Production and Stability of Protease from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Candida buinensis</Emphasis>

Cow raw milk from dairy cooperatives was examined for its microbial composition. Among the isolates identified, 17.6% were yeasts. The most frequent genus was Candida, although members belonging to the genera Brettanomyces, Dekkera, and Geotricum were also identified. Although qualitative and quantitative tests for extracellular proteolytic activity were positive for all the species isolated, Candida buinensis showed the highest response (23.5 U/mg); therefore, it was selected for subsequent investigation. The results of fermentations carried out at variable temperature, pH, and soybean flour concentration, according to a 2³ full factorial design, demonstrated that this yeast ensured the highest production of extracellular proteases (573 U/mL) when cultivated at 35 °C, pH 6.5, and using soybean flour concentrations in the range 0.1–0.5% (w/v). The cell-free supernatants showed the highest activity at 25 °C and pH 7.0, and satisfactory stability in the ranges 25–30 °C and pH 7–9. The first-order rate constants of protease inactivation in the cell-free supernatants were calculated at different temperatures from semi-log plots of the residual activity versus time and then used in Arrhenius and Eyring plots to estimate the main thermodynamic parameters of thermoinactivation (E* = 40.0 kJ/mol; ΔH* = 37.3 kJ/mol; ΔS* = −197.5 J/mol K; ΔG* = 101 kJ/mol).     

Flavonol Derivatives for Determination of Cr(III) and W(VI)

 Simple, rapid, sensitive and selective methods for the determination of Cr(III) and W(VI) with flavonol derivatives in the presence of surface-active agents are proposed. In the pH ranges 3.4–4.2 and 1.9–2.5, the molar absorptivities of Cr(III)-morin-emulsifier S (EFA) and W(VI)-morin-polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) systems are 1.13×10⁵ and 2.13×10⁴ L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at 435 and 415 nm, respectively. The Cr(III)-quercetin-PVP and W(VI)-quercetin-cetylpyridinium bromide (CPB) systems are formed in the pH ranges 4–4.6 and 2.2–2.8 with molar absorptivities 1.02×10⁵ and 9.02×10⁴ L. mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at 441 and 419 nm, respectively. The linear dynamic ranges for the determination of Cr(III) and W(VI) with morin in the presence of EFA and PVP are 0.03–0.46 and 0.71–8.1 μg mL⁻¹, respectively. The corresponding ranges with quercetin are 0.04–0.54 and 0.14–2.1 μg mL⁻¹ of Cr(III) and W(VI), respectively. The r.s.d (n = 10) for the determination of 0.25 and 3.7 μg mL⁻¹ of Cr(III) and W(VI) with morin and their detection limits are 0.88 and 0.99% and 0.016 and 0.63 μg mL⁻¹, respectively. Using quercetin, the r.s.d (n = 10) for 0.22 and 1.2 μg mL⁻¹ of Cr(III) and W(VI) and their detection limits are 0.92 and 0.91% and 0.015 and 0.08 μg mL⁻¹, respectively. The critical evaluation of the proposed methods is performed by statistical analysis of the experimental data. The proposed methods are applied to determine Cr in steel, non-ferrous alloys, wastewater and mud filtrate and to the determination of W in steel. Received March 8, 1999. Revision January 21, 2000.     

Buffer Standards for the Physiological pH of the Zwitterionic Compound, ACES, from 5 to 55 °C

The values of the second dissociation constant, pK ₂, and related thermodynamic quantities of [N-(2-acetamido)-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid] (ACES) have already been reported over the temperature range 5 to 55 °C including 37 °C. This paper reports the pa _H values of four chloride ion free buffer solutions and eight buffer solutions with I=0.16 mol⋅kg⁻¹, matching closely that of the physiological sample. Conventional pa _H values for all twelve buffer solutions from 5 to 55 °C are reported. The residual liquid-junction potential correction for two widely used temperatures, 25 and 37 °C, has been made. The flowing-junction calomel cell method has been utilized to measure E _j , the liquid-junction potential. The operational pH values for four buffer solutions at 25 and 37 °C are calculated using the physiological phosphate buffer standard based on the NBS/NIST convention. These solutions are recommended as pH standards in the pH range of 6.8 to 7.2 for physiological fluids.     

