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The focus of the current work is the study of the effect of the photo-catalytic activity of ZnO nanoparticles. The photocatalytic destruction of methylene blue dye, a common water contaminant, was used to assess the photocatalytic efficiency of the ZnO nanoparticles from its aqueous solution by using ZnO nanoparticles thin film under UV light and laser irradiation. Sol–gel methods prepared ZnO nanoparticle thin films. X-ray diffraction and a field-emitted scanning electron microscope were utilized to examine the structure of the produced ZnO nanoparticles. An extended characterization by laser-based fluorescence and UV–visible spectroscopic techniques. The effects of operational parameters such as photo-catalyst load and contact time on photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue were investigated. The recent study's findings showed that irradiation with a UV laser increases with power density 25 µW/cm2, the photo-catalytic rate. The UV spectra show decay for the band at 664nm decreased and the concentration of M.B. in monomer form decayed to 26% of the original concentration in 24 h, while the band at 612 which is related to the dimer M.B. molecules was not affected. The laser irradiation did the same for monomer M.B. molecules in only 3 h, while the dimer decreased to 28% of its original concentration. The reaction mechanism has been discussed by molecular modelling. Quantum mechanical calculations at B3LYP/6-311g(d,p) level indicated that methylene blue changed from dimers to monomers in the existence of ZnO. The current results present a method for degrading M.B. not only in wastewater but also in the industrial waste scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we reported the photo‐catalyzed C−H alkylation of pyridyl‐substituted N‐benzyl anilines through nitrogen‐centred radical 1,5‐hydrogen atom transfer. A broad range of methylpyridyl‐substituted aniline and hydroxylamine acid derivatives were successfully transformed into the corresponding products in moderate yields without adding any base and metal. This protocol features mild reaction conditions, a broad range of substrates, remarkable functional group tolerance and simple operation procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The livestock sector’s emission of greenhouse gases and hazardous gases, has contributed significantly to environmental pollution, including climate change and global warming. Furthermore, the accumulation of microbial pathogens in livestock waste, including Salmonella and Escherichia coli, poses a risk to food safety and health. Several strategic solutions have been developed to control these impacts, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and industry sustainability. UV irradiation has emerged as an effective technology in controlling emissions from the livestock sector, based on photolysis and photo-catalysis. A laboratory experiments prove that using UV in combination with filtration, the removal rate of CO2, NH3, N2O, VOC, pathogenic bacteria, and dust is 3.8 – 4.4%, 2.6–18.07%, 6.9 – 12.2%, 80 – 100%, 99.4%, and 95% respectively. Although photo-catalysis is highly effective in the elimination of gaseous compounds and pathogen, dust control is mainly done by filtration processes. This paper provides a comprehensive review of existing literature on global livestock emissions and pathogenic microorganisms, existing mitigation practices, UV treatment for livestock emissions mitigation, and the opportunities, challenges, and future perspectives and disinfection of common environmental pathogens of livestock emissions.

Herein, we reported the synthesis of cobalt (Co)-doped graphitic carbon nitride (Co@g-C3N4) and its application in photocatalytic H2 production. The formation, phase, crystalline nature, surface morphology, and elemental composition of the Co@g-C3N4 have been examined by XRD, SEM, XPS, and EDX spectroscopy. The platinum has been introduced as a cocatalyst and Co@g-C3N4/Pt (3 wt%) exhibited excellent photocatalytic performance towards the generation of H2. The synthesized Co@g-C3N4/Pt (3 wt%) material exhibited a significant amount of H2 production rate of 6347 µmol/g surpassing that of Co@g-C3N4 in the presence of TEOA sacrificial agent. The improved photocatalytic performance of the synthesized photocatalyst can be attributed to the synergistic interaction and Schottky barrier formation among Pt, Co, and g-C3N4, facilitating efficient charge separation and transportation of photo-induced charge carriers. This study has the potential to open up new avenues for addressing energy and environmental challenges through H2 production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, we have synthesized sulfone-bridged tetraphenyl porphyrin, 2D polymer 'P' (C44H28N4OySx)n through a one-pot reaction of tetra(p-bromophenyl) porphyrin, S with sulfur powder in DMF. The polymer 'P' has been further reacted with erythrosine B for the fabrication of composite photocatalyst, C (C65H37N4NaOySx)n using donor– acceptor conjugation protocol. Herein, both compounds (P & C) have been well characterized by MAS 13C-NMR, XPS, IR, powder XRD, TGA, SEM-EDX, UV-Vis spectra, and Cyclic Voltammetry. Due to the low HOMO-LUMO band gap energy, the applicability of the composite photocatalyst (C, 2.1 eV) has been studied in terms of oxidation of sulfide to sulfoxide. The present work shows a promising route for the development of sulfone-bridged 2D porphyrin covalent organic framework (COF) and its composite photocatalyst as well as its usage in photocatalytic sulfoxidation reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To increase specific surface area and light utilization of photo‐catalysts, a series of Fe3O4/Ag/BiVO4/sepiolite composites with different Fe3O4 contents were synthesized via co‐precipitation. The structure, composition, and optical properties of these composites were characterized using X‐ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption and desorption (BET), UV‐Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV‐Vis DRS), and fluorescence spectroscopy (PL). The photo‐catalytic activity of the composites was further evaluated using rhodamine B as a model for photo‐catalytic degradation. The results revealed that the composites with optimal Fe3O4 loading exhibited the narrowest bandgap width, approximately 2.13 eV, and the highest electron‐hole pair separation efficiency. Rhodamine B could be almost completely degraded within a short illumination time in the presence of the Fe3O4/Ag/BiVO4/sepiolite composites. The degradation mechanism of rhodamine B was proposed to involve the improvement of the photo‐catalytic activity of the resulting composites by the Fe3O4 and the Z‐type heterojunction structure. Additionally, the composites could be recycled and reused multiple times, making them an environmentally friendly and sustainable option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work reports the synthesis of pure and nickel-doped graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) by simple thermal decomposition of urea at a moderate temperature (550 °C). The concentration of nickel was increased systematically to see the effect of dopant concentration. Both the pure and doped samples were characterized by techniques like X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscope (FESEM), UV–Vis, Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy. The thermal stability of the sample was analyzed with the help of a thermal gravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA) study. XPS confirms the successful doping, whereas both XRD and FESEM show that when pure GCN gets doped with the transition metal, the crystal structure, as well as the morphology of the sample, changes. The Kubelka–Munk plot shows the monotonic decrease of the optical band gap of the material. