Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometry Research Articles

Starch-Grafted Polyacrylic Acid Copolymer with Acrylamide: An Advanced Adsorbent for Victoria Green B Dye Removal and Environmental Remediation

AbstractA new adsorbent, starch grafted polyacrylic acid copolymer with polyacrylamide (SG@AA-co-AM), was synthesized using free radical polymerization techniques. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), Fourier-transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), particle size distribution (PSD), and fluorescent electron microscopy (FEM) were employed to elucidate the structure, crystalline nature, thermal stability, and surface morphology of SG@AA-co-AM. SG@AA-co-AM was utilized as an adsorbent for the removal of Victoria green B (VGB) dye from wastewater. SG@AA-co-AM exhibited a removal percentage (% R) of 97.6% towards VGB under optimized conditions: a contact time of 30 min, temperature of 25 °C, adsorbent dose of 20 mg, pH of 8, concentration of dye solution of 20 ppm, and volume of dye solution of 30 mL. The point of zero charge (PZC) for SG@AA-co-AM was determined to be 5.2. Nonlinear pseudo-second-order (PSO) and Langmuir adsorption isotherm models best fitted to the experimental data, with regression coefficients (R2) of 0.95 and 0.99, respectively. The results confirmed the chemi-sorption and monolayer adsorption of VGB onto SG@AA-co-AM. Thermodynamic studies revealed that the adsorption of VGB onto SG@AA-co-AM is endothermic and spontaneous. Furthermore, the regeneration experiment showed a decline of 3.9% after five cycles, confirming the economical and reusable nature of SG@AA-co-AM.

Antimicrobial Properties and Cytotoxicity of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Melia azedarach Leaf Extract Against Diarrhoeal Pathogens

AbstractThe high mortality and morbidity resulting from an increasing incidence of antibiotic resistance among pathogens highlight a crucial need for the development of novel alternative therapy. In the quest for alternative therapy, this study was conducted to synthesise nanoparticles (NPs) from ferric chloride hexahydrate (FeCl3.6H2O) via Melia azedarach L. (Meliaceae) leaf extract and evaluate their antibacterial properties against multidrug resistant pathogenic Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, and Vibrio cholerae. Multidrug-resistant pathogenic bacteria were isolated from cattle faeces and characterised by whole genome sequence analysis. The extracts from M. azedarach leaves were used as reducing, capping, and stabilising agents on the precursor metal (FeCl3.6H2O) to produce NPs. The biosynthesised NPs were characterised by ultraviolent visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The NPs were tested against multidrug-resistant bacteria to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and rate of kill. In this study, WGS analysis confirmed the bacteria (E. coli, V. cholerae, and S. enterica) isolates to be multidrug-resistant pathogen and NP that has a spherical shape with an average particle size of 49.75 nm was successfully biosynthesised. The NPs displayed significant antimicrobial activities with MIC of 62, 31, and 62 mg/mL, MBC of 500, 250, and 500 µg/mL, and the lowest killing times of 4, 2, and 3 h against E. coli, V. cholerae, and S. enterica, respectively. Interestingly, the concentrations of the NPs required to inhibit the growth of E. coli, V. cholerae, and S. enterica were not toxic to HEK293 cells. Based on the promising antimicrobial activities of the biosynthesised NPs in this study, they could be useful in important therapeutic applications aimed at combating multidrug-resistant pathogens.

Photodegradation of Phenol under Visible Light Irradiation Using Cu-N-codoped ZrTiO<sub>4</sub> Composite as a High-Performance Photocatalyst

Codoping of nitrogen and copper into zirconium titanate composite (Cu-N-codoped ZrTiO4) was carried out through a sol-gel process. This study aimed to investigate the effect of copper and nitrogen dopants on the photocatalytic activity of ZrTiO4 composite in degrading phenol. To prepare the composite, an aqueous suspension of zirconia (ZrO2) alongside a fixed amount of urea and various amount of copper sulfate was added dropwise into diluted titanium(IV) tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) in ethanol. The composites were calcined at temperatures of 500, 700, and 900 °C. Fourier-transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) mapping, and specular reflectance UV-visible spectrophotometry (SR UV-vis) were used for their characterization of composite. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by adding the composite into a 10 mg L−1 phenol solution for various irradiation time spans. The remaining concentration of phenol solution was determined by absorption at 269 nm. Cu-N-codoped ZrTiO4 composite containing 5% Cu calcined at 500 °C demonstrated the highest observed rate constant and a significant band gap decrease from 3.13 to 2.68 eV.

