Review
Environmental Sciences
Durga Madhab Mahapatra, Kanhu Charan Satapathy, Bhabatarini Panda
Summary: Increasing food demands and inadequate nutrient deposits have created a significant gap between food supply and demand, leading to decreased natural soil fertility and impacting agricultural productivity and human health. Bio-based nutrient sources, such as algae derived from wastewater, are seen as promising options for agriculture and soilless cultivation. Innovations in nano-fortification and nano-sizing of minerals and algae show potential in improving nutrient bioavailability and effectiveness for increased productivity.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
S. Nisha Raj, E. S. Anooj, Karthikeyan Rajendran, Sugumari Vallinayagam
Summary: Nanotechnology has gained attention for its potential applications in agriculture, leading to the development of nanoagrochemicals to improve efficiency and eco-friendliness. Despite facing challenges, nanoagrochemicals are expected to provide more effective solutions for agricultural production.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Bilal Beig, Muhammad Bilal Khan Niazi, Farooq Sher, Zaib Jahan, Umer Shahzad Malik, Mohammad Daud Khan, Juliana Heloisa Pine Americo-Pinheiro, Dai-Viet N. Vo
Summary: The increasing food demand caused by the rising population is limited by the poor efficiency of classical fertilizers. Nanofertilizers, as promising alternatives, can improve nutrient utilization efficiency and reduce environmental pollution.
ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Amilia Nongbet, Awdhesh Kumar Mishra, Yugal Kishore Mohanta, Saurov Mahanta, Manjit Kumar Ray, Maryam Khan, Kwang-Hyun Baek, Ishani Chakrabartty
Summary: The widespread use of chemical fertilizers has detrimental effects on the soil, the environment, and human health. Nanofertilizers, composed of nanoparticles containing essential nutrients, are promising substitutes due to their improved nutrient uptake efficiency. This review discusses the development and application of nanofertilizers in agriculture, emphasizing the need to address existing research gaps.
Article
Agronomy
Martin Sebesta, Marek Kolencik, B. Ratna Sunil, Ramakanth Illa, Jaroslav Mosnacek, Avinash P. Ingle, Martin Urik
Summary: Most of the current research on the effects of ENPs on plants and agriculture is limited to controlled laboratory conditions, highlighting the need for more field studies to fully understand their impact on plant growth and health.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Beza Tuga, Tana O'Keefe, Chaoyi Deng, Andrea T. Ligocki, Jason C. White, Christy L. Haynes
Summary: Progress toward global food security is hindered by various factors, but the use of nanoscale materials in agriculture can improve productivity. Interdisciplinary collaboration is needed to identify the best nanoparticle properties for effective plant application.
TRENDS IN CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Bhoomika M. Karamchandani, Ameya A. Pawar, Sujit S. Pawar, Sahil Syed, Nishigandha S. Mone, Sunil G. Dalvi, Pattanathu K. S. M. Rahman, Ibrahim M. Banat, Surekha K. Satpute
Summary: The increasing demand for food due to population growth has led to the use of chemical-based pesticides, which have negative effects on the environment. Biosurfactants can solubilize pesticides and reduce their toxicity and contamination effects in the soil environment, making them a potential alternative to chemical pesticides.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Juana Munoz-Ucros, Marie J. Zwetsloot, Catalina Cuellar-Gempeler, Taryn L. Bauerle
Summary: This paper addresses the current state of research on the rhizosphere microbiome and proposes a conceptual model for studying the rhizosphere. The importance of considering the temporal and spatial scales of rhizosphere processes and advocating for higher resolution characterizations of the rhizosphere is emphasized. Strategies for managing the rhizosphere microbiome and the knowledge gaps are discussed.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yuan-yuan Ren, Cheng Liu, Zhen Cao, Cong-cong Li
Summary: The efficiency, transformation products, and mechanism of phycocyanin removal from water by simulated sunlight/Cu-decorated TiO2 photocatalyst treatment were investigated. The study found that after 360 mins of photocatalytic degradation, over 96% of phycocyanin was removed, and about 47% of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) converted into NH4+-N, NO3-, and NO2-. The main active species causing degradation was center dot OH, which contributed approximately 55.7% to the phycocyanin degradation efficiency. The degradation process involved the attack of free radicals, leading to the disintegration of chromophore group PCB and apoprotein, and subsequent breakdown of the apoprotein peptide chain into small molecules. This resulted in the release of amino acids and their derivatives into the water. The Cu-TiO2 photocatalyst reduced the formation potential of CHCl3 but increased the production of dichloroacetamide (DCAcAm) and dichloroacetonitrile (DCAN).
