Biopolymers such as cellulose, chitin, and chitosan play a dominant role in renewable energy production by replacing fossil fuels. To advance research in the renewable energy sector, one should have a deep understanding of the types of biopolymers and their energy potential. The properties and applications of biopolymers depend on the conversion technologies employed. In this review article, we discuss the chemistry behind biopolymers and biofuels, illustrated with figures. It focuses on the versatile roles of biopolymers as catalysts, precursors, electrode materials, and substrates, highlighting their sustainability-related activity. Emphasis was placed on biopolymer characteristics, including adaptability, low cost, eco-friendliness, chemical and mechanical stability. A specific focus was given to the production of bioethanol, biohydrogen, and biodiesel from biopolymers. Eventually, the review article deliberates the future scope, including probable pathways and challenges to the real-world implementation of biopolymers for energy production.

Herein, the plant extract-mediated synthesis and applications of CeO 2 nanoparticles were reviewed. Biosynthesized CeO 2 and their composites exhibited a wide range of biomedical and environmental applications.

The reverse osmosis (RO) process has been a leading technology in the desalination field; however, an inevitable occurrence of membrane fouling during an operation reduces their efficiency in cost and productivity. Autopsy has been regarded as a practical and effective approach to examining the RO membrane conditions and foulant properties. Herein, we investigated the fouling behaviors of RO membranes in a pilot-scale brackish water reverse osmosis (BWRO) system after 142 h of operation through membrane autopsies and fouling layer characterization. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns disclosed Si and Al minerals responsible for inorganic foulants, while Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra indicated the presence of organic foulants, including polysaccharides and proteins. Biofouling, such as coliform, was also detected using a liquid-medium culture technique. In addition, the fouled RO membrane was decontaminated by a chemical cleaning process, including three steps of acidic cleaning with Hydrex 4703, alkaline cleaning with Hydrex 4506, and neutral cleaning with RO water. The feed pressure and permeate flux were regenerated over 96%. This study may have fundamental implications for proposing an appropriate pretreatment setup

Saline water intrusion and long-term upland soils are the main difficulties in pomelo cultivation today. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the influences of salinization and the age of upland soil on the morphological and chemical characteristics of soil in pomelo orchards. The upland soils from 5 years to 10 years were classified as Hapli Gleyic Fluvisols. Moreover, after 8 years of saline water intrusion, the salinity did not affect soil pH and EC any longer, but still reduced soluble P content and cation exchange capacity. For toxins, the salinization reduced Fe2+ but increased Al3+ concentration. The pHKCl decreased according to the age of upland soil in Giong Trom, while the contents of organic matter, NH4+, and Fe-2(+) toxicity reduced according to the age of upland soil in Chau Thanh and Giong Trom. Although after 8 years of salinization, the soil properties did not significantly change compared to the non-salinized case, prevention from salinization to pomelo orchards to ensure pomelo yield was an essential priority.

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2-NPs) have garnered significant interest due to their unique properties as well as a wide range of applications in the environmental and biomedical fields. This work examines the recent advances in the production of CeO2-NPs using various biological agents, including plant extracts and biosources, as sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives to conventional synthetic routes. The formation mechanisms, structural characteristics, and influence of factors on the synthesis of CeO2-NPs were discussed. We found that most CeO2-NPs possessed spherical shapes, small particle sizes (10-100 nm), and large surface areas (12-100 m2 g-1). Bio-mediated CeO2-NPs and their composites had diverse biomedical applications such as antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, anticancer, neuroprotective, enzymatic, biosensing, and seed germination activities. Furthermore, CeO2-based composites, such as ZnO-CeO2, Ag-doped CeO2, cellulose/CeO2, CeO2/biochar, and Cu/CeO2, acted as photocatalysts and adsorbents for wastewater treatment applications. The performance of CeO2 and its composites in the removal of organic pollutants such as dyes, antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, pesticides, and other organic compounds was evaluated. Remarkably, CeO2-NPs and their composites exhibited good adsorption capacities of 46-201 mg g-1 and removal efficiency of up to 99% against heavy metals, dyes, antibiotics, and inorganic contaminants. Finally, this review analyzed the limitations and proposed future research directions for biosynthesized CeO2-NPs and their composites in biomedical and environmental technologies.

