Nonisothermal membrane phenomena across perfluorosulfonic acid-type membranes,Flemion S: Part II. Thermal membrane potential and transported entropy of ions

Thermal membrane potentials across the perfluorosulfonic acid-type membrane, Flemion S, were measured for HCl, alkali metal chlorides, and ammonium and methyl ammonium chlorides. The difference between the mean molar transported entropy of the counterions in the membrane and the partial molar entropy of the counterions in the external solution was determined from the experimental data on thermal membrane potential, thermoosmosis and electroosmosis. The sign of the thermal membrane potential in HCl solution varies from positive to negative with the concentration. In HCl and alkali metal chloride solutions, the order of their thermal membrane potentials (–/T) is H⁺>Li⁺=Na⁺>K⁺ which is roughly the inverse of that of the crystallographic radii of the ions. However, the order of their entropy differences is H⁺>Na⁺>K⁺>Li⁺ which is just the inverse of that of their thermoosmotic coefficients (D) or the entropy difference of water in thermoosmosis. For the ammonium and methyl ammonium ion forms, the orders of both –/T and increase with an increasing number of methyl groups: (CH₃)₄N⁺>(CH₃)₃NH⁺>(CH₃)₂NH ₂ ⁺ > CH₃NH ₃ ⁺ >NH ₄ ⁺ , which is also the inverse of that ofD or .     

Anisotropic diffusion of water in perfluorosulfonic acid membrane and hydrocarbon membranes

Polymer electrolyte membranes that are applied for polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) retain water in their three-dimensional network structure. Diffusion behavior of water in the membranes was analyzed by pulsed field gradient (PFG)-NMR method to estimate diffusion coefficient of proton species as water or hydronium ion. The membrane samples were put in a sample tube vertically or horizontally toward to the field gradient axis under determined temperature and humidity conditions. As the results, anisotropic diffusion behavior of water in the membranes was indicated. Anisotropic properties depended on the sample type, preparation conditions of the wet membranes, and measurement conditions. A perfluorosulfonic acid membrane tended to have smaller anisotropy while hydrocarbon membranes showed greater anisotropy.     

Water,salt, and ethanol diffusion through membranes for water recovery by forward (direct) osmosis processes

Measurements of the diffusive permeances of water, NaCl, and ethanol through several, unoptimized membranes are presented. Such data can facilitate analysis and development of water recovery from highly impaired sources using hybrid processes based on forward (direct) osmosis (FO) with aqueous ethanol solutions as the “osmotic” agent. The membranes we have studied include anion and cation exchange materials and cross-linked poly(vinylalcohol) (PVA) gels, the latter being a membrane chemistry commercially used for ethanol dehydration via pervaporation. The measured transport properties are reported and suitability of these materials for an FO-based water recovery process is discussed in the context of process simulations.     

Coarse‐grained models and collective phenomena in membranes: Computer simulation of membrane fusion

We discuss the role coarse‐grained models play in investigating collective phenomena in bilayer membranes and place them in the context of alternative approaches. By reducing the degrees of freedom and applying simple effective potentials, coarse‐grained models can address the large time scales and length scales of collective phenomena in membranes. Although the mapping from a coarse‐grained model onto chemically realistic models is a challenge, such models provide a direct view on the phenomena that occur on the length scales of a few tens of nanometers. Their relevance is exemplified by the study of fusion of model membranes. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 1441–1450, 2003     

Study of a new pervaporation membrane Part I. Preparation and characteristics of the new membrane

A new alcohol dehydration membrane, poly(vinyl alcohol)—chitosan blended composite membrane (PVA-CS) has been prepared. This membrane has high selectivity and promising permeability, especially in separating ethanol—water near the azeotropic region (J_t > 200 g/m² h, _w/e > 500, 70°C). The separating characteristics, which vary with feed composition, operating temperature and the surface structure of the membrane, are determined and the results agree well with the theoretical predictions.

The characteristics of mechanical strength, stability and resistance to water were also determined. The results show that they are considerably enhanced by blending and crosslinking, in comparison with PVA composite membranes.     

Role of the hydrophobic region of signal sequences in the targeting of proteins to membranes and translocation across the hydrophobic membrane barrier

Proteins destined for regions other than the cytoplasm in cells have to cross at least one membrane barrier before reaching their proper destination. Almost all such proteins are initially biosynthesized as precursors with signal sequences at the amino terminus. Signal sequences are essential and also sufficient for proteins to be targeted to membranes and also for translocation across membranes. One striking feature that is clearly evident amongst signal sequences of secretory proteins is a positively charged amino terminus followed by a region comprising 10–12 very hydrophobic amino acids. The structural and physico-chemical properties of signal sequences have been analysed. On the basis of the analyses it is proposed that the structural feature of a positively charged amino terminal region followed by a hydrophobic stretch of amino acids, rather than a conformational one, is recognised by components of the cells export machinery. It is also postulated that signal sequences insert in the lipid bilayer of the translocation competent membrane after targeting. The presence of the signal sequence results in the formation of local ‘defects’ in the bilayer which have a role in translocation of proteins across membranes.     