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xiaoyue Xu, Chengbin Wu, Aiying Guo, Baoping Qin, Yanfeng Sun, Chunmin Zhao, Fengjuan Zhang, Aijun Cai
Summary: In this study, a TiO2-Ag-AgCl photocatalyst was synthesized using biomimetic mineralization mediated by polydopamine. The photocatalyst showed high efficiency in degrading organic pollutants and disinfecting bacteria in water, particularly against E. coli biofilm. Analysis revealed that reactive oxygen species (ROS), including h+ and & BULL;O-2(-), played a key role in the elimination process. Transcriptomic analysis provided insights into the cellular response to ROS damage, highlighting the upregulation of chemotaxis-related outer membrane genes.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Ina Thakur, Anoop Verma, Banu Ormeci
Summary: This study fabricated a low-cost waste-driven visible active iron-titanium oxide composite for treating real municipal wastewater, achieving efficient bacterial inactivation and organic matter degradation. The composite showed excellent stability even after recycling multiple times, demonstrating its lasting durability and potential for field-scale application.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Rupali Gupta, Gautam Anand, Rajeeva Gaur, Dinesh Yadav
Summary: Plant-microbiome interactions play a significant role in nutrient acquisition and defense mechanisms of the host plant. Understanding and utilizing plant microbiomes can have implications for future agricultural applications.
PHYSIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF PLANTS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Shelly Tiwari, Anoop Kumar, Gurbir Kaur
Summary: The present study proposes a unique idea of utilizing cementitious materials incorporating iron-rich industrial waste products (IWPs) to support nano-photocatalyst like Titanium dioxide (TiO2) to fabricate a visibly active Fe-TiO2 composite exhibiting antibacterial property. The results show that the cement mortar mixture FB5F having 15% (10% FA and 5% BS) proportion of conventional cement performed better in terms of workability and durability than other mix designs. The Fe-TiO2 composite was also subjected to an antibacterial check using an aliquot of E. coli bacterial suspension and exhibited bacterial disinfection quality.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Environmental Studies
Moheb Qasemi, Mohammad Sadegh Allahyari, Tarek Ben Hassen, Mohammad Iman Askari, Hamid El Bilali
Summary: The agricultural sector plays a crucial role in achieving the SDGs. This study investigates the perceptions and attitudes of agricultural experts in Guilan Province, Iran towards the SDGs, and identifies their educational needs and areas requiring more attention.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Stefano Cesco, Youry Pii, Luigimaria Borruso, Guido Orzes, Paolo Lugli, Fabrizio Mazzetto, Giulio Genova, Marco Signorini, Gustavo Brunetto, Roberto Terzano, Gianpiero Vigani, Tanja Mimmo
Summary: In recent decades, agriculture and viticulture have been facing challenges such as increasing food production, changing vineyard areas, and higher altitudes and latitudes. The repeated use of Cu-based fungicides has led to accumulation of copper in vineyard soils, impacting soil fertility and plant growth. However, various strategies have been proposed to restrict Cu accumulation and ensure sustainable viticulture practices.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Physics, Applied
E. Figueroa-Gonzalez, R. Mendoza, A. Oliva, C. Gomez-Solis, L. S. Valle-Garcia, E. Oliva, V Rodriguez-Gonzalez, A. Encinas, J. Oliva
Summary: We report on the fabrication and electrochemical characterization of biodegradable and flexible supercapacitors. These supercapacitors use graphene nanoplates coated coconut fibers as conductive electrodes, an oral electrolyte solution and rice paper as electrolyte and separator. By adding MgTiO3 nanoparticles to the anode, the capacitance and specific energy of the supercapacitors were enhanced. The biodegradable cells exhibited long discharge times and stable output voltage, which have not been observed previously for such supercapacitors.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICS D-APPLIED PHYSICS
(2022)
Review
Materials Science, Ceramics
Sergio Obregon, Vicente Rodriguez-Gonzalez
Summary: The use of nanostructured coatings is crucial to maintain clean surfaces in public spaces, with TiO2 thin films and coatings offering outstanding properties such as chemical stability, reusability, hydrophilicity, and activation by sunlight. These coatings are suitable for commercial devices that keep public surfaces clean and can have environmental and energy applications in purification, gas sensing, production of renewable fuels, and antimicrobial features.
