Antioxidant activity, cito- and phototoxicity of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) seed pulp extract

In the present work, a hydroethanolic extract was prepared from the entire seeds of pomegranate [Punica granatum L. (Punicaceae)] with Cachaça, a distilled Brazilian alcoholic beverage, protected from light for an 80-hour period. The desorption curve of the seeds, presented an optimal time extraction of approximately 24 hours. The extract was divided into two samples: protected from light, (Extract 1), or not, (Extract 2). The extracts were characterized by UV-Visible absorption spectroscopy, quantification of total phenolics by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and the antioxidant activity was determined by the DPPH quenching method. Extract 2 presented 9.8% less total polyphenols than Extract 1. The pomegranate seeds extract lost 79% of its antioxidant activity during light exposure. Extract 1 up to 3% (w/v) showed neither cyto nor phototoxicity in the Hela cells. In conclusion, Punica granatum L. seeds contain a significant total polyphenol and TEAC amount and they can be used in simple extractive process, by direct contact with Cachaça in up to 80 hours in the darkness, which gives it good coloration, taste, and smell. This extract showed neither cytotoxicity nor post-irradiation phototoxicity with solar simulator even though the extract proved photoinstable.

Chemical characterization and infrared spectroscopy of soil organic matter from two southern brazilian soils

Soil organic matter from the surface horizon of two Brazilian soils (a Latosol and a Chernosol), in bulk samples (in situ SOM) and in HF-treated samples (SOM), was characterized by elemental analyses, diffuse reflectance (DRIFT) and transmission Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (T-FTIR). Humic acids (HA), fulvic acids (FA) and humin (HU) isolated from the SOM were characterized additionally by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-VIS). After sample oxidation and alkaline treatment, the DRIFT technique proved to be more informative for the detection of "in situ SOM" and of residual organic matter than T-FTIR. The higher hydrophobicity index (HI) and H/C ratio obtained in the Chernosol samples indicate a stronger aliphatic character of the organic matter in this soil than the Latosol. In the latter, a pronounced HI decrease was observed after the removal of humic substances (HS). The weaker aliphatic character, the higher O/C ratio, and the T-FTIR spectrum obtained for the HU fraction in the Latosol suggest the occurrence of surface coordination of carboxylate ions. The Chernosol HU fraction was also oxygenated to a relatively high extent, but presented a stronger hydrophobic character in comparison with the Latosol HU. These differences in the chemical and functional group composition suggest a higher organic matter protection in the Latosol. After the HF treatment, decreases in the FA proportion and the A350/A550 ratio were observed. A possible loss of FA and condensation of organic molecules due to the highly acid medium should not be neglected.

Preparação e caracterização óptica de filmes de poli(estireno sulfonados) dopados com neodímio

In this work we describe the processing of poly(styrene sulphonate) films (PSS) doped with neodymium (Nd). Optical density measurements in the UV-Vis-NIR region show the typical bands observed for neodymium chloride (NdCl3) in solution. In the case of films, the intensity ratio between the peaks at 800 nm (4I9/2 -> 4F5/2 + ²H7/2) and 580 nm (4I9/2 -> 4G5/2 + ²G7/2) is equal to 0.83. Infrared spectra present an enhancement in the absorption region of aromatic rings. Site selective luminescence spectroscopy shows that the incorporation of Nd introduces a hipsochromic shift and a line shape definition in UV luminescence compared to PSS film, decreasing the interaction between aromatic groups. In addition, the film exhibits an intense radiative transition at 1061 nm (4F3/2->4I11/2), comparable to the one present in crystalline materials doped with Nd.

Iron oxide and pyrocatechol: a spectroscopy study of the reaction products

The reaction of 1,2-dihydroxy-benzene (pyrocatechol) (C6H6O2) with iron oxide (Fe2O3) and sodium thiosulfate (Na2S2O3) in aqueous medium (pH 7) was investigated. Pyrocatechol suffers autoxidation and coordinates with Fe3+ in solution. The presence of S2O3(2-) in solution was fundamental to generate and stabilize the pyrocatechol oxidation products as o-semiquinones. This compound was isolated and its structure characterized using FT-IR, EPR and UV-Vis Spectroscopy as [CTA][Fe(SQ)2(Cat)]. A thermal mass loss mechanism was proposed based on Thermogravimetric Analysis (TG) to support the structural characterization.

