The rise in the discharge of pharmaceutical wastewater in the form of heavy metals Cr6+, Fe3+, and Pb2+ has become an issue of serious concern to the environment and to the general population since these elements are toxic, persistent, and may accumulate in the body. Cr(vi), FE(iii) and Pb(ii) are common toxic contaminants in the Pharma effluents and their quick, effective elimination is paramount in regulation compliance and environmental safety. A simple, scalable synthesis of a bimetallic NiO/CuO nanocomposite was reported in this study through a concurrent coprecipitation-hydrothermal reaction, and then subjected to calcination at 400 0 C. This paper is concerned with synthesis and use of nickel oxide/copper oxide (NiO/CuO) nanocomposites to effectively clean such metal ions that are present in pharmaceutical effluents. NiO/CuO nanocomposite was produced by a slight modification of the sol-gel technique and investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to ascertain the structural, morphological and functional characteristics of the material. The effect of pH, contact time and adsorbent dosage on the adsorption efficiency was studied through batch adsorption. It was found that, at a dosage of 0.8 g, the removal efficiencies increase to 100% for Cr, 96.81% for Fe, and 92.40% for Pb. This demonstrates near-complete removal of Cr and very high removal for Fe and Pb, indicating that the adsorption capacity of the nanocomposite is nearing saturation. Kinetics of the adsorption process was in pseudo-second order and adsorbed monolayers on a homogeneous surface which is pointing to Langmuir isotherm. The regeneration studies indicated the multiple adsorption-desorption cycles of the nanocomposite with its stability and reusability. This report establishes the possibilities of NiO/CuO nanocomposites as a powerful, inexpensive, and ecologically safe adsorbent to treat heavy-metal-contaminated pharmaceutical wastewater to be a part of the sustainability of waste sources and pollution prevention.

Abattoir wastewater is a hazardous effluent, which is of high concentration of heavy metals (Cu2+, Fe3+, Pb2+) which are very dangerous to the environment and health. Traditional treatment procedures usually do not identify the high removal efficiencies needed to discharge safety. We synthesized TiO2 /CdS nanocomposite through a hydrothermal process in this study and examined its performance in the adsorption of Cu2+, Fe3+ and Pb2+ ions through synthetic abattoir wastewater in ambient conditions. The material had a high specific surface area (= 130 m2 g -1) and the TiO2 nano-particles were evenly dispersed on a CdS substrate as evidenced by the X -ray diffraction, EDX and BET analysis. The Langmuir model (R2 larger than 0.99) describing the adsorption isotherms was an indication that the monolayer is homogeneous, meaning that it is well-covered, whereas the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R2 larger than 0.98) demonstrated that chemisorption is the rate-limiting step. The findings confirm TiO2/CdS nanocomposite as a high-potential, reusable adsorbent to effectively extract Cu2+, Fe3+ and Pb2+ in abattoir wastewater, which is an economical alternative to traditional treatment. Moreover, synergistic behavior between narrow bandgap semiconductor CdS and high-surface-area TiO2 high affinity of the composite towards metal ions was also explained. The next step of work will be conducted in the pilot-scale implementation and evaluation of the performance of the composite on the abattoir effluents.

This paper examines how designers engage with sustainable materials through a practice-based methodology that integrates reflection, experimentation, and material understanding. It repositions sustainability not as a static design objective, but as a dynamic, iterative process that emerges through the act of making. By engaging with renewable, bio-based, and waste-derived materials, the research demonstrates how creative practice fosters ecological literacy and responsible production. Drawing upon design research and case-based evidence, this study argues that sustainability evolves from experiential learning, material dialogue, and systemic thinking rather than prescriptive frameworks. The outcomes emphasize the designer’s evolving role as a mediator between creativity, ecology, and technology.

Thermal regeneration of spent commercial granular activated carbon was done sequentially after batch adsorption studies to check the adsorptive capacities of the carbon after four (4) circles of regeneration. Characterization of the adsorbents was carried out instrumentally using FTIR, SEM, and PXRD. Characterization parameters such as burn off 25.06% (CGAC) and 6.498% for (RGAC), bulk density 0.58 g/cm3 for (CGAC) and 0.68 g/cm3 for (RGAC), Moisture contents 0.074 and pH 7.0. Attrition 36.24% (CGAC) and 88.92 % (RGAC), Conductivity 1422 µs/cm (CGAC) and 13.85 µs/cm (RGAC). Stock solution of 1000 ppm was prepared; the experimental solution was prepared by using dilution formula to calculate the exact amount of the stock needed to dilute with distilled water to obtain 10,20,30,40, and 50 ppm working standards. 20cm3 of each working standards of Congo red solution were interacted with 1.0 g of the commercial granular activated carbon in a separate glass flask capped with foil. The maximum adsorption capacity after four circles of thermal regeneration, is approximately 81% overall. Batch adsorption study was carried out to study the effect of experimental variables. (pH, Initial concentration, contact time, adsorbent dosage and temperature). The equilibrium study for the sorption of Congo red was investigated using Langmuir, Freundlich, DubininRadushkevich and Temkin isotherm models. The linearity of the Langmuir isotherm models (R2 value of 0.9909 for CGAC, 0.9869 for RGAC), Freundlich isotherm model R2 was CGAC (0.9295), RGAC (0.8794), Temkin isotherm model (R2 CGAC (0.7837), RGAC (0.8076), and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm model RGAC (0.7829), CGAC (0.7322) were obtained from their various plots. Langmuir seems to have the best fit having its R2 values very close to 1 follow by Freundlich isotherm model. The efficiency in removal of Congo red using the regenerated adsorbent and commercial activated carbon at 95% confidence interval shows that there is no statistically significant difference. This implied that regeneration of adsorbents after use is of economic advantage to curb cost in solving the problem of textile effluents decolorization.

