Pankaj Gupta

Bio: Pankaj Gupta is an academic researcher from Sharda University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Adsorption & Photodegradation. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 7 publications receiving 3 citations.

Manifestation of multifunction capabilities by stabilizing cadmium together with zinc and aluminum in spinel oxide

Abstract: Samples with stoichiometry Zn1–xCdxAl2O4 (x = 0.00–0.70) were synthesized by epoxide-mediated gel method. The formation of spinel was inferred from the powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) patterns of samples. The inversion parameter determined from 27Al NMR spectral analysis were found to be 0.06 and 0.38. The higher inversion character was also supported by their Raman spectra. The direct bandgap was found to be from 3.81 eV (ZnAl2O4) to 4.70 eV (70 mol% Cd2+-substituted sample). The paramagnetic character of these oxygen vacancies was deduced from electron paramagnetic spectrum at room temperature. From temperature-dependent dielectric measurements (120–400 K), transition from ferroelectric to paraelectric phase transition was observed for Cd2+-substituted sample. Enhancement in oxygen ion conductivity to an extent of five orders of magnitude was observed for the Cd2+-substituted samples at 773 K. From the estimated activation energy values, thermal motion of oxygen vacancies was attributed for this conductivity.

Chromium-doped Y0.50Gd0.50BO3 as an excellent photocatalytic and magnetic material

Abstract: Crystalline chromium-doped Y0.50Gd0.50BO3 with vaterite structure was synthesized by the calcination of gel from the reaction of yttrium borate, gadolinium borate, boric acid and propylene oxide at 900°C for 4 h. Orthoborates containing 10 and 20 mol% chromium-doped samples were successfully obtained and characterized by various techniques. Photoluminescent studies were performed for the doped samples. The optical bandgap of chromium-doped samples falls in the visible region making the material more viable for photocatalytic activities. The sample was used as a photocatalyst for photodegradation of methylene blue dye. Y0.50Gd0.50BO3 and chromium-doped samples showed good magnetic properties, as they are antiferromagnetic in nature. To the best of our knowledge, the vaterite form of chromium-doped Y0.50Gd0.50BO3 has been synthesized for the first time.

Magnetic Nanoparticles: Current Advances in Nanomedicine, Drug Delivery and MRI

Abstract: Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have evolved tremendously during recent years, in part due to the rapid expansion of nanotechnology and to their active magnetic core with a high surface-to-volume ratio, while their surface functionalization opened the door to a plethora of drug, gene and bioactive molecule immobilization. Taming the high reactivity of the magnetic core was achieved by various functionalization techniques, producing MNPs tailored for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular or neurological disease, tumors and cancer. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) are established at the core of drug-delivery systems and could act as efficient agents for MFH (magnetic fluid hyperthermia). Depending on the functionalization molecule and intrinsic morphological features, MNPs now cover a broad scope which the current review aims to overview. Considering the exponential expansion of the field, the current review will be limited to roughly the past three years.

Fabrication, Characterization and Evaluation of an Alginate–Lignin Composite for Rare-Earth Elements Recovery

Abstract: The recent increase in interest in rare earth elements is due to their increasing use in many areas of life. However, along with their increasing popularity, the problem of their natural resources availability arises. In this study, an alginate–lignin composite (ALG-L) was fabricated and tested for adsorptive abilities of the rare earth elements (La(III), Ce(III), Pr(III), and Nd(III)) from aqueous solutions. The characterization of the newly synthetized calcium alginate–lignin composite was performed using ATR/FT-IR, SEM, EDX, OM, AFM, XRD, BET, sieve analysis and pHpzc measurements. The adsorption mechanism of the ALG5L1 composite for REEs was analyzed through a series of kinetic, equilibrium and thermodynamic adsorption experiments. Under the optimum sorption conditions, i.e., sorbent mass 0.1 g, pH 5.0, temperature 333 K, the maximum adsorption capacities of the ALG5L1 composite for La(III), Ce(III), Pr(III), and Nd(III) reached 109.56, 97.97, 97.98, and 98.68 mg/g, respectively. The desorption studies indicate that the new calcium alginate–lignin composite is characterized by good recycling properties and can be also reused. To sum up the advantages of low cost, easy synthesis, high adsorption efficiencies and reusability indicate that the ALG5L1 composite has great application perspectives for REEs recovery.