Diethyl Ether Research Articles

On the Synthesis and Structure of 'Naked' Ga(I) and In(I) Salts and the Surprising Stability of Simple Ga(I) and In(I) Salts in the Coordinating Solvents Ether and Acetonitrile.

In this work, we present the solid-state structures of solvent-free Ga[pf] and In[pf] salts ([pf]- = [Al(ORF)4]-; RF = C(CF3)3), which are very rare examples of salts with truly 'naked' metal cations. Both salts may serve as starting materials for subvalent gallium and indium chemistry with very weakly coordinating ligands providing the freedom of choice for solvents and ligands for the future. On the other hand, we report and rationalize the formation and isolation of [M(OEt2)2][pf] and [M(MeCN)2][pf] (M= Ga, In), underlining the surprising stability of these subvalent group 13 M+ ions against disproportionation. Unexpectedly, tricoordinate and carbene analogous [Ga(L)2]+ ions with the [pf]- counterion are stable in L = acetonitrile and diethyl ether at room temperature, opening up possible applications for example in organic synthesis and catalysis.

Highly Acidic, γ-Al2O3 Nanorods and SiO2 Nanoparticles Recovered from Solid Wastes as Promising Catalysts for Production of Ethylene and Diethyl Ether Biofuels

Highly Acidic, γ-Al2O3 Nanorods and SiO2 Nanoparticles Recovered from Solid Wastes as Promising Catalysts for Production of Ethylene and Diethyl Ether Biofuels

Preparation of Mesophase Pitch with Fine-Flow Texture from Ethylene Tar/Naphthalene by Catalytic Synthesis for High-Thermal-Conductivity Carbon Fibers.

Mesophase pitch is usually prepared by radical polymerization or catalytic polymerization from coal tar, petroleum, and aromatic compounds, and the catalytic synthesis of mesophase pitch from pure aromatic compounds is more controllable in the preparation of high-quality mesophase pitch. However, the corrosive and highly toxic nature of the catalyst has limited the further development of this method. In this study, mesophase pitch was synthetized using ethylene tar and naphthalene as raw materials and boron trifluoride diethyl etherate as a catalyst. The effect of the catalytic reaction on the structure and properties of the mesophase pitch was investigated. The results show that naphthalene plays an important role in the mesophase content and reaction pressure (from above 6 MPa to 2.35 MPa). Mesophase pitch with fine-flow texture can be prepared by introducing more methylene groups, naphthenic structures, and aliphatic hydrocarbons during synthesis. Carbon fibers prepared from mesophase pitch show a split structure, and the thermal conductivity is 730 W/(m·K). This work provides theoretical support for lower toxicity and causticity and for reaction-controlled technology for the synthesis of high-purity mesophase pitch.

Modification of Natural Zeolite from Klaten, Indonesia Using Ammonium Chloride by Ion-Exchange and Its Application as Catalyst in Ethanol Dehydration to Produce Diethyl Ether

Modification of a natural zeolite from Klaten, Indonesia, as a catalyst in the dehydration of ethanol to produce diethyl ether (DEE) has been conducted. Raw Klaten natural zeolite (ZA) was modified using 1 and 2 M of an ammonium chloride solution for 24 h while stirring for 18 h, then calcined at 500 °C for 5 h under N2 gas flow produced HZA1 and HZA2 catalyst, respectively. The catalysts were characterized using XRD, BET surface area, SEM-EDX, XRF, FTIR and gravimetric acidity test using ammonia-based vapor. The dehydration process was conducted under variations of temperature (200, 250, and 300 °C) and catalyst mass of 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 g for 20 mL of 96% ethanol. The HZA1 catalyst produced the highest yield of DEE (2.41%) at 250 °C and 0.1 g catalyst. This catalyst showed needle-like of 66.22 nm crystal size, consisting of 32.57% mordenite, the highest surface area (48.32 m2/g), crystallinity (32.93%) and Brønsted acid sites (2.75 mmol/g), the lowest pore diameter (1.77 nm) and Si/Al mol ratio (4.03). The HZA1 catalyst can be used repetitively and produced DEE yield at the second and third runs (2.40 and 2.61%).

