Novel Aspects on Chemistry and Biochemistry Vol. 1

The present study was aimed to investigate the impact of pollution on the receiving waters (Iguosa and Ikopba rivers) in Benin City, Nigeia. One of the most critical problems of developing and developed countries is improper management of vast amount of wastes generated by various anthropogenic activities. Though, very pronounced in the developing countries due to availability of potable water sources. More challenging is the unsafe disposal of these wastes into the ambient environment. Effluents and water samples were analysed quantitatively for the presence of lead (Pb), Copper (Cu), Chromium (Cr), Manganese (Mn), Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn) and Nickel (Ni) for both wet and dry season were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS). Aquatic insects are especially toxic to higher zinc concentrations. (ranatra elongata). A few of the raw materials used by these industries may be rich in these metals, according to the high concentration. Additionally, it was discovered that the metal concentrations in receiving waters were surprisingly lower than those in the effluents that were discharged into them. This might be a result of the receiving waters' dilution effect in part. It is suggested that the effluents from Industries have seriously polluted the receiving water bodies .However, if Industrial activities are not properly controlled or regulated and modified, it might lead to serious environmental pollution and degradation of Ikpoba-Oha and Oluku Rivers in Benin City in the nearest future.

By using steered molecular dynamic (SMD) simulations, the free energy profile of the adenine to guanine transition in the gas and aqueous phases was obtained. The mechanism assisted by water and formic acid molecules was described by three different ways. Adenine is first hydrolytically deaminated, then the previously created hypoxanthine is oxidized, and finally, xanthine is aminated to guanine. In the gas phase these processes indicate a slow and not spontaneous conversion \(\left(\Delta G_9=4.07\,\mathrm{kcal} \cdot \mathrm{mol}^{-1}, k=5.59 \cdot 10^{-40} \mathrm{~s}^{-1}\right)\), and a lifetime for guanine of \(\tau=7.75 \cdot 10^{+22} \mathrm{~s}\). The presence of solvent makes the transition more difficult by increasing the reaction energy to \(26.90\, \mathrm{kcal} \cdot \mathrm{mol}^{-1}\) and decreasing the rate of the process to \(1.63 \cdot 10^{-55} \mathrm{~s}^{-1}\). However, it decreases the energy of the deamination process to \(-9.63\, \mathrm{kcal} \cdot \mathrm{mol}^{-1}\) and the lifetime of guanine base to \(\tau=6.85 \cdot 10^{+17} \mathrm{~s}\) when the process takes place in aqueous solution. According to these results, guanine may contribute to genefic mutations based on the lifetimes observed. At the molecular dynamic level, transition states and intermediate structures were examined. This enables tracking the mechanism over time and computing its kinetic and thermodynamic properties.

The present study highlights the assessment of Agricultural Wastes in the Removal of Hexavalent Chromium. Hexavalent chromium is a major pollutant produced by a variety of industrial processes. Adsorbents derived from waste agricultural byproducts have been used to remove hexavalent chromium. Study mainly focused on comparing certain agro based products for the chelation of Cr(VI) ions. An extensive list of agricultural based products such as Coconut Coir, Prunus amygdalus, Cissus quadrangularis, Soapnut Acacia, Justicia adhatoda, Bhringraj, Aerva lanata, Trianthema portulacastrum, Tephrosia purpurea, Solanum nigrum, Datura metel, Cleome viscose, Asparagus racemosus employed for Cr(VI) trapping from aqueous solutions and the discharged industrial effluents are reviewed in this work. Chemically altered materials have greater adsorption capacities and are therefore used to modify the reported materials in the research articles in particular ways. For further investigation into the extensive use of the used materials, the results reported by the authors have been compared and summarized. The comparative study on biosorbents proves that they possess high potential in full- scale for the removal of toxic metal ions.

The present study aimed to determine sequestration of Cadmium Ions from Aqueous/ Electroplating Wastewaters Using Chitosan. Due to its serious harmful effects on human, animals, and plants, the removal of Cd²⁺ ions from wastewaters is receiving a lot of attention from both environmental and economic perspectives. Due to its low cost and high concentration of amino and hydroxyl functional groups, the crustacean waste known as chitosan has attracted considerable attention as a powerful biosorbent. The chemical changes that result in chitosan derivatives, chitosan grafting, and chitosan composites have been thoroughly studied and widely reported in the literature. The purpose of this study is to provide an overview of the sorption performance of chitosan and its derivatives in the removal of Cd²⁺ ions from synthetic waters and electroplating effluents. A comparison on the chitosan derivatives prepared by five different methods as reported by researchers (thiocarbomyl, PVA blend, xanthate, Nano based and grafting) and an outline of their potential applications in the adsorption of Cd²⁺ ions are dealt in this paper. Amongst the mentioned composites reported, chitosan grafted with y^- cyclodextrin is found to possess better chelating ability in chelating Cd²⁺ ions.

