Green synthesis of banana flavor using different catalysts: a comparative study of different methods

ABSTRACT

Esterification of isoamyl alcohol with acetic acid was studied using different ion-exchange resins, namely Amberlyst 15 dry, Amberlyst 16 wet, Amberlite 120-IR. Esterification was carried out using different esterification methods that are quite new (ohmic, ultrasonic probe, and ultrasonic bath) and the results were compared with microwave-assisted esterification (MAE). The highest isoamyl acetate yield (99%) was obtained by MAE, using a mixture of acetic acid and isoamyl alcohol (mole ratio of 1:2) after 2?h of reaction time. In this process, 2% Amberlyst 15 dry was used. MAE had the least specific energy consumption (0.42?kWh/g isoamyl acetate) and specific CO₂ emission (34?g/g isoamyl acetate). According to the images obtained by scanning electron microscopy, lower amounts of Amberlyst 15 dry beads were destroyed by MAE method compared to other esterification methods. In conclusion, MAE proved to be an economic and environmentally-friendly method for esterification of different flavoring compounds.     

Synthesis of CaWO4:Er3+@SiO2 and CaWO4:Tm3+@SiO2 nano-particles via a combustion pathway and study of their optical properties

Use of citric acid as a chelating agent and fuel, ammonium nitrate as fuel, boric acid as flux material and silica as supports, CaWO₄:Ln³⁺@SiO₂ (Ln = Er and Tm) nanoparticles were synthesized via a combustion reaction at 800 °C. Characterization of the samples was performed by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), reflectance UV–Vis spectrophotometer, fluorescence spectrophotometer (PL) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). XRD patterns showed that tetragonal crystalline structure of scheelite and silica supports were formed, and that the formation of a silica support could enhance the luminescence intensity of CaWO₄:Ln³⁺. The reflectance UV–Vis and PL spectra indicated the broad absorption band of WO₄ ^2? groups about 240 nm, the WO₄ ^2? wide excitation band with maximum at 240 nm, a broad emission band of WO₄ ^2? with maximum about 420 nm, and characteristic emissions of Ln³⁺ ions. According to the TEM analysis, CaWO₄:Er³⁺@SiO₂ and CaWO₄:Tm³⁺@SiO₂ nanoparticles have almost the same morphology with average particle sizes about 50 nm.     

A simple and clean method for multicomponent synthesis of spiro [indole-tetrahydropyrano(2,3-d)pyrimidine] derivatives using SBA-Pr-SO3H as catalyst under solvent-free conditions

Sulfonic acid functionalized SBA-15 (SBA-Pr-SO₃H) as a new nanoporous solid acid catalyst was applied in the green one-pot synthesis of spiro[indole-tetrahydropyrano(2,3-d)pyrimidine] derivatives via three-component reaction of isatins, malononitrile or cyanoacetic esters and barbituric acids under solvent-free conditions. SBA-Pr-SO₃H was proved to be an efficient heterogeneous nanoporous solid acid catalyst with a pore size of 6 nm, which could be easily handled and removed from the reaction mixture by simple filtration and can be recovered and reused several times without any loss of activity. The advantages of this methodology are high product yields, being environmentally benign, short reaction times, and easy handling.     

Fluidized-bed Fenton-like oxidation of a textile dye using natural magnetite

Degradation of Acid Orange 7 (AO7) as a model azo dye was investigated in a recirculating pilot fluidized-bed reactor by a Fenton-like process using natural magnetite (NM) and potassium persulfate (K₂S₂O₈). Scanning electron microscopy was performed to characterize the magnetite sample. The heterogeneous Fenton-like process (NM/\({\text{S}}_{2} {\text{O}}_{8}^{2 - }\)) is a modified method owing to its enhanced mass transfer. It can be operated reliably and simply by reducing the produced iron oxide sludge in the conventional Fenton process. Degradation efficiency (DE %) of AO7 by NM/ \({\text{S}}_{2} {\text{O}}_{8}^{2 - }\) process was affected by operational parameters. The DE % of 75 % was obtained for the AO7 treatment (15 mg/L) at the desired conditions, such as pH 5, 0.2 mM \({\text{S}}_{2} {\text{O}}_{8}^{2 - }\), and 0.5 g/L NM after 120 min of reaction time. The dye degradation rate in all the experiments followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic with high correlation coefficients (R ² ≥ 0.98). The low released iron concentration, successive reusability at milder pH and the recirculation mode with the proper mixing are the significant advantages of the NM/\({\text{S}}_{2} {\text{O}}_{8}^{2 - }\) process.     

Fabrication and characterization of low-cost freeze-gelated chitosan/collagen/hydroxyapatite hydrogel nanocomposite scaffold

In the present research, chitosan/collagen and chitosan/collagen/nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAP) hydrogel nanocomposites were prepared using naturally extracted chitosan from Persian Gulf shrimp wastes and rat tail-tendon collagen. Freeze-gelation method was used to prepare highly porous scaffolds. The morphology, chemical structure, water retainability, and thermal properties were characterized using SEM, FTIR, water content experiment, simultaneous thermal analysis (STA), respectively. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) nanoindentation and unconfined compression test were used to assess different feature of the mechanical properties of the hydrogels. The obtained results were so promising that the prepared nanocomposites can be considered as a potential candidate for cartilage tissue engineering.     

