Electrochemical extraction of proteins by reverse micelle formation

The transfer of proteins by the anionic surfactant bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) at a polarized 1,2-dichloroethane/water (DCE/W) interface was investigated by means of ion-transfer voltammetry. When the tetrapentylammonium salt of AOT was added to the DCE phase, the facilitated transfer of certain proteins, including cytochrome c (Cyt c), ribonuclease A, and protamine, could be controlled electrochemically, and a well-defined anodic wave for the transfer was obtained. At low pH values (e.g., pH 3.4), the anodic wave was usually well-separated from the wave for the formation of protein-free (i.e., unfilled) reverse micelles. The anodic wave for the protein transfer was analyzed by applying the theory for facilitated transfer of ions by charged ligands and then supplying information regarding the number of AOT anions reacting with one protein molecule and the total charge carried by the protein transfer. However, controlled-potential electrolyses performed for the transfer of Cyt c, which is red, revealed that the protein-AOT complexes were unstable in DCE and liable to aggregate at the interface when the pH of the W phase was 3.4. At pH 7.0, when formation of unfilled reverse micelles occurred simultaneously, the protein-AOT complexes appeared to be stabilized, probably via fusion with unfilled reverse micelles.     

Synthesis of alpha-chymotrypsin/polymer composites by a reverse micelle/gas antisolvent method

Alpha-chymotrypsin (CT)/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) composites was synthesized by combination of reverse micelles and CO(2). In this method, the two reverse micellar solutions containing CT and PVP, respectively, were first mixed, then compressed CO(2) was used as an antisolvent to precipitate the CT and PVP simultaneously and CT/PVP composites were successfully prepared. The morphology of the obtained CT/PVP composites was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The FTIR spectra of the composites showed that there was interaction between CT and PVP. The storage activity of the enzyme immobilized on the polymer by this method was higher than that of the pure enzyme. This method has some advantages and can be easily applied to the synthesis of some other enzyme/polymer composites.     

Synthesis and characterization of one-dimensional CdSe by a novel reverse micelle assisted hydrothermal method

Nanocrystalline cadmium selenide (CdSe) is a low bandgap material (E(g)=1.75 eV, at room temperature) with potential applications in photoelectronic devices. Its electronic properties are dependent on the dimensions of the crystals. In this study, one-dimensional wurtzite CdSe nanoparticles with a diameter of 43+/-6 nm and an aspect ratio of 3.7+/-0.6 were synthesized through a novel reverse micelle assisted hydrothermal method at a relatively low temperature. This method combines the advantages of the hydrothermal method's ability to achieve good crystallinity with the well-controlled growth offered by the reverse micelle method. The morphology of the nanoparticles can be controlled by the amount of sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT), the amount of hydrazine hydrate and the reaction temperature. It is proposed that AOT controls the length while hydrazine hydrate controls the diameter of the growing nanocrystals. The photoluminescence (PL) of individual nanorods and the longitudinal-optical phonon properties were mapped using confocal microscopy. Raman spectroscopy showed a blue-shift of both the LO and 2LO phonon peaks which may be due to a lattice contraction of the CdSe nanorods. A nucleation and growth mechanism for these nanoparticles is also proposed based on time-dependent studies.     

Electrochemical aspects of the reverse micelle extraction of proteins

The mechanism of the solvent extraction of cytochrome c (Cyt c) via reverse micelle formation was studied from an electrochemical point of view. Potentiometric measurements showed that the Galvani potential difference of the oil/water (O/W) interface played a crucial role in the spontaneous extraction of Cyt c with bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate (AOT). However, the dependence of the extraction efficiency on the concentration of an aqueous electrolyte (KCl) could be explained not by the effect of the interfacial potential, but by the change in the interfacial tension (gamma). Electrocapillary measurements showed that the adsorption of AOT anions to the O/W interface resulted in a significant decrease of gamma in a higher potential range, where reverse micelles were formed. The bottom level of gamma in the higher potential range was increased with [KCl]. The lower extraction efficiency for higher [KCl]'s was elucidated by a "size exclusion effect". This was also supported by water-content measurements by the Karl Fisher method.     

Fine-tuning size of gold nanoparticles by cooling during reverse micelle synthesis

By lowering the reaction temperature during metal ion reduction in a reverse micelle system, gold nanoparticle size can be subtly tuned from 6.6 to 2.2 nm in diameter. Under these reaction conditions, the water-to-surfactant ratio (W value) also plays an important role in controlling the particle size, enabling a wide range of products obtainable via a simple, quick, reproducible synthesis. Particle sizes were measured by HRTEM, and size trends were supported by UV-vis spectroscopy.     

