Chemical Physics Review

Ceramic whiteware represents one of the most complex ceramics, formulated from a mix of china clay, ball clay and quartz are sintered to conform a ceramic composite. Ceramic whiteware has excellent technical characteristics. Nowadays, research of new materials, for example non-hazardous wastes, that are able to replace the traditional fluxing agent without changing the process or quality of the final products has been realized. The aim of this work is to study the possibility of the use of quartz, in ceramic whiteware mixtures, for manufacturing of electrical ceramic whiteware bodies. It was prepared by mixtures containing different amounts of china clay, ball clay, feldspar and quartz. The samples were fired reaching different maximum temperatures in the range 950-1250 ºC, with a soaking time of 1 hour. The fired samples were characterized and the use of small amounts of quartz in addition with whiteware samples showed good results of mechanical technological properties. The optimum quartz percentage (25%) S1 samples at 1250 ?C gives the maximum bending strength.

The interaction between a luminescent metal-ligand probe, [Ru(dpp)3]2+ (dpp = 4,7- diphenyl-1,10- phenanthroline disulphonic acid) with bovine serum albumin(BSA) was investigated by means of absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The fluorescence of BSA was quenched by the ruthenium (??) complexes and the quenching mechanism was considered as static by forming a complex. The association constant Kb and the number of binding sites, n were calculated using the modified Stern Volmer equation. The fluorescence of the metal complex is highly enhanced by the addition of BSA. In addition, the results of synchronous fluorescence spectra showed that binding of the metal probe with the BSA induce conformational changes in BSA. The fluorescent enhancement of the system is found to be originated from the hydrophobic microenvironment provided by BSA.

The synthesis of nanoparticles has been entirely a chemical process till last few years. Because of environmental threat, the development of eco-friendly processes for the synthesis of nano-materials is the need of the day. One approach that shows great potential is synthesis of nanoparticles using micro-organisms and plants. The present study deals with the synthesis of silver nanoparticles and investigating the effect of process variables like reductant concentrations, reaction pH, mixing ratio of the reactants and interaction time on the morphology and size of silver nanoparticles synthesized using aqueous extract of previously unexploited plant Cephalandra indica leaves. These nanoparticles were characterized with UV-Vis spectrum, FTIR and SEM analysis which revealed that the morphology and size of silver nanoparticles were strongly dependent on the process parameters. Within 4 hrs interaction period, the nanoparticles are polydisperse and nearly spherical shape with size ranging from 40 to 90nm in size. Further these biologically synthesized nanoparticles were found to be highly toxic against different bacterial species.

Graft copolymerization of acrylamide (AAm) on Gum Karaya GK using diode laser (532 nm) was investigated. The results showed that, the optimum conditions to achieve efficient graft copolymerization were: 60 minutes laser irradiation time and 0.5 gm of GK, 0.142 gm of acrylamide (monomer). The percentage of graft efficiency and percentage of graft yield were 28.00%, and 98.59%, respectively. The graft copolymers were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) which proved a successful production of GK-g-AAm. Thus, Laser irradiation was found to be effective and clean method for producing GK-g-AAm.

The feasibility of activated carbon prepared from Moringa Oleifera fruit shell waste to remove Reactive Red 2 from aqueous solutions was investigated through batch mode contact time process. The effects of various experimental parameters, such as initial concentration, pH, adsorbent dosage and temperature were investigated in a batch-adsorption technique. The optimum conditions for removal of the basic dye were found to be pH 6.5. The equilibrium data were best represented by the Langmuir isotherm model, with maximum mono layer adsorption capacity. The kinetic data were fitted to pseudo first order, pseudo second order and intra particle diffusion models and it was found to follow closely the pseudo first order kinetic model.

