Hydroxypropyl-β-Cyclodextrin as a Green Co-Solvent in the Aqueous Extraction of Polyphenols from Waste Orange Peels

There is, to-date, an expanding interest concerning the use of cyclodextrins as green food-grade co-solvents in the aqueous extraction of polyphenols, however, data regarding polyphenol extraction from waste orange peels (WOP) are lacking. On this ground, hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD), a highly water-soluble cyclodextrin, was used to develop a simple and straightforward methodology for the effective recovery of WOP polyphenols. Process optimization by response surface showed that maximum total polyphenol recovery (26.30 ± 1.49 mg gallic acid equivalents g−1 dry mass) could be accomplished with 15 mM HP-β-CD at 40 °C. On the other hand, integration of ultrasonication pretreatment was found unsuitable, as it resulted in reduced polyphenol yield. Examination of solvent acidity indicated that polyphenol extraction may be enhanced at pH 4, but the difference was non-significant (p > 0.05) compared to yields attained at pH 2, 3, and 5. Extraction of WOP polyphenols with HP-β-CD was shown to provide significantly higher hesperidin yield compared to 60% (v/v) aqueous ethanol, which suggested selectivity of HP-β-CD toward this polyphenolic metabolite.

Exploring the Effect of Water Content and Anion on the Pretreatment of Poplar with Three 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium Ionic Liquids

We report on the pretreatment of poplar wood with three different 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ionic liquids, [EMim][OAc], [EMim][MeSO3], and [EMim][HSO4], at varying water contents from 0–40 wt% at 100 °C. The performance was evaluated by observing the lignin and hemicellulose removal, as well as enzymatic saccharification and lignin yield. The mechanism of pretreatment varied between the ionic liquids studied, with the hydrogen sulfate ionic liquid performing delignification and hemicellulose hydrolysis more effectively than the other solvents across the investigated water content range. The acetate ionic liquid produced superior glucose yield at low water contents, while the hydrogen sulfate ionic liquid performed better at higher water contents and produced a recoverable lignin. The methanesulfonate ionic liquid did not introduce significant fractionation or enhancement of saccharification yield under the conditions used. These findings help distinguish the roles of anion hydrogen bonding, solvent acidity, and water content on ionic liquid pretreatment and can aid with anion and water content selections for different applications.

Solvatochromism in urea/water and urea-derivative/water solutions

Solvent acidity (SA), solvent basicity (SB), and solvent dipolarity and polarizability (SPP) parameters for urea and water mixtures.

Factors that determine thione(thiol)–disulfide interconversion in a bis(thiosemicarbazone) copper(ii) complex

Solvent-, acidity-, and redox-responsive thione(thiol)–disulfide interconversion were achieved by a dinuclear copper(ii) complex bearing a bis(thiosemicarbazone) (bTSC) ligand.

COMPARISON OF MACERATION AND ULTRASONICATION METHODS ON INDIGOFERA TINCTORIA LINN LEAF EXTRACTION

The extraction of Indigofera Tinctoria Linn leaf into natural dyes was studied using two methods: maceration and ultrasonication. Other variables tested were the differences in the degree of solvent acidity used: neutral, alcoholic, acid and base. The yield and the dye strength measured by the absorbance are response to the change of those variables. The better yields were obtained from ultrasonication method compared to the maceration one. The highest yield was shown in the result of maceration method at neutral condition, 2.3%, while in ultrasonic method was at alcoholic condition 13%. The acidity of the solvent affects the resulted colour. By using maceration method and the neutral condition produced dark blue, the acid solvent produced a grey dye, the alkaline produced a greenish dye and the alcoholic produced a brownish dye. With the aid of ultrasonication, blue dye was generated on the use of neutral, acid and alcoholic solvents, whereas brownish was on alkaline solution.

Optimizing characteristic of spirulina-polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) bioplastic through protein deformation with variation of heating time and solvent’s pH

Plastics that are widely used today are still made of synthetic polymers that are difficult to degrade by soil microorganisms. The development of natural polymer such as protein blend with synthetic polymer for bioplastic manufacturing continues. This study will utilize Spirulina platensis blended with synthetic polymers with heating and sonication as pre-treatment to optimize the characteristic. In this research, 2.5 g of Spirulina platensis powder dissolved in alkali and distillate water with pH variation of 7, 8.5, 10, and 11, then plasticized by glycerol and heating at 70oC with heating time variation of 30, 60, and 120 minutes. After that, blending with 2.5 g polyvinyl alcohol. Mixed solution then dried and formed as flex bar. Based on the results of solvent pH variation, the degree of acidity of the best solvent to produce optimum mechanical properties is a solvent with a pH of 10. The best heating time to produce optimum mechanical properties is 60 minutes at a solvent pH above 8.5. If using a solvent pH below 8.5, the best heating time is 120 minutes. Degree of solvent acidity is the most influential parameter on the bioplastic mechanical properties of Spirulina-PVA while the heating time has no significant effect.

Multivariant Crystallization of Tetraplatin Precursors from Solutions Containing 1,2-C6H10(NH3)2 2+ and [PtCl6]2– Ions

Seven new phases containing hexachloroplatinate [PtCl6]2− and trans-1,2-dl-diammoniumcyclohexane 1,2-C6H10NH322+ ions were obtained by crystallization from solutions with minor variation of synthesis conditions. The compounds can be applied as precursors for the synthesis of effective anticancer drug tetraplatin ([PtC6H10(NH2)2Cl4]). The phase diversity was achieved by alterations including solvent acidity, crystallization rate, temperature, type of solvent, and the reagents ratio. The compounds were characterized by chemical and thermal analysis, IR, and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Crystal structures of the five compounds were determined by X-ray powder diffraction technique. The phases have ionic structures involving H2O, HCl molecules, or Cl− ions as supplementary species in the lattices. It helps to arrange some frames additionally interconnected by hydrogen bonds between ions and solvent molecules. It was suggested that crystal lattices adapted associated particles presented in solutions. It results in observed variety of the crystal structures. Besides the basic interest the obtained results are important for tetraplatin synthesis control.

A unified view to Brønsted acidity scales: do we need solvated protons?

The most comprehensive solvent acidity scale spanning 28 orders of magnitude of acidity was measured in the low-polarity solvent 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE).