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Journal of Chromatography. A Dec 2023Nowadays, environmental problems are drawing the attention of governments and international organisations, which are therefore encouraging the transition to green...
Nowadays, environmental problems are drawing the attention of governments and international organisations, which are therefore encouraging the transition to green industrial processes and approaches. In this context, chemists can help indicate a suitable direction. Beside the efforts focused on greening synthetic approaches, currently also analytical techniques and separations are under observation, especially those employing large volumes of organic solvents, such as reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC). Acetonitrile has always been considered the best performing organic modifier for RPLC applications, due to its chemical features (complete miscibility in water, UV transparency, low viscosity etc); nevertheless, it suffers of severe shortcomings, and most importantly, it does not fully comply with Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) requirements. For these reasons, alternative greener solvents are being investigated, especially easily available alcohols. In this work, chromatographic performance of the most common solvents used in reversed-phase chromatography, i.e., acetonitrile, ethanol and isopropanol, have been compared to a scarcely used solvent, dimethyl carbonate (DMC). The analytes of interest were two small molecules, caffeine and paracetamol, whose kinetics and retention behaviour obtained with the four solvents have been compared, and all contributions to band broadening have been assessed. Results about kinetic performance are very promising, indicating that a small amount (7 % v/v) of DMC is able to produce the same efficiency as a 2.5-times larger ACN volume (18 % v/v), and larger efficiency than alcohols. This paper reports, for the first time, fundamental studies concerning the mass transfer phenomena when DMC is used as an organic solvent in RPLC, and, together with the companion paper, represents the results of a research whose final aim was to discover whether DMC is suitable for chromatographic applications both in linear and preparative conditions.
Topics: Chromatography, Reverse-Phase; Solvents; Ethanol; Acetonitriles; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
PubMed: 37944433
DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2023.464477 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024The application of organic fertilizers is one of the most important agricultural measures aimed at improving the flavor and productivity of , with the granulation and...
The application of organic fertilizers is one of the most important agricultural measures aimed at improving the flavor and productivity of , with the granulation and coating of organic fertilizers, which can reduce seepage losses of great significance to the ecosystem. In this study, Jingcai 8 tomato was selected as the test material. Headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) methods were used to investigate the effects of different pelletized organic fertilizers and various coating materials on the flavor profile of the tomatoes. The results indicated that 67 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were identified in the tomato fruits and 62 volatile compounds were identified in the leaves under different fertilizer treatments. The volatile compound content of the fruits in the BP treatment group was 35.38 μg/g, which was higher than that in other treatment groups, and the volatile compound content of the leaves was lower. A differential compound analysis with log|fold change| ≥ 1 and variable important in projection (VIP) > 1 highlighted styrene, 3-methyl-1-butanol, and (E, E)-2,4-hexadienal as the major up-regulated compounds and methyl salicylate as the major down-regulated compound in the tomato fruit BCK (control) vs. BP. Moreover, the α-phellandrene content decreased in the tomato leaves. In addition, an analysis of the tomato fruit differential compounds and compounds with odor activity values (OAV) of ≥ 1, considering the OAV values of characteristic aroma compounds, identified key compounds affecting the flavor of the tomato fruits under the BP treatment. These included 2-nonenal, (E)-2-pentylfuran, trans-β-ionone, 1-penten-3-one, (E, E)-2,4-hexadienal, and 3-hexenol (fruity, floral, and herbaceous odors), (E, E)-2,4-heptadienal (fatty odor), and hexanal (green odor). The combined results analysis of the volatile compound content, differential compounds, and OAV values of characteristic aroma compounds aimed to clarify that the BP treatment group, which applied pelletized, large-grain organic fertilizer with polyurethane (pozzolanic + small-grain oil-coated + 2% paraffinic + 4% polyurethane) as a coating material, proved to be most effective in influencing the flavor of the tomato fruits. This finding lays the foundation for its potential commercial application in artificial orchards.
PubMed: 38890880
DOI: 10.3390/foods13111653 -
Membranes Nov 2023Membrane technology has been embraced as a feasible and suitable substitute for conventional time- and energy-intensive biodiesel synthesis processes. It is ecofriendly,...
Cleaner Biofuel Production via Process Parametric Optimization of Nonedible Feedstock in a Membrane Reactor Using a Titania-Based Heterogeneous Nanocatalyst: An Aid to Sustainable Energy Development.
