Volume 68, Issue 3

A specific procedure is proposed for investigating the chemical speciation of zinc (Zn) in plant tissues, viz., the extraction of Zn compounds from Plantago lanceolata L. followed by the chromatographic separation and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) identification of these compounds. In order to separate the Zn compounds, both size-exclusion (SEC) and ionexchange liquid chromatography (IC) were used in direct sequential and reverse sequential modes. In the direct sequential mode, the entire extract undergoes SEC separation and then the individual fractions are injected onto the ion-exchange column. The molecular size distribution is evaluated by SEC coupled on-line to the UV detector. In the reverse sequential mode, the entire extract undergoes the ion-exchange chromatographic separation and then the individual fractions are injected onto the size-exclusion column. The identification of Zn incorporated into the compounds is further performed using ICP-MS. This procedure is particularly useful in speciation studies when identification of the individual components of the element is problematic due to the lack of suitable standard substances, as is the case for Zn compounds. The proposed procedure facilitates assignment of the signals to the individual components of the fractions for both types of chromatography, thus rendering the chemical speciation of Zn possible when the lack of suitable standard substances impedes the identification of individual components.

The amylose/amylopectin ratio in cereal substrates is one of the parameters affecting starch hydrolysis and fermentation process. Waxy (less than 1 mass % of amylose) starch seems to be suitable for improving the fuel ethanol production. The main aim of this paper was to characterize the fermentation performance of corn and wheat waxy and non-waxy cultivars in terms of simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) as well as of the separated hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF) type. Two corn (waxy and non-waxy) and two wheat (waxy and non-waxy) cultivars were used for the comparison applying separate enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation. In the SHF process, the glucose content was higher after saccharification in the waxy corn and wheat compared to that in non-waxy corn and wheat. In the SSF of waxy varieties, the glucose content after the pre-saccharification was also higher than in the non-waxy ones. Although the starch content did not vary significantly, differences in the glucose content after saccharification were observed. The ethanol yield obtained after the distillation of mash varied from 229.2–262.3 L per ton for the SHF fermentation, while it was in the range of 311.5–347.9 L per ton for the SSF process.

The aim of the research was to study how the surface coating with quaternary ammonium silanes influences the attachment of industrial yeast cells. Three brewery and distillery strains belonging to Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and one strain of Debaryomyces occidentalis with high amylolytic activity were used in this study. Native chamotte carriers were modified using two organo-silanes with different functional groups containing ethanolamine ([3-N(N,N,N-dimethyl(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonio)propyl]trimethoxysilane) and octan-1-amine (octylamine) ([3-N(N,N,N-dimethyl-octylammonio)propyl]trimethoxysilane). The yeast cell surface charge was evaluated using an alcian blue retention assay. To determine the adhesion efficiency, light microscopy and methylene blue staining of cells were used. The viability of immobilized cells was confirmed by [2-chloro-4-(2,3 dihydro-3-methyl(benzo-1,3-thiozol-2-yl)-methylidene)-1-phenylquinolinium iodide] (FUN®1) staining. Modification of chamotte carriers increased the biomass load significantly; however, organo-silane with octylamine showed strong anti-yeast properties. This paper describes the use of inexpensive porous chamotte covered with active organo-silanes with quaternary ammonium groups as a way to improve yeast cell adhesion efficiency.

The aim of this study was to obtain flavonoids extracts from Calycopteris floribunda leaves using supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with CO2 and a co-solvent. Pachypodol, a potential anticancer drug lead compound separated from the extracts, was examined. Classical organic solvent extraction (CE) with ethanol was performed to evaluate the high pressure method. HPLC analysis was introduced to interpret the differences between SFE and CE extracts in terms of antioxidant activity and the concentration of pachypodol. SFE kinetics and mathematical modeling of the overall extraction curves (OEC) were investigated. Evaluation of the models against experimental data showed that the Sovová model performs the best. The supercritical fluid extraction process was optimized using a central composite design (CCD), where temperature and pressure were adjusted. The optimal conditions of SFE were: pressure of 30 MPa and temperature of 35°C.

Limiting current density of ammonium nitrate solution in laboratory-, pilot-, and industrial-scale electrodialysis modules were determined to provide a method for the prediction of the limiting current density of ammonium nitrate solutions at any conditions. The current-voltage curve was measured in each case and the limiting current density was evaluated using the dependence of the derivative, dI/dU, on the electric current, I. The limiting current was determined as a current at which the derivative dI/dU equals zero. The developed method enables not only the prediction of the limiting current density but the limiting cut and limiting flux can be determined concurrently at any linear flow velocity of the diluate and inlet ammonium nitrate concentration. It could help to prevent working in the overlimiting region and to avoid undesirable decrease of current efficiency and pH changes. The limiting cut is the maximal cut that can be obtained at certain linear flow velocity and module geometry irrespective of the inlet ammonium nitrate concentration and it is very useful information when designing a new electrodialysis unit for specific application.

