A quartz crystal microbalance study of β-cyclodextrin self assembly on gold and complexation of immobilized β-cyclodextrin with adamantane derivatives

Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) was used to study the self-assembly of per-6-thio-β-cyclodextrin (t₇-βCD) on gold surfaces, and the subsequent inclusion interactions of immobilized βCD with adamantane-poly(ethylene glycol) (5,000 MW, AD-PEG), 1-adamantanecarboxylic acid (AD-C) and 1-adamantylamine (AD-A). From a 50 μM solution of t₇-βCD in 60:40 DMSO:H₂O, a t₇-βCD layer was formed on gold with surface density of 71.7 ± 2.7 pmol/cm², corresponding to 80 ± 3% of close-packed monolayer coverage. Gold sensors with immobilized t₇-βCD were then exposed alternately to six different concentrations of AD-PEG, 500 μM AD-C or 500 μM AD-A aqueous solutions for association, and water for dissociation. Association of AD-PEG conformed to a Langmuir isotherm, with a best fit equilibrium constant K = 125,000 ± 18,000 M⁻¹. For AD-C and AD-A, association (k _a ) and dissociation (k _d ) rate constants were extracted from kinetic profiles by fitting to the Langmuir model, and equilibrium constants were calculated. The parameters for AD-C were found to be: k _a = 100 ± 5 M⁻¹ s⁻¹, k _d = 110 (±18) × 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹, and K = 9,400 ± 1,700 M⁻¹. For AD-A, k _a = 58 ± 6 M⁻¹ s⁻¹, k _d = 154 (±7) × 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹, and K = 3,800 ± 400 M⁻¹. The results demonstrate the utility of QCM as a tool for studying small molecule surface adsorption and guest–host interactions on surfaces. More specifically, the kinetic and thermodynamic data of AD-C, AD-A, and AD-PEG inclusion with immobilized t₇-βCD form a basis for further surface association studies of AD-X conjugates to advance surface sensory and coupling applications.     

Bioadsorption and ion exchange of Cr3+ and Pb2+ solutions with algae

Heavy metals can be removed from effluents and recovered using physico-chemical mechanisms as biosorption processes. In this work “Arribada” seaweed biomass was employed to assess its biosorptive capacity for the chromium (Cr³⁺) and lead (Pb²⁺) cations that usually are present in waste waters of plating industries. Equilibrium and kinetic experiments were conducted in a mixed reactor on a batch basis. Biosorption equilibrium and fluid-solid mass transfer constants data were analyzed through the concept of ion exchange sorption isotherm. The respective equilibrium exchange constants (K _eqCr=173.42, K _eqPb=58.86) and volumetric mass transfer coefficients ((k _mCr a)′=1.13×10⁻³ s⁻¹, (k _mPb a)′=0.89×10⁻³ s⁻¹) were employed for the dynamic analysis of Cr and Pb sorption in a fixed-bed flow-through sorption column. The breakthrough curves obtained for both metals were compared with the predicted values by the heterogeneous model (K _eqCr=171.29, K _eqPb=60.14; k _mCr a=7.81×10⁻² s⁻¹, k _mPb a=2.43×10⁻² s⁻¹), taking into account the mass transfer process. The results suggest that these algae may be employed in a metal removal/recovery process at low cost. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Scale up and Application of Biosurfactant from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus subtilis</Emphasis> in Enhanced Oil Recovery

There is a lack of fundamental knowledge about the scale up of biosurfactant production. In order to develop suitable technology of commercialization, carrying out tests in shake flasks and bioreactors was essential. A reactor with integrated foam collector was designed for biosurfactant production using Bacillus subtilis isolated from agricultural soil. The yield of biosurfactant on biomass (Y _p/x), biosurfactant on sucrose (Y _p/s), and the volumetric production rate (Y) for shake flask were obtained about 0.45 g g⁻¹, 0.18 g g⁻¹, and 0.03 g l⁻¹ h⁻¹, respectively. The best condition for bioreactor was 300 rpm and 1.5 vvm, giving Y _x/s, Y _p/x, Y _p/s, and Y of 0.42 g g⁻¹, 0.595 g g⁻¹, 0.25 g g⁻¹, and 0.057 g l⁻¹ h⁻¹, respectively. The biosurfactant maximum production, 2.5 g l⁻¹, was reached in 44 h of growth, which was 28% better than the shake flask. The obtained volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient (K _L a) values at optimum conditions in the shake flask and the bioreactor were found to be around 0.01 and 0.0117 s⁻¹, respectively. Comparison of K _L a values at optimum conditions shows that biosurfactant production scaling up from shake flask to bioreactor can be done with K _L a as scale up criterion very accurately. Nearly 8% of original oil in place was recovered using this biosurfactant after water flooding in the sand pack.     

