Characterization and Evaluation of Thermal,Morphological, and Physicochemical Properties of Chemically Modified Lignocellulosic Biomass

A novel redox system, ascorbic acid-hydrogen peroxide, was employed to initiate graft copolymerization of ethyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate binary monomer mixtures onto Abelmoschus esculentus fibers at a temperature of 45°C for 90 min in an aqueous medium. Factors affecting grafting such as feed molarity and comonomer composition were investigated. Contrary to the lower affinity of methyl methacrylate for grafting on Abelmoschus fibers, a synergistic effect of ethyl acrylate on methyl methacrylate was observed when graft copolymers were prepared using different feed compositions (f_MMA). The percentage of grafting increased from 40.2% to 89.74% at 0.4 mole fraction of f_MMA. The graft copolymers were characterized by FT-IR, TGA, and SEM techniques.     

Purification and Characterization of a Zinc-Dependent Cinnamyl Alcohol Dehydrogenase from Leucaena leucocephala,a Tree Legume

A cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) from the secondary xylem of Leucaena leucocephala has been purified to homogeneity through successive steps of ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE cellulose, Sephadex G-75, and Blue Sepharose CL-6B affinity column chromatographies. CAD was purified to 514.2 folds with overall recovery of 13 % and specific activity of 812. 5 nkat/mg. Native and subunit molecular masses of the purified enzyme were found to be ～76 and ～38 kDa, respectively, suggesting it to be a homodimer. The enzyme exhibited highest catalytic efficiency (Kcat/Km 3.75 μM^?1 s^?1) with cinnamyl aldehyde among all the substrates investigated. The pH and temperature optima of the purified CAD were pH 8.8 and 40 °C, respectively. The enzyme activity was enhanced in the presence of 2.0 mM Mg²⁺, while Zn²⁺ at the same concentration exerted an inhibitory effect. The inclusion of 2.0 mM EDTA in the assay system activated the enzyme. The enzyme was inhibited with caffeic acid and ferulic acid in a concentration-dependent manner, while no inhibition was observed with salicylic acid. Peptide mass analysis of the purified CAD by MALDI-TOF showed a significant homology to alcohol dehydrogenases of MDR superfamily.     

Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ocimum sanctum</Emphasis> (Tulsi) leaf extract and screening its antimicrobial activity

Development of green nanotechnology is generating interest of researchers toward ecofriendly biosynthesis of nanoparticles. In this study, biosynthesis of stable silver nanoparticles was done using Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) leaf extract. These biosynthesized nanoparticles were characterized with the help of UV–vis spectrophotometer, Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS), Dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Stability of bioreduced silver nanoparticles was analyzed using UV–vis absorption spectra, and their antimicrobial activity was screened against both gram-negative and gram-positive microorganisms. It was observed that O. sanctum leaf extract can reduce silver ions into silver nanoparticles within 8 min of reaction time. Thus, this method can be used for rapid and ecofriendly biosynthesis of stable silver nanoparticles of size range 4–30 nm possessing antimicrobial activity suggesting their possible application in medical industry.     

Synthesis,Physicochemical and Optical Characterization of Novel Fluorescing Complex: <Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>-Phenylenediamine—Benzoin

The complex of o-phenylenediamine (o-PDA) and benzoin (BN) was synthesized adopting solid state reaction by mixing of their melt together followed by chilling. The phase diagram study shows the formation of a complex in 1:1 molar ratio with congruent melting point and two eutectics lying on either side of complex. The formation of complex was confirmed using the FTIR, NMR, mass spectroscopy, powder XRD and DSC studies. The optical properties of the parent component, their complex and few other compositions nearby the complex were studied using absorption and laser luminescence techniques. The significantly higher green/yellow emission was noted with newly synthesized complex as compared to that of their parents as well as other compositions of o- PDA and BN.     

Plasmonic modulator utilizing three parallel metal-dielectric-metal waveguide directional coupler and elasto-optic effects

We report, for the first time, on the design of a plasmonic modulator working on the principle of the elasto-optic effects in a directional coupling structure, utilizing three parallel metal-dielectric-metal waveguides. We propose to achieve the active switching of the power propagation using the elasto-optic effect and optimize the extinction ratio of the optical modulation. The device is characterized and numerically analyzed using the finite-element-method at the wavelengths of 1.55 μm. For the modulator length of 2.33 μm, the extinction ratio of the modulation is nearly 14 dB, and the calculated attenuation loss is 4.5 dB. The calculated driving voltage is 4.8 V for the given modulator. The effect of the applied voltage on the modulation is also analyzed.     

