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The limitless possibilities of nanotechnology can be explained by the remarkable antimicrobial activity demonstrated by plant-derived biometallic nanoparticles, with a particular focus on their interactions with metal oxides. Plant-derived biomaterials and metal oxides work harmoniously to provide a new dimension in materials science that might lead to ground-breaking applications in environmental remediation and biomedicine. Using sophisticated analytical methods, including transmission electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction, this work consists of a systematic inquiry into the production and characterization of these biometallic nanoparticles. The results highlight the exact control over particle size, shape, and composition, highlighting how important these factors are in determining the resultant nanoparticles’ ability to fight microbes. One of the main themes involves antioxidant activity, as the biometallic nanoparticles made from plants have the natural capacity to scavenge free radicals, which enhances their antimicrobial effectiveness. The work carefully evaluates the processes behind this dual function, providing insight into the complex interactions between metal oxides and chemicals originating from plants. This study delves into possible uses in biological remediation, where the produced nanoparticles show promise in reducing environmental pollutants. It emphasizes how environmentally benign the suggested biometallic nanoparticles are, imagining a long-term strategy to mitigate microbial dangers and concurrently clean up contaminants in various ecosystems. An in-depth understanding of the complex interactions between biometallic nanoparticles generated from plants and metal oxides, as well as the various roles that these materials play in biological remediation and antimicrobial activity, is obtained. Thus, our review offers a paradigm change in the design and use of materials, opening up opportunities for further developments in nanotechnology.

To address the bottleneck issue of poor carrier separation and transfer efficiency in NiCo2O4 photocatalyst, a novel 1D/2D-rod-on-rose–like NiCO2O4/BiOI nanohybrid with abundant OV's was successfully synthesized using a single-step hydrothermal method and employed to the photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB). The study revealed that the optimized NiCo2O4-OV/BiOI hybrid could possess superior photocatalytic degradation efficiency towards RhB degradation under visible light with a rate constant that was 3.8 and 3.03 times greater than that of BiOI and NiCo2O4-OV. Experimental findings indicated that the formation of NiCo2CO4-OV/BiOI heterojunction significantly improved the charge separation efficiency and facilitated the formation of surface OV's. These OVs enhanced photogenerated e−-h+ separation and increased catalytic efficiency. Quenching experiments results confirmed that both holes and superoxide radicals are playing crucial roles in the degradation process. Thus, an oxygen vacancy and engineering NiCo2CO4-OV/BiOI heterojunction-enhanced degradation mechanism was proposed, offering insights for the integration of advanced oxidation technologies and the development of catalytic materials to enhance pollutant degradation efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Environmental soil contamination is a serious problem for humans worldwide, as it causes many diseases. Methods: The present study focuses on utilizing biosurfactants produced by Pseudomonas stutzeri (P. stutzeri) NA3 and Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) EN6, as an electrolyte for removing chromium (Cr) from contaminated soil using the electrokinetic (EK) process. Results: As a result, biosurfactants produced by P. stutzeri NA3 and B. cereus EN6, being lipopeptides, increase heavy metal mobility in the EK process. The Cr removal efficiency of a novel electrolyte (biosurfactants) in the EK process was compared with that of NA3 and EN6 biosurfactants. The EK results revealed a maximum Cr removal of 75 and 70% by NA3 and EN6, respectively, at the end of 7 days. Discussion: The biosurfactant aids in the breaking down of the heavy metals that are present deeper into the soil matrix. From the metagenomics analysis, it was identified that biosurfactant changes the microbial community with an enhanced ability to remove heavy metals. The phytotoxicity assay confirms that NA3 biosurfactant solution showed 95% seed germination and can lower hazardous pollutants in the soil. Conclusion: The application of biosurfactants as a potent electrolyte for the remediation of hazardous pollutants is an integrated process. Overall, the results of this study suggest that biosurfactants can serve as an economic and efficient electrolyte in the EK process to remove Cr from polluted soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental contamination by hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) and antibiotic drug residues pose significant challenges to public health and ecosystems. This study investigates the application of CoTiO3/BiVO4@MIL-Fe(53) (CT/BV@Fe-MOF) for the reduction of Cr(VI) and degradation of tetracycline (TCL) under visible light. After grafting an iron-based metal–organic framework MIL-Fe(53) on a modified CoTiO3/BiVO4 composite, the photogenerated electrons could easily be transferred from CoTiO3 to BiVO4/Fe-MOF species via interfacial charge transfer. UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy showed that charge carriers were formed in response to visible light absorption. The effect of different operating parameters, including catalyst load, pH, initial Cr(VI), and TCL concentration, was systematically evaluated during the photocatalytic process. The CT/BV@Fe-MOF composite exhibited 98.7% reduction efficiency in Cr(VI) (50 ppm) and 97.5% degradation efficiency towards TCL (30 ppm) within 90 min, resulting in a greater efficiency than the pristine CoTiO3, BiVO4, and Fe-MOF materials. The CT/BV@Fe-MOF composite displayed excellent stability over six cycles, highlighting its potential for practical applications. In addition, the plausible degradation pathway of TCL was evaluated using LC-ESI/MS analysis, while the TEST program was utilized to investigate the toxicity of the products generated during the degradation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]