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the GCN showed quenching of the intensity when nickel was introduced. The efficacy of the as synthesized material in removing textile dyes like Rhodamine B (Rh-B) through the process of photo-catalysis (PC) which is catalytic reaction under the influence of photons of suitable wavelength has been tested. It was seen that the observed PL quenching, in contradiction to the expected result, does not support PC when attempting to remove Rh–B under UV light. The pure GCN shows the best removal efficiency, achieving approximately 100% within a time duration of 70 min. The reaction mechanism has been explained in view of the pseudo-1st-order reaction. The anomaly of the PC results was qualitatively explained in terms of the abundance of oxygen and changes in the surface area. This is the 1st report where GCN shows a simultaneous enhancement of PL and PC properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a one-pot liquid plasma jet technique was explored for the synthesis of silver (Ag) and titania nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs), as well as their effective composite (AgTiO2). Compared to conventional approaches, this approach involves the plasma deposition of Ag NPs onto TiO2 NPs, which is simpler and more eco-safe. The size measurement by XRD analysis revealed the formation of Ag, TiO2, and Ag/TiO2 photo-catalysts with 10 nm, 15 nm, and 17 nm with UV-Vis bandgap energies of 2.58 eV, 3.36 eV, and 2.86 eV respectively. The as-synthesized catalysts were used for the degradation of Methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) dyes. Ag/TiO2 acted as the best photo-catalyst, with 92.64 % degradation of MB and 77.5 % of MO in just 60 minutes. Integrating Ag onto TiO2 NPs reduced the band gap with inhibited electron-hole recombination, which enhanced its reusability with minimal activity loss. Moreover, the Ag/TiO2 photo-catalyst also showed strong antioxidant activity using the DPPH method. Integrating Ag onto TiO2 significantly enhanced the antibacterial performance against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Overall findings demonstrate the potential of plasma-enhanced integration of Ag NPs onto the TiO2 matrix for effective photocatalytic, antioxidant, and antibacterial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, as‐prepared and Ag‐decorated ZnO/Zn(OH)2 composite nanoparticles (NPs) were obtained using the sol–gel technique. First, the effect of aging on the structural, optical, and morphological features was examined. Ag NPs can interact with the electronic structure of ZnO/Zn(OH)2 NPs, resulting in changes in their energy levels. It was found that the composite NPs obtained after 6 h solution aging increased in full width at half maximum and good crystallinity of the structures from the X‐ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. The Raman spectrum supports the experimental data obtained from XRD and Fourier transform infrared, a material containing a mixture of ZnO and Zn(OH)2. From the morphological study, Ag NPs were successfully decorated on the ZnO/Zn(OH)2 surface, and composite NPs did not change the morphological appearance of the structure. Second, the photocatalytic performance of the samples was investigated. In the experimental setting, ultra‐violet A light was employed as the irradiation source, whereas rhodamine B (RhB) was used as the dyestuff. The photo‐degradation of the RhB dyestuff on composite NPs was observed to be 98.5% and 92.5% for 6 and 2 h aged samples, respectively. On Ag NPs, the catalytic performance of the sample was increased up to 95% after 180 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater is frequently utilised as the source of consuming water throughout the entire globe. Hence, the defilement of this groundwater by noxious radioactive metals like Uranium (VI) which are produced from the expansion in thermal energy stations, radio-nuclear plants as well as their releasing by-product materials, which are delivered into the conduits and waterways is a pressing issue. The noxious as well as deadly Uranium (VI) is viewed as a toxic by-product related to the course of enrichment process used to create atomic energy, and also the risk factor associated with it is caused by the radioactivity, carcinogenicity and toxicity of uranium. Numerous strategies have been proposed to manage these issues, yet photocatalytic degradation stands apart as a simple, cost-effective, and efficient process that has acquired huge consideration as of late in spite of specific constraints concerning its functional and operational applications. The various photocatalytic reagents and their applications for removing uranium (VI) from radioactive wastewater are summed up in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper investigates the solar photodegradation of Methylene Blue dye using copper oxide (CuO) thin films synthesized by the Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction (SILAR) method. The structural, morphological, and optical characteristics of the CuO thin films have been investigated by employing a variety of methods, such as Fourier transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The outcomes showed that CuO thin films with excellent surface shape and a highly crystalline nature had been successfully deposited. Methylene Blue was subjected to solar radiation during its photodegradation process, and the outcomes showed a significant decrease in the dye's concentration over time. To maximize the photo degradation process, the effects of other experimental factors were also assessed, such as the starting concentration of MB, the quantity of CuO thin film, number of SILAR cycles and the pH of the solution. Good photocatalytic activity is demonstrated by CuO thin films produced using the SILAR approach in the solar photodegradation of methylene blue. The development of affordable and ecologically friendly wastewater treatment technology that can use sun energy to break down persistent organic contaminants is affected by these findings.

