A rapid green synthesis of Ag/AgCl-NC photocatalyst for environmental applications

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The present study focuses on extract-mediated Ag nanoparticles (NPs), AgCl-NPs, and Ag/AgCl nanocomposites (NCs) as photocatalysts along with its...     

Optimization of extraction of oil and biodiesel from Thespesia populnea seed oil by alkali catalyst in India

Thespesia populnea oil was new source of biodiesel. Crude Thespesia populnea oil was used as feedstock for biodiesel production by alkali-catalyzed methanolysis. The reaction in the presence of NaOH as catalyst was carried out to investigate the optimum conditions and to study the effects of variables on the reaction. A methanol to oil ratio of 6:1, sodium methoxide catalyst concentration of 1.5%, mixing intensity of 250 rpm and reaction temperature of 60°C offered the best Thespesia populnea seed oil methyl esters (biodiesel) yield (92.6%). The methyl ester content under these optimum conditions was 92.6% w/w, and all of the measured properties of the Thespesia populnea biodiesel (TPME) met the international standards ASTM D 6751-02. The results reveal that all of the reaction variables in this study had positive effects on the reaction. The results of the present study indicated that TPME could be a potential alternative to petrodiesel     

Experimental investigation on dish solar distiller with modified absorber and phase change material under various operating conditions

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The shortage of potable water is a global problem. One of the techniques used to participate solving this problem is the solar distiller. The main...     

Preparation,characterization and toxic activity of oxovanadium(IV) mixed-ligand complexes

New oxovanadium(IV) mixed-ligand complexes of the general composition [VO(L)(A)], where KHL?=?potassium salt of salicylideneglycine, A¹?=?bis(benzylidene)ethylenediamine, A²?=?bis (acetophenone)ethylenediamine, A³?=?di(2-pyridyl)amine, A⁴?=?bis(benzylidene)-1,8-diaminonaphthalene, A⁵?=?thiophene-o-carboxaldene-aniline, A⁶?=?thiophene-o-carboxaldene-p-anisidine, have been synthesized by the interaction of these ligands with vanadyl sulphate. The mixed-ligand complexes have been characterized on the basis of elemental analysis, magnetic measurements, electronic and infrared spectra. An octahedral structure has tentatively been assigned to all of the mixed-ligand complexes. The mixed-ligand complexes show higher toxic activity against the Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli and Serratia mercescen as compared to the ligands, vanadyl sulphate and control (dimethyl sulphoxide). The mixed-ligand complexes were also tested against a standard drug (tetracycline).     

Microcontroller PIC 16F877A standard based on solar cooker using PV—evacuated tubes with an extension of heat integrated energy system

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The unavailability of sunlight during nighttime and cloudy weather condition has limited the usage of solar cookers throughout the day. This study...     

Study on increase in toxicity of Schiff bases on microorganism on chelation with metal

New heterochelates of the type [M(L)(SB)(H₂O)] (where M?=?Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and Cd(II), KHL?=?potassium salt of salicylideneglycine and SB?=?thiophene- O -carboxaldeneaniline) have been synthesized. The heterochelates have been characterized on the basis of elemental analyses, electronic spectra, and magnetic measurement analyses. The structural and geometrical conformation has been discussed on the basis of IR spectral data. A thermal study of the complexes has been carried out to ascertain their thermal stability. Magnetic susceptibility measurements and electronic spectral data suggest a six-coordinated octahedral structure for these complexes. The increase in toxicity of the investigated heterochelate metal compounds was tested against three gram-negative bacteria, S. typhi, E. coli, and Serratia marcescens by the disc diffusion method. It is observed that the heterochelates show higher toxicity when compared to the Schiff bases, metal salts, and control (DMSO) due to chelation. The toxicity is also compared to the standard drug tetracycline.     

Performance evaluation of using evacuated tubes solar collector,perforated fins,and pebbles in a solar still – experimental study and CO2 mitigation analysis

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The combination of various methods of increasing evaporation rate can highly impact the performance of solar desalination. This investigation aims to...     

Synthesis and use of a catalyst in the production of biodiesel from Pongamia pinnata seed oil with dimethyl carbonate

The preparation of sodium methoxide-treated algae catalysts and their activity in the transesterification of Pongamia pinnata seed oil by dimethyl carbonate were investigated. We also investigated the effect of the sodium methoxide-treated algae catalyst on the biodiesel yield. The development of sodium methoxide-treated algae catalysts can overcome most problems associated with dissolution in dimethyl carbonate. The products were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy to identify the fatty acid methyl esters in the biodiesel produced. The molar ratio of Pongamia pinnata seed oil to dimethyl carbonate in transesterification in the presence of the sodium methoxide-treated algae catalyst was observed to play a substantial role in this study, wherein the Pongamia pinnata seed oil conversion increased with increasing catalyst concentration. The highest percent conversion rate was 97%. With intense research focus and development, an ideal catalyst can indeed be developed for optimal biodiesel production that is both economically feasible and environmentally benign.     

Toxic effect of transition metal complexes on Salmonella typhi,Escherichia coli and Serratia marcescens

The present article describes the synthesis, structural features and toxicological studies of the complexes of the type [M(L)(dipy-amine)(H₂O)] or [M(L)(bendan)(H₂O)] where M?=?Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II), H₂L?=?salicylidene-o-aminothiophenol, dipy-amine?=di(2-pyridyal)amine, or bendan?=?bis(benzylidene)1,8-diaminonaphthalene. The complexes have been characterized on the basis of elemental analyses, electronic spectra, magnetic measurement and thermogravimetric analyses. The nature of the bonding has been discussed on the basis of infrared spectral data. A thermal study of the complexes has been carried out to ascertain their thermal stability. Magnetic susceptibility measurements and electronic spectral data suggest a six-coordinated octahedral structure for these complexes. The complexes of Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) are paramagnetic, while Zn(II) and Cd(II) are diamagnetic in nature. The toxic effects of the investigated complexes were tested against three Gram-negative bacteria, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli and Serratia marcescens by the “Disc Diffusion Method”. It is observed that the complexes show higher toxic effects as compared to the ligands, metal salts and control (DMSO), but moderate toxic effects as compared to the standard drug (tetracycline) and the results are discussed.     

In vitro fungitoxic activity of some Schiff bases and their oxovanadium(IV) complexes

The oxovanadium(IV) (VO(IV)) complexes, Schiff bases, vanadyl sulphate, standard fungicides (bavistin and emcarb) and control (dimethyl sulphoxide) were tested for their in vitro fungitoxic activity on A. niger, F. oxysporum and A. flavus. The oxovanadium(IV) complexes show higher fungitoxic activity as compared with the free ligands, vanadyl sulphate and control (dimethyl sulphoxide), but moderate fungitoxic activity as compared with the standard fungicides (bavistin and emcarb). Oxovanadium(IV) complexes have been prepared with biologically active Schiff bases viz. the potassium salt of salicylidene-DL-alanine (sal-ala), 2,2′-bipyridylamine (bipym), bis(benzylidene)ethylenediamine (benen), thiophene-o-carboxaldeneaniline (tca), thiophene-o-carboxaldene-p-toluidine (tct), bis(benzylidene)-1,8-diaminonaphthalene (bendan) or bis(acetophenone)ethylenediamine (acphen). They have been characterized on the basis of elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, magnetic measurements, electronic and infrared spectra. An octahedral geometry has been tentatively assigned to all the complexes.