Mechanisms of removal of heavy metal ions by ZnO particles

Photosensitive activity of fabricated core-shell composite nanostructured p-CuO@CuS/n-Si diode for photodetection applications

Development of photo detectors based on different semiconducting materials with high performance has been in progress in recent past, however, there is a lot of difficulties in developing the more effective photo detectors-based devices with high responsivity, detectivity and quantum efficiency. Hence, we have synthesized pure CuS and CuO@CuS core-shell heterostructure based photo detectors with high performance by simple and cost-effective two-step chemical co-precipitation method. The phase purity of CuS and CuO@CuS composite was observed by XRD analysis and the result were verified with Raman spectroscopy studies. Sphere like morphology of pure CuS and core-shell structure formation of CuO@CuS are observed with scanning and transmission electron microscopes. The presence of expected elements has been confirmed with EDX elemental mapping. Light harvesting photodiodes were fabricated by using n-type silicon substrate through drop cost method. Photo sensitive parameters of fabricated diodes were analyzed by I-V characteristics. The p-CuO@CuS (1:1)/n-Si diode owned a maximum photosensitivity (Ps) ∼ 7.76 × 10⁴ %, photoresponsivity (R) ∼ 798.61 mA/W, external quantum efficiency ( E Q E )∼309.66 % and specific detectivity (D*) ∼ 8.19 × 10¹¹ Jones when compared to p-CuS/n-Si diode. The obtained results revealed that the core/shell heterostructure of CuO@CuS is the most appropriate for photo detection.

Micro-Plasma Assisted Synthesis of ZnO Nanosheets for the Efficient Removal of Cr6+ from the Aqueous Solution

Herein, we report a micro-plasma assisted solvothermal synthesis and characterization of zinc oxide nanosheets (ZnO-NSs) and their application for the removal of Cr6+ ion from aqueous solution. The morphological investigations by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the high-density growth of nanosheets with the typical sizes in the range of 145.8–320.25 nm. The typical surface area of the synthesized ZnO-NSs, observed by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), was found to be 948 m2/g. The synthesized ZnO-NSs were used as efficient absorbent for the removal of Cr6+ ion from aqueous solution. Various parameters such as pH, contact time, amount of adsorbate and adsorbent on the removal efficiency of Cr6+ ion was optimized and presented in this paper. At optimized conditions, the highest value for removal was 87.1% at pH = 2 while the calculated maximum adsorption capacity was ~87.37 mg/g. The adsorption isotherm data were found to be best fitted to Temkin adsorption isotherm and the adsorption process followed the pseudo-first-order kinetics. Furthermore, the toxicity of ZnO-NSs were also examined against fibroblast cells, which show favorable results and proved that it can be used for wastewater treatment.

Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles by Ecofriendly Routes: Adsorbent for Copper Removal From Wastewater

Zinc Oxide nanoparticles have been synthesized by two simple routes using Aloe vera (green synthesis, route I) or Cassava starch (gelatinization, route II). The XRD patterns and Raman spectra show that both synthesis routes lead to single-phase ZnO. XPS results indicate the presence of zinc atoms with oxidation state Zn²⁺. SEM images of the ZnO nanoparticles synthesized using Cassava starch show the presence of pseudo-spherical nanoparticles and nanosheets, while just pseudo-spherical nanoparticles were observed when Aloe vera was used. The UV-Vis spectra showed a slight difference in the absorption edge of the ZnO particles obtained using Aloe vera (3.18 eV) and Cassava starch (3.24 eV). The ZnO nanoparticles were tested as adsorbents for the removal of copper in wastewater, it is shown that at low Cu²⁺ ion concentration (~40 mg/L) the nanoparticles synthesized by both routes have the same removal efficiency, however, increasing the absorbate concentration (> 80 mg/L) the ZnO nanoparticles synthesized using Aloe vera have a higher removal efficiency. The synthesized ZnO nanoparticles can be used as effective and environmental-friendly metal trace absorbers in wastewater.

