Alcohol Mixtures Research Articles

New Methodology for Modifying Sodium Montmorillonite Using DMSO and Ethyl Alcohol.

Modified clays with organic molecules have many applications, such as the adsorption of pollutants, catalysts, and drug delivery systems. Different methodologies for intercalating these structures with organic moieties can be found in the literature with many purposes. In this paper, a new methodology of modifying Sodium Montmorillonite clays (Na-Mt) with a faster drying time was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), BET, and thermogravimetric analysis (TG and DTG). In the modification process, a mixture of ethyl alcohol, DMSO, and Na-Mt were kept under magnetic stirring for one hour. Statistical analysis was applied to evaluate the effects of the amount of DMSO, temperature, and sonication time on the modified clay (DMSO-SMAT) using a 23-factorial design. XRD and FTIR analyses showed the DMSO intercalation into sodium montmorillonite Argel-T (SMAT). An average increase of 0.57 nm for the interplanar distance was found after swelling with DMSO intercalation. BET analysis revealed a decrease in the surface area (from 41.8933 m2/g to 2.1572 m2/g) of Na-Mt when modified with DMSO. The porosity increased from 1.74 (SMAT) to 1.87 nm (DMSO-SMAT) after the application of the methodology. Thermal analysis showed a thermal stability for the DMSO-SMAT material, and this was used to calculate the DMSO-SMAT formula of Na[Al5Mg]Si12O30(OH)6 · 0.54 DMSO. Statistical analysis showed that only the effect of the amount of DMSO was significant for increasing the interlayer space of DMSO-SMAT. In addition, at room temperature, the drying time of the sample using this methodology was 30 min.

Water-soluble arylhydrazone complexes based on Mn(II) and Cu(II) as catalysts for liquid-phase toluene oxidation

Novel hydrosoluble coordination compounds based on arylhydrazones of β-diketones and bearing first row transition metals, namely [Mn(μ-1κO1,2κO2-HL1)2(H2O)2]n (1) and [Cu(κO1O2N-L2)(DEA)] (2; DEA = diethanolamine), were synthesised and characterized. Their structural features were investigated using single crystal X-ray diffraction. The catalytic performance of the complexes was explored for liquid phase oxidation of toluene in homogeneous medium using aqueous tert‑butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as oxidants. Both catalysts demonstrated activity, producing a mixture of benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol and benzoic acid. Under optimized conditions, in the presence of catalysts 1 and using an aqueous TBHP solution as oxidant, the oxidation of toluene yielded an overall 42.6 % of oxygenated products. Contrary to what has been regularly reported regarding selectivity for benzaldehyde, benzoic acid was the predominant product in this study (71 %).

Physical properties and diesel engine combustion of blends of alcohols with military jet fuel JP-5

Military operations may involve the use of jet fuel in a diesel engine, and the blending of alcohols with jet fuel is a way to introduce decarbonization into military operations. This study explored the effect of blending n-alcohols with navy jet fuel JP-5 on physical properties and combustion in a diesel engine. Blends containing 10 %, 20 %, and 30 % of ethanol, propanol, butanol, pentanol, hexanol, octanol, and one mixture of 10 % methanol/80 % octanol had densities (0.80 to 0.81 g/mL) that fell within military specifications for diesel. Most mixtures' flash points (16.5 to 65.0 °C) were below the military spec of 60 °C, which is higher than that of commercial aviation fuel. Most mixture viscosities (4.74 to 9.99 mm2/s) were within the jet fuel specifications at −20 °C but below the diesel fuel specification at 40 °C. Combustion of the alcohol/JP-5 mixtures in a diesel engine showed that increasing alcohol content lengthened the ignition delay (IGD). For some of the alcohols, shortening the carbon chain length on the alcohol led to longer IGDs with later combustion phasing that was most noticeable at lighter engine loads. The longer IGDs associated with the shorter alcohol fuels (and increased alcohol percentage) rapidly led to very high rates of energy release. The relative IGDs (IGD mixture/IGD JP-5) were less than 1.2 for the 10 % alcohol mixtures, between 1.0 and 1.4 for the 20 % alcohol mixtures, and between 1.0 and 1.9 for the 30 % alcohol mixtures excluding the 30 % ethanol mixture that did not combust. From the combustion metrics perspective, the longer carbon chain alcohols were most similar to the base jet fuel. Overall, the larger alcohols had physical properties and combustion metrics that were closer to those of the JP-5 jet fuel.

