Effect of Tourmaline-added Eyeglass Frames on Normalization of Intraocular Pressure

Sang-Chul Park,Hye-Ri Jeong,Jong-Moon Kwon,Gyu-Bin Lee 대한시과학회 2018 대한시과학회지 Vol.20 No.4

목적: 전기를 띄는 천연광석물질인 토르말린을 안경 전체부분에 적용하여 인간의 안구 내 신진대사에 관련된 요소들 중 하나인 안압(Intraocular pressure: IOP)의 변화를 관찰하였다. 방법: 안경테의 주재료인 TR-90과 토르말린 7 wt%을 혼합하여 안경테를 제작 후, 20대의 90명(남자 46명, 여자 44명)을 대상으로 토르말린 안경테의 착용 전과 후의 안압변화를 정상 안압범위에서 Low, Middle, High 그룹으로 안압에 따라 나누어 관찰하였다. 결과: 토르말린 안경테를 착용 후, 우안에서 전체안압은 –4.14 %로 감소하였고(p<0.000), High와 Middle 그룹에서 각각 –6.39 %(p<0.000), -4.64 %(p<0.017)로 유의하게 감소하였다. 좌안에서 전체안압은 –2.74 %(p<0.004)로 감소하였고, High 그룹에서만 –4.58 %(p<0.000)로 통계적으로 유의한 값을 나타내었다. 결론: 본 연구에서 제작한 7 wt% 토르말린이 함유된 안경테를 사용하여, 안경테를 착용 후 안압이 유의하게 감소되어 정상 안압범위의 평균 수치와 근접해지는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 이러한 연구결과로 인해 신체의 신진대사와 혈액순환을 촉진시키는 효과를 가진 토르말린을 안경테에 접목함으로써 안압의 정상화에 대한 효과를 나타내는 것으로 확인할 수 있었다. Purpose : Tourmaline, a natural ore material, was applied to the entire eyeglasses to observe changes in intraocular pressure (IOP), one of the factors related to human ocular metabolism. Methods : After making eyeglass frames by mixing TR-90, which is the main material of eyeglass frames and 7wt% of tourmaline, The changes of intraocular pressure before and after wearing of tourmaline spectacle frames were divided into low, middle and high groups according to the intraocular pressure in 90 normal subjects (46 men and 44 women) in their 20s. Results : Total intraocular pressure was a significantly decreased to -4.14% (p<0.000) in the right eye after wearing tourmaline frames, and significantly decreased to –6.39 % (p<0.000) and –4.64 % (p<0.017) in the High and Middle groups, respectively. Total intraocular pressure was a significantly decreased to –2.74 % (p<0.004) in the left eye, and –4.58 % (p<0.000) in the High group only showed statically significant value. Conclusion : In this study, the spectacle frame containing 7wt% tourmaline was used and it was confirmed that the intraocular pressure was significantly decreased after wearing the spectacle frame, and it became close to the average value of the normal intraocular pressure range. The results of this study showed that tourmaline, which has the effect of promoting the metabolism and blood circulation of the body, has an effect on the normalization of the intraocular pressure by attaching it to the spectacle frame.

