Carrageenan for encapsulation and immobilization of flavor,fragrance, probiotics,and enzymes: A review

Carrageenans are sulfated polysaccharides obtained from sea weed. There are six types of carrageenans. They have been explored as gelling agents, control release vehicles, and encapsulating agents. It has been established that carrageenans, in the form of gels, beads and films, can efficiently encapsulate flavors, fragrances, probiotics, and enzymes. Flavors and fragrances are encapsulated to reduce their volatility. Probiotic encapsulation results in enhanced stability. Immobilization of enzymes in carrageenans improves their biocatalytic performance and stability. This review has summarized how carrageenans have been extensively investigated as potential encapsulating agents for the above-mentioned attributes.     

Highly Efficient Diglycolamide‐Based Task‐Specific Ionic Liquids: Synthesis,Unusual Extraction Behaviour,Irradiation, and Fluorescence Studies

Two new diglycolamide‐based task‐specific ionic liquids (DGA? TSILs) were evaluated for the extraction of actinides and lanthanides from acidic feed solutions. These DGA? TSILs were capable of exceptionally high extraction of trivalent actinide ions, such as Am³⁺, and even higher extraction of the lanthanide ion, Eu³⁺ (about 5–10 fold). Dilution of the DGA? TSILs in an ionic liquid, C₄mim⁺ ? NTf₂^?, afforded reasonably high extraction ability, faster mass transfer, and more efficient stripping of the metal ion. The nature of the extracted species was studied by slope analysis, which showed that the extracted species contained one NO₃^? anion, along with the participation of two DGA? TSIL molecules. Time‐resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) analysis showed a strong complexation with no inner‐sphere water molecule in the Eu^III? DGA? TSIL complexes in the presence and absence of C₄mim⁺ ? NTf₂^? as the diluent. The very high radiolytic stability of DGA? TSIL 6 makes it one of the most‐efficient solvent systems for the extraction of actinides under acidic feed conditions.     

JR 400–NaAOT interaction: a detailed thermodynamic study of polymer–surfactant interaction bearing opposite charges

The present study entails interaction between the cationic polymer N,N-dimethylhydroxyethyl cellulose (JR 400) and the double-tailed anionic surfactant Na-bis-2-ethyhexylsulphosuccinate (NaAOT). This oppositely charged polymer and surfactant are expected to cause coacervation and precipitation; hence, we have observed formation of thick solution similar to diluted gel at [JR 400]?~?0.01 and 0.10 %?w/v in aqueous solution. Viscometry, conductometry, tensiometry, and microcalorimetry techniques are used to monitor the interaction process. The results are explained in the light of both intrachain and interchain linking by way of NaAOT reverse micelle formation. Adsorption of NaAOT monomers onto the charged side chains of the polymer shields interchain electrostatic repulsion, leading to the formation of hydrophobic microdomains and microscopic heterogeneity in the solution. The morphologies of the domains depend on the level of addition of NaAOT in the system. The different stages of physiochemical changes that arise in solution have been identified by the use of different techniques, and correlations of the results have been attempted in terms of pragmatic models.     

AIPO4 Supported Zinc Borohydride as a Novel Reagent for the Hydration of Aromatic Alkenes and Alkynes

Hydration of aromatic alkenes (styrene, α-methylstyrene and E-stilbene) and alkynes (phenyl and diphenylacetylene) has been achieved by the reaction of the corresponding alkenes or alkynes on zinc borohydride combined with AIPO₄ in DME. Except in the case of α-methylstyrene, Zn(BH₄)₂/AIPO₄ provides a more efficient and selective catalytic system than the combination with SiO₂ or Al₂O₃.     

A comparative study of the complexation of Am(III) and Eu(III) with TODGA in room temperature ionic liquid

On the growing awareness of the environmental impact associated with the use of volatile organic diluents, room temperature ionic liquid gained world-wild acceptance as environmentally benign diluents for actinide partitioning. The observed unusual behavior of less extraction efficiency of Eu with TODGA in RTIL in comparison with that of Am-TODGA was addressed in this paper. The stoichiometry of Am-TODGA complex was found to be 1:2 while that of Eu-TODGA was 1:1. More the ligand molecules associated in the metal ligand complex, the organophilicity of the complex will be more and the solubility of the metal–ligand complex in RTIL will be more which reflects in the higher distribution ratio for Am. In RTIL both Am and Eu showed slower kinetics of extraction with TODGA which can be attributed to the high viscosity coefficient of RTIL compared to the molecular diluents. The observed slower kinetics of extraction was quantified and found to follow first order kinetics with the rate constant of 5.5 × 10^?4 s^?1. The formation constant of Am-TODGA complex was found to be more (4.18 × 10⁸ M^?1) than Eu-TODGA complex (3.31 × 10⁸ M^?1) in RTIL. The parameters viz. diffusion coefficient, activation energy for Eu(III)/Eu(II) were determined and found to be 3.08 × 10^?8/cm² s^?1 (at 303 K) and 39.34 kJ mol^?1 respectively. The thermodynamic parameters ΔG, ΔH and ΔS for the reaction were evaluated using the linear regression of the plot of E ^0* versus T. The redox reaction was found to be exothermic with decrease in entropy value.     