Efficacy Assessment of Five Policosanol Brands and Damage to Vital Organs in Hyperlipidemic Zebrafish by Six-Week Supplementation: Highlighting the Toxicity of Red Yeast Rice and Safety of Cuban Policosanol (Raydel®).

Policosanol is a mixture of long-chain aliphatic alcohols (LCAAs) derived from various plant and insect origins that are marketed by various companies with distinct formulations and brand names. Policosanols offer several beneficial effects to treat dyslipidemia and hypertension; however, a comprehensive functionality comparison of various policosanol brands has yet to be thoroughly explored. In the present study five distinct policosanol brands from different origins and countries, Raydel-policosanol, Australia (PCO1), Solgar-policosanol, USA (PCO2), NutrioneLife-monacosanol, South Korea (PCO3), Mothernest-policosanol, Australia (PCO4), and Peter & John-policosanol, New Zealand (PCO5) were compared via dietary supplementation (1% in diet, final wt/wt) to zebrafish for six weeks to investigate their impact on survivability, blood lipid profile, and functionality of vital organs under the influence of a high-cholesterol diet (HCD, final 4%, wt/wt). The results revealed that policosanol brands (PCO1-PCO5) had a substantial preventive effect against HCD-induced zebrafish body weight elevation and hyperlipidemia by alleviating total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) in blood. Other than PCO3, all the brands significantly reduced the HCD's elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). On the contrary, only PCO1 displayed a significant elevation in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level against the consumption of HCD. The divergent effect of PCO1-PCO5 against HCD-induced hepatic damage biomarkers, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), was observed. PCO1, PCO2, and PCO4 efficiently curtailed the AST and ALT levels; however, PCO3 and PCO5 potentially aggravated the HCD's elevated plasma AST and ALT levels. Consistently, the hepatic histology outcome revealed the least effectiveness of PCO3 and PCO5 against HCD-induced liver damage. On the contrary, PCO1 exhibited a substantial hepatoprotective role by curtailing HCD-induced fatty liver changes, cellular senescent, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) production. Likewise, the histological outcome from the kidney, testis, and ovary revealed the significant curative effect of PCO1 against the HCD-induced adverse effects. PCO2-PCO5 showed diverse and unequal results, with the least effective being PCO3, followed by PCO5 towards HCD-induced kidney, testis, and ovary damage. The multivariate interpretation based on principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) validated the superiority of PCO1 over other policosanol brands against the clinical manifestation associated with HCD. Conclusively, different brands displayed distinct impacts against HCD-induced adverse effects, signifying the importance of policosanol formulation and the presence of aliphatic alcohols on the functionality of policosanol products.

Synthesis of biodiesel based on alcohol mixtures

Today, the rapid depletion of traditional fuel sources and rapid global climate change in the environment has increased interest in alternative fuels. The current situation forces many countries to implement different strategies for the development of renewable energy sources. Therefore, the environmental safety of fuels is one of the key factors in ensuring the proper operation of internal combustion engines. These strategies include the synthesis of biodiesel as renewable energy, a promising fuel for diesel engines. The goal of the work was the synthesis of biodiesel fuel from cottonseed oil using a transesterification reaction in the presence of a mixture of small molecular weight alcohols, such as methanol, ethanol, n-propanol and i-propanol, in the presence of H2SO4 as a catalyst. The reaction time was 8 hours and the mixture of alcohols was: methanol (ethanol) (34%), propanol-1 (33%) and propanol-2 (33%), yielding 80 and 83%, respectively. From the 1H NMR spectra, the participation rates of alcohols in transesterification reactions were calculated. The exploitation properties (viscosity, density, ignition temperature, etc.) of the obtained biodiesels are presented according to ASTM standards.

