Cathodic electrodeposition and characterization of nanostructured Y2O3 from chloride solution Part I: Effect of current density

Nanoparticles, nanospheres and nanorods of Y(OH)₃ and Y₂O₃ were prepared via cathodic electrodeposition from chloride bath through applying different current densities. First, yttrium hydroxide precursors were cathodically grown on the cathode surface at the current densities of 2, 1, 0.5, 0.25 and 0.1 mA cm^?2. Then hydroxide powders were heat-treated at 600°C for 3 h. The composition, crystal structure and morphology of the prepared oxide and hydroxide products were investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetery (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning and transmission electron microscopes (SEM and TEM) and FT-IR spectroscopy. Mechanism of base electrogeneration at the applied conditions, and intercalation of chloride ions in the deposit structure during the electrodeposition were proposed and confirmed by the XRD and TG analyses. The results showed that the structural and morphological properties of the products are directly dictated by the applied current density and it can be recognized as the main factor affecting on the cathodic electrodeposition of Y₂O₃.     

Four-Component,One-Pot Synthesis of 2-Aryl-4-Thionylquinoline Derivatives and Their Aromatization

Four-component, one-pot condensation of dimedon, thiophene-2-carbaldehyde, ammonium acetate, and numerous acetophenones yielded novel 2-aryl-4-thionylquinoline derivatives. The structures were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR, and elemental analysis.     

Cyclohexenones Through Regioselective Addition of 1,3-Dicarbonyl Compounds to Terpenoid-Like Bischalcones

Terpenoid-like bischalcones (3 and 4) were synthesized from the reaction of α- and β-ionones and benzaldehydes in excellent yields. The Michael addition of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds to bischalcones (3 and 4) resulted in the formation of cyclohexenones derivatives (10a–d and 14a, b) via regioselective addition of 1,3-dicarbonyls and then cyclization.     

Synthesis and Characterization of New Chalcone Derivatives from cis-Bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-en-6-one

A series of chalcone derivatives (3a–k) were prepared via the reaction of cis-bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-en-6-one (1) with the respective arylaldehydes (2a–k) and were then characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and elemental analyses.     

Alternate Method for the Synthesis of Six-Membered Carbocycles with Five Stereocenters: 1,2,3,4,6-Pentasubstituted-4-hydroxy-cyclohexanes

A series of novel 1,2,3,4,6-pentasubstituted-4-hydroxy-cyclohexanes (3a–u) were synthesized from the reaction of aromatic ketones with aromatic aldehydes under mild reaction conditions in good yields. The stereochemistry of the synthesized compounds was established using 1D and 2D-NMR spectra.     

Adsorption of Cd(II) Ions onto Activated Carbon Prepared from Hazelnut Husks

In this study, a batch adsorption of Cd(II) ions onto activated carbon (AC) produced from hazelnut husks were investigated. The factors controlling the adsorption process such as initial pH, agitation time, dosage and initial concentration have been examined. The AC was showed a high affinity to Cd(II) ions at pH values between 5.0 and 7.0. The equilibrium time was found to be 300 minutes. Cd(II) adsorption equilibrium was analyzed with both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm equations and it was found that Langmuir equations fitted well with the experimental data. Maximum Cd(II) adsorption capacity of AC was calculated to be 20.9 mg g^?1. Cd(II) adsorption kinetics described well with the pseudo second order model. The activated carbon prepared from hazelnut husks is efficient sorbent material for the removal of Cd(II) ions from aqueous solutions.     

Design and Development of Oral Oil-in-Water Nanoemulsion Formulation Bearing Atorvastatin: In Vitro Assessment

The objective of the present investigation was to design a thermodynamically stable and dilutable nanoemulsion formulation of AT-Ca with minimum surfactant concentration that could improve its solubility as well as its oral bioavailability. The composition of optimized nanoemulsion formulation was Sefsol 218 and oleic acid (1:1) 10% w/w, as an oil phase, Tween-20 (19% w/w) as a surfactant, Carbitol (19% w/w) as a cosurfactant and distilled water (52% w/w) as an aqueous phase, containing 10 mg of AT. The optimized formulation showed higher% drug release (99.34%), lower droplet size (42.8 ± 0.42 nm) with low polydispersity index (0.237 ± 0.012), less viscosity (27.51 ± 1.01 cP) and infinite dilution capability. In vitro drug release from the nanoemulsion formulations was highly significant (p < 0.01) as compared to drug suspension.     

Determination of total arsenic in soil and arsenic-resistant bacteria from selected ground water in Kandal Province, Cambodia

Cambodia has geological environments conducive to generation of high-arsenic groundwater and people are at high risk of chronic arsenic exposure. The aims of this study are to investigate the concentration of total arsenic and to isolate and identify arsenic-resistant bacteria from selected locations in Kandal Province, Cambodia. The INAA technique was used to measure the concentration of total arsenic in soils. The arsenic concentrations in soils were above permissible 5 mg/kg, ranging from 5.34 to 27.81 mg/kg. Bacteria resistant to arsenic from two arsenic-contaminated wells in Preak Russey were isolated by enrichment method in nutrient broth (NB). Colonies isolated from NB was then grown on minimal salt media (MSM) added with arsenic at increasing concentrations of 10, 20, 30, 50, 100 and 250 ppm. Two isolates that can tolerate 750 ppm of arsenic were identified as Enterobacter agglomerans and Acinetobacter lwoffii based on a series of biochemical, physiological and morphological analysis. Optimum growth of both isolates ranged from pH 6.6 to 7.0 and 30–35 °C. E. agglomerans and A. lwoffii were able to remove 66.4 and 64.1 % of arsenic, respectively at the initial concentration of 750 ppm, within 72 h of incubation. Using energy dispersive X-ray technique, the percentage of arsenic absorbed by E. agglomerans and A. lwoffii was 0.09 and 0.15 %, respectively. This study suggested that arsenic-resistant E. agglomerans and A. lwoffii removed arsenic from media due to their ability to absorb arsenic.     

Orientational and electro-optical properties of liquid crystal aligned with a directly spinnable carbon nanotube web

We investigated the orientational and electro-optical properties of a nematic liquid crystal (LC) aligned with a directly spinnable carbon nanotube (CNT) web functioning both as an electrode and as an alignment layer. The LC molecules were uniformly oriented along the drawing direction of the CNT web and the spatially averaged birefringence was comparable to a rubbed polyimide sample. The CNT web sample also showed smaller residual DC and hysteresis compared to the polyimide sample.