Degradation Of Effluent Research Articles

Rapid Degradation of Dye Effluents with A SnS Catalyst: A Sustainable Approach Using Natural Light Under Ambient Conditions.

Dye degradation presents a persistent challenge in addressing water pollution. While several methods, including adsorption, biodegradation, and advanced oxidation processes, have been extensively explored, photocatalysis remains one of the most effective techniques. Conventional photocatalytic dye degradation processes often rely on expensive light sources and are time-intensive. Herein, we synthesized a SnS catalyst by the solvated metal atom dispersion (SMAD) method, using Sn foil and sulfur powder. The catalyst exhibited remarkable performance, achieving complete degradation of methylene blue within 2 minutes under ambient room light, without the need for any external light source. Similar degradation efficiency was achieved for methyl orange. To evaluate the role of light for the degradation, control experiments were conducted in the dark using methylene blue as a model dye. Although the degradation rate was slightly reduced, the catalyst still facilitated dye degradation in the absence of light. Additionally, the catalytic performance was tested with four other dyes under natural light, all of which yielded promising results, demonstrating the versatility and effectiveness of the SnS catalyst in dye degradation. This work highlights the potential of the SnS catalyst for efficient and rapid dye degradation under both light and dark conditions, offering an energy-efficient solution for wastewater treatment.

Utilization of waste citrus limetta peel for the green synthesis of iron catalyst and its subsequent application in fluidized-bed Fenton-like process for environmental sustainable treatment of organic pollutant

This work focuses on the environmental friendly synthesis of an iron-based catalyst utilizing extract from waste citrus limetta peels. The main objective is to encourage the sustainable use of bio-waste materials in catalytic processes. This innovative method demonstrates the efficacy of bio-derived materials in catalysis by removing the need for hazardous chemicals. The green-synthesized catalyst was analyzed using many characterization methods, including X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). These analyzed results give insightful information on the physicochemical properties of green-synthesized catalysts. Furthermore, the prepared catalyst was utilized in a fluidized-bed reactor to facilitate the Fenton degradation of dye effluent, with a specific focus on the commonly used Eosin yellow (EY) dye. The iron catalyst derived from plant-based waste material accomplished an impressive 98% degradation of EY within a 90-minute time frame under optimized working conditions, using a minimal quantity of catalyst. An in-depth analysis was conducted to study the kinetics and process mass transfer in order to improve the comprehension of catalytic processes occurring in the fluidized-bed reactor. The Fenton decomposition of dye effluent is likely to be explained by first-order reaction kinetics. Additionally, confirmed enhanced catalytic durability and decreased deactivation of surface sites of the prepared catalyst after three consecutive oxidation cycles. These findings underscore the potential of this approach in sustainable wastewater treatment, highlighting both its efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Alkali-decorated carbon nitride enhances the removal of enrofloxacin by ferrihydrite-H2O2 system: Mechanistic insights and degradation pathways

Antibiotic pollution affects water quality. Based on the ferrihydrite-H2O2 (Fh-H2O2) photo-Fenton system, alkali-decorated carbon nitride was introduced, and KC3N4/Fh, with ·OH and ·O2− as the primary reactive oxygen species, was synthesized for the degradation of veterinary antibiotic enrofloxacin in water. The modification with KOH induced the formation of cyano groups and nitrogen vacancies in KC3N4/Fh. The presence of cyano groups altered the original charge distribution and energy band structure of the material, thereby establishing an internal electric field. Directed driving of nitrogen vacancies accelerated the transfer of photogenerated charges from the conduction band of KC3N4 to the surface of Fh, facilitating the cycle process of Fe(III) and Fe(II). Meanwhile, the nitrogen vacancies significantly enhanced the adsorption capacity of KC3N4/Fh for H2O2 and accelerated the reaction between the generated Fe(II) and H2O2 to produce ·OH, which subsequently led to the efficient degradation and mineralization of enrofloxacin. The results demonstrated that the degradation rate of enrofloxacin by KC3N4/Fh reached 95.96 % within 30 min, highlighting its high efficiency and stability. Furthermore, KC3N4/Fh exhibited effective degradation of actual effluent under sunlight. This work proposes a novel approach to creating a Fh-H2O2-based photo-Fenton system for the efficient antibiotic degradation.

