Activating ZnO nanorods photoanodes in visible light by CdS surface sensitiser

Thin films of c-axis aligned uniform ZnO nanorods (NRs) were fabricated on to fluorine-doped tin oxide-coated soda lime glass substrate by a two-step chemical route. Thereafter ZnO NRs/CdS core shell structures were successfully synthesised by depositing CdS layer on top of vertically aligned ZnO NRs using less hazardous nanocrystal layer deposition technique. The presence of CdS in ZnO NRs/CdS core shell structures was confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray analysis. Examination of structure and morphology of the fabricated films by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) revealed that both films have one-dimensional hexagonal wurtzite structure. Optical properties evaluated from ultraviolet-visible and photoluminescence spectra demonstrated better photo response of ZnO NRs/CdS core shell structure with respect to bare ZnO NR structure. Optical to chemical conversion efficiency of ZnO NRs/CdS photoanode was found to be similar to 1.75 times higher than bare ZnO NRs photoanode in photo electrochemical water splitting under visible light

Synthesis of bentonite clay based hydroxyapatite nanocomposites cross-linked by glutaraldehyde and optimization by response surface methodology for lead removal from aqueous solution

A novel nanocomposite (BT-HAp) was developed by chemical synthesis using hydroxyapatite nanoparticles and bentonite clay and was further applied for toxic lead (Pb) removal from aqueous solution. Three types of bentonite clay based nanocomposites were prepared by varying the pH of the solution (3, 7 and 10) with the addition of glutaraldehyde as a cross-linking agent. The formation and performance of the prepared BT-HAps are described herein. Clear and sharp XRD peaks suggested the presence of hydroxyapatite and bentonite clay compounds in the composite. The FTIR spectra confirmed the existence of the functional groups required to develop the nanocomposite. The Bt-HAp nanocomposites were also characterized in terms of BET, FESEM and TEM etc. to establish their formation. The nanocomposite synthesized at pH 7 showed a higher sorption capacity than those at pH 3 and 10. A mathematical and statistical optimizing technique (response surface methodology) was applied to verify the interactive effects of various parameters on the sorption capacity. The analysis of variance was discussed for the factors and response and confirmed the significance of the predicted model (R-2 = 0.9906). The Langmuir isotherm model best represented the phenomenon having a sorption capacity of 346 mg g(-1) at 30 degrees C. The sorption mechanism was well described by the pseudo 2nd order kinetic model indicating the coexistence of both physisorption and chemisorption. Moreover, a considerable amount of toxic Pb (similar to 99%) removal was observed for the synthesized nanocomposite via sorption

Nanostructured ZnO thin film with improved optical and electrochemical properties prepared by hydrothermal electrochemical deposition technique

Zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films were grown on fluorine-doped tin oxide coated glass substrate by the hydrothermal electrochemical deposition (HTED) route using slightly acidic aqueous zinc acetate solution at 80°C and were characterised by various techniques. The deposited films showed n-type behaviour with improved carrier concentration. The steady state photocurrent densities were found to be 0.4 mA/cm2(under UV irradiation) and 8 μA/cm 2(under visible light illumination) at zero bias potential. Significant improvement of optical, electrochemical and photoelectrochemical properties of deposited films could be achieved using HTED technique

Persistent Organic Pollutants Induced Protein Expression and Immunocrossreactivity by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia PM102: A Prospective Bioremediating Candidate

A novel bacterium capable of growth on trichloroethylene as the sole carbon source was identified as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia PM102 by 16S rDNA sequencing (accession number of NCBI GenBank: JQ797560). In this paper, we report the growth pattern, TCE degradation, and total proteome of this bacterium in presence of various other carbon sources: toluene, phenol, glucose, chloroform, and benzene. TCE degradation was comparatively enhanced in presence of benzene. Densitometric analysis of the intracellular protein profile revealed four proteins of 78.6, 35.14, 26.2, and 20.47 kDa while the extracellular protein profile revealed two distinct bands at 14 kDa and 11 kDa that were induced by TCE, benzene, toluene, and chloroform but absent in the glucose lane. A rabbit was immunised with the total protein extracted from the bacteria grown in 0.2% TCE + 0.2% peptone. Antibody preadsorbed on proteins from peptone grown PM102 cells reacted with a single protein of 35.14 kDa (analysed by MALDI-TOF-mass-spectrometry) from TCE, benzene, toluene, or chloroform grown cells. No reaction was seen for proteins of PM102 grown with glucose. The PM102 strain was immobilised in calcium alginate beads, and TCE degradation by immobilised cells was almost double of that by free cells. The beads could be reused 8 times

Copper Enhanced Monooxygenase Activity and FT-IR Spectroscopic Characterisation of Biotransformation Products in Trichloroethylene Degrading Bacterium: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia PM102

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia PM102 (NCBI GenBank Acc. no. JQ797560) is capable of growth on trichloroethylene as the sole carbon source. In this paper, we report the purification and characterisation of oxygenase present in the PM102 isolate. Enzyme activity was found to be induced 10.3-fold in presence of 0.7 mM copper with a further increment to 14.96-fold in presence of 0.05 mM NADH. Optimum temperature for oxygenase activity was recorded at 36∘C. The reported enzyme was found to have enhanced activity at pH 5 and pH 8, indicating presence of two isoforms. Maximum activity was seen on incubation with benzene compared to other substrates like TCE, chloroform, toluene, hexane, and petroleum benzene. Km and Vmax for benzene were 3.8 mM and 340 U/mg/min and those for TCE were 2.1 mM and 170 U/mg/min. The crude enzyme was partially purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation followed by dialysis. Zymogram analysis revealed two isoforms in the 70% purified enzyme fraction. The activity stain was more prominent when the native gel was incubated in benzene as substrate in comparison to TCE. Crude enzyme and purified enzyme fractions were assayed for TCE degradation by the Fujiwara test. TCE biotransformation products were analysed by FT-IR spectroscopy

Examining the association between stock return and seasonally adjusted trade in India: A strategic approach to Indian stock market during the period of the Covid-19 pandemic

This paper aims to examine the association between Indian stock market return and seasonally adjusted trade for Indian Banking sector shares. The objective of the study is to measure the association between stock return and seasonally adjusted trade in the Indian stock market and recommend strategies. Due to the Covid 19 outbreak banking sector was highly affected, the Government of India also announced a moratorium on all categories of loans, banking business majorly depending on the deposit and loan creation, so the Government decision threaten the banking sector. Many private sector banks terminated temporary staff because of cut cost policies.  We divided the banking sector into three segments. Namely, Public, Private and Small Finance Banks. Utilizing daily data from February 2020 to July 2020, consisting of 2196 in numbers, we ran a panel Vector Autoregression model to analyze the association. It was found that the return of stocks is influencing the volume of trade during this period. Also, while measuring the short-run causality, it is found that the return of banking stocks specifically granger causes the volume of trade. The suggestions of the study lie in providing importance to framing policies on improving the financial health of the economy through different fiscal policies. Strategic policies are required to face post-Covid situations. The turnaround strategies to combat the effects of the pandemic are characterized by the availability of the sustainable resources of the particular sector in consideration