Facile fabrication of chitosan Schiff bases from giant tiger prawn shells (Penaeus monodon) via solvent-free mechanochemical grafting.

Fabrication of chitosan Schiff bases (ChSB) from giant tiger prawn shells (Penaeus monodon) using an environmentally friendly method has been conducted successfully. Transformation of Prawn Shells (PS) as raw material into chitin then chitosan was executed under ambient temperature. Later, three Ch Schiff bases (ChSB-A, ChSB-S, and ChSB-V) were successfully synthesized for the first time via solvent-free mechanochemical grafting with 2-hydroxy benzaldehyde, 4-methoxy benzaldehyde, and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy benzaldehyde, respectively. Synthesis was carried out with Shaker Mill-Ultimate Gravity equipped with a Teflon jar with zirconia balls; then the product was characterized. FTIR analysis proved the conversion of free amine to imine groups. The degree of substitution (DS) and crystallinity index (CrI) were determined by elemental analysis and X-ray diffraction. The DS values obtained were about 0.343, 0.795, and 0.055 for ChSB-A, ChSB-S, and ChSB-V, respectively. The CrI of ChSB-A, ChSB-S, and ChSB-V was 53.3, 51.7, and 46.9 %, respectively. The thermal gravimetric analysis showed that the mechanochemical grafting of Ch improves the thermal stability of ChSB. This developed method provides a novel potential technique to convert PS into ChSB products by solvent-free mechanochemical grafting.

The Effect of the Activation Process and Metal Oxide Addition (CaO, MgO, SrO) on the Catalytic and Physicochemical Properties of Natural Zeolite in Transesterification Reaction.

This work provides valuable information about unexplored catalytic systems tested in the transesterification reaction of vegetable oil with methanol. It was demonstrated that natural zeolite treatment leads to enhanced catalytic activity and yield of biodiesel production. The activation of the catalytic material in a mixture of 5% H2-95% Ar resulted in an improvement of the values of the TG conversion and fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) yield. In addition, it was proven that the incorporation of CaO, MgO and SrO oxides onto the natural zeolite surface improves the TG conversion and FAME yield values in the transesterification reaction.

Ultra-small gold nanoclusters assembled on plasma polymer-modified zeolites: a multifunctional nanohybrid with anti-haemorrhagic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Hemostatic agents are pivotal for managing clinical and traumatic bleeding during emergency and domestic circumstances. Herein, a novel functional hybrid nanocomposite material consisting of plasma polymer-modified zeolite 13X and ultra-small gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) was fabricated as an efficient hemostatic agent. The surface of zeolite 13X was functionalised with amine groups which served as binding sites for carboxylate terminated AuNCs. Protein corona studies revealed the enhanced adsorption of two proteins, namely, coagulation factors and plasminogen as a result of AuNCs immobilization on the zeolite surface. The immune response studies showed that the hybrid nanocomposites are effective in reducing inflammation, which combined with a greater attachment of vitronectin, may promote wound healing. The hemostatic potential of the nanocomposite could be directly correlated with their immunomodulatory and anti-haemorrhagic properties. Together, the hybrid nanoengineered material developed in this work could provide a new avenue to tackle life-threatening injuries in civilian and other emergencies.

Biodiesel Production on Monometallic Pt, Pd, Ru, and Ag Catalysts Supported on Natural Zeolite.

Biodiesel production from rapeseed oil and methanol via transesterification reaction facilitated by various monometallic catalyst supported on natural zeolite (NZ) was investigated. The physicochemical characteristics of the synthesized catalysts were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method (BET), temperature-programmed-reduction in hydrogen (H2-TPR), temperature-programmed-desorption of ammonia (NH3-TPD), Scanning Electron Microscope equipped with EDX detector (SEM-EDS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) methods. The highest activity and methyl ester yields were obtained for the Pt/NZ catalyst. This catalyst showed the highest triglycerides conversion of 98.9% and fatty acids methyl esters yields of 94.6%. The activity results also confirmed the high activity of the carrier material (NZ) itself in the investigated reaction. Support material exhibited 90.5% of TG conversion and the Fatty Acid Methyl Esters yield (FAME) of 67.2%. Introduction of noble metals improves the TG conversion and FAME yield values. Increasing of the metal loading from 0.5 to 2 wt.% improves the reactivity properties of the investigated catalysts.