Improving hydrogen generation from dehydrogenation of dimethylamine borane using polyvinylpyrrolidone stabilized platinum-rhodium nanoclusters as highly efficient and reusable catalysts: Development of ANN model

A global meta-analysis of phthalate esters in drinking water sources and associated health risks

Phthalate esters (PAEs) are known as esters of phthalic acid, which are commonly used as plasticizers in the plastic industry. Due to the lack of chemical bonding with the polymer matrix, these compounds are easily separated from plastic products and enter the environment. To investigate the growth of concentration of PAEs like DBP (Dibutyl phthalate), DEP (Diethyl phthalate), DMP (Dimethyl phthalate), DIBP (Diisobutyl phthalate), and TPMBP (tris(2-methylbutyl) phosphate) in different water sources, a study from January 01, 1976, to April 30, 2021, was implemented via a global systematic review plus meta-analysis in which, 109 articles comprising 4061 samples, 4 water types, and 27 countries were included. Between various types of water sources, river water and lake water were the most contaminated resources with PAEs. Among all studies of PAEs, DBP and DEP with the values >15,573 mg L-1 have the highest average concentration and TPMBP with the value 0.002885 mg L-1 has the lowest average concentration in water sources. The most contaminated water sources with PAEs were in Nigeria and the least contaminated was in China. Besides, Monte-Carlo simulation indicated that for DMP and DEP minimum values that are lower than the acceptable limit are generated. However, most of the population (>75 %) is at risk for both adults and child cases. For DIBP and DBP the situation is much worse, the simulations not providing at least one case where the R index is lower than the acceptable limit of 1E-06.

Facile synthesis of biogenic palladium nanoparticles using biomass strategy and application as photocatalyst degradation for textile dye pollutants and their in-vitro antimicrobial activity

Among biological applications, plant-mediated Pd NPs for multi-drug resistance (MDR) developed in pathogenic bacteria were synthesized with the help of biomass of lemon peel, a biological material, with a non-toxic, environmentally friendly, human-nature green synthesis method. Characterization of synthesized Pd NPs was carried out by UV-Vis spectrometry, Transmissive Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques. According to TEM analysis, Pd NPs were confirmed to be in a spherical shape and the mean particle size was determined to be 4.11 nm. The crystal structure of Pd NPs was checked using XRD analysis and the mean particle size was observed to be 6.72 nm. Besides, the antibacterial activity of Pd NPs was determined against Escherichia coli (E. coli) (ATCC 8739), Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis ATCC 6633), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus ATCC 6538), Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae ATCC 11296) and Serratia marcescens (S. marcescens ATCC) bacteria. Antibacterial activity was determined to be high in Pd NPs which is in conformance with the results acquired. The Pd NPs showed good photocatalytic activity, after 90 min illumination, about 81.55% and 68.45% of MB and MO respectively were catalysed by the Pd NPs catalyst, and 74.50% of RhB dyes were removed at 120 min of illumination. Within the scope of this project, it is recommended to use Pd NPs obtained by the green synthesis in the future as an antibacterial agent in biomedical use and for the cleaning of polluted waters.