Monotone Chemical Reaction Networks

We analyze certain chemical reaction networks and show that every solution converges to some steady state. The reaction kinetics are assumed to be monotone but otherwise arbitrary. When diffusion effects are taken into account, the conclusions remain unchanged. The main tools used in our analysis come from the theory of monotone dynamical systems. We review some of the features of this theory and provide a self-contained proof of a particular attractivity result which is used in proving our main result.     

Lipase from a Brazilian StrainPenicillium citrinum Cultured in a Simple and Inexpensive Medium st]Heat-Denaturation, Kinetics, and pH Stability

This work is a study of lipase production by a Brazilian strain ofPenicillium citrinum using an inexpensive and simple medium without organic nitrogen sources and of some important industrial properties, including thermostability in relation to ionic strength. The maximal lipase activity (1585 U/L) was obtained whenPenicillium citrinum was cultured on 0.75% ammonium sulfate complemented with minerals salts instead of yeast extract. Although this activity was about 55% lower than that produced in medium with yeast extract (2850 U/L), the specific activity (7.8 U/mg proteins) was higher than that obtained with the yeast extract (4.9 U/mg proteins). The morphology of fungus changed totally, with yeast extract there are smooth, solid, and spherical pellets whereas on ammonium sulfate there are small “hairy” pellets uniformly suspended in the medium. The effect of ferrous (Fe⁺⁺) ions was carried out using medium MA with and without Fe⁺⁺ ions. Lipase production byPenicillium citrinum in medium MA requires Fe⁺⁺ ions, the absence of which caused a decreased of about 50% in the specific activity (3.5 U/mg proteins). The utilization of commercial, locally available oils as carbon sources, such as soybean oil (236 U/L) and corn oil (74 U/L) resulted in lower activity compared to olive oil, showing that lipase production byPenicillium citrinum is specifically induced by olive oil. Potassium concentration in the medium can effects the production of lipase (1 mM (1585 U/L), 10 mM (1290 U/L), and 30 mM (1238 U/L), 50 mM (195 U/L), and 100 mM (2 U/L). The crude culture filtered was susceptable to thermal deactivation. It was stable at pH 6.0, but was not stable at the optimum pH (8.0-8.5) at 50 mM. At the low ionic concentration (1-25 mM) this lipase was stable at low pH (3.5-4.0). The activation energy was 22.4 ±2.2 Kcal. mol 1.     

Determination of ageing time of spirits in oak barrels using a headspace–mass spectrometry (HS-MS) electronic nose system and multivariate calibration

The aromatic composition of sugar cane spirits and, in general, of alcoholic beverages, is mainly influenced by the ageing process in wood barrels. There are several factors that affect the quality of the final aged product, but the time of the storage in the barrel is perhaps the most important one. Ageing time must therefore be controlled in order to detect counterfeits; however, this parameter is very difficult to control and, at present, there is no analytical method available to determine it. We propose a quantitative method for determining the ageing time of sugar cane spirits in oak barrels by using an electronic nose based on coupling directly a headspace sampler to a mass spectrometer (HS-MS), and multivariate calibration. The method developed is simple and provides, in 5 min, the ageing time of spirits with an accuracy of about 1 month.     

Chemical, structural, and thermal properties of Zn(II)-Cr(III) layered double hydroxides intercalated with sulfated and sulfonated surfactants

Zn(II)-Cr(III)-LDHs (layered double hydroxides) containing sulfated or sulfonated surfactants as the interlamellar anion were synthesized by the coprecipitation method. The syntheses were conducted under various different experimental conditions, such as the Zn : Cr ratio, pH, and aging time. In each of the prepared materials, unlike previously reported data, the interlayer anion arrangement did not change, being consistent with a perpendicular monolayer. The thermal decomposition process of the prepared materials was studied by a set of analysis methods, such as TG/DTA, TG/MS, PXRD, and FT-IR. From the results obtained it was possible to conclude that, in an air atmosphere, the anions decomposed by a partial combustion, leading to the formation of sulfide. The results also showed that sulfonated surfactants containing LDHs are much more stable than those containing sulfated surfactants. A mechanism was proposed for the thermal decomposition of such LDHs based on the experimental results.     

