Denitrification and removal of heavy metals from waste water by immobilized microorganisms

Pseudomonas fluorescens, immobilized on soft polyvinyl chloride granules containing up to 35% softeners as carbon source, was used for simultaneous removal of nitrate and heavy metals. In typical continuous column operation, a 100 mg/L nitrate input solution was reduced to a 20 mg/L output at a feeding rate of 1500 mL/h, with a capacity of 14 kg/day/m³, and with an efficiency of 79%. In the same column, Pb(NO₃)₂ concentration was reduced from 1.0 to 0.05−0.1 mg/L and ZnSO₄ concentration was reduced from 10 to 5 mg/L.Pseudomonas aeruginosa immobilized on an O₂ plasma-treated melt blown polypropylene web was used for removing 95% of a 1.7 nCi PuCl₄ activity from a nuclear plant waste water in a batch operation.     

Evidence of covalent interaction of fumaric acid esters with sulfhydryl groups in peptides

Fumaric acid esters, namely dimethylfumarate, have been used for the treatment of psoriasis for many years. Still, their mode of action is not fully clear. Because addition of nucleophiles to the double bonds of fumarates can occur (Michael analogous addition), a study of the interaction of fumarates with cysteine and cysteine-containing peptides possessing nucleophilic sulfhydryl group was carried out. Experiments were performed in aqueous medium at pH 7.4 and at 37 degrees C to simulate physiological conditions. It was proven by mass spectrometric measurements using an ion-trap and time-of-flight instrument that a covalent bond can form between fumarates and the sulfhydryl group of cysteine or cysteinyl residues in peptides. Structures of the interaction products were elucidated by multistage mass spectrometry applying collision-induced dissociation. Higher reactivity of dimethylfumarate in comparison to monomethylfumarate and fumaric acid was observed.     

Synthesis and characterization of cationic latex particles bearing sulfhydryl groups and their use in the immobilization of Fab antibody fragments (1)

Emulsion copolymerization of styrene and a cationic monomer vinylbenzyl-isothiouronium chloride (VBIC) with initiation by 2,2 azobis(2-amidinopropane)-dihydrochloride (V-50) gave monodisperse latex particles. After post-stabilization with cationic or non-ionic surfactants, the colloids were diluted in basic buffers with concomitant deprotection of the sulfhydryl groups. Therefore, coupling reactions on the latex beads were possible. Coupling conditions were determined with Ellman's reagent.¹⁴C iodoacetamide and anti C-reactive protein antibody Fab fragments were immobilized and finally, the immunological activity of the sensitized latex was assessed.     

Properties of bacterial luciferase/NADH : FMN oxidoreductase and firefly luciferase immobilized onto sepharose

NADH : FMN oxidoreductase and bacterial luciferase have been efficiently coimmobilized onto Sepharose 4B. This luminescent immobilized enzyme system can be used to assay NADH. The assay is rapid and sensitive with a lower limit of detection of 0.2 pmol/assay tube. The intra-assay precision was 3.5% at 2 × 10^-5 M and 5.8% at 2 × 10^-6 M NADH. Light intensity was proportional to NADH concentration from 0.2 to 1000 pmol. Added serum and certain dehydrogenases were found to be inhibitory; however, inhibition could be eliminated by a combination of heat treatment and dilution. Firefly luciferase has also been immobilized onto both Sepharose 4B and CL 6B. The detection limit for ATP using this immobilized enzyme was 0.2 pmol and the assay was linear from 0.2 to 2000 pmol. The intra-assay precision was 4.8% at 2 × 10^-4 M and 3.2% at 1 × 10^-5 M ATP. The immobilized enzymes remained fully active when rapidly frozen in the presence of glycerol and DTT. Such preparations could be stored for at least two months with no loss of activity. A variety of different compounds were used to block any remaining reactive groups on the Sepharose following immobilization of the enzymes. Glycine, 2-aminoethanol, and ethylenediamine were examined. The preparations where ethylenediamine was used as a blocking agent exhibited better activity and stability than the others.     

