Unusually large microporous HKUST-1 via polyethylene glycol-templated synthesis: enhanced CO2 uptake with high selectivity over CH4 and N2.

Porous solids with highly microporous structures for effective carbon dioxide uptake and separation from mixed gases are highly desirable. Here we present the use of polyethylene glycol (20,000 g/mol) as a soft template for the simple and rapid synthesis of a highly microporous Cu-BTC (denoted as HKUST-1). The polyethylene glycol-templated HKUST-1 obtained at room temperature in 10 min exhibited a very high Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area of 1904 m2/g, pore volume of 0.87 cm3/g, and average micropore size of 0.84 nm. However, conventional HKUST-1 exhibits a BET surface area of 700-1700 m2/g confirming the advantages of using this method. X-ray powder diffraction and electron microscopy analysis confirm the formation of highly crystalline and uniform octahedral particles with sizes ranging from 100 nm to 120 µm. Adsorption isotherms recorded at temperatures between 273 and 353 K and pressures up to 40 bar revealed a more favorable adsorption capacity of HKUST-1 for CO2 vs. CH4 and N2 (708 mg (CO2)/g, 214 mg (CH4)/g and 177 mg (N2)/g at 298 K and 40 bar). The Langmuir, isotherm model, and isosteric heats of adsorption were evaluated. The CO2 interaction at PEG-templated HKUST-1 is physical, exothermic, and spontaneous with DH° = - 6.52 kJ/mol, DS° = - 13.72 J/mol, and DG° = - 2.43 kJ/mol at 298 K at 40 bar. The selectivities in equimolar mixtures were determined as 53 and 24, respectively, for CO2 over N2 and CH4. CO2 adsorption-desorption tests reveal high adsorbent reusability. The cost-effective and quickly prepared PEG-templated HKUST-1 demonstrates high efficacy as a gas adsorbent, particularly in selectively capturing CO2.

Ultrasonic-assisted synthesis of CaCu3Ti4O12/reduced graphene oxide composites for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of pharmaceutical products: Ibuprofen and Ciprofloxacin.

The objective of this research is to create a highly effective approach for eliminating pollutants from the environment through the process of photocatalytic degradation. The study centers around the production of composites consisting of CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCTO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) using an ultrasonic-assisted method, with a focus on their capacity to degrade ibuprofen (IBF) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) via photodegradation. The impact of rGO on the structure, morphology, and optical properties of CCTO was inspected using XRD, FTIR, Raman, FESEM, XPS, BET, and UV-Vis. Morphology characterization showed that rGO particles were dispersed within the CCTO matrix without any specific chemical interaction between CCTO and C in the rGO. The BET analysis revealed that with increasing the amount of rGO in the composite, the specific surface area significantly increased compared to the CCTO standalone. Besides, increasing rGO resulted in a reduction in the optical bandgap energy to around 2.09 eV, makes it highly promising photocatalyst for environmental applications. The photodegradation of IBF and CIP was monitored using visible light irradiation. The results revealed that both components were degraded above 97% after 60 min. The photocatalyst showed an excellent reusability performance with a slight decrease after five runs to 93% photodegradation efficiency.

CA19-9 and CEA biosensors in pancreatic cancer.

Cancer is a complex pathophysiological condition causing millions of deaths each year. Early diagnosis is essential especially for pancreatic cancer. Existing diagnostic tools rely on circulating biomarkers such as Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) and Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA). Unfortunately, these markers are nonspecific and may be increased in a variety of disorders. Accordingly, diagnosis of pancreatic cancer generally involves more invasive approaches such as biopsy as well as imaging studies. Recent advances in biosensor technology have allowed the development of precise diagnostic tools having enhanced analytical sensitivity and specificity. Herein we examine these advances in the detection of cancer in general and in pancreatic cancer specifically. Furthermore, we highlight novel technologies in the measurement of CA19-9 and CEA and explore their future application in the early detection of pancreatic cancer.