Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as "forever chemicals" due to their exceptional environmental persistence, are an emerging class of contaminants that pose significant risks to water quality and human health. In this study, we developed a direct luminescence-based sensing approach for the detection of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in water using commercial phycocyanin (CCPC), extracted C-phycocyanin (ECPC), and carbon quantum dots (CQDs) synthesized from ECPC. All three sensor materials exhibited strong luminescent profiles, which were efficiently quenched through an aggregation-induced quenching mechanism upon exposure to PFOS. Quenching efficiencies of 82.61, 82.49, and 65.59% were obtained for CCPC, ECPC, and CQDs, respectively. Correspondingly, ECPC and CQDs demonstrated high sensitivity toward PFOS, achieving limits of detection of 1.48 nM and 1.73 nM, respectively. The method's accuracy and precision were validated through spiked tap water and bottled drinking water samples, yielding recovery values of 102.63% for ECPC and 106.03% for CQDs. Additionally, theoretical calculations were conducted to elucidate the composition, binding interactions, and complex formation between the prepared sensors and PFOS, supporting the experimental observations. Overall, this study presents a rapid, sensitive, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly sensing platform with strong potential for real-time, on-site monitoring of PFOS in aquatic environments.

Detecting metal ion pollutants at low concentrations requires high sensitivity and selectivity, posing a significant challenge. Carbon dots have emerged as a successful substrate, demonstrating their efficacy in sensing a wide range of metal ions, including iron, mercury, cadmium, aluminum, lead, and many others. Carbon dots that are functionalized with oxygen ligands, including hydroxyl and carboxylic acid, exhibit distinct sensitivity to metal ion pollutants. Furthermore, carbon dots doped with elements such as nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus have featured prominently in numerous studies focused on detecting metal ions. Theoretical studies have proven to be a valuable tool in understanding the sensing mechanism of CDs for metal ion pollutants. Through computational simulations and calculations, we reviewed the complex interactions between CDs and metal ions at the molecular level, revealing the underlying principles that control the sensitivity and selectivity of CDs towards specific metal ions. In this review, we examine the mechanisms, sensing, and computational modeling that underlie carbon dot metal ion sensing capabilities. These CD-based sensors will continue to make significant contributions to real life applications covering environmental, industrial, biomedical diagnostics, and therapeutics fields.

Background: Water contaminants like PR, MB, and TC are hard to remove using conventional methods. Visible-light photocatalysis is a sustainable solution, but single photocatalysts have performance limits. This study develops an Ag-doped beta-Bi2O3/g-C3N4 heterojunction to enhance pollutant degradation under visible light. Methods: The distinctive heterojunction formation of the synthesized catalysts was prepared by facile wet impregnation method. All the prepared catalysts were evaluated by XRD, FTIR, SEM, XPS, EDX, UV-vis. absorption, PL, zeta potential, and DLS spectroscopic techniques. The photocatalytic performance against PR, MB dye, and TC antibiotics was evaluated by with and without adding PS in the reaction system. Further the kinetic studies, radical trapping, recycle stability and toxicity measurement were performed. Significant findings: The 3ABN photocatalyst exhibits superior photocatalytic activity under visible light, achieving 91% degradation of PR dye in 180 min and 96% of MB in 150 min. With the addition of PS as a reactive radical enhancer, it showed enhanced activity by degrading 85% of TC within 120 min. The performance of the catalyst in different pH, concentration, dosages, and real water samples were evaluated. EPR analysis and scavenging experiments were used to identified the key reactive radicals responsible for the degradation, and a plausible charge transfer mechanism was proposed using band position obtained from M-S plot. The degradation by-products of PR and TC were confirmed using LC-MS analysis. Moreover, the catalyst exhibited good reusability, maintaining 88% and 75% efficiency after five cycles for PR dye. These results highlight the potential of 3ABN as an efficient and stable photocatalyst for practical wastewater treatment applications.

