Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer Research Articles

Preparation of hybrid meniscal constructs using hydrogels and acellular matrices

To search for a suitable meniscus repair material, acellular hybrid scaffolds consisting of in situ cross-linkable 3-D interpenetrating network structures were obtained by decellularization of the meniscus tissues followed by integration of the gel system. Decellularization efficiency was confirmed using a DNA quantification assay (82% decrease in DNA content) and histological stainings. In the second part of the study, the gelatin molecule was functionalized by adding methacrylic anhydride and the degree of functionalization was found to be 75% by (Proton-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) 1H-NMR. Using this, a series of hybrid constructs named GelMA-Hybrid (G-Hybrid), GELMA/PEGDMA-Hybrid (PG-Hybrid), and GelMA/PEGDMA/HAMA-Hybrid (PGH-Hybrid) were prepared by cross-linking with UVA. Changes in the chemical structure were determined with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer (FTIR). Water uptake capacities of cross-linked hybrid structures were measured in swelling studies, and it was found that hybrid scaffolds showed similar swelling properties compared to native counterparts. By compressive mechanical tests, enhanced mechanical properties were revealed in cross-linked scaffolds with PGH-Hybrid having the highest cross-link density. Protein denaturation and decomposition transition temperatures were improved by adding hydrogels to acellular scaffolds according to thermal gravimetric analyses (TGA). Cross-linked acellular scaffolds have exhibited a behavior close to native tissues with below 25% mass loss in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) and enzymatic solution. Cell viability was examined through Alamar Blue on the first day and cell viability in hybrid constructs was found to be above 80% while it was closer to the control group on the 7th day. It was concluded that the developed biomaterials could be used in meniscus tissue engineering with their tunable physicochemical and mechanical properties.

Bioprospecting of endophytic actinobacterium associated with Aloe ferox mill for antibacterial activity

BackgroundThe emergence of drug resistance among pathogens has resulted in renewed interest in bioprospecting for natural microbial products.MethodsThis study aimed to bioprospecting endophytic actinobacterium associated with Aloe ferox Mill for its antibacterial activity. Endophytic actinomycetes were isolated from the gel of A. ferox Mill by surface sterilization technique using actinomycete isolation agar. The isolate with a promising antibacterial activity was identified using 16S rRNA sequence analysis. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extract was assessed by the micro-dilution method and its effect on the respiratory chain dehydrogenase (RCD) activity was ascertained by the iodonitrotetrazolium chloride (INT) assay. Fourier transform-infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR) and gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS) were employed to identify functional groups and the chemical constituents, respectively.ResultsThe actinobacterium was found to be Streptomyces olivaceus CP016795.1. Its extract displayed noteworthy antibacterial activity (MIC ≤1 mg/mL) against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25925), Bacillus cereus (ATCC 10102), and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922); and showed an inhibitory effect on the RCD activity. FTIR spectrum displayed hydroxyl, amine, and aromatic groups, and the GC–MS revealed 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural as the main constituent (19.47%).ConclusionsS. olivaceus CP016795.1 can serve as a potential source of effective antibacterial compounds.

Preparation and characterization of biogenic silver nanoparticles using Strobilanthes cordifolia (Vahl) J.R.I. Wood leaves and its biological applications.

In the present study, aqueous leaf extract of Strobilanthes cordifolia J.R.I.Wood was combined with silver nitrate to synthesis silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The AgNPs were characterized using visible spectroscopy (UV), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDaX), particle size analysis, and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The UV spectrum absorption peak occurred at 438nm. The FTIR analysis of the AgNPs indicated the presence of functional groups such as aldehyde, alkenes, and carboxylic acids. The crystalline structure of AgNPs was confirmed by XRD. The AgNPs have a spherical shape according to SEM. The AgNPs components composition was confirmed by EDaX. The particle size distribution of AgNPs is monodispersion in the range at 42.54nm. TEM demonstrated the AgNPs size to be between 11.35 and 34.90nm. The AgNPs exhibited good antibacterial property against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The antioxidant activity of the AgNPs was represented by increased DPPH, ABTS, and H2 O2 activities.The antidiabetic activity of the AgNPs was indicated by the inhibition of α-amylase and α-glycosidase and anti-inflammatory highest albumin denaturation and HRBC membrane stabilization properties. Further, the AgNPs also significantly inhibited the MCF-7 cell lines. These results clearly suggest that the synthesized AgNPs using S. cordifolia leaves could have several potential biomedical applications.

