Activity For Degradation Research Articles

Exploring photocatalytic tetracycline removal performance under simulated sunlight irradiation: Milling time effect on metallic reduction of MnO/ZrO2 mixed oxide

In the present research, it is reported that ball milling technique can be applied to enhance the photocatalytic properties of MnO and ZrO2 metal oxide powders (MZOx) furthermore the fabricated photocatalyst can be used for the degradation of tetracycline (TTC). XRD analyses revealed that increasing the milling time resulted in the formation of a pure metallic Mn crystal phase, which boosted the antibiotic degradation rate. It was confirmed by SEM technique that the morphological structures of the particles were generally small and uniform. The band gap energy was calculated as 3.70 eV for the hybrid metal oxide. Additionally, the adsorptive and photoluminescence features were illuminated via DRS and PL analyses. The effect of milling time had a major impact on the photodegradation rate of TTC, and the 8 h milling sample (MZOx-8h) exhibited the highest catalytic degradation activity (79.4 %). Low photocatalytic activity was obtained at acidic pHs and increased at alkaline pHs. The presence of H2O2 sharply decreased photocatalytic process time (60 min) and 94.3 % of the TTC was degraded at 7.5 mM H2O2. The photocatalytic degradation process proceeded through superoxide radicals and was supported by holes. The stability of MZOx-8h almost remained constant (70.02 %) even after seven cycles. It was determined that the presence of oxalic acid positively affected the progress of TTC degradation reactions. Further, practical application areas were investigated and MZOx-8h doped on support materials was found to be suitable for such applications in proportion to the doping ratio. Finally, it was demonstrated that MZOx-8h exhibited remarkable performance in photocatalytic reactions of different types of organic pollutants. The synergistic nature of MnO and ZrO2 with the contribution of ball milling time effect resulted in high photocatalytic activity.

Fabrication of Z-scheme Fe2O3/g-C3N4 nanocomposite with improved visible light induced photodegradation of pharmaceutical pollutants and photoelectrochemical water oxidation

The photodegradation and photoelectrochemical performance of Fe2O3 catalyst is an encouraging visible-light induced catalyst owing to its less harmfulness, cheap and ecofriendly. However, owing to its quick charge carriers recombination rate and less lifespan of charge carriers obstructs its catalyst application. Therefore, it has been lately established that the construction of heterojunction with other semiconductor might be a possible method to improve its catalytic activity. Herein, a novel Z-scheme Fe2O3/g-C3N4 heterostructure catalyst has been synthesized by a simple hydrothermal technique and studied its photoelectrochemical and photodegradation activity. The addition of g-C3N4 greatly improves the light absorption ability light, reduced charge recombination rate and progress the charge transportation. The composite catalyst exhibited the superior photodegradation performance (97.8 %) of sulfamethoxazole antibiotic remedy within 30 min of visible light illumination. •OH and •O2– radicals show a key role for dye degradation activity, and proposed a possible photodegradation charge carrier transfer mechanism based on a potential band structures of composite catalyst. Furthermore, the prepared catalysts are further used to examine the photoelectrochemical properties for hydrogen generation. The Fe2O3/g-C3N4 nanocomposite photoelectrode exhibited enriched photocurrent density (0.764 mA/cm2) than g-C3N4 (0.271 mA/cm2) and Fe2O3 (0.370 mA/cm2) photoelectrodes, which ∼ 2.8 and ∼2.1 folds greater photocurrent density than pure photoelectrodes. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis revealed that the composite electrode has minimal charge transfer resistance and greater electron transfer ability. Therefore, the current study presents a facile formation of Z-scheme catalyst and offers a sustainable method to eradicate water impurities and hydrogen generation by renewable solar energy.

