The escalating contamination of aquatic systems by heavy metals and synthetic dyes poses severe risks to ecosystems and human health due to their toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulation. Conventional wastewater treatment technologies such as chemical precipitation, membrane filtration, ion exchange, and oxidation often suffer from high operational costs, incomplete removal, secondary pollution, and limited efficiency at low contaminant concentrations. In this context, adsorption has emerged as a cost-effective and versatile alternative, particularly with the advent of nanotechnology. This review critically examines recent advances in nanocomposites and nano-adsorbents developed for the removal of priority heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb) and dyes from aqueous media. Various classes of nanoadsorbents, including carbon-based materials (carbon nanotubes, graphene and its derivatives), silica-based nanomaterials, zeolites, polymer-based nanocomposites, metal–organic framework (MOF) composites, and molecularly imprinted polymers, are systematically discussed. The adsorption mechanisms governing contaminant uptake, such as electrostatic interactions, surface complexation, ion exchange, precipitation, physisorption, and chemisorption, are elucidated, along with the influence of operational parameters, including pH, contact time, temperature, and sorbent dosage. Adsorption performance is evaluated using widely applied isotherm models (Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Dubinin–Radushkevich), kinetic models (pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, intraparticle diffusion), and thermodynamic analyses. Reported results demonstrate that many nano-adsorbents achieve removal efficiencies exceeding 90%, exhibit high adsorption capacities, show favorable kinetics, and possess good regeneration potential. The review highlights current limitations and future research directions needed to translate nanoadsorbent technologies from laboratory studies to sustainable, large-scale water remediation applications.

Water pollution from industrial dyes poses a severe threat to ecosystems and human health. In this study, a novel NiCo2O4/g-C3N4 (NCO/g-CN) nano-heterojunction photocatalyst was synthesized via a sustainable hydrothermal-thermal polymerization approach and evaluated for visible-light-driven degradation of methylene blue (MB). The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of the photocatalyst confirmed C-N, C=N, and M-O bonds, indicating successful integration of g-C3N4 with NiCo2O4. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) showed g-C3N4 sheets decorated with uniformly dispersed NiCo2O4 nanospheres, while EDS validated the elemental composition and purity. The photocatalyst exhibited a nano-plate-like structure with an average crystallite size of 28.8 nm and a specific surface area of 34.76 m2/g. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) revealed well-dispersed nanospheres with clear lattice fringes, confirming intimate heterojunction formation. Further, the developed photocatalyst was used to assess their potential to degrade methylene blue dye under different conditions. Under optimized conditions (pH = 8, catalyst dosage = 60 mg/100 mL, [MB] = 6.0 x 10-6 mol/dm3, 500 W halogen lamp), the system achieved 85 % MB degradation within 60 min and 98 % mineralization after 120 min, as confirmed by chemical oxygen demand (COD) analysis (COD reduced from 298 mg/L to 7 mg/L). Kinetic studies revealed an optimal rate constant of 4.46 x 10-4 s-1 at pH 8. Reactive species trapping experiments identified SO4 center dot- and 1O2 as the dominant radicals driving the degradation. The catalyst demonstrated excellent stability, with only an 8.9 % reduction in efficiency after four reuse cycles. These results highlight the synergistic effect of the NCO/g-CN heterojunction in increasing charge separation and reactive oxygen species generation which makes it a potential candidate for wastewater treatment.

This study presents two alternative methods for producing methanol and hydrogen from biomass gasification. The first method involves hydrogen production through carbon-assisted water electrolysis instead of conventional steam reforming, while the second focuses on methanol production via CO2/water co-electrolysis. Several scenarios are developed based on wind energy to meet the electricity demand required by these processes. Each scenario is evaluated in terms of energy, exergy, economic, and sustainability performance. The results indicate that Scenario III-where methanol is produced via co-electrolysis-is the most advantageous in many respects. In this scenario, energy and exergy efficiencies reach 41 % and 35 %, respectively. Although economic indicators are less favorable due to the high capital cost of wind turbines, environmental indicators are notably promising. Scenario II offers more favorable economic results; however, its exergy efficiency and ecological performances are lower than those of Scenario III, depending on the indicator.

