Day 1 :
Keynote Forum
Gabor Patonay
Georgia State University, USA
Keynote: A green chemistry approach to fluorescence: Silica nanoparticles encapsulated dyes
Biography:
Dr. Gabor Patonay is Professor of Analytical Chemistry at Department of Chemistry, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA. He obtained his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the Technical University of Budapest, Hungary. In 1982 he left Hungary and joined Professor Isiah Warner’s group at Emory University, Atlanta, GA USA. He joined the faculty of Georgia State University (GSU) in 1987, where he is currently Professor. He spent his years at GSU focusing on NIR fluorescence related research developing new bioanalytical and biomedical applications using NIR probes and labels. His recent research interests include bioanalytical and biological applications of fluorescent silica nanoparticles. Dr. Patonay has published over 200 papers. He is the Editor-in-Chief for Analytical Chemistry Insights.
Abstract:
Abstract
Statement of the Problem: Fluorescence spectroscopic applications often require the use of extrinsic fluorophores when intrinsic fluorescence of the molecule of interest is weak or in a spectral region that is prone to interference in the matrix. Introducing extrinsic fluorophores in the molecule of interest may require chemistry that utilizes reagent that is less environmentally friendly. Fluorescence intensity of a single molecular label can be relatively weak requiring using larger amount of chemicals. All these concerns may be alleviated by encapsulating fluorophores in silica nanoparticles. Silica nanoparticles are biologically and environmentally friendly and can be designed for many applications. Covalently copolymerized dyes in silica nanoparticles are free from leaching. Even non-covalently encapsulated dyes are often virtually leach free. The outside of the silica nanoparticles can be designed for any labeling chemistry. The encapsulated dye can serve as a simple reporting label or as a sophisticated molecular probe. Due to the large number of dye molecules that can be encapsulated in a single silica nanoparticle the number of labels needed for detection is very small requiring minimal amount of chemicals. Silica nanoparticles synthesis is conducive for the introduction of covalently copolymerized fluorescent dyes by using modified TEOS reactive analogues that are widely available. The outside layer of the silica nanoparticle surface can serve as chemical reagent or sensor. For example we can change the hydrophobicity or pH sensitivity of the silica nanoparticle surface this way. This study reports how surface properties of fluorescence silica nanoparticles were modified by adding hydrophobic or hydrophilic molecules to achieve biocompatibility. Surface hydrophobicity controlled fluorescent silica nanoparticles are excellent for the detection of latent fingerprints. Surface modified silica nanoparticles can be utilized in capillary electrochromatography using amino acid-bonded silica nanoparticles as pseudostationary phases for chiral separations. Copolymerization of multiple dyes or other molecules will also be discussed.
Keynote Forum
Eckhardt Alexander
Federal Environment Agency (UBA), Germany
Keynote: Title: ToxBox – A tool for evaluating anthropogenic micropollutants in drinking-water
Time : 11:30-12:00
Biography:
Alexander Eckhardt graduated in Biology (M.Sc.) from Regensburg University, Germany, where he also earned his Ph.D. Since 2012 he has been a toxicologist at the German Environment Agency (UBA). Alexander is working on the evaluation of chemicals in drinking-water, with a special focus on anthropogenic micropollutants. His expertise brought him into the Chemicals Working Group for WHO’s Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality.
Abstract:
Introduction
Back in 2003, a theoretical concept for assessing micropollutants in drinking-water, called Health-related indicator value (HRIV), was developed by the German Environment Agency (UBA). This concept helped to derive a HRIV for substances, for which limited amounts of toxicological data are available. Depending on the effect induced a HRIV between 0.1 to 3.0 µg/l is assigned. Since then an increasing number of trace substances was found in drinking-water. These chemical had to be evaluated, because they were found in drinking-water. Genotoxicity, neurotoxicity and endocrine effects were considered to be the most important effects. Using neurotoxicity as a pars pro toto we herein describe the in vitro methods applied for assessing possible neurotoxicity.
