Carbon Based Electrode Materials and their Architectures for Capacitive Deionization

The effective desalination and purification devices for seawater/ brackish water treatment are crucial in sustainable progress. Techniques that render high salt removal efficiency and water purification ability at low applied potentials play a central role in sustainable water supplies. One of themis capacitive deionization (CDI) which has drawn significant consideration as a promising deionization technology since the last decade. Desalination efficiency profoundly depends on the utilized electrode material. The most widely used CDI electrodes are carbons due to their cost effectiveness and good stability. However, to acquire high electrosorption capacity, extensive researches are reported with modified carbon materials. CDI cell architectures are equally important for practical high salt removal performance. This review focuses on carbon materials in CDI along with other emerging trends in diverse carbon types, e.g., carbon nanotubes and their composites. Various architectures reported in the literature to improve desalination efficiency are also included here. © 2021, University of Sindh. All rights reserved

Green synthesis of iron oxide nanobiocomposite for the adsorptive removal of heavy metals from the drinking water

The current study aimed to synthesize and characterize the Duranta erecta leaves extract-based iron oxide nanoparticles (D-Fe3O4-NPs) and chitosan biopolymer-based nanocomposites (D-Fe3O4-NC). The synthesized D-Fe3O4-NC was applied for the adsorptive removal of cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb) from water. The nanostructure, porous, rough, crystalline structure, and different functional groups of chitosan and D-Fe3O4-NPs in D-Fe3O4-NC showed that the D-Fe3O4-NC is feasible for suitable adsorbents for quantitative removal of Cd, Cr, and Pb. Based on the batch experiments, the influences of pH, adsorption time, contents of Cd, Cr, and Pb in solution, and temperature were successfully optimized. The adsorption capacities of D-Fe3O4-NC for Cd, Cr, and Pb were observed at 74.4, 76.0, and 75.2 mg g−1, respectively. The adsorption isotherms fitted the Freundlich Model equation well, and the adsorption kinetics followed pseudo-second-order kinetics for the adsorption of these toxic metals. D-Fe3O4-NC showed an excellent recyclable efficiency up to multiple analyses (n = 20). The D-Fe3O4-NC was an excellent adsorbent for removing toxic metals from municipal and hand pump water samples (% removal >93%). Therefore, the proposed D-Fe3O4-NC is the most efficient and selective adsorbent for removing Cd, Cr, and Pb from drinking water up to recommended permissible limit. © 2023 Elsevier B.V.Commission on Higher Education, CHED: 8147/Sindh/NRPU/R;D/HEC/2017; National Centre of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh, NCEACThe proposed research study was conducted by the education institute (National Centre of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro) and partially supported by the High Education Commission (HEC) Islamabad, Pakistan for project grants as project No. 8147/Sindh/NRPU/R;D/HEC/2017.All authors appreciatively acknowledge the High Education Commission (HEC) Islamabad, Pakistan, for project grants as project No. 8147/Sindh/NRPU/R;D/HEC/2017 and the National Centre of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro for the financial assistant of the current study. The authors also acknowledge the Young Welfare Society Sindh for their assistance in the collection of drinking water samples from different areas of districts Jamshoro and Hyderabad.The proposed research study was conducted by the education institute ( National Centre of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry , University of Sindh , Jamshoro) and partially supported by the High Education Commission (HEC) Islamabad , Pakistan for project grants as project No. 8147/Sindh/NRPU/R;D/HEC/2017

Frequency of Obesity among Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Patients

