Characterization of biologically active compounds from different herbs: Influence of drying and extraction methods

The hot air (HA) method is the most widely implemented drying method for plants (herbs, vegetables, and fruits). This method has a few drawbacks that include long drying time, limited heat transfer, and limited thermal conductivity. This study investigated the effects of HA and infra-red (IR) heating method on biologically active compounds from different herbs (Khaffir lime, Lemongrass, Prai, Tamarind, and Turmeric). The efficiency of the drying methods was evaluated by considering (a) moisture ratio (MR), (b) specific energy consumption (SEC, MJ/kg.H₂O), (c) moisture diffusivity (D_eff), and (d) activation energy (E_a, kJ/mol). The active compounds were extracted from HA and IR dried herbs using different solvents (hexane, water, and ethanol) through Solid-Liquid Extraction (SLE) and Soxhlet Solvent Extraction (SSE) methods. The moisture removal in the IR drying process increased 10–11% for the herb samples. Specific energy consumption (SEC) increase during the IR drying process is attributed to the rapid evaporation of water at shorter time intervals than HA. Activation energy (E_a) values decreased by 1.66, 1.48, 2.24, 3.13, and 2.07 fold times for IR dried prai, turmeric, lemongrass, tamarind, and kaffir lime, respectively. The higher yields of herbal extracts and the abundance of bioactive terpene derivatives in hexane extracts were obtained from HA herbs compared to IR samples. Therefore, it is concluded that the IR method and SSE process using hexane was suitable to dry and retain the bioactive active compounds within herbs. Further, the IR method over the HA method was considered based on energy consumption, processing time, yield, and active compounds.     

Effect of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici on the degradation of humic acid associated with Cu, Pb, and Ni: an in vitro study

The intent of this work was to gain further insight on the fungus-assisted degradation/solubilization of humic acid and the related changes in metal-binding profiles. In the experimental design, Aldrich reagent humic acid (HA) or HA enriched with Cu, Pb, and Ni (HA(Me)) was added to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici cultures in vitro. The cultures were supplied by different carbon- and nitrogen-containing nutrients (glucose, Glc, or glutamate, Glu and ammonium, NH₄⁺, or nitrate, NO₃⁻, ions, respectively) in order to examine their possible effect on HA and HA(Me) decomposition. During the first 48 h of fungus growth, gradual acidification to pH 2 was observed in medium containing Glc + NH₄⁺, while for other cultures, alkalinization to pH 9 occurred and then, the above conditions were stable up to at least 200 h. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) with UV/Vis detection showed progressive degradation and solubilization of both HA and HA(Me) with the increasing time of fungus growth. However, the molecular mass distributions of HA-related soluble species were different in the presence of metals (HA(Me)) as referred to HA and were also influenced by the composition of growth medium. The solubilization of Pb, Cu, and Ni and their association with HA molecular mass fractions were studied using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) detection. Under acidic conditions, relatively high concentrations of low-molecular-mass metallic species were found in culture supernatants, while in alkaline media, metal solubilization was generally poorer. In contrast to low pH culture, SEC-ICP-MS results obtained in alkaline supernatants indicated metal binding to degradation products of humic substances of MM > 5 kDa. In summary, the results of this study suggest that fungus-assisted degradation of HA and HA(Me) might be controlled using appropriate N- and C- sources required for fungus growth, which in turn would affect molecular mass distribution of soluble metallic species thus potentially influencing their actual bioaccessibility. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Off-line size-exclusion chromatographic fractionation-matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry for polymer characterization. Theoretical and experimental study

The parameters affecting the fractionation performance in size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) of broad polymer samples were investigated. Some equations were derived which enable the prediction of polydispersity (PD) in an SEC fraction. Good agreements were obtained between the calculated data and the experimental values. Based on these equations, SEC fractionation conditions were optimized. In the off-line SEC-matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry (MS), two different modes can be employed, i.e., using MALDI-MS to provide an absolute calibration curve for SEC, or using SEC as a sample preparation step for MALDI-MS measurements. It was demonstrated that it is more reliable to use the latter combination, because most problems inherent in SEC can be circumvented. Some guidelines for the optimization of off-line SEC fractionation-MALDI-TOF-MS were given. It was found that under optimized conditions normally only a few SEC fractions are already sufficient to separate a highly polydisperse sample into portions of low PD that can accurately be measured by MALDI-TOF-MS.     

