Chemical Modification of Cassava Starch by Transesterification Using Vegetable Oil/Aluminum Chloride

Chemical modification of cassava starch by transesterification of a vegetable oil(palm kernel oil)using aluminum chloride as a Lewis acid catalyst was achieved under relatively mild conditions(temperature 60–110°C;atmospheric pressure).The reaction was carried out without any additional solvent.The modified starch was characterized by degree of substitution(DS),FTIR,X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis.DS of 0.09 to 0.53 were obtained.The cassava starch presented an X-ray diffraction pattern of a type A starch.X-ray analyses showed that the reaction did not significantly affect the crystallinity of starch.The modified starch films(MStF)adsorbed less water than the reference native starch film(NStF)at all the relative humidities investigated.The MStF were also less soluble in water.The tensile tests showed an increase of the strength and a decrease of the flexibility of MStF compared to the reference NStF.The results showed that this chemical route could be used to increase the water resistance of starch-based materials.

Aluminum neurotoxicity effects on intracellular Ca^(2+) homeostasis in the rat cerebral cortex

Studies have suggested that aluminum, a neurotoxic metal, is involved in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Previous studies have confirmed that aluminum influences intracellular Ca^2＋ homeostasis. However, it remains unclear whether aluminum increases or decreases intracellular Ca^2＋ concentrations. The present study demonstrated that Al^3＋ competitively binds to calmodulin （CAM）, together with Ca^2＋, which resulted in loss of capacity of CaM to bind to Ca^2＋, leading to increased [Ca^2＋]i. Al^3＋ stimulated voltage-gated calcium channels on cell membranes, which allowed a small quantity of Ca^2＋ into the cells. Al^3＋ also promoted calcium release from organelles by stimulating L-Ca^2＋αlc to trigger calcium-induced calcium release. Although Al^3＋ upregulated expression of Na＋/Ca^2＋exchanger mRNA, increased levels of Ca^2＋ and Na＋/Ca^2＋ exchanger did not maintain a normal Ca^2＋ balance. Al^3＋ resulted in disordered intracellular calcium homeostasis by affecting calcium channels, calcium buffering, and calcium expulsion.

Protective Effect of Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract on Learning and Memory Deficit Induced by Aluminum in Model Rats

Objective： To examine the protective effect of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract （GbE） on learning and memory deficit induced by aluminum chloride （AlCl3）, and explore its mechanisms. Methods： The rat models with learning and memory deficit were induced by administering via gastrogavage and drinking of AlCl3 solution. And the model rats were treated with GbE at the dose of 50, 100, 200 mg/kg every day for 2 months accompanied with drinking of AlCl3 solution, respectively. Their abilities of spatial learning and memory were tested by Morris water maze, and the acetylcholinesterase （ACHE） activity in serum was assayed with chemical method, the AChE expression in hippocampus was observed by immunohistochemistry assay, and then quantitative analysis was done by BI 2000 image analysis system. Results： Learning and memory deficit of rats could be induced by AlCl3 solution （P〈0.01）, and AChE expressions in rats hippocampus were increased （P〈0.01）; GbE ameliorated learning and memory deficit and reduced AChE expression in rats hippocampus in a dose-dependent manner, while GbE significantly increased serum AChE activity at the dose of 200 mg/kg each day （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： GbE can ameliorate learning and memory deficit induced by AlCl3, which may be due to its inhibition of the AChE expression in hippocampus.

Physical and Electrochemical Properties of Acid 1-Methyl-3-Ethylimidazolium Chloride/AlCl_3/LiAlCl_4 Molten Salt

An acid molten salt was formed by means of mixing 1 -methyl- 3 -ethylimidazolium chloride with AlCl3 and LiAlCl4 at ambient temperature. The solubility of LiAlCl4 in the acid molten salt was measured. Variations of specific conductivity, density and kinetic viscosity of molten salt with mole ratio o f MeEtlmCl/A1lCl3/LiAlCl4 were observed. A solubility maximum of LiAlCl4 with 5 4% in molar fraction was shown at a mole ratio of AlCl43/MeEtlmCl = 1 .2. An increase in density and viscosity, and a decrease in specific conductivity were found with increasing the concentrations of LiAlCl4 and AlCl3. The dependence of specific conductivity of this acid molten salt upon temperature was found to display Vogel-Tammanm-Fucher behavior. However, Arrhenius behavior was observed at two special mole ratios of MeEtImCl/AlCl3/LiAlCl4 = 1:1.5:0.05 and 1. 1.5:0. 10. The conductivity equations of this molten salt at various compositions were constructed. The ion interaction in the acid molten salt was studied using 7Li and 27Al nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic methods. The effect of concentrations of LiAlCl4 and AlCl3 on the ion interaction was also discussed.

Selective Synthesis of 2,6-Dimethylnaphthalene by Transalkylation in the Presence of Acid Ionic Liquids [C_nmim]Cl-AlCl_3

A highly selective synthesis of 2,6-dimethylnaphthanlene（2,6-DMN） by transalkylation between 2-methylnaphthanlene（2-MN） and 1,2,4,5-tetramethylbenzene（TeMB） was performed with 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazo- lium aluminum chloride（[Cnmim]Cl-AlCl3） ionic liquids（ILs） as catalysts. The influences of the alkyl group as the organic cation, the acidic strength of [C4mim]Cl-AlCl3 ILs as well as the reaction conditions on the catalytic performance were investigated. [C4mim]Cl-AlCl3 ILs[x（AlCl3）=71%] exhibited high activity and selectivity toward 2,6-DMN. The selectivity to 2,6-DMN and the 2,6-DMN/2,7-DMN ratio reached up to 68.2% and 3.7：1, respectively. The UV-Vis spectrum of TeMB treated by different ILs shows that the protonated degree of TeMB dependeds on the acidity strength of ILs, which has a significant impact on the reaction results. The high protonated degree of TeMB is advantageous to enhancing the conversion of transalkylation and the large stereo-hindrance effect of TeMB is favorable to improving the selecivity to 2,6-DMN.

