Valorization of castor seed shell waste as lead adsorbent by treatment with hot phosphoric acid: Optimization and evaluation of adsorption properties.

Lead is used in many industries such as refining, mining, battery manufacturing, smelting. Releases of lead from these industries is one of the major public health concerns due to widespread persistence in the environment and its resulting poisoning character. In this work, the castor seed shell (CSS) waste was exploited for preparing a beneficial bio-adsorbent for removal of Pb(II) ions from water. The raw CSS was modified with H3PO4 at different acid concentrations, impregnation ratios, activation times, and temperatures. An optimum adsorption capacity was observed for CSS modified with 2 M acid, 5 mL g-1 solid to liquid ratio, treated at 95 °C for 160 min. Exploiting acid modification, the SEM, XRD, and FTIR analyses show some alterations in functional groups and the surface morphology of the biomass. The impacts of physiochemical variables (initial lead ions concentration, pH, adsorbent dose and adsorption time) on the lead removal percentage were investigated, using response surface methodology (RSM). Maximum removal of 72.26% for raw CSS and 97.62% for modified CSS were obtained at an initial lead concentration (50 mg L-1), pH (5.7), adsorption time (123 min) and adsorbent dosage (1.1 g/100 mL). Isothermal and kinetics models were fitted to adsorption equilibrium data and kinetics data for the modified CSS and the adsorption system was evaluated thermodynamically and from the energy point of view. Isothermal scrutinization indicated the mono-layer nature of adsorption, and the kinetics experimental outcomes best fitted with the pseudo-second-order, implying that the interaction of lead ions and hot acid-treated CSS was the rate-controlling phenomenon of process. Overall, results illustrated that the hot acid-treated biomass-based adsorbent can be considered as an alternative bio-adsorbent for removing lead from water media.

A Comparative analysis of PESC and PPSC copolyesters: Insights into viscosity, thermal behavior, crystallinity, and biodegradability.

The study examined various properties of synthesized copolyesters PESC and PPSC. Inherent viscosities of the copolyesters, measured in 1,4-dioxane at 32 °C, were 0.65 dL/g for PESC and 0.73 dL/g for PPSC. Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) revealed distinct absorption bands associated with ester carbonyl stretching, C-H bending vibration, C-H group symmetry stretching, and C-O stretching vibrations. 1H and 13C Nuclear magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy were used to identify specific protons and carbon groups in the polymer chain, revealing the molecular structure of the copolyesters. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) identified the glass transition, melting, and decomposition temperatures for both copolyesters, indicating variations in the crystalline nature of the copolymers. XRD Spectral studies further elaborated on the crystalline nature, indicating that PPSC is less amorphous than PESC. Biodegradation analysis showed that PESC degrades more quickly than PPSC, with degradation decreasing as the number of methylene groups increase. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images depicted the surface morphology of the copolyesters before and after degradation, revealing a more roughened surface with pits post-degradation. These findings provide comprehensive insights into the structural and degradable properties of PESC and PPSC copolyesters.

Ultrasonic assisted synthesis of RGO supported HoVO4-ZnO nanocomposites, their enhanced photocatalytic activities and Rhodamine B degradation.

The RGO-supported HoVO4-ZnO nanocomposite was synthesized using the ultra sonication process. X-ray diffraction patterns, Field emission scanning electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, Diffractive Reflectance spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy were employed to examine the heterostructured photocatalyst in this research study. The photocatalytic efficiency of the RGO-supported HoVO4-ZnO nanoparticles, under UV light irradiation, in the degradation of Rhodamine-B dye was investigated. Undoped ZnO, bare HoVO4, and HoVO4 -ZnO, degraded at 55.6, 57.5, and 74.33 percent in 45 min, respectively. This new RGO coupled HoVO4-ZnO exhibits enhanced photocatalytic efficiency compared to the bare ZnO and HoVO4-ZnO nanocomposite.

Sonocatalyzed synthesis of 2-phenylvaleronitrile under controlled reaction conditions--a kinetic study.

In the current study, kinetics of synthesis of 2-phenylvaleronitrile (PVN) was successfully carried out by selective C-alkylation of benzyl cyanide (BC) with n-bromopropane (BP) using aqueous KOH and catalyzed by TBAB under ultrasonic (300W) assisted organic solvent-free conditions. Selective monoalkylation of benzyl cyanide has been achieved by controlling the reaction conditions and has been followed using gas chromatogram. The effects of various parameters such as agitation speed, catalyst concentration, KOH concentration, benzyl cyanide concentration, volume of water, ultrasonic frequency and temperature were studied systematically to understand their influence on the rate of the reaction. The experimental observations are consistent with an interfacial-type process. Further the kinetic results demonstrate clearly, that ultrasonic assisted phase-transfer catalysis significantly increased the reaction rate when compared to silent reactions.

