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Effects of various alkaline carbonic solutions on the growth of the freshwater algae Chlorophyceae

Jani et al. | Aug 11, 2023

Effects of various alkaline carbonic solutions on the growth of the freshwater algae Chlorophyceae
Image credit: Jordan Whitfield

Modern day fossil fuels are prone to polluting our environment, which can provide major habitat loss to many animals in our ecosystems. Algae-based biofuels have become an increasingly popular alternative to fossil fuels because of their sustainability, effectiveness, and environmentally-friendly nature. To encourage algae growth and solidify its role as an emerging biofuel, we tested basic (in terms of pH) solutions on pond water to determine which solution is most efficient in inducing the growth of algae.

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The effects of plasticizers on the mechanical properties and chemical composition of a gelatin biopolymer

Ip et al. | Jul 28, 2024

The effects of plasticizers on the mechanical properties and chemical composition of a gelatin biopolymer

Here, in an effort to identify alternatives to oil-based plastic, the authors sought to investigate the effects of plasticizers on the mechanical properties and chemical composition of gelatin bioplastic matrices. Through measurements of their tensile strength and elongation at break, along with FTIR spectroscopy, they identified 3% w/v polyethylene glycol film as having the best performance in their study..

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A potentially underestimated source of CO2 and other greenhouse gases in agriculture

Corcimaru et al. | May 18, 2022

A potentially underestimated source of CO<sub>2</sub> and other greenhouse gases in agriculture

Here the authors investigated the role of agricultural fertilizers as potential contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. In contrast to the typical investigations that consider microbiological processes, the authors considered purely chemical processes. Based on their results they found that as much as 20.41% of all CO2 emission from land-based activities could be a result of mineral nitrogen fertilizers.

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Electrocatalytic oxidation of furfural on Co3O4/nickel foam catalyst: performance and mechanistic study

Song et al. | Jul 19, 2026

Electrocatalytic oxidation of furfural on Co<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/nickel foam catalyst: performance and mechanistic study
Image credit: Shraga kopstein

In this study, the authors hypothesized that the unique redox properties of cobalt oxide (Co3O4), combined with the conductive nature of the nickel foam (NF) substrate, synergistically enhances the catalytic performance for furfural oxidation. The study showed successful synthesis of Co3O4 nanoflowers directly grown on NF and tested their capacity to serve as a highly efficient electrocatalyst for furfural oxidation. Beyond furfural oxidation, this study also offers broader implications for sustainable chemistry by establishing design principles for efficient nucleophilic oxidation reaction catalysts, demonstrating an energy-saving alternative to conventional oxygen evolution reaction-coupled processes, and showcasing how biomass conversion can be integrated with renewable energy systems.

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