Effects of citrate on the composition and enzymic coagulation of colloidal bovine casein aggregates

Colloidal casein aggregates (CCA) prepared from soluble whole bovine caseinates in the presence of Ca²⁺ and phosphate (Pi) ions by addition of different citrate (Cit) concentrations showed different mineral and proteic composition. Citrate concentration conditions the Ca and Pi concentrations incorporated into CCA, probably due to the complexing effect of this anion on calcium. A significant change in the incorporated Ca/Pi ratio at 8 mM citrate could very likely be associated to changes in CCA net charge. The incorporation of individual caseins to the colloidal particles obtained, as well as their average size and size distribution, depended also on the Cit concentration used [Cit]_P. α_S- and β-caseins assembled in the CCA structure sharply decreased at a [Cit]_P higher than 15 mM, i.e., at a low Ca²⁺ concentration in the aggregates, showing that the presence of this cation is necessary for the incorporation of these caseins. An inverse relationship between the aggregation step rate in CCA enzymic coagulation and their average size was observed. The aggregation rate vs the average size curve obtained at [Cit]_P 8 mM clearly differed from the curves obtained at 10 and 12 mM, respectively, a fact probably related to a change in the CCA net charge. This behavior showed the effect of citrate concentration on CCA functional properties.     

The role of surface forces in mineral flotation

Flotation is an interfacial separation technique, which plays a major role in mineral processing industry. It separates particles according to their wetting properties. In flotation pulp, particles and bubbles are highly dispersed in aqueous medium and in the presence of various flotation reagents. Almost all interfacial interactions including inter-particle, inter-bubble, and bubble-particle interactions in the complex pulp medium are driven by surface forces. Therefore, a fundamental understanding of the role of surface forces in flotation is a prerequisite to enhance practical flotation performance and adapt it for treatment of complex and refractory ores. In this paper, recent advances in the field of surface forces encountered in mineral flotation are reviewed. In particular, we highlight the latest progress in the attachment mechanism between bubble and particle with the aid of atomic force microscope and interference microscope. The current knowledge gap and future directions are also discussed.     

Field-flow fractionation of magnetic particles in a cyclic magnetic field

Although magnetic field-flow fractionation (MgFFF) is emerging as a promising technique for characterizing magnetic particles, it still suffers from limitations such as low separation efficiency due to irreversible adsorption of magnetic particles on separation channel. Here we report a novel approach based on the use of a cyclic magnetic field to overcome the particle entrapment in MgFFF. This cyclic field is generated by rotating a magnet on the top of the spiral separation channel so that magnetic and opposing gravitational forces alternately act on the magnetic particles suspended in the fluid flow. As a result, the particles migrate transversely between the channel walls and their adsorption at internal channel surface is prevented due to short residence time which is controlled by the rotation frequency. With recycling of the catch-release process, the particles follow saw-tooth-like downstream migration trajectories and exit the separation channel at velocities corresponding to their sedimentation coefficients. A retention model has been developed on the basis of the combined effects of magnetic, gravitational fields and hydrodynamic flow on particle migration. Two types of core-shell structured magnetic microspheres with diameters of 6.04- and 9.40-μm were synthesized and used as standard particles to test the proposed retention theory under varying conditions. The retention ratios of these two types of particles were measured as a function of magnet rotation frequency, the gap between the magnet and separation channel, carrier flow rate, and sample loading. The data obtained confirm that optimum separation of magnetic particles with improved separation efficiency can be achieved by tuning rotation frequency, magnetic field gradient, and carrier flow rate. In view of the widespread applications of magnetic microspheres in separation of biological molecules, virus, and cells, this new method might be extended to separate magnetically labeled proteins or organisms for multiplex analyte identification and purification.     

Enhanced modulation of magnetic field on surface plasmon coupled emission (SPCE) by magnetic nanoparticles

This article demonstrates the enhancement of magnetic nanoparticles on magnetic field modulation of surface plasmon coupled emission (SPCE), and this method is designed as a biosensor to prove the feasibility of magnetic field modulated SPCE to be employed in the field of biosensing and biodetection.     

