Journal of Chemistry

A series of 2‐halo‐3‐formylindole molecules were synthesized via Vilsmeier–Haack haloformylation reaction of N‐Boc‐oxindole with POCl 3 or POBr 3 and DMF, which are free from the use of catalyst and solvent. Moreover, through several simple postprocessing steps, corresponding adducts can be readily transformed to Tenidap analog intermediate. The feasibility of gram‐scale experiments proved that the methodology has the potential to be scaled. In addition, a possible reaction mechanism was proposed based on control experiments.

Biomimetic and synthetic advancements in natural pesticides are driving a transformative shift toward sustainable pest management, promoting agricultural productivity while preserving ecological balance. These innovative approaches are inspired by nature’s defense mechanisms, integrating cutting‐edge science to develop precise, effective, and environmentally safe alternatives to traditional chemical pesticides. The review explores the evolution of natural pesticides, historical milestones, biomimicry principles, and the synergies achieved through hybrid formulations that combine natural and synthetic elements. Key findings highlight the exceptional specificity of biomimetic pesticides, such as azadirachtin from neem and pyrethrins from chrysanthemum, which disrupt pest physiological pathways while minimizing harm to nontarget organisms. Advances in green chemistry and nanotechnology have further enhanced these compounds’ stability, efficacy, and scalability, addressing challenges related to environmental degradation and cost‐efficiency. Synthetic analogs, designed to mimic natural bioactives, complement biomimetic solutions by offering extended durability and broad‐spectrum activity, thus bridging field performance and scalability gaps. The review also emphasizes the critical role of interdisciplinary research, policy support, and technological innovation in overcoming barriers to adoption, such as regulatory complexities, pest resistance, and economic accessibility. By harmonizing efficacy with sustainability, these advancements pave the way for next‐generation agricultural practices that ensure food security while preserving biodiversity and soil health. This synthesis provides a comprehensive roadmap for researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders aiming to redefine the future of eco‐friendly pest control.

There is a growing interest in the recovery of valuable biomaterials from waste in line with reaping the benefits of a circular economy. Organic wastes, such as waste‐activated sludge (WAS) and food waste (FW), contain a substantial amount of protein that can be recovered for various applications. This study compared thermal alkaline and acid hydrolysis methods for their efficiencies in extracting protein from FW and WAS. The possibility of enhancing protein yield and quality through co‐extraction of WAS and FW was also investigated. Response surface methodology was used to optimize the extraction process. Before extraction, WAS was purified by removing heavy metals using acid pretreatment. It was established that FW had 21.5 g/100 g protein, while WAS had 19.9 g/100 g protein. The two extraction methods had superior extraction for WAS as compared to FW. In addition to this, there was no significant increase in protein yield in the co‐extraction of protein from the FW and WAS mixture. Furthermore, optimization using RSM showed that the optimal yield of 15.8 g/100 g was obtained at a pH of 13 and a temperature of 120°C, close to the experimental yield of 16.6 g/100 g WAS. Moreover, LC–MS analysis of the extracted protein showed that WAS had a good essential amino acid profile with threonine, lysine, leucine, methionine and valine in concentrations of 3.3, 2.7, 1.8, 1.1, and 2.7 g/100 g, respectively. Significantly, the level of threonine revealed the potential of beneficiation of WAS as an animal food supplement because threonine plays an important role in the synthesis of mucosal protein that lines and protects the intestinal tract as well as modulation of nutritional metabolism and macromolecular biosynthesis in animals. In addition to that, the ratio of the first limiting amino acids (lysine and methionine) met the standards for animal feed supplementation.

A novel multicomponent method was utilized to attain high yields in the synthesis of new cyclopenta[b]pyridine derivatives. The procedure utilized vinilydene Meldrum’s acid, ethyl 2‐amino‐4‐dioxo‐4‐arylbutanoates, activated acetylenic compounds, and primary amines. The operation was performed at ambient temperature and in the presence of water. This technique has numerous advantages, such as elevated product yields, rapid reaction times, and uncomplicated product separation methods. The antioxidant activity of the newly synthesized compounds is ascribed to their NH group, which has undergone two testing procedures. The antibacterial efficacy of the synthesized cyclopenta[b]pyridines was evaluated by a disc diffusion method, utilizing two strains of Gram‐negative bacteria. These compounds were also discovered to inhibit the growth of Gram‐positive bacteria.