토르말린이 첨가된 안경테가 안압 정상화에 미치는 영향

박상철,정혜리,권종문,이규빈 대한시과학회 2018 대한시과학회지 Vol.20 No.4

Purpose : Tourmaline, a natural ore material, was applied to the entire eyeglasses to observechanges in intraocular pressure (IOP), one of the factors related to human ocular metabolism. Methods : After making eyeglass frames by mixing TR-90, which is the main material of eyeglass frames and 7wt% of tourmaline, The changes of intraocular pressure before and after wearing of tourmaline spectacle frames were divided into low, middle and high groups according to the intraocular pressure in 90 normal subjects (46 men and 44 women) in their 20s. Results : Total intraocular pressure was a significantly decreased to -4.14% (p<0.000) in the right eye after wearing tourmaline frames, and significantly decreased to –6.39 % (p<0.000) and –4.64 % (p<0.017) in the High and Middle groups, respectively. Total intraocular pressure was a significantly decreased to –2.74 % (p<0.004) in the left eye, and –4.58 % (p<0.000) in the High group only showed statically significant value. Conclusion : In this study, the spectacle frame containing 7wt% tourmaline was used and it was confirmed that the intraocular pressure was significantly decreased after wearing the spectacle frame, and it became close to the average value of the normal intraocular pressure range. The results of this study showed that tourmaline, which has the effect of promoting the metabolism and blood circulation of the body, has an effect on the normalization of the intraocular pressure by attaching it to the spectacle frame. 목적: 전기를 띄는 천연광석물질인 토르말린을 안경 전체부분에 적용하여 인간의 안구 내 신진대사에 관련된 요소들 중 하나인 안압(Intraocular pressure: IOP)의 변화를 관찰하였다. 방법: 안경테의 주재료인 TR-90과 토르말린 7 wt%을 혼합하여 안경테를 제작 후, 20대의 90명(남자 46명, 여자 44명)을 대상으로 토르말린 안경테의 착용 전과 후의 안압변화를 정상 안압범위에서 Low, Middle, High 그룹으로 안압에 따라 나누어 관찰하였다. 결과: 토르말린 안경테를 착용 후, 우안에서 전체안압은 –4.14 %로 감소하였고(p<0.000), High와 Middle 그룹에서 각각 –6.39 %(p<0.000), -4.64 %(p<0.017)로 유의하게 감소하였다. 좌안에서 전체안압은 –2.74 %(p<0.004)로 감소하였고, High 그룹에서만 –4.58 %(p<0.000)로 통계적으로 유의한 값을 나타내었다. 결론: 본 연구에서 제작한 7 wt% 토르말린이 함유된 안경테를 사용하여, 안경테를 착용 후 안압이 유의하게 감소되어 정상 안압범위의 평균 수치와 근접해지는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 이러한 연구결과로 인해 신체의 신진대사와 혈액순환을 촉진시키는 효과를 가진 토르말린을 안경테에 접목함으로써 안압의 정상화에 대한 효과를 나타내는 것으로 확인할 수 있었다.

Synthesis, characterization, and visible light induced photoactivity of tourmaline-N-TiO2 composite for photooxidation of ethylene

Jing-Hua Tzeng,Chih-Huang Weng,Yu-Hao Lin,Shang-Ming Huang,Li-Ting Yen,Jin Anotai,Yao-Tung Lin 한국공업화학회 2019 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.80 No.-

A novel visible light driven tourmaline-nitrogen-doped-TiO2 composite (S-N-TiO2) was prepared using afacile impregnation and sol gel method and its photocatalytic reaction scheme with ethylene wasproposed. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the presence of TiO2 in the form of anatase phase. Scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive spectrometer mapping showed that the TiO2particles were deposited and dispersed on the surface of tourmaline. Under visible light irradiation, the SN-TiO2 catalyst containing 4 wt.% tourmaline has higher photocatalytic activity for the oxidation ofethylene than pure TiO2 and N-doped-TiO2 (N-TiO2). This enhanced activity could be not only attributedto the narrowed band gap in visible light driven N-TiO2, but also improved by the spontaneous electricfield of tourmaline which was applied to restrain the recombination of the electron–hole pairs. Thephotogenerated electrons from N-TiO2 were induced by electricfield to react with ethylene, and theleaving photogenerated holes also formed the reactive species. The photocatalytic activity of S-N-TiO2 ismuch affected by synthesis conditions. This novel S-N-TiO2 photocatalyst has a promising perspective inthe gas treatment for air pollution control and horticultural product industries.

Decomposition of 2-chlorophenol using a tourmaline–photocatalytic system

Sun Ho Song,강미숙 한국공업화학회 2008 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.14 No.6

10.0 wt.% tourmaline mineral was loaded onto amorphous TiO2 and treated at 100–900 8C to obtain anatase and rutile structures, respectively, and were used for the photodecomposition of 2-chlorophenol. Tourmaline (10.0 wt.%)/TiO2 (anatase) and pure TiO2 (anatase) adsorbed 2- chlorophenol at 15 ppm and 8 ppm, respectively. 2-Chlorophenol was completely decomposed after 42 h in 10.0 wt.% tourmaline/TiO2 (anatase), by a first-order rate equation. The decomposition rate increased with increasing catalyst amount and tourmaline concentration to give optimal conditions of 1.0 g/L and 12.5 wt.%, respectively. The decomposition of 2-chlorophenol was also affected by H2O2 addition and pH regulation. The decomposition rate reached 40.0 ppm/h when 10.0 mL/L of H2O2 was added to the feed solution, and 100 ppm of 2-chlorophenol was completely removed after 21 h at pH 11.0.