Deposition behavior of residual aluminum in drinking water distribution system：Effect of aluminum speciation

Finished drinking water usually contains some residual aluminum.The deposition of residual aluminum in distribution systems and potential release back to the drinking water could significantly influence the water quality at consumer taps.A preliminary analysis of aluminum content in cast iron pipe corrosion scales and loose deposits demonstrated that aluminum deposition on distribution pipe surfaces could be excessive for water treated by aluminum coagulants including polyaluminum chloride（PACl）.In this work,the deposition features of different aluminum species in PACl were investigated by simulated coil-pipe test,batch reactor test and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring.The deposition amount of non-polymeric aluminum species was the least,and its deposition layer was soft and hydrated,which indicated the possible formation of amorphous Al（OH）3.Al（13） had the highest deposition tendency,and the deposition layer was rigid and much less hydrated,which indicated that the deposited aluminum might possess regular structure and self-aggregation of Al（13）could be the main deposition mechanism.While for Al（30）,its deposition was relatively slower and deposited aluminum amount was relatively less compared with Al（13）.However,the total deposited mass of Al（30） was much higher than that of Al（13）,which was attributed to the deposition of particulate aluminum matters with much higher hydration state.Compared with stationary condition,stirring could significantly enhance the deposition process,while the effect of pH on deposition was relatively weak in the near neutral range of 6.7 to 8.7.

Process optimization of rare earth and aluminum leaching from weathered crust elution-deposited rare earth ore with compound ammonium salts

In order to intensify the leaching process of rare earth（RE） and reduce the impurities in the leachate, ammonium chloride（NH4Cl） and ammonium nitrate（NH4NO3） were mixed as a compound leaching agent to treat the weathered crust elution-deposited RE ore. Effects of molar ratio of NH~＋_4Cl and NH_4NO_3, ammonium（NH_4） concentration, leaching agent pH and flow rate on the leaching process of RE were studied and evaluated by the chromatographic plate theory. Leaching process of the main impurity aluminium（Al） was also discussed in detail. Results showed that a higher initial ammonium concentration in a certain range could enhance the mass transfer process of RE and Al by providing a driving force to overcome the resistance of diffusion. pH almost had no effects on the mass transfer efficiency of RE and Al in the range of 4 to 8. The relationship between the flow rate and height equivalent to a theoretical plate（HETP） could fit well with the Van Deemter equation, and the flow rate at the lowest HETP was determined. The optimum conditions of column leaching for RE and Al were 1：1（molar ratio） of NH_4Cl and NH_4NO_3, 0.2 mol/L of ammonium concentration, pH 4–8 of leaching agent and 0.5 mL /min of flow rate. Under this condition, the mass transfer efficiency of RE was improved, but no change was observed for Al compared with the most widely used ammonium sulfate. Moreover, the significant difference value（around 20 mL） of retention volume at the peak concentration between RE and Al provided a possibility for their separation. It suggested the potential application of the novel compound leaching agent（NH_4Cl/NH_4NO_3）. It was found that the relative concentration of RE in the leachate could be easily obtained by monitoring the pH of leachate.

Removal of nanoparticles by coagulation

Nanoparticles（NPs）from anthropogenic sources have applications in several commercial products,including cosmetics,pharmaceuticals,and materials.There is evidence that during their usage and disposal,engineered nanoparticles can and will be released into wastewater（Gottschalk et al.,2013;Pasricha et al.,2012;Westerhoff et al.,2013;Zheng et al.,2015）.If water and wastewater treatment plants are inefficient or incapable of removing NPs from water,NPs will be released with the treated effluent,entering drinking water sources and natural aquatic environments,increasing exposure for plants,microorganisms,

Neuroprotective role of antioxidant and pyranocarboxylic acid derivative against AlCl_(3) induced Alzheimer’s disease in rats

Objective:To assess potential of quercetin and etodolac to treat oxidative stress in neuronal death and inflammation in Alzheimer’s disease of AlCl3 induced rat models.All results of this AlCl_(3)model are compared with those obtained in controls.Methods:Wistar rats,housed in a controlled environment were treated with aluminum chloride(4.2 mg/kg of body weight,i.p.)for 28 d rather than oral to ensure neurotoxic concentration in hippocampus and hypothalamic region,part highly active in memory control and cognition,while control group was injected with saline.Estimation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance,superoxide dismutase,reduced glutathione and acetylcholine levels gave estimation of neuronal damage.Low(20 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg)and high(40 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg)doses of quercetin and etodolac were administered to the test groups respectively.Histopathology study was conducted to perform relative study.Results:Co-administration of quercetin and etodolac either alone or in combination prevented the changes in biochemical markers of Alzheimer’s disease,but significant results(P<0.05)were seen when a combination of two was administered at low dose levels.Good correlation was developed between chemical estimations and histopathology study.Conclusions:Our findings suggest a combined role of anti-oxidant and cyclooxygenase inhibitor in protection of neural degeneration and inflammation due to oxidative stress.