Search

The scarcity of available drinking water has led the researchers to develop novel and cost-effective ways of bioremediation process for wastewater treatment. Bioremediation is a cost-effective and environmentally sound method for the removal of toxic compounds. Such approach is not only a chemical-less effort but also an energy savior. In the present work Phlebia acerina, a white rot wood rotting fungi have been used to degrade the toxic wastewater pollutants. Congo Red (CR) and Eriochrome Black T (EBT) have been selected as model pollutants to test the wastewater cleaning ability of the fungus. The Lignin modifying enzyme (LME) and Cellulolytic enzyme assays (CMC) potential of Phlebia acerina helped in understanding the dye degradation mechanism. Under the optimum conditions, the fungi was able to degrade as high as 92.4% CR while the EBT was degraded to a maximum of 50%. Phlebia acerina was found to show first-order kinetics of dyes degradation. Further, the seed germination and antimicrobial assay of treated and untreated water were carried out in order to establish the formation of non-toxic end product after degradation.

Europium oxides (Eu2O3) nanoparticles are extensively employed in diverse areas ranging from bioimaging to chemical sensing. However, still there is significant lack of information regarding their toxic behaviour on humans and the environment. The endeavor of this work is to develop structural/toxicity correlations for bare and surface functionalized Eu2O3 nanoparticles synthesized by low-temperature colloidal route. The detailed investigations revealed that Eu2O3 nanoparticles concentration have significant effect on the in vitro toxicity. On the basis of antibacterial, antimicrobial assays and assessment of the genotoxicity using Allium cepa and molecular studies on human blood DNA, it was discovered that surface modification of nanoparticles is an important parameter for reducing the toxicity of Eu2O3 nanoparticles. The phytotoxicity of the prepared nanoparticles has also been compared by the seed germination assay with wheat, green grams, and black chickpeas. The detailed results revealed the mechanism of Eu2O3 nanoparticles in vitro toxicity.

Selenium nanoparticles paved its way into the field of medicine because of its lowered toxicity and excellent biological properties. Interaction between these nanoparticles and serum proteins leads to the formation of protein corona (hard and soft) on the nanoparticle surface modulating its biological behaviour and fate. In the present study, we have emphasized on the biocorona formation of most abundant serum proteins i.e. human serum albumin, immunoglobulin-G, and transferrin on functionalized selenium nanoparticles (CTAB, SDS, and brij-58). Changes in protein adsorption pattern, mean hydrodynamic size, and zeta potential of differently functionalized selenium nanoparticles, following protein coronation were analysed for various incubation periods. Quantification of hard corona and soft corona for individual protein and for protein mixture was also done. The biological impact of protein coronation on selenium nanoparticles was evaluated by the cellular uptake and cell viability studies. Finally, modulation in radical scavenging property of selenium nanoparticles before and after protein corona formation was studied through DPPH assay.

In the present study, we report the facile synthesis, detailed characterizations, photocatalytic, seed germination and antibacterial applications of NiO nanodisks. The nanodisks were fabricated by simple hydrothermal method and further characterized in detail which shows the well-crystalline cubic phase of NiO nanodisks with pure and large density growth. The crystal quality and purity of the NiO nanodisks were examined by calcining them at different temperatures (i.e 300 °C, 400 °C and 500 °C). NiO nanodisks with average size of 5.1 nm were obtained at 300 °C calcination, whereas, 6.8 nm and 12.7 nm sized NiO particles were obtained at 400 °C and 500 °C respectively. The synthesized nanodisks were used as proficient visible-light driven photocatalyst for the photocatalytic degradation of various harmful dyes. The detailed photocatalytic experiments revealed that under visible light irradiation methylene blue dye degraded up to 98.7% in just 20 min whereas the mixture of other dyes were degraded up to 94–97.6%. The prepared nanodisks have also demonstrated extremely high stability and recyclability (up to 4th cycle) for removing water contamination caused by different dyes and their mixtures. Additional, the NiO nanodisks were used as potential framework for the germination of Vigna Radiata seeds which exhibited very high (1500 ppm) antiproliferative activities with percentage inhibition growth values ranging from 12.6 to 46%. Finally, the antibacterial activities of NiO nanodisks were tested against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

This manuscript represents the synthesis of silica nanoparticles modified with four different types of cationic surfactants. The surfactant capped nanoparticles have better control over the size of silica nanoparticles. The as formed as model nanomaterials were used for the removal of naphthalene, a simple white crystalline polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) from aqueous media. The obtained materials were characterized by various microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. The average particle size of nanoparticles was approximately between 50 and 75 nm. The removal kinetic and adsorption studies were also conducted on silica nanoparticles with different contact time, initial concentrations of silica and naphthalene to achieve the optimum adsorption conditions. CPB functionalized nanoparticles have displayed higher removal efficiency of more than 85% as compared to 75 to 80% in case of CTAB, CTAC and CPC functionalized silica nanoparticles. The effects of various parameters like pH, adsorbent doses, naphthalene concentration and addition of salt have also been investigated for better understanding of the removal efficacy of prepared nanoparticles.

The current work focuses on accessing the potential aptitude of the rare-earth-doped Gadolinium oxide (Gd2O3) nanoparticles as a function of dopant concentrations with biological entities in aqueous media. A series of Pr@Gd2O3 NPs were synthesized by fast and economically viable microwave-assisted methodology. Various high end techniques such as high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometric studies, thermal gravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), were employed to characterize the prepared particles. The optical, magnetic and thermal properties of Pr-doped Gd2O3 (doping percentage = 5, 10 and 15%) were scrutinized in relationship with their optical band gap, spectroscopic properties, defect states and thermal stability. In order to access the effect of different concentrations of dopant on the biocompatibility of Gd2O3, in vitro biocompatibility studies on the bacterial and fungal stains have been performed. These variables were on the basis of dopant amount (5, 10 and 15% of Pr) and initial concentration (10, 50, 100 ppm). The outcomes of in-vitro blood compatibility assay showed the biocompatible aptitude of effect of Pr@Gd2O3 NPs as a function of initial concentration ranging from 10, 50, 100 ppm. The relative effect on the chromosomal aberrations in root meristems of A. cepa shown the reduction of 20%, 23%, 8% in mitotic index (MI), correlative mitotic index (CMI) and index of phase (PI) values with increase in Pr doping amount. The high biocompatibility was observed for 10 ppm of Pr@Gd2O3 NPs. Collectively; the outcomes of the present study exemplify the various properties of Pr@Gd2O3 NPs with potential biomedical efficacies.

