Wet ball milling of niobium by using ethanol, determination of the crystallite size and microstructures

This study investigates the effect of using ethanol as the process control agent during the wet ball milling of niobium (Nb). Dried nanocrystal Nb powders, of high purity, with particle sizes, ranging from 8.5 to 14.3 nm, were synthesized by ball milling. Commercial Nb powder of particle sizes of − 44 µm was employed by using the planetary ball mill equipped with stainless still vials with still balls in ethanol. A ball-to-powder mass ratio of 10:1 was used at a rotation speed of 400 rpm, an interval of 15 min with an interval break of 5 s, and a milling time of 10 h. The powder was dried in vacutec at a temperature of 100 °C, using a speed of 15 rpm in the vacuum of 250 mbar at a time of approximately 653 min. The crystal phase of the dried powders was analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) with CuKɑ radiation, and by modification of the Scherrer equation, a single crystallite size of 11.85 nm was obtained. The morphology of the particles was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The XRD results show that the pure crystal sizes in nanometre (nm), which decreases as the 2θ and the full width at half maximum (FWHM) increases.

Alcoholmeter as a Simple and Accessible Way for Ethanol Determination in Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers

Expensive and complex methodologies are available to determine the ethanol concentration in alcohol gel samples. The aim of this article was to demonstrate that alcoholmeter could be used as an alternative method to determine ethanol in gel formulations. Alcohol gel samples were produced using: hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) and Carbopol 940© (CBP). A factorial design was performed to evaluate the interaction between the ethanol concentration, glycerin and polymer contents in the samples in the recovery data of the ethanol content. Rheological analyses were also performed to identify the limiting factors to ethanol quantification. All the results were compared to high resolution magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (HR-MAS NMR) as a reference methodology. The results demonstrated that the alcoholmeter could be used to determine alcohol concentration, moreover the level of polymer HEC or HPMC, glycerin and ethanol has no effect in the determination. Yield stress, and not viscosity or flow index, appeared as the limiting factor to the use of alcoholmeter in non-acidified CBP samples. Acidification appears to be mandatory to determination of ethanol concentration in CBP samples. It was possible to achieve an inexpensive, handy and fast methodology to quantify alcohol in gelled samples, in the range of concentrations used in this article.

Glazing effect for producing environmentally friendly ceramics for cladding applications

A simple, cost-effective and fast headspace gas chromatography method coupled with flame ionization detection (HS-GC/FID) for determination of ethanol was developed and validated for clinical and forensic toxicology purposes. HS-GC/FID is often used for alcohol determination in different biological and non-biological samples. The calibration dependence of the method was linear in the range from 0.15 to 4.00 g dm-3 (r2=0.999) with adequate accuracy (99-106 %) and precision. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.006 g dm-3. The method was quantitative (LOQ) above 0.020 g dm-3. The new method was successfully used for determination of ethanol in biological samples of intoxicated patients, car accidents participants, participants in criminal acts, and postmortem samples, non-biological samples such as alcoholic beverages, alcohol-based herbal preparations, cosmetic preparations, etc. This method is easy to perform, making it suitable not only for the routine applications in clinical biochemistry and forensic laboratories, but also in different fields of industry (e.g. for pharmaceutical preparations, cosmetics, dietary supplements, etc.). Some of the applications for ethanol determination in different samples related to various clinical-forensic cases are presented.

Antioxidant activities of roots, leaves, and stems of carrot (Daucus carota L.) using DPPH and FRAP methods

Free radicals are chemical species with unpaired electrons in their outer orbital that can attack other molecules, causing cell oxidative damage and degenerative diseases. Free radicals can be prevented by antioxidant. An antioxidant can be found in nature as secondary metabolites in plants, such as carrot (Daucus carota L.). This research was conducted to study the antioxidant activities of roots, leaves, and stems of carrot extracts using DPPH and FRAP methods, determine total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC), analyse the correlation between TPC and TFC with AAI DPPH and FRAP, and the correlation between two methods. The sample was extracted by reflux using n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol. Determination of TPC, TFC, AAI DPPH and FRAP was performed using UV-visible spectrophotometry. Correlation of TPC and TFC with AAI DPPH and FRAP and also the correlation between the two methods were conducted using Pearson's method. Ethyl acetate carrot leaves extract showed the highest TPC and TFC (8.88 ± 0.44 g GAE/100 g and 9.00 ± 0.31 g QE/100 g). AAI DPPH of carrot extract in the range of 0.16 – 1.42, meanwhile AAI FRAP 1.89 – 5.45. TPC and TFC of carrot roots extract showed a significantly positive correlation with AAI DPPH and FRAP. AAI DPPH and FRAP of carrot roots extract gave a significantly positive correlation. Ethyl acetate and ethanol carrot leave extracts were strong to very strong antioxidant by DPPH and FRAP methods. TPC and TFC in carrot roots extract contributed to antioxidant activities by DPPH and FRAP. DPPH and FRAP presented linear results in antioxidant activities of carrot roots extract.

