Journal of Materials Science Research and Reviews

Biogenic Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: Advances in Green Synthesis, Characterization, and Agricultural Applications

Rajesh Chavan, Ranjeet Bhadange — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Biogenic zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) have attracted increasing attention as sustainable nanomaterials for agricultural applications because zinc is an essential micronutrient and nanoscale delivery may improve nutrient availability. This review examines advances in the green synthesis, characterisation and agricultural use of ZnO-NPs derived from plants, bacteria, fungi and agricultural wastes. It also summarises major analytical approaches used to confirm nanoparticle formation and properties, including UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and particle size analysis. The reviewed evidence indicates that biogenic ZnO-NPs can support seed germination, seedling vigour, plant growth, nutrient uptake, photosynthetic performance and tolerance to abiotic stresses when applied under suitable experimental conditions. Their antimicrobial and photocatalytic properties also suggest potential roles in disease management and environmental remediation. However, responses vary according to biological source, synthesis conditions, particle size, dose, crop species and application method. The review further identifies standardisation, scalability, environmental persistence and risk assessment as key challenges for translating experimental findings into safe agricultural practice. Overall, the article highlights the relevance of biogenic ZnO-NPs to nanofertiliser development and precision agriculture while emphasising the need for standardised synthesis protocols, reproducible characterisation, long-term field evaluation and biosafety assessment before wide agricultural adoption.

Technological Transitions and Thermodynamic Optimisation in Steam Methane Reforming for Sustainable Hydrogen Production: A Critical Review of Catalyst Deactivation, Process Intensification and Carbon Capture Integration

Saidu Hassan Musa, Umar Aliyu Ahmed, Ishiyaku Ibrahim Babayola — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Steam methane reforming remains the dominant industrial route to hydrogen, and its future depends on whether the process can be reconciled with deep decarbonisation objectives. This review critically examines three research streams that have developed largely in isolation from one another: the thermodynamic and kinetic constraints that govern conventional reforming, the deactivation behaviour of nickel-based reforming catalysts, and the competing intensification and carbon capture architectures proposed to reduce emissions. Literature published between 1984 and May 2026 was identified through structured searching of openly accessible scholarly metadata indexes and appraised for methodological adequacy, evidential strength and internal consistency. The synthesis indicates that the thermodynamic penalties of conventional reforming are well characterised, and that the principal deactivation mechanisms of carbon formation, nickel sintering and sulphur chemisorption are mechanistically understood at the level of model systems. Translation of that understanding into predicted industrial catalyst lifetimes is considerably weaker, because most formulation studies report short isothermal tests conducted under conditions that differ substantially from reformer tube environments. Intensified configurations, including sorption-enhanced reforming, membrane and membrane-assisted reactors, chemical looping and gas switching schemes, and electrified reforming, each relax a specific equilibrium or heat transfer constraint, yet the supporting evidence is dominated by simulation and short-duration laboratory demonstration. Sorbent capacity decay, membrane durability under realistic feed impurities and oxygen carrier attrition remain the principal barriers, and each is inconsistently reported. Studies of carbon capture integration converge on the finding that capture from the shifted syngas is less costly than capture from reformer flue gas but cannot by itself deliver very high overall capture rates. Life cycle assessments diverge sharply, and the divergence originates in assumptions about upstream methane emissions and system boundaries rather than in the underlying process models. Research priorities identified include standardised long-duration testing protocols, transparent reporting of degradation trajectories, and life cycle studies grounded in measurement-based methane emission factors.

Bamboo and Palm Kernel Shell Reinforcements in Sustainable Composites: Processing, Structure–property Relations and Hybrid-Design Priorities

