In recent years, the application of heterogeneous photocatalytic water purification process has gained wide attention due to its effectiveness in degrading and mineralizing the recalcitrant organic compounds as well as the possibility of utilizing the solar UV and visible light spectrum. This paper aims to review and summarize the recently published works on the titanium dioxide (TiO2) photocatalytic oxidation of pesticides and phenolic compounds, predominant in storm and waste water effluents. The effect of various operating parameters on the photocatalytic degradation of pesticides and phenols are discussed. Results reported here suggested that the photocatalytic degradation of organic compounds depends on the type of photocatalyst and composition, light intensity, initial substrate concentration, amount of catalyst, pH of the reaction medium, ionic components in water, solvent types, oxidizing agents/electron acceptors, catalyst application mode, and calcinations temperature in water environment. A substantial amount of research has focused on the enhancement of TiO2 photocatalysis by modification with metal, non-metal and ion doping. Recent developments in TiO2 photocatalysis for the degradation of various pesticides and phenols are also highlighted in this review. It is evident from the literature survey that photocatalysis has shown good potential for the removal of various organic pollutants. However, still there is a need to find out the practical utility of this technique on commercial scale.

Influence of parameters on the heterogeneous photocatalytic degradation of pesticides and phenolic contaminants in wastewater : a short review

Health care costs of antibiotic resistance to the community have been astounding over the last decade and require urgent attention. This calls for new alternatives, such as metal oxide nanomaterials, to be considered at a more extended level. Metal oxide nanomaterials have been exerting a pull-on deal with its complete applications in biological and pharmaceutical fields of nanobiotechnology. The present study addresses the synthesis of nanoparticles of the zirconium oxide (ZrO2) by a process that can be quickly, economically and industrially used to combat deadly pathogens. The biological activity of synthesized zirconium oxide nanoparticles against bacterial strains has been studied by using agar well diffusion method. Besides, DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl) and a nitrous oxide-scavenging study, we have also studied the antioxidant ability of ZrO2 nanoparticles along with the anticancer activity. Importantly, our research demonstrated the antimicrobial activity of ZrO2 nanoparticles at different concentrations comparable to standard antibiotics against gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and gram-negative bacteria (Klebsiella pneumonia), respectively. We believe that the synthesized ZrO2 nanoparticles demonstrated inhibitive activity against K. pneumoniae by the attraction of negatively charged K. pneumoniae cell wall against positively charged zirconium ions. Our findings suggest that synthesized multifunctional ZrO2 nanoparticles may be a successful candidate in health care systems.

Zirconium oxide (ZrO2) nanoparticles from antibacterial activity to cytotoxicity: A next-generation of multifunctional nanoparticles

Improvement of the optical characteristics of PVA/PVP blend with different concentrations of SnS2/Fe

Comment on the relationship between electrical and optical conductivity used in several recent papers published in the journal of materials science: materials in electronics

Polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) are currently in high industrial demand for the development of a variety of technologically advanced flexible-type milli- to micro-sizes electronic components/devices. In the advances of PNC materials, herein, we have prepared the hybrid nanocomposite films taking tin oxide (SnO2) nanoparticles as filler and biodegradable poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVP/PVA) blend as host matrix. Analysis of X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectra, and the scanning electron microscope (SEM) images have shown the successful formation of these (PVP/PVA)/SnO2 nanocomposites. The percent degree of crystallinity of the nanocomposites and the diffraction peak intensities of the SnO2 filler in these hybrids were found to increase linearly when the filler concentration was enhanced from 1 to 5 wt%. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermograms confirmed that the SnO2 nanoparticles dispersion in the PVP/PVA matrix has led to an appreciable increase in the thermal properties of these composite materials. Ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) range spectroscopic measurements revealed that these PNC materials have the ability of UV radiation absorption in a controllable manner. The direct and indirect energy band gaps of these PNCs had systematically reduced up to that of the SnO2 band gap confirming them as band gap tunable optical materials. The results of dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS) performed over the 20 Hz to 1 MHz frequency range revealed that the dielectric permittivity and also the electrical conductivity could be enhanced appreciably by increasing amounts of SnO2 nanoparticles in the PVP/PVA blend host matrix. The SnO2 nanofiller concentration-dependent effectively tailorable structural, thermal, optical, and dielectric parameters credit the multifunctionality of these biodegradable PNCs. Therefore, it is concluded that these flexible hybrid films could be useful in the realization of desirable design and workability of the next-generation variety of advanced optoelectronic, organoelectronic, and microelectronic components/devices.