Immobilization of Naringinase in PVA–Alginate Matrix Using an Innovative Technique

A synthetic polymer, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), a cheap and nontoxic synthetic polymer to organism, has been ascribed for biocatalyst immobilization. In this work PVA–alginate beads were developed with thermal, mechanical, and chemical stability to high temperatures (<80 °C). The combination of alginate and bead treatment with sodium sulfate not only prevented agglomeration but produced beads of high gel strength and conferred enzyme protection from inactivation by boric acid. Naringinase from Penicillium decumbens was immobilized in PVA (10%)–alginate beads with three different sizes (1–3 mm), at three different alginate concentrations (0.2–1.0%), and these features were investigated in terms of swelling ratio within the beads, enzyme activity, and immobilization yield during hydrolysis of naringin. The pH and temperature optimum were 4.0 and 70 °C for the PVA–alginate-immobilized naringinase. The highest naringinase activity yield in PVA (10%)–alginate (1%) beads of 2 mm was 80%, at pH 4.0 and 70 °C. The Michaelis constant (K _Mapp) and the maximum reaction velocity (V _maxapp) were evaluated for both free (K _Mapp = 0.233 mM; V _maxapp = 0.13 mM min⁻¹) and immobilized naringinase (K _Mapp = 0.349 mM; V _maxapp = 0.08 mM min⁻¹). The residual activity of the immobilized enzyme was followed in eight consecutive batch runs with a retention activity of 70%. After 6 weeks, upon storage in acetate buffer pH 4 at 4 °C, the immobilized biocatalyst retained 90% of the initial activity. These promising results are illustrative of the potential of this immobilization strategy for the system evaluated and suggest that its application may be effectively performed for the entrapment of other biocatalysts.     

Experimental and Theoretical Constraints on pH Measurements with an Iridium Oxide Electrode in Aqueous Fluids from 25 to 175 °C and 25 MPa

In-situ measurement of pH at elevated temperatures and pressures is of major importance for investigating chemical and biochemical systems in extreme environments. Based on the performance of the newly developed IrO _x electrode at 25 °C, we initiated a series of experiments to test the electrode at elevated temperatures (100 to 175 °C) and high pressure (25 MPa). The experiment was carried out in a titanium flow-through reactor. Our results revealed good pH response at 100, 150 and 175 °C, with good Nernstian slopes at 100 and 150 °C. Although a greater-than-Nernstian response was observed at 175 °C, the factors that cause this difference are attributed to the accuracy of calculations of the distribution of aqueous species rather than alteration of the IrO _x surface. A key problem that may limit applications of the IrO _x electrode at elevated temperatures and pressures is the noticeable shift in E° during the 175 °C (25 MPa) experiments and between experiments with similar conditions at 150 °C. The results of tests from 25 °C to elevated temperatures provide highly useful information on the reversibility and functionality of the IrO _x -pH sensor with implications for the suitability of its use under challenging chemical and physical conditions.     

Physicochemical characterization of a novel surfactant peptide containing an arginine cation and laurate anion

 A novel surfactant peptide consisting of an arginine cation with laurate anion has been synthesized, purified and characterized. The critical micellar concentration (cmc) of peptide in aqueous solutions has been determined using spectroscopic techniques and is found to increase from 0.06 to 0.11 mM with increasing temperature (15–45 °C). Cmc is also determined in the presence of salts like NaCl, KCl and sodium acetate and it is found that these electrolytes hinder aggregation with a significant increase in the case of sodium acetate. The aggregation number of the surfactant peptide has been determined using fluorescence quenching measurements and is observed to decrease from 14 to 6 with increasing temperature (15–45 °C). The standard free energy change (ΔG ⁰ _m) and standard enthalpy change (ΔH ⁰ _m) of the peptide aggregate are found to be negative with a small positive value for standard entropy change (ΔS ⁰ _m). The peptide aggregate seems to undergo phase transition above 50 °C as observed from UV–vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. From pyrene binding studies, it is shown that the interior dielectric constant increases from 5.08 at 34 °C to 8.77 at 50 °C and further decreases with increase in temperature indicating a phase change at 50 °C. Also, the ratio of excimer intensity to monomer intensity, which is a measure of microviscosity of the aggregate, decreases with increase in temperature with a change at 50 °C indicating a phase change. Received: 14 February 1997 Accepted: 13 August 1997     

Aqueous Long-Term Solubility of Titania Nanoparticles and Titanium(IV) Hydrolysis in a Sodium Chloride System Studied by Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetry

The solubility of industrially produced titanium dioxide nanoparticles has been studied in aqueous sodium chloride media in the pH range 1 to 13 at 25 °C by using adsorptive stripping voltammetry (AdSV). Kinetic dissolution curves have been obtained as well as long-term solubilities that provide an approximation of the equilibrium solubilities. The titania nanoparticles used in the dissolution experiments have been characterized by nitrogen sorption measurements, XRD and colloid titration. The equilibrium solubilities and titanium(IV) speciation and their dependences on pH have been modelled by assuming the formation of the mononuclear titanium hydroxo complexes [Ti(OH) _n ]⁽⁴⁻ⁿ⁾⁺ (n=2 to 5) to be the only titanium species present. The solubility product of titanium dioxide and equilibrium constants for titanium(IV) hydrolysis, calculated from the AdSV solubility data, are presented.     

Ionic strength dependence of formation constants, complexation of nitrilotriacetic acid with tungsten(VI) ion

The dependence on ionic strength of protonation of nitrilotriacetic acid and its complexation with W(VI) is reported in sodium perchlorate, sodium nitrate and sodium chloride solutions as background salts. The measurements have been performed at 25°C and various ionic strengths in the range 0.1–1.0 mol dm⁻³, using a combination of potentiometric and spectrophotometric techniques. The overall analysis of the present and the previous data dealing with the determination of stability constants at different ionic strengths allowed us to obtain a general equation, by which a formation constant determined at a fixed ionic strength can be calculated, with a good approximation, at another ionic strength, if 0.1 ≤ ionic strength ≤ 1.0 mol dm⁻³ sodium perchlorate, sodium nitrate or sodium chloride.     

Competitive sorption of Cu(II) and Eu(III) ions on olive-cake carbon in aqueous solutions—a potentiometric study

The competitive sorption of Cu(II) and Eu(III) ions from aqueous solutions by olive-cake carbon, has been investigated by potentiometry at pH 6, I=0.1 M NaClO₄, 25°C and under normal atmospheric conditions. Evaluation of the experimental data supports the formation of inner-sphere surface complexes and results in the calculation of the formation constant of the surface complexes ((=S–O)₂Cu), which is found to amount log β _Cu=5.3±0.3. Addition of competing Eu(III) ions in the aqueous system leads to replacement of the Cu(II) by the competitor metal ion. Evaluation of the potentiometric data obtained from competition experiments indicates an ion-exchange mechanism. The formation constant of the Eu(III) species sorbed on olive cake carbon is found to be log β _Eu=5.1±0.5. Comparison of the complex formation constants of the olive-cake carbon with the corresponding complex formation constants for of olive cake and humic acid with the two metal ions, indicates that the same type of active sites is responsible for the metal ion complexation on the surface of the different types natural organic matter (e.g. olive-cake carbon, olive-cake and humic acid).     

Buffer Standards for the Physiological pH of the Zwitterionic Compound,DIPSO, from 5 to 55 °C

The values of the second dissociation constant, pK ₂, and related thermodynamic quantities of 3-[N,N-bis (2-hydroxyethyl)amino]-2-hydroxypropanesulfonic acid (DIPSO) have already been reported over the temperature range 5 to 55 °C including 37 °C. This paper reports the pH values of four NaCl-free buffer solutions and four buffer composition containing NaCl salt at I=0.16 mol⋅kg⁻¹. Conventional pa _H values are reported for all eight buffer solutions. The operational pH values have been calculated for four buffer solutions recommended as pH standards, at 25 and 37 °C after correcting the liquid junction potentials with the flowing junction cell.     

Changes of mechanical properties in cold-crystallized syndiotactic polypropylene during aging

Many semicrystalline polymers undergo a process of aging when they are stored at temperatures higher than their glass-transition temperature (T _g). Syndiotactic polypropylene was quenched from the melt to −40 °C, crystallized from the glassy state at 20 or 40 °C and stored at the respective temperature for different aging times up to 7200 h. A significant increase in the tensile modulus and stress at yield and a decrease in strain at yield were observed for both aging temperatures. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) scans of aged material showed an endothermic annealing peak 15–30 °C above the previous aging temperature, the maximum temperature and enthalpic content of which increased with aging time. The position and the shape of the melting peak were not affected by aging. Scans of the storage modulus obtained from dynamic mechanical analyser measurements indicated a softening process starting at about 20 °C above the aging temperature and correlating with the annealing peak detected by DSC. Density measurements and wide-angle X-ray scattering investigations revealed that neither the crystallinity increased significantly nor did the crystal structure change. So the observed property changes induced by aging are attributed to microstructural changes within the amorphous phase. Furthermore, it could be shown by annealing experiments carried out at 60 °C, that aging above T _g is, analogous to aging below T _g (physical aging), a thermoreversible process. Received: 18 September 2000 Accepted: 2 January 2001     

