Fourier Transform Infrared Spectra Research Articles

Evaluation of spectroscopic techniques for on-site drug testing of festival seizures.

Despite the fact that drugs of abuse are illegal, a drug-free festival still remains an utopia in most settings. For law enforcement purposes, it is necessary to rapidly determine whether controlled substances are involved. On-site testing is a challenging task because drugs appear in different physical forms and concentrations. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of two spectroscopic techniques, Raman and Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR), for the testing of drug seizures at a dance festival. First, samples were measured through packaging with Raman. Subsequently, homogenized samples were analysed with FT-IR. For MDMA tablets, a chemometric model was applied on the FT-IR spectra for the dose estimation. After the festival, results were confirmed in the forensic laboratory with gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID). In total, 166 samples of which 90 tablets, 53 powders, 16 crystals and 7 liquids were analysed. MDMA, cocaine and ketamine were the top three drugs seized. The Raman technique was suitable for powders and crystals (sensitivity of 100% and 81%, respectively). However, in comparison with FT-IR, Raman performance was lower for the analysis of liquids (sensitivity of 67%) and 'ecstasy'-like tablets (sensitivity of 41%). Overall, sensitivities above 95% were obtained with FT-IR. The MDMA doses of the tablets, determined on-site, ranged between 52 mg and 336 mg MDMA hydrochloride. For a quick identification of a variety of drugs on-site, the combination of Raman and FT-IR is recommended. It should be emphasized that optimized settings, in-house libraries and analysis by trained operators are essential to obtain correct results.

Enhanced electrochemical performance of nickel cobalt sulfide microspheres for high energy symmetric supercapacitors

Herein, Nickel cobalt sulfide (NCS) microspheres are successfully synthesized by an easy one-step hydrothermal method at different reaction conditions. The as-synthesized samples are used as electrode material to demonstrate their practical application for supercapacitors (SCs). Various techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energydispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy are used for structural and morphological characterization of the synthesized materials which confirmed the successful formation of NCS. The electrochemical performance of prepared samples is tested using cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge/discharge (GCD) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The optimized NCSW-200 sample delivered a remarkable specific capacitance of 369 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1. The energy and power density exhibited by NCSW-200 sample are as high as 32.8 Wh kg−1 and 266.6 W kg−1, respectively. After 2000 consecutive charge/discharge cycles, capacitance retention of 67% is achieved, depicting better cyclic stability. To illustrate the practical feasibility of the prepared symmetric cells of the optimized sample NCSW-200, a lab scale setup of three SC cells connected in series is fabricated and tested using a red light emitting diode (LED). The SC setup is able to illuminate a red LED for 2.5 minutes. The electrochemical performance demonstrated by NCS microspheres suggests its viable application as supercapacitor electrodes.

Reutilization of post-adsorption lanthanum-loaded straw alleviates phosphorus pollution in rice-wheat system: Subsequent performance and underlying mechanisms

Adsorption technology for phosphorus (P) removal is considered promising and reutilization of post-adsorbent can contribute to promoting sustainable agricultural production. However, the long-lasting impact of the post-adsorbent on crop growth and P remains unclear. This study assessed the effects of P-adsorbed lanthanum-modified straw (La@straw-P) on the rice yield, P fractionation and associated water quality parameters. The findings indicated that, compared with traditional fertilizer regimes, La@straw-P expedited the P reduction in the flooding water achieving a rate of decline to the tertiary standard for surface water (0.20 mg/L) 3.8 times faster and enhanced increased the P harvest index by 17.00 %. Economic estimation proved the positive benefits of La@straw-P in planting-breeding combination system. Redundancy analysis (RDA) and co-occurrence network analysis (CONA) revealed that electrical conductivity (EC) and dissolved Fe played primary roles in regulating total P. Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), and soil P fractions collectively demonstrated that the abundant adsorption sites on La@straw-P could facilitate the transformation of active P into moderately Ca-bound P. This study proposes a strategy for recycling P-adsorbed materials to mitigate agricultural non-point P pollution.

