Applied Chemistry

Low density polyethylene samples were reinforced with wood fibres from Dracaena arborea, the fibres were either bleached, unbleached, blended, unblended or in the acetylated form. Films formed after reinforcement of the polyethylene with the various forms of the fibres were tested to confirm their mechanical properties like tensile strength and tensile modulus. Moisture regains and water imbibitions were also determined. The reinforced samples were compared with a film formed from pure polyethylene. Mechanical properties of the wood fibre reinforced polyethylene composites were better than that of pure polyethylene. Pure polyethylene has a tensile strength of 20kN/m2 and tensile modulus of 219kN/m2 while the bleached and blended wood fibre reinforced polyethylene had a tensile strength of 42kN/m2 and tensile modulus of 3620kN/m2. Therefore, the reinforced polyethylene is suitable for use as specially tailored light weight structural parts in reinforcement. Whereas pure polyethylene is stable and resistant to environmental decomposition, the wood fibre reinforced polyethylene is renewable due to its ability to absorb moisture and imbibe water. Also, the wood fibre treatment showed improved moisture absorption and water imbibition potentials. This offers the possibility of biodegradation thereby meeting environmental demands.

Insects are among the most diverse types of animals within the arthropod group that are usually collected for food and feed. The vitamin profile of ten insect samples: adult bee, bee brood, winged termite, termite soldier, mopane worm, scarab beetle, snoult beetle, maize weevil, silkworm larva and silkworm pupa were investigated using standard analytical methods. Among the water-soluble vitamins investigated, vitamin B3 (niacin) had the highest concentration in each of the samples with values 4.57-7.33mg/100g whilst vitamin C (9.27e-5-1.34e-4) recorded the lowest concentration. Other water-soluble vitamins (mg/100g) determined were B1: 0.050-0.096, B2: 0.261-0.387, B5: 1.48e-3-4.14e-3, B6: 0.124-0.156 and B9: 6.55e-3-8.58e-3. Vitamin E (1.50-2.48mg/100g) was most concentrated among the fat-soluble vitamins investigated followed by vitamin A (0.021-0.110mg/100g) whilst vitamin K (6.63e-4-1.04e-3mg/100g) had the least concentration. The statistical analysis using Chi-square at ? = 0.05 showed that no significant differences existed among the samples in the parameters determined. This research work has therefore provided more useful and reliable information on the vitamins composition of the analyzed ten insect samples that could enhance their usefulness and applications in Food industry.

Thiamine hydrochloride (VB1) has been used as an environmentally benign catalyst for one pot synthesis of 14-aryl-4H-dibenzo[a, j]xanthenes derivatives by the three-component reaction of two equivalants of ?-naphthol and aldehydes at 1100C under solvent-free conditions. Various type of aldehyde bearing electron donating as well as electron withdrawing substituents underwent smooth reaction under the optimized reaction conditions and products were obtained in good to excellent yield.

In this analysis , experimental values of densities (?) and dynamic viscosities (?) in the binary mixtures of n-hexane, n-heptane and n-octane with diethyl malonate are reported over the whole range of mixture composition at T = (303.15, 308.15, 313.15 and 318.15) K. From these data, deviations in viscosity (??) and excess Gibbs free energy of activation of viscous flow (?G*E) have been evaluated. These results were fitted to Redlich–Kister polynomial equations to estimate the fitting coefficients and standard deviation. The results of the viscosity composition are discussed in the light of various viscosity equations suggested by Grunberg-Nissan, Katti-Chaudhri, Heric-Brewer and Hind et al. The deviation of the experimental values of the viscosity of the mixture from the mole fraction mixture law rules, are found to be negative and follow the order n-hexane < n-heptane < n-octane. The experiments on the constituted binaries are analyzed to discuss the nature and strength of intermolecular interactions in these mixtures.

The validity of equation-of-state EOS of relevant materials is very important for various researchers in the scientific fields including geophysics, material science and high-pressure physics. In the present work we have calculated pressure , isothermal bulk modulas , first pressure derivative of isothermal bulk modulus and second order pressure derivative of isothermal bulk modulus in terms of for geophysical Olivine mineral, using different equation of state. Using the values of these parameters, we have computed the values of Gruneisen parameter ( ) and the graphs are plotted between V/V0 and Gruneisen parameter corresponding to different values of V/V0 for Olivine. From graph we observe that as V/V0 , goes to infinity. Isothermal bulk modulus increases continuously with increase in pressure. Pressure derivative of isothermal bulk modulus KT i.e. decreases progressively with the increase in pressure and is always negative. The result analysis conclude that the Brennan-Stacey and Shanker EOS is compatible both low and high compression ranges for calculating Gruniesen parameter where as Vinet EOS is not compatible for calculating the Gruniesen parameter at low compression ranges.