Sustainable extraction methods of carotenoids from mango (Mangifera indica L. ‘Kent’) pulp: Ultrasound assisted extraction and green solvents

Mango is a good source of carotenoids for use in food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical products because of their organoleptic and health-promoting properties. Safe and sustainable methods for their extraction is required. The present investigation was aimed to study concentration and carotenoid profile of ‘Kent’ mango pulp through a conventional extraction (CE) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) using traditional solvents (tetrahydrofuran-THF and diethyl ether: petroleum ether-DE:PE) and green solvents (GS) (2-metiltetrahydrofuran, 2 m-THF; cyclopentyl methyl ether, CPME). Mango showed (μg/g d.w.) β-carotene (29.4), zeaxanthin (1.28), β-cryptoxanthin (2.8), phytoene (18.68) and phytofluene (7.45) in a CE using DE:PE. Similar results were obtained applying DE:PE in UAE and GS in a CE, so CPME and 2-mTHF seem suitable solvents to replace DE:PE in CE. The yield of total carotenes, xanthophylls and carotenoids using GS combined with UAE was lower than with CE, but important enough to be used as a sustainable procedure for obtaining carotenoids from mango pulp.

Selective peripheral tissue response to high testosterone levels in an infertile woman without virilization signs.

Total testosterone, which is peripherally converted to its biologically active form dihydrotestosterone (DHT), is the first-line hormone investigation in hyperandrogenic states and infertility in premenopausal women. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the most common cause of hyperandrogenism and infertility in young women, is often associated with mild elevations of total testosterone. Whereas very high levels of total testosterone (>2-3 SD of normal reference), are most often associated with hyperandrogenic signs, menstrual irregularity, rapid onset of virilization, and demand a prompt investigation. Herein, we report a case of a 32-year-old woman who was referred to the endocrinology outpatient clinic due to secondary amenorrhea and extremely high testosterone levels without any virilization signs. We initially suspected pitfalls in the testosterone laboratory test. Total serum testosterone decreased after a diethyl-ether extraction procedure was done prior to the immunoassay, but testosterone levels were still elevated. An ovarian steroid-cell tumor (SCT) was then revealed, which was thereby resected. Twenty-four hours post surgery, the total testosterone level returned to normal, and a month later menstruation resumed. This case emphasizes that any discrepancy between laboratory tests and the clinical scenario deserves a rigorous evaluation to minimize misinterpretation and errors in diagnosis and therapeutic approach. Additionally, we describe a possible mechanism of disease: a selective peripheral target-tissue response to high testosterone levels that did not cause virilization but did suppress ovulation and menstruation. Total testosterone is the most clinically relevant hormone in investigating hyperandrogenic states and infertility in premenopausal women. Very high total testosterone levels in women (>2-3 SD of normal reference) are most often associated with hyperandrogenic signs, menstrual irregularities, and a rapid onset of virilization. In women with very elevated testosterone levels and the absence of clinical manifestations, laboratory interference should be suspected, and diethyl ether extraction is a useful technique when other methods fail to detect it. Ovarian steroid cell tumors (SCT) encompass a rare subgroup of sex cord-stromal tumors and usually secrete androgen hormones. SCTs are clinically malignant in 25-43% of cases. A selective response of peripheral target tissues to testosterone levels, with clinical manifestations in some tissues and no expression in others, may reflect differences in the conformation of tumor-produced testosterone molecules.

Anticandidal activity and chemicals of commiphora Gileadensis (l.) C. Chr. (burseraceae) growning in south Western region of saudi arabia

Anticandidal activities of stem extracts of C. gileadensis growing in various locations and chemicals had been evaluated. Methanol extract of fresh and dry solvent extracts in Tathleeth A region had the highest activity (2.2 ± 0.3cm) and (1.7 ± 0.2cm), respectively. Cyclohexanone of fresh stem extract and diethyl ether of dry extract showed inhibition activities (2.1 ± 0.1cm) of Tathleeth B. The highest activity gained from fresh hot water extract (1.4 ± 0.1 cm) and from dry extract of dichloromethane (1.7 ± 0.0 cm) in Tabala C. The maximum inhibiting activity obtained from hot water extract (1.8 ± 0.4 cm) and from chloroform of dry extract (2.0 ± 0.0cm) in Tabala D. GC-MS analysis showed that the dominant compound in Thathleeth A and Thathleeth B is Bisethylamine, Tabala C are 5-Methyl-2(5H)-furanone and palmatic acid and Tabala D is Amitrole. HPLC showed that Tabala D had the highest amount from B1 and folic acid. Thus, plant's biochemical parameters are profoundly influenced by their locations. Bangladesh J. Bot. 53(1): 1-8, 2024 (March)