This work employed the microwave-assisted method to prepare activated carbons from the byproducts of Areca catechu (ACAC) shells and Nypa fruticans (ACNF) nut shells. The results show that the materials have a rough surface like a coral reef and contains the characteristic functional groups such as O-H, C=O, C=C, C-O with an amorphous structure. Surface area and pore size were also evaluated with ACAC of 195.93 m2 g-1 and ACNF of 514.91 m2 g-1. The adsorption isotherms predict the size of the pores as small mesopores. The factors affecting ciprofloxacin adsorption using derived activated carbon were also evaluated. For ACAC, the best optimized adsorption conditions were contact time 90 min, temperature 40 ºC, pH 6, dosage 2 g L-1, concentration 80 mg L-1, whereas for ACNF, the best adsorption conditions were contact time 90 min, temperature 40 ºC, pH 4, dosage 1 g L-1, concentration 80 mg L-1. The results show that activated carbon samples ACAC and ACNF follow the pseudo-second-order (PSO) kinetic model, Elovich kinetic model, Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) and Temkin isotherms. The Langmuir model was used to record the maximal adsorption capacities of ACAC and ACNF for ciprofloxacin, which were 57.60 mg g-1 and 67.59 mg g-1, respectively. The adsorption process occurs by diffusion with chemisorption interactions on a homogeneous surface for ACAC and heterogeneous surface for ACNF.

Activated carbons derived from the byproducts of jackfruit processing, specifically the skin (peel) and pulp, were prepared using the chemical assisted microwave irradiation method. The structural and physical properties were evaluated based on the results of scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction patterns, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller theory analysis. The results have shown that activated carbon from jackfruit skin and activated carbon from jackfruit pulp have a honeycomb shape with a surface area of 268 m2 g-1 and 309 m2 g-1, respectively. Both samples showed the presence of specific functional groups such as C=C, C=O, O–H and C–H. It can be seen that the material structure was semi-crystalline and clearly shown in the 2θ value ranges which are 2θ = 20-35º and 40-45º. Specifically, 2θ = 20-35º represents the structural characteristics of the carbon or graphite lattice. Factors that influence the removal of methylene blue that have been evaluated which include adsorption time, solution pH, ambient temperature, activated carbon dosage, dye concentration and optimization by the response surface methodology model. The parameters for the adsorption process are optimized from the response surface methodology model with activated carbon from jackfruit pulp (pH 8.97, concentration of 50.5 mg L-1, dosage of 0.57 g L-1, time 120 min, temperature 30 ºC, the adsorption capacity of 90.82 mg g-1, adsorption efficiency 100%) and activated carbon from Jackfruit skin (pH 8.61, concentration 52 mg L-1, dosage 0.57 g L-1, time 120 min, temperature 30 ºC, adsorption capacity 94.04 mg g-1, adsorption efficiency 100%), respectively. The adsorption process shows that activated carbon from jackfruit pulp (ACJP) follows the pseudo-second order and Langmuir model and activated carbon from jackfruit skin (peel) (ACJS) follows the model of Bangham and Langmuir. The adsorption process is predicted with many mechanisms, including chemical interactions, multilayer adsorption and diffusion. The materials showed application potential as the reusability was three times.

To reduce the hazards brought by water hyacinth, many applications of water hyacinth have been studied and continuously expanded. The large biomass of water hyacinth is applied in many fields such as for wastewater treatment, wastewater purification, biological raw material sources, animal feed production, medicine, antioxidants, agriculture, and household appliances. This research investigates the desalination capacity of freshwater hyacinths, raw materials from water hyacinths, biochar, and activated carbon materials from water hyacinth stems. Results have shown that the suitable temperature for charring fresh water hyacinth is 420 °C. The activated carbon from the water hyacinth stems with a BET surface area of 200.4 ± 1.9 m²/g can be desalinated under the conditions of 0.4 g of activated carbon mass, 15 min of reaction time, 2.0 ppt of salt concentration, and at neutral pH. In contrast, raw materials from water hyacinths and biochar were unable to desalinate. This study evaluates the desalination ability of the activated carbon material of water hyacinth.