Cyanide ion-selective electrodes based on thin electroplated membranes of silver chalcogenides: Part I. Membrane preparation and characterization

Cyanide-responsive ion-selective electrodes have been developed based on thin tellurium-doped silver selenide membranes electrodeposited on platinum substrates. The chemical composition of the electroplated film membranes could be expressed by the general formula Ag_2+δSe_1?xTe_x (where 0.2 < δ < 0.8 and 0.2 ? × ? 0.1). These electrodes exhibit a linear response in cyanide solutions with concentrations ranging from 10^?2 to 10^?6 M, with a slope of the electrode function of about 90 mV (pCN)^?1 (i.e., lower than the theoretically predicted double-Nernstian slope). These electrodes showed very stable behaviour during long-term investigation (several months). The conditions for the electrochemical preparation of cyanide-responsive silver chalcogenide membranes are discussed both from theoretical and practical points of view. X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence microanalysis (EDAX) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to examine the membrane composition, structure and surface morphology.     

Upgrading low-quality natural gas with H2S- and CO2-selective polymer membranes: Part II. Process design, economics, and sensitivity study of membrane stages with recycle streams

The cost of membrane separation processes for removing CO₂ and H₂S from low-quality natural gas can be reduced for some concentration ranges of CO₂ and H₂S by utilizing concurrently two different types of polymer membranes, one with a high CO₂/CH₄ selectivity and the other with a high H₂S/CH₄ selectivity. The polymers considered in this exploratory study were 6FDA-HAB polyimide for the removal of CO₂ and [poly(ether urethane urea)] (PEUU) for the removal of H₂S. It was required that the concentrations of CO₂ and H₂S in low-quality natural gas be reduced to US pipeline specifications (≤2 mol% CO₂ and ≤4 ppm H₂S). Low-quality natural gas was simulated in this study by CH₄/CO₂/H₂S mixtures containing up to 40 mol% CO₂ and 10 mol% H₂S. Twenty-seven membrane process configurations (PCs) were examined by computer simulations and optimized in order to determine the most economical configurations. Part I of this study considered only PCs without recycle streams [J. Hao, P.A. Rice, S.A. Stern, Upgrading low-quality natural gas with H₂S- and CO₂-selective polymer membranes. Part I. Process design and economics of membrane stages without recycle streams, J. Membr. Sci. 209 (2002) 177–206]. In Part II, reported below, the study was extended to two- and three-stage PCs with various recycle options. A sensitivity analysis was also made to determine the effects of variations in feed flow rate, feed pressure, membrane module cost, and wellhead price of natural gas on process economics. The economically optimal PCs were found to be either two membrane stages connected in series with or without recycle streams or single stages without recycle, depending on feed composition and selected operating conditions. The optimal two-stage PCs with recycle streams would utilize the H₂S/CH₄-selective membranes in the first stage and either the CO₂/CH₄ or the H₂S/CH₄-selective membranes, or both, in the second stage. Three-stage membrane PCs were not found to be economically competitive under the conditions assumed in this study.     

Conformation and Interaction of a D,L-alternating peptide with a bilayer membrane: x-ray reflectivity, CD, and FTIR spectroscopy.

Peptides with alternating amino acid configuration provide helical secondary structures that are especially known from the membrane channel and pore-forming gramicidin A. In analogy to this natural D,L-alternating pentadecapeptide, the potential of D,L-alternating peptides for membrane insertion is investigated using the model dodecamer peptide H-(Phe-Tyr)(5)-Trp-Trp-OH. This aromatic peptide is introduced as a novel pore-forming synthetic analogue of gramicidin A. It forms a well-organized homodimer similar to one of the gramicidin A transmembrane motifs. X-ray reflectivity measurements are performed on solid-supported peptide-lipid complexes to obtain information about the influence of the artificial dodecamer peptide on the bilayer parameters. In addition, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopic studies determine the conformational state of H-(Phe-Tyr)(5)-Trp-Trp-OH within the model membrane. Site-specific iodine labeling assists in determining the topology of the membrane-embedded peptide by pinpointing the position of the iodine label within the bilayers.     

