Sol–gel synthesis and characterization of conducting polythiophene/tin phosphate nano tetrapod composite cation-exchanger and its application as Hg(II) selective membrane electrode

Nano tetrapod based on conducting polythiophene (PTh) and tin-phosphate (SnP) were synthesized by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization. The morphology of the resulting polythiophene tinphosphate composite was characterized by elemental analysis, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The physico-chemical characterization carried out on the composite showed that SnP was modified by conducting PTh with an enhancement of various properties. On the basis of highest distribution coefficient values for Hg(II), the composite was also used for the preparation of Hg(II) selective membrane electrode. The electrode showed working concentration range of 1 × 10^?1 to 1 × 10^?7 with Nernstian slope of 29.29 mV per decade change in concentration and the electrode may be used for wide working pH range of 4–8 having quick response time about 23 s. The life of electrode is 4 months without any notable drift in potential.     

Asymmetric aldol reactions catalyzed by the promiscuous aldo–ketoreductase enzyme

The promiscuous aldo–ketoreductase (AKR) enzyme is used as a sustainable biocatalyst for the first time to catalyze asymmetric aldol reactions in aqueous medium. The reactions between aromatic aldehydes and cyclic/acyclic ketones give the corresponding products in moderate yields and enantioselectivities in the presence of water. The influence of solvents, the mole ratio of substrates, and enzyme concentration are investigated. The mechanism of the AKR1A1-catalyzed aldol reaction is also discussed.     

Steric and Electronic Influence on the Coordination Aptitude of 4‐Formylpiperazine‐1‐Carbodithioate Towards Triorganotin(IV) Moieties

A fascinating ligand, 4‐formylpiperazinium 4‐formylpiperazine‐1‐carbodithioate (L‐salt) has been reacted with two electronically and sterically different trimethyltin(IV) chloride and triphenyltin(IV) chloride. The complexes 1 and 2 were characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopic techniques, and X‐ray single crystal analysis. The latter technique confirmed the polymeric and monomeric nature of 1 and 2 , respectively. Both 1 and 2 showed intriguing molecular packing properties in the solid state. However, the packing of 1 is more interesting and unique where one‐dimensional polymer chains self assemble in two‐over‐two saltire‐shaped fashion to provide an overall multilayered structure. The different behavior of L toward two different tin(IV) compounds can be attributed to different electronic and steric environments around metal center.     

Organotin(IV) Carboxylates of Substituted α‐Cinnamic Acid,RnSn(OCOC(R2)=CHR1)4 – n: Synthesis,Spectroscopic Characterization and Biological Evaluation

Di‐ and triorganotin(IV) carboxylates, R_nSn(OCOC(R²)=CHR¹)_4–n (n = 2 and 3; R = Me, Et, n‐Bu, Ph; R¹ = 3‐CH₃O‐4‐OHC₆H₃, R² = C₆H₅) were prepared by reacting the corresponding organotin(IV) chloride with the silver salt of the (E)‐3‐(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxyphenyl)‐2‐phenylpropenoic acid. The title compounds were investigated and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared (FT‐IR), multinuclear (¹H, ¹³C, ¹¹⁹Sn) NMR, and mass spectrometry, and possible structures were proposed. The complexes and ligand acid ( HL ) have been evaluated in vitro against various bacteria and fungi. The results noticed during the biocidal activity screenings proved their in vitro biological potential. They were also tested for cytotoxicity.     

Synergistic effect of aluminum trihydrate and zirconium hydroxide nanoparticles on mechanical properties,flammability, and thermal degradation of polyester/jute fiber composite

Cellulose - This study focuses on the synergistic effects of hydroxide based nanoparticles namely aluminum trihydrate (ATH) and zirconium hydroxide (ZHO) on the mechanical characteristics, thermal...     

Ornamental Plant Efficiency for Heavy Metals Phytoextraction from Contaminated Soils Amended with Organic Materials

