PSGR Krishnammal College for Women, is an autonomous arts and science college located in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. India. It has been recognized as the 'College of Excellence' by the University Grants Commission.
This study presents a novel, first-of-its-kind synthesis and comprehensive characterization of cashew nutshell (CNS)-derived biochar for supercapacitor (SC) applications via a single-step, self-sustained gasification process, wherein no secondary or energy-intensive post-treatments-such as chemical activation, physical activation involving high-temperature steam or CO2, or hydrothermal activation-were employed. Instead, biochar generated as a by-product from conventional medium-to large-scale gasification was directly valorized using a canonical laboratory-scale batch-type reactor that closely replicates the operating principles and reaction environment of commercial downdraft gasifiers, ensuring both technological relevance and scalability. Two CNS biochar's synthesized under different air superficial velocities (5 cm/s and 20 cm/s) were systematically investigated. Structural and chemical characterization using X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the amorphous carbon framework, while synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy revealed a lower unoccupied density of states in the C 2p pi* orbital and a higher degree of carbon disorder in CNS-5 compared to CNS-20. Electrochemical performance was rigorously evaluated through a comprehensive three-electrode configuration and validated using a two-electrode symmetric cell, providing a realistic assessment of device-level performance. The CNS-5 electrode exhibited a high specific capacitance of 186 F/g along with excellent electrochemical durability, retaining 137% of its capacitance after 10,000 charge-discharge cycles at 5 A/g. Furthermore, a symmetric supercapacitor assembled using CNS-5 with 6 M KOH electrolyte and operated within a 1 V potential window delivered a specific capacitance of 38 F/g, a maximum power density of 1503 W/kg, and an energy density of 5.4 Wh/kg. Overall, this work demonstrates a novel, scalable, and sustainable gasification-enabled route for producing functional biochar electrodes, paving the way for green and a self-sustaining circular energy-materials supply chain.
In recent decades, plant-based metabolites have gained prominence in the pharmaceutical and food industries. In this present investigation, pisiferic acid (PA) an abietane diterpene acid with a chemical formula of C20H28O3, has been characterized using combined theoretical and experimental approaches to detail its spectroscopic, structural, topological, reactive site prediction, biological interactions, and solvent effects on its frontier molecular orbitals (FMO), electronic spectra, and molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) analysis. The optimized molecular structure comprises 53 bond distances and 101 bond angles. The vibrational wavenumbers revealed the characteristic peaks associated with hydroxyl, methine, carbonyl, methyl, and methylene groups. The HOMO-LUMO energy gap values are calculated at 5.3745 eV (Gas), 5.371 eV (Ethanol), 5.3699 eV (Water), 5.375 eV (Chloroform), and 5.3773 eV (Toluene). The electrophilic and nucleophilic reactive sites within the molecular structure were confirmed with the Mulliken charge distribution and molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) analysis. The topological finding reveals that the hydrogens H42 linked to carbon C18 in the meta position relative to the O3-H45 hydroxyl group and H27 in the CH2 methylene group were highlighted in red, indicating increased electron density or localized electron regions. In ADMET prediction, pisiferic acid exhibits drug-likeness characteristics. In addition, the molecular docking against antiapoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL with a binding affinity of-6.77 and-6.68 Kcal/mol, supporting its antiapoptotic characteristics.
Despite their potential, alkali-treated konjac glucomannan (KGM) gels are limited by excessive brittleness and a lack of eco-friendly synthesis methods, creating an urgent need for more durable and 'green' alternatives. In this study, highly stable KGM gels were constructed under low-alkali conditions by adjusting the ethanol content. The results showed that intermolecular hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions were enhanced with increasing ethanol concentration (0-20% v/v) under low-alkaline conditions. The physicochemical properties of KGM gels showed dynamic improvement, with denser micro-network morphology and simultaneous enhancement of thermal stability. However, the addition of a high ethanol concentration (20% v/v) tended to trigger local aggregation, disrupting the gel network structure. At an ethanol addition of 15%, the hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions of KGM gels reached an optimal equilibrium, exhibiting the most compact gel network and excellent resistance to deformation. This study reveals the regulation of the microstructure and macroscopic properties of KGM gels by ethanol, which provides theoretical support for the construction of high-performance KGM gels under low-alkali conditions.
Microplastics (MPs) are persistent environmentalpollutants with adverse effects on ecosystems and health. Microbial biodegradation is a promising remediation strategy, yet microbial efficiency varies based on species and experimental conditions. However, comparative studies evaluating the performance of single-species and dual-species degradation of polypropylene microplastics (PPMPs) remain limited. Therefore, the present study investigated the PPMP- degradation potential of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, and Lactobacillus plantarum in single- and dual-species systems over a 30-day incubation period under controlled conditions on PPMPs. Growth kinetics, weight loss, FTIR spectroscopy, SEM imaging, and GC–MS analysis were employed to assess microbial degradation of PPMPS. The results demonstrated significant MP degradation in the presence of all bacterial species, with the dual-species model showing enhanced degradation efficiency compared to individual strains. Single-species degradation yielded 28.6
The different functional portions present in the thiosemicarbazone (TSC) scaffold allow for a variety of non-covalent interactions while maintaining considerable conformational flexibility. This review gives an overview of how these weak interactions represent leading factors influencing the self-assembly and crystal packing behaviour of TSC-metal complexes, hence acting as building blocks for crystal engineering, leading to tailored 1D, 2D, and 3D architectures. Moreover, these systems represent a highly versatile class of compounds where non-covalent interactions also play a pivotal role in assessing their functions and the ensuing employment in diverse applications. In this context, we present a comprehensive survey concerning the use of TSC-metal complexes in catalysis, sensing, materials science, and environmental applications. Computational methodologies are presented as complementary tools to elucidate the nature and impact of these non-covalent forces. Overall, TSCs and their metal complexes represent a rich platform for designing advanced functional materials with precisely tunable properties through the strategic exploitation of non-covalent interactions.
