https://chemistry.semnan.ac.ir/ Applied Chemistry Today en daily 1 Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0330 Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0330 https://chemistry.semnan.ac.ir/article_10606.html In this research work, NiO/carbon nanotube nanocomposite (NiO/CNTs) was synthesized using direct deposition method and characterized using Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and elemental analysis (EDS). Then, carbon paste electrode modified with NiO/CNTs nanocomposite with optimal weight percentage (10% w/w) was prepared and the designed sensor was used to investigate the electrochemical behavior of epirubicin. The results showed that the highest sensitivity was achieved under neutral conditions. The designed sensor detected epirubicin well in the concentration range of 0.01-320 μM and a detection limit of 8 nM was obtained for the measurement of epirubicin on the surface of the new sensor. The modified sensor has shown good catalytic ability in increasing the oxidation current as well as reducing the drug overvoltage. Finally, the proposed sensor was used to measure epirubicin in injection and dextrose saline samples and the results showed a recovery percentage of 97.4%-102.8%, which is acceptable for a new sensor. https://chemistry.semnan.ac.ir/article_10505.html یک کاتالیزگر اسیدی جامد ناهمگن جدید بر پایه‌ی زیرکونیوم کاربید عامل‌دار شده با گروه‌های اسید سولفونیک (ZrC@SO₃H) سنتز شد و با استفاده از روش‌های مختلفی شامل طیف‌سنجی مادون قرمز تبدیل فوریه (FT-IR)، طیف‌سنجی فوتوالکترون اشعه ایکس (XPS)، میکروسکوپ الکترونی روبشی (SEM)، میکروسکوپ الکترونی عبوری (TEM)، آنالیز وزن‌سنجی حرارتی (TGA) و تیتراسیون اسید-باز مورد مشخصه‌یابی قرار گرفت. نتایج این آزمون‌ها اتصال موفقیت‌آمیز گروه‌های اسید سولفونیک به سطح ZrC را تأیید نمودند. این کاتالیزگر در واکنش استری‌سازی اسید استیک با اتانول برای تهیه‌ی اتیل‌استات تحت شرایط ملایم مورد استفاده قرار گرفت. آزمایش‌ها نشان دادند که این ماده کاتالیزگر، عملکرد بالایی در واکنش‌های استری‌سازی دارد، به‌طوری که در شرایط بهینه، اتیل‌استات با بازده ۹۱٪ سنتز شد. تأثیر پارامترهایی همچون مقدار کاتالیزگر، نسبت مولی الکل به اسید، زمان و دمای واکنش بر نرخ تبدیل اسید استیک بررسی گردید. بیشترین میزان تبدیل زمانی حاصل شد که مقدار کاتالیزگر با 5 درصد وزنی، نسبت مولی اولیه‌ی اتانول به اسید استیک برابر با 5/3:۱، مدت زمان واکنش 5 ساعت و در دمای 80 درجه سانتیگراد نتیجه واکنش حاصل شد. این نتایج نشان می‌دهند که این کاتالیزگر می‌تواند جایگزینی مناسب برای سولفوریک اسید در فرایندهای استری‌سازی باشد و برخی از معایب مرتبط با استفاده از اسیدهای سنتی را کاهش دهد. همچنین، کاتالیزگر مذکور به‌مدت پنج چرخه‌ واکنش با موفقیت بازیافت شد و در هر مرحله عملکرد عالی خود را حفظ نمود. عدم افت محسوس در کارایی پس از استفاده‌های مکرر، پایداری عملکرد کاتالیزگر را تأیید می‌کند. https://chemistry.semnan.ac.ir/article_10603.html In the present study, nickel-zinc-phosphorus/boron carbide nanocomposite coatings were synthesized via electrodeposition from an electrolyte containing different concentrations of boron carbide as reinforcing particles, using an optimized current density of 50 mA/cm2. In subsequent investigations, the surface morphology, phase structure, and elemental composition of the coatings were conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), respectively. The corrosion resistance of the fabricated coatings was evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), open‑circuit potential (OCP) measurements, and Tafel‑polarization studies in a 3.5 % NaCl solution. These studies demonstrated that composite coatings with smooth and uniform surfaces have higher corrosion resistance than pure Ni-P-Zn alloy coatings, and the lowest corrosion current density and highest corrosion resistance were obtained for the coating produced from a solution containing 6 6 g/L B4C. Co‑deposition at this optimal B4C concentration yielded a uniform, defect‑free, dense microstructure, thereby enhancing the corrosion behavior of the coatings. https://chemistry.semnan.ac.ir/article_10506.html In this study, a Fe/Quasi MOF UIO-66 (Zr) nanocomposite synthesized via ultrasonic method was applied for the removal of methylene blue dye from aqueous solution. Physico-chemical and morphological properties of as-fabricated nanocomposites characterized by several methods including x-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and N2 gas absorption/desorption analysis or Brunauer-Emmett-Tellers (BET). The photocatalytic activity of nanocomposite was investigated against Methylene blue dye and the effects of catalyst dosage, pH, initial dye concentration, contact time and temperature were investigated. Adsorption kinetics were evaluated using pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order and interparticle diffusion models. The results showed that the optimal adsorbent dosage was 0.045 g and alkaline conditions (pH=11) led to the highest removal efficiency. Kinetic analysis indicated that although both kinetic models fitted the experimental data well, the pseudo-second order model exhibited a higher correlation coefficient, suggesting that adsorption is the dominant mechanism. Different analyses confirmed the successful synthesis and nanoscale structure of the Fe/Quasi UIO-66 composite. https://chemistry.semnan.ac.ir/article_10602.html