Fluorimetric method for the determination of long-chain amines in water

A method is presented for the determination of long-chain quaternary ammonium salts, tertiary amines and secondary amines in water or aqueous raffinates, based on their extraction and fluorimetric determination as amine salts with Eosine Yellowish in toluene-hexanol (4:1) as solvent. No interferences were obtained from metal ions, or chloride, nitrate or phosphate ions when a back-washing method was applied to the sample extract. The method allows the determination of long-chain tertiary amines down to 4 ppM.     

Xylanase production by Penicillium canescens 10–10c in solid-state fermentation

Filamentous fungi have been widely used to produce hydrolytic enzymes for industrial applications, including xylanases, whose levels in fungi are generally much higher than those in yeast and bacteria. We evaluated the influence of carbon sources, nitrogen sources, and moisture content on xylanase production by Penicillium canescens 10–10c in solid-state fermentation. Among agricultural wastes tested (wheat bran, untreated wheat straw, treated wheat straw, beet pulp, and soja meal), untreated wheat straw gave the highest production of xylanase. Optimal initial moisture content for xylanase production was 83%. The addition of 0.4 g of xylan or easily metabolizable sugar, such as glucose and xylose, at a concentration of 2% to wheat straw enhanced xylanase production. In solid-state fermentation, even at high concentrations of glucose or xylose (10%), catabolic repression was minimized compared to the effect observed in liquid culture. Yeast extract was the best nitrogen source among the nitrogen sources investigated: peptone, ammonium nitrate, sodium nitrate, ammonium chloride, and ammonium sulfate. A combination of yeast extract and peptone as nitrogen sources led to the best xylanase production.     

An investigation of polyphenyl-onium bases and other materials for phosphate ion-selective electrodes

Precipitate-type electrodes (benzidine sulfate or phosphate and hexammino-cobalt(III) nitrate in silicone rubber), and liquid ion-exchanger electrodes based on quaternary ammonium and phosphonium and triphenyltin salts were tested for the assay of phosphate ions. Good sensitivity was achieved with the phosphonium and triphenyltin salts, but both lacked sufficient selectivity for routine-assays.     

Kinetics and mechanism of thermal decomposition of ammonium nitrate and sulfate mixtures

Fundamental kinetic aspects of the decomposition of mixtures and double salts of ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate were studied. The effect of water and sulfuric acid additives on the thermal decomposition rate of ammonium nitrate and sulfate mixtures was examined. The constant of proton exchange between nitric acid and the sulfate anion in molten ammonium nitrate was estimated.     

A statistical approach using L<Subscript>25</Subscript> orthogonal array method to study fermentative production of clavulanic acid by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces clavuligerus</Emphasis> MTCC 1142

Clavulanic acid is a naturally occurring antibiotic produced by Streptomyces clavuligerus. The present work reports on clavulanic acid production by Streptomyces clavuligerus MTCC 1142 using one-factor-at-a-time and L₂₅ orthogonal array. The one-factor-at-a-time method was adopted to investigate the effect of media components (i.e., carbon source, nitrogen source and inoculum concentration) and environmental factors such as pH for clavulanic acid production. Production of clavulanic acid by Streptomyces clavuligerus was investigated using seven different carbon sources (viz. glucose, sucrose, modified starch, rice-bran oil, soybean oil, palm oil, and glycerol) and six different nitrogen sources (viz. peptone, yeast extract, ammonium chloride, ammonium carbonate, sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate). A maximum yield of 140 μg/mL clavulanic acid was obtained in the medium containing soybean oil as a carbon source and yeast extract as nitrogen source. Subsequently, the concentration of soybean flour, soybean oil, dextrin, yeast extract and K₂HPO₄ were optimized using L₂₅ orthogonal array method. The final optimized medium produced 500 μg/mL clavulanic acid at the end of 96 h as compared to 140 μg/mL before optimization. Synthesis of precursor molecules as a metabolic driving force is of considerable importance in antibiotic synthesis. Attempts to increase the clavulanic acid synthesis by manipulating the anaplerotic flux on C₃ and C₅ precursors by supplementing the medium with arginine, ornithine, proline, valine, leucine, isoleucine, pyruvic acid and á-ketoglutarate were successful. Supplementing the optimized medium with 0.1 M arginine and 0.1 M leucine increased the yield of clavulanic acid further to 1100 μg/mL and 1384 μg/mL respectively.     

