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Solar illumination is a promising source of primary energy to reduce global warming and to clean polluted waters, thus fostering research of the design of efficient photocatalysts for hydrogen production by water splitting and for contaminant degradation. In particular, photocatalysis by indium sulfide (In2S3) is drawing attention due to its suitable narrow bandgap of 2.0–2.3 eV for visible light harnessing, yet large-scale application of unmodified In2S3 is limited. Here we review the photocatalyst criteria for water splitting, the synthesis and morphological manipulations of In2S3, the synthesis of heterojunctions by coupling semiconductors to increase performance, and doping In2S3. In2S3-based heterojunctions, i.e., traditional type II, all-solid-state, and direct Z-scheme photocatalytic systems show benefits such as larger charge separation, broad solar spectrum absorption, and amended conduction band and valence band edge potentials for maximum pollutant removal and H2 production. The effect of dopant incorporation on electronic modulations of In2S3 is explained by the density functional theory.

As an alluring metal-free polymeric semiconductor material, graphite-like carbon nitride (g-C3N4; abbreviated as GCN) has triggered a new impetus in the field of photocatalysis, mainly favoured from its fascinating physicochemical and photoelectronic structural features. However, certain inherent drawbacks, involving rapid reassembly of photocarriers, low specific surface area and insufficient optical absorption, limit the wide-range applicability of GCN. Generation of 0D point defects mainly by introducing vacancies (C and/or N) into the framework of GCN has spurred extensive consideration owing to their distinctive qualities to manoeuvre substantially, the optical absorption, radiative carrier isolation, and surface photoreactions. The present review endeavours to summarise a comprehensive study on vacancy defect engineered GCN. Starting from the basic introduction of defects and C/N vacancy modulated GCN, numerous advanced strategies for the controlled designing of vacancy rich GCN have been explored and discussed. Afterwards, light was thrown on the various substantial technologies which are useful for characterising and identifying the introduction of defects in GCN. The salient significance of defect engineering in GCN has been reviewed concerning its impact on optical absorption, charge isolation and surface photoreaction ability. Typically, the achievement of defect engineered GCN has been scrutinised toward various applications like photocatalytic water splitting, CO2 conversion, N2 fixation, pollutant degradation, and H2O2 production. Finally, the review ends with conclusions and vouchsafing future challenges and opportunities on the intriguing and emerging area of vacancy defect engineered GCN photocatalysts.

Plant fibres are helically twisted cellulosic materials that are bonded together by lignin and hemicellulose matrices. Their physical, mechanical, and chemical properties depend enormously on the relative proportions of their chemical constituents, the atmospheric conditions, the age of the plant, and the collection time, among other factors. Hibiscus sabdariffa fibre is obtained by processing the stems or seeds of the Hibiscus sabdariffa plant (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.), which is an evergreen plant that is grown in almost all tropical regions of the world. Polymer composites or membranes developed utilizing plant fibres exhibit astonishing chemical resistance and mechanical and thermal properties, which are attributed to their chemical constituents, low density, and structural dimensions. However, further augmentation of the pre-existing properties of plant-fibre-fortified bio-composites can be achieved via enhancing the bonding between the hydrophilic plant fibres and the hydrophobic matrix, which should be possible by tailoring the surfaces of the plant fibres. In the present article, the methods and techniques employed for the extraction of Hibiscus sabdariffa fibre and its conversion into micro- and nano-forms are discussed. In addition, the effects of numerous surface tailoring strategies on the physicomechanical, thermal, water uptake, and humidity absorption characteristics of Hibiscus sabdariffa fibre have been surveyed to establish surface tailoring strategies and fibre dimension modification as feasible processes for producing useful Hibiscus sabdariffa fibres to address industrial needs. The surface-tailored plant macro-/micro-/nanofibres can fortify bio-composites and thus improve the utilization of Hibiscus sabdariffa fibre as a dependable and reasonable material for industrial purposes, which in turn may help to meet worldwide targets for creating and developing biomaterials for a better future.

Considering the current scenario of rising environmental and energy concerns, engineering of Z-scheme photocatalytic systems is in the spotlight. The prime reason for this includes efficient redox abilities and effective space separation along with the migration of photoinduced charge carriers over conventional heterojunction systems. Herein we foreground the stumbling blocks of traditional heterojunction systems and enlighten the generations of Z-scheme photocatalysis originating from liquid-phase to direct Z-scheme photocatalytic systems. We provide substantial criteria and selection aspects of choosing reductive type photocatalysts as a potential aspirant for the Z-scheme photocatalytic system. As Z-scheme photocatalytic systems render effective space separation of photogenerated carriers, active species generation, wide optical absorption and amended redox ability. We focus on comprehensive illustration of all solid-state and direct Z-scheme photocatalysts by coupling reductive type photocatalysts with other semiconductor material and explored their potential for efficacious conversion of solar energy into functional energy. Herein, we aim to provide in-depth and updated criteria for selecting Z-scheme photocatalysts for CO2 reduction, water splitting, and nitrogen fixation. Lastly, the article compiles with a conclusive note about future perspectives and challenges accompanying all solid-state and direct Z-scheme Z photocatalysts and their energy conversion applications.

While the production and usage of pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products have greatly improved the quality of life for humans, their application has increasingly been contaminating...

In the current work, we have doped g-C3N4 (GCN), a conjugated polymer based on heptazine-group with phosphorous and synthesized phosphorous doped g-C3N4 (PCN) has been coupled with CNT to enhance its photodegradation activity. Herein, CNT/PCN nanocomposites (having different CNT wt% i.e. 0.01, 0.02 and 0.03) were successfully fabricated via straight forward sonochemical method while GCN and PCN were prepared through direct thermal polycondensation method for Imidacloprid (IMI) pesticide degradation. Photodegradation activity of nanocomposite was enormously affected by doping but more significantly by nature of CNT content and addition of H2O2. EIS and PL analysis confirmed enhanced photogenerated charge carriers separation in CNT/PCN nanocomposite than GCN and PCN. Through BET analysis increase in surface area (SBET) of CNT/PCN nanocomposite was observed than PCN (2.8401 m2 g − 1 to 14.0294 m2 g − 1). Photodegradation processes follow pseudo-first order kinetics as R2 values were attained between 0.95–0.98. Synthesized 0.02 wt% CNT/PCN and 0.02 wt% CNT/PCN/H2O2 nanocomposite (without H2O2 and with H2O2) exhibited superior IMI photodegradation efficiency i.e. 93% and 97% respectively, than other photocatalysts (GCN, PCN, 0.01 wt% CNT/PCN, 0.03 wt% CNT/PCN, GCN/H2O2, PCN/H2O2, 0.01 wt% CNT/PCN/H2O2, 0.03 wt% CNT/PCN/H2O2) after visible light illumination. The most Plausible photocatalytic mechanism was also illustrated stipulating significance of h+, •O2−reactive species for CNT/PCN nanocomposite and •OH radicals for CNT/PCN/H2O2 nanocomposite in photodegradation process. Furthermore, antimicrobial and cytotoxic studies revealed that CNT/PCN confers antibacterial activity but do not cause harm to normal human cells.