Soil Toxicity Around the Textile Industry in Bantul using Spinach Seeds (Amaranthus gangeticus) and Bean Sprouts (Phaseolus aureus)

The toxicity test of zinc metal in soil samples around the textile industry in Bantul on the growth of spinach (Amaranthus gangeticus) and bean sprouts (Phaseolus aureus) has been investigated in relation with the environmental assesment for the impact of industrial activities. This research was conducted to study physicochemical properties, adsorption-desorption, and zinc metal toxicity in the soil around the textile industry on the growth of spinach and bean sprouts.      The study of physicochemical properties were water content, pH, electrical conductivity, ash content, total organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, metal content, and characterization using FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) spectrophotometry. Various zinc concentrations were studied for the adsorption capacity, whereas citric acid concentrations were used for the desorption. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) was applied to measure metal concentrations for all samples. A toxicity tests were conducted on the growth of spinach and bean sprouts. The maximum zinc concentration was measured in point I, at 532.03 mg kg-1. Adsorption of zinc followed the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms, and desorption process occurred at optimum concentration 0.7 mol L-1 citric acid and a pH of 3. In the zinc metal toxicity test, large concentration of zinc metal revealed inhibition effect on spinach and bean sprouts growth.
  
 Keywords: Adsorption, desorption, toxicity test, zinc.
  

Comparative investigation of low temperature oxidized and pyrolyzed cokes from the inferior heavy oil: Structural feather, thermo-oxidation behavior, and kinetics

It was crucial to study the low temperature coking process for the heavy oil, which affected the fuel availability and subsequent in-situ combustion progress. From this perspective, low temperature coking experiments with different atmospheres were accomplished for the inferior heavy oil to obtain oxidized (cokeLTO) and pyrolytic (cokeLTP) cokes, which were further employed to trace structural feathers via joint analysis of elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectra, and to characterize thermo-oxidative characteristics and kinetics via different thermal analyses (TG-DTG/DSC) and model-free methods. The results showed that a relatively less aliphatic and more aromatic structures were contained in cokeLTO with a relatively higher proportion of C-O, C = O, O-C = O groups and C/H ratio, implying that oxygen atom was served as the promoter to replace hydrogen atom and accelerate macromolecular structure formation. While the decomposition and conversion of N- and S- functional groups were complicated and insensitive to the coking atmosphere. Furthermore, cokeLTO had a more dominant thermo-oxidation behavior than cokeLTP with better exothermic characteristic and lower activation energy distribution. From this study, it could provide a vital piece of updated insights on the role of low temperature oxidation process in coke deposition and feature.

Influence of 100 MeV 16O7+ ion irradiation on the structural, morphological, dielectric, and electromagnetic interference shielding properties of ferroelectric PVDF polymer

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), with β polymorph, is a versatile ferroelectric polymer in device fabrication. Its flexibility, lightweight, and ease of fabrication make it an alternative for electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI-SE) improved through swift heavy ion (SHI) irradiation. For the first time, we modified PVDF thin films for EMI-SE applications, exposing them to a 100 MeV oxygen ion beam at varying fluencies. Our analysis encompassed investigating structural study, bonding interactions, surface morphology, and elemental analysis using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR), and Field Effect Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) respectively. Further, we measured dielectric response, cole-cole plot and EMI-SE in Ku-band (12–18 GHz) region using a vector network analyzer (VNA). The results revealed distinctive variations due to the deposition of 100 MeV oxygen ion beams, emphasizing the significant potential of irradiated PVDF thin films for EMI-SE applications. This study contributes to understanding the transformative impact of ion beam exposure on PVDF thin films and highlights their practical promise in emerging technological applications, particularly in EMI-SE.

Electrodeposition of paracetamol oxide for intelligent portable ratiometric detection of nicotine and ethyl vanillin β-D-glucoside.

Herein, the electrodeposition of paracetamol oxide (PA ox) for the intelligent portable ratiometric detection of nicotine (NIC) and ethyl vanillin β-D-glucoside (EVG) is reported. PA ox electrodeposited on a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) was used as a new fixed state ratiometric reference probe. A portable electrochemical workstation combined with a smart phone was applied as an intelligent portable electrochemical sensing platform. The sensor was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FT-IR), ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV-vis), theoretical calculation, chronoamperometry, cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and square wave voltammetry (SWV). Under optimized conditions, the detection range of NIC is 10-200 μmol L-1, and the detection limit is 0.256 μmol L-1. The detection range of EVG was 10-180 μmol L-1, and the detection limit was 0.058 μmol L-1. The sensor can realize the real-time detection of NIC and EVG concentration in cigarette samples quickly and accurately, and has good anti-interference, repeatability and stability.

