0D/2D dual Fenton α-Fe2O3/Fe-doped g-C3N4 photocatalyst and the synergistic photo-Fenton catalytic mechanism insight.

A novel dual Photo-Fenton photocatalyst Fe2O3-Fe-CN with excellent Fe(III)/Fe(II) conversion efficiency and trace metal ion leaching rate has been fabricated by in-situ deposition of α-Fe2O3 quantum dots on ultrathin porous Fe-doped carbon nitride (Fe-CN) nanosheets. The iron species in Fe-CN and α-Fe2O3 QDs constitute a mutually reinforcing dual Photo-Fenton effect. The 4% Fe2O3-Fe-CN showed superior performance with kobs values 8.60 and 4.80 folders greater than pure CN and Fe-CN, respectively. The synergistic effect between α-Fe2O3 QDs and the ultrathin porous structure of Fe-CN is the primary reason for the outstanding catalytic performance exhibited by α-Fe2O3/Fe-CN. On one hand, the ultrathin porous structure of Fe-CN promotes the rapid transfer of photogenerated electrons. On the other hand, the efficient photogenerated charge separation at the α-Fe2O3/Fe-CN interface enables more photogenerated electrons to participate in the Fe3+/Fe2+ conversion and H2O2 activation. The trapping experiments demonstrate that •OH and •O2- are the primary active species in TC degradation. This work presents novel insights into the design of efficient heterogeneous Fenton catalysts for practical applications.

Efficient Cr(VI) remediation by electrospun composite porous nanofibers incorporating biomass with metal oxides and metal-organic framework.

To develop a highly efficient adsorbent to remediate and remove hexavalent chromium ions (Cr(VI)) from polluted water, cellulose acetate (CA) and chitosan (CS), along with metal oxides (titanium dioxide (TiO2) and ferroferric oxide (Fe3O4)), and a zirconium-based metal-organic framework (UiO-66) were used to fabricate the composite porous nanofiber membranes through electrospinning. The adsorption performance, influencing factors, adsorption kinetics and isotherms of composite nanofiber membranes were comprehensively investigated. The multi-layer membrane with interpenetrating nanofibers and surface functional groups enhanced the natural physical adsorption and provided potential chemical sites. The thermal stability was improved by introducing TiO2 and UiO-66. CA/CS/UiO-66 exhibited the highest adsorption capacity (118.81 mg g-1) and removal rate (60.76%), which were twice higher than those of the control. The correlation coefficients (R2) of all the composite nanofibers regressed by the Langmuir model were significantly higher than those by the Freundlich model. The pseudo-first-order kinetic curve of CA/CS composite nanofibers showed the highest R2 (0.973), demonstrating that the whole adsorption process involved a combination of strong physical adsorption and weak chemical adsorption by the amino groups of CS. However, the R2 values of the pseudo-second-order kinetic model increased after incorporating TiO2, Fe3O4, and UiO-66 into the CA/CS composite nanofiber membranes since an enhanced chemical reaction with Cr (VI) occured during the adsorption.

Chitosan-based fluorescent probe for the detection of Fe3+ in real water and food samples.

Iron ions play a crucial role in the environment and the human body. Therefore, developing an effective detection method is crucial. In this paper, we report CNS2, a chitosan-based fluorescent probe utilizing naphthalimide as a fluorophore. CNS2 is designed to "quench" its own yellow fluorescence through the specific binding of compounds containing enol structures to Fe3+. Studying the fluorescence lifetime of CNS2 in the presence or absence of Fe3+ reveals that the quenching mechanism is static. The presence of multiple recognition sites on the chitosan chain bound to Fe3+ gave CNS2 rapid recognition (1 min) and high sensitivity, with a detection limit as low as 0.211 µM. Moreover, the recognition of Fe3+ by CNS2 had a good specificity and was not affected by interferences. More importantly, in this study, CNS2 was successfully utilised to prepare fluorescent composite membranes and to detect Fe3+ in real water samples and a variety of food samples. The results show that the complex sample environment still does not affect the recognition of Fe3+ by CNS2. All the above experiments obtained more satisfactory results, which provide strong support for the detection of Fe3+ by the probe CNS2 in practical applications.

A flavonol-labelled cellulose fluorescent probe combined with composite fluorescent film imaging and smartphone technology for the detection of Fe3.

Fe3+ is one of the most widely distributed and abundant elements on earth. Realizing efficient and real-time monitoring of Fe3+ is of great significance for the natural environment and the health of living organisms. In this paper, a flavonol-labelled cellulose-based fluorescent probe (ACHM) was synthesized by using dialdehyde cellulose (DAC) as the backbone and combining with flavonol derivatives (AHM - 1). The mechanism of recognizing Fe3+ was verified by characterizing the structure of ACHM by NMR, HRMS (High Resolution Mass Spectrometry), FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), XRD (X-ray Diffraction), TG (Thermogravimetry) and SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy). The H2O solution of the probe ACHM showed good fluorescence properties. It has quenching fluorescence properties for Fe3+, with a low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.10 µM and a fast response time of only 20 s. In addition, in order to expand the application range of the probe, ACHM was prepared as a fluorescent composite film with an average tensile strength of 32.9 MPa and an average elongation at break of 3.39 %. It shows its superiority in mechanical properties. The probe also demonstrated its practical application value for detecting Fe3+ in smartphone imaging applications.

