In this study, a new and very quick method to depolymerize PET plastics is reported. The depolymerization experiments were conducted using a type-IV deep eutectic solvent containing ZnCl₂ and urea, and a microwave oven as reactor. Different combinations of power and reaction times were employed while keeping the total energy constant. Successful conversions were obtained carrying out the process at 180 W for 2 min and 360 W for 1 min, whereas at higher powers and shorter times, an inclusion likely occurs of some solvent into the structure of the recovered PET flakes, as suggested by the porosity of the flakes, imaged by SEM microscopy. The flakes increase their crystalline character during the treatment, as indicated by the appearance of narrow diffraction peaks in the XRD patterns, at variance with the broad signals observed in the case of the pristine amorphous polymer. The NMR analysis of the supernatant liquid above the partially solubilized PET shows the presence of terephthalic acid peaks. The infrared spectra of the solid powder achieved upon the acidic treatment of the extract reveal the presence of C=O stretching peaks and the absence of typical CH₂ wagging absorptions that satisfactorily comply with the presence of terephthalic acid.

Soil contamination in underexplored environments remains poorly characterized, particularly in regions where systematic monitoring is limited. El-Bur (Somalia) represents one such environment, where prolonged drought, humanitarian instability, limited accessibility, and inadequate waste management are expected to influence soil quality while hindering systematic environmental investigations. In this study, an exploratory multi-technique approach was applied to soil samples collected from selected sites in El-Bur (Somalia) to obtain chemical, structural, and morphological information. A combination of SEM–EDX, ICP-OES, XRD, and GC–MS was used to characterize both inorganic and organic fractions. The results show a predominant presence of sodium chloride, indicating severe soil salinity likely associated with prolonged drought and evaporative processes. In addition, trace organic compounds, including plastic-related species such as diethyl phthalate and styrene, together with short- to medium-chain hydrocarbons, were detected, suggesting localized anthropogenic contamination likely related to plastic waste and inadequate wastewater and waste management practices. This work provides a proof-of-concept analytical framework for identifying contamination features in soils affected by severe drought. The findings highlight the coexistence of natural and anthropogenic drivers of soil degradation and provide exploratory evidence for future targeted investigations in underexplored regions.

The kinetics of insulin aggregation and fibril formation were studied in vitro using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Our investigation centered on the protein’s morphological and structural changes to better understand the transient molecular configurations that occur during the lag phase. SEM images showed that, already at early incubation stages, a network of disordered pseudo-filaments, ranging in length between 200 and 500 nanometers, develops on the surface of large aggregates. At later stages, fibrils catalyzed by protein aggregates were observed. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of the FTIR data identified signatures of intramolecular β-sheet secondary structures forming during the lag phase and at the onset of the exponential growth phase. These absorption bands are linked to secondary nucleation mechanisms due to their transient nature. This interpretation is further supported by a chemical equilibrium model, which yielded a reliable secondary nucleation rate constant, K₂, on the order of 10⁴ M⁻² s⁻¹.