Photocatalyst based on composite of trimetallic Metal-Organic Frameworks for Efficient Visible-Light degradation in pharmaceutical pollutants abatement and Process Modeling Using RSM

In this study, the facile synthesis of both monometallic Co- Metal-Organic Frameworks bimetallic Ni-Co-Metal-Organic Frameworks and trimetallic Ni-Co-Cu-Metal-Organic Frameworks was successfully accomplished with the chelation method. The prepared samples were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), N2 adsorption–desorption, Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), differential reflectance spectroscopy (UV–Vis-DRS), and photoluminescence (PL) techniques was undertaken to examine the physicochemical attributes of the synthesized composites. The photocatalytic efficiency of the antibiotic ceftazidime(CAZ) degradation was investigated under visible light irradiation in 100 min. Kinetic studies revealed a pseudo-first-order model (50.0143, 0.009, and 0.0057 min−1 for Co-MOF, Co-Ni-MOF, and Co-Ni-Cu-MOF, respectively). Response surface methodology (RSM) demonstrated satisfactory predictability for CAZ degradation efficiency. Under optimized conditions (pH 10, 0.25 gL−1 catalyst) more than 97.38% for the 20.0 mgL−1 of CAZ was degraded. Furthermore, the recyclability and scavenging test for the catalyst was evaluated.

CaCl2 doping effect on optical and structural properties of halide perovskites under ligand assisted reprecipitation synthesis

The high potential of metal halide perovskite (MHP) nanocrystals with the general formula CsPbX3 (X = Cl, Br, and I) has led to the development of easy and cost-effective methods on a daily basis. The room temperature (RT) and open atmosphere ligand-assisted reprecipitation (LARP) methods were utilized to synthesize CsPbBr3 and CsPbBr2I nanocrystals (NCs). CaCl2 was used as a dopant in four different concentrations (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 % molar) to optimize the optical and electrical properties and to enhance the stability of NCs. The most optimal results were observed with 0.25 % doping for CsPbBr2I and 0.75 % doping for CsPbBr3. XRD and FE-SEM analyses revealed a cubic crystal structure for the synthesized nanocrystals. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis indicated an average size of was 35–70 nm. The introduction of Ca2+ impurity, resulted in increased sizes for 0.75 % doped CsPbBr3 NCs; and increased intensity for 0.25 % doped CsPbBr2I NCs. Optical studies, including UV–vis, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), and photoluminescence spectroscopies were conducted. The bandgap of CsPbBr2I and CsPbBr3 was estimated at 2.60 and 2.75 eV, respectively. The FTIR spectra suggested the effective involvement of the ligand agents oleic acid (OA) and oleylamine (OLA) in synthesis of metal halide perovskite nanocrystals. Photoluminescence spectroscopy demonstrated that the photoluminescence intensity of CsPbBr2I and CsPbBr3 varied with impurity doping, indicating an enhancement of semiconductor electronic properties under Ca2+ doping.

Qualitative Analysis and Anti-oxidant Potential of Ethanolic Extract ofManilkara zapota (L.) P. Royen Leaves

Background: The normal metabolic functioning of aerobic cells is related to free radical formation. The oxygen utilized in the cell growth gives rise to a number of oxygen free radicals. Further, these oxygen free radicals interact with lipidic molecules to produce hydroxyperoxides and various other peroxides also, radicals like superoxide, hydroxyls, and lipoid peroxides, which lead to cytotoxicity due to their interaction with biological systems. The uncontrolled generation of free radicals may lead to various diseases and disorders like prostate cancer, coronary heart disease and also ageing. The therapeutic potential of the plant M. zapota has been demonstrated in various diseases, such as cancers (e.g., breast, prostate, cervical, and hepatocellular cancer), diabetes mellitus, arthritis, bacterial infections, and gastrointestinal disorders (e.g., diarrhea and ulcers) and many medical conditions. The main phytocomponents of this plant are polyphenols, alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, saponins, triterpenoids, carbohydrates, tannins, and sterols. Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate qualitative analysis and anti-oxidant potential of ethanolic extract of Manilkara zapota (L.) P. Royen Leaves. In demand to minimize the damage caused by free radicals. It is very essential to develop such antioxidants which protect the body from the effect of free radicals and also do not cause much harm to the human body. The main phytocomponents of the plant are polyphenols, alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, saponins, triterpenoids, carbohydrates, tannins and sterols which are responsible for antioxidant activity. Materials and Methods: Phytochemical screening methods, Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and Hydrogen Peroxide scavenging assay for analysis of an ethanolic extract of plant leaves. Results and Discussion: Antioxidant activity was determined by a hydrogen peroxide assay. Plant extract was examined using phytochemical screening, GC-MS analysis, and FTIR spectra. The plant extract showed hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity (IC50 = 16.45 μg/ml) compared to the IC50 values of standard ascorbic acid (IC50 = 9.079 μg/ml). Conclusion: The present study concluded the antioxidant and phytochemical assessment of the ethanolic extract of the leaves of Manilkara zapota. The results of the present research study demonstrated that the antioxidant activity of the plant extract was strong as compared to ascorbic acid.

