Evaluation of vinasses from sugarcane molasses distillation as a new source of sugarcane wax

Molasses, a by-product of sugar manufacturing, are the most common raw material for rum manufacturing. During the fermentation and distillation process, vinasses are produced in large quantities and disposed in landfills. In this study, they were evaluated as a new source of sugarcane wax. The chemical composition of the wax was studied by GC-Mass spectroscopy. A series of n-alkanes (C₂₃–C₃₃) and ethyl and methyl esters of fatty acids (palmitate and oleate are the predominant), of phytosterols (stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, campesterol), free fatty acids (C_12:0–C_36:0), and triglycerides constitute the main components. In addition, 2-ketones (C₂₇–C₃₃), aldehydes (C₂₈, C₃₂, C₃₄), ketosteroids (derivatives of stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, and campesterol), and fatty alcohol acetates (alcohol moiety: C₂₈, C₃₀, C₃₂) were found as minor products. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 448–450, September-October, 2008. Original article submitted March 19, 2007.     

固相萃取-离子色谱法测定甘蔗糖蜜及糖蜜酒精废液中的非氮有机酸和无机阴离子

建立了固相萃取-离子色谱测定甘蔗糖蜜及糖蜜酒精废液中乙酸、乳酸、琥珀酸、苹果酸、酒石酸、草酸、富马酸、柠檬酸、乌头酸等非氮有机酸和盐酸根、硫酸根、磷酸根等3种无机阴离子的方法。样品稀释液经强阴离子(SAX)固相萃取小柱净化除去糖类和色素等干扰基质,再用稀KOH溶液洗脱,经0.45 μm水膜过滤后,用IonPac AS15阴离子分离柱、KOH溶液梯度淋洗-抑制电导检测分离分析。考察了固相萃取小柱对待测离子的保留和洗脱条件。实验结果表明,除乙酸和乳酸的分离不完全、苹果酸与琥珀酸的组分重叠外,其余组分可达到完全分离,被测组分的浓度与其峰高在一定的范围呈良好的线性关系,检出限均低于0.20 mg/L,相对标准偏差(RSD)小于6.7%。测定了2种甘蔗糖蜜和1种糖蜜酒精废液中有机酸及无机阴离子,结果满足检测的要求,样品中各组分的加标回收率为94%～109%。     

Physical,chemical and biological studies on transition metal complexes of chelating tridentate ligand

Summary The interaction of 1-benzoin-4-phenylthiosemicarbazone (H₂ BPS) with some transition metal ions has been investigated. The ligand can function as a tridentate chelating agent, giving M(HBPS)₂ and M(BPS). Potentiometric studies proved that the mechanism of chelation is based on hydrogen ion liberation. Spectral studies in solution show that the ligand could be used for the microdetermination of Cu^IIions. On the basis of magnetic and spectral data, an octahedral structure is proposed for the Co^II and Ni^II complexes and a square-planar structure for the Cu^II complex. The corrosion inhibition of aluminium in Cl₃CCO₂H using H₂BPS is studied. The electrical conductivity of H₂BPS and of its complexes have been measured. The ligand shows an activation energy in the range of semiconducting materials. The antimicrobial activity of all compounds has also been demonstrated.     

偏最小二乘线性拟合滴定甘蔗糖蜜中多组分有机酸

将滴定体系调节至pH 2.0,用碱标准溶液滴定至特定pH所消耗滴定荆为测量指标,构建了多组分有机酸滴定数据阵,分别以主成分回归法、偏最小二乘法以及人工神经元网络法进行多组分拟合.结果表明,偏最小二乘法的拟合结果最佳,对混合体系中乙酸、乳酸、草酸、琥珀酸、柠檬酸和乌头酸总量的相对预测均方根误差分别为5.80%、8.88%...     