Spectroelectrochemistry for studying electrochemiluminescence mechanism

UV–Vis spectroelectrochemistry (SEC) was introduced for the first time into the study of electrochemiluminescence (ECL) mechanisms of nitrogen heterocyclic compounds. Uracil and its two derivatives, 5-fluorouracil and 1-methyl-uracil, were chosen as model molecules in the ECL mechanism study. SEC revealed that the substitution of hydrogen at N(1) and the destruction of conjugate heterocyclic ring were very important for ECL activities of uracils. On the basis, a new ECL mechanism was proposed for the uracils. The successful explanation of ECL mechanism for the model molecules by employing SEC indicates that SEC would play an important role in future ECL mechanism studies.     

钴(Ⅱ)取代铜锌超氧化物岐化酶金属重组衍生物的电化学和光谱电化学研究

80年代Hill等［"在蛋白质的电化学研究中加人氧化还原促进剂以提高电极反应速率．但最近的研究表明,电极材料的选择、蛋白质的纯度和溶液的离子强度等都影响反应速率和吸附行为［'．我们曾选用悬汞电极在不加促进剂的情况下研究铜锌超氧化物歧化酶Cu。Zn。SOD的电化学性质,并获得较好的结果［'j．本文研究了钻（I）取代铜锌超氧化物歧化酶CO。CO。SOD的氧化还原行为,首先用热解石墨电极对CO。CO。SOD进行循环伏安研究,获得了电极反应为扩散控制的可逆的电化学过程;然后用光谱电化学技术进行论证,由2种方法得到了在CO。CO。…     

Porous crosslinked spherical resins for diversified applications: packing materials for size exclusion chromatography

Improvements in the synthesis of porous polymers for different applications have been carried out in our laboratory. Beads of poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) with morphology adequate to the application at hand were prepared. Packing materials for size exclusion chromatography (SEC) weve prepared by single-step swelling and polymerization (SSWP) and by modified suspension polymerization (MSP). High values of exclusion limit (10⁶ and 8.0x10⁶) were attained for SEC columns packed with poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) synthesized using high proportions of polystyrene, as porogen agent and divinylbenzene. The maximum values of exclusion limits were attained for SEC columns packed with beads prepared by SSWP method.     

Analysis and isolation of cationic rhenium(I) and ruthenium(II) multinuclear complexes using size-exclusion chromatography.

Various cationic rhenium(I) and ruthenium(II) mono- and multinuclear complexes were successfully separated by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), using a 50:50 (v/v) mixture of methanol and acetonitrile with CH3CO2NH4 as an eluent. The logarithms of the molecular weights were accurately linear in the distribution coefficients: for linear-shaped rhenium(I) multinuclear complexes, log M(W) = -2.86K(SEC) + 5.24 (r = -0.990 and n = 15); for ring-shaped rhenium(I) multinuclear complexes, log M(W) = -2.94K(SEC) + 5.40 (r = -0.999; n = 5); for bimetallic complexes including ruthenium(II), log M(W) = -0.40K(SEC) + 3.37 (r = -0.959; n = 6). This separation method is applicable to the preparative-scale separation of cationic multinuclear complexes from a mixture.     

Size-exclusion chromatography using deuterated mobile phases

The effect of deuterated solvents in size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) was studied by comparing intrinsic viscosity measurements, SEC calibration curves, and column efficiency using water-soluble polymers. For aqueous SEC, the use of deuterium oxide slightly increases the SEC elution volume. To verify that adsorption onto the packing was absent, data from exclusion experiments were compared at 35 and 50 degrees C. Our results indicate that adsorption is not occurring for pullulan or polyethylene glycol (PEG)/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO); for the latter, however, the elution volume increased using both D2O and H2O, indicative of slight hydrodynamic volume contraction of PEG/PEO at higher temperatures. A moderate increase in band broadening (moderate decrease in column efficiency) was observed using D2O. Finally, the effects of chloroform versus deuterated chloroform were evaluated, but no hydrodynamic volume changes were observed.     

Analysis of aggregates of human immunoglobulin G using size-exclusion chromatography,static and dynamic light scattering

Large aggregates (Mr: 10(6)-10(7) g/mol) of human immunoglobulins are present in extremely small concentrations in IgG preparations (<0.1%). Traces of large protein aggregates cannot be determined by conventional size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) using UV detection due to limitations in sensitivity. The conventional analysis of IgG by SEC is limited to dimers and oligomers. Using light scattering it is possible to determine significant differences concerning the aggregate composition and the extent of protein aggregation in samples of different process steps. Two different pilot preparations were analyzed by SEC with UV and static light scattering detection and compared to dynamic light scattering in the batch mode. The change of large aggregates could be monitored and data were corroborated by dynamic light scattering.     

