Experimental and theoretical study of some <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-pyridinium salt derivatives as corrosion inhibitors for mild-steel in acidic media

N-pyridinium salt derivatives (1–5) were prepared and investigated as corrosion inhibitors for mild steel in 1 M H₂SO₄ solution at 30°C for 24 h. The corrosion inhibiting action was studied using weight loss measurements. The results demonstrated that the corrosion rate decreases, inhibition efficiencies increase, and surface coverage degree increases with increasing inhibitor concentration. Inhibition efficiencies for prepared N-pyridinium salt derivatives have highest inhibiting efficiency for even low concentration. The values of ΔG_ads^° showed physisorption effect for all prepared compounds. Molecular modeling systems were achieved for suggested inhibitors 1–5. Theoretical calculations could be used as a useful tool to obtain information for explaining the mechanism and nature of interaction between the metal surface and the organic molecule as a corrosion inhibitor.     

Hydrolytic vs. Nonhydrolytic Sol-Gel in Preparation of Mixed Oxide Silica–Alumina Catalysts for Esterification

The development of green and sustainable materials for use as heterogeneous catalysts is a growing area of research in chemistry. In this paper, mesoporous SiO₂-Al₂O₃ mixed oxide catalysts with different Si/Al ratios were prepared via hydrolytic (HSG) and nonhydrolytic sol-gel (NHSG) processes. The HSG route was explored in acidic and basic media, while NHSG was investigated in the presence of diisopropylether as an oxygen donor. The obtained materials were characterized using EDX, N₂-physisorption, powder XRD, ²⁹Si, ²⁷Al MAS-NMR, and NH₃-TPD. This approach offered good control of composition and the Si/Al ratio was found to influence both the texture and the acidity of the mesoporous materials. According to ²⁷Al and ²⁹Si MAS NMR analyses, silicon and aluminum were more regularly distributed in NHSG samples that were also more acidic. Silica–alumina catalysts prepared via NHSG were more active in esterification of acetic acid with n-BuOH.     

Reduced Graphene Oxide/Pt Nanoparticles/Zn‐MOF‐74 Nanomaterial for a Glucose Biosensor Construction

In this study, a new glucose biosensor was fabricated by immobilizing glucose oxidase (GOx) on platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) decorated reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/Zn‐MOF‐74 hybrid nanomaterial. Herein, the biosensor fused the advantages of rGO with those of porous Zn‐MOF and conductive Pt NPs. This has not only enlarged the surface area and porosity for the efficient GOx immobilization and faster mass transport, but also provided favorable electrochemical features such as high current density, remarkable electron mobility through metal nanoparticles, and improved electron transfer between the components. The GOx‐rGO/Pt NPs@Zn‐MOF‐74 coated electrode displayed a linear measurement range for glucose from 0.006 to 6 mM, with a detection limit of 1.8 μM (S/N: 3) and sensitivity of 64.51 μA mM^?1 cm^?2. The amperometric response of the enzyme biosensor demonstrated the typical behavior of Michaelis‐Menten kinetics. The obtained satisfying sensitivity and measurement range enabled fast and accurate glucose measurement in cherry juice using the fabricated biosensor. The water‐stable Zn‐MOF‐74 demonstrated higher enzyme loading capacity and can be potent supporting material for biosensor construction.     

Strawberry Decreases Intraluminal and Intestinal Wall Hydrolysis of Testosterone Undecanoate

Male hypogonadism is often treated by testosterone (T) replacement therapy such as oral administration of the ester prodrug, testosterone undecanoate (TU). However, the systemic exposure to T following oral TU is very low due to esterase-mediated metabolism, particularly in the small intestine. The aim of this work was to examine the esterase-inhibitory effect of natural fruit extract of strawberry (STW) on the intestinal degradation of TU as a potential approach to increasing the oral bioavailability of T. Herein, the hydrolysis of TU was assessed in fasted state simulated intestinal fluid with added esterase activity (FaSSIF/ES) and Caco-2 cell homogenates in the presence of STW extract. It is noteworthy that STW substantially inhibited the degradation of TU in FaSSIF/ES and Caco-2 cell homogenates at concentrations that could be achieved following oral consumption of less than one serving of STW fruit. This can significantly increase the fraction of unhydrolyzed TU in the intestinal lumen as well as in enterocytes. In addition, it was demonstrated that TU has high intestinal lymphatic transport potential as the association of TU with plasma-derived human chylomicrons was in the range of 84%. Therefore, oral co-administration of TU with STW could potentially increase the intestinal stability of TU and consequently the contribution of lymphatically delivered TU to the systemic exposure of T in vivo.     

Dynamical Mechanical Analysis and Curing Analysis of Fouling Release Coatings and Components

A commercially available fouling release (adsorbed foulants removed by shear flow) coating based on poly(dimethylsiloxane) and a commercial marine epoxy primer have been analyzed by diffusing wave spectroscopy and by thermal and dynamical mechanical methods. Diffusing wave spectroscopy reveals 7–9 distinct relaxation intervals over short (minutes) to long (20 hour) time scales. Several junctures of these intervals are shown to correlate with mechanically determined film formation parameters, such as set to touch times, tack free times, and dry through times. Thickness series of coatings made by casting illustrate similarities and distinct differences between the epoxy primer and poly(dimethylsiloxane)-based fouling release coating formulations. Several low temperature β transitions are resolved in the fouling release coatings in addition the α (T_g) transition in both formulations. A scaling analysis of the thickness series data shows that both the primer and the top coat exhibit a negative exponent for thickness; −0.77 for the epoxy; −1.2 for the top coat. Stress-strain experiments reveal further significant difference between these two types of elastomers. The elastic modulus for the epoxy is 1000-fold higher than for the topcoat. A small elastic modulus is thought to be key in the successful functioning of fouling release coatings. Analyses of substrate effects (wire mesh, fiberglass braid) and of coating or loading levels on dynamical mechanical properties, in comparison with thickness series of thin films are presented. The woven braid offers the advantage that it can be loaded more easily than can wire mesh substrates. The negative exponents show that thinner coatings may be more mechanically resilient than thicker coatings, as the ability to store and dissipate mechanical energy decreases as thickness increases.