Measurement and prediction of solubilities and diffusion coefficients of carbon dioxide in starch–water mixtures at elevated pressures

The solubility and diffusion coefficient of carbon dioxide in intermediate‐moisture starch–water mixtures were determined both experimentally and theoretically at elevated pressures up to 16 MPa at 50 °C. A high‐pressure decay sorption system was assembled to measure the equilibrium CO₂ mass uptake by the starch–water system. The experimentally measured solubilities accounted for the estimated swollen volume by Sanchez–Lacombe equation of state (S‐L EOS) were found to increase almost linearly with pressure, yielding 4.0 g CO₂/g starch–water system at 16 MPa. Moreover, CO₂ solubilities above 5 MPa displayed a solubility increase, which was not contributed by the water fraction in the starch–water mixture. The solubilities, however, showed no dependence on the degree of gelatinization (DG) of starch. The diffusion coefficient of CO₂ was found to increase with concentration of dissolved CO₂, which is pressure‐dependent, and decrease with increasing DG in the range of 50–100%. A free‐volume‐based diffusion model proposed by Areerat was employed to predict the CO₂ diffusivity in terms of pressure, temperature, and the concentration of dissolved CO₂. S‐L EOS was once more used to determine the specific free volume of the mixture system. The predicted diffusion coefficients showed to correlate well with the measured values for all starch–water mixtures. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 607–621, 2006     

Determination of the stability constant of Np(V) fluoride complex using a fluoride ion selective electrode

Fluoride complexing of Np(V) has been studied using fluoride ion selective electrode (F-ISE). Free fluoride ion concentrations in the presence of Np(V) were measured at 0.1 and 1.0M ionic strength. The data were used to calculate the stability constant of the fluoride complex of Np(V) and the values obtained are reported here.     

Recovery of plutonium and americium from laboratory acidic waste solutions using tri-n-octylamine and octylphenyl-N-N- diisobutylcarbamoylmethylphosphine oxide

Plutonium from acidic waste solutions has been recovered quantitatively using tri-n-octylamine (TnOA) in xylene and americium using a mixture of octylphenyl-N-N- diisobutylcarbamoylmethylphosphine oxide (CMPO) and TBP in dodecane by extraction and extraction chromatographic methods. The Pu ( IV ) TnOA species extracted into the organic phase from higher nitric acid concentrations has been confirmed as (R(3)NH)(2)Pu(NO(3))(6) (where R(3)N = TnOA by employing slope analysis as well as spectrophotometric studies.     

Distorted Phthalocyanines by Click Chemistry: Photoacoustic,Photothermal, and Surface-Enhanced Resonance Raman Studies

Distortion of nominally planar phthalocyanine macrocycles affects the excited state dynamics in that most of the excited-state energy decays through internal conversion. A click-type annulation reaction on a perfluorophthalocyanine platform appending a seven-membered ring to the β-positions on one or more of the isoindoles distorts the macrocycle and modulates solubility. The distorted derivative enables photoacoustic imaging, photothermal effects, and strong surface-enhanced resonance Raman signals.     

A relationship between three analytical approaches to nonlinear problems

In this work, the relationship between three analytical techniques is demonstrated. The direct relationship between the variational approach (VA) and the Hamiltonian approach (HA) is illustrated for a first approximation, and subsequently the relationship between the variational approach and the harmonic balance method (HBM) is concluded. Moreover, the relationship between HA and VA is investigated for higher order solutions.     

QbD approached comparison of reaction mechanism in microwave synthesized gold nanoparticles and their superior catalytic role against hazardous nirto‐dye

