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Fabricating composite membranes with enhanced permeance and desirable properties for treating aqueous solutions is an effective approach to developing advancing membrane technology. In this study, a sensor membrane was prepared for the sorption and detection of As(III) ions in aqueous solutions. A novel membrane based on polysulfone (PSF) with varying concentrations of iron complexes was prepared using the phase inversion method. The composite membranes were analyzed using FTIR, SEM, XRD, AFM, and TGA. The structures of the membranes exhibited good dispersibility and compatibility with the complexes within the PSF matrix. TGA analysis showed that the thermal stability of the membranes was significantly improved compared to that of pure PSF. The membranes were evaluated as sensors for detecting extremely low concentrations of As(III) ions in aqueous solutions using the quartz crystal microbalance technique. The results indicate that the composite membrane sensors could detect small amounts of As(III) ions in aqueous solutions at different temperatures. Notably, PSF/TBPFe5 at 45°C demonstrated superior sensitivity for As ion detection. Therefore, these membranes are ideal materials for assessing water quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coordination polymer {[Cu6(CN)6]·HPD}n, CP1; (HPD = heptane‐1,7‐diamine) was prepared and characterized by single‐crystal and powder X‐ray diffraction, UV–Vis spectroscopy, electron microscopy (TEM and SEM), and elemental analyses. The copper atoms are coordinated by C ≡ N ligands, and both exhibit tetrahedral geometry. Cu1 and Cu2 create the pretty unique cluster structure of two quadruple [Cu2(μ3‐CN)2] units exhibiting coprophilic interaction. The building blocks [Cu3(CN)3]2 form fused distorted rectangular rings surrounded with the [Cu2(μ3‐CN)2] motifs exhibiting wide voids to accommodate the guest HPD. The structure of 1 indicates the formation of channels with dimensions 5.121–8.469 Ǻ which extend three‐dimensionally creating fused cavity morphology with different shapes. CP1 was utilized as an efficient sensor for selective quantitative estimation of metal ions (Co2+) and explosives (NB). Advanced oxidation process (AOP) was used as an efficient photocatalyst for the removal of the antibiotic meloxicam (MEL) utilizing AOP in the presence of H2O2 as an oxidant. Scavenge experiments, reusability of catalyst 1, and mechanism of oxidation were also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel compounds with pharmacological activity were synthesized from Pd(II), Fe(III), Cr(III), Ni(II), and Cu(II) ions with 1‐cyclopropyl‐6‐fluoro‐4‐(2‐hydroxy‐phenylimino)‐7‐piperazin‐1‐yl‐1,4‐dihydro‐quinoline‐3‐carboxylic acid (CFAP). The ligand's NH and OH groups allowed it to interact with the metals as a neutral tridentate. The investigated novel compounds were described using 1H and 13C NMR spectra, FT‐IR spectrums, TGA and UV–Vis (conductance of molecules), and CHN‐analysis. Additionally, the pH profile of the CFAP complexes indicated great stability, and the complexes' stability constant was discovered in the solution. To extract important properties for CFAP and its complexes, computational research was used, CFAPCu, CFAPCr, CFAPNi, and CFAPFe have octahedral geometry, while CFAPPd has square planar geometry. To investigate the molecular geometry, density functional theory calculations (DFT) were carried out. The molar ratio and continuous fluctuation data confirmed that the (M:L) ratio was (1:1). In vitro tests were conducted to evaluate Schiff base's antimicrobial action ligand and its metal chelates against fungal and bacterial infections. The findings showed that the antimicrobial efficacy is as follows: When CFAPPd is compared to fluconazol and ofloxacin as reference medications, it is the highly inhibitor complex. The novel CFAP ligand and its complexes were investigated for In vitro carcinogenic potential against Hep‐G2, MCF‐7, and HCT‐116 cell lines. As compared to the medication vinblastine, the results once again demonstrated that CFAPPd is the most active agent. Moreover, the complexes demnstrated strong reactivity in capturing free radicals when their antioxidant activity was investigated. Viscosity, spectral investigations, and gel electrophoreses were used to identify the interaction between metal chelates and DNA. Every examined compound is shown to be an enthusiastic DNA binder by viscosity and spectrophotometric titration investigations. The