Applied Chemistry

Thermo-chemically cracked cocos nucifera shells were converted into useful adsorbent using chemical activation method. Regeneration of the spent carbon was carried out via thermal regeneration method. The re-derived filter was used in the adsorption of nickel (Ni) from a simulated Ni2+ solution. Qualitative characterization was carried out using the Fourier Transformed Infra Red Spectrophotometer while Atomic Adsorption Spectrophotometer was used to analyze the equilibrium phase Ni2+ concentration. Comparative study of the derived and regenerated activated carbons was carried out using kinetic adsorption studies approach. From the experimental runs, it was evident that derived cocos nucifera shells activated Carbon provided slightly higher removal efficiency values than the vice for Nickel uptake. Investigations with applicability test supported the pseudo second order kinetics as best model in explaining the sorption rate (k2 = 0.744) as against the proposed linear and first order kinetics. Generally, reuse of spent coconut shell carbon and its investigated film diffusion transport mode in removal of Ni2+ is critical a study with a worthwhile adoption in remediation study.

Background: Iron oxide nanoparticles can be used for medical imaging, disease diagnosis, drug delivery, cancer treatment, gene therapy and other cases. These particles accumulate in liver cells and lead to oxidative stress with generation of reactive oxygen species. Aim: This study investigates the effect of iron oxide nanoparticles on liver tissue and enzymes [alanine aminotransfere (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)] in male rat. Methods: 40 adult male rats of wistar strain, weighing 250-300 g were used for this study. The rats were randomly assigned to four groups. One group was control and other three groups were fed with iron oxide nanoparticles at 20, 50 and 150 µg/kg concentrations respectively for 15 days. Venous blood was taken to measure liver enzymes at the end of treatment. Liver of rats removed for histological experiments. Results: Significantly enhanced (P<0.05) AST level obtained as well as ALT and ALP level with used of maximum concentration of iron oxide nanoparticles (150 µg/kg) as compared to normal group. Conclusion: Based on our result, using high concentration of iron oxide nanoparticles could be caused undesirable effects on liver with damage to hepatocyte and level elevation of liver enzymes.

Mineral, physico-chemical, functional properties and fatty acid composition of Nigerian Periwinkle (Tympanotonus fuscatus var radula) were studied. The highest mineral in the sample was sodium with the value of 130mg per 100g while phosphorus had the lowest value of 2.18 mg per 100g. The refractive index was 1.46 and specific gravity was 0.89 g/cm3while the viscosity was 40.8 mPa/sec. Oleic acid had the highest value of 30.1% followed by Linoleic acid (27.9%) while palmitoleic acid (0.14%) was the lowest fatty acid in the sample.

The present paper is focused on the modification of the properties of polystyrene by adding cobalt chloride and manganese chloride. The composites are prepared using casting technique with different percentages of fillers. The experimental results show that the D.C conductivity of composites increases with the increase of cobalt chloride and manganese chloride concentrations. The D.C electrical conductivity changes with increasing of temperature. Also the activation energy of electrical conductivity of (PS-CoCl2) and (PS-MnCl2) composites decreases with increasing cobalt chloride and manganese chloride concentrations.

A simple method to pre-concentrated Citalopram on C18 modified carbon nanotubes in column has been applied as stationary phase which is used to measure the concentration of Citalopram in water samples by means of solid-phase extraction. To measure 250 mL water samples and 250mg C18 modified carbon nanotubes could be applied. Next step is to measure the Citalopram by injecting them to the gas chromatography with flame ionization. The advantages of applying HPLC with SPE in presence C18 modified carbon nanotubes are high sensitivity, High speed transformation of Citalopram and improving ration standard for river waters with Citalopram in the range of ppb or those with less than 10% of LOD. The quantity of extraction could be affected by sample's pH, amount of solvent, washing liquid type, solvent and flow rates of the sample solutions. The percentage recovery by SPE was 98.00 and the validation parameters proved the precision of the method and its applicability for the determination of citalopram in human plasma.

A copper complex of the type [Cu(Bipy)(L-Tyr)(TU)](ClO4), where Bipy = 2,2’ Bipyridine, Tyr = L-Tyrosine and TU = Thiourea, was synthesised and characterised by elemental analysis, UV-Visible, IR, conductivity measurement and EPR studies. DNA-binding properties have been studied by electronic absorption, emission, viscosity and cyclic voltammetric methods. The results suggest that the copper(II) complex bind to DNA via different modes. Gel electrophoresis study reveals the fact that the copper(II) complex cleaves super coiled pBR 322 DNA to nicked and slight linear forms in the presence and absence of ascorbic acid. The in vitro antimicrobial study indicates that the complex has good activity against gram positive, gram negative bacteria and fungus.

