Search Results (94)

As a perfluorinated compound with a high global warming potential, octafluoropropane (C₃F₈) needs to be efficiently separated from industrial waste gas, but separating it from nitrogen at low concentrations is highly challenging. To address the common drawback of using corrosive acids in conventional MIL-101(Cr) synthesis, this study developed a green, acid-free solvothermal method for preparing graphene oxide (GO)-modified MIL-101(Cr) composites (MIL-101/GO). By systematically varying the GO doping, the optimal composite (MIL-101/GO-0.1) exhibited breakthrough adsorption performance: its equilibrium adsorption capacity for C₃F₈ reached 210 mg/g in fixed-bed breakthrough experiments. The predicted C₃F₈ adsorption selectivity relative to N₂ reached 17,069, ranking among the highest values reported for adsorbents, indicating a significant performance enhancement over the pristine MIL-101(Cr). Mechanistic analysis reveals that graphene oxide not only increases specific surface area and micropore volume but also enhances dispersion forces, substantially boosting affinity for C₃F₈. Additionally, the composite exhibits outstanding cycling stability and thermal stability. This study provides a novel eco-friendly synthetic strategy for high-performance metal–organic frameworks and offers a highly promising candidate material for industrial-scale fluorocarbon recovery. Full article

Background/Objectives: Heterogeneity in clinical scenarios of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) leads to the possible application of different surgical strategies. Specifically, the possibility of performing combined colorectal and liver resections for synchronous CRLM has been proposed in specific settings but its feasibility, safety and impact in minimally invasive settings remain underexplored. This study examines a multicenter Italian experience, comparing perioperative outcomes of combined (CR) versus non-combined (NCR) minimally invasive liver resections (MILR) for CRLM. Methods: Patients from the prospective multicenter registry of the Italian Group of Minimally Invasive Liver Surgery (I Go MILS) who underwent MILR for CRLM between 2016 and 2024 were included. Perioperative outcomes were compared between CR and NCR using Nearest Neighbor Matching. Results: In total, 2286 patients were analyzed, including 1879 NCR and 407 CR. CR was associated with less challenging resections (technical difficulty Kawaguchi grade III: 7.13% vs. 14.53%, p < 0.001), longer operative time (385 vs. 270 min, p < 0.001) and higher major complication rate (11.55% vs. 5.11%, p < 0.001) compared to NCR. The conversion rate was similar between the two groups (9.09% vs. 7.91%, p = 0.479). Technical complexity, operative time, conversion, low-volume hospital, and CR was an independent predictor of major complications after matching. Conclusions: CR is associated with a higher risk of postoperative complications, despite being selected for minor liver resections, confirming the impact of associated colorectal surgery in determining the postoperative risk and hence highlighting the concept that accurate preoperative patient selection is a key step in guiding treatment allocation for CRLM. Therefore, MILR does not yet justify broadening indications for combined resection beyond carefully selected patients. Full article

Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) have diverse applications due to their tunable porosity, large surface area, and diverse chemical functionalities. Among them, one of the most researched MOFs is MIL-101(Cr), which, in addition, is very stable in water. We have used a commercially available substance with approximately 300 nm large crystals for the preparation of a sensing nano-thin layer for the emerging water contaminant PFOS, due to its high selectivity towards this compound. Here, we have synthesized 20 nm sized crystals of MIL-101(Cr), which are among the smallest reported, and compared them to the same material with 300 nm sized crystals. The material was characterized by TEM and XPS. It was possible to prepare insoluble monolayers at the air–water interface (Langmuir films), which were characterized with film compression isotherms, Brewster angle microscopy, and surface potential measurements. The Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) method was used to deposit monolayers on Si wafers and 434 MHz Surface Acoustic Wave resonator simultaneously. The LB layers were very stable over time. The smaller-sized MIL-101 (Cr) crystals exhibit denser, more homogeneous water coverage and packing upon compression, with no observable 10–100 µm aggregates. LB monolayers from the 20 nm particles have approximately six times lower surface roughness. The LB monolayer is far from being smooth, but this will allow excellent access to the MOF pores by the tested analyte in a chemical sensing application. The lack of research on depositing presynthesized MOFs using probably the best method for nanoarchitectonics—the LB method—is addressed. The 20 nm sized MOF crystals are the smallest deposited by this method so far. Full article

Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) is a typical persistent organic pollutant, which presents a significant risk to the ecosystem and human health. Therefore, the development of a highly sensitive and effective detection technique for PFOS has aroused wide concern. In this study, for the mesoporous metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), Cr-MIL-101 were used as the precursor. And the poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) using as molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) was loaded on Cr-MIL-101 to form a core–shell structure. The obtained Cr-MIL-101@PEDOT/MIP composites integrate the high specific surface area of Cr-MIL-101 and the specific recognition capability of PEDOT/MIP. The glassy carbon electrode (GCE) interface modified by them can specifically adsorb PFOS through electrostatic interactions, coordination by Cr metal nodes, hydrophobic interaction, and hydrogen bonding, etc. The adsorbed PFOS molecules could block the active sites at the electrode interface, causing the current decay of the redox probe. Following the quantitative analysis of peak current decay values using the Langmuir model and the Freundlich–Langmuir model, a wide detection range (0.1–200 nM) and a low detection limit (0.025 nM) were obtained. Characterization techniques including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and electrochemical methods were employed to validate the fabrication of the composites. Moreover, Cr-MIL-101@PEDOT/MIP/GCE showed satisfactory stability, repeatability, and selectivity, providing an effective method for the detection of PFOS in practical samples, showing a wide prospective application. Full article

The detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is critical for ensuring food safety, particularly for identifying spoilage gases and food adulterants. Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) has traditionally relied on noble metals such as gold and silver for strong electromagnetic enhancement. However, these substrates present challenges in terms of cost, stability, and integration into real-world applications. In this study, we explore a hybrid metal–organic framework (MOF) with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as a SERS active substrate. The developed material showed a good sensitivity for VOC formaldehyde (FA), easily detectable at peak 1452 cm⁻¹ and offering an RSD of 16.95%. Since the substrate did not rely on any noble metals for SERS enhancement, this low cost and easy material could be fine-tuned, creating alternative less-toxic materials for detection in industries such as food safety. Full article

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains a major clinical challenge due to its aggressive behavior and lack of targeted therapies. Accurate early prediction of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is essential for guiding personalized treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes. In this study, we present an attention-based multiple instance learning (MIL) framework designed to predict pathologic complete response (pCR) directly from pre-treatment hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained biopsy slides. The model was trained on a retrospective in-house cohort of 174 TNBC patients and externally validated on an independent cohort (n = 30). It achieved a mean area under the curve (AUC) of 0.85 during five-fold cross-validation and 0.78 on external testing, demonstrating robust predictive performance and generalizability. To enhance model interpretability, attention maps were spatially co-registered with multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) data stained for PD-L1, CD8+ T cells, and CD163+ macrophages. The attention regions exhibited moderate spatial overlap with immune-enriched areas, with mean Intersection over Union (IoU) scores of 0.47 for PD-L1, 0.45 for CD8+ T cells, and 0.46 for CD163+ macrophages. The presence of these biomarkers in high-attention regions supports their biological relevance to NACT response in TNBC. This not only improves model interpretability but may also inform future efforts to identify clinically actionable histological biomarkers directly from H&E-stained biopsy slides, further supporting the utility of this approach for accurate NACT response prediction and advancing precision oncology in TNBC. Full article

In this study, MIL-101 (Cr) was synthesized and characterized in terms of its physical properties. The adsorption breakthrough curves for toluene were measured and compared to those of conventional adsorbents (i.e., silica gel and activated carbon) at typical indoor concentrations of toluene. The results show that MIL-101 (Cr) exhibits a 5–8 times higher adsorption capacity for toluene compared to silica gel at low concentrations. The adsorption isotherm of MIL-101 (Cr) for toluene conforms to the Langmuir model. Increasing temperature reduces the adsorption breakthrough time and saturation time, but it leads to a significant decrease in the adsorption capacity. During the breakthrough experiment, flow rate had little effect on adsorption capacity, but higher flow rates notably decreased the breakthrough and saturation times. The negative values of ΔG, ΔH, and ΔS indicate that the adsorption of toluene on MIL-101 (Cr) is a spontaneous and exothermic process. Compared to traditional adsorbents, MIL-101 (Cr) exhibits desirable performance in toluene adsorption in indoor environments. It shows significant potential for indoor air purification applications. Full article

