Soft solution fluorine-free synthesis of anatase nanoparticles with tailored morphology

TiO2 nanoparticles with tailored morphology have been synthesized under exceptionally soft conditions. The strategy is based on the use of a non-aqueous alcoholic reaction medium in which water traces, coming either from the air (atmospheric water) or from an ethanol–water azeotropic mixture (ethanol 96%), are incorporated in order to accelerate hydrolysis of the Ti–precursor. Moreover, organic surfactants have been used as capping agents so as to tailor crystal growth in certain preferential directions. Combinations of oleic acid and oleylamine, which lead to the formation of another surfactant, dioleamide, are employed instead of fluorine-based compounds, thus increasing the sustainability of the process. As a result, TiO2 nanostructured hierarchical microspheres and individual nanoparticles with exposed high-energy facets can be obtained at atmospheric pressure and temperatures as low as 78 °C.

Identification of Ultraviolet radiation induced Gallic acid and Caffeic acid formation in Palm juice (Borassus flabellifer) by HPLC & Mass Spectra Technique.

Palm juice, a common-cheap-antioxidants rich natural plant juice has been investigated for optimizing the effect of UV-radiation on the antioxidant activity using a DPPH free radical scavenging activity method. In this study separate set of samples of raw palm juice has been treated with 365 and 254 nm UV-lights (UVL) respectively for different exposure time. When exposed for 15 min with 365 nm UVL induces concentration factor of caffeic acid, whereas, 254 nm UVL induces gallic acid accumulation, but overall antioxidant activity was higher for 365 nm UVradiation. Caffeic acid and other polyphenol compounds are increased by 5.5 ± 0.5 % than normal palm juice, observed after irradiation with 365 nm UVL. Even after the exposure of UV irradiation for 15 min, did not affect on peptide bond modification of protein molecules present in palm juice, therefore a green effect of UVL is explored for the effective increase of antioxidant activity.