Simple and efficient cleavage reaction of the boc group in heterocyclic compounds

Dedicated to the memory of Pr. Ladjama Daif A series of chiral cyclosulfamides have been synthesized by alkaline cyclisation starting from N‐benzoylamino acids (Ala, Val, Leu, Phe) derivatives and chlorosulfonyl isocyanate. A simplified and regioselective deprotection of the cyclic compounds (cyclosulfamides) containing the tert‐butyloxycarbonyl group (Boc) has been achieved in good yield by fusion under reduced pressure.     

Piezoelectric property improvement of polyethylene ferroelectrets using postprocessing thermal‐pressure treatment

In this work, biaxially stretched polymer foams with well‐defined cellular structures were prepared from polyethylene via blown‐film extrusion and subjected to corona charging to produce a piezoelectric response. The charging parameters were first optimized in terms of charging voltage and needle distance, as well as the gas type and pressure to investigate their effect on the piezoelectric coefficient (d₃₃). The results show that samples charged under nitrogen (N₂) at 100 kPa had better d₃₃ coefficient than those charged under ambient air or N₂ at 20 kPa. Moreover, 2 different thermal pressure treatments were imposed to obtain an optimized eye‐like cellular structure with different cell aspect ratios (AR). The results showed that when the cells were elongated in both the longitudinal and transverse directions (higher AR), higher d₃₃ coefficients were achieved. From all the samples produced, the best results were obtained for a longitudinal aspect ratio (AR‐L) of 7.1, a transversal aspect ratio (AR‐T) of 4.6, and a relative foam density of 0.52 leading to a d₃₃ coefficient of 935 pC/N. This coefficient was further increased using reverse charging and multilayered films, reaching a maximum of 2550 pC/N. This value is much higher than typical ones reported so far for any polyethylene and polypropylene ferroelectrets. These results could increase the use of polyethylene in piezoelectric applications as these materials are very attractive for the large‐scale production of electret‐based sensors and transducers due to their low cost and easy processing.     

Kinetic and thermodynamic study of adsorption of methylene blue and rhodamine B on adsorbent prepared from Hyptis suaveolens (Vilayti Tulsi)

In the present study adsorption behavior of methylene blue and rhodamine B from aqueous solution using adsorbent prepared from “Hyptis suaveolens” (Vilayti Tulsi) was investigated as a function of parameters such as initial concentration, adsorbent dose, pH, contact time and temperature. The adsorption process was pH dependent. The thermodynamic parameters such as $ {{\Updelta}}G,{{\Updelta}}H \,{\text{and}} \,{{\Updelta}}S $ were calculated to investigate the nature of adsorption, their values indicate that the adsorption process is favorable. The first-order, second-order and intra-particle diffusion models were used to describe the kinetic parameter. The Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption models were applied to describe the adsorption equilibrium. Column study was conducted for both dyes.     

Microfluidic-based nanoparticle synthesis and their potential applications

A lot of substantial innovation in advancement of microfluidic field in recent years to produce nanoparticle reveals a number of distinctive characteristics, for instance, compactness, controllability, fineness in process, and stability along with minimal reaction amount. Recently, a prompt development, as well as realization in the production of nanoparticles in microfluidic environment having dimension of micro to nanometers and constituents extending from metals, semiconductors to polymers, has been made. Microfluidics technology integrates fluid mechanics for the production of nanoparticles having exclusive with homogenous sizes, shapes, and morphology, which are utilized in several bioapplications such as biosciences, drug delivery, and healthcare including food engineering. Nanoparticles are usually well-known for having fine and rough morphology because of their small dimensions including exceptional physical, biological, chemical, and optical properties. Though the orthodox procedures need huge instruments, costly autoclaves, use extra power, extraordinary heat loss, as well as take surplus time for synthesis. Additionally, this is fascinating to systematize, assimilate, in addition, to reduce traditional tools onto one platform to produce micro and nanoparticles. The synthesis of nanoparticles by microfluidics permits fast handling besides better efficacy of method utilizing the smallest components for process. Herein, we will focus on synthesis of nanoparticles by means of microfluidic devices intended for different bioapplications.     

Mathematical Model and Numerical Simulation of Conductometric Biosensor of Urea

In this article, a mathematical model was developed to describe and optimize the configuration of the urea biosensor. The biosensor is based on interdigitated gold microelectrodes modified with a urease enzyme membrane. The model presented here focuses on the enzymatic reaction and/or diffusion phenomena that occur in the enzyme membrane and in the diffusion layer. Numerical resolution of differential equations was performed using the finite difference technique. The mathematical model was validated using experimental biosensor data. The responses of the biosensor to various conditions were simulated to guide experiments, improve analytical performance, and reduce development costs.     