Objective: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) prevalence ranges from 24% to 35% in Pakistani population. Studies have demonstrated GERD frequency is directly proportional to increasing weight. Thus, the frequency of obesity among gastro esophageal reflux disease patients was determined. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted on outpatients with GERD visiting Department of Hepatogastroenterology, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Karachi; from December 2017 to June 2018. Clinical and demographic parameters of study population were recorded. Body mass index (BMI) more than 27 was labeled as obese. Patients with history of ischemic heart disease, pregnancy, ascites and/or Patients on NSAIDS, bisphosphonates or steroids were excluded. Results: One hundred and fifty patients with mean age of 43.3±11.5 years were included in study. Eighty-seven patients (63.3%) had age more than 40 years. Majority of study population were males 95 (63.3%). Mean height and weight of study population were 163.09±9.56 cm and 72.92±15.13 kg, respectively. Mean BMI were 27.55±6.02 in which 71 (47.3%) were obese i.e., BMI &gt;27. Majority were Urdu speaking i.e., 57 (38%) followed by Sindhi 31 (20%) Diabetes mellitus was documented in 22 (14.7%) and hypertension in 16 (10.7%) patients. Statistically significant association of GERD was seen in obese females (p-value: 0.018) Conclusion: Increase frequency of obesity is significantly associated with GERD. More proportion of obese females has GERD. Keywords: Gastro esophageal reflux disease; Body mass index; Weight; height</jats:p

Biosynthesis and Analytical Characterization of Iron Oxide Nanobiocomposite for In-Depth Adsorption Strategy for the Removal of Toxic Metals from Drinking Water

The biosynthesis of the iron oxide nanoparticles was done using Ixoro coccinea leaf extract, followed by the fabrication of iron oxide nanobiocomposites (I-Fe3O4-NBC) using chitosan biopolymer. Furthermore, the synthesized I-Fe3O4-NPs and I-Fe3O4-NBC were characterized, and I-Fe3O4-NBC was applied to remove toxic metals (TMs: Cd, Ni, and Pb) from water. The characterization study confirmed that the nanostructure, porous, rough, crystalline structure, and different functional groups of chitosan and I-Fe3O4-NPs in I-Fe3O4-NBCs showed their feasibility for the application as excellent adsorbents for quantitative removal of TMs. The batch mode strategy as feasibility testing was done to optimize different adsorption parameters (pH, concentrations of TMs, dose of I-Fe3O4-NBC, contact time, and temperature) for maximum removal of TMs from water by Fe3O4-NBC. The maximum adsorption capacities using nanocomposites for Cd, Ni, and Pb were 66.0, 60.0, and 66.4 mg g?1, respectively. The adsorption process follows the Freundlich isotherm model by I-Fe3O4-NBC to remove Cd and Ni, while the Pb may be adsorption followed by multilayer surface coverage. The proposed adsorption process was best fitted to follow pseudo-second-order kinetics and showed an exothermic, favorable, and spontaneous nature. In addition, the I-Fe3O4-NBC was applied to adsorption TMs from surface water (%recovery > 95%). Thus, it can be concluded that the proposed nanocomposite is most efficient in removing TMs from drinking water up to recommended permissible limit. © 2022, King Fahd University of Petroleum ; Minerals.National Centre of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh, NCEACAll authors appreciatively acknowledge the Higher Education Commission (HEC.) Islamabad, Pakistan, for project grants as project No. 8147/Sindh/NRPU/R;D/HEC/2017 and the National Centre of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, for the partial financial assistance of the current study. The authors also acknowledge the Young Welfare Society Sindh for their help for collecting the drinking water samples from different districts of districts Jamshoro and Hyderabad

Complexation of ibuprofen with water soluble p-sulfonatocalix [4] arene: A potential candidate for drug delivery application

Complexation of ibuprofen with water soluble p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene (3) was evaluated. Both molecules exhibit a host and guest type complexation. pH, complex stoichiometry and binding constant were determined by UV-Vis and FT-IR spectroscopy. The maximum complexation of 3 with ibuprofen occurs at pH 2. Stability constant values (9.897) show that there is favorable complex formed due to vital role of p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene, while the thermodynamic parameters, i.e. Delta Q Delta H and Delta S have been found as -24.09 KJ/mol, 0.012 KJ/mol and 0.12 KJ/mol. K, respectively. The results show that 3 has efficiency to carry the drug at particular conditions and can be used for drug delivery as a carrier