Rapid analysis of fertilizers by the direct-reading thermometric method

The authors have developed rapid methods for the determination of the main components of fertilizers, namely phosphate, potassium and nitrogen fixed in various forms. In the absence of magnesium ions phosphate is precipitated with magnesia mixture; in the presence of magnesium ions ammonium phosphomolybdate is precipitated and the excess of molybdate is reacted with hydrogen peroxide. Potassium is determined by precipitation with silico-fluoride. For nitrogen fixed as ammonium salts the ammonium ions are condensed in a basic solution with formalin to hexamethylenetetramine; for nitrogen fixed as carbamide the latter is decomposed with sodium nitrite; for nitrogen fixed as nitrate the latter is reduced with titanium(III). In each case the temperature change of the test solution is measured. Practically all essential components of fertilizers may be determined by direct-reading thermometry; with this method and special apparatus the time of analysis is reduced to at most about 15 min for any determination.     

New Inexpensive and Selective Sorbent Phases for Rapid Thin Layer Chromatographic Analysis of Metal Ions

Abstract

New sorbent phases have been developed by impregnating silica gel G with different inorganic salts for the analysis of metal ions by thin layer chroma to graphy in carboxylic acids media. Thin layers prepared from silica gel G impregnated with ammonium chloride or barium nitrate show the unusual selectivity towards metal ions in comparison to the thin layers prepared from plain silica gel G or silica gel impregnated with silver nitrate or aluminium nitrate. Many qualitative separations     

Lipase from a Brazilian StrainPenicillium citrinum Cultured in a Simple and Inexpensive Medium st]Heat-Denaturation, Kinetics, and pH Stability

This work is a study of lipase production by a Brazilian strain ofPenicillium citrinum using an inexpensive and simple medium without organic nitrogen sources and of some important industrial properties, including thermostability in relation to ionic strength. The maximal lipase activity (1585 U/L) was obtained whenPenicillium citrinum was cultured on 0.75% ammonium sulfate complemented with minerals salts instead of yeast extract. Although this activity was about 55% lower than that produced in medium with yeast extract (2850 U/L), the specific activity (7.8 U/mg proteins) was higher than that obtained with the yeast extract (4.9 U/mg proteins). The morphology of fungus changed totally, with yeast extract there are smooth, solid, and spherical pellets whereas on ammonium sulfate there are small “hairy” pellets uniformly suspended in the medium. The effect of ferrous (Fe⁺⁺) ions was carried out using medium MA with and without Fe⁺⁺ ions. Lipase production byPenicillium citrinum in medium MA requires Fe⁺⁺ ions, the absence of which caused a decreased of about 50% in the specific activity (3.5 U/mg proteins). The utilization of commercial, locally available oils as carbon sources, such as soybean oil (236 U/L) and corn oil (74 U/L) resulted in lower activity compared to olive oil, showing that lipase production byPenicillium citrinum is specifically induced by olive oil. Potassium concentration in the medium can effects the production of lipase (1 mM (1585 U/L), 10 mM (1290 U/L), and 30 mM (1238 U/L), 50 mM (195 U/L), and 100 mM (2 U/L). The crude culture filtered was susceptable to thermal deactivation. It was stable at pH 6.0, but was not stable at the optimum pH (8.0-8.5) at 50 mM. At the low ionic concentration (1-25 mM) this lipase was stable at low pH (3.5-4.0). The activation energy was 22.4 ±2.2 Kcal. mol 1.     

Enhancing the strength of granules and thermal stability of ammonium nitrate

The effect of sulfate ions on the physicochemical properties of ammonium nitrate with a dolomite additive was examined. Changes in the rate of the IV → III phase transition, granule strength, number of thermal cycles, and content of ammonium nitrate aerosol in air after the granulation tower were evaluated.     

Rheological Analysis of Biopolymer Produced by Aureobasidium Pullulans in Different Sources of Nitrogen

Summary: In this study, the rheological behaviors of media fermented by two Aureobasidium pullulans strains (IOC 3467 and IOC 3011) were evaluated in different nutritional conditions. The media consisted of crystal sugar (sucrose), as the main carbon source, and different nitrogen sources (ammonium sulfate, sodium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, urea or residual brewery yeast - RBY). Viscosity measurements were performed on cell-free supernatants, from 48-hour fermentation assays, at 25 ^°C. Shear rates ranged between 0.1000 and 500 s⁻¹. All samples showed pseudoplastic behavior. Nevertheless, the viscosimetric profile of each one varied according to the nitrogen source, its concentration and the strain used. The maximum viscosity of 0.06 Pa.s. was achieved at 15.6 s⁻¹ for IOC 3011 strain grown on RBY as nitrogen source.     

