Most cited article - PubMed ID 30500492
Production of electrospun nanofibers based on graphene oxide/gum Arabic
We have fabricated ZnO nanoflake structures using degummed silk fibers as templates, via soaking and calcining the silk fibers bearing ZnO nanoparticles at 150 °C for 6 h. The obtained ZnO nanostructures were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopic analysis. The size (~500-700 nm) in length and thicknesses (~60 nm) of ZnO nanoflakes were produced. The catalysis performances of ZnO nanoflakes on silk fibers (ZnSk) via photo-degradation of naphthalene (93% in 256 min), as well as Rose Bengal dye removal (~1.7 mM g-1) through adsorption from aqueous solution, were practically observed. Further, ZnSk displayed superb antibacterial activity against the tested model gram-negative Escherichia coli bacterium. The produced ZnSk has huge scope to be used for real-world water contaminants remediation applications.
- Keywords
- ZnO, antibacterial efficiency, dye removal, nanoflakes, photo-degradation, silk fibers,
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
Over the years, polyaniline (PANI) has received enormous attention due to its unique properties. Herein, it was chosen to develop a new polymeric composite material: reduced graphene oxide/polyaniline (rGO/PANI). The composite was prepared by a simple and cost-effective fabrication method of formation by mixing and sonication in various conditions. The obtained materials were characterized and identified using various techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The objective of the paper was to confirm its applicability for the removal of contaminants from water. Water could be contaminated by various types of pollutants, e.g., inorganics, heavy metals, and many other industrial compounds, including dyes. We confirmed that the Acid Blue 129 dyes can be substantially removed through adsorption on prepared rGO/PANI. The adsorption kinetic data were modeled using the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models and the adsorption isotherm model was identified.
- Keywords
- Acid Blue 129, adsorption, graphene, nanocomposite,
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
Natural biopolymers, a class of materials extracted from renewable sources, is garnering interest due to growing concerns over environmental safety; biopolymers have the advantage of biocompatibility and biodegradability, an imperative requirement. The synthesis of nanoparticles and nanofibers from biopolymers provides a green platform relative to the conventional methods that use hazardous chemicals. However, it is challenging to characterize these nanoparticles and fibers due to the variation in size, shape, and morphology. In order to evaluate these properties, microscopic techniques such as optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) are essential. With the advent of new biopolymer systems, it is necessary to obtain insights into the fundamental structures of these systems to determine their structural, physical, and morphological properties, which play a vital role in defining their performance and applications. Microscopic techniques perform a decisive role in revealing intricate details, which assists in the appraisal of microstructure, surface morphology, chemical composition, and interfacial properties. This review highlights the significance of various microscopic techniques incorporating the literature details that help characterize biopolymers and their derivatives.