In the present study, by varying the pH of the electroplating electrolyte, different Zn-Co-Al2O3 composite coatings were deposited on an St37 steel substrate. After coating at pH values of 4.5, 5, and 5.5, the microstructure of the coatings was examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The corrosion behavior of the test samples in 3.5 wt% sodium chloride solution was also evaluated by potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results showed that increasing the pH led to finer crystallite size and a higher amount of alumina particles in the coatings. Polarization data analysis also revealed that applying the coating reduced the corrosion current density of steel, with the coating deposited at pH=5.5 exhibiting the most significant reduction compared to the other coated samples. Furthermore, EIS results indicated that the charge transfer resistance of the coatings formed at pH values of 4.5, 5, and 5.5 was approximately 345, 547, and 682 Ω.cm2, respectively. These values confirm that the coating deposited at pH=5.5 has superior corrosion resistance compared to the others. https://chemistry.semnan.ac.ir/article_10601.html This study presents a rigorous evaluation of the efficacy of membrane filtration as an advanced technology for producing drinking water from two distinct water sources. The investigation began with a comprehensive comparative analysis of the physicochemical and biological parameters of raw water from the Khairabad and Maroon rivers. This baseline assessment revealed a significant disparity in mineral content, with the Maroon River exhibiting a substantially higher Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) concentration of 1393 mg/L compared to the Khairabad River's 739 mg/L. Subsequently, the performance of the membrane filtration process was assessed for both water types. The results demonstrated the notable consistency of this technology. The system effectively reduced turbidity to below 0.7 NTU and consistently maintained a Silt Density Index (SDI) below 0.03, indicating superior particulate removal and low fouling potential. A key advantage observed was the membrane's selective removal capability, which successfully eliminated undesirable particulates and microbial load while preserving the fundamental chemical composition and beneficial minerals of the water. A comparative evaluation of membrane cleaning mechanisms further revealed that backwashing was significantly more effective than air scouring. The backwashing protocol achieved a remarkable recovery of over 94% of the initial membrane flux, underscoring its superiority in maintaining long-term operational efficiency. Microbiologically, membrane filtration was successful in removing a major portion of the microbial load. Utilizing this method as a complementary pre-treatment stage prior to chlorination can be an optimal strategy that removes the bulk of contaminants, subsequently requiring only a low dose of disinfectant to provide a residual protective effect throughout the distribution network. https://chemistry.semnan.ac.ir/article_10641.html Dandruff is one of the most common skin problems and the role of Malassezia furfur in its occurrence is well known. In this study, Artemisia annua (Gandevash) essential oil was prepared in the form of three nanoemulsion formulations and their stability was evaluated under different environmental conditions including centrifugation, heat, cold, pH and ionic strength. Then, the antifungal activity against M. furfur was investigated. Also, the antioxidant activity of the nanoemulsions was compared with the essential oil. Stability evaluation of the three nanoemulsion formulations of Artemisia annua essential oil showed that nanoemulsion number 1 and 2 had the lowest absorption and turbidity in ionic, thermal, pH change and centrifugation stability tests and was more stable than the nanoemulsion number3. Nano 3 also showed the highest instability in all tests. The antioxidant test results showed that nanoemulsion 3 with IC50 equal to 1.2636±0.0001 mg/ml had greater antioxidant power than the essential oil with IC50 equal to 9.0589±0.0001 mg/ml. On the other hand, only nanoemulsion 2 was able to inhibit the growth of M. furfur and its MIC was significantly lower than that of the pure essential oil; which confirms the role of emulsion nanoparticles in improving the release and effectiveness of active compounds. Overall, this study shows that the optimized nanoemulsion of gandevash essential oil can be a natural and effective option for controlling fungal agents associated with dandruff and has significant potential for the development of herbal therapeutic formulations https://chemistry.semnan.ac.ir/article_10672.html This research focuses on the successful synthesis of the Fe0.5V3.5O8/rGO nanocomposite through a simple sonochemical method. Structural characterization results indicated that the Fe0.5V3.5O8/rGO phase (with an orthorhombic structure) was formed in the final sample by the complete reduction of GO (graphene oxide) to rGO (reduced graphene oxide). Microscopic images confirmed that the presence of rGO significantly improved the morphology, reduced the particle size, and resulted in their uniform dispersion on