Evaluation of global research trends in photocatalytic degradation of dye effluents using scientometrics analysis.

Photocatalysis technology is observed to be an effective approach for its outstanding performance to eliminate wide range of organic pollutants including dyes in textile effluent. Despite growing number of studies, there is no scientometric perspective addressing the research topic "photocatalytic degradation of dye effluents". In this regard, a total of 954 documents were extracted from the Web of Science (WoS) database using keywords search to cover all the published documents during the period 1996-2020. Publications in this area started to increase exponentially from year 2007. The most dominant subject categories were Engineering, Chemistry and Environmental Science & Ecology. Applied Catalysis B-Environmental and Desalination & Water Treatment were identified as the most-impactful and productive journals respectively. Authors based in India accounted for 29.6% of total publications followed by China (14.2%); but in terms of citations Spain and Italy were more influential. Based on keyword analysis, azo dyes, TiO2, nanoparticles, adsorption, methylene blue, visible light, ZnO and kinetics are the most studied, and visible light mediated photocatalysis, hybrid treatment systems, nano based photocatalysis and more recently, metal based photocatalysis, have received most attention. Studies on cost and energy analysis, recovery of value-added products, development of more efficient photocatalytic materials and new photocatalyst regeneration approaches should be considered for future research. This study therefore, provides a comprehensive understanding about the trends and patterns of the specified research field worldwide.

Fe0 catalyzed photo-Fenton process to detoxify the biodegraded products of azo dye Mordant Yellow 10.

Inspired by the efficiency of the photo-Fenton process on oxidation of organic pollutants, we herein present the feasibility of visible light driven photo-Fenton process as a post treatment of biological method for the effective degradation and detoxification of monoazo dye Mordant Yellow 10 (MY10). Anaerobic degradation of MY10 by Pseudomonas aeroginosa formed aromatic amines which were further degraded in the subsequent Fe catalyzed photo-Fenton process carried out at pH 3.0, with iron shavings and H2O2 under blue LED light illumination. LC-MS and stoichiometric analysis confirmed that reductive azo bond cleavage was the major reaction in anaerobic bacterial degradation of MY10 producing 4-amino benzene sulfonic acid (4-ABS) and 5-amino salicylic acid (5-ASA) which were further degraded into hydroxyl amines, nitroso and di/tri carboxylic acids by the photo-Fenton process. Toxicity studies with human small cell lung cancer A549 cells provide evidence that incorporation of Fe0 catalyzed photo-Fenton step after anaerobic bacterial treatment improved the mineralization and detoxification of MY10 dye.

Ethnic distribution of Chlamydophila pneumoniae antibodies in a Malaysian population and possible correlation with coronary heart disease.

Chlamydophila pneumoniae, an important respiratory pathogen causing lower respiratory tract infections, has also been implicated in coronary heart disease (CHD). This study reports a cross-sectional, demographic, serological analysis of the prevalence of Chlamydophila pneumoniae antibodies in a multiracial Malaysian population. Generally, Malaysian Indians had the highest degree of seropositivity (58%) followed by the Chinese (54%) and the Malays (32%), results which were statistically significant (CI: 95%; p < 0.01). Interestingly, this trend was also reflected in the study group consisting of patients with acute myocardial infarctions (AMI) and chronic CHD. Again, the Indians were more frequently seropositive (65%), with more than 50% having IgG titres > or = 128. Comparatively, the Chinese and Malays showed 51 and 17% seropositivity respectively. These results were also statistically significant (CI: 95%; p < 0.01). Malaysian Indians are more commonly afflicted with CHD. A variety of factors have been suggested to explain this prevalence including diet, social habits, genetics and the possible role of infectious agents. This study notes an interesting association between this pattern of racial prevalence and the possible role of C. pneumoniae infections as a contributory/predisposing factor in the development of cardiovascular disease.