Study adsorbents based on bent-Al13-CS-CTA and its application to the removal of CR from wastewater.

For rapid and efficient removal of Congo red (CR) from aqueous solutions, a composite of bent-Al13-CS-CTA was prepared from bentonite (bent), chitosan (CS), citric acid (CTA) and Al13 compounds. To comprehend the adsorption process, adsorption variables were changed, including initial pH of the solution, contact time, temperature, initial CR concentration, and adsorption dose. Bent intercalated with X-ray diffraction (XRD), specific surface area (BET), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR) were used to analyze the material. Physicochemical and structural analysis proven the incorporation of Al13, CS, and CTA into the bent matrix. The pseudo-second-order model aligns with the adsorption kinetics. The adsorption isotherm conformed to the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 476.8 mg g-1 at pH 9, a dosage of 2 g L-1, and a temperature of 25 °C. Upon examining the thermodynamic properties of ΔS, ΔH, and ΔG, it was found that the reaction is a spontaneous endothermic process that could potentially be utilized to eliminate CR.

Spectroscopic Characterization And Antimicrobial Studies Of Synthesized N-Benzyl-1h-Indole-3-Carboxamide

A four step synthetic approach afforded N-benzyl-1H-indole-3-carboxamide in a moderate yield. The process involved formylation with Vismeier-Haack reagents, followed by disproportionation through the Cannizzaro reaction, chlorination using thionyl chloride, and subsequent substitution with benzylamine, ultimately generating the target compound. The compound was analysed using, 1H NMR (Proton nuclear magnetic resonance), 13C NMR (carbon nuclear magnetic resonance) and FTIR (fourier transform infrared) spectrophotometry. The FT-IR spectrum of the compound show characteristics peaks at 1540 cm-1 for C=C of benzene ring, at 1660 cm-1 for C=O of amide, sp3 C-H stretching frequency, that is, the methylene bonded to the nitrogen of the amide at 2900 cm-1, N-H. The proton and carbon data were obtained using the aforementioned nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers, and the corresponding spectrum displaced chemical shifts that align with the proposed structure of the target molecule.

Urolithiasis Problems in Finishing Pigs.

This paper describes cases of urolithiasis in fattening pigs on two farms (A and B). Bladder rupture due to urethral obstruction with calculi was the principal finding during the necropsy of the pigs. An in-depth diagnostic examination was performed to elucidate possible pathophysiological mechanisms, namely Fourier-transform infrared spectrophotometry (FT-IR) analysis of the uroliths, blood analysis (farm A: 5 samples, farm B: 10 samples) for assessing concentrations of minerals, the bone resorption marker cross-linked C-telopeptide of type 1 collagen (CTX), parathyroid hormone (PTH), and vitamin D components, biochemical urinalysis (farm A: 5 samples, farm B: 7 samples), microscopic examination of urinary sediment (Farms A and B: 7 samples each), mineral composition of the feed, and analysis of the drinking water. Calcium carbonate was the main component found in stones from both farms, and calcium carbonate and struvite were the main components found in crystals from farms A and B, respectively. On farm A, urinary calcium excretion and urinary pH were high; on farm B, urinary phosphorus was high and urinary calcium was low with a normal urinary pH. The mineral compositions of the feed and drinking water were similar on both farms and could therefore not explain the difference between the two farms. Disturbances in calcium and phosphorus absorption and homeostasis might have been involved in these problems. Further research should focus on the calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D levels in the feed and take into account other factors, such as the absorption and excretion of minerals due to gut and urinary microbiota.

