Degradation Studies Research Articles

Preparation of Fe3O4@SiO2@N-TiO2 and Its Application for Photocatalytic Degradation of Methyl Orange in Na2SO4 Solution

In this paper, Fe3O4@SiO2@TiO2 and N-doped Fe3O4@SiO2@N-TiO2 photocatalysts with magnetic core-shell structures were prepared using a multi-step synthesis method. The materials were analyzed using various techniques, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), selected-area electron diffraction patterns (SAED), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results indicated that the prepared samples had an anatase structure, and N was successfully doped. Fe3O4@SiO2@TiO2 and Fe3O4@SiO2@N-TiO2 with different amounts of nitrogen doping were used for the study of photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO) in pure MO solution, and in MO and Na2SO4 (MO-Na2SO4) mixed solution, respectively. The average photocatalytic degradation rate of MO in pure MO solution with three different batches each of Fe3O4@SiO2@TiO2 and Fe3O4@SiO2@N-TiO2 (3 mL of NH4OH used for doping) under high-pressure mercury lamp irradiation reached 85.25% ± 2.23% and 95.53% ± 0.53%, respectively. The average photocatalytic degradation rate of MO in the MO-Na2SO4 mixed solution with three different batches each of Fe3O4@SiO2@TiO2 and Fe3O4@SiO2@N-TiO2 (3 mL of NH4OH used for doping) under the same irradiation condition reached 90.46% ± 3.33% and 97.79% ± 2.09%, respectively. The results showed that Na2SO4 can promote photocatalytic degradation of MO. The experiment of recycling photocatalysts showed that there was still a good degradation effect after five cycles. Finally, the first-order kinetic model and the photocatalytic degradation mechanism were investigated.

Green Synthesis, Characterization, and Evaluation of Photocatalytic and Antibacterial Activities of Co3O4-ZnO Nanocomposites Using Calpurnia aurea Leaf Extract.

The green synthesis of transition metal oxide nanocomposites using plant extracts is a new and effective method that avoids the involvement of hazardous chemicals. Nondegradable organic pollutants and antibiotic drug resistance have become serious public health issues worldwide. Hence, the main objective of this study is to synthesize Co3O4-ZnO nanocomposites using Calpurnia aurea leaf extract and evaluate its photocatalytic and antibacterial activities. The green synthesized particles were characterized using UV-vis spectra, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction techniques, and scanning electron microscopy combined with energy-dispersive X-ray studies. The synthesized particles were found to be crystalline in nature with average crystallite sizes of 23.82, 14.79, 15.99, 16.46, and 21.73 nm. Scanning electron microscopy shows the spherical morphology of Co3O4-ZnO NCs, and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis confirms the formation of highly pure ZnO NPs and Co3O4-ZnO NCs. The photocatalytic activity was performed under natural sunlight using malachite green as an organic dye pollutant. The green synthesized ZnO NPs, Co3O4 NPs, 1:4, 1:3, and 1:2 Co3O4-ZnO NCs showed high degradation efficiency after 60 min of irradiation. The synthetic material showed good potential against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, with the highest growth inhibition recorded by 1:2 Co3O4-ZnO NCs. The kinetics study of the photocatalytic degradation was confirmed as pseudo first order, and the possible mechanisms for both photocatalytic and antibacterial activities were clearly determined.

Brittle-Ductile Threshold in Lithium Disilicate under Sharp Sliding Contact.