Boron modified Ag3PO4 powders for UV and visible light photocatalytic degradation of various dyes

Pure and boron modified Ag3PO4 powders with different boron contents (0–5 wt.%) were prepared. XRD, ATR-FTIR, XPS, SEM-EDX, UV-Vis DRS and PL analyses were conducted for the characterization of the prepared powders. Characterization studies indicated the reduction in the band gap energy, the presence of boron and no change in the morphology due to boron modification. The results of photocatalytic experiments showed that boron modification increased the activity of Ag3PO4. The UV light dye degradation efficiency increased from 63% to 84% for methyl orange (MO) and from 41% to 65% for methyl red by 3% boron modification. The reaction rate constant for MO increased by a factor of 1.7. Under visible light, the activity was similarly enhanced by boron modification. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency increased from 31% to 58% and the reaction rate constant increased by a factor of 2.3 by boron modification for MO under low intensity visible light. These results showed that boron modification enhanced the photocatalytic dye degradation activity of Ag3PO4 under both UV and visible light. This enhancement was attributed to the decrease in the band gap energy and the increase in the interaction of the dye molecules with the photocatalyst surface through boron species.

Synthesis of nano-silver decorated β-Bi2O3/Bi2O2CO3 heterojunction using Bi-MOF precursor: Precisely controllable structure and enhanced photocatalytic activity for sulfadiazine degradation

In this study, a novel Ag/β-Bi2O3/Bi2O2CO3 nanocomposite was prepared by in-situ decomposition of a three-dimensional bismuth-trimesic acid complex (Bi–BTC) precursor at 300 ℃. The multilayered morphology and heterojunction structure of the prepared Ag/β-Bi2O3/Bi2O2CO3 nanocomposite were characterized by a series of technologies. The photocatalytic performance of Ag/β-Bi2O3/Bi2O2CO3 was evaluated by removal of sulfadiazine (SD) antibiotic from water under visible-light irradiation, and the degradation efficiency of SD was up to 96.8 % within 160 min. The superior catalytic activity of Ag/β-Bi2O3/Bi2O2CO3 is attributed to the p-n heterojunction structure constructed by β-Bi2O3 and Bi2O2CO3, as well as the surface plasmon resonance effect of nano-silver, which not only promoting the charge separation and transfer, but also increasing the hot electron density. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and active species trapping experiments indicated that ∙O2 and h+ play a major role in the oxidative degradation of sulfadiazine. The possible degradation pathway of sulfadiazine was identified, and the ecological toxicity of SD and its degradation intermediates was estimated using T.E.S.T. software. In addition, the as-prepared Ag/β-Bi2O3/Bi2O2CO3 showed excellent photo-corrosion resistance capacity and good reusability in photocatalytic degradation of SD.

Construction of S‐Scheme Alkalized C3N4/ZnO Piezo‐Photocatalyst with Improved Degradation Activity

AbstractThe construction of heterojunctions is often considered an effective strategy for achieving visible light driven photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants. In this work, defective g‐C3N4 ultrathin nanosheets were synthesized via alkaline etching method. Subsequently, a S‐scheme heterojunction was constructed between the contact interface of ZnO nanorods and alkaline C3N4 (aC3N4) to promote the electron transfer, resulting in a novel piezo‐photocatalyst (aC3N4/ZnO). The piezo‐photocatalytic performance of aC3N4/ZnO samples with different ratios was studied by adjusting the addition amount aC3N4. In addition, optimum 7 %‐aC3N4/ZnO samples exhibited the highest piezo‐photocatalytic degradation activity under light and ultrasonic irradiation with MB as the target pollutant, exhibiting the 99.89 % degradation rate and 65.68 % mineralization rate within 50 minutes. The capture experiments showed that 1O2,⋅O2− and ⋅OH were active substances in promoting the performance of piezo‐photocatalysis. The mechanism studies indicated that the enhanced piezo‐photocatalytic activity can be attributed to the synergistic effect of the piezoelectric properties of ZnO and the S‐scheme heterojunction formed at the aC3N4/ZnO interfaces, which provides power for the separation and transport of electron and hole. This work highlights the importance of carefully construction S‐scheme heterojunction and defective structures to precisely understand the catalytic properties, benefiting catalytic design and development.

