Pseudo 1st Order Research Articles

Biosynthesis of calcium oxide nanoparticles by employing Mulberry (Morus nigra) leaf extract as an efficient source for Rhodamine B remediation

Green processes for synthesizing nanocomposites are a hot area of research today as traditional processes are expensive, inefficient, harmful for synthesizing organic and inorganic molecules, and unsuitable for large-scale operations. The present study investigates the capacity of green synthesized Calcium oxide nanoparticles (CaO NPs) for efficiently removing Rhodamine B. Chemical reduction was replaced with Mulberry (Morus nigera) leaf extract as an environmentally friendly reaction mechanism. CaO NPs are characterized by various analytical techniques including EDX, BET, SEM, FTIR, TGA, Zeta Potential, Point of Zero Charge (PZC), and XRD. Maximum adsorption of Rhodamine B by CaO NPs is revealed at an initial concentration of Rhodamine B of 80 ppm, a temperature of 343 K, and contact time of 60 min, 0.4 g of adsorbent at a pH value of 7. Maximum removal of Rhodamine B by CaO NPs was found to be 98.2% which is promising with this small amount of adsorbent (0.4 g). Diverse Kinetic and adsorption isotherms are employed in this study to determine the requirement and significance of the adsorption process. Various adsorption isotherms such as Freundlich, Temkin, Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R), and Langmuir models have been employed. Among the kinetic adsorption isotherms Elovich, Intraparticle kinetic model, pseudo 1st order, and pseudo 2nd order models were applied. The current study investigates the thorough understanding of the Rhodamine B adsorption process including the mechanism of adsorption using condition optimization, characterization, and model applications. The proposed adsorbent can be employed for the green removal of Rhodamine B from wastewater of industry with maximum efficiency and favorable regeneration properties.

Development of the novel advanced electrooxidation process for decolorization of recalcitrant dyes (Methylene Blue, Rhodamine B, Congo Red): Effect of operating factors

The research aims to develop an advanced electrooxidation process for decolorization of recalcitrant dye. To enhance the radical formation, a combination of UV irradiation and electrooxidation (UV/EO) is used. Methylene Blue (MB), Rhodamine B (RB) and Congo Red (CR) dyes were used as model compounds to represent recalcitrant dyes. The performance of UV/EO process was investigated under various operating factors (i.e., current density (CD), voltage, pH, NaCl, anodic material), and compared with chlorination, UV irradiation, and electrooxidation (EO) process. MB was the highest resistant dye to the UV/EO process. The UV/EO process exhibited a synergistic effect on decolorization, and it removed MB 1.35 time faster than the EO process. Based on indirect determination of •OH, the •OH formation in the EO process was 2.4 ×10−13 M, which lower than that in the UV/EO process by 4 times. The second-order rate constant for MB oxidation by HO• (kHO•,MB) was 3.31 × 109 M−1s−1. The pseudo 1st-order decolorization kinetic (k’) was independent with voltages, but directly depended on CD and NaCl concentrations. Lower pH enhanced the k’ value. The specific energy consumption was in a range of 0.408 – 5.303 kWh/m3, depending on the k’ value. The energy consumption decreased with higher the k’ value, except for increasing CD. The Boron Doped Diamond (BDD) was more effective in the decolorization rate than dimensional active anode (DSA) by 1.6 times. Treatment of industrial dye wastewater by the UV/EO process eliminated color intensity (ADMI), COD, and BOD5 by 80 %, 91 %, and 9 %, respectively.

