Biodiesel Production Using Wild Apricot (Prunus aitchisonii) Seed Oil via Heterogeneous Catalysts

We confined the formation and characterization of heterogenous nano-catalysts and then used them to produce biodiesel from the novel non-edible seed oil of Prunus aitchisonii. P. aitchisonii seeds’ oil content was extracted at about 52.4 ± 3% with 0.77% FFA. Three different heterogenous nano-catalysts—calcined (CPC), KPC, and KOH-activated P. aitchisonii cake Titanium Dioxide (TiO₂)—were synthesized using calcination and precipitation methods. The mentioned catalysts were characterized through XRD, SEM, and EDX to inspect their crystallin dimension, shape, and arrangement. Titanium dioxide has morphological dimensions so that the average particle size ranges from 49–60 nm. The result shows that the crystal structure of TiO₂ is tetragonal (Anatase). The surface morphology of CPC illustrated that the roughness of the surface was increased after calcination, many macropores and hollow cavities appeared, and the external structure became very porous. These changes in morphology may increase the catalytic efficiency of CPC than non-calcined Prunus aitchisonii oil cake. The fuel belonging to PAOB stood according to the series suggested by ASTM criteria. All the characterization reports that P. aitchisonii is a novel and efficient potential source of biodiesel as a green energy source.     

Synthetic and antimicrobial studies of N-substituted-pyrazoline-based new bisheterocycles

In the present study, the four series of N-acetyl/N-carbothioamide/N-carboxamide/N-phenyl-based new bispyrazolines have been synthesized. These symmetrical bisheterocyclic products were prepared efficiently from the ring-closure reactions of new bischalcones 2a-d with appropriate cyclizing agents (hydrazine hydrate, thiosemicarbazide, semicarbazide, and phenyl hydrazine) under the alkaline ethanolic conditions. The compounds 2a-d were obtained by treating hydroxyl-substituted chalcone 1 with various dihalogenated reagents (α,α′-dibromo-o/m/p-xylene and 4,4′-bischloromethyl-diphenyl) in anhydrous K₂CO₃/dry acetone/Bu₄N⁺I⁻ medium. The structures of all the newly synthesized products have been authenticated with the help of their IR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, and ESI-MS spectral data and their purity was corroborated with the help of elemental analysis and thin-layer chromatography results. The in vitro antimicrobial screening of the newly synthesized intermediates and final bisheterocycles has also been performed by using the serial tube dilution technique against the selected number of microorganisms. The final bisheterocycles revealed better antibacterial and antifungal potencies as compared to their corresponding bischalcones. Among the symmetrical bisheterocyclic products, N-acetyl and N-carbothioamide-substituted bispyrazolines were found to exhibit potential antimicrobial properties than the other products.     

Using HPLC–DAD and GC–MS Analysis Isolation and Identification of Anticandida Compounds from Gui Zhen Cao Herbs (Genus Bidens): An Important Chinese Medicinal Formulation

Gui Zhen Cao is an herbal formulation that has been documented in Chinese traditional medicine as a remedy for diarrhea, dysentery, inflammation, and toxicity. The sources of this formulation (Bidens pilosa L., Bidens biternata (Lour.) Merr. & Sherff, Bidens bipinnata L.) are also listed in ethnomedicinal reports all over the world. In this study, all these plants are tested for in vitro anticandida activity. A quantitative evaluation of the phytochemicals in all these plants indicated that their vegetative parts are rich in tannins, saponins, oxalates, cyanogenic glycoside and lipids; moreover, the roots have high percentages of alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenols. The results indicated significant anticandida activity, especially for the hexane extract of B. bipinnata leaves which inhibited C. albicans (42.54%), C. glabrata (46.98%), C. tropicalis (50.89%), C. krusei (40.56%), and C. orthopsilosis (50.24%). The extract was subjected to silica gel chromatography and 220 fractions were obtained. Purification by High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Diode-Array Detection (HPLC–DAD) and Gas Chromatography tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) analysis led to the identification of two anticandida compounds: dehydroabietic and linoleic acid having an inhibition of 85 and 92%, respectively.     

Fabrication and characterization of transparent and biodegradable cellulose/poly (vinyl alcohol) blend films using an ionic liquid

Biodegradable blends were prepared from cellulose and poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) using the ionic liquid (IL) solvent, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride. The blends were regenerated into films, fibers and rectangular blocks. The films showed optical transparency throughout the entire composition of the blends. The infrared spectroscopic experiments proved the existence of intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions between the hydroxyl groups of cellulose and PVA. The miscibility between cellulose and PVA lead to increase in glass transition temperature (T _g) and of decrease in crystallinity of the blends. The T _g-composition data showed a negative deviation from Fox predictions, however fit well with BCKV model. The addition of PVA improved the tensile strength and elongation at break, considerably plasticizing cellulose. The blends can be degraded completely in soil. Moreover, the IL was completely recycled with high yield after the processing.