Microplastic pollution and risk assessment in surface water and sediments of the Zandvlei Catchment and estuary, Cape Town, South Africa

Microplastic (MP) (plastic <5 mm) pollution in South Africa is widespread but few studies have been done in catchments and estuaries of the country. The aim of this study was to investigate the abundance, characteristics and risks posed by microplastics in the Zandvlei Catchment and Estuary in Cape Town, South Africa. Water and sediment were sampled between 2019 and 2021, during wet and dry seasons, MPs extracted and identified using microscopy and fourier-transformed infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR) analyses. MP abundances were 70.23 ± 7.36 (standard error) MPs/Kg dw in sediment and 2.62 ± 0.41 MP/L in water samples for the study period. Lower reaches of the catchment and upper reaches of the estuary can be considered sinks for MP contamination as these sites recorded higher MP abundances. MPs were mainly transparent fibres smaller than 0.5 mm. Polyethylene (46%) followed by polypropylene (16%) fibres were the most common polymers recorded. Pollution load indices in MPs were categorised as dangerous in both water and sediment. MP polymer risk indices ranged from moderate in catchment sediment to very high in catchment water. Pollution risk indices were categories as dangerous in water (catchment and sediment) and sediment estuary but low in catchment sediment. Ecological risk assessments hence indicated that polymers in water and sediment were mostly dangerous and poses a threat to the ecological health of both the catchment and estuary studied.

Construction of novel g-C3N4/β-FeOOH Z-Scheme heterostructure photocatalyst modified with carbon quantum dots for efficient degradation of RhB

The degradation of organic pollutants using semiconductor photocatalysts is a new ecological approach, but the currently available photocatalysts are not very efficient. Herein, in order to obtain efficient visible-light photocatalysts, g-C3N4/β-FeOOH-modified carbon quantum dots (CDs) composite photocatalysts with Z-Scheme charge transfer mechanism were successfully synthesized. The phase composition and morphology of the composite were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FT-IR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. Due to the upconversion effect of the CDs, the optical response range of the composite was effectively widened, and the optical utilization rate was improved. The Z-Scheme heterostructure not only improves the light trapping ability, significantly inhibits charge-carrier complexation, and realizes the spatial separation of redox sites, but also ensures that the photocatalyst maintains a suitable valence-conductivity band position and maintains the strong redox reactivity. In addition, CDs have the unique characteristics of electronic storage and transfer, which effectively enhance the quantum separation efficiency of the composite. The photocatalytic efficiency was measured by degrading rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light. The degradation performance was the best when the weight ratio of CDs was 6%, and the RhB solution degradation rate reached 100 % in 60 min. The unique structure and reliable mechanism provide a way for the development of advanced photocatalyst.

One‐step hydrothermal synthesis of a green NiCo‐LDHs‐rGO composite for the treatment of lead ion in aqueous solutions

AbstractHerein, we have synthesized a microspherical nickel‐cobalt‐layered double hydroxides‐reduced graphene oxide composite (NiCo‐LDHs‐rGO) through a one‐step hydrothermal method and then used it as an adsorbent for the removal of Pb2+ from aqueous solutions. Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FT‐IR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), mapping elemental analysis, electron dispersive x‐ray spectroscopy (EDX), x‐ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method were used for the characterization of the adsorbent. Factors affecting the adsorption of Pb2+ ion such as solution pH, adsorbent dosage, contact time, competing ion, and regeneration were investigated in batch mode by the NiCo‐LDHs‐rGO. Under optimized conditions based on the Taguchi method (pH = 5.0, adsorbent dosage = 20 mg, and contact time = 30 min), the highest removal percentage was found to be 99.7% for 100 mg L−1 of Pb2+. According to the results, NiCo‐LDHs‐rGO exhibited a high preference for Pb2+ over Cu2+, Zn2+, and Cd2+. This adsorbent was regenerated for several cycles (using 0.01 M HCl) with no significant deterioration in performance. Analyses of the adsorption isotherm models revealed that the adsorption of Pb2+ follows Freundlich isotherm with a maximum adsorption capacity of 200 mg g−1. Also, the kinetic data confirmed that pseudo second order kinetic equation is the best model for predicting the kinetics. Furthermore, the Simulink modelling illustrated that the adsorption kinetics of Pb2+ onto NiCo‐LDHs‐rGO is done with high accuracy in a continuous stirred‐tank reactor. Finally, dual interactions of the effective parameters can be modelled by polynomial equations in MATLAB, and according to the Taguchi model, pH is clearly the most important feature among all effective parameters.