heightened hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions between aromatic rings could be the cause of this. Ultimately, these compounds could be regarded as promising bioactive substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two novel complexes were synthesized by the reaction of benzothiazol‐pyrimidin‐2‐ylidene ligand (BTP) with Pd (II) and Fe (III) ions. A variety of various spectral and analytical methods (infrared, 1H/NMR, 13C/NMR, electronic spectra, CHN analyses, mass spectra, thermogravimetric analysis, and magnetic susceptibility) were used to characterize the investigated BTP ligand and its complexes. Correlation of experimental results with density functional theory calculation proves that the geometry of BTP‐Fe complex is octahedral, whereas BTP‐Pd complex is square planner. The catalytic effectiveness of BTP complexes were tested for three‐component condensation process under moderate and environmentally friendly reaction conditions. Moreover, the effects of different Lewis acid, basic, and ionic liquid catalysts, as well as solvent and catalyst dose on the catalytic reaction were investigated. Both catalysts demonstrated strong catalytic capability in the carefully regulated ideal reaction circumstances. Heterogeneous catalyst BTP‐Pd exhibited superior catalytic performance compared to homogeneous catalyst BTP‐Fe. All products were obtained in high TOF (turnover frequency) numbers in the presence of these catalysts, which indicate the high efficiency of these catalysts in the synthesis of dihydro‐7H‐5‐thia‐hexaaza‐s‐indacen‐6‐one derivatives. Moreover, the two catalysts' recycling and reusability in reactions were also investigated. Heterogeneous BTP‐Pd catalyst could be reused up to seven times with high efficiency, but the homogeneous catalyst (BTP‐Fe) could only be recycled up to four times. Furthermore, the mechanism of catalytic reaction was suggested and supported by DFT calculation. The simplicity, safety, stability, use of commercially available catalysts, quick reaction times, and excellent yields make it promising for future industrial use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MXenes are a class of two-layered progress metal carbides/nitrides that offer unique properties for diverse applications, including electrocatalysis, supercapacitors, biosensors, water refinement, and many more. Here, we demonstrate a novel MXene@Bi2O3 heterostructure with boosted electrocatalytic activity for OER. Furthermore, pictures captured by electron microscopy demonstrated MXene's strong cooperation with Bi2O3. Additionally, the 2D MXene cooperation created extra pathways for mass transport during OER. Distinctive structure and the synergistic interaction between its components, MXene@Bi2O3 demonstrates remarkable electrocatalytic activity and durability in alkaline environments. With constant current density of 10 mAcm–2, the MXene@Bi2O3 catalyst showed outstanding catalytic activity and an overpotential of around 278 mV, which is 85 mV lower than the pure Bi2O3 catalyst. Combining Ti3C2Tx MXene with Bi2O3 led to increased intrinsic activity and accelerated charge transfer kinetics. This study proposes an effective approach for creating metal oxides and MXene hybrids with distinctive structures for electrocatalytic water splitting. The composite's exceptional electrochemical activity and durability suggest its potential as a very efficient electrocatalyst for water-splitting. Furthermore, this work's design and synthesis of hybrid composites with MXene-based nanomaterials opens up new opportunities for developing novel and efficient electrocatalysts in electrochemical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some novel FeIII, CuII, and PdII chelates incorporating N′‐(1‐methyl‐2‐oxoindolin‐3‐ylidene)benzohydrazide (MIBA) were fabricated. The tested compounds were investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), CHN, spectra analysis (IR, mass spectra, and NMR), melting point, magnetic moments, molar conductance, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, powder X‐ray diffraction, and computational studies. The conductance results showed that the tested FeIII, CuII, and PdII chelates are electrolytes. Magnetic and electronic spectra are applied to deduce the coordinating ability of the tested ligand, and the geometric structure of the studied chelates is found to be octahedral, distorted octahedral, and square planar for FeIII, CuII, and PdII chelates, respectively. The TGA study of these studied