Photocatalytic degradation of harmful dye pollutants and electrochemical hydrogen generation via water splitting show strong in addressing environmental pollution and energy scarcity. In this study, a V2O5 (VO) interstitially modified g-C3N4/MWCNT Z-scheme heterostructure (VMG) was synthesized using an ultrasonication assisted wet impregnation method. The resulting photocatalyst was utilized for the degradation of mixed dyes (Rhodamine B (RhB) Methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solution. The VMG nanocomposite, exhibited outstanding photocatalytic performance, achieving 92.0

This work provides a systematic experimental study for the electrochemical desalination of saline water using an electrospun permselective polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane. Several nano additives were initially screened during membrane development; however, only the materials that demonstrated stable dispersion, reproducible membrane formation, and consistent electrochemical behaviour, namely graphene oxide (GO) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were selected for full analysis in this study. Accordingly, the study focuses on pure PVDF, PVDF/GO, and PVDF/CNTs membranes integrated with an alternating Ag/AgCl electrode system. The silver electrode is prepared by spray-coating of silver nanoparticles on high surface carbon cloth, whereas the AgCl electrode was prepared electrochemically from the Ag electrode using a three-electrode electrochemical cell. The electrochemical behaviour of various modified electrodes (bare carbon cloth, Ag/carbon cloth, Ag/nafion/carbon black/PVDF, and Ag/nafion/carbon cloth) was evaluated using cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The electrode prepared using Nafion and PVDF as binders with carbon black as conductive additive exhibited the highest current response and lowest charge-transfer resistance. When coupled with this optimized electrode, the PVDF/GO membrane delivered the best desalination performance, achieving an ion removal efficiency of 68%, a salt adsorption capacity (SAC) of 775.40 mg/g, and a specific energy consumption (SEC) of 16.17 kJ/mole values superior to those reported in the literature.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), particularly perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), are persistent environmental pollutants that require sensitive and selective detection methods. In this study, a novel fluorescent sensor was developed by modifying phycocyanin (CPC) extracted from Spirulina platensis with titanium dioxide (TiO2), yielding a TiCPC nanocomposite. This sensor demonstrated high selectivity and sensitivity toward PFOS in aqueous solutions, with a detection limit of 0.9375 ppb. Characterization techniques, including FTIR, UV-vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, SEM-EDX, XPS, BET, and DLS, confirmed the successful formation of the composite and its favorable physicochemical properties. Fluorescence quenching analysis showed TiCPC's superior stability and sensing performance under UV light. Theoretical studies using density functional theory (DFT) revealed strong binding energies and hydrogen bonding interactions between TiCPC and PFOS, especially at TiO2 coordination sites, supported by HOMO-LUMO and MESP analyses. The sensor exhibited excellent selectivity over other ions and high recovery rates in real water samples, showcasing its potential for eco-friendly and cost-effective PFOS detection in environmental monitoring applications.

In this study, we investigated the adsorption and decomposition mechanisms of the organophosphorus nerve agent Sarin on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and transition metal oxide (TMO) systems (TMO = CoO, NiO, CuO, ZnO) using density functional theory (DFT). Three key decomposition pathways of Sarin, P-F bond cleavage, P-O bond cleavage in P-OC3H7, and isopropyl elimination, were investigated in detail. For various Sarin configurations, the most stable interaction involves the phosphoryl oxygen binding to the metal atoms of TMOs. Our results reveal that the NiO-rGO system is particularly favorable for both P-F and P-OC3H7 bond cleavage, with calculated activation energies of -189.8 and -349.27 kJ mol-1, respectively. This enhanced reactivity is attributed to significant bond polarization and the presence of partially filled Ni 3d8 orbitals near the Fermi level, which facilitate both π-back-donation and σ-donation interactions with antibonding orbitals of Sarin. The isopropyl elimination pathway predominantly occurs on CoO-rGO, with an activation energy of -257.15 kJ/mol. The CuO-rGO surface promotes both P-F bond cleavage and isopropyl elimination, with activation energies of -264.07 and -217.5 kJ/mol, respectively. The ZnO-rGO system favors P-OC3H7 bond cleavage and isopropyl elimination, with activation barriers of -179.84 and -200.13 kJ/mol, respectively. The Lewis acidity of the TMOs correlates with Sarin decomposition efficiency, with NiO exhibiting the highest positive charge of +1.29 e. Partial density of states revealed a peak of the highest density, indicating an increased density of states for Ni. This work provides valuable insights into the adsorption and decomposition of Sarin, emphasizing the potential of the TMO-rGO system for the breakdown of organophosphorus nerve agents.

Dioxins and analogous derivatives pose significant concerns due to their impact on human health through both acute and prolonged exposures. They have the potential to resist natural degradation processes; therefore, they tend to accumulate in water, sediments, fish, meat, and human adipose tissue. As a result, concerns to both environmental and human health arise among the scientific community and environmental health organizers. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review highlighting recent findings of dioxin and furan pollution with a focus on major environmental and health aspects associated with the exposure to dioxin and its derivatives by assessing the routes of exposure, toxicity, and modes of action. Moreover, VOSviewer was used to understand the research interest within the scientific community in the study of dioxins and furans. Various strategies like remediation, methods of extraction and analysis, as well as protocols required to improve compound filtration and mineralization to enhance the efficiency of environmental cleanup processes.

