An experimental study of the effects of fuel injection pressure on the characteristics of a diesel engine fueled by the third generation Azolla biodiesel.

This study focuses on effectively utilizing the biodiesel extracted from Azolla (third-generation biofuel), which is regarded as a renewable energy source, for fueling diesel engines. Biodiesel is unique due to its increased viscosity and different fatty acid composition, which proved difficult to attain better engine performance with a mechanical type injection system. This study expands on the previous investigation in modifying the fuel system when using Azolla biodiesel by using a common rail fuel injection system with wider injection flexibility. Considering the lack of more engine optimization studies for Azolla biodiesel, a parametric study is conducted by changing the fuel injection pressure in the range between 300 bar and 900 bar for diesel engine fueled by B20 (20% Azolla +80% diesel) blend. The experimental engine study revealed that the physical properties of the fuel adversely affect the in-cylinder combustion, which leads to poor engine performance and higher emissions at lower injection pressure (300 bar) for B20 when compared to diesel. As the injection pressure increases, the fuel atomization and other spray characteristics are enhanced and thereby improve the combustion. The Brake Thermal Efficiency (BTE) for B20 at 900 bar injection pressure is 3% higher than the diesel fuel at 300 bar injection pressure under full load conditions. The HC, CO, and smoke emission in the engine exhaust for B20 at 900 bar injection pressure was reduced by 13.3%, 28.5%, and 12.3%, respectively, when compared to diesel. Overall, this study recommends the operation of Azolla biodiesel blend in diesel at 900 bar fuel injection pressure to attain improved engine characteristics.

Growth profile and SEM analyses of Candida albicans and Escherichia coli with Hymenocallis littoralis (Jacq.) Salisb leaf extract.

Hymenocallis littoralis (Jacq.) Salisb (Melong kecil) commonly known as 'Spider Lily' is an herbaceous plant from the family Amaryllidaceae. Study was carried out to determine the effect of H. littoralis leaf extract on the growth and morphogenesis of two pathogenic microbes, Candida albicans and Escherichia coli. The leaf extract displayed favourable anticandidal and antibacterial activity with a minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) of 6.25 mg/mL. Time kill study showed both microbes were completely killed after treated with leaf extract at 20 h. Both microbes' cell walls were heavily ruptured based on scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The significant anticandidal and antibacterial activities showed by H. littoralis leaf extract suggested the potential antimicrobial agent against C. albicans and E. coli.

Ferrocene-1-carbaldehyde thio-semi-carbazone.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [Fe(C(5)H(5))(C(7)H(8)N(3)S)], consists of two crystallographically independent mol-ecules, A and B. The cyclo-penta-dienyl (Cp) rings in both mol-ecules adopt an eclipsed conformation and are parallel to each other, forming dihedral angles of 2.5 (3) and 1.1 (3)°, respectively. The mean plane of the semicarbazone group is coplanar with the attached Cp ring in mol-ecule A, whereas it is twisted away in mol-ecule B. In the crystal structure, inter-molecular N-H⋯S hydrogen bonds link the mol-ecules into two-dimensional planes parallel to the ab plane. The structure is further consolidated by C-H⋯π inter-actions.

Poly[[aquadi-µ(3)-malonato-hexaphenyl-ditin(IV)] acetone solvate].

The asymmetric unit of the title polymeric complex, {[Sn(2)=(C(6)H(5))(6)(C(3)H(2)O(4))(H(2)O)]·C(3)H(6)O}(n), comprises of two Sn cations, one malonate anion and a non-coordinating acetone solvent mol-ecule. Both crystallographically independent Sn cations are five-coordinated by two O and three C atoms in a distorted trigonal-bipyrimidal geometry. One of the Sn cations is bridged by the malonate units, affording polymeric chains which run along [001]. Weak intra-molecular C-H⋯π inter-actions stabilize the mol-ecular structure. In the crystal structure, adjacent chains are inter-connected by inter-molecular O-H⋯O and C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds into a three-dimensional supra-molecular structure. A weak inter-molecular C-H⋯π inter-action is also observed.

Ferrocene-1-carbaldehyde 4-ethyl-thio-semi-carbazone.

The asymmetric unit of title compound, [Fe(C(5)H(5))(C(9)H(12)N(3)S)], contains two crystallographically independent mol-ecules, A and B. The two cyclo-penta-dienyl (Cp) rings are parallel to each other in both mol-ecules, forming dihedral angles of 2.3 (3) and 1.0 (3)°, respectively, and adopt an eclipsed conformation. The mean plane of the semicarbazone group is twisted slightly away from the attached Cp ring in both mol-ecules, the dihedral angles between the mean plane and the Cp ring being 15.3 (2) and 10.8 (2)°. The ethyl group in mol-ecule A is coplanar with the mean plane of the semicarbazone group [C-N-C-C torsion angle = -175.2 (4)°], whereas it is nearly perpendicular in mol-ecule B [C-N-C-C torsion angle = 84.8 (6)°]. In the crystal structure, inter-molecular N-H⋯S hydrogen bonds link the mol-ecules into dimers. These dimers are further linked into chains via inter-molecular C-H⋯S hydrogen bonds. The crystal studied was a non-merohedral twin with a refined ratio of the twin components of 0.265 (2):0.735 (2).

Bis(ferrocenecarbaldehyde 4-methyl-thio-semicarbazonato-κN,S)zinc(II) methanol solvate.

In the title compound, [Fe(2)Zn(C(5)H(5))(2)(C(8)H(9)N(3)S)(2)]·CH(3)OH, the dihedral angles between the substituted and unsubstituted cyclo-penta-dienyl rings are 89.34 (8) and 85.73 (9)°, respectively. The two Zn/S/C/N/N five-membered rings adopt envelope conformations, with the Zn(II) atom at the flap. Each methanol solvent mol-ecule is linked to three ferrocene groups via inter-molecular O-H⋯N, N-H⋯O and C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The crystal structure is further consolidated by C-H⋯π inter-actions.

Bis(1-ferrocenylmethyl-idene-4-phenyl-thiosemicarbazidato-κN,S)zinc(II) monohydrate.

In the title compound, [Fe(2)Zn(C(5)H(5))(2)(C(13)H(11)N(3)S)(2)]·H(2)O, the Zn(II) ion is in a distorted tetra-hedral geometry being coordinated by two thio-semicarbazone ligands via N and S atoms. One of the Cp rings is disordered over two positions with occupancies of 0.55 and 0.45. The dihedral angle between the substituted Cp rings is 56.1 (5)° and the two phenyl rings are orientated at a dihedral angle of 41.7 (4)°. In the crystal structure, inter-molecular O-H⋯S, N-H⋯O and C-H⋯N hydrogen bonds link the mol-ecules into chains along the b axis. The structure is further consolidated by O-H⋯π inter-actions.

Bis(ferrocenecarbaldehyde thio-semi-carbazonato-κN,S)zinc.

In the title compound, [Fe(2)Zn(C(5)H(5))(2)(C(7)H(7)N(3)S)(2)], the Cp rings of each ferrocene residue have a nearly eclipsed conformation. The two thio-semicarbazone ligands each coordinate the Zn atom in a bidentate mode via the N and S atoms, thereby defining a distorted tetra-hedral environment. N-H⋯S, N-H⋯N, C-H⋯S and C-H⋯N intra- and intermol-ecular inter-actions connect the mol-ecules into a two-dimensional array parallel to (010).