Enhanced adsorption of ciprofloxacin from an aqueous solution using a novel CaMgAl-layered double hydroxide/red mud composite

This work reports on CaMgAl-layered double hydroxide (LDH) based red mud (RM) composite prepared via a co-precipitation method, characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), powder X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis (BET), and Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) and subsequently used for elimination of ciprofloxacin (CIP) from an aqueous solution in batch mode experiments. Langmuir isotherm model provided a better fit of CIP adsorption onto CaMgAl/RM composites than a Freundlich isotherm model; indicating a monolayer adsorption phenomena. Pseudo-second-order kinetic models describe the kinetics of adsorption while the adsorption mechanisms were controlled by external mass transfer and intra-particle diffusion. Thermodynamic analysis indicated that the CIP adsorption onto CaMgAl-LDH/RM was exothermic and spontaneous in nature. The prepared adsorbent exhibited superior affinity towards CIP adsorption which yielded a maximum CIP adsorption capacity of up to 138 mg/g. The higher removal efficiency (89.45 %) was reached under the best conditions (pH 7, agitation speed 150 rpm, adsorbent dosage 0.5 g/100 ml, concentration of contaminant 70 ppm, and 90 min contact time). Moreover, the synthesized adsorbent can be recovered after six consecutive regeneration cycles with a minimal reduction in the adsorption ability of 31 %. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the CaMgAl-LDH/RM composite could be a promising adsorbent for removing antibiotics from wastewater.

Influences of silicate modulus and alkali content on macroscopic properties and microstructure of alkali-activated blast furnace slag-copper slag

The stacking of copper slag (CS) has led to the resource wastage and environmental issues. Utilizing CS as a green precursor in the production of alkali-activated materials (AAMs) offers a promising avenue for sustainable resource usage. To obtain a deeper understanding and enhance its practical application, the effects of silicate modulus and alkali content of water glass (WG) on the performances of alkali-activated blast furnace slag-copper slag (AAS-CS) are systematically investigated though the fluidity, setting time, hydration heat, compressive strength and drying shrinkage rate. Additionally, the microstructure is characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FTIR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM), respectively. When the alkali content is a constant of 6.0 wt%, the compressive strength and drying shrinkage rate initially increases with increasing silicate modulus, but eventually decrease beyond a certain threshold. At a given silicate modulus of 1.5, the compressive strength and drying shrinkage rate firstly increases and then decrease as increasing the alkali content from 4.0 wt% to 8.0 wt%. The microstructure analyses reveal that the suitable silicate modulus and alkali content promote the dissolution of precursors to form C-A-S-H gels. The M1.5N6.0 sample has a relatively tight microstructure, which benefits to the development of compressive strength, but increases the capillary stress. Therefore, the M1.5N6.0 sample has the highest 28-day compressive strength of 71.7 MPa and the largest 182-day drying shrinkage rate of 0.1532 %.

Continuous Remediation of Congo Red Dye Using Polyurethane-Polyaniline Nano-Composite Foam: Experiment and Optimization Study

This study employed an innovative approach, utilizing prepared dried polyurethane-polyaniline nano-composite, through in-situ polymerization, for continuous remediation of Congo red dye. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) based on the Box-Behnken design (BBD) model was utilized to optimize the processing parameters, including initial dye concentration, flow rate, and pH. The two-factor interaction (2FI) model emerged as the most significant, highlighting the influence of individual and interaction effects of the factors. Optimization of the dye remediation process yielded the optimal conditions of a flow rate of 10 mL/min, acidic pH of 5.00, and dye concentration of 20 mg/L, resulting in an impressive, predicted removal efficiency of 99.09% agreeing with the experimental value. Moreover, the maximum adsorption capacity was determined to be 329.68 mg/g. Characterization of the adsorbent material involved techniques such as Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transforms infrared spectra (FTIR), X-ray spectroscopy (XRD), and Zeta potential analysis. This material offers a sustainable alternative in industries to treat Congo red dye before being disposed of into the environment.