The use of hydrogen peroxide (produced in situ or ex situ) as the main agent in oxidative processes of environmental pollutant removal is widely studied. The degradation of water pollutants, such as dyes, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, petroleum derivatives, and even pathogens, has been successfully obtained by different techniques. This review gives an overview of the more recent methods developed to apply oxidative processes mediated by H2O2 and other reactive oxygen species (ROS) in environmental catalysis, with particular attention to the strategies (Fenton-like and Bio-Fenton, photo- and electro-catalysis) and the materials employed. A wide discussion about the characteristics of the materials specifically studied for hydrogen peroxide activation, as well as about their chemical composition and morphology, was carried out. Moreover, recent interesting methods for the generation and use of hydrogen peroxide by enzymes were also presented and their efficiency and applicability compared with the Fenton and electro-Fenton methods discussed above. The use of Bio-Fenton and bi-enzymatic methods for the in situ generation of ROS seems to be attractive and scalable, although not yet applied in full-scale plants. A critical discussion about the feasibility, criticalities, and perspectives of all the methods considered completes this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs), through a novel green synthesis method utilizing Tinospora Cordifolia (TC) aqueous leaf extract as a reducing and stabilizing agent, were synthesized, and investigated for their dye degradation potential. The bio-synthesis process, which is operationally simple, non-toxic, and cost-effective, involves using cupric oxide (CuO) as precursor material. The degradation of dyes in water bodies is challenging research due to their stable nature; therefore, it is essential to develop potential catalyst materials with desirable properties to degrade dyes in water bodies. The CuNPs were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–Vis spectrometer, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and a Fourier transformed infrared spectrometer (FTIR). The FTIR results confirmed the presence of phytochemicals involved in the reduction, capping, and stabilization of CuNPs, which was corroborated by the XRD data. The photo-catalytic activity of biosynthetic CuNPs was studied using methylene blue (MB) dye upon exposure to visible light source irradiation. The results showed that bio-synthesized CuNPs exhibited a high potential for dye degradation for the methylene blue dye in the presence of a visible light source and a dye degradation rate of 81% was achieved. The green-synthesized CuNPs have proven to be a potential candidate for efficiently removing dyes from water bodies and provide a sustainable, environmentally friendly method for producing metal nanoparticles with excellent photo-catalytic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bodies of water across the world are being polluted by trace organic pollutants like Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDC's). A well-known example of EDC's is Bisphenol A (BPA). Therefore, it is a pressing requirement of the current times to find a viable technique for effectively removing these type of pollutants from water. With that intention, a composite material was fabricated using an activated biochar made from rice straw (ARSB) and Titanium Dioxide (TiO2). The synthesized composite, ARSB-TiO2 was used for removing BPA by a combination of adsorption and photocatalytic degradation. From the Tauc plot analysis, it was observed that the band gap of the TiO2 decreased due to its combination with ARSB as the band gap of ARSB-TiO2 was 2.4 eV where as that of TiO2 was 3.36 eV and that of ARSB was 3.31 eV. This was attributed to the formation of a new energy state, formed due to the combination of TiO2 with ARSB during the hydrothermal reaction, resulting in the generation of a Ti-O-C bond. As a consequence, ARSB-TiO2 was able to be activated by visible radiation (2-2.75 eV). A set of batch studies were conducted to evaluate the experimental conditions under which the optimal removal of BPA could be attained. From there the highest removal of BPA was found to be 95.73 % which was obtained at BPA concentration of 10 mg/L, ARSB-TiO2 dosage of 2 g/L, pH 2 and temperature 303 K. Further optimization of the process operation was done with the optimization tools Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN). From the RSM study, the highest removal of BPA was found to be 99.91 % which was attained under the experimental conditions of pH 1.95, ARSB-TiO2 dosage of 2 g/L and contact time of 60 min. In case of ANN, the Levenberg-Marquardt back propagation algorithm was found to be the most suitable function for the optimization process. A radical quenching study was performed and from there it was observed that superoxide anion radical (·O2-) exhibited the highest effectivity for degrading BPA, followed by holes (H+) and hydroxyl radical (·OH). Lastly, a detailed comparative study was performed to compare the findings of the present study with that of the previously reported literatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper investigates the solar photodegradation of Methylene Blue dye using copper oxide (CuO) thin films synthesized by the Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction (SILAR) method. The structural, morphological, and optical characteristics of the CuO thin films have been investigated by employing a variety of methods, such as Fourier transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The outcomes showed that CuO thin films with excellent surface shape and a highly crystalline nature had been successfully deposited. Methylene Blue was subjected to solar radiation during its photodegradation process, and the outcomes showed a significant decrease in the dye's concentration over time. To maximize the photodegradation process, the effects of other experimental factors were also assessed, such as the starting concentration of MB, the quantity of CuO thin film, the number of SILAR cycles and the pH of the solution. Good photocatalytic activity is demonstrated by CuO thin films produced using the SILAR approach in the solar photodegradation of methylene blue. The development of affordable and ecologically friendly wastewater treatment technology