amir waseem

ZnO nano particles and Cu modified ZnO nano composites have been prepared by simple, facile hydrothermal approach. The novelty of this work was the use of aqueous methanolic solution (50:50 ratio) as the solvent of reaction, while zinc chloride was used as the precursor of ZnO NPs and Cu- modified ZnO nano composites. XRD results revealed that the synthesized ZnO and Cu-modified ZnO nano composites were of nano size and XRD patterns matched with JCPDS Card 35-1451, confirming the synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles. The FT-IR results confirmed the synthesis of target materials and also the adsorption of Cu metal on ZnO surface. The UV visible spectroscopic analysis indicated that the optical properties improved as the concentration of Cu metal increased on ZnO surface. SEM analysis explored the spherical shape of synthesized nano composites. The EDX graph showed the elemental composition of prepared materials that composed of Zn, O and Cu and no other impurity was found. The Tartrazine Yellow Azo Dye was degraded to investigate the photo catalytic activity which was optimized under sunlight with increasing the Cu metal concentration on surface of ZnO.

Excess sodium intake can lead to hypertension, the primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the sodium and potassium contents of foodstuff used by infants and children of Pakistan. We analyzed the sodium and potassium contents of infant milk formula (<6 months), follow up milk formula (>6 months), baby food (cereals), biscuits, fruit juices, potato chips (crisps), cheese puffs, roasted cereals (salty), ice cream cones (kulfi) all of which are the processed food extensively used by the children. The amount of sodium and potassium contents in drinking water of few cities of Pakistan were also considered to assess the additional sodium/potassium in the preparation of milk using infant milk formula. Na to K ratio (Na:K) was determined 0.3-1.23, 0.3-1.16, 0.33-0.82, 0.54-2.68, 0.51-0.85, 2.86 and 1.02 for infant milk formula (<6 months), follow up milk formula (>6 months), baby food (cereals), biscuits, fruit juices, potato chips (crisps, cheese puffs, roasted cereals), ice cream cones (kulfi), respectively. The higher sodium content is present than most of the quoted values; whereas lower potassium is present than the recommended values. The higher Na:K ratio indicates the severity of the situation where it is commonly stated that “higher an individual’s salt intake, the higher an individual’s blood pressure”. Present study indicates that nearly all Pakistani children consume substantially more salt than they need which will affect health status in later life.