The urgent need for technologies to ensure health standards, as per the Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations, has prompted research into addressing human health problems associated with chemical contaminants in air, water, and soil. Heavy metals, particularly arsenic, pose significant health risks, with millions of people worldwide exposed to concentrations exceeding recommended limits. Nanostructured materials, including ordered mesoporous substrates such as SBA-15, have shown promise for arsenic removal due to their high surface area and pore characteristics. This study aimed to synthesize a silica mesoporous material with reduced pore channel length to enhance surface area and active sites, thereby improving arsenic removal efficiency. By exploring various surfactant-to-silica precursor ratios, a suitable value was identified to promote the production of shortened SBA-15 particles. These shortened pore channels facilitated the dispersion of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe₂O₃) on the SBA-15 surface, resulting in an effective adsorbent that achieved over 95% arsenic removal. The combination of the modified SBA-15 substrate and Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles demonstrated high efficiency in arsenic removal from aqueous effluents, offering a promising solution to address water pollution and associated health risks.

This study investigates the development of corn starch-based biocomposites reinforced with pistachio shell powder, focusing on improving their mechanical and thermal performance. Composite films were prepared by solution casting with pistachio shell contents ranging from 2 wt% to 8 wt% by weight. The materials were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and tensile testing. The incorporation of pistachio shell particles led to a progressive improvement in tensile strength and elastic modulus, with the highest values observed in the formulation with 8% reinforcement (SP08). The TGA results indicated a shift in degradation temperatures for the sample with the highest percentage, reflecting a higher thermal stability that is attributed to the interactions between the starch, plasticizer, and cellulosic components of the pistachio shell. The FITR spectra shows very similar structures between starch and pistachio. An XRD analysis shows the alpha-type structure for starch and the cellulose type 1 structure for pistachio. Overall, the results suggest that pistachio shell powder can serve as an effective natural reinforcement, improving the functional properties of starch matrices and promoting the development of environmentally friendly materials derived from agro-industrial waste.

The modification of starches by cationization is a fundamental physicochemical process aimed at improving their physicochemical properties and expanding their industrial applications. Traditionally, this modification is associated with long duration, high energy consumption, and waste generation. This article proposes a method based on reactive extrusion (REX) as a sustainable alternative for modifying corn ( Zea mays everta) and chayote roots ( Sechium edule ) or chinchayote starches. A single‐screw extruder was utilized to assess the effects of temperature on the degree of substitution (DS) and the functional and structural properties of the modified starches. Glycyltrimethylammonium chloride (GTAC) was used as a cationizing agent in both methods, REX and conventional cationization (CT), at a concentration of 3%. The results indicate that extrusion can produce starches with a DS equivalent to that obtained by CT in the case of corn starch (0.21–0.23). Rheometry shows a decrease in the viscosity peaks due to the pre‐gelatinization process. Calorimetry showed a decrease in enthalpy and an increase in tractability temperature for the REX‐modified starches due to the temperature and shear to which they were subjected. The spectroscopic technique showed the incorporation of GTAC into the starch structure. The results of physicochemical characterization show that the REX is identified as a viable alternative to CT, offering a faster, more energy‐efficient, and environmentally friendly process. The effectiveness of REX in altering the physicochemical properties of starch suggests its potential for innovative industrial applications, such as water treatment or the production of biodegradable materials.