complexes displays that the hydrated H2O molecules, acetate, and nitrate are removed in the first and second degradation steps followed directly by degradation of the studied ligand leaving metal oxide as residue. The thermodynamic factors, like ΔS*, ΔH*, E*, A, and ΔG* are evaluated from the TGA curves and explained. The density functional theory (DFT)/B3LYP computation method was applied for the estimation of the molecular electrostatic potential (MEP; highest occupied molecular orbital [HOMO] and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital [LUMO]) energy for the studied compounds. In an in vitro study, the antimicrobial effects of the prepared compounds were screened on various strains of bacteria and fungi. It was found that tested compounds exposed a good biological efficacy through IC50 results close to reference drugs and antitumor potential against (MCF‐7, Hep‐G2, and HC‐T116) cell lines. The data obtained displayed that the studied chelates showed promising antitumor activity. The studied metal chelates were screened for in vitro antioxidant efficacy using DPPH assay. The studied compounds explained dynamic satisfying performance. Also, the crystal structures of breast cancer protein (PDB ID: 3HB5) and Escherichia coli (PDB ID: 2VF5) were performed by molecular docking simulation. Data of docking simulation suggestions are which tested compounds have biological behavior as well as have obvious benefit in the pharmaceutical business. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supercapacitors are a kind of energy storage devices and have recently gained a lot of researcher's interest. However, it is still difficult to create supercapacitors material based on mixed transition metal oxides with large specific capacitance, structural strength, and great energy efficiency at an attractive cost. The simple co-precipitation method was employed to make dysprosium-doped nickel manganese oxide with different concentrations for the energy conversion system. The electrochemical performance of the Dy-doped NiMnO3 on Copper foam (CF) as a conductive substrate was investigated under a 2.0 M KOH electrolyte. The experiments are conducted using cyclic voltammetry (CV) using various ranging scan rates from 5 to 40 mV s−1, galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD) at various current densities of 0.07, 0.05, and 0.1 Ag−1, and (EIS) Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy at frequencies between 100 Hz and 100 kHz. The resultant specific capacitance and energy density of the 0.05 M Dy-doped NMO/CF electrode are 2006 F/g and 72.35 W/kg, separately. Consequently, large amounts of the Dy-doped NiMnO3 have been suggested as a material for applications involving next-generation supercapacitors. Highlights: The Dy-doped NiMnO3 with different concentrations has been prepared by co-precipitation process. The electrochemical result suggests that 0.05 M doped NiMnO3 exhibited the specific capacitance 2006 F/g and energy density of 72.35 Wh/Kg @ 0.05 A/g. The long-term and cyclic stability results indicate that the electrode material display 96% retention capacitance after successive 2000 cycles. The electrochemical performance of perovskite material suggested that these can be used in energy storage applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pb(II) is a significant contaminant that is known to have negative effects on both humans and animals. Recent industrial operations have exacerbated these consequences, and their release of several contaminants, including lead ions, has drawn attention to the potential effects on human health. Therefore, there is a lot of interest in the rapid, accurate, and selective detection of lead ions in various environmental samples. Sensors-based nanomaterials are a significant class among the many tools and methods developed and applied for such purposes. Therefore, a novel green synthesized cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) nanoparticles and functionalized CoFe2O4/Ca-alginate nanocomposite was designed and successfully synthesized for the fabrication of nanoparticles and nanocomposite-coated quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) nanosensors to detect the low concentrations of Pb(II) ions in the aqueous solutions at different temperatures. The structural and morphological properties of synthesized nanoparticles and nanocomposite were characterized using different tools such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption–desorption