Quaid-i-Azam University

About: Quaid-i-Azam University is a education organization based out in Islamabad, Pakistan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Heat transfer & Nanofluid. The organization has 6577 authors who have published 16865 publications receiving 381678 citations. The organization is also known as: Islamabad University.

Principles and mechanisms of photocatalytic dye degradation on TiO 2 based photocatalysts: a comparative overview

Abstract: The total annual production of synthetic dye is more than 7 × 105 tons. Annually, through only textile waste effluents, around one thousand tons of non-biodegradable textile dyes are discharged into natural streams and water bodies. Therefore, with growing environmental concerns and environmental awareness there is a need for the removal of dyes from local and industrial water effluents with a cost effective technology. In general, these dyes have been found to be resistant to biological as well as physical treatment technologies. In this regard, heterogeneous advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), involving photo-catalyzed degradation of dyes using semiconductor nanoparticles is considered as an efficient cure for dye pollution. In the last two decades TiO2 has received considerable interest because of its high potential as a photocatalyst to degrade a wide range of organic material including dyes. This review starts with (i) a brief overview on dye pollution, dye classification and dye decolourization/degradation strategies; (ii) focuses on the mechanisms involved in comparatively well understood TiO2 photocatalysts and (iii) discusses recent advancements to enhance TiO2 photocatalytic efficiency by (a) doping with metals, non-metals, transition metals, noble metals and lanthanide ions, (b) structural modifications of TiO2 and (c) immobilization of TiO2 by using various supports to make it a flexible and cost-effective commercial dye treatment technology.

Drug-DNA interactions and their study by UV-Visible, fluorescence spectroscopies and cyclic voltametry.

Abstract: The present paper review the drug-DNA interactions, their types and applications of experimental techniques used to study interactions between DNA and small ligand molecules that are potentially of pharmaceutical interest. DNA has been known to be the cellular target for many cytotoxic anticancer agents for several decades. Understanding how drug molecules interact with DNA has become an active research area at the interface between chemistry, molecular biology and medicine. In this review article, we attempt to bring together topics that cover the breadth of this large area of research. The interaction of drugs with DNA is a significant feature in pharmacology and plays a vital role in the determination of the mechanisms of drug action and designing of more efficient and specifically targeted drugs with lesser side effects. Several instrumental techniques are used to study such interactions. In the present review, we will discuss UV-Visible spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The applications of spectroscopic techniques are reviewed and we have discussed the type of information (qualitative or quantitative) that can be obtained from the use of each technique. Not only have novel techniques been applied to study drug-DNA interactions but such interactions may also be the basis for the development of new assays. The interaction between DNA and drugs can cause chemical and conformational modifications and, thus, variation of the electrochemical properties of nucleobases.

Environmental Remediation and Application of Nanoscale Zero-Valent Iron and Its Composites for the Removal of Heavy Metal Ions: A Review

Abstract: The presence of heavy metals in the industrial effluents has recently been a challenging issue for human health. Efficient removal of heavy metal ions from environment is one of the most important issues from biological and environmental point of view, and many studies have been devoted to investigate the environmental behavior of nanoscale zerovalent iron (NZVI) for the removal of toxic heavy metal ions, present both in the surface and underground wastewater. The aim of this review is to show the excellent removal capacity and environmental remediation of NZVI-based materials for various heavy metal ions. A new look on NZVI-based materials (e.g., modified or matrix-supported NZVI materials) and possible interaction mechanism (e.g., adsorption, reduction and oxidation) and the latest environmental application. The effects of various environmental conditions (e.g., pH, temperature, coexisting oxy-anions and cations) and potential problems for the removal of heavy metal ions on NZVI-based materials with the...