Mutagenesis and analysis of mold Aspergillus niger for extracellular glucose oxidase production using sugarcane molasses

Aspergillus niger ORS-4.410, a mutant of A. niger ORS-4, was generated by repeated ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. Analysis of the UV treatment dose on wild-type (WT) A. niger ORS-4, conidial survival, and frequency of mutation showed that the maximum frequency of positive mutants (25.5%) was obtained with a 57% conidial survival rate after the second stage of UV irradiation. The level of glucose oxidase (GOX) production from mutant A. niger ORS-4.410 thus obtained was 149% higher than that for WT strain A. niger ORS-4 under liquid culture conditions using hexacyanoferrate (HCF)-treated sugarcane molasses (TM) as a cheaper carbohydrate source. When subcultured monthly for 24 mo, the mutant strain had consistent levels of GOX production (2.62±0.51 U/mL). Mutant A. niger ORS-4.410 was markedly different from the parent strain morphologically and was found to grow abundantly on sugarcane molasses. The mutant strain showed 3.43-fold increases in GOX levels (2.62±0.51 U/mL) using HCF-TM compared with the crude form of cane molasses (0.762±0.158 U/mL). The results reported herein were obtained while the author was working at the Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee-247667, India.     

Ethanol production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae grown in sugarcane blackstrap molasses through a fed-batch process

We studied the effect of reactor filling time (T) (3-5 h), initial mass of inoculum (M) (1000-2100 g), and exponential time decay constant for the substrate feed rate (K) (0.6-1.6 h-1) on ethanol production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae grown in sugarcane blackstrap molasses through a fed-batch culture. The highest ethanol productivity (16.9 g/[L x h]) occurred at T = 3 h, K = 1.6 h-1, and M = 1300 g. In addition, productivity was affected by both M (for T = 3 and 4 h) and K (for T = 3 h) and varied inversely with T under any value fixed for M and K. By the quadratic regression multivariable analysis method, equations were determined to estimate ethanol yield and productivity as function of the variables studied (T, K, and M).     

Radiation chemical and magnetic resonance studies of aqueous agarose gels containing ferrous ions

Aqueous agarose gels containing ferrous ions sustain a radiolytic chain reaction, producing Fe³⁺. G(Fe³⁺)-values up to 156 have been observed, independent of dose rate between 0.434 and 3.74 Gy min^-1. Dissolved oxygen is needed to maintain the chain reaction, and initial ferric yields are increased if the gel is oxygen saturated, or if the Fe²⁺ concentration is decreased. Longitudinal proton magnetic relaxation rates are increased in proportion to ferric production, permitting visualizing of dose levels in these gels by magnetic resonance imaging techniques. There is a potential for application to radiation therapy treatment planning.     

Quantum chemical studies on polythiophenes containing heterocyclic substituents: effect of structure on the band gap

Color tuning by the tailoring of substituents at the 3-position of thiophene is very encouraging, and comparative experimental and theoretical studies proved to be powerful in the search for a suitable design for the above. Since the novel polythiophene-based materials substituted with five-membered/six-membered ring containing sulphur and nitrogen at different positions are proven to be potential candidates for electron-transporting hole blocking functions, the structure-property relationship of these systems have been focused in the present study. Molecular-orbital calculations are applied to obtain the optimized geometries and band gaps of the thiophene oligomers. An oligomeric approach has been implemented for calculating the band gaps, and the theoretically obtained band gaps for the different model compounds are compared. Density-functional theory B3LYP6-31G* predicted band-gap values are compared with the experimental band gaps obtained from optical-absorption edge. The predicted values show little deviations from experimental band gaps, but the trend in band gap is found to be the same in experimental and theoretical results in most of the cases. Hence, this study illustrates the usefulness of quantum-mechanical calculations in understanding the effects of various structural parameters on optical band gap.     