Addressing small-scale temperature swing adsorption challenges using intensified fluidised bed technology for carbon capture process development

Polyethylenimine (PEI)-based adsorbents exhibit high CO2 capacities, making them potential candidates for mitigating unavoidable industrial CO2 emissions. However, desorption of CO2 from PEI, and from adsorbents in general, has received far less attention in the literature than adsorption. Whilst Temperature Swing Adsorption (TSA) is simple to conceptualise, it is difficult to implement in small-scale experiments in practice. Here we study the desorption characteristics of a commercial branched PEI adsorbent in a small-scale swirling fluidised bed reactor (TORBED) to improve the small-scale heat transfer rates. Our experimental results show that higher desorption temperatures, higher gas flow rates, and higher CO2 concentrations during adsorption can improve the desorption efficiency (defined as the amount of CO2 removed as a fraction of the initial amount adsorbed). In terms of kinetics, we found that the fractional order kinetic model provided the best fit to the PEI adsorbent, implying that this adsorbent involves multiple simultaneous molecular interactions, physisorption processes, and chemisorption processes, that cannot be described by simpler pseudo 1st or 2nd order models. Desorption rates in the TORBED in this study were 1 order of magnitude faster than fluidised beds, and 2–3 orders of magnitude faster than packed beds.

Using natural antioxidant Rhubarb extracts in PVA/chitosan bio-adsorbent films for efficient removal of cationic and anionic dyes from polluted water

In this research, sustainable membrane films were developed for removal of cationic and anionic dyes from wastewater based on polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan (PVA/CS) incorporated with natural antioxidant Rhubarb dye (Rh) extracts. Rh dye was extracted from Rhubarb roots by a green method. Three different quantities of Rh dye extracts (i.e., 2.5, 5, and 10 %) were used to fabricate crosslinked PVA/CS films by solvent-casting approach. The fabricated films subjected to different techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), as well as antioxidant activity. In all cases, the incorporation of Rh dye extracts inside the composite improved the crystallinity, biocompatibility, stress–strain properties, besides the DPPH scavenging activity reached 42.50 % for PVA/CS-10 % Rh membrane compared to PVA/CS blank (i.e., ∼ 2.10 %). Dyes adsorption including different cationic and anionic dyes implemented for all selected membranes. The data revealed that the membrane containing 10 % Rh dye was the optimum for removal of malachite green oxide (MG, 93 %) as cationic dye and methyl orange (MO, 95.70 %) as anionic dye. Moreover, the kinetics of the removal process exhibited that this process followed the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Dubinin-Radushkevich models, and the pseudo-1st order kinetic model, with an R2 of 0.998 and 0.943 for MG and MG, respectively. Whereas, the adsorption process corresponded to the Freundlich isotherm model, with coefficients R2 was of 0.989 and 0.988 for MO and MG, respectively. Other parameters including dye concentration, contacting time, pH media, and kinetic studies were also applied on PVA/CS-10 % Rh membrane.

Evaluation of adsorption isotherms and kinetics of anionic pollutant in water using biochar derived from locally available agro-waste

The uses of agricultural byproduct solid wastes to develop low cost sorbents are advantageous and promising for the removal of water contaminants. It serves the purposes of both environmental remediation and appropriate management of agricultural waste generated during agricultural processing. In this study, locally available apricot seed shell and Salix Alba leaves were utilized as agro-waste for the preparation of adsorbents. The biochar was prepared at 300-370oC via pyrolysis and 80 mesh particle sizes were modified by 1N HCl. The unmodified and acid modified local Salix Alba leaves and Apricot seed shell biochar were used to study the adsorption of chloride ion in water, which can damages appliances of industries and also poses health issues at elevated concentration. Adsorption kinetics and equilibrium studies were conducted at pH 7. The adsorption efficiency of modified biochar was much higher than the unmodified biochar due to induce surface positive charge. The Langmuir maximum adsorption of modified Salix Alba leaves sorbent was found to 22.98 mg/g, while modified Apricot seed shell biochar was found 25.83 mg/g. The experimental data were simulated and applied to fit Langmuir, Freundlich isotherm, pseudo 1st and 2nd order kinetics models and found a better compliance with Freundlich isotherm model and pseudo 2nd order kinetics model.