Investigation of thermal, mechanical and dielectrical properties of LiYO2 filled poly(lactic acid) nanocomposites

In recent years, the development of portable electronic devices has increased considerably. Polymers and polymer composites are employed in a variety of industries, from structural materials to electronics, as well as in our daily lives. PLA@LiYO2 nanocomposites films were subsequently fabricated by a simple solution casting at various concentrations for the development of electronic materials. The effective doping and homogeneous dispersion of nanoparticles in PLA polymer is characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR) spectrophotometer, Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), elastic and dielectric properties of PLA composites films. XRD analysis showed that the crystalline characteristics of the nanocomposites increases with increase in dopant concentration. The FTIR absorption spectra of neat PLA and PLA@LiYO2 nanocomposites are almost equivalent to each other, from TGA analysis there will be less percentage of weight loss in the composite’s films as the concentration of the nanocomposites increased into PLA matrix, Moreover, a significant increase in Tg with an increase in NPs content from 0 to 4 wt% was also observed, the different elastic moduli such as E, K and G of PLA + LiYO2 films are indirectly proportional to the addition of LiYO2 in to PLA matrix. The doped PLA nanocomposites exhibit unique negative dielectric constant and AC conductivity.

Metal Ion Complex Compound Fe(III) with Pyrazoline Derivative Ligand as Cd(II) and Zn(II) Heavy Metal Ion Sensor Based on Fluorescence

<p>The purpose of this research is to synthesize the complex compound of ion Fe<sup>3+</sup> with para-di-2-(1-phenyl-3-pyridyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-5-yl)benzene ligand and its potentials as the sensor of Cd<sup>2+</sup> and Zn<sup>2+</sup> heavy metal ions based on fluorescence. Complex compounds are characterized with a Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectrophotometer, Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) Spectrophotometer and Spectrofluorometer. Then, a complex compound fluorosensor study is conducted by adding Cd<sup>2+</sup> and Zn<sup>2+</sup> heavy metal ions using a UV-Vis Spectrophotometer and Spectrofluorometer. The results show that the synthesis of the complex compound formed by reacting Fe metal and pyrazoline derived ligands generates brown precipitate with a yield of 51.25% and a range of melting points of 252.2-253.2 . The result of characterization with FTIR (cm<sup>-1</sup>) generates 3380.20 (tertiary amine), 2922.31-2852.42 (C-H pyridine), 2360.38 (C=C aromatic), 1595.93-1451.88 (C=N), 1232.25-982.66 (C-N pyrazoline), 751.61-690.29 (C-H aromatic) and 366.54-339.44 (Fe-N). The Uv-Vis spectrophotometer study with a concentration of 5x10<sup>-5 </sup>M showed two absorption peaks at 246 nm, 354 nm, and 440 nm. The resulting fluorescence intensity of 813.1 a.u. at the wavelenght of 500 nm. The study of complex compound fluorescence shows that the addition of Cd<sup>2+</sup> heavy metal ion can be made as fluorosensor with turn-on (enhancement) type, while the complex compound in the addition of Zn<sup>2+</sup> heavy metal ion can be made as fluorosensor with turn off-on (quenching-enhancement) type.</p>

Effects of Natural Rheum tanguticum on the Cell Wall Integrity of Resistant Phytopathogenic Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. Carotovorum.

The abuse of agricultural antibiotics has led to the emergence of drug-resistant phytopathogens. Rifampicin and streptomycin and streptomycin resistance Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (PccS1) was obtained from pathological plants in a previous experiment. Rheum tanguticum, derived from the Chinese plateau area, exhibits excellent antibacterial activity against PccS1, yet the action mode has not been fully understood. In present text, the cell wall integrity of the PccS1 was tested by the variation of the cellular proteins, SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR) characteristics. Label-free quantitative proteomics was further used to identify the DEPs in the pathogen response to treatment with Rheum tanguticum Maxim. ex Balf. extract (abbreviated as RTMBE). Based on the bioinformatics analysis of these different expressed proteins (DEPs), RTMBE mainly inhibited some key protein expressions of beta-Lactam resistance, a two-component system and phosphotransferase system. Most of these membrane proteins were extraordinarily suppressed, which was also consistent with the morphological tests. In addition, from the downregulated flagellar motility related proteins, it was also speculated that RTMBE played an essential antibacterial role by affecting the swimming motility of the cells. The results indicated that Rheum tanguticum can be used to attenuate the virulence of the drug-resistant phytopathogenic bacteria.