Fe-N-coordinated graphene-like honeycomb porous carbon as an extremely effective catalyst for catalytic oxidation

In this study, Fe/N co-doped graphene-like honeycomb porous carbon (Fe-NC)was produced and used for the activating PMS to degrade TC. The Fe-NC catalyst has shown high activity in the TC degradation by activated PMS, with an efficiency of up to 94 % in 30 min. while the blank catalyst without N and Fe doping exhibited the lowest performance with 47.3 % TC degradation. Moreover, other operational factors of Fe-NC catalysts were also investigated to evaluate its catalytic activity. The burst experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) experiments demonstrated that free radical paths (O2·-) and non-free radical paths (1O2) coexist inside the Fe-NC/PMS system. The experiment results and degradation mechanism analysis revealed that N species(Pyridine N, Graphite N,Fe-Nx) and iron species (Fe0) were possible to be the active species of catalysts. Furthermore, Fe-NC/PMS system was investigated for possible pathway of TC degradation by liquid mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and the presence of intermediates was analyzed for toxicity magnitude by ECOSAR software.

Composition-Regulated Photocatalytic Activity of ZnIn2S4@CdS Hybrids for Efficient Dye Degradation and H2O2 Evolution.

Heterostructures of visible light-absorbing semiconductors were prepared through the growth of ZnIn2S4 crystallites in the presence of CdS nanostructures. A variety of hybrid compositions was synthesized. Both reference samples and heterostructured materials were characterized in detail, regarding their morphology, crystalline character, chemical speciation, as well as vibrational properties. The abovementioned physicochemical characterization suggested the absence of doping phenomena, such as the integration of either zinc or indium ions into the CdS lattice. At specific compositions, the growth of the amorphous ZnIn2S4 component was observed through both XRD and Raman analysis. The development of heterojunctions was found to be composition-dependent, as indicated by the simultaneous recording of the Raman profiles of both semiconductors. The optical band gaps of the hybrids range at values between the corresponding band gaps of reference semiconductors. The photocatalytic activity was assessed in both organic dye degradation and hydrogen peroxide evolution. It was observed that the hybrids demonstrating efficient photocatalytic activity in dye degradation were rather poor photocatalysts for hydrogen peroxide evolution. Specifically, the hybrids enriched in the CdS component were shown to act efficiently for hydrogen peroxide evolution, whereas ZnIn2S4-enriched hybrids demonstrated high potential to photodegrade an azo-type organic dye. Furthermore, scavenging experiments suggested the involvement of singlet oxygen in the mechanistic path for dye degradation.

A novel assessment method for the catalytic activity of ionic liquid degradation of PET

Ionic liquids (ILs) have been recognized as environmentally friendly and effective catalysts for poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) glycolysis. However, further investigation is required to gain a deeper understanding of the depolymerization mechanism. In this study, a series of experiments are conducted to investigate the impact of metallic and non-metallic ILs, containing diverse anions, on the interaction with PET surfaces. The findings indicate that the catalytic efficiency of IL is strongly correlated to the intensity of the interaction with PET. When the interface adhesion strength is more than twice that of PET/PET, the IL exhibits efficient catalytic properties in PET glycolysis. Therefore, an innovative approach involving the use of AFM for efficiently assessing highly effective IL catalysts is proposed. In addition, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform-infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations further demonstrate the predominant interaction mechanism between ILs and PET. This research provides guiding significance for understanding the mechanism of PET glycolysis.

NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation Mediates Hepatitis E Virus-Induced Neuroinflammation.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a foodborne zoonotic pathogen that is supposed to be one of the most common causes of acute viral hepatitis. However, HEV infection has been recently associated with a wide spectrum of extrahepatic manifestations, particularly neurological disorders. Previous studies have shown that HEV is able to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and induce inflammatory response of the central nervous system. However, the pathogenesis of HEV-induced neuroinflammation and tissue injury of the central nervous system have yet to be fully elucidated. In this study, activation of NLRP3 inflammasome following HEV infection were investigated. In a gerbil model infected by HEV, brain histopathological changes including gliosis, neuronophagia and neuron injury were observed and expression of NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 were elevated. Brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) are key components of the BBB that protects the brain from various challenges. Following HEV infection, virus-like particles range from 30 to 40 nm in diameter were observed in human BMECs (hBMECs). Enhanced expression levels of NLRP3 and subsequent ASC, caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 were detected in infected cells. Treatment with MCC950 alleviated HEV infection induced activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, mitochondrial damage and VE-cadherin degradation. The findings provide new insights into HEV-associated neuroinflammation. Moreover, targeting NLRP3 inflammasome signalling is a promising therapeutic in HEV-induced neurological disorder.

Continuous flow high-pressure homogenization for preserving the nutritional quality and stability of watermelon juice under simulated market storage conditions

This study examined the efficacy of continuous flow high-pressure homogenization (CFHPH) under varying pressures, inlet temperatures, and flow rates, in preserving the nutritional quality and stability of watermelon juice during simulated market conditions and compared it with traditional high-temperature short-time (HTST) processing. The retention of ascorbic acid, carotenoids, and amino acids was analyzed using liquid chromatography, while PPO (polyphenol oxidase) and POD (peroxidase) enzyme activity was assessed using a UV–vis spectrophotometer.We observed a significant decrease (p ≤ 0.05) in ascorbic acid levels after 15 days of storage. For carotenoids, the impact was influenced by the interaction of pressure, flow rate, and inlet temperature within CFHPH, with no clear trend emerging regarding their preservation over 45 days of storage at 4 °C. However, overall retention of carotenoids surpassed that of HTST samples. Both methods enhanced free amino acid contents significantly and decreased PPO and POD activity, with HTST being slightly more effective. Ornithine and histidine concentrations significantly increased, with up to a fourfold rise in samples treated with 300 MPa pressure and up to a tenfold rise for HTST at 95 °C after 45 days of storage. This study suggests optimizing the CFHPH process to enhance the shelf-life and nutritional value of watermelon juice, offering consumers a healthier and longer-lasting choice. Industrial relevanceOur findings highlight CFHPH's higher retention of bioactive compounds, reduction in degradative enzyme activity, and enhancement of the amino acid profile, making it a compelling choice for the fruit juice processing industry. Despite the energy-intensive nature of CFHPH, its ability to preserve vital bioactive compounds like carotenoids and ascorbic acid addresses the growing consumer demand for nutritious and stable juice options. The benefits of CFHPH in maintaining juice quality and nutritional value may outweigh the associated energy costs, making it a promising technology for fruit juice processing.

Facilistic preparation of zinc oxide nanoarrays on nickel foam via a one-step chemical bath method for photocatalysis

One-dimensional ZnO nanoarrays (ZnO NAs) were prepared on nickel foam using a one-step chemical bath deposition method. SEM and XRD confirmed the successful preparation of ZnO nanoarrays. TEM and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the preferential orientation of the ZnO nanorods along the (002) crystal plane. The Ni/ZnO NAs composites exhibited excellent photocatalytic degradation activity for ciprofloxacin (CIP) under UV light. UV–visible diffuse reflectance and transient photocurrent response characterization revealed that compared with ZnO nanorod powder, the Ni/ZnO NA composites increased the light absorption and reduced the complexation rate of photogenerated electron-hole pairs, thus improving the photocatalytic efficiency. In addition, the electron work functions of the two substances were calculated by using the crystal faces of Ni (111) and ZnO (002), and the calculation results confirmed the electron transfer paths. Electron transfer pathways further confirmed the possible reaction mechanism of Ni/ZnO NA degradation of CIP. Finally, Mott–Schottky tests were used to investigate the structure of the energy bands of the material and reveal its photocatalytic mechanism.

