Reduction Kinetics of Thionine in Aerobic Condition with D-Galactose

Reduction kinetics of thionine (Th) with D-galactose (RH) was observed on a UV/Visible 1601 Shimadzu spectrophotometer at λmax 599 nm. The results showed that the initially slow reduction kinetics got enhanced and proceeded to completion within a few minutes. A pseudo first order kinetics was observed when influence of different parameters like concentration of dye and reductant, ionic strength and temperature was investigated. A significant shift in wave length from 599 to 517 nm was observed at alkaline pH whereas addition of a small amount of acid caused a shift in equilibrium. This resulted in the generation of oxidized form of thionine which was pragmatic in the presence of atmospheric oxygen. Change in ionic strength at elevated temperature lied to decrease in the rate constant. Thermodynamics activation parameters like Ea reflects a high amount of energy required for reduction of Th with RH whereas entropy of activation (∆S!) and free energy of activation (∆G!) show the highly solvated states of transient complex which was less disorderly arranged than the oxidized form of dye. A mechanism consistent with above findings has been discussed in the relevant section of paper.     

Photodetachment of hydrogen negative ion near inelastic surfaces: Arbitrary laser polarization direction

The photodetachment of hydrogen negative ion near different inelastic surfaces is investigated by the semiclassical closed orbit theory for arbitrary laser polarization direction . A two‐term formula of photodetachment cross section consisting of a smooth background term and an oscillatory term is derived. The oscillatory term contains an extra angular factor that describes the dependence of oscillations in total cross section on the laser polarization direction. It is observed that the amplitude of oscillations in cross section reaches maximum at when laser polarization is parallel to the z‐axis and it approaches zero as the laser polarization direction becomes perpendicular to the z‐axis. It is also observed that as the reflection coefficient , which accounts for the inelastic behavior of the surfaces, increases the amplitude of oscillation also increases. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Preparation of Stable Low‐Oxidation‐State Group 14 Element Amidohydrides and Hydride‐Mediated Ring‐Expansion Chemistry of N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes

Various low oxidation state (+2) group 14 element amidohydride adducts, IPr ? EH(BH₃)NHDipp (E=Si or Ge; IPr=[(HCNDipp)₂C:], Dipp=2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃), were synthesized. Thermolysis of the reported adducts was investigated as a potential route to Si‐ and Ge‐based clusters; however, unexpected transmetallation chemistry occurred to yield the carbene–borane adduct, IPr ? BH₂NHDipp. When a solution of IPr ? BH₂NHDipp in toluene was heated to 100 °C, a rare C? N bond‐activation/ring‐expansion reaction involving the bound N‐heterocyclic carbene donor (IPr) transpired.     

Antioxidant potential in callus culture of Artemisia amygdalina Decne

This study was conducted to analyse the free radical scavenging potential of callus obtained from nodal segments and leaf explants of Artemisia amygdalina Decne. The explants were inoculated on MS medium augmented with various concentrations of BAP, Kn, NAA and 2,4-D for callus induction. In this study, 12.42?g of callus developed from the leaf explant on MS (NAA 10?+?BAP 7.5?μM) and 8.81?g of callus developed from nodal explant on NAA 2?μM+BAP 2?μM. Callus raised from both explants on all treatments seemed non-regenerative but BAP 2?μM produced 7.33 shoots and BAP 15?μM produced callus and 5 shoots per nodal segment. Callus was analysed for antioxidant activity via DPPH, riboflavin photoxidation and DNA damage assays. Methanol and aqueous extracts show more scavenging in DPPH, deoxyribose assay and in contrast, petroleum ether and ethyl acetate extracts show higher activity in riboflavin photoxidation assay. Tocopherol, ascorbic acid and BHT were used as controls.     

Kinetics and Mechanism Study of Chemical Treatment of Methylene Green by Urea

The kinetics and mechanism studies, for the reduction of methylene green (MG) by urea, in acidic and alkali media, were studied at λ_max=652.8 nm by monitoring the depletion in MG concentration. The reaction was carried out by UV radiation, with variable dye concentration, reducing agent (urea), acid and base under different additive ions that are very common in dye waste water. The reduction followed pseudo first‐order kinetics with respect to different anions, cations, dye, reductant and OH^? ion concentrations. It was found that most of the cations tested showed the inhibitory effect on dye decoloration, due to the formation of insoluble precipitate and followed the order K⁺>Na⁺>Al³⁺>Ca²⁺≈Mg²⁺. Tested anions showed that the dye decoloration was significantly accelerated and followed the order Cl^?>Br^?>I^?>NO^?₃>SO^2?₄. A mechanistic model involving generation of a complex of dye with ions was proposed.     

