A biological process for the reclamation of flue gas desulfurization gypsum using mixed sulfate-reducing bacteria with inexpensive carbon sources

A combined chemical and biological process for the recycling of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum into calcium carbonate and elemental sulfur is demonstrated. In this process, a mixed culture of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) utilizes inexpensive carbon sources, such as sewage digest or synthesis gas, to reduce FGD gypsum to hydrogen sulfide. The sulfide is then oxidized to elemental sulfur via reaction with ferric sulfate, and accumulating calcium ions are precipitated as calcium carbonate using carbon dioxide. Employing anaerobically digested municipal sewage sludge (AD-MSS) medium as a carbon source, SRBs in serum bottles demonstrated an FGD gypsum reduction rate of 8 mg/L/h (10⁹ cells)^-1. A chemostat with continuous addition of both AD-MSS media and gypsum exhibited sulfate reduction rates as high as 1.3 kg FGD gypsum/m³d. The increased biocatalyst density afforded by cell immobilization in a columnar reactor allowed a productivity of 152 mg SO₄ ^-2/Lh or 6.6 kg FGD gypsum/m³d. Both reactors demonstrated 100% conversion of sulfate, with 75–100% recovery of elemental sulfur and chemical oxygen demand utilization as high as 70%. Calcium carbonate was recovered from the reactor effluent on precipitation using carbon dioxide. It was demonstrated that SRBs may also use synthesis gas (CO, H₂, and CO₂ in the reduction of gypsum, further decreasing process costs. The formation of two marketable products—elemental sulfur and calcium carbonate—from FGD gypsum sludge, combined with the use of a low-cost carbon source and further improvements in reactor design, promises to offer an attractive alternative to the landfilling of FGD gypsum.

     

Inhibition of mild steel corrosion by Morinda tinctoria leaves extract in sulphuric acid medium

The corrosion inhibition of mild steel in 0.5 M sulphuric acid by aqueous and acid extracts of leaves of Morinda tinctoria was studied using weight loss, colorimetric and electrochemical techniques. Results obtained indicate that both the extracts are effective in sulphuric acid medium and the efficiency decreases with increase in temperature. Added halide additives improve the efficiency of the inhibitor. From the thermodynamic, spectral, and surface analyses, the nature of adsorption has been found out.     

Nano Silicon from Nano Silica Using Natural Resource (Rha) for Solar Cell Fabrication

Abstract

High purity (～99%) nano silica with an average particle size of ～100 nm was extracted at pH 3 at 650°C from a natural resource, rice husk, using alkaline extraction followed by acid precipitation method. Using nano silica as a precursor, silicon (Si) nanoparticles have been synthesized by high-temperature magnesiothermic reduction method. The prepared sample was characterized by X-ray diffraction, particle size analyzer, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray fluorescence analyzer, and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The comprehensive characterization studies indicate the pure phase formation of Si and the variation of particle size from 70 nm to 100 nm for samples synthesized at different sintering temperatures. Moreover, the silicon nanoparticles produced at 850°C have pure phase formation, high purity, and good absorption peaks. The efficiency calculated through IV characteristics is found to be increasing in silicon and ruthenium combination (2.67%), which is better than that achieved from the conventional solar cells. The produced silicon nanoparticles could be applied as an anode material for solar cell fabrication.     

DIASTEREOSELECTIVE SYNTHESIS AND STEREOCHEMISTRY OF (Z)-1-[3-ARYL-2-(PHENYLSULFANYL)-2-OXIRANYL]-1-ETHANONES

Diastereoselective synthesis of a series of (Z)-1-[3-aryl-2-(phenylsulfanyl)-2-oxiranyl]-1-ethanones was effected from the reaction of (Z)-4-aryl-3-(phenylsulfanyl)-3-buten-2-ones with alkaline hydrogen peroxide in tetrahydrofuran. The stereochemistry of the oxiranes has been deduced from two-dimensional NOESY spectrum.     

Identification of potential HIV-1 integrase strand transfer inhibitors: In silico virtual screening and QM/MM docking studies

HIV-1 integrase (IN) is a retroviral enzyme that catalyses integration of the reverse-transcribed viral DNA into the host genome, which is necessary for efficient viral replication. In this study, we have performed an in silico virtual screening for the identification of potential HIV-1 IN strand transfer (ST) inhibitors. Pharmacophore modelling and atom-based 3D-QSAR studies were carried out for a series of compounds belonging to 3-Hydroxypyrimidine-2,4-diones. Based on the ligand-based pharmacophore model, we obtained a five-point pharmacophore with two hydrogen bond acceptors (A), one hydrogen bond donor (D), one hydrophobic group (H) and one aromatic ring (R) as pharmacophoric features. The pharmacophore hypothesis AADHR was used as a 3D query in a sequential virtual screening study to filter small molecule databases Maybridge, ChemBridge and Asinex. Hits matching with pharmacophore hypothesis AADHR were retrieved and passed progressively through Lipinski’s rule of five filtering, molecular docking and hierarchical clustering. The five compounds with best hits with novel and diverse chemotypes were subjected to QM/MM docking, which showed improved docking accuracy. We further performed molecular dynamics simulation and found three compounds that form stable interactions with key residues. These compounds could be used as a leads for further drug development and rational design of HIV-1 IN inhibitors.     