Influence of transition metal (Cu) and rare earth metal (Dy) co-doping on spinel zinc ferrite (Cu0.1Dy0.08Zn0.9Fe1.92O4) for improved photocatalytic degradation of industrial effluents

In the present era, design and development of novel, highly stable, easily and magnetically separable, cost effective, and visible light driven catalytic material for the removal of harmful industrial effluents is of great importance. In this context, facile co-precipitation route was adopted for the synthesis of ZnFe2O4 (ZFO), Cu0.1Zn0.9Fe2O4 (CZFO), Dy0.08ZnFe1.92O4 (DZFO), and Cu0.1Dy0.08Zn0.9Fe1.92O4 (CDZFO) and their fabrication was confirmed by XRD, FTIR, SEM, and UV-Visible spectroscopy. The phase analysis of all designed materials exhibits that there is an increment in the crystallite size of co-doped zinc ferrite (CDZFO) i.e. 11.51 nm as compared to ZFO (10.74 nm), CZFO (10.92 nm), and DZFO (11.41 nm). The optical study shows a significant decrease in bandgap of CDZFO i.e. 1.82 eV as compared to DZFO (1.89 eV), CZFO (2.0 eV), and ZFO (2.14 eV). This decrease in optical bandgap and increase in crystallite size of the CDZFO is due to the quantum confinement effect. The photocatalytic efficiency of pure, doped, and co-doped samples was investigated against organic dye (Congo red), pharmaceutical drug (ibuprofen), and colorless organic compound (benzoic acid). The photocatalytic results reveal that CDZFO showed about ∼90 % degradation of Congo red while ZFO, CZFO, and DZFO showed only 59 %, 70 %, and 79 % respectively. Moreover, CDZFO also showed highest photocatalytic removal efficiency against ibuprofen (88 %) and benzoic acid (74 %) out of all other synthesized materials. The remarkable photodegradation ability of CDZFO for all targeted pollutants could be attributed to the generation of crystal defects in its lattice, its small bandgap, and higher absorption in visible region. Furthermore, the recyclability experiment confirmed the stability and reusability of the prepared sample.

Pharmaceutical effluent degradation using hydrogen peroxide-supported zerovalent iron nanoparticles catalyst

Pharmaceutical effluents generated during drugs production and application are often times released into the water systems with little or no treatment, which could pose potential danger to the ecosystem. Advanced oxidation processes for organic pollutants treatment have gained wide consideration due to their effectiveness. In this work, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and hydrogen peroxide-supported nano zerovalent iron (H2O2@nZVIs) were deployed to study pharmaceutical effluents (PE) degradation via batch experiments, under various reaction time, (H2O2) and (H2O2@nZVIs) concentrations, pH, PE concentration, and temperature. The nZVIs was prepared from the green synthesis of Vernonia amygdalina leaf extract and characterized using different analytical tools such as Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Gas Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and X-Ray Diffraction Spectroscopy (XRD). The FT-IR results showed the presence of -C = O, -NH, -OH, -C = C and, -C-O functional groups, SEM report showed that the morphology of the nZVIs is round in shape, while GC-MS revealed the presence of several phytochemicals. When the concentration of the effluent was increased from 10 to 30 ml, the percentage decolourization decreased from 74.74 to 51.96% and from 80.36 to 54.38% for H2O2 and H2O2@nZVI respectively, whereas when the contact time was increased from 10 to 60 min, the percentage decolourization rose from 70.39 to 83.49% for H2O2 and from 85.19 to 89.73% when H2O2@nZVI was used. When the effect of pH was assessed, it was observed that on increasing the pH from 2 to 10, the percentage decolourization rose from 74.5 to 80.25% for H2O2, however, with H2O2@nZVI, the percentage decolourization decreased from 81.50 to 68%. Maximum percentage decolourization of 57.10% and 94.56% for H2O2 and H2O2@nZVI was achieved at catalyst volume of 25 ml. For all the parameters tested, the H2O2@nZVIs performed much better indicating that the nZVIs enhanced the decolourization ability of the H2O2. The kinetic results showed that the decolorization of pharmaceutical effluent by both catalysts fitted very well with the second-order model, while thermodynamic properties of enthalpy change were found to be 10.025 and 27.005 kJ/mol/K for H2O2 and H2O2@nZVIs respectively suggesting that the oxidation process is endothermic in nature. This technique employed in using hydrogen peroxide-supported zero valent iron, proved to be highly efficient not only for pharmaceutical effluent degradation but also in the elimination of lead from the effluent.

