ALBERT

Description: Water is essential for the life of all living organisms. But water with very high hardness (Ca2+ and Mg2+) is harmful to health. In addition, hard water clogs the pipes in the industries. This study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of grafted potato starch as an adsorbent for hard water treatment. Four samples of well water from Nzuguni, Ng’hong’hona, Kisasa, and Swaswa of Dodoma municipal were analyzed by the EDTA titrimetric method. The results showed the highest hardness of 547 mg/L in the water sample of Ng’hong’hona from which hardness was removed. The maximum percentage removal of 74.50% was achieved at 80 minutes of optimum contact time. The optimum adsorbent dose is 3.5 g at which 80.7% of removal was achieved. The optimum temperature was 80°C at which 75.8% of removal achieved. An increase in pH increased the percentage of removal up to a pH of 12 with 71.1%. The data obtained showed that the adsorption process fitted Langmuir type II isothermal model and pseudo-second-order kinetic model with correlation coefficients of 0.9994 and 0.9940, respectively. Grafted potato starch has shown higher efficiency in hardness removal, and hence, this adsorbent is highly recommended for the treatment of hard water.

Description: A selective, accurate, and precise stability-indicating HPLC method for analysis of levamisole hydrochloride in bulk and in their injection and oral solution formulations has been developed and validated in accordance with ICH guidelines. The chromatographic separation was carried out on a C8 column (250 × 4.6 mm with a particle size of 5 micrometer) using a mixture of phosphate buffer pH 8.0 and acetonitrile (70 : 30 v/v) as the mobile phase pumped at a flow rate of 1.5 ml/min with UV detection at 215 nm. The calibration curve was linear over the 10–50 μg/ml concentration range with a correlation coefficient of 1.0000. The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantitation (LOQ) were 0.29 μg/ml and 0.89 μg/ml, respectively. The accuracy and the precision of the developed method were significantly good (RSD 

Description: In this work, the adsorption of Remazol Brilliant Blue (RBB) over raw date pits (RDPs) as an inexpensive adsorbent has been examined. In addition, all parameters such as the adsorbent mass, solution pH, RDP particle size, RBB initial concentration, and temperature on the adsorption of RBB influencing the adsorption procedure were studied to provide fundamental information of the adsorption equilibrium. The characterization of RDP material is investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Based on the calculation, the kinetic rate of the adsorption was well modeled by pseudo-second-order and Langmuir isotherm. Surface functional groups of RDP have substantially been influenced by the adsorption characteristics of RBB. The capacity of the adsorption has achieved 105 mg/g and a removal efficiency of 90.4% at 1.5 g/L RDP mass, 40 mg/L initial dye concentration, pH 2, temperature of 328 K, 40 µm particle size, and contact time of 50 min. The capacity of the adsorption could reach 198 mg/g by increasing the ionic strength of RBB solution. Desorption tests showed that RDP adsorbent has the disadvantage of losing efficiency while reusing for many cycles. However, it still abundant and inexpensive. Therefore, RDP can be used as a potential low-cost bioabsorbent for the elimination of RBB from wastewater.

Description: Rice, one of the most important staple crops in China, is easily contaminated by heavy metal pollution from industrial development. In this work, we systematically investigated the heavy metal (Cr, Cd, Pb, Zn, and Cu) and metalloid (Hg and As) concentrations in paddy soils and different rice tissues in southern Jiangsu Province, China. The potential ecological hazard index method and in vitro simulation test were used to evaluate the influence of heavy metals on local resident health. The results showed that, before rice sowing and at the harvesting period, the order of Eri values was EriCd〉EriHg〉EriAs〉EriPb〉EriCu〉EriCr〉EriZn. The low-risk index values (91.63 and 30.29) for the heavy metals indicated the low risk at the two stages in the study area based on the potential ecological hazard index. As determined with Tessier’s five-stage sequential extraction procedure, the proportions of the chemical speciation of the heavy metals were as follows: residual 〉 organic matter-bound 〉 iron-manganese oxide-bound 〉 carbonate-bound 〉 exchangeable. The order of the values of the accumulation and transfer factors was Cd (3.16) 〉 Cu (0.42) 〉 Zn (0.28) 〉 Pb (0.25) 〉 As (0.07) 〉 Cr (0.04) 〉 Cr (0.03) and root 〉 stem 〉 leaves, respectively. In vitro simulation tests showed that, in both adults and children, the daily amount of Pb and Cd intake through the soil-oral cavity route in the study area did not exceed the daily tolerance for Pb and Cd proposed by the WHO. In summary, although there is no obvious danger to local adults and children, it is necessary to be aware of the possibility of rice contamination from Cd in the soil.

Description: Among many nano materials and chemical materials, zinc oxide nanomaterials have attracted researchers’ interest because of their high efficiency, low cost, easy preparation, and variable morphology. The purpose of this study is to explore the fabrication and conductive process of nano ZnO varistors under the simulation of an animation plane form. In this study, the chemical vapor deposition method was used to prepare nano ZnO. Then, ZnO nanomaterials were mixed with deionized water to form a suspension. Under the action of a micromechanical stirrer, impurities were removed by heat treatment, and then different amount of water was added to obtain a nano ZnO electrode. The conductive process and electrochemical properties of the nano ZnO electrode were investigated and analyzed. The results show that the pressure ratio of the varistor increases obviously after adding nano ZnO. In the range of 0–30%, the pressure ratio of the ZnO varistor increases with the increase in nano ZnO content. When w (nano ZnO) is 30%, the voltage ratio reaches 1.149 and the oxidation peak current ratio of LD decreases by 6%. Therefore, it is concluded that the electrode of nano ZnO varistor valve sheets maintains good stability for a LD conductivity detection process. It also plays an important role in electrochemical research.

