scholarly journals Nanozymes for Environmental Pollutant Monitoring and Remediation

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 408
Author(s):  
Elicia L. S. Wong ◽  
Khuong Q. Vuong ◽  
Edith Chow

Nanozymes are advanced nanomaterials which mimic natural enzymes by exhibiting enzyme-like properties. As nanozymes offer better structural stability over their respective natural enzymes, they are ideal candidates for real-time and/or remote environmental pollutant monitoring and remediation. In this review, we classify nanozymes into four types depending on their enzyme-mimicking behaviour (active metal centre mimic, functional mimic, nanocomposite or 3D structural mimic) and offer mechanistic insights into the nature of their catalytic activity. Following this, we discuss the current environmental translation of nanozymes into a powerful sensing or remediation tool through inventive nano-architectural design of nanozymes and their transduction methodologies. Here, we focus on recent developments in nanozymes for the detection of heavy metal ions, pesticides and other organic pollutants, emphasising optical methods and a few electrochemical techniques. Strategies to remediate persistent organic pollutants such as pesticides, phenols, antibiotics and textile dyes are included. We conclude with a discussion on the practical deployment of these nanozymes in terms of their effectiveness, reusability, real-time in-field application, commercial production and regulatory considerations.

Sensor Review ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 237-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Bogue

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide details of recent developments in sensors for detecting explosives and chemical warfare agents. Design/methodology/approach – Following an introduction, this paper first discusses a selection of new sensing techniques aimed at detecting explosives and explosive devices. It then considers new developments in sensors for detecting chemical warfare agents. Brief concluding comments are drawn. Findings – This paper shows that a diversity of sensor technologies is being investigated, including various advanced optical methods, nanomaterials, microelectromechanical system, electronic noses, biosensors and electrochemical techniques, several of which offer levels of sensitivity in the parts-per-trillion region. These not only have the potential to yield improved devices for detecting explosives and chemical weapons but may also play a role in health care, environmental monitoring, drug detection and industrial health and safety. Originality/value – In an era of escalating terrorism and military conflicts, this provides a timely review of new technologies for detecting explosives and chemical warfare agents.


2014 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 279-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Hey ◽  
Panagiota Anastasopoulou ◽  
André Bideaux ◽  
Wilhelm Stork

Ambulatory assessment of emotional states as well as psychophysiological, cognitive and behavioral reactions constitutes an approach, which is increasingly being used in psychological research. Due to new developments in the field of information and communication technologies and an improved application of mobile physiological sensors, various new systems have been introduced. Methods of experience sampling allow to assess dynamic changes of subjective evaluations in real time and new sensor technologies permit a measurement of physiological responses. In addition, new technologies facilitate the interactive assessment of subjective, physiological, and behavioral data in real-time. Here, we describe these recent developments from the perspective of engineering science and discuss potential applications in the field of neuropsychology.


2021 ◽  
Vol 127 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kareem Fouad ◽  
Mohamed Bassyouni ◽  
Mohamed Gar Alalm ◽  
Mamdouh Y. Saleh

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 1135-1143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faisal Khan ◽  
Suresh Narayanan ◽  
Roger Sersted ◽  
Nicholas Schwarz ◽  
Alec Sandy

Multi-speckle X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS) is a powerful technique for characterizing the dynamic nature of complex materials over a range of time scales. XPCS has been successfully applied to study a wide range of systems. Recent developments in higher-frame-rate detectors, while aiding in the study of faster dynamical processes, creates large amounts of data that require parallel computational techniques to process in near real-time. Here, an implementation of the multi-tau and two-time autocorrelation algorithms using the Hadoop MapReduce framework for distributed computing is presented. The system scales well with regard to the increase in the data size, and has been serving the users of beamline 8-ID-I at the Advanced Photon Source for near real-time autocorrelations for the past five years.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 103
Author(s):  
Uwe Rieger

