SEM-EDX Techniques Research Articles

Microwave-assisted synthesis, characterization, and oxytetracycline antibiotic sorption performance of a novel magnetic nanohybrid material: MnFe2O4@black cumin solid waste-derived activated carbon

Using waste resources to synthesize functional materials without polluting the environment is important for sustainable life and development. In the present study, a novel magnetically separable activated carbon nanohybrid (MnFe2O4@BAC) was produced by using the microwave-assisted chemical co-precipitation method of industrially processed black cumin solid waste-derived activated carbon (BAC) and manganese ferrite nanoparticles (MnFe2O4). It was characterized by VSM, XRD, Raman, BET, SEM-EDX, FTIR, Boehm titration, and pHPZC analysis techniques. Spinel MnFe2O4 nanoparticles significantly affected the pore properties of BAC. MnFe2O4@BAC exhibited a saturation magnetization property of 14.6 emu/g. Also, the optimal sorption conditions of oxytetracycline (OTC), which was chosen as a model to test the antibiotic sorption ability from water, were decided according to the optimum influences of operational variables. The kinetic and isotherm results best described the pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models, respectively. The maximum OTC sorption ability of MnFe2O4@BAC was determined as 591.7 mg/g under specified optimal sorption conditions. Thermodynamic parameters were calculated to show that the sorption is spontaneous volitional and endothermic. The spent MnFe2O4@BAC was accumulated after sorption using an external magnetic field for subsequent reuse and showed excellent reusability stability.

Improving the Performance of Titanium Oxide Nanocomposites as NO2 Gas Sensors for Optimum Sensitivity

In this study, we investigate the performance improvement of titanium oxide (TiO2) nanocomposites as NO2 gas sensors for optimum sensitivity. The TiO2 nanocomposites were synthesized using a solvothermal method and were modified with different dopants and additives to enhance their sensing properties. The sensing performance of the TiO2 nanocomposites was evaluated in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, response time, and recovery time. The synthesized nanocomposites were successfully characterized using AFM, FTIR, SEM-EDX and XRD techniques. The results showed that the addition of additives such as TiO2/GO, TiO2-Ag/GO and TiO2- Al2O3/GO: TiO2/GO significantly improved the sensing properties of the TiO2 nanocomposites. The Ag-doped TiO2 nanocomposites exhibited the highest sensitivity towards NO2 gas with a very low detection limit. The Al2O3-doped TiO2 nanocomposites showed good selectivity towards NO2 gas compared to other interfering gases and has led to increase in the surface area. In conclusion, the addition of additives and the optimization of the annealing temperature can significantly improve the sensing properties of TiO2 nanocomposites towards NO2 gas. The findings of this study can contribute to the development of highly sensitive and selective NO2 gas sensors for various applications such as environmental monitoring and industrial safety.

Remediation of phenanthrene by highly efficient CdS–SnS photocatalyst and its cytotoxic assessments

Cadmium sulfide-tin sulfide (CdS–SnS) nanoparticles are a novel kind of photocatalyst. These CdS–SnS nanoparticles are synthesized and characterized using UV–Vis, FT-IR, XRD, SEM-EDX, and DLS techniques, to understand their size distribution, crystalline nature, morphology, shape, optical properties, and elemental composition. This research offers insight into the efficient photocatalytic degradation of Phenanthrene (PHE) using CdS–SnS. The CdS–SnS NPs as photocatalyst can effectively photodegrade the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) such as phenanthrene under simulated solar and UV light. UV–vis spectra of these nanoparticles exhibit peaks at 365 and 546 cm−1 respectively, the mean size of the CdS–SnS NPs in DLS is determined to be 78 nm. The CdS–SnS stretching frequency was observed at wave numbers below 700 cm−1, the absorption peak at 1123 cm−1 indicates the presence of C–N stretch or CS bond of thiourea, while the peak at 1350.38 cm−1 corresponds to the tris-amine C–N stretch in FT-IR. Additionally, the peaks observed at 2026 cm−1 indicate the presence of isothiocyanate (NCS). 1456.23 cm−1 represents the asymmetric scissor deformation vibration. EDAX revealed the presence of elemental Cd and Sn oxides. The antimicrobial studies showed that the CdS–SnS NPs at the concentration of 150 μg/mL, exhibit maximum inhibition (15 ± 1.25 mm) against the strains Proteus mirabilis followed by Staphylococcus epidermidis and Clostridium spp. Among fungal strains Colletotrichum spp. exhibits the maximum zone of inhibition (9 ± 0.25). This research also observed the cytotoxic effects of CdS–SnS NPs on HepG2 and ZF4 cells. HepG2 cells exhibited 50% inhibition at 50 μg/mL and 70% inhibition at 100 μg/mL concentrations, while ZF4 cells exhibited 50% inhibition at 50 μg/mL and 78% inhibition at 100 μg/mL concentrations, respectively. The parameters like concentration of PHE, concentration of CdS–SnS NPs, pH, and sources of irradiation on batch adsorption were examined to maximize the efficiency of the photodegradation process.

