Optimization of keratinase production and enzyme activity using response surface methodology with streptomyces sp7

A two-step response surface methodology (RSM) study was conducted for the optimization of keratinase production and enzyme activity from poultry feather byStreptomyces sp7. Initially different combinations of salts were screened for maximal production of keratinase at a constant pH of 6.5 and feather meal concentration of 5 g/L. A combination of K₂HPO₄, KH₂PO₄, and NaCl gave a maximum yield of keratinase (70.9 U/mL) production. In the first step of the RSM study, the selected five variables (feather meal, K₂HPO₄, KH₂PO₄, NaCl, and pH) were optimized by a 2⁵ full-factorial rotatable central composite design (CCD) that resulted in 95 U/mL of keratinase production. The results of analysis of variance and regression of a second-order model showed that the linear effects of feather meal concentration (p<0.005) and NaCl (p<0.029) and the interactive effects of all variables were more significant and that values of the quadratic effects of feather meal (p<1.72e-5), K₂HPO₄ (p<4.731e-6), KH₂PO₄ (p<1.01e-10), and pH (p 7.63e-7) were more significant than the linear and interactive effects of the process variables. In the second step, a 2³ rotatable full-factorial CCD and response surface analysis were used for the selection of optimal process parameters (pH, temperature, and rpm) for keratinase enzyme activity. These optima were pH 11.0, 45°C, and 300 rpm.     

Partitioning of l-methionine in aqueous two-phase systems containing poly(propylene glycol) and sodium phosphate salts

The partitioning behavior of l-methionine has been studied in aqueous two-phase systems of (poly(propylene glycol) + sodium phosphate salts + H₂O) at different temperatures. The salts used were sodium di-hydrogen phosphate (NaH₂PO₄), di-sodium hydrogen phosphate (Na₂HPO₄) and tri-sodium phosphate (Na₃PO₄). The effects of tie line length, salt type, and temperature on the partition coefficient of this amino acid have been studied. In addition, thermodynamic parameters (ΔH°, ΔS° and ΔG°) as a function of temperature were calculated. The results showed that increasing tie line length led to decreasing of the partition coefficient. We also showed that the partition coefficients of the amino acid in the systems containing Na₃PO₄ are greater than the other two salts. Moreover, it is verified that increasing temperature led to decreasing the partition coefficient. The experimental partition coefficient data are correlated using a modified virial-type model.     

Liquid–liquid phase diagrams of H2O + 2-butanol + potassium phosphate and H2O + 2-butanol + Na2CO3 systems at 298.15 K

The phase diagrams for the ternary systems H₂O?+?2-butanol?+?K₂HPO₄/KH₂PO₄ (pH?=?7) and H₂O?+?2-butanol?+?Na₂CO₃ at 298.15?K were determined. Experimental binodals and tie lines for these systems are presented. The experimental results were correlated using an improved regular solution theory. The agreement between the correlation and experimental data is good.     

Medium optimization for polysaccharide production of Cordyceps sinensis

As a potential anticarcinogenic agent, polysaccharides from Cordyceps sinensis have been demonstrated to possess strong antioxidation activity. The aim of the present research was to study the optimal medium to produce polysaccharides of C. sinensis by using response surface methodology (RSM). The composition of optimized medium for polysaccharide production calculated from the regression model of RSM was 6.17% sucrose, 0.53% corn steep powder, 0.5% (NH₄)₂HPO₄, and 0.15% KH₂PO₄ at pH 4.44, with a predicted maximum polysaccharide production of 3.17 g/L. When applying this optimal medium, the maximum polysaccharide production was 3.05 and 3.21 g/L in a shake flask and a 5-L jar fermentor, respectively. When the pH was controlled at a higher level such as pH 5.0, both cell growth and polysaccharide production were inhibited. A low pH of 2.85 was required for maximum production of polysaccharides.     