Effects of Cultivation Stress on the Glaucophyte Cyanophora paradoxa and Bioactive Potential in Human Cancer Cell Lines

ABSTRACT The propensity to accumulate high-value metabolites under specific conditions makes microalgae promising candidates for commercial applications. Here, the freshwater microalga Cyanophora paradoxa CCAP 981/1 was cultivated under varying conditions (control, nitrogen limitation, NaCl supplementation and blue light exposure) and the biological activity of the corresponding biomass extracts was assessed against human breast (MCF-7) and lung (A549) cancer cell lines. The stress treatments hindered the growth of C. paradoxa, the control displaying the highest specific growth rate (0.16 d−1 ± 0.01). Biomass screening by GCMS and HPLC identified diverse bioactive compounds including pigments (chlorophylls, xanthophylls, carotenes) and fatty acids (e.g., EPA). The control cultivation conditions returned the highest yields of biomass (724 mg), zeaxanthin (6.8 mg g−1), EPA (1.1 mg g−1) and phycocyanin (113.9 mg g−1), while the blue light treatment enhanced the proportions of unsaturated forms of C18 (34.3%). Extracts of dried biomass obtained by cold maceration using solvents of increasing polarity were used in the treatment of MCF-7 and A549 cancer cells. Ethyl acetate extracts from nitrogen-limited cultures reduced MCF-7 viability (~70%) after 72 h. However, the diethyl ether and methanol extracts showed no impact on MCF-7 and A549 cell viability. Furthermore, acridine orange staining revealed no significant DNA damage in these cell lines upon exposure to C. paradoxa extracts. Overall, the minimal impacts on cell viability observed here supports considering C. paradoxa as a promising source of natural bioactive compounds with applications in various biotechnological sectors.

Fabricating Planar Perovskite Solar Cells through a Greener Approach.

High-quality perovskite thin films are typically produced via solvent engineering, which results in efficient perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Nevertheless, the use of hazardous solvents like precursor solvents (N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), dimethylformamide (DMF), gamma-butyrolactone (GBL)) and antisolvents (chlorobenzene (CB), dibutyl ether (DEE), diethyl ether (Et2O), etc.) is crucial to the preparation of perovskite solutions and the control of perovskite thin film crystallization. The consumption of hazardous solvents poses an imminent threat to both the health of manufacturers and the environment. Consequently, before PSCs are commercialized, the current concerns about the toxicity of solvents must be addressed. In this study, we fabricated highly efficient planar PSCs using a novel, environmentally friendly method. Initially, we employed a greener solvent engineering approach that substituted the hazardous precursor solvents with an environmentally friendly solvent called triethyl phosphate (TEP). In the following stage, we fabricated perovskite thin films without the use of an antisolvent by employing a two-step procedure. Of all the greener techniques used to fabricate PSCs, the FTO/SnO2/MAFAPbI3/spiro-OMeTAD planar device configuration yielded the highest PCE of 20.98%. Therefore, this work addresses the toxicity of the solvents used in the perovskite film fabrication procedure and provides a promising universal method for producing PSCs with high efficiency. The aforementioned environmentally friendly approach might allow for PSC fabrication on an industrial scale in the future under sustainable conditions.

