Effect of molecular weight on radiation chemical degradation yield of chain scission of γ-irradiated chitosan in solid state and in aqueous solution

Chitosan A₁, A₂ and A₃ with molecular weight of 471, 207 and 100 kDa respectively, produced from squid pen chitin was degraded by gamma rays in the solid state and in aqueous solution with various doses in air at ambient temperature. Effect of molecular weight on radiation chemical degradation yield of chain scission and degradation rate constants of γ-irradiated chitosan in solid state and in aqueous solution was investigated. The radiation chemical degradation yield G_(s) and degradation rate values were calculated. The molecular weight changes were monitored by capillary viscometry method and the chemical structure changes were followed by UV analysis. The results showed that, the degradation of chitosan was faster in solution, than in solid state. The values of G_(s) in solid state and in aqueous solution were respectively 1.1×10^?8 mol/J and 0.074×10^?7 mol/J for A₁, 4.42×10^?8 mol/J and 0.28×10^?7 mol/J for A₂ and 6.08×10^?8 mol/J and 0.38×10^?7 mol/J for A₃. Degradation rate constants values ranged from 0.41×10^?5 to 2.1×10^?5 kGy^?1 in solid state, whereas in solution they ranged from 13×10^?5 to 68×10^?5 kGy^?1. The chitosan A₃ was more sensitive to radiolysis than A₁ and A₂. The chain scission yield, G_(s) and degradation rate constants seems to be greatly influenced by the initial molecular weight of the chitosan. Structural changes in irradiated chitosan are revealed by the apparition of absorption peaks at 261 and 295 nm, which could be attributed to the formation of carbonyl groups. In both conditions the peak intensity was higher in chitosan A₃ than in A₁ and A₂, the oxidative products decreased with increasing molecular weight of chitosan.     

Depolymerization of Chitosan with a Crude Cellulase Preparation from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus Niger</Emphasis>

A crude cellulase preparation from Aspergillus niger was used to depolymerize chitosan. The depolymerization process was followed by measuring the apparent viscocity and the intrinsic viscosity. The optimum conditions for enzymatic hydrolysis were investigated. On the selected optimum conditions (pH 5.0, temperature 50 °C, and an enzyme to substrate ratio of 1:5), chitosan was hydrolyzed for 1, 4, 8, and 24 h, its viscosity-average molecular weights were 3.49 × 10⁴, 1.18 × 10⁴, 5.83 × 10³, and 1.13 × 10³, respectively. Compared with chitosan having viscosity-average molecular weight of 5.18 × 10⁵ before enzymatic hydrolysis, the crude cellulase preparation had rather apparent effect on depolymerization of chitosan. Through the comparison of different origin of cellulases, the prepared cellulase has good ability of enzymatic hydrolysis. The reproducibility and reversibility for enzymatic hydrolysis was appraised. The data are of value for the production of low-molecular weight chitosans and chitooligomers of medical and biotechnological interest.     

Organo-sulfonic acid catalyzed degradation kinetics and thermodynamic studies of nylon-6 by hydrothermal method

Nylon-6 as an engineering polymer and its starting monomer are both costly. Chemical reutilization offers some economic and environmental benefits. Depolymerization of nylon-6 was carried out by the conventional technique of hydrothermal method using various organo-sulfonic acids such as Methane sulfonic acid (MSA), para-toluene sulfonic acid (p-TSA), benzene sulfonic acid (BSA), and tetra-butyl ammonium bromide (TBAB) as a phase transfer catalyst. Various parameters such as temperature, time, normality of acids, and phase transfer catalyst concentration were varied to optimize its parameters, and characterization techniques such as amine value titrations and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used for quantitative measurements. Solid-state ¹³C NMR was done for structure confirmation. A chemical kinetics interpretation shows degradation mechanism follows first-order kinetics under various catalysts. MSA has the highest reaction rate of 8.49 × 10^?2 h^?1 at 90°C; it decreases to 7.72 × 10^?2 h^?1 at 100°C. At the same time, aromatic Sulfonic acids such as p-TSA and BSA have a higher reaction rate of 8.995 × 10^?2 h^?1 and 5.582 × 10^?2 h^?1, respectively. The activation energy was lowered as the acidity of organo-sulfonic acids increased as benzene sulfonic acid has the lowest E_a. Followed by p-TSA, and MSA has the highest E_a. Free energy shows a similar kind of value. A simple theoretical model was used to calculate the activation energy. Thermodynamic parameters such as heat of enthalpy and entropy of reaction were evaluated using the Eryig–Polanyi equation. The combined catalytic effect of organo-sulfonic acids and phase-transfer catalyst provides a better environment-friendly method for depolymerizing nylon-6.     

LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT O-CARBOXYMETHYLATED CHITOSANS DERIVED FROM IRRADIATED CHITOSAN AND THEIR ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY*

 Original chitosan with M_v of 2.7 × 10⁵ was degraded by irradiation with γ-rays and a series of low molecular weight O-carboxymethylated chitosans (O-CMCh) were prepared based on the irradiated chitosan. A kinetic model of the irradiation of chitosan was put forward. Results show that the irradiation degradation of chitosan obeys the rule of random degradation and the degree of deacetylation of irradiated chitosan is slightly raised. The antibacterial activity of O-CMCh is significantly influenced by its MW, and a suppositional antibacterial peak appears when M_v is equal to 2 × 10⁵.     

Degradation of n-butylparaben and 4-tert-octylphenol in H2O2/UV system

The degradation of two endocrine disrupting compounds: n-butylparaben (BP) and 4-tert-octylphenol (OP) in the H₂O₂/UV system was studied. The effect of operating variables: initial hydrogen peroxide concentration, initial substrate concentration, pH of the reaction solution and photon fluency rate of radiation at 254 nm on reaction rate was investigated. The influence of hydroxyl radical scavengers, humic acid and nitrate anion on reaction course was also studied. A very weak scavenging effect during BP degradation was observed indicating reactions different from hydroxyl radical oxidation. The second-order rate constants of BP and OP with OH radicals were estimated to be 4.8×10⁹ and 4.2×10⁹ M^?1 s^?1, respectively. For BP the rate constant equal to 2.0×10¹⁰ M^?1 s^?1was also determined using water radiolysis as a source of hydroxyl radicals.     

Molecular characterization of branched polysaccharides from Tremella fuciformis by asymmetrical flow field‐flow fractionation and size exclusion chromatography

To accurately characterize branched polysaccharides with high molecular weights from medicinal and edible mushrooms and identify the limitations of size exclusion chromatography, molecular characteristics of polysaccharides from Tremella fuciformis were determined and compared by asymmetrical flow field‐flow fractionation coupled with multiangle laser light scattering and refractive index detection, and size exclusion chromatography coupled with multiangle laser light scattering and refractive index detection, respectively. Results showed that molecular weights of three batches of T. fuciformis polysaccharides were determined as 2.167 × 10⁶ (TF1), 2.334 × 10⁶ (TF2), and 2.435 × 10⁶ Da (TF3) by size exclusion chromatography, and 3.432 × 10⁶ (TF1), 3.739 × 10⁶ (TF2), and 3.742 × 10⁶ Da (TF3) by asymmetrical flow field‐flow fractionation, as well as 3.469 × 10⁶ Da (TF1) by off‐line multiangle laser light scattering, respectively. Results suggested that size exclusion chromatography was unable to accurately characterize T. fuciformis polysaccharides, which may be due to its limitations such as shear degradation and abnormal coelution. Compared to size exclusion chromatography, asymmetrical flow field‐flow fractionation could be a better technique for the molecular characterization of branched polysaccharides with high molecular weights from medicinal and edible mushrooms, as well as from other natural resources.     

