A waste-to-wealth conversion of plastic bottles into effective carbon-based adsorbents for removal of tetracycline antibiotic from water.

Currently, plastic waste and antibiotic wastewater are two of the most critical environmental problems, calling for urgent measures to take. A waste-to-wealth strategy for the conversion of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles into value-added materials such as carbon composite is highly recommended to clean wastewater contaminated by antibiotics. Inspired by this idea, we develop a novel PET-AC-ZFO composite by incorporating PET plastic-derived KOH-activated carbon (AC) with ZnFe2O4 (ZFO) particles for adsorptive removal of tetracycline (TTC). PET-derived carbon (PET-C), KOH-activated PET-derived carbon (PET-AC), and PET-AC-ZFO were characterized using physicochemical analyses. Central composite design (CCD) was used to obtain a quadratic model by TTC concentration (K), adsorbent dosage (L), and pH (M). PET-AC-ZFO possessed micropores (d ≈ 2 nm) and exceptionally high surface area of 1110 m2 g-1. Nearly 90% TTC could be removed by PET-AC-ZFO composite. Bangham kinetic and Langmuir isotherm were two most fitted models. Theoretical maximum TTC adsorption capacity was 45.1 mg g-1. This study suggested the role of hydrogen bonds, pore-filling interactions, and π-π interactions as the main interactions of the adsorption process. Thus, a strategy for conversion of PET bottles into PET-AC-ZFO can contribute to both plastic recycling and antibiotic wastewater mitigation.

Synthesis of magnetic MFe2O4 (M = Ni, Co, Zn, Fe) supported on porous carbons derived from Bidens pilosa weed and their adsorptive comparison of toxic dyes.

Bidens pilosa is classified as an invasive plant and has become a problematic weed to many agricultural crops. This species strongly germinates, grows and reproduces and competing for nutrients with local plants. To lessen the influence of Bidens pilosa, therefore, converting this harmful species into carbon materials as adsorbents in harm-to-wealth and valorization strategies is required. Here, we synthesized a series of magnetic composites based on MFe2O4 (M = Ni, Co, Zn, Fe) supported on porous carbon (MFOAC) derived from Bidens pilosa by a facile hydrothermal method. The Bidens pilosa carbon was initially activated by condensed H3PO4 to increase the surface chemistry. We observed that porous carbon loaded NiFe2O4 (NFOAC) reached the highest surface area (795.7 m2 g-1), followed by CoFe2O4/AC (449.1 m2 g-1), Fe3O4/AC (426.1 m2 g-1), ZnFe2O4/AC (409.5 m2 g-1). Morphological results showed nanoparticles were well-dispersed on the surface of carbon. RhB, MO, and MR dyes were used as adsorbate to test the adsorption by MFOAC. Effect of time (0-360 min), concentration (5-50 mg L-1), dosage (0.05-0.2 g L-1), and pH (3-9) on dyes adsorption onto MFOAC was investigated. It was found that NFOAC obtained the highest maximum adsorption capacity against dyes, RhB (107.96 mg g-1) < MO (148.05 mg g-1) < MR (153.1 mg g-1). Several mechanisms such as H bonding, π-π stacking, cation-π interaction, and electrostatic interaction were suggested. With sufficient stability and capacity, NFOAC can be used as potential adsorbent for real water treatment systems.

Optimization of hydrothermal synthesis conditions of Bidens pilosa-derived NiFe2O4@AC for dye adsorption using response surface methodology and Box-Behnken design.

The presence of stable and hazardous organic dyes in industrial effluents poses significant risks to both public health and the environment. Activated carbons and biochars are widely used adsorbents for removal of these pollutants, but they often have several disadvantages such as poor recoverability and inseparability from water in the post-adsorption process. Incorporating a magnetic component into activated carbons can address these drawbacks. This study aims to optimizing the production of NiFe2O4-loaded activated carbon (NiFe2O4@AC) derived from a Bidens pilosa biomass source through a hydrothermal method for the adsorption of Rhodamine B (RhB), methyl orange (MO), and methyl red (MR) dyes. Response surface methodology (RSM) and Box-Behnken design (BBD) were applied to analyze the key synthesis factors such as NiFe2O4 loading percentage (10-50%), hydrothermal temperature (120-180 °C), and reaction time (6-18 h). The optimized condition was found at a NiFe2O4 loading of 19.93%, a temperature of 135.55 °C, and a reaction time of 16.54 h. The optimum NiFe2O4@AC demonstrated excellent sorption efficiencies of higher than 92.98-97.10% against all three dyes. This adsorbent was characterized, exhibiting a well-developed porous structure with a high surface area of 973.5 m2 g-1. Kinetic and isotherm were studied with the best fit of pseudo-second-order, and Freundlich or Temkin. Qmax values were determined to be 204.07, 266.16, and 177.70 mg g-1 for RhB, MO, and MR, respectively. By selecting HCl as an elution, NiFe2O4@AC could be efficiently reused for at least 4 cycles. Thus, the Bidens pilosa-derived NiFe2O4@AC can be a promising material for effective and recyclable removal of dye pollutants from wastewater.

