The physicochemical properties of different grades of Malaysian crude palm oil (high free fatty acid crude palm oil (HFFA-CPO) and low free fatty acid crude palm oil (LFFA-CPO)) were analyzed in this study to determine their applicability as edible oils. The percentages of free fatty acids (FFAs%), iodine value, hydroxyl value, unsaponifiable value, moisture content for HFFA-CPO and LFFA-CPO were 8.7 ± 0.3 and 3.8 ± 0.1%; 53.1 ± 0.4 and 56 ± 0.3 g I2/100 g; 32.5 ± 0.6 and 18.5 ± 0.9 mg KOH/g oil; 0.31 ± 0.01 and 0.46 ± 0.02%; 0.31 ± 0.01 and 0.33 ± 0.01%, respectively. The fatty acid compositions were determined using a gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID). The results showed that the dominant fatty acids are palmitic acid (43.2%–44.4%) and oleic acid (39.8%–41.4%). The major triacylglycerols (TAGs) of HFFA-CPO and LFFA-CPO estimated using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), were POP (30.8%–33.6%) and POO (24.9%–29.7%). In general, the physicochemical properties of HFFA-CPO and LFFA-CPO are consistent with the standard Malaysian crude palm oil, with the exception of FFAs%, hydroxyl value, moisture contents. Les propriétés physico-chimiques des différentes nuances de l'huile de palme brute malaisienne (huile de palme brute à haute teneur en acides gras libres (HFFA-CPO) et huile de palme brute à faible teneur en acides gras libres (LFFA-CPO)) ont été analysées dans cette étude pour déterminer leur applicabilité sous forme d'huiles comestibles. Les pourcentages d'acides gras libres (FFAs %), de valeur d'iode, de valeur d'hydroxyle, de valeur insaponifiable, de teneur en humidité pour HFFA-CPO et LFFA-CPO étaient de 8,7 ± 0,3 et 3,8 ± 0,1 % ; 53,1 ± 0,4 et 56 ± 0,3 g I2/100 g ; 32,5 ± 0,6 et 18,5 ± 0,9 mg KOH/g huile ; 0,31 ± 0,01 et 0,46 ± 0,02 % ; 0,31 ± 0,01 et 0,33 ± 0,01 %, respectivement. Les compositions d'acides gras ont été déterminées en utilisant un détecteur de chromatographie-flamme ionisation en phase gazeuse (GC-FID). Les résultats ont montré que les acides gras dominants sont l'acide palmitique (43,2 %–44,4 %) et l'acide oléique (39,8 %–41,4 %). Les principaux triacylglycérols (TAGs) de HFFA-CPO et LFFA-CPO estimés en utilisant la chromatographie liquide haute performance (HPLC), étaient POP (30,8 %–33,6 %) et POO (24,9 %–29,7 %). En général, les propriétés physico-chimiques de HFFA-CPO et LFFA-CPO sont compatibles avec l'huile de palme brute malaisienne standard, à l'exception des FFAs %, valeur hydroxyle, teneur en humidité.

Iron oxide nanoparticles are one of the nanocarriers that are suitable for novel drug delivery systems due to low toxicity, biocompatibility, loading capacity, and controlled drug delivery to cancer cells. The purpose of the present study is the synthesis of coated iron oxide nanoparticles for the delivery of sorafenib (SFB) and its effects on cancer cells. In this study, Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were synthesized by the co-precipitation method, and then sorafenib was loaded onto PEG@Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. FTIR was used to ensure polyethylene glycol (PEG) binding to nanoparticles and loading the drug onto the nanoshells. A comparison of the mean size and the crystalline structure of nanoparticles was performed by TEM, DLS, and X-ray diffraction patterns. Then, cell viability was obtained by the MTT assay for 3T3 and HepG2 cell lines. According to FT-IR results, the presence of O–H and C–H bands at 3427 cm^–1 and 1420 cm^–1 peak correlate with PEG binding to nanoparticles. XRD pattern showed the cubic spinel structure of trapped magnetite nanoparticles carrying medium. The magnetic properties of nanoparticles were examined by a vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM). IC₅₀ values at 72 h for treatment with carriers of Fe₃O₄@PEG nanoparticle for the HepG2 cell line was 15.78 μg/mL (p < 0.05). This study showed that Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles coated by polyethylene glycol and using them in the drug delivery process could be beneficial for increasing the effect of sorafenib on cancer cells.

