Magnetic graphene oxide-zinc oxide nanocomposite for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of azithromycin under normal sunlight.

During the Covid-19 pandemic and its aftermath, there has been a sudden surge in the production and consumption of macrolide antibiotics. This surge has had a significant impact on water quality, leading to concentrations exceeding acceptable limits. To address this concerning issue, a magnetic graphene oxide-zinc oxide nanocomposite (MZG) was synthesized using a straightforward wet chemical synthesis method. The synthesized catalyst was then subjected to comprehensive characterization using sophisticated techniques including HRTEM, XRD, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, BET, XPS, VSM, DRS, and TGA. Subsequently, the MZG photocatalyst's efficacy was evaluated through a series of experiments aimed at degrading azithromycin drug residues in water. These techniques divulged substantial information about the morphology, polycrystallinity, size (in nm range), functional groups, defects, surface area (132.9 m2/g), elemental composition (C, O, Fe and Zn), super paramagnetism (Ms 69.78 emu/g), suitable bandgap (2.8 eV) and thermal stability of the material, respectively. The optimized concentration of MZG photocatalyst demonstrated remarkable potential for photocatalytic degradation, particularly towards higher concentrations of 50 ppm azithromycin. It achieved an impressive degradation efficiency of 96.04 % in water when exposed to normal sunlight for just 1 h. Kinetic studies revealed a first-order reaction rate, with a notably higher rate constant (k = 0.0533 min⁻1) compared to other photocatalysts. Furthermore, MZG had shown better recyclabilty up to four cycles with minimal loss of photocatalytic acitvity to only 9%. Thus, it proves to be both effective and cost-efficient, capable of functioning under visible radiation. This makes it suitable for industrial applications aimed at removing azithromycin drugs and promoting a safer and more sustainable environment.

Atomic sheets of silver ferrite with universal microwave catalytic behavior.

Prompt degradation of organic pollutants renders microwave (MW) catalysis technology extremely lucrative; ideal microwave catalysts are therefore being hunted with an unprecedented urgency. Ideal functional microwave catalyst should be highly crystalline, room temperature ferromagnetic (for magnetic retrieval), highly dielectric (for sufficient microwave absorption) apart from being structurally stable at high temperature. The potential of silver ferrite 2D sheets (2D AFO) synthesized using a novel microwave technique as a microwave catalyst for the degradation of a variety of organic dyes and antibiotics was investigated in this article. While organic dyes like malachite green (MG), brilliant green (BG) and nile blue A (NB) achieved 99.2%, 98.8% and 95.2%, respectively; antibiotic tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) molecule resulted in 75.8% degradation efficiency. Total organic carbon (TOC) measurements yielded 76%, 59.1%, 49.1% and 47.6% of carbon content for MG, BG, NB and TCH, respectively. The reaction pathway via intermediates and subsequent degradation to CO2 and H2O is revealed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS). Both superoxide and hydroxyl radicals are participating in the process, according to scavenger tests. The evolution of silver ferrite as a new 2D material and its demonstration as an ideal microwave catalyst will lead to a new beginning in catalysis science and technology.

Microwave synthesized strontium hexaferrite 2D sheets as versatile and efficient microwave catalysts for degradation of organic dyes and antibiotics.

Microwave catalysis is extremely lucrative due to prompt mineralization and superior efficiency. Ideal microwave catalysts should possess crystalline nature, large surface area, room temperature ferromagnetic, high dielectric properties apart from structural stability at elevated temperature. In the present article, the candidature of microwave synthesized strontium hexaferrite 2D sheets (2D SFO) has been explored as microwave catalysts for the degradation of a host of organic dyes and antibiotics. Malachite green (MG) and nile blue A (NB) in particular exhibited 99.8% and 97.6% degradation, respectively. Degradation reaction is established to follow pseudo-second-order kinetics. Total organic carbon (TOC) measurements hint at 52% and 60% mineralization for MG and NB, respectively. Liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LCMS) measurements indicate the reaction pathways via intermediates and eventual mineralization to CO2 and H2O. Mott-Schottky measurements along with scavenger tests hint that both hydroxyl and superoxide radicals participate in the reaction. Having superior efficiency apart from the versatile nature of the 2D SFO microwave catalyst, the present research will guide to the emergence of microwave catalysis as a new technology.

Microwave-Assisted Catalytic Degradation of Brilliant Green by Spinel Zinc Ferrite Sheets.

Microwave (MW)-assisted catalytic degradation, being an emerging technique, can potentially fill in the technological gap which promises on-demand, prompt, and efficient catalysis, and therefore, suitable MW catalysts are curiously being hunted. Candidature of spinel zinc ferrite (SZFO) atomic sheets as a MW catalyst has thoroughly been investigated in this article. Analytical techniques prove SZFO atomic sheets to be highly crystalline, thermally stable, good dielectric, and superparamagnetic, which render it a potentially strong MW catalyst. Brilliant green (BG) has been demonstrated to be chemisorbed on the SZFO atomic sheets, which upon MW irradiation gets mineralized within 5 min, and the overall efficiency has been observed to be >99%. Total organic carbon removal of ∼80% has been obtained. Ionic chromatography proves the formation of SO4 2- and NO3 - anions which increase with MW exposure time. Liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy studies have established intermediate formations during catalysis. SZFO, established as a uniquely suited and highly efficient MW catalyst for BG, is expected to broaden the horizons of MW-assisted catalytic degradation and lead it toward its broader applications.

Anesthetic management of a patient with Marfan syndrome and severe aortic root dilatation undergoing cholecystectomy and partial hepatic resection.

Due to high mortality associated with aortic dissection, anesthetic management of patients with Marfan syndrome with severe aortic root dilation is a challenging situation. We describe the anesthetic management of a patient with Marfan syndrome with severe aortic root dilation, who required major surgery like cholecystectomy with partial liver resection under general anesthesia. A 47-year-old female presented to pre-anesthetic clinic for cholecystectomy with partial hepatic resection for gall bladder carcinoma. Clinical features, transthoracic echocardiography and computed tomography of thorax supported a diagnosis of Marfan syndrome with severely dilated aortic root. Aortic dissection in patients with Marfan syndrome and severely dilated aortic root can be precipitated by major hemodynamic changes under anesthesia. Careful hemodynamic monitoring and avoidance of hemodynamic swings can prevent this life-threatening event.