Abstract 551: Investigation of the antipoliferative effect of the Xylopia Aethiopicaextract in triple-negative breast cancer cells

Abstract Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer and has very limited treatment options. Xylopia Aethiopica (XA) is a common spice that is widely used in the regions of central and western Africa. It is known to have various pharmacological properties, one of which is anti-inflammatory activity. The anti-inflammatory effect may portend antiproliferative activity. We hypothesized that the extract of XA will exert antiproliferative activity against TNBC cells. The study aimed to establish the molecular mechanism underlying the antiproliferative activity of XA extract (XAE) against TNBC. The dried fruits of XA were crushed in a mixer and macerated using diethyl ether for 72 h. The macerate was subjected to vacuum and rotary evaporation to remove the organic solvent, and a stock solution was prepared in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Assessment of the efficacy of XAE was performed using serial dilutions (100 µg/ml, 50 µg/ml, 10 µg/ml, 5 µg/ml, and 1µg/ml) of the XAE stock solution, followed by in vitro testing against two TNBC cell lines (MDA-MB-231, and MDA-MB-468 cells). The cytotoxic effect of the XAE was then measured using the resazurin dye assay. XAE resulted in a concentration-dependent cell death in both cell lines. At the highest concentration (100 µg/ml), XAE induced cytotoxic cell death of 89% and 91% in MDAMB231 and MDAMB468 cells, respectively. This was consistent with IC50 values of 32.95 ± 1.32 µg/ml (MDAMB231) and 20.83 ± 1.05 µg/ml (MDAMB468). At the molecular level, western blot analysis of mitogenic markers associated with MAPK oncogenic signaling pathway demonstrated the inhibition of EGFR and AKT protein levels after a 48-h treatment. Acridine orange-ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining showed a concentration-dependent induction of apoptosis in both cell lines. Flow cytometric analysis was performed to quantify the apoptotic cells. A significant increase of apoptotic cells was observed in treatment groups as compared to control after 72 h. Apoptotic induction was associated with increased p53 protein levels after 48 h treatment compared to control. The study results underscore the anticancer effects of XAE in TNBC cells mediated through induction of apoptosis. Citation Format: Shailvi Soni, Shail Rakesh Modi, Terrick Andey. Investigation of the antipoliferative effect of the Xylopia Aethiopicaextract in triple-negative breast cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 551.

Boron and Fluorine Co‐Doped Graphene/Few‐Walled Carbon Nanotube Composite as Highly Active Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Functionalization of nanocarbon materials with heteroatoms is of paramount interest as doping of carbon with electron withdrawing groups results in change of electrochemical properties of the potential catalyst. Adding fluorine, as the most electronegative element into the doping process next to boron is expected to have significant effect on the design of novel nanocarbon‐based electrocatalysts. In this paper boron and fluorine co‐doped reduced graphene oxide/few‐walled carbon nanotube (BF‐rGO/FWCNT) catalyst are synthesized via simple and low‐cost direct pyrolysis method using boron trifluoride diethyl etherate (BTDE). Composition analysis confirmed that boron and fluorine have been grafted onto the carbon support. Rotating disk electrode (RDE) measurements revealed that BF‐rGO/FWCNT has remarkable electrocatalytic activity toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) both in alkaline and acid media. The onset potential of the best BF‐rGO/FWCNT catalyst was 50 mV more positive in alkaline and 600 mV more positive in acidic media compared with un‐doped rGO/FWCNT. The half‐wave potential was 100 mV more positive in alkaline media and 700 mV more positive in acidic media in comparison with un‐doped rGO/FWCNT.

Effect of the General Anaesthetic Ketamine on Electrical and Ca2+ Signal Propagation in Arabidopsis thaliana

The systemic electrical signal propagation in plants (i.e., from leaf to leaf) is dependent on GLUTAMATE RECEPTOR-LIKE proteins (GLRs). The GLR receptors are the homologous proteins to the animal ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) which are ligand-gated non-selective cation channels that mediate neurotransmission in the animal’s nervous system. In this study, we investigated the effect of the general anaesthetic ketamine, a well-known non-competitive channel blocker of human iGluRs, on systemic electrical signal propagation in Arabidopsis thaliana. We monitored the electrical signal propagation, intracellular calcium level [Ca2+]cyt and expression of jasmonate (JA)-responsive genes in response to heat wounding. Although ketamine affected the shape and the parameters of the electrical signals (amplitude and half-time, t1/2) mainly in systemic leaves, it was not able to block a systemic response. Increased [Ca2+]cyt and the expression of jasmonate-responsive genes were detected in local as well as in systemic leaves in response to heat wounding in ketamine-treated plants. This is in contrast with the effect of the volatile general anaesthetic diethyl ether which completely blocked the systemic response. This low potency of ketamine in plants is probably caused by the fact that the critical amino acid residues needed for ketamine binding in human iGluRs are not conserved in plants’ GLRs.

