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María Cristina Diez

Bio: María Cristina Diez is an academic researcher from University of La Frontera. The author has contributed to research in topics: Pesticide & Pentachlorophenol. The author has an hindex of 33, co-authored 108 publications receiving 3503 citations.


Papers
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TL;DR: The current state of the art and perspectives for the impact of AgNPs on different organisms present in the environment are reported and recent progress in interpreting uptake, translocation and accumulation mechanisms in different organisms and/or living animals are discussed, as well as the toxicity ofAgNPs and possible tolerance mechanisms in live organisms to cope with their deleterious effects.

226 citations

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TL;DR: Roles of enzymes as decontaminating agents, pollutant assaying agents and indicators of environment safety are briefly encompassed.

207 citations

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TL;DR: The white-rot fungus Stereum hirsutum was studied to evaluate its applicability for use in the biosynthesis of copper/copper oxide nanoparticles under different pHconditions and in the presence of three different copper salts (CuCl2, CuSO4, and Cu(NO3)2) as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The white-rot fungus Stereum hirsutum was studied to evaluate its applicability for use in the biosynthesis of copper/copper oxide nanoparticles under different pHconditions and in the presence of three different copper salts (CuCl2, CuSO4, and Cu(NO3)2). The nanoparticle formation was evaluated by UV-visible spectroscopy, electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The nanoparticles biosynthesis in presence of all copper salts demonstrated higher formation with 5 mM CuCl2 under alkaline conditions. TEM analysis confirmed that the nanoparticles were mainly spherical (5 to 20 nm). The presence of amine groups attached to nanoparticles was confirmed by FTIR, which suggests that extracellular protein of fungus is responsible for the formation of the nanoparticles. Therefore, the white-rot fungus S. hirsutum was found to exhibit potential for use in the synthesis of copper/copper oxide nanoparticles.

172 citations

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TL;DR: The synthesis of copper nanostructured nanoparticles by bacteria, fungi, and plant extracts is discussed, showing that biogenic synthesis is an economically feasible, simple and non-polluting process.
Abstract: Copper nanoparticles have been the focus of intensive study due to their potential applications in diverse fields including biomedicine, electronics, and optics. Copper-based nanostructured materials have been used in conductive films, lubrification, nanofluids, catalysis, and also as potent antimicrobial agent. The biogenic synthesis of metallic nanostructured nanoparticles is considered to be a green and eco-friendly technology since neither harmful chemicals nor high temperatures are involved in the process. The present review discusses the synthesis of copper nanostructured nanoparticles by bacteria, fungi, and plant extracts, showing that biogenic synthesis is an economically feasible, simple and non-polluting process. Applications for biogenic copper nanoparticles are also discussed.

160 citations

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TL;DR: The degradation of three- and four-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by Anthracophyllum discolor, a white-rot fungus isolated from the forest of southern Chile, was evaluated, suggesting synergistic effects between PAHs or possible cometabolism.

156 citations


Cited by
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TL;DR: It is evident from the literature survey articles that ion-exchange, adsorption and membrane filtration are the most frequently studied for the treatment of heavy metal wastewater.

6,844 citations

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TL;DR: A critical appraisal of different synthetic approaches to Cu and Cu-based nanoparticles and copper nanoparticles immobilized into or supported on various support materials (SiO2, magnetic support materials, etc.), along with their applications in catalysis.
Abstract: The applications of copper (Cu) and Cu-based nanoparticles, which are based on the earth-abundant and inexpensive copper metal, have generated a great deal of interest in recent years, especially in the field of catalysis. The possible modification of the chemical and physical properties of these nanoparticles using different synthetic strategies and conditions and/or via postsynthetic chemical treatments has been largely responsible for the rapid growth of interest in these nanomaterials and their applications in catalysis. In addition, the design and development of novel support and/or multimetallic systems (e.g., alloys, etc.) has also made significant contributions to the field. In this comprehensive review, we report different synthetic approaches to Cu and Cu-based nanoparticles (metallic copper, copper oxides, and hybrid copper nanostructures) and copper nanoparticles immobilized into or supported on various support materials (SiO2, magnetic support materials, etc.), along with their applications i...

1,823 citations

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TL;DR: The collective vision of the future of extracellular enzyme research is offered: one that will depend on imaginative thinking as well as technological advances, and be built upon synergies between diverse disciplines.
Abstract: This review focuses on some important and challenging aspects of soil extracellular enzyme research. We report on recent discoveries, identify key research needs and highlight the many opportunities offered by interactions with other microbial enzymologists. The biggest challenges are to understand how the chemical, physical and biological properties of soil affect enzyme production, diffusion, substrate turnover and the proportion of the product that is made available to the producer cells. Thus, the factors that regulate the synthesis and secretion of extracellular enzymes and their distribution after they are externalized are important topics, not only for soil enzymologists, but also in the broader context of microbial ecology. In addition, there are many uncertainties about the ways in which microbes and their extracellular enzymes overcome the generally destructive, inhibitory and competitive properties of the soil matrix, and the various strategies they adopt for effective substrate detection and utilization. The complexity of extracellular enzyme activities in depolymerising macromolecular organics is exemplified by lignocellulose degradation and how the many enzymes involved respond to structural diversity and changing nutrient availabilities. The impacts of climate change on microbes and their extracellular enzymes, although of profound importance, are not well understood but we suggest how they may be predicted, assessed and managed. We describe recent advances that allow for the manipulation of extracellular enzyme activities to facilitate bioremediation, carbon sequestration and plant growth promotion. We also contribute to the ongoing debate as to how to assay enzyme activities in soil and what the measurements tell us, in the context of both traditional methods and the newer techniques that are being developed and adopted. Finally, we offer our collective vision of the future of extracellular enzyme research: one that will depend on imaginative thinking as well as technological advances, and be built upon synergies between diverse disciplines.

1,475 citations

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TL;DR: In this article, the background information of dye molecules and dye waste characteristics are described and the methods for color measurements and standards are discussed, and different techniques including almost all the known physical, chemical and biological techniques are described for decolorization.
Abstract: The public demand for color-free waste discharge to receiving waters and tougher color standards have made decolorization of a variety of industrial wastes a top priority. Unfortunately, with the complicated color-causing compounds, the decolorization of these wastes is a difficult and challenging task. This article first describes the background information of dye molecules and dye waste characteristics. The methods for color measurements and standards are then discussed. Different techniques including almost all the known physical, chemical and biological techniques are described for decolorization. Each process alone may not be able to meet the requirements. A combination of these processes, for example, chemical-biological, biological-chemical, chemical-physical, chemical-chemical, etc. is often used. The formation of intermediates during the decolorization process is emphasized. These byproducts may be more toxic than the parent compounds. Thus, the extent of the mineralization in waste decolorizatio...

964 citations

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TL;DR: The use of clays and iron-oxide minerals as catalysts of Fenton-like reactions is a promising alternative for the decontamination of soils, groundwaters, sediments, and industrial effluents as discussed by the authors.

758 citations