A study of a polysulfone membrane for use in an in-situ tunable microdialysis probe during monitoring of starch enzymatic hydrolysates

We report a study made on a 5 kDa molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) polysulfone membrane (SPS 4005) for use in microdialysis sampling of starch enzymatic hydrolysates on-line coupled to column liquid chromatography with integrated pulsed electrochemical detection. Membrane characteristics were evaluated by examining both the membrane and membrane support layer using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). This study was made so as to elucidate the mechanism or mode by which a membrane exposed to different bioprocess conditions is either fouled or destroyed. The correlation of extraction fraction data with SEM was a confirmatory test for the observed change in the membrane characteristics. Examinations were made after keeping the membrane in pure water for 5, 10 and 30 min at room temperature or after perfusing the membrane with pure water continuously at room temperature, 60 and 90°C for 24 h. Extraction fractions were evaluated at these temperatures to see applicability of the SPS 4005 membrane to high temperature bioprocesses. Scanning electron microscopy studies were also made on membranes used for sampling and sample clean-up during on-line monitoring of the hydrolysis of soluble starch (according to Zulkowsky) for 32 h, and the hydrolysis of wheat starch at room temperature, 60 and 90°C for 6 h. Non-specific/directed protein-membrane interactions were evaluated by sampling maltoheptaose with a microdialysis probe fitted with a 10 mm SPS 4005 membrane, before and after treatment with an enzyme solution of Termamyl (endo-1,4-- -glucan glucanohydrolase EC 3.2.1.78).     

Regiospecific photohydroxyalkylation of pentafluoropyridine

Irradiation of 1-hydroxyalkane solutions of pentafluoropyridine in the presence of benzo-phenone resulted in regiospecific substitution at position 4, thus forming 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-4-(1-hydroxyalkyl)pyridine.     

Estimation of surfactant activity of polluted seawater by kalousek commutator technique

The polarographic method of discontinuously changing potential, known as the Kalousek commutator technique, was applied to the estimation of surfactant activity of seawater samples from polluted area of a harbour. Adsorption isotherms of different detergents, lecithin and lauric acid at the HMDE have been used as calibration curves. The method is recommended for direct and rapid determination of the degree of seawater pollution by organic surface active substances.     

Molecular-weight scaling of coexistence curves for monodisperse polymer solutions

The available data for the polymer volume fraction along the coexistence curves for monodisperse solutions of polystyrene in methylcyclohexane are used to derive the exponent z ≈ 0.61 such that the “correct” order parameter is only a function of ?M^Z (M is the polymer's molecular weight while ? is the reduced temperature). It is shown that a knowledge of the “correct” order parameter is unnecessary for a determination of z which is expected to be universal, i.e. independent of the polymer-solvent system.     

Solid-state photodimerization kinetics of alpha-trans-cinnamic acid to alpha-truxillic acid studied via solid-state NMR

The present work focuses on the topochemical photoconversion process in which alpha-trans-cinnamic acid becomes alpha-truxillic acid. This solid-state [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction has previously been studied with X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and vibrational spectroscopy. However structural and kinetic details about the reaction are still debated. We present results from (13)C cross-polarization magic angle spinning solid-state NMR experiments that suggest that the Johnson, Mehl, Avrami, and Kolmogorov model of phase transformation kinetics can be applied to this system. The model elucidates parameters of the reaction, such as the nucleation rate, diffusion rate, and dimensionality of the reaction. From our data, it is concluded that this reaction follows one-dimensional growth with a decreasing nucleation rate.