The Remediation in Enzyme’s Activities in Plants: Tea Waste as a Modifier to Improve the Efficiency of Growth of Helianthus annuus in Contaminated Soil

The remediation in plant enzymatic activities in Cd-contaminated soil was monitored through tea waste. Tea is an extensively used beverage worldwide with the release of a high quantity of tea waste utilized in the growing condition of Helianthus annuus on Cd metal contaminated soil. The study was a plan for the natural environmental condition in the greenhouse. For this purpose, four sets of plants were cultivated in triplicate and marked as (i) control, (ii) Cd stress plants, (iii) dry tea waste and Cd stress, and (iv) fresh tea waste and Cd stress. The improved efficiency of biochemical reactions in plants under Cd stress with tea waste treatment was the consequence of blocking Cd movement in the soil through adsorption on tea waste, showing that the tea waste effectively controls the mobility of Cd from the soil to the roots of the plants. Scan electron microscopy (SEM) validates the recovery of the leaves of the plants. The remediation of plant growth and enzyme activities such as amylase, peroxidase, nitrate reductase (NR), and nitrite reductase (NiR) under Cd metal-contaminated soil through tea waste was investigated. The source of tea waste in contaminated soil resulted in the recovery of the photosynthetic process and an improvement in amylase, NR, NiR, and peroxidase activities, thereby resulting in the recovery of pigments coupled with an increase in the biomass of the plants. It was suggested that tea waste acts as a good biosorbent of Cd and energy provider to the plants for normal enzyme activity under Cd stress and may be used by farmers in the future for safe and healthy crops as a cost-effective technology.     

Reporting effective extraction methodology and chemical characterization of bioactive components of under explored Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco from semi-arid climate

The bioactive ingredients of many essential oils are complex and difficult to reproduce synthetically. In the present study, the influence of extraction method on relative extraction of bioactive compounds of essential oil of Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco (Thuja orientalis L. is a synonym of it) leaves gathered from semi-arid climate was studied. A higher yield of essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation (0.1%) as compared to steam distillation (0.07%) under newly optimized conditions. Initial analysis of these oils by TLC showed the presence of different polarity groups ranging from non-polar terpene hydrocarbons to polar terpenoid alcohols. GC-MS analysis revealed that major component of hydrodistilled essential oil of Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco leaves was α-pinene (17.83%) and steam distilled essential oil contained α-cedrol (12.44%). The results obtained in the present study emphasize that suitable extraction technique should be used to obtain particular component of interest.     

Production and Characterization of Cross-Linked Aggregates of Geobacillus thermoleovorans CCR11 Thermoalkaliphilic Recombinant Lipase

Immobilization of enzymes has many advantages for their application in biotechnological processes. In particular, the cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs) allow the production of solid biocatalysts with a high enzymatic loading and the advantage of obtaining derivatives with high stability at low cost. The purpose of this study was to produce cross-linked enzymatic aggregates (CLEAs) of LipMatCCR11, a 43 kDa recombinant solvent-tolerant thermoalkaliphilic lipase from Geobacillus thermoleovorans CCR11. LipMatCCR11-CLEAs were prepared using (NH₄)₂SO₄ (40% w/v) as precipitant agent and glutaraldehyde (40 mM) as cross-linker, at pH 9, 20 °C. A U₁₀(5⁶) uniform design was used to optimize CLEA production, varying protein concentration, ammonium sulfate %, pH, glutaraldehyde concentration, temperature, and incubation time. The synthesized CLEAs were also analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) that showed individual particles of <1 µm grouped to form a superstructure. The cross-linked aggregates showed a maximum mass activity of 7750 U/g at 40 °C and pH 8 and retained more than 20% activity at 100 °C. Greater thermostability, resistance to alkaline conditions and the presence of organic solvents, and better durability during storage were observed for LipMatCCR11-CLEAs in comparison with the soluble enzyme. LipMatCCR11-CLEAs presented good reusability by conserving 40% of their initial activity after 9 cycles of reuse.     

Pre-oxidative catalytic treatment of toluidine blue with potassium permanganate in acidic solution

This article describes the potential of KMnO₄ for oxidation of the thiazine dye (Toluidine blue TB) in an acidic medium. The effect of different operational parameters like initial concentration of dye, potassium permanganate, pH, ionic strength, catalyst, acids and temperature were investigated spectrophotometrically at λ _max = 613 nm. The results showed a complete removal of the TB with mineralization of the dye solution. Smooth and complete decoloration was observed in the presence of monobasic acid (HCl) as compared to the H₂SO₄ where little color removal was observed. Pb was found to be an effective catalyst in oxidation for complete and fast decolorization with mineralization. No significant change at elevated temperatures showed that an intermediate complex degraded with slight change in the temperature. UV/visible spectrophotometry and GC mass analysis showed an intermediate activated complex demethylated sulophooxide of TB which later on degraded into smaller fragments.