Application of a new nanoporous sorbent for extraction and pre-concentration of lead and copper ions

The authors describe a method for the trace determination of copper (II) and lead (II) in water and fish samples using solid-phase extraction via siliceous mesocellular foam functionalised by dithizone. Siliceous mesocellular was functionalised with dithizone, and the resulting sorbent was characterised by scanning electron microscopy, surface area analysis, thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis and FTIR. Following solid-phase extraction of target ions by the sorbent, copper and lead ions were quantified by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Factors affecting the sorption and desorption of target ions by the sorbent were evaluated and optimised. The calibration plot is linear in the 1 – 500 μg L^?1 copper (II) and 3–700 μg L^?1 lead (II) concentration range. The relative recovery efficiency in real sample analysis is in the range from 96 to 102%, and precision varies between 1.7 and 2.8%. It is should be noted that the limits of detection for the copper and lead analysis were 0.8 and 1.6 μg L^?1, respectively. Also, the adsorption capacities for copper and lead ions were 120 and 160 mg g^?1, respectively. The obtained pre-concentration factor for the lead and copper ions by the proposed solid-phase extraction was 75. The method was successfully applied to the determination of low levels of copper (II) and lead (II) in tap, Caspian sea, Persian gulf and lake water and also their detection in fish samples.     

Applications of Inorganic Polymeric Materials,III: Polyphosphazenes

Summary.  Polyphosphazenes form one of the most important and interesting classes of inorganic polymers having a backbone of alternating phosphorus and nitrogen atoms with phosphorus atom bearing two organic side groups. The most important feature of these polymers is the synthesis route which allows the side groups to be changed over a wide range to obtain a broad variety of products with different properties from elastomers to glasses, water soluble to hydrophobic polymers, bioinert to bioactive materials, and electrical insulators to conductors. In this paper, some novel applications of these polymers in biomedical materials and advanced devices are reviewed.     

Reaction between [Ru3(CO)10(μ-dppm)] (dppm = Ph2PCH2PPh2) and Te2(C6H4OEt-4)2: X-ray crystal structure of [Ru2(CO)6{μ-C6H4PPh(CH2)PPh}]

Treatment of [Ru₃(CO)₁₀(-dppm)] (1) with the ditelluride Te₂(C₆H₄OEt-4)₂ in refluxing toluene afforded the new aryltellurol bridged complex [Ru₂(CO)₄(-TeC₆H₄OEt-4)₂ (-dppm)] (2) together with three known complexes [Ru₄(CO)₈(-CO)(₄-Te)₂(-dppm)] (3), [Ru₂(CO)₆{-CH₂PPh(C₆H₄)PPh}] (4), and [Ru₂(CO)₆{-C₆H₄PPh(CH₂)PPh}] (5). All the four complexes were characterized by spectroscopic methods, including an X-ray structure determination for 5. Complex 5 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with a = 13.650(2), b = 9.995(2), c = 18.929(3) Å, = 97.49(2)°, V = 2560.4(8) ų, and Z = 4. In this complex the two ruthenium atoms are bridged by the phosphino-phosphide ligand C₆H₄PPh(CH₂)PPh which is attached to one Ru by the C₆H₄ group and a P atom while to the other Ru by both the two P atoms. Both the ruthenium atoms show distorted octahedral geometry. The Ru—Ru bond length is 2.8719(7) Å.     

Insight into Biomass Upgrade: A Review on Hydrogenation of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-Dimethylfuran (DMF)

Recent developments in the transformation of biobased 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) into a potential liquid fuel, 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF), are summarised. This review focuses briefly on the history of HMF conversion to DMF in terms of the feedstock used and emphasises the ideal requirements in terms of the catalytic properties needed in HMF transformation into DMF. The recent state of the art and works on HMF transformation into DMF are discussed in comparison to noble metals and non-noble metals as well as bimetallic catalysts. The effect of the support used and the reaction conditions are also discussed. The recommendations for future work and challenges faced are specified.     

Lipid-Based Nanoparticle Formulation of Diallyl Trisulfide Chemosensitizes the Growth Inhibitory Activity of Doxorubicin in Colorectal Cancer Model: A Novel In Vitro,In Vivo and In Silico Analysis