Experimental investigation of diethyl ether (DEE) blended jack fruit peel oil (JFP) with hydrogen as a secondary fuel in dual-fuel compression ignition engines.

Jack fruit peel oil (JFPO) exhibits passive chemical characteristics; thereby, dual-fuel mode frequently involves hydrogen to address its combustion difficulties. This strategy has been gaining prominence nowadays. The present investigation investigates on the performance, emission, and combustion characteristics of a direct injected compression ignition dual-fuel engine operating on a binary fuel blend of jack fruit peel oil (JFPO) and diethyl ether with hydrogen induction. The engine was operated by inducing hydrogen gas into the intake manifold of the engine at 8 and 10 LPM with the applied load ranging from 25 to 100%. The test fuel was prepared by blending jack fruit peel oil and diethyl ether in the volumetric ratio of 90:10. JFP brake thermal efficiency was 16% lower than diesel at full load but enhanced by 9% with direct hydrogen induction at a knock limit of 10 LPM and 23% with JFP + H2 + 10% DEE at maximum load. At maximum load, JFP + 10 LPM of hydrogen gas + 10% DEE produces 916ppm of NOx, which is 44.46% less than diesel. Furthermore, adding hydrogen gas and DEE to air fuel mixture decreased emissions of carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbon by 0.702% and 28.30% opa, respectively.

PCMRESP: A Method for Polarizable Force Field Parameter Development and Transferability of the Polarizable Gaussian Multipole Models Across Multiple Solvents.

The transferability of force field parameters is a crucial aspect of high-quality force fields. Previous investigations have affirmed the transferability of electrostatic parameters derived from polarizable Gaussian multipole models (pGMs) when applied to water oligomer clusters, polypeptides across various conformations, and different sequences. In this study, we introduce PCMRESP, a novel method for electrostatic parametrization in solution, intended for the development of polarizable force fields. We utilized this method to assess the transferability of three models: a fixed charge model and two variants of pGM models. Our analysis involved testing these models on 377 small molecules and 100 tetra-peptides in five representative dielectric environments: gas, diethyl ether, dichloroethane, acetone, and water. Our findings reveal that the inclusion of atomic polarization significantly enhances transferability and the incorporation of permanent atomic dipoles, in the form of covalent bond dipoles, leads to further improvements. Moreover, our tests on dual-solvent strategies demonstrate consistent transferability for all three models, underscoring the robustness of the dual-solvent approach. In contrast, an evaluation of the traditional HF/6-31G* method indicates poor transferability for the pGM-ind and pGM-perm models, suggesting the limitations of this conventional approach.

Evaluating bottle liquid-liquid extraction technique for monitoring residual levels of organochlorine pesticides in wastewater treatment-associated matrices

The gold standard for recovering residual organochlorine pesticides from wastewater and aqueous environmental matrices is the continuous liquid-liquid extraction (CLLE) technique that requires methylene chloride (CH2Cl2) as solvent at its refluxing temperature. In light of a recent USEPA proposed prohibitions and workplace protections for CH2Cl2 (due to its toxicity) and the fact that CLLE requires expensive and hard-to-acquire glassware, an alternative to CLLE as currently practiced is needed. The bottle liquid-liquid extraction (BLLE) technique, demonstrated for extracting semi-volatile organic contaminants from surface water, is potentially a low cost and high throughput alternative for such recovery. BLLE is cheaper and has a smaller laboratory footprint. The technique, performed at ambient temperature in a tightly capped bottle, requires less amount of solvent and contains solvent vapor within the bottle. The latter means less CH2Cl2 is encountered in the workplace. In this study, BLLE was performed directly in 1-L amber sampling bottles and shown to recover 21 organochlorine pesticides as efficiently as CLLE from influents and effluents of two wastewater treatment plants Because no statistical differences were found between CLLE (mean = 77.4, SD = 9.28) and BLLE (mean = 79.1, SD = 14.3); t(22) = 0.548, p(same mean) = 0.58, even though CLLE recovered more pesticides than BLLE by 5.18 ± 8.15%, these techniques are amenable to interchangeable usage. The systematic bias so far detected fits the expression BLLE = 1.4[CLLE] – 35 (r = 0.88). Both CLLE and BLLE recoveries were consistently higher for 4,4′-DDD and lower for aldrin, heptachlor and endrin aldehyde. Diethyl ether addition, as some suggested, did not improve BLLE.Synopsis: There is need to find a cheap, reliable and high throughput technique for purifying SVOCs from aqueous environmental media efficiently. BLLE, a little known technique, fulfils this need.