焙烧方法和焙烧条件对纳米Au/HZSM-5催化剂金粒径和催化性能的影响

采用负压沉积沉淀法制备了纳米Au/HZSM-5催化剂前体,研究了深床焙烧和等离子体焙烧两种方法,以及焙烧温度和焙烧气氛对催化剂中纳米金粒径和催化性能的影响,并采用ICP、TEM、XRD、UV-vis、XPS等表征方法对催化剂金粒子进行了物化性能表征,采用合成气羰基化制乙酸甲酯反应表征催化性能。结果表明,不同焙烧方法和不同焙烧温度及气氛对负载型纳米Au/HZSM-5催化剂中金粒径、形貌、物化性质和催化性能有明显影响。其中,以等离子体焙烧方法在500℃氮气气氛下制备的纳米1.86%Au/HZSM-5催化剂中的金粒径最小,为2-5 nm。用于催化合成气羰基化制乙酸甲酯反应,原料中CO的转化率为67%,乙酸甲酯选择性可达78%。     

Fine-tuning of catalytic tin nanoparticles by the reverse micelle method for direct deposition of silicon nanowires by a plasma-enhanced chemical vapour technique

The reverse micelle method was used for the reduction of a tin (Sn) salt solution to produce metallic Sn nanoparticles ranging from 85 nm to 140 nm in diameter. The reverse micellar system used in this process was hexane-butanol-cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). The diameters of the Sn nanoparticles were proportional to the concentration of the aqueous Sn salt solution. Thus, the size of the Sn nanoparticles can easily be controlled, enabling a simple, reproducible mechanism for the growth of silicon nanowires (SiNWs) using plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD). Both the Sn nanoparticles and silicon nanowires were characterised using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Further characterisations of the SiNW's were made using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Raman spectroscopy. In addition, dynamic light scattering (DLS) was used to investigate particle size distributions. This procedure demonstrates an economical route for manufacturing reproducible silicon nanowires using fine-tuned Sn nanoparticles for possible solar cell applications.     

DNNSA反胶团溶液净化磷酸中镁的研究

本文研究了二壬基萘磺酸(DNNSA)形成的微乳萃取磷酸中镁离子的工艺条件.分别考察了稀释剂、萃取时间、萃取剂浓度、温度、磷酸浓度对磷酸中镁离子萃取的影响.结果表明,稀释剂极性越低越有利于萃取,萃取平衡时间为40 min,萃取剂浓度增加有利于萃取,升高温度对萃取有利,磷酸浓度增加萃取率下降.红外光谱分析证实,DNNSA反胶团萃取磷酸中镁离子为阳离子交换机理.     

Mechanism of surfactant micelle formation

The mechanism of micelle formation of surfactants sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), n-hexyldecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and Triton X-100 (TX-100) in heavy water solutions was studied by 1H NMR (chemical shift and line shape) and NMR self-diffusion experiments. 1H NMR and self-diffusion experiments of these three surfactants show that their chemical shifts (delta) begin to change and resonance peaks begins to broaden with the increase in concentration significantly below their critical micelle concentrations (cmc's). At the same time, self-diffusion coefficients ( D) of the surfactant molecules decrease simultaneously as their concentrations increase. These indicate that when the concentrations are near and lower than their cmc's, there are oligomers (premicelles) formed in these three surfactant systems. Carefully examining the dependence of chemical shift and self-diffusion coefficient on concentration in the region just slightly above their cmc's, one finds that the pseudophase transition model is not applicable to the variation of physical properties (chemical shift and self-diffusion coefficient) with concentration of these systems. This indicates that premicelles still exist in this concentration region along with the formation of micelles. The curved dependence of chemical shift and self-diffusion coefficient on the increase in concentration suggests that the premicelles grow as the concentration increases until a definite value when the size of the premicelle reaches that of the micelle, i.e., the system is likely dominated by the monomers and micelles. Additionally, the approximate values of premicelle coming forth concentration (pmc) and cmc were obtained by again fitting chemical shifts to reciprocals of concentrations at a different perspective, and are in good accordant with experimental results and literature values and prove the former conclusion.     

Probing of ferrocenylanilines on model micelle/reverse micelle membrane and their enhanced reactivity for reactive oxidants

