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Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2023Large amounts of chloride ions (Cl) and sulfate ions (SO) are present in salt-washing wastewater, making it unsuitable for direct release. Adsorption can be used to...
Large amounts of chloride ions (Cl) and sulfate ions (SO) are present in salt-washing wastewater, making it unsuitable for direct release. Adsorption can be used to eliminate Cl and SO from salt-washing wastewater, and hydrotalcite is an excellent adsorbent with high adsorption properties for these ions because of a layered bimetallic hydroxide structure. The selective extraction of various metals, such as calcium, magnesium, aluminum, and iron, from steel slag via acid leaching facilitates the utilization of steel slag in the preparation of hydrotalcite. In this study, the leaching mechanism of metal in steel slag was investigated using steel slag as a raw material and acetic acid as the reaction medium. The study obtained the optimal leaching mechanism for preparing hydrotalcite. Hydrotalcite was synthesized from the steel slag leaching solution by hydrothermal synthesis, and its structure was characterized. The adsorption performance of Cl and SO in salt-washing wastewater was investigated by solution adsorption experiments. The removal rates of Cl and SO in salt-washing wastewater reached 12.8% and 38.0%, respectively. After multiple adsorption cycles, the removal rates increased to 98.0% for Cl and 96.4% for SO.
PubMed: 38068146
DOI: 10.3390/ma16237402 -
ACS Omega Oct 2023We recently synthesized prospective new materials composed of alternating quasi-atomic sheets of brucite-type hydroxide (Mg, Fe)(OH) and CuFeS sulfide (valleriites)....
We recently synthesized prospective new materials composed of alternating quasi-atomic sheets of brucite-type hydroxide (Mg, Fe)(OH) and CuFeS sulfide (valleriites). Herein, their thermal behavior important for many potential applications has been studied in inert (Ar) and oxidative (20% O) atmospheres using thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses and characterization with X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX). In the Ar media, the processes are determined by the dehydroxylation of the hydroxide layers forming MgO, with the temperature of the major endothermic maximum of the mass loss at 413 °C. Sulfide sheets start to degrade below 500 °C and melt at nearly 800 °C, with bornite, chalcopyrite, and troilite specified as the final products. In the oxidative atmosphere, the exothermic reactions with the mass increase peaked at 345 and 495 °C, corresponding to the partial and major oxidations of Cu-Fe sulfide layers. Sulfur oxides captured in magnesium hydroxide layers to form MgSO compromised the layer integrity and promoted the oxidation of the sulfide entities. The final products also contained minor MgO, CuMgO, FeO, and MgFeO phases. Samples doped with Al, which decreases the content of Fe in hydroxide layers, show notably impeded decay of valleriite in argon but facilitated the oxidation of Cu-Fe sulfides, while the impact of Li (it slightly increases the number of the Fe-OH sites) was less expressed. The mutual stabilization of the two-dimensional (2D) hydroxide and sulfide layers upon heating in an inert atmosphere but not in oxygen as compared with bulk brucite and chalcopyrite was suggested to explain high thermal resistance across the stacked incommensurate sheets, which slows down the endothermic reactions and accelerates the exothermic oxidation; the high number of Fe atoms in the hydroxide sheets are expected to promote the phonon exchange and heat transfer between the layers.
PubMed: 37810731
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c04274 -
Chemical Science Nov 2023In seawater, severe hydroxide-based precipitation on the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrode surface is still a major stumbling block for direct seawater...
In seawater, severe hydroxide-based precipitation on the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrode surface is still a major stumbling block for direct seawater electrolysis. Here, we design a direct seawater HER electrode with excellent anti-precipitation performance based on an Ni(OH) nanofiltration membrane grown on nickel foam (NF) at room temperature. The positively charged Ni(OH) membrane with nanometer-scale cracks realises an ion sieving function, which apparently hinders the transfer of Mg/Ca ions to suppress precipitation, while rapidly transporting OH and HO to ensure HER mass transfer. Therefore, the Ni(OH)-membrane-decorated seawater HER electrode reduces precipitation by about 98.3% and exhibits high activity and stability. Moreover, in the application of a direct seawater electrolyser and magnesium seawater battery, the Ni(OH) membrane-decorated electrode also shows low precipitation and high stability. This work highlights a potential strategy to solve HER electrode precipitation in seawater an ingenious electrode structure design.
PubMed: 37920330
DOI: 10.1039/d3sc04532c -
Faraday Discussions Oct 2023Lithium is a fundamental raw material for the production of rechargeable batteries. The technology currently in use for lithium salts recovery from continental brines...