Characterisation of the surface of a cellulosic multi-purpose office paper by inverse gas chromatography

The surface of multi-purpose cellulosic office paper has been analysed by inverse gas chromatography (IGC). The parameters determined were the dispersive component of the surface free energy, the enthalpy of adsorption and the entropy of adsorption of polar and apolar probes, the Lewis acidity constant, K _a, and the Lewis basicity constant, K _b. It can be concluded that the dispersive component of the surface free energy, _s ^d decreases with temperature, in the range 50–90°C. The temperature coefficient of _s ^d, d_s ^d/dT, is –0.35 mJm ^–2K^–1. The values of K _a and K _b were determined to be 0.11±0.011 and 0.94±0.211, respectively. The predominant surface basicity agrees with expectation, bearing in mind the presence of calcium carbonate, and of a styrene-acrylic copolymer, in the surface sizing formulation. It is thought that during the drying stages following the surface sizing treatment, the starch used as the binder migrates to the interior of the surface sizing layer and then to the paper bulk itself. This migration contributes to a decrease in the hydrophilicity of the surface, and also results in the surface showing only slight Lewis.     

Determination of the surface properties of untreated and chemically treated kaolinites by inverse gas chromatography

Inverse gas chromatography is used to study the surface properties of the untreated and chemically treated kaolinite samples. Changes in the enthalpy of adsorption for a variety of probes and in the surface energy of clays are measured and the effect of modification of the natural clay after chemical treatment with Na₂CO₃ is determined. The surface energy of the natural clay increased by the modification due to an increase in the surface area. It can be concluded that the dispersive component of surface free energy, γ _s ^d , decreases with temperature in the 200–275°C temperature range for both samples. Temperature coefficients of γ _s ^d for untreated and modified kaolinites are −0.1185 and −0.3966 mJ/(m² °C) with the correlation coefficients (R ²) of 0.8479 and 0.965, respectively. From the retention data for polar probes at infinite dilution, information on the accessibility of surface sites to the probes and on the acid-base character of the surface is obtained. The specific free energy of adsorption, the specific enthalpy of adsorption (ΔH ^sp), and the specific entropy of adsorption of polar probes on initial and modified kaolinites are determined. The ΔH ^sp values correlated with the donor numbers and modified acceptor numbers of the probes to quantify the acidity (K _A) and basicity (K _D) parameters of clay surfaces. The values of K _A and K _D for initial and modified kaolinites are determined to be 0.1202 and 0.2803; 0.0130 and 0.0408 with the correlation coefficients of −0.9805 and −0.9782, respectively. The unmodified clay sample indicated a more acidic character, while the modified clay sample conferred a largely basic character. Consequently, the predominant surface basicity of the modified kaolinite agrees with expectation, bearing in mind the treatment with Na₂CO₃, taking into consideration that such a modification contributes to a decrease in the hydrophilicity of the surface and also results in the surface showing only weak Lewis acidity. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