Computer-aided design (CAD)/computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) milling and handpiece grinding are critical procedures in the fabrication and adjustment of ceramic dental restorations. However, due to the formation of microfractures, these procedures are detrimental to the strength of ceramics. This study analyzes the damage associated with current brittle-regime grinding and presents a potential remedy in the application of a safer yet still efficient grinding regime known as "ductile-regime grinding." Disc-shaped specimens of a lithium disilicate glass-ceramic material (IPS e.max CAD) were obtained by cutting and crystallizing the lithium metasilicate CAD/CAM blanks (the so-called blue blocks) following the manufacturer's instructions. The discs were then polished to a 1 µm diamond suspension finish. Single-particle micro-scratch tests (n = 10) with a conical diamond indenter were conducted to reproduce basic modes of deformation and fracture. Key parameters such as coefficient of friction and penetration depth were recorded as a function of scratch load. Further, biaxial flexure strength tests (n = 6) were performed after applying various scratch loads to analyze their effects on ceramic strength. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and focused ion beam (FIB) were used to characterize surface and subsurface damage. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey tests. While the SEM surface analysis of scratch tracks revealed the occurrence of both ductile and brittle removal modes, it failed to accurately determine the threshold load for the brittle-ductile transition. The threshold load for brittle-ductile transition was determined to be 70 mN based on FIB subsurface damage analyses in conjunction with strength degradation studies. Below 70 mN, the specimens exhibited neither strength degradation nor the formation of subsurface cracks. Determination of the brittle-ductile thresholds is significant because it sets a foundation for future research on the feasibility of implementing ductile-regime milling/grinding protocols for fabricating damage-free ceramic dental restorations.

Mechanistic study of cefixime degradation with an atmospheric air dielectric barrier discharge – Influence of radical scavengers and metal ion catalyst

The ineffective removal of antibiotic residues and their metabolites by conventional wastewater treatment setups lead to their continuous discharge into the environment, causing risks to both aquatic life and human health. This study explored the use of a non-thermal plasma (NTP) generated by atmospheric air for the degradation of cefixime (CFX), a widely consumed and recalcitrant antibiotic. This study achieved a complete degradation of CFX using an NTP technology in 8 min treatment time at 6 kV and 20 kHz applied AC voltage and frequency, respectively using a high voltage alternating current power supply unit. An energy yield of 0.42 g/kWh was estimated. The degradation of the pollutant was influenced by solution flow rate, applied voltage and the solution characteristics. Five degradation by-products were identified based on quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-TOF) mass spectrum (MS) analysis and a possible degradation pathway for the pollutant was proposed. Also, radical scavenger experiments were set up to understand the specific chemical species facilitating CFX degradation. The effect of Fe2+ catalyst on the degradation of CFX was investigated in the aqueous solution. This low-cost metal ion catalyst has been known to improve the degradation of organic compounds by facilitating the oxidizing power of H2O2. Considering this, a new idea was examined in this study which was the degradation of the antibiotic in the presence of both Fe2+ catalyst and some radical scavengers (iso-propyl alcohol – IPA, tert-butyl alcohol – TBA, and sodium hydrogen carbonate – NaHCO3). When Fe2+ was introduced into CFX solutions containing TBA, IPA and NaHCO3, respectively, the degradation and kinetics increased by at least 33 %. In these mixed additives, the degradation of the pollutant was enhanced by the consumption of H2O2.

Mn-MOF derived N-doped MnOx@carbon heterogeneous catalysts for Vis-light, S2O82[sbnd], HSO5[sbnd], Vis/S2O82[sbnd], and Vis/HSO5[sbnd]-induced degradation of metronidazole: Kinetics and mechanistic study

Manganese oxide-based nanostructures have demonstrated remarkable potential for reactive radical generation to treat wastewater by activating persulfate (PS) and peroxymonosulfate (PMS) in the presence of visible-light irradiation. Herein, we report a facile strategy to synthesize nitrogen-doped porous MnOx@Carbon nanostructures by annealing Mn-based MOF at different temperatures and employed for the degradation of MTZ under Vis-light, PS, PMS, Vis/PS, and Vis/PMS systems. A significant catalytic synergy was found in the MnO-I/Vis/PMS system. Owing to the rational coordination of nitrogen-enriched porous manganese oxide embedded carbon, high surface area (179.6 m2/g), and surface-exposed abundant active sites, the composite named MnO-I exhibited excellent catalytic performance in all the studied processes. The carbonization process induces a polarization difference between Mn-N co-ordination, resulting in the carbon becoming an electron-deficient core and manganese an electron-rich center, thus providing more Mn (II/III) for PMS activation. The degradation study showed that 99 % removal of MTZ was achieved within 40 min, with a rate constant of 0.099 min−1, in the MnO-I/Vis/PMS system. Trapping experiments and EPR detection demonstrated that SO4•−, OH• and 1O2 radicals were the major species involved in the degradation process. Besides, the degradation pathway and impact of operational parameters, i.e., catalyst dosage, PMS concentration, initial pH, MTZ concentration, co-existing anions, and humic acid, on the removal of MTZ were also explored.

