OXIDATION OF BENZALDEHYDE BY QUINOXALINIUM DICHROMATE

The kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of benzaldehyde by quinoxalinium dichromate has been studied in the presence of perchloric acid in 70 % acetic acid - water medium. The reaction follows first order with respect to benzaldehyde, quinoxalinium dichromate and fractional order with respect to perchloric acid. There is no effect on the reaction rate with increase in ionic strength of the medium by adding sodium perchlorate. The rate of reaction increases with increase in the percentage of acetic acid. The reaction does not induce the polymerization with acrylonitrile. The rate of reaction decreases with increase in the concentration of manganoussulphate. The thermodynamic and activation parameters have been calculated and a probable mechanism has been proposed

Magmatic origin and petrogenesis characterization of syenite rock from Pakkanadu alkaline complex, Southern Granulite Terrain, India: Implication on emplacement and petrogenetic history

The present study mainly focused on understanding the magmatic origin and petrogenesis characterization based on the Petrography, major, trace and Rare Earth Element (REE) signatures in the alkaline syenite from Pakkanadu alkaline carbonatite complex. The alkaline plutons from South Indian granulite terrain are intruded along with Archaean epidote-hornblende gneisses. The study area was carbonatite complexes of Tamil Nadu and is characterized by a group of rock associations Carbonatite-Syenite-Pyroxenite - Dunite. From Harker various patterns Pakkanadu alkaline complex syenite showed increasing trends of SiO2, Al2O3, Na2O + K2O opposite to decreasing order of CaO, Fe2O3, MgO, TiO2, P2O5 and MnO trend, suggest fractionation of clinopyroxene, hornblende, sphene, apatite and oxide minerals and feldspar that ruled the fractionation. The concentration of trace elements enriched in Large Ion lithophile elements  (LILE) (Ba, Sr, and Rb) elements and High Field Strength Elements (HFSEs) indicated that the dyke intrusion by differentiation of magma from a mantle source. Rare earth element (REE) distribution of Light rare earth element (LREE) enriched and High rare earth element (HREE) depleted pattern show strongly fractionated pattern with moderate Eu anomalies. Plots of tectonic discrimination diagrams of Pakkanadu samples fall in the field of syn-COLG field to the VAG syn- COLG field.     For the first time, this type of study was carried out in the study region in a detailed manner. The present study significantly exposed the petrography, petrogenesis and magmatic origin process in the Pakkanadu alkaline carbonatite complex.

Geochemistry and Petrography of Pyroxenites from Mettupalaiyam Ultramafic Complex, Tamil Nadu

The Mettupalaiyam ultramafic complex (MUC) in Tamil Nadu is a major lithological association consisting mostly of Pyroxenites, Peridotite, Gabbro, Anorthosite gabbro in a predominantly gneissic grantite-granite terrain. Pyroxenite occurs as thin lenses and bands, at times attaining moderate thickness. Major, Trace and rear earth element geochemistry and petrography of  pyroxenites collected from well exposed outcrops near Thenkalmalai areas of this complex are presented in this paper and their Petrogenetic significance is discussed.The geochemical signatures of the pyroxenites show a significant variation in major and trace element concentration. The pyroxenites show SiO2 composition ranging from 49.6-55.5%, Al2O3 from 6-13.6%, MgO from 3.6-14.3%, CaO from 8.4-15.5% and TiO2 from 0.24-1.7%. Bulk composition/whole rock analyses indicate that the magma type is tholeiitic but trending towards a calc-alkaline. The pyroxenites are poor in incompatible and high field strength (HFS) elements like Rb, Sr, Hf, and Ta. Total rare earth element (∑REE) content varies in a limited range and exhibits limited REE fractionation in both LREE and HREE. The pyroxenite sample shows Negative Eu-anomalies with slight enrichment of HREE. Primitive mantle normalized multi-element spider grams suggest that the melt parental to these pyroxenites was derived from a mantle source enriched in several trace trace elements

Gaschromatography Mass Spectrometry GC MS Determination of Bioactive Components from Aervalanata. (L.) Whole Plant

Aervalanata L. belongs to the family of Amaranthaceae, found in the tropical regions. Traditionally, this plant is known for antimicrobial, anthelminthic, antiparasitic, antidiabetic, diuretic, nephroprotective, cytotoxic, and antihyperlipidemic activities. As yet no further characteristic study has been conducted from ethanolic extract of this species, therefore in this present study we seek to identify and evaluate the bioactive compounds from the ethanolic extracts of Aervalanata L whole plant by using the GCMS. Result of this research work reports twenty-eight compounds. The identified chemical compounds were correlated with the NIST Mass Spectrum Library.In conclusion, we seek to provide additional information on the clinical significance and pharmacological information associated with this plant

Kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of some cis-Alpha- Phenylcinnamic acids by Pyridinium Chlorochromate

Oxidation of cis α-phenyl cinnamic acids by pyridinium chlorochromate (PCC) was studied in acetic acid–water mixturecontaining perchloric acid. The reaction rate is first order in [PCC] and fractional order in [H+] and has aldehyde as aproduct. The rate of reaction increases with increase in the percentage of acetic acid medium. The reactions exhibit kineticisotope effect. The activation parameters have been evaluated. The added Mn (II) decreases the rate of reaction. Theadded sodium chlorate has no effect on the reaction rate and indicates the absence of ion-ion (or) ion- dipole interaction inthe slow step. The deviation of Hammett plot is noted and a “V†shaped curve is obtained

Field characteristics and geochemistry of pyroxenite and gabbro from Odhimalai and Thenkalmalai hillocks of Bhavani ultramafic complex- South India

The present study includes documentation of detailed geological field characteristics, petrography and geochemistry of mafic and ultramafic rocks associated with Odhimalai and Thenkalmalai hills of Bhavani complex. The lithologies well exposed in these two hillocks including Dunite, Pyroxenite, Gabbro, displaying layered arrangement comprising (from basement upwards) dunite, peridotite, pyroxenite and anorthosite-gabbro.The geochemical signatures of the gabbro and pyroxenites show a significant variation in major and trace element concentration. The pyroxenites show SiO2 composition ranging from 49.6-55.5%, Al2O3 from 6-13.6%, MgO from 3.6-14.3%, CaO from 8.4-15.5% and TiO2 from 0.24-1.7% while average composition of SiO2, Al2O3, MgO, CaO and TiO2 in gabbro varies (in %) from 49.9-58, 9.4-13, 7.4-13.1, 9-13.4 and 0.26-0.54 respectively.ÂÂ

Outlooks of Nanotechnology in Organic Farming Management

Technological advances are getting monitored with time, and science suggests nanotechnology as the emerging future. This even holds correct with human food consumption for health benefits, where organic farming is a better solution for the rising population and is even supported by major countries instead of using chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Nanotechnology provides a platform where nanoparticles help in better management for organic farming by using it as nano fertilisers, nanocides, nano biosensors, nano growth promoters, etc. These nanomaterials can be synthesised by three different mechanisms namely; chemical, physical, and biological methods. Since the chemical and physical mode of synthesis does not follow the criteria of organic farming and have their drawbacks. Hence, the biological method, also known as the green synthesis of nanomaterials fulfills the requirement of organic farming and has achieved the attention of researchers. Extracts of plant parts (stems, roots, leaves, flowers and, fruits) and different microbes, including bacteria, fungus, and mycorrhiza can be used as a base material for the synthesis of nanoparticles under green synthesis mode. The vision behind the green synthesis of nanoparticles was to curb the hazardous effects of chemically synthesised nanoparticles. In the present review, green synthesis of major elements of organic farming namely; nano fertilisers, nano-pesticides, and nano growth promoters, their modes of transportation, their advantages, and disadvantages in organic farming are discussed

Bioactive potential of selected actinobacterial strains against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other clinical pathogens

1307-1311Marine actinobacteria produces diverse array of metabolites with novel chemical structures with potential bioactivities. Exploring the understudied ecosystems may increase the chance of getting novel actinobacteria and new metabolites.The present study explores the bioactive potential of actinobacteria isolated from the marine ecosystem of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Bay of Bengal, against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other clinical pathogens. The crude extracts from 15 marine actinobacterial strains were produced through agar surface fermentation using YEME agar and extracted using ethyl acetate. The crude extracts were tested against the standard strain M. tuberculosis H37Rv, clinical drug sensitive M. tuberculosis, and MDR M. tuberculosis strains by luciferase reporter phage (LRP) assay at 500 µg/ml concentration. The anti-microbial activity against other clinical pathogens, namely, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella paratyphi, Klebsiellapneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, and Cryptococcusneoformans and non-tubercular mycobacteria, M. smegmatis was studied by agar plug method. Among the 15 extracts that were tested for anti-tubercular activity, the crude ethyl acetate extract of the 14 actinobacterial strains showed anti-tubercular activity against at least one of the three M. tuberculosis strains. Exceptionally, the ethyl acetate extract of strain SACC 168 inhibited all three M. tuberculosis strains tested. In anti-microbial screening, the crude extracts of eight strains showed anti-microbial activity including six strains, which were active against the non-tuberculous mycobacteria. Further purification and characterization of the active molecule from the potential extracts will pave way for the potential natural product candidate for tuberculosis and other microbial infections