Evaluation of the impact of phosphate salts on the formation of ionic-liquid-based aqueous biphasic systems

The present study aims at evaluating the capability of phosphate-based salts, whose anions can coexist in water depending on the media pH, to promote aqueous biphasic systems (ABS) formation with 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium-based ionic liquids, as well as to infer on the influence of the ionic liquid anion in the overall process of liquid–liquid demixing. In this context, novel phase diagrams of ABS composed of several imidazolium-based ionic liquids and three phosphate salts and a mixture of salts (K₃PO₄, K₂HPO₄, K₂HPO₄ + KH₂PO₄, and KH₂PO₄) were determined by the cloud point titration method at 298 K and atmospheric pressure. The corresponding tie-line compositions, tie-line lengths, and pH values of the coexisting phases were also determined. The ionic liquids ability to promote ABS is related with the hydrogen-bond basicity of the composing anion – the lower it is the higher the ability of the ionic fluid to undergo liquid–liquid demixing. Moreover, similar patterns on the ionic liquids sequence were observed with the different phosphate salts. The phosphate anion charge plays a determinant role in the formation of ABS. The two-phase formation aptitude (with a similar ionic liquid) decreases in the rank: K₃PO₄ > K₂HPO₄ > K₂HPO₄ + KH₂PO₄ > KH₂PO₄. Yet, besides the charge of the phosphate anion, the pH and ionic strength of the aqueous media also influence the phase separation ability.     

Partition behavior and partial purification of hexokinase in aqueous two-phase polyethylene glycol/citrate systems

This study dealt with the partition behavior and partial purification of hexokinase (HK) from baker’s yeast by liquid-liquid extraction using aqueous two-phase polyethylene glycol (PEG)/citrate systems. First, we investigated the effect of agitation type (vortex and 8 rpm rotation) on the stability of the system, and then the effects of sodium citrate concentration, PEG concentration, and molar mass of PEG on the partition coefficient of this enzyme by using a 2⁵ factorial experimental design. The results of this factorial experiment showed the possibility of a partial purification of HK by using two extraction steps, since the enzyme preferentially migrated to the top phase and the total proteins (mainly contaminants) remained in the bottom phase. The purification factor (Pur _TOP) of the enzyme in the top phase was 1.87, and the partition coefficient of the total proteins (K _Prot ) was 0.47.     

Swelling equilibrium of poly(acrylamide) gels in aqueous salt and polymer solutions

The influence of some single salts (NaCl, KCl, Na₂HPO₄ and K₂HPO₄) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) on the swelling of aqueous poly(arcylamide)-gels was studied at 25°C in more than 600 experiments. The chlorides and phosphates cause a different behavior at high salt concentrations: The polyacrylamide gels swell in aqueous solutions of sodium and potassium chloride whereas they shrink when chloride ions are substituted by hydrogen phosphate ions. These differences are due to differences in the interactions of chloride and hydrogen phosphate ions with the network groups. In aqueous solutions of poly(ethylene glycol) the gels shrink continuously with increasing polymer concentration. At constant PEG mass fraction in the liquid phase, the swelling of the gel decreases with increasing molecular weight of PEG. The experimental results (degree of swelling, partitioning of solutes to the coexisting phases) are correlated by combining a model for the Gibbs excess energy for aqueous systems of polymers and electrolytes with a modification of the phantom-network theory. The correlation gives a good agreement with the experimental data for the degree of swelling, whereas in most cases, there is only a qualitative agreement for the partitioning of the solutes.     

Chromium(III) Hydroxide Solubility in The Aqueous Na+-OH?-H2PO?4-HPO2?4-PO3?4-H2O System: A Thermodynamic Model

Chromium(III)-phosphate reactions are expected to be important in managing high-level radioactive wastes stored in tanks at many DOE sites. Extensive studies on the solubility of amorphous Cr(III) solids in a wide range of pH (2.8–14) and phosphate concentrations (10^–4 to 1.0 m) at room temperature (22±2)°C were carried out to obtain reliable thermodynamic data for important Cr(III)-phosphate reactions. A combination of techniques (XRD, XANES, EXAFS, Raman spectroscopy, total chemical composition, and thermodynamic analyses of solubility data) was used to characterize solid and aqueous species. Contrary to the data recently reported in the literature,⁽¹⁾ only a limited number of aqueous species [Cr(OH)₃H₂PO^–₄, Cr(OH)₃(H₂PO₄)^2–₂), and Cr(OH)₃HPO^2–₄] with up to about four orders of magnitude lower values for the formation constants of these species are required to explain Cr(III)-phosphate reactions in a wide range of pH and phosphate concentrations. The log K^o values of reactions involving these species [Cr(OH)₃(aq)+H₂PO^–₄&#x21CC;Cr(OH)₃H₂PO^–₄; Cr(OH)₃(aq)+2H₂PO^–₄&#x21CC;Cr(OH)₃(H₂PO₄)^2–₂; Cr(OH)₃(aq)+HPO^2–₄&#x21CC;Cr(OH)₃HPO^2–₄] were found to be 2.78±0.3, 3.48±0.3, and 1.97±0.3, respectively.     

