The Effect of Fatty Acids and BSA Purity on Synthesis and Properties of Fluorescent Gold Nanoclusters.

Fluorescent gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) are envisaged as a novel type of fluorophores. This work reports on the first comparative study investigating the effect of presence/absence/abundance of fatty acids (namely palmitic acid, PA) or other substances (like glycoproteins and globulins) in the protein (bovine serum albumin, BSA) on synthesis and properties of the final AuNCs. The most popular template (BSA) and microwave (MW)-assisted synthesis of AuNCs have been intentionally chosen.

High-valent iron (Fe(VI), Fe(V), and Fe(IV)) species in water: characterization and oxidative transformation of estrogenic hormones.

This paper presents solid state synthesis and characterization of tetra-oxy iron(iv) and iron(v) species in their salt forms (Na4FeO4-Fe(IV) and K3FeO4-Fe(V)). Stability of the synthesized salts, commonly called ferrates, in water was determined by applying the (57)Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy technique. Within 2 s in water, Fe(IV) converted into Fe(III) while Fe(V) transformed into Fe(VI) and Fe(III) at pH = 8.

Air stable magnetic bimetallic Fe-Ag nanoparticles for advanced antimicrobial treatment and phosphorus removal.

We report on new magnetic bimetallic Fe-Ag nanoparticles (NPs) which exhibit significant antibacterial and antifungal activities against a variety of microorganisms including disease causing pathogens, as well as prolonged action and high efficiency of phosphorus removal. The preparation of these multifunctional hybrids, based on direct reduction of silver ions by commercially available zerovalent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) is fast, simple, feasible in a large scale with a controllable silver NP content and size. The microscopic observations (transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy/electron diffraction spectroscopy) and phase analyses (X-ray diffraction, Mössbauer spectroscopy) reveal the formation of Fe₃O₄/γ-FeOOH double shell on a "redox" active nZVI surface.