Microwave irradiation (MI) process characteristically enables extremely rapid “in‐core” heating of dipoles and ions, in comparison to conventional thermal (conductance) process of heat transfer. During the process of nanoparticles synthesis, MI both modulates functionality behaviors as well as dynamic of reaction in favorable direction. So, MI providing a facile, favorable and alternative approach during nanoparticles synthesis nanoparticles with enhanced catalytic performances. Although, conventionally used reducing and capping reagents of synthetic origin, are usually environmentally hazardous and toxic for living organism. But, in absence of suitable capping agent; stability, shelf life and catalytic activity of metallic nanoparticles adversely affected. However, polymeric templates which emerged as suitable choice of agent for both reducing and capping purposes; bearing additional advantages in terms of catalyst free one step green synthesis process with high degree of biosafety and efficiency. Another aspect of current works was to understand role of process variables in growth mechanism and catalytic performances of microwave processed metallic nanoparticles, as well as comparison of these parameters with conventional heating method. However, due to poor prediction ability with previously published architect OFAT (One factor at a time) design with these nanoparticles as well as random selection of process variables with their different levels, such comparison couldn't be possible. Hence, using gum Ghatti (Anogeissus latifolia) as a model bio‐template and under simulated reaction conditions; architect of QbD design systems were integrated in microwave processed nanoparticles to establish mechanistic role these variables. Furthermore, in comparison to conventional heating; we reported well validated mathematical modeling of process variables on characteristic of nanoparticles as well as synthesized gold nanoparticles of desired and identical dimensions, in both thermal and microwave‐based processes. Interestingly, despite of identical dimension, MI processed gold nanoparticles bearing higher efficiency (kinetic rate) against remediation of hazardous nitro dye (4‐nitrophenol), into safer amino (4‐aminophenol) analogues.     

Synthesis of new bicarbazole-linked triazoles as non-cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) inhibitors

Abstract

Carbazole analogs 3 and 4 and a new library of bicarbazole-linked triazoles 6–11 were prepared via new synthetic methodology. Metal-catalyzed oxidative coupling reaction was utilized for the synthesis of bicarbazole acetylene 4 and different metals (Zn⁺², Co⁺², Fe⁺³, Ni⁺², Cu⁺², Mn⁺²) as catalyst were screened. Only Fe-catalyzed reaction was found to be excellent and gave homocoupled product 4. Cu-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition was also utilized to install triazole moiety for the synthesis of hybrid molecules 6–11. Based on reported anti-inflammatory activity of carbazole and triazole scaffolds, all compounds were screened for their reactive oxygen species (ROS) inhibitory potential. Results from these studies revealed triazole 9 as most active compound (IC₅₀ value of 7.6?±?0.1?µg/mL on human whole blood and 2.7?±?0.09?µg/mL on isolated neutrophils) using ibuprofen as a standard. Therefore, class described herein can serve as attractive structural element for further studies on ROS inhibition.     

Rapid and sensitive detection of bacteria via platinum-labeled antibodies and on-particle ionization and enrichment prior to MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry

We introduce a rapid and sensitive approach to study the interactions of an affinity probe with the bacterial wall. Immunoglobulin was immobilized on platinum nanoparticles, and the resulting probe nanoparticles bind to bacterial walls as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. A MALDI-MS assay was developed that can detect ~10⁵ cfu mL^?1 of S. marcescens and E. coli. This approach enables simple, rapid and straightforward detection of bacterial proteins, with high resolution and sensitivity, and without the requirement for tedious washing/separation steps.

Microbiological Transformation of L-Tyrosine to L-Dopa from Methanol Pretreated Biomass of a Novel Coriolus versicolor under Submerged Culture

The present study is concerned with the microbiological transformation of L-tyrosine to L-dopa by a newly isolated turkey tail mushroom Coriolus versicolor DOB-4. As tyrosinase (catechol oxidase, EC 1.10.3.1) is an extracellular enzyme, therefore biomass was used as an enzyme source in the reaction mixture. Biomass particles were pretreated with methanol and oven dried at 105 °C for 2 h. The optimal L-dopa production was achieved when 1.5 mg/ml L-tyrosine was used as the basal substrate. Thin layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography analysis depicted that citric acid supports higher substrate conversion and product formation rates. A noticeable enhancement was observed when process parameters viz. L-tyrosine concentration (1.5 mg/ml), citric acid (1.5 mg/ml), time of incubation (50 min), and reaction temperature (60 °C) were optimized using Plackett–Burman design. The maximum production of L-dopa was found to be 0.872 mg/ml with L-tyrosine consumption of 1.002 mg/ml. The model terms were found highly significant (HS, p?≤?0.05), suggesting the potential commercial utility of the culture (df?=?3, LSD?=?0.342).