Zinc Oxide Anchored Porous Reduced Graphene Oxide: Electrode Material for Sensing of Ezetimibe

A new and sensitive electrochemical sensing platform was developed based on zinc oxide anchored porous reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite (ZnO/prGO) for a dyslipidemic agent, ezetimibe (EZT). ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by treating zinc acetate solution with an environmental friendly precursor, Balanitesroxburghii date fruit extract (desert date). The nanocomposite, ZnO/prGO was prepared by hydrothermal treatment followed by ultrasonication method. ZnO/prGO was characterized systematically by X-ray diffraction, UV-visible spectroscopic, FT-infrared spectroscopic, scanning electron microscopic-EDX and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic techniques. The sensing platform was fabricated by drop casting ZnO/prGO suspension onto the surface of glassy carbon electrode (GCE) to obtain ZnO/prGO/GCE. The proposed sensor, ZnO/prGO/GCE, showed excellent sensitivity for EZT due to porogenic nature and improved electron /mass transfer capability of the electrode material. EZT exhibited an anodic peak with 18-fold enhancement in peak current at ZnO/prGO/GCE when compared to that at bare GCE. Linearity was observed between the peak current and concentration of EZT in the range of 0.1–51.1 μM and 0.05–62.5 μM for square wave voltammetric (SWV) and differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) methods, respectively. SWV method was developed for the first time for the determination of EZT with a lowest limit of detection of 0.03 μM. The fabricated electrochemical sensor displayed good selectivity for EZT in the presence of additives and excipients. The applicability of the proposed sensor was demonstrated by determining EZT in spiked urine samples and pharmaceutical formulations. The results of analysis were found to be accurate with more than 97% recovery and precise with RSD values of less than 3.0%.

Radiation grafting mediated tailoring of a mercury (Hg(II)) selective adsorbent “RAdMer”: Mechanistic insights, uptake performance and reusability evaluation in artificially contaminated groundwater

The presence of mercury (Hg(II)) in water bodies poses a pressing threat not only to aquatic life forms but also human health. This work proposes the fabrication of a novel thiol (-SH), amine (–NH–) and carboxylic (-COOH) group containing trifunctional adsorbent based on a radiolytically surface engineered biodegradable platform for selective sequestration of Hg(II) from aqueous media. Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) was gamma radiolytically incorporated onto cotton fabric via Radiation Induced Graft Polymerization (RIGP) process, followed by chemical conversion of the nitrile groups using dl-Cysteine as the trifunctional agent. The developed adsorbent RAdMer was characterized by FTIR, TGA, SEM-EDX, EDXRF, XRD, CHNS, 13C NMR and XPS techniques, and tested for Hg(II) removal in batch and continuous flow adsorption modes. Adsorption kinetics and equilibrium characteristics were validated using various theoretical models as well column adsorption models. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations performed to determine the complexation mechanism revealed the binding to be occurring predominantly in a 1:2 metal to ligand ratio with calculated binding affinity of −19.63 kcal.mol−1. RAdMer demonstrated fast uptake kinetics with over 60 % of total Hg(II) adsorption occurring within the first 30 min, while peak adsorption capacity was calculated at 174.3 mg.g−1. Moreover, RAdMer could be reused for >5 iterative cycles using an optimized HCl-Thiourea eluent system. Acting upon the UNOs SDG6 principle of providing “clean water and sanitation for all”, RAdMer efficiency was demonstrated with Hg(II) spiked ground water samples to successfully achieve the WHO permissible limit of <1.0 μg.L−1, and can therefore be potentially upscaled as an efficient methodology for remediation of Hg(II) ions in contaminated water.

