Partitioning sample collection/solvent extraction cartridge packed with octadecyl‐derivatized macroporous silica particles for the analysis of sesquiterpenes in air samples

A novel sampling device based on the partition of target analytes to the extraction medium was developed for the determination of sesquiterpenes in air samples. The extraction medium was prepared by the chemical derivatization of a specially prepared macroporous silica, with a specific surface area of 2.0 m²/g. Taking advantage of the sample extraction, which was mainly based on the partition of sesquiterpenes between air and a C₁₈‐bonded phase, the extracted analytes were rapidly and quantitatively desorbed just by passing a small amount of desorption solvent for subsequent analysis by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. Several experimental conditions, such as the sampling volume and temperature, were systematically evaluated. Under optimized conditions, desorption of the extracted analytes was completed within 1 min with a desorption efficiency of more than 99.9%, achieved using 5 mL of acetone for all the evaluated sesquiterpenes. The applicability of the developed device was confirmed by the determination of several sesquiterpenes from coniferous trees. Although further improvements of the device are required for collecting large volumes or high‐temperature air samples, the potential of the developed sampling device was confirmed by determining traces of semivolatile organic compounds in air samples.     

Characteristics of granular boehmite and its ability to adsorb phosphate from aqueous solution

In this study, we investigated the surface properties of granulated boehmite with vinyl acetate (G-BE20) and measured the amount of phosphate it adsorbed and the effect of contact time and solution pH on the adsorption process. The specific surface area (144.9?m²/g) and the number of surface hydroxyl groups (0.88?mmol/g) of G-BE20 were smaller than those of virgin boehmite (BE), which gave a specific surface area and number of surface hydroxyl groups of 297.0?m²/g and 1.08?mmol/g, respectively. The amount of phosphate adsorbed increased with the temperature. The isotherm model of Langmuir was used to fit experimental adsorption equilibrium data for phosphate adsorption onto G-BE20. The calculated thermodynamic parameters show the spontaneous and endothermic nature of the adsorption process. The equilibrium adsorption onto G-BE20 was reached within 16?h and the amount of phosphate adsorbed was 8.4?mg/g. The kinetic mechanism of phosphate uptake was evaluated with two different models: the Largergren pseudo first- and pseudo second-order models. The data obtained showed a better fit to the pseudo second-order model (0.991) than to the pseudo first-order model (0.967), as indicated by the r values. The rate constants for the adsorption of phosphate onto G-BE20 were calculated as 0.481?1/h and 0.029?g/mg?h. The adsorption of phosphate onto G-BE20 was the maximum in the pH range 3.0-4.0.     

Gold-Titanium(IV) Oxide Plasmonic Photocatalysts Prepared by a Colloid-Photodeposition Method: Correlation Between Physical Properties and Photocatalytic Activities

Colloidal gold (Au) nanoparticles were prepared and successfully loaded on titanium(IV) oxide (TiO(2)) without change in the original particle size using a method of colloid photodeposition operated in the presence of a hole scavenger (CPH). The prepared Au nanoparticles supported on TiO(2) showed strong photoabsorption at around 550 nm due to surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of Au and exhibited a photocatalytic activity in mineralization of formic acid in aqueous suspensions under irradiation of visible light (>ca. 520 nm). A linear correlation between photocatalytic activity and the amount of Au loaded, that is, the number of Au nanoparticles, was observed, indicating that the activity of Au/TiO(2) plasmonic photocatalysts can be controlled simply by the amount of Au loading using the CPH method and that the external surface area of Au nanoparticles is a decisive factor in mineralization of formic acid under visible light irradiation. Very high reaction rates were obtained in samples with 5 wt % Au or more, although the rate tended to be saturated. The CPH method can be widely applied for loading of Au nanoparticles on various TiO(2) supports without change in the original size independent of the TiO(2) phase. The rate of CO(2) formation also increased linearly with increase in the external surface area of Au. Interestingly, the TiO(2) supports showed different slopes of the plots. The slope is important for selection of TiO(2) as a material supporting colloidal Au nanoparticles.     

Vibrational spectroscopy of Cs+ solvated by methylamine

We report the vibrational spectra of the cluster ions Cs⁺(CH₃NH₂)_N, N=3–22. Bands in the 1015–1050 cm^?1 region of the infrared are due to the v8 mode (CN stretch) of methylamine molecules displaying different degrees of interaction with the central ion. Monte Carlo simulations of the solvated Cs⁺ ion indicate that nine methylamine molecules fill the first solvation shell of Cs⁺ and that possible rearrangements in cluster structure occur at N=14?15. No absorptions due to bulklike methylamine molecules are observed through N=22.     

Short synthesis of epi-cytoxazone via oxazoline formation through intramolecular benzylic substitution of a bis-trichloroacetimidate

A short and efficient method for synthesizing epi-cytoxazone via the corresponding oxazoline intermediate was developed. The formation of the oxazoline ring, which proceeds through an S_N1 mechanism to ensure that the trans-oxazoline stereochemistry is retained, was induced by intramolecular benzylic substitution of a 1,2-bis-trichloroacetimidate, starting from the known enantiomerically pure diol.     

