Transferring complementary target DNA from aqueous solutions onto solid surfaces by using affinity microcontact printing

In this paper, we report a method of transferring complementary target DNA from an aqueous solution onto a solid surface by using affinity microcontact printing. In this approach, the probe DNA is first immobilized on the surface of an aminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) stamp. After a complementary target DNA hybridizes with the probe DNA on the stamp surface, the PDMS stamp is printed on an aminated glass slide. By using fluorescent microscopy, we show that only complementary target DNA, but not noncomplementary DNA, can be captured onto the surface of the stamp and then transferred to the aminated glass slide. The transfer of DNA can be attributed to the stronger electrostatic attraction between DNA and amine groups compared to the hydrogen bonds between the hybridized DNA molecules. We also investigate several factors that may influence the transfer of DNA, such as the surface density of amine groups, hybridization conditions, and contamination from unreacted PDMS monomers.     

Investigation of the salting out of methane from aqueous electrolyte solutions using computer simulations

We calculate the excess chemical potential of methane in aqueous electrolyte solutions of NaCl using Monte Carlo computer simulations. In a recent work [Docherty et al. J. Chem. Phys. 2006, 125, 074510], we presented a new potential model for methane in water which is capable of describing accurately the excess chemical potential of methane in pure water over a range of temperatures, a quantity that can be related to the solubility and which is commonly used to study the hydrophobic effect. Here, we use the same potential model for the water-methane interactions and investigate the effect of added salt on the chemical potential of methane in the solution. The methane molecules are modeled as single Lennard-Jones (LJ) interaction sites, and the water molecules are modeled with the TIP4P/2005 model. A correcting factor of chi = 1.07 for the energetic Berthelot (geometric) combining rule of the methane-water interaction is also used, which mimics the polarization of methane in water. We consider NaCl as the salt and treat the ions with the Smith and Dang model (i.e., as charged LJ interaction sites). Ion-water, ion-ion, and ion-methane interactions are treated using Lorentz-Berthelot combining rules. In addition, the Coulombic potential is used to model charge-charge interactions which are calculated using the Ewald sum. We have carried out isobaric-isothermal (NpT) simulations to determine the equilibrium densities of the solutions. The simulation data is in excellent agreement with experimental densities of aqueous NaCl solutions of different concentration. Hydration numbers are also obtained and found to be in agreement with reported data. Canonical (NVT) simulations at the averaged densities are then performed using the Widom test-particle insertion method to obtain the excess chemical potential of methane in the saline solutions. An increase in the chemical potential of methane, corresponding to a salting out effect, is observed when salt is added to the solution. We investigate different concentrations and ion sizes. An overprediction of the salting out effect as compared with experimental data is observed, which we believe is due to the polarizing effect of the ions in the solution, which is not taken into account by the model. We also find a direct correlation between the increase in the chemical potential and the packing fraction of the solution and argue that the main cause of the observed salting out effect (as represented by an increase in the excess chemical potential) is the increase in the packing fraction of the solutions due to the added salt. Together, with this, we put forward an argument toward explaining the anomalous Hofmeister effect of Li(+).     

Diffusion transport of magnesium nitrate aqueous solutions in membranes made of a porous glass

The diffusion coefficients of aqueous solutions of magnesium nitrate in a wide range of the concentrations upon transport in porous glass membranes (pore radius from 4.5 to 70 nm) were determined. The effect of magnesium nitrate concentration on the properties of the diffusion transport in the membranes was studied, based on ideas about the structuring of the boundary layers of water with the silica surface and their destruction under the action of ions.     

Experimental study of contact plating of metals from aqueous solutions

Experimental data on the contact displacement of metals from aqueous solutions are shown. Experimental chronopotentiograms are compared with those calculated based on an earlier proposed model.     

Salting out of triethylamine from aqueous solutions by potassium nitrate

By visual-polythermal method in the range 5–25°C we studied phase equilibria and critical phenomena in a ternary system potassium nitrate-water-triethylamine, where its component, binary liquid system, is stratified at the lower critical solution temperature.     

Salting out of butyric acid from aqueous solutions with potassium chloride

Russian Journal of Applied Chemistry - Visual-polythermic method was used to study the solubility of the components and critical phenomena in the ternary system constituted by potassium chloride,...     

