Preparation of ZSM‐5 Coated on Monolithic Interconnected Macroporous Al2O3 Using Cheap n‐Butylamine as Template

Using cheap n‐butylamine as template, ZSM‐5 zeolites have been successfully synthesized and coated on monolithic interconnected macroporous Al₂O₃ by the secondary growth method. The use of cheap n‐butylamine could significantly reduce the synthesis cost. Hierarchical monolithic ZSM‐5 zeolites were prepared from synthetic mixtures with different H₂O/Na₂O or SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratio. The synthesized samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR) and N₂ adsorption‐desorption. The results show that the hierarchical monolithic zeolites were obtained with cheap n‐butylamine template as template. During the hydrothermal reaction process, the morphology of the micrometer‐sized support was well maintained. The irregular crystals were formed in a wide range of the H₂O/Na₂O or SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratio of synthetic mixtures and coated on monolithic Al₂O₃. The relative crystallinity of the zeolites was highest at H₂O/Na₂O=250 or SiO₂/Al₂O₃=160. This type of composites exhibited hierarchical porous structures and relatively high specific surface areas.     

Self-penetrating and interpenetrating 3D metal-organic frameworks constructed from 4-(4-carboxyphenoxy)-phthalic acid and <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-donor auxiliary ligands

Two new interesting entangled structures, namely, [Ni_1.5(L)(bpy)₂(H₂O)₃] _n · 3nH₂O (I) and [Cd₃(L)₂(bbi)₂]n · nH₂O (II)(where H₃L is 4-(4-carboxyphenoxy)-phthalic acid, bpy is 4,4′-bipyridine, and bbi is 1,1′-(1,4-butanediyl)bis(imidazole)) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis (EA), infrared spectra (IR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), solid fluorescence and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that complex I possesses a 3D self-penetrating framework constructed from ladder-like and fishbone-like subunits. Complex II shows a 3D framework of two-fold interpenetration assembled from trinuclear Cd(II) clusters bridged by bbi and L^3? ligands.     

Whole‐Genome Sequencing of a Single Viral Species from a Highly Heterogeneous Sample

Metagenomic studies suggest that only a small fraction of the viruses that exist in nature have been identified and studied. Characterization of unknown viral genomes is hindered by the many genomes populating any virus sample. A new method is reported that integrates drop‐based microfluidics and computational analysis to enable the purification of any single viral species from a complex mixed virus sample and the retrieval of complete genome sequences. By using this platform, the genome sequence of a 5243 bp dsDNA virus that was spiked into wastewater was retrieved with greater than 96 % sequence coverage and more than 99.8 % sequence identity. This method holds great potential for virus discovery since it allows enrichment and sequencing of previously undescribed viruses as well as known viruses.     

Colorimetric method for determination of bisphenol A based on aptamer-mediated aggregation of positively charged gold nanoparticles

A sensitive, specific and rapid colorimetric aptasensor for the determination of the plasticizer bisphenol A (BPA) was developed. It is based on the use of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) that are positively charged due to the modification with cysteamine which is cationic at near-neutral pH values. If aptamers are added to such AuNPs, aggregation occurs due to electrostatic interactions between the negatively-charged aptamers and the positively-charged AuNPs. This results in a color change of the AuNPs from red to blue. If a sample containing BPA is added to the anti-BPA aptamers, the anti-BPA aptamers undergo folding via an induced-fit binding mechanism. This is accompanied by a conformational change, which prevents the aptamer-induced aggregation and color change of AuNPs. The effect was exploited to design a colorimetric assay for BPA. Under optimum conditions, the absorbance ratio of A ₅₂₇/A ₆₈₀ is linearly proportional to the BPA concentration in the range from 35 to 140 ng∙mL⁻¹, with a detection limit of 0.11 ng∙mL⁻¹. The method has been successfully applied to the determination of BPA in spiked tap water and gave recoveries between 91 and 106 %. Data were in full accordance with results obtained from HPLC. This assay is selective, easily performed, and in our perception represents a promising alternative to existing methods for rapid quantification of BPA.

The negatively-charged anti-BPA aptamers can absorb onto the positively-charged cysteamine-capped AuNPs (cysteamine-AuNPs) via electrostatic interactions, which can cause the aggregation of AuNPs accompanied by a red-to-blue color change. In the presence of BPA, the specific binding of BPA to the aptamers induces the conformation changes of anti-BPA aptamers, which can release the aptamers from cysteamine-AuNPs and thus prevent the aggregation and color change of cysteamine-AuNPs.