Synthesis of novel activated carbon-supported trimetallic Pt–Ru–Ni nanoparticles using wood chips as efficient catalysts for the hydrogen generation from NaBH4 and enhanced photodegradation on methylene blue

A novel activated carbon (AC) supported trimetallic Platinum–Ruthenium–Nickel nanoparticles (AC@Pt–Ru–Ni NPs) synthesized as an efficient catalyst for hydrogen production from NaBH4 and enhanced photodegradation ability on methylene blue (MB) dye is reported. AC, which is used as a support material in nanoparticle synthesis, was produced from wood chips. X-ray diffractometry (XRD), atomic force microscope (AFM), Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), and UV–visible spectrophotometer (UV–Vis) are used for nanoparticles characterization. According to XRD analysis, the average crystal particle size was measured to be about 3.44 nm. In TEM analysis, the average particle size was determined as 2.44 nm. The photocatalytic activity of AC@Pt–Ru–Ni NPs was examined against MB azo dye and found to have 97% photocatalytic degradation at 300 min against MB. The catalyst activity of AC@Pt–Ru–Ni NPs in hydrogen production was determined by the methanolysis reaction from NaBH4. The Turnover of Frequency (TOF), Activation energy (Ea), enthalpy (ΔH), and entropy values (ΔS) values of the hydrogen production reaction were calculated as 1154.04 h−1, 24.29 kJ/mol, 26.83 kJ/mol, −198.76 J/mol.K, respectively. The study successfully achieved the recycling of wood waste, production of hydrogen, and photodegradation against MB dye. In this study, wood wastes were evaluated and it was aimed to be used in AC production and nanocatalyst synthesis. The efficiency of the synthesized AC@PtRuNi nanocatalyst in hydrogen production and its usability for cleaning dyes from wastewater was determined. The obtained results show that AC@PtRuNi nanocatalyst has potential usability both in hydrogen production and in applications for cleaning dyes from wastewater.

Soil Remediation Using Zero-Valent Iron Nano-Particle Modified with Spondias Mombin Leaves Extract

Zero-valent iron nano-particle (nZVI) was modified with Spondias mombin (Sm) leaves extract (Sm-nZVI) for the removal of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), total hydrocarbon content (THC), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from contaminated soil. Advanced analytical tools such as Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FT-IR) Spectrophotometer, Scanning Electron Microscope(SEM) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD) were used to characterize the biosynthesized zero-valent iron nano-sorbent. The Fourier Transform Infra-Red analysis confirmed that the bioactive molecules such as alkaloids, polyphenols, flavonoids, etc. in Spondias mombin leaves extract were responsible for the zero-valent iron nanoparticle synthesis and stabilization. The peaks at 2 equal to 44.9o confirmed zero-valent iron (Fe0) in Sm-nZVI. The micrograph showed an average particle size ranging from 13 nm to 158 nm in Sm-nZVI revealing the micro-porosity of the sorbent. The application of Sm-nZVI for the removal of organic pollutants with varied effects of experimental parameters such as dosage, contact time and pH were successful. The result showed that the pH value for optimum removal efficiency (%) of THC (77.99%), TPH (75.61%) and PAHs (96.98) was 3.0. The adsorbent dosage for optimum removal efficiency (%) was 0.8 g for THC (79.15%), TPH (80.36%) and PAHs (97.31%) and contact time was 45 min for PAHs (97.86%) and 120 min for THC (83.98%) and TPH (85.54%). The biosynthesized zero-valent iron nano-particle showed higher removal efficiency (%) for PAHs (97.29%). This study reveals Spondias mombin zero-valent iron nano-sorbent (Sm-nZVI) as an effective and efficient sorbent for remediation of soil ladened with organic pollutants and the likes.