<p>With the current exponential growth in the sector of Spatial Data Technology and Mixed Reality display devises we experience an increasing overlap of the physical and digital world. Next to making data spatially visible the attempt is to connect digital information with physical properties. Over the past years a number of research institutions have been laying the ground for these developments. In contemporary architecture architectural design the dominant application of data technology is connected to graphical presentation, form finding and digital fabrication.<br />The <em>arc/sec Lab for Digital Spatial Operations </em>at the University of Auckland takes a further step. The Lab explores concepts for a new condition of buildings and urban patterns in which digital information is connected with spatial appearance and linked to material properties. The approach focuses on the step beyond digital re-presentation and digital fabrication, where data is re-connected to the multi-sensory human perceptions and physical skills. The work at the Lab is conducted in a cross disciplinary design environment and based on experiential investigations. The arc/sec Lab utilizes large-scale interactive installations as the driving vehicle for the exploration and communication of new dimensions in architectural space. The experiments are aiming to make data “touchable” and to demonstrate real time responsive environments. In parallel they are the starting point for both the development of practice oriented applications and speculation on how our cities and buildings might change in the future.<br />The article gives an overview of the current experiments being undertaken at the arc/sec Lab. It discusses how digital technologies allow for innovation between the disciplines by introducing real time adaptive behaviours to our build environment and it speculates on the type of spaces we can construct when <em>digital matter </em>is used as a new dynamic building material.</p>


2006 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 77-84
Author(s):  
Rabee M. Reffat

This paper introduces an alternative teaching model in a virtual architectural design studio, its application, impacts and constraints. This model aims for achieving collaborative learning through facilitating students to Inhabit, Design, Construct and Evaluate (IDCE) their designs collaboratively in a multi-user real-time 3D virtual environment platform (Activeworlds). The application of this model in virtual design studio (VDS) teaching has favorably impacted students' motivation for active, creative and explorative learning, social dynamics between studio participants. It also fostered learning electronic communication, collaboration techniques and etiquette in addition to design technology. The model assisted in developing collaborative experience and shared responsibility. However, there are some drawbacks of the virtual environment platform that hindered having a responsive design environment to users' needs with especially in modeling and rate of viewing. The advantages and constraints of applying the IDCE teaching model in a multi-user real-time 3D virtual environment for first year students at the University of Sydney are addressed in this paper.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Majidi Arlan ◽  
Ahmad Poursattar Marjani ◽  
Ramin Javahershenas ◽  
Jabbar Khalafy

This review describes the evolution and application of active metal-based and heterometallic NPs as efficient heterogeneous catalysts for the synthesis of pyridine derivatives by multicomponent reactions in the last decade (2010–2020).


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Poslet Shumbula ◽  
Collet Maswanganyi ◽  
Ndivhuwo Shumbula

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which are synthetic organic chemical compounds, either intentionally or unintentionally produced, have widely aroused public concern in recent years. These chemicals are toxic and major environmental concern due to their persistence, long range transportability, bioaccumulation and potentially adverse effects on living organisms. Uncontrolled inputs combined with poor environmental management often result in elevated levels of persistent organic pollutants in affected estuaries. Since the Stockholm Convention on POPs was adopted, different techniques have been extensively developed. A major focus revealed the need for low cost methods that can be implemented easily in developing countries such as electrochemical techniques. Persistent organic pollutants are known to be resistant to conventional treatment methods such as flocculation, coagulation, filtration and oxidant chemical treatment. However, various advanced wastewater treatment technologies such as, activated carbon adsorption, biodegradation using membrane bioreactor and advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been applied in the treatment of POPs.


Sensor Review ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 343-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongxing Guo ◽  
Dongsheng Zhang ◽  
Zude Zhou ◽  
Fangdong Zhu ◽  
Li Xiong

Purpose – This paper aims to present an effective sensing detection system based on fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensing technology for protective barriers that have been effectively applied to intercept and stop rocks from falling onto railway tracks. . Determination of exact stress and deformation values during impact tests for key components of the protective barrier forms important criteria for quality control of these barriers. Monitoring changes in force along the protective barrier when deployed in field application allows for real-time disaster warning for collapse and falling rocks. Design/methodology/approach – In this paper, we propose a monitoring strategy for key components of a protective barrier. During performance tests, dynamic force and strain were measured for the steel strands and supporting I-beam, respectively. Design of a special elastic structure for the force transducer based on finite element analysis and tensile tests has been discussed here. Two types of FBG force transducers were manufactured based on the elastic structure. Four FBG force transducers and four FBG strain sensors were used for impact verification testing of a new rigid protective barrier with a design protection level of 25 KJ. Findings – Dynamic force and strain responses were obtained during an impact of free-falling block with a kinetic energy of 25 KJ. Originality/value – The FBG monitoring scheme can be extremely valuable for optimized design of the barrier and can provide real-time disaster warning in regions of collapse and falling rocks.


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