Three novel reactive azo disperse dyes were prepared using 7-acetamide-4-hydroxy-2-naphthalene sodium sulphate as the precursor. The structure of the dyes has the combined characteristics of reactive, disperse, and cationic dyes. Under alkaline conditions (pH 9), the dyes can be applied to cotton, silk, wool, and nylon. Under neutral conditions, they can be used to dye polyester. Under acidic conditions (pH 4.5), they can colour acrylic fabric after conversion of the tertiary amine group to the quaternary ammonium cation. The colour-fastness of the dyed fabrics were also evaluated.

A sequential extraction procedure was used to study the changes in the physicochemical forms of americium (Am), thorium (Th), and uranium (U) in laboratory-contaminated Chernozem soil as a result of sharp variations of the environmental temperature and soil moisture. The influence of freezing and soil drought on the radio-ecological hazard was evaluated three months after radioactive contamination with aqueous solutions of 241Am, 234Th, and U. The subsequent changes in the physicochemical forms of the actinides, caused by sharp increases in the environmental temperature and soil moisture, were examined for one month. The data showed that continuous freezing increased the potentially mobile forms of Am and Th but had the opposite effect on U. Prolonged soil drought did not influence the fractionation of Am and Th but led to the redistribution of U between the carbonates and organic matter and caused its immobilisation. The sharp increase in the temperature of the frozen soil caused the immobilisation of Am and Th and increased the potential mobility of U. The warming and enhanced humidity of the dry soil led to the immobilisation of Am and redistribution of U between the soil phases.

The determination of Pb(II) and Cd(II) in different sample matrices, including drinking water, distilled spirits and fruit wine, was carried out by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) after pre-concentration using homogeneous liquid-liquid extraction (HLLE). First, the HLLE method was optimised with lead diethyldithiocarbamate (Pb-DDTC) complex which was extracted with a perfluorooctanoate anion (PFOA−) dissolved in lithium hydroxide under acidic conditions. The optimum extraction conditions, using 0.01 M DDTC, 0.05 M PFOA−, 3 M HCl and 1 mL of 30 vol. % acetone, were obtained. The Pb-DDTC complex in the nitric acid digest of the samples (50–150 mL) was extracted quantitatively into a drop of 100 μL of sediment phase. The sediment phase dissolved in 1 vol. % HNO3 with at least 3–5 mL of the final volume was then determined by FAAS, affording a pre-concentration factor of 10–50. Hence, the HLLE method afforded an increase in both sensitivity and selectivity for the metal determination by conventional FAAS, resulting in ultra-trace level detection of Pb(II) in all samples analysed (drinking water, 9.2–23 ng mL−1; distilled spirits, 23–50 ng mL−1; fruit wine, 24–53 ng mL−1). In addition, the proposed method could successfully be applied to Cd(II) determination in these samples.

Four water soluble azo dyes, 4-(isopropyl)-2-[(E)-(4-chlorophenyl)diazenyl]phenol (L 1), 4-(isopropyl)-2-[(E)-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)diazenyl]phenol (L2), 4-(sec-butyl)-2-[(E)-(4-chlorophenyl) diazenyl]phenol (L 3), 4-(sec-butyl)-2-[(E)-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)diazenyl]phenol (L 4), and their Cu(II) and Ni(II) complexes were synthesized and characterized using spectroscopic methods. Examination of their thermal stability revealed similar decomposition temperature of approximately 260–300°C and that they were more thermally stable than their metal complexes. Ni(II) complexes of ligands L2 and L4 were more stable than the other coordination compounds. Among the synthesized ligands, L2 and the complexes Cu(L3)2 and Ni(L4)2 showed both antimicrobial and antifungal activity. However, the other ligands and the complexes were poorly active against selected microorganisms.

This investigation aimed to study a “green” non-toxic biodegradable copper corrosion inhibitor in an acidic sodium sulphate solution. The methods used in the investigation of cysteine as a copper corrosion inhibitor in an acidic sodium sulphate solution were: potentiodynamic measurements, open circuit potential measurements, and chronoamperometric measurements. Optical microscopy was used in addition to electrochemical methods. Potentiodynamic measurements show that cysteine has good inhibitory properties in an acidic medium. Polarisation curves indicate that the presence of cysteine in a sulphate solution decreases the current density and that using various cysteine concentrations results in the formation of a protective film on the surface of the electrode due to the formation of the Cu(I)-cys complex. These results are confirmed by chronoamperometric measurements. Furthermore, it is clear from microphotographs that a protective film does form on copper electrode in the presence of cysteine. The Langmuir adsorption isotherm indicates that cysteine is chemisorbed on the surface of the electrode.