A stability indicating method development and validation of a rapid and sensitive RP-HPLC method for Nintedanib and its application in quantification of nanostructured lipid carriers.

Nintedanib (NTB) is a multiple tyrosine kinase inhibitor, been investigated for many disease conditions like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), systemic sclerosis interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NTB is available as oral capsule formulation, but its ability to detect degradants formed through oxidative, photolytic and hydrolytic processes makes it difficult to quantify. In the current work, a novel reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was developed and validated. The developed method is simple, precise, reproducible, stable and accurate. The inherent stability of NTB was evaluated using the proposed analytical method approach and force degradation studies were carried out. NTB was separated chromatographically on the Shimadzu C 18 column as stationary phase (250 ×4.6 mm, 5 µm) using an isocratic elution method with 0.1% v/v triethyl amine (TEA) in HPLC grade water and acetonitrile (ACN) in the ratio 35:65% v/v. The mobile phase was pumped at a constant flow rate of 1.0 ml/min, and the eluent was detected at 390 nm wavelength. NTB was eluted at 6.77±0.00 min of retention time (t R) with a correlation coefficient of 0.999, the developed method was linear in the concentration range of 0.5 µg/ml to 4.5 µg/ml. The recovery rate was found to be in the range of 99.391±0.468% for 1.5 µg/ml concentration. Six replicate standards were determined to have an % RSD of 0.04. The formulation excipients didn't interfere with the determination of NTB, demonstrating the specificity of the developed method. The proposed approach of the analytical method developed can be used to quantify the amount of NTB present in bulk drugs and pharmaceutical formulations.

Green fabrication of Ag–Ni–Mn-Zn nanoparticles from watermelon peels and its antioxidant, dye degradation and molecular docking studies

Green fabrication of Ag–Ni–Mn-Zn nanoparticles from watermelon peels and its antioxidant, dye degradation and molecular docking studies

DLP 3D Printing of Levoglucosenone-Based Monomers: Exploiting Thiol-ene Chemistry for Bio-Based Polymeric Resins.

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a well-established technique that allows for the development of complex geometries and structures with multiple applications. While considered a more environmentally-friendly method than traditional manufacturing, a significant challenge lies in the availability and ease of synthesis of bio-based alternative resins. In our endeavor to valorize biomass, this work proposes the synthesis of new α,ω-dienes derived from cellulose-derived levoglucosenone (LGO). These dienes are not only straightforward to synthesize but also offer a tunable synthesis approach. Specifically, LGO is first converted into diol precursor, which is subsequently esterified using various carboxylic acids (in this case, 3-butenoic, and 4-pentenoic acids) through a straightforward chemical pathway. The resulting monomers were then employed in UV-activated thiol-ene chemistry for digital light process (DLP). A comprehensive study of the UV-curing process was carried out by Design of Experiment (DoE) to evaluate the influence of light intensity and photoinitiator to find the optimal curing conditions. Subsequently, a thorough thermo-mechanical characterization highlighted the influence of the chemical structure on material properties. 3D printing was performed, enabling the fabrication of complex and self-stain structures with remarkable accuracy and precision. Lastly, a chemical degradation study revealed the potential for end-of-use recycling of the bio-based thermosets.

