Beer Singh

Nanocrystalline zinc oxide for the decontamination of sarin.

Nanocrystalline zinc oxide materials were prepared by sol-gel method and were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry, nitrogen adsorption and infrared spectroscopy techniques. The data confirmed the formation of zinc oxide materials of zincite phase with an average crystallite size of approximately 55 nm. Obtained material was tested as destructive adsorbent for the decontamination of sarin and the reaction was followed by GC-NPD and GC-MS techniques. The reaction products were characterized by GC-MS and the data explored the role of hydrolysis reaction in the detoxification of sarin. Sarin was hydrolyzed to form surface bound non-toxic phosphonate on the surface of nano-zinc oxide. The data also revealed the values of rate constant and half-life to be 4.12h(-1) and 0.16 h in the initial stages of the reaction and 0.361 h(-1) and 1.9h at the final stages of the reaction for the decontamination reaction on nanocrystalline ZnO.

Active carbon for removal of toxic chemicals from contaminated water

Coconut charcoals of different grades were studied for assessing the removal efficiency of chemical warfare (CW) agents from aqueous solutions. Oxygen analogue of sulphur mustard and phenol were used as model compounds for CW agents for adsorption studies. Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherms were plotted. Equilibrium constant and maximum adsorption capacity for carbons were computed from the isotherm data. These studies enabled identification of an activated carbon suitable for use in reverse-osmosis water filtration systems.

Photocatalytic inactivation of Bacillus anthracis by titania nanomaterials

Photocatalytic inactivation of Bacillus anthracis was studied by using titania nanomaterials and UVA light. Experimental data clearly indicated that, time of exposure, quantity of catalyst, intensity of light, particle size and Sunlight affected the inactivation. It also demonstrated the pseudo-first order behavior of inactivation kinetics and pointed out the enhanced rate of inactivation in the presence of nano-titania existing as a mixture of anatase and rutile phases. The values of rate constant were found to increase when the quantity of catalyst and intensity of UVA light were increased. Nanosized titania exhibited better inactivation properties than the bulk sized titania materials. Sunlight in the presence of nano-titania (mixture of anatase and rutile phases) displayed better photocatalytic bactericidal activity of B. anthracis than sole treatment of Sunlight.

Effect of calcinations temperature of CuO nanoparticle on the kinetics of decontamination and decontamination products of sulphur mustard.

Present study investigates the potential of CuO nanoparticles calcined at different temperature for the decontamination of persistent chemical warfare agent sulphur mustard (HD) at room temperature (30 ± 2 °C). Nanoparticles were synthesized by precipitation method and characterized by using SEM, EDAX, XRD, and Raman Spectroscopy. Synthesized nanoparticles were tested as destructive adsorbents for the degradation of HD. Reactions were monitored by GC-FID technique and the reaction products characterized by GC-MS. It was observed that the rate of degradation of HD decreases with the increase in calcination temperature and there is a change in the percentage of product of HD degradation. GC-MS data indicated that the elimination product increases with increase in calcination temperature whereas the hydrolysis product decreases.

Supersensitive detection of T-2 toxin by the in situ synthesized π-conjugated molecularly imprinted nanopatterns. An in situ investigation by surface plasmon resonance combined with electrochemistry.

A π-conjugated molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) with nanopatterns for T-2 toxin (T-2) was prepared on SPR chip by in situ electropolymerization of 3-aminophenylboronicacid (3-APBA) with T-2. The complete removal of T-2 from polymer was confirmed in situ by SPR and EIS and also ex situ by SEM, EDAX, fluorescence microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. SEM image of T-2 MIP exhibited nanopatterns due to imprinting of T-2. The MIP of T-2 showed a linear response for T-2 from 2.1 fM to 33.6 fM with a detection limit of 0.1 fM (0.05 pg/mL). In this study, thermodynamic parameters such as change in Gibbs free energy (ΔG), change in enthalpy (ΔH) and change in entropy (ΔS) were determined and the values revealed that the interaction between T-2 and T-2 MIP as spontaneous, endothermic and entropy driven one. Moreover, interactions of very high concentration of interferents with T-2 MIP showed very less response due to the presence of nanopatterns of T-2 in the T-2 MIP. Equilibrium constant (12.7 fM) obtained in this study indicates the super binding affinity of T-2 with T-2 MIP. Moreover, the present methodology provides an outline to develop field-detection equipment capable of detecting T-2 toxin at or well below the guideline concentrations recommended by American subcommittee on military field drinking water.

Removal of sulphur mustard, sarin and simulants on impregnated silica nanoparticles.

Silica nanoparticles of diameter, 24-75 nm and surface area, 875 m(2)/g were synthesized using aero-gel route. Thereafter, nanoparticles were impregnated with reactive chemicals, and used as reactive adsorbent to study the removal of toxic nerve and blister chemical warfare agents and their simulants from solutions. Trichloroisocyanuric acid impregnated silica nanoparticles showed the best performance and indicated physisorption followed by chemisorption/degradation of toxicants. This indicated their suitability as universal decontaminant for nerve and blister agents. This system showed a decrease in t(1/2) from 1210 to 2.8 min for the removal of king of chemical warfare agents, i.e., sulphur mustard. Hydrolysis, dehydrohalogenation and oxidation reactions were found to be the route of degradation of toxicants over impregnated silica nanoparticles.

