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Considered heavy metals, such as As(III), Bi(II), Cd(II), Cr(VI), Mn(II), Mo(II), Ni(II), Pb(II), Sb(III), Se(-II), Zn(II), and contaminating chemical compounds (monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as phenolic or polycyclic derivatives) in wastewater (petrochemical industries: oil and gas production plants) are currently a major concern in environmental toxicology due to their toxic effects on aquatic and terrestrial life. In order to maintain biodiversity, hydrosphere ecosystems, and people, it is crucial to remove these heavy metals and polluting chemical compounds from the watery environment. In this study, different Nanoparticles (α-Fe 2 O 3 , CuO, and ZnO) were synthesized by green synthesis method using Portulaca oleracea leaf extract and characterized by UV–Vis spectrophotometers, FTIR spectroscopy, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) techniques in order to investigate morphology, composition, and crystalline structure of NPs, these were then used as adsorbent for the removal of As(III), Bi(II), Cd(II), Cr(VI), Mn(II), Mo(II), Ni(II), Pb(II), Sb(III), Se(-II), and Zn(II) from wastewater, and removal efficiencies of were obtained 100% under optimal conditions.

Nanotherapeutic agents play a crucial role in medicine and the bio-nanotechnology field. Because of its cost-effectiveness, plant-based nanoparticle production has sparked a lot of attention, sustainable way, eco-friendly nature, and a plethora of applications. In the present study, the antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) of aqueous extract of Nigella Sativa seeds have been investigated. AgNPs synthesized using N. Sativa extract, characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, X-ray diffraction (XRD), SEM, and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX) techniques showed a peak at 430 nm, with size ranging between 12.97 and 16.37 nm with a spherical shape. Three assays were used to test the antioxidant activity of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles: DPPH, FRAP, and TAC radical scavenging assays, all of which showed strong antioxidant capacity. The disk diffusion method was used for determining the antimicrobial activity of AgNPs. Evaluation of the antimicrobial potential of biosynthesized AgNPs registered the highest inhibitory activity against S. aureus (17.38 mm) followed by E. coli (16.45 mm), B. subtilis (15.5 mm), P. aeruginosa (14.6 mm), and S. Typhimurium (14.35 mm). It was noted that the increased extract concentration in biosynthesized AgNPs leads to a higher zone of inhibition. These results indicated that AgNPs have an effective and strong antimicrobial activity that provides a marvelous source for the development of a new antibacterial drug that can be used for solving the problem of microbial resistance.

Medicinal plants extracts are a rich natural source of bioactive phytochemicals (mainly polyphenols). This study aims at determining the total polyphenols content (TPC) of nine medicinal plants extracted using the UV-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopic method, along with the Orange Data Mining Tool (ODMT). The TPC for the selected medicinal plant extracts (i.e., Daucus carota L. root, Ruta Chalepensis L. Leaves, Anisosciadium DC. Leaves, Thymus vulgaris L. Leaves, Senna alexandrina leaves, Myrtus communis L. leaves, Silybum Marianum L. Flower, Silybum marianum L. Leaves, and Rosa moschata Flower) was measured using gallic acid (GA) as a standard. The intended method requires a maximum of 1 mg of GA and only 1 mg of the plant extract. The wavelength range of the maximum absorption in the UV-vis spectrum was about 270 nm. For polyphenols, the purposed method linear dynamic concertation range (44.67 to 334.7 mg GA equivalent (GAE)/g dry weight (DW)) with a recovery percentage range of 95.3% to 104.3%, and the good regression value, was found to be R2 = 0.999. This method was easy, fast, accurate, and less expensive than the conventional Folin–Ciocalteu method.

In this paper, ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were greenly synthesized at different pH values of 4, 6, 9.5, and 11 via Portulaca oleracea leaf extract, and the effect of pH on the optical and structural properties was studied. UV-Vis spectrophotometers and FTIR spectroscopy characterized the optical properties. Meanwhile, the structural properties were characterized via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). Furthermore, their photocatalytic dye degradation was examined against methyl orange dye. The characterization results have confirmed the successful biosynthesis of ZnO nanoparticles with a size ranging between 22.17 to 27.38 nm. The synthesis pH value significantly influenced ZnO NPs’ optical and morphological properties. The results have also indicated the high performance of the greenly synthesized ZnO NPs for dye degradation.

