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Graphical abstract Highlights • The MoP/CN samples exhibit superior activity in CO 2 reduction and H 2 evolution. • The CO 2 adsorption and conversion progress is well revealed in the photoreaction. • The efficient co-catalyst MoP facilitates the separation and transfer of charges. Abstract Photoreduction CO 2 to hydrocarbons and photosplitting water for H 2 production are the most promising, sustainable approaches for environmental pollution alleviation and solar-to-chemical energy conversion. However, developing low-cost, high efficient and stable photocatalysts remains a great challenge. Herein, we reported a novel visible-light activated MoP co-catalyst loaded g-C 3 N 4 photocatalyst for CO 2 reduction and water splitting under simulated irradiation firstly. Experimental results demonstrated that the composites were highly active and exhibited superior stability. The maximum CO and H 2 evolution rates of 0.92 μmol h−1 and 40.38 μmol h−1 were achieved on MoP/CN-15% catalyst, which were 4.5-fold and 74.5-fold higher than the pure g-C 3 N 4 , and the corresponding apparent quantum efficiencies (AQE) were 3.5% and 18.3% at 420 nm, respectively. In situ FTIR analysis disclosed the CO 2 adsorption and conversion progress, in which the COO− acted as a major intermediate. Furthermore, comprehensive characterization analysis revealed the introduction of MoP facilitated the separation and transfer of photogenerated electron-hole pairs, and the theoretical calculation by density functional theory (DFT) also confirmed that MoP could effectively separate the photoexcited charges from g-C 3 N 4. Combining with experimental and DFT calculations results, a new way to design cost-effective photocatalysts has been enlightened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Fe 3 O 4 @PS-TMG was synthesized by immobilizing TMG onto the shell of nanohybrids. • The loading of TMG as well as surface property of catalyst can be well regulated. • The MPIC can stabilize soybean oil-in-methanol Pickering emulsion. • The MPIC exhibited higher catalytic activity for transesterification. Abstract A novel magnetic Pickering interfacial catalyst (MPIC) was developed and used for highly effective and clean production of biodiesel. The catalyst was synthesized by immobilization of 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine (TMG) onto the shell of Fe 3 O 4 @Chloromethyl PS nanohybrids. The resultant Fe 3 O 4 @PS-TMG was measured by transmission electron microscope (TEM), dynamic lighting scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), elemental analysis (EA), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), contact angles (CA). The results showed that surface property and TMG loading of catalyst can be finely regulated via adjusting the feeding of TMG. Fe 3 O 4 @PS-TMG with amphiphilic surface can stabilize soybean oil-in-methanol Pickering emulsion, which would offer large interfacial area and surface enrichment of reactants, leading to a significant enhancement of such liquid-liquid (L-L) biphasic reaction with high mass transfer resistance. Furthermore, the MPIC can be facile separated from the mixture of reaction by magnet, and showed excellent stability over 5 recycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactobacillus delbrueckii is widely used in the fermentation industry. Previously, we identified Lactobacillus delbrueckii DMLD-H1, a strain of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus , from traditional Chinese fermented milk. In this research, we sequenced the complete genome of DMLD-H1, which contains 1,836,627 bp in length with a total of 1947 genes and an average G + C content of 49.86%. In total, 103 carbohydrate metabolism genes are annotated in the KEGG database, and it is showed that DMLD-H1 has the ability to transport lactose, glucose, fructose, and mannose. Antibiotic resistance genes, genes encoding toxins and virulence factor genes are absent in risk-associated sequences of DMLD-H1. We also confirm its safety by indole assay, nitroreductase assay, and antibiotic resistance tests. A wide range of stress-related proteins may contribute to the survival of DMLD-H1 in the gastrointestinal environment, including oxidative stress, pH, bile salts, and temperature stress. The large number of adhesion proteins and stress response genes identified in DMLD-H1 in the genome-wide analysis, as well as phenotypic experiments including resistance to