투어마린이온활성수의 효능 평가

윤양숙,김동희,최주봉,송순봉,정종효,주경복,등영건,이규재,Yoon, Yang-Suk,Kim, Dong-Heui,Qi, Xu-Feng,Song, Soon-Bong,Jung, Jong-Ho,Joo, Kyung-Bok,Teng, Yung-Chien,Lee, Kyu-Jae 한국현미경학회 2009 Applied microscopy Vol.39 No.4

본 연구는 투어마린 소재와 전기적인 방전을 통해 물의 성질을 변화시킨 투어마린이온활성수를 이용하여 간보호 효과, 비만 예방 효과, 숙취제거 효과를 확인하기 위해 시행되었다. 고지방식이로 비만을 유도한 ICR 마우스에서 투어마린이온활성수를 급이한 실험군은 정수물을 급이한 대조군과 비교하여 사료섭취량이 비슷하고 음수량이 더 적었지만 체중증가는 대조군에 비하여 억제되어 13주에는 유의한 차이를 보여줌으로써 비만 예방 효과를 나타내었다(P<0.05). 사염화탄소로 간독성을 유발시킨 생쥐를 이용하여 간보호 효과를 관찰한 실험에서, 실험군의 aspartate aminotransferase (AST)와 alanine aminotransferase (ALT)는 대조군과 비교하여 평균적인 차이를 나타내었으며, 간의 조직학적 관찰에서 괴사를 비롯한 병리학적 병변이 감소한 것으로 나타났다. S-D rats을 이용한 숙취 실험에서는 실험군이 대조군에 비해 혈중알콜농도가 유의하게 낮았으며(P<0.01), 알콜 대사와 관련된 항산화 효소인 glutathione-S transferase (GST)는 활성이 증가한 것으로 관찰되었고(P<0.05), 간기능 지표인 AST와 ALT는 상대적인 감소현상을 보였다. 이와 같은 결과는 투어마린이온활성수의 음용이 동물의 항산화 체계에 영향을 미침으로써 간조직을 보호하고 알콜 분해를 향상시킨 것으로 판단되며, 그 결과 숙취해소에 어느 정도 효과가 있을 것으로 판단된다. 투어마린이온활성수의 효능과 관련된 기전은 아직 과학적 검증에 어려움이 있으나, 물에 전달된 투어마린의 원적외선에너지나 전기적 영향으로 인하여 물분자의 결합력과 분자 구조 또는 클러스터의 크기에 변화를 일으켰기 때문으로 판단된다. 사용된 투어마린이온활성수는 음용안전성이 확보된 물로서 효과적인 기능수로 개발될 가능성을 가지며, 유효성과 관련된 기전은 더 연구될 필요성이 있다. This study was performed using animals to confirm the effect of tourmaline-ionized water (TIW) the properties of which were changed by tourmaline energy and electric discharge. In the ICR mice fed high-fat diet, body weight increasing rate of the TIW-treated group (Exp) was generally decreased and moreover exhibited significance at 11th week (P<0.05) compared with the control (Con) group fed distilled water, although water intake of the Exp group was lower than that of the Con group. In the ICR mice with $CCl_4$-induced hepatotoxicity, AST and ALT activities of the Exp group were not significant but showed some decreasing trend, and histological damage of liver was less compared with thatof the Con group. On the study of ethanol-induced hangovers in Sprague-Dawley rat, blood alcohol concentration was significantly decreased (P<0.01), activity of GST, antioxidant enzyme related to the alcohol metabolism, was increased in liver tissue (P<0.05), and AST and ALT show a tendency to be decreasedin the Exp group. These results suggest that drinking TIWhas not only some obesity preventing effect but also an alcohol detoxification effect and liver protecting effect in vivo. It is supposed due to a structural change of water cluster and a property which maintains the changed structure through tourmaline energy and electric discharge. Therefore, TIW has a potentiality to be developed as functional water with several beneficial effects as well as for daily drinking, but further study on the mechanism related with efficacy will be necessary.

