Gap Space Optimization for NO Removal in a Non‐thermal Plasma Discharge

Given the operational constraints of aerospace ground equipments (AGE), the nonthermal plasma discharge (NTPD) has been identified as a promising technology for their NO_x removal. As part of a program to optimize an NTPD system for this particular application, an investigation of the effect of discharge gap spacing on the electrical and chemical processes that occur in NTPDs was initiated. A number of experiments were performed to examine how the gap spacing affects the NO removal efficiency, discharge characteristics, and chemical reactions in a NTPD device. Gap spacings ranging from 0.8 to 4.0 mm were investigated in this study. An optimum gap spacing for NO removal was observed at approximately 2 mm and, based on the experimental data, a physical explanation for the optimum was developed. The experiments, results and conclusions are discusssed in detail in this paper.     

Three New Derivatives and Others Constituents from the Roots and Twigs of Trilepisium madagascariense DC

Three new compounds, trilepisflavene ( 1 ), trilepisdepsidone ( 2 ), and daturadiol stearate ( 3 ), together with nine known compounds, 2‐hydroxy‐4‐[(4‐hydroxy‐2‐methoxy‐6‐methylbenzoyl)oxy]‐6‐methylbenzoic acid ( 4 ), lichexanthone ( 5 ), naringenin ( 6 ), 3′,4′,5,7‐tetrahydroxyflavanone ( 7 ), 2‐hydroxybenzoic acid ( 8 ), methyl 2,4‐dihydroxy‐6‐methylbenzoate ( 9 ), β‐amyrin ( 10 ), eurothridiol palmitate ( 11 ), and β‐sitosterol ( 12 ), were isolated from the AcOEt extract of the twigs and the roots of Trilepisium madagascariense. Acetylation of eurothridiol palmitate was carried out and a new acetylated derivative ( 13 ) was obtained. The structures of the isolated and acetylated compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. Antimicrobial activity of all these compounds was evaluated using Mueller–Hinton broth (MHB) and Mueller–Hinton agar (MHA) method. Trilepisdepsidone , 2‐hydroxy‐4‐[(4‐hydroxy‐2‐methoxy‐6‐methylbenzoyl)oxy]‐6‐methylbenzoic acid, 3′,4′,5,7‐tetrahydroxyflavanone, and naringenin exhibited moderate to weak antimicrobial activity.     

Evolution Characteristics of the Laser-Plasma Electron Temperature of Heavy Metal Cr in Liquid Matrix

Using the nanosecond single-pulse laser-induced breakdown-spectroscopy (LIBS) technique, we determine the LIBS spectrum of a mixed solution of soluble compounds as a sample. Based on the LIBS measurement system established and the best experimental parameters, we measure the plasma emission spectrum of some lines of the Cr element. When the ICCD gate delay is measured from 500 to 2500 ns every 500 ns, and the liquid sample flow rate is set in the range of 35 ml · min^?1?55 ml · min^?1 with an interval of 5 ml · min^?1, the partial emission line of the Cr element in the laser plasma is measured, and the Boltzmann oblique line is drawn after the integrated intensity obtained. We calculate the evolution characteristics of the laser-plasma electron temperature with experimental parameters. The results show that the electron temperature values obtained from the intensity of the spectral lines of different elements are consistent with each other, indicating the reliability of the experimental measurement data. The range of electron temperature is obtained from the intensity of the Cr element line in the plasma range from 4071.0 K to 5628.4 K. As the flow rate continues to increase, the plasma electron temperature also increases but gradually becomes gentle. We select Cr 357.87 nm as the analytical line in the experiment and measure the particle density ratios of the Cr element in the ground state at different ICCD gate delays and sample flow rates. It provides experimental parameter support for further LIBS quantitative analysis of trace heavy metal elements in a liquid matrix.

     

Donellanic acids A–C: new cyclopropanic oleanane derivatives from Donella ubanguiensis (Sapotaceae)

Three new cyclopropanic oleanane triterpenoids and ten known compounds were obtained from Donella ubanguiensis using chromatographic methods. The structures were established on the basis of mass spectrometric and NMR data and by comparison with values reported in the literature. The structures of the new compounds were confirmed by X-ray crystallography. A part of the isolated compounds was evaluated for cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities.     