The reignited research on biodiesel production has witnessed, in recent decades, so much momentum to lead a great revolution in world energy in the near future. This great resurgence is stimulated in one part by the anxiety of the uncertainty of the supply life span of conventional fuels and in the other by the numerous advantages that biodiesel offer over petroleum diesel fuel. Biodiesel, amongst other benefits, is renewable, biodegradable, environmentally benign, energy efficient, and by far a major role-player in the league of biofuels that will sustain the energy future. Starting from history to present, this work presents a comprehensive review of major advance in biodiesel production. The five basic ways of making biodiesel: direct use and dilution, microemulsions, thermal cracking and transesterification are reviewed with emphasis on heterogeneous catalyst transesterification. Progresses in research into other methods such as enzyme catalysed, non-catalytic supercritical and ultrasound aided transesterification, biox co-solvent and in situ processes as well as production from microalgae are detailed. The factors affecting the yield of the different processes are identified and recommendations are presented for optimum production yield. Evaluation of the economic viability of biodiesel production shows the major challenges as the cost of production and limited availability of fat and oil resources. Microalgae prove to be the economical choice for biodiesel production, because of the availability, high productivity and low cost. Therefore, research should be geared towards the improvement and optimization of biodiesel production from algae.

Algerian oil as a new source of carbon is used to prepare the carbon nanospheres (CNSs) by pyrolysis method. A mixture of crude oil and FeCl3.6H2O solution as catalyst was injected into the reaction furnace to produce CNSs in an inert atmosphere, followed by multi step purification to remove different impurities. The carbon nanospheres have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-rays spectroscopy (EDAX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and FTIRspectrum. The SEM image reveals that these CNSs have smooth surfaces and uniform particles with a diameter lower than 500 nm. the XRD and Raman studies shows that the graphitization degree of CNSs is not high , while the EDAX analysis shows that more than 98 % of the CNSs is carbon, FTIR proved the presence of new functions after samples treatment such as acid function. This study reports the optimization of various process parameters such as, temperature of reaction (860-940°C), process Time (90-150min)and mass ratio catalyst/Crude oil (0.83 10-3-2.4810-3 g/g) for increasing the Yield of CNSs. A MODDE 6.0 experimental design was employed for the optimization of synthesis of crude oil to ensure high production of carbon nanospheres in a low catalyst concentration and high temperature for a short length of time. The analysis of variance showed a high coefficient of determination value (R2 = 0.965) and Maximum CNSs production was predicted and experimentally validated, the optimized process conditions were identified to be reaction temperature of 900°C, duration synthesis of 113min and mass ratio catalyst /crude oil of 0.8 10-3 g/g with a yield of 13.23 %.

The objective of this work is to study the efficiency of some surface modified phyllosilicate minerals (bentonite and glauconite) in the removal of dyes from textile waste water. It is found that complete dye removal was achieved by using (10-25) g modified glauconite from solutions having a dye concentration of 10-50 mg/L. Adsorption data were modeled using Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherms. Adsorption capacities and optimum adsorption isotherms were predicted by linear regression method. The analysis of experimental isotherms showed that Langmuir isotherm reasonably fit the experimental data in the studied concentration range for the adsorption of dye onto glauconite mineral surface where Freundlich isotherm fit the experimental data for the adsorption of dye onto bentonite mineral surface.

To understand complexation behavior of antibiotics, such streptomycin, tetracycline and oxime with studied oxovanadium coordination to novel ligands by various spectroscopic techniques. The crystal system, lattice parameters, unit cell, particle size and volume have been determined by X-ray powder diffraction data. The geometries of the complexes have been optimized on the basis of molecular modeling. Spectroscopic data indicates deprotonation & coordination of the secondary alcoholic OH and NH₂groups with oxovanadium. Mass spectrum explains the successive degradation of the molecular species in solution and justifies ML complexes. The crystal data: complex I is monoclinic crystal system space group P_21/M, a =14.4998(A),b =5.9531(A),c=4.4909(A),? =90.00°,? =96.29°,? = 90.00° , V = 385.44A³; complex II is tetragonal crystal system, space group P_4/mm, a=12.6313(A),b =12.6313(A),c=6.3494(A)? = 90.00° ?=90.00 °  ?=90.00° V =1013.06 A³. Molecular structures of the complexes have been optimized by MM2 calculations and supported octahedral arrangements in both complexes.