An outstanding adsorbent, such as the metal–organic framework (MOF) MIL-101 (Cr), was employed to study the adsorption of two dyes, namely reactive red 2 (RR2) and reactive blue 19 (RB19). Experimental adsorption data were retrieved at T = 25, 35 and 45 °C and analyzed to define the adsorption mechanism of these dyes. A modeling approach based on a double-layer model derived from statistical physics was used. The maximum adsorption capacity (MAC) was found to be 875, 954 and 1002 mg/g for RR2 and 971, 1093 and 1148 mg/g for RB19, at T = 25, 35 and 45 °C, respectively. These values indicate that MIL-101 (Cr) exhibits outstanding performance in removing potential water pollutants such as the RR2 and RB19 dyes. The possible orientations of the RR2 and RB19 dyes upon adsorption were determined by analyzing the number of dye molecules bound per MIL-101 (Cr) active sites during the adsorption process. It was found that the RR2 dye was removed via a mixed parallel and non-parallel orientation on MIL-101 (Cr), while RB19 was removed via an inclined orientation at higher temperatures. The adsorption mechanism suggested that MIL-101 (Cr) site density was reduced due to an exothermic effect, which decreases the number of active sites participating in dye adsorption, even though the reduction in water adsorption may be attributed to the overall endothermic behavior. From the adsorption energy (AE) and the chemical structure of MIL-101 (Cr) and both dyes, it was concluded that hydrogen bonds, Van der Waals forces and π-π stacking are involved in the dye removal process. This research provides new physical insights into the adsorption mechanism of two relevant dyes on an outstanding adsorbent such as the MIL-101 (Cr) MOF. Full article

This study developed a new way of designing choline chloride-modified MOF-based materials with advanced gas adsorption properties. To design better carbon capture materials, MIL-101 (Cr) was prepared using the hydrothermal method, and then was modified with different concentrations of choline chloride in a one-step method to enhance its CO₂ adsorption capacity. The characterization and experimental results indicated that the modified ChCl-MIL-101(Cr) significantly enhanced the adsorption capacity for CO₂. Specifically, the 0.075-ChCl-MIL-101(Cr) showed a 61.191% increase in adsorption capacity compared to that of the raw material. Moreover, the regenerated adsorption loss rate of the modified material was below 4%, proving the permanence of the material synthesis. Simulating isotherms using Langmuir and Freundlich equations revealed the non-uniformity of surface bonding. Full article

MIL-101(Cr), a widely studied chromium-based metal–organic framework material consisting of chromium metal ions and terephthalic acid ligands, has attracted much attention due to its ultra-high specific surface area, large pore size, and excellent thermal, chemical, and aqueous stability. The outstanding properties and abundant unsaturated Lewis acid sites of this material have shown promising applications in aqueous phase adsorption, gas storage, separation, catalysis, drug delivery, and sensing. In this paper, we systematically review the synthesis technology and performance optimization strategy of MIL-101(Cr), discuss the advantages and limitations of various synthesis methods, such as traditional hydrothermal method, microwave-assisted hydrothermal method, template method, and solvent-thermal method, and summarize and analyze the optimization strategy of MIL-101 from the aspects of physical modification and chemical modification. In addition, this paper summarizes the latest application progress of MIL-101(Cr) in gas adsorption and separation, wastewater purification, pollutant removal, catalysis, and pharmaceutical delivery, and points out the current challenges and future development directions, to provide guidance and inspiration for the industrial application of MIL-101(Cr) and the development of new materials. Full article

Considering the importance of organic functionalization of MOFs, we here report a simple, tunable and efficient one-step post-modification procedure for introducing amino and carboxylic groups into the mesoporous metal–organic framework Al- and Cr-MIL-101-NH₂ based on its reaction with alkyl bromides. This procedure allows also access to polyfunctionalized MIL-101 decorated with both carboxylic and primary amino groups. Other chemical functions, such as alcohols and alkynes, were also successfully introduced by this method. Full article

This study successfully prepared MIL-101(Fe)@MoS₂ composite photocatalysts via hydrothermal methods to address the efficient removal of refractory organic dyes in dye wastewater. Characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) confirmed that molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) was uniformly loaded onto the surface of MIL-101(Fe), forming a heterojunction that significantly enhanced light absorption capacity and charge separation efficiency. In a visible-light-driven photo-Fenton system, this material exhibited excellent degradation performance for Congo red (CR). At an initial CR concentration of 50 mg/L, a catalyst dosage of 0.2 g/L, 4 mL of added H₂O₂, and pH 7, CR was completely degraded within 30 min, with the total organic carbon (TOC) removal reaching 72.5%. The material maintained high degradation efficiency (>90%) across a pH range of 3–9, overcoming the traditional Fenton system’s dependency on acidic media. Radical-trapping experiments indicated that superoxide radicals (·O₂⁻) and photogenerated holes (·h⁺) were the primary active species responsible for degradation, revealing a synergistic catalytic mechanism at the heterojunction interface. Recyclability tests showed that the material retained 90.8% degradation efficiency after five cycles, and an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis demonstrated the stable binding of Fe and Mo, preventing secondary pollution. This study provides a scientific basis for developing efficient, stable, and wide-pH adaptable photo-Fenton catalytic systems, contributing significantly to the advancement of green water treatment technologies. Full article

