Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Hairong Wang, Nan Li, Siyu Jia, Jing Bian, Xiang Hao, Feng Peng
Summary: The study transformed alkaline lignin and hemicelluloses into low-cost, green, and eco-friendly powder gelators with the ability to congeal and recover oil spills efficiently, showing great potential for new bio-based oil spill agents.
ADVANCED SUSTAINABLE SYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bjorn Henrik Hansen, Trond Nordtug, Ida Beathe Overjordet, Dag Altin, Julia Farkas, Per S. Daling, Kristin Rist Sorheim, Liv-Guri Faksness
Summary: This study assessed the potential toxicity of chemical herders to cold-water marine organisms. The results showed that herders are relatively non-toxic and do not significantly increase the toxicity when mixed with oil.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ali Alshamrani, David W. Murphy
Summary: Chemical herders show promise in treating oil spills in icy waters, but floating ice on the water surface affects their effectiveness. In this study, we investigated the fluid dynamics of oil slick contraction and its interaction with different shapes and sizes of obstacles. It was found that obstacles generate oil tails in their wake, which subsequently fracture due to capillary-type instability. Larger and less streamlined obstacles retain more oil in these tails.
COLD REGIONS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
P. K. Renjith, C. Sarathchandran, V. Sivanandan Achary, N. Chandramohanakumar, V Sekkar
Summary: Flexible micro-cellular open porous 3D polymer foam silica aerogel composites with exceptional oil sorption characteristics were successfully prepared, showing outstanding hydrophobic properties and recyclability.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Junfei Xia, Wei Zhang, Alesia C. Ferguson, Kristina D. Mena, Tamay M. Ozgokmen, Helena M. Solo-Gabriele
Summary: This study aimed to use oil exposure dates to calculate oil spill chemicals (OSC) concentrations in shoreline sediments, showing significant differences in chemical concentrations before and after calculated oil exposure dates, with sandy coastlines exhibiting lower concentrations compared to muddy coastlines. This method is useful for establishing baseline chemical concentrations and assessing impacts on sediment quality within different coastline types.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Onofrio Losito, Michele Casiello, Caterina Fusco, Helena Mateos Cuadrado, Antonio Monopoli, Angelo Nacci, Lucia D'Accolti
Summary: The total amount of cellulose waste produced in the EU every year, including paper, wood, food, and other human activity waste, is about 900 million tons per year. This waste represents a significant opportunity to produce renewable chemicals and energy. This paper presents a novel approach to utilize various urban wastes such as cigarette butts, sanitary pant diapers, newspapers, and soybean peels as sources of cellulose to produce valuable industrial intermediates.
Article
Environmental Sciences
S. Samadi, H. Amani, G. D. Najafpour, H. Kariminezhad, A. Banaei
Summary: Recently, the high cost of large-scale production has hindered the commercial use of biosurfactants for oil spill clean-up. To overcome this challenge, this research focuses on optimizing process parameters for maximum productivity of rhamnolipid in small-scale production. The study investigated the impact of various factors, such as incubation time, sunflower oil, and nitrogen source, on rhamnolipid production. Under the optimum conditions, a higher production yield was achieved compared to previous studies. The performance of the rhamnolipid was confirmed through various experiments, demonstrating its potential for efficient oil spill clean-up.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Karteek Boga, Antonio F. Patti, John C. Warner, George P. Simon, Kei Saito
Summary: The increasing demand for high-performance thermosetting adhesives has led to the depletion of fossil reserves and environmental pollution by recalcitrant plastic waste. In this work, sustainable green adhesives were developed by combining bio-renewable epoxidized soybean oil and non-toxic coumarins, which can undergo reversible cycloaddition reaction under UV light. The synthesized polymer networks showed excellent adhesion strength and reusability.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mahmood M. S. Abdullah, Hamad A. Al-Lohedan
Summary: This study focused on the synthesis of amino-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles using sodium alginate as a starting material, which demonstrated high efficiency in oil spill collection even at low ratios of nanoparticles to crude oil.
Article
Polymer Science
Mainul Hoque, Sujan Paul, Pranab Ghosh
Summary: This study synthesized homopolymer of castor oil and copolymer of castor oil with styrene using thermal method with benzoyl peroxide as initiator. Copolymers were found to be more effective than homopolymers as viscosity index improver, pour point depressant, and antiwear. The performance of copolymers in these aspects increased with higher percentage composition of styrene.
