Mariana M. Bassaco

Evaluation of activity of a commercial amylase under ultrasound-assisted irradiation

The main objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of ultrasound irradiation on the activity of a commercial amylase. A central composite design was carried out to assess the effects of temperature and pH on the enzyme activity in the presence and absence of ultrasound irradiation. The activation energy, the influence of treatment time as well as the substrate concentration on enzyme activity were also determined in the presence and absence of ultrasound irradiation. The results demonstrated that the effect of temperature was less pronounced in the presence of ultrasound, resulting in a decreasing of about 80% in the activation energy in comparison with the value obtained in the absence. The enzyme showed activities about 3 times higher for temperatures up to 40 °C in the presence of ultrasound. The pH negatively affected the activity in the presence of ultrasound, whereas in the absence a positive effect was verified. The ultrasound irradiation is a promising technology to be used in enzymatic reaction due to its positive effects on enzyme activity.

Optimization of enzymatic hydrolysis of cassava to obtain fermentable sugars

This work evaluates the enzymatic hydrolysis of starch from cassava using pectinase, α-amylase, and amyloglucosidase. A central composite rotational design (CCRD) was carried out to evaluate the effects of amyloglucosidase, pectinase, reaction time, and solid to liquid ratio. All the experiments were carried out in a bioreactor with working volume of 2 L. Approximately 98% efficiency hydrolysis was obtained, resulting in a concentration of total reducing sugar released of 160 g/L. It was concluded that pectinase improved the hydrolysis of starch from cassava. Reaction time was found to be significant until 7 h of reaction. A solid to liquid ratio of 1.0 was considered suitable for hydrolysis of starch from cassava. Amyloglucosidase was a significant variable in the process: after its addition to the reaction media, a 30%–50% increase in the amount of total reducing sugar released was observed. At optimal conditions the maximum productivity obtained was 22.9 g/(L·h).

Adsorption of leather dye onto activated carbon prepared from bottle gourd: equilibrium, kinetic and mechanism studies

Activated carbon prepared from bottle gourd has been used as adsorbent for removal of leather dye (Direct Black 38) from aqueous solution. The activated carbon obtained showed a mesoporous texture, with surface area of 556.16 m(2) g(-1), and a surface free of organic functional groups. The initial dye concentration, contact time and pH significantly influenced the adsorption capacity. In the acid region (pH 2.5) the adsorption of dye was more favorable. The adsorption equilibrium was attained after 60 min. Equilibrium data were analyzed by the Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin-Radushkevich and Temkin isotherm models. The equilibrium data were best described by the Langmuir isotherm, with maximum adsorption capacity of 94.9 mg g(-1). Adsorption kinetic data were fitted using the pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, Elovich and intraparticle diffusion models. The adsorption kinetic was best described by the second-order kinetic equation. The adsorption process was controlled by both external mass transfer and intraparticle diffusion. Activated carbon prepared from bottle gourd was shown to be a promising material for adsorption of Direct Black 38 from aqueous solution.

A convenient eco-friendly system for the synthesis of 5-sulfenyl tetrazole derivatives of indoles and pyrroles employing CeCl3·7H2O in PEG-400

The use of CeCl3·7H2O in polyethyleneglycol 400 (PEG-400), as an efficient and eco-friendly promoter system for the convenient synthesis of 5-sulfenyl tetrazoles derived from indoles and pyrroles, is reported. The synthesis entails the [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of NaN3 with 3-thiocyanato indoles (including 3,3′-di-thiocyanato-1H,1H′,2,2′-biindoles) and 2-thiocyanato pyrroles. The thiocyanates were conveniently obtained by the oxone-mediated thiocyanation of differently substituted starting indoles, 1H,1H′,2,2′-biindoles and N-aryl pyrroles with NH4SCN. The scope and limitations of the transformation were also studied.

Use of papaya seeds as a biosorbent of methylene blue from aqueous solution

In this study papaya seeds were used to remove methylene blue dye from aqueous solution. Papaya seeds were characterized as possessing a macro/mesoporous texture and large pore size. Studies were carried out in batches to evaluate the effect of contact time and pH (2-12) on the removal of dye. It was observed that the adsorption of dye was better in the basic region (pH 12). The equilibrium data were analyzed using Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin-Raduschkevich, Tempkin, Jovanovich, Redlich-Peterson, Sips, Toth and Radke-Prausnitz isotherms. The equilibrium data were best described by the Langmuir isotherm with a maximum adsorption capacity of 637.29 mg g(-1). Adsorption kinetic data were fitted using the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order model. The adsorption kinetic is very fast and was best described by the pseudo-second-order model.