JOURNAL OF SOL-GEL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
E. Valadez-Renteria, J. Oliva, V. Rodriguez-Gonzalez
Summary: Global concern over environmental pollution has been on the rise in recent years, particularly regarding the reduced availability and pollution of water resources and their harmful impact on human health. Studies have shown that advanced oxidation processes, such as photocatalytic processes, play a crucial role in removing contaminants from water by utilizing recycled materials as supports to enhance purification efficiency.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
L. Garces, C. R. Garcia, V. Rodriguez-Gonzalez, D. Y. Medina-Velazquez, J. Oliva
Summary: The development of luminescent materials with tunable color emission, low cost, and free of rare earths is important for producing more efficient white light emitting devices. In this study, ZnO nanoparticles doped with different concentrations of Ca were synthesized and their luminescent and morphological properties were investigated. The results showed that the Ca concentration affected the color emission of the ZnO:Ca nanoparticles, and it was possible to tune the emission from blue to red by increasing the Ca content. Additionally, a near-infrared emission was observed and it could be useful for biomedical applications.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jorge Oliva, Ernesto Valadez-Renteria, Yuwaraj K. Kshetri, Armando Encinas, Soo Wohn Lee, Vicente Rodriguez-Gonzalez
Summary: This research presents the use of biodegradable and flexible composites for the removal of the BAM pesticide from drinking water. The composites, consisting of rice paper and MOBA nanoparticles, demonstrated efficient degradation of BAM under UV-VIS irradiation. The study also investigated the effect of pH on the removal of BAM and identified the main oxidizing agents involved in the process.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Pavel Cesar Hernandez-Del Castillo, Jorge Oliva, Gabriela Robledo-Trujillo, Vicente Rodriguez-Gonzalez
Summary: This work investigates the structural, morphological, and photocatalytic properties of titanium dioxide (TiO2) and TiO2:NiIn (T-NiIn) coatings fabricated by spin coating. The results show that T-NiIn coatings exhibit higher effectiveness in the degradation of eosin-yellowish (EY) dye under both UV irradiation and solar light, and also show better stability after multiple cycles of reuse. The incorporation of nickel (Ni) and indium (In) in TiO2 coatings offers a feasible strategy to enhance the degradation of EY dye in drinking water.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
E. Valadez-Renteria, J. Oliva, A. I. Mtz-Enriquez, V. Rodriguez-Gonzalez
Summary: A tin titanate composite was synthesized and characterized, showing promising potential for the removal of fomesafen pesticide. Higher initial concentrations of the pollutant were found to be favorable for the removal process.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
P. C. Hernandez-Del Castillo, J. Oliva, B. P. Nunez-Luna, V Rodriguez-Gonzalez
Summary: Spherical photocatalytic floaters containing TiO2:Bi particles were fabricated and evaluated for the degradation of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) herbicide. The TBi-sphere showed higher degradation efficiency and stability compared to TBi powder. TiO2:Bi powder exhibited higher light absorption and surface area than commercial TiO2 (P25), resulting in a 52% higher degradation percentage for 2,4,6-TCP. The main oxidizing agents produced during degradation were (OH-)-O-center dot radicals and O-center dot(2)- anions.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Jose Domingo Trujillo-Casarreal, Jesus Morales-Jimenez, V Rodriguez-Gonzalez
Summary: Metallic nanoparticles (NPs) with size and morphology that enable a large surface-to-volume ratio exhibit antibacterial properties. The surface functionalization of copper sulfide NPs on mesoporous SiO2 spheres (PMSi) was successfully achieved. The antibacterial activity of PMSi loaded with sulfamethoxazole (SMX) against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was studied. CuS and Cu functionalized on PMSi exhibited a good spectrum of antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive (S. aureus) and Gram-negative (E. coli) bacteria.
