Liquid phase glucose hydrogenation to -glucitol over an ultrafine Ru-B amorphous alloy catalyst

A Ru-B amorphous alloy catalyst in the form of ultrafine particles was prepared by chemical reduction of RuCl₃ with borohydride in aqueous solution, whose amorphous structure was confirmed by XRD, DSC, and SAED. Heating pretreatment resulted in the rapid crystallization and the deep decomposition of the Ru-B amorphous alloy as well as the abrupt decrease in the surface area due to the gathering of small particles at high temperature. XPS spectra revealed that partial electrons transferred from the alloying B to the metallic Ru in the as-prepared Ru-B sample. In comparison with other catalysts, the as-prepared Ru-B amorphous catalyst exhibited excellent activity and perfect selectivity to -glucitol as well as superior lifetime during the liquid phase glucose hydrogenation, showing its potential application in industrial process. The higher activity of the Ru-based catalysts than that of other metal catalysts, such as Co-B and Ni-B amorphous catalysts as well as Raney Ni catalysts, demonstrated that the metallic Ru was more active than both metallic Ni and Co for the glucose hydrogenation. Meanwhile, the Ru-B amorphous catalyst exhibited higher activity than its corresponding crystallized Ru-B and pure Ru powder catalysts, showing the promoting effects of both the amorphous structure and the electronic interaction between the metallic Ru and the alloying B, which was briefly discussed based on the kinetic studies and various characterizations.     

苯部分加氢制环己烯新型Ru-B/MOF催化剂

制备了多种金属-有机骨架(MOF)材料,采用浸渍-化学还原法制备了非晶态Ru-B/MOF催化剂,考察了它们在苯部分加氢反应中的催化性能.催化性能评价结果表明,这些催化剂的初始反应速率(r0)顺序为Ru-B/MIL-53(Al)Ru-B/MIL-53(Al)-NH2Ru-B/UIO-66(Zr)Ru-B/UIO-66(Zr)-NH2Ru-B/MIL-53(Cr)Ru-B/MIL-101(Cr)Ru-B/MIL-100(Fe),环己烯初始选择性(S0)顺序为Ru-B/MIL-53(Al)≈Ru-B/MIL-53(Cr)Ru-B/UIO-66(Zr)-NH2Ru-B/MIL-101(Cr)Ru-B/MIL-53(Al)-NH2Ru-B/UIO-66(Zr)≈Ru-B/MIL-100(Fe).催化性能最好的Ru-B/MIL-53(Al)催化剂上的r0和S0分别为23 mmol·min-1·g-1和72%.采用多种手段,对催化性能差异最为显著的Ru-B/MIL-53(Al)和Ru-B/MIL-100(Fe)催化剂的物理化学性质进行了表征.发现MIL-53(Al)载体能够更好地分散Ru-B纳米粒子,粒子的平均尺寸为3.2 nm,而MIL-100(Fe)载体上Ru-B纳米粒子团聚严重,粒径达46.6 nm.更小的粒径不仅能够提供更多的活性位,而且也有利于环己烯选择性的提高.对Ru-B/MIL-53(Al)催化剂的反应条件进行了优化,在180°C和5 MPa的H2压力下,环己烯得率可达24%,展示了MOF材料用作苯部分加氢催化剂载体的良好前景.     

串联双釜连续反应装置中Ru-Co-B/ZrO2上苯选择加氢制环己烯

采用化学还原法制备了苯选择加氢制环己烯催化剂Ru-B/ZrO₂,考察了Cr,Mn,Fe,Co,Ni,Cu和Zn等过渡金属的添加对Ru-B/ZrO₂催化剂性能的影响.结果表明,这些过渡金属的添加均可提高Ru-B/ZrO₂催化剂中的B含量.B的修饰及第二种金属或金属氧化物的集团效应和配位效应导致Ru-B/ZrO₂催化剂活性降低和环己烯选择性升高.当Co/Ru原子比为0.06时,Ru-Co-B/ZrO₂催化剂上反应25min苯转化率为75.8%时,环己烯选择性和收率分别为82.8%和62.8%.在双釜串联连续反应器中和优化反应条件下,Ru-Co-B/ZrO₂催化剂使用419h内苯转化率稳定在40%左右,环己烯选择性和收率分别稳定在73%和30%左右.     

