Fourier Transform Infrared Spectra Research Articles

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.

Enhanced Removal of Rhodamine b Dye from Aqueous Media via Adsorption on Facilely Synthesized Zinc Ferrite Nanoparticles

This paper studies the synthesis, characterization, and application of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles for the removal of rhodamine b dye from aqueous media. Utilizing the combustion procedure, ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles were synthesized using two different fuels: glutamine (SG) and L-arginine (SA). In addition, the synthesized ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles were characterized through various techniques, including Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), high resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis. XRD analysis verified the creation of a ZnFe2O4 cubic spinel structure without any contaminants, revealing average crystallite sizes of 43.72 and 29.38 nm for the SG and SA samples, respectively. The FTIR spectra exhibited peaks indicative of metal-oxygen bond stretching, verifying the presence of a spinel formation. Elemental analysis via EDX confirmed the stoichiometric composition typical of zinc ferrite. In addition, FE-SEM imaging displayed that the SG and SA samples are composed of particles with irregular and spherical shapes, measuring average diameters of 135.11 and 59.89 nm, respectively. Furthermore, the BET surface area of the SG and SA samples is 60 and 85 m2/g, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity of the SA sample (409.84 mg/g) towards rhodamine b dye was higher than that of the SG sample (279.33 mg/g), which was ascribed to its larger surface area and porosity. Kinetic and equilibrium studies revealed that the adsorption process of rhodamine b dye onto the SG and SA samples followed the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order model. Thermodynamic analysis indicated that the adsorption process was spontaneous, exothermic, and physical. The study concludes that ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles synthesized using L-arginine (SA) exhibit enhanced rhodamine b dye removal efficiency due to their smaller size, increased surface area, and higher porosity compared to those synthesized with glutamine (SG). The optimum conditions for the adsorption process of rhodamine b dye were found to be at pH 10, a contact time of 70 min, and a temperature of 298 K. These findings underscore the potential of L-arginine-synthesized ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles for effective and sustainable environmental cleanup applications.

Characterizing eco-composite boards with non-woven polypropylene from disposable face masks and bamboo reinforcement

This study investigates the development of eco-composite panels using treated and untreated nonwoven polypropylene (PP) extracted from disposable medical face masks, reinforced with bamboo particles. Treated PP underwent a washing process with detergent. Panels were fabricated with varying PP-to-bamboo particle ratios of 100:0, 75:25, and 50:50. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy analysis indicated minimal impact of washing on the intrinsic properties of the PP material, as confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Both analyses showed similar intensities of functional groups and thermal trends in treated and untreated recycled PP (rPP) samples. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) confirmed the uniform integration of bamboo particles within the PP matrix by detecting silicon and potassium elements. Chemical interactions between bamboo fibres and the PP matrix were also evident in the form of reduced peak intensities in FT-IR spectra. Despite these interactions, limited adhesion between bamboo fibres and the PP matrix led to reduced stability and mechanical strength in the eco-composite panels. A direct correlation was observed between board thickness and the proportion of bamboo particles, with the 50:50 formulation showing the greatest thickness. Conversely, board strength decreased as bamboo particle concentration increased due to weak interfacial adhesion. Notably, panels made from treated rPP exhibited superior mechanical properties compared to those from untreated rPP, achieving a modulus of rupture (MOR) of 36.259 MPa and a modulus of elasticity (MOE) of 2048.215 MPa. These findings underscore the potential of utilizing nonwoven PP from disposable medical face masks, reinforced with bamboo fibre particles, to create eco-composite materials with enhanced sustainability and mechanical properties.

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 5.19–41.2 %, 11.5–26.9 %, and 6.6–40.1 %, 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).

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.

Investigations of adsorption and photoluminescence properties of encapsulated Al–ZnO nanostructures: Synthesis, morphology and dye degradation studies

This study focuses on the solution combustion approach to examine the nanostructures of undoped and doped ZnO with different concentrations of Al (0.1 % and 0.2 %). Various physical techniques were utilized to characterize the synthesized nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed the crystalline materials, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) findings confirmed the products with particle size and the insertion of Al into the ZnO lattice. Fourier-transform infrared spectra (FTIR) confirmed the presence of different functional groups in the obtained material. The results indicate that Al-doped ZnO (Al–ZnO) nanoparticles show promising properties for optoelectronics and photoluminescence. Photoluminescence analysis indicated that an increase in Al3+ (0.2 %) concentration resulted in a decrease in peak intensity and an increase in the full width at half maximum. The band gap was calculated using the Taucs plot. The study also highlights the effectiveness of Zn1-xAlxO nanostructures in degrading organic pollutants, particularly in adsorbing Malachite Green (MG) dye. Among the samples, the 0.2 % Al-doped ZnO exhibited superior dye degradation efficiency due to its enhanced adsorption capacity and smaller particle size, as evidenced by multilayer adsorption capacity and chemisorption during the degradation process. This study provides valuable insights into the potential applications of Al-doped ZnO nanoparticles in various environmental and technological fields, emphasizing their significance in the degradation of organic pollutants.

Synthesis of type-II SrTiO3/ZnO heterojunction material for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue under sunlight

This work presents the synthesis of ZnO, SrTiO3, and SrTiO3/ZnO catalysts by simple hydrothermal method. The obtained materials were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier transformation infrared spectra (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDS) and element mapping images, Photo-luminescence spectroscopy (PL), and Ultraviolet–Visible Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS). The photocatalytic activity of the synthesized materials was assessed by degradation of methylene blue (MB) under sunlight. In particular, SrTiO3/ZnO displayed outstanding photocatalytic activity compare to individual catalysts. Our findings have revealed an improvement of photogenerated charge separation and the dominating role of the holes and electrons in the degradation of MB.

Synthesis of SnO2/SrTiO3 composite and photocatalytic activity for methylene blue degradation under sunlight

In this study, the SnO2/SrTiO3 composite has been fabricated by, firstly preparing SnO2 and SrTiO3 through, followed by coupling SnO2 and SrTiO3 by the hydrothermal method at 180 oC for 24 hours. The obtained materials were characterized by X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transformation infrared spectra (FT-IR), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The photocatalytic activity of composite was assessed by degradation of methylene blue in water under sunlight. The composite exhibits a good photocatalytic activity compared to individual components (SnO2 and SrTiO3). An enhancement in photocatalytic activity of the composite with the presence of SnO2 has been observed. 1,4-benzoquinone (BQ) và tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) were used as quenchers for trapping photogenerated superoxide radical anions (•O2-) and hydroxyl radicals (•OH), respectively. In the presence of the quenchers, the photocatalytic activity of the composite has decreased significantly.

Investigation of Grewia mollis Gum as Biopolymer Drag Reducing Agent

The hydraulic fracturing treatment relies heavy on fracturing fluid. Finding inexpensive polymer that lowers the pressure gradient in turbulent flow systems during hydraulic fracturing is crucial for the development of shale gas. Most researches focused on investigating the effects of polymers such as partially hydrolysed polyacrylamide, polyethylene oxide, guar gum, xanthan gum and synergies of mixtures as friction reducing polymers. The use of Grewia Mollis mucilage as the natural polymer as a potential friction reducer in slickwater fracturing treatment was the main focus of this study. The sample of Grewia gum was obtained and the mucilage was extracted from the inner stem bark by maceration in water at ambient temperature. The mucilage was the oven-dried at a temperature of 50 oC. Atomic Absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) were employed to identify the elemental composition and the functional groups of the plant. The FT-IR spectrum exhibited typical peaks and bands characteristics of polysaccharide, while the ASS result shows the presence of minute quantity (0.219 mg/100 g) of lead (Pb) in the plant may show contamination (toxicity). The rheological measurements of the mucilage plotted on the shear viscosity graph exhibit shear-thinning or pseudo-plastic behaviour. Formulated slickwater fracturing fluid at various concentrations ranging from 200 to 500 ppm, were run in a constructed closed flow loop of 0.01905 m diameter of galvanised steel pipe, test section length of 2 m and entrance length of 2 m. Drag reduction was measured at flow rates (2.3, 2.8, 3.2, 3.6 and 4.0) m3/hour at different concentrations (200 to 500) ppm. Percentage friction reduction of 37% was achieved at Reynolds number of 74269 by addition of 200 ppm of the fluid while 56% was achieved at Reynolds number 74269 by addition of 500 ppm. This indicates that Grewia mollis mucilage exhibit drag reducing potential and can be applied in slickwater hydraulic fracturing application.