Synthesis and application of hypochlorite ratiometric fluorescence probe based on cellulose.

Cellulose is the most abundant natural polymer with good biocompatibility and easy modification characteristics. In this paper, a novel cellulose fluorescence probe CNS for detecting ClO- was prepared by modifying microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). The fluorescence detection results indicate that CNS exhibits a highly specific "ratiometric" and "colorimetric" fluorescence response to ClO-. In the presence of ClO-, the fluorescence color changes from green to cyan. In addition, the color of the solution changes from yellow to colorless, which can be observed with the "naked eye". Considering the good selectivity and anti-interference ability of CNS, the probe can be used for the detection of ClO- in real water samples. Importantly, CNS composite films and test papers were prepared and showed practicability in the detection of ClO-, highlighting its broad application potentials.

Electrospun microcrystalline cellulose/chitosan porous composite nanofibrous membranes modified by non-thermal plasma for gaseous formaldehyde adsorption.

To develop a green and facile adsorbent for removing indoor polluted formaldehyde (HCHO) gas, the biomass porous nanofibrous membranes (BPNMs) derived from microcrystalline cellulose/chitosan were fabricated by electrospinning. The enhanced chemical adsorption sites with diverse oxygen (O) and nitrogen (N)-containing functional groups were introduced on the surface of BPNMs by non-thermal plasma modification under carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen (N2) atmospheres. The average nanofiber diameters of nanofibrous membranes and their nanomechanical elastic modulus and hardness values decreased from 341 nm to 175-317 nm and from 2.00 GPa and 0.25 GPa to 1.70 GPa and 0.21 GPa, respectively, after plasma activation. The plasma-activated nanofibers showed superior hydrophilicity (WCA = 0°) and higher crystallinity than that of the control. The optimal HCHO adsorption capacity (134.16 mg g-1) of BPNMs was achieved under a N2 atmosphere at a plasma power of 30 W and for 3 min, which was 62.42 % higher compared with the control. Pyrrolic N, pyridinic N, CO and O-C=O were the most significant O and N-containing functional groups for the improved chemical adsorption of the BPNMs. The adsorption mechanism involved a synergistic combination of physical and chemical adsorption. This study provides a novel strategy that combines clean plasma activation with electrospinning to efficiently remove gaseous HCHO.

Boiling water resistant fully bio-based adhesive made from maleated chitosan and glucose with excellent performance.

Biomass resources are widely considered potential alternatives to formaldehyde-based wood adhesives because of their abundance. In this study, an environmentally friendly biomass adhesive, carboxylated chitosan-glucose (CSC-G), was prepared using chitosan, maleic anhydride, and glucose. The structure and water resistance of the adhesive were analyzed in detail. Maleic anhydride act as a bridge connecting chitosan and glucose, giving the adhesive good water solubility and resistance. The improved water resistance of the CSC-G adhesive was attributed to the formation of covalent cross-linked structures and an increased degree of system cross-linking. Additionally, the curing temperature of the CSC-G adhesive was superior to those of previously reported polyester adhesives. This study not only expands the application scope of fishery waste, but also demonstrates its great potential for the preparation of high-performance plywood.

A Chitosan-Based Fluorescent Probe Combined with Smartphone Technology for the Detection of Hypochlorite in Pure Water.

Using chitosan as a raw material, 1,8-naphthimide as the fluorescent chromophore, and sulfur-containing compounds as the recognition groups, a novel naphthimide-functionalized chitosan probe, CS-BNS, for the detection of ClO- was successfully synthesized. The modification of chitosan was verified by SEM, XRD, FTIR, mapping, 13C-NMR, TG and the structure of the probe molecule was characterized. The identification performance of the probes was studied using UV and fluorescence spectrophotometers. The results show that CS-BNS exhibits a specific response to ClO- based on the oxidative reaction of ClO- to the recognition motifs, as well as a good resistance to interference. And the probe has high sensitivity and fast response time, and can complete the detection of ClO- in a pure water system within 60 s. The probe can also quantify ClO- (y = 30.698x + 532.37, R2 = 0.9833) with a detection limit as low as 0.27 µM. In addition, the combination of the probe with smartphone technology enables the visualization and real-time monitoring of ClO-. Moreover, an identification system for ClO- was established by combining the probe with smartphone technology, which realized the visualization and real-time monitoring of ClO-.