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) counting heterogeneous photocatalysis has confirmed as one of the preeminent method for waste water remediation. In the present work, we have successfully fabricated novel visible-light-driven nitrogen-doped graphene (NG) supported magnetic ZnO/ZnFe2O4 (ZnO/ZF/NG) and ZnO/CoFe2O4 (ZnO/CF/NG) nanocomposites. ZnO synthesized via direct precipitation method. Hydrothermal method was used for the preparation of nitrogen-doped graphene supported magnetic ZnO/ZF (ZnO/ZnFe2O4) and ZnO/CF (ZnO/CoFe2O4) nanocomposites. The procured materials were scrutinized by assorted characterizations to acquire information on their chemical composition, crystalline structure and photosensitive properties. The absorption and photocatalytic performance of photocatalysts were studied via UV–Visible spectra. Photodegradation performance of the synthesized nanocomposites was estimated toward mineralization of methyl orange (MO) and malachite green (MG) dyes in aqueous solution. The high surface area of ZnO/ZF/NG and ZnO/CF/NG was suitable for adsorptive removal of MO and MG dyes. The photodegradation performance of heterojunction photocatalysts was superior to bare photocatalyst in 140 min under visible-light irradiation. Spectrophotometer, GC–MS (Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry) elucidation was carried out to expose the possible intermediates formed. Both ZnO/ZF/NG and ZnO/CF/NG were rapidly isolated from the aqueous phase by applying an external magnetic field in 20 sec and 2 min, respectively. The photocatalytic performance and stability of ZnO/ZF/NG and ZnO/CF/NG nanocomposites were confirmed by conducting 10 consecutive regeneration cycles. Owing to recyclability of ZnO/ZF/NG and ZnO/CF/NG, these heterogeneous nanocomposites might be used as cost-effective for treatment of discarded water. The observations endorse that the synthesized ternary heterogeneous nanocomposites facilitates wastewater decontamination using photocatalytic technology. Keywords: ZnFe2O4, CoFe2O4, Nitrogen doped graphene, Supported photocatalysis Magnetic separation, Dye mineralization, Recycle efficiency

Since its first clinical application, methotrexate (MTX) has been widely used for the treatment of human diseases. Despite great advantages, some properties such as poor absorption, short plasma half-life and unpredictable bioavailability have led researchers to seek novel delivery systems to improve its characteristics for parenteral and oral administration. Recently, great attention has been directed to hydrogels for the preparation of MTX formulations. This review describes the potential of hydrogels for the formulation of MTX to treat cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and central nervous system diseases. We will delineate the state-of-the-art and promising potential of hydrogels for systemic MTX delivery as well as transdermal delivery of the drug-using hydrogel-based formulations.

Coronaviruses are responsible for a developing budgetary, human and fatality trouble, as the causative factor of infections, for example, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) It has been well recognized that SARS-CoV-2 may survive under severe atmosphere circumstances Hence, efficient containment approaches, for example, sanitizing, are crucial Commonly, living compounds contribute a substance of chemical heterogeneity, with antiviral movement, and therefore can have efficacy as therapeutic tools toward coronavirus diseases Here, in this review article, we have described the antimicrobial-based materials, which can be used to inhibit the spreading of the COVID-19 We have categorized these materials in three sections;(i) antimicrobial wall paint, (ii) antimicrobial papers and (iii) antimicrobial materials surface coating to be utilized as the antimicrobial-based materials for controlling the COVID-19 In the last section, we have given the concluding remarks with prospects in this area © 2020, Tech Science Press All rights reserved

Extensive contamination of water bodies by textile dyeing industries, organic pollutants and agricultural waste has emerged water pollution as one of the major global environmental crisis. The effect of this gross negligence is posing serious threats to human health therefore today; conserving water resources for the essence of life is of grave concern. Recently, advancements in photocatalytic properties of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) for wastewater treatment have gained tremendous interest in research. However, pristine g-C3N4 suffers from bottlenecks such as low surface area, rapid recombination of photo-generated electron–hole pairs and insufficient light absorption which thereby, reduces the photocatalytic degradation activity. Hitherto, noble metals have been widely utilized as dopants but are cost ineffective, rarely found and are difficult to recover. In this updated and all-inclusive review we have briefly discussed photocatalysis mechanism, primarily focused on non-precious elemental doping via various synthesis techniques of noble metal free doped g-C3N4 photocatalysts. Typically metal, non-metal, rare earth metal doping and co-doping have been explored, which demonstrates the synergistic behavior of the doped nanocomposites in modulation of electronic structure, broaden the visible light absorption range, enhancement in photocatalytic wastewater remediation ability to obtain maximum pollutant eradication. Summary remarks conclude the review with valuable knowledge of noble metal free doped g-C3N4 photocatalysts for water purification and sheds light on current challenges and crucial issues associated with its commercialization. The future aspect aims at designing of efficient solar light driven photocatalysts for application in various domains i.e. production of H2 and O2, reduction of CO2, practical use of solar cells, treatment of wastewater, air purification and environmental conservation.

The innovation of drug delivery vehicles with controlled properties for cancer therapy is the aim of most pharmaceutical research. This study aims to fabricate a new type of smart biocompatible stealth-nanoliposome to deliver curcumin for cancer treatment. Herein, four different types of liposomes (with/without pH-responsive polymeric coating) were synthesized via the Mozafari method and then characterized with several tests, including dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Zeta potential, and field emission scanning electron microscopes (FE-S EM). The loading and release profile of curcumin were evaluated in two pH of 7.4 and 6.6. Finally, the MTT assay was used to assess the cytotoxicity of the samples. FE-SEM results revealed a mean size of about 40 and 50 nm for smart stealth-liposome and liposome, respectively. The results of drug entrapment revealed that non-coated liposome had about 74% entrapment efficiency, while it was about 84% for PEGylated liposomes. Furthermore, the drug released pattern of the nanocarriers showed more controllable release in stealth-liposome in comparison to non-coated one. The results of the cytotoxicity test demonstrated the toxicity of drug-loaded carriers on cancer cells. Based on the results of this study, the as-prepared smart stealth pH-responsive nanoliposome could be considered as a potential candidate for cancer therapy.

