Functionalized MgO,CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and ZnO nanoparticles with humic acid for the study of nitrate adsorption efficiency from water

In this study, the removal of nitrate using ZnO, MgO, and CeO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) modified by humic acid from water was tested. Nanoparticles were modified by humic acid using the microwave-assisted technique and then modified ZnO (Zn–H), modified MgO (Mg–H), and modified CeO₂ (Ce–H) were characterized through SEM, EDX, FTIR, and XRD analysis. Several important parameters influencing the removal of nitrate such as contact time, pH, adsorbent dosage and temperature were explored systematically by batch experiments. Isotherm studies were set up with the following optimum conditions: pH?=?5, adsorbent concentration of 1 g L^?1, 180 min and 25 °C. The results revealed that the adsorption were best fitted to pseudo-second order and simple Elovich kinetics models. Langmuir, Freundlich and linear adsorption models were fitted to describe adsorption isotherms and constants. The isotherm analysis indicated that the adsorption data can be represented by both Freundlich and linear isotherm models. The maximum adsorption capacity (q_m) was obtained at 55.1, 74.2 and 75.8 mg g^?1 for Zn–H, Ce–H, and Mg–H, respectively. The thermodynamic parameters such as free energy, enthalpy and entropy of adsorption were obtained. From the thermodynamic parameters, it is suggested that the adsorption of nitrate on modified NPs (MNPs) followed the exothermic and spontaneous processes. The obtained results showed that the MNPs were efficient adsorbents for removing nitrate from aqueous media.     

Poly(aminohippuric acid)–sodium dodecyl sulfate/functionalized graphene oxide nanocomposite for amplified electrochemical sensing of gallic acid

Gallic acid (GA), as a main phenolic acid, has been considered the main player on the human health, including the effects of reduction of cholesterol, depression of hypertension, anti-oxidation, anti-microbial, protection against cardiovascular disease and cancer. This study describes the development, electrochemical characterization and utilization of a novel functionalized graphene oxide/poly(p-aminohippuric acid)–sodium dodecyl sulfate nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode (APTS@GO/PPAH-SDS/GCE) for the electrocatalytic determination of GA. The synthesized nanocomposite was characterized by different techniques such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermo-gravimetric analysis and transmission electron microscopy. The electrochemical oxidation of GA was investigated by cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry and amperometry. The modified electrode showed a potent and persistent electron mediating behavior followed by well-defined oxidation peak of GA and the linear range of 0.006–2000 µmol L^?1 with a detection limit of 1.7 nmol L^?1 for GA (S/N?=?3) using amperometric method. Also, it was successfully used for the GA determination in the black tea and tab water as real samples. Additionally, this electrode exhibited good stability and reproducibility. The results imply that the APTS@GO/PPAH-SDS nanocomposite might be a promising candidate for practical applications in GA electrochemical detection.     

Copper-catalyzed efficient synthesis of 5-arylindazolo[3,2-b]quinazolin-7(5H)-ones from 2-nitrobenzaldehydes

A novel and practical copper-catalyzed approach was developed for the preparation of 5-arylindazolo[3,2-b]quinazolin-7(5H)-ones. The 2-amino-N′-arylbenzohydrazideis easily prepared by a reaction of isatoic anhydride with arylhydrazine. Then, through a condensation/intramolecular cyclization reaction by 2-nitrobenzaldehydes in the present of CuI, the corresponding 5-arylindazolo[3,2-b]quinazolin-7(5H)-ones are produced in good yields.     

Copper-catalyzed four-component synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines via sequential reductive amination,condensation, and cyclization

A novel and efficient four-component approach for the synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines is described. The copper-catalyzed reductive amination of 2-bromopyridine by sodium azide followed by sequential condensation and cyclization with aldehydes and isocyanides afforded the corresponding imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines in good yields.     

Synthesis,characterization and in vitro DNA binding studies of a new copper(II) complex containing antioxidant ferulic acid

A mononuclear Cu(II) complex, [Cu(FA)₂(NO₃)₂], in which FA is ferulic acid ((E)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)prop-2-enoic acid), was synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic methods. The main structures of the ligand and its complexes with Cu²⁺ were optimized by QM calculations. The calculations on the structures of the [Cu(FA)₂(NO₃)₂] complexes forms and the intercalating with DNA profile were undertaken by UHF/PM6 and MMFF94 methods, respectively. In vitro studies (UV-vis spectroscopy, emission titration, circular dichroism techniques, and viscometry) under physiological conditions (Tris-HCl buffer solutions, pH 7.4) showed that the complex interacts with calf-thymus DNA (ct-DNA) via an intercalative binding mode. The thermodynamic parameters, enthalpy change (ΔH), and entropy change (ΔS) showed that the acting forces between Cu(II) complex and ct-DNA mainly included van der Waals interactions and hydrogen bonds. Methylene blue (MB) displacement studies revealed that Cu(II) complex can substitute MB probe in the MB-DNA complex which was indicative of intercalative binding. The theoretical data confirm the experimental results with respect to the mechanism of binding.     

