Differential pulse voltammetric determination of chlorphenoxamine hydrochloride and its pharmaceutical preparations using platinum and glassy carbon electrodes

Voltammetric methods have been used for the determination of chlorphenoxamine hydrochloride (Ch-HCl) in raw material and in its pharmaceutical preparations (Allergex and Allergex caffeine tablet). It was found that Ch-HCl gives a characteristic cyclic voltammetric (CV) and differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) peak in acetonitrile using platinum and glassy carbon working electrodes. The I _p of the DPV peak increases linearly within the concentration range from 4.5 × 10⁻⁴ to 1.0 × 10⁻² mol L⁻¹ of the investigated drug. The concentration of Ch-HCl in raw drug material and in its pharmaceutical preparations was determined using the standard addition method, Randles–Sevcik equation and indirectly via its complexation with sodium tetraphenylborate (NaTPB). The obtained over all average recoveries were 101.44 and 100.49% with SD 0.45 and 0.38 (n = 4) for platinum and glassy carbon electrodes, respectively. The effect of scan rate, sample concentration, and supporting electrolyte on the I _p and E _p was also investigated.     

Formulation Optimization of a Palm-Based Nanoemulsion System Containing Levodopa

Response surface methodology (RSM) was utilized to investigate the influence of the main emulsion composition; mixture of palm and medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil (6%–12% w/w), lecithin (1%–3% w/w), and Cremophor EL (0.5%–1.5% w/w) as well as the preparation method; addition rate (2–20 mL/min), on the physicochemical properties of palm-based nanoemulsions. The response variables were the three main emulsion properties; particle size, zeta potential and polydispersity index. Optimization of the four independent variables was carried out to obtain an optimum level palm-based nanoemulsion with desirable characteristics. The response surface analysis showed that the variation in the three responses could be depicted as a quadratic function of the main composition of the emulsion and the preparation method. The experimental data could be fitted sufficiently well into a second-order polynomial model. The optimized formulation was stable for six months at 4 °C.     

Natural occurrence of zearalenone in Tunisian wheat grains

Fusarium mycotoxins are worldwide occurring in cereals and they are frequently reported in fresh or stored grains. Cereals represent a staple food for the Tunisian population; it therefore has a high social, economic and nutritional relevance. Zearalenone (ZEN) is a non-steroidal estrogenic mycotoxin produced by a variety of Fusarium fungi in temperate and warm countries. Fungi-producing ZEN contaminates corn, barley, wheat, sorghum and rice. A total of 205 samples of wheat were collected during the harvest year of 2010 from the major cropping areas in Tunisia and they were analyzed for zearalenone contamination. The aim of this study was to investigate for the first time the presence of ZEN in widely-consumed cereals in Tunisia, especially durum and tender wheat, to compare the levels of contamination by ZEN with the European norms and to suggest some factors that can promote the production of ZEN in Tunisia. To perform this study, we developed and validated in our laboratory conditions an HPLC method for quantitative analysis of ZEN in solid cereal samples. Our results showed that the incidence of ZEN contamination was 75%. The levels of contamination determined in the positive samples ranged between 3 and 560 μg/kg with a mean value of 60 μg/kg. These important amounts of ZEN in wheat can be attributed to the Tunisian climate, warm temperature and prolonged wetness witch are favor to Fusarium growth and mycotoxin production during the cultivation and the final ripening period of wheat grains.     

Physicochemical properties of fermented Arabian mares' milk

Due to its numerous benefits, including health-promoting characteristics, there is increasing interest in finding product applications for mares' milk. In the present study, the physicochemical properties, turbidity and conductivity of Arabian mares' milk were studied during acidification by fermentation at 30 °C and compared with those of bovine milk. The data for the acidification rate were modelled using a logistic equation. Mares' milk showed a longer latency phase (284 min) and lower acidification rate (μ_max = 0.0052 dpH min^?1) compared with bovine milk (194 min and 0.0098 dpH min^?1 respectively). The general shape of the curves of the turbidity versus time and pH were similar in nature for the acidification of both milks. However, the characteristic points were different, due to the differences in casein micelle composition. Measurement of electrical conductivity during acidification showed that maximum demineralization of casein micelles started around pH 6.09 and 5.31, for mares' and bovine milk, respectively. In conclusion, the technological characteristics of mares' milk were very different from those of bovine milk, due to intrinsic physicochemical properties of both milks.     

Lipase‐catalyzed esterification of cinnamic acid and oleyl alcohol in organic solvent media

The esterification of cinnamic acid (CA) and oleyl alcohol (OA) in organic solvent media by immobilized lipase Novozym 435 was optimized in terms of selected parameters, including the logarithm of the 1‐octanol/water partition coefficient of the organic solvent (log P, 0.29–4.5), initial water activity (a_w, 0.05–0.75), agitation speed (0–200 rpm), temperature (35–65 °C) and ratio of substrates (CA/OA, 1.0:0.5–1.0:6.0). The results showed that the more hydrophobic solvent mixtures and lower initial a_w values resulted in a higher enzymatic activity and bioconversion yield. The most appropriate solvent medium and initial a_w value was the mixture of iso‐octane/2‐butanone (85:15, v/v) and 0.05, respectively. The results also showed that an agitation speed of 150 rpm and a reaction temperature of 55 °C were optimal for the reaction system. The activation energy (E_a) of the esterification reaction was calculated as 43.6 kJ mol^?1. The optimal ratio of CA to OA was 1.0:6.0, with the absence of any inhibition by OA. Using the optimized conditions, the maximum enzymatic activity was 390.3 nmol g^?1 min^?1, with a bioconversion yield of 100% after 12 days of reaction. In addition, the electrospray ionization‐mass spectroscopy analysis confirmed that the major end product of the esterification reaction was oleyl cinnamate. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Graftability of beaten pulps and acetylated pulps