The ligand 3,8-Dimethyl-5,6-benzo-4,7-diazadeca-3,7-diene-2,9-dione dioxime was synthesized by the condensation of o-phneylenediamine with diacety monoxime in a 1:2 mole ratio. It has been isolated in the solid state and characterized by CHN, IR, and NMR spectra. The ligand is a neutral compound and on complexation with metal ions loses one of the oxime protons with the concomitant formation of the intramolecular hydrogen bond. Six coordinate Co(III) complex, four coordinate square planar Ni(II) complex and five coordinate square pyramidal Cu(II) complex are synthesized by the reaction of the respective metal chlorides. All these complexes are characterized by infrared, electronic spectroscopy and conductivity measurements. Indirect evidence for the formation of intra-molecular hydrogen bond in these complexes is obtained by replacing the hydrogen bonded proton by the BF2 group by treating the complex [Cu (DO)(DOH) bzo) Cl] with BF3OEt2.

The Kinetics of oxidation of ethyl 2-chloropropionate was carried out with oxidising agent KMnO4 in acidic medium the reaction was found in first order with respectto the concentration of substrate and its pseudo first order with respect to concentration of oxidant. Temperature also affect the rate of reaction as the temperature increase rate of reaction increase as well as concentration of acid affect the rate of reaction as the concentration of acid increases rate of reaction also increases and the study of mechanism show the formation of compound weather it is slow or fast.

In order to success in removing stains from historical dyed samples, it is necessary to understand the nature and type of these stains. This research work aimed to study in detail the different changes occurring on mimic cotton carpet samples dyed with natural yellow dye turmeric and subjecting to different stains (blood, mud and wax). All the stained samples were subjected to light ageing followed by cleaning with different detergents according to the nature of the stain. The examined samples were characterized and evaluated using FTIR-ATR analysis to examine the change in the chemical structure after each treatment process and studying the effect of such processes on the crystallinity/amorphousity of the samples. Also, the color measurement in the CIELAB system was used to quantify the change in samples' colors through the different treatments. The obtained results indicated that: there was an obvious change in the transmission peak intensities of the different functional groups after each treatment, a variation in both the crystalline index (C.I) and % crystallinity of the examined samples and the cleaning process greatly depends on both the type of stain and the cleaning material.

Copper fungicides are extensively used to control leaf necrosis and tuber rot produced by fungi in tiger nut farms. However, information on the levels of copper due to application of copper fungicides are scarce. The levels of water soluble copper of the top soils from eleven preselected tiger nut growing towns from three different districts in the Central Region of Ghana were analysed using atomic absorption spectrometer after the extraction processes. A total of two hundred and twenty top soil samples were taken randomly at a depth of approximately 20cm.Copper fungicides were applied in ten of the farms and the eleventh farm which served as a control had no copper fungicide application. Some physical and chemical properties of the soils were determined. Levels of water-soluble copper in the soils ranged from 0.07 to 0.36 mg kg-1 with a mean concentration of 0.229 mg kg-1. Application of copper fungicides increased water soluble copper levels in the top soils between 257 to 514% in the tiger nut farms analysed. The correlation was done to determine the factors responsible for the differences in the absorption levels of water-soluble copper. Water soluble copper correlated negatively but significantly (P<0.5) with sand, while negative correlation but insignificantly (P>0.5) with silt, organic carbon, cation exchange capacity nitrogen and available phosphorus. An insignificant (P>0.05) but positive correlation existed between water soluble copper level and moisture, acidity, pH and soil clay.

This project investigate the ability of banana musa L peel for adsorption of lead and copper ions from refinery petroleum wastewater. The main functional groups in banana peel were identified by FTIR, Elements composition of used medium has been characterized by Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP). Lead and copper were determined in refinery petroleum wastewater and their standard solutions before and after passing on banana peel medium by using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry technique (AAS). The adsorption isotherm fitted by Freundlich model at 38 oC and pH=5.5. The FTIR spectrum revealed that the main functional groups in banana peel are OH, C-H stretching, carboxylic acids and amino groups. Elements composition of banana peel medium was found to be Fe, Cu, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pd, Sr, Ti, V and Zn. The banana peel showed high ability to uptake lead and copper ions from refinery petroleum wastewater and their standard solutions. The R2 of leaner shape of adsorption isotherm for lead and copper ions was found to be 0.999 and 1 respectively. The concentration of lead and copper ions in refinery wastewater was reduced from 0.091, 0.060 ppm to 0.027 , 0.013 ppm respectively, after being passed through banana peel medium.