본초 광물로서의 활용을 위한 산지별 전기석의 광물학적 연구

Yan Jie,김선옥(Seon-ok Kim),박희율(Hee Yul Park),박맹언(Maeng-Eon Park) 대한자원환경지질학회 2018 자원환경지질 Vol.51 No.4

이 연구는 전기석이 본초 광물의 활용 가능성을 평가하기 위하여 중국 산동성 흑색 전기석 5종, 브라질 미나스 제 라이스(Minas Geraris)광산의 흑색 및 핑크색 전기석 2종, 한국 대유광산 흑색 전기석 1종을 대상으로 전자탐침미세 분석, X-선 회절분석, 유도결합플라스마 분광방출분석, 퓨리에변환 적외선분광분석, 원적외선 분석, 핵자기공명분석 및 물-전기석 반응에 따른 pH-DO 변화를 수행하였다. 또한, 전기석 찜질방의 온열효과와 전기석 분말을 첨가한 비누가 피부에 미치는 영향을 검토하였다. 연구에 사용된 전기석 시료들은 철과 알루미늄 및 붕소 함량이 높은 유형으로 분류되며, 칼슘, 나트륨, 칼륨, 철과 붕소 함량변화는 전기석의 고용체 특성을 반영한다. CaO/(CaO+Na2O)와 MgO/ (FeO+MgO) 함량비는 높은 정(+)의 상관관계를 갖는다. 전기석 분말과 증류수와의 반응에서 DO값은 반응시간의 경과에 따라 낮아지며, DO=10에서 안정된다. pH는 6시간까지 증가되고, 24시간 이후에는 대체적으로 pH=8에서 안정된 상태를 유지한다. 전기석은 단파장에서 흡수 스펙트럼의 강도와 투과율이 낮아지며, 흡수 스펙트럼의 파장과 강도는 구성 원소의 함량과 결정학적 특징에 따라 달라진다. 특히, 철의 함량증가는 방사량을 감소시키는 원인이 되는 것으로 확인되었다. 전기석의 철 함량과 원적외선 방사량의 상관관계는 높은 정(+)의 상관성을 가지며, 알루미늄과 마그네슘 함량은 부(-)의 상관관계를 나타낸다. 증류수와 전기석 분말의 반응은 17O- NMR 반치폭을 감소시키는 것으로 확인되었다. 전기석에 의한 고온 찜질방(약 100oC 사우나)에서의 온열효과는 체온을 0.5-1.5oC 정도 높이며, 맥박은 평균 12회, 혈압은 10mg Hg 상승한다. 전기석 비누는 피부에 매우 좋은 효과를 나타내며, 알레르기와 아토피 등의 문제성 피부에서 보통이상의 개선 효과를 갖는 것으로 확인되었다. In this study, we have performed electron probe micro analyzer (EPMA), X-ray differaction (XRD), inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy (ICP), Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy (FT-Raman), far-infrared (FIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and pH-DO Analyses for characterizing medicinal mineralogy aspect of the black tourmaline (Shantung, china), black and pink tourmaline (Minas Geraris, Brazil), black touemaline (Daeyu mine, Korea). In addition, heating effects of the tourmaline sauna as well as the effects of tourmaline powder-added soap on skin troubles have been investigated. It has been revealed that chemical composition of the tourmaline is either high in Fe-, Al-, B-rich types. Ratio of the K-Ca, Na-K, and Fe-B reflects the component change property of solid solution. CaO/CaO+Na2O and MgO/FeO+MgO ratio show high positive correlation. When tourmaline reacts with distilled water, extended reaction time DO values approximately decrease and it stabilizes at DO = 10. Otherwise, pH values increase until 6 hours and it stabilizes at pH = 8 after 24 hours. Distilled water changes to alkaline when it reacts with tourmaline powder and particles. Tourmaline showed lower absorption spectrum strength and transmittance at short wave, where absorption spectrum wavelength and strength were determined by the content of the composition elements and characteristics of crystallography. Increase of the Fe content has been confirmed to be the cause for the reduction of irradiation. For the chemical composition and spectral property of the tourmaline particle samples, it has been found that Si and Fe contents show positive correlation with Far-Infrared irradiation, while Al and Mg contents show negative correlation. For tourmaline powder, it has been confirmed that 17O-NMR FWHM (full width at half maximum) decreases when reacts with distilled water. Tourmaline sauna (approximately 100oC) was found to increase 0.5-1.5oC of body temperature, average of 12 heartbeat, and 10mg Hg of blood pressure. Tourmaline soap had very good aesthetic effect to skin and was confirmed to have above the average improvements to skin troubles (e.g., allergy or atopy).

