Iron-loaded peel: An effective biosorbent for the excision of arsenite from water.

The occurrence of arsenic in the surroundings raises apprehension because its detrimental impacts on both human health and the ecology. Since adsorption is an effective, affordable method that can be adjusted to specific environmental circumstances, it is a sustainable solution for the removal of arsenic from the aquatic environment. Utilizing biomass that has been chemically activated may be a viable way to increase the adsorption capacity of the material, reduce arsenic pollution, and protect the environment and human health.

Synthesis, characterization and As(III) scavenging behaviours of mango peel waste loaded with Zr(IV) ion from contaminated water.

Raw mango peel (RMP) was first saponified to yield saponified mango peel (SMP), which was then loaded with Zr(IV) ions to form a biosorbent for As(III) scavenging.The biosorption behaviors and mechanisms of As(III) scavenging using RMP and Zr(IV)-loaded saponified mango peel (Zr(IV)-SMP) were investigated batchwise. The As(III) scavenging efficiency of RMP increased from 20.

Acid-treated pomegranate peel; An efficient biosorbent for the excision of hexavalent chromium from wastewater.

We studied the sequestration of hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) from an aqueous solution using chemically modified pomegranate peel (CPP) as an efficient bio-adsorbent. The synthesized material was characterized by X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The impacts of parameters like solution pH, Cr(VI) concentration, contact time, and adsorbent dosage were investigated.

Effective biosorption of As(V) from polluted water using Fe(III)-modified Pomelo () peel: A batch, column, and thermodynamic study.

Pomelo, , peel was chemically modified with lime water and then loaded with Fe(III) to develop anion exchange sites for effective sequestration of As(V) from water. Biosorbent characterizations were done by using FTIR, SEM, XRD, EDX, and Boehm's titration. The batch biosorption studies were carried out at various pHs using modified and non-modified biosorbents and optimum biosorption of As(V) occurred at acidic pH (3.

Efficient biosorption of hexavalent chromium from water by modified arecanut leaf sheath.

In this work, the excision of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) was studied from an aqueous solution using the chemically modified arecanut leaf sheath (CALS) as a novel bio-adsorbent. The as-prepared adsorbent was characterized by using instrumental methods including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The effect of several factors, including solution pH, contact time, and sorbent dosages were examined to identify the optimum condition for the sorption ability.

Channel blocking of MspA revisited.

Porin A from Mycobacterium smegmatis (MspA) is a highly stable, octameric channel protein, which acts as the main transporter of electrolytes across the cell membrane. MspA features a narrow, negatively charged constriction zone, allowing stable binding of various analytes thereby blocking the channel. Investigation of channel blocking of mycobacterial porins is of significance in developing alternate treatment methods for tuberculosis.

Maleimide-functionalized photochromic spirodihydroindolizines.

Two photochromic spirodihydroindolizine/betaine systems for tethering to peptides and proteins via a maleimide function have been prepared. The absorption spectra of the betaines are in the red region of the visible spectrum and in the near-IR spectral domain, which are suitable energies of light for future in vivo applications. The half-times of cyclization have been determined for both DHI/betaine systems.

Poly-N-Isopropylacrylamide/acrylic Acid Copolymers for the Generation of Nanostructures at Mica Surfaces and as Hydrophobic Host Systems for the Porin MspA from Mycobacterium smegmatis.

The work presented here aims at utilizing poly-N-isopropyl-acrylamide/acrylic acid copolymers to create nanostructured layers on mica surfaces by a simple spin-casting procedure. The average composition of the copolymers determined by elemental analysis correlates excellently with the feed composition indicating that the radical polymerization process is statistical. The resulting surfaces were characterized by Atomic Force Microscopy (magnetic AC-mode) at the copolymer/air interface.

New insights in the photochromic spiro-dihydroindolizine/betaine-system.

We have revisited the photochromic spiro-dihydroindolizine/betaine (DHI/B) system applying state-of-the-art density functional theory (DFT) calculations in combination with stationary and time-resolved absorption measurements. DHI/B-systems are becoming increasingly important as potential molecular machines, molecular switches, and photoswitchable electron-acceptors. The knowledge of the exact mechanisms of ring opening and closure, as well as of the geometries of DHI and betaine can provide critical information that will enable the design of better molecular machines and optical switches.

Fluorescence of pterin, 6-formylpterin, 6-carboxypterin and folic acid in aqueous solution: pH effects.

Steady-state and time-resolved studies have been performed on four compounds of the pterin family (pterin, 6-carboxypterin, 6-formylpterin and folic acid) in aqueous solution, using the single photon counting technique. The fluorescence characteristics (spectra, quantum yields, lifetimes) of these compounds and their dependence on the pH have been investigated. Most pterins can exist in two acid-base forms over the pH range between 3 and 13.

Ruthenium(II)-tris-bipyridine/titanium dioxide codoped zeolite Y photocatalysts: II. Photocatalyzed degradation of the model pollutant 2,4-xylidine, evidence for percolation behavior.

A considerably arduous test of a novel class of composite materials consisting of [Ru(bpy)3]2+ and TiO2 codoped zeolites Y is presented here. The [Ru(bpy)3]2+ and TiO2 codoped zeolites Y served as photocatalysts in the oxidation of the model compounds 2,4-dimethylaniline (2,4-xylidine) by H2O2 in an acidic aqueous medium. Zeolite-embedded TiO2 (nano)particles play an important role in the degradation mechanism.

Physicochemical Studies on the Adsorption Properties of Asbestos.

Toxic asbestos fibers are known to be carriers of carcinogenic polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) when ingested by human lungs. To clarify the asbestos-PAH interactions, the adsorption properties of four different asbestos, namely amosite, anthofillite, crocidolite, and chrysotile (termed AMOS, ANTHO, CROX, and CHRYS, respectively), toward pyrene (py) were investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and fluorescence spectroscopy, both steady state and time resolved. Pyrene was labeled with a nitroxide TEMPO radical (py-T) for the EPR study.