A novel photocatalytic degradation of mixed dye through chemically synthesized ZnO/Fe2O3 nanocomposite.

This study reported the synthesis and assessment of zinc oxide/iron oxide (ZnO/Fe2O3) nanocomposite as photocatalysts for the degradation of a mixture of methylene red and methylene blue dyes. X-ray diffraction analysis confirms that the crystallite of zinc oxide (ZnO) has a hexagonal wurtzite phase and iron oxide (Fe2O3) has a rhombohedral phase. Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectrum confirms the presence of Zn-O vibration stretching at 428, 480 and 543 cm-1 stretching confirming Fe-O bond formation. Scanning Electron Microscope images exhibited a diverse size and shape of the nanocomposites. The ZnO-90%/Fe2O3-10% and ZnO-10%/Fe2O3-90% nanocomposites reveal good photocatalytic activity with reaction rate constants of 1.5 × 10-2 and 0.66 × 10-2; and 1.3 × 10-2 and 0.60 × 10-2 for methylene blue and methyl red dye respectively. The results revealed that the synthesized ZnO/Fe2O3 nanocomposite is the best catalyst for dye degradation and can be used for industrial applications in future.

Sustainable approach for the expulsion of metaldehyde: risk, interactions, and mitigation: a review.

All pests can be eliminated with the help of pesticides, which can be either natural or synthetic. Because of the excessive use of pesticides, it is harmful to both ecology and people's health. Pesticides are categorised according to several criteria: their chemical composition, method of action, effects, timing of use, source of manufacture, and formulations. Many aquatic animals, birds, and critters live in danger owing to hazardous pesticides. Metaldehyde is available in various forms and causes significant impact even when small amounts are ingested. Metaldehyde can harm wildlife, including dogs, cats, and birds. This review discusses pesticides, their types and potential environmental issues, and metaldehyde's long-term effects. In addition, it examines ways to eliminate metaldehyde from the aquatic ecosystem before concluding by anticipating how pesticides may affect society. The metal-organic framework and other biosorbents have been appropriately synthesized and subsequently represent the amazing removal of pesticides from effluent as an enhanced adsorbent, such as magnetic nano adsorbents. A revision of the risk assessment for metaldehyde residuals in aqueous sources is also attempted.

Modeling approach for Ti3C2 MXene-based fluorescent aptasensor for amoxicillin biosensing in water matrices.

Amoxicillin, a member of the penicillin family, is primarily utilized for the treatment of various bacterial infections affecting ears, nose, throat, urinary tract, and skin. Given its widespread application in medicine, agriculture, environment, and food industry, the precise and sensitive detection of amoxicillin is important. This study introduces a novel approach to developing a sensitive and selective fluorescent aptasensor relying on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) for the specific detection of amoxicillin. The carboxyfluorescein-labeled aptamer serves as a energy donor, while MXene functions as an energy acceptor, and acting as a quencher. To achieve optimal detection efficiency, a dual optimization strategy utilizing RSM-CCD and ANN-GA was used to fine-tune experimental conditions. The fluorescence measurements revealed an expansive linear range extending from 100 to 2400 ng mL-1, accompanied by an exceptionally low detection limit of 1.53 ng mL-1. Additionally, it shows an excellent selectivity towards amoxicillin over other antibiotics commonly found in water matrices. The aptasensor demonstrates good stability and reproducibility; effectiveness of the aptasensor was validated by testing in real water samples. This remarkable sensitivity and broad dynamic range affirm the efficacy aptasensor in accurately detecting varying concentrations of amoxicillin in wastewater bodies.

Harnessing artificial intelligence-driven approach for enhanced indole-3-acetic acid from the newly isolated Streptomyces rutgersensis AW08.

Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) derived from Actinobacteria fermentations on agro-wastes constitutes a safer and low-cost alternative to synthetic IAA. This study aims to select a high IAA-producing Streptomyces-like strain isolated from Lake Oubeira sediments (El Kala, Algeria) for further investigations (i.e., 16S rRNA gene barcoding and process optimization). Subsequently, artificial intelligence-based approaches were employed to maximize IAA bioproduction on spent coffee grounds as high-value-added feedstock. The specificity was the novel application of the Limited-Memory Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shanno Box (L-BFGS-B) optimization algorithm. The new strain AW08 was a significant producer of IAA (26.116 ± 0.61 µg/mL) and was identified as Streptomyces rutgersensis by 16S rRNA gene barcoding and phylogenetic inquiry. The empirical data involved the inoculation of AW08 in various cultural conditions according to a four-factor Box Behnken Design matrix (BBD) of Response surface methodology (RSM). The input parameters and regression equation extracted from the RSM-BBD were the basis for implementing and training the L-BFGS-B algorithm. Upon training the model, the optimal conditions suggested by the BBD and L-BFGS-B algorithm were, respectively, L-Trp (X1) = 0.58 %; 0.57 %; T° (X2) = 26.37 °C; 28.19 °C; pH (X3) = 7.75; 8.59; and carbon source (X4) = 30 %; 33.29 %, with the predicted response IAA (Y) = 152.8; 169.18 µg/mL). Our findings emphasize the potential of the multifunctional S. rutgersensis AW08, isolated and reported for the first time in Algeria, as a robust producer of IAA. Validation investigations using the bioprocess parameters provided by the L-BFGS-B and the BBD-RSM models demonstrate the effectiveness of AI-driven optimization in maximizing IAA output by 5.43-fold and 4.2-fold, respectively. This study constitutes the first paper reporting a novel interdisciplinary approach and providing insights into biotechnological advancements. These results support for the first time a reasonable approach for valorizing spent coffee grounds as feedstock for sustainable and economic IAA production from S. rutgersensis AW08.

Optimizing refuse-derived fuel production from scheduled wastes through Aspen plus simulation.

This study aims to improve the quality of fuel with high calorific value namely Sfuel - a commercial high-quality refuse-derived fuel (RDF) from hazardous waste via modifying the process design and operating parameters of thermal conversion process. The study analyses key parameters of RDF quality, such as calorific value and heavy metal content, before and after process modifications based on the combination of experimental and simulation using Aspen Plus. In this study, the temperature and pressure of the simulation system are varied from 100 to 700 °C and from 1 to 5 bar, respectively. Findings indicate that there are a total of eleven heavy metals and 179 volatile compounds in the "Sfuels". The quality of the targeted product is greatly improved by the metal evaporation at high temperatures and pressures. However, the calorific value of RDF significantly decreases at 700 °C due to a large amount of the carbon content being evaporated. Although the carbon content at high temperatures is significantly lost, the heat from the vapour stream reactor outlet, which is reused to preheat the nitrogen gas stream supplied to the system, reduces energy consumption while improving the thermal conversion efficiency of the system. Besides, low pressure along with high temperature are not the optimal conditions for quality Sfuels improvement by thermal conversion. Results also indicate that electric heating is more economically efficient than natural gas heating.

Metformin-modified polyethersulfone magnetic microbeads for effective arsenic removal from apatite soil leachate water.

Arsenic is the hazardous species and still is the global challenge in water treatment. Apatite soil is highly rich in arsenic species, and its mining presents various environmental issues. In this study, novel magnetic microbeads as adsorbent were developed for the elimination of hazardous arsenic ions from apatite soil's aqueous leachate before discharging into environment. The microbeads were fabricated with metformin polyether sulfone after being doped with zero-valent iron (Met-PES/ZVI). The microbeads were characterized using various techniques, including FTIR, XRD, SEM-EDX, VSM, and zeta potential analysis. The developed adsorbent demonstrated a significant elimination in arsenic in aqueous leachate, achieving 82.39% removal after 30 min of contact time, which further increased to 90% after 180 min of shaking. The kinetic analysis revealed that the pseudo-second-order model best represented the adsorption process. The intra-particle diffusion model indicated that the adsorption occurred in two steps. The Langmuir model (R2 = 0.991), with a maximum adsorption capacity of 188.679 mg g-1, was discovered to be the best fit for the experimental data as compared Freundlich model (R2 = 0.981). According to the thermodynamic outcome (ΔG < -20 kJ/mol), the adsorption process was spontaneous and involved physisorption. These findings demonstrate the potential of magnetic Met-PES/ZVI microbeads as an efficient adsorbent for the removal of arsenic from apatite soil aqueous leachate.

