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Engineering metal-oxide interfaces in TiO2/nanoporous (np) Au inverse catalysts results in enhancement of H2 oxidation activity. While the intrinsic activity of the novel np-Au prepared from a Au-Si alloy is low, the activity increased as the weight fraction of the TTIP (amount of TiO2) was increased to 0.5 weight%. We correlate the change in activity with the active sites at the perimeter interface between the TiO2 and np-Au.

Mixed Ni/Fe-base metal-organic framework (Ni/Fe-MOF) with different molar ratios of Ni2+/Fe3+ have been successfully produced using an appropriate solvothermal router. Physicochemical properties of all samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman, field emission scanning electron microscopes (FE-SEM), fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), N2 adsorption-desorption analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-Vis DRS), and photoluminescence spectra (PL). The photocatalytic degradation performances of the photocatalysts were evaluated in the decomposition of rhodamine B (RhB) under a compact fluorescent daylight lamp. From XRD, IR, XPS, and Raman results, with the presence of mixed ion Fe3+ and Ni2+, MIL-88B (MIL standing for Materials of Institut Lavoisier) crystals based on the mixed metal Fe2NiO cluster were formed, while MIL-53(Fe) was formed with the presence of single ion Fe3+. From UV-Vis DRS results, Ni/Fe-MOF samples exhibited the absorption spectrum up to the visible region, and then they showed the high photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation. A Ni/Fe-MOF sample with a Ni2+/Fe3+ molar ratio of 0.3 showed the highest photocatalytic degradation capacity of RhB, superior to that of the MIL-53(Fe) sample. The obtained result could be explained as a consequence of the large surface area with large pore volumes and pore size by the Ni2+ incorporating into the MOF’s structure. In addition, a mixed metal Fe/Ni-based framework consisted of mixed-metal cluster Fe2NiO with an electron transfer effect and may enhance the photocatalytic performance.

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The present study focused on the application of response surface methodology to optimize the fabrication of activated carbon (AC) from sugarcane bagasse for adsorption of Cu ion. The AC was synthesized via chemical activation with ZnCl as the activating agent. The central composite design based experiments were performed to assess the individual and interactive effect of influential parameters, including activation temperature, ZnCl impregnation ratio and activation time on the AC yield and removal of Cu ion from the aqueous environment. The statistically significant, well-fitting quadratic regression models were successfully developed as confirmed by high F- and low P-values (<0.0001), high correlation coefficients and lack-of-fit tests. Accordingly, the optimum AC yield and removal efficiency of Cu were predicted, respectively, as 48.8% and 92.7% which were approximate to the actual values. By applying the predicted optimal parameters, the AC shows a surprisingly high surface area of around 1,500 m/g accompanied by large pore volume and narrow micropore size at low fabrication temperature.

The present paper reports on the preparation and characterization of potential edible packaging films based on the combination of chitosan and Piper betle Linn. leaf extract (PBLLE). The incorporation of PBLLE was found to improve important characteristics of the chitosan film, making it ideally suitable for active packaging applications. In particular, the blend films exhibited very strong inhibitory activities against both gram‐negative and gram‐positive bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis and Salmonella Typhimurium. Moreover, IC50 values of the blend films were recorded at low levels (10.63‐ 22.81 μg/mL) in the PBLLE range of 1–3% v/v. Both antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the blend films increased with increasing incorporated PBLLE content (from 1 to 3% v/v) taking into account the activities of polyphenolic compounds contained in the extract. Compared to the pure chitosan film, a significantly lower swelling degree, higher resistance to water vapor permeation and desired flexibility were recorded for the films with sufficient extract content. Interestingly, no considerable difference in the thermal stability of the pure chitosan and the blend films was detected in thermal analysis. In addition, effects of PBLLE on other mechanical and optical properties of the blend films were also examined in detail.

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