Metallic substrates and polymer adhesive in composite-metal joints have a relatively large coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) mismatch, which is a barrier in the growing market of electric vehicles and their battery structures. It is reported that adding carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to the adhesive reduces the CTE of the CNT-enhanced polymer adhesive multi-material system, and therefore when used in adhesively bonded joints it would, theoretically, result in low CTE mismatch in the joint system. The current article presents the influence of two specific mass ratios of CNTs on the CTE of the enhanced polymer. It was observed that the addition of 1.0 wt% and 2.68 wt% of multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) decreased the CTE of the polymer adhesive from 7.5&times, 10&minus, 5 &deg, C&minus, 1 (pristine level) to 5.87&times, 1 and 4.43&times, 1, respectively, by 22% and 41% reductions.

The utilisation of industrial residual products to develop new value-added materials and reduce their environmental footprint is one of the critical challenges of science and industry. Development of new multifunctional and bio-based composite materials is an excellent opportunity for the effective utilisation of residual industrial products and a right step in the Green Deal's direction as approved by the European Commission. Keeping the various issues in mind, we describe the manufacturing and characterisation of the three-component bio-based composites in this work. The key components are a bio-based binder made of peat, devulcanised crumb rubber (DCR) from used tyres, and part of the fly ash, i.e., the cenosphere (CS). The three-phase composites were prepared in the form of a block to investigate their mechanical properties and density, and in the form of granules for the determination of the sorption of water and oil products. We also investigated the properties’ dependence on the DCR and CS fraction. It was found that the maximum compression strength (in block form) observed for the composition without CS and DCR addition was 79.3 MPa, while the second-highest value of compression strength was 11.2 MPa for the composition with 27.3 wt.% of CS. For compositions with a bio-binder content from 17.4 to 55.8 wt.%, and with DCR contents ranging from 11.0 to 62.0 wt.%, the compressive strength was in the range from 1.1 to 2.0 MPa. Liquid-sorption analysis (water and diesel) showed that the maximum saturation of liquids, in both cases, was set after 35 min and ranged from 1.05 to 1.4 g·g -1 for water, and 0.77 to 1.25 g·g-1 for diesel. It was observed that 90% of the maximum saturation with diesel fuel came after 10 min and for water after 35 min.

Background Integrated management of hemicellulosic fraction and its economical transformation to value-added products is the key driver towards sustainable lignocellulosic biorefineries. In this aspect, microbial cell factories are harnessed for the sustainable production of commercially viable biochemicals by valorising C5 and C6 sugars generated from agro-industrial waste. However, in the terrestrial ecosystem, microbial systems can efficiently consume glucose. On the contrary, pentose sugars are less preferred carbon source as most of the microbes lack metabolic pathway for their utilization. The effective utilization of both pentose and hexose sugars is key for economical biorefinery. Results Bioprospecting the food waste and selective enrichment on xylose-rich medium led to screening and isolation of yeast which was phylogenetically identified as Pichia fermentans. The newly isolated xylose assimilating yeast was explored for xylitol production. The wild type strain robustly grew on xylose and produced xylitol with > 40% conversion yield. Chemical mutagenesis of isolated yeast with ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS) yielded seven mutants. The mutant obtained after 15 min EMS exposure, exhibited best xylose bioconversion efficiency. This mutant under shake flask conditions produced maximum xylitol titer and yield of 34.0 g/L and 0.68 g/g, respectively. However, under the same conditions, the control wild type strain accumulated 27.0 g/L xylitol with a conversion yield of 0.45 g/g. Improved performance of the mutant was attributed to 34.6% activity enhancement in xylose reductase with simultaneous reduction of xylitol dehydrogenase activity by 22.9%. Later, the culture medium was optimized using statistical design and validated at shake flask and bioreactor level. Bioreactor studies affirmed the competence of the mutant for xylitol accumulation. The xylitol titer and yield obtained with pure xylose were 98.9 g/L and 0.67 g/g, respectively. In comparison, xylitol produced using non-detoxified xylose rich pre-hydrolysate from sugarcane bagasse was 79.0 g/L with an overall yield of 0.54 g/g. Conclusion This study demonstrates the potential of newly isolated P. fermentans in successfully valorising the hemicellulosic fraction for the sustainable xylitol production.

Energy storage devices are one of the hot spots in recent years due to the environmental problems caused by the large consumption of unsustainable energy such as petroleum or coal. Capacitors are a common device for energy storage, especially electrical energy. A variety of types including electrolytic capacitors, mica capacitors, paper capacitors, ceramic capacitors, film capacitors, and non-polarized capacitors have been proposed. Their specific applications depend on their intrinsic properties. Dielectric capacitors have reasonable energy storage density, with current research focusing on the enhancement of energy density and making the materials more flexible as well as lightweight. Improvement strategies are based on the premise that use of two or more different materials (e.g. polymers and ceramics/metals) at an optimal formulation can result in properties that combine the advantages of the precursor materials. Different polymers especially fluoropolymers (e.g. PVDF and PVDF based co-polymer) are the main components in dielectric nanocomposites for capacitors with high energy storage performance. In this article, we have briefly summarized the recent advances in functional polymers nanocomposites for energy storage applications with a primary focus on polymers, surface engineering, functional groups and novel synthesis/manufacturing concepts applied to new materials. The article presents a unique integrated structure and approaches providing key knowledge for the design and development of novel, low-cost, multifunctional next-generation energy storage materials with improved efficiency.

Researchers have recently focused on the advancement of new materials from biorenewable and sustainable sources because of great concerns about the environment, waste accumulation and destruction, and the inevitable depletion of fossil resources. Biorenewable materials have been extensively used as a matrix or reinforcement in many applications. In the development of innovative methods and materials, composites offer important advantages because of their excellent properties such as ease of fabrication, higher mechanical properties, high thermal stability, and many more. Especially, nanocomposites (obtained by using biorenewable sources) have significant advantages when compared to conventional composites. Nanocomposites have been utilized in many applications including food, biomedical, electroanalysis, energy storage, wastewater treatment, automotive, etc. This comprehensive review provides chemistry, structures, advanced applications, and recent developments about nanocomposites obtained from biorenewable sources.

