Abdusalam Uheida

Microsomal Glutathione Transferase 1 Protects Against Toxicity Induced by Silica Nanoparticles but Not by Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

Microsomal glutathione transferase 1 (MGST1) is an antioxidant enzyme located predominantly in the mitochondrial outer membrane and endoplasmic reticulum and has been shown to protect cells from lipid peroxidation induced by a variety of cytostatic drugs and pro-oxidant stimuli. We hypothesized that MGST1 may also protect against nanomaterial-induced cytotoxicity through a specific effect on lipid peroxidation. We evaluated the induction of cytotoxicity and oxidative stress by TiO2, CeO2, SiO2, and ZnO in the human MCF-7 cell line with or without overexpression of MGST1. SiO2 and ZnO nanoparticles caused dose- and time-dependent toxicity, whereas no obvious cytotoxic effects were induced by nanoparticles of TiO2 and CeO2. We also noted pronounced cytotoxicity for three out of four additional SiO2 nanoparticles tested. Overexpression of MGST1 reversed the cytotoxicity of the main SiO2 nanoparticles tested and for one of the supplementary SiO2 nanoparticles but did not protect cells against ZnO-induced cytotoxic effects. The data point toward a role of lipid peroxidation in SiO2 nanoparticle-induced cell death. For ZnO nanoparticles, rapid dissolution was observed, and the subsequent interaction of Zn2+ with cellular targets is likely to contribute to the cytotoxic effects. A direct inhibition of MGST1 by Zn2+ could provide a possible explanation for the lack of protection against ZnO nanoparticles in this model. Our data also showed that SiO2 nanoparticle-induced cytotoxicity is mitigated in the presence of serum, potentially through masking of reactive surface groups by serum proteins, whereas ZnO nanoparticles were cytotoxic both in the presence and in the absence of serum.

Studies on the adsorption of chromium(VI) onto 3-Mercaptopropionic acid coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles.

Chromium (Cr) in the form of Cr(VI) is deemed toxic in water due to its mutagenic and carcinogenic properties. For the successful removal of Cr(VI), we demonstrate a novel adsorbent consisting of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) functionalized with 3-Mercaptopropionic acid (3-MPA). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) confirmed the functionalization of nanoparticles and presence of sulfonate groups. Batch adsorption experiments showed that the functionalized adsorbent recovered 45 mg of Cr(VI)/g of 3-MPA coated SPION at initial concentration of 50mg/L aqueous solution at pH 1 with less than 1% of Fe dissolution from SPION. The results from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed that Cr(VI) chemisorbed onto the adsorbent. Hence, the XPS spectra did not indicate any reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) upon adsorption. The adsorption data were better fitted for the Freundlich model. Moreover, the Cr(VI) adsorption kinetics on functionalized SPION followed a pseudo-second order rate, revealing chemisorption as the dominant mechanism. The high Cr(VI) removal, rapid adsorption kinetics and stability of adsorbent indicate that 3-MPA coated SPION could be an efficient adsorbent for the removal of Cr(VI).

Composite nanofibers for highly efficient photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes from contaminated water

In this study highly efficient photocatalyst based on composite nanofibers containing polyacrylonitrile (PAN), carbon nanotubes (CNT), and surface functionalized TiO2 nanoparticles was developed. The composite nanofibers were fabricated using electrospinning technique followed by chemical crosslinking. The surface modification and morphology changes of the fabricated composite nanofibers were examined through SEM, TEM, and FTIR analysis. The photocatalytic performance of the composite nanofibers for the degradation of model molecules, methylene blue and indigo carmine, under UV irradiation in aqueous solutions was investigated. The results demonstrated that high photodegradation efficiency was obtained in a short time and at low power intensity compared to other reported studies. The effective factors on the degradation of the dyes, such as the amount of catalyst, solution pH and irradiation time were investigated. The experimental kinetic data were fitted using pseudo-first order model. The effect of the composite nanofibers as individual components on the degradation efficiency of MB and IC was evaluated in order to understand the overall photodegradation mechanism. The results obtained showed that all the components possess significant effect on the photodegradation activity of the composite nanofibers. The stability studies demonstrated that the photodegradation efficiency can remain constant at the level of 99% after five consecutive cycles.

Arsenate removal with 3-mercaptopropanoic acid-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles

In the present work, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) surface-coated with 3-mercaptopropanoic acid (3-MPA) were prepared and their feasibility for the removal of arsenate from dilute aqueous solutions was demonstrated. The synthesized 3-MPA-coated SPION was characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Fourier transform infra-red spectrometry (FTIR). Separation efficiency of the coated nanoparticles and the equilibrium isotherm of arsenate adsorption were investigated. The obtained results reveal the arsenate adsorption to be highly pH-dependent, and the maximum adsorption was attained in less than 60 min. The resulting increase of 3-MPA-coated SPION adsorption capacity to twice the adsorption capacity of SPION alone under the same conditions is attributed to the increase of active adsorption sites. An adsorption reaction is proposed. On the other hand, efficient recovery of arsenate from the loaded nanoparticles was achieved using nitric acid (HNO3) solution, which also provides a concentration over the original arsenate solution.

