Search Results (178)

Atmospheric deposition through rainfall plays a significant role in transporting various anthropogenic contaminants to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. However, rainwater’s integrated ionic and molecular composition remains underexplored in semiurban environments. This study provides a comprehensive chemical characterization of rainwater collected during seven precipitation events from February to April 2025 in Athens, Georgia, USA. This semiurban area is characterized by substantial vehicular traffic, seasonal agricultural activities, and ongoing construction, while lacking significant industrial emissions. Targeted spectrophotometric analyses revealed heightened concentrations of nitrate (ranging from 2.0 to 4.3 mg/L), sulfate (17 to 26 mg/L), and phosphate (2.4 to 3.1 mg/L), with peak concentrations observed during high-intensity rainfall events. These findings are consistent with enhanced wet scavenging of atmospheric emissions. Concurrently, both targeted and non-targeted gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses identified a diverse array of organic pollutants in the rainwater, including organophosphate, organochlorine, and triazine pesticides; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); plasticizers; flame retardants; surfactant degradation products; and industrial additives such as bisphenol A, triclosan, and nicotine. Furthermore, several legacy contaminants, such as organochlorines, were detected alongside currently utilized compounds, including glyphosate and its metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA). The concurrent presence of elevated anion and organic pollutant levels during significant storm events suggests that atmospheric washout can be the primary deposition mechanism. These findings underscore the capability of semiurban atmospheres to accumulate and redistribute complex mixtures of pollutants through rainfall, even in the absence of large-scale industrial activity. The study emphasizes the importance of integrated ionic and molecular analyses for uncovering concealed pollution sources. It highlights the potential of rainwater chemistry as a diagnostic tool for monitoring atmospheric contamination in urbanizing environments. Full article

Cellular senescence plays a critical role in tumorigenesis and is recognized as a hallmark of colorectal cancer (CRC). Emerging evidence suggests that 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced senescence may contribute to chemoresistance and tumor recurrence. Here, we investigated the effect of 5-FU on colon cancer cell senescence and whether MM-129 (pyrazolo[4,3-e]tetrazolo[4,5-b][1,2,4]triazine sulfonamide) can antagonize this activity. Senescence was identified by the expression of senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (p21) using qPCR, microscopy, flow cytometry, and immunohistochemistry. We also measured interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) as key SASP cytokines, along with E-cadherin (CDH1), a marker of epithelial integrity. The SIRT1/STAT3 pathway was evaluated to elucidate the mechanism of MM-129′s action. MM-129 counteracted 5-FU-induced senescence in colon cancer models, reducing p21 levels in zebrafish xenografts and the number of SA-β-gal-positive cells in vitro and in tumor tissues from DLD-1 and HT-29 mouse xenografts. MM-129 also inhibited senescence-associated responses by suppressing SASP cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α) and restoring E-cadherin (CDH1), and it modulated the SIRT1/STAT3 axis, which may underlie the observed senotherapeutic effects. In conclusion, MM-129 represents a novel senotherapeutic candidate. By modulating the SIRT1/STAT3 axis, it may suppress the SASP and weaken pro-survival signaling, thereby facilitating selective clearance of senescent cells. Integrating senotherapeutics with conventional cancer therapies may enhance efficacy and open new avenues for translational research. Full article

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are materials with extremely valuable properties. The latter depend largely on the ligand used; therefore, the design of new organic linkers is a priority task today. A series of s-triazines possessing variable heteroatom-bridged identical substituents, useful ligands for the synthesis of MOFs, is obtained in good to excellent yields. The problem of obtaining free carboxyl groups without forming salts with nitrogen atoms is solved. The products are characterized by NMR spectra and single crystal XRD of selected samples. Unexpected O-triazine bond cleavage under basic hydrolysis conditions is observed. Full article

