An aqueous leaf extract of Egeria densa was used to green-synthesize iron (II) and iron (III) oxide nanoparticles from ferrous sulphate and ferric chloride, respectively. The successful green synthesis of the nanoparticles was confirmed through UV–visible spectroscopy, and the colour of the mixtures changed from light-yellow to green-black and reddish-brown for FeO–NPs and Fe₂O₃–NPs, respectively. The morphological characteristics of the nanoparticles were determined using an X-ray diffractometer (XRD), a Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR), a transmission electron microscope (TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The UV–Vis spectrum of the FeO–NPs showed a sharp peak at 290 nm due to the surface plasmon resonance, while that of the Fe₂O₃–NPs showed a sharp peak at 300 nm. TEM analysis revealed that the FeO–NPs were oval to hexagonal in shape and were clustered together with an average size of 18.49 nm, while the Fe₂O₃-NPs were also oval to hexagonal in shape, but some were irregularly shaped, and they clustered together with an average size of 27.96 nm. EDX analysis showed the presence of elemental iron and oxygen in both types of nanoparticles, indicating that these nanoparticles were essentially present in oxide form. The XRD patterns of both the FeO–NPs and Fe₂O₃–NPs depicted that the nanoparticles produced were crystalline in nature and exhibited the rhombohedral crystal structure of hematite. The FT-IR spectra revealed that phenolic compounds were present on the surface of the nanoparticles and were responsible for reducing the iron salts into FeO–NPs and Fe₂O₃–NPs. Conclusively, this work demonstrated for the first time the ability of Elodea aqueous extract to synthesize iron-based nanoparticles from both iron (II) and iron (III) salts, highlighting its versatility as a green reducing and stabilizing agent. The dual-path synthesis approach provides new insights into the influence of the precursor oxidation state on nanoparticle formation, thereby expanding our understanding of plant-mediated nanoparticle production and offering a sustainable route for the fabrication of diverse iron oxide nanostructures. Furthermore, it provides a simple, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly method for the synthesis of the FeO–NPs and Fe₂O₃–NPs using Egeria densa.

Vigna subterranea is an indigenous African legume widely cultivated across the continent. It is a highly diverse crop exhibiting diversity in morpho-agronomic characteristics. This genetic diversity is also crucial for crop improvement as it determines which breeding strategy/ methodology to utilize in its improvement. The study evaluated the diversity in morpho-agronomic characteristics of different accessions of Bambara groundnut. ‘TVSu596’ exhibited the highest germination percentage (100 %) and shortest days to 50 % flowering (40 days) while ‘TVSu11’ had the highest number of leaves (146). Qualitative evaluation revealed the diversity existing in their morphological characteristics. Elemental analysis showed the accessions are rich in mineral elements and exhibit diversity. Principal component analysis revealed 83.37 % of total variations in morphological and yield traits by the first three principal axes. Traits such as number of leaves, petiole length, and days to 50 % flowering furnish most of the variations. Cluster analysis revealed the accessions clustered into 4 groups. These accessions are therefore recommended for utilization in development of improved cultivars or early-maturing varieties.

Elodea species, including Egeria densa, are globally recognized as invasive aquatic macrophytes that significantly disrupt aquatic ecosystems through the formation of dense floating mats thereby inducing anoxic conditions. However, their potential as a source of high-value bioactive compounds remains mostly under-explored. This study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical profile and antioxidant capacity of Elodea methanolic extract to assess its potential for industrial application. Total soluble protein was quantified via the Bicinchoninic Acid (BCA) assay, while total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were determined using colorimetric methods. The antioxidant activity of the extract was assessed using the Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assays, supplemented by qualitative screening for secondary metabolites. Results revealed that the extract possessed a mean soluble protein content of 4.5 ± 0.19 mg BSA eq./g FW, a TPC content of 4.015 ± 0.3 mg GAE/g FW, and a 1.86 ± 0.12 mg QE/g FW. Qualitative screening of the extract revealed the presence of alkaloids and flavonoids. The extract displayed high reducing power (FRAP: 196.6 ± 0.5 µmol Fe²⁺ g⁻¹ FW) and significant radical scavenging activity with an IC50 of 65.5 µg/mL, comparable to the commercial standard, ascorbic acid (IC50 of 61.98 µg/mL). These findings showed that E. densa is rich in pharmacologically active bioactive components; alkaloids, proteins, phenolics, and flavonoids, thereby highlighting its potential as a reservoir of natural antioxidants. It also suggests that the biochemical synergy between soluble proteins and phenolics drives the high antioxidant efficacy of the extract. The results also suggest that E. densa biomass, often overlooked as an invasive species may serve as a sustainable source of bioactive metabolites in the pharmaceutical or food preservative industries.

Triclosan is a persistent antimicrobial contaminant frequently detected in municipal wastewater effluents due to its incomplete removal during conventional wastewater treatment processes. This study evaluates the seasonal concentration and removal of triclosan across two full-scale WWTPs relative to their fluctuating physicochemical properties. Grab samples of primary influent (PI), secondary effluent (SE), and tertiary effluent (TE) were collected across four seasons and quantified using solid-phase extraction and spectrophotometric analysis to identify potential drivers of treatment variability. The results demonstrated marked seasonal variation in triclosan concentrations, with the highest influent concentrations detected during summer, while the lowest concentrations were found during spring for Plant A and winter for Plant B. Triclosan removal efficiency also varied seasonally, ranging from approximately 20% in winter to 75% in summer. While primary and secondary processes achieved moderate removal via hydrophobic partitioning, a systemic decline in tertiary removal efficiency was observed during winter. Pooled Pearson correlation analysis revealed significant positive correlation between temperature and removal efficiency, indicating thermal dependency while the inverse relationship between removal efficiency and salinity (r = −0.68, p = 0.063) suggests a potential inhibitory trend on triclosan mitigation. Based on quantifiable triclosan concentrations above the limit of quantification (LOQ; 2.66 µg/L), tertiary effluent concentrations (<2.66–4.72 µg/L) exceeded the adopted PNEC of 0.05 µg/L, suggesting considerable ecological risk, with risk quotient (RQ) values peaking at 94.4. Although plant B exhibited superior triclosan removal efficiency, quantifiable residual triclosan persisted in the tertiary effluents of both facilities. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of seasonal monitoring and optimization of tertiary treatment processes to improve triclosan removal in municipal wastewater treatment plants. However, the analytical LOQ precluded assessment of ecological risks at lower triclosan concentrations, warranting future monitoring using more sensitive analytical method. The results further demonstrate that urban WWTPs may act as sources of pseudo-persistent triclosan discharge, emphasizing the need for advanced matrix-adaptive treatment technologies and enhanced source-control strategies to mitigate the environmental risks associated with persistent emerging contaminants.