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Bamboo-derived fibres and particles and palm kernel shell particles are increasingly investigated as reinforcements for lower-impact composite materials. Their appeal arises from renewable or residual biomass origins, low density, local availability in many tropical production regions and the possibility of displacing a proportion of mineral filler or synthetic reinforcement. Bio-origin alone, however, does not establish environmental superiority, nor does it guarantee reliable engineering performance. This critical narrative review evaluates the constituent characteristics, processing routes, interfacial mechanisms, property trade-offs, sustainability claims and scale-up requirements of bamboo- and palm-kernel-shell-reinforced composites, with particular attention to the still limited evidence for combined bamboo–palm kernel shell systems. Literature published from 1998 to 29 May 2026 was identified through scholarly metadata, open-access indexing and broad scholarly web searches, supplemented by citation chaining. Evidence was appraised for methodological transparency, comparability, relevance and consistency rather than pooled statistically. The most defensible conclusion is that performance depends less on the nominal biofiller identity than on reinforcement morphology, moisture condition, surface chemistry, particle-size distribution, dispersion, fibre orientation, loading, matrix selection and process-induced porosity. Bamboo fibres can provide directional crack bridging and stiffness, whereas palm kernel shell particles can contribute hardness, packing and dimensional constraint; these functions are potentially complementary but remain insufficiently validated in direct hybrid studies. Alkali treatment, compatibilisation and hierarchical interfacial modification can improve stress transfer, yet excessive treatment may damage bamboo fibres, increase processing burdens or obscure the environmental advantage. Moisture uptake, property scatter, inconsistent feedstock characterisation and limited long-term ageing data remain major barriers. Sustainability assessments are weakened by narrow cradle-to-gate boundaries and omission of drying, chemical treatment, matrix production, service life and end-of-life scenarios. Progress therefore requires factorial mixture designs, standardised feedstock reporting, durability-led testing, process-scale validation and comparative life-cycle assessment. Bamboo and palm kernel shell reinforcements are credible components of sustainable composite strategies, but their value is conditional on disciplined materials engineering and transparent system-level accounting.

Plant-based Nanoparticle Synthesis: A Critical Comparison of Green and Conventional Chemical Approaches

Anuja Raut, Ranjeet Bhadange — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Plant-mediated nanoparticle synthesis is widely presented as a sustainable alternative to conventional chemical fabrication, yet the label "green" often rests on the substitution of a synthetic reducing or capping reagent with a crude biological extract rather than on demonstrated reductions in hazard, energy demand, waste generation or life-cycle burden. This critical narrative review compares plant-based and conventional chemical approaches for the synthesis of metallic and metal-oxide nanoparticles, with emphasis on reaction mechanisms, process control, characterisation, reproducibility, environmental performance, safety and translation. Literature published from 2003 to 1 June 2026 was examined, while seminal pre-2003 studies on solution-phase nucleation and chemical reduction were retained to establish mechanistic context. Plant extracts can simultaneously provide reducing, complexing and stabilising functions through polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, sugars, proteins and organic acids. These multicomponent reaction environments may enable aqueous, moderate-temperature synthesis and generate biologically active surface coronas. However, the same compositional complexity produces batch variability, uncertain active-agent concentrations, difficult purification, incomplete mass balances and weak control over particle size, morphology, oxidation state and surface chemistry. Conventional routes generally offer superior kinetic control, compositional definition, scale-up predictability and structure-property tuning, but may rely on hazardous reagents, organic solvents, high temperatures or energy-intensive unit operations. Comparative life-cycle evidence shows that neither route is intrinsically sustainable: precursor production, extraction, heating, drying, purification, solvent recovery, yield and the functional performance of the nanoparticle can dominate environmental outcomes. Across the literature, overreliance on colour change, ultraviolet-visible spectra and nominal particle size remains a major limitation, while inadequate ionic controls and residual-extract controls confound antimicrobial and cytotoxicity claims. A defensible green synthesis claim therefore requires quantified inputs and outputs, fit-for-purpose characterisation, benchmarked performance, safety assessment and life-cycle reasoning. Plant-based synthesis is most compelling where locally available low-value biomass can replace hazardous reagents without sacrificing reproducibility, purification efficiency or application performance.

Catalytic Valorisation of Hemicelluloses in Lignocellulosic Biomass to High-value Platform Chemicals: Reaction Networks, Catalyst Design and Process Integration

