Thursday, 25 August 2016

Investigation of Isotopic Abundance Ratio of Biofield Treated Phenol Derivatives Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Butylatedhydroxytoluene (BHT) is a crystalline stable solid, but it is light-sensitive and reactive to acid chlorides, acid anhydrides, and oxidizing agents. BHT is used as anantioxidant in many products including food, pharmaceuticals, rubbers, paint, and petroleum products. Its antioxidant mechanism was well studied and divided into two steps. In the first step, it forms a stable phenoxyl radical, which further forms the parent and a quinone methide (QM). QM is a reactive electrophilic species that easily forms adducts with nucleophiles or polymerize in the next step. 

Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Adduct formation between the nucleophilic groups of the active pharmaceutical ingredients with QM in pharmaceutical formulations is very much possible. In food preservation, BHT reacts with atmospheric oxygen preferentially rather than oxidizing food materials, thereby protecting them from decomposition. It is used to preserve food odor, color, and flavor.. Many polymerization inhibitors (e.g., phenols) work best in the presence of oxygen because they intercept peroxyl radicals and decelerate oxygen consumption while stopping chain propagation. 4-MP is an inhibitor of this type. 4-MP has tremendous ability to quench peroxyl radicals and alkyl radicals via hydrogen abstraction mechanism, which leads to the formation of a phenoxyl radical . 

The phenoxyl radical is less reactive because it is stabilized by the resonance effect. The antimicrobial activity of phenolic compounds is highly dependent upon the chemical structure of the molecules. The bactericidal actions of substituted phenols and the normal alkyl derivatives of p-chlorophenols were examined against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The antibacterial potential of essential oils of sweet basil Ocimum basilicum L. (Lamiaceae) containing 1.8% 4-MP and methanol extracts was evaluated for controlling the growth range of food-borne pathogenic bacteria. It was reported that BHT at high levels as well as at lower levels found in foods might have anti-cancer properties, possibly by damaging free radicals or by stimulating the production of enzymes that detoxify carcinogens. On the other hand 4-MP is carcinogenic to the fore-stomach.

Wednesday, 24 August 2016

Experimental Study on Treatment of Produced Water

Large quantities of water produced during oil and gas extraction, called produced water, are generated in drought prone locations that are also experiencing an increase in population. Produced water is a waste byproduct of the oil and gas industry; however, with appropriate treatment and application to beneficial use, produced water can serve as a new water supply . Additional water is often injected into the reservoirs in order to achieve maximum oil recovery. Both the formation water and the injected water are eventually produced along with the oil and therefore as the field becomes depleted the produced water content of the oil increases . As long as the oil production nonstop for next years the produced water continual. 

Produced Water


According subsequent data in South Iraq oil fields supplied by petroleum development & research center and South Oil Company the Production rate of produced water at 2003 for Basra oil fields/main pay was found 107,621 bbl/d. The Production rate expected of produced water at 2025 for North Rumaila/ Main Pay reach to 500,000 bbl/d . In Iraq the current water oil ratio is 1:5 , while in USA the current water oil ratio is 10:1, for an annual total of about 3 billion tons, this is by some estimates the largest single waste stream in the USA. Reinjection for enhanced recovery or disposal accounts for as much as 95% of this water . The remaining fraction is still considerable. Reinjection is not always feasible because of geographic and cost considerations.Read more.......

Tuesday, 23 August 2016

Microemulsification-Based Method: Coupling with Separation Technique

Point-of-use devices represent currently a key field in quantitative analytical sciences. These platforms are low-cost, fast, portable, and simple to use eliminating the necessity for qualified operators. Rapid tests enable in-situ measurements presenting substantial social and economic implications at industry, environment, and medicine. One potential output to perform point-of-use analyses is the accomplishment of the tests in solution with naked eye detection using disposable systems. It allows the determination of different analytes from the use of modified nanomaterial. Naked eye methods bypasses the use of instrumental readers, an essential feature for in-situ technologies. Furthermore, the analyses in solution surpass precisionrelated downsides when making the tests on substrates such as paper.