CoNi bimetallic metal–organic framework and gold nanoparticles-based aptamer electrochemical sensor for enrofloxacin detection

In this study, an electrochemical aptasensor was established for the ultrasensitive detection of enrofloxacin (ENR) based on a CoNi-based metal–organic framework (MOF) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Co-MOF, Ni-MOF, and CoNi-MOF were optimized by characterization techniques like scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectrophotometer (FT-IR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The optimal CoNi-MOF has waxberry-like structure, mixed metal valences, and π-conjugated structure, which show biocompatibility, high hydrophilicity, and good electrochemical stability. In order to enhance the electrochemical performance of the sensor, electrodeposition of AuNPs was used to improve conductivity and increase the load of sulfhydryl group-modified aptamer (Apt) by Au-S bond. The electrochemical behavior was studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectrum (EIS). The Apt/AuNPs/CoNi-MOF/GCE exhibits an extensive detection range of 1 × 10−3 pg·mL−1 to 1 × 105 pg·mL−1 (S/N = 3) and a detection limit of 3.3 × 10−4 pg·mL−1 for ENR under optimal conditions. The arranged sensor demonstrates a high sensitivity, satisfactory reproducibility, and long-time stability. Furthermore, the obtained sensor reveals a high practical prospect for the sensitive detection of ENR in meat samples.

Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Enzyme Inhibitory Activities of Various Organic Extracts from Apocynum hendersonii (Hook.f.) Woodson.

Apocynum hendersonii is a traditional medicinal plant used primarily as tea. It has a potential health benefit from its rich bioactive substances. This study investigated the reactivity of solvents of different polarities (ethanol, ethyl acetate, n-hexane, methanol, and water) extracts of the A. hendersonii leaf. The phytochemical composition of the extracts was evaluated using a Fourier Transform Infrared spectrophotometer (FT-IR), Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), UHPLC-MS, and Higher Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The result revealed the presence of medicinally important bioactive constituents, including phenols, flavonoids, and polysaccharides. Methanol extracts exhibited the highest flavonoid contents (20.11 ± 0.85 mg QE/g DW) and the second-highest in terms of phenolic (9.25 ± 0.03 mg GAE/g DW) and polysaccharide (119.66 ± 2.65 mg GE/g DW). It also had the highest antioxidant capacity with 60.30 ± 0.52% and 4.60 ± 0.02 µmol Fe2+ per g DW based on a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), respectively. Ethanol extract displayed the maximum antibacterial action against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and the highest inhibition activity against the enzymes tyrosinase and acetylcholinesterase, followed by methanol extract. The principal component analysis revealed a positive correlation between the constituents, bioactivities, and extracts. The overall result showed A. hendersonii as a rich natural source of antimicrobial and antioxidant bioactive compounds and may be used for future applications in pharmaceuticals and food industries.

Boron Nitride Nanoparticles Loaded with a Boron-Based Hybrid as a Promising Drug Carrier System for Alzheimer's Disease Treatment.

The search for an innovative and effective drug delivery system that can carry and release targeted drugs with enhanced activity to treat Alzheimer’s disease has received much attention in the last decade. In this study, we first designed a boron-based drug delivery system for effective treatment of AD by integrating the folic acid (FA) functional group into hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) nanoparticles (NPs) through an esterification reaction. The hBN-FA drug carrier system was assembled with a new drug candidate and a novel boron-based hybrid containing an antioxidant as BLA, to constitute a self-assembled AD nano transport system. We performed molecular characterization analyses by using UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and Zeta potential investigations. Second, we tested the anti-Alzheimer properties of the carrier system on a differentiated neuroblastoma (SHSY5-Y) cell line, which was exposed to beta-amyloid (1–42) peptides to stimulate an experimental in vitro AD model. Next, we performed cytotoxicity analyses of synthesized molecules on the human dermal fibroblast cell line (HDFa) and the experimental AD model. Cytotoxicity analyses showed that even higher concentrations of the carrier system did not enhance the toxicological outcome in HDFa cells. Drug loading analyses reported that uncoated hBN nano conjugate could not load the BLA, whereas the memantine loading capacity of hBN was 84.3%. On the other hand, memantine and the BLA loading capacity of the hBN-FA construct was found to be 95% and 97.5%, respectively. Finally, we investigated the neuroprotective properties of the nano carrier systems in the experimental AD model. According to the results, 25 µg/mL concentrations of hBN-FA+memantine (94% cell viability) and hBN-FA+BLA (99% cell viability) showed ameliorative properties against beta-amyloid (1–42) peptide toxicity (50% cell viability). These results were generated through the use of flow cytometry, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and antioxidant assays. In conclusion, the developed drug carrier system for AD treatment showed promising potential for further investigations and enlightened neuroprotective capabilities of boron molecules to treat AD and other neurodegenerative diseases. On the other hand, enzyme activity, systematic toxicity analyses, and animal studies should be performed to understand neuroprotective properties of the designed carrier system comprehensively.

