Hispidulin has been isolated from the leaves of Clerodendrum philippinum and identified with the help of physical and spectroscopic data. A high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method has been developed and validated for its accurate estimation in different plant parts of C. philippinum . Thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) analysis was performed on HPTLC plates by use of a ternary mobile phase consisting of chloroform‒methanol‒formic acid (9:1:0.1, V/V ). It was quantified at the wavelength of its maximum absorbance at 267 nm, with a linear response in the range of 100‒500 ng per spot. The method was validated according to the International Council for Harmonisation (ICH) guidelines. The developed method was found to be more highly sensitive than the previously reported methods and gives consistent results when applied for the postchromatographic estimation of hispidulin. The developed method is very accurate, precise, and has been successfully applied for the analysis of hispidulin in C. philippinum , and also can be used for its quality control and standardization.

An overview on deep-ultraviolet nonlinear optical (DUV NLO) materials was summarized from an extensive literature survey and analyzed the results. Deep-UV NLO crystals are of worldwide interest for the generation of coherent light with wavelength below 200 nm by the direct second-harmonic generation (SHG) output from solid-state lasers. Despite a number of materials shows NLO, only few are available for deep-UV second-harmonic generation (SHG). It is limited by the fundamental requirements of the structure-directing optical properties. KBe2BO3F2 (KBBF) is the sole exception and it exhibits a sufficiently large SHG response and good phasematchability, but it suffers from the processing difficulties. Various parameters used for the characteristics of DUV NLO Crystals were discussed. Classifications of NLO materials i.e., & pi;-conjugated and non-& pi;-conjugated materials were also discussed. NLO materials of phosphates with their properties were also discussed, which were introduced in recent past by the researchers. In addition, NLO materials (UV and DUV) play significant roles in various applications, were discussed in this article.

The presence of pollutants that are hazardous to the environment, human health, and the health of other living things is referred to as air pollution. Air pollution is also brought on by natural disasters like wildfires, volcanic eruptions, and sand/dust storms. All greenhouse gases emitted from various sources contribute to pollution. The majority of cities are polluted by PM2.5 and PM10. Many cities have SO2 and NO2 levels that are below the legal limit. There are a variety of poisons in the air, but PM2.5 is the most dangerous of them all. Monitoring pollutant gas levels on a regular basis can help with air pollution control. According to regional coefficients of variation, PM10 has greater variability than PM2.5, and this variability is stronger in traffic-affected inner city environments than in suburban places. The manufacturing, construction, energy, and mining industries of Bhubaneswar are particularly prone to releasing air pollutants. These may include particulate matter (PM), sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other hazardous chemicals. The federal government and municipalities have implemented a number of initiatives to combat air pollution. These include putting into effect car emission rules, encouraging the use of cleaner fuels, and creating programmes to cut industrial emissions. The government is also focusing on expanding green space, enhancing public transit, and raising public awareness of the significance of lowering air pollution.

Graphene is the name for a monolayer sheet of carbon atoms that are bonded together in a repeating pattern of hexagons. This sheet is only one atom thick. Monolayers of graphene stacked on top of each other. In this article, we have compared the characterization results of graphene and graphene oxide along with synthesis via different methods. A sigma bond connects each atom in a graphene sheet to its three closest neighbours and each atom also contributes one electron to a conduction band that covers the entire graphene sheet. Graphene when oxidized is called graphene oxide (GO) and is mostly used in photoelectric, materialistic, catalyst and energy fields due to its thermal, electrical and mechanical characteristics. It is also used in the field of medical science, drug delivery and biomedical applications. Graphene have been improved due to import of 3D printing technology. In last few years, graphene has taken the attention of most material science researchers due to its various applications. Graphene based polymers and nanocomposites are widely used in sensors, optoelectronics, magneto transport, automotive, biosensors, electronics and aerospace fields.