Microemulsification-Based Method

In this case, the diverse paper substrates that are employed to fabricate the devices affect the flow rates and interactions with analytes.This paper reports further investigations and application of the microemulsification-based method (MEC), a point-of-use platform that was recently proposed by these authors. It relies on solutionbased- detection with naked eyes. In contrast with colorimetric tools, MEC response depends on colloid thermodynamics by relying on effect of analyte on the entropy of emulsions or Winsor systems. It changes the formation ofthermodynamically stable dispersions, the microemulsions (MEs). The minimum volume fraction of amphiphile (AP) needed to get MEs (ΦME) for a fixed water-oil ratio expressed the analytical signal of the method.

The generation of nanodroplets in MEs (transparent) allows the naked eye detection of ΦME by monitoring the change of turbidity from the emulsions or Winsor systems (cloudy). This cloudy-to-transparent conversion acts like a turning point in titrations, ensuring the visual measurement of ME and, therefore, not only screening analyses (positive/negative data) as the most of naked eye colorimetry platforms as well as precise quantitative analyses. The response in colorimetry changes with the intensity of colour or tonality. Herein, subjective uncertainties by personal and surrounding conditions are observed.

Monday, 22 August 2016

Scrubbing of HCl Gas from Synthesis Gas in a Multistage Dual-Flow Sieve Plate Wet Scrubber

Coal is a combustible substance composed of carbon along with several impurities like sulphur, chlorine, and nitrogen and metal compounds. These impurities get converted to gaseous species such as H2S, HCl and NH3 when this coal is processed. Therefore, removal of these impurities is essential to protect the energy production equipment and to meet environmental standards before entering into the atmosphere. During the gasification process, the chlorine present in the coal is volatilized to HCl or metal chlorides.

HCl Gas
The chloride content is high in US coals with 0.01% to 0.5% and during coal gasification process these chlorides will produce HCl. In the gasification process, the chlorine content of coal volatilizes to metal chlorides or HCl. But major portion of chlorine is converted into HCl. Reports show that there is a wide variation in the HCl concentrations in synthesis gas streams. Bakker and Perkins  reported that the HCl concentration is five times higher in coal gas than in coal-fired boiler combustion gas stream.

The chlorine content of coal, the gasification temperature and the type of gasifier are the factors on which the HCl vapour concentration depends and the most reliable data was found from the fixed-bed gasifier operation at General Electric Corporate Research and Development at Schenectady, New York. At that facility, about 300 ppmv HCl vapour concentration was obtained using coal with 0.24 wt% chlorides. The concentrations of HCl are reported as high as 500 ppm in coal syngas from gasifier effluents. 

Scrubbing of HCl Gas from Synthesis Gas in a Multistage Dual-Flow Sieve Plate Wet Scrubber

Coal is a combustible substance composed of carbon along with several impurities like sulphur, chlorine, and nitrogen and metal compounds. These impurities get converted to gaseous species such as H2S, HCl and NH3 when this coal is processed. Therefore, removal of these impurities is essential to protect the energy production equipment and to meet environmental standards before entering into the atmosphere. During the gasification process, the chlorine present in the coal is volatilized to HCl or metal chlorides.

HCl Gas
The chloride content is high in US coals with 0.01% to 0.5% and during coal gasification process these chlorides will produce HCl. In the gasification process, the chlorine content of coal volatilizes to metal chlorides or HCl. But major portion of chlorine is converted into HCl. Reports show that there is a wide variation in the HCl concentrations in synthesis gas streams. Bakker and Perkins  reported that the HCl concentration is five times higher in coal gas than in coal-fired boiler combustion gas stream.

The chlorine content of coal, the gasification temperature and the type of gasifier are the factors on which the HCl vapour concentration depends and the most reliable data was found from the fixed-bed gasifier operation at General Electric Corporate Research and Development at Schenectady, New York. At that facility, about 300 ppmv HCl vapour concentration was obtained using coal with 0.24 wt% chlorides. The concentrations of HCl are reported as high as 500 ppm in coal syngas from gasifier effluents. 

A Preliminary Understanding of Cannabis Medicine and the Need for Further Characterization


To date, the scientific study of the Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica plants has been an arduous and complex process due to the limited availability of research funding and the extensive restrictions that have been in place for those trying to characterize the therapeutic properties of cannabis. Despite these hindrances, our understanding of this multifarious flora has grown significantly in the past 20 years. We have familiarized ourselves with the major constituents of interest in cannabis, the cannabinoids, which are responsible for acting upon the endocannabinoid system.Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has garnered the most attention primarily because of the psychoactive response that it elicits.

