Emerging applications of green coconut: A promising lignocellulosic biomass

Waste accumulation is a grave concern and becoming a transboundary challenge for environment. During Covid-19 pandemic, diverse type of waste were collected due to different practices employed in order to fight back the transmission rate of the virus. Covid-19 was proved to be capricious catastrophe of this 20th century and even not completely eradicated from the world. The havoc created by this imperceptible quick witted, pleomorphic deadly virus can't be ignored. Though a number of vaccines have been developed by the scientists but there is a fear of getting this virus again in our life. Medical studies prove that immunity drinks will help to reduce its reoccurrences. Coconut water is widely used among all drinks available globally. Its massive consumption created an incalculable pile of green coconut shells around the different corners of the world. This practice generating enormous problem of space acquisition for the environment. Both the environment and public health will benefit from an evaluation of quantity of coconut waste that is being thrown and its potential to generate value added products. With this context, present article has been planned to study different aspects like, coconut waste generation, its biological properties and environmental hazards associated with its accumulation. Additionally, this review illustrates, green technologies for production of different value added products from coconut waste.     

纳米材料的环境和生态毒理学研究进展

随着纳米技术的迅速发展及纳米材料的大量增多,纳米技术的安全性问题正引起世界范围的重点关注.纳米材料可以通过多种途径进入自然环境而产生多种环境行为,可能引起生物体的毒性效应,其生态学影响也不可忽视.目前国际上对纳米材料生态学影响特别是环境行为的研究仍处于起步阶段,有价值的研究结果非常少,仍有众多不确定的生态安全问题有待深入研究.在总结国内外相关研究的基础上,就纳米材料的来源、进入环境的途径、环境行为、生态毒理学研究现状及需要进一步研究的内容进行了简要综述.     

Effects of molecular weight and concentration of carboxymethyl cellulose on morphology of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles as prepared with one-step wet chemical method

Nano-sized apatite particles (nAP) synthesized with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) have shown great application potentials in in situ heavy metal remediation. However, differences in CMC’s properties effects on the size of nAP produced are not well understood. In this paper, two types of CMC, with respective molecular weights (MW) of ～120000 and ～240000 Dalton or respective polymerization degrees of 500 (CMC-500) and 1050 (CMC-1050), were studied in a concentration range of 0.05%–0.5% (w/w) for nAP synthesis. Morphology of the particles was characterized with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results showed that 0.05% CMC-500 solution gave an average particle size of 148.7±134.9 nm, 0.25% CMC-500 solution produced particles of 21.8±20.4 nm, and, 0.5% CMC-500 solution contained particles of 15.8±7.7 nm. In comparison, 0.05% CMC-1050 solution produced nanoparticles of 6.8±3.2 nm, 0.25% CMC-1050 produced smaller nAP of 4.3±3.2 nm, and 0.5% CMC-1050 synthesized the smallest nanoparticles in this study, with an average diameter of 3.0±2.1 nm. Chemical composition of the products was identified with X-ray diffraction (XRD) as pure hydroxyapatite. Interactions between nAP and CMC were discussed with help of attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATRFTIR) spectroscopic data. This study showed that CMC at higher concentration as well as higher MW facilitated to produce finer nanoparticles, showing that nAP size could be manipulated by selecting appropriate CMC MW and/or applying appropriate CMC concentration.     

基于纳米技术的环境保护新材料与污染防治新工艺的研究

纳米科技是面向21世纪的核心战略科技,它为解决环境保护与经济发展的矛盾提供了有力的技术手段.通过将纳米技术引入环境保护与污染防治的研究领域,概述了纳米技术的内涵、纳米材料的特殊性质,全面介绍了纳米技术在环境保护新材料与污染防治新工艺中的应用情况,展望了纳米技术在环保领域的研究发展方向,表明利用纳米技术解决环境问题将成为未来环境保护发展的必然趋势.     

纳米技术处理废水

纳米技术包括纳米结构和纳米材料 ,是 2 1世纪最有前途的新技术之一 ,废水处理领域有在广阔的应用前景。本文从纳米膜过滤、纳米光催化、纳米吸附材料等三方面介绍了纳米技术在废水处理方面的应用研究情况 ,并对其以后的发展前景进行了讨论     

纳米技术及材料在环境保护中的应用

概述了纳米技术及材料在环境保护中的应用情况,特别是在污水处理与空气净化方面,认为纳米技术及材料的应用将会给环境科学带来突破性进展,为彻底改善环境和从源头上控制新的污染源的产生创造条件,表明利用纳米技术及纳米材料解决环境污染问题将成为未来环境保护发展的必然趋势。     

纳米技术在环保领域的应用

从纳米技术的基本概念出发，简单阐述了纳米技术在环保产业中的应用。     

Nanotechnology in cosmetics: a boon or bane?

Recent advances in the field of nanotechnology enabled the manufacturing of elaborated nanometer-sized particles for various biomedical applications. The cosmetic industry is one of the most enthusiastic early adopters of nanotechnology which routinely uses nano-scale ingredients. However, in the absence of mandatory product labeling, it is difficult to estimate the number of cosmetics, sunscreens and personal care products containing nanoparticles that are now commercially available. The increased capacity of nanoparticles to penetrate skin and gain access to human cells is a double-edged sword as it may be useful for medical purposes, but might also result in far greater uptake of substances that exert adverse health effects. Since nanomaterials represent a large group of structurally, physically, and chemically variable substances, specific toxicological studies are required for each product prior to commercialization. This review aims to delineate the most investigated applications, risk and safety considerations, and regulation of nanotechnology in the field of cosmetics.     

Applications of hollow nanomaterials in environmental remediation and monitoring: A review

Hollow nanomaterials have attracted significant attention because of their high chemical and thermal stability, high specific surface area, high porosity, low density, and good biocompatibility. These state-of-the-art nanomaterials have been shown to efficiently adsorb heavy metals, and volatile hazardous substances, photodegrade persistent organic pollutants, and other compounds, and inactivate bacteria. Such properties have enabled the use of these materials for environmental remediation, such as in water/wastewater treatment, soil remediation, air purification, and substance monitoring, etc. Hollow nanomaterials showed higher photocatalytic activity than those without hollow structure owing to their high active surface area, reduced diffusion resistance, and improved accessibility. And, the Doping method could improve the photocatalytic performance of hollow nanomaterials further under visible light. Moreover, the synthetic mechanisms and methods of these materials are important because their size and morphology help to determine their precise properties. This article reviews the environmental applications and potential risks of these materials, in addition to their syntheses. Finally, an outlook into the development of these materials is provided.     

荧光量子点在神经毒理学研究中的应用及前景

如今纳米生物技术的研究正以迅猛的势头不断发展。量子点作为一种新型的纳米荧光探针,由于其优越的光电学特性在生物学和毒理学领域有着广阔的应用前景。神经毒理学作为毒理学的一个重要分支,量子点的应用也给该领域带来了技术上的革命。本文重点阐述了量子点作为一种新型单分子技术和一种优秀的荧光探针在神经毒理学研究中的应用。同时,作者还简要介绍了量子点进入机体神经系统的途径和影响其应用的一些因素,为今后量子点的生物安全性研究和更好地应用提供了有价值的参考。