Performance of immobilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the removal of long lived radionuclides from aqueous nitrate solutions

The efficiency of tailor made immobilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae(biomatrix) for the sorption of radionuclides ²³³U, ²³⁹Pu, ²⁴¹Am, ¹³⁷Ce, ¹⁴⁴Cs, ^103,106Ru and ⁹⁰Sr from aqueous nitrate solutions at different pH was studied. Effect of ionic strength, anionic components, initial metal concentration and particle size of the biomatrix on the sorption of metal ions were investigated. At pH in the range of 1 to 2 more than 95% sorption of U, Pu, Am and Ce could be accomplished, while that of Ru was 65%. Sorption of Cs and Sr were negligible under similar conditions. The metal ion-biomatrix system for Pu, Am and Ce reached equilibrium within 60 minutes. In the case of U, equilibrium attained in 100 minutes. The presence of anionic components, Cl^-, C₂O₄ ^2-, CH₃COO^-, NO₃ ^- and SO₄ ^2- (up to 0.5 mol^.dm^-3 of their individual concentration) in the aqueous solutions has no effect on the sorption of Pu by the biomatrix. Sorption of U, Pu, Am were observed in the presence of several cationic impurities such as Al, Be, Cd, Cr, Fe, Mn, Pb, Ce, Dy, Eu, Gd and Sm. Metal sorbed on the biomatrix could be leached out using 5 mol^.dm^-3 nitric acid. The I.R spectra of U bearing biomatrix suggest chemical interaction of uranyl ion with the biomatrix.     

Extraction study of uranium(VI) and thorium(IV) salicylates with triphenylarsine oxide

Triphenylarsine oxide is proposed as an extractant for the solvent extraction of uranium and thorium salicylates. The optimum extraction conditions are established by studying the various parameters such as pH, sodium salicylate concentration, triphenylarsine oxide concentration, diluents and shaking time. The probable extracted species as ascertained by logD-logC plots are UO₂(Hsal)₂·2TPAsO and Th(Hsal)₄·2TPAsO. The method is simple, fast, precise and permits the determination of uranium and thorium in monazite sand samples.     

A diastereoselective synthesis 1-trimethylsilyl-(E)-1,3-alkenynes and a simple synthesis of alkyl trimethylsilylethynyl ketones via organoboranes

A convenient, novel diastereoselective synthesis of 1-trimethylsilyl-(E)-1,3-alkenynes and a convenient synthesis of alkyl trimethylsilylethynyl ketones based on Z-1-bromo-1-alkenylboronate esters are developed. α-Bromo-(Z)-1-alkenylboronate esters readily available using literature procedures smoothly undergo a reaction with trimethylsilylethynyllithium (derived from the deprotonation of trimethylsilylethyne with n-butyllithium) in tetrahydrofuran to provide the corresponding ‘ate’ complexes. These ‘ate’ complexes undergo intramolecular nucleophilic substitution reactions to afford the corresponding (E)-1-alkenylboronate esters containing trimethylsilylethynyl moiety which upon protonolysis with acetic acid provide the corresponding 1-trimethylsilyl-(E)-1,3-alkenynes in good yields (70-82%) and in high stereochemical purities (>98%). These intermediates upon oxidation with hydrogen peroxide and sodium acetate afford the corresponding alkyl trimethylsilylethynyl ketones in good yields (66-78%).     

Amphitropic liquid crystals. Two lamellar phases in a surfactant containing thermotropic and lyotropic mesogenic groups

Abstract

We have studied the lyotropic liquid-crystalline behaviour of cationic surfactants containing a potentially thermotropic moiety, a terminal cyanobiphenyloxy group. Both mono-alkyl and mid-chain substituted dialkyl surfactants have been examined using optical microscopy and NMR spectroscopy. Incorporation of the cyanobiphenyloxy group destabilizes the hexagonal and bicontinuous cubic phases, with only an extensive lamellar region being observed. For the dialkyl surfactant there is a range of compositions where two lamellar phases co-exist, one water-rich and the second surfactant-rich.     

One-Pot Palladium-Catalyzed Ligand- and Metal-Oxidant-Free Aerobic Oxidative Isocyanide Insertion Leading to 2-Amino-substituted-4(3H)-quinazolinones

An efficient, ligand- and metal-oxidant-free, one-pot, cascade aerobic oxidative, palladium-catalyzed, multicomponent reaction has been developed through isocyanide insertion of less active secondary amide and aromatic amine, which leads to 2-amino-substituted-4(3H)-quinazolinones. This approach proves to be one of the simplest methods for the synthesis of this class of valuable bioactive heterocyclic scaffolds.     

Anticancer Activity of Hydrogen‐Bond‐Stabilized Half‐Sandwich RuII Complexes with Heterocycles

Neutral half‐sandwich organometallic ruthenium(II) complexes of the type [(η⁶‐cymene)RuCl₂(L)] ( H1 – H10 ), where L represents a heterocyclic ligand, have been synthesized and characterized spectroscopically. The structures of five complexes were also established by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction confirming a piano‐stool geometry with η⁶ coordination of the arene ligand. Hydrogen bonding between the N? H group of the heterocycle and a chlorine atom attached to Ru stabilizes the metal–ligand interaction. Complexes coordinated to a mercaptobenzothiazole framework ( H1 ) or mercaptobenzoxazole ( H6 ) showed high cytotoxicity against several cancer cells but not against normal cells. In vitro studies have shown that the inhibition of cancer cell growth involves primarily G1‐phase arrest as well as the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The complexes are found to bind DNA in a non‐intercalative fashion and cause unwinding of plasmid DNA in a cell‐free medium. Surprisingly, the cytotoxic complexes H1 and H6 differ in their interaction with DNA, as observed by biophysical studies, they either cause a biphasic melting of the DNA or the inhibition of topoisomerase IIα activity, respectively. Substitution of the aromatic ring of the heterocycle or adding a second hydrogen‐bond donor on the heterocycle reduces the cytotoxicity.     

Synthesis of Active Metabolites of Carvedilol,an Antihypertensive Drug

A simple synthetic route for active metabolites of carvedilol is reported. The metabolites 4′-hydroxycarvedilol and 5′-hydroxycarvedilol have exhibited high activity for β-blockade. We have disclosed syntheses of 4′-hydroxycarvedilol and 5′-hydroxycarvedilol from commercially available vanillin and isovanillin, respectively.     

Trace element determination in high-purity aluminum clad samples by k 0-based internal monostandard instrumental neutron activation analysis

The k₀-based internal monostandard instrumental neutron activation analysis (IM-INAA) method was applied for quantification of trace impurities in seven high purity aluminum samples used as fuel cladding in a research reactor. Samples along with BCS CRM 182 (Si–Al alloy) were irradiated in high flux reactor neutrons for 10–15 h. In situ detection efficiency, needed in concentration calculation ratio by IM-INAA, was obtained using gamma rays of activation products produced in the samples. Elemental concentration ratios obtained with respect to Fe (used as internal monostandard) were converted to absolute concentrations by determining concentration of Fe by relative method of NAA. Concentrations of ten trace elements (Sc, Cr, Co, Zn, Ga, La, Ce, Sm, W and Hf) including major element Fe were determined in this work. The method used is non-destructive in nature and does not need multielement standards. Results of IM-INAA were compared with those obtained by relative method of INAA and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Details of methodologies and results obtained by all methods are discussed and compared in the paper.