Solid phase extraction of Aflatoxin M1 in milk samples by graphene oxide-poly-L-lysine nanocomposite followed by HPLC

ABSTRACT An efficient, novel and green Graphene Oxide-Poly-L-Lysine (GO-PLL) adsorbent was successfully synthesised and used for solid-phase extraction of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in liquid milk samples followed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) equipped with fluorescence detector (FLD). The synthesised adsorbent was characterised by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometry (FT-IR), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X-Ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Different parameters affecting the recovery percentage of AFM1 including pH of sample solution, amounts of adsorbent, contact time and desorbent solution (types and volume) were completely investigated and optimised. It was found that, with an enrichment factor of 15.2, the calibration curve is linear in the range of 0.05–4.00 ng ml−1 AFM1 and the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) values were 0.019 and 0.063 ng mL−1, respectively. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) ranged from 4.5% to 5.7% and 4.2% to 6.7% for intra-day and inter-day variations, respectively. Finally, the proposed solid-phase extraction method was successfully applied for determination of trace levels of AFM1 in different milk samples.

Synthesis and characterizations of a novel composite films composed of polyethylene/oxide minerals

In this study, a new composite film consisting of polyethylene (PE)/oxide minerals (bentonite, silica, and diatomite) was successfully synthesized. Polymer modification was carried out by melting method. Coating of oxide minerals with PE has shown important results for size control, stabilization and increasing strength. Benzoyl chloride was used as a modifying material in the mechanism. According to the mechanism, it increases the interactions between the mineral and polyethylene through adsorption of the polymer backbone by ion pairing. The resulting composite materials were characterized using advanced analytical techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR), Derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). The morphological structures of the composites were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM and FTIR analyses showed that bentonite, silica, and diatomite were modified with PE using an extruder device. At the same time, mechanical test results showed that the tensile strength of films containing 5% oxide mineral is higher than that of pure polyethylene film. In addition, the homogeneous appearance of the surfaces of the films has changed from porous to brittle appearance with the increase in the oxide mineral ratio in composite films. It was found that with the increase in the percentage of minerals in composite films using modified oxide minerals, porous and brittle structures do not form much on the film surfaces, and the interaction of the mineral with the polymer matrix increases. The study had important results in terms of emphasizing the cost-effectiveness of the modification of different minerals with PE, the suitability of production by smelting method and the improvement of mechanical properties. In addition, it is important to obtain different composite derivatives for use in the industrial field.

Immobilization of pectinase on chitosan-alginate-clay composite beads: Experimental, DFT and molecular docking studies

Pectinase was immobilized on chitosan-alginate-clay (CAC) beads using epichlorohydrin (ECH) as the crosslinker. Prepared beads and immobilization product were analyzed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometry (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Experimental data covered some hydrolytic properties of the immobilized enzyme, such as pH, temperature, reusability, concentration, and storage time. The immobilization procedure increased the optimal temperature to 60 °C and maximum activity was obtained at pH (6.0). After 5 cycles of reuse, approximately 45% of the initial activity of the immobilized enzyme remained. Free pectinase, CAC, and immobilization product were also investigated by Gaussian calculations, the HF/6-31g basis set. Furthermore, Aspergillus niger proteins (PDB ID: 3K4P and 7BLY) and Staphylococcus aureus (PDB ID: 1JIJ) were examined for molecular docking calculations, and ADME/T calculations were made to examine the effects and reactions of these molecules in human metabolism.

One-Pot Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles from Garcinia gummi-gutta: Characterisation, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Anti-Cancerous and Photocatalytic Applications.

Methods like the bio-synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) using plant extracts have become promising due to their eco-friendly approach. The study aimed to examine the utilization of Garcinia gummi-gutta fruit phytochemicals as agents in the biosynthesis of Ag NPs, evaluation of the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-cancerous properties, as well as the photocatalytic ability of bio-synthesized Ag NPs against Crystal Violet (CV), a triphenylmethane dye. The characterization of the physical properties of the Ag NPs synthesized via the green route was done using UV-Vis spectrophotometry (UV-Vis), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometry (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Zeta potential analysis, and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The dye degradation efficiency of CV was determined using synthesized Ag NPs under UV light by analyzing the absorption maximum at 579 nm. The antimicrobial efficacy of Ag NPs against E. coli, S. aureus, Candida tropicalis, and Candida albicans was examined using the broth dilution method. The antioxidant and anti-cancer properties of the synthesized Ag NPs were assessed using the DPPH and MTT assays. The UV analysis revealed that the peak of synthesized Ag NPs was 442 nm. Data from FTIR, XRD, Zeta potential, SEM, and TEM analysis confirmed the formation of nanoparticles. The SEM and TEM analysis identified the presence of spherical nanoparticles with an average size of 29.12 nm and 24.18 nm, respectively. Maximum dye degradation efficiency of CV was observed at 90.08% after 320 min without any silver leaching, confirming the photocatalytic activity of Ag NPs. The bio-efficiency of the treatment was assessed using the Allium cepa root growth inhibition test, toxicity analysis on Vigna radiata, and Brine shrimp lethality assay. The findings revealed the environmentally friendly nature of green Ag NPs over physical/chemically synthesized Ag NPs. The synthesized Ag NPs can effectively be used in biomedical and photocatalytic applications.