超声波辅助Ru-B非晶态合金常压催化肉桂醛加氢制备肉桂醇

采用KBH₄化学还原法制备了超细Ru-B非晶态合金催化剂。Ru-B催化剂在肉桂醇液相常压加氢中显示出较高的肉桂醇选择性。在加氢过程中使用超声辐射能大大提高反应速率而肉桂醇的选择性几乎保持不变。加氢速率随着超声频率或超声时间的增加而增加。通过XRD、XPS、TEM、BET和ICP等各种表征手段，简要研究了超声辐射对Ru-B催化剂结构和电子特征的影响。同时，还讨论了超声对肉桂醛选择性加氢制肉桂醇催化性能的促进作用。     

助剂对Ru-B/ZrO2非晶合金催化剂性能及表面性质的影响

在活性选择性测定的基础上，利用BET比表面测定，TPR、DSC等手段研究了Fe、Zn、La和Ce等助剂对苯加氢制环己烯Ru—B／ZrO2非晶合金催化性能及表面性质的影响，结果表明，助剂能明显改善催化剂的活性和选择性，提高Ru—B／ZrO2非晶合金的热稳定性，影响催化剂的表面性质，改善催化剂的还原行为，在催化反应条件下，活性组分Ru有金属态和Ru—B—O两种物种，作者认为，它们分别与催化剂的活性和选择性有关。     

Immobilization of Chiral Catalyst on Amorphous Al2O3 for the Selective Hydrogenation of Ethyl 1H-Indole-2-carboxylate

Ru-B/γ-Al2O3 catalyst was prepared by reductant impregnation method,which was applied in the selective hydrogenation of ethyl 1H-indole-2-carboxylate for producing ethyl 2,3,3a,7a-tetrahydro-1H-indole-2-carboxylate with hydrogen as reductant.Furthermore,we discussed the influences of substrate concentration,reaction solvent,hydrogenation temperature,initial hydrogen pressure and reaction time on the catalytic performance of the as-prepared catalyst.The obtained Ru-B/γ-Al2O3 catalyst showed a high-efficiency for the selective hydrogenation of ethyl 1H-indole-2-carboxylate（＞99％ conversion and selectivity） in i-propanol used as solvent at a concentration of 10％（mass fraction） of ethyl 1H-indole-2-carboxylate,a pressure of hydrogen of 6 MPa and a reaction temperature of 373 K.     

Hydrogen-mediated metal-carbon to metal-boron bond conversion in metal-carboranyl complexes

A hydrogen-mediated Ru-C to Ru-B bond conversion was observed experimentally and supported by the theoretical calculations. Treatment of [eta(5):sigma(C)-Me(2)C(C(5)H(4))(C(2)B(10)H(10))]Ru(COD) (1) bearing a Ru-C(cage) sigma bond with PR(3) in the presence of H(2) gave Ru-B(cage) bonded complexes [eta(5):sigma(B)-Me(2)C(C(5)H(4))(C(2)B(10)H(10))]RuH(2)(PR(3)) (R = Cy (2), Ph (3)) (sigma(C): Ru-C(cage) sigma bond; sigma(B): Ru-B(cage) sigma bond). Complex 3 was converted to [eta(5):sigma(B)-Me(2)C(C(5)H(4))(C(2)B(10)H(10))]Ru(L(2)) in the presence of L(2) (L(2) = dppe (4), PPh(3)/P(OEt)(3) (5), PPh(3)/pyridine (6)) via liberation of H(2) upon heating. These complexes were fully characterized by various spectroscopic techniques, elemental analyses, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. DFT calculations show that this conversion process is both kinetically and thermodynamically favorable and requires involvement of a hydride ligand.     