Praseodymium doped Gadolinium oxide nanoparticles (Pr@Gd2O3 NPs) are one of the important lanthanide based nanoparticles with potential range of applications in sensing and catalysis. However, their low water solubility and cytotoxic nature towards living flora and fauna has confined their widespread usage in biomedical applications. Thus, there is an emergent need to fabricate Pr@Gd2O3 NPs with by two sustainable and simple methods with higher biocompatibility. To do this, the current work offers the effectual interactions of Pr@Gd2O3 NPs with biological components. The respective effect of calcination temperature on the crystalline size and stability of Pr@Gd2O3 NPs was inspected. The effect has further been assessed on the antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacterial strains. The antibacterial activities of Pr@Gd2O3 NPs have further been assessed against E. coli by using spread plate method of colony forming unit (CFU). The outcomes revealed that the particles synthesized by microwave methodologies are more biocompatible at higher concentration range as compared to particles synthesized by using hydrothermally methodology. The biocompatibility results were further supported by the results of antifungal studies on Fusarium oxysporum strain. The variations in surface properties of Pr@Gd2O3 NPs are mainly responsible for the higher biocompatibility of prepared nanoparticles. Subsequently, the proposed methodologies have enhanced the aqueous solubility of Pr@Gd2O3 NPs and amplified their potential interaction with biological components which display a considerable scope in boosting their bio medicinal applications.

In the present decade, the utilization of antibiotics at augmented rate has caused harmful environmental pollution. The resistance rate of bacteria against antibiotics has become faster due to excessive employment of antibiotics. Therefore, it is mandatory to develop a new, sustainable and environment friendly nanohybrid system which can easily detect antibiotic especially tetracycline. It is prevalently found drug pollutant which can easily contaminate food, aquatic species and human health. While keeping all the facts during consideration, a simple and one step scheme is followed for the development of selenium supported carbon dots (Se@CDs) nano hybrids by utilizing commonly available natural sugars such as sucrose, fructose and glucose as a reducing and stabilizing agent. The CDs were prepared from the waste coconut husk. The developed nano-hybrid exhibits excellent optical and emission properties which suggest their further applications. Additionally, different analytical studies have been carried out to evaluate their physicochemical properties. Due to their outstanding analytical behavior, they have been successfully utilized in the sensitive and specific detection of tetracycline (TC) in presence of different interfering ions. The glucose derived Se@CDs shows maximum quenching effect towards TC. The value of detection limit and binding constant were found to be 155 nM and 517 nM−1. Further, their recovery studies have been carried out in different real samples. The obtained findings suggest that the developed Se@CDs can be successfully explored in biological fields.

Background: Psoriasis relatively common, chronic, inflammatory and hyper-proliferative skin disease that affects 1.4% to 2.0 % of the population. Pateints with psoriasis have to face severe problems with stigmatization, discrimination and negative attitudes in general among the public, and often bear the brunt of public rejection.Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was carried out on psoriasis patients attending dermatology outpatient department of Era’s Lucknow medical college and hospital between November 2018 and November 2020. Patients with pustular psoriasis, mycosis fungoides, pityriasis rubra pilaris, and other severe medical conditions like heart failure, liver cirrhosis were excluded from the study.Results: Present study included 170 (aged 16 to 76 years; mean age 37.74±13.70 years; 62.4% males) clinically diagnosed patients of Psoriasis. P-score was observed with increase in Body Surface area, maximum for cases with BSA ≥25%. There was a strong positive significant linear correlation between stigmatization scores and disability scores (r=0.746; pConclusions: Present study showed that feeling of stigmatization and disability was highly prevalent in psoriasis patients. It was seen that stigmatization and disability showed a strong correlation. The findings of study showed that there is need to create awareness regarding psoriasis as a non-communicable disease in order to increase the acceptance of psoriasis patients in society and to reduce their stigmatization.

In the recent decade, the redox-active quinone entity has been exhaustively evaluated as a potential drug-like molecule. However, there are only few reports that have demonstrated its applicability as a sensor-like motif against biological analytes. In pursuit of our curiosity into the sensor-like characteristics of small molecules, this report investigates into the utility of a sulfur-containing naphthoquinone-based “ligand” as a selective and sensitive fluorimetric sensor for the amino acid such as serine, in semi-aqueous medium by distinct mechanisms of fluorescence quenching respectively. The stoichiometry of coordination of “ligand” with serine was evaluated from B-H plot and found to be 1:1, along with a significantly low detection limit of 0.28 µM (Stern-Volmer plot), respectively. The efficacy has also been verified in presence of a select array of competing amino acids, in real water samples.

The ecological toxicity imparted by non-biodegradable organic dyes has been considered as a major risk to handle in front of mankind. In this view, the low-cost zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) were facially synthesized by coating the surface with surfactant (CTAB) and ionic liquid (BMTF) molecules for the effective removal of Eriochrome Black T (EBT) from aqueous media. Various advanced characterization techniques have given insight into the morphological features, crystalline structure and physio-chemical properties of as-synthesized ZnO-NPs. The systematic analysis of the adsorption isotherms and kinetics models specifies that the adsorption of EBT follow Freundlich model and pseudo-second-order kinetics. The intraparticle diffusion model displayed a linear relationship (R2 = 0.98, 0.97 and 0.94 for BMTF@ZnO, CTAB@ZnO and bare ZnO-NPs), which shows that pore diffusion rate is affected by surface modification and effects the overall EBT adsorption process. Furthermore, after the removal of 87% and 84% of EBT dye by BMTF@ZnO-NPs and CTAB@ZnO-NPs, the fabricated nanoadsorbents of ZnO were successfully regenerated and reused after the treatments up to four times. The adsorption aptitude of ZnO-NPs towards EBT dye was systematically explored in real wastewater samples and interference study of inorganic metallic salts was also performed. The toxicity estimations of the treated dye solutions were made using floral and fungal activities, to ascertain their non-toxic nature before releasing into the environment. These outcomes have supported the immense potential of ZnO-NPs towards the removal of EBT in a cost effective manner.