Accumulation of heavy metals (HMs) by ornamental plants (OPs) from contaminated agriculture soils is a unique technique that can efficiently reduce the metal load in the food chain. Amaranthus tricolor L. has attractive characteristics acquiring a higher growth rate and large biomass when grown at heavy metal contaminated soils. Site-specific detailed information is not available on the use of A. tricolor plant in metal phytoremediation from the polluted sites. The study aimed to enhance the uptake of HMs (Pb, Zn, and Cu) via amending poultry litter extract (PLE), vinasse sugarcane (VSC), and humic acid (HA) as natural mobilized organic materials compared to ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), as a common mobilized chemical agent by A. tricolor plant. The studied soils collected from Helwan, El-Gabal El-Asfar (Cairo Governorate), Arab El-Madabeg (Assiut Governorate), Egypt, and study have been conducted under pot condition. Our results revealed all organic materials in all studied soils, except EDTA in EL-Gabal El-Asfar soil, significantly increased the dry weight of the A. tricolor plant compared to the control treatment. The uptake of Pb and Zn significantly (p > 0.05) increased due to applying all organic materials to the studied soils. HA application caused the highest uptake as shown in Pb concentration by more than 5 times in Helwan soil and EDTA by 65% in El-Gabal El-Asfar soil while VSC increased it by 110% in El-Madabeg soil. Also, an increase in Zn concentration due to EDTA application was 58, 42, and 56% for Helwan, El-Gabal El-Asfar, and El-Madabeg soil, respectively. In all studied soils, the application of organic materials increased the remediation factor (RF) than the control. El-Madabeg soil treated with vinasse sugarcane gave the highest RF values; 6.40, 3.26, and 4.02% for Pb, Zn, and Cu, respectively, than the control. Thus, we identified A. tricolor as a successful ornamental candidate that, along with organic mobilization amendments, most efficiently develop soil health, reduce metal toxicity, and recommend remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soils. Additionally, long-term application of organic mobilization amendments and continued growth of A. tricolor under field conditions could be recommended for future directions to confirm the results.     

Protease Inhibitors Purified from the Canola Meal Extracts of Two Genetically Diverse Genotypes Exhibit Antidiabetic and Antihypertension Properties

Valorization of vegetable oil waste residues is gaining importance due to their high protein and polyphenol contents. Protease inhibitors (PIs), proteins from these abundantly available waste residues, have recently gained importance in treating chronic diseases. This research aimed to use canola meal of genetically diverse Brassica napus genotypes, BLN-3347 and Rivette, to identify PIs with diverse functionalities in therapeutic and pharmacological applications. The canola meal PI purification steps involved: native PAGE and trypsin inhibition activity, followed by ammonium sulfate fractionation, anion exchange, gel filtration, and reverse-phase chromatography. The purified PI preparations were characterized using SDS-PAGE, isoelectric focusing (IEF), and N terminal sequencing. SDS-PAGE analysis of PI preparations under native reducing and nonreducing conditions revealed three polymorphic PIs in each genotype. The corresponding IEF of the genotype BLN-3347, exhibited three acidic isoforms with isoelectric points (pI) of 4.6, 4.0, and 3.9, while Rivette possessed three isoforms, exhibiting two basic forms of pI 8.65 and 9.9, and one acidic of pI 6.55. Purified PI preparations from both the genotypes displayed dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition activities; the BLN-3347 PI preparation exhibited a strong inhibitory effect with lower IC₅₀ values (DPP-IV 37.42 µg/mL; ACE 129 µg/mL) than that from Rivette (DPP-IV 67.97 µg/mL; ACE 376.2 µg/mL). In addition to potential human therapy, these highly polymorphic PIs, which can inhibit damaging serine proteases secreted by canola plant pathogens, have the potential to be used by canola plant breeders to seek qualitative trait locus (QTLs) linked to genes conferring resistance to canola diseases.     

Focal Point Evaluation of Energies for Tautomers and Isomers for 3-hydroxy-2-butenamide: Evaluation of Competing Internal Hydrogen Bonds of Types -OH…O=, -OH…N, -NH…O=, and CH…X (X=O and N)

The title compound is a small molecule with many structural variations; it can illustrate a variety of internal hydrogen bonds, among other noncovalent interactions. Here we examine structures displaying hydrogen bonding between carbonyl oxygen and hydroxyl H; between carbonyl oxygen and amino H; hydroxyl H and amino N; hydroxyl O and amino H. We also consider H-bonding in its tautomer 2-oxopropanamide. By extrapolation algorithms applied to Hartree-Fock and correlation energies as estimated in HF, MP2, and CCSD calculations using the cc-pVNZ correlation-consistent basis sets (N = 2, 3, and 4) we obtain reliable relative energies of the isomeric forms. Assuming that such energy differences may be attributed to the presence of the various types of hydrogen bonding, we attempt to infer relative strengths of types of H-bonding. The Atoms in Molecules theory of Bader and the Local Vibrational Modes analysis of Cremer and Kraka are applied to this task. Hydrogen bonds are ranked by relative strength as measured by local stretching force constants, with the stronger =O…HO- > NH…O= > -OH…N well separated from a cluster > NH…O= ≈ >NH…OH ≈ CH…O= of comparable and intermediate strength. Weaker but still significant interactions are of type CH…N which is stronger than CH…OH.