Progress in Chemical and Biochemical Research
Volume:5 Issue: 2, May 2022

The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using alumina-zirconia catalysts in energy production. In recent years, the use of liquid biofuels in the transportation sector has grown significantly. Sustainability is a key principle in natural resource management, which includes considering operational efficiency to minimize destructive environmental impacts and socio-economic considerations. Given the depletion of global reserves of fossil fuels and the emission of greenhouse gases from their use, it does not seem wise to trust and rely on the continued use of fossil fuel energy sources. The first-generation biofuels, which have now reached the economic level of production, are often extracted from food and oil products such as rapeseed, sugarcane, sugar beet, corn, as well as vegetable oils and animal fats using conventional technologies. The use of first-generation biofuels has caused much controversy, often because of their impact on the global food market and food security, especially in countries with vulnerable economies, and as a result there is much ambiguity about their potential to replace fossil fuels and sustain production. They have been created.

Fruits are important worldwide due to their nutritional, commercial, and nutraceutical values. Doubtless, the increased demand for fruits is instrumental in the use of various artificial ripening methods in their production. The most frequently applied chemical for this purpose is calcium carbide (CaC2). However, due to its toxicity, the use of calcium carbide in fruit ripening has been banned in many countries, including Nigeria. Despite its limitations, calcium carbide is still illegally used in artificial ripening of fruits and this has elicited great health concerns. Currently, there is little scientific data on the investigation of calcium carbide residue of fruits marketed in Nigeria. This article gives an outline of calcium carbide, its use in fruit ripening and possible health implications. It further identifies arsenic index as a marker for quantifying residue in suspected calcium carbide-ripened fruits.

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using stem bark extract of Lonchocarpus laxiflorus plant as a reducing agent following a simple, effective, and eco-friendly route was reported in this work. UV-vis, FTIR SEM/EDX, and Backscatter Electron Detector (BSD) analysis were employed in the characterisation of the nanoparticles synthesised. The dispersed nanoparticles were found to have mean particle size of 2.3 nm. The resultant nanoparticles were tested for corrosion inhibition potential of mild steel as a possible alternative to the expensive and environmentally harmful inorganic inhibitors. The composite has proven to be effective inhibitor of corrosion of mild steel in 1.0 M HCl. Further treatment of the experimentally determined results showed that the values of the activation energies were all less than 80 KJmol-1, indicating physical adsorption of the composite to the mild steel surface according to Langmuir’s isotherm. The behaviour of this mixed-type inhibitor was endothermic in nature and followed associative mechanism.

Benzothiazole (BTA) and its derivatives are among the most important heterocyclic compounds, widely found in natural commodities and pharmaceutical drugs. It possesses a large number of pharmacological properties, and many of its analogues have structural diversity, to contribute to the production of new medicinal drugs. BTA derivatives possess a broad spectrum of pharmacological activity. The development of medicinal chemistry containing BTA has been rapid and highly active. BTA chemicals are frequently used in medical care to address a wide variety of illnesses with good results. Current advancements in BTA-based compounds such as anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, anticonvulsant, anti-tuberculosis, antidiabetic, antimalarial, and other therapeutic agents are the focus of this review. New ideas are spurring the development of BTA-containing drugs that are more active, less toxic, and more effective for diagnosing diseases.

The present study is on MgO nanoparticles deposited on chitosan, which is investigated for the removal of the heavy metal cobalt II using an atomic absorption spectrometer at various concentrations. The laboratory study also investigates the removal of heavy metals such as cobalt (II) by the chitosan adsorbent in the batch adsorption test system. In experiments related to this research, parameters such as contact time, initial dye concentration, adsorbent amount, temperature and pH are investigated and calculated, and finally kinetic equations including (first and second degree) and thermodynamic equations including obedience absorption equations are investigated, Friendlich, Langmuir thermodynamic variables including ΔS, ΔG and ΔH were investigated and calculated. In this study, the effect of magnesium oxide (MgO) magnetic nanoparticles in the removal of heavy metal contaminants such as cobalt (II) is tried in vitro.

Vigna subterranea, a legume regarded as a ‘super food’ in Nigeria has been grossly understudied and underutilised and this study investigated the constituents of the various parts of this plant for possible utilization. The seed, leaf and root of the plant were analysed to assay the phytochemical constituents using standard gravimetric methods, nutritional and amino acid constituents using both gravimetric and spectroscopic as well as the antimicrobial activities using Agar well diffusion method. The quantitative phytochemical analysis showed high percentage content of alkaloids (0.34 ±0.02), flavonoids (0.373 ± 0.01) and tannins (0.327±0.013) on the leaf followed by the root with the highest saponins content (0.433 ± 0.02). Steroids were found in moderate quantities on all tested parts. The nutritional analysis showed high protein content on all the parts. The leaf had the highest vitamin C content (6.453mg/100g) while vitamin B3 was found to be highest in the seeds(2.123mg/100g) The total essential amino acids (g/100g) in seed, leaf and root were 42.44, 39.85, and 30.82 respectively, while total non-essential amino acids (g/100g) were 50.05, 46.84, and 38.25 respectively. The antimicrobial analysis showed n-hexane extract of the root having the highest activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (24 ± 1.41 mm zone of inhibition). The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) for n-hexane extract was 100 mg/L while the Minimum Bacterial Concentration (MBC) was 200 mg/L.  indicates a good antimicrobial agent. The leaf and root of Vigna subterranea can no longer be regarded as post -harvest wastes but potential sources of drugs and nutrients.

Elimination of sulfur compounds in hydrocarbon fuels is environmentally important, because in the process of combustion of fuels in engines, sulfur compounds in the fuel are converted to sulfur oxides (soX), which can lead to acid rain. In addition, (soX) resulting from the combustion of sulfur-containing fuels in internal combustion engines, while causing corrosion in the internal parts of the engine, poisoning the catalytic converters installed in the car exhaust and ultimately causing the deactivation of these catalytic converters over time It is shortened. An important plan of these catalytic converters is to reduce the release of nitrogen oxides into the environment. Sulfur oxides also lead to the rapid deactivation of exhaust filters to prevent particulate matter from escaping into the atmosphere. Therefore, the presence of sulfur compounds in hydrocarbon sections, in addition to creating problems related to the release of sulfur oxides into the atmosphere, leads to an exacerbation of the release of pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter into the environment.