Search Results (855)

In the surface protection of stone and brick cultural heritage, a primary challenge is that traditional polymeric coatings are prone to photooxidative degradation under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, and the resulting aged fragments readily block the substrate micropores, leading to a loss of “breathability”. To address the performance conflict among waterproofing, breathability, and weather resistance, this study prepared few-layer Ti₃C₂T_X MXene using a minimally intensive layer delamination (MILD) method. The poor compatibility between MXene and the fluorosilicone (FPS) resin matrix was effectively resolved through covalent modification with a silane coupling agent (KH-550). Results demonstrate that at an ultralow loading (0.5 wt%), the functionalized f-MXene is uniformly dispersed within the resin. This structure not only spontaneously constructs a hierarchical rough architecture on the surface that imparts high hydrophobicity (water contact angle of 131.6°), but its internal “labyrinth effect” also effectively blocks corrosive media. Simultaneously, the intrinsic water vapor transmission rate of the substrate is effectively maintained (with a reduction of less than 3%), and no visually perceptible color difference is generated (∆E = 1.2). Mechanically, f-MXene relies on interfacial interactions to act as a “nano-skeleton” for stress transfer, thereby increasing the uniaxial compressive strength of fragile limestone by 32.4%. Optical and spectroscopic characterizations further elucidate its anti-aging mechanism: f-MXene not only provides broadband UV shielding but also exhibits highly efficient radical scavenging activity during long-term UV aging. After 400 h of aging, the concentrations of hydroxyl and superoxide anion radicals within the system are significantly reduced, blocking the photooxidative chain reaction from the source. This work develops a composite protective material system for stone cultural heritage that simultaneously integrates high moisture permeability, minimal visual intervention, and long-term antioxidant performance. Full article

The vertical distribution of atmospheric water vapor plays a key role in the development of heavy precipitation and convective systems, yet conventional GNSS water vapor tomography remains constrained by uneven ray coverage and insufficient voxel support. To address this limitation, this study developed a three-dimensional GNSS water vapor tomography framework strengthened by weak constraints derived from the FY-4B/GIIRS atmospheric vertical profile product (AVP). Because the AVP provides vertically resolved humidity information, it has the potential to supplement the weakly constrained structure of regional GNSS tomography, particularly in the middle and upper troposphere. To evaluate the effectiveness of this strategy, four comparative experiments were designed under two background fields, with and without AVP weak constraints. The results showed that AVP-induced analysis increments and error reduction were concentrated mainly above 3 km and were more evident under the GFS background. Among the four schemes, Tomo-IV achieved the best overall performance, with relative RMSE of 26.0% for the full altitude range. Positive spatial gains were also observed in the regional ERA5-referenced evaluation under the GFS background. Unlike previous studies that incorporated FY-series satellite data primarily as geometric supplements to the GNSS observation system, the present framework introduces the FY-4B/GIIRS AVP as voxel-level weak constraints without modifying the native GNSS observation geometry, aiming to improve reconstruction stability and vertical moisture structure in the middle and upper troposphere. These results confirm the effectiveness of this strategy. Full article

Land surface temperature (LST) is a core physical parameter that characterizes land surface processes and surface-atmosphere energy exchange. As the demand for high-accuracy LST products intensifies across diverse research domains—including climate science, hydrology, and ecosystem modeling—the systematic quantification of pixel-level retrieval uncertainties has become essential for generating long-term, consistent Climate Data Records (CDRs). However, existing studies predominantly emphasize algorithmic development or localized validation, with limited attention to systematic cross-site and long-term uncertainty assessments. This gap impedes a comprehensive understanding of the compositional structure and spatiotemporal variability of LST retrieval uncertainties under heterogeneous surface and atmospheric conditions. In this study, based on the improved generalized split-window (GSW) algorithm and error propagation theory, the total uncertainty (U_total) and its four primary components—algorithm uncertainty (U_a), land surface emissivity uncertainty (U_e), noise equivalent delta temperature uncertainty (U_n), and atmospheric water vapor uncertainty (U_w)—at the pixel level over long time series and across multiple sites are quantified. Our analysis spans a 21-year period (2003–2023) and encompasses multiple geographically distributed sites, utilizing high-quality Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) thermal infrared data—specifically MYD11_L2 and MOD11_L2 products—collocated at the locations of 15 globally distributed ground-based reference sites. These sites are used to represent diverse climatic regimes and land-cover conditions, rather than to provide point-scale “true” LST values for residual-based validation. Results show that the interquartile range (IQR) of U_total is consistently concentrated between 1.0 and 1.2 K, demonstrating long-term stability. Systematic differences in U_total are identified across sensor platforms and diurnal cycles: U_total for Aqua/MYD data (1.13–1.25 K) is marginally higher than that for Terra/MOD data (1.05–1.17 K); similarly, daytime U_total (1.08–1.23 K) is generally slightly elevated relative to nighttime U_total (1.05–1.18 K). The contributions of individual uncertainty components to U_total exhibit substantial variation, with mean relative contributions of 81.97%, 11.32%, 4.46%, and 2.25% for U_e, U_a, U_n, and U_w, respectively. The dominant drivers of U_total differ markedly across climatic regions: in arid regions, U_total is predominantly governed by U_e, termed “emissivity-dominated,” accounting for over 85% of the total; conversely, humid tropical regions exhibit a “surface-atmosphere co-influenced” regime, characterized by a reduced contribution from U_e and correspondingly enhanced contributions from U_a and U_w. Furthermore, U_total decreases with increasing total column water vapor (TCWV) (Pearson correlation coefficient r = −0.498; linear slope k = −0.0425 K/(g/cm²)), and increases with increasing viewing zenith angle (VZA) (r = 0.208; k = 0.0022 K/degree). While U_a, U_n, and U_w all increase with TCWV, U_e decreases. Full article