Structure elucidation of unsaturated fatty acids after vicinal hydroxylation of the double bonds by negative electrospray ionisation low-energy tandem mass spectrometry

A method for determining the positions of double bonds in unsaturated fatty acids by use of negative electrospray ionisation low-energy tandem mass spectrometry is described. First, a vicinal hydroxylation of the double bonds of mono- and poly-unsaturated fatty acids was performed. Low-energy collision activation dissociation of the deprotonated molecules produced structurally informative ions formed by a-cleavages relative to the hydroxyl groups. Abundant fragment ions that confirmed the positions of all hydroxyl groups, and thus the positions of the double bonds in the native fatty acids, were observed in the spectra of derivatised mono-, di-, and tri-unsaturated fatty acids. Two types of ions were observed, called [alpha'(n)](-) and [alpha(n)](-). The letter n indicates the positions of the hydroxyl groups. The structurally diagnostic ions [alpha'(n)](-) were produced by cleavages distal to the hydroxyl-groups with the charge retained on the carboxylate. [alpha'(n)](-) ions originating from all hydroxyl-groups were observed in the spectra of modified mono-, di-, and tri-unsaturated fatty acids. Initial proton transfer of a hydroxyl proton to the carboxylate with subsequent cleavages proximal to the hydroxyl groups, relative to the carboxylate, resulted in the two structurally diagnostic [alpha(n)](-) ions. In hydroxylated fatty acids having two or more double bonds in their native structure, [alpha(n)](-) ions originating only from the two final hydroxyl-groups were observed. The formation of all ions of [alpha'(n)](-) and [alpha(n)](-) type can be rationalised by a six-membered transition state. Hydroxylated deprotonated tetra-, penta-, and hexa-unsaturated fatty acids also produced [alpha'(n)](-) ions indicating the positions of most of the hydroxyl-groups, whereas the [alpha(n)](-) ions were observed as described above. The method described offers a simple approach to the determination of the positions of double bonds in unsaturated fatty acids, and is an alternative to utilising di-lithiated fatty acids. The method should also be applicable when fatty acids are constituents of more complex molecules such as phospholipids.     

Profiling mechanisms of alkane hydroxylase activity in vivo using the diagnostic substrate norcarane

Mechanistically informative chemical probes are used to characterize the activity of functional alkane hydroxylases in whole cells. Norcarane is a substrate used to reveal the lifetime of radical intermediates formed during alkane oxidation. Results from oxidations of this probe with organisms that contain the two most prevalent medium-chain-length alkane-oxidizing metalloenzymes, alkane omega-monooxygenase (AlkB) and cytochrome P450 (CYP), are reported. The results--radical lifetimes of 1-7 ns for AlkB and less than 100 ps for CYP--indicate that these two classes of enzymes are mechanistically distinguishable and that whole-cell mechanistic assays can identify the active hydroxylase. The oxidation of norcarane by several recently isolated strains (Hydrocarboniphaga effusa AP103, rJ4, and rJ5, whose alkane-oxidizing enzymes have not yet been identified) is also reported. Radical lifetimes of 1-3 ns are observed, consistent with these organisms containing an AlkB-like enzyme and inconsistent with their employing a CYP-like enzyme for growth on hydrocarbons.     

Sequence comparison and environmental adaptation of a bacterial endonuclease

The periplasmic/extracellular bacterial enzyme endonuclease I was chosen as a model system to identify features that might be responsible for temperature- and salt adaptation. A statistical study of amino acid sequence properties belonging to endonuclease I enzymes from three mesophilic habitats (non-marine, brackish water and marine), and three marine temperature groups (psychrophile, intermediate and mesophile) has been conducted. Ten new endonuclease I genes have been sequenced in order to increase the sample size. A bioinformatical method of property dependent statistical analysis of alignments has been applied. To our knowledge this is the first time these methods have been used in order to investigate environmental adaptation of enzymes. Adaptation to low temperature seems to involve increased surface isoelectric point and hydrophobicity in contrast to salt adaptation in which the isoelectric point and hydrophobicity at the surface decreases. Redistribution of charge and hydrophobicity might be the most important signature for cold adaptation and salt adaptation of this enzyme class. The results indicate that general trends of adaptation are possible to elucidate from the amino acid sequences. Also in this paper a new scale of stratified B-factors, derived from the Protein Data Bank, is presented.     

Structural analysis of aquaculture net cages in current

A method for structural analysis of aquaculture net cages has been developed and verified for a netting solidity of 0.23, water current velocities from 0.1 to 0.5 m/s and relatively large deformations (volume reduction up to 70%) by comparing the numerical results to tests in a flume tank. Strength analysis was performed using commercial explicit finite element software to calculate distribution of loads in the net cage due to current, weights and gravity. The net cage was modelled using truss elements that represented several parallel twines. Sub-elements allowed the trusses to buckle in compression, and only negligible compressive forces were seen in the numerical results. Resulting drag loads and cage volume were shown to be dependent on the net cage size and weight system. Drag loads increased almost proportional to the current velocity for velocities in the range of 0.2–0.5 m/s, while the cage volume was reduced proportional to the current velocity. The calculated forces in ropes and netting of full-size net cages were well below the design capacity for current velocities up to 0.5 m/s. However, netting seams in the bottom panel of the net cage were identified as a potential problem area as the forces could reach the design capacity.     

生物传感器研究进展

本文详细地综述了生物传感器的类型、基本原理、目前的研究现状及应用状况,并预测了其今后的发展趋势。参考文献110篇。