With a total concentration of 7055 mgS/kgfuel, the content of organosulphur compounds (OSCs) in local diesel is 20 times higher than the regulated value. Analysis revealed that 30% of OSC is originated from dibenzothiophene (DBT). It is known that DBT is a hardly removable compound and selective adsorbents are often needed for its removal with low affinity for other diesel components. In this work, a selective adsorbent based on surface modification of activated carbon (AC) by MnO2 is prepared for DBT removal from diesel. The porous nature of AC enabled carrying large amounts of MnO2 particles to end up with a selective adsorber for DBT. The best performance was observed at a surface loading of 26.8% of Mn and DBT is favourably removed over mono- and diaromatics hydrocarbons in diesel. Adsorption kinetics of DBT is studied under a high initial concentration of 835-11,890 mg/kg and at a ratio of 11 cm3/g (diesel:carbon). The results indicated a fast removal process after surface modification where 96% of the surface is occupied within 30 min of interaction. Kinetic data were best presented by reaction-based models with low prediction error sum of squares values 0.5-47.0, while, diffusion-based models showed limited application for modelling DBT adsorption. Accordingly, adsorption process is controlled by surface reactions and pore diffusion has a minor role in the overall process. The modified adsorbent is satisfactorily regenerated using n-hexane at 65°C.

A kaolin clay was activated with 1.0 M H₂SO₄ solution at minimum liquid to solid ratio (L/S) using microwave heating. The optimum experimental conditions for activation were L/S ratio 3.0 mL 1 M H2SO4 per gram kaolin, microwave input power 500–600 W, and heating time 5–10 min. Activation at L/S < 3.0 mL/g using 1.0 M H₂SO₄ was not efficient, indicating the influence of solvent for absorbing microwaves more intensively and thus improving activation. Significant physicochemical changes were observed by the proposed procedure with smaller volumes of activator compared to the conventional heating method. Microwave input power and heating time have a strong influence on the quality of the final material; activation at high input power (>700 W) and longer heating times (>10 min.) are not recommended since they cause dissolution of kaolinite structure. Microwave-heated kaolin manifested better adsorption for tartrazine dye due to improvements in textural and chemical properties of kaolinite. Moreover, irradiation of used kaolinite has significantly improved dye desorption, increasing the importance of microwaves in regeneration/recycling studies. Detailed dielectric measurements of kaolin-acid mixtures recorded at frequencies much lower than 2.45 GHz revealed that absorption of radiation is highly dependent on the activator solution in the mixture. For 3.0 mL/g mixtures, high dielectric constant ε’ 5223, dielectric loss factor ε” 5083, tangent loss tan d 1.30, penetration depth dp 0.57 cm at (10³ Hz), and AC-conductivity σ 0.032 Om^–1 were determined at 105 Hz. Filling the pores of kaolin by acid solution increased the microwave absorption and hence de-alumination of kaolinite.

cis-Dichloro-palladium(II) andcis-dichloro-platinum(II) complexes (2,4) of the general formula [M(N-N)Cl₂] (M=Pd(II) and Pt(II), N-N= 1,2-diamino-4-fluoro-5-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl) benzene, (DFMPB)) and the dicationic palladium(II) complex [Pd(N-N)(CH₃CN)₂](BF₄)₂(3) have been prepared and characterized by elemental analysis,¹H-NMR-, mass spectroscopy, and IR spectroscopy. The cytotoxic effect of these complexes against MDA-231 and MCF-7 human breast cancer cell lines and K562 human leukemia cell line has been studied. The influence was dose dependent and varies with cell type. The palladium(II) complex (2) showed superior cytotoxic effect compared with the corresponding platinum(II) complex and the standard, cisplatin, when tested against all the above cell lines.

2′,3,3,5′-Tetramethyl-4′-nitro-2′H-1,3′-bipyrazole (TMNB) is a novel bipyrazole compound with unknown therapeutic potential in diabetes mellitus. This study aims to investigate the anti-diabetic effects of TMNB in a high-fat diet and streptozotocin-(HFD/STZ)-induced rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). Rats were fed HFD, followed by a single low dose of STZ (40 mg/kg). HFD/STZ diabetic rats were treated orally with TMNB (10 mg/kg) or (200 mg/kg) metformin for 10 days before terminating the experiment and collecting plasma, soleus muscle, adipose tissue, and liver for further downstream analysis. TMNB reduced the elevated levels of serum glucose in diabetic rats compared to the vehicle control group (p < 0.001). TMNB abrogated the increase in serum insulin in the treated diabetic group compared to the vehicle control rats (p < 0.001). The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was decreased in the diabetic rats treated with TMNB compared to the vehicle controls. The skeletal muscle and adipose tissue protein contents of GLUT4 and AMPK were upregulated following treatment with TMNB (p < 0.001, < 0.01, respectively). TMNB was able to upregulate GLUT2 and AMPK protein expression in liver (p < 0.001, < 0.001, respectively). LDL, triglyceride, and cholesterol were reduced in diabetic rats treated with TMNB compared to the vehicle controls (p < 0.001, 0.01, respectively). TMNB reduced MDA and IL-6 levels (p < 0.001), and increased GSH level (p < 0.05) in diabetic rats compared to the vehicle controls. Conclusion: TMNB ameliorates insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and inflammation in a T2D model. TMNB could represent a promising therapeutic agent to treat T2D.