Characterization of Biofield Energy Treated 3-Chloronitrobenzene: Physical, Thermal, and Spectroscopic Studies

What is it about?

The chloronitrobenzenes are widely used as the intermediates in the production of pharmaceuticals, pesticides and rubber processing chemicals. However, due to their wide applications, they are frequently released into the environment thereby creating hazards. The objective of the study was to use an alternative strategy i.e. biofield energy treatment and analysed its impact on the physical, thermal and spectral properties of 3-chloronitrobenzene (3-CNB). For the study, the 3-CNB sample was taken and divided into two groups, named as control and treated. The analytical techniques used were X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), UV-Visible (UV-Vis), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The treated group was subjected to the biofield energy treatment and analysed using these techniques against the control sample. The XRD data showed an alteration in relative intensity of the peak along with 30% decrease in the crystallite size of the treated sample as compared to the control. The TGA studies revealed the decrease in onset temperature of degradation from 140ºC (control) to 120°C, while maximum thermal degradation temperature was changed from 157.61ºC (control) to 150.37ºC in the treated sample as compared to the control. Moreover, the DSC studies revealed the decrease in the melting temperature from 51°C (control) →47°C in the treated sample. Besides, the UV-Vis and FT-IR spectra of the treated sample did not show any significant alteration in terms of wavelength and frequencies of the peaks, respectively from the control sample. The overall study results showed the impact of biofield energy treatment on the physical and thermal properties of 3-CNB that can further affect its use as a chemical intermediate and its fate in the environment.

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Why is it important?

Chlorobenzene is an aromatic, colourless, and flammable organic compound present in the form of liquid, that is widely used as intermediate for the manufacturing of other chemicals. The chlorination of benzene results in the production of monochlorobenzene that has been used for the synthesis of diphenyl oxide, chloronitrobenzenes (CNBs), and sulfone polymers. Apart from that, it is also used in the manufacturing of phenol, pigment intermediate, and dioctyl phenol [1,2]. CNBs that are an important end product of monochlorobenzenes possess three isomeric forms i.e. 2- CNB, 3- CNB, and 4- CNB. These isomers structurally differ from each other in terms of the position of the nitro group in the benzene ring with respect to the chloro group; however they possess similar chemical, pharmacological, and toxicological properties [3,4]. They are used as intermediates in the manufacturing of substitute phenyl carbamates, pharmaceuticals (e.g. acetaminophen), pesticides (e.g. parathion and carbofuran), and rubber-processing chemicals [5-7]. Moreover, 3-chloronitrobenzene (3-CNB), a yellow crystalline solid, plays a very important role as precursor due to the presence of two reactive sites. It can be chlorinated for producing pentachloronitrobenzene that is used as a fungicide and in the manufacturing of various agrochemicals. 3-chloroaniline (Orange GC Base), a dye intermediate, is produced from 3-CNB via hydrogenation process [8]. Due to their wide application in the chemical industry, the CNBs are directly released into the environment. Their presence has been mainly found in water and fishes [9]. 3-CNB has the ability to enter in the environment through the chlorination of drinking water. Moreover, Rivera et al. found 3- CNB as a main pollutant during their research in Spain [10]. All these circumstances create a need for some alternative strategy which could be helpful for these chemicals to improve the yield efficiency and reducing the environmental hazards. Biofield energy treatment recently came in focus due to its ability to make alterations in various living organisms and non-living objects. It is a type of energy healing therapies that are also recommended by National Institute of Health (NIH)/National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) [11]. The term ‘biofield’ is related to the biological energy field central to the life and thought to be produced from the physical processes, emotions and thoughts of the human being [12]. It may interact with the environmental processes and the emissions of other individuals. The frequency of these radiations depends on the physiological, mental, emotional, and spiritual state of the person [13]. The non-living objects also possess the energy aura in the form of electromagnetic radiations due to their atomic and molecular vibrations. The non-living objects cannot change this energy parameter by more than 2%, whereas, the human being can change it drastically by the natural exchange process from the environment [14,15]. Thus, the human has the ability to harness the energy from the environment or universe and can transmit it to any living or non-living object(s) around the Globe. The objects always receive the energy and responding to the useful way. This process is known as biofield energy treatment. Mr. Trivedi is well known to possess a unique biofield energy treatment (The Trivedi Effect®) that has been reported for causing alterations in various research field viz. microbiology [16], agriculture [17], and biotechnology [18]. Besides that, the impact of biofield treatment was also reported on physical, thermal and spectral properties of various metals and organic compounds [19-21]. Hence, the current study was conceptualized to evaluate the impact of Mr. Trivedi’s biofield energy treatment on the physical, thermal and spectral properties of 3-CNB using various analytical methods.

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