Water Formation in Non-Hydrolytic Sol–Gel Routes: Selective Synthesis of Tetragonal and Monoclinic Mesoporous Zirconia as a Case Study

Several non-hydrolytic sol–gel syntheses involving different precursors, oxygen donors, and conditions have been screened aiming to selectively produce mesoporous t-ZrO₂ or m-ZrO₂ with significant specific surface areas. The in situ water formation was systematically investigated by Karl Fisher titration of the syneresis liquids. XRD and nitrogen physisorption were employed to characterize the structure and texture of the ZrO₂ samples. Significant amounts of water were found in several cases, notably in the reactions of Zr(OnPr)₄ with ketones (acetone, 2-pentanone, acetophenone), and of ZrCl₄ with alcohols (benzyl alcohol, ethanol) or acetone. Conversely, the reactions of Zr(OnPr)₄ with acetic anhydride or benzyl alcohol at moderate temperature (200 °C) and of ZrCl₄ with diisopropyl ether appear strictly non-hydrolytic. Although reaction time and reaction temperature were also important parameters, the presence of water played a crucial role on the structure of the final zirconia: t-ZrO₂ is favored in strictly non-hydrolytic routes, while m-ZrO₂ is favored in the presence of significant amounts of water. ¹H and ¹³C NMR analysis of the syneresis liquids allowed us to identify the main reactions responsible for the formation of water and of the oxide network. The morphology of the most interesting ZrO₂ samples was further investigated by electron microscopy (SEM, TEM).     

Mathematical Modelling of Glyphosate Molecularly Imprinted Polymer-Based Microsensor with Multiple Phenomena

The massive and careless use of glyphosate (GLY) in agricultural production raises many questions regarding environmental pollution and health risks, it is then important to develop simple methods to detect it. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is an effective analytical tool for characterizing properties at the electrode/electrolyte interface. It is useful as an analytical procedure, but it can also help in the interpretation of the involved fundamental electrochemical and electronic processes. In this study, the impedance data obtained experimentally for a microsensor based on molecularly imprinted chitosan graft on 4-aminophenylacetic acid for the detection of glyphosate was analyzed using an exact mathematical model based on physical theories. The procedure for modeling experimental responses is well explained. The analysis of the observed impedance response leads to estimations of the microscopic parameters linked to the faradic and capacitive current. The interaction of glyphosate molecules with the imprinted sites of the CS-MIPs film is observed in the high frequency range. The relative variation of the charge transfer resistance is proportional to the log of the concentration of glyphosate. The capacitance decreases as the concentration of glyphosate increases, which is explained by the discharging of the charged imprinted sites when the glyphosate molecule interacts with the imprinted sites through electrostatic interactions. The phenomenon of adsorption of the ions in the CMA film is observed in the low frequency range, this phenomenon being balanced by the electrostatic interaction of glyphosate with the imprinted sites in the CS-MIPs film.     

Isolation and structure determination of a novel furanic ester from the aerial part of Prasium majus

The aerial part of Prasium majus provided a new furanic ester, 2-2-[(5-formyl-6[(5-formylfuran-2-yl)methoxy] succinic acid dimethyl ester, (+/-)-hiziprafuran. Its structure was principally established by one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy.     

A new mixed finite element method for the Stokes problem

We propose a new mixed formulation of the Stokes problem where the extra stress tensor is considered. Based on such a formulation, a mixed finite element is constructed and analyzed. This new finite element has properties analogous to the finite volume methods, namely, the local conservation of the momentum and the mass. Optimal error estimates are derived. For the numerical implementation of this finite element, a hybrid form is presented. This work is a first step towards the treatment of viscoelastic fluid flows by mixed finite element methods.     

Propagation of Transient Acoustic Waves in Layered Porous Media: Fractional Equations for the Scattering Operators

Acoustic waves scattering from a rigid air-saturated porous medium is studied in the time domain. The medium is one dimensional and its physical parameters are depth dependent, i.e., the medium is layered. The loss and dispersion properties of the medium are due to the fluid-structure interaction induced by wave propagation. They are modeled by generalized susceptibility functions which express the memory effects in the propagation process. The wave equation is then a fractional telegraphists equation. The two relevant quantities are the scattering operators—transmission and reflection operators—which give the scattered fields from the incident wave. They are obtained from Volterra equations which are fractional equations for the scattering operators.