Photocatalytic Activity of Microwave Plasma-Synthesized TiO2 Nanopowder

Nanocrystalline TiO₂ was synthesized using the microwave plasma technique and characterized using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, laser particle size analyzer, UV–vis spectroscopy and BET surface area analyzer. The synthesized TiO₂ powder crystallized in anatase phase and the crystallite sizes were in nanometers. The photocatalytic activity of the compound was determined and compared against the activity of the commercial Degussa P-25 TiO₂ catalyst. The degradation rates of the dyes were found to be higher over the synthesized TiO₂ as compared to that over commercial Degussa P-25 TiO₂.     

Novel photocatalysts for the decomposition of organic dyes based on metal-organic framework compounds

Three novel metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) [Co(2)(C(10)H(8)N(2))][C(12)H(8)O(COO)(2)](2), 1, [Ni(2)(C(10)H(8)N(2))(2)][C(12)H(8)O(COO)(2)](2).H(2)O, 2, and [Zn(2)(C(10)H(8)N(2))][C(12)H(8)O(COO)(2)](2), 3, with three-dimensional structures have been synthesized and characterized. The structures of the three compounds appear somewhat related, formed by the connectivity involving the metal polyhedra (Co(4)N trigonal bipyramids in 1, NiO(4)N(2) octahedra in 2, and ZnO(4) tetrahedra and ZnO(3)N(2) trigonal bipyramids in 3), 4,4'-oxybis(benzoate), and 4,4'-bipyridine. The photocatalytic studies on 1-3 indicate that they are active catalysts for the degradation of orange G, rhodamine B, Remazol Brilliant Blue R and methylene blue. The compounds have also been characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, IR, thermogravitmetric analysis, UV-vis, photoluminescence, and magnetic studies.     

Ru(III) catalyzed oxidation of some aliphatic alcohols by N-bromosuccinimide (NBS). A kinetic study

Kinetics of Ru(III) catalyzed oxidation of methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, n-butanol, isopropanol and iso-butanol by N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) in the presence of Hg(II) acetate have been studied in acid medium. The oxidation exhibits a fractional order in [alcohol] and first order in [NBS]. The applicability of Taft's equation was tested. The probable mechanism is discussed.

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, , -, -, - () Hg(II), Ru(III), . . . .

     

Effect of Chain Length on Enzymatic Hydrolysis of p-Nitrophenyl Esters in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

The effect of chain length on the enzymatic hydrolysis of various p-nitrophenyl esters was investigated. Specifically, the hydrolysis of various esters p-nitrophenyl butyrate (PNPB), p-nitrophenyl caprylate (PNPC), p-nitrophenyl laurate (PNPL), p-nitrophenyl myristate (PNPM) and p-nitrophenyl palmitate (PNPP) was studied in supercritical carbon dioxide (ScCO₂) with lipase (Novozym 435). This indicates that the conversion of nitrophenyl esters decreases with increasing chain length. The effect of various parameters such as amount of water added, temperature, and enzyme loading was studied. The optimum temperature for the hydrolysis of PNPB and PNPC was 50°C but was 55°C for PNPL, PNPM, and PNPP in ScCO₂. The reactions were also conducted in acetonitrile as the solvent, and it was found that the reactions reach equilibrium much faster in ScCO₂ than in acetonitrile. The kinetics of the hydrolysis reactions were modeled using a Ping Pong Bi Bi model.     

Vapour phase oxidation of 4-methylanisole to anisaldehyde over V2O5 /MgO-Al2O3 catalysts

The vapour phase selective oxidation of 4-methylanisole to anisaldehyde was investigated over different V₂O₅ /MgO-Al₂O₃ catalysts at 673 K and normal atmospheric pressure. Among various catalysts investigated the 16 wt% V₂O₅ /MgO-Al₂O₃ catalyst provided good conversion and product selectivity. The MgO-Al₂O₃ mixed oxide was obtained by a co-precipitation method and V₂O₅ was impregnated from ammonium metavanadate. The MgO-Al₂O₃ support and various V₂O₅ /MgO-Al₂O₃ catalysts were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, FT-infrared, electron spin resonance, scanning electron microscopy, ammonia and carbon dioxide chemisorption methods. The characterization results suggest that vanadia does not form layer structures on the support surface, instead interacts very strongly with the support, in particular with MgO, and forms amorphous compounds. The NH₃ and CO₂ uptake results provide an interesting information on the acid-base characteristics of these catalysts and correlate with their catalytic properties.     

