Ultrasensitive and selective 4-aminophenol chemical sensor development based on nickel oxide nanoparticles decorated carbon nanotube nanocomposites for green environment

Nickel oxide nanoparticles decorated carbon nanotube nanocomposites(Ni O·CNT NCs)were prepared in a basic medium by using facile wet-chemical routes. The optical,morphological, and structural properties of Ni O·CNT NCs were characterized using Fourier transformed infra-red(FT-IR), Ultra-violet visible(UV/Vis) spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy(FESEM), X-ray energy dispersed spectroscopy(XEDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS), and powder X-ray diffraction(XRD) methods. Selective4-aminophenol(4-AP) chemical sensor was developed by a flat glassy carbon electrode(GCE, surface area: 0.0316 cm~2) fabricated with a thin-layer of NCs. Electrochemical responses including higher sensitivity, large dynamic range(LDR), limit of detection(LOD), and long-term stability towards 4-AP were obtained using the fabricated chemical sensors. The calibration curve was found linear(R~2= 0.914) over a wide range of 4-AP concentration(0.1 nmol/L–0.1 mol/L). In perspective of slope(2 × 10~(-5)μA/μM), LOD and sensitivity were calculated as 15.0 ± 0.1 pM and ~ 6.33 × 10~(-4)μA/(μM·cm) respectively. The synthesized Ni O·CNT NCs using a wet-chemical method is a significant route for the development of ultrasensitive and selective phenolic sensor based on nano-materials for environmental toxic substances. It is suggested that a pioneer and selective development of 4-AP sensitive sensor using Ni O·CNT NCs by a facile and reliable current vs voltage(I–V)method for the major application of toxic agents in biological, green environmental, and health-care fields in near future.     

The oldest African bat from the early Eocene of El Kohol (Algeria)

The Afro-Arabian Paleogene fossil record of Chiroptera is very poor. In North Africa and Arabia, this record is limited, thus far, to a few localities mainly in Tunisia (Chambi, late early Eocene), Egypt (Fayum, late Eocene to early Oligocene), and Sultanate of Oman (Taqah, early Oligocene). It consists primarily of isolated teeth or mandible fragments. Interestingly, these African fossil bats document two modern groups (Vespertilionoidea and Rhinolophoidea) from the early Eocene, while the bat fossil record of the same epoch of North America, Eurasia, and Australia principally includes members of the ??Eochiroptera.?? This paraphyletic group contains all primitive microbats excluding modern families. In Algeria, the region of Brezina, southeast of the Atlas Mountains, is famous for the early Eocene El Kohol Formation, which has yielded one of the earliest mammalian faunas of the African landmass. Recent fieldwork in the same area has led to the discovery of a new vertebrate locality, including isolated teeth of Chiroptera. These fossils represent the oldest occurrence of Chiroptera in Africa, thus extending back the record of the group to the middle early Eocene (Ypresian) on that continent. The material consists of an upper molar and two fragments of lower molars. The dental character association matches that of ??Eochiroptera.?? As such, although very fragmentary, the material testifies to the first occurrence of ??Eochiroptera?? in Algeria, and by extension in Africa. This discovery demonstrates that this basal group of Chiroptera had a worldwide distribution during the early Paleogene.     

Rapid release of heavy metals and anions from polyethylene laminated paper cups into hot water

Polyethylene laminated disposable paper cups are commonly used as a container for hot drinks, yet there is limited knowledge on the transfer of contaminants from the cup to the drink. Here we poured 95^?C hot water in 14 cups, to simulate the preparation of hot beverage for daily use. We studied the water composition after 15 min by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and ion chromatography. Results show the presence of metals such as vanadium, chromium, copper, cobalt and arsenic at concentration ranging from 0.04 to 1.80 µg/L. Nitrate, nitrite, chloride, bromate, fluoride and sulfate ions were also detected at concentration from 0.003 to 49.21 mg/L. All concentrations are below the WHO maximum permissible limits in drinking water. However, the levels of vanadium at 1.24 µg/L and fluoride ions at 1.03 mg/L are likely to induce a health risk by bioaccumulation after long-term water ingestion. Therefore paper cups composition should be modified to avoid the release of contaminants in hot drinks.

     

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on air pollution: a global research framework,challenges, and future perspectives

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - As a result of extreme modifications in human activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, the status of air quality has recently been improved. This...     

A systematic review of the utilization of waste materials as aggregate replacement in stone matrix asphalt mixes

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The daily utilization of a large amount of raw materials is causing a rapid depletion of natural resources. The growth of the human population is...     

Occurrence of toxic metals and their selective pressure for antibiotic-resistant clinically relevant bacteria and antibiotic-resistant genes in river receiving systems under tropical conditions

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The co-occurrence of heavy metals, antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) from hospital effluents spreading into...     

Isolation and characterization of a mesophilic cellulolytic endophyte Preussia africana from Juniperus oxycedrus

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The medicinal plant Juniperus oxycedrus is less recognized for the diversity of its fungal endophytes and their potential to produce extracellular...     

Forecasting carbon emissions due to electricity power generation in Bahrain

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Global warming and climate change have become one of the most embarrassing and explosive problems/challenges all over the world, especially in...     

Autoclave and pulsed ultrasound cavitation based thermal activation of persulfate for regeneration of hydrogen titanate nanotubes as recyclable dye adsorbent

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In the dye removal application, regeneration of hydrogen titanate nanotubes (HTN, H2Ti3O7) has been achieved via thermal activation of persulfate...