The scope of the current research was to assess the feasibility of encapsulating three commercial antifouling compounds, Irgarol 1051, Econea and Zinc pyrithione, in biodegradable poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanoparticles. The emulsification–solvent evaporation technique was herein utilized to manufacture nanoparticles with a biocide:polymer ratio of 40%. The loaded nanoparticles were analyzed for their size and size distribution, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency and thermal properties, while the relevant physicochemical characteristics were correlated to biocide–polymer system. In addition, the encapsulation process was scaled up and the prepared nanoparticles were dispersed in a water-based antifouling paint in order to examine the viability of incorporating nanoparticles in such coatings. Metallic specimens were coated with the nanoparticles-containing paint and examined regarding surface morphology.

The use of organic solvents in an electrolytic system for neodymium electrorecovery by electrolysis at low temperatures is studied in the current work. More specifically, an alternative route, that of the system of DMSO (Dimethyl sulfoxide) with dissolved NdCl₃ has been researched and has given promising results. The study of this electrolytic system has been divided into two stages. Firstly, the characteristics of the electrolyte, the dissolution of NdCl₃ in DMSO, the conductivity and the viscosity of NdCl₃ solutions in DMSO at various temperatures, and the Nd complexation in the solution were studied and secondly, the electrolysis parameters and their impact on the Nd electrodeposition process were evaluated. Finally, the deposits were submitted to SEM-EDS (Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy) analysis and metallic Nd was confirmed to be electrodeposited by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) spectroscopy.

The synthesis of CoZn-MOF was accomplished via a simple hydrothermal method. The characterization of the synthesized materials was performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), providing a thorough understanding of their structure and content. Subsequently, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) underwent three different pretreatment procedures prior to their application as an anode in a supercapacitor (SC) arrangement, with CoZn-MOF functioning as the cathode. The use of CNTs as electrode material led to an inherent improvement in conductivity and an intrinsic increase in the specific capacitance of the supercapacitor. Galvanostatic charge–discharge measurements of the three cells with different electrodes proved that the supercapacitor based on the CNT (acetic acid)//CoZn-MOF exhibited a capacity of 0.2285 F/g, a moderate energy density of 0.1944 Whkg⁻¹ at a power density of 26.48 Wkg⁻¹ as compared to the other two supercapacitors (CNT (nitric acid)//CoZn-MOF and CNT (unprocessed)//CoZn-MOF). This study utilized the advantages of carbon nanotubes in supercapacitor electrodes and examined the impact of CNT pretreatment.