Enhanced modulation of magnetic field on surface plasmon coupled emission (SPCE) by magnetic nanoparticles

The obvious enhancement effect of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) introduced in Cr/Co/Cr/Au substrate on the pulsed magnetic field-modulated surface plasmon coupled emission (SPCE) was investigated, and the observed enhancement factor was 4 comparing with the magnetic field modulated SPCE without MNPs. This is the new observation for the magnetic field modulated SPCE, and this method was designed as a biosensor, which to our knowledge, is the first application of magnetic field-modulated SPCE in biosensing and detection field. This strategy is a universal approach to increase the fluorescence signal and helps to build the new SPCE based stimulus-response system.     

The effect of magnetic field on the stability of (18-crown-6) complexes with potassium ion

Macrocyclic polyethers are ligands with selectivity for metal ions. In order to understand the interactions between ligand, ion and solvent we resorting to study of magnetic field effect on ion-macrocyclic complexes. Therefore, we studied the complexation between 18-crown-6 and potassium ion in water through the conductometry technique (in 25+0.05 °C) by a nonlinear least-square program (Genplot) under magnetic field.We observed that stability constants of complexes in the presence of the magnetic field, were decreased. Like-wise, we observed that, magnetic field influenced on ion, solvent and ligand one by one.     

Magnetic properties of a molecule in non-uniform magnetic field

Summary The potentials of the electromagnetic field in the Bloch gauge are used to obtain definitions for the multipole moment operators and for the operators expressing the electric and magnetic field of electrons acting on the nuclei of a molecule. Perturbation theory is employed to determine induced electronic moments and total electromagnetic field at the nuclei. A series of response tensors is defined to describe the contributions arising in non-uniform magnetic field and their origin dependence is studied.This paper is dedicated to Professor Werner Kutzelnigg on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Effect of size, proteic composition, and heat treatment on the colloidal stability of proteolyzed bovine casein micelles

The casein micelles of reconstituted nonfat milk that have been fractionated by controlled pore glass chromatography showed a relationship between their size and their proteic composition: The fractions containing the smaller particles were richer in κ-casein than the fractions containing the bigger ones, in accordance with the casein micelle model of submicelles. The initial aggregation rate of micelles of different sizes, partially proteolyzed with chymosin (para-casein micelles), was measured in conditions of enzyme excess in which aggregation is the rate-limiting step of enzymatic coagulation, showing higher rates for the smaller micelles with the production of less compact para-casein micelle networks. This behavior could be explained in terms of electrostatic and steric colloidal stabilization due to their lower negative net charge and size and to a higher surface density of hydrophobic “patches” of proteolyzed κ-casein related to a higher probability of effective collisions between particles. Differences in the β-casein content did not seem to affect the initial aggregation rate of the micelles. On the contrary, the modifications of the micelle surface by heating affected the colloidal stability of the hydrolyzed micelles in different ways. The denaturation of the whey proteins and the formation of covalent complexes with κ-casein modify the micelle surface, increasing specially the steric stabilization, and produces a diminution in the number of hydrophobic sites that could be able to give interparticle hydrophobic interactions.     

The role played by hydration forces in the stability of protein-coated particles: non-classical DLVO behaviour

An anomalous colloidal stability is observed when protein-covered particles are exposed to high salt concentrations, in opposite to the classical theory (DLVO) predictions. In hydrophilic systems some other discrepancies with respect to this theory has also been described in the literature and hydration forces are invoked to rationalize these phenomena. In our case, the dependence of the anomalous behaviour with pH and electrolyte ion concentration points to the specific adsorption of cations as responsible. An extension to the DLVO theory including hydration forces and its dependence with salt concentration is proposed. From the practical point of view, this stabilization mechanism is of great interest in the development of clinical latex immunoassays, which often suffer from colloidal stability problems.     