Oxygen vacancy–rich K-Mn3O4@CeO2 catalyst for efficient oxidation degradation of formaldehyde at near room temperature

Synthesis of catalysts with high catalytic degradation activity for formaldehyde (HCHO) at room temperature is highly desirable for indoor air quality control. Herein, a novel K-Mn3O4@CeO2 catalyst with excellent catalytic oxidation activity toward HCHO at near room temperature was reported. In particular, the K addition in K-Mn3O4@CeO2 considerably enhanced the oxidation activity, and importantly, 99.3 % conversion of 10 mL of a 40 mg/L HCHO solution at 30 °C for 14 h was achieved, with simultaneous strong cycling stability. Moreover, the addition of K species considerably influenced the chemical valence state of Mn from +4 (ε-MnO2) to +8/3 (Mn3O4) on the surface of CeO2, which obviously changed the tunnel structure and the number of oxygen vacancies. One part of K species is uniformly dispersed on K-Mn3O4@CeO2, and the other part exists in the tunnel structure of Mn3O4@CeO2, which is mainly used to balance the negative charge of the tunnel and prevent collapse of the structure, providing enough active sites for the catalytic oxidation of HCHO. We observed a phase transition from tunneled KMnO2 to Mn3O4 to tunneled MnO2 with the decreasing K+ content, in which K-Mn3O4@CeO2 exhibited higher HCHO oxidation activity. In addition, K-Mn3O4@CeO2 exhibited lower oxygen vacancy formation and HCHO adsorption energies in aqueous solution based on density functional theory calculations. This is because the K species provide more active oxygen species and richer oxygen vacancies on the surface of K-Mn3O4@CeO2, promote the mobility of lattice oxygen and the room-temperature reduction properties of oxygen species, and enhance the ability of the catalyst to replenish the consumed oxygen species. Finally, a possible HCHO catalytic oxidation pathway on the surface of K-Mn3O4@CeO2 catalyst is proposed.

Development of tungsten-modified iron oxides to decompose an over-the-counter painkiller, Acetaminophen by activating peroxymonosulfate

Acetaminophen (APAP) is a well-known type of over-the-counter painkillers and is frequently found in surface waterbodies, causing hepatotoxicity and skin irritation. Due to its persistence and chronic effects on the environment, innovative solutions must be provided to decompose APAP, effectively. Innovative catalysts of tungsten-modified iron oxides (TF) were successfully developed via a combustion method and thoroughly characterized using SEM, TEM, XRD, XPS, a porosimetry analysis, Mössbauer spectroscopy, VSM magnetometry, and EPR. With the synthesis method, tungsten was successfully incorporated into iron oxides to form ferrites and other magnetic iron oxides with a high porosity of 19.7 % and a large surface area of 29.5 m2/g. Also, their catalytic activities for APAP degradation by activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS) were evaluated under various conditions. Under optimal conditions, TF 2.0 showed the highest APAP degradation of 95 % removal with a catalyst loading of 2.0 g/L, initial APAP concentration of 5 mg/L, PMS of 6.5 mM, and pH 2.15 at room temperature. No inhibition by solution pHs, alkalinity, and humic acid was observed for APAP degradation in this study. The catalysts also showed chemical and mechanical stability, achieving 100 % degradation of 1 mg/L APAP during reusability tests with three consecutive experiments. These results show that TFs can effectively degrade persistent contaminants of emerging concern in water, offering an impactful contribution to wastewater treatment to protect human health and the ecosystem.