海藻酸钠脱除重金属研究进展

重金属污染已成为全球性的环境问题,脱除重金属是治理重金属污染的主要途径。海藻酸钠(SA)本身无毒、性质稳定、价格低廉,具有较强的胶凝性、成膜性和络合能力,既可作为脱除重金属的吸附材料,又可作为脱除重金属的固定化载体,在重金属脱除中具有广泛的应用。本文重点综述了SA凝胶球、SA复合膜、SA纳米复合材料、SA分子印迹脱除重金属,以及SA作为单一固定化载体和复合固定化载体脱除重金属进展情况。展望了SA脱除重金属的应用前景。     

Radioimmunoassay of progesterone and estriol in plasma using antibodies immobilized onto protein A-sepharose CL-4B

Protein A-Sepharose CL-4B was used as a solid phase for antibodies in the radioimmunoassay of progesterone and estriol. The method was fast and easily standardizable. Immobilized antibodies had the same binding capacity as free antibodies and gave good correlation curves (r = 0.996 for progesterone andr = 0.989 for estriol). Sensitivity was 12.5 pg/tube for progesterone and 8.0 pg/tube for estriol. Comparison of progesterone radioimmunoassay with chemically immobilized antibody onto Sepharose CL-4B was also carried out.     

Characterization of immobilized glucose oxidase—catalase and their deactivation in a fluid-bed reactor

2-Amino-4-chloro-s-triazine, a derivative of DEAE-cellulose, and acrolein/styrene copolymer were used as supports for the immobilization of glucose oxidase and catalase after being modified with diaminohexane followed by glutaraldehyde. Immobilization was carried out with optimum glucose oxidase-catalase ratios. The activity variations of the immobilized dual-enzyme systems were investigated in relation to pH and temperature. Time-dependent gluconic acid production resulting from the oxidation of glucose was monitored in a recycling fluid-bed reactor. The deactivation rates of glucose oxidase and catalase were investigated according to the first-order reaction kinetics depending on the presence of the intermediate product H₂O₂.     

Biosorption of heavy metal ions by immobilized zoogloea and zooglan

ImmobilizedZoogloea and zooglan in calcium alginate-silica matrix was shown to have a high adsorption capacity for Cu and Cd ions. Our results showed that Cu-ion uptake in the presence of Ca and Mg ions can be enhanced using immobilizedZoogloea and zooglan. Heavy metal ion adsorption efficiency decreased in the following order: Cu > Cd > Zn > Cr. The adsorbed metal ions were desorbed completely using sulfuric acid. ImmobilizedZoogloea and zooglan which was repetitively regenerated adsorbed heavy metal ions without a loss of adsorption capacity.     

The rapid quantitative determination of aromatic-type groups in gas oils by high-performance liquid chromatography

Summary A rapid method is described for the quantitative determination of aromatic-type groups in gas oil petroleum fractions. The method involves separation by high-performance liquid chromatography followed by detection with a differential refractometer, whose response to aromatic-type groups is more predictable than an ultra violet absorbance detector. A primary standard is used for calibration, and the precision and accuracy of the method have been investigated and are discussed.     

Application of immobilized hydrogenase to h2 storage in concentrated solutions of methyl viologen

It has been found that immobilized cells ofC. pasteurianum possessing hydrogenase activity efficiently catalyze reversible reduction of concentrated (up to 0.5M) solutions of methyl viologen with H₂. A 0.5M aqueous solution of methyl viologen dissolves 240 times as much H₂ as pure water under the same pressure of hydrogen. The experimentally obtained levels of methyl viologen reduction and H₂ evolution are in satisfactory agreement with theoretical calculations. The potential of concentrated solutions of methyl viologen containing immobilized hydrogenase as a H₂ storage medium is discussed.     