Enhanced luminescence and degradation resistance in Tb modified Yttrium Borate core-nano silica shell phosphor under UV and VUV excitation

Composition variation in optimized solid state reaction conditions has been done to achieve intense green emission in YTb_xBO₃ phosphor under UV and VUV (147 nm resonant Xe*, 172 nm Xe₂* excimer band) excitation. Inert interface layer created by fabricating a shell of silica nanoparticles over individual phosphor grain protected the phosphor surface from deterioration and oxidation of luminescent ion (Tb³⁺) thus completely arresting phosphor degradation. At optimum Tb content of 20 mol%, integrated photoluminescence intensity of developed YTb_xBO₃ phosphor is four times higher than commercial green YBT. With short decay time of 4 ms, YTb_xBO₃ core-nano silica shell green emitting phosphor has great application potential in PDP panel and phosphor coated Xe lamps.     

Correlation of sp and sp fraction of carbon with electrical, optical and nano-mechanical properties of argon-diluted diamond-like carbon films

In the present work the correlation of electrical, optical and nano-mechanical properties of argon-diluted diamond-like carbon (Ar-DLC) thin films with sp³ and sp² fractions of carbon have been explored. These Ar-DLC thin films have been deposited, under varying C₂H₂ gas pressures from 25 to 75 mTorr, by radio frequency-plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition technique. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies are performed to estimate the sp³ and sp² fractions of carbon by deconvoluting C 1s core level spectra. Various electrical, optical and nano-mechanical parameters such as conductivity, I-V characteristics, optical band gap, stress, hardness, elastic modulus, plastic resistance parameter, elastic recovery and plastic deformation energy have been estimated and then correlated with calculated sp³ and sp² fractions of carbon and sp³/sp² ratios. Observed tremendous electrical, optical and nano-mechanical properties in Ar-DLC films deposited under high base pressure conditions made it a cost effective material for not only hard and protective coating applications but also for electronic and optoelectronic applications.     

Thermodynamic studies on the systems M–Te–O (M = Nd,Sm)

The standard Gibbs energies of formation of Nd₂TeO₆ and M₆TeO₁₂ (where M = Nd, Sm) were determined from vapour pressure measurements. The vapour pressure of TeO₂(g) was measured by employing thermogravimetry-based transpiration technique. The temperature dependence of the vapour pressure of TeO₂(g) over the mixtures Nd₂TeO₆+Nd₆TeO₁₂, generated by the incongruent vapourisation reaction, 3Nd₂TeO₆(s) → Nd₆TeO₁₂(s)+2TeO₂(g)+O₂(g), was measured in the temperature range 1,408–1,495 K. Similarly, the vapour pressure of TeO₂(g) over the mixtures M₆TeO₁₂+M₂O₃ (where M = Nd, Sm), generated by the incongruent vapourisation reaction, M₆TeO₁₂(s) → 3M₂O₃(s)+TeO₂(g)+½O₂(g), was measured in the temperature range 1,703–1,773 and 1,633–1,753 K for Nd₆TeO₁₂(s) and Sm₆TeO₁₂(s), respectively. Enthalpy increments of M₂TeO₆(s) (where M = Nd, Sm) were determined by inverse drop calorimetric method in the temperature range 573–1,273 K. The thermodynamic functions, viz., heat capacity, entropy and free energy functions, were derived from the measured values of enthalpy increments. A mean value of ?2,426.2 ± 0.6 and ?2,417.9 ± 1.1 kJ mol^?1 was obtained for $ \Updelta_{\text{f} } H_{298}^{\text{o}} $ (Nd₂TeO₆, s) and $ \Updelta_{\text{f}} H_{298}^{\text{o}} $ (Sm₂TeO₆, s), respectively, by combining the value of $ \Updelta_{\text{f}} G^{\text{o}} $ (Nd₂TeO₆, s) and $ \Updelta_{\text{f}} G^{\text{o}} $ (Sm₂TeO₆, s) derived from vapour pressure data and the free energy functions derived from the drop calorimetric data.     

Study of structural and dielectric behaviour on carbon nano tube dispersed {xPVF: (1 − x)CH3COONH4} electrolyte

In the present work, improvement in ion transport property of polyvinyl formal (PVF)-based nanocomposite polymer electrolytes has been studied upon dispersal of multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) filler. Nanocomposite polymer electrolyte (NCPE) films of xPVF: (1 ? x)CH₃COONH₄ (ammonium acetate) were prepared by solution cast technique. The formation of nanocomposite has been ascertained by X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern, which also shows that doping of salt increases amorphousness through polymer salt complexation. Changes in surface morphology have been observed in optical microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM) images. Variation of dielectric constant, dielectric loss, tangent loss and modulus spectra with the change in frequency and temperature were studied with the aid of impedance spectroscopy.