Role of alkyl substituent in room temperature ionic liquid on the electrochemical behavior of uranium ion and its local environment

A systematic study was carried out to understand the effect of structural modification of C_nmim⁺ moiety of C_nmimBr (n = 6, 8 or 10) on the electrochemical behavior of uranium. The cyclic voltammetric study of the above room-temperature ionic liquids (RTIL) media revealed that with increase in the chain length the electrochemical window extended more towards the negative potential. This resulted in the possibility of conversion of U(VI) to U(III) or even possibly to, U metal via U(IV) (as UO₂) when n ≥ 10. The diffusion coefficient of U(VI) was found to decrease from n = 6 to 8 to 10 due to the increasing order of viscosity of the RTIL. As a consequence, the activation energy was found to follow reverse order i.e. E _act(C₆mimBr) < E _act(C₈mimBr) < E _act(C₁₀mimBr). The conversion of UO₂ ²⁺ to UO₂ was found to be quasi reversible and also exothermic while the entropy was found to decrease due to the reduction reaction. An UV–Vis spectroscopic study was also carried out to understand the local environment around uranium in aqueous and RTIL media. Among several cationic and anionic species, the predominance of UO₂Cl₄ ^2? in 7 M HCl with D_4h coordination symmetry was observed. The decrease in symmetric stretching frequency of UO₂ ²⁺ in RTILs in comparison with aqueous system indicates that the bond strength of UO₂ ²⁺ in aqueous is less than that of UO₂ ²⁺ in RTILs.     

Spectral interference study of uranium on other analytes by using CCD based ICP-AES

Due to the multi-electronic nature, uranium is having line rich emission spectra and is expected to interfere during the determination of analytes at the trace level in uranium matrix. Therefore, chemical separation of uranium followed by the determination of trace metallic impurities in the raffinate by ICP-AES is generally adopted procedure in nuclear industries. There is restriction on choosing alternate analytical lines of elements by photomultiplier tube based ICP-AES associated with the polychromator while monochromator needs significant time to scan different analytical lines of all the elements. Since charged coupled detector (CCD) consists of array of pixels, it is having more option in choosing alternative analytical lines of the analytes. Therefore, an attempt was made to study the spectral interference of uranium on different analytical lines of analytes viz. Al, Ga, In, Si, Li, Ti, Mg, Sr, K, Ce, Nd, Lu, Sc, V, Er, Y, Ba, Bi, Pb, W, La, Tl, Sn, Yb, Mo, Sb, Pr and Zr; and the correction factors were evaluated (where ever necessary) using CCD based ICP-AES technique. The sensitivity and the detection limits of the analytical channels of the elements in presence of uranium matrix were calculated. The present study also deals with the identification of suitable analytical lines of uranium and its detection limits.     

Facile Oxidation of Aldehydes to Carboxylic Acids with Chromium(V) Reagents

Recently we reported a convenient method of oxidation of alcohols to carbonyl compounds using chromium(V) reagents.¹ Although a variety of reagents are available for effecting this transformation, there are only a few reagents which have been successfully used for the oxidation of aldehydes to carboxyllc adds. Chromic acid, silver oxide and potassium permanganate are commonly employed for this purpose and reactions are performed in protic media under conditions which are not that mild.² The “non-aqueous” chromium(VI) reagent, pyridinium dichromate, recently reported by Corey³ oxidises alcohols and aldehydes to carboxylic acids in DMF at room temperature. Although Cr(V) species is postulated as an intermediate in all oxidations with Cr(VI), no systematic oxidation studies have been reported with these reagents. This note reports the results of some fruitful investigations on aldehyde → carboxylic acid conversion involving some “non-aqueous” chromium (V) complexes 1, 2, 3 and 5 under anhydrous conditions.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of Hydroxyethylene Dipeptide Isostere from Sugar

Regioselective opening of the aziridine ring in the carbohydrate-based precursor led to the stereoselective synthesis of N-Boc-O-benzyl-(4S,5S)-5-amino-4-hydroxy-6-phenylhexanoic acid methyl ester, the hydroxyethylene dipeptide isostere moiety of potent HIV-1 protease inhibitor.