Green synthesis, characterization, antioxidant, antibacterial, and photocatalytic activity of Suaeda maritima (L.) Dumort aqueous extract-mediated copper oxide nanoparticles

Background The aim of this work was to synthesize copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) utilizing heartwood aqueous extract of Suaeda maritima (L.) Dumort. The synthesis of CuO NPs using green methodology with small size and high stability paved the way to protect the environment by not involving toxic chemicals and environment-friendly methodology for pharmacological and photocatalytic applications. The aqueous areal parts extract of S. maritima (L.) Dumort was used for synthesis, characterization of CuO NPs was studied, and further its antioxidant, antibacterial, and photocatalytic activity for the removal of methylene blue was studied. Results The synthesized CuO NPs shows characteristic UV-visible absorption maximum at 282 nm. The FT-IR spectra shows peak at 3640 cm−1 attributed to hydrogen bonded O-H group of poly phenols, alcohols, and N-H of amide. Strong peak at 1122 cm−1 corresponds to C-OH stretch in phenols and alcohols. Peaks at 1467 cm−1 and 1585 cm−1 corresponds to C=C in aromatic compounds. Strong peak at 1749 cm−1 represents the C=O in aldehydes or in keto compounds. Several strong bonds identified in the range of 1088 to 1225 cm−1 representing C-O-C stretch vibrations. The synthesized particles were circular in shape with rough surface morphology and dispersed as clusters with size of 37 nm with metallic content of 73.8%. The synthesized CuO NPs were proved as potent antibacterial and antioxidant activities. The photocatalytic for the removal of methylene blue in aqueous solution was studied and results proved that the CuO NPs were effectively remove the dye up to 86.91% within less time of 75 min. Hence, the CuO NPs synthesized are high efficiency with less particle size and can be used as antioxidant, antibacterial agent, and also applicable for the removal of hazardous methylene blue dye from effluents and can contribute indirectly to clean up the environment. Conclusions The investigation reports the eco-friendly, cost-effective method for synthesizing copper oxide nanoparticles from S. maritima extract with biomedical applications.

Comparing the Efficiencies of the Removal of Cadmium from Industrial Wastewater Using Zeolites

The presence of heavy metals in industrial wastewater needed to be removed in other to control pollution which has been caused as a result of human and industrial activities. Several adsorbents have been used for the remediation process but with this particular research work, Zeolites were used. They were synthesized hydrothermally from various locally available raw materials namely rice husk, corn stalk, corn husk, and kaolin. They were characterized using their FTIR to determine the functional groups on the material synthesized and also their adsorptive activities were compared with industrially synthesized Zeolite X. A very strong peak at 1052 cm-1 is as a result of the asymmetric vibrations of the internal T-O tetrahedron with a weak symmetric T-O stretching vibration recorded at 797 cm-1. Another strong peak was observed at 445 cm-1 as a result of the O-T-O bending vibration which confirms the presence of a five-membered structure. The adsorptive properties of the synthesized Zeolites were evaluated by using them to remove Cadmium ions from solution and their percentage removals were determined. Similarly, their adsorption kinetics were also determined and was observed the R2 values to be 0.9093 and 0.9454 for Corn husk and Cornstalk for the first order and the second order with R2 values of 1 for rice husk, kaolin and corn stalk.

The contribution of soil biogenic NO and HONO emissions from a managed hyperarid ecosystem to the regional NO_<i>x</i> emissions during growing season

A study was carried out to understand the contributions of soil biogenic NO emissions from managed (fertilized and irrigated) hyperarid ecosystems in NW China to the regional NOx emissions during the growing season. Soil biogenic net potential NO fluxes were quantified by laboratory incubation of soil samples from the three dominating ecosystems (desert, cotton, and grape fields). Regional biogenic NO emissions were calculated bottom-up hourly for the entire growing season (April–September 2010) by considering corresponding land use, hourly data of soil temperature, gravimetric soil moisture, and fertilizer enhancement factors. The regional HONO emissions were estimated using the ratio of the optimum condition ((FN,opt(HONO) to FN,opt (NO)). Regional anthropogenic NOx emissions were calculated bottom-up from annual statistical data provided by regional and local government bureaus which have been downscaled to monthly value. Regional top-down emission estimates of NOx were derived on the monthly basis from satellite observations (OMI) of tropospheric vertical NO2 column densities and prescribed values of the tropospheric NOx lifetime. In order to compare the top-down and bottom-up emission estimates, all emission estimates were expressed in terms of mass of atomic nitrogen. Consequently, monthly top-down NOx emissions (total) were compared with monthly bottom-up NOx emissions (biogenic + anthropogenic) for the time of the satellite overpass (around 13:00 LT) with the consideration of the diurnal cycle of bottom-up estimates. Annual variation in total Tohsun Oasis NOx emissions is characterized by a strong peak in winter (December–February) and a secondary peak in summer (June–August). During summer, soil biogenic emissions were from equal to double that of related anthropogenic emissions, and grape soils were the main contributor to soil biogenic emissions, followed by cotton soils, while emissions from the desert were negligible. The top-down and bottom-up emission estimates were shown to be useful methods to estimate the monthly/seasonal cycle of the total regional NOx emissions. The resulting total NOx emissions show a strong peak in winter and a secondary peak in summer, and the second maximum in summer was only found if the soil emissions were taken into account, which provides confidence in both completely independent methods. Despite the regional character of these findings, particularly the second maximum in summer provides substantial evidence to hypothesize that biogenic emissions from soils of managed drylands (irrigated and fertilized) in the growing period may be much more important contributors to regional NOx budgets of dryland regions than thought before.