高性能麦芽糖加氢Ru-B/SBA-15非晶态合金催化剂的制备

以介孔氧化硅(SBA-15)为载体, 采用超声辅助(NH₄)₂RuCl₆浸渍和BH₄^-还原法制备了负载型Ru-B催化剂, 并通过X射线衍射、X光电子能谱、差示扫描量热法和透射电子显微等技术表征了该催化剂.结果表明, 所制得的Ru-B-X/SBA-15催化剂具有非晶态合金结构, 且Ru-B颗粒高分散在SBA-15的孔道中.在液相麦芽糖加氢反应中, 与采用RuCl₃为金属源制得的Ru-B-C/SBA-15相比, Ru-B-X/SBA-15催化剂具有更高的活性, 是非负载型Ru-B-C催化剂的7倍以上, 且能重复套用11次而未发生显著的失活.     

A new catalytic method for the synthesis of boroxanes

A new Ru-H complex catalyzed O-borylation of boronic acids with vinylboronates leading to boroxane bond formation with evolution of ethylene is described. Under the optimum conditions, when [Ru(CO)Cl(H)(PPh₃)₃] and excess vinylboronate are used, the reaction gives exclusively the corresponding boroxane in high yield. The proposed mechanism of catalysis is supported by the results of the equimolar reaction of Ru-B complex with 1,3,2-dioxaborinan-2-ol.     

Ladders of a magnetically active element in the structure of the novel complex boride Ti9Fe2Ru18B8: synthesis, structure, bonding, and magnetism

Polycrystalline samples and single crystals of the complex boride Ti9Fe2Ru18B8 were synthesized by arc-melting the elements and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. Ti9Fe2Ru18B8 is a new substitutional variant of the Zn11Rh18B8 structure type, space group P4/mbm (No. 127), whose remarkable feature is that it contains one-dimensional chains of dumbbells of magnetically active Fe atoms, which form "ladders" along the c axis. The Fe-Fe distance within a dumbbell is 2.489(2) A, and the Fe2-Fe2 distance between two dumbbells is 2.968(1) A; in contrast, the chains are well-separated from each other by distances of at least 11.217(2) A. According to the results of tight-binding electronic structure calculations, Ru-B and Ti-Ru contacts are responsible for the structural robustness, while Fe-Fe interactions influence the magnetic behavior. According to magnetization measurements, Ti9Fe2Ru18B8 orders ferromagnetically between 10 and approximately 200 K. A model for ferromagnetism in this ladder-based structure identifies ferromagnetic coupling among neighboring spin-triplet Fe2 dimers along the c axis as the origin of the magnetic behavior.     

Ruthenacarboranes from the reaction of nido-1,2-(Cp*RuH)2B3H7 with HC [triple bond] CCO2Me, Cp* = eta5-C5Me5. Hydrometalation, alkyne incorporation, and functional group modification via cooperative metal-boron interactions within a metallaborane cluster framework

