Synthesis of Isopulegol Through Cyclisation of Citronellal Using Solid Acid Catalysts: Catalytic Reaction Performance Evaluation and Process Parameters Optimization

The cyclisation of citronellal to isopulegol is a significant intermediate stage in the production of menthols. In this research work, the effects of acid treatment on montmorillonite clay have been investigated and used in citronellal cyclisation reactions. Furthermore, the effects of acid treatment and hetero-poly acid impregnation have been determined on the textural and catalytic properties of montmorillonite clay. The designed catalysts were characterized by XRD, N2 sorption, and NH3- TPD techniques. Acid treatment of montmorillonite resulted in the enhancement of surface area and pore volume. The catalytic activity and selectivity parameters were lessened due to the severe leaching of Al ions from tetrahedral crystalline structures (e.g., weakened structure and loss of acidity). Among all prepared materials, the heteropoly acid supported HCl treated montmorillonite catalyst was observed as a more active, stable, and selective catalyst that showed the highest catalytic performance in citronellal cyclisation under optimized process parameters. The catalytic activity and selectivity were enhanced with rising mesoporosity and acidity parameters due to HCl acid treatment and HPA impregnation.

Statistical Analysis of SO2 and NO2 with Respect to Meteorological Parameters (Gwalior, India)

The present study is carried out in Gwalior to know the level of pollutants viz sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). In this study, both NO2 and SO2 were collected during different seasons, and estimation was done using chemical methods. The methods used for the determination of SO2 and NO2 in the ambient air of Gwalior was (Modified West and Geake method) and (Modified Jacob and Hochheisier). The SO2 from the air stream was absorbed in a sodium tetramer curate solution. NO2 was collected by bubbling air through a sodium hydroxide solution to form a stable solution of sodium nitrate. Meteorological parameters like temperature, relative humidity were recorded by thermometers and hygrometry during the sampling. Rainfall data was taken from Indian Meteorological Department, New Delhi, for four sampling years. The statistical analysis was carried out between the level of pollutants SO2 and NO2 measured and meteorological parameters recorded during the sampling. This study observed that pollutants were very high in winter and summer compared to monsoon and post-monsoon periods due to the heavy transport movement and favourable meteorological conditions like temperature, humidity, rainfall, and wind speed and directions.

Quality Assessment on the Oxidative Stability of Almond Kernels during Extensive Storage Time

The objective of our study is to monitor the oxidative stability of different cultivars of almonds (Australian, American and Iranian) kernels/oil during the 12th month of storage at room temperature. Several physicochemical parameters free fatty acids (FFA), peroxide value (PV), panisidine value (p-AV), total oxidation value (TOTOX), Fourier transforms infrared spectrophotometer (FT-IR) and Gas chromatography Mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used to check the oxidative stability of almond kernel. According to the results, effects of room temperature in the early stages of oxidation, primary oxidation products remained stable, whereas secondary oxidation product levels continued to rise in the later stages. In general, FFA increased with increasing storage time, the range was observed (0.21-0.97 %), PV (1.31-16.23 meqO2/kg), p-AV (2.21-19.35), TOTOX (4.83-15.81), respectively. During storage at room temperature for up to 12th months, there was no significant shifting of the spectral band in the FT-IR study. The most bounteous fatty acid in the almond oil range was observed oleic acid C18:0 (71.01-79.56 %) followed by linoleic acid C18:2 (13.13–20.65 %), palmitic acid C16:0 (4.86-5.67 %), stearic acid C18:0 (1.20-3.81 %), and palmitoleic acid C16:1(0.21-0.47 %) in all three samples during storage. These results suggest that almond oil during the 12th month of storage keeps its good chemical properties.

Spectrofluorimetric Determination of Some N. Containing Medicines Using Rhodamine 6G as a Chromogenic Reagent

A sensitive spectrofluorimetric method has been developed for the analysis of some medicines containing primary, secondary, and tertiary amino groups, namely Diclofenac (DIC), Domperidone (DOM), Famotidine (FAM), and Propranolol (PRO), in their pure and medicinal forms. The method is based on the quenching of the fluorescence intensity of rhodamine 6G (R6G) through the formation of ion-pair complexes between the above medicines and the R-6G reagent, which is measured at 552 nm after excitation at 402 nm. The calibration graphs were rectilinear in the concentration ranges of 0.10- 9.00, 0.05-15.00, 0.10-14.0 and 0.05-5.00 µg mL-1 for above medicines respectively. The recovery (%) values were ranged between 99.45%- 100.97%. The detection limits ranged in the concentration of 0.243-0.754 µg/mL, and the limits of quantitation were 0.806- 2.420 µgmL-1 for all drugs. The method was successfully applied for the determination of these drugs in their pharmaceutical preparations.

Molecularly Imprinted Polymers: Promising Tool for the Human Virus Detection

Molecular imprinting is an attractive research area for synthesizing unique functional polymers with high selectivity due to template oriented active sites. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have a wide range of applications in chemical and biological sensing, drug delivery, and solidphase extraction owing to mechanical stability, reversibility, reproducibility, and cross-validity. MIPs are compatible with natural antibodies and are being used as antibody mimics/receptors in the biomedical field. Today, viral detection is the most popular research area due to emerging viral diseases with genetic variability and drug resistance. Therefore, there is a need to control viral infections by discriminative recognition of the viral pathogens. This review summarizes the literature on the detection of human viruses by using MIPs.

