Intrinsic peroxidase-like activity and enhanced photo-Fenton reactivity of iron-substituted polyoxometallate nanostructures.

Heteropolyacids (HPAs) are a class of polyoxometallates (POMs) with oxygen-rich surfaces. Herein, we have developed an Fe-containing heteropolyacid by cation-exchange and employed KFePW12O40 nanostructures for Fenton, photo-Fenton and enzyme-mimetic reactions. The as-prepared KFePW12O40 catalyst exhibits efficient degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) via the photo-Fenton reaction.

Highly Efficient Fenton and Enzyme-Mimetic Activities of Mixed-Phase VO Nanoflakes.

Artificial enzyme mimetics is a current research area with much interest from scientific community. Some nanomaterials have been found to possess intrinsic enzyme-mimetic activity. In this study, VO nanoflakes with mixed-phases are synthesized via a quick and facile one-pot synthetic process and their Fenton reaction and enzyme-mimetic activities have been studied.

Effect of metal ions and petrochemicals on bioremediation of chlorpyrifos in aerobic sequencing batch bioreactor (ASBR).

Application of chlorpyrifos (CP) has increased its environmental concentration. Increasing CP concentration has increased chances of adverse health effects. Its removal from environment has attained researcher's attention.

Immobilization in cement mortar of chromium removed from water using titania nanoparticles.

Because of the high toxicity of chromium, particularly as Cr (VI), it is removed from industrial effluents before their discharge into water bodies by a variety of techniques, including adsorption. Ultimate disposal of the sludge or the adsorbate, however, is a serious problem. While titania, in nanoparticle form, serves as a very good adsorbent for chromium, as an additive, it also helps to increase the compressive strength of mortar and concrete.

Metallic Nanoparticle (TiO2 and Fe3O4) Application Modifies Rhizosphere Phosphorus Availability and Uptake by Lactuca sativa.

Application of engineered nanoparticles (NPs) with respect to nutrient uptake in plants is not yet well understood. The impacts of TiO2 and Fe3O4 NPs on the availability of naturally soil-bound inorganic phosphorus (Pi) to plants were studied along with relevant parameters. For this purpose, Lactuca sativa (lettuce) was cultivated on the soil amended with TiO2 and Fe3O4 (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 mg kg(-1)) over a period of 90 days.

Monitoring of chlorination disinfection by-products and their associated health risks in drinking water of Pakistan.

This study reports the baseline data of chlorination disinfection by-products such as trihalomethanes (THMs) and their associated health risks in the water distribution network of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan. THM monitoring was carried out at 30 different sampling sites across the twin cities for 6 months. The average concentration of total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) and chloroform ranged between 575 and 595 μg/L which exceeded the permissible US (80 μg/L) and EU (100 μg/L) limits.

Visible light photocatalytic water disinfection and its kinetics using Ag-doped titania nanoparticles.

The UN estimated about five million deaths every year due to water-borne diseases, accounting from four billion patients. Keeping in view, the ever increasing health issues and to undermine this statistics, a reliable and sustainable water-treatment method has been developed using visible light for water treatment. titania nanoparticles (NPs) have been synthesized successfully by a more applicable method Viz: liquid impregnation (LI) method.

Development of a method for the determination of chromium and cadmium in tannery wastewater using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy.

This paper illustrates systematic development of a convenient analytical method for the determination of chromium and cadmium in tannery wastewater using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). A new approach was developed by which liquid was converted into solid phase sample surface using absorption paper for subsequent LIBS analysis. The optimized values of LIBS parameters were 146.

Monitoring of Coliforms and chlorine residual in water distribution network of Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

The present study was undertaken to examine the drinking water quality of Rawal Treatment Plant, Rawalpindi and its distribution network by collecting samples from eight different locations. The aim was to determine potential relationship between the presence of microorganisms and chlorine residual in the distribution network. Quantification of chlorine residual, turbidity, standard plate count (SPC), fecal and total coliforms by Most Probable Number (MPN) was performed.

Development of thermochromic strips as a water pasteurization indicator.

Boiling of water, for purification, commonly practiced in the world, has many problems associated with it like danger of scalding, scaling in the vessels, removal of useful minerals and blandness of taste etc. Water can be made safe for drinking simply by heating at 65 degrees C for 6 minutes. A colour indicating strip was developed which changes colour from red to purple at 67 degrees C.

Removal of heavy metals through adsorption using sand.

The removal of four heavy metals i.e. Pb, Cr, Cu, and Zn from their aqueous solutions, using ordinary sand as an adsorbent, was studied at 20 degrees C.