Influence of water-insoluble nonionic copolymer E(6)P(39)E(6) on the microstructure and self-aggregation dynamics of aqueous SDS solution-NMR and SANS investigations.

The influence of water-insoluble nonionic triblock copolymer PEO-PPO-PEO [poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide)] i.e., E6P39E6 with molecular weight 2800, on the microstructure and self-aggregation dynamics of anionic surfactant sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) in aqueous solution (D2O) were investigated using high resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements.

The pH-sensitive polyampholyte nanogels: inclusion of carbon nanotubes for improved drug loading.

We report a simple and facile method to prepare a novel pH sensitive polyampholyte nanogel by copolymerizing vinylimidazole (VIM) with acrylic acid (AA) using functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (f-SWCNTs) (as reinforcing material) and cyanuric chloride via an intermolecular quaternization reaction. The polyampholyte nanogels have been characterized by various microscopic and spectroscopic methods. These studies reveal that incorporation of nanotubes in cross-linked copolymer of poly(vinylimidazole-co-acrylic acid) (PVI-co-AA) form polyampholyte nanogel with enhanced physical properties.

Response surface modeling for optimization heterocatalytic Fenton oxidation of persistence organic pollution in high total dissolved solid containing wastewater.

The rice-husk-based mesoporous activated carbon (MAC) used in this study was precarbonized and activated using phosphoric acid. N2 adsorption/desorption isotherm, X-ray powder diffraction, electron spin resonance, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, (29)Si-NMR spectroscopy, and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy were used to characterize the MAC. The tannery wastewater carrying high total dissolved solids (TDS) discharged from leather industry lacks biodegradability despite the presence of dissolved protein.

A multilayered supramolecular self-assembled structure from soybean oil by in situ polymerization and its applications.

The present study emphasizes in situ transformation of soybean oil to self-assembled supramolecular multilayered biopolymer material. The said polymer material was characterized and the entrapment efficacy of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties was studied. In brief, soybean oil at varying concentration was mixed with mineral medium and incubated under agitation (200 rpm) at 37 degrees C for 240 h.

Nano-silica fabricated with silver nanoparticles: antifouling adsorbent for efficient dye removal, effective water disinfection and biofouling control.

A nano-silica-AgNPs composite material is proposed as a novel antifouling adsorbent for cost-effective and ecofriendly water purification. Fabrication of well-dispersed AgNPs on the nano-silica surface, designated as NSAgNP, has been achieved through protein mediated reduction of silver ions at ambient temperature for development of sustainable nanotechnology. The coated proteins on AgNPs led to the formation of stable NSAgNP and protected the AgNPs from oxidation and other ions commonly present in water.

Immobilization of Bacillus sp. in mesoporous activated carbon for degradation of sulphonated phenolic compound in wastewater.

Xenobiotic compounds are used in considerable quantities in leather industries besides natural organic and inorganic compounds. These compounds resist biological degradation and thus they remain in the treated wastewater in the unaltered molecular configurations. Immobilization of organisms in carrier matrices protects them from shock load application and from the toxicity of chemicals in bulk liquid phase.

Physicochemical studies on polyurethane/siloxane cross-linked films for hydrophobic surfaces by the sol-gel process.

A series of castor oil based polyurethane/siloxane cross-linked films were prepared using castor oil, isophorone diisocyanate, and 3-aminopropyl trimethoxysilane by the sol-gel process. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra reveal the cross-linking interaction between polyurethane and siloxane moieties, thereby shifting the peak position of characteristic N-H and C═O groups to higher wavenumber. (29)Si (silica) solid state nuclear magnetic resonance spectra were used to prove the formation of siloxane network linkage in the polyurethane system, thereby analyzing the Si environment present in the polyurethane/siloxane cross-linked films.

Evaluation of thermodynamic parameters of some amphiphilic drugs in presence of sugars at the cloud point.