Lipase specificity for the hydrolysis of poly (vinyl acetate)

The effect of lipases on the side chain hydrolysis of poly (vinyl acetate) (PVAc) was investigated in toluene by various lipases, Hog-pancreas (HP), Candida Rugosa (CR), Lipolase-100T (LL), and Novozyme 435 (NV) at 60 °C. Gas chromatographs and GC–MS spectra showed the presence of different ester side chains. The different size side chain esters in PVAc get hydrolyzed at different specific rates by the various lipases. Longer side chains are hydrolyzed in the order HP>NV>LL>CR whereas the short chains are hydrolyzed in the reverse order. A continuous distribution kinetics model was proposed that accounts for lipase deactivation and determines the rate coefficients of hydrolysis of various chain lengths. Lipase deactivation and hydrolysis rate coefficients were determined for each case. The proposed model predicts the experimental data satisfactorily.     

A stereoselective route to 6-substituted pyrrolo-1,5-benzoxazepinones and their analogues

We developed a novel and convenient stereoselective path for the preparation of pyrrolo-1,5-benzoxazepinones (PBOs). This innovative route envisaged the employment of (−)-menthol as convenient chiral auxiliary and a key S_NAr for the stereoselective preparation of a tertiary aryl–alkyl ether. As a further advancement, we exploited this newly conceived synthetic route for the preparation of 2-substituted PBO analogues to either undergo biological evaluation themselves or give access to a variety of further functionalization options.     

Pd/C-Mediated Arylation Followed by I2-Catalyzed Hydration Strategy: Preparation of Functionalized Novel Indanone Derivatives

A simple and inexpensive synthesis of novel 2-(3-oxo-3-arylpropyl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-one derivatives has been achieved via Pd/C-mediated arylation followed by I₂-mediated regioselective hydration of 2-(prop-2-ynyl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-ones. A wide variety of 3-aryl substituted 2-propynyl indanone derivatives were conveniently prepared by using 10% Pd/C-PPh₃-CuI as a catalyst system, some of which were used to prepare the corresponding ketones via alkyne hydration in the presence of catalytic I₂. In an in vitro study a representative compound showed inhibition of PDE4B (phosphodiesterase type 4B) and binding with this protein in silico     

Purification and Characterization of Novel Halo-Acid-Alkali-Thermo-stable Xylanase from Gracilibacillus sp. TSCPVG

An aerobic xylanolytic moderately halophilic and alkali-tolerant bacterium, Gracilibacillus sp. TSCPVG, produces multiple xylanases of unusual halo-acid-alkali-thermo-stable nature. The purification of a major xylanase from TSCPVG culture supernatant was achieved by hydrophobic and gel permeation chromatographic methods followed by electroelution from preparatory PAGE. The molecular mass of the purified xylanase was 42 kDa, as analyzed by SDS-PAGE, with a pI value of 6.1. It exhibited maximal activity in 3.5 % NaCl and retained over 75 % of its activity across the broad salinity range of 0–30 % NaCl, indicating a high halo-tolerance. It showed maximal activity at pH 7.5 and had retained 63 % of its activity at pH 5.0 and 73 % at pH 10.5, signifying the tolerance to broad acid to alkaline conditions. With birchwood xylan as a substrate, K _m and specific activity values were 21 mg/ml and 1,667 U/mg, respectively. It is an endoxylanase that degrades xylan to xylose and xylobiose and had no activity on p-nitrophenyl-β-d-xylopyranoside, p-nitrophenyl-β-d-glucopyranoside, p-nitrophenyl acetate, carboxymethylcellulose, and filter paper. Since it showed remarkable stability over different salinities, broad pH, and temperature ranges, it is promising for application in many industries.     

Electrodeposition and Magnetic Characterization of Iron and Iron–Silicon Alloys from the Ionic Liquid 1‐Butyl‐1‐methylpyrrolidinium Trifluoromethylsulfonate

The electrodeposition of soft magnetic iron and iron–silicon alloys for magnetic measurements is presented. The preparation of these materials in 1‐butyl‐1‐methylpyrrolidinium trifluoromethylsulfonate, [Py_1,4]TfO, at 100 °C with FeCl₂ and FeCl₂+SiCl₄ was studied by using cyclic voltammetry. Constant‐potential electrolysis was carried out to deposit either Fe or FeSi, and deposits of approximately 10 μm thicknesses were obtained. By using scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction, the microstructure and crystallinity of the deposits were investigated. Grain sizes in the nanometer regime (50–80 nm) were found and the presence of iron–silicon alloys was verified. Frequency‐dependent magnetic polarizations, coercive forces, and power losses of some deposits were determined by using a digital hysteresis recorder. Corresponding to the small grain sizes, the coercive forces are around 950–1150 A m^?1 and the power losses were at 6000 J m^?3, which is much higher than in commercial Fe(3.2 wt %)Si electrical steel. Below a polarization of 1.8 T, the power losses are mainly caused by domain wall movements and, above 1.8 T, by rotation of magnetic moments as well as domain wall annihilation and recreation.