The temperature at which pollutants are treated varies across different industrial processes. To address the high cost of raw materials for MOFs and the low efficiency of Hg⁰ removal in low-temperature environments, a series of MIL-101(Cr)-derived carbon matrix composite materials were prepared by combining MIL-101(Cr) with biomass and multiple metals. These materials were synthesized through a sol-gel method followed by carbonization. This study investigates the effects of composite ratios and adsorption temperatures on Hg⁰ removal, utilizing XRD, BET, and other characterization techniques to elucidate the mercury-removal mechanism of the PDC-MIL composite materials. The results indicate that MIL101(Cr) significantly influences the formation of the gel skeleton. When the composite ratio of MIL-101(Cr) to biomass is 1:1, the material exhibits an optimal pore structure, leading to high Hg⁰ removal efficiency over a wide temperature range. The removal of Hg⁰ by these composite materials involves both physical adsorption and chemisorption. Low temperatures favor physical adsorption, while high temperatures promote chemisorption. The sol-gel composite method facilitates cross-linking polymerization between MOFs and SiO₂, enabling better pore structure connectivity with biomass and MOFs, thereby optimizing the poor pore structure observed after pyrolysis. Consequently, the improved pore structure enhances physical adsorption at low temperatures, mitigates desorption at high temperatures, and increases the contact probability of Hg⁰ with active sites within the pores, significantly improving the mercury-removal ability of the material across a broad temperature range. Full article

Compared to traditional liquid electrolytes, solid electrolytes have received widespread attention due to their higher safety. In this work, a vinyl functionalized metal–organic framework porous material (MIL-101(Cr)-NH-Met, noted as MCN-M) is synthesized by postsynthetic modification. A novel three-dimensional hybrid gel composite solid electrolyte (GCSE-P/MCN-M) is successfully prepared via in situ gel reaction of a mixture containing multifunctional hybrid crosslinker (MCN-M), lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI), ethylene carbonate (EC), diethylene glycol monomethyl ether methacrylate (EGM) and polyethylene (vinylidene fluoridee) (PVDF). Benefiting from the excellent mechanical properties, rich pore structure, and numerous unsaturated metal sites of GCSE-P/MCN-M, our GCSE-P/MCN-M exhibits excellent mechanical modulus (953 MPa), good ionic conductivity (9.3 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹) and wide electrochemical window (4.8 V). In addition, Li/LiFePO₄ batteries based on GCSE-P/MCN-M have also demonstrated excellent cycling performance (a high-capacity retention of 87% after 200 cycles at 0.5 C). This work provides a promising approach for developing gel solid-state electrolytes with high ion conduction and excellent safety performance. Full article

Industrialization activities have increased the discharge of wastewater that is polluted with hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), posing risks to ecosystems and humans. The photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) is viewed as a promising method for the removal of Cr(VI) species. However, developing photocatalysts with the desired catalytic activity, recyclability, and reusability remains a challenge. Herein, a composite aerogel was designed and fabricated with a Ti-based metal–organic framework (MIL-125-NH₂) and carboxylated nanocellulose. MIL-125-NH₂ presents a strong visible-light response, and the interactions between the amino groups of MIL-125-NH₂ and the carboxyl groups of cellulose produce a strong interface affinity in the composites. The as-prepared aerogels exhibited a micro/macroporous structure. At an optimal MIL-125-NH₂ loading of 55 wt%, the MC-5 sample showed a specific surface area of 582 m²·g⁻¹. MC-5 achieved a photocatalytic Cr(VI) removal efficiency of 99.8%. Meanwhile, the aerogel-type photocatalysts demonstrated good stability and recycling ability, as MC-5 maintained a removal rate of 82% after 10 cycles. This work sheds light on the preparation of novel photocatalysts with three-dimensional structures for environmental remediation. Full article