Mathematical and Pharmacokinetic Approaches for the Design of New 3D Printing Inks Using Ricobendazole.

3D printing (3DP) makes it possible to obtain systems that are not achievable with current conventional methods, one of them, sustained release floating systems. Floating systems using ricobendazole (RBZ) as a model drug and a combination of polymers were designed and obtained by melt solidification printing technique (MESO-PP). Four different MESO-PP inks were formulated based on combinations of the polymers Gelucire 43/01 and Gelucire 50/13 in different ratios. For each of the formulated inks, physicochemical characterization was performed by thermal analysis (thermogravimetric analysis [TGA] and differential scanning calorimetry [DSC]), fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Pharmaceutical characterization was performed by in vitro assays to determine pharmaceutically relevant parameters. These parameters were calculated by applying mathematical models developed to evaluate in vitro drug release profiles. On the other hand, a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was developed to predict the in vivo performance of RBZ loaded in the different inks by determining the Cmax, and the AUC0-∞. By increasing the proportion of Gelucire 50/13 co-surfactant in the mixtures (the proportion in Ink 1 was 33%, while the proportion in Ink 4 was 80%), the dissolution capacity of RBZ increases substantially, decreasing flotation times. MESO-PP produced ink 1 (50% Gelucire 43/01, 25% Gelucire 50/13 and 25% RBZ), which has a zero-order release (RR = 0.180%/min) and the longest flotation time (545 ±23min), and in turn would produce a significant increase in oral absorption of the drug, with an AUC0-∞ 2.16-fold higher than that obtained in animals treated with RBZ loaded in conventional tablets.

Potential Bioactive Compounds from Marine Streptomyces sp. and Their In Vitro Antibiofilm and Antibacterial Activities Against Antimicrobial-Resistant Clinical Pathogens.

Antimicrobial resistance issues have risen dramatically in recent years, posing a severe concern to humans worldwide. The urgent need to find novel compounds for pharmaceutical applications prompts the research of under-explored environments such as marine ecosystems. The present study was designed to discover novel secondary metabolites, and we have isolated about 30 actinomycetes from the marine soil samples collected in Thondi (Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu, India), where most isolates are associated with the genus Streptomyces. Out of 30, one potentially active strain (Streptomyces sp. SRMA3) was identified using primary and secondary screening methods against the drug-resistant clinical pathogens. The active metabolites extracted from the selected active isolate were subjected to partial purification and characterization using Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR) and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value was determined for the active metabolite. Further, the partially purified active fraction was revealed for its antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against drug-resistant clinical pathogens. Light and fluorescence microscopy detected the viability and adhesion of the biofilm-forming drug-resistant pathogens. Growth curve analysis showed that the active metabolite has the potential to inhibit drug-resistant pathogens. The synergistic effect of active metabolite with commercial antibiotics also revealed that it could enhance the activity of antibiotics in antimicrobial resistance pathogens. This study shows that the isolated Streptomyces sp. SRMA3 is a potentially active strain, and the metabolite derived from this strain has a good antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against antimicrobially resistant clinical pathogens and could be used for various biotechnological applications.

Phytofabrication of Silver Nanoparticles using aqueous leaf extract of Aegle marmelos and its Characterization

Nanotechnology has proved a boon as it brings a revolutionary change in the world with the tremendous advancements in the field of science such as engineering, biotechnology, analytical chemistry, and agriculture. The synthesis of the metal nanoparticle is a developing area of exploration in present-day material science and innovation. Among the techniques involved in the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles, the biological methods or the green synthesis are reliable due to its cost-effective, environment friendly, and use of non-harmful materials in the processing. Therefore, the current work is focused on the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles with the leaf extract of holy plant Aegle marmelos by utilizing 1mM silver nitrate solution. From the bio-reduction reaction mixture, the synthesis of silver nanoparticles was studied by UV-Visible spectrophotometer at the range of 200 nm to 800nm and discovered maximum absorbance at 460nm. Further, the SNPs were analyzed for the protein or other organic groups by Fourier Transformed Infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR). The dried silver nanoparticles were further characterized by utilizing a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to observe the actual size, shape, and distribution of particles. This result showed the actual size of the bioengineered silver nanoparticles ranges from 25-30nm. The EDX result showed a peak of Ag that confirmed its presence in the suspension. The main objective of this study is to develop a fast, environmentally friendly, and advantageous technique for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. By standardizing the biosynthesis techniques, silver nanoparticles can be synthesized in bulk with a safe environment and it may be utilized for different clinical applications including control of pathogenic microorganisms and so on.

