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Geochemical characteristics of the organic-rich Upper Cretaceous carbonates in northern Jordan: implications for source rock evaluation and depositional settings

Research Authors
Dina Hamdy, Fayez Ahmed, Abdelrahman Qteishat, Mohamed Arafat, Sherif Farouk
Research Date
Research Department
Research Journal
Petroleum Geoscience
Research Publisher
The Geological Society of London
Research Year
2026

A new photoactive water-soluble polypropylene imine dendrimer modified with 1, 8-naphthalimide and N-glucosamine for light-driven self-sterilizing cotton fabrics

Research Abstract

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy is one of the effective strategies for facing the resistance of pathogenic microorganisms of traditional antibiotics. In connection with this, new effective compounds are being sought, increasing their biological activity upon irradiation. In this work, a new polypropylene imine (PPI) from the first generation was synthesized and modified with 1,8-naphthalimide, to which a sulfonyl chloride group (D1) was introduced at the C-4 atom, from which after interaction with glucosamine, a dendrimer containing a sulphonamide group (D2) was obtained. The photophysical characteristics of dendrimer D2 were investigated in five organic solvents of different polarity and aqueous media. It was found that the absorption and fluorescence maxima are slightly affected by the polarity of the solvents. Excimer and monomeric fluorescence were also recorded with dendrimer D2 in an aqueous solution …

Research Authors
Awad I Said, Desislava Staneva, Daniela Atanasova, Albena Jordanova, Ivo Grabchev
Research Date
Research Department
Research Journal
Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry
Research Member
Research Pages
116306
Research Publisher
Elsevier
Research Year
2025

Removal of Pb(II) and Cd(II) Ions from Aqueous Solutions Using Modified Fish Scale Bioadsorbent

Research Abstract

The need to conserve water is important, as it is predicted that in approximately 20 years there will be a global water shortage. In Mexico and the rest of the world, scientists are constantly looking for methods to help conserve and improve the processes used to treat the wastewater generated and reuse it safely. In this work, Tilapia fish scales modified with acetic acid were used for the removal of heavy metals from model water. For this experiment, the following adsorbent dose range was applied: 0.4 g to 1 g; the pH ranged from 4 to 7; and the contact time varied between 60 and 120 min. A threefactor experimental design was considered, including variables such as the adsorbent dose, contact time, and pH, each at three levels. The chemical modification produced a more porous surface on the flakes, facilitating metal adsorption, as confirmed by morphological and physicochemical analyses. The results obtained confirmed the removal of 94 and 83% of Cd(II) and Pb(II) metal ions, respectively, with an bioadsorbent dose of 1 g at a pH of 4 and a contact time of 120 min for Cd(II) and an adsorbent dose of 0.4 g, a pH of 4, and a contact time of 90 min for Pb(II), with an initial concentration of 200 mg/L for both metals. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis results provide critical insights into the textural properties of modified fish scales. The modified fish scales have great potential for removing heavy metals from industrial wastewater.

Research Authors
Yamilet Hernández Pérez, Everth J Leal Castañeda, Jorge Meléndez Estrada, Edith Montesinos-Pedro, Ahmad Abo Markeb, Xavier Font
Research Date
Research Department
Research Journal
ChemEngineering
Research Pages
23
Research Publisher
MDPI
Research Rank
International
Research Vol
9 (2)
Research Year
2025

Novel nanocomposite synthesis of carboxymethyl cellulose coated to zero-valent iron supported on chitosan for simultaneous removal of heavy metals and pesticides in water: Performance and mechanism

Research Abstract

This study reports the synthesis and performance of a novel nanocomposite, CS@nZVI-CMC NC, consisting of zero-valent iron nanoparticles cross-linked to chitosan and coated to carboxymethyl cellulose. Also, the novelty of this work has been proven by eliminating several heavy metals and pesticides from aqueous solutions and drinking water simultaneously. The NC structure, morphology, size, and functional groups were investigated using advanced techniques such as TEM, SEM, XRD, FTIR, and BET. It showed that the surface area of the NC is found to be 127.95 m2 /g and a pore volume of 0.659 cm3 /g. A spherical shape of the nanoparticles with an average size of 8 ± 2 nm was obtained. The functional groups of the NC such as the –NH, –OH, –C––O, and –CN were demonstrated using the FTIR analysis. The NC shows 96.91 %, 90.00 %, 60.61 %, 52.73 %, and 40.43 % simultaneous removal of Cr(VI), As(V), Cd(II), Pb(II) and Mn(II), respectively. Also, it demonstrates a significant simultaneous elimination of organochlorine pesticides: DDE, heptachlor, endrin aldehyde, endosulfan, and heptachlor epoxide, being 98.52 %, 94.01 %, 70.98 %, 65.39 %, and 63.02 % the elimination percentage, respectively. In addition, the NC exhibited the highest removal (77.09 %) of parathion methyl when simultaneously removing several organophosphorus pesticides. Adsorption mechanisms for the targeted pollutants were also studied, and adsorption and electron transfer were the predominant mechanisms. Therefore, this novel NC could be a promising water and wastewater treatment adsorbent.

Research Authors
Ahmad Abo Markeb, Javier Moral-Vico, Antoni Sánchez, Xavier Font
Research Date
Research Department
Research Journal
Results in Chemistry
Research Pages
102041
Research Publisher
Elsevier
Research Rank
International
Research Vol
13
Research Year
2025

Dual‐Spectral Design of Porous Anodic Alumina for Tunable Colored Passive Radiative Cooling

Research Abstract

Passive radiative cooling requires materials that combine high mid-infrared (MIR) emissivity within the atmospheric transparency window (8–13 µm) with minimal solar absorption, while maintaining scalability and long-term stability. Porous anodic alumina (PAA) is an attractive dielectric platform due to its intrinsic phonon-polariton infrared emission and electrochemically tunable nanostructure. However, achieving independent control of visible photonic properties and MIR emissivity within a single architecture remains challenging. Here, we demonstrate dual-spectral control of PAA photonic structures integrated with aluminum (Al) substrates using charge density-controlled sinusoidal pulse anodization. Periodic voltage modulation generates well-defined photonic stop bands (PSBs) in the visible range, enabling tunable structural coloration while preserving high MIR emissivity. Systematic pore widening produces a progressive blue shift of the PSB accompanied by non-monotonic reflectance changes, revealing distinct mechanisms governing spectral position and optical coherence. In contrast, MIR emissivity remains robust against variations in the visible photonic response, as confirmed by a constant-voltage reference sample. The PAA architecture provides intrinsic optical impedance matching through a gradual refractive-index transition, while the Al substrate acts independently as a back reflector that suppresses transmission losses. These findings establish PAA as a versatile platform for color-designed radiative cooling surfaces with independently engineered optical and thermal functionalities.

Research Authors
Zeinelabedin A. Mohamed, Maksymilian Włodarski, Małgorzata Norek
Research Date
Research Department
Research Journal
Small
Research Member
Research Year
2026
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