Membrane technology has been embraced as a feasible and suitable substitute for conventional time- and energy-intensive biodiesel synthesis processes. It is ecofriendly, easier to run and regulate, and requires less energy than conventional approaches, with excellent stability. Therefore, the present study involved the synthesis and application of a highly reactive and recyclable Titania-based heterogeneous nanocatalyst (TiO) for biodiesel production from nonedible seed oil via a membrane reactor, since is easily and widely accessible and has a rich oil content (39% /). The high free fatty acids content (6.52 mg/g KOH) of the nonedible oil was decreased to less than 1% via two-step esterification. Following the esterification, transesterification was performed using a heterogeneous TiO nanocatalyst under optimum conditions, such as a 9:1 methanol-oil molar ratio, 90 °C reaction temperature, 2 wt.% catalyst loading, and an agitation rate of 600 rpm, and the biodiesel yield was optimized through response surface methodology (RSM). seed oil contains 68.98% unsaturated (61.01% oleic acid, 8.97% linoleic acid) and 31.02% saturated fatty acids (15.91% palmitic acid, 15.11% stearic acid). These fatty acids transformed into respective methyl esters, with a total yield up to 95% achieved. The biodiesel was analyzed via advanced characterization techniques like gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), whereas the catalyst was characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Due to its physicochemical properties, seed oil is a highly recommended feedstock for biodiesel production. Moreover, it is concluded that the Titania-based heterogeneous nanocatalyst (TiO) is effective for high-quality liquid fuel synthesis from nonedible seed oil in a membrane reactor, which could be an optional green route to cleaner production of bioenergy, eventually leading to sustenance, robustness, and resilience that will aid in developing a holistic framework for integrated waste management.
PubMed: 38132893
DOI: 10.3390/membranes13120889 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2023Crop fungal diseases pose a serious threat to global crop production and quality. Developing new and efficient fungicides is an important measure to control crop...
Crop fungal diseases pose a serious threat to global crop production and quality. Developing new and efficient fungicides is an important measure to control crop diseases. Phenylthiazole was found to be an excellent antifungal skeleton based on our previous study on the structural optimization and biological activity of the natural product thiasporine A. To find new fungicides, 45 phenylthiazole derivatives containing an acylhydrazone moiety were designed and synthesized by the principle of active substructure splicing. Forty-two of the forty-five compounds are novel, except for compounds , , and . Their structures were structurally characterized by H NMR, C NMR, and HRMS. The antifungal activities of the target compounds against , , and were evaluated at 25 μg/mL. The bioassay results revealed that most of these compounds exhibited excellent antifungal activities against and at 25 μg/mL. In particular, compounds , , , , , , and showed the inhibition rate of more than 80% against , with EC values of 1.66, 2.01, 2.26, 1.45, 1.50, 1.29, and 2.65 μg/mL, respectively, which were superior to that of the commercial fungicides Isoprothiolane (EC = 3.22 μg/mL) and Phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (EC = 27.87 μg/mL). The preliminary structure-activity relationship (SAR) results suggested that introducing methyl, halogen, or methoxy at the ortho-position of R and the para-position of R can endow the final structure with excellent antifungal activity against . The current results provide useful data for developing phenylthiazole derivatives as new fungicides for controlling rice blast caused by .
Topics: Antifungal Agents; Fungicides, Industrial; Magnaporthe; Structure-Activity Relationship; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
PubMed: 37894562
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28207084 -
Scientific Reports Mar 2024This research investigated the utilization of graphene quantum dot/montmorillonite (GQD/MMT) as an effective nanofiller in a hydrogel composed of salep biopolymer. The...
