The effect of thermal/plasma treatment on the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) using Au-doped Fe/TiO2 photocatalyst was investigated. Iron (Fe)-doped TiO2samples were prepared by solgel auto-combustion technique. Later, gold nano-particles (AuNPs) were deposited on the as-prepared support (Fe/TiO2) using conventional deposition–precipitation method with NaOH (DP NaOH), and the resulting catalysts were subsequently modified with thermal (at 450°C under vacuum) and plasma (at an ambient temperature under Argon atmosphere for 20 min) treatments.

Zn0.95−xFe0.05BxO (x=0, 0.05) nano-particles have been synthesized using a modified chemically derived citrate gel method. X-ray diffraction analysis demonstrates the wurtzite type hexagonal structure belonging to P63mc space group without the presence of any secondary phase in both compositions. The Diffraction analysis shows that Fe2+ and B3+ions have replaced some of the Zn2+ ions while some occupy un-detectable interstitial and inter-granular positions inside the structure.

In this study we investigated the effects of different cryomazine concentrations and host type on the biology of the southern cowpea weevil Callosobruchus maculatus F. (Coleoptera: Bruchidae). Our results showed that increasing cryomazine concentration led to the increase in the average incubation period of eggs and low hatching rate, reaching the highest average of egg incubation period 13.25 days for insects reared on a mung beans treated with cryomazine concentration of 3 and 5%.

Overlap of insect growth regulator (cyromazine) concentration, treatment method and rearing temperature was studied on the southern cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus F. (Bruchidae: Coleoptera), under laboratory conditions. A concentration of 5% cyromazine and dipping treatment at 30°C showed a significant reduction in the reproductive rate by 0.5%. Moreover, increasing the cyromazine concentration led to a decrease in food consumption. Hence, treatment of cowpea seeds via dipping method provided more protection compared to spraying method.