scholarly journals Titanium Dioxide – A Missing Photo-Responsive Material for Solar-Driven Oil Spill Remediation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haruna Adamu

TiO2 nanoparticles have been extensively investigated for environmental applications, particularly in the photocatalytic decomposition of organic pollutants using solar energy. The TiO2-derived photocatalysts attract attention because of their photocatalytic efficiency and activity under a wide range of environmental conditions in response to superior structural and electronic properties. Consequently, TiO2 compares with other common semiconductors used for environmental photocatalytic applications, TiO2 is widely being considered close to an ideal semiconductor for photocatalysis. However, despite the impressive photocatalytic and material properties of titanium dioxide, TiO2 has not to this point been incorporated within commercial hub of oil spill remediation products. Therefore, this chapter covers the description of inevitable technical details required for unveiling the full potential of solar-driven photooxidation potency of TiO2, which have been the major challenges that halt its translation to commercial use in oil spill remediation. This at the end would underpin and make TiO2-derived materials a substitute ready to be commercially accepted as a promising method for remediation of oil-polluted aquatic and soil environments.

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yangyang Zhang ◽  
Manoj K. Ram ◽  
Elias K. Stefanakos ◽  
D. Yogi Goswami

ZnO nanowires (or nanorods) have been widely studied due to their unique material properties and remarkable performance in electronics, optics, and photonics. Recently, photocatalytic applications of ZnO nanowires are of increased interest in environmental protection applications. This paper presents a review of the current research of ZnO nanowires (or nanorods) with special focus on photocatalysis. We have reviewed the semiconducting photocatalysts and discussed a variety of synthesis methods of ZnO nanowires and their corresponding effectiveness in photocatalysis. We have also presented the characterization of ZnO nanowires from the literature and from our own measurements. Finally, a wide range of uses of ZnO nanowires in various applications is highlighted in this paper.


2007 ◽  
Vol 1040 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria G. Moreno-Armenta ◽  
Reyes-Serrato Armando ◽  
Soto H. Gerardo

AbstractUsing the full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method, we investigate the bulk structural and electronic properties in the scandium-, yttrium-, and copper-nitrides over a wide range of nitrogen concentrations. The N atom was gradually incorporated into metal matrix with and without metal vacancies. The ground state properties like densities of states (DOS) and formation energies are determined for each calculated alloy. We have found that the semi-conducting state in copper nitride have a tinny compositional margin. Any deviation of the ideal stoichiometry will produce a metallic character. What is more, the stabilities of the conductive phases are very close to the stability of the semi conducting phase, with a little margin favorable to the conducting phases. The calculations of scandium- and yttrium nitrides show, that for very low nitrogen incorporations, the hexagonal and fcc phases may coexist. However, for high nitrogen concentration the cubic phases are favored. For non-stoichiometric nitrogen content, the materials behave as metal, whereas at stoichiometric composition the DOS becomes zero at Fermi level (EF), confirming in this way the semiconductor character of these nitrides.


Author(s):  
R.W. Horne

The technique of surrounding virus particles with a neutralised electron dense stain was described at the Fourth International Congress on Electron Microscopy, Berlin 1958 (see Home & Brenner, 1960, p. 625). For many years the negative staining technique in one form or another, has been applied to a wide range of biological materials. However, the full potential of the method has only recently been explored following the development and applications of optical diffraction and computer image analytical techniques to electron micrographs (cf. De Hosier & Klug, 1968; Markham 1968; Crowther et al., 1970; Home & Markham, 1973; Klug & Berger, 1974; Crowther & Klug, 1975). These image processing procedures have allowed a more precise and quantitative approach to be made concerning the interpretation, measurement and reconstruction of repeating features in certain biological systems.


Author(s):  
N.V. Chukhareva ◽  
◽  
M.P. Sartakov ◽  
I.D. Komissarov ◽  
◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-36
Author(s):  
Shubha Jayachamarajapura Pranesh ◽  
Diwya Lanka

Background: Textile industries discharge harmful synthetic dyes to nearby water sources. These colour effluents should be treated before discharge to reduce the toxicity caused by synthetic colours. Objective: To synthesize visible light active superstructures to reduce water pollution caused by textile industries. Methods: We have successfully synthesized ZnO/Dy/NiO hybrid nanocomposites using waste curd as fuel by a simple combustion method. The obtained material was able to reduce recombination and enhanced the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants. The as-synthesized material was characterized by XRD, absorption spectroscopy, FESEM, EDAX, etc. The obtained hybrid nanostructure was used as a photocatalyst for the degradation of methylene blue under sunlight, UV light as well as in dark. Comparative experiments were carried out with a variation of catalytic load, pH, dye concentrations, etc. for a better understanding of the performance of the catalyst at various conditions. Results and Conclusion: The ternary compound shows wide range of absorption by expanding absorption band both in UV and visible regions. ZnO/Dy/NiO hybrid nanocomposites performed well and showed uniqueness in the activity uder visible light.


Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1184
Author(s):  
Armin Mooranian ◽  
Thomas Foster ◽  
Corina M Ionescu ◽  
Daniel Walker ◽  
Melissa Jones ◽  
...  

Introduction: Recent studies in our laboratory have shown that some bile acids, such as chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), can exert cellular protective effects when encapsulated with viable β-cells via anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress mechanisms. However, to explore their full potential, formulating such bile acids (that are intrinsically lipophilic) can be challenging, particularly if larger doses are required for optimal pharmacological effects. One promising approach is the development of nano gels. Accordingly, this study aimed to examine biological effects of various concentrations of CDCA using various solubilising nano gel systems on encapsulated β-cells. Methods: Using our established cellular encapsulation system, the Ionic Gelation Vibrational Jet Flow technology, a wide range of CDCA β-cell capsules were produced and examined for morphological, biological, and inflammatory profiles. Results and Conclusion: Capsules’ morphology and topographic characteristics remained similar, regardless of CDCA or nano gel concentrations. The best pharmacological, anti-inflammatory, and cellular respiration, metabolism, and energy production effects were observed at high CDCA and nano gel concentrations, suggesting dose-dependent cellular protective and positive effects of CDCA when incorporated with high loading nano gel.


Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 347
Author(s):  
Carsten Laukamp ◽  
Andrew Rodger ◽  
Monica LeGras ◽  
Heta Lampinen ◽  
Ian C. Lau ◽  
...  

Reflectance spectroscopy allows cost-effective and rapid mineral characterisation, addressing mineral exploration and mining challenges. Shortwave (SWIR), mid (MIR) and thermal (TIR) infrared reflectance spectra are collected in a wide range of environments and scales, with instrumentation ranging from spaceborne, airborne, field and drill core sensors to IR microscopy. However, interpretation of reflectance spectra is, due to the abundance of potential vibrational modes in mineral assemblages, non-trivial and requires a thorough understanding of the potential factors contributing to the reflectance spectra. In order to close the gap between understanding mineral-diagnostic absorption features and efficient interpretation of reflectance spectra, an up-to-date overview of major vibrational modes of rock-forming minerals in the SWIR, MIR and TIR is provided. A series of scripts are proposed that allow the extraction of the relative intensity or wavelength position of single absorption and other mineral-diagnostic features. Binary discrimination diagrams can assist in rapidly evaluating mineral assemblages, and relative abundance and chemical composition of key vector minerals, in hydrothermal ore deposits. The aim of this contribution is to make geologically relevant information more easily extractable from reflectance spectra, enabling the mineral resources and geoscience communities to realise the full potential of hyperspectral sensing technologies.


2021 ◽  
pp. 117378
Author(s):  
Parisarin Nawavimarn ◽  
Witchaya Rongsayamanont ◽  
Tipsuda Subsanguan ◽  
Ekawan Luepromchai

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Morteza Hasanzadeh Kafshgari ◽  
Delf Kah ◽  
Anca Mazare ◽  
Nhat Truong Nguyen ◽  
Monica Distaso ◽  
...  

Abstract Hollow titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotubes offer substantially higher drug loading capacity and slower drug release kinetics compared to solid drug nanocarriers of comparable size. In this report, we load TiO2 nanotubes with iron oxide nanoparticles to facilitate site-specific magnetic guidance and drug delivery. We generate magnetic TiO2 nanotubes (TiO2NTs) by incorporating a ferrofluid containing Ø ≈ 10 nm iron oxide nanoparticles in planar sheets of weakly connected TiO2 nanotubes. After thermal annealing, the magnetic tubular arrays are loaded with therapeutic drugs and then sonicated to separate the nanotubes. We demonstrate that magnetic TiO2NTs are non-toxic for HeLa cells at therapeutic concentrations (≤200 µg/mL). Adhesion and endocytosis of magnetic nanotubes to a layer of HeLa cells are increased in the presence of a magnetic gradient field. As a proof-of-concept, we load the nanotubes with the topoisomerase inhibitor camptothecin and achieve a 90% killing efficiency. We also load the nanotubes with oligonucleotides for cell transfection and achieve 100% cellular uptake efficiency. Our results demonstrate the potential of magnetic TiO2NTs for a wide range of biomedical applications, including site-specific delivery of therapeutic drugs.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document