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A chemical reaction network has been utilized as an energy and radical source to synthesize porous carbon nitride for energy storage applications. 

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) were synthesized via a block copolymer-assisted hydrothermal method and the phase purity and the crystal structure were investigated by X-ray diffraction. The Rietveld analysis of X-ray diffractometer spectra shows the hexagonal phase symmetry of α-Fe2O3. Further, the vibrational study suggests Raman active modes: 2A1g + 5Eg associated with α-Fe2O3, which corroborates the Rietveld analysis and orbital analysis of 2PFe. The superparamagnetic behavior is confirmed by magnetic measurements performed by the physical properties measurement system. The systematic study of the Congo red (CR) interaction with IONPs using a UV-visible spectrophotometer and a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry system equipped with a triple quadrupole mass analyzer and an electrospray ionization interface shows effective adsorption. In visible light, the Fe2O3 nanoparticles get easily excited and generate electrons and holes. The photogenerated electrons reduce the Fe3+ ions to Fe2+ ions. The Fe2+/H2O2 oxidizes CR by the Fenton mechanism. The strong adsorption ability of prepared nanoparticles towards dyes attributes the potential candidates for wastewater treatment and other catalytic applications. 

Application of crop residues and biochar have been demonstrated to improve soil biological and chemical properties in agroecosystems. However, the integrated effect of organic amendments and hydrological cycles on soil health indicators are not well understood. In this study, we quantified the impact of hemp residue (HR), hemp biochar (HB), and hardwood biochar (HA) on five hydrolytic enzymes, soil microbial phospholipid (PLFA) community structure, pH, permanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC) soil organic carbon (SOC), and total nitrogen (TN). We compared two soil types, Piedmont and Coastal Plain soils of North Carolina, under (i) a 30-d moisture cycle maintained at 60% water-filled pore space (WFPS) (D-W1), followed by (ii) a 7-day alternate dry-wet cycle for 42 days (D-W2), or (iii) maintained at 60% WFPS for 42 days (D-W3) during an aerobic laboratory incubation. Results showed that HR and HB significantly increased the geometric mean enzyme activity by 1-2-fold in the Piedmont soil under the three moisture cycles and about 1.5-fold under D-W in the Coastal soil. In the presence of HA, the measured soil enzyme activities were significantly lower than control under the moisture cycles in both soil types. The shift in microbial community structure was distinct in the Coastal soil but not in the Piedmont soil. Under D-W2, HR and HB significantly increased POXC (600–700 mg POXC kg -1 soil) in the Coastal soil but not in the Piedmont soil while HA increased nitrate (8 mg kg -1 ) retention in the Coastal soil. The differences in amendment effect on pH SOC, TN, POXC, and nitrate were less distinct in the fine-textured Piedmont soil than the coarse-textured Coastal soil. Overall, the results indicate that, unlike HA, HR and HB will have beneficial effects on soil health and productivity, therefore potentially improving soil’s resilience to changing climate.