Synthesis and characterization of fluorine functionalized graphene oxide dispersed quinoline-based polyimide composites having low-k and UV shielding properties

Polyimide nanocomposites having low-k and UV shielding properties have been developed using fluorine functionalized graphene oxide and bis(quinoline amine) based polyimide. The polyimide was synthesized using bis(quinoline amine) and pyromellitic dianhydride at appropriate experimental conditions, and its molecular structure was confirmed through various spectral analysis such as FTIR and NMR. The polyimide (PI) composites were prepared using bis(quinoline amine), pyromellitic dianhydride, and separately filled with 1, 5, 10 wt% of fluorinated graphene oxide (FGO) through in situ polymerization. The polymer composites were characterized using thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, the water contact angle, dielectric behavior, and UV–Vis shielding behavior of FGO/PI composites were evaluated. The value of the water contact angle of the polyimide was increased with increment of FGO in the polyimide matrix. The highest water contact angle of polyimide composites observed 108° was obtained for 15 wt% FGO reinforced polyimide composite. The value of the dielectric constant for neat, 1, 5, and 15 wt% FGO reinforced polyimide composites was obtained as 4.5, 3.7, 2.6, and 2.0, respectively. It is also observed from by UV–Vis spectroscopy analysis that the FGO reinforced polyimide composites have good UV shielding behavior.     

花状硫化铟纳米多级结构的液相合成及形貌调控机理

以C2H5NS和In(NO3)3为前驱物,采用简单的液相法成功制备了In2S3纳米多级结构,C2H5NS作为硫源的同时也起到了模板剂的作用.研究结果表明,前驱物浓度对In2S3形貌控制起着重要作用.随着In(NO3)3/C2H5NS摩尔比从1∶1.5增加到1∶6,In2S3纳米花呈现了不同的形貌和尺寸.XRD谱图显示,In2S3纳米花晶体具有立方结构.SEM和TEM照片显示,制备的In2S3纳米结构呈多级花状结构,这种结构由纳米片堆积组装而成.通过第一性原理计算并结合实验结果对C2H5NS影响纳米片生长的机理进行了分析,结果表明C2H5NS在In2S3(001)晶面上的吸附可以有效降低晶面的表面能,起到稳定晶面的作用;纳米花的形成是在C2H5NS影响In2S3的晶面稳定性及其成核速率之间的一个协同效应.In2S3纳米晶的形貌可以通过调整反应溶液中的C2H5NS浓度来调节.     

A Comprehensive Review on Therapeutic Perspectives of Phytosterols in Insulin Resistance: A Mechanistic Approach

Natural products in the form of functional foods have become increasingly popular due to their protective effects against life-threatening diseases, low risk of adverse effects, affordability, and accessibility. Plant components such as phytosterol, in particular, have drawn a lot of press recently due to a link between their consumption and a modest incidence of global problems, such as Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cancer, and cardiovascular disease. In the management of diet-related metabolic diseases, such as T2DM and cardiovascular disorders, these plant-based functional foods and nutritional supplements have unquestionably led the market in terms of cost-effectiveness, therapeutic efficacy, and safety. Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder categoriszed by high blood sugar and insulin resistance, which influence major metabolic organs, such as the liver, adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle. These chronic hyperglycemia fallouts result in decreased glucose consumption by body cells, increased fat mobilisation from fat storage cells, and protein depletion in human tissues, keeping the tissues in a state of crisis. In addition, functional foods such as phytosterols improve the body’s healing process from these crises by promoting a proper physiological metabolism and cellular activities. They are plant-derived steroid molecules having structure and function similar to cholesterol, which is found in vegetables, grains, nuts, olive oil, wood pulp, legumes, cereals, and leaves, and are abundant in nature, along with phytosterol derivatives. The most copious phytosterols seen in the human diet are sitosterol, stigmasterol, and campesterol, which can be found in free form, as fatty acid/cinnamic acid esters or as glycosides processed by pancreatic enzymes. Accumulating evidence reveals that phytosterols and diets enriched with them can control glucose and lipid metabolism, as well as insulin resistance. Despite this, few studies on the advantages of sterol control in diabetes care have been published. As a basis, the primary objective of this review is to convey extensive updated information on the possibility of managing diabetes and associated complications with sterol-rich foods in molecular aspects.