Two different groups of solid polymer sheets: low density polyethylene (LDPE) sample of thickness 0.006 cm and 0.007 cm along with high density polyethylene (HDPE) sample of the thickness of 0.009 cm, 0.010 cm were taken in this work. The measurement of electrical properties such as dielectric constant, ε' and dielectric loss, ε'' for LDPE and HDPE polymer sheets have been measured using a dielectric cell. The dielectric cell has been fabricated which consists of two circular parallel plates of pure stainless steel each of 5 cm diameter and 2 mm thickness. An impedance bridge (GRA 650A) was used for measurement of capacitance, C, and dissipation factor, D in the audio frequency (AF) range, 100 Hz to 10 kHz. Different samples were loaded in between the two plates of the cell and the capacitance as well as the dissipation factor were estimated from the dial readings of the bridge. Effect of frequency variation on ε', ε'', relaxation time, τ , dissipation factor, tanδ and ac conductivity, σ were also discussed at audio frequency range. The complex permittivity, ε*, related to free dipole oscillating in an alternating field and loss tangent, tanδ were calculated. The frequency-dependent conductivity, dielectric behavior, and electrical modulus, both real (M') and imaginary (M") parts of LDPE and HDPE have been studied in this work. The values of the real part of the electrical modulus (M') did not equal to zero at low frequencies and it is expected that the electrode polarization may develop in both sheets. These findings reveal an increased coupling among the local dipolar motions in a short-range order localized motion. The analysis of real (ε') and imaginary (ε'') parts of dielectric permittivity and that electrical modulus real (M') and imaginary (M") parts signify poly dispersive nature of relaxation time as observed in Cole-Cole plots.

In the present study, the excess molar volume (V) and the deviations in intermolecular free length (ΔLf), isentropic compressibility (Δβs), acoustic impedance (ΔZ), and ultrasonic velocity (ΔU) were calculated using the experimentally measured values of density (ρ) and ultrasonic velocity (U) of binary mixtures of an acidic organophosphoric extractant (DEHPA) with two substituted aromatic hydrocarbons, i.e., p-xylene and toluene at 303.15K and atmospheric pressure, 0.1MPa over the entire composition range of DEHPA. The results of both binary mixtures have been presented graphically and compared in terms of molecular interaction between unlike molecules of the mixtures, which outcome may be applied in the solvent extraction process.

Ultrasonic velocities (U), viscosities (η) and densities (ρ) of binary liquid mixtures of di–(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (DEHPA) with eight non polar diluents viz. n-pentane, n-hexane, n-heptane, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, cyclohexane, carbon disulphide and dioxane are measured at temperature 303.16 K and 0.01MPa for entire range of concentration. The measured data are used to compute acoustic impedance (Z), isentropic compressibility (s), intermolecular free length (Lf), free volume ( Vf ), internal pressure ( i  ) and viscous relaxation time(.). The excess properties are also evaluated from the measured data to study interand intra-molecular interaction between components of liquid mixtures. The research findings may be utilized in solvent extraction process to enhance extraction efficacy.

In solvent extraction, a suitable modifier, basically polar liquid is used with extractant like DEHPA, TBP, TOPO and MIBK to enhance the efficiency in extraction processes. This paper is related to the study of physico-chemical properties of polar - polar binary mixtures at 303.15K and 0.1 MPa. Molar volume, free volume, isentropic compressibility, intermolecular free length, specific acoustic impedance, relaxation time, Rao's constant, Wada's constant, absorption coefficient have been calculated from the experimentally measured data of density, ultrasonic velocity and viscosity of pure components and binary mixtures of methanol/propionic acid + DEHPA. In addition, excess molar volume, excess Gibb's energy of activation of viscous flow, deviations in viscosity, isentropic compressibility, free volume, intermolecular free length and acoustic impedance were also computed from the experimental data. The observed variations of excess/deviation functions with the composition of DEHPA have been discussed in terms of molecular interaction between unlike molecules in two binary mixtures due to chemical, physical and structural effects. It is found that the molecular interaction of methanol with extractant DEHPA is better than that of propionic acid and so methanol may be used as a suitable modifier with DEHPA in the solvent extraction process.

Composites were made from bio degradable polymer (poly) lactic acid and lignocellulosic materials derived from natural fibers of luffa cylindrica using injection moulding technique. Before reinforcement in the poymer, the fibers were subjected to chemical treatments like alkali treatment, bleaching and acid hydrolysis. Frequency dependence of dielectric parameters like dielectric constant, di electric loss and ac conductivity of the composites were investigated in the frequency range from 1000Hz to 1MHz. The effect of wt of fiber in the composites on the above mentioned dielectric parameters were also evaluated. The experimental results show that the values of dielectric constant, ac conductivity and loss factor increase with increase in wt of fiber in the polymer matrix. However when fibers exposed to alkali treatment, bleaching and acid hydrolysis were incorporated in to the matrix, the composites showed inferior dielectric response compared to composites having fibers exposed to alkali treatment and bleaching only. It was also found that dielectric constant and dielectric loss factor of all the composite samples decreased with increase in frequency of the applied field. However, the ac conductivity of all the samples is found to increase with increase in frequency.