The current investigation determines the fabrication and characterization of magnesium hydroxide nanoparticles (Mg(OH) 2 NPs) with the help of C. gigantea latex via biological method. The size, shape, morphology, functional groups and stability of biogenic Mg(OH) 2 NPs were analysed by microscopic and spectroscopical analyses. Mg–O vibration, C–O stretch, O–H and C–H bend were detected by FTIR analysis. Crystalline nature of biogenic Mg(OH) 2 NPs was confirmed by X‐ray diffraction (XRD). FESEM with EDX analysis revealed the morphology and elemental composition of biogenic Mg(OH) 2 NPs and proved that formation of nano petal‐shaped Mg(OH) 2 NPs. Moreover, the synthesized biogenic Mg(OH) 2 NPs were studied for antioxidant and antibacterial activities against wound‐causing bacteria by standard methods. As‐synthesized Mg(OH) 2 NPs showed significant antioxidant activity as compared with ascorbic acid and it had potential antibacterial activity. The study concluded that Mg(OH) 2 NPs with antioxidant and antibacterial properties can be synthesized using C. gigantea latex by green chemistry approach and may be used for formulation of new drugs and gel for wound healing and any other medical application.

Rosuvastatin is a lipid‐lowering medication belonging to the statin group that acts as a selective inhibitor of 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methyl‐glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG‐CoA) reductase, a rate‐limiting step of cholesterol biosynthesis in the liver. 99m Tc‐rosuvastatin was synthesized aiming to develop a potential radiopharmaceutical for targeting liver. The in vitro stability and radiochemical yield were investigated, and the yield of the 99m Tc‐rosuvastatin complex was 89.5 ± 1.85%. Biodistribution study revealed a good preferential localization of 99m Tc‐rosuvastatin in liver tissues suggesting using the labeled compound as a promising liver imaging candidate. The favorable sites of Tc labeling were determined by the analysis of natural atomic charges using the DFT method at the B3LYP/LanL2DZ level of theory. Binding modes between the rosuvastatin (and its stable technetium complex) and the human HMG‐CoA reductase were determined using molecular docking, and the obtained results revealed the effectiveness of technetium in increasing the binding affinity to the active residues of HMG‐CoA reductase.

Cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) is one of the raw materials extracted from cashew nut shells (CNS). This liquid can be processed to produce cardanol through the decarboxylation of anacardic acid, a significant isolate from CNSL. The decarboxylation process involves heating anacardic acid to a favourable reaction temperature. This study investigated the ideal temperature required for this process. Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy characterised CNSL and cardanol isolates. Anacardic acid was separated, purified and heated to temperatures ranging from 140°C to 152°C after being isolated from CNSL. At each temperature, the decarboxylation yield was calculated. The results indicated that a temperature of 145°C is optimal for the decarboxylation of anacardic acid at standard pressure, with a maximum yield of 66% observed. These findings contrast with other studies, which suggested optimal temperatures of 140°C and 180°C–200°C for the decarboxylation of anacardic acid. The main advantage of the identified temperature in the anacardic acid decarboxylation reaction is the increased yield and overall process efficiency by promoting the synthesis of desired products over potential side reactions (selectivity). Furthermore, reactions at lower temperatures can be more energy‐efficient than those at higher temperatures, thus reducing costs in industrial processes. Lastly, it is generally safer to work with lower temperatures, as there is a reduced risk of thermal degradation and thermal runaway reactions.