Reaction of nido-1,2-(Cp*RuH)2B3H7, 1, and methyl acetylene monocarboxylate under kinetic control generates nido-1,2-(Cp*Ru)2(mu-C[[CO2Me]Me])B3H7 (a pair of geometric isomers, 3 and 5) and nido-1,2-(Cp*Ru)2(1,3-mu-C[[CH2CO2Me]H])B3H7, 4, which display the first examples of exo-cluster mu-alkylidene Ru-B bridges generated by hydrometalation of an alkyne on the cluster framework. Both 3 and 5, but not 4, rearrange into arachno-2,8-mu(C)-5-eta1(O)-Me[CO2Me]C-1,2-(Cp*Ru)2B3H7, 2, in which an unprecedented intramolecular coordination of the carbonyl oxygen atom of the alkyne substituent to a boron framework site opens the ruthenaborane skeleton. Compound 2, in turn, is an intermediate in the formation of the ruthenacarborane nido-1,2-(Cp*Ru)2-3-OH-4-OMe-5-Me-4,5-C2B2H5, 12, in which the carbonyl-oxygen double bond has been cleaved as its oxygen atom inserts into a B-H bond and the carbonyl carbon inserts into the metallaborane framework. In a parallel reaction pathway, nido-1,2-(Cp*Ru)2-5-CO2Me-4,5-C2B2H7, 6, nido-1,2-(Cp*Ru)2-4-B(OH)2-5-CO2Me-4,5-C2B2H6, 16, and nido-1,2-(Cp*Ru)2(mu-H)(mu-BH2)-3-(CH2)2CO2Me-CO2Me-4,5-C2B2H4 (a pair of geometric isomers, 7 and 14, which contain an unusual Ru-B borane bridge) are formed. On heating, 7 rearranges to yield nido-1,2-(Cp*Ru)2-3-(CH2)2CO2Me-4-BH2-5-CO2Me-4,5-C2B2H5, 13, whereas 14 converts to nido-1,2-(Cp*Ru)2-3-(CH2)2CO2Me-4-CO2Me-4,5-C2B2H6, 8. Under thermodynamic control, nido-1,2-(Cp*Ru)2-4,5-B[(CH2)2CO2Me]CO(MeO)[C(CH2)CO2Me]-4,5-C2B2H6, 11, is the major product accompanied by lesser amounts of 6 and 1,2-(Cp*Ru)2-4-OMe-5-Me-4,5-C2B2H6, 10. Compound 11 features a five-membered heterocycle containing a boron atom. The structure of 7, which is an intermediate in the formation of 11, provides the basis for an explanation of this complex condensation of three alkynes. A previously unrecognized role for an exo-cluster bridging borene generated from the metallaborane skeleton by addition of the alkyne is also a feature of this chemistry. Reinsertion or loss of this boron fragment accounts for much of the chemistry observed. NMR experiments reveal labile intermediates, and one has been sufficiently characterized to provide mechanistic insight on the early stages of the alkyne-metallaborane addition reaction. All isolated compounds have been spectroscopically characterized, and most have been structurally characterized in the solid state.     

Reactivity of the 16e (p-cymene)Ru half-sandwich complex containing a chelating 1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane-1,2-dithiolate ligand towards diynes

The reactions of the 16e half-sandwich complex (p-cymene)Ru(S(2)C(2)B(10)H(10)) (Ru16e) with 1,4-diethynylbenzene (L1), 3',6-diethynyl-1,1'-binaphthyl-2,7'-diyl diacetate (L2), 2-bromo-5-ethynylthiophene (L3) and 2,5-diethynylthiophene (L4) lead to 18e mononuclear complexes (p-cymene)Ru(S(2)C(2)B(10)H(9))(H(2)CCPhC≡CH) (1), (p-cymene)Ru(S(2)C(2)B(10)H(9))[H(2)CC(C(24)H(16)O(4))C≡CH] (2), (p-cymene)Ru(S(2)C(2)B(10)H(9)) [H(2)CC(C(4)H(2)S)Br] (3) and (p-cymene)Ru(S(2)C(2)B(10)H(9)) [H(2)CC(C(4)H(2)S)C≡CH] (4), respectively. In all of them, metal-induced B-H activation has occurred, which leads to a stable Ru-B bond, and the structures take a cisoid arrangement. Only in the case of L4, the binuclear complexes [(p-cymene)Ru(S(2)C(2)B(10)H(9))](2)[H(2)CC(C(4)H(2)S)CCH(2)] (5a and 5b) are observed, which are conformational isomers generated by the differing orientations of the p-cymene unit. 4 can be readily converted to the complex (p-cymene)Ru(S(2)C(2)B(10)H(9))[H(2)CC(C(4)H(2)S)COCH(3)] (6) in the presence of silica and H(2)O. All of these products 1-6 were characterized by NMR, IR, elemental analysis and mass spectrometry. The structures of 1, 3, and 5a were also determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Controlled assembly of ruthenium complexes through ortho-carborane dithiolate and polysulfide ligands