Deep-eutectic-solvent modulation of self-assembled multi-responsive films based on polyvinyl alcohol/cellulose nanocrystal and grape skin red for highly sensitive food monitoring

To enhance the mechanics performance, sensitivity and response range of multi-responsive photonic films, herein, a facile method for fabricating multi-responsive films is demonstrated using the evaporative self-assembly of a mixture of grape skin red (GSR), cellulose nanocrystal (CNC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and deep eutectic solvent (DES). The prepared materials exhibited excellent thermal stability, strain properties, solvent resistance, ultraviolet (UV) resistance and antioxidant activity. Compared to a pure PVA film, the presence of GSR strengthened the antioxidant property of the film by 240.1 % and provided excellent UV barrier capability. The additional cross-linking of DES and CNC promoted more efficient phase fusion, yielding a film strain of 41.5 %. The addition of hydrophilic compound GSR, wetting and swelling due to the DES and the surface inhomogeneity of the films rendered the multi-responsive films high sensitivity, wide response range and multi-cyclic stability in environments with varying pH and humidity. A sample application showed that a PVA/CNC/DES film has the potential to differentiate between fresh, sub-fresh and fully spoiled shrimps. The above results help in designing intelligent thin film materials that integrate antioxidant properties, which help in monitoring the changes in food freshness and food packaging.

Terahertz fingerprint reveals the effect of alcohols on sodium ions hydration shell.

Ion hydration plays a crucial role in numerous fundamental processes. Various spectroscopic methods are employed to investigate the slowing down of hydration bond dynamics in the proximity of both anions and cations. To date, most of these studies have primarily focused on the properties of binary systems. However, in comparison to ion-water binary systems, ternary systems that involve ions, water, and organic matter are more prevalent in nature and provide more realistic insights into biological processes. This study focuses on ion hydration in water and alcohol mixture using terahertz spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction (XRD). The results reveal a distinct behavior depending on the type of alcohol used. Specifically, the presence of both methanol and ethanol results in the disappearance of absorption peaks associated with NaCl hydrate at low temperatures. In contrast, tert-butanol does not exhibit such an effect, and isopropanol demonstrates a more complex response. By combining these terahertz spectroscopic findings with low-temperature XRD data, we gain insights into the formation, or lack thereof, of NaCl · 2H2O hydrate crystals. Crucially, our observations suggest a dominant correlation between the polarity of the alcohol molecules and its impact on the Na+ hydration. Strongly polar alcohols preferentially solvating the Na+ ion lead to the failure of hydrate formation, while weakly polar alcohols do not have this effect.

Exploring relaxation behaviors in Hydrogen-Bond networks within binary mixtures of propylene carbonate and primary alcohols through broadband dielectric spectroscopy and molecular dynamic simulation

This work investigates the dielectric properties and the relaxation behaviors of propylene carbonate (PC) and its binary mixtures with methanol and ethanol. A coaxial-circular cutoff waveguide junction was employed to characterize broadband dielectric spectra ranging from 0.1 GHz to 18 GHz, and a two-group Debye model was used to extract relaxation parameters. Excess thermodynamic parameters, Kirkwood orientational correlation factors, and Bruggeman factors for PC-alcohol mixtures were also analyzed and presented. These data provide insights into microscopic dynamic processes as the PC concentration in the mixtures gradually increases. These processes include the continuous disassociation of the alcohols’ hydrogen-bond (H-bond) networks, the formation of new PC-alcohol H-bond networks, the parallel alignment of heterogeneous dipoles, and a significant enhancement of the dielectric effect. Furthermore, a series of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using the TraPPE-UA forcefield were conducted, and the obtained thermodynamic and electromagnetic parameters demonstrated good agreement with experimental results. Based on radial distribution functions, dipole–dipole spatial orientational correlations, and H-bond life times extracted from the MD simulations, we observed the gradual formation of PC-cage and alcohol-cluster microstructures in PC-rich mixtures. The data and physical insights provided in this work are expected to have practical implications in high-energy battery applications and the pharmaceutical industry.

