Adsorption of Copper (II) Ions onto Surfactant-Modified Oil Palm Leaf Powder

Il palm leaf powder (OPLP), an agricultural solid waste was used as adsorbent for the removal of copper (II) ions after modification with an anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS), CH₃(CH₂)₁₁C₆H₄SO₃Na. The copper (II) ions adsorption is highly dependent on pH and maximum removal was observed at pH 6, above which copper (II) started to precipitate. The equilibrium adsorption data were fitted into the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The Freundlich isotherm model fitted well to data with 0.989 regression coefficient (R²). The kinetics of the adsorption of copper (II) ions onto the surfactant-modified OPLP was best described by a pseudo-second-order model. Comparison of this SDBS-modified-OPLP to previously investigated adsorbents showed comparably good result, offering this material as a promising adsorbent for the treatment of waste waters containing lower concentrations of copper (II) ions.     

Synthesis of Copper Oxide-Based Nanoformulations of Etoricoxib and Montelukast and Their Evaluation through Analgesic,Anti-Inflammatory,Anti-Pyretic,and Acute Toxicity Activities

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) were synthesized through the coprecipitation method and used as nanocarriers for etoricoxib (selective COX-2 inhibitor drug) and montelukast (leukotriene product inhibitor drug) in combination therapy. The CuO NPs, free drugs, and nanoformulations were investigated through UV/Vis spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, XRD, SEM, and DLS. SEM imaging showed agglomerated nanorods of CuO NPs of about 87 nm size. The CE1, CE2, and CE6 nanoformulations were investigated through DLS, and their particle sizes were 271, 258, and 254 nm, respectively. The nanoformulations were evaluated through in vitro anti-inflammatory activity, in vivo anti-inflammatory activity, in vivo analgesic activity, in vivo anti-pyretic activity, and in vivo acute toxicity activity. In vivo activities were performed on albino mice. BSA denaturation was highly inhibited by CE1, CE2, and CE6 as compared to other nanoformulations in the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity. The in vivo bioactivities showed that low doses (5 mg/kg) of nanoformulations were more potent than high doses (10 and 20 mg/kg) of free drugs in the inhibition of pain, fever, and inflammation. Lastly, CE2 was more potent than that of other nanoformulations.     

Effect of Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate on the Association Behavior of Promethazine Hydrochloride in Aqueous/Electrolyte Solutions at Different Temperatures

The interaction between the amphiphilic phenothiazine drug promethazine hydrochloride (PMT) and an anionic surfactant sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate has been investigated using the conductometric technique in the absence and presence of an inorganic salt (50 mmol·kg^?1 NaCl) at five different compositions and temperatures. PMT is employed for the cure of allergic symptoms. Different physicochemical parameters such as critical micellar concentration (cmc), thermodynamic, and micellar composition are evaluated and discussed in detail using regular solution theory (RST). The addition of salt decreased the surface charge of micelles, lowering the cmc values of the amphiphile. The interaction parameter (β) is negative at all temperatures and compositions indicating attractive interactions. Due to the presence of NaCl in mixed systems the attractive interaction (β) was further increased (β values more negative). The negative values of Gibbs energy (\( \Delta G^{0}_{\text{m}} \)) of mixing revealed the stability of the solution. Owing to the presence of NaCl, the \( \Delta G^{0}_{\text{m}} \) values are found to be more negative suggesting that the driving force for interaction was significantly increased and micellization more thermodynamically favorable.     

Dosimetric studies and chemical kinetics of Resazurin dye and its possible use as radiation dosimeter

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - The structural and optical properties of the neutron irradiated PMMA doped by 5 wt% RhB have been investigated. Fourier transform infrared...     

