Herein we report the synthesis and properties of Fe(55)Pt(45) nanoparticles, both monodisperse and self-assembled into hexagonal close-packed and cubic arrays of 4.0 +/- 0.2 nm size in an L1(0) structure, obtained by a modified polyol process. The new synthetic route improved the control over the particle composition, thereby reducing the temperature required to convert from face-centered cubic (fcc) to face-centered tetragonal (fct) phase by some 30-50 degrees C without additives. Annealing at 550 degrees C for 30 min converts the self-assembled nanoparticles into ferromagnetic nanocrystals with large coercivity, H(C) = 11.1 kOe. Reducing the fcc-to-fct (L1(0)) ordering temperature avoided particle coalescence and decreased the loss in particle positional order without compromising the magnetic properties, as is generally observed when additives are used.
Organophosphate compounds (OPs) have been employed in the agricultural industry as pesticides and insecticides for several decades. Many of the methods used currently for the detoxification of OPs are harmful and possess serious environmental consequences. Therefore, utilizing enzymes for the detection and decontamination of OPs is gaining increasing attention as an efficient and clean bioremediation strategy. Microbial enzymes, such as OP hydrolases, OP acid anhydrolases or methyl parathion hydrolase (MPH), are potent agents for OP decontamination. Their biochemical properties and biotechnological applications are discussed in this review, including a discussion on methods that may be employed to immobilize such enzymes, and essential steps to generate reusable and affordable biocatalytic systems for use in bioremediation and biorestoration.
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