Renato Augusto Pereira Damásio — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Hemicelluloses are structurally heterogeneous C5- and C6-rich polysaccharides whose selective conversion can substantially improve carbon utilisation in lignocellulosic biorefineries. Their valorisation is nevertheless more difficult than the conversion of purified monosaccharides because hydrolysis, dehydration, hydrogenation, oxidation, ring rearrangement and condensation compete within reaction media that also contain lignin fragments, mineral ions, extractives and degradation products. This critical narrative review evaluates catalytic strategies that convert hemicellulose, xylan, xylose and hemicellulosic hydrolysates into high-value platform chemicals, with emphasis on furfural, xylitol, oxygenated C5 intermediates, furfuryl alcohol, methylfurans, cyclopentanone, pentanediols, furoic acid and related products. Literature was selected through live searches of accessible scholarly indexes and bibliographic registries, supported by citation chaining and verification of bibliographic identities and Digital Object Identifiers. The evidence indicates that furfural remains the most mature catalytic hub because acid-catalysed depolymerisation and dehydration can be coupled with in situ extraction, although apparent yield gains often depend on solvent-intensive biphasic systems and model substrates. Reductive routes to xylitol are chemically efficient, but catalyst poisoning, hydrolysate purification and hydrogen supply strongly influence practical performance. Furfural upgrading offers a broad product spectrum, yet selectivity is highly sensitive to metal identity, support acidity, hydrogen donor, solvent and water activity. Across pathways, the principal translational weakness is the limited comparability between catalyst studies and integrated biomass processes: many reports optimise reaction yield without fully quantifying catalyst lifetime, carbon balance, separation burden or solvent recovery. The strongest future strategy is therefore not a single superior catalyst, but coordinated feedstock fractionation, catalyst-function matching, impurity tolerance, continuous operation and process-level evaluation. Such integration is necessary for hemicellulose valorisation to progress from high laboratory selectivity to durable and economically credible biorefinery performance.

Conversion of Mango Wood Sawdust into Biochar: Preparation & Structural Characterization

Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Effective and affordable methods for removing heavy metals (HMs) are urgently required, as these contaminants pose significant risks to both human health and the environment. Adsorption has emerged as a highly promising therapeutic technique in recent years due to the difficulty of biodegrading and transforming heavy metals. Due to its wide range of potential applications, biochar (BC), a sustainable and inexpensive adsorbent substance made from agricultural waste, has recently garnered a lot of research interest. Mango wood sawdust was converted into biochar utilizing the pyrolysis process in an oxygen-limited environment. The pyrolysis process was carried out until the temperature reached 600 degrees Celsius while the heating rate was kept at 5 degrees Celsius per minute. While XRD analysis shows a broad diffraction peak around 26 degrees (2 theta), indicating the presence of amorphous carbon with partially ordered graphite structures with 3.34865 A⁰ d-spacing. SEM analysis clearly shows highly porous sites that increase surface area, attachment sites, and water retention capacity as well as increase adsorption of heavy metals and increase cation exchange capacity. Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) method showed peak position between 600 and 800 nm indicates that most biochar is of a comparable size, carefully regulated synthesis conditions with the average particle size about 700 nm. This work helps to sustainable waste management and environmental protection by highlighting the efficient use of agricultural waste to create value-added carbon products. In order to determine its true effectiveness, future research will employ this biochar in real-world water treatment procedures across a range of industries. Future research will also examine the prepared biochar's recyclable and reusable qualities.

Eco-Friendly Carbon Dots Derived from Non-lignin Cellulose of Borassus aethiopum for Corrosion Mitigation of Mild Steel in Hydrochloric Acid

Izuchukwu O. Madu, Joseph T. Nwabanne, Iheoma C. Nwuzor — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigated the synthesis, characterization, and corrosion inhibition performance of non-lignin-containing cellulose-based carbon dots (NLC-CDs) derived from African fan palm (Borassus aethiopum) for mild steel protection in 1 M HCl solution. Non-lignin-containing cellulose was extracted from African fan palm fibers through alkaline treatment and subsequently converted into carbon dots using a hydrothermal method at 160 °C for 12 h. The synthesized NLC-CDs were characterized using UV–Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, TEM, and scanning probe microscopy analyses. UV–Vis analysis revealed characteristic absorption peaks associated with π–π* and n–π* transitions, while FTIR confirmed the presence of oxygen-containing functional groups responsible for adsorption behavior. TEM results showed uniformly dispersed spherical nanoparticles with an average particle size of approximately 7.45 nm. Corrosion inhibition performance was evaluated using weight loss and electrochemical techniques. The results demonstrated that inhibition efficiency increased with inhibitor concentration, reaching a maximum efficiency above 90% at 200 mg/L. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed increased charge transfer resistance and reduced double-layer capacitance in the presence of NLC-CDs, confirming the formation of a protective adsorbed film on the mild steel surface. SEM, EDS, and AFM surface analyses further verified reduced surface deterioration and smoother morphologies for inhibited samples. Adsorption studies followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, indicating monolayer adsorption behavior. The findings establish NLC-CDs from Borassus aethiopum as an eco-friendly, effective, and sustainable green corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in acidic environments.