A swellable magnetic polymer with high removal capacity was produced. The copolymer consisting of acrylamide and 2,4,6-triallyloxy-1,3,5-triazine was synthesized via the radical polymerization method. Previously prepared magnetic Fe₃O₄ particles with the co-precipitation method were added during the synthesis, and then the obtained composite was hydrolyzed. The composite became a swellable hydrogel after hydrolysis. The synthesized magnetic composite hydrogel polymer was used for Malachite Green (MG) and Acid Violet 19 (AV19) binary textile dye mixture removal. A derivative method was developed to calculate the individual concentration of dyes in mixture solutions. The accuracy and precision of the developed method were examined by calculating the recovery percentage (R%) and relative standard deviation (RSD%). The highest removal percentages (~99% for MG and ~100% for AV19) were achieved at the dye mixture’s natural pH (pH 4). Antibacterial tests were examined against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, and the synthesized composite hydrogel polymer showed higher activity. The FTIR, XRD, SEM, and EDS analyses were also performed to characterize the synthesized materials. Full article

Effective in situ H₂S removal is essential for the utilization of small, remote natural gas wells, where centralized treatment is often unfeasible. This study presents an integrated environmental–economic assessment of two such processes, LO-CAT^® and triazine-based absorption, using a scenario-based framework. Environmental impacts were assessed via the Waste Reduction Algorithm (WAR), considering both Potential Environmental Impact (PEI) generation and output across eight categories, while economic performance was analyzed based on equipment, chemical, energy, environmental treatment, and labor costs. Results show that the triazine-based process offers superior environmental performance due to lower toxic emissions, whereas LO-CAT^® demonstrates better economic viability at higher gas flow rates and H₂S concentrations. An integrated assessment combining monetized environmental impacts with economic costs reveals that the triazine-based process becomes competitive only if environmental impacts are priced above specific thresholds. This study contributes a practical evaluation framework and scenario-based dataset that support sustainable process selection for decentralized sour gas treatment applications. Full article

Nanofiltration (NF) is considered a competitive purification method for acidic stream treatments. However, conventional thin-film composite NF membranes degrade under acid exposures, limiting their applications in industrial acid treatment. For example, wet-process phosphoric acid contains impurities of multivalent metal ions, but NF membrane technologies for impurity removal under harsh conditions are still immature. In this work, we develop a novel strategy of acid-resistant nanofiltration membranes based on interfacial polymerization (IP) of polyethyleneimine (PEI) and cyanuric chloride (CC) with the s-triazine ring. The IP process was optimized by orthogonal experiments to obtain positively charged PEI-CC membranes with a molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) of 337 Da. We further applied it to the approximate industrial phosphoric acid purification condition. In the tests using a mixed solution containing 20 wt% P₂O₅, 2 g/L Fe³⁺, 2 g/L Al³⁺, and 2 g/L Mg²⁺ at 0.7 MPa and 25 °C, the NF membrane achieved 56% rejection of Fe, Al, and Mg and over 97% permeation of phosphorus. In addition, the PEI-CC membrane exhibited excellent acid resistance in the 48 h dynamic acid permeation experiment. The simple fabrication procedure of PEI-CC membrane has excellent acid resistance and great potential for industrial applications. Full article

Rationally designing and synthesizing chemosensors capable of simultaneously detecting both anions and cations via water content modulation is challenging. In this study, we synthesized and characterized a novel triazine calixarene derivative-based iodide and copper ion-selective fluorescent “turn-off” sensor. This dual-channeled fluorescent probe is able to recognize Cu²⁺ and I⁻ ions simultaneously in aqueous systems. The fluorescent sensor s4 was synthesized by displacement reaction of acridine with 1, 3-bis (dichloro-mono-triazinoxy) benzene in acetonitrile. Mass spectrometry (MS), UV-vis, and fluorescence spectra were acquired to characterize the fluorescence response of s4 to different cations and anions, while infrared (IR) spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) were employed to study the underlying selectivity mechanism of s4 to Cu²⁺ and I⁻. In detail, s4 displayed extremely high sensitivity to Cu²⁺ with over 80% fluorescence decrement caused by the paramagnetic nature of Cu²⁺ in the aqueous media. The reversible fluorescence response to Cu²⁺ and the responses to Cu²⁺ in the solution of other potential interferent cations, such as Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Cd²⁺, Zn²⁺, Sr²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺ were also investigated. Probe s4 also exhibited very good fluorescence selectivity to iodide ions under various anion (F⁻, Cl⁻, Br⁻, NO₃⁻, HSO₄⁻, ClO₄⁻, PF₆⁻, AcO⁻, H₂PO₄⁻) interferences. In addition to the fluorescent response to I⁻, s4 showed a highly selective naked-eye-detectable color change from colorless to yellow with the other tested anions. Full article