Amphoteric chitosan derivatives for the removal of basic and reactive dyes from aqueous solutions

The present study describes the use of [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl) ammonium hydroxide and 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid as grafting agents to chitosan (CS) natural polymer were examined. Two chitosan derivatives were synthesized in this study, and then added in single-component aqueous solutions in order to study the removal of Methylene Blue (MB) and Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR) dyes, by adsorption, in a more innovative way. The characterization of the chitosan derivatives was achieved via X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Adsorption efficiency of the chitosan derivatives was tested at several pH values (2–12) and for adsorbent’s dosage between 10 and 50 mg per 30 mL effluent. The rising of temperature from 25 to 65 °C led to increased adsorption capacity. Equilibrium data were fitted to both the more common Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models, as well as the Sips isotherm model. Pseudo 1st and 2nd kinetic order equations and a relatively simple phenomenological kinetic model for adsorption kinetics, were studied as well as the thermodynamic parameters were calculated. The adsorption capacity for CS grafted with [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl) ammonium hydroxide (CS-SBMA) was 238.1 and 244.5 mg/g for MB and RBBR removal, respectively, at 25 °C, while for CS grafted with 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid (CS-AMPS) the adsorption capacity was 219.5 and 203.9 mg/g for MB and RBBR removal, respectively, at 25 °C.

Zirconium and cerium dioxide fabricated activated carbon-based nanocomposites for enhanced adsorption and photocatalytic removal of methylene blue and tetracycline hydrochloride

Activated carbon (AC) is a porous, amorphous form of carbon known for its strong adsorption capacity, making it highly effective for use in wastewater treatment. In this investigation, AC-based nanocomposites (NCs) loaded with zirconium dioxide and cerium dioxide nanoparticles (ZrO2/CeO2 NPs) were successfully synthesized for the effective elimination of methylene blue (MB) and tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH). The AC-ZrO2/CeO2 NCs have a size of 231.83 nm, a zeta potential of −20.07 mV, and a PDI value of 0.160. The adsorption capacities of AC-ZrO2/CeO2 NCs for MB and TCH were proved in agreement with the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo 1st order kinetic model, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacities were determined to be 75.54 mg/g for MB and 26.75 mg/g for TCH. Notably, AC-ZrO2/CeO2 NCs exhibited superior photocatalytic degradation efficiency for MB and TCH under sunlight irradiation with removal efficiencies reaching up to 97.91% and 82.40% within 90 min, respectively. The t1/2 for the photo-degradation process of MB and TCH were 11.55 min and 44.37 min. Analysis of active species trapping confirmed the involvement of hole (h+), superoxide anion (•O2−), and hydroxyl radical (•OH) in the degradation mechanism. Furthermore, the residual solution post-contaminant removal exhibited minimal toxicity towards Artemia salina and NIH3T3 cells. Importantly, the NCs did not exhibit antibacterial activity against tested pathogens post-absorption/degradation of TCH. Thus, AC-ZrO2/CeO2 NCs could be a promising nanomaterial for wastewater treatment applications.

A new insight into the mechanism of MNB-assisted flotation of copper: A link between chalcopyrite and its-bearing bulk ore

The present study systematically explores the relationship between chalcopyrite mono-mineral and copper-bearing ore flotation in the presence and absence of micro- and nano-bubbles (MNBs). Ultrafine bubbles were generated through a cavitation mechanism, and their stability, size, and zeta potential were monitored over a period of 0–25 days. Micro-flotation and batch rougher kinetic flotation experiments were carried out with and without ultrafine bubbles using a modified Hallimond tube and 2.5 L Denver® flotation cell, respectively. The results showed that the presence of MNBs improved the recovery of chalcopyrite mono-mineral and its ore by 24.5 % and 7 %, respectively. Furthermore, the adsorption behavior of sodium isopropyl xanthate (SIPX) collector at various concentrations was analyzed in the presence and absence of stable MNBs using UV–visible spectroscopy, FTIR analysis and kinetic models. The adsorption studies supported the micro-flotation findings, demonstrating that the presence of MNBs not only boosted collector adsorption on the chalcopyrite surface (by an average of 73.8 %) but also improved the adsorption kinetics (by 69.44 %). The sorption kinetics followed the pseudo 2nd order model in the presence of MNBs, while in the absence of MNBs, both pseudo 1st order and pseudo 2nd order models were observed. The sorption of SIPX onto chalcopyrite was identified as a chemisorption process in the presence of MNBs, whereas it was a physicochemical sorption in the absence of MNBs.