토르말린 광물 첨가에 의한 초순수 및 폐수 pH의 영향

신인환,강성주,이상훈 한국자원공학회 2018 한국자원공학회지 Vol.55 No.2

This study investigated the pH effect of tourmaline addition in aqueous solution and wastewater. The tourmaline effect reflected in pH of aqueous solution was observed using various size of tourmaline particles. Under 0.12 mm of tourmaline particle sizes, the pH was significantly increased with the reaction time elapsed. However, when the size of tourmaline was further decreased to 0.018 mm, the increase of pH was retarded. This study also investigated the pH effect of tourmaline in real wastewater by measuring pH before and after tourmaline addition. As a result, the pH value was not significantly changed by adding tourmaline in real wastewater. However, biological organic degradation and biological ammonia oxidation were influenced by tourmaline addition. Overall, tourmaline could be utilized to enhance some wastewater biological treatment performance. 본 연구에서는 수용액 및 실폐수내 토르말린 추가로 인한 pH 영향을 조사하였다. 이를 위해 다양한 크기의 토르말린 입자를 포함한 수용액내 pH의 변화를 관찰하였다. 토르말린 투입에 따른 유의미한 pH 증가는 0.12 mm 미만 의 입도를 포함한 수용액에서 관찰 되었으나 0.018 mm 토르말린 입도 조건에서는 이러한 시간에 따른 pH 증가가 상 대적으로 일정하다는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 실폐수에서의 pH에 토르말린이 끼치는 영향을 확인하기 위하여 폐수내 토르말린을 첨가하였다. 그 결과 폐수내 다양한 이온 및 고형물질의 존재로 인해 pH 변화가 상대적으로 미미했다. 그 러나 토르말린의 주입이 폐수의 생물학적 처리(유기물 분해 및 질산화)에 미치는 영향을 관찰한 결과, 토르말린의 주 입이 전반적인 폐수의 처리 속도를 증가시키는 것을 확인하였다.

Color Change of Tourmaline by Heat Treatment and Electron Beam Irradiation: UV-Visible, EPR, and Mid-IR Spectroscopic Analyses

Apichate Maneewong,Baek Seok Seong,Eun Joo Shin,Jeong Seog Kim,Varavuth Kajornrith 한국물리학회 2016 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.68 No.1

The color of pink tourmaline gemstone changed to colorless when heating at temperature of 600 C in air. This colorless tourmaline recovered its pink color when irradiated with an electron beam (e-beam) of 800 kGy. The origin of the color change was investigated in three types of tourmaline gemstones, two pink are from Afghanistan and one green are from Nigeria, by using Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF). The UV-Vis absorption spectrum of the pink tourmaline with higher Mn concentration (T2, 0.24 wt%) showed characteristic absorption peaks originating from the Mn3+ color center: two absorption bands centered at wavelength of 396 and 520 nm, respectively. Both absorption bands disappeared when heated in air at 600 C and then reappeared when irradiated with an e-beam at 800 kGy. EPR T2 spectra showed that the color change was related to the valence change of Mn3+ to Mn2+ and vice versa. The pink tourmaline of lower MnO content (T1, 0.08 wt%) also became colorless when heated, but the color was not recovered when the gemstone underwent e-beam irradiation. Instead, a yellow color was obtained. UV-Vis and FTIR spectra indicated that this yellow color originated from a decomposition of the hydroxyl group (−OH) into O− and Ho by the e-beam irradiation. Green tourmaline did not show any color change with either heat treatment or e-beam irradiation.

