Integration of noble metals on graphene is renowned for their catalytic and antioxidant prowess. However, utilization of toxic chemicals in the synthesis creates environmental pollution and poisonous nature of chemically synthesized materials. To address this, an economical and eco-friendly method for synthesizing graphene-gold (BRG-Au) nanocomposite by anchoring gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) onto reduced graphene oxide sheets using betel leaf extract as a reducing and stabilizing agent is presented. Comprehensive structural characterizations through UV–Visible, Raman, FT-IR, and XRD analyses confirm the successful formation of the BRG-Au nanocomposite. Morphological assessments utilizing FE-SEM and TEM techniques revealed the presence of transparent, twinkling graphene sheets embellished with 20 to 60 nm of Au NPs in various shapes, including spherical, triangular, pentagonal, circular, and trapezoids. The catalytic and antioxidant activities of the BRG-Au nanocomposite were thoroughly evaluated. In catalytic trials, the nanocomposite exhibited remarkable efficiency in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol, accomplishing this transformation within a mere 30 min during the initial cycle and maintaining stable catalytic performance over three consecutive cycles. Additionally, antioxidant analyses employing Total Antioxidant Activity and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl methods demonstrated that BRG-Au nanocomposite possessed equal or superior antioxidant activity than the ascorbic acid standard. This research thus underscores the promising potential of environmentally benign synthesis method for graphene-gold nanocomposite with enhanced catalytic and antioxidant properties.

Recently, domestic fishing production of Japanese horse mackerel has been continuously decreasing. To achieve sustainable fishing of this species, it is essential to acquire its target strength (TS) for accurate biomass estimation and to study its ecological characteristics. To date, there has been no TS research using a broadband echosounder targeting Japanese horse mackerel. In this study, for the first time, we synchronized an underwater camera with a broadband frequency (nominal center frequency of 200 kHz, range: 160-260 kHz) to measure the TS according to the body size (16.8-35.5 cm) and swimming angle of the species. The relationship between Japanese horse mackerel length and body weight showed a general tendency for body weight to increase as length increased. The pattern of the frequency spectra (average values) by body length exhibited a similar trend regardless of body length, with no significant fluctuations in frequency observed. The lowest TS value was observed at 243 kHz while the highest TS values were recorded at 180 and 257.5 kHz. The frequency spectra for the swimming angles appeared to be flat at angles of –5, 0, 30, 60, 75, and 80° while detecting more general trends of frequency spectra for swimming angle proved challenging. The results of this study can serve as fundamental data for Japanese horse mackerel biomass estimation and ecological research.

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs), the newest member of carbonaceous nanomaterials, have drawn many considerations since the past two decades. A vast number of researchers made their efforts to demystify optical behavior of these materials despite being demanding. Nevertheless, their emission origin is still a controversial issue and this area suffers from a lack of hypothesis to explain the radiative transitions of these materials. White emissive CQDs are more prized among the other ones since it has provided an affordable warm white light source for many applications. In this paper, white emissive CQDs samples were prepared through a one-step hydrothermal synthesis approach. By using the advantage of possessing cellulosic networks in the Aloe Vera gel an in-situ matrix was created to encase CQDs particles. During the formation of CQDs particles, they were entrapped and created RGB nanoemitters in the cellulosic units. The leakage of the emitted photons during the radiative transitions followed by inner-filter effect (IFE) and self-/re-absorption acted as white light emissive sources. To scrutinize the validity and possibility of the hypothesis given in this paper, a series of spectroscopic analyses, including transmission electron microscopy (TEM), surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR), ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis), and photoluminescence (PL) were conducted.

β-Resin was extracted by solvent separation of refined coal tar pitch. Several analytical methods revealed that β-resin had a better aromatic plane packing structure and a higher number of carbon residues, making it ideal for mesophase transformation. The mesophase transformation process of β-resin (the formation of liquid-crystalline spheres, the growth of mesophase spheres, and the coalescence and disintegration of mesophase spheres) was observed in situ using a polarizing microscope with a hot stage. Moreover, the mesophase transformation mechanism of β-resin was investigated at each transformation stage. The mesophase content and mesophase transformation kinetics were analyzed based on the area method and quinoline insoluble (QI) substitution method. Both methods revealed changes in the mesophase content of β-resin. However, the test results of the two methods were slightly different at the initial stage of mesophase transformation and tended to be consistent during the later stage.

An environmentally friendly and low-cost chitosan-containing polysaccharide (CP) composite ZIF-8/CP was designed and prepared based on the difficulty of separating the traditional adsorbent from the water phase. ZIF-8/CP was synthesized through in-situ growth approach. The physical, chemical and structure properties of ZIF-8/CP were determined through a series of characterization methods, including SEM, FT-IR and PXRD. The effects of touch time, pH, temperature, and coexisting ions on adsorption were assessed. In addition, kinetics, isotherms of adsorption and thermodynamics were examined. The data of isotherms for adsorption indicated that the adsorption of ZIF-8/CP on MG was similar to the Langmuir model, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 1428.57 mg/g. Moreover, the kinetic parameters were consistent with the pseudo- 2nd-order equation. Thermodynamic studies (ΔG < 0, ΔH > 0) demonstrated a heat-absorbing and spontaneous adsorption process. Our study reveals that ZIF-8/CP has good adsorption properties and environmental properties.

