Thermal behavior of holo- and hemicellulose obtained from rice straw and bagasse

Thermal gravimetric analysis, and differential thermal behavior of holo- and hemicelluloses obtained from rice straw and bagasse were investigated. Degradation was found to be of first order reaction. The activation energy values and the rate constants were calculated from the kinetic of weight loss. Hemicellulose was found to be less stable than holocellulose, and the stability of the samples was arranged in the order, rice straw holo- > bagasse holo- > rice straw hemi- > bagasse hemicellulose. Degradation of rice straw (holo- as well as hemicellulose) was performed via two exothermic processes, whereas bagasse hemicellulose combustion was completed through three exothermic processes. The magnitude and the shape of the exotherms depend, mainly, on the chemical composition of the sample.     

Proposed Mechanism for the Antitrypanosomal Activity of Quercetin and Myricetin Isolated from Hypericum afrum Lam.: Phytochemistry,In Vitro Testing and Modeling Studies

The in vitro activity of L. donovani (promastigotes, axenic amastigotes and intracellular amastigotes in THP1 cells) and T. brucei, from the fractions obtained from the hydroalcoholic extract of the aerial part of Hypericum afrum and the isolated compounds, has been evaluated. The chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts showed significant antitrypanosomal activity towards T. brucei, with IC₅₀ values of 12.35, 13.53 and 12.93 µg/mL and with IC₉₀ values of 14.94, 19.31 and 18.67 µg/mL, respectively. The phytochemical investigation of the fractions led to the isolation and identification of quercetin (1), myricitrin (2), biapigenin (3), myricetin (4), hyperoside (5), myricetin-3-O-β-d-galactopyranoside (6) and myricetin-3’-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (7). Myricetin-3’-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (7) has been isolated for the first time from this genus. The chemical structures were elucidated by using comprehensive one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (1D and 2D NMR) spectroscopic data, as well as high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI–MS). These compounds have also been evaluated for their antiprotozoal activity. Quercetin (1) and myricetin (4) showed noteworthy activity against T. brucei, with IC₅₀ and IC₉₀ values of 7.52 and 5.71 µM, and 9.76 and 7.97 µM, respectively. The T. brucei hexokinase (TbHK1) enzyme was further explored as a potential target of quercetin and myricetin, using molecular modeling studies. This proposed mechanism assists in the exploration of new candidates for novel antitrypanosomal drugs.     

Study of flame-retardant finishing of cellulose fibres: Organic–inorganic hybrid versus conventional organophosphonate

The aim of this study was to introduce a non-formaldehyde inorganic–organic hybrid sol–gel flame-retardant precursor (SiOP) containing phosphorous, nitrogen, and silicon and to compare its functional properties with those of the conventional formaldehyde-containing organic flame-retardant agent, organophosphonate (OP). SiOP was used at concentrations of 2%, 4%, and 8%, and OP was used at a concentration of 200 g/dm³. Both agents were applied to 100% cotton (CO) woven fabric by the pad-dry-cure method under the appropriate conditions. The presence of the SiOP and OP coatings on the CO fabric was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The results of the vertical tests of flammability and the thermogravimetric analyses showed that the presence of the SiOP coating changed the thermal degradation pathway of the CO fabric and resulted in an increase in the thermo-oxidative stability of the cellulose fibres. The thermo-oxidative stability was enhanced by the addition of higher amount of dry solids. At comparable dry solids contents, OP preserved significantly greater flame retardancy and thermo-oxidative stability than did SiOP. These results indicated that the SiOP precursor could not act as an effective alternative to the OP agent in the flame-retardant protection of CO fabric.     

Investigation of the equality constraint effect on the reduction of the rotational ambiguity in three-component system using a novel grid search method

The obtained results by soft modeling multivariate curve resolution methods often are not unique and are questionable because of rotational ambiguity. It means a range of feasible solutions equally fit experimental data and fulfill the constraints. Regarding to chemometric literature, a survey of useful constraints for the reduction of the rotational ambiguity is a big challenge for chemometrician. It is worth to study the effects of applying constraints on the reduction of rotational ambiguity, since it can help us to choose the useful constraints in order to impose in multivariate curve resolution methods for analyzing data sets. In this work, we have investigated the effect of equality constraint on decreasing of the rotational ambiguity. For calculation of all feasible solutions corresponding with known spectrum, a novel systematic grid search method based on Species-based Particle Swarm Optimization is proposed in a three-component system.     

