Evaluation of Waste Plastic Pyrolysis Oil Performance with Diethyl Ether Additive on Insulated Piston Diesel Engine

Considering the amount of waste plastics has risen significantly, energy may be extracted from it. Not only is it possible to dispose of waste plastics by converting them to fuel, but it is also possible to extract energy from them. Our research is motivated by the prospect of using waste plastics as a source of energy through waste plastic pyrolysis oil (WPPO). The innovation of this research is that it will assess the efficiency of plastic pyrolysis oil derived from Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) on a Thermal Barrier Coated (TBC) piston engine. The incremental ratio of WPPO to pure diesel with the addition of diethyl ether (DEE) was determined and its output and exhaust emission standards were evaluated using a direct injection single cylinder low heat rejection diesel engine. The results for the WPPO blends were promising as with TBCW20DEE10 demonstrating a 5 to 15% increase in carbon monoxide under different load conditions. TBCW20DEE10 confirmed a greater reduction of hydrocarbons varying from 5 to 12 %. At half load condition, TBCW20DEE10 emits approximately 3.5 % less unit of smoke.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Spectroscopic Studies of Bis-(meso-4-methoxyphenyl)-Benziporphyrin and Its Pd-Metal Complex

Benziporphyrin systems are widely explored, yet alternative improved synthetic routes towards these systems are needed. Here, a fairly and efficient synthesis of the free base and its metal complex is well designed. Dimethoxybenzene dicarbinol intermediate was prepared in excellent yields by reacting 4-methoxyphenylmagnesium bromide with isophthaladehyde in diethyl ether. Reaction with equivalent pyrrole and pentafluorobenzaldehyde in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), followed by oxidation with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ), provided good yields of bis-(meso-4-methoxyphenyl)-benziporphyrin. Metalation of the free base was performed using palladium(II) acetate salt in acetonitrile. All intermediates and the final products are fully characterized using NMR, HMRS, and UV-Vis spectroscopies and briefly discussed.

Comparison of Phytochemical Contents, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Various Solvent Extracts Obtained from ‘Maluma’ Avocado Pulp Powder

Although avocado is a superfood rich in phytochemicals with high antioxidant activities, studies on the antibacterial properties of its pulp are limited, except for seed and peel portions. In this study, three types of solvent (acetone, methanol, and diethyl ether) were used to obtain the extracts from “Maluma” avocado pulp powder prepared by infrared drying. The extracts were analyzed for total polyphenols, phytopigments (total chlorophylls and carotenoids), antioxidant activities (ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) assays), and antibacterial activities against seven pathogens (Shigella sonnei ATCC 9290, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Salmonella typhi ATCC 6539, Vibrio parahaemolyticus ATCC 17802, Proteus mirabilis ATCC 25933, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, and Bacillus cereus ATCC 11778). The results showed that the acetone solvent could extract the highest polyphenols and chlorophylls with the highest antioxidant activity in terms of ABTS and DPPH assays. In contrast, diethyl ether exhibited the most significant content of carotenoids and FRAP values. However, the methanol extract was the best solvent, exerting the strongest antibacterial and meaningful antioxidant activities. For the bacterial activities, Gram-positive pathogens (Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus) were inhibited more efficiently by avocado extracts than Gram-negative bacteria. Therefore, the extracts from avocado powder showed great potential for applications in food processing and preservation, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.

Phytochemical investigation of extracts of rhizomes of Hedychium Spicatum Sm. in A. Rees of Himachal Pradesh, India

Hedychium Spicatum is a rhizomatous perennial plant of various ethnomedicinal significance, which belongs to Zingiberaceae family.In the present study, H.Spicatum extracts were investigated for the presence of major phytochemical compounds. The dried and powdered rhizomes were extracted employing Soxhlet extraction with selective solvents of varying polarities viz water, ethanol, petroleum ether and diethyl ether. Qualitative phytochemical analysis of each of these extracts of H.Spicatum suggested the existence of flavonoids, phenolic compounds, carotenoids, alkaloids, reducing sugars (carbohydrate), proteins, steroids, saponins and oils. Greater extent of unsaturation was observed in diethyl ether and petroleum ether extracts. These extracts were also examined for their physico-chemical properties. All of the studied extracts were found to be optically active, specifically dextro rotatory. The phytochemicals present in the rhizomes suggest potential ethnomedicinal application of the species in the treatment, control and management of diseases and for new drug discovery.

EFFECT OF AN EXTRAGENT ON THE COMPOSITION OF THE LIPOPHILIC CONSTITUENTS OF THE EXTRACTS OF RHODIOLA ROSEA L. AND ON THE EXTRACTS ACTIVITY

The composition of the plant Rhodiola rosea L. lipophylic substances was studied. Acidic and neutral components were identified by gas-chromatography-mass-spectrometry. With methyl-tert-butyl ether (MTBE) as an extractant instead of the volatile solvent diethyl ether, lipophylic extract was obtained. Methyl-tert-butyl ether used as an extraction solvent for raw materials has all the advantages of diethyl ether, being free of its disadvantages. It does not form peroxides or produce elevated partial gas pressure due to its higher boiling point. As a result, comparison with databases identified some triterpene, phenolic and aliphatic acids with chain lengths 12 to 30 carbon atoms, including saturated, unsaturated, and dibasic acids. In addition to the components known from the literature, more than 50 triterpene and aliphatic compounds were detected in the unsaponifiable residue and acidic fractions for the first time. The hexane extract and the product obtained by the stepwise extraction of MTBE after the extraction of low-polarity compounds with hexane were investigated in a similar way. In the case of an extract obtained using MTBE after the extraction of low-polarity components with hexane, there was shown a more efficient extraction of benzoic and cinnamic acids compared to the exhaustive extraction of MTBE. These acids are absent in the hexane extract. Ethanol extraction was also carried out to test bioactivity: exhaustive and after hexane and MTBE extraction. Extracts obtained using MTBE and ethanol showed anti-virus activity against Ebola psevdovirus.