Treatment of ortho-carborane, n-butyl lithium, sulfur, and [(p-cymene)RuCl(2)](2) in varying ratio led to four new compounds (p-cymene)Ru[S(3)(C(2)B(10)H(10))(2)] (3), [(p-cymene)Ru(2)(μ(2)-S(2)C(2)B(10)H(9))(μ(3)-S(2)C(2)B(10)H(10))](2) (4), [(p-cymene)Ru](2)Ru(μ(2)-η(2):η(2)-S(2)) (μ(2)-η(2):η(1)-S(2)Cl)(μ(2)-S(2)C(2)B(10)H(10))(2) (5), and [(p-cymene)Ru](2)Ru(μ(2)-η(1):η(1)-S(2))(μ(3)-η(2):η(2)-S(4)) (μ(2)-S(2)C(2)B(10)H(10))(2) (6), respectively. In 3, the ruthenium atom is coordinated by three S atoms from a in situ generated tridentate [S(3)(C(2)B(10)H(10))(2)](2-) ligand. 4 consists of two identical dinuclear (p-cymene)Ru(2)(μ(2)-S(2)C(2)B(10)H(9))(μ(3)-S(2)C(2)B(10)H(10)) subunits which connect to each other via the Ru-Ru bond and two bridging o-carborane-1,2-dithiolate ligands. In 4, a Ru-B bond is present. 5 contains a Ru(3)(μ(2)-S)(2)(μ(2)-S(2))(μ(2)-S(2)Cl) core, and the central ruthenium atom is coordinated by seven S atoms in a distorted pentagonal bipyramidal geometry. In 5, a S-Cl bond is generated. 6 has a novel Ru(3)(μ(2)-S)(2)(μ(2)-S(2))(μ(3)-S(4)) core, and the three ruthenium atoms are connected through the two terminal sulfur atoms of the S-S-S-S chain in a μ(3) binding fashion. All the four complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, mass, NMR, and X-ray crystallography.     

Cooperative metal-boron interactions in the reaction of nido-1,2-(Cp*RuH)2B3H7, Cp* = eta5-C5Me5, with HC(triple bond)CPh

Products of the reaction of nido-1,2-(CpRuH)(2)B(3)H(7), 1, and phenylacetylene demonstrate the ways in which cluster metal and main group fragments can combine with an alkyne. Observed at 22 degrees C are (a) reduction to mu-alkylidene Ru-B bridges (isomers nido-1,2-(CpRu)(2)(1,5-mu-C{Ph}Me)B(3)H(7), 2, and nido-1,2-(CpRu)(2)(1,5-mu-C{CH(2)Ph}H)B(3)H(7), 3), (b) reduction to exo-cluster alkyl substituents on boron (nido-1,2-(CpRuH)(2)-3-CH(2)CH(2)Ph-B(3)H(6), 4), (c) cluster insertion with extrusion of a BH(2) fragment into an exo-cluster bridge (nido-1,2-(CpRu)(2)(mu-H)(mu-BH(2))-4-or-5-Ph-4,5-C(2)B(2)H(5), 5), (d) combined insertion with BH(2) extrusion and reduction (nido-1,2-(CpRu)(2)(mu-H)(mu-BH(2))-3-CH(2)CH(2)Ph-5-Ph-4,5-C(2)B(2)H(4), 6), (e) insertion and loss of borane with and without reduction (nido-1,2-(CpRu)(2)-5-Ph-4,5-C(2)B(2)H(7), 7, and isomers nido-1,2-(CpRu)(2)-3-CH(2)CH(2)Ph-4-(and-5-)Ph-C(2)B(2)H(6), 8 and 9), and (f) insertion and borane loss plus reduction (nido-1,2-(CpRu)(2)-3-(trans-CH=CHPh)-5-Ph-4,5-C(2)B(2)H(6), 10). Along with 7, 8, and 10, the reaction at 90 degrees C generates products of insertion and nido- to closo-cluster closure (closo-4-Ph-1,2-(CpRuH)(2)-4,6-C(2)B(2)H(3), 11, closo-1,2-(CpRuH)(2)-3-CH(2)CH(2)Ph-5-Ph-7-CH(2)CH(2)Ph-4,5-C(2)B(3)H(2), 12, closo-1,2-(CpRuH)(2)-5-Ph-4,5-C(2)B(3)H(4), 13, and isomers closo-1,2-(CpRuH)(2)-3-and-7-CH(2)CH(2)Ph-5-Ph-4,5-C(2)B(3)H(3), 14 and 15). The clusters with an exo-cluster bridging BH(2) groups are shown to be intermediates by demonstrating that the major products 5 and 6 rearrange to 13 and convert to 14, respectively. 14 then isomerizes to 15, thus connecting low- and high-temperature products. Finally, all available information shows that the high reactivity of 1 with alkynes can be associated with the "extra" two Ru-H hydrides on the framework of 1 which are required to meet the nido-cluster electron count.     