Numerical evaluation on thermal–hydraulic characteristics of dilute heat-dissipating nanofluids flow in microchannels

The present work deals with numerical investigations on heat transfer characteristics and friction factor of aqueous CuO nanofluids flow in a set of four microchannels connected in parallel under laminar regime. For each single phase, volume of fluid, mixture and Eulerian models, a particular computer code is developed to carefully simulate this problem. The three-dimensional steady-state governing equations are solved through finite volume method. The primary aim of this study is to comparatively distinguish the most appropriate and accurate model for numerical studies of nanofluids in microchannels. The results are compared with one another and the data obtained from an experimental work. Regarding the results, an acceptable consistency is observed for all models with the experimental data. The current study truly demonstrates that applying single-phase model to simulate and evaluate the laminar flow of CuO–water nanofluid inside microchannels with uniform wall temperature is more modest, precise and reliable compared with two-phase models.

     

Dual Gold‐Catalyzed Cycloaromatization of Unconjugated (E)‐Enediynes

A synthesis of unconjugated (E)‐enediynes from allenyl amino alcohols is reported and their gold‐catalyzed cascade cycloaromatization to a broad range of enantioenriched substituted isoindolinones has been developed. Experimental and computational studies support the reaction proceeding via a dual‐gold σ,π‐activation mode, involving a key gold‐vinylidene‐ and allenyl‐gold‐containing intermediate.     

An explanation of the unusual strength of the hydrogen bond in small water clusters

We seek to explain why the hydrogen bond possesses unusual strength in small water clusters that account for many of the complex behaviors of water. We have investigated and visualized the donation of covalent character from covalent (sigma) to hydrogen bonds by calculating the eigenvector coupling properties of quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM), stress tensor σ ( r ), and Ehrenfest Force F ( r ) on the F ( r ) molecular graph. The next-generation three-dimensional (3-D) bond-path framework sets are presented, and only the F ( r ) bond-path framework sets reproduce the earlier finding on the coupling between covalent (sigma) and hydrogen bonds that possess a degree of covalent character. Exploration of the bond-path between the covalent (sigma) and hydrogen bond's critical points provides an explanation for the previously obtained coupling results. The directional character of the covalent (sigma) and hydrogen bonds' 3-D bond-path framework sets for the F ( r ) explains differences found in the earlier results from QTAIM and the stress tensor σ ( r ).     

New 5-bromo-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde S-ethylisothiosemicarbazone and its mixed-ligand Cu(II) complex with imidazole: synthesis, characterization and DFT calculation

A new Schiff base ligand of 5-bromo-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde S-ethyl-isothiosemicarbazone (H₂L) was synthesized and its mixed-ligand Cu(II) complex was also prepared by reaction of Cu(NO₃)₂·3H₂O with H₂L and imidazole. Their structures were fully characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, molar conductivity and UV-Vis methods. The analytical data suggest that the metal, H₂L and imidazole ratios in the Schiff base complex are 1:1:1. Single crystal diffraction was also used to better understand the molecular structure of the Cu(II) complex. The results of physico-chemical analyses of the Schiff base complex reveal the coordination geometry around the central atom is square planar. The H₂L ligand (NNO donor) is coordinated to the metal center as a tridentate bionegatively agent. Another position of the square planar geometry is occupied by the imidazole ligand. Furthermore, computational studies of the new complex were performed by carrying out DFT calculations. Geometry optimization and natural band analysis of the complex is discussed in further detail.      

Effect of silver nanoparticles concentration on the metal enhancement and quenching of ciprofloxacin fluorescence intensity

Concentration effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the photophysical properties of ciprofloxacin (Cip) have been investigated using optical absorption and fluorescence techniques. When performed AgNPs solution was added to the Cip solution, metal-enhanced fluorescence intensity and a blue-shift of 20 nm in the maximum emission spectra of Cip has been observed. The enhanced intensity of this system is strongly dependent on the AgNPs concentration and largest at the 6.0 × 10^?6 mol L^?1. With increase of AgNPs concentration, quenching of fluorescence is observed. Stern–Volmer quenching constants have been calculated at four temperatures. The results show the quenching constants are directly correlated with temperature. It indicates the quenching mechanism is the dynamic quenching in nature rather than static quenching. From which we determined the activation energy for the quenching of Cip-AgNPs to be about 31.1 kJ mol^?1. In addition, in the presence of optimum AgNPs concentration, a sensitive fluorimetric method for the determination of ciprofloxacin at the range 5.0 × 10^?7–3.0 × 10^?5 mol L^?1 and the detection limit of 2 × 10^?8 mol L^?1 in solution is proposed.