The development of stable and efficient essential oil delivery systems remains a persistent challenge in active food packaging applications. This research aimed to develop a multi-functional soy protein isolate (SPI)-based composite gel film integrating a tea tree oil micro emulsion (TME) via a microemulsion-in-gel approach, featuring sustained antioxidant release. The TME was first optimized using pseudo-ternary phase diagrams and exhibited excellent physicochemical stability. It maintained a droplet size ranging from 10 to 13 nm, with a polydispersity index (PDI) less than 0.2 under diverse stress situations (such as dilution, heat treatment, pH change, centrifugation, and 30-day storage). Afterward, TME-SPI composite gel films containing 1 to 3% TME were fabricated through solution casting and subsequent gelation of the protein matrix. The incorporation of TME markedly improved the properties of the gel film network. It raised the opacity by around 2.5 times, boosted the elongation at break to 144% (which is three times that of the control), and distinctively enhanced both water solubility and the water vapor barrier. Importantly, the 2% TME-SPI gel film exhibited sustained antioxidant activity from within the gel matrix, retaining more than 50% of its original 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity after 72 h, significantly outperforming films containing free TTO. The microemulsion-in-gel approach was shown to be effective in creating SPI-based gel films that possess combined light-barrier characteristics, adjustable moisture resistance, improved flexibility, and extended antioxidant release. This offers a promising framework for the next generation of active food packaging. Furthermore, the composite gel films exhibited concentration-dependent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, with the 3% TME-SPI film achieving an 82% inhibition rate, thus experimentally validating its active packaging potential. Full article

Electronic cigarettes are widely used as alternatives to conventional cigarettes. However, the relationships among e-liquid formulation, nicotine volatility, and nicotine delivery remain insufficiently investigated due to limited data on nicotine vapor pressure in e-liquid systems. This study aimed to investigate the effects of e-liquid formulations on nicotine vapor pressure, explore the underlying mechanisms, and establish correlations with nicotine delivery and pharmacokinetics. A headspace method was applied to measure nicotine vapor pressure at 37 °C, with variables including nicotine concentration, PG/VG ratio, organic acid type and ratio, and water content. The results showed that nicotine vapor pressure increased linearly with free-base nicotine fraction and decreased monotonically with increasing PG/VG ratio, acid-to-nicotine molar ratio, and water content. In addition, nicotine vapor pressure followed the order: free-base e-liquids > nicotine salt e-liquids > conventional cigarettes. Then, a correlation analysis was conducted between nicotine vapor pressure and nicotine pharmacokinetics. Lower vapor pressure correlated with deeper lung deposition, higher plasma nicotine, and greater potential toxicity, while higher vapor pressure correlated with more deposition in the upper respiratory tract and potential local irritation. Overall, nicotine vapor pressure can serve as an indicator for predicting nicotine delivery, supporting the rational regulation of e-liquid formulations and health risk assessment. Full article

