ACS Omega

Our medical research library holds 5 studies published in ACS Omega (2020–2025). Each entry links to the study's record on PubMed and, where there is one, to the publisher's page and a free full text. 5 have an abstract, the authors' own summary as PubMed records it: open "Abstract" to read it.

About the journal

• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• Published: 2016 to the present, United States
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2470-1343 (electronic)
• Its record in the NLM Catalog

2020s

• Kinetic Investigation of Tobermorite Synthesis for the Recovery of Carcinogenic Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS). D. Malferrari, G. Galamini, M. Bernini, et al. 2025;10(43):51284-51296. PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

  Abstract

  Respirable crystalline silica (RCS), a hazardous byproduct of quartzite processing, poses severe occupational and environmental health risks. To address both waste valorization and health concerns, this study developed an end-of-waste strategy for converting quartz-rich quarry dust (QD) into substituted tobermorite under mild hydrothermal conditions. A systematic series of syntheses was carried out at 120, 130, and 140 °C under dynamic conditions using controlled mixtures composed of QD together with KRY·AS (a material derived from the thermal inertization of cement asbestos) or CaO as calcium sources and a small amount (2.5 wt %) of phillipsite-rich zeolitic tuff as a catalytic additive. Crystallization pathways and reaction kinetics were analyzed through X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric/thermodifferential methods. Results showed that quartz dissolution is the primary source of silica for tobermorite crystallization, which proceeds according to first-order kinetics. The apparent activation energies derived from Arrhenius plots were 101 ± 33 and 111 ± 34 kJ mol-1 depending on the Ca source (KRY·AS or CaO, respectively). When using KRY·AS, the coexistence of katoite and amorphous calcium silicate hydrate phases indicated competing reaction pathways, while CaO favored more direct quartz-to-tobermorite conversion. Optimal tobermorite yields were achieved at 140 °C, reaching nearly 48 wt % in CaO-based mixtures. Lower temperatures led to slower growth and persistence of amorphous calcium silicate hydrate phases, whereas elevated temperatures favored rapid and more complete conversion with reduced secondary phase formation. Thermal analyses corroborated these findings, evidencing stable tobermorite and extensive carbonate formation. Scanning electron microscopy further confirmed the complete consumption of quartz, including respirable fractions, validating the process as compliant with end-of-waste criteria. Beyond silica detoxification, carbonate phases consistently formed, suggesting the potential dual benefit of hazardous waste valorization and incidental CO2 sequestration. Taken together, these results highlight a novel, low-energy valorization route for RCS-containing waste, advancing circular economy goals while offering prospects for both functional material production and carbon capture applications.

  © 2025 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.

• Morphological, Mineralogical, and Biochemical Characteristics of Particulate Matter in Three Size Fractions (PM10, PM2.5, and PM1) in the Urban Environment. S. Ahmad, B. Zeb, A. Ditta, et al. 2023;8(35):31661-31674. PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

  Abstract

  Air pollution in megacities is increasing due to the dense population index, increasing vehicles, industries, and burning activities that negatively impact human health and climate. There is limited study of air pollution in many megacities of the world including Pakistan. Lahore is a megacity in Pakistan in which the continuous investigation of particulate matter is very important. Therefore, this study investigates particulate matter in three size fractions (PM1, PM2.5, and PM10) in Lahore, a polluted city in south Asia. The particulate matter was collected daily during the winter season of 2019. The average values of PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 were found to be 102.00 ± 64.03, 188.31 ± 49.21, and 279.73 ± 75.04 μg m-3, respectively. Various characterization techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) were used. FT-IR and XRD techniques identified the minerals and compounds like quartz, peroxides, calcites and vaterite, feldspar group, kaolinite clay minerals, chrysotile, vaterite, illite, hematite, dolomite, calcite, magnesium phosphate, ammonium sulfate, calcium iron oxide, gypsum, vermiculite, CuSO4, and FeSO4. Morphology and elemental composition indicated quartz, iron, biological particles, carbonate, and carbonaceous particles. In addition, various elements like C, O, B, Mg, Si, Ca, Cl, Al, Na, K, Zn, and S were identified. Based on the elemental composition and morphology, different particles along with their percentage were found like carbonaceous- (38%), biogenic- (14%), boron-rich particle- (14%), feldspar- (10%), quartz- (9%), calcium-rich particle- (5%), chlorine-rich particle- (5%), and iron-rich particle (5%)-based. The main sources of the particulate matter included vehicular exertion, biomass consumption, resuspended dust, biological emissions, activities from construction sites, and industrial emissions near the sampling area.

  © 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.