Poly lactic acid (PLA)—chemically treated fiber of Luffa cylindrica (LC) composites were fabricated by micro-compounding followed by injection molding method. Before reinforcement, LC fibers were exposed to chemical treatment like alkali treatment, bleaching and acid hydrolysis. The chemically treated LC fibers were then modified with Ca salts to explore their uses in bio medical industries. Thermal stability of chemically extracted cellulose fibers of LC and PLA composites reinforced with 2 wt%, 5 wt% and 10 wt% LC fibers were studied by thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) in the temperature range from 30℃ to 700℃. Better interfacial bonding between fiber and matrix was evidenced by increased thermal stability of composites due to incorporation of fiber. Crystallization and melting behavior of PLA composites were studied in the temperature range from 30℃ to 170℃ at heating rate of 10°/minute. The crystallization temperature and crystallization enthalpy increased up to 2 wt% of LC fiber content and gradually decreased with further increase of fiber content in the composites. Double melting peaks were observed for all composite samples and possible explanations were suggested on the basis of different crystalline structure of PLA and melt crystallization phenomena.

Dynamic mechanical behaviour of resorcinol-formaldehyde matrix and its composites reinforced with natural fibers of Luffa cylindrica (LC) has been studied. The effects of fiber loading, alkali treatment on fiber, temperature and frequency on storage modulus and mechanical-loss factor of the composites were studied. The dynamic mechanical behaviour of the composites and pure matrix has been investigated in the frequency range from 0.1 Hz to 10 Hz and temperature range from 26℃ to 100℃. The experimental results show that the values of storage modulus of the composites increase with increase in fiber loading. The storage modulus of treated LC fiber composites were found to be enhanced when compared with the untreated fiber composites. It was also found that mechanical-loss factor was more when untreated LC fibers were incorporated in the composites and decreased with the incorporation of treated LC fiber. The storage modulus of all the composites increased with frequency but decreased with rise of temperature. The glass transition temperature of the composites was evaluated from the peaks of tan delta variations.

The ultrasonic velocity, density and viscosity of an acidic nuclear extractant namely di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) and its binary mixtures with three monosubstituted benzenes, viz., nitrobenzene, chlorobenzene and toluene were determined at temperature T= 303.15 K and at pressure p = 0.1 MPa. The experimental values were utilised to compute relaxation time, excess molar volume, excess Gibbs energy of activation of viscous flow, deviations in intermolecular free length, acoustic impedance, ultrasonic velocity and viscosity. The excess/deviation functions were fitted to fourth order Redlich-Kister type polynomial equation to estimate binary coefficients and standard errors between experimental and calculated data. The nature of these functions was utilised to speculate the nature of molecular interaction between component molecules of all studied binary mixtures. Furthermore, P-31 NMR spectra of pure D2EHPA and its binary mixtures with the monosubstituted benzenes were used to assess molecular interactions between components of liquid mixtures at microscopic level and to corroborate with the results obtained from bulk properties of liquid mixtures. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The influence of cellulose nano fibers extracted from the fruit of luffa cylindrica (LC) on the tensile, flexural and impact properties of composite materials using poly lactic acid (PLA) processed by micro compounding and injection molding was studied. Preliminary results suggested promising mechanical properties. The impact strength, tensile strength and flexural strength of the composites increased with incorporation of very low content of LC fiber up to 2 wt%. But when the wt of LC fiber in the composite increased (5 wt% and 10 wt%), mechanical strength of the composites reduced probably due to agglomeration of cellulose fibers. However, modulus of composites was enhanced with increase in wt of fiber content in the composites. Before reinforcement, the LC fibers were modified with calcium phosphate in order to explore the possibilities of using these composites in biomedical industries. The novelty of this work is that there is no use of compatiblizer and coupling agent during the processing so that the cost of processing is reduced.