that can use sun energy to break down persistent organic contaminants is affected by these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Bimetallic nanoparticles (BNPs) has drawn a lot of attention especially during the last couple of decades. A bimetallic nanoparticle stands for a combination of two different metals that exhibit several new and improved physicochemical properties. Therefore, the green synthesis and design of bimetallic nanoparticles is a field worth exploring. Methods In this study, we present a green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs), selenium (Se) NPs, and bimetallic Ag-Se NPs using Gamma irradiation and utilizing a bacterial filtrate of Bacillus paramycoides. Different Techniques such as UV-Vis., XRD, DLS, SEM, EDX, and HR-TEM, were employed for identifying the synthesized NPs. The antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of both the Ag/Se monometallic and bimetallic Ag-Se NPs were evaluated against some standard microbial strains including, Aspergillus brasiliensis ATCC16404, Candida albicans ATCC10231, Alternaria alternate EUM108, Fusarium oxysporum EUM37, Escherichia coli ATCC11229, Bacillus cereus ATCC15442, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC13883, Bacillus subtilis ATCC15442, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC6538 as a model tested pathogenic microbes. The individual free radical scavenging potentials of the synthesized Ag NPs, Se NPs, and bimetallic Ag-Se NPs were determined using the DPPH radical scavenging assay. The degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye in the presence of the synthesized Ag NPs, Se NPs, and bimetallic Ag-Se NPs was used to assess their photocatalytic behavior. Results According to the UV-Vis. spectrophotometer, the dose of 20.0 kGy that results in Ag NPs with the highest O.D. = 3.19 at 390 nm is the most effective dose. In a similar vein, the optimal dose for the synthesis of Se NPs was 15.0 kGy dose with O.D. = 1.74 at 460 nm. With a high O.D. of 2.79 at 395 nm, the most potent dose for the formation of bimetallic Ag-Se NPs is 15.0 kGy. The recorded MIC-values for Ag-Se NPs were 62.5 µg mL− 1, and the data clearly demonstrated that C. albicans was the organism that was most susceptible to the three types of NPs. The MIC value was 125 µg mL− 1 for both Ag NPs and Se NPs. In antibiofilm assay, 5 µg mL− 1 Ag-Se NPs inhibited C. albicans with a percentage of 90.88%, E. coli with a percentage of 90.70%, and S. aureus with a percentage of 90.62%. The synthesized NPs can be arranged as follows in decreasing order of antioxidant capacity as an antioxidant result: Ag-Se NPs > Se NPs > Ag NPs. The MB dye degradation in the presence of the synthesized Ag NPs, Se NPs, and bimetallic Ag-Se NPs was confirmed by the decrease in the measured absorbance (at 664 nm) after 20 min of exposure to sunlight. Conclusion Our study provides insight towards the synthesis of bimetallic NPs through green methodologies, to develop synergistic combinatorial antimicrobials with possible applications in the treatment of infectious diseases caused by clinically and industrial relevant drug-resistant strains.

Novel, environmentally friendly, and clean energy sources have been developed in response to increased global energy demand and the associated effects of global warming produced by greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels. As a result, the development of renewable and clean energy depends largely on hydrogen as a key component. Even, nanomaterial procured from waste for Hydrogen synthesis can be processed through several biochemical/thermochemical procedures. Variables comprising feedstock characteristics, operation needs and technology availability were examined to support technology choice and system features. Such amendments proceed with costly synthesis and operation strategies, low operating efficiencies, insufficient management along with logistics, as well as lack of operation policies. Perhaps, nanotechnology is now crucial in the creation of nanomaterials for the production of hydrogen as a pertinent origin through renewable energy causatives. Nanomaterials have received a great deal of interest in recent years owing to their unusual mechanical, electrical, electronic, optical, and magnetic properties on their surfaces. These features had a predominant impact on the evolution of production and storage techniques, as well as the difficulties experienced in bringing the product to market. This article provides an overview of the nanomaterials that contributed to hydrogen synthesis, storage, and usage. This article will cover a wide range of issues, including Nanomaterials for Photocatalytic (PC) reactions, anaerobic digestion, hydrothermal gasification, microbial fuel cells, lifespan evaluation, and future research studies. • A comprehensive analysis of the techniques and procedures used to produce hydrogen. • A systematic exploration of the many different kinds of nanomaterials that are utilized in the creation of hydrogen. • Utilization includes photo-catalysis, anaerobic digestion, hydrothermal gasification, and microbial fuel cells. • Recent achievements, problems and possibilities are explored in depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed a Visible Light Promoted Catalyst‐Free (VLCF) approach to synthesize novel conjugates of Isoniazid and Maleimide. This method involves the formation of an electron donor‐acceptor (EDA) complex between isoniazid and maleimide the photochemical activity of this complex drives the transformation. We successfully synthesized Isoniazid‐Maleimide derivatives (3a–d) at gram scale under visible light irradiation without an additional photo catalyst and without chromatographic purification resulting in excellent yields in a recyclable green solvent. Molecular docking was employed to predict the in silico anti‐tubercular activity and binding modes at the active site of enoyl‐ACP reductase, InhA. The newly synthesized compounds (3a–d) exhibited high binding affinity compared to Isoniazid and Isoniazid‐NAD adduct, indicating their potential for more effective anti‐tubercular activity. ADME analysis revealed favourable physicochemical properties, lipophilicity, water solubility, pharmacokinetics, and drug‐likeness for compound 3a, positioning it as a promising candidate for further drug discovery and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel Escherichia coli strain, created by engineering its cell surface with a cobalt-binding peptide CP1, was investigated in this study. The recombinant strain, pBAD30-YiaT-CP1, was structurally modeled to determine its cobalt-binding affinity. Furthermore, the effectiveness and specificity of pBAD30-CP1 in adsorbing and extracting cobalt from artificial wastewater polluted with the metal were investigated. The modified cells were subjected to cobalt concentrations (0.25 mM to 1 mM) and pH levels (pH 3, 5, 7, and 9). When exposed to a pH of 7 and a cobalt concentration of 1 mM, the pBAD30-CP1 strain had the best cobalt recovery efficiency, measuring 1468 mol/g DCW (Dry Cell Weight). Furthermore, pBAD30-CP1 had a higher affinity for cobalt than nickel and manganese. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) were used to examine the physiochemical parameters of the recombinant cells after cobalt adsorption. These approaches revealed the presence of cobalt in a bound state on the cell surface in the form of nanoparticles. In addition, the cobalt-binding recombinant strains were used in the photocatalytic reduction of methylene blue, which resulted in a 59.52% drop in the observed percentage. This study shows that modified E. coli strains have the potential for efficient cobalt recovery and application in environmental remediation operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a new hybrid system composed of a photo-catalysis (UV/ZnO) process combined with an electro-Fenton (EF) process equipped with a micro porous graphite air diffusion cathode (MPGADC) was used to treat petroleum refinery wastewater (PRW). The hybrid system was operated in a batch recycle mode and its performance was investigated and optimized using a response surface methodology (RSM). Three operating parameters affecting on the removal efficiency (RE%) of chemical oxygen demand (COD) were investigated including current density (2–10 mA/cm2), ZnO dosage (0.05–0.35 g/L), and Fe2+concentration (0.05–0.15 mM). Results showed that the optimum operating conditions can be achieved using a current density of 6.44 mA/cm2, with ZnO dosage of 0.35 g/L, and concentration of Fe2+ ions at 0.05 mM in which RE% of 90.15% was obtained with requiring a total electrical energy consumption (EEC T) of 19.102KWh/m3. Furthermore, analysis of variance (ANOVA) exhibited a high value of determination coefficient (R2) close to 98.24% indicating a satisfactory fit between the obtained regression model and the experimental results. Moreover, ANOVA results revealed that current density has the most significant effect on RE% with a contribution of 52.41% followed by ZnO dosage and Fe 2 + concentration both of them with a contribution of 11.64%. The comparison between the individual photo-catalysis process and hybrid process showed that RE% increases from 77.83% to 90.15% making an enhancement by 15.83% in RE% while EEC T decreased from 27.171to 19.102KWh/m3 making a reduction by 29.7% in EEC T. Hence, combining EF with photo-catalysis process improves the efficiency and reduced the required energy in comparison with the individual photo-catalysis process. Therefore, the combined process could be considered as an alternative, sustainable, green and cost-effective method for treatment of refinery wastewaters. [Display omitted] • A novel photocatalysis-ElectroFenton system was applied successfully for treatment wastewater. • The optimum conditions were: current density of 6.44 mA/cm2, Fe2+concentration of 0.05 mM, Zn O 2 dosage of 0.35 g/l. • A maximum COD removal (RE% = 90.15% %) with a lower energy consumption (EEC T = 19.102kWh/m3) were achieved after operation of 40 min. • Reaction time was the most effective parameter followed by Z n O 2 dosage, Fe2+ concentration, and current density. • EF+UV/ZnO in comparison with UV/ZnO alone results in an enhancement of 15.83% in RE% and a reduction by 29.7% in EEC T. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A photo‐induced metal‐free radical hydroboration of various styrenes with NHC‐borane has been developed, which can provide mono‐ and di‐alkylated boranes in a selective manner. Besides, this strategy can also be applied to prepare di‐functionalized boranes with two different alkyl groups. Mild reaction conditions and good functional groups compatibility were observed. Preliminary mechanism for this reaction was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we have reported the synthesis of Cs3Bi2I9 MHPs using simple protocols and strategies. Further, crystalline nature and phase of the as‐synthesized Cs3Bi2I9 MHPs were examined by exploring XRD and XPS methods. The surface morphological properties of Cs3Bi2I9 MHPs were determined by SEM study. XPS technique was used to verify the phase purity and elemental composition of Cs3Bi2I9 MHPs. Furthermore, we have used as‐synthesized Cs3Bi2I9 MHPs as suitable photo‐catalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction. The Cs3Bi2I9 MHPs exhibits decent results for H2 production. However, introduction of Pt co‐catalyst with Cs3Bi2I9 MHPs boosted the photo‐catalytic hydrogen generation. The obtained results exhibited the generation of excellent H2 amount of 301.45 and 1249.25 μmol g−1 using Cs3Bi2I9 MHPs and Cs3Bi2I9 MHPs+2 mg Pt, respectively. The obtained results exhibits that Cs3Bi2I9 MHPs and Cs3Bi2I9 MHPs+2 mg Pt possess excellent cyclic stability and can be reuse for further photo‐catalytic H2 evolution. Cs3Bi2I9 MHPs+Pt (2.0 mg) also exhibited excellent H2 evolution amount and rate in presence of H3PO2. The obtained results in this study are the important steps towards the H2 evolution using Cs3Bi2I9 MHPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, with the rapid development of global industry and economy, the environment is facing problems, particularly the heavy metal ion pollution. There are a number of technologies for environmental pollution control, among others, photo-catalysis has been widely concerned by researchers as an efficient and non-secondary-pollution technology. In this experimental study, a series of needle-shaped ZnWO4 photo-catalysts with oxygen defects were prepared by a hydrothermal method using sodium borohydride as an etching agent. Testing with potassium dichromate solution to simulate Cr(VI) containing wastewater was carried out, probing into the effect of oxygen defects on the photo-catalytic performance of Cr( VI) reduction over ZnWO4 photo-catalysts. The fabricated samples were characterized by several physico-chemical methods, e.g. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, N2 physical absorption, ultraviolet visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and photo-electrochemical measurement. As a result, the experimental study showed that sodium borohydride etching could change the morphological feature of ZnWO4, increasing its specific surface area. In particular, the oxygen defects introduced by sodium borohydride etching broadened the light absorption range and reduced the recombination probability of photo-generated carriers, which significantly improved the photo-catalytic activity of ZnWO4 for Cr(VI) reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bimetallic nanoparticles (BNPs) has drawn a lot of attention especially during the last couple of decades. A bimetallic nanoparticle stands for a combination of two different metals that exhibit several new and improved physicochemical properties. Therefore, the green synthesis and design of bimetallic nanoparticles is a field worth exploring. Methods: In this study, we present a green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs), selenium (Se) NPs, and bimetallic Ag-Se NPs using Gamma irradiation and utilizing a bacterial filtrate of Bacillus paramycoides. Different Techniques such as UV-Vis., XRD, DLS, SEM, EDX, and HR-TEM, were employed for identifying the synthesized NPs. The antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of both the Ag/Se monometallic and bimetallic Ag-Se NPs were evaluated against some standard microbial strains including, Aspergillus brasiliensis ATCC16404, Candida albicans ATCC10231, Alternaria alternate EUM108, Fusarium oxysporum EUM37, Escherichia coli ATCC11229, Bacillus cereus ATCC15442, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC13883, Bacillus subtilis ATCC15442, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC6538 as a model tested pathogenic microbes. The individual free radical scavenging potentials of the synthesized Ag NPs, Se NPs, and bimetallic Ag-Se NPs were determined using the DPPH radical scavenging assay. The degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye in the presence of the synthesized Ag NPs, Se NPs, and bimetallic Ag-Se NPs was used to assess their photocatalytic behavior. Results: According to the UV-Vis. spectrophotometer, the dose of 20.0 kGy that results in Ag NPs with the highest O.D. = 3.19 at 390 nm is the most effective dose. In a similar vein, the optimal dose for the synthesis of Se NPs was 15.0 kGy dose with O.D. = 1.74 at 460 nm. With a high O.D. of 2.79 at 395 nm, the most potent dose for the formation of bimetallic Ag-Se NPs is 15.0 kGy. The recorded MIC-values for Ag-Se NPs were 62.5 µg mL− 1, and the data clearly demonstrated that C. albicans was the organism that was most susceptible to the three types of NPs. The MIC value was 125 µg mL− 1 for both Ag NPs and Se NPs. In antibiofilm assay, 5 µg mL− 1 Ag-Se NPs inhibited C. albicans with a percentage of 90.88%, E. coli with a percentage of 90.70%, and S. aureus with a percentage of 90.62%. The synthesized NPs can be arranged as follows in decreasing order of antioxidant capacity as an antioxidant result: Ag-Se NPs > Se NPs > Ag NPs. The MB dye degradation in the presence of the synthesized Ag NPs, Se NPs, and bimetallic Ag-Se NPs was confirmed by the decrease in the measured absorbance (at 664 nm) after 20 min of exposure to sunlight. Conclusion: Our study provides insight towards the synthesis of bimetallic NPs through green methodologies, to develop synergistic combinatorial antimicrobials with possible applications in the treatment of infectious diseases caused by clinically and industrial relevant drug-resistant strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thin films of polyimide (PI) and graphene oxide (GO) were exposed to the accelerated Cu-ions with an energy of 1500 keV at different ion fluences (3.75 × 1012; 3.75 × 1014; 1 × 1016) cm−2. The reason for Cu-ion irradiation lies in the modification of thin PI and GO layers and their subsequent use in electronics, photo-catalysis and humidity sensing. It was expected that three ways would primarily carry out modification: i) interaction of the accelerated ions with atoms and electrons of the irradiated films, ii) implantation of Cu ions inside the matrices and their attachment to the structures in the form of CuO, and iii) formation of C and Cu aggregates and Cu nanoparticles in the subsurface layer to form an electrically conductive network. The effects of the interactions of energetic Cu-ions on the PI and GO matrices, including the prediction of the depth of Cu ion penetration, were simulated by SRIM software. Elemental changes, including the depth profiles of implanted Cu-ions, were investigated by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) and Elastic recoil detection analysis (ERDA). Changes in the chemical bonding on the PI and GO surfaces were studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy. The effect of energetic Cu-ions on the surface morphology was analyzed by Atomic force microscopy (AFM). For the possible application of PI and GO composites in electronics and sensory, the sheet resistivity were measured by the two- point method and the effect of air humidity on electrical properties was studied. Furthermore, the degradation of Rhodamine B solution in the presence of prepared composites under UV-light irradiation was measured for possible use in photo-catalysis. It was found that the interaction of Cu- ions with the matrix leads to the release of oxygen and hydrogen, resulting in an increase in carbon concentration. The increase in carbon concentration leads to an increase in the electrical conductivity of both materials. The irradiation with Cu ion fluence of 1 × 1016 cm−2 probably formed in PI a subsurface conducting network that reduced the sheet resistivity by almost eleven orders of magnitude. The ion irradiation by Cu ion with fluences below 1 × 1016 cm−2 enhances the photo- catalytic properties of both used materials and the best result was achieved in the case of PI irradiated by the ion fluence of 3.75 × 1014 cm−2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a highly air stable and eco‐friendly methyl ammonium bismuth iodide (MA3Bi2I9) perovskite‐like material has been prepared. After physiochemical characterizations, the synthesized