The sensitivity of pure and doped X 12 N 12 (X = B and Al) fullerene-like nano-cages (FLNs) toward the anti-cancer drug temozolomide (TMZ) is probed herein at DFT/M06-2X-D3/6-311G(d,p) theoretical level in both gas phase and water. A noticeable affinity of the FLNs toward TMZ was observed along with the negative gas-phase adsorption energies −1.37 and −2.09 eV for the most stable configurations of pure B 12 N 12 and Al 12 N 12 pristines, respectively. Considerable charge transfer from TMZ to the FLNs was also revealed via NBO analysis and the Hirshfeld atomic charges, making the dipole moment vector of the molecular complexes to be oriented from the nano-cages to the TMZ moiety. Furthermore, a percentage decrease in the HOMO-LUMO energy gap (Δ E g ) of 38.09 and 17.72% was obtained for the B 12 N 12 and Al 12 N 12 nano-cages, respectively. The percentage change in Δ E g was found to be reduced upon doping and solvation of the FLNs. Finally, a recovery time in vacuum ultraviolet light of 1.06 s is found for the complex with pure B 12 N 12 , which in addition to the above-mentioned parameters make this boron nitride cage the best sensor for TMZ, among the FLNs considered in the present work.

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The present research work aimed to study some of the important physicochemical parameters of wastewater effluents obtained from Maroua cotton processing plant namely "SODECOTON". The effluents were studied from June 2016 to August 2017. A preliminary investigation was carried out on the source of water used by the plant and management of its wastewater effluent. All were analyzed according to the standard methods. Water quality parameters such as temperature, pH, Electrical Conductivity, Total Dissolved Solid, Total Suspended Solids, Biological Oxygen Demand, Chemical Oxygen Demand, Total Nitrogen determined by the Kjeldahl method, Nitrate, and Phosphate were analyzed. Results of this study showed that nearly all values of these parameters were above the permissible limit. These values were significantly higher during the rainy season (from May-December) than during the dry season (January-April). Water used by the plant is from borehole. This water is treated by less adapted technology prior to use and thus probably contribute to the pollution load of the plant's wastewater effluent. Wastewater from the plant is discharged without being treated and without any quality analysis. It is due to inadequate enforcement of environmental regulations.

Abstract:In the processing of cotton and neem seeds to obtain oil for diverse uses, enormous quantities of seed husk are generated as waste, which when not properly disposed of, poses environmental problems. One way of reducing this waste is to use it for the production of activated carbon (AC) for its multiple applications. In this work, activated carbon was produced from cotton and neem seed husks by carbonization followed by acid activation. The prepared ACs were characterized for its porosity and surface properties as well as for its ability to bleach neutral cotton seed oil. The prepared ACs are very efficient in the decoloration process, as they removed about 96-98% of the pigments compared to 98.4% removal with commercial bleaching earth. Temperature had a pronounced effect on the bleaching of neutral cotton seed oil. Maximum adsorption was observed at 60 • C for a contact time of 45 min. The adsorption kinetics were modelled by the intra-particle and the pseudo-second order equations while the adsorption isotherms followed the Langmuir and Freundlich equations. It is concluded that the organic ACs are efficient in pigment removal from neutral cotton seed oil and therefore are potential bleaching agents for the vegetable oil industry.

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