Lithium is a fundamental raw material for the production of rechargeable batteries. The technology currently in use for lithium salts recovery from continental brines entails the evaporation of huge water volumes in desert environments. It also requires that the native brines reside for not less than a year in open air ponds, and is only applicable to selected compositions, not allowing its application to more diluted brines such as those geothermally sourced or waters produced from the oil industry. We have proposed an alternative technology based on membrane electrolysis. In three consecutive water electrolyzers, fitted alternately with anion and cation permselective membranes, we have shown, at proof-of-concept level, that it is possible to sequentially recover lithium carbonate and several by-products, including magnesium and calcium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, H and HCl. The big challenge is to bring this technology closer to practical implementation. Thus, the issue is how to apply relatively well-known electrochemical technology principles to large volumes and to a highly complex and saline broth. We have studied the application of this new methodology to ternary mixtures (NaCl, LiCl and KCl) with constant LiCl and KCl composition and increasing NaCl content. Results showed very similar behaviour for systems containing [Na]/[Li] concentration ratios ranging from 1.24 to 4.80. The voltage developed between the anode and cathode is almost the same in all systems at roughly 3.5 V when a constant current density of 50 A m is applied. The three monovalent cations migrate with different rates across the cation exchange membrane, with Li being the most sluggish and thus crystallization of LiCO only occurs close to completion of the electrolysis. The dimensionless concentration profiles are almost indistinguishable despite the changes in total salinity. The solids crystallized from different feeds showed higher Na and K contents as the initial Na concentration was increased. However, solids with over 99.9% purity in LiCO could be obtained after a simple re-suspension treatment in hot water. The electrochemical energy consumption greatly increases with higher Na concentrations, and the amount of fresh water that can be recovered is diminished.
PubMed: 37477538
DOI: 10.1039/d3fd00051f -
Advanced Science (Weinheim,... Feb 2024Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease featuring an abnormal immune microenvironment and resultant accumulation of hydrogen ions (H ) produced by...
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease featuring an abnormal immune microenvironment and resultant accumulation of hydrogen ions (H ) produced by activated osteoclasts (OCs). Currently, clinic RA therapy can hardly achieve sustained or efficient therapeutic outcomes due to the failures in generating sufficient immune modulation and manipulating the accumulation of H that deteriorates bone damage. Herein, a highly effective immune modulatory nanocatalytic platform, nanoceria-loaded magnesium aluminum layered double hydroxide (LDH-CeO ), is proposed for enhanced immune modulation based on acid neutralization and metal ion inherent bioactivity. Specifically, the mild alkaline LDH initiates significant M2 repolarization of macrophages triggered by the elevated antioxidation effect of CeO via neutralizing excessive H in RA microenvironment, thus resulting in the efficient recruitment of regulatory T cell (Treg) and suppressions on T helper 17 cell (Th 17) and plasma cells. Moreover, the osteogenic activity is stimulated by the Mg ion released from LDH, thereby promoting the damaged bone healing. The encouraging therapeutic outcomes in adjuvant-induced RA model mice demonstrate the high feasibility of such a therapeutic concept, which provides a novel and efficient RA therapeutic modality by the immune modulatory and bone-repairing effects of inorganic nanocatalytic material.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Bone and Bones; Macrophages; Osteogenesis; Hydroxides
PubMed: 38064119
DOI: 10.1002/advs.202307094 -
Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2024Utilizing MgO as the precursor and deionized water as the solvent, this study synthesized nanoparticles of Mg(OH) via hydrothermal methods, aiming to control its purity,...
Utilizing MgO as the precursor and deionized water as the solvent, this study synthesized nanoparticles of Mg(OH) via hydrothermal methods, aiming to control its purity, particle size, and morphology by understanding its growth under non-uniform nucleation. Characterization of crystal morphology and structure was conducted through scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, while laser particle size detection assessed the secondary particle size distribution. The study focused on how MgO's hydrothermal process conditions influence Mg(OH) crystal growth, particularly through ion concentration and release rate adjustments to direct crystal growth facets. These adjustments shifted the dominant growth plane, enhancing the peak intensity ratio I001/I101 from 1.03 to 2.14, thereby reducing surface polarity and secondary aggregation of crystals. The study of the physicochemical properties of the same sample at different times revealed the pattern of crystal dissolution and recrystallization. A 2 h hydrothermal reaction notably altered the particle size distribution, with a decrease in particles sized 0.2~0.4 μm and an increase in those sized 0.4~0.6 μm, alongside new particles over 1 μm, indicating a shift toward uniformity through dissolution and recrystallization. Optimal conditions (6% magnesium oxide concentration, 160 °C, 2 h) led to the synthesis of highly dispersed, uniformly sized magnesium hydroxide, showcasing a simple, eco-friendly, and high-yield process.