The sun-dried method is popular for producing dried Sergestid shrimp in Vietnam, but maintaining consistent product quality across seasons is challenging due to its dependence on weather conditions. A previous study used convection drying at a laboratory scale. In this study, the laboratory scale was upgraded to a commercial scale, and recovery efficiency and Sergestid shrimp images were recorded during production stages. Parameters were adjusted for economic efficiency and convenience. Results showed a decrease in recovery efficiency on the laboratory scale, while the commercial scale improved with washing and blanching. Overall, there was no significant difference in recovery efficiency between the commercial production (15.76 %) and laboratory scale (16.29 %). The commercial-scale dried Sergestid shrimp exhibited better colour than the laboratory-scale product. The product met food safety and quality criteria according to Vietnamese standards. Microorganisms such as Coliforms, E. coli, B. cereus, C. perfringens and salmonella, and total number of yeast and mold spores, were not detected in the product. On the other hand, the product of commercial production contained 256 kcal 100 g−1 of energy and a protein content of 55.50 ± 0.33 %. These findings form a foundation for scaling up production and assessing economic feasibility. Adjusting production parameters using larger equipment contributes to achieving optimal production efficiency and economic benefits.

Water contamination caused by textile dyes can affect human health, calling for effective treatment method. Here, we report the preparation of MgFe2O4/C composite through hydrothermal method to adsorb three dyes including rhodamine B, methyl orange (MO) and acid yellow 17 (AY) in water. MgFe2O4/C obtained a surface area of 692.32 m2/g and MgFe2O4 particles were well-dispersed on porous carbon matrix. Taguchi experimental design (L16) was conducted to test the effect of four factors, including initial concentration, adsorbent dosage, contact time and pH at different four levels. pH was a first-ranked factor for adsorption of all three dyes with the highest contribution between 33.20 and 55.61

Water contamination caused by textile dyes can affect human health, calling for effective treatment method. Here, we report the preparation of MgFe 2 O 4 /C composite through hydrothermal method to adsorb three dyes including rhodamine B, methyl orange (MO) and acid yellow 17 (AY) in water. MgFe 2 O 4 /C obtained a surface area of 692.32 m 2 /g and MgFe 2 O 4 particles were well-dispersed on porous carbon matrix. Taguchi experimental design (L 16 ) was conducted to test the effect of four factors, including initial concentration, adsorbent dosage, contact time and pH at different four levels. pH was a first-ranked factor for adsorption of all three dyes with the highest contribution between 33.20 and 55.61%. The highest capacity (158.12 mg/g) was determined for MO dye adsorption under a concentration of 40 mg/L, pH 3, a dose of 0.05 g/L, and a duration of 240 min. The experiments of MgFe 2 O 4 /C reusability were performed, reaching at least fourth cycles offering potential for reuse. It is recommended that Taguchi orthogonal array design can be well adopted to reach the best condition of organic dyes adsorption by MgFe 2 O 4 /C composite.

Cán bộ là nhân tố quan trọng trong sự nghiệp của cách mạng, gắn liền với vận mệnh của Đảng, của đất nước, là khâu then chốt trong công tác xây dựng Đảng. Cán bộ Đoàn Thanh niên là cán bộ của Đảng, được giao cho nhiệm vụ đoàn kết, tập hợp thanh niên, sinh viên để giáo dục, rèn luyện, bồi dưỡng họ. Đảng ta xem xây dựng Đoàn Thanh niên là xây dựng Đảng trước một bước và xem cán bộ làm công tác thanh niên là nguồn quan trọng bổ sung cán bộ cho Đảng, Nhà nước và các tổ chức khác. Bài viết tập trung trình bày những vấn đề lý luận cơ bản về cán bộ đoàn tại các trường đại học và thực trạng chất lượng cũng như công tác đào tạo, bồi dưỡng cán bộ đoàn trong thời gian vừa qua tại thành phố Cần Thơ. Từ đó, đề xuất một số giải pháp nâng cao chất lượng cán bộ đoàn khối các trường đại học tại thành phố Cần Thơ để góp phần cùng với nhà trường trong việc giáo dục toàn diện sinh viên, nâng cáo chất lượng giáo dục đại học.