Oxygen doped mesoporous carbon nitride (O-MCN) was successfully synthesized through one-step thermal polymerization of urea and glucose utilizing nanodisc silica (NDS) from rice husk ash as a hard template. The CO₂ gas, NH₃ and water vapor produced during the thermal process reshaped the morphology and textural properties of the of O-MCN compared to pristine mesoporous carbon nitride (MCN). Highest bisphenol A (BPA) removal achieved under visible light irradiation was 97%, with 60% mineralization ([BPA] = 10 mg L⁻¹: catalyst dosage = 40 mg L⁻¹; pH = 10; 180 min). In addition to mesoporosity, the sub-gap impurity states created from the oxygen doping reduced recombination rate of photogenerated carriers. Holes (h⁺) and superoxide (O₂˙⁻) were identified as the predominant active species responsible for the photodegradation process. The photodegradation route was proposed based on the intermediates detected by LC-time-of-flight/mass spectrometry (LC/TOF-MS). The Density of States (DOS) showed that oxygen doping resulted in a higher photoactivity due to the stronger localization and delocalization of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO). The adsorption pathway of the BPA on the O-MCN and MCN was successfully predicted using the DFT calculations, namely molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), global and local descriptors.

Herein, we report a facile procedure to synthesize the hybrid magnetic catalyst (Ru@CS-CR@Mn) using ruthenium (Ru) supported on ionically cross-linked chitosan-carrageenan (CS-CR) and manganese ferrite (MnFe₂O₄) nanoparticles with excellent catalytic activity. The ionic gelation of CS-CR is acting as a protecting layer to promote the encapsulation of MnFe₂O₄ and Ru nanoparticles by electrostatic interactions. The presence of an active metal and a CS-CR layer on the as-prepared Ru@CS-CR@Mn catalyst was well determined by a series of physicochemical analyses. Subsequently, the catalytic performances of the Ru@CS-CR@Mn catalysts were further examined in the 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) reduction reaction in the presence of sodium borohydride (reducing agent) at ambient temperature. The Ru@CS-CR@Mn catalyst performed excellent catalytic activity in the 4-NP reduction, with a turnover frequency (TOF) values of 925 h⁻¹ and rate constant (k) of 0.078 s⁻¹. It is worth to mentioning that the Ru@CS-CR@Mn catalyst can be recycled and reused up to at least ten consecutive cycles in the 4-NP reduction with consistency in catalytic performance. The Ru@CS-CR@Mn catalyst is particularly attractive as a catalyst due to its superior catalytic activity and superparamagnetic properties for easy separation. We foresee this catalyst having high potential to be extended in a wide range of chemistry applications.

Wastewater contaminated with dyes produced by textile industries is a major problem due to inadequate treatment prior to release into the environment. In this paper, the ability of ZnO to enhance the interfacial photocatalytic activity of lithium titanate/TiO₂ (LTO/TiO₂) for the photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation (4.38 mW/cm²) was assessed. The ZnO-doped lithium titanate/TiO₂ (ZnO/LTO/TiO₂) was synthesized using a combination of hydrothermal and wetness impregnation methods. The high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analyses indicate that the ZnO/LTO/TiO₂ contain several phases (ZnO, LTO, and TiO₂). The adsorption capacity of LTO/TiO₂ (70%) was determined to be higher compared to its photocatalytic activity (25%), which is attributed to the strong interaction between the Li and surface oxygen atoms with the MB dye molecules. The introduction of ZnO improved the photocatalytic ability of LTO/TiO₂ by 45% and extended the life span of ZnO/LTO/TiO₂. The ZnO/LTO/TiO₂ can be reused without a significant loss up to four cycles, whereas LTO/TiO₂ had reduced adsorption after the second cycle by 30%. The ZnO increased the surface defects and restrained the photo-induced electrons (e⁻) from recombining with the photo-induced holes (h⁺). Scavenging tests indicated that the hydroxyl radicals played a major role in the photodegradation of MB, which is followed by electrons and holes.