Kaolin–Polyvinyl Alcohol–Potato Starch Composite Films for Environmentally Friendly Packaging: Optimization and Characterization

This research paper introduces an innovative methodology to produce biodegradable composite films by combining kaolin, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and potato starch (PS) using a solvent casting technique. The novelty of this study resides in the identification and implementation of optimal synthesis conditions, which were achieved by utilizing the Response Surface Methodology—Central Composite Design. The study defines starch, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and kaolin as independent variables and examines their influence on important mechanical qualities, water absorption capacity, moisture content, and degradability as primary outcomes. The study establishes the ideal parameters as 5.5 weight percent Kaolin, 2.5 g of starch, and 3.5 g of PVA. These settings yield notable outcomes, including a tensile strength of 26.5 MPa, an elongation at break of 96%, a water absorption capacity of 21%, a moisture content of 3%, and a remarkable degradability of 48%. The study emphasizes that the augmentation of kaolin content has a substantial impact on many properties, including degradability, tensile strength, and elongation at break. Simultaneously, it leads to a reduction in the water absorption capacity and moisture content. The study’s novelty is reinforced by conducting an additional examination on the ideal composite film, which includes investigations using FTIR, TGA, and SEM-EDX techniques. The consistency between the predicted and experimental results is noteworthy, as it provides further validation for the prediction accuracy of Design Expert software’s quadratic equations. These equations effectively capture the complex interactions that exist between process parameters and selected responses. This study presents novel opportunities for the extensive utilization of PVA/PS composite films, including kaolin in various packaging scenarios, thereby significantly advancing sustainable packaging alternatives. The statistical analysis provides strong evidence supporting the relevance of the models, hence increasing our level of trust in the software’s prediction skills. This conclusion is based on a 95% confidence level and p-values that are below a threshold of 0.05.

Appraisal of the adsorption potential of novel modified gellan gum nanocomposite for the confiscation of methylene blue and malachite green

In the present investigation a novel, environmentally affable and economical, modified gellan gum nanocomposite (MAA-g-GG/Ppy/MMT) was fabricated via free-radical polymerization for the liquid-phase mitigation of Methylene blue (MB) and Malachite green (MG) dyes. The innovation of this work is substantiated by the intentional combination of diverse materials, the strategic incorporation of polypyrrole for enhanced adsorption, and the thoughtful addition of MMT as a nanofiller to address mechanical strength and improve adsorption capacity. The physico-chemical facets of MAA-g-GG/Ppy/MMT and its interaction with the dye molecules were elucidated using FT-IR, SEM-EDX, BET, TEM, and XRD techniques. The optimum conditions for the sorption of MB and MG were deemed to be dosage (1.2 g/L for both dyes), contact time (50 min for both dyes), initial MG/MB concentration (MB = 40 mg/L & MG = 30 mg/L), and pH (MB = 10 & MG = 7). The Freundlich isotherm was identified as the most suitable model, as evidenced by the highest R2 value (∼0.999), indicating multilayer adsorption. The pseudo second-order model appraised the kinetic data. Thermodynamic findings revealed the adsorption process to be spontaneous, viable and exothermic which was ascertained by negative ∆H⸰ values (−22.8 kJ/mol for MB and −18.3 kJ/mol for MG). The substantial Langmuir adsorption capacity (Qm: MG =185.185; MB = 344.827) can be ascribed to the reason for strong interactions between MAA-g-GG/Ppy/MMT and dyes. The high reliability of MAA-g-GG/Ppy/MMT was determined by the regeneration studies that worked up to four cycles for both dyes. The real water (distilled water, tap water, and river water) samples spiked with MG/MB demonstrated a substantial uptake of dyes (>85 %) and the marginal influence of ionic strength on the adsorptive potential of MAA-g-GG/Ppy/MMT validated its efficacy for the decontamination of real effluents. The forces of attraction between the dyes and MAA-g-GG/Ppy/MMT included van der Waals, electrostatic forces of attraction, and π-π interaction. This green, economical, and viable MAA-g-GG/Ppy/MMT will prove to be an efficient adsorbent for the decontamination process of sequestration of dyes to achieve a sustainable environment.