The transformation of phosphorus in the soil is facilitated by the activity of the phosphate solubilizing microbes. These microbes have the ability to dissolve fixed P in the soil. The mechanism that plays a role for the phosphorus solubilization  is the production of different types of organic acids by phosphate solubilizing microbes. This difference is influenced by two factors, namely the stability constant of organic acid complex compounds with ions, and the structure of the hydroxyl and carboxyl molecules in the main carbon chain. By increasing the organic acids produced by phosphate solubilizing microbes, it will be followed by the formation of organic chelate, so that the bound P becomes dissolved. The reaction that occurs due to the binding process between organic acids and various Al phosphate and Fe phosphate ions The ability of each organic acid to chelate the ion also varies. Each microbe produces different quality and quantity of organic acids. This study aims to determine the relationship between the  organic acids secreted by PSM to phosphorus solubilization seen through the best regression modeling that connects between the two variables The relationship between the type and amount of organic acid and phosphorus solubilization still needs to be studied. This study showed that there was a positive correlation between the organic acids produced by phosphate solubilizing microbes (Burkholderia/ Pseudomonas, Bacillus and Aspergillus) and phosphorus solubilization.

The purpose of this brief review is to describe the structure of native lignin as well as the structure of technical lignin, including information about the different characteristics found on the market and the main pathways to treat it in applications as feedstock for bioproducts to obtain high added value products. The efficient use of renewable resources has emerged as a driving force for global industry seeking to improve competitiveness. Among the available natural raw materials, lignin, found in lignocellulosic biomass such as trees, is the only natural polymer with aromatic rings in its constitution. Annually, approximately 50 million tons of lignin are produced worldwide, with 98% to 99% of that amount incinerated to generate energy and steam in pulp mills. In a biorefinery concept, only a small fraction of the lignin recovered from the sulfite pulp mill is commercially recovered. According to recent research, technical lignin sources can also be used as feedstock for phenol derived products, technical carbons, fuels, and adhesives. However, some technological challenges must be overcome before these applications can be realized.

The purpose of this chapter was to assess the ability of polyphenols (red wine polyphenols, resveratrol and catechin) on anion permeability for chloride and oxidative damage in human erythrocytes exposed to the water-soluble free radical initiator 2.2’-azobis-2 amidinopropan dihydrochloride (AAPH).

The goal of this research was to investigate the biological properties of LDL in the presence of wine polyphenols when subjected to AAPH-dependent and independent peroxidation. We compared the response to resveratrol, flavonoids, and a proanthocyanidol-rich red wine extract (WE).

The efficacy of reducing agent treatment was determined by measuring anion permeability for chloride, lipid peroxidation, and hemolysis in red blood cells (RBCs). Flow cytometry was used to assess LDL receptor activity in LDL labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-KI). Incubating CHO-Kl for 16 hours with oxidized FITC-LDL reduced the proportion of fluorescent cells from 97% to 4%.

When compared to control and AAPH-affected cells, polyphenol treatment is associated with a significant increase in anion permeability for chloride. Treatment with polyphenols was associated with a significant reduction in mean ± standard error of the mean membrane lipid peroxidation compared with control and AAPH treatment. Hemolysis data are also obtained in the previously described conditions.

RBCs morphology data indeed confirm previous observations.

At 40 \(\mu\)M resveratrol and flavonoids entirely reactivated the AAPH oxidized LDL.

Total fluorescence is attained with 20 mg/L of wine extract (WE) in the oxidation system.

According to the findings, red wine polyphenols act as effective reducing agents on the CM indicator of anion permeability. Red wine polyphenol extracts effectively alleviate the symptoms of oxidative stress. It must be considered that numerous compounds that are unequally distributed in wines may interact to strengthen their specific antioxidant properties. Some, such as resveratrol, are amphiphilic and can bind to lipoproteins. This may increase the concentration of peroxidatively degraded sites in the microenvironment. These properties are likely to contribute to wine's protective role against atherosclerosis.  

A spiroborate ester of curcumin (CBS) was synthesized using salicylic acid as a ligand to study the kinetics of its thermal and hydrolytic degradation. The structure of the prepared compound was characterized by UV-Visible spectra, IR spectroscopy, and NMR spectroscopy. The isothermal and non-isothermal thermogravimetric method was used to study the thermal decomposition of CBS at different heating rates in a nitrogen atmosphere. The hydrolytic stability of the spiroborate ester was investigated in an aqueous acetone system with different water percentages and temperatures. The activation energies of hydrolysis were calculated using the Arrhenius equation, and the relevant thermodynamic parameters were calculated using the Eyring equation. A plausible mechanistic route for the hydrolysis of the complex was suggested.