Dynamic Cross‐Exchange in Halophosphonium Species: Direct Observation of Stereochemical Inversion in the Course of an SN2 Process

The complex fluxional interconversions between otherwise very similar phosphonium bromides and chlorides R₃PX⁺X^? (R=Alk, Ar, X=Cl or Br) were studied by NMR techniques. Their energy barriers are typically ca. 11 kcal mol^?1, but rise rapidly as bulky groups are attached to phosphorus, revealing the importance of steric factors. In contrast, electronic effects, as measured by Hammett analysis, are modest (ρ 1.46) but still clearly indicate negative charge flow towards phosphorus in the transition state. Most significantly, detailed analysis of the exchange pathways unequivocally, and for the first time in any such process, shows that nucleophilic attack of the nucleophilic anion on the tetrahedral centre results in inversion of configuration.     

Indirect polarographic microdetermination of sulphur in organic compounds

A polarographic method for the microdetermination of sulphur in organic compounds is described; it is based on oxygen-flask combustion to yield sulphate, which is then reacted with excess of barium dichromate solution in hydrochloric acid, followed by adjustment to pH 12, collection of the combined barium chromate and sulphate precipitate, and polarographic determination of the free chromate (equivalent to the sulphate originally present).     

Antispasmodic effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Thymus vulgaris on the guinea-pig ileum

The effects of Thymus vulgaris hydroalcoholic extract on the contractile responses of the isolated guinea-pig ileum were investigated. Contraction changes in the terminal ileum of guinea pigs were monitored using a force displacement transducer amplifier connected to a physiograph. Thymus vulgaris extract inhibited the contractile responses in a dose-dependent manner and also decreased the amplitude of peristaltic waves. It is concluded that T. vulgaris has an antispasmodic action on guinea pig ileum by decreasing the amplitudes of the muscle contractions during peristalsis. The EC50 was calculated as 1.7 mg mL(-1). In guinea-pig ileum the extract led to an antispasmodic effect, possibly by affecting the anticholinergic and serotoninergic pathways.     

Harvesting of the Microalga <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nannochloropsis</Emphasis> sp. by Bioflocculation with Mung Bean Protein Extract

Harvesting microalgae from medium is a major challenge due to their small size and low concentrations. In an attempt to find a cost-effective and eco-friendly harvesting technique, mung bean (Vigna radiata) protein extract (MBPE) was used for flocculation of Nannochloropsis sp. The effects of parameters such as pH, flocculant dose, algae concentration, and mixing time were used to study the flocculation efficiency (FE) of MBPE. Optimum parameters of MBPE dosage of 20 mL L^?1 and a mixing rate of 300 rpm for 6 min achieved a FE of >92% after 2 h of settling time. MBPE-aggregated microlga flocs were characterized by microscopy. Zeta potential values decreased with increasing flocculant dose, and the values obtained were ?6.93 ± 0.60, ?5.36 ± 0.64, and ?4.44 ± 0.22 for doses of 10, 20, and 30 mL L^?1, respectively. In conclusion, MBPE flocculants used in this study are safe, nontoxic, and pollution free, so they could be used for an effective, convenient, and rapid harvesting of microalgae in an eco-friendly approach. These methods are sustainable and could be applied in industrial scale for aquaculture nutrition.     

2D Zeolite Coatings: Langmuir–Schaefer Deposition of 3 nm Thick MFI Zeolite Nanosheets

Stable suspensions of zeolite nanosheets (3 nm thick MFI layers) were prepared in ethanol following acid treatment, which partially removed the associated organic structure‐directing agent. Nanosheets from these suspensions could then be dispersed at the air–water interface and transferred to silicon wafers using Langmuir–Schaefer deposition. Using layer‐by‐layer deposition, control on coating thickness was demonstrated. In‐plane X‐ray diffraction (XRD) revealed that the deposited nanosheets contract upon calcination similar to bulk MFI crystals. Different methods for secondary growth resulted in preferentially oriented thin films of MFI, which had sub‐12‐nm thickness in certain cases. Upon calcination, there was no contraction detectable by in‐plane XRD, indicating well‐intergrown MFI films that are strongly attached to the substrate.