Purification of textile wastewater by collective degradation using nanorods of cesium titanium bromide (CsTiBr3) perovskite

The present work recommends a sustainable environmentally safe method for the removal of textile dyes in an economically viable way.The wastewater expelled from the textile dying units contains a mixture of dyes. Here we address the challenge of using a single catalyst for the collective photocatalytic degradation of mixture of six dyes and two samples of textile effluents collected from a local dying unit under direct sunlight. The lead-free perovskite of CsTiBr3 nanorods prepared via the solvothermal process is effective in the collective photocatalytic degradation of dye mixture containing toxic dyes like congo red, crystal violet, malachite green, methylene blue, rhodamine, and methyl orange. The six-dye mixture turned colorless within three hours of direct sunlight exposure. The collective photocatalytic degradation ability of CsTiBr3 perovskite nanorods is successfully exploited for the degradation of the textile effluents. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) analysis guarantees the degradation of dye into non-toxic components. The recycling of wastewater is made possible by the removal of CsTiBr3 catalysts through adsorption using biochar derived from invasive plants. The biochars are extracted from invasive plants such as Acrostichum Aureum, Alternanthera bettzickiana, cyclosorus interrupts, and Quisqualis indica in which Acrostichum Aureum showed maximum adsorption. The scavenger studies using isopropyl alcohol (IPA), ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA), and silver nitrate (AgNO3) suggest that holes control the photocatalysis mechanism.

Effect of Al doping on the structural, optical and photocatalytic properties of sol-gel spin-coated NiO thin films

Nanostructured NiO thin films are renowned for their catalytic activity and potential for degradation of industrial effluents. In this study, Al-doped NiO (Ni1-xAlxO with x = 0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, and 0.08) thin films were synthesized by sol–gel spin coating, and the influence of Al doping on their physical properties, surface morphology, optical band gap, and photo-catalytic performance was investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the high crystallinity of the thin films and revealed a pronounced doping effect on parameters such as crystallite size, microstrain, and dislocation density. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the formation of spherical nanoparticles with particle sizes ranging from 26 nm to 11 nm. The elemental composition was verified through energy-dispersive x-ray (EDX) analysis. The optical bandgap of the prepared films was determined through UV-visible spectroscopy. The Ni0.98Al0.02O films exhibited the lowest PL intensity, indicating a reduced recombination rate. To assess the photo-degradation capability of the prepared thin film catalysts, industrial effluent Indigo Carmine was employed as a test compound. The Ni0.98Al0.02O sample demonstrated the highest degradation efficiency, achieving about 96% degradation within 2 h of UV–vis light irradiation. Furthermore, the degradation followed pseudo-first-order kinetics.

Artificial neural network guided optimization of limiting factors for enhancing photocatalytic treatment of textile wastewater using UV/TiO₂ and kinetic studies

Wastewater effluents discharged from textile industries are characterized by excessive chemical and biochemical oxygen demands with significant amounts of harmful synthetic dyes that spoil the healthy environment. The present investigation focused on process optimization to develop an effective strategy for degrading and decolorizing wastewater from textile industries through an advanced photocatalysis oxidation process. The synergistic effect of Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles as a photocatalyst with ultraviolet irradiation was applied as a novel technique to detoxify wastewater effluents from textile industries. In addition, the process was modeled and optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural networks (ANN). The kinetics of the photocatalytic degradation of wastewater effluents from textile industries were analyzed. The optimal condition predicted by the RSM was similar to the experimental outcomes, further, the predicted values from the ANN model had confirmed the prediction. The most significant limiting parameters, such as catalyst dosage, pH, and irradiation time, were optimized systematically as TiO2 dosage of 429.31mg/l, pH of 8.89, and irradiation time of 5h, respectively. Under these optimal conditions, COD reduction and decolorization of 90 and 88%, respectively, were achieved.