Adsorção do corante azul de metileno em partículas de argilominerais: análise dos tamanhos das partículas

Interactions of cationic dye methylene blue (MB) with clay particles in aqueous suspension have been extensively studied. As already known, the number of natural negative charges on the clay modifies significantly the particle sizes dispersed in water and therefore the nature of the interaction with the dye. This work evaluated with UV-Vis spectroscopy method how the clay particle sizes weighted on the adsorption and rearrangement of the dye molecules in aqueous system. The results obtained from light-scattering measurements confirmed that larger particles are found in suspensions containing the high-charged clays as the visible absorption band related to the MB aggregates (570 nm) on these suspensions prevailed.

Materiais híbridos orgânico-inorgânicos (ormosil) obtidos por sol-gel com potencial uso como filtro solar

This work aimed at the synthesis and characterization of particles of modified silica containing the organic filter dibenzoylmethane (DBM) by the hydrolytic sol-gel method, with modifications to the Stöber route. The structures of the resulting Xerogels were characterized by diffuse reflectance UV-VIS spectroscopy in the solid state, infrared absorption spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and 29Si Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (29Si NRM). The results showed favorable formation of hybrid organic-inorganic nanoparticles with efficient absorption/reflectance of radiation in the UV / VIS range, which enables their potential use as sunscreen.

Efeito da adição de lantânio em catalisadores de Ni/ZrO2 aplicados na reação de reforma a vapor de etanol

The catalytic performance of Ni/ZrO2 catalysts loaded with different lanthanum content for steam reforming of ethanol was investigated. Catalysts were characterized by BET surface area, X-ray diffraction, UV-vis spectroscopy, temperature programmed reduction, and X-ray absorption fine structure techniques. Results showed that lanthanum addition led to an increase in the degree of reduction of both NiO and nickel surface species interacting with the support, due to the higher dispersion effect. The best catalytic performance at 450 ºC was found for the Ni/12LZ catalyst, which exhibited an effluent gaseous mixture with the highest H2 yield.

Comparing the artificial neural network with parcial least squares for prediction of soil organic carbon and pH at different moisture content levels using visible and near-infrared spectroscopy

Visible and near infrared (vis-NIR) spectroscopy is widely used to detect soil properties. The objective of this study is to evaluate the combined effect of moisture content (MC) and the modeling algorithm on prediction of soil organic carbon (SOC) and pH. Partial least squares (PLS) and the Artificial neural network (ANN) for modeling of SOC and pH at different MC levels were compared in terms of efficiency in prediction of regression. A total of 270 soil samples were used. Before spectral measurement, dry soil samples were weighed to determine the amount of water to be added by weight to achieve the specified gravimetric MC levels of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 %. A fiber-optic vis-NIR spectrophotometer (350-2500 nm) was used to measure spectra of soil samples in the diffuse reflectance mode. Spectra preprocessing and PLS regression were carried using Unscrambler® software. Statistica® software was used for ANN modeling. The best prediction result for SOC was obtained using the ANN (RMSEP = 0.82 % and RPD = 4.23) for soil samples with 25 % MC. The best prediction results for pH were obtained with PLS for dry soil samples (RMSEP = 0.65 % and RPD = 1.68) and soil samples with 10 % MC (RMSEP = 0.61 % and RPD = 1.71). Whereas the ANN showed better performance for SOC prediction at all MC levels, PLS showed better predictive accuracy of pH at all MC levels except for 25 % MC. Therefore, based on the data set used in the current study, the ANN is recommended for the analyses of SOC at all MC levels, whereas PLS is recommended for the analysis of pH at MC levels below 20 %.

Vidros recobertos com camadas delgadas transparentes de SnO2

SnO2 thin layers, prepared from aqueous colloidal suspensions by the sol-gel process, have been dip-coated on commercial borosilicate glasses. The effect of the conditions of deposition on the optical and structural characteristics of the thin layers was analysed by UV-Vis spectroscopy, x-ray reflectometry and electron scanning microscopy. Layers prepared with withdrawal speed in between 0.1 and 10cm/min show thickness smaller than 90nm, roughness of the order of 2nm and transmittance higher than 80%, resulting in good optical quality samples. The roughness increases from 2 to 11nm as the withdrawal speed increases from 10 to 80cm/min, what seems to be associated to the enlargement of the layers thickness (> 90nm). The measurements of mass loss, done after etching with fluoridric acid show that the coated samples are more corrosion resistant than the uncoated borosilicate glass.