Direct sample fraction deposition using electrospray in narrow-bore size-exclusion chromatography/matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry for polymer characterization

A direct sample fraction deposition method was developed for off-line size-exclusion chromatography (SEC)/matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight mass spectrometry. By using electrospray, the SEC eluent, together with a suitable matrix solution added coaxially, was directly deposited on the MALDI plate. Owing to the formation of very small droplets in electrospray, solvent evaporation is much faster. The fractionation volume in narrow-bore SEC, which can directly be collected in one MALDI spot, can easily be optimized in the range of a few microlitres. In addition, fairly homogeneous sample spots were obtained. The possible influence of composition variation of the SEC effluent on the analytical results using direct fraction deposition was investigated; no substantial effects were observed. The applicability of the method was demonstrated by characterizing a broad poly(methyl methacrylate) sample. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fractionation of ethylene/1‐pentene copolymers using a combination of SEC‐FTIR and SEC‐HPer DSC

The short chain branching distribution (SCBD) and thermal properties of ethylene/1‐pentene copolymers were studied using SEC‐FTIR and SEC‐HPer DSC. The copolymers, synthesized with Cp₂ZrCl₂/MAO, were fractionated using size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The infrared analysis of the fractions showed that the copolymers had—on average—higher 1‐pentene concentration in the low molecular weight range. Furthermore, the thermal properties of the SEC deposits of these copolymers on a Germanium disc were studied using high performance differential scanning calorimetry (HPer DSC). Single SEC separations were used to accumulate fractions in the microgram range that were directly analyzed with regard to their thermal properties, thus allowing us to study SCBD as well as thermal behavior simultaneously. When these fractions (with masses ranging from 10–80 μg) were analyzed using HPer DSC, good melting and crystallization temperature distributions were obtained, proving that HPer DSC can be used as a complementary method to SEC‐FTIR. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 2956–2965, 2007     

Band broadening in size-exclusion chromatography of polydisperse samples

Understanding and controlling the band broadening is essential to obtain accurate molar-mass distributions by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). In this paper, band broadening in SEC is reviewed from a contemporary perspective. The observed band broadening is due to dispersion inside and outside the chromatographic column (undesirable band broadening) and to the polydispersity of the sample (desirable SEC selectivity). The various contributors to band broadening are discussed. Integrity plots are introduced as a tool to evaluate the performance of specific SEC columns at given experimental conditions. For narrow polymer standards on single SEC columns the observed peak width is dominated by the chromatographic dispersion. MALDI-ToF-MS is demonstrated as an alternative to determine the PDI of narrowly distributed samples. The plate heights encountered at very high reduced velocities are found to be lower than expected. This is advantageous for fast separations by SEC.     

以单分散交联聚甲基丙烯酸环氧丙酯树脂为基质的亲水性排阻色谱固定相的合成及其在生物大分子分离中的应用

以单分散交联聚甲基丙烯酸环氧丙酯树脂为基质,将该树脂经化学改性后得到亲水性良好的新型尺寸排阻色谱固定相,其表面羟基含量高达6．1mmol／g。详细评价了该改性后树脂对蛋白的质量回收率、亲水性、耐压性能及化学稳定性。用三羟甲基胺基甲烷(Tris)缓冲溶液(pH=7)为流动相,对蛋白质混合样的分离遵循体积排阻色谱分离机理。     

Cyclization and dispersity of poly(alkylene isophthalate)s

Poly(alkylene isophthalate)s were prepared by different methods, either in solution or in bulk. The SEC measurements were evaluated in such a way that all oligomers were included. In solution (monomer conc. 0.1–0.7 mol/L) large fractions of rings were formed and high dispersities (up to 12) were obtained, which disagree with theoretical predictions. Polycondensations in bulk did neither generate cyclics by “back‐biting” nor by end‐to‐end cyclization, when the maximum temperature was limited to 210 °C. The dispersities of these perfectly linear polyesters were again higher than the theoretical values. Regardless of the synthetic method monomeric cycles were never observed. Furthermore, SEC measurements performed in tetrahydrofuran and in chloroform and SEC measurements performed in three different institutes were compared. Finally, SEC measurements of five samples were performed with universal calibration and a correction factor of 0.71 ± 0.02 was found for normal calibration with polystyrene. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 197–208     

