Ricerc@Sapienza

A synergic approach combining X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopies together with quantum mechanical (QM) calculations on cluster models has been used to investigate the solvation properties of the HgCl2 salt and of HgO dissolved in deep eutectic solvents (DESs). Choline chloride (ChCl)-based DESs were prepared using different hydrogen bond donors, namely 1:2 mixtures of ChCl and either urea, acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) or sesamol (SES) and a 1:1 mixture of ChCl and pyrogallol (PYR).

Concentrations of trace elements in drinking water affect its safety and acceptability for use. Potentially toxic element (PTE) contaminations are considered extremely hazardous because of toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulative behaviour. Many areas in the Southern African Development Community are data poor and have poor accessibility. The results of our previous research identified the presence of fossil waters in southern Limpopo National Park. Groundwater and river water are the only sources of drinking water for the villages in the study area.