bile salts and acid, antioxidant, antimicrobial and self-cohesion activity, exhibited its excellent probiotic properties. This study demonstrates that DMLD-H1 can be a candidate fermentative agent in fermented dairy products. [Display omitted] • The entire genome of Lactobacillus delbrueckii DMLD-H1 was firstly sequenced. • The carbohydrate metabolic pathway is revealed in DMLD-H1. • The safety and probiotic properties of DMLD-H1 are described by genome analysis. • DMLD-H1 has a gene cluster for the generation of enterolysin A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report herein the design and preparation of novel magneto-polymeric nanohybrids that can be used as efficient and recyclable Pickering interfacial catalyst (PIC) in selective oxidation of alcohols. The nanohybrids Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 @PTMA, bearing catalytic TEMPO functionalities, were synthesized through distillation-precipitation polymerization (DPP) of the precursor monomer 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl methacrylate (TMPM) and subsequent oxidation reaction. TEM, FT-IR, DLS, EA confirmed and quantified the TEMPO loading of nanohydrids (1.0–2.4 mmol · g −1 ). It was found that the TEMPO loading, particle size, as well as surface hydrophilicity could be finely tuned via simply adjusting the TMPM monomer fraction during polymerization. The performance of the resultant nanohybrids as PIC was then evaluated in a typical Anelli system, which showed superior catalytic activity for selective oxidation of alcohols. Moreover, the PIC can be easily recycled by applying magnetic field, and reused for the following cycles of oxidation without any loss on either conversion or selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Metal sulfides (MSs) have attracted much attention as anode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to their high sodium storage capacity. However, the unsatisfactory electrochemical performance induced by the huge volume change and sluggish kinetics hampered the practical application of SIBs. Herein, guided by the heterostructure interface engineering, novel multicomponent metal sulfide-based anodes, including SnS, FeS, and Fe 3 N embedded in N -doped carbon nanosheets (SnS/FeS/Fe 3 N/NC NSs), have been synthesized for high-performance SIBs. The as-prepared SnS/FeS/Fe 3 N/NC NSs with abundant heterointerfaces and high conductivity of N -doped carbon nanosheet matrix can shorten the Na+ diffusion path and promote reaction kinetics during the sodiation/desodiation process. Moreover, the presence of Fe 3 N can promote the reversible conversion of SnS and FeS during the cycling process. As a consequence, when evaluated as anode materials for SIBs, the SnS/FeS/Fe 3 N/NC NSs can maintain a high sodium storage capacity of 473.6 mAh g-1 after 600 cycles at 2.0 A g-1 and can still provide a high reversible capacity of 537.4 mAh g-1 even at 5.0 A g-1 This discovery offers a novel strategy for constructing metal sulfide-based anode materials for high-performance SIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] As a renewable green energy, hydrogen has received widespread attention due to its huge potential in solving energy shortages and environment pollution. In this paper, a one-step solvothermal method was applied to grow ultra-thin g-C 3 N 4 (UCN) nanosheets and NiS nanoparticles on the surface of ZnIn 2 S 4 (ZIS). A ternary NiS/ZnIn 2 S 4 /ultra-thin-g-C 3 N 4 composite material with dual high-speed charge transfer channels was constructed for the advancement of the photocatalytic H 2 generation. The optimal ternary catalyst 1.5wt.%NiS/ZnIn 2 S 4 /ultra-thin-g-C 3 N 4 (NiS/ZIS/UCN) achieved a H 2 evolution yield reached to 5.02 mmolg−1h−1, which was 5.23 times superior than that of pristine ZnIn 2 S 4 (0.96 mmolg−1h−1) and even outperform than that of the best precious metal modified 3.0 wt%Pt/ZnIn 2 S 4 (4.08 mmolg−1h−1). The AQY at 420 nm could be achieved as high as 30.5%. The increased photocatalytic performance of NiS/ZIS/UCN could be ascribed to the type-I heterojunctions between intimated ZIS and UCN. In addition, NiS co-catalyst with large quantity of H 2 evolution sites, could result in efficient photo-induced charges separation and migration. Furthermore, the NiS/ZIS/UCN composite exhibited excellent H 2 evolution stability and recyclability. This work would also offer a reference for the design and synthesis of ternary co-catalyst with heterojunction composite