Synthesis, nanostructure evaluation and tunable anomalous 3D hopping transport of manganese ferrite encapsulated poly[3,4-(ethylenedioxy)thiophene] decorated graphene layer

A straightforward novel synthetic approach of manganese ferrite encapsulated poly[3,4-(ethylenedioxy)thiophene] nanocomposite decorated on a graphene layer (NIPG) is engineered assisted by dodecyl benzene sulphonic acid as surfactant.

Variable Selection in Generalized Functional Linear Models

Modern research data, where a large number of functional predictors is collected on few subjects are becoming increasingly common. In this paper we propose a variable selection technique, when the predictors are functional and the response is scalar. Our approach is based on adopting a generalized functional linear model framework and using a penalized likelihood method that simultaneously controls the sparsity of the model and the smoothness of the corresponding coefficient functions by adequate penalization. The methodology is characterized by high predictive accuracy, and yields interpretable models, while retaining computational efficiency. The proposed method is investigated numerically in finite samples, and applied to a diffusion tensor imaging tractography data set and a chemometric data set.

Arsenic(III) sorption on nanostructured cerium incorporated manganese oxide (NCMO): a physical insight into the mechanistic pathway

Arsenic(III) sorption was investigated with nanostructured cerium incorporated manganese oxide (NCMO). The pH between 6.0 and 8.0 was optimized for the arsenic(III) sorption. Kinetics and equilibrium data (pH=7.0±0.2, T=303±1.6 K, and I=0.01 M) of arsenic(III) sorption by NCMO described, respectively, the pseudo-second order and the Freundlich isotherm equations well. The sorption process was somewhat complicated in nature and divided into two different segments, initially very fast sorption followed by slow intraparticle diffusion process. Sorption reaction of arsenic(III) on NCMO was endothermic (ΔH°=+13.46 kJ mol(-1)) and spontaneous (ΔG°=-24.75 to -30.15 kJ mol(-1) at T=283-323 K), which took place with increasing entropy (ΔS°=+0.14 kJ mol(-1)K(-1)) at solid-liquid interface. Energy of arsenic(III) sorption estimated by analyzing the equilibrium data using the D-R isotherm model was 15.4 kJ mol(-1), indicating the ion-exchange type mechanism. Raman, FT-IR, pH effect, desorption, etc. studies indicated that arsenic(III) was oxidized to arsenic(V) during the sorption process.

Degradation of insecticides used for indoor spraying in malaria control and possible solutions

BACKGROUND

The insecticide dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) is widely used in indoor residual spraying (IRS) for malaria control owing to its longer residual efficacy in the field compared to other World Health Organization (WHO) alternatives. Suitable stabilization to render these alternative insecticides longer lasting could provide a less controversial and more acceptable and effective alternative insecticide formulations than DDT.

METHODS

This study sought to investigate the reasons behind the often reported longer lasting behaviour of DDT by exposing all the WHO approved insecticides to high temperature, high humidity and ultra-violet light. Interactions between the insecticides and some mineral powders in the presence of an aqueous medium were also tested. Simple insecticidal paints were made using slurries of these mineral powders whilst some insecticides were dispersed into a conventional acrylic paint binder. These formulations were then spray painted on neat and manure coated mud plaques, representative of the material typically used in rural mud houses, at twice the upper limit of the WHO recommended dosage range. DDT was applied directly onto mud plaques at four times the WHO recommended concentration and on manure plaques at twice WHO recommended concentration. All plaques were subjected to accelerated ageing conditions of 40°C and a relative humidity of 90%.

RESULTS

The pyrethroids insecticides outperformed the carbamates and DDT in the accelerated ageing tests. Thus UV exposure, high temperature oxidation and high humidity per se were ruled out as the main causes of failure of the alternative insecticides. Gas chromatography (GC) spectrograms showed that phosphogypsum stabilised the insecticides the most against alkaline degradation (i.e., hydrolysis). Bioassay testing showed that the period of efficacy of some of these formulations was comparable to that of DDT when sprayed on mud surfaces or cattle manure coated surfaces.

CONCLUSIONS

Bioassay experiments indicated that incorporating insecticides into a conventional paint binder or adsorbing them onto phosphogypsum can provide for extended effective life spans that compare favourably with DDT's performance under accelerated ageing conditions. Best results were obtained with propoxur in standard acrylic emulsion paint. Similarly, insecticides adsorbed on phosphogypsum and sprayed on cattle manure coated surfaces provided superior lifespans compared with DDT sprayed directly on a similar surface.

