Antioxidant properties of capsaicin analogues: a DFT study.

Capsaicin is the one of the primary components of fruits of gender Capsicum and is responsible of the pungent sensation known “spiciness”. In the recent years this compound has attracted special attention thanks to their beneficial biological effects, such as their antioxidant, antiobesity and antidiabetic activity, among others. In the present studio. In the present studio, thirteen capsaicin analogues with functional groups -SH, -NH2, -OCH3 and -F in the aromatic ring, have been proposed and studies trough DFT methodologies. The reactivity indexes and primary antioxidant activity were obtained. According to the obtained results, most of the analogues with the amine group (-NH2) shown better ability to donate and accept electrons, which translates into a better antioxidant activit

Double aluminum recovery and its reuse in wastewater treatment

This work evaluates the use of aluminum contained in the aluminum–polyethylene films as anodic electrodes using the electrocoagulation technique to reduce the pollutant contents of industrial wastewater quickly and effectively. Thermal treatment at 500 °C produces pure aluminum (according to TGA and SEM/EDS analysis) which is used to construct aluminum disks (applying 6 tons/cm2 of pressure). Aluminum disks are used as cathodes and anodes in an electrochemical cell. The current density applied in the recovered Al electrodes was 12 mA cm−2, and the maximum COD reduction of wastewater was 77 % at 25 min of treatment. The color and turbidity reductions are 87 and 90 %, respectively. The resulting sludge of wastewater treatment was thermally treated and a second aluminum recovery was reached; since the organic material present in the sludge was removed by the high temperature, the obtained aluminum was pure enough for its reuse. The use of aluminum–polyethylene films as electrodes in the electrocoagulation process contributes to the pollutant removal without the addition of chemical reagents or changing the pH, so it is both effective and environmentally friendly.UAEM-UNAM CONACY

1-(2-Chlorobenzyloxy)-3-[1,2,3]triazol-1-yl-propan-2-ol Derivatives: Synthesis, Characterization, and DFT-Based Descriptors Analysis

A novel series of 1-(2-chlorobenzyloxy)-3-[1,2,3]triazol-1-yl-propan-2-ol derivatives was designed and synthesized using copper catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition in the key step. Theoretical investigation of molecular and electronic properties by means of global and local reactivity indexes of the synthetized compounds was carried out, using DFT (Density Functional Theory) at PBEPBE/6-31++G∗∗ levelCONACY

Tolerance and hyperaccumulation of a mixture heavy metals (Cu, Pb , Hg and Zn) by four aquatic macrophytes

El propósito de este trabajo fue comparar la tolerancia a la exposición de una mezcla de los metales (Cu2+, Pb2+, Hg2+ y Zn2+) así como el nivel de hiperacumulación en Typha latifolia, Lemna minor, Eichhornia crassipes y Myriophyllum acuaticum, para proponer un sistema de bioacumulación selectiva que permita la biorremediación eficiente de cuerpos de agua contaminadosIn the present investigation, four macrophytes, namely Typha latifolia (L.), Lemna minor (L.), Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms-Laubach, and Myriophyllum aquaticum (Vell.) Verdc, were evaluated for their heavy metal (Cu, Pb, Hg, and Zn) hyperaccumulation potential under laboratory conditions. Tolerance analyses were performed for 7 days of exposure at five different treatments of the metals mixture (CuC2, HgC2, PbC2, and ZnC2). The production of chlorophyll and carotenoids was determined at the end of each treatment. L. minor revealed to be sensitive, because it did not survive in all the tested concentrations after 72 hours of exposure. E. crassipes and M. aquaticum displayed the highest tolerance to the metals mixture. For the most tolerant species of aquatic macrophytes, The removal kinetics of E. crassipes and M. aquaticum was carried out, using the following mixture of metals: Cu (0.5 mg/L) and Hg, Pb, and Zn 0.25 mg/L. The obtained results revealed that E. crassipes can remove 99.80% of Cu, 97.88% of Pb, 99.53% of Hg, and 94.37% of Zn. M. aquaticum withdraws 95.2% of Cu, 94.28% of Pb, 99.19% of Hg, and 91.91% of Zn. The obtained results suggest that these two species of macrophytes could be used for the phytoremediation of this mixture of heavy metals from the polluted water bodies

Recycled cellulose from Tetra Pak packaging as reinforcement of polyester based composites

Addressing the environmental problems caused by waste generated by Tetra Pak packaging, in this work, polyester based composites with 80% of polyester resin and 20% of silica sand were elaborated; where the silica sand was partially replaced by recycled cellulose from waste Tetra Pak containers at concentrations of 1, 2, 4 and 6% by weight. Both recycled cellulose and composite specimens were subjected to ionizing radiation process by using gamma rays. The results show improvements on the mechanical properties (compressive and flexural strength as well as modulus of elasticity) of the composites when they are irradiated at 100 and 200 kGy. Such improvements can be related with the structural modifications caused by gamma irradiation on the cellulose fibers, including changes in the morphology and the crystallinity; which were analyzed through to SEM, IR and XRD techniques

Gamma radiation as a recycling tool for waste materials used in concrete

Over the course of the last 50 years, a large number of major technological advances have contributed to the development of higher-strength, high-performance materials that provide excellent benefits. Nevertheless, in most cases, after a very short useful life, these products become waste material and contribute to environmental degra‐ dation. This situation has created an environmental crisis that has reached global proportions. In efforts to combat this issue and to promote sustainable development and reduce environmental pollution, some investigations have focused on recycling using innovative and clean technologies, such as gamma radiation, as an alternative to conventional mechanical and chemical recycling procedures. In this context, the reuse and recycling of waste materials and the use of gamma radiation are useful tools for improving the mechanical properties of concrete; for example, the compressive strength and modulus of elasticity are improved by the addition of waste particles and application of gamma radiation. In this chapter, we propose the use of gamma radiation as a method for modifying waste materials; for instance, polyethylene terephthalate plastic bottles, automotive tire rubber, and the cellulose in Tetra Pak containers, and their reuse to enhance the properties of concrete

Removal of Hepatitis B virus surface HBsAg and core HBcAg antigens using microbial fuel cells producing electricity from human urine

© 2019, The Author(s). Microbial electrochemical technology is emerging as an alternative way of treating waste and converting this directly to electricity. Intensive research on these systems is ongoing but it currently lacks the evaluation of possible environmental transmission of enteric viruses originating from the waste stream. In this study, for the first time we investigated this aspect by assessing the removal efficiency of hepatitis B core and surface antigens in cascades of continuous flow microbial fuel cells. The log-reduction (LR) of surface antigen (HBsAg) reached a maximum value of 1.86 ± 0.20 (98.6% reduction), which was similar to the open circuit control and degraded regardless of the recorded current. Core antigen (HBcAg) was much more resistant to treatment and the maximal LR was equal to 0.229 ± 0.028 (41.0% reduction). The highest LR rate observed for HBsAg was 4.66 ± 0.19 h−1 and for HBcAg 0.10 ± 0.01 h−1. Regression analysis revealed correlation between hydraulic retention time, power and redox potential on inactivation efficiency, also indicating electroactive behaviour of biofilm in open circuit control through the snorkel-effect. The results indicate that microbial electrochemical technologies may be successfully applied to reduce the risk of environmental transmission of hepatitis B virus but also open up the possibility of testing other viruses for wider implementation