This research investigated the utilization of graphene quantum dot/montmorillonite (GQD/MMT) as an effective nanofiller in a hydrogel composed of salep biopolymer. The semi-IPN hydrogel was synthesized using salep as the substrate, acrylamide (AAm) as the monomer, ammonium persulfate (APS) as an initiator in free radical polymerization, and N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a cross-linking agent. The hydrogels were applied to remove safranin (SA), methylene blue (MB), crystal violet (CV), methyl green (MG), congo red (CR), and malachite green (MG) dyes from the water. The diverse properties were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope, fourier infrared spectroscopy, mapping, energy dispersive spectroscopy, weighing analysis, X-ray diffraction, and thermal stability analyses. The optimism of the prepared adsorbent in dye absorption was evaluated by measuring the swelling amount, pH impact, adsorbent dosage, and contact time. The adsorption calculations were described using kinetics and isotherm models. The results indicated that the Langmuir isotherm model (R = 99.6) and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R = 99.9) provided the best fit for the absorption process of MB. The presence of additional amounts of GQD/MMT had a reciprocal effect on the adsorption efficiency due to the accumulation of GQD/MMT in the semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN (structure. The findings revealed that the samples exhibited high thermal stability, and the absorption process was primarily chemical. Furthermore, the nanocomposite hydrogels demonstrated distinct mechanisms for absorbing anionic dye (CR) and cationic dye (MB). Under optimal conditions, using 7 wt% GQD/MMT at a concentration of 5 ppm, pH = 7, an adsorbent dosage of 50 mg, at room temperature, and a contact time of 90 min, the maximum removal efficiencies were achieved: MB (96.2%), SA (98.2%), MG (86%), CV (99.8%), MG (95.8%), and CR (63.4%). These results highlight the adsorbent's high absorption capacity, rapid removal rate, and reusability, demonstrating its potential as an eco-friendly and cost-effective solution for removing dyes from water.
PubMed: 38528090
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57729-0 -
Forensic Science International Jun 2024In the forensic science context petrol is considered the most common fire accelerant. However, the identification and classification of petrol sources through the years...
In the forensic science context petrol is considered the most common fire accelerant. However, the identification and classification of petrol sources through the years has been proven to be a challenge in the investigation of fire related incidents. This research explored the possibility of identification and classification of petrol sources using high field NMR spectroscopy. In this study, H NMR profiling, using specific pulse sequences to analyse neat aliquot petrol samples of different brands collected at different times across the UK and Ireland is shown, for the first time, to provide a diagnostic 'fingerprint' with specific chemical compounds that can be used for identification and classification of petrol samples. This enables linkage of unknown petrol samples to a source and in addition provides a tool which allows exclusion of potential petrol sources. A new, innovative method using H selTOCSY is described for the individualization and classification of petrol samples through the identification of olefinic markers in the samples. Those markers were identified as (i) 3-methyl-1-butene, (ii) a mixture of 1-pentene and 3-methyl-1-butene, (iii) 2-methyl-2-butene and (iv) a mixture of cis and trans-2-pentene.
PubMed: 38901059
DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2024.112103 -
ACS Omega Nov 2023Currently, there is increased interest in biosurfactants as a substitute for surfactants synthesized from petroleum due to their superior properties and...
Currently, there is increased interest in biosurfactants as a substitute for surfactants synthesized from petroleum due to their superior properties and biodegradability. Palm oil derivatives, which can be converted to various products, were selected for biosurfactant synthesis. This paper simulated the biosurfactant production process from palm fatty acid distillate, that is, methyl ester sulfonate (MES), alkyl sulfate, alkyl phosphate, and alkyl carboxylate. Aspen Plus software was used to estimate the thermodynamic properties of intermediate aliphatic organic acids, e.g., methyl ester sulfonic acid, fatty alcohol sulfuric acid, and fatty alcohol phosphoric acid. The chemical process equipment was designed and evaluated to be used in techno-economic analysis, with comparison to petroleum source surfactant production, that is, sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS). The total production cost of each biosurfactant was expressed in terms of minimum selling price. The profitability of each project was determined and compared using three economic indicators: net present value (NPV), payback period, and internal rate of return (IRR). The life cycle assessment methodology was then used to evaluate the environmental impact of surfactant production. The results showed that all surfactant production processes, except for alkyl phosphate, were attractive alternatives as the project yielded a positive value of NPV. The highest NPV of 13.1 million USD was obtained from the MES production process, while the maximum IRR of 79.81% and payback period of 1.49 years were obtained from the alkyl carboxylate production process at a capacity of 1 ton/h. However, the sulfate production process caused more environmental impact than the other two surfactants (MES and carboxylate) due to more CO emission per product unit at the level of 2.88 tons CO/ton surfactant, which is also more than the SDBS surfactant production process that released 2.46 tons CO/ton surfactant.
PubMed: 38046340
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c06777 -
Microorganisms Jul 2023Reducing the use of fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides in order to limit environmental pollution and health risks for agricultural operators and consumers is one...