In the present investigation, we report the thermodynamics of clouding in four amphiphilic drugs viz., two tricyclic antidepressants: amitriptyline hydrochloride (AMT) and imipramine hydrochloride (IMP) and two phenothiazines: chlorpromazine hydrochloride (CPZ) and promethazine hydrochloride (PMT) in the absence and presence of sugars. For an amphiphile, cloud point (CP) can be considered as the limit of its solubility as the phase separates at temperatures above the CP.

Nanoporous activated carbon fluidized bed catalytic oxidations of aqueous o, p and m-cresols: kinetic and thermodynamic studies.

Nanoporous activated carbon prepared from rice husk through precarbonisation at 400 °C and phosphoric acid activation at 800 °C was used as fluidized bed in Fenton oxidation of the o, p and m-cresols in aqueous solution. The efficiencies of homogeneous Fenton oxidation, fluidized Fenton oxidation and aerobic biological oxidation systems for the removal of o, p and m-cresols in aqueous solution have been compared. The kinetic constants and the thermodynamic parameters for the homogeneous Fenton, heterogeneous Fenton and aerobic biological oxidations of o, p and m-cresols in synthetic wastewater were determined.

The metabolic advantage of choline lactate in growth media: an experimental analysis with Staphylococcus lentus.

The metabolic effectiveness of choline lactate in the growth media was investigated relative to conventional carbon source for growing Staphylococcus lentus, a bacterial strain commonly used in bioremediation of industrial effluents and xenobiotic detoxification. Bacterial growth thermodynamics was determined by biocalorimetry. (13)C NMR and FTIR spectroscopic analyses traced the consumption of choline lactate at specific time intervals of bacterial growth.

"Click" polymerization on a self-assembled monolayer: a convenient approach to functionalize various surfaces with polytriazoles.

"Click" polymerization reaction has been performed on the functional self-assembled monolayer to incorporate polytriazoles. Ellipsometric and atomic force microscopic studies indicated a high degree of polymerization and fairly dense surface coverage. Band gap calculation revealed the possibility of its use as a semiconducting material.

Silver-nano biohybride material: synthesis, characterization and application in water purification.

A green chemical synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) through in situ reduction of silver nitrate (AgNO(3)) by a fungal strain of Rhizopus oryzae is described along with the promising eco-friendly role of the synthesized nano-silver bioconjugate (NSBC) material in water purification process. The NSBC has been characterized using UV-vis spectroscopy, high resolution transmission electron (HRTEM) microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The NSBC exhibits strong antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis and high adsorption capacity towards different organophosphorous pesticides.

Lipase from marine strain using cooked sunflower oil waste: production optimization and application for hydrolysis and thermodynamic studies.

The marine strain Pseudomonas otitidis was isolated to hydrolyze the cooked sunflower oil (CSO) followed by the production of lipase. The optimum culture conditions for the maximum lipase production were determined using Plackett-Burman design and response surface methodology. The maximum lipase production, 1,980 U/ml was achieved at the optimum culture conditions.

Bioenergetics for the growth of Staphylococcus lentus in biocompatible choline salts.

Choline-based biocompatible salts were used as "nutrients" for the growth of Staphylococcus lentus bacteria. Increase in the growth rate of bacteria was observed, compared to conventional carbon sources. In the case of the ionic liquid, choline lactate, the increase was pronounced.

Micellization and clouding phenomenon of amphiphilic antidepressant drug amitriptyline hydrochloride: effect of KCl.

In the present study, we report the micellization and clouding behavior of an amphiphilic antidepressant drug viz., amitriptyline hydrochloride (AMT) at different fixed temperatures and KCl concentrations in aqueous solutions. The critical micelle concentration (cmc) of AMT, as measured by conductivity method, increases with increasing temperature and decreasing with KCl concentration.

Sol-gel network silica/modified montmorillonite clay hybrid nanocomposites for hydrophobic surface coatings.

Sol-gel silica/nanoclay composites were prepared through sol-gel polymerization technique using tetraethylorthosilicate precursor and montmorillonite (MMT) clay in aqueous media. In this study, both montmorillonite-K(+) and organically modified MMT (OMMT) clays were used. The prepared composites were coated on glass substrate by making 1 wt% solution in ethyltrichlorosilane.