Characterization of low-molecular-weight fucoidan prepared by photocatalysis degradation and its regulation effect on metabolomics of LPS-stimulated macrophages

Fucoidan (ANP) from Ascophyllum nodosum demonstrates significant anti-inflammatory activity. Because lower-molecular-weight polysaccharides usually process even better bioactivities, in the present study, the photocatalytic degradation method with TiO2 and H2O2 was used to prepare low-molecular-weight derivatives (D-ANP-1.5 and D-ANP-3.5) with molecular weight of 5.0 kDa and 2.3 kDa, respectively. The characteristics of D-ANP-1.5 and D-ANP-3.5 were identified by chemical composition analysis, high-performance gel permeation chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography photo-diode array mass, and Fourier transform-infrared spectrum, and compared with that of original fucoidan. The sulfate group retention rates of D-ANP-1.5 and D-ANP-3.5 were over 90.0% and the fucose and total sugar contents increased. However, the uronic acid and protein contents were decreased and the functional groups were not changed during degradation. Subsequently, 7 oligosaccharides in D-ANP-3.5 were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization detector mass and 6 of them were sulfated. Moreover, D-ANP-3.5 (2.3 kDa) supplement showed stronger inhibition effect of nitric oxide production than D-ANP-1.5 and undegraded ANP in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, metabolic profiles results indicated that arginine biosynthesis, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis, the TCA cycle, purine metabolism, and glutathione metabolism, along with influencing metabolic biomarkers such as betaine, arginine, NAD+, ATP, and pyroglutamic acid, were involved in the effects of D-ANP-3.5. The superior regulation effect on metabolomics in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells of D-ANP-3.5 could be attributed to its relatively low molecular weight and high fucose content. The present study advance understanding of the mechanism for the anti-inflammation of D-ANP-3.5.

Utilizing Biomolecule-Rich Citrus Fruit Waste as a Medium for the Eco-Friendly Preparation of Silver Nanoparticles with Antimicrobial Properties

An ample amount of fruit waste is generated as agro-industrial waste, leading to significant nutritional, economic, and environmental challenges. Fruit peels are rich in many valuable bioactive compounds with the potential for developing nanoparticles. This study examined fresh juices of two citrus fruit peel wastes (Citrus sinensis: C. sinesis and Citrus limon: C. limon) for antioxidants and total protein. Then, we investigated their ability to produce silver nanoparticles, which were further analyzed for anti-microbial activity against thirteen pathogenic microbes. Both Citrus peel juices were rich in secondary metabolites. The formation of Ag nanoparticles was initially confirmed by UV-vis spectroscopy, with peaks at 400 nm for C. sinensis peel Ag nanoparticles and 430 nm for C. limon peel Ag nanoparticles. Further characterization was conducted using zeta sizer, zeta potential, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The antimicrobial activity was tested using the well diffusion method against 11 bacterial strains (five Gram-positive and six Gram-negative) and two fungal strains of Candida. TEM and SEM results revealed a spherical shape, with an average diameter of about 13 nm for C. sinensis and 21 nm for C. limon Ag. EDX confirmed the presence of silver in both nanoparticles. The FTIR spectrum of the extract indicated the presence of biomolecules, which facilitated the reduction and capping of the synthesized Ag nanoparticles. The prepared nanoparticles showed remarkable antimicrobial activity, but the nanoparticles from C. sinensis exhibited stronger antibacterial properties because of their smaller size. Citrus peel waste is a suitable medium for the eco-friendly production of silver nanoparticles.

Label-free investigation of infected acute pyelonephritis tissue by FTIR microspectroscopy with unsupervised and supervised analytical methods