Quantum chemical study of some thiomethyl quinolines on inhibition of aluminium corrosion in hydrochloric acid and effect of thiomethyl group at 5,6 and 8 position on quinoline was investigated theoretically with the aid of material studio using density functional theory (DFT). The simulations were performed by means of the DFT electronic program DMol3 using the Mulliken population analysis in the Material Studio. DMol3 permits analysis of the electronic structures and energies of molecules, solids and surfaces. The analysis of the quantum chemical parameters, the adsorption parameters form the simulation of the molecules, the Mulliken and Hirshfeld values of the fukui indices for the three molecules of the 5-TMQ (5-thiomethylquinoline), 6-TMQ (6-thiomethylquinoline) and 8-TMQ (8-thiomethylquinoline) indicated that all the three molecules exhibits very high potential for inhibition of aluminium corrosion in HCl environment, with 8-TMQ being the best among all. The most popular parameters which play a prominent role are the eigen values of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO), the HOMO-LUMO gap (ΔE), chemical hardness and softness, electro-negativity and the number of electrons transferred from inhibitor molecule to the metal surface. All the molecules showed a very good corrosion inhibition tendency, however, 8-TMQ molecule gives better aluminium corrosion inhibition potential than other two molecules. The orientation of the thiomethyl substituent on the core quinoline was found to be responsible for intra-molecular hydrogen bonding which leads to weaker attraction to the aluminium surface for the 6-TMQ and 5-TMQ molecules hence lower corrosion inhibition tendency than 8-TMQ molecule despite having the same molecular mass.

Refinery wastewater has been causing environmental pollution with serious adverse health effects and environmental destruction. This study aims at evaluating the capacity of cassava peels and sugarcane bagasse biosorbents in removing heavy metals, and organic pollutants from the oil refinery wastewater. The proximate and minerals composition of the cassava peels (CP) and sugarcane bagasse (SCB) was determined using the method of AOAC. The pH, turbidity, biological oxygen demand (BOD), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were determined using digital pH meter, turbidity meter, 5-Day BOD test, and colorimetric technique, respectively. The heavy metals, phenol, and total oil and grease (TOG) content was estimated using AAS and colorimetric method of AOAC. Batch adsorption test was conducted using completely mixed batch reactors (CMBR) method. The results showed that CP and SCB contain significant (p < 0.05) amount of ash (5.38 %, 2.15 %), fiber (20.63 %, 3.83 %), carbohydrate (7.87 %, 27.64 %), proteins (1.87 %, 1.42 %), moisture (1.20 %, 14.99 %), and lipids (2.52 %, 4.22 %), respectively. The CP (3.72mg/100g, 5.41mg/100g, 8.1mg/100g, 3.00mg/100g, 6.52mg/100g, and 4.26mg/100g) contain high significant (p < 0.05) amount of sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, zinc, and copper compared with that of the SCB (2.33mg/100g, 2.10 mg/100g, 5.40mg/100g, 1.88mg/100g, 2.09mg/100g, and 2.14mg/100g), respectively. The pH value of the wastewater sample treated with the biosorbents was significantly (p < 0.05) high compared with the pH value of the untreated wastewater sample. At significant (p < 0.05) reduction in turbidity, COD, and BOD was observed in the wastewater sample treated with combination of the biosorbents compared with the untreated wastewater. The wastewater sample treated with combination of the biosorbents demonstrated significant (p < 0.05) decreased in phenol and TOG content compared with the untreated wastewater. The biosorbents exhibited high removal efficiency against cadmium, lead, nickel, and chromium up to 65.70 %, 80.30 %, 52.46 %, and 72.70 %, respectively. The biosorbents displayed a methylene blue and Congo red dye removal efficiency of 85.66 % and 74.23 %, respectively. The R2 value of lead, cadmium, nickel, chromium, methylene blue and congo red dye for Langmuir isotherm model is higher than that for Freundlich isotherm model. Thus, the experimental equilibrium data for heavy metals and the dyes were best fitted to the Langmuir model than the Freundlich model.

The synthesis of metal nanoparticles (NPs) in ionic liquids (ILs) solvent has been adopted as a greener alternative to conventional organic solvent reaction media, due to their environmentally benign and tunable physicochemical properties benefits. This study aimed to synthesize and characterize nickel nanoparticles (NiNPs) using imidazolium-based ionic liquids (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium methanesulfonate ([EMIM]MS) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium methanesulfonate ([BMIM]MS) as both solvent and stabilizing agents, via a chemical reduction pathway. The NiNPs were characterized by UV-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy. The UV-Vis analysis showed broad surface plasmon resonance bands between 300 and 350 nm, confirming NiNP formation, with spectral shifts revealing smaller particles in [EMIM]MS compared to [BMIM]MS. FTIR spectra revealed characteristic bands for O–H, C–H, C–C, and C–N vibrations, indicating strong coordination between ionic liquid molecules and the nickel surface. SEM micrographs showed that NiNPs synthesized in [EMIM]MS were smaller (45–60 nm), spherical, and uniformly dispersed, and those obtained in [BMIM]MS were larger (60–80 nm) with slight aggregation. Synthesis was also done in ethylene glycol and the resulting NPs were irregular and aggregated. These results confirm that imidazolium-based ILs enable controlled synthesis and stabilization of nickel nanoparticles, providing a green and efficient route for nanomaterial production.