Search

In this study, nano-scaled shielding materials were assembled and fabricated by doping different weight percentages of Nano-mercuric oxide (N-HgO) into Nano-Bentonite (N-Bent) based on using (100-x% N-Bent + x% N-HgO, x = 10, 20, 30, and 40 wt %). The fabricated N-HgO/N-Bent nanocomposites were characterized by FT-IR, XRD, and SEM and evaluated to evaluate their shielding properties toward gamma radiation by using four different γ-ray energies form three point sources; 356 keV from 133Ba, 662 keV from 137Cs as well as 1173, and 1332 keV from 60Co. The γ-rays mass attenuation coefficients were plotted as a function of the doped N-HgO concentrations into N-HgO/N-Bent nanocomposites. The computed values of mass attenuation coefficients (μm), effective atomic number (Zeff) and electron density (Nel) by the as-prepared samples were found to increase, while the half value layer (HVL) and mean free path (MFP) were identified to decrease upon increasing the N-HgO contents. It was concluded also that the increase in N-HgO concentration led to a direct increase in the mass attenuation coefficient from 0.10 to 0.17 cm2/g at 356 keV and from 0.08 to 0.09 cm2/g at 662 keV. However, a slight increase was observed in the identified mass attenuation coefficients at (1172 and 1332 keV).

The verification of taxonomic identities is of the highest significance in the field of biological study and categorization. Morpho-molecular characterization can clarify uncertainties in distinguishing between taxonomic groups. In this study, we characterized five local taxa of the genus Cichorium using morphological and molecular markers for taxonomic authentication and probably future genetic improvement. The five Cichorium taxa grown under the Mediterranean climate using morphological traits and molecular markers showed variations. The examined taxa showed a widespread range of variations in leaf characteristics, i.e., shape, type, texture, margin, and apex and cypsela characteristics i.e., shape, color, and surface pattern. The phylogenetic tree categorized the Cichorium intybus var. intybus and C. intybus var. foliosum in a single group, whereas C. endivia var. endivia was grouped separately. However, C. endivia var. crispum and C. endivia subsp. pumilum were classified as a cluster. The recorded variance between classes using the molecular markers SCoT, ISSR, and RAPD was documented at 34.43%, 36.62%, and 40.34%, respectively. Authentication using molecular tools proved the usefulness of a dichotomous indented key, as revealed by morphological identification. The integrated methodology using morphological and molecular assessment could support improved verification and authentication of the various taxa of chicory. It seems likely that the Egyptian chicory belongs to C. endivia subsp. pumilum.

In this study, we prepared spheroid microstructures of monoclinic bismuth phosphate BiPO4 by a facile solid-state reaction at 500 °C. The crystal structure was refined using the Rietveld method, where the crystal cell was resolved using a monoclinic system (parameters a, b, c, β) with space group P21/n. SEM images showed that the solid catalyst presented homogeneous morphologies. These BiPO4 microparticles (BiP-500) have been used as photocatalysts to photodegrade, under UV light irradiation, three cationic dyes (Rhodamine B, RhB; Methylene Blue, MB; and Toluidine Blue, TB), three anionic dyes (Congo Red, CR; Orange G, OG; and Methyl Orange, MO) and mixtures of RhB-MB, RhB-OG and MO-OG organic dyes. The photodegradation efficiency of these BiP-500 microparticles is found to be optimal in the case of RhB solutions, RhB-MB and RhB-OG binary mixtures. The BiP-500 catalyst shows a high selectivity for the conversion of the mixture of dyes into CO2 and H2O. Total organic carbon analysis of an anionic dye and a cationic dye (RhB, OG and RhB-MB) confirms the mineralization of the pollutants in the presence of BiP-500 particles. The photocatalytic efficiency of our BiP-500 photocatalyst has been confirmed, with a view to facilitate applications in the field of the depollution of wastewater in the agricultural environment by the degradation of parathion-methyl (PM) as a pollutant.