Planar chromatographic separation of petroleum residues and coal-derived liquids

Vacuum distillation residues from two petroleum crudes, a coal liquefaction extract and a coal tar pitch have been fractionated by planar chromatography (PC) using two solvent sequences: pyridine–acetonitrile and tetrahydrofuran (THF)–toluene. Fractions recovered from PC were examined by UV-fluorescence spectroscopy (UV-F), size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). UV-F and SEC of the whole samples showed differences in aromatic cluster size and molecular mass (MM) ranges which could be related to the different origins of the samples. The MM ranges indicated by SEC were greater for the vacuum residues than for coal-derived materials. However, the UV-F spectra of the fractions indicated that the petroleum residue fractions contained similar aromatic types, whereas the fractions from coal liquids contained significantly different aromatic types. SEC profiles of the fractions indicated a separation of coal-derived samples by increasing molecular size with increasing immobility in PC, whereas for petroleum fractions, the same trend was not apparent. MALDI-mass spectra of the set of original samples showed broadly similar ranges of MM distributions but additional work is necessary to identify appropriate matrices and procedures in order to improve the MALDI spectra.     

Size exclusion chromatography and viscometry in paper degradation studies. New Mark-Houwink coefficients for cellulose in cupri-ethylenediamine

The paper deals with the application of size exclusion chromatography (SEC) for the studies of paper degradation phenomena. The goal is to solve some of the technical problems connected with the calibration of multi-detector SEC system and to find the correlation between SEC and viscometric results of degree of polymerization of cellulose. The results gathered for the paper samples degraded by acidic air pollutant (NO₂) are used as an example of SEC–MALLS application. From the correlation between intrinsic viscosities and absolute value of molecular masses obtained with SEC/MALLS (Multi Angle Laser Light Scattering) technique, Mark-Houwink coefficients for cellulose in cupri-ethylenediamine solution were determined. Thus obtained coefficients were used for the determination of viscometric degree of polymerization (molecular mass) of the aged samples. An excellent correlation was found between the chromatographic values of molecular masses obtained with SEC–UV/VIS detection and the viscometric ones utilizing the improved values of Mark-Houwink coefficients.     

Combined techniques for the characterization of linear–hyperbranched hybrid poly(butylene adipate) copolymers

Linear–hyperbranched hybrid poly(butylene adipate) (HPBA) copolymers were synthesized through a branching reaction between the linear tailored prepolymer terminated with methyl ester groups and different mol percents of the 1,1,1‐tris(hydroxymethyl) propane (TMP) as branching agent, using the titanium(IV) isopropoxide as catalyst, at 180 °C under vacuum for different times. All samples were characterized by NMR and matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF MS). In particular, MALDI‐TOF mass spectra of the unfractionated and size exclusion chromatography (SEC)‐fractionated hyperbranched (HB) samples gave information on their composition, on the end groups as well as on the TMP units present in each family of HB macromolecules. HB chains containing cyclic branches and ether bonds formed by intermolecular transesterification and intramolecular and intermolecular transetherification side reactions, respectively, were also revealed by MALDI‐TOF MS analysis. All samples were also investigated by SEC. The average molar masses (MMs) evaluated by SEC calibrated with the polystyrene (PS) narrow standards were overestimated with respect to those calculated by the SEC/MALDI‐TOF MS self‐ calibration method, which gave reliable values. Moreover, it also showed that the hydrodynamic volume of the HPBA polymers was higher than that of the linear PSs with similar MMs. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

一种新的标定体积排除色谱（SEC）的方法

基于体积排除色谱中测得的淋出体积和动态激光光散射中测得的平动扩散系数都直接依赖于高分子的流体力学体积这一事实，本文在理论上提出了一种把淋出体积分布和平动扩散系数分布二者结合起来标定体积排除色谱的新方法，并且在实验上通过对宽分布的聚苯乙烯标准样品的测试证实了该方法的可行性．     

Comparison of polymer resolution in thermal field-flow fractionation and size-exclusion chromatography

A comparison of the resolving power of themal field-flow fractionation (thermal FFF) and size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) has been made by the experimental operation of a high-resolution system from each category. For the experimental systems used, the measured resolution for thermal FFF was found to be higher than that for SEC for three different binary polymer mixtures. Only for a single low-molecular-weight mixture falling outside the optimal operating range of thermal FFF did SEC show better resolution. The experimental resolution values were broken down into selectivity and column efficiency parameters. While selectivity was easily obtained, column efficiency required a correction for polydispersity effects. With the polydispersity correction made on the basis of thermal FFF data, true resolution values were calculated to replace the apparent or experimental resolution levels. Overall, the corrected resolution values showed that thermal FFF had a significant advantage over SEC. Prospects for future advances in these two techniques are discussed.