Caracterização de ácidos húmicos de vermicomposto de esterco bovino compostado durante 3 e 6 meses

The main objective of this research was the characterization of the humic fractions isolated from vermicomposting, originating from cattle manure and treated with Eisenea foetida or Lumbricus rubellus, during 3 and 6 months. Elemental analysis and Infrared and UV-vis spectroscopy were used for their characterizations. The results obtained shown that both humic acids are very similar, but six-month humic acid shown lower percentage of organic material than three month humic acid. The spectroscopy analysis shown that the humic acid studied can be compared with other humic acids reported in the literature. By comparing both vermicomposts, the one produced in three months presents a great potential as fertilizer and it is more economical than the vermicompost produced during a six month period.

Modelo de calibração da concentração de metilmetacrilato em solução aquosa utilizando espectroscopia de absorção no ultravioleta

Dilutions of methylmetacrylate ranging between 1 and 50 ppm were obtained from a stock solution of 1 ml of monomer in 100 ml of deionised water, and were analyzed by an absorption spectrophotometer in the UV-visible. Absorbance values were used to develop a calibration model based on the PLS, with the aim to determine new sample concentrations. The number of latent variables used was 6, with the standard errors of calibration and prediction found to be 0,048 ml/100 ml and 0,058 ml/100 ml. The calibration model was successfully used to calculate the concentration of monomer released in water, where complete dentures were kept for one hour after polymerization.

Extração de β-caroteno de cenouras: uma proposta para disciplinas experimentais de química

This paper reports on the development of a simple and fast procedure for β-carotene extraction from carrots and its quantification by UV/Vis spectroscopy. Carotenoids extracted from carrots may also be used as alternative reagents for TLC (thin layer chromatography) detection of natural compounds with antioxidant properties, replacing the commercial p.a. grade β-carotene. Although this reagent had around 10% b-carotene, it proved to be as efficient for TLC analysis as the commercial p.a. grade β-carotene. This practice is a useful alternative for teaching undergraduate organic chemistry laboratory classes.

Materiais à base de óxido de ferro para oxidação de compostos presentes no efluente da despolpa do café

Materials based on pure iron oxide and impregnated with niobia (Nb2O5) were prepared. Their catalytic activities were tested on the oxidation of compounds present in the wastewater from the processing of coffee berries. Particularly caffeine and catechol were tested. The oxidation reactions were carried out with the following systems (i) UV/H2O2, (ii) photo-Fenton and (iii) heterogeneous Fenton. All materials were characterized with X-ray diffraction, Mössbauer and infrared spectroscopy. Iron was mainly in the forms of goethite and maghemite. The oxidation kinetics were monitored by UV-vis and the oxidation products were monitored by mass spectrometry. The photo-Fenton reaction presented highest oxidation efficiency, removing 98% of all caffeine and catechol contents.

Flow analysis-hydride generation-gas phase derivative molecular absorption spectrophotometric determination of antimony in antileishmanial drugs

In the present work, the development of a method based on the coupling of flow analysis (FA), hydride generation (HG), and derivative molecular absorption spectrophotometry (D-EAM) in gas phase (GP), is described in order to determine total antimony in antileishmanial products. Second derivative order (D²224nm) of the absorption spectrum (190 - 300 nm) is utilized as measurement criterion. Each one of the parameters involved in the development of the proposed method was examined and optimized. The utilization of the EAM in GP as detection system in a continuous mode instead of atomic absorption spectrometry represents the great potential of the analytic proposal.

Síntese e estudo de ortossilicatos de zinco luminescentes com aplicação da técnica sol-gel

Usually, the concepts of the Sol-Gel technique are not applied in experimental chemistry courses. This work presents a feasible experiment for chemistry instruction, which involves the synthesis of luminescent materials - Zn2SiO4, with and without Mn2+ as a dopant - by the Sol-Gel technique. The obtained materials were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, X-Ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy and luminescence measures by UV-vis spectroscopy. The results allow the students to confirm the luminescent properties of the zinc orthosilicate luminophores as well as the structural features expected from literature data.