The growing incidence and prevalence of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance compound clinical antifungal therapies. Given the significant threat posed by IFIs and the limits of the current antifungal agents, the search for novel, effective therapeutic options remains a compelling area of antifungal drug discovery. The s-triazine (1,3,5-triazine) scaffold, renowned for its structural versatility, ease of functionalization, and diverse biological profiles, has been extensively studied in medical chemistry. Driven by this privileged structure, several s-triazine derivatives have been synthesized through molecular hybridization and screened for their antifungal activities. Some of them demonstrated potent efficacy against pathogenic fungi, including Candida, Cryptococcus, and Aspergillus species. Structure–activity relationship (SAR) studies are also discussed whenever possible, underlying the essential substituents for their antifungal effect. This review provides a summary of recent advancements (2014–2024) in the development of antifungal agents featuring the s-triazine scaffold and highlights the antifungal activity of s-triazine derivatives, aiming to prompt further progress in this field. Full article

Purpose: Glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) are widely used across the globe. Experimental research indicates that these herbicides may elevate oxidative stress and impair mitochondrial function. However, the relationship between glyphosate exposure, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial function remains poorly characterized in epidemiological studies. In particular, the role of oxidative stress and mitochondrial function biomarkers in mediating the mortality risk associated with glyphosate exposure in nationally representative populations is not well understood. Approach and Results: In this study, we utilized data from the 2013–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), encompassing 1464 participants aged 18 years and older. This dataset was linked to mortality records from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), with follow-up data extending through 2019. The primary objective was to examine the associations between urinary glyphosate levels and biomarkers of oxidative stress and mitochondrial function—specifically pyrazino-s-triazine derivative of 4-α-hydroxy-5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate (MeFox) and methylmalonic acid (MMA)—and to evaluate the role of these biomarkers in influencing glyphosate-related mortality outcomes. Results: Urinary glyphosate levels were positively associated with serum MMA and MeFox in weighted multiple linear regression models. For MMA, glyphosate showed significant positive associations in both adjusted models (Model 2: β = 0.061, p = 0.001). Similarly, urinary glyphosate was strongly associated with MeFox in all models (Model 2: β = 0.215, p < 0.001). During a median follow-up of 69.57 months, 116 deaths occurred, including 44 from cardiovascular causes. Glyphosate was not significantly associated with all-cause or cardiovascular mortality in the overall population. However, subgroup analysis revealed significant associations in individuals with higher MeFox levels (≥50th percentile) for all-cause mortality (HR = 1.395, p = 0.027) and borderline associations for cardiovascular mortality (HR = 1.367, p = 0.051). When adjusted for MMA, glyphosate was significantly associated with increased all-cause mortality in participants with MMA levels below the 50th percentile (HR = 2.679, p = 0.001), with a significant interaction between glyphosate and MMA for all-cause (p = 0.002) and cardiovascular mortality (p = 0.038). Conclusions: In this comprehensive analysis of NHANES data, urinary glyphosate levels were associated with biomarkers of oxidative stress and mitochondrial function. While no overall mortality associations were observed, glyphosate exposure was linked to increased all-cause mortality in subgroups with lower MMA or higher MeFox levels. These findings highlight the role of oxidative stress and mitochondrial function in glyphosate-related health risks and the need for further research to identify vulnerable populations. Full article

