Modified smectitic Tunisian clays used in the formulation of high performance lubricating greases

Two smectitic Tunisian clays were organically modified by exchange reaction with dioctadecyl dimethylammonium chloride (DODMA) and hexadecyl benzyl dimethylammonium chloride (HBDMA). The resulting organoclays were used in the formulation of lubricating greases. The results of the performance tests applied to the obtained greases showed that their physicochemical and mechanical characteristics are in conformity with the extreme-pressure (EP) greases specifications. The obtained greases present good EP properties with only 0.5% EP additives. The smectitic clays used could constitute a raw material in the formulation of high performance lubricating greases.     

Composition and insecticidal activity of essential oil from Pistacia lentiscus L. against Ectomyelois ceratoniae Zeller and Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

This study reports investigations on the chemical constituents and fumigant toxicity of Pistacia lentiscus L. (Anacardiaceae) essential oil against two major stored-date insects, carob moth Ectomyelois ceratoniae Zeller and Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella Zeller. Results showed that P. lentiscus essential oil contained terpinene-4-ol (23.32%), α-terpineol (7.12%) and β-caryophyllene (22.62%) as major compounds. Fumigant toxicity tests showed that P. lentiscus oil was more toxic to E. kuehniella (LC₅₀ = 1.84 μl/l, LC₉₅ = 5.14 μl/l) than E. ceratoniae (LC₅₀ = 3.29 μl/l, LC₉₅ = 14.24 μl/l). The fecundity and hatching rate of both insects decreased with increases in concentration or exposure time to the oil. At 136 μl/l air, fecundities and hatching rates were respectively 35 eggs/female and 42.86% for E. ceratoniae and 78 eggs/female and 29.49% for E. kuehniella.     

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities of Essential Oils and Various Extracts of Juniperus phoenicea L. (Cupressacees)

ABSTRACT:  GC-FID and GC-MS analysis of essential oils of  Juniperus phoenicea  resulted in the identification of 30 compounds, representing more than 98% of the total composition. α-pinene (55.7% and 80.7%), δ-3-carene (10.7% and 4.5%), and γ-cadinene (2.9% and 5.1%) were the main components, respectively, in leaves and berries essential oil. Extracts of  J. phoenicea  were obtained by different extraction solvents: methanol, ethanol, ethyl acetate, and dichloromethane and evaluated composition for polyphenols (gallic acid equivalent 52 to 217 g/kg), tannins (catechin equivalent 6.5 to 60.2 g/kg), antocyanins (cyanidin equivalent 84 to 373 mg/kg), and flavonoids (quercetin equivalent 6.4 to 29.3 g/kg). The samples (essential oils and extracts) were subjected to a screening for their antioxidant activity by using DPPH and ABTS assays; antimicrobial activity was tested with 6 bacteria (3 Gram-positive and 3 Gram-negative), 1 yeast, and 2 fungi. The strongest antioxidant activity was obtained by the methanolic extract ( IC ₅₀= 6.5 ± 0.3 mg/L). Flavonoids are likely to contribute to the antifungal activity against  Saccharomyces cerevisiae.  Correlations were studied between chemical composition and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities.     

Effect of salts on the solubility of phenolic compounds: experimental measurements and modelling

Phenolic compounds can be found in industrial or agricultural waste, such as waste water from olive mills. Because of the environmental problem caused by this residue from olive oil production, the aim of this work was to model the effect of salts on the solubility of four phenolic compounds. For this purpose, the solubilities of gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid and vanillin have been measured in various chloride solutions at constant temperature. The Clegg–Simonson–Pitzer activity coefficient, together with the dissociation constant obtained from the literature, has been used to represent the equilibrium solid‐liquid data. Good agreement (3.4%) between the experimental and calculated values for solubility was obtained. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Influence of the process, season, and origin on volatile composition and antioxidant activity of Juniperus phoenicea L. leaves essential oils

Essential oils of Juniperus phoenicea L. leaves cultivated in 3 regions, Korbos, Matmata, and Tabarka of Tunisia were obtained by hydrodistillation (HD), steam distillation (SD), and Soxhlet (SH) extraction methods. The essential oils were analyzed and quantified by capillary gas chromatography using flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The highest yield was observed in HD process (1.12%). Tabarka essential oil provided the best yield 0.79% compared to other regions. December month SD essential oil was the highest in oxygenated monoterpenes (52.7%). Nevertheless, SH essential oil showed a higher content in sesquitepenes hydrocarbons (64.5%). α-Terpinol (25.5%) was the main oxygenated component in Matmata juniper essential oil, extracted by SD. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of essential oils was evaluated using ABTS assays. The strongest antioxidant activity (IC(50) = 22.6 ± 0.7 mg/L) was obtained by the Matmata (October 2007) SD essential oil.     