Preliminary Understanding of Cannabis Medicine
However, THC is also a very robust molecule, acting as a powerful analgesic, muscle relaxant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-spasmodic. There is also evidence that THC acts as a neurodegenerative antioxidant, in which it was effective in treating in a small clinical trial of agitated dementia patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

Additionally, the propylated form of THC (THCV), induced weight loss, decreased body fat and serum leptin concentrations with increased energy expenditure in a murine study. This particular study poses interest in creating molecules similar to THCV as potential dietary drugs. Homologous to THC is cannabidiol (CBD), which has been shown to modulate the psychoactive effects of THC, including anxiety, tachycardia, hunger, and sedation. Recent cell studies indicate that CBD is effective in vitro 

Thursday, 18 August 2016

Preparation of Activated Carbon from Green Coconut Shell and its Characterization

Adsorption has appeared as one of the promising methods for CO2 capture and sequestration due to its low energy consumption, costeffectiveness, relatively simple technological process, non-corrosive to the equipments and it is applicable over a relatively wide range of temperatures and pressures. Development of new and highefficient solid adsorbents is crucial to enhance competitiveness of this process.

Activated Carbon from Green Coconut Shell

Zeolites or activated carbons are good adsorbents that are used for capturing CO2 from flue gas through physical adsorption, due to its porous structure. The extensive use of activated carbon is used now days, due to its large micro porosity, large specific surface area. The activated carbon is seems to be black in color and have large micro porosity. Activated carbon adsorption also used for treating low concentrations of wastewater streams at extremely low cost. The removal efficiency of Activated carbon is very high for harmful pollutants. As environmental pollution is the major problem now a day’s so need of activated carbon is growing day by day. Its texture characteristics and surface properties depend on the raw material and on the method used for its preparation.


For AC, the removal of moisture is not required and it is easy for regeneration and has a high CO2 adsorption capacity at ambient pressure and also its good adsorption properties. Activated carbons can be prepared by either a physical method or chemical method. It is produced from a large number of carbonaceous raw materials like coal, lignite, wood and some agricultural product like rice husk , nut shell, coconut shell, pea nut, sugarcane bagassage, tamarind wood, saw dust and industrial waste products.

Wednesday, 17 August 2016

Nutraceuticals from Olives Plain Water Extraction

Old and environmentally friendly procedures might be reconsidered in olive debittering  as a green strategy in the production of goods in the interest of nutritional, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries from wastes. The recovering of bergamot albedo from wastes of cosmetic industries has been recently proposed as a source of statinlike active principles.

Nutraceuticals from Olives Plain

Table olives are the most popular fermented agri-food in Mediterranean countries. Their composition depends on several factors such as genetics, ripening, processing technologies and storage. Standard processing technologies affect the physicochemical features of olive fruits such as color, texture, volatile compounds and phenol contents and, consequently, the organoleptic and nutritional properties of the final product. Any processing method aims, in general, at removing the natural bitterness of the fruit, caused by phenols, especially by the glucosyde known as oleuropein. Oleuropein and its metabolites have powerful antioxidant activity both in vivo and in vitro making virgin olive oil a functional food. This secoiridoid is able to confer resistance to diseases and insect infestation, and offers antioxidant protection due to the catechol moiety.


It is also accumulated as a defense mechanism against phytophatogens. In particular, when olive tissues are injured by diseases or by mechanical damage, a specific enzyme producing highly reactive molecules  hydrolyzes oleuropein. The antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of europe  in derivative molecules against herbivores and insect attacks have been also demonstrated either in plants as well as in vitro against bacterial strains.

Nicotine as Corrosion Inhibitor for 1018 Steel in 1M HCl under Turbulent Conditions

The transport of hydrocarbons in the oil industry depends on the use of pipelines that can be damaged by corrosion, causing large impacts on production, significant damage to property, as well as pollution, and risk to human lives.Corrosion inhibitors, such as molybdates, phosphates, and ethanolamines, are effective, but they are very toxic.