Ultrafast double-quantum NMR spectroscopy with optimized sensitivity for the analysis of mixtures

UF-DQS is an accurate 2D NMR approach for the quantification of analytes in complex mixtures characterized by strong peak overlaps.

Generalized Numerical Index and Denseness of Numerical Peak Holomorphic Functions on a Banach Space

The generalized numerical index of a Banach space is introduced, and its properties on certain Banach spaces are studied. Ed-dari's theorem on the numerical index is extended to the generalized index and polynomial numerical index of a Banach space. The denseness of numerical strong peak holomorphic functions is also studied.

Separation of Organophosphorus Pesticides Using Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography

Pemisahan enam pestisid organofosforus (mevinfos, metidation, diazinon, prefenofos, kuinalfos dan klorpirifos) telah dikaji menggunakan teknik kromatografi elektrokinetik misel (MEKC) dengan pengesan Ultralembayung–Nampak. Proses pemisahan dilakukan dengan menggunakan surfaktan anionik natrium dodesil sulfat (SDS) dan larutan penimbal borat atau fosfat sebagai elektrolit pembawa. Pemisahan yang dilakukan didapati tidak lengkap walaupun telah dilakukan perubahan terhadap pelbagai faktor seperti jenis larutan penimbal, kepekatan surfaktan dan larutan penimbal, penambahan pengubahsuai metanol dan juga pengubahsuaian pH larutan penimbal yang digunakan. Tanpa penggunaan dan pengubahsuaian faktor di atas, pestisid mevinfos sahaja selalu muncul sebagai puncak yang tajam diikuti oleh diazinon dan metidation. Walaupun tanpa kehadiran surfaktan SDS dalam matrik larutan penimbal, mevinfos dan diazinon dapat dikesan manakala pestisid OPPs yang lainnya tidak dapat dikesan. Penggunaan β–siklodekstrin (β–CD) 6 mM, penimbal borat 20 mM dengan SDS 40 mM dan pH penimbal 9.5 memberikan keputusan terbaik bagi pemisahan pestisid mevinfos, diazinon dan metidation. Keputusan dalam kajian ini mencerminkan kaitan antara keterlarutan dan sifat hidrofobik pestisid. Kata kunci: Pestisid organofosforus; kromatografi elektrokinetik misel; natrium dodesil sulfat; siklodekstrin; ultralembayung-Nampak Separation of six organophosphorus pesticides (mevinphos, methidathion, diazinon, profenofos, quinalphos and chlorpyrifos) has been investigated using micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) with on–column UV–Vis detection. Separations involved using anionic sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) surfactant and phosphate or borate buffer as carrier electrolytes. Separations have been found incomplete regardless of changing all sort of possible factors such as buffer types, buffer and surfactant concentrations, addition of organic modifier, methanol and pH of the running buffer. Irrespective of the combinations of levels of factors, mevinphos alone appeared always as a distinguishable strong peak followed by diazinon and methidathion. Even in the absence of any surfactant in buffer matrices, mevinphos and diazinon were detected but methidathion, profenofos, quinalphos and chlorpyrifos were undetected. The use of 6 mM β–cyclodextrin (β–CD), 20 mM borate buffer with 40 mM SDS and buffer pH of 9.5 resulted in the best separation of mevinphos, diazinon and methidathion. The results found in this study might reflect the solubility and hydrophobicity properties of the pesticides. Key words: Organophosphorus Pesticides (OPPs); Micellar electrokinetic chromatography; Sodium dodecy sulphate; cyclodextrin; UV-Vis

Breeding of The Long-Footed Potoroo, Potorous longipes (Marsupialia: Potoroidae), In the Wild: Behaviour, Births and Juvenile Independence.

All trapping data for the long-footed potoroo, Potorous longipes, since its discovery in 1978 were examined for measurements of pouch young. From these data the birth-dates of 51 individuals were estimated. For sites in both East Gippsland and on the Great Dividing Range there was a strong peak of births in the July-September quarter. The data showed a significant bias in birth dates at both sites which was not accounted for by differences in trappability of females. For East Gippsland the ratio of sexes in pouch young was 3.5:1 in favour of males. This was a significant deviation from parity. For two sites on the Great Dividing Range nine of 13 pouch young were female.