In view of biomedical applications of cellulose fibers in orthopedics, dentistry and reconstructive surgery, Luffa cylindrica (LC), a local forest product of Orissa, India, has been used for preparation of alkali treated LC fiber modified with calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate separately by following standard procedures. FTIR and Raman spectra were obtained for these samples at wavelength range 500 - 4000 cm–1 and 300 - 3000 cm–1 respectively. Lattice structures of cellulose i.e., crystalline cellulose and amorphous cellulose were detected using Raman spectroscopy and discussed. The property of cellulose such as its degree of crystallinity was determined from intensity of FT IR peaks and was found to be 74.12%. The presence of calcite and hydroxy apatite, polymorphs of calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate respectively were confirmed in the treated modified LC fibers which can be used as bioactive materials.

Tensile and compressive behaviour of resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) matrix and its composites reinforced with fibers of Luffa cylindrica (LC) have been studied. LC fibers were subjected to chemical treatments such as alkali activation by NaOH followed by bleaching and acid hydrolysis in order to improve fiber-matrix adhesion. Both treated and untreated LC fibers are modified with calcium phosphate. The presence of hydroxy apatite, a polymorph of calcium phosphate and a major constituent of vertebrate bone and teeth, was confirmed from XRD peak of treated LC fiber. XRD analysis of the treated LC fiber has confirmed the crystalline nature of the chemically treated LC fiber by its crystallinity index. The effects of fiber loading of chemically treated and untreated LC fiber on ultimate stress, yield strength, breaking stress, and modulus of the composites were analyzed. The tensile and compressive modulus of the composites were increased with incorporation of both treated and untreated LC fibers into the RF matrix. The modulus of composites with treated LC fiber was enhanced compared to that of the untreated fiber composites. Furthermore the values of ultimate stress, yield stress, and breaking stress were increased with the incorporation of treated LC fiber in the composites.

Density, ultrasonic velocity and viscosity of an organophosphorous extractant, i.e. di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) and its binary mixtures with five alkanols (C1–C4, C8) viz., methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol and 1-octanol have been measured at 303.15 K and atmospheric pressure. Using these experimental values, excess molar volume, excess Gibbs energy of activation of viscous flow, deviations in ultrasonic velocity, viscosity, isentropic compressibility, intermolecular free length and acoustic impedance have been computed over the entire mole fraction range of D2EHPA. These excess/deviation functions were fitted to Redlich–Kister type of polynomial equation to derive binary coefficients and estimate standard errors between the experimental and calculated data. The variations of excess/deviation functions with composition of D2EHPA have been discussed in terms of molecular interaction in the mixtures. Furthermore, 1H NMR spectra of these binary mixtures at a constant volume have been reported and correlated with acoustic responses.

The dielectric properties of luffacylindrica(LC) fiber reinforced resorcinol-formaldehyde(RF) composites have been studied in terms of bonding between fiber and matrix. The effects of fiber loading and alkali treatment on LC fiber composite were investigated by dielectric constant, dielectric loss factor and ac conductivity measurement in the frequency range from 100Hz to 1 MHz and temperature from 26℃ to 100℃. The dielectric constant, ac conductivity and dielectric loss factor were increased with increase in wt of LC fiber in the composites and decreased with incorporation of alkali treated LC fiber in the composites. Furthermore the dielectric constant and dielectric loss factor of the composites were decreased and ac conductivity were increased with increase in frequency and fiber loading. The presence of α relaxation was detected in all LC fiber composites.

Experimental values of density (rho), viscosity (eta) and ultrasonic velocity (u) of the binary liquid mixtures of a nuclear extractant-di (2-ethyl hexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) and monocarboxylic acids viz, acetic acid, propionic acid and n-butyric acid over entire composition range of D2EHPA at 303.15 K are reported. Experimental data are used to assess the excess molar volume and deviation in isentropic compressibility, ultrasonic velocity and viscosity. These properties are used to interpret molecular interactions among component liquids. The values of excess/deviation functions have been fitted to a Redlich-Kister type polynomial equation to derive binary coefficients and estimate standard error. Furthermore, mixture viscosities are correlated with some single parameter viscosity models and relative merits of these models are discussed.