In this study, fully bio-based oligomers of butylene succinate (OBS) with different molecular weights (low: L-OBS, medium: M-OBS and high: H-OBS) were incorporated into poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) by melt mixing at varying loadings of 5–15 wt%. Then, PBS/OBS films were obtained by thermo-compression and characterized to assess their suitability for sustainable food packaging. Thus, OBS were homogeneously incorporated into PBS matrix and modulated the thermal, mechanical, and barrier properties of the PBS. L-OBS (Mn = 1150 g·mol⁻¹) plasticized the amorphous PBS, depending on its concentration, more effectively than M-OBS (Mn: 8700 g·mol⁻¹) and H-OBS (Mn: 18,650 g·mol⁻¹), as deduced from the thermo-mechanical analysis. In every case, OBS enhanced crystallinity, mainly L-OBS, which reduced the film strength and increased water vapor permeability, depending on its concentration. In contrast, H-OBS improved mechanical strength, stiffness, and barrier performance. In all cases, X-ray diffraction confirmed the preservation of the PBS’s monoclinic crystalline structure but slightly shifted the diffraction angle depending on the ratio of the end-chain groups in the blend, thus reflecting the contribution of OBS in the crystalline lattice. Finally, oligomer incorporation resulted in an overall migration increase in different food simulants, impairing their application in packaging. Full article

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) flour is a promising raw material for bio-based packaging due to its protein and polyphenol content. In this study, thermocompressed chickpea flour sheets were reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) to improve their barrier, mechanical, optical, thermal, and structural properties. Preliminary trials identified 22% moisture as the most suitable condition for consistent sheet formation. CNC was incorporated at 0, 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5% (w/w). Thermocompression reduced the measurable phenolic fractions, although antioxidant activity was not significantly affected. CNC markedly reduced water vapor permeability from 5.16 × 10⁻¹⁰ in the control to 5.93 × 10⁻¹² g∙m⁻¹∙s⁻¹∙Pa⁻¹ at 7.5% CNC. Tensile strength and Young’s modulus increased with CNC loading, whereas elongation at break was highest at intermediate concentrations. Optical characterization showed changes in transmittance and opacity. Thermal analysis indicated that CNC modified the DSC thermal event, whereas only minor differences were observed in the TGA profile. SEM, DSC, XRD, and FTIR analyses suggested changes in morphology and thermo-structural organization. Overall, CNC improved barrier and mechanical performance, supporting the potential of these sheets as a material for semirigid biodegradable packaging applications. Full article

Environmental pollution from plastics is largely driven by inadequate waste management, particularly in food packaging that relies heavily on petroleum-derived materials. This study utilized gelatin capsule waste (GCW) as a sustainable biopolymer and incorporated yellow peacock flower extract (YPE), obtained via ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), at various concentrations (0–2%, w/v) to develop biodegradable films with enhanced functional and antioxidant properties. The main phenolic constituents of YPE were flavonoid aglycones and their glycosylated derivatives. YPE showed total phenolic content of 98.44–129.34 mg GAE/g dry extract, with ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP antioxidant activities ranging from 5.51 to 8.11, 3.17–7.63, and 3.86–5.82 mg TE/g dry extract, respectively. Incorporation of YPE into GCW films significantly improved light barrier properties, thermal stability, mechanical strength, and antioxidant activity, along with a reduction in water vapor permeability and an increase in contact angle, indicating enhanced film hydrophobicity. All films exhibited excellent biodegradability, with complete disintegration within 15 days under soil burial conditions. Films containing 2% YPE (GF4) showed significantly higher thickness, tensile strength, and thermal stability, along with increased opacity, compared with the control (GF0), indicating a reinforcing effect. FTIR analysis revealed the interaction between protein and phenolic compounds from YPE. In a food application model, GF4 film pouches (5 × 5 cm²) effectively delayed oxidative deterioration of dried shrimp during storage at 25 ± 2 °C for 15 days. These findings highlight YPE as a promising bioactive ingredient for biodegradable active packaging and demonstrate the feasibility of GCW as a sustainable biopolymer for eco-friendly films. Full article

Valorization of abundant agricultural residues, particularly lignin, provides the opportunity to divert waste streams while enabling materials to inherently exhibit durable functionalities, including UV-blocking, antioxidant properties and water repellency. This study reports the side-by-side valorization of hemp hurd (HL) and corn stover lignin (CL), extracted using the CELF process, into electrospun lignin/nylon 6 nanofiber membranes, establishing how lignin botanical origin, molecular weight (M_w), and blend ratio govern multifunctional performance relevant to protective membranes in textiles. Lignin–nylon 6 hydrogen bonding was regulated by the OH content and accessibility, M_w, and purity, and influenced the functional properties of the fibers. While stronger in low-M_w nanofibers, these interactions were weakest in low-M_w HL samples due to the lowest purity, despite the highest OH content. Fibers with low-M_w lignin yielded finer, brittle fibers with higher UV blocking, whereas high-M_w fractions showed higher antioxidant performance due to decreased interactions with nylon 6. Overall, lignin/nylon 6 nanofiber membranes delivered biobased UPF 50+ performance, 55–61% antioxidant activity at the optimal concentration, and exhibited tunable water repellency via fraction selection and the blend ratio. In combination with a nanofiber architecture, these membranes can impart durable inherent functionality onto textile substrates without affecting their existing properties, including water vapor permeability, without the use of chemical finishing, while utilizing renewable resources from agricultural residues. Full article