Polyacrylamide/reduced graphene oxide-Ag nanocomposite as highly efficient antibacterial transparent film

In this study, preparation and characterization of polyacrylamide/reduced graphene oxide-Ag (PAM/rGO-Ag) nanocomposites as a new nanocomposite film were investigated. First, PAM/GO nanocomposite was synthesized by in situ polymerization strategy. Afterward, highly stable and uniformly distributed silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) have been obtained with PAM/GO nanocomposite as nanoreactors via in situ reduction of silver nitrate (AgNO₃) using sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) as reducing agent. In addition, the prepared PAM/rGO-Ag nanocomposite was thermally annealed in order to achieve high-performance nanocomposite film with antimicrobial activities. The prepared nanocomposite was characterized by XRD, FT-IR, SEM, TEM and TGA. The obtained results demonstrate that the silver nanoparticles were well decorated and dispersed on the graphene oxide nanosheets. In fact, the GO nanosheets and polyacrylamide chains act as a support and stabilize the Ag nanoparticles. Moreover, antimicrobial activities of the films were also examined, and the films containing well-dispersed and stabilized Ag nanoparticles showed outstanding antibacterial activity.     

Gelatin/montmorillonite biohybrid films prepared via a novel photocrosslinking method: structure–properties investigations

Gelatin/sodium montmorillonite (Na⁺MMT) hybrid nanocomposite films were prepared by a new photocrosslinking method using 4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)phenyl-(2-hydroxy-2-propyl)ketone (Irgacure 2959) as a photoactive radical initiator and N,N′-Methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a crosslinking agent. The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry, stress–strain measurements and UV–Vis spectrophotometry. XRD patterns showed the formation of exfoliation structure resulting in considerable improves in mechanical properties of the nanocomposite. Retaining of transparency also suggested that Na⁺MMT nanosheets were uniformly distributed in the gelatin matrix. The tensile strength and Elastic’s modulus of nanocomposites were also improved notably by enhancing amount of Na⁺MMT. Furthermore, gelatin/Na⁺MMT nanocomposites showed a second T _g at a higher temperature in presence of Na⁺MMT.     

A numerical method for finding positive solution of diffusive logistic equation

Using a numerical methods based on sub–super solution, we will find positive solution for the diffusive logistic equation Δu+au-bu²=0 for xΩ, with Dirichlet boundary condition.     

Synthesis and applications of quaternized highly branched polyacrylamide as a novel multi-site polymeric phase transfer catalyst

In current study, quaternized highly branched polyacrylamide (HBAA) was synthesized and used as an efficient multi-site polymeric phase transfer catalyst in nucleophilic substitution reactions and also in synthesis of α, β-unsaturated nitriles from reaction of acetonitrile and carbonyl compounds. The quaternized HBAA was synthesized via two steps. First, HBAA was synthesized via self-condensing vinyl polymerization of acrylamide at appropriate molar ratio of monomer to diperiodatocuprate(III). In the second step, 3-acrylamidopropyl trimethylammonium iodide was polymerized on peripheral area of the HBAA in the presence of diperiodatocuprate(III) solution again. The thermal behavior of HBAA and that of the quaternized HBAA were studied by DSC and TGA analysis. This phase transfer catalyst was easily recovered after reaction and reused several times without any loss of activity.     

Mode analysis of fiber Bragg grating random lasers in the presence of mode competition

In the presence of self and cross saturation effects, the laser governing equations are nonlinear. To solve the governing equations of a fiber Bragg grating random laser, on the basis of the transfer matrix method, a simple and fast iterative method is introduced. The method is employed to obtain the frequency, threshold pumping rate and spatial distribution of different laser modes. Numerical calculations show that by increasing the number of fiber Bragg grating, the number of lasing modes increases, while the threshold pumping rate of the first mode decreases. Our theoretical results are in agreement with the experimental observations reported by previous authors.