Optimization of Fermentation Parameters to Enhance the Production of Ethanol from Palmyra Jaggery Using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharomyces cerevisiae</Emphasis> in a Batch Fermentor

Application of statistical experimental designs for optimization of fermentation parameters to enhance ethanol production, which is an economical and renewable energy source using Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCIM 3090 from palmyra jaggery, was studied in a batch fermentor. Using Plackett–Burman design, impeller speed, concentrations of CoCl₂ and KH₂PO₄ were identified as significant variables, which highly influenced ethanol production, and these variables were further optimized using a central composite design (CCD). The ethanol production was adequately approximated with a full quadratic equation obtained from three factors and five levels of CCD. Maximum ethanol concentration of 132.56 g/l (16.8% [v/v]) was obtained for an impeller speed of 247.179 (≈250) rev/min, CoCl₂ of 0.263 g/l and KH₂PO₄ of 2.39 g/l. A second-order polynomial regression model was fitted and was found adequate with R ² of 0.8952. This combined statistical approach enables rapid identification and investigation of significant parameters for improving the ethanol production and could be very useful in optimizing processes.     

A highly sensitive and selective immunonanogold resonance scattering spectral assay for sudan I

A sensitive and selective resonance scattering spectral (RSS) assay was proposed for the determination of sudan I (SDI), using 10 nm nanogold to label the antibody against sudan I (anti-SDI Ab) to obtain a RSS probe for SDI. The immunonanogold reaction between nanogold-labelled anti-SDI Ab and SDI took place in pH 4.92 KH₂PO₄–Na₂HPO₄ buffer solution and in the presence of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-6000, and the intensity of resonance scattering peak at 580 nm decreased greatly. The decreased intensity ΔI_{580 nm} was proportional to the concentration of SDI in the range of 0.23–45.0 ng mL^?1. The linear regression equation was calculated as ΔI_580nm = 1.20c + 2.01 (R = 0.9975, n = 6), with a detection limit (3σ) of 0.13 ng mL^?1. The SDI in egg samples was assayed, with satisfactory results.     

Extraction and isolation of lithospermic acid B from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge using aqueous two‐phase extraction followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography

A rapid and effective method integrating separation and purification of lithospermic acid B from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge was developed by combining an aqueous two‐phase system extraction with preparative chromatography. An aqueous two‐phase system of n‐butyl alcohol/KH₂PO₄ was chosen from seven systems. The influence of parameters including concentration of KH₂PO₄, n‐butyl alcohol concentration, pH, and the ratio of an aqueous two‐phase system to crude extract were investigated using a single factor design. Response surface methodology was subsequently used to find the optimal compositions of an aqueous two‐phase system. Keeping a solvent‐to‐solid ratio of 10, the final optimized composition of an aqueous two‐phase system was 39.1% w/w n‐butyl alcohol and 22.6% w/w KH₂PO₄. Under these conditions a recovery yield of 99.8% and a high partition coefficient of 310.4 were obtained. In a pilot‐scale experiment using optimized conditions, 18.79 g of lithospermic acid B with a purity of 70.5% and in a yield of 99.8% was separated from 0.5 kg of crude extract. Subsequently, 9.94 g lithospermic acid B with a purity of 99.3% and recovery yield of 70.3% was obtained with a preparative chromatographic process, and the two‐step total recovery was 70.1%.     

The new experimental data and a new thermodynamic model based on group contribution for correlation liquid–liquid equilibria in aqueous two-phase systems of PEG and (K2HPO4 or Na2SO4)

The new experimental data of liquid–liquid equilibria for aqueous two-phase systems PEG–K₂HPO₄–water and PEG–Na₂SO₄–water are presented. The effects of pH and molecular weight of polyethylene glycol were investigated and the tie lines with binodal curves for both systems are shown. A new thermodynamic model based on group contribution has been proposed for studying the phase behavior of aqueous two-phase polymer–salt systems. The assumptions of NRTL-NRF model and the activity coefficient equation of UNIQUAC-NRF model have been used for the groups. In this new model, UNIFAC-NRF, the nonrandom state of groups were selected as a reference state. The binary interaction parameters were adjusted using the data of binary salt–water systems and the ternary systems were correlated with only six binary adjustable parameters. The Debye–Huckel equation based on Fowller–Guggenheim equation was used to calculate the long range electrostatic interaction of the ions. The UNIFAC-NRF model was applied to correlate the experimental data of aqueous two-phase systems: PEG–K₂HPO₄–water and PEG–Na₂SO₄–water for two different molecular weight of PEG at different pH. The results of the new model showed that it can be used to correlate the LLE in aqueous solution of polymer–salt very well.     