MA3Bi2I9 was utilized as photo‐catalyst towards hydrogen production. It is important to design and synthesize lead (Pb)‐free perovskite‐like material (MA3Bi2I9) for photo‐catalytic hydrogen‐production applications. The synthesized MA3Bi2I9 exhibits excellent photo‐catalytic hydrogen generation with a production rate of 11.43 μmolg−1 h−1. In the presence of a platinum co‐catalyst, the hydrogen production rate further increases to 172.44 μmolg−1 h−1. The MA3Bi2I9 photo‐catalyst also demonstrates excellent cyclic stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, the problem of pollution is considered to be one of the main cause of water scarcity, as it is common to waste dumped in streams and rivers. This problem has resulted in high levels of toxic chemicals such as pesticides, micro-pollutants and heavy metals being found in water bodies. The unwavering natural surroundings of worldwide rareness of water is the topographical and sequential discrepancy between the demands for clean fresh water and the obtainability of it.However, new and diverse technologies have been developed in order to achieve sustainable clean fresh water resources. The revolution in the development of novel technologies and materials such as nanomaterials is considered one of the most motivating and potential novel technologies for wastewater treatment. This review outlines the advancements of separation processes in treating polluted wastewater. Technologies such as phytoremediation, nanotechnologies and photo-catalysis were discussed.

Bismuth Vanadate (BiVO4) has been synthesized using simple hydrothermal technique while varying the pH of concentrated H2SO4. With the increase of pH values (from 06 to 10), the morphology of the synthesized material tuned in the form of nano-spheres and cubes in the range from 50 to 60 nm. The lateral affect tuned the bandgap of BiVO4 from 2.47 eV to 2.50 eV which is significant in the context of present study. It is worth mentioning that desirous bandgap corresponds to the visible spectrum of the solar light being abundantly available and finds many applications in real life. The synthesized nanomaterial BiVO4 has been characterized through UV–Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Scanning electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. The synthesized BiVO4 has been tested as photocatalyst for degradation of industrial pollutant from Leather Field Industry. Said catalyst (BiVO4) successfully degraded the industrial pollutant after 3 h under solar light irradiation. Therefore, the BiVO4 can be regarded as potential photocatalyst for degradation of industrial waste which is highly needed.

The aim of this work was to improve photo‐catalytic activities of zinc oxide thin films for the degradation of methyl orange (MO) using a new approach based on the combined effect of lanthanum doping and porous substrate of silicon (Psi). Therefore, undoped and lanthanum‐doped zinc oxide thin films (ZnO : La) were deposited on porous silicon substrate (PSi) by spin coating chemical deposition. Studies of the photo‐catalytic activity showed that the La (25 %)‐doped ZnO layer exhibited an improved photocatalytic performance in the degradation of methyl orange. Around 91.53 % and 70 % of the MO degradation was achieved within 180 min under illumination with UV and visible light respectively, suggesting that La‐doped ZnO films deposited on Psi substrate are favorable candidates to enhance the photo‐degradation of methyl orange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AgBr/NaTaO3 composites, with different molar % of NaTaO3 (Br/NTO(X%)), have been synthesized by simple precipitation methods; bare NaTaO3 was synthesized by hydrothermal procedure, while AgBr was synthesized by a precipitation procedure using cetyl-tri-methyl-ammonium bromide (CTAB) and AgNO3. Samples have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared photo-catalysts was evaluated through photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB), methyl orange (MO) and caffeic acid (CAFA) under UV and visible illumination. Single AgBr material and Br/NTO(X%) composites displayed the ability to absorb light in the visible region, while NaTaO3 is only photoactive under UV irradiation. Based on the position of conduction and valence bands of AgBr and NaTaO3, the heterojunction between these two photo-catalysts corresponds to a type II junction. In the case of photocatalytic degradation of RhB and CAFA, Br/NTO(x%) composites have highest photocatalytic activity than that obtained by both parental materials under the same operational conditions. AgBr and Br/NTO(x%) composites achieve a fast degradation of MO, together with a considerable adsorption capacity, attributed to the presence of a remaining amount of residual CTAB on the AgBr surface. In summary, coupling AgBr with NaTaO3 improves the photocatalytic activity under both UV and visible illumination with respect to the parental components, but the performance of the composites is highly dependent on the type of substrate to be degraded and the illumination conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molding the future with the use of new technology is utmost important for the progress of human race. Nanotechnologies are the emerging field. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are the widely known substances used mostly in all types of the application such as catalysts, absorbents for water treatment, photocatalysis. Various methods of synthesis of CNTs are known, but in this paper, as a case study, green process synthesis has been discussed in CNTs. Different six stages in the life cycle of CNTs have been discussed in the paper that relates to different risk factors in the field. Synchronization of science and technology is important for usage of the materials. This paper provides more brief holistic view of the state of the CNTs at various fields. The attention of this study is also on the toxicity, bioaccumulation, and safety concerns as well as the remedial capabilities [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work reports, improved photo catalytic performance of ZnO by band gap engineering via Eu doping (0.5–2.0 %). Single phase wurtzite structure of sol gel derived ZnO and Eu (0.5–2.0 %) doped ZnO are confirmed by XRD, FTIR and Raman spectra. Slight variation in structural parameter, FTIR stretching mode at 677 cm−1 and Raman E 2 peak position