In situ reactivity and FTIR study of the wet and dry photooxidation of propane on anatase TiO2

The photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) of trace amounts of propane (500 ppm) on nanocrystalline anatase TiO2 has been investigated in situ as a function of temperature (T = 318-473 K), humidity (C(H2O) = 0-4%), and time by means of mass spectrometry and diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (DRIFT). Propane adsorbs associatively on TiO2 at 318 K in dry air, while at 473 K small amounts of thermal dissociation products appear on the surface. In agreement with previous studies, propane is found primarily to be converted to acetone by reactions with photogenerated oxygen radicals. Various successive reaction paths exist, where the branching depends on the temperature and hydroxylation state of the surface. Under dry conditions at 318 K, acetone oxidation is initially kinetically hindered, while, above 400 K, acetone readily decomposes. The thermally assisted reaction channel leads to detrimental bonding of surface species and inhibition of the catalytic activity. It is manifested by a coloration of the sample and suggested to be coupled to surface reduction. Under humidified conditions, there is an optimum of the PCO in C(H2O) and T space, which is estimated to correspond to an equilibrium coverage of one monolayer of H2O (or bilayer). The latter reaction condition also corresponds to sustained high propane conversion and is characterized by rapid establishment of steady state rates. The optimum PCO is discussed in terms of a balance between (i) sustaining enough of a photoactive water monolayer to avoid detrimental bonding of surface species, (ii) allowing reactants to adsorb and access bulk TiO2 photoexcitations, and at the same time (iii) maximizing the thermally assisted decomposition of intermediates.     

Imaging of peptide adsorption to microfluidic channels in a plastic compact disc using a positron emitting radionuclide

A method for studying peptide-surface interactions within microfluidic channels by radionuclide imaging is described. With the high surface area-to-volume ratio of channels in miniaturised devices, combined with low amounts of analyte, non-specific peptide adsorption is a critical issue. The objective of the study was therefore to develop a method capable of direct detection of adsorbed peptide within microfluidic channels. A micro-device consisting of channels moulded in a plastic compact disc was chosen for the study, together with two selected peptides of different lengths and isoelectric point (pI) values. A bifunctional chelator, DOTA, was attached to the peptide by conjugation and labelled with the short-lived positron emitting radionuclide 68Ga. Quantitative images of radiotracer distribution within the microfluidic channels were obtained using a PhosphorImager system. The power of the method was demonstrated by the ability to clearly measure changes in adsorption when varying a number of parameters that typically affect peptide adsorption. These included surface modifications, analyte concentration, pH, and ionic strength. Additionally, two quantification methods were developed and compared. Radionuclide imaging also permitted visualisation of adsorption and release processes in microchannel chromatographic columns. The results suggest that radionuclide imaging is a suitable tool not only for the study of peptide adsorption to the microchannels presented in this study but also as a versatile tool to measure peptide-surface interactions in a wide variety of miniaturised structures and devices.     

Absorption anisotropy of cubic or randomly oriented chromophores in anisotropic solvents. Dispersion induced linear dichroism (DILD)

A new mechanism through which cubic or orientationally averaged solutes could gain absorption anisotropy (linear dichroism) in the presence of an anisotropic (oriented) solvent medium is proposed. Transitions of the unoriented species exhibit a dispersion induced linear dichroism (DILD) as a result of dispersive coupling to the transitions of the oriented system. The phenomenon depends on the nature of the angular distribution of solute molecules about a particular solvent species, being maximised for a cylindrical distribution around a polymer, but still yielding a measurable DILD for spherical distributions of the solute. It is also shown that the LD of non-cubic or oriented solutes in anisotropic media should be corrected for a significant DILD contribution.     

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