Determining the wettability of granular alumina by aluminum–magnesium alloys using the infiltration method

Wettability of the granular bed media influences the efficiency of aluminum filtration. This project was undertaken to develop a method for determining the wettability of the granular media in order to evaluate its suitability for filtration. The wetting characteristics of different granular alumina particles by aluminum–magnesium alloys were studied using the infiltration method. The contact angles for rough as well as smooth surfaces were determined, and alumina particles were classified according to their wetting characteristics. The results were consistent and showed that it is possible to differentiate the wetting characteristics of different alumina samples with the infiltration method. A capillary model based on the energy balance was developed to analyze the experimental data. The model uses an average capillary pore size. For one type of alumina, this model was extended to carry out the analysis using a capillary pore size distribution. Similar results were found in both cases. This paper describes the experimental and modeling work, and the results are presented and discussed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Design of a Gd‐DOTA‐Phthalocyanine Conjugate Combining MRI Contrast Imaging and Photosensitization Properties as a Potential Molecular Theranostic

The design and synthesis of a phthalocyanine – Gd‐DOTA conjugate is presented to open the way to novel molecular theranostics, combining the properties of MRI contrast imaging with photodynamic therapy. The rational design of the conjugate integrates isomeric purity of the phthalocyanine core substitution, suitable biocompatibility with the use of polyoxo water‐solubilizing substituents, and a convergent synthetic strategy ended by the use of click chemistry to graft the Gd‐DOTA moiety to the phthalocyanine. Photophysical and photochemical properties, contrast imaging experiments and preliminary in vitro investigations proved that such a combination is relevant and lead to a new type of potential theranostic agent.     

Poly-L-Histidine Attached Poly(glycidyl methacrylate) Cryogels for Heavy Metal Removal

Poly-L-histidine immobilized poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) cryogel discs were used for the removal of heavy metal ions [Pb(II), Cd(II), Zn(II) and Cu(II)] from aqueous solutions. In the first step, PGMA cryogel discs were synthesized using glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) as a basic monomer and methylene bisacrylamide (MBAAm) as a cross linker in order to introduce active epoxy groups through the polymeric backbone. Then, the metal chelating groups are incorporated to cryogel discs by immobilizing poly-L-histidine (mol wt ≥ 5000) having poly-imidazole ring. The swelling test, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy were performed to characterize both the PGMA and poly-L-histidine immobilized PGMA [P-His@PGMA] cryogel discs. The effects of the metal ion concentration and pH on the adsorption capacity were studied. These parameters were varied between 3.0–6.0 and 10–800 mg/L for pH and metal ion concentration, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity of heavy metal ions of P-His@PGMA cryogel discs were 6.9 mg/g for Pb(II), 6.4 mg/g for Cd(II), 5.6 mg/g for Cu(II) and 4.3 mg/g for > Zn(II). Desorption of heavy metal ions was studied with 0.1 M HNO₃ solution. It was observed that cryogel discs could be recurrently used without important loss in the adsorption amount after five repetitive adsorption/desorption processes. Adsorption isotherms were fitted to Langmuir model and adsorption kinetics were suited to pseudo-second order model. Thermodynamic parameters (i.e. ΔH° ΔS°, ΔG°) were also calculated at different temperatures.     

Electrocatalytic Reduction of Oxygen at Glassy Carbon Electrodes Coated with Diazonium‐derived Porphyrin/Metalloporphyrin Films

In this study, the influence of the film structure was investigated on the electrocatalytic oxygen reduction at GC electrodes covered with porphyrin and metalloporphyrin rings via the diazonium modification method. For that purpose, primarily, tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) films on GC electrode surfaces were prepared by electroreduction of in situ generated diazonium salts of 5‐(4‐aminophenyl)‐10,15,20‐triphenylporphyrin (APP) and 5,10,15,20‐tetrakis(4‐aminophenyl)porphyrin (TAPP) molecules. Next, the formation of metalloporphyrin films on the modified surfaces was accomplished through the complexation reactions of surface porphyrin rings with metal ions in the salt solutions containing Mn(II), Fe(III) and Co(II) ions. The resulting porphyrin and metalloporphyrin layers were identified with XPS and ICP‐MS. The electrochemical barrier properties of the films on GC surfaces were examined by cyclic voltammetry in K₃Fe(CN)₆ aqueous solution. The electrocatalytic abilities of the resulting films were also investigated for the oxygen electrochemical reduction by employing cyclic voltammetry in PBS solutions saturated with oxygen. The results showed that the oxygen reduction potentials on modified GC electrodes were shifted to less negative potentials compared to that of bare GC electrode. Also, it was obtained that the oxygen reduction reaction was more effective on the GC electrodes modified with TPP rings by using TAPP molecules than those prepared by using APP molecules.     