Herein, we report the design of a cost-effective catalyst with excellent recyclability, simple recuperation and facile recovery, and the examination between the reaction cycles via the development of self-supporting g-C3N4 nanosheets/Ag NPs polyester fabric (PES) using a simple, facile and efficient approach. PES fabrics were coated via a sono-coating method with carbon nitride nanosheets (GCNN) along with an in situ setting of Ag nanoparticles on PES coated GCNN surface producing PES-GCNN/Ag0. The elaborated textile-based materials were fully characterized using FTIR, 13C NMR, XRD, TGA, SEM, EDX, etc. Catalytic performance of the designed “Dip-Catalyst” demonstrated that the as-prepared PES-GCCN/Ag0 has effectively catalyzed the hydrogenation of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) in the presence of NaBH4. The 3 × 3 cm2 PES-GCNN/Ag0 showed the best catalytic activity, displaying an apparent rate constant (Kapp) equal to 0.43 min−1 and more than 10 reusability cycles, suggesting that the prepared catalyst-based PES fabric can be a strong nominee for sustainable chemical catalysis. Moreover, the coated fabrics exhibited appreciable antibacterial capacity against Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). The present study opens up new opportunities for the future design of a low cost and large-scale process of functional fabrics.

Polycrystalline bismuth phosphate BiPO4 was synthesized by solid-state reaction at different temperatures varying from 500 to 900 °C. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS) and Raman spectroscopy. The low-temperature phase of BiPO4 has monoclinic structure with a space group P21/n, and was transformed into the monoclinic phase P21/m with a slight distortion of monoclinic lattice when it was heated above 500 °C. The effect of the transformation on the structure, morphology and photocatalytic properties was examined. The photocatalytic activity of each sample, in presence of Rhodamine B (RhB) in aqueous solution, was carried out and analyzed under UV light irradiation. Photoexperiments showed that the material prepared at 500 °C is the best catalyst with degradation efficiency of the order of 96% after 12 min of reaction time under UV light irradiation. This high photocatalytic efficiency could be due to their structural and morphological changes. The photocatalytic degradation mechanism of RhB in the presence of the best photocatalyst BiP-500 °C is proposed. The stability of the catalyst was also examined by carrying out four successive tests of the degradation in the presence of BiP-500 °C. Total organic carbon (TOC) was used to further estimate the rate of mineralization in the presence of BiP-500 °C (83% TOC removal). Photoluminescence experiments performed under UV-laser light irradiation revealed emissions in the green-orange range, with optimal intensities for the mix systems observed at 550 °C.

The electrochemical oxidation of the Rhodamine B dye (Rh-B) was carried out using dimensionally stable type anode (DSA, Ti/Ru0.3Ti0.7O2). The work was performed using the electrochemical flow cell system. The effect of several operating factors, such as supporting electrolytes, current density, electrolysis time, temperature, and initial concentration of Rh-B dye, were investigated. The UV-visible spectroscopy and chemical oxygen demand (COD) measurements were conducted to monitor the removal and degradation of Rh-B. The best color removal achieved was found to be 98.3% after 10 min applying 3.9 mA·cm−2 as a current density using 0.07 mol·L−1 of NaCl. Meanwhile, the highest COD removal rate (93.0%) was obtained for an applied current density of 3.9 mA·cm−2 as the optimal operating condition after 180 min reaction time, with 2.98 kW h·m−3 as energy consumption. This shows that the best conditions for color removal are not certainly the same as those for the COD removal. The rises in the concentration of NaCl, and applied current increased the Rh-B color removal rate. The decline in Rh-B dye concentration followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. The obtained values of apparent rate constant were increased by increasing chloride ion concentration. It is concluded that the electro-oxidation on DSA electrode using a flow cell is a suitable process for the removal of Rh-B dye in aqueous solutions.

Introduction: Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato, is a parasitic disease prevalent in endemic regions. CE frequently leads to the formation of hydatid cysts in various organs, with the liver being the most commonly affected site. Involvement of the spleen has been rarely reported in the literature. Managing disseminated hydatid cyst disease presents significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Case presentation: A 40-year-old female with a past medical history of hypothyroidism presented with sudden onset shortness of breath, dry cough, and chest pain for 3 days. She had a recent travel history to Egypt. Physical examination revealed mild right upper quadrant tenderness. Laboratory findings showed elevated white blood cell count with eosinophilia and increased inflammatory markers. Chest X-ray and pan-computed tomography (Pan-CT) scans identified multiple cystic lesions in the lung, liver and spleen. Serological tests confirmed the presence of anti-Echinococcus antibodies, leading to a diagnosis of disseminated hydatid cyst disease. The patient was managed medically and surgically by a multidisciplinary team. Conclusion: Disseminated hydatid cyst disease, though rare, presents complex diagnostic and management challenges. Timely recognition, supported by clinical, radiological, and serological assessments, is essential. Surgical intervention should be considered in a patient when multiple extrahepatic cysts are present, and rupture is evident, as this approach can significantly reduce patient morbidity and mitigate life-threatening complications.