A model developed for acid dissolution thermodynamics of a Turkish bentonite

A model was proposed to calculate some thermodynamic parameters for the acid dissolution process of a bentonite containing a calcium-rich smectite as clay mineral along with quartz, opal and feldspar as impurities. The bentonite sample was treated with H₂SO₄ by applying dry method in the temperature range 50–150°C for 24 h. The acid content in the dry bentonite-sulphuric acid mixture was 45 mass%. The total content (x) of Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃ and MgO remained in the undissolved sample after treatment was taken as an equilibrium parameter. An apparent equilibrium constant, K _a, was calculated for each temperature by assuming K _a=(x _m−x)/x where x _m is the total oxide content of the natural bentonite. Also, an apparent change in Gibbs free energy, ΔG _a^o, was calculated for each temperature by using the K _a value. The graphs of lnK _a vs. 1/T and ΔG _a^o vs. T were drawn and then the real change in both the enthalpy, ΔH ^o and the entropy, ΔS ^o, values were calculated from the slopes of the straight lines, respectively. Inversely, real ΔG ^o and K values were calculated from the real ΔH ^o and ΔS ^o values through ΔG ^o = −RT ln K = ΔH ^o − TΔS ^o equation. The best ΔH ^o and ΔS ^o fittings to this relation were found to be 65687 J mol⁻¹ and 164 J mol⁻¹K⁻¹, respectively.     

Outliers detection in the statistical accuracy test of a p<Emphasis Type="Italic">K</Emphasis><Subscript>a</Subscript> prediction

The regression diagnostics algorithm REGDIA in S-Plus is introduced to examine the accuracy of pK _a predicted with four programs: PALLAS, MARVIN, PERRIN and SYBYL. On basis of a statistical analysis of residuals, outlier diagnostics are proposed. Residual analysis of the ADSTAT program is based on examining goodness-of-fit via graphical diagnostics of 15 exploratory data analysis plots, such as bar plots, box-and-whisker plots, dot plots, midsum plots, symmetry plots, kurtosis plots, differential quantile plots, quantile-box plots, frequency polygons, histograms, quantile plots, quantile-quantile plots, rankit plots, scatter plots, and autocorrelation plots. Outliers in pK _a relate to molecules which are poorly characterized by the considered pK _a program. Of the seven most efficient diagnostic plots (the Williams graph, Graph of predicted residuals, Pregibon graph, Gray L–R graph, Index graph of Atkinson measure, Index graph of diagonal elements of the hat matrix and Rankit Q–Q graph of jackknife residuals) the Williams graph was selected to give the most reliable detection of outliers. The six statistical characteristics, F_exp,R²,R_P²,MEP,AIC{F_{\rm exp},R^{2},R_{\rm P}^{2},{\it MEP},{\it AIC}}, and s in pK _a units, successfully examine the specimen of 25 acids and bases of a Perrin’s data set classifying four pK _a prediction algorithms. The highest values F_exp,R²,R_P²{F_{\rm exp},R^{2},R_{\rm P}^{2}} and the lowest value of MEP and s and the most negative AIC have been found for PERRIN algorithm of pK _a prediction so this algorithm achieves the best predictive power and the most accurate results. The proposed accuracy test of the REGDIA program can also be extended to test other predicted values, as log P, log D, aqueous solubility or some physicochemical properties.     

Synthesis,molecular structure,non-isothermal decomposition kinetics and adiabatic time to explosion of 3,3-dinitroazetidinium 3,5-dinitrosalicylate

The title compound 3,3-dinitroazetidinium (DNAZ) 3,5-dinitrosalicylate (3,5-DNSA) was prepared and the crystal structure has been determined by a four-circle X-ray diffractometer. The thermal behavior of the title compound was studied under a non-isothermal condition by DSC and TG/DTG techniques. The kinetic parameters were obtained from analysis of the TG curves by Kissinger method, Ozawa method, the differential method and the integral method. The kinetic model function in differential form and the value of E _a and A of the decomposition reaction of the title compound are f(α)=4α^3/4, 130.83 kJ mol⁻¹ and 10_13.80s⁻¹, respectively. The critical temperature of thermal explosion of the title compound is 147.55 °C. The values of ΔS ^≠, ΔH ^≠ and ΔG ^≠ of this reaction are −1.35 J mol⁻¹ K₋₁, 122.42 and 122.97 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. The specific heat capacity of the title compound was determined with a continuous C _p mode of mircocalorimeter. Using the relationship between C _p and T and the thermal decomposition parameters, the time of the thermal decomposition from initiation to thermal explosion (adiabatic time-to-explosion) was obtained.     