for green energy conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ZnIn 2 S 4 @CdS photocatalyst with tuned catalytic sites promotes selective benzyl alcohol oxidation on the ZnIn 2 S 4 surface and H 2 evolution on the CdS surface. [Display omitted] Photocatalytic selective oxidation of alcohols into aldehydes and H 2 is a green strategy for obtaining both value-added chemicals and clean energy. Herein, a dual-purpose ZnIn 2 S 4 @CdS photocatalyst was designed and constructed for efficient catalyzing benzyl alcohol (BA) into benzaldehyde (BAD) with coupled H 2 evolution. To address the deep-rooted problems of pure CdS, such as high recombination of photogenerated carriers and severe photo-corrosion, while also preserving its superiority in H 2 production, ZnIn 2 S 4 with a suitable band structure and adequate oxidizing capability was chosen to match CdS by constructing a coupled reaction. As designed, the photoexcited holes (electrons) in the CdS (ZnIn 2 S 4) were spatially separated and transferred to the ZnIn 2 S 4 (CdS) by electrostatic pull from the built-in electric field, leading to expected BAD production (12.1 mmol g−1 h−1) at the ZnIn 2 S 4 site and H 2 generation (12.2 mmol g−1 h−1) at the CdS site. This composite photocatalyst also exhibited high photostability due to the reasonable hole transfer from CdS to ZnIn 2 S 4. The experimental results suggest that the photocatalytic transform of BA into BAD on ZnIn 2 S 4 @CdS is via a carbon-centered radical mechanism. This work may extend the design of advanced photocatalysts for more chemicals by replacing H 2 evolution with N 2 fixation or CO 2 reduction in the coupled reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have caused significant research attention due to their low redox potential of 0.76 V, high theoretical capacity of 820 mAh g−1. However, the dendrite growth of zinc anode and the side reactions caused by water seriously affect the cycle life of AZIBs. To solve the above problems, a new method of etching zinc anodes with CuCl 2 salt solution was designed, which the zinc anode was named CZn. The process resulted to a uniformly distributed micro gully morphology on the zinc surface, and providing an increased number of nucleation sites for zinc deposition and reducing local current density. The calculation results of exchange current density and activation energy show that CZn has stronger Zn/Zn2+ kinetic effect. At a current density of 5 mA cm−2 and an area capacity of 5 mAh cm−2, cycle life of the CZn symmetrical cell can reach 500 h, which is more than seven times that of the raw Zn symmetrical cell. This work proposes a simple method of zinc anode protection, which provides a new idea for zinc metal anode protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) represents a significantly economical challenge to the swine industry worldwide. In this study, we investigated the importance of cellular and viral lipid rafts in PRRSV infection. First, we demonstrated that PRRSV glycoproteins, Gp3 and Gp4, were associated with lipid rafts during viral entry, and disruption of cellular lipid rafts inhibited PRRSV entry. We also showed the raft-location of CD163, which might contribute to the glycoproteins–raft association. Subsequently, raft disruption caused a significant reduction of viral RNA production. Moreover, Nsp9 was shown to be distributed in rafts, suggesting that rafts probably serve as a platform for PRRSV replication. Finally, we confirmed that disassembly of rafts on the virus envelope may affect the integrity of PRRSV particles and cause the leakage of viral proteins, which impaired PRRSV infectivity. These findings might provide insights on our understanding of the mechanism of PRRSV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It's still a challenge to design reasonably efficient catalyst using non-noble metal for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). In this paper, we use a simple one-step electrodeposition method to load Ce and S co-doped NiFe amorphous alloys onto Cu(OH) 2 nanorod arrays. The excellent oxygen electrocatalytic performance of the catalyst NiFeCeS/Cu(OH) 2 /CuF is attributed to the electronic environments of the active sites of Ni and Fe regulated by heteroatomic sulfur and cerium, which promote the transfer of the oxygen precipitation intermediates to the higher valence states. Meanwhile, the highly conductive substrate accelerates the electron transfer efficiency of the catalyst material, and