Preparation and Characterization of New Optically Active Poly(amide-imide)s from N,N′-(bicyclo[2,2,2]oct-7-ene-2,3,5,6-tetra carboxylic)-bis-L-isoleucine and Aromatic Diamines

Five new optically active aromatic poly(amide-imide)s (PAIs) 5a–e were prepared from a direct polycondensation reaction of a new diacid of N,N′-(bicyclo[2,2,2]oct-7-ene-2,3,5,6-tetra carboxylic)-bis-L-isoleucine 3 with various aromatic diamines 4a–e in a medium consisting of triphenyl phosphite (TPP), calcium chloride (CaCl₂), pyridine (Py) and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). The polycondensation reaction produced a series of novel poly(amid-imide)s 5a–e in quantitative yields with inherent viscosities of 0.39–0.51 dL/g. The resulting polymers were fully characterized by means of ¹H-NMR, FT-IR spectroscopy, elemental analyses, inherent viscosity, solubility test, specific rotation and thermal properties of them were investigated using TGA/DTG and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The diacid 4 was synthesized by the condensation reaction of bicyclo[2,2,2]oct-7-ene-2,3,5,6- tetracarboxylic dianhydride 1 with L-isoleucine 2 in acetic acid solution.     

Studies on Pyrrolidinones. An Improved One Pot Synthesis of 1,2,3,5,10,10a-Hexahydrobenz[f]indolizine-3,10-dione

Starting from the readily available N,O-bis trimethylsilyl pyroglutamate, an easy high yield one pot synthesis of ketone 1 was described.     

Introducing Organic Gas Steam-Liquid Extraction as a New Preconcentration Method for Benzene,Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylene Determination in Water Samples by Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detection

Journal of Analytical Chemistry - In this study, for the first time, the organic gas steam-liquid extraction by a special hand-made cell was used as a simple and inexpensive preconcentration...     

Nanosized cationic and anionic manganese porphyrins as mesoporous catalysts for the oxidation of olefins: Nano versus bulk aggregates

In this study, catalytic activity of bulk and nano‐sized meso‐tetrakis(4‐sulfonatophenyl)porphyrinatomanganese(III) acetate, MnTPPS₄(OAc), (ammonium salt) and meso‐tetrakis(3‐methylpyridyl)porphyrinatomanganese(III) acetate, MnT(3‐MePy)P(OAc) (tosylate salt) for the oxidation of olefins with tetra‐n‐butylammonium Oxone has been studied and compared with that of the bulk counterparts. The nanoparticles were prepared by mixing solvent techniques using water, (triethyleneglycol) monomethyl ether and dimethylsulfoxide or acetonitrile. The formation of nano‐sized catalysts was confirmed by UV‐Vis spectroscopy, DLS and AFM. Nitrogen porosimetry measurements indicated the homogeneous pore size distribution in the bulk and nano‐sized manganese porphyrins. In spite of the high oxidizability of Oxone, the heterogenized manganese porphyrins showed a significantly higher oxidative stability relative to their homogeneous counterparts within a reaction time of 6 h. The increase in the catalytic activity induced by the formation of nano‐sized catalysts was more pronounced in the case of MnT(3‐MePy)P(OAc). MnT(3‐MePy)P(OAc) may be recovered and reused for at least 4 times without any significant decrease in the catalyst efficiency. In the case of MnTPPS₄(OAc) a large decrease in the catalytic activity was observed after the first use of the catalyst. The latter was attributed to higher degrees of catalyst degradation in the case of MnTPPS₄(OAc).     

LC–DAD/ESI–MS/MS characterization of phenolic constituents in Rosa canina L. and its protective effect in cells

In an aim to prove the efficiency of polyphenols of Rosa canina fruits in promoting human health. A methanolic extract of R. canina fruits was prepared by successive maceration with solvents of increasing polarity. The polyphenol composition was analyzed by HPLC–DAD–ESI–MS. The biological activity of this extract on SH-SY5Y cells and HepG2 cells was then studied. The antioxidant activity was tested by various in vitro tests such as DPPH-radical-scavenging activity, FRAP assay, hydroxyl radical scavenging assay and total antioxidant capacity. The subacute toxicity of R. canina was tested on female rats by repeated intraperitoneal administration of various doses. The phenolic profiles showed 25 antioxidants distributed into three classes of phenolic compounds: glycosylated and agglomerated flavonoids/isoflavonoids, tannins and phenanthrenes. Qualitative phytochemical analyses showed that this extract lacks alkaloids. The methanolic extract of R. canina fruits has a total antioxidant capacity of 82.69 ± 1.18 μg EAA/mg of methanol extract and the IC₅₀ of the methods used is in the following increasing order: FRAP assay (61.88 μg/ml), then hydroxyl radical scavenging assay (67.45 μg/ml) and then DPPH radical-scavenging activity (129.81 μg/ml). The extract of R. canina did not cause any phenotypic signs of toxicity or mortality during and after treatment. The LD₅₀ was >5,000 mg/kg, hence, R. canina was considered nontoxic. An in vivo study proved the protective effect of R. canina against cardiac and hepato-renal toxicities. These results drew the importance of a healthy diet, where diets rich in R. canina fruits can be used as a rich natural source of antioxidants and anticarcinogenic phenolic compounds.