results and Discussions" section, which delves into the latest advancements in nanocomposite research. This section details various nanocomposite types and their properties and introduces novel interpretations of their applications, especially in nanocomposite films. By tracing historical progress and identifying emerging trends, this analysis emphasizes the significance of collaboration and influential studies in molding the field. Moreover, the "Literature Review Guided by Artificial Intelligence" section showcases an innovative AI-guided approach to nanocomposite research, a first in this domain. Focusing on articles from 2023, selected based on citation frequency, this method offers a new perspective on the interplay between nanocomposites and their electrical properties. It highlights the composition, structure, and functionality of various systems, integrating recent findings for a comprehensive overview of current knowledge. The sentiment analysis, with an average score of 0.638771, reflects a positive trend in academic discourse and an increasing recognition of the potential of nanocomposites. Our bibliometric analysis, another methodological novelty, maps the intellectual domain, emphasizing pivotal research themes and the influence of crosslinking time on nanocomposite attributes. While acknowledging its limitations, this study exemplifies the indispensable role of our innovative computational tools in synthesizing and understanding the extensive body of nanocomposite literature. This work not only elucidates prevailing trends but also contributes a unique perspective and novel insights, enhancing our understanding of the nanocomposite research field.

Tenebrio molitor Larvae-Based Magnetic Polyurea Employed as Crude Oil Spill Removal Tool

Renewable resources constitute an extremely rich and varied set of molecules and polymers produced by natural biological activities. Within the applications of these polymers, a very important application is the use of these materials as a sorber for oils or oil spills. The advantage of these nanocomposites is the fact that they integrate different component materials and their properties into a single component material. They have several applications, ranging from environmental remediation to the development of advanced medical applications. This work proposed using magnetic polyurea composites based on an animal substrate from Tenebrio molitor larvae to perform oil spill clean-up operations under a magnetic field in the presence of 1% and 3% of magnetite to be tested as magnetic crude oil sorber. The obtained materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Scanning Differential Calorimetry (DSC), and Low-Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (LF-NMR 1H). The sorber material is simple to prepare and inexpensive. The use of magnetite as a magnetic charge allowed for the efficient removal of oil from water with about 28 g of oil per gram of sorber. These results are very promising and encouraging for future environmental recovery studies involving magnetite and sustainable polymers.

Superhydrophobic magnetic sorbent via surface modification of banded iron formation for oily water treatment

In the current study, a simple dry coating method was utilized to fabricate a super-hydrophobic super-magnetic powder (ZS@BIF) for oily water purification using zinc stearate (ZS) and banded iron formation (BIF). The produced composite was fully characterized as a magnetic sorbent for oily water treatment. The results of X-ray diffraction diffractometer (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and particle size analysis revealed the fabrication of homogenous hydrophobic-magnetic composite particles with core–shell structure. Contact angle and magnetic susceptibility results showed that 4 (BIF): 1 (Zs) was the ideal coverage ratio to render the core material superhydrophobic and preserve its ferromagnetic nature. The capability of the fabricated composite to sorb. n-butyl acetate, kerosene, and cyclohexane from oil–water system was evaluated. ZS@BIF composite showed a higher affinity to adsorb cyclohexane than n-butyl acetate and kerosene with a maximum adsorption capacity of about 22 g g⁻¹ and 99.9% removal efficiency. Moreover, about 95% of the adsorbed oils could be successfully recovered (desorbed) by rotary evaporator and the regenerated ZS@BIF composite showed high recyclability over ten repeated cycles.

Oil Spill Sorber Based on Extrinsically Magnetizable Porous Geopolymer

Environmental impacts are increasingly due to the human polluting activities. Therefore, there is a need to develop technologies capable of removing contamination and driving the impacted environment as close as possible to its inherent characteristics. One of the major problems still faced is the spill of oil into water. Therefore, to solve the environmental problem, this work shows the use of magnetically modified geopolymer materials as an oil remover from water with a magnet’s aid. The results obtained were outstanding since the average intrinsic oil removal capability (IORC) was 150 g/g. The presented IORC is the largest found in the materials produced by our research group, constituting an extremely encouraging result, mainly because of the ease of preparing the magnetic geopolymer system. Furthermore, the low cost of production and the material’s capability to be reused as filler of polymer or even cementitious matrices allows us to project that this nanocomposite can be widely used, constituting an economically viable alternative for more efficient environmental recovery processes.

Head and Neck Cancer Treatments from Chemotherapy to Magnetic Systems: Perspectives and Challenges

BACKGROUND

Cancer is one of the diseases causing society's fears as a stigma of death and pain. Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) is a group of malignant neoplasms of different locations in this region of the human body. It is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Brazil, because these malignant neoplasias, in most cases, are diagnosed in late phases. Surgical excision, chemotherapy and radiotherapy encompass the forefront of antineoplastic therapy; however, the numerous side effects associated with these therapeutic modalities are well known. Some treatments present enough potential to help or replace conventional treatments, such as Magnetic Hyperthermia and Photodynamic Therapy. Such approaches require the development of new materials at the nanoscale, able to carry out the loading of their active components while presenting characteristics of biocompatibility mandatory for biomedical applications.

OBJECTIVE

This work aims to make a bibliographical review of HNSCC treatments. Recent techniques proven effective in other types of cancer were highlighted and raised discussion and reflections on current methods and possibilities of enhancing the treatment of HNSCC.

METHOD

The study was based on a bibliometric research between the years 2008 and 2019 using the following keywords: Cancer, Head and Neck Cancer, Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy, Photodynamic Therapy, and Hyperthermia.

RESULTS

A total of 5.151.725 articles were found, 3.712.670 about cancer, 175.470 on Head and Neck Cancer, 398.736 on Radiotherapy, 760.497 on Chemotherapy, 53.830 on Hyperthermia, and 50.522 on Photodynamic Therapy.

CONCLUSION

The analysis shows that there is still much room for expanding research, especially for alternative therapies since most of the studies still focus on conventional treatments and on the quest to overcome their side effects. The scientific community needs to keep looking for more effective therapies generating fewer side effects for the patient. Currently, the so-called alternative therapies are being used in combination with the conventional ones, but the association of these new therapies shows great potential, in other types of cancer, to improve the treatment efficacy.