Preparation of Au-MoS2 photocatalyst with a green synthesis method and its application in water contaminant degradation

In the current research, a successful and fast synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) by utilizing the leaf extract of Eryngium planum is reported. In order to analyze the influential synthesis parameters, the Plackett-Burman (PB) design was utilized, while the response surface methodology (RSM) was employed for optimization purposes. Furthermore, the achieved AuNPs were applied in the production of the Au-MoS2 nanocomposite. The efficiency of the visible-light photocatalyst was examined in the photocatalytic decolorization of the refractory azo dye, Acid Blue 113 (AB113). A high dye removal efficiency (94%) was observed under the optimal conditions of pH 7.6 using 15.5 mg of Au-MoS2, and 14 min. These results proved that the fabricated Au-MoS2 photocatalyst using biogenic AuNPs was more efficient than pure MoS2 and could be used as a promising catalyst for the degradation of dye-containing effluents.

Evaluation of physiochemical and in-vitro characteristics of Ixora Coccinea mediated Co3O4 nanoparticles for photocatalytic degradation of toxic textile dye effluents

Discharging colored wastewater from the textile industry into water bodies disrupts the natural ecosystem and reduces the productivity of aquatic life. It is challenging to degrade complex dye molecules, including pathogens and bacteria. This research article deals with the photocatalytic activity of cobalt oxide nanoparticles mediated Ixora coccinea plant extract for industry effluent treatment applications. The green synthesized nanoparticles were found to have high crystallinity and purity, cubic crystal structure, and spherical morphology with 21.5 nm crystallite size. Further, the biological properties, such as antibacterial, antioxidant, and bacterial growth inhibition activity, were evaluated. With 88 % and 83 % bacterial growth inhibition, the antibacterial activity showed a maximum bacterial zone inhibition of 31 ± 0.4 mm for positive and 29 ± 0.3 mm for harmful bacterial strains. Then, the level of scavenging free radicals measured about 93.87 %. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated against the textile dyes under direct sunlight irradiation. The maximum dye degradation was achieved for Alizarin red (85.2 %), Crystal violet (90.7 %), Reactive black (94.5 %), and Rhodamine B (96.4 %) dyes at the end of 90 min of irradiation. Moreover, this research paper introduces a method for creating cobalt nanoparticles using natural and sustainable approaches. These nanoparticles have potential in several fields, such as medicine, catalysis, and water remediation.

Enhancement of effluent degradation by zinc oxide, carbon nitride, and carbon xerogel trifecta on brass monoliths.

In recent years, heterogeneous photocatalysis has emerged as a promising alternative for the treatment of organic pollutants. This technique offers several advantages, such as low cost and ease of operation. However, finding a semiconductor material that is both operationally viable and highly active under solar irradiation remains a challenge, often requiring materials of nanometric size. Furthermore, in many processes, photocatalysts are suspended in the solution, requiring additional steps to remove them. This can render the technique economically unviable, especially for nanosized catalysts. This work demonstrated the feasibility of using a structured photocatalyst (ZnO, g-C3N4, and carbon xerogel) optimized for this photodegradation process. The synthesized materials were characterized by nitrogen adsorption and desorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). Adhesion testing demonstrated the efficiency of the deposition technique, with film adhesion exceeding 90%. The photocatalytic evaluation was performed using a mixture of three textile dyes in a recycle photoreactor, varying pH (4.7 and 10), recycle flow rate (2, 4, and 6 L h-1), immobilized mass (1, 2, and 3mgcm-2), monolith height (1.5, 3.0, and 4.5cm), and type of radiation (solar and visible artificials; and natural solar). The structured photocatalyst degraded over 99% of the dye mixture under artificial radiation. The solar energy results are highly promising, achieving a degradation efficiency of approximately 74%. Furthermore, it was possible to regenerate the structured photocatalyst up to seven consecutive times using exclusively natural solar light and maintain a degradation rate of around 70%. These results reinforce the feasibility and potential application of this system in photocatalytic reactions, highlighting its effectiveness and sustainability.