the graphene sheets. Optical properties analysis by DRS spectroscopy showed a noticeable red shift and a reduction in the bandgap from 2 eV to 1.6 eV in the nanocomposite, which drastically increased its absorption capability in the visible light region. Photocatalytic evaluation in the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation using a 400 W Osram lamp for 30 minutes revealed that the nanocomposite achieved a degradation efficiency of 81%. This superior performance is directly attributed to enhanced surface adsorption and improved optical properties, compared to the pure metal oxide. Experimental data indicated that the reaction follows a zero-order kinetic model, with a high correlation coefficient of R2 = 0.96. These results demonstrate the efficiency of the Fe0.5V3.5O8/rGO nanocomposite in the removal of MB. https://chemistry.semnan.ac.ir/article_10612.html Plants are rich source of phenolic compounds, which are among the most important natural antioxidants. Antioxidants in the diet are important for protecting the body against oxidative stress and maintaining good health. The aim of this study was to categorize the antioxidant properties of the ethanol extract of nine species of Malvaceae family using HPTLC and PCA. The mobile phase of hexane: ethyl acetate: acetic acid (4:5:1) was selected for thin layer chromatography. DPPH free radical inhibition activity, total phenol content and vitamin E content of the extracts were measured by HPTLC. The collected data were analyzed using classification toolbox in MATLAB to categorize the species based on the studied properties. The results of this analysis showed that the extracts of Abutilon theophrasti Medik., Malva sylvestris L., and Alcea rosea L. (purple flower) are in the same group and have high free radical scavenging activity, high phenol content, and high amount of vitamin E. The antioxidant activity of Alcea rosea (purple flower), Malva sylvestris and Abutilon theophrasti extracts are higher than other extracts. Therefore, Malvaceae family can be used as a rich source of compounds with antioxidant properties in the food and drug industries to maintain human health. https://chemistry.semnan.ac.ir/article_10693.html Attaining efficient cleanup for the monitoring and quantification of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac, ibuprofen, and mefenamic acid in biological samples such as hair and nails has long been a major objective in sample preparation. In this study, an efficient microextraction technique, termed semi-automated in-tube electromembrane extraction (IT-EME), was developed and introduced. The principle of this technique is based on the electrokinetic migration of ionized components under an applied voltage. In this configuration, a polypropylene (PP) sheet was placed inside a tube, and 2 μL of 1-octanol, serving as the supported liquid membrane (SLM), was used to fill the pores. In addition, 30 μL of an aqueous acceptor solution was isolated by the SLM from 1.2 mL of an aqueous donor solution which includes the studied analytes in this work. The method was used to enrich and determine several NSAIDs, including diclofenac, ibuprofen, and mefenamic acid, in diverse biological samples. High purification efficiency and simple, reproducible utilization of the organic solvent were achieved. Under optimized conditions, the developed IT-EME technique coupled with HPLC-UV provided high extraction recoveries (37.3–42.4%), good linearity (12.0–500 ng mL⁻¹), low detection limits (3.4–4.6 ng mL⁻¹), and acceptable relative standard deviations (RSDs ≤ 9.3%, n = 5) for each analyte. The proposed model exhibits exceptional potential for automation. Furthermore, the lower consumption of the organic solvent (in the range of a few microliters), the ability to quantify analytes in small sample volumes, along with its simplicity, high efficiency, and superior cleanup capability, denotes IT-EME as a promising approach in accordance with the principles of green chemistry. https://chemistry.semnan.ac.ir/article_10720.html Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticles modified by glucosamine were synthesized, and their ability for separation of heavy metal ion (Cu2+) from aqueous solutions was examined. Characterization of the synthetic nanocomposite was carried out using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), vibration sample magnetometry (VSM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The effect of parameters influencing adsorption efficiency including adsorption isotherms, adsorbent dosage, contact time of adsorbent, selective removal and solution pH on the sorption behavior was assessed and discussed. The kinetics curve examined the pseudo-second-order model better and the equilibrium data well fitted the Langmuir model, with the maximum adsorption capacity of 120.48 mg. g-1. The desorption of heavy metal ion was done effectively using HCl solution, thereby proving that nano sorbent can be magnetically separated, regenerated and reused effectively for seven consecutive cycles without significant loss of activity. The removal performance of adsorbent on the real wastewater samples is indicated the feasibility of adsorbent for applying in industrial purposes.