A critical review on the bio-mediated green synthesis and multiple applications of magnesium oxide nanoparticles.

Nowadays, advancements in nanotechnology have efficiently solved many global problems, such as environmental pollution, climate change, and infectious diseases. Nano-scaled materials have played a central role in this evolution. Chemical synthesis of nanomaterials, however, required hazardous chemicals, unsafe, eco-unfriendly, and cost-ineffective, calling for green synthesis methods. Here, we review the green synthesis of MgO nanoparticles and their applications in biochemical, environmental remediation, catalysis, and energy production. Green MgO nanoparticles can be safely produced using biomolecules extracted from plants, fungus, bacteria, algae, and lichens. They exhibited fascinating and unique properties in morphology, surface area, particle size, and stabilization. Green MgO nanoparticles served as excellent antimicrobial agents, adsorbents, colorimetric sensors, and had enormous potential in biomedical therapies against cancers, oxidants, diseases, and the sensing detection of dopamine. In addition, green MgO nanoparticles are of great interests in plant pathogens, phytoremediation, plant cell and organ culture, and seed germination in the agricultural sector. This review also highlighted recent advances in using green MgO nanoparticles as nanocatalysts, nano-fertilizers, and nano-pesticides. Thanks to many emerging applications, green MgO nanoparticles can become a promising platform for future studies.

Green synthesis of ZnFe2O4@ZnO nanocomposites using Chrysanthemum spp. floral waste for photocatalytic dye degradation.

The occurrence of textile dyeing wastewater discharged into the environment has been recently increasing, resulting in harmful effects on living organisms and human health. The use of green nanoparticles for water decontamination has received much attention. Floral waste can be extracted with the release of natural compounds, which act as reducing and stabilizing agents during the biosynthesis of nanoparticles. Herein, we report the utilization of Chrysanthemum spp. floral waste extract to synthesize green ZnFe2O4@ZnO (ZFOZx) nanocomposites for the photocatalytic degradation of Congo red under solar light irradiation. The various molar ratio of ZnFe2O4 (0-50%) was incorporated into ZnO nanoparticles. The surface area of green ZFOZx nanocomposites was found to increase (7.41-42.66 m2 g-1) while their band gap energy decreased from 1.98 eV to 1.92 eV. Moreover, the results exhibited the highest Congo red dye degradation efficiency of 94.85% at a concentration of 5.0 mg L-1, and a catalyst dosage of 0.33 g L-1. The •O2- reactive species played a vital role in the photocatalytic degradation of Congo red dye. Green ZFOZ3 nanocomposites had good recyclability with at least three cycles, and an excellent stability. The germination results showed that wastewater treated by ZFOZ3 was safe enough for bean seed germination. We expect that this work contributes significantly to developing novel green bio-based nanomaterials for environmental remediation as well as reducing the harm caused by flower wastes.

Facile synthesis of CoFe2O4@MIL-53(Al) nanocomposite for fast dye removal: Adsorption models, optimization and recyclability.

The global occurrence of textile dyes pollution has recently emerged, posing a serious threat to ecological systems. To abate dye contamination, we here developed a novel magnetic porous CoFe2O4@MIL-53(Al) nanocomposite by incorporating magnetic CoFe2O4 nanoparticles with MIL-53(Al) metal-organic framework. This nanocomposite possessed a surface area of 197.144 m2 g-1 and a pore volume of 0.413 cm3 g-1. The effect of contact time (5-120 min), concentration (5-50 mg L-1), dosage (0.1-1.0 g L-1), and pH (2-10) on Congo red adsorption was clarified. CoFe2O4@MIL-53(Al) could remove 95.85% of Cong red dye from water with an accelerated kinetic rate of 0.6544 min-1 within 10 min. The kinetic and isotherm models showed the predominance of Bangham and Temkin. According to Langmuir, the maximum uptake capacities of CoFe2O4@MIL-53(Al), CoFe2O4, and MIL-53(Al) adsorbents were 43.768, 17.982, and 15.295 mg g-1, respectively. CoFe2O4@MIL-53(Al) was selected to optimize Cong red treatment using Box-Behnken experimental design. The outcomes showed that CoFe2O4@MIL-53(Al) achieved the highest experimental uptake capacity of 35.919 mg g-1 at concentration (29.966 mg L-1), time (14.926 min), and dosage (0.486 g L-1). CoFe2O4@MIL-53(Al) could treat dye mixture (methylene blue, methyl orange, Congo red, malachite green, and crystal violet) with an outstanding removal efficiency of 81.24% for 30 min, and could be reused up to five cycles. Therefore, novel recyclable and stable CoFe2O4@MIL-53(Al) is recommended to integrate well with real dye treatments systems.

Formation, antimicrobial activity, and biomedical performance of plant-based nanoparticles: a review.