Chitosan and Ferrite Nanoparticles Modified Zeolite (ZSM-5) as Adsorbent for the Removal of Acid Red Dye from Water

The present study involved the synthesis and characterization of nanocomposites (NCs) consisting of MgFe2O4-chitosan-ZSM-5 zeolite (MgF-Cs-Ze), NiFe2O4-chitosan-ZSM-5 zeolite (NiF-Cs-Ze), and MgFe2O4@ NiFe2O4-chitosan-ZSM-5 zeolite (MgF@NiF-Cs-Ze). These NCs were investigated for their potential application as effective adsorbents in various environmental contexts. In order to investigate the composition and physical properties of the NCs, XRD, FT-IR, SEM-EDX, and TEM techniques were utilized. The present study is aimed at evaluating acid red (AR) dye adsorption behavior from aqueous solutions onto MgF-CS-Ze and NiF-CS-Ze NCs under different experimental circumstances. The study revealed that the NCs MgF-CS-Ze and NiF-CS-Ze exhibited maximum capacity for adsorption of 55.55 mg g-1 and 41.66 mg g-1, respectively, in that regard when tested with AR dye. These findings underscore the significant adsorption capabilities of these NCs. Examining the adsorption kinetics revealed that AR dye adsorption process followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Resulting from thermodynamic studies, it was discovered that the adsorption of AR dye onto MgF-CS-Ze and NiF-CS-Ze NC process was an exothermic and spontaneous.

Straightforward electrochemical synthesis of a Co3O4 nanopetal/ZnO nanoplate p-n junction for photoelectrochemical water splitting.

Hydrogen production through photoelectrochemical (PEC) reactions is an innovative and promising approach to producing clean energy. The PEC working electrode of a Co3O4/ZnO-based p-n heterojunction was prepared by a straightforward electrochemical deposition with different deposition times onto an FTO (Fluorine-doped Tin Oxide) glass substrate. The successful synthesis of the materials was confirmed through analysis using XRD, FTIR, SEM-EDX, DRS, and PL techniques. Mott-Schottky plots and some characterization studies also checked the determination of the formation of the p-n junction. Co3O4/ZnO/FTO with a Co3O4 deposition time of 2 minutes exhibited the lowest onset potential of 0.82 V and the lowest overpotential of 470 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm -2. Furthermore, the photo-conversion efficiency of the Co3O4/ZnO/FTO sample showed 1.4 times higher current density than the ZnO/FTO sample. A mechanism is also proposed to enhance the Co3O4/ZnO/FTO electrode photo-electrocatalytic activity involved in the water-splitting reaction. The Co3O4/ZnO/FTO electrode shows significant potential as a promising PEC electrode to produce hydrogen.

Analysis of Platinum (Pt) Ion Biosorption Performance Using Chitosan

Platinum Group Metal has a continuous increase in demand. The demand for platinum is divided into four segments: automotive, jewelry, industry, and investment. However, the availability of PGM is limited, resulting in the potential scarcity of the metal and the necessity for developing more effective and environmentally friendly methods. Biosorption serves as an alternative method for capturing metal ions using biological materials. Biosorption is chosen due to its low operational costs, environmentally friendly, and utilization of abundant natural biomaterials. This study aims to analyze the influence of chitosan concentration and adsorbent surface area on the biosorption process of Pt metal from H2PtCl6 solution. The biosorption method utilizes chitosan membranes produced by mixing chitosan with PVA and using glutaraldehyde as a crosslinker to stabilize chitosan in solution. The research involves testing using UV-VIS, SEM-EDX, and FTIR techniques to analyze the concentration of adsorbed Pt metal, morphology, and functional groups on the membrane. The results indicate that chitosan is an effective adsorbent for absorbing Pt metal ions, particularly in the CS/PVA adsorbent with a surface area of 352 mm2 and a chitosan concentration ratio of 2 gram, resulting in percentage adsorption of 47.948%.

Selective and precise solid phase extraction based on a magnetic cellulose gold nanocomposite followed by ICP-OES analysis for monitoring of total sulfur content in liquid fuels.