Reverse osmosis membrane treatment of acidic etchant wastewater: Effect of neutralization and polyelectrolyte coating on nitrate removal

The removal of nitrate from mixed acid etchant (MAE) wastewater was investigated by neutralization, followed by reverse osmosis (RO) membrane filtration. The coating of a RO membrane was conducted using polyacrylic acid (PAA) in order to enhance the removal of nitrate from the MAE wastewater. The addition of KOH, for the neutralization of the MAE wastewater, was most effective in terms of solid–liquid separation. Double RO filtrations, with crossflow and stirred-flow units, were examined in terms of nitrate rejection and membrane permeability. The Donnan exclusion, due to change in the solution pH, played an important role in nitrate rejection. As a result, RO filtration, at a moderate acidic pH level (e.g., pH 4), provided greater nitrate rejection than that at neutral or alkaline pH levels. The Donnan effect was associated with acetic acid present in MAE wastewater, since it could deprotonate to acetate with a negative charge. Improvement in nitrate rejection occurred with the PAA coating of the original RO membrane. This is because of the enhanced electrostatic repulsion of the nitrate by the carboxyl groups on the coated membrane surface, although the flux declined with the PAA coatings. The effect of charge repulsion was more obvious in the second pass of RO filtration where the ionic strength was relatively low. The increase in nitrate rejection leveled off with a PAA dosage of 0.262 mg/cm² of the membrane, so further coating beyond this level should be prevented.     

Enthalpy and entropy changes for the intercalation of small molecules to DNA. I. Substituted naphthalene monoimides and naphthalene diimides

Calorimetric studies have been performed on the intercalation of a series of nitro and amino substituted naphthalene monoimide cations to calf thymus DNA. For comparison, we also included in the study the unsubstituted naphthalene diimide dication. All of the substituted naphthalene monoimides formed dimers at the concentrations used in the calorimetric titrations, and dimerization constants for these compounds were derived from spectroscopic studies and used in calculating the H _B ^o parameters from the calorimetric data. The dimerization constants increase in the order 3-NO₂MI=4-NO₂MI>3-NH₂MI>4-NH₂MI. For the unsubstituted naphthalene monoimide and 3-NO₂MI and 4-NO₂MI, the H _B ^o parameters are within experimental error equal to that found for the naphthalene diimide, i.e., –4.3 kcal-mol^–1. Thus, changes in entropy cause the K _B for the diimide to be 40 times larger than that for the monoimide. This observation is consistent with the current electrostatic theory for counterion binding to DNA: a dication should cause the release of more counterions than a monocation and produce a more positive S _B ^o . For the amino substituted naphthalene monoimides, the K _B values are similar to the other monoimides, but H _B ^o =–6.7 kcal-mol^–1. We propose that a hydrogen bond is responsible for the unusual enthalpy and entropy effects seen for 3-NH₂MI and 4-NH₂MI.     

The enthalpy and entropy interaction parameters of cesium chloride with saccharides ( -glucose, -fructose and sucrose) in water at 298.15 K

The transfer enthalpies have been measured for cesium chloride from pure water to aqueous saccharides ( -glucose, -fructose and sucrose) solutions at 298.15 K. The McMillan–Mayer theory was employed to relate the excess thermodynamic function with a series of interaction parameters of solutes to obtain the enthalpy pair interaction parameters of cesium chloride with saccharides in water. Entropy interaction parameters can be evaluated through the enthalpy interaction parameters and the Gibbs free energy parameters. These parameters are discussed in detail to provide some information for the interaction of solute–solute and solute–solvent in CsCl–saccharide–water ternary system, and to investigate the influence of the size of metal ions and the number of hydroxyl in saccharides on these parameters.     

Organoboron water,part I: Synthesis and multinuclear magnetic resonance studies on the structure of tetramethyldialuminoxane

The structure of tetramethyldialuminoxane was studied. The low‐temperature ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra suggest that the methyl groups bridge the aluminum atoms in the dialuminoxane trimer. A new method of synthesis of methylaluminoxanes and tetramethyldialuminoxanes in the reaction of tetraethyldiboroxane (organoboron water) with trimethylaluminum (1:1 and 1:2 respectively) was applied to synthesize the investigated system. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermodynamic and magnetic resonance studies on the hydration of polymers: I. Interactions of water in a synthetic cation-exchange resin

Measurements of NMR spin-lattice relaxation times T ₁ were performed for sorbed H₂O and D₂O in a sulfonated ion-exchange resin at varying degrees of hydration with alkaline cations as counter ions. From the sorption isotherms at three different temperatures the partial molar enthalpies and entropies of sorption show a minimum for all alkaline cations at water concentrations of n 0.8, i.e., there are 0.8 water molecules per –SO ₃ ^– group. The first water molecules sorbed in the ion-exchange resin matrix are characterized by anisotrtopic rotational diffusion processes with correlation times of the order of ₁ 50 ns and ₂ 30 ps, respectively. This indicates that they are located in the electrostatic field between the corresponding ion pair. Although these two correlation times are very similar at a given temperature for all alkaline cations studied in the present investigation, the existence of a second spin-lattice relaxation time for sorbed H₂O at n=0.8 indicates that for Cs about 50% of the sorbed water diffuses between locations in the resin. This fraction decreases with ionic radii and with falling temperatures. For Li the amount is less than 20%.     