Reducing the use of fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides in order to limit environmental pollution and health risks for agricultural operators and consumers is one of the goals of European regulations. In fact, the European Commission developed a package of measures (the European Green Deal) to promote the sustainable use of natural resources and strengthen the resilience of European agri-food systems. As a consequence, new plant protection products, such as biostimulants, have been proposed as alternatives to agrochemicals. Their application in agroecosystems could potentially open new scenarios regarding the microbiota. In particular, the vineyard microbiota and the microbiota on the grape surface can be affected by biostimulants and lead to different wine features. The aim of this work was to assess the occurrence of a possible variation in the mycobiota due to the biostimulant application. Therefore, our attention has been focused on the yeast community of grape bunches from vines subjected to the phytostimulant BION50WG treatment. This work was carried out in the CREA-VE experimental vineyard of cv. Barbera in Asti (Piedmont, Italy). The composition of fungal communities on grapes from three experimental conditions such as IPM (integrated pest management), IPM+BION50WG, and IPM+water foliar nebulization was compared by a metabarcoding approach. Our results revealed the magnitude of alpha and beta diversity, and the microbial biodiversity index and specific fungal signatures were highlighted by comparing the abundance of yeast and filamentous fungi in IPM and BION50WG treatments. No significant differences in the mycobiota of grapevines subjected to the three treatments were detected.
PubMed: 37630432
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11081873 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2023The exploration of low-cost, high-performance adsorbents is a popular research issue. In this work, a straightforward method that combined hydrothermal with tube firing...
The exploration of low-cost, high-performance adsorbents is a popular research issue. In this work, a straightforward method that combined hydrothermal with tube firing was used to produce Osmanthus fragrans biomass charcoal (OBC) from low-cost osmanthus for dye adsorption in water. The study examined the parameters of starting concentration, pH, and duration, which impacted the process of adsorption of different dyes by OBC. The analysis showed that the adsorption capacities of OBC for six dyes: malachite green (MG, = 800 mg/L, pH = 7), Congo red (CR, = 1000 mg/L, pH = 8), rhodamine B (RhB, = 500 mg/L, pH = 6), methyl orange (MO, = 1000 mg/L, pH = 7), methylene blue (MB, = 700 mg/L, pH = 8), and crystalline violet (CV, = 500 mg/L, pH = 7) were 6501.09, 2870.30, 554.93, 6277.72, 626.50, and 3539.34 mg/g, respectively. The pseudo-second-order model and the Langmuir isotherm model were compatible with the experimental findings, which suggested the dominance of ion exchange and chemisorption. The materials were characterized by using XRD, SEM, FTIR, BET, and XPS, and the results showed that OBC had an outstanding specific surface area (2063 m·g), with potential adsorption mechanisms that included electrostatic mechanisms, hydrogen bonding, and π-π adsorption. The fact that the adsorption capacity did not drastically decrease after five cycles of adsorption and desorption suggests that OBC has the potential to be a dye adsorbent.
Topics: Coloring Agents; Wastewater; Charcoal; Biomass; Congo Red; Oleaceae
PubMed: 37687134
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28176305 -
Insects Nov 2023(Hemiptera: Aphididae) is an important pest affecting various crops worldwide. However, only few studies have been conducted on the infection of by and related...
(Hemiptera: Aphididae) is an important pest affecting various crops worldwide. However, only few studies have been conducted on the infection of by and related insecticidal mechanisms. We investigated the infection process of by HK-1 using fluorescence microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and our results indicated that the conidia of strain HK-1 easily attached to the feet and dorsum of . The activities of chitinase and extracellular protease were induced in the aphid after treatment with HK-1. A bioassay on showed that the median lethal concentration (LC) of the fungus crude extract was 24.00 mg mL for 24 h of treatment. Additionally, the results showed that the crude extract disrupted the enzyme system of , inducing the inhibition of carboxylesterase (CarE) and the induction of glutathione S-transferase (GST) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Combining these results with those of a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, it is suggested that -cymene, hymecromone, 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z, Z) methyl ester, and 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z, Z) may be connected to the insecticidal effects we observed. This study provides a theoretical basis for the use of HK-1 as a potential biological control agent.
PubMed: 37999059
DOI: 10.3390/insects14110860