the loose nanostructure increases the specific surface area, exposing more active sites. NiFeCeS/Cu(OH) 2 /CuF shows outsanding electrocatalytic activity for oxygen evolution with a low overpotential of 227 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 in alkaline medium. Moreover, the nanocomposite catalyst also exhibits rapid reaction kinetics and long-term stability and durability. In this work, an efficient oxygen precipitation catalyst is reported, which indicates that non-precious metal-based electrocatalysts have great potential for application in water electrolysis and provides a basis for the rational design and synthesis of nanorod array catalysts with unique structures. Using a simple one-step electrodeposition method to load Ce and S co-doped NiFe amorphous alloys onto Cu(OH) 2 nanorod arrays. NiFeCeS/Cu(OH) 2 /CuF shows outsanding electrocatalytic activity for oxygen evolution with a low overpotential of 227 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 in alkaline medium. [Display omitted] • Co-doping of Ce and S improved the intrinsic activity of NiFe catalysts. • Cu(OH) 2 nanorods increase the number of active sites in catalysts. • The one-step co-deposition technique is simple, efficient and repeatable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potato protein (PP) was modified with laccase or tyrosinase to obtain covalent cross-linking structures, and then the blends of native/enzyme-treated protein and potato starch (PS) with different ratios were prepared. The FT-IR results suggested the interactions between protein and starch strengthened after enzyme treatment. The relative crystalline raised to 26–29% after the protein mixing with starch. The thermal degradation temperatures of the blends of enzyme-treated protein and PS (296.71–312.91 °C) were apparently lower than that of the blends of PP:PS (312.31–312.76 °C). Compared to the blends of PP:PS, the peak viscosity, trough viscosity and final viscosity of the blends of enzyme-treated protein and PS decreased by 12.7–41.1%. The blends of enzyme-treated protein and PS had a lower storage modulus than native blends. The outcome would provide a view on the theoretical basis of interactions between protein and starch in exploring favorable potato staple foods. •Covalent cross-linking structure in potato protein was formed by enzyme treatment. •The native/enzyme-treated protein was blended with potato starch with different ratios. •The blends of enzyme-treated protein and starch had lower thermostability. •The blends of enzyme-treated protein and starch had lower paste viscosity. •The blends of enzyme-treated protein and starch had lower storage and loss moduli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal mining usually brought polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contamination. Relationships between the concentration of PAHs, bacterial communities and soil environmental factors were important for bioremediation of PAHs in soil. Total 4 kinds of soil samples with different concentrations of PAHs were selected from 7 typical coal gangue（CG） sites in Huainan, Anhui Province. The relationships between microorganisms, dissolved organic matter (DOM) composition and PAHs concentration were systematically analyzed in this work. Total 11 kinds of PAHs were enriched in the soil surface layer. That was attributed to the strong binding of soil organic matter (SOM) to PAHs. PAHs contamination reduced the diversity of soil microbial. The abundance of PAHs-degrading genera such as Arthrobacter decreased with the increasing concentration of PAHs. Mycobacterium increased with the increasing concentration of PAHs in all samples. The microbial activities decreased with increasing concentration of PAHs. The increasing contents of LWM-PAHs and DOM were beneficial to improve the activities of soil microbial. The increasing DOM aromaticity was beneficial to improve the bioavailability of PAHs according to the correlation analysis between PAHs content and DOM structural parameters. The obtained results provide a basis for better understanding the contamination characteristics and microbial communities of coal gangue PAH-contaminated sites. [Display omitted] • The PAHs enriched in the soil surface in coal mining areas. • HMW-PAHs contamination inhibited the microbial activities in soil. • Increasing LWM-PAHs and DOM content might be beneficial for enhancing microbial activities. • PAHs contamination enhanced humification and aromaticity