Acute pyelonephritis (AP) is a severe urinary tract infection (UTI) syndrome with a large population of patients worldwide. Current approaches to confirming AP are limited to urinalysis, radiological imaging methods and histological assessment. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy is a promising label-free modality that can offer information about both morphological and molecular pathologic alterations from biological tissues. Here, FTIR microspectroscopy serves to investigate renal biological histology of a rat model with AP and classify normal cortex, normal medulla and infected acute pyelonephritis tissues. The spectra were experimentally collected by FTIR with an infrared Globar source through raster scanning procedure. Unsupervised analysis methods, including integrating, clustering and principal component analysis (PCA) were performed on such spectra data to form infrared histological maps of entire kidney section. In comparison to Hematoxylin & Eosin-stained results of the adjacent tissue sections, these infrared maps were proved to enable the differentiation of the renal tissue types. The results of both integration and clustering indicated that the concentration of amide II decreases in the infected acute pyelonephritis tissues, with an increased presence of nucleic acids and lipids. By means of PCA, the infected tissue was linearly separated from normal ones by plotting confident ellipses with the score values of the first and second principal components. Moreover, supervised analysis was performed based on the supported vector machines (SVM). Normal cortex, normal medulla and infected acute pyelonephritis tissues were classified by SVM models with the best accuracy of 96.11% in testing dataset. In addition, these analytical methods were further employed on synchrotron-based FTIR spectra data and successfully form high-resolution infrared histological maps of glomerulus and necrotic cell mass. This work demonstrates that FTIR microspectroscopy will be a powerful manner to investigate AP tissue and differentiate infected tissue from normal tissue in a renal infected model system.

Breaking the intrinsic activity barriers of bilayer metal oxides for catalytic CO2 reduction

The photocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction is severely limited by sluggish charge kinetics. To address this issue, a strategy utilizing non-metal-doped layered double hydroxide (LDH) has been developed to control the electronic structure of spindle-shaped nanoflowers, resulting in efficient photocatalytic CO2 reduction. The results demonstrate that the designed catalyst yields 263.16 μmol g−1 h−1 for the photoreduction of CO2 to CO. Furthermore, the in situ Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FT-IR) analysis demonstrate that the specific S-ligand (S-bridge) facilitates CO2 activation, ensuring the continuous production of *COOH. The hydrothermal-assisted ionic liquid method proposed in this study offers guidance for modifying catalysts.

DSC and FTIR study on the interaction between pentacyclic triterpenoid lupeol and DPPC membrane

Natural products are a great resource for physiologically active substances. It is widely recognized that a major percentage of current medications are derived from natural compounds or their synthetic analogues. Triterpenoids are widespread in nature and can prevent cancer formation and progression. Despite considerable interest in these triterpenoids, their interactions with lipid bilayers still need to be thoroughly investigated. The aim of this study is to examine the interactions of lupeol, a pentacyclic triterpenoid, with model membranes composed of 1,2‑dipalmitoyl‑sn‑glycerol‑3‑phosphocholine (DPPC) by using non-invasive techniques such as differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The DSC study demonstrated that the incorporation of lupeol into DPPC membranes shifts the Lβ′-to-Pβ′ and Pβ′-to-Lα phase transitions toward lower values, and a loss of main phase transition cooperativity is observed. The FTIR spectra indicated that the increasing concentration (10 mol%) of lupeol causes an increase in the molecular packing and membrane fluidity. In addition, it is found that lupeol’s OH group preferentially interacts with the head group region of the DPPC lipid bilayer. These findings provide detailed information on the effect of lupeol on the DPPC head group and the conformation and dynamics of the hydrophobic chains. In conclusion, the effect of lupeol on the structural features of the DPPC membrane, specifically phase transition and lipid packing, has implications for understanding its biological function and its applications in biotechnology and medicine.

Utilization of Adsorbent Based on Rice Straw (<i>Oryza sativa</i>) for Cr(VI) Ions Reduction in Aqueous Solutions

In this study, we utilized an adsorbent based on rice straw for reducing hexavalent chromium ions (Cr (VI)) in an aqueous solution. The rice straw as adsorbent raw material was washed, dried, and powdered. Rice straw powder was heated at 450°C for 2 hours to obtain rice straw adsorbent. The adsorbent was activated with 1M H3PO4 for 4 hours. Characterization of the adsorbent was done using Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) method. FTIR spectra showed the presence of hydroxy, carboxylic, aromatic, and ether groups on the surface of the rice straw and the made adsorbent. The reduction of Cr (VI) ions in aqueous solutions was carried out using the adsorption batch method. The adsorption process was conducted in various the Cr (VI) solutions pH for 1-5 and variations in contact time for 5-720 minutes. The highest percentage reduction of Cr (VI) reached 66.90%. It has occurred at pH 2 and equilibrium at 600 minutes of contact time.