Radiation chemical studies of protein reactions: Effect of irradiation liquid containing aromatic hydrocarbons and pH on viscosity

When protein is irradiated by γ-rays from a ⁶⁰Co source in various liquids containing aromatic hydrocarbons, such as benzene, naphthalene, and phenanthrene, the effect of the radiation varies with the irradiation liquids containing aromatic hydrocarbons. An empirical equation for the viscosity change was obtained. Protein irradiated by γ-rays from a ⁶⁰Co source in air showed the effect of pH on protein reactions. An empirical equation for the viscosity change was obtained.     

Synthetic studies on boron containing antibiotics

The preparation of two fragments containing the backbone of the antibiotic boromycin is described.     

Quantum chemical studies on electrophilic addition

The geometries of the 2-aminoethyl cation and the isomeric protonated aziridine have been optimized using ab initio molecular orbital calculations employing the split-valence shell 4-31G basis set. The protonated aziridine is computed to be the more stable ion by 46.5 kcal/mole (4-31G level) and 44.9 kcal/mole (double-zeta basis set). The profile to interconversion is found to have a barrier of less than 15 kcal/mole (relative to the 2-aminoethyl cation) and this profile is compared with those computed for the similar ions XCH₂CH ₂ ⁺ where X=OH, F, SH and Cl.     

Quantum chemical studies on electrophilic addition

The geometries of the 2-chloroethyl and ethylenechloronium cations, two possible intermediates in the electrophilic addition of chlorine to ethylene, have been fully optimized using ab initio molecular orbital calculations employing the split valence shell 4-31G basis set.These geometries were then used to compute more accurate wave functions using Dunning's double-zeta basis set. The bridged chloronium ion was found to be more stable by 9.35 kcal/mole, the opposite order of stability from the C₂H₄F⁺ ions. Interconversion of the two C₂H₄Cl⁺ cations was computed to have a barrier of 6.25 kcal/mole.The activation energy for this chlorination reaction, using the ethylenechloronium cation and a chlorine anion at infinite separation as the model for the activated complex, was computed to be 128.7 kcal/mole, showing that this is not a feasible gas phase reaction.     

Quantum chemical studies on electrophilic addition

The geometries of the 2-hydroxyethyl and isomeric oxiranium cations have been fully optimized using ab initio molecular orbital calculations employing the split valence shell 4-31G basis set. These species are possible intermediates in both the electrophilic addition of OH to ethylene and in the acid catalysed ring opening of oxirane. The optimized structures were then used to compute more accurate wave functions using Dunning's double-zeta basis set, and with this large basis set the bridged oxiranium ion was found to be the more stable by 7.2 kcal/mole. The barrier to interconversion of these two C₂H₄OH ions was computed to be 25.0 kcal/mole above the oxiranium ion.     

Molecular dynamics and quantum chemical studies on nitroglycerine

A constant temperature molecular dynamics study has been performed on PM3 (RHF) geometry optimized nitroglycerine molecule. The dynamics was carried out by using MM+ method at 550 K which is above the explosion point of nitroglycerine. Some molecular orbital characteristics of nitroglycerine at elevated temperatures were computed.     

Physical and chemical properties of hydroxyflavones. IV. Infrared absorption spectra of dihydroxyflavones containing the 5-hydroxyl group

Solid state infrared curves (O-H and C-H stretching region) are given for 5, n-dihydroxyflavones, where n is 2′, 3′, 4′, 6, 7 and 8. In chloroform solution spectra of 3,5-dihydroxyflavone and 3-hydroxy-5-methoxyflavone, the 3-OH stretching band appears at 3400 and 3334 cm^?1, respectively, indicative of a stronger hydrogen bond in the latter substance. Solid state and solution carbonyl bands are presented for twenty-six flavone derivatives which contain a hydroxyl, methoxyl or acetoxyl group at the 5-position. The solution spectra (dioxane or carbon tetrachloride) of fourteen flavone derivatives containing a free 5-hydroxyl group show carbonyl bands at 1655±2 cm^?1. Eleven flavones in which the 5-hydroxyl is blocked (carbon tetrachloride solution) give spectra with flavone carbonyl bands at 1653±3 cm^?1. The high resolution chloroform solution spectrum of 3, 5-dihydroxyflavone possesses a multi-peaked carbonyl band with midpoint at 1641 cm^?1. The chloroform solution spectrum of 3-hydroxy-5-methoxyflavone has a very strong band at 1616 cm^?1, with shoulder at 1646 cm^?1. Spectral data of this and a previous paper support the postulate that in 4′-hydroxyflavone the flavone carbonyl oxygen is the donor atom in an intermolecular hydrogen bond. Certain details of synthesis, and analytical data, are given for 3, 5-dihydroxyflavone.     