Preparation and characterization of conjugated PVA/PANi blend films doped with functionalized graphene for thermoelectric applications

Flexible nanocomposite thick films consisting of PVA0.7PANi0.3 polymer blend doped with different concentrations of nanoplatelets functionalized Graphene (NPFGx) (where x = 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 wt.%) were fabricated using the solution cast technique. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis (EDX), and Fourier-transform infrared spectra (FT-IR) were used to study the structure of the samples. The results showed that the ordered structure, its orientation, the PANis' well dispersion, and the electrostatic forces play a significant role in enhancing the interfaces between the polymer blend and the NPFG. Thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) and Thermoelectrical analyses (TE) showed that the PVA-PANi conducts a promised conjugated blend for thermoelectric applications. The introduction of the NPFG contents into the blend increased the TE measurements as the DC electrical conductivity ≈ 0.0114 (S cm−1), power factor ≈ 3.93 × 10–3 (W m−1 K−2), and Z.T. ≈ 8.4 × 10–7, for the 25 wt.% NPFG nanocomposite film. The effect of the polymers’ phonon contribution in the thermal conductivity controlling and enhancing the thermal stability of the prepared nanocomposite films.

Effect of nanodiamonds surface deposition on hydrophilicity, bulk degradation and in-vitro cell adhesion of 3D-printed polycaprolactone scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

This study was designed to deposit nanodiamonds (NDs) on 3D-printed poly-ϵ-caprolactone (PCL) scaffolds and evaluate their effect on the surface topography, hydrophilicity, degradation, andin-vitrocell adhesion compared to untreated PCL scaffolds. The PCL scaffold specimens were 3D-printed by fused deposition modeling (FDM) technique with specific porosity parameters. The 3D-printed specimens' surfaces were modified by NDs deposition followed by oxygen plasma post-treatment using a plasma focus device and a non-thermal atmospheric plasma jet, respectively. Specimens were evaluated through morphological characterization by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), microstructure characterization by Raman spectroscopy, chemical characterization by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, hydrophilicity degree by contact angle and water uptake measurements, andin-vitrodegradation measurements (n= 6). In addition,in-vitrobone marrow mesenchymal stem cells adhesion was evaluated quantitatively by confocal microscopy and qualitatively by FESEM at different time intervals after cell seeding (n= 6). The statistical significance level was set atp⩽ 0.05. The FESEM micrographs, the Raman, and FTIR spectra confirmed the successful surface deposition of NDs on scaffold specimens. The NDs treated specimens showed nano-scale features distributed homogeneously across the surface compared to the untreated ones. Also, the NDs treated specimens revealed a statistically significant smaller contact angle (17.45 ± 1.34 degrees), higher water uptake percentage after 24 h immersion in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) (21.56% ± 1.73), and higher degradation rate after six months of immersion in PBS (43.92 ± 0.77%). Moreover, enhanced cell adhesion at all different time intervals was observed in NDs treated specimens with higher nuclei area fraction percentage (69.87 ± 3.97%) compared to the untreated specimens (11.46 ± 1.34%). Surface deposition of NDs with oxygen-containing functional groups on 3D-printed PCL scaffolds increased their hydrophilicity and degradation rate with significant enhancement of thein-vitrocell adhesion compared to untreated PCL scaffolds.

In vivo toxicity evaluation and antibacterial assessment of vanadium doped Bi2Se3 synthesized by cost effective method

