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Facile synthesis of zero valent sulfur nanoparticles for catalytic detoxification of hexavalent chromium, cytotoxicity against microalgae and ultraviolet protection properties

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Abstract

Industrial effluents that contain various toxic substances have polluted our water and soil and posed major health issues. Thus, their removal or conversion to non-toxic products is highly crucial and desirable. This work emphasizes the synthesis of sulfur nanoparticles through precipitation method using anionic and cationic surfactants for exploring its catalytic efficiency in the photocatalytic reduction of hexavalent chromium Cr (VI). As-synthesized sulfur nanoparticles (SNPs) were physically characterized by UV-Vis absorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements. The SNPs prepared using both surfactants have narrow size distribution with great homogeneity (50–80 nm). Moreover, excellent efficiency for Cr (VI) to Cr (III) reduction was recorded for SNPs. Besides, cytotoxicity analysis against microalgae Picochlorum sp. was analyzed and the SNPs showed no negative effect on algal growth and chlorophyll a concentration. Finally, the SNPs were found to provide excellent sunlight protection. Our results highlight that SNPs have great potential for the treatment of industrial wastewater with greater reproducibility. Moreover, they are equally effective against harmful sun rays and are suitable in different skin care products.

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Acknowledgements

We are indebted to Ms. Maryam Jaffar and Ms. Muneera Hayat from Department of Chemistry of University of Bahrain for providing assistance in carrying out XRD, SEM and FTIR experiments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Science, University of Bahrain, P.O. Box 32038, Sakhir, Kingdom of Bahrain

    Shama Sehar

  2. Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Bahrain, P.O. Box 32038, Sakhir, Kingdom of Bahrain

    Layla Jassim Hazeem & Ali Salman Bin Thani

  3. Department of Biology, Deanship of Educational Services, Qassim University, Buraidah, 51452, Qassim, Saudi Arabia

    Iffat Naz

  4. Department of Microbiology, Kohat University of Science and Technology (KUST), Kohat, Pakistan

    Abdul Rehman

  5. School of Petrochemical Technology and Energy Engineering, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, 316022, China

    Wuyang Sun

  6. Department of Plant Production and Protection, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, P.O. Box 6622, Buraidah, 51452, Qassim, Saudi Arabia

    Saleh S. Alhewairini

  7. Department of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Bahrain, P.O. Box 32038, Sakhir, Kingdom of Bahrain

    Mohammad Salim Akhter

  8. Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Bahrain, P.O. Box 32038, Sakhir, Kingdom of Bahrain

    Adnan Younis

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  1. Shama Sehar
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  2. Layla Jassim Hazeem
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  4. Abdul Rehman
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  5. Wuyang Sun
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  6. Saleh S. Alhewairini
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  7. Ali Salman Bin Thani
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  8. Mohammad Salim Akhter
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  9. Adnan Younis
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Contributions

Shama Sehar: Conceptualization, data curation, formal analysis, investigation, methodology, resources, validation, visualization, writing- reviewing and editing. Layla Jassim Hazeem: formal analysis, investigation, methodology, validation, writing- reviewing and editing. Iffat Naz: reviewing and editing. Abdul Rehman: validation, reviewing and editing. Wuyang Su: revised this manuscript to develop the writing in scientific discussion. Saleh S. Alhewairini: revised this manuscript to develop the writing in scientific discussion. Ali Salman Bin Thani: revised this manuscript to develop the writing in scientific discussion. Mohammad Salim Akhter: methodology, resources, validation, visualization, reviewing and editing. Adnan Younis: Conceptualization, formal analysis, methodology, project administration, resources, supervision, visualization, writing-reviewing and editing.

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Correspondence to Shama Sehar or Adnan Younis.

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Sehar, S., Hazeem, L.J., Naz, I. et al. Facile synthesis of zero valent sulfur nanoparticles for catalytic detoxification of hexavalent chromium, cytotoxicity against microalgae and ultraviolet protection properties. Korean J. Chem. Eng. 38, 2294–2303 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-021-0868-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-021-0868-3

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