Designing conducting polymers with novel structures is essential for electrochemical energy storage devices. Here, copolymers of s-triazine and o-aminophenol are electropolymerized from an aqueous solution onto a carbon cloth substrate using the galvanostatic method. The poly(s-triazine-co-o-aminophenol) (PT-co-oAP) is characterized, and its charge storage properties are investigated in 1 M H₂SO₄ and in 1 M ZnSO₄. At 1 A g⁻¹, the specific capacities of PT-co-oAP reach 101.3 mAh g⁻¹ and 84.4 mAh g⁻¹ in 1 M H₂SO₄ and in 1 M ZnSO₄, respectively. The specific capacity of PT-co-oAP maintains 90.3% of its initial value after cycling at 10 A g⁻¹ for 2000 cycles in 1 M H₂SO₄. The high specific capacity achieved originates from abundant surface active sites, facile ion diffusion, with optimized active site structure achieved by forming copolymer. The charge storage mechanism involves the redox processes of amino/imino groups and hydroxyl/carbonyl groups in the copolymer, together with the insertion of cations. Two electrode devices using two PT-co-oAP and aqueous 1 M H₂SO₄ are assembled, and the maximum energy density reaches 63 Wh kg⁻¹ at 0.5 A g⁻¹ with a power density of 540 W kg⁻¹. The capacity retention of the device after 3000 cycles at 10 A g⁻¹ reaches 81.2%. Full article

A metal–organic framework, MOF-S1, was synthesized via a solvothermal reaction between 2,4,6-tris-(4-carboxyphenoxy)-1,3,5-triazine (TCPT) and zinc nitrate hexahydrate. Single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction analyses confirmed the formation of hexagonal rod-shaped crystals with a trigonal (P-31c) structure featuring a two-fold interpenetrated 3D framework. A comprehensive characterization—including NMR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and surface area measurements (using Langmuir, t-plot, Horváth–Kawazoe, and Dubinin–Radushkevich models)—revealed an ultramicroporous material with a Langmuir surface area of 711 m²/g and a median pore width of ~6.5 Å. Adsorption studies using Congo Red, Methylene Blue, Methyl Orange, and Rhodamine B demonstrated the rapid uptake and effective removal from aqueous solutions, with kinetic modeling indicating a dominant chemisorption mechanism. Photocatalytic tests under UV irradiation yielded degradation efficiencies of ~93% for Methyl Orange and ~74% for Rhodamine B. These findings suggest that MOF-S1 is a promising candidate for wastewater treatment applications and UV-related processes, offering a strong adsorption capacity and thermal stability. Full article

Preventing fouling is crucial for maintaining ship performance, as it reduces speed, increases fuel consumption, raises greenhouse gas emissions, and spreads invasive species. Irgarol 1051, an antifouling agent (2, methythiol-4, tert-butylamino, 6-cyclopropylamino, s-triazine), is a toxic compound that impacts various marine species. It inhibits algal growth and disrupts key metabolites, posing a threat to the marine ecosystem. This study aimed to assess the toxic effects of Irgarol 1051 on Chlorella salina and Dunaliella bardawil, two nutrient-rich marine algae commonly used in fish feed. In addition, the suitability of the Mediterranean Sea coast for algal proliferation was assessed using geospatial techniques. The data were statistically examined using a two-way ANOVA test. Lethal and sublethal effects of Irgarol 1051 were measured in the laboratory to identify the consequences of this biocide on certain metabolite compositions. EC50 for C. salina and D. bardawil was estimated to be 0.50 µg·L⁻¹ and 0.025 µg·L⁻¹ respectively. IR spectroscopy of total cell constituents, protein profile, and the damaging effects of antioxidants have been evaluated for the two algal species. The findings of this study revealed that Irgarol 1051 negatively affected all the examined metabolites in both algal species, with more pronounced impacts on the wall-less alga Dunaliella bardawil compared to the walled alga Chlorella salina. A notable increase in total antioxidants was observed in both algae as the Irgarol concentration increased. The study reveals high algal growth areas near the Nile Delta along the Egyptian coast, potentially vulnerable to the effects of Irgarol 1051 due to nutrient runoff and eutrophication. The spatial analyses showed that the growth of C. saline and D. bardawil in Egyptian seawater is high in front of the Nile delta governorates: Port Said, Damietta, and Dakhalia shores reporting 6, 4.5, and 4 mg·m⁻³, respectively. The level of mass chlorophyll “a” in front of the Egyptian northern governorates can be ordered as follows: Port Said > Damietta > Dakahlia > North Sinia > Kafr El-Sheikh > Alexandria > Matrouh. This study highlights the use of spatial analyses to assess algal distribution, pollution impact, and ecosystem vulnerability along the Egyptian Mediterranean coast for effective environmental management. Full article