of SOM. • High humification and aromaticity of DOM promoted PAHs degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Thermodynamic parameters at infinite dilution for 26 solutes in IL were calculated. • Based on the γ 12 ∞ results, the S 12 ∞ and K 12 ∞ were calculated for four separation problems. • The value of δ 2 was consistent with Hansen solubility parameter at room temperature. • The δ p , δ d , δ h values were determined based on the method proposed by Voelkel and Janas. The thermodynamic parameters at infinite dilution for twenty-six organic solutes in 1-allyl-3-vinylimidazolium bis((trifluorompropyl)sulfonyl)imide ([AVIM][NTf 2) ionic liquid were determined by the inverse gas chromatography (IGC). The parameters encompassed the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter (γ 12 ∞), the activity coefficient at infinite dilution (γ 12 ∞), the thermodynamic functions (Δ H 1 E , ∞ , Δ S 1 E , ∞ ) and the Hildebrand solubility parameter (δ 2) in the temperature range of 313.15 K − 343.15 K. The values of selectivity and capacity for four separation problems as heptane (1)/benzene (2), cyclohexane (1)/benzene(2), benzene(1)/ methanol(2) , hexane(1) /1-hexene(2) were calculated from γ 12 ∞ and compared to literature values for bis((trifluorompropyl)sulfonyl)imide-based ionic liquids (ILs) for the same separation problems. The Hansen solubility parameter (δ T) and its partial solubility parameters (δ d , δ p , δ h) were also determined based on the method proposed by Voelkel and Janas. It was found that for tested solutes, the value of χ 12 ∞ was less than 4 and γ 12 ∞ value was less than 25 except for the n -alkanes. The five types of solubility parameters showed a linear decrease trend with the increase of temperature and the solubility parameters at room temperature were obtained as δ 2 = 23.27, δ T = 23.21, δ d = 22.78, δ p = 3.366, δ h = 2.486 (MPa)1/2 by the extrapolation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All-in-one supercapacitors constitute an indispensable part in adapting to the rapid development of flexible energy storage equipment. Herein, an all-in-one configured PANI supercapacitor with a dynamic electrode/electrolyte interface was designed through hydrogen bonds and metal coordination bonds. The supercapacitor exhibits remarkable electrochemical capacitance (162 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1, 137.4 mF cm−2 at 0.5 A cm−2) and excellent structural stabilities (almost no degradation in performance and structural damage in the cases of bending, folding, stretching and self-healing process). Besides, the hydrogel electrode can be efficiently recycled through a convenient method without virtual loss of electrochemical performance. Construction of the dynamic interface inside the supercapacitor provides a practical guidance for large-scale preparation of flexible energy storage devices, electronic skin and stretchable sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The soil environment is a critical component of the global ecosystem and is essential for nutrient cycling and energy flow. Various physical, chemical, and biological processes occur in the soil and are affected by environmental factors. Soil is vulnerable to pollutants, especially emerging pollutants, such as microplastics (MPs). MPs pollution has become a significant environmental problem, and its harm to human health and the environment cannot be underestimated. However, most studies on MPs pollution have focused on marine ecosystems, estuaries, lakes, rivers, and other aquatic environments, whereas few considered the effects and hazards of MPs pollution of the soil, especially the responses of different environmental factors to MPs. In addition, when many MPs pollutants produced by agricultural activities (mulching film, organic fertilizer) and atmospheric sedimentation enter the soil environment, it will cause changes in soil pH, organic matter composition, microbial community, enzyme activity, animals and plants and other environmental factors. However, due to the complex and changeable soil environment, the heterogeneity is very strong. The changes of environmental factors may react on the migration, transformation and degradation of MPs, and there are synergistic or antagonistic interactions among different factors. Therefore, it is very important to analyze the specific effects of MPs pollution on soil properties to clarify the environmental behavior and effects of MPs. This review focuses