Sustainable bioremediation technologies for algal toxins and their ecological significance.

The emergence of algal toxins in water ecosystems poses a significant ecological and human health concern. These toxins, produced by various algal species, can lead to harmful algal blooms, and have far-reaching consequences on biodiversity, food chains, and water quality. This review explores the types and sources of algal toxins, their ecological impacts, and the associated human health risks. Additionally, the review delves into the potential of bioremediation strategies to mitigate the effects of algal toxins. It discusses the role of microorganisms, enzymes, and algal-bacterial interactions in toxin removal, along with engineering approaches such as advanced oxidation processes and adsorbent utilization. Microbes and enzymes have been studied for their environmentally friendly and biocompatible properties, which make them useful for controlling or removing harmful algae and their toxins. The challenges and limitations of bioremediation are examined, along with case studies highlighting successful toxin control efforts. Finally, the review outlines future prospects, emerging technologies, and the need for continued research to effectively address the complex issue of algal toxins and their ecological significance.

Microalgae-enhanced bioremediation of Cr(VI) ions using spent coffee ground-derived magnetic biochar MoS2-Ag composites.

Composites of magnetic biochar derived from spent coffee grounds were prepared using MoS2 decorated by plasmonic silver nanoparticles (MoS2-Ag), which were used for the bioremediation Cr6+ ions. The composites were characterized by electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman, and UV-VIS spectroscopy. The bioremediation of Cr6+ ions was enhanced almost two times compared to microalgae, Spirulina maxima. Such an increased activity is attributed to heterojunction formation of Biochar@MoS2-Ag composite due to the synergetic effects of surface plasmon resonance of AgNPs inducing amplified local electric field, thus simultaneously increasing the absorption of MoS2 under visible or near-infrared light. The combination of Biochar@MoS2-Ag and Spirulina maxima powder was effective for the separation (microalga-based absorption and accumulation of Cr6+ ions) of photo-induced carriers (composite-assisted to breakdown Cr6+ ions). This study offers efficient eco-friendly treatment of Cr6+ ions by reporting the first enhanced bioremediation of Cr(VI) ions by microalgae using MoS2-Ag-modified biochar obtained from consumed coffee grounds.

A global meta-analysis of phthalate esters in drinking water sources and associated health risks.

Phthalate esters (PAEs) are known as esters of phthalic acid, which are commonly used as plasticizers in the plastic industry. Due to the lack of chemical bonding with the polymer matrix, these compounds are easily separated from plastic products and enter the environment. To investigate the growth of concentration of PAEs like DBP (Dibutyl phthalate), DEP (Diethyl phthalate), DMP (Dimethyl phthalate), DIBP (Diisobutyl phthalate), and TPMBP (tris(2-methylbutyl) phosphate) in different water sources, a study from January 01, 1976, to April 30, 2021, was implemented via a global systematic review plus meta-analysis in which, 109 articles comprising 4061 samples, 4 water types, and 27 countries were included. Between various types of water sources, river water and lake water were the most contaminated resources with PAEs. Among all studies of PAEs, DBP and DEP with the values >15,573 mg L-1 have the highest average concentration and TPMBP with the value 0.002885 mg L-1 has the lowest average concentration in water sources. The most contaminated water sources with PAEs were in Nigeria and the least contaminated was in China. Besides, Monte-Carlo simulation indicated that for DMP and DEP minimum values that are lower than the acceptable limit are generated. However, most of the population (>75 %) is at risk for both adults and child cases. For DIBP and DBP the situation is much worse, the simulations not providing at least one case where the R index is lower than the acceptable limit of 1E-06.