Background Xylose is the most prevalent sugar available in hemicellulose fraction of lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) and of great interest for the green economy. Unfortunately, most of the cell factories cannot inherently metabolize xylose as sole carbon source. Yarrowia lipolytica is a non-conventional yeast that produces industrially important metabolites. The yeast is able to metabolize a large variety of substrates including both hydrophilic and hydrophobic carbon sources. However, Y. lipolytica lacks effective metabolic pathway for xylose uptake and only scarce information is available on utilization of xylose. For the economica feasibility of LCB-based biorefineries, effective utilization of both pentose and hexose sugars is obligatory. Results In the present study, succinic acid (SA) production from xylose by Y. lipolytica was examined. To this end, Y. lipolytica PSA02004 strain was engineered by overexpressing pentose pathway cassette comprising xylose reductase (XR), xylitol dehydrogenase (XDH) and xylulose kinase (XK) gene. The recombinant strain exhibited a robust growth on xylose as sole carbon source and produced substantial amount of SA. The inhibition of cell growth and SA formation was observed above 60 g/L xylose concentration. The batch cultivation of the recombinant strain in a bioreactor resulted in a maximum biomass concentration of 7.3 g/L and SA titer of 11.2 g/L with the yield of 0.19 g/g. Similar results in terms of cell growth and SA production were obtained with xylose-rich hydrolysate derived from sugarcane bagasse. The fed-batch fermentation yielded biomass concentration of 11.8 g/L (OD600: 56.1) and SA titer of 22.3 g/L with a gradual decrease in pH below 4.0. Acetic acid was obtained as a main by-product in all the fermentations. Conclusion The recombinant strain displayed potential for bioconversion of xylose to SA. Further, this study provided a new insight on conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into value-added products. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on SA production by Y. lipolytica using xylose as a sole carbon source.

peer-reviewed An Author Correction to this article was published on the 4/02/2021 and updated in ULIR on 09/02/2021, see file version 2. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) embedded polymers are of increasing interest to scientific and industrial communities for multi‑functional applications. in this article, cnts have been introduced to high‑ strength epoxy adhesive for enabling in‑situ strain sensing in adhesively bonded aluminium‑to‑ aluminium single‑lap joints to accurately indicate the onset and propagation of adhesion failure to the evolution of piezo-resistivity in varying mechanical loads. The CNT modified adhesive in bonded joints and the CNT modified adhesive alone have been tested under monothonic and cyclic tensile loads up to ultimate failure. the changes in the piezo‑resistivity induced by the cnts have been monitored in situ with respect to loading. A novel interpretation method has been developed for progressive, instantaneous adhesion failure estimation under cyclic tensile stresses from a resistivity baseline. the method indicates that the in‑situ resistivity changes and the rate of the changes with strain, i.e. sensitivity, strongly correlate with the adhesion failure progression, irrespective of the cnt dispersion quality. Moreover, the effect of bond thickness on the evolution of piezo-resistivity and adhesion failure have been studied. It was observed that relatively thin adhesive bonds (0.18 mm thickness), possessing higher CNT contact points than thick bonds (0.43 mm thickness), provide 100 times higher sensitivity to varying cyclic loads.

The world is witnessing tumultuous times as major economic powers including the US, UK, Russia, India, and most of Europe continue to be in a state of lockdown. The worst-hit sectors due to this lockdown are sales, production (manufacturing), transport (aerospace and automotive) and tourism. Lockdowns became necessary as a preventive measure to avoid the spread of the contagious and infectious “Coronavirus Disease 2019” (COVID-19). This newly identified disease is caused by a new strain of the virus being referred to as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus 2 (SARS CoV-2; formerly called 2019-nCoV). We review the current medical and manufacturing response to COVID-19, including advances in instrumentation, sensing, use of lasers, fumigation chambers and development of novel tools such as lab-on-the-chip using combinatorial additive and subtractive manufacturing techniques and use of molecular modelling and molecular docking in drug and vaccine discovery. We also offer perspectives on future considerations on climate change, outsourced versus indigenous manufacturing, automation, and antimicrobial resistance. Overall, this paper attempts to identify key areas where manufacturing can be employed to address societal challenges such as COVID-19., Graphical abstract Image 1, Highlights • We review the coronavirus pandemic and discuss salient aspects of the virus, the disease, its impact, propagation and treatment options. • We examine the current testing processes and the need for developing new tools such as lab-on-the-chip. • We examine how nanotechnology and ultra-precision engineering hold the promise in developing resilient measures to tackle the pandemic. • We also examine how digital manufacturing and automation can help productivity and how modelling and simulation can aid drug and vaccine discovery. • We explore design for manufacturing approaches required for developing new face masks and PPE's. • We discuss the short- and long-term impact of COVID-19 on supply chains, climate change and lifestyles.

Downgrading in the yield of crop is due to the inadequate availability of water. The way out for this trouble is to construct synthetic resources dependent on natural polymers with great water absorption and preservation limits. The present study investigated the design of agar-agar (Agr) and gelatin (GE) copolymerized methyl acrylate (MA) and acrylic acid (AA) hydrogel (Agr/GE-co-MA/AA) as a soil conditioner for moisture maintenance in agriculture. Agr/GE-co-MA/AA hydrogel was prepared by utilizing microwave-assisted green synthesis following the most suitable reaction conditions to obtain a remarkable water swelling percentage. The fabricated Agr/GE-co-MA/AA hydrogel was investigated through field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The water holding capacity of the soil and sand was examined by mixing Agr/GE-co-MA/AA hydrogel with soil and sand. The result demonstrates that the water holding time extended from 10 to 30 days for soil and 6 to 10 days for sand by using Agr/GE-co-MA/AA hydrogel. This synthesized biodegradable, low-cost and non-toxic Agr/GE-co-MA/AA hydrogel shows novelty as soil water maintaining material for irrigation in agriculture.

Many bacteria have the potential to use specific pesticides as a source of carbon, phosphorous, nitrogen and sulphur. Acephate degradation by microbes is considered to be a safe and effective method. The overall aim of the present study was to identify acephate biodegrading microorganisms and to investigate the degradation rates of acephate under the stress of humic acid and most common metal ions Fe(III) and copper Cu(II). Pseudomonas azotoformanss strain ACP1, Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain ACP2, and Pseudomonas putida ACP3 were isolated from acephate contaminated soils. Acephate of concentration 100 ppm was incubated with separate strain inoculums and periodic samples were drawn for UV&mdash, visible, FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy) and MS (Mass Spectrometry) analysis. Methamidophos, S-methyl O-hydrogen phosphorothioamidate, phosphenothioic S-acid, and phosphenamide were the major metabolites formed during the degradation of acephate. The rate of degradation was applied using pseudo-first-order kinetics to calculate the half-life (t1/2) values, which were 14.33&ndash, 16.72 d&minus, 1 (strain(s) + acephate), 18.81&ndash, 21.50 d&minus, 1 (strain(s) + acephate + Cu(II)), 20.06 &ndash, 23.15 d&minus, 1 (strain(s) + acephate + Fe(II)), and 15.05&ndash, 17.70 d&minus, 1 (strains + acephate + HA). The biodegradation efficiency of the three bacterial strains can be ordered as P. aeruginosa &gt, P. putida &gt, P. azotoformans. The present study illustrated the decomposition mechanism of acephate under different conditions, and the same may be applied to the removal of other xenobiotic compounds.