PubMed: 38730761
DOI: 10.3390/ma17091956 -
Journal of Orthopaedic Research :... Jul 2023Clinical trials exploring bolus intravenous delivery of interleukin-12 (IL-12) for treatment of solid tumors ultimately failed due to lack of clinical response and...
Clinical trials exploring bolus intravenous delivery of interleukin-12 (IL-12) for treatment of solid tumors ultimately failed due to lack of clinical response and severe dose-limiting toxicities. The present study was conducted to evaluate whether recombinant murine IL-12 (rmIL-12) could be successfully encapsulated within Poly (D, l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanospheres (rmIL-12ns) for safe and effective systemic delivery at pharmacologic scale. Optimal fabrication of rmIL-12ns occurs with dichloromethane as the organic solvent and emulsion formation via ultrasonication at 50% power (250 W sonicator) for 10 s (50W10s). We then determined whether utilization of synthesis modifiers including fetal bovine serum (FBS), magnesium hydroxide [Mg(OH) ], trehalose, or the surfactants polysorbate 80 and Span 60 alone or in combination could increase the encapsulation efficiency (EE) and/or modify the burst elution profile characteristic of the 50W10s rmIL-12ns formulation. The greatest EEs compared to the unmodified formulation were measured with modifications containing the surfactants polysorbate 80 and Span 60 (surfactant: 28.3 ± 6.10%, p = 0.29 and Surf/FBS: 85.4 ± 2.19%, p = 0.039). The Surf/FBS formulation was further modified for in vivo murine injection by substituting FBS with mouse serum albumin (MSA). The resulting Surf/MSA rmIL-12ns were then characterized before delivery at three doses (0.1, 1, and 10 mg rmIL-12ns) in our established murine model of metastatic osteosarcoma to assess efficacy. Preliminary results suggested no evidence of disease with delivery of the 0.1 mg dose in 75% of mice (3 of 4) versus a nontreated historical control (2 of 34).
Topics: Mice; Animals; Interleukin-12; Polysorbates; Nanospheres; Surface-Active Agents; Osteosarcoma
PubMed: 36453532
DOI: 10.1002/jor.25491 -
Environmental Science and Pollution... May 2024Contaminations by pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and other emerging pollutants in water resources have become a seriously burgeoning issue of global concern in...
Contaminations by pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and other emerging pollutants in water resources have become a seriously burgeoning issue of global concern in the first third of the twenty-first century. As societal reliance on pharmaceuticals continues to escalate, the inadvertent introduction of these substances into water reservoirs poses a consequential environmental threat. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate reductive degradation, particularly, catalytic hydrogenation regarding model pollutants such as diclofenac (DCF), ibuprofen (IBP), 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), or bisphenol-A (BPA), respectively, in aqueous solutions at lab scale. Iron bimetals (zero valent iron, ZVI, and copper, Cu, or nickel, Ni) as well as zero valent magnesium (Mg, ZVM) in combination with rhodium, Rh, or palladium, Pd, as hydrogenation catalysts (HK), were investigated. Studies were executed through various short-term batch experiments, with multiple sample collections, over a total range of 120 min. The results indicated that DCF was attenuated at over 90 % when exposed to Fe-Cu or a Fe-Ni bimetal (applied as a single model pollutant). However, when DCF was part of a mixture alongside with IBP, EE2, and BPA, the attenuation efficacy decreased to 79 % with Fe-Cu and 23 % with Fe-Ni. Conversely, both IBP and BPA exhibit notably low attenuation levels with both bimetals, less than 50 %, both deployed as single substances or in mixtures. No reaction (degradation) products could be identified employing LC-MS, but sometimes a release of the parent pollutant when applying an acetic acid buffer could be noted to a certain extent, suggesting adsorption processes on corrosion products such as iron hydroxide and/or oxides. Surprisingly, Mg in combination with Rh (Rh-HK) or Pd (Pd-HK) showed a significantly rapid decrease in the concentrations of DCF, EE2, and BPA, in part up to approximately 100 %, that is, within a few minutes only in part due to hydrogenation degradation reactions (related reaction products could actually be identified by LC-MS; adsorption processes were not observed here). Moreover, kinetic modeling of the DCF degradation with Mg-Rh-HK was conducted at different temperatures (15 °C, 20 °C, 25 °C, 35 °C) and varied initial concentrations (2.5 mg/L, 5.0 mg/L, 7.5 mg/L, 10.0 mg/L). The outcomes prove that the degradation of DCF at the Rh-HK's surface followed a modified first-order kinetics, most probably by catalytic hydrodehalogenation and subsequent hydrogenation of the aromatic moieties (molecular hydrogen was provided by the corrosion of Mg). From the determined reaction rate constants at four different temperatures, the activation energy was estimated to be 59.6 kJ/mol by means of the Arrhenius equation what is in good agreement with similar results reported in the literature. This coupled hydrodehalogenation and hydrogenation approach may be upscaled into a new promising technical process for comprehensively removing such pharmaceuticals and similar pollutants in sewage plants in a single step, furthermore, even in combination with adsorption by activated carbon and/or ozonation which have already been established at some sewage plants in Switzerland and Germany recently.