Increased antibiotic consumption and inadequate management procedures expose the environment to antibiotics, leading to significant antibiotic pollution and emerging antibiotic-resistant microbes. Biochar form agricultural waste can efficiently remove antibiotics from aquatic environments and is a renewable and cost-effective adsorbent. Biochar-producing methods from different agricultural residues, the physicochemical characteristics, and the adsorption effectiveness of biochar are discussed. Surface modification of biochar provides a variety of new interactions between the biochar and antibiotics. The key elements influencing antibiotic adsorption on biochar, including surface chemistry, pyrolysis conditions, and environmental variables, were discussed in detail. This review focuses specifically on the functional modification of the biochar, the mechanism involved in antibiotic adsorption, and the scalability of this process. The difficulties with biochar regeneration, environmental risks, and industrial viability are also addressed. The findings highlighted that the existing adsorption approaches for antibiotic removal need adsorbent with prolonged stability, process optimization, and cost-effective regenerative techniques. This review gives a broad overview of antibiotic removal using biochar and aids the decision-makers in developing environmentally friendly water treatment systems.

As one of the main environmental obstacles, oil spill causes serious consequences on the environment, fauna, and flora. The traditional methods for cleaning up oil spills were found time‐consuming, expensive, and ineffective. Magnetite nanoparticles have attracted great attention as alternatives to the conventional methods as a result of the substantial efficiency, quick controlling, and remedying of oil spills. In the present work, trisubstituted imidazole was prepared by one‐pot reaction followed by alkylation with tetradecyl bromide to obtain hydrophobic 4,5‐diphenyl‐1,3‐ditetradecyl‐2‐(2‐(tetradecyloxy)phenyl)‐1H‐imidazole‐3‐ium bromide, tetradecylimidazolium ionic liquid (TTIML). After that, magnetite nanoparticles were prepared and coated with TTIML in order to control the particle size and modify the magnetite surface to be hydrophobic enough to spread in the oil spill and consequently cleaning the oil by the application of an external magnet. The structures of magnetite nanoparticles coated with newly synthesized ionic liquid (TTIML‐Fe 3 O 4 ) was confirmed using FTIR, XRD, TEM, and DLS. Only about 10 wt% of IL was sufficient to obtain monodispersed Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles as confirmed by TGA thermogram. The oil spill collecting efficiency of Fe 3 O 4 NPs reached 95.5 ± 2.9% at magnetite to oil ratios (1 : 25) which indicate its application.

Strontium (Sr) is one of the essential trace elements in the human body, which has important biological significance for human physiological function. In this paper, 41 groundwater samples collected from Shengli Farm in the eastern Sanjiang Plain were used to study the hydrochemical characteristics of Sr²⁺ enrichment and its control factors by correlation analysis, principal component analysis, and Gibbs model, which is helpful to guide the rational development and utilization of local groundwater resources and ecological environment protection.The findings indicate that the groundwater exists in a reducing environment characterized by acidity and low salinity, with predominant cations being Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, and predominant anions being HCO3⁻. The predominant hydrochemical type is HCO3-Ca·Mg, secondly by SO4·Cl-Ca·Mg type. Principal component analysis identifies three primary elements influencing the evolution of groundwater quality. The weathering and dissolution of silicate and carbonate rocks are the primary forces influencing the chemical composition of water, secondly by the dissolution of evaporites. Groundwater with a Sr content over 0.40 mg/L constituted 7.32% of the total samples. The siliceous rocks and basalts present in this region supply the foundational material for Sr²⁺ enrichment. Sr²⁺ is correlated and coenriched with Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, and the liberation of Sr²⁺ from adjacent rock during cation exchange is one of the sources of Sr²⁺ in groundwater. Regular agricultural and livestock practices are the primary contributors to the elevation of SO4²⁻ levels in adjacent groundwater, as well as the enhancement of Sr²⁺ concentrations.

