The removal and transport of ionized and non-ionized selenium’s were systemically investigated in this study. The charge repulsion between the membrane surface and selenium ions was an important mechanism for the rejection of ions by a charged membrane. In addition, selenium removal was significantly affected by the J0/k ratio, but was not affected by the cross-flow velocity. Both diffusion and convection are proven to affect the transport of selenium ions transports. The reflection coefficients of both UF and NF membranes increased with increasing the pH, and with the reflection coefficients of selenate are being higher than those of selenite at under the same operating conditions. The spiral-wound type module exhibited slightly higher selenate removal compared to than the flat-sheet type module at under the same operation conditions.

A three step efficient synthesis for the commercial production of 16-dehydropregnenolone acetate (16-DPA)- a potent steroid drug intermediate, from diosgenin, in an overall yield of 60%, has been developed, through generation of acetylonium ion (CH3C+=O) in optimum concentration from acetic anhydride using in the molar ratio of 1:3.5(diosgenin:Ac2O) in a pressure reactor in a medium of a hydrocarbon solvent at a temperature in the range of 200oC with the corresponding in-built pressure of 5-6kg/cm2 (Step 1) and an ultra sound irradiated (35 KHz) oxidation reaction (Step 2).

Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed for statistical modeling and optimization of low temperature dilute sulfuric acid hydrolysis of hemicellulose fraction of energy agro-crop cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L.), as an entry point to complex biorefinery scheme. The 23 central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was used to assess the effect of the principal independent process variables (reaction time, temperature and acid concentration) on efficiency and selectivity of heteroxylan conversion to xylose. The second-order polynomial model was fitted to experimental data to find optimal reaction conditions of xylan-to-xylose hydrolysis by multiple regression analysis. The effect of acid concentration (linear and quadratic) was found as a more significant (p=0.001-0.007) for monomeric xylose recovery in solution. The maximal xylose yield of ca. 86% (18.08 g /100 g biomass) was achieved after cardoon hydrolysis at 138.5ºC in 1.28% sulfuric acid solution for 52 min, vs. 87% predicted by model. The resulting xyloseenriched substrate revealed low concentration of toxic substances (1.04% furfural, 0.33% 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, 2.03% glucose), providing required quality for subsequent xylose (bio)conversion to final products (e.g. to xylitol). The enzymatic saccharification/digestibility of insoluble residue after hemicellulose removal was improved in four times, resulting in cellulose conversion to fermentable glucose by 76% vs. 19% for unhydrolyzed cardoon.

β-Glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.21) was extracted from different parts of Rauvolfia serpentina and was purified using ammonium sulphate fractional precipitation and Sephadex G-25 chromatography. The molecular weight of different bands in Rauvolfia serpentina was found in the range of 19.4KDa to 92.257KDa .The enzyme β-glucosidase has optimum pH 5.0 and the optimum temperature was found at 60ºC while the thermal stability of enzyme β-glucosidase was found to be 30ºC. The activation with FeSO4 is due to Fe++ ions because FeCl3 do not activate the enzyme.

The leaching of copper using thiosulfate reagent as an alternative reagent to cyanide has been investigated since it is almost presented in gold thiosulfate leaching. This paper addressed the investigation of adsorption of copper complexes on anion exchange resin in non-ammoniacal and ammoniacal thiosulfate leaching systems.The work provided the experimental procedures for the adsorption of copper complexes on strong based anion exchange resin in non-ammoniacal and ammoniacal resin-solution systems. The result showed that increasing ammonia in the solution resulted in the diminishing total copper complexes on the resin. As the solution pH of resin-solution systems was maintained by the ammonia solution added in the system, the same effect of ammonia on the total copper complexes on resin was also shown. Overall, non-ammoniacal resin-solution system gave much better adsorption isotherm of copper complexes on resin, and the dominant species copper complexes on the strong based anion exchange resin was expected to be Cu(S2O3)3 5− based on leaching modelling.

The recombinant Phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase isolated from Oryza sativa is a type of antioxidant enzyme. It is stable at pH 7-8 and temperature 27 and 62°C. The molecular weight of enzyme was found to be around 21-26 kDa by SDS PAGE. The peroxidation activity of PHGPx was inhibited by HgCl2, EDTA, Potassium ferrocynate and was activated by FeCl2 and MnSO4 .These properties indicate that the possibilities for use of the PHGPx in the medical, clinical and cosmatic industry. This enzyme can be exploited commercially with some modification.