Silica@poly(chitosan-N-isopropylacrylamide-methacrylic acid) microgels: Extraction of palladium (II) ions and in situ formation of palladium nanoparticles for pollutant reduction

Most of the transition metal ions and organic dyes are toxic in nature. Therefore, their removal from water is imperative for human health. For this purpose, various types of systems have been developed to tackle either transition metal ions or organic dyes individually. A core-shell microgel system is introduced which is capable of effectively removing both types (toxic organic dyes and transition metal ions) of pollutants. A long-rod-shaped silica@poly(chitosan-N-isopropylacrylamide-methacrylic acid) S@P(CS-NIPAM-MAA) S@P(CNM) core-shell microgel system was developed by free radical precipitation polymerization method (FRPPM). S@P(CNM) was utilized as an adsorbent for extracting palladium (II) (Pd (II)) ions from water under different concentrations of S@P(CNM), several agitation times, palladium (II) ion content, and pH levels. The adsorption data of Pd (II) ions on S@P(CNM) was evaluated by various adsorption isotherms. The kinetic study was investigated by employing pseudo-2nd order (Ps2O), Elovich model (ElM), intra-particle diffusion (IPDM), and pseudo-1st order (Ps1O). Additionally, palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) were generated via in-situ reduction of adsorbed Pd (II) ions within the P(CNM) shell region of S@P(CNM). The resulting Pd NPs loaded S@P(CNM) exhibited the capability to reduce organic pollutants like methyl orange (MeO), 4-nitrophenol (4NiP), methylene blue (MeB), and Rhodamine B (RhB) from aqueous medium. 0.766 min−1, 0.433 min−1, 0.682 min−1, and 1.140 min−1 were the values of pseudo 1st order rate constant (kobs) for catalytic reduction of MeB, 4NiP, MeO, and RhB respectively. The S@Pd-P(CNM) system exhibits significant catalytic potential for various organic transformations.

New design of eco-friendly Catalytic Electro - Photo Desulfurization process for real diesel fuel

Recently, due to the refineries processes considerations and environmental issues major limitations have been imposed on the sulfur compounds presented in petroleum distillates. Therefore, to reduce the sulfur compounds to minimum levels and to meet the global legislations, many of techniques were used, among them electro chemical photo desulfurization technique was used here. In this study, DBT was removed using electro chemical photo desulfurization over electrodes of titanium and stainless steel using Fe2O3/TiO2 as a catalyst under different temperatures (45, 60, 75 ℃), current density (10, 15, 20 A/m2), electrolyte concentration (25, 35, 45 wt%). The catalyst was characterized by different advanced surface techniques such as N2- adsorption-desorption, SEM-EDX, FTIR, and XRD. The reaction kinetic parameters (reaction order and activation energy) were estimated based on the experimental runs. According to the results obtained, this technique was revealed an efficient method with highest removal of 93.79% achieved using Fe2O3/TiO2 under the best of experimental operating conditions at 75 ℃, 20 A/m2 and 35 wt% of temperature, current density and electrolyte concentration respectively. It can be concluded that the electro chemical photo oxidative desulfurization reaction followed was pseudo 1st order and 41.67 kJ/mole activation energy over titanium dioxides catalyst.

Removal of chromium(III) from contaminated waters using cobalt ferrite: how safe is remediated water to aquatic wildlife?