Jerusalem Artichoke as a Raw Material for Manufacturing Alternative Fuels for Gasoline Internal Combustion Engines

The Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) is a high-yield crop, and a great source of fermentable sugars, which gives the plant the potential to be used as raw material for economical fuel alcohol production. In this article, the authors focus on the technological aspect of the biofuel manufacturing process and its properties. First, the fuel alcohol manufacturing process is described, afterwards assessing its characteristics such as kinematic viscosity, density and octane number. The amount of fuel alcohol obtained from 10 kg of biomass equals to 0.85 L. Afterwards, the mixtures of gasoline and obtained fuel alcohol are prepared and studied. Optimal alcohol and gasoline mixtures are determined to obtain biofuels with octane ratings of 92, 95 and 98. The kinematic viscosity of obtained mixtures does not differ significantly from its values for pure gasoline. The obtained biofuel mixture with 25% alcohol content yielded a decrease of sulfur content by 38%, an increase of vaporized fuel amount by 17.5% at 70 °C and by 10.5% at a temperature of 100 °C, which improves engine startup time and ensures its stable operation in comparison to pure gasoline. The alcohol obtained can be successfully used as a high-octane additive for gasolines.

Kirkwood-Buff Analysis of Binary and Ternary Systems Consisting of Alcohols (Methanol, Ethanol, 1-Propanol, and 2-Propanol), Water, and n-Hexane to Understand the Formation of Surfactant-Free Microemulsions.

Surfactant-free microemulsion (SFME) represents a class of fluid mixtures that can form microheterogeneous structures without detergents, offering an environmentally benign alternative to traditional microemulsions. However, the formation mechanism is still elusive. This work applies the Kirkwood-Buff theory to mixtures of alcohols, water, and n-hexane to elucidate the SFME formation mechanism. To ensure robust calculation of the Kirkwood-Buff integrals (KBIs), we construct a data set of densities and excess free energies of binary and ternary systems. Multiple excess Gibbs free energy models are assessed against this data set to select the most suitable model reproducing the experimental results. In addition, we introduce statistical methods to determine the optimal polynomial order of the Redlich-Kister correlation for the excess volume data. We first validate our methodology in binary systems. Then, we extend the calculation method to ternary mixtures. The KBI calculation results reveal that the alcohol-hexane and water-hexane interactions do not significantly affect SFME formation. In contrast, the interplay among water-water, water-alcohol, and alcohol-alcohol interactions critically influences the ability of a liquid mixture to form SFME structures. SFME systems exhibit the facile formation of water aggregates enveloped by alcohols, whereas non-SFME systems demonstrate homogeneous alcohol/water droplets dispersed in an oil continuous medium.

Solubility Determination, Solvent Effect, Thermodynamic Modeling, and Preferential Solvation of 2-Cyanoacetamide in Four Aqueous Binary Mixtures of Alcohols

Solubility Determination, Solvent Effect, Thermodynamic Modeling, and Preferential Solvation of 2-Cyanoacetamide in Four Aqueous Binary Mixtures of Alcohols

EXPLORING CYTOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF SOCKET HEALING OPTIMIZATION AFTER ATYPICALREMOVAL OF THE THIRD LOWER MOLAR