Toward Lung Ventilation Imaging Using Hyperpolarized Diethyl Ether Gas Contrast Agent.

Hyperpolarized 129 Xe gas was FDA-approved as an inhalable contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging of a wide range of pulmonary diseases in December 2022. Despite the remarkable success in clinical research settings, the widespread clinical translation of HP 129 Xe gas faces two critical challenges: the high cost of the relatively low-throughput hyperpolarization equipment and the lack of 129 Xe imaging capability on clinical MRI scanners, which have narrow-bandwidth electronics designed only for proton (1 H) imaging. To solve this translational grand challenge of gaseous hyperpolarized MRI contrast agents, here we demonstrate the utility of batch-mode production of proton-hyperpolarized diethyl ether gas via heterogeneous pairwise addition of parahydrogen to ethyl vinyl ether. An approximately 0.1-liter bolus of hyperpolarized diethyl ether gas was produced in 1 second and injected in excised rabbit lungs. Lung ventilation imaging was performed using sub-second 2D MRI with up to 2×2 mm2 in-plane resolution using a clinical 0.35 T MRI scanner without any modifications. This feasibility demonstration paves the way for the use of inhalable diethyl ether as a gaseous contrast agent for pulmonary MRI applications using any clinical MRI scanner.

Facile Separation of Acetic Acid from 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium Acetate Ionic Liquid with the Aid of a Protic Solvent.

1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate (EmimAc), an excellent solvent for cellulosic biomass, is expected to be utilized in chemical conversion, such as in biomass acetylation with acetic anhydride. The corresponding carboxylic acid, acetic acid (AcH), is quantitatively generated as a byproduct and should be separated from EmimAc for recycling. However, the strong interaction between EmimAc and AcH makes their separation difficult under moderate conditions. This study examined the efficacy of protic solvents in distillation and extraction to weaken this interaction through solvation or hydrogen-bonding interactions. The separation efficiency of AcH from EmimAc via distillation increased as the boiling point of the protic solvent increased. Water addition was more effective than the addition of alcohols with boiling points similar to those of water such as 1-propanol and 2-butanol. Furthermore, the favorable effect of water addition on the extraction of AcH was confirmed using common organic solvents, such as diisopropyl ether, diethyl ether, and ethyl acetate. The partition coefficient (α) of AcH between the aqueous and organic phases increased with an increasing dielectric constant of the organic solvent, whereas the α value of EmimAc decreased. Repeated treatments in both distillation and extraction facilitated the complete separation of AcH from EmimAc.

Molecular dynamics study of the thermodynamic properties of triglyceride/methanol mixtures in the presence of cosolvent