Materials and Methods
20 substances were tested for possible effects on necrosis and cell morphology, induction of ROS and apoptosis (Figure 1). This was tested in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and in HepG2 cells as a reference. Seven substances that had stronger effects on SH-SY5Y cells were considered to be potentially neurotoxic and thus additional tests specific for neural cells were performed in a second tier. These tests are: content of neuron specific enolase (NSE), neurite outgrowth assay and assessment of morphology of primary human astrocytes.
Results and Conclusions
For five out of seven substances showing potentially neurotoxic effects in the first tier, these effects could be proven by applying the second tier of tests. Dichlorvos was most effective in neuroblastoma cells whereas very low concentrations of atrazine and nonylphenol resulted in morphological changes in primary human astrocytes.
Our tests indicate that the neurotoxic potential of chemicals can have different effects in different neural cells. It is therefore necessary to perform several tests for obtaining reliable results. After testing 20 substances, seven were considered potentially neurotoxic. The assumption was supported in five substances by the specific set of tests. We therefore conclude, that our tiered approach introduced here, provides us with reliable results. Nevertheless a follow-up project was initiated for further improvements.
Keynote Forum
Ron Tolmie
HEAT NETWORKS, Canada
Keynote: Concurrent storage of heat and electricity
Time : 12:00-12:30
Biography:
Ron Tolmie is a physicist who has been examining the practical applications of exergy storage to accumulate heat and electricity at the times when they are individually abundant and to return the stored energy at times when the energy demand is high. That has required the development of physical systems that can concurrently store energy in both forms and the analysis of the impact of such systems for energy applications that are highly interactive but that are commonly treated as if they were independent issues.
Abstract:
Buildings can store summer heat in the ground for use in the winter, and if a heat pump is used to bring the storage temperature to the value needed for HVAC systems then the system can be designed to store electricity as well as heat. The heat pump can be operated at times when power is most available, achieving a grid demand shift that is equivalent to using batteries to store the electricity. Moreover, the ability to store electricity makes it possible to utilize the excess hydro power that can be produced during the spring runoff, it can reduce the total grid demand, it can reduce the electricity loss related to distribution, and it enables the ponding storage capacity of run-of-river hydro stations to be repurposed so that the system returns the stored energy in the form of electricity. The thermal storage can store cold as well as heat so it works for both cooling and heating (and for domestic hot water). Because we use a lot of energy for heating and cooling the secondary storage of electricity can be implemented on a large scale. In jurisdictions where hydro power is a significant contributor to the grid power supply the result can be the elimination of the use of fossil fuels for both baseload and peaking applications and the reduction or elimination of expensive alternatives like nuclear power. The ground store uses two concentric rings of borehole heat exchangers plus a heat pump that draws heat out of the outer ring and moves it to the inner zone. Because the outer ring is below the ambient ground temperature the direction of the net flow of heat is into the store so it does not lose heat. It provides both long term (inter-seasonal) and short term storage.
Conceptually the use of thermal storage instead of fossil fuels for heating and cooling in Ontario could reduce the electricity demand by about 50 TWh, would increase the generation from the existing hydro stations, could eliminate the use of natural gas for both heating and power generation and could reduce or eliminate the need for nuclear power in Ontario.
- Green Catalysis | Green Chemistry Applications | Green Synthesis and Designing | New Trends in Green Chemistry | Green Chemical Solvents | Green Metrics and Measurements | Solar Energy in Action | Organic Synthesis|
Session Introduction
Cynthia Ogukwe
Federal University of Technology, Nigeria
Title: Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrophotometric (GC-MS) studies on therapeutic potentials of Costus afer ker gawl leaves
Time : 14:15-14:45
Biography:
Ogukwe, Cynthia Ekwy Associate Professor -Analytical Chemist of Natural Product and Environmental Samples
One goal of the research area is the assessment of the chemical and phytoactive components of Natural product extracts and their application as probable industrial raw material to improve the human health and the environment.