Simulations of a weakly conducting droplet under the influence of an alternating electric field

We investigate the electrohydrodynamics of an initially spherical droplet under the influence of an external alternating electric field by conducting axisymmetric numerical simulations using a charge-conservative volume-of-fluid based finite volume flow solver. The mean amplitude of shape oscillations of a droplet subjected to an alternating electric field for leaky dielectric fluids is similar to the steady-state deformation under an equivalent root mean squared direct electric field for all possible electrical conductivity ratio and permittivity ratio of the droplet to the surrounding fluid. In contrast, our simulations for weakly conducting media show that this equivalence between alternating and direct electric fields does not hold for . Moreover, for a range of parameters, the deformation obtained using the alternating and direct electric fields is qualitatively different, that is, for low and high , the droplet becomes prolate under alternating electric field but deforms to an oblate shape in the case of the equivalent direct electric field. A parametric study is conducted by varying the time period of the applied alternating electric field, the permittivity and the electrical conductivity ratios. It is observed that while increasing has a negligible effect on the deformation dynamics of the droplet for , it enhances the deformation of the droplet when for both alternating and direct electric fields. We believe that our results may be of immense consequence in explaining the morphological evolution of droplets in a plethora of scenarios ranging from nature to biology.     

Desorption of hydrogen from the electrode surface under influence of an external magnetic field

The effect of a uniform magnetic field in perpendicular-to-electrode configuration, on the hydrogen evolution reaction was investigated during the deposition of Fe and CoFe alloys. It was found that the desorption of hydrogen is supported in a magnetic field. This effect is discussed in details with respect to the micro-magnetohydrodynamic convection, which arises due to the fluctuation of the current distribution close to the H₂ bubble.     

The effect of acrylic acid amount on the colloidal properties of polystyrene latex

Poly(styrene-co-acrylic acid) (St/AA) latices were prepared by using a batch soap-free emulsion copolymerisation in non-buffered medium. Polymerisation kinetics, followed by gravimetric method, revealed that increasing AA comonomer concentration was directly proportional to the copolymerisation rate, while adding AA comonomer caused a strong decrease of particle size of final St/AA latex particle without affecting the size distribution. Transmission electron microscopy indicated that the particles were monodispersed and spherical in shape irrespective of AA amount used in the investigated range. The colloidal stability of the latices was increased upon increasing the AA concentration; owing to the electrosteric stabilisation originated from AA-rich layer on the particle surface. In addition, electrophoretic mobility of formed particles versus polymerisation conversion exhibited the constancy of the surface charge density during the polymerisation process and was inferred for discussion of the polymerisation mechanism of this system.     

The influence of the magnetic field on the photosubstitution reaction of coordination complexes

Photolyses of rhodium(III) complexes, Rh(NH₃)₅X²⁺ (X = Cl^? and Br^?), under intense magnetic fields, e.g. λ_excit = 360 nm and H = 24 kG, have been investigated. The magnetic field quenches the photoaquation of the ammonia and enhances the photoaquation of the acido ligand, X = Cl^? or Br^? by 10% for H = 24 kG. The implication of two different precursors in the formation of the photoproducts is discussed.     

The influence of a magnetic field on the fluorescence and photolysis rate of carbon disulfide vapour

The effect of a magnetic field on the fluorescence of carbon disulphide vapour under stationary excitation by light with λ = 3130±30 Å has been investigated at 0.014–165.1 Torr. Over the whole range of pressure, the magnetic effect does not depend on the gas pressure. A magnetic field has been found to affect the photolysis rate of carbon disulphide vapour in light with λ>2900 Å. The magnetic effect does not vary with pressure from 2.6–90 Torr.     