In this study, a halotolerant bacterial strain was isolated and identified. This bacterium was confirmed to efficiently degrade s-triazine herbicides under saline conditions. The optimal conditions for the metabolism and growth of this strain were determined through single-factor tests. Furthermore, the biodegradation pathways of prometryne (the target compound) by this strain were proposed based on the detection of possible degradation intermediates and genome sequencing analysis. Additionally, a possible halotolerance mechanisms of this strain were also revealed through screening halotolerance-related genes in its genome. The results demonstrated that a halotolerant bacterial strain (designated PC), which completely degraded 20.00 mg/L prometryne within 12 h under saline conditions (30.0 g/L NaCl), was isolated and identified as Paenarthrobacter ureafaciens. The optimal conditions for the metabolism and growth of the strain PC were identified as follows: yeast extract as the additional carbon source with the concentration of ≥0.1 g/L, NaCl concentration of ≤30.0 g/L, initial pH of 7.0, temperature of 35.0 °C, and shaking speed of ≥160 rpm. Furthermore, the strain PC demonstrated efficient removal of other s-triazine herbicides, including atrazine, ametryne, simetryne, and cyanazine. The strain PC might degrade prometryne through a series of steps, including demethylthiolation, deisopropylamination, deamination, dealkalation, decarboxylation, etc., relying on the relevant functional genes involved in the degradation of s-triazine compounds. Furthermore, the strain PC might tolerate high salinity through the excessive uptake of K⁺ into cells, intracellular accumulation of compatible solutes, and production of halophilic enzymes. This study is expected to provide a potentially effective halotolerant bacterium for purifying s-triazine pollutants in saline environments. Full article

The periodical distribution of N and C atoms in carbon nitride (CN) not only results in localized electrons in each tri-s-triazine unit, but oxidation and reduction sites are in close contact spatially, resulting in severe carrier recombination. Herein, the hydrothermal method was first employed to synthesize carbon nitride (HCN), and then picolinamide (Pic) molecules were introduced at the edge of the carbon nitride so that the photo-generated electrons of the whole structure of the carbon nitride system were transferred from the center to the edge, which effectively promoted the separation of photo-generated carriers and inhibited the recombination of carriers in the structure. The introduced picolinamide not only changed the π-conjugated structure of the entire system but also acted as an electron-withdrawing group to promote charge transfer. The photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate (HER) of the optimized HCN-Pic-1:1 sample could reach 918.03 μmolg⁻¹ h⁻¹, which was 11.8 times higher than that of the HCN, and the performance also improved. Full article

Simple urea-based chemicals have been used in the textile industry for “ironing-free clothes” for decades. One of the most used chemicals is 1,3-dimethylol-4,5-dihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU), which consists of urea, glyoxal and formaldehyde. DMDHEU and related chemicals are considered safe and environmentally benign. We have therefore synthesized these compounds and studied their properties as H₂S scavengers as alternatives to the “triazine” compounds used in the offshore industry today. Several derivatives are easily available, and we have evaluated their scavenging properties using Raman spectroscopy. This study reveals that this class of compounds scavenges H₂S under conditions similar to the triazine-based scavengers and gives insight into the structural requirements needed. Full article