isotherm, dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential analyzer (ζ-potential), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The QCM results revealed that the green synthesized CoFe2O4 nanoparticles and functionalized CoFe2O4/Ca-alginate nanocomposite-coated QCM nanosensors exhibited high sensitivity, stability, and rapid detection of Pb(II) ions in the aqueous solutions at different temperature. The lowest detection limit for Pb(II) ions in the aqueous solutions could reach 125 ng, which resulted in a frequency shift of 27.49 ± 0.81, 23.63 ± 0.90, and 19.57 ± 0.86 Hz (Δf) for the QCM detector coated with green synthesized CoFe2O4 nanoparticles thin films, and 25.85 ± 0.85, 33.87 ± 0.73, and 6.87 ± 0.08 Hz (Δf) for the QCM detector coated with CoFe2O4/Ca-Alg nanocomposite thin films in a real-time of about 11, 13, and 13 min at 25 °C, 35 °C, and 45 °C, respectively. In addition, the resonance frequency change results showed the superiority of functionalized CoFe2O4/Ca-alginate nanocomposite coated QCM nanosensor over CoFe2O4 nanoparticles towards Pb(II) ions detecting, which attributed to the beneficial properties of alginate biopolymer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cd(II) heavy metal is an extremely dangerous hazardous material for both humans and the environment. Its high toxicity is the reason behind the examination of new techniques for detecting very small concentrations of Cd(II). Recently, Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) has been one of the techniques that have been widely used to detect trace heavy metal ions in solutions. It is a simple, inexpensive, portable, and sensitive gravimetric sensor due to its quality sensitivity lowest to nanograms. In this work, Cuprospinel nanoparticles were synthesized through the green synthesis approach using Psidium guajava L. leaf extract as a reducing agent, which is the first scientific description to report the preparation of these nanoparticles by this method. Subsequently, the synthesized nanoparticles were subjected to the characterization of their crystallinity, structure, and morphology by the XRD, N2 adsorption–desorption, zeta potential, DLS, AFM, SEM, and TEM analyzers. The prepared Cuprospinel nanoparticles were evaluated as a nanosensor for the detection of the very low concentration of Cd(II) ions in aqueous solutions using the QCM technique. The results of the characterization proved that the Cuprospinel nanoparticles have formed in the nanoscale with sub-spherical shapes and particles size ranging from 20 to 80 nm. The BET surface area and pore size analysis revealed that the synthesized Cuprospinel nanoparticles possess a surface area of 47.3 m2/g, an average pore size of 1.5 nm, and a micropore volume of 0.064 cc/g. The QCM results demonstrated the success of the Cuprospinel nanoparticles sensor in detecting the tiny amounts of Cd(II) ions in the aqueous solutions with concentrations reaching about 3.6 ng/L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, Gd3+ doped V 2 O 5 /Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene (GVO/MX) hierarchical architectures have been synthesized by wet chemical approach. As prepared GVO/MX composite, along undoped VO and unsupported GVO were well characterized by XRD, FESEM, EDX, FT-IR and BET techniques. Electrochemical performance of VO, GVO and GVO/MX was evaluated by CV, GCD and EIS measurements. Among the three electrodes, GVO/MX composite exhibited highest electrochemical activity with the optimum specific capacitance of 1024 Fg-1 at 10 mVs−1. The specific capacitance of GVO/MX was ∼1.7 and ∼3 times higher than unsupported GVO (585 Fg-1) and VO (326 Fg-1), respectively. The cyclic life of GVO/MX with capacitance retention 96.12% was observed at 60 mVs−1. EIS measurements showed reduction in electrochemical impedance for GVO/MX as compared to GVO and VO. The corresponding impedance values of Rct and Resr for GVO/MX were calculated as 18 Ω and 1.8 Ω, respectively. The superior capacitive ability of GVO/MX can be ascribed to its unique morphology, short diffusion path and high surface area of fabricated composite. Considering it, the present work provides a feasible strategy to fabricate highly effective electrode materials for next generation energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co3O4/In2O3 nanocomposites were prepared via a microwave-hydrothermal method and directly used as photoanodes for the photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) process to reduce Cr-(VI). The