Evaluation of the Proximate Composition of Date Fruit (Phoenix dactylifera L.) and Its Potential Health Benefits

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is a nutritionally important crop consumed widely in arid and semi-arid regions, where it contributes to energy intake and food security. Processing date fruit into powder may improve handling, storage stability and its suitability for use as a natural sweetening ingredient. This study evaluated the proximate composition of laboratory-processed Phoenix dactylifera L. powder and considered its potential nutritional relevance based on the measured composition. Fully ripened date fruits at the Tamr stage were cleaned, deseeded, dried in a hot-air oven at 60–70°C, milled and sieved to obtain a uniform powder. Moisture, ash, crude protein, crude fat and crude fibre were determined using standard analytical procedures, while total carbohydrate was estimated by difference. Analyses were conducted in triplicate, and results were expressed as mean ± standard deviation. The powder contained total carbohydrate as the predominant component (69.42 ± 4.48%), followed by crude fat (14.85 ± 6.25%), moisture (11.04 ± 1.14%), ash (2.49 ± 0.01%), crude fibre (2.03 ± 2.11%) and crude protein (0.17 ± 0.06%). The proximate fractions differed significantly (p < 0.05), with carbohydrate being approximately six to ten times higher than the other measured nutrients. The relatively low moisture content suggests improved storage stability, while the ash fraction indicates the presence of inorganic mineral constituents. The high carbohydrate level confirms that date fruit powder is an energy-rich material with potential use in food formulation and as a natural sweetening ingredient. However, health-related implications remain inferential because individual minerals, bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity and direct physiological effects were not experimentally assessed in this study.

Recycled Jeans/Denim Cotton Fibre as a Bio-based Material for Paperboard Handsheets: Laboratory Evaluation

Klaus Dölle — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Fabric fibres have been used in paper production for more than 2,000 years. With industrialisation, wood-based fibres largely replaced textile fibres in paper products and packaging grades. Environmental concerns about plastic bags have renewed interest in paper-based and bio-based alternatives.
Renewed interest in natural fibre materials for paper and board applications requires evaluation of sustainable fibre sources within current industrial processes.
In this study, jeans/denim fibre (JDF) was produced from collected 100% cotton jeans trousers cut into 1.0 inch x 1.0 inch (25.4 mm x 25.4 mm) pieces before refining. Handsheets were prepared using JDF and old corrugated container (OCC) fibres.
Handsheets with a target basis weight of 70 g/m² were produced from blends ranging from 100% OCC to 100% JDF in 10% increments and evaluated for mechanical, surface and optical properties.
The handsheets showed opacity values close to 100% and changed from brown to blue as OCC content decreased and JDF content increased.
Higher OCC content was associated with greater air resistance, indicating a more compact sheet structure.
Handsheets containing 100% to 40% OCC generally showed higher strength performance, including short compression strength index, burst index, tear index, zero-span strength and tensile strength. JDF contents above 50% reduced mechanical properties.
The results indicate that JDF may be suitable as a partial fibre component in paperboard handsheets, but high JDF fractions reduce mechanical integrity.
Further laboratory and pilot-scale research is required to optimise fibre processing, sheet formation and strength development before industrial paperboard application.

Design of a Drilling Mud Agitator System for Small-scale Petroleum Operations

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Drilling mud agitation is a critical process in oil and gas drilling operations; inadequate agitation leads to solid particle settlement, inconsistent mud density, and degraded rheological properties that increase non-productive time (NPT) and operational safety hazards. This study presents the complete analytical design of a mechanically agitated drilling mud system comprising an 83-litre cylindrical tank and a discharge pump, sized for a process fluid of density 1,200 kg/m³ and dynamic viscosity 0.10 Pa·s. The design was executed using standard engineering equations for impeller geometry, power consumption, shaft torque, shaft sizing, motor selection, pump hydraulics, and mixing time estimation. A two-blade pitched-blade turbine (PBT) with an impeller-to-tank diameter ratio of 0.40 was selected, consistent with the CAD model and the fabricated prototype. The design yielded an impeller diameter of 182.9 mm rotating at 1,148.6 rpm, a Reynolds number of 7,684, a shaft power of 516.8 W, a shaft torque of 4.30 N·m, a rated agitator motor power of 0.75 kW, and a mixing time of 7.12 seconds. The pump system was redesigned with a 76.2 mm (3-inch) discharge pipe diameter, yielding a pipe velocity of 1.82 m/s, a total dynamic head of 2.14 m, and a rated pump motor power of 0.75 kW—demonstrating the significant hydraulic advantage of adequate pipe sizing. Parametric sensitivity analyses confirm that tip speed governs power cubically, impeller diameter governs power quadratically at fixed tip speed (and to the fifth power at fixed rotational speed), and mixing time is linearly proportional to tank volume. A prototype of the agitator was fabricated and mechanically operated to confirm assembly feasibility; the analytical results were compared with published mixing and agitation literature and provide a scalable design framework for small-scale petroleum engineering applications.