Neutron-diffraction Studies of the Crystal Structure and the Color Enhancement in -irradiated Tourmaline

Apichate Maneewong,Baek Seok Seong,Eun Joo Shin,Jeong Seog Kim,Varavuth Kajornrith 한국물리학회 2016 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.68 No.2

Tourmaline gemstones have an extremely complex composition and show great variety in color. Most color centers are related to transition-metal ions. Oxidation/reduction of these ions is known to be related with the color enhancement of tourmaline caused by gamma-ray ( )-irradiation and/or thermal treatment. However, the current understanding of the microscopic structure of the color centers remains weak. In this work, -irradiation was performed on three types of tourmaline gemstones to enhance the colors of the gemstones: two pink from Afghanistan and one green from Nigeria. All three samples were irradiated at 600 and 800 kGy. Their crystal structural and chemical behaviors have been investigated by using a Rietveld refinement analysis of neutron diffraction data, Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF), Ultraviolet-visible Spectroscopy (UV-Vis) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and the results were compared with data obtained for samples in the natural state. Pink tourmaline of a high number of Mn ions (T2, 0.24 wt%) showed significant improvement in the quality of the pink color (rubellite) after irradiation of 800 kGy while the pink tourmaline of low MnO content (T1, 0.08 wt%) showed color adulteration. Pink color enhancement in T2, responding to darker pink, was associated with increases in the two absorption bands, one peaking at 396 and the other at 522 nm, after irradiation. These absorption bands are ascribed to d-d transitions of divalent manganese. T1 with color enhancement due to oxidation of Mn2+ showed a slightly larger <Y -O> distance. The green tourmaline containing much higher amounts of both Mn (T3) and Fe ions, 2.59 wt% and 5.7 wt%, respectively, changed to a yellow color after irradiation at 800 kGy. The refined structural parameters of this sample revealed distortions in the Z site. The <Z-O> distance decreased from 2.033 to 2.0192 °A. In addition, the unit-cell parameter was decreased after irradiation. The color change in T3 is ascribed to a decrease in the absorption band’s intensity in the red color region (600 750 nm). XPS measurement results also supported that the relative ratios of the Fe2+/Fe3+ [Fe3+ (Fe2p3/2 711.2 and Fe2p1/2 724.3 eV), Fe2+ (Fe2p3/2 710.2 and Fe2p1/2 722.8 eV)] and Mn2+/Mn3+ [Mn2+ (Mn2p3/2 641.4 and Mn2p1/2 652.3 eV), Mn3+ (Mn2p3/2 641.9 and Mn2p1/2 653.3 eV)] peak intensities were decreased after irradiation.

Fabrication and photocatalytic activity of electrospun nylon-6 nanofibers containing tourmaline and titanium dioxide nanoparticles

Kang, Seung-Ji,Tijing, Leonard D.,Hwang, Bo-sang,Jiang, Zhe,Kim, Hak Yong,Kim, Cheol Sang Elsevier 2013 Ceramics international Vol.39 No.6

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>In this paper, we report the effect of the incorporation of titanium dioxide (TiO<SUB>2</SUB>) nanoparticles (NPs) on the photocatalytic properties of a tourmaline NP/nylon-6 composite mat prepared by one-step electrospinning process. Several characterization techniques were utilized to check the successful incorporation of NPs in/on the nanofibers. Both TiO<SUB>2</SUB> and tourmaline NPs were confirmed to be incorporated on the surface of the nylon-6 nanofibers or fully embedded in the fibers through SEM and TEM observations. The fiber diameter showed increasing size trend in the order of nylon-6<tourmaline/nylon-6<TiO<SUB>2</SUB>-tourmaline/nylon-6. The incorporation of both TiO<SUB>2</SUB> and tourmaline NPS on/in nylon-6 nanofibers has resulted to increased photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutant. The successful immobilization on nylon-6 nanofibers through simple electrospinning of tourmaline possessing unique properties, and photocatalytic TiO<SUB>2</SUB> showed synergistic effect in the degradation of organic pollutants, which could have potential application in water treatment applications.</P>