Determination of thiabendazole in aqueous solutions using a cucurbituril-enhanced fluorescence method

The complexation of thiabendazole (TBZ) with the cucurbit[6]uril (Q[6]), cucurbit[7]uril (Q[7]) and symmetric tetramethyl-cucurbit[6]uril (TMeQ[6]) in aqueous solution has been investigated using UV–vis and fluorespectrometry. The experimental results show 1:1 host–guest inclusion complexes at pH 6.5 for all three macrocyclic hosts, and the corresponding formation constants by UV and fluorescence methods are (5.37?±?1.05)?×?10⁴?L?mol^?1 and (1.47?±?0.41)?×?10⁴?L?mol^?1 for the Q[6]-TBZ system (7.76?±?0.51)?×?10⁴?L?mol^?1 and (9.36?±?0.22)?×?10⁴?L?mol^?1 for the Q[7]-TBZ system (1.28?±?0.78)?×?10⁴?L?mol^?1 and (2.69?±?0.55)?×?10⁴?L?mol^?1 for the TMeQ[6]-TBZ system, respectively. Based on the enhancement of the fluorescence intensity of TBZ with the addition of Q[n]s in neutral media, a fluorespectrometry method for the determination of TBZ in aqueous solution in the presence of Q[n] was established. In the range of 6.0?×?10^?8?mol?L^?1–8.0?×?10^?6?mol?L^?1 a linear relationship was obtained between fluorescence intensity and TBZ concentration. The detection limit was found to be between 5.51 and 8.85?×?10^?9?mol?L^?1. The interference of coexisting ions was found to be slight. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the determination of TBZ in different aqueous solutions with satisfactory recoveries of 92–103%. The method seems to be suitable for environmental water analysis.     

Growth dynamics and structural variations of a friable metal deposit during its contact deposition from aqueous solutions

A model is proposed for describing dynamics of contact exchange of metals, which takes into account the side process of hydrogen evolution. The contact exchange dynamics and structural characteristics of the deposit are considered as functions of the concentration of ions that undergo reduction in solution and the cementation EMF. The consideration makes allowance for different densities of microelements and the effect of the solution stirring by hydrogen evolving concurrently.     

Design simulations for a biogas purification process using aqueous amine solutions

Using the simulation program CHEMCAD, performance characteristics, design optimization, and costs of an absorption/stripping system used to purify 100 kg h^?1 of biogas in a biogas power plant were investigated. Potential absorbents used in the chemical absorption process were the following aqueous solutions: pure diglycolamine, diglycolamine/piperazine, and diglycolamine/methyldiethanolamine/piperazine. Mixtures for agricultural biogas purification to below 1 vol. % of CO₂ and 4 × 10^?4 mass % of H₂S were determined via a simulation in the above mentioned program. The chosen mixtures were then entered into an absorption/desorption system and simulations for each unit were provided by CHEMCAD. From the simulation results, the design parameters were calculated and entered into each unit??s ??cost estimation?? section in the aforementioned program to estimate the purchase costs of the apparatuses. Taking into account the installation, maintenance, as well as other additional costs, the actual machine purchase costs were multiplied by the Lang factor. Costs of additional streams were also calculated by multiplying the ten-year utility losses by their respective cost factors. From these calculations, the absorbent mixture, allowing biogas production at the lowest estimated costs for ten years, was found.     

Producing a superhydrophobic paper and altering its repellency through ink-jet printing

A new method for making superhydrophobic (SH) paper based on spraying a nanocomposite film is developed. Furthermore, manipulating the wetting characteristics of SH paper has been demonstrated through a new method, i.e. printing solid grey patterns of different intensities with simple printing technology (home or office grade ink-jet and laser printers). It has been found that for a range of ink intensities (0-85%), water drop mobility can be changed at a different rate (almost independently) from repellency. The repellency of water decreases minimally up to 85% ink intensity with a sharp decrease up to 100% ink intensity. Drop mobility remains constant up to 30% ink intensity with a steady decrease up to 100% ink intensity. It was observed that using ink-jet or laser printing would yield different results for the change of mobility or repellency with higher amounts of ink/toner used. Being able to achieve almost independent control of water drop mobility over water drop repellency on SH paper would allow inexpensive lab-on-paper devices to be used for sampling, mixing and transport of liquids.