Algae biogas production focusing on operating conditions and conversion mechanisms - A review.

Global warming is the result of traditional fuel use and manufacturing, which release significant volumes of CO2 and other greenhouse gases from factories. Moreover, rising energy consumption, anticipated limitations of fossil fuels in the near future, and increased interest in renewable energies among scientists, currently increase research in biofuels. In contrast to biomass from urban waste materials or the land, algae have the potential to be a commercially successful aquatic energy crop, offering a greater energy potential. Here we discuss the importance of Anaerobic Digestion (AD) for enhanced biogas yield, characterization, and comparisons between algae pretreatment methods namely, mechanical, thermal, microwave irradiation, and enzymatic and catalytic methods. The importance of anaerobic digestion enhances biogas yield, characterization, and comparisons between mechanical, thermal, microwave irradiation, and enzymatic and catalytic treatment. Additionally, operational aspects such as algal species, temperature, C/N ratio, retention period, and particle size impact biofuel yield. The highest algal biogas yield reported was 740 mL/gVS, subtracted from Taihu de-oiled algae applying thermos-chemical pretreatment under conditions of temperature, time, and catalyst concentration of 70 °C, 3 h, and 6%, respectively. Another high yield of algal-based biogas was obtained from Laminaria sp. with mechanical pretreatment under temperature, time, and VS concentration of 38 ± 1 °C, 15 min, and 2.5% respectively, with a maximum yield of 615 ± 7 mL/g VS. Although biofuels derived from algae species are only partially commercialized, the feedstock for biogas might soon be commercially grown. Algae and other plant species that could be cultivated on marginal lands as affordable energy crops with the potential to contribute to the production of biogas are promising and are already being worked on.

Biochar/layered double hydroxides composites as catalysts for treatment of organic wastewater by advanced oxidation processes: A review.

Heterogeneous advanced oxidation process has been widely studied as an effective method for removing organic pollutants in wastewater, but the development of efficient catalysts is still challenging. This review summaries the present status of researches on biochar/layered double hydroxides composites (BLDHCs) as catalysts for treatment of organic wastewater. The synthesis methods of layered double hydroxides, the characterizations of BLDHCs, the impacts of process factors influencing catalytic performance, and research advances in various advanced oxidation processes are discussed in this work. The integration of layered double hydroxides and biochar provides synthetic effects for improving pollutant removal. The enhanced pollutant degradation in heterogeneous Fenton, sulfate radical-based, sono-assisted, and photo-assisted processes using BLDHCs have been verified. Pollutant degradation in heterogeneous advanced oxidation processes using BLDHCs is influenced by process factors such as catalyst dosage, oxidant addition, solution pH, reaction time, temperature, and co-existing substances. BLDHCs are promising catalysts due to the unique features including easy preparation, distinct structure, adjustable metal ions, and high stability. Currently, catalytic degradation of organic pollutants using BLDHCs is still in its infancy. More researches should be conducted on the controllable synthesis of BLDHCs, the in-depth understanding of catalytic mechanism, the improvement of catalytic performance, and large-scale application of treating real wastewater.

Latest advances in layered covalent organic frameworks for water and wastewater treatment.