Synthesis, Characterizations and Catalysis of Sulfated Silica and Nickel Modified Silica Catalysts for Diethyl Ether (DEE) Production from Ethanol towards Renewable Energy Applications

Sulfated silica (SO4/SiO2) and nickel impregnated sulfated silica (Ni-SO4/SiO2) catalysts have been successfully carried out for the conversion of ethanol into diethyl ether (DEE) as a biofuel. The aims of this research were to study the effects of acidity on the SO4/SiO2 and Ni-SO4/SiO2 catalysts in the conversion of ethanol into diethyl ether. This study focuses on the increases in activity and selectivity of SiO2 with the impregnation of sulfate and Ni metal, which had good activity and acidity and were less expensive. The SO4/SiO2 catalysts were prepared using TEOS (Tetraethyl Orthosilicate) as a precursor and sulfuric acid with various concentrations (1, 2, 3, 4 M). The results showed that SO4/SiO2 acid catalyst treated with 2 M H2SO4 and calcined at 400 °C (SS-2-400) was the catalyst with highest total acidity (2.87 g/mmol), while the impregnation of Ni metal showed the highest acidity value at 3%/Ni-SS-2 catalyst (4.89 g/mmol). The SS-2-400 and 3%/Ni-SS-2 catalysts were selected and applied in the ethanol dehydration process into diethyl ether at temperatures 175, 200, and 225 °C. The activity and selectivity of SS-2-400 and 3%/Ni-SS-2 catalysts shown the conversion of ethanol reached up to 9.54% with good selectivity towards diethyl ether liquid product formation.

The Application of Pomegranate, Sugar Apple, and Eggplant Peel Extracts Suppresses Aspergillus flavus Growth and Aflatoxin B1 Biosynthesis Pathway

Even though the green revolution was a significant turning point in agriculture, it was also marked by the widespread use of chemical pesticides, which prompted severe concerns about their influence on human and environmental health. As a result, the demand for healthier and more environmentally friendly alternatives to control plant diseases and avoid food spoilage is intensifying. Among the proposed alternatives, food by-product extracts, especially from the most consumed fruits in Egypt, eggplant, sugar apple, and pomegranate peel wastes, were largely ignored. Hence, we chose them to evaluate their antifungal and antiaflatoxigenic activities against maize fungus, Aspergillus flavus. All the extracts exhibited multiple degrees of antifungal growth and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) inhibitory activities (35.52% to 91.18%) in broth media. Additionally, diethyl ether 50% eggplant, ethanol 75% sugar apple, and diethyl ether 25% pomegranate extracts exhibited the highest AFB1 inhibition, of 96.11%, 94.85%, and 78.83%, respectively, after one month of treated-maize storage. At the same time, Topsin fungicide demonstrated an AFB1 inhibition ratio of 72.95%. The relative transcriptional levels of three structural and two regulatory genes, aflD, aflP, aflQ, aflR, and aflS, were downregulated compared to the infected control. The phenolic content (116.88 mg GAEs/g DW) was highest in the 25% diethyl ether pomegranate peel extract, while the antioxidant activity was highest in the 75% ethanol sugar apple extract (94.02 µg/mL). The most abundant active compounds were found in the GC-MS analysis of the fruit peel extracts: α-kaurene, α-fenchene, p-allylphenol, octadecanoic acid, 3,5-dihydroxy phenol, hexestrol, xanthinin, and linoleic acid. Finally, the three fruit peel waste extracts could be a prospective source of friendly ecological compounds that act as environmentally safer and more protective alternatives to inhibit AFB1 production in maize storage.

Effectively Synthesizing SO4/TiO2 Catalyst and Its Performance for Converting Ethanol into Diethyl Ether (DEE)

This SO4/TiO2 catalyst as a heterogeneous acidic catalyst was synthesized in various concentrations of H2SO4. The activity and selectivity of the SO4/TiO2 catalyst on the dehydration reaction of ethanol to diethyl ether were studied as well. The SO4/TiO2 was prepared from TiO2 powder by wet impregnation method with a various aqueous solution of H2SO4 (1; 2; 3 M H2SO4) and calcination temperature (400, 500, and 600 °C) to obtain a catalyst with optimum acidity. The catalysts were characterized using FTIR, XRD, SEM-EDX, SAA, TGA/DSC, and acidity test gravimetrically with ammonia. The liquid product of DEE was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) to analyze the selectivity of the catalyst. The catalyst TS-3-400 had the highest activity and selectivity in the dehydration reaction of ethanol to diethyl ether at a temperature of 225 °C, with a conversion of 51.83% and a DEE selectivity of 1.72%.