JOURNAL OF NON-CRYSTALLINE SOLIDS
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
L. Coronado-Partida, A. Patron-Soberano, V. Rodriguez-Gonzalez, P. Gutierrez-Martinez
Summary: This study investigated the antifungal activity of chitosan (Chi) and sodium benzoate (SB) individually or in combination at different concentrations against R. stolonifer. Chi at 2.5% slowed mycelial growth and resulted in fewer spores and less germination. SB at 2.0% showed 98% inhibition of spore formation. However, the combined treatment of Chi-SB inhibited the growth of the fungus in 100% of the evaluated tests. Scanning electron microscopy images showed changes in the development of the mycelium and external morphology of the spores. Therefore, the combined application of Chi-SB is an alternative method to inhibit the growth of R. stolonifer.
JOURNAL OF PLANT DISEASES AND PROTECTION
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
L. Garces, J. Oliva, K. P. Padmasree, A. I. Mtz-Enriquez, V. Rodriguez-Gonzalez
Summary: This study presents a flexible and biodegradable supercapacitor made of cellulose and graphene microplates, with enhanced capacitance through the addition of CaLaCo particles. The introduction of CaLaCo increased the specific capacitance by approximately 70% and resulted in a high capacitance retention of 95.8% after 1500 charging/discharging cycles. The redox peaks observed in the cyclic voltammetry curves indicated the storage of charge through redox reactions, with oxygen vacancy defects and Co2+/Co3+ species identified as the main redox centers. The reduction in series resistance and charge transfer resistance promoted ion diffusion/storage and increased the capacitance of the devices. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of producing sustainable and flexible supercapacitors for use in wearable/portable devices.
MATERIALS CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
T. A. Esquivel-Castro, G. Robledo-Trujillo, J. Oliva, H. C. Rosu, V. Rodriguez-Gonz
Summary: The study investigated the structural, morphological, and drug-delivery advantages of SiO2-TiO2 (PST) particles synthesized by a hydrothermal method. PST particles with a spherical-like assembly architecture were obtained through cobalt ions incorporation. Drug loading and release evaluations showed that PST composites functionalized with triethanolamine (TEOA) had higher load efficiencies and capacities compared to those without functionalization.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE ADVANCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tzipatly A. Esquivel-Castro, Jorge Oliva, Vicente Rodriguez-Gonzalez, Haret C. Rosu
Summary: The immobilization of TiO2-SiO2 (TSO) materials on seed mats helps the germination and early growth of tomato plants. Carvacrol loaded on the TSO materials shows a positive effect on germination percentage and shoot length. However, direct deposition of TSO composites on tomato seeds is not suitable for agricultural purposes due to handling difficulties. Plastic seed mats provide a practical system with lower germination but more homogenous growth. The functionalization of triethanolamine and carvacrol in the TSO NPs allows control over germination time and length of root/shoot.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ernesto Valadez-Renteria, Rafael Perez-Gonzalez, Christian Gomez-Solis, Luis Armando Diaz-Torres, Armando Encinas, Jorge Oliva, Vicente Rodriguez-Gonzalez
Summary: The structural, morphological, and photocatalytic properties of stretchable composites made with carbon nanotubes (CNTs), silicon rubber, and Ni@TiO 2 :W nanoparticles (TiWNi NPs) were studied. The TiWNi NPs decorated the surface of CNT fibers in a preferential direction. The stretchable CNT + TiWNi composites showed enhanced photocatalytic degradation of diclofenac (DCF) drug, with a degradation percentage increasing from 97.1% to 100% through stretching.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ernesto Valadez-Renteria, Jorge Oliva, Nayeli Navarro-Garcia, Vicente Rodriguez-Gonzalez
Summary: This study investigated the performance of tin titanate (SnTiO3, SnT) and cellulose-based composites in removing clonazepam (CZP) drug by physical adsorption. The SnTiO3 powders consisted of coalesced grains and nanotubes, while X-ray diffraction analysis showed a mixture of cassiterite and rutile phases. The optimal dosage of SnT for CZP removal was found to be 50 mg/L, achieving 94.3% removal in just 10 minutes. The Cell+SnT composite, with 50 mg of SnT powder, removed a maximum of 80.5% CZP after 180 minutes, increasing to 95.5% with 100 mg of SnT powder. The adsorption capacity of SnT powders was also found to be 6.3 times higher than that of the Cell+SnT composite. The presence of surface defects in the Cell+SnT composites demonstrated their effectiveness as adsorption centers for CZP molecules. This study highlights the potential of eco-friendly and low-cost floatable composites for pharmaceutical contaminant removal, offering advantages over adsorbent powders.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
