Thermally reduced graphene oxide as green and easily available adsorbent for Sunset yellow decontamination

The release of synthetic food dyes, like Sunset yellow, into industrial effluents can cause serious environmental and health problems. Due to its aromatic structure, it is recalcitrant towards degradation into non-toxic intermediates and its removal by efficient adsorption represents a cheap and efficient method. Herein we propose the use of thermally reduced graphene oxide (TRGO) as effective Sunset yellow dye adsorbent with an adsorption maximum capacity comparable with other sophisticated, chemically synthesized carbon-based nanomaterials. The reduced graphene oxide and the Sunset yellow adsorbed one were characterized by FT-IR, XPS and XRD spectroscopy, N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherm and TGA analysis. BET surface area reduced from 274.1 m²/g (for TRGO) to 39.9 m²/g (for TRGO-SY) showing that Sunset Yellow molecules occupied the corresponding active sites while the number of sheets resulted from the XRD spectra - from 3 to 8 in TRGO to 5 in TRGO-SY indicates the ordered intercalations in the graphene structure. The adsorption isotherm experimental data were better fitted with the Langmuir model than the Freundlich model, with the maximum adsorption capacity of the SY dye monolayer of 243.3 mg/g at pH = 6.0 and 189.0 mg/g from synthetic wastewater. The kinetic study revealed a perfect fit following the Pseudo-second order model with an equilibrium achieved within 30 min. The lack of adsorption on the starting graphene oxide is indicative for π-π interactions between the adsorbate and adsorbent.

Photocatalytic degradation of synthetic food dye, sunset yellow FCF (FD&C yellow no. 6) by Ailanthus excelsa Roxb. possessing antioxidant and cytotoxic activity

The purpose of our work is to identify the bioactive compounds of bark and leaves extract from Ailanthus excelsa Roxb. and to explore its effectiveness against synthetic food dye. The presence of primary and secondary metabolites was confirmed by carrying out phytochemicals analysis. With the prior knowledge accessible on the indispensable secondary metabolites holding antioxidant and cytotoxicity activity, the quantitative screening of total phenolic and flavonoid content in methanolic and aqueous extract of bark and leaves from Ailanthus excelsa were done. Comparatively, a higher value of flavonoid (161±0.3μg/mg) and phenolic acid content (152.4±0.14μg/mg) was found in bark extract. By FTIR analysis, the characteristic peak was obtained at 1581.63 and 1598.99cm^-1 confirmed the presence of functional groups associated to flavonoids and other phenolic groups respectively. In bark extract, 81% of DPPH inhibition was observed when compared to ascorbic acid (standard) 92% of free radical scavenging activity. Bark extract from Ailanthus excelsa exhibited 71% cytotoxicity against HeLa cell line (cervical cancer). In examining the toxicity level of crude extracts with red blood cells (RBC), the bark extract was showed a very less (2.8%) haemolytic activity. They also showed maximum zone of inhibition in antibacterial activity i.e. 13±0.5mm against Escherichia coli culture. At a concentration of 10mg/mL of crude extract from A. excelsa, 55% degradation of sunset yellow dye was observed. It concludes that, the compounds present in the A. excelsa, especially the bark extract showed better photocatalytic, haemolytic, antioxidant, cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity when compared to leaves extract.