EFFECT OF THE ORDER OF APPLICATION OF COPPER AND ZINC COMPOUNDS ON CATALYTIC ACTIVITY IN CO-OXIDATION REACTION

На основе алюмохромового носителя экстракционно-пиролитическим методом (ЭПМ) синтезирована серия медь-цинк-содержащих катализаторов, проанализировано влияние порядка внесения активных компонентов (меди и цинка) на качественный и количественный состав формирующихся фаз, а также глубину размещения в гранулах носителя, структурно-прочностные и каталитические свойства образцов в процессе окисления СО кислородом воздуха.Рассчитанные значения энергии активации и предэкспоненциального множителя показали, что порядок внесения активных компонентов оказывает влияние на кинетические параметры: наилучшие результаты наблюдаются в образцах, полученных совместной пропиткой алюмохромового носителя. Константы скорости реакции окисления СО (k), рассчитанные во всем температурном диапазоне более, чем в 2 раза выше, чем при совместном внесении компонентов.С помощью электронно-зондового микроанализа изучена текстура поверхности катализаторов ЭПМ, установлено, что не смотря на порядок внесения, технология ЭПМ позволяет получать однородную текстуру - поверхность катализаторов характеризуется слоистостью с частицами чешуйчатой структуры с минимальным размером частиц во всех случаях 0,4 мкм, максимальным 3-4 мкм. Совместное внесение Zn и Cu обеспечивает равномерное распределение компонентов по сечению гранул катализаторов.Результаты работы могут быть применимы для построения технологии эффективных медь-цинковых катализаторов для процессов окисления. Область применения катализаторов – комплексная очистка многокомпонентных газовых смесей. A series of copper-zinc-containing catalysts was synthesized on the aluminum - chromium oxides base by the extraction -pyrolytic method (EPM), the effect of the order application active components (copper and zinc) on the qualitative and quantitative composition of the formed phases, as well as the depth of placement in the granules of the baser, structural strength and catalytic properties of samples during oxidation with air oxygen was analyzed.The calculated values of the activation energy and the pre-exponential multiplier showed that the order of application active components has an effect on the kinetic parameters: the best results are observed in samples obtained by joint impregnation of an alumochrome carrier. The rate constants oxidation CO (k) calculated over the entire temperature range are more than 2 times higher when the components added together.Using electron probe microanalysis, the surface texture of the EPM catalysts was studied, it was found that, despite the order of application, the EPM technology allows to obtain a homogeneous texture - the surface of the catalysts is characterized by layering with particles of a scaly structure with a minimum particle size of 0.4 microns in all cases, and maximum 3-4 microns. The joint application of Zn and Cu ensures an even distribution of the components over the cross section of the catalyst granules.The results of the work can be applied to build a technology of effective copper-zinc catalysts for oxidation processes. The scope of application of catalysts is complex purification of multicomponent gas mixtures.

Modification of Glass/Polyester Laminates with Flame Retardants

This paper presents a review of flame retardants used for glass/polyester laminates. It concerns flame retardants withdrawn from use such as compounds containing halogen atoms and flame retardants currently used in the industry, such as inorganic hydroxides, phosphorus and nitrogen-containing compounds, antimony, and boron compounds, as well as tin–zinc compounds. Attention is also drawn to the use of nanoclays and the production of nanocomposites, intumescent flame retardant systems, and mats, as well as polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes. The paper discusses the action mechanism of particular flame retardants and presents their advantages and disadvantages.