Abstract:
Statement of Problem: The search for new therapeutic agents or biochemical targets and screening of many compounds as possible to find chemical structures for drug development is on the increase. Costus afer leaf infusion is used traditionally throughout tropical Africa to treat disorders such as fevers, diarrhea, vomiting, cough, rheumatism, hemorrhage and tachycardia (rapid heart rate). The present study is to identify the specific components of the Costus afer leaf that are responsible for some of the reported therapeutic properties it exhibits.
Methodology: Dried leaves of Costus afer ker gawl were pulverized to powder with an electric blender. A portion of crude extract from the powdered sample was subjected to Column chromatography. Eluents from the column chromatography were further subjected to GC-MS analysis.
Findings: The obtained prevailing compounds were 13, 27-Cycloursan-3-ol, acetate (36.17%) and lupenone (39.50%) with their retention time as 26.896 min and 29.143 min respectively.
Conclusion: GC-MS studies on the leaf extract of Costus afer showed the presence of two pentacyclic compounds identified as Cycloursan-3-ol, acetate (36.17%) and lupenone (39.50%). The two pentacyclic compounds confirmed the presence of steroids and validate the use of C. afer leaf as an anti-inflammatory and antidote for acute toxicity in traditional medicine.
Atsushi Ohtaka
Osaka Institute of Technology, Japan
Title: Catalytic specificity of polystyrene-stabilized PdO nanoparticles for Hiyama coupling reaction in water and the associated mechanism
Biography:
Atsushi Ohtaka received his PhD from Osaka University in 2003 under the direction of Professor Hideo Kurosawa. He then worked for two years as a Post-Doctorate Research Fellow in National Cardiovascular Center, for a year at Institute for Molecular Science under the direction of Professor Yasuhiro Uozumi, and for six months as a Visiting Researcher in Alicante University under the direction of Professor Carmen Najera. He became an Assistant Professor (2006) and Associate Professor (2013) at Osaka Institute of Technology where he won an award for encouragement of Research in Materials Science in 2008. His current research interests include: (1) transition-metal nanoparticles catalyst; (2) catalytic reaction in water.
Abstract:
Metal nanoparticles have attracted considerable interest in the context of green chemistry because they are efficient catalysts for organic reactions in water. Recently, we developed linear polystyrene-stabilized PdO nanoparticles (PS-PdONPs) which showed high catalytic activity for several carbon-carbon coupling reactions in water.1-4 In the research of Hiyama coupling reaction catalyzed by PS-PdONPs,5 we got finding that the reaction would occur through the different mechanism from that in the case of metal complex catalyst. In general, the mechanism of the Hiyama coupling reaction involves the oxidative addition of aryl halides to Pd(0) to form the organopalladium halide (Ar-Pd-X). This is followed by transmetallation with organosilanes to provide the diorganopalladium species (Ar-Pd-R), which undergoes reductive elimination, leading to carbon-carbon bond formation and regeneration of Pd(0). When a Pd(II) species was used as the catalyst, it is supposed that reduction from Pd(II) to Pd(0) must first take place to generate the catalytically active species. However, we found that PS-PdONPs (Pd(II) species) exhibit high catalytic activity for the Hiyama coupling reaction of aryltrimethoxysilanes with a variety of bromoarenes under air in water. In contrast, no desired coupling product was obtained from the Hiyama coupling reaction using linear polystyrene-stabilized Pd nanoparticles (PS-PdNPs, Pd(0) species) as a catalyst. No formation of Pd(0) species was confirmed by XPS analysis of the recovered catalyst after the reaction. These data prompted us to examine the detailed mechanism of Hiyama coupling reaction in water using PS-PdONPs as a catalyst. The different reactivities of PdONPs and PdNPs will be also discussed.
