Bharathiar University

About: Bharathiar University is a education organization based out in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Thin film & Adsorption. The organization has 5812 authors who have published 8628 publications receiving 143934 citations. The organization is also known as: BU.

Mosquito larvicidal and pupicidal efficacy of Solanum xanthocarpum (Family: Solanaceae) leaf extract and bacterial insecticide, Bacillus thuringiensis, against Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract: The bio-efficacy of Solanum xanthocarpum leaf extract and bacterial insecticide, Bacillus thuringiensis, were assessed against the first to fourth instar larvae and pupae of Culex quinquefasciatus, under the laboratory conditions. The medicinal plants were collected from the outskirt Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. The shade dried plant materials were extracted by employing the Soxhlet apparatus with ethanol (organic solvent) for 8 h and filtered. The extracts were concentrated at reduced temperature on a rotary evaporator and stored at a temperature of 4°C. Both S. xanthocarpum and B. thuringiensis show varied degree of larvicidal and pupicidal activity against various stages of C. quinquefasciatus. The LC50 and LC90 of S. xanthocarpum against the first to fourth instar larvae and pupae were 155.29, 198.32, 271.12, 377.44, and 448.41 ppm and 687.14, 913.10, 1,011.89, 1,058.85, and 1,141.65 ppm, respectively. On the other hand, the LC50 values of B. thuringiensis against the first to fourth instar larvae and pupae were 133.88, 157.14, 179.44, 206.80, and 240.74 ppm; the LC90 values were 321.04, 346.89, 388.86, 430.95, and 492.70 ppm, respectively. However, the combined treatment of S. xanthocarpum + B. thuringiensis (1:2) material shows highest larvicidal and pupicidal activity of the LC50 values 126.81, 137.62, 169.14, 238.27, and 316.02 ppm and the LC90 values 476.36, 613.49, 705.29, 887.85, and 1,041.73 ppm against C. quinquefasciatus in all the tested concentrations than the individuals and clearly established that there is a substantial amount of synergist act. Therefore, the present investigation clearly exhibit that both S. xanthocarpum and B. thuringiensis materials could serve as a potential of highest mortality rate against the mosquito larvae laboratory as well as the field conditions. Since C. quinquefasciatus is a ditch breeder vector mosquito, this is a user and eco-friendly biopesticide for the control of mosquito vector management program.

Trace level electrochemical determination of the neurotransmitter dopamine in biological samples based on iron oxide nanoparticle decorated graphene sheets

Abstract: In this paper, we report the highly selective and sensitive electrochemical determination of dopamine (DA) based on an iron oxide nanoparticle-(Fe2O3 NP) capped graphene sheet (GRS) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The Fe2O3 NPs were synthesized by a pyrophoric technique and their nanocomposite with GRS was prepared by a simple sonochemical method. The as-prepared Fe2O3 NP/GRS nanocomposite was characterized using scanning electron microscopy, electron dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. As expected, the proposed sensor exhibits a wide linear range from 0.01 to 195.18, a low detection limit (LOD) of 0.004 μM for the DPV technique and a broad linear range from 0.006 to 635 μM, and a very low detection limit of 0.001 μM for the amperometric technique. Moreover, it shows excellent selectivity of DA even in the presence of a 20-fold higher concentration of potential interferences. The practical applicability of the reported sensor was recorded in human serum and urine samples. Finally, all electrochemical studies confirmed the excellent electrocatalytic activity of the Fe2O3 NP/GRS nanocomposite as a DA sensor.

Impact of sugar factory effluent on the growth and biochemical characteristics of terrestrial and aquatic plants

Abstract: The physico-chemical characteristics of sugar industry effluent were measured and some were found to be above those limits permissible in the Indian irrigation water standard. A pot study was initially conducted to study the effects of different concentrations (20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%) of sugar factory effluent on seed germination, seedling growth and biochemical characteristics of green gram and maize. A similar study was also carried out using the aquatic plants, water hyacinth and water lettuce. The higher effluent concentrations (above 60%) were found to affect plant growth, but diluted effluent (up to 60%) favored seedling growth.

Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles on dendritic α-Fe2O3 hierarchical architectures for a heterogeneous photocatalyst and adsorption of Pb(ii) ions from industrial wastewater

Abstract: A facile surfactant free hydrothermal process was used to prepare dendritic α-Fe2O3 and hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticles dispersed on dendritic α-Fe2O3 nanostructures. The dendrite consists of a 1 μm long central trunk with secondary branches of 80 nm. The prepared nanocomposite with a mesoporous structure exhibits a high specific surface area. A possible formation mechanism for the dendrite is proposed. These HAP/α-Fe2O3 nanocomposites were further used to degrade methyl violet (MV) dye using photodegradation and adsorb Pb(II) ions from industrial waste water through an adsorption process. These investigations clearly confirm the extremely fast degradation and adsorption of the dye and Pb(II) ions from the aqueous solution. The experimental adsorption data also very well fit with the pseudo-second-order model. The results confirm the new method has advantages of both a photodegradation and adsorption process for the removal of various wastewater pollutants. The present method is more energetic, cost effective, sustainable and also easily recycled after the adsorption process with a high recovery ratio due to the magnetic response of the nanocomposite.