Perovskite mixed proton–electron hydrogen-permeable membranes have been widely applied in the field of membrane separation due to their 100% selectivity for hydrogen separation. La_5.5WO_11.25-δ-La_0.87Sr_0.13CrO_3-δ (LWO-LSF) four-channel hollow fiber membranes were prepared by the phase inversion and sintering technique using a one-step thermal processing (OSTP) approach. The effects of temperature, feed gas concentration, sweep gas flow, permeation mode, and water vapor on hydrogen flux were systematically investigated. At 900 °C, the hydrogen permeation flux of 50% H₂/N₂ feed from the shell side to the lumen side was 0.613 mL·min⁻¹·cm⁻², which was 62.59% higher than that from the lumen side to the shell side. The enhanced hydrogen permeation performance is attributed to the lower gas mass transfer resistance under shell-side feeding. Under humidified conditions on the sweep side, the hydrogen flux increased by an additional 3.42%. The presence of water vapor increased the number of proton carriers, effectively enhancing proton–electron-coupled transport and thereby increasing the hydrogen permeation flux. Full article

Solar interfacial evaporation is promising for freshwater production, yet thermodynamic energy limits and mass transfer attenuation in high-salinity environments restrict practical applications. To address these challenges, a 3D high-efficiency evaporator is developed by cross-linking a hydrophilic composite gel onto a macroporous sponge scaffold. This spatially decoupled architecture enables fundamental water-state regulation and efficient environmental heat harvesting. Specifically, hydrophilic functional groups in the gel network reduce the equivalent enthalpy of vaporization of water to 1181.8 J g⁻¹. Simultaneously, the 3D columnar structure induces a sidewall cold sink effect to extract additional ambient thermal energy. Through this synergy, the PCPH delivers a remarkable apparent evaporation rate of 8.59 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ under one standard sun. Furthermore, interconnected macropores within the sponge establish excellent convective pathways for rapid ion diffusion. Consequently, the device operated continuously for 8 h in a 10 wt% NaCl solution without significant blockage and decreased key metal ion concentrations in 3.5 wt% simulated seawater by 4 to 5 orders of magnitude. The purified water fully satisfies World Health Organization standards. This study offers an innovative strategy to surpass conventional photothermal bottlenecks and design highly durable water treatment materials. Full article

Fibroin-based films represent a promising platform for sustainable and bio-derived materials. Existing literature has mainly focused on isolated molecules, plasticizers, or chemical cross-linkers, and the function of complex, multi-component natural extracts as structure-modulating agents in fibroin films remains poorly understood. In this study, edible films containing mulberry leaf extract (MLE; 2–8 wt%) and fibroin (8 wt%) were prepared by solution casting, and their structures were investigated using spectroscopic, morphological, thermal, mechanical, and barrier property analyses. The results reveal that MLE induces concentration-dependent changes in film performance through multicomponent, non-covalent interactions with the fibroin. An approximately 187% increase in tensile strength was achieved at high MLE concentration, confirming effective physical reinforcement. The water vapor transmission rate decreased markedly from 0.888 to 0.170 g·h⁻¹·m⁻², indicating an enhanced moisture barrier, whereas oxygen permeability increased at higher extract loadings, suggesting localized chain rearrangements. High optical transparency in the visible region was maintained (79.95–83.77%), while UV response was selectively altered with extract concentration. Overall, the 8MLE formulation exhibited the most balanced performance. This study demonstrates that plant-derived extracts can serve as effective natural modifiers for tailoring fibroin film properties without inducing crystallization, offering a sustainable strategy for designing bio-based and edible protein film systems. Full article

Water scarcity has increased the need for efficient treatment technologies such as membrane distillation (MD). PMD performance depends strongly on membrane fabrication parameters, particularly polymer concentration and nanoparticle incorporation, which control key transport and separation properties. This study considers fabrication of membranes using different concentrations of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) with the incorporation of different types of nanoparticles to determine the optimum membrane formulation for membrane distillation applications. The results demonstrate that both PVDF concentration and nanoparticle type play a critical role in membrane performance in terms of permeate flux and salt rejection. Among the nanoparticles studied in this work, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) exhibited the most significant enhancement, leading to a substantial increase in water vapor flux while maintaining excellent separation efficiency. The optimized CNT incorporated membrane achieved approximately 99% salt rejection, with superior flux performance, indicating its strong potential for high-efficiency desalination and water treatment using membrane distillation. Full article