on the source, formation, and influencing factors of MPs pollution in soil and summarizes its effect and influence degree on various soil environmental factors. The results provide research suggestions and theoretical support for preventing or controlling MPs soil pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A genome-based systematic analysis combined with phenotypic experiments was conducted to evaluate the safety properties and metabolic characteristics of Streptococcus thermophilus DMST-H2, isolated from Chinese traditional homemade yogurt in Inner Mongolia. Comparative genomic analysis showed that DMST-H2 had a closer genetic relationship with S. thermophilus KLDS.3.1003 based on the sequence similarities of the 1193 core-genes. No genes related to antibiotic resistance and virulence factor as well as no complete biogenic amine biosynthesis gene clusters were identified in DMST-H2 genome. DMST-H2 was sensitive to various antibiotics and had no hemolytic activity and no biogenic amine production capacity, confirming that DMST-H2 is safe and non-toxic. In addition, multiple genes for carbohydrate metabolism were predicted, including various carbohydrate-active enzymes and sugar transporters that could be involved in the transport of multiple carbon sources. Two exopolysaccharide (EPS) gene clusters (eps-1 and rgp-2) were also detected, indicating that DMST-H2 has the potential to synthesize heteropolysaccharides. Gene functional features revealed a cyclic antimicrobial peptide related gene cluster in DMST-H2, which displayed high identities with the streptide biosynthesis gene cluster as previously reported. Our comprehensive analysis of the whole genome and corresponding phenotypes of S. thermophilus DMST-H2 provides important theoretical basis for its application in food products. • Comparative genomic analysis of S. thermophilus DMST-H2 was displayed. • Systematic analysis of its safety and metabolism characteristics based on phenotype and genotype. • Two exopolysaccharide (EPS) gene clusters were found in the genome of S. thermophilus DMST-H2. • Carbohydrate metabolism pathways were predicted in the genome of S. thermophilus DMST-H2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactobacillus gasseri is a kind of facultative anaerobic lactic acid bacterium, and has been defined as GRAS microorganism by the US Food and Drug Administration. We reported the whole genome sequence of L. gasseri LGZ1029. The complete genome of L. gasseri LGZ1029 was 2,027,325 bp encoding 2005 genes with an average G + C content of 35.06%. Based on the analysis of genes involved in antibiotic resistance, virulence factor, and production of harmful metabolites, we have speculated that L. gasseri LGZ1029 is safe. By genome mining tool, a complete plnABCD operon was present in the genome of L. gasseri LGZ1029, indicating that it has the potential to generate antimicrobial bacteriocin. Stress-related genes speculated that L. gasseri LGZ1029 had good gastrointestinal tolerance, bacteriostatic ability, and antioxidant activity with excellent probiotic characteristics, indicating that it can be a probiotic candidate with great potential. • Complete genome of L. gasseri LGZ1029 was firstly sequenced. • The safety and probiotic properties of L. gasseri LGZ1029 were evaluated by genome analysis. • A complete plnABCD operon was found in the genome of L. gasseri LGZ1029. • Stress response genes were identified in the genome of L. gasseri LGZ1029. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) has been considered to be an efficient strategy for constructing functional macromolecules owing to its simple operation and versatile monomers, and thus it is of great significance to develop ideal catalysts with higher activity and perfect reusability. We constructed a peroxidase mimic through the grafting of heme onto metal-organic frameworks UiO-66-NH 2 (ZrMOF), namely Heme-ZrMOF. After the systematic characterization of structure, the composite Heme-ZrMOF was demonstrated to possess high peroxidase activity using 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate) and 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine as substrates. The enzyme mimic was then used as catalysts in the ATRP reactions of different monomers, in which favorable monomer conversion (44.6–98.0%) and product molecular weight (8600–25,600 g/mol) could be obtained. Compared to free heme, Heme-ZrMOF could efficiently achieve the easy separation of heme from the