Hydrogen production from sour natural gas is an urgent priority as global energy systems transition toward cleaner fuels. Conventional processes for hydrogen sulfide removal, such as amine absorption and the Claus process, discard hydrogen as water and are energy intensive. Methane-hydrogen sulfide reforming (H2SMR) offers a promising route to directly convert CH4 and H2S into hydrogen without direct CO2 emissions, generating valuable carbon disulfide as a byproduct. However, H2SMR typically requires harsh temperatures exceeding 800 degrees C, constraining its industrial viability. Herein, we report the design and optimization of Mo-Ni/Al2O3 catalysts, prepared by the wet impregnation method, for enhanced H2SMR performance at 700 degrees C. Detailed characterizations reveal that the introduction of a small amount of Ni promotes the sulfidation of Mo, facilitates electron enrichment on surface sulfur species, and strengthens CH4 adsorption. The optimized catalyst achieves record-high CH4 and H2S conversions of 24.51% and 17.95%, respectively, at 700 degrees C-far surpassing previously reported values at this temperature and can operate stably for over 30 h in long time test. This work demonstrates a synergistic Mo-Ni strategy for efficient hydrogen production from sour gas at moderate temperatures, providing new insights for the future design of low-temperature H2SMR catalysts.

This work presents an energy-efficient and simple method for producing luminescent, antibacterial sulfur quantum dots (SQDs). For the first time, polyethyleneimine (PEI)-coated SQDs were synthesized via a mechanochemical technique, utilizing either elemental sulfur or sodium thiosulfate as the sulfur source. The roles of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as an etching agent and of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) in the PEI-mediated SQD formation were investigated. The as-synthesized SQDs were characterized by UV-visible, Raman, infrared (IR), and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, as well as by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Both TEM and AFM analyses revealed similarly small SQD sizes (average diameter similar to 3 nm), independent of the sulfur source used. The influence of synthesis conditions on the optical properties, including the photoluminescence quantum yield (QY), was evaluated. SQDs derived from elemental sulfur, PEI, and NaOH exhibited the best water solubility and the strongest photoemission in the 400-550 nm range. Antibacterial activity was assessed against representative Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains, and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were determined. The PEI-coated SQDs demonstrated antibacterial activity against the Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis, which is attributed primarily to the sulfur component.

ABSTRACT Desalination plants play a crucial role in ensuring potable water supply, but remain heavily dependent on fossil-fuel-based electricity, leading to environmental degradation and resource depletion. The growing emphasis on sustainability has driven research to integrate renewable energy sources – particularly solar, wind, and geothermal into established desalination technologies such as reverse osmosis (RO), multi-stage flash (MSF), and multi-effect distillation (MED). Among these, photovoltaic (PV)-powered RO systems stand out for their cost-effectiveness, modularity, and suitability for decentralised applications. Solar thermal systems coupled with MSF and MED are technically feasible but require advanced thermal management to enhance efficiency, whereas geothermal energy offers a steady heat supply but demands a high capital investment. Wind energy supports electrically driven membrane desalination but depends on robust storage and hybrid configurations for reliability. A critical review of research from 2013 to 2024 reveals persistent challenges, including intermittency in renewable power, economic limitations, and integration complexity. Hybrid renewable–desalination systems show significant promise by improving energy efficiency, water recovery, and waste minimisation. However, achieving large-scale, low-carbon desalination requires continued innovation in membrane materials, energy storage, and system optimisation, along with pilot-scale validation to enable sustainable, economically viable freshwater production globally.