Insights into the impact of self-contained sulfur impurity on the superior photocatalytic activity of UV100

The commercial Hombikat UV100 is a TiO2 photocatalyst that is less studied and used than Aeroxide P25, resulting in limited knowledge associated to it. In this study, we used ICP-OES, XPS, and TGA analyses to show that UV100 contains non-negligible traces of sulfur as-received, which can be migrated to the surface of TiO2 through a simple calcination treatment. Ionic chromatography, DRIFTS, and pyridine-TPD analyses confirmed that a portion of the surface sulfate after the thermal induced migration can be removed by distilled water, along with associated sodium cations, without impacting the surface chemistry of the photocatalyst. Calcination of UV100 enhanced the photocatalytic activity in the liquid-phase degradation of phenol, paracetamol, and chloramphenicol, and this activity remained relatively unaffected by the leaching of sulfate. Although EPR indicated that surface-bound sulfate might act as electron trapping centers or oxygen chemisorption centers, the primary reason for the improved photocatalytic activity is likely the increased crystallinity of the anatase phase due to high-temperature calcination, aided by sulfur’s retarding effect on the anatase-to-rutile transition.

Fibrosis and Hepatocarcinogenesis: Role of Gene-Environment Interactions in Liver Disease Progression.

The liver is a complex organ that performs vital functions in the body. Despite its extraordinary regenerative capacity compared to other organs, exposure to chemical, infectious, metabolic and immunologic insults and toxins renders the liver vulnerable to inflammation, degeneration and fibrosis. Abnormal wound healing response mediated by aberrant signaling pathways causes chronic activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM), leading to hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis. Fibrosis plays a key role in liver carcinogenesis. Once thought to be irreversible, recent clinical studies show that hepatic fibrosis can be reversed, even in the advanced stage. Experimental evidence shows that removal of the insult or injury can inactivate HSCs and reduce the inflammatory response, eventually leading to activation of fibrolysis and degradation of ECM. Thus, it is critical to understand the role of gene-environment interactions in the context of liver fibrosis progression and regression in order to identify specific therapeutic targets for optimized treatment to induce fibrosis regression, prevent HCC development and, ultimately, improve the clinical outcome.

Z-scheme FeOOH/g-C3N4 nanosheets promoted PDS activation for efficient tetracycline degradation under visible light

Recently, photocatalysis combined peroxydisulfate (PDS) activation as a novel advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) was applied to remove pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in waterbody. Under visible light irradiation, photocatalysts, such as graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4, CN), could generated holes and electrons for both organic oxidation and PDS activation. However, it exhibits the drawbacks of low organics removal rate, high electron-hole recombination rate and low activation efficiency of PDS. In this study, amorphous iron oxyhydroxide (FeOOH) was intercalated into the surface of the g-C3N4 nanosheets (CNNS) to form a Z-scheme heterojunction to solve these problems. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and photoluminescence spectrum (PL) tests proved the enhancement of the charge separation and migration capability of FeOOH/CNNS. The density functional theory (DFT) supported the constructive role of the Z-type heterojunction between FeOOH and CNNS in promoting photocarrier transfer and facilitating more effective PDS activation reactions. The removal rate of tetracycline (TC) achieved 98.8 % within 80 min by FeOOH/CNNS coupled PDS under visible light (FeOOH/CNNS-PDS/Vis) system. Finally, electron spin resonance (ESR) approved the pivotal role of •OH, SO4•-, and •O2- during the process.

Structure-Based Design of CBP/EP300 Degraders: When Cooperativity Overcomes Affinity.

We present the development of dCE-2, a structurally novel PROTAC targeting the CREB-binding protein (CBP) and E1A-associated protein (EP300)-two homologous multidomain enzymes crucial for enhancer-mediated transcription. The design of dCE-2 was based on the crystal structure of an in-house bromodomain (BRD) inhibitor featuring a 3-methyl-cinnoline acetyl-lysine mimic acetyl-lysine mimic discovered by high-throughput fragment docking. Our study shows that, despite its modest binding affinity to CBP/EP300-BRD, dCE-2's remarkable protein degradation activity stems from its good cooperativity, which we demonstrate by the characterization of its ternary complex formation both in vitro and in cellulo. Molecular dynamics simulations indicate that in aqueous solvents, this active degrader populates both folded and extended conformations, which are likely to promote cell permeability and ternary complex formation, respectively.