Reactive oxygen species are formed in the human body but can be removed by suitable antioxidants. In this study we synthesized and characterized three ferrocene derivatives, 4‐ferrocenylaniline (pFA), 3‐ferrocenylaniline (mFA) and 3‐methyl‐4‐ferrocenylaniline (MeFA), having significant potential to be used as antioxidants. The synthesized compounds are insoluble in water, with the solubility of these compounds increasing in micelle solution. The micelle and reverse micelle solutions were considered as model membranes. The synthesized compounds were probed on the model membranes, made by sodium dioctylsulfosuccinate reverse micelle and tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide micelle, using ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The ¹H NMR results indicated that these compounds are present in the polar region of the model membrane interface. Quantitative measurements showed that mFA has the greatest ability to penetrate into the micelle membrane among these compounds, and pFA is least penetrating in this respect. Solubilization of these compounds in aqueous micelle solution facilitates crystallization (of mFA) and enhances the antioxidant potential of these compounds. X‐ray crystal structure analysis revealed that mFA captures water molecules during crystallization in micelle solution. Their ability to act as antioxidants was evaluated, in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and in micelle solution, using standard 1,1‐ diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. It was found that their antioxidant potential is good in DMSO and that potential increases on the interface of the model membrane. The highest increase (by 19.6%) in the antioxidant potential, on the model membrane interface, was observed for mFA.     

Effect of structure of PEO-PPO-PEO copolymers on reverse micelle formation induced by compressed CO2

The micellization of PEO-PPO-PEO block copolymers in p-xylene has been studied in the presence of CO2. With the application of CO2, some copolymers with suitable molecular weights and EO ratios can form reverse micelles with critical micellization pressure up to 5.8 MPa. For the copolymers with the same length of PO block, higher EO ratios facilitate reverse micelle formation. For the copolymers with the same composition, higher molecular weight is favorable to form reverse micelles. With the suitable composition and molecular weight, the critical micelle pressure (CMP) of copolymers decreases with the increase in the lengths of PEO and PPO blocks due to the hydrophilic and folding effects, respectively. Both the EO ratios and the molecular weights are important for the formation of reverse micelle. The reverse micelle solution can solubilize water with W0 (molar ratio of water to EO segment) up to 3.3.     

Protein separation and enrichment by counter-current chromatography using reverse micelle solvent systems

A protein mixture consisting of myoglobin, cytochrome c, and lysozyme was separated by high-speed counter-current chromatography using a two-phase aqueous/reverse micelle-containing organic solvent system. About 50% stationary phase retention ratio was obtained in most chromatographic experiments. Separations were manipulated mainly by pH gradients that controlled the electrostatic interactions between the protein molecules and reverse micelles. Separations were further improved by incorporating an ionic strength gradient along with the pH gradient. Control of ionic strength in the aqueous solution helped fine-tune protein partitioning between the stationary and mobile phases. Although non-specific protein interactions affected baseline resolution, recovery of cytochrome c and lysozyme reached 90% and 82%. Furthermore, concentration or enrichment of these two proteins was achieved from a large-volume sample load. This technique can potentially be employed in the recovery and enrichment of proteins from large-volume aqueous solutions.     

Effect of reaction parameters on the particle size in the dispersion polymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate

Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) particles in the micron size range were obtained by the dispersion polymerization. Cellulose acetate butyrate and dibenzoyl peroxide were used as steric stabilizer and initiator, respectively. The ultimate particle size could be adjusted by the selection of a suitable polymerization medium consisting of an alcohol added to toluene and by varying their relative amounts. The particle size increased with increasing solubility parameter of the mixture, i.e., by decreasing the toluene/2-methylpropan-1-ol, toluene/butan-2-ol, and toluene/3-methylbutan-1-ol ratio. The particle size decreased with increasing concentration of the stabilizer and/or initiator. At the same time, the particle size distribution became narrower. Particles prepared from polymerization mixtures purged with nitrogen before the start of polymerization were smaller, and of narrower distribution, than those prepared from nitrogen-non-purged mixtures. Equilibrium swelling of particles in toluene decreased with the decreasing content of toluene in the polymerization mixture. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 3785–3792, 1999     

Dissolution kinetics of silver metal nanoparticles in their reaction with nitric acid in an reverse micelle solution of AOT

The dissolution of silver nanoparticles in their reaction with aqueous HNO₃ solubilized to an reverse micelle solution of sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate in decane is studied spectrophotometrically. A physicochemical model is advanced for quantifying the process kinetics on th basis of the following autocatalytic scheme: Ag⁰ + H⁺ + NO ₃ ^? → Ag⁺ + products (k ₁), and Ag⁰ + Ag⁺ + NO ₃ ^? → 2Ag⁺ + products (k ₂). The effective rate constant k ₂ decreases with decreasing solubilization capacity V _S/V _O (where V _S is the volume of the solubilized dispersed aqueous phase and V _O is the volume of the micelle solution); the solubilization capacity determines the size of the micelle cavities in which the reaction between Ag⁰ and HNO₃ occurs: k ₂ = 74 (V _S/V _O) · 100% ≈ 3.8%), 41 (2.9), and 35 (2.0) L/(mol s). The effective constant k ₁ is determined with a high uncertainty; the effect of V _S/V _O on k ₁ has the opposite tendency.     