catalytic system and facilitate the ATRP reaction in an aqueous environment to avoid the utilization of organic solvents. In conclusion, the enzyme mimic Heme-ZrMOF could be potentially used as an effective catalyst for preparing well-defined polymers with biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We reported a facile, economic and green method based on biomimetic mineralization to acquire lipase-inorganic hybrid nanoflower, which was then employed as a biocatalyst for biodiesel production. In the hybrid nanoflower, enzyme molecules and Cu 2+ ions were utilized as the organic and inorganic components, respectively. The morphology of nanoflower and the distribution and loading of proteins were systematically characterized by scanning electron microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, which indicated the successful encapsulation of lipase in the hybrid nanoflower. Using the hydrolysis of p -nitrophenyl caprylate as a model, lipase-inorganic hybrid nanoflower was observed to possess favorable catalytic activity and stability in the ester hydrolysis. Further, the hybrid nanoflower was used as a catalyst for biodiesel production, in which it could convert sunflower oil to biodiesel with 96.5% conversion and remain 72.5% conversion after being used for 5 cycles. Thus, the lipase-inorganic hybrid nanoflower is potential to be used as an economically viable biocatalyst for the production of biofuel as the future petrol-fuel replacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contaminant spills in vadose zone are frequently encountered in winter, and the temperature at such times is often under 0 °C. Soil vapor extraction (SVE) is typically effective for the removal of volatile contaminants from vadose zone, but temperature influences its effectiveness. A sandbox laboratory evaluation and a TMVOC numerical model were used to investigate BTEX migration that occurred during SVE remediation processes under low temperatures. The simulation results were consistent with the experimental data obtained in the present study, and the following three conclusions were drawn. (i) The SVE removal rates of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and o-xylene were 89.8%, 71.3%, 29.7%, and 14.4%, respectively. (ii) In two extraction processes, the masses of benzene and toluene in the gas–aqueous–NAPL phases decreased by approximately 20%:70%:10%, with the greatest reduction occurring in the aqueous phase. During the period between these two extraction processes, benzene and toluene migrated from the NAPL phase to the gas and aqueous phases, and their fractions were approximately 30%:70%. (iii) The results proved that under low-temperature conditions, namely −10–5 °C, the SVE removal ratio for benzene was highest among the four tested contaminants. It was therefore determined that TMVOC can provide scientific guidance for determining whether to optimize or terminate SVE operations under low-temperature conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • IGC was used to measure the γ 12 ∞ and χ 12 ∞ of 32 solvents in deep eutectic solvent: Choline Chloride + 1,5-Pentanediol. • The Hildebrand solubility parameters of the DES were calculated at 303.15–343.15 K. • The selectivity and capacity were calculated by γ 12 ∞ data for three separation problems (n -hexane/benzene, benzene/methanol, benzene/thiophene). A series of thermodynamic parameters related to choline chloride + 1,5-pentanediol deep eutectic solvent were studied through inverse gas chromatography at 303.15–343.15 K. The infinite dilution activity coefficient (γ 12 ∞) was used to predict the solute separation ability and the intermolecular interaction strength of DES. The interaction between molecules was further described by partial molar excess properties (Δ H 1 E , ∞ , T Δ S 1 E , ∞ , Δ G 1 E , ∞ ). The value of γ 12 ∞ was also used to compute the separation parameters for common separation problems benzene (1)/methanol (2), n-hexane (1)/benzene (2) and benzene (1)/thiophene (2). The miscibility of organic solutes and DES was evaluated using the Flory–Huggins interaction parameter, and the result showed alcohols were good solvents for the DES. Moreover, the Hildebrand solubility parameters (Î́ 2) of the DES were calculated, and the result revealed that the value showed a downward trend with the increase of temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three novel highly symmetrical metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), C 