2,4‐Dihydroxy‐5‐[(5‐mercapto‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐yl)diazenyl]benzaldehyde acetato,chloro and nitrato Cu(II) complexes: Synthesis,structural characterization,DNA binding and anticancer and antimicrobial activity

Acetato, chloro and nitrato Cu(II) complexes of a novel azo compound, namely 2,4‐dihydroxy‐5‐[(5‐mercapto‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐yl)diazenyl]benzaldehyde, have been prepared. The stoichiometry, stereochemistry and bonding fashion of these copper chelates were deduced via elemental analyses, spectral methods and conductivity and magnetic measurements. Infrared spectral data confirmed the participation of azo N atom and the deprotonated OH group. UV–visible spectral data and magnetic measurements indicated octahedral stereo‐structure for the acetato and nitrato compounds and square planer for the chloro compound. Thermogravimetric analysis was applied to investigate the thermal degradation of the metal chelates. The thermo‐kinetic parameters were computed. The molecular modeling technique was used to support the predicted geometry of the prepared chelates. The interaction between the Cu(II) complexes and calf thymus DNA was studied using two techniques: absorption and viscosity measurements. The values of binding constant obtained from the absorption spectral method were calculated and found to be 4.23 × 10⁴, 26.93 × 10⁴, 13.01 × 10⁴ and 5.36 × 10⁴ M^?1 for ligand and acetato, chloro and nitrato complexes, respectively. The antimicrobial activities were evaluated against various bacterial and fungi strains. The in vitro antitumor efficacy of the synthesized compounds was investigated against the HEPG2 cell line.     

Use of samarium (III) acetate as initiator in ring-opening polymerization of trimethylene carbonate

Abstract

In this work was evaluated the activity of samarium acetate (III) (Sm(OAc)₃) as a possible initiator in the polymerization by ring opening of trimethylene carbonate (TMC). All polymerizations were carried out under solvent-free melt conditions in ampoules-like flasks, equipped with a magnetic stirrer. The effects of different parameters of reaction, such as molar ratio monomer to initiator, temperature and reaction time, on typical variables of polymers, e.g., conversion of TMC to poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC), dispersity and molar mass, were analyzed. The molar ratio of monomer to initiator was varied between 0 and 1000?mol/mol and the temperature among 70 and 150?°C. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (¹H-NMR and HMBC) and Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) were used to characterize the polymers. The results indicate that the Sm(OAc)₃ induces the polymerization of TMC to high conversion with number-average molecular weights of 3.11?×?10³ to 38.40?×?10³?Da. Based on the ¹H-NMR end-group analysis of low-molecular-weight PTMC, it was proposed a coordination–insertion mechanism for the polymerization, with a breakdown of the acyl-oxygen bond of the TMC. In according to the kinetic study carried out, the polymerization rate is first-order with respect to monomer concentration with apparent rate constants of k_ap?=?7.02?×?10^?4?mol?×?L^?1?×?h^?1.     

Application of Photo-Fenton,Electro-Fenton,and Photo-Electro-Fenton processes for the treatment of DMSO and DMAC wastewaters

Biological treatment, due to the formation of hazardous chemicals to remove organic compounds such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and N, N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC), has limited potential. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are regarded as a viable alternative for treating molecules containing carbon-hydrogen bonds that cannot be broken down by traditional physico-chemical methods. In this investigation, various AOPs such as Photo-Fenton, Electro-Fenton, and Photo-Electro-Fenton processes were studied to treat wastewaters containing DMSO and DMAC. The effects of the operating parameters, including various initial concentrations of DMSO and DMAC, initial pH, reaction time, different concentrations of Fenton’s reagent, power of UV lamp, different concentrations of electrolytes, the distance between electrodes and current intensity, were investigated. The findings of the experiments revealed that a pH of 3 and a reaction time of 120 min were optimal. At 2000 mg L^?1 of DMSO, maximum degradation and the final concentration of TOC were 98.64 % and 256.8 mg L^?1, respectively, by the Electro-Fenton process under the optimal conditions. The Electro-Fenton process was successful in determining the maximum degradation of DMAC (96.31 %) and the final TOC concentration (10.03 mg L^?1) at 250 mg L^?1 of DMAC under optimal conditions. Finally, it can be concluded that the Electro-Fenton process was the best process for the efficient removal of DMSO and DMAC. The second step of the kinetic model follows a pseudo-first-order reaction for 250 and 500 mg L^?1 of pollutants and obeyed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model for concentrations of 1000, 2000 mg L^?1.     

