Preparative chromatography of xylanase using expanded bed adsorption

Expanded bed adsorption was used to purify a marketable xylanase often used in the kraft pulp bleaching process. Experiments in packed and expanded beds were carried out mainly to study the adsorption of xylanase on to a cationic adsorbent (Streamline SP) in the presence of cells. In order to study the presence of cells, a Bacillus pumilus mass (5% wet mass) was mixed with the enzyme extract and submitted to an expanded bed adsorption system. One xylanase was purified to homogeneity in the packed bed. However, the 5% cell content hampered purification.     

The use of imidazolium ionic liquids for the formation and stabilization of ir0 and rh0 nanoparticles: efficient catalysts for the hydrogenation of arenes

Stable transition-metal nanoparticles of the type [M(0)](n) are easily accessible through the reduction of Ir(I) or Rh(III) compounds dissolved in "dry" 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ionic liquid by molecular hydrogen. The formation of these [M(0)](n) nanoparticles is straightforward; they are prepared in dry ionic liquid whereas the presence of the water causes the partial decomposition of ionic liquid with the formation of phosphates, HF and transition-metal fluorides. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) show the formation of [Ir(0)](n) and [Rh(0)](n) nanoparticles with 2.0-2.5 nm in diameter. The isolated [M(0)](n) nanoparticles can be redispersed in the ionic liquid, in acetone or used in solventless conditions for the liquid-liquid biphasic, homogeneous or heterogeneous hydrogenation of arenes under mild reaction conditions (75 degrees C and 4 atm). The recovered iridium nanoparticles can be reused several times without any significant loss in catalytic activity. Unprecedented total turnover numbers (TTO) of 3509 in 32 h, for arene hydrogenation by nanoparticles catalysts, have been achieved in the reduction of benzene by the [Ir(0)](n) in solventless conditions. Contrarily, the recovered Rh(0) nanoparticles show significant agglomeration into large particles with a loss of catalytic activity. The hydrogenation of arenes containing functional groups, such as anisole, by the [Ir(0)](n) nanoparticles occurs with concomitant hydrogenolysis of the C-O bond, suggesting that these nanoparticles behave as "heterogeneous catalysts" rather than "homogeneous catalysts".     

Non-coherent visible and infrared radiation increase survival to UV (254 nm) in Escherichia coli K12

Interactions between visible or infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV, 254 nm) radiation have been studied in E. coli. Pre-illumination with non-coherent monochromatic 446, 466, 570 and 685 nm radiation, as well as with polychromatic red and IR radiation at room temperature, leads to increased cell survival after a subsequent irradiation with UV light. In the thermic range of the spectrum (red and IR), IR but not red light pre-treatment is able to increase cell survival to a subsequent lethal heat (51 degrees C) challenge, suggesting that increased UV survival may be due to IR-induced heat-shock response. On the other hand, visible-light-induced resistance may be due to a different mechanism, possibly involved with unknown bacterial light receptors.     

Use of modified rice husks as a natural solid adsorbent of trace metals: characterisation and development of an on-line preconcentration system for cadmium and lead determination by FAAS

The use of rice husks as an alternative adsorbent in an on-line preconcentration system for Cd (II) and Pb (II) determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) is described. The potential of rice husks as a natural adsorbent was evaluated as a material modified with 0.75 mol l⁻¹ NaOH solution and in the unmodified form. For this task, several techniques such as spectroscopy and thermogravimetry were used for elucidation of possible functional groups responsible for the uptake of Cd (II) and Pb (II). Furthermore, based on adsorption studies and adsorption isotherms applied to the Langmüir model, it was possible to verify that modified rice husks present a higher adsorption capacity for both metals. After establishing this material as a promising natural adsorbent, it was used for on-line preconcentration of Cd (II) and Pb (II) metals. The multivariate optimisation of chemical and flow variables was performed by using a full factorial design (2⁴) including the following factors: preconcentration time, preconcentration flow rate, concentration and volume of eluent. The optimum pH values used for on-line preconcentration were taken from prior univariate experiments. Under optimised conditions for Cd (II) determination (4 min of preconcentration at a 6 ml min⁻¹ preconcentration flow rate, in which comprises 24 ml of preconcentration volume, 200 μl elution volume and 1.0 mol l⁻¹ HNO₃ solution as eluent), the system achieved a detection limit of 1.14 μg l⁻¹ and an enrichment factor of 72.4. Similar conditions were used for Pb (II) determination (4 min of preconcentration, 6 ml min⁻¹ preconcentration flow rate, 300 μl elution volume and 1.0 mol l⁻¹ HNO₃ solution as eluent) from which a detection limit of 14.1 μg l⁻¹ and enrichment factor of 46.0 were achieved. Also, rice husks have been shown to be a homogeneous and stable adsorbent in which more than 100 preconcentration/elution cycles provide a relative standard deviation (RSD) of less than 6.0% on the analytical signal. The satisfactory accuracy of the method developed was obtained by using spiked water samples (mineral water and lake water) and spiked red wine samples. These values were confirmed by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). The certified reference material [pig kidney (CRM 186)] and the reference material [beech leaves (CRM 100)] were also used.     

SANS study of the aging of xTiO2-SiO2 gels

Silica-titania gels, prepared in acidic conditions, with contents of TiO₂ up to 6 mol%, have been studied by small angle neutron scattering (SANS) as wet gel with increasing aging times. In all samples, small primary particles have been found with a diameter of about 3 nm. At the gel point, cylindrical clusters, ca. 10 nm long, were observed as well. These grow with aging time, becoming branched. The cluster-cluster diffusion limited aggregation model is found to be consistent with the SANS results. The growth process is independent of the TiO₂ content. It is mainly influenced by the ratio of the aging time to the gelation time.     

Selecting an agricultural technology package based on the flexible and interactive tradeoff method

Annals of Operations Research - The aim of this paper is to solve an agricultural technology packages selection problem by considering multiple dimensions which influence a maize producer’s...     

A dominance-based rough set approach applied to evaluate the credit risk of sovereign bonds

4OR - Even though sovereign bonds represent low-risk alternatives that give investors a healthy income, the risk assessment process for these bonds is still considered subjective because of the...     

A normalization problem for a class of singular integral operators with carleman shift and unbounded coefficients

The solution to a normalization problem for singular integral operators with Carleman shift and degenerate and unbounded coefficients inL _p () is obtained, where is either the unit circle or the real line. The approach followed consists mainly in two steps: the reduction to a singular integral operator with bounded coefficients and the use of the solution to an abstract normalization problem.This research was supported by JNICT under the grant PBIC/C/CEN/1040/92.     

Asymptotic stability at infinity of planar vector fields

Let >0 andX be aC ¹ vector field on the plane such that: (i) for allq², Det(DX(q))>0; and (ii) for allp², with p, Trace(D(X(p))<0. IfX has a singularity and ² Trace(DX)dxdy is less than 0 (resp. greater or equal than 0), then the point at infinity of the Riemann sphere ²{} is a repellor (resp. an attractor) ofX.