Current advancements in the nanotechnology have witnessed large number of accomplishments pertaining to zinc oxide (ZnO) nanomaterials. ZnO nanostructures have been used in diverse areas varying from optoelectronic activities to catalysis, sensing, biomedical areas and water treatment applications. The biocompatible nature of ZnO has opened the area of its utilization in the treatment of deadly diseases. The easy synthesis and electrochemical working capability of ZnO has currently been used in the area of chemical and electrochemical sensing of harmful analytes. The current review discusses the scope of sensing application of ZnO nanomaterials. The applications of ZnO nanomaterials have been discussed by taking their role in chemical, electrochemical, biosensing and gas sensing applications in details.

One step green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from silver nitrate (AgNO3) using Leucaena leucocephala seeds extract as the reducing agent at room temperature was performed. The bioreduced NPs were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) techniques. Qualitative information of major components in the seed extract was obtained through its phytochemical screening. The phytochemical data of L. leucocephala revealed the presence of terpenes, flavonoids, coumarins and sterols. The reaction was optimized for AgNO3, extract concentration and time duration for the reaction. The obtained NPs showed a characteristic UV peak of AgNPs at 420 nm. TEM and SEM images showed the spherical shaped NPs over which the extract coating was very prominent. The binding of L. leucocephala seeds extract onto NPs was tested using FTIR and TGA. The antifungal activity of the as-synthesized NPs against two fungal species, namely Phlebiopsis gigantea and Echinodontium taxodii, was studied. The antimicrobial effect of the as-synthesized NPs was ascertained against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The antioxidant potential of the AgNPs was tested with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging. Also, the sensitivity of the NPs towards Fe3+ ions was tested in aqueous media.

In this paper, we report the simple synthesis, detailed characterization, and total wastewater cleanup by adsorption using bare and surfactant-functionalized cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles. The synthesis of CeO2 nanoparticles was performed by a facile aqueous solution process and characterized by a diverse range of techniques, which confirmed that the nanoparticles are well-crystalline, possessing good structural and optical properties. The competence of the prepared nanoparticles was further explored to determine the dye removal efficiency. The developed nanoparticles have also provided chlorine-free disinfection of water. The observed results revealed that the synthesized nanoparticles efficiently lower the pollutant concentrations, reduced turbidity, and exhibited significant reductions in total dissolved solids, chemical and biochemical oxygen demands, and pathogenic load. Interestingly, the surfactant-functionalized nanoparticles revealed that they possess the ability to remove approximately 99% o...

Herein, we report the facile synthesis, characterizations and photoluminescence sensing probe applications of europium (Eu 3+ )-doped gadolinium oxide (Gd 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles. The Eu 3+ - doped Gd 2 O 3 nanoparticles were synthesized by a facile and straight forward chemical synthesis followed by the calcination process. Various percent concentrations of Eu 3+ ranging from 1 to 5% was used to dope into the Gd 2 O 3 and calcine them for different time to optimize the photoluminescence properties of the synthesized nanoparticles. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by several techniques which confirmed that the 5% Eu 3+ - doped Gd 2 O 3 nanoparticles exhibited best structural and optical properties. Thus, due to best structural and optical properties, the 5% Eu 3+ - doped Gd 2 O 3 nanoparticles were used as photoluminescent probe for the detection of Fe 3+ and Cr 3+ ions. The detailed sensing results revealed that the synthesized nanoparticles are quite selective and sensitive towards Fe 3+ and Cr 3+ ions with 99.3% quenching efficiency for 10 ppm Fe 3+ ions and 98.6% quenching efficiency for 40 ppm Cr 3+ ions respectively. The detection limit for Fe 3+ and Cr 3+ ions were 1.48 ppm and 6.56 ppm respectively. The utilization of synthesized nanoparticles in real water samples with percentage recovery of >90% in tap water and distilled water and 87% in sewage water has unlocked numerous opening to use such nanomaterial for real water treatment applications.

The present study focus on the naphthalene adsorption from aqueous solution by using ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized via microwave methodology. This study reveals that the adsorption capacity depends not only on the textural features of the material but also on the functionalization of the nanoparticles. It was found that 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMTF-IL) functionalized Zinc oxide nanoparticles show maximum adsorption capacity (148.3 mg g − 1 ) towards naphthalene removal as compared with CTAB functionalized (89.96 mg g − 1 ) and bare ZnO (66.80 mg g − 1 ) nanoparticles. To obtain a good picture of the surface and best interpretation of the adsorption process various isotherms were applied. To find out the rate constant of adsorption process, the well-known kinetics models i.e. pseudo first order and pseudo second order model were applied as a function of time and it was found that pseudo-second order model fits best in the adsorption process. Further the adsorption studies were performed in real water samples and in different salts to ensure that nanoparticles work well in presence of real water samples and different ions respectively. Recovery technique of the nanoparticles using a simple methodology is also described.

The aim of the present work is to evaluate the ability of ‘fungi’ for the biodegradation of recalcitrant xenobiotic compound, ‘Atrazine’ in batch liquid cultures. Different parameters like pH (2.0–8.0) temperature (16–32 °C), biomass (1–5 g), and concentration (25–100 ppm) were optimized for the efficient degradation of atrazine. The decomposition behavior of atrazine is analyzed with the help of Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Herein, we have reported that the Bjerkandera adusta possess high removal efficiency of the xenobiotic compound (atrazine) up to 92%. The fungal strain investigated could prove to be a valuable active pesticide degrading micro-organism, with high detoxification values. These results are useful for improved understanding and prediction of the behavior and fate of B. adusta in the bio-purification of wastewater contaminated with xenobiotics. Thus providing a new and green approach for the remediation of toxicants without altering the environmental components.

