Advanced process analytical tools for identification of adulterants in edible oils - A review.

This review summarizes the use of spectroscopic processes-based analytical tools coupled with chemometric techniques for the identification of adulterants in edible oil. Investigational approaches of process analytical tools such asspectroscopy techniques, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), hyperspectral imaging (HSI), e-tongue and e-nose combined with chemometrics were used to monitor quality of edible oils. Owing to the variety and intricacy of edible oil properties along with the alterations in attributes of the PAT tools, the reliability of the tool used and the operating factors are the crucial components which require attention to enhance the efficiency in identification of adulterants. The combination of process analytical tools with chemometrics offers a robust technique with immense chemotaxonomic potential. These involves identification of adulterants, quality control, geographical origin evaluation, process evaluation, and product categorization.

A novel route for the synthesis of piperazine from N-(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)ethylenediamine over composite photocatalysts.

Semiconductor loaded zeolite composite catalysts (5 wt% TiO2/Hbeta) have been used to photocatalytically synthesize piperazine from N-(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)ethylenediamine with yields up to 59.0 mol%.

Photocatalytic transformation of dyes and by-products in the presence of hydrogen peroxide.

The efficiency of the photocatalytic degradation of dyes and dyeing industry pollutants on immobilized photocatalysts can be improved by addition of hydrogen peroxide, due to its photocatalytic decomposition on TiO2. Experiments were carried out with two azodyes, Acid Orange-7 (AO-7) and Tartrazine (Tart), with 3-nitrobenzenesulfonic add (3-NBSA) which is a chemical intermediate in the dye industry and with real industrial wastewaters, using a thin-film fixed bed reactor. The effect of hydrogen peroxide is only significant for concentrations higher than 5 x 10(-3) M (170 mg l(-1)).

Differential effects of early undernutrition in white and grey matter regions of rat brain.

The effect of early postnatal undernutrition and subsequent rehabilitation on wet weight, DNA, RNA, protein, and the activities of acid and alkaline DNases in white and grey matter region of rat brain was studied. In respect to the various parameters studied, white matter was found to be markedly vulnerable to undernutrition, but the grey matter region was unaffected. It has also been observed that the earlier the initiation of nutritional rehabilitation (10th postnatal day) the better was the recovery of the white matter to a normal condition, and in some cases early nutritional rehabilitation resulted in better than normal biochemical composition of the region. The specific activity of acid DNase was unaffected by weaning undernutrition in both white and grey matter. The total activity of this enzyme, which was significantly reduced in white matter of undernourished animals, exhibited a remarkable recovery following rehabilitation, to more than normal levels at 150 days of age. Total activity of alkaline DNase was reduced only in 15-day-old white matter of deprived animals, and here also rehabilitation brought back this enzyme to significantly more than normal levels. It is concluded that the two DNases, whatever their actual physiological role might be, are synthesized in a preferential manner during the rehabilitation.

Increased DNA polymerase beta-activity in different regions of aging rat brain.

The DNA polymerase activity in white matter, grey matter, and cerebellar regions of developing and aging rat brains was studied. The enzyme exhibited its highest activity during the early developmental stages with a decline to a low adult value by 225 days of age. However, the activity once again increased between 225 and 540 days, thus showing a second peak in the latter part of the life span. Studies with specific inhibitors like Aphidicolin and 2',3' dideoxy thymidine-5' triphosphate on the enzyme activity have revealed that this rise in the DNA polymerase activity in various regions studied was mainly due to an increase in the polymerase beta type. These results may explain the enhanced DNA content in aging rat brain observed earlier in this laboratory.