Bismuth selenide-based nanomaterials are introduced as theranostic agents, primarily enhancing their antimicrobial, anti-cancerous, antitumor, and antioxidant properties. Pure Bi2Se3 and V doped Bi2Se3 with V = 0.07 g, 0.12 g, and 0.15 g were synthesized by using Sol-gel Technique. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) patterns demonstrated that the manufactured samples were crystalline in nature having rhombohedral structure. The average crystallite sizes of VxBi2-xS3 were calculated by Scherrer formula in the range (24.9–11.0 nm). The average crystallite size reduced as doping concentrations increased (0–0.15 g). The FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) spectra confirms that the peaks corresponds to 900–600 cm−1 indicates Bi–Se bond stretching, whereas vibrations exhibit peaks between 704 cm−1 - 830 cm−1 in doped samples correspond to V–O bond. UV–Visible analysis shows that the band gap of doped Bi2Se3 increased from (2.57 eV–2.90 eV) having standard error 0.02, 0.01, 0.02, and 0.02 respectively as the concentrations of doping increased (0.0–0.15 g), respectively. SEM (Scanning electron microscopy) study of pure Bi2Se3 showed nanosized particles, and for doped, a clear change in morphology occurred with the particles tending to agglomerate. EDAX also confirms the purity of synthesized samples. XPS analysis confirms the presence of Bi, Se and Vanadium along with chemisorbed oxygen. Antibacterial potential of synthesized samples was analyzed against Pseudomonas, Escherichia coli and cocci bacteria, which showed that the vanadium doped bismuth selenide has greater zone of inhibition than undoped bismuth selenide. Pseudomonas shows more ZOI (Zone of Inhibition) than E.coli and cocci. The maximum inhibition zone was 25 mm against Pseudomonas for V0.15Bi1.85Se3. The In-Vivo toxicity experiment was also applied on mice's (Swiss Albino) with a higher dosage of 20 mg per kg of the prepared doped sample. The blood samples were collected and examined after 3rd, 7th, 14th and 21st day of treatment. The entire treatment does not cause any severe damage to mice. An evaluation of a p-value based on hematological and biochemical data was non-significant this ensures that vanadium doped Bi2Se3 nanoparticles are non-toxic and biocompatible. This work proves that V-doped Bi2Se3 is good for further study in many other Applications in the biomedical field, such as photo thermal therapy, imaging etc.

Facile Synthesis of Novel Magnetic Janus Graphene Oxide for Efficient and Recyclable Demulsification of Crude Oil-in-Water Emulsion.

Nanoparticles have been widely applied to treat emulsion-containing wastewater in the form of chemical demulsifiers, such as SiO2, Fe3O4, and graphene oxide (GO). Owing to their asymmetric structures and selective adsorption, Janus nanoparticles show greater application potential in many fields. In the present work, the novel magnetic Janus graphene oxide (MJGO) nanoparticle was successfully prepared by grafting magnetic Fe3O4 to the surface of the JGO, and its demulsifying ability to treat a crude oil-in-water emulsion was evaluated. The MJGO structure and its magnetic intensity were verified by Fourier-transform infrared spectra (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and magnetization saturation (MS) tests. Compared with GO and JGO, MJGO displayed the superior efficiency (>96%) to demulsify the crude oil-in-water emulsion, which can be attributed to the reduced electrostatic repulsion between MJGO and the emulsion droplets. Furthermore, the effects of pH and temperature on the demulsification performance of MJGO were also studied. Lastly, the recyclability of MJGO largely reduced the cost of demulsifiers in separating crude oil and water. The current research presents an efficient and recyclable demulsifier, which provides a new perspective for the structural design of nanomaterials and their application in the field of demulsification.

Evaluation of the mechanical properties and chemical components of naturally aged glued laminated bamboo

This study experimentally investigated the mechanical properties of aged GLB. The material under investigation was obtained from an outdoor-exposed GLB frame that had been subjected to outdoor exposure for a period of ten years. In-depth discussions were conducted on the mechanical properties and failure modes of the material in tension, compression, and bending. The failure modes were identified as fiber fracture under tension, fiber buckling accompanied by delamination in compression, and a combination of tension failure and transverse shear failure in bending. In comparison to new materials, the tensile strength, compressive strength, and bending strength of aged GLB exhibited a reduction of 5.19% to 41.2%, 11.5% to 26.9%, and 6.6% to 40.1%, respectively. The reduction in strength exhibited considerable variability across the various positions within the aged GLB component cross-section. The greatest reduction in strength was observed in materials located on the upper surface of the component, which were directly subjected to UV radiation and rainwater erosion. Furthermore, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy analysis was conducted. The FT-IR spectra demonstrate that the chemical components of bamboo, including cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, have experienced severe degradation.