Nicotine as Corrosion Inhibitor

The development of corrosion inhibitors, non-toxic and compatible with the environment, is an area of great importance in the science and technology of corrosion. Inhibitor substances extracted from plants offer environmental and cost advantages; for example alkaloid extracts from Oxandra asbeckii plant, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Geissospermum leave Euphorbia falcate show 89% inhibition efficiency, Morinda tinctoria has a 70% at 30% v/v, they have been tested, but there is a lack in assessing and identyfing the active substance.


Nicotine  is an organic compound belonging to the alkaloids: a liquid, oily, and colorless derivative of the ortinina synthesized in the areas of high activity in the roots of tobacco plants, and transported by the sap to the greens. Structurally, this compound is formed by a pyridine and a pyrrole that could have bifunctional activity from nitrogen atoms. Given its chemical structure, this organic compound is a candidate for the protection of petroleum pipeline systems, since it is of natural origin, readily found in tobacco plants (nicotiana tabacum), in which it is the major active chemical component.

Friday, 12 August 2016

Spectroscopic Study of Poly Vinylidene Fluoride/Poly Methyl Methacrylate Blend

The conservation and protection of historic monuments or culturally significant structures have recently attracted much attention from material scientists. A few years ago, various synthetic polymers have been widely used in the treatment of construction materials of historical monuments for consolidation and conservation of such structures. Using polymeric coatings for this area has created serious challenges for the surface science and technology. Some of the challenges are as follows.

Van Hees and Brocken evaluated the salt growth in brick masonry specimens, coated with a water repellent, during a salt crystallization test. They demonstrated that the behavior of different salts on development of salt damages is completely different. However, it is demonstrated that the adsorption of dusts suspensions and watersoluble air pollutants decreases with increasing hydrophobicity of the surface of building materials.


The fluorine substitution of the hydrogen atoms present in a macromolecular chain improves the heat resistance and chemical resistance, delays or inhibits flame propagation, lowering the critical surface tension and exalts the dielectric characteristics.Acrylic resins undergo deterioration face conditions under UV radiation and their climatic exposure causes degradation of their structure. However, their physical characteristics and low price always consider important research topics. In this research work, the focus was on the development of films of PVDF and PMMA blends and their spectroscopic analysis (FTIR and UV-visible spectroscopy).

Thursday, 11 August 2016

Entropy and Telecommunications Systems

The concept of entropy which first arose in the determination of the maximum efficiency attainable by heat engines in the early 19th century has turned out to have ramifications that extend far beyond its original domain of application. It is no exaggeration to claim that nearly every branch of science, engineering, and even the social sciences has been touched by entropy. Entropy has also enriched the field of Statistics where it has augmented traditional estimation methods such as least squares and maximum likelihood by a new methodology called the Maximum Entropy approach. While energy conservation is a fundamental law in Physics, it is not sufficient on its own to predict whether a physical process can occur spontaneously in nature, for there are many processes that would be permitted because they do not violate conservation of energy, but which cannot spontaneously occur in nature.

http://www.omicsgroup.org/journals/entropy-and-telecommunications-systems-2167-0919-1000e114.pdf

Historical Perspective
The roots of entropy lie in the field of thermodynamics where it arises in the analysis of the efficiency of heat engines, originating early in the 19th century. However, it was not till the 20th century that entropy began to appear as a fundamental tool of analysis in branch after branch of the sciences and engineering. As early as 1803, Lazare Carnot initiated the analysis of the efficiency of fundamental engines such as pulleys and inclined planes. This work eventually led to the idea of transformation-energy or energy lost to dissipation and friction. It is the transformation-energy idea that is now called entropy.

Implications of Entropy for Telecommunications
Entropy is a surprisingly deep and subtle concept and for that reason, perhaps there are more misconceptions and incorrect interpretations of entropy than any other physical concept. It is intimately connected to the second law of thermodynamics which can be stated in many forms, one of which is that heat always flows spontaneously from a hot object to a cold one. An equivalent version of the second law, applicable to those physical phenomena in which no heat flow takes place, is that the entropy of an isolated system never decreases. Since the universe in its entirety is an isolated system,this implies that the entropy of the universe is increasing. Returning to the heat flow example, note that the flow happens only when there is a temperature gradient-as the heat flows from the hot body to the cold, the temperature of the former drops and that of the latter increases until the two are at the same temperature. At that point, the two bodies are in thermal equilibrium and no more flow takes place. As another example, the energy content of a lake cannot be harnessed to produce useful work.