30 H 40 Fe 6 LnN 6 Na 2 O 44 P 6 (Ln ​= ​La, Ce and Pr, namely FLaN-MOF, FCeN-MOF, FPrN-MOF, respectively), that contain d- and f- orbital elements were designed and successfully synthesized via a facile ionothermal method. The three-dimensional structures of MOFs that were fabricated by pmida ligands directly connecting with iron, sodium and lanthanide metals were revealed by X-ray single crystal diffractometer (SXRD) and powder X-ray diffractometer (PXRD). The MOFs were used as the electrode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and FLaN-MOF exhibits a reversible capacity of 337 mAh/g after 100 cycles at 100 ​mA/g. The electrochemical measurements demonstrate a synergetic mechanism that combines a redox-dominated process at low rates and a capacitance behavior under high current densities. Three novel highly symmetrical metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), C 30 H 40 Fe 6 LnN 6 Na 2 O 44 P 6 (Ln ​= ​La, Ce and Pr, namely FLaN-MOF, FCeN-MOF, FPrN-MOF, respectively), that contain d- and f- orbital elements were designed and successfully synthesized via a facile ionothermal method. The MOFs were used as the electrode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and FLaN-MOF exhibits a reversible capacity of 337 mAh/g after 100 cycles at 100 ​mA/g. [Display omitted] • Three new lanthanide-based MOFs were prepared via ionothermal method. • The new MOFs were formed by the rare earth-iron-sodium three different metals and the structures were elucidated in details. • In electrochemical test, FLaN-MOF showed good electrochemical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a promising alternative to the toxic PbTe-based thermoelectric materials, eco-friendly SnTe has attracted considerable attention. Here, we use a facile solvothermal method to in-situ synthesize MXene/SnTe nanocomposites. Comprehensive characterization results indicate that the incorporation of two-dimensional MXene in SnTe matrix can suppress Sn vacancies to result in a reduced carrier concentration and induce abundant MXene/SnTe interfaces, which simultaneously optimizes the electrical and thermal transport properties. As a result, with the optimized MXene content, the maximum figure of merit of ∼0.63 ​at 823 ​K is obtained in SnTe with 0.6 ​wt% MXene, which shows a 60% enhancement compared to pristine SnTe. This work explores a new strategy to introduce two-dimensional MXene into SnTe-based materials with improved thermoelectric properties, which can inspire new pathways into designing and synthesizing high-performance thermoelectric materials. The incorporation of MXene into SnTe has been achieved by using a facile solvothermal method, which simultaneously adjusts the electrical and thermal transport properties, leading to enhanced thermoelectric performance. [Display omitted] • Preparing MXene/SnTe nanocomposites via a one-step solvothermal reaction. • Achieving synergistically optimized electrical and thermal transport properties. • A 60% enhanced zT was obtained through MXene incorporation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve the optimized performance and the widespread application of thermoelectric materials, it is crucial to decouple the highly interrelated thermoelectric parameters of materials. In this study, we illustrate that phonon and carrier transport properties of n-type Bi 2 Te 3 -based composites can be simultaneously optimized through alloying Cu 2 Se. Owing to the chemical reactions between the Bi 2 Te 3 matrix and the Cu 2 Se additives during the sample preparation, the carrier concentration and density-of-states effective mass can be tuned to optimize the carrier transport properties, while the lattice thermal conductivity can be reduced by introducing hierarchical structures including point defects, Cu 7 Te 5 inclusions, phase boundaries and localized Te-deficient regions. As a result, an enhanced thermoelectric performance is achieved compared with pristine Bi 2 Te 3. Our study indicates the alloying Cu 2 Se can synergistically control the thermoelectric properties of Bi 2 Te 3. The chemical reaction between the Bi 2 Te 3 matrix and the Cu 2 Se additives simultaneously optimizes thermoelectric performance to enhance zT. Image 1 • Alloying Cu 2 Se to enhance thermoelectric performance of Bi 2 Te 3. • Achieving synergistically optimized electrical and thermal transport properties. • Expounding how alloying Cu 2 Se works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]