Study of the process for obtaining special-purity potassium dihydrophosphate

Method of radioactive tracers was used to study the coprecipitation of 3d-element impurities from KH₂PO₄ solutions on hydrated potassium-aluminum phosphate. The influence exerted by the mass of the collector, its contact duration with solution, pH value and concentration of KH₂PO₄ on the process efficiency was examined. The purification coefficients were calculated. The high efficiency of the process of KH₂PO₄ purification was demonstrated.     

The use of stable isotopes for Cr(VI) determination in silty-clay soil solution

In assessing the environmental hazard of Cr(VI) present in soil, exchangeable Cr(VI) is important, since it can be easily washed out from the upper part of the soil into subsurface soil, surface and ground water, and taken up by plants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the degree of species interconversion that may occur during the extraction of exchangeable Cr(VI) from silty-clay soil with phosphate buffer in order to establish an extraction method that would be effective, accurate and with minimal or no species interconversions. The Cr(VI) concentration in soil extracts was determined by speciated isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SID-ICP-MS). The study was performed on soil samples from a field treated with tannery waste for 17 years. Samples were spiked by enriched stable isotopic solutions of ⁵⁰Cr(VI) and ⁵³Cr(III) that were added to phosphate buffers (0.1 M KH₂PO₄-K₂HPO₄ (pH 7.2) and/or 0.1 M K₂HPO₄ (pH 8)). To optimize extraction, mechanical shaking and/or ultrasound-assisted extraction were compared. The separation and detection of Cr species was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) ICP-MS. When mechanical shaking was applied, 90 % reduction of Cr(VI) was induced by extraction with 0.1 M KH₂PO₄-K₂HPO₄, while with 0.1 M K₂HPO₄ reduction was around 40 %. To shorten the extraction time and the possibility of species interconversions, ultrasound-assisted extraction was further applied only with 0.1 M K₂HPO₄. For total extraction of exchangeable Cr(VI) with a maximum 10 % reduction of Cr(VI), five consecutive ultrasound-assisted extractions were needed.

Quaternary (liquid + liquid) equilibria of aqueous two-phase polyethylene glycol,poly-N-vinylcaprolactam,and KH2PO4: Experimental and the generalized Flory–Huggins theory

A quaternary (liquid + liquid) equilibrium study was performed to focus attention on the interaction parameters between poly-N-vinylcaprolactam (PVCL) and poly-ethylene glycol (PEG) as well as between other species. At first, the new experimental data of (liquid + liquid) equilibria for aqueous two-phase systems containing PEG, KH₂PO₄, and PVCL at T = 303.15 K have been determined. Then the Flory–Huggins theory with two electrostatic terms (the Debye–Huckel and the Pitzer–Debye–Huckel equations) has been generalized to correlate the phase behavior of the quaternary system. Good agreement has been found between experimental and calculated data from both models especially from the Pitzer–Debye–Huckel equation.Also an effort was done to compare the effect of temperature as well as addition of PVCL on the binodal curves of PEG, KH₂PO₄, and water. The effect of the type of salt on the binodals has been also studied, and the salting out power of the salts has been determined.     

Capacitance and photocurrent study of electronic properties of anodic oxide films on Nb and Ta. Evaluation of the ionized donor concentration profile in Nb2O5 film

Electronic properties of electrochemically formed oxide films on Nb were studied by photocurrent and differential capacitance measurements in 0.025 M KH₂PO₄+0.025 M Na₂HPO₄ electrolyte, pH 6.9. Oxide films of n-type conductivity were formed galvanostatically for final potentials ranging from 4 to 230 V. Measurements were performed in two potential regions, which correspond to formation of a depleted layer of variable thickness at relatively low potentials, and to complete depletion of oxide films of electronic charge carriers at higher potentials. In the first potential region the behavior of both capacitance and photocurrent, was governed by a build up of a depleted layer of potential dependent thickness. In the second, high potential, region, which extends up to the oxide film formation potential, the photocurrent and capacitance of oxide films in most features followed the trends typical of dielectric films containing defects and traps. The photocurrent and capacitance measurements on presumably dielectric oxide films formed on Ta were staged for comparison. The capacitance–potential measurements performed in the first potential region enabled us to construct the ionized donor concentration profile across the Nb₂O₅ film width. The limitations on the use of the C–E profiling method for electrochemically formed oxide layers are considered.     