Cation-Substitution-Driven Optoelectronic and Magnetic Tuning in NiₓMn₁₋ₓFe₂O₄ Spinel Ferrite Nanoparticles Synthesized by Co-precipitation

Bhabataran Bhakat, Manoranjan Bar — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Spinel ferrite nanoparticles are oxides whose structural, optical and magnetic responses can be tuned through cation substitution. This study aimed to evaluate how Ni substitution modifies the structure–property coupling of manganese ferrite nanoparticles with compositions of NiₓMn₁₋ₓFe₂O₄ (x = 0.0, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 and 1.0). The nanoparticles were synthesised by alkaline co-precipitation, calcined at 700 °C and examined using structural, morphological, compositional, optical, photoluminescent and magnetic analyses. X-ray diffraction confirmed cubic spinel ferrite formation, with crystallite sizes of 18.59–30.44 nm. Ni incorporation contracted the lattice parameter from 8.3417 to 8.3103 Å and increased the X-ray density from 5.278 to 5.425 g cm⁻³, consistent with Mn replacement by Ni and increased formula mass. FTIR spectra showed metal–oxygen bands, with the tetrahedral band shifting from 520 to 553 cm⁻¹, supporting spinel bond rearrangement. SEM showed agglomerated quasi-spherical nanoparticles of 51–66 nm, whereas EDX confirmed cation-normalised compositions close to target stoichiometry. UV–visible analysis indicated tunable optical behaviour, with direct band gaps of 2.07–2.69 eV and Urbach energies of 0.189–0.643 eV. PL spectra displayed near-UV/blue emission at 377.0–383.5 nm and defect-related emission near 566–574 nm; Ni substitution quenched the main PL intensity, indicating modified recombination kinetics. VSM analysis revealed ferrimagnetic soft-magnetic behaviour, with saturation magnetisation increasing from 0.0073 to 0.7723 emu, whereas coercivity decreased sharply in intermediate compositions. Integrated analysis identified NiFe₂O₄ as the most magnetically robust composition and x = 0.7 as balanced, with high optical conductivity, defect activity and soft magnetic response. Thus, Ni substitution tunes Mn ferrite nanoparticles for optoelectronic, photocatalytic, sensing and magnetic applications.

Reinforcement of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Waste Polymer Using CaO Nanoparticles Synthesized from Periwinkle Shell for Car Bumper Application

K. K. Ugwuagbo, E. Osarolube, J. A. Amusan — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigated the reinforcement of waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with calcium oxide (CaO) nanoparticles synthesised from periwinkle shells for potential car-bumper applications. The shells were washed, dried, milled, calcined at 1000 °C, and sieved, while the CaO nanoparticles were prepared using maceration method. The synthesised nanoparticles were characterised to determine their structural and compositional properties. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the presence of Ca–O, carbonate, and hydroxyl groups. Particle-size analysis indicated a Z-average diameter of 37.12 nm. X-ray fluorescence analysis showed that the particles consisted mainly of 83.637 wt.% CaO and 7.166 wt.% MgO. The nanoparticles were incorporated into molten waste PET at different proportions to produce samples S1–S5, with sisal fibres added as reinforcement. The mechanical properties of the resulting composites were evaluated and compared with those of a commercial car-bumper sample designated Control 2. Samples S1 and S3 showed the most promising performance. Sample S1 recorded a hardness of 60.67 Shore D and an impact strength of 0.0028 J/mm, whereas Control 2 recorded 63.67 Shore D and 0.0003 J/mm, respectively. Sample S1 also exhibited a higher tensile strength than Control 2, although its flexural strength was lower. The findings indicate that the composites may have potential for car-bumper and other automotive applications if their flexural performance is improved.