Water scarcity poses a formidable challenge around the world, especially in arid regions where limited availability of freshwater resources threatens both human well-being and ecosystem sustainability. Membrane-based desalination technologies offer a viable solution to address this issue by providing access to clean water. This work ultimately aims to develop a novel permselective polymeric membrane material to be employed in an electrochemical desalination system. This part of the study addresses the optimization, preparation, and characterization of a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) polymeric membrane using the electrospinning technique. The membranes produced in this work were fabricated under specific operational, environmental, and material parameters. Five different additives and nano-additives, i.e., graphene oxide (GO), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), zinc oxide (ZnO), activated carbon (AC), and a zeolitic imidazolate metal–organic framework (ZIF-8), were used to modify the functionality and selectivity of the prepared PVDF membranes. Each membrane was synthesized at two different levels of additive composition, i.e., 0.18 wt.% and 0.45 wt.% of the entire PVDF polymeric solution. The physiochemical properties of the prepared membranes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), zeta potential, contact angle, conductivity, porosity, and pore size distribution. Based on findings of this study, PVDF/GO membrane exhibited superior results, with an electrical conductivity of 5.611 mS/cm, an average pore size of 2.086 µm, and a surface charge of −38.33 mV.

Doping graphene with metal-based materials improves most of its identified and unique properties such as large surface area, high electrical conductivity, high mobility and stability, excellent mechanical properties as well as its potential for electrochemical energy storage. This paper provides a comprehensive bibliometric and data analytics approach for the use of graphene in energy storage by synthesizing the published work between the years of 2010 – 2024. Moreover, this work relates the applications of graphene to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The data presented herein provides a holistic view of graphene’s applications in energy storage by tracing the historical trajectory of the research and highlighting the current trends and future research directions. The major properties and production methods for graphene along with the electrochemical energy storage of graphene from structural and interfacial engineering viewpoints are discussed. Moreover, the study sheds light on the importance of continued research, collaboration, and policy support in understanding the potential of graphene-based materials, and it reinforces the study’s relevance to global sustainability efforts.

In this study, ZnO/g-C3N4/V2O5 (ZGV) nanocomposite were constructed via facile wet impregnation method. The prepared samples were comprehensively studied by XRD, FT-IR, BET, Raman, SEM, XPS, UV-vis. absorption, PL spectroscopic and DLS analysis. From various obtained results it is confirmed that the ZnO and V2O5 nanoparticles were well dispersed on the surface of g-C3N4 nanosheets. The energy bandgap of ZGV nanocomposite was tuned from 3.18 eV to 2.06 eV, provides an improved visible light absorption ability and exhibited with immense cutdown on the photogenerated charge carrier's recombination rate. So that the ZGV photocatalyst showed remarkable degradation performance against mixed dye with 4.3 (Rh B) and 5.6 (MB) folds and tetracycline (4.8) times higher than pure and binary nanocomposite samples under visible light irradiation. The enhanced photocatalytic performance pertained by the nanocomposite was owed to the synergetic effect of heterostructure formation with efficacy charge separation along with dual Z-scheme charge transfer mechanism. Furthermore, the radicals responsive for photocatalytic activity are elucidated by free radical trapping experiment. Eventually, the prominent stability and recyclability of ZGV photocatalyst was confirmed by 5 consecutive recycle runs. The antibacterial test against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus cereus were investigated. The toxicity measurement by using treated water for plant growth also revealed. Based on the results, this work suggests that the rational design and construction of heterostructure nanocomposite possess significant potential on highly efficient and reusable visible light photocatalysts for the purification of environment and energy conversion process.

This study investigated the concentrations of metals in stormwater runoff collected during two extreme flooding events on the American University of Sharjah (AUS) campus in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Given the increasing frequency of intense rainfall in arid regions, stormwater contamination represents a growing environmental and public health concern. Stormwater samples were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) to quantify metal concentrations. The results showed that iron (0.049–2.080 mg/L), aluminum (0.097–2.020 mg/L), and potassium (0.614–3.860 mg/L) were the most abundant metals detected. Lower concentrations were observed for manganese (0.000–0.058 mg/L), barium (0.000–0.073 mg/L), chromium (0.000–0.013 mg/L), nickel (0.000–0.038 mg/L), and vanadium (0.000–0.004 mg/L). These findings underscore the critical need for effective stormwater management in arid regions, where climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Improved drainage systems and long-term monitoring are essential to mitigate the environmental and public health risks posed by stormwater contamination in rapidly urbanizing areas.

Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of highly persistent organic pollutants characterized by their strong C–F bonds, which confer exceptional chemical stability and resistance to conventional degradation processes. These compounds are widely detected in water bodies and accumulate in the environment and food chain, raising significant health and ecological concerns. This review critically examines recent advancements in PFAS remediation technologies, with a particular focus on catalytic degradation approaches such as electrochemical, thermal, photocatalytic, and biocatalytic treatments. While thermal and electrochemical techniques achieve high removal efficiency, they are often energy-intensive and may generate harmful byproducts. Enzymatic and microbial methods, on the other hand, offer energy-efficient and low-cost alternatives but still face challenges in achieving complete mineralization. Adsorption remains a widely applied strategy but does not destroy PFAS, instead it merely shifts the contaminants to a different medium. This review also highlights the importance of understanding PFAS physicochemical properties and interaction mechanisms such as electrostatic binding and hydrophobic partitioning for the design of more effective materials and processes. Hybrid systems that integrate adsorption with catalytic degradation are emerging as promising solutions for achieving full PFAS elimination. However, the real-world application of these technologies remains limited due to factors such as catalyst fouling, matrix complexity, and scalability. In addition, although LC-MS/MS remains the gold standard for PFAS detection, there is an urgent need to develop more cost-effective and sensitive analytical techniques to support large-scale monitoring. By identifying current limitations and suggesting practical strategies for improvement, this review aims to support the development of more efficient, scalable, and sustainable PFAS treatment systems.

Plant-derived products have been proven as beneficial medicinal treatments for various cancers. Rosmarinus officinalis L. (Rosemary- RM) is gaining increasing attention as an agent in cancer chemoprevention and therapy, due to its antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory properties. Herein, the anti-proliferative effects of RM leaves methanolic extract on human breast (triple-negative MDA-MB-231 and estrogen receptor- positive MCF-7), and liver cancer cells (HepG2 and HUH-7) relative to non-cancerous human cartilage chondrocytes (C20A4) are evaluated. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) cell viability assay is used to determine drug effectiveness after 24- and 48-h incubation periods. The residual extract from RM leaves is prepared and directly used in a fine powder after all solvents are evaporated. Five dosages of RM extract (0.05, 0.0625, 0.1, 0.125, and 0.25 mg/mL), identified by trial and error, and a negative control group are investigated. The RM extract is characterized by GC-MS and consists of three main compounds: eucalyptol (1,8-cineole), camphor (2-bornanone), and borneol ((2S)-1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2,2,1]heptan-2-ol). Our study demonstrates that dose- dependent treatment of RM extract leads to selective antioxidant, anti-proliferative and cytotoxic effects on breast carcinoma cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7, in comparison to C20A4 cells. The effect of RM extract on both liver carcinoma cell lines HepG2 and HUH-7 is insignificant compared to C20A4 cells. The optimum dosage of RM extract identified to counteract cancer cells is 0.25 mg/mL. However, further research is needed to determine mechanistic data. Overall, RM extract may have potential therapeutic value in the prevention and/or treatment of various types of cancer.

Increasing anthropogenic contributions to desert dust storms have raised significant public health concerns, particularly in arid/semi-arid regions. This study investigated particulate matter (PM) composition in an arid environment, focusing on organic, heavy metal, and microbial contaminants, along with comprehensive health risk assessments. ICP-OES analysis of inorganic matter showed moderate concentrations (> 8.21 µg/g) of Ca, Fe, Al, S, Mg, and Rb, while K, Cu, P, and Na were detected at low concentration levels, along with other trace metals. GC-MS analysis identified 11 targeted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), including phenanthrene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, and chrysene. Several organic pollutants, including some from the PFAS group, were detected in the samples. 16 S rRNA sequencing identified seven bacterial species, including Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus spp., and Acinetobacter radioresistens. Toxicity calculations indicated no significant lung cancer risk associated with PAHs, with further calculations suggesting minimal population-level risks. However, heavy metal risk metrics indicated greater non-carcinogenic risks than carcinogenic ones. The microbial species identified predominantly belonged to risk groups 1 and 2, representing opportunistic, infection-causing pathogens. This study highlights the necessity for a multidisciplinary approach to analyze complex dust particle constituents and their potential health impacts and calls for targeted air quality management policies to mitigate public health risks.

