Eco-friendly synthesis of N- cholyl mercapto histidine capped silver nanoparticles and its sensing of mercury (II) ions and photo catalytic degradation of methyl orange.

In this report, we have developed highly water soluble and stable silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) utilizing N-Cholyl Mercapto Histidine (NCMH) as a reducing and stabilizing agent with near the primary critical micellar concentration (CMC) under ambient sunlight irradiation. Moreover, The NCMH was firstly synthesized by demonstrating the reaction between cholic acid and 2- Mercapto Histidine through a simple acid amine coupling approach. The primary and secondary CMC of NCMH surfactant was measured by pyrene (1 × 10-6 M) as a fluorescent probe, and values were found to be 3.2 and 13.1 mM respectively. The synthesized Ag NPs showed at neutral pH and highly stable for more than one year without any noticeable aggregation. The TEM analysis displays the synthesized Ag NPs having a spherical shape and average size of 9.6 ± 0.5 nm. The synthesis of stabilized Ag NPs was used for ultra-sensitive and selective detection of Hg2+ ions in aqueous medium were monitored by Uv-visible spectrometer and naked eyes with a lowest limit of detection (LOD) 7 nM. The photo-catalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO) by utilizing Ag NPs as nano-catalyst exhibits a potential degradation within a study period of 180 min. Concluding that, facile and cost effective green synthesis of NCMH capped Ag NPs possess excellent reducing ability towards the selective detection of Hg2+ ions along with photo-catalytic degradation of MO dye. These true findings detached an innovative pathway of Ag NPs towards the reactivity against the catalytic activity of dye degradation and selective sensing of Hg2+ ions. Thus it paves the way for extensive range of novel potential applications of Ag NPs in various environment friendly approaches of sensitive and analytical protocol in the future.

Innovative remediation strategies for persistent organic pollutants in soil and water: A comprehensive review.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) provide a serious threat to human health and the environment in soil and water ecosystems. This thorough analysis explores creative remediation techniques meant to address POP pollution. Persistent organic pollutants are harmful substances that may withstand natural degradation processes and remain in the environment for long periods of time. Examples of these pollutants include dioxins, insecticides, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Because of their extensive existence, cutting-edge and environmentally friendly eradication strategies must be investigated. The most recent advancements in POP clean-up technology for soil and water are evaluated critically in this article. It encompasses a wide range of techniques, such as nanotechnology, phytoremediation, enhanced oxidation processes, and bioremediation. The effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability of each method are assessed. Case studies from different parts of the world show the difficulties and effective uses of these novel techniques. The study also addresses new developments in POP regulation and monitoring, highlighting the need of all-encompassing approaches that include risk assessment and management. In order to combat POP pollution, the integration of diverse remediation strategies, hybrid approaches, and the function of natural attenuation are also examined. Researchers, legislators, and environmental professionals tackling the urgent problem of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in soil and water should benefit greatly from this study, which offers a complete overview of the many approaches available for remediating POPs in soil and water.

Unearthing Earth's secrets: Exploring the environmental legacy of contaminants in soil, water, and sediments.

The Earth's history is documented in human civilizations, soil layers, river movement, and quiet sediments throughout millennia. This investigation explores the significant legacy of environmental toxins in these key planet components. Understanding how ancient activity shaped the terrain is crucial as mankind faces environmental issues. This interdisciplinary study uses environmental science, archaeology, and geology to uncover Earth's mysteries. It illuminates the dynamic processes that have built our globe by studying pollutants and soil, water, and sediments. This research follows human actions, both intentional and unintentional, from ancient civilizations through contemporary industrialization and their far-reaching effects. Environmental destiny examines how contaminants affect ecosystems and human health. This study of past contamination helps solve modern problems including pollution cleanup, sustainable land management, and water conservation. This review studies reminds us that our previous activities still affect the ecosystem in a society facing rapid urbanisation and industrialization. It emphasises the importance of environmental stewardship and provides a framework for making educated choices to reduce toxins in soil, water, and sediments. Discovery of Earth's secrets is not only a historical curiosity; it's a necessary step towards a sustainable and peaceful cohabitation with our home planet.

Investigation of the Photoluminescence and Nonlinear Optical Properties of Ce2O3-TiO2 Nanocomposites.

This paper reports the photoluminescence and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of Ce2O3-TiO2 nanocomposites synthesized via sol-gel process with different concentrations of cerium. The physical characterization studies by means of XRD indicated for the successful incorporation of Ce into the lattice of TiO2, while the UV-visible spectra for an absorption edge shift of TiO2 to the higher wavelength side following the Ce addition, and FESEM analysis for the morphology and particles sizes of the synthesized materials. On testing of the photoluminescence properties recorded through time-resolved fluorescence (TCSPC) technique, a decrease in the intensity of TiO2 with that of increased Ce concentration was observed and is due to an escalation in the number of oxygen vacancies. Further, the observation NLO properties for Ce2O3-TiO2 was done by a Z-scan technique of 5ns continuous wave (cw) laser at 532 nm, where the involvement of active mechanisms in the nonlinear refraction and nonlinear absorption are due to the saturable absorption (SA) and nonlinear thermal effects.

Enhanced Photocatalytic Behavior of (GO/Cu2O) Composite with Cu2O Being Synthesized Through Green Route.

Graphene oxide/Cuprous oxide (GO/Cu2O) composite is a visible light photocatalyst for the degradation of dyes. A simple and efficient approach for preparing GO/Cu2O composite adopted in this study involves reducing cuprous oxide precursors in the presence of graphene oxide using an aqueous solution of pulp derived from banana fruit. The GO/Cu2O composite was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Diffused reflectance Ultraviolet visible spectroscopy (DRS UV-Vis), Raman spectroscopy and Field Emission Scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Cu2O particles were distributed randomly on the graphene oxide sheets due to the template effect of GO. The results showed higher photocatalytic activity for the composite (band gap 2.13 eV), for the degradation of the organic dyes (Methylene blue and Rhodamine-B). The enhanced photocatalytic activity is due to effective charge transfer from GO to Cu2O, and high specific surface area which improves the effective separation of the generated electron-hole pairs. Our present study is inspired by a facile, low cost, green production of (GO/Cu2O) composite whose photocatalytic activity can be extended to degradation of all other water-born textile dyes.