The effectiveness of acid-treated Terminalia catappa seed shell (TTCSS), an agricultural waste, for the adsorption of Cu(II) from aqueous solutions is highlighted in the current work. Adsorbent dose seems to have a great influence on sorption process. A significant risk to human health results from the Cu(II) effluent from industry spreading into the environment through soil and water streams and accumulating along the food chain. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDAX) analyses are used to characterize TTCSS. For the Cu(II)- TTCSS system, batch equilibration method experiments were performed to determine the effect of operating factors such as particle sizes and doses of the adsorbent material, agitation time between the sorbent and the sorbate species, temperature, and pH of the medium. The following parameters have been shown to be the most effective for removing Cu²⁺ ions (92%) from an initial concentration of 8mg/L : 0.18 mm particle size, 50mg adsorbent dose, 60 min contact time and pH 7. It is discovered that the highest adsorption capacity (C_e) of Cu(II)(7.122mg/g) is higher than the range of 2.1-5.2 mg/g as documented by other researchers for various sorbent materials. This demonstrates Terminalia catappa's superior sorption capacity, when compared to the other materials under study.

This review attempts to present the prolific advance in recent years exclusively in the applications of oxazolones as preliminary materials for synthesis of betalactums, imidazolones, amino acids and utilization of oxazolones as photoswitches, thin films and polymer fibres.

The classical Erlenmeyer synthesis of azlactones, which includes condensation of aldehydes with hippuric or aceturic acid in the presence of acetic anhydride and sodium acetate, is considered the most commonly used method for preparation of 2-oxazolin-5-ones. 2-oxazolin-5-ones are versatile compounds and are known to react at active bonding sites like C=N, C=O and C=C bonds. These contribute to numerous reactions such as replacement reactions, cycloadditions, and other types of reactions, as well as dimerization reactions, which lead to an increase in the variety of heterocyclic compounds.

Tuberculosis continues to be a major public health issue in developing countries. In South Asian countries TB is a very common and prevalent disease and most of the treatment programmes are governed directly through government agencies and hospitals. In this study, a novel thin-layer chromatographic screening approach for the identification of rifampicin, isoniazid, and pyrazinamide in pharmaceutical dosages was demonstrated. The solvent system used to determine these three drugs was (propanol: hexane: ethyl acetate: ammonia) (5:2:1.7:0.2 v/v) and the Rf value of rifampicin, pyrazinamide and isoniazid was 0.68, 0.74 and 0.50, respectively. The developed method for retention factor had intra-day and inter-day repeatability with a standard deviation (SD) of about 0.5-1.0%.

The aim is to examine the relationship between the anorexia nervosa and hormones such as leptin, ghrelin and fatty acid molecules which are the main energy sources of the anorexia nervosa. Anorexia Nevroza is an eating behavior, eating disorder. It is an unconscious psychological disease in which body weight is lost and this loss is not accepted. It is considered as that irregularities in hormones, neurotransmitters and metabolic molecules are the main factors of these disorders. The mentioned hormones are leptin, ghrelin, fatty acids and especially unsaturated fatty acids. The role of nutrients, such as fatty acids, in regulating body weight is known. In fact, it is very important to clarify the process of appetite metabolism in anorexia disorder.

This chapter aims to focus on sequestration of Oxyfluorfen from aqueous media employing Elephas maximus dung (EMD), a natant biowaste, seldom reported elsewhere. Attention is sought on Oxyfluorfen, one of the most employed herbicides for controlling the growth of annual broadleaf and grassy weeds. Oxyfluorfen is classified as low acute toxicity compound by the World Health Organization (WHO) and by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  However, appropriate disposal of redundant Elephas maximus dung (EMD) is critical for environmental protection through utilization of resources. The experiment is set up in batch mode with various operational elements such as particle size, initial Oxyfluorfen concentration, MEMD dosage, contact time, pH, and temperature.  The results, which were evaluated using isothermal and kinetic models, suggest that the Langmuir isotherm and Pseudo II Order kinetic model suit the data well, with the maximum amount of oxyfluorfen removal of 88.9%.  It has been determined that Elephas maximus dung (EMD) powder has the highest potential for the abstraction of Oxyfluorfen, hence supporting an alternative environmentally benign procedure, based on the derived observations, supported by theoretical calculations.