Physicochemical and Spectral Characterization of Biofield Energy Treated 4-Methylbenzoic Acid

The present study was aimed to analyse the impact of biofield energy treatment on the physicochemical and spectral properties of 4-MBA. The compound was divided into two parts which are referred as the control and treated sample. The treated sample was subjected to Mr. Trivedi’s biofield energy treatment and analysed with respect to the control sample. The various analytical techniques used were X-ray diffraction (XRD), surface area analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), and UV-visible spectroscopy. The XRD data revealed the alteration in the relative intensities of the peaks as well as reduction in the average crystallite size (24.62%) of the treated sample as compared to the control. The surface area analysis revealed a slight reduction in the surface area of the treated sample. The differential scanning calorimetry analysis reported a slight increase in the melting point while significant reduction in the latent heat of fusion of the treated sample (39.96 J/g) as compared to the control (133.72 J/g). Moreover, the TGA thermogram of the treated sample revealed the reduction in the onset temperature and maximum thermal degradation temperature as compared to the control. However, the FT-IR and UV-Vis spectra of treated sample did not show any significant alteration as compared to their respective control spectra. The overall data indicated the improved physical and thermal properties of the biofield treated 4-MBA sample that might be helpful in increasing the reaction kinetics, where it will be used as a reaction intermediate.

The XRD results showed that the relative intensities of the peaks were altered in the treated sample as compared to the control suggesting the impact of biofield energy treatment on the crystal symmetry and morphology of 4-MBA.

The crystallite size was decreased by 24.62% in the treated samples as compared to the control that might be due to the fracturing of grains into sub grains caused by the lattice strain that may be produced via biofield energy.

The reduced crystallite size may lead to increase the reaction kinetics of 4-MBA, which could make it more useful as an intermediate compound.

Moreover, the surface area analysis showed a slight decrease in the surface area of the treated sample that suggested the impact of biofield treatment on the particle size of the treated 4-MBA sample.

The thermal analysis data revealed that the latent heat of fusion was reduced by 70% in the treated sample as compared to the control.

TGA/DTA studies showed that onset temperature and Tmax was reduced in the treated sample. Based on this, it is hypothesized that treated 4-MBA molecules turn into vapour phase at lower temperature as compared to the control. The lowering of volatilization temperature might enhance the rate of reaction.

Therefore, it is assumed that biofield treated 4-MBA could be more useful as an intermediate in production of various chemical and pharmaceutical products.