This paper reveals that the controlled strategy of high-temperature carbonization of ZIF-67 is a facile route to deliver active species boosting oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance. The optimized sample (treated at 750 degrees C) is composed of a nitrogen-doped carbon matrix with embedded metallic Co nanoparticles with Co3O4 islets and decorated by carbon nanotubes (CNT). Among them, Co3O4 islets significantly promote oxygen evolution. Their enhanced activity is explained via density-functional theory (DFT) calculations describing the reaction mechanism involving two different active sites of islets. The experimental results demonstrate an overpotential of 288 mV, a Tafel slope of 69 mV/dec, and a potential retention of 97.2 % after a 100h test at 50 mA/cm2. Systematic microscopic, in situ & ex-situ spectroscopic (Raman), and theoretical studies allowed us to unveil the intermediates responsible for the promotion of electroactivity. The theoretical model predicts the predominant catalytic activity of terminal O atoms (Ot) at the Co3O4 surface. These results offer a promising "proof of concept" for developing more efficient zeolitic imidazole framework (ZIF)-based electrocatalysts.

In this study, protein nanoparticles are presented as a convenient nanoplatform for the development of bimodal agents through the noncovalent incorporation of a luminescent complex and paramagnetic Mn2+ ions into a BSAbased nanoplatform conjugated with folate. The flexibility of the BSA blocks constituting the nanoplatform leads to their further unfolding upon conjugation with folate, facilitating the noncovalent incorporation of the [Ru (dipy)3]2+ complex into such nanoplatforms. Both a significant increase in the emission intensity of the complex and a slight release of the complex from the nanoplatform, even in environments with high ionic strength, ensure efficient dye labeling of the nanoplatform comparable to covalent labeling. This demonstrates that changes in the conformation of protein blocks in protein nanoparticles can be used to modify their binding affinity. The luminescence of the complex within the folate-conjugated nanoplatform enables visualization of its targeting effect, as demonstrated for a series of cancer and normal cell lines using flow cytometry. Using luminescence and magnetic relaxation methods, the concentration conditions for the co-binding of the luminescent complex and paramagnetic Mn2+ ions to the folate-conjugated nanoplatform were determined. It was also shown that this cobinding changes after conjugation of the nanoplatform with folate. The paramagnetic enhancement of the magnetic relaxation of water molecule protons upon the co-binding of Mn2+ ions and the complex to the nanoplatform is quantified by r1(2) values of 47.2 and 79.1 mM- 1 s- 1, respectively, in phosphate buffer solutions at 0.47 T, which exceeds the values for commercial manganese-based contrast agents.

This review elucidates recent advancements in two-dimensional (2D) material-based biosensing and optoelectronic platforms, with a focus on field-effect transistor (FET) biosensors and optical detection mechanisms for enhanced biomolecule recognition. Integration of graphene derivatives (e.g., GO, rGO, GQDs synthesized via CVD, liquid exfoliation, and epitaxial growth), transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs such as MoS₂ and WS₂), hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), and 2D metal oxides into FET architectures like ISFETs and MOSFETs yields superior sensitivity, biocompatibility, and real-time transduction through conductance modulation aligned with Debye screening lengths. Optical modalities, including surface plasmon resonance (SPR), fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), and evanescent waves, leverage these materials’ high surface area and tunable optical properties for detecting analytes such as DNA, proteins, glucose, and pathogens, outperforming conventional sensors in healthcare diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and point-of-care applications. Challenges persist in scalable synthesis, defect mitigation, and heterostructure integration, hindering commercialization despite promising attributes, such as TMDCs’ mechanical flexibility, high carrier mobility, and spin-valley coupling, for self-powered photodetectors. Ongoing refinements in fabrication and surface functionalization promise to turn these prototypes into robust devices, revolutionizing biosensing across the biotechnology sector.