Te contribution of medicinal plants in healthcare delivery has been acknowledged due to the numerous plant chemicals with health-promoting properties. In Northern Ghana, where health resources are scarce coupled with endemic poverty, most traditional folks rely heavily on plants as a source of treatment. Among some of the common plants employed for the treatment of malaria, diarrhea, vomiting, stomachache, wounds, and epilepsy are Terminalia laxifora root and Mitragyna inermis stem bark. Despite the claimed efcacy and potency of these medicinal plants, little is known about the bioactive compounds in these plants. Te current study aimed to characterize the phytochemical constituents in the aqueous extracts of Terminalia laxifora root and Mitragyna inermis stem bark. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry were employed for this study. Te FTIR analysis revealed the presence of alkene, carbonyl, carboxylic acids, hydroxyl groups, alkyl halides, ethers, and esters. Te GC-MS analysis also revealed the presence of seventeen (17) diferent phytochemical constituents including trans-13-octadecanoic acid, methyl ester, 9-octadecanoic acid, (E)-, hexadecenoic acid, n-hexadecenoic acid, phenol, 4-heptyl-2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethyl ester, 9-octadecenamide, (Z)-and 9-octadecenoic acid (Z), and 3-dihydroxyphene. Tese compounds have supported the treatment of various diseases in humans as natural compounds. Te above-characterized bioactive compounds might be responsible for the traditional folks' claimed efcacy of these medicinal plants. Te study fndings will contribute to the existing knowledge and also provide scientifc data for future research. Further studies should isolate and purify these compounds as lead compounds for possible drug development.

Zn²⁺ and Ni²⁺ are frequently reported in wastewater effluents with concentrations much greater than the permitted limits and thus pose a huge threat to living beings. Therefore, researchers are gaining much focus on removing these metals from water bodies. This study performed two sets of experiments to study the comparative extraction efficiencies of Zn²⁺ and Ni²⁺ from water samples using a supported liquid membrane (SLM), carrier, and solvent. For this purpose, the chloride salts of both Zn²⁺ and Ni²⁺ were used to study the movement of both ions from the acidic feed phase to the basic strip phase through SLM equilibrated with cyclohexylamine, which acts as a carrier for the transportation of Zn²⁺ and Ni²⁺. The conditions were optimized while studying four different parameters to maximize the transport of ions from the feed to the stripping phase. However, the acid concentration was kept constant at 1 M for all the experiments. Separate experiments were carried out to study the movement of Zn²⁺ and Ni²⁺ ions. The distribution coefficient, permeability coefficient, flux, and extraction efficiencies of both ions were calculated against different parameters. A comparative analysis found that Zn²⁺ ions have a greater tendency to move to the strip phase than the Ni²⁺ ions under a similar set of parameters. Extraction time reveals that approximately 87% of the Zn²⁺ ions moved to the stripping phase from the feed phase at the end of the 120th min of the experiment. In contrast, only 72% of the Ni²⁺ ions could move to the stripping phase under similar conditions. Current studies indicate that the extraction methodologies based on SLM can effectively remove Zn²⁺ and Ni²⁺ from water samples.

The rise in population growth that necessitates an increase in animal husbandry activities has led to overconsumption, improper use, and disposal of pharmaceuticals such as antibiotics leading to environmental pollution. In developing countries where we have inefficient and outdated wastewater treatment facilities that are unable to effectively remove these pollutants from domestic wastewater, the effect is the contamination of groundwater supply used for domestic purposes, necessitating the development of advanced techniques. The adoption of adsorption-based technologies with the use of adsorbents such as carbon-based nanomaterials, biochar, and functionalized nanomaterials has proven to be effective in removing these contaminants from aqueous solutions. For instance, a 3D boron-doped graphene composite has been reported to effectively remove amitriptyline from water with a maximum adsorption capacity of adsorption capacity of 737.4 mg/g. Magnetic starch has proven to be effective in removing diclofenac from aqueous solutions, with a reported maximum adsorption capacity of 620.51 mg/g. However, current studies have a limited understanding of the adsorption process, adsorption mechanisms, and universality of the adsorbents used. Future studies should focus on developing cost-effective and sustainable adsorbents as well as exploring integrated approaches and technologies that combine adsorption with other technologies and techniques for effective removal of pharmaceutical contaminants, ensuring cleaner and safer water resources. To this effect, this review highlights the impact of the overconsumption of pharmaceutical compounds and the different adsorbents thereof that have been incorporated in wastewater treatment for the removal of pharmaceutical compounds from water using the adsorption method. It discusses in detail the increase in adoption of the use of various nanocomposites in the removal of these pollutants from surface waters and the removal efficiencies.

