Activated carbon from bamboo waste modified with iron and its application in the study of the adsorption of arsenite and arsenate

Activated carbon obtained from bamboo waste was synthesised and modified with iron (BAC-Fe) and used for the removal of arsenic from aqueous solutions. Two different adsorption models were used for analysing the data. The adsorption capacities were determined for BAC-arsenite, BAC-Fe-arsenite, BAC-arsenate and BAC-Fe-arsenate, with a qmax (μg g^?1) of 14.89, 19.19, 22.32 and 27.32 respectively. Adsorption capacity varied as a function of pH and modifications to the sorbent. Adsorption isotherms from an aqueous solution of arsenite and arsenates on activated carbons were determined. These adsorption isotherms were consistent with the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption models. Adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-first order rate equation, as did the kinetics for BAC-Fe-arsenite and BAC-Fe-arsenate adsorption.      

Susceptibility to hydrolysis of phenylboronic pinacol esters at physiological pH

Boronic acids and their esters are highly considered compounds for the design of new drugs and drug delivery devices, particularly as boron-carriers suitable for neutron capture therapy. However, these compounds are only marginally stable in water. Hydrolysis of some phenylboronic pinacol esters is described here. The kinetics is dependent on the substituents in the aromatic ring. Also the pH strongly influences the rate of the reaction, which is considerably accelerated at physiological pH. Therefore, care must be taken when considering these boronic pinacol esters for pharmacological purposes.      

The use of ultrasonic treatment for improvement of metrological performance of sorption atomic absorption determination of lead(II) and cadmium(II) traces

The optimal parameters for ultrasonic treatment (frequency 200–300 kHz, intensity 2–4 W cm^?2) were obtained to intensify Pb(II) and Cd(II) sorption concentration by carbon sorbent from apricot pit. The combined action of ultrasonic frequency of 18 kHz and 1 MHz on concentrate slurry increases its sedimentation stability from 3 to 180 minutes and decreases S_r value up to 7% at Pb(II), Cd(II) hybrid sorption atomic absorption determination in natural waters, brines, common salt.      

The first synthesis of 3-deoxyoripavine and its utilization in the preparation of 10-deoxyaporphines and cyprodime

The synthesis of 3-deoxyoripavine (7) was realized as a novel and promising intermediate towards the synthesis of the important class of dopaminergic and/or serotonergic 10-deoxyaporphines and the special pharmacological tool µ opioid antagonist cyprodime. Generally, the preparation of these valuable biologically active compounds was achieved in remarkable yields.      

Polymer conjugates with potential biological activity based on new derivatives of 2-mercaptobenzoxazole-synthesis and characterization

New potentially biologically active compounds derived from 2-mercapto-benzoxazole were synthesized and coupled on polymeric support of poly (maleic anhydride-alt-vinyl acetate) for the preparation of polymer-drug conjugates with controlled drug release. All compounds were characterized by elemental and spectroscopy (FT-IR, ¹H-NMR) analysis. The toxicological tests recommend the products for further laboratory screening.      

Equilibrium, kinetic, and thermodynamic studies of Basic Blue 9 dye sorption on agro-industrial lignocellulosic materials

The sorptive potential of some lignocellulosic agro-industrial wastes (sunflower seed shells and corn cob) for Basic Blue 9 cationic dye removal from aqueous solutions was examined using the batch technique. The Freundlich, Langmuir, and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm models were used in order to determine the quantitative parameters of sorption. The Langmuir isotherm model indicated a maximum sorption capacity for these materials in the range of 40–50 mg dye per g (25°C), slightly higher for corn cob than for sunflower seed shells. The values of the thermodynamic parameters showed that the retention of cationic dye is a spontaneous and endothermic process. The application of pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order intraparticle diffusion models, and a Boyd — Reichenberg model for kinetic data interpretation suggested that sorption of Basic Blue 9 dye onto the studied materials is a process where both surface sorption and intraparticle diffusion contributed to the rate-limiting step. These lignocellulosic wastes can be used with good efficiency for dye removal from aqueous effluents.      

Enantioselective Michael additions of aldehydes to nitroalkenes catalyzed with ionically tagged organocatalyst

Enantioselective organocatalytic Michael additions affords useful building blocks for many biologically and medicinally relevant compounds. Ionically-tagged diphenylprolinol silyl ether efficiently catalyzes several Michael additions of aldehydes to nitroalkenes in ionic liquids. The Michael additions work well in ionic liquids; yields up to 95% and enantioselectivities up to 95% ee were achieved. Furthermore, in some cases, the catalytic system was reusable.      

Dynamic pressure thermal analysis of double-base propellants containing RDX

The thermal decomposition of five double-base propellants modified with RDX was studied by dynamic pressure thermal analysis to determine the effect of RDX content (20–60 wt.%) on performance. All have good stability. Both stability and activation energy increase as RDX increases from 20% to 50% then decrease; 50% RDX performs best. The decomposition mechanism is affected by RDX content and temperature. Increasing temperature induces autocatalysis and accelerates decomposition.      

Reaction of barbituric acid with organic azides and phosphonium ylides

Amination by organic azides has been carried out to provide aminobarbiturates by fusion of a triazole ring to the 5,6-positions of barbituric acid followed by cleavage and thermal elimination of nitrogen, whereas aza-Wittig reaction gave phosphoranylidene barbituric acid salts.      

Preparation of selectively protected protoescigenin derivatives for synthesis of escin analogs and neoglycoconjugates

Protoescigenin, the main aglycone of horse chestnut saponin mixture known as escin, was selected as substrate for exploratory chemistry towards selective protection, followed by propargyl ether formation and subsequent condensation with azido-monosaccharides, to obtain novel triazole linked conjugates of the triterpene.      