This study describes the synthesis and characterization of a magnetic cellulose gold nanocomposite (MCNC@Au) for magnetic solid phase (m-SPE) extraction of total sulfur content in liquid fuel samples followed by analysis using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The nanocomposite was prepared using an in situ co-precipitation method and characterization results from FTIR, P-XRD, TEM and SEM-EDX techniques confirmed the formation of the targeted nanocomposite. To achieve good extraction efficiency, the 2-level half-fractional factorial design and central composite design were used to investigate the most influential parameters of the proposed m-SPE method. The multivariate optimization results showed that efficient extraction was obtained when 27.5 mg sorbent mass, 35 minutes sorption time, 200 μL eluent volume and 8 min elution time were used. The optimal parameters resulted in excellent accuracy (98.8%), precision (1.7%), LOD (0.039 mg L-1), LOQ (0.129 mg L-1), MDL (0.014 μg g-1) and MQL (0.047 μg g-1). The optimized and validated m-SPE method was applied in real fuel oil samples, revealing a total sulfur content range of 13.20 ± 0.05-15.70 ± 0.02 μg g-1 for crude oil, 7.32 ± 0.01-9.12 ± 0.03 for μg g-1, 8.41 ± 0.02-9.15 ± 0.06 μg g-1 for gasoline and 9.10 ± 0.02 and 9.70 ± 0.04 μg g-1 for kerosene samples, sugesting high concentration levels of sulfur in crude oils. However, the obtained sulfur content levels are within the accepted standards in fuel oils, except for those of crude oil and kerosene samples. Therefore, the proposed m-SPE method followed by ICP-OES analysis has proven to be an alternative procedure for rapid and selective quantification of total sulfur in fuel samples.

A critical exploratory investigation on nano-inspired (La2Zr2O7 NPs) surface coatings for aircraft icing mitigation and electrochemical studies

ABSTRACT The essential for a potential and environmentally benign sustainable La2Zr2O7 nanomaterial (LZ-NPs) prepared by combustion process towards super-hydrophobic surface coating and electrochemical sensor activities. The structural confirmations of LZ-NPs were well analysed by Powder-X-ray diffraction, SEM-EDX, DRS, TGA-DSC and FT-IR spectroscopic techniques. The reported research elucidating a creation of super-hydrophobic surface using LZ-NPs offering a alternate method towards prevention of ice accumulation on the aircraft surface material. This was confirmed by the measurement of contact angle between nano-coated surface and ice formed from super-cooled liquid mid-air during flight exceeds 150°. Electrochemical studies of modified LZ-NPs-carbon paste electrode reveals that an excellent redox-potentials measured by Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopic (EIS) techniques under different scan rates of 0.01–0.05 V/s in 0.1 M KCl. The higher resistance of prepared LZ-NPs-carbon electrode was confirmed based on the existence EIS Nyquist plot.

Gamma-irradiation synthesis of Pd nanoparticles decorated on Bi2WO6 photocatalysts for efficient NOx removal

Visible-light active photocatalysis based on Bi2WO6 nanomaterials towards NOx removal, is a topic that attracts a lot of attention from material science and chemical engineering researchers. In this study, Pd/Bi2WO6 was synthesized by mixing gamma-rays-irradiated Pd2+ solution with Bi2WO6 powder under room temperature conditions. The synthesized materials were characterized using XRD, FT-IR, SEM-EDX, TEM, DRS, and PL techniques. The results demonstrate that Pd/Bi2WO6 exhibits higher efficiency (46.51 %) in degrading NO compared to pure Bi2WO6 (34.46 %). Additionally, the trapping test confirms the significant involvement of electrons and holes in the degradation of NO. The recyclability of Pd/Bi2WO6-based materials was also investigated, as they maintained their structural integrity as well as catalytic activity after five cycles, suggesting their potential for practical applications.

In-situ Salen-type ligand formation-driven of a heterometallic Cu(II)-Hg(II) complex: Synthetic update, crystallographic features, DFT calculations, and unveil antimicrobial profiles

This article vividly describes the synthesis and structural characterization of one 6-Bromo-2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde ligand involving heteronuclear complex, [Cu(L)Hg(Cl)2]. X-ray single-crystal determined the complex crystal structure and characterized it by various physical methods, including elemental, FT-IR, Raman, PXRD, UV–vis, NMR, and SEM-EDX techniques. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that the compound adopts a monoclinic space group Cc during crystallization. The crystal structure exhibits unique supramolecular interactions, like intermolecular C-H∙∙∙π H-bonding and X-bonding (X = Halogen) between Br(1) and Br(2) atoms. Hirshfeld surfaces (HS) and 2-D fingerprint plots confirm significant H…Cl (21.9 %) contacts. Further, dispersion energy dominates due to Br atoms' higher electron/electron cloud. The complex underwent DFT calculations based on the Gaussian software package at B3LYP, HF, and M062x levels, utilizing the lanl2dz, sdd, and def2tzvp basis sets. The HOMO-LUMO, ESP, Global reactivity, Interaction energy and energy frameworks, and Fukui function investigated the complex properties in a multidimensional spectrum. The complex showed promising NLO activity, which has broad technological applications. Fukui function calculation identifies regions prone to nucleophilic (Nu-) and electrophilic (E+) attacks. The complex and synthetic components were examined for antimicrobial function against Gram+ve and Gram-ve bacterial and fungal strains. Molecular docking (MD) and Protein-Ligand Interaction Profilers (PLIP) further support the antimicrobial findings.