Enhanced removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution using polypyrrole/Fe3O4 magnetic nanocomposite

Fe(3)O(4) coated polypyrrole (PPy) magnetic nanocomposite was prepared via in situ polymerization of pyrrole monomer for the removal of highly toxic Cr(VI). Structure and morphology of the prepared nanocomposite were characterized by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), X-ray diffraction pattern, Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). Electron spin resonance (ESR) studies confirmed that the nanocomposite is magnetic in nature. Up to 100% adsorption was found with 200mg/L Cr(VI) aqueous solution at pH 2. Adsorption of Cr(VI) on the surface of the adsorbent was confirmed by the ATR-FTIR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XPS studies also suggested that ion exchange and reduction on the surface of the nanocomposite may be the possible mechanism for Cr(VI) removal by the PPy/Fe(3)O(4) nanocomposite. Adsorption results showed that Cr(VI) removal efficiency by the nanocomposite decreased with an increase in pH. Adsorption kinetics was best described by the pseudo-second-order rate model. Isotherm data fitted well to the Langmuir isotherm model. Thermodynamic study revealed that the adsorption process is endothermic and spontaneous in nature. Desorption experiment showed that in spite of the very poor recovery of the adsorbed Cr(VI); the regenerated adsorbent can be reused successfully for two successive adsorption-desorption cycles without appreciable loss of its original capacity.

Removal of fluoride from aqueous solution by polypyrrole/Fe3O4 magnetic nanocomposite

Polypyrrole (PPy)/Fe(3)O(4) magnetic nanocomposite as a novel adsorbent was prepared via in-situ polymerization of pyrrole (Py) monomer using FeCl(3) oxidant in aqueous medium in which Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles were suspended. The adsorbent was characterized by Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscope (ATR-FTIR), Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) method, field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscope (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Magnetic property of the adsorbent was measured by electron spin resonance (ESR). Subsequently, the ability of the adsorbent to remove fluoride ions from aqueous solution was demonstrated in a batch sorption mode. Results reveal that the adsorption is rapid and that the adsorbent has high affinity for fluoride, which depends on temperature, solution pH and adsorbent dose. From equilibrium modelling, the equilibrium data is well described by Freundlich and Langmuir-Freundlich isotherms while the adsorption kinetics is described by the pseudo-second-order model. Thermodynamic parameters confirm the spontaneity and endothermic nature of the fluoride adsorption. Meanwhile, the fluoride adsorption proceeds by an ion exchange mechanism.

Manganese associated nanoparticles agglomerate of iron(III) oxide: synthesis, characterization and arsenic(III) sorption behavior with mechanism

Three samples of manganese associated hydrous iron(III) oxide (MNHFO), prepared by incinerating metal hydroxide precipitate at T (± 5)=90, 300 and 600°C, showed increase of crystalline nature in XRD patterns with decreasing As(III) removal percentages. TEM images showed the increase of crystallinity from sample-1 (MNHFO-1) to sample-3 (MNHFO-3). Dimensions (nm) of particles estimated were 5.0, 7.0 and 97.5. Optimization of pH indicated that MNHFO-1 could remove aqueous As(III) efficiently at pH between 3.0 and 7.0. Kinetic and equilibrium data of reactions under the experimental conditions described the pseudo-second order and the Langmuir isotherm equations very well, respectively. The Langmuir capacity (q(m)) estimated was 691.04 mmol kg(-1). The values of enthalpy, Gibb's free energy and entropy changes (ΔH(0)=+23.23 kJ mol(-1), ΔG(0)=-3.43 to -7.20 kJ mol(-1) at T=283-323K, ΔS(0)=+0.094 kJ mol(-1)K(-1)) suggested that the reaction was endothermic, spontaneous and took place with increasing entropy. The As(III) sorbed by MNHFO-1 underwent surface oxidation to As(V), and evidences appeared from the XPS and FTIR investigations. MNHFO-1 packed column (internal diameter: 1.0 cm, height: 3.7 cm) filtered 11.5 dm(3) groundwater (105 μg As dm(-3)) with reducing arsenic concentration to ≤ 10 μg dm(-3).

Thermal and rheological properties of biodegradable poly[(butylene succinate)-co-adipate] nanocomposites

The thermal and rheological properties of clay-containing poly[(butylene succinate)-co-adipate] (PBSA) nanocomposites are reported. The nanocomposites of PBSA with various weight percentages of organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT) loadings have been prepared by melt-mixing in a batch-mixer. The melting and crystallization behaviours of PBSA and its nanocomposites have been studied using differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The melt-state rheological properties of pure PBSA and its nanocomposites containing different amounts of OMMT have been studied in detail. The reason for this is that the rheological responses of any nanofilled polymeric materials are strongly related by their dispersed structure and the interfacial characteristic. Results show that the structural strength of all samples remains constant in the examined time interval at an experimental temperature. The dominant viscous behaviour of pure PBSA is getting suppressed up to a certain OMMT loading (4 wt%). Nanocomposite containing 5 wt% OMMT is showing almost "at the gel point" behaviour, suggesting that the material is behaving near the borderline between liquid and solid; while nanocomposite containing 6 wt% OMMT is showing the gel character. The dispersed structure of the clay particles in the PBSA matrix was studied by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). Results show that the stacked and intercalated silicate layers are nicely dispersed in the case of all nanocomposites. However, with a systematic increase in OMMT loading, the dispersed clay structure of the nanocomposites changes from a highly delaminated to a flocculated and then to a stacked-intercalated structure. In the case of all nanocomposites, melt-state rheological properties are in good agreement with the STEM observations.