Optimizing intermittent micro-aeration as a strategy for enhancing aniline anaerobic biodegradation: kinetic, ecotoxicity, and microbial community dynamics analyses.

Groundwater and soil contamination by aromatic amines (AAs), used in the production of polymers, plastics, and pesticides, often results from improper waste disposal and accidental leaks. These compounds are resistant to anaerobic degradation; however, micro-aeration can enhance this process by promoting microbial interactions. In batch assays, anaerobic degradation of aniline (0.14 mM), a model AA, was tested under three micro-aeration conditions: T30, T15, and T10 (30, 15, and 10 min of micro-aeration every 2 h, respectively). Aniline degradation occurred in all conditions, producing both aerobic (catechol) and anaerobic (benzoic acid) byproducts. The main genera involved in T30 and T15 were Comamonas, Clostridium, Longilinea, Petrimonas, Phenylobacterium, Pseudoxanthomonas, and Thiobacillus. In contrast, in T10 were Pseudomonas, Delftia, Leucobacter, and Thermomonas. While T30 and T15 promoted microbial cooperation for anaerobic degradation and facultative respiration, T10 resulted in a competitive environment due to dominance and oxygen scarcity. Despite aniline degradation in 9.4 h under T10, this condition was toxic to Allium cepa seeds and exhibited cytogenotoxic effects. Therefore, T15 emerged as the optimal condition, effectively promoting anaerobic degradation without accumulating toxic byproducts. Intermittent micro-aeration emerges as a promising strategy for enhancing the anaerobic degradation of AA-contaminated effluents.

Visible light- and dark-driven degradation of palm oil mill effluent (POME) over g-C3N4 and photo-rechargeable WO3.

The investigations of real industrial wastewater, such as palm oil mill effluent (POME), as a recalcitrant pollutant remain a subject of global water pollution concern. Thus, this work introduced the preparation and modification of g-C3N4 and WO3 at optimum calcination temperature, where they were used as potent visible light-driven photocatalysts in the degradation of POME under visible light irradiation. Herein, g-C3N4-derived melamine and WO3 photocatalyst were obtained at different calcination temperatures in order to tune their light absorption ability and optoelectronics properties. Both photocatalysts were proven to have their distinct phases, crystallinity levels, and elements with increasing temperature, as demonstrated by the ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results. Significantly, g-C3N4 (580°C) and WO3 (450°C) unitary photocatalysts exhibited the highest removal efficiency of POME without dilution due to good crystallinity, extended light absorption, high separation, and less recombination efficiency of electron-hole pairs. Furthermore, surprisingly, the superior energy storage photocatalytic performance with outstanding stability by WO3 achieved an approximately 10% increment during darkness, compared with g-C3N4 under visible light irradiation. Moreover, it has been proven that the WO3 and g-C3N4 photocatalysts are desirable photocatalysts for various pollutant degradations, with excellent visible-light utilization and favorable energy storage application.

Biosynthesis of Fe/Pd Bimetallic Nanoparticles and Used for Removal of Synthetic Oily Wastewater

Eucalyptus plant leaves aqueous extract was used to produce a green bimetallic Fe/Pd nanoparticles (G-Fe/Pd NPs) catalyst for the degradation of synthetic oily effluent. Using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), particle size, and a zeta potential analyzer, the synthesized G Fe/Pd NPs were evaluated. G-Fe/Pd NPs have been found to contain nanoparticles, with a mean size of 182 nm and a surface area of 5.106 m2/g. The resulting nanoparticles were then used as a catalyst for a Fenton-like reaction. The amount of green catalyst G-Fe/Pd NPs (0.125-0.5 g/L), H2O2 concentration (15-37.5 mmol/L), pH (3-7), and temperature (25-45°C) all have a significant impact on the degradation efficiency of synthetic oily wastewater. Batch experiments showed that 88.9% degraded chemical oxygen demand (COD) from synthetic oily wastewater within the optimum conditions of peroxide concentration, catalyst dose, pH, and temperature which were 30.0 mmol/L, 0.375 g/L, 3, and 45℃ respectively along with 60 min contact time. The results of kinetic models showed that oily wastewater removal followed the Behnajady-Modirshahla-Ghanbary (BMG) model. Finally, the thermodynamic study of the reaction was also examined and concluded to endothermic reaction with an enthalpy of 37.39 kJ/mol.