Twentyfold increase in alkaline phosphatase activity by sequential reversible activation of the enzyme followed by coupling with a copolyme of ethylene and maleic anhydride

Alkaline phosphatase, APase, (EC 3.1.31) from calf intestine, after shifting the equilibrium by effector molecules towards the dimeric form of the enzyme, was coupled (ratio 1:2, protein: copolymer) to a copolymer of ethylene and maleic anhydride, EMA. The water-soluble APase-EMA was separated from APase and the unbound EMA by DEAE-cellulose ion exchange chromatography. The specific activity of the APase-EMA, compared to APase, increased 26-fold at pH 7.1 and 10-fold at pH 8.6. The pH optimum of APase-EMA was shifted down from pH 9.5 (native APase) to 8.6. This change could be interpreted in terms of polyelectrolyte theory. APase-EMA retained 50–70% of its optimum activity in the pH range 7–8, while APase retained only 5–15% of its optimum activity within the same pH range. Its isoelectric point, pI, was 4.2 (APase 6.0) and it migrated on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in a single band, anodic movement twice as fast as APase. Parallel with the kinetic measurements, the reactive-enzyme sedimentation method was used to measure S_20,w values. S_20,w values obtained for APase-EMA, activated APase, and APase dialyzed against wafer were 6.56S, 6.46S, and 5.17S, respectively. Molecular weights, M_r, were determined by equilibrium sedimentation: the values obtained were 180,000, 160,000, and 84,500. M_r values of APase-EMA and APase (native) estimated by Sepharose-4B gel filtrations were essentially the same. The above-mentioned values remained unchanged for APase-EMA after intensive dialysis against water, whereas for the activated APase, separation from the effector molecules caused the equilibrium to shift back to the monomeric, very slightly active enzyme with concomitant changes of S_20,w to 5.15 and M_r to 82,000.     

Novel reactions of arylmalonate carbanions. The reaction with phenyl isocyanate resulting in carbamates by 1,3-C→N migration of the ethoxycarbonyl group

The reactions of carbanions of diethyl phenyl and 4-nitrophenylmalonates with phenyl isocyanate occur with 1,3-C→N migration of the ethoxycarbonyl group to form the corresponding adducts. The introduction of NO₂ groups into the benzene ring of arylmalonates inhibits the reaction. Dedicated to Academician V. A. Tartakovsky on the occasion of his 75th birthday. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1608–1610, August, 2007.     

Some theoretical and practical aspects in the separation of humic substances by combined liquid chromatography methods

Permanent need to understand nature, structure and properties of humic substances influences also separation methods that are in a wide scope used for fractionation, characterization and analysis of humic substances (HS). At the first glance techniques based on size-exclusion phenomena are the most useful and utilized for relating elution data to the molecular mass distribution of HS, however, with some limitations and exceptions, respectively, in the structural investigation of HS. The second most abundant separation mechanism is reversed-phase based on weak hydrophobic interactions beneficially combined with the step gradients inducing distinct features in rather featureless analytical signal of HS. Relatively great effort is invested to the developments of immobilized-metal affinity chromatography mimicking chelate-forming properties of HS as ligands in the environment. Surprisingly, relatively less attention is given to the ion-ion interactions based ion-exchange chromatography of HS. Chromatographic separation methods play also an important role in the examination of interactions of HS with pesticides. They allow us to determine binding constants and the other data necessary to predict the mobility of chemical pollutants in the environment. HS is frequently adversely acting in analytical procedures as interfering substance, so more detailed information is desired on manifestation of its numerous properties in analytical procedures. The article topic is covered by the review emphasizing advances in the field done in the period of last 10 years from 2000 till 2010.     

Determination of carboxylic acids and phenols in water by extractive alkylation using pentafluorobenzylation,glass capillary GC and electron capture detection

A method is presented for the simultaneous determination of a wide range of carboxylic acids and phenols in water. Extractive alkylation is used with the tetrabutylammonium ion as counter ion and pentafluorobenzylbromide as alkylating agent. Extracts are analyzed by glass capillary gas chromatography and electron capture detection. Using one ml of water sample, the detection limit lies in the range of 1–10 μg/l. Application has been made to the analysis of steam condensate and domestic sewage effluent.