Onychomycosis (OM) is one of the most common problems affecting the nails and has shown to have an extreme variability in clinical presentation, risk factors and etiology. The aim of our study was to study the clinico-etiopathological profile of OM in patients at a tertiary care centre in North India. A total of 100 cases of OM attending the Dermatology OPD were enrolled in the study. Their demographic profile, exposure to risk factors and medical history was recorded. Clinical examination was done and the pattern of disease was recognised. Nail and skin scrapings were obtained and subjected to KOH mounting and culture assessment. Data was analysed using SPSS 21.0, Chi-square and ANOVA tests. Age of patients ranged from 13 to 75 years (Mean age 35.53±15.46 years). Majority of the patients were males (64%). Laborers/farmers and housewives comprised the majority of patients (29% +23%). DLSO (63%) was the most common pattern. Co-morbidities were seen in 17% cases. 89% were either KOH or culture positive, 36% were both KOH and culture positive, 1% was only KOH positive and 52% were only culture positive. A total of 11% cases were both culture and KOH negative. Dermatophytes (47%) were the most common species, followed by yeast/yeast-like isolates (28%) and non-dermatophytes (13%). Among dermatophytes, T. rubrum (n=40), C. albicans (n=16) and Aspergillus niger (n=4) were the most common Dermatophytes, Yeast and non-Dermatophyte species respectively. A significant association of clinical pattern was observed with sex and site of involvement. KOH positivity was significantly associated with culture positivity for different isolates. The clinicopathological spectrum of OM was quite diverse. The study emphasised the need for comprehensive diagnostic work-up of these patients in view of diverse etiology and clinical spectrum.

The application of selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs) in the fields of biological and physical science is escalating very fast. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the effects of Se-NPs for their prospective vulnerability in the environment. The present work involved the investigation of the toxicological responses of four different types of glycols, i.e., EG, DEG, TEG and PEG coated on Se-NPs by using a multi-assay approach. The influence of the surface-coated Se-NPs was examined over four different types of bacterial strains. Additional work was carried out with glycol-coated Se-NPs for observing their anti-oxidative activities. To achieve the objective of assessing the environmental fate of the chosen Se-NPs, they were tested for assessing their hydrogen peroxide free radical scavenging activity and total reduction behaviour. The in vitro stability of the surface-coated Se-NPs was investigated over various components of blood. It was observed from the data that 15% glycol-encapsulated Se-NPs were biocompatible with the chosen components. The sorption, degradation and aggregation parameters were investigated to describe the environmental fate of the surface-coated Se-NPs. The results from the multi-assay activities are meaningful for improving the perception about the ecological fate of Se-NPs with their probable threats and reducing the uncertainty about their use.

The current work reports the successful synthesis of ethylene glycol functionalized gadolinium oxide nanoparticles (Gd2O3 Nps) as a proficient electrocatalytic material for the detection of hydrazine and p-nitrophenol. A facile hydrothermal approach was used for the controlled growth of Gd2O3 Nps in the presence of ethylene glycol (EG) as a structure-controlling and hydrophilic coating source. The prepared material was characterized by several techniques in order to examine the structural, morphological, optical, photoluminescence, and sensing properties. The thermal stability, resistance toward corrosion, and decreased tendency toward photobleaching made Gd2O3 nanoparticles a good candidate for the electrochemical sensing of p-nitrophenol and hydrazine by using cyclic voltammetric (CV) and amperometric methods at a neutral pH range. The modified electrode possesses a linear range of 1 to 10 &micro, M with a low detection limit of 1.527 and 0.704 &micro, M for p-nitrophenol and hydrazine, respectively. The sensitivity, selectivity, repeatability, recyclability, linear range, detection limit, and applicability in real water samples made Gd2O3 Nps a favorable nanomaterial for the rapid and effectual scrutiny of harmful environmental pollutants.

Background: Uncontrolled use and abuse of topical steroids has led to increase in number of cases of superficial dermatophytosis of skin, hair and nail in pediatric age group as well. Our study aimed to analyse epidemiological and microbiological profile of steroid modified tinea (SMT) in pediatric age group.Methods: Clinically diagnosed tinea childhood patients with history of usage of topical steroids in children were included in our study. Detailed history was taken and clinical examination along with KOH mount and culture was done.Results: 112 patients were clinically diagnosed as tinea out of which 61cases gave the history of topical steroids and were included in our study. Most common age group was 12-18 years with female:male of ratio approximately 3:1 and disseminated and atypical form was the most common variety. KOH mount was positive in 73.2% cases and culture was positive in 69.6% cases. Most common species found out to be Tinea mentagrophytes followed by Tinea rubrum. Among non-dermatophyte group, Candida was the commonest.Conclusions: There is rise in incidence of dermatophytosis, especially steroid modified, atypical and disseminated.

The current work highlights the potential aptitude of copper sulphide (CuS) nanoparticles as cost and energy-effective photo-catalyst for degrading methlyene blue dye under visible light. The surface modified CuS nanoparticles with dopamine (DOP) were prepared by using fast and cost effective microwave assisted methodology. Here, DOP act as biological ligand for the reduction and capping of CuS nanoparticles. The structural and morphological analyses revealed the size controlled synthesis of CuS in presence of DOP with higher thermal stability. The bio-compatibility and non-toxic behaviour of CuS@DOP nanoparticles was evaluated against L929 cell lines and on E. coli and S. aureus strains. The visible light driven photocatalytic activity of the synthesized CuS@DOP was scrutinized for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dyes, as a model of water contaminants. The photocatalytic degradation of MB by CuS@DOP attained 97% after 10 min of visible light irradiation. The effect of catalyst dose, pH, initial concentration of MB dye, electrolytes, contact time, synergic effect of photolysis and catalysis were studied in detail for optimizing the degradation efficiency of CuS@DOP. The mechanism of CuS@DOP photocatalysis and the formed degraded products were analyzed by using LC/MS technique. The reusability and stability of photocatalyst was confirmed by reusing the catalyst for six successive runs with catalytic performance as high as 80%. Thus, CuS@DOP NPs acted as cost effective, non-toxic visible light driven photo-catalyst for the degradation of organic dye from waste water.