Unveiling the industrial photocatalytic dye degradation of textile effluents using tailored eco-friendly AgO Nanoparticles

<p>In this study, tamarind leaf extract was used to effectively produce silver oxide (AgO) nanoparticles. Crystal violet (CV), Alizarin red (AR), Reactive black (RB), and rhodamine b (Rh B) degradation were examined to evaluate the effectiveness of AgO NPs. XRD patterns, UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscope was used to analyze the AgO NPs. SEM observations showed spherical morphology size ranging at an average of 58.17 nm. Silver and oxygen were the only elements in the nanostructure, as shown by EDS chemical maps. The synthetic silver nanostructure, with a crystal size of 38 nm, was verified by X-ray diffraction to have the usual cubic structure. The nanostructure showed degradation efficiencies in Crystal violet, Alizarin red, Reactive black, and Rhodamine B, indicating excellent degradation efficiency. All of these results point to the effective production of AgO NPs without the use of any hazardous chemicals, and they point to this material as a potentially beneficial substance for eliminating toxic dye from wastewater made by commercial colouring processes.</p>

Unveiling the industrial photocatalytic dye degradation of textile effluents using tailored eco-friendly AgO Nanoparticles

Unveiling the industrial photocatalytic dye degradation of textile effluents using tailored eco-friendly AgO Nanoparticles

Rational design of NiO nanoflakes and porous GCN nanocomposite for synergic effectiveness on photocatalytic degradation of industry effluents and biological activity

Nanotechnology can alter matter at the nanoscale and generate new materials, gadgets, and technologies with unique features and functions, revolutionizing medicine, energy, electronics, and materials science. This study synthesizes nickel oxide nanoflowers utilizing Strychnos potatorum seed extract as reducing and stabilizing agents in an eco-friendly way. The porous GCN and NiO nanocomposite enhances NiO for multifunctional capabilities. UV–Vis, FTIR, EDX, XRD, and FESEM were used to synthesize and characterize NiO nanoflowers. Further synthesized bimetallic nanoparticles were tested for antibacterial, antioxidant, and catalytic properties. It showed increased antioxidant activity, CV and RB dye degradation, and antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E.Coli. Scavenging was enriched with nanoparticles. The highest degradation rate was 98.2 % for CV dye in 90 min. Nanoparticle concertation at 100 µl/mL inhibited E.Coli the most (18 mm). NiO nanoflowers and NiO-GCN nanocomposite synthesized from Strychnos potatorum seed extract may be a novel antioxidant, antibacterial, and catalytic agent for industrial dye-contaminated wastewater.

Boosting solar-driven photocatalytic degradation of organic contaminants and bacterial deactivation using marigold- like Cu2O decorated g-C3N4 nanocomposite

Keeping the high efficiency in designing photocatalysts in view, the present work was aimed at the development of a heterojunction photocatalyst with boosted efficiencies, both for degradation of organic contaminants and bacterial deactivation. Heterojunction nanocomposites of g-C3N4 (GCN) and Cu2O (Cu2O /GCN-5 %, Cu2O /GCN-15 %, Cu2O/GCN-25 %, and Cu2O /GCN-50 %) were prepared by hydrothermal method and their photocatalytic performance was evaluated. XPS result confirms the surface chemical composition of nanocomposite and consistent with EDX analysis. The BET studies of Cu2O/GCN −25 % nanocomposite reveals the larger specific surface area (128.10 m2/g), compared to intact Cu2O, which facilitates more active sites on the surface. The optical bandgap energy (2.39 eV-2.58 eV) is tuned towards the visible region by loading g-C3N4 in marigold-like Cu2O. The efficient charge transfer betwixt marigold-like Cu2O and g-C3N4 was demonstrated in PL, CV, and EIS analysis. The Cu2O/GCN-25 % nanocomposite exhibits superior photocatalytic activity towards Aniline blue dye (86.4 %) and β-lactam antibiotic amoxicillin (79 %) under 100 min of sunlight irradiation. HPLC analysis further confirmed the degradation and disintegration of Amoxicillin. The probable photocatalytic mechanism was proposed and tested through a radical scavenger experiment. It was found that ●OH radicals significantly take part in the photodegradation. In addition, the bactericidal activities of Cu2O/GCN-25 % nanocomposite was determined. The highest bactericidal activity was observed for Bacillus subtilis (26 mm). Hence, the marigold-like Cu2O/GCN-25 % nanocomposite is a feasible material for the degradation of dyeing and pharmaceutical industrial effluents as well as bacterial growth inhibition.

