Catalytic Selective Hydrogenation and Cross Coupling Reaction Using Polyvinylpyrrolidone-Capped Nickel Nanoparticles

Detection of toxic cypermethrin pesticides in drinking water by simple graphitic electrode modified with Kraft lignin@Ni@g-C3N4 nano-composite

The detrimental effects of widespread pesticide application on the health of living organisms highlight the urgent need for technological advancements in monitoring pesticide residues at trace levels. This study involves the synthesis of a distinctive sensing material, KL@Ni@g-C3N4, which comprises nanocomposites of graphitic carbon nitride with Kraft lignin and nickel. The prepared samples were characterized using FT-IR, PXRD, TEM, SEM, and EDX techniques. The KL@Ni@g-C3N4 nanocomposite was drop-cast on a graphite electrode. Subsequently, this fabricated electrode was used to detect cypermethrin (CYP) residues in drinking water. The redox properties of the fabricated sensors were evaluated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The limit of detection (LOD) of the fabricated sensor was determined to be 0.026 μg mL-1, which is below the maximum residual limits of CYP in the environment (0.5 μg mL-1) and within the acceptable range for food products (∼0.05 to 0.2 μg mL-1). Therefore, this study proposes a promising alternative to conventional methods for detecting pesticides in drinking water.

Photocatalytic degradation of gaseous benzene using metal oxide nanocomposites

Rapid industrial growth has been accompanied by the pollution of hazardous volatile organic pollutants (VOCs) in air. Among various options available for the treatment of VOCs, the use of metal oxide composites as photocatalysts has been adopted preferably due to their potential to induce the synergistic interactions between the metal nanoparticles (NPs) and metal oxides (especially titanium dioxide (TiO₂)). In this context, an in-depth review is offered to describe the fundamental mechanism of metal oxide-based photocatalysis for the oxidation of gaseous benzene as a model VOC. The discussion has been extended further to evaluate their performances in terms of key performance metrics (e.g., quantum yield (QY), space-time yield (STY), and figure of merit (FOM)). The TiO₂-based metallic bi-component photocatalysts (e.g., Sr₂CeO₄/TiO₂) generally exhibited better photodegradation efficiency with enhanced light absorption capability than monometallic-TiO₂ (e.g., Pd-TiO₂) composites or other modified photocatalysts (e.g., metal-organic framework (MOF)-based composites). Finally, we address the current challenges and future perspectives in this highly challenging research field.

Magnetic nickel nanostructure as cellulase immobilization surface for the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass

In this research, a magnetic reusable nickel nanoparticle (NiNPs) supporting materials were prepared for cellulase enzyme immobilization. The immobilized cellulase showed high activity recovery, large & fast immobilization capacity and improved pH & temperature tolerance. The excellent stability and reusability enabled the immobilized cellulase to retain 84% of its initial activity after ten cycles. At 2 mg/mL enzyme concentration, highest 93% immobilization efficiency was achieved within two hours of immobilization. When the treatment temperature reached 40 °C and pH 5, the immobilized cellulase exhibited highest residual activity. The immobilized cellulase could be separated from the solution by a magnetic force. This study introduced a novel supporting material for cellulase immobilization, and the immobilized cellulase poses a great potential in the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass which can used as an easily applicable and sustainable pre-treatment step for advanced biofuel production.

Molybdenum and Nickel Nanoparticles Synthesis by Laser Ablation towards the Preparation of a Hydrodesulfurization Catalyst

A clean straightforward laser ablation method in deionized (DI) water is reported for the synthesis of Molybdenum (Mo) and Nickel (Ni) nanoparticles (NPs). The structural, morphological, and optical properties of the as-synthesized nanoparticles were investigated. Particle size was estimated to be less than 10 nm, the UV–vis spectra of the samples show the formation of H2MoO4 and NiO. The XRD results for the Ni sample show the presence of two phases, cubic nickel oxide, and an fcc metallic nickel phase, indicating the possible formation of Ni/NiO compound. The nanoparticles synthesized were used as precursors in the production of a NiMo/γ-Al2O3 catalyst. The textural and structural properties, chemical composition, and catalytic performance in a hydrodesulfurization (HDS) reaction are reported. The textural and structural properties results show the lack of pore-blocking due to the small sizes and the distribution of the metallic nanoparticles on the support. Chemical composition measured by XPS shows a ratio Ni/Mo of 1.34. Therefore, possibly Ni was deposited on Mo covering part of its active area, occupying active sites of Mo, removing its effective surface and resulting in a relatively low conversion of DBT (17%). A lower Ni/Mo ratio is required to improve the model system, which could be achieved by changing parameters at the production of the nanoparticles. The model system can also be further tuned by changing the size of the nanoparticles.