Garlic’s main bioactive organosulfur component, diallyl trisulfide (DATS), has been widely investigated in cancer models. However, DATS is not suitable for clinical use due to its low solubility. The current study seeks to improve DATS bioavailability and assess its chemopreventive and chemosensitizing properties in an AOM-induced colorectal cancer model. The polyethylene glycol coated Distearoylphosphatidylcholine/Cholesterol (DSPC/Chol) comprising DATS-loaded DATSL and doxorubicin (DOXO)-encapsulated DOXL liposomes was prepared and characterized. The changes in the sensitivity of DATS and DOXO by DATSL and DOXL were evaluated in RKO and HT-29 colon cancer cells. The synergistic effect of DATSL and DOXL was studied by cell proliferation assay in the combinations of IC₁₀, IC₂₅, and IC₃₅ of DATSL with the IC₁₀ of DOXL. AOM, DATSL, and DOXL were administered to different groups of mice for a period of 21 weeks. The data exhibited ~93% and ~46% entrapment efficiency of DATSL and DOXL, respectively. The size of sham liposomes was 110.5 nm, whereas DATSL and DOXL were 135.5 nm and 169 nm, respectively. DATSL and DOXL exhibited significant sensitivity in the cell proliferation experiment, lowering their IC₅₀ doses by more than 8- and 14-fold, respectively. However, the DATSL IC₁₀, IC₂₅, and IC₃₅ showed escalating chemosensitivity, and treated the cells in combination with DOXL IC₁₀. Analysis of histopathological, cancer marker enzymes, and antioxidant enzymes revealed that the high dose of DATSL pretreatment and DOXL chemotherapy is highly effective in inhibiting AOM-induced colon cancer promotion. The combination of DATSL and DOXL indicated promise as a colorectal cancer treatment in this study. Intermolecular interactions of DATS and DOXO against numerous cancer targets by molecular docking indicated MMP-9 as the most favourable target for DATS exhibiting binding energy of −4.6 kcal/mol. So far, this is the first research to demonstrate the chemopreventive as well as chemosensitizing potential of DATSL in an animal model of colorectal cancer.     

Common fixed points of two maps in cone metric spaces

We prove the existence of points of coincidence and common fixed points of a pair of self-mappings satisfying a generalized contractive condition in cone metric spaces. Our results generalize several well-known recent and classical results.      

Thermally oxidized aluminum as catalyst-support layer for vertically aligned single-walled carbon nanotube growth using ethanol

Characteristics and role of Al oxide (Al-O) films used as catalyst-support layer for vertical growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were studied. EB-deposited Al films (20 nm) were thermally oxidized at 400 °C (10 min, static air) to produce the most appropriate surface structure of Al-O. Al-O catalyst-support layers were characterized using various analytical measurements, i.e., atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and spectroscopy ellipsometry (SE). The thermally oxidized Al-O has a highly roughened surface, and also has the most suitable surface chemical states compared to other type of Al-O support layers. We suggest that the surface of thermally oxidized Al-O characterized in this work enhanced Co catalyst activity to promote the vertically aligned SWCNT growth.     

Self‐Assembled Heteroleptic Zn(II) Dithiocarbamate‐Based 2D‐Interwoven Supramolecular Giant Macrocycles and Their Redox Properties

This article presents a new heteroleptic Zn(II) dithiocarbamate ( 1 ) having molecules linked together via H···H and π···π interactions to form a giant hexanuclear macrocycle. These macrocycles are connected together through S···H interactions to offer a unique two‐dimensional cloth‐like interwoven architecture in the solid state. The redox behavior of the complex deposited on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode was investigated in different pH media. The analyte was found to oxidize and reduce in a pH‐dependent irreversible manner. On the basis of the electrochemical findings, redox mechanistic pathways were proposed.     

CuO-CeO2 nanocomposite：A highly efficient recyclable catalyst for the multicomponent synthesis of 4H-benzo[b]pyran derivatives

CuO–CeO2 is reported as a highly efficient and green recyclable catalyst,for the multicomponent synthesis of 4H-benzo[b]pyran derivatives.The catalyst was synthesized by a co-precipitation method and characterized by XRD,BET specific surface area,ESEM and EDS analysis.This synthetic method provides several advantages such as simple work-up procedures,minimal amount of waste generated,short reaction time,and high yields of products.     

Novel Surfactant for the Reduction of CO2/Brine Interfacial Tension

The synthesis of novel CO₂ philic surfactant using maleic anhydride and dipropylene tertiary butyl alcohol is reported. The synthesis involved the esterification of maleic anhydride to produce bis(2-(2-(tert-butoxy)propoxy)propyl) maleate and subsequent sulfonation of the esterified product. Para toluene sulfonic acid was employed as catalyst for the esterification reaction. The esterification reaction was optimized for the maximum yield of 98% of bis(2-(2-(tert-butoxy)propoxy)propyl) maleate. The esterification reaction kinetics employing heterogeneous catalyst were also studied. Although this is a bimolecular reaction, a first order reaction kinetics with respect to acid has been observed. The activation energy was found to be 58.71 kJ/mol. The diester was followed by the sulfonation process and a yield of 85% of surfactant was achieved. The synthesized surfactant successfully lowered down the IFT between CO_2/brine to 1.93 mN/m. This surfactant has a great potential to be used for CO₂-EOR applications.