Drop Size Dependence of the Apparent Surface Tension of Aqueous Solutions in Hexane Vapor as Studied by Drop Profile Analysis Tensiometry

Surface tension experiments were performed using the drop profile analysis tensiometry method. The hexane was injected into the measuring cell at certain times before the formation of the solution drop. The influence of the capillary diameter and solution drop size on the measured apparent dynamic surface tension was studied. The amount of hexane transferred from the vapor phase to the drop was estimated. For large pure water drops, it was shown that the ageing of the drop in the hexane vapor during a long time resulted in the formation of a liquid hexane phase covering the drop, but the volume of this phase did not exceed 0.5 mm3. On the contrary, for surfactant solution drops the volume of the hexane phase covering the drop was essentially larger. Experiments with solution drops were performed to measure the surface tension within a wide range of surfactant concentration. It was found that the dependencies of dynamic surface tension on the C13DMPO and C14EO8 solutions concentration exhibit maxima at concentrations of about 1–2 μmol/L for C14EO8 and 2–5 μmol/L for C13DMPO at ageing times of 100 to 1000 s; these maxima were shown to exist also at equilibrium. This phenomenon is presumably ascribed to the competitive character of simultaneous adsorption of hexane and surfactant.

Potential antagonistic rhizobacteria to control Colletotrichum scovillei, the cause of anthracnose disease in chili pepper

Darmadi AAK, Suprapta DN, Khalimi K. 2020. Potential antagonistic rhizobacteria to control Colletotrichum scovillei, the cause of anthracnose disease in chili pepper. Biodiversitas 21: 2727-2734. Six species of Colletotrichum were identified as the cause of anthracnose disease on Bali Island, Indonesia in 2018. These species were C. scovillei, C. acutatum, C. nymphaeae, C. gloesporioides, C. truncatum, and C. fructicola. Among them, C. scovillei was the most prevalent at 55% of all samples tested. This study was conducted to find potential antagonistic rhizobacteria isolated from various rhizospheres of plants grown in Bali. A total of 1,040 rhizobacteria isolates were tested for their antagonistic activity against the growth of C. scovillei on potato dextrose agar. Results showed that 10 isolates inhibited the growth of C. scovillei by more than 80%. Among these isolates C1 and C7B possessed inhibitory activity at 94.9% and 94.3%, respectively. Molecular identification based on analysis of 16S rRNA gene showed that isolate C1 belonged to the species Paenibacillus polymyxa, whereas isolate C7B was identified as Bacillus siamensis. According to scanning electron serious damage on mycelia of C. scovillei was observed. Wrinkles were observed on mycelia of C. scovillei grown jointly with rhizobacterial isolate C1, whereas no wrinkle was observed on C. scovillei grown solely. Three compounds were detected in the hexane phase of cell-free filtrate P. polymyxa C1, namely, 3-hydroxy-2-butanone and 2,3-butanediol. These compounds may be responsible for antifungal activity against C. scovillei.

Determination of Chlorinated Pesticide Residues in Foods. II. Potassium Permanganate Oxidation for Cleanup of Some Vegetable Extracts

A potassium permanganate-dilute sulfuric acid KMnO4/dilute H2SO4 oxidation procedure was developed to supplement Florisil cleanup of some vegetable extracts. Following sample preparation and Florisil cleanup, a reaction mixture of the n-hexane eluate from the Florisil cleanup, 4% KMnO4, and 40% H2SO4 (l+l+l) was shaken in a test tube 2 min at room temperature and then centrifuged. The n-hexane phase was washed with 2 mL 0.1N NaOH and analyzed by GLC. Twelve chlorinated pesticides were completely recovered in the n-hexane phase. Aldrin was not recovered because its extreme instability caused it to decompose even in neutral solutions. Chlorinated pesticide residues in onion, garlic, carrot, and radish root were easily analyzed by the application of this oxidation procedure.

Colorimetric Method for Determining Residues of Thimet (Phorate)

A colorimetric method developed for Thimet eliminates many of the objectionable features of other methods currently in use. The procedure is fairly sensitive, requires little cleanup, and, except for minor alteration of standard laboratory glassware, requires no specialized equipment. Thimet and its metabolites are completely extracted from the plant material by chloroform, an aliquot is passed through a Florisil column, and the chloroform is evaporated. The residue containing Thimet and its oxidative products is picked up in a hexane-acetonewater system. The oxidized metabolites are removed by partitioning into the acetonewater phase. The hexane phase, containing Thimet, is evaporated to dryness and hydrolyzed with 48% hydrobromic acid. The hydrogen sulfide thus generated is determined colorimetrically as methylene blue.