Studies on sorption kinetics and sorption isotherm for pervaporative separation of benzene from model pyrolysis gasoline using insitu nano silver/polyvinyl alcohol membrane.

Pyrolysis gasoline (Py gas) is used as an octane enhancer of gasoline as it is rich in aromatics. However, removal of carcinogenic benzene from Py gas before blending with gasoline is important to meet the fuel specifications. The main focus of this present study is to determine the sorption kinetics and sorption isotherm of a fabricated insitu nano silver/polyvinyl alcohol (insitu nano Ag/PVA) membrane for pervaporative separation of benzene from model Py gas [mixture of benzene (aromatic) and 1-octene (aliphatic)]. The thickness, surface morphological structure (Atomic Force Microscopy) and degree of swelling of the fabricated membrane were determined. The highest pervaporation separation index achieved for the selected system was 14.259 kg/m2/h at 303 K, with 30 volume% benzene in model Py gas using a downstream pressure of 1 mm of Hg. The sorption kinetics of benzene in insitu nano Ag/PVA membrane obeyed the Elovich model while the Temkin isotherm model fitted the experimental data of the chosen system most accurately.

Design, synthesis and reactivity of C2-symmetric azobenzene-based amino acid-bis(propargyl sulfones).

C(2)-symmetric azobenzene-amino acid linked bis(propargyl sulfones) 1 and 2 containing stable E azo moiety have been synthesized. Upon irradiation with long wavelength UV these compounds isomerized to the Z-form, whose thermal reisomerization to the E-isomer slowed down considerably Under basic pH, the compounds showed DNA cleavage in µmolar concentrations with the Z-isomers showing better cleaving efficiency. The difference in cleaving efficiency between the Z and the E-isomer is more than the corresponding pair of sulfones without amino acid linker.

C(2)-Symmetric azobenzene-amino acid conjugates and their inhibition of Subtilisin Kexin Isozyme-1.

C(2)-Symmetric azobenzene-amino acid/peptide hybrids containing stable E-azo moiety have been synthesized. Upon irradiation with long wavelength UV, these compounds isomerized to the Z-form, whose thermal reisomerization to the E isomer slowed down considerably. These compounds exhibited in vitro moderate to strong inhibition of mammalian cellular protease Subtilisin Kexin Isozyme-1, also called Site 1 Protease, which plays vital roles in cholesterol synthesis, lipid metabolism, bone formation, and viral infections.

Design, synthesis and DNA-cleaving efficiency of photoswitchable dimeric azobenzene-based C2-symmetric enediynes.

Designed azobenzene-based enediyne-amino acid C(2)-symmetric hybrids have been synthesized and the role of amino acid linker in stabilizing the Z form has been demonstrated; DNA-binding and cleavage studies have established higher reactivity of the Z-isomers.

A kinetic study on the Novozyme 435-catalyzed esterification of free fatty acids with octanol to produce octyl esters.

Octyl esters can serve as an important class of biolubricant components replacing their mineral oil counterparts. The purpose of the current work was to investigate the enzymatic esterification reaction of free fatty acids (FFA, from waste cooking oil) with octanol in a solvent-free system using a commercial lipase Novozyme 435. It was found that the esterificaton reaction followed the Ping-pong bi-bi kinetics with no inhibition by substrates or products within the studied concentration range. The maximum reaction rate was estimated to be 0.041 mol L(-1) g(-1) h(-1) . Additionally, the stability of Novozyme 435 in the current reaction system was studied by determining its activity and final conversion of FFA to esters after 12 successive utilizations. Novozyme 435 exhibited almost 100% enzyme activity up to 7 cycles of reaction and gradually decreased (by 5%) thereafter. The kinetic parameters evaluated from the study shall assist in the design of reactors for large-scale production of octyl esters from a cheap biomass source. The enzyme reusability data can further facilitate mass production by curtailing the cost of expensive enzyme consumption.

Synthesis and reactivity of azobenzene-based bispropargyl sulfones: interesting comparison between cyclic and acyclic systems.

Azobenzene-based bispropargyl bissulfone 3 containing stable E-azo moiety has been synthesized. Upon irradiation with long wavelength UV it isomerized to the Z-form 4, which can be thermally reisomerized to the E-isomer. Reactivity towards isomerization to the allenic system as well as DNA-cleaving efficiency under basic conditions was found to be significantly lower as compared to the previously synthesized cyclic sulfones 1 and 2. This lowering of reactivity can be explained in terms of low conversion to the allenic form and hence the lower extent of alkylation of DNA-bases, the only possible DNA-cleavage pathway for 3 and 4.