Maize tassel-modified carbon paste electrode for voltammetric determination of Cu(II).

The preparation and application of a practical electrochemical sensor for environmental monitoring and assessment of heavy metal ions in samples is a subject of considerable interest. In this paper, a carbon paste electrode modified with maize tassel for the determination of Cu(II) has been proposed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to study morphology and identify the functional groups on the modified electrode, respectively.

An amperometric biosensor based on horseradish peroxidase immobilized onto maize tassel-multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified glassy carbon electrode for determination of heavy metal ions in aqueous solution.

A biosensor for trace metal ions based on horseradish peroxidase (HRP) immobilized on maize tassel-multiwalled carbon nanotube (MT-MWCNT) through electrostatic interactions is described herein. The biosensor was characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UV-vis spectrometry, voltammetric and amperometric methods. The FTIR and UV-vis results inferred that HRP was not denatured during its immobilization on MT-MWCNT composite.

Cosmetic and amino acid analysis of the effects of lye and no-lye relaxer treatment on adult black female South African hair.

Surveys indicate that many South African women use relaxers to straighten their hair for cosmetic reasons, which can damage the hair and scalp. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of treating hair with two types of relaxers: Product A (a lye relaxer, sodium hydroxide base) and Product B (a no-lye relaxer, guanidine hydroxide base). Five adult black female South African subjects were used for the study that was divided into two parts.

Recent advances in polymeric materials used as electron mediators and immobilizing matrices in developing enzyme electrodes.

Different classes of polymeric materials such as nanomaterials, sol-gel materials, conducting polymers, functional polymers and biomaterials have been used in the design of sensors and biosensors. Various methods have been used, for example from direct adsorption, covalent bonding, crossing-linking with glutaraldehyde on composites to mixing the enzymes or use of functionalized beads for the design of sensors and biosensors using these polymeric materials in recent years. It is widely acknowledged that analytical sensing at electrodes modified with polymeric materials results in low detection limits, high sensitivities, lower applied potential, good stability, efficient electron transfer and easier immobilization of enzymes on electrodes such that sensing and biosensing of environmental pollutants is made easier.

Application of maize tassel for the removal of Pb, Se, Sr, U and V from borehole water contaminated with mine wastewater in the presence of alkaline metals.

In this study, the removal of Pb(II) from aqueous solutions by tassel powder was studied and optimised. Batch experiments were conducted on simulated solutions using tassel powder adsorbent and the effects of contact time, pH and concentration on the extent of Pb (II) removal was studied. Equilibrium and kinetic models for Pb(II) sorption were developed by considering the effect of contact time and concentration at optimum pH 4 and fixed temperature(25 degrees C).