In the recent decade, coumarin and its congeners have been extensively evaluated for their biological potency in drug-like molecules. However, there are relatively fewer reports highlighting their utility as a pincer-type ligand against biochemical analytes. This article, hereby, reports the chemical synthesis and physico-chemical delineation of a potentially novel coumarin-derived schiff base (M) as a potential sensor of the biologically relevant analyte, Zn2+, in semi-aqueous medium. As per our findings, Zn2+ independently elicits a multifold rise in fluorescence of M against the back-drop of an aqueous pool of multiple competitive cations, including the chemically similar Cd2+. The stoichiometry of M: Zn2+ coordination was evaluated to be 1:1 (B-H studies), with a significantly low detection limit of 0.272 nM (Stern-Volmer plot). In addition, recovery studies indicate a significant sensing efficacy of M towards the target analyte, Zn2+, in spiked natural water samples.

Herein, we report the synthesis, characterization and nanoadsorbent application of surfactant and ionic liquid functionalized ZnO nanoparticles prepared by microwave based synthetic method. The synthesized material was characterized in detail which revealed that the nanoparticles are well-crystalline, exhibiting superior optical properties with good adsorption tendency. The surface modified nanoparticles were used as nanoadsorbent for the removal of harmful dyes from waste water. Interestingly, it was observed that after functionalizing with ionic liquid and surfactants, the prepared nanoparticles exhibited better control over the size and shape and possesses improved adsorption ability towards anionic azo dye (BBR-250) as compared to bare ZnO nanoparticles. The kinetics as well as adsorption isotherm was also employed for getting essential information regarding the absorption efficiencies of the ZnO nanoparticles towards BBR-250. The absorption ability of ZnO nanoparticles has further checked in spiked water samples from different sources. The recovery, utility in real samples and reusability of the adsorbent and adsorbate has made the treatment more economical and applicable for industrial applications.

Advances in science and nanotechnology have facilitated the development of new methods for the preparation of pure selenium as selenium nanomaterials. They offer remarkable potential for technological applications in the fields of medicine, diagnostics, therapeutics, toxicology, electronics, catalysis and so on. Moreover, selenium nanomaterials also find applications in photographic exposure metres, rectifiers, signal emitting devices and transmitting devices, because of their unique structural, optical and electronic properties. This study describes a detailed advanced report on the synthesis, assembly, characterization and various applications of selenium nanomaterials. In addition, relevant synthesis methods, properties, challenges and opportunities associated with selenium nanomaterials are also presented.

Herein, we report the facile synthesis and detailed characterization of glycols-functionalized Europium oxide (Eu 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles prepared by simple solution process. For the functionalization of Eu 2 O 3 nanoparticles, four glycols, namely ethylene glycol (EG), diethylene glycol (DEG), triethylene glycol (TEG) and tetraethylene glycol (TeEG) were used. All the synthesized glycols-functionalized Eu 2 O 3 nanoparticles were characterized in detail in terms of their morphological, structural, compositional and optical properties. From the detailed characterizations, it was observed that the variation of glycols allow the modulation of water solubility and size control (DLS data: 110 nm for EG, 80 nm for DEG, 135 nm for TEG and 150 nm for TeEG) of synthesized Eu 2 O 3 nanoparticles. The regular changes in the chain length of glycol have provided a direct evidence to investigate the effect on the optical and luminescent properties of synthesized Eu 2 O 3 nanoparticles. The current approach presents a simple and facile method to prepare fluorescent Eu 2 O 3 nanoparticles at ambient reaction conditions.

An azaindole based schiff base AzIm was synthesized that serve as a luminescent turn “off” switch for the detection of Fe3+ ions. The photoluminescence intensity of AzIm was quenched significantly in the presence of 30 μM Fe3+ ions. The sensing response of the probe was tested at different ranges of pH and at different cation concentrations between 2 and 25 μM. Analytical characteristics were evaluated using standard Benesi-Hildebrand equation and the system displayed micromolar sensitivity for these ions. The specific diminished emission signal upon Fe3+ binding was interpreted in terms of the enhanced photoelectron transfer from azaindole group, which induces very fast and efficient non-radiative decay of the excited states of the sensor. In addition, practical utilization of luminescent AzIm was further supported by significant ion selective stability against the presence of extraneous charged species that makes this system compatible for quantitative analysis of environmental samples.

Herein, we report the successful synthesis and characterization of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium-tetrafluoroborate (BMTF) functionalized zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles using a facile, straightforward, and single-step microwave (MW) irradiation technique. The detailed morphological and structural characterizations revealed that the prepared nanoparticles are grown in high density and possessing wurtzite hexagonal phase. For application point of view, the prepared nanoparticles were used as potential scaffold to remove the harmful toxic organic dyes form aqueous media. The detailed adsorption studies revealed that the cationic and azo dyes such as direct red 81 (59.06%), victoria blue (56.66%), rhodamine 6G (71.40%), fast green (78.60%), erichrome black T (62.50%) and acridine orange (61.60%) have shown little adsorption tendency over the BMTF functionalized ZnO nanoparticles after 2 h of contact. Whereas, anionic dyes such as methyl orange (85.60%), and coomassie brilliant blue R-250 (BBR-250) (98.02%) made the solution colorless within 90 min. The obtained results were also verified by adsorption isotherm and kinetic measurements and presented in this paper.

Herein, we report the fabrication and characterization of electrochemical sensors based on bare- and cationic surfactants with different chain lengths and counter ions capped-tungsten trioxide (WO 3 ) nanoparticles. Four different cationic surfactants, i.e., tetradecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (TTAB),cetylpyridinium chloride (CPyC), cetylpyridinium bromide (CPyB) and hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (HTAC) were used for the capping of WO 3 nanoparticles. The prepared bare and capped WO 3 nanoparticles were characterized in terms of their morphological, structural and compositional properties which revealed that the prepared nanoparticles possess mono-dispersity, spherical shape and monoclinic crystal phases. Finally, the prepared nanoparticles were used to fabricate electrochemical sensors for the detection of hydrazine. Our report describes massive comparison of current responses, monitored through cyclic voltammetry for bare and surfactant capped-WO 3 nanoparticles (NPs). The sensitivity values of the fabricated amperometric sensors range from 3.38 to 10 (μA/μM cm 2 ) with limits of detection ranging from 29 to 59 μM.