Limonia acidissima fruit juice mediated eco-friendly synthesis of pervoskite ZnSnO3 nanoparticles: Applications to photocatalytic, electrochemical, antioxidant and antibacterial activities

In anticipation toa growing desire for start-ups to be both green and sustainable, there has been an increase in research focus on the effective removal and degradation of toxic wastewater effluents. A viable and sustainable wastewater treatment method is the use of light to degrade organic contaminants. Photocatalysis holds great potential for addressing environmental, energy, and health challenges, offering sustainable solutions for a wide range of applications with significant societal and economic benefits. In this paper, a multicomponent heterostructure photocatalyst ZnSnO3 was designed and prepared via a simple environmentally responsible path, which included the use of limonia acidissima natural fruit juice as a capping and reducing agent. The ZnSnO3 nanoparticles that were generated were examined using XRD, FT-IR, UV-DRS, SEM-EDAX, TEM, PL and BET investigations. The structure and crystallographic parameters were examined using XRD analysis, and found that the crystallite had orthorhombic geometry. The functional groups were investigated using FTIR spectroscopy. The band gaps (3.59 & 3.69 eV) were estimated using a Tauc plot employing the data of UV-DRS. According to SEM and TEM studies, the morphologies are irregular in shape and have particles that are about 14 nm in size. EDAX analysis was used to determine the elemental composition of the examined ZnSnO3 nanostructures, which demonstrated their purity. Using PL spectroscopy, superficial defects were investigated. The synthesized NPs were used as photocatalysts to degradethe methylene blue dye. Electrochemical measurement of K3[Fe(CN)6] revealed a good sensory activity with a detection limit of 38 μL. K3[Fe(CN)6] is used to detect ferrous ions in biological specimens. Furthermore, it also shows the superior anti-bacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, and gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens. To the best of our literature survey, it’s the first report for the synthesis of ZnSnO3 nanostructures using the natural reducing agent limonia acidissima natural fruit juice for dye degradation, electrochemical, anti-oxidant, and anti-bacterial applications.

Synthesis of rGO-Supported NiCo2O4/NiS nanocomposite for effective degradation of diclofenac and bromophenol blue

The removal of organic effluents from polluted water is a significant concern. Photodegradation of organic effluents can be performed using different photocatalysts. For this purpose, herein nickel cobaltite (NC) was prepared via the auto moisturization route and nickel sulfide (NS) via a hydrothermal approach. rGO-based nanocomposite (NC/NS/rGO) was synthesized using an ultrasonication approach. The as-prepared nanocatalysts were employed for bromophenol blue and diclofenac degradation. The outcomes of colored (bromophenol blue) effluent degradation by NC, NS, NC/NS, and NC/NS/rGO was found to be 42.65 %, 33.92 %, 56.19 %, and 81.44 %, respectively. The % degradation of diclofenac by NC/NS and NC/NS/rGO was realized to be 44.05 % and 65.98 %, respectively. NC/NS/rGO showed greater catalytic activity than other fabricated nanocatalysts due to the combined effect of nickel cobaltite and nickel sulfide and the existence of rGO. The rGO layers exhibited immense and active sites for the degradation reaction. A radical trapping analysis was performed to investigate the participation of active species in the photocatalytic reaction.