Biodiesel is a renewable source of energy that has the potential to replace fossil fuel-based resources. It is produced via the transesterification reaction in which a triglyceride reacts with methanol in the presence of a catalyst. Cosolvents are usually added to the reactants in transesterification to improve the mutual solubility of methanol and triglycerides and to create a single phase. The commonly used cosolvents in transesterification include tetrahydrofuran (THF) and diethyl ether (DEE). Understanding the thermodynamic properties of this system is important in the selection of cosolvent. In this study, molecular dynamics simulations were used to study the mixing behavior between the components of ternary mixtures of triolein/methanol/THF and triolein/methanol/DEE via the application of Flory-Huggins theory of solutions. A simple approach to calculation of the Flory-Huggins interaction parameters is used in which the mixing energy is derived from averaged non-bonded pair interaction energies. Apart from pure triolein, these ternary systems resemble the experimentally studied ternary systems employing various plant-based oils. The binary interaction parameters, Gibbs Free energy and chemical potentials of the components were calculated to study the mixing behavior. Our results show that along the experimental phase boundary the binary interaction parameters remain relatively unchanged with a deviation observed at the highest volume fractions of triolein where the highest binary interactions were observed indicating the possibility of phase separation. The Gibbs energy of mixing for the systems changed from positive to negative as one moves from two phase to single phase part of the ternary system as expected and in agreement with experimental data. The chemical potentials of the ternary mixture components were calculated from the partial derivatives of the Gibbs free energy of mixing. The activities calculated from Flory-Huggins chemical potentials were compared to those calculated using the UNIFAC model. There is good agreement between the two, with both able to predict a single and biphasic mixture. However, disagreements are noted at low and high concentrations of triolein.

The modulation effect of green tea and pumpkin oils on hyperlipidemia, oxidative stress, and hematological abnormalities in an experimental multiple sclerosis rat model

BackgroundMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory condition that can impair the body’s physiological functions. Although many diseases have been successfully treated with herbal treatments for a long time, the majority of the herbs utilized have unclear mechanisms. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the modulation effects of green tea oil (GTO) and pumpkin oil (PO) on hyperlipidemia, oxidative stress, and hematological abnormalities in an experimental multiple sclerosis rat model.MethodsForty albino male Wistar rats (weighing 120–140 g) were divided into four groups of six each: group 1, the control group; group 2, the myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-injected group; and groups 3 and 4, the MOG-injected groups treated with GTO and PO at 5 mg/kg b.w., respectively. At the end of the experiments, animals were anesthetized with diethyl ether inhalation, and blood samples were collected from the jugular vein. A Beckman Coulter was then used to determine the differential complete blood counts. The obtained serum was rapidly collected and stored at 20 °C to assess the lipid profile and oxidative stress and antioxidant biomarkers.ResultsOur findings showed that GTO and PO treatment produced a significant reduction in total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and very low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL-C) levels. Furthermore, GTO and PO treatment alleviated the elevated cardiovascular risk indices 1 and 2. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) concentration significantly decreased and glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels significantly increased in rats injected with MOG and treated with GTO and PO. Furthermore, after GTO and PO treatment, the reduced red blood cells (RBCs) count, hemoglobin content (Hb%), lymphocyte percentage, and hematocrit (HCT) of MOG-injected rats increased, while the elevated white blood cells (WBCs), platelet, and neutrophil percentage substantially declined.ConclusionCollectively, our research revealed that GTO and PO may be capable of modulating hyperlipidemia, oxidative stress, and hematological abnormalities in the MS rat model.

Vibration analysis using wavelet transformation technique and performance characteristics of a diesel engine fueled with tamarind biodiesel-diesel blends and diverse additives

This study investigates the combustion, performance characteristics, and emission levels of diesel and tamarind biodiesel mixtures (B20, B30, B40, and B100) in a single-cylinder, four-stroke, direct injection (DI) diesel engine. Further, two fuel additives, namely Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) (an antioxidant) and Diethyl ether (DEE) (a cetane improver), were separately added to B20 to enhance the engine characteristics. In addition, Wavelet Transform and Wavelet Packet algorithms were used to investigate the vibration behaviour of the tested fuels. The results demonstrate that the B20 blend improved the performance and generated less emission than the other blends. Moreover, the brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) for B20+BHT were 3.8% higher and 4.1% less than B20, respectively. B20+DEE combustion showed lower CO and smoke pollutants by 51% and 19% compared to B20, respectively. The NOx emissions for the blends containing BHT and DEE were decreased by 16% and 9%, respectively. The engine vibration analysis showed almost the same frequency with fuel blends B20 and B30, which were similar to the diesel fuel values. The results concluded the tamarind biodiesel/diesel mixtures with BHT and DEE improved the performance and emissions behaviors of DI diesel engine and could be considered a potential alternative biofuel for such engines. Wavelet analysis of the engine was accurately employed to extract the prominent features of the vibrations.