FORMULATION OF CREAM BODY SCRUB FROM ETHANOL EXTRACT OF CASSAVA LEAVES (Manihot esculenta) AS ANTIOXIDANT

Background : Plant cassava leaves (Manihot esculenta) are known flavonoid is efficacious as antioxidant. Antioxidant can prevent damage to the skin by reducing free radical activity. Purpose : The purpose of this study to determine the concentration of ethanol extract of leaves of cassava can be formulated into dosage cream body scrub which have antioxidant activity. Method : Cassava leaf extract obtained by maceration using 97% ethanol. Determination of antioxidant activity by the method of reduction of free radical DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl). Result : The ethanol extract of cassava leaves are formulated into dosage cream body scrub with concentration variations 0,0085 mg/mL (formula 1), 0,017 mg/mL (formula 2), and 0,0255 mg/mL (formula 3). Stability test preparation cream body scrub using cycling tests performed for 6 cycles. Preparation cream body scrub to formula I has a moderate antioxidant activity with IC50 158,16 µg/mL, formula 2 has an active antioxidant activity with IC50 66,59 µg/mL, and formula 3 has a stronger antioxidant activity with IC50 38,80 µg/mL. Conclusion : cream body scrub and cassava ethanol extract does not irritate so it is safe to use. Preparations cream body scrub well have the most activity at a concentration of 0,0255 mg/mL with IC50 38,80 µg/mL.

Ethanol Determination in Post-Mortem Samples: Correlation between Blood and Vitreous Humor Concentration

Ethanol (ethylic alcohol) represents the most commonly used drug worldwide and is often involved in clinical and forensic toxicology. Based on several reports, excessive alcohol consumption is the main contributing factor in traffic accidents, drownings, suicides, and other crimes. For these reasons, it becomes essential to analyze the alcohol concentration during autopsy. Although blood is usually used for alcohol analysis in post-mortem cases, it could suffer alterations, putrefaction, and microbial contaminations. As an alternative to whole blood, vitreous humor has been successfully used in medico-legal studies. In this work, post-mortem specimens were analyzed for ethanol determination. The analysis of blood and vitreous humor were carried-out using gas chromatography-flame ionized detector (GC-FID) with a total run time of 6 min. The method was validated in terms of limit of detection, limit of quantification, dynamic range, sensibility, recovery, precision and trueness. A linear regression analysis indicated a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.9981. The study confirmed no statistically differences between alcohol concentration in blood and vitreous humor, leading vitreous humor as an excellent matrix that could be used as an alternative to whole blood in toxicological analysis in cases where blood is not available.

The Applications of Sensors and Biosensors in Investigating Drugs, Foods, and Nutraceuticals

The present Special Issue is focused on developing and applying several sensors, biosensor devices, and actuators for the analysis of drugs, foods, and nutraceuticals. Some applications concern classical topics, such as clostridium determination in dairy products, flavouring material in foods like ethylvanillin, or the antioxidant properties of fruit juices, while other applications are more innovative, such as food safety analysis, artificial human senses (electronic nose, or tongue) development, or ethanol determination in pharmaceutical drugs, or forensic purposes using catalytic fuel cell; and lastly, new studies devoted to intelligent food packaging. Therefore, this Special Issue should interest both specialists in the sector and readers who are simply curious, or are simply interested in innovations in the field of food and drug analysis.

ISOLASI DAN KARAKTERISASI BAKTERI POTENSIAL PENGHASIL ETANOL DARI INDUSTRI ARAK BALI DI KARANGASEM-BALI

The aim of this reasearch was to isolate and identify ethanol-producing bacteria from the Balinese arak industry. Samples were taken from three places in Bali's Karangasem Regency. Isolation was conducted by growing microorganisms from samples on Zymomonas Sukrosa Mobilis (ZSM) media to obtain pure isolates. The pure isolates were then screened using selective media to obtain pure bacteria isolates. The isolates were then screened for ethanol producing bacteria. The ethanol determination were carried out qualitatively and quantitatively using potassium dichromate and scanning readings using UV-visible spectrophotometry. In the UV-visible spectra, the highest peak is observed at 579 nm. Seven best isolates were then grown in a 900 mL ZSM media and fermented for 10 days. The fermentation results were then distilled using a multilevel distillator. The best distillation alkohol result is 5.04±0,71 mL of ethanol produced by isolates with the code of BE-2410. Isolate BE-2410 were obtained from coconut fibers during fermentation. From the identification results, isolates BE-2410 was Grami-negative bacteria, rod bacteria, have the ability to produce catalase enzymes, and non-motile bacteria. This study proved that the bacteria had the ability to produce ethanol. Keywords : Arak, ethanol, fermentation, bacteria, bacteria isolation and identification, UV visible spectroscopy