indicate substitution of Eu+3 in ZnO. Calculated band gap decreases [3.05-2.89] with Eu concentration due to generation of charge trap level. Dye degradation of MO improved in Eu doped ZnO as compare to ZnO. The catalytic effectiveness is clearly shown by significant breakdown of a commonly used MO dye (at a concentration of 120 mg l−1). ZnO: Eu 2 % has a remarkable clearance rate of 99.37 %, which is explained by pseudo-first-order kinetics. The increase in oxygen radical ion concentration due to presence of Eu 2 O 3 impurity phase in Eu 2 % doped ZnO supports MO degradation mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, using PVP-modified polystyrene microspheres as template, tetrabutyl titanate (TEOT), tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and melamine as precursor, we developed a facile one-pot two-step method to preparing a novel kind of mesoporous hollow SiO 2 @TiO 2 @g-C 3 N 4 ternary composite microspheres with plush surface, in which highly active black titanium dioxide (TiO 2) was formed by simple calcination without further chemical reduction treatment. The structure and morphology of the composite microspheres were detailed characterized for understanding the formation mechanism. Research results indicated that the hollow SiO 2 microspheres can promote the formation of oxygen vacancies in TiO 2 , and the ternary combination narrowed the bandgap width of the black hollow composite microspheres to 1.43 eV, thus endowing it with excellent broad-spectrum catalytic performance for rapid photo-degradation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as dyes and antibiotics in water under sunlight. The removal rates of dyes reached more than 70 %, as well as that of antibiotics more than 50 % within one hour. Finally, a plausible catalytic degradation mechanism was discussed. [Display omitted] • A novel kind of hollow SiO 2 @TiO 2 @g-C 3 N 4 ternary composite microspheres. • Highly active black TiO 2 formed in the hollow composite microspheres by simple calcination. • The bandgap width of the hollow microspheres was narrowed to 1.43 eV. • The product has excellent photo-catalytic performance for rapid removal of POPs in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar energy is considered as an eco-friendly, cost effective, viable as well as de facto everlasting resource meant for the society. The sustainable development objective of decelerating the climate change has attracted widespread research in the transformation of solar into other useful forms of energy. Although several technologies are prevailing to transform the solar energy, photothermal transformation of solar light into thermal energy exhibits vantage when applied for desalination and water purification in order to mitigate the water crisis and the photothermoelectric effect can cause power generation. The review encompasses the origin of photothermal conversion, the plausible mechanisms involved in the photothermal process, the pre-requisite condition of the material for the efficient conversion, thermal management by integrating the photothermal process and the thermo-electric effect for utilizing broad solar spectra using hybrid modules. This review article also provide a fundamental perception and enhanced understanding of various schemes based on photo-thermo-electric and photo-thermoelectric effect and their recent progress towards its application as power generators and catalytic progress. This aims to propose a model for the realistic outline and development of a module for effectual translation of solar into electrical energy in energy as well as environmental sectors. [Display omitted] • Envisaging the conversion of abundant solar into electrical energy, exploiting the concept of photothermoelectric effect. • Embraces integration of photo-thermal and thermo-electric concept via photo-thermo-electric (P-T-E) effect. • Phonetically similar P-TE effect works with distinct mechanistic approach and generate optoelectronic response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We are presenting a groundbreaking study on the use of a main group phosphorus corrole complex, P–(CF 3) 5 , as an efficient photocatalyst for chlorination reactions. Through the optimizations of catalyst selection, solvent choice and acid concentration, we achieved remarkable catalytic efficiencies. Meanwhile, this innovative system simultaneously generates H₂O₂, with its production optimized for maximum efficiency. Supported by DFT calculations, our study elucidates a reactive oxygen species–triggered mechanism, demonstrating the potential of non–precious main group systems as viable photocatalysts. This work opens new avenues for applying sustainable, eco–friendly photocatalysts in essential industrial organic processes, marking a significant advancement in green chemistry. [Display omitted] • Efficient photocatalytic chlorination of aromatics was achieved using P–corrole. • Dual catalysis was observed in both chlorination and H 2 O 2 formation. • Reproducibility and stability over multiple cycles highlight its practical utility. Corroles, despite their highly tunable and excellent photophysical and electrochemical properties, have rarely been explored as mainstream photocatalytic photosensitizers. Our study introduces a novel application of the highly oxidizing penta–CF 3 substituted phosphorus corrole, P–(CF 3) 5 , which has shown remarkable efficacy in the chlorination of phenol and related natural compounds (the beta 2, 3, 8, 17, 18-substituted isomer: 2,3,8,17,18–pentatrifluoromethyl–(5,10,15–tris(pentafluorophenyl) corrole phosphorus (V) difluoride). Here, we report the first case of the simultaneous photocatalytic chlorination of phenol or toluene and H 2 O 2 formation, with the latter achieving a notable rate of > 7 mM/g/h under ambient conditions. Notably, the oxidation of toluene predominantly yields benzaldehyde over benzyl chloride. The H 2 O 2 formation can be finely tuned by adjusting the water/acetonitrile ratio and acid concentration. Comprehensive experimental and theoretical (DFT) investigations were conducted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of both chlorination and oxidation. This dual–function catalytic process not only enhances reaction efficiency but also underscores the potential of corrole–based catalysts in advancing sustainable and green chemical methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]