Formation of titanium phosphate composites during phosphoric acid decomposition of natural sphene

Decomposition of mineral sphene, CaTiOSiO₄, by H₃PO₄ is investigated in detail. During the dissolution process, simultaneous calcium leaching and formation of titanium phosphate (TiP) take place. The main product of decomposition is a solid titanium phosphate-silica composite. The XRD, solid-sate NMR, IR, TGA, SEM and BET data were used to identify and characterize the composite as a mixture of crystalline Ti(HPO₄)₂·H₂O and silica. When 80% phosphoric acid is used the decomposition degree is higher than 98% and calcium is completely transferred into the liquid phase. Formation of Ti(HPO₄)₂·H₂O proceeds via formation of meta-stable titanium phosphate phases, Ti(H₂PO₄)(PO₄)·2H₂O and Ti(H₂PO₄)(PO₄).The sorption affinities of TiP composites were examined in relation to caesium and strontium ions. A decrease of H₃PO₄ concentration leads to formation of composites with greater sorption properties. The maximum sorption capacity of TiP is observed when 60% H₃PO₄ is used in sphene decomposition.The work demonstrates a valuable option within the Ti(HPO₄)₂·H₂O-SiO₂ composite synthesis scheme, to use phosphoric acid flows for isolation of CaHPO₄·2H₂O fertilizer.     

A Simple and Sensitive Label‐free Immunoassay for Factor B Using Resonance Scattering Spectral Detection

In pH 7.2 Na₂HPO₄‐NaH₂PO₄ buffer solution and in the presence of PEG‐6000, goat‐anti‐human factor B (GABF) was combined with human factor B (BF) specifically, and aggregated to form immune complex particles that exhibited a resonance scattering (RS) peak at 400 nm. The laser scattering indicated that the average diameter of immune complex particles was 1320 nm. BF in the concentration range of 0.04 to 9.60 µg/mL was proportional to the resonance scattering intensity at 400 nm. Its regression equation was ΔI=33.61C+ 1.4, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9969, and a detection limit of 0.01 µg/mL BF. This label‐free resonance scattering spectral (RSS) method has been applied to the determination of BF in serum samples, and the results were in agreement with that of the immunoturbity.     

核酸适体修饰纳米金共振散射光谱探针快速检测痕量Pb2＋

以柠檬酸三钠做稳定剂, 用硼氢化钠还原氯金酸制备了粒径为5 nm的纳米金. 用铅离子核酸适体aptamer保护纳米金获得了检测铅离子的适体纳米金(aptamer-NG)共振散射光谱探针. 在pH 7.0的Na₂HPO₄-NaH₂PO₄缓冲溶液中及30 mmol•L^－1 NaCl存在下, aptamer-NG稳定而不聚集. Pb^2＋可与该探针中的aptamer形成非常稳定的G-四分体结构, 并释放出纳米金. 在NaCl作用下纳米金聚集形成较大的微粒, 导致552 nm处共振散射峰强度增大. Pb^2＋浓度在0.07～42 nmol•L^－1范围内与552 nm处共振散射强度增大值ΔI成线性关系, 其回归方程为ΔI＝12.0c＋9.2, 线性相关系数为0.9965, 方法检出限为0.03 nmol•L^－1 Pb^2＋. 该方法用于水样中铅离子检测, 结果与石墨炉原子吸收光谱法结果一致.     

Gibbs free energy of transfer of a methylene group on {UCON + (sodium or potassium) phosphate salts} aqueous two-phase systems: Hydrophobicity effects

The Gibbs free energy of transfer of a suitable hydrophobic probe can be regarded as a measure of the relative hydrophobicity of the different phases. The methylene group (CH₂) can be considered hydrophobic, and thus be a suitable probe for hydrophobicity. In this work, the partition coefficients of a series of five dinitrophenylated-amino acids were experimentally determined, at 23 °C, in three different tie-lines of the biphasic systems: (UCON + K₂HPO₄), (UCON + potassium phosphate buffer, pH 7), (UCON + KH₂PO₄), (UCON + Na₂HPO₄), (UCON + sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7), and (UCON + NaH₂PO₄). The Gibbs free energy of transfer of CH₂ units were calculated from the partition coefficients and used to compare the relative hydrophobicity of the equilibrium phases. The largest relative hydrophobicity was found for the ATPS formed by dihydrogen phosphate salts.