Formation mechanism of conducting polypyrrole nanotubes in reverse micelle systems

Polypyrrole (PPy) nanotubes were readily fabricated through chemical oxidation polymerization in sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) reverse (water-in-oil) emulsions. The reverse cylindrical micelle phase was characterized, and the key factors affecting the formation of PPy nanotubes were systematically inspected. AOT reverse cylindrical micelles were prepared via a cooperative interaction between an aqueous FeCl3 solution and AOT in an apolar solvent. In the H2O/FeCl3/AOT/apolar solvent system, the aqueous FeCl3 solution played a role in increasing the ionic strength and decreasing the second critical micelle concentration of AOT. As a result, AOT reverse cylindrical micelles could be spontaneously formed in an apolar solvent. In addition, iron cations were adsorbed to the anionic AOT headgroups that were capable of extracting metal cations from the aqueous core. Under these conditions, the addition of pyrrole monomer resulted in the chemical oxidation polymerization of the corresponding monomer at the surface of AOT reverse cylindrical micelles, followed by the formation of tubular PPy nanostructures. In a typical composition (74.0 wt % hexane, 22.4 wt % AOT, and 3.6 wt % aqueous FeCl3 solution at 15 degrees C), the average diameter of PPy nanotubes was approximately 94 nm and their length was more than 2 mum. The PPy nanotube dimensions were affected by synthetic variables such as the weight ratio of aqueous FeCl3 solution/AOT, type of apolar solvent, and reaction temperature. Moreover, the relationship between the diameter and the conductivity of the nanotubes was investigated.     

Catalytic performance of lignin peroxidase in a novel reverse micelle

To enhance the catalytic activity of lignin peroxidase (LiP) in a reverse micelle, a synthesized two-tail nonionic surfactant N-gluconyl glutamic acid didecyl ester (GGDE) was used to formulate a novel reverse micelle. Based on the LiP catalyzed oxidation of veratryl alcohol (VA) in this novel GGDE/TritonX-100-cyclohexane-H(2)O reverse micelle, the effects of the size of the reverse micelle, the buffer pH, and the concentration of H(2)O(2) on the catalytic activity of LiP were investigated. Under the optimized conditions, the catalytic efficiency of LiP in the GGDE/TritonX-100 reverse micelle was 40 times higher than that in the AOT reverse micelle. The full expression of catalytic activity of LiP in this medium was mainly due to the lack of electrostatic interaction between LiP and the head group of GGDE and TritonX-100 and to the size fit between LiP and the inner water cavity of the reverse micelle.     

The influence of micelle formation on the stability of colloid surfactant mixtures

The stability of colloidal dispersions can be severely affected by the presence of surfactants. Because surfactants can adsorb at colloidal surfaces as well as form micelles, one can expect an interplay between both phenomena. Using grand-canonical coarse-grained Monte Carlo simulations on surfactant solutions confined between two surfaces, we investigate how adsorption and micelle formation affects the effective interaction between two colloidal particles, and hence, the stability of the colloidal dispersion. For solvophilic colloidal surfaces, we observe a short-ranged oscillatory solvation pressure that is hardly affected by the presence of surfactants in the system. The effective surface-surface interaction, however, reveals a decrease in solvophilic stabilization as a function of surfactant chemical potential. For solvophobic surfaces, we find that the capillary evaporation observed in a confined pure solvent, is counteracted by the addition of surfactants. Around the critical micelle concentration (CMC), the surface-surface interaction even becomes repulsive, enhancing stabilization of the colloidal dispersion. In contrast, the formation of micelles at concentrations above the CMC causes an additional depletion effect, resulting in an effective attraction, which in turn can destabilize a colloidal dispersion.     

Study on the electric double layer of a cylindrical reverse micelle with functional theoretical approach

Some surfactants, such as AOT (bis-(2-ethylhexyl sodium sulfosuccinate), have such a special structure with a smaller hydrophilic head group but a bigger hydrophobic tail. Some mixtures of surfactants (or surfactant/co-surfactant) also take the same special structure[1―3]. If their concentrations are much higher than their critical micelle concentrations (cmc) in oil/water system, these surfactants or mixtures usually assemble as W/O cylindrical (or wormlike) micelles with their lengths bei…     

诱导自催化法制备Ni-P超细非晶合金的动力学研究

加入诱导剂(如KBH~4)可使Ni^2+与H~2PO~2^-反应在常温下进行, 便于测量反应中放出的H~2体积, 有利于研究反应的动力学过程及其与反应条件下关系。反应为二级自催化反应, 反应活化能约60kj.mol^-1, pH值不影响反应速率常数, 但pH值越大, 反应诱导期越长, 一般可在40min内完成。由于加入诱导剂能一次成核,生成的Ni-P非晶合金为均匀的球形颗粒。