Reasons for the high stability of fumarase activity ofBrevibacterium flavum cells immobilized with k-carrageenan gel

Whole cells ofBrevibacterium flavum having high fumarase activity were immobilized using K-carrageenan. The reason for the high stability of fumarase activity of immobilized cells was investigated. One of main reasons for stabilizing fumarase activity by immobilization using K-carrageenan against organic solvents such as ethanol and acetone was the lower concentration of these solvents in the carrageenan gel compared with that in outer bulk solution. The stabilization of fumarase activity in the immobilized cells against protein-denaturing reagents was found to be related to rheological properties of K-carrageenan gel. Another reason for stabilizing fumarase activity by immobilization with K-carrageenan was to protect the cells from lysis. When immobilized cells were freeze-thawed, their fumarase activity increased and operation stability decreased. Therefore, one reason for the high decay of fumarase activity caused by the freeze-thawing may be a change in the pore size of the K-carrageenan gel. Fumarase activity and the operational stability of immobilized cells was found to depend on gelling conditions. Therefore, the steric structure of the K-carrageenan gel may be related to the decay of fumarase activity.     

Endo- and aminopeptidase activities of rat cathepsin H.

Employing soluble denatured protein substrates and their derivatives, the proteolytic activity of rat cathepsin H was investigated. The enzyme showed aminopeptidase activity which sequentially released amino acid from the N-terminal of the substrate. The aminopeptidase activity did not act on N alpha-acetylated peptides and showed moderate ionic-strength dependence when methionyl-methylcoumarylamide was employed as a substrate. These results indicate that the activity essentially requires an N-terminal free amino group of the substrate and recognizes it electrostatically to some extent. On the other hand, the enzyme was also indicated to exhibit endopeptidase activity by employing appropriate N alpha-acetylated peptide substrates. In contrast to the aminopeptidase activity, the endopeptidase activity showed rather strict specificity, preferring hydrophobic residues at P2 and P3 sites. Because of the broad specificity and high efficiency of the aminopeptidase activity, it was difficult to directly observe endopeptidase activity in the digestion of large peptide substrates with a free alpha-amino terminal. Thus, this is the first experimental evidence that indicates endopeptidase activity by assigning internal peptide bonds cleaved by this activity. From this data, we proposed a model of the binding site of this enzyme.     