This study provides the first published data on the ingestion of solid marine debris, microplastics (MPs), and oil/tar by marine and coastal birds in the Middle East, focusing on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman coasts of the Sharjah Emirate, UAE. The gastrointestinal tracts of 478 stranded seabirds from 17 species were examined. With the majority of specimens collected being Black-headed Gulls (Chroicocephalus ridibundus; N = 406; 77 juveniles, 326 adults, and 3 unknown) the analysis of their ingested marine debris was done in greatest detail, followed by Socotra Cormorants (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis; N = 23; 7 juveniles, 13 adults and 3 unknown) and large white-headed gulls (Larus sp.; N = 29; 6 juveniles and 23 adults). Across all species marine debris was detected in 12.8 % of specimens, with solid debris found in 11.1 % and oil globules in 1.67 %. Plastics were the most common material ingested by Black headed Gulls, followed by glass. Juvenile Large white-headed gulls ingested significantly more debris than adults. Polyethylene (PE) was the predominant type of plastic ingested. MPs were examined in 20 specimens consisting of 14 Black-headed Gulls and 6 Socotra Cormorants. Most MPs (77.8 %) were microfibers, suggesting wastewater discharge from laundry as a likely source. Interactions with oil globules and fishing hooks posed the greatest acute risk to seabirds. This study highlights the significant impact of marine pollution on seabirds in a previously unexamined region, underscoring the urgent need for targeted conservation efforts to protect vulnerable species in the Middle East.

Controlling the size of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) has been critical in diagnostics, biomolecular sensing, targeted therapy, wastewater treatment, catalysis, and sensing applications. Ultrasmall AuNPs (uAuNPs), with sizes Ranging from 2 to 5 nm, and gold nanoclusters (AuNCs), with sizes less than 2 nm, are often dealt with interchangeably in the literature, making it challenging to review them separately. Although they are grouped in our discussion, their chemical and physical properties differ significantly, partly due to their electronic properties. The distinct optoelectronic properties of uAuNPs and AuNCs are usually not observed in gold metal and nanoparticles of larger sizes. Since small AuNPs tend to aggregate, several routes have been developed to prevent the formation of larger sizes, such as nucleation within porous materials. Controlling the particle size using synthesis methods is challenging, and uAuNPs and AuNCs can be fabricated simultaneously in the same preparation, necessitating separation and additional laboratory efforts. AuNCs can be stabilized by the prevalent soft ligands, such as phosphine and thiolate, unlike uAuNPs, in which a wide range of ligand sets can be used for stabilization. This review is organized around core sections concerning the synthesis, medical and environmental applications, and calculation studies of uAuNPs. It remains valuable to address the current stimulating market growth and potential market constraints when reviewing the expanding applications of AuNPs in the healthcare sector. A significant proportion of the synthesis processes involve the fabrication of uAuNPs and AuNCs in aqueous solutions. An obvious advantage of this work is that we focus on the medical and environmental applications, which often require water-dispersible nanoparticles. Calculation investigations explain the structural dynamics and importance of fine-tuning the size of uAuNPs to impart distinct properties. A notable control in the HOMO–LUMO energy gap, associated with the number of gold atoms, significantly affects their performance in various applications.

A ternary visible-light-active photocatalyst, α-Fe2O3/V2O5 embedded in molybdenum disulfide (FVM), was successfully synthesized via a simple wet impregnation method. The physicochemical properties of the photocatalyst were systematically characterized using XRD, SEM, EDX, FTIR, XPS, UV–Vis, and PL techniques. The results revealed that α-Fe2O3/V2O5 components were uniformly dispersed over exfoliated few-layer MoS2 nanosheets. The ternary formation of FVM nanocomposite accomplished an effective synergetic effect for the transportation of charge carriers across the heterojunction revealing a Z-scheme charge transfer mechanism for superior degradation performance. Notably, the synthesized FVM photocatalyst exhibited enhanced visible-light absorption capability, leading to superior removal efficiency of mixed dye and tetracycline (TC) pollutants under simulated sunlight irradiation. The pseudo-first-order reaction rate constants for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine B (Rh B) were found to be 6.19 and 6.67 times higher, respectively, than those of α-Fe2O3 (FO) photocatalyst. Moreover, the substantial improvement in degradation efficiency was attained due to appropriate band structure, efficient charge separation and migration of photo-produced e−/h+ pairs with strong stability and reusability. This study strongly suggests that the synthesized FVM photocatalyst provides potential application for the elimination of TC pollutants and mixed dyes in environmental wastewater.