Stability Indicating RP-HPLC Method Development and Validation for Imeglimin HCL in Pharmaceutical Dosage form

Background: Imeglimin HCL is a medication used in pharmaceutical products. To ensure its quality and effectiveness, it's crucial to have a reliable method to measure its concentration in these products. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is a common technique for this purpose. Objective: This study aimed to develop and validate a precise and accurate stability indicating HPLC method for measuring Imeglimin HCL in pharmaceutical formulations. Methods: The method optimization process included selecting a suitable chromatographic column and determining the optimal mobile phase composition. A Credchrom C18 column (250mm x 4.6 mm x 5µm) was chosen, and a mobile phase consisting of Phosphate Buffer and acetonitrile (80:20, v/v) was identified as optimal. The selected conditions provided satisfactory resolution and a retention time of 2.5 minutes for Imeglimin HCL, with detection achieved at a wavelength of 241nm. Validation parameters, including linearity, precision, accuracy, limit of detection (LOD), and limit of quantification (LOQ), were thoroughly evaluated. Precision was assessed through %RSD values for repeatability and intra-day and inter-day precision. Accuracy was determined by % recovery, with values ranging from 98.00% to 102%. Subsequently, force degradation studies were conducted to further assess the method's stability. Results: The developed RP-HPLC method exhibited excellent linearity (R^2 close to 1) and sensitivity, with LOD and LOQ values of 0.577722 μg/ml and 1.750673 μg/ml, respectively. Precision, as indicated by %RSD values, ranged from 0.994733 for repeatability to 0.988377–0.7480963 for intra-day precision and 0.988377–10.9883477 for inter-day precision. Accuracy, reflected by % recovery, was within acceptable limits (98.62–100.34%). These results, along with successful force degradation studies, confirmed the method's reliability and stability. Conclusions: In conclusion, the developed RP-HPLC method offers a sensitive, precise, and accurate means for the estimation of Imeglimin HCL in pharmaceutical formulations. Its robustness and stability make it suitable for routine analysis in pharmaceutical laboratories, ensuring the quality and efficacy of Imeglimin-containing products.

Kinetic study of p-nitrophenol degradation with zinc oxide nanoparticles prepared by sol–gel methods

Three zinc oxides (ZnO A, B, C) with similar spherical morphology but different sizes are synthesized by sol–gel methods. A kinetic study is carried out on the photocatalytic activity of these three ZnO, through the degradation of p-nitrophenol (PNP). A mathematical model is developed and the rate constants of the three catalysts are determined. To understand the parameters influencing the kinetics, the catalysts are reduced to the surface of an isolated particle (assuming perfect dispersion conditions where all catalytic active sites are available) whose size is determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). However, by considering the real case (not a perfect dispersion), it appears that the size of the aggregates induced by the synthesis methods play a more important role in the catalytic activity of the three ZnO samples than defects. A discussion on the formation of these aggregates highlights the importance of the synthesis parameters, like the solvent or the surfactant used to obtain a high dispersion. The dispersion plays a crucial role in photocatalytic efficiency, with kinetics three times higher for the catalyst with the best dispersion. Also, as shown by photoluminescence and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), the type and amount of defects play an important role in the photocatalytic performance. ZnO A and B show a defect peak at 620 nm whereas ZnO C shows a defect peak at 680 nm, suggesting a different type of defect on the surface of the catalyst that reduces the photocatalytic performance. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements are performed to identify the type of radicals involved in PNP degradation. The results show that the catalyst with the best dispersion produces the highest amount of hydroxyl radicals. Finally, photoluminescence and XPS analyses underline the type and the amount of defects for the three photocatalysts.

Advancing thermal stability analysis of haloperidol: Integrative approaches and optimization strategies for enhanced pharmaceutical formulations

This study investigates the thermal stability of haloperidol, a crucial pharmaceutical compound, employing a multidimensional approach encompassing UV spectrometry, thermal degradation studies, kinetics analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The UV spectrometry method demonstrates exceptional linearity across a concentration range of 2–34 µg/ml, meeting stringent industry standards. Thermal degradation studies affirm the compound's stability when exposed to 80°C for 6 h. Kinetic analysis indicates a first-order reaction for the degradation process, with activation energy values suggesting a sluggish degradation profile under diverse heat stress conditions. FTIR analysis underscores the consistency of haloperidol's molecular structure across varying temperatures, while XRD confirms the retention of its crystalline form even under heat stress. DSC analysis unveils a melting temperature of 150°C, indicative of initial melting preceding degradation. Response surface methodology (RSM) optimization identifies the conservation conditions effects (temperature and time)to minimize degradation, a finding substantiated by predictions from the Improved Grey Wolf Optimization (IGWO) algorithm and subsequent experimental validation. Furthermore, a bespoke MATLAB application is developed to streamline and enhance the accuracy of the complex optimization processes. This tool offers advanced features for predicting and optimizing haloperidol degradation rates, catering to the needs of both researchers and industry professionals. In essence, this study not only sheds light on the thermal stability of haloperidol but also provides practical tools and insights crucial for optimizing its stability under diverse environmental conditions, thereby bolstering its pharmaceutical applicability and efficacy.