A Systematic Review of Metal Oxide Applications for Energy and Environmental Sustainability

Energy is the fundamental requirement of all physical, chemical, and biological processes which are utilized for better living standards. The toll that the process of development takes on the environment and economic activity is evident from the arising concerns about sustaining the industrialization that has happened in the last centuries. The increase in carbon footprint and the large-scale pollution caused by industrialization has led researchers to think of new ways to sustain the developmental activities, whilst simultaneously minimizing the harming effects on the enviroment. Therefore, decarbonization strategies have become an important factor in industrial expansion, along with the invention of new catalytic methods for carrying out non-thermal reactions, energy storage methods and environmental remediation through the removal or breakdown of harmful chemicals released during manufacturing processes. The present article discusses the structural features and photocatalytic applications of a variety of metal oxide-based materials. Moreover, the practical applicability of these materials is also discussed, as well as the transition of production to an industrial scale. Consequently, this study deals with a concise framework to link metal oxide application options within energy, environmental and economic sustainability, exploring the footprint analysis as well.

Developments in the Application of Nanomaterials for Water Treatment and Their Impact on the Environment

Nanotechnology is an uppermost priority area of research in several nations presently because of its enormous capability and financial impact. One of the most promising environmental utilizations of nanotechnology has been in water treatment and remediation where various nanomaterials can purify water by means of several mechanisms inclusive of the adsorption of dyes, heavy metals, and other pollutants, inactivation and removal of pathogens, and conversion of harmful materials into less harmful compounds. To achieve this, nanomaterials have been generated in several shapes, integrated to form different composites and functionalized with active components. Additionally, the nanomaterials have been added to membranes that can assist to improve the water treatment efficiency. In this paper, we have discussed the advantages of nanomaterials in applications such as adsorbents (removal of dyes, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, and organic contaminants from water), membrane materials, catalytic utilization, and microbial decontamination. We discuss the different carbon-based nanomaterials (carbon nanotubes, graphene, graphene oxide, fullerenes, etc.), and metal and metal-oxide based nanomaterials (zinc-oxide, titanium dioxide, nano zerovalent iron, etc.) for the water treatment application. It can be noted that the nanomaterials have the ability for improving the environmental remediation system. The examination of different studies confirmed that out of the various nanomaterials, graphene and its derivatives (e.g., reduced graphene oxide, graphene oxide, graphene-based metals, and graphene-based metal oxides) with huge surface area and increased purity, outstanding environmental compatibility and selectivity, display high absorption capability as they trap electrons, avoiding their recombination. Additionally, we discussed the negative impacts of nanomaterials such as membrane damage and cell damage to the living beings in the aqueous environment. Acknowledgment of the possible benefits and inadvertent hazards of nanomaterials to the environment is important for pursuing their future advancement.

The role of kaolin and kaolin/ZnO nanoadsorbents in adsorption studies for tannery wastewater treatment

In the present study, comparative studies of kaolin and kaolin/ZnO nanocomposites for the adsorption of Cr(VI), Fe(III), COD, BOD, and chloride from tannery wastewater were investigated. ZnO nanoparticles and kaolin/ZnO nanocomposites were prepared by sol-gel followed by wet-impregnation methods. The prepared adsorbents were characterized using different analytical tools such as X-ray diffraction, Fourier transforms infrared, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, selective area electron diffraction and Brunauer Emmett-Teller (BET) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). The HRSEM/EDS/XPS analysis confirmed successful immobilization of clay structural network on the lattice layers of zincite hexagonal structure of ZnO nanoparticles. BET measurement showed an increase in the surface area of kaolin/ZnO nanocomposites (31.8 m²/g) when compared to kaolin (17 m²/g). Batch adsorption studies were carried out by varying the parameters such as contact time, adsorbent dosage and temperature. The maximum removal of Cr(VI) (100%), Fe(III) (98%), COD (95%), BOD (94%) and Chloride (78%) was obtained at 15 min by kaolin/ZnO composites. While 78% Cr(VI), 91% Fe(III), 91% COD, 89% BOD and 73% Chloride were removed by kaolin under the same conditions. The kaolin/ZnO nanocomposites exhibited better adsorption performance than kaolin due to higher surface area of the former than the latter. It was found that the Jovanovic isotherm model fitted the adsorption experimental data most with the highest correlation (R² > 0.99) for both nanoadsorbents and indicate the occurrence of adsorption on monolayer and heterogeneous surfaces. The mechanism for the adsorption of metal ions in tannery wastewater onto the nano-adsorbents was examined using Weber Morris intra-particle diffusion model and Boyd plot which showed that the adsorption process was both intra-particle and film diffusion controlled. The thermodynamic parameters such as enthalpy change showed that that adsorption of metal ions and other parameters was feasible, spontaneous and endothermic. The ZnO/clay nanocomposites exhibited excellent recyclable and re-useable properties even after six repeated applications and can, therefore, be applied in wastewater treatment for removal of heavy metals and other physicochemical parameters.