Catalytic activity of Fe/ZrO2 nanoparticles for dimethyl sulfide oxidation

A low-temperature vapor phase catalytic oxidation of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) with ozone over nano-sized Fe2O3-ZrO2 catalyst is carried out at temperatures of 50-200°C. Nanostructured Fe2O3-ZrO2 catalyst (FZN) is prepared by modified sol-gel method using citric acid as a chelating agent and conventional FZ catalyst is prepared with co-precipitation method. The catalysts are characterized using N2-BET surface area and pore size distributions, X-ray diffraction, TPR, TPD of DMS and NH3, SEM and TEM. The effects of operating temperature, ozone/DMS concentration and gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) on DMS removal efficiencies via catalytic ozonation are investigated. Relatively higher amount of ozone decomposition is observed on nanocatalyst compared to the co-precipitate catalyst from 50°C to 150°C. In contrast, at 200°C irrespective of the particle size, both catalysts performed similar activity. It clearly demonstrates that under ozone assisted catalytic oxidation over nanocatalyst offers the 100% of DMS conversion at lower temperature. The synthesized nanocatalyst and ozone are observed highly efficient for low temperature catalytic oxidation of DMS. The stability test shows that the nanocatalyst have relatively high activity and stability under the reaction conditions. A plausible reaction mechanism has been proposed for the oxidation of DMS based on the possible reaction products.

Applications of Ionic Liquids in Electrochemical Sensors and Biosensors

Ionic liquids (ILs) are salt that exist in the liquid phase at and around 298 K and are comprised of a bulky, asymmetric organic cation and the anion usually inorganic ion but some ILs also with organic anion. ILs have attracted much attention as a replacement for traditional organic solvents as they possess many attractive properties. Among these properties, intrinsic ion conductivity, low volatility, high chemical and thermal stability, low combustibility, and wide electrochemical windows are few. Due to negligible or nonzero volatility of these solvents, they are considered “greener” for the environment as they do not evaporate like volatile organic compounds (VOCs). ILs have been widely used in electrodeposition, electrosynthesis, electrocatalysis, electrochemical capacitor, lubricants, plasticizers, solvent, lithium batteries, solvents to manufacture nanomaterials, extraction, gas absorption agents, and so forth. Besides a brief discussion of the introduction, history, and properties of ILs the major purpose of this review paper is to provide an overview on the advantages of ILs for the synthesis of conducting polymer and nanoparticle when compared to conventional media and also to focus on the electrochemical sensors and biosensors based on IL/composite modified macrodisk electrodes. Subsequently, recent developments and major strategies for enhancing sensing performance are discussed.

Molecularly imprinted nanopatterns for the recognition of biological warfare agent ricin

Molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for biological warfare agent (BWA) ricin was synthesized using silanes in order to avoid harsh environments during the synthesis of MIP. The synthesized MIP was utilized for the recognition of ricin. The complete removal of ricin from polymer was confirmed by fluorescence spectrometer and SEM-EDAX. SEM and EDAX studies confirmed the attachment of silane polymer on the surface of silica gel matrix. SEM image of Ricin-MIP exhibited nanopatterns and it was found to be entirely different from the SEM image of non-imprinted polymer (NIP). BET surface area analysis revealed more surface area (227 m(2)/g) for Ricin-MIP than that of NIP (143 m(2)/g). In addition, surface area study also showed more pore volume (0.5010 cm(3)/g) for Ricin-MIP than that of NIP (0.2828 cm(3)/g) at 12 nm pore diameter confirming the presence of imprinted sites for ricin as the reported diameter of ricin is 12 nm. The recognition and rebinding ability of the Ricin-MIP was tested in aqueous solution. Ricin-MIP rebound more ricin when compared to the NIP. Chromatogram obtained with Ricin-MIP exhibited two peaks due to imprinting, however, chromatogram of NIP exhibited only one peak for free ricin. SDS-PAGE result confirmed the second peak observed in chromatogram of Ricin-MIP as ricin peak. Ricin-MIP exhibited an imprinting efficiency of 1.76 and it also showed 10% interference from the structurally similar protein abrin.

Reactions of sulphur mustard and sarin on V1.02O2.98 nanotubes

Reactions of sulphur mustard and sarin were studied on the surface of V(1.02)O(2.98) nanotubes by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques. The V(1.02)O(2.98) nanotube samples were made by using hydrothermal method and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption, X-ray diffractometry and thermogravimetry. Later, they were exposed to sulphur mustard and sarin separately at ambient temperature (30+/-2 degrees C). The data explored the formation of sulphoxide of sulphur mustard, thiodiglycol for sulphur mustard and isopropyl methyl phosphonic acid for sarin on V(1.02)O(2.98) nanotubes illustrating the role of oxidation and hydrolysis reactions in the decontamination.