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Movement of different strains in Drosophila melanogaster was continuously observed by using computer interfacing techniques and was analyzed by permutation entropy (PE) after exposure to toxic chemicals, toluene (0.1 mg/m³) and formaldehyde (0.01 mg/m³). The PE values based on one-dimensional time series position (vertical) data were variable according to internal constraint (i.e. strains) and accordingly increased in response to external constraint (i.e. chemicals) by reflecting diversity in movement patterns from both normal and intoxicated states. Cross-correlation function revealed temporal associations between the PE values and between the component movement patterns in different chemicals and strains through the period of intoxication. The entropy based on the order of position data could be a useful means for complexity measure in behavioral changes and for monitoring the impact of stressors in environment.

In this study, electrochemical oxidation of petroleum was performed for the first time. Since petroleum is a rich source of hydrocarbons, its oxidation and electron production resulting in the production of electricity which is green energy is much more efficient than burning it. Electrochemical oxidation of petroleum with Ni-porphyrin-modified graphite electrode in alkaline media and by cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry (CA), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques were investigated. Due to the existence of two aqueous and organic phases, adsorption played a vital role in the process. To further confirm the accuracy of petroleum electrooxidation, electrooxidation of its compounds such as xylene and toluene was performed with the Ni-porphyrin electrode and by the mentioned techniques, which confirmed the previous data.

Monoclinic Mn₅O₈, spinel Mn₃O₄, and perovskite Mn ₂O₃were prepared by thermal decomposition of MnC₂O₄. The formation of different MnOx species observed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements showed temperature-dependent phase transformation following the path of MnC₂O ₄$\to$Mn₅O₈$\to$Mn₃O₄$\to$Mn₂O ₃occurring during the heat treatment process. Among these manganese oxides, the MO-1 (Mn₅O₈ ) showed the best light-driven photothermal catalytic performance reaching up to 99% of toluene degradation and 75% of mineralization efficiencies reached within 30 min. Besides, it is found that structural defects decrease with the increase of the calcinated temperature, and the Mn${}^{4+}$/Mn${}^{3+}$active sites and oxygen vacancies play an important role in improving the light-driven photothermal catalytic performance.

ZIF-8 composites with Mn (Mn-ZIF-8 & Mn/ZIF-8) were prepared by two methods for the complete catalytic oxidation of toluene. The results revealed that catalytic activity increased with the increasing content of manganese, and the activities of the two series composites were different from each other. The Mn${}_{0.8}$-ZIF-8 prepared by the methanol thermal method showed the best catalytic performance, which had the lowest T${}_{90}$ of toluene conversion, compared with the series of Mn/ZIF-8 catalysts. The resulting composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It was concluded that Mn, as the active species, might partly replace Zn in the frame of Mn-ZIF-8 for the catalytic oxidation of toluene at lower temperatures.

Some people think that carbon and sustainable development are not compatible. This textbook shows that carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the air and bio-carbon from biomass are our best allies in the energy transition, towards greater sustainability. We pose the problem of the decarbonation (or decarbonization) of our economy by looking at ways to reduce our dependence on fossil carbon (coal, petroleum, natural gas, bitumen, carbonaceous shales, lignite, peat). The urgent goal is to curb the exponential increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and hydrosphere (Figures 1.1 and 1.2) that is directly related to our consumption of fossil carbon for our energy and materials The goal of the Paris agreement (United Nations COP 21, Dec. 12, 2015) of limiting the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees (compared to the pre-industrial era, before 1800) is becoming increasingly unattainable (Intergovermental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), report of Aug. 6, 2021). On Aug. 9, 2021 Boris Johnson, prime minister of the United Kingdom, declared that coal needs to be consigned to history to limit global warming. CO₂ has an important social cost…