Green synthesis of iron oxide(Fe_3O_4)nanoparticles using two selected brown seaweeds:Characterization and application for lead bioremediation

The exploitation of different plant materials for the biosynthesis of nanoparticles is considered a green technology because it does not involve any harmful chemicals. In this study, iron oxide nanoparticles（Fe3O4-NPs） were synthesized using a completely green biosynthetic method by reduction of ferric chloride solution using brown seaweed water extracts. The two seaweeds Padina pavonica（Linnaeus） Thivy and Sargassum acinarium（Linnaeus） Setchell 1933 were used in this study. The algae extract was used as a reductant of Fe Cl3 resulting in the phytosynthesis of Fe3O4-NPs. The phytogenic Fe3O4-NPs were characterized by surface plasmon band observed close to 402 nm and 415 nm; the obtained Fe3O4-NPs are in the particle sizes ranged from 10 to 19.5 nm and 21.6 to 27.4 nm for P. pavonica and S. acinarium, respectively. The strong signals of iron were reported in their corresponding EDX spectra. FTIR analyses revealed that sulphated polysaccharides are the main biomolecules in the algae extracts that do dual function of reducing the Fe Cl3 and stabilizing the phytogenic Fe3O4-NPs. The biosynthesized Fe3O4-NPs were entrapped in calcium alginates beads and used in Pb adsorption experiments. The biosynthesized Fe3O4-NPs alginate beads via P. pavonica（Linnaeus） Thivy had high capacity for bioremoval of Pb（91%） while that of S. acinarium（Linnaeus） Setchell 1933 had a capacity of（78%） after 75 min.The values of the process parameters for the maximum Pb removal efficiency by Fe3O4-NPs alginate beads synthesized via P. pavonica（Linnaeus） Thivy were also estimated.

Surface-sulfurized Ag_2O nanoparticles with stable full-solar-spectrum photocatalytic activity

Ag2O has attracted much recent attention,because of its high photocatalytic activity in the ultraviolet(UV)‐visible region.However,there have been few reports on the near‐infrared(NIR)photocatalytic activity of Ag2O.This paper reports the high NIR photocatalytic activity of Ag2O nanoparticles.Ag2O is unsuitable for application in full‐solar‐spectrum photocatalysis,because it is unstable under UV irradiation.A surface sulfurization process was carried out to address this issue.Specifically,a layer of Ag2S2O7nanoparticles was grown on the surface of the Ag2O nanoparticles,to improve the stability of the Ag2O photocatalyst and enhance its photocatalytic activity in the UV,visible and NIR regions.The Ag2O/Ag2S2O7heterostructure is a stable and efficient full‐solar‐spectrum photocatalyst.It has potential application in the photodegradation of organic pollutants,and more generally in environmental engineering where full utilization of the solar spectrum is required.

Synthesis and Excellent Antibacterial Activity of Ag_(2)O-Loaded Carboxymethyl Starch Nanocomposites

Carboxymethyl starch/silver oxide nanocomposites(CMS-Ag_(2)O NCs)were successfully fabricated by modifying carboxymethyl starch(CMS)with Ag_(2)O obtained from an aqueous AgNO_(3)solution as silver source.Ag_(2)O nanoparticles(NPs)formed on the surface of CMS by ion exchange.Based on SEM images,the diameters of Ag_(2)O NPs were determined to be between 50 and 100 nm.From the XRD spectra of CMS-Ag_(2)O NCs,the new diffraction peaks appeared at 33.88°and 38.08°,which were attributed to the Ag_(2)O NPs.According to the XPS analysis,Ag 3d_(5/2)and Ag 3d_(3/2)peaks in CMS-Ag_(2)O NCs were fitted into two main peaks centered at 367.6 eV and 373.6 eV,which were attributed to Ag^(+).The antibacterial efficiencies of CMS-Ag_(2)O NCs against Escherichia coli,Staphylococcus aureus,Pseudoalteromonas tetraodonis,Micrococcus luteus,and Shewanella putrefaciens were determined to be 99.6%,99.7%,99.4%,99.5%,and 99.6%,respectively.The antibacterial efficiencies of CMS-Ag_(2)O NCs against the bacterial species were all greater than 99%.Therefore,these results indicated that CMS-Ag_(2)O NCs was highly effective as a bactericidal agent against multiple bacterial species.CMS-Ag_(2)O NCs can be further applied to antifouling coating.