Hydrothermally synthesized tannic acid-copper(I) complex-based nanoparticles for efficient decontamination of lead ions from aqueous solutions

In this work, we synthesized a novel wrinkled carbon-Cu2O nanoparticle adsorbent (namely HWC-Cu2O NPs) through a hydrothermal method using tannic acid (TA) and Cu(NO3)2, and then employed it for the removal of Pb2+ from aqueous solutions. The synthesized adsorbent was fully characterized by different techniques such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometry (FT-IR), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Energy dispersive X-Ray (EDX) and X-Ray Diffraction Analysis (XRD). Under the hydrothermal conditions, Cu2+ ions were reduced by TA and then the resulting Cu+ ions (E°Cu2+–Cu+ = + 0.161 V) were coordinated by TA ligands to construct a network of copper(I) complexes on the surface of the nanoparticles. By optimizing the parameters affecting the removal percentage (RP) of Pb2+, it was revealed that the maximum RP (98% for 50 mg L−1 of Pb2+) achieved under the following conditions: pH = 5.5, 10 mg adsorbent and 20 min as contact time. Also, the adsorption data were well fitted to the Langmuir isotherm model, showing that Pb2+ ions tend to occupy the surface of the adsorbent in a monolayer form with a maximum adsorption capacity of 250.0 mg g−1. Also, kinetic models showed that the pseudo first-order kinetics is the best model for the prediction of kinetic behavior. Moreover, HWC-Cu2O NPs was efficiently recovered and reused for five adsorption/desorption cycles. In summary, this adsorbent is a superior system for the Pb2+ decontamination in aqueous samples; its remarkable advantages include high efficiency, short removal time and good reusability.

The green synthesis of nanoparticles using Costus pictus leaf extract blended with paint and its potential applications

Nanoparticles are important due to their unique properties that may lead to new and exciting applications. Green synthesis has many advantages amongst physical and chemical methods of nanoparticle synthesis since the method is simple, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly. This research work describes the synthesis of carbon nanoparticles using leaf extract of Costus pictus and the characterization studies were carried out by Fourier Transform Infra-Red and Ultra Violet-Visible spectrophotometry. Incorporation of the nanoparticles of Costus pictus leaf extract into the paint formulation increases the corrosion protection properties. The inhibitive effects were investigated using weight loss, polarization, and impedance studies. The surface analysis techniques of Scanning Electron Microscope and Atomic Force Microscopy were used to investigate the morphology study. Findings show that synthetic nanoparticles mixed with paint function as more effective and thermally stable agents, serving as an alternative environmentally acceptable anticorrosion addition for cleaning and pickling processes in industries.

Green Energy Generated in Single-Chamber Microbial Fuel Cells Using Tomato Waste

This research used tomato waste as a substrate (fuel) in Single Chamber-Microbial Fuel Cells (scMFC) on a small scale. The electrochemical properties were monitored, the functional groups of the substrate were analyzed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometry (FTIR) and a microbiological analysis was performed on the electrodes in order to identify the microorganisms responsible for the electrochemical process. The results show voltage peaks and an electrical current of 3.647 ± 0.157 mA and 0.957 ± 0.246 V. A pH of 5.32 ± 0.26 was measured in the substrate with an electrical current conductivity of 148,701 ± 5849 mS/cm and an internal resistance (Rint) of 77. 517 ± 8.541 Ω. The maximum power density (PD) displayed was 264.72 ± 3.54 mW/cm2 at a current density (CD) of 4.388 A/cm2. On the other hand, the FTIR spectrum showed a more intense decrease in its peaks, with the compound belonging to the phenolic groups being the most affected at 3361 cm−1. The micrographs show the formation of a porous biofilm where molecular identification allowed the identification of two bacteria (Proteus vulgaris and Proteus vulgaris) and a yeast (Yarrowia lipolytica) with 100% identity. The data found show the potential of this waste as a source of fuel for the generation of an electric current in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way, generating in the near future a mechanism for the reuse of waste in a beneficial way for farmers, communities and agro-industrial companies.