• Al-Substituted Tobermorites: An Effective Cation Exchanger Synthesized from "End-of-Waste" Materials. D. Malferrari, F. Bernini, D. Di Giuseppe, et al. 2022;7(2):1694-1702. PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

  Abstract

  The policies to meet the "zero waste" regime and transition to sustainable circular economy can no longer ignore the use of wastes in place of natural resources, and these daunting and vital societal challenges are nowadays being faced by several nations. The main objective of this work was to search waste materials suitable for a quick and environmentally friendly production of a nanoporous geomaterial able to trap toxic metals at the solid/liquid interface. More specifically, the end-of-waste from the thermal inertization of cement-asbestos and glass powder from domestic glass containers have been employed as sources for the hydrothermal synthesis of a tobermorite-rich material (TRM) successfully tested for the selective removal of Pb2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, and Ni2+ from aqueous solutions. The synthesis was carried out in alkaline solution under mild hydrothermal conditions (120 °C) within 24 h. The quantitative phase analyses of the TRM carried out by applying the Rietveld method showed the occurrence of a large amount of well-crystallized 11 Å Al-substituted tobermorites and an amorphous phase and a lower content of aragonite and calcite. Chemical analyses and thermogravimetric measurements coupled with simultaneous evolved gas mass spectrometry highlighted that Al3+ for Si4+ substitutions in the wollastonite-like tetrahedral chains of tobermorites are balanced by the occurrence of Ca2+, Na+, and K+ cations in the interlayer rather than by (OH)- for O2- substitutions in the CaO polyhedra. Time-dependent removal tests clearly indicated that metal cations are selectively adsorbed depending on their concentration in solution. Moreover, the kinetic curves showed that the removal of metals from solution is fast and the equilibrium is almost reached in the first 8 h.

  © 2022 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.

• Development of a Pemetrexed/Folic Acid Nanoformulation: Synthesis, Characterization, and Efficacy in a Murine Colorectal Cancer Model. J.G. Rosch, A.N. DuRoss, M.R. Landry, et al. 2020;5(25):15424-15432. PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

  Abstract

  The folate analogue pemetrexed (PEM) is an approved therapeutic for non-small cell lung cancer and malignant pleural mesothelioma with the potential for broader application in combination therapies. Here, we report the development of a nanoformulation of PEM and its efficacy against the CT26 murine colorectal cancer cell line in vitro and in vivo. Utilizing layer-by-layer deposition, we integrate PEM, along with folic acid (FA), onto a fluorescent polystyrene nanoparticle (NP) substrate. The final nanoformulation (PEM/FA-NP) has a size of ∼40 nm and a zeta potential of approximately -20 mV. Cell uptake studies indicated increased uptake in vitro for the PEM/FA-NP compared to the uncoated NP, likely due to the presence of PEM and FA. Viability studies were performed to determine the potency of the PEM/FA-NP formulation against CT26 cells. Syngeneic CT26 tumors in BALB/c mice showed reduced growth when treated once daily (2.1 mg/kg PEM) for 3 days with PEM/FA-NP versus the vehicle (uncoated) control, with no observable signs of systemic toxicity associated with the nanoformulation. Although the current study size is limited (n = 4 animals for each group), the overall performance and biocompatibility of the PEM/FA-NP observed suggest that further optimization and larger-scale studies may be warranted for this novel formulation.

  Copyright © 2020 American Chemical Society.

• Structural Evolution of Ag-LEV Zeolite upon Heating: An In Situ Single-Crystal X-ray Diffraction (SC-XRD) and X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) Study. G. Cametti, A.C. Scheinost, S.V. Churakov. 2020;5(49):31774-31783. PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

  Abstract

  Ag-exchanged zeolites are known to have improved sorption and catalytic properties compared to the raw natural material. The application range of Ag-exchanged zeolites is linked to the stability of the exchanged form and its structural evolution at high temperatures. In this study, we investigated the thermal stability of a Ag-exchanged zeolite with an LEV framework type. The dehydration path was monitored in situ by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD) and X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (XAFS). The experimental data were compared with those extrapolated from molecular dynamics (MD) trajectories. Our results showed that Ag-exchanged levyne (Ag-LEV) follows a different dehydration path compared to that of the natural levyne (Ca-LEV). Between 25 and 350 °C, the unit cell volume contraction was -4% with respect to that measured at room temperature. Upon dehydration, Ag-LEV transformed to the LEV B topology: such transformation is accompanied by the change from R 3̅ m to R 3m space group and by the onset of the rupture of one T-O-T connection at 250 °C. Differently from Ca-LEV, no additional change to LEV B' configuration was detected. XAFS analysis indicated that each Ag is approximately surrounded by four oxygen atoms between 2.15 and 2.40 Å. This local environment was maintained up to 650 °C. Weak Ag+1-Ag+1 interactions, detected in the whole investigated temperature range, are mainly ascribed to the presence of Ag-erionite (Ag-ERI) intergrown with Ag-LEV. No reduction to elemental Ag0 occurred upon heating.

  © 2020 American Chemical Society.

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