Assessment of Drinking Water Quality of Different Areas in Tehsil Isa Khel, Mianwali, Punjab, Pakistan

Water samples were collected from 43 sites of Tehsil Isa Khel areas in order to determine the physicochemical parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity, turbidity, total hardness, calcium hardness, magnesium hardness, M. alkalinity, chloride ion (Cl- ), and fluoride ion (F-) concentration. The obtained results show that in Tehsil Isa Khel, only in Kala Bagh city, Kala Bagh water scheme (w/s), Tola Bangi Khel w/s, Kot Chandna, Awan Wala, Gidran Wala, and Cheena Pora water is drinkable. Overall, electrical conductivity, hardness, total alkalinity, chloride, fluoride levels in the water of Tehsil Isa Khel are very high and not fit for drinking, washing, and industrial purpose. The ultimate result of this study is helpful to address the leading cause of public health problems related to the deteriorated quality of drinking water, and an integrated approach is therefore required to provide safe drinking water to people in Tehsil Isa Khel.

Determination of Total Phenolic, Flavonoid Content and Antimicrobial Properties in Different Solvent Extracts of Viburnum opulus L. (Gilaburu) in Afyonkarahisar

This study determined the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol, and water extracts of the Viburnum opulus (V. opulus) plant. V. opulus (Gilaburu) was collected from Ahırdağı northern slope, Kırka Town, Afyonkarahisar region, and its leaves, branches, and fruit parts were dried and powdered at room temperature. The total phenolic content was compared with the gallic acid standard, the total flavonoid content with the quercetin standard, and the iron chelating effect with the EDTA standard. All extracts were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphyllococcus aureus, and Candida glabrata strains by the agar well diffusion method. Gilaburu is widely used in Turkey, especially in alternative medicine. It has been determined that the fruit part of the plant has better antimicrobial properties, and the amount of phenolic compounds increases in more polar solvents. In conclusion, the use of Gilaburu as a medicinal drug can be achieved with new research on bioactive substances, especially in fruit extract.

Synthesis and Characterization of Nickel Oxide Nanostructures for Electrochemical Analysis of Methotrexate

Metal oxide nanoparticles have found numerous applications in different fields. In this paper, the preparation of nickel oxide nanostructures is given. The nanostructures were synthesized by using the hydrothermal method. The characterization was done with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The newly synthesized nanostructures were utilized as a modifier of the working electrode, i.e., glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The modified GCE exhibited an excellent response towards methotrexate (MTX) anticancer drug. The modified GCE, as compared to bare GCE, showed an increased response towards MTX. In this study, BrittonRobinson buffer (BRB) was selected as a supporting electrolyte having pH 5. By using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), the method was found linear in the range of 5-40 µM with a limit of detection and quantification values of 2.4 µM and 7.28 µM, respectively. The method developed by this way was successfully applied for the analysis of MTX from injection formulations. The interference studies were also carried out to check the method's selectivity.

Assessment of Cadmium Toxicity in Drinking Water of Eight Talukas of Upper Sindh

In the present study, 240 groundwater samples were collected from eight Talukas of upper Sindh. The cadmium (Cd) content was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Concentration (µg/L), Daily Intake ofMetals (DIM),Health Risk Indexes (HRI) for children and adults caused due to Cd were measured through equations of EPA and WHO. Mean concentration of Cd in different Talukas of upper Sindh was found as; Daharki (6.20 µg/L), Ubauro (7.73 µg/L), Kashmore (7.53 µg/L), Tangwani (7.73 µg/L), Garhi Khairo (6.20 µg/L), Thul (5.00 µg/L), Qambar (7.674 µg/L) and Miro Khan (7.47 µg/L). Moreover, percent contamination of each Taluka was found as, Daharki (80%), Ubauro (93%), Kashmore (93%), Tangwani (93%), Gharhi Khairo (70%), Thul (56%), Qambar (93%) and Miro Khan (93%). The DIM of Cd for adult and children was calculated the range for adults was found as; Daharki (0.00006 - 0.00036), Ubauro (0.00006 - 0.00042), Kashmore (0.00006 - 0.00036), Tangwani (0.00006 - 0.00042), Garhi Khairo (0.00003 - 0.00056), Thul (0.00003 - 0.00056), Qambar (0.00008 - 0.00039) and Miro Khan (0.00008 - 0.00039) mg/kg-d, whereas, for children DIM of Cd was found lower than adults. The HRI values show that children compared to adults are under the potential risk threat due to HRI values > 1. Therefore, it can be suggested that groundwater found in above stated areas is unsafe for drinking purposes and must be treated before consumption.

Influence of Trichoderma harzianum- seed Coating on the Biochemical Characteristics of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Under Salt Stress

Salt stress is one of the main limitations to Triticum aestivum productivity all around the world. An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of Trichoderma harzianum seed coating on germination and seedling development of wheat under salt stress (60 and 120 mM NaCl). The seeds of six wheat cultivars, namely Shafaq-06, Punjab-11, Millet, Seher, Pirsabik, and Aari were seed coated with Trichoderma (taken from NARC Pakistan) at the rate of 2 x 107 CFU using PelGel for 24 h. After air-drying at room temperature for 12 h, the coated seeds were sown in small pots. Experimentation was laid out in a completely randomized design with three replications. The data for various biochemical attributes were collected after 30 d of germination to test the seed and seedling vigor, respectively. Trichoderma harzianum seed coating reduced the amount of hydrogen peroxide, catalase, Malondialdehyde, and increased protein content, Ascorbate Peroidase, and total phenolics under salt stress advocating that its use is effective in the cultivation of crops in saline areas because it inhibits oxidative damage by triggering various phenolic compounds and scavenging proteins.