Interfacial engineering of a multijunctional InO/WO@TiNT S-scheme photocatalyst with enhanced photoelectrochemical properties.

Achieving high photoelectrochemical conversion efficiency requires the logical layout of a composite photocatalyst with optimal charge separation and transfer with ideal light harvesting capabilities to enhance the photocatalytic performance and the degradation rate towards organic pollutants. Herein, a novel InO/WO@TiNT S-scheme heterojunction was successfully synthesized and confirmed through valence band VB-XPS and Mott Schottky combined analysis. The formed MXene-doped InO/WO@TiNT S-scheme significantly enhances the charge flow and spatial separation with an improved oxidation and reduction ability.

Effect of seawater acidification on physiological and energy metabolism responses of the common Cockle (Anadara antiquata) of Gazi Bay, Kenya.

Ocean acidification (OA) is becoming a potential threat to marine organisms, especially in calcifying marine invertebrates. So far, along the Kenya Coast, there has been little research on the impact of OA on cockle (Anadara antiquata), particularly on their physiological impacts induced by exposure to acidified seawater. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the physiological and biochemical responses of Anadara antiquata under present and future predicted seawater pH.

Development of a Versatile Half-Strip Lateral Flow Assay toward the Detection of Rift Valley Fever Virus Antibodies.

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a mosquito-borne zoonotic disease that is caused by the Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV); : Phlebovirus. RVF disease can affect several different species, including ruminants, camels and humans and thus present a dual threat to public health and livestock food production in endemic regions. In livestock, the RVFV infection is characterised by an acute hepatitis, abortion and high mortality rates in new-born animals.

Occurrence, distribution, and environmental risk of pharmaceutical residues in Mombasa peri-urban creeks, Kenya.

The information on pharmaceutical compounds' distribution and their possible risks in marine ecosystems along the Kenya coast is limited especially in the peri-urban creeks. Hence, this study aimed to determine pharmaceutical residue levels and distribution in selected peri-urban creeks in Mombasa and Gazi bay. The target compounds were analgesic (acetaminophen), antibiotics (trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole), antiepileptic (carbamazepine), and antiretroviral (nevirapine).

The Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Bi-/Trimetallic Nanoparticles and Their Nanocomposite Membranes for Envisaged Water Treatment.

The impact of worldwide water scarcity, further exacerbated by environmental pollution, necessitates the development of effective water treatment membranes. Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of nanocomposite membranes containing hyperbranched polyethyleneimine (HPEI) stabilized bi-and trimetallic nanoparticles. These membranes were prepared by blending a pre-grafted Polyethersulfone (PES) powder with the Pd@Fe@HPEI and Pd@FeAg@HPEI nanoparticles followed by phase inversion.

Chemical Vapour Deposition of MWCNT on Silica Coated FeO and Use of Response Surface Methodology for Optimizing the Extraction of Organophosphorus Pesticides from Water.

Multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) was fixed onto the surface of a magnetic silica (FeO@SiO) substrate via chemical vapour deposition (CVD). Acetylene gas was used as the carbon source and cobalt oxide as the catalyst. The chemical and physical characteristics of the materials were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy (RS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherm.

Synthesized carbon nanodots for simultaneous extraction of personal care products and organophosphorus pesticides in wastewater samples prior to LC-MS/MS determination.

A simple, rapid and efficient solid-phase extraction method based on synthesized carbon nanodots was developed for the preconcentration and extraction of personal care products and organophosphorus pesticides in environmental matrices. Factorial (screening) and central composite designs were employed for the optimization of experimental conditions that could potentially influence the percentage recoveries of the target analytes. The experimental variables, including sample pH, mass of adsorbent, eluent volume and sample volume, were examined.

Impact of Pyridyl Moieties on the Inhibitory Properties of Prominent Acyclic Metal Chelators Against Metallo-β-Lactamase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae: Investigating the Molecular Basis of Acyclic Metal Chelators' Activity.

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CREs)-mediated infections remain a huge public health concern. CREs produce enzymes such as metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs), which inactivate β-lactam antibiotics. Hence, developing efficient molecules capable of inhibiting these enzymes remains a way forward to overcoming this phenomenon.

Photoelectrocatalytic application of palladium decorated zinc oxide-expanded graphite electrode for the removal of 4-nitrophenol: experimental and computational studies.

A novel Pd-ZnO-expanded graphite (EG) photoelectrode was constructed from a Pd-ZnO-EG nanocomposite synthesised by a hydrothermal method and characterised using various techniques such as X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption-desorption analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). Cyclic voltammetry and photocurrent response measurements were also carried out on the electrode. The Pd-ZnO-EG electrode was employed in the photoelectrocatalytic removal of 4-nitrophenol as a target water pollutant at a neutral pH and with a current density of 7 mA cm.

A novel approach to low-temperature synthesis of cubic HfO nanostructures and their cytotoxicity.

The development of a strategy to stabilise the cubic phase of HfO at lower temperatures is necessary for the emergence of unique properties that are not realised in the thermodynamically stable monoclinic phase. A very high temperature (>2600 °C) is required to produce the cubic phase of HfO, whereas the monoclinic phase is stable at low temperature. Here, a novel rapid synthesis strategy was designed to develop highly crystalline, pure cubic-phase HfO nanoparticles (size <10 nm) using microwave irradiation.

Rapid total sulphur reduction in coal samples using various dilute alkaline leaching reagents under microwave heating: preventing sulphur emissions during coal processing.

Currently in South Africa, online flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) is being utilized as one of the most effective methods for total sulphur reduction in coal samples during the combustion process. However, the main disadvantage associated with FGD is the formation of its by-products (FGD gypsum). The latter is mostly formed in low grade quality, thereby bringing secondary pollution problems and extra disposal costs.

Monitoring the fate and behavior of TiO nanoparticles: Simulated in a WWTP with industrial dye-stuff effluent according to OECD 303A.

The use of nanoparticles (NPs) in several consumer products has led to them finding their way into wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Some of these NPs have photocatalytic properties, thus providing a possible solution to textile industries to photodegrade dyes from their wastewater. Thus, the interaction of NPs with industrial dye effluents is inevitable.

Electrospun and functionalized PVDF/PAN nanocatalyst-loaded composite for dechlorination and photodegradation of pesticides in contaminated water.

A novel approach for the electrospinning and functionalization of nanocatalyst-loaded polyvinylidene fluoride/polyacrylonitrile (PVDF/PAN) composite grafted with acrylic acid (AA; which form polyacrylic acid (PAA) brush) and decorated with silver (Ag/PAN/PVDF-g-PAA-TiO/Fe-Pd) designed for the dechlorination and photodegradation of pesticides was carried out. PAN was used both as a nitrogen dopant as well as a co-polymer. Smooth nanofibers were obtained by electrospinning a solution of 12:2 wt.

Effect of functionalization on the adsorption capacity of cellulose for the removal of methyl violet.

In this research paper a comparative study has been carried out for the removal of methyl violet dye using unfunctionalized and functionalized cellulose. The functionalization was achieved through esterification of cellulose with furan-2,5-dione. The functionalization of the cellulose was evidenced using BET, FT-IR, SEM and TGA.

Modelling of the impedimetric responses of an aflatoxin B(1) immunosensor prepared on an electrosynthetic polyaniline platform.

Aflatoxins are a group of mycotoxins that have deleterious effects on humans and are produced during fungal infection of plants or plant products. An electrochemical immunosensor for the determination of aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)) was developed with AFB(1)antibody (AFB(1)-Ab) immobilized on Pt electrodes modified with polyaniline (PANi) and polystyrene sulphonic acid (PSSA). Impedimetric analysis shows that the electron transfer resistances of the Pt/PANi-PSSA electrode, the Pt/PANi-PSSA/AFB(1)-Ab immunosensor and Pt/PANi-PSSA/AFB(1)-Ab incubated in bovine serum albumin (BSA) were 0.