Chemical Sciences Journal

The quality of water, whether it is used for non-potable purposes such as cooking, cleaning and other domestic activities, and more so when used as drinking water, is essential. The current methods of water treatment may either be costly or the chemicals used may have health problems associated with them. Curiosity-driven research about the water treatment properties of Moringa seed proteins has led to the development of a water treatment system with Moringa seed powder and eliminates the use of expensive chemicals, with their associated health and environmental effects. The water treatment system with three main water treatment compartments, i.e. a settling or coagulation/flocculation tank, a sand filter and a charcoal filter. The system was used to test the removal of turbidity and microbial pollution indicators from water. Preliminary tests show a reduction of turbidity and microbial pollution indicators by at least 96%. The preliminary results have demonstrated the potential and effectiveness of the Moringa seed powder in wastewater treatment. The next stage of the technology development will be based on applied cross-disciplinary research evolving from the lessons learned from the previous prototypes into a single unit as opposed to having separate standalone compartments.

The field of crystallography has long been a cornerstone of scientific inquiry, allowing researchers to unravel the atomic and molecular structures of a wide range of materials. Electron crystallography, a specialized branch of crystallography, has emerged as a powerful technique for investigating the microscopic world at the atomic and nanoscale levels. This method utilizes electrons rather than X-rays to probe the structure of crystalline materials, providing unique insights into the arrangement of atoms within a crystal lattice. In recent years, there have been remarkable advances in electron crystallography, driven by innovations in electron microscopy, detector technology and computational methods. The most crucial aspect of electron crystallography is the analysis of diffraction patterns produced when electrons interact with the crystal. The diffraction pattern is a result of the interference of scattered electrons, providing information about the crystal's structure. By analyzing the diffraction pattern, scientists can determine the spatial arrangement of atoms in the crystal lattice.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has revolutionized various industries and reaction engineering is no exception. As the demand for efficient and sustainable processes grows, researchers and engineers are turning to smart approaches enabled by AI to optimize reaction engineering processes. This synergy between AI and reaction engineering holds the promise of enhancing efficiency, reducing costs and minimizing environmental impact. AI, particularly machine learning (ML) and neural networks, has brought about a paradigm shift in process modeling. These advanced algorithms excel at recognizing patterns and relationships within large and intricate data sets. In the context of reaction engineering, AI-driven models can learn from experimental data to create more accurate and predictive representations of chemical processes.

The journey of a drug from its conceptualization in the laboratory to its therapeutic effects in the human body is a complex process that involves drug synthesis, pharmacokinetics and understanding the crucial concepts of bioavailability and metabolism. Drug synthesis is the process of creating pharmaceutical compounds through chemical reactions. This crucial stage in drug development involves designing, optimizing and producing substances with the potential to treat or prevent specific diseases. The synthesis of drugs is a multidisciplinary effort that combines principles of chemistry, pharmacology and often biochemistry to achieve the desired therapeutic effects.

Enzymatic catalysis, the acceleration of chemical reactions by biological catalysts known as enzymes, plays a crucial role in various industries, including food and beverages. From the brewing of beer to the baking of bread, enzymatic reactions contribute to the development of flavors, textures and nutritional profiles in a wide array of products. Enzymes play a pivotal role in the intricate world of baking, contributing to the development of texture, flavour and overall quality in a variety of baked goods. From the leavening of bread to the enhancement of pastry textures, enzymes are key players in the complex chemistry that transforms raw ingredients into delectable treats. Let's explore the essential enzymes involved in baking and their impact on the final products.

Mass Spectrometry (MS) has become a cornerstone technology in forensic science, revolutionizing the way investigators analyze and interpret crime scene evidence. This powerful analytical technique allows forensic scientists to examine substances at the molecular level, providing crucial information for solving crimes and supporting legal proceedings. Here, we delve into the applications, benefits and challenges associated with mass spectrometry in forensic science. Forensic science plays a crucial role in criminal investigations, providing valuable insights that can lead to the identification and prosecution of perpetrators. In recent years, the field has witnessed significant advancements, with mass spectrometry emerging as a powerful tool for analyzing crime scene evidence at the molecular level. Mass spectrometry enables forensic scientists to unravel complex mysteries by examining the unique chemical fingerprints of substances, offering unprecedented accuracy and specificity in criminal investigations.

Polymerization, the process of combining small molecules to form large macromolecules, has emerged as a game-changer in the field of medicine. In particular, polymerization plays a pivotal role in the development of innovative drug delivery systems and biomedical devices, offering new avenues for enhanced therapeutic outcomes and patient care. Polymer-based drug delivery systems represent a cutting-edge approach in the field of medicine, offering precise control over drug release kinetics, enhancing therapeutic efficacy and minimizing adverse effects. This innovative strategy involves the use of polymers to design and fabricate delivery systems that can encapsulate, protect and deliver therapeutic agents in a controlled and targeted manner.

Metabolism is a complex and intricate process that governs how our bodies convert food into energy. At the heart of this intricate dance is a symphony of hormones, the chemical messengers that play a pivotal role in regulating and balancing our body's internal environment. Hormones are instrumental in orchestrating various metabolic processes, ensuring that our bodies function optimally and maintain equilibrium. The intricate workings of the human body are governed by a complex network of chemical messengers known as hormones. Among their many roles, hormones play a pivotal part in regulating metabolism – the process through which our bodies convert food into energy.

Enzymes are the molecular machines that drive the countless chemical reactions within living organisms. These biological catalysts are crucial for maintaining life processes, facilitating reactions that would otherwise occur too slowly to sustain life. Behind the scenes, coenzymes and cofactors play pivotal roles in supporting enzymatic catalysis, acting as essential partners that enable enzymes to carry out their functions effectively. Enzymes are proteins that act as catalysts, speeding up chemical reactions without being consumed in the process. They achieve this by lowering the activation energy required for a reaction to occur. However, enzymes often require additional assistance from small, non-protein molecules known as coenzymes and cofactors.

The process of drug synthesis is a complex and intricate task that involves the transformation of raw chemical materials into a therapeutic compound with specific biological activities. One of the key strategies employed in the design and synthesis of pharmaceuticals is retrosynthetic analysis. This powerful method, pioneered by Nobel laureate Elias James Corey, allows chemists to deconstruct a target molecule into simpler precursor molecules, ultimately guiding the synthesis backward from the final product to readily available starting materials. Retrosynthetic analysis is an indispensable tool in the field of organic chemistry, providing a systematic approach to planning the most efficient and feasible route for drug synthesis. Retrosynthetic analysis relies on the identification of key functional groups and strategic disconnections within a target molecule. The goal is to simplify the complex structure of the target compound into smaller, more accessible fragments. This process involves breaking down carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds in a way that allows for the retrosynthetic intermediates to be easily sourced or synthesized. Chemists often use protective groups and selective reactions to control the regio-chemistry and stereochemistry of the synthetic steps.