as-prepared Co3O4/In2O3 composites show a rod-like structure, which is composed of nanoparticles. The PEC experiments indicated that after 120 min of irradiation with 0.7 V bias voltage and visible light, the Cr-(VI) reduction efficiency of Co3O4/In2O3 composites in aqueous solution was 100%, which was superior to the samples prepared by other methods. Moreover, the Co3O4/In2O3 composite still had a high catalytic activity after five runs of PEC experiments. Elimination experiments demonstrate that photo-generated electrons (e–) performed a key role in the catalytic reduction of Cr-(VI). The significantly improved PEC performance can be attributed to the bias voltage and the p-n heterojunction formed between Co3O4 and In2O3. Therefore, Co3O4/In2O3 nanocomposites have a considerable potential for the PEC reduction of Cr-(VI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium and sodium compounds supported by tetradentate amino-bis(phenolato) ligands, [Li2(N2O2BuBuPip)] (1), [Na2(N2O2BuBuPip)] (2) (where [N2O2BuBuPip] = 2,2′-N,N’-homopiperazinyl-bis(2-methylene-4,6-tert-butylphenol), and [Li2(N2O2BuMePip)] (3), [Na2(N2O2BuMePip)] (4) (where [N2O2BuMePip] = 2,2′-N,N’-homopiperazinyl-bis(2-methylene-4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol) were synthesized and characterized by NMR spectroscopy and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Variable temperature NMR experiments were performed to understand solution-phase dynamics. The solid-state structures of 1 and 4 were determined by X-ray diffraction and reveal tetrametallic species. PGSE NMR spectroscopic data suggests that 1 maintains its aggregated structure in CD2Cl2. The complexes exhibit good activity for controlled ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide (LA) both solvent free and in solution to yield PLA with low dispersities. Stoichiometric reactions suggest that the formation of PLA may proceed by the typical coordination–insertion mechanism. For example, 7Li NMR experiments show growth of a new resonance when 1 is mixed with 1 equiv. LA and 1H NMR data suggests formation of a Li-alkoxide species upon reaction of 1 with BnOH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type 2 diabetes mellitus has been a major health issue with increasing morbidity and mortality due to macrovascular and microvascular complications. The urgent need for improved methods to control hyperglycemic complications reiterates the development of innovative preventive and therapeutic treatment strategies. In this perspective, xanthone compounds in the pericarp of the mangosteen fruit, especially α-mangostin (MGN), have been recognized to restore damaged pancreatic β-cells for optimal insulin release. Therefore, taking advantage of the robust use of nanotechnology for targeted drug delivery, we herein report the preparation of MGN loaded nanosponges for anti-diabetic therapeutic applications. The nanosponges were prepared by quasi-emulsion solvent evaporation method. Physico-chemical characterization of formulated nanosponges with satisfactory outcomes was performed with Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Zeta potential, hydrodynamic diameter, entrapment efficiency, drug release properties, and stability studies at stress conditions were also tested. Molecular docking analysis revealed significant interactions of α-glucosidase and MGN in a protein-ligand complex. The maximum inhibition by nanosponges against α-glucosidase was observed to be 0.9352 ± 0.0856 µM, 3.11-fold higher than acarbose. In vivo studies were conducted on diabetic rats and plasma glucose levels were estimated by HPLC. Collectively, our findings suggest that MGN-loaded nanosponges may be beneficial in the treatment of diabetes since they prolong the antidiabetic response in plasma and improve patient compliance by slowly releasing MGN and requiring less frequent doses, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the quasi-solid-state polymer electrolyte containing poly(vinyl alcohol)-polypyrrole as a polymer host, potassium iodide (KI), iodine (I2), and different plasticizers (EC, PC, GBL, and DBP) was successfully prepared via the solution casting technique. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to analyze the interaction between the polymer and the plasticizer. X-ray diffraction confirmed the reduction of crystallinity in the polymer electrolyte by plasticizer doping. The ethylene carbonate-based polymer electrolyte showed maximum electrical conductivity of 0.496 S cm−1. The lowest activation energy of 0.863 kJ mol−1 was obtained for the EC-doped polymer electrolyte. The lowest charge transfer resistance Rct1 was due to a faster charge transfer at the counter electrode/electrolyte interface. The polymer electrolyte containing the EC plasticizer exhibited an average roughness of 23.918 nm. A photo-conversion efficiency of 4.19% was recorded in the DSSC with the EC-doped polymer electrolyte under the illumination of 100 mWcm−2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work evaluated the capability of Arthrospira platensis complete biomass (ACDW) and the lipid-free biomass (LFB) to remove ammonium ions (NH4+) from aquaculture wastewater discharge. Under controlled conditions in flasks filled with 100 mL of distilled water (synthetic aqueous solution), a batch process ion-exchange was conducted by changing the main parameters including contact times (15, 30, 45, 60, 120, and 180 min), initial ammonium ion concentrations (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 100 mg·L−1), and initial pH levels (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10) at various dosages of ACDW and LFB as adsorbents (0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, and 0.1 g). After lab optimization, ammonia removal from real aquaculture wastewater was also examined. The removal of ammonium using ACDW and LFB in the synthetic aqueous solution (64.24% and 89.68%, respectively) was higher than that of the real aquaculture effluents (25.70% and 37.80%, respectively). The data of IR and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the existence of various functional groups in the biomass of ACDW and LFB. The adsorption equilibrium isotherms were estimated using Freundlich, Langmuir, and Halsey models, providing an initial description of the ammonia elimination capacity of A. platensis. The experimental kinetic study was suitably fit by a pseudo-second-order equation. On the other hand, as a result of the treatment of real aquaculture wastewater (RAW) using LFB and ACDW, the bacterial counts of the LFB, ACDW, ACDW-RAW, and RAW groups were high (higher than 300 CFU), while the LFB-RAW group showed lower than 100 CFU. The current study is the first work reporting the potential of ammonia-loaded microalgae biomass as a feed source for the rotifer (Brachionus plicatilis). In general, our findings concluded that B. plicatilis was sensitive to A. platensis biomass loaded with ammonia concentrations. Overall, the results in this work showed that the biomass of A. platensis is a promising candidate for removing ammonia from aquaculture wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arthrospira platensis is one of the most important cultured microalgal species in the world. Arthrospira complete dry biomass (ACDB) has been reported as an interesting feedstock for many industries, including biodiesel production. The A. platensis by-product of biodiesel production (lipid-free biomass; LFB) is a source of proteins, functional molecules, and carbohydrates, and can also be reused in several applications. The current study investigated the efficiency of ACDB and LFB in bioremediation of dye (Ismate violet 2R, IV2R) from textile effluents. In addition, the potential of ACDB and LFB loaded by IV2R as a feed for Rotifer, Brachionus plicatilis, was examined. The surface of the adsorbents was characterized by SEM, FTIR, and Raman analysis to understand the adsorption mechanism. The batch sorption method was examined as a function of adsorbent dose (0.02–0.01 g L−1), solution initial concentration (10–100 mg L−1), pH (2–10), and contact time (15–180 min). The kinetic studies and adsorption isotherm models (Freundlich, Langmuir, Tempkin, and Halsey) were used to describe the interaction between dye and adsorbents. The results concluded that the adsorption process increased with increasing ACDB and LFB dose, contact time (120 min), initial IV2R concentration (10 mg L−1), and acidity pH (2 and 6, respectively). For the elimination of industrial textile wastewater, the ACDB and LFB sorbents have good elimination ability of a dye solution by 75.7% and 61.11%, respectively. The kinetic interaction between dye and adsorbents fitted well to Langmuir, Freundlish, and Halsey models for LFB, and Langmuir for ACDB at optimum conditions with R2 > 0.9. In addition, based on the bioassay study, the ACDB and LFB loaded by IV2R up to 0.02 g L−1 may be used as feed for the marine Rotifer B. plicatilis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]