Study on preparation of selenium nanoparticles stabilised in water-soluble β-glucan by gamma Co-60 irradiation

The colloidal solutions of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) stabilised in water-soluble β-glucan were successfully prepared by the gamma ray (Co-60) irradiation method. The saturation dose for complete reduction of solutions contained 40, 60, 80, 100, and 120 ppm Se4+ were determined at 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 kGy, respectively. The structural characteristic and particle size were analysed by Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR) and Dynamic light scattering (DLS). The obtained results showed that the increase of β-glucan concentration from 1 to 4% or pH of sample from 5 to 10 caused a slight change of particle size but strongly affected the particle size distribution in the product. The particle size of the product was almost unchanged after 60 days stored at 0 and 4oC conditions, but a slight increase was observed in the sample stored at room temperature after 30 days. In addition, the antioxidant activity of SeNPs/β-glucan was much higher than that of vitamin C at the same tested concentration and this activity was increased by the increase of reaction time. The smaller particles size in the product displayed the higher antioxidant activity. These results indicated that SeNPs/β-glucan prepared by irradiation method is a very promising product for application in the fields of cosmetic and functional food.

Correlation of Activated Carbonized Avocado Pear Seeds (Persea Americana) and Activated Carbonized Orange Peels (Citrus Sinensis) Adsorptive Potency in Eliminating Cd2+ Ions in contaminated water

Water contamination is a very serious problem due to the role and usefulness of water to life. The carbonized orange peels (COP) and carbonized Avocado Pear seeds (CAPS) were impregnated with Potassium hydroxide (KOH) at 1:1 ratio for 48 hours. The KOH impregnated CAPS and COP were washed, air-dried and separately oven dried at 105℃ for 6 hours in a muffle furnace (Carbolite AAF1100) at 250oC for 1 hour. The activated carbonized avocado pear seeds (ACAPS) and activated carbonized orange peels (ACOP) were physicochemically characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometer. Cd2+ ions adsorption technique on ACAPS and ACOP was examined by means of the batch adsorption isotherm experimentations and their adsorption model was appraised by means of isotherm models of Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin–Radushkevich, Tempkin and Flory-Huggin. The SEM imageries, showed that ACAPS posessed a large number of varied size pores whereas the ACOP had fewer smaller size pores. The R2 values which varied from 0.86 to 1.00 point to the fact that all the isotherm models were capable to clarify the correlation in the obtained data. ACAPS had more adsorption site, however, ACOP took up more Cd2+ ion per adsorption site on comparing Flory-huggins isotherm model nFH values vis-a-vis Langmuir isotherm model qm values. Generally, ACAPS was a superior adsorbent likened to ACOP, it was more than twice as effective for deletion of Cd2+ ions in contaminated water owing to a blend of considerable amount of various size openings and surface functional groups with qm values of 12.35 and 5.67mg/g in that order.

Simultaneous analysis of patin fish oil (Pangasius micronemus) and bandeng (Chanos chanos) fish oil using FTIR spectroscopy and chemometrics

Patin fish (Pangasius micronemus) and bandeng fish (Chanos chanos) has high levels of oils containing essential fatty acids which are necessary for the human body. Therefore, quantitative analysis of fish oils extracted from patin fish and bandeng fish was very important. This research aimed to combine Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy with partial least square (PLS) and principal component regression (PCR) for simultaneous analysis of the binary mixture of patin fish oil (PFO) and bandeng fish oil (BFO). The method has consisted of extraction of both oils, preparation of calibration and validation samples, scanning of samples using FTIR spectrophotometer, and developing the calibration and validation models using PLS and PCR. The simultaneous analysis of PFO in a binary mixture with BFO was performed based on first derivative spectra at combined wavenumbers of 3050-2800, 1800-1700, and 1500-650 cm-1 assisted with PLS. In addition, BFO in binary mixtures with PFO was determined using the first derivative spectra using the same wavenumbers. The coefficient of determination for calibration (Rcal 2 ) and validation (Rval 2 ) were 0.9998 and 0.9994, with low errors (RMSEC = 0.0072 and RMSEP = 0.0121). The combination of FTIR spectroscopy with PLS using suitable wavenumbers can be potential tools for the simultaneous analysis of PFO and BFO.