Optimization of the liquid–liquid interfacial precipitation method for the synthesis of $$\hbox {C}_{60}$$ nanotubes

Tubular fullerene nanowhiskers called ‘fullerene nanotubes’ are composed of \(\hbox {C}_{60}\) fullerene molecules (\(\hbox {C}_{60}\) NTs) are synthesized at room temperature using the liquid–liquid interfacial precipitation method in the pyridine and isopropyl alcohol (IPA) system. The growth control of fullerene nanotubes is important for their chemical and physical properties as well as for their future applications. In the present study, we investigated the effect of light, water, solvent ratio and temperature on the synthesis of \(\hbox {C}_{60}\) nanotubes. A marked development in the yield of \(\hbox {C}_{60}\) NTs was achieved using dehydrated solvents, a solution with a volume ratio of 1:9 for pyridine: IPA, a growth temperature equal to \(5{^{\circ }}\hbox {C}\) and by illuminating the \(\hbox {C}_{60}\)-pyridine solution with ultraviolet light (wavelength 302 nm) for 102 h. The synthesized fullerene nanotubes were characterized by different analytical techniques including Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, optical microscopy, focussed ion beam scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.     

The influence of organ,season and drying method on chemical composition and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Juniperus phoenicea L. essential oils

BACKGROUND: Juniperus phoenicea is an important medicinal plant. In the present study, essential oils (18 samples) from leaves and berries of Juniperus phoenicea L. (Cupressaceae), obtained by various drying methods and in different collection months, were analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and also evaluated for in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Correlations were studied between antimicrobial activity and the chemical composition of essential oils. RESULTS: Sixty‐seven compounds were identified in essential oils, representing 97.7–100%. Essential oils were dominated by monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, which presented 35.0–93.3% and 6.7–62.0%, respectively, depending of organ, season and drying method. Antimicrobial tests showed that essential oils strongly inhibited the growth of Gram‐positive microorganisms and Mucor ramamnianus, but was inactive against Gram‐negative strains. Antioxidant activity was tested using the ABTS radical‐scavenging assay. Most samples showed good activity (the best IC₅₀ = 41.7 ± 1.5 mg L^?1). CONCLUSIONS: It could be concluded that drying of leaves of J. phoenicea in the sun and berries in oven‐drying was more suitable and was recommended for obtaining higher essential oil yield, but for a higher percentage of some special components such as α‐pinene and δ‐3‐carene shade‐drying was more suitable. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Utilization of olive-residue oil in the formulation of lubricating calcium greases

Calcium greases were manufactured from olive-residue oil in a closed reactor by substituting olive-residue oil for animal tallow. The results of the performance tests applied to the obtained greases showed that their physicochemical and mechanical characteristics are comparable to those of calcium grease manufactured industrially by using animal tallow. The substitution of part of the animal tallow with olive-residue oil increased the thermal and mechanical stability of the grease. Olive-residue oil could constitute, alone or in combination with animal tallow, a raw material in the formulation of lubricating calcium grease.     

Season's Variation Impact on Citrus aurantium Leaves Essential Oil: Chemical Composition and Biological Activities

Citrus aurantium leaves' essential oils (EOs) were evaluated for chemical composition and antioxidant and antibacterial activities. The vegetable material, taken 5 times during the year, has undergone the hydrodistillation to prepare EO. Chemical characterization by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and GC/flame ionization detection allowed the identification of 46 compounds, and a notable quantitative and qualitative differences between the different Petitgrain samples according to the harvest time. Linalool (43.2% to 65.97%), linalyl acetate (0.77% to 24.77%), and α-terpineol (9.29% to 12.12%) were the main components. The most important number of components was registered for summer EOs (July and September). The 5 EOs submitted biological activities screening, namely, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Weak antioxidant activities (IC(50) values >10000 mg/L) were registered by both 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate assays, mostly because the weak amount of phenols in EOs. Antibacterial activities (12 microorganisms) were registered against Gram-positive bacteria [Bacillus subtilis (MIC = 2.7 mg/mL), Staphylococcus aureus (4.8 mg/mL)], and moderated ones against yeasts [Saccharomyces cerevisiae (9.2 mg/mL)] and fungi [Mucor ramannianus (5 mg/mL)]. Positive correlations between the identified compounds and the antimicrobial activities were noted. Many compounds were correlated to antimicrobial activity mainly caryophyllene oxide against Escherichia coli (R(2) = 0.99), S. cerevisiae (R(2) = 0.99), and Fusarium culmorum (R(2) = 0.99).