Manisha Nigam
University of Pittsburgh, USA
Title: Synthesis of expensive N-phenylmaleimide derivatives and its green Diels Alder reaction
Biography:
Manisha Nigam is an Associate Professor of Organic/Green Chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, PA. Her scholarship and professional development activities are primarily focused on Green Chemistry Education, where her key research goal is to develop environmentally friendly experiments for undergraduate laboratories and to introduce students about alternate methodologies for achieving chemical transformations without the use of hazardous chemicals. She primarily teaches Organic Chemistry courses as well as a course in Green Chemistry & Sustainability that she has developed. She has guided numerous research students, who have presented their work at various conferences. She is also an active advocate for efforts aimed at achieving a “green” campus.
Abstract:
We propose the design and implementation of a less hazardous, environmentally friendly and energy efficient reaction within a sophomore level Organic Chemistry lab course curriculum - to synthesize efficient precursors that result in higher yields and lesser purification times for a Diels-Alder reaction. Our main objectives are to enable students to: (a) identify and understand various Green Chemistry principles associated with the Green reaction such as atom economy, use of safer chemicals, design for energy efficiency, and inherently safer chemistry for accident prevention; and (b) enable students to use 1H NMR spectroscopy data to identify the synthesized Diels-Alder product. Additionally, we anticipate the following benefits from this research: (a) shorter laboratory experimental times via the use of efficient precursors; (b) synthesis of efficient precursors that are otherwise expensive to procure commercially. Substituted N-phenylmaleimides are a class of very expensive precursors that are used in certain organic chemistry reactions. We propose here that the students will synthesize a substituted N-phenylmaleimide in two steps to be used as a precursor in the Diels-Alder reaction. In the first step, the students grind the maleic anhydride and substituted amines under solventless conditions. In the second step, they will perform the cyclization of amide acid with acetic anhydride and sodium acetate. The reaction of substituted N-phenylmaleimide with 2,3-dimethyl-1,3,butadiene presents sophomore level undergraduate students with an opportunity to identify the position of the substitution (ortho, meta or para) of the alkyl (R) group in the product using 1H NMR spectroscopy data. The students also explore and understand various Green Chemistry principles associated with the reaction such as: atom economy, use of safer chemicals, design for energy efficiency, and inherently safer chemistry for accident prevention.
Oluwatobi S Oluwafemi
University of Johannesburg, South Africa
Title: Synthesis of gelatin stabilised high aspect ratio gold nanorods with enhanced biological stability as effective photothermal agent for cancer therapy
Biography:
Oluwatobi S Oluwafemi is a researcher of National Research Foundation (NRF), South Africa at the Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Johannesburg. His research is in the broad area of nanotechnology and includes green synthesis of semiconductor and metal nanomaterials for different applications which include but not limited to biological (Imaging, labeling, therapeutic-PDT and PTT), optical, environmental and water treatment. He has author and co-author many journal publications, book chapter and books. He is a reviewer for many international journals in the field of nanotechnology and has won many accolades both at local as well as at international level, focusing on different way.
Abstract:
A major challenge in efficient biological application of near infrared gold nanorods is the surfactant bilayer-induced cytotoxicity. Hence, there is need for the synthesis of biocompatible, non-toxic and stable functionalized gold nanorods. Though the use of gelatin as a passivating agent is a promising material for multifunctional coating, the inherent cytotoxicity, biological stability as well as the photothermal application performance of gelatin coated gold nanorods still need to be investigated before in vivo therapeutic application. In this study, synthesis of gelatin conjugated high aspect ratio gold nanorods (Au-NRs) with enhanced stability in biological system and its application in photothermal tumor ablation is herein reported for the first time. The gelatin shell required for the appropriate coating was optimized and investigated for their stability in culture media and relative cytotoxicity towards KM-Luc/GFP (mouse fibroblast histiocytoma cell line) and FM3A-Luc (breast carcinoma cell line) cancer cell lines. The optimized ratio of the gelatin-coated Au-NRs (0.5:1) exhibited enhanced biological media stability, improved temperature elevation and excellent photostability compared to CTAB and PEG capped gold nanorods. The cellular cytotoxicity and in vitro laser cytotoxicity experiments further demonstrate the effectiveness of the gelatin-coated nanorods in efficiently inhibiting deep-embedded tumor cells proliferation.
