Photocatalytic effect of nano-TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> loaded cement on dye decolorization and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> inactivation under UV irradiation

In the present study, titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nano-particles were synthesized by sol–gel technique and then used to provide nano-TiO₂ loaded cement samples at 1, 5, and 10 wt% for investigation of Malachite green pigment decomposition and Escherichia coli inactivation under UV irradiation. Surveys conducted on the synthesized TiO₂ nano-particles showed a 100 % anatase phase with a mean particle size of 66.5 nm, surface area of 64.352 m² g^?1, and a porosity volume of 0.1278 cm³ g^?1. Cement samples containing this catalyst exhibited stronger photocatalytic properties as compared to the same amount of pure catalyst. Considering both photocatalytic performance and cost of catalyst, 5 wt% titanium dioxide was suggested to be added to cement. By addition of 1 wt% polycarboxylic copolymer as super-plasticizer to the cement paste, the photocatalytic sample activities were reinforced so that a similar performance could be obtained at 1 wt% catalyst as compared to 5 wt% catalyst without super-plasticizer.     

All‐Nanoporous Hybrid Membranes: Redefining Upper Limits on Molecular Separation Properties

New membrane‐based molecular separation processes are an essential part of the strategy for sustainable chemical production. A large literature on “hybrid” or “mixed‐matrix” membranes exists, in which nanoparticles of a higher‐performance porous material are dispersed in a polymeric matrix to boost performance. We demonstrate that the hybrid membrane concept can be redefined to achieve much higher performance if the membrane matrix and the dispersed phase are both nanoporous crystalline materials, with no polymeric phase. As the first example of such a system, we find that surface‐treated nanoparticles of the zeolite MFI can be incorporated in situ during growth of a polycrystalline membrane of the MOF ZIF‐8. The resulting all‐nanoporous hybrid membrane shows propylene/propane separation characteristics that exceed known upper‐bound performance limits defined for polymers, nanoporous materials, and polymer‐based hybrid membranes. This serves as a starting point for a new generation of chemical separation membranes containing interconnected nanoporous crystalline phases.     

Improved antibacterial properties of an Mg‐Zn‐Ca alloy coated with chitosan nanofibers incorporating silver sulfadiazine multiwall carbon nanotubes for bone implants

Bacteria‐caused infection remains an issue in the treatment of bone defects by means of Mg‐Zn‐Ca alloy implants. This study aimed to improve the antibacterial properties of an Mg‐Zn‐Ca alloy by coating with chitosan‐based nanofibers with incorporated silver sulfadiazine (AgSD) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). AgSD and MWCNTs were prepared at a weight ratio of 1:1 and then added to chitosan at varying concentrations (ie, 0, 0.25, 0.5, and 1.5 wt.%) to form composites. The obtained composites were ejected in nanofiber form using an electrospinning technique and coated on the surface of an Mg‐Zn‐Ca alloy to improve its antibacterial properties. A microstructural examination by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the diameter of chitosan nanofiber ejected increased with the concentration of AgSD‐MWCNTs. The incorporation of AgSD‐MWCNTs into the chitosan nanofibers was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Examination of the antibacterial activity shows that chitosan nanofibers with AgSD‐MWCNTs can significantly inhibit the growth and infiltration of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Biocompatibility assay and cell morphology observations demonstrate that AgSD‐MWCNTs incorporated into nanofibers are cytocompatible. Taken together, the results of this study demonstrate the potential application of electrospun chitosan with AgSD‐MWCNTs as an antibacterial coating on Mg‐Zn‐Ca alloy implants for bone treatment.     

Investigation of the effect of the N‐oxidation process on the interaction of selected pyridine compounds with biomacromolecules: structural,spectral, theoretical and docking studies

Two new N‐oxide compounds, namely glycinium 2‐carboxy‐1‐(λ¹‐oxidaneyl)‐1λ⁴‐pyridine‐6‐carboxylate–glycine–water (1/1/1), C₂H₆NO₂⁺·C₇H₄NO₅^?·C₂H₅NO₂·H₂O or [(2,6‐HpydcO)(HGLY)(GLY)(H₂O)], 1 , and methyl 6‐carboxy‐1‐(λ¹‐oxidaneyl)‐1λ⁴‐pyridine‐2‐carboxylate, C₈H₇NO₅ or 2,6‐HMepydcO, 2 , were prepared and identified by elemental analysis, FT–IR, Raman spectroscopy and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The X‐ray analysis of 1 revealed an ionic compound containing a 2,6‐HpydcO^? anion, a glycinium cation, a neutral glycine molecule and a water molecule. Compound 2 is a neutral compound with two independent units in its crystal structure. In addition to the hydrogen bonds, the crystal network is stabilized by π–π stacking interactions of the types pyridine–carboxylate and carboxylate–carboxylate. The thermodynamic stability and charge‐distribution patterns for isolated molecules of 2,6‐H₂pydcO and 2,6‐HMepydcO, and their two similar derivatives, pyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxylic acid (2,6‐H₂pydc) and dimethyl 1‐(λ¹‐oxidaneyl)‐1λ⁴‐pyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxylate (2,6‐Me₂pydcO), were studied by density functional theory (DFT) and natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis, respectively. The ability of these compounds and their analogues to interact with nine selected biomacromolecules (BRAF kinase, CatB, DNA gyrase, HDAC7, rHA, RNR, TrxR, TS and Top II) was investigated using docking calculations.     

Hydrogen-abstraction reactions of fully hydrogenated silicon fullerene cages with the amino radical: a density functional study

Structural Chemistry - We applied density functional theory calculations to study reactions NH2 ?+ SinHn fullerenes (n?=?4, 6, 8, 10, 20, 24, 30, 36, and 50). The reactions...     

Electrochemical Sensor Based on Nitrogen Doped Porous Reduced Graphene Oxide to Detection of Ciprofloxacin in Pharmaceutical Samples

Russian Journal of Electrochemistry - Fluoroquinolone ciprofloxacin (Cip) is an antibiotic used to treat some bacterial infections such as bone, joint, respiratory tract, skin, typhoid fever and...     

Electrochemical Sensor Based on Magnetic Fe3O4–Reduced Graphene Oxide Hybrid for Sensitive Detection of Binaphthol

Russian Journal of Electrochemistry - Naphthol is an environmental pollutant with highly toxic and corrosive. Naphthol can be absorbed by the body easily through the skin, and can cause serious...     

Effect of preparation parameters on properties and performance of Pd/Al2O3 catalyst in saturation of olefins

Research on Chemical Intermediates - The complete saturation of commercial olefin-containing (3.3&nbsp;mol%) C4 stream over Pd/γ-Al2O3 catalysts was studied. The catalysts were prepared by...     

NiO/Porous Reduced Graphene Oxide as Active Hybrid Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Russian Journal of Electrochemistry - At present, the graphene hybrid as electrode material demonstrates the efficient performance for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). OER influences some important...