This study investigates the fabrication of microcapsules using Nigella sativa (N.S.) oil as the core and alginate as the shell material. The N.S. oil microcapsules were prepared using the sol–gel method with different oil concentrations. The microcapsules were applied to the cotton fabric by the pad–dry–cure method, and their attachment was evidenced by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Air permeability measurements were conducted for all developed samples, revealing that the sample with 8 g loading of N.S. oil and 4.5 g alginate exhibited a 43% reduction compared to the pristine sample. To further investigate the comfort characteristics of the samples, the functionalized cotton samples were subjected to the water vapor permeability index test. The results yielded an index value of 90, indicating that the encapsulation process preserved the comfort characteristics of the samples. Among the samples, the specimen with an oil concentration of 8 mL displayed the maximum antibacterial performance, achieving a 90% reduction in colony-forming units (CFUs) following quantitative testing protocol. However, the qualitative antibacterial assessment indicates no clear zone of inhibition, but no bacterial growth was observed on the samples. Furthermore, the fabric incorporating the maximum loadings of N.S. oil and alginate capsules exhibited the maximum antioxidant activity of 86.5%. These results underscore the critical role of N.S. oil microcapsules in enhancing the antibacterial and antioxidant properties of cotton fabric, while also revealing a harmony between functional performance and comfort characteristics. Full article

The DIGIT experiment was launched at the Tournemire Underground Research Laboratory (URL) with the aim of determining the effects of temperature on the transfer of tracers mimicking the most mobile radionuclides in the Toarcian clay rock. The properties of this rock are similar to those of the host rocks being considered for a future deep geological repository for high-level radioactive waste (HLW). The experiment involves the monitoring of the interaction between a test water doped with stable halides and deuterium at constant concentration, and the porewater of the Toarcian clay rock under constant ambient conditions, as well as at higher temperature induced by artificial heating. This experiment seeks to partially address questions regarding the potential spread of contaminants during the thermal phase of HL waste packages. Specifically, the in situ experiment aims to evaluate the role of scale effects, thermodiffusion, a process that combines Fick’s law, the Soret effect, and convection in the transfer of radionuclides. This paper is the second part of a companion paper dedicated to predictive calculations and the installation of the experimental device. It presents the main experimental and modeling results obtained since the beginning of the installation and after 20 months of heat at 70 °C. The test was carried out in five phases, finishing with a sampling campaign: a phase 0 called “initial conditions”, followed by a pure diffusion phase (5 months), then three phases in a heated period lasting 1 year and 8 months. In total, 47 rock cores were analyzed, with approximately 170 samples tested by four diffusion methods (radial, outgoing, through and in vapor-phase) to determine the tracer concentrations in the porewater, their water content and their diffusive transport parameters. The results show a decrease in tracer concentrations with distance from the test zone, in the directions parallel and perpendicular to the stratification. The anisotropy of the medium results in greater migration in the direction parallel to the stratification. Thermal properties also confirm anisotropy with a higher thermal conductivity in the direction parallel to the stratification. Finally, an activation energy of 22.9 ± 1.7 kJ·mol⁻¹ could be proposed by NMR for deuterium, indicating diffusion behavior following an Arrhenius law between 30 and 70 °C. The experimental data allowed for the calibration of a 2D axisymmetric numerical model using the commercial finite element software COMSOL Multiphysics^®. The Fick’s law corrected by an Arrhenius law best reproduces the penetration of deuterium and anions. The Soret effect, integrated into certain scenarios, is only significant for anions’ migration, using a fitted Soret coefficient of 0.1 K⁻¹, as proposed in the literature for the Callovo-Oxfordian, the host rock of the Cigéo project in the east of France. The calibration of the simulated data with the experimental data allowed for the characterization of damaged and/or disturbed zones evolving over time. Simulations over 150 years, the duration of the thermal maximum for HLW packages, show that advection—modeled by Darcy’s law—would have a negligible role in this context due to the low permeability of the upper Toarcian. In conclusion, the DIGIT test showed that, for the Upper Toarcian clay rocks at the Tournemire URL in France, diffusion, corrected for the effect of temperature, is the mechanism that characterizes the transport of radionuclide analogues. The study showed that thermodiffusion has a limited influence on deuterium migration but remains significant for anions in the case of a coupling between temperature correction and thermodiffusion. The test also highlighted the impact of temperature on the spatiotemporal development of a damaged and/or disturbed zone. These new and relevant results in the field will need to be confirmed later through additional experiments. Full article