The Mekong Delta in Vietnam, a pivotal agricultural region, is currently grappling with significant challenges due to saline intrusion and water scarcity. Exacerbated by climate change and anthropogenic factors, these issues pose a dire threat to the livelihoods of millions of farmers. This study focuses on Ben Tre Province, situated at the heart of the Mekong Delta, to comprehensively assess the extent and repercussions of saline intrusion and water scarcity. Employing methodologies such as water quality monitoring and field surveys across nine districts and cities within the province, this research provides a detailed understanding of these critical issues. Our findings indicate that salinity levels at numerous water supply points have exceeded safe thresholds, with levels reaching up to 4,500 mg/L, leading to a serious risk of water shortage. Particularly in coastal districts, the Water Scarcity Index (WSI) suggests that over 50

In this study, activated carbon from dragon fruit peel was synthesized and applied for its ability to adsorb organic pigments in water. The results obtained from the SEM and FTIR analyzes revealed the presence of the characteristic functional groups of activated carbon. The adsorption capacity of synthetic activated carbon was evaluated against methylene blue dye. This study also evaluated factors affecting the adsorption process, including time, content, temperature, concentration, and solution pH. The optimal adsorption conditions were recorded at pH 6, concentration 95 mg/L, time 43 min, and temperature 30 °C. At optimal adsorption conditions, the adsorption capacity predicted from the model is said to be 54.12 mg/g with an efficiency of 27.5%. The experimental data of the study were evaluated using adsorption kinetic models and adsorption isotherm models of the material. The results showed that the activated carbon material from dragon fruit peel is a potential material in the application for adsorbing pollutant dyes in wastewater.

Successful utilization of rice husk, which accounts for approximately 20% of weight of rice grain, carries strong implications in reducing agricultural waste and devising cost-effective materials for environmental applications. This review focuses on summarizing approaches to produce activated carbon, an important adsorbent material used in wastewater treatment, from rice husk material. Activated carbon from rice husk has been synthesized by methods such as chemical, physical and physicochemical. Which, physicochemical methods were mainly used with activators such as KOH, NaOH, ZnCl2, HCl, and K2CO3. The structural properties of the materials were analyzed using physical analytical methods. The shape of rice husks activated carbon was the same a honeycomb network, which was typical for the activated carbon. Surface functional groups and crystal structure characteristics were also noted with characteristic functional groups and crystal structures with large specific surface areas. The adsorption capacity of the material has also been specifically reported. Treatment efficiency reached 70% of pollutants such as dyes, heavy metals, phenols and other organic compounds. The kinetic and isothermal models were showing good agreement with the Langmuir, Freundlich and PSO.

A major challenge that humans facing is the uncontrolled discharge of antibiotic-containing wastewater into the environment, accompanying with huge threats to human community. The utilization of cost-effective biomass-based adsorbents is considered a potential solution for the treatment of antibiotic wastewater. This study aims to optimize the synthesis of MgFe2O4 nanoparticles loaded on prickly pear biochar (PPB) with outstanding sulfadiazine adsorbability using response surface methodology. Thirteen materials (MgFe2O4-PPB) produced based on Box-Behnken design were tested to evaluate the impact of the main factors on the material preparation process, including ratio of MgFe2O4:PPB precursors, calcination temperature and calcination time. Under optimized conditions, i.e., MgFe2O4:PPB ratio 0.5, temperature 600 °C and time 1 h, the production yield of 46.5

In this study, we used a synthetic aerogel based on PVA/agar/maltodextrin to remove the antibiotic ciprofloxacin (CFX) from aqueous media. Response surface method (RSM) is used to study the relationship between the factors affecting the adsorption process, thereby optimizing the adsorption efficiency, and making decisions on improving the adsorption process better sub. The research results obtained are as follows: pH2, initial CFX concentration 51 mg L −1 , adsorbent dosage 0.16 g L −1 , adsorption time 120 min, and temperature 51.5 °C reached the maximum adsorption capacity. The maximum additive is 38.63 mg g −1 . The experimental data agree with the pseudo-quadratic kinetic model and the Langmuir and Temkin isotherm models. The composite aerogel adsorbent (AE) in this study is a potential candidate for adsorbent to remove antibiotic contamination in aqueous media.