Lipase-catalyzed esterification of selected phenolic acids with linolenyl alcohols in organic solvent media

Lipase-catalyzed esterification of selected phenolic acids with linolenyl alcohols was investigated in selected organic solvent media. The enzyme activity for the esterification of dihydrocaffeic acid with linolenyl alcohol in solvent mixtures of hexane/2-butanone of 75∶25 (v/v) and 65∶35 (v/v) was 0.88 and 0.47 μmol of esterified dihydrocaffeic acid/(g of solid enzyme·min), respectively, with a corresponding esterification yield of 76 and 58%, respectively. However, the esterification of ferulic acid with linolenyl alcohol in the reaction medium of hexane/2-butanone of 65∶35 (v/v) resulted in a low yield (16%). Using the reaction medium of hexane/2-butanone of 75∶25 (v/v), an increase in linolenyl alcohol concentration with a concomitant use of a constant amount of dihydrocaffeic acid resulted in an increase in esterification yield. The highest esterification yield of 99% was obtained with a ratio of dihydrocaffeic acid to linolenyl alcohol of 1∶8 after 7 d of reaction. Biosynthesis of the end product, linolenyl dihydrocaffeate, was confirmed by electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy structural analysis; the esterproduct demonstrated an antiradical activity close to that of α-tocopherol.     

Antimicrobial pentacyclic triterpenes and glycosides from the stem bark of Cussonia bancoensis

Abstract

The stem bark of Cussonia bancoensis is used traditionally for the treatment of different types of infection and pain. A bioassay guided fractionation of the methanol stem bark extract led to the isolation of five pentacyclic triterpenes and glycosides identified based on spectroscopic data as 23-hydroxyursolic acid (CB1), hederagenin (CB2), 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-echinocystic acid (CB3), 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl- oleanolic acid (CB4) and 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-ursolic acid (CB5). CB2 - CB5 are being reported for the first time from this species. The compounds were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against ten microorganisms using the HT-SPOTi method. CB3 demonstrated remarkable antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, S. pyogens, E. faecalis, S. typhi and C. albicans at MICs between 3.12 and 12.5?µg/mL. Among the studied compounds, it was observed that hydroxylation of position C-16 of the oleanane skeleton may enhance antimicrobial activity. This study gives insight into the anti-infective constituents of the stem bark of C. bancoensis and justifies its use in ethnomedicine.     

Efficient purification of paclitaxel from yews using high-performance displacement chromatography technique

Paclitaxel was purified using high-performance displacement chromatography (HPDC) technique, but not by the mechanism of HPDC. On small scale, paclitaxel was extracted with methanol from dry needles of Taxus canadensis and was enriched by extracting with chloroform after removing water-soluble hydrophilic components and hexane-soluble hydrophobic components. Then, 93-99% purity of paclitaxel was obtained using the HPDC technique. On large scale, taxanes were enriched by solvent partitioning between acetic acid/MeOH/H(2)O and hexane and extracted with CH(2)Cl(2). Taxanes except paclitaxel were further removed by extracting with methanol-water-trifluoroacetic acid (1.0:98.9:0.1, v/v/v). Applying HPDC technique to water-insoluble substances is problematic as this method requires a highly aqueous solvent system. In order to overcome this incompatibility, a system was set up where paclitaxel, although in low concentration, was extracted by methanol-water-trifluoroacetic acid (10.0:89.9:0.1, v/v/v). Recycling the extracting solvent to ensure minimal volume, the extracted paclitaxel was adsorbed on a C(18) trap column. A C(18) column of 4.6mm internal diameter was then connected to the trap column. The HPDC technique was thus carried out using an isocratic acetonitrile-water-trifluoroacetic acid (30.0:69.9:0.1, v/v/v) mobile phase consisting of a displacer cetylpyridinium trifluoroacetate (3mg/mL). Paclitaxel was co-eluted with the displacer and spontaneously crystallized. The crystal (114mg) showed 99.4% purity and only 10% of paclitaxel in the starting crude extract was lost during the enrichment/purification processes. This large scale purification method was successfully applied to purify paclitaxel from Chinese yew in small scale, suggesting general applicability of the method. This is the first report of purifying a water-insoluble natural product using HPDC technique.