We reported the immobilization of binary heterojunction Eu3+-ZnO/Bi2O3 over the surface of graphene oxide (GO) sheets by precipitation method to compose a visible light drive photocatalyst. The ternary nanocomposites were characterized by different spectral technique like FESEM, FTIR, XRD, XPS, EDX, HRTEM, UV–visible, PL, HPLC and LCMS analysis. The high specific surface area of 106.0 m2g-1 of Eu3+-ZnO/Bi2O3/GO nanocomposites was ascertained by BET adsorption-desorption isotherm. The nano-composite exhibit excellent photo-efficiency for the photodegradation of 2, 4-dimethyl phenol (DMP) under visible region and was almost completely mineralized in 100 min as compared to the bare and binary system. The mineralized products of DMP were analyzed by HPLC and LCMS analysis. The kinetic model suggests the degradation pathway obeys pseudo-first order kinetic. Their antibacterial property were assessed against E. coli bacteria and nearly 90% of gram negative bacteria were killed by using ternary photocatalyst as determined by CFU method. Also, Eu3+-ZnO/Bi2O3/GO nanocomposites possessed significant recycle efficiency up to six consecutive cycles which is beneficial to minimize the tariff. The improved photo-efficiency is due to the extension towards visible region, increase surface area, and high charge separation in ternary heterojunction.

While the developments of additive manufacturing (AM) techniques have been remarkable thus far, they are still significantly limited by the range of printable, functional material systems that meet the requirements of a broad range of industries; including the health care, manufacturing, packaging, aerospace, and automotive industries. Furthermore, with the rising demand for sustainable developments, this review broadly gives the reader a good overview of existing AM techniques; with more focus on the extrusion-based technologies (fused deposition modeling and direct ink writing) due to their scalability, cost efficiency and wider range of material processability. It then goes on to identify the innovative materials and recent research activities that may support the sustainable development of extrusion-based techniques for functional and multifunctional (4D printing) part and product fabrication.

Paper is a perfect example of the circular economy as it remains the furthermost recycled product in Europe, creating significant environmental benefits and raw materials resources to the industry. Indeed, maintaining a consistent level of quality whilst limiting the environmental footprint of the product has become a major challenge for the industry. In this direction, paper is proving to be the promising feedstock for biorefinery and biomaterials. The future of paper recycling is slowly going beyond fibre recovery to address the needs of other industries because for the earth's environmental well-being various paper products need to be recycled and reused persistently. In this article, we outline the ambitious use of wastepaper (WP) for high-value applications such as; production of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), composite reinforcement, high performance electrical components and biofuels.

Recently, there is a growing research interest in the applications and development of novel sustainable hydrogel materials in waste water treatment because of radically distinctive chemical and physical characteristics of hydrogels such as hydrophilicity, swell ability and modifiability to name a few. Hydrogels have exposed the hypernym functioning in the removal of a wide range of aqueous pollutants containing toxic dyes and heavy metal ions. A large amount of water gets incorporated in the three dimensional networks of hydrophilic structures of hydrogels. The prime objective of this review article is to render a presentation on the recent advances in the modifications of sodium alginate based hydrogels for the adsorptive removal of toxic pollutants. In addition, article also briefly gives the classification and properties of hydrogels and alginate.

The search for new polymer processing ways has become necessary due to the rapidly growing technology and market needs. The time of manufacturing products, as well as the impact of process parameters and the design itself on the properties of materials have become very important. Therefore, the creation of assumptions allowing the construction of a compact device whose construction will allow, for example, high process efficiency at low screw rotational speeds or a high degree of material homogenisation, is expected by the market. However, this requires the design of new or continuous modifications and improvements to existing structures.

Recycling is groundwork of the worldwide efforts to diminish the amount of plastics in waste. Mostly around 7.8–8.2 million tons of poorly-used plastics enter the oceans every year. Non-biodegradable plastics settlements in landfills are uncertain, which hinders the production of land resources. Non-biodegradable plastic solid wastes, carbon dioxide, greenhouse gases, various air pollutants, cancerous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and dioxins, released to the environment cause severe damage and harmfulness to the inhabitants. Due to the bio-degradability and renewability of biopolymers, petroleum-based plastics can be replaced with bio-based polymers in order to minimize the environmental risks. In this review article, bio-degradability of polymers has been discussed. The mechanisms of bio-recycling have been particularly emphasized in the present article.

Guar gum based hydrogels have evoked great attention in research as well as in industry for exploring miscellaneous applications in the field of water purification, medicine, agriculture, explosives, cosmetics, textile, paper, and food to name a few. In this article, latest modifications for developing guar gum based hydrogels and composite materials for water purification application are extensively reviewed. Regenerative nature of Guar gum hydrogels makes it a better choice for treating wastewater as well as other value-added applications. Moreover, nonionic nature makes guar gum an acceptable material for further modifications. In this article, we also present a brief discussion on structure and properties of guar gum.

Since their first allusion, carbon nanotubes have attracted significant research interest, especially with respect to composite manufacturing as a filler material for enhancing their mechanical and electrical properties. Several methods have been developed for modifying the electrical properties of carbon nanotubes such as CNTs wall's carbon atoms substitution with other appropriate atoms including engineering of their outer surfaces by covalent and noncovalent molecules, such as CNTs channel filling and nano-chemical reactions therein. CNTs with tailored electrical conduction open large perspectives for their applicabilities in advanced technologies. Taking into consideration the innovative advantages of pure and hybrid CNTs, in this article we have comprehensively reviewed the latest state-of-art research developments in the direction of different synthesis strategies, structure-property relationships, and advanced applications towards energy storage, supercapacitors , electrodes, catalytic supports, as well as biosensing.