Degradation of chitosan with self-resonating cavitation

For the degradation of chitosan, a novel physical method of self-resonating cavitation with strong cavitation effects was investigated in this paper. The effects of initial concentration, pH, temperature, inlet pressure and cavitation time on the degradation efficiency of chitosan were evaluated. It was found that the degradation efficiency was positively correlated with temperature and cavitation time, but was negatively correlated with the solution concentration. The degradation efficiency was maximized at pH of 4.4 and inlet pressure of 0.4 MPa. Under the experimental conditions, the intrinsic viscosity of chitosan solution was reduced by 92.2%, which was twice as high as the degradation efficiency where a Venturi tube cavitator was used. The viscosity-average molecular weights of initial and degraded chitosan were 651 and 104 kD, respectively. The deacetylation degree of chitosan slightly decreased from 89.34% to 88.05%. Structures and polydispersity of initial and degraded chitosan were measured by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance hydrogen spectroscopy (¹H NMR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The results showed that the degradation process did not change the natural structure of chitosan. XRD peaks of the original chitosan were observed at 2θ of 9.59° and 20.00°, and the one at 2θ of 20.00° was obviously weakened after the degradation process, which indicated that the crystallinity of chitosan decreased significantly after the degradation. The polydispersity index of chitosan samples decreased from 3.17 to 2.75, indicating that the molecular-weight distribution of products after the degradation was more concentrated. The results proved that self-resonating cavitation prompted the degradation of chitosan and could reduce the polydispersity of the products for the production of oligochitosan with homogeneous molecular weights.     

Kinetic and thermodynamic analysis of degradation of doripenem in the solid state

The kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of degradation of doripenem were studied using a high‐performance liquid chromatography method. In dry air, the degradation of doripenem was a first‐order reaction depending on the substrate concentration. At increased relative air humidity, doripenem was degraded according to the autocatalysis kinetic model. The dependence ln k = f1/T) was described by the equations ln k = 5.10 ± 13.06 ? (7576 ± 4939)(1/T) in dry air and ln k = 46.70 ± 22.44 ? (19,959 ± 8031)(1/T) at 76.4% relative humidity (RH). The thermodynamic parameters E_a, ΔH^≠a, and ΔS^≠a of the degradation of doripenem were calculated. The dependence ln k = f (RH%) was described by the equation ln k = (0.155 ± 0.077) × 10^?1 (RH%) ? (3.45 ± 21.8) × 10^?10. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 44: 722–728, 2012     

Mechanochemical reaction of polymers by ultrasonic irradiation. I. Mechanochemical reaction in mixtures of polystyrene,styrene, and cyclohexanone

Mechanical degradation and mechanochemical polymerization in polystyrene–styrene–cyclohexanone mixtures have been studied by ultrasonic irradiation at 60°C. The number of fresh polymer chains after the degradation is 2 × 10^?5 mole l^?1 hr^?1. The rate equations for mechanical scission and mechanochemical polymerization have been deduced. The rate equation for mechanical scission was found to be in agreement with the expression of a previous paper. In addition, the rate equation for mechanochemical polymerization is not essentially different from that for the general radical polymerization in the presence of solvents. The kinetic chain length for polymeric free radicals in the polymerization process has been calculated. The mechanochemical polymerization of styrene was initiated by only one of the two kinds of end radicals after mechanical scission of polystyrene. The molecular weight distributions of the samples after the degradation and the polymerization have been compared and discussed.     

Abnormally slow reaction of oppositely charged ions: The kinetics of dopamine hydrochloride oxidation by ammonium peroxydisulfate

The kinetic curves for oxidation of dopamine hydrochloride in aqueous solution in the presence of ammonium peroxydisulfate were obtained by UV–vis spectroscopy and potentiometry. It was shown that the reaction follows the first-order kinetic equation and proceeds at a low rate. The values for the activation energy and the preexponential factor were determined as 75 kJ × mol⁻¹ and 4 × 10⁸ s⁻¹, respectively. The activation entropy was found having a negative value of −89 J × mol⁻¹ × K⁻¹. The first reaction order, the low preexponential factor and the negative activation entropy value for the reaction between the 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethanammonium cation and the peroxydisulfate anion were explained by the formation of ionic associates, which slowly enter into the internal redox reaction.     