Theoretical study of the magnetic properties of an SF6 molecule in non-uniform magnetic field

Perturbation theory has been applied to evaluate the induced electronic moments and magnetic field at the nuclei of an SF₆ molecule interacting with an external magnetic field with a spatially uniform gradient. Contributions to magnetic susceptibility and magnetic shielding of the nuclei have been evaluated using the random phase approximation within the framework of accurate Hartree-Fock zero order wavefuctions. The quality of the calculations has been judged by the fulfillment of sum rules for the origin dependence of the response properties.     

磁场效应对理解水分解反应物的可能意义

电催化水分解由两个基元反应构成,即析氢反应(HER)和析氧反应(OER).开发强大的HER和OER技术需要在分子层面理解反应机理,然而,目前水分解反应的反应物还没有完全确定.本文利用磁场来研究HER中的质子传输和OER中的氢离子传输,对确定HER和OER中真实的反应物具有重要意义.磁场是改变离子等带电物质运动的一种有效...     

Effect of a weak magnetic field on hematite sol in stationary and flowing systems

The effect of a weak magnetic field on the aggregation state and electrophoretic mobility of hematite sol was studied in flowing (dynamic) systems as a function of time and electrolyte concentration (0–60 mmol/dm³ KCl) and compared with the effect of the field in stationary (static) systems and flow in the absence of the field. During the entire treatment period, the pH remained almost constant (4.06–4.24). Conductance varied with KCl concentration, but except for minor fluctuations appeared to be unaffected by any form of treatment. While aggregation of hematite was observed during dynamic magnetic treatment (change in turbidity, scattered light intensity, and photon correlation spectroscopy), little effect on aggregation state was observed for the static systems or for the flowing systems in the absence of the field. Mobility also increased during the first 30 min of static and dynamic magnetic treatment. After longer treatment periods (90–120 min), the mobility decreased, but in almost all cases remained larger than in the case of untreated systems. Changes in both mobility and particle aggregation state also showed a significant dependence on electrolyte concentration. These effects are discussed in terms of a magnetohydrodynamic interaction between the magnetic field and the charged colloidal particles, which results only when the particles are made to pass rapidly through the field.     

Mass transfer effects on the electropolymerization current efficiency of 3-methylthiophene in the magnetic field

3-Methylthiophene was chosen as a representative conducting polymer precursor, whose electropolymerization proceeds through the coupling of cation radicals. The density of the solution that contains electrogenerated 3-methylthienyl radicals and early oligomers is higher than the density of the surrounding solution, and at low (<0.2 M) monomer concentrations the diffusion layer falls, compromising the electropolymerization current efficiency. Applying a homogeneous magnetic field (3.0 T) perpendicular to the electrode surface (θ=0°) produces concentration gradient paramagnetic forces (F _∇C) that hold the diffusion layer in contact with the electrode. This gives time for more oligomers to get oxidized and for more cation radicals to couple so that the current efficiency increases from 0.028 to 0.037 at 0.05 M of monomer concentration, and from 0.051 to 0.071 at 0.1 M. With the magnetic field parallel to the electrode surface (θ=90°) Lorenz forces causing magnetohydrodynamic convection, in combination with F _∇C forces keeping the flow pattern in contact with the electrode, increase the current efficiency even more, to 0.048 at 0.05 M of monomer concentration, and to 0.076 at 0.1 M. At higher monomer concentrations (>0.2 M), the rate of radical coupling is evidently fast enough so that, even in the absence of a magnetic field, no natural convection effects are observed and the current efficiency (0.7–0.8) is not affected by the magnetic field.

The influence of surface forces on the formation of structural peculiarities in the boundary layers of liquids and boundary phases

This article, mentioning the influence of surface forces on the formation and the properties of diffuse adsorption layers on the boundary of solution-substrate, is mainly about the influence of surface forces on the structure and properties of boundary layers of the liquid. It deals with the phenomena of formation of homogeneous liquid crystalline layers of nonmesogenic liquids, boundary phases and the properties of boundary nonhomogeneous layers of water and alcohols. In the conclusion the data on surface forces are given with the radius of action up to 100 μm, which are generated by leucocytes of blood plasma with the addition of a concentrated salt solution.