Biofuel cell anode based on the Gluconobacter oxydans bacteria cells and 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol as an electron transport mediator

A basic scheme of the use of the Gluconobacter oxydans bacteria cells as a biocatalyst at an anode of a biofuel cell with air-based cathode is raised up. The anode and cathode of the cell are made of graphite; 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol serves as an electron transport mediator; and glucose is the substrate to be oxidized. The open-circuit voltage is 55 mV, for the bacteria cell, the mediator, and glucose concentrations of 3 mg/ml (raw weight), 34 mM, and 10 mM, respectively. The voltage and current of the biofuel cell loaded with an external resistance of 10 kohm are 5.6 mV and 0.56 mA. The cell’s internal resistance is 88 kohm.     

A Procedure for Transforming Impedance Spectra for the Determination of Mechanism of Electrochemical Reactions

Transformation of impedance spectra into relaxation time spectra (RTS) is used for determining contributions of individual processes of the oxygen electroreduction reaction (OER) to the polarization resistance of the electrochemical cell. The transformation technique involves the solution of the convolution equation found with the aid of a modified Van Cittert iteration algorithm checked on model impedance spectra. The technique, when used to analyze impedance spectra of electrochemical cells air|Pt|YSZ|YSZ + Pt|air, shows that the conversion of a globular structure of the YSZ + Pt cermet layer to a columnar one is accompanied by a change of peak amplitudes in RTS. The revealed RTS dynamics when heated to 750°C is compared with peculiarities of individual processes in OER.     

碳纳米管添加剂对质子交换膜燃料电池低铂载量膜电极性能的影响研究

以碳纳米管（CNT）作为低铂载量膜电极（CCM）催化层（0.1 mg_Pt·cm^-2）添加剂，研究了CNT的添加方式对催化层微观结构以及膜电极性能的影响.结果表明，与常规低铂载量催化层相比，在其表面喷涂一层CNT或将CNT均匀分散到Pt/C催化层中均有利于提升低铂载量膜电极的输出性能，在70℃和100%相对湿度条件下最高输出功率比常规低铂载量膜电极的0.522 W·cm^-2分别提升了22.4%和60.0%，并且均匀分散添加方式优于分层添加方式.其原因在于分层添加CNT后改善了低铂催化层和气体扩散层之间的接触界面，降低了催化层与扩散层间的接触电阻，而均匀分散添加方式除了可降低界面接触电阻外，还显著改善了低铂催化层中的气体传输，大幅提升了Pt催化剂的利用效率，使得膜电极电化学反应电阻明显降低.进一步对均匀分散添加方式中CNT的载量进行优化，表明CNT添加量为37.5 μg·cm^-2时电池输出性能最佳，70℃和100%相对湿度条件下的最大输出功率达到0.91 W·cm^-2.本研究工作表明，将CNT均匀分散添加到催化层中是一种有效提升低铂载量膜电极性能的方法.     

Production of α-keto acids Part I. Immobilized cells ofTrigonopsis variabilis containing D-amino acid oxidase

Whole cells ofTrigonopsis variabilis were immobilized by entrapment in Ca²⁺-alginate and used for the production of α-keto acids from the corresponding D-amino acids. The D-amino acid oxidase within the immobilized cells has a broad substrate specificity. Hydrogen peroxide formed in the enzymatic reaction was efficiently hydrolyzed by manganese oxide co-immobilized with the cells. The amino acid oxidase activity was assayed with a new method based on reversed-phase HPLC. Oxygen requirements, bead size, concentration of cells in the beads, flow rate, and other factors were investigated in a “ trickle-bed ” reactor.     

Artificial red cells with crosslinked hemoglobin membranes

Artificial cells containing concentrated hemoglobin (Hb) solution were prepared by interfacial polymerization of Hb with glutaraldehyde (GA) in liquid membrane capsules (LMC). A solution containing 30% of Hb was emulsified in mineral oil as red cell-size microdroplets, and this emulsion was dispersed in an aqueous phase containing glutaraldehyde to form LMC. The LMC were semipermeable templates that held the microdroplets of Hb in suspension while GA diffused through the oil to the microdroplet surfaces. The GA crosslinked Hb at the surface of each microdroplet to form an artificial red-cell membrane encapsulating Hb solution. A water-soluble surfactant was used to eject the cells from the LMC and suspend them in saline. Several surfactants were evaluated. Cell size was controlled by agitation speed during preparation of the original emulsion. Cells of 2.52 = ±1.69 μm were prepared. The encapsulated Hb retained capacity to bind and release O₂. The cells had aP ₅₀ of 8.9 torr (1200 Pa) and a capacity of 0.55 cc O₂/g of total Hb, indicating that the crosslinked portion of the Hb did not contribute to O₂ transport.     

Effects of various donor: acceptor blend ratios on photophysical properties in non-fullerene organic bulk heterojunctions

In this work, the donor:acceptor ratio effected photophysical properties of non-fullerene organic solar cells are comparatively investigated. Effective transportation of the photo-generated charge carriers can be obtained with the PDBD-T:ITIC ratio variation. There is no significant energy loss variation exists in the process of changing the D:A ratio.     

Continuous Production of Thermostable α-Amylase by Immobilized Bacillus Cells in a Fluidized-Bed Reactor

The exponential cells ofBacillus cereus immobilized in calcium alginate and spun into microcylindrical particles were used in a fluidized-bed reactor for continuous synthesis of thermostable α-amylase. The reactor was operated over a period of 30 d with a dilution rate of 0.33 h^-1, producing 1000–1200 U/mL of enzyme. The productivity of the reactor was in the range of 330–396 kU/h. A 20-fold increase in the productivity with respect to batch fermentation with free cells was attained.     

Toward a new generation of therapeutics

Scientific evidence in the prevention and treatment of various disorders is accumulating regarding probiotics. The health benefits supported by adequate clinical data include increased resistance to infectious disease, decreased duration of diarrhea, management of inflammatory bowel disease, reduction of serum cholesterol, prevention of allergy, modulation of cytokine gene expression, and suppression of carcinogen production. Recent ventures in metabolic engineering and heterologous protein expression have enhanced the enzymatic and immunomodulatory effects of probiotics and, with time, may allow more active intervention among critical care patients. In addition, a number of approaches are currently being explored, including the physical and chemical protection of cells, to increase probiotic viability and its health benefits. Traditional immobilization of probiotics in gel matrices, most notably calcium alginate and κ-carrageenan, has frequently been employed, with noted improvements in viability during freezing and storage. Conflicting reports exist, however, on the protection offered by immobilization from harsh physiologic environments. An alternative approach, microencapsulation in “artificial cells,” builds on immobilization technologies by combining enhanced mechanical stability of the capsule membrane with improved mass transport, increased cell loading, and greater control of parameters. This review summarizes the current clinical status of probiotics, examines the promises and challenges of current immobilization technologies, and presents the concept of artificial cells for effective delivery of therapeutic bacterial cells.