The reaction of ammonium salts in molten alkali metal nitrites

The thermal decomposition of ammonium chloride and sulphate in molten alkali metal nitrite eutectics cannot be represented by a simple stoichiometry. Nitrous oxide and nitric oxide are produced as well as nitrogen and water.Thermogravimetry is complicated by loss of solid material when the extremely rapid reaction commences at temperatures just below the melting points of the nitrite eutectics and by volatilisation of unreacted ammonium compounds, largely chloride and nitrite/nitrate from reactant solutions of ammonium chloride and ammonium sulphate, respectively.     

Phytase Production by a Marine Yeast <Emphasis Type="Italic">Kodamea ohmeri</Emphasis> BG3

The marine yeast strain Kodamea ohmeri BG3 isolated from the gut of a marine fish (Hexagrammes otakii) was found to secrete a large amount of phytase into the medium. The crude phytase produced by this marine yeast showed the highest activity at pH 5.0 and 65 °C. The optimal medium for phytase production contained oat 10.0 g/l, ammonium sulfate 15.0 g/l, glucose 30 g/l, and NaCl 20.0 g/l, while the optimal cultivation conditions for phytase production were pH 5.0, a temperature of 28 °C, and a shaking speed of 170 rpm. Under the optimal conditions, over 557.9 mU/ml of phytase activity was produced within 72 h of fermentation at the shake flask level. This is a very high level of phytase activity produced by yeasts. We think that the medium and process for phytase production by the marine yeast strain were very simple, and such marine yeast from the gut of natural marine fish may have a potential application in the maricultural industry and marine environmental protection. The results demonstrate that phytate was actively degraded by the crude phytase within a short period.     

Synthesis of alkylated deoxynojirimycin and 1,5-dideoxy-1,5-iminoxylitol analogues: polar side-chain modification, sulfonium and selenonium heteroatom variants, conformational analysis, and evaluation as glycosidase inhibitors

The syntheses of N-alkylated deoxynojirimycin and 1,5-dideoxy-1,5-iminoxylitol derivatives having either a D- or an L-erythritol-3-sulfate functionalized N-substituent are reported. The alkylating agent used was a cyclic sulfate derivative, whereby selective attack of the nitrogen atom at the least hindered primary center afforded the desired ammonium salt. In aqueous solution, these salts were configurationally labile at the ammonium center. Sulfonium and/or selenonium analogues of the ammonium salts were prepared by analogous reactions. The chalcogen salts were obtained as mixtures of diastereomers, separable in some cases, differing only in the stereochemistry at the configurationally stable sulfur or selenium atoms. Proof of configuration and conformation of each compound was obtained by detailed NMR experiments. The compounds are six-membered ring analogues of salacinol, a known sulfonium-salt glucosidase inhibitor. Evaluation of the target compounds for enzyme inhibition of the glucosidase enzyme glucoamylase G2 indicated that these compounds were either inactive or, at best, only weak inhibitors of maltose hydrolysis.     

Xanthan gum production from cassava bagasse hydrolysate with Xanthomonas campestris using alternative sources of nitrogen

Cassava bagasse was hydrolyzed using HCl and the hydrolysate was used for the production of xanthan gum using a bacterial culture of Xanthomonas campestris. Cassava bagasse hydrolysate with an initial concentration of approx 20 g of glucose/L proved to be the best substrate concentration for xanthan gum production. Among the organic and inorganic nitrogen sources tested to supplement the medium—urea, yeast extract, peptone, potassium nitrate, and ammonium sulfate—potassium nitrate was most suitable. Ammonium sulfate was the least effective for xanthan gum production, and it affected sugar utilization by the bacterial culture. In media with an initial sugar concentration of 48.6 and 40.4 g/L, at the end of fermentation about 30 g/L of sugars was unused. Maximum xanthan gum (about 14 g/L) was produced when fermentation was carried out with a medium containing 19.8 g/L of initial reducing sugars supplemented with potassium nitrate and fermented for 72 h, and it remained almost the same until the end of fermentation (i.e., 96 h).     

Treatment of off-gas evolved from thermal decomposition of sludge waste

Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) started a decommissioning program of a uranium conversion plant. The treatment of the sludge waste, which was generated during the operation of the plant, is one of the most important tasks in the decommissioning program of the plant. The major compounds of sludge waste are nitrate salts and uranium. The sludge waste is denitrated by thermal decomposition. The treatment of off-gas evolved from the thermal decomposition of nitrate salts in the sludge waste is investigated. The nitrate salts in the sludge were decomposed in two steps: the first decomposition is due to the ammonium nitrate, and the second is due to the sodium and calcium nitrate and calcium carbonate. The components of off-gas from the decomposition of ammonium nitrate at low temperature are NH₃, N₂O, NO₂, and NO. In addition, the components from the decomposition of sodium and calcium nitrate at high temperature are NO₂ and NO. Off-gas from the thermal decomposition is treated by the catalytic oxidation of ammonia and selective catalytic reduction (SCR). Ammonia is converted into nitrogen oxides through the oxidation catalyst and all nitrogen oxides are removed by SCR treatment besides nitrous oxide, which is greenhouse gas. An additional process is needed to remove nitrous oxide, and the feeding rate of ammonia in SCR should be controlled properly for evolved nitrogen oxides.     