Nanostructured polyaniline (PANI) was synthesised by the oxidation of aniline in a water/ isopropanol (propan-2-ol, IPA) (50 vol. %) mixture, without added acid, using ammonium peroxydisulfate (APS) as an oxidant. Influence of the IPA co-solvent and the reaction time on the molecular structure, morphology and properties of synthesised PANI samples was studied by FTIR, Raman, and UV-VIS spectroscopies, scanning and transmission electron microscopies (SEM and TEM), and conductivity measurements. The course of the reaction was followed by monitoring changes in the temperature and acidity of the reaction medium. The results were compared with those obtained for PANI prepared in water without IPA under the same reaction conditions. The importance of the solvation effects, dielectric constant of the solvent, and the enthalpy of mixing of IPA with water on the course of the polymerisation reaction and on the properties of polymeric products in the water/IPA medium in comparison with those in water was pointed out.

A practical eight-step synthesis of lignanamide cannabisin F starting from vanillin is reported for the first time. This synthetic strategy applies the aldol reaction followed by the Wittig reaction to afford the key 8-O-4′-neolignan intermediate diacid. The diacid was condensed with N,O-protected tyramine giving, after deprotection, cannabisin F.

A novel and convenient synthesis of thiopheno-4-thiazolidinyl indole analogues is presented (IVa-IVi), with the aim of obtaining biologically active compounds. 3,5-disubstituted indol-2-carboxyhydrazides (Ia-If) were allowed to react with 3-acetyl-2,5-dichlorothiophene (II) to yield the corresponding 3,5-disubstituted indol-2-carbohydrazides (IIIa-IIIf). The pre-formed indolecarbohydrazides (IIIa-IIIf) were allowed to react with 2-mercaptoacetic acid or 2-mercaptopropanoic acid to produce thiopheno-4-thiazolidinylindoles (IVa-IVi). This reaction protocol affords a simple, eco-friendly, non-hazardous, easier preparation and high yields. The antioxidant (free radical scavenging, total antioxidant capacity and ferric-reducing antioxidant power) and antimicrobial activities of the synthesised compounds were evaluated. The structures and purity of the products were confirmed by their IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and mass spectral and analytical data. Most of the compounds tested showed very significant scavenging, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Compounds containing electron donor group (CH3) at the fifth position of indole exhibit an excellent ferric-reducing activity. The present study suggests that compounds IIIa-IIIb, IIIf, IVa-IVc, IVf-IVi, may serve as promising lead scaffolds for antioxidant and antimicrobial agents.

Herein, an excellent method for the synthesis of twelve novel Schiff base derivatives containing indole and triazole assisted by microwave irradiation is reported. Compared with the conventional method, the yields increased from 59–84 % to 85–96 % and the reaction time was reduced from 24–30 h to 4–8 min. Moreover, all series of the newly synthesized Schiff bases were evaluated for their antibacterial activity. The values of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and IC50 indicated that many target compounds possessed excellent antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Bacillus subtilis.

The functionalisation of C60 fullerene with 2,3-dimethylene-1,4-dioxane (I) and 2,5-dioxabicyclo [4.2.0]octa-1(8),6-diene (II) was investigated by the use of density functional theory calculations in terms of its energetic, structural, field emission, and electronic properties. The functionalisation of C60 with I was previously reported experimentally. The I and II molecules are preferentially attached to a C—C bond shared and located between two hexagons of C60 via [4+2] and [2+2] cycloadditions bearing reaction energies of −15.9 kcal mol−1 and −72.4 kcal mol−1, respectively. The HOMO-LUMO energy gap and work function of C60 are significantly reduced following completion of the reactions. The field electron emission current of the C60 surface will increase after functionalisation of either the I or II molecule.

The thioacetalisation of a variety of heterocyclic, aromatic, and aliphatic carbonyl compounds (1 mmol) with ethane-1,2-dithiol (1 mmol) using silica sulphuric acid (SSA) is presented as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst under mild and solvent-free conditions at 60°C. The thioacetals were formed within a short reaction time (1–34 min) and isolated with 90–98 % yield following an extractive procedure and chromatography on silica gel. The competitive protection reaction between aldehyde and ketone with ethane-1,2-dithiol afforded the protected derivatives of benzaldehyde and acetophenone with 92 % and 8 % yields, respectively, indicating some selectivity.

Trimerization of 2-methylpropanal (isobutyraldehyde) is a simple and effective method to synthesize 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol monoisobutyrate and 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol-3-monoisobutyrate which are often used as film forming auxiliaries in paints. The use of solid sodium hydroxide as a catalyst provides an excellent yield of above 85 % after the optimization of the reaction time and the catalyst dosage. Furthermore, trimerization of four other aldehydes with one α-hydrogen catalyzed by solid sodium hydroxide can also take place and the yield of 1,3-diol monoesters reaches 50–70 %. Trimerization of aldehydes with one α-hydrogen can be explained by a three-step reaction mechanism: (i) aldol condensation of aldehyde; (ii) crossed Cannizzaro reaction; and (iii) esterification of carboxylic acid and alcohol.