Patrick Pale
University of Strasbourg, France
Title: From homogeneous to heterogeneous catalysis towards greener chemistry: The zeo-click and zeolite-based organic synthesis approaches
Biography:
Patrick Pale studied at the University of Champagne in France. After an industrial stay in a pharmaceutical company, he joined the group of Prof L Ghosez as a Post-doc fellow in Belgium. Back to France, he got a CNRS position and then a Research Associate position at Harvard University in the group of G Whitesides. In 1995, he got a full Professor position at the University of Strasbourg, France. Subsequently, he was awarded Professor at the “Institut Universitaire de France” from 1996 to 2001. His scientific interests include the (asymmetric) synthesis of bioactive compounds, organometallic chemistry, carbohydrate chemistry and enzymatic chemistry, and more recently chemistry with materials such as zeolites, MOF, POM.
Abstract:
Statement of the Problem: Organic synthesis is the art of building molecules in a controlled way, up to highly complex natural and bioactive compounds. Mostly relying on metals as reagents or catalysts, organic synthesis is facing a huge and increasing problem: metal availability and sustainability.
Methodology: To help solving this problem, we are combining the properties of zeolites with the catalytic properties of some metal ions, trying to develop an alternative organic chemistry that we called zeo-click chemistry. For that purpose, we are developing and using new heterogeneous catalysts based on zeolites (i) easy-to-prepare, easy-to-handle, easy-to-recover and recyclable, (ii) able to efficiently, quickly and reliably generate substances by joining appropriate units together, what we called the "zeo-click" approach. (Sch. 1). To go even further towards greener synthesis, we are currently exploring an alternative to the conventional solution- and solid-phase organic syntheses, based on such zeolite catalysts, what we called ZeoBOS: each step would be performed through a zeolite, either native or modified, catalytically converting a molecule to another one.
Conclusion & Significance: In sharp contrast to homogeneous catalysis, a single heterogeneous catalyst can be applied to major types of organic transformations such as multi-component reactions, coupling reactions, cycloadditions, etc (Sch 1). Furthermore, metalated zeolites are efficient and reusable catalysts, and they can keep their activity in water, alcohol or without solvent. The 1st total synthesis of a natural bioactive product has been achieved based on these metalated zeolites as catalysts.
Safi-naz S Zaki
National Research Centre, Egypt
Title: Influences of irrigation, fertilizers on growth and yield of two sugar beet varieties in Egypt
Biography:
Safi-naz Sabet Zaki is n researcher in National Research Centre, Egypt. She is now working as a researcher in Agriculture & Biological division.
Abstract:
Two field experiments were conducted in the Experimental farm of the National Research centre, El-Nobaria, El-Boheira Governorate, Egypt, during two seasons (2014-2015) to evaluate the growth of root and yield of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.). The experimental treatments were as following: (a) two sugar beet varieties (Samba and Farida), (b) three irrigation water regimes (2483, 1862 and 1241 m3/fed./season) under drip irrigation system, and (c) four NPK fertilization rates (0, 0, 0) as control, (50, 75, 25), (75, 110, 35) and (100, 150, 50) as quantity of compound NPK fertilizers, respectively. The results were: Samba variety was the superior in root characters i.e. length, and diameter, and yields of roots and sugar/fed., water stress induced by irrigated sugar beet plants with the lowest water regime which depressed the root parameters as well as yield of roots and sugar/fed. Root diameter and yields of roots and sugar showed its higher values under the moderate water regime (1862 m3/fed.). For water productivity of root yield, it was observed that the highest values were gained using the lowest quantity of water. Generally, it was obviously that Samba variety which irrigated by the moderate water regime (1862 m3/fed./season), and fertilized by the highest amount of NPK (100, 150, 50) produced the economic root and sugar yields of sugar beet and saved 621 m3/fed./season, which is the main concern nowadays for the arid regions.