Reversible post-synthesis tuning of the superparamagnetic blocking temperature of γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles by adsorption and desorption of Co(II) ions

The influence of the post-synthesis adsorption of Co(II) ions on the structural and magnetic properties of maghemite (gamma-Fe2O3) nanoparticles with a mean particle size of about 10 nm has been investigated. It is shown that the step-wise adsorption of Co( II) can controllably increase the blocking temperature, T-B, of the system up to 60 K with respect to that of untreated particles, while neither the particle size nor the particle size distribution are significantly modified. This is accompanied by a four-fold increase in the coercivity, H-C, at low temperatures. Using a selective leaching of the previously adsorbed Co(II) ions the T-B and H-C values of the pristine gamma-Fe2O3 nanoparticles are recovered. Hence, a reversible and controllable tailoring of the magnetic properties (e.g., T-B and H-C) of the gamma-Fe2O3 nanoparticles can be achieved by a simple adsorption and desorption process of Co( II) ions after their synthesis.

Adsorption Behavior of Platinum Group Metals (Pd, Pt, Rh) onNonylthiourea-Coated Fe3O4 Nanoparticles

Abstract Magnetite nanoparticles coated with nonylthiourea (NTH) were synthesized and analyzed for the separation and recovery of platinum group metals (PGMs) from diluted aqueous chloride solutions. Physical characterizations of the coated nanoparticles were performed by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and FT‐IR Spectrometry. Separation efficiency of the coated nanoparticles and the equilibrium adsorption isotherm of PGMs were investigated. The maximum adsorption was attained in less than 30 minutes, and the maximum loading capacity of NTH‐coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles for Pt(IV) and Pd(II) was determined to be 10.7 and 8.1 mg g−1, respectively. The recovery of PGMs from the loaded nanoparticles was examined using different eluting solutions, including HNO3, thiourea, and NaClO4.

Removal of Chromium(VI) Using Surface Modified Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

This study describes the removal of Chromium(VI) from aqueous solutions using surface tailored superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) coated with bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)dithiophosphinic acid (Cyanex-301). The synthesized Cyanex-301 coated SPION has been characterized by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Fourier-Transfer Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray Photonic Spectroscopy (XPS), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). The adsorption mechanism was proposed to be via complexation between the thiol group on Cyanex-301 and Cr(VI) ions based on the XPS and FTIR analysis. It has been found that the equilibrium can be attained in less than 2 hr. The adsorption behavior of Cr(VI) on the Cyanex-301 coated SPION can be well described by the Langmuir model and the maximum adsorption capacity for Cr(VI) was estimated to be 30.8 mg/g. The selectivity of the Cyanex-301 coated SPION adsorbent towards Cr(VI) ions was found to be high and the maximum loading capacity obtained is up to an order of magnitude higher than that of other adsorbents reported in the literature. The desorption studies showed that more than 70% of Cr(VI) can be recovered using HNO3 as eluting solution. Our findings suggest a high potential of the designed adsorbent material for the treatment of industrial wastewater containing Cr(VI).

Study of the sorption and separation abilities of commercial solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge Oasis MAX towards Au(III), Pd(II), Pt(IV), and Rh(III)

Abstract This paper presents a new, simple, and rapid procedure for the separation and preconcentration of Au, Pt, Pd, and Rh based on the adsorption of the metals on a commercial solid‐phase extraction (SPE) cartridge, Oasis MAX, which contains a polymeric resin with quaternary ammonium substituents. Adsorption studies revealed that the metal affinity towards the adsorbent ranked according to Au≫Pd>Pt whereas Rh was not retained. The elution of the metals was accomplished by using 0.5 M thiourea in 1 M HCl solution. This sorbent effectively recovered Pd and Pt from a spent car catalyst sample containing large amounts of metals such as Al, Fe, and Ce.

Removal of chromium (VI) from aqueous solutions using surface modified composite nanofibers

A novel material composite nanofibers (PAN-CNT/TiO2-NH2) based on adsorption of Cr(VI) ions, was applied. Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and carbon nanotube (CNTs)/titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2) functionalized with amine groups (TiO2-NH2) composite nanofibers have been fabricated by electrospinning. The nanostructures and the formation process mechanism of the obtained PAN-CNT/TiO2-NH2 composite nanofibers are investigated using FTIR, XRD, XPS, SEM, and TEM. The composite nanofibers were used as a novel adsorbent for removing toxic chromium Cr(VI) in aqueous solution. The kinetic study, adsorption isotherm, pH effect, initial concentration, and thermodynamic study were investigated in batch experiments. The composite nanofibers had a positive effect on the absorption of Cr(VI) ions under neutral and acidic conditions, and the saturated adsorption reached the highest when pH was 2. The adsorption equilibrium reached within 30 and 180min with an initial solution concentration increasing from 10 to 300mg/L, and the process can be better described using nonlinear pseudo first than nonlinear pseudo second order model and Intra-particle diffusion. Isotherm data fitted well using linear and nonlinear Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich-Peterson, and Temkin isotherm adsorption model. Thermodynamic study showed that the adsorption process is exothermic. The adsorption capacity can remain up to 80% after 5 times usage, which show good durability performance. The adsorption mechanism was also studied by UV-vis and XPS.

Rare Earth Ions Adsorption onto Graphene Oxide Nanosheets

ABSTRACT Graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized and used as a coagulant of rare earth elements (REEs) from aqueous solution. Stability and adsorption capacities were exhibited for target REEs such as La(III), Nd(III), Gd(III), and Y(III). The parameters influencing the adsorption capacity of the target species including contact time, pH, initial concentration, and temperature were optimized. The adsorption kinetics and thermodynamics were studied. The method showed quantitative recovery (99%) upon desorption using HNO3 acid (0.1 M) after a short contact time (15 min).