Synthesis of analogs of forodesine HCl, a human purine nucleoside phosphorylase inhibitor-Part II.

Forodesine HCl is being investigated as a potential therapeutic target for the control of T-cell proliferation. During the filing process for a New Drug Application (NDA) it became evident that there was a need to synthesize some stereo-isomers of forodesine HCl. Herein we present the synthesis of these three novel compounds (2-4).

Synthesis of analogs of forodesine HCl, a human purine nucleoside phosphorylase inhibitor-Part I.

Forodesine HCl is being investigated as a potential therapeutic target for the control of T-cell proliferation. During our ongoing process development work on forodesine HCl several novel compounds were identified as possible impurities in the process. Herein we present the synthesis of three novel compounds (2-4).

Synthesis of labeled BCX-4208, a potent inhibitor of purine nucleoside phosphorylase.

BCX-4208, a novel inhibitor of the enzyme purine nucleoside phosphorylase, mimics the charged ribosyl oxocarbenium ion formed during the transition state of the enzyme-catalyzed C-N bond cleavage of nucleosides. A slow-onset, tight-binding inhibitor with a Ki(*) of 16 +/- 1.4 pM, BCX-4208 is one of the most potent inhibitors known for the enzyme. In support of our BCX-4208 clinical program, a mass spectrometric assay has been developed that required labeled BCX-4208 as an internal standard. The synthesis of [(2)H](2)-BCX-4208 and [(13)C]-BCX-4208 is described in this report.

Synthesis of a potent 5'-methylthioadenosine/S-adenosylhomocysteine (MTAN) inhibitor.

MTAN has been known to occur in a variety of bacterial cell types. Due to the evolution of bacterial strains which are resistant to some of the most powerful antibiotics there has been a renewed interest in the development of novel anti-microbial agents. Presented herein is a synthesis of a potent MTAN inhibitor, namely 2-amino-4-[5-(4-amino-5H-pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidin-7-yl)-3,4-dihydroxypyrrolidin-2-ylmethylsulfanyl]-butyric acid (1).

Large-scale chemical and chemo-enzymatic synthesis of a spacer-containing Pk-trisaccharide.

The Pk-trisaccharide, linked to a solid carrier, is a potential agent for neutralization of shiga-like toxin in the gastrointestinal tract. Two approaches to the multigram-scale synthesis of a linkable Pk-trisaccharide derivative were therefore investigated. A four-step chemical synthesis yielded 8-methoxycarbonyloctyl beta-lactoside in 75% yield from lactose. Further conversion of this derivative through either multistep organic synthesis or one-step enzymatic galactosylation with UDP-galactose and recombinant alpha-1,4-galactosyltransferase gave the Pk-trisaccharide derivative 8-methoxycarbonyloctyl alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranoside in 25% and 68% overall yields from commercial lactose, respectively.

Synthesis of a potent transition-state inhibitor of 5'-deoxy-5'-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase.

Human 5'-deoxy-5'-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) participates in the purine salvage pathway to generate adenine and methylthioribose-1-phosphate, which in turn is converted into adenine nucleotides and methionine. Hence, inhibition of MTA phosphorylase may be an effective target in the design of potential antiproliferative agents. Presented herein is the synthesis of 2-(4-amino-5H-pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidin-7-yl)-5-methylsulfanylmethylpyrrolidin-3,4-diol (1), a potent inhibitor of MTAP.

Targeted localized degradation of Paired protein in Drosophila development.

BACKGROUND: Selective spatial regulation of gene expression lies at the core of pattern formation in the embryo. In the fruit fly Drosophila, localized transcriptional regulation accounts for much of the embryonic pattern. RESULTS: We identified a gene, partner of paired (ppa), whose properties suggest that localized receptors for protein degradation are integrated into regulatory networks of transcription factors to ensure robust spatial regulation of gene expression. We found that the Ppa protein interacts with the Pax transcription factor Paired (Prd) and contains an F-box, a motif found in receptors for ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation. In normal development, Prd functions only in cells in which ppa mRNA expression has been repressed by another segmentation protein, Even-skipped (Eve). When ppa was expressed ectopically in these cells, Prd protein, but not mRNA, levels diminished. When ppa function was removed from cells that express prd mRNA, Prd protein levels increased. CONCLUSIONS: Ppa co-ordinates Prd degradation and is important for expression of Prd to be correctly localized. In the presence of Ppa, Prd protein is targeted for degradation at sites where its mis-expression would disrupt development. In the absence of Ppa, Prd is longer-lived and regulates downstream target genes.