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Despite the numerous advantages of continuous processing, high-value chemical production is still dominated by batch techniques. In this paper, we investigate options for the continuous dehydrogenation of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole using a trickle bed reactor operating under realistic liquid velocities with and without the addition of a hydrogen acceptor. Here, a commercial 5 wt % Pd/Al 2 O 3 catalyst was observed to slowly deactivate, hence proving unsuitable for continuous use. This deactivation was attributed to the strong adsorption of a byproduct on the surface of the support. Application of a base washing technique resolved this issue and a stable continuous reaction has been demonstrated. As was previously shown for the batch reaction, the addition of a hydrogen acceptor gas (propene) can increase the overall catalytic activity of the system.

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Superparamagnetic nanosorbent poly(phenyl(4-(6-thiophen-3-yl-hexyloxy)-benzylidene)-amine)/Fe3O4 nanoparticles (Fe3O4@P3TArH) were successfully synthesized via a simplistic method for the enhanced extraction of potent endocrine disruptor, di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP).

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Water pollution is a serious, persistent and emerging problem not only in Malaysia but all over the world. It has negative impacts on the sustainability of water resources, aquatic flora and fauna and community health. It significantly reduces total water availability because of the lack of suitable and cost-effective pollutant treatment facilities. Current facilities for water purification are time consuming, expensive and have low affinity and efficiency to newly emerging micro pollutants in water. Carbon nanotube (CNT) based nanocomposites and hybrids have attracted huge attention for their potential in the treatment of newly emerging micropollutants in water bodies. Addition of various molecules and binders such as magnetic nanoparticles, pollutant binding and degrading receptors and enzymes has added new dimensions in the fibrous shape, high aspect ratio, large surfaces, and accessible mesopores of CNTs. In this review, we have outlined the recent progress and future prospects of multifunctional CNT-hybrids for the treatment of both conventional priority and newly emerging micropollutants in water environment. The review also has highlighted the future strategies for overcoming the shortcomings of existing techniques and materials for water purification applications.

The unlimited applications of nanoparticles in human life are increasing day by day. Nanoparticles have drawn attention among researchers from academia to industry due to its large specific surface area, high chemical reactivity, physical affinity and interesting optical, electrical and magnetic properties. These properties of nanoparticles stimulate researchers to reduce particle sizes from few sub micrometers to nanometer levels. The successful application of nanoparticles depends on the simplicity of the methods for its cost effective synthesis. Since the very beginning of nanoscience, development of simple, low cost and high yielding methods has been a challenging task. Various approaches were proposed for the commercial production of nanomaterials from solid state. However, chemical method which is complicated and expensive showed limited success in the synthesis of controlled structure nanoparticles from rare-earth solid compounds. Among all the approaches, high energy ball milling with surfactant has been widely exploited for the synthesis of various nanomaterials, nanograins, nanocomposites from solid state. Self-assembled structures of surfactants provide a valuable tool for the controlled formation of nanostructure. In this process, the dispersion and enhanced grinding of particles are achieved in the reaction centers that reside in the microstructure of surfactants. In high-energy ball milling, plastic deformation, cold-welding and fracture are predominant factors which lead to a change in particle shape, size. These result in the formation of fine and dispersed particles. Stirred ball mill grinding is advantageous for nanoparticle production over other fine grinding techniques owing to its easy operation, simple construction, high size reduction rate and relatively low energy consumption. The aim of this systematic review is to represent the basic concept and applications of mechanical milling in the surfactant assisted synthesis of various nanomaterial, nanocomposite and nanocarbon materials.