Degradation of phenol by Rhodococcus pyridinivorans GM3 immobilization

One of the primary concerns of the environment is the increment of the xenobiotics levels, which are released in the natural ecosystem. Phenol has been documented as a pollutant because it has a significant role in water contamination; this will, therefore have an impact on the health of humans. Phenol degradation studies were carried out using a mineral salts medium containing various percentages (v/v) of Ca-alginate beads, polyurethane foam, agar-agar and agarose in batches of culture for 1.5 g/L phenol degradation by immobilized cells of Rhodococcus pyridinivorans GM3 during 24 hours of incubation at 32ºC, 200 rpm and pH 8.5. The results showed that a typical concentration of 3% (w/v) of the sodium alginate to form synthetic Ca-alginate beads was supporting phenol degradation which also emphasizes the structural stability of Ca-alginate beads. The concentration of 1.5 g/L phenol was completely degraded observed within 24 hours at 8% of the Ca-alginate beads immobilized cell and 10% of size cubes 0.125 cm3 of the polyurethane foam immobilized cell. Whilst, the degradation of 1.5 g/L of phenol concentration within 24 hours on both agar and agarose was 16% and 24% at cubes of size 0.125 cm3 and 1.0 cm3 respectively. However, the study of immobilization showed that Ca-alginate immobilized R. pyridinivorans GM3 was more efficient than polyurethane foam, agar and agarose.

From Facile One-Pot Synthesis of Semi-Degradable Amphiphilic Miktoarm Polymers to Unique Degradation Properties.

We report a one-pot synthesis of well-defined A5B and A8B miktoarm star-shaped polymers where N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) and various cyclic esters such as ε-caprolactone (ε-CL), lactide (LA) and glycolide (GA) were used for the synthesis. Miktopolymers were obtained by simultaneously carrying out atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of DMAEMA, ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of cyclic esters, and click reaction between the azide group in gluconamide-based (GLBr5-Az) or lactonamide-based (GLBr8-Az) ATRP initiators and 4-pentyn-1-ol. The relatively low dispersity indices of the obtained miktoarm stars (Đ = 1.2-1.6) indicate that control over the polymerization processes was sustained despite almost complete monomers conversions (83-99%). The presence of salts from phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) in polymer solutions affects the phase transition, increasing cloud point temperatures (TCP) values. The critical aggregation concentration (CAC) values increased with a decreasing number of average molecular weights of the hydrophobic fraction. Hydrolytic degradation studies revealed that the highest reduction of molecular weight was observed for polymers with PCL and PLGCL arm. The influence of the composition on the miktopolymers hydrophilicity was investigated via water contact angle (WCA) measurement. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) disclosed that the number of arms and their composition in the miktopolymer affects its weight loss under the influence of temperature.

The study of degradation and mechanical properties of poly(lactic) acid (PLA) based 3D printed filament

Additive manufacturing, commonly known as 3D printing technology, has become one of the mainstream processes in the manufacturing industry due to its advantages over conventional manufacturing, which have piqued the public’s interest. This study aims to focus on the influence of thermal conditions on crystallization towards mechanical properties of 3D printed poly(lactic) acid (PLA) degradation samples with 100% infill. As for the degradation profile, the highest weight loss recorded by the samples was 0.7%, observed in samples buried in soil with an abiotic medium for one month. The exposure of degraded samples to high temperature during drying affected their crystallinity, resulting in significant changes in strains, particularly between week 1 and week 2, where strains dropped significantly from 7.33% to 4.28%, respectively. In conclusion, it has been demonstrated that degradation for PLA material still can occur in an abiotic medium, albeit at a slower rate compared to a biotic medium due to the presence of additional microorganisms and bacteria. Besides, the post-heat treatment process on PLA degradation samples affects their crystalline structure, resulting in significant changes in mechanical properties, particularly especially strains. Therefore, it can be concluded that different materials exhibit distinct mechanical properties.