Physical and chemical characterization insulin-loaded chitosan-TPP nanoparticles

The purpose of this study was to develop and characterize insulin nanoparticles systems using chitosan. Insulin-loaded nanoparticles were prepared by ionic gelation of chitosan with tripolyphosphate anions (TPP). The interactions between insulin and chitosan were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry/derivative thermogravimetry (TG/DTG), and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Besides, particle size distribution, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, and association efficiency (AE%) of the nanoparticles were evaluated. In general, inert nanoparticles and insulin-loaded nanoparticles showed an average size of 260.56 nm (PDI 0.502) and 312.80 nm (PDI 0.481), respectively. Both nanoparticles showed positive charge, but after insulin incorporation the zeta potential was reduced, evidencing its incorporation. Nanoparticles obtained also showed AE% around 70%, measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results of FTIR, DSC, and TG/DTG corroborated the data presented suggesting that insulin was successfully encapsulated. However, drug incorporation seems to be related not only to electrostatic interactions, but also to physical process and/or adsorption phenomena.     

Conduction calorimetric studies of ternary binders based on Portland cement, calcium aluminate cement and calcium sulphate

Different binders of Portland cement, calcium aluminate cement and calcium sulphate (PC/CAC/C $ {\bar{\text{S}}} $ ) have been investigated to determinate the influence the CAC and C $ {\bar{\text{S}}} $ amount in the reactions mechanism. Several mixtures were studied, ratios of 100, 85/15 and 75/25 of PC/CAC with 0, 3 and 5 % of C $ {\bar{\text{S}}} $ . Conduction calorimetric technique was used to follow the hydration during 100 h. The XRD and FTIR techniques were used as support in the analysis of the hydration products. The results have shown that the studied ternary systems form an extra amount of ettringite, and changes in the reactions mechanism with respect to a PC. The reactions mechanism depends on the CAC and C $ {\bar{\text{S}}} $ amount present in the different binders.     

Thermal study of clay ceramic pastes containing sugarcane bagasse ash waste

This study focuses on the thermal and mineralogical transformations of clay ceramic pastes. The pastes contain different amounts of sugarcane bagasse ash waste. Thermal and mineralogical changes occurring during firing were characterized by differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetry analysis (TG), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy. On heating three endothermic events within the 73.5–75.7, 276.9–283.5, and 567.1–573.5 °C temperature ranges were identified. The endothermic valleys could be mainly interpreted as the release of physically adsorbed water, dehydration of hydroxides, and dehydroxylation of kaolinite, respectively. Two exothermic events within the 618.9–690.1 and 948 °C temperature ranges were identified. The exothermic peaks are associated with the decomposition of organic compounds and crystallization of mullite from metakaolinite, respectively. TG results indicate that the clay ceramic pastes had a total mass loss in the 13.1–13.6 % range, and are dependent on the sugarcane bagasse ash waste amount added. It was found that the replacement of natural clay with sugarcane bagasse ash waste, in the range up to 20 wt%, influenced the thermal behavior and technological properties of the clay ceramic pastes. In addition, the thermal analysis results agree well with the XRD.     

DTA and DSC studies on polymers containing fire retardants

This publication surveys the results obtained by means of thermal analysis particularly with DTA and DSC methods in the field of synthetic and natural polymers treated with various flame retardant additives. The 167 references citated cover the most important territories of the up to date problems.