Nanofiller concentration-dependent appreciably tailorable and multifunctional properties of (PVP/PVA)/SnO2 nanocomposites for advanced flexible device technologies

This work aims to study the structural, optical and photocatalytic properties of pure and different metal ions, such as rare earth samarium, transition scandium and post transition stannic ions doped zirconia (ZrO2) nanoparticles, synthesized via the facile precipitation process. The effects of the different metal ions on the physic-chemical properties of zirconia were analysized by using different techniques. The structural properties of the synthesized samples were studied by the XRD and FTIR analyses, which confirm that both the pure and different metal ions doped zirconia nanoparticles reveal a tetragonal structure with an average crystallite size in the range of 9.46–4.05 nm and are in good agreement with the TEM results. The smooth spherical surface morphologies and presence of elements of the samples have been confirmed by the SEM and EDX analyses. The Optical properties of the different metal ions doped ZrO2 nanoparticles were evaluated using UV–vis absorption and PL emission spectroscopies. Blue shifts were observed and the band gap energies of the samples found to be in the range of 5.51–5.65 eV, which are higher than that of bulk ZrO2. The enhanced broad green emissions at 578 nm in the PL spectra correspond to the 5D0–7F1 transition, which contributes to the crystallinity and presence of defects concentration in the samples. The performances of the pure and different metal ions doped zirconia nanoparticles in the photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MeO) dye under UV light were evaluated, and the degradation percentage (%) found to be in the range of 58.48–98.24%; the results have been comparatively discussed. The detailed mechanism for the degradation of the MeO dye by using metal ions doped ZrO2 catalyst is discussed. The Chemical oxygen demand (COD) test has been done to confirm the total quantity of oxygen required for the oxidation of the organic MeO dye solution into mineralization.

Effects of rare earth, transition and post transition metal ions on structural and optical properties and photocatalytic activities of zirconia (ZrO2) nanoparticles synthesized via the facile precipitation process

Optically transparent and mechanically good quality single crystal of L-Serine Phosphate (LSP) was grown by slow solvent evaporation technique. Optical Transmittance study was carried out by UV-Vis...

Physical strength and Opto-electrical conductivity of L-Serine Phosphate single crystal for structural and photonics devices fabrication

Good quality Phthalic acid single crystals were grown in aqueous solutions of ammonium oxalate and ammonium bromide by slow evaporation solution growth method. Single crystal X-ray diffraction of P...

Influence of different solvents on the growth, thermal and dielectric properties of Phthalic acid single crystals

This product is used on minor skin sores and wounds to protect the area from irritation and infection. Benzoin is also used on canker sores in and around the mouth to protect them so they can heal.Benzoin is also used to help relieve and soothe minor irritation of the nose, throat, and airways (e.g.,laryngitis,croups) when it is mixed with hot water and the steam is inhaled. Its principal component is benzoic acid. Commonly called "benzoin", it is called "benzoin resin" here to distinguish it from the crystalline compound benzoin.The new benzoin derivatives were synthesized and then further screened for against different microbes i.e, pseudomonas auriginosa, proteus vulgaris, Staphylo Coccus Aureis, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis. All the synthesized compounds showing good antimicrobial activity.

Anti-microbial screening of some novel benzoin derivatives

Heterocyclic chemistry is the branch of chemistry dealing with the synthesis, properties, and applications o f heterocyclics. Heterocyclic chemistry comprises at least half of all organic chemistry research worldwide. In particular, heterocyclic structures form the basis of many pharmaceutical, agrochemical and veterinary products. Quinazolinone has been considered as a magic moiety possessing myriad spectrum of medicinal activities. Diversity of biological response profile has attracted considerable interest of several researchers across the globe to explore this skeleton for its assorted therapeutic significance. By using different synthetic methods new quinazolinone derivatives were synthesized and characterized by physic-chemical analysis. Quinazolinone is a lead

K. Rajesh

Papers

Effects of rare earth, transition and post transition metal ions on structural and optical properties and photocatalytic activities of zirconia (ZrO2) nanoparticles synthesized via the facile precipitation process

Physical strength and Opto-electrical conductivity of L-Serine Phosphate single crystal for structural and photonics devices fabrication

Influence of different solvents on the growth, thermal and dielectric properties of Phthalic acid single crystals

Anti-microbial screening of some novel benzoin derivatives

Synthesis and characterization of 3-{((4-hydroxy-phenyl)- phenylamino-methyl)-amino}-2-phenyl-3h-quinazolin-4-one