Esterification of bagasse cellulose with metal salts as efficient catalyst in mechanical activation-assisted solid phase reaction system

The present study focused on investigating the catalytic mechanism of metal salts (sodium hypophosphite, sodium bisulfate and ammonium ferric sulfate) for esterification of bagasse cellulose carried out by mechanical activation-assisted solid phase reaction in a stirring ball mill. FTIR analysis of the products confirmed that these metal salts could catalyze the esterification of cellulose. XRD, SEM, FTIR, and ³¹P-NMR analyses of different samples indicated a synergistic effect between metal salt and ball milling, and the presence of metal salts enhanced the destruction on crystal structure of cellulose by mechanical force. The catalytic mechanism of three metal salts was difference: sodium bisulfate and ammonium ferric sulfate belonged to the catalytic mechanism of protonic acid and Lewis acid, respectively, while the catalytic mechanism of sodium hypophosphite was considered as that it could react with maleic acid to form active intermediates under ball milling.     

Solid-phase extraction for the decontamination of alkali metal, alkaline Earth metal, and ammonium salts from heavy metal ions

Salicylaldoxime-immobilized silica gel was characterized and used as a potential sorbent for heavy metal ions, viz. Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), and Zn(II). The experimental conditions were optimized both in batch and column processes to achieve the maximum efficiency. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters as well as isotherm constants were evaluated to test the feasibility of the process. The role of various metal ions and different anions were tested in order to monitor the process in case of real samples. The alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, and ammonium salts do not have any effect on the said process. This differential behavior can be effectively used for the decontamination of alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, and ammonium salts from Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), and Zn(II) ions via solid phase extraction following AAS measurement. The purification of the salts was confirmed by voltammetric experiment.     

Thermodynamic quantities of surface formation of aqueous electrolyte solutions VIII. Aqueous solutions of sulfates salts

In this work the surface tension of the aqueous solutions of alkali metal sulfate, magnesium sulfate, and magnesium nitrate have been measured with an expectation that the effect of sulfate salts on the air/water surface differs from that of typical electrolyte because of their peculiar results of surface potential data. The results show that the slope of surface tension-concentration curves of sulfate salts depends to some extent upon cations while that of alkali metal nitrate gives almost the same magnitude. In order to make comparison with salts of different valence types, we used the ratio of surface excess density to bulk concentration of a salt as an index of surface activity of the salt. It was shown that the surface activity of a salt largely dependent upon its valence type as well as its specific property of anion.     

Simultaneous determination of inorganic nitrogen species by microcolumn ion chromatography

Inorganic nitrogen species (nitrate, nitrite and ammonium ions) were simultaneously determined by microcolumn ion chromatography. Nitrate and nitrite were determined by UV detection at 206 nm, whereas ammonium ion was determined by fluorescence detection at excitation 410 nm and emission 470 nm. The latter fluorescence detection is based on the postcolumn reaction of ammonium ion with o-phthalaldehyde in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol. Effects of the reagent concentration, pH, and other reaction conditions on the signal intensity were examined, and the optimum condition was explored. The present method allowed simultaneous determination of nitrate, nitrite and ammonium ions in river water.     

High-performance ion chromatography assessment of inorganic and organic nitrogen fractions in potatoes

A new high-performance ion chromatography assay for organic and inorganic nitrogen analysis has been proposed and examined. In the devised protocol, inorganic sample constituents were measured after ultrasonically assisted water extraction. The amine and amide nitrogen content was assessed after modified Kjeldahl digestion and determined as NH₄⁺, and the total nitrogen content was quantified as NO₃⁻ after microwave-facilitated digestion. Finally, the nitro, azo, azoxy nitrogen was calculated by comparison of the total nitrogen content and all measured nitrogen species. The detection limits of the measured ions were 2.0, 0.82 and 0.17 mg L⁻¹ for nitrate, nitrite and ammonium, respectively. For samples of potatoes, the average shares of the nitrogen species found in the total nitrogen content were: 0.83% of nitrate nitrogen, <0.03% of nitrite nitrogen, 2.1% of ammonium nitrogen, 71% of nitro, azo, azoxy nitrogen, and 26% of amine, amide nitrogen. We expect the method to be applicable to different vegetable samples. The quality of the results obtained was verified by analyzing certified reference material and comparing to another analytical method.