Plastic bio-mitigation by Pseudomonas mendocina ABF786 and simultaneous conversion of its CO byproduct to microalgal biodiesel.

Bio-mitigation of plastics by microorganisms generates carbon dioxide (CO) that can be utilized for algal biomass generation. Pseudomonas mendocina ABF786, reportedly the most efficient plastic-degrading bacteria, was screened using the modified most probable number technique. This study highlights the use of an integrative prototype for the production of microalgal biomass (Chlorella vulgaris) in combination with bio-mitigation of plastics, which serves a dual purpose: (i) increased plastic-degradation capability by microorganisms (53%-85% increase in plastic weight loss) due to removal of CO feedback inhibition and (ii) increased algal biomass generation (200%-237%) due to supply of extra CO from plastic degradation to the algal cultivation flask.

Coordination self-assembly of tetranuclear Pt(II) macrocycles with an organometallic backbone for sensing of acyclic dicarboxylic acids.

Coordination self-assembly of a series of tetranuclear Pt(II) macrocycles containing an organometallic backbone incorporating ethynyl functionality is presented. The 1:1 combination of a linear acceptor 1,4-bis[trans-Pt(PEt3)2(NO3)(ethynyl)]benzene (1) with three different dipyridyl donor ‘clips’ (La–Lc) afforded three [2 + 2] self-assembled Pt(II)4 macrocycles (2a–2c) in quantitative yields, respectively [La = 1,3-bis(3-pyridyl)isothalamide; Lb = 1,3-bis(3-pyridyl)ethynylbenzene; Lc = 1,8-bis(4-pyridyl)ethynylanthracene]. These macrocycles were characterized by multinuclear NMR (1H and 31P); ESI-MS spectroscopy and the molecular structures of 2a and 2b were established by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.

Self-assembly of an octanuclear platinum(II) tetragonal prism from a new Pt(II)4 organometallic star-shaped acceptor and its nitroaromatic sensing study.

[2 + 4] self-assembly of a pyrene-functionalized Pt(II)(8) tetragonal prism (2) is achieved using a newly designed star-shaped organometallic acceptor (1) in combination with an amide-based "clip" donor (L). The propensity of this prism (2) as a selective sensor for nitroaromatics (2,4-dinitrotoluene, 1,3,5-trinitrotoluene, and picric acid), which are the chemical constituents of many commercial explosives, has been examined.