Adsorption and Equilibrium Isotherm Study of Removal of Copper (II) Ions from Aqueous Solution by Chemically Modified Abelmoschus esculentus Fibers

The present study explores surface modification of Abelmoschus esculentus by graft copolymerization reaction using acrylonitrile as a monomer and ascorbic acid/H₂O₂ as a redox initiator. Further, polyacrylonitrile grafted fibers were treated with hydroxylamine to convert the nitrile group of the grafted fiber into the amidoxime group to enhance adsorption of copper ions from wastewater. The graft copolymers and amidoximated fibers were characterized by FT-IR and FE-SEM. The effects of physicochemical parameters such as pH of the solution, initial metal ion concentration, and time on Cu(II) adsorption were studied to optimize condition for maximum adsorption. In addition, Langmuir, Freundlich, and Tempkin models were applied to describe the adsorption isotherm of Cu²⁺ ions.     

Development of Hydroprocessing Route to Transportation Fuels from Non-Edible Plant-Oils

Catalysts with tunable porosity, crystallinity and acidity can selectively produce aviation fuels and road transportation fuels via hydroprocessing of non-edible oils. Here we discuss several catalyst supports—mesoporous alumina, silica–alumina and hierarchical mesoporous zeolites, developed and used as support for hydroprocessing catalysts (Ni–Mo, Co–Mo, Ni–W), for the selective production of transportation fuels. These developed catalysts were used for the hydroconversion of waste cooking-oil, jatropha-oil, algal-oil and their mixtures with petroleum refinery oils. The physicochemical properties of the catalyst were tuned for optimal performance on the basis of evaluation results on high pressure fixed bed microreactors and pilot scale reactors. These studies targeted the production of transportation fuels (gasoline, kerosene and diesel) by hydroprocessing (hydrotreating or hydrocracking) renewable feed stocks or co-processing with fossil based oils. Modelling and process optimization studies for prediction of kinetic rate parameters and to know the reaction pathways for the conversion of these feed stocks to various range of hydrocarbon fuels, were also carried out. These studies provided the vital information that the reaction pathways were temperature dependent.     

Immunomagnetic nanoparticle based quantitative PCR for rapid detection of Salmonella

We have developed a rapid and sensitive method for immunomagnetic separation (IMS) of Salmonella along with their real time detection via PCR. Silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles were functionalized with carboxy groups to which anti-Salmonella antibody raised against heat-inactivated whole cells of Salmonella were covalently attached. The immuno-captured target cells were detected in beverages like milk and lemon juice by multiplex PCR and real time PCR with a detection limit of 10⁴ cfu.mL^?1 and 10³ cfu.mL^?1, respectively. We demonstrate that IMS can be used for selective concentration of target bacteria from beverages for subsequent use in PCR detection. PCR also enables differentiation of Salmonella typhi and Salmonella paratyphi A using a set of four specific primers. In addition, IMS—PCR can be used as a screening tool in the food and beverage industry for the detection of Salmonella within 3–4 h which compares favorably to the time of several days that is needed in case of conventional detection based on culture and biochemical methods.

Cyclisation of Ortho -Cyclohexenyl Phenols via Epoxidation #

A number of ortho -cyclohexenyl phenols 2(a–i) have been cyclised by treatment with one equivalent of m-chloroper-oxybenzoic acid in refluxing benzene for 4 h to furnish linearly fused 1-hydroxy-1,2,3,4,4a,9a-hexahydrodibenzofurans 3(a–i) (70–80%) and bicyclic 3-hydroxy-1,3-ethanochromans 4(a–f) (10–20%). Products 3(a–i) were oxidised with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (excess) in refluxing dry xylene for 6 h to give 2,3-dihydrodibenzofuran-1 (2H)-ones 6(a–i) (85–95%).

     

A Mild and Efficient Route to 3-Vinylchromones in Aqueous Micellar Media

A simple, mild, and ecofriendly method has been developed for the synthesis of 3-vinylchromones from 4-oxo-4H-1-benzopyran-3-carboxaldehyde (3-formylchromone) by simple Knoevenagel condensation with various active methylene compounds (AMC) in aqueous micellar media in the presence of catalytic amounts of cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO). In the case of malonic acid as AMC, the reaction resulted in formation of only Doebner decarboxylated products under the standard reaction condition. It has been also observed that 3-formylchromone derivatives primarily undergo tandem Knoevenagel and Michael reactions in the presence of > 2 equiv. of ethyl acetoacetate to produce benzophenone derivatives, by opening of pyran ring, as the sole product in good yields.     

Nicotinic acid functionalized organomodified silica as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of benzoyl fumarate

A new hybrid catalyst has been developed by incorporating nicotinic acid onto an organomodified silica. The catalyst was applied as a heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of benzoyl fumarate. The reactions work well in the presence of 20 wt % of the catalyst at room temperature to produce the desired products in high yield. The catalyst could be recovered and reused without appreciable change in activity.     

Synthesis of O-α-L-Fucopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→4)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose. The H-Blood Group Specific Trisaccharide

Abstract

Different reaction conditions were investigated for the preparation of benzyl 2-acetamido-3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranoside (5). Compound 5 on reaction with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α-D-galactopyranosyl bromide afforded the 4-O-substituted 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosyl derivative which, on O-deacetylation, gave benzyl 2-acetamido-3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-4-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (8). The trimethylsilyl (Me₃Si) derivative of 8, on treatment with pyridineacetic anhydride-acetic acid for 2 days, gave the disaccharide derivative having an O-acetyl group selectively introduced at the primary position and Me₃Si groups at the secondary positions. The latter groups were readily cleaved by treatment with aqueous acetic acid in methanol to afford benzyl 2-acetamido-4-O-(6-O-acetyl-β-D-galactopyranosyl)-3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranoside, which on isopropylidenation gave the desired, key intermediate benzyl 2-acetamido-4-O-(6-O-acetyl-3,4-O-isopropylidene-β-D-galactopyranosyl)-3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranoside (12). Reaction of 12 with 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-α-L-fucopyranosyl bromide under catalysis by bromide ion afforded the trisaccharlde derivative from which the title trisaccharide was obtained by systematic removal of the protective groups. The structures of the final trisaccharide and of various intermediates were established by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy.     

Novel Tripod Amphiphiles for Membrane Protein Analysis

Integral membrane proteins play central roles in controlling the flow of information and molecules across membranes. Our understanding of membrane protein structures and functions, however, is seriously limited, mainly due to difficulties in handling and analysing these proteins in aqueous solution. The use of a detergent or other amphipathic agents is required to overcome the intrinsic incompatibility between the large lipophilic surfaces displayed by the membrane proteins in their native forms and the polar solvent molecules. Here, we introduce new tripod amphiphiles displaying favourable behaviours toward several membrane protein systems, leading to an enhanced protein solubilisation and stabilisation compared to both conventional detergents and previously described tripod amphiphiles.