Detection of Environmentally Harmful Malathion Pesticides Using a Bimetallic Oxide of CuO Nanoparticles Dispersed over a 3D ZnO Nanoflower
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Gurusamy L
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10672217 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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| S-EPMC3677982 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Water pollution, arising from the presence of toxic dyes and chemicals, is a global challenge, urging the need for eco-friendly solutions in water decontamination. This study focused on the synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs), zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), and a bimetallic CuO-ZnO nanocomposite (CZ NC) through an environmentally friendly method employing Tragia involucrata L. leaf extract. Comprehensive analysis of structural and optical properties involved using various analytical techniques such as XRD, FT-IR, XPS, UV-DRS, PL, FE-SEM, EDAX, TEM, SAED, zeta potential, TGA, and BET. In comparison to pristine CuO and ZnO NPs, the CZ-NC demonstrated notably enhanced photocatalytic activity in the degradation of Rhodamine B dye (RhB). The optimum conditions for RhB degradation were found to be a pH of 9 and a catalyst dosage of 1 mg/mL for a concentration of 10 ppm. Under these conditions, CuO NPs, ZnO NPs, and CZ-NC demonstrated high efficiencies of 78%, 83%, and 96.1% respectively over 105 min. Through LC-HRMS, the identification of degradation products offered valuable insights into the pathway of photocatalytic degradation. Furthermore, toxicity analysis of intermediates, conducted through ECOSAR software, indicated the formation of non-toxic by-products (ChV/LC50/EC50 > 100) after the completion of the reaction. Furthermore, the recycled catalysts exhibited sustained stability for up to 4 cycles, with only a minor decrease in activity of up to 6.8%. This confirms their catalytic efficacy in purifying polluted water. This research significantly contributes to the progress of environmentally friendly nanocomposites, enhancing their efficacy in the realm of environmental remediation.
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Project description:Flexible CZTSSe solar cells have attracted much attention due to their earth-abundant elements, high stability, and wide application prospects. However, the environmental problems caused by the high toxicity of the Cd in the buffer layers restrict the development of flexible CZTSSe solar cells. Herein, we develop a Cd-free flexible CZTSSe/ZnO solar cell. The influences of the ZnO films on device performances are investigated. The light absorption capacity of flexible CZTSSe solar cells is enhanced due to the removal of the CdS layer. The optimal thickness of the ZnO buffer layers and the appropriate annealing temperature of the CZTSSe/ZnO are 100 nm and 200 °C. Ultimately, the optimum flexible CZTSSe/ZnO device achieves an efficiency of 5.0%, which is the highest efficiency for flexible CZTSSe/ZnO solar cells. The systematic characterizations indicate that the flexible CZTSSe/ZnO solar cells based on the optimal conditions achieved quality heterojunction, low defect density and better charge transfer capability. This work provides a new strategy for the development of the environmentally friendly and low-cost flexible CZTSSe solar cells.
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Project description:Aromatic nitro compounds are an increasing concern worldwide due to their potential toxicity, prompting a quest for efficient removal approaches. This study established a simple and environmentally friendly method to synthesize a highly efficient, recoverable and stable CuO nanosheets catalyst to overcome public health and environmental problems caused by nitro aromatic compounds. In the current research, the effect of different concentrations of copper nitrate on the size and shape of CuO nanostructures in the chemical synthesis was studied. The CuO nanosheets were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry. It was found that at concentrations of 0.07 M and 0.1 M of copper nitrate, pure CuO was formed. The FTIR results showed that carbonyl group in PVP coordinated with CuO and formed a protective layer. The as-synthesized CuO nanosheets with an average width of 60 ± 23 nm and length of 579 ± 154 were used as a catalyst for highly selective and efficient reduction of aromatic nitro and aromatic carboxylic acid to the corresponding amine and alcohol compounds. The reduction reaction was monitored by either UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy or high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). 4-Nitrophenol and 4-nitroaniline were reduced to corresponding amine compounds within 12 min and 6 min, respectively in the presence of a reasonable amount of catalyst and reducing agent. The CuO nanosheets also exhibited excellent stability. The catalyst can be reused without loss of its activity after ten runs.
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Project description:BackgroundThe United States of America (USA), European Union (EU), Brazil and China are four of the largest agricultural producers and users of agricultural pesticides in the world. Comparing the inclination and ability of different regulatory agencies to ban or eliminate pesticides that have the most potential for harm to humans and the environment can provide a glimpse into the effectiveness of each nation's pesticide regulatory laws and oversight.MethodsThe approval status of more than 500 agricultural pesticides was identified in the USA, EU, Brazil and China and compared between nations. The amount of pesticides that were used in the USA and banned in these other nations was compiled and linear regression was used to identify trends in use.ResultsThere are 72, 17, and 11 pesticides approved for outdoor agricultural applications in the USA that are banned or in the process of complete phase out in the EU, Brazil, and China, respectively. Of the pesticides used in USA agriculture in 2016, 322 million pounds were of pesticides banned in the EU, 26 million pounds were of pesticides banned in Brazil and 40 million pounds were of pesticides banned in China. Pesticides banned in the EU account for more than a quarter of all agricultural pesticide use in the USA. The majority of pesticides banned in at least two of these three nations have not appreciably decreased in the USA over the last 25 years and almost all have stayed constant or increased over the last 10 years.ConclusionsMany pesticides still widely used in the USA, at the level of tens to hundreds of millions of pounds annually, have been banned or are being phased out in the EU, China and Brazil. Of the pesticides banned in at least two of these nations, many have been implicated in acute pesticide poisonings in the USA and some are further restricted by individual states. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) has all but abandoned its use of non-voluntary cancellations in recent years, making pesticide cancellation in the USA largely an exercise that requires consent by the regulated industry.
| S-EPMC6555703 | biostudies-literature