Herein, we report the facile synthesis, detailed characterizations and environmental remediation applications of surfactant functionalized tungsten oxide (WO 3 ) nanoparticles (NPs). Different cationic surfactants with different chain lengths and counter ions such as cetylpyridinium chloride (CPyC), cetylpyridinium bromide (CPyB), hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (HTAC) and tetradecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (TTAB) were used. These templates served a dual purpose: firstly, functionalization of the nanoparticles and secondly, control the stoichiometry, thus preventing the agglomeration in the nanoparticles. The as-synthesized nanoparticles were characterized in detail to check the morphological, structural, compositional, optical and photocatalytic properties. The detailed characterizations revealed the mono-dispersity of spherical shaped nanoparticles that are grown in high density, possessing monoclinic phase. Further, the functionalized WO 3 nanoparticles were used as efficient photocatalysts for the photocatalytic degradation of highly toxic but immensely used azo dye, i.e. congo-red (CR). The photocatalytic degradation reaction conditions were optimized by carrying out various concentration dependent experiments (both photocatalyst and initial dye concentration) and also optimizing irradiation time. The detailed photocatalytic experiments revealed that the photo-degradation followed second order kinetics and the degradation efficiency was over 95% for all the surfactant functionalized WO 3 nanoparticles. Importantly, this paper presents the comparison of the photo-degradation activities of prepared functionalized WO 3 nanoparticles towards the differences in the chain length, counter-ions and arrangement or orientation of surfactants on the nanoparticle surfaces.

The excess usage of herbicides for agricultural scale up has turned out as one of the biggest concerns in environmental safety. Therefore it is obligatory need in front of researchers to develop the fast and highly sensitive methodology for the recognition of herbicides. In this view, the current work proposed a novel fluorescent-turn off sensing label of Pr(III) doped Gd2O3 (Pr@Gd2O3) nanoparticles (NPs) for detecting one of the widely used herbicide i.e. 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4 D) in aqueous media. Pr@Gd2O3 was synthesized by microwave assisted calcination process. The effect of percentage doping on porosity, optical, luminescence and thermal properties of Pr@Gd2O3 was well explained in this work. The fluorescence studies have shown that 5% doped Pr@Gd2O3 displayed maximum emission intensity at 649 nm. In addition, out of 5%, 10% and 15% doped Pr@Gd2O3, 5% doped particles have displayed excellent fluorescence selectivity for 2,4 D over atrazine, imazapyr, glyphosate and OP. The calculations revealed that Pr@Gd2O3 NPs have the ability to sense 2,4 D in concentration ranging from 1 to 25 ppm with detection limit was 78 ppb under the optimum conditions. The recovery efficiency of 90–100% in real water samples has further supported the efficiency of prepared nano-labels for practical applications.

The rapid growth in the industrial and urban sector has filled enormous stress on environment. The exponential use of chemicals especially metal ions has raised the pollution index and affected the health of living beings. Therefore, it is highly essential need to monitor and remove these metal ion toxins by the advanced materials which itself non-lethal, bio-congenial and easily workable with high selectivity and sensitivity. To solve these issues, the current study proposed the efficient utilization of Pearl Millet seeds into value-added carbon dots (C-dots) via using simple thermal treatment. Engaging agricultural product as a starting precursor for C-dots synthesis made the process economically more viable. The basic structural properties (size ∼ 4–5 nm, shape ∼ spherical, and crystalline nature) were assessed through HRTEM, PXRD, FTIR and EDX analysis. The optical and luminescence properties were appraised by investigating the variation in the absorbance and emission intensity as a function of pH (2–12) and excitation wavelength (245 nm–305 nm). The developed strategy has provided the better control over the aqueous solubility, quantum yield (52%) and optical properties of C-dots. The high loading amounts of C-dots ranging from 100 to 5000 mg/L has produced a significant enhancement in the biocompatibility rate of C-dots against bacterial strains, fungus, algae, chromosomal compatibility on Allium cepa and seeds germination activity of Vigna radiate. The strong fluorescence emission and optical properties of as prepared C-dots made them efficient for selective and sensitive detection of Pb2+ ion (detection limit = 0.18 nM) from waste water via using colorimetric, UV–vis. absorption and fluorescence based sensory methods. The development sensor performed well in water obtained from different natural resources with 90% average recovery rate. These findings would make the economically feasible C-dots as an effective material for wastewater treatment via overcoming the barriers of low selectivity and advanced the implementation of the process on large scale. Furthermore, the usage of biowaste as starting precursor offers a solution for ecological burdens while synchronically reducing the pernicious effect of the waste on the ecosystem and cleans up the environment.

In recent years, the unique physiochemical properties and non-toxicity of these CuO NPs open up new pathways in crop science. However, the detailed responses of CuO NPs on physiological and molecular factors responsible for conquering plant stress are mainly unexplored. The current work highlighted the agronomic fate of CuO NPs as a nano-nutrient for enhancing the stress tolerance in Vigna radiata during seedling emergence and germination. The economically feasible microwave assisted methodology was chosen to fabricate CuO NPs with average size ranges between 10−12 nm. A variety of laboratory experiments have shown that the root (37 %) and shoot (13 %) growth was appreciably improved in presence of 50 mg/l of CuO NPs at 15 °C. The presence of CuO has the ability to maximize the germination index at 35/25 °C and minimum was at 45 °C/35 °C. The variation of 12 h light and dark exposure was sufficient to enhance the germination rate. The stress marker level was reduced to 20.4 % for dark, 17.4 % for light and 29.6 % for light/dark (12/12 h) exposure in presence of 50 mg/l of CuO@DOP NPs. The enzymatic antioxidant was significantly affected at higher concentration of CuO@DOP NPs with 15 °C and 45 °C and minima was observed at 35 °C. However, lower concentration of CuO NPs (50 mg/l) has enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity and diminishes the stress markers level respectively. The outcomes of the current work deduce the secure and sustainable impact of nanoparticles in farming. The agronomic fate of nanoparticles has brought a bright future to enhance the crop productivity and brings revolutionary changes in the agriculture sector.