This review provides an overview of recent progress in the development of layered covalent organic frameworks (LCOFs) for the adsorption and degradation of pollutants in water and wastewater treatment. LCOFs have unique properties such as high surface area, porosity, and tunability, which make them attractive adsorbents and catalysts for water and wastewater treatment. The review covers the different synthesis methods for LCOFs, including self-assembly, co-crystallization, template-directed synthesis, covalent organic polymerization (COP), and solvothermal synthesis. It also covers the structural and chemical characteristics of LCOFs, their adsorption and degradation capacity for different pollutants, and their comparison with other adsorbents and catalysts. Additionally, it discussed the mechanism of adsorption and degradation by LCOFs, the potential applications of LCOFs in water and wastewater treatment, case studies and pilot-scale experiments, challenges, and limitations of using LCOFs, and future research directions. The current state of research on LCOFs for water and wastewater treatment is promising, however, more research is needed to improve their performance and practicality. The review highlights that LCOFs have the potential to significantly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of current water and wastewater treatment methods and can also have implications for policy and practice.

Polyaromatic hydrocarbon thin film layers on glass, dust, and polyurethane foam surfaces.

An investigation was conducted into the dynamic behavior of two polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) semi-volatile organic compound (SVOC) naphthalene (NAP) and benzo [ghi]perylene (BghiP) in air and on various surfaces including glass, dust, and polyurethane foam (PUF) to understand their interaction with different media. A confocal fluorescence microscope and an infrared microscope were employed to detect and monitor the concentration-, time-, and temperature-dependent changes of the aromatic NAP and BghiP species on the surfaces. Infrared two-dimensional mapping of the vibrational characteristic peaks was used to track the two PAHs on the surfaces. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was employed to measure the gaseous concentrations. The sorption of NAP and BghiP on the surfaces was estimated using Arizona desert sand fine (ISO 12103-1 A2) dust and organic contaminant household (SRM 2585) dust. The surface-to-air partition coefficients of NAP and BghiP were estimated on the different surfaces of glass, dust, and PUF. Molecular dynamic simulations were performed on dust surfaces based on the Hatcher model to understand the behavior of NAP and BghiP on dust surfaces. The Weschler-Nazaroff model was introduced to predictPAH film accumulation on the surfaces, providing a better understanding of PAH interaction with different environmental media. These findings could contribute to developing effective strategies to mitigate the adverse impact of PAHs on the environment and human health.

Photocatalytic removal of ceftriaxone from wastewater using TiO2/MgO under ultraviolet radiation.

Pharmaceutical compounds are among the environmental contaminants that cause pollution of water resources and thereby threaten ecosystem services and the environmental health of the past decades. Antibiotics are categorized as emerging pollutants due to their persistence in the environment that are difficult to remove by conventional wastewater treatment. Ceftriaxone is one of the multiple antibiotics whose removal from wastewater has not been fully investigated. In this study, TiO2/MgO (5% MgO) the efficiency of photocatalyst nanoparticles in removing ceftriaxone was analyzed by XRD, FTIR, UV-Vis, BET, EDS, and FESEM. The results were compared with UVC, TiO2/UVC, and H2O2/UVC photolysis processes to evaluate the effectiveness of the selected methods. Based on these results, the highest removal efficiency of ceftriaxone from synthetic wastewater was 93.7% at the concentration of 400 mg/L using TiO2/MgO nano photocatalyst with an HRT of 120 min. This study confirmed that TiO2/MgO photocatalyst nanoparticles efficiently removed ceftriaxone from wastewater. Future studies should focus on the optimization of reactor conditions and improvements of the reactor design to obtain higher removal of ceftriaxone from wastewater.

Subppb level monitoring and UV degradation of triclosan pollutants using ZnO multipod and Ag nanocomposites.

A unique nanomaterial platform was developed for trace detection and efficient degradation of triclosan (TCS). A facile spectroscopic technique for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-supported identification and ultraviolet (UV) degradation of TCS using a SERS template based on silver spherical nanoparticle (AgNP)-modified ZnO multipods (ZnO@Ag) is reported. Core-shell composite materials of ZnO multipods with a dimension of around 3 µm and AgNPs with an average diameter of ∼27 nm was designed not only as a substrate for TCS degradation up to ∼92% upon UV irradiation (λ = 365 mm, 300 µW/cm2) but also as a monitoring platform sensitive to TCS at a detection limit as low as 10-9 M (≈0.3 ppb). Herein, the first investigation into ZnO@Ag bimetallic composites is established for both the SERS-based detection and UV-assisted degradation of environmental TCS pollutants. The calibration curve was estimated to be linear at R2 > 0.97. The validated technology was successfully used to determine the antibacterial agent and TCS in distilled or river water. The advantages of the ZnO@Ag template are highlighted over conventional detection and excellent degradation.