Dissipation of chlortetracycline in the aquatic environment: Characterization in terms of a generalized multiphase pseudo–zero-order rate law

The kinetics of the dissipation of chlortetracycline in the aquatic environment was studied over a period of 90 days using microcosm experiments and distilled water controls. The distilled water control experiments, carried out under dark conditions as well as exposed to natural sunlight, exhibited biphasic linear rates of dissipation. The microcosm experiments exhibited triphasic linear rates of degradation both in the water phase (2.7 × 10⁻², 7 × 10⁻³, 1.3 × 10⁻³ μg g⁻¹ day^–1) and the sediment phase (3.4 × 10⁻², 6 × 10⁻³, 1 × 10⁻³ μg g⁻¹ day^–1). The initial slow rate of dissipation in the dark control (3 × 10⁻³ μg g⁻¹ day^–1) was attributed to a combination of evaporation and hydrolysis, whereas the subsequent fast rate (1.8 × 10⁻³ μg g⁻¹ day^–1) was attributed to a combination of evaporation, hydrolysis, and microbial degradation. For the sunlight-exposed control, the initial slow rate of dissipation (1.5 × 10⁻³ μg g⁻¹ day^–1) was attributed to a combination of evaporation, hydrolysis, and photolysis, whereas the subsequent fast rate was attributed to a combination of evaporation, hydrolysis, photolysis, and microbial degradation (5.1 × 10⁻³ μg g⁻¹ day^–1). The initial fast rate of dissipation in the water phase of the microcosm experiment is attributed to a combination of evaporation, hydrolysis, photolysis, and microbial degradation, whereas all subsequent slow rates in the water phase and all rates of degradation in the sediment phase are attributed to microbial degradation of the colloidal and sediment particle adsorbed antibiotic. A multiphase zero-order kinetic model is presented that takes into account (a) dissipation of the antibiotic via evaporation, hydrolysis, photolysis, microbial degradation, and adsorption by colloidal and sediment particles and (b) the dependence of the dissipation rate on the concentration of the antibiotic, type and count of microorganisms, and type and concentration of colloidal particles and sediment particle adsorption sites within a given aquatic environment.     

Determination of salutary parameters to facilitate bio-energy production from three uncommon biomasses using thermogravimetric analysis

Fuels derived from biomass are renewable as well as environment friendly. In this study, three biomasses viz. husk of areca nut (Areca catheu), trunks of moj (Albizzia lucida), and bon bogori (Ziziphus rugosus) available in North-East region of India were tested as potential biofuel sources. The accentuation of this study was to determine the kinetic parameters using thermogravimetric (TG) technique under air and nitrogen atmosphere. The experiments were carried out within temperature range 300–973 K under air and nitrogen atmosphere at four different heating rates viz. 5, 10, 15, and 20 K min^?1, respectively. The mass losses at different lumps in the TG graphs were estimated. The first-order kinetic parameters such as activation energy and pre-exponential factor were calculated for different reaction zones for all the three biomass samples. Effects of atmosphere on combustion characteristics (e.g., peak temperature, ignition temperature, and reactivity index) of biomasses were also determined in this study. Areca nut husk has highest ignition temperature (526.38 K) and reactivity index (0.21) but moj has highest peak temperature (597.91 K) along with highest activation energy (348.04 kJ mol^?1) and pre-exponential factor (1.12 × 10²⁴ min^?1), respectively.     