Ce(IV)-induced polymerization of acrylonitrile with acetylated bagasse and wood pulps, having different acetyl contents, has been investigated. The graft yield is dependent on the acetyl content as well as the origin of the pulp. Increasing the acetyl content of pulps caused a significant decrease in the polymer loading. However, the rate of polymerization of acetylated wood pulp is much higher than that of acetylated bagasse pulp. The ceric consumption during grafting decreases as the acetyl content of the pulp increases. The effect of beating of the pulps, to various degrees of freeness, on their reactivity toward grafting process has also been studied. Generally, the state of cellulose, as defined by its degree of beating, and the origin of the pulp strongly influenced the graft yield. In creasing the beating degree of bagasse pulp resulted in a decrease in graft yield, while beating of wood pulp, to a definite degree, inhibits the polymerization reaction. The consumption of Ce(IV) by the beaten pulps during oxidation is somewhat greater than that consumed by the unbeaten pulps, whereas the consumption during grafting of acrylonitrile onto beaten pulps depends on the initial concentration of ceric solution. Also, the effect of grafting of acrylonitrile onto acetylated wood and bagasse pulps on their strength properties as well as the effect of grafting onto beaten pulps on their properties has been investigated. Grafting of acrylonitrile onto acetylated bagasse pulp decreased its strength properties, but improved its beatability comparatively to those of original pulp (0 acetyl content). On the other hand, grafting of acrylonitrile onto acetylated wood pulp resulted in a great improvement in its strength properties compared to those of grafted unacetylated pulp. Grafted unbeaten pulps gave thinner and weaker paper than the original pulp (without grafting). Beating of bagasse pulp before grafting gave pulp which possessed a higher strength properties, at low °SR, than those of pulp beaten after grafting. Raising the °SR by rebeating the pulp after reaction up to the original value had an adverse effect on the strength. Beating of bagasse pulp before grafting did not accelerate the reaction rate, but it saved some power consumption, since the time required for beating of grafted pulp to a given °SR was lower than that of ungrafted pulp.     

Adsorption of uranium from sulfate leach liquor using rice straw impregnated with chlorophenyl hydrazinyl pyrazoloquinazolinon

The impregnation of rice straw with 2-amino-3-(2-(4-chlorophenyl)hydrazinyl)-8,8-dimethyl-8,9-dihydropyrazolo[1,5-a]quinazolin-6(7H)-one (CPHPQ) has been used for the recovery of uranium from sulfate leach liquor. The uranium adsorption and elution of solvent impregnated mercerized rice straw (SIMRS) were carried out using a batch technique. The uranium adsorption controlling factors include pH, initial uranium concentration, contact time, S/L ratio, and temperature. Thermodynamic characteristics showed that the adsorption process is exothermic with enthalpy change ΔH = ?152.1 kJ/mol. The kinetics data fit well with a pseudo-second-order model. The equilibrium data fit well with the Langmuir isotherm. Uranium cake was obtained from the eluate solution using hydrogen peroxide as UO₄.2H₂O precipitate.     

Utility of Zinc (Lignin/Silica/Fatty Acids) Complex Driven From Rice Straw as Antioxidant and Activator in Rubber Composites

This article presents a method to precipitate zinc (lignin/silica/fatty acids) complex (Zn LSF complex) from the black liquor of pulped rice straw and studying the efficiency of it as green activator and antioxidant in natural rubber composites. The results obtained revealed that the investigated zinc complex has dual function as activator and antioxidant in natural rubber composites. This evaluation was supported by physico‐mechanical properties of the vulcanizates which showed a considerable improvement of rheometric characteristics, tensile strength, strain at break, hardness, Young's modulus, thermal oxidative aging, and thermal stability of NR composites. The composite loaded with 7 phr of Zn LSF complex as activator exhibited the best mechanical properties in comparison with the same concentrations of control activator zinc stearate. Also, results revealed that Zn LSF complex is efficient as antioxidant in NR vulcanizates compared conventional antioxidants, namely polymerized 2,2,4‐trimethyl‐1,2‐dihydroquinoline. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 59:E196–E205, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers     

A novel classification approach based on Extreme Learning Machine and Wavelet Neural Networks

Multimedia Tools and Applications - In this paper, we present a novel classification approach based on Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) and Wavelet Neural Networks. We introduce two novel...     

Thermal optimization of solar dish collector for indirect vapor generation

This work presented the performance analysis of a solar parabolic concentrator prototype. The purpose of this paper is to achieve most quantity of vapor production with different water flows. The principal component of the solar concentrator is a new absorber concept that absorbs reflected solar rays and transports it to a heat exchanger in order to generate vapor. Climatic conditions, inlet/outlet oil temperatures of the tubular solar heat exchanger, water tank temperature, and inlet/outlet water temperatures of the mixed heat exchanger were recorded experimentally during three days in November 2018. The absorbed energy, losses energy, concentrated energy, and vapor heat energy of the system were determined. Results of this work, the solar system provides thermal energy efficiency varied from 60% to 70% and a concentration factor around 350 for three water mass flow rates. In this experiment, the optimum value of vapor mass is 6 kg/h with 0.016 kg/s of water flow. Consequently, to achieve the most quantity of vapor, the water flow should be decreased.