Porous membranes modified by hyperbranched polymers: I. Preparation and characterization of PVDF membrane using hyperbranched polyglycerol as additive

Porous membranes were prepared via phase inversion process from casting solution composed of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), and hyperbranched polyglycerol (HPG). The membranes were characterized in terms of surface and bulk chemical compositions, morphology, water contact angle, porosity, and water flux. The effects of HPG content on membrane structures and properties were investigated. The effect of HPG addition on the hydrophilicity was discussed as well when the compositions of coagulation bath were changed. To better understand the special effects of HPG on the structures and properties of the membranes, PVDF membranes prepared using HPG as the additive were compared with those prepared using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as the additive.     

Activity and osmotic coefficients from the EMF of liquid membrane cells. VI-ZnSO4, MgSO4, CaSO4, and SrSO4 in water at 25‡C

The activity coefficients of ZnSO₄, MgSO₄, CaSO₄, and SrSO₄ are measured by means of cells with ion-exchange liquid membranes similar to those described in the previous papers of this series. Negative deviations from the limiting law are observed in the dilute region. These deviations are, for ZnSO₄, appreciably more important than recent literature has indicated, and the corresponding activity coefficients need to be corrected by about 12%. Pitzer’s theory best-fit coefficients have accordingly been recalculated. The osmotic coefficients are also derived. Accessory information on the hydration state for zinc, magnesium, and sulfate ions, is presented.     

Study of the mechanism of enantioseparation part VI: thermodynamic study of HPLC separation of some enantiomers of phenylcarbamic acid derivatives on a (S,S) Whelk-O 1 column

The enantiomers of thirteen 2-, 3-, and 4-alkoxyphenylcarbamic acid 2-methoxy-1-[(4-methylpiperazino)methyl]ethyl ester were separated on a (S,S) Whelk-O 1 CSP column isothermally in the range of 0-50 degrees C at 10 degrees C increments, using methanol/ water (90/10, v/v) containing 17.5 mmol L(-1) acetic acid and 14.36 mmol L(-1) triethylamine as a mobile phase. The dependence of the natural logarithms of retention and selectivity factors (In k, In alpha, respectively) on the inverse of temperature, 1/T, was used to determine thermodynamic data of enantiomers of alkoxysubstituted phenylcarbamic acid 2-methoxy-1-[(4-methylpiperazino) methyl]ethyl esters. Enthalpyentropy compensation plots showed that all of the compounds in this study separate via the same enthalpy-driven chiral recognition mechanism.     

Spin label studies on rat liver and heart plasma membranes: effects of temperature, calcium, and lanthanum on membrane fluidity.

The structures of rat liver and heart plasma membranes were studied with the 5-nitroxide stearic acid spin probe, I(12,3). The polarity-corrected order parameters (S) of liver and heart plasma membranes were independent of probe concentration only if experimentally determined low I(12,3)/lipid ratios were employed. At higher probe/lipid ratios, the order parameters of both membrane systems decreased with increasing probe concentration, and these effects were attributed to enhanced nitroxide radical interactions. Examination of the temperature dependence of approximate and polarity-corrected order parameters indicated that lipid phase separations occur in liver (between 19 degrees and 28 degrees C) and heart (between 21 degrees and 32 degrees C) plasma membranes. The possibility that a wide variety of membrane-associated functions may be influenced by these thermotropic phase separations is considered. Addition of 3.9 mM CaCl2 to I(12,3)-labeled liver plasma membrane decreased the fluidity as indicated by a 5% increase in S at 37 degrees C. Similarly, titrating I(12,3)-labeled heart plasma membranes with either CaCl2 or LaCl3 decreased the lipid fluidity at 37 degrees C, although the magnitude of the La3+ effect was larger and occurred at lower concentrations than that induced by Ca2+; addition of 0.2 mM La3+ or 3.2 mM Ca2+ increased S by approximately 7% and 5%, respectively. The above cation effects reflected only alterations in the membrane fluidity and were not due to changes in probe--probe interactions. Ca2+ and La3+ at these concentrations decrease the activities of such plasma membrane enzymes as Na+, K+-ATPase and adenylyl cyclase, and it is suggested that the inhibition of these enzymes may be due in part to cation-mediated decreases in the lipid fluidity.