Efficient degradation of ciprofloxacin in wastewater by CuFe2O4/CuS photocatalyst activated peroxynomosulfate.

In this study, CuFe2O4/CuS composite photocatalysts were successfully synthesized for the activation of peroxynomosulfate to remove ciprofloxacin from wastewater. The structural composition and morphology of the materials were analyzed by XRD, SEM, TEM, and Raman spectroscopy. The electrochemical properties of the samples were tested by an electrochemical workstation. The band gap of the samples was calculated by DFT and compared with the experimental values. The effects of different catalysts, oxidant PMS concentrations, and coexisting ions on the experiments were investigated. The reusability and stability of the photocatalysts were also investigated. The mechanism of the photocatalytic degradation process was proposed based on the free radical trapping experiment. The results show that the p-p heterojunction formed between the two contact surfaces of the CuFe2O4 nanoparticle and CuS promoted the charge transfer between the interfaces and inhibited the recombination of electrons and holes. CuFe2O4-5/CuS photocatalyst has the best catalytic activity, and the removal rate of ciprofloxacin is 93.7%. The intermediates in the degradation process were tested by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and the molecular structure characteristics of ciprofloxacin were analyzed by combining with DFT calculations. The possible degradation pathways of pollutants were proposed. This study reveals the great potential of the photocatalyst CuFe2O4/CuS in the activation of PMS for the degradation of ciprofloxacin wastewater.

MnFe2O4/polyaniline/diatomite composite with multiple loss mechanisms towards broadband absorption.

The research and development of absorbing materials with high absorbing capacity, wide effective absorption bandwidth, and lightweight has always been interesting. In this research, a facile hydrothermal method was used to prepare MnFe2O4, and the grain size of MnFe2O4 decreased with increasing hydrothermal temperature. When the size of MnFe2O4 nanoparticles is less than 10 nm, its quantum size effect and surface effect make its electromagnetic microwave absorption performance greatly optimized. When the thickness of MnFe2O4-110 °C is 2.57 mm, the minimum reflection loss (RLmin) is -35.28 dB. Based on this, light porous diatomite and a three-dimensional polyaniline network are introduced. Diatomite is used as the base material to effectively reduce the agglomeration of MnFe2O4 quantum dots. The relatively high surface area introduced by a three-dimensional network of polyaniline promotes the orientation, interfacial polarization, multiple relaxation, and impedance matching, thereby generating further dielectric loss. Additionally, the magnetic properties of manganese ferrite and the strong electrical conductivity of polyaniline play an appropriate complementary role in electromagnetic wave absorption. The RLmin of MnFe2O4/PANI/diatomite is -56.70 dB at 11.12 GHz with an absorber layer thickness of 2.57 mm. The effective frequency bandwidth (RL < -10 dB) ranges from 9.21 to 18.00 GHz. The absorption mechanism indicates that the high absorption intensity is the result of the synergistic effect of impedance matching, conduction losses, polarization losses, and magnetic losses.

Ag3VO4/g-C3N4/diatomite ternary compound reduces Cr(vi) ion in aqueous solution effectively under visible light.

In recent years, the conversion of Cr(vi) to Cr(iii) ions by semiconductor photocatalysis technology has been considered to be an effective method to solve this problem. In this paper, a kind of ternary composite, Ag3VO4/g-C3N4/diatomite (AVO/CN/DT), was synthesized by a two-step method (annealing-precipitation). Through a series of characterization analyses, the crystal morphology, microstructure, optical properties and photoelectrochemical properties of the material were characterized and analyzed. The band edge of g-C3N4 was red-shifted due to the addition of Ag3VO4 and diatomite. Consequently, the visible light response of the composites was intensified. Taking Cr(vi) in aqueous solution as a target pollutant, the degradation efficiency using 4AVO/CN/0.06DT reached 70% within 60 min under visible light irradiation, far exceeding the degradation efficiency using the pure substances. The cyclic degradation performance of the composite material was tested, and it still had a stable degradation effect after three cycles. The degradation efficiency in solution at different pH values was investigated. When the pH value of the solution gradually increased, the degradation efficiency gradually decreased, which was mainly caused by the different forms of Cr(vi) under different pH values. A corresponding degradation mechanism was proposed. Diatomite provided a reaction site for Ag3VO4 and g-C3N4, which promoted the photoreduction of Cr(vi). This work provides some reference significance for deepening the application field of diatomite and treating heavy metal ion wastewater.

Regulation of mitophagy through HIF-1α/miR-140-5p/PARKIN axis in acute kidney injury.

Mitochondria homeostasis plays an important role in acute kidney injury (AKI). In this study, we aimed at identifying the mechanism of mitophagy regulation in AKI. Activation of mitophagy after ischemic kidney injury was visualized with increased expression of LC3, PINK1, PARKIN expression and with a subsequent decline in p62 levels. Immuohistochemistry staining showed higher LC3 levels in ischemic kidney injury mice. Further, differential expression of PARKIN targeting miRNAs revealed that miR-140-5p was significantly downregulated followed by ischemic kidney injury. miR-140-5p mimics suppressed PARKIN expressions and their mitochondrial translocation. Further, miR-140-5p mimics under hypoxia prevented mitophagosome formation. These effects on hypoxia-induced PARKIN expression and LC3/TOMM20 levels were reversed by antagomiR miR-140-5p treatment. Dual-luciferase reporter assay revealed that miR-140-5p had significant interaction with 3'UTR of PARKIN. Our findings show that HIF-1α is bound to miR-140-5p promoter and down regulates its expression and thereby promotes mitophagy process under hypoxic conditions. These results cumulatively show that HIF-1α regulates mitophagy during AKI through the regulation of miR-140-5p/PARKIN axis.