JOURNAL OF MACROMOLECULAR SCIENCE PART A-PURE AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shihao Wang, Zhuwei Gao, Xinyu Qi, Chengxin Li, Yuxin Xie, Xia Yang, Zhenlong Lin, Zhongxin Liu
Summary: Graphene-doped cellulose acetate porous polymer exhibits excellent wettability and oil absorption performance, making it a potential adsorbent material for oil pollution treatment.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
RubalyaValantina Sathianathan, Aniruthaan Kannapiran, Natarajan Shanmugam
Summary: The study analyzed the oxidative stability of groundnut oil and mustard oil blended with varying concentrations of alpha-tocopherol and TBHQ, finding that these antioxidants have a regulating effect on the insulation nature of the oil, with alpha-tocopherol showing a more effective synergistic effect. Higher breakdown voltage and greater stability were observed in oils with the addition of antioxidants in low concentrations, with potential implications for selecting eco-friendly coolants in engineering and industry.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Emmanuel Sunday Okeke, Charles Obinwanne Okoye, Timothy Prince Chidike Ezeorba, Guanghua Mao, Yao Chen, Hai Xu, Chang Song, Weiwei Feng, Xiangyang Wu
Summary: This article discusses the characteristics, origin, ecotoxicology, health impact, and responses to marine oil spills. Various biological techniques for remediation and dispersant treatment are described, with a focus on the use of green surfactants and their advancements. The article also explores the obstacles and measures that need to be taken, as well as the potential for the development of existing treatment technologies.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mohammad H. BinSabt, Fadhel A. Azeez, Nour Suleiman
Summary: Losses from corrosion account for approximately 3-5% of the gross domestic product of developed nations. Silane-based coatings are considered the most important method to prevent corrosion due to their low toxicity and superior adhesive qualities. This study investigates the corrosion resistance and durability of various silane-based coatings on carbon steel substrates in a high-salinity environment, and finds that the TESPT film demonstrates the best corrosion resistance performance of 99.6%.
Article
Polymer Science
Uiseok Hwang, Bumhee Lee, Byeonghun Oh, Hyun Su Shin, Su Sam Lee, Sang Gu Kang, Donghee Kim, Jungwoo Park, Sunghee Shin, Jonghwan Suhr, Sung-Hoon Kim, Jae-Do Nam
Summary: A novel oil sorbent composed of polyurethane foam incorporated with hydrophobized lignin particles has been developed, showing high absorption capacity and recyclability. The composite foam has great potential as a promising solution for the cleanup of organic contaminants.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Niti R. Agrawal, Marzhana Omarova, Faraz Burni, Vijay T. John, Srinivasa R. Raghavan
Summary: The study demonstrates the formation of nanoscale vesicles and vesicle gels in glycerol, formamide, and ethylene glycol using lecithin. Vesicles in polar solvents are easier to form and more stable than those in water, attributed to refractive index-matching between lipid bilayers and solvents. The ability to use lipids in polar solvents could have wide-ranging applications, such as in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and lubricants.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Azeem Farinmade, Oluwole Ajumobi, Lei Yu, Yang Su, Yueheng Zhang, Yueyun Lou, Julia A. Valla, Vijay T. John
Summary: The use of clay nanotubes has been effective in improving the CO2 capture efficiency of high surface area mesoporous materials.
INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Arina Kligman, Keyvan Dastmalchi, Stephan Smith, George John, Ruth E. Stark
Summary: This study investigates the self-assembly of chemical mixtures composed of hydroxyfatty acid, glycerol, and hydroxycinnamic acid, showing that these mixtures spontaneously form structures resembling suberized plant tissues and exhibit antibacterial activity.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Igor Kevin Mkam Tsengam, Marzhana Omarova, Elizabeth G. Kelley, Alon McCormick, Geoffrey D. Bothun, Srinivasa R. Raghavan, Vijay T. John
Summary: This paper investigates the nanostructures formed by the combination of the phospholipid lecithin and the nonionic surfactant Tween 80. The study reveals the formation of disc-like bicelles and cylindrical micelles at specific L/T ratios. The findings suggest that lecithin lipids make up the body of the discs, while Tween 80 surfactants occupy the rims. The research provides insights into the morphological changes in the lecithin-Tween 80 system.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Olasehinde Owoseni, Yang Su, Srinivasa Raghavan, Arijit Bose, Vijay T. John
Summary: The integration of cationic and hydrophobic functionalities into hydrophobically modified chitosan (HMC) biopolymer facilitates complementary emulsion stabilization with negatively charged halloysite clay nanotubes (HNT). The adsorption of the cationic HMC onto the negatively charged HNT modifies the surface wettability of the nanotubes, facilitating the attachment of the nanotubes to the oil-water interface. Hydrophobic interaction, insertion of HMC hydrophobes into the oil phase, and electrostatic interactions between HMC and HNT are proposed as key mechanisms driving the increased emulsion stability.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Leo W. Gordon, Ankur L. Jadhav, Mikhail Miroshnikov, Theresa Schoetz, George John, Robert J. Messinger
Summary: Rechargeable aluminum-organic batteries are considered as a promising energy storage technology due to the earth abundance and safety of aluminum metal, as well as the sustainability and tunability of organic molecules. However, the mechanisms of charge storage in these batteries are not well understood. In this study, multidimensional solid-state NMR spectroscopy and electrochemical methods are used to experimentally elucidate the ionic and electronic charge storage mechanism in an aluminum-organic battery. The results provide insights into the reversible electrochemical reactions and charge compensation mechanisms in these batteries.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Malick Samateh, Siddharth Marwaha, Jose K. James, Vikas Nanda, George John
Summary: Sucralose, a non-caloric and non-cariogenic food additive, can be used to produce hydrogels via molecular gelation. This study investigated the lack of enzymatic reactivity of sucralose and explored its potential in hydrogel synthesis through computational simulations and chemical synthesis.