Zinc Plant Uptake as Result of Edaphic Factors Acting

The influence of soil characteristics on the lability and bioavailability of zinc at both background and phytotoxic concentrations in Albic Retisol soil (Loamic, Ochric) was studied using various methods. Ranges of insufficient, non-phytotoxic, and phytotoxic zinc concentrations in soil solutions were established in an experiment with an aqueous barley culture. It was experimentally revealed that for a wide range of non-toxic concentrations of Zn in the soil corresponding to the indicative type of plant response, there was constancy of the concentration ratio (CR) and concentration factor (CF) migration parameters. As a result, a new method for assessing the buffer capacity of soils with respect to Zn (PBCZn) is proposed. The transformation processes of the chemical forms and root uptake of native (natural) zinc contained in the Albic Retisol (Loamic, Ochric) through the aqueous culture of barley were studied using a cyclic lysimetric installation and radioactive 65Zn tracer. The distribution patterns of Zn(65Zn) between different forms (chemical fractions) in the soil were established using the sequential fractionation scheme of BCR. The coefficients of distribution and concentration factors of natural Zn and 65Zn, as well as accumulation and removal of the metal by plants were estimated. The values of the enrichment factor of natural (stable) Zn contained in sequentially extracted chemical fractions with the 65Zn radioisotope were determined and the amount of the pool of labile zinc compounds in the studied soil was calculated.

Discovery of novel antimalarial drugs based on thiosemicarbazone derivatives: An in silico approach

Background: Thiosemicarbazones belongs to the group of semicarbazides which contains sulfur atom instead of the oxygen atom. Several studies have shown that they are effective against extracellular protozoans like Trichomonas vaginalis, Plasmodium falciparum, Trypanosoma cruzi and other parasites. Objective: The current research involves pharmacophore model design, 3-D-QSAR, virtual screening, and docking studies, all of which are evaluated using various parameters. Methods: The present study was performed by Schrodinger software. A total of 40 ligands were selected for the development of 3D QSAR models. To predict the pIC50 values in 3D-QSAR analysis, the entire dataset was divided into two sets, training and test sets, in a 7:3 ratio. The selected pharmacophore hypothesis has been selected for the virtual screening study. Results: DHHRR_1 emerged as the best pharmacophore model with a survival score of 5.80. The 3D QSAR study showed a significant model with R2 =0.91 and. Q2 = 0.73. The series top-scoring compound 7e had a docking score of -10.44 and showed interactions with the amino acids ARG-265, PHE-227, and LEU-531 required for activity. The developed pharmacophore model has been used for screening of ZINC compounds where ZINC26244107, ZINC13469100, ZINC01290725and ZINC01350173 showed thebest XP docking scores (-11.60, -11.27, -11.35, -10.52, consecutively) with binding important amino acids ARG265, HIE185 and LEU 531 against plasmodium falciparum, PDB ID: 5TBO. These results wereevaluated with thestandard antimalarial drug chloroquine. ADME analysis showed the drug-likeness properties of the compounds. Conclusion: The results of the present study may be helpful for the future development of antimalarial compounds against Plasmodium falciparum.

TARGETING NUCLEAR FACTOR KAPPA B WITH CHELATED ZINC COMPOUNDS TOWARDS ANTICANCER DRUG DESIGN

Objective: The objective of the study was to analyse the target-ligand interactions between nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and chelated Zinc compounds and to explore the anticancer drug potential of these ligands by a bio computational approach. Methods: Bioinformatics databases and tools were applied for the study. Three dimensional structure of the target NF-κB was retrieved from Protein Data Bank (PDB). The optimized structures of two chelated Zinc compounds, Zinc acetate and Zinc orotate were taken for docking studies with the target using docking tool AutoDock 4.2. Drug properties of the ligands were further assessed by Molinspiration server. Results: Docking results as predicted by AutoDock and as visualized by PyMol viewer were effective for both the ligands. Comparatively, Zinc orotate showed minimum energy and more interactions with the target. Both the ligands satisfied the Lipinski’s rule of five with zero violations. Conclusion: The findings emphasized the promising role of chelated Zinc compounds as potent drug candidates in anti-cancer drug design against NF-κB.

