Rheological and anti-microbial study of silica and silver nanoparticles-reinforced k-carrageenan/hydroxyethyl cellulose composites for food packaging applications

Cellulose - Sustainable food packaging films were developed using a combination of k-Carrageenan (k-C), hydroxyl ethyl cellulose (HEC), silicon dioxide (SiO2), and silver (Ag) nanoparticles. The...     

Adenopeptin, a new apoptosis inducer in transformed cells from Chrysosporium sp.

A new antitumor antibiotic, adenopeptin (1), was isolated from the culture broth of Chrysosporium sp. PF1201. The planar structure, which includes a tridecapeptide and a hexahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrimidinium, was elucidated by mass spectrometric and NMR experiments. Adenopeptin (1) induced apoptotic cell death in cells transformed with the adenovirus oncogenes.     

Preparation of ω-tetrahydropyran-2-ylsulfanylalkylmagnesium chlorides: Useful reagents for the synthesis of 1-(ω-mercaptoalkyl)-1,2-dihydrobuckminsterfullerenes (C60)

ω-Tetrahydropyran-2-ylsulfanylalkylmagnesium chlorides are prepared as Grignard reagents containing protected mercaptoalkyl chains, which are useful for the direct introduction of ω-mercaptoalkyl chains to electrophiles. In order to prove the usefulness of these reagents, they were reacted with buckminsterfullerene (C₆₀) to give 1-(ω-mercaptoalkyl)-1,2-dihydrobuck minsterfullerenes after the deprotection of THP group with TFA.     

Magnetic Field Effects on the Behavior of Radicals in Protein and DNA Environments

We have examined the behavior of radical pairs derived by hydrogen abstraction of triplet benzophenone and some of its derivatives from bovine serum albumin, human serum albumin and calf thymus DNA. They have been investigated by means of nanosecond laser flash photolysis techniques. The dynamics of radical pair behavior are shown to be sensitive to external magnetic fields; these effects are interpreted using the established model for the influence of magnetic fields on radical pairs in micellar aggregates, in which intersystem crossing of the radical pair is slowed by the external magnetic field. Our results indicate that proteins and DNA can confine the radicals for a sufficiently long period of time for spin evolution to be affected by external fields. In proteins the radical pair retains its geminate character ( i.e . remains confined) for about 0.5–1 μs. Interestingly, the magnetic field effects observed in proteins and in DNA seem to occur in distinct timescales; for example, for 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzophenone bound to DNA, the magnetic field alters the radical reactivity only over times ≤50 ns, suggesting poor confinement. The timescale for these effects can be increased by promoting Coulombic attraction between DNA and the radical precursor. Electron transfer interactions play a role in the case of DNA.     

A kinetic and spectroscopic study of the interaction between a M(CO)5 (M=Cr, W) fragment and ethyl diazoacetate

The reaction between Cr(CO)₅[C₆H₆] and ethyl diazoacetate (EDA) has been studied using the technique of laser flash photolysis. Results indicate that the Cr(CO)₅ fragment reacts very rapidly with the EDA ligand. Low temperature spectroscopic studies suggest that in the case of W(CO)₅, and by analogy also in the case of Cr(CO)₅, the initial adduct between the pentacarbonyl fragment and EDA is one where the oxygen atom of the diazocarbonyl ligand is bound to the metal center. This kinetic product is then converted to a thermodynamically favored complex which is tentatively assigned as the nitrogen bound W(CO)₅-EDA complex that appears to be stable at r.t.     

Catalytic carbonylation for the synthesis of chemical intermediates

Chemistry related to three catalytic carbonylation reactions is discussed. Synthesis of diphenylurea from nitrobenzene, aniline, and CO gives isolated yields above 98% at 100–120 °C and 15–60 bar of CO in the presence of a palladium (II) complex, PPh₃ and NEt₄Cl. Experimental evidence was provided to prove a new reaction stoichiometry and involvement of a carbamoyl intermediate. In carbonylation of HCHO over ion exchange resin catalysts, reaction temperature, time, pressure, and solvent were important variables to obtain high yields of methyl glycolate. Carbonylation of isobutylphenylethanol at 120°C and 40 bar of CO in the presence of PdCl₂−PPh₃−HCl gives 98% yield of α-(4-isobutylphenyl) propionic acid (ibuprofen). Each catalyst component had a definite role that is indispensable for an efficient overall reaction.     

Coating of Tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS)/Vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES) Hybrid Solution on Polymer Films

Tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS)/vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES) hybrid materials were prepared and the hydrolysis and condensation reactions during processing were investigated by means of 29Si NMR solution spectroscopy. The variation of drying characteristics of the coating films was examined with respect to the tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS)/vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES) ratio, as well as drying temperature, by FT-IR spectroscopy. It is shown that the TO mode of Si–O–Si stretching absorption was enhanced with increasing tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) content and drying temperature. Also, the wettability of the coating films on polymer films was independent of the solution composition but enhanced by the precoating of poly(4-hydroxystrene) (PHS) as a wetting agent. The adhesion between the coating and the films was also enhanced when the vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES) content in the coating solution was increased.     

Remediation of soil/concrete contaminated with uranium and radium by biological method

Biological method was studied for remediation of soil/concrete contaminated with uranium and radium. Optimum experiment conditions for mixing ratios of penatron and soil, and the pH of soil was obtained through several bioremediations with soil contaminated with uranium and radium. It was found that an optimum mixing ratio of penatron for bioremediation of uranium soil was 1 %. Also, the optimum pH condition for bioremediation of soil contaminated with uranium and radium was 7.5. The removal efficiencies of uranium and radium from higher concentration of soil were rather reduced in comparison with those from lower concentration of soil. Meanwhile, the removal of uranium and radium in concrete by bioremediation is possible but the removal rate from concrete was slower than that from soil. The removal efficiencies of uranium and radium from soil under injection of 1 % penatron at pH 7.5 for 120 days were 81.2 and 81.6 %, respectively, and the removal efficiencies of uranium and radium from concrete under the same condition were 63.0 and 45.2 %, respectively. Beyond 30 days, removal rates of uranium and radium from soil and concrete by bioremediation was very slow.     

Comparative Study of Methane Activation Process by Different Plasma Sources

In this paper, we compare the characteristics of methane activation by diverse plasma sources. The test conditions of reactant flow rate and composition are fixed for each plasma source to eliminate any possible misleading effects from varying test conditions. Among the diverse characteristics of each plasma source, we focus on the electron energy and degree of thermal activation in evaluating the cost-effectiveness of methane decomposition. The reaction is evaluated based on the selectivity of specific products, including H₂, C₂H₆, and C₂H₂. Among the tested plasma sources, those that provide a somewhat thermal environment have a rather high degree of warmness, resulting in higher methane conversion and lower operational costs. As the non-thermal characteristics of the plasma sources become stronger, the selectivity of C₂H₆ increases. This reflects C₂H₆ formation from the direct collision of CH₄ with high-energy electrons. On the other hand, as the degree of warmness increases, the selectivity of H₂ and C₂H₂ increase. The results give an insight into possible tools for process control or selectivity control by varying the degree of warmness in the plasma source. The process optimization and cost reduction of methane activation should be based on this concept of selectivity control.