Bibliometric analysis and literature review of ultrasound-assisted degradation of organic pollutants.

Ultrasound as a clean, efficient, and cheap technique gains special attention in wastewater treatment. Ultrasound alone or coupled with hybrid processes have been widely studied for the treatment of pollutants in wastewater. Thus, it is essential to conduct a review about the research development and trends on this emerging technique. This work presents a bibliometric analysis of the topic associated with multiple tools such as Bibliometrix package, CiteSpace, and VOSviewer. The literature sources from 2000 to 2021 were collected from Web of Science database, and the data of 1781 documents were selected for bibliometric analysis in respect to publication trends, subject categories, journals, authors, institutions, as well as countries. Detailed analysis of keywords in respect to co-occurrence network, keyword clusters, and citation bursts was conducted to reveal the research hotspot and future directions. The development of the topic can be divided into three stages, and the rapid development begins from 2014. The leading subject category is Chemistry Multidisciplinary, followed by Environmental Sciences, Engineering Chemical, Engineering Environmental, Chemistry Physical, and Acoustics, and there exists difference in the publications of different categories. Ultrasonics Sonochemistry is the most productive journal (14.75 %). China is the leading country (30.26 %), followed by Iran (15.67 %) and India (12.35 %). The top 3 authors are Parag Gogate, Oualid Hamdaoui, and Masoud Salavati-Niasari. There exists close cooperation between countries and researchers. Analysis of highly cited papers and keywords gives a better understanding of the topic. Ultrasound can be employed to assist various processes such as Fenton-like process, electrochemical process, and photocatalysis for degradation of emerging organic pollutants for wastewater treatment. Research topics in this field evolve from typical studies on ultrasonic assisted degradation to latest studies on hybrid processes including photocatalysis for pollutants degradation. Additionally, ultrasound-assisted synthesis of nanocomposite photocatalysts receives increasing attention. The potential research directions include sonochemistry in pollutant removal, hydrodynamic cavitation, ultrasound-assisted Fenton or persulfate processes, electrochemical oxidation, and photocatalytic process.

Isolation of organophosphate pesticides from water using gold nanoparticles doped magnetic three-dimensional graphene oxide.

Pesticides are a large group of pristine organic contaminants, which are widely discharged into environmental water due to agricultural activities. Hence, extraction, determination, and removal of pesticides from water resources are necessary for human health. In this study, novel adsorbent was developed based on three-dimensional magnetic graphene coated with gold nanoparticles (3D-MG@AuNPs) for extraction of chlorpyrifos, dicrotophos, fenitrothion, and piperophos as four specific organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) from wastewater and tap water samples. The proposed nanocomposite was characterized; FTIR and EDX are performed for the expected functional groups and elemental analysis, SEM showed the unique and spherical AuNPs are well dispersed over graphene sheets. In this investigation, the important parameters that have effect on the extraction efficiency, including the desorbing solvent, desorbing solvent volume, vortex time, the extraction time, adsorbent dosage, pH of sample solutions, and salt effect were evaluated. In conclusion, the measured amounts of the chosen OPPs were determined using the gas chromatography microelectron capture (µECD-GC) method. Limits of quantification (S/N ratio of 10) and detection (S/N ratio of 3) were attained at concentrations of 0.26-0.43 µg.L-1 and 0.08-0.14 µg.L-1, respectively. According to the results of the investigations, the synthesized 3D-MG@AuNPs did not require any complicated sample preparation methods; therefore, it is a very good choice for solid magnetic phase extraction studies.

