Metal oxide nanoparticles and their composites have garnered significant attention in water treatment and environmental cleanup due to their unique physicochemical properties.

Hybrid polymer films of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) embedded with gradient levels of Bi-powder were prepared using a conventional solution casting process. XRD, FTIR, and SEM techniques have been used to examine the micro/molecular structure and morphology of the synthesized flexible films. The intensities of the diffraction peaks and transmission spectrum of the PVP/PVA gradually declined with the introduction of Bi-metal. In addition, filler changes the microstructure surface of the pure film. The modification in the microstructure leads to an enhancement in the optical absorption characteristic of the blend films. The indirect allowed transition energy was calculated via Tauc’s and ASF (Absorption Spectra Fitting) models. The decrease in the hybrid film’s bandgap returns to the localized states in the forbidden region, which led the present films to be suitable for photo-electric, solar cell, etc., applications. The relation between the transition energy and the refractive index was studied. The enhancement in the refractive index with Bi-metal concentrations led to use the as-prepared films in optical sensors. The rise of Bi-metal concentrations leads also to the improvement of the nonlinear susceptibility and refractive parameters. The optical limiting characteristics revealed that the higher concentration dopant films reduce the light transmission intensity which is appropriate for laser attenuation and optical limiting in photonic devices. The results suggest that hybrid films are promising materials in a wide range of opto-electronic applications.

Microplastics (5 μm) are a developing threat that contaminate every environmental compartment.

The quinoline-acid hydrazide derivative was synthesized and transformed into a variety of interesting N-heterocycles like pyridazinone, oxadiazole, triazolopyridazine, and triazole derivatives. These N-heterocycles interacted with chitosan nanoparticles to produce different chitosan-heterocyclic nanocomposites. The nanocomposites obtained were characterized using Transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier-transform infrared techniques and exhibited a somewhat narrow size distribution with an average particle size of 10-53 nm. The insecticidal activity for some of the synthesized N-heterocycles and their nanocomposites obtained were screened against Mythimna separata and Nilaparvata lugens. The obtained chitosan-N-heterocycles nanocomposites enhanced the insecticidal activity.

Because of the serious risks they pose to the environment and public health, chlorophenols (CPs), a typical class of the most persistent organic pollutants, have drawn increasing attention. Monitoring CPs effectively has become a pressing and difficult problem. The rapidly increasing need for onsite and real-time CP detection has led to the consideration of electrochemical sensing as a workable solution. Molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-based electrochemical sensing has emerged as a promising area for environmental monitoring in response to this analytical problem. MIPs, in conjunction with miniature electrochemical transducers, provide the opportunity to detect target analytes in situ. These devices have the advantages of great chemical and physical stability, cheap production costs, good selectivity, and quick response times. Most studies suggest that these sensors use nanoparticles to improve their analytical properties, especially sensitivity. Furthermore, these sensors have successfully used real water samples without the need for time-consuming pretreatment procedures. This article provides an overview of electrochemical MIP-based sensors reported to detect CPs in water samples. To obtain the highest sensitivity, special consideration is given to the fabrication of the sensors, which includes the use of various functional monomers, sensing platforms, and materials. Several other parameters are also discussed, including the linear concentration range, limit of detection, and the types of water samples that were examined.

Hexahydroquinolines were prepared and supported by in silico studies. Thiosemicarbazide and thiazolidinone derivatives showed the highest in vitro antiproliferative potency against liver, breast, prostate, and colon cancer cell lines.