VISIBLE CHEMILUMINESCENCE ASSOCIATED WITH THE REACTION BETWEEN METHEMOGLOBIN OR OXYHEMOGLOBIN WITH HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

Abstract Visible chemiluminescence is emitted in the irreversible deactivation of hemoglobin or methemoglobin with excess H₂O₂. The emission takes place in two phases. The most intense one lasts a few seconds and is followed by a second phase of lower intensity that remains for longer periods. This second phase presents chaotic or sustained oscillations. Free radicals are implicated in the luminescent process since the emission can be reduced by free radical scavengers such as 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8,-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid (Trolox) or ascorbic acid. These additives lead to a delay in reaching the maximum intensity, which can be related to their consumption, implying substantial recycling of the hemoprotein. Chemiluminescence is also observed in the oxidation of hemin by H₂O₂, suggesting a role for the heme group in the processes leading to the excited state production. The lower intensity observed in the presence of hemin can be related to the contribution of the globin chains.     

Two thiourea‐containing gold(I) complexes

The crystal structures of two salts of bis­(thio­urea)­gold(I) complexes, namely bis­(thio­urea‐κS)­gold(I) chloride, [Au(CH₄N₂S)₂]Cl, (I), and bis­[bis­(thio­urea‐κS)­gold(I)] sulfate, [Au(CH₄N₂S)₂]₂SO₄, (II), have been determined. The chloride salt, (I), is isomorphous with the corresponding bromide salt, although there are differences in the bonding. The Au^I ion is located on an inversion centre and coordinated by two symmetry‐related thio­urea ligands through the lone pairs on their S atoms [Au—S 2.278 (2) Å and Au—S—C 105.3 (2)°]. The sulfate salt, (II), crystallizes with four independent [Au(CH₄N₂S)₂]⁺ cations per asymmetric unit, all with nearly linear S—Au—S bonding. The cations in (II) have similar conformations to that found for (I). The Au—S distances range from 2.276 (3) to 2.287 (3) Å and the Au—S—C angles from 173.5 (1) to 177.7 (1)°. These data are relevant in interpreting different electrochemical processes where gold–thio­urea species are formed.     

5-vinylisoxazole

Cycloaddition of fulminic acid to 1-butyn-3-ol gave a mixture of 5-α-hydroxyethylisoxazole (I) and 4-α-hydroxyethylisoxazole (II) in the ratio 9:1. By the dehydration of 1, 5-vinylisoxazole (III) was obtained. Compound III has also been prepared by cyclization of 4-penten-2-ynal as well as its diethylacetal with hydroxylamine hydrochloride; in both instances no isomers have been obtained. Compound III spontaneously polymerizes even at room temperature yielding a polymer still containing isoxazole rings.     

On hydrogen activation in the hydroformylation of olefins with Rh4(CO)12 or Co2(CO)8 as catalyst precursors

In the hydroformylation of ethylene with approximately equimolar H₂/D₂ mixtures and Rh₄(CO)₁₂ or Co₂(CO)₈ as the catalyst precursor about 50% of propionaldehyde-d₁ was formed. The propionaldehyde-d₀/d₂ ratio was ～ 3 for rhodium and ～ 2.6 for the cobalt catalyst. On the basis of the results and assuming that there is no rapid M(H)₂/M(D)₂ scrambling, activation of hydrogen through M(H)₂ or M(H)₂(olefin) complexes can be excluded.     

Linked crystallites in the conducting topmost layer of polymer bilayer films controlled by temperature: from micro- to nanocrystallites.

Temperature has great impact on the structure and size of the linked crystallites of the conducting topmost layer formed at the surface of a polycarbonate film via the reaction BEDT-TTF+IBr [BEDT-TTF=bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene]. We show that fine temperature control permits formation of a semiconducting topmost layer of alpha'-(BEDT-TTF)(2)(I(x)Br(1-x))(3) crystallites with either micro- or nanometre size, a result that opens a route to miniaturized conducting plastic materials.     

Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in seawater by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection following micelle-mediated preconcentration

In this work, the nonionic surfactant polyoxyethylene-10-lauryl ether has been used for the extraction and preconcentration of 14 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, classified as priority pollutants by the US Environmental Protection Agency, from seawater samples. The cloud-point preconcentration previous separation by HPLC and quantification using fluorimetric detection and wavelength programming allow to determine these pollutants with detection limits ranging from 1.0 to 1.5 x 10(2) ng/l with RSDs better than 10.4%. The methodology is evaluated using well-established extraction and preconcentration methods and GC-MS.