Preparation, characterization, and adsorption kinetics of graphene oxide/chitosan/carboxymethyl cellulose composites for the removal of environmentally relevant toxic metals

This study attempted to develop a low-cost and eco-friendly bio-based composite adsorbent that is highly efficient in capturing potential toxic metals. The bio-composite adsorbent was prepared using graphene oxide (GO), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and chitosan (CS); and characterized using FTIR, SEM-EDX and WAXD techniques. Metal-ion concentration in an aqueous solution was measured by ICP-OES. This article reveals that the adsorption of heavy metal ions varied according to the adsorbent quantity, initial metal concentration, pH, and interaction time. The metal ions' adsorption capacity (mg/g) was observed to increase when the interaction time and metal concentration increased. Conversely, metal ions adsorption was decreased with an increase in adsorbent dosages. The effect of pH on metal ions' adsorption was ion-specific. The substantial adsorption by GO/CMC/CS composite for Co2+, CrO42−, Mn2+ and Cd2+, had the respective values of 43.55, 77.70, 57.78, and 91.38 mg/g under acidic conditions. The metal ions experimental data were best fitted with pseudo-second-order (PSO) kinetics, and Freundlich isotherm model (except Co2+). The separation factors (RL) value in the present investigation were found between 0 and 1, meaning that the metal ions adsorption onto GO/CS/CMC composite is favorable. The RL and sorption intensity (1/n) values fitted well to the adsorption isotherm.

Insights into electro-assisted and selective adsorption of U(VI) using hierarchical porous and activated biocarbon from lotus pods/2D-MoS2/polypyrrole composites through capacitive deionization

The current research work involves the fabrication of orderly mesoporous composite materials based on layered molybdenum disulfide, a hierarchical porous biocarbon from Lotus pods electrodeposited with polypyrrole (2D-MoS2/BCL/PPy). The polypyrrole, as a conducting polymer, was electrodeposited in different mole ratios onto Ni foam supported by 2D-MoS2/BCL. The composite materials were analytically characterized by means of FTIR, SEM-EDX, BET, and XRD techniques. The Lotus pod-driven biocarbon exhibited a high surface area. Among different composites, BCL/PPy-3 (electrodeposited with 0.3 M PPy) was found highly efficient in electro-assisted hexavalent uranium recovery via capacitive deionization because of its impressive specific capacitance (Csp) (100.40 F/g) with improved active surface area and admirable total pore volume. These characteristics made BCL/PPy-3 competitive for enhanced hexavalent uranium ion electrosorption. These features were highly conducive to fast electron transfer and better diffusion of hexavalent uranium ions during the CDI process. The exposed S atoms in BCL/PPy-3 showed good coordination and complexing power for hexavalent uranium ions. The BCL/PPy-3 exhibited an inspiring sorption capacity of 417.90 mg/g at pH = 4.5 and applied voltage (−0.9 V), which is better than many other materials used in CDI applications having similar geometry and morphology. During the electrosorption, the composite electrode BCL/PPy-3 offered a small solution resistance (Rs) (0.69 cm2), a minute charge transfer resistance of Rct (1.19 Ω cm2), and a substantial double layer constant phase element (qdl) of (0.0372 S sn/cm2). These features make this composite electrode highly effective for hexavalent uranium ions removal.

Effect of silver nanoparticles on the morphological, antibacterial activity and performance of graphene oxide-embedded polyvinylidene fluoride membrane