Analysis of Influential Factors of Konjac Glucomannan（KGM） Molecular Structure on Its Activity

Biological activity of konjac glucomannan is closely related to its structure,in particular to its high-level structure.Researches on the activity mechanism of konjac glucomannan are significant for revealing the mysteries of participation in life activity.In this paper,analysis of the effects of konjac glucomannan configuration and various factors on its structure and activity was conducted,mechanism of biological activity of konjac glucomannan was explored,and the hot research topic of konjac glucomannan was given.     

电解煤浆制氢阳极的制备及电催化活性研究

将钛片进行预处理, 用处理后的钛片作为电极基体, 然后用循环伏安法在钛基体上沉积制备了Pt/Ti, Pt-Ru/Ti, Pt-Ir/Ti, Pt-Ru-Ir/Ti催化电极, 通过扫描电镜(SEM)、X射线衍射(XRD)、电子能谱(EDS)以及等离子发射光谱(ICP)等方法对所制备电极进行了表征, 包括电极表面形貌、组分的沉积状态、催化层成分组成以及电极寿命等; 在煤浆电解过程中, 采用两电极体系, 对所制备电极的电催化活性进行了测试. 结果表明: 所制备的电极催化活性都高于同面积的铂片电极, 含有Ru, Ir的二元催化电极的活性好于镀铂催化电极. 在一定范围内, 随着Ru元素比例增大, 电极活性增强, 而Ir元素含量过大, 电极活性反而稍微降低, 所以Pt-Ir(1∶0.5)/Ti, Pt-Ru(1∶5)/Ti两电极的催化活性相对较好. 本文所制备的三元催化电极的催化活性低于二元催化电极. Pt-Ru/Ti电极催化活性最好, 相同条件下具有最大的电解电流, H₂的电解效率可达95%以上.     

Characterisation of protease activity in extracellular products secreted by Giardia duodenalis trophozoites treated with propolis

Results from our laboratory revealed propolis activity on Giardia trophozoites proliferation. Since therapeutic agents can inhibit the activity of proteases related to relevant biologic and physiologic processes of parasites, this study was undertaken to characterise the proteolytic activity of excretory/secretory products (ESP) of trophozoites treated with propolis. ESP was obtained from culture supernatants of trophozoites exposed to 250 and 500 μg mL(-1) of propolis. ESP were tested in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for the protein profiles and the protease activity was assayed in gelatin-containing gels. Synthetic inhibitors were used to characterise the protease classes. Treated and non-treated ESP showed a similar protein and hydrolysis pattern. A simple pattern of protein composed by five evident bands of approximately 167, 132, 79, 61 and 51 kDa was found, and the zymograms comprised hydrolysis zones distributed from >170 to 23 kDa. No inhibition was seen on protease activity of propolis-treated trophozoites, whose hydrolysis pattern was similar to control. One may conclude that both ESP degraded gelatin and the activity was predominantly due to cysteine proteases. Although propolis had no effect on the proteolytic activity, further studies could identify the active constituents responsible for propolis antigiardial activity and their mechanisms of action.     

Thermostability of Selected Enzymes in Organic Wastes and in their Humic Extract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the thermostability up to 70 degrees C for 1 h of selected enzymes present in fresh and composted sewage sludge (SS and SSC) or municipal solid wastes (MSW and MSWC) and their humic extract. After a thermal treatment at 70 degrees C, no beta-glucosidase activity in any humic extract was detected, whereas in SS, SSC, MSW, and MSWC, it was respectively, 35%, 68%, 17%, and 12% compared to thermally untreated samples. By contrast, o-diphenol oxidase activity was even stimulated by thermal treatment in SS samples, but in the humic extracts, this activity decreased by 75-81%. Urease activity in all humic extracts decreased by 70% or more just at 40 degrees C, whereas for organic wastes, this decrease was observed after treatment at 70 degrees C. Alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity was affected by thermal treatment only in MSW and MSWC. In humic extracts, AP activity decreased gradually to zero except for the MSW extract, where 45% activity was retained after treatment at 70 degrees C. In general, thermostability of enzymes in humic extracts was lower than the materials they were extracted from.