Plastic-based materials are frequently used in packaging and can be seen universally in both the developed and developing societies. At present, most of the currently used food packaging materials are nondegradable and are creating serious environmental problems. New technologies are being explored and developed to study the complex interaction between the food packaging materials and food. For example, nanocomposite of cellulose constitutes environmentally friendly packaging, which is easily recycled by combustion and requires low power consumption in production. There are several such biodegradable materials which are available at a low price, have good mechanical properties and allow disposal in the soil. This is advantageous because biological degradation produces only carbon dioxide, water, and inorganic compounds to name a few. It has also been discovered that biodegradable plastics made of such materials can be disposed of together with organic waste. The widespread use of biopolymers in the place of standard plastics would help to reduce the weight of waste. Therefore, biodegradable materials take part in the natural cycle “from nature to nature” and play an important role for environmental sustainability. So, in this article, we briefly summarize the different characteristic of biodegradable polymers being used in food packaging applications.

Covalent immobilization of resveratrol onto cellulose acetate polymeric membranes used as coating on a Mg-1Ca-0.2Mn-0.6Zr alloy is presented for potential application in the improvement of osseointegration processes. For this purpose, cellulose acetate membrane is hydrolysed in the presence of potassium hydroxide, followed by covalent immobilization of aminopropyl triethoxy silane. Resveratrol was immobilized onto membranes using glutaraldehyde as linker. The newly synthesised functional membranes were thoroughly characterized for their structural characteristics determination employing X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/DTG) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. Subsequently, in vitro cellular tests were performed for evaluating the cytotoxicity biocompatibility of synthesized materials and also the osseointegration potential of obtained derivatised membrane material. It was demonstrated that both polymeric membranes support viability and proliferation of the pre-osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells, thus providing a good protection against the potential harmful effects of the compounds released from coated alloys. Furthermore, cellulose acetate membrane functionalized with resveratrol exhibits a significant increase in alkaline phosphatase activity and extracellular matrix mineralization, suggesting its suitability to function as an implant surface coating for guided bone regeneration.

Hydroxyapatite–starch composites solidify rapidly via jellification, making them suitable candidates for robocasting. However, many aspects related to hydroxyapatite powder characteristics, hydroxyapatite–starch interaction, and composites composition and properties need to be aligned with robocasting requirements to achieve a notable improvement in the functionality of printed scaffolds intended for bone regeneration. This article presents a preliminary evaluation of hydroxyapatite–starch microcomposites. Thermal analysis of the starting powders was performed for predicting composites’ behavior during heat-induced densification. Also, morphology, mechanical properties, and hydroxyapatite–starch interaction were evaluated for the jellified composites and the porous bodies obtained after conventional sintering, for different starch additions, and for ceramic particle size distributions. The results indicate that starch could be used for hydroxyapatite consolidation in limited quantities, whereas the composites shall be processed under controlled temperature. Due to a different mechanical behavior induced by particle size and geometry, a wide particle size distribution of hydroxyapatite powder is recommended for further robocasting ink development.

The present study highlights the beneficial effects of premixing of highly loaded poly (butylene succinate) (PBS) / nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) nanocomposites under solution conditions and its use as a masterbatch for melt blending. The proposed masterbatch process strategy is a very promising manufacturing technique for nanocomposites. Herein, we show the preparation of masterbatch with NFC with a very high loading of 50 wt.%. Research is aimed towards understanding the solution and melt processing effects on the structure and exploitation properties. The composites with NFC loadings from 5 up to 15 wt.% have been prepared by diluting the masterbatch and compared to conventional solvent casting. The masterbatch process significantly reduced overall solvent usage and improved the NFC dispersion within the polymer matrix. The samples prepared by solution casting showed excellent mechanical performance with an increase in elastic modulus up to 1.6-fold and storage modulus up to 2-fold at room temperature (20 °C) compared to the neat PBS, while masterbatch processed samples showed even higher overall mechanical properties – 1.8-fold and 2.5-fold increase in elastic modulus and storage modulus, correspondingly. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging indicated a homogeneous NFC dispersion for masterbatch samples and revealed agglomeration of NFC for the solvent cast ones. Biodegradation studies in the composting conditions were performed to underpin the weight, visual changes, calorimetric properties, while chemical changes were studied using spectroscopy. The NFC significantly accelerated the nanocomposites' biodegradation process from 80 days for the neat PBS to 60 days for the nanocomposites. The calorimetric studies indicate that NFC promoted crystalline phase formation and reduced crystallinity, but thermal stability was not significantly affected. In addition, the reinforcement factor analysis shows that the suitable masterbatch NFC nanocomposite preparation method's choice has a high potential to obtain high-performance materials for PBS films and packaging applications.

A number of studies on zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4) as photocatalyst in cleaning wastewater have been achieved, because zinc ferrite nanoparticles are less toxic, chemically stable, possess high magnetic crystalline anisotropy, high coercivity, good magnetization, are biocompatible and cost-effective. Besides, separation of zinc ferrite photocatalyst is facile due to its magnificent magnetic behavior. The current review addresses zinc ferrite as a promising photocatalyst, its magnetic properties and electronic structure. Furthermore, various synthesis techniques have been reviewed viz. hydrothermal, sol-gel, polyol, co-precipitation, microwave, solvothermal, microemulsion, etc. for zinc ferrite photocatalysts. Various strategies for enhancing photocatalytic performances of heterojunctioned zinc ferrite photocatalysts were thoroughly reviewed. In conclusion, challenges and upcoming research requirements in edict to improve photocatalytic applications of zinc ferrite photocatalysts are addressed.

A novel all-solid-state (ASS) Z-scheme BiVO4/CQDs/FeVO4 photocatalyst with highly enhanced photocatalytic performance was successfully fabricated via a simple hydrothermal technique. The photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared sample was evaluated by the degradation of methylene blue under visible-light irradiation. The ASS Z-scheme BiVO4/CQDs/FeVO4 photocatalyst decomposed 98% methylene blue after 120 min irradiation, which was greater than that of pristine BiVO4 and FeVO4. With unique structural configuration, ASS Z-scheme BiVO4/CQDs/FeVO4 heterojunction could enhance charge separation efficacy, improve redox ability, and prolong the lifetime of photo-excitons, resulting in remarkably improved durability and photocatalytic performance.

Cellulose and cellulose derivatives represent one of the most abundant, in terms of quantity class of sustainable polymers that nature provides. The use of these polymers in a wide range of applications is well known for being used as such or by processing composite or functionalized materials. When it comes to functionalized cellulose, a small problem arises due to the limitation given by the limited reactivity of the hydroxyl groups present on the polymer chain. The present review aims to show a versatile method of functionalizing cellulose with aminopropyltriethoxysilane, the remaining amino group having a much higher reactivity and being much more versatile. Examples of the use of aminopropyltriethoxysilane as a linker for subsequent binding will be presented, as well as its direct applicability in various reactive separation processes.