The release of hazardous elements by industrial effluents to aquatic ecosystems is a potential threat to the environment. Chromium (Cr) is one of the elements whose levels in several freshwater ecosystems should be reduced to promote water reuse. In recent years, magnetic materials have gained increasing interest as sorbents because of their easy removal from treated water through magnetic separation. In this study, colloidal cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) particles were investigated as magnetic sorbents for chromium-aqueous chemical species. The oxidative stress responses of Mytilus galloprovincialis mussels exposed to 200 μg/L of Cr, resembling remediated water, were evaluated. More than 95% of Cr was removed from contaminated solutions by CoFe2O4 aqueous suspensions at pH 6 and pH 10. The kinetics of sorption experiments were examined using pseudo-1st order, pseudo-2nd order and Elovich models to evaluate which mathematical model has a better adjustment to the experimental data. The present study revealed that the levels of Cr that remained in remediated water induced limited biochemical changes in mussels, being considered safe for aquatic systems. Overall, the use of cobalt ferrite–based sorbents may constitute a promising approach to remediate contaminated water.

Adsorption of ciprofloxacin from aqueous solution and fresh synthetic urine by graphene oxide: Conventional and statistical physics modeling approaches

This work uses conventional and statistical physics modeling approaches to address ciprofloxacin (CIP) adsorption by graphene oxide (GO) from aqueous solution and fresh synthetic urine. Instrumental techniques such as FTIR, XRD, SEM, TGA, BET, and EDS were employed to characterize the adsorbent material. The adsorption experiments were performed in a typical batch using different initial concentrations of CIP, adsorbent dosage, pH, and temperatures. Besides, the statistical physics approach was employed to investigate the CIP adsorption onto GO. Five models based on mono, double, and multilayers were used to describe the equilibrium isotherms. Steric and energetic parameters such as the number of adsorbed molecules per site, receptor site density, and half-saturation were considered. The kinetic data were adjusted using three conventional models (pseudo 1st order, pseudo 2nd order, and general order). The pH effect and influence of adsorbent dosage on adsorption performance were also investigated and discussed. In addition, adsorption mechanisms hypotheses were proposed based on experimental data and adsorption modeling using a statistical physics approach. Furthermore, the current work reports the removal of CIP at concentrations commonly found in urine considering factors such as fraction excreted in unmetabolized form, daily defined dose, and average daily urine volume excreted. The adsorption capacity values in aqueous medium and fresh synthetic urine were were 354.24 and 291.39 mg g−1, respectively.

Multifunctional Ce+3 doped nickel-cobalt mixed ferrites via co-precipitation method for photocatalytic and antibacterial activity

The overuse of industrial dyes and anti-bacterial drugs are destroying fresh water reservoirs and making bacteria more resistant, respectively. To sort out these problems, we have synthesized Cerium doped Nickel-Cobalt mixed ferrites (Ce-@NCMF) with chemical composition [Ni0.4Co0.6CexFe2-xO4 (where x = 0.00, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20 and 0.25)] via co-precipitation method. Influence of cerium doping on the structural, optical, electrical, magnetic, photocatalytic and anti-bacterial properties of Ce-@NCMF studied. Powder x-ray diffraction analysis (PXRD) confirmed the synthesis of Ce-@NCMF. Decrease of crystallite size from 29.71 to 24.95 nm was observed with increase in dopant concentration. Tauc’s plot indicated the decrease of energy bandgap from 2.10 to 1.89 eV with increase in dopant concentration, which revealed the absorption of light in visible region to generate electron–hole pairs for photocatalytic applications. FTIR spectra indicated the presence of M-O bonds as major functional group present in Ce-@NCMF. Electrical properties demonstrated the prominent increase of electrical conductivity with increase of Ce-doping. VSM analysis was performed to analyse the magnetic properties of materials and showed prominent decrease in saturation magnetization value from 84.66 to 19.85 emu g−1. Owing to optical bandgap in the visible region, all the synthesized samples were evaluated for their photocatalytic potential for the degradation of methylene blue. Ce-@NCMF at x = 25% dopant value showed maximum degradation efficiency (95%) under sunlight irradiation of 90 min. Kinetic studies of dye degradation followed pseudo-1st order kinetics with maximum rate constant (k) value of 2.78×10−2 min−1. Antibacterial activity results showed the bioactive nature of Ce-@NCMF against all strains of bacteria in consistent with the crystallite size of samples. Smallest crystallite size Ce-@NCMF were found most active against gram-negative bacterial strains.

