loading page

Inorganic Acid Catalysed Nitrogen-doped Carbon Dots from Kraft Lignin Waste and their Brain Cell Imaging Applications
  • +6
  • Yixian Pei,
  • An-Yi Chang,
  • Xuan Liu,
  • Hua Wang,
  • Hongbo Zhang,
  • Adarsh Radadia,
  • Yuxin Wang,
  • William Yu,
  • Shengnian Wang
Yixian Pei
Louisiana Tech University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
An-Yi Chang
Louisiana Tech University
Author Profile
Xuan Liu
Louisiana Tech University
Author Profile
Hua Wang
Louisiana State University in Shreveport
Author Profile
Hongbo Zhang
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport
Author Profile
Adarsh Radadia
Louisiana Tech University
Author Profile
Yuxin Wang
Louisiana Tech University
Author Profile
William Yu
Louisiana State University Shreveport
Author Profile
Shengnian Wang
Louisiana Tech University
Author Profile

Abstract

Carbon quantum dots (C-QDs) show great potential to replace traditional semiconductive quantum dots as the next generation of fluorescent probes. We demonstrate here a new C-QD production process using lignin, a high-volume but low market-value industrial waste and/or environmental hazards, as the starting carbon source. By adding a small amount of inorganic acid, the rich phenolic components in lignin were successfully converted to C-QDs through a coking formation mechanism similar to what happens on solid acid catalysts in traditional fossil fuel cracking process. The aqueous solution presence of the received lignin C-QDs is beneficial for brain cell imaging applications, attributing to their fast internalization, low toxicity, tunable photoluminescence by appropriate acidity and reaction temperature during hydrothermal synthesis. This method not only provides a low-cost C-QDs production route, but also helps gain extra profit and/or improve environment for many small agricultural business and paper and pulp industry located in rural area.
06 Jul 2020Submitted to AIChE Journal
08 Jul 2020Submission Checks Completed
08 Jul 2020Assigned to Editor
12 Jul 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
06 Sep 2020Editorial Decision: Revise Major
22 Oct 20201st Revision Received
23 Oct 2020Submission Checks Completed
23 Oct 2020Assigned to Editor
27 Oct 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
24 Nov 2020Editorial Decision: Accept