The substantial presence of nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2) in outdoor environments detrimentally impacts natural ecosystems and exerts significant influence on urban climates. Conventional NOx treatment methods frequently suffer from challenges such as harsh reaction conditions and high energy consumption. Consequently, the development of advanced photocatalytic systems to efficiently degrade NOx while minimizing the formation of toxic byproducts represents a critical challenge in environmental catalysis. In this study, a novel ternary composite material (5

BACKGROUND:This study presents a simple and eco-friendly green synthesis approach for the preparation of amino acid-assisted zinc oxide nanostructures (ZnONSs). OBJECTIVES:The objectives of synthesizing amino acid-assisted ZnONSs were to evaluate their antibacterial applications. METHODS:Among the amino acids selected are Arginine, aspartic acid, cystine, and lysine. These amino acids were used as capping and stabilizing agents to tailor the structural and surface properties of ZnONSs. The synthesized nanostructures were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and disk diffusion method for antibacterial activity analysis. RESULTS:XRD analysis confirmed the formation of ZnO with altered crystallinity due to amino acid incorporation, while UV-Vis spectroscopy verified successful synthesis of ZnONSs. FTIR spectra demonstrated effective surface functionalization by amino acid-related functional groups, and SEM revealed amino acid-dependent morphological variations, including rod- and flower-like structures with increased surface area. EDS further verified the predominance of Zn in the samples. The disk diffusion study confirmed effective antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and Escherichia coli (Gram-negative), with performance varying according to the amino acid used during synthesis. Among the samples, arginine-assisted ZnONSs demonstrated superior antibacterial efficacy, likely due to enhanced surface functionalization and electrostatic attraction with negatively charged bacterial cell membranes. CONCLUSION:This work highlights amino acid-assisted green synthesis as a promising route for developing eco-friendly ZnO-based antibacterial nanomaterials.

The dry reforming of methane (DRM) is an attractive process for the simultaneous utilization of two major greenhouse gases, CH4 and CO2, enabling the production of synthesis gas (CO and H2) and contributing to environmental sustainability. However, conventional thermocatalytic DRM requires high temperatures and suffers from limited catalytic activity and stability. Here, we systematically explore the impact of the praseodymium (Pr) and nickel (Ni) loading sequence on the photothermal catalytic performance of CeO2 for DRM. By synthesizing and thoroughly characterizing various Pr/Ni/CeO2 catalysts with different architectural designs, we identified that pre-loading Pr followed by Ni deposition (Ni/Pr-Ce) yielded a catalyst with a superior concentration of oxygen vacancies, optimized Ni electron density, and enhanced metal-support interactions. Under light irradiation (3.51 W cm-2), the Ni/Pr-Ce catalyst demonstrated exceptional performance, achieving CH4 and CO2 conversions of 80.1% and 83.1%, respectively, with a nearly ideal H2/CO ratio approaching 1.0. Mechanistic investigations revealed that Pr pre-modification is crucial for promoting electron transfer, creating abundant oxygen vacancies, and facilitating the activation of CH4 and CO2, thereby synergistically boosting the photothermal response and catalytic reactivity. This work introduces a strategy for enhancing the photothermal performance of CeO2-based catalysts through the controlled loading sequence of rare-earth and transition metals, offering insights for the development of high-efficiency, solar-driven methane reforming technologies.

In this work, a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method is reported for the determination of methotrexate (MTX), an anticancer drug. The method was found to be simple, sensitive, accurate, and precise. It was validated for the determination of the drug in human serum samples. For this purpose, spiking of the drug and internal standard (IS) was performed in drug-free plasma to assess the method’s applicability. p-Aminoacetophenone was employed as an IS. Protein precipitation was carried out using 2 M trichloroacetic acid, followed by centrifugation. MTX and IS were isolated using a C18 analytical column. The interference of the method was evaluated using blank plasma from six different subjects, and no interference was observed. The method demonstrated a linear response in the range of 300–20 000 ng/mL, with limits of detection and quantification of 1.82 and 6.07 ng/mL, respectively. The method was validated according to FDA and ICH guidelines Q2(R2), with intra- and inter-day accuracy and precision values within allowable limits. Using this method, ≥50