In this work, a different ratio of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) was used as a nanofiller on graphene oxide (GO)-embedded polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes fabrication through a non-solvent induced phase separation method. The morphology of fabricated membranes was investigated using FTIR, XRD, and SEM-EDX techniques. The fabricated membranes were tested for Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) rejection and Molecular Weight Cut Off (MWCO) with various initial concentrations of 100 – 400 ppm and 6 – 145 kDa, respectively using a crossflow method, as well as antibacterial activity against four strains bacteria via total plate counting and Kirby-Bauer method. The incorporation of hydrophilic GO and Ag NPs obviously alters membrane morphology, enhances membrane’s porosity and hydrophilicity. Moreover, it improves membrane crystallinity (> 70%) as indicated by the higher XRD peaks intensity. Based on the crossflow measurements, the membrane fabricated with GO and Ag ratio of 1: 3 (PVDF/GO/AgNPs – 3) demonstrated the highest BSA flux of 83.81 L/m2 h, which was third-fold higher than that of PVDF membrane as well as high BSA rejection (> 94%) and MWCO of ∼3 kDa. According to the observation, PVDF/GO/AgNPs – 3 also possessed a high bacteria killing ratio of > 94% and a large inhibition zone of ≥ 1.5 mm toward all bacteria strains. These results inferred that PVDF/GO/Ag membrane has great potential as antibiofouling membranes.

Synthesis and Characterization of MnWO4-CNT for Supercapacitor Applications

This study reveals, for the first time, the excellent capability of MnWO4-CNT as a supercapacitor electrode compared to MnWO4. In previous research conducted on this compound, RGO was used to enhance its electrochemical properties. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of CNT on the electrochemical properties of the compound, which also yielded promising results. The physical and morphological analysis of MnWO4 and MnWO4-CNT was conducted using Raman, XRD, BET, and SEM-EDX techniques. The electrochemical performance of the samples was assessed through cyclic voltammetry (CV), impedance electrochemical spectroscopy (EIS), and galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD). Notably, MnWO4-CNT exhibited a significant specific capacitance of 1849.14 F·g−1 at a scan rate of 10 mV·s−1. The stability evaluation of the samples demonstrated a high capacitance retention of 81.2% and 89.4% for MnWO4 and MnWO4-CNT, respectively. The substantial specific capacity, along with the favorable stability of MnWO4-CNT, positions it as a highly promising material for utilization in supercapacitor electrodes.

Facile Preparation of Magnetic CuFe2O4 on Sepiolite/GO Nanocomposites for Efficient Removal of Pb(II) and Cd(II) from Aqueous Solution.

CuFe2O4 nanoparticles were synthesized and immobilized on sepiolite fibers and graphene oxide sheets, producing a CuFe2O4/sepiolite/GO (CFSG) nanocomposite via a facile single-pot method. The synthesized nanocomposite was characterized using TEM, FTIR, SEM-EDX, XRD, and TGA techniques to determine its composition, structure, and thermal stability. The adsorptive removal of Pb(II) and Cd(II) heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions was studied using the synthesized CFSG nanocomposite. Adsorption parameters such as CFSG loading, pH, contact time, and temperature were investigated. The CFGS nanocomposite showed a higher Pb(II) removal (qm = 238.1 mg/g) compared to Cd(II) (qm = 14.97 mg/g) in a Pb(II) and Cd(II) binary system. The Pb(II) and Cd(II) adsorption fitted well with the Langmuir model, followed by the pseudo-second-order model, and was found spontaneous. Adsorption thermodynamic analysis showed that the Pb(II) adsorption process was exothermic while Cd(II) adsorption was endothermic. The CuFe2O4 nanoparticles on the CFSG surface could facilitate the adsorption of heavy metal ions through electrostatic interaction and complexation processes.

Dielectric and Humidity Sensing Properties in Iron Nanoparticle Substituted Polyaniline Composite

The existence of graphene-based Polyaniline nanocomposite has been demonstrated to be exceptional host matrices for entrapping nano-sized particles, and its composites are widely used in a variety of applications such as transducers, sensors, electrodes, microwave absorption, and thermoelectric applications. The purpose of this study is to investigate the dielectric properties and humidity sensing response of a Fe doped PANI/Graphene (PAFG) composite synthesized in-situ polymerization using adhathoda vasica plant extract. The FT-IR, XRD, and SEM-EDX techniques were used to characterize the sample. The dielectric measurements were performed at 298K over a wide frequency range 5x101 to 5x106 Hz. Humidity response studies were performed at room temperature. Iron nanoparticles distributed homogeneously in the PANI matrix were ascertained from IR spectral data. At room temperature, the dielectric properties of the synthesized DS-4 powder outperform those of the synthesized pristine PANI and Fe nanoparticles, with superior dielectric constant and high dielectric loss. When the synthesized iron decorated composite was exposed between 10% and 97% RH, the electrical resistance decreased, which is attributed to the polarization process affecting electrical conductivity within these materials. The PAFG-40% composite exhibited high sensitivity at low humidity levels ranging from 30% to 70% RH.