Thermal Decomposition of Some Chemical Compounds Used As Food Preservatives and Kinetic Parameters of This Process

Thermal decomposition processes of selected chemicals used as food preservatives such as sodium formate, sodium propionate, sodium nitrates(V and III) and sodium sulphate(IV) were examined by the derivatographic method. Based on the curves obtained, the number of decomposition stages and characteristic temperatures of these compounds have been found. Mass decrements calculated from TG curves ranged from 28.9% for sodium formate to 77.8% for sodium nitrate(V), while sodium sulphate showed a mass increment of 5.6%. Kinetic parameters such as activation energy (E _a ), frequency factor (A ) and reaction order (n ) were calculated from TG, DTG and T curves. Sodium formate shows the highest values of E _a and A which amount to 171.7 kJ mol^–1 and 5.8⋅10¹⁴ s^–1 , respectively, while the lowest ones, E _a =28.2 kJ mol^–1 and A =3.65⋅10² s^–1 belong to sodium nitrate(V). This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

pKa prediction for acidic phosphorus‐containing compounds using multiple linear regression with computational descriptors

Ninety‐six acidic phosphorus‐containing molecules with pK_a 1.88 to 6.26 were collected and divided into training and test sets by random sampling. Structural parameters were obtained by density functional theory calculation of the molecules. The relationship between the experimental pK_a values and structural parameters was obtained by multiple linear regression fitting for the training set, and tested with the test set; the R² values were 0.974 and 0.966 for the training and test sets, respectively. This regression equation, which quantitatively describes the influence of structural parameters on pK_a, and can be used to predict pK_a values of similar structures, is significant for the design of new acidic phosphorus‐containing extractants. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Role of mononuclear rare earth metal complexes in promoting the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl phosphate (NPP)

Two long-chain multidentate ligands: 2,9-di-(n-2′,5′,8′-triazanonyl)-1,10-phenanthroline (L₁) and 2,9-di-(n-4′,7′,10′-triazaundecyl)-1,10-phenanthroline (L₂) were synthesized. The hydrolytic kinetics of p-nitrophenyl phosphate (NPP) catalyzed by complexes of L₁ and L₂ with La(III) and Gd(III) have been studied in aqueous solution at 298 K, I = 0.10 mol · dm⁻³ KNO₃ at pH 7.5–9.1, respectively. The study shows that the catalytic effect of GdL1 was the best in the four complexes for hydrolysis of NPP. Its k_LnLH−1, k _LnL and pK _a are 0.0127 mol⁻¹ dm³ s⁻¹, 0.000022 mol⁻¹ dm³ s⁻¹ and 8.90, respectively. This paper expounds the result from the structure of the ligands and the properties of the metal ions, and deduces the catalysis mechanism.     

Bioconversion of <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">d</Emphasis>-glucose into <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">d</Emphasis>-glucosone by Glucose 2-oxidase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coriolus versicolor</Emphasis> at Moderate Pressures

Glucose 2-oxidase (pyranose oxidase, pyranose:oxygen-2-oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.3.10) from Coriolus versicolor catalyses the oxidation of d-glucose at carbon 2 in the presence of molecular O₂ producing d-glucosone (2-keto-glucose and d-arabino-2-hexosulose) and H₂O₂. It was used to convert d-glucose into d-glucosone at moderate pressures (i.e. up to 150 bar) with compressed air in a modified commercial batch reactor. Several parameters affecting biocatalysis at moderate pressures were investigated as follows: pressure, [enzyme], [glucose], pH, temperature, nature of fluid and the presence of catalase. Glucose 2-oxidase was purified by immobilized metal affinity chromatography on epoxy-activated Sepharose 6B-IDA-Cu(II) column at pH 6.0. The rate of bioconversion of d-glucose increased with the pressure since an increase in the pressure with compressed air resulted in higher rates of conversion. On the other hand, the presence of catalase increased the rate of reaction which strongly suggests that H₂O₂ acted as inhibitor for this reaction. The rate of bioconversion of d-glucose by glucose 2-oxidase in the presence of either nitrogen or supercritical CO₂ at 110 bar was very low compared with the use of compressed air at the same pressure. The optimum temperature (55°C) and pH (5.0) of d-glucose bioconversion as well as kinetic parameters for this enzyme were determined under moderate pressure. The activation energy (E _a) was 32.08 kJ mol⁻¹ and kinetic parameters (V _max, K _m, K _cat and K _cat/K _m) for this bioconversion were 8.8 U mg⁻¹ protein, 2.95 mM, 30.81 s⁻¹ and 10,444.06 s⁻¹ M⁻¹, respectively. The biomass of C. versicolor as well as the cell-free extract containing glucose 2-oxidase activity were also useful for bioconversion of d-glucose at moderate pressures. The enzyme was apparently stable at moderate pressures since such pressures did not affect significantly the enzyme activity.     

