The accumulation of post-consumer cotton textile waste brings environmental challenges and opportunities for resource recovery. In this work, cotton waste was valorized into nitrocellulose via a pure nitration method, and its potential as a multifunctional material was systematically assessed. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the process parameters with a Box-Behnken design, and the results indicated that nitric acid concentration was the most important parameter affecting nitrogen incorporation. The optimized process produced nitrocellulose with a Nitrogen content of 11.17%, as confirmed by CHNS analysis. However, the FTIR results confirmed that the nitrocellulose was successfully nitrated, as evidenced by the nitro group absorption bands. The produced nitrocellulose was evaluated in various applications, including pyrotechnic green mixtures, adhesive systems, and film production. Gas emission analysis indicated a nitrogen-rich and comparatively cleaner combustion profile. The adhesive test showed moderate bonding to cellulosic materials, whereas the tensile test of films showed a high tensile strength of 60.8–65.8 MPa. The findings indicate that multifunctional nitrocellulose can be successfully produced from post-consumer cotton waste, providing a viable alternative to textile waste recycling methods and adding to efforts to build a sustainable circular economy.
Glyphosate is one of the most extensively used organophosphorus herbicides; however, its excessive application and environmental residues have severely threatened aquatic ecosystems and human health. In this study, a highly efficient lanthanum-modified zeolite (LMZ) adsorbent was synthesized via a hydrothermal method, and its adsorption behaviors and underlying mechanisms for glyphosate removal were systematically investigated. LMZ exhibited exceptional adsorption performance over a broad pH range of 3.0–7.0, achieving a maximum adsorption capacity of 217.39 mg/g. The adsorption process was well described by the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic models, indicating a monolayer chemisorption process. Notably, LMZ demonstrated remarkable adsorption selectivity and excellent regenerability, maintaining a high adsorption capacity even after five consecutive adsorption-desorption cycles. In practical application assessments with simulated wastewater, glyphosate removal efficiency exceeded 90% at an adsorbent dosage of 7.5 g/L. Furthermore, dynamic column experiments confirmed that LMZ could maintain effective continuous adsorption, highlighting its substantial application potential for treating glyphosate-contaminated wastewater. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopic characterizations revealed that this outstanding adsorption capability is primarily driven by inner-sphere complexation induced by ligand exchange at the La-OH active sites.
The versatile applications of nitrogen-containing heterocycles in different industries have engendered a lot of research. Benzimidazole derivatives, as isostructural pharmacophores of naturally occurring active biomolecules, are popular chemotherapeutic drugs. The present study focuses on a green methodology for the synthesis of NiFe2O4 nanocomposite using Combretum indicum leaf extract, and for the synthesis of 2-aryl benzimidazole derivatives via the condensation of aromatic aldehydes and O-phenylenediamine. The synthesized catalyst was characterized through various analytical techniques, including FT-IR, XRD, SEM, TEM, and BET. It has several advantages, including a rapid reaction at room temperature, easy work-up, high product yield, simple purification, and a reusable catalyst. The catalyst was reused for up to six consecutive cycles, with the yield decreasing only marginally from 95% (fresh catalyst) to 89% (sixth reuse).