Comparative Performance of Rice Husk Ash and Palm Oil Fuel Ash in Metakaolin Geopolymers

Maria Kaka Etete Enoh, Friday Aje Ovat — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The growing demand for sustainable construction materials and effective waste valorisation has stimulated interest in the utilisation of agricultural wastes as partial substitutes for aluminosilicate precursors in geopolymer production. Despite growing interest in biomass ashes for geopolymer synthesis, direct comparisons of rice husk ash (RHA) and palm oil fuel ash (POFA) under identical metakaolin-based geopolymer conditions remain limited. This study investigated the influence of POFA and RHA on the physical and mechanical properties of metakaolin-based geopolymers. Geopolymer specimens containing 0–30 wt.% POFA or RHA were synthesised using a 10 M sodium hydroxide solution, a sodium silicate-to-sodium hydroxide ratio of 1, and an activator-to-binder (liquid-to-solid) ratio of 0.80, followed by ambient curing at 25 ± 3 °C for 28 days. The materials were characterised using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, while density, water absorption, and compressive and flexural strengths were evaluated. The characterisation results revealed that RHA was predominantly composed of amorphous silica, whereas POFA contained a higher calcium concentration and a greater proportion of crystalline phases. Increasing the biomass ash content reduced the density and increased the water absorption of the geopolymer composites. However, moderate biomass ash incorporation enhanced mechanical performance. Maximum compressive strengths of 23.83 MPa and 23.90 MPa were achieved at 20 wt.% POFA and 15 wt.% RHA, respectively, while peak flexural strengths of 5.71 MPa and 5.51 MPa were obtained at 15 wt.% replacement. Further increases in biomass ash content resulted in a gradual reduction in strength. Overall, both POFA and RHA demonstrated comparable potential as sustainable reinforcement materials for metakaolin-based geopolymer composites, with an optimum replacement range of 15–20 wt.%, providing an effective balance between physical and mechanical performance. The findings demonstrate the potential for utilising locally available agricultural wastes to develop lower-carbon geopolymer binders for sustainable construction applications.

Prediction of Curie Temperature in Li-Based Ferrites Using Machine Learning and SHAP Interpretation

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Li-based ferrites are promising candidates for microwave devices, magnetic functional materials and electronic components due to their high electrical resistivity, excellent high-frequency magnetic response and magnetism tunability via ionic substitution. Curie temperature (T_C) determines the thermal stability and service temperature window of ferrites. Nevertheless, T_C is comprehensively modulated by stoichiometric ratios, transition and rare-earth ion doping and multi-element synergistic effects, forming complicated nonlinear composition-property relationships that cannot be well captured by traditional empirical methods. Herein, a dataset of Curie temperature for Li-based ferrites is built using 104 experimental data points extracted from published literature. Nine regression models including Lasso, Ridge, multilayer perceptron (MLP), support vector regression (SVR), k-nearest neighbors (KNN), classification and regression tree (CART), XGBoost, random forest (RF) and CatBoost are implemented and compared to predict T_C. The SHAP approach is further adopted to quantify the contribution of compositional descriptors to T_C. Results reveal that regularized linear models exhibit favorable generalization stability with limited samples. Specifically, the Lasso model achieves the best prediction performance, with a lower MAE of 19.8515, an RMSE of 28.3568, and a high R² of 0.9404 on the test set. While sophisticated nonlinear models possess strong fitting capacity, several algorithms suffer from obvious error oscillation and unstable predictions on partial samples. SHAP analysis identifies Mg2+, composition variable Mn2+,Fe3+, Ti4+ and Zn2+ as primary features governing T_C. Feature dependence curves demonstrate that substitution of nonmagnetic or weakly magnetic ions suppresses superexchange and reduces T_{C ,}whereas increased Fe3+ content strengthens magnetic coupling. This work provides systematic and feasible data-driven framework for rapid, macroscopic T_Cprediction, key-component identification, and subsequent composition optimization of Li-based ferrites.

Surface-modified Alginate Bioplastics: Biodegradable Sorbents for Selective Oil Spill Remediation

Claire Shi — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Marine oil spills require effective sorbent materials that combine selective oil uptake with biodegradability to reduce the secondary pollution associated with conventional polypropylene products.