Tea-industry waste activated carbon, as a novel adsorbent, for separation, preconcentration and speciation of chromium

Activated carbon was produced from tea-industry wastes (TIWAC) and employed as a low cost and effective solid phase material for the separation, preconcentration and speciation of chromium species without using a complexing agent, prior to determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The characterization of TIWAC was performed by utilizing several techniques such as Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and elemental analysis. The adsorption experiments were conducted in a batch adsorption technique. Under the experimental conditions, Cr(VI) adsorption amount was nearly equal to zero, however the adsorption percentage of Cr(III) was in the range of 95–100%. Therefore total chromium was determined after the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) and Cr(VI) was calculated by subtracting Cr(III) concentration from total chromium concentration. The suitable conditions for adsorption and speciation processes were evaluated in terms of pH, eluent type and volume, TIWAC concentration, adsorption and desorption contact time, etc. Adsorption capacity of TIWAC was found to be 61.0 mg g⁻¹. The detection limit for Cr(III) was found to be 0.27 μg L⁻¹ and the preconcentration factor was 50 for 200 mL of sample volume. The procedure was applied to the determination and speciation of chromium in stream, tap and sea water. Also, the proposed method was applied to total chromium preconcentration in microwave digested tobacco and dried eggplant samples with satisfactory results. The method was validated by analyzing certified reference materials (CRM-TMDW-500 Drinking Water and CRM-SA-C Sandy Soil C) and the results were in good agreement with the certified values.     

Kinetics of chemical absorption of carbon dioxide into aqueous calcium acetate solution

Increasing energy demand in the world leads to more electricity generation mainly at fossil fuel power plants. Greenhouse gases are thus produced and mostly emitted to the atmosphere directly, resulting in global warming and climate change. Carbon dioxide is believed to be a main pollutant among greenhouse gases responsible from global warming. Conventional systems using mostly amine solutions to capture carbon dioxide at the source have some disadvantages, and alternatives are constantly being searched. In this work, a benign system of aqueous calcium acetate solution was investigated for this purpose. Calcium acetate is easy to produce, relatively cheap, environmentally friendly, nonhazardous, and noncorrosive. These properties make it a great alternative for use in capturing carbon dioxide. This absorption process is accompanied by chemical reaction. Therefore, the reaction kinetics needs to be investigated before its use in absorbers. A stirred cell reactor was used in the experiments using aqueous calcium acetate solution of different concentrations (2-20% w/w) and different carbon dioxide concentrations in gas mixtures (4.5-100% v/v dry carbon dioxide) at temperatures ranging from 286 to 352 K. The Gibbs free energy change for the overall reaction between carbon dioxide and aqueous calcium acetate solution was found to be –2.75 kJ/mol that shows the reaction is exergonic and occurs spontaneously. It was also found out that the reaction is pseudo–first order with respect to carbon dioxide which was also proven by calculating the Hatta number. Activation energy and Arrhenius (frequency) constant were also determined experimentally.     

