Chemical Composition of the Essential Oil of Rosmarinus officinalis Cultivated in the Algerian Sahara

The volatile compounds obtained by hydrodistillation of the aerial parts of Rosmarinus officinalis cultivated at the Algerian Sahara were analyzed by GC/MS. Thirty compounds were characterized representing 98.2% of the essential oil with 1,8-cineole (29.5%), 2-ethyl-4,5-dimethylphenol (12.0%) and camphor (11.5%) as the major components.     

GC/MS analysis and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of fresh leaves of Eucalytus globulus, and leaves and stems of Smyrnium olusatrum from Constantine (Algeria)

The essential oils of fresh leaves of Eucalyptus globulus L. (Myrtaceae), and leaves and stems of Smyrnium olusatrum L. (Apiaceae), obtained by hydrodistillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus, were analyzed by GC/MS. Twenty compounds were characterized, representing 98.3% of the essential oil of E. globulus, with 1,8-cineole (48.6%), globulol (10.9%), trans-pinocarveol (10.7%), and alpha-terpineol (6.6%) as main components, while thirty-three compounds were characterized, representing 94.3% of the essential oil of S. olusatrum, with sabinene (27.1%), curzerene (13.7%), methyl-1-benzyl-2-oxocyclooctane carboxylate (12.3%), alpha-pinene (7.2%), cryptone (7.1%) and beta-pinene (5.7%) as the major components. The essential oils of E. globulus and S. olusatrum were tested against a wide range of fungal and bacterial strains. Both oils showed significant antimicrobial activity.     

Simultaneous fabrication of superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic polyimide surfaces with low hysteresis

Polyimide is of great interest in the field of MEMS and microtechnology. It is often used for its chemical, thermal, mechanical, and optical properties. In this paper, an original study is performed on controlled variation of polyimide film wettability. A two-step microtexturing method is developed to transform hydrophilic polyimide surfaces into a superhydrophobic surface with low magnitude of hysteresis (Δθ ≈ 0° and contact angle θ ≈ 158°). This method is based on the conception of a new kind of fakir surface with triangular cross-section micropillars, the use of a two-scale roughening, and a C(4)F(8) coating. We demonstrate that the absence of hysteresis is related to a combination of two scales of structuring and the pillar shape. The technology that has been developed results in the simultaneous fabrication of adjacent superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic small areas, which allows an effect of self-positioning of water droplets when deposited on such a checkerboard-like surface.     

Textural,structural and catalytic behavior of low specific area silica-supported copper catalysts: effect of preparation method

Supported copper catalysts on low surface area silica were prepared by several methods and characterized by AAS, XRD, N₂ adsorption, SEM, H₂-TPR, N₂O titration, TGA-DTA, UV–Vis techniques. Their hydrogenating properties were examined in the gas-phase hydrogenation of benzaldehyde. The analysis of characterization results revealed that the choice of preparation method affected the texture, composition, and structure of the calcined and reduced Cu/SiO₂ catalysts. The dispersion and size distribution of copper species was present in different forms in the catalysts that exhibited low specific surface areas. In gas-phase hydrogenation of benzaldehyde to benzyl alcohol, the catalysts tested at the reaction temperatures of 160 and 200 °C were stable and conducted to a good catalytic activity and benzyl alcohol selectivity ranging between 5 and 39 µmol min^?1 g^?1 and 0–95%, respectively. The activity of the catalysts in gas-phase hydrogenation also depended on the particle size and the nature of copper species formed on low surface area silica.