The industrial effluents have been recommended as potential source of irrigation water and nutrient sources for commercial cropping system. However, the high nutrient loads and presence of some growth retarding substances in industrial effluent may cause severe impact on plant germination and gross productivity of a commercial crop. Prior to field application the industrial effluent should be tested for its ecotoxicity using seed bioassay test. The of this study was to investigate the toxicity of distillery effluent (DE) using seeds of moong (Vigna radiata), guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba), Makai (Zea mays) and gehu (Triticum aestivum). For lab trial, a total of a total of five different concentrations of distillery effluents (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100%) were prepared by adding required quantity of distilled water. Seed germination, root length, shoot length, root weight, shoot weight and chlorophyll level etc. were measured in experimental set-ups. Result suggested 40% DE strength suitable for plants: C. Tetragonoloba (67.7%), T. aestivum (64%) and Z. Mays (92.3%) except in V.radiate (98% germination with 60% DE). The high DE indicates a toxic impact on seed germinations. The seedling growth and biomass also showed a close relationship with strength of DE in treatment set-up. In majority of set-ups, set-up with 20 – 60 % DE strength showed the better results of plant groths. The biochemical stress of high DE strength on seedling was also observed in this study. The study clearly support the utility of DE for plant production but after proper dilutions of the effluent.

Activated carbons were prepared by carbonization and activation of Coula eludies seed shells. This was done using ZnCl2 as the activating chemical and the activation was done using sample to activating chemical ratios of 1: 10 and 1:20 (g/v). The activated carbon obtained were characterized by determining the percentage yield, moisture content, ash content and percentage fixed carbon. The adsorption of methylene blue by the activated carbon was done using 100mg to 500mg of the activated carbon. The results revealed that the yield, moisture content, ash content and percentage fixed carbon of 1:10 impregnated activated carbon were 41.94%, 11.20%, 7.00% and 92.00% respectively while that of the 1:20 impregnated activated carbon were 38.76%, 18.56%, 5.50% and 96.50% respectively. These results show that the yield and the ash content of 1:10 impregnated activated carbon is higher than that of 1:20 impregnated activated carbon. While 1:20 impregnated activated carbon has higher moisture content and percentage fixed carbon. The adsorption study also revealed that 1:20 impregnated activated carbon had greater adsorption capacity. However adsorption efficient was increased with increase in adsorbent dosage.

Three novel phenyl-dibenzo [b, h][1,6]naphthyridine derivatives were synthesized in five steps, from ethyl benzoyl acetate and aniline derivatives. A total of 48 minutes reaction time was recorded for the latter four steps using microwave irradiation. The yield of the final products and all intermediate products were over 80%.

This work aimed to apply a thermochromatic polymer based on 10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid (PCDA) monomer as a temperature sensor. This polymer has specific chemical structure enabling it to vary its color parameters, namely CIE L (brightness), a (red-green) and b (yellow-blue), with the temperature transitions. These color parameters were calculated in accordance to the American standard ASTM number E308-2001. All changes in the temperature were found to be easily tuned with the visual color and the color difference (DE). These changes were found to be recyclable and reversible in the studied temperature range of 25-105^oC with regression factor equals unity.

Phosphate ores are used for phosphoric acid, fertilizers and animal feed production. In Egypt phosphate ore reserves are present in three main localities namely; Nile valley, new valley in western desert, and the eastern desert along the red sea coast. Currently, newly discovered phosphate ores are being mined from Nile valley areas mainly for exportation and partially for local production of fertilizers. However, in exporting such ores, the mining companies export only the coarse fractions of the run of mine ores of high grade (over 30 % P2O5) while the fine fractions of low grade (~ 18-22 % P2O5 content), for the time being, are rejected. This is because such fine fractions contain different gangue minerals such as calcite and silica. This paper aims at studying the amenability of upgrading such rejected fine fractions of Nile valley areas through application of froth flotation process. Such flotation technique is investigated to separate the associated gangues (silica and calcite) from the fine fractions of phosphate ores. The different operating conditions affecting on the efficiency of separation of phosphate mineral from its associated gangues are studied. These parameters, among others, are collector dosage, depressant dose, and pH. At the optimum conditions of flotation, a phospho-concentrate of about P2O5 of 29.5 % and 7.6 % A.I. is obtained from a feed sample containing about 21.13 % P2O5 and 19 % A.I.