Dissociation Quotients for Citric Acid in Aqueous Sodium Chloride Media to 150°C

The three molal dissociation quotients for citric acid were measured potentiometrically with a hydrogen-electrode concentration cell from 5 to 150°C in NaCl solutions at ionic strengths of 0.1, 0.3, 0.6, and 1 molal. The molal dissociation quotients and available literature data at infinite dilution were fitted by empirical equations in the all-anionic form involving an extended Debye-Hückel term and up to five adjustable parameters involving functions of temperature and ionic strength. This treatment yielded the following thermodynamic quantitites for the first dissociation equilibrium at 25°C: logK _1a=−3.127±0.002, ΔH _1a ^o =4.1±0.2 kJ-mol⁻¹, ΔS _1a ^o =−46.3±0.7 J-K⁻¹-mol⁻¹, and ΔCp _1a ^o =−162±7 J-K⁻¹-mol⁻¹; for the second acid dissociation equilibrium at 25°C: logK _2a =−4.759±0.001, ΔH _2a ^o =2.2±0.1, ΔS _2a ^o =−83.8±0.4, and ΔCp _2a ^o =−192±15, and for the third dissociation equilibrium at 25°C: logK _3a=−6.397±0.002, ΔH _3a ^o =−3.6±0.2, ΔS _3a ^o =−134.5±0.7, and ΔCp _3a ^o =−231±7.     

INDO Calculation of Spin Densities in Radical Cations of a Series of Substituted Nitro- and m-Dinitrobenzenes

The spin densities in radical cations of 22 substituted nitro- and m-dinitrobenzenes were calculated by the INDO method. For radical anions of substituted nitrobenzenes, a good linear correlation was obtained between the spin densities s_Ns_N and experimental hyperfine coupling constants with the nitrogen atoms of the NO₂ groups (a ^N): a ^N = K _N s _N s _N, where K _N = 428.58 (R ² = 0.96). For radical anions of substi- tuted m-dinitrobenzenes, no satisfactory agreement between the calculated and experimental a ^N constants was attained.     

Kinetics of the exothermic decomposition of 1-nitro-3-(β,β,β-trinitroethyl)-4,5-dinitroiminoimidazolidine-2-one

The kinetic parameters of the exothermic decomposition of the title compound in a temperatureprogrammed mode have been studied by means of DSC. The DSC data obtained are fitted to the integral, differential, and exothermic rate equations by the linear least-squares, iterative, combined dichotomous, and least-squares methods, respectively. After establishing the most probable general expression of differential and integral mechanism functions by the logical choice method, the corresponding values of the apparent activation energy (E _a), preexponential factor (A), and reaction order (n) are obtained by the exothermic rate equation. The results show that the empirical kinetic model function in differential form and the values of E _a and A of this reaction are (1 − α)^−4.08, 149.95 kJ mol⁻¹, and 10^14.06 s⁻¹, respectively. With the help of the heating rate and kinetic parameters obtained, the kinetic equation of the exothermic decomposition of the title compound is proposed. The critical temperature of thermal explosion of the compound is 155.71°C. The above-mentioned kinetic parameters are quite useful for analyzing and evaluating the stability and thermal explosion rule of the title compound. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Micellar Exchange Kinetics of Quaternary Ammonium Type Gemini Surfactants Monitored by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

The dynamic NMR (DNMR) method was used to detect kinetic parameters of the molecular exchange process between monomers in bulk solution and those in the micelle for Gemini surfactants, 12-s-12 and 14-s-14(s=2, 3 and 4).The escape rate constant, k^-, was derived based on the simplified equations of DNMR theory, and the apparent activation energy of escape, E_a^-, was obtained based on the Arrhenius equation through temperature variation experiments.Results show that the orders of magnitude of k^- for 14-s-14 and 12-s-12 are respectively 10 and 10³ s^-1, E_a^- of 14-s-14 and 12-s-12 are respectively 54.04-73.64 and 33.42-47.09 kJ/mol.Furthermore, increases and E_a^- decreases with the spacer length growing.In combination with the micro-polarity measurements, it was revealed that molecules of 14-s-14 and 12-s-12 have to experience conformation changes when escaping from the micelles.The two-step molecular exchange mechanism for Gemini surfactants was therefore supported.     