Description: Medicinal plants are used worldwide to treat various diseases. However, scientific validation of the therapeutic potential of most medicinal plants is absent, and little to no information on their potential toxicity exists. It is therefore important to assess the efficacy and toxicity of various medicinal plants commonly used in traditional herbal medicine. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the ethanolic extract of Cassia nodosa, a plant used in the treatment of fever, cold, gastric pain, diabetes mellitus, and malaria in Ghana. The stem bark extract of Cassia nodosa was obtained by cold maceration. Following phytochemical examination via standard procedures, the extract was screened for antiplasmodial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. The extract was also evaluated for acute oral toxicity and its toxicity to the liver and kidney of rats. Phytochemicals present in the extract included sterols, alkaloids, tannins, glycosides, and coumarins. In the in vitro antiplasmodial activity test, the Cassia nodosa extract showed moderate antiplasmodial activity with an IC50 value of 23.98 ± 2.07 µg/ml. An ED50 value of 8.52 ± 2.83 mg/kg in the anti-inflammatory test indicated that the Cassia nodosa extract administered orally was very active in reducing inflammation. The total antioxidant capacity of the extract was determined to be 48.49 ± 5.24 gAAE/100 g with the total phenolic content being 28.48 ± 3.13 (gGAE/100 g) extract. In the DPPH radical scavenging assay, the concentration required for 50% inhibition of DPPH radical was found to be 78.71 ± 6.84 µg/mL. There was a gradual increase in the body weight of rats in both treated and control groups during the acute toxicity test. Clinical biochemical tests did not show any significant differences between control and treated groups of animals in terms of liver and renal functions, 14 days after administration of Cassia nodosa extracts. Taken together, these results provide scientific validation for the use of the plant in traditional medicine.

Description: Cement-made materials face durability and sustainability challenges. This is majorly caused by the presence of cracks. Cracking affects the mechanical strength of cement-based materials. Microbiologically induced calcite precipitation (MICP) has been found to enhance compressive strength, thus enhancing on the mechanical and durability properties of these materials. This paper presents the findings of a study conducted to investigate the effect of Bacillus cohnii on compressive strength development of OPC mortar prisms and the effect of Bacillus cohnii on cement setting time and soundness. Microbial concentration of 1.0 × 107 cells·ml−1 was used. Compressive strength tests analyses were carried out for each category of mortar prisms. Compressive strength tests were carried out on the 2nd, 7th, 14th, 28th, 56th, and 90th day of curing in distilled water and microbial solutions. All microbial mortars exhibited a greater compressive strength compared to the control with the highest observed at 90 days. Highest percentage gain in compressive strength was observed at 90 days which is 28.3%. Microstructural analysis was carried out using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) after 28 days of curing. The results indicated the presence of calcium carbonate and more calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) deposits on the bacterial mortars. The bacteria did not have an effect on cement soundness. Setting time was significantly accelerated.

Description: Nano-alumina-doped catechol formaldehyde polymeric composite was prepared, characterized, and applied as an adsorbent for the removal of an anionic dye Congo red (CR) and a cationic dye SafraninO (SF), by adsorption process especially from aqueous solutions. Characterizations such as particle size distribution, zeta potential, BET, FTIR, and FESEM-EDAX were carried out for the adsorbent prepared. All experiments were conducted at the batch condition to study the effects of initial dye concentration (CR: 30–90 mg/L and SF: 10–50 mg/L), pH (2–11), temperature (25–55°C), and adsorbent dosage (0.05–0.3 g) on dye removal. The isotherm models (Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin) were analyzed for this adsorption work. The kinetic data obtained were analyzed by the pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, Bangham, and Chien–Clayton equations. Dyes adsorption data were well fitted with the Freundlich isotherm equilibrium model and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Study results suggested that the nano-alumina-polymeric composite could be an effective adsorbent for anionic dye rather than cationic dye.

Description: Nonylphenol (NP) is considered an environmental toxicant and endocrine-disrupting compound. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of NP on NCTC Clone 1469, nonparenchymal hepatocytes, and to study the molecular basis of NP-induced liver injury. The results showed that NP decreased cell viability and induced nucleus crenulation and intracellular enzyme leakage in NCTC Clone 1469 cells. Additionally, NP-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis of NCTC Clone 1469 are accompanied by upregulating reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, increase of Bax, decrease of Bcl-2, activation of caspase-3 and caspase-12, and release of cytosolic free Ca2+ in the cells. ROS scavenger, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), prevented the intracellular enzyme leakage induced by NP. NP induced alteration of estrogen receptor- (ER-) α and ER-β expression, while ER antagonists, ICI 182,780, showed no effect on NP-induced intracellular enzyme leakage. We proposed that NP triggered cell damage via inducing oxidative stress and apoptosis in cells, but not estrogenic effect.