Physical, Thermal and Spectroscopic Studies on Biofield Treated p-Dichlorobenzene

What is it about?

Para-dichlorobenzene (p-DCB) is widely used as a chemical intermediate in manufacturing of dyes, pharmaceuticals, polymers and other organic synthesis. The aim of present study was to evaluate the impact of biofield treatment on physical, thermal, and spectroscopic properties of p-dichlorobenzene. The p-dichlorobenzene sample was divided into two groups that served as treated and control. The treated group received Mr. Trivedi’s biofield treatment. Subsequently the control and treated samples were evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and UV-Vis spectroscopy. XRD result showed an increase in crystallite size (4.93%) along with alteration in peak intensity of treated sample as compared to control. Furthermore, DSC analysis results showed that the latent heat of fusion of treated p-dichlorobenzene was considerably reduced by 8.66% as compared to control. The reduction in melting point of treated sample (54.99°C) was also observed as compared to control (57.01°C) p-dichlorobenzene. Moreover, TGA/DTG studies showed that Tmax (temperature, at which sample lost maximum of its weight) was increased by 6.26% and weight loss per degree celsius (°C) was decreased by 12.77% in biofield treated p-dichlorobenzene as compared to control sample. It indicates that thermal stability of treated p-dichlorobenzene sample might increase as compared to control sample. However, no change was found in UV-Vis spectroscopic character of treated p-dichlorobenzene as compared to control. These findings suggest that biofield treatment has significantly altered the physical and thermal properties of p-dichlorobenzene, which could make it more useful as a chemical intermediate.

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Why is it important?

Chlorobenzenes are the colourless liquid with an almond-like odour. The compound does not occur widely in nature, but it is one of those chemicals which are produced industrially in large amounts. They have many applications, such as intermediate products of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries and as biocides and additives [1]. Chlorination of chlorobenzenes in the presence of variety of catalysts produce ortho and para-Dichlorobenzene isomers. p-DCB results from chlorination of chlorobenzene and have wide applications. 1,4-Dichlorobenzene (p-DCB; formula: C6H4Cl2) is a colourless solid having strong odour. It is mainly used as insecticide and fungicide on crops and air deodorizer [2]. Nowadays, it is used in the production of mothballs in place of naphthalene. Moreover, it is used as chemical intermediate to manufacture dyes, agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, 2,5-dichloroaniline, plastics, polymers (e.g polyphenylene sulfide resins used for surface coatings and molding resins), and other organic synthesis [3,4]. Besides, it is also used in ear preparations as ear wax softener and help in the removal of the wax [5]. To be used as intermediate in various chemical reactions, the rate of reaction of p-DCB plays a crucial role. Carballo et al. reported that rate of reaction in organic compounds can be controlled by modulating the crystallite size [6]. Since p-DCB is basically used as chemical intermediate in various reactions, if some changes happened in their crystallite size it may affect the rate of reaction and ultimately the percentage yield. Besides all the benefits associated with p-DCB, the low flash point (66°C) limits its application [7] and this is one of the reasons for the health discomfort of personnel working with them such as headaches, numbness, sleepiness, nausea, and vomiting [8,9]. After considering of p-DCB properties, and applications, authors wanted to investigate an economically safe approach that could be beneficial in order to modify the physical, thermal and spectroscopic properties of p-DCB. Biofield therapies are very popular in biomedical heath care systems, as well described by National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). NCCAM places biofield therapy in subcategory of energy therapies as one of the five complementary medicine domain [10]. These healing treatment suggest their mechanism upon modulating patient-environmental energy fields. It is scientifically preferred term for the biologically produced electromagnetic and subtle energy field that provides regulatory and communications functions within the organism. The cumulative effect of bio-magnetic and electric field that surrounds the human body is known as biofield energy [11,12]. Human has the ability to harness this energy from environment or universe and can transmit the energy into any living or non-living object around this Globe. The object(s) always receive the energy and respond into useful way. This process is termed as biofield treatment. Mr. Trivedi’s biofield treatment (The Trivedi Effect®) is well known and significantly studied in different fields such as microbiology [13-15], agriculture [16-18], and biotechnology [19,20]. Recently, the impact of biofield treatment on atomic, crystalline and powder characteristics as well as spectroscopic characters of different materials was studied, and alteration in physical, thermal and chemical properties was reported [21-23]. Hence, based on the outstanding results obtained after biofield treatment on different materials and considering the pharmaceutical applications of p-DCB, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the impact of biofield treatment on physical, thermal and spectroscopic characteristics of p-DCB.

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