Recent trends in food waste and its management have increasingly started to focus on treating it as a reusable resource. The hazardous impact of food waste such as the release of greenhouse gases, deterioration of water quality and contamination of land areas are a major threat posed by food waste. Under the circular economy principles, food waste can be used as a sustainable supply of high-value energy, fuel, and nutrients through green techniques such as anaerobic digestion, co-digestion, composting, enzymatic treatment, ultrasonic, hydrothermal carbonization. Recent advances made in anaerobic co-digestion are helping in tackling dual or even multiple waste streams at once with better product yields. Integrated approaches that employ pre-processing the food waste to remove obstacles such as volatile fractions, oils and other inhibitory components from the feedstock to enhance their bioconversion to reduce sugars. Research efforts are also progressing in optimizing the operational parameters such as temperature, pressure, pH and residence time to enhance further the output of products such as methane, hydrogen and other platform chemicals such as lactic acid, succinic acid and formic acid. This review brings together some of the recent progress made in the green strategies towards food waste valorization.

Innovative characteristics of hydrogels such as swellability, modifiability and hydrophilicity make them materials of choice for water treatment and other applications. Hydrogels have shown excellent adsorptive performance for different types of water pollutants comprising toxic dyes, nutrients and heavy metals. Among different types of hydrogel based materials, hydrogel-nanomaterials combination represent a highly viable method to further improve the properties of hydrogel for numerous applications. The combination of hydrogel and nanomaterials leads to the development of hybrid hydrogel with multifunctional network. This novel combination gives synergistic effect to the newly formed novel hydrogel materials. In this article, we briefly review the recent progress in gelatin based hydrogel nanocomposites with particular emphasis on wastewater treatment along with biomedical applications.

Manufacturing of petroleum based synthetic materials, exploitation of timber products from forest reserves, improper management of industrial wastes and natural resources greatly persuade the environmental contaminations and global warming. To find viable solutions and reduce such alarming issues, innovative research work on recycling of unutilized materials such as fly ash and natural cellulosic polymers has been reported in this work to develop advanced sustainable hybrid micro/nano composites. In this study, the use of natural cellulosic sisal fibers with fly ash has enhanced the tensile properties and surface finish of composites. Fly ash particulates acted as fillers, additives, as well as surface-finishing medium and sisal fibers as reinforcing elements in achieving glossy finish sustainable composites. The developed composites have been found to be stronger than wood, plastics and have many opportunities for multifunctional applications.

Lately Hydroxyapatite has gained a lot of research interest and intense focus due to its structural as well as compositional similarity to the components of human bone mineral. The conversion of calcium-rich precursors to hydroxyapatite could lead to the development of a new sustainable alternative with a valuable environmental and socio-economically impact. Still, current approaches faces lots of challenges in terms of synthesis parameters compatible to a reproducible route for calcium phosphates (hydroxyapatite included) synthesis. The optimization of Rathje synthesis route and characterization of biogenic derived calcium phosphates from dolomitic marble and Mytilus galloprovincialis seashells, constitutes the main goals of this study. The synthesized materials were characterized using FTIR, SEM coupled with EDS, and X-ray diffraction at all synthesis stages. Precursors were also subjected to thermal analysis and differential scanning calorimetry for thermal transformations investigations and dissociation temperature setting. This study suggests that acid quantity and magnetic stirring are the key-factors for Ca/P molar ratio adjustment, hence for the amount of naturally-derived hydroxyapatite. This research also contributes to the development of new strategies for further optimization of the conversion procedure and removal of residual components.

Nanomaterials based on zirconium tungstate (ZrW2O8) exhibit numerous outstanding properties that make them ideal candidates for the development of high-performance composites. Low coefficient of thermal expansion for advanced materials is a promising direction in the field of insulating nanocomposites. However, the agglomeration of zirconium tungstate (ZrW2O8)-based nanomaterials in the polymer matrix is a limiting factor in their successful applications, and studies on surface functionalization ZrW2O8 for advanced nanocomposites are very limited. In this work, ZrW2O8 nano-rods were synthesized using a hydrothermal method and subsequently functionalized in a solvent-free aqueous medium using dopamine. Both pristine and functionalized nano-rods were thoroughly characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy techniques, which confirmed the successful functionalization of the nanomaterials. Polymer nanocomposites were also prepared using epoxy resin as a model matrix. Polymer nanocomposites with functionalized ZrW2O8 nano-rods exhibited low coefficient of thermal expansion and enhanced tensile properties. The improved properties of the nanocomposites render them suitable for electronic applications. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The aim of the present study is to examine the effect of the addition of carbon nanoparticles (σsp2 hybridization) on the mechanical properties of foamed polystyrene. In this work, we focus on the study of the impact of compressive stress, tensile strength, bending strength, thermal conductivity ratio (λ), and water absorption of expanded polystyrene (EPS) reinforced with reduced graphene oxide and graphite. The results were compared with pristine EPS and reduced graphene oxide-reinforced EPS. All the nanocomposite specimens used for testing had a similar density. The study reveals that the nanocomposites exhibit different thermal conductivities and mechanical properties in comparison to pristine EPS. The enhancement in the properties of the nanocomposite could be associated with a more extensive structure of elementary cells of expanded polystyrene granules.

Rapid demographic expansion along with increasing urbanization has aggravated the problem of solid waste management. Therefore, scientists are seeking waste management methods that are eco-friendly, cost effective and produce immediate results. In the developing world, municipal solid waste (MSW) contains mostly organic substances, therefore vermicomposting could be a better and cost-effective option for waste management. In this study, vermicomposting of organic portion of MSW with cow dung (additive) was performed using Eisenia fetida. The results showed significant (p

The concept of 4D printing is its formation of complex three-dimensional structures that have the ability to adopt different shapes and forms when subjected to different environmental stimuli. A few researchers simply view 4D printing as an extended technique of 3D printing or additive manufacturing with the added constraint of time. However, the unique shape change mechanism exhibited in this process is a combination of shape programming and the usage of smart active materials mostly polymers. This review article highlights the various smart materials, activation mechanisms and the shape-changing techniques employed in the 4D printing process. The potential of the shape-changing structures and their current applications in various biomedical and engineering fields is also explored. The article aims to emphasize the potential and viability of 4D printing and focused on providing an in-depth insight into the 4D printing process.