Aims: This study aims to develop and evaluate a biodegradable, surface-modified calcium alginate composite sorbent as an alternative to commercial polypropylene materials for selective oil-spill remediation.

Study Design: An experimental materials-development study comparing seven alginate-based formulations with a commercial polypropylene sorbent.

Place and Duration of Study: STEM Science Center, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, USA, during 2025-2026.

Methodology: Sodium alginate was reinforced with cellulose nanofibers, supported on biodegradable gauze, cross-linked with calcium chloride, and surface-modified with beeswax nanoparticles. The formulations were evaluated for 24-h oil absorption, 30-day soil biodegradation at 0, 25, and 37°C, tensile strength, scanning electron microscopy, and thermal-decomposition behavior using temperature, humidity, optical, and MQ-7 gas sensing. Measurements were performed in triplicate where applicable.

Results: The optimized alginate composite absorbed 374.25% of its dry mass in oil, equivalent to 72.4% of the 516.65% uptake achieved by polypropylene. The alginate sorbent showed an average mass loss of 32.06% over 30 days, whereas polypropylene showed essentially no biodegradation. The composite also achieved a mean tensile-load resistance of 1.88 kg, compared with 1.54 kg for polypropylene. Microscopy supported the presence of a hierarchical porous structure produced by the gauze scaffold, alginate matrix, cellulose nanofibers, and beeswax modification.

Conclusion: Surface-modified alginate composites offer a promising balance of oil uptake, mechanical handling, and biodegradability. Further testing with crude oil, standardized combustion analysis, scale-up, and field deployment is required.

Understanding Mix Design Trends in Fly Ash-based Geopolymer Concrete through Multi-study Data Analysis

Maria Kaka Etete Enoh — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Fly ash-based geopolymer concrete is increasingly investigated as an alternative to ordinary Portland cement concrete, but published mix designs vary substantially in precursor composition, alkaline activator formulation, aggregate proportions, curing conditions and reported strength. This study quantitatively examined prevailing practices using a literature-derived database containing 252 mixtures from 32 published studies. Descriptive statistics and frequency analyses were used to characterise binder composition, constituent dosages, activator characteristics, curing conditions and 28-day compressive strength, while Pearson correlation analysis assessed linear relationships among the principal variables. Of the mixtures analysed, 83 used fly ash as the sole binder and 169 incorporated at least one supplementary binder. Fly ash content ranged from 180 to 500 kg/m³, and compressive strength ranged from 7.0 to 79.7 MPa, with a mean of 34.8 MPa. Sodium silicate dosage and sodium hydroxide dosage exhibited the strongest positive correlations with compressive strength, with coefficients of 0.65 and 0.63, respectively. The sodium silicate-to-sodium hydroxide ratio showed a moderate negative correlation of −0.59, whereas curing temperature had a moderate positive correlation of 0.37. Most remaining relationships were weak to moderate, indicating that strength development cannot be explained adequately by a single mix-design variable. The findings demonstrate considerable heterogeneity in reported formulations and provide a quantitative benchmark for future development of more consistent, data-driven mix-design and reporting practices for fly ash-based geopolymer concrete.

Standard Enthalpy of Ionization (∆H) Specific to the Color-Transitions of Phenolphthalein Indicator in Different Medium

Shiv Prakash Mishra, Shailendra Singh, R. P. Singh — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Phenolphthalein is a widely used acid-base indicator whose visible color response is associated with pH-dependent structural transformation. This manuscript discusses the thermodynamic basis of the color transition of phenolphthalein, with emphasis on the relationship between ionization equilibrium, molecular rearrangement, and standard enthalpy change. In acidic and neutral media, phenolphthalein predominantly exists in a colorless lactone or benzenoid form. Under alkaline conditions, deprotonation promotes ring opening and formation of a conjugated quinonoid species, producing the characteristic pink coloration within the practical transition range of approximately pH 8.2–10.0. At very high alkalinity, further structural change may lead to fading or decolorization through formation of a colorless carbinol-associated form. The theoretical discussion is supported by basic thermodynamic relations, including the Van’t Hoff equation and the Gibbs free energy expression, to explain how temperature, equilibrium constant, enthalpy, and entropy are connected during ionization. The manuscript also summarizes selected pH transition ranges of common acid-base indicators to place phenolphthalein in a comparative context. Overall, the work presents phenolphthalein color change as a coupled acid-base, structural, and thermodynamic process. The discussion highlights the need for controlled pH, temperature, concentration, and observation conditions when interpreting color transitions and related thermodynamic parameters.