Development of a reference solution for the pH of seawater

A method that uses a Harned cell to perform potentiometric pH measurements has been optimized and applied to an aqueous solution of simulated seawater that contains sodium perchlorate, sodium sulfate, sodium hydrogen carbonate and boric acid and has an ionic strength I of 0.57 mol kg⁻¹. The standard metrological approach developed for the measurement of pH in low ionic strength aqueous solutions was maintained, but a few modifications were necessary, and measurement procedures and calculations were modified ad hoc from those adopted in conventional protocols. When determining the standard potential of the cell, E°, NaClO₄ salt was added to a 0.01 mol/kg HCl solution to attain the same ionic strength as the test solution and to investigate possible specific effects related to the high levels and the nature of the background electrolyte. An appropriate value of γ _±HCl (0.737) was then selected from the literature, based on a realistic value for I. Finally, in order to convert the acidity function at zero chloride molality into pH, a suitable value of γ _Cl (0.929) was calculated. As a result, we obtained pH = 8.18 (T = 25 °C) with an associated expanded uncertainty U = 0.01 (coverage factor k = 2). The aim was to establish a sound basis for the pH measurement of seawater by identifying the critical points of the experimental and theoretical procedure, and to discuss further possible developments that would be useful for achieving a reference solution.     

Biosorption of Cr(VI) from Water Using Biomass of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aeromonas hydrophila</Emphasis>: Central Composite Design for Optimization of Process Variables

The potential use of biomass of Aeromonas hydrophila for biosorption of chromium from aqueous solution was investigated. The variables (pH, initial Cr(VI) concentration, biomass dose, and temperature) affecting process were optimized by performing minimum number of experimental runs with the help of central composite design. The results predicted by design were found to be in good agreement (R ² = 99.1%) with those obtained by performing experiments. Multiple regression analysis shows that uptake decreases with increase in pH and biomass dose, whereas it increases with increase in temperature and concentration. The maximum removal of Cr(VI) predicted by contour and optimization plots was 184.943 mg/g at pH 1.5, initial Cr(VI) concentration 311.97 mg/L, temperature 60 °C, and biomass dose 1.0 g. The removal of Cr(VI) was governed by adsorption of Cr(VI) as well as its reduction into Cr(III), which further gets adsorbed. The sorption capacity of biomass was calculated from experimental data using Langmuir sorption model and was found to be 151.50 mg/g at 40 °C and pH 1.5, which is comparable to other biosorbents. In addition to this, Dubinin–Radushkevich model was applied, and it was found that nature of sorption was chemisorption.     

Complexation Studies of N,N′-ethylenedi-L-cysteine with Some Metal Ions

As part of a search for environmentally friendly metal chelating ligands, the stability constants of N, N′-ethylenedi-L-cysteine (EC) complexes with Ca(II), Cu(II), Mg(II) and Mn(II) were determined by potentiometry with a glass electrode in aqueous solutions containing 0.1 mol⋅L⁻¹ KCl at 25 °C. Final models are proposed. For the Ca(II)–EC system, the overall stability constants are log ₁₀ β _CaHL=14.53±0.03, log ₁₀ β _CaL=4.79±0.01 and log ₁₀ β _CaL2=8.38±0.04. For the M(II)–EC systems, where M=Cu(II) or Mg(II), the overall stability constants are log₁₀ β _CuHL=31.19±0.02 and log ₁₀ β _CuL=27.02±0.06 for Cu(II), and are log ₁₀ β _MgHL=14.84±0.02 and log ₁₀ β _MgL=6.164±0.008 for Mg(II). For the Mn(II)–EC system, the overall stability constant is log ₁₀ β _MnL=10.12±0.01. Metal–chelate speciations simulations showed that EC is an efficient chelating agent for Cd(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) for pH≥7.     