Cu (II) tyrosinate complexes containing methyl substituted phenanthrolines: Synthesis,X‐ray crystal structures,biomolecular interactions,antioxidant activity,ROS generation and cytotoxicity

In this paper, three new copper (II) complexes, [Cu(4‐mphen)(tyr)(H₂O)]ClO₄ (1) , [Cu(5‐mphen)(tyr)(H₂O)]ClO₄·1.5H₂O (2) and [Cu (tmphen)(tyr)(NO₃)]0.5H₂O (3) (4‐mphen: 4‐methyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline, 5‐mphen: 5‐methyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline, tmphen: 3,4,7,8‐tetramethyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline and tyr: L‐tyrosine), were synthesized and characterized using elemental analyses, FT‐IR, ESI‐MS, cyclic voltammetry and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. It was found that the complexes adopt a distorted five‐coordinate square pyramidal geometry. The interaction of the three complexes with calf thymus DNA was also investigated using UV–visible absorption spectra, ethidium bromide and Hoechst 33258 displacement assay and thermal denaturation. The DNA cleavage activity of the complexes, monitored using gel electrophoresis, showed significant damage of the pUC19 plasmid DNA. Binding activity of bovine serum albumin (BSA) reveals that these complexes can strongly quench the fluorescence of BSA through a static quenching mechanism. The results suggested that interaction of the complexes with DNA occurred through a partial intercalation into the minor grooves of DNA. In addition, interaction of the complexes with bovine serum albumin quenched the fluorescence emission of the tryptophan residues of the protein binding constants and thermodynamic parameters were obtained from the fluorescence quenching experiments at different temperatures. Free radical scavenging activities of the complexes were determined by various in vitro assays such as 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picryl‐hydrazyl free radicals (DPPH˙) and H₂O₂ scavenging methods. In addition, the cytotoxicity of these complexes in vitro on tumor cell lines (Caco‐2 and MCF‐7) was examined by XTT and showed better antitumor effect on the tested cells. ROS (reactive oxygen species) and comet experiments are consistent with each other and these complexes lead to DNA damage via the production of ROS. The effect of the hydrophobic properties of the synthesized complexes on DNA and BSA binding activities were discussed.     

Methyl substituent effect on one‐dimensional copper(II) coordination polymers containing biologically active ligands: Synthesis,characterization, DNA interactions and cytotoxicities

Three novel water‐soluble copper(II) complexes – {[Cu(phen)(trp)]ClO₄·3H₂O}_n ( 1 ), {[Cu(4‐mphen)(trp)]ClO₄·3H₂O}_n ( 2 ) and [[Cu(dmphen)(trp)(MeOH)][Cu(dmphen)(trp)(NO₃)]]NO₃ ( 3 ) (phen: 1,10‐phenanthroline; 4‐mphen: 4‐methyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline; dmphen: 4,7‐dimethyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline; trp: l ‐tryptophan) – have been synthesized and characterized using various techniques. Complexes 1 and 2 are isostructural, and exist as one‐dimensional coordination polymers. Complex 3 consists of two discrete copper(II) complexes containing [Cu(trp)(dmphen)(MeOH)]⁺, [Cu(trp)(dmphen)(NO₃)] and one nitrate anion. The binding interaction of the complexes with calf thymus DNA (CT‐DNA) was investigated using thermal denaturation, electronic absorption and emission spectroscopic methods, revealing that the complexes could interact with CT‐DNA via a moderate intercalation mode. The binding activity of the complexes to CT‐DNA follows the order: 3  >  2 > 1 . The pUC19 DNA cleavage activity of the complexes was investigated in the absence and presence of external agents using the agarose gel electrophoresis method. Especially, in the presence of H₂O₂ as an activator, the pUC19 DNA cleavage abilities of the complexes are clearly enhanced at low concentration. Addition of hydroxyl radical scavenger dimethylsulfoxide shows a marked inhibition of the pUC19 DNA cleavage activity of the complexes. In vitro cytotoxic effect of the complexes was examined on human tumor cell lines (Caco‐2, A549 and MCF‐7) and healthy cells (BEAS‐2B). The potent cytotoxic effect of complex 3 , with IC₅₀ values of 1.04, 1.16 and 1.72 μM, respectively, is greater relative to clinically used cisplatin (IC₅₀ = 22.70, 31.1 and 22.2 μM) against the Caco‐2, A549 and MCF‐7 cell lines.     

Cytotoxicity and Gene Expression Studies of Curcumin and Piperine Loaded Nanoparticles on Breast Cancer Cells

Russian Journal of Applied Chemistry - The aim of this study was to investigate the anticancer effects of curcumin and piperine loaded nanoparticles compared to docetaxel on the breast cancer cell...