The industrial revolution has led to an unequal and uncontrolled distribution of the toxic substances in different compartments of the environment. A large number of researchers have offered specific solution to combat the hazardous and toxic substances. The real challenge faced today is the complex interaction of the pollutants in each compartment compelling the scientists to develop materials offering one spot solution applicable to a wide range of toxicants. The present investigation is an effort to synthesize a range of different materials having multi-dimensional potential for removing diverse pollutants with general efficacy and limited specificity. Though a number of materials fall under the same category, the Zeolites and their tailored forms offer advantages such as thermal stability, low-cost, ease of availability, and high sorption affinity. Zeolites and their functionalized hybrids have attracted interest from academic and industrial laboratories due to high catalytic and exchange properties. In the present research, Zeolite as base material is synthesized from economical precursors using hydrothermal method. Post modification for synthesis of functionalized hybrids is attempted with doping of metals (Cu, Zn, and Cu/Zn), organic moieties ((Thiophene, Dibenzothiophene, and Thiophene/ Dibenzothiophene), and combination of both into the Zeolite framework. On the basis of induced functionality the eleven hybrids of Zeolite are grouped into three categories. The purpose of preparation of hybrids is to have diverse functional groups on the surface of a single Zeolite to adsorb a variety of pollutants from environmental media. The synthesized materials are subjected to a series of characterization techniques to determine surface and bulk properties for effective adsorption. The successful incorporation of the functional groups (Thiol, CH3, and Metal-Oxygen) is indicated by FTIR, BET surface area and SEM analysis proposes that crevices and channels serve as pores for uptake of incoming pollutants. Further, EDX shows silica and alumina percentage which is involved in developing zeolite framework (internal and external linkages) for binding. The thermal stability of Zeolite (360-570°C) is assessed from TGA studies. XRD demonstrates the amorphous nature of Zeolite framework that generally decreases on functionalization. Zeolite and the functionalized hybrids are applied for the removal of Metals (Hg, As), Dyes (Methylene Blue, Methyl Orange), Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (Benzene, Naphthalene, Phenanthrene, and Pyrene), Sulfur (Model Fuel, Commercial fuel) and Insecticide (Imidacloprid). For each application, closed batch adsorption protocol is followed. The results of adsorption experiments confirm the efficiency of synthesized hybrids as adsorbents for the removal of a number of pollutants. Generally, mercury showed better removal than arsenic on the adsorbents. Moreover all Zeolite based hybrids testifies the fitness of pseudo-second order kinetics & Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms for the removal of mercury and arsenic. The hybrids depict higher removal capacity for methylene blue in comparison to methyl orange. Moreover Zeolites shows good removal potential for sulphur, Imidacloprid and polyaromatic as well.
Citrus paradisi (Grapefruit) peel oil has medicinal properties which shows beneficial effects against plant pathogenic fungi Objective: The aim of this research was to investigate the antifungal potential of Citrus paradisi peel oil against different plant pathogenic fungal strainsMethods: The essential oil of Grapefruit peel was provided in different concentrations 0.25 to 0.75ml per 100 ml of media to 3 different plant pathogenic fungal strains i.e, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani and Dreschlera tetramera and its effect on the growth of fungi was recorded Results: The studies provided the results compared with the controlled media, which showed the fungal growth was almost completely inhibited at 0.75ml concentration of oil, even the lower concentration was sufficient to retard the growth Conclusions: The study provided the blue print for fungicidal spray to cure serious diseases in plants, such as, rice blast, papaya fruit rot, seedling collar rot and wilt diseases.
This Ph.D. dissertation mainly focuses on the synthesis of various silver, gold and iron nanoparticles coated with commercially available drugs and compounds having sulfur group in their skeleton. These nanoparticles were investigated for their photophysical and biological applications. Cephradine coated silver nanoparticle were synthesized and their antibacterial effect against gram positive and gram negative bacterial strains was evaluated. Fluconazole coated silver nanoparticles were synthesized and their selective interaction with amoxicillin was analyzed. Furthermore, their antibacterial effect was investigated against S. aureus which was used as a model strain for studying combine effect of amoxicillin on the bactericidal efficiency of fluconazole coated silver nanoparticles. Conjugation of silver with fluconazole enhanced the antifungal effect of resultant nanoparticles against fungi. These nanoparticles displayed synergistic effect in the presence of nystatin against fungal strains. We evaluated the detrimental effect of nanoclusters and nanoparticles stabilized by 3-(diphenylphosphino)propionic acid against biofilm of S. aureus and S. mutans. Results indicates that conjugation of 3-(diphenylphosphino)propionic acid with gold increases the antibiofilm potency against both strains. In comparison with nanoparticles, nanoclusters were found to be more potent. These nanoparticles were also utilized for sensing of pefloxacin mesylate. Tyrosine coated silver nanoparticles were synthesized and the nanoparticles showed selective recognition of chromate ion. Synthesis of metaxylylene diamine coated gold nanoparticles was performed and the synthesized nanoparticles were utilized as a sensor for Fe+3 ion. 2-Mercaptopropionyl glycine coated gold nanoparticle were synthesized and their signal transduction capability against pefloxacin mesylate was explored. Green synthetic protocol was used for the formulation of rutin coated gold and silver nanoparticles, and their antibiofilm potency against E. coli was evaluated by utilizing thirteen different drugs. The antibiofilm capability of devised nanoparticles was estimated. Synthesis of functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles was performed and nanoparticle surface modification was done by grafting aminopropylsilane groups followed by coating of lactose and mannose functional moieties. These nanoparticles were employed for extraction of bacteria.