CARBOHYDRATE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Nabendu B. Pramanik, Vidyasagar Adiyala, Weipeng Wang, Feng Liang, Pulickel Ajayan, George John
Summary: This study presents a green alternative by developing poly(ethylene glycol) based polymers coated proppants that can swell in supercritical CO2 to decrease the density of the proppant.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tianyi Yu, Marzhana Omarova, Meng Zhang, Istiak Hossain, Jianqiang Chen, Omead Darvish, Vijay T. John, Donghui Zhang
Summary: The cellular functions of membrane proteins are closely related to their structures and aggregation states. We have investigated the fragmentation of synthetic liposomes using hydrophobe-containing polypeptoids (HCPs). Our findings demonstrate that HCPs can effectively induce the fragmentation of liposomes into colloidally stable nanoscale HCP-lipid complexes, and have the potential for novel macromolecular surfactants for membrane protein extraction.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Polina Tsupko, Sai Sateesh Sagiri, Malick Samateh, Sitakanta Satapathy, George John
Summary: Trehalose amphiphiles were synthesized and used as oil structuring agents for gel-based lip balm preparation in wax-free cosmetics. Tr8 and Tr10 were found to be super gelators with low gelation concentrations. This study demonstrates the potential of using Tr8 and Tr10 as alternatives to beeswax and plant wax in formulating wax-free cosmetics.
JOURNAL OF SURFACTANTS AND DETERGENTS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Sai S. Sagiri, Malick Samateh, Shihao Pan, Charles Maldarelli, George John
Summary: Researchers found that gelation fails when larger volumes are prepared based on the minimum gelation concentration (MGC) determined using a small oil volume. To address this issue, a mathematical model was developed to maintain a minimal thermal gradient and consistent gelation time, resulting in homogeneous gel propagation during scale-up.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN OIL CHEMISTS SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Oluwole Ajumobi, Borui Wang, Azeem Farinmade, Jibao He, Julia A. Valla, Vijay T. John
Summary: Polymeric amine encapsulation in MCM-41 particles for CO2 capture has the drawback of leaching out the water-soluble polymer. Covalent grafting of amine functional groups from an alkoxysilane on MCM-41 provides better stability but faces diffusional restriction. Incorporating halloysite nanotubes into MCM-41 creates hierarchical porosity and enhances molecular transport, resulting in improved CO2 adsorption capacity.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Samuel E. Solomon, Pierce Doubleday, Jared Landry, Vijay T. John, Noshir S. Pesika
Summary: Carbon microspheres can reduce friction and surface wear at low speeds and high loads. The size of the carbon microspheres and the lubrication gap determine the dominant lubrication mechanism in dilute colloidal lubricating systems.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Bailee N. N. Barrett, Chi-Huan Tung, Guan-Rong Huang, Istiak Hossain, Chang-Woo Do, Vijay T. T. John, Wei-Ren Chen, Donghui Zhang
Summary: The intramicellar mass heterogeneity of sequence-defined ionic peptoid block copolymers carrying a single charged monomer was studied using contrast variation small-angle neutron scattering analysis. The position of the ionic monomer was found to significantly impact the internal micellar structure. By positioning the ionic monomer closer to the hydrophilic/hydrophobic block junction, the micelles become less compact and show increased chain folding and invasive water. This study demonstrates the potential of using ionic monomer position as a design parameter to control the internal structures of nanoscale micellar assemblies.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Anjali Raju, Jyothish Kuthanapillil, Manoj Mathews, Doddamane S. Shankar S. Rao, Jijo J. J. Vallooran, George John
Summary: In this study, we synthesized and self-assembled a new class of amphiphilic azo dyes derived from cardanol, a plant-based phenol. Analysis of their self-assembly revealed intriguing nanostructures including bicelles, microgel-like structures, and smectic-type thermotropic mesophases.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)