Global environmental contamination will worsen, requiring innovative solutions based on cutting-edge research. Photocatalysis has advanced in recent years by using metal sulfide quantum dots (QDs), graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN), and their nanocomposite heterojunctions. This systematic study examined the latest developments in this revolutionary area. The article begins by describing metal sulfide QDs and the optical, electrical, and structural characteristics of metal sulfide QDs and g-CN. Appreciating the tremendous potential of these materials to solve environmental issues begins with these realizations. The major attraction, nanocomposite heterojunctions, was next examined. We examine the fascinating world of g-CN–metal sulfide QD composites, including their synthesis, cooperative behavior, and heterojunction topologies such as Type I, Type II, Zscheme, and S-scheme. These heterojunctions unlock the photocatalytic efficiency hitherto unreachable. We learn how these heterostructures boost photocatalytic efficiency, revealing their revolutionary potential. This review shows how these advances are used in real life. These materials have accelerated the shift toward a cleaner, sustainable future by degrading organic contaminants and converting CO2 into useful compounds.

Inhibiting tubulin polymerisation, an essential step for cell proliferation, can control cell division. Our in silico study aims to screen out the derivatives of 1,3-benzodioxole-tagged formylbenzyl-N, N-dimethylmethanaminium ionic liquid for their potential as anticancer agents. All parameters requisite for a compound to act as a pertinent drug candidate are sequentially measured. A library of ffteen 1,3-benzodioxole-based ionic liquids with diferent anions has been designed for molecular docking. Based on binding afnity obtained from protein-ligand molecular docking, ionic liquid comprising of anion bistrifuoromethylamide, octyl sulphate, trifuoromethanesulphonate, dichloroacetate and trifuoroacetate, with common cation-1-(benzo[d][1,3] dioxol-5-yl)-N-(4-formylbenzyl)-N,N-dimethylmethanaminium, was found potent among all. Te hydrogen bonding and nonbond interactions among ligands and proteins were analysed to determine the efcacy of ligands. Te docking results revealed that Compounds 7 and 10 (binding energy −361.33 and −345.4 kcal/mol) might pave the way for potential pharmaceutical candidates. Te physicochemical and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMET) properties of selected compounds were studied to know their potential as drug candidates. Te docked complexes of screened compounds were further commenced for dynamic simulation to fathom the compatibility of compounds. Tese potent compounds can be synthesised and biologically evaluated for their inhibition efect on microtubule formation.

The EU regulations limit the total phosphorus (P) concentration to 2 mg/L in the discharge effluent from wastewater treatment plants to minimize the negative impacts of nutrients in the ecosystems. This study focuses on monitoring and removal of P in the municipal wastewater treatment plant in Baiona, NW Spain. P is removed in the plant by precipitation as ferric phosphate with the continuous addition of ferric chloride. The FeCl 3 dose is adjusted with periodic phosphate analysis in the discharge effluent. This procedure results in a large excess of FeCl 3 dosage due to the daily and seasonal variations of P in the wastewater (2.5–8 mg/L). The excess dosage ensures compliance with the P legal limit but increases the consumption of FeCl 3 and the associated costs. In this study, we tested the benefits of P concentration monitoring in the discharge effluent with an automated analyzer to optimize the dosage of FeCl 3 . The automated analyzer determines the P concentration every 2 h and uses this information to adjust the FeCl 3 dosage to the real needs. This mode of operation minimizes FeCl 3 consumption while ensuring compliance with the legal P discharge limit. Comparing the reagent consumption of 1 year of operation with the previous year with no automated analyzer, the consumption was cut back by 50%. The savings in precipitation reagent can compensate the analyzer installation cost in just 2 years of operation, confirming the rapid return of the investment. Besides, the P precipitation system with the automated analyzer showed stable operation throughout the year under different wastewater flow and P concentration conditions, confirming the system reliability and efficiency in maintaining consistent P removal performance.