Study of composite polymer degradation for high pressure hydrogen vessel by machine learning approach

AbstractThe aim of this article is to study the degradation of a composite material under static pressure. The high pressure condition is similar to the one encountered inside hydrogen tanks. Damage modeling was used to evaluate the behavior of hydrogen tanks to high pressure. A practical approach, coupling a finite element method (FEM) simulation and machine learning (ML) algorithm, is suggested. The representative volume element (RVE) was used in association with a choice of a behavior law and a damage law as an input data. Algorithms for ML classification such as K‐nearest neighbors (k‐NN) and a special k‐NN with a dynamic time warping metric were used. The hierarchical clustering through dendrograms visualizations allowed to exhibit the impact of composite parameters in relation to fiber, matrix properties and fiber volume fraction on the strain degradation under external static pressure. Continuing this, the optimum RVE which shows a low degradation value will be exhibited.

Study of Oxidative Degradation and Mineralization Kinetics and Oxidation Products of Ofloxacin in Water via Electro-Fenton Method with Pt Anode, and Biodegradation Optimization

Study of Oxidative Degradation and Mineralization Kinetics and Oxidation Products of Ofloxacin in Water via Electro-Fenton Method with Pt Anode, and Biodegradation Optimization

Development and validation of stability-indicating assay method and identification of force degradation products of glucagon-like peptide-1 synthetic analog Exenatide using liquid chromatography coupled with Orbitrap mass spectrometer.

Exenatide is a synthetic glucagon-like peptide 1 analog, widely used in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The stability of pharmaceutical products is significantly impacted by various environmental stress conditions. The present study reports the development of a validated reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) stability-indicating method for the identification of force degradation products (DPs) of synthetic glucagon-like peptide-1 analog Exenatide using UHPLC-Orbitrap fusionTM mass spectrometer. Force degradation studies were performed by subjecting Exenatide to various stress conditions, such as hydrolytic, oxidative, photolytic and thermal to investigate the stability indicating ability of the method. Significant degradation was observed during acidic, oxidative, photolytic and thermal stress conditions. Exenatide and its major DPs identification and characterization were demonstrated by employing LC-HRMS and MS/MS method. In total, five major stress DPs were characterized, and their fragmentation pathway was proposed using MS/MS studies. Finally, the proposed RP-HPLC method was validated as per ICH guidance.

Carbon dots decorated cadmium sulfide nanomaterials for boosting photocatalytic activity for ciprofloxacin degradation

This study investigates the utilization of carbon dots (CDs) from neem leaves (Azadirachta indica) decorated onto cadmium sulfide (CdS) for the photocatalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin. A comparative study of ciprofloxacin degradation with pristine CdS and CD decorated CdS demonstrated high degradation of ∼ 75 % with CD/CdS when compared to bare CdS (∼68 %). Process optimization studies were further carried out with CD/CdS catalysts at different solution pH (4–10), feed concentrations (10–50 mg/L), catalyst loadings (25–125 mg/L), temperatures (10 – 30 °C), and lamp power (25, 50, 250 W and sunlight). Higher temperatures, combined with a solution pH of 7 and catalyst loading of 100 mg/L favored the enhanced degradation of 20 mg/L of ciprofloxacin. The ciprofloxacin degradation rate increased linearly with temperature with an apparent activation energy of 27 kJ mol−1. The CD/CdS photocatalyst demonstrated maximum degradation rates with higher lamp powers while it also showed remarkable performance under natural sunlight achieving the same degradation within 3 h.