Bimetallic nanoparticles with sulfated galactan eliminate Vibrio parahaemolyticus in shrimp Penaeus vannamei

Bimetallic (Au/Ag) nanoparticles (BNPs) have shown enhanced antibacterial activity compared to their monometallic counterparts. Sulfated galactans (SG) are a naturally occurring polymer commonly found in red seaweed Gracilaria fisheri. They are biocompatible and biodegradable and environmentally friendly. In this study, we utilized SG in combination with BNPs to develop composite materials that potentially enhance antibacterial activity against shrimp pathogens Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio harveyi, compared to BNPs or SG alone. BNPs were coated with sulfated galactan (SGBNPs) and characterized using UV–vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, zeta potential, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). UV–vis spectroscopy analysis revealed that the surface plasmon peaks of BNPs and SGBNPs appeared at 530 nm and 532 nm, respectively. Zeta potential measurements showed that SGBNPs had a negative charge of −32.4 mV, while the BNPs solution had a positive charge of 38.7 mV. TEM images demonstrated the spherical morphology of both BNPs and SGBNPs with narrow size distributions (3–10 nm). Analysis of the FTIR spectra indicated that SG maintained its backbone structure in SGBNPs, but some functional groups were altered. Notably, SGBNPs showed superior antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities against V. parahaemolyticus and V. harveyi compared to SG and BNPs. Furthermore, treatment with SGBNPs significantly down-regulated the expression of virulence-related genes (toxR, cpsQ, and mfpA) for V. parahaemolyticus 3HP compared to the respective control, bacteria treated with BNPs or SG. Diets supplemented with SGBNPs, BNPs, or SG showed no detrimental impact on the growth of shrimp Penaeus vannamei. Shrimp fed with SGBNPs-supplemented feed showed significantly higher survival rates than those fed with BNPs-supplemented feed when infected with 3HP after being on the supplemented feed for seven days and a subsequent number of fifteen days. These findings collectively demonstrate the benefit of using SG capped Au–Ag BNPs as an antibacterial agent for the prevention and control of Vibrio sp. Infection in shrimp while reducing the risk of environmental contamination.

Study of Microstructure, Morphology and Functional Groups of Titanium Dioxide (Tio2) Impregnated With Copper (Cu)

This research aims to determine the differences in the microstructure, morphology, and functional groups of TiO2 (P-25) after being impregnated with Cu. Cu-impregnated TiO2 samples are synthesized using the impregnation method with TiO2 (P-25) and copper sulfate as precursors. The microstructure and functional groups of TiO2 (P-25) and Cu-TiO2 were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive x-ray (SEM-EDX), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. The lattice parameters (a, b, and c) of the TiO2 sample were found to be a = b = 0.3778 nm, c = 0.9494 nm, and these values increased to a = b = 0.3779 nm, c = 0.9496 nm after the addition of Cu. The distance between the lattices of the TiO2 sample was measured at 0.3505 nm and increased to 0.3509 nm after Cu addition. The average crystallite size of the TiO2 sample was 33 nm, which increased to 43 nm after Cu impregnation. The strain value decreased from 2.76×10^(-3) to 1.82×10^(-3) after Cu addition. SEM results revealed that the morphology of the particles from the Cu-doped synthesis showed agglomeration. The success of Cu doping was confirmed by EDX mapping, which showed the presence of Ti, O, and Cu evenly distributed on the TiO2 surface. The FTIR spectrum indicated that TiO2 (P-25) and Cu-TiO2 particles had absorption peaks at similar wave numbers. However, in the absorption area of 1000 cm^-1 to 1250 cm^-1, new absorption bands affiliated with Cu-O bonds appeared in the Cu-TiO2 sample, resulting from TiO2 vibrations after Cu addition.

In-Vitro Study of the Binding of Atorvastatin with Adenine using Multi-Spectroscopic Approaches.