Antibiotic resistance represents a significant public health challenge in the current century. The β-lactam antibiotics, together with carbapenems, are inactivated by zinc-dependent bacterial enzymes called metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs). Presently there are no clinically permitted MBL inhibitors, and to produce such drugs, it is indispensable to comprehend their inhibitory action. We investigated an efficient synthesis of pyridine-embedded 1,3,4-oxadiazole hybrids (3a-c) and their antimicrobial activity against different microbial strains. The compounds were characterized by spectral techniques (viz., IR, NMR, and mass). The in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activity was also performed; the compounds (3a-c) displayed excellent antimicrobial activity. The in silico docking studies were evaluated with proteins New Delhi Metallo-Beta-lactamase-1 (NDM-1) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis enoyl reductase (INHA). All the compounds demonstrated a significant binding affinity for the docked proteins. Additionally, molecular dynamics were disclosed for compounds (4a-c).

Phaffia rhodozyma (PR) is a candidate microbial strain for the production of natural astaxanthin. Astaxanthin and other carotenoids have significant antioxidant effects, which can delay aging and prevent tumors. However, so far, there is no effective and convenient method to comprehensively reflect the quality of PR, and there is also a gap in the research on the potential antiaging effect of PR. In this study, 15 batches of PR samples collected in China were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprinting. A total of 14 common peaks were obtained, of which 8 peaks corresponded to astaxanthin. The similarity of fingerprints of 15 PR batches ranged from 0.814 to 0.998. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were also performed in this study. The content of astaxanthin in 15 batches of PR ranged from 0.401% to 0.867%. This is consistent with the results of PCA and HCA analysis, which revealed significant PR quality differences between samples obtained from different manufacturers. We also studied the antiaging effect of PR on Caenorhabditis. elegans and found that PR can effectively prolong the lifespan of C. elegans, reduce the accumulation of lipofuscin, and increase the frequency of exercise. In addition, it was also found that PR can enhance the heat stress resistance of C. elegans and improve the activity of antioxidant enzymes (MDA, SOD, CAT, and GSH). The combination of HPLC fingerprint and chemical pattern recognition is a reliable and stable research method that can be applied to the systematic quality evaluation of PR. The study on the antiaging effect of C. elegans as a model organism found that PR has an antiaging effect and has certain application potential in food and medicine, which provides a new idea for the development of PR.

In this study, the synthesis of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) from nonusable invasive weed Senna didymobotrya cellulose was possible through response surface methodology (RSM)–guided alkalization and etherification methods. The RSM method indicates that the maximum CMC yield obtained, 0.85 gm or 85.6%, was achieved when 1 gm or 6 mol of anhydrous glucose unit (AGU) cellulose reacted with 1 gm or 3.24 mol of KOH/AGU and 1.1 gm or 2.05 mol of monochloroacetic acid (MCA)/AGU at 60°C with a total reaction time of 2 h. This finding opens a new avenue for saving chemicals while producing industrial chemicals. The RSM analysis also indicates that the method was significant and valid. This is because the factors and factor interactions used in this method were significant (p<0.05) and the method was precise because the adequate precision (30.7) found was much higher than the expected precision value of 4. The factors used were alkalization, etherification, and temperature. The degree of substitution of synthesized CMC was 2.5 and comparable with the commercial CMC (2.9). The viscosity measurement of the synthesized and commercial CMC indicates that both materials showed non-Newtonian pseudoplastic behavior. The viscosity of the synthesized CMC was 331.64 cP and the commercial CMC was 227.08 cP. This indicates that the synthesized CMC was more viscous than the commercial CMC. Hence, the synthesized CMC could be used as a good thickener in different factories. The FTIR, XRD peaks, and SEM images indicate that the CMC was synthesized from the isolated cellulose. The TGA/DTA analysis also indicates the CMC was thermally stable up to 380°C and exhibited heat resistance up to 800°C. Therefore, the two simplest, not time- and energy-taking, methods used and the results of their characterizations with respect to commercial CMC indicate that our synthesized CMC from the weed Senna didymobotrya cellulose can be extended to large-scale production of CMC and marketed locally and worldwide.