Kinetic study of adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye using TiO2 nanoparticles with activated carbon

Activated carbon (AC) exhibits limited adsorption capacity for pollutants. Conversely, titanium dioxide (TiO2) demonstrates excellent photocatalytic performance, making it a popular choice for pollutant removal. This study investigates the removal of methylene blue (MB) dye from wastewater using AC, TiO2@AC-2, and TiO2@AC-10 samples via adsorption and photocatalysis. The Energy Dispersive analysis of x-rays (EDAX) has confirmed the presence of Ti, C and O in the prepared samples without any impurities. All the diffraction peaks in x-ray diffractograms indicated the presence of pure anatase TiO2 (tetragonal phase) with no evidence of any other phase. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis identified a peak around 545 cm−1 in the TiO2@AC-2 sample, indicative of O-Ti-O stretching vibrations. This peak shifted to 602 cm−1 in the TiO2@AC-10 sample. Raman spectroscopy confirmed the presence of carbon (D and G bands) at 1310–1347 cm−1 and 1582–1597 cm−1. Additionally, characteristic Raman active bands for anatase TiO2 were observed at 154 cm−1 (Eg), 204 cm−1 (Eg), 398 cm−1 (B1g), 508 cm−1 (A1g), and 628 cm−1 (Eg). N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms revealed a mesoporous structure for all samples (AC, TiO2@AC-2, and TiO2@AC-10) with hysteresis loops, indicating pores ranging from 2 nm to 50 nm in diameter. Reflectance spectra of TiO2@AC-2 and TiO2@AC-10 displayed absorption edges at 368 nm and 385 nm, respectively, corresponding to a direct band gap of approximately 3.22 eV. Subsequently, these prepared samples were effectively employed for the removal of methylene blue (MB) dye from wastewater utilizing both adsorption and photocatalysis method. Under dark conditions, 20 mg L−1 doses of TiO2@AC-2 and TiO2@AC-10 resulted in 60% and 36% dye adsorption within 60 min respectively. In the presence of UV radiation, the degradation of dye was observed to be 74% and 95% by TiO2@AC-2 and TiO2@AC-10 respectively. This observation indicates that TiO2 nanoparticles along with AC leads to enhanced photocatalytic activity. The Langmuir–Hinshelwood model reveals lower rate constants for AC compared to the composite samples. This is likely because AC lacks inherent catalytic activity, requiring UV light to trigger adsorption. Conversely, TiO2@AC-10 exhibits the highest rate constants (K1 = 24.25 × 10−3 min−1 and K2 = 82.71 × 10−3 min−1), aligning with its higher TiO2 content confirmed by EDAX analysis. This suggests a significantly faster photocatalytic rate and superior degradation efficiency, even at a low sample concentration (20 mg L−1).

Biodegradable implant of magnesium/polylactic acid composite with enhanced antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Addressing fracture-related infections (FRI) and impaired bone healing remains a significant challenge in orthopedics and stomatology. Researchers aim to address this issue by utilizing biodegradable biomaterials, such as magnesium/poly lactic acid (Mg/PLA) composites, to offer antibacterial properties during the degradation of biodegradable implants. Existing Mg/PLA composites often lack sufficient Mg content, hindering their ability to achieve the desired antibacterial effect. Additionally, research on the anti-inflammatory effects of these composites during late-stage degradation is limited. To strengthen mechanical properties, bolster antibacterial efficacy, and enhance anti-inflammatory capabilities during degradation, we incorporated elevated Mg content into PLA to yield Mg/PLA composites. These composites underwent in vitro degradation studies, cellular assays, bacterial tests, and simulation of the PLA degradation microenvironment. 20wt% and 40wt% Mg/PLA composites displayed significant antibacterial properties, with three composites exhibiting notable anti-inflammatory effects. In contrast, elevated Mg content detrimentally impacted mechanical properties. The findings suggest that Mg/PLA composites hold promise in augmenting antibacterial and anti-inflammatory attributes within polymers, potentially serving as temporary regenerative materials for treating bone tissue defects complicated by infections.