Wood liquefaction with phenol by microwave heating and FTIR evaluation

We examined wood liquefaction using phenol and mixed acid catalysts with microwave heating, and compared that with similar processes that use oil bath heating. The reaction time for microwave heating to achieve a residue content was one sixth, one eighteenth, and one twenty-fourth of that from oil bath heating, respectively, for phenol to wood （P/W） ratios of 2.5/1, 2/1 and 1.5/1. A low P/W ratio tended to result in carbonization of liquefied wood due to an insufficient amount of phenol and localized microwave superheating. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic （FTIR） evaluation of the liquefied residue, showed that the liquefaction rates of wood com- ponents differed. Hemicellulose was most susceptible to liquefaction, crystalline cellulose was most recalcitrant, and guaiacyl units the most prone to re-condensation. From FTIR, the chemical components and substitution patterns of bonded phenol were similar for both methods.

Analysis and Assessment of Agrimonia Pilosa Ledeb from Different Sources Using FT-IR Spectroscopy

To get the IR spectrums of Agrimonia Pilosa Ledeb （APL） from China and Japan areas, and to fend out the characters of IR spectrums through the content of different chemical constituents, to provide a fast and effective analysis method monitor the inherent qualities of traditional Chinese medicine-APL. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy （FT-IR） was applied to detect sample of APL from Ofina and Japan areas. This study showed that the IR spectra of APL from China and Japan areas have their unique IR fingerprint features. The contents of tannin and calcitum phosphate in APL from China is different APL from Japan. So FF-IR is a very quick, effective and well repetitive method for monitoring and distinguishing the traditional Chinese medicine.

Development of a novel myconanomining approach for the recovery of agriculturally important elements from jarosite waste

In this study, an ecofriendly and economically viable waste management approach have been attempted towards the biosynthesis of agriculturally important nanoparticles from jarosite waste. Aspergillus terreus strain J4 isolated from jarosite（waste from Debari Zinc Smelter,Udaipur, India）, showed good leaching efficiency along with nanoparticles（NPs） formation under ambient conditions. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy（FT-IR） and transmission electron microscopy（TEM） confirmed the formation of NPs. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy（EDX analysis） showed strong signals for zinc, iron, calcium and magnesium,with these materials being leached out. TEM analysis and high resolution transmission electron microscopy（HRTEM） showed semi-quasi spherical particles having average size of 10‐50 nm. Thus, a novel biomethodology was developed using fungal cell-free extract for bioleaching and subsequently nanoconversion of the waste materials into nanostructured form. These biosynthesized nanoparticles were tested for their efficacy on seed emergence activity of wheat（Triticum aestivum） seeds and showed enhanced growth at concentration of 20 ppm. These nanomaterials are expected to enhance plant growth properties and being targeted as additives in soil fertility and crop productivity enhancement.

Spectroscopic and electrochemical studies on molecular recognition of tetrathiafulvalene derivative with P-glycoprotein and drug-resistant leukemia cells

Cancer is still one of the important diseases that threatens the health of people. Multidrug resistance(MDR) is the main factor that leads to the failure of cancer chemotherapy. Thus, MDR diagnosis could facilitate the monitoring of the therapy process and realization of efficient treatment of tumors. In this study, we have tried to use a new tetrathiafulvalene(TTF) derivative(TTF-(COONBu4)2) to sensitively recognize the MDR through the multi-signal responsive strategy. The relevant electrochemical and spectroscopic studies demonstrate the specific binding behavior of TTF-(COONBu4)2 with P-glycoprotein(P-gp) as well as drug-resistant leukemia cells. Especially due to the over-expression of specific components of P-gp on the plasma membranes of drug resistant cells, the electrochemical and hydrophilic/hydrophobic features of drug resistant-leukemia cells are apparently different from those of other kinds of leukemia cells. Meanwhile, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic study illustrates that the most intense vibration band of TTF moieties in the 1400–1600 cm-1 range is almost smeared out upon binding to P-gp, and the binding of TTF-(COONBu4)2 to P-gp may also lead to changes in protein secondary structure and backbone. This observation may advance the development of the new TTF agent for the promising clinical diagnosis and monitoring of MDR of tumors with the aim of successful chemotherapy for human cancer.