Nanophotocatalyst MnTiO 3 powders were synthesized by sol-gel technique and characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), as well as their thermal behavior has been studied by differential thermal and thermogravimetric analyses (DTA/TGA). Powders morphology was analyzed by means of Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Effect of various process parameters like amount of photocatalyst, dye concentration, solution pH and irradiation time on the extent of removal of dye were studied in detail. The photo-degradation was relatively higher using lower amount (0.005 g) of semiconductor, reached rate of 75% and 70% after 240 min for mixed MnTiO 3 /TiO 2 and pure MnTiO 3 nanocatalysts. The kinetic model of photocatalytic degradation of MB follows pseudo-first-order kinetic with a high correlation coefficient values (R 2 > 0.95). These results underline the use of effective, low-cost and easily available MnTiO 3 photocatalyst for the decomposition of pollutants to water under natural sunlight.

In memoriam of Prof A. KlemmThe inhibitive effect of fructose, glucose, lactose, maltose, and sucrose against the iron corrosion is investigated using density functional theory at the B3LYP/6-31 G level (d) to search the relation between the molecular structure and corrosion inhibition. The electronic properties such as the energy of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO), the energy of lowest unoccupied orbital (LUMO), the energy gap (LUMO-HOMO), quantum chemical parameters such as hardness, softness, the fraction of the electron transferred, and the electrophilicity index are reported. The inhibition efficiency of the investigated carbohydrates follows the trend: maltose < sucrose < lactose < fructose < glucose.