Designing Robust CdS Nanostructures for Superior Photostability and Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants

AbstractTill date it is a great challenge to synthesize CdS photocatalyst with a high stability. In this study, a stable CdS photocatalyst was successfully synthesized by a simple, cost‐effective hydrothermal route via cadmium acetate and thiourea as Cd and S precursors, respectively. The effect of different processing times (8 h and 24 h) and molar ratios on the photocatalytic activity and stability were mainly investigated. The samples were characterized in detail by XRD, FT‐IR, XPS, UV‐vis DRS, Photolummiscence spectroscopy and Surface photovoltage. The photocatalytic activity of the as‐obtained nanostructures was examined for methylene blue (MB) dye degradation under visible light irradiation (λ≥420 nm). After 70 min of irradiation, nearly 82 % of MB was degraded by CdS nanostructures, display an improved photocatalytic activity for MB degradation with an apparent rate constant (k) of 0.019 min−1. Additionally, CdS nanostructures sustained a good photostability after five consecutive cycles. The higher photocatalytic activity of CdS nanostructure is attributed to an efficient separation of photogenerated electron‐hole pairs stimulated by its optimal molar ratio, optimal temperature and surface morphology. Our synthesized stable nanostructures have potential for dye contaminated waste‐water treatment.

Predicting Conservation Status of Testudoformes under Climate Change Using Habitat Models.

Climate change promotes variations in distribution ranges, potentially leading to biodiversity loss and increased extinction risks for species. It is crucial to investigate these variations under future climate change scenarios for effective biodiversity conservation. Here, we studied the future distribution ranges of 268 Testudoformes species under climate change using habitat models, specifically species distribution models (SDMs), to assess their conservation status. Our results have indicated that over half of species are projected to experience declines in their potential distribution ranges under two scenarios. In particular, we found that three critically endangered species-Three-striped roofed turtle (Batagur dhongoka), Durango mud turtle (Kinosternon durangoense), and Colombian mud turtle (Kinosternon dunni)-displayed extraction of their distribution ranges and faced extinction under global climate change. Additionally, our analysis revealed that the potential distribution ranges of some species might increase under future climate scenarios. However, these findings must be interpreted with caution as they do not account for other significant factors such as biological invasions, population structure, land-use change, anthropogenic disturbances, and inter-organism interrelationships. Future studies should incorporate these factors to provide a more comprehensive assessment of extinction risks. Our findings suggest that climate change, in conjunction with habitat degradation and human activities, must be considered when assessing the extinction risks of Testudoformes.

Biogenic synthesis of CeO2 nanoparticles via moringa oleifera seed extract: Photocatalytic and biological activity for textile dye degradation

This article presents a study on synthesizing cerium oxide nanoparticles utilizing cerium nitrate and Moringa oleifera seed extract as stabilizing and reducing agents. The XRD pattern of cerium oxide was a cubic structure with an average crystalline size of 11.92 nm. The surface feature of ceria nanoparticles has a foam-like nanostructure, type IV isotherms-mesoporous, with a 56.845 m2/g specific surface area. The UV–Vis absorbance and Tauc plot showed that the direct and indirect energy bandgap was 2.51 and 2.79 eV, respectively. TGA/DTA has established structural phase stability with corresponding mass changes by influencing bioactive molecules of seed extract in cerium nanoparticles. These nanoparticles exhibited effective antibacterial properties against S. aureus and E. coli pathogens, and the turbidimetry antioxidant properties were evaluated. Dye degradation through the photocatalyst was investigated, with the optimum degradation efficiency of 99.71 and 99.83 %, pseudo-first-order kinetics 4.62 × 10−2 and 5.07 × 10−2, respectively, for anionic-Congo red and cationic-Malachite green dye. The observed results concluded that green-mediated nanostructured ceria particles might effectively be used for antibacterial and photocatalytic purposes.