A hybrid nanocomposite based on CuFe layered double hydroxide coated graphene oxide for photocatalytic degradation of trimethoprim.

Photocatalytic activation of persulfate (PS) has recently been considered an effective and environmentally friendly approach for antibiotic decomposition due to its high treatment efficiency, low energy consumption, and high reliability. The development of safe and high-performance catalysts is important for PS-based advanced oxidation processes. In this study, a CuFe-layered double hydroxide (LDH) coated graphene oxide (CuFe-LDH/GO) composite was constructed as a photocatalyst for trimethoprim (TMP) decomposition. The CuFe-LDH/GO catalyst was prepared via the co-precipitation method and characterized through Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and X-ray electron microscopy (XPS) techniques. Characterization results revealed that GO was entirely covered by LDH platelets which also kept its hydrotalcite structure in the as-prepared nanocomposite. The average crystallite size of CuFe-LDH/GO was 28.22 nm. The results confirmed that CuFe-LDH/GO exhibited excellent performance for the PS activation with a TMP removal efficiency of 90.8% under UV-light irradiation. Compared with pristine CuFe-LDH, the rate constant of TMP degradation of CuFe-LDH/GO was doubled. The results also indicated that acidic and alkaline conditions were not favorable for TMP degradation, and the catalytic activity of the used photocatalyst has not decreased significantly after 720 h of continuous recycling. Overall, CuFe-LDH/GO could be a promising photocatalyst for the treatment of wastewater containing antibiotics.

Transparent Oil-Water Separating Spiky SiO2 Nanoparticle Supramolecular Polymer Superhydrophobic Coatings.

A potential application of spiky SiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) with tubular and rough surfaces is investigated as superhydrophobic coatings, for their unique transparent, fluorinate-free, and environmentally friendly properties. This study demonstrates a facile method for the successful fabrication of superhydrophobic coatings and SiO2 @polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) using spiky SiO2 NPs, N-coordinated boroxines, and PDMS. Combined with spray coating technology, this method of superhydrophobic coating can be simply applied to both hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces, including wood, fabric, glass, metal, sponge, and paper. The nanocomposite coating on the glass surface showed both excellent superhydrophobicity and high transparency, with a contact angle of 165.4 ± 1.0° and 96.93% transmittance at 550 nm, respectively. SiO2 @PDMS-modified glass substrate is found to be resilient to UV irradiation, water, and high temperature treatments at ambient conditions. Experimental data demonstrated that the simple but effective combination of N-boroxine-PDMS and spiky SiO2 NPs produces a layered coating material that exhibits many good integrated surface properties, including stability, transparency, superhydrophobicity, and oil-water separation.

Synthesis of novel PANI/PVA-NiCu composite material for efficient removal of organic dyes.

The present work aims the synthesis of a novel, low cost, and environmentally friendly PANI/PVA-CuNi composite by chemical oxidative polymerization of aniline monomer and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as film matrix; several percentages of copper (Cu) and Nickel (Ni) were used. UV-Visible spectroscopy, FTIR, SEM-EDX, and TGA were used to characterize the nanocomposites. While PANI/PVA-CuNi nanocomposites were investigated in adsorption experiments of methylene blue (MB) under different controlled conditions (time reaction, adsorbent dosage, initial dye concentration, stirring speed, temperature, and pH of the medium) also various kinetic models were employed to evaluate the efficiency of the adsorption. The results revealed that the10 mg of PANI/PVA-Cu50Ni50 and PANI/PVA-Ni composites Catalyst removed (94% and 93% of methylene blue in 180 min respectively at 10-5 M initial concentration of dye, pH of 13, stirring speed of 150 rpm, the temperature of 301 k. the kinetics data were properly fitted with the pseudo second-order model with a correlation coefficient of 0.98262 and 0.95881 using PANI/PVA-Cu50Ni50 and PANI/PVA-Ni, respectively.