Chemical synthesis of ZnO, CuO, MnO and FeO Nano adsorbent and their application in anionic reactive blue turquoise 71 dye (RB-71 dye) and real effluents remediation: Batch adsorption and column studies

Industrial dye production chemicals contribute significantly to environmental pollution. This study explores the use of nanotechnology, specifically nano fertilizers and adsorption technology, for efficient removal of synthetic anionic dyes and enhancing agricultural production. Nano adsorbents (MnO, FeO, ZnO, and CuO) were generated using the co-precipitation method. Optimal conditions for Manganese oxide (MnO) were pH 2 (33.2 mg/g), dosage 0.01 g/50 mL, and adsorption capacity 77.2 mg/g. FeO optimal conditions were pH 2 (21.5 mg/g), dosage 0.01 g/50 mL, and qe 40.5 mg/g. CuO optimal conditions were pH 2 (28.2 mg/g), dosage 0.01 g/50 mL, and qe 71.3 mg/g. ZnO optimal conditions were pH 2 (25.4 mg/g), dosage 0.01 g/50 mL, and qe 64.2 mg/g. Pseudo 1st order and Freundlich sorption isotherms were best-fit models. Endothermic reactions were observed, indicating the sorption process’s nature and feasibility. Electrolyte concentrations affected the sorption potential. Surfactants/detergents reduced sorption efficiency. 0.5 N NaOH proved most effective for desorption. In column studies, optimal conditions for acidic RB-71 dye sorption were 3 cm bed height, 1.8 mL/min flow rate, and 70 mg/L inlet dye concentration. Metal oxide showed exhibited crystal and polymorphs structure. FT-IR spectra depicted metal-oxide peaks between 400 and 899 cm−1. SEM micrograph reveals a spherical shape with an approximate size of 10–50 μm. The adsorption method’s novelty lies in its easy handling, eco-friendliness, and cost-effectiveness, making it a promising technology for practical-scale application in addressing dye pollution.

Reduced and modified graphene oxide with Ag/V2O5 as a ternary composite visible light photocatalyst against dyes and pesticides

Water pollution by dyes and pesticides poses significant threats to our ecosystem. In this research, a visible-light ternary composite photocatalytic system was fabricated using graphene oxide (GO) by reducing with N2H4, modifying with KOH, and decorating with Ag/V2O5. The fabricated photocatalysts were characterized through FTIR, SEM, XRD, BET, PL, EDX, ESR, UV–vis spectroscopy, TGA, ESI-MS, and Raman spectroscopy. The point zero charge of the reduced and modified GO (RMGO/Ag/V2O5) was measured to be 6.7 by the pH drift method. This ternary composite was able to achieve complete removal of methyl orange (MO) and chlorpyrifos (CP) in solutions in 80 min under the optimum operation conditions (e.g., in terms of pollutant/catalyst concentrations, pH effects, and contact time). The role of active species responsible for photocatalytic activity was confirmed by scavenger analysis and ESR investigations. The potential mechanism for photocatalytic activity was studied through a fragmentation process carried out by MS analysis. Through nonlinear fitting of the experimental data, MO and CP exhibited the best fit results with the pseudo 1st-order kinetics (quantum yields of 1.07 × 10−3 and 2.16 × 10−3 molecules photon−1 and space-time yields of 1.53 × 10−5 and 2.7 × 10−5 molecules photon−1 mg−1, respectively). The structure of the nanomaterials remained mostly intact to support increased stability and reusability of the prepared photocatalysts even after 10 successive regeneration cycles.