This study aims to develop a filter material capable of inhibiting bacterial growth and eliminating microorganisms from filtered water. Granular activated carbon (GAC) was prepared from jujube seed kernels by a chemical activation method whereby the kernels were heated at 650°C for 3 h in the presence of varied concentrations of phosphoric acid (H 3 PO 4 ) (1, 2 and 3 M). Silver nanoparticles (Ag‐NPs) were prepared using the polysaccharide reduction method with AgNO 3 at two concentrations (2 and 4 mmol). The Ag‐NPs obtained were characterised by a UV–visible spectrophotometer, optical microscope and microorganism inhibition test. GAC was coated with Ag‐NPs by impregnating it with a fixed concentration of Ag‐NPs in a supersaturated solution. The resulting GAC and Ag‐NPs/GAC were characterised using several methods (pH, point zero charge and FTIR). The leakage of Ag fixed on GAC was evaluated. The antimicrobial properties of the synthesised Ag‐NPs/GAC were investigated using inhibition zone, impregnation and column techniques against E. coli . The best nanoparticle shape with a large reactive surface was obtained after treatment with 2 mmol of AgNO 3 . There was no leaching of Ag ions in the treated water after passage through the bed. Except for the GAC not impregnated with Ag‐NPs, no E. coli CFU/mL was found in the filtered water obtained from Ag‐NPs/GAC beds at all tested pHs after 2–3 days of operation.

Through this study, porous niobium (V) oxide catalysts for esterification of acetic acid with butanol to make butyl acetate are made and characterized. The catalysts were synthesized using a sol-gel method and characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, BET surface area analysis, and TPD acidity measurements. The XRD results confirmed the hexagonal structure of both fresh and regenerated catalysts, and the low-angle XRD analysis revealed the material’s porous nature. Raman spectroscopy showed the characteristic Nb-O-Nb stretching band at 698 cm⁻¹, which was retained even at higher calcination temperatures. The catalytic performance was evaluated under various conditions, including different reactant mole ratios, catalyst amounts, and reaction temperatures. The optimal conditions were 1:2 mol ratio of acetic acid to butanol, 0.1 g of catalyst, and a reaction temperature of 120°C, achieving a maximum ester yield of 89%. The catalyst’s performance was superior to that of Al2O3, ZrO2, and bulk Nb2O5, highlighting the importance of the porous structure in providing a more significant number of active sites. Recyclability tests demonstrated that the catalyst maintains stable activity over five cycles, with only a slight decrease in yield. This stability is attributed to the retention of the porous structure and the high number of acidic sites at the optimal calcination temperature of 300°C.

Allergic conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the conjunctiva, is commonly treated with conventional drugs such as mast cell stabilizers, corticosteroids, antihistamines, NSAIDs, and others; these drugs associated lots of side effects including dryness, redness, and blurred vision. Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn., known as Indian lotus, is traditionally used for various ailments. This study aimed at assessing the antiallergic conjunctivitis effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of the rhizome of N. nucifera (HNN) and their isolated constituents (phytosphingosine and betulinic acid) in rats. Acute oral toxicity tests followed OECD Guideline No. 423, revealing no mortality up to 2000 mg/kg for HNN and 300 mg/kg for isolated constituents, indicating their safety. Rats were induced with allergic conjunctivitis and treated with varying doses of HNN extract and isolated constituents. The results showed a significant reduction in allergic signs, eye-scratching behavior, and eosinophil count in conjunctival tissues in a dose-dependent manner. This demonstrates the potential of HNN and its constituents in combating allergic conjunctivitis safely and effectively. Further research is warranted to explore their clinical applications.