Societal apprehensions about the environmental deterioration with the excessive usage of nanotechnology in high-end applications may thwart their commercialization. The unforeseen invasion of diverse range of nanoparticles to living systems have disturbed the cellular metabolism and lead to noxious impacts on flora and fauna. Thus, it is essential to develop safer means to use nanotechnology without affecting environment and living beings. The aim of the present work is to provide pre-contact treatment to avoid the release of nanoparticles in the environment. Attempts have been made to fabricate architectonical frameworks of porous graphene by using cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles (2-10 nm in size) embedded graphene sheets. The crafted packets of graphene membranes were further used to restrict the release of nanoparticles into the surrounding environment. However, the entry of the solvents containing analyte was not restricted with these crafted graphene membranes. These innovative membranes have been found to be quite effective in effluent filters and/or can be used for treating polluted water bodies. The efficiency of the produced packets was adjudged on the basis of dye adsorption from the waste water over CeO2 nanoparticles without its dispersion in the water; hence, nano-contamination was avoided. The developed methodology in the current work has been considered as a successful attempt in the direction of sustainable nanotechnology.

Fluorescent carbon dots (C-dots) have possessed remarkable and intricate properties which raised concerns and curiosity among researchers in their synthetic aspect. In this outlook, the current work reported the scale-up synthetic protocol for transforming agarose waste, a biologically infectious environmental contaminant, into highly fluorescent C-dots. The formed particles have better control over size, optical and luminescence properties. The value of quantum yield for the developed C-dots was found to be 62%. The detailed mechanistic insight into their optical and solvatochromic behaviour in presence of commercially used solvents has enhanced the knowledge and providing proper justification behind the optical changes in C-dots due to solvation effects. The toxicological screening via multiple assay approach has further attributed towards their biocompatible nature as function of concentration range from 100–5000 ppm. The suggested “waste-to wealth” stratagem is a prosperous step towards tough chore of multiple ion detection of Zn 2 + and CO 3 2 − ions from aqueous media. The fluorescence enhancement analysis has enumerated the concentration dependency in the range of 50 μ M to 30 nM and 10 μ M to 60 nM with detection limit value of 0.26 nM and 0.17 nM for Zn 2 + and CO 3 2 − ions, respectively. The current work provides the way for greener, cost effective and scaled up synthesis of toxicologically screened C-dots for dual fluorescent sensing and opened up the new horizons in environmental remediation applications.

Herein, a uniform spherical shaped Gd(III) doped Yb2O3 (Gd@Yb2O3) nanoparticles (NPs) was successfully synthesized via hydrothermal method for electrochemical detection of H2O2. The calcination effect and porosity of the materials well elaborated in the present work. The optical properties, size, morphological, thermal, sensing, surface and crystalline properties of synthesized materials were examined by several techniques. The enhanced electrocatalytic performance of Gd@Yb2O3 make the present sensor excellent towards the determination of H2O2.The anodic and cathodic peak current increased regularly with addition of H2O2 solution. The electrode coating surface was stable even after a number of electrochemical cycles and have high limit of detection (51 nM). Moreover, the present sensor was successfully employed for detection of H2O2 in real samples.

A novel, remunerative, green synthetic methodology without adding any kind of extra chemical reagent has been proposed for synthesizing highly fluorescent carbon dots (C-dots) by using waste coconut coir as the C source. The as-prepared C-dots possessed a quantum yield of 48% and displayed a high solubility rate in aqueous media. The fluorescence emission intensity of C-dots is found to be excitation dependent with high stability toward variation in the reaction medium. The bio-congenial performance of C-dots has been checked by employing quantitative multi-assay including fungus, plant, aquatic animals, and at the chromosomal level. It is notable that the antibacterial studies of as-prepared C-dots have presented appealing outcomes which advocated that C-dots prepared using coconut coir are biocompatible toward both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria with no zone of inhibition in much higher concentration ranges. The as-prepared C-dots provided a simple sensing podium with high sensitivity and selectivity with a “turn-on and turn-off” fluorescence response for the detection of dual metal ions i.e. cadmium and copper ions in aqueous media with a detection limit of 0.18 nM and 0.28 nM, respectively. The practical utilities of the biocompatible C-dots have been checked over different water resources. The current work provided a simple, easy, bio-matched, harmless, rapid, and cost-effective sensory probe for wastewater remediation.

Imazapyr is one of the frequently employed herbicide for controlling the growth of broad range of terrestrial and perennial grasses grown along the crop fields. The excessive utilization of imazapyr has contaminated the water level at an alarming rate. So, there is an urgent need to develop a cheap, selective and sensitive sensor for the detection of imazapyr. Here, in this paper a novel bio-compatibly tuned fluorescent-nanosensor of APTES coated ytterbium oxide (Yb2O3) was fabricated under hydrothermal conditions. The surface modification with APTES has provided better control over the optical and luminescence properties of Yb2O3 nanoparticles and has been turned out as a contemporary approach for designing potential sensor for harmful toxins i.e. imazapyr. The higher biocompatibility and fluorescence properties have made Yb2O3 as one of the selective and sensitive material for the estimation of imazapyr. The quenching of fluorescence intensity for APTES coated Yb2O3 NPs was greatly magnified by increasing concentration of imazapyr and displayed a linear trend from 0−200 ppm with detection limit value of 0.2 ppm. The developed sensor has possessed excellent efficiency for sample collected from real field conditions and provided the wider scope in herbicide sensing.

An attempt has been made to design one step synthesis of dopamine coated copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO@DOP NPs) by using microwave radiation method. The luminescent properties of CuO@DOP NPs have been explored for making colorimetric and visual biosensor for L-cys. Natural occurring dopamine has used as a precursor for the coating of CuO NPs that provides stability and generates functionality for the sensing of L-Cysteine (L-Cys). Being one of the important amino acid, L-cys has shown a fundamental role in living species due to the existence of sulfhydryl bonding which further affect the process of protein synthesis in living system. Therefore sensing of L-cys by using CuO@DOP NPs deserves higher consideration. Further, morphological and size parameters have been analyzed by using FESEM and HRTEM techniques. Surface interaction and coating of dopamine over CuO NPs has been examined through FTIR and TGA analysis. The non-toxicity and bio-compatibility of CuO@DOP NPs has been evaluated against L929 cell lines and on bacterial species. A computational study using DFT has been performed to check the possible mechanism of interaction between the CuO@DOP NPs and L-Cys. The higher value of detection limit (35 nM) has further shown its potential scope in sensing L-cys. The interference studies in presence of other amino acids have also taken into consideration for checking the selectivity and sensitivity of designed sensor. The applicability of prepared sensor has further been tested for real human blood serum and urine samples for detecting the presence of L-Cys. The as developed sensor of CuO@DOP NPs has provided rapid and selective sensing ability towards L-Cys over a wide range of concentration and bio-compatibility towards living entity. Novelty statement Herein, the application of unique chemical and photo-luminescent properties of CuO NPs have been chosen for the fabrication of new type of fluorophore to complement conventional types of biosensor for L-Cys. The synthesis of CuO based biosensor has been achieved via an economically viable microwave assisted method. The article has not been published in any language anywhere and that it is not under simultaneous consideration by another journal. The current work is novel.