Syntheses and properties of poly (amide–imide)s based on 5,5′-bis[4-(4-trimellitimidophenoxy)phenyl]-hexahydro-4,7-methanoindan and aromatic diamines

 A novel polymer-forming diimide–diacid, 5,5′-bis[4-(4-trimellitimido phenoxy)phenyl]-hexahydro-4,7-methanoindan (II), was prepared by the condensation reaction of 5,5′-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]-hexahydro-4,7-methanoindan with trimellitic anhydride. A series of novel aromatic poly(amide–imide)s (PAIs) containing polycyclic cardo groups was prepared by the direct polycondensation of II with various aromatic diamines using phosphorylation techniques. The polymers had inherent viscosities between 0.71 and 0.96 dl/g. The polymers were soluble in polar solvents such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) and N,N-dimethylformamide, and could be cast from their DMAc solutions into transparent, flexible, and tough films, except for III _a . These films had yield strengths of 85–114 MPa, tensile strengths of 77–102 MPa, an elongation at break of 8–17%, and initial moduli of 2.0–2.7 GPa. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction revealed that the polymers are amorphous. The glass-transition temperatures of the polymers were in the range 242–312 °C. All the PAIs exhibited no appreciable decomposition below 430 °C, and their 10%-weight-loss temperatures were in the range 484–507 °C in nitrogen and 494–515 °C in air. Received: 26 January 1999 Accepted in revised form: 11 May 1999     

Acridinium Ion Ionization at Elevated Temperatures and Pressures to 200 °C and 2000 bar

The temperature and pressure dependences of pK for acridine ion ionization were determined up to 200 °C and 2000 bar. The UV-Vis measurements at high temperatures and pressures were conducted in flow-through spectrophotometric cells. Two independent series of experiment were performed: one in a Ti–Pd cell with silica quartz windows for measurements in the ultraviolet region, and another in a Ti grade 5 cell with sapphire windows for use at higher pressures, which permitted measurements in the visible region. Combined chemometric and thermodynamic analyses of the UV-Vis spectrophotometric data were used to extract the ionization constants as well as the changes in molar volume ΔV° for acridine protonation as functions of temperature and pressure. Values of pK decrease from 5.52 to 3.74 with increasing temperature from 25 to 200 °C at saturated water-vapor pressure. The pressure dependence of acridinium ion ionization is small (e.g., pK=5.5 at 25 °C and 2000 bar) and is characterized by positive ΔV°≤1.2 cm³⋅mol⁻¹, which is not surprising for this type of isocoulombic reaction involving a large molecule.     

Synthesis and properties of poly(amide–imide)s containing a N-methylcarbazole group

A new dicarboxylic acid monomer containing the N-methylcarbazole and imide structures, 3,6-bis(trimellitimido)-N-methylcarbazole (I), was prepared from the condensation of 3,6-diamino-N-methylcarbazole (c) and trimellitic anhydride. The diamine c was synthesized in three steps starting from the methylation of carbazole, followed by nitration and catalytic hydrazine reduction. A series of N-methylcarbazole-containing poly(amide–imide)s were synthesized by direct polycondensation from the diimide–diacid I with various aromatic diamines. These poly(amide–imide)s had inherent viscosities of 0.66–1.47 dl/g and were readily soluble in a variety of organic solvents, including N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc). Transparent, flexible, and tough films of these polymers could be cast from DMAc solutions, and these films exhibited excellent mechanical strength. The glass-transition temperatures of these poly(amide–imide)s were in the range 317–362 °C. All the poly (amide–imide) did not degrade noticeably below 480 °C in nitrogen, and the 10% weight loss temperatures and char yields at 800 °C were above 520 °C and 60% in nitrogen, respectively, indicating high thermal stability. Received: 8 February 2000/Accepted: 23 March 2000     

An origin of a middle surfactant phase (Dp): A critical double end point in a water/polyoxyethylene alkyl ether/propanol/heptane system