Increasing the sorption activity of carbon adsorbents by electron-beam processing and fullerene microadditives

The sorption capacity of activated carbon with respect to Cu²⁺ cations was found to be enhanced considerably upon its chemical modification with fullerenes and during its electron-beam processing. It was discovered that introducing fullerenes (20 μg/g) into activated carbon leads to a change in the chemical composition of its surface, due to changes in the system of conjugated bonds in activated carbon leading to an increase in the content of Br?nsted acid (pK _a 0–5) and weakly base (pK _a 8–11) sites capable of cation exchange on the material surface. We conclude that electron-beam processing (optimal dose, 25–50 kGy) facilitates the rearrangement of bonds on the surface of activated carbon, thereby increasing the number of Lewis base and Br?nsted acid sites capable of adsorbing metal ions in accordance with the donor-acceptor and cation-exchange mechanism, respectively.     

Study of equilibria and kinetics of the acid catalysed interaction of iron(III) with salicylaldehyde ando-hydroxyacetophenone

The equilibria and kinetics of the reaction of Fe^III with salicylaldehyde ando-hydroxyacetophenone, leading to 1∶1 chelate formation, have been studied at different temperatures (25–35°C) and ionic strength, I = 1.0 mol dm⁻³ (NaClO₄+HClO₄). A dual path mechanism involving both Fe _aq ³⁺ and Fe(OH) _aq ²⁺ species and undissociated free ligand (LH) is consistent with the experimental observations where [H⁺]≫[Fe]_T≫[L]_T (where [Fe]_T and [L]_T stand for total concentrations of iron and ligand respectively). The results conform to k_obs/B = k₁[H⁺]+k₂K_h where B = [Fe]_T/(K_h+[H⁺])+1/Q; K_h = hydrolysis constant of Fe _aq ³⁺ ; k₁, k₂ are the forward second order rate constants of Fe _aq ³⁺ and Fe(OH) _aq ²⁺ , respectively, and Q is the equilibrium constant of the reaction, Fe³⁺+LH⇋FeL²⁺+H⁺. Thermodynamic parameters for each of the steps have been determined. Fe(OH) _aq ²⁺ appears to react in a dissociative fashion (Eigen-Tamm mechanism), whilst Fe _aq ³⁺ appears to react through the associative inter-change (I_a) mechanism. The equilibrium constants (Q) obtained spectrophotometrically are compared with those obtained from kinetic studies. TMC 2638     

Cloning of a Heat-Stable Chitin Deacetylase Gene from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus nidulans</Emphasis> and its Functional Expression in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis>

A gene encoding chitin deacetylase was cloned by polymerase chain reaction from Aspergillus nidulans. Sequencing result showed 40% homology to the corresponding gene from Colletotrichum lindemuthianum. The complete gene contains an open reading frame of 747 nucleotides encoding a sequence of 249 amino acid residues. The chitin deacetylase gene was subcloned into a pET28a expression vector and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 and then purified by metal affinity chromatography using a His-bind column. The purified chitin deacetylase demonstrated an activity of 0.77 U ml⁻¹ for the glycol chitin substrates, and its specific activity was 4.17 U mg⁻¹ for it. The optimal temperature and pH of the purified enzyme were 50 °C and 8.0, respectively. When glycol chitin was used as the substrate, K _m was 4.92 mg ml⁻¹, and K _cat showed 6.25 s⁻¹, thus the ratio of K _cat and K _m was 1.27 ml s⁻¹ mg⁻¹. The activity of chitin deacetylase was affected by a range of metal ions and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid.