Organochlorine compounds (OCs) are very toxic, highly persistent, and ubiquitous contaminants in the environment. Degradation of lindane, a selected OC, by simulated solar light-activated TiO₂ (SSLA-TiO₂) photocatalysis was investigated. The film types of the TiO₂ photocatalyst were prepared using a dip-coating method. The physical properties of the films were investigated using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and environmental scanning electron microscopy. The SSLA-TiO₂ photocatalysis led to a lindane removal of 23% in 6 h, with 0.042 h⁻¹ of an observed pseudo first-order rate constant (k_obs). The SSLA-TiO₂ photocatalysis efficiency was greatly enhanced by adding hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), persulfate (S₂O₈²⁻), or both combined, corresponding to a 64%, 89%, and 99% lindane removal in the presence of 200 µM of H₂O₂, S₂O₈²⁻, or equimolar H₂O₂-S₂O₈²⁻, respectively. The hydroxyl and sulfate radicals mainly participated in lindane degradation, proven by the results of a radical scavenger study. The degradation kinetics were hindered in the presence of the water constituents, indicated by a 61%, 35%, 50%, 70%, 88%, and 91% degradation of lindane in 6 h, using a SSLA-TiO₂/S₂O₈²⁻/H₂O₂ photocatalysis system containing 1.0 mg L⁻¹ humic acid (HA), or 1 mM of CO₃²⁻, HCO₃⁻, NO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻, and Cl⁻, respectively. The TiO₂ film demonstrated high reusability during four runs of lindane decomposition experiments. The SSLA-TiO₂/S₂O₈²⁻/H₂O₂ photocatalysis is very effective for the elimination of a persistent OC, lindane, from a water environment.

Natural resources are non-renewable and facing a regular depletion due to their immense use which demands new and additional material's reserves, recycling technologies and materials with no or less bad environmental effects. Reuse of waste materials will be rewarding technically, economically and environmentally. Here, we report the incorporation of industrial ceramic wastes in polymer matrix as composite materials to investigate their potentials for various applications. Ceramic wastes were collected from the premises of ceramic producing industries located at Peshawar (Pakistan). The composites of ceramic particles and polyaniline (PANI) were produced via in-situ free polymerization technique. SEM and FT-IR analysis confirmed composite formation. Thermal, dielectric and mechanical properties of the prepared materials were studied. It was found that both the constituent materials (ceramic and polymer) have a synergistic effect on each other. At one hand, ceramic wastes support and enhance the thermal and mechanical properties of the polymer in composites and the polymer in turn beautify the wastes with good dielectric and electrical properties. Based on their properties, the low cost and environmentally friendly novel composites could be used for various applications such as semi-conductors, capacitors and microwave devices.

The purpose of study was to analyze the effects of yeast based toxin binder (YTB) on growth performance and intestinal microarchitecture of buffalo calves exposed to different concentrations of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Male buffalo calves (n=72) having no disease exposure in the last four months, aged 10 ± 1 months and weighing 150 ± 12.22 kg (Mean ± standard deviation)were purchased from a buffalo calf fattening farm and divided in 8 equal groups (n=9 animals in each group). Animals that were fed common basal diet and basal diet along with yeast cell wall based toxin binder (YTB) and had no exposure to AFB1 were served as controls. Different concentrations of AFB1 (6mg, 8mg and 10mg per kg of feed) were given to 27 animals, similarly 2mg of YTB (per kg of contaminated feed) was added to concentrate with different AFB1 concentrations and fed to another 27 animals. Average daily gain of each animal was recorded. Animals were slaughtered after 27 days and intestinal segments from duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon were collected which were stained with hematoxylin/eosin or combined alcian blue and periodic acid schiff stain. Average daily gain and intestinal morphometric parameters (villus height, villus width, crypt depth and surface area) in all the selected intestinal segments decreased (P