The Candida genus includes many opportunistic pathogens of great clinical importance, being commonly involved in several superficial and systemic human fungal infections. In this study, eleven 3-methyl-4-nitrobenzoate derivates were prepared and evaluated against four Candida strains (Candida albicans ATCC-90028, C. glabrata 90,030, C. krusei 34,125, and C. guilliermondii 207). The relationship between the chemical structure of the prepared compounds and their antifungal activity was also investigated. The chemical structure of the obtained products was confirmed using Infrared, ¹H and APT-¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry. The antifungal assay results showed that the screened compounds exhibited different levels of activity depending on the structural variation and tested strain. Among the 11 nitrobenzoate analogs, the compounds methyl 3-methyl-4-nitrobenzoate (1) and pentyl 3-methyl-4-nitrobenzoate (6) presented great antifungal activity against C. guilliermondii 207, with MIC values of 39 and 31 µM, respectively. Modeling studies of 6, the most bioactive compound against C. guilliermondii, demonstrated that it interacted with TPMK protein, which has been proposed as a molecular target in studies of potential antifungal agents. Finally, the preliminary SAR study of this series furnished information on possibly structural features that may affect the antifungal activity, like the importance of alkyl side chains for bioactivity.

The possibility of producing solid biofuels from sunflower stalks, an agricultural residue that is currently underused, has been investigated. By cutting the tissues along the sunflower stalks and mechanical grinding, samples were obtained, namely, sunflower stalk rind (SSR), sunflower stalk intermediate (SSI), and sunflower stalk pith (SSP), and by grinding sunflower stalks, as a whole, sunflower stalk general (SSG) sample was obtained. Different chemical compositions of sunflower stalk samples, according to the cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, influenced their thermal decomposition behavior. The lignin contents were found to be 19.8 wt.% in the SSR, 16.6 wt.% in the SSI, 3.8 wt.% in the SSP, and 15.8 wt.% in the SSG samples. The results were useful to forecast different calorific values of samples—higher for SSR, SSI, and SSG compared to the SSP sample. According to the results of comprehensive thermal analysis, the thermal decomposition of all samples occurred in five stages, different in their temperature ranges for every individual sample and mass loss of substances. By DTA curves comparison, the highest calorific value for the SSB sample, lower for the SSI and the SSG samples, and the lowest for the SSP sample were established. Calorific values determined by the calorimetric method were 18.2 MJ/kg for the SSR, 14.7 MJ/kg for the SSІ, 7.4 MJ/kg for the SSP, and 14.2 MJ/kg for the SSG samples. The results of the experimental determination of ash content showed 8.8 wt.% for SSR, 7.6 wt.% for SSI, 16.1 wt.% for SSР, and 10.2 wt.% for SSG samples. Due to the adequate calorific value, but the excessive level of ash content, the rind, intermediate segments of sunflower stalks, and sunflower stalks as a whole were recommended as components of solid composite fuel based on woody biomass.

This study investigated the potential health-promoting properties of new sources of natural food colorants, namely pigmented flower extracts from Geraniaceae (Pelargonium grandiflorum, Pelargonium × hortorum, Pelargonium zonale hybrid) and Lamiaceae (Salvia aurea × dolomitica, Salvia dolomitica and Plectranthus zuluensis). In the Geraniaceae family, the main phenolic acids identified were hydrolysable tannins, while the main flavonoids were rutinosides of kaempferol and quercetin. In the Lamiaceae family, the main phenolic acids were caffeic acid and its derivatives, and the main flavonoids were naringin and neohesperidin. The total polyphenol content (TPC) and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity were higher for Geraniaceae than for Lamiaceae species. For all extracts, oxygen radical absorption capacity (ORAC) was similar, except for P. zonale hybrid. These extracts protected Caco-2 cells against 2, 2′-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) generated oxidative damage. Similarly, all extracts, except P. zonale hybrid, effectively scavenged nitric oxide (NO) and reduced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NO formation in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Inhibition of the formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGE) was significant for P. grandiflorum and P. × hortorum. All pigmented flower extracts, except the P. zonale hybrid, reduced lipid accumulation in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Treatment during adipocyte differentiation caused cell death, except for the P. zonale hybrid. In conclusion, related to antioxidant activity, inhibition of AGE formation and lipid accumulation in differentiated adipocytes, P. grandiflorum was the most active, while the P. zonale hybrid was the least. These differences are potentially related to the concentration, type and stability of the polyphenols found in these pigmented flower extracts. Overall, the pigmented flower extracts of Geraniaceae and Lamiaceae show a range of health-promoting properties that represent an additional benefit to their potential use as natural food colourants.