Evaluation of Insulin-Like Activity of Novel Zinc Metal–Organics toward Adipogenesis Signaling

Diabetes mellitus is a debilitating disease, plaguing a significant number of people around the globe. Attempts to develop new drugs on well-defined atoxic metalloforms, which are capable of influencing fundamental cellular processes overcoming insulin resistance, has triggered an upsurge in molecular research linked to zinc metallodrugs. To that end, meticulous efforts were launched toward the design and synthesis of materials with insulin mimetic potential. Henceforth, trigonelline and N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-iminodiacetic acid (HEIDAH2) were selected as organic substrates seeking binding to zinc (Zn(II)), with new crystalline compounds characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, X-rays, thermogravimetry (TGA), luminescence, NMR, and ESI-MS spectrometry. Physicochemical characterization was followed by in vitro biochemical experiments, in which three out of the five zinc compounds emerged as atoxic, exhibiting bio-activity profiles reflecting enhanced adipogenic potential. Concurrently, well-defined qualitative–quantitative experiments provided links to genetic loci responsible for the observed effects, thereby unraveling their key involvement in signaling pathways in adipocyte tissue and insulin mimetic behavior. The collective results (a) signify the quintessential role of molecular studies in unearthing unknown facets of pathophysiological events in diabetes mellitus II, (b) reflect the close associations of properly configured molecular zincoforms to well-defined biological profiles, and (c) set the stage for further physicochemical-based development of efficient zinc antidiabetic metallodrugs.

Effects of Zinc Lactate Supplementation on Growth Performance, Intestinal Morphology, Serum Parameters, and Hepatic Metallothionein of Chinese Yellow-Feathered Broilers

In poultry, organic zinc compounds have higher bioavailability than inorganic zinc sources. However, as an organic zinc source, the application of zinc lactate (ZL) on Chinese yellow-feathered broilers has been rarely reported. Hence, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of ZL supplementation on growth performance, small intestinal morphology, serum biochemical parameters, immune organ index, as well as hepatic metallothionein of Chinese yellow-feathered broilers. A total of 2100 broilers (19 days old) were randomly assigned to 5 treatment groups, including the control (fed basal diet), ZL40 (basal diet plus 40 mg/kg ZL), ZL60 (basal diet plus 60 mg/kg ZL), ZL80 (basal diet plus 80 mg/kg ZL), and ZS80 (basal diet plus 80 mg/kg ZS. Each treatment group had 6 replicates with 70 chickens per replicate. Compared to the control group, the ZL40 and the ZS80 groups had a lower feed to gain ratio (P < 0.05), ZL40 group had higher duodenum and ileum villus heights (P < 0.05), and ZS80 and ZL80 groups had a lower ratio of villus height to crypt depth in the jejunum (P < 0.01). In addition, the ZL60 group had a higher concentration of total protein (P < 0.05) and activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) (P < 0.01) compared with the ZS80 and the control groups. Interestingly, the ZL40, ZL60, and ZL80 groups all had higher levels of hepatic metallothionein than the other groups (P < 0.01). In conclusion, zinc lactate had a higher bioavailability and could be used as an alternative to zinc sulfate.

ANALYSIS AND IMPACT OF LEAD-CONTAINING WASTE FROM LEAD PRODUCTION ON HUMAN LIFE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

As a result of the activities of the lead plant, about 2 million tons of waste in the form of lead- containing slags were accumulated. Lead production slags contain a large number of toxic heavy metal compounds, such as lead, zinc, osmium, and cadmium, which are dangerous sources of environmental pollution. Due to the open storage of slags, there is an excess of the maximum permissible concentrations (MPC) of lead: near the plant, the concentration of lead is more than 3000 mg/kg in the soil, with a MPC of 3.2 mg/kg. Lead and zinc compounds are dangerous to humans due to their significant toxicity and ability to accumulate in the body. Lead poisoning ranks first among professional intoxications. Waste water containing zinc compounds is not suitable for irrigation of fields, the negative effect of zinc compounds on microorganisms and microfauna of the soil reduces its fertility. The article presents the results of scientific studies of lead slag, conducted by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis, performed on a scanning electron microscope (SEM) JEOL-6490 LV (Manufacturer: JEOL, Japan). The results of the thermal analysis of samples on the derivatograph of the F. Paulik, J. Paulik and L. Erdey system in the air environment, in the temperature range of 20-1000°C. are presented. According to the results of research, it was found that lead slags contain a sufficiently high amount of non- ferrous metal compounds: lead oxide up to 0.7 % and zinc oxide up to 8.5 % of the weight amount of slag, which makes the process of recycling toxic waste from lead production technically and economically feasible.