This study presents the synthesis and application of MgO@SnO2 nanocomposite (NC), surface-modified with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), to address heavy metal removal and hydrocarbon degradation in petroleum wastewater. The nanocomposites were eco-friendly produced using Pistacia lentiscus leaf extract and underwent thorough characterization through X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV–visible spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses, confirming their successful synthesis and modification. Adsorption studies evaluated the nanocomposites’ efficiency in eliminating 11 heavy metals from petroleum wastewater. Results revealed impressive adsorption capacities, achieving complete Cr, Mo, and Sb removal within 20 min and nearly 99% removal of all tested metals within 30 min. Additionally, MgO@SnO2@PVP NC exhibited exceptional photocatalytic activity under sunlight irradiation, leading to an 88% hydrocarbon degradation and an 85% reduction in total suspended solids (TSS) in oily industrial water (OIW) after 30 min, outperforming MgO@SnO2 NC. The reaction kinetics followed a pseudo-first-order model, with rate constant (k) values of 0.041 and 0.090 min−1 for OIW and TSS, respectively. Furthermore, the nanocomposites showed excellent recyclability over five cycles. First-principles calculations confirmed robust adsorption between the nanocomposites and heavy metal ions, validating their binding efficacy. Biosynthesized MgO@SnO2@PVP NC proves effective and recyclable for removing heavy metals and degrading hydrocarbons in petroleum wastewater, presenting promising environmental remediation solutions.

Plant extract-mediated synthesis is a simple, eco-friendly, and inexpensive method for the preparation of efficient antioxidant and photocatalytic nanoparticles. In this study, lemon peel aqueous extract was used to synthesize CuO nanoparticles (NPs) and then the obtained CuO NPs were modified using polyethylene glycol (PEG). The characteristics, optical properties, antioxidant, and photocatalytic activities of the synthesized nanoparticles were investigated. The CuO NPs and CuO/PEG NPs exhibited sphere-like morphology with an average size of 34 nm and 45 nm and optical bandgap energies of 1.2 eV and 1.5 eV, respectively. The antioxidant activity tests showed that the CuO/PEG NPs exhibited significant scavenging activity with IC50 values of 104.6 μg/mL for the β-carotene scavenging assay and 38.1 μg/mL for the ABTS scavenging assay, while CuO showed lower antioxidant activity of about 150.54 μg/mL for β-Carotene linoleic acid bleaching assay and 59.63 μg/mL for the ABTS scavenging assay. In terms of photocatalytic degradation, CuO/PEG NPs demonstrated higher activity compared to CuO NPs alone. They achieved degradation rates of 99.7% for 4-bromophenol (BP) dye and 99.5% for toluidine blue (TP) dye after 90 min, whereas CuO NPs achieved slightly lower rates. The CuO NPs and CuO/PEG NPs displayed significant photocatalytic degradation activity against amoxicillin (antibiotic), with degradation rates of 91% and 98%, respectively, after 120 min. The reaction kinetics of CuO/PEG NPs and CuO NPs followed a pseudo-first order model, with CuO/PEG NPs exhibiting a higher rate constant than CuO NPs. Overall, modifying the CuO NPs with PEG demonstrated excellent photocatalytic properties for environmental remediation and exhibited antioxidant activity, suggesting their potential use in wastewater treatment and therapeutic applications.