The elevated water absorption and reduced strength of recycled concrete aggregates constrain their utilization in building materials. Bacillus megaterium (MTCC-1684) exhibits significant potential for microbial-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP), an eco-friendly technique that improves the weaker regions of recycled coarse aggregates (RCA), reduces hydrophilicity and enhances the tensile strength of banana fibre (BF). The primary objective is to investigate the efficiency of bacterially treated banana fibre (TBF) and bacterially treated RCA as carriers for bacterial spores in banana fibre recycled aggregate self-healing concrete (BFR-SHC). The results revealed that MICP significantly improved water absorption and bulk density of 50 % RCA by 46.8 % and 9.8 %, respectively, through calcite deposition on surfaces and pores > 0.2 mm. The healing efficiency with 50 % TRCA and 2 % TBF was more pronounced in the recovery of flexural properties and the trends were found as BF2R50 > , BF1R50 > BF1R100 > , BF2R100. Notably, the maximum flexural toughness efficiency index (eta) increased from 1.04 to 1.09 in BF2R50. The incorporation of bio-treated RCA and BF accelerated fibre-matrix regeneration and crack sealing through calcite precipitation, restoring flexural properties. Morphological analysis of BFR-SHC showed that regenerated calcite at the fibre-matrix interface consisted of rhombohedral and vaterite formed after a 56-day healing incubation period. The findings encourage concrete engineers to adopt bacterial self-healing mechanisms for the development of eco-friendly solutions for sustainable construction practices.

We used a 55 nm [Ru(dipy)3]2+@SiO2 nanophosphore as a temperature sensor under photobleaching conditions. We have calibrated these nanoparticles for temperature measurements using/analyzing both luminescence intensity and decay time change. We show that an exposure to a 405 nm semiconductor laser with a power flux density of 2 kW/cm2 leads to a two-fold decrease in luminescence intensity over time. At the same time (4 h), the characteristic decay time of the luminescence decreases by approximately half. We demonstrate that a ratiometric method is more reliable for temperature measurements in the range from 300 to 350 K. This method takes approximately half the time required to measure the kinetics of luminescence decay.

In this work, the synthesis of MoO2/NiMn2O4 has been conducted via a hydrothermal method and decorated on the two substrate matrixes including reduced graphene oxide, and poly-5-amino-1,4-naphthoquinone. The prepared nanocomposites were characterized by various techniques. Also, the prepared nanocomposites were applied to electrochemical, photo-degradation, and antimicrobial activities. The results showed that MoO2/ NiMn2O4/RGO (MNMOR) have excellent performance in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), due to the greatest active surface area. In addition, the photocatalytic degradation analysis was conducted on removal of Acetaminophen (ACE), displaying response of 98.85 %, within 100 min with followed the pseudo-first-order model as kinetically behavior. The optimum conditions are ACE concentration:20 mg/L, catalyst amount: 0.02 g/L, pH: 7, for ACE degradation. The antibacterial performance was evaluated versus gram-positive and negative bacterial strains, displaying highly activity. These results pave a way for manufacturing innovation in future.

Non-noble transition metals, abundant and distinguished by their structural and catalytic properties, are the top choice for water electrolysis in recent times. Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a crucial process for sustainable energy production, as it enables the generation of clean hydrogen fuel from renewable sources. This study focuses on the synthesis of efficient Co3O4/Co2P electrocatalyst for the HER using a simple hydrothermal method. FTIR and XRD techniques were utilized to confirm the synthesis of heterostructured electrocatalyst Co3O4/Co2P and its counterparts (Co3O4 and Co2P), while SEM was used for morphological studies. The XPS analysis has been made to gain insight into the bonding environment of the catalysts. The electrocatalytic activity of these catalysts was investigated for HER in 0.5 M H2SO4. The Co3O4/Co2P heterostructure exhibited remarkable efficiency and durability, with overpotentials of 144 mV and 278 mV at 10 mAcm−2 current density and a low Tafel slope of 57 mV / dec, along with good electrochemical stability for an extended period of more than 12 h. This performance surpassed that of its individual components (Co3O4 and Co2P) in the same electrochemical environment. The Co3O4/Co2P electrocatalyst demonstrated continuous hydrogen production at -0.3 V (vs. RHE), highlighting its high activity for HER and suggesting a promising avenue for substituting noble metals with non-noble metal electrocatalysts in HER applications.