Thermal degradation of hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan–Cd complexes

Thermal degradation of hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan–Cd complexes (HTCC–Cd) was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. The results indicate that the degradation of HTCC–Cd in nitrogen atmosphere was two-step reaction. For the first step of degradation, the initial temperature of mass loss (T ₀), the final temperature of mass loss (T _f), and the temperature of maximum mass loss (T _p) increase linearly with the rising of heating rate (B). T _o = 1.241B + 220.3, T _p = 1.111B + 245.8, and T _f = 1.335B + 358.2. Using different methods, the kinetic parameters of the two steps were investigated. The results show that the activation energies of the first step of degradation obtained using Friedman and Flynn–Wall–Ozawa methods are 1.684 × 10⁵ and 1.646 × 10⁵ J mol^?1, and the corresponding activation energies for the second step are 1.165 × 10⁵ J mol^?1 and 1.373 × 10⁵ kJ mol^?1. The results obtained from Phadnis–Deshpande methods indicate that the two degradation processes are both nucleation and growth process, and follow A₄ mechanism with intergral form g(X) = [?ln(1 ? X)]⁴.     

Direct Electrochemistry of Hemoglobin Entrapped in Composite Electrodeposited Chitosan‐Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes and Nanogold Particles Membrane and Its Electrocatalytic Application

Hemoglobin was entrapped in composite electrodeposited chitosan‐multiwall carbon nanotubes (MCNTs) film by assembling gold nanoparticles and hemoglobin step by step. In phosphate buffer solution (pH 7), a pair of well‐defined and quasireversible redox peaks appeared with formal potential at ?0.289 V and peak separation of 100 mV. The redox peaks respected for the direct electrochemistry of hemoglobin at the surface of chitosan‐MCNTs‐gold nanoparticles modified electrode. The parameters of experiments have also been optimized. The composite electrode showed excellent electrocatalysis to peroxide hydrogen and oxygen, the peak current was linearly proportional to H₂O₂ concentration in the range from 1×10^?6 mol/L to 4.7×10^?4 mol/L with a detection limit of 5.0×10^?7 mol/L, and this biosensor exhibited high stability, good reproducibility and better selectivity. The biosensor showed a Michaelis–Menten kinetic response as H₂O₂ concentration is larger than 5.0×10^?4 mol/L, the apparent Michaelis–Menten constant for hydrogen peroxide was calculated to be 1.61 μmol/L.     

Process optimization and kinetics study for photocatalytic ciprofloxacin degradation using TiO2 nanoparticle: A comparative study of Artificial Neural Network and Surface Response Methodology

The photocatalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin was investigated by developing a predictive mathematical model using response surface methodology and an artificial neural network. The four independent variables involve solution pH, reaction time, catalyst dose, and initial antibiotic concentration considered as factors in central composite design to observe the response in the form of antibiotic degradation. Accordingly, at an optimum antibiotic concentration of 5.02 mg/L, catalyst dose of 44.51 mg/L, solution pH of 5.04, and reaction time of 75.80 min, the photocatalysis method achieved a ciprofloxacin degradation of 88.30%. The experimental outputs were very much consistent along with the predicted output of experiments through response surface methodology (R² = 0.9969) and artificial neural network (R² = 0.975). The adsorption isotherm and kinetic study reveal that Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic models respectively were best fitted for degradation of ciprofloxacin through photocatalysis. The finding provides a novel method for evaluating the photocatalysis process for the optimization of ciprofloxacin antibiotic removal from pharmaceutical waste using experiments and computer simulation tools.     

Thermal Decomposition of Poly-α-methylstyrene

Kinetic studies on the decomposition of poly-α-methylstyrene samples with molecular weights ranging from 3.7 × 10³ to to 2.0 × 10⁵ have been carried out with the differential thermo-gravimetric technique. Changes in molecular weight distributions with decomposition, at different temperatures, have been studied by gel-permeation chromatography. A depolymeriza-tion mechanism was shown to be responsible for the decomposition phenomenon. The order of reaction for this depolymerization reaction was found to be one. The values of the activation energy for samples of different molecular weights showed no specific trends; however, it would appear that polymers with relatively higher molecular weights have lower activation energies of decomposition. The proportions of the three steric forms, viz., isotactic, heterotactic, and syndiotactic, in the polymer before and after thermal treatments did not change, suggesting that stereoregularity has no apparent effect on the decomposition of poly-α-methylstyrene.