 Phase behavior of water/hexaethyleneglycol dodecyl ether (C₁₂EO₆)/propanol/heptane system was investigated in a composition–temperature space (25–30 ^°C) at atmospheric pressure. A cone-like three-phase body consisting of aqueous (W), surfactant (Dp), and oil (O) phases is formed in the two-phase body of Wm (aqueous micellar phase)+O at 30.0 ^°C. With decreasing temperature the three-phase body becomes thinner and finally disappears at a critical double end point (CDEP) where the two critical end points of W and Dp phases are merged. The CDEP exists at about 26.2 ^°C (T _CDEP). The hydrophile–lipophile balance (HLB) of the mixed amphiphile changes towards lipophilic on addition of propanol. As a result, the Wm phase separates into two phases W+Dp above the T _CDEP. Further addition reduces the lipophobicity of aqueous media (or the solvophobicity of the mixed amphiphile), and the W and Dp phases are merged again. Below T _CDEP, since C₁₂EO₆ becomes much hydrophilic, the change of HLB lurks and a middle phase (Dp) cannot be observed. Received: 19 June 1997 Accepted: 20 March 1998     

FTIR studies of butane, toluene and nitric oxide adsorption on Ag exchanged NaMordenite

In this work, we studied the adsorption of butane, toluene and nitric oxide on NaMordenite exchanged with different amounts of silver. The reactions that occurred when the adsorbed hydrocarbons interacted with NO and the effect of water adsorption were also addressed. Different silver species were formed after ion exchange and they were detected by TPR analysis. Highly dispersed Ag₂O particles were reduced at temperatures lower than 300 °C whereas Ag⁺ exchanged ions showed two TPR peaks, which can be ascribed to species exchanged at different mordenite sites. The TPD experiments after adsorption of NO at 25 °C showed that the only desorbed species was NO₂ which was formed by the total reduction of Ag₂O particles. When the adsorbed butane was exposed to NO (1000 ppm), isocyanate species were formed on Ag⁺ ionic sites as well as Ag⁺–(NOx)–CO species. Toluene adsorption was stronger than butane since adsorbed toluene molecules were held even at 400 °C. The characteristic bands of the aromatic ring C=C bond was observed as well as that of methyl groups interacting with Ag⁺ and Na⁺ ions. However, the appearance of carboxylic groups at temperatures above 300 °C in inert flow indicated the partial oxidation of toluene due to Ag₂O species present in the samples. After contacting adsorbed toluene with NO, different FTIR bands correspond to organic nitro-compounds, isocyanate, cyanide and isocyanide species adsorbed on Ag⁺ ions, were detected. The presence of water inhibited the formation of NO₂ species and the hydrocarbon adsorption on Na⁺ sites but did not affect the toluene-Ag⁺ interaction.     

Complexation of M–(buffer) x –(OH) y Systems Involving Divalent Ions (Cobalt or Nickel) and Zwitterionic Biological Buffers (AMPSO, DIPSO, TAPS and TAPSO) in Aqueous Solution

The complexation behavior of eight M–(buffer) _x –(OH) _y systems involving two divalent ions (cobalt and nickel) and four zwitterionic biological buffers (AMPSO, DIPSO, TAPS and TAPSO) were characterized. Complex formation was detected for all eight M–(buffer) _x –(OH) _y systems studied, but fully defined final models were obtained for only four of these systems. For systems involving cobalt or nickel with AMPSO or TAPS, a complete characterization of the systems was not possible in the studied buffer pH-range. Metal complexation was studied by glass-electrode potentiometry (GEP) and UV-Vis spectroscopy at 25.0 °C and I=0.1 mol⋅dm⁻³ KNO₃ ionic strength. For the Ni–(L) _x –(OH) _y and Co–(L) _x –(OH) _y systems, with L = TAPSO or DIPSO, the proposed final models and overall stability constants were obtained by combining results from both techniques. For the Ni–(L) _x –(OH) _y systems, the measured values of the stability constants are log ₁₀ β _NiL=3.0±0.1 and log ₁₀ β _NiL2=4.8±0.1 for L = TAPSO, and log ₁₀ β _NiL=2.7±0.1 and log ₁₀ β _NiL2=4.6±0.1 for L = DIPSO. For the Co–(L) _x –(OH) _y systems, the overall stability constants are log ₁₀ β _CoL=2.2±0.1, log ₁₀ β _CoL2=3.6±0.2 and log ₁₀ β _CoL(OH)=7.6±0.1 for L = TAPSO, and log ₁₀ β _CoL=2.0±0.1 and log ₁₀ β _CoL(OH)=7.8±0.1 for L = DIPSO. For both buffers, the CoL(OH) species is characterized by a major structural rearrangement.