Screening of urban aerosol particulate composites for selected metal distribution and their dependence on meteorological parameters

Local atmospheric aerosol particulate samples, collected as composites on daily 6-12 hour basis, at Quaid-i-Azam University campus, Islamabad, Pakistan, using high volume sampling technique, were analysed for Pb, Na, K, Fe, Mn, Cd, Cr, Ni, Zn and Co by FAAS method. The monitoring period ran from October, 2001 through March, 2002, with a total of 105 samples collected on cellulose filters, treated in part with the HNO3-based wet digestion method for metal quantification, and for particle size distribution separately. The metal content of the aerosols was examined in relation to dependence on meteorological parameters, such as temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, sun shine and pan evaporation. Statistical correlation analysis was conducted for multiple metal pairs in aerosols, and the data were examined in relation to meteorological parameters and relevant aerosol particle size fractions. The study revealed no viable strong correlation between the meteorological parameters and metal levels; in general, however, a significant positive correlation was found for temperature. A strong positive correlation was observed for PM<25 and PM2.5-10. For coarse particles (PM10-100 and PM>100), however, a negative correlation was observed. The levels of Na, K, Fe and Zn were found in the range of 1-5 microg/m3 while those for the rest of the metals in the sub microg/m3 range. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis were performed on dataset for source identification and appointment. Largest contribution (33%) was shown by the industrial emissions followed by traffic/road dust (16.7%).     

Mixed micelle behavior of Pluronic L64 and Triton X-100 with conventional and dimeric cationic surfactants

The mixed micellar properties of a triblock copolymer, Pluronic L64, (EO)13(PO)30(EO)13, and a nonionic surfactant, Triton X-100, in aqueous solution with conventional alkyl ammonium bromides and their dimeric homologues were investigated with the help of fluorescence and cloud point measurements. The composition of mixed micelles and the interaction parameter, beta, evaluated from the critical micelle concentration (cmc) data for different mixtures using Rubingh's and Motomura's theories are discussed. It has been observed that the mixed micelle formation between monomeric/dimeric alkyl ammonium bromides and L64 was due to synergistic interactions which increase with the increase in hydrophobicity of the cationic component. On the other hand, synergistic mixing was observed in the mixed micelles of Triton X-100 and monomeric cationic surfactants, the magnitude of which decreases slightly with the increase in hydrophobicity of the cationic component. Antagonistic interactions were observed in the case of Triton X-100 and dimeric cationic surfactants.     

Biogenic Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles on a Green Support as a Reusable Catalyst for the Hydrogenation of Nitroarene and Quinoline

Direct attachment of gold nanoparticles to a green support without the use of an external reducing agent and using it for removing toxic pollutants from wastewater, i. e., reduction of nitroarene to amine, are described. A novel approach involving the reduction of gold by the jute plant (Corchorus genus) stem-based (JPS) support itself to form nanoparticles (AuNPs) to be used as a catalytic system (‘dip-catalyst’) and its catalytic activity for the hydrogenation of series of nitroarenes in aqueous media are presented. AuNPs/JPS catalyst was characterized using SEM, UV-Vis, FTIR, TEM, XPS, and ICP-OES. Confined area elemental mapping exhibits uniform and homogeneous distribution of AuNPs on the support surface. TEM shows multi-faceted AuNPs in the range of 20–30 nm. The reactivity of AuNPs/JPS for the transfer hydrogenation of nitroarene as well as hydrogenation of quinoline under molecular H₂ pressure was evaluated. Sodium borohydride, when used as the hydrogen source, demonstrates a high catalytic efficiency in the transfer hydrogenation reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). Quinoline is quantitatively and chemoselectively hydrogenated to 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline (py-THQ) using molecular hydrogen. Reusability studies show that AuNPs are stable on the support surface and their selectivity is not affected.     

Chromatographic identification of “green capping agents” extracted from Nasturtium officinale (Brassicaceae) leaves for the synthesis of MoO3 nanoparticles

A low‐temperature, efficient and effective method was investigated for phytochemical hydroethanolic extraction of Nasturtium officinale (Brassicaceae). The phytocompounds of the selected plant leaves were identified by high‐performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography with mass spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy. Acetic acid, d ‐alanine, octodrine, decanoic acid, and cyclohexylethylamine were the major phytocompounds identified in N. officinale leaves with high similarity match and spectral purity. The reducing and stabilizing potential of the extracted phytochemicals was demonstrated by synthesizing the metal oxide nanoparticles (MoO₃) by treating ammonium heptamolybdate tetrahydrate (H₄MO₇N₆O₂₄.4H₂O) aqueous complex with bioactive compounds of the leaves. The bio‐synthesized MoO₃ nanoparticles were characterized by ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, field emission‐scanning electron microscopy, and gas chromatography with mass spectroscopy. Gas chromatography‐mass spectroscopy identified acetic acid, d ‐alanine, and octodrine as stabilizing agents in the synthesis of MoO₃ nanoparticles.     

Modification of the Fractionated γ-Radiation-Induced Alteration in the Na+/K+-ATPase Activity of Radiosensitive Tissues by Vitamin A

The effect of pre or post-administration of vitamin A in ameliorating the radiation-induced alteration in intestinal and spleen Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity of rats was determined. Rats subjected to multifractionated γ-radiation (20 × 0.5 Gy) over the whole-body showed a significant reduction in Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity being more obvious in spleen than in intestine. Administration of vitamin A at a daily i. p. dose of 15,000 IU/kg bd. wt. for 7 days prior to fractionated γ-irradiation and thereafter twice weekly throughout the exposure period (as pretreatment regimen) or following the end of irradiation for 7 days (as posttreament regimen) afforded a significant protection from radiation-induced inhibition of spleen and intestinal Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity. Even though, pretreatment regimen is more efficient against radiation injury to this enzyme than posttreatment, so that its activity was nearly normalized in the first regimen. The regeneration of normal enzyme activity in the tissues of the vitamin A-pretreated group suggests that the intestinal and spleen epithelia in presence of vitamin A are rendered relatively radioresistant.     

Synthesis of tapioca cellulose-based poly(hydroxamic acid) ligand for heavy metals removal from water

A graft copolymerization was performed using free radical initiating process to prepare the poly(methyl acrylate) grafted copolymer from the tapioca cellulose. The desired material is poly(hydroxamic acid) ligand, which is synthesized from poly(methyl acrylate) grafted cellulose using hydroximation reaction. The tapioca cellulose, grafted cellulose and poly(hydroxamic acid) ligand were characterized by Infrared Spectroscopy and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope. The adsorption capacity with copper was found to be good, 210 mg g^?1 with a faster adsorption rate (t_1/2 = 10.5 min). The adsorption capacities for other heavy metal ions were also found to be strong such as Fe³⁺, Cr³⁺, Co³⁺ and Ni²⁺ were 191, 182, 202 and 173 mg g^?1, respectively at pH 6. To predict the adsorption behavior, the heavy metal ions sorption onto ligand were well-fitted with the Langmuir isotherm model (R² > 0.99), which suggest that the cellulose-based adsorbent i.e., poly(hydroxamic acid) ligand surface is homogenous and monolayer. The reusability was checked by the sorption/desorption process for six cycles and the sorption and extraction efficiency in each cycle was determined. This new adsorbent can be reused in many cycles without any significant loss in its original removal performances.