Effective removal of heavy metals from aqueous solution using CS/OMMT nanocomposite synthesized by gamma irradiation

The current investigation involved the fabrication of nanocomposites CS/OMMT through polymerization initiated by γ-rays irradiation. The product was characterized using FTIR and SEM techniques. The current analysis aimed to determine the adsorption performance of lead (II) ions onto nanocomposites that were synthesized, using a batch adsorption technique in an aqueous medium. The investigation analyzed the influence of different issues on the adsorption capability of the nanocomposite. Further, the lead (II) concentration, medium pH, contact time & adsorbent use were taken into account. Adsorption process order was determined with the help of kinetics. Kinetics data of pseudo 1st and 2nd order models were analyzed. There was a strong correlation between the data and the second-order kinetic model. Based on our research, we conclude that the nanocomposite showed good agreement with the Langmuir model of Pb(II) ions. The nanocomposite underwent a desorption procedure utilizing solutions of CaCl2, NaCl and 0.01 M HNO3 to attain complete elimination of Pb(II) ions. This process are revealed that CS/OMMT demonstrated remarkable efficacy as an absorbent for heavy metal ions, suggesting its potential as a viable method for purifying heavy metal-contaminated water.

Sequestration of chromium(vi) and nickel(ii) heavy metals from unhygienic water via sustainable and innovative magnetic nanotechnology.

In a stride towards sustainable solutions, this research endeavors to address the critical issue of water pollution via heavy metals by coupling the power of magnetic nanotechnology, in combination with a green chemistry approach, to eliminate two noxious inorganic pollutants: chromium(vi) and nickel(ii) from aqueous environments. The synthesis of magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles was achieved using ferric chloride hexahydrate (FeCl3·6H2O) as a precursor, with the assistance of Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. leaves extract, known for its remarkable salt-reducing properties. A range of bio-adsorbents, derived from corncob biomass, corncob pyrolyzed biochar, and magnetite/corncob biochar nanocomposite (NC), were engineered for their eco-friendly and biocompatible characteristics. Extensive parametric optimizations, including variations in pH, contact time, dose rate, and concentration, were carried out to gain insights into the adsorption behavior and capacity of these bioadsorbents concerning Cr(vi) and Ni(ii). Equilibrium and kinetic studies were undertaken to comprehensively understand the adsorption dynamics. In the case of Ni(ii), the Freundlich isotherm model provided a satisfactory fit for all bio-adsorbents, demonstrating R2 values of 0.91, 0.95, and 0.96 for BM, BC, and NC, respectively. Furthermore, the pseudo 1st order model emerged as the most suitable fit for Cr(vi) sequestration in corncob BM with an R2 value of 0.98, while pseudo 2nd order models were robustly fitted for BC and NC, yielding R2 values of 0.88 and 0.99, respectively. The magnetite/corncob nanocomposite outperformed other bioadsorbents in removing heavy metals from wastewater due to its environmental friendliness, larger surface area, reusability, and cost-effectiveness at an industrial scale.

Exploring the role of mixed micelles and promoters for alcohol oxidation: A green catalytic approach and insights into micellar chemistry

Oxidation of 1-butanol at 30 °C was carried out using chromic acid in an aqueous medium, employing pseudo 1st order reaction conditions. The resultant 1-butanal was isolated through fractional distillation. Surfactant micelles, acting as tiny templates or nano-reactors, play a vital role in generating nano-structured materials with desired attributes. These micelles have shown promise as effective catalysts, including mixed anionic-nonionic micelles like SDS-TX 100. In the pursuit of enhancing the rate of oxidation, micelle catalysts were tested in conjunction with various promoters. Astonishingly, these combinations displayed an impressive rate acceleration. To validate the products and interactions, comprehensive analyses were conducted using techniques such as IR, NMR, and UV. The formation of mixed micelles was also established through DLS analysis. Interestingly, among the catalytic paths, mixed micelles combined with 2, 2́-Bipyridine (Bpy) promoter exhibited the highest oxidation rate, overshadowing other combinations. Further insight was gained by observing the rate constants: kobs (SDS) > kobs (TX 100) and kobs (Phen) > kobs (Bpy) > kobs (PA) for promoted reactions in single micelle catalysis. For SDS micelles and mixed micelles, the order was kobs (Bpy) > kobs (Phen) > kobs (PA), whereas in TX 100 micelles, it was kobs (Phen) > kobs (Bpy) > kobs (PA).