This study investigates the behavior of bentonite, used as a buffer material in deep geological disposal systems, in the context of pore morphology under the influence of field-collected groundwater conditions. The bentonite was processed into block form using cold isostatic press (CIP) and subsequently analyzed for its pore morphology in situ using synchrotron X-ray computed tomography (CT) within the field-collected groundwater environment. Bentonite buffers play a critical role in deep geological disposal systems by preventing contact between disposal containers and groundwater. Bentonite typically exhibits swelling upon contact with water, forming few layers of water molecules between its structural layers. However, the presence of ions such as K+ and Cl- can lead to a sharp reduction in swelling pressure. Loss of swelling pressure could negatively impact the integrity of future deep geological disposal systems, making its assessment crucial. This study involves processing various types of bentonite, including natural Na-type bentonite, into block forms and subjecting them to exposure in both deionized water and field-collected groundwater conditions. Internal pore morphology changes were measured using Xray CT technology.

본 연구는 사일리지 발효제 첨가가 볏짚 사일리지에서 곰팡이 독소 및 in situ 섬유소 소화율에 미치는 영향을 평가하고자 실시 하였다. 사일리지 발효제로 L. plantarum 단일제 및 L. plantarum 과 S. cerevisiae의 혼합제를 첨가하였을 때 사일리지의 발효 및 섬유소 분해에 영향을 주었을 뿐만 아니라 곰팡이독소 감소에도 영향을 주었다. 시험 시료에서 곰팡이독소 중 ochratoxin A 및 zearalenone만 발견되었다. Ochratoxin A 및 zearalenone는 대조구에서 각각 38.11±2.22 및 633.67±50.30 ug/kg 수준으로 발효제 첨가로 감소 경향이 나타났고, 혼합제에서만 각각 27.78±2.28 및 392.72± 25.04 ug/kg 수준으로 유의적 차이를 보였다(p<0.05). pH는 대조 구에 비하여 단일제 및 혼합제에서 낮았고(p<0.05), lactic acid는 대조구(8.18±0.93 mM)에 비하여 단일제(11.73±0.31 mM)가 높았고, 혼합제(16.01±0.88 mM)에서 가장 높은 수준을 나타내었다 (p<0.05). Acetic acid와 propionic acid는 발효제 첨가에 따라 유 의적으로 낮아짐을 발견하였다(p<0.05). 그리고 total VFA도 발 효제 첨가가 대조구에 비하여 낮았다(p<0.05). NDF 및 ADF의 반추위 in situ 분해율은 배양기간 동안 혼합제가 가장 높은 수준 의 분해율을 유지하였고, 다음으로 단일제가 높았으며, 대조구가 가장 낮은 수준을 유지하였다. 그리고 이들 NDF 및 ADF 분해율 은 각각 배양 12 및 24시간 이후 모든 시간대에서 실험구간 유의 차를 나타내었다(p<0.05). 이상의 연구 결과는 볏짚 사일리지 제조에서 사일리지 발효제 사용은 발효 및 섬유소 분해에 영향을 주었을 뿐만 아니라 곰팡 이독소 감소에도 영향을 주었다. 그리고 곰팡이독소 감소는 L. plantarum 단일제보다 L. plantarum과 S. cerevisiae 혼합제의 효능이 더 크게 나타났다. 따라서 사일리지 조제를 위한 발효제로 L. plantarum과 L. plantarum 첨가제의 사용은 사일리지의 품질 과 안정성을 더 증진할 것으로 사료 된다.

The pitch-based activated carbon fibers (ACFs) were prepared from ethylene tar-derived pitches containing nickelocene (CNi) or nickel nitrate (NiN). The effects of different anions and contents of metal salts on the microstructure and surface chemical properties of fibers were investigated. The results revealed that Ni2+ from CNi mainly remained its pristine molecule in the organometal salt-derived pitch (OP-xCNi), while Ni2+ from NiN occurred complexation reaction with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the inorganic metal salt-derived pitch (IP-xNiN) due to the weaker binding ability between anions and Ni2+ of CNi than CNi. The XRD and SEM results confirmed that IP-3NiN-ACF contained Ni, NiO, Ni2O3 nanoparticles with different size distributions, while OP-3CNi-ACF only contained more uniformly distributed Ni nanoparticles with small size. Furthermore, OP-3.0CNi-ACF presented higher specific surface area of 1862 m2/ g and a pore volume of 1.69 cm3/ g than those of IP-3.0NiN-ACF due to the formation of pore structure during the in-situ catalytic activation of different metal nanoparticles. Therefore, this work further pointed out that the desired pore structure and surface chemistry of pitch-based ACFs could be obtained through regulating and controlling the interaction of anion species, metal cations and PAHs during the synthesis of pitch precursors.

The presence of dyes in water is the most popular problem recently, so the current study was directed towards the synthesis of an effective material consisting of NiO and MWCNTs. The NiO/F-MWCNTs nanocomposite was synthesized using a simple hydrothermal method after functionalization of MWCNTs using sulfuric acid and nitric acid and utilized as an efficient surface to adsorption of malachite green dye from polluted water. The nanocomposite sample was characterized using several techniques are X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), High- resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis, Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) analysis and Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). The analytical results showed that the prepared nanocomposite is of good crystalline nature with a particle size of 25.43 nm. A significant specific surface area was 412.08 m2/ g which indicates the effective impact of the nanocomposite in the adsorption of malachite green (MG) dye. On the other hand, the effect of adsorbent dose, temperature, acidic function and contact time on the adsorption efficiency of dye was studied. The kinetics of dye adsorption were also investigated employing two kinetic models, pseudo-first-order model and pseudo-second-order model. Finally, the thermodynamic functions were determined to identify the type of the reaction and the spontaneity of the process.