Topic Review
Microorganisms Characterization in Cultural Heritage
Cultural heritage objects constitute a very diverse environment, inhabited by various bacteria and fungi. The impact of these microorganisms on the degradation of artworks is undeniable, but at the same time, some of them may be applied for the efficient biotreatment of cultural heritage assets. Interventions with microorganisms have been proven to be useful in restoration of artworks, when classical chemical and mechanical methods fail or produce poor or short-term effects. The path to understanding the impact of microbes on historical objects relies mostly on multidisciplinary approaches, combining novel meta-omic technologies with classical cultivation experiments, and physico-chemical characterization of artworks.
  • 1.1K
  • 12 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Inorganic Polymers (Geopolymers)
The ecologically-friendly inorganic materials called geopolymers are mainly produced using secondary raw materials such as fly ash, blast furnace slags, or mining residues at temperatures below 100 °C. Geopolymers are a sustainable alternative to Portland cement in the building industry. Their chemical and physical properties enable them to act as supports for photoactive species, including TiO2, Cu2O and Fe2O3, or carbon nanotubes and graphene. This review discusses the structure and synthesis process of geopolymers and the principal considerations for their use as photocatalysts. The utilisation of geopolymers as photocatalysts indicates promising applications for removing heavy metals from wastewater, purifying polluted drinking water and ecologically-friendly candidates to remediate toxic environmental pollutants. 
  • 1.1K
  • 19 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Inhalant
Inhalants are a broad range of household and industrial chemicals whose volatile vapors or pressurized gases can be concentrated and breathed in via the nose or mouth to produce intoxication, in a manner not intended by the manufacturer. They are inhaled at room temperature through volatilization (in the case of gasoline or acetone) or from a pressurized container (e.g., nitrous oxide or butane), and do not include drugs that are sniffed after burning or heating. For example, amyl nitrite (poppers), nitrous oxide and toluene – a solvent widely used in contact cement, permanent markers, and certain types of glue – are considered inhalants, but smoking tobacco, cannabis, and crack are not, even though these drugs are inhaled as smoke or vapor. While a few inhalants are prescribed by medical professionals and used for medical purposes, as in the case of inhaled anesthetics and nitrous oxide (an anxiolytic and pain relief agent prescribed by dentists), this article focuses on inhalant use of household and industrial propellants, glues, fuels, and other products in a manner not intended by the manufacturer, to produce intoxication or other psychoactive effects. These products are used as recreational drugs for their intoxicating effect. According to a 1995 report by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the most serious inhalant use occurs among homeless children and teenagers who "... live on the streets completely without family ties." Inhalants are the only substance used more by younger teenagers than by older teenagers. Inhalant users inhale vapor or aerosol propellant gases using plastic bags held over the mouth or by breathing from a solvent-soaked rag or an open container. The practices are known colloquially as "sniffing", "huffing" or "bagging". The effects of inhalants range from an alcohol-like intoxication and intense euphoria to vivid hallucinations, depending on the substance and the dose. Some inhalant users are injured due to the harmful effects of the solvents or gases or due to other chemicals used in the products that they are inhaling. As with any recreational drug, users can be injured due to dangerous behavior while they are intoxicated, such as driving under the influence. In some cases, users have died from hypoxia (lack of oxygen), pneumonia, heart failure or arrest, or aspiration of vomit. Brain damage is typically seen with chronic long-term use of solvents as opposed to short-term exposure. Even though many inhalants are legal, there have been legal actions taken in some jurisdictions to limit access by minors. While solvent glue is normally a legal product, a Scottish court has ruled that supplying glue to children is illegal if the store knows the children intend to inhale the glue. In the US, thirty-eight of 50 states have enacted laws making various inhalants unavailable to those under the age of 18 or making inhalant use illegal.
  • 1.1K
  • 28 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Molecules of the Week
"Molecules of the Week" is a new project to collect and show the discovery of novel molecules, compounds as well as the researchers' story behind it.
  • 1.1K
  • 05 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Applications of g-C3N4-Based Photocatalysts
The assembly of g-C3N4 with metal oxides is an effective strategy which can not only improve electron–hole separation efficiency by forming a polymer–inorganic heterojunction, but also compensate for the redox capabilities of g-C3N4 owing to the varied oxidation states of metal ions, enhancing its photocatalytic performance. Applications of g-C3N4-based materials in photocatalysis are discussed, including water splitting to generate H2 and O2, the degradation of pollutants, CO2 reduction and bacterial disinfection.
  • 1.1K
  • 29 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Noble Metal Nanoparticles in SERS
Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has become one of the most attractive analytical techniques due to its versatility and high sensitivity for a variety of analytes like dyes, food additives, pesticides, explosives, DNA, and other biomolecules at very low concentrations. Furthermore, SERS analysis possesses a broad range of properties: it is non-destructive, portable, easy to perform, highly sensitive, fast, cost-effective, and can be used when samples are present in water since the background signal is negligible. SERS substrates may consist of metallic nanoparticles, roughened metallic surfaces, or nanoengineered surfaces with metallic nanoparticles deposited on a solid support.  
  • 1.1K
  • 20 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Production of Refractory Materials with Silicon Dioxide
Organization of environmentally-friendly production of refractory materials based on the principles of cost-effective use of energy and material resources through use of energy-saving technologies and replacement of natural raw materials with industrial and agricultural waste is gaining relevance. Scientists are increasingly interested in creating high-temperature materials using silica of plant origin. Its source is rice husk, a multi-tonnage waste from rice production. Organo-mineral in its nature, rice husk determines the uniqueness of the structure and properties of the materials obtained from it. Use of this waste allows to produce porous, high-strength silicon carbide refractories with properties corresponding to classical analogs, while benefiting from environmental, economic and technological aspects.
  • 1.1K
  • 05 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Highly Dispersed Metal Catalysts
Single-atom catalysts (SACs), consisting of metals atomically dispersed on a support, are considered as advanced materials bridging homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis, representing the catalysis at the limit. The enhanced performance of these catalysts is due to the combination of distinct factors such as well-defined active sites, comprising metal single atoms in different coordination environments also varying its valence state and strongly interacting with the support, in this case porous carbons, maximizing then the metal efficiency in comparison with other metal surfaces consisting of metal clusters and/or metal nanoparticles.
  • 1.1K
  • 06 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Extraction of Metal Ions with Metal–Organic Frameworks
Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are crystalline porous materials composed of metal ions or clusters coordinated with organic linkers. Due to their extraordinary properties such as high porosity with homogeneous and tunable in size pores/cages, as well as high thermal and chemical stability, MOFs have gained attention in diverse analytical applications. 
  • 1.1K
  • 23 Dec 2021
Topic Review
1,3-Butadiene
1,3-Butadiene is the organic compound with the formula (CH2=CH)2. It is a colorless gas that is easily condensed to a liquid. It is important industrially as a monomer in the production of synthetic rubber. The molecule can be viewed as the union of two vinyl groups. It is the simplest conjugated diene. Although butadiene breaks down quickly in the atmosphere, it is nevertheless found in ambient air in urban and suburban areas as a consequence of its constant emission from motor vehicles. The name butadiene can also refer to the isomer, 1,2-butadiene, which is a cumulated diene with structure H2C=C=CH−CH3. This allene has no industrial significance.
  • 1.1K
  • 17 Oct 2022
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