The green synthesis method was used to prepare SnO 2 nanoparticles (NPs) from Laurus nobilis L. aqueous extract. Gelatin-based films are a promising substitute for traditional plastics due to their eco-friendliness, low cost, and pliability. However, they have some drawbacks such as high water solubility, poor opacity, and permeability to vapor. The use of synthesized SnO 2 NPs can help address these concerns. The GEL/SnO 2 film has enhanced morphological and physicochemical properties, with antibacterial properties that could extend the shelf life of perishable items like strawberries, contributing to reducing food waste. To improve their antibacterial activity, the SnO 2 NPs were functionalized with the cefazolin (CEF) drug. The synthesized SnO 2 NPs and the CEF@SnO 2 nanocomposite (NC) were characterized using various techniques such as UV-Vis, FTIR, SEM, and XRD. The results showed that the particle sizes of SnO 2 NPs and CEF@SnO 2 NC were 28 nm and 35 nm, respectively, and SEM analysis revealed spherical-shaped agglomerated particles for both. The optical bandgap energy was calculated to be 3.3 and 2.34 eV for SnO 2 NPs and CEF@SnO 2 NC, respectively. The antibacterial activity exhibits an excellent inhibition zone for synthesized SnO2 NPs and the CEF@SnO 2 NC with different concentrations (1, 3, and 5 mM) against Escherichia coli , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and Staphylococcus aureus . CEF@SnO 2 NC revealed a strong effect compared to SnO 2 NPs, where 5 mM shows the highest inhabitation zone. Molecular docking studies supported the experimental data, indicating the interaction between proteins and the CEF@SnO 2 . This approach offers an innovative way of synthesizing drug-loaded SnO 2 NPs as functional biomaterials.

This research aims to explore the utilization of Ocimum basilicum leaf extract as a green and sustainable method for the synthesis of Fe 3 O 4 /NiO nanocomposites (Fe 3 O 4 /NiO NC) with potential applications in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and organic dye degradation. The synthesized Fe 3 O 4 /NiO NC exhibited a unique bandgap energy of 2 eV, making it an effective visible-light photocatalyst. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy confirmed the successful formation of the cubic crystal structure with an average crystallite size of 25.7 nm. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed the presence of hydroxyl groups on the NC surface, which contributed to its photocatalytic properties. Under sunlight exposure, the Fe 3 O 4 /NiO NC demonstrated remarkable photocatalytic degradation efficiency of 99.3% for toluidine blue, 99.0% for 4-bromophenol, and 95.0% for methyl blue within 140 min. The photocatalyst also exhibited excellent reusability with only a slight decrease in efficiency after five cycles. Additionally, the Fe 3 O 4 /NiO NC displayed high photocatalytic activity in hydrogen evolution, generating 933.9 µmol/g of H 2 over 8 h at a concentration of 0.7 g/L. This green synthesis approach, utilizing Ocimum basilicum extract, provides a cost-effective and eco-friendly method to produce Fe 3 O 4 /NiO NC with enhanced photocatalytic properties, holding great promise for sustainable energy and water purification applications. The study contributes to the understanding of novel nanocomposites and their potential for addressing urgent environmental challenges, underscoring their scientific value in green chemistry and renewable energy research.

The widespread use of nonbiodegradable synthetic dyes in various industries has led to significant toxic contamination and water pollution. The release of these dyes into aquatic environments poses serious risks to human health and ecosystems. To address this issue, rapid and efficient techniques for dye removal or transformation are required. In this article, we present a pioneering approach for the synthesis of a highly efficient photocatalyst material, PPAH/Ag@ZnO nanocomposites, for the degradation of organic dyes in wastewater. By integrating silver (Ag) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles within the potassium polyacrylate hydrogel (PPAH) matrix, a two-step method was employed to create stable and effective photocatalytic nanocomposites. The successful formation of PPAH/Ag@ZnO nanocomposites was confirmed through comprehensive characterization using UV–visible spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, and SEM techniques. The photocatalytic performance of the PPAH/Ag@ZnO nanocomposite was evaluated for the degradation of o-toluidine blue (o-TB) and 4-bromophenol (4-Bph) under sunlight. The experimental results demonstrate that the PPAH/Ag@ZnO nanocomposite effectively degrades 98.77% of o-TB and 98.05% of 4-Bph. Moreover, the kinetics of the photocatalytic degradation reactions were investigated, revealing apparent reaction rate constants of 0.0229 and 0.018 min −1 for the degradation of o-TB and 4-Bph, respectively. Additionally, the reusability of the prepared PPAH/Ag@ZnO photocatalyst was evaluated over 5 consecutive cycles, demonstrating its exceptional effectiveness and stability. This innovative approach with hydrogel-based nanoparticles offers a potential breakthrough in the field of photocatalysis for addressing water contamination caused by organic dyes.