This study aims to investigate the cytological characteristics of socket healing after atypical removal of the lower third molar, utilizing osteoplastic synthetic material in conjunction with platelet-rich gel and plasma enriched with thrombocyte factors, to enhance local osteogenesis. Materials and Methods For this comparative clinical study, smears of alveolar content were collected following atypical extraction of the lower third molar. Cell elements were quantified for cytological analysis. Data collection utilized a template developed in Microsoft Excel version 16.34. Statistical processing was performed using RStudio 2023.03.1 Build 446 (Posit Software, PBC). Smears were air-dried, fixed in a 1:1 mixture of alcohol and acetone for 5 minutes, stained first with May-Grünwald’s methylene blue (15 minutes), followed by Romanowsky-Giemsa’s azure-eosin stain (30 minutes). Smear images were captured with the Leica morpho densitometric complex: DM 1000 microscope, DFC-320 camera, images were obtained in jpg format at 400x magnification. Results The study encompassed 30 patients divided into control and experimental groups. Cytological analysis was conducted on the 2nd, 5th, and 10th days of post- operation. In both groups, on the 2nd day, alveolar smears showed the presence of erythrocytes (n = 6) and neutrophils (n = 2). On the 5th day, the experimental group exhibited neutrophils (n = 3) and abundant cocci microflora (n = 6). On the 10th day, epitheliocytes (n = 8) primarily indicated proliferation. Conclusions The obtained results underscore the effectiveness of employing osteoplastic synthetic material in combination with plateletrich gel and plasma enriched with thrombocyte factors for enhancing local osteogenesis following atypical removal of the third molar. This approach demonstrates significant elevation in epithelialization activity, fibroblastic activity, and other markers of the reparative process in comparison to the control group.

Study on the molecular interactions of some binary mixtures through thermodynamic properties and FT-IR spectra and correlation with the Jouyban–Acree model

ABSTRACT Densities (ρ), speeds of sound (u) and viscosities (η) were measured for three binary mixtures of propargyl alcohol with tetra chloromethane, trichloromethane, and dichloromethane from 303.15 K to 313.15 K at atmospheric pressure across the composition range. Excess molar volume, excess isentropic compressibility, deviation in viscosity, and excess Gibbs free energy of activation of viscous flow were calculated. Partial molar properties and infinite dilution molar partial properties were also determined for each system. Results suggest heteroassociates forming cross complexes and chemical forces with specific interactions. PFP theory was used to identify the predominant molecular interactions. The Jouyban–Acree model findings were discussed, considering mean relative deviation (MRDs) and individual relative deviation (IRD) between calculated and experimental data. FTIR studies were included to corroborate the experimental findings.

Preference of hypothenemus hampei for coffee fruits according to state of maturation and infestation

The coffee berry borer Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) remains the most important coffee pest worldwide. Coffee fruits emit a mixture of volatiles, which function as insect attractants. Y-tube olfactometry tests allowed us to determine insect response to coffee fruits in different developmental stages: green, underripe, mature-ripe and overripe. The ripe fruits showed the highest levels of insect attraction, up to 30% more than the other stages. Additionally, insect attraction to fruits previously infested with H. hampei for 3 and 24 h vs. noninfested fruits was tested. The infested and noninfested ripe fruits showed the same levels of attraction. The overripe and green fruits infested for 3 h showed 12% greater insect attraction. The green fruits infested for 24 h showed 20% more attraction. When evaluating insect attraction to the methanol:ethanol alcohol mixture vs. the fruits, the alcohols showed greater insect attraction than all developmental stages except the ripe fruits. The understanding of H. hampei behavioral characteristics and preferences for coffee fruits in different developmental and infestation stages will allow the design of better insect control strategies.

Environmental evaluation and comparison of hybrid separation methods based on distillation and pervaporation for dehydration of binary alcohol mixtures with life cycle, PESTLE, and multi-criteria decision analyses

To achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050, improving energy efficiency in the chemical industry is crucial. The study focuses on an environmentally friendly hybrid distillation (D)-pervaporation (PV) process to enhance energy efficiency and purity in ethanol–water and isobutanol-water mixtures, these are typical wastes in the chemical industry. Three configurations—D + PV, D + PV + D, and D + PV + D with partial Heat Integration (HI)—are evaluated for separation of ethanol–water and isobutanol-water mixtures employing the Life Cycle Assessment with Environmental Footprint (EF) V3.1 (adapted) and ReCiPe 2016 Endpoint (H) V1.08 methods, using SimaPro V9.5 software and Ecoinvent V3.9.1 database. The study also incorporates a PESTLE analysis and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis to identify the most advantageous process for ethanol and isobutanol scenarios. The research evaluates these systems in a comprehensive manner, including technology, CO2 emissions, impacts on human health, ecosystems, resources, and Total Annual Cost (TAC). The exploration of hybrid process enhancements includes alternative renewable energy sources (i.e., solar, wind, hydro, and biofuel) and comprehensive heat integration based on Pinch Analysis using Hint V2.2 software. Results indicate that D + PV + D is the most suitable for isobutanol-water scenarios based on MCDA and Pinch analysis. In isobutanol scenarios, D + PV + D + HI reduces CO2 emissions, and human health, ecosystems, and resources impact by 15.5 %, 11.2 %, 12.6 %, and 14.6 %, respectively, with a significant 40.0 % decrease in TAC compared to D + PV. Integrating renewable energy sources further enhances its sustainability, achieving a single score of approximately one-third lower than fossil fuel consumption. Promoting renewable energy and Integrating energy flows align seamlessly with Green Chemistry and Engineering principles, representing a crucial stride towards sustainable and eco-friendly industrial practices.

Photochemical Mn-Mediated Generation of Azide Radicals for Improvement of Alkene Hydroxyazidation.

State-of-the-art strategies for alkene-hydroxyazidation, which yield a mixture of β-azido alcohol and β-azido peroxide, must rely on phosphine reagents to improve the chemoselectivity. To overcome the above problems, we present a photochemical hydroxyazidation of alkenes via Mn-mediated ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) in O2, which activates N3- to •N3 and incorporates O2 to be used as an oxygen source in the hydroxyazidation products. Broad alkene range and step-economy chemistry for the hydroxyazidation transformation were also demonstrated.

Improved transdermal delivery of novel cannabinoid-loaded patches using Eudragit matrix

The main active cannabinoids in extracts of Cannabis sativa L., cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), are known for their pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory, analgesic, psychedelic, anti-cancer, and anti-spasmodic activities. This study aimed to develop adhesive cannabinoid-loaded transdermal patches (CLTPs) to enhance the skin permeation of the active cannabinoids, CBDA and THCA, and evaluate their stability. Optimized CLTPs were prepared in 1.5 % (w/w) polyvinyl alcohol-coated petri dishes using a solvent casting technique. The casting solution consisted of mixtures of isopropyl alcohol and ethanol, along with Eudragit®E100, succinic acid, dibutyl phthalate, and permeation enhancers such as oleic acid, isopropyl myristate, mixtures of oleic acid and isopropyl myristate, ethoxydiglycol, sesame oil, and co-polymer (Kollidon®VA64). The physicochemical properties of the patches were characterized by uniformity, thickness, drug content, swelling, and mechanical properties. The in vitro release studies of CBDA and THCA through a synthetic hydrophobic membrane using various release enhancers from these patches were conducted using Franz diffusion cells. Using ethoxydiglycol as a release enhancer demonstrated the highest release profile for both cannabinoids. The steady-state flux values of CBDA and THCA were 3.83 ± 0.45 μg/cm2/h (1.85-fold compared to the control) and 0.72 ± 0.14 μg/cm2/h (1.54-fold compared to the control) at 8 h. The stability studies of CLTPs demonstrated that both remained stable at 4 °C for at least 90 days. In conclusion, transdermal patches containing cannabinoids have been successfully developed and characterized. These findings offer a promising avenue for further investigation of CLTPs, as they could serve as a versatile formulation strategy for pharmaceutical products.