Advances in noble metal mediated Z-scheme photocatalytic system have ushered in a climax on environmental remediation. Herein, graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) and phosphorus sulphur co-doped graphitic carbon nitride (PSCN) were synthesized via calcination process. GCN, PSCN and Z-scheme visible light driven (VLD) ternary BiOBr/PSCN/Ag/AgCl nanophotocatalyst were characterized by X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectra (UV–vis DRS). BiOBr/PSCN/Ag/AgCl nanocomposite exhibited superior visible light driven photocatalytic ability as compared to pristine PSCN, AgCl and BiOBr towards degradation of phenol. The results explicated promising photocatalytic activity along with space separation of photocarriers caused via formation of BiOBr/PSCN/Ag/AgCl Z-scheme heterojunction. The visible light absorption efficacy of BiOBr/PSCN/Ag/AgCl photocatalyst was confirmed by photoluminescence (PL) spectra. Finally, recycling experiments were explored for the mechanistic detailing of phenol photodegradation employing BiOBr/PSCN/Ag/AgCl photocatalyst. After seven successive cycles photodegradation efficacy of photocatalyst was reduced to 90% from 98%. Proposed mechanism of BiOBr/PSCN/Ag/AgCl nanophotocatalyst for degradation of phenol was discussed. OH· and O2·− radicals were main reactive species responsible for photocatalytic phenol degradation. Keywords: BiOBr, Ag/AgCl, P and S co-doped g-C3N4, Dual Z-scheme approach, Enhanced photocatalysis, Phenol degradation

Owing to biocompatibility, abundance, and low cost, magnetic iron oxides are well suited for the design of efficient and magnetically separable photocatalysts for water treatment. This review presents a detailed survey of magnetic iron oxide–integrated photocatalysts (MIOIPs), in which we have discussed essential conditions needed for designing of efficient MIOIPs for water purification. The synthesis methods and detailed experimental setups for fabrication of MIOIPs were discussed, and the integration manners of iron oxides (Fe2O3, Fe3O4, FeO, and ferrites) with binary, ternary, and quaternary non-magnetic photocatalysts have been categorized. The mechanistic view of enhanced photocatalytic activity caused by different MIOIPs under various light sources was also elaborately argued. The role of various reactive species in photocatalytic oxidative degrading of organic pollutants was investigated. Altogether, this review article has compressively considered and discussed various signs of advancements made toward the synthesis of MIOIPs and their stability, recyclability, and catalytic efficacy for wastewater treatment.

The transformation of biomass using steam gasification is a chemical route to facilitate changes in organic or residue supported carbonaceous substances addicted to carbon mono-oxide, hydrogen including carbon-di-oxide, etc. However, to commercialize the method of steam gasification, the hurdles persist during the gasification as well as downstream processing. This article delivers a summary of the different approaches that are described in the previous studies to achieve H2 refinement and adaptation within the gasifier system. These include advanced aspects in the research and development of biomass gasification (alike advancements under the gasification operation). The upshot of diverse operating conditions like steam flow rate, operating temperature, moisture content, gasifier agents, residence time, biomass to air, steam to biomass, equivalence ratio, etc. towards the execution of biomass gasifier. This review accomplishes that the interdependence of several issues must be considered in point to optimise the producer gas.

In the present scenario, civilization wholly depends on energy generation and storage for better technological progress and extension in several scientific applications. Owing to limited conventional energy sources and high energy requirement, absolute, cost-effective, and eco-friendly substitute roots of energy are of the principal interest. In this direction, direct alcohol fuel cell is becoming more familiar and promising because of its straightforward configuration system, weight, and elevated power generation efficiency. Indeed, recent years have seen extensive research on the preparation and properties of the fuel cell system. The literature review presented in this article provides comprehensive information on electrooxidation of alcohol developed on different type of electrocatalyst. The integration of a range of nanomaterials is depicted to comprehend the effect of different properties such as a well-ordered porous structure, exemplary high specific surface areas, electronic conductivity, tremendous convenience to active sites, and improved mass transport for electrooxidation of fuel cell. In this article, we have presented a detailed review of fuel cells and defined the main perspective, rationale and motivation, research tasks, and objectives of study as well as the delimitation of the study.

Hydrogels are the most iconic class of soft materials, and since their first report in the literature, they have attracted the attention of uncountable researchers. Over the past two decades, hydrogels have become smart and sophisticated materials with numerous applications. This class of soft materials have been playing a significant role in biomedicine due to their tunable and often programmable properties. Hydrogels from renewable polymers have been popularized in biomedical applications as they are often biocompatible, easily accessible, and inexpensive. The challenge however has been to find an ideal plant-based hydrogel for biomedicine that can mimic critical properties of human tissues in terms of structure, function, and performance. In addition, natural polymers can readily be functionalized to engineer their chemical and physical uproperties pertinent to drug delivery and tissue engineering. Here, the most recent advances in the synthesis, fabrication, and applications of plant-based hydrogels in biomedical engineering are reviewed. We cover essential and updated information about plants as green sources of biopolymers for hydrogel synthesis, general aspects of hydrogels and plant-based hydrogels, and thorough discussion regarding the use of such hydrogels in the biomedical engineering area. Furthermore, this review details the present status of the field and answers several important questions about the potential of plant-based hydrogels in advanced biomedical applications including therapeutics, tissue engineering, wound dressing, and diagnostics. etc., 0, SCOPUS: re.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Natural polymers based composites offers significant advantages over synthetic fibre reinforced petroleum matrix based composites with regard to biodegradability, biocompatibility, design flexibility and sustainability. This work reports for the first time manufacturing of hybrid fibre reinforced biodegradable composites using sisal and hemp fibre with polylactic acid employing melt processing and injection moulding techniques. Granulated sisal and hemp fibres were blended and hybrid composites were manufactured using aliphatic polyester made up of lactic acid (PLA) through extrusion and injection moulding and their performance was evaluated. Experimental results revealed that density, elongation at break and water absorption capacity of hybrid composites were 1.14 ± 0.07 g/cm3, 0.93 ± 0.35% and 1.06 ± 0.18% respectively. The achieved mean tensile strength (46.25 ± 6.75 MPa), Young’s modulus (6.1 ± 0.58 GPa) and specific tensile strength (38.86 ± 5.0) of hybrid fibre reinforced PLA composites were improved compared to neat PLA. The flexural strength (94.83 ± 11.21 MPa), flexural modulus (6.04 ± 0.55 GPA) and specific flexural strength (79.76 ± 8.80) of hybrid fibre composites also showed better performance than those of neat PLA. Incorporation of sisal and hemp fibre with polylactide remarkably increased the impact strength of composites. Overall, the hybrid composites demonstrated good performance suggesting that they have great potential for use as an environmentally friendly alternative material in automotive, packaging, electronics, interiors and agricultural applications.