Simultaneous remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and heavy metals in wastewater with zerovalent iron-titanium oxide nanoparticles (ZVI-TiO2)

Abstract The presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals (HM) in wastewater is a major challenge to the environment as various approaches have been used to remediate these contaminants from the environment. Zerovalent iron-titanium oxide nanoparticle (ZVI-TiO2 NPs) was synthesized by wet reflux in an inert environment using nitrogen gas and sodium borohydride as reducing agents. Characterization was carried out using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) coupled with electron diffraction X-ray (EDX) and Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR). Assessments of the wastewater were carried out with atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) for HM and a gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometer (GCMS) for PAHs to determine the initial concentration (C i) compared with permissible limits of surface water and adsorption capacity with ZVI-TiO2 NPs (C f), respectively. The results obtained indicate a percentage yield of 65.51 ± 0.01 of ZVI-TiO2 NPs, with a particle size of 100 nm, weight composition of iron, titanium, and oxygen at 49.69, 5.24, and 35.41 g, respectively. FTIR shows a vibrational change of 3465, 2929, and 1641 cm−1 of OH, CH, and CO group needed for metal binding and adsorption. Remediation of HM after acid digestion gave effective removal of zinc, copper, cadmium, cobalt, and lead at an adsorption capacity of 64.29, 54.83, 53.13, 48.39, and 42.66% respectively. The adsorptions of benzo[a]pyrene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, and perylene were 77.87, 67.85, 52.17, 29.50, and 25.45%, respectively. These results indicate that metal/metal oxide (ZVI-TiO2) nanoparticles have a high potential in the remediation of heavy metals and PAHs from the water ecosystem.

Codoping Effect of Nitrogen (N) to Iron (Fe) Doped Zirconium Titanate (ZrTiO<sub>4</sub>) Composite toward Its Visible Light Responsiveness as Photocatalysts

Iron (Fe) and nitrogen (N) were introduced as dopants into zirconium titanate (ZrTiO4) in order to study the codoping effects of nitrogen on iron-doped zirconium titanate (Fe,N-codoped ZrTiO4) composite. Titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP), zirconia (ZrO2), urea, and iron(II) sulfate heptahydrate were used as the source of TiO2, semiconductor supports, source of nitrogen, and iron, respectively. A specific amount of iron (1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 wt.%) and a fixed nitrogen content (10 wt.%) were doped into the ZrTiO4 lattice. Various calcination temperatures (from 500 to 900 °C) were also applied to investigate the crystal structure of the composite. The composites were characterized by X-ray powder diffractometer (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectrophotometer (FT-IR), scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive X-Ray spectrometer (SEM-EDX), and specular reflectance UV-Vis (SR-UV). The lowest bandgap energy of 2.62 eV was obtained in the composite with 3 wt.% of Fe and 10 wt.% of N calcined at 500 °C.

Optimisation of enzymatic fermented glucose production of wild cocoyam starch using response surface methodology

<p>​The enzymatic fermentation of starch from non-edible sources using Aspergillus niger could help supplement the increasing glucose demand within the Nigeria food supply chain. Also, response surface methodology could help optimise the glucose production of starch hydrolysed from cocoyam tubers. In this work, we evaluated and optimized the enzymatic-fermented glucose production of wild cocoyam starch using response surface methodology. Wild cocoyam starch was hydrolyzed using A. niger isolated from the soil. The optimization process involved temperature, time, pH, and enzyme dosage, alongside the kinetics and thermodynamics of enzymatic hydrolysis. Optimum conditions for glucose yield of 95 % by enzyme hydrolysis included: temperature = 35 °C; time = 5 days; pH = 5.5; and enzyme dosage =0.16 g/mL, with wild cocoyam showing promising as substrate. The F-value of quadratic model terms appeared statistically significant (F= 65.42, p<0.0001). Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectrometer (FTIR) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrophotometer (GC-MS) analyses confirmed characteristic bands of glucose as industrially promising with 60% purity. Further, the enzymatic hydrolysis adhered to Michaelis-Menten kinetic model with maximum reaction rate of 82.6 ml/day at 35 °C.</p>