Osmotic shock augments ethanol stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae MTCC 2918.

Yeast cells sense and respond to hypertonicity. Saccharomyces cerevisiae MTCC 2918 was tested for its metabolic status in 1 M NaCl by cell viability analysis, intracellular glycerol content and total antioxidant capacity. Yeast cell viability was maximum in 1 M NaCl and 24 h addition of 1 M NaCl was effective in induction of hyperosmolarity.

Acid-responsive microcapsules: the loading-unloading processes.

A simple and convenient method to prepare acid-responsive microcapsules by using functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes and ytterbium triflate has been developed. Fluorescence active compounds were "pre-loaded" or "post-loaded" in the microcapsules and released later in acidic medium. An interesting "zip-unzip" phenomenon was observed while filming the action of acid on microcapsules under a microscope.

Optimization studies on production of a salt-tolerant protease from Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain BC1 and its application on tannery saline wastewater treatment.

Treatment and safe disposal of tannery saline wastewater, a primary effluent stream that is generated by soaking salt-laden hides and skin is one of the major problems faced by the leather manufacturing industries. Conventional treatment methods like solar evaporation ponds and land composting are not eco-friendly as they deteriorate the ground water quality. Though, this waste stream is comprised of high concentration of dissolved proteins the presence of high salinity (1-6 % NaCl by wt) makes it non-biodegradable.

Unprecedented binary Cu(I)/Cu(II) catalyzed one-pot, three-component synthesis and evaluation of luminescent property of 2-amino-3-iminoethenylidene-2-indolones: a new class of merocyanine dye analogues.

A facile and efficient binary Cu(I)/Cu(II) catalyzed one-pot, three-component synthesis of 2-amino-3-iminoethenylidene-2-indolones in excellent yield has been achieved. Remarkably, these newly synthesized, stable merocyanine dye analogues showed strong luminescence in the blue region with large Stokes shifts.

Combined biodegradation and ozonation for removal of tannins and dyes for the reduction of pollution loads.

Purpose: Tannins and dyes pose major threat to the environment by generating huge pollution problem. Biodegradation of wattle extract, chrome tannin and dye compounds using suitable fungal culture namely Aspergillus niger, Penicillium sp. were carried out.

Mesoporous and biocompatible surface active silica aerogel synthesis using choline formate ionic liquid.

In this paper, we report the preparation and characterization of mesoporous and biocompatible transparent silica aerogel by the sol-gel polymerization of tetraethyl orthosilicate using ionic liquid. Choline cation based ionic liquid allows the silica framework to form in a non collapsing environment and controls the pore size of the gel. FT-IR spectra reveal the interaction of ionic liquid with surface -OH of the gel.

NMR investigations of self-aggregation characteristics of SDS in a model assembled tri-block copolymer solution.

The present work was undertaken with a view to understand the influence of a model non-ionic tri-block copolymer PEO-PPO-PEO (poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide)) with molecular weight 5800 i.e., P123 [(EO)(20)-(PO)(70)-(EO)(20)] on the self-aggregation characteristics of the anionic surfactant sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) in aqueous solution (D(2)O) using NMR chemical shift, self-diffusion and nuclear spin-relaxation as suitable experimental probes.

1H NMR spectroscopic investigations on the conformation of amphiphilic aromatic amino acid derivatives in solution: effect of chemical architecture of amphiphiles and polarity of solvent medium.

In this study, the conformation of the amphiphilic lauryl esters of L-tyrosine (LET) and L-phenylalanine (LEP) in water and dimethyl sulfoxide is established. The alkyl chain protons of LEP in D(2)O appear at δ 1.010-1.

Use of ultrasound in leather processing industry: effect of sonication on substrate and substances--new insights.

Influence of ultrasound (US) on various unit operations in leather processing has been studied with the aim to improve the process efficiency, quality, reduce process time and achieve near-zero discharge levels in effluent streams as a cleaner option. Effect of US on substrate (skin/leather) matrix as well as substances used in different unit operations have been studied and found to be useful in the processing. Absorption of US energy by leather in process vessel at different distances from US source has been measured and found to be significant.