Topics: Water Pollutants, Chemical; Catalysis; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Magnesium; Hydrogen; Benzhydryl Compounds; Metals; Phenols
PubMed: 38744765
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32777-1 -
ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering Aug 2023Osteosarcoma (OS) is a malignant bone tumor that threatens human health. Surgical removal of the tumor and followed by implantation with a graft is the golden standard...
Osteosarcoma (OS) is a malignant bone tumor that threatens human health. Surgical removal of the tumor and followed by implantation with a graft is the golden standard for its clinical treatment. However, avoiding recurrence by enhancing the antitumor properties of the implants and improving osteogenesis around the implants remain a challenge. Here, we developed a layered double hydroxide (LDH)-coated magnesium (Mg) alloy and loaded it with celastrol. The celastrol-loaded Mg alloy exhibited enhanced corrosion resistance and sustained release of celastrol. cell culture suggested that the modified Mg alloy loaded with an appropriate amount of celastrol significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of bone tumor cells while having little influence on normal cells. A mechanistic study revealed that the celastrol-loaded Mg alloy upregulated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in bone tumor cells, resulting in mitochondrial dysfunction due to reduced membrane potential, thereby inducing bone tumor cell apoptosis. Furthermore, it was found that celastrol-induced autophagy in tumor cells inhibited cell apoptosis in the initial 6 h. After ≥12 h of culture, inhibition of the PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling pathway was noted, resulting in excessive autophagy in tumor cells, finally causing cell apoptosis. The celatsrol-loaded Mg alloy also exhibited effective antitumor properties in a subcutaneous tumor model. tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining and gene expression results revealed that the modified Mg alloy reduced the viability of osteoclasts, inducing a potential pathway for the increased bone regeneration around the modified Mg alloy seen . Together, the results of our study show that the celatsrol-loaded Mg alloy might be a promising implant for treating OS.
PubMed: 37530388
DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c00357 -
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces... Mar 2024Emulsions, formed by dispersing a liquid into another immiscible one by virtue of emulsifiers, have been widely applied in commercial applications like foods,...
Emulsions, formed by dispersing a liquid into another immiscible one by virtue of emulsifiers, have been widely applied in commercial applications like foods, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and personal care, which always confront environmental and/or toxic questions due to emulsifiers' high dosage. Recently, a study on Pickering emulsions points out a solution to stable emulsions based on the costabilizing effect of colloidal particles, which focused on surface-active particles cooperating with oppositely charged ionic surfactants. Costabilized emulsions adopting a charge-similar ionic surfactant and particles were less studied. In this article, a hexane-in-water emulsion was prepared in use of a cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) with positively charged magnesium hydroxide (MH) nanosheets at low concentrations (10 M and 10 wt %, respectively). The emulsion is stable due to the synergy by CTAB and MH nanosheets, which functions in virtue of the electric repulsion by similarly charged particles, the mechanical shielding by MH nanosheets, and restrained water drainage in lamellae between droplets due to the gelation of MH nanosheets. Moreover, the emulsion is doubly switchable within emulsification/demulsification via convenient pH or ion manipulation, a mechanism based on the breakdown and rebuilding of the costabilizing synergy. Such dual-responsive emulsions show high potential for the delicate control of drug delivery, release, and biphasic biocatalysis applications.
PubMed: 38427799
DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c03830