Silver Nanoparticles (Ag NPs) Skeleton Study by Transmission Electron Microscopy Technique: Structural Symmetry, Defects, Lattice Fringes and Phase Analysis Insights

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The crystallographic structure and defects of highly crystalline Ag NPs derived by chemical reduction were investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM revealed predominantly quasi-spherical to spherical nanoparticles (NPs) with a homogeneous morphology and an average particle size of 25.28 nm. Agglomeration analysis showed that 85.27 % of the particles were well dispersed, indicating effective growth control and good stability. The SAED patterns exhibited well-defined diffraction rings indexed to the (111), (200), (220), (311), and (222) planes, confirming the highly polycrystalline face-centred cubic (FCC) structure and phase purity. HR-TEM further revealed ordered lattice fringes with localised defects, and interplanar spacings of 0.235, 0.203, 0.144, 0.123, and 0.117 nm corresponded to the (111), (200), (220), (311), and (222) planes, respectively, confirming the highly crystalline FCC Ag structure and the presence of defects. The crystallographic analysis yielded lattice constants of a=b=c= 4.0772 Å (axial parameters), lattice angles of α=β=γ= 90°, and an Fm-3m space group, consistent with a standard FCC Ag crystal structure. EDS analysis confirmed 98.22 wt % Ag, demonstrating the high purity and structural integrity of the synthesised Ag NPs.

Evaluation of Various Temperature Levels on the Reliability Index for Reinforced Concrete Members Made of Geopolymer Mixes Subjected to Chloride Concentration

Mostafa Hassan — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Chloride-induced corrosion is a major durability concern for reinforced-concrete bridge decks exposed to de-icing salts, and increasing temperature may accelerate chloride transport. This study evaluated the probability of chloride-induced corrosion initiation and the reliability index of bridge decks made with two geopolymer concrete mixes containing 50% fly ash and 50% slag, and 40% fly ash and 60% slag. Maximum temperatures from 25°C to 45°C were considered under low- and high-emission climate scenarios. Chloride diffusion coefficients were corrected for temperature and incorporated into a probabilistic performance function. Monte Carlo simulation with 100,000 iterations was applied to concrete-cover depths of 40 mm and 50 mm with coefficients of variation of 20%, 25%, and 30% at exposure periods of 50 and 100 years. The results showed that increasing maximum temperature increased the probability of corrosion initiation and reduced the reliability index. At 45°C, the 40% fly ash–60% slag mix with a 40 mm cover and a 20% coefficient of variation produced probabilities of 13% and 35% at 50 and 100 years, respectively; the corresponding values for a 50 mm cover were 2% and 9%. For the 50% fly ash–50% slag mix with a 40 mm cover, the probabilities were 27% and 50%. Polynomial relationships described the reliability index as a function of maximum temperature. Overall, a 50 mm concrete cover and the 40% fly ash–60% slag mix provided comparatively improved resistance to chloride-induced corrosion initiation.

Optimization of Cement Mortar with Mineral Admixtures for Enhanced Early Strength and Microstructural Performance

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Enhancing the early strength of cement mortar is essential for modern construction applications. This study investigates the effect of mineral admixtures on the rheological and mechanical properties of cement mortar by varying admixture dosages (0-2.5 wt% by cement weight). Setting time, compressive strength, water absorption, and microstructural characteristics were analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), TG/DSC, and zeta potential measurements. The results indicate that mineral admixtures accelerate hydration, reducing setting time and promoting calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) formation. The compressive strength increased significantly at early curing ages (3 and 7 days) and continued to improve at 28 days, with 2 wt% identified as the optimal dosage for balancing both strength and workability. Microstructural analysis confirmed a denser, less porous matrix at this dosage, enhancing durability and reducing water absorption. Zeta potential measurements further demonstrated improved colloidal stability, minimizing particle agglomeration. These findings provide a framework for optimizing cement mortar formulations, contributing to more efficient and sustainable construction materials. These optimized formulations present significant implications for the modern construction industry by enabling faster project completion times and enhancing the durability of precast components, thereby promoting more resilient and sustainable infrastructure development.