DSpace Collection: Chemistry

Green Synthesis of Titanium Oxide Nanoparticles Using Murraya Paniculata Leaf Extract for Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Congo Red

2026-05-14T16:26:36Z

Title: Green Synthesis of Titanium Oxide Nanoparticles Using Murraya Paniculata Leaf Extract for Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Congo Red Authors: Abdullahi, Z.; Nweke, C. O.; Sumaila, A.; Azaki, G. P. Abstract: Abstract: Due to the growing amount of dye laden industrial effluents being released into water bodies, there is a need for developing efficient and sustainable remediation methods. Herein, titanium oxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles was synthesis via green route using the leaf extract from Murraya paniculata as reduction and capping/stabilizing agent. The biosynthesized titanium oxide nanoparticles were characterized using advance analytical tools such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) and UV-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry. XRD analysis confirmed the formation of highly crystalline anatase phase TiO₂ having crystallite size 18.4 nm while FTIR confirm the presence of Ti–O Ti stretching mode. BET analysis revealed the presence of mesoporosity and a large specific surface area of 235.505 m²/g suitable for photocatalytic application. UV–visible revealed strong absorption of 256 nm in the UV region consistent with the optical properties of TiO₂ and suitable for photocatalytic processes. Nanoparticles showed 73.0% degradation efficiency of Congo red dye after 120 minute of irradiation with UV light Description: Research article

Synthesis and Characterization of MgTiO3 Nanoparticles by Sol-Gel Method

2026-05-14T16:08:52Z

Title: Synthesis and Characterization of MgTiO3 Nanoparticles by Sol-Gel Method Authors: Abdullahi, Z.; Tijani, J. O.; Ajai, A. I.; Abdulkareem, A. S. Abstract: This study is on one-pot synthesis of magnesium titanate (MgTiO3) nanoparticles via sol-gel route. The morphology, particles size, crystal structure, phase identification and functional groups of the produced nanomaterials were studied using high resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) techniques. HRSEM analysis revealed characteristic homogeneous spherical shape for TiO₂ nanoparticles, while MgO and MgTiO₃ exhibited aggregated morphologies with irregular shapes with particle size 13.42 nm for TiO2, 14.65 nm for MgO and 10.47 nm for MgTiO3. XRD analysis established anatase phase of TiO₂, periclase phase for MgO, and mixture of the two phases for MgTiO₃ nanoparticles. Crystallite sizes calculated using Debye-Scherrer equation were 19.10 nm, 39.30 nm, and 17.51 nm for TiO₂, MgO and MgTiO₃ respectively. FTIR spectral profiles of TiO₂, MgO and MgTiO₃ show peaks for surface hydroxyl groups, molecular water, and metal-oxygen stretching. TiO₂ exhibits bands at 3300 cm⁻¹ (O–H) and 670 cm⁻¹ (Ti–O–Ti), MgO exhibited bands at 3400 cm⁻¹ (O–H) and 603 cm⁻¹ (Mg–O), while MgTiO3 exhibited band at 3400 cm-1 (O-H) and at 614 cm-1 and 456 cm-1 (Ti–O–Mg–O). The resultant MgTiO₃ nanocomposite exhibited the desired characteristics, proving the sol-gel process to be a simple method for material preparation with promising applications in different fields Description: Research article

Review of Heavy Metals in Water Systems of Selected Locations in Nigeria

2026-05-14T15:49:44Z

Title: Review of Heavy Metals in Water Systems of Selected Locations in Nigeria Authors: Urom, S.O.; Omozokpia, J. A.; Abudllahi, Z.; Tanko, E.; Nwaehiri, O.H. Abstract: The use of contaminated water could be lethal to both human and aquatic lives. Toxic trace metal are continuously being released into the water bodies around Nigeria resulting from industrial and agricultural activities .Among the various toxic pollutants, heavy metals like lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg), Cadmium (Cd), Zinc (Zn), Cobalt (Co), Manganese (Mn), Arsenic (As) etc and several mixtures of heavy metals have severe action due to their tendency to accumulate in the fish tissue. This work reviews the heavy metals in Nigeria water system. Heavy metals are a problem of magnitude and ecological significance due to their high toxicity and ability to accumulate in living organisms. Many toxicologists have worked on the analysis and detection of heavy metals in the water bodies, soil, sediments, plankton, fish organs etc using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. The results showed a high level of heavy metals above permissible limit except for river system around the central part of Delta State which has a tolerable level compared with WHO standard Description: Review article

Thermal Degradation and Particle Size Distribution Studies of Activated Carbon obtained from Coconut Shells

2026-05-14T14:55:13Z

Title: Thermal Degradation and Particle Size Distribution Studies of Activated Carbon obtained from Coconut Shells Authors: Sumaila, A.; Sumaila, A.O.; Usman, A.O.; Abdullahi, A.S.; Abdullahi, Z. Abstract: Potassium hydroxide as a chemical activator successfully produced activated carbon based coconut shells. The coconut shells were collected from a market in Enugu State, Nigeria, sun-dried and ground into powder. The powdered sample was carbonized for 1 hour at 300°C and then activated with KOH. The thermal stability and particle size distributions of all the samples were then determined using thermogravimetric analysis and dynamic light scattering techniques. The TGA results show that the trend of activated carbon 1:0 < activated carbon 1:1 < activated carbon 1:2 corresponds to the increase in the proportion of KOH. The particle size distribution results of all the samples reveal polydispersity due to their PDI > 0.1 and as well show the presence of additional peaks at small sizes which may be due to additives or buffer components from the activating agents. Thus, both TGA and DLS findings reveal that the prepared activated carbon-based coconut shells are of good thermal stability and particle size distribution Description: Research article