Green chemistry-assisted biocompatible copper (Cu), silver (Ag), and iron oxide (Fe2O3) nanoparticles (NPs) synthesis along with surface modification using Koelreuteria apiculata is demonstrated in this research, for the first time. Appropriate analytical techniques were utilized to confirm the preparation, spherical morphology, and crystalline structure of each of the NPs. The antioxidant nature of synthesized NPs was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging. Besides, the antimicrobial activity was also performed using bacterial strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella typhi. Aspergillus sp. was designed as marker specie for the antifungal studies. The outcomes of NPs exposure, analyzed with reference to Chlorella sp. of the algal family exhibit the numerical values around 833% for AgNPs, 497% of CuNPs, and 456% for Fe2O3NPs. Phytotoxicity assay performed on the seeds of Vigna radiata and Cicer arietinum further validate the accordant nature of NPs towards vivacity. Allium cepa was also used as a test model to ascertain the genotoxic effects of the NPs wherein the mitotic index (MI) was calculated for AgNPs, CuNPs, and Fe2O3NPs as 42.1, 51.7, and 54.2% respectively. The outcomes of this research proved the suitability and affordability of our NPs developed using green synthesis for new industrial applications of in-situ reduction of carcinogenic compounds from water and soil.

The optimized RHA, by controlled burn or grinding, has been used as a pozzolanic material in cement and concrete. Using it provides several advantages, such as improved strength and durability properties, and environmental benefits related to the disposal of waste materials and to reduced carbon dioxide emissions. Up to now, little research has been done to investigate the use of RHA as supplementary material in cement and concrete production .The main objective of this work is to study the suitability of the rice husk ash as a pozzolanic material for cement replacement in concrete. However it is expected that the use of rice husk ash in concrete improve the strength properties of concrete. Also it is an attempt made to develop the concrete using rice husk ash as a source material for partial replacement of cement, which satisfies the structural properties of concrete like compressive strength.

Current study displayed the application of hydrothermal method for the preparation of highly crystalline nanocrystals of Eu

The applications of praseodymium oxide (Pr6O11) nanomaterials in catalysis, oxygen storage materials, and optical devices are the emergent areas that possess an urgent requirement for the toxicological evaluation of these nanomaterials to determine their impact on the ecology. In the present work, we have employed a multiassay approach for the toxicological profiling of bare and nonionic surface-modulated Pr6O11 nanoparticles (NPs). The contemporary analysis in this work has presented a great prospect to develop efficient indicators and inspect the toxic nature of bare and functionalized Pr6O11 NPs. The effect of Pr6O11 NPs was analyzed on germination parameters by the wheat seed germination assay and on algal growth by the paper disc approach. The influence of Pr6O11 NPs on the percentage viability of four different types of bacteria, namely, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella typhi, was investigated. The substantial effect of different concentrations of Pr6O11 NPs on Allium cepa was investigated at the genomic level by using the chromosomal aberration assay. The functionalized NPs exhibited 41.05%-400% higher biocompatibility by the wheat seed germination assay and 27.1%-47.3% by the A. cepa chromosomal aberration assay than the bare NPs. In algal growth assay and antibacterial activity testing, biocompatibility of the developed functionalized NPs enhanced by 23.1%-37.1% and 10%-70.6%, respectively. The current work evaluated the toxicity of the NPs and measured the competence of the obtained data to characterize possibilities of probable threats, prominence of data requirement, and breaches that must be filled to diminish the ambiguities about the safe use of Pr6O11 NPs.

The toxicity imparted by the commercialized use of nanoparticles in environmental remediation has become a big concern. To overcome this, the current work describes the fabrication of cerium oxide (CeO2) containing hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticles. The toxicity of the system was tested against the Allium cepa anaphase–telophase chromosome aberration assay. The enhanced stability and biocompatible nature of HAp widen the scope of engineered nanoproducts for wastewater treatment. Anionic Eriochrome Black T (EBT) dye was chosen as a model system for analyzing the adsorptive behavior of the engineered nanoparticles. The meticulous analysis of surface morphology, elemental composition, size and functional groups over the engineered product were ascertained by using microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. The corresponding influence of methodological aspects such as experimental pH, time, and concentration of the toxins and the nanoadsorbate toward the removal efficiency of pollutant were also quantified by using UV-Vis spectroscopic measurements. The kinetic and equilibrium adsorption analysis were also performed and a probable adsorption mechanism was determined for the prepared materials. The prepared HAp/CeO2 nanohybrid can be exploited as a competent, low-cost adsorbent for the removal of dye molecules from the aqueous environment. This piece of work validates and promotes the idea of using biocompatible and non-toxic nanomaterials for environmental remediation, with high efficiency.

The significance and importance of carbon-based NPs and their promising applications were a strong inspiration for this work. An inexpensive and easy synthesis of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) has been carried out by using easily-available biomass such as wheat (Triticum), rice (Oryza sativa), pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and sorghum. The as-prepared particles have better-controlled stability and luminescence activities as CQDs without using any external template. The well-defined emission properties of CQDs further encouraged the investigation of their role for sensing chromium (Cr3+) ions in aqueous media. Compared to the response to other metal ions, the fluorescence emission (photoluminescence) of CQDs shows significant enhancement in the presence of Cr3+ ions, with a limit of detection of 6 × 10−7 to 13 × 10−7 M and a linear range of 20 μM. The practicality of use and the average recovery of Cr3+ ions in the presence of different CQDs were also tested in water from different sources, such as tap water, buffer, distilled water and sewage water. The present route offers a simple, rapid, cost-effective and non-toxic means to determine metal ion impurities with improved selectivity and sensitivity.