Because many engineered nanoparticles are toxic, there is a need for methods to fabricate safe nanoparticles such as plant-based nanoparticles. Indeed, plant extracts contain flavonoids, amino acids, proteins, polysaccharides, enzymes, polyphenols, steroids, and reducing sugars that facilitate the reduction, formation, and stabilization of nanoparticles. Moreover, synthesizing nanoparticles from plant extracts is fast, safe, and cost-effective because it does not consume much energy, and non-toxic derivatives are generated. These nanoparticles have diverse and unique properties of interest for applications in many fields. Here, we review the synthesis of metal/metal oxide nanoparticles with plant extracts. These nanoparticles display antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, and antioxidant properties. Plant-based nanoparticles are also useful for medical diagnosis and drug delivery.

Occurrence, toxicity and adsorptive removal of the chloramphenicol antibiotic in water: a review.

Chloramphenicol is a broad-spectrum bacterial antibiotic used against conjunctivitis, meningitis, plague, cholera, and typhoid fever. As a consequence, chloramphenicol ends up polluting the aquatic environment, wastewater treatment plants, and hospital wastewaters, thus disrupting ecosystems and inducing microbial resistance. Here, we review the occurrence, toxicity, and removal of chloramphenicol with emphasis on adsorption techniques. We present the adsorption performance of adsorbents such as biochar, activated carbon, porous carbon, metal-organic framework, composites, zeolites, minerals, molecularly imprinted polymers, and multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The effect of dose, pH, temperature, initial concentration, and contact time is discussed. Adsorption is controlled by π-π interactions, donor-acceptor interactions, hydrogen bonding, and electrostatic interactions. We also discuss isotherms, kinetics, thermodynamic data, selection of eluents, desorption efficiency, and regeneration of adsorbents. Porous carbon-based adsorbents exhibit excellent adsorption capacities of 500-1240 mg g-1. Most adsorbents can be reused over at least four cycles.

Recent advances on botanical biosynthesis of nanoparticles for catalytic, water treatment and agricultural applications: A review.

Green synthesis of nanoparticles using plant extracts minimizes the usage of toxic chemicals or energy. Here, we concentrate on the green synthesis of nanoparticles using natural compounds from plant extracts and their applications in catalysis, water treatment and agriculture. Polyphenols, flavonoid, rutin, quercetin, myricetin, kaempferol, coumarin, and gallic acid in the plant extracts engage in the reduction and stabilization of green nanoparticles. Ten types of nanoparticles involving Ag, Au, Cu, Pt, CuO, ZnO, MgO, TiO2, Fe3O4, and ZrO2 with emphasis on their formation mechanism are illuminated. We find that green nanoparticles serve as excellent, and recyclable catalysts for reduction of nitrophenols and synthesis of organic compounds with high yields of 83-100% and at least 5 recycles. Many emerging pollutants such as synthetic dyes, antibiotics, heavy metal and oils are effectively mitigated (90-100%) using green nanoparticles. In agriculture, green nanoparticles efficiently immobilize toxic compounds in soil. They are also sufficient nanopesticides to kill harmful larvae, and nanoinsecticides against dangerous vectors of pathogens. As potential nanofertilizers and nanoagrochemicals, green nanoparticles will open a revolution in green agriculture for sustainable development.

Synthesis of a novel legumain-cleavable colchicine prodrug with cell-specific toxicity.

Conventional chemotherapy has undesirable toxic side-effects to healthy tissues due to low cell selectivity of cytotoxic drugs. One approach to increase the specificity of a cytotoxic drug is to make a less toxic prodrug which becomes activated at the tumour site. The cysteine protease legumain have remarkable restricted substrate specificity and is the only known mammalian asparaginyl (Asn) endopeptidase. Over-expression of legumain is reported in cancers and unstable atherosclerotic plaques, and utilizing legumain is a promising approach to activate prodrugs. In this study we have synthesized the legumain-cleavable peptide sequence N-Boc-Ala-Ala-Asn-Val-OH. The peptide was subsequently conjugated to deacetyl colchicine during three steps to produce Suc-Ala-Ala-Asn-Val-colchicine (prodrug) with >90% chemical purity. Several cell lines with different expressions and activities of legumain were used to evaluate the general toxicity, specificity and efficacy of the microtubule inhibitor colchicine, valyl colchicine and the legumain-cleavable colchicine prodrug. The prodrug was more toxic to the colorectal cancer HCT116 cells (expressing both the 36kDa active and 56kDa proform of legumain) than SW620 cells (only expressing the 56kDa prolegumain) indicating a relationship between toxicity of the prodrug and activity of legumain in the cells. Also, in monoclonal legumain over-expressing HEK293 cells the prodrug toxicity was higher compared to native HEK293 cells. Furthermore, co-administration of the prodrug either with the potent legumain inhibitor cystatin E/M or the endocytosis inhibitor Dyngo-4a inhibited cell death, indicating that the prodrug toxicity was dependent on both asparaginyl endopeptidase activity and endocytosis. This colchicine prodrug adds to a legumain-activated prodrug strategy approach and could possibly be of use both in targeted anticancer and anti-inflammatory therapy.