Organic pollutants removal and recovery from animal wastewater by mesoporous struvite precipitation

Abstract Swine wastewater containing high concentration of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) was treated by struvite precipitation method. The pH showed to have strong influence on N and P removal, whereas the excess of ammonia in the reaction medium did not show influence. The precipitated crystals were identified and analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and surface area (BET) revealing that there was the formation of a pure and crystalline phase mesostructured at pH 9.5 with an average crystal size in nanometric scale.

An eco-friendly synthesis of novel 3,5-disubstituted-1,2-isoxazoles in PEG-400, employing the Et3N-promoted hydroamination of symmetric and unsymmetric 1,3-diyne-indole derivatives

A facile, efficient and atom-economic synthesis of 3,5-disubstituted 1,2-isoxazoles bearing indole moieties, is reported. The synthesis of these isoxazoles was carried out by the triethylamine-promoted reaction of symmetric and unsymmetric 1,3-diyne indole derivatives with hydroxylamine in PEG-400, as an eco-friendly solvent, under relatively mild conditions. The synthesis of the starting 1,3-diyne indole derivatives was performed by the aerobic self-coupling of diversely functionalized N-propargyl indoles and N-propargyl carbazole under copper catalysis, or by the reaction of the propargyl derivatives with phenyl- or p-tolyl-acetylene under combined nickel and copper catalysis. The isoxazolation reaction was optimized, its scope and limitations were studied and a detailed reaction mechanism was proposed.

Protective effect of ((4-tert-butylcyclohexylidene) methyl) (4-methoxystyryl) sulfide, a novel unsymmetrical divinyl sulfide, on an oxidative stress model induced by sodium nitroprusside in mouse brain: involvement of glutathione peroxidase activity

In this study, the antioxidant action of ((4‐tert‐butylcyclohexylidene) methyl) (4‐methoxystyryl) sulfide, a novel unsymmetrical divinyl sulfide, against oxidative damage induced by sodium nitroprusside (SNP) in brains of mice was investigated.

Metal-free synthesis of 3,5-disubstituted 1H- and 1-aryl-1H-pyrazoles from 1,3-diyne-indole derivatives employing two successive hydroaminations

A robust and efficient atom-economic one-pot synthesis of 3,5-disubstituted 1H- and 1-aryl-1H-pyrazoles under base, acid and metal-free reaction conditions, is reported. The transformation conveniently takes place between 1,4-disubstituted 1,3-diynes and hydrazines in PEG-400 as an eco-friendly solvent, and involves two successive hydroaminations. The reaction was optimized for both, symmetric and non-symmetric 1,3-diyne-indole derivatives, as well as for hydrazine and substituted phenylhydrazines. The scope and limitations of the transformation were examined, observing that it is not sensitive to moisture or atmospheric oxygen, and that it tolerates a variety of functional groups. Even sterically hindered substrates afforded the expected pyrazoles in good to excellent yields, under mild conditions. A detailed reaction mechanism, which explains its regioselectivity, was also proposed.

Organosulfur compound protects against memory decline induced by scopolamine through modulation of oxidative stress and Na + /K + ATPase activity in mice

The present study investigated the possible effect of BMMS in protecting against memory impairment in an Alzheimer’s disease model induced by scopolamine in mice. Another objective was to evaluate the involvement of oxidative stress and Na+/K+ ATPase activity in cerebral cortex and hippocampus of mice. Male Swiss mice were divided into four groups: groups I and III received canola oil (10 ml/kg, intragastrically (i.g.)), while groups II and IV received BMMS (10 mg/kg, i.g.). Thirty minutes after treatments, groups III and IV received scopolamine (1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal (i.p.)), while groups I and II received saline (5 ml/kg, i.p.). Behavioral tests were performed thirty minutes after scopolamine or saline injection. Cerebral cortex and hippocampus were removed to determine the thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) levels, non-protein thiols (NPSH) content, catalase (CAT) and Na+/K+ ATPase activities. The results showed that BMMS pretreatment protected against the reduction in alternation and latency time induced by scopolamine in the Y-maze test and step-down inhibitory avoidance, respectively. In the Barnes maze, the latency to find the escape box and the number of holes visited were attenuated by BMMS. Locomotor and exploratory activities were similar in all groups. BMMS pretreatment protected against the increase in the TBARS levels, NPSH content and CAT activity, as well as the inhibition on the Na+/K+ ATPase activity caused by scopolamine in the cerebral cortex. In the hippocampus, no significant difference was observed. In conclusion, the present study revealed that BMMS protected against the impairment of retrieval of short-term and long-term memories caused by scopolamine in mice. Moreover, antioxidant effect and protection on the Na+/K+ ATPase activity are involved in the effect of compound against memory impairment in AD model induced by scopolamine.