Comparative studies on enzymatic efficacy and microbiological properties of Garbage Enzyme produced from various fruits and vegetables peels in biodegradation of cow dung

The present work was conducted to study the enzymatic potentials and microbiological properties of Garbage Enzyme produced from various fruits and vegetables peels. Completely randomized designed experiment was framed with seven treatments each with fruits and vegetable peels separately. All the treatments exhibited positive result for Amylase Test, Lipase Test, Cellulase Test, Urease Test, Protease Test, MR Test and Alcohol and low pH, indicating that Garbage enzyme produced from fruit and vegetable wastes contained mixture of enzymes, alcohol and acid brought about by microbial fermentation. Highest enzymatic efficacy was shown by T3- Pomegranate followed by T6- Banana. GE produced by vegetable wastes was less effective than fruit peels and maximum enzymatic activity exhibited by T1-Radish. A total of 27 amylase producing bacteria, 27 protease producing bacteria, 26 lipase producing bacteria, 26 cellulase producing bacteria 24 urease producing bacteria, 21 pectinase producing bacteria and 01 Amylase producing fungus was screened isolated from all the treatments. Garbage enzyme treatments in tray assay neutralized the alkaline pH of cow dung as garbage enzyme is acidic in nature. Highest Nitrogen (172 Kg/Hec) content was found when treated with garbage enzyme produced with banana peel. It is concluded that Garbage enzyme contains various enzymes, acid, and alcohol, can be utilized as a low cost alternative to biodegrade wastes to reduce pollution load of our environment. Keywords: Garbage Enzyme, vegetable and fruit wastes, enzyme activity, biodegradation

Study of Salmonella spp. from Cage Papers Belonging to Pet Birds in an Argentinean Canary Breeder Championship.

Birds, including canaries and other birds, have become increasingly popular as pets. Bird fairs, where breeders gather and show their production in a championship setting, present a setting for possible Salmonella spp. contamination and transmission. Therefore, this study estimated the rate of Salmonella spp. isolation from cage papers, located in the bottom of cages of exotic pet birds, including canaries. Collected Salmonella isolates were used to determine the antimicrobial resistance profile to 52 antibiotics and 17 commercial disinfectants, based on pure or a mixture of acids, alcohols, aldehydes, alkalis, halogens, peroxygen, and quaternary ammonium compounds. The samples consisted of 774 cage papers taken in the 2015 Argentinean canary breeder championship, pooling three cage papers into one sterile sampling bag. Only one pool of the cage papers was positive for Salmonella spp. (0.4%), which belonged to the sample from three frill canary cages. Two strains of Salmonella serotype Glostrup were isolated, which were only resistant to sulfonamides and erythromycin and sensitive to alkali-based product PL301 AS. Although the rate of Salmonella spp. isolation from cage papers in an Argentinean canary breeder championship is low, it should not be discounted because Salmonella ser. Glostrup can be a source of human Salmonella outbreaks and they show high resistance to disinfecting products.

Lipase-Catalyzed Synthesis of Cetyl Palmitate in the Presence of n-Hexane and Ethyl Ether

Cetyl palmitate was produced by the esterification of palmitic acid with cetyl alcohol using n-hexane and ethyl ether as solvents and a commercial lipase as a catalyst. The effect of solvents to reagents mass ratio (0.5 : 1–3 : 1), percentage of n-hexane in the solvent mixture (0–100%), and reaction temperature (25–55°C) on the reaction rate were evaluated for a fixed amount of enzyme (1 wt% related to the total mass of substrates) in an equimolar mixture of palmitic acid and cetyl alcohol. Temperature and n-hexane percentage in the solvent had positive effects on the reaction rate. The total solvent-to-reagent mass ratio showed a negative effect on the reaction rate when a solvent mixture rich in ethyl ether was used. The higher the concentration of n-hexane, the lower the effect of the mass ratio of solvents to reagents on the reaction rate. Although the amount of ethyl ether in the solvent mixture had a negative effect on the reaction rate, it had a positive effect on the solubility of the system, that is, the more ethyl ether in the mixture, the lower the solvent to reagents mass ratio required to ensure a homogeneous mixture. A ping-pong bi-bi mechanism-based model was proposed to represent the system kinetics and was well fitted to the experimental data.