The Effect of Preparation Method and Calcination Temperature on the Crystallite Size and Surface Area of Perovskite-Type SrFeO x

We have investigated the synthesis of perovskite-type SrFeO_x (2.5 x 3.0) using three preparative methods: sol-gel, mechanochemical processing and solid state reactions at high temperature of the corresponding oxides. The sample obtained after calcination of the gel from sol-gel method, contained the least amount of strontium carbonate impurity. The amount of strontium carbonate impurity decreased with the increase in calcination temperature. Perovskites obtained have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and nitrogen adsorption isotherms. Samples obtained from three methods have been compared with respect to calcination temperature, crystallite size and specific surface area.Issued as NRCC No. 46479.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of mixed ligand η-2-hydroxyacetophenone complexes of cobalt(III)

A tridentate Schiff base ligand [(CH₃)₂NCH₂CH₂N=C(CH₃)C₆H₄OH)] (LH) has been synthesized from 2-hydroxyacetophenone and 2-dimethylaminoethylamine. This ligand forms the neutral complexes [Co(L)(N₃){o-(CH₃C=O)C₆H₄O}] (1) and [Co(L)(SCN){o-(CH₃C=O)C₆H₄O}]·1/2H₂O (2) in presence of equivalent amount of Co(II) acetate, and sodium azide for 1 and sodium thiocyanate for 2. The complexes have been characterized by spectroscopic and crystallographic methods. The coordination geometry around Co(III) in both the complexes is distorted octahedral with one tridentate ligand L, one bidentate 2-hydroxyacetophenone and one monodentate azide for 1 and thiocyanate for 2. The azide and thiocyanate ligands in the two complexes occupy different positions relative to the coordination sites of L.     

Study of layered silicate clays as synergistic nucleating agent for polypropylene

Effect of very small quantities of organically modified layered silicate clay on the nucleation of polypropylene (PP), as an additive at ppm levels dosage was investigated, in combination with two of the most commercially exploited organic nucleating agents, one of which is a cyclic aromatic phosphinate salt and the other is bis(3,4‐dimethylbenzylidene) sorbitol, each representing a separate class of nucleating molecules by itself. Substitution of a considerable fraction of either of these organic nucleating agents with organically modified inorganic nanoclay was seen to result in a unique synergy between the two in nucleating PP. Polarized light microscopy studies of these synergistic formulations with organoclay to nucleating agent ratios of 1:1 and 1:3 totaling 0.2 weight percent in PP showed significant reduction in spherulite size from that of non‐nucleated PP, and compared with the samples containing exclusive organic nucleating agent at similar loading. Differential scanning calorimetric studies provided evidence and insight into such synergistic behavior. Crystallization and supercooling temperatures for the synergistic formulations were comparable for those formulations containing only organic nucleating agents, indicating comparable nucleation efficiency, whereas organoclay alone, although showing some extent of nucleation, was clearly poorer in efficiency. Wide and small angle X‐ray scattering studies further explained these observations. An increase in the gamma polytype fraction was seen in samples that contained both organoclay and nucleating agent, pointing to the role of organoclay as a gamma nucleator. Organoclay was found to be completely exfoliated in these synergistic formulations and was seen as well‐dispersed, single platelets in the PP matrix. A hybrid network consisting of exfoliated organoclay platelets and organic nucleating agent molecules was proposed, which is more stable and stiffer than the network formed by nucleating agent alone. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 1786–1794, 2010     

Acute oral toxicity and brine shrimp lethality of Elaeis guineensis Jacq., (oil palm leaf) methanol extract

Elaeis guineensis (Arecaceae) is widely used in West African traditional medicine for treating various ailments. An evaluation on the toxicity of extracts of this plant is crucial to support the therapeutic claims. The acute oral toxicity and brine shrimp lethality of a methanolic extract of this plant was tested. Oral administration of crude extract at the highest dose of 5,000 mg/kg resulted in no mortalities or evidence of adverse effects, implying that E. guineensis is nontoxic. Normal behavioral pattern, clinical signs and histology of vital organs confirm this evidence. The E. guineensis extracts screened for toxicity against brine shrimp had 50% lethal concentration (LC??) values of more than 1.0 mg/mL (9.00 and 3.87 mg/mL, at 6 and 24 h, respectively), confirming that the extract was not toxic. Maximum mortalities occurred at 100 mg/mL concentration while the least mortalities happened to be at 0.195 mg/mL concentration. The results of both tests confirm that E. guineensis is nontoxic and hence safe for commercial utilization.     

Analysis of the cellular Aspergillus fumigatus proteome that reacts with sera from rabbits developing an acquired immunity after experimental aspergillosis

Invasive aspergillosis caused by the mould Aspergillus fumigatus is a life‐threatening lung or systemic infection in the immunocompromised host. In this study, a protective immune response against the disease was achieved in two infected rabbits, and the cellular fungal antigenic proteome that mediated such a response was investigated against the background of vaccine development efforts. Altogether, 59 different Aspergillus proteins were found becoming reactive in the course of the developing immunity, many of which are described in this context for the first time. These included proteins related to oxidative stress management, glycolysis and other metabolic pathways. As oxidative stress is suspected to be one of the major defense mechanisms, the results may indicate at least in part a continuous response of the pathogen to evade the host's immune system. In addition, proteins with suspected cell surface association or crucial function for fungal cell development were identified. As these antigens are newly recognized during the process of the developing immunoprotection, they may not only represent valuable infection markers but also importantly broaden the list of possible vaccine candidates.     

Effect of Temperature on Cd2+ Sorption by Mixed Oxides of Iron and Silicon

The current study focuses on the synthesis and sorption properties of two mixed oxides of iron and silicon prepared by physical mixing (M₁) and sequential precipitation methods (M₂). Both the mixed oxides were synthesized from equimolar ratios of Fe(OH)₃ and SiO₂ and characterized for surface area, EDX, XRD and PZC. The surface area, micropore volume and average pore width of the oxide M₁ were higher as compared to the oxide M₂. However, potentiometric titrations revealed that mixed oxide synthesized by this method had a very high capacity towards Cd²⁺ ions as compared to the mixed oxide M₁. Sorption of Cd²⁺ ions at pH 5 on mixed oxide, M₂ was found to increase with temperature in the range 288 to 318 K. Langmuir equation was found applicable to the sorption data with R²>0.99. Entropy (ΔS^?), enthalpy (ΔH^?) and free energy changes (ΔG^?) were calculated which revealed the process to be endothermic and spontaneous in nature.     

An efficient synthesis of 1-H indazoles

The reaction of substituted salicyaldehydes with hydrazine hydrochloride under different conditions gave the corresponding 1-H indazoles. However, the reaction of benzaldehydes with hydrazine hydrate under the same conditions yielded only hydrazones.