Kinh Gioi (Elsholtzia cristata) essential oils and citral have an abundance of medicinal applications. As Kinh Gioi has a short growth cycle, it can be grown in large amounts to provide a rich source of citral. To extract Kinh Gioi essential oil, both the traditional and microwave methods are applied in this research. Under microwave irradiation conditions, 0.4% essential oil was extracted in 10 minutes as compared to 0.47% essential oil in 3 hours as in the traditional method. Besides, the antibacterial activities were also tested, and antibacterial circle and MIC techniques were also used in this article. The results showed that EC has antibacterial and antifungal activity.

This study presents the microwave-assisted synthesis of α- Al2O3@ZIF-8 composite material for efficient removal of methylene blue (MB) from wastewater. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveal a uniform distribution and strong bonding between α-Al2O3 and ZIF-8 crystals. Adsorption experiments demonstrate high treatment efficiency (> 70%) at material-to-MB ratios > 4, with a peak efficiency of 97.8% achieved at a ratio of 17. Isothermal and kinetic modeling elucidate adsorption mechanisms, with the Langmuir model showing the best fit. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model suggests chemisorption as the rate-limiting step, with optimal reaction time at 30 minutes. Comparative analysis highlights the competitive efficiency of α- Al2O3@ZIF-8 compared to other materials. This research underscores the potential of microwave-synthesized α- Al2O3@ZIF-8 for practical applications in wastewater treatment.

The ASR underwent plasma pyrolysis at microwave power levels ranging from 800 to 1000 W to assess the concentration of Cadmium in the char. Results demonstrated that increasing microwave power during pyrolysis decrease the concentration of heavy metals in char. Due to the thermal degradation of organic materials in ASR, the overall concentration of heavy metals in the char decreased with plasma treatment. Furthermore, BCR sequential extraction and analysis revealed that microwave plasma induced alterations in chemical speciation and char matrix properties, resulting in lower bio-available percentages of cadmium in the chars. Following pyrolysis at 1000W, potential ecological risk of Cd decreased significantly from ASR to char (Er reduced from 164.91 to 28.45 range low risk level) and the concentration of heavy metal in the char had safe levels of HMs and satisfied Taiwan regulatory criteria for criteria for Defining Hazardous Industrial Waste. This study suggests that pyrolysis holds promise for ASR disposal with minimal environmental concern, contributing to discussions on sustainable waste management practices and offering valuable insights for policymakers, environmental scientists, and industries exploring eco-friendly alternatives for ASR treatment.