Insights into isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamics of adsorption of acid blue 113 from an aqueous solution of nutraceutical industrial fennel seed spent

Research studies have been carried out to accentuate Fennel Seed Spent, a by-product of the Nutraceutical Industry, as an inexpensive, recyclable and operational biosorbent for bioremediation of Acid Blue 113 (AB113) in simulated water-dye samples and textile industrial effluent (TIE). The physical process of adhesion of AB113 on the surface of the biosorbent depends on various parameters, such as the initial amount of the dye, amount and expanse of the biosorbent particles, pH of the solution and temperature of the medium. The data obtained was analyzed using three two-parameter and five three-parameter adsorption isotherm models to glean the adsorbent affinities and interaction mechanism of the adsorbate molecules and adsorbent surface. The adsorption feature study is conducted employing models of Weber-Morris, pseudo 1st and 2nd order, diffusion film model, Dumwald-Wagner and Avrami model. The study through 2nd order pseudo and Avrami models produced complementary results for the authentication of experimental data. The thermodynamic features, ΔG0, ΔH0, and ΔS0 of the adsorption process are acclaimed to be almost spontaneous, physical in nature and endothermic in their manifestation. Surface characterization was carried out using Scanner Electron Microscopy, and identification and determination of chemical species and molecular structure was performed using Infrared Spectroscopy (IR). Maximum adsorption evaluated using statistical optimization with different combinations of five independent variables to study the individual as well as combined effects by Fractional Factorial Experimental Design (FFED) was 236.18 mg g−1 under optimized conditions; pH of 2, adsorbent dosage of 0.500 g L−1, and an initial dye concentration of 209.47 mg L−1 for an adsorption time of 126.62 min with orbital shaking of 165 rpm at temperature 49.95 °C.

ZnSe-rGO nanocomposites as photocatalysts for purification of textile dye contaminated water: A green approach to use wastewater for maize cultivation

Disputes about the probable availability of safe water and the efficacy of processed wastewater are key issues that necessitate a suitable solution to enhance the quality of clean water. The current research emphasizes the synthesis of ZnSe-reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites (ZnSe:rGO) with different weight ratios of rGO (represented as X = 0.6, 1 and 1.6 g)via one-step hydrothermal method. The photocatalytic performance for the degradation of methyl violet (MV) dye was investigated under visible light irradiation by varying the reaction parameters. The crystal structure, elemental composition, surface functionality and morphology of the synthesized ZnSe-XrGO nanocomposites were estimated by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) techniques. UV–visible spectroscopy was used to investigate the optical properties. The highest efficiency is obtained for ZnSe-XrGO in 1:1 and it showed pseudo 1st order behavior with rate constant of 0.0167min−1and 94 % photodegradation of MV in just 3 h. Furthermore, hazardous effects of MV were investigated on the germination and growth of Zea mays seeds by giving them aqueous solution of MV (0, 8, 12, 24 and 48 ppm) and the decontaminated water after photodegradation of MV with the synthesized photoactive composite. The results showed profound negative effect on both germination and seedling growth at higher concentration (>12 ppm) of the dye solution. No hazardous effects were observed on both these parameters when it was given the dye degraded water which reflects the practical use of the synthesized catalyst for water remediation. The current study fulfills the goal of designing an efficient visible-light active nano-photocatalyst and its direct applicability on life sciences for water purification.