Wednesday, 10 August 2016

Determination of Quercetin a Biomarker in Hepatoprotective Polyherbal Formulation through High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography

http://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/determination-of-quercetin-a-biomarker-in-hepatoprotective-polyherbalformulation-through-high-performance-thin-layer-chromatography-2157-7064-1000285.pdf
Nature still obliges as the man’s primary source for the cure of his ailments. Research in preventive medicine showed the importance of functional nutrition in reducing the risk factor of certain chronic diseases. Innate defense system of the human body may be insufficient for the damage caused by continued oxidative stress. Quercetin and other flavonoids, have the structure to act as powerful antioxidants, and have often proven so in vitro. Quercetin, being a major constituent of the flavonoid intake, could be a key in fighting several chronic degenerative diseases. Growing scientific evidence has shown adverse side effects, like liver damage and mutagenesis, of synthetic antioxidant. Therefore, recently there has been an upsurge of interest in natural products as antioxidants, as they inhibit the free radical reactions and protect human body from various diseases, such as cancer and diabetes. Recent studies showed that a number of plant products including polyphenolic substances (e.g., gallocatechins, delphinidin, cyanidin, gallic acid, ellagic acid, pelargonidin and sitosterol) and various plants or herbal extracts exert potent antioxidant actions, which are very well known for their healing powers.

Stem bark powder is used to apply on injury caused due to axe. Stem juice is applied on goitre of human being. Paste of stem bark is applied in case of body swellings. Bark is acrid, bitter, appetizer, aphrodisiac and laxative, anthelmintic, useful in fractures of the bones, diseases of theanus, dysentery, piles, hydrocele, cures ulcers and tumors. Bark is useful in biliousness, dysmenorrhea, liver disorder, gonorrhea and it also purifies the blood. The ash of young branch is prescribed in combination with other drugs in case of scorpion sting.


Bauhinia variegata L. was widely used in traditional medicine to treat a wide range of complains. It contained many secondary metabolites which are suitable to be used as medicines. The phytochemical screening revealed that Bauhinia variegata contained terpenoids, flavonoids, and tannins, saponins, reducing sugars, steroids and cardiac glycosides. The pharmacological studies showed that Bauhinia variegate exertedanticancer, antioxidant, hypolipidemic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, nephroprotective, hepatoprotective, antiulcer, immunomodulating, molluscicidal and wound healing effects [6]. The phytochemical screening of n-hexane chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanolic fractions of B. variegata flowers revealed the presence of terpenoids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, reducing sugars, steroids and cardiac glycosides. Its Constituents isolated from the leaves were included lupeol alkaloids, oil, fat glycoside, phenolics, lignin, saponins, terpinoids, β-sitosterol, tannins, kaempferol-3-glucoside , rutin, quercetin, quercitrin, apigenin, apigenin-7-O-glucoside, amides, carbohydrates, reducing sugars, protein, vitamin C, fibers, calcium and phosphorus.

The Janus Called Citizen Scientist a Closer Look

The phrase citizen scientist is drawing intense publicity these days. It is cool to be involved in this and all over the world various groups cater to a wide range of interests. For instance, a Google search yielded ‘about 6,380, 000 results’ in a few seconds. The buzz of science cover stories, opinion-pieces, blogs and news items has recently risen into the stratospheric heights of the 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC, USA. A motivation for the present piece is to examine this popular and complex trend. Throughout history lay citizens have contributed to science. For instance, in the Principia Mathematica to compute the mass of the moon. Sir Isaac Newton used tidal records from maritime logs On other occasions such contributions, especially those made by gifted enthusiasts have made significant additions to the body of science. 

http://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/the-janus-called-citizen-scientist-a-closer-look-2157-7544-1000e133.php?aid=64503

Consequently there is a potential for tension in mixing science with people and policy. Many authors don’t differentiate much between the two nouns science and scientist and use Citizen Science and Citizen Scientist interchangeably! However there is a long established tradition of making a clear distinction between the terms and they really mean two very different things.

Also, do citizens have a right to volunteer or boycott any science, should citizens have a say in what questions a scientist may ask. are all knowable need to be known to science and should some knowledge be anathema? In addition what are the boundaries of citizen activity and to what extent citizens be held culpable? Hopefully, the present piece would motivate the readers of this journal to help answering these questions.