Copper(I) π-complexes with allyl derivatives of heterocyclic compounds: structural survey of their crystal engineering

In this review an exhaustive crystallochemical analysis of copper(I) π-complexes with allyl derivatives of heterocyclic compounds has been performed. Structural genesis of inorganic constituents starting from the simplest units to the most complicated aggregates was considered taking into account the specific role of Cu-(C=C) interaction, the construction of the organic ligands, the basicity and nucleophilic activity of their heteroatoms, as well as olefin Cu(I) π-complex preparation route.      

Effect of oxidation of nitride coatings on corrosion properties of Ti-6Al-4V alloy in 0.9% NaCl at 40°C

The corrosion properties of Ti-6Al-4V alloy with oxidized thermodiffusion nitride coatings were investigated in isotonic 0.9% solution of NaCl at temperature of 40°C. It was shown that modification of nitride coatings by oxygen leads to a deterioration of the protective properties of nitrided surface of Ti-6Al-4V alloy. The protective properties of the alloy with nitride coatings modified by oxygen are determined by the composition of formed surface oxynitride film.      

Controlled pesticide release from biodegradable polymers

Polymers have been widely used in agriculture for applications including controlled release of pesticides and other active ingredients. The ability to predict their delivery helps avoid environmental hazards. Macromolecular matrices used as carriers in controlled release of agricultural active agents, especially pesticides, are reviewed. The review focuses on the advantages and mechanisms of controlled release. It includes biodegradable polymers in agriculture, their manufacturing methods, and their degradation mechanisms and kinetics. The article also presents a critical account of recent release studies and considers upcoming challenges.      

Application of NRTL activity coefficient model to describe the kinetics of gas adsorption

The Non-Random Two-Liquid activity coefficient model is applied to describe the kinetics of pure gas adsorption on energetically heterogeneous solid surfaces. The surface energetic heterogeneity has been represented by the Gaussian-like function of the adsorption energy distribution. Two different kinetic isotherms have been presented. One of them, determined by using the statistical rate theory, has been critically discussed. The applicability of the presented approach has been demonstrated by a quantitative analysis of two sets of experimental data previously reported in the literature.      

Mechanical, thermal and surface properties of polyacrylamide/dextran semi-interpenetrating network hydrogels tuned by the synthesis temperature

The mechanical, rheological, thermal, and surface behaviors of three polyacrylamide/dextran (PAAm/Dx) semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) hydrogels, prepared at 22°C, 5°C and ?18°C, were investigated. The results were compared with those obtained on cross-linked PAAm without Dx synthesized under the same conditions. Hydrogels prepared at the lowest temperature were the most mechanically stable. The thermal stability of the semi-IPN hydrogels is slightly lower than the corresponding PAAm gels, irrespective of preparation temperature. The water vapor sorption capacity depended on the presence of Dx as well as preparation temperature, which determines the network morphology.      

Aqueous photocatalytic oxidation of prednisolone

The research into the aqueous photocatalytic oxidation of the anti-inflammatory drug prednisolone was undertaken with P25 titanium dioxide (Evonik) and visible light-sensitive sol-gel synthesized titania-based photocatalysts containing carbon, sulphur, and iron. Possible prednisolone photocatalytic oxidation reaction pathways were proposed based on a number of oxidation by-products determined in the present study. The prednisolone adsorption properties, effects of initial prednisolone concentration, pH, usual wastewater matrix admixtures, like carbamide and sucrose, were studied. The nontoxicity of doped catalysts towards Tetrahymena thermophila, a ciliate protozoa present in the activated sludge, indicated their lower oxidative ability compared to P25, but also implied their potential application in pre-treatment of toxic hazardous materials under VIS or solar radiation before the biological degradation stage.      

Copper-cobalt ferrites as catalysts for methanol decomposition

Copper-cobalt ferrites with composition Cu_1?xCo_xFe₂O₄, where x= 0.2 and 0.8 were prepared by thermal treatment of co-precipitated precursor. The obtained materials were characterized by TG-DSC, XRD, Transmission and Conversion Electron Mössbauer spectroscopy and temperature programmed reduction with hydrogen. The catalytic properties of ferrites were tested in methanol decomposition to CO and hydrogen.      

Recent progress in the application of glow-discharge electrolysis plasma

Non-equilibrium plasma makes it is possible to modify surface chemistry, synthetize polymer materials, and oxidize some organic compounds completely by generation of energetic and chemically active species in gas or liquid phases. Glow-discharge electrolysis plasma (GDEP) has been intensely studied for applications in chemistry and in material, environmental, and biomedical engineering during the last few years because of the very highly active chemical species produced during the glow-discharge electrolysis (GDE) process. A brief review is already available regarding applications of glow-discharge electrolysis plasma technique in chemistry and environmental science during the past decade. For convenience of discussion, some papers from prior years are also cited. The contents of this review are focused on the degradation of persistent pollutants, surface modification of materials, and preparation of functional polymers.      

Rosehip extraction: Process optimization and antioxidant capacity of extracts

This article examines the extraction of rosehip to study the recovery of a number of compounds with antioxidant properties (polyphenols, flavonoids, and β-carotene). Two varieties of rosehip, cultivated and wild are used as raw material. A detailed study of the process kinetics at different operating conditions is carried out in order to determine appropriate processing parameters, which results in extracts with higher content of target compounds and higher antioxidant capacity. Data on the concentration of active components in the different parts of the fruit (skin, seeds, and pappi) are also obtained, which gives information about their distribution within the fruit. The comparison of wild and cultivated varieties demonstrates the better quality of the cultivated one. The results are useful for production of improved and enriched rosehip extracts with higher content of antioxidant substances that have proven beneficial effects on the human health.