Utilization of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) and their derivatives as photocatalysts for degradation of organic pollutants.

Direct or indirect discharge of wastes containing organic pollutants have contributed to the environmental pollution globally. Decontamination of highly polluted natural resources such as water using an effective treatment is a great challenge for public health and environmental protection. Photodegradation of organic pollutants using efficient photocatalyst has attracted extensive interest due to their stability, effectiveness towards degradation efficiency, energy, and cost efficiency. Among various photocatalysts, layered double hydroxides (LDHs) and their derivatives have shown great potential towards photodegradation of organic pollutants. Herein, we review the mechanism, key factors, and performance of LDHs and their derivatives for the photodegradation of organic pollutants. LDH-based photocatalysts are classified into three different categories namely unmodified LDHs, modified LDHs, and calcined LDHs. Each LDH category is reviewed separately in terms of their photodegradation efficiency and kinetics of degradation. In addition, the effect of photocatalyst dose, pH, and initial concentration of pollutant as well as photocatalytic mechanisms are also summarized. Lastly, the stability and reusability of different photocatalysts are discussed. Challenges related to modeling the LDHs and its derivatives are addressed in order to improve their functional capacity.

GC-MS based lemon grass metabolite analysis involved in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles and evaluation of photo-catalytic degradation of methylene blue.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is of great importance to scientific community due to their plethora of applications. Several plant extracts have been reported for synthesis of AgNPs. In this study, lemon grass was used as a reducing and capping agent to prepare AgNPs. The formation of AgNPs was confirmed by using UV-Vis spectra as AgNPs show a characteristic peak around 400 nm. Effect of pH, temperature and lemon grass extract to silver nitrate ratio was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). Characterization of AgNPs was done using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy (EDX), Trasmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). Gas Chromatography-Mass spectrometry (GC-MS), Energy Dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy and Fourier Transform-Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic analysis showed involvement of metabolites of lemon grass in the formation of AgNPs. Photo-catalytic activity of synthesized AgNPs was evaluated through degradation of organic pollutant methylene blue dye.

Separation of pollutants from aqueous solution using nanoclay and its nanocomposites: A review.

Wastewater is always composed of different pollutants, most of which are toxic to the living being. It is very tough to separate all those diverse groups of contaminants using a single process or single material. Rather a sustainable and environment friendly processes should be adapted to restrict the secondary pollution generation. Nanoclay and its nanocomposites are one of the most used adsorbents that have been modified and used for the separation of almost all types of pollutants, including dyes, heavy metals, fluoride, nitrate, ammonia, emerging pollutants and bacteria. They are relatively inexpensive, easy to exploit and relatively maintenance-free. Thus, recent research bloomed for developing suitable adsorbents, including clay nanocomposites. The advantages and drawbacks of all the clay nanocomposites-based processes have been discussed critically in this article. Nano-clays or other nanoparticles incorporated synthetic and natural polymers-based clay nanocomposites were synthesized, and it was found that they can remove dyes in the range between 48 mg/g and 1994 mg/g. Similarly, they separate a diverse group of heavy metal ions, including As, Cu, Co, Pd, Zn, Cr, Ni, Cd, and Hg, in the range of 0.073-1667 mg/g. The clay nanocomposites also showed fluoride removal efficacy in the range of 0.134-23 mg/g. They are also useful for the separation of emerging pollutants like pesticides, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, trace elements, and particulate matters in the range of 0.1-651 mg/g the clay nanocomposites showed considerable nitrate, ammonia and bacteria removal efficacy too. Though it seems promising, more investigations with real wastewater and pilot-scale studies are recommended to explore large-scale wastewater treatment capabilities.