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The aim of this investigation is to obtain thin films of nano-TiO 2 on a borosilicate glass substrate using sol–gel template method. The thin film was immobilized with and without polyethylene glycol as filler media and annealed at 500 °C. Further, thin films were characterized by the IR, XRD, XRF and XPS analytical methods. The surface morphology of these films was obtained by the FE-SEM images and the BET specific surface area and pore sizes were obtained. The nano-TiO 2 was, perhaps, formed a nanopillar onto the substrate. The thin films were successfully employed in the photocatalytic degradation of Alizarin Yellow (AY), an azo dye, from aqueous solutions using the UV-light irradiation under batch reactor operations. Various physico-chemical parametric studies, viz ., effect of pH, Alizarin Yellow concentration and interfering ions were studied to deduce the mechanism involved in photocatalytic degradation of this pollutant. The time dependence degradation of Alizarin Yellow was provided to demonstrate the kinetics of degradation of this pollutant from aqueous solutions. It was observed that the degradation of Alizarin Yellow followed pseudo-first-order rate kinetics. Study was further extended with total organic carbon measurement using TOC analyser to demonstrate an apparent mineralization of Alizarin Yellow from aqueous solutions. The presence of several interfering ions or even OH scavengers suppressed the photo-catalytic action of thin films in AY degradation from aqueous solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbohydrates, one of the most abundant biomolecules found in nature, have been seen traditionally as a dietary component of foods. Recent findings, however, have unveiled their medicinal potential in the form of carbohydrates-derived drugs. Their remarkable structural diversity, high optical purity, bioavailability, low toxicity and the presence of multiple functional groups have positioned them as a valuable scaffold and an exciting frontier in contemporary therapeutics. At present, more than 170 carbohydrates-based therapeutics have been granted approval by varying regulatory agencies such as United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Japan Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), Chinese National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). This article explores an overview of the fascinating potential and impact of carbohydrate-derived compounds as pharmacological agents and drug delivery vehicles., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Nanocomposite Ag 0 (NPs)/TiO 2 is synthesised in a facile template method enabling nanoparticles of reduced Ag evenly distributed within the titania network. The morphological studies of nanocomposites were extensively performed employing SEM/EDX (scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray), TEM (transmission electron microscopy) and AFM (atomic force microscopy). Moreover, the bandgap energies of materials were obtained using the diffuse reflectance spectrometer (DRS). The newer insights in the photocatalytic elimination of Mordant Orange-1 (MO1) was obtained using the nanocomposite thin film for various parametric studies utilising the UV-A and LED illuminations. The kinetics of degradation of MO1 was performed, and the rate constant was favoured at lower concentrations of MO1. Moreover, the elimination efficiency of MO1 was favoured with a decrease in solution pH. The NPOC results inferred that a fairly good extent of MO1 was mineralised using a thin-film catalyst for both the UV-A and LED illuminations. The minimal effect of several co-ions demonstrated the applicability of thin films in the elimination of MO1, and the stability of the thin film has shown the potential applicability of thin-film catalysts. Further, the mechanism of photocatalytic degradation was demonstrated with the radical scavenger studies and ascertained the reaction pathways., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)