Atorvastatin-an oral lipid regulating drug is a competitive inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase), which is the rate determining enzyme for cholesterol synthesis. Adenine is a purine nucleobase that is found in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) to generate genetic information. The binding mechanism of atorvastatin and adenine was studied for the first time utilizing various techniques, including UV-visible spectrophotometry, spectrofluorimetry, synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy (SF), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), and metal ion complexation. The fluorescence spectra of the complex indicated that atorvastatin is bound to adenine via hydrophobic interaction through a spontaneous binding process, and the fluorescence quenching mechanism was found to be static quenching with a binding constant of 1.4893 × 104 Lmol-1 at 298 K. Various temperature settings were used to investigate thermodynamic characteristics, such as binding forces, binding constants, and the number of binding sites. The interaction parameters, including the standard enthalpy change (ΔHο) and standard entropy change (ΔSο) were calculated using Van't Hoff's equation to be 42.82 kJmol-1 and 208.9 Jmol-1K-1, respectively. The findings demonstrated that the adenine- atorvastatin binding was endothermic. Furthermore, the results of the experiments revealed that some metal ions (K+, Ca+2, Co+2, Cu+2, and Al+3) facilitate the binding interaction between atorvastatin and adenine. Slight changes are observed in the FTIR spectra of adenine, indicating the binding interaction between adenine and atorvastatin.

An investigation of the structural and optical properties of modified barium magnesium fluoroborate glasses with hafnium oxide (HfO2)

AbstractGlasses of nominal composition xHfO2–(35-x)B2O3–15MgF2–35BaO, where x ranged from 0 to 0.2 mol% were fabricated using a melt-quenching technique. Structural characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy, were employed to elucidate the glass network structure. The XRD patterns confirmed the amorphous nature of the studied glasses, while the FTIR and Raman spectra revealed that the incorporation of HfO2 may led to a transformation of trigonal BO3 units to tetrahedral BO4 units in the borate glass network. Deconvolution analysis of the FTIR and Raman bands provided quantitative insights into the extent of this structural rearrangement as a function of HfO2 content. UV–Vis absorption studies demonstrated that the optical bandgap of the glasses was widened with increasing HfO2 additions. This blue shift in the absorption edge was attributed to the increased formation of bridging oxygen bonds and reduced non-bridging oxygen content in the glass network. The results indicate that the studied glasses exhibit excellent compositional tunability through the incorporation of HfO2. The structural modifications and concomitant optical property enhancements suggest the potential of this glass system for various integrated photonic applications where low phonon energy and tailored transparency are highly desirable. The present work introduces a comprehensive investigation of the structural and optical property modifications in barium magnesium fluoroborate glasses induced by the addition of hafnium oxide (HfO2).

Glass transition temperature of Agar-Reduced Graphene Oxide (RGO) Composites using 2-D contour mapping of temperature dependent FTIR spectra

In the present work, composites of Reduced Graphene Oxide (RGO) and Agar have been synthesized via the solution cast method and their structural, thermal and dielectric properties are studied. UV–Visible, X Ray Diffraction (XRD), Raman Spectroscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) have been employed for analyzing structural properties of the prepared samples. Analysis of different peaks in XRD and Raman Spectra suggests the interaction of RGO layers with Agar at the molecular level. FTIR spectra indicate that interaction of Agar with RGO occurs through hydrogen bonding linkage. Further, the Glass transition temperature (Tg) of prepared samples has been determined using 2D contour mapping from temperature-dependent FTIR spectra as well as from the Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)technique. Values of Tg obtained from both techniques have been found in close agreement with each other. In addition to that, value of Tg of Agar increases from 72 °C to 80 °C as an effect of 2 wt.% RGO loading indicating the improvement in the thermal behavior of Agar. Moreover, the dielectric behavior of as-prepared composites demonstrate that the dielectric constant of these composites has been increased in comparison to pure Agar.

Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/thermoplastic canna starch (Canna edulis ker.) (PBAT/TPS) blend film – A novel biodegradable material

The PBAT (poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) is a promising biodegradable material. However, it is often blend with hydrophilic polymers since its degradation rate in the aquatic environment is still limited. In this study, the blend PBAT/TPS (thermoplastic starch) films, namely BFs, were prepared by a blow extrusion approach, and evaluated for hydrolysis in four studied mediums acid (HCl, 1 M, 2 M, and 3 M), alkaline (NaOH, pH = 9, 11, and 13), phosphate buffer (pH = 7.4), and artificial seawater. The hydrolyzed BFs were characterized by weight loss, mechanical properties, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). A larger starch content in the BFs caused hydrolysis more quickly. The highest